The Wedding Book: The Big Book for Your Big Day [Paperback]

Lisbeth Levine (Author), Mindy Weiss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 27, 2008

Announcing the wedding bible: the most complete, lively, handholding, step-by-step guide to help every couple have a perfect wedding—no matter their budget, taste, or personalities. More than 2.2 million North American couples tie the knot each year; until now, only a mere fraction could work with celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss. But the significant fact is not Ms. Weiss's clientele, but the reason for it: She's so very good at what she does. And now she shares all of her hard-won experience, wisdom, inspiration, and style tips.

The Wedding Book covers everything, in a voice filled with understanding: announcing the engagement, and what to do when someone isn't happy about the news; creating a budget; the pros and cons of destination weddings. Drawing up the guest list; planning the ceremony (and how to personalize your vows); menus to inspire; contracts and wedding insurance. Shopping for the dress, six great hairstyles, tuxedo vs. dinner jacket, the etiquette of invitations. Style tips for flowers, the tabletop, linens; a cake that says "you"; the crucial "Sixty Days Until I Do"; rehearsal dinner strategies; plus freezing the cake and preserving the bouquet.

Today the average cost of a wedding is $25,000—at $19.95, The Wedding Book is the smartest investment a bride-to-be could make.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mindy has a wonderful ability to keep a clear head and still get excited about all the tiny details. She was like a fairy godmother! We had only a few months to plan our wedding, but it could not have turned out more special or magical. We both woke up the next morning and wanted to get married again immediately—to each other, of course!"— actress Kate Beckinsale and director Len Wiseman

From the Back Cover

The Idea Book.
The How-To Book.
The Everything Book.

Here's the book to lend a hand. The book to help bring your dreams to life. The book that helps you sew up all the details that go into planning a great wedding, no matter how big or small your budget, no matter your age, religion, location, or vision. The Wedding Book is:
• Your fashion consultant, menu planner, etiquette expert, and floral designer.
• An insider source for budget-stretching tips and contract negotiation.
• A shoulder to lean on when sticky family issues come up.
• A stylish friend to bring along on dress shopping trips.

Whatever the subject—cakes, stationary, lingerie, tents, insurance, port-a-potties, party favors, the toasts, looking great in photos, tipping, or thank-you notes—The Wedding Book has the answer. Includes lists, schedules, budgeting tools, and timelines.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 485 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company; First edition (March 27, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761139605
• ISBN-13: 978-0761139607
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 1.3 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (137 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,877 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Weddings > Planning

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 51 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive but traditional - you'll need to supplement it if you're going budget or DIY August 13, 2010

By Elizabeth

Format:Paperback

I'm glad I bought this book, because it really is COMPREHENSIVE. She details things like what to eat the week before your wedding, what kind of eye shadow works well in different lighting situations, good arm exercises, as well as the normal things about how to word invitations and things like that. In the introduction, she says that what she set out to do was to put all of the information any bride would need in ONE place. I think she does a really great job at that. But if you're having an non-traditional, DIY, or lower-budget wedding, this won't be the only book on your bookshelf.

Two things to note:

1. This book prepares you for traditional weddings, assuming you'll be hiring a florist, makeup artist (though she does give other options), and things like that. That said, people who want non-traditional or DIY weddings shouldn't be put off, though, because she has plenty of wisdom about things that will still be relevant to you, and it's all in one spot. I've read a lot of wedding books at this point, and this one is the most complete.

2. This book won't help you if you're trying to work on a smaller budget (under $15,000). For budget help, I can't recommend enough is Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget, by Denise and Alan Fields, which is the best book out there for it. (You might need to find the most recent edition). But "Bridal Bargains" isn't sufficient; you probably need a book like this one, too.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Mindy Knows Weddings!! December 23, 2008

By S. Callahan

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am the type of girl who loves to educate herself on anything new going on in my life. Any new endeavor I consider trying, I need to buy 20 books on the subject beforehand! I was the same way when I got engaged. I went online and made a list of about 30 books (ridiculous, I know!) that I planned to buy about weddings. I purchased a wedding planner and then this book. As soon as I got it I threw away my list of other wedding books to purchase (I may end up purchasing one of those books of lists, though, simply because I am a list-aholic). This book really does have it all! Granted, Mindy Weiss is used to planning weddings of a certain caliber and not all of the information may be geared toward you specifically. Most of the information in the book (and there is a lot of it, this book covers EVERYTHING) is general and not specific to "fancy" or "celebrity" weddings, though. All in all, it's fun to read and extremely informative. She includes drawings of different dress styles, different tuxedo styles, etc. The best thing about this book is that it covers absolutely everything wedding-related and you can use what you need and just consider yourself well-informed regarding the rest. Happy Wedding Planning!

121 of 148 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not for small weddings January 5, 2009

By Lisa M. Bloom

Format:Hardcover

While I appreciated the information in the book, if you are considering a medium to small event then this is not the book for you. The author specifically states that weddings of around $5,000 can not be done and look good. This is a good book if you are going extravagant, but not if you are looking for simple.