Introduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 2 Beyond the Book 3 Where to Go from Here 3 Part 1: It''s YOUR Day! 5 Chapter 1: You Said Yes! 7 Congratulations, It''s Time to Celebrate 7 Living by the Three Ps of Wedding Planning 8 Perspective 8 Process 12 Pause 12 Enjoying the Planning Process 12 Setting boundaries with family and friends 13 Continuing to date your fiancé 15 Considering premarital counseling 16 Sample wedding planning checklist 18 Picking the Perfect Date 18 Chapter 2: Sharing the Exciting News 23 Spreading the Word 24 Announcing your engagement 24 Planning the engagement party 25 Making the social media announcement 27 Selecting Your Squad 28 Understanding the job requirements 29 Standing by your side 33 Proposing to your bridal party 35 Showers, Bashes, and Parties 36 Gift registries 36 Bachelorette bash 38 Bachelor party 39 Couple''s shower 40 Bridal shower 41 Chapter 3: Everyone Has a Budget 43 Knowing What''s Most Important to You 44 Figuring Out Who''s Paying 46 What Does Your Budget Include? 47 Resourcing your connections 51 Setting limits 51 Buyer beware: Service fees 53 Tips and gratuities 53 Part 2: Taking Care of Logistics 55 Chapter 4: Your Day Is Only as Good as Your Team 57 Putting Your Plans in the Hands of Others 58 Developing the all-important trust factor 58 Remembering that quality is worth the cost 59 Getting referrals 61 Deciding how much outsourcing you''re comfortable with 62 Researching on social media 63 Selecting the Very Best Vendors 65 Wedding planner 65 Flowers and decor 67 Rentals 70 Photography 72 Videography 74 Catering 76 Bar and bartending 77 Baker 78 Entertainment 79 Transportation 80 Hotel room blocks 82 Welcome bags for your guests 83 Marriage Isn''t the Only Bond You''re Entering Into: Contracts 84 Understanding what you''re signing 84 Don''t forget all the details 85 Deposits and retainers 87 Reading the fine print 88 Chapter 5: All-Inclusive Wedding Planning 89 What''s Actually Included? 90 Budget-Friendly or Budget Breaker? 91 Making It Your Own 94 Asking the right questions when meeting with an all-inclusive planner 95 Looking at ways to customize an all-inclusive wedding 96 Chapter 6: Location, Location, Location 99 Picking Your Perfect Ceremony and Reception Venue 100 Considering Indoor Event Venues 103 Knowing Your Options for Outdoor Events 108 Taking cover from sun and rain: Tents and coverage 109 Wind: It''s a four-letter word for a reason 111 Considering an All-Inclusive Wedding Venue: Pros and Cons 113 Chapter 7: Inviting Friends and Family 117 Deciding What Size Really Matters 117 Micro wedding: An intimate affair 118 Medium wedding: It''s "just right" 119 Large wedding: Go big or go home 120 Organizing Your Guest List 120 Deciding who''s invited 121 Setting up your guest list 122 Getting the Word Out 124 Sharing updates on a wedding website 124 Asking people to save the date 125 Sending the all-important wedding invitations 126 Getting a headcount with RSVPs 134 To mail or to email? 138 Providing Helpful Handouts 140 A guide to your wedding: Programs 140 Teasing the tastebuds: Menus 143 Boy, girl, boy, girl: Place cards 144 Showing gratitude: Thank-You Cards 146 Chapter 8: Adding Special Touches with Flowers 149 First Things First: Determining Your Style 149 Wearing and Carrying Floral Accents 151 Choosing the perfect bridal bouquets 151 Bring on the bridesmaids'' bouquets 153 Stick a pin in it: Boutonnieres 154 Simple and elegant: Corsages 154 So sweet: Flowers for flower girls and ring bearers 155 Recognizing the attendants and ushers 156 Sprucing Up the Ceremony Space 156 Adorning the altar 157 Decorating the aisle 158 Additional decor 159 Creating a Festive Feel at the Reception 162 Cocktail hour 162 Setting the perfect table 163 Check-in table 166 Room accents 167 Sample Flower Order 168 Part 3: Style Icon 171 Chapter 9: In Pursuit of Your Dream Dress 173 Selecting the Perfect Dress 174 Gathering floral and decor inspiration 176 All shades of white 176 Complement your silhouette, neckline, and arms 178 Thinking about the train and veil 182 Underneath It All: Picking the Proper Undergarments 187 From Head to Toe 188 Headpieces 189 Shoes 189 Something old, new, borrowed, blue 190 Picking the Perfect Hairstyle 193 Makeup: How Much Is Too Much? 195 Chapter 10: What Everyone Else Will Be Wearing 199 Duds for Your Dude: The Groom''s Attire 200 Suit up or suit down? 201 Tie, handkerchief, vest? 202 Choosing Attire for the Bridal Party 203 Bridesmaids 204 Groomsmen 205 Parents 208 Grandparents 209 Flower girl and ring bearer 209 Attendants 210 Officiant 211 Part 4: Ceremony To-Do''s 213 Chapter 11: Making Your Marriage Legal 215 Selecting Your Officiant 217 Heading to the Courthouse: Marriage License Protocol 219 Navigating Same-Sex Legalities 220 Changing Your Name 221 Determining your new name 222 Offices to officially change your name 222 Banks, utilities, and more 224 Chapter 12: Where the Magic Happens: Planning and Personalizing Your Ceremony 227 Deciding on Your Ceremony Celebration 228 Nondenominational 228 Spiritual 230 Religious 232 Designing a Ceremony That Tells Your Love Story 235 Personalizing the ceremony script through stories and other details 235 Overview of the ceremony components 236 Processing in and skipping out 237 Vows and rings 240 Setting the Mood with Music 243 Selecting the musicians 244 Selecting specific songs 244 Additional Ceremony Must-Haves 247 Guestbook 249 Gifts 249 Programs 250 Part 5: Let''s Party 251 Chapter 13: Celebrating After the Ceremony: The Reception 253 Setting the Tone 254 Music 254 Flowers and decor 254 Other details 255 Examining the Elements of a Typical Reception 255 Cocktail hour 256 Bridal party introductions 258 Welcome 259 Dinner 259 Cake cutting 260 Toasts 261 Special dances 262 Dance, dance, dance 264 Bouquet toss 265 Garter toss 266 Late night 266 Exit 267 Making the Most of Your Time with a Reception Timeline 267 Chapter 14: What''s on the Menu? 271 Selecting the Caterer 271 Local restaurant 272 Catering company 272 Food truck 273 Picking Your Preferred Type of Dinner Service 273 Plated seated 273 Buffet 275 Stations 277 Thinking about What You Want to Eat 278 Appetizers and cocktails 280 What''s for dinner? 281 How sweet it is 281 Let''s Drink to That 285 Cash bar versus hosted bar 286 Tending bar: Leave it to the professionals 288 Avoiding a traffic jam 288 Bar aesthetics 290 Selecting wine and beer 291 Specialty drinks 291 Liquor 292 Chapter 15: Enjoying Your Party 293 Selecting the Perfect Entertainment 293 Cocktail hour music 295 Dinner music 295 Dancing music 295 Booking a band 296 Spinning with a DJ 297 Your Grand Exit 298 Last dance 299 Party favors 299 Exit celebration 301 Getaway vehicle 303 Honeymoon suite 304 Part 6: Wedding Weekend Events 305 Chapter 16: Practice Makes Perfect 307 Drawing Up the Master Plan for the Weekend 307 Vendor contact information 308 Bridal party contact information 309 Timeline of day-before-the-wedding events 310 Timeline of the big day (with a first look) 310 Timeline of the big day (no first look) 313 Flowers and decor 314 Floor plan 314 Guest list 314 Distributing Your Master Plan 315 Walking through Who Stands Where and Says What 316 Getting everyone in order at the rehearsal 317 Who''s giving a toast? 318 Informing Your Bridal Party 319 Enjoying Yourself at the Rehearsal Dinner 320 Picking the guest list 321 Scouting out the perfect location 321 Choosing the food and beverage 322 Toasts 323 Gifts for your bridal party 324 Late-night celebration 326 Rest and Recover for the Big Day 327 Chapter 17: Pre- and Post-Wedding Events 329 Bridal Party Activities 330 Getting showered 330 Bridesmaids'' lunch 332 Groomsmen bro time 333 Brunch the Day After Your Wedding 335 Picking the guest list 335 Selecting the location 336 Saying Goodbye to Fa.