Sharon Naylor - Bridal bible: inspiration for planning your perfect wedding

A special thank you to all the photographers who contributed their work, especially:

Barbie Hull Photography (www.bariehull.com)

Cheri Pearl Photography (www.cheripearl.com)

GH Kim Photography (www.ghkim.com)

Jackie Alpers (www.jackiealpers.com)

Jenny Jimenez (www.photojj.com)

John and Joseph Photography (www.jkhphoto.com)

Junebug Weddings (www.junebugweddings.com)

J. Garner Photography (www.jgarnerphoto.com)

Kristen Jensen (www.kristenjensen.com)

La Vie Photography (www.laviephoto.com)

One Thousand Words Photography (www.onethousandwordsphotography.com)

Positive Light Photography (www.positivelightphotography.com)

Rich Penrose

Susan Bourgoin (www.visualcuisines.com)

Yours by John Photography (www.yoursbyjohn.com)

THE
Bridal
BIBLE

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Copyright 2012 by Morris Book Publishing, LLC

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, P.O. Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.

Lyons Press is an imprint of Globe Pequot Press.

Editorial Director: Cynthia Hughes Cullen

Editor: Katie Benoit

Project Editor: Tracee Williams

Text Design: Sheryl P. Kober

Layout: Mary Ballachino

The following manufacturers/names appearing in The Bridal Bible are trademarks: Band-Aid, Bumpits, Converse, Dove, Frisbee, Oscar, Pantene, Popsicle, Rolls Royce, Suave, Super 8

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Bridal Bible : inspiration for planning your perfect wedding / Sharon Naylor... [et al.].

p. cm.

ISBN 978-0-7627-7251-3

1. WeddingsPlanning. I. Naylor, Sharon.

HQ745.B745 2012

395.2'2dc 23

2011026442

Printed in China

10

The products and brands featured in the visual content of this book are solely for artistic use and license. The publisher in no way endorses and/or promotes the use of these products, and the author and Globe Pequot Press disclaim any liability in connection with the use of this information.

Lucky you! Youre in love and youre getting married! We know without a doubt that your wedding will be unlike any other event youll ever host again: more romantic, more personal, and much more complicated to plan. Youll soon walk down the aisle, speak your vows for all to witness, seal your promise with a kiss, and celebrate the great love and commitment in your heart, but with all the guests to consider and the details to organize, it may be quite a big undertaking to get from I will to I do. Our goal with this book is to help you make your wedding, as well as your wedding planning, one of the most fun and rewarding projects of your life.

Every bride and groom and every family is totally unique, and what all of our advice comes down to in the end is to be true to yourself. Although others may have invaluable contributions to make, your wedding is a reflection of you and your love. Not your mothers, not your best friends, and not that of the celebrity you read about in that magazine. Your personalities and how perfectly they complement each other are what your guests will be there to celebrate, so let them shine! The fun and focus of planning your wedding should be on finding all those special little ways to communicate your values, your passions, and your loves uniqueness. Your ceremony, your fashion, your invitation wording, your musiceach is a little piece of you. If you can discover your own wedding style that authentically represents you, then youre destined to create an extraordinary celebration. Rest assured that all the logistical advice you need is readily available and were here to help.

Throughout this book well encourage you to first and foremost keep a positive attitude. With the right mix of careful organization, flexibility, proper etiquette, and good humor, youll sail through all the important decisions you need to make and achieve the goals youre after. Well help you discover your dreams and expectations, well give you tips on how to gracefully respond to the abundant and well-meaning advice of close friends and family members without ruffling feathers, and well share loads of useful wedding information on everything from invitation etiquette to how to make and maintain a budget that works for you.

Speaking of budgets, we realize that there is a wide range of them out there. Whether youre looking to throw a grand-scale party in a lavish ballroom that pulls out all the stops or youre planning a more intimate affair in your parents backyard, we offer plenty of advice and inspiration to satisfy all tastes and needs. Weve even included many do-it-yourself (DIY) sections for you crafty brides looking to include a unique personal touch or two.

When it comes to planning your wedding, the choices can sometimes seem endless: Do you want a buffet or sit-down dinner? Red or green for the bridesmaid dresses? Tulips or hyacinths for the flowers? Ponytail or chignon? And so on. We hope this book presents all the choices for you in a stress-free, low-pressure way. Weve provided inspiration galleries throughoutphoto grids that provide all the choices in an easy flip-through presentationto help you decide what look (style, color, hair, etc.) is best for you. We understand that theres a lot of choice, but always remember: There is no wrong choice, really. Its just a matter of choosing what is best for you both. And we hope this book helps you do that.

After months of planning every detail of your big day, what it all boils down to is this: Your wedding day is about celebrating your union with your significant other, your best friend, the love of your life. Whether you choose to celebrate at a country club, in a grand ballroom, or even in an outdoor venue, the choices you make leading up to that very special day will help make memories to last a lifetime. We hope this book encourages you to have your wedding, your way and helps ensure that, when its all over, you have fond memories and zero regrets. We wish you all the best in your wedding planning journey. We know your wedding will be a one-of-a-kind celebration thats totally you, and were thrilled and honored to lend our support.

Inspiration Gallery