The question has been popped, the ring has been presented and the celebrations have begun! What's next? Just the wedding. Top Tips for Brides presents ingenious ideas for the any bride-to-be, covering the ever-so-stressful months preceding the wedding - including the hen party and choosing your attire - to the big day itself.

This enlightening narrative takes a look at the wedding night-its origins, history, customs, cultural expressions, and fictional representations through the ages. Though just outside of public view, the wedding night is loaded with expectation and consequence. The Wedding Night: A Popular History is an entertaining, accessible, touching, and humorous volume that looks at the previously unexplored topic of wedding history "between the sheets." Covering a kaleidoscopic array of cultural expressions, this unique study zooms in on what's quintessential and shares insights into the history of intimacy through the ages. The book traces the formalization of the wedding night in the ancient Near East and classical world, provides many examples of historically significant unions in European and American history, and describes the lively variety of traditions leading up to the present. Spicing their narrative with many piquant quotes from contemporary sources, the authors explore the rich cultural context for the wedding night-processions, royal rituals, apparel, food-related traditions, and pranks-throughout Europe and America in the 19th and 20th centuries. Separate chapters examine sex guides, jokes, and the bed as a special conjugal space. 15 paintings, illustrations, sculptures, and cartoons that depict aspects of the wedding night throughout history Numerous texts and quotations from primary sources that underscore historical practices and mores An appendix of movies that feature important wedding nights

The tender responses. The big decisions. The conflicts. The surprises. This sensitive yet humorous book captures and illuminates an emotional time so that readers can recognize and validate the range of emotions they are feeling. As the mother of the groom (MOG), it's easy to be pushed aside, overlooked, and underestimated when it comes to wedding planning. But MOGs everywhere know it's not just about the mother of the bride. So how do they get involved without being seen as pushy or unhelpful? Experienced mother of the groom Sydell Rabin guides readers through every sticky situation, including how to help out with the rehearsal dinner, be a welcome and helpful shower guest, and give assistance to the bride without stepping on toes. This guide gives moms whose sons are soon to be walking down the aisle a chance to connect with other mothers who went through the same thing. It addresses her every question, concern, and ?Why me?!? moment. Some mothers want to do more than just wear beige and keep their mouths shut. This book lets them.

Based on the Award-Winning "How to Be a Perfect Stranger: A Guide to Etiquette in Other Peoples's Religious Ceremonies"

Wedding day jitters aren t reserved for brides and grooms

A wedding is a joyous event but you can feel awkward while everyone else is enjoying the wedding if you re unfamiliar with the religious tradition and customs involved. You want to be sure that you know how to behave and what to expect. There s no need to enter an unfamiliar atmosphere unprepared, wondering: What will happen? What should I wear? How long will it last? Is it okay to take pictures? Will there be a reception? Should I bring a gift? When is it okay to leave?

"The Perfect Stranger s Guide to Wedding Ceremonies" helps to answer these questions and many more, telling you everything you need to know to avoid embarrassment, relax, and have a good time.

Covers all the major (and many minor) denominations and religions found in North America: African American Methodist Churches Assemblies of God Baha i Baptist Buddhist Christian and Missionary Alliance Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Christian Congregation Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) Church of the Brethren Church of the Nazarene Churches of Christ Episcopalian and Anglican Evangelical Free Church *Greek Orthodox Hindu International Church of theFoursquare Gospel International Pentecostal Holiness Church Islam Jehovah s Witnesses Jewish Lutheran Mennonite/Amish Methodist Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Native American/First Nations Orthodox Churches Pentecostal Church of God Presbyterian Quaker (Religious Society ofFriends) Reformed Church in America/Canada Roman Catholic Seventh-day Adventist Sikh Unitarian Universalist United Church of Canada United Church of Christ Wesleyan

Highly acclaimed wedding photographer Mark Cleghorn discusses how to photograph all types of weddings. It offers invaluable advice on the best poses and explains the full-post production process. It is packed with inspirational photographs and pro tips throughout. Mastering Wedding Photography is packed with expert advice and top tips on capturing those treasured memories. Acclaimed wedding photographer, Mark Cleghorn offers comprehensive information on choosing equipment, manipulating the light, taking candid shots and organizing formal portraits, as well as clearly explaining all the key photographic techniques. Mark also gives plenty of suggestions on what to capture before, during and after the ceremony and how to go about it, plus tips for post-production.

"Teach yourself Your Wedding" is your one-stop shop for every piece of information you might need to enjoy the best day of your life in a trouble free manner. Thoroughly modern, yet mindful of the traditions that can make getting married so complicated, it covers everything from the formalities and legal requirements to how to keep the passion alive after the honeymoon. Planning, etiquette, and choosing a venue are all explained, along with top hints for styling your ceremony to suit yourself, and finding the dress of your dreams, the ideal photographer and the menu that pleases all the guests. With practical information on budgets and interactive tools such as year planners, it is also full of tips and clever suggestions, and is suitable for couples of all types, backgrounds and with every requirements.

Newly revised and updated, the definitive guide to planning a Jewish wedding, written by bestselling novelist Anita Diamant-author of The Red Tent and The Boston Girl-and one of the most respected writers of guides to contemporary Jewish life. This complete, easy-to-use guide explains everything you need to know to plan your own Jewish wedding in today's ever-changing world where the very definition of what constitutes a Jewish wedding is up for discussion. With enthusiasm and flair, Anita Diamant provides choices for every stage of a wedding-including celebrations before and after the ceremony itself-providing both traditional and contemporary options. She explains the Jewish tradition of love and marriage with references drawn from Biblical, Talmudic, and mystical texts and stories. She guides you step by step through planning the ceremony and the party that follows-from finding a rabbi and wording the invitation to organizing a processional and hiring a caterer. Samples of wedding invitations and ketubot (marriage contracts) are provided for inspiration and guidance, as well as poems that can be incorporated into the wedding ceremony or party and a variety of translations of traditional texts. "There is no such thing as a generic Jewish wedding," writes Anita Diamant, "no matter what the rabbi tells you, no matter what the caterer tells you, no matter what your mother tells you." Complete, authoritative, and indispensable, The Jewish Wedding Now provides personalized options-some new, some old-to create a wedding that combines spiritual meaning and joyous celebration and reflects your individual values and beliefs.

Offers highly practical insights and advice to those wanting to plan weddings as a career choice. Written in an engaging and highly accessible style, this guide assumes no prior knowledge of the industry and is ideal for those just starting their careers. Packed full of case studies, activities, example forms, timetables, calendars, and helpful checklists.

A contemporary guide for today's mother of the bride! Congratulations! Your daughter is engaged! Now it's time to start planning the big event. The Mother of the Bride Guide will help you get your daughter down the aisle in style. With expert guidance every step of the way, wedding planner Katie Martin explains all you need to know about: Getting the most out of Pinterest and wedding-planning sites Meeting the future in-laws Navigating sticky situations, like ex-spouses and former family members Mastering social media etiquette Knowing when to speak up--and when to keep quiet! This practical guide covers everything you need to make sure your daughter has the perfect--and stress-free--day of her dreams.

Falling in love is easy. Staying in love - that's the challenge! How can you keep your relationship fresh and growing amid the demands and conflicts and just plain boredom of everyday life?

In the #1 New York Times bestselling book The 5 Love Languages, you'll discover the secret that has transformed millions of relationships worldwide. Whether your relationship is flourishing or failing, Dr. Gary Chapman's proven approach to showing and receiving love will help you experience deeper and richer levels of intimacy with your partner - starting today.

Updated to reflect the complexities of relationships in today's world, this new edition reveals intrinsic truths and applies relevant, actionable wisdom in ways that work. Practice the simple steps outlined in each chapter and you'll be on your way to a healthier, mutually beneficial relationship.