Being the groom's best man is a huge honor, but the responsibilities it entails can seem overwhelming. Now, "Best Man Best Speech" comes to the rescue, offering dependable guidance on all the best man's duties--from how to tie a bow tie to how to avoid trouble on stag night. For that all-important speech, it explains in detail where to find good material, how to avoid stage fright, and even how to use risque humor without going too far.

The perfect book of couples activities and date night ideas to make every day feel romantic! Sure, you could buy some roses.Yes, you could cook an elegant romantic dinner.Of course, you could give a heart-shaped box of chocolates. But sometimes you want to do more than that. Sometimes you want to show just how much you really care, how much passion you really feel, and how much more your partner means to you than absolutely anything else. Packed with unique suggestions, easy gestures, and thoughtful gift ideas, 1001 Ways to Be Romantic is a romance kit "worth memorizing" (Boston Herald). It's a must-have for anyone, in any relationship (whether dating, engaged, or married for 50+ years!) who wants to spark some more love in their lives. The perfect adventure book for couples, wedding anniversary gift, or marriage and date night idea vault, this is a #1 bestseller with over 6 million copies sold that delivers the romance time and time again. You'll find: Little things you can do every dayBig ideas for when you want to go all outHow to be romantic without spending a dimeHow to really go to town when money is no objectTons of resources, including websites, online shopping, places to go, music, movies, and much, much more

What are the golden rules of speech making? How should you respond to the toast to the bride and groom? And which people do you need to thank and how? The answers to all these questions and more are here in this much-needed book. Now you can make your wedding day speech memorable for all the right reasons! -- Add sincerity, sparkle and humor -- Enjoy the big day Contents: Learning the essentials; conveying your feelings to guests; adding a little humour; finding the ideal beginning and ending; putting it all together; getting the delivery right; stories, jokes and one-liners for your speech; sample speeches.

This book of 12 prompted letters helps family and friends wish the happy couple a lifetime of joy. Filled out by an individual or group, as a guest book at the wedding, or as an anniversary gift, it will be a personalized keepsake that they will treasure for years to come.

A radically inclusive, sex-positive guide to managing the inevitable libido differences in our relationships, authored by two certified sex therapists who are passionate about good sex.

Desire invites readers of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, and relationship structures to shed the shame and misinformation that surround the topic of sex and instead learn from 2 certified sex therapists about how libido really works. Desire differences are one of the most common relationship issues, yet, with fewer than 1,100 certified sex therapists in the country, it can be difficult to find help. This essential book breaks the mold of the sex self-help genre, which typically focuses only on cisgender women.

Through the authors’ expert guidance readers will learn about:

• embracing a more expansive definition of sex,
• identifying various factors that can impact libido,
• managing anxiety around sex (one of the biggest libido killers),
• the structural oppressions—from cisnormativity to heteronormativity to compulsory sexuality to minority stress—that affect our libido, and much, much more.

It rejects the narrow, heteronormative, “staircase” model of sex—a way of thinking where many relationships get stuck. It integrates evidence-based relationship therapy techniques for better communication around sex.

Included are dozens of techniques, exercises, checklists, and journal prompts for readers to use at their own pace to fit their needs, including mindfulness, body mapping, and sensate focus. Whatever your identity, sexual practices, or reason for picking up this book, Desire will help you reach your personal sexual health goals.

Make your own tiara with matching designer necklace and earrings, for your wedding, prom or special party. In this CD book, Jema Hewitt shows you the techniques you need to create six stunning designs. There are tiaras to suit many tastes, from pastel and delicate, to bold and colourful. Follow Jema's comprehensive step by step instructions, and zoom in close to see every detail of the construction.

“All the world loves a lover” and perhaps it loves a love story even more. When the romance in question is real, not fictional, it’s all the more powerful. Every love affair has its unique dynamic, which is what makes them so endlessly fascinating. Romances To Remember is a charmingly varied compilation of memorable South African unions.

There are the deeply spiritual unions of people such as Desmond and Leah Tutu and Beyers and Ilse Naudé; powerful politicians and their partners such as Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela and Albie Sachs’s ‘late life love’ for the much younger Vanessa September; the grand historical unions, including those of Koos and Nonnie de la Rey and Jan and Isie Smuts.

Artists and writers have arguably the most lyrical affairs of them all, and here we have Des and Dawn Lindbergh, Ingrid Jonker and Jack Cope, the ground-breaking marriage of Jackie and Vera Nagtegaal, sculptor Edoardo Villa and his Claire, and prima ballerina assoluta Phyllis Spira and Philip Boyd. The loves of celebrities, such as that between beautiful former Miss South Africa Amy Kleinhans and Leighton Curd and the potential fairy-tale romance of prince Albert and South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock, are utterly irresistable.

By growing your own wedding flowers you can add a personal element to your special occasion, while caring for the environment and saving money at the same time. Filled with gorgeous pictures, this friendly, no-nonsense book makes growing and arranging your own flowers achievable and fun. Whether you're growing for a wedding or for a birthday, festival or other celebration, Georgie's cheerful advice takes you through everything you need to know. Step-by-step guides cover: Planning, growing, cutting and conditioning your flowers Spring, summer, autumn and winter weddings Flower craft for special occasions, including buttonholes, bouquets, centrepieces, garlands and flower crowns. From jam-jar posies to elaborate displays, Grow Your Own Wedding Flowers explains how to grow and create beautiful arrangements and make your special day unique, without costing the earth.

For brides and grooms who want to give their weddings new depth and meaning, two acclaimed poet-translators have gathered a stunning collection of poems and prose that will add a unique and personal dimension to the ceremony.

The Location. Flowers. Dress. Invitations. Linens. Food. China. Music. And, of course, the Cake. Once the proposal is accepted, the planning begins. To create a wedding that reflects your style and unique personality, you need a firm timeline showing exactly what needs to be done...and when. Let Joyce Scardina Becker, one of the world's leading wedding consultants, walk you through the process. That way, you're guaranteed to walk down the aisle stress-free--and in style.
"Countdown to Your Perfect Wedding" gives you detailed and easy-to-follow instructions for perfecting all aspects of your wonderful event. It shows how to customize each piece to create a day you will forever cherish.
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Organized around a 52-week timeline, which can be adjusted according to your own needs, each chapter features an essential aspect of planning the happiest day of your life. The book includes insider tips on how to get what you want, plan an appropriate budget, understand essential planning lingo, and much more. It also reveals some of the unique ways brides have accomplished a range of wedding tasks to fit everyone's pocketbook.
From announcing your engagement to planning your honeymoon getaway and everything in between, "Countdown to Your Perfect Wedding" is the indispensable must-have guide for any groom and bride-to-be.

This third edition of Wedding Planning and Management: Consultancy for Diverse Clients provides students, consultants, engaged couples, vendors and scholars with a comprehensive introduction to the business of weddings. Looking through an event management lens, this is the only book to thoroughly explore the fundamentals of weddings, including historical and cultural foundations, practice and the business of wedding planning, in one volume. Diversity and inclusivity are emphasized through the integration of wedding traditions from cultures around the globe and international case studies that inspire and set standards for best practice. Key features of the third edition include: Updated research reflecting trends in areas such as technology, social media, marriage equality legislation, LGBTQ+ weddings, celebrity influences, destination weddings, DIY essentials and planning eco-friendly weddings. Cutting-edge innovations in areas such as "green" venues, themed menus, fusion stationery, sustainable floral decor and distinctive site layout, all of which are highlighted by top wedding vendors. Budget management tips, timeline specifics and guidelines for starting and marketing a wedding consulting business. Over 100 international case studies exploring cultural traditions, vendor relations and best practice. A companion website for instructors, including updated PowerPoint slides, syllabus guidelines, real-world assignments and a comprehensive test bank. This full-color book is visually stunning, with over 150 images by top wedding photojournalist Rodney Bailey. End-of-chapter checklists, review questions and practical scenarios support readers' knowledge as they progress. Maggie Daniels and Carrie Wosicki bring a combination of over 45 years of industry practice and teaching experience. They have written a book that is the ideal guide to successful wedding planning and management.

Words of joy, love, devotion and celebration Deciding how to express your feelings on one of the most important days of your or your loved one's life can be overwhelming. Poems and Readings for Weddings collects the very best readings by world-renowned poets, bards, playwrights and novelists who have written passionately, thoughtfully and deeply over hundreds of years about love, marriage and commitment. This beautiful collection contains an astonishing range of poems, prose extracts, prayers and songs, all chosen to enhance the occasion, whether they be moving, witty, irreverent, thoughtful or heartfelt. Above all, these words will be recognized as timeless and true.

One of the most enduring expressions of human love and commitment, marriage exists in various forms in almost every culture and society throughout history.

You just got engaged! Or you've been engaged for a while but are finally sitting down to plan this party. Or maybe you haven't made anything exactly official yet, but you know you want to spend your lives together. Whichever it is, when you're ready to take a deep breath and start planning, this is the book you want,need,to have. Meg Keene has put together the (practical) companion to A Practical Wedding : smart, clear focused guidance,with a hefty does of reassurance,to help you plan your big day.From figuring out what you really want,as opposed to what everyone else thinks you should want,to help you keep an eye on the ceremony itself and the vows (a.k.a. why you're throwing this party in the first place), Meg helps you cover all the essentials:Setting a budget,and sticking to itChoosing a venue: traditional, non-traditional, and everything in betweenHiring good vendors, keeping your friendors, and why DIY doesn't always save moneyCatering, rentals, and everything else Pinterest forgot to tell youWedding decor: a realist's guideCreating and writing a ceremonyGetting everyone to show up...and have a good timeWith checklists (such as flowers, food, final venue walk-through) and key spreadsheets (guest list and seating chart, budget, venue search, and more), Meg helps you plan a wedding that will leave you feeling joyful, not emotionally exhausted and broke.

You have a wonderful opportunity to add to the magic of your daughter's wedding. Your words will linger in memories -- they may even be captured on video for future generations to hear. So what are the golden rules of speech making? How can you convey emotion, seriousness, and add a touch of humour? Should you offer advice to the happy couple, and what about the toast? The answers are all here in this vital book. Use it to add something special to an already special day.

Named "Best of the Best from the University Presses" for 2007 by the American Library AssociationWeddings today are a $70-billion business, yet no one has explained how the industry has become such a significant component of the American economy. In "Brides, Inc.," Vicki Howard goes behind the scenes of the various firms involved--from jewelers to caterers--to explore the origins of the lavish American wedding, demonstrating the important role commercial interests have played in shaping traditions most of us take for granted.Howard reveals how many of our customs and wedding rituals were the product of sophisticated advertising campaigns, merchandising promotions, and entrepreneurial innovations. Tracing the rise of the wedding industry from the 1920s through the 1950s, the author explains that retailers, bridal consultants, etiquette writers, caterers, and many others invented traditions--from the diamond engagement ring and double-ring ceremony to the gift registry to the package-deal catered affair. These businesses and entrepreneurs, many of them women, transformed wedding culture and set the stage for today's multibillion-dollar industry.The wedding industry began to take shape between the 1920s and the 1950s. Bridal magazine editors and etiquette writers, jewelers, department store window display artists, bridal consultants, fashion designers, and caterers invented new consumer rites and promoted higher standards of wedding consumption. Claiming ties with "ancient customs" and various historical periods, the wedding industry promoted new goods and services as timeless and unchanging. It introduced new ring customs and wedding apparel fashions, and "modern" services, such as gift registries that rationalized gift customs, bridal salons that saved time and made wedding planning more efficient, and wedding packages that standardized ceremonies and reception celebrations.During World War II, the traditional white wedding grew even more prevalent as jewelers and bridal gown manufacturers successfully sought exemptions from wartime restrictions, linking the diamond engagement ring, the double-ring ceremony, and the formal white wedding gown with democracy and American prosperity. By the 1950s, the wedding industry had made the formal white wedding tradition a part of a new cult of marriage and the modern American Dream.Entertaining and informative, "Brides, Inc." reveals the origins and development of this most exemplary American enterprise and brings the story up to the present with a discussion of such new phenomena as David's Bridal and the gay wedding industry.

From the authors of the Sunday Times bestseller The Little Book of Humanism A humanist wedding ceremony allows couples the freedom to express their love in a completely personal way - and choose what marriage means to them. In a beautiful collection of insights from humanist celebrants, plus quotes, poems and meditations from humanist writers and thinkers throughout history, The Little Book of Humanist Weddings is filled with inspiration to complement your unique celebration of love and commitment.

You can t dance this dance unless it s in your blood. Claire McCall is praying it s not in hers. Claire McCall is used to fighting back against the odds. Hard work, aptitude, and sheer determination have helped her rise from adverse circumstances to an internship in one of the nation s most competitive surgical residencies. But talent and tenacity mean nothing in the face of the discovery that is about to rock her world. It s called the 'Stoney Creek Curse' by folks in the small mountain town where Claire grew up. Behind the superstition lies a reality that could destroy her career. But getting to the truth is far from easy in a community with secrets to hide. As a web of relationships becomes increasingly tangled, two things become apparent. One is that more than one person doesn t want Claire to probe too deeply into the 'Stoney Creek Curse.' The other is that someone has reasons other than the curse for wanting Claire out of the picture permanently. Somewhere in the course of pursuing her career as a surgeon, Claire lost touch with the God who called her to it. Now she realizes how desperately she needs him. But can she reclaim a faith strong enough to see her through this deadly dance of circumstances?"

Many Christian singles today are in pain. Wounded from past relationships, overwhelmed at being single longer than they expected, devastated at finding themselves single again. Eighteen- to sixty-year-olds will welcome the timely, biblically based approach Dr. Raunikar offers as he encourages them along the path to Choosing God's Best: healing from the past; learning how to avoid the pain of "counterfeit oneness" physically, emotionally, and spiritually; and much more. This attractive, repackaged edition delves into the real issues Christian singles face today and offers sound, proven advice for creating deeply satisfying godly relationships.

Last year, one in three American weddings were officiated by a friend or family member. With the officiating trend on the rise, novice officiants need a resource to guide them. In The Wedding Officiant's Guide, interfaith minister Lisa Francesca breaks down the entire officiating process, from becoming an ordained officiant and interviewing the couple to drafting and performing a moving ceremony. Written in an engaging and friendly tone, and featuring empowering advice, suggested readings, stories and lessons learned from new officiants, and practical tips from wedding planners, this inviting handbook will help new officiants write and deliver a wedding ceremony that fulfills marriage laws, delights guests, and honors the marrying couple.

The book unpacks every element of a wedding - stationery, attire, seating plans, flowers and tablescapes, food and drink, gifts - with examples that will appeal to couples who care about how things are made but are not overly influenced by trends. The emphasis is on natural surroundings, seasonal flowers and food, modern dresses, minimalist ceremony structures, and naked cakes. Photographs of real weddings - "case studies" like a destination fete in Tuscany, a house party in Brooklyn, and a New Agey revel in Kauai - show how all the pieces can come together into a unique and expressive whole. Extensive practical information and resources give readers access to all the help they need for their own unique celebration.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Unfu*k Yourself comes tough-love that explains what makes relationships work: you taking responsibility to fix yourself.

'Love is patient, love is blind. . .' Until it's not. Then what?

No matter how much advice we get or how much work we do on our 'stuff', nothing ever seems to make the difference. The truth of it is, you're woefully ill-equipped for one of the most life-defining things you will ever take on - being in a committed relationship.

Whether you're currently in one, want to be in one, half in-half out, getting over one, married, single, separated, divorced, or just overwhelmed with the whole thing, let's cut through the morass of relationship schtick and put you back in charge. No flowery BS, no woo-woo strategies, systems, or techniques, just real talk, for real people who want a real relationship in their life that actually works.

Goodbye, caterers. So long, wedding coordinators. Here is the bride's guide to thinking outside that robin's egg bluewedding-industry box. In this, the only comprehensive do-it-yourself wedding book, youll find everything you need to pulloff a personalized celebration. No cookie-cutter weddings here With how-to info on flowers, invites, food, the ceremony, and more, "The DIY Wedding" makes it easy to spend less and create an event that is entirely original. Inspiring ideas, countless resources, budgeting tips, contract templates, plus start-to-finish projects ease the planning pressure.

Bestselling cake decorating author and world-renown sugarcraft teacher, Lindy Smith shows you how to make a wedding cake with the minimum of fuss but with maximum effect! Today's brides are looking for simple wedding cakes that look modern and stylish but also want unique wedding cakes that don't cost the earth. This step-by-step guide will show you how to create a wide range of styles for modern simple wedding cakes, using the latest trends in cake decorating and wedding design, for a DIY wedding cake book like no other! Lindy Smith is one of the world's best-selling cake decorators, and has sold over half a million books worldwide. The simple wedding cakes in this book feature on-trend designs that break with tradition, using styles, colours and shapes that today's brides are looking for. With achievable wedding cake designs and accessible cake decorating techniques, this book covers the whole process of making a wedding cake - from conception to construction to decoration and even demolition!