From matchmaking to speed-dating, strawboys to gatecrashers, and jaunting carts to limousines, the face of Irish weddings has changed dramatically over the centuries. Connecting the old with the new, this overview traces the path of both romance and marriage from olden-day Ireland up to the present era. The various ceremonies and proverbs associated with marriage are discussed, and the antics that traditionally followed the couple up the aisle are also addressed. Humorous and lighthearted, this beautifully illustrated exploration also contains advice on how to hold your own traditional Irish wedding.

In A Fairy Tale Affair - How to Plan a Fabulous Destination Wedding on a Shoestring Budget, the mother and daughter team, Deborah McKenzie and Danielle Wigfall present original ideas for couples planning a destination wedding. They include information from comparing different destination hotspots to marriage license requirements. For any couple planning a destination wedding, this book is a must-read reference guide. It will guide you through your decision to have a destination wedding to turning yours into a fabulous event. Also, for couples having a local wedding, many of the creative ideas offered can be applied to weddings in your own hometown. A Fairy Tale Affair, will quickly become the standard resource for couples planning their own fabulous destination wedding, or hometown wedding...on a shoestring budget.

Will Lucy make it down the aisle? It's going to be an uphill struggle . . . The bride: A late starter in life, Lucy always swore she'd never get married. But now she has to find a caterer who doesn't charge a fortune for a cupcake, a dressmaker who doesn't make her cry and a way to bring Great-Auntie Betty down from Dundee for the sixpence she is willing to spend - isn't it meant to be HER special day? The groom: Christopher has spent twenty minutes compiling his guest list and checking his suit fits before returning to his newspaper - this wedding business isn't so hard after all. The mother of the bride: Armed with colour-coded wedding planning folders she is all set. However, twice-daily conversations with her daughter don't seem to be shortening the 'to-do' list she's drawn up. The father of the bride: A wedding? My daughter? Who's she marrying? The best friend: Gillian has stood by Lucy through thick and thin, but she is refusing to be a bridesmaid and wear a daft dress.