Gravitas and fun get married within these pages, and we're all invited Certified lifecycle celebrant Christopher Shelley is on a mission to revolutionize the wedding ceremony—or at least to make it as enjoyable as the reception. In Best. Ceremony. Ever., he will forever alter the way couples and wedding pros think about tying the knot. Shelley, who has officiated hundreds of weddings, walks couples and officiants through working together, from setting the atmosphere to telling an unforgettable love story. He shares questions for the couple to ask themselves before meeting with their officiant, and offers a wedding vow workshop and complete sample ceremonies. Shelley cares about the guests as much as the couple getting married, and his friendly, entertaining guide is a treasure chest of ideas to make guests laugh, cry, and then laugh at how much they’re crying. From announcing the wedding (insert cliff-hanger) to selecting venues (consider breweries!) to choreographing processionals (dance party!) to explosive recessionals (balloon drop!), opportunities to surprise guests abound.
**AS SEEN ON BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS** 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION - WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY THE AUTHOR 'A true diamond of a novel, glinting with comedy and tragedy' Daily Mail It is 1941 and Captain Antonio Corelli, a young Italian officer, is posted to the Greek island of Cephallonia as part of the occupying forces. At first he is ostracised by the locals but over time he proves himself to be civilised, humorous – and a consummate musician. When Pelagia, the local doctor's daughter, finds her letters to her fiancé go unanswered, Antonio and Pelagia draw close and the working of the eternal triangle seems inevitable. But can this fragile love survive as a war of bestial savagery gets closer and the lines are drawn between invader and defender? 'Louis de Bernières is in the direct line that runs through Dickens and Evelyn Waugh...he has only to look into his world, one senses, for it to rush into reality, colours and touch and taste' Evening Standard
Drawing on the author's experience designing and performing wedding celebrations, "I Do" is a creative, accessible guide that helps couples devise a ritual that is as unique as they are.
Say “I do” to tying the knot. “Officiant Lisa Francesca has literally written the book on how to plan the perfect ceremony.” —Martha Stewart Weddings According to a 2019 WeddingWire report based on data from more than 18,000 newlyweds, only twenty-five percent of weddings are taking place in religious institutions. More than one in three American weddings are being 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.
SPECIAL PRICE FOR A LIMITED TIME Edward Monkton’s surprisingly philosophical take on all aspects of love, life and happiness have made Monkton’s drawings stylish collectors’ items and a mark of good taste year in, year out. Another offering from the bestselling author.
Based on a Navy SEAL's inspiring graduation speech, this #1 New York Times bestseller of powerful life lessons "should be read by every leader in America" (Wall Street Journal). If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed. On May 17, 2014, Admiral William H. McRaven addressed the graduating class of the University of Texas at Austin on their Commencement day. Taking inspiration from the university's slogan, "What starts here changes the world," he shared the ten principles he learned during Navy Seal training that helped him overcome challenges not only in his training and long Naval career, but also throughout his life; and he explained how anyone can use these basic lessons to change themselves-and the world-for the better. Admiral McRaven's original speech went viral with over 10 million views. Building on the core tenets laid out in his speech, McRaven now recounts tales from his own life and from those of people he encountered during his military service who dealt with hardship and made tough decisions with determination, compassion, honor, and courage. Told with great humility and optimism, this timeless book provides simple wisdom, practical advice, and words of encouragement that will inspire readers to achieve more, even in life's darkest moments. "Powerful." --USA Today "Full of captivating personal anecdotes from inside the national security vault." --Washington Post "Superb, smart, and succinct." --Forbes
A companion to the popular website APracticalWedding.com and A Practical Wedding Planner, A Practical Wedding helps you sort through the basics to create the wedding you want -- without going broke or crazy in the process. After all, what really matters on your wedding day is not so much how it looked as how it felt. In this refreshing guide, expert Meg Keene shares her secrets to planning a beautiful celebration that reflects your taste and your relationship. You'll discover: The real purpose of engagement (hint: it's not just about the planning) How to pinpoint what matters most to you and your partner DIY-ing your wedding: brilliant or crazy? How to communicate decisions to your family Why that color-coded spreadsheet is actually worth it Wedding Zen can be yours. Meg walks you through everything from choosing a venue to writing vows, complete with stories and advice from women who have been in the trenches: the Team Practical brides. So here's to the joyful wedding, the sensible wedding, the unbelievably fun wedding! A Practical Wedding is your complete guide to getting married with grace.
"The marriage union is the closest relationship that can exist between two human beings. When a man and woman decide to join together in marriage, they should do so with full realization of their responsibilities. Marriage is serious business. When two born-again believers know it is God's will for them to marry, they come together...
New York Times Bestseller: The quest for the American Dream soars to new heights in this coming-of-age story of a young woman and her country. Living with her aunt in poor, rural Preston, Pennsylvania, thirteen-year-old Ellen Watson loves books and music and is completely oblivious to her own beauty. But her extraordinary looks arouse envy and malice in the female townspeople—and lust in the males. Hired as a housemaid in the palatial home of the village mayor, Ellen soon catches the attention of his son, Jeremy Porter, who captures her heart in turn. He offers to send her to school, and four years later he proposes marriage. As the years pass, Ellen’s life parallels the hopes, dreams, and fears of a no-longer innocent nation. As America’s enemies gather, Ellen must face her own demons. The wife of the scion of a powerful political family, she has everything she could ever desire: security, children, and a successful, adoring husband. But when tragedy rips her life apart, Ellen will be forced to confront some terrible truths about her marriage, her family, and herself. Played out against the backdrop of early twentieth-century America, Ceremony of the Innocent intertwines Ellen’s personal journey with America’s emergence from the devastation of World War I. It raises vital questions, such as: Are we as good as we believe we are? And is faith enough to keep us moving forward even in the face of unimaginable loss?
'Wanna write the wedding ceremony your couple actually wants? Wedding Zero to Ceremony Hero is no wham-bam filing cabinet of canned ceremony scripts for you to copy and paste. It's not a data dump of wedding instructions, either. Wedding Zero to Ceremony Hero is a step-by-step, follow-along process. The goal of this book is to teach you two things at once. First, as you read, you'll be learning all the ins and outs of a wedding ceremony-down to the granular details. Second, at the very same time, you'll be transforming yourself into a guide for your wedding couple. When you get to the end of this book, you'll be able to describe all the moving parts of a wedding ceremony, rock a planning session with your couple, and deliver the script they've always wanted. Are you at Wedding Zero? No problem! Mark Allan Groleau has helped thousands of new officiants and celebrants all over the world get rave reviews from their ceremonies. Now it's your turn. This ... is how you get to Ceremony Hero and write the script your couple has always wanted! "Mark's book not only epitomizes his commitment to his craft, but also demonstrates his desire to help the rest of us overcome our ceremony jitters and serve as officiant with total confidence, reverence, and joy. I met Mark as our two worlds collided-his teaching wedding officiant success, and mine teaching mobile notary and loan signing agent success. It's the perfect marriage of industries and passions! (See what I did there?) What truly bonded us, though, is our mutual passion for teaching others. On both fronts, the work matters! As a wedding officiant, whether your couple asked you as a friend or hired you as a professional, you're being counted on to help make their nuptials special. Give your couples, their guests, and yourself the gift of learning from the best so you can deliver a ceremony they will remember forever. Read this book! In fact, read the whole series!" - Bill Soroka, founder of NotaryCoach.com & author of Sign & Thrive: How to Make Six Figures as a Mobile Notary and Loan Signing Agent "More and more, modern couples are enlisting the help of a dear friend or relative to marry them. To pronounce them married. It's a big job, and you're the chosen one for the job of officiant or celebrant. You need this guide! In Mark Allan Groleau, you have an expert officiant guiding you step by step as you craft and execute a modern wedding ceremony. Seriously, we call on Mark quite often and we cannot sing his praises enough. If we were getting married, we'd want Mark to marry us! Whether you are a layman or a professional, this will help you be the best damn wedding officiant you can be. So go ahead - marry your friends! We believe in you, and we believe in Mark's process." - Christy Matthews & Michelle Martinez, hosts/producers of The Big Wedding Planning Podcast & The Big Wedding Planning Master Class
