Sharon Naylor, bestselling author of more than 35 books for brides, offers savvy insight and info for women who want to be brilliant bridesmaids but not break the bank
Bridesmaids today face an average expense of more than $3,000 when they accept the invitation to be in a bridal party. Add in the cost of travel and lodging—which is increasingly becoming necessary, with the growing popularity of destination weddings—and that $3,000 climbs to an even higher price tag. It’s hard to say no when a friend asks you to be a part of their wedding, but in this economy, most bridesmaids just don't have the money to participate—not without ending up with a handful of maxed-out credit cards and a whole lot of resentment, anyway. In Bridesmaid on a Budget, Sharon Naylor—the author of multiple best-selling budgeting books for brides—offers women advice on how to beat the system. Naylor gives tips on where to find the best, most affordable dresses and accessories; planning fantastic (but low-cost) showers and bachelorette parties; giving a great wedding gift without emptying your pocketbook; minimizing the extra expenses of a destination wedding; and more. For the almost 10 million women per year who become one, Bridesmaid on a Budget is an indispensable guide to being a brilliant bridesmaid—without breaking the bank.
RusticWeddingChic.com is the number one online resource for rustic & country weddings. Rustic weddings are the hottest alternative to the traditional hotel ballroom, allowing couples to make their day more personal. Maggie Lord, founder of RusticWeddingChic.com shares inspiration, ideas and advice on planning a rustic and country wedding. Get an insider’s look at real weddings set in rustic locations, country and farm destinations, and backyard venues, all with an independent, eco-friendly and creative approach. Rustic Wedding Chic is also the inspiration for a collection of rustic wedding favors and goods from Whispering Pines.
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.
Start Your Marriage with Money in the Bank, not Bills in the Mail. In a world where the average wedding costs around $30,000, a realistic plan for a dream wedding no matter what your budget. Many couples are unnecessarily going deeply into debt to pay for their own weddings. Pastor Todd Outcalt has counseled hundreds of couples on how to avoid this strain on a new marriage, and now he's bringing his message to brides and grooms everywhere. With costs rising, the economy faltering, and the future uncertain, Outcalt provides an overall plan for cost-saving and dream-building. Unlike other books, Your Beautiful Wedding on Any Budget creates a plan tailored to your financial reality, not a specific dollar amount. It offers the most flexibility, showing: How to prioritize what's important so you know where to spend $$$ and where to spend $ Planning strategies for realistic costs of each component How to use the internet to save money Couples can now plan the wedding of their dreams, and go on their honeymoon knowing that every expense is paid for! Learn How To: Determine what kind of unique day you can afford: Design your own plan using sample budgets as a guide Have an elegant wedding without the high costs Host a large wedding on a small income Increase the funds for your wedding and spend that cash smartly Cut wedding costs easily and painlessly Prioritize what's important to you so you know where to splurge and where to save Work with parents and others who have a say in wedding money matters Create a debt-free wedding if you're already in debt Your Beautiful Wedding on Any Budget reveals how to craft a debt-free big day, giving you the techniques and strategies to help you enter into marriage with a bigger wallet and lower stress level. Rather than focusing on a certain dollar amount, Your Beautiful Wedding on Any Budget allows you to design a plan tailored to your financial reality, whatever that may be.
Bring your big day to life without breaking the bank Congratulations! Getting married is a thrilling time and a major milestone—but you might be overwhelmed at how much there is to do and how much it’s going to cost. Here’s the secret: You don’t need to spend a year’s salary on your wedding day for it to be unique and memorable. This complete wedding planning book shows you how. YOUR ULTIMATE WEDDING ORGANIZER: Worksheets, lists, and tips from an expert wedding planner to help you prioritize the things you want most and create a wedding that’s affordable, stress-free, and totally yours. FLEXIBLE BUDGET ADVICE: Learn how to save money and avoid common industry traps, so you can throw a beautiful wedding whether your budget is $1,500 or $50,000. THE CEREMONY & BEYOND: Find chapters that cover every aspect of your wedding, from your initial vision, to the venue, photography, food, music, and even the honeymoon. Pick up The Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner & Organizer today and start planning an affordable wedding you’ll never forget.
Gratitude and happiness go hand-in-hand -- and The Thank-You Project provides an easy-to-follow approach for creating more of both. Who helped you become the person you are today? As Nancy Davis Kho approached a milestone birthday, she decided to answer that question by sending thank-you letters to the many people who had influenced her, helped her, and inspired her over the years: family, friends, mentors, teachers, co-workers, even a couple of former friends and exes. While her recipients always seemed genuinely pleased to read the letters, what Nancy never expected was the profound and positive effect the process would have on her. As it turns out, emerging research proves that actively appreciating the formative people in your life, past and present, can lead to a lasting increase in your happiness levels--and The Thank-you Project offers a charming, entertaining roadmap to see, say and savor your way there.
In the tradition of Sloane Crosley, Mindy Kaling, and Katie Heaney, a hilarious and insightful memoir about one New York City millennial’s journey to find herself, her dream career, and true love, all while juggling a truly unique job as the world’s only professional bridesmaid. After moving to New York City in her mid-twenties to pursue her dream of writing—and not living on the “Upper East Side” of her parents’ house anymore—Jen Glantz looked forward to a future of happy hours and Sunday brunches with her besties. What she got instead were a string of phone calls that began with, “Jen, I have something exciting to tell you!” and ended with, “I’d be honored if you would be my bridesmaid.” At first she was delighted, but it wasn’t long before she realized two things: all of her assets were tied up in bridesmaid dresses, and she herself was no closer to finding The One. She couldn't do much about the second thing (though her mother would beg to differ), but she could about the first. One (slightly tipsy) night, Jen posted an ad on Craigslist advertising her services as a professional bridesmaid. When she woke up the next morning, it had gone viral. What began as a half-joke suddenly turned into a lifetime of adventure for Jen–and more insight into the meaning of love than she was getting from OKCupid—as she walked down the aisle at stranger after stranger’s wedding. Fresh, funny, and surprisingly sweet, Always a Bridesmaid (For Hire) is an entertaining reminder that even if you don’t have everything together, you can still be a total boss—or, at the very least, a BFF to another girl in need.
Dreaming of having the most beautiful wedding photos? It's important to choose an amazing photographer, but you shouldn't stop there. To have the best wedding photos, you also need wedding plans that are carefully designed with your photography in mind. In this inspirational and practical guide, wedding photographer Cavin Elizabeth teaches you how simple changes and additions to your wedding plans can elevate the beauty of your wedding photography. With sections such as choosing your dream photographer, what to look for in a getting ready room, and how to construct an ideal photography timeline, Cavin Elizabeth's easy-to-follow book will have you planning for a picture perfect wedding.
Will you be my bridesmaid? It’s flattering, isn’t it? A romantic celebration, and you’ll be playing a supporting role. But what if being a bridesmaid means committing to a year of party planning and splurging on an unflattering dress you’ll wear at the wedding--and never again? How does a friendship survive strained budgets, bridal duties, and toilet paper games? Bridesmaid veterans Sarah Stein and Lucy Talbot are here with a manual that will prepare you for one of the greatest tests of female friendship. From dress shopping (for hers and yours) to budgeting for and planning the out-of-town bachelorette weekend (it’s her only request!) to delicately declining other bridesmaids’ bad ideas, you’ll learn how to accomplish all your duties without an ounce of bitterness and with total grace. With the advice, tips, timetables, and lists provided here, you’ll confidently slip into your new role and look forward to creating amazing memories of this exciting time in both of your lives.