A practical wedding planner A step-by-step guide to creating the wedding you want with the budget you've got (without losing your mind in the process)

Meg Keene

Book - 2015

"With reality tv shows, glossy bridal magazines, and fanciful Pinterest boards leading the way, it can be easy for a recently engaged couple to slide from wedding planning into wedding madness. Inspiration and ideas abound; what couples really need is clear guidance on how to assess this information and sort the useful from the disastrous. Enter A Practical Wedding Planner, the (practical) companion volume to A Practical Wedding. Meg Keene walks couples through planning, from the big picture down to the nitty-gritty details. In her characteristic seasoned, sassy style, Keene offers no-nonsense guidance for planning a dream wedding on a real budget. "--

Saved in:

2nd Floor Show me where

395.22/Keene
2 / 2 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
2nd Floor 395.22/Keene Checked In
2nd Floor 395.22/Keene Checked In
Subjects
Published
Boston : Da Capo Lifelong Books, a member of the Perseus Books Group 2015.
Language
English
Main Author
Meg Keene (-)
Edition
First Da Capo Press edition
Item Description
Includes index.
Physical Description
xv, 237 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
ISBN
9780738218427
  • Introduction
  • Chapter 1. Figuring Out What You Really Want
  • APW Basics
  • So You Liked It (and You're Gonna Put a Ring on It)
  • Priorities, Priorities, Priorities
  • Venn Diagram of Emotional Goals
  • Our Wedding Mission Statement
  • All the Wedding Things (Many of Which You Don't Need)
  • Wedding Planning Priorities
  • Extra Credit: Bringing In the Family
  • Putting It in Order
  • How to Have a Fun Wedding
  • The Perfect Is the Enemy of the Good
  • Chapter 2. Guests First, Budget Second
  • APW Basics
  • Don't Start by Cutting Your Guest List
  • Questions to Discuss with Your Partner
  • The Guest List Spreadsheet
  • Sidebar: Wedding Party Basics
  • Setting Your Budget
  • The Sky Is the Limit
  • Taking It to the Bank
  • A Post-it Note Does Not a Budget Make
  • The 123s of Budget Setting
  • The Devil Is Not in the Details
  • The Myth of the Wedding Budget Pie Chart
  • Real Wedding Budget Pie Charts
  • Chapter 3. From the Ballroom to the Beach: Location and Logistics
  • APW Basics
  • Figure Out What You Want in a Venue
  • Traditional Versus Non-Traditional Venues
  • Traditional Venues
  • Non-Traditional Venues
  • How to Find a Traditional Venue
  • Venues and Catering cost?
  • Whittling Down Your Options
  • All-Inclusive Venues
  • Finding Non-Traditional Venues
  • Sidebar: Destination Weddings
  • What Is (and Isn't) Included?
  • Sidebar: Ideas for Non-Traditional Wedding Venues
  • How to Throw a Wedding in a Non-Traditional Space
  • Rentals
  • Finding a Rental Company
  • Order Lots of Glassware (and Other Rental Tips)
  • Table and Linen Sizes
  • Renting a Tent
  • Other Items You Might Need to Rent
  • Sidebar: Questions to Ask at a Venue Walk-Through
  • Chapter 4. Vendors, Friendors, and Doing It Yourself
  • APW Basics
  • Hiring Vendors: Who Conies First?
  • Sidebar: Questions to Ask at a Venue Walk-Through
  • How Vendor Pricing Works
  • Where Are All the Awesome Vendors Hiding?
  • Don't Forget to Vet Your Vendors
  • Wedding Vendor Contracts
  • What to Do If Something Goes Wrong
  • Hiring a Photographer
  • Alternative Methods for Capturing the Day
  • Hire a Non-Pro
  • DIYing Your Photos with the Help of Family and Friends
  • Who Is Going to Plan and Run This Thing?
  • Hiring a Wedding Planner
  • Hiring a Day-Of Coordinator
  • Venue or Catering Managers
  • Do All of Your Weddings Look the Same? And Other Questions to Ask
  • Wedding Stage Manager-Your DIY Wedding Planner
  • Sidebar: What Your DOC (or Wedding Stage Manager) Does
  • Hiring an Officiant
  • The Four Basic Types of Wedding Officiants
  • Hiring a DJ
  • DIY DJing
  • Hiring a Band
  • Hiring a Hair Stylist or Makeup Artist
  • Yes, You Can Wield the Hairspray Yourself
  • DIYing Your Makeup: Your Regular Routine... Plus
  • ...And Everyone Else
  • Sidebar: Tipping Your Vendors
  • So You've Been Reading This Book...and Decided You Want to Elope
  • Just a Few Ways You Can Elope
  • Marriage License: A Mini-Checklist
  • Un-Plan Your Elopement
  • How to Reschedule or Call Off Your Wedding
  • Chapter 5. Cheers! Feeding Everyone
  • APW Basics
  • The Many Ways to Feed Your Guests
  • How to Find a Full-Service Caterer
  • What Full-Service Caterers Do
  • Sidebar: What to Look For in a Traditional Caterer
  • Think Outside the Box
  • Food Service Options
  • Sidebar: Accommodating Food Restrictions and Allergies
  • Alcohol Service Options
  • Sidebar: Standard Wedding Bar Options
  • Restaurant Weddings
  • Sidebar: Wedding Cakes: Flour, Butter, Sugar (and Cash)
  • Non-Traditional Catering, from Food Trucks to DIY
  • Sidebar: The DIY Catering Checklist
  • Who's Taking Out the Trash? And Other Staffing Issues
  • How Much Food Do You Need?
  • Sidebar: How to Buy Alcohol for Your Wedding
  • Food Trucks
  • Food Truck Issues to Consider
  • Yes, You Can Have a Potluck Wedding
  • Sidebar: Catering Hack Ideas
  • Self-Catering
  • What You Need to Self-Cater
  • Meal Planning
  • Sidebar: Self-Catering Planning Documents You'll Need
  • Chapter 6. Getting Everyone to Show Up (and Have a Good Time)
  • APW Basics
  • Save-the-Dates
  • Invitation Wording and Etiquette
  • Sidebar: A Note on Child-Free Weddings
  • Sidebar: The Gently Feminist Guidelines for Addressing Wedding Invitations
  • People Are Terrible at RSVPing (Help Them Help You)
  • Thank-You Notes
  • What to Include in a Wedding Website
  • Sidebar: Hotel Blocks
  • Registries Aren't About You, Exactly
  • Sidebar: A Note on Giving Gifts
  • Social Media and Weddings
  • To Share...
  • Or Not to Share...
  • Is That the Question?
  • Wedding Vendors and Image Usage Rights
  • Sidebar: Party, Party, Parties!
  • Chapter 7. In This Hot Outfit, I Thee Wed
  • APW Basics
  • Wedding Dresses: Scam or Not'
  • Traditional Wedding Dresses
  • Sidebar: Dresses by the Dollars
  • The Alterations Game
  • Wedding Dress Timelines: Separating Fact from Fiction
  • Sidebar: Bridal Accessories: From Sparkle to Bangle to Pouf
  • Body Image, Sizing, and Wedding Dresses
  • Sidebar: How to Have an Empowering Wedding Dress Shopping Experience When You Wear a Plus Size (or Any Size)
  • Not All Wedding Dresses Come from Wedding Dress Stores
  • Major Retailers and (Nan-) Wedding Dresses
  • Buying and Selling Used Dresses
  • Vintage Wedding Dresses
  • Sidebar: Things to Keep in Mind When Shopping for a Vintage Wedding Dress
  • Buying a Dress from China
  • The Perfect Bridesmaid Dress Does Not Exist
  • Traditional Bridesmaid Dresses
  • When Your Bridesmaids Are All Across the Country...
  • Bridesmaid Dress Alternatives
  • Sidebar: How to Make Mismatched Outfits Work
  • Suits, Suits, Suits
  • Types of Suits, or What to Do with All the Buttons
  • Sidebar: Rental Tuxes and Affordable Suits
  • Buying a Suit That Fits
  • Suit Colors and Fabrics
  • Sidebar: More Casual Groom Style
  • Androgynous Styling Options, Suits for Women, and Other Gender-Queer Fashion Choices
  • Chapter 8. Sparkles and Spreadsheets: A Realist's Guide to Wedding Decor
  • APW Basics
  • Don't Plan Your Wedding Backward
  • Get off the Internet and into Your Venue
  • Creating a Decor Plan
  • The Relaxed Color Palette
  • Glitter Fabulous Is Totally a Style
  • You Can't Do All the Projects (So Pick a Few That Matter)
  • Sidebar: DIY and Decor Management
  • The Big Ugly Space Problem
  • Advice for More Decor Situations
  • Outdoor Spaces
  • Low-Light Spaces
  • Venues Where You Can't Attach Things to the Walls
  • Sidebar: Affordable Decor Materials
  • Chapter 9. Picking Flowers: Florists, DJY, and When the Blooms Js Off the Ranunculus
  • APW Basics
  • When to Use a Florist
  • Finding a Professional Florist
  • Working with a Florist
  • Sidebar: Where to Buy Wedding Flowers
  • Flower Chart
  • Floral Hacks
  • DIY Bouquets and No-Big-Deal Centerpieces
  • Floral Consulting and DIY Flowers
  • DIYing All of Your Wedding Flowers
  • Chapter 10. Ceremonies, Vows, and Why We're All here
  • APW Basics
  • Pick a Thesis
  • Sidebar; Legal Requirements
  • Putting the Words Together
  • Pick a Structure
  • Fit In the Fun Stuff
  • Sidebar: A Checklist for Officiating a Ceremony
  • The Building Blocks of a Wedding Service
  • Sidebar: Wedding Ceremonies: Many Cultures, Many Ways
  • Wedding Vows: Engrave Them on Your Heart
  • To Write or Not to Write
  • Breaking Down Vows into Parts
  • How to Write Your Vows
  • Interfaith Services: The Basics
  • Sidebar; Religious Wedding Vows
  • Sidebar: Secular Wedding Vows
  • Chapter 11. Getting' It Done
  • APW Basics
  • Being Laid-Back Requires Advance Planning
  • Once It's Planned, Pass It Off
  • Sidebar: How Long Is a Wedding?
  • A Wedding Timeline Is a Gift to Your Guests
  • Sidebar: Sample Timelines
  • Sidebar: The Gap Between Religious Ceremonies and Receptions
  • Making a Floor Plan
  • How Much Space Do You Need?
  • When to Have a Seating Chart
  • Escort Cards, Name Cards, and How Seating Assignments Work
  • Creating Your Seating Chart with Minimal Tears
  • Sidebar: Planning a Wedding Weekend
  • Shuttles, Buses, and Vintage Cars
  • The Wedding Rehearsal
  • The Rehearsal Dinner
  • Getting All the Stuff There, and Back Again
  • Sidebar: Day-Of Emergency Kit
  • The Wedding Planning Binder
  • Conclusion from Here to the STARS
  • Appendix
  • How to Throw a Wedding in a Non-Traditional Space
  • Potential Rental Items Checklist
  • DIY Catering Checklist
  • Potential Floral Item List
  • DIY Flowers Shopping List
  • DIY Bar Alcohol-Buying Calculations
  • DIY Bar Alcohol-Buying Shopping List
  • DIY Bar Setup List
  • Final Site Visit/Venue Walk-Through Checklist
  • Last-Minute Things You Might Have Forgotten (Two Weeks Out)
  • Last-Minute Things You Might Have Forgotten (Night Before)
  • List of Documents to Have in Your Day-Of Binder
  • Sample Spreadsheets
  • Guest List and Seating Chart
  • Budget
  • Venue Search
  • Pack List
  • Important People
  • Vendor List
  • Working Timeline
  • Decor Setup Instructions
  • Find More Resources on APractialWedding.com
  • Acknowledgements
  • Sources
  • Index
  • About the Author
Review by Booklist Review

The words practical and wedding don't often go together, since that event is filled with emotion, not fact. Blogger Keene (A Practical Wedding, 2011) works on both sides of the brain, especially with her straightforward APW Basics on each chapter's first page. For example, Serve everyone on time. Serve everyone on time. Serve everyone on time. (And if you're not serving a meal, don't have your reception at a mealtime). It's that kind of perspective that'll calm any bride and groom; she adds to that sense of security by anticipating anything and everything that could go wrong, with plans to avoid or solve. This handy guide covers everything from how to throw a wedding in a nontraditional space to a potential rental-items checklist, a DIY catering checklist, alcohol-buying calculations, last-minute things you might have forgotten (two weeks out), last-minute things you might have forgotten (night before), a list of documents to have in your day-of binder, and sample spreadsheets. All are easily photocopied, and many are available on her popular blog, making this a fine addition to public libraries.--Jacobs, Barbara Copyright 2016 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.