Comments on: The Offbeat reading list http://offbeatbride.com/2009/06/the-offbeat-reading-list Creative Alternatives for Independent Brides Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:08:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Meg F http://offbeatbride.com/2009/06/the-offbeat-reading-list/comment-page-2#comment-47727 Meg F Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:38:31 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=2332#comment-47727 Ok, so I'm already married, but wish I had seen this site when I was planning mine! My sister is planning her wedding and will definitely benefit from this! My favorite when planning mine was just "The Bride's Mini 411" All this book is is a book of checklists--I had to take out a few items because they weren't relevant, but it really helped me in the final stages of planning to make sure I hadn't overlooked any details. I haven't tried The Bride's Book of Lists, but it looks like a similar thing to the mini version. I liked the mini version because I could easily throw it in my purse. Ok, so I'm already married, but wish I had seen this site when I was planning mine! My sister is planning her wedding and will definitely benefit from this!

My favorite when planning mine was just "The Bride's Mini 411" All this book is is a book of checklists–I had to take out a few items because they weren't relevant, but it really helped me in the final stages of planning to make sure I hadn't overlooked any details. I haven't tried The Bride's Book of Lists, but it looks like a similar thing to the mini version. I liked the mini version because I could easily throw it in my purse.

]]> By: caitiebugg http://offbeatbride.com/2009/06/the-offbeat-reading-list/comment-page-2#comment-46016 caitiebugg Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:07:09 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=2332#comment-46016 I'm a huge fan of "The Bride Instructional Manual: How to Survive and Possibly Even Enjoy the Biggest Day in Your Life". It has very practical information without being terribly heavy handed. When I first picked it up, it reminded me of the "Worst Case Scenario" books without being too fatalist! :) I'm a huge fan of "The Bride Instructional Manual: How to Survive and Possibly Even Enjoy the Biggest Day in Your Life". It has very practical information without being terribly heavy handed. When I first picked it up, it reminded me of the "Worst Case Scenario" books without being too fatalist! :)

]]> By: Lara http://offbeatbride.com/2009/06/the-offbeat-reading-list/comment-page-1#comment-45063 Lara Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:37:01 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=2332#comment-45063 One I recommend for grooms is "The Engaged Groom: You're Getting Married. Read this Book." It treats dudes like active participants that aren't idiots. One I recommend for grooms is "The Engaged Groom: You're Getting Married. Read this Book." It treats dudes like active participants that aren't idiots.

]]> By: Rodrigues http://offbeatbride.com/2009/06/the-offbeat-reading-list/comment-page-1#comment-44879 Rodrigues Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:13:37 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=2332#comment-44879 I'll have to pick up a couple of the ones about wedding culture... we're done with the wedding but the process is still pretty fascinating. I never finished "Altared" but the couple of essays I read were pretty thoughtful and enjoyable. I'll have to pick up a couple of the ones about wedding culture… we're done with the wedding but the process is still pretty fascinating. I never finished "Altared" but the couple of essays I read were pretty thoughtful and enjoyable.

]]> By: Erin http://offbeatbride.com/2009/06/the-offbeat-reading-list/comment-page-1#comment-44857 Erin Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:02:23 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=2332#comment-44857 I can't remember if I added a review in the bookworms group or not, but we found Weddings from the Heart to be really helpful in crafting our ceremony. It had a list of the traditional elements of a ceremony (processional, invocation, address) and what order they happen in, and that helped us break things down. It also had examples of 4 different ceremonies, broken down into those elements so that you could see how they go into play, and a large section of readings and vows. We did our ceremony from scratch and it gave us a really good starting point. I can't remember if I added a review in the bookworms group or not, but we found Weddings from the Heart to be really helpful in crafting our ceremony. It had a list of the traditional elements of a ceremony (processional, invocation, address) and what order they happen in, and that helped us break things down. It also had examples of 4 different ceremonies, broken down into those elements so that you could see how they go into play, and a large section of readings and vows.

We did our ceremony from scratch and it gave us a really good starting point.

]]> By: Mary B. http://offbeatbride.com/2009/06/the-offbeat-reading-list/comment-page-1#comment-44842 Mary B. Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:41:45 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=2332#comment-44842 I'm seconding The Meaning of Wife as a good read for anyone who struggles with the term. It has a balanced tone, not too academic, but not too pop culture oriented. I'm seconding The Meaning of Wife as a good read for anyone who struggles with the term. It has a balanced tone, not too academic, but not too pop culture oriented.

]]> By: Alison K http://offbeatbride.com/2009/06/the-offbeat-reading-list/comment-page-1#comment-44824 Alison K Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:40:18 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=2332#comment-44824 Bridal Bargains! Yes! I haven't really read any of the other books listed, but i will have to check them out (even though my wedding has already come and gone). Bridal Bargains! Yes! I haven't really read any of the other books listed, but i will have to check them out (even though my wedding has already come and gone).

]]> By: Sharla http://offbeatbride.com/2009/06/the-offbeat-reading-list/comment-page-1#comment-44815 Sharla Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:47:11 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=2332#comment-44815 I really liked The Meaning of Wife. It was very thoughtful & presented some interesting facts & info, yet wasn't pedantic or trying to push any agenda. http://www.amazon.com/Meaning-Wife-Provocative-Marriage-Twenty-first/dp/0312425007/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244508326&sr=8-1 I really liked The Meaning of Wife. It was very thoughtful & presented some interesting facts & info, yet wasn't pedantic or trying to push any agenda.
http://www.amazon.com/Meaning-…amp;sr=8-1

]]> By: Sara http://offbeatbride.com/2009/06/the-offbeat-reading-list/comment-page-1#comment-44814 Sara Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:36:17 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=2332#comment-44814 I would suggest "Instant Weddings: From "Will You?" to "I Do!" in Four Months or Less" by Jennifer L Shawne. I found it before I found anything OBB-related so I can't guarantee it was non-WIC, but I remember it was very much about doing what is important to you as a couple. Amazon has it's first sentence here:YOU and your fiance are the ones who have to live with this wedding, so you should be the ones to decide what details are necessary, superfluous, wonderful, overpriced, or just plain silly. I would suggest "Instant Weddings: From "Will You?" to "I Do!" in Four Months or Less" by Jennifer L Shawne. I found it before I found anything OBB-related so I can't guarantee it was non-WIC, but I remember it was very much about doing what is important to you as a couple. Amazon has it's first sentence here:YOU and your fiance are the ones who have to live with this wedding, so you should be the ones to decide what details are necessary, superfluous, wonderful, overpriced, or just plain silly.

]]> By: BetterBombshell http://offbeatbride.com/2009/06/the-offbeat-reading-list/comment-page-1#comment-44806 BetterBombshell Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:18:45 +0000 http://offbeatbride.com/?p=2332#comment-44806 Honestly, "One Perfect Day" disappointed me. I expected to really identify with the book and to enjoy Rebecca Meade calling out the wedding industry for all the things I've come to despise about it. Instead her snobbery overshadowed everything. It was less "Everyone's obsessed with a 'Perfect Wedding' that has been fabricated by the WIC" and more "Can you believe what these hicks and hillbillies and uncool people think counts as a perfect wedding?" Honestly, "One Perfect Day" disappointed me. I expected to really identify with the book and to enjoy Rebecca Meade calling out the wedding industry for all the things I've come to despise about it. Instead her snobbery overshadowed everything.

It was less "Everyone's obsessed with a 'Perfect Wedding' that has been fabricated by the WIC" and more "Can you believe what these hicks and hillbillies and uncool people think counts as a perfect wedding?"

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