Praise for The Ultimate Wedding Idea Book “Cynthia Muchnick offers a multitude of fresh ideas—from announcing the engagement to planning the honeymoon. Her smart, practical, and creative advice is sure to inspire many engaged couples.” —Diane Forden, editor in chief, Bridal Guide magazine “The Ultimate Wedding Idea Book is chock-full of great ideas that will inspire and delight you. It is a must read for brides, wedding consultants, and wedding party members. Muchnick offers hundreds of helpful tips, clever ideas, and just plain fun wedding tidbits. Don’t plan your wedding without consulting her creative, concise, and easy-to-read book.” —Adam Sandow, vice president, The Knot, www.theknot.com “Wow! A great alternative to the Internet! Author Cynthia Muchnick has taken hundreds of hours of research, along with personal insights and tips, and distilled them down into one very easy-to-read book that lists more ideas than a bride could ever use in a lifetime. An invaluable resource!” —Beverly Clark, nationally renowned wedding authority, author, Planning a Wedding to Remember “The Ultimate Wedding Idea Book is a quick and easy way to get a wealth of useful wedding information.” —Marcy Blum, author, Weddings for Dummies and The Wedding Kit for Dummies “If you’re planning a wedding from scratch, The Ultimate Wedding Idea Book is a perfect and practical way to begin the process. From engagement parties to bridesmaids’ dresses to the walk down the aisle, you’ll find tips that will keep you on track and on budget.” —Connie Olson Kearns, wedding planner and president, Bridal Network, Inc. “Before popping the question or saying ‘I do,’ be sure to first arm yourself with a copy of The Ultimate Wedding Idea Book. Muchnick approaches the art of wedding planning from all angles, leaving nothing to chance. It’s like having your own portable bridal consultant with you at all times.” —Elizabeth Arrighi Borsting, travel writer, author, Celebrity Weddings & Honeymoon Getaways “The Ultimate Wedding Idea Book is full of friendly, thoughtful advice from a bridal expert. Muchnick offers the newly engaged solid tips for ensuring a satisfying experience for all and a truly happy ending and beginning for the bride and groom.” —Maria McBride-Mellinger, author, The Perfect Wedding and The Perfect Wedding Reception “Where were these great ideas when I got married? Muchnick’s ideas are like having a best friend, wedding planner, confidante, troubleshooter, and etiquette expert in one!” —Michelle Merker, television producer/host, Southland Today for KDOC-TV “Cynthia Muchnick has touched the hearts of thousands of readers through her monthly column in The Happy Times newspaper. Her new book is a perfect guide to adding even more exuberance to the most joyful of occasions.” —Brigitte Lang, publisher, The Happy Times Monthly Also by Cynthia Muchnick The Frugal Bride Will You Marry Me? The World’s Most Romantic Proposals 101 Ways to Pop the Question The Best College Admission Essays Copyright © 2001 by Cynthia Muchnick All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from Random House, Inc., except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review. Published by Three Rivers Press, New York, New York. Member of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. www.crownpublishing.com THREE RIVERS PRESS and the Tugboat design are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc. Originally published by Prima Publishing, Roseville, California, in 2001. Certain suggestions are made in this book. While these are intended to be helpful to the reader, the reader must assume all risk associated with following any particular suggestion. Therefore, in purchasing this book, the reader agrees that the author and publisher are not liable or responsible for any injury or damage caused by the use of any information contained herein. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Muchnick, Cynthia Clumeck. The ultimate wedding idea book: 1,001 creative ideas to make your wedding fun, romantic, and memorable / Cynthia Muchnick. p. cm. 1. Weddings—United States—Planning. I. Title. HQ745+. 395.2’2—dc21 00-068692 eISBN: 978-0-30780914-8 v3.1 To Justin and Jacob, my two little princes—may you find the loves of your lives someday and live happily ever after. Contents Cover Other Books by This Author Title Page Copyright Dedication Preface Acknowledgments Introduction 1 Announcing the News and Selecting Your Wedding Party 2 Prenuptial Parties 3 Registering 101 4 Wedding Invitations 5 Handling PWS, Part 1: Pre-Wedding Stress 6 Doing It Your Way: Modern Twists on Traditional Weddings 7 Unique Wedding Locations 8 Off the Beaten Path: Holiday and Theme Weddings 9 Wedding Budget 10 Toasts, Roasts, and Writing Your Own Vows 11 Accessorizing Your Wedding 12 Dressing the Bride and Groom 13 Hiring the Help 14 Eat, Drink, and Be Merry 15 Second Weddings 16 Other Ways to Wed 17 Renewing Your Vows, or Reaffirmation Ceremonies 18 The Groom’s Guide: What Else Do You Need to Do Besides Just Show Up? 19 Honeymoons 20 Handling PWS, Part 2: Post-Wedding Syndrome Conclusion Send Me Your Ideas About the Author