Rating: Summary: Cute but very limited Review: Creative and modern ideas for throwing a modern day bridal shower. Exquisite still photography showcasing each shower favor, table setting, food item, and room decor. Very different from the existing bland works that currently sit on the bookstore shelves. Some of the ideas are too posh or "stuffy" for middle America, but the ideas can certainly be adapted to your budget and tastes.
Rating: Summary: Beautiful ideas and recipes Review: First off, this book is written by two editors from Martha Stewart's Living, so you know the ideas and recipes will be wonderful. They are!My problem with this book is that it is very limited. As a first time maid of honor (AND bridesmaid), I am completely lost as to how to throw a wedding shower. This book has a little bit on the history of the wedding shower and what goes on during one, but that's about it for basic info. After reading this book, there were still many aspects to a shower that I found unclear. I know that there are suppose to be activities/games during a shower, but none were listed. Another problem I have with this book is that all the ideas and recipes require a bit of money to pull off. Silk napkins? Bamboo sake cups? Rose petals in the punch? It's all great and wonderful, but for someone on a tight budget, it's just not going to happen. So what does this book have, you ask? Four really beautiful themes for wedding showers. With a good amount of pictures. We have "An Afternoon of Desserts" where everything is sort of dainty and pink. Very elegant. There's "Tropical Cocktails" with fun island inspired recipes and decorations. "A Day of Beauty" lacks decoration ideas, but has wonderful favors. Last but not least, "Beach Barbecue" is great for outdoors. Each theme has decoration ideas, menu ideas, and favor ideas. There is also a timeline guide so that you have an idea of when to do things. Overall, I would recommend this book, but I would *definitely* have other wedding shower books around. This was the first book I purchased for shower planning, and have bought two others since then. I'm now ready to throw a party. :)
Rating: Summary: Beautiful ideas and recipes Review: First off, this book is written by two editors from Martha Stewart's Living, so you know the ideas and recipes will be wonderful. They are! My problem with this book is that it is very limited. As a first time maid of honor (AND bridesmaid), I am completely lost as to how to throw a wedding shower. This book has a little bit on the history of the wedding shower and what goes on during one, but that's about it for basic info. After reading this book, there were still many aspects to a shower that I found unclear. I know that there are suppose to be activities/games during a shower, but none were listed. Another problem I have with this book is that all the ideas and recipes require a bit of money to pull off. Silk napkins? Bamboo sake cups? Rose petals in the punch? It's all great and wonderful, but for someone on a tight budget, it's just not going to happen. So what does this book have, you ask? Four really beautiful themes for wedding showers. With a good amount of pictures. We have "An Afternoon of Desserts" where everything is sort of dainty and pink. Very elegant. There's "Tropical Cocktails" with fun island inspired recipes and decorations. "A Day of Beauty" lacks decoration ideas, but has wonderful favors. Last but not least, "Beach Barbecue" is great for outdoors. Each theme has decoration ideas, menu ideas, and favor ideas. There is also a timeline guide so that you have an idea of when to do things. Overall, I would recommend this book, but I would *definitely* have other wedding shower books around. This was the first book I purchased for shower planning, and have bought two others since then. I'm now ready to throw a party. :)
Rating: Summary: Not what I expected Review: From women who have worked on Martha Stewart's Living, this book does not stray far from the source. I needed a variety of interesting, not terribly difficult recipes, invites, decorations and games. What's in this book is rather difficult and there's really not much variety. (And no games. Hey, the bride requested games, what am I supposed to do?) This book follows the "simple for M. Stewart & friends but unreasonable for the rest of us" theory. There are four party scenarios, all with six week out "to-do" lists. Right. I have to work and have a family, like I have the time to sew my own silk napkins. The food is very themed, so if you want something other than professional looking desserts, Japanese food, or beach/bbq theme, look somewhere else. There is one party favor I might consider, but other than that, I got nothing out of this book.
Rating: Summary: THE ONLY WEDDING SHOWER BOOK YOU'LL EVER NEED Review: If your best friend is clear about the man, be clear about the shower. This book helped me organize and execute a sassy, clever yet chic wedding shower. When they got the amazing invitations my guests knew this party would be different. My friends who have had to endure the traditional games at a multitude of showers over the years, were blown away by the shower born from this book.
Rating: Summary: A Perfect "Day of Beauty" For My Best Friend Review: My best friend was the Maid of Honor at my July 2000 wedding. She threw the most elegant bridal shower for me, so when she asked me to return the favor this fall, I freaked out. Jen is SO talented when it comes to stuff like parties and cards and decorating, so I did not want her to be disappointed. To add to my anxiety, Jen is a vegetarian, so I wanted the shower to be health-conscious. I think I bought about 4 books on bridal showers and the Maid-of-Honor duties. I ended up using the "Day of Beauty" idea from this book. I made all of the recipes in the section and I even improvised a little by making the Shrimp Spring Rolls, sans Shrimp. I bought a bunch of pedicure, manicure, and facial supplies from Origins, a paraffin wax dip machine from Filene's, and I hired a masseuse to demonstrate how to give a good massage. The party was such a hit and the best part was that we all got to know each other without those silly, embarrassing shower games.
Rating: Summary: A Perfect "Day of Beauty" For My Best Friend Review: My best friend was the Maid of Honor at my July 2000 wedding. She threw the most elegant bridal shower for me, so when she asked me to return the favor this fall, I freaked out. Jen is SO talented when it comes to stuff like parties and cards and decorating, so I did not want her to be disappointed. To add to my anxiety, Jen is a vegetarian, so I wanted the shower to be health-conscious. I think I bought about 4 books on bridal showers and the Maid-of-Honor duties. I ended up using the "Day of Beauty" idea from this book. I made all of the recipes in the section and I even improvised a little by making the Shrimp Spring Rolls, sans Shrimp. I bought a bunch of pedicure, manicure, and facial supplies from Origins, a paraffin wax dip machine from Filene's, and I hired a masseuse to demonstrate how to give a good massage. The party was such a hit and the best part was that we all got to know each other without those silly, embarrassing shower games.
Rating: Summary: Wedding showers for the new millenium Review: Thank goodness for an updated book on wedding showers! This book was a great souce of inspiration. From the invitaions to the food and flowers, my westcoast guests appreciated the style and beauty of the shower we created. This is THE how-to book on sophisticated wedding showers. A++++
Rating: Summary: Unique shower ideas! Review: This book has everything you need to give a really wonderful wedding shower. The recipes are great! The themes are unique.
Rating: Summary: For a beautiful, elegant and fun shower, get this book! Review: This book saved me as I was planning my best friend's wedding shower last month. I've never thrown a shower before and I was in a panic because I wanted it to be fabulous. Thanks to this book, it was. The menus were easy to replicate and the decorations and invitations were fun to make. The to-do lists relieved my anxiety that I was forgetting something. We all had a great time. Our friends said it was the best wedding shower they'd ever been to. My best friend couldn't stop thanking me for throwing such a fun and elegant shower for her. I highly recommend this book!
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