The Alternative Wedding Book

Rating:
Summary: Plan a Simple Wedding in the Judeo-Christian Tradition
Review: I gave this book only three stars because I didn't think a lot of it was terribly "alternative" or strikingly creative. If you are looking for ideas for creating your own ceremory (the meat of the book), and you want a god/Christian/Judeo-centered ceremony, you will probably find this book one of several that is helpful. What makes this book different from many wedding planning books is that it attempts to help you to think about designing a wedding that reflects your values first and that is easy on the earth, as opposed to the "mainstream", hyperconsumption-oriented wedding that seems to prevail in our culture. In this vein, it provides environmentally-friendly ideas for invitations, decorations, clothing, food, entertainment, rings and gifts. I gleaned a few ideas from this book (the anecdotes printed in the margins contributed by couples are one of the best features), but, as an ecologist and environmental educator, didn't find it incredibly helpful. However, I would strongly recommend this book to a couple who would like to reduce ecological impacts but feel cultural pressure to over-consume, or who don't have any idea how they can hold an event that is kind to the environment.