Rating: 
Summary: Finally someone understands...
Review: Anyone who claims to dislike this book is just jealous because they didn't find it until after their future mother in law had talked them into silk flowers and a dress with poofy sleeves the size of their head. If you've ever planned your own wedding you know how pushy and opinionated even the least involved people can be. This book encourages brides to actually stand up for themselves and plan a wedding they won't have to look back on and cringe. My only suggestion is to the publishers to PLEASE get a new cover. I almost didn't pick the book upon seeing it. It looks like the cover for "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and what's with the dog?
Rating: 
Summary: Not worth the paper it's printed on!
Review: Despite the good reviews I've read, this book was aweful! A bizarre compilation of all the unhappy stories of her friends, the author has created a depressing, cynical overview of the wedding process. While weddings are definetly not all fun and cake, Danielle Claro brings up the worst examples of problems couples can have. While this might be helpful to some, she neglects to add solutions to these problems. She even goes so far as to describe problems she "accidentally" overheard while picking up a neighbour's telephone conversation on her cordless phone. I found this tackless and unpleasent. Unless you feel you need to hear about how depressing wedding planning can be for others, give this book a miss!
Rating: 
Summary: Hurray! Welcome to reality!
Review: I just got married a few months ago, and am now reflecting back, calmly on the disaster that I made of last year. I read A LOT of wedding books and spent a lot of money on books that scared me. I picked this one up for $0.50 at a book sale at my nieghborhood library. It was my favorite. This book won't help you figure out your budget, and there are none of those helpful little calendars, but this book will help you keep your sense of humor and your sanity. Buy this book. It's short, it's funny. You will be glad you did. This is the one I give to my friends when they call me with the big news.
Rating:
Summary: An entertaining read and generally useful resource.
Review: I love this book. One Amazon review trashed it for focusing on all the negative aspects of getting married but I can't see how the reviewer would have come to that conclusion unless she stopped reading after the first chapter. The book shares stories of other weddings--good, bad, and okay but we would have done something different--that serve as inspirations and cautionary tales. Danielle Claro's writing style is very down-to-earth and readable without being insultingly simplistic.
I honestly don't foresee our respective families having a lot of problems with our wedding. That may be naive of me, but time will tell. Despite not considering myself really the target audience for this book, I still got a lot of ideas from the different stories, which were funny, sweet, and entertaining, as well as validation for some of the ideas I already had. The book offers much advice for ways around the wedding industry machine and supports any wedding participant's decision to do things a little differently.
Don't let the pink cover fool you. This is an entertaining and informative read that's useful even if you think you're family won't care that you want to have wedding pie and get married on a pirate ship by your yoga instructor.
Rating:
Summary: down to earth
Review: I never thought I would be a crazy bride. However, after a panic attack, wedding-related snapping match with my fiance, and an explosion from my typically docile mother, I decided to treat myself to this book. IT IS WONDERFUL -- A MUST FOR EVERY BRIDE. The book doesn't cover topics such as "Finding the Dress of Your Dreams!" or "Saving Big Buck$ on Wedding Supplies!" Rather, it discusses the myriad of feelings, changes, and issues that pop up during the wedding planning process. The author articulates that a wedding is the visible sign of two people, two families, and many opinions joining together, so there's bound to be some drama. The title is a tad misleading, as this book does not coddle the bride or permit "Bridezilla" behavior. For example, if you're looking for a book that justifies bullying around your bridesmaids or teaches you how to be a wedding dictator, this is not a book for you. This book is for the normal, rational gal who has just been thrust into the wedding spotlight. Key topics include: money vs. power, dealing with troublesome people & strong opinions, avoiding hurt feelings (whenever possible), discussing religious choices, choosing your battles, and keeping your sanity. These topics and others are addressed with respect and humor. You'll find yourself enthusiastically nodding in agreement and giggling as you read along. This is a great book crack to open after you've heard *yet another* well-intentioned person insist on where you *must* have your wedding registry. Very highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Way better than expected.
Review: I was surprised at how helpful this book was. After reading half a million books provided by loving friends and family, I expected the usual: how to arrange a guest list, tell people kids aren't invited, yadda yadda yadda. However, like a breath of fresh air, this book was a pragmatic look at the emotional dilemmas of being a bride. It discusses the way to compromise and the way to assert yourself with regard to specific aspects of wedding planning, as well as giving tips for combatting tactless but well-meaning family members. I think that many wedding books have more than covered how to outline the duties of attendants, but this book spends time on the *feelings*, which can start to get steamrolled when you are going through the drama of planning a party for 200 of your nearest & dearest. However, I credit the book with being pragmatic and rational, because it makes for a soothing read, like bridal meditation. Definitely worth perusing for stressed out brides with wacky families -- like myself.
Rating:
Summary: Great advice for real-life couples
Review: I was the first child in my family to get married, and I hadn't been to a wedding since age 9. I knew I didn't want the standard Mafia wedding (or the standard bill of $16000 plus tips), but I wanted it to be classy. This is the only wedding book I used, and it helped me plan and carry out a beautiful ceremony and reception halfway across the country. In a breezy, refreshing style, Claro helps you pick your battles and decide just what has to be traditional or expensive and what you can do without. The attitude here -- and there's lots of it -- is that nothing is mandatory. Very liberating. Once you've decided what you want and negotiated it with your loved ones, there are plenty of tips on how to pay for it all without cashing in your prized collection of rare Star Wars action figures, and last but not least, actually having a good time. This is the perfect book -- the only book -- for anyone who's not Martha Stewart.
Rating:
Summary: great buy
Review: If you are sick of those serious wedding books, the ones that say you have to spend a fortune or you have to have it for really cheap, get this book. i't funny and enbtertaining, and makes you think of things you may not have even thought of, which can give you huge headaches at your nuptuals. if oyu are engaged, want to be engaged, married, anything, it's a great book.
Rating:
Summary: I LOVE this book
Review: Little did I know that a book about weddings would turn out to be the most entertaining book I've ever read, not to mention incredibly helpful in planning my wedding. Danielle Claro covers everything-- stuff I hadn't even realized I'd need to know, but definitely did-- and she gives great advice. I ended up saving a serious amount of money by following her suggestions--the chapters on flowers and dresses were particularly helpful, not just in terms of money, but for really detailed, creative ideas as well. This writer also is amazingly insightful about people, which is great when you've got to deal with so many of them. And her writing is so funny, every time I'd read (and re-read) it, my stress level would take a nose-dive. I would recommend this book to anyone--I can't wait for her next one.
Rating:
Summary: Finally someone understands...
Review: This book might be a nice diversional book for the bride and groom who have months to plan and want to read interesting stories about some weddings. But it did not have very much useful information in my opinion. So if you have a limited budget for wedding books, and limited time to read them, and are needing answers on how to plan your wedding - I would skip this one.
| 
