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Entertaining expert David Tutera opens his files to reveal a wealth of detailed information about creating that perfect day, featuring advice about everything from wording invitations to negotiating with caterers, planning the meal to throwing an event on a budget.
The same insight celebrity entertaining and wedding expert David Tutera gives to his A-list clientele is now at your fingertips in The Big White Book of Weddings: David’s ultimate "how-to” guide designed to get every bride down the aisle in style!
It’s tough to be a bride on a budget—but David reveals his personal tips of the wedding trade that proves brides can be both sophisticatedly chic and realistically resourceful! Covering the entire wedding experience from brainstorming, budgeting, invitations, gift registries, food, music, traditional reception rituals, and even what happens after the wedding's over, Tutera has created a must-have for brides-to-be. Full of the personality that David brings to every wedding he plans and every TV show or magazine article he appears in, Big White Book of Weddings is the book every bride needs to make her wedding unforgettable for all the right reasons!
Includes sections such as:
- Create engaging menus and creative cocktails in "Eat, Drink and Be Married!"
- Be Perfectly Polished with "Etiquette for the Elegant"
- Make your entertainment a hit without needing a rock-star budget in “Strike up the Band”
- Go from "Ordinary to Extraordinary" with decor and floral tips from the pro
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction: The "Other" Man in Your Life 1
1 Getting Started 101: The Planning Process: Think, Organize, Do (And Don't!) 7
Think About It: Brainstorming
Get Your Priorities Straight: ABCs of Organizing
Do Your Homework: Researching Before Acting
2 That Costs How Much?, or My Dad so won't Pay That: The Bride's Guide to Savvy Spending and Budgeting 15
Create Your Budget Before You Spend a Dime
What to Expect (and Questions to Ask When Researching Costs)
Budgeting with Vendors
The Stress-free Bride-to-Be
3 Scene-Setting for Your Wedding 41
The Perfect Date: Choosing When Your Wedding Will Take Place
That Special Time of Year: Holiday Weddings
In a Faraway Land: Destination Weddings
Location, Location, Location: Selecting a Ceremony and Reception Venue
4 Perfectly Polished: Etiquette for the Elegant 67
I'm Smiling Because I Have to Right Now: Being a Bride Who Is Nice and Considerate to All
Your A-List: Creating Your Guest List
Get the Party Started!: Choosing Your Bridal Party
Playing the Part: The Role of the Bride and Groom
Being well Received at Your Reception
Oh, You Shouldn't Have!: Registry and Gifts
From me to You: When to Gift Guests
Your Supporting Cast: Attendant Gifts
5 You're Invited!: Invites And Printed Materials 85
Creating a Buzz: Save the Dates
You are Cordially Invited: Invitations
What Do We Do Now?: Itineraries
The Run of Show: Programs
Places, Everyone!: Escort Cards and Place Cards
What's Cooking?: Menu Cards
The Paper Trail: Accents and More
Much Obliged: Thank-YouNotes
6 Fashion Forward 113
The Aisle Is Your Runway
Making Your Debut: Your Bridal Gown!
Amorous Additions: Accessories
Fashion for Your Bridal Party
Ready for My Close-up: Hair and Makeup
Men of the Hour: Groom and Groomsmen
"Everlasting" Love: Wedding Gown Preservation
7 Strike Up the Band: Entertainment! 139
Ceremony Serenades
Cocktail and Reception Music
And the Band Played On!: Hiring a Band
Spin My Song: Hiring a DJ
A Sweet Duet: DJs with Accompaniment
Showstoppers: Hiring Performers
Going Out with a Bang: Wedding Fireworks
8 Lights, Camera, Action!: Photography And Videography 159
Your Personal Paparazzi: Hiring a Photographer
Roll the Cameras!: Hiring a Videographer
9 Ordinary to Extraordinary: Your Wedding Decor 171
Designing Your Dream: Contracting a Design Vendor
What's Your Bridal Style?
Stop and Smell the Roses: Floral Decor
Decor the Halls
My People Will Call Your People: Contacting Rental Vendors
Let There Be Lighting!
10 Eat, Drink, and Be Married!: Food And Beverage 206
Creatively Incorporating Food and Festivity
Bottoms Up!: Cocktail Hour
Dinner Is Served: Dinner Receptions
A Taste of Things to Come: Menu Planning and Tastings
Playing with Your Food: Food as Entertainment
Let Them Eat Cake!: Faultlessly Finding Your Future ConFection
11 Get Me to the Church on Time!: Timelines and Logistics 226
In Due Time
Down to the Minute!: Three Schedule Scenarios
When Time Is on Your Side: Lapses Between Ceremony and Reception
Point A to Point B: Transportation
Don't Do the Pink Stretch Lima: Transporting Yourself to Your Wedding
Which Way Do We Go?: Directions for Guests
There and Back: Transporting Your Bridal Party and/or Guests
The Driving Force: Valet
Checking It Twice
12 The Main Event: Ceremony and Reception 246
Places, Everyone!
Greeting and Seating
Here Comes the Bride: Processional
Mastering Ceremony
Do You Take This Man?: Vows
Make It Official: Hiring an Officiant
There Goes the Bride: Recessional
To Give Is to Receive: Receiving Lines
Celebrate Good Times: Your Cocktails and Reception
And Now . . . the Announcement of the Bridal Party
May I Have This Dance?: Special Dances
Cheers!: Toasts Given on Your Special Day
Let the Games Begin!: Cake, Garter, Bouquet
Favorite Favors
Closing: Happily-Ever-After-The-Wedding's-Over 274
Index 277
I am a fan of David Tutera. Not everyone can write a book but David has written a great book for brides to be and their Moms. I am the mother of the bride and the wedding planner. I have learned alot by watching My Fair Wedding this book adds a whole new outlook. Reading this book is like David is siting at my kitchen table having coffee or tea. He is having a conversation with you, not lecturing you. His personality is definately in his writing. I personally don't believe there is another wedding planning book out there that is like this. If you're a fan, get this book. If your not a fan, get this book. Thank you David for a GREAT book, you are making planning my daughter's wedding not so scary!
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Overview
Entertaining expert David Tutera opens his files to reveal a wealth of detailed information about creating that perfect day, featuring advice about everything from wording invitations to negotiating with caterers, planning the meal to throwing an event on a budget.
The same insight celebrity entertaining and wedding expert David Tutera gives to his A-list clientele is now at your fingertips in The Big White Book of Weddings: David’s ultimate "how-to” guide designed to get every bride down the aisle in style!
It’s tough to be a bride on a budget—but David reveals his personal tips of ...