Meg Keene

The cover looks like every other wedding book, with a thin white bride princess (c'mon, publisher!), so I'm kind of embarrassed to have it on my coffee table. But the insides are not like that at all. It is practical, sensible, and scrupulously addresses itself to "the couple" without making any assumptions about gender. It never tells you you need anything (except chairs), but talks you through setting your own priorities without judging them. It's full of lists of questions you should ask show more prospective photographers and venues, which is super helpful because when the hell have most people had occasion to do this kind of event planning? We referred to it constantly while making the big decisions at the beginning of planning, and I imagine we'll go back to it in the month before the wedding, too.

Somebody should hire Meg Keene to do a Netflix show, like Marie Kondo's except for weddings. It would be a soothing, uplifting hit. show less

Meg Keene, creator of the blog A Practical Wedding, here sets forth her philosophy of weddings, which basically boils down to a few simple principles: (1) It’s not the greatest day of your life — or at least it shouldn’t be! (2) The only requirement for a perfect wedding is that you end up married at the end of it. And (3) it doesn’t have to cost your entire life’s savings! This book discusses wedding planning in light of these principles, from the engagement to the big day to the show more marriage that follows. It doesn’t delve too deeply into the details; for example, you’re not going to find a list of inexpensive-yet-chic venues or bakeries or stationery vendors here. Rather, this book takes a big-picture look at some of the most common wedding-related stressors and offers common-sense advice on how to rise above them.

Lately I’ve been very into wedding-related things. I watch all those bridal shows on TLC — “Say Yes to the Dress,” “Four Weddings,” “I Found the Gown,” etc. I’d like to blame some sort of external pressure, but I’m afraid I just like romantic stories and pretty dresses! While I enjoy these shows, though, I often find myself thinking that the women on them must be insane. Spending thousands of dollars on a wedding dress? Throwing a fit because the bridesmaids’ dresses don’t perfectly match the table linens? It’s a strange world we live in, folks. Well, this book is a wonderful antidote for all the wedding craziness out there! It really puts the wedding celebration in perspective without underrating the importance of marriage. It also offers advice on how to deal with the inevitable problems, like financial constraints and meddlesome relatives. I’m not married or engaged right now, but if and when I do take the plunge, I’ll definitely be referring to this book again! show less

I'm likely going to revisit this over the next two years, especially as I have a fiance who dreads wedding planning. A Practical Wedding (both the blog and the book) is like a very reassuring friend who wants to make sure you know 1) it's about the two of you, not necessarily the bells and whistles and ding dongs your friends/family/boss/TLC want you to do and 2) if it does not bring you joy, you can ditch it/don't have to care as much about it (darn straight I'm going to konmari this show more process).

APW is fairly short, but those are the main points to get across, with examples from real-life married people about their planning process/actual day. A budget breakdown in various cities/scales was helpful, and each chapter concludes with a bulleted summary of main points/takeaways. Beyond *wedding* planning, APW also addresses things to consider in your wedded life planning- have you and your intended discussed long term goals? Finances? # of kids? Faith traditions? And if the partnership just isn't working, it's absolutely okay to call off the wedding- I think they said it like "It's far easier to cancel a wedding than a marriage". And if you are getting married but something goes awry whether it be weather, missing centerpieces, etc.? Chances are it won't ruin your day and will become a colorful story about the wedding in your memories.

Like I said, this book feels like the friend patting you on the back saying, "It's fiiiiiine. You're going to be amazing." show less

Highly recommend this book for newly minted brides-to-be. I would have liked to read this as a sort of kick-off to sane wedding planning. But even though I'm pretty far (okay, eighteen months) along into the wedding planning process, it was still good to be reminded about some of the fundamental truths of A Practical Wedding. For instance, nothing is more "traditional" than an at-home wedding with cake and punch, so don't get carried away thinking you have to do X Y or Z because it's show more Tradition! (And if someone actually gets upset because you flouted the almighty-but-really-just-created-by-the-wedding-industrial-complex Tradition, well, eff 'em!)

I highlighted some passages, found myself nearing tears at others (it's going to be a miracle if I don't burst into hot, happy tears during my vows, y'all!!!!) and have excerpted a sentence or two to keep nearby as the stress escalates -- so all in all, I think I got more than I could reasonably have expected from a pretty basic book on wedding planning. show less