Simple Stunning Bride

Karen Bussen

Description

Here comes the bride! In this latest volume in Karen Bussens aSimple Stunninga ? series, the most important woman at a wedding takes her rightful placea"center stage. Over the years, Bussen has helped hundreds of brides plan weddings that reflect their personal style and express their own best selves. Now, any lady looking forward to her wedding day can benefit from Bussens sage advice on matters ranging from the Truly Essential (the venue, the ceremony, the guest list, the caterer, the budget, and, yes, the dress) to the Actually Much Less Essential (what your future mother-in-law will wear). The months and weeks leading up to a wedding are always a whirlwinda"sometimes exhilarating, sometimes overwhelming. With BussenA's level-headed guidance, the bride-to-be will take it all in stride while staying organized, remaining true to her own wishes, and (believe it or not) even managing to enjoy herself. Simple Stunning Bride is filled with gorgeous color photographs of inspiring wedding detailsa"flowers, accessories, dresses, and more. 

Sujets

• Weddings

Informations

• Publié par: ABRAMS BOOKS
• Date de parution: 29 octobre 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781613129494
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

Published in 2010 by Stewart, Tabori Chang An imprint of ABRAMS
Copyright 2010 by Karen Bussen
Cover photo: 2010 by Sabine Scherer. Shot on location at The White Dress by the shore in Clinton, Connecticut.
PHOTO CREDITS: Jenson Sutta: this page , this page , this page , this page (right), this page , this page ; Virginie Blach re: this page , this page , this page . this page , this page ; Sabine Scherer: this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page (left and center), this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page (right), this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page ; Cappy Hotchkiss: this page , this page , this page , this page , this page ; Mel Barlow: this page , this page , this page ; Brian Dorsey: this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page , this page ; Steve DePino: this page ; Lawrence Jenkins/Nadia Islam: this page ; Christian Oth: this page (left), this page ; Belath e: this page , this page , this page ; Carla Ten Eyck: this page
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Bussen, Karen.
Simple stunning bride / Karen Bussen.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-58479-838-5
1. Weddings-Planning. 2. Brides. I. Title.
HQ 745.b879 2010
395.2 2-dc22 2009036225
eISBN 978-1-61312-949-4
Editor: Jennifer Levesque Designer: Susi Oberhelman Production Manager: Tina Cameron
Stewart, Tabori Chang books are available at special discounts when purchased in quantity for premiums and promotions as well as fundraising or educational use. Special editions can also be created to specification. For details, contact [e-mail] or the address below.

115 West 18th Street New York, NY 10011 www.abramsbooks.com
A

contents
INTRODUCTION
You, as a Bride
SIMPLE STUNNING SEVEN
My Best Advice Before You Get Started
WHAT S A BRIDE TO DO?
Traditions, Roles, and Responsibilities
THE ORGANIZED BRIDE
Strategies for Staying Sane
COMMUNICATION 101
Keeping Lines Clear with Everyone Involved
THE DRESS
Finding It and Wearing It Well
ACCESSORIES
Jewelry, Shoes, Flowers, and More
FITNESS
Expert Advice for the Wedding and Beyond
BEAUTY
Celebrity Artists Share Their Secrets
HERE COMES THE BRIDE
Wisdom for Your Wedding Day
B2B
Inspiration and Insight from Real Brides
Acknowledgments
Resource Guide
Index of Searchable Terms
INTRODUCTION
You, as a Bride
I said to him that I thought he must be aware why I wished him to come here, and that it would make me too happy if he would consent to what I wished (to marry me); we embraced each other over and over again, and he was so kind, so affectionate. Oh to feel I was and am loved by such an angel as Albert was too great a delight to describe . . . I really felt it was the happiest, brightest moment of my life.
-QUEEN VICTORIA
The process of becoming a bride is different for every woman. Some have dreamt about their wedding day for years (I ve received e-mails from women who start planning their weddings before even getting engaged!), while others may never have given it any thought at all. Some women know exactly what they want and can t wait to jump right into the thick of designing their celebrations, while others are not so clear about their wedding vision, or they re just less focused on the details. I m not married, so of course people ask me all the time what my wedding would be like, and you know what I tell them? I have no idea.
Perhaps one of the above scenarios is true for you, perhaps not. But whether you ve accepted a proposal or whether, like the legendary, quintessentially modern Queen Victoria, you ve made the proposal yourself (at the time, it would have been inappropriate for a man who was not the Queen s royal equal to do the asking), your desire to be married has landed you in the sweetest of clubs-you re a bride-to-be.
Traditionally, brides didn t have all that much to do in preparation for their nuptials, as parents often dealt with most of the details, so the newly engaged woman had more time to enjoy the celebration and to get ready for married life. But things have changed. Brides are now expected (and generally want) to host highly personal festivities, with signature cocktails, sophisticated color stories, elegant menus, handmade details, and clever guest favors-many times while juggling a full-time job, family pressures, and their relationships.


In addition, just as there are countless options and endless decisions to be made about every element of the wedding, every woman s approach to the process is different. That s why those wedding calendars that insist you must do this or that by this date or that date just don t work for everyone. And that s why some brides dream of a modern loft wedding and others envision a classic country club celebration or a wedding on the beach. That s why some plan their weddings in a year, and some in a month.
Despite their differences in approach and personality, I ve noticed that there is a commonality that most brides share: It s a desire to delight and please others. They want to make a good impression, to be a gracious hostess, and to be a loving partner throughout the process. They want to be and to express their best self in every way, and at the same time, they re concerned about making sure the celebration reflects their own style and priorities. Does this sound like you?
If it were as easy as just acknowledging that, yes, we d like everything on this most important day to be perfect, then there would be no need for me to write this book. But what I ve noticed in working with and talking to so many brides is that some of the most fabulous, wonderful, accomplished women are putting incredible pressure on themselves to achieve perfection in every area that relates to their wedding.
All the normal things we deal with every day-what to wear, what to serve for dinner, what kind of music to listen to-suddenly become critical elements at the most important party ever. Personal choices often feel more difficult when they re applied to wedding concerns, and I ve observed that it sometimes seems as if the act of donning an engagement ring activates an imaginary meter designed to judge and evaluate a gal s every move and decision.
I ve received tearful calls on my cell phone from distressed brides who ve just bought a gown and are worried it s not the one . Hair and makeup and napkin folds and customized stamps and place settings and bridesmaid shoes have been fretted over and discussed more than you would ever think possible, even by women who don t normally worry about these things.
At a wedding-planning meeting a few years back, one witty groom asked his sweet, if slightly detail-obsessed bride (she really couldn t decide whether or not to offer mini tuna sandwiches along with the bagels at her post-wedding brunch), whether she was about to take a ride on the crazy train.
I was inspired by that comment to start thinking about this book, and my goal within these pages is to help you identify your own bridal style and organize your process so you can enjoy yourself and stay off that crazy wedding train in favor of a more relaxing trip toward your destination: the big day!
Now, don t get me wrong-the details are important. Thinking and planning in advance will certainly help make things run more smoothly on the big day, and I m all for it. Heck, I wrote a wedding-planning workbook, and I believe in using tools. But what might surprise you is, I m not writing this book to tell you how to be the perfect bride. If you re looking for the definitive guide to 1,001 flawless updos or the top 1,000 crunches for your washboard bridal abs, you won t find those topics here.
Why? Well, the fact is there are plenty of books and websites filled with countdowns and mock receiving line dialogues and way too much information about sugar flowers. You can feel pressured to upgrade things you don t even care about, or to hire a videographer you don t like just because your calendar says to wrap up that task at this point in your timeline. Instead, I ve decided to tune out the noise and distill the most important information into a book that aims to inspire and guide you to create your own process. I want you to be in control of your priorities, your health, your attitudes, and the details that matter most to you.
Stick with me, lady! I ve been there and seen it all, and I d be delighted to be your guide. I ll be honest about what you need to know, I ll help you enjoy what s fun, and I ll strongly encourage you to dispense with things that just don t matter.
My goal is to give you some great advice from my years of experience with hundreds of weddings, and to inspire you to enjoy every minute of this special time in your life: a time of new beginnings, exciting festivities, and happy moments. I want you to celebrate being you. After all, your fianc chose you because you are unique and special.
In Simple Stunning Bride , I ll outline some of the classic and current bridal responsibilities and traditions, and I ll offer you tips and tricks I ve discovered while working with and talking to many, many brides. We ll explore lots of topics, from time management and relationships, to hair and makeup and accessories-and the dress . I ve also enlisted the help of some amazing industry experts and friends, who will offer you their wedding wisdom. Our aim is to help you focus on feeling good, staying in driver s seat, and enjoying the process.
Speaking of experts