The Perfect Wedding

If you need help and inspiration in planning your wedding there's no better guide than Maria McBride Mellinger. Of all Maria's books, The Perfect Wedding is still the one to buy for everything you need to know to plan and bring off a wonderful day. Don't bother with anything else. The Perfect Wedding Reception (also by Maria) is good but too much of it is already covered better and in more depth in The Perfect Wedding. I used several books to plan my own wedding (and my sister's) and kept coming back to this one for Maria's inspiring yet practical ideas. I especially love her bouquet ideas.

This book is beautifully done. Some of the photos and ideas are definitely high-end (as other reviewers have noted), but the book also gives very practical advice about what kinds of questions to ask yourself and businesses as you plan your wedding. (You can adapt their ideas to your own budget.) Information is given on everything from engagement rings, to floral arrangements, to types of receptions. This book is most helpful if you're at the beginning of the planning process.

This book is so gorgeous that the words are almost unnecessary. I love the floral arrangements!! It also gives wonderful ideas for formal weddings, receptions, invitations, rings, dresses, the works. The pictures alone are worth the price--very reasonable when compared to Colin Cowie's or Martha Stewart's wedding manuals.

This book ought to replace Martha Stewart's former "Wedding Bible" on the subject! It is full of ideas and great information on planning modern, elegant, and sophisticated yet personal weddings. As a photographer (in fact a small contributer to this book) and as a former bride, I wish I had seen this book before I planned my own wedding. Though I photograph weddings and have seen some of the most beautiful weddings imaginable, Maria has a breadth and depth of knowledge and sources that overwhelms even me. I congratulate her on a well researched and beautifully presented book. I own and contribute to many such books and this one is simply the best

I never thought I'd have much to say about a wedding book (I have been amazed at a whole lot of my behavior since becoming engaged), but this book has been really helpful - worth the $40! It is beautiful, realistic, elegant, very informative, and has a terrific regional resource guide in the back. We found various ideas and even a couple of vendors/designers through this book. Although the judgment of anyone who spends her time writing a review of a book about weddings (who am I? where am I?) is questionable, I do recommend this book to anyone who has become similarly insane (ok, and wants a beautiful wedding)