WEDDING BOOKS

This is a comprehensive resource for anyone planning a wedding who doesn’t want to leave the details of this joyous event up to their officiant.

The DIY movement hits the traditional wedding ceremony and changes things up in many artful and satisfying new ways in the revised edition of Dayna Reid’s Do-it-Yourself Wedding Ceremony: Choosing the Perfect Words and Officiating Your Unforgettable Day. The author is a minister and has officiated at weddings for fourteen years; this experience with many different cultural and religious traditions gives authority to her suggestions for different readings, music selections, and other components so couples can tailor a celebration that most meaningfully expresses their interests and beliefs.

Reid outlines potential elements that might be included in a marriage ceremony, from the procession to the recession, and delves into deeper examination of each so that couples can create a truly personalized event. It is empowering to have all the tools and templates needed to craft a celebration of the marriage union whether it is a spiritual or nonspiritual ceremony, a first wedding, a renewal of vows, or a ceremony uniting a blended family.

It’s easy to imagine how this book might look after a wedding couple got through with it: spine bent, replete with pages that are dogeared, stained, underlined, and packed with a rainbow of curly edged sticky notes.

Reid’s book is a great reference for couples who want to devote as much attention to the significance of their vows as the selection of their wedding feast entrée or flower arrangements.