An Essential Guide for Planning an Irish Wedding

THE IRISH WEDDING BOOK

Everything You Need To Plan A Wedding
By Kim McGuire
Wolfhound Press
ISBN 0-86327-376-9

For I asked for a harder wedding gift
than any woman ever asked
before from a man in Ireland -
the absence of meanness
and jealousy and fear.
- Queen Medbh of Connaught to her husband Ailill

Reviewed by Catholine Butler

The Irish Wedding Book is a real gem, starting with the six month planner that provides an outline of what needs to be done each month as you prepare for your wedding day. There are pages provided to make notes and keep you on track, because with so many things to think about, it’s easy to overlook something important that just might save some frayed nerves as the big day gets closer.

Although author Kim McGuire has specially written The Irish Wedding Book for weddings held in Ireland, it goes way beyond that and covers the same needs and questions of brides everywhere. The objective is to simply have a beautiful wedding, confident that all the details are taken care of so that the bride and groom, along with their guests, can relax and enjoy the day just as they planned it.

Starting with your engagement, The Irish Wedding Book will take you through that nervous first time meeting of your future in-laws to putting the engagement announcement in the newspaper. There is even a checklist for the groom.

It will also assist with the wording of your wedding invitation where several styles are provided for various situations. It covers engagement parties, wedding rings, who pays for what, and how to manage the costs while still keeping the magic.

There are also wedding traditions and wedding ceremonies for various religions, along with wedding attire and style. Several menu suggestions are provided for the reception along with recipes for punch and wedding cake. There are suggestions how to organize the wedding rehearsal, flowers, music and the honeymoon.

The Irish Wedding Book is more like a wedding bible and one that you will want to carry with you, just as you do your day timer. It would also make a wonderful gift for the bride- to-be, but you need to ensure that she receives it six months prior to her wedding so that she has this valuable resource available to help her plan a stress free wedding.

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N.B. The Irish Wedding Book and several other books on Celtic weddings are available at Celtic Creations store at the Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver.

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