Help, I'm Getting Married

In the past year, two of my best friends have gotten married, and a third is engaged: I'm starting to feel a bit like Bridget Jones--a singleton in a sea of smug marrieds (and to add insult to injury, I'm often dragged in to help out with their wedding plans!). Offering its own self-help course in successful day one matrimony, Help, I'm Getting Married opens with a very sentimental segment featuring octogenarian couples talking about their wedding day, complete with old film footage and vintage photographs, before launching into the main course: practical advice from florists, caterers, wedding planners and other professionals on how to plan and execute the perfect wedding. Since the average wedding today costs a whopping $23,000, it's best to plan far in advance, and this program walks viewers through the process, from estimating the budget to wrapping up the reception, with specific tips and suggestions on working with a coordinator, bridal gowns, photography, video, the band, disc jockeys, flowers, bridal registry, transportation, the wedding cake, hair and makeup, and invitations. "You may consider a small voice recorder, palm computer, or laptop computer to assist you throughout the day..." we're told at one point (a suggestion that would have made me laugh outright if I hadn't seen my friend Becky do just that). Pre-nups who feel like pulling their hair out or practicing primal shriek therapy will find--after listening to the couples interviewed here--that they're not alone. Recommended, especially for those libraries without similar titles such as How to Produce a Dream Wedding or Down the Aisle: Beautiful Weddings on a Budget (both reviewed in VL-11/99). Aud: P. (J. Asala)