The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Weddings

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbooks

by Joshua Piven, David Borgenicht, Sarah Jordan

Wedding dress torn? Ring lost? Cake collapsed? Groom gone missing? Despite all the planning, the happy couple might not actually be prepared for The Big Day and all that can go awry. Luckily, the authors of the phenomenally best-selling Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series are back with all new, step-by-step instructions to help the bride and groom—and everyone else—survive the nuptials, from trimming the guest list all the way through to repurposing unwanted presents. This matrimonial magna carta teaches how to charm nightmare in-laws, survive the bachelor party, combat floral allergies, stop a disastrous toast, and respond to honeymoon surprises. A helpful appendix provides creative solutions to other wedding how to make a ring—or a bouquet—out of paper, conceal wedding day blemishes, and painlessly generate thank-you notes. No one should say "I do" without this essential survival it's the absolutely perfect shower gift, and an indispensible self-help guide to getting hitched without a hitch.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Reference

176 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2004

About the author

Josh Piven is a television writer and producer, speechwriter, playwright, and the author or co-author of more than twenty non-fiction and humor books, including the worldwide best-selling The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series.

He wrote the teleplay and serves as producer of Don The Beekeeper, a half-hour children’s TV show about honeybees and urban beekeeping. His most recent stage play, a holiday farce called No Reservations, had its world premiere in November-December, 2013, to great success and critical acclaim. More information. His next play is Muddled.

Josh likes to refer to himself in the third person.

Piven is perhaps best known for his famously tongue-in-cheek worst-case books, books that offer readers real-world (though often hilarious) advice on surviving worst-case situations that they might—but hopefully won’t—encounter: everything from “how to fend off a shark” and “how to wrestle an alligator” to “how to avoid the Freshman 15” and “how to determine if your date is an axe murderer.”

Piven is an honors graduate of the University of Pennsylvania—and living proof that English majors aren't necessarily failures.

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

If my DJ doesn't show up, I'm definitely driving a car in the venue for a bumping sound system. Pretty funny book.

[Yaakov · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really funny read that actually contained REALLY ingenius tips for surviving wedding catastrophes (thankfully, I didn't need to use any of them, but I took this book with us to our destination wedding and made sure I knew where it was at all times). I'm grateful to the former bride who passed it on!

[Tanisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book gives some horrible advice. but it will probably make you chuckle from time to time.

[Rob Amundson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not amazing, but not terrible either.

Quick read.

Fun for a bridal party / wedding shower gift.

[HeavyReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve read almost all of the other Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbooks, so when I saw this one listed on BookMooch, I wanted it.

I’ve never had a wedding of my own. I never plan to have a wedding of my own, so I’ll probably never use the advice offered in this book.

This is maybe the least funny Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook I’ve read. (Well, maybe the one about golf was less funny. I don’t really remember much about the one about golf.) In any case, this volume about weddings didn’t offer a lot of laughs for me. I think this book mostly played it straight. Or maybe it was just that the parts that were supposed to be for laughs, well, maybe the jokes just weren’t that good.

I thought the illustrations were some of the funniest parts of the book. (See “Extreme Heat/Extreme Cold” on page 81 or “Disaster Honeymoon” on page 148.)

The disasters contained in this book all related to the bride and groom; the advice is all for them. Guests could have used some advice for surviving wedding disasters too.

Also, I think there should have been advice for the bride or groom who realizes right before the wedding that this impending marriage is a bad idea and has decided to call the whole thing off or to go along with it anyway.

So this is not my favorite Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook, but I am glad I read it. Thanks BookMooch.

[Michael Murdoch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wedding dress torn? Ring lost? Cake collapsed? Groom gone missing? Despite all the planning, the happy couple might not actually be prepared for The Big Day and all that can go awry. Luckily, the authors of the phenomenally best-selling Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series are back with all new, step-by-step instructions to help the bride and groom—and everyone else—survive the nuptials, from trimming the guest list all the way through to repurposing unwanted presents. This matrimonial magna carta teaches how to charm nightmare in-laws, survive the bachelor party, combat floral allergies, stop a disastrous toast, and respond to honeymoon surprises. A helpful appendix provides creative solutions to other wedding emergencies: how to make a ring—or a bouquet—out of paper, conceal wedding day blemishes, and painlessly generate thank-you notes. No one should say "I do" without this essential survival guide: it's the absolutely perfect shower gift, and an indispensible self-help guide to getting hitched without a hitch.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a quick read and some of the categories/answers were hilarious. I rated a 3 because I expected much of the book to be realistic, but to me it was mostly humor. There were some good tips on how to get stains out of dresses and deal with day of pimples. But I was a little disappointed in the fact that most of the tips for getting money to pay for the wedding were along the lines of "enlist corporate sponsors and put their logo on your wedding dress" or "raffle off the opportunity to give the bride away or even go along on the honeymoon". While comical these tips are highly unrealistic. I will say the section on "How to sleep on a couch" for when you forget your anniversary was probably the best part. :)

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It ate my review! HOW DARE IT! Basically, I just said that I find this type of book amusing.. and that I'm hella never getting married. And that last minute wedding dresses made of toilet paper are lame- probably lamer than just wearing like.. jeans. or going nude. At least then people would remember your wedding. But this did have some legitimately handy tips.. though I can't stress this enough: I WILL NOT EVER HAVE A WEDDING. They are lame as shit.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

If any social convention deserves a Worst-Case Scenario Guide, it's the wedding. It's a source of stress for all involved, especially the bride and groom, so who wouldn't avail themselves of this quick and informing read. The authors mix practical advice and quick-fix philosophy with a subtle dose of tongue-in-cheek humor. Read if you or your friends are about to be married: you just might be able to save their special day

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this for my cousin and his fiancee, but of course I had to read it first. I thought it was a joke book, like a gag gift, but actually it's brilliant. It has all sorts of useful tips. Definitely recommend for anyone who's planning to get married soon.

[T Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly wild fantasy and a few really fringe suggestions (this is a series that probably published too much too fast), but a few helpful suggestions and a nice reminder that we're not alone in our concerns!

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Now I know how to deal with the big day when it comes along

[Lisa]

This was just a great book to make brides feel better about accidents that could (but probably not) happen at a wedding.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes amusing but with a lot of helpful information, actually.