Happier Bride: A Guide to Happiness and Planning Your Wedding

by Minna Sithep

Like anything worthwhile, happiness takes effort. For a bride, this is especially important. Decisions like cake, wedding dress, decorations and invitations can all pile up to be overwhelming. "Happier Bride" infuses happiness into your daily routine – helping you plan the wedding of your dreams, while being the bride you want to be.

Happiness tips and tools will assist you in releasing stress, calming your frustrations, while boosting your organizational skills and budget creativity.

Intermingled into the wedding-planning sections are ever-so-helpful guides, such as what questions to ask the caterer, what to look for in your venue and how to be your own disc jockey.

The goal of this book is to help you impact your wedding in a beautiful, meaningful way by contributing happiness and practical advice.

218 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2012

About the author

Minna Sithep is the author of Happier Bride: A Guide to Happiness and Planning Your Wedding.
She said, "Writing this book spoke to every part of me: my love for weddings and beautiful events, my need for organization and 'anti-clutter' and my passion for inspiring others to pursue what makes them happy."

An avid reader and writer, she still always carries a paperback, along with her Kindle and notebook. She is a natural introvert and a learned extrovert. She loves quiet nights with a good book, but she can usually be drawn out with a glass of wine or a brainstorming session.

Her preference used to be towards mystery thrillers. Now, she's more into non-fiction, particularly books on business, writing, entrepreneurship, marketing and self-improvement.

She lives in the beautiful state of Iowa with her husband, daughter and dog Fancy.

Reviews

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I would like to say that this is the type of bridal book that I would be drawn to. The layout is great and easy to read (super important to me). The timeline and the way it leads you step by step to a happier and hopefully to stressless wedding planning is fantastic. This is so well thought out and organized beautifully. There are so many current websites available in this book that has me wondering if the sites will still be in existence or not for future readers. Overall I think this is a very useful tool for a bride planning her wedding!

[Becca ♡ PrettyLittleMemoirs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Choose to be happy on your special day with this "must-have" for every bride...a guide to happiness and planning your wedding...



Author: Minna Sithep

Publisher: True Blue Publishing

Purchase at: http://www.happierbride.com and http://www.Amazon.com

Planning your wedding couldn't be simpler than picking to read a copy of Minna Sithep's Happier Bride. The book offers happiness, itself, less stress and better planning altogether. The book tells of how to get more for your money and how to put your desires for your wedding clearly printed out for achievements and mission "task lists" to keep track of how well your wedding planning is going.
The chapter guides are perfect for the different stages of planning your wedding from picking your flowers and getting your beauty rest, also above all; being true to you. Happier Bride puts key players of the wedding (bridesmaids, best man, etc) into a strategic planning system and the guest list planning was well thought out, giving a more clear way of planning into perspective. One of my favourite quotes was: "Wedding Clutter. Clutter can suck your energy and steal your mental sharpness." But you need not worry about your wedding getting cluttered and unorganised with Happier Bride; because it helps you know that communication and doing it with grace are the best assets you can take with you for planning your wedding.


My favourite part of Happier Bride was the seasonal wedding information. It was beautifully planned, from what flowers to what cakes and accessories are perfect and suitable for the different wedding seasons. Minna Sithep also told of putting your energy into good things will above all make sure your wedding goes smoothly and organised. The recaps at the ends of the chapters were like mini-task lists, that helped keep track of all the things you have achieved so far, giving a better mood forward. The Pintrest board planning was also a brilliant idea, and would be a perfect asset to planning.
Overall, Happier Bride was perfectly detailed and passionately written; with colour plans, food and drink guides...and many more amazing things all wrapped into one. Just like the quote above on the cover, this truly is a must-have for every bride, because not every other wedding planning book offers happiness as well as a flawless wedding.
Also, a big thank you to Minna who provided me with a copy!

happy reading,

xo Becca


read on my blog here: http://prettylittlememoirs.blogspot.c...

[dsneaks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received Happier Bride: A Guide to Happiness and Planning your Wedding by Minna Sithep for free through Good Reads First Reads giveaway. So I have to say that I LOVED how I received this book. When I opened the package it was wrapped with a string with a little button tied to it and it looked adorable. It was absolutely perfect for what this book is all about and it was a cute little gesture to give way to preparation for a wedding. The book it self is a great idea that filled with helpful tips! If your the type that gets very stressed out this book lays it all out in a way that will help you prepare and hopefully keep you calm through the whole process. The book besides having helpful tips on how to get started invitations and ideas for cakes, it has these cute happiness principles at the start of every chapter. This principles tell you things like drink more water to keep heathy skin and all these cute tips to make the process of planning a wedding less stressful and more fun. I personally think this is a great book for any bride to be. Especially if that bride has NO IDEA what she has to do or where she has to go to get all the things she needs to get done completed. Which I am sure most first time brides have no idea exactly what to do when it comes to planning their wedding unless they are wedding planners.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I send friends and family into a tailspin of questions focused on why I'm reading a wedding planning book, let me say: I am not engaged. The engagement phase of my life doesn't seem too terribly far down the road, but I am contentedly not there yet, so don't freak out! However, I don't think any girl can be too prepared for their wedding and Mina Sithep's guide, Happier Bride, only proved that to me.

Happier Bride: A Guide to Happiness and Planning Your Wedding is truly what it says it is: a guide to happiness, a very basic idea in conjunction with weddings that sadly is often forgotten about during the frenzy of wedding planning. I'm sure there aren't many brides who start their trip to the altar by deciding, "This is NOT going to be a happy experience," but too often than not, it becomes the reality. What Sithep offers is more than just a wedding planning guide; she's more of a wedding coach who infuses you with positive energy throughout the entire process. Just when a task is completed and the bride is on to the next daunting wedding challenge, Sithep inserts some positive tips for persevering through the stress (like eating right and exercising) and offers pep talks that help the bride recenter on the important things. This constant thread of positive energy throughout her book sets Mina Sithep's guide apart from all the other books on the market.

My favorite parts of the book included the idea of setting a personal mission statement to "help motivate you and keep you centered" (7) and also the emphasis to "make it work" rather than keep completely balanced throughout the wedding process. Utilizing these ideas alongside Sithep's cheerleading and direction in the book help a bride to maintain her focus.

While this book contributes a great amount of encouragement throughout the process, I can't forget to mention that this is still a wedding planning guide and it delivers above and beyond in this department as well. Each chapter counts down to your wedding day so that you can focus on a certain chapter depending on how many months or weeks away you are from your wedding day. In these chapters Sithep breaks down the big things and the minute details you'll need to remember to make your day a dream come true. For example, Sithep gives a list of important questions to ask each vendor and tips for negotiating, even if you're not the negotiating type. She offers lists of websites for everything, from calligraphy to new wedding technology and everything in between. She also gives tips for things you might not think about, like to consider postage when choosing invitations or what should be in your thank-you card kit. Without this book it would be impossible to remember everything, especially for the bride trying to stay on budget; but with this book, Sithep makes it manageable to assemble a wedding of any shape and size. I especially liked the ideas on how to assemble the guest list and learning about Evernote.

I'm really glad that I had the opportunity to read the Happier Bride wedding planning book before I entered into wedding planning, but if you're already on your way to the altar it's not too late to utilize everything this book has to offer. The concepts about staying positive throughout the book are great motivators even if you don't intend to plan a wedding in the future at all. You could also use the tips for planning pretty much anything! Rather than overwhelm, this book has excited me to enter into wedding planning some time in the future!

Bottom Line: If you plan on planning a wedding in the next 5 years, I highly recommend reading this book! The cost far outweighs the return you will get for making your wedding, or any event, easier to manage. This would also make a great gift! 5/5 stars!

http://book-barn.blogspot.com

[Rosary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I got married a couple years ago and there are many things I wish I had done differently during the wedding process. I utilized things like theknot.com and some of the wedding planning sites that were popular at the time but I missed out of today's great resources like Pinterest! After reading this book, I realized how MANY resources are out there for brides and how many ways they can get help along the way.

This book was useful in several different ways. First, from a future bride's perspective, it provided easy-to-follow steps that make the wedding planning process easier. It also provides some tips on how to be happy and stay happy. I think that's why I appreciate it as a whole compared to other wedding planning books.

What I really liked about the author's advice is her emphasis on the physical and mental health involved in planning a wedding and a marriage. Physically, she provides quick tips about better eating and sleeping habits as well as exercise. From the mental perspective, she gives a short explanation of the importance of meditation and focusing on the things around you that make you happy. When I was planning my wedding, I just wanted it to be over. Stress was coming from every direction and I wish I had taken more time to enjoy the fact that I was planning my WEDDING. So many brides forget to step back and realize the reason for the day - to marry the love of your life. In the book, there is a whole section that reminds a future bride of that important factor.

One very good point the author makes is that the engagement period is a time to focus on the relationship. So many other relationships are involved in the wedding planning process (friends, family, etc.) and sometimes that takes away the focus from each other. Isn't that funny? Because, really, this day wouldn't happen if it weren't for the couple. There are some tips on how to nurture the relationship and focus on the bride and groom throughout the process. I think this is something many people forget to do and it's a reminder this book makes throughout.

Finally, the book begins with a recommendation to start your wedding planning process with a statement of values. This is important advice for every single person, not just the bride. It is definitely a great way to start the wedding planning process, though, because you can constantly remind yourself what you want to stand for and how you want to be throughout.

Overall, I find this book a great tool for wedding planning and life in general. It is your traditional wedding planning book in some ways but in others, it is so much more.

[Terinna Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

See when I first started wedding planning I never thought about buying a guide because many websites such as theknot.com had all the 411 you needed. Then two months into wedding planning I came across this guide and a chance to go through it. I didn’t think I’d like it because I wasn’t your overly stressed bridezilla, so telling me to calm down and to be relaxed didn’t relate to me. I’m more practical. I needed the know how and that’s exactly what I got from this book. Until a couple of days ago my Excel spreadsheet was a mess and crazy to look at. Sithep clearly explain what you need in a spreadsheet, how to organize it, and how to use your spreadsheet. She includes samples and explains why having certain things are important to include. Like, did you know you could include a “gift column” to keep count of who sent you a gift and what it was?

And what’s even better is that on her website {http://www.happierbride.com} she has a “freebies” section where you can download these templates. You get the freedom to alter and change these guidelines, essentially, to cater to your needs.

Another aspect of this book that I appreciated are the end of chapter recaps. They’re basically the cheat sheet for the chapter. By glancing at it you can see clearly what you should’ve had gotten from the last chapter.

As you go through this book and check off everything, the sense of accomplishment starts to settle with you. And for me, that’s a really good feeling to have. Especially when I’m planning a “shot-gun” wedding. It helps keep my nerves down and keeps me on track.

Another thing that I really enjoyed from her book is how clean and simple everything is. Don’t be overwhelmed by how many pages there are because, this is a clean cut, 1-2-3, book. There are checklists and bullet points throughout to high light what’s important. Along with her own advice, Sithep also includes many useful websites that I’ve already started using and some new ones that I’ve came across because of this book. It’s well written, and for the modern bride, whether you’re looking for quick-help, inspiration, or some emotional and mental help, Sithep has put it all into this book. I definitely recommend this to any bride that has no idea where to start.

[Sophie (Blogger)]

Review of Happier Bride by Minna Sithep

Happier Bride by Minna Sithep is amazing and helpful if you're planning your special day. It covers everything from cakes to finding happiness whilst planning a wedding, giving it a winning edge against other wedding based books. This book could easily help people plan their weddings without even needing a wedding planner.

There are many other topics that Minna covers in the book, the timeline of when to make sure specific things get done by, the different types of flowers or the different types of invitations and also the wedding dress itself and everything that is needed with the dress.

There are many useful tips and tricks inside and the thing that I loved the most was the check lists; they were so clear to understand and really gave the hassle of keeping lists after lists a clean slate. By using these it would be easy to keep track of the costs and purchases on a budget. Though, Minna also gave tips on how to save money and still get to have everything you truly want.

My favourite quotes from the book were :- 'Laughter is truly a universal language' and 'Happiness is a choice you make over and over again'. Both of these quotes relate really well to planning a wedding and also the wedding day itself.

If I were to sum up this book in three words they would be:- Inspiring, Helpful and Memorable. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in weddings or even planning a wedding themselves.

Happier Bride is published by True Blue Publishing.

It can be purchased from Amazon and also Happier Bride.

It is out for purchase now.

Thank you to Minna for sending me a copy of her book.


Another day, another book,


Sophie Kate <3

You can also read this and many other book reviews on my blog www.23reviewstreet.blogspot.com

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: The author provided me a copy of her book for review.

I have been happily married for 13 years, which means the business of getting hitched is an almost completely different terrain from what I remember. The essentials are still the same -- venue, invitations, menu, dress, flowers, and photographer -- yet, the resources and choices today have multiplied voraciously. So, if you feel overwhelmed by where to start OR how to spend your money wisely OR what considerations are really important, this book is an excellent map for navigating yourself from engagement to wedding day.

The following book features I would've been most drawn to while planning our wedding oh-so many years ago include:

1. Minna's writing and messaging is simplistic and to the point, which means her information is assimilated easily.

2. The white space on each page let my eyes rest so the ideas in my head could percolate and swirl.

3. I love a good list and her lists of online resources and blogs are ideal for Type-A's (like me) who want to scan the horizon for every possible option before making any big decision.

4. Her consistent reminder to enjoy the process and focus on sustaining happiness is really worth its repetition, as wedding planning can quickly distort anyone's focus.

No matter your budget, scope, or wedding vision, this guide is a worthy companion that any bride (or groom) to-be will resource more than once!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

To all the blushing brides out there, this book was made for you! Minna Sithep wrote an amazing book not only on how to plan the perfect wedding but how to make yourself the best person you can be. The books starts 9 months-1 year away from the wedding date with different guidelines and tips for what do plan and get ready within that time period. I was extremely impressed with the validity of all the "Happiness Principles", as she calls them. It's little, simple steps that can make a huge difference on your view on life and happiness in general.
I absolutely loved the way the chapters were formatted in this book, it made the wedding planning EASY. There's a checklist at the end of every chapter listing the goals that you should have accomplished by that time, which was extremely helpful to keep an organized timeline. One IMPORTANT factor for me was that this books did not drag and was easy to read. No one wants to be more stressed out by trying to read the wedding planning book than the actual wedding.
I recommend this book to any brides-to-be, anyone trying to find happiness in simplicity, or as a gift to anyone who is stuck in a wedding planning rut. **Full disclosure: The author provided me this book to review :)

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I work as a wedding coordinator at a reception venue. After meeting with couples, I often spend the next year or so helping them actually plan their wedding with recommendations on vendors and the best setup of the space for them. This book does exactly what I always tell my couples: have fun, enjoy the moment and remember that wedding planning is only stressful if you make it stressful. Minna has kept the wedding planning process easy and straightforward. This book won't probably work for couples who want to go over-the-top and make a huge spectacle of their wedding, but it is ideal for the couples who want to have a great day celebrating with their family and friends while focusing more on their relationship than a just throwing a gigantic party. The templates she makes accessible on her website make it another step easier to plan your wedding. Oh, and it is super fast and easy to read. Most couples probably want to read it through once and then just go back through at the appropriate times to do the specific tasks. Love it! I will happily be recommending this to the couples I work with as well as my friends!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

You've got the ring... That was the easy part. Now the hard work begins. And it is usually all up to the bride to plan the majority of the wedding. Most brides need help and direction and what to do and when to do it.
Weddings come in all shapes and sizes these days and planning a wedding, no matter the size, can be overwhelming.
I would have loved to have had this book at my fingertips when I was planning my wedding. There is so much helpful and useful information to help any bride in the planning process. When reading this book you will learn creative ways to stay on budget and helpful website recommendations. You will stay organized with the spreadsheets and every chapter has a "Chapter Recap Checklist" to keep you on track. With the help of this book you will certainly be a Happier Bride.

[Danielle West · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a digital copy of the book to review for free from the author.

If I had been inclined to get a wedding planning book when I was planning my own wedding, I think this is the type of book I would have been drawn to. It's has a very laid back tone. The happiness advice is on par with the other happiness tips I've read, and the planning advice is simple and to the point. It reads very much like a blog, without feeling like you could get all of the information online for free. Of course, you could, but not in such a well organized package, and not all in one place.

On a scale from Totally Awesome to Horrifically Awful I'd give it a Pretty Good. Definitely worth checking out if you're about to plan a wedding.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books nails wedding organization right on the head. You shouldn't lose focus on what your wedding is, and this book focuses on how to be happy throughout the planning and keep everything in perspective. But it definitely isn't fluff - the book is organized in a chronological order and not only gives tips for every stage in the planning process, but gives ideas, links to resources embedded in the content, and summarizes tasks at the end of each chapter. I plan events as part of my job, so although I'm not married I found the book very resourceful, and I'll definitely be keeping this one for the day it comes to plan my own wedding!

[Donnajoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved/enjoyed this book, this book is resourceful for any women from single to planning a wedding, the author supplies a strategic timeline in order to lessen the stress that many brides may face. Furthermore, the author explains the different methods to help brides save money and ensuring that the bride remains happy throughout the process. When I eventually get engage, this book will be my lifeline, because I agree that the best way to plan a wedding should be to focus on thinking positive and maintaining my happiness throughout the whole process. Truly a wonderful guide!!!

[Nancy❤The❤Bookaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~4 stars~~

This book has alot of good ideas. The author takes you step-by-step through the decision process of the stressful task of getting married and tries to make it as stree-free as possible. She gave you websites to access that were really helpful. Usefully information to save on the wedding expenses and that always makes you happy. :-) It was real easy to read. I like the countdown to the wedding day. If you're planning a wedding, I recommend you reading this book.

[Danielle Perini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun read about how to plan your wedding. It brings things to your attention you never even thought about when planning and just when your to-do list gets longer from the previous chapter, it re-centers you by giving the reader some calming food for thought. It turned me on to a ton of great websites and ideas. This book will help you to actually ENJOY planning your wedding, which you should! This is a great mix between planning a wedding for dummies and a self-help picker upper book with a few laughs in between. Highly recommended!

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minna does a wonderful job of laying out a step-by-step plan to plan a wedding while staying sane and happy. I wish I had this book from day one of wedding planning. She offers great tips for staying organized while planning. The book is well-laid-out with sections on specific details as well as generalized tips for staying happy and peaceful throughout the process. Her suggestions for resources online are spot-on. I would definitely recommend this book to newly engaged couples.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Minna does a great job of helping a "bride to be" every step of the way through the planning process. I love how she give you a timeline through the book and makes suggestions so you are not missing anything for your special day. I especially enjoyed how positive and enthusiastic the "mood" is while reading it. Great job Minna for making us happier!!!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in the midst of planning my wedding, and this book has great tools and resources for helping me do just that. She did a great job of also reminding me to take a step back and enjoy the process. I'm glad I read it!

[Martine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good read for all brides who are in the (very) early stages of wedding planning.