How (Not) to Have a Perfect Wedding: Before She Can Live Happily Ever After... She Has to Survive the Big Day

by Arliss Ryan

Anne is a professional wedding hostess at the most beautiful of the opulent mansions along Newport's seashore. She knows the smile she beams at her guests doesn't have to be sincere, just present. She's managed to maintain the illusion of pleasant composure through ten years of rowdy guests and sobbing brides. However, tonight Anne is afraid she won't be able to hold her tongue, let alone her The wedding from hell has landed on her beautifully manicured lawn.

The perfect bride may hope her wedding is beautiful, but would never tell her sister to lose thirty pounds or lose her invitation. The perfect groom might be sad his stag days are over, but could be trusted with the babysitter. The perfect father of the bride may not have had a model marriage, but would never parade his brand new trophy wife in front of his bitter ex-wife. But this is not a perfect wedding.

From the caterer to the groom to the barmaid, everyone involved tells the story of a disaster in the making. A romp through the kind of wedding we all want to hear about-but never experience-How (Not) to Have a Perfect Wedding will leave you cringing with delight.

Genres: Chick Lit, Contemporary, Fiction, Book Club

341 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 2007

Reviews

[JoAnn M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this humorous book told from many different POVs of all the players in a wedding, from the couple, the venue hostess, the attendants, parents and even the guests. It's been a long time since I've participated in wedding planning so it was a fun and sometimes snarky romp through a couple's big day.

[Jb62 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the way the author told the story from he perspective of all the wedding guests and employees at the venue. Good humour

[Nellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice light mindless read. It was kind of neat to see things from everyone's perspectives...

[Kristie Burk · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to read this "beach" book because I was intrigued by the concept. The entire book is told from various points-of-view during one event, a wedding. We hear from the bride and groom, the parents, the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, the wedding coordinator, the photographer, the caterer, the staff, guests, etc. Really!

However, the concept was beyond the author's capabilities -- she attempted to write in first person the narratives of several characters and she often lapsed into stereotypes. None of the characters were particularly drawn out, with the exception of one. Everyone else was flat and predictable. We have the first wife who was left by her husband for the trophy wife. The bride is mean, commanding, and spoiled. The groomsmen are all drunk and dopey. You get the picture.

Although you could see the ending coming from a mile away, I was still disappointed. One resolution made no sense to the point that I reread the section to see if I missed something. The second one was sappy, predictable, and forced.

This book won't kill you if you're lying on the beach, but there are many other beach reads more worthy of your time.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone wants their wedding to be perfect, but is any wedding really perfect? How much hassle is involved in planning a wedding? What goes on behind the scenes of weddings of the rich and spoiles? This story is dedicated to all of these questions.

I loved how this book was written. Ryan used to be a wedding planner, so this book really gives some insight into what goes on before and during a "big wedding"

The author dedicates chapters to each person that is involved in the wedding. Anne (the director of the mansion where the wedding is held), Allison (the spoiled, rich bride), Mead (the rich, stupid groom), the 7 bridesmaids & 7 groomsmen, and then the cooks, butlers, etc. Ryan gives an in-depth character sketch of person so you really get to know them throughout the book.

This is the only book that Ryan has written-- I hope she writes more.

[Gaia · Rating 4 out of 5]

probably gave this one more star than it deserved, but the book was entertaining. This was an easy and quick read. Don't expect a literary gem, though it is well written.

The story is about the wedding of Allison and Mead, two wealthy folks from wealthy families who invite other wealthly people to their platinum wedding. Each chapter is told from the point of view of different characters in the book. Obviously, each character has a different view of the wedding and his or her place in it. The typical hijinks ensue with tales of pretty bridesmaids vs. ugly ones, wild bachelor parties, feuding family members, sex, drunks and the wedding venue staffers who suffer through it all.

It's predictable in most aspects, but Arliss Ryan is a good storyteller. I'd recommend it as a light and easy-to-read beach book.

[Drea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be quite amusing and I could see how the staff of the venue would view everything as they did. I did want to recommend this to all my friends and family (sometimes especially my family) to point out that I was so not a bridezilla as they sometimes called me. The main reason they said this was because I did say a number of time - "hello, this is my wedding. I am the bride," which I admit might be obnoxious, but I had to remind them that the reason I was doing things my way was because - "Hello, this is my wedding. I am the bride." LOL

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't the best chick lit that I've read, but it wasn't the worst, either. If we could give half stars, I would give it three and a half. I liked the way that the story was told from the viewpoints of a variety of characters. I liked the way that even though some of the characters were very stereotypical, the author seemed to know it and even addressed the idea of stereotypes in one of the conversations. I also liked the fact that the author seemed to see marriage as important and valuable, even if some of the characters made a mockery of it.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't normally choose books with wedding themes, but this was a book club pick and I'm not sorry to have read it. The characters were varied and quite human, as opposed to the expected stereotypes. Viewpoints of the wedding from everyone from the staff to the bride made this interesting and sympathetic. It's not a heavy, dramatic story, but light and fun with a few serious moments that are met with civility and humanity by the characters.

[Quarterlifelady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated this book. So often we focus on what's on the outside, rather than wondering what's within. This book illustrates that money can only help things APPEAR to look perfect.

I also appreciated hearing different perspectives on what a marriage means. It really helped me solidify my thoughts.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up the book randomly at the library & thought it sounded good. This book was just okay for me. It wasn't a page turner & I kind of had to force myself to keep reading at parts. But it was entertaining at certain parts. Some of the characters annoyed me, but that was probably the point, given the nature of the book.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each chapter is told from the view of a different person or party involved in the wedding. Father of the bride, wedding planner, groomsmen, bartender, etc. Very entertaining.

I read it just before my best friend's wedding, which added some amusement to the big day.

[BreeAnn (She Just Loves Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book looking at all sides of a wedding. The author tells the stories from the perspectives of the bride, groom, guests, caterers, hosts, and a variety of others. It's a fun book to just sit down and read. There isn't any stress, or suspense, it's just a fun book.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was supposed to be just a piece of book candy, but it turned out to be a really fun read. It details the thoughts going through everyone's head while at an upscale wedding. I really, really enjoyed it and would actually seek out other things by this author.

[Laura Skladzinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this would be silly chick lit, and it was for a lot of the book, but the social commentary was pretty interesting and kept me engaged. Furthermore, the twist at the end of the book was great and really got me thinking! I loved it.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

The premise of the book seemed fun, but most of the character perspectives were boring and 3/4 of the way through the book I didn't even care about finding out who the groom ended up sleeping with the night before the wedding.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this book when I read an excerpt of another book written by this author. The premise was engaging and surprisingly well-written when you consider all the different voices sharing their experience of the wedding.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little too over-the-top.

[Julie Neale Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting fluff and that's exactly what I got - but it was well written fluff. It's a good beach or long flight read.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humorous. Enjoyed the character analysis.

[Kelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the idea of this book, but it was rather raunchy and included much language.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that each chapter is told from the point of veiw of a different character. The book spans only one day and it is the story of some rich brat's wedding. Very enjoyable and a quick read.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

a little raunchier than i like, but not bad. loved the character of anne, and loved the ending to her story. not such a fan of the bride, but then again, i guess we're not supposed to like her. :)

[Zhanna Levin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't bother with this book, not worth your time

[Annika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny stuff!

Loved the different viewpoints for a one-day ridiculous overpriced wedding.

This book makes me want to find more the author has written.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was supposed to be a light chick lit read, but was actually really smart!

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this book while randoming perusing the library shelves. Just a light summer read that makes you thankful for your own wedding experience!

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. The different perspectives from all the different characters was entertaining, but often disjointed as well. Overall it was an enjoyable book.

[Sue Kozlowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good - Wedding at a Newport mansion. Each chapter told by a different character. Written by a woman who was a wedding hostess at a Newport mansion.

[Erika Jaques · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was really amusing