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The Bridal Wave: A Survival Guide to the Everyone-I-Know-Is-Getting-Married Years

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It starts with the IGBN (I’ve Got Big News) phone calls and a mailbox full of Save the Dates. Next comes the I always thought I’d be married by now. Why does she have a ring on her finger and I don’t? Soon you’re buying outrageously expensive china, dancing the electric slide with the groom’s dull but available cousin, and envisioning a long and single life for you and a dozen or so cats. But fear not!

Now Erin Torneo and Valerie Cabrera Krause show you how to surf The Bridal Wave on your own terms. This hilarious and practical guide to surviving the wedding blitz reveals the sanity-saving secrets to dealing with all manner of matri-mania, including how to

• manage finances during the costly wedding season
• turn brutal self-examination (“What’s wrong with me?”) into empowering self-reflection (“Nothing!”)
• cope with envy and feelings of competition
• deal with lobridemized friends
• avoid settling for Mr. Wrong just to fit the timeline in your head
• actually enjoy being a bridesmaid, despite the dress

Like the best of friends, Erin and Valerie will help you separate fact from fairy tale–and stay sane, whether you’re coupled-up, single and looking, or single and just fine, thank you very much!

“For any woman who is currently trapped in the middle of a Bridal Wave–this book is your lifesaver!”
–Liz Tuccillo, co-author of He’s Just Not That Into You

“A funny and genuinely helpful book that should be on ever single woman’s shelf.”
–Karen McCullah Lutz, author of Legally Blonde

“Torneo and Krause’s advice will be eagerly gobbled up by legions of women.”
–Celeste Perron, author of Playing House

“Will ease your wedding panic with humor and intelligence.”
–Andrea Lavinthal, co-author of The Hookup Handbook

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

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21 people want to read

About the author

Erin Torneo

4 books1 follower

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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Susan.
45 reviews3 followers
March 27, 2013
A fun and uplifting read. I saw this title in my library's nonfiction ebook section and thought, "Yeah, that does sound like a survival guide I need these days." Just like I hoped for, it has practical advice--with wit and sass--for young women who get asked "When are you going to get married?" ad nauseam by the "League of Concerned Citizens," as Krause calls them. I laughed out loud in some parts. There are much-needed cautionary tales about the frenzy to get married (don't assume your partner sees your move-in together as a pre-engagement stage), as well as a frank talk on how prevalent the "you must get coupled up" message is in our culture.

The part I appreciated the most was when Krause talked about that thing women don't like to mention: that timeline they impose on themselves (I will marry by 27...). Krause says, "Life is random and cannot be organized along a timeline the way I plotted the events leading up to World War I in fourth-grade social studies class." I couldn't have said it better! I also enjoyed the chapter "A Shoulder to Lean On, Not a Bank Account to Sponge Off." It annoys me when capable women don't take financial responsibility for themselves, as if it's their future husbands' role.

My only part I thought was tedious was Chapter 3, Navigating the Wedding Season. The parts on showers and bachelorette parties were so detailed and overwhelming that I felt like I was IN the Bridal Wave. Get me out!

Other than that part, the book will help you relax, make you laugh, and challenge you to move on to greater things than worrying about getting a ring. As Krause says, "It's about time people know that most women have better things to do than obsess over whether or not they are going to get married."
Profile Image for Meredith.
724 reviews3 followers
February 26, 2008
Loved it! As a 20-something going through the wedding season as a singleton with little idea about wedding etiquette, and how to avoid/politely respond to the unending questions regarding my love-life/lack-there-of, I found this book entertainingly refreshing. There was no prejudging like in many books geared towards singles, and the tips for all the pre and post wedding shindigs and hooplaugh were actually helpful. A fun, quick read.
Profile Image for Katy.
55 reviews1 follower
December 17, 2007
This was sitting out on the "recent releases" section of the library, and it called to me. You know, because everyone I know is getting married. It was cute and a good sit-on-the-balcony-and-sip-an-adult-beverage kind of book. It didn't give me any profound wisdom, but I appreciated the idea.
Profile Image for Skya.
16 reviews
November 4, 2009
Great read for girls going through their "Everyone I know is getting Married" years. It was funny and basically lets you know that you're not alone out there. Had some good suggestions too - on how to deal with different problems. Very cute read!
14 reviews
November 30, 2007
I was hesitant, cause I don't think I need a "Survival Guide" to everyone getting married, but it was pretty useful and intutive. And I am not so poor because of it.
Profile Image for Sheila.
13 reviews
January 14, 2008
This is truly enlightening and inspirational....i must say, a kick-ass chick lit, hehehe!
Profile Image for Amy.
18 reviews
March 10, 2009
Very helpful to survive some very annoying part of celebrating a friends choices
Profile Image for Susie.
6 reviews4 followers
May 3, 2009
I found this at my girlfriend's and it's pretty hilarious. Easy read, and good to have on a single-girls bookshelf.
Profile Image for Richelle.
87 reviews
June 11, 2010
Light and frivolous, but fun to read. I'm not sure that this book provided any "help" or insight that I didn't already have, though.
Profile Image for Lindsay.
174 reviews55 followers
September 10, 2016
Ironically, I read this book right before I got engaged.
Profile Image for Christy.
313 reviews10 followers
April 28, 2008
I'm not really the target group for this book. It was cute enough, though.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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