A wedding, whether it's a quiet civil ceremony in a judge's chamber or a pull-out-the-stops spectacle, requires equal parts planning, diplomacy, and nerve. After all, of the three most profound rites of passage – being born, getting married, and dying – getting married is the only one a person might have any say in or be able to remember once it's over. The whole thing can seem overwhelming at times, but do not freak out . This is not another book filled with strict rules of "weddiquette" or ways of having the perfect wedding. Its mission is to demystify the scary stuff and provide an antidote for befuddled brides, anxious grooms, and frenzied parents and family.