Planning a wedding is an enormous undertaking. In fact, some say a wedding is as complicated to put together as a large theater production. There is one major difference, however: a wedding must be planned according to rules of etiquette. Wedding etiquette is defined as ''the practices and forms prescribed by social convention and authority'' as they pertain to a wedding (American Heritage College Dictionary). If you're planning a very formal wedding, you'll probably choose to follow the rules precisely. However, even if you're planning an informal wedding, you should be familiar with the rules before you decide how far to bend them. You'll also find that certain rules must be followed for all weddings, even a super-casual wedding on the beach, because you don't want to damage precious relationships or hurt anyone's feelings. We'll talk more about this throughout the book as we apply the rules to these five degrees of formality

Finally, a practical guide to wedding ceremonies includes the traditional as well as creative, personalized ideas for the 21st century bride and groom.