THE AGENT: Jeff Kirby, M.D. in the making THE MISSION: Making sure his beautiful bride lives to see their wedding vows through! THE HEARTBREAKING TRUTH: Married in haste, Jeff and Tish were more strangers than man and wife.... They had married in secret, two undercover agents with nothing to lose—except maybe the love of a lifetime. For though Jeff Kirby tried to keep Tish Buckner by his side, tragedy tore the newlyweds apart. Now Tish’s life hung in the balance, and Jeff was hoping against hope that he and Tish would get a second chance at the life they once dreamed of. Because this time, the determined M.D. wouldn’t let his woman get away!

For fashion buffs, romantics, and brides-to-be, a fascinating collection of wedding garb and glamour through pop culture and history. The Way We Wed: A History of Wedding Fashion presents styles and stories from the Renaissance to the present day, chronicling evolving fashions, classes, and expectations. And because all wedding attire has a tale to tell, The Way We Wed also reveals fascinating personal stories of those who wore it. While the book is a rich source of bridal inspiration for all seasons, it's far from a monotonous parade of white gowns. The Way We Wed showcases wedding gowns of all colors and styles from around the world, as well as going-away dresses, accessories (shoes, veils, hats, and tiaras), and clothes worn by flower girls, bridesmaids, mothers of the bride, and grooms. Same-sex weddings are represented along with royal weddings, wartime brides, White House weddings, remarriage, Hollywood weddings, and more. The book features celebrity and historical couples as well as everyday people. A few of the included names: Angelina Jolie Frida Kahlo Elizabeth Taylor Princess Diana Martha Washington Solange Knowles Ellen DeGeneres Meghan Markle Illustrated with 100 gorgeous photos, The Way We Wed is a rich celebration of the art of wedding fashion across time and cultures, and those whose style and circumstances made a statement.

An exquisite collection of nearly 400 iconic, inspirational wedding photographs of royalty, models, artists, actors, musicians and designers who have appeared in Vogue through the magazine’s 120 year history. Showcasing the work of legendary photographers such as Cecil Beaton, Patrick Demarchelier, Jonathan Becker, Norma Jean Roy, Mario Testino, Irving Penn, Arthur Elgort, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, and Annie Leibovitz, Vogue Weddings will transport you to a myriad of romantic settings around the world, from storied castles, palaces, and cathedrals, to weddings by the sea or in the countryside. Here are the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in London; Sofia Coppola and Thomas Mars in Italy; Kate Moss and Jamie Hince in the Cotswolds; Lauren Bush and David Lauren at the RRL Ranch in Colorado; Marina Rust and Ian Connor in Maine; Lauren Davis and Andrés Santo Domingo in Cartagena, Colombia as well as such iconic photos as Bianca and Mick Jagger in the car after their wedding in St. Tropez. A chapter on models’ weddings includes portraits of Natalia Vodianova, Coco Rocha, Maggie Rizer, Stella Tennant, Lara Stone and Cindy Crawford among others in their own wedding dress choices. Vogue Weddings also features behind-the-scenes details from Hamish Bowles; personal wedding stories from Mario Testino, Plum Sykes, Marina Rust and Sarah Mower; and fashion portfolios created by the magazine’s editors of bridal photo shoots, many including couture.

VINTAGE WEDDINGS takes a close look at the key periods, diverse styles, iconoclastic designers, significant ceremonies and cultural influences in wedding fashions. Organised chronologically, this book shows the reader how to recognize the silhouette that will best suit their body shape, identify luxurious fabrics, contrast various styles, and to source appropriate accessories, from gloves and shoes to flowers, veils, jewellery and table decorations. Throughout the book, individual pieces that epitomize the defining characteristic of each designer or decade are analysed in detail. Traditionally the wedding dress is the most expensive garment that a woman will ever buy. Increasingly, however, prospective brides are looking for something other than the customary costly and formulaic gown. This has given rise an increasing demand for vintage wedding gowns; one that both expresses a personal style and also provides a narrative. A vintage wedding dress can provide the theme and style of the entire celebration. A dress of frills and lace, indicative of the Edwardian era, may be the inspiration for a summer picnic with men in blazers and boaters and women wielding parasols, while afternoon tea served in Art Deco china to the sound of a jazz band may provide the perfect background for a floral printed tea-dress from the 1930s. This book is for those interested in collecting a acquiring all aspects of authentic vintage pieces relating to the wedding ceremony, and also for prospective brides who are buying new, but are looking for sources of inspiration.

Originally published in hardcover in 2011.

Are You Planning a Wedding or Preparing for a Marriage? Like most engaged couples, you’re researching venues, trying on dresses and picking out tuxedos or suits, tasting sample dishes, dreaming of honeymoon destinations, and doing everything to ensure your wedding day is the event of a lifetime. But as more seasoned couples will tell you, there’s more to a marriage than a wedding. A lot more. How do you build a marriage that you’ve dreamed of? Dr. Greg Smalley, vice president of marriage at Focus on the Family, and his wife, Erin, along with 14 marriage experts, serve as your marriage guides as you prepare for life beyond the wedding day. From how to handle those everyday conflicts to how to better connect on a spiritual level, they’ll show you how to get ready for a lifetime of commitment. When the flowers have faded and the last morsel of cake has been eaten, you’ll stand with your new spouse, ready to face life together. Equip yourself for a marriage that lasts by learning: How to leave your parents (while still honoring them) and cleave to your spouse Why spiritual intimacy is key to a lasting relationship Why the language of love is communication (and how to build it) How to manage conflict in a healthy, God-honoring way Why sexual intimacy in your marriage will be the gift that keeps on giving Invest in a marriage that will last for decades. Are you ready?

Throughout history, brides have wanted to look special on their wedding day. Usually, what they wear is representative of women's clothing at the time, and as times change, so do the fashions. Bridal fashions are no exception. Living history expert Kathleen York examines the bridal fashions of early twentieth-century America in this colorful book that looks at wedding gowns, bridesmaids' gowns, and bridal accessories from the Edwardian era through World War II. With a particular focus on what everyday gals wore for their weddings, American Bridal Fashion explores the historical events and popular attitudes of five key decades and examines how they translated into women's clothing and bridal fashions. York looks at the evolution of bridal fashion, from curvy, corseted Gibson Girls to jazzy, boyish Flappers and from the penny-pinching weddings during the Great Depression to the basic, rationed wedding dresses worn during World War II. Charming photographs and illustrations detail the dresses and accessories worn by women of the early 1900s on one of the happiest days of their lives.