[.ca] Pocket Idiots Guide To Being A Groom (ISBN 0028644565)

one of the best groom's guides:
This may seem little a silly book to own, a book about how to be a groom, but reading through it I found that there is a lot of value to be found in this book. The argument has been made that the information contained in this book is stuff that men should already know and that it is common sense. Perhaps it is, but most men (or maybe just me) do not come ready made with the knowledge of what it takes to plan a wedding or how to best be helpful in that process. This book is for the average guy who wants to be able to help (rather than hinder) the planning of his wedding. This book has detail about each part of the planning process (from engagement through honeymoon) and lets the guy know what he needs to do, what he should do, and where he should step out of the way. This book has a bit more detail in some places than the more entertaining (though equally informative) book "The Clueless Groom's Guide", so I would consider this one (as well as the previously mentioned book) to be essential groom's guides and invaluable to the average guy who only knows that he should be standing up at the alter waiting for his wife to be to walk down the aisle. This book is worth the time to borrow from the library and it is worth the money to purchase. Either way, you can't go wrong with this book.

Useful AND funny:
Darned if the book isn't incredibly useful, crammed with tips and tidbits to ease one's transition from bachelor to bridegroom, wit to make one chuckle in spite of the stress of preparing for the impending changes and reassurances that, yes, other people really have gone through all of these stumbles and hiccups before, and, no, a few setbacks really won't spoil your special day. Probably. This handy book (which really does fit in the standard back pocket, by the way) helps you remember things you might otherwise forget. It streamlines the process by explaining and eliminating unnecessary steps. It offers alternatives to traditional thinking, and supplies potential solutions to the problems that always crop up along the way. It provides hints for planning a honeymoon, dealing with in-laws and -- most vital of all -- how to communicate with your increasingly frantic honeypie as she draws ever closer to the Most Important Day of Her Life. Would my wedding plans have changed drastically, had I not had this book at my disposal? I doubt it. But it helped me get through these preceding months with a smile and the knowledge that there was a ready resource in my back pocket, just in case some unexpected bump appeared in the process.

Truly the 'idiot' guide:
I know this review won't make me friends with all the reviewers that rated this so highly... but... this book covers only the utmost basic of the basics. I quite honestly believe that if you don't already just know most of the stuff in this book, then maybe you should second-guess this whole marriage idea. I'm not trying to sound stuck-up or snobby... and I fully admit that when my fiance and I first started planning our wedding, there was a lot I didn't know... but it wasn't stuff you'll find in this book. I already know how to get along with my fiance (something covered in the book), how to handle wedding-arguements (covered in the book...) and that it's *her* big day... I mean, come on - if you don't know that stuff, well...

Simple, maybe; Good, for sure:
It has been said that this book is too simple, that it tells someone getting married what he should know anyway. I cannot argue that this book is highly detailed, however, that, by no means implies that this book has no merits. First, it provides a backup, just in case the guy who thinks he knows it all, in fact does not; hopefully it also makes sure the bride and the groom are "on the same page" when it comes to the wedding planning. Secondly, it provides a great sense of focus, that can help make the wedding planning a lot less confusing. While planning it is easy to forget everything you need to do (even if you knew it months before), and sometimes it can help one remember the real meaning of the wedding. And lastly, for those guys who have to mediate anything between their bride and/or their families, this book provides a great reference for telling "Dad" that, in fact, he does have to pay for the ladies' corsages, or the bride that, despite her feelings to the contrary, that she might be spending a bit much on the cake. Sure, it is a simple book, but that can be exaclty what one needs: a simple reference to double check info with, and to keep his focus.

It's just plain awesome, baby:
Boy, let me tell you this is one valuable read. Mark Rung is obviously gifted with the ability to write. His ability to capture what are tense moments for a groom while still maintaining his funny side are uncanny. This stuff would force Steinbeck to put down his pen and start taking lessons from the master. What a valuable guide for me. Although I'm currently divorced (twice), the guide made the three or so months post wedding bearable for both marriages. Thanks Jennifer and Mark, where would I be without this guide.