Modern Brides & Modern Grooms: A Guide to Planning Straight, Gay, and Other Nontraditional Twenty-First-Century Weddings

by Mark O'Connell Narrated by Mark O'Connell

Overview

A book for any couple--of the same or opposite sex--seeking a personalized wedding that dignifies the relationship and the individual self. This guide emboldens you to harness your individuality, to be creative, and to plan your wedding your way.





Every fiancé and fiancée faces the question, how do I become something new without losing myself? Using his own story, author Mark O'Connell, LCSW reflects on conflicts that arrive during wedding transitions, as well as various other transitions throughout your lives.





As a psychotherapist, O'Connell offers ideas to bridge relational gaps with your partner, family, and friends. As a professional actor, he also offers insight into the ways your wedding is a theatrical production and how this can help you to conceptualize the event, consolidate your efforts, and increase creative collaboration as a couple. This will serve you not only on your big day, but also for the rest of your time together.





Whether we're straight, gay, or other, weddings inspire us to carve out more fun, freedom, recognition, life space, love space, and connubial space than we've ever had before.





Reviews:





"Part planning guide and part memoir, Mark O'Connell weaves anecdotes of his own experiences into useful tips for navigating wedding planning and marriage. The book's impeccably inclusive writing makes it relatable for all couples, regardless of race, orientation or religion." -The Knot





"[T]he most impressive aspect is the book's inclusivity. Not only could it be used as a very practical wedding guide--regardless of your religious background, income level, or sexual orientation--it could function as a broadly insightful text for anyone interested in reflecting on their relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners (past, present, or desired future)." -Out Magazine





"Part 'how-to' and part memoir, this book manages to transcend both and achieve something rather refreshing. This is a very well-written and clever resource for planning gay and straight weddings. The author is a therapist in NYC and he includes several case histories of wedding couples to support his ideas and strategies. The book is contemporary, practical, and fun to read." -Rainbow Book Awards

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

“No matter what circumstances surround your relationship or what kind of wedding you want, Mark’s perspective and advice will prove invaluable to working out the kinks and having not only your dream wedding but better communication with your significant other, family, friends, and in-laws.” —Liza Monroy, author of The Marriage Act

“This is the most timely book published this year. O’Connell’s book is a breeze to read, filled with wonderful examples of what he calls ‘queer marriage’ and illustrated with examples from his own marriage to another man, as well as from other marriages. It is a pleasure to read. I expect his next book will be about queer adoptions. And why not?” —Charles Silverstein, PhD, gold medal winner for lifetime achievement in the practice of psychology and coauthor of The Joy of Gay Sex

“This is more than just another plan-your-wedding book; it’s really a guide to planning your entire life together. It’s absolutely going on the required reading list for all my future first dates!” —Zachary Booth, actor, Damages and Keep the Lights On

“So, your wedding day . . . It has to be perfect. Mark O’Connell’s book immediately allows you to take a deep breath and say, ‘We can do this!’ It’ll help make your dream a reality with stress-free planning, communication, and love for your wedding day.” —Del Shores, award-winning director and writer of Sordid Lives

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171550851
Publisher:	Author's Republic
Publication date:	08/05/2017
Edition description:	Unabridged

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