Get the inside scoop on planning your wedding!

We are Edna & Jeri, real wedding professionals who have worked and planned hundreds and hundreds of weddings. As leaders in the wedding industry for over 25 years, we have a unique and comprehensive insight into planning weddings. We have real-life advice that is practical, proven and actionable so you can pull off your once-in-a-lifetime wedding with ease.

Photo credits: Ring image – Kate McElwee, Portrait image – Allegro Photography

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What’s in the Book

The Real Deal Wedding Insiders’ Guide to Smart Wedding Planning is a step-by-step guide with specific and actionable steps to give you control over your wedding. We walk you through chapters and worksheets that go from how to handle stressful family relationships, to what goes in your budget, to finding vendors and how to work with them. We break down the process from the time you call your best friend to say, “I’m engaged!” all the way to your wedding day.

Chapter Sneak Peak

Check out what we cover in each chapter. We review all the main items that you will experience as you go through the wedding planning process.

Introduction

You’ll learn about Edna and Jeri, who they are and why they wrote the book.

The Engagement

In this chapter you’ll understand why you’re feeling overwhelmed as well as excited and how to navigate your way through.

The Committee

The Committee is not your Wedding Party. Did you know you had one? Before making any decisions figure out who is on it, and how to work with them.

The Vision

Here we help you understand the elements of a wedding vision and give you the tools to figure out yours.

The Budget

Most couples overspend on their wedding budget, we’ll help you take the guesswork out of building a realistic budget.

The Venue

The biggest decision of wedding planning is the venue. We give you an overview of how to make the right choice for you.

The Vendors

How to find, contact, talk and work with vendors. We help you navigate this process to ensure a wonderful wedding day.

The Big Day

You’ve spent so much time and energy planning this event. Here we give you the secrets to enjoying every moment of your day.

Meet the Authors

Edna Dratch-Parker

Edna, founder and creative director of EFD Creative—Event Planning & Design, brings her unique blend of experience as an artist, entrepreneur, and creative director to each and every wedding she’s planned for the past decade. A graduate of the Maine College of Art, her approach to events comes from her desire to create a cohesive and visually engaging experience. She aligns her artistic sensibility with her professionalism to create a wedding experience that is memorable, distinctive, and seamless. Edna has received a number of industry honors, including “Wedding of the Year” from NACE NATIONAL – National Association of Catering and Events, “Social Event Planner of the Year” from BizBash, “Trendsetter of the Year” from Wedding Planner magazine and listed in the TOP 10 Wedding Planners, Boston from WeddingRule.com. Edna’s work has been published nationally in magazines and blogs.

Follow Edna's wedding planning company EFD Creative on Instagram

Jeri Solomon

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Jeri parlayed her entrepreneurial spirit with her first love of flowers into a business – Jeri Solomon Floral Design, that has allowed her to be creative and thrive in the Boston wedding industry for over 25 years. Jeri’s motto is “Weddings are stressful; flowers shouldn’t be.” She believes in providing each of her customers not only with gorgeous floral arrangements but also with exceptional service, attention to detail, and impeccable design. Her work has been featured in numerous publications including Boston Weddings, Flower magazine, The Knot magazine, Modern Luxury Weddings: Boston, and Grace Ormonde Wedding Style. As one of the founding members of the prestigious Boston Wedding Group, Jeri has served in various leadership roles including president, vice president, and secretary.

Follow Jeri’s business Jeri Solomon Floral Design on Instagram

In the Media

THE CONFETTI HOUR PODCAST: Featuring The Real Deal Wedding Insiders®

THE STYLE BOUQUET: Book Review – Guide To Smart Wedding Planning

FIND THIS BEST: 10 Best Wedding Budget Books features – Guide To Smart Wedding Planning

NBC SEGMENT: Mistakes To Avoid On Your Wedding Day – Featuring the Real Deal Wedding Insiders®

LOVERLY: 4 Steps to Finding and Managing Your Vendor Dream Team While Staying on Budget

THE WEDDING PRO CEO PODCAST: Featuring The Real Deal Wedding Insiders®

THE WEDDING DISH PODCAST: Featuring The Real Deal Wedding Insiders®

WEDDING CHICKS: Starting To Create Your Wedding Timeline? Here’s What Couples Always Miss

POSH LIFESTYLE BEAUTY BLOG: Winter Reading Guide features – Guide To Smart Wedding Planning

EVERYDAY BRIDE: 8 Not-So-Obvious Things to Consider When Selecting a Wedding Venue

PERFETE: Newly Engaged? These Are Your First Must-Do’s for Your 2023 Wedding

BRIDAL GUIDE: Avoid Going into Debt While Planning A Wedding

WEDDING CHICKS: 13 Minor Wedding Details Couples Forget, According to Pro

THE KNOT: What Exactly Does A Wedding Planner Do?

GENTWENTY: 30+ Books Releasing This Fall

SOUTHWEST WED: 11 Tips for Planning an Out-of-State Wedding

Book Reviews

See what people are saying about the book!

“A fantastic resource for any engaged couple! This book provides a fun, engaging and easy-to-follow process of successfully planning your wedding. Jeri and Edna are experts in the industry and this book provides their insider knowledge, advice and humor regarding all things wedding! I highly recommend purchasing a few copies to keep on hand for newly engaged couples in your life. They will certainly appreciate it!”

Keira

“As a newly engaged person, the information in this book has stayed with me and was so very needed. Especially the advice on getting clear about everybody’s (family, future in-laws, friends, etc…) role in the planning and how to navigate that! I loved having this book by my side and will share with friends when they get engaged! “

Bailey

“This book is the most valuable tool I had for planning my wedding. It’s an excellent guide to manage not only the logistics, but also the mental and emotional workload of planning a wedding. I had an easy pathway to follow as I made millions of important decisions along the way. My favorite parts were the actionable templates. The authors have accomplished something truly unique here: A book that will help you navigate the most awkward and overwhelming parts of planning a wedding. “

Turku