Sisters Team Up for 'Wedding Planning for the Busy Feminist'...

Weddings are always a family affair – and for Amanda and Maria Pendolino, they’re a family business, too. Maria's getting married on Saturday, October 13th in Downtown Buffalo and today they've released their first professional collaboration: the audiobook version of the Amazon top-selling book Wedding Planning for the Busy Feminist.

A Buffalo-born writer, Amanda became an accidental wedding expert when her older sister, Maria, asked her to serve as Maid of Honor – at the same time Amanda was already fulfilling the role for her best friend in Los Angeles. Since Amanda attended ten other weddings in about two years, she culled from her own experiences, surveyed over 30 brides, grooms and vendors to write Wedding Planning for the Busy Feminist – an empowering, humorous survival guide that helps couples navigate the crazy, stressful world of wedding planning. The book was named one of the top 10 wedding planning books of 2018 by The Knot.

“A lot of women feel conflicted about weddings because they can reinforce traditional gender roles and values,” says Amanda. “‘The busy feminist’ is a modern, independent woman who is excited to get married but feels guilty about wanting the perfect wedding... but she wants it anyway! Couples today have to reconcile their values with sometimes outdated wedding traditions and family opinions. They also feel pressure to make their wedding a Pinterest-worthy performance – whether that means serving signature cocktails or DIY-ing table numbers inspired by every country they’ve visited. The wedding planning process can be overwhelming, so I wanted to help – and laugh about it.”

Maria contributed both her opinions and her voice to the project. An award-winning voiceover artist who has voiced commercials for everything from mouthwash to Robert Mondavi wine, Maria recorded the audiobook version of Wedding Planning for the Busy Feminist at her home studio in Buffalo, NY. The audiobook is available on Audible, iTunes and Amazon; the book is available on Amazon in both paperback and e-book. “I’m normally a very efficient narrator,” Maria says with a smirk. “But there were several instances where I had to go back a re-record a sentence or paragraph because I was laughing too hard!”

“With anecdotes along the lines of 'nothing sexes up a ceremony like a hot usher,' Amanda Pendolino's witty read caters to modern brides who want to steer away from certain dated wedding traditions,” says Brides Magazine. “Plus, the book comes loaded with humorous tips and stories from real couples and vendors."

Complete with helpful timelines and checklists, Wedding Planning for the Busy Feminist covers everything from wedding history (brides only began wearing white when Queen Victoria made it cool at her royal wedding in 1840) and theme ideas (say no to “Gatsby!”) to confusing caterer gratuities and unenthusiastic partners. Chapter topics include dress shopping, venue selection, vows, bridal parties, bachelor and bachelorette parties, showers, registries, tuxedo rentals, wedding planners and coordinators, money-saving tips, invitations, guest lists, elopements, themes, hashtags, favors and more. An interview with a wedding photographer also digs into the pros and cons of the trendy “unplugged” ceremony.

“If you met us when we were teenagers, I’m not sure you would have believed this collaboration was possible,” Maria says. “We kind of hated each other and were constantly bickering. But, as we grew up, we realized that we actually had a lot in common and over time we’ve become really great friends. When it came time to pick my Maid of Honor, there was no question - it was Amanda.”

Wedding Planning for The Busy Feminist is available now in paperback, e-book and audiobook!

LINKS:
The book’s Amazon page:
http://bit.ly/busyfeminist

The audiobook’s Audible page:
http://bit.ly/busyfeministaudio

The book’s Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/WeddingPlanningForTheBusyFeminist/

Amanda’s website and mailing list:
http://www.amandapendolino.com

Maria’s website:
http://www.voicebymaria.com

Amanda’s email:
amanda.pendolino(at)gmail.com

Maria’s email
voicebymaria(at)gmail.com

Amanda’s Twitter:
http://twitter.com/amandapendo

Amanda’s headshot:
http://bit.ly/amanda-pendolino-headshot

Maria’s headshot:
http://bit.ly/maria-headshot