Wedding Planning Books

[Sparkalicious]

Hello fellow Brides in Waiting!

This is my FIRST post as a bride-to-be

... just engaged on the weekend!

Can you lovely ladies kindly assist me by recommending what you think is the BEST Wedding Planner Guide book and explain WHY you think it''s the best?

I have NO idea where to start with this whole wedding plan thing so I''m feeling a teensy weensy bit overwhelmed.

I would like to get a handle on it and get organized by picking one of these handy dandy organizers up this weekend.

THANK YOU! I really appreciate ANY assistance you are able to provide.

 

[mimzy]

congratulations!!

i''d recommend budget bridal bargains or something like that. it''s a skinny book with tips on how to save money. i think it has a website to go with it maybe? i also really liked the DIY wedding by Kelly Bare.

really though unless you have NO idea about anything related to wedding i wouldn''t waste a lot of money on them, i would check them out at the library. you might want to also think about some other pre-wedding books that deal with more than flowers, like Emotionally Engaged or The Conscious Bride. i''ve found those to be a lot more helpful than anything!

good luck!

 

[Gypsy]

http://www.windsorpeak.com/bridalbargains/default.html I second Bridal Bargains.

 

[oobiecoo]

Bridal Bargains here also!

 

[Pandora II]

I think Martha Stewart Weddings is a good place to start - they have a good pull-out planning guide at the back.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Here what I bought:

Hmm...I like this because it's a folder, but can't really fit enough into it. It did come with a cute pocket planner which I love! Ultimate Wedding Planning Kit

I also like this, I think it's pretty and I loooove the business card holder. Easy Wedding Planner and Keepsake

And finally, this has been decently helpful, it told me what I wanted totally didn't fit within $10,000 range. However, it did give me good questions to interview vendors with and I love budget samples I can play with. $10,000 or less

ETA: Just wanted to note the keepsake and the kit have basically the same workbook in them, but I bought both because I wanted the pocket planner and the business card holder.

 

[Sparkalicious]

Ooooh responses ... Thanks ladies!

Mimzy - Tips on how to save money?! I''m all over it! Thanks!!

Thanks for the DIY book as wel, I was considering investigating taking care of some things by ourselves. Seeing some of Mandarine''s creations, for example, were totally inspiring.
I appreciate your suggestions!!! They sound great ... good tip about the library. Never thought about that.

Gypsy - Thanks for the link! I KNOW that you have been through a lot with your planning so a recommendation from you is highly regarded ... much appreciated.

Oobiecoo - Thanks! I can''t wait to get my hot little paws on this book now to see why everyone loves it so much!

PandoraII - Martha, huh? I should have known. After all she IS the guru of all things planning related, isn''t she? Love the pull out planning guide. I''m looking for something just like that!

SarahLovesJS - Thanks for the links! They all look like such good suggestions. This is horrible. It looks as though I''m going to blow the budget buying wedding PLANNING books! I''ve made note of everyone''s suggestions!!

I really want something that can also serve as a keepsake once all the planning is complete and the wedding has taken place. I''m looking for something that I can make notes in and sort of keep track of the planning progress as well.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, ladies ... if anyone has anything else they love, please keep the suggestions coming!

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Date: 4/3/2008 12:10:22 AM
Author: Sparkalicious
Ooooh responses ... Thanks ladies!

Mimzy - Tips on how to save money?! I''m all over it! Thanks!!

Thanks for the DIY book as wel, I was considering investigating taking care of some things by ourselves. Seeing some of Mandarine''s creations, for example, were totally inspiring.

I appreciate your suggestions!!! They sound great ... good tip about the library. Never thought about that.


Gypsy - Thanks for the link! I KNOW that you have been through a lot with your planning so a recommendation from you is highly regarded ... much appreciated.


Oobiecoo - Thanks! I can''t wait to get my hot little paws on this book now to see why everyone loves it so much!


PandoraII - Martha, huh? I should have known. After all she IS the guru of all things planning related, isn''t she? Love the pull out planning guide. I''m looking for something just like that!


SarahLovesJS - Thanks for the links! They all look like such good suggestions. This is horrible. It looks as though I''m going to blow the budget buying wedding PLANNING books! I''ve made note of everyone''s suggestions!!

I really want something that can also serve as a keepsake once all the planning is complete and the wedding has taken place. I''m looking for something that I can make notes in and sort of keep track of the planning progress as well.


Thanks for the suggestions so far, ladies ... if anyone has anything else they love, please keep the suggestions coming!

Yeah I kind of spent too much.

I was just so excited.

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 4/3/2008 12:10:22 AM
Author: Sparkalicious


I really want something that can also serve as a keepsake once all the planning is complete and the wedding has taken place. I''m looking for something that I can make notes in and sort of keep track of the planning progress as well.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, ladies ... if anyone has anything else they love, please keep the suggestions coming!

I bought a scrapbook - I think it was from Muji or somewhere similar.

Everytime I saw something in a bridal magazine - or anywhere - that I liked, I cut it out and put it in a box. When I got a whole load I spray mounted them into the scrapbook.

It was a great way of seeing what direction my thoughts were going in. By the time I had stuck 15 pictures of orange and yellow flowers in, it was kind of obvious that I wasn''t a ''pink'' person!

It takes up way less room that a teetering stack of bridal **** with post-it notes stuck everywhere, it''s handy to take with you to florists etc and other people can understand the way you are thinking very quickly.

It''s also a nice thing to have after the wedding.


I also bought Debrett''s Wedding Guide. Debrett''s are the Peerage experts in the UK and the ULTIMATE word on British Etiquette. Their ''Correct Form'' is one of the most used books on my desk at work!

They have a big section on US weddings, but the rest is very British. If you need help on things like who stands where in a line-up, or wording for invitations it is great. You can buy it on Amazon.

 

[Sparkalicious]

PandoraII
Bridal ****!

LOL! Has there ever been a more appropos term in life??!! I love it!
That is such a fantastic idea! I was dreading lugging around those monstrous bridal magazines and having a go at them.
Such a terrific idea ... THANKS!

Thank you so much for sharing! I appreciate the other reference as well b/c, while we''re not British, my mom will be all over the etiquette stuff!

 

[mamie]

Hey Spark! Glad you posted this question - I have been in two different bookstores and all over the interwebs seeking advice and reviews on wedding planning books. So far I purchased three bridal mags (The Knot''s state edition, Modern Bride, and something else), "The DIY Wedding," "The Knot''s Book of Lists," and "The Essential Book of Wedding Etiquette."

I can''t seem to pinpoint a planner that has all the things I want. I know I definitely want pockets and folders to store magazine scraps and store contracts. Definitely want dividers. I am toying with the idea of making my own.

I can''t remember if I read it on PS, but someone recommended some wedding software that helps with guest lists, budgets, and checklists. If anyone has an idea of what I''m referring to, please chime in?

Thanks! : )

 

[Sparkalicious]

Wow Mamie - You are right on top of it, aren''t you! Sounds like your resources are in order with your book/mag selections so far! They seem like great suggestions ... thank you!

Is it Bridal Bargains that you are thinking of??? If so, Gypsy posted a link above that might be helpful to you.