Have you just become engaged? Pondering the perfect wedding location or weighing the pros and cons of summer vs. winter events? Or maybe you’re hip-deep in invitations already, with just the final details to iron out?
Wherever you are in the planning process, your local library has books to help you create your perfect, unique wedding day.
Start your process with a comprehensive guide like Laura Strutt’s DIY Wedding Planner: The Step-by-step Guide to Creating your Perfect Wedding Day on a Budget. Get an overview of what’s involved in planning a wedding and figure out if the DIY approach is really for you.
For brides on a budget (and who’s not?), pick up Meg Keene’s no-nonsense guide to cutting through the hype. Get detailed checklists and insider tips in A Practical Wedding Planner: A Step-by-step Guide to Creating the Wedding You Want with the Budget You’ve Got (without Losing your Mind in the Process). Keene is a popular blogger and her sassy, familiar style will keep you giggling even while you’re… well, losing your mind.
If you’re on the style-obsessed side of the spectrum, you’ll find luscious photos, high-impact ideas and eye-catchingly modern palettes in Vane Broussard’s Weddings in Color: 500 Creative Ideas for Designing a Modern Wedding. Pore over hundreds of entirely modern styles and glean ideas from interviews with cutting edge industry experts. From altars to invitations, the gorgeous photos that fill this book are anything but traditional.
Booked into an idyllic outdoor venue? The Knot Book of Outdoor Weddings: Fresh Ideas for Events in Gardens, Vineyards, Beaches, Mountains and More by Carley Roney, will help you plan memorable touches to highlight your location’s natural beauty, and infuse it with special, meaningful touches that reflect your personality. Get tips on handling outdoor considerations — hello, thunderstorm! — and use an easy planning tool to set up a plan B just in case.
Those further along in the planning process might want to check out Lisa Francesca’s The Wedding Officiant’s Guide: How to Write and Conduct a Perfect Ceremony. With up to a third of weddings officiated by a friend or family member, this friendly guide is a great resource for novice officiants or couples who want input into the ceremony’s structure. Filled with practical tips, this handy guide provides empowering advice to help couples and officiants create a delightful, meaningful and personalized ceremony.
Are you in the bridal party? There’s more involved than agreeing on a dress. Become a superstar bridesmaid with Kate Chynoweth’s fun tips in The Bridesmaid Guide: Modern Advice on Etiquette, Parties and Being Fabulous. Host a gorgeous bridal shower, throw an unforgettable bachelorette party and be the rock your bestie needs on her big day.
All done with planning? Details all done? Then it’s time for some relaxing pre-wedding reading. Kick back with Bagpipes, Brides and Homicides, a recent instalment in Kaitlyn Dunnett’s Liss MacCrimmon Scottish Mystery series. A historical re-enactment takes a murderous turn in Liss’ small town home, and the top suspect is… her father. Liss doesn’t believe it, and she’s determined to clear her dad’s name before she walks down the aisle with her beau. A seasoned sleuth, Liss is certain that she can solve the crime. Now, if only she could convince her mom to lay off the tartan wedding scheme.
All these books and many more can be found at your local public library. To all the brides out there, congratulations — and we’ll see you at the library.
--A Good Read is a column by Tri-City librarians that is published on Wednesdays. Maryn Ashdown works at Port Moody Public Library.
