Wedding Planning - Required Reading!

fallingsnow610

 I'm an older bride gettng married for the first time, so  I'm definitely looking for something less than traditional...but I really have no idea what kind of wedding I want.

Can anyone recommend wedding planning books that they thought were especially helpful?

Lasairiona

The info on the boards here  is much more helpful, not to mention free, than any book you could ever locate on the subject.

Sit down with your fiance and decide what you want and what you don't. Make one list of must-haves, another of things that are nice to have but you wouldn't mind if they were cut for whatever reason. The last list should be things you don't care about and don't want to include at all. Use those as your guides as you go along.

danieliza1127

Imagine that you were just throwing a big party with your closest family and friends.  What would you and your FI want it to be like?  What sort of place would you imagine it being held?  Inside or outside?  What are you favorite colors or flowers?  Think about those things to get ideas.

I don't know of any books because I did most of my planning with the internet.  The photo galleries here will give you tons of ideas, and Google Images and Google will help too.

simplyhippie

I worked at a bookstore for years, so I had a book collection from using my gigantic discount and getting things that had been remaindered.  I agree, the internet is the best resourse, really.  My favorite books, so far, have been The Everything Green Wedding Book, just because it had cute things I never would have thought of, and a general wedding planner.  Most wedding planners have checklists so you don't forget things - you'd be surprised what you don't think of.  Again, you can find checklists online (like right here on theknot!)

Lasairiona

Also, there are a ton of wedding books and magazines at the local library that you can check out for free.

MyNameIsNot

I agree, the internet was great.  And I got a lot of wedding magazines.

But I did buy a wedding etiquette book.  There is so much conflicted info out there that I did want to be on top of that.  I got one of the Emily Post ones.

Lasairiona

Refrain from buying wedding magazines unless they are local to your area. Local magazines are great for finding vendors and venues. The national magazines (Brides, etc) are 99% dress ads and not much else. The info you find online such as the boards here are much better than any article you will find in the magazines.

As far as etiquette books, those are a must have. Although, you can find the same info free at http://www.etiquettehell.com/smf/ . In this day and age, most people (at least in the wedding community) think they can do whatever they want and don't care who they offend in the process. Those same folks say that etiquette is outdated, which is incorrect as it is in place to prevent social awkwardness which is not something that ever changes, and should not be treated on the same level as tradition which is something else entirely which can and does change frequently. However, be aware that Emily Post has since passed and her daughter who preaches wrong information which is the opposite of what her mother is known for is posing under her name, so be careful with any the newer editions.

amandak26

aww and i always wanted a brides magazine too now i can see how  that would be pointless... maybe i will get one anyway and just look at the pictures for color ideas or something!!

JessiTess

I second what others have said here that the internet is better than most wedding books.  Wedding magazines are a lot of fun, even if they are ad-filled.  Good news is that most venues and vendors you visit will often give you some for free.

I recommend creating your own "wedding book." I have a hardcover note book (in my wedding colors because I'm a bit OCD) that I use to write down notes and to dos.  I also have a 3 ring binder to help organize print outs and vendor information.

fallingsnow

Thanks for all the awesome advice.  I went to the library and checked out about 10 books, and was able to narrow down from there.  And the magazine advice was also really helpful...saved me from wasting a lot of money!