The Top 10 Wedding Planning Books

Top 10 General Wedding Planning Books

Looking for just the right wedding planning book , then you’ve come to the right place!

Here are Brides Book top 10 choices for wedding planning books. (And when you’re done looking these over, they’ll be your favorites, too!)

#1 The One Stop Wedding Kit

We were very impressed with this book. It is loaded with all kinds of ways to save money on your wedding, and it’s never too early to start looking for those sorts of tips. It also has lots of checklists and lists of questions that you can use when you’re interviewing vendors and possible officiates. It even provides your to-do lists for you! That alone impressed the heck out of me. I mean who doesn’t want to have all the hard work done for you? Another plus in our opinion is this book is only 292 pages — so you’re not going to be weighted down with information overload like you would be with some wedding planning books. The simplicity of it alone is worth a look.

#2 How To “I Do”:
Planning The Ultimate Wedding In 6 Weekends Or Less

This is another great wedding planning book mainly because it takes into fact that not everyone has the time to allow their wedding to take over their life. (Can you say Bridezilla?) This book is cool because it lays out for you exactly what to do and how to do it for each weekend leading up to your wedding day. By the end of the 6 weekends, you really are done with your wedding planning and ready to get married! For the workaholic bride and groom who have busy schedules, or even the harried single parents who have to keep their own schedules and their children’s too, this is a really great wedding planning book.

#3 Anti-Bride Guide:
Tying the Knot Outside the Box

If the whole idea of planning a traditional wedding is a complete turn-off for you, you’re not alone. The author, who also discovered that she was an anti-bride, was able to turn her turn-off into something very useful — not only for her own wedding but for thousands of other anti-brides out there as well! Combined with the Anti-Bride Wedding Planner, these books have some very hip ideas and realistic ways to handle the planning of your wedding. On top of that, both books provide places for the bride-to-be to doodle notes and pockets to put all of your wedding planning goodies in. So, if you find any articles or brochures that you want to hang onto and look at later, these pockets are perfect for that! The book also covers things like what to do if you get a lipstick stain on your dress or you have to deal with the caterer from hell — to name just a few wedding day scenarios. I know there are others out there who are as befuddled by the traditional wedding industry as well.If this is you this is a must read.

#4 Martha Stewart’s Keepsake Wedding Planner

We were really impressed with this... wedding planner. Of all the wedding planning books we’ve come across, hers has some of the most gorgeous pictures. Also, it is lightweight — which makes it really easy to carry. Some of the wedding planning books we’ve looked at are so heavy, that we would  pass them up based on weight alone! I mean, who wants to lug around a heavy book from place to place? No one! Another plus is the fact that this wedding planner has folders to keep papers in and a plastic holder for business cards and other small things. When you’re planning a wedding and talking to dozens of vendors, having a place (other than your purse, where things can easily get buried!) is a real advantage. Finally, this wedding planner has lots of really solid planning information, and it’s told in the very straightforward style that Martha is known for. She really impressed us with this book.

#5 Wedding Planning For Dummies

You have to love that title! Fortunately, not only is the title dead-on but the information contained inside is as well! This truly is the book for the bride-to-be who doesn’t have a clue. If you have no idea where to begin, who to call, what vendors to look at, or just anything that pertains to wedding planning, then this is the book for you. It has a very easy and simple reading style that you will like. Also, there are sections that are marked with “caution” — so you know this is something that you need to pay really close attention to. This book covers the traditional wedding in full and answers any and all questions a bride might have in simple and easy-to-understand language. Of course, its price tag doesn’t hurt either.

Top 5 Specialized Wedding Planning Books

#1 To Have & To Hold:
Magical Wedding Bouquets

This book, is the best for helping any bride-to-be get a handle on the type of flowers she wants for her wedding bouquet. There are a number of less-traditional ideas as well — such as carrying a book with a flower in it instead a typical bouquet of flowers. You’ll find lots of unique wedding bouquet ideas here — like adding berries and feathers to bouquets of flowers, which is one of my favorites. Plus, there are dozens of beautiful full-color photos that show different types of wedding bouquets with different wrappings around the stems. The photos are so incredibly detailed that you (or a florist) would have no problem duplicating these ideas. The photos alone are worth buying this book.

#2 How to Buy Your Perfect Wedding Dress

This is the perfect book for the bride-to-be who is clueless about what to buy for her wedding dress. Written by the owners of Kleinfeld (a bridal store that helps thousands of brides pick out and buy the perfect wedding dress each year), this one really is from a very good source. The book details body type. So often, you see all these photos of skinny brides in their wedding dresses, “But I want to see a not-so-skinny bride!” I think it’s unrealistic to expect that all brides are going to be teeny tiny. This books covers all body shapes and sizes and includes ideas for wedding dress styles that suit all body types — not just the model thin ones. This book also covers all those pesky accessories such as lingerie, gloves, shoes, and veils. All in all, there are tons of great examples of different types of wedding dresses and accessories to suit every bride-to-be.

#3 Your Picture Perfect Wedding:
A Bride’s Personal Guide To Wedding Photography In The New Millennium

If your someone who doesn’t know a whole heck of a lot about photography, You will find this book to be really useful. It is specifically designed to educate the bride and groom on how to pick the right photographer for you. There is a lot of information out there that is incorrect when it comes to getting together with a photographer and talking to them about what you want. This book gives brides and grooms the low down on what is possible for the photographer to do, and what is not — particularly if you don’t give them enough time to take photos. Understanding what a wedding photographer does and how they do it goes a long way in terms of being able to choose the right wedding photographer for you. This book gives you that information.


#4 Wedding Cakes You Can Make:
Designing, Baking, and Decorating the Perfect Wedding Cake

We  found this book to be so enlightening. Since one of the ways that you can save money on your wedding is to make your own wedding cake, I found this book makes that task completely doable. Another thing I really love about it is the fact that there are all kinds of recipes — not just the standard butter cream wedding cake that you see so often. This book includes recipes like orange essentia cake, and chocolate covered caramel cake. Also, the way this book is written, you don’t have to be a baking expert because it lays out very clear and concise directions for each recipe. This book also covers how to transport your wedding cake — which is one of those must-know things if you’re making your own wedding cake. This book is a must-have because of the photos, the recipes, and the amount of information all in one place.

#5 The Everything Wedding Vows Book:
How to Personalize the Most Important Promise You’ll Ever Make

If you’re planning on writing your own wedding vows and you’re at a loss for what to say, then this book is definitely one you want to get! It helps you find the words to say exactly what you want in a unique and beautiful way. After reading this book, one things’s for sure: your wedding vows will be unlike anyone else’s! Plus, it’s packed to the gills with fun ideas and unique things to include in your wedding vows – like your favorite poems and/or songs. This book also has famous love lines from movies, as well as information on ethnic vows from all over the world.

Without a doubt,  all these books are the best wedding planning books that every bride-to-be should take a look at. They will help you plan your wedding down to the last minute detail.

 

 

Birds are in for the 2013 wedding scene

Birds are in for 2013

 Many brides are opting to use birds in their

 centerpieces and eventhe wedding dress, as

 they make for a beautiful, natural wedding theme.

Here in this video is just one idea of using

birds in your wedding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a great display of a feather

 wedding Dress.

 

 

Top 10 Wedding Catering Trends

 

Top 10 Wedding Catering Trends.

 

Want your reception to be unforgettable? Here's a little secret: It's all about the food

If you're like the rest of us, you have more food blogs on your Google reader than anything else, and your DVR is set to record at least one cooking show (our faves: Iron Chef and Sweet Genius). Thanks to celebrity chefs and the Food Network, today's couples are more tapped into the food and wine industry than ever before -- which means, when it comes to planning a wedding menu, the standard chicken or beef just doesn't cut it. That's why we put together this list of 10 hot catering trends. From eco-friendly meals to tasting menus, these ideas are guaranteed to satisfy your appetite for good food and drink.

1. Play With Color
It's one thing to think in terms of color when it comes to linens and flowers, but for food? That's what's so exciting about modern-day wedding catering: If you want it, chances are a caterer can do it. Many chefs are coming up with unique ways to infuse color into their food to match the couple's signature hues, and we're not talking green mashed potatoes! If you're having a black-and-white wedding, consider serving Oreo cookies and mini ice cream sandwiches for dessert, or (even better) root beer floats. Like red and green? We know one caterer who put together hors d'oeuvres that included shot glasses filled with layers of edamame (green) and lobster trifle (red), and also tuna tartare (red) served in wasabi (green) sesame-seeded wontons for a cocktail hour.

2. Break Out the Bubbly
One trend we love: letting your guests play bartender. How do you do it? First, pick your drink. Since it's a wedding, champagne is a natural choice. Next, ask your caterer to set up a display at the cocktail hour with the requisite glassware, spirits and all the fixin's. For a bubble bar, have champagne, prosecco and sparkling California wine (se for variety. Hint: The prettier the bottles, the prettier your display will be. You also need liqueurs, like Chambord, Midori, Schnapps and St-Germain (a tasty new liqueur that's made from elderflowers) and juices like pineapple, cranberry and orange juice. Then set out pretty bowls filled with fresh peach, white grape and pear purees (think Bellinis) as well as raspberries and blackberries for garnishes. Your guests can pick whatever they like and enjoy their very own custom-made cocktail.

3. Spring Into Action
Cocktails aren't the only things that can be custom-made at weddings these days. Caterers are now creating what some call "interactive culinary kiosks" around the cocktail hour and reception that allow for more guest interaction and better flow from room to room. Taking the traditional buffet one step further, each of these stations is attended to by a chef who can plate your meal and give you tips on what to pair things with. Right now, the hot station is the ceviche bar, which offers a variety of fish in savory cones. If you're not into seafood, you can do a chips station with several varieties of chips made from nontraditional roots and tubers, like beets and sweet potatoes paired with a variety of house-made dips. This type of food service is perfect for a cocktail reception where guests can mill around and eat, dance or just hang out in a lounge area all night long.

4. Trim the Fat
Just because it's your wedding and you're hosting a large crowd doesn't mean that your options are limited when it comes to a healthy meal. Gone are the days of heavy cream sauces, fatty double pork chops and deep-fried apps. For the cocktail hour, think small -- as in little antipasto skewers with a grape tomato a ball of mozzarella and an olive drizzled with fresh basil oil, or mini lettuce wraps with chicken in a savory Thai peanut sauce. You could also do pecan, raisin and apple crostini drizzled with honey and sprinkled with blue cheese (is your mouth watering yet?). Even though these apps are healthy, it doesn't make them any more expensive. You're actually spending less since you're adding a lot more fresh vegetables to your menu. Looking for healthy dessert options? Well, this is one course where we're going to stick to tradition. The more sugar, the better!

5. Go Green
This trend is here to stay. As organic and sustainable ingredients become more and more available, brides and grooms want to have at least one green course on their wedding menus, and caterers are responding. These days, you can serve something as simple as a fresh salad made with organic greens, or do a free-range chicken with organic string beans as the main meal. And going green doesn't stop with the food. Many winemakers and spirits producers are venturing into organic beverage options, so you should ask your caterer about adding organic tequilas and vodkas or even biodynamic wines to your bar menu.

6. Opt for Family-Style
Now you don't have to be Italian to have a family-style meal at your wedding. In fact, more brides and grooms are requesting that their reception meals be served family-style to take the stuffiness out of a sit-down meal. There's more interaction between guests at the table because they have to pass all of the dishes between each other, which means more mingling and a better chance that everyone will have an unforgettable night. One thing to think about if you're opting for a family-style meal is to nix the massive centerpiece. You'll definitely need more room for all of those big serving plates. Let the food star as your decor. You can do large plates of bright-red steamed lobster, flank steak rolled up with portobello mushrooms and Emmentaler cheese nestled in magenta-and-white Swiss chard, along with a colorful dish of vegetable risotto.

7. Get Global Goods
Like a lot of things in life, it's the details that count. When it comes to food, those details lie in the exotic ingredients caterers are using to give their dishes extra-special flair. Black lava sea salt or wasabi salt, Middle Eastern herbs and tahini sauces are being used in dishes to add a zing or richness to the flavor. Most of the time, you may not be able to quite put your finger on the difference these ingredients make, but you do know that it tastes good, and that's what will get people talking about your wedding. The next day or even a few weeks later, most people won't be able to remember what type of flowers you had in your bouquet, but they'll definitely remember the food.

8. Try a Taste
Tasting menus are becoming a huge trend, and now they're creeping into weddings. So what's a tasting menu? Sit down and get ready to mangia! You'll be served anywhere from five to seven mini courses -- even though they're "mini," trust us, no one will go hungry -- and depending on your budget, you can also choose to pair a different wine with each course. For example, you could start with a caramelized onion tart with Roquefort cheese, followed by herb-crusted filet mignon alongside pork loin with pear chutney, followed by shaved summer squash salad, then maybe a lobster tail, then cake and some bite-size desserts. So you may start to wonder: When do we dance? Well, unfortunately, that's the thing about tasting menus -- most of your time will be spent eating. If you're the type who wants to live it up on the dance floor, then a tasting menu might not be for you. But if you're self-proclaimed foodies and you want a sophisticated, black-tie wedding, by all means, go for it!

9. Kick Up the Kids' Menu
As children's palates are becoming more sophisticated, so too are the children's menus at weddings. Long gone are the plates of chicken fingers and French fries or the spaghetti with butter. Kids are having more fun eating sushi -- yes, sushi! -- like California rolls with soy sauce dips, chicken potpie or ravioli in a nice brown butter sauce. For the first course, caterers are also serving bowls of fresh fruit, and to drink, don't forget the milk, of course! What parents love about this is that they can relax and enjoy themselves at the wedding, knowing that their kids are getting served a healthy meal instead of loading up on hot dogs and soda.

10. Late-Night Snacks
Think the food-related portion of the evening is over the very minute the cake is cut? Think again. Around 10 p.m., brides and grooms are opting to serve a late-night snack. Now's the time you can really get creative. If you love the sliders from White Castle, then call up your local joint (a few weeks ahead, please) and see if they'll deliver. You could also arrange for servers to bring out trays of the quintessential before-bed treat: mini cartons of milk and an array of cookies. Or consider your families' ethnic backgrounds to get some inspiration for what kind of food you'd like to serve. We know one bride from Mexico who hired her favorite churros guy to come to her beach reception and serve authentic churros from a Boardwalk-style food stand. Your caterer can help you with this part of the evening by setting up a table of pizza or popcorn toppings, a gyros station or an espresso bar. Make sure there's room to put the station close to the dance floor so guests can hop off, refuel and get back out there and show off their moves.

Special thanks to Connie Bolle of Levy Events in Chicago; Shai Tertner of Shiraz NYC; Andy and Rick Bott of Merri-Makers Caterers in Edison, New Jersey; and Christian

O'Dowd of The Cantering Caterer in Connecticut

Photo: Mi Belle Inc.

New Rules on Splitting the Wedding Tab

New Rules on Splitting the Wedding Tab

 

In today's economy, it’d be an impressive feat for a family to single-handedly cover the costs of a standard wedding, much less the fairytale that every little girl dreams of. Traditionally, the bride’s family was responsible for handling the wedding preparations while the groom’s family planned the honeymoon. Nowadays, however, it seems like tradition has been shooed out the door while practicality has been ushered in.According to our two experts, Andria Lewis—a 15-year wedding planner veteran—and Jodi R.R. Smith—an author and etiquette expert—today’s couples are independent, educated, and financially savvy enough to successfully manage their wedding expenses. And if, they are feeling a tad bit under pressure, well then, they can follow the advice below in order to ensure that the budget is covered without ruining the bride’s manicure!Andria’s (Flexible) Rules: "It’s okay to color outside the lines when you are planning your wedding!”

1. Have an open discussion with all individuals who will be contributing to the wedding.
2. Make lists, so everyone can see the plan (examples below)
3. Once everyone has agreed, start visiting potential venues & vendors (Only After!)
4. Know where the funds are coming from & how much is being contributed for that category, before you meet with any potential vendor
5. Plan well & enjoy one of the happiest moments of your life

If the Couple Wants To Help The Bride’s Parents Pay The Tab: Parents’ Expenses:

• Caterer
• Venue
• Stationery (from Save-The-Dates to Invites to Thank You Cards)
• Photographer & Videographer
• Rentals & Lighting
• Bride’s Gown

Couple’s Expenses:

• All Flowers (personal flowers for wedding party & centerpieces)
• Transportation
• Cakes
• Entertainment (ceremony musicians, band/DJ)
• Officiant’s Fee
• Wedding Planner
• Guest Welcome Bags & Favors
• Gifts for Wedding Party

If the Couple is Splitting the Tab Between Themselves: Bride’s Expenses:

• Her Gown
• All Flowers
• Cakes
• Wedding Planner
• Gifts for Bridesmaids & Hostesses
• Venue

Groom’s Expenses:

• Entertainment
• Transportation
• Officiant’s Fee
• Gifts for Groomsmen and Ushers
• His Attire (PURCHASE THE SUIT…he will get more for his money)

Couple’s Expenses:

• Caterer
• Photographer & Videographer
• Stationery
• Rentals & Lighting
• Guest Welcome Bags & Favors

Brides Book Potential Scenarios:Unlike the “olden days,” the bride’s family won’t necessarily cover all of the expenses of the wedding. Instead, the finances may have to come from multiple sources, including the couple’s own pockets. The following rules should be adhered in the scenarios that follow them:

1. Couple must determine a realistic budget & discuss what each one is willing to contribute to the wedding.
2. Next, they must tactfully approach the bride’s parents. If they haven’t proffered to host the wedding, the couple should tactfully and diplomatically ask if the bride’s parents are ready, willing, and able to contribute.
3. The last conversation should be reserved for the groom’s parents. This must be approached carefully and thoughtfully.

Scenario # 1:Bride’s parents offer to host the entire event (Phew!). Your duties are now relieved and you can sit back and enjoy the wedding.Scenario # 2:Bride’s parents flat out can’t or won’t help out. They may either be financially strained at the moment or the bride’s relationship with them could be on the rocks. In either case, the couple needs to come up with plan B. Scenario # 3:Groom’s family covers 1/3 to ½ of wedding costs, leaving the couple to take care of only a portion of the expenses.