I've compiled a list of what I think are your best books to purchase if you want something you can carry around and make notes in!
disclaimer: this is not a sponsored post, these books were chosen based on personal experience and other bride recommendations.
- The Wedding Book: The Big Book for Your Big Day - Mindy Weiss
- Two words: MUST-HAVE...day 1 you get engaged, day 2 - you go buy this book online or in-stores either way you MUST own it. Everything you could possibly think of is in this book -- I must have at least 100 tabs in this book plus tons scribbled and highlighted. It was definitely my most essential item.
- The New Jewish Wedding - Anita Diamant
- Being that I know very little about the Jewish culture concerning weddings, I found this book extremely helpful in guiding me as to what customs and traditions were involved in Jewish weddings. I was especially grateful for the section on including non-Jewish family and explaining everything that I needed.
- Bridal Bargains - Denise & Alan Fields
- If nothing else, the 90-pages on purchasing your wedding gown are worth its weight in gold. Simple and straight-forward advice and easy to flip to topics, definitely worth paying the full price for it (yes, I bought it at Borders with a 20% off coupon).
- The Green Bride Guide - Kate L. Harrison
- This book is quite frankly an invaluable reference guide (especially paired with the web site) for any couple looking to add a few "green" elements to the wedding or those who want a complete green event including an organic cotton dress.
- The Knot Guide to Wedding Vows and Traditions - Carley Roney & the editors of The Knot
- Unless your vows are set in stone by your officiant,
- this is definitely a book to pick up. My husband and I were able to pick from almost anything for our vows (or even write them ourselves) and this book was extremely helpful and provide a lot of options and insight on the different religions we were (my husband is Jewish & I am Roman Catholic) and the options for those vows as well as non-secular vows.
- The Wedding Ceremony Planner: Essential Guide to the Most Important Part of Your Wedding Day - Judith Johnson, DSS, PhD
- Recommended by Melissa, "Wedding planning books always deal with the reception and decor and guest lists, but few really delve into the ceremony...It lays out a blueprint of exactly what you need to think about when planning a ceremony."
And well, you can't have the best...without letting you know about some of the bigger money wasters (sorry this list is short, I really liked a lot of the books)
Closing thoughts:
- Buying more than one or two of these is a waste of your money - like I said most things can be found of the web
- Paying more than $15 for any ONE book is insane...check out sites like Amazon or eBay and be sure to scour your local Goodwill, Salvation Army or neighborhood bookstores because while I may own NINE of these books, I didn't pay full price for any of thank (thank you to Goodwill's $1 book section).
- Read reviews before purchasing - as in the case with the Jan Wilson & Beth Wilson Hickman book, the reviews on Amazon are generally not-favorable...
- Check local blogs, contests and authors pages, I just so happened to win a contest to get The Green Bride so it was a nice perk
- Ladies, we love our men but DO NOT buy them a groom-to-be book. Say it with me...WASTE OF MONEY. I bought my husband a book that shall remain unnamed (because it was actually pretty good) and he read the first...30 or 40 pages, got to something on flowers and stopped. Good thing it only cost me $6. If you want them to be involved...well, that is a whole 'nother post.
If you have any you would like to add or want a more in-depth view on one or more of the books - feel free to contact me!
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