The Wedding Planners: Do It Yourself Brides... Turn to the Experts

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Do It Yourself Brides... Turn to the Experts

My niece is getting married next summer. Last Wednesday at my family's Wednesday morning breakfast, we bombarded her with a million questions. Have you chosen your bridesmaids, picked a reception spot, chosen your gown?

She was thrilled to talk about all the decisions she was making, but driving home, remembering the conversation, I was overwhelmed by all the details she needs to attend to.

So I went to Amazon.com and typed "planning a wedding" into their search engine, and there appears to be a lot of help available to do-it-yourself brides!

If you want to have the perfect wedding on a budget...

The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner: Worksheets, Checklists, Etiquette, Calendars, and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions by Carley Roney (Paperback - Dec 28, 1999)

and

Tying the Knot: The Complete Wedding Organizer by Sara Miller, Karen Berman, and Rob Blackard (Ring-bound - Jan 1, 2005)

Both look like a great place to start. I especially like Tying the Knot: The Complete Wedding Organizer because it's ring bound. Kinda reminds me of Monica on Friends. She had a big binder of ideas she'd been accumulating from the time she was old enough to dream about what her perfect wedding would look like.

A binder seems like a great idea.

More concerned about budgets?

Bridal Bargains, 8th Edition: Secrets to throwing a fantastic wedding on a realistic budget (Bridal Bargains) by Denise Fields (Paperback - Oct 25, 2006)
Buy new: $14.95 $10.17 60 Used & new from $5.70

would be an ideal read for you. The book itself is even on sale for $5.70!

So is...

1001 Ways To Save Money . . . and Still Have a Dazzling Wedding by Sharon Naylor (Paperback - Aug 9, 2001)
Buy new: $14.95 $10.17 62 Used & new from $3.26

That one is even cheaper than the first!

My point is you're not alone...or living in a big abyss of confusion.

Yes, there are hundreds of decisions to be made, choices, potential arguments...:) But there are also experts out there, willing to help, willing to share experience.

You don't have to go it alone! Buy a book! I'm going to order one or two of them for my niece as an engagement present!

susan meier

10 Comments:

CrystalGB said...: Great resources for a bride. :); July 9, 2008 at 11:07 AM
robynl said...: wow, many books for the 'big day' and before planning. I never used a book for my planning but it sure would have been handy.; July 9, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Anonymous said...: Feel free to reach out to me if your niece needs any help. I was a do it yourself bride on a budget and our wedding couldn't have been more perfect. To top things off, people actually thought we spent way more money then we did...a huge compliment for my fiance and I.; July 9, 2008 at 1:39 PM
Brandy said...: I like the idea of using a book that contains many of the lists, and even a few ideas. TLC (TV) has a link to help as well.; July 9, 2008 at 1:40 PM
EllenToo said...: I would think a planning book that is practical and has room to write things down in would be the ideal book. It might also be a keepsake from the wedding to look at after many years pass.; July 9, 2008 at 2:07 PM
catslady said...: My daughter has a planning book that another friend lent her and she has been using The Knot as a great resource from the beginning.; July 10, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Shirley said...: I remember when I got engaged, my mom, who knew my DH was going to ask me, had already bought me two books. When we came in to tell her, she had the books wrapped and ready as a gift, which was really neat. One was the Martha Stewart Wedding Planner, which I laughed at at first, because it was so detailed and well, Martha-ish, but boy, it sure did help a lot in the planning!

Shirley; July 12, 2008 at 6:23 AM
Lily said...: Books... I had never thought about it! I always hear about bridal magazines but of course books can be great ressources!; July 12, 2008 at 7:48 AM
Anonymous said...: I agree with lily. I never thought about books.; July 13, 2008 at 8:38 PM
Nathalie said...: I would buy a book, and then if I am lost, would turn to a professional!; July 27, 2008 at 3:36 PM