I got some good tips from this book for my wedding. Didn't use all because the book is outdated but it came in useful. ( )

Great go-to resource; good general guidance (at least know what rules you're breaking!). Ever so slightly out of date on a few points (published 2006). We felt OK discounting a lot of the more formal bits and picking and choosing what advice to take and what to leave. Definitely geared toward traditional Christian weddings but there's a good-faith effort to include other religious (and secular) traditions as well. Overall a very good big picture overview, but also includes necessary details (e.g. checklists to stay organized, questions to ask the caterer and the photographer).



-Delegate duties. Don't micromanage.
-Stay organized: master to-do list (chronological), contact list, calendar, folder for all contracts, copies of important documents (birth certificate, driver's licenses, etc.) in another folder, check off to-do items as you go
-Major decisions/planning: guest list, budget, wedding consultant, date/season/time of day, style/formality, officiant, ceremony and reception location, rings, honeymoon location, theme?
-Vision (i.e. adjective list): intimate, elegant, simple, casual, traditional, spiritual, romantic, friendly, etc.
-Attire: semiformal = long or tea-length gowns for bride & bridesmaids, suits for men; semi-dressy desses for women, dark suits for men
-Traditional division of costs (p. 40-41)
-Members of the wedding party should pay for own transportation, but bride and groom should pay (or make arrangements) for accommodations
-Guest list: Must be invited: officiant and spouse; spouse, fiance, or live-in partner of each guest
-Wedding announcements (post-wedding) - send to friends/family left off the guest list
Invitations: DO order extras, allow plenty of time, be organized, check postage, check spelling, use correct names and titles; DON'T include registry info, "no gifts," "no children," dress code, labels; don't mix typefaces
-Gift spreadsheet: date received, description of item, source of gift, name and address of giver(s), date thank-you note sent.
-Wedding rehearsal: bride, groom, attendants, bride's parents (groom's parents)
-Ceremony music: Air or Largo, Handel; Rondo, Mozart; "Spring," Vivaldi; Pavane, Faure; wedding march, Mendelssohn; Pachelbel's Canon; Bach
-Ceremony photos: check with officiant
-Portraits (p. 330-332): bride and groom alone and together, bride/groom and maid of honor/best man, bride and groom with parents alone and together, B&G w/ all attendants; B&G with her family, his family; "generations"
-Planned events: arrival, toasts, cake-cutting, first dance, leaving
-Seating at ceremony: immediate family sits at front
-Reception line: not required
-Guest book: not required (but nice)
-Toasts: best man gets guests' attention and gives first toast; fathers may toast; maid of honor may toast, groom may toast
-Photo gift list (p. 377): B&G, parents, grandparents, other relatives & special friends, wedding party (best man and MOH, attendants)
-Post-wedding get-together (optional; 1-6 months post-wedding)
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