Sophia LoWedding planning might seem like a daunting and exhausting task. You’ll need to book a venue, hire a photographer, come up with your guest list, and much more before the big day. The best wedding planner books can help you stay organized through the planning process!
Need a hand with the planning and organizing? You can hire a wedding planner, but if you prefer to tackle your wedding day yourself, there are plenty of tools that you can use for a smooth planning process. There are numerous books, planners, and organizers that give you thoughtful tips and tricks from experienced professionals.
We’ve rounded up an assortment of wedding planner books that any bride or groom can take a note or two from. Even if you do hire a wedding planner, buying one of these planning books can also help to stay on top of your to-do list and store your information all in one handy place.
The Bride’s Essential Wedding Planner
This wedding planner is written by Amy Nebens, who has extensive experience in the wedding industry. The Bride’s Essential Wedding Planner has checklists so you don’t forget any tasks, questions to ask potential vendors, tips for budgeting, and even smaller details like sample thank-you notes.
If you like to write things down, then this is the wedding planning book for you. You can fill in information like seating charts and guest lists all in the same place. With so many aspects of the wedding planning process, this book is an all-in-one guide to arranging your wedding festivities.
The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner and Organizer: Worksheets, Checklists, Etiquette, Calendars, and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
The Knot is well-known for wedding planning, so it’s no surprise that the company has a fantastic planner and organizer. This book was written by Carley Roney, one of the cofounders of The Knot. Like many other wedding planners, this one includes calendars and timelines as well as help with setting your wedding budget.
This wedding planning book also has more unique characteristics and tips, like color swatches to help you find the perfect color scheme for your ceremony and reception. If you have any questions about wedding planning, you’ll be able to find the answers in this book.
Martha Stewart Wedding Ideas & Inspiration
Martha Stewart is always here for inspiration when it comes to home cooking, decor, and more. In this case, it’s weddings! Martha Stewart’s wedding brand has been around for over 20 years, and this book is filled with glossy images that are sure to get those ideas flowing.
If you aren’t sure where to start with a wedding theme or need to find a gorgeous dress or perfectly tailored suit, then this book is a great place to start. This is one of our favorite wedding planning books because it includes 300 full-color photos, so it’s fun to flip through as you’re beginning the wedding planning process.
The Wedding Book: An Expert’s Guide to Planning Your Perfect Day– Your Way
Mindy Weiss, a celebrity wedding planner, wrote The Wedding Book: An Expert’s Guide to Planning your Perfect Day, so choose this planner to create an A-list wedding. Weiss teaches you how to negotiate contracts and how to use social media and online resources, like Pinterest and Etsy. Plus, you can learn more about using Uber as transportation for your wedding guests.
Although there are more niche topics, like using drones for photographer, The Wedding Book covers basic wedding topics like your cake or floral arrangements. For coverage and tips on handling nearly every situation and concern possible, this wedding planning guide is a top choice.
A Practical Wedding Planner: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating the Wedding You Want with the Budget You’ve Got (Without Losing Your Mind in the Process)
Everything about this wedding planner is in the name. This is the companion to Meg Keene’s A Practical Wedding. You can buy both books or stick with the planner. This planner is great for staying on task and keeping the important things in mind. It’s easy to get caught up in small details or want to throw yourself into DIY decorations.
A Practical Wedding Planner is the perfect tool to set a budget, choose a venue, hire vendors as well as rein in any less feasible desires. Even if you need to cut out some aspects of decor or the menu, you’ll still have so many memories of your special day!
Wedding Planning for the Busy Feminist
Written by Amanda Pendolino, Wedding Planning for the Busy Feminist is a fun, fresh read. Although this doesn’t come with extensive checklists, schedules, and sheets for budgeting, the book contains solid advice from married couples and wedding vendors.
This is especially encouraging for brides who want to balance traditions that may be outdated with the concept of their dream wedding. Additionally, this book is filled with great information about wedding dress and even includes designers and resale sites. This is one of the best wedding planning books for non-traditional brides!
Equally Wed: The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your LGBTQ+ Wedding
Written by Kirsten Palladino, this wedding guide is an amazing resource for LGBTQ+ couples. This wedding planner book provides all the tools and information you’ll need for the wedding of your dreams, and it does this all without using heteronormative terms.
This planner works with a variety of different sample budgets, and you’ll get great fashion advice in addition to advice on hiring wedding vendors. Equally Wed is not just for LGBTQ+ couples however, and can help any couple plan the perfect wedding day for a fair and equal marriage!
Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette
Wedding etiquette can be overlooked, but once you run into an awkward family situation, it becomes more essential than ever. This book by Anna Post and Lizzie Post helps you navigate wedding and family traditions, making your guest list, picking someone to officiate the wedding, and more.
Although this book is full of strong advice that can help in a tight pinch, keep in mind that this is focused on etiquette instead of planning. If you also want tips for budgeting or a place to record your vendors’ contact information, then you may want to buy another planner in addition to Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette.
Loverly Wedding Planner: The Modern Couple’s Guide
Wedding traditions are quickly changing, and if you’re going for a less traditional wedding, the Loverly Wedding Planner is an excellent tool to have in your back pocket. From topics like mixed-gender wedding parties to social media use at the wedding, this planner covers it all. This book also has plenty of photos that are sure to inspire you when it comes to the big day.
Loverly Wedding Planner is written by Kellee Khail, and she includes advice from married couples as well as budget breakdowns from newlyweds. You’ll see what a real-life wedding budget looks like from couples with different priorities and price points. Remember that setting priorities is one of the most important steps when creating your wedding budget!
Stone Fox Bride: Love, Lust, and Wedding Planning for the Wild at Heart
After reading this book by Molly Rosen Guy, you’ll feel empowered to plan the wedding of your dreams, no matter what anyone else tells you. Stone Fox Bride is about wedding planning, but you’ll also get a taste of married life.
This book is deeply personal, so it’s a fun and engaging read that doesn’t focus purely on planning – it’s not your typical wedding planner organizer. In fact, if you’re stressed about booking venues or purchasing flowers, this can be a nice break from the list of to-dos that seem endless. Instead, soak up the beautiful photos and learn to stick to your wedding vision.
2Brides 2Be: A Same-Sex Guide for the Modern Bride
Laura Leigh Abby draws on her own wedding experience in 2Brides 2Be, so this book and planner is personal, funny, and overall a delight to read. If you have any questions, you can bet that Abby addresses them in her book.
Not many wedding books focus on same-sex couples, so 2Brides 2Be is a great purchase to navigate wedding planning for you and your bride-to-be. Besides her experience, Abby also include advice from professionals in the wedding industry, so you’ll learn about wedding planning from both sides of the process.
The Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner and Organizer: Checklists, Worksheets, and Essential Tools to Plan the Perfect Wedding on a Small Budget
If sticking to a small budget is your first priority, then this is the wedding planner for you. Dip into your wedding budget to purchase this book. It’s sure to be worth your money. By keeping a close eye on your wallet and tracking your expenses, you’ll be more likely to stick to your budget.
With sample wedding budgets, you’ll get a clear idea of what exactly you can get for as low as $1,000. Jessica Bishop, the author of this planner, guides you in the right direction for your dream wedding on a thrifty budget. Learn how much to pay for wedding dresses, flowers, and keep track of your spending with her tips and organizer.
The Anti-Bride Planner: Hip Tips and Tools for Getting Hitched
Not a fan of the frills of wedding planning? It’s okay, you’re not alone! The Anti-Bride Guide is the right resource for modern brides who want a smooth, easy wedding planning process and are planning a less traditional wedding. This is the companion planner to the book The Anti-Bride Guide.
You’ll find much of the same information as other wedding planners, like budgeting tips and checklists to help to keep track of your tasks. This planner just delivers a little extra sass and personality. This planner is written by Carolyn Gerin, Kathleen Hughes, and Amy Glynn Hornick.
How to “I Do”: Planning the Ultimate Wedding in Six Weekends or Less
If you’re planning a last-minute wedding, this is the best guide to ensure that everything gets done before the big day. Many wedding planning books have a longer timeline, but this book is perfect for planning a wedding on short notice.
Wedding planners Holly Lefevre and Christine Cudanes walk you through what needs to be done each weekend. It starts with the guest list, location, and caterer, and it ends with the final dress fitting and rehearsal dinner.
The book also comes with sheets for planning and tips on how to set your budget. Planning a wedding is already difficult enough, but it gets even harder with a time crunch. Thankfully, this wedding planner helps you make the most of a tight schedule.
The Groom’s Instruction Manual
Yes, brides often take up more when it comes to wedding planning. However, grooms should pitch in and do their part as well! Grooms can assist in selecting a venue, hiring vendors, and more. Just like brides, grooms also have concerns about wedding planning and may not know what to expect.
This is where Shandon Fowler comes in: to answer questions grooms may have during the planning process. The Groom’s Instruction Manual is a great resource, and there’s also a companion version for brides by Carrie Denny called The Bride’s Instruction Manual.
This page may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we'll earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you.
[…] way some brides start to plan is to buy a wedding planning journal or book. A wedding journal can help you keep track of important dates, make daily to-do lists, and manage […]