Check It Out: Get bit by the wedding bug this June

June 18, 2011|By Andrea Jason

With June's arrival, weddings are a prominent feature on the calendar. While books on wedding etiquette and giving toasts are the most often consulted, there are many others to be found. From books on photography to cake decoration or do-it-yourself planning, the Newport Beach Public Library features many books to help brides and their families prepare for the special day.

"Handmade Weddings: More than 50 Crafts to Style and Personalize Your Big Day" by Eunice Moyle shows how handcrafted details are at the heart of a beautiful wedding, adding charm, meaning and style. The front of the book contains guidance on choosing a look, sourcing materials and working out timelines. Then each of the 50 projects is fully explained with photos, how-to diagrams and step-by-step directions.

"The Green Bride Guide: How to Create an Earth-Friendly Wedding on any Budget" by Kate L. Harrison has everything that an eco-conscious couple needs to make their event more sustainable. Emphasizing elegance and individual taste, "The Green Bride Guide" covers all aspects of the big day and beyond.

Diane Wagner's "Beautiful Wedding Flowers: More than 300 Corsages, Bouquets and Centerpieces" demonstrates that stunning flower arrangements are the key to a memorable wedding. From delicate bouquets of lilies of the valley to centerpieces of cascading roses, these 350 designs are equal parts drama and romance. With advice on balancing aromas, hand-tying bouquets and even building a floral canopy, it's a must-have for every bride.

"Paperie for Inspired Living: Stationery and Decorations for Weddings, Parties, and Other Special Occasions" by Karen Bartolomei provides inspiration for themed suites as well as indispensable advice for invitation wording and etiquette and tips for throwing unforgettable parties, like choosing a color scheme and ideas for breaking the ice.

In a more traditional vein, "Miss Manners Guide to a Surprisingly Dignified Wedding" by Judith Martin is a disarmingly dry yet wonderfully funny account of the do's and don'ts for getting married. Every conceivable subject gets its space, including the absolutely right (and wrong) proposal, avoiding the "bridezilla" factor, coping with invitations, chief responsibilities of the parties in the wedding, and the three terrible ideas: weddings as (choose one) "my day," fundraiser or show biz.

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