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Whoever said planning a wedding is fun must have been seriously disturbed. No matter how much time a couple has before the big day, it never seems to be enough.
Whether the deadline is a year off or two weeks away, these sources offer neutral guidance, unlike friends and family.
Books
"Bride to Be" (Barron's, $12.99) by Jaclyn Hirschhaut and Kate Taylor: As the clock ticks closer to the impending nuptials, the last thing a busy bride needs is another advice book to make her second-guess her choices. The truth is, you won't know what is good, bad and ugly until you try it, but "Bride to Be" offers gentle reminders on etiquette and those hard-to-tackle family squabbles.
The authors provide anecdotal excerpts from former brides on how they handled sticky situations, such as inviting an estranged parent or dealing with unhappy in-laws.
To some, "Bride to Be" may be dismissed as common sense, but for those with the jitters it's a safety blanket.
Magazines
"Martha Stewart Living - The Wedding Issue": Most bridal magazines have more ads than planning knowledge. While there is a fair share of advertising in Martha Stewart Living, it avoids the barrage of ads for ugly bridesmaid dresses and sticks to the need-to-know tidbits.
The key component of Stewart's seasonal issue - one comes out for winter, spring, fall and summer - is the checklist. The list outlines a managable timetable for the nuts and bolts of even the most casual wedding. She includes details that can escape the crazed bride-to-be's mind, such as when place cards should be made (my dad did mine a half-hour before the ceremony; Martha would not approve) to when dress alterations should be completed. The list best serves those with an engagement of a year or more.
DVDs
"Martha's Complete Weddings" and "Martha's Wedding Ideas": This one is custom-made for the perfectionist bride. Not type-A enough to embrace the do-it-yourself wedding? Push these DVDs on your minions.
Among Martha's suggestions are how to choose symbolic flowers, how to apply a fondant finish to a wedding cake and how to assemble your own bouquet. If anything, Martha's ideas are a good starting point for choosing the style and tone of the big day.
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