Having maligned all wedding books in the New York Times I would like to revise my statement there to say that it's only that MOST of the books out there are useless, or for the hosting-impaired. I have found three books that are really, really good. So much better than the rest of the uselessness out there, that I can't quite figure out how the difference is so dramatic.

These are the three:


This book is divided into types of wedding venues -- the restaurant, the garden, the club house -- and then filled with design and hosting ideas that might go particularly well with that environment. I picked and chose from a variety of sections, but it was filled with concrete good ideas.



This book is only for the crafty -- and those who have some time to tackle the projects. It's 4 or 5 books combined into one, and some of them, for example the included book on wedding calligraphy, isn't as useful unless you already know what you're doing. But the last section which includes how to decorate bridal shoes and make fun wedding party gifts is really good.

After my complaints about lame wedding readings, this book was my saving grace. Every other place I looked was a bust -- and then, lo, I found this book and loved an improbable nine out of ten of each of their readings, poems, and wedding wordings.

posted by Karen @ 6:55 PM