Skip to Content

20 Best Wedding Planning Books to Make Your Ceremony the Best One Yet

Shop these helpful organizers on Amazon, Etsy and more to make your special day go off without a hitch!

By
best wedding planning books
Courtesy

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

It's no secret that planning a wedding takes a ton of work — especially in the age of Pinterest boards and Instagram inspo. Many couples pick a wedding theme (classic, bohemian, modern and glamorous to name a few), set a budget, hire a wedding planner and so much more! It takes time, patience and a checklist to stay organized and aware of your budget throughout the process. To make the planning feel manageable and take some stress off preparing for the big day, browse our picks of the best wedding planning books.

Whether you're looking to host a backyard celebration, destination wedding or a more intimate affair with just close family and friends, our roundup features step-by-step guides that will help in every stage of the journey. "These books will inspire you," says Liz Sellassie, owner and designer of Designer Loft Bridal. "They give you amazing creative ideas and keep you organized and on time." This includes expert tips on everything from choosing a venue and narrowing down the guest list. Plus, many planners come with inspirational photos of real-life weddings, insight from brides and wedding professionals, and blank to-do lists, calendars and spaces for scrapbooking. And if you're unsure of where to start, gathering photos is an easy first step. "Most of our clients begin their wedding planning by creating a mood board so they can nail down the aesthetic of their day," says Sellassie. "Once they’ve created a general vibe of what they want through this mood board, that’s typically when they begin outfit shopping, venue hunting and more."

No matter where you are with your wedding prep, add one of these wedding planning books to your must-have list. While you're at it, these wedding registry ideas and wedding photo albums are helpful to keep in mind before and after the special day.

1
An Everything-You-Need Binder for Weddings

Editors of the Knot The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner and Organizer

Editor’s Choice
The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner and Organizer
Credit: Editors of the Knot

"TheKnot.com is an amazing wedding planning resource, as it’s a one-stop shop to help you find vendors and stay organized down to every last detail, from bridal dress shops to caterers to DJs and more," says Sellassie. So it's no wonder we added their ultimate planner to our list. From worksheets and checklists to calendars and etiquette advice, their organizer has everything you need to plan the big day. Plus, one reviewer says it has pockets for storing paperwork.

2
Planning an Affordable Wedding

Temescal Press The Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner & Organizer

Best Seller
The Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner & Organizer
Now 50% Off
Credit: Temescal Press

Looking to plan the perfect wedding on a small budget? Then this book is for you! You'll feel completely at ease after reading through these worksheets, lists and tips from go-to wedding expert Jessica Bishop. She even founded TheBudgetSavvyBride.com, an online resource to help couples plan their wedding on a realistic budget.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3
For the Maid of Honor

Enchanted Wedding Press Maid of Honor Planner

Maid of Honor Planner
Credit: Enchanted Wedding Press

Your maid of honor has duties too. Gift this to your bestie, sister or friend to plan the best wedding and bachelorette party ever. The organizer comes with a to-do list, a six-month blank calendar, a bachelorette party planner, a bridal party contact information page and more.

4
Guide for Micro Weddings

Everything The Everything Guide to Micro Weddings

On Sale
The Everything Guide to Micro Weddings
Now 23% Off
Credit: Everything

Don't feel pressured to throw a large wedding. Micro weddings are just as meaningful and definitely more intimate, but they still require planning. That's why award-winning wedding and event designer Katie Martin offers all the tips you need to host a wedding with less than 50 guests. While the book includes general decor hacks and venue-hunting pointers, one reviewer notes the planner works better for small extravagant (or destination) weddings.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5
Wedding Expert Pick

Workman Publishing Company The Wedding Planner & Organizer

On Sale
The Wedding Planner & Organizer
Now 43% Off
Credit: Workman Publishing Company

A reviewer recommends this planner for "someone who already knows most of the major details and needs to keep things organized and maybe get some tips along the way." Along with checklists, spreadsheets and schedules, it includes nine pockets, a business-card holder and a zippered pouch. To say it has everything may be an understatement!

6
Wedding Stories for Inspiration

Gibbs Smith Storied Weddings: Inspiration for a Timeless Celebration That Is Perfectly You

Storied Weddings: Inspiration for a Timeless Celebration That Is Perfectly You
Credit: Gibbs Smith

Determine your wedding style with a Q&A and gain inspiration with cocktail recipes, wedding florals, venues and real wedding images. Storied Weddings gives readers insightful wedding planning tips, along with realistic ways to plan a grand, small or intimate wedding that can be personalized just for you.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7
Wedding Expert Pick

Your Perfect Day The Complete Wedding Planner

The Complete Wedding Planner
Credit: Your Perfect Day

Keep the process stress-free with this 132-page planner that features an 18-month countdown calendar and a 12-month checkpoint list so nothing is overlooked. Inside, you'll find note sections and wallets to store magazine cutouts, fabric swatches, photos and other inspirational papers.

8
Choose the Right Floral Arrangement

Phaidon Press Flower Color Guide

On Sale
Flower Color Guide
Now 45% Off
Credit: Phaidon Press

This flower reference guide works for any occasion — including weddings! Floral designers Darroch and Michael Putnam break down more than 300 flower types by color and season, so you can gain inspiration for your wedding. Wedding professionals can even use this book to help couples plan their table decor, especially since it comes with flower arrangement tips.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9
Backyard Wedding Planner

Colleen C McCarthy The Backyard Wedding Planner

The Backyard Wedding Planner
Credit: Colleen C McCarthy

Feel like hosting your special day at home? There's something special about a backyard wedding. Use this organizer to stay on top of everything you need to plan your event, from choosing a photographer and renting the dishes to making a weather plan and hiring a caterer.

10
LGBTQ+ Wedding Planner

PurpleTrail LGBTQ +-Friendly Wedding Planner

LGBTQ +-Friendly Wedding Planner
Credit: PurpleTrail

Personalize this calendar with your and your partner's name, wedding date and calendar start month. Choose from two size options and three cover finishes, along with your pick between dated or undated calendar pages.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11
For the Wedding DIY'er

Potter Style Style Me Pretty Weddings

On Sale
Style Me Pretty Weddings
Now 45% Off
Credit: Potter Style

Here's a guide wedding DIY'ers will love! Style Me Pretty Weddings is a gorgeous book full of never-before-seen real weddings that come with advice from the brides and tips to recreate the looks. Inside this step-by-step guide, you'll find 15 DIY projects — glittered vases included — and more than 250 photographs for inspiration.

12
Practical and Customized

TheGiftStudioCompany Personalised Wedding Planner Book

Personalised Wedding Planner Book
Credit: TheGiftStudioCompany

According to one reviewer, this customizable planner is "filled with really good and helpful ideas," if you're new to the wedding planning process. The eucalyptus-designed cover is personalized with your soon-to-be-married name, while the inside has 140 pages of advice, checklists, budgets, mood boards and more.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13
For the Mother of the Bride

Everything The Everything Mother of the Bride Book

On Sale
The Everything Mother of the Bride Book
Credit: Everthing

Gift the bride's mother this guide to help her daughter plan the ultimate wedding. The book covers various topics, from planning showers and engagement parties to meeting the future in-laws and picking the perfect dress. It's a "quick read from cover to cover and a helpful reference throughout the planning process," according to a reviewer.

14
Wedding Expert Pick

Global Printed Products Hardcover Wedding Planner

Amazon’s Choice
Hardcover Wedding Planner
Credit: Global Printed Projects

Not only is this planner meant to keep your wedding timeline organized, but it's also organized all on its own! All sections — budget planning, checklists, style boards and more — are tabbed for easy search. The love quotes throughout the calendar pages are a sweet touch.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15
Wedding Expert Pick

bloom daily planners Wedding Day Bridal Journal & Organizer

Wedding Day Bridal Journal & Organizer
Credit: bloom daily planners

This spiral-bound book is another one of Sellassie's picks. Once opened, let the brainstorming begin using the seven tabbed sections — guest planning, wedding planning, the big vision and wedding memories, to name a few. Store any photos, paperwork or documents in the pockets and stay motivated with the loving quotes featured on the dividers.

16
Wedding Book for Grooms

The Everything Groom Book: A Survival Guide for Men

The Everything Groom Book: A Survival Guide for Men
Credit: Everything

This survival guide is a thoughtful keepsake for any groom looking for advice on how to choose the wedding venue, narrow down guests and handle all the pressure that comes with planning the big day.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17
Detailed Destination Planner

Independently Published Destination Wedding Planner

Destination Wedding Planner
Credit: Colleen C McCarthy

Destination weddings are like taking a vacation with your loved ones. Plus, there's a chance it's less expensive than a traditional wedding. If the only thing stopping you is where or how to start, this destination planner gives you step-by-step tips on choosing the location, resort, travel agent and more. You'll even find advice on traveling with your wedding dress, packing your accessories and planning the reception.

18
A Simple Planner for a Luxurious Wedding

DayWorks Design The Complete Wedding Planner Book and Organizer

The Complete Wedding Planner Book and Organizer
Credit: DayWorks Design

Featuring an undated countdown calendar, DayWorks Design describes this organizer as a luxury wedding planner book. Wedding tips, folders, guest lists and gift trackers are only a few tabs you'll find in this pick.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19
Travel-Friendly Wedding Planner

CV CHARVORIA Future Mrs. Wedding Planner Book

Amazon’s Choice
Future Mrs. Wedding Planner Book
Credit: CV CHARVORIA Store

Almost everything is in this travel-sized book, from the 18-month undated calendar and 12-month checklist to the budget tracker, guest lists and seating planner. It even comes with a matching gold pen and bookmark. That's style and function all in one!

20
The Perfect Journal for Scrapbooking

Potter Style The Bride-to-Be Book: A Journal of Memories From the Proposal to "I Do"

On Sale
The Bride-to-Be Book: A Journal of Memories From the Proposal to "I Do"
Now 18% Off
Credit: Potter Style

Described as a "time capsule keepsake," this journal is an easy way to document and capture you and your fiancé's relationship up to the moment you're married. There are pages for writing, envelopes for storing any papers and spaces for scrapbooking and storing snapshots.

Headshot of Mariah Thomas
Mariah Thomas
Assistant Editor

Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work. 

Watch Next 
best wedding planning books, planner
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below