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The 10 Best Wedding Planner Books to Get Inspired and Organized

collage of popular wedding planners

Brides / Kristin Kempa

When it comes to something as intensive as wedding planning, it’s wise to be overly organized rather than not organized enough—which is why picking up a wedding planning book (or two) certainly can’t hurt. Unlike their digital counterparts, these books provide physical space to write down your lists, highlight expert advice, and leaf through pages of gorgeous wedding inspiration.

Checklists are also a helpful tool. Waverly Coleman, the Founder and Creative Director of Waverly Coleman Events, recommends that couples getting married consult checklists in several different planning books to ensure they don't miss a single task.

Whether you’re looking for a completely customizable option or want one filled to the brim with inspirational photos, there are plenty of great planning books to choose from. We researched various books to help you find the best option, considering their durability, design, and resources like checklists, color and pattern samples, venue lists, and more.

Featuring a customizable gold foil cover, easy-to-follow checklists for budgets, deadlines, and more, this gorgeous planner is a must-have for anyone planning to say "I do." We also love that it has pages devoted to events like bachelorette parties and bridal showers. The book features a hardcover and is made of high-quality materials, so you can rest assured it will survive the long months of wedding planning. Measuring 6 x 9 inches, it's small enough to fit into a bag for on-the-go use.

Number of Pages: 180 | Dimensions: 6 x 9 inches | Cover: Hardcover

This trendy planner stands out for its clean design and personalization options. There are 20 color options available for the cover, and the text is printed with an elegant, customizable gold foil finish. It has a thick and durable hardcover, measuring around 6 x 9 inches, so it's also travel-friendly. Inside, you’ll find pages devoted to contact lists, dress inspiration, photography planning, and more. However, we love that tabs organize everything so you won’t lose track of any detail. There’s a money-back guarantee, just in case you’re not happy with your purchase—but with a planner this good, it’s unlikely you’ll need to use it.

Number of Pages: Not listed | Dimensions: 6 x 8.75 inches | Cover: Hardcover

This book goes all out with checklists, dedicating lists to detailed budget planning, ceremony prep, invitation coordination, and much more. Even better, it's all organized in easy-to-navigate, streamlined sections. In addition, plenty of advice, comparison charts, and photos for inspiration are mixed in. No detail is too small for this handy planner, yet it all fits into a pint-size book that’s the ideal size to take to appointments and fittings.

Number of Pages: 90 | Dimensions: 6 x 9 inches | Cover: Softcover

The couple who's uber detail-oriented

Written by longtime wedding planners Nick and Aleah ValleyThis book offers all the traditional advice and checklists and provides tons of gorgeous wedding imagery bound to inspire you. There are photos of cocktail recipes, floral designs, invitations, and so much more, alongside stories from past couples and a thorough Q&A that addresses every question you haven’t even realized you had. If your wedding is near, it’s an excellent gift for your newly engaged friends—or yourself. Even better, the hardcover binding will last you for years to come.

Number of Pages: 224 | Dimensions: 9 x 10 inches | Cover: Hardcover

The bride (or groom) seeking major inspiration

If you’re an extreme organizer, this planner is for you. The helpful book is divided into eight tabbed sections (Budget, Vendors, Honeymoon, To-Do List, and more), so you won’t have to worry about remembering where you wrote down a previous note. And with a lovely watercolor cover finished with customizable rose gold foil text, it's both pretty and functional. What more could a bride-to-be want?

Number of Pages: Not listed | Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 inches | Cover: Hardcover

We love this wedding planner for its extensive amount of helpful resources. In addition to having the standard essentials like checklists and budget organizers, the book’s 140+ pages also feature wedding mood boardsSections to jot down details of your planned looks and helpful quizzes to help with the wedding guest list. You can personalize the cover to make it even more of a special keepsake to return to after the events. Measuring roughly 5 x 8 inches and featuring a soft, durable cover, you can take this planner wherever your wedding planning journey takes you.

Number of Pages: 140+ | Dimensions: 5.8 x 8 inches | Cover: Softcover

If you're looking for expert advice, try this top-notch option from wedding planner extraordinaire, Mindy Weiss. Whether you’re looking for help negotiating contracts with vendors or figuring out what lingerie to wear underneath your dress, Weiss’ book has you covered—this book features budgeting tools, timelines, fashion rundowns, and more. The checklist section in this book is smaller than other options on this list, so you can pair it with a personalized planner that provides you more space to write in your plans.

Number of Pages: 496 | Dimensions: 8 x 9 inches | Cover: Hardcover, softcover, or e-book

This must-have book lives up to its name, with checklists and timelines for every aspect of the planning process, plus, worksheets you and your fiancé can fill out together. There are even pages dedicated to tasks like comparing venues, prepping photo shot lists, and renting equipment, so you won’t leave any stone unturned.

Number of Pages: 39 | Dimensions: 8 x 11 inches | Cover: Softcover

On a tight budget? Author Jessica Bishop breaks down every potential cost in easy-to-understand language and gives loads of advice on making the most of your day, no matter the price. There are helpful worksheets, example budgets, DIY guidance, and even style alternatives, so you can see all the different options for planning your wedding at a low cost. The book is available in paperback and spiral binding and is lightweight enough to take on the go.

Number of Pages: 208 | Dimensions: 8.5 x 9 inches | Cover: Softcover

When dealing with all the chaos that comes with being a bride, it’s easy to forget that the members of your wedding party could also use a hand to keep things organized. Thankfully, this super-cute planner is meant especially for your maid-of-honor, and it features everything from bridal shower checklists to toast ideas to a rundown of lead-up and day-of duties. Thirty-two pages long and roughly 5 x 8 inches, it's slim enough for your MOH to take it wherever they need it. Trust us, she will thank you.

Number of Pages: 32 | Dimensions: 5 x 8 inches | Cover: Softcover

While destination weddings They can be fantastic experiences and require much work to go off without a hitch. Written by wedding planner expert Lana Sharr, this paperback book contains many helpful tips for planning a far-away wedding, taking on essential topics, like how to fill up days’ worth of events for guests, and whether or not to fly in the photographer. With a planner as detailed as this, you can focus less on stressing and more on enjoying your upcoming getaway.

Number of Pages: 90 | Dimensions: 8 x 10 inches | Cover: Softcover

If your wedding planning has been all about mood boards and photo inspiration, this is a book you need to check out. From Style Me Pretty editor-in-chief Abby Larson, this planner is focused on the fashion and beauty side of wedding prep. It includes style blueprints, DIY project ideas, and over 250 stunning photos from events sure to leave you inspired. It has a durable hardcover binding and only measures 7 x 9 inches to take it on the go. It doesn't have an extensive checklist section like the other options on this list, so could you pair it with a personalized planner to jot down your finished plans?

Number of Pages: 256 | Dimensions: 7 x 9 inches | Cover: Hardcover

This modern planner measures around 10 inches by 12 inches and features a chic marble design. The detailed countdown calendar ensures you stay on track, while the vendor list, guest list, and budget worksheet ensure everything is noticed. It also features pockets for photos, clippings, and guiding tabs to help you quickly find the information you need. As a bonus, it also includes a honeymoon packing checklist.

Number of Pages: 132 | Dimensions: 9.57 x 11.85 inches | Cover: Hardcover

With a charming, Italian-inspired design, this hardcover planner will whisk you through wedding planning—and all of 2024—with a dose of dolce vita. The planner features a year, month, and week overview, so you can take a bird's eye peek at your planning progress or get granular with the details. It has extra pages for contacts, plus plenty of space to doodle, take notes, and set reminders to call the florist, taste the cake, and whatever else pops up on your bridal to-do list.

Number of Pages: 192 | Dimensions: 6 x 8.5 inches | Cover: Hardcover

A backyard wedding can be beautiful, but the planning process can be just as complicated as other weddings due to the many variables that need to be accounted for. This pretty planner has all the tools you’ll need to ensure you can have the backyard wedding of your dreams. It includes a property walkthrough worksheet, checklists for weather planning, and tons of tips for renting equipment like chairs and dishes. Available in paperback binding, it has an adorable illustrated cover and doubles as a sweet post-wedding keepsake.

Number of Pages: 122 | Dimensions: 8.5 x 11 inches | Cover: Softcover

With 360 pages and ten sections, this linen-clad planner will help you organize in style. The gender-neutral organizer has a calendar for cake tastings, suit or dress fittings, and other appointments. Elsewhere in the book, there's room to plan the seating chart, track meal preferences, and jot down plus-ones. Stay on top of finances in a section devoted to mapping out vendor costs and keeping track of payments.

Number of Pages: 360 | Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 inches | Cover: Linen

Ten themed sections, divided by tabs, help the bride and groom stay on top of every aspect of their wedding day, from the venue to the guest list. There are ten pockets to stow anything from business cards to magazine clippings and fabric samples. Plus, six sheets of colorful stickers—each decked with rose-gold details—help customize the pages. The planner comes in a keepsake box, which makes it a lovely gift option for couples about to plan their big day.

Number of Pages: N/A | Dimensions: 10 x 11 inches | Cover: Paper

The way Kelsey McKinnon sees it, the best weddings have nothing to do with the budget, the venue, or the cake—but they have everything to do with the couple who's about to say I do. To help you make your wedding a true celebration of you, your spouse, and the love you share, she wrote this 384-page tome. It's filled with gorgeous photos to spark fresh ideas and includes guidance on making everything from the catering to the ceremony reflect your unique tastes.

Number of Pages: 384 | Dimensions: 6.85 x 0.88 x 9.4 inches | Cover: Hardcover

What to Look for in a Wedding Planner Book 

  • Organizational Tools: Many wedding planner books contain lists and other tools, including timelines, to-do lists, and more, to help couples stay impeccably organized.
  • Design Inspiration: Besides books with checklists, Waverly recommends looking for wedding planner books that contain color palettes and pattern samples to start visualizing your big day with creative tools.
  • Key Features: To make the most of your wedding planner, consider what features you want and how you plan to use your organizer. Pockets can be particularly helpful for business cards, fabric samples, and more. Other wedding planner books include worksheets, stickers for customization, and detailed timelines to help you count down to your big day.
FAQ
  • Why should I use a wedding planner book versus an app or website?

    Although there are merits to all the options, Coleman notes that one of the benefits of a physical wedding planner book is that you can “highlight the pages,” so you can keep track of all the most important details or recommendations you want to refer back to later on.

  • How do I create a wedding checklist?

    Planning a wedding can be a considerable undertaking, so take your time, ask for help, and try to stay calm! That's easier said than done, of course. A wedding planning checklist will be your best friend as you embark on the planning process.

    Once engaged, start with where you are and work forward with monthly incremental goals. The best way to approach your list is to break everything down into manageable chunks and priorities that you can tackle.

  • What is in a wedding planner book?

    Most books also contain pockets to keep photos, cards, and clippings in one place. For many people, jotting down ideas or marking off a checklist provides a sense of accomplishment. A wedding planner book also makes a great keepsake item to refer back to for years.

Why Trust Brides

Brides writer Rachel Simon has extensively covered weddings and other lifestyle topics for dozens of magazines, newspapers, and websites. She’s also engaged and planning her wedding, so she knows firsthand how invaluable resources like these books can be.

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