This is your first party as a couple, so here’s your chance to show your style! The entertainer you choose for your reception should have plenty of knowledge about what works for the type of reception you have planned.  There should be an organized plan and a logical flow to the sequence of events you want to occur.

What kind of background and experience does your entertainer have in wedding events? Do they have references you can talk to about their experiences?  Do they always play in indoor venues while you have reserved an open shelter house out of doors? Do they only play hard rock music and you will have a crowd of folks who want to only slow dance?  Do you get to help choose the music or will the DJ play their favorite songs?  Do they listen to what you want or do they have their own agenda?

As you interview the entertainers you are considering for your wedding reception, make sure they are tracking with you on events you want to happen and the time frame they will occur.  Special dances, toasts, announcements, videos or any other special moments should be thoroughly discussed so nothing important is missed.  (You will be too busy at that time to keep everything on course!) Obviously you will need to have a contract with the amount to be paid to the entertainer.  Do you pay half of the money before the event and the remainder that night or is it all due up front?  If the person you are interviewing is not the specific person who will be the reception’s DJ that night, will you have a chance to meet the entertainer before the wedding?

If you choose a friend DJ at your reception, do they have their own sound system that will adequately fill the venue with quality sound?  Do they have all of the music you want for the event?  Have they ever done this before?  Will they follow your ideas and lend a fun and professional air with their comments?

This is another piece of the wedding that requires some advanced planning, but in the end it will provide the perfect atmosphere to celebrate your marriage.  A fun CD to help plan those crowd favorites at your reception is Party Music for Your Wedding. And if you need some help with the dancing for your wedding, we even have a Wedding Day Dancing DVD. Come check us out!

If you are a DIYB (Do-It-Yourself Bride) type, then here’s the perfect magazine for you. The first issue of Flea Market Style Weddings is right here in our library!  Editor in Chief Ki Nassauer states: “You have found the premier source for planning the vintage-style wedding of your dreams.  We have spent the last few months drooling over vintage-inspired wedding gowns, obsessing over antique cake toppers, and sighing over all the fabulous ‘something old’ items that new brides have added to their big days.  We hope you are likewise inspired.”  This magazine features LOTS of DIY projects and many helpful secrets to use as you shop at flea markets.   These projects really look like fun! Here are a few to whet your appetite.

1. Give your guests vintage keys to use as bubble wands at the wedding reception. Then they can keep the keys as a wedding souvenir!

2. Decorative, vintage-inspired cake pedestals will beautifully display reception desserts.

3. Antique sterling silver napkin rings with etchings and monograms become a holder for a clutch bouquet of flowers.

Another great addition to our wedding magazines is Real Simple Weddings by the editors of Real Simple magazine.  This magazine features helpful information on food, flowers, the dress, the ceremony and all other important wedding topics.  An especially helpful section features a two-page spread on flowers for your wedding.  Each type of flower that was pictured showed its preferred season, the colors it was available in, and good tips to know about that flower.  In another section there was a wedding color palette shown with a featured color and two other complimentary colors to use for dresses, flowers, tablecloths, decorations, etc.  If you have a color of choice, this provided ideas to enhance it.  And if you didn’t have a specific color decision made, this offered many options.

A couple of local magazines that would be helpful to brides are The Knot for Missouri and Kansas and KC Weddings.  These magazines display advertisements for regional venues, photographers, florists, bakers, and lots of other necessary vendors.  Pictures of actual local weddings are fun to view along with ideas and inspiration to use in planning for your own special day.  Eighteen Midwest weddings are featured with lots of details in the current issue.  One wedding was billed as The Age of Opulence – a Great Gatsby inspired event – and showcased lovely clothing and decorations from the 1920s. How fun!

For those who want to get away to another location for their wedding, we also have Destination I Do magazine.  Where do you want to say “I Do”?  The Caribbean, the Outer Banks, Fiji, Colorado Springs, Malibu, Cabo San Lucas, San Diego or points beyond?  This magazine is full of LOTS of photos posing the perfect wedding getaway spot for you!  Contact information is also included so you can start the planning now.  This is a fabulous magazine to enjoy as you dream and scheme for the perfect destination to begin your new life.

An extra special new addition to the digital branch of the library is the addition of several magazines you can read on your computer or other electronic device through Zinio.  We have available to you online –

1.Town & Country Weddings

2. Martha Stewart Weddings

3.Destination Weddings & Honeymoons

4.Vanidades USA

So, are you ready to enjoy some magazines for FREE with your library card?  Stroll on down the aisle to the Wedding Neighborhood in the west wing of your library or online.  Bring your coffee, pull up a chair and read to your heart’s content.  You’ll be glad you did!

If you decide to DIY for the wedding day, we have some wonderful books here at the library.

Wedding photography books are designed to help both the wedding couple and their DIY historian navigate the world of wedding photography and videography. These books include detailed information on organization, technical skills and the common issues of each part of your wedding.  The books on photography in the Wedding Neighborhood won’t turn you into a professional photographer overnight, but they will teach you how to get the best wedding shots possible with the skills and equipment you already have.

The best way to improve your photography skills, of course, is to practice a lot and then practice some more!  Take a critical look at the outcome of your shots to see what works and what doesn’t.  Also look at other people’s shots to gain new ideas and perspectives.  Creativity will help you tell the wedding day story in a fun and satisfying way.

There are two very broad styles of wedding photographs: posed and photojournalistic.  The biggest difference between the two styles is the presence or absence of photographer intervention and/or direction.  A mix of styles is nice, depending on the situation.  No matter which style (or combination) you choose, it’s good to have a “shot list” or repertoire in mind for the event.

Even if you choose to go with a seasoned photographer instead of a DIY novice, we have some great information to use in the planning of photos to capture the scenes and memories of that all important day.

1. What type of coverage are you expecting from your photographer? Documentary-style would cover the events as they happen.  Candid images and interviews are fun and not necessarily traditional in nature.  Formal shots are completely staged and organized by the photographer.
2. Wedding Timeline.  It is vitally important for the person documenting the event to know the important points of the day, time, and place.  Will pictures be taken at the bride’s home, beauty shop, church, park or somewhere else?
3. Shot List. This list can be built by the bride, groom and photographer well ahead of time.
4. Equipment. What equipment is owned, should be rented or borrowed, or is even necessary? (ex.: tripod for camcorder, lights, batteries)
5. Money.  What is the charge for shooting the wedding?  Is it a gift to the couple?  Is a down payment required?
6. Post production.  Is a finished product going to be presented to the couple?  Is there a deadline for the finished product to be completed? Or is the couple responsible for printing the pictures and editing the video?There are two very broad styles of wedding photographs: posed and photojournalistic.  The biggest difference between the two styles is the presence or absence of photographer intervention and/or direction.  A mix of styles is nice, depending on the situation.  No matter which style (or combination) you choose, it’s good to have a “shot list” or repertoire in mind for the event.

A great tip for those taping the wedding day is to interview family members and guests, maybe even the bride and groom themselves.  To get those in attendance to relax and open up, suggest they record a greeting for the couple or share stories of activities or events they were involved in together.  Ask the honored couple how the felt before the wedding started, when they saw each other for the first time, or funny things that happened.  Use their thoughts as intros for different parts of the video. Be sure to provide good audio equipment to enhance the greetings and stories from those you interview.

So, are you inspired and encouraged to practice and prepare for that upcoming wedding?  Then go pull out your camera and get busy!  And if you need some more tips and techniques, check out some of these books down the aisle in the Wedding Neighborhood of your library.

The old Wedding Neighborhood area is being repurposed. This area will house new displays for the Pets Neighborhood and the Collectibles Neighborhood, so stay tuned for lots of excitement in the West Wing of the library!

Our Wedding Neighborhood has been in existence for about a year and a half, and we really outgrew our space.  The neighborhood was “landlocked” between two archways that join the Media Center to the West Wing.  Our new area allows for much more space to showcase the bridal magazines, wedding music, free brochures and notices of upcoming Bridal Fairs and Wedding programs.

What do you need to plan a wedding?  Books on etiquette and ceremonies, guide books and planners. Books on the perfect dress & veil & accessories, seasonal flowers, photography angles, your individualized ceremony and reception music.  Ideas for bridal showers, reception toasts, honeymoon destinations, and thank you messages. We have all that and a lot more in the Wedding Neighborhood of the library.  Save yourself a great deal of money by using your library card to check out books, printed music, CDs and DVDs.

So, if a wedding is in your future, take time to stop by the library for all the ideas and tips you will need.  It’s just a little bit longer walk down that aisle!

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Bridal Showers by Jennifer R. Barr is a great place to start. Even if you’re not an idiot, this book is full of great tips and interesting facts. Not only will you find the usual details about arranging a shower, you’ll get interesting trivia about the tradition as well – be thankful you don’t live in Finland where the bride travels from house to house with her grandfather holding an umbrella over her head to collect gifts and well-wishes from family and friends. There are reminders about things you might not have considered like getting your carpets cleaned at least two days before the shower, so it has time to dry; and providing treats for the ever-increasing number of vegetarians who may be on your guest list. With everything from menus to budgets, this is a very practical guide for any hostess whether you’re an organized pro, or an unprepared novice.

For those who like crafting and DIY projects, check out Creative Wedding Showers by Laurie Dewberry. You’ll find inventive plans to please unconventional brides, as well as ideas to liven up traditional themes like the Time-of-Day shower or the Recipe Shower. There are templates for creating your own envelopes, favor boxes, and even a mini photo album, and a resource page so you can find the materials to complete them. Each chapter comes with recipes and activities to round out the entire event.

For those of you with more informal plans in mind The Smart Guide to Bachelorette Parties will lead you in the right direction. You’ll find chapters like Barhopping, Male Dancers, and Preventing Trouble for a wild night out. If you are hosting a tamer crowd, however, you can throw a Spa or Fashion-Show party, or something completely different like a Charity party for the bride who would rather give than receive, or a Sporting party focused around the active bride. As in most of these books, you’ll find recipes and games, but you’ll also find money saving ideas, shopping resources, and practical tips from hostesses who’ve already been in your shoes.

Remember, whatever you do, you can’t go wrong as long as the bride and your guests have fun!

For further inspiration check out some of these sites the next time you are on-line:

Weddingpaperdivas.com for creative, professionally printed invitations at a reasonable price.

Pepperdesignblog.com highlights a beautiful shower for knitters in the April 13, 2012 entry.

Marthastewartweddings.com for themes including… a library-themed shower, of course!

(This blog was written by Meg Porteous, member of the Wedding Neighborhood Team.)

On Saturday, the doors will open at 10 am and close at 5 pm.  The Runway Show, sponsored by Celebrations of the Heart, will be held at noon and 3 pm.  These are huge parts of the Fair, so be sure to come early and find a seat to view all of the lovely bridal gowns that will be modeled.

On Sunday, the doors will open at noon with the Runway Show at 1:00.  Then the event will close for this year at 3:00.

Tickets for the Bridal Fair are available for $6 in advance at WIBW Studios, 1210 SW Executive Drive in Topeka (at the top of Huntoon Hill) or for $8 at the door (children 6 & under are free). You may purchase tickets and/or pre-register online at www.bridalfair.com.

However, what bride doesn’t want a great deal when she’s planning her Big Day?!  So . . . drum roll, please . . . since the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library will sponsor a booth at the Bridal Fair, we have tickets to GIVE AWAY for the event.  So, for the first three brides who call my voicemail at the library, I will present them each with a FREE admission ticket for the Bridal Fair.  Please call 580-4672 and leave your name, telephone number, and email address.  I will contact you immediately about picking up your ticket here at the library or by mail if you live out of town.

At the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library booth, we will have a drawing for two FREE gift certificates for digital hardcover Photo Memory Books from Jostens.These albums allow you to build an 8 x 8 or 8.5 x 11 40-page photo book of your wedding, reception, rehearsal dinner, bridal shower or whatever else you have in mind.  We will also have great ideas for your reception food, a list of great wedding music, and a sampling of materials that can be checked out at YOUR library!  So, please stop by to see us at our booth in the Fountain Area at the Ramada and pick up lots of FREE materials to help you plan your memorable day. We certainly hope to see you at this year’s Bridal Fair!

In the book, “1,001 Ways to Save Money . . . and Still Have a Dazzling Wedding” author Sharon Naylor imparts expert information for thrifty brides.  Naylor is the author of more than 30 wedding-planning books and is the wedding Q&A specialist at iVillage Weddings and PashWeddings.com as well as a contributing editor for Southern Bride. She has been featured in InStyle Weddings, Bride & Groom, and Vows.

In this newly revised book (updated 3^rd edition), you’ll find plenty of updated budget-trimming tips and helpful websites to ensure that you have the best of everything.  Naylor’s advice goes from cakes to caterers, from bridal registries to bridesmaids’ dresses, and from invitations to decorations—all at a fraction of what you might expect to pay.

You’ll also learn where not to cut corners, how to help your family and bridal party save money, and where to find free assistance, all without compromising on the wedding of your dreams. This valuable book also includes several cost-comparison sidebars that will help you make decisions that could save you hundreds, maybe even  thousands, of dollars. The savvy bride-to-be can’t afford to be without this comprehensive guide to turning a fantasy wedding into a reality!

Planning for your walk down the aisle is now easier than ever with “e-Plan Your Wedding: How to Save Time and Money with Today’s Best Online Resources” by Crystal and Jason Melendez.

This complete guide covers every stage of wedding preparation, including both traditional and internet-based resources. Every bride and groom will save time and money on everything from setting up an address book for guests that builds and updates itself; creating online gift registries; finding incredible wholesale discounts and bargains; receiving RSVP responses that automatically update guest lists in real time; creating a smart, flexible budget that compensates and automatically adjusts; and securing  fool proof contracts. Engaged couples will learn how to make a wealth of convenient resources work for them—saving them thousands of dollars and hours of needless hassle—so that they can efficiently and economically pull off their big day without a hitch.

 In her book, ”Nell Hill’s Stylish Weddings,” Mary Carol Garrity shares her trademark advice on planning stylish, affordable, and memorable weddings.  The accompanying selection of pictures helps instill the ideas in your mind. She delivers practical yet elegant tips on creating lavish weddings without spending huge amounts of time, money or energy.

Garrity is the dynamic proprietor of the Nell Hill’s stores in Atchison and Kansas City.  Her store started out as a gourmet food shop that evolved into a specialty home décor shop named after her grandmother.

Garrity offers shower, wedding, and gift ideas and encourages readers to spend wisely and create memorable experiences with maximum impact.  She takes readers step-by-step through the planning of her daughter’s summer wedding and its implementation at her home in Atchison. Readers also learn tips from weddings that Garrity has attended and helped plan, including inventive ways to involve friends and family and creative touches that combine old family traditions with newfound keepsakes.

With all of these great ideas, tips, and checklists you can plan and host the wedding of your dreams.  Visit us here in the Wedding Neighborhood at the library to pick up one of these books or find another one to assist you in your bridal adventures.

The choices are obviously nearly limitless, so check out some of these great books to assist you in your search for the perfect cake.

Chic and Unique Wedding Cakes by Zoe Clark features 30 modern designs for romantic celebrations.  After working with some of the most prestigious bakers in London, Clark set up her own business called The Cake Parlour.  She was awarded Perfect Wedding’s “Best Wedding Cake Designer 2010” award. She designs wedding cakes and confections around a variety of wedding themes.  Clark’s book is divided into ten chapters that showcase a cake along with two complementary designs, including cookies, cupcakes and fondant fancies.  For each cake, she shows where her inspiration has come from in hopes of inspiring brides to create their own designs and creations.  If you’ve ever wondered how some of those decorations are made, the photos in this book will make it very clear for you.  It’s all gorgeous and helps you understand why the cost of the cake is what it is!

 A new trend at wedding receptions is the tower of cupcakes. These are the perfect size for your guests and can easily be made and decorated by a creative cook. There are some wonderful ideas in the book Wedding Cupcakes by Joanna Farrow. From frosted flowers to crystallized fruit, the variety and choices are almost endless!  Basic vanilla and chocolate recipes are provided in the book along with a rich fruit recipe.  Fresh fruit in a cupcake that is then covered with fondant (heavy icing used to decorate or sculpt pastries), can be made and decorated up to two weeks in advance and kept in a cool place.  Flavor variations include lemon, rose, and almond. Liqueurs may also be added for flavor and in this book range from orange and sherry to brandy and hazelnut. Cupcakes can be displayed in tiers as a centerpiece on a main table or on individual plates for each guest. What a beautiful statement these little delicacies can make!

 If you just can’t wait to start on ideas for your own wedding cake, here’s a fun website to help you create the perfect confection: http://www.brides.com/wedding-ideas/wedding-cakes/create-a-cake/.  This site will allow you to play with decorations and accents and colors, as well as wedding cake shapes. Then you can print out your cake design and share it with your cake baker/caterer. Just don’t forget to tell them what flavor you would like in each layer!

So, it sounds like it’s time for cake.  Take a stroll down the aisle to our Wedding Neighborhood in the west wing of the library and find the cake that’s calling your name!  Bon appetite!

This free magazine comes out once a year and is available in the Wedding Neighborhood of your library here in Topeka.  Inside the magazine you will find a list of vendors to help with the wedding cake and flowers, planning and catering, photographers and transportation, jewelry and venues, photo booths and makeup artists.  Also included are tips and advice on such topics as “Sticking to a budget,” “Bridal trends and fashions,” “Wedding readings and writing your own vows,” “Tips from a photog on destination weddings” and many other helpful nuggets of wedding wisdom. 

Here’s a few tips to pique your interest:

            Today’s bridal showers aren’t just for the bride. The groom can be showered, too. Poker Night, Power Tools, or his favorite sports team make great themes for a Groom Shower. – Megan Bottenberg 

            Another hot trend in 2012 is 2 in 1 dresses: one for the ceremony and one for the reception. – Amber O’Dell

            A wonderful alternative to a wedding cake are cake pops! Cake pops are the hottest thing going in the wedding world right now.  Cake and frosting mixed together and dipped in chocolate…to die for! – Heather McKee

Under the heading “D I Y with a little help from your local public library” (page #22) is a few paragraphs about what we offer here at the library.  “Be inspired by designs for shower and wedding invitations . . .”  “Learn how to talk the talk of a florist . . .”Impress your guests with handmade wedding favors . . .” We really have your back when it comes to planning your wedding!

Since ”I DO” magazine is free, you are welcome to take one home and enjoy it at your leisure.  You can read it all atonce,or only read those portions that answer your current wedding questions.  Stories of past couples who blazed the wedding planning trail ahead of you will entertain and encourage you. The beautiful photography in this magazine is also worth viewing again and again.  And once you’ve finished with “I DO”, then pass it on to another bride or groom who will certainly appreciate all of the great information. 

Other magazines we have in the Wedding Neighborhood are “Martha Stewart Weddings”, “Brides”, and “Bridal Guide”.  Back issues of these magazines are available for checkout.  Current issues are in binders and may be read inside of the library.

So, stop by the Wedding Neighborhood at your library to read a magazine and also to pick up your free copy of “I DO” magazine.  And have a great wedding!

Having successful traveled through his own wedding planning with his wife, Easter offers inspiration and guidance on topics from budget to bachelor party, from rehearsal to reception. In the introduction he says, “The days of grooms being innocent bystanders in the planning process are long gone . . .” This has to be welcome news to the bride in your life!

The arrangement of “Be the Man” should make the reading of this book timely and effective.  The sixteen chapters follow the timeline of events and checkpoints that occur during your engagement and through the wedding day.  This makes it easy to pick up and read a specific chapter, applying the information in whatever stage of wedding planning you find yourself.

There are also important pieces of advice and main point references in the book:

“Man Up” – How to bring your “A” game

“Man Down” – Learning from past grooms’ mistakes

“Cha-ching” – Quick money-saving tips

“Tradition Says” – Traditional or etiquette-related facts and tidbits

Easter has an easy flow to his writing and many funny ideas are thrown in to keep it interesting!  He even has some ways to smooth the waters if your bride becomes “Bridezilla” as the wedding planning moves forward.  So, if there’s one book that would be helpful to the Grooms in our midst, “Be the Man” looks to be it!  Good Luck, gentlemen!

Other Books for the Groom —

The Groom-to-be’s Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to a fabulous Ring, a Memorable Proposal, and a Perfect Wedding By Today’s Groom magazine

This is a book by guys, for guys at Today’s Groom Magazine.  The magazine “has gained national attention for its unique male perspective on engagements, weddings, and married life.”

A Gentleman Walks Down the Aisle by John Bridges

“For the groom, the fathers of the bride and groom, the best man, the groom’s attendants, and even the gentleman who participates in the celebration merely as a guest, this book explains what to do, where to stand, what to wear, and what to say.” This book even shows you how to tie your bow tie !

For the Groom: a Blueprint for a Gentleman’s Lifestyle: a Blueprint For a Gentleman’s Lifestyle by Colin Cowie

From celebrity stylemaker and wedding guru, Colin Cowie, comes the ultimate style guide for the modern groom. He offers “expert guidance for husbands-to-be on how to participate in creating an unforgettable wedding and making a graceful transition to life as a newlywed.”