Must-have guides and planners to help inspired you as you plan for the big day.

Once you’re engaged, there are dozens of wedding planning books and magazines to help you plan your wedding and inspire the details. There are staples that have been on bookshelves for years—“Wedding Planning for Dummies,” “Emily Post Etiquette”—but the following books hitting stores in the next week or two are sure to become must-reads for newly engaged brides, brooms and grooms. And while these books are written with ideas and terms for straight couples (bride and groom, husband and wife), we appreciate the inspiration and tips offered by some of the most talented vendors in the wedding industry.

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Washington, DC planners Maria Cooke and Kelly Seizert contributed to Southern Living magazine’s new Wedding Planner and Keepsake: What to do Before Saying ‘I Do’.”  Cooke and Seizert are the creative duo behind Ritzy Bee Events and the Ritzy Bee Blog.  The new book is filled with planning guides, checklists and beautiful photos (by Kate Headley) that are sure to inspire you. Available Jan. 3, 2012 for $26.95 on Amazon

 

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For the bride or groom who doesn’t know the difference between a boutonniere and buttercream comes “Be the Man: The Man Registry Guide for Grooms,” written by Chris Easter, co-founder of the popular website The Man Registry. Filled with both practical and funny advice, Easter will help any wedding planning novice “navigate the wedding minefield.” Available Jan. 3, 2012 for $10.17 on Amazon.

 

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Following up on “The Wedding Book: The Big Book for Your Big Day,” celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss is publishing The Wedding Planner & Organizer.” This three-ring binder has tabs for nine planning categories and each section is packed with tips, tools, checklists, spreadsheets and schedules to help couples manage every aspect of their engagement and wedding day. Available Jan. 15, 2012 for $19.11 on Amazon