Brides / Chloe Jeong
When it comes to something as intensive as wedding planning, it’s always smarter to be too organized than not enough—which is why picking up a wedding planner book (or two) certainly can’t hurt. Unlike their digital counterparts, these books provide actual, physical space for you to write down your lists, highlight expert advice, and leaf through pages upon pages of gorgeous wedding inspiration.
Checklists are also a super helpful tool. Waverly Coleman, the Founder and Creative Director of Waverly Coleman Events, recommends that couples getting married consult checklists in several planning books to make sure they don't miss a single task. “I basically would look at certain checklists and take all the useful information and just create my own list,” she advises. “If it’s your first time getting married, it’s really helpful to know the process."
Whether you’re looking for a completely customizable option or you want one filled to the brim with inspirational photos, there are plenty of great planning books to choose from. To help you find the best option, we researched various books, considering their durability, design, and resources like checklists, color and pattern samples, venue lists, and more. Some of our favorites are the PaperPeachShop Grey Wedding Planner Book, The Wedding Book, and PurpleTrail LGBTQ Wedding Planner.
Read on for the best wedding planning books.
PaperPeachShop Grey Wedding Planner Book
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Etsy
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. It has a hardcover and is made of high-quality materials, so you can rest assured it will survive the long months of planning a wedding brings. Measuring 6 x 9 inches, it's small enough to fit into a bag for on-the-go use.
Price at time of publish: $42
ThePaperMemory Our Wedding Planner Book
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Etsy
This highly-popular planner stands out due to its design. There are 20 color options for the cover, in addition to an elegant, customizable gold foil finish. It has a thick and durable hardcover, and it measures around 6 x 9 inches, so it's travel-friendly. Inside, you’ll find pages devoted to contact lists, dress inspiration, photography planning, and more. However, what we really love is that everything is organized by tabs 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.
Price at time of publish: $45
BGregoryDesign Rose Gold Wedding Planner
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Etsy
If you’re an extreme organizer, this planner is the one for you. The helpful book is broken down clearly into eight tabbed sections (Budget, Vendors, Honeymoon, To-Do List, etc.), so you won’t have to worry about trying to remember where you wrote down a previous note. And with a lovely watercolor hardcover finished with rose gold foil that can be customized, the planner is durable, functional, and pretty. What more could a bride-to-be want?
Price at time of publish: $50
TheGiftStudioCompany Wedding Planner Book
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Etsy
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 boards, sections to jot down details of your planned looks, and even quizzes meant to help you figure out who to cut from your guest list if you’re running over. You can personalize the cover, too, to make it even more of a special keepsake for after the events are over. Measuring roughly 5 x 8 inches with a soft cover, you can take this planner wherever your wedding planning journey takes you.
Price at time of publish: $28
CreanlyGifts Greenery Wedding Planner
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ETSY
Durable and organized into eight tabbed and practical sections, this gorgeous planner will help you stay on top of all your wedding info. It has 170 pages worth of checklists, timelines, charts, vendors, and much more. The hardcover front and back are completely customizable, all the way from the font choice to the floral design to the personalized quote. We also love that it's small enough to take on the go to your wedding appointments.
Price at time of publish: $58
TwoCrewDesign Maid of Honor Notebook
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Amazon
When you’re 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 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. 32-pages long and roughly 5 x 8 inches, it's slim enough for your MOH to take it wherever they need it. The softcover isn't as durable as other options on this list, however, the marble design adds a super chic touch. Trust us, your MOH will thank you.
Price at time of publish: $13
PurpleTrail LGBTQ Wedding Planner
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Etsy
Wedding planning can be tricky for everyone, but for LGBTQ+ couples, there often are additional obstacles to manage. Enter: this gender-neutral book, which offers inclusive, in-depth guidance on navigating the ins and outs of getting married. From keeping tabs on the gift registry to deciding which traditions you are (or aren’t) including in the ceremony, there’s no part of the prep process that isn’t covered in this lovely planner. There’s even a customizable calendar, so you can start taking notes on the actual month you get engaged. We also love the customizable cover. You can adorn it with your and your partner's name and wedding date, and you can choose from a synthetic cover, laminate softcover, and hardcover options as well.
Price at time of publish: $64
The Wedding Book: An Expert's Guide to Planning Your Perfect Day—Your Way
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Amazon
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—it 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. This book is available in hardcover, paperback, or as an e-book.
Price at time of publish: $16
The Essential Wedding Planner: Wedding Planning Checklists, Worksheets, and Resources To Help You Plan A Wedding Like A Pro!
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Amazon
Affordable and essential, this 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. Designed with a stunning cover, you can keep this paperback book as a keepsake after the wedding and even display it in your home.
Price at time of publish: $10
All the Essentials Wedding Planner: The Ultimate Tools for Organizing Your Big Day (Wedding Planning Book, Wedding Organizers, Wedding Checklist Planner)
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Amazon
The title doesn’t lie—this planner truly does contain everything you’ll need to keep your wedding prep going smoothly, and then some. Author and wedding planner Alison Hotchkiss includes 176 pages of color-tabbed charts, timelines, templates, and more, covering topics like organizing gift registries and setting up your wedding website. It’s all contained in a three-ring binder, too, so you’ll be able to keep track of everything you jot down in the book super easily. It's definitely large, so it's not the most travel-friendly option, but it's durable enough to last you months of planning. Not to mention, the cute design is always a plus.
Price at time of publish: $32
The Little Book of Wedding Planner Checklists: All the Lists and Tips You Need to Plan the Big Day
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Amazon
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, there’s plenty of advice, comparison charts, and photos for inspiration mixed in. No detail is too small for this handy planner, and yet it all fits into a pint-size book that’s the ideal size to take to appointments and fittings.
Price at time of publish: $8
The Backyard Wedding Planner: Worksheets, Checklists and Tools to Plan The Perfect Wedding at Home
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Amazon
A backyard wedding can be beautiful, but the planning process can be just as complicated as with other weddings, if not more so, due to the many different variables that need to be accounted for. This pretty planner, though, has all the tools you’ll need to ensure that 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 will work as a precious keepsake after the wedding.
Price at time of publish: $9
Storied Weddings: Inspiration for a Timeless Celebration That Is Perfectly You
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Amazon
Written by longtime wedding planners Nick and Aleah Valley, this book offers all the typical advice and checklists, yes, but also tons of gorgeous, swoon-worthy imagery bound to get you inspired. 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. It’s a great gift for your newly engaged friends—or yourself if your wedding is around the corner. Even better, it has hardcover binding, so it will last you for years after you're married.
Price at time of publish: $21
The Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner & Organizer: Checklists, Worksheets, and Essential Tools to Plan the Perfect Wedding on a Small Budget
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Amazon
For those hoping to keep their wedding under a tight budget, look no further than this planner. Author Jessica Bishop, the founder of The Budget Savvy Bride, breaks down every potential cost in easy-to-understand language and gives loads of advice on making the most out of your day, no matter the price point. 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. It's available in paperback and spiral binding and is lightweight enough to take on the go.
Price at time of publish: $24
The Must Have Destination Wedding Planner: From Inspiration to Destination
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Amazon
While destination weddings can be fantastic experiences, they can also require a lot of work to go off without a hitch. Written by wedding planner expert and owner of Quintess Travels, Lana Sharr, this paperback book contains many helpful tips for planning a far-away wedding, taking on important 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.
Price at time of publish: $25
The Bride-to-Be Book: A Journal of Memories From the Proposal to "I Do"
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Amazon
If you're looking for a keepsake book to journal your memories during this time, try this option. Written by the late author Amy Krouse Rosenthal, this book is less about the logistics and more about the memories. It’s a journal filled with thoughtful, romantic writing prompts related to your engagement and wedding (i.e. “When I realized he was the one,” “What my parents said to me before the ceremony”) so that years from now, you can look back and know exactly what you were feeling and thinking every step of the way. We love the stunning cover design, and it's small enough to toss in a bag to take to your wedding appointments if you like to write wherever inspiration strikes.
Price at time of publish: $18
Style Me Pretty Weddings: Inspiration and Ideas for an Unforgettable Celebration
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Amazon
If your wedding planning so far has been all about mood boards and photo inspo, this is a book you need to check out. Coming from Style Me Pretty editor-in-chief Abby Larson, this planner is focused on the fashion and beauty side of wedding prep, and 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 it only measures 7 x 9 inches, so you can take it with you on the go. It doesn't have an extensive checklist section like the other options on this list, so be sure to pair it with a personalized planner to jot down your finished plans.
Price at time of publish: $30
Pretty Jane Planners The Complete Wedding Planner For Brides To Be: A Rustic Organizer, Budget Planning and Checklist Notebook
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Amazon
Sure, your planner doesn’t have to match the theme of your wedding, but why not go for one that does? If you’re into the idea of doing a rustic vibe for your special day, this planner will be a perfect fit. The cover is designed with beautiful wood and lace, and inside, there are sections for planning seating charts, menus, guest lists, and so on. Unlike other options, this book only comes in paperback and measures 8 x 11 inches, so it's not the most travel-friendly option. However, we love that it can act as a keepsake item for years afterward.
Price at time of publish: $9
Meet the Expert
Waverly Coleman is the founder and Creative Director of Events by Waverly, a full-service event planning company based in New York City and West Hollywood.
What to look for in a wedding planner book
Organization Tools and Inspiration
It depends on whether you're looking for pure inspiration or a book that keeps you totally organized—or a combo of both! In addition to books with checklists, Waverly recommends keeping an eye out for ones that contain color palettes and pattern samples, so that you can start visualizing your big day with creative tools. If available, detailed venue lists broken down by city or state can also be useful accessories in a planning book.
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 currently planning her wedding, so she knows firsthand how invaluable resources like these books can be.