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Happy Valentine’s Day! Today marks the start of a new series of blog posts I am starting, which will review some of my favorite books in the wedding planning industry. The first on my list is Colin Cowie’s “Wedding Chic”, published in 2008. All photographs in this post were taken from the book itself.

Colin Cowie encourages brides to use the photographs in his book as an inspiration toward their wedding day. “Use them as your guide, weed and filter through what’s right for you and what’s not. I hope this book will be a tool that allows you to use my energy, imagination and years of experience to help you create your own path down the aisle.”

Unlike many wedding books out there, “Wedding Chic” manages a wonderful blend of photographs and text. You do get an abundant amount of insider information on how to choose your bouquet, ceremony flowers and decor for example, but also a great deal of photographs to showcase exactly what Cowie is talking about.

Colin encourages brides and grooms to be to seek out a more unique venue for their celebration: “consider taking over a museum space, putting a canopy on a seaside bluff, or inviting your nearest and dearest to spend an entire weekend with you at some exciting destination…” Since TwoFoot Creative tends to attract couples that want a more unique wedding, I love that this book encourages thinking outside the box!

In addition to wonderful inspiration from the photographs and descriptions in “Wedding Chic”, Cowie also parts with great tips and tricks for planning the wedding of your dreams (and occasionally on doing so in a more budget-friendly manner). Some examples include:

• Be honest with yourself and straightforward with your vendors as to what you like, what you don’t like, and what you are willing to pay.
• Schedule a dress rehearsal where you set up a table with the linens and the plates, the glassware and the flatware, the flowers and the menu cards. Eat the food. Drink the wines.
• Menus allow people to see what they’ll be served before a plate is placed in front of them, providing opportunity for them to express to the waiter any concerns, dietary restrictions or food allergies.

My final thoughts? “Wedding Chic” is one of my favorite books on planning a wedding, which is why I chose to start with it in this review series.

It inspires, which is often something that couples need to get going on their wedding day plans.

It provides options, which tend to be avoided at many venues in order to keep clients within their own packages.

Finally, it comforts, encouraging couples on their wedding day to “take a deep breath and let go of the million decisions you’ve had to make. It’s time to focus on one thing, and one thing only: the powerful joy of your wedding day.”