CHECK IT OUT

While a wedding may be one of life’s most joyous milestones, planning

one can involve details that could challenge anyone without Martha

Stewart’s genes.

From buying a ring to walking down the aisle with mom instead of dad,

“The New Book of Wedding Etiquette” tackles the process from start to

finish with an awareness of tricky contemporary situations. In her

coverage of occasions that may depart from tradition, wedding planner Kim

Shaw includes advice about handling money, guest lists, invitations,

showers and receptions.

Just as comprehensive is “The Best Friend’s Guide to Planning a

Wedding.” In a resource covering how to find a dress and shoes, and how

to deal with caterers, photographers, florists and musicians, Lara

Carrigan includes anecdotes that are as helpful as her practical advice.

The whole gamut of issues unleashed when a wedding involves divorced

parents or previously married partners is sorted out in “Wedding

Etiquette for Divorced Families.” For the 35% of brides and grooms tying

the knot for the second, third or fourth time, Martha Woodham offers

guidance on working necessary names into invitations, arranging seating

to avoid hurt feelings and forming a receiving line with four sets of

parents.

Additional tips for “encore” brides, as well as new ones, are in the

newest edition of “Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette,” by Peggy Post,

great-granddaughter-in-law of the maven of manners. In this updated

classic, there’s information about multicultural weddings, accommodating

blended families and matters to address with everyone involved in

creating the happy affair.

Ilene Beckerman takes a more whimsical approach in “Mother of the

Bride: The Dream, the Reality, the Search for a Perfect Dress.” Check out

this one for poignant reflections on the mother-daughter relationship

during an especially interesting rite of passage.

Older but still relevant volumes provide timeless hints for moving

from the knees to the altar. In “How to Propose Marriage,” by Jean Paul,

find more than 30 ways to ask for someone’s hand. If he or she says

“yes,” uncover words for the special day in “Wedding Speeches and

Toasts,” by Angela Lansbury.

Even without ancestry with the doyenne of style, you can incorporate

her ideas as detailed in “The Best of Martha Stewart Living: Weddings.”

Many are feasible even on a budget, as they’re based on simple, elegant

design.

Whether you’re pinching pennies or not, there are dozens of other tips

for creating a look for less in “Handcrafted Weddings,” from the editors

of Creative Publishing International. From gold sneakers the bride can

swap for heels to mirror-tile centerpieces that multiply candlelight,

find eye-catching ways to tie the knot with personal panache in this

guide to creating wedding accessories.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column is by Melissa Adams, in collaboration with

Andrea Jason. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers by

accessing the catalog at www.newportbeachlibrary.org.