From the library: Bridezilla? Not at these weddings!

Love is in the air right here on Washington Street! The word is out!

The Grand Island Public Library has what you need to get married. Now, I'm not talking the kind of romance that we spot periodically out in the stacks. I'm talking wedding resources to aid you in your journey to your blissful, happily-ever-after day.

So why am I am so excited to promote love and matrimony? Well, I will be attending several weddings this summer and fall! We have weddings for family, (my son recently got married), my niece and several friends. I have been taking notes and asking people involved in weddings for feedback. So hopefully, this column will be helpful to you. 

One library employee who recently got married in Las Vegas said she used our library resources and strongly recommends "Emily Post's Wedding Planner: The Definitive Organizer for Your Engagement, Wedding, and Honeymoon Plans" and "Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette: The Definitive Guide to Your Wedding Experience," both by Peggy Post.

You can also get great wedding information from www.emilypost.com, and everyone can benefit from everyday etiquette. Men please note the essential top five mistakes that men make and note No. 4. Looking versus staring. Seriously, this site is one people of all ages could benefit from.

Another book that has cool ideas is the "DIY Bride: 40 Fun Projects for Your Ultimate One-of-a Kind Wedding," by Khris Cochran; there are some great ideas such as the customized map cards on page 47, flower girl bucket on page 93, and best dog collar on page 123. This book has really cool ideas to help you save money and in the index there are all kinds of Web site suggestions.

The DIY web site is www.DIYBride.com. When you get to this site click on these awesome wedding links that are recommended www.weddingwire.com/shared/WeddingMain , www.marthastewart.com/weddings, http://theknot.com, www.confetti.co.uk, www.weddingcontrol.com, and www.weddepot.com. My niece used The Knot and loved it! 

We have some beautiful wedding books with pictures such as "Weddings," by Martha Stewart, "Colin Cowie's Extraordinary Weddings: From a Glimmer of an Idea to a Legendary Event," by Colin Cowie, and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Perfect Wedding," by Teddy Lenderman.

The library also has some great books on all those little things such as "Wedding Showers" by Jennifer Adams, "The Everything Toast Book: Find the Right Words for Any Occasion from Weddings to Business Functions, Holidays, Gatherings and More," by Dale Irvin, "100 Best U.S. Wedding Destinations," by Kathryn Gabriel Loving, "1,000 Best Wedding Bargains: Insider Secrets from Industry Experts," by Sharon Naylor, "For Better or for Worse: Wonderful Weddings for Cost-Conscious Couples: Smart Ideas and Savvy Advice to Beat the Wedding-Budget Blues," by Jodie Garlock and TLC, and the magazine "Brides" (www.brides.com).

For those of you who need to brush up on their dancing skills, the videos "Wedding Dances: Easy Lessons for Your Special Day" or "The Wedding Dancer" could be helpful so that your first dance might have a shot of being broadcast on youtube and viewed by millions. Check out this first wedding dance for a laugh, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqiw-Kqtlr0 .

Bridezilla" (www.wetv.com), and "Whose Wedding is it Anyway?" (www.mystyle.com) are entertaining TV shows. We joke about how they are a bit "out there" but let's face it, folks, a reality show about how a bride can go from sweet to certifiable while planning her big day? Sounds somewhat entertaining doesn't it? I think after seeing first-hand everything that goes into a wedding I'll have a new appreciation for eloping.



Celine Stahlnecker is a librarian for the Grand Island Public Library.