The moment you get engaged, stock up on wedding planning books to guide you through the process. Indeed, the thought of planning such a major event can cause a little anxiety-that's normal. Just know that you don't have to do this alone. Aside from hiring a talented and competent wedding planner, also gear up with a few good wedding planning books and organizers to stay informed and prepared. Our lists of the top wedding planning books includes some of the most widely known and used publications out there.

Founder of wedding website The Broke-Ass Bride, Dana LaRue created a neat planning guide for the couple with a strict budget. Dana's belief? It's totally realistic to plan a gorgeous wedding without emptying your bank account. Inside, you'll find tons of sample budgets and cool DIY projects to keep you inspired.

If you're going for a more traditional wedding, this is the guide for you! Can you believe that this book is an updated guide to the original author's version published in 1922?! Here's a comprehensive piece that has certainly kept up with the wedding trends over the years, offering insightful advice and a wealth of knowledge. Inside, find guidance for every single aspect of the wedding planning from tipping suggestions to timelines.

Ask any expert if they've heard of Mindy Weiss' planning book, and I'm willing to bet the answer will be "yes!" This book offers guidance from the very beginning to the very end of the planning process. If you're adamant about not hiring a wedding planner, this is certainly the book you'll want to have on deck.

Here's a great guide to same-sex weddings-it's one of the best gay wedding planning books out there. Inside, you'll find an overview of gay wedding traditions as well as planning details and essential tips from an expert gay wedding planner.

If you've been checking for wedding inspiration around the web, I'm sure you've heard of floral designer Matthew Robbins of the New York event design house Matthew Robbins Design. Robbins brings years and years of experience as a floral designer, and this guide is a true reflection of his insight to all things beautiful.

The Knot is the ultimate go-to web destination for planning guides and expert advice. If you're knee-deep in the planning process, then you should have already visited The Knot at least once if not more. This guide is a compilation of organizational tools, worksheets and scheduling devices.

More Wedding Planning Tools

Now that you know which wedding planning books to add to your must-have list, get a little more immediate planning guidance below with these expert-crafted wedding infographics designed to give you an overview of the planning process. Supplement these graphics with your new wedding planning books, and you're on your way to creating a dream wedding and keeping your sanity while you do it. Happy planning!

Featured Graphic via My Wedding

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