30 Ideas for a Book-Inspired Wedding
At the end of the fairytale, the princess always gets her happily ever after. Now it’s your turn. Pay tribute to all the poems, stories and tales that helped you dream up your Prince Charming with these 30 ideas for a literary-themed wedding. From setting up shop in a lofty library to incorporating a few pages of a book into your flowers, there are plenty of ways to book it on your big day.
1. Dewey Decimal Dinner: Here’s one of several good things about having your wedding in an actual library. You don’t need to add much to make your wedding reception picture perfect. (via Style Me Pretty)
2. Circus Chic: This wedding inspired by Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus is dark, dreamy and damn near perfect. (via Green Wedding Shoes)
3. Manor Mayhem: This sweet couple said “I do” at a historic manor in upstate New York that had fallen into neglect and was only recently restored as an event venue. Obviously a place like this has one badass library they took advantage of. (via Sweet Little Photographs)
4. Book Favors: Used books as wedding favors! Why have we never thought of this before? It’s easy for you and a fun surprise for guests. (via Rock n Roll Bride)
5. Book Invitations: Hollow out old books and slip your wedding invite inside. This is a save-the-date everyone is going to bookmark. (via Jessica Clare)
6. Literary Bouquet ($110): Here’s a bouquet you’re not going to want to toss. For an extra romantic touch, this arrangement happens to be made out of Jane Austen books. Mr. Darcy here we come.
7. Booked Table: Show guests to their table AND give them something to read while they wait for the main course. (via Artfully Wed)
8. Library Card Save-the-Dates ($3): A clever take on the old-school paper slips. This is much more romantic than the plastic cards we use nowadays.
9. Peet Moss-Covered Centerpiece: Enchanting, charming and slightly magical — all things your wedding reception could be with a centerpiece like this. (via Style Me Pretty)
10. Book Backdrop: We have officially died and gone to paper heaven. (via Galina)
11. Alice in Wonderland: Into theming your wedding around a book? There’s hardly one that’s more fun than Alice in Wonderland. Think top hats galore, “drink me” tags left and right and maybe even a little flamingo croquet. (via Rock ‘n’ Roll Bride)
12. Typewriter Cufflinks ($41): Slip these on your groom and his groomsmen for a subtle but creative touch. You can even get them with the letters of your initials.
13. Booking It: Here’s a funny photo-op for those fellas who aren’t quite as tall as their high-heeled brides. (via Green Wedding Shoes)
14. Epic Ever After: This reception at the Peabody Library in Baltimore is so magical it kind of makes our hearts hurt. Guess our invite got lost in the mail, huh? (via Buzzfeed)
15. Vintage Book Place Card Holders: Here’s a simple idea that will make a big impression: Show guests to their seats with escort cards wedged inside a folded book. (via Buzzfeed)
16. Wedding Words: We love this sophisticated take on a literary-inspired cake. (via Buzzfeed)
17. Alice in Wonderland Confetti ($5): Hopefully this paper confetti thrown from an Alice in Wonderland bag adds a little magic to your future.
18. Wizard and Wife: A Harry Potter wedding FTW! Gryffindor forever! (via The Knot)
19. Table Manners: Rather than numbers, name your tables after famous literary couples. (via Burnett’s Boards)
20. Great Gatsby-Themed Wedding: And speaking of Mr. Fitzgerald, his Gatsby fantasy world is the perfect one to revolve your wedding around. (via Style Serendipity)
21. Bookmarked Babes: Give guests a taste of all the bookish goodness to come with an engagement shoot that wows… or save the goods for your wedding day and send this out as your holiday card. (via Brandon Werth Photography)
22. Book Arch: We are speechless over this arch. Partly because it’s so beautiful and partly because we’re terrified that it’s going to come tumbling down during the ceremony. (via Rubin Weddings)
23. Fairytale Centerpiece: Simple, elegant and classic in all the right ways, this centerpiece looks straight out of a Brothers Grimm fairytale. (via Style Me Pretty)
24. Studying Up: Usually a day at the library means all work and no play. But oh how the tables have turned at this James J. Hill Library in Minnesota. (via Style Me Pretty)
25. California Nuptials: The “literary” theme resonates subtly in this wedding held at the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur, California. It still has a literary element, but with forest and summer camp undertones. (via Ruffled)
26. Library Escort Cards: Antique escort cards will show guests where to sit and hit them with some serious nostalgia. (via Style Me Pretty)
27. Flying Books: Make your day even more magical by stringing books from the ceiling. Make sure to tape the pages open though or all the books will fall closed, because, you know… gravity. (via Axioo)
28. Storybook Table Runner: Head to a used book store, snag a a couple books and rip out a whole bunch of pages. Then all you have to do is arrange and glue them together and voila! Also, let’s just talk about how easy this will make clean-up. (via Style Me Pretty)
29. Take the Indoors Outdoors: Here’s a book arch for those of you looking for something a little subtler (and stabler). Simply position two book shelves in front of an existing arch for an easy literary touch. (via Jessica Claire)
30. Books and Bars: If you really trust your friends, ditch the bartender and set up a boozy bookshelf that Hemingway would be very proud of. (via Tyler Branch Photo)
Are you a bookish bride? Which of these ideas is your favorite? Let us know in the comments