When I was getting married, I read tons of books about frazzled brides, diva mother-in-laws, and crazy bridesmaids.  I figured since all I could think about was my wedding, then why not read about characters I can relate to the most (except the diva mother-in-law). That’s why I love the idea of the new webisode series, Road to the Altar.

Road to the Altar is one couple’s journey through weddingland. As Simon pops the question to Rochelle, they begin navigating the tumultuous wedding racket.  All the while an incompetent reality crew follows them mock-u-ality style. Events such as Taffeta napkin selecting and mini-weiner tasting pave a turbulent road to the altar.

For any couple planning their wedding, these short mini-episodes are a fun way to gain a little perspective on the stress process of planning a wedding.

Here’s a clip:

I know what you’re thinking.  Orange and yellow?  Like a candy corn?  Are you entirely sure you want to go there?  The answer is a resounding “yes!”.  I’m quite sure.  As a matter of fact, this color combination is going to absolutely sweep you off your feet.  I myself would never have considered this for my wedding, but after seeing some of the amazing ways you can implement this scheme, my mind is completely changed.  The bright hues are so invigorating, cheerful, fiery and striking, yours is a wedding that surely won’t be forgotten.

From Left to Right, Top to Bottom:  Vintage Orange Floral Necklaces; Modern Stripes Letterpress Wedding Invitation in Orange from Wedding Paper Divas;  Sand and Flower centerpieces from Pacific Weddings; Fall Basketweave Cake from Sweet Retreat; Yellow wedding shoes and socks from Jonathan Canlas Photography;  Orange bridesmaid dresses from Trendsetting Wedding.

For more on this gorgeous color palette, check out Pacific Weddings “Color Splash” post.  I can’t get enough!

Earlier this week I was excited to learn that one of my favorite co-workers is getting married.  However, this news came as quite a shock considering that this person also swore that she would never have a “formal” wedding.  As a result, our friend is now a bride-to-be who has no idea where to begin and she is wondering how to figure out all the details of a perfect wedding having never dreamed about this day.

Well, the truth is that whether you expected it or not wedding planning can be overwhelming for anyone.  So, relax! There is an abundance of bridal books and planning guides to walk you through the entire process. After all, none of us really knew where to begin either.

To get you started, below are recommendations of some great wedding resources:

Books

• The Best of Martha Stewart Weddings compiles the best ideas from the magazine to provide you with the perfect inspiration.
• Bridal Bargains offers practical tips for planning your wedding on a budget.
• The Wedding Ceremony Planner offers helpful suggestions for both religious and non-religious ceremonies.
• The Best Wedding Reception Ever offers helpful advice that concentrates specifically on the wedding reception.
• The Anti-Bride Etiquette Guide is the perfect guide for a non-traditional bride-to-be.

Planning Guides

• Martha’s  Stewart’s Keepsake Wedding Planner is overflowing with useful features and beautiful pictures to help you plan your big day.  This is the planner that I used for my wedding, which I’ve saved as a keepsake.
• The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner is another great planner full of checklists and worksheets to walk you through every step of the process.

Wedding Blogs

• Check out Bride Tide’s  recommendation for the best wedding blogs of 2009

Tools

• FREE wedding planning tools are also available at About.com

I hope these resources help you get on the right track. Happy planning!