The library provide resources for
weddings and potential honeymoon
destinations, like McWay Falls pictured above.
By reference Librarian Mari G.
A few years ago while driving through Big Sur, California, I stumbled across a state park that boasted a beautiful waterfall called McWay Falls. Stopping along the side of the road to admire the falls dumping into the Pacific Ocean, I noticed a tiny wedding ceremony in progress. I remember thinking: Wow-rigging your wedding to take place near a natural scenic treasure is incredibly romantic!
Knowing how picturesque our own state is, I decided to see if any of Michigan’s parks offered such an opportunity. I knew that lots of people get married on Mackinac Island, but it turns out you can also throw a wedding at places like Isle Royale, Pictured Rocks or the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. These national parks offer spectacular settings right here in Michigan. To find out more about getting married in a place like that, visit the National Park Service at www.nps.gov and type “weddings” in the search box.
Destination weddings get more popular every year. The Capital Area District Library recommends several titles on this topic. Try Destination Wedding Planner: The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Wedding from Afar by Alison Hotchkiss, or The Complete Outdoor Wedding Planner: From Rustic Settings to Elegant Garden Parties, Everything You Need to Know to Make Your Day Special by Sharon Naylor.
Another new trend? Eco-friendly or “green” weddings. For tips on how to make your special celebration greener, check out Green Wedding: Planning Your Eco-Friendly Celebration by Mireya Navarro.
Here in the Lansing area, at least two wedding expos are already being planned for 2012: The Bridal Party at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center and a Bridal World Show at the Lansing Center. If you’ll be attending an event like this, it helps to do some homework first so you’re prepared to converse with the vendors on site.
Start with a general how-to book, such as The Everything Wedding Book: Your All-in-One Guide to Planning the Wedding of Your Dreams by Katie Martin. Another great place to start is CADL’s magazine database. You’ll find free online magazine articles with everything you need to know about for every kind of wedding. At cadl.org, click on Research Tools in the left-side menu. In the list called Databases by Title, click on the letter “G” and choose General Reference Center Gold or General OneFile for a list of magazines by title.
Whether you are hoping for an elegant, royal wedding-like affair, or something more in line with the movie Bridesmaids, be sure to make a library visit the first thing on your to-do list!
The Capital Area District Library Reference Department is located at 401 S. Capitol Avenue in Lansing, MI. Contact them at 517-367-6346 or by e-mail at reference@cadl.org
This was printed in the July 31, 2011 – August 13, 2011 Edition
