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Mrs. Duckling, San Diego Age and Occupation: 23, Psychology Grad Student, Youth Diversion Specialist/Marriage and Family Therapy Trainee and an Executive Assistant Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Marketing and PR Coordinator Engagement Date: May 17, 2008 Wedding Date: September 2009 Venue: Rancho Bernardo Inn About Me: I'm currently living in Orange County, but planning our wedding in my hometown of San Diego. We are a DIY wedding "2fer", as I'm the crafty one and Mr. Ducky is in charge of all of our graphic design and technical aspects. When not wedding planning or reading wedding blogs, I'm attending grad school and rotating between two different jobs to keep things exciting. My favorite things include shoes, Post-Its, Labrador Retrievers, traveling, psychology, delicious food, photography, reading, craft gadgets/supplies, and of course, my wonderful Mr. Ducky!
About Mrs. Duckling

Add One More to the Collection…

February 28th, 2009 @ 2:15 pm by Mrs. Duckling

Alright, let’s be real. How many wedding magazines have you bought thus far? I am not even sure I can count. Plus, I “inherited” a pile from one of my best friends who got married shortly after our engagement. I definitely have my favorite magazines. I’ve found that some magazines are so full of advertisements and other random things that they aren’t too useful. The websites and blogs I’ve discovered seem to be more useful and original than what I find in magazines. But I still can’t resist when Martha Stewart Weddings comes out, along with some others.

In the pile of magazines there is one that has stood out to be the most useful, readable, and practical. Real Simple Weddings has to be one of my favorite finds since I started wedding planning. It’s like an easy, dummy-proof wedding manual. They just came out with their 2nd issue (I think they publish once a year) and it is just as wonderful as the first.

One of the best things is that Crate and Barrel is the only advertiser in the pages, so the publication is clean and easy to read.

From engagement, to reception, to flowers, the magazine is divided into every area you possibly plan for your wedding. There are most common questions for each area, like budget, bridal party flowers and then useful charts. For a person like me with no knowledge of flowers, they have a super useful chart that breaks down types of flower with their colors, seasons, durability, cost, etc.

For those that like lists and charts, they have charts in the magazine that can also be downloaded online. There are suggested lists for registries, photo must haves, and vendor questions.

One of my favorite features in general for magazines and blogs is “Real Weddings”, which are throughout the issue as well.

All Photos from Crate & Barrel

I’ve given a copy to all of my friends who have recently gotten engaged because I think it’s such a great start to their planning. I kind of use it as a reference and for some extra tips as I reach different areas of the wedding process.

Also, go check out the Real Simple website for more tips, downloadable checklists and ideas.

Have you gotten a copy yet? What has been your favorite planning tool find?

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26 Responses to “Add One More to the Collection…”

1.
JeanL1984
Member
JeanL1984 (message)  340 posts, Helper bee

Oh that one looks awesome! I’m going to have to go pick it up and add to my (so far) small collection of magazines. :)

 
2.
jesstagirl
Member
jesstagirl (message)  486 posts, Helper bee

I’m in LOVE with my Real Simple Wedding Book…er…magazine. Seriously though, it’s packed full of the essential info.

 
3.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Bruschetta (message)  5,553 posts, Bee Keeper

I haven’t checked out Real Simple’s wedding publication in awhile — so thanks for the reminder!

 
4.
Miss Burgundy
Hostess
Miss Burgundy (message)  907 posts, Busy bee

Miss Duckling…omg. I was out grocery shopping about a month ago and was in the checkout line and saw this. I thought “I’ll try anything that promises to make this process simpler!” and bought it:P It’s a really good resource!

 
5.
happilywaiting
Member
happilywaiting (message)  1,400 posts, Bumble bee

Oh dear…I have had a RS subscription for 3 yrs now & I keep them all for inspiration for oh..everything…but I am trying really hard NOT to buy the wedding book until Mr Happily “puts a ring on it”…then I am RACING out to get RS Weddings :)

 
6.
tea
Member
tea (message)  2,636 posts, Sugar bee

i just flipped through one yesterday and i was fairly impressed. i find most bridal mags to be the same so i don’t see myself buying anything more than a real simple and the occasional martha stewart for the design inspirations.

 
7.
Gilneas
Member
Gilneas (message)  1,029 posts, Bumble bee

Thanks for the tip! I hate the advertising and find that a lot of wedding magazines just have the same stuff over and over.. and I LOVE Real Simple. I’ll have to look for it! And explore the website in the meantime.

 
8.
venusfueri
Member
venusfueri (message)  13 posts, Newbee

I only have two. I kid you not - they are both Martha Stewart Weddings magazines from 2007. Being in Japan for most of my engagement (18 months out of 3 years) prevented me from getting most wedding magazines (I had a subscription to MSW when I was in Japan so where the other two went I have no clue - I think my mom threw them out, she does those sorts of things).

I have an allergy to wedding magazines - seriously! The first magazine that I got was a really glossy thick one (the typical one) and it literally made me cry b/c it was just too much. The wedding magazine section of the bookstore scares me - so much so I wrote about my experience in Japanese for my Japanese class. I usually get my ideas from Brooklyn Bride, the Martha Stewart Weddings Site and Wedding Bee (of course!).

 
9.
MightySapphire
Hostess
MightySapphire (message)  2,608 posts, Sugar bee

I wouldn’t have survived without the RealSimple budget worksheet! I derived my own from it and I use it almost like a checksheet:
1. Deposit for food: check!
2. Deposit for photog: check!
I love it!!

 
10.
Member Icon
Member
emielli (message)  15 posts, Newbee

I love collecting wedding magazines. I`m not even engaged, and I’ve bought um… 3? In the past month. This lady at work (I work at a invitation store), has been buying wedding mags for at least 10 years after she was married.

I’ve seen RSW around, but just haven’t picked it up yet!

 
11.
Annui
Member
Annui (message)  314 posts, Helper bee

How different is the 2009 one from the 2008 one?

 
12.
Member Icon
Member
peonypink (message)  44 posts, Newbee

i quickly thumbed through this at b&n one day. I after reading your review, I think I’ll definitely have to pick it up!

 
13.
mmc4474
Member
mmc4474 (message)  71 posts, Worker bee

Yes I have my copy as well! Honestly, since I discovered weddingbee, I haven’t been as into the mags because truthfully this blog (and some others but mainly WB) has been so helpful to me! But my two must have mags are MSW and RSW

 
14.
Member Icon
Member
karilynn6 (message)  99 posts, Worker bee

I’m a regular subscriber to ‘Real Simple.” Every issue is full of all kinds of ideas and helpful hints. I thought the Wedding issue was quite basic, but helpful all the same!

 
15.
Firefighter_Prazs_Girl
Hostess
Firefighter_Prazs_Girl (message)  819 posts, Busy bee

Okay so I have none… ZERO… I always flip through them in the grocery line and like you said they seem to always be filled with advertisements and other things that just doesn’t work for me. But after seeing this one. I think I need to go check it out! Maybe this is the one that is meant for me!

 
16.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss D'orsay (message)  1,293 posts, Bumble bee

I love Real Simple! I know this sounds odd, but I really love the weight of their paper and the way it feels.

 
17.
frenchbulldog
Bee
frenchbulldog (message)  6,067 posts, Bee Keeper

We actually have 2 copies of the 2009 Real Simple… I bought one @ C&B and then a week later I my sister was reading it on the couch in the living room and I said, “Oh is that my Real Simple” all my mom heard was, “Real Simple” and said, “Oh I got that, its a great magazine, you should read it.” Ummmm I have, I also bought it, its upstairs in my room. Not the cheapest mag to have two copies of.

 
18.
MarryingtheNavy
Member
MarryingtheNavy (message)  228 posts, Helper bee

@Annui:

I was wondering the same thing… I have the 2008 version, and from flipping through the new one, it looked like a lot of the same information and charts. Anyone have a better comparison?

 
19.
Bee Icon
Bee
Mrs. Cherry Pie (message)  688 posts, Busy bee

I looked at one this weekend, but I was sad to see all the Real Wedding photos (except the first one) are so small! Boooooo.

 
20.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Duckling (message)  1,349 posts, Bumble bee

@Annui, @MarryingtheNavy: The 2008 and 2009 versions are very similar. The real weddings, pictures etc. are different and some new resource recommendations. However the budget sheets are pretty much the same along with all the questions they answer for each category.

 
21.
Shay
Member
Shay (message)  438 posts, Helper bee

I think I have purchase every wedding magazine known to man !! Yet none of my friends are getting married the majority of them have been engaged for ages but I am the only one taken the plunge

My favorite Magazine is Brides! I love the fact that besides the cakes and dresses but also planning tips, dos and donts, color schemes, beauty, honeymoon, and just anything wedding/engagement/marriage related

 
22.
september wedding
Member
september wedding (message)  113 posts, Blushing bee

Real Simple Wedding is my Bible!

 
23.
LatteLove
Hostess
LatteLove (message)  4,094 posts, Honey bee

real simple is a fantastic engagement gift for a girlfriend! My sister bought me a bunch of wedding magaznies when I got engaged.
I didn’t think to look for a real simple website, yay!

 
24.
LzzNYC
Member
LzzNYC (message)  877 posts, Busy bee

My friends have subscribed me to so many magazines.. and it’s so bad but I actually haven’t read many of them. I love to get my inspiration online.. maybe I’m just too techy …

 
25.
Guest Icon
Guest
Natasha

I’ve only got 3 magazines so far - the Real Simple magazine looks to be really helpful!

(I couldn’t believe The Knot’s publication, though - $10 and nothing but dresses!)

 
26.
avdillard0110
Member
avdillard0110 (message)  361 posts, Helper bee

I have 2008 and 2009, but haven’t read 2009 yet. I just can’t help myself!

 


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Mrs. Duckling Mrs. Duckling, San Diego Age and Occupation: 23, Psychology Grad Student, Youth Diversion Specialist/Marriage and Family Therapy Trainee and an Executive Assistant Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Marketing and PR Coordinator Engagement Date: May 17, 2008 Wedding Date: September 2009 Venue: Rancho Bernardo Inn About Me: I'm currently living in Orange County, but planning our wedding in my hometown of San Diego. We are a DIY wedding "2fer", as I'm the crafty one and Mr. Ducky is in charge of all of our graphic design and technical aspects. When not wedding planning or reading wedding blogs, I'm attending grad school and rotating between two different jobs to keep things exciting. My favorite things include shoes, Post-Its, Labrador Retrievers, traveling, psychology, delicious food, photography, reading, craft gadgets/supplies, and of course, my wonderful Mr. Ducky!
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