Since I have a broken foot, I have spent quite a bit of time at home on the computer. I’ve also read every single magazine in my apartment (all of the food variety—I love to cook and found so many recipes to try!). I needed a bit of fresh air, so the other night Mr. Beanstalk and I went to Barnes and Noble. I wanted to get some new wedding mags, and he wanted to get some new titles to add to his ever growing collection of programming books. I got the new Martha Stewart Real Weddings, Real Simple Weddings, and a new mag I had not heard of before entitled You and Your Wedding. The last one, I later learned, is actually a European publication!
Image via Forever & Ever Events
What I adore about magazines are the gorgeous photographs (and each one of these is filled with some beauties!). I love flipping the pages and reading about the latest trends and wedding-day styles. My weakness is the stationery! I find it so inspiring to see pictures of other couples’ paper goods. I usually have my iPad next to me whenever I am scrolling through a glossy, that way I can look up a new graphic designer or stationery company I read about and find intriguing or interesting.
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Image via Martha Stewart Weddings
My favorite bridal magazine, hands down, is Brides. At Barnes & Noble they had the newest issue, the one with the totally redesigned look. AMAZING! I didn’t buy it (nor did I even pick it up to flip the pages)…it was all about the self-control. You see, my copy should be coming any day now. (Yes, I have a subscription! My mom got it for me, along with one for Bridal Guide! And I love the little brown mini tote that came as a free gift. I use it as my lunch bag and actually get quite a few comments when I use it.)
The old look of Brides / Image via Syracuse.com
A fresh new look for the popular magazine / Image via Bridal Beauty
I had been wanting the Real Simple Weddings issue for a while. It seemed like a great step-by-step resource guide covering all aspects of the wedding-planning process. I don’t own any wedding-planning books (but I have read more than my share thanks to my local library—that is a resource EVERY bride should utilize!) and actually don’t even have a designated wedding binder, so I thought this magazine would be a great little piece to have. I can turn to the sections I may have a question on (like vows), read a bit about it in the mag, and then use the resources they provide to gather more information. (They provide several websites and book titles that deal with the topic of vows, resources I wouldn’t know about otherwise.) The pages are thick, and almost every one has a beautiful photograph on it. There are hardly any advertisements, and the thing I like is it is very well organized! This magazine is more like a watered-down wedding-planning book. I know I will definitely be using it in the months to come!
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Image via Mindy Weiss
Do you have a favorite bridal magazine or book? Where else do you find wedding inspiration?
I loooooved Real Simple Weddings and when I purchased mine, for a whopping $12 I think, it came with a free subscription to Real Simple for a year. Double bonus. I’m pretty no nonsense and thought it was a great outline of the basics. Definitely a must-purchase for every bride in my book.
Mr. T’s mom got me a subscription to Brides for Christmas. Bridal magazines aren’t really my thing, but I must say that I like the redesign. The new editor seems to be a little less WIC-y. I also love Real Simple Weddings. Martha can do no wrong!
I luurve ‘You & Your Wedding’, it was my favourite magazine. I threw out all my old magazines last weekend
I miss wedding magazines so much, I can’t justify buying them anymore and I miss all the pretty they have to offer.
I have the same Real Simple!
After reading through a few mags I stopped buying them because I couldn’t handle anymore inspiration. 
My favorite BY FAR is Martha Stewart Weddings. It seems to have more doable DIY details than the others and I just love their photography style. I’ll probably subscribe to MSW for years!
I love Real Simple. It was so helpful and pretty. Plus I got the free year subscription to the regular mag and already got my first copy. Thank you MOH for the birthday goodie bag of all things wedding.
That Real Simple cover is what made me want to have blue shoes for my wedding 
I love Real Simple Weddings! And I had a subscription to Martha Stewart Weddings. NBD.
I’m a Martha Stewart Weddings/Real Simple/Southern Weddings type of gal. Brides and Bridal Guide doesn’t have enough actual editorial content for me- it’s ALL ads! I did pick up the newly designed Brides and struggled to find what was different about the issue. I know its the first issue under a new editor in chief but the content was SO light, I had to search to find it! I think the bridal magazine industry in in desperate need of a facelift, some of these magazines feel like they are from twenty years ago.
I agree with what ddvaila2001 said – too many ads and pictures. I need articles, information, instead of one or two ‘Top Ten’ lists strewn among a sea of dresses. Thank goodness we have websites and blogs!
Brides is my favorite as well!! I am totally in love with bridal magazines!!
I went a little cray-cray with the wedding magazines when I first got engaged. I am trying to cut back! 
@ddavila2001: I agree with you about the ads…. SO many!! Especially if your a bride who already has her dress it can be a bit much!
I was actually a little underwhelmed by the new Brides magazine. I felt like a lot of the photos were lit too harsh and it just seemed as though they were trying to force the magazine into a new direction and it didn’t feel organic! There was another bridal mag I really liked because it had few ads and great diy ideas, it was called “Get Married”… but I think they stop making it =(
Mrs. Beanstalk, Boston/Delray Beach Age and Occupation: 27 Retail Manager & Freelance Graphic Designer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30 & UI Developer Engagement Date: July 4, 2011 Wedding Date: October 2012 Venue: Sundy House in Delray Beach, Florida About Me: I’m a Miami girl living up in New England. I went to art school. I’m addicted to coffee (especially of the Cuban variety). I’m engaged to the most amazing guy who always knows what to say or do to make me laugh! I love to bake cupcakes and cookies. I work in the fashion industry. I have a huge sweet tooth. Green is my favorite color (but pink is a close second). I am a huge music lover and usually have a different favorite song each week. Photography is one of my true passions. I love fairy tales and pumpkins. I like all things pretty and ruffly. I love to read (oh, and I love to write). My fiancé and I are planning an October destination wedding in Delray Beach, Florida that is going to be filled with tons of DIY details and, of course, pumpkins!
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