For an engagement present with a difference, Daintree Paper has put together a pretty and quirky wedding planner book, handmade and bound with a stately metallic cord. Designed by Aoife Mooney and illustrated by Catriona Hardy, it is housed in a sturdy gold case, costs €24.95 and is available from September.
Bright ideas include, in the music section, "Google 'wedding music playlist'" (I did, and the first list that popped up included those wedding favourites I'm Coming Out and What a Fool Believes). Tricky aspects such as the invites and the table plan are given lots of space, along with this nugget of good sense: start your guest list immediately. Two pages are devoted to the costs - but there is a note advising the reader to ignore this section as wedding budgets rarely work out. A most useful section gives space to list gifts and their givers, and there are clear plastic wallets to hold fabric swatches, wine labels, business cards and so on.
However, the book's beauty makes it more of a keepsake: best to transcribe your grubby notes into its pristine cream pages later. So while you're in the Daintree shop falling in love with the very tactile handmade papers, fine quality card and envelopes, wide range of ribbons and carefully selected cards, pick up one of their beautiful notebooks and keep it for rough work.
And as for the best wedding tip of all, courtesy of one laid-back husband I know: the only thing that really matters is that you both show up.
The book is available from wedding shops, online at www.daintreepaper.ie, and at the shop on Pleasant's Place, Camden Street, Dublin 8. Tel 01-4757500.
