The Modern Wedding Planner:
The Wedding Planning Book Every Modern Couple Deserves
The Modern Wedding Planner by Jove Meyer is an inclusive wedding planning workbook with timelines, budget guidance, vendor tools, checklists and creative exercises for modern couples.
The Modern Wedding Planner at a Glance
Author: Jove Meyer
Publisher: Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Format: Wedding planning book and workbook
Pages: 256
ISBN: 9780593799512
Publication date: December 29, 2026
Audiobook: 4 hours, recorded by Jove Meyer
Designed for: Engaged couples and anyone planning a modern wedding
Hi, I'm Jove
For almost twenty years, I've had the incredible honor of helping couples celebrate one of the happiest days of their lives. I've planned and designed intimate backyard dinners, grand ballroom weddings, colorful celebrations, destination weekends, and everything in between. I've laughed, cried, danced, solved last-minute challenges, and witnessed hundreds of beautiful love stories unfold.
And after all those weddings, there's one thing I know for sure:
There is no "right" way to get married.
The best weddings aren't the ones with the biggest budgets or the most elaborate décor. They're the ones that feel unmistakably like the couple getting married.
That's the philosophy behind The Modern Wedding Planner.
I didn't write this book to tell you what traditions to follow, what flowers to choose, or what your wedding should look like. I wrote it to help you discover what matters most to you!
Because planning your wedding shouldn't feel like trying to keep up with Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, or someone else's expectations.
It should feel joyful. Intentional. Creative. And yes, even fun!
Why I Wrote The Modern Wedding Planner
Over the years, I've met hundreds of newly engaged couples who all told me the same thing:
"We don't know where to start."
Not because they weren't excited.
Not because they weren't organized.
Because wedding planning has become overwhelming.
One Google search for "how to plan a wedding" returns millions of results. Social media serves up endless inspiration and trends. Friends and family offer advice from every direction. Before long, what should be one of the happiest seasons of your life starts to feel like an overwhelming full-time job.
I wanted to change that.
I wanted to create the wedding planning book I wish every couple had the day they got engaged.
A place where inspiration and organization live together.
A place where your ideas have room to grow.
A place where you can make thoughtful decisions instead of rushed ones.
A place that reminds you—again and again—that your wedding doesn't have to look like anyone else's.
What Is The Modern Wedding Planner?
Simply put, it's the wedding planning workbook I spent my entire career wanting to give every couple.
Inside you'll find practical planning tools, expert guidance, thoughtful prompts, and creative inspiration to help you move from "We're engaged!" to "We did it!" with confidence.
It's part planner.
Part workbook.
Part journal.
Part creative guide.
Inside you'll discover:
Wedding planning timelines that keep you on track
Budget activities that help you spend intentionally
Vendor planning guides and FAQ’s
Ceremony and reception planning tools
Guest list organization
Design inspiration and mood-building exercises
Wedding planning checklists
Space to dream, sketch, brainstorm, and take notes
Encouragement to create a celebration that's authentic to you and your fiance.
Whether you're planning your wedding yourself or working with a professional planner, this book is designed to become your trusted companion throughout your engagement.
More Than A Wedding Planning Book
There are plenty of books that tell you how to organize a wedding.
I wanted to create something different.
I wanted to help you create an experience.
One that reflects your love story.
Your style.
Your personalities.
Your community.
Because years from now, your guests probably won't remember whether your napkins were cotton or linen.
They won't remember exactly how the tables were arranged.
They won't remember what font was on your invitations.
But they'll remember how your wedding made them feel.
They'll remember the joy.
The laughter.
The hugs.
The dance floor.
The feeling of being welcomed into your story.
That's what we're really planning.
Everything else is simply the framework that helps bring it to life. Love is the reason!
Do You Really Need a Wedding Planning Book?
If you've ever thought, "Can't I just use my Notes app?" or "I'll save everything on Pinterest," you're definitely not alone.
When I started planning weddings almost twenty years ago, couples had a 3 ring binder full of magazine clippings, handwritten notes, and fabric swatches. Today, that binder has become a collection of saved Instagram posts, TikToks, screenshots, Pinterest boards, bookmarked blogs, and browser tabs that somehow multiply overnight.
We have more inspiration than ever before.
But we also have more noise.
Planning a wedding isn't about finding the most ideas, it's about making the right decisions for your celebration.
That's where a wedding planning book becomes so valuable.
Instead of bouncing between dozens of websites and wondering which advice to trust, you have one place to organize your thoughts, keep track of important details, and make decisions that reflect your style, personality and priorities.
A great wedding planner doesn't just help you remember what to do. It helps you understand why you're making each decision in the first place.
That's exactly what I wanted The Modern Wedding Planner to be.
What Makes the Best Wedding Planning Book?
After helping hundreds of couples plan weddings, I've learned that the best planning tools all have a few things in common.
They don't overwhelm you with rules.
They don't assume every wedding follows the same traditions.
And they don't expect every couple to have the same budget, guest count, or vision.
The best wedding planning book gives you structure without taking away your creativity.
It helps you stay organized while leaving room for spontaneity.
It gives you confidence instead of pressure.
That's the balance I worked to create throughout The Modern Wedding Planner.
Every worksheet, checklist, timeline, and prompt is there for one reason: to help you plan a wedding that feels joyful instead of stressful. A wedding that looks and feels like your love story come to life.
Wedding Planning Has Changed, and That's a Beautiful Thing
For generations, wedding planning often came with a long list of expectations.
You have to wear this.
You have to serve that.
You have to invite these people.
You have to follow these traditions.
Thankfully, today's marriers are asking a different question:
"What feels true to us?"
I absolutely love that shift and have been encouraging it for many years, you do you!
Maybe your dream wedding is a candlelit dinner with thirty of your closest people.
Maybe it's a weekend-long celebration with everyone you've ever loved.
Maybe you're getting married in your backyard.
Maybe you're exchanging vows on a mountaintop.
Maybe you're blending cultures, honoring family traditions, or creating brand-new ones together.
There isn't one version of a beautiful wedding.
There are millions.
And every one of them deserves to be celebrated.
That's why The Modern Wedding Planner isn't built around outdated expectations.
It's built around curiosity.
What matters most to you?
How do you want your guests to feel?
What memories do you want to create?
When you start there, every other decision becomes easier.
My Philosophy: Plan With Intention,
Celebrate With Joy!
If you've followed my work over the years, you've probably heard me say that weddings aren't performances.
They're celebrations.
They're one of the few moments in our lives when everyone we love gathers in one place.
That's extraordinary.
It's easy to get caught up in color palettes, seating charts, timelines, and tiny details that suddenly feel enormous.
Believe me, I love beautiful design. I love thoughtful details. I love incredible flowers, creative tablescapes, and unforgettable dance floors.
But none of those things matter more than the people in the room. It’s all about the love in the room!
The goal isn't perfection.
The goal is connection.
Every page of The Modern Wedding Planner is designed to bring you back to that idea.
Not "Is this trending?"
Not "Will this look good on Instagram?"
But:
Does this feel like us?
When the answer is yes, you're on the right path.
What's Inside The Modern Wedding Planner?
When I sat down to create this book, I asked myself one simple question:
"What do I wish every couple had from the moment they got engaged?"
The answer became this book.
Inside, you'll find everything I use to help couples move through the planning process with clarity and confidence, including:
Wedding Planning Timelines
Know what to do, when to do it, and what can wait. From your engagement through your wedding day, you'll have a clear roadmap that keeps planning manageable.
Budget Planning
Your budget isn't about spending more, it's about spending intentionally. The book helps you prioritize what's most important so your investment reflects your values.
Vendor Planning Guides
Photographers, florists, caterers, planners, musicians, rental companies...there are a lot of decisions to make. I'll help you understand what to ask, what to expect, and how to build a team you trust.
Design & Inspiration Exercises
Instead of copying trends, you'll discover your own aesthetic through thoughtful prompts and creative exercises that reflect your personalities and your love story.
Checklists You'll Actually Use
No more wondering if you've forgotten something. Every major planning milestone is broken into clear, approachable steps that make the process feel manageable.
Space for Your Ideas
Some of the best wedding ideas arrive unexpectedly.
A conversation.
A walk.
A family story.
A song.
A vacation.
This book leaves room for those moments because the most meaningful weddings aren't built from templates, they're built from the lives you've already created together.
What I've Learned After Planning Hundreds of Weddings
People often ask me what the "perfect" wedding looks like.
After more than twenty years and hundreds of celebrations, my answer is always the same.
I've never seen one.
And honestly?
I'm so grateful for that.
Because perfection isn't what makes a wedding unforgettable.
Connection is.
I've watched couples exchange vows in museums, on rooftops, in backyards, on beaches, under tents during surprise rainstorms, and in rooms overflowing with laughter.
I've seen flower deliveries arrive late.
Power go out during speeches.
Wedding dresses get muddy.
Boutonnieres disappear.
A ring bearer decide he was absolutely not walking down the aisle.
And somehow...
Those weddings became even more beautiful.
Not because everything went according to plan.
Because everyone chose joy over perfection.
Years later, couples rarely tell me about the tiny details they worried over.
They tell me about the way they felt.
The deep breath they took before walking down the aisle.
The hug from a grandparent they wish they could have one more time.
Their chosen family cheering louder than anyone else.
The spontaneous dance circle.
The tears.
The laughter.
The feeling of looking around the room and realizing every single person they loved was together in one place.
That's what lasts.
That's the magic.
It's easy to believe your wedding has to be flawless.
Social media has convinced us that every table has to be perfectly styled, every moment has to be scheduled, and every photograph has to look like it belongs in a magazine.
But a wedding isn't a photoshoot.
It's a living, breathing celebration.
It's messy sometimes.
Emotional.
Unexpected.
Beautiful because of the people, not despite them.
And that's exactly as it should be.
The Permission I Hope This Book Gives You
More than anything, I hope this book gives you permission.
Permission to create a wedding that feels like home.
Home isn't a venue.
It isn't a color palette.
It isn't a seating chart.
It's the feeling you get when you're surrounded by the people who know you, love you, and celebrate you exactly as you are.
That's what I hope you create.
I hope you feel free to skip traditions that don't feel meaningful.
To embrace the ones that do.
To wear what makes you feel incredible.
To serve the food you actually love.
To choose music that fills your dance floor.
To celebrate your culture.
To create new traditions.
To spend your budget where your heart is.
To let go of the idea that your wedding has to impress anyone.
Because your wedding was never meant to be a performance.
It was always meant to be a celebration.
Your celebration, your way!
If you've ever thought, "Can't I just use my Notes app?" or "I'll save everything on Pinterest," you're definitely not alone.
When I started planning weddings almost twenty years ago, couples had a 3 ring binder full of magazine clippings, handwritten notes, and fabric swatches. Today, that binder has become a collection of saved Instagram posts, TikToks, screenshots, Pinterest boards, bookmarked blogs, and browser tabs that somehow multiply overnight.
We have more inspiration than ever before.
But we also have more noise.
Planning a wedding isn't about finding the most ideas, it's about making the right decisions for your celebration.
That's where a wedding planning book becomes so valuable.
Instead of bouncing between dozens of websites and wondering which advice to trust, you have one place to organize your thoughts, keep track of important details, and make decisions that reflect your style, personality and priorities.
A great wedding planner doesn't just help you remember what to do. It helps you understand why you're making each decision in the first place.
That's exactly what I wanted The Modern Wedding Planner to be.
My Wish for You
As you turn these pages, I hope you feel lighter.
I hope you feel excited instead of overwhelmed.
I hope you feel inspired instead of pressured.
I hope this book becomes a little piece of your engagement story.
I hope it's covered in sticky notes.
Filled with scribbles.
Dog-eared from being opened over and over again.
I hope you laugh while filling it out together.
I hope you discover ideas you never expected.
I hope it starts conversations about what matters most to both of you.
And I hope that every time you open it, you're reminded of something simple:
There is no one right way to get married.
There is only your way.
Long after the flowers have faded...
Long after the cake has been eaten...
Long after the last song has played...
The thing you'll remember most won't be the centerpieces or the timeline.
It will be how your wedding felt.
If The Modern Wedding Planner helps you create more joy...
More connection...
More laughter..
More meaning...
Then it's done exactly what I hoped it would do.
Thank you for inviting me into this chapter of your story.
It truly is one of the greatest honors of my career.
I can't wait to see what you create.
Cheers,
Jove
One Last Thing
If there's one message I hope stays with you, it's this:
Plan with intention. Celebrate with joy. Leave perfection behind!
Because the best weddings aren't the ones people remember because they were perfect.
They're the ones people remember because they felt like you!