# Ideas Needed for a Library Themed Wedding **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 5, 2012, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739 "2012-09-05T12:45:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/1 "2012-09-05T12:45:38Z")
I’m getting married in March and my hubby-to-be and I both used to work at our college library. He’s got an MLS and currently works at a university as a reference librarian. We’re both raging bibliophiles and we’d like to incorporate that into our wedding and reception. We contacted the college library but they didn’t get back to us so the wedding will not be held there. We may have some pictures taken there later but the ceremony is not an option. Any ideas would be welcomed! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/2 "2012-09-05T12:58:26Z")
How about using the _Masterpiece Theatre_ theme as a processional or recessional? (My husband and I jokingly suggested that we’d do this at our wedding, but didn’t.) I’ve read (in an Agatha Christie novel) that some brides used to carry a prayer book down the aisle, instead of a bouquet. You could carry a different book instead, or maybe attach flowers to it somehow? ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/3 "2012-09-05T13:07:49Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > I’ve read (in an Agatha Christie novel) that some brides used to carry a prayer book down the aisle, instead of a bouquet. You could carry a different book instead, or maybe attach flowers to it somehow? My parents were married in 1944 and my mother carried a prayer book with orchids on it. I’m a librarian but I have no ideas for a creative wedding. I used to live in Washington D.C. and attended a wedding at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Do you want a destination wedding? Perhaps the Library of Congress! ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/4 "2012-09-05T13:09:41Z")
Bridesmaid outfits like stereotypical librarian wear? Glasses, hair in bun, button up shirt, knee length skirt? Invitations/placecards that look something like library cards? Donations to some literacy project in lieu of gifts? Groom’s cake shaped like an old school card catalog? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/5 "2012-09-05T13:14:36Z")
party favours - books! (This actually occurred at a wedding I attended for a book editor!) Especially love poetry! ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/6 "2012-09-05T13:22:32Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Groom’s cake shaped like an old school card catalog? I didn’t think about a Groom’s Cake. It’s not a tradition here in Pittsburgh. I think he’d appreciate that. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/7 "2012-09-05T13:25:48Z")
What a great theme! How about for the tables (I’m assuming there’s going to be a sit down meal), they are each catalogued using the Dewey Decimal Classification system, e.g. 700 - Arts and recreation 800 - Literature 900 - History & Geography, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/8 "2012-09-05T13:26:11Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Bridesmaid outfits like stereotypical librarian wear? Glasses, hair in bun, button up shirt, knee length skirt? …I’ll be in my bunk. Have a card catalog at the front of the reception hall. When the guests arrive, have them look up their names and pull their cards, which will have their information (name, relation to bride or groom, maybe a neat personal fact about them, and their seating assignment). ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/9 "2012-09-05T13:27:59Z")
Book wedding cake: [http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4694278938\_dbc5dc2843.jpg](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4694278938_dbc5dc2843.jpg) Or a slightly more lighthearted version: [http://mymrandmrs.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/book-cake.jpg](http://mymrandmrs.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/book-cake.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/10 "2012-09-05T13:50:29Z")
Well, you ought to be reading Offbeat Bride ([offbeatbride.com](http://offbeatbride.com)) for a start, as there’s tons of bookish weddings on there. There’s a tutorial for adorable book pocket card save the dates [here](http://offbeatbride.com/2010/04/library-card-stds), for example. And you know that in Pittsburgh you aren’t allowed a groom cake because where are all those freaking cookies going to go? (What IS it with Pittsburgh weddings and cookies?) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/11 "2012-09-05T14:04:05Z")
After my wife-to-be and I saw the Woburn Public Library, we desperately wanted to get married there. It LOOKS like a church: [http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;\_ylt=A0PDoS7jWkdQ21MAZKeJzbkF;\_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F\_adv\_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dwoburn%2Bpublic%2Blibrary%26fr%3Dyfp-t-701%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D1&w=400&h=300&imgurl=www.sciwoburn.org%2Ffiles%2Fu272%2FWoburn\_Public\_Library.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciwoburn.org%2Ftaxonomy%2Fterm%2F124&size=34.9+KB&name=Woburn+Public+Library+Hosts+Spring+Lecture+Series&p=woburn+public+library&oid=876e4d23301bfc83a23db6ea80eb9799&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-701&tt=Woburn%2BPublic%2BLibrary%2BHosts%2BSpring%2BLecture%2BSeries&b=0&ni=21&no=1&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11a9tbe95&sigb=13jk62cst&sigi=11mvfuisv&.crumb=G.kSrW0OssH](http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoS7jWkdQ21MAZKeJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dwoburn%2Bpublic%2Blibrary%26fr%3Dyfp-t-701%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D1&w=400&h=300&imgurl=www.sciwoburn.org%2Ffiles%2Fu272%2FWoburn_Public_Library.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciwoburn.org%2Ftaxonomy%2Fterm%2F124&size=34.9+KB&name=Woburn+Public+Library+Hosts+Spring+Lecture+Series&p=woburn+public+library&oid=876e4d23301bfc83a23db6ea80eb9799&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-701&tt=Woburn%2BPublic%2BLibrary%2BHosts%2BSpring%2BLecture%2BSeries&b=0&ni=21&no=1&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11a9tbe95&sigb=13jk62cst&sigi=11mvfuisv&.crumb=G.kSrW0OssH) [http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;\_ylt=A0PDoS7jWkdQ21MAdqeJzbkF;\_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F\_adv\_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dwoburn%2Bpublic%2Blibrary%26fr%3Dyfp-t-701%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D19&w=429&h=640&imgurl=farm3.staticflickr.com%2F2642%2F4102579107\_5f2388483c\_z.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Flclower19%2F4102579107%2F&size=108.9+KB&name=Woburn+Public+Library+|+Flickr+-+Photo+Sharing!&p=woburn+public+library&oid=51634b32ed8a12ee137841fb7e67a210&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-701&tt=Woburn%2BPublic%2BLibrary%2B%257C%2BFlickr%2B-%2BPhoto%2BSharing%2521&b=0&ni=21&no=19&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11ip4d2qs&sigb=13kpoe4lc&sigi=11nfrsi3u&.crumb=G.kSrW0OssH](http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoS7jWkdQ21MAdqeJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dwoburn%2Bpublic%2Blibrary%26fr%3Dyfp-t-701%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D19&w=429&h=640&imgurl=farm3.staticflickr.com%2F2642%2F4102579107_5f2388483c_z.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Flclower19%2F4102579107%2F&size=108.9+KB&name=Woburn+Public+Library+%7C+Flickr+-+Photo+Sharing%21&p=woburn+public+library&oid=51634b32ed8a12ee137841fb7e67a210&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-701&tt=Woburn%2BPublic%2BLibrary%2B%257C%2BFlickr%2B-%2BPhoto%2BSharing%2521&b=0&ni=21&no=19&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11ip4d2qs&sigb=13kpoe4lc&sigi=11nfrsi3u&.crumb=G.kSrW0OssH) [http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;\_ylt=A0PDoS7jWkdQ21MAb6eJzbkF;\_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F\_adv\_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dwoburn%2Bpublic%2Blibrary%26fr%3Dyfp-t-701%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D12&w=320&h=240&imgurl=www.osmond-riba.org%2Flis%2FGraphics%2Fblog%2F2008Q3%2FWoburnPublicLibrary.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fosmond-riba.org%2Flis%2Fjournal%2F2008\_09\_21\_j\_archive.htm&size=29.8+KB&name=The+interior+of+the+Woburn+Public+Library%2C+as+taken+by+my+little+...&p=woburn+public+library&oid=e2e8a1e050ccd187d369004ede42e1d1&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-701&tt=The%2Binterior%2Bof%2Bthe%2BWoburn%2BPublic%2BLibrary%252C%2Bas%2Btaken%2Bby%2Bmy%2Blittle%2B...&b=0&ni=21&no=12&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11rargpfr&sigb=13k2uifif&sigi=124bspda3&.crumb=G.kSrW0OssH](http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoS7jWkdQ21MAb6eJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dwoburn%2Bpublic%2Blibrary%26fr%3Dyfp-t-701%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D12&w=320&h=240&imgurl=www.osmond-riba.org%2Flis%2FGraphics%2Fblog%2F2008Q3%2FWoburnPublicLibrary.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fosmond-riba.org%2Flis%2Fjournal%2F2008_09_21_j_archive.htm&size=29.8+KB&name=The+interior+of+the+Woburn+Public+Library%2C+as+taken+by+my+little+...&p=woburn+public+library&oid=e2e8a1e050ccd187d369004ede42e1d1&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-701&tt=The%2Binterior%2Bof%2Bthe%2BWoburn%2BPublic%2BLibrary%252C%2Bas%2Btaken%2Bby%2Bmy%2Blittle%2B...&b=0&ni=21&no=12&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11rargpfr&sigb=13k2uifif&sigi=124bspda3&.crumb=G.kSrW0OssH) Unfortunately, the logistics of getting everyone there wouldn’t have worked out. I’m not sure they’d have allowed it, but it’d be worth a shot. Maybe some library near you would let you use it on a Sunday, or something. Aside from that: Books as favors/centerpieces/bridesmaids-grooms gifts Old library cards as place-markers or notepaper book-decorated wedding cake. “Marian the Librarian” from _The Music Man_ among the wedding music. And any other library-themed music you can come up with. ---
**Author:** ![Coustralee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Coustralee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coustralee)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/12 "2012-09-05T15:13:55Z")
drunk guests propped up by giant bookends ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/13 "2012-09-05T15:18:29Z")
How about a [paper flower bouquet](http://indulgy.com/post/TasfEipvR1/paper-flower-bouquet) or [book centerpieces](http://www.google.ca/search?q=book+centerpiece&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-ca&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=yWxHUPvyDeHNiwK5rYCADA&ved=0CCEQsAQ&biw=1264&bih=657#hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-ca&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=book+centerpieces+wedding&oq=book+centerpiece&gs_l=img.1.1.0l2j0i5j0i24l3j0i5i24l4.16222.16222.2.18398.1.1.0.0.0.0.185.185.0j1.1.0...0.0...1c.Y6b-SsXBA_8&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=e399bd516bc3efa6&biw=1264&bih=657) ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/14 "2012-09-05T15:30:04Z")
Book stacks, for centerpiece bases, is brilliant, **Ludy**! You could also do a tie in to a literacy campaign, donation for every guest sort of thing! Maybe slip a note into the book favours? ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/15 "2012-09-05T16:18:18Z")
Name the tables after authors you like. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/16 "2012-09-05T17:23:47Z")
Seating arrangement via the Dewey decimal system? Obviously the place cards should look like library cards. The entire ceremony whispered. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/17 "2012-09-05T17:29:58Z")
> [@](#): > > The entire ceremony whispered. Not sure about this, but I should think, 'Sssshhhh’ing would definitely be in order. Right before the ceremony, their entrance to the reception, the toasting. It’d be the joke that just keeps on giving! Great theme for a wedding! ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/18 "2012-09-05T17:37:46Z")
**Zyada** and I didn’t think of books as party favours! ☹ We did have bookmarks printed up, with names and the date in a nice Deco-ish font. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/19 "2012-09-05T18:12:46Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Book stacks, for centerpiece bases, is brilliant, **Ludy**! Hm! I said it two posts earlier. I salso said the Place Tags as Library Cards there, too. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739/20 "2012-09-05T18:13:01Z")
how about referring to all the guests as “patrons” ? And if they delay notifying you of their attendance before the RSVP date, they have to pay a fine for each day late. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-needed-for-a-library-themed-wedding/633739.md?page=2)