5 Coffee Table Books That Double as Wedding Inspiration

Inspiration is everywhere. From world travels to your backyard garden, ideas can spring up anytime and anywhere. As much as we love obsessing over Pinterest boards and finding ideas on Instagram, there's just something so rewarding about holding, feeling and flipping through the pages of a book. And don't think you have to stick to wedding-related tomes (although we hoard those too). We love inspiration that comes from unexpected sources. Here are our favorite art, garden and interior design books that are surprisingly full of wedding ideas.

Studio Olafur Eliasson: The Kitchen

By: Olafur Eliasson

April 2016

Why we love it: Effortlessly fusing art with food, world-renowned Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson has created a one-of-a-kind cookbook that proves the connection between creativity and cooking. With over 100 vegetarian recipes designed for the home cook, this book celebrates the pure beauty and art of food and the importance of nourishing relationships through everyday feasts.

Perfect for: The artistic, food-loving bride who sees communal meals as an opportunity to create connections.

By: Marnie Hanel

April 2015

Why we love it: Full of useful tips, this award-winning and gorgeously hand-illustrated guide goes beyond the essentials for creating the ultimate picnic or outdoor event. From a dozen varieties of deviled eggs and 99 uses for a mason jar to crowd-pleasing batch drinks and salads on a stick, this charming read is stuffed with ideas you'll use for years to come.

Perfect for: The sophisticated yet hands-on bride looking for guidance on everything from selecting a site to transporting unwieldy foods.

By: Heather Ross

May 2016

Why we love it: Just flipping through the pages of this fresh and inspiring book takes us to a happy place. West Coast artist, photographer and stylist Heather Ross has delivered a design book filled with serenely shot photographs and her thoughts on beauty, nature and design. Her tips on curating personal and found mementos will inspire you to do some treasure hunting of your own.

Perfect for: The beachcomber bride who spends weekends at flea markets and seeks inspiration from all things natural.

By: Arne Maynard

September 2015

Why we love it: If nature is a source of inspiration, its flowers and the gardens are at the epicenter. It's impossible not to feel zen when flipping through celebrated garden designer Arne Maynard's book filled with lush photographs, artful descriptions and plenty of insight. We particularly love seeing how the 12 gardens featured in the book change throughout the seasons.

Perfect for: The flower-and-greenery-obsessed bride dreaming of a garden party—even if that means bringing the garden indoors.

By: Giles Néret

September 2015

Why we love it: Most famous for "The Kiss" and "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer," Gustav Klimt's art continues to awe and resonate as strongly as ever, with myriad paintings, murals and friezes unlike any other artist. From his worldly influences and use of gold leaf to how he bucked taboo with his sensual interpretations of the female form, this beautiful book captures the spirit of the highly decorative Austrian symbolist painter.

Perfect for: The classically feminine bride who longs to let a little luminosity and sparkle into her wedding day.