Looking for lighthearted books to read during wedding season? These fun and romantic reads are perfect for brides-to-be and anyone needing a feel-good escape while planning the big day!
My friend Courtney is an avid reader and always has a good book to recommend. So when I wanted a wedding-centric novel that wouldn’t stress me out, I knew she would have some great options!
Here are 5 stand-alone books and 1 book series all set within wedding season. They each have a fun, lighthearted story and they won’t plant bad seeds leading up to your wedding day!
Follow Courtney’s account on Instagram (@bottlesandbookshelves) for more excellent reading recommendations.
Romantic Spice Key:
– 🫑 = No spice at all
– 🌶️ = Implied spice / open‑door kissing/touching
– 🌶️🌶️ = One explicit scene
– 🌶️🌶️🌶️ = Two to three explicit scenes
– 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ = Four or more explicit scenes
– 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ = More smut than plot (none in this list)
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Fun Books to Read During Wedding Season
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Goodreads Rating: 3.90 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Romantic Spice Level: 🌶️ (implied spice)
Availability: Amazon | kindleunlimited | Audible | Spotify
Summary:
When bad seafood wipes out the entire wedding party, the only two exempt from sickness—Olive, the bride’s sister and Ethan, the groom’s brother—are “forced” to take the newlyweds’ all-expenses-paid Maui honeymoon. The catch? They can’t stand each other. Cue the fake relationship, enemies-to-lovers chaos, and steamy-but-not-smutty sparks. It’s a rom-com with sun, snark, and just enough sizzle.
Highlights:
– Wedding Related: Key characters are the bride’s twin sister and the groom’s brother.
– Tropical Setting: Hawaiian honeymoon backdrop that is fun, flirty, and a great escape.
– Enemies-to-Lovers Trope: Witty banter and feel-good romance with a bit of forced-proximity added into the mix.
– Other Tropes: Fake dating & destination romance.
– Spice Notes: Mostly closed‑door romance; a single brief implied scene with no explicit details.
– Genre: Contemporary Romance / Romantic Comedy
Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams
Goodreads Rating: 4.01 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Romantic Spice Level: 🫑 (mild)
Availability: Amazon | Kindle | Audible | Spotify
Summary:
Annie’s a shy florist with the flirting skills of a wilted daisy. Will’s a tattooed bodyguard in town for her brother’s wedding. After hearing she’s “unbelievably boring,” Annie hires him as her dating coach. Who better to teach flirting than a guy trained to tackle danger? Their “strictly educational” dates? Yeah, they get emotionally steamy—cue lingering glances, swoony kisses, and enough small-town charm to fill a flower truck.
Highlights:
– Wedding Related: The plot centers around preparations for the wedding of the female main character’s brother—giving a backdrop of wedding planning and family dynamics.
– Charming Small-Town Setting: The story takes place in Rome, Kentucky with its cozy small-town vibe, where “everyone knows everyone” including meddling busybodies, and heartwarming community vibes.
– Mentor–Mentee Trope: Fake-dating sparks unexpected chemistry and emotional growth for these friends-to-lovers.
– Other Tropes: Shy heroine & sibling’s best friend-ish.
– Spice Notes: Sweet, clean, ultra‑cute small‑town romance with no explicit sexual content.
– Genre: Small-Town Contemporary Romance / Romantic Comedy
– Series: Book 2 of the When in Rome series, however it is also fine to read as a standalone.
Bridesmaid for Hire by Meghan Quinn
Goodreads Rating: 3.86 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Romantic Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (love is an open-door!)
Availability: Amazon | kindleunlimited | Audible
Summary:
Maggie, a hard‑working wedding planner, just wanted a relaxing Bora Bora getaway. Instead, she’s fake-dating her brother’s obnoxiously hot best friend, Brody, to land a big wedding gig. They’re stuck in one bungalow, navigating high-stakes wedding chaos, forced smiles, and suspiciously real kisses. Their mutual annoyance quickly melts into tropical tension and emotional confessions. It’s a dual-POV, enemies-to-lovers rom-com—with snark, spark, and possibly one too many pineapple cocktails.
Highlights:
– Wedding Related: The story offers a behind-the-scenes look at the wedding planning process, providing both entertainment and a bit of professional industry insight.
– Tropical Setting: Escape to the picturesque locale of Bora Bora, a dreamy wedding destination.
– Fake-Dating Trope: Fake dating and enemies-to-lovers dynamics deliver the romantic tension and chemistry with humor and heart.
– Other Tropes: Forced proximity & sibling’s best friend.
– Spice Notes: Explicit open‑door spice; multiple steamy scenes.
– Genre: Steamy Contemporary Romance / Rom-Com
– Series: Book 1 of the Bridesmaid for Hire three book series, however it is also fine to read as a standalone.
The Proposal Project by Donna Marchetti
Goodreads Rating: 3.85 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Romantic Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ (moderate heat)
Availability: Amazon | kindleunlimited | Audible | Spotify
Summary:
Priscilla starts her own event planning business and wants zero surprises—especially romantic ones. Then she’s forced to fake-date Oliver, her gorgeous, annoying rival. They co-plan a proposal while surviving hot tubs, shared beds, and growing chemistry. With fake dating and enemies-to-lovers tension, this rom-com is sweet, spicy, and full of heart.
Highlights:
– Wedding Related: The story revolves around planning a wedding proposal.
– Contemporary Setting: Generic setting until there’s a cabin getaway, complete with hot tub.
– Grumpy-Sunshine Trope: Over time, grumpy Oliver softens as Priscilla’s positive energy and persistence break through his walls, revealing hidden vulnerability & warmth..
– Other Tropes: Fake dating, forced proximity/one-bed, enemies-to-lovers, & found family.
– Spice Notes: Generally sweet with some heat; not heavy smut with one main explicit scene.
– Genre: Contemporary Romance / Romantic Comedy
The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce
Goodreads Rating: 4.10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Romantic Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (steamy)
Availability: Amazon | Kindle | Audible | Spotify
Summary:
When Georgia and her ex, Eli—now a therapy-honed heartthrob with a plan—are roped into salvaging their best friend’s wedding in Napa, old sparks and even older wounds collide in the chaos. With wine flowing, family vibes in full swing, and a found-family of friends cheering them on (or mildly interfering), the week becomes a pressure cooker of feels. As flashbacks reveal what broke them and Eli’s growth starts to show, Georgia must decide if their second chance is worth the risk. The grand gesture? Absolute chef’s kiss—the kind that makes you believe in do-overs and soulmates.
Highlights:
– Wedding Related: The novel’s setting amidst wedding mishaps offers a humorous and relatable backdrop for anyone involved in wedding planning.
– Wine Country Setting: Roadtrip to California’s wine country where love is like a fine wine—it only gets better with time.
– Second-Chance Romance: It has been 5-years since their break-up, but now Georgia & Eli are feeling all the feels again—will love persevere?
– Other Tropes: Road trip, emotional healing & witty banter.
– Spice Notes: Open‑door sensuality in several scenes; emotionally grounded and steamy second‑chance romance.
– Genre: Contemporary Romance
The Wedding Date (6 book series) by Jasmine Guillory
Goodreads Ratings: 3.46-3.77 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Romantic Spice Level: 🌶️ (heavily implied)
Availability: Amazon | Kindle | Audible | Spotify
Summary:
When Alexa Monroe gets stuck in an elevator with handsome pediatric surgeon Drew Nichols, he impulsively asks her to be his fake date to his ex’s wedding. Alexa says yes—because why not? She’s smart, successful, and hasn’t had a spontaneous adventure in a while. What begins as a weekend of pretending quickly turns into something more. Spoiler: feelings crash the party like uninvited guests.
It’s long-distance, low-stakes love… until it’s not. Can fake romance survive traffic, texts, and emotional baggage? Only if snacks and honesty are involved.
Highlights:
– Wedding Related: Each book revolves around weddings, offering readers a delightful mix of romance & wedding-related drama.
– West Coast Setting: The wedding takes place in Los Angeles where Drew lives, however there are also scenes in Berkeley, CA where Alexa lives.
– Fake-Dating Trope: To save face in front of his ex and her new fiancé, Drew asks Alexa to pretend to be his girlfriend for a weekend wedding.
– Other Tropes: Opposites Attract, Forced Proximity, Slow Burn, & Interracial Romance
– Spice Notes: Primarily closed‑door or light open‑door romantic spice; known for implied sensuality over explicit content.
– Genre: Contemporary Romance / Diverse Chic-Lit
– Series: Each book features different romance tropes (e.g., fake dating, second chances, workplace romance). ✦ Notably inclusive, feminist, with a balance of steamy scenes and real-world issues.
Conclusion
I hope there is something you were able to take away from these Fun Reads for Wedding Season Vibes. Follow Courtney’s account on Instagram (@bottlesandbookshelves) for more excellent reading recommendations. Remember to Pin this post for when you are ready for next steps.
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Gosh, I love a good book list! This one checks lots of boxes! Thank you for sharing!
Ooh, I’ll have to save this list for wintertime reading! Can’t wait:)
How cool! I love this book list and your notes for each. I indulge in a good romance novel occasionally and while I’m a bit removed from the marrying season, I do enjoy some romantic reads about it! I’m saving this one!
What a great post! I have two thirty something’s getting married and will pass this along. One niece and one future niece. Thanks!
Earmarking this post for my holiday rom-com marathons I enjoy each winter. 😁
Too cool Jenni! This book list is fantastic!