MARTHA STEWART weddings (table of contents, visual analysis)

The table of contents is located seven pages in on the right hand side, it is then continued three pages later, however this time it is on the left side of the magazine. Both pages have a very similar layout, except they are mirror images. There isn’t very much going on, it is very sleek and simple. The background is white and the entire font is black Arial or some other plain font.The colors are very soft feminine colors that correspond with the cover of the book (pinks, yellows, and oranges.) The reason for the bright fun colors is because this is their summer issue, if this was a fall or winter issue the color scheme would be darker and warmer.

Towards the top on the right (or left, depending on what page you are looking at) are the words “in this issue” written in large capital letters. Directly about that is “Martha Stewart Weddings Summer 2011”, this is written in smaller font. Below these words are four pictures, three out of the four are small and the same size. However, there is one focal picture of a woman in a wedding dress holding a hot pink fan that is much larger compared to the other three. The pictures have page numbers in the lower right corner because they are wedding ideas featured in the magazine. The pictures correspond with titles and descriptions at the bottom of the page.

 

Everything displayed in the table of contents is appealing to a reader who is trying to spice up their wedding while being cost conscious. For example; its say, “with the help of handmade paper blossoms, a four-tier dessert goes from basic to beautiful.” Having a cake made with decorations, such as sugar flowers, can be very costly. The paper flowers still give the same affect that the bride was going for however anyone on any budget can do it. The whole goal of this magazine is to give women alternative ideas for expensive aspects of their wedding.

 

A well known person who is featured in this magazine is Dylan Lauren, the owner of Dylan’s Candy Bar in New York City. This article is towards the middle of the book and it is about her wedding shower. It is entitled, “A Sweet Soiree”. The description is vague but the title makes you want to turn to page 252 and read more about the sweet shower.