By Sharael Feist
May 12, 1999
You’ve been searching all your life and you finally found Mr. Right. Now it’s time to get that
diamond ring shined up and prepare to walk down the aisle. But before you do, you need to take care of a few details: Find a photographer, order flowers, meet with the caterer, find a gown, hire a band, pick out a cake, send out invitations. Fret not, we’ll show you how to take the stress out of planning your big day by using the Internet.
<b>First Things First </b>
Get organized. Make a timeline of when things need to be done. The traditional method includes buying a book for this. But we found a more effective way online.
Modern Bride magazine has an interactive calendar on its Web site based on your wedding date. After you tell it when you plan to get hitched, the site creates a list of tasks along with the dates you should complete them.
You can also download My Wedding Organizer, which costs $50. With this program, you can make to-do lists, invitations, and seating charts. You can also track who is supposed to do what by when.
Getting Ideas
The Internet can also help by giving you ideas for the type of wedding you want. Chat rooms and bulletin boards are great places to learn ways to make your wedding special.
You can use several chat rooms and message boards to talk with other people going through the same thing you are. It’s a good way to get second opinions on your ideas or to ask advice.
In Modern Bride’s chat room you can talk about what type of hair style will best suit you, or ask a fashion designer which gowns are hot this season. Or log onto The Knot Community for tips on how to make your honeymoon a night to remember. You can also go to Topica to subscribe to an e-mail discussion list about weddings. You can choose from six wedding lists.
Budget for Your Dream Wedding
You can do it the old-fashioned way with pen and paper, but we found a better method. The Wedding Channel has a budget planner on its Web site. It provides a list of what you’ll need, and it asks how much you want spend on each item. Then it calculates a budget for you.
An important aspects of your wedding is figuring the cost. Whether you’re planning a small, simple wedding or an extravagant affair, you’ll still need a budget. This is good for helping you figure out where you need to cut back order to stick to your limits.
Choose the Right Dress
After you set the wedding date, you’ll look for the perfect gown. But why run all over town when you can search for your dress online from the comfort of your home?
You can search on the Net for dress styles, to see which you like best, before you go to the store to try some on. The Knot has a gown search with an extensive list of gowns to look at. You can search by designer, style, or price.
Gifts Galore
Sometimes the only things pulling you back home from your honeymoon are the presents you still have to open. And you want to make it as easy as possible for your guests to pick the right gifts for you.
You can sign up for a gift registry at department stores. But there’s a more convenient way to do it online. The Knot has a gift registry categorized by price. The Wedding Channel and Modern Bride also have online registries.
Many stores such as Crate and Barrel, Target, and Macy’s have put their wedding registries online. For those who don’t have time to shop for your gift or who live far away, this is a fast and simple way to find something. They can even buy it online.
Finishing Touches
You have lots of things to think about when planning your wedding, so make your list, and check it twice, to be sure everything is in order for your big day.
For tips on wedding etiquette we recommend Emily’s Posts Complete Guide to Weddings CD-ROM. This guide offers advice on everything from flowers to food.
Take advantage of the Internet’s convenience when planning your wedding. It will save you time and headaches.