If you got married five or 10 years ago, your wedding planning advice probably came from bridal magazines and recently married friends.
Today, the Internet is bursting with resources for brides-to-be. If you or someone you love is planning a walk down the aisle, here are 8 sites you need to know.
1. Weddingbee: Let’s face it ladies, the only people who enjoy discussing which style wedding band works with halo engagement rings or debating the differences between the colors slate and charcoal are other women planning weddings. That’s why Weddingbee is so helpful. The site features 20 real brides who blog religiously about their own wedding planning trials and tribulations and a community of readers who weigh in with all kinds of useful advice.
2. My Registry: Does your wish list include sheets from Bloomie’s, margarita glasses from Target and a one-of-a-kind serving platter from that boutique down the street? My Registry has you covered. The site allows couples to create registries with goodies plucked from any store or online retailer in the world.
3. Pinterest: It turns out that the Internet’s latest craze is actually a handy tool for wedding planning. First read Make It Better’s Pinterest primer and then prepare for time to disappear into a vacuum while you browse fellow members virtual “bulletin boards” packed with pics of adorable cake toppers, DIY centerpiece ideas and must-have bridal shoes.
4. iWedding Deluxe: The bride on-the-go will love the convenience of iWedding Deluxe, an app that lets you plan your big day using your smart phone. Update your guest list on your morning train ride, shop for wedding dresses in line at the grocery store or plan your seating chart during a boring conference call.
5. Offbeat Bride: If you’re looking for truly unique wedding ideas, check out Offbeat Bride. You’ll find candid posts about topics like lying to your wedding vendors and non-sappy father/daughter dance songs. The site’s “wedding porn” section includes oodles of photos from real weddings that will entertain and inspire.
6. Project Wedding: Sure, that caterer’s smoked salmon blinis were delish, but will she deliver on your big day? Get the inside scoop on local vendors before you book with reviews from real couples who have been there, done that.
7. I Do Foundation: Giving back is one trend that never goes out of style. Socially conscious and philanthropic couples can find resources through I Do Foundation to make charitable donations as wedding favors, plan an environmentally friendly wedding and more.
8. MyWedding: This do-it-all site has handy planning resources like a budget tool, inspirational sections like photo galleries organized by wedding color, and posts that offer practical advice on topics like tipping vendors and choosing a wedding planner. But, the best part of MyWedding is the free wedding website – a must-have for today’s engaged couples – you get when you register. You can customize your site to tell your love story, give out-of-towners tips on attractions in your city and even let guests suggest songs they want to hear at the reception.
