I have a spreadsheet for just about everything in my life — one for my budget (of course), one to track my progress on big work projects, and I even keep one for my grocery list. (The latter is categorized by section — frozen, produce, dairy, etc. — and I share it with my girlfriend as a Google document. True story.)
I wouldn’t necessarily recommend my style of spreadsheet addiction for day-to-day life, but when it comes to planning a wedding, I think even the most laid-back brides could use a little technological assistance. If you’re getting ready for your big day, or helping a friend plan hers, check out these handy websites, apps and software packages.
iWedding Deluxe
Gone are the days of bulky wedding planning binders; now you can plan your entire wedding from your iPhone. Update your guest list while you lounge on the beach, browse dresses during your bus ride to work, and instantly share details (“I found my wedding dress!” or “Honeymoon in Hawaii!”) with your friends via Facebook and Twitter. This thoroughly modern app doesn’t assume a wedding equals one bride and one groom. When you sign up, you’re asked to select your gender and that of your sweetheart. $10 on iTunes
My Gay Wedding Companion
That’s right, ladies, there’s a wedding planning software package just for us. You can use this software to micromanage every last detail of your big day — from your budget to the seating arrangement to music selections. It even has modules that will help you write your own wedding vows and print envelope labels. $39.95 at gayweddingsoftware.com
MyWedding.com
These days, if you’re having a wedding, you’ve got to have a website. Wedding websites are a great way to keep your guests up to date about the details of your big day, and you can personalize your site with photos and stories about your love affair. MyWedding.com is one hard-working site that does it all. You’ll get all kinds of practical resources like a to-do list and budget worksheet, plus you’ll find inspiration in the form of photos from other people’s real weddings and idea boards organized by themes like “modern carnival” and “fiesta flair.” And, you get your very own wedding website when you create an account. Free at mywedding.com
WedSimple.com
If you’re looking for a slightly more robust wedding planning website, try WedSimple.com. This site gets down to business with unique features like a statistics section where anal people like me can review important details like percentage of thank you notes completed and estimated attendance. It also allows you to share certain modules with family and friends so you can, for instance, let your mom weigh in on seating arrangements or give your BFF access to your guest list so she can plan your bachelorette party. WedSimple also gives users a free wedding website, and is same-sex marriage enabled, meaning you can choose “bride and bride.” $10-$80 wedsimple.com
Wedding 911
Brought to you by TheKnot.com, Wedding 911 is perfect for procrastinators. You can read expert wedding advice on a variety of topics, from dresses to desserts. Even better, you can post your own questions and get answers from other brides-to-be. Free on iTunes
Have any of these worked for your wedding planning?
