Planning Your Nuptials With the Internet

Learn about websites that are purpose built to help you through that wonderful, if often trying, life event known as a wedding.

Whether you're planning your big day a year in advance or a few months in advance, or maybe just looking for tips on eloping, you're going to need somebody on your side to help you organize and plan - somebody who isn't your mother or your mother-in-law-to-be or any number of well meaning aunts, each with her own ideas of what your wedding should look like. There are a number of sites you can turn to that are not only unbiased but really know what they're talking about, but two stand out above the rest. They have all the resources you'll need to make your big day exactly what you want it to be. It's your own personal online wedding planner.

WeddingSolutions.com - www.weddingsolutions.com

This should be one of your first stops. At WeddingSolutions.com, you can build your own 'wedding website' free of charge, allowing you to keep track of all the different ideas and companies you are considering for your wedding day. Registration is free of charge and offers you the chance to build your own online scrapbook and wedding journal and discuss your questions, concerns, and finds on the forums as you go through the process of putting together the details for your wedding.

Some of the different categories include:

• Fashion and Beauty - Drop down menus of designers who make bridal gowns, bridesmaid's dresses, flower girls dresses, and dresses for mothers of the bride and groom as well as categories divided according to specifics (i.e. veils, shoes, trains, necklines, sleeves, and dress styles). You'll also find sections on makeup, hair styles, nail and skin care, and groom's wear.
• Vendors - For your ceremony space, reception space, transportation, videographer, photographer, wedding cake, music, flowers, and caterers you can find local vendors ready to serve you here.
• Reception - The answer to every question you didn't know you had can be found here. What is the standard gratuity for your photographer? Which favors are best? What questions should you ask different vendors? Find out here.
• Honeymoon - International destinations or domestic, honeymoons separate from the wedding or combination wedding/honeymoon vacations - take your pick from hundreds of choices and get tips on how to plan it here.
• Shopping - Or skip the search and buy your favors, bridesmaid's gifts, decorations, accessories, invitations and jewelry all right here!

The Knot - www.theknot.com

Just as comprehensive in the resources it offers as WeddingSolutions.com, The Knot goes a step further and provides enough articles to fill a book on everything you need to know to plan the perfect wedding, reception, and honeymoon. The articles are divided into categories that include:

• Wedding Planning - Topics include budgeting, styles, sticky subjects, favors, registering for gifts, your guests, customs and etiquettes, and more ideas than you can shake a stick at.
• Getting Engaged - Choosing the ring to popping the question to sharing your news, this section handles the pre-wedding period.
• Real Weddings - Check out pictures and stories from different couples according to the style of their wedding, the season, colors, or location and see if it looks like something you would choose.
• Wedding Fashion - How to find your gown, choose accessories and jewelry, groom style and bridal party fashion are all discussed here.
• Bridal Beauty - Find beauty secrets, special hairstyles, and how-tos on getting in shape for the big day and how to give yourself some pre-wedding pampering here.
• Grooms - This section has everything to do with the guys: tuxes, groomsmen, bachelor parties, and groom basics.
• The Wedding Party - This isn't for the bride as much as her bridesmaids and maid of honor and mothers. Find how-tos on bachelorette parties and planning the wedding shower.
• Honeymoons - From how to plan your honeymoon down to the nitty gritty of choosing specific destinations, there is a ton of great travel information here.

The Knot also has a number of tools to help you with the details like a wedding checklist, a budgeting calculator, and helpful tools to help you take care of your guests. And check out everything up close and in detail before you buy with the photo galleries:

• Rings
• Invitations
• Table Settings
• Wedding Cakes
• Honeymoons
• Wedding Dresses
• Wedding Hairstyles
• Bridal Accessories
• Bridesmaids, et al
• Tuxedos

Between the articles with the photo galleries, you won't need to subscribe to the bridal magazines or buy any of the books available on the market to help you plan your wedding. Save time and money and find everything you need to plan your wedding day at these two sites.

About The Author
Madison Lockwood is a customer relations associate for ApolloHosting.com. She brings years of experience as a small business consultant to helping prospective clients understand the ways in which a website may benefit them both personally and professionally. Apollo Hosting provides website hosting, ecommerce hosting, vps hosting, and web design services to a wide range of customers. Established in 1999, Apollo prides itself on the highest levels of customer support. Click for more hosting articles.

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