In a world so connected through technology, it is no wonder that there are an overwhelming amount of ways to stay organized, plan, prepare, get inspired, and even budget completely online – for your entire life. Furthermore, these tools and apps make all of these tasks so much easier and less-stressful. And that all goes double, possible even triple, when it comes to planning your wedding day.
Brides-to-be may still be flipping through bridal magazines at their local Barnes & Noble, but Pinterest and the infinite amount of blogs that we have for free and at our fingertips make daydreaming and choice-making doable from the comfort of our own homes. But there’s so much more than even that, and we’ve done the homework. Below you’ll find every essential online tool you need for planning your wedding – and a few you may want to have nearby just for fun!
Essential Online Tools to Help Plan Your Wedding
Inspiration
Dessy Styleboard
Within the Dessy Styleboard, you’ll be able to explore hundreds of gowns, colors, and accessories. You can mix and match ensembles, figure out what your palette can and should be, as well as find the right fit for your wedding party. It’s a wonderful way to visualize the possibilities of your final product. Better yet, when you’re all finished styling a board you love, you’ll have the opportunity to share it with others and snag their opinions.
Style Me Pretty
Style Me Pretty is a place that you can go and find every kind of wedding day inspiration you could possibly think of. Scroll through images of real-life weddings, snag the details on the business’s latest trends, look at the newest gowns and floral arrangements, and even check out some DIYs you may want to accomplish at home. The possibilities are versatile and nearly endless in this space.
The Knot Style Quiz
Do yourself a favor and run over to take this style quiz. If you’re on the fence about what you want in terms of your big day, this will absolutely help you create a focus and refinement to your vision. It’s also a really fun activity to do alongside your other half and spark some conversation around your plans.
Budgeting
Easy Weddings
As soon as you take the leap, you’ll be greeted with a wedding budget calculator that will help you keep a detailed record of everywhere and everything you’re spending. It’s easy to itemize every piece of the wedding – from your food to your accessories – and you’ll be notified instantly if you’re spending too much of your budget in one area after setting your personal limits.
NerdWallet
Another great app to utilize during your wedding day prep and to keep you on budget is NerdWallet. The application itself can be used for much more than just for your big day but the tools work wonderfully at providing you with a budgeting framework for your entire event. It also helps educate you on how to adjust individual expenses to get you to your desired bottomline.
Fudget
Easily download this app onto your smartphone or tablet and then utilize it in all its glorious ways to budget and track your wedding with ease. As the highest-rated budget application, it truly takes the stress out of this type of planning, which is known to cause some of the biggest bouts of stress. You can share the data with others, across devices, as well as export it all into a printable spreadsheet.
Checklists
Trello
If you love a good to-do list and feel more in control when your life feels a bit more organized, then Trello is absolutely the app for you. You can use Trello for the workplace or your home life, but it works magic for your wedding planning as well. Use it to create a masterlist of everything you need to do, buy, reserve, plan, remember, and even budget!
Artfully Wed
Artfully Wed has a ton of downloadable checklists that you can print and satisfyingly check off every must-do task as you countdown to your big day. Within this link, there’s a variety that will help you stay on time within your preparation and help you destress throughout the process. From what not to forget when meeting with your photographer to every role your maid of honor can take on to help you out, it’s all here in one place.
Evernote
With Evernote you can Stay organized across devices and among individuals. Share your notes with your partner and work off the same list of items so you’re on the same page. It reminds us a bit like Google docs but with more features pertaining to good event planning and easier to manage on our smartphones.
Vendor Finders
Here Comes The Guide
With Here Comes The Guide, you’ll be able to find venues, vendors, bridal shows, and even snag some planning checklists as well. Nearly all 50 states are included in this searchable venue and vendor list making this a great spot for brides looking locally or across possible destinations. It’s equally convenient that you’re able to check out when the next bridal shows are happening, especially if you’re looking to visit another city or state throughout your search.
Wedding Spot
Wedding Spot is a lovely tool when searching for the right venue too. Not only do they provide you with options but they help you filter by price, capacity, and location (both city and region) as well as showcase package listings. There’s also an option to compare venues making it an easier feat to make final decisions. Once selected, there’s a further option to select other services while tracking the bottom line price.
Eventective
Plan your wedding like a detective with eventective. This space hosts one of the most comprehensive lists of venues and vendors you need to create the wedding of your dreams. Easily find contact information for the businesses that strike your fancy and from there book an event. They make the process of finding the right professionals seamless.
Total Planning
Bridebook
Based out of the UK but used by brides all over the world, Bridebook is such a great tool for comprehensive wedding planning. Budget your big time, snag to-do lists and timelines, share information and it’s all completely free to use! And if you’re a UK bride, you’ll be able to search vendors in your area as well.
La Fête
With La Fête you have the opportunity to grab their services or download their app and have your very own pocket planner alongside you at every step of the way. It literally helps you plan every nook and cranny of your big day, from budgets to playlists to inspiration to checklists to help you fly through the preparation process, it’s all in one spot.
Appy Couple
Planning a wedding involves a lot of information, not just for the couple, but for the guests as well – accomodation and travel options, directions, maps, RSVP details and more. You can share all this info with guests here which is a huge benefit when using appy couple. This is one of the most versatile of wedding planning tools as it seems to be one of the most all-in-one which is great for those that don’t want to juggle too many new apps or lists in different places.
Misc
All Seated
All Seated isn’t just used by the couples themselves, it’s just a great tool that the professionals utilize it too. It will help to easily devise and map out venue lay-outs, seating charts, and turnovers. You can easily share your ideas with others and collaborate on your special event as well.
Spotify
This is the perfect app for choosing your wedding songs and organizing your playlists. It’s also a great way to share music, get new suggestions, and collaborate together. If you’re worried about organizing that must-have list for the DJ or band, download Spotify to scroll through unlimited options.
Honeyfund
Honeyfund is the best way to create a modern-day registry that every one of your loved ones and guests will want to contribute to. Instead of registering for gifts you don’t need, family and friends can donate cash to your experiences as a newlywed couple. Get your entire honeymoon funded by going this route. Whether you use the money toward the entire adventure or just to pay off some extra excursions, choose your destination and start saving!