Tech tools for the Type A bride

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Before I started really seeing engagement in my future, I thought that wedding planning might be too much for me. I'm very crafty and enjoy planning a good party, but we're talking about the biggest day of my life here. This is no ordinary event!

I haven't had endless amounts of time to plan this super-sized party since April when we got engaged, but I've spent a lot of free time researching and piecing together small elements of the day. I'm quite a perfectionist and, like I've said before, a serious type A personality, so once I have an image in my head I can't let it go. I'll admit, I had all these ideas before Erik even gave me the ring, but was too scared to jinx the possibility of engagement by writing them all down. So the moment we got engaged I opened the "wedding" file folder on my desktop and haven't closed it since!

In my insanity, there are a few digital tools that stick out as essential for wedding planning:

1. The Excel Spreadsheet

My first wedding planning tip. Put all venues local to where you would like to get married into an excel spreadsheet with cost, number of guests, catering and drink options all included (get this info from websites). I didn't want to visit 50 venues, so I easily eliminated most by noticing they didn't meet my venue must-haves. The spreadsheet quickly prioritized my venues and freed up a lot of time and energy!

2. Pinterest

Oh ladies, most of you already know the obsession that is Pinterest. Here's the trick. Not only do I have a generic wedding board, but I have a venue board, decoration board, and board for engagement and wedding photo poses to share with my photographer. Make sure to follow my favorites, @Carolina Bride, @chicvintagebrides, and @SHEfindsweddings.

3. Craigslist

My search for mason jars for the masses led me to using Craigslist as a resource. You wouldn't believe how many local brides are slapping their handmade centerpieces and decor up online right after their wedding. Many items I've seen on more expensive websites I've been able to find cheaply on Craigslist from some other bride (just steer clear of the mason jars... I've got those on lock right now!).

4. Etsy

Anything you may have never imagined yourself can be and is made on Etsy. My bridesmaids dresses, garter, guest book, signs and cake topper are all handmade by some creative person via Etsy. It doesn't get any better than knowing that you are supporting a home-grown crafter and getting something one of a kind.

5. Recycled Bride & Ruffled Blog “Recycle” page

I am ALL about finding treasure in the trash of others. These are both great sites for recycling your wedding leftovers and passing them on to some other grateful bride. I’ve found bridesmaid dresses and décor super cheap on these sites.

6. Wedding Wire.com, Wedding Mapper.com, and The Knot

I used wedding wire to create my wedding website, keep track of my guest list and even take reception song requests. The Knot is great for suggestions and offers the same great features as wedding wire. Wedding Mapper has great reviews and links to vendors and real weddings that have occurred in cities across the USA. It was a great place to begin my venue and vendor searches.

Hope these tools help some other “Type A” brides out there. Remember to enjoy the ride -- we only get to do this once!

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