Planning Your Wedding Just Got Easier!

Brides - I don't have to tell you twice that planning a wedding is overwhelming. You know all too well that from the very moment you said "yes," your to-do list doubled.

Well - you can relax, because venue selection, wedding planning's defining decision, just got a lot easier. You will find that once you book your venue, the rest of the planning process is a breeze. Or at least it should be. Unfortunately, not all venue resources make planning the rest of the event so easy.

Thankfully, brides now have access to the most useful tool to help them do just that; Elegala.com's national directory of Wedding Venues is the place to start.

OK - so online venue directories have existed for years, but here's what makes this one great. Instead of presenting a list of venues and then leaving brides to fend for themselves the rest of the way (the way most wedding sites do), every reception site in the Elegala.com vendor directory includes site-specific tools to help brides plan their events at that venue.

Brides can view each venue's recommended vendor list and download complete event planning guidelines - including the site's wedding packages, menu options, pricing information, directions, tons of photos, and even floor plans. With all of this information in one place, planning your event from A to Z (from the comfort of your home computer, while donning your favorite sweats), is a piece of, ahem, wedding cake.

Wedding Invitation - Budgeting Tips

Some things to consider when budgeting for your wedding invitation and stationery cost:

When factoring total costs, don't forget to consider postage as part of your budget, including stamps for the response card envelopes.

Looking for ways to save? Keep your design simple, sticking to one color. Use lighter weight papers and include less inserts. Use response postcards instead of cards with envelopes.

For even more advice on planning your invites, my complete wedding invitation and stationery guide can walk you through the process.

Atlanta Wedding Vendors - Complete List of Atlanta Caterers

So a few days ago I posted a link to a list of recommended Atlanta Photographers. But of course, your photographer is not the only wedding vendor you have to book. So to help all you Atlanta area brides (like myself) check even more items off your to-do list, here is a complete list of recommended Atlanta Caterers.

And just like the list of photographers, every caterer on this list has been personally recommended by an Atlanta-area wedding venues. So no, these aren't just caterers who paid to be listed on the site (like so many other online lists of wedding services). Here, you can rest assured that every caterer on this list comes with a local reference. It's kind of like having a personal wedding coordinator to pre-weed out the hacks.

I only wish I had a resource like this when I was planning my own wedding.

Request Bids from Local Wedding Vendors and Services throughout the Nation

Don't waste time scouring the internet and yellow pages for qualified local wedding vendors - make them come to you!

Visit this proposal request for Wedding Vendors and Wedding Services . This handy form allows brides (and grooms) to submit their vendor requests to a national database of top wedding professionals (all personally recommended by nearby venues and reception sites). You indicate the wedding services you need along with your wedding information, including your budget, date, location, and any specific requests or needs. Those wedding vendors who meet your criteria will respond with proposals tailored to your event.

It just doesn't get any easier than that.

Atlanta Wedding Photography - Complete List of Venue-Recommended Photographers

As a recent bride, I truly believe that booking your wedding photographer is one of the most important planning decisions on a bride's to-do list. For after the flowers wilt and the place settings are cleared - all that will remain of your wedding day are your photographs.

Although I believe in being budget-conscious, wedding photography is not a detail on which you should scrimp. So choose wisely.

To help all you Atlanta-area brides (I was one myself!), here is a complete list of recommended Atlanta Photographers. What's great about this list (as opposed to others) is that every wedding photographer on this list has been personally recommended by an Atlanta-area wedding venue.
When you're overwhelmed by the number of choices out there, it's nice to be confident that your photographer selection comes with a personal guarantee - kinda helps you sleep at night :)

Browse hundreds of images of wedding flowers, bouquets, centerpieces, and wedding décor

Sometimes we brides just need a little inspiration when it comes to choosing our wedding flowers and decor. Thankfully, you can get tons of wedding flowers ideas with this interactive image search. While away the hours gazing at hundreds of stylish designs to find your Wedding Flowers, including Bridal Bouquets, Wedding Centerpices, Reception Decor and Ceremony Decor. You can even narrow your search by colors, blossoms and style.

Print the images you like and bring them to your florist to recreate. It doesn't get any easier than that!

Interactive Wedding Cake and Grooms Cake Search

If you're still seeking the perfect confection for the centerpiece of your wedding reception, look no further than this interactive Wedding Cake Gallery. Here you can search through hundreds of styles of wedding cakes, narrowing your search by color, style and shape.

And of course, don't forget to select a dessert for your hubby-to-be. Indeed, the old Southern tradition of the groom's cake is making a comeback — not only in the South but throughout the nation. And no, it doesn't have to be the red velvet armadillo from "Steel Magnolias". Today's grooms cakes, now just as elaborate as the wedding cake itself, often reflect the groom's interests in a dramatic and whimsical expression.

So while your there, browse through dozens of designs of Grooms Cakes and select a style that spotlight's your groom's personality.

Wedding Ring, Engagement Ring and Bridal Jewelry Search

So you've got that sparkling engagement ring on your finger - now you just need a gorgeous wedding band to match. No doubt about it, adding some additional bling to your left hand is one of the more enjoyable tasks on your wedding day to-do list.

Here is a simple (and slightly addictive) tool to help you do just that: Visit this interactive Wedding Ring search. There you can browse tons of styles by price, metal, stone and stone shape. While you're there, you can also search hundreds of pieces to find an Engagement Ring (in case he hasn't popped the question yet), Wedding Band or other Bridal Jewelry and accessories.

Best of all - each product image comes with a complete description AND a link to the retailer where you can purchase your new baubles. Happy shopping!

Wedding Dress, Wedding Gown and Bridesmaid Dress Search!

When it comes to planning a wedding, we brides all know what is the most important (and fun!) task on your to-do list (and no, it's not the seating chart). Nothing beats shopping for your wedding dress. Thankfully, spending hours a day doing just that - from the comfort of your own home - just got a lot easier.

Look no further than this interactive Wedding Dress search. Here you can search thousands of wedding gowns by price, designer, fabric, silhouette, hemline, sleeve style - you name it. And while your there, you can even search for a Bridesmaid Dress, Mother of the Bride Dress, or Flower Girl Dress. Just don't blame me when your boss catches you surfing for dresses when you should be working :) Happy Hunting!

Wedding Invitation, Wedding Stationery Search

Still need to plan wedding invitations or other stationery items? Look no further - you can find your Wedding Invitation, Save The Date Card, Rehearsal Dinner Invitation, Shower Invitation, or Engagement Party Invitation in this interactive invitation and stationery search.

This is an invaluable tool for brides. You can search by price, colors, paper weight, printing method, or brand - and get tons of results that match your criteria. Happy hunting!!

Brides - Book Your Wedding Venues!

OK - so this post isn't necessarily budget related - BUT- still extremely useful to brides (the budget-conscious and non-budget-conscious alike!)

Without a doubt, finding and booking your wedding venue is the most important piece of the wedding planning puzzle. After you've accomplished that task, everything else just seems to fall into place.

Still need to book your reception site? Here is a searchable list of local wedding venues categorized by state/region. Each of these links are extremely useful, because once there - you can view images, pricing information, setting capacities and features, recommended vendor lists - AND you can download complete event planning guidelines for each venue.

There are two ways to search the directory:

1) The custom search tool allows you to input your location and service needs, and you'll receive a list of results that meet your criteria.

2)Or you can browse the entire directory by state or sub region

To help get you started - I've posted a list of direct links to some of the larger state's complete venue directories below. Happy searching!

California Wedding Venues - Complete list of venues in Northern and Southern California

Atlanta/Georgia Wedding Venues - Complete list of Atlanta and surrounding area venues

New York Wedding Venues - Complete List of New York/NYC area venues

Boston/Massachusetts Wedding Venues - Complete list of Boston, Cape Cod and other Mass wedding venues

Connecticut Wedding Venues - Complete list of Connecticut wedding venues, sorted by region

Texas Wedding Venues - Complete list of Texas wedding venues, sorted by region

Wedding Venues - All Other States - Complete list of venues - includes all other states and regions.