Choosing the Best Wedding Planning Software
Brides Benefit from Wedding Software or an Online Wedding Planner
Nov 9, 2009
Planning a wedding is as involved as initiating a new company startup. Without the proper foundation, any new company will struggle. Weddings can suffer the same fate if preparations are haphazard, but prudent brides can mitigate the potential for disaster by being thoroughly prepared.
Purchased or Free Wedding Software
Many companies offer wedding planning software for sale, usually at a modest cost, while others provide similar online services for free. Considerations for choosing one over the other include mobility, privacy, reliability and ease of use.
- Mobility. Though some free wedding software is downloadable, it can be expected that most online services will require an Internet connection. This can make the software less efficient. Brides are mobile, and visiting multiple locations with laptop software that does not require online access may prove to be more effective.
- Privacy. It is reasonable to expect that companies offering free wedding planning software on their websites are doing so with the expectation of selling products or other services. Ads, email solicitations and mailings are likely with free wedding planning software. It is also incumbent upon the bride to verify privacy policies with online services. The information entered into forms may be shared or sold to wedding companies whose intent it is to solicit. If a bride prefers to keep her wedding planning private, online services may not be the ideal choice. On the other hand, utilizing an online service allows anyone authorized by the bride to access her wedding planning program at any time. The bride need only provide the appropriate login information to whomever she wishes, and that person can then assist with the wedding plans.
- Reliability. Purchased wedding software programs are generally tech-supported and because the software is owned, it can be privately saved and reloaded if need be. Weddings take months or even years to plan. If an online service is chosen, and that company ceases operations, the wedding planning work may be lost. Company longevity should be a consideration when choosing a free online software service, but even established companies can disappear from the web, and a backup plan for wedding arrangements made online should be implemented.
- Ease of Use. Whether free or purchased, wedding planning software should require no special skills. No matter how joyful the experience, most brides encounter frustrations and stress during the wedding planning process. Software should be point-and-click friendly and require no learning curve to install or operate. Its functionality should relieve stress, not add to it.
Wedding Planning Guide Features
Features matter. It makes little sense to utilize any wedding planning software that does not provide everything a bride needs to coordinate her wedding. Some standard features can be found in most software programs. These may include sections that help manage:
- tasks checklists
- vendor contacts
- the budget
- reception seating
- menu planning
- the guest list
- gifts
- wedding event timelines
- thank-you card lists
But some software also offers specific tasks some brides may find particularly helpful. These may include:
- the ability to address envelopes
- help in writing vows
- gift exchange documentation
- daily planning schedules
- wedding registry monitoring
- a downloadable music library
- honeymoon preparation checklists
- the ability to add notes to all sections
Research and comparison is key to acquiring the perfect software or online service. This task can be made easier by consumer websites like TopTenREVIEWS that compare different companies' software features side by side. However, such websites rarely include free online services in their comparisons. Visiting specific websites that offer free wedding planning programs, and thoroughly examining each available feature they offer, will help in the decision process.
No More Wedding Planning Book
The days of carrying about a heavy, backbreaking binder full of wedding plans and notes has passed. Brides are discovering that wedding software can provide quicker, better organization, be more flexible and precise, and provide that extra helping hand every bride needs.
Both purchased and free wedding planning software options provide benefits. With a bit of dedicated homework, any bride can find her perfect software fit, and a little early research will reap plenty of wedding planning rewards down the road.
More wedding planning ideas:
- Wedding Planning – Brides and the Bridal Show
- Wedding Photo Booth Rentals are Reception Fun
- Wedding Cost Saver – Buying in the Off Season
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