Wedding Websites

Couples are taking advantage of the wealth of information on the internet to help them make their wedding day a success

Maybe you met on the internet, maybe your even got engaged over the internet – and now you’re using it to plan your wedding? More couples are turning to the internet to help them plan their big day, and the wealth of information on offer is one of the main reasons.

The number of people using the internet to plan their weddings is increasing in number by the day. When we want information about anything at all we go straight to a computer, and wedding planning is no different.

One of the popular free wedding websites www.nzbride.co.nz has an easy-to-use format that puts everything you may need to know in categories so people can easily access exactly the information that they want without any tricky navigation or confusing headers to battle through on the way.

From the site they can then approach various vendors about their needs and even get very specific to avoid wading through too much information yet again.

If someone is searching for a wedding venue, they can narrow the search down to coastal venues, outdoor venues, specific-size venues… it’s not like using the Yellow Pages where you have to try everyone until you get exactly what you need.

The wedding website also includes a discussion forum where you can ask the wedding pros questions and get even more specific about your hopes and desires for the perfect day.

Another of New Zealand’s best wedding websites is www.nzweddingplanner.co.nz, it has a Bridal Club which you join for free and it gives you regular updates on the website, its services and activities in your area. By registering, you also have the chance to win Your Essential Wedding Software, which is created locally with you in mind, and you get your own wedding home page to share news and information with your family and friends as you begin the official countdown to your wedding.

photo credit: joannacortez38

Donna has been a wedding planner in New Zealand and internationally for over five years, and has the website www.weddingheaven.com, which she runs from Christchurch.

When asked what she thinks users mainly want to know when they access a wedding site, she doesn’t hesitate in saying, ‘Everything, and why not? That is what the internet is all about – instant information.’ She has two websites that cater to quite different markets. The site www.weddingsnewzealand.com is for couples requiring a wedding planner to organise their wedding for them. This site gives them ideas about venues, wedding photography, and information on marriage licences, among other functions.

The other site, Wedding Heaven (www.weddingheaven.co.nz), is designed for couples who want to organise their own wedding, but need ideas on venues, stationery, accommodation and vehicles etc.

Personal wedding websites are a great source of information – I do not know where we would be today without them.

Using international wedding websites is best when you want inspiration or to better understand wedding etiquette – it is not really practical for booking wedding catering or flowers. You can, however, search for the perfect designer wedding dresses, international designer or a specific pair of wedding shoes, but there is always a risk that you will be disappointed with the final product. Or feel cheated, given the price you pay for it.

Buying over the internet is fraught with danger as you are dealing with individuals rather than large organisations, and you have little recourse if your dress supplier is on the other side of the world.

But overseas websites do cover everything you might need to know about getting hitched and the stresses involved, such as religious issues, making your children feel welcome and how to tackle planning a second wedding for one or both partners. They also have tips on reception planning, creative wedding themes, attendants’ duties and speeches.

Some websites even have helpful downloadable spreadsheets to help you with the often large sums associated with a wedding.

Wedding planning websites can make putting plans in place for your big day much easier and perhaps even more creative too, so set aside some valuable time to go forth and surf!