Getting Married? Don’t Say ‘I Do’ Without an Online Wedding Planning Service

Between pandemic delays and romantic quarantine connections made via dating apps, a lot of people got married in 2022—including me! Unless you elope (which is a totally cool and valid thing to do), wedding planning involves months or years of work, and the process can change from fun and flirty to tedious and time-consuming. It’s all the logistical challenges of event planning and project management combined with the emotional roller coaster of a significant life change.

That’s why, and I can’t emphasize this enough, you and your partner owe it to yourselves to make wedding planning as streamlined as possible. You must have a solid foundation that can withstand the inevitable human error and circumstances beyond your control—not just for your wedding, but for your subsequent healthy marriage. After experiencing the priceless benefits that online wedding planning services offer, I wholeheartedly recommend investing in one to make matters go as smoothly as possible.

(Credit: Zola)

What Is Online Wedding Planning?

Online wedding planning tools are services, usually available as apps or websites, that give you one central spot for handling myriad wedding-related needs. This includes vendor databases, gift registries, guest management, vendor databases, and website builders.

This isn’t like hiring a human to take care of everything—you receive guidance on how and when to use the services’ various features and resources, but you must have enough self-motivation to get things done. Fortunately, unlike with a human wedding planner, these services are usually free. That’s incredibly appealing, considering the typical wedding costs nearly $30,000 on average(Opens in a new window).

Which Online Wedding Planning Service Should You Pick?

Your best, most well-known options for online wedding planning are The Knot(Opens in a new window), WeddingWire(Opens in a new window), and Zola(Opens in a new window). We’re not going to individually review these services here—planning one real wedding is tough enough, let alone three fake weddings. That said, you should feel free to test them all because they cost nothing and are easy to use. You don’t need to stay locked into one if you decide to change your mind.

For example, my wife and I used Zola for months. Unfortunately, the service suffered a major hack, so we spent a day transferring our information into The Knot because it has better search options than WeddingWire. The Knot served us just fine for the rest of the process.

(Credit: The Knot)

What Can Online Wedding Planners Do for You?

All weddings are different, but there’s a commonality shared by all: You won’t know everything. Chances are you’re overlooking something, even if you come prepared with a detailed vision. Wedding planning services help by presenting you with a basic checklist. You can tweak or ignore that checklist, but creating that initial structure keeps things on track later down the line.

Next, these services give you the tools to begin crossing things off that checklist—venues, bakers, photographers, videographers, DJs, dressmakers, jewelers, and other wedding-related elements are just a click away. You can narrow your search using numerous criteria, including geographic location and price range, and then read reviews and compare ratings. Once you’ve contacted a vendor, that company may ask you to conduct business at an external site. We often used HoneyBook(Opens in a new window), a small business client management tool for handling payment and communication. But online wedding planning facilitates those crucial introductions.

These online services include free website builders, and they’re surprisingly capable. The tools handle all the tasks you need for a wedding-focused website, but don’t expect a ton of granular customization. Create a slideshow of cute photos. Show reservation information for nearby hotels. Upgrade to a custom domain. Your website may also be where you want to debut your wedding’s overall aesthetic.

(Credit: Wedding Wire)

Online wedding planning can’t help you decide who to invite to your wedding, but it can make it much easier to send and manage invitations. We had a vendor handle our physical invites, but you can order and mail them yourself. That said, I recommend having guests RSVP through your website, so you can collect their information in one secure spot. Beyond just knowing who is and isn’t attending, you can gather key intel, such as dietary restrictions and proof of COVID-19 vaccination. 

You’ll also want to set up a gift registry. These services handle shipping and keep track of what gifts have already been purchased (so you don’t get two big air fryers). If you just want money (and who doesn’t), you can create a fund to which guests can contribute. This is what we did, and The Knot paid us directly (after taking a small transaction fee).

These services offer more than just sterile functionality; they’re your pathway to the wedding community. Considering that wedding planning will last much longer than the wedding itself, try to create happy memories along the way. For example, The Knot’s Ideas and Advice blog has many posts that highlight romantic gift suggestions, such as wedding subscription boxes and affordable handmade wedding favors from Etsy. Now that our wedding has passed, my inbox is full of honeymoon recommendations.

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Breathe and Relax

Above all else, online wedding planning’s incredibly useful support can help you and your spouse-to-be focus on what really matters. Your wedding is your day, and a great wedding is whatever you want it to be. So don’t sweat the small stuff, and appreciate the bigger picture. Be present and enjoy the love. Congratulations!