So you're getting married. Thank goodness for the Internet!

-621011818

It's a great time to be a bride - these days, weddings are no longer held to the rigid standards of days past, and the web is overflowing with bridal resources and inspiration for you to make your day truly your own. On the flip side, the amount of eye candy out there may totally paralyze you. Here are some of my top picks to get you started.

Magazines, Oh My

Although the internet will be your primary resource when planning your wedding, you will not be able to resist the lure of those glossy pages calling out to you from the magazine rack.  So, step one when you get engaged: buy as many wedding magazines as possible.  Of course, the seasonal Martha Stewart Weddings is everyone’s favorite (with good reason), but grab ‘em all.  You’ll want to see everything that’s out there.

Once you’ve got your stack, get yourself a nice cup of tea, a glass of wine, or a shot of whiskey and tear out, dog-ear, and/or bookmark everything you like.  Regardless of what it is: a color, a dress, a flower, a ribbon - each of these will be the pieces of the puzzle you’ll use to create the overall vision of your wedding.

Great Bridal Blogs

Get ready to become addicted to these lovely blogs.  (Trust me – my wedding is long over with, and these are still part of my daily blog reads.)

Make an Inspiration Board

Widget_cyv_02azvad5qmkzv_mxqa

Kathryn writes one of my favorite blogs, Snippet & Ink, and leads the way in creating absolutely gorgeous wedding inspiration boards. Visit her site for a daily dose of pretty and combinations of colors and styles that you never thought would “work”.

And, while you’re at it, make sure to create one yourself. Take those images you’ve pulled from magazines and the web and mix and match palettes and themes to see how they all work together. Once you decide on what you want to go with, your board will help you focus and see the big picture.

Check Out Real Weddings

Widget_cjddx2e9thv4_by8j1ye4t

Let every detail of your wedding scream “you”. Make it your own. Browse wedding photographer sites to see how others do it, and to see how their ideas end up translating on film. (Image via PDN Gallery. View their fabulous collection of award-winning wedding photos here.)

Insanely awesome wedding photographer sites

These photographers are not only mind-boggingly talented, but they seem to all shoot some of the most creative and beautiful weddings I’ve ever seen.  Check them out for some serious eye candy and great ideas:

DIY Resources

If you’re hiring a wedding planner, you probably won’t care much about gathering the girls together two nights before the wedding to make tissue paper pomanders.  But everyone can pull some inspiration from the creativity that couples are now infusing into their weddings.  And, by doing it yourself, you not only save a bundle of cash, but you’re really adding a lovely personal touch to your day.  Whether it’s re-creating images you’ve seen online or in magazines, or coming up with your own ideas, these sites will help make your visions a reality:

Helpful Communities

No matter what your dilemma may be, someone else has dealt with it, too.  Online communities are invaluable resources for just about everything to do with wedding planning.   Some of the best are below:

 

Shop Handmade

Widget_dw3wzoi4pe85epmm9vr1rg

For details that are truly one-of-a-kind, shop handmade. Sites like Etsy are chock full of favors, jewelry, dresses, and accessories, like this birdcage veil made by Etsy seller SmittenXOXO.

A Bride's Best Friend: eBay

Widget_atrx4co4pe4o6yysajyu-w

Don’t, don’t overlook this fantastic resource. Maybe you’re looking to save some money on 200 white votives. Or you really want paper lanterns but figure they’re just as good used. Or maybe you’re looking to go all-out vintage. No matter what it is, at some point in your wedding planning eBay is bound to be useful to you.

Favor faves

Widget_ap1cxdcophqixb-zzlqzkf

Edible favors are almost guaranteed to be enjoyed, like these lovely glass tubes of vanilla infused sugar. (At Pear and Peony)

Widget_cv78zq3mbf_ob8s3rtapee

Mini gumball machine favors? I’m so there. (At beau-coup)

Widget_datd6k45jee5q7ckxpozej

Kitschy bags like these make great favors for out of town guests — fill ’em with locally-based snacks, bottled water, and other necessities like asprin and maps.

Widget_aut-lex4pf6yosne_ynwmw

Keep your guests entertained with this fun favor that can be personalized with the wedding ceremony program, or with fun facts about you and your spouse.

Share on StumbleUpon Share on Facebook Tweet this Guide! Share on Digg Share on Reddit Add to del.icio.us

Discussions

3456290689020

Help save our planet and save hundreds on your wedding gown. Shop BrideToBrideConsignmet.com in Haverhill, MA for over 200 of 2011 syle wedding gowns for HUNDREDS LESS. Buy and Sell gowns at Bride To Bride, we are not your typical “thrift store” type of consignment, you WILL be happy!

-620486318

Great guide! I found this great service for Thank you cards — I hate writing them, and it worked perfect. Their site is www.thank-goodness.com. BTW — I already sent this to my friends getting married this summer!

-620899468

I will send my betrothed a copy of this page for further perusal. Hats off.