Google Takes On Wedding Planning

Is anyone safe from Google? They seem to be a player in just about every industry. They have recently introduced a new feature through their "Google Docs" that has a number of templates to help you with your wedding planning.

If you are a "do it yourself" bride, a number of free tools are available.

Wedding planner

Address book

Budget planner

To-do list

Seating chart

Reception menu

Wedding album

Music list

Photographer

Guest list

Schedule

If you have used a Google Doc, you will find these incredibly easy to use. These are nice because they are stored online- and you can allow others helping to plan your wedding access to these documents. The changes are then made in real-time...so there is no more emailing your guest list back and forth with your mother-in-law.

If you have a smart phone, you most likely have access to a Google Doc "app" in which you can access and update your data on-the-go.

This technology does not replace the skills of a wedding planner, but it is a great option for people that are looking to take care of things themselves.

Wedding Planning for Guys?

Good or bad...most guys don't do a whole lot when it comes to wedding planning...but should they?

I was the exception to the rule when I was planning my wedding in 2007. Since I had been to a number of different churches and reception halls as part of my job as a wedding videographer- I think I had a better idea of what I wanted than most guys. My wife tells people that I did more of the planning then she did. I'm not sure about that.

After we got engaged, we divided up different areas of the wedding planning that we would each be in charge of...and this worked really well for us. I enjoy planning events and I think the day was even more special for me since I had a good chunk of time invested into the planning of the day. I wasn't simply "showing up."

There is an article in today's New York Times that talks about this and offers some additional resources for guys who are helping to plan their wedding.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/fashion/weddings/03FIELD.html?_r=1&ref=style

What do you think?