Not long
before the husband and I got engaged, I had discovered TheKnot.com via
StumbleUpon. So, when the time came to start planning, I remembered that gem of
a website and got straight to work making it my main wedding resource.
The Knot is
fantastic. It’s organized and has all of the resources a bride-to-be could need
to plan that perfect day. The two I took most advantage of were the checklist
and wedding website. The checklist breaks down all of the things that
need to be done before the day, on the day, and after the day, even down to the
smallest details. It really helped me stay organized, and that’s saying
something (my idea of organized is a pile of papers and notebooks full of lists
that never get completed….organized chaos.) Not only is the checklist
customizable, but it can also be accessed from your smart phone. As you tick
off to-dos it shows on a counter at the top of the page how many tasks have been
completed, how many you have left, and how many are overdue. I would highly recommend
this checklist and corresponding app to anyone planning a wedding. It will save
many a hair from being pulled from that beautiful head of yours.
Now, I
know that wedding websites aren’t really news to anyone at this point, but it
was an extremely useful tool for us. There’s so much etiquette in wedding
planning, and I am far from a debutante. What do I know about etiquette? Zilch.
The website helped me avoid those wedding faux pas (putting registry information
on shower or wedding invites) as well as allowing me to put directions to the
venue, room reservation information, blurbs about the bridal party, and my
favorite, the story of our engagement. I put the website on the bridal shower
and wedding invites so that our guests could access all of our information in
one convenient location.
The Knot
isn’t only The Knot either. Just a few days ago I received an email
congratulating me on getting married and inviting me to one of their sister
sites, The Nest. I didn’t think it could get any better, but The Nest is just
as informative and fun-filled as The Knot, with financial advice, sex tips, recipes
(Chris is most excited about that section…I’m no cook…I sure can make a mean
sandwich though,) and even a “Pre-Baby Bucket List.” Thanks to The Nest, I am no
longer having The Knot withdrawals. It’s everything you would ever need to know
for after the nuptials.
Just when
you think, “Whoa, two sister sites that want to help me make my wedding planning
and post-nuptial life easier, there’s no way it can get any better.” Well, that’s
where you’re wrong, my dears. They have another sister site for when that
baby-making time comes. It’s called The Bump, and yes, I’ve been on it enough
already to know how absolutely perfect it is. Although that time isn’t now for
Chris and me, I know that when it is, The Bump will be my home base for baby
information. It’s got a guide for everything: trying to conceive, maintaining
your health, deciding whether or not to breastfeed, and choosing baby names
that aren’t fruits or a directional point on a compass. Yeah, I’m talking about
you Kanye.
I’ve been
loyal to these sites, and they certainly deserve recognition and praise. If it
weren’t for The Knot, our wedding would not have turned out the way it did. I
wouldn’t have been calm enough to plan anything. You’re Welcome, in advance. I
know you’re going to love it, and your nerves will thank you.
xo
Mrs. Huyck
Very interesting, I find myself the same way, like you said "organized chaos." It is very interesting to me that they have such websites like this to help with all these things. Although I wouldn't use them now because I am still young and trying to figure out my future but definitely some great websites to check out when the time is right!
ReplyDelete"Organized chaos"...the story of my life. Speaking as a fellow newlywed, I have to disagree with your opinion on The Knot! I know, I know, I sound crazy! But for me, it caused a tremendous amount of pressure to have "thee" wedding. I used it in the beginning and had all these expectations and ideas of my wedding, and then, it was like a kick in the face when I realized what my budget could buy! Not to mention, the availability in Syracuse of venues that looked like those weddings! It works great to get tidbits of ideas and I'm sure it was awesome for organization, but in the end, I felt way too much pressure to create something that was, tragically, out of my league.
ReplyDeleteAlso, forgot to tell you congrats on your wedding! And you're a really great writer! Love the blog.
ReplyDeleteLaura, I completely understand what you're saying. I did have that feeling in the beginning. I wanted everything that I saw on The Knot and Pinterest (a dirty word in this house. Ahahaha.) My now husband had to keep me leveled with budget talk and I eventually realized that I should avoid the inspiration photos of other weddings and just go with what I was envisioning. That's exactly what I did, and it was perfect for us, our style, and our budget.
ReplyDeleteThank You for the congratulations and the lovely compliment!! I can't believe how much I'm loving this blog thing. I was so nervous at first, and now I'm itching to write a new blog post.
Shauna, I hope it can help you in the future. It's not easy to stay organized, especially when planning such a big event. You'll have an amazing time doing it someday though. = ]