How much of your wedding can you plan online?

When we got married, I was pretty amazed by how much we were able to organise for our Irish wedding, from here in London.

In fact, other than missing out on our menu tasting (I was pretty gutted about that one!) with the help of our wedding website, Google spreadsheets, Skype, and task-tracking apps like Trello, it was actually so much easier than we thought.

But then there were the hours spent on Pinterest… ASOS… BHLDN… Instagram. You know the deal.

So, to help guide us through what we should, and shouldn’t be planning on the web for our wedding, we’ve got a special guest on the blog today. Sandy Hammer, is cofounder of the free online wedding planning marketplace AllSeated (their floorplan tool is so helpful!)

With a site that’s used by thousands of planners and couples, we figured Sandy knows her wedding tech – so listen up to her dos and don’ts for using the web for wedding planning.

Technology has become a crucial part of every aspect of our lives, including how we plan a wedding. But it’s no secret that the web is fraught with peril (i.e. hours disappearing who knows where). 

I’ve put together my guide for what you should and shouldn’t do on the web when it comes to your big day.

So, first up, what you should plan on the web:

Do Gather Inspiration

I recommend using social media sites like Pinterest to your advantage to figure out styles and décor trends that you’re attracted to. That way, when you meet with your vendors, you can give them a clear idea of what you like and don’t like, which makes it easier for them to execute on your vision.

Create online vision boards of your favorite color schemes, styles and floral arrangements to keep all your ideas organized.

Do Find a Venue

Gone are the days of driving for hours to see venues that are a bad fit for your dream vision. The internet makes it easy not only to find venues, but also to decide if the venue would be a good fit without having to drive there first.

These days, you can see photos, find out guest count, and even get a price quote without leaving your couch.

Just a word of warning: your parents might get jealous the web didn’t exist in their day.

Do Make a Guest List

Top planners will tell you that the first step in planning a wedding is creating a guest list. I’m here to tell you that you no longer need to use pen and paper to do it.

We first built AllSeated to help a very overwhelmed bride invite and seat her 400 guests.

Since then, our tool has grown into a robust program that helps build your guest list, track RSVPs, arrange floorplans and create seating charts all in one spot. And just in case you’ve got people to help, we made everything super easy, quick and collaborative.

As I said, no need for paper.

And now, what you should not plan on the web… 

Don’t Invite Everyone

Do not reveal the wedding location, date or time on social media. It’s important to keep your wedding invitation open only to your invited guests who receive the actual invitation.

Putting the word out on social media may bring unwanted guests, while violating your privacy and possibly compromising your safety.

Don’t Ruin Surprises

A wedding is a very special moment that your fiancé and family will remember forever. But to keep it memorable, do not share pictures of your bridal gown or any other confidential wedding planning images on social media.

You’ll want these things to be special for your wedding day. Make sure to let your bridal party know how you feel so that they don’t accidentally post photos of something you want to remain a surprise prior to the wedding ceremony.

Don’t Lose Focus

This may be easier said than done. Even though the internet can be incredibly helpful for finding vendors, information and that cute white clutch that you spotted on someone else’s Instagram, it can also become a time suck.

Resist the urge to spend hours a day browsing endless pictures, websites and articles in search of the next best thing for your wedding. Instead, determine what you and your fiancé really want and stick to finding that.

Being mindful and organized when it comes to using the web for planning will ultimately help keep you from feeling scattered and stressed.