By Lindsey Madsen
Today in the world of modern electronics, computers, tablets and smart phones, programs are being created left and right to help us do pretty much everything. From finding a local dress shop, viewing catering menus, building guest lists, even receiving up to the minute weather reports. These programs or applications, better known as “apps” are readily available and in most cases quite affordable or even sometimes free. The problem isn’t finding wedding related apps, they are a dime a dozen, it’s finding apps that are designed well and that can be extremely helpful throughout the wedding planning process. We decided to put several of the most popular wedding apps to the test and see how they measure up.
Name: Brides Wedding Genius
App Type: Planning/Inspirational
Device Requirements: Iphone, Ipod Touch, Ipad
Price: FREE
Description:
This complimentary Wedding App is a one-of-a-kind planning tool for Brides-to-be. Designed with the busy bride in mind, it can help in organizing your guest list, creating inspiration boards, managing your wedding budget, tracking vendors and so much more. Also available as an upgrade is the BRIDES Digital Wedding Binder which will let you plan like a pro at home or on the go.
Review:
This app is well thought out and easy to use. It has a clean layout and the simplicity of the planner would be extremely helpful to a bride that is overly busy! The integrated email option is wonderful especially when you have multiple companies and people helping with your event and when you need to be able to keep in touch with them on the fly. Unfortunately, the program has a few bugs that they are still working out and has a tendency to turn off suddenly. It retains the information but can be quite frustrating when you are updating notes or info on your wedding, but with a FREE price-tag it’s hard to be too upset!
Name: How to Tie a Tie
App Type: Instructional
Devices available on: Iphone, Ipod Touch and Android Phones
Price: FREE
Description:
How to tie a tie gives simple, easy to follow, step-by-step illustrated instructions for the most popular tie knots. This app gives beautiful illustrated instructions on twelve of the most popular tie knots including: Diagonal, Windsor, Half-Windsor, Four-in-Hand also known as the “simple knot” and several more.
Review:
Whether it’s your first time tying a tie or your 500th, this FREE app can give even a seasoned tie wearer something new to learn. This quirky app was not only educational but also enlightening, giving descriptions of each knot as well as when and where they are appropriate to be worn. The How to tie a tie app would be a fun surprise downloaded onto the Groom’s Android or Iphone, and best of all it is FREE ~
Name: iWedding Deluxe
App Type: Planning & Organization
Device Requirements: iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
Price: $9.99
Description:
iWedding Deluxe is a fabulous organizer and wedding planner app. It will help you organize all the vital information keeping it right at your fingertips. Each category is well thought out and fully customizable. Create to-do lists, budgets, guest list, inspiration boards and much much more.
Review:
This planning app has several features that are well worth the minimal cost to download it. The guest list organizer is easy to use and update. Add multiple guests at one time from your contacts, track RSVP’s, manage plus-ones, meal choices and if necessary use the simple one motion “swipe-to-delete.” The social networking integration is genius and a favorite among brides that just can’t wait to share all the lovely details of their wedding. In my opinion, it is one of the most comprehensive, easy-to-use wedding applications on the market, and I can quickly see this becoming the only wedding planning application you will ever need!
Name: Wedding Scan
App Type: Registry
Device Requirements: iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
Price: $2.99
Description:
Wedding Scan is an intuitive wedding registry application that allows you to register for ANY item, at ANY store, at ANY time simply by scanning a product’s barcode with the Wedding Scan iPhone app. If a product doesn’t have a barcode, Wedding Scan allows you to take a picture of it and add a brief description.
Review:
This definitely had to be one of the most exciting apps to review. The flexibility to add any item from any store is wonderful, and gives guests a broader range of prices, items and stores to choose from. How does it work? You simply find the barcode of UPC on the item you would like to add and scan it with the built in reader, then presto! It’s added to your registry and available for your guests to purchase. It’s simple- just scan, save, send, and that’s it! No cumbersome registry guns or confusing lists just the fun of finding and scanning the things that will help dress your newlywed nest.
Name: Organizer
App Type: Organizer/Journal
Devices available on: Iphone, Ipod Touch, Ipad
Price: $7.99 – $9.99
Description:
The Aesthology Organizer is an application that is similar to a traditional organizer but has several added benefits that can greatly increase your overall productivity. Not only can you schedule appointments, add contacts and create to-do lists but you can also enter text, create diagrams, insert pictures and record and play voice memos. It is the perfect tool to help keep an eye on your overall planning progress.
Review:
This app is easy to use and incredibly flexible. It syncs with both the Apple and Google calendars, allows you to add maps, insert tweets and emoticons and I loved the fact that the Organizer App was designed to act like a sheet of paper. It allows the software to adapt to the individual needs and preferences of its user. Meaning, anything that you can write down or plan-out on a sheet of paper you can input and have quick access to in the Organizer App. It’s not a wedding specific app but is an overall quality organizer.
Purchasing or downloading a wedding app will really come down to personal preference. What works for one bride may not work for another, but hopefully our review of a few of the most popular will help get you started in the right direction. Find one that meets your needs and works for you and your event, download it and let it help make the planning process easy and enjoyable!
