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Getting married in the 21st century has its distinct advantages, not the least of which is that iPhone in your pocket. Apps can make planning for impending nuptials a total breeze, and while it's true that (as with pretty much every niche) developers have pounced on the wedding market, flooding your app store with options that range from extremely useful to a complete waste of memory space, the essentials— ones that get you organized or inspired—shine like sweet beacons of light in the fog. Or like a tall glass of whiskey after a day spent doing seating arrangements with your future mother in law, whichever metaphor works for you.
We've gathered those helpful flares into this essential list of the 10 best apps for wedding planning. Have at them after the jump.
Wedding Party, free:
Think of Wedding Party as your own personal wedding Instagram and digital guestbook. Guests download the free app, then simply snap and status-update away. All posts will show up in a personal timeline, plus, you’ll get an email with everyone’s handiwork the next morning.
SimpleRegistry, free.
For those brides who's registry tastes cannot be confined merely to Crate & Barrel, SimpleRegistry lets the world be your wishlist. You can condense a several-store registry into one master list with this app and, best yet, use the barcode scanner to add any necessities you find along the way. Plus, you can keep it around post-nuptials, just in case you’re expecting to hear the pitter patter of tiny feet sometime soon (no pressure!).
Appy Couple, free:
Appy Couple serves as a virtual social portal for your entire wedding party. You can create photo galleries, message your maid of honor in secret, and even pop a little virtual bubbly to get everyone excited about the big day. The cheerful graphics—think Kate Spade-esque templates for you to fiddle with—will keep you coming back.
Pinterest, free:
If you're planning a wedding and you're somehow not already maintaining a Pinterest account, now would be a good time to start. Whatever bridal decision you're making—color, dress, menu, location, flowers—there are about a million gorgeous images to inspire you.
Tiffany & Co. Engagement Ring Finder, free:
Some brides-to-be like to take all wedding matters into their own hands, including the ring. No judgement here. This is our favorite of the many engagement ring apps out there. Like most of them, it's limited to the brand's own options, but Tiffany's app is cool because it shows their rings in-motion and on a hand (one whose skin tone is adaptable). It's got enough diamond porn to keep you drooling for days, and if a litte blue box is out of budget, you can use it as a springboard for finding more, ahem, affordable options.
The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner App, free:
This is the app that you want to download for virtual planning. You can track your errand progress with rewarding tick-off checklists, keep an eye on your budget, and find enough Pinterest fodder to sate even the most voracious pinner.
WeddingHappy: Wedding Planner, Free.
This is another great planning app for those taking on all the planning duties themselves and feel a little overwhelmed by it all. Tell WeddingHappy the date of your big day, and it fills you in with a suggested tasks list calendar to keep you on track. And bonus: you don’t need to be connected to the web to use it.
Wedding Dress Look Book by The Knot, free:
Another top choice from the folks at The Knot, this app is for the bride still undecided about what she should wear for her waltz down the aisle. The app is cool because it refines choices based on your body type and preferences.
Guest List Organizer, $2.99 (lite Version is free):
This app is for all of life’s events, but why not hijack it for your big day? Keep track of who’s coming to your wedding, and afterwards, you can create a nerdy PDF with all your wedding attendance information.
Mr. Porter, free:
Dressing yourself is one thing, dressing your date is a whole other ball game. Mr. Porter's brand new style app has a ‘What to Wear’ section with specific suggestions for the perfect wedding wardrobe, along with a separate section that’s dedicated to helping you him choose the right suit. And naturally, you’ll be able to purchase anything that suits your his fancy with a swipe of your fingertip.
—Alison Baitz
· Priscilla Chan Married Mark Zuckerberg on Saturday in a Claire Pettibone Wedding Dress [Racked]
· Behold: 38 Wedding Dresses From New York's Bridal Week for Your Pinboard Pleasure [Racked]
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