Lodi’s Fourth Annual Bridal Event
Sunday, Feb. 23
Lodi Grape Festival Grounds
Chardonnay & Zinfandel Halls
Registration: 1 p.m.
Fashion Show: 3 p.m.

INDEX OF STORIES

» Brides still take stock in traditional invitations
» Discovering where wedding customs originate
» Say 'I do' to dress desingers' latest trend of corsets
» Always in fashion, diamond rings are a centuries-old trend
» Custom-made dresses affordable option to designer gowns
» New ways to top off your wedding-day ensemble
» Ethnic weddings mix traditional and modern customs
» Simple ideas for creative wedding favors
» Flowers create sweet-smelling nuptials for wedding party
» Grooms wanting something with a different ring to it
» Honeymoons put final fun, touch on weddings
» Creative ideas help savvy brides cut costs, not corners
» Take time to indulge yourself before you walk down aisle
» Here comes the bride, there goes the budget
» Don't be left singing the blues when it comes to wedding music
» Planning a wedding can be just as fun for the groom
» Lodi area offers many options for wedding reception sites
» Special ways to say thank you to the bridal party
» Personalized vows are unique celebrations of a couple's love
» Family grape growers open romantic wedding winery

Here comes the bride, there goes the budget

The Associated Press

When you’re in your mid-50s, it’s important to look out for falling rocks — especially when they fall on the ring finger of your daughter’s left hand.

Over the holidays, Mr. Wonderful popped the question, Daughter said “Yes!” and Wife said “Battle Stations!” launching what will surely be the most complicated production since the filming of “The Two Towers.” Not to mention expensive, in a process where a couple of yards of white mosquito netting for a veil can cost hundreds. The Web, some available software and other programs can help everyone survive the experience of the bride’s special day and the parent’s special pay.

One of the first places to visit on the Net is www.ezweddingplanner.com, which offers free online wedding planning software. It says it will help you track the necessary scheduling, budgeting, venues, events, preferences, coordination, vendor lists, invitations and replies, thank yous, ceremony plans, seating plans, food choices, music, gift registry, photography — and those are just the main wedding categories. It claims to have been used by 53,000 brides since its 1999 launch.

• At www.weddingsoft.com, you’ll find My Wedding Organizer. It says it allows the bride to keep a master list, while lists of guests from fiance and prospective in-laws are e-mailed and merged, with duplicates eliminated.

• Over at www.fivestarsoftware.com, you’ll find My Wedding Companion, while at www.frogwaresoftware.com, you’ll find Wedding Magic.

Beyond these, a google.com search for “wedding planning software” will turn up more options, including the site www.topweddinglinks.com, which is chock full of information, including the cheering note that “A General Order of Magnitude for an Average Traditional Wedding in the U.S. is $19,900.”

So what software am I using? Stuff I already own, in this case, Microsoft Excel. Spreadsheets were born to keep track of lists and costs and changes, and that’s pretty much what’s at stake here. There are columns for Invited, Probable and Confirmed for both bride and groom guests, a section for catering unit costs and other cost categories, and the final bottom line. If you have even modest spreadsheet and word-processing skills, you can do for yourself what the available software seeks to do for you.

Another tip developed so far: A digital camera that takes pictures of the 72 million wedding dresses to be tried before one is selected will help keep a wedding party scattered over several states in the loop.

Special note to FOBs (fathers of brides): Whatever software you use, understand that it gives you accounting, not control. As a female AP executive friend advised. “That’s terrific news. Now stay out of the way of the women while they plan this wedding.”

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