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"'Tis the 'I Do' Season"
July 1, 2000
Jessie Coffey
Everywhere you turn over the summer there is evidence of a wedding. White dresses, flowers, churches-the whole kit and kaboodle appear as if out of nowhere. But as anyone who has ever been even peripherally involved with someone planning a wedding knows, the white dress, the flowers and the church don't magically appear without tons of planning. And between a career and an everyday life, finding the time to plan a wedding isn't always easy. The Knot (http://www.theknot.com) aims to simplify the process.
The Knot allows users to research every aspect of their wedding online. As a registered user (registration is free) you can save anything of interest for future reference and set up a monthly checklist and reminder system. You can also enter some basic information-your overall budget, the number of attendants and the number of guests-and The Knot will show you how to distribute your money and provide details of what will be in your price range.
The web site offers articles on everything from the small details of planning-from the food, the guest list, the traditions to the etiquette issues involved in dealing with the in-laws or calling the whole thing off-to proposal how-to's and honeymoon hints. And if-with the thousands of available research articles-you haven't found exactly the right answer to your specific situation, then you can ask the expert and submit a direct question to the site. The Knot further offers guides for the newlyweds from "the Complete Guide to Newlywed Finances" to "the Complete Guide to Must-Take Photos."
Visual aid is always an advantage in wedding plans. The Knot can help you avoid endless hours spent in dress shops with their online fashion section. The site allows you to search for gowns, bridesmaid dresses and fashions for all other involved parties with the click of a mouse. There are over 20,000 dresses to be viewed in the wedding dress category alone, which can be searched by designer, price, neckline, or silhouette. Each gown is shown with contact information to the designer, as well as with enough general style information to enable you to walk into a boutique sounding knowledgeable and confident about your shopping trip.
The Community section of the site features a number of message boards and live chats where site users can exchange ideas, questions, and stories with others who are experiencing the same things. The option is even available on the site, to set up an online registry, rather than setting up an arrangement with a specific store. Planning a wedding has never been easier!
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