There's a great new photo resource out there that you should know about! It's called Every Single Shot. With their services, you can collect photos of your wedding from your guests. They'll even send out emails to your guest list reminding them to upload their photos onto the site after your wedding. And, when all of your photos are uploaded, you can create a DVD, or order prints right from their site. Check out more about how it works Here.

Social media has added a whole new chapter to the etiquette books. Unfortunately, sometimes Facebook or Twitter updates that are posted out of excitement can unintentionally hurt other's feelings. Weddings are emotional for most people, and when emotions run high, so does the potential for drama. So how do you know what to put on Facebook or post on Twitter? Here's a list of some guidelines for social media use.

1. Do Not – use Facebook as a replacement for your wedding website. Wedding websites are there for a reason. Use them! They already have pages for everything, and you can limit the people who have your URL. Some websites even allow you to password protect your site or individual pages so that you don't get any unsolicited traffic.

2. Do Not - use Facebook to vent. It's just inappropriate. If you're having planning related problems, discuss them with your soon-to-be husband and practice your team problem-solving skills. Or, if you just need to vent, call up one of your girlfriends and have a good rant. Or, if you really feel the need to write it all down, start keeping a journal. Journaling is very therapeutic, and can help tame stress levels.

3. Do Not – send invitations via Facebook If you're hosting a keg party in your backyard, Facebook invites would probably work. But if you're out of college and want your invitations to symbolize that (1) you're old enough to be getting married, and (2) you understand that a wedding is more than just a party, send real invitations.

4. Do Not - put your registry information on Facebook. If people want to send you a gift, they will. It's totally inappropriate to be soliciting gifts from people who weren't even invited to the wedding. Again, this is an item that would be appropriately placed on a page of your wedding website.

5. Do Not- Discuss your wedding plans on Facebook. It is rude to talk about an invitation-only social event in front of someone who was not invited. You wouldn't do it in person, so why would you do it online?

6. Do Not – update your status during your ceremony. What may seem like a fun idea now is just going to seem ridiculous to you in 20 years. Not only will you feel foolish for pausing your serious, commitment-oriented ceremony for something trivial, but Facebook and other types of social media are constantly shifting, and whatever type you're using will likely be obsolete by the time you're trying to explain to your kids what you're doing with your mobile phone at the alter in your wedding video.

7. Maybe – Announce your engagement on Facebook There's nothing wrong with letting people know you're getting married, but there's a right and a wrong way to go about it. Before you post anything on Facebook, make sure you've told all of your close friends and family personally. Think about it from their perspective: wouldn't it hurt your feelings if you found out about your daughter's or best friend's wedding online at the same time as everyone else? And be aware, if you post about your engagement, everyone who reads it is going to expect an invite. Explaining that they are not invited may actually be more stress than it's worth.

8. Do – Post engagement photos and pictures of your ring. Facebook is a great way to share information, and your friends and family are definitely going to want to see pictures of you and your soon-to-be spouse. However, when/if you post pictures of your engagement ring, do so thoughtfully. Don't write tacky, boastful captions about how huge the ring is. People want to see pictures because they're happy that you found love, not a two-carat ring.

9. Do Not- Post messages for your bridal party or other wedding-related groups. This is the same thing as talking about an invite-only party in front of someone. You undoubtedly have friends who you didn't include in your bridal party, and talking to/about your wedding party members may make them feel like their missing out on the fun. Remember that this type of etiquette is meant to avoid hurting others, but it's also meant to limit the drama in your life. The fewer feelings you hurt the fewer hurt people you're going to have to deal with.

10. Do – post your wedding date. People who know you're engaged are probably going to want to know when the wedding is, so it's perfectly fine to share this. Your wedding date can't really be misconstrued in any way. Someone would be hard-pressed to find a reason to feel this was offensive. But again, be aware that some people may take this information as an invitation.

11. Do Not – Post the details (time, location, etc). First of all, you're just asking for some wedding crashers, and second of all, this information should be given to people via your invitation, not Facebook. Facebook friends who weren't invited may consider this an open invitation, and you could find yourself with a few unexpected guests.

12. Do Not – Post the link to your wedding website. This totally defeats the purpose of not putting this information on Facebook. You should only share your wedding website information with your friends, family, and people invited to the wedding. Unless you're inviting all of your 750 Facebook friends to your wedding, send your website link out on your save-the-dates or invitations.

13. Do – post pictures of your wedding. After the big day, everyone is more relaxed, and less likely to take offense to something you post. Plus, you'll also be under a lot less stress, so should a situation arise, you'll have more time and energy to handle it. And, posting pictures is a great way to help people who couldn't be there feel included.

O: Officiant – More and more couples are choosing an officiant that they know and who has some relation to them personally. Choosing an officiant that you feel comfortable with is very important, especially since many couples will be going through marriage classes with their officiant.

P: Photography – If you splurge on nothing else wedding-related, splurge on photography. The pictures you take will be invaluable not only to you, but to your children, grandchildren, parents and friends. Each photographer is different so take the time to visit with several photographers and find the one whose style and quality you like. You may regret overspending on your cake or centerpieces, but you'll never regret overspending on your pictures.

Q: Quality – There is a theory that any time the word "wedding" is mentioned prices skyrocket without any effect on the quality of services. In truth, most of the time this theory is not true. When vendors hear "wedding" they do charge more, but it's because they realize that they're dealing with the most important day of someone's life, and therefore the product requires much more attention to detail than a product for another occasion.

R: RSVPs – Ah, the eternal struggle between the wedding couple and guest's RSVPs. Inevitably, one or two guests always forgets to send theirs, or it gets lost in the mail. Enter the age of Online RSVPs. Now, you can include your wedding website URL right on your invitation and send guests right to your website to RSVP.

S: Stationery – If you think all you need to worry about is wedding invitations, think again. You'll need engagement announcements, save the date cards, and invites; RSVPs, and thank you cards for all of your wedding-related events - including your engagement party, bridal shower, bridesmaid's luncheon, bachelor and bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinner, ceremony & reception, and day-after wedding brunch. And don't forget about menus and place cards!

T: Thank-You Notes – If you follow no other wedding etiquette, please send thank-you notes, and in a timely fashion. It's common courtesy, and it makes people feel appreciated. Most guests spend a lot of money to prepare for and go to a wedding, and it's very nice to be acknowledged.

U: Union – Ultimately, this wedding is about you and your spouse coming together to form a family. But this union also signifies the union of both of your families. Everyone's situation is different, and there's no set protocol for how to handle every situation that may arise. But you can choose to handle whatever may come with class.

V: Vendors – Dealing with vendors is stressful, and 90% of the battle is usually just finding someone that you trust and feel comfortable with. Don't be afraid to shop around, and when you do, consider more than just price. There is usually a reason that one vendor is more expensive than another. Take the time to compare packages, services, references, and most importantly your instincts about each one.

W: Wedding Party – Ironically, your wedding party (especially bridesmaids) can become a major source of stress for some brides. That's why it's so important to really put thought into who you select as your attendants. It's normal to want your best friends standing up with you, but you also need to think about who's actually going to fulfill the responsibilities (and there are a lot) of being in your wedding party.

X: Xanax – Yes, Xanax -just kidding. But seriously, weddings can be stressful, so it's important to take care of yourself. Take a day or two a week off from wedding planning. This is a marathon, not a sprint; you've got to pace yourself. Speaking of running, exercise is a major stress reliever, and it'll get you into shape for the big day!

Y: Your Registry – Wedding Registries are changing. Couples have more options than ever, and because most couples live together before marriage registry items are getting less and less traditional. However, it is still a major faux pas to put your registry information on your wedding invitation. Instead, list your registry information on your personal wedding website, and include the link to your website on your invitation.

Z: Zany – Weddings today are getting a more personal touch. Couples are putting their own unique stamp on their festivities, and we love it! Don't be afraid to break out of tradition and get a little zany! You'll know what's right for you, whether that be holding a non-traditional bash, or keeping is simple with a personalized theme.

A: Attire – The search for the perfect dress is a universal dilemma among brides, but there are other forms of attire to think about as well. You'll need to discuss the groom's and groomsmen's outfits, the bridesmaid's dresses, (and remember that the maid of honor and best man's outfits are usually slightly different from the rest of the bridal party) the Mother of the bride's dress, and the dress for the flower girl.

B: Budgeting – Budgeting is both the most important and the most overlooked facet of wedding planning. Most weddings go over budget, but this can easily be avoided with careful organization. Most brides get themselves into trouble because they don't realize all the costs associated with a wedding, and therefore don't factor them into their budget.

C: Catering – You're going to need a good caterer for at least one of your wedding-related events, so it's important to find someone you like. Try them out for a smaller event like your engagement party. Then, if you had a good experience, hire them for the wedding. Great food is important to a great party, so be sure to hire someone you like and feel comfortable with.

D: Décor – Dreaming about colors, aisle runners, balloons, centerpieces and the rest of your wedding decorations can be a ton of fun, but only if you have an efficient way to organize them. The last thing you want is a notebook full of tons great ideas that don't go together. Make sure you have an Ideas and Inspiration Board, and try to visualize all your ideas before you bring them to life.

E: Etiquette – There's nothing like a wedding to cause confrontation. And even with more and more couples moving away from tradition, most wedding etiquette is still applicable. Therefore we definitely recommend brushing up on your wedding etiquette. There are plenty of great etiquette books out there, but be careful about the advice you get off of the Internet; not everyone is an expert.

F: Flowers – Flowers are a huge part of most weddings – and an expensive one. You can cut down on expenses (and up your wedding's eco-friendly factor) by setting your wedding date during a time when the flowers you want will be in season. There are plenty of florists who offer in-season local options for floral décor.

G: Guest List – The guest list will be one of the first things you'll tackle in your wedding planning. It's important to have a solid guest list for many reasons, but the first and most important is its effect on your budget. More guests equal more money. More guests will require a bigger venue, more table rentals, more centerpieces, more expensive catering, and so on and so fourth.

H: Honeymoon – Think relaxing. After months of wedding planning, you and your new spouse are going to need some serious relaxation. Don't plan every second of every day. Give yourselves a little time to just enjoy each other's company.

I: Internet – There are so many wedding resources on the web these days that even the most non-crafty bride can find ways to DIY. But the abundance of wedding sites can get a little overwhelming. We say set up some Google alerts for the wedding terms that your interested in, and let the information come to you!

J: Jewelry – Once you've found your dress, the next step is to style it up with jewelry, shoes, and accessories. Remember that the jewelry you wore on your wedding day is more likely to be handed down and worn by your daughter than your dress is, so chose something that's reflective of your personality and will be a true keepsake for your children.

K: Knight in Shining Armor – Remember him? Yes, it's easy to loose sight of what's really important when the wedding planning starts to consume your every thought. Every once and a while, take a moment to pause and reflect on the wonderful man you're about to marry. It will bring you back to center and help you maintain perspective throughout the planning process.

L: Location – Picking the right location for your wedding can be quite a process. You may already have a location in mind, but there are numerous questions to consider when deciding. Does the venue have enough parking? Restrooms? Handicap accessibility? Is it too far away from the guest's hotel to expect them to drive back and fourth?

M: Music – From choosing a DJ to picking out the song for your father-daughter dance, music will be an integral part of your wedding. You'll need music for both the ceremony and reception. Luckily, today we have tons of options: CD's, a live band, iPod play lists and so on.

N: Name Change – Not every bride takes her spouse's last name, but 88.9% of brides still plan to make the shift. Check this out for the skinny on changing your name.

Even if you're a technology fiend you're going to use a lot of stationery over the course of your engagement. You'll need announcements, save the date cards, engagement party and bridal shower invitations and thank you notes, wedding invitations and RSVP cards, ceremony programs, place cards, menu cards, and wedding thank you notes. As easy as it would be to just send everything via email, having actual wedding invitations is always nice. Going green with your wedding stationery isn't as difficult or expensive as you may think. So, here are some awesome tidbits on how to "green up" your wedding stationery.

Paper Options:
Paper has only been made from trees for about 150 years now, so in addition to using recycled paper, you can look for tree-free paper. Invite Site is a great source for tree free wedding stationery. They also have great DIY kits for the crafty bride. Also, look for paper that is processed chlorine free (PCF). PCF paper is partially or totally recycled and is either unbleached or bleached with non-chlorine compounds. Though PCF paper is the most eco-friendly, also keep an eye out for these other common acronyms. ECF or elemental chlorine-free indicates that the paper fibers (virgin or recycled) are bleached with chlorine dioxide or other chlorine compounds. TCF or totally chlorine-free indicates that the fiber is 100% virgin and is either unbleached or bleached with non-chlorine compounds. Recycled paper cannot be TFC because the original processing of the paper is unknown.

Plant it!:
One of the greatest trends right now is plantable stationery. Foreverfiancies.com has an entire plantable collection! Their 100 percent recycled papers are embedded with wildflower seeds so your guests can plant your invitation! They also have save the date and announcement cards to match your theme.

Green ink:
Though many companies advertise themselves as using sustainable printing methods, there are a couple of options when it comes to ink. Soy based ink is popular and definitely more eco-friendly than petroleum based inks, but the best choice is actually vegetable based ink. Most soy ink is only about 20 percent soy, and it produces more volatile organic compounds (VOC's) than vegetable based inks. Vegetable ink is also considered more sustainable because it utilizes more than one crop, and it doesn't compete with the market for biodiesel fuel. Soybean oil, on the other hand, is used to make biodiesel.

Email RSVP's:
I highly recommend setting up an email address strictly for your wedding. Everything is online these days, and you'll want all of your online wedding information coming to you in one spot. Once you've set up your wedding email, save some paper (and some money on postage!) and have your guests email their RSVP's. Or, if you have a wedding website with an online RSVP feature, you can simply have guests reply there. Include your email address, or your website URL on your stationery invitation and give short directions for, including entrée choices, reply by date, and whether or not they will attend. If you have wedding planning software with bulk email capabilities, this step will be a snap.

With all of the stationery you're sure to be using over the course of your engagement, this is a great, easy area to go green. Happy planning, and more sustainable wedding tips coming soon!

Don't be scared! You don't have to wear a hemp dress or serve only mixed greens at you reception. Green is the new black, and with everyone jumping on the veggie-oil powered bandwagon, we think that the best way to begin your new life as a couple is sustainably. There is absolutely no need to give up your dream wedding in order to make it sustainable. There are plenty of resources to make having a green wedding easier for you, so keep checking back for more green wedding tips.

Green weddings should start from the beginning: your engagement.

The Ring:
The fact is that there are plenty of diamonds and precious metals out there just waiting to be recycled, and there tons of resources to help you do it! Hop on the Internet and research sustainable jewelers in your area. Visit pawn shops. Even if you don't find the exact ring you're looking for, remember that a reputable goldsmith can redesign both engagement and wedding rings to your exact specifications. Wouldn't it be great to know that your ring is one-of-a-kind and made of recycled materials? Green Karat is a great resource to get some ideas about sustainable rings, and Precious Earth Jewelry has an entire collection of environmentally conscious engagement rings (as well as other awesome jewelry). My personal favorite is Brilliant Earth. Check out their conflict free diamond buying guide and their handy retailer checklist for finding real conflict free diamonds.

Planning:
Go digital! Although you've probably been planning your day in your head for a while now, the real planning commences immediately after the engagement. But the days of brides lugging around giant wedding books filled with magazine cut outs to vendor after vendor are over. Enter the online wedding planner. wedding planner software is available all over the Internet these days; you just have to know what you're looking for.
A good comprehensive planner will allow you to plan all of the aspects of your wedding in one spot. There's more to a wedding than just the wedding day. You'll need comprehensive tools for your budget, calendar, guest list, wedding related events like the engagement party, and a checklist. Also, make sure you can export your data, and can print pages if need be. Phone Applications are another handy feature to look for. Being able to access your wedding details wherever you are on your phone saves you from having to haul around messy (and wasteful) papers.
Rather than buying tons of bridal magazines, access them online, and save inspirational pieces in your online workbook's inspiration board instead of printing them out. Glamour Magazine, has a fun new wedding section, and Get Married Magazine has a great section on planning a green wedding.

Whether you're having an informal beach wedding, or tuxes and ball gowns you can have the green wedding of your dreams! More green tips to come!

Check out your two chances to win a free year's subscription to My Wedding Workbook's Premium Wedding Planning Tools! Just stop by the Budget Savvy Bride and the Indie Bride to enter for your chance to win!

Good Luck, and Happy Planning!

Inspiration and Misc.

Gotta Etsy (.99)
Gotta Etsy is the perfect on the go tool for Etsy lovers. You can browse listings by categories and search keywords, materials and tags. You can also map sellers, and bookmark listings!

myPantone ($9.99)
If you haven't picked a color palette, myPantone may be for you. You can build and share color libraries, capture and extract colors from photos, and upload to the myPantone.com website.

Wedding Vows (.99)
Wedding Vows is a collection of sample wedding vows. You can search using keywords, and save you favorites. You can also create and edit you own vows with the app.

Waltz (free)
If you're planning a waltz for your wedding dance, this may be a great app for you. Waltz offers men's and women's footwork for you and your partner, and you can get more dance steps on the website.

Wedding Blogs (.99)
Wedding blogs gives you access to wedding blogs all in one spot. You can add blogs when you find them, or search by keyword. And best of all you can email posts to friends when you find something that really inspires you!

Wedding Envi ($1.99)
Wedding Envi organizes all kinds of wedding images to help you find inspiration for your wedding. See everything from dresses, tuxedos, rings, shoes and more. From an image, you can go directly to the website to read more.

For the guys

Wedding Day Reminder ($1.99)
Don't worry about forgetting your anniversary! Wedding Day Reminder will remind you daily beginning 2 weeks before your anniversary. Three reminders on the day of ensure that you won't forget.

Diamond Helper ($1.99)
Learn all about diamonds with Diamond helper. It covers the 4 C's – color, cut, clarity and carat – and has tips for purchasing the perfect ring. It's a great app for the guys, but has lot's of useful information for the gal's too!

Diamond Price (Free)
Buying a diamond is confusing, and the last thing you want to do is overpay. Enter the diamond's carat, clarity, and color into the calculator, and Diamond Price will give you a retail price for the stone.

iGroom (Free)
With iGroom, you can browse and choose groom and groomsmen attire. You can also see information on the latest styles, and roles of men in you wedding party.

Men's Health Workouts ($1.99)
Men's Health Workouts has 23 pre-loaded workouts to get you in shape. Circuit training is designed for best results in minimal time. With step-by-step instructions it's great even for beginners! It also has a training log and exercise and rest timers to help keep you on track.

The Ring
Ring Builder ($1.99)
With Ring Builder you can design your ideal ring by selecting a diamond and a setting. You can save designs, and email them to friends. The images are great to have when you go to meet with jewelers.

Diamond Terms – A Buyer's Glossary ($1.99)
Learn all about diamond shopping with Diamond Terms. It covers types, cuts, flaws, properties, grades, industry and general diamond terms. Best of all, you don't have to have an internet connection to access it!

The Timer
Wedding Day (.99)
Wedding Day is a real time countdown to your wedding day. It also continues the countdown after you're married and has 10 different background colors to match your style.

Wedding Date (.99)
Wedding Date counts down to your wedding day and counts up after you're married, but it also displays messages for each anniversary, and it's totally customizable! You can use your own picture as a background, and set music!

Getting in Shape
Shape Bride ($3.99)
Shape Bride has exercises, recipes, eat-right tips, tips on finding the right gown for your body type, and a 6-month beauty countdown. Record your reps, sets and equipment used for each exercise to track you progress.

Women's Health Workouts ($1.99)
This app has 16 pre-loaded workouts to boost metabolism, tone total body, strengthen core, and more! Each move has pictures to help guide you, as well as step-by-step instructions. You can keep a training log and analyze your progress. AND... there is a rest timer to help you monitor cool down periods between exercises for better performance.

Over the next few posts, we'll be bringing you all kinds of wedding-related iPhone applications to make your life a little easier. So, keep checking back, and let us know about your favorite apps!

The Dress and Accessories

Wedding Dress Look Book (Free)
Wedding Dress Look Book is a free app to help you shop for a gown. With a 3½ star rating, most users liked it. It offers listings of salons that carry specific dresses, and you can search by style, shape and price. Best of all, you can bookmark your favorites for later.

Brides Dressing Room (Free)
Brides Dressing Room also has 3½ stars. You can browse both wedding and bridesmaids' dresses by silhouette, brand, price and other specifics. Save all of your favorites, find the dress at a store near you, and make an appointment in one fell swoop.

iBridalGown ($3.99)
iBridalGown is helpful for tracking data at the actual salon. At each salon, you can enter information about the gown your considering and compare it to others later. You can also take pictures of the gown at the salon and save it with the rest of the dress info for a quick reference.

iShoes (Free)
Ahh, what to say about iShoes? With a selection of 50,000 shoes, you're bound to find one you like. You can browse or search favorite brands and styles. You can save your favorites, find out who carries it, and * sigh * it even alerts you when a shoe is on sale!

Feather Report ($1.99)
Fashion + Weather = Feather Report. So, you've picked a dress, but what about outfits for all those other special days throughout your engagement? Feather Report's got it taken care of. You can save favorites, search for your specific needs and shop online for outfits.

Net-A-Porter (Free)
Net-A-Porter is perfect for the fashonista bride looking to stay on top of current trends. With a 3 star rating, it shows you what's new in clothing, bags, shoes and accessories. You can create a wish list, buy on the spot, read fashion news and share with friends!

Before I dive into describing what online wedding software is, let me first talk about this animal called "online software" and what that really means.

When people think of software, they usually envision a product they buy in a box at a computer, electronics or department store (think Best Buy, Target and the like), which they then take home and then use a CD-ROM or DVD to install the software on their computer. Every once in a while, the program prompts them to download or install updates, and sometimes the program will even alert them to a new version that will require them to spend more money (think Microsoft Office, Quickbooks, etc.).

In the last decade, it's become common to buy software online directly from the manufacturer, so there's no need for packaging or a CD-ROM/DVD. Just put the software in your shopping cart, pay for it and you are directed to a page (or you are emailed a link) where you can click on a button and download the software directly to your computer via the Internet. Once it's downloaded, you simply open up the installer and, presto, the software is on your computer.

But in the last few years, online software has become more and more popular, but there's still lots of confusion as to what it actually is, what it does and where it exists. So here goes with an explanation to all this...

Online software is also commonly called software as a service (SaaS), which is probably a better and more apt description of it. Essentially, instead of loading software onto your local computer, the software is permanently housed on the manufacturer's computer (usually it's stored on a server, which is essentially a big computer with lots of memory and firewall protection to keep the Internet thugs out). To access the software, you simply open up your Web browser (think Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc.), go to the manufacturer's Web site, log into your account, and, presto, you have access to the software. Some online software is free (like My Wedding Workbook) and other software is not so free (like Apple's MobileMe, Zoho, Quickbooks Online, etc.). You could even argue that a site like Facebook is free online software because, once you log into your account, you have access to all sorts of tools that function like software.

So where does online wedding software fall? Well, here at My Wedding Workbook, we are very much like the paragraph above. You register on our site to create your account, and once you have done this, you can go to our site via a Web browser, log into your account and start using our software (which exists on our secure servers). That's pretty straightforward.

But here's where people often ask "But where is all my information stored?" which is a very good question. When you enter details into your account (like the measurements of your wedding dress or your tuxedo) this information is stored in a database (sort of like a big Excel spreadsheet with many, many fields for storing each piece of data) which also resides on our server. At My Wedding Workbook, our software code and our database both sit on a secures server with lots of security and firewalls and lots of backup to make sure no data is lost or stolen. And every detail you save on your account is completely confidential, so you never, ever have to worry about us contacting people on your guest list (and if you want to access your information, you can always download all of it into Excel spreadsheets).

In our humble opinions (and we have many of them), online wedding software like ours takes the headache out of managing your wedding details, first of all because you never have to manage wedding software on your computer, and second because all your details are stored safely on our server and you never have to worry about losing data due to your computer crashing or to theft, fire or accidental deletion. Plus, we built our wedding software so it's very easy to use and requires really no learning time ... just log in and go.

So hopefully that helps give some background on just what online wedding software is and how it works. But if you want more info, don't hesitate to drop us a note by using the contact form on the site.

Take care, and happy planning, Jeff