Now that this bride-to-be writer has been cursed by the general public
because of her last wedding post, she thought she might do something
helpful to boost her karma and correct things.
As requested, and compiled with much experience, here's a rundown of extremely useful wedding websites and resources for other Phoenix brides.
BTW, you may want to set a few hours aside because, with this list of links, you're heading deep down the rabbit hole. Check it out after the jump.
www.arizonaweddings.com
This
one's my personal fave. The website is easy to navigate and jam-packed
with everything you may need or want to know about
throwing a wedding in AZ. One downside: You have to register. I say pick
up the magazine that comes out every two months. It's a beast -- around
500 pages. But with a $6 price tag and all the local info you'll ever
need, it's way worth it.
This website may be a little chunky -- instead of listing vendors with
all the contact info at the ready, you get a small description and a
link for an automated email. Still, it's a good starting point and their
"ideas and trends blog" has some decent stuff to get your creative juices flowing.
Here's another website that has an accompanying local magazine. It's a
magazine that I have not come across in person yet. But the website is
worth a look (just ignore the not-so-attractive banner) because it has
just a handful of information -- you won't get overwhelmed. And each
listed vendor has a web link and contact info at the ready.
Elizabeth Anne Designs is a wedding and lifestyle website that is
updated daily. They just added Phoenix to their list of cities to cover
and include a manageable list of vendors. They also have two Phoenix brides-to-be blogging their way through their own planning (although we'd like to see
more posts). And, oh yes, they have a "DIY" section. Score.
I adore this website. Not only does it look great, but it's got
everything. And you don't have to register to access the info. They've
got planning guides, budget sheets, vendors, and checklists ready to
download (every bride-to-be needs a checklist or five). I love their "the
wedding insiders" section where newlyweds contribute their stories.
They've also got a magazine for just $4.50. Awesome.
This website has all the typical elements with vendor lists galore. No
registration but no contact info, either. It's another one of those
automated email contact links. The good news? They've got a "Best Of"
section which is also featured in their Fall/Winter print magazine.
Wedding Wire is a national site. Some features require a log in. The
vendor listings are set up like yelp.com. Here, wedding companies
are listed, maps are provided, and viewers get to rate and comment about
their experiences. It's not the most beautiful site in the world but
would be great for cross-referencing.
And, for all you knot.com nuts out there, here's a link to the Phoenix
portion of their massive website.
Have any more suggestions? Feel free to drop a link in the comments section.