I ended up spending a lot more on my wedding than I’d planned.
It’s tough to avoid! Organizing a full-scale wedding is about far more than picking a place and ordering dessert. There are seemingly endless tasks, and sadly, most of them require spending a bit of money.
Your costs can climb even higher if you hire a professional planner to simplify the process.
But you don’t have to shell out extra to get some assistance. There are plenty of free smartphone apps that will help you shape your wedding into the event you envision.
Sounds great, right? Something wedding-related that won’t cost you a dime! As George Banks famously says in “Father of the Bride,” “Finally, something’s free!”
1. Wedding Planner by The Knot
You might already recognize The Knot for its beautiful wedding websites. Good news — they offer an app too! Now you can manage everything from your phone instead of waiting until you sit at a computer.
Wedding Planner by The Knot is a comprehensive planning app for couples who want assistance with every stage of the wedding-prep journey.
Need help staying on budget? Perhaps you want an easy spot to store and manage your guest list. Or you’re searching for vetted vendors like venues, photographers or makeup artists.
And naturally, you can update the wedding website you built with The Knot right in the app.
Wedding Planner by The Knot works on both iOS and Android devices.
If you only want support for a couple of specific tasks, though, one of the apps below might suit you better.
2. WeddingHappy
I’m not a natural event organizer. In fact, when my partner and I set a wedding date, I wasn’t so nervous about marrying someone for life — I was panicked about coordinating such a large event: the wedding itself.
I wish I’d known about WeddingHappy back then.
Just download WeddingHappy and input your wedding day. The app then tailors a timeline and to-do list based on your wedding date. That way you’ll see whether you’re on track and what tasks come next.
Don’t stress — you can adjust any of the dates if needed. You’re not locked into the schedule. (Get it?)
WeddingHappy also keeps tabs on when deposits and payments are due and which ones you’ve paid. That feature is a godsend, because staying on top of payments can be a major source of stress for scatterbrained planners like me!
WeddingHappy is available for iOS and Android.
3. WeddingWire
While WeddingWire can function as a full-service planning app, its standout feature, in my view, is the vendor search.
When you’re organizing a wedding, you face many big choices. Who will photograph the event? Do you also want a videographer? Should one artist handle both hair and makeup, or should you hire separate specialists? And what will you do about floral arrangements?
WeddingWire looks up vendors of all these types in your area and shows their prices and availability.
Still hunting for a ceremony or reception site? The app offers 3D tours so you won’t waste time visiting venues you’ll end up ruling out.
WeddingWire is downloadable for iOS and Android devices.
4. Wedding Dress LookBook by The Knot
The Knot scores again.
One of the largest tasks is deciding what everyone will wear on the day. The Wedding Dress LookBook app from The Knot focuses purely on the visual side of your wedding.
Yes, you can flip through bridal gown looks — but it goes beyond that. The app also helps you find stores that carry the silhouettes or designers you like.
Use the LookBook to explore attire for the groom, flower girls, bridesmaids, mother of the bride… the choices keep going. You can even search for ring styles.
LookBook is offered for iOS and Android.
5. Zola Registry + Weddings
The Zola Registry + Weddings app can build a wedding website, manage RSVPs and help with your planning checklist. Its registry capabilities, however, are what set Zola apart from other wedding apps.
When I tied the knot, I felt constrained registering only at big-box stores like Bed Bath & Beyond and Target.
With Zola, you can shop items from many brands, including KitchenAid, Sonos and even Delta. You can also consult a personal assistant featured in the app for suggestions.
My favorite tool? Blender.
Zola calls Blender a “Tinder-like feature.” You swipe through recommended items and select which ones to add to your registry. For some of us, the thrill of shopping is nearly as intoxicating as the thrill of dating!
Your guests don’t need the app to access your registry — they can simply visit your list on Zola’s website from a computer.
Zola Registry + Weddings works on iOS and Android devices.
With these tools at your fingertips, you essentially have a personal wedding planner — without the price tag! Planning becomes more manageable and much more budget-friendly.
