Wedding Web Sites: Dont Get Married Without One Having a Web site is an essential wedding planning tool that couples can no longer go without.

(ARA) - The days of snail mail announcements are officially over. When Grandmas preferred way of communicating is via e-mail, you know weve entered a new age. This goes for wedding announcements as well. The hottest new way for couples to announce their upcoming nuptials is through a wedding Web site. In fact, many bridal experts claim having a Web site is an essential wedding planning tool that couples can no longer go without. Couples have found that using a wedding Web site is the easiest and most efficient way to distribute information to their guests. Whether its details about the reception and weekend events, photos and stories about the couple and wedding party, or just basic registry information, the wedding Web site has become the hub of planning and organization for the wedding. Nicole Kraft, editor-in-chief at mywedding.com, cautions couples to read the fine print before signing up for a wedding Web site. You dont want to get stuck paying for this service. Its an unnecessary cost that can be avoided, especially when companies like mywedding.com exist. We offer a wide array of design templates which couples can keep for as long as they want -- you just wont find that with many companies, she says. According to Kraft, there are five reasons couples are turning to the World Wide Web to help plan their big day: 1. Connect. Having a wedding Web site allows couples to share their love-story with guests, making them feel more connected to the couples life and future marriage. Many Web sites also allow couples to showcase their family and wedding party members to other guests by providing a page to share a photo and short bio of each person. 2. Centralize. Put all your important info in one place! Wedding Web sites allow couples to post everything a guest needs from directions and maps, to accommodations and information about the area, to times and dates of all wedding related festivities -- all without cluttering invitations. Other features like online RSVP, bulk e-mail and gift registries are available as well. 3. Involve. mywedding.coms free wedding Web sites allow couples to share photos, create a wedding blog to chronicle the planning process, and share both personal and YouTube videos with friends. This is especially helpful for guests who are unable to make the wedding, but still want to feel connected to the event. 4. Reduce. Having a wedding Web site reduces time, money, and stress! Couples can also reduce waste by using the electronic save-the-date and invitation system featured with mywedding.coms wedding Web sites. 5. Preserve. Couples will treasure their memories for years to come and never run the risk of losing precious photos. Wedding Web sites can be used as a virtual album after the event to preserve photos, videos and guest book entries for life. This also makes it easy for out-of-town guests and those unable to attend to see photos and wedding videos as often as they like. The postal service hasnt proven completely useless for engaged couples today. Guests must still be informed about the wedding Web site. According to Kraft, most couples are printing the Web site URL on their save-the-date cards or postcards, directing their friends and family to this incredibly helpful planning resource. Courtesy of ARAcontent