Top Online Wedding Websites and Why

The internet can be your BFF when looking for customer satisfaction and ratings on products, services, etc. On the other hand, wedding websites can be overwhelming and a jungle to sift through to get the information you want. I have made the most of my cyber wedding research and have learned which websites are most useful and how best they can be used:

Jewish wedding resource website:
There may be thousands of Jewish wedding-related websites out there, but there were slim pickings on the quality sites.

• Top Jewish Wedding Resource: http://www.chossonandkallah.com/new-york/#ref=menu
•  When I wanted to know all reception venues that include kosher catering in the NY-NJ area, I went to this site.  The site also provides contact information on several other venues that specialize in serving the Orthodox Jewish audience.

Weather website for checking forecasted weather on your wedding date:
The Weather Channel offers a Wedding Planner to help you estimate what the weather will be like on the date of your wedding.

• Visit the wedding planner section of weather.com at: http://www.weather.com/activities/events/weddings/?from=expireduser

Websites for brides that want to be married in Metro- New York at a decent price:
I searched everyway on the internet looking for tips on how to throw a wedding in NYC within a small budget, and I found a few sites that did just that:

• Best ideas for throwing a New York City wedding without going broke
  While New York Magazine does not offer specific advice on throwing a kosher Orthodox Jewish wedding, some of their articles share some great ideas on how to minimize costs and a directory of wedding locations and estimated pricing:
  - Bang for your Buck, by Rachel Wolff: http://nymag.com/weddings/planner/2007/winter/venues/
  - Locations Directory: http://nymag.com/weddings/listings/locations/
• Some of the Best Places to Get Married in NYC are Cheap!
  The Foundry and the Prince George Ballroom were ranked among the top 10 NYC wedding locations (http://weddings.about.com/od/weddinglocations/ss/NYCLocations_5.htm), yet they are quite affordable.

Websites to find inexpensive Modest Bridesmaid dresses:
In the secular world, finding a sophisticated yet trendy modest bridesmaid dress is like searching for a needle in a hay stack, unless you don’t mind having them wear sweaters or jackets to cover (eh hem) some skin. On the other hand, my fellow religious Jewish friends and their mothers suggested choosing a fabric and having the bridesmaid get the dress tailored, which would have cost over $250.

• An interesting alternative to the tradition bridesmaid gown is to turn to Chinese dresses (also referred to as Cheongsams or Qipao). Some websites allow you to customize the fabric and design of the dress, and some of these dresses offer full coverage and silk brocade fabric for less than $150. For the best quality and customer service go to: http://www.finechineseclothing.com/eng/product/detail.aspx?ProductID=1932
• If you are a more conservative type, one suggestion is to search through the “Mother of the Bride” wedding section found at websites such as Dillard’s, Macy’s or Bloomingdales, which will provide more modest looks. Although some of those prices are jacked up, and the looks are not the most “fun” for younger women.

Best website for reading reviews / ratings on anything wedding-related:
There are countless wedding resource websites on the Net exploding with information without providing bottom-line reviews and ratings of wedding venues, photography, makeup and hair, etc. 

• If you are a numbers person like me and want concrete reviews or ratings with supportive evidence before making a purchase then look no further than Wedding Wire:  http://www.weddingwire.com/
• Wedding Wire helped me find a highly rated make-up / hair professional in the area where I was getting married.  Knowing this information saved me money on transportation costs and save me worry on whether the professional was worthy.