Programmed For Success

A variety of

software

programs

can help

organize

wedding

s

G

nest lists, checklists, gift lists, de-
posits and balances...the details sur-
rounding planning a wedding can
create a maze of paperwork and confusion
unless you stay organized. Computers add,
subtract, and organize all kinds of details,
and now...plan weddings!? Yes, computer
software companies are introducing pro-
grams that organize the process and gener-
ate reports to track progress in different areas.
Like any software, choosing the right pro-
gram can be a project unto itself. Since many
of these programs are new, they are difficult
to critique. The best advice is to evaluate
the software based on your needs and your
computer's capabilities. For example, some
programs require a lot of memory and would
be too large for certain computers or would
slow down others.
So, specifically, what do these programs
do? Quite frankly, almost everything except
walk down the aisle! One company, En-
chanted Software in Austin, Texas, books
its program as "help for couples who can't
afford a professional bridal consultant." That
program was actually conceived by bridal
consultant Juanita Benzer.

a Profess Des igned by
ional Bridal
Consultant

Some common features of wedding plan-
ning software include:
• Managing budgets (deposits, balances
due, totals)
• Tracking guest lists (who's invited,
RSVP's, etc.)
• Organizing gifts received and thank-you
notes sent
• Planning schedules/reminders of things
to do and much, much more!
Benzer's program, An Enchanted Wed-
ding, is available on Windows (IBM com-
patible) or Macintosh for 549.95 to $69.95.
This is a large program and requires a min-
imum of 4 megabytes of RAM. The pro-
gram can also run on "virtual memory" - by
tricking the computer into thinking it has
more memory than it does - but this could
make the computer slower. Some of the pro-
gram's special features include printing en-
velopes, answering popular questions, and
tracking the service professionals you'll be
working with (entertainment, flowers, etc.).
"Newly engaged couples' excitement
about wedding plans quickly fades when
they encounter overwhelming expense and
detail. This software helps the couple main-

details.

by Amy Kossoff

tain their set budget by tracking each ex-
pense and keeping a running balance," said
Benzer. "Good planning alleviates unnec-
essary tension, so the couple can relax and
enjoy the wedding."
Benzer cautions, however, that the com-
puter can only do so much, and that it prob-
ably can't "eliminate those occasional
disagreements with parents and/or future
in-laws about...how many people to invite
or what color the tablecloths should be."
Another program, Wedding Workshop,
is available for Windows and Macintosh, and
retails for $39.95 to 549.95. It was created
by a husband-wife team, Peter and Maria
Sumnicht, President and Vice President at
MicroPrecision Software in Santa Clara,
Calif. The program requires 2 megabytes
of RAM for Windows or 900K for Macin-
tosh.
Peter said the program is sophisticated
enough that 5 to 10 percent of the users are
bridal consultants. Basically, the program is
an on-line organizer. Maria said it keeps
track of "the whole kit and caboodle." She
explained, "It completely tracks the guest
list and even organizes who's coming from

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