As I remember back to planning my wedding this time four years ago (has it really been that long?!) I think how about how many details there are - photographers to interview, wedding cakes to taste (yum!) bridal gowns, bridesmaids dresses and wedding reception sites just to name a few.

So with that in mind, as promised, here are a few sites that I found that really make it easy to find wedding planning resources. First a few basics: applying for your marriage license. Whether you're getting married in your home state or planning a destination wedding http://www.weddingdetails.com/ has helpful links that include a table of marriage license requirements for each state (as a general guide). As suggested, please verify all requirements with the County Clerk in your wedding location at least one month in advance.

If you've just begun your wedding planning, or no matter where you are in the process, The Wedding Channel http://www.weddingchannel.com/?t:21:l:30246 has some cool tools that I really like. Their "Planning Tools" link is an especially useful section that allows you to create your own wedding page, make a personalized wedding checklist, budget calculator and guest list manager. I put this last item, the guest list manager, at the top of my "wish-I-had-known-about-it-when-I-was-planning-my-wedding category. This area allows you to enter the names and addresses of your guests and it keeps a running tally of who can and can't attend. It is a great way to give print outs to your calligrapher and catering manager.

Unitl next time happy wedding planning!

In my first blog I introduced myself, my husband and our wedding company - Gallery of Love. Our intent with these postings is to offer helpful wedding planning products, website reviews, gift ideas and for those bargain hunters out there - sales and specials! (We are admitted shop-a-holics and love to find deals on food, travel and entertainment - as we find great sites we'll be happy to pass along the deals).

In addition to reviewing bridal products, anniversary gifts and baby shower ideas, we also want this to be a forum for brides to swap ideas and discuss what's working (and what's not) as you plan your BIG DAY.

Also, I LOVE stories of how couples met and great marriage proposal tales. Did your sweetie pop the question on t.v. like the National Guardsman who proposed to his girlfriend on the NBC's Today Show http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/?ta=y this morning? Anyone have their proposal put up on the big screen at a ball game ? Did your guy go over the top or was it simply a tender moment between the two of you?

When my husaband Joel proposed it was a combination of sweet, tender and surprising. I call the story....

“HIRING” A SPOKESBEAR

My husband popped the question to me by having a stuffed bear do all the talking! Yup, he searched until he found a bear that had a recorder built into it then spoke into the bear’s paw to record his proposal. He later told me that he re-wrote and re-recorded his proposal 20 times!

As he handed me the bear he softly said, “push his paw.” I thought maybe the teddy would play a tune; never expecting that this toy would change my life! I think that I may have stopped breathing as the sweet words of my beloved’s voice filled the air. I pressed the recording over and over again barely believing what I heard!

The only downside to this occurred months later when, in an effort to cheer me up after I lost my job, my sweetie grabbed the bear from its place of honor and said, “look everything’s still o.k. listen to this!” He enthusiastically pressed the bear’s paw ready for the cherished words to work their magic. Then….nothing….no sound! “Ack!” I said sounding like a “Cathy” cartoon. “You erased my proposal!” I said mortified. Sure enough Joel had pushed the wrong paw, the one for "record" instead of play, thereby erasing everything! “Oh my God!” I said, “replace it! Tape it again!”

“I’ll write it over and do it even better this time!” he said. “No, you have to use the same words the same everything!” I insisted. It definitely was a memorable proposal!

Anyone out there want to share their proposal story?