After Matt and I got a date at the church, I immediately started the hunt for a reception site. I searched The Knot, used CitySearch and even Googled "Houston wedding receptions." My finalists were based 100 percent on what information their Web sites provided me. Did they have pictures? Was there a way to do an online request for proposal? (RFP is a popular abbreviation you'll see on a lot of sites ... I had to look it up.) What did previous weddings there look like? If a contender had fewer than five pictures up, they were out, back to the dugout, call your mom cause you ain't gonna hear from me again.

With gas prices soaring through the roof, the Web has become that much more important for round 1 of planning. Do you really have the money, or time, frankly, to drive to all of these places? Are you gonna blow through your precious weekends getting onto every major Houston highway? No. Snuggle up with your laptop and the last pint of ice cream you'll enjoy for the next year.

I found my wedding dress on the Web. My bridesmaids' dresses were only available for viewing on the Internet; they weren't even in-store. My guest list was once foolishly only stored on Google Docs (something I corrected once the evil, heart attack-inducing server error was fixed). Before hitting up a local florist, I made sure I knew the proper names of bouquets so I didn't sound like a total dunce and get screwed out of a good deal.

One of the most helpful things has been my knot.com page, which has all important information for guests. It really makes it easier to politely let people know where you are registered (it's not appropro to include this in your formal invitation). Also, "announcing" your engagement via Facebook is free**, and it almost ensures anyone who remotely care about will see it. (Thanks, news feed.)

The only thing I am promising I won't do is create a Facebook group that's like, "Adrienne's posse" or "The Cody Connection" or "Girls who are doing stuff for Adrienne M. Cody and are gonna LIKE IT." Firstly, not all of my bridesmaids log on every day. Second, some of Matt's groomsmen aren't even members. (I know right?) I trust Gmail to get all important messages out ASAP. Also, I have created a pink "Wedding!" label that marks all related conversations, and this makes me very happy.

OK, so maybe I am an Internet-crazed bride, but dang it, I'm saving cell phone minutes, gas and my sanity -- and there's not a lot of that to go around, mmmkay?

**Did you know you can announce your engagement FREE here too? Yes, on this blog. Look to your left ... and click on "getting hitched."