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Mrs. Pencils, Washington DC/Frederick, MD Age and Occupation: 24, Program Director, Education Non Profit Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Administrative Assistant, Ocean Conservation Non Profit Engagement Date: July 26, 2008 Wedding Date: May 2010 Venue: Morningside Inn About Me: I'm a nerdy Northwestern girl who always knew she was meant to live in the East, harboring a deep love of ice cream, underwear, Diet Coke with a splash of Coca-Cola, pashminas, scrapbooking, stationery, wall calendars and books written for preteens. I think every day should include good thin crust pizza, chocolate, an obscure historical monument, lots of laughter, a dash of wedding planning and, of course, amazing Mr. Pencils! I'm loving the adventure of planning a Maryland wedding and Rocky Mountain reception, and most of all, I just love love!
About Mrs. Pencils

Mind the Wedding

January 30th, 2010 @ 11:25 am by Mrs. Pencils

Mr. Pencils received his degrees, and used to work, in conflict resolution. One day, over a year ago, he came home from work with a new tool: Mindmeister. You know that I am a words person—I deal in letters rather than images. Mindmeister is made for brains like mine. It’s an online website that allows you to build mind maps for your projects, plans, feelings, thoughts, issues, budget—whatever! (Mr. Pencils tried explaining how they use the tool in conflict resolution, but it was like I was listening to Papa Pencils—a nuclear physicist—explain how nuclear reactors measure… something… there was a buzzing sound and I forgot it all. Apologies!)

Mr. Pencils recommended that I use it to help me flesh out my ideas for the wedding, as we were in the very initial stages of planning and I had lots of ideas floating around. I spent a night creating my initial wedding mind map, and this is what I had (you can click both photos for larger versions):

Mind the Wedding :  wedding resources Picture0255 Picture0255

I was thinking about simple things like who to include in the bridal party, what date and location we should choose and the types of food (in general) we wanted. This was VERY initial—we were still trying to figure out the types of venues to search for (garden, vineyard, etc.) and how we would organize our bridal party.

In recent months, the mind map has transformed into something more like this, though I add more things each week:

Mind the Wedding :  wedding resources Picture0256 Picture0256

*screen shots by yours truly

In general I am an organized person, and I love finding new ways to plan and organize my thoughts for the wedding. I can jot things down and add them to the mindmap later, and if I had an iPhone, I could download the app and use it on the go! (Alas, no Blackberry app, but it’s still an awesome planning tool!)

How are you keeping your thoughts and ideas for the wedding organized and coherent?

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25 Responses to “Mind the Wedding”

1 2 

1.
Miss Giraffe
Bee
Miss Giraffe (message)  4,216 posts, Honey bee

What a hip tool! And you look so organized!
I can’t wait to check it out!

 
2.
Mrs. Mouse
Bee
Mrs. Mouse (message)  5,844 posts, Bee Keeper

That’s really cool! I’m such a lists person–this software would be perfect for me!

 
3.
Guest Icon
Guest
Natalie

I am using google docs and google reader. I have a list of things in google docs (and created a form for family to use, to get guests names/addresses/etc) - I can keep it to send shower invites, and thank-you’s, too. I use greader to star blog posts I like.

 
4.
littlemissmoo
Member
littlemissmoo (message)  3,006 posts, Sugar bee

This is an awesome tool! I love love love it. I might have to check out that iPhone app….

 
5.
Yola
Member
Yola (message)  28 posts, Newbee

Great idea, using mind maps its very easy. I’m not using anything yet but for the las 3 months sure i will need one of those.

 
6.
gill84
Member
gill84 (message)  725 posts, Busy bee

That is really neat! I just have a word document with lists of decisions under various categories and check marks when I have made decisions on them. Coupled with an excel file of our budget has been my loose way of hopefully not forgetting anything.

That program looks awesome though - glad it’s working for you!

 
7.
Member Icon
Member
KMSull (message)  6,442 posts, Bee Keeper

This is SO COOL! Why did I never think to do this? So, so smart.

 
8.
mimi06d
Member
mimi06d (message)  646 posts, Busy bee

Very Cool!

 
9.
bluestuff
Member
bluestuff (message)  254 posts, Helper bee

This is truly awesome! My brain understands this so much better than lists!

 
10.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Parfait (message)  1,755 posts, Buzzing bee

That’s so neat! I never look at the documents I make/keep on my comp, so I carry around a small notebook–gives me a chance to use all my colorful pens. : )

 
11.
Member Icon
Member
Jukika (message)  30 posts, Newbee

Miss pencils, I think you should definitely check this website out as well: http://www.mywebspiration.com/

I use it for a very similar process, and it’s beautifully colorful and has lots of linking option! (arrows, different lines, etc)

 
12.
Miss Chicken Wing
Member
Miss Chicken Wing (message)  1,225 posts, Bumble bee

Wow, this is so awesome!!! It’s really different, but your mind works a lot like mine, so that’s cool!

And, @Jukika: Thanks for that tip, too!

Way cool, ladies, way cool!

 
13.
Guest Icon
Guest
Tessa

Thanks for this, what a great find :)

 
14.
Miss Nachos
Bee
Miss Nachos (message)  1,733 posts, Bumble bee

I actually use that program at work! That and excel are my go to programs for organizing my brain. Great minds think alike!

 
15.
Guest Icon
Guest
Amber Gillette

I love the idea behind MindMeister! I checked out the website, http://www.mindmeister.com/ but was disappointed when the free account only lets you have 3 free maps…as a bride I don’t think that is enough. Its a great tool though if you want to spend $59 a year to get more maps. And I wonder if they will come up with an app for Blackberry?

Check out my wedding site: http://www.ambergillette.com/charmed_city/index.html

 
16.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Scissors (message)  7,343 posts, Bee Keeper

That’s so awesome. My dad’s doing a path-planning sort of thing for us. I just smile and nod.

 
17.
tea
Member
tea (message)  7,263 posts, Bee Keeper

that’s a neat new toy! i wouldn’t have thought to use a mind map like that

 
18.
Miss Pug
Bee
Miss Pug (message)  3,753 posts, Honey bee

how cool! it must be really fun to see your thoughts about the wedding mapped out like that (and it looks so organized!).

 
19.
Roux
Member
Roux (message)  1,281 posts, Bumble bee

Oooh, I love mind maps, I use them for all my essay planning. Never thought to use them for wedding planning though! I’m using a big beautiful wedding folder designed by Kikki.K its currently an inspiration folder, but once I get the ring it will be my planning folder. I like to be able to write notes and scribble stuff out, so on paper works best for me. Although some stuff (budget, guestlist, etc) will probably be done on Excel and printed out.

 
20.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Frozen Yogurt (message)  2,685 posts, Sugar bee

I use a very similar program at work for project management. I never even thought about using it for the wedding, altough it is a major project I am managing. Hmm….

 
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Mrs. Pencils
Mrs. Pencils

Mrs. Pencils, Washington DC/Frederick, MD Age and Occupation: 24, Program Director, Education Non Profit Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Administrative Assistant, Ocean Conservation Non Profit Engagement Date: July 26, 2008 Wedding Date: May 2010 Venue: Morningside Inn About Me: I'm a nerdy Northwestern girl who always knew she was meant to live in the East, harboring a deep love of ice cream, underwear, Diet Coke with a splash of Coca-Cola, pashminas, scrapbooking, stationery, wall calendars and books written for preteens. I think every day should include good thin crust pizza, chocolate, an obscure historical monument, lots of laughter, a dash of wedding planning and, of course, amazing Mr. Pencils! I'm loving the adventure of planning a Maryland wedding and Rocky Mountain reception, and most of all, I just love love!

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