For do-most-of-it-yourself brides, wedding planning means lists, lists and more lists, with some spreadsheets thrown in for good measure. There are also the long, endlessly pored-over documents of vows, readings, even toasts. Did I mention lists?

Enter Google Docs, the search company's free, easy-to-use online document software. With templates for the spreadsheet-challenged and a slew of pretty Web tools, the service is like the perfect bridesmaid. She's calm, collected and full of good ideas but not overly pushy, letting you steer the ship. She's there when you need her.

I started earnestly planning my April 2011 wedding around this time last year. After lots of pen-on-paper scribbling, I decided to join the 21st century and move my planning online. Do you have a wedding, civil union or other commitment ceremony coming up this year? Let good old Google help.

I picked Google's tools over dedicated wedding-planning Web sites such as The Knot for a few reasons:

- I didn't want to be bombarded with girly girl ads, think-inside-the-box advice and expensive "must-have" lists. No flower girls, cutesy favors or bright bridesmaids' dresses for us (though we did have bridesmens' suits).

- I didn't want to join a site that asked for my full name, address and other personal information. I didn't see why I should have to provide all that. The Knot's privacy policy had not been updated since 2008. It says it participates in Facebook's Beacon sharing program, which was shut down more than two years ago over privacy complaints. Time for an update, perhaps?

- Finally, I've been using Gmail since 2004 without a hitch (I'll just let Buzz slide). I saw no reason why I shouldn't let Google help me get hitched.

To start, I armed myself with a to-do checklist from the popular wedding blog Offbeat Bride -- another invaluable Web tool for...