A wedding planner in your PC?

The elaborately calligraphed invitations continue to roll in and the crystal goblets are in the mail. Yes, wedding season is upon us.

To help those now in the throes of planning next year's nuptials, we tried our hand at playing wedding planner. Billed as "Software to Plan a Lifetime Together," Summitsoft's "Wedding Planner" ($29.99, PC or Mac) is available at Target, Wal-Mart, and the big electronics and office-supply stores.

It's easy enough to use, and if what's needed are elaborate spreadsheets to help track everything from the guest list to the bride's and groom's attire to honeymoon arrangements, look no further. There's an electronic adviser that offers tips (leave 12 to 18 months to plan) and trivia nuggets (the average wedding costs $20,000 to $30,000), and unpacks mysterious tradition (a single cake represents the bride). For an additional fee, friends and family can log onto a WedConnect server to help with planning.

But for couples desperate for assistance in scouting locations, identifying the perfect dress, or choosing between gerber daisies and orchids, it won't replace a flesh-and-blood consultant.

"Wedding Planner" may not be the most romantic computer program, but its calendar will keep future brides and grooms organized and the budget "wizard" will help make sure they stay within theirs. Grade: B