Top 10 event-planning tools

From...

by Linda L. Grubbs

(IDG) -- It's summertime, and that means company picnics, family get-togethers, weddings, and all kinds of parties. If you're saddled with planning an event, kick back and relax; let your computer do some work for you. Save time and money by using the programs on this week's list to plan and organize your next event.

Track budget expenses, create personal letters, and make photographic name tags for that ten-year class reunion with Reunion Planner. My Bar/Bat Mitzvah Companion helps you plan out the candle-lighting service and select which music will be played during various parts of the ceremony. Put the bride at ease and create seating charts, customize maps, and thank-you cards with My Wedding Companion.

Top 10 event-planning tools

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1. Party Wizard: Need help planning your next party? Party Wizard features a database that keeps track of guests, seating arrangements, expenses, and more. It can generate a variety of reports, as well as mailing labels, RSVP lists, seating arrangement lists, and place cards.



2. Reunion Planner: Coordinate your family, high school, military, or business reunion with this event-planning program. Print photographic name tags for attendees. Import addresses from another program and create a souvenir book for guests. Track expenses with the budget planner. This trial copy limits your group to 10 names.



3. ESF's Wedding, Showers, and Invitation Clip Art: Make your invitations more eye-catching with one of these 25 hand-drawn, full-color PCX clip-art images. The set includes art for bachelor parties, baby showers, courtship, weddings, and more.



4. My Bar/Bat Mitzvah Companion: Planning a bar mitzvah is a breeze with this all-in-one planner. Create a to-do list, and set alarms and reminders for each item. Utilize the budget worksheet to manage your expenses throughout the entire process. Print out labels and envelopes for your guests. Select music from the included song list. Note: The trial version limits you to ten names.



5. 100 Proof Cocktail Planner: Want to know how to make a Harvey Wallbanger? A cosmopolitan? A Kretchma? This interactive, free planner will tell you that and much more to help you host your next cocktail party. It includes a list of bar tools, glasses, mixers, and garnishes for a well-stocked bar. It even instructs you on how to make cocktail hors d'oeuvres such as guacamole dip and baked Brie. Note: this program is advertising supported, so you'll see a banner ad at the top of the program.



6. The Complete Social Publisher: Choose from more than 350 embossed and preprinted paper designs to print announcements for or invitations to your special event. Choose the proper words for your wedding, graduation, birthday bash, or bachelor party. The application includes a built-in guest list for wedding planning that lets you indicate if the guest is a member of the wedding party or a friend of the bride or groom.



7. Greeting Card Creator: Create custom greeting cards for a party or holiday get-together. Once you go through the card-creation wizard, simply add a message, sound effects, clip art, or music. You can add your own images or photos, as well. The cards you create unfold just like a four-paneled greeting card. Note: The trial version includes five types of cards; once you register, the full version includes more than 500 cards.



8. My Wedding Companion: Keep track of budgets, guest lists, invitation responses, and more with this comprehensive wedding planner. Customize maps, thank-you cards, the reception menu, or your wedding program with the drawing utility. Print labels, reception lists, and reports, and use the Diagram Manager to design a seating chart. The download version limits you to 10 guests and 25 uses.



9. Poster: Combine graphics and desktop publishing to make stunning posters. With this program you can make really big posters, signs, banners, and murals. Text and graphics can be enlarged up to 9 feet by 9 feet and printed across multiple pages.



10. BarBack for Windows: View more than 3000 drink recipes, and add or remove recipes as you like. You can search by any combination of name, liquor, ingredient, glass type, and recipe. For example, you can make a list of all drinks that require a blender by searching the recipe field for the word "blender".

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