We have recently learned that due to their own economic realities, Distance Learning, Inc., the owner and operator of Scribe Studio, will be closing their site on May 1, 2009. This will not affect Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute, our Certified Wedding Planner students, or our other partners except to expedite a change that was already in the works prior to this announcement.

We have utilized the Scribe Studio online classroom environment for our students’ distance learning needs for the past several years, but due to the expansion of our own business, have been in negotiations with a replacement service that will better serve the needs of our students, graduates, and other partners.

Scribe Studio

The new online classroom provider will allow our students, graduates, and instructors to communicate, share, and participate in each others’ successful wedding planning businesses as well as have continued access to curriculum resources and continuing education courses.

As the transition date approaches, we will continue to communicate the process and details to you through email, newsletters, our blog, and our websites. Our goal is to make the transition seamless and simple for our students and other partners.

Brides.com Top 75 Wedding Planning Web Sites

Brides.com, Condé Nast’s premier bridal destination, last week released its list of the top 75 web sites for wedding planning. Here are some of our favorites for the Certified Wedding Planner or those learning how to become a wedding planner in today’s tough economy.

Cost of Wedding, operated by The Wedding Report, not only shows couples the average wedding budgets per zip code, but also includes a wedding cost estimator that pinpoints the costs of each wedding budget item. Learn the marital legalities of your state with US Marriage Laws, which provides wedding license regulations from Alabama to Wyoming.

If you are in the market for unique wedding invitations at a very low cost, try Formal Invitations. In addition to affordability, they also offer recycled papers and customizable designs. Wedding Mapper provides mapping software to help you create wedding directions your guests will love as much as your invitations.

Use the free website application at eWedding or Wedding Book to communicate your wedding plans and ideas to family and friends. To capture the memories while preserving the budget, You Shoot will rent you digital cameras and then host your wedding photos online for sharing.

Color Hunter allows you to plan a color scheme by uploading an image and generating a complimentary color palette. To learn whether you have what it takes to design your own wedding florals, take the DIY quiz at Flower Bud.

Top Table Planner gives you drag and drop online seating planning software to arrange your tables, chairs, and guests until you find the perfect fit for your reception space. To find decorations and favors that will impress without breaking the budget, try Save on Crafts which everything from centerpieces and aisle runners to organza bags and vases.

The dress guide at The Dessy Group will keep bridesmaids in line and in fashion. The tuxedo boot camp at Groom Groove strives to do the same for the men in the wedding party. Nexxus and Smashbox both offer the do-it-yourself bride tutorial videos on hair and makeup techniques. Emitations offers an answer to recessionary accessorizing with faux jewelry that mimics top quality without costing you your bottom dollar.

For the bride and groom who know what they want to say but have not a clue how to say it, My Wedding Vows offers inspiration and samples for writing wedding vows. For the creative couple, DIY Bride offers advice, downloads, and links to solutions provided by their DIY members. The folks at Wilton not only provide wedding cake recipes and designs, but walk you through the kitchen cupboards to show you exactly what you need to create confectionery perfection.

Many of the sites on the Brides.com list offer unique solutions to many wedding planning issues, while others are geared toward themes such as eco-weddings. Take a few minutes to check out the entire list and let us know about your favorites, whether they made the top 75 or not.