The Nest

The virtual wedding

Posted Thursday, August 02, 2007 5:29 PM

Weddings can be a game. No. Really. For $5.99 I was able to download "My Bridezilla" on my cell phone. I found that sometimes my brain needs a break from the stress of my own wedding. And it's cheaper than therapy.

"My Bridezilla" is actually a pretty enjoyable game (created by AMA). I play the sister of the bride/maid of honor who works at a science lab and inadvertently spilled some concoction on the bride that turns her into a green monster when she gets mad. Some of my responsibilities are keeping her future mother-in-law from baking a home-made cake; chastising the groom for mistakes at his bachelor party; keep my divorced parents from killing each other; convincing an ex boyfriend (who I can't stand) to play music for the wedding; and calming down the groom's sister who HATES the bridesmaid dresses.

The whole thing is sort of like those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books I read when I was a kid. You pick a line of dialogue to continue the scene, which leads to another line. If I choose the wrong line, I anger the bride – too much anger and I have to replay the scene because the bride becomes a bridezilla. In the final scene, it turns out the groom's sister is the spawn of Satan, and my job is to anger the bride so that she turns into bridezilla and can fight.

In between doing that, there are two minigames: one involves tackling people who try to steal food, dresses and flowers; the other takes a little more brain power as I have to create cakes and antidotes in my lab. The cool thing is that once you beat the game (as I did last night while watching the Lifetime movie "I Me Wed") you can play the minigames as much as you want without going through the entire game again.

One of the funniest aspects of the game is that the wedding is for Elizabeth Olivia Greenberg and Jake Winston Weiss. Of course they are getting married at Sacred Hearts Chapel. You know, if you are going to give a couple Jewish names, at least have them get married at a hotel

The game on my phone differs from the one I can download to my computer called "Dream Day Wedding" a sort of "Where's Waldo" homage to the big day. In this case I am called to help create the perfect wedding, but in order to do so I must locate different objects and play a variety of games.

"Dream Day Wedding" is described as "A romantic seek-and-find adventure featuring beautiful graphics and unique puzzle games. Visit the florist, gown shop, bakery and other shops to make Jenny's wedding day a dream. But be warned! The challenging Wedding Crisis levels are sure to throw you for a loop. Can you make Jenny's Dream Day Wedding happen?"

You can play free for one hour or download it for $19.99 (although at the moment you can't play it on a Mac).

For those who prefer planning their own wedding to planning someone else's, there's also "My Fantasy Wedding"   

Since I am in the midst of planning my own already, I have no intention of buying this one, where I can "Plan every aspect of your big day-from choosing that special someone to your dress cake flowers music and more. Start by selecting your fantasy groom. Choose his tuxedo his groomsmen and of course pick your bridesmaids and their dresses. Next select from 4 magical locations including a fairytale castle summer meadow tropical beach or traditional wedding chapel! Then go shopping at the Wedding Mall to choose everything for your big day. Last watch your wedding unfold."

Something tells me that unless there's a rabbi, chuppah and family drama, there is little point in me playing this game (although it might be a fun treat after the nuptuals are over). And, like Dream Day wedding, the game offers a free one-hour trial -- or you can download it for $19.99 (sorry again Mac users).

I'm right on target with my wedding planning list, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't be able to play around with someone else's (even if it is virtual).