Articles

Wired weddings:

Couples tying the knot go digital with customized wedsites
by Lauren La Rose, The Canadian Press

TORONTO – Half of the guests invited to the summer wedding of Alana Dalglish and Blair Sutherland have already RSVPd without mailing in a response card – or receiving a posted invitation for that matter.

The couple opted to create their own personal wedding website allowing the 120 guests to view the invitation and RSVP for the June 25 ceremony online.

When they mailed out their Christmas cards, Dalglish, 33, and Sutherland, 32, included save-the-date magnets for the wedding with the web address, asking guests to RSVP on their site since no paper invitations would be mailed out.

Dalglish, a registered massage therapist, said the decision to go the digital route stemmed from a number of factors, including wanting to keep the wedding as eco-friendly as possible and to reduce postage costs. Sutherland, an IT specialist, said not having to worry about monitoring the mail for RSVPs was also a plus.

But there’s more to their website than just fielding guest replies. Dalglish and Sutherland have posted details on how they met, mini-biographies of members of their family and wedding party, and even a section inviting visitors to submit and share recipes.

They keep friends and family in the loop with other events in the lead-up to the wedding. They’re holding a fundraiser to benefit a village school in Mexico, near the eco-resort where they’ll be spending their honeymoon. Individuals can donate to the cause online. There are also plans in the works to have a live feed of their nuptials.

Dalglish said they see their group of friends as a community, and wanted to give them – as well as those not able to attend their ceremony – a chance to be actively involved in their celebration. Using online tools allows them to share more information than they could in a paper invitation and helps makes communications easier in the process, she noted.

“For me, I wasn’t sure if it would be worse having the website because it’s sort of easy for people to forget about it,” she said in an interview from Mississauga, Ont., west of Toronto. “But because we’re updating so much, we’re constantly emailing people saying, ‘Hey, we’ve updated this page on our website, check it out,’ and we’re constantly getting feedback from our friends.”

The couple is among a steadily growing number incorporating the use of what some have dubbed “wedsites” as value-added and, at times, integral tools in helping plan and share information leading up to and including their big day.

Dalglish admits their parents were initially “really resistant” to the website idea.

“They were just like, ‘I don’t know, people might not be able to handle it,”‘ she recalled. “And we’re like, ‘Trust us, it’s going to be totally fine’ – and it has been.”

The site also keeps the couple on their toes to ensure they keep the details current, Sutherland said.

“It’s really been an integrity tool for us,” he said. “The second we put the website up, right there, there’s no way we can procrastinate.”

Michael Benson and his then-fiancee, Jennifer, were looking for ways to cut back on costs for their 2002 wedding and save on postage in the process. So Benson, who owned a software development company at the time, decided to build an online form for their guests to fill out as a way to collect RSVPs.

“““““““““““““““““““““““““““““

Easy Methods For Getting Less Expensive Wedding Gowns

Getting a magnificent bridal gown is at the very top the list for most would-be brides — even when it is a wedding on a budget. Luckily, there are indeed techniques to acquire cheap wedding dresses and keep within the spending budget. How, you wonder? Simple, by taking an unconventional approach and avoiding expensive custom made gowns which will sink your spending budget before you could bat an eye lash.

For anyone who is seriously on a restricted spending budget and would like to spend the absolute minimum amount of cash possible, then the choice must be relatives. When it comes to finding a fabulous & low priced bridal dress, your mom, grandma, or aunt can be a dynamite resource.

One of these ladies will in all probability have a bridal gown from when they first got married — a bridal dress that you might have the honor of wearing for your big day. If that’s the case, you could conveniently pay a reliable seamstress to make alterations in addition to improvements so that it fits you magnificently; in style and in size. Second hand wedding gowns will often be the best choice when trying to spend less.

Another wonderful method to acquire low-cost bridal dresses is by means of renting. Renting will allow you to get the dream wedding gown you have always sought, not to mention at a price you may easily afford. No, you won’t be allowed to keep the dress — but you WILL be allowed to use it for your wedding day for all to see. Be honest, do you actually believe it is economically sensible to purchase a dress you’ll only wear once? Here’s a hint: it is not!

It is critical to understand that cheap wedding dresses and used bridal dresses aren’t any less fabulous than the extravagant kinds. With a decent seamstress and a couple of bridal accessories, you can look incredible in any wedding gown you choose to don!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Create a Window to Your Destination Wedding

With destination weddings on the rise, it is becoming more and more important for couples to have a means for informing their guests of their upcoming wedding plans as well as provide recommendations for out-of-town guests.

Wedding websites allow your guests one-stop shopping when it comes time for them to arrange their travel plans as well as other details. You can be as specific as you wish and link your website directly to the hotel reservation pages that you would like to recommend to your guests.

You will find that having a website is not only a time-saver but a budget-saver as well. The multiple mailings that can sometimes become necessary to communicate with your guests can easily eat up a good portion of any wedding budget. Allowing your guests to RSVP online will also cut down on your wedding expenses. No need for RSVP cards! However, you can always order just enough for those guests who may not be web savvy.

Destination weddings have definitely become a way for couples to express their style in a less traditional way. If you choose to have your wedding in a destination location, try to make it a fun experience for you and your fiancé as well as for your guests.

Destination Wedding Tips
1. Location, Location, Location. When selecting a location, choose one that appeals to your tastes and wedding style. Keep in mind, however, that because it won’t be as easy as going down the street to the local church to attend your wedding, you’ll have to assume that your guest list may be smaller. You’ll need to get a good sense about the number of attendees you wish to have before selecting your event facility so you can be confident that it will be appropriate for the crowd.

2. Less is More. Destination weddings can be expensive not only for those getting married, but also for those attending. Try to be mindful of that when selecting your wedding site so those who are closest to you can afford to attend. Consider having your wedding during the off-season so costs will be lower. Traditionally, accommodation expenses are covered for the bridesmaids by the bride’s family and for the groomsmen by the groom’s family. All other guests should be responsible for their own expenses. Most hotels will work with you to offer group discounts.

3. Assist your Guests. You may know the location that you will be flying off to for your dream wedding like the back of your hand, but most of your guests will not. Your wedding website can be a tool to help you educate your guests about the area, local attractions, accommodation ideas, the weather and directions. Making their job easier will only amount in a larger turnout at your wedding. Use your website to remind them of the things they may not consider such as a passport if required for your chosen location.

You can also visit my Weddings_Away site for more info on Destination Weddings at

 http://www.netmarketfinder.com/away_weddings/

http://perfectweddingblogs.weddingwindow.com
© 2011 Wedding Window. All rights reserved.