Be sure to catch the first three articles on Engaging the Internet this week, and enjoy the fourth installment in this series.

Familiarize Yourself with “Internetiquette”

There are many questions when dealing with the internet, the first of which being a controversy about sending online invitations for weddings. My personal opinion, and that of Peggy Post (writer of Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette) is that a wedding invitation should always be sent through the mail. Save the dates and shower invitations can be sent electronically, but use a site like Paperless Post (think super upscale Evite) instead of opting for a mass email.

When you are maintaining your own web presence, such as your wedding site or even a Facebook wedding group, remember that it is a representation of you, so be yourself! Give your opinions and talk about your finds and even your struggles honestly and from the heart … it is so endearing when someone can be themselves online.

A few words of caution, though, the first one being to refrain from using foul language … your future brother-in-law may find it funny, but your tech savvy grandmother may not. Also, I can not stress this enough, brush up on some grammar skills. Not that you have to be a perfectionist, but brushing up on some common errors (like when to use the possessive “your” verses the contraction “you’re”) will make for easy reading.

We definitely live in the age where brides can have their wedding planning at their fingertips on their Blackberry, and I encourage you to use this to your advantage!  What a great way to familiarize yourself with wedding trends while you are sitting at the doctor’s office or be able to scan photographer’s photos at 2 am. I wish you the best in your plans and in your future life together.

Welcome to our second installment of Engaging the Internet! Feel free to scroll back to yesterday’s posting to catch up and find out about perusing wedding websites and blogs to help you plan your day.

Create a Site of Your Own

Speaking of websites, what a great way to keep friends and family aware of your wedding than to come up with your own? Invitees who have not met the “significant other” often want to know more about them! Starting with the story of how you met and some details of your engagement will get you on the right path with your own site. A blog can also be included to keep guests updated with your progress in planning your wedding along with details after the wedding such as images from the celebration along with fun honeymoon pictures.

Details from the invitation can be posted on the site, such as date, time, location and directions. I know many times I have misplaced the map to the site, and having the option of pulling it up online from a smartphone is so easy and practical! Websites such as Nearly Weds even offer an online RSVP function to save on postage, or you could create your own free blog by picking a template from a site such as WordPress. Maintaining a wedding website is a great task to pass on to a tech savvy groom.

Utilizing tools such as Facebook can aid in planning a wedding and keeping key people in the loop. Imagine creating a page just for your bridesmaids where you can keep them informed of decisions like flower and dress choices. Plus, with a dedicated Facebook page, everyone can read the opinions and comments of others, which just adds to the excitement.

Besides the ones mentioned above, here are a few other resources for having your own wedding website …

The Knot

Wedding Window

Wedsite

Tomorrow we are taking a break from the internet to bring you “Newly Wed”, but look for segment 3 of Engaging the Internet on Thursday!

I love Bella Magazine!! If you are from the Central or Southwest Virginia area, you may already be familiar with this publication that reaches women and all of their varied interests … health, fashion, family, beauty, shopping, gardening, local events … etc. It truly is a great resource! Yes, I am bragging on the publication a little bit.

Each February, Bella has its annual wedding issue, and I had the privilege of writing an article on utilizing the internet to plan a wedding. It is too lengthy for one posting, so I am dividing it up into a week full of valuable information for brides concerning the internet. I hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed compiling the information for the readers of Bella.

Engaging the Internet

You are engaged … congratulations! Now you get to plan the biggest, most meaningful celebration of your lifetime. How fun! I remember planning my wedding. I had a stack of magazines by the side of my bed that I faithfully perused to find my vendors … and that was it. Truly, the tools available for brides have changed drastically in the sixteen years since I said my “I do’s”, and modern technology has brought today’s bride in touch with a wealth of ideas and resources literally at her fingertips!

Still, there is definitely a difference between having the world wide web available and also being able to utilize it to the best of your ability. From registries and blogs to invitations and etiquette, a whole world of knowledge can be opened up for you as you make decisions for your big day.

Utilize Wedding Websites and Blogs

One big resource today is wedding websites and blogs. Whether you check out national blogs, such as Style Me Pretty, or local ones, such as The Knot or Hill City Bride, perusing these sites will give you a lot of ideas!

They contain everything from theme weddings, color schemes, and DIY projects along with photographs of what every bride wants to see … real weddings in action! Taking the time to look through these resources will help you decide what you want your wedding to be like along with great tips, so be sure to bookmark anything that you come across that has that “wow” factor.

These websites can also help you find the vendors you need with their resource sections. For vendors, having a website is a must, and utilizing the internet allows you to narrow down your search to the few vendors that meet your needs. Many vendors also include online calendars so that you can check availability before you send them an email or contact them by phone. Having this option saves time verses running around for appointments with eight different venues.

Besides the ones mentioned above, here are some tried and true websites that I would highly recommend to help you with your wedding planning …

100 Layer Cake

Brooklyn Bride

Once Wed

Ritzy Bee

Ruffled Blog

The Bride’s Cafe

Wedding Chicks

Stay tuned tomorrow for our next segment of Engaging the Internet … there is still a lot of information yet to come! Meanwhile, pick up your latest issue of Bella, grab your favorite beverage and get ready for a feast of information. Enjoy!