Why Wedding Blogs Are Better Than Wedding Magazines

Today, I'd like to cover a topic that is casually talked about but rarely gets the attention that it deserves. It's a sore subject for some, and I know I'll probably get some interesting feedback for my opinions, but I think the wedding industry owes it to itself to acknowledge the obvious:

Wedding blogs are better for wedding planning than wedding magazine print media.

In the past year, we've seen a few of our favorite (and very popular) traditional wedding magazines close their doors due to various reasons. Lack of advertising interest, supply price increases and loss of readership are definitely factors in their demise, but the main catalyst in each case is the shying away of print media by today's planning brides. And for good reason. The wedding industry is a constantly evolving environment that caters to a very targeted niche. When the majority of that targeted audience demands something, the industry should take note and work to satisfy that want.

Today's planning bride are significantly different from the brides of yesterday. The DIY bride movement is in full force and the dedication to tradition is evolving into new traditions. Personalization of a wedding is the new standard and brides are eager to find fresh inspiration to fuel their unique creativity. The industry took note, and along came wedding blogs to fill the void of delayed inspiration.

In 2002, there were less than 15K total blogs on the Internet. In 2009, that number was 27 million. Each offering a personal view on a broad topic. And within all those blogs, the wedding industry was lucky enough to inspire a collection of wedding blogs that, for awhile, unknowingly and effectively advanced the wedding industry to the next level. Inspiration and advice was now readily available 24/7 and most importantly, it was free. No longer did a bride have to wait for the next issue of their favorite wedding mag to be delivered or show up on grocery store rack to motivate their planning process. Wedding blogs were just a click away and she knew it was just a matter of minutes before brand new inspiration or advice could be found. The delayed inspiration problem had been solved.

Where print media left off, wedding blogs took over. Both magazines and blogs provide bridal information to brides, but wedding blogs do it more effectively. How so?

Wedding blogs are constantly updated. And just as important, they can easily be edited after publish. Adding on extra information once created is a luxury that every blog has. Being able to include continuous updates or findings inside a post is a direct reflection of blogs supplying the most up-to-date information to it's intended audience. Fresh info is good info.

Wedding blogs are cutting-edge and diverse. Rock n' roll brides, vintage brides, eco-brides, budget-conscious brides and every other bride can usually find a wedding blog that speaks directly to them. Wedding magazines try their best to cover each category with broad stroke articles but usually fall short. Niche specific wedding blogs allow a personal touch that won't be found in mainstream print media. Individual opinions and reviews are what fuel these category wedding blogs.

Wedding blogs are interactive. You can't comment on a print article. You can't express your opinion and instantly share it with others. It's a one-way street when dealing with wedding magazines. They decide what they think their subscribers will like and ship it to your door once a month. Not satisfied, simply wait another month and try your luck. Or, you could just do a little research and find a wedding blog that consistently delivers relevant information that you can use. And that takes me to my next point:

Wedding blogs allow sharing. If you find a cool wedding project or picture that you want your best friend or bridesmaid in another city to check out, simply email to them. Or Facebook them. Or tweet them. Within a few minutes, you can share you finding and get the feedback you want. Unless your friend has the exact wedding magazine in their hand as you do, it would be pretty hard to share that info instantly. Planning brides love efficiency.

Wedding blogs make finding information easy. Instead of tearing out pages of a magazine and storing them in a folder or box, you can just bookmark the exact blog post that you want saved and access that information at a later time. Oh, and the blog post might even be updated when you get back to it! Planning brides love organization.

Wedding blogs lead to other relevant resources. When blogs link to other bridal references, they instantly create a seamless path of information. One blog post may lead to another, then lead to a different blog and then ultimately provide a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to the reader. There are no links in magazines. No opportunity to delve further into a topic.

Wedding blogs are personal. Most wedding bloggers often includes links to their other sites, projects or products, enabling interested readers to pursue deeper relationships with that person/blog. A system of familiarity forms and a blog quickly becomes much more than just written advice and photos. It becomes trustworthy. It becomes a daily visit to a familiar place. Reader loyalty is what separates a good wedding blog from a great wedding blog.

Wedding blogs are free. Almost every single wedding blog on the Internet today is totally free from any subscription fees, renewal notices or annual billing. Wedding bloggers don't charge their audience for their interest in their blog. The information is shared with the intention of allowing visibility to every single person who visits their site, free of charge. This is a completely different business model from print media. Instead of relying on paid subscriptions, blogs rely on creating consistent content and building their audience the to create their value. There is no risk to the reader since there are no monetary barriers to cross.

So there it is. My personal opinion on why wedding blogs will continue to create the pulse of the entire wedding industry and how they are straight-forward better than traditional print media for helping today's bride plan her wedding. While a part of me was excited to write this post, a part of me was hesitant because I wanted in no way to dilute all the positive things that wedding magazines have done for our industry. It's simply a new era and it's time to acknowledge that wedding blogs are the chosen medium for the bride of 2010. Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you to everyone who is passionate enough to express their own personal opinions in our comments.

Together we can advance the wedding industry.

Wedding Tips and Advice For 2009

Every so often, I catch myself jotting down bits of wedding advice that I feel might be beneficial to a planning bride or groom. While some of those little pieces of paper accidentally find their way onto the ground or in the trash, some bravely stick around and pile up patiently waiting for their moment to be shared. I'm proud to say that after some delay, I've put together a few of these to create a list of BrideTide wedding and bridal tips. My hope is that this list is useful and beneficial for planning couples everywhere. Enjoy!
Brides should remember to use a straw when sipping drinks to prevent from ruining their lipstick application.

Taller grooms better compliment a two-button tux jacket while shorter grooms
should opt for a one-button design.

Don't create your bridal registry too early. If you register for items too early, you will find that most of your selected items are either no longer carried or on clearance, which means those items will be harder to find by your wedding guests.

One bottle of champagne will yield approximately 5-6 flute glasses. Use this calculation when budgeting your reception wedding alcohol.

Before your wedding, make arrangements to have your floral decorations donated to a nearby nursing home or a local children's hospital. Flowers are meant to be enjoyed by everyone.

Engagement photos are not just a fun way to capture your love for one another, they also are a good opportunity to "learn" your wedding photographer in a casual atmosphere and create a common chemistry that will be used on your actual wedding day.

A small wedding cake can be made to look bigger and more extravagant by strategically adding flowers, ribbons or other themed decorations.

Pick out your wedding gown first. Decide on your hairstyle second.

One way to keep children guests entertained at a wedding is to provide a basket full of coloring books or printed games/mazes that are easily accessible.

Hydrangea is a type of flower that is is often overlooked but works beautifully for a wedding centerpiece filler.

Twice a year, have your ring professionally cleaned & inspected by a trusted jeweler to make sure your diamond is properly secured and normal wear & tear repairs can be done.

Learning to dance for your wedding is a special gift that you and your spouse-to-be can give to each other. If both of you feel confident and poised while dancing, it will ensure that your very first dance together as wife and husband will be a memory you and your guests will never forget.

Wedding vendors eat too! Remember to include your wedding photographer, DJ and other vendors in your overall reception food count.

The metals of an old ring can be melted down to make a new one.

If you are a DIY bride and are choosing to create your own floral arrangements, be prepared for a lot of prep work. You’ll have to clean, trim, and keep the flowers alive while timing the bloom for two to three days.

Enter all the wedding contests you can find! Not a week goes by that I hear about a luck couple winning something that helps improve their big day. People actually win these contests.

Have one of your bridesmaids designated as the "posture police". This person is in charge of reminding you a few times throughout the night to sit up and stand straight to ensure better photo opportunities. When she reminds you, you remind him.

No matter what you hear, hiring a wedding planner is still the easiest way to have an organized, stress-free wedding.

Registry information DOES NOT get printed on your wedding invitations. Instead, include that information on your bridal shower invites.

Remember to make sure your bridal party eats and has nourishment throughout the entire wedding day. Keep it light and healthy to keep everyone happy and content.

Wedding magazines are nice but wedding blogs are better. By the time a printed wedding magazine gets published, printed and placed for retail sale at the local newsstand, the info and trends inside are usually older than what would be found on a freshly updated wedding blog. Inspiration is constantly evolving.

Is it necessary to write thank-you cards to my wedding vendors after our big day?

OK, so the wedding is over, you're back from your honeymoon and it's time to start writing some thank-you cards to the people that helped make your day special and memorable. One common question that a lot of brides ask is:

"Do I have to send a thank-you note to my wedding vendors?"

In short, no, it's not necessary to send your wedding vendors a thank-you card, but, personally I feel it is an overall nice gesture that is often overlooked by most newlyweds. Wedding professionals do a lot of behind-the-scene work that if done properly, most people won't even notice. That fact by itself is a reason to send them a quick note of appreciation. But, what if your vendor went above-and-beyond what you would call exceptional service?

Want to know a little secret: Wedding pros LOVE testimonials!

One great way to show a wedding vendor some gratitude for their outstanding service at your wedding is to post some stellar reviews of them on some popular wedding vendor rating websites such as Wedding Wire, Project Wedding or Yelp. Unlike personal written thank-you notes, customer testimonials are a public recommendation to potential clients that a certain vendor is professional, reliable and newlywed approved. These sites are fast becoming popular resources for planning couples that are trying to decide which vendors to choose and work with in their local area. Your online review and testimonial not only helps build their professional credentials, it creates an atmosphere of helping, support and guidance. And if you ask me, every planning bride would appreciate more of that.

Together, we can advance the wedding industry.