Youa Vang, for Brides and Grooms 2011
Blogging in the late 90’s was for experts and researchers to share findings and for news systems to provide up-to-date information. It was only when several user-friendly sites were launched a couple of years ago that blogging became popular among the general public. I will provide several incentives for you to start a blog, shed some light on why it might be convenient for your wedding day preparations, and share some information on free blogging tools.
In preparation for their big day, many couples are already reading blogs and doing much of their research online. In doing so, everyone’s first impression will be that blogging is only done by professionals to promote a product or service. What you might not know is that about 72% of blogs are written for fun and do not generate any income.
So why should you start a blog for your wedding? A blog is a great way to share detailed information, directions and photos of the location, especially if you are planning on a destination wedding. You can share information with your out-of-town guests about recommended hotels, restaurants and things to do.
Secondly, most blogs have an option for readers to leave comments on posts and photos, so share your choices for color, floral ideas, thoughts, happenings and anything else you want to get feedback on. Family and friends may provide tips and tricks that you may have not thought of, or someone might share an idea on ways to save. Also, if something becomes difficult or you are experiencing some frustrations with the whole planning process, blog it and get responses and support from your loved ones.
A blog is also a convenient place to list links to your wedding registry, other contact information, and share stories about your histories. After you have been blogging for a while, your personality and voice will come out in your blog. Family members and friends will find the blog valuable in getting to know you and perhaps be able to customize their wedding gift even more to your taste. Your blog can also be used to connect with that distant cousin or friend whom you have not talked to for a while but would like to invite to your wedding. As you recap your days and stories, your readers will be able to catch up on the things they have missed out on and have something to talk about at the wedding.
So how do you start a blog? There are many user-friendly blog sites out there and the right one for you will depend on whether you like to write or just want to post lots of pictures. Although there are several sites you can choose from to host your blog, some of the top-rated blogging sites include: Blogger.com, WordPress.com, Tumblr.com, and Posterous.com. All you need is an email address and you can start blogging within a matter of minutes. They all feature very user-friendly interfaces as well as customizable themes. Blogger is known for ease of use and simple drag and drop options; you can be blogging within fifteen minutes.
WordPress is a little more time consuming, but its hundreds of customizable themes and plug-ins give you the opportunity to make your blog unique. WordPress also has a very large community of users that will assist you if you need help.
If you are not the type who likes to write, Tumblr and Posterous may be for you. More for the quick blog or update, they work like a cross between a status update on your social sites and a blog. Tumblr focuses on media posts like photos and videos, and with Posterous you can do everything from your email. The way to sign up a blog with Posterous is to send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The only real work you have to do is set it up afterwards, but then you can start blogging immediately through your email.
One of the top national wedding sites in the online community is TheKnot.com; many couples go there to find a starting place. What you might not know is that they also provide several tools for you to share your wedding details on a personal wedding page. If you are already on Facebook and prefer not to create a brand new account, The Knot has a very popular application called the WeddingBuzz that will allow you to do all the same things. On Facebook, you can also just write ‘Notes’ and update your friends that way too; a blog is just one option that will allow you to customize and really show yourself.
So whether you decide to commit to a really nice blog or just one where you are more likely to share photos and quick information, a blog is a great way to keep friends and family up-to-date and share events up to your special day as well as the actual wedding. Your blog does not have to end with the wedding; you can easily update the theme, headers and other information to post pictures of your honeymoon. As time passes, share your plans for a home, a baby and the endless stories you and your spouse will stumble upon on your journey. In the end, you become the expert that will keep your family in the know.
Offbeat Blogs and Twitters
BrideTide.com – a wedding blog itself – recently listed its Top 100 Wedding Blogs (and Twitters.)
Here are the “offbeat” resources to follow:
Rock ‘n’ Roll Bride
http://www.rocknrollbride.com/
http://twitter.com/RocknRollBride
Offbeat Bride
http://offbeatbride.com/
http://twitter.com/offbeatbride
The Unbride
http://theunbride.com/
Anti-Bride
http://www.antibride.com/
http://twitter.com/antibride