IN A CALCULATED EFFORT to make my name even more difficult to spell, I married my longtime beau in June.
In my newlywed delirium, I can only wonder how people ever successfully planned a wedding before the Internet.
While we didn’t actually make many purchases online, we did turn to the Web every day for research and guidance.
Planning a wedding is a wonderful way to gain pockets of knowledge you’ll never use again. It’s kind of like high school, except more expensive. But you’re a shoo-in for prom queen.
Royalty or not, the Web was essential for getting up to speed on all the little – and large – details. As neither my beau nor I had ever planned or dreamed of a big wedding, suddenly deciding to throw one spur of the moment (and three months ahead is spur of the moment if you want to get married in June) was more than a little imposing. Going into this, we had no idea what we were doing – not that that ever stopped us before.
Therefore, vendors with useful Web sites had a definite edge in our time-crunched agenda. For example, out of half a dozen millinery shops I was curious about for a headpiece, I ruled out five simply by going to their sites. They may do lovely work, but their online presences were full of amateur hour faux pas, such as photos that were blurry or took ages to download; no prices – not even general ranges – listed; or no information about where its pieces were made or how long they took to order.
The shop with the best site (www.ednamae.com) got my business. Smartly, the proprietor asked if I had seen the site. When I said yes, and that it directly resulted in my visit, she didn’t just pat herself on the back. She asked specifically what I liked and disliked about it.
The Direct Marketing Association, of course, realizes there’s big DM bridal opportunities. In fact, as I was writing this column (full disclosure: actually before my wedding) former DMA PR guru (and new public relations director for Harte-Hanks) Chet Dalzell forwarded me a press release on the joys of shopping for wedding gifts direct.
“I thought with your BIG DAY coming up, you could have some fun with these mail order wedding tips from our Shop-at-Home Information Center,” he e-mailed.
The release actually focused on the joys of winter weddings (now they tell me!) and how thanks to the Web, one doesn’t even have to leave one’s home to purchase a wedding gift.
I know some of our guests took advantage of the fact our registries were easily accessible online – a boon especially for out-of-town friends and family. Of course, there was still a huge contingent that didn’t seem to get the concept.
“But the store isn’t in their area,” my mom said of some relatives.
“I know,” I said, “but they could have their kids go online to print the registry out if they like, and then order by phone.”
(Blank stare from mom.)
“But the store isn’t in their area.”
Only in My Dreams
So the Web isn’t for everyone. But for us, it was grand. Online, I could even wistfully check out what had been my original idea for our nuptials: As I told anyone within earshot loudly and often when I got aggravated with the wedding planning, my original idea was running off to Vegas.
The Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel, where David Cassidy and Dennis Rodman got married (not to each other…not that there’d be anything wrong with that) has a site (www.vivalasvegasweddings) where you can view just about every type of theme wedding package available.
While the Intergalactic package was tempting (complete with transporter and either Captain James T. Quirk or Mr. Schpock to perform your ceremony), I’m a traditionalist. So naturally, I would have opted for the Elvis Special wedding package.
For only $440, the happy couple gets “use of the Elvis Chapel, one Elvis impersonator/minister to sing three songs and perform ceremony, witness, candlelight service, video of the ceremony, 24 poses and proofs, rose presentation, boutonniere, chapel fee, and courtesy limo service to and from the wedding chapel.”
It’s like I always say:
Who needs dignity when you’ve got the King?
Network
