Using social media for your wedding

With all the social media tools out there these days, it’s no surprise that these tools are being incorporated into the wedding planning process. While there are some things that really should be avoided (hi, we don’t need you to create wedding hashtags and tweet updates throughout your ceremony), social media can be a really useful tool in terms of finding wedding resources and keeping your technology-savvy guests in the loop.


As a newlywed myself, I know that I used social media a lot to research potential vendors and ask them questions. That’s why when I launched Glass Slipper Designs, I created a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a blog so I can help brides see the work I’ve done, create a forum for brides to ask me questions and share general wedding trips and trends to help brides out in any way I can.

The Blue Nile Wedding Tech Series recently posted a blog post about the ways couples are incorporating social media into their wedding planning. Here’s their take on how social media can be used to help you with your big day:

1. Get in touch with vendors

As you plan your wedding, you’ll likely hire a team of vendors. Creating the right ream is important, and social media makes it easy to see vendors’ work and get recommendations from wedding veterans. For one thing, most vendors keep their social media channels more up to date than their websites or brochures.

2. Communicate with guests before the wedding

Keeping the lodging and travel information, registry information and information about the wedding party in one online place can help guests make their plans for your big day. If you use a Facebook Page or another wedding website that has a message board, it can also help them coordinate with each other.

Some popular free tools for creating a wedding web page include The Knot’s wedding websites and WeddingChannel.com.

3. Get inspired

Do you admire the work of a wedding planner you could never afford? Is there a vendor who works in another city who you wish worked in yours? Follow him or her on Twitter to get ideas that you can incorporate into your own wedding.

Wedding blogs are another great place for inspiration (most of their authors are on Facebook and Twitter, too). Some of our favorites include Once Wed, Always a Blogsmaid and Junebug Weddings.

4. Share your memories

Social media can be a great way for you and your guests to share photos, videos and memories. Here are four ways you might go about coordinating the effort:

• Ask your photographer to share photographs on Facebook: If the photographer takes a minute to tag you and your betrothed in a Facebook album, you can easily share the photos with your guests.
• Ask your guests to give their photos a particular tag on Flickr: That way all guests will be able to see each others’ photos — even if they’re not Facebook friends.
• Live stream your wedding: Guests who can’t travel will still be able to witness your big day if you use a service like Live Vows or webcastmywedding.net.