October is right around the corner and if you are still looking for some inspiration for your fabulous fall wedding cake check out some of the photos below that were submitted by our users.
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Want to see more? Check out our photo galleries!
Cheers,
Alison
Thank you to our vendors who took the time to complete our “New Features” Survey. The feedback that we received was extremely helpful and we will be using it to prioritize some new features that we will be launching on the site in just a few weeks!
Congratulations to the 3 winners. Each will receive a free Vendor Profile upgrade!
1. Unmistakably You in London, ON, Canada
2. Devon Haupt, Harpist in South Bend, IN, USA
3. It’s All About the Cake in Dana Point, CA, USA
Cheers,
Alison
Wedding Mapper
Did you go with the traditional wedding cake or did you opt for the smaller less traditional cupcakes?
by Kristin Sardina
Public connectedness. It’s something we have come to take for granted in our world of sharing pictures or stories with internet “friends” or selling furniture or clothes to internet strangers. But the revelry still exists. The wonder of data sharing is quite a marvel and unlike any time in history technology has provided a universal means by which people—anyone—can share thoughts, feedback, and media.
It is with this in mind that we are staggered to acknowledge the presence of Wedding Mapper in over 15,000 local areas. Couples from all over the globe are logging in and communing with other couples in their local area through their local WedTalk and even with couples across the world in the global message board. Here, with strangers and yet trusted resources, future brides and grooms come together to get recommendations from each other or just discuss their “cold feet”. As one bride was brave to share: Cold Feet
Clearly a support and advice network has been established on Wedding Mapper. But beyond message boards, couples are able to go directly to a source if they believe they have something specifically in common with a couple whose wedding is displayed on the site. Through “Ask a Question” a bride in Singapore can go directly to another bride and say, “Hey! I love your dress! Where did you get that?” or, “Your pictures are amazing. Who was your photographer?” And the couples are more than willing to respond with help. In fact we have close to a 60% response rate for our “Ask a Question” responses, often with one or both parties providing the other with their private email address to take the conversation “offline”. They don’t even know each other!
Given the degree of ubiquitous, unencumbered internet sharing and trust that Generation Y and Z partake in, provokes the question of whether these generations will be more trusting than the generations that went before them. Certainly finding roommates through Craigslist or partners through Match.com further proves the initial trust in human goodness; Wedding Mapper leverages that generosity as well.
Always the bridesmaid and never the bride? Or now you are the bride but are cognizant of asking too much from your bridesmaids? Our wedding expert, Sharon Naylor can help you. Newly off the press her book, Bridesmaid on an Budget, available on Amazon, provides a plethora of information for savvy bridesmaids and conscientious brides.
Given that 67% of women will be a bridesmaid two to five times in their lives, spending on average $800 per wedding on Bachelorette parties, hotels, gifts, dresses, and salon expenses, according to figures from theweddingreport.com, the knowledge provided in Naylor’s book is information all women should heed. In Bridesmaid on a Budget, Naylor offers tips on where to find the best, most affordable dresses and accessories; how to plan fantastic (but low-cost) showers and bachelorette parties; how to give a great wedding gift without emptying your pocketbook; how to minimize the extra expenses of a destination wedding; and more. For the almost 10 million women per year who become one, Bridesmaid on a Budget is an indispensable guide to being a brilliant bridesmaid—without breaking the bank.
For more advice on bachelorette showers, bridesmaid dresses, colors, and anything else you seek answers to, you can ask Sharon Naylor directly in our “Ask The Expert” section on Wedding Mapper here.
We had such a good response to last year’s end of the year promotion that we are offering it again for 2010.
Upgrade to a one year paid profile and receive the rest of 2010 FREE! That means pay once now and you will not be billed again until January 2012!
Wedding Mapper offers two vendor profile options, each includes a full page overview with photos and a lead generation link to your website plus the additional benefits listed below:
Basic Profile – $200/yr
- High quality full page overview with photos and link to your website
- Priority list placement
- Additional advertising service area
- No “Vendor Spotlight” advertising placed on your Profile
- Photo integration within local photo galleries
Premium Profile- $500/yr
- All benefits of Basic Profile +
- Priority listing above Basic Profiles
- “Special Offer” links on your Profile
- SEO link on Wedding Mapper home page
- Only $34.34/month for 14+ months with promotion
Wedding Mapper continues to be an industry leader in SEO. Over 300,000 visitors come to the site each month as a result of a wedding related search. Make sure your business is seen by these active and engaged brides-to-be!
Cheers,
Alison
We are proud to announce that we have just launched some new wedding website designs from our invitations partner Minted (www.minted.com). Each design comes in 3 colors and has a matching wedding invitation on the Minted site. Check them out here!
Minted Fireflies
Minted Cocktail Hour:
The Financial Aspects of Your Big Day
Did you know that the average wedding in 2009 cost $27,500? And that is down from 2008 levels.
Bottom line- you may want to start saving the moment you or your child is asked out in 6th grade.
Where to begin as you sketch out your wedding? We outline some steps below.
Decide What You Will Spend
1. Total: Decide on the total amount of money you are able to spend on a wedding.
2. Budget: Make a Budget for 80% of that total because, the reality is, you will go over your budget.
3. Help: If the two of you are going at it alone, or if you are fortunate enough to get help from family, you will need to know the amount all parties are willing to put in up-front. This may seem awkward at first, but it will save you headaches and heartaches later. Remember money promised is different than money in your hand. People’s financial situations can change and the amount they (or you) are willing to spend can change.
Tip: Many people rely upon receiving money as gifts as a way to pay off wedding expenses. Don’t do this. It’s very unpredictable.
4. Question Your Budget: Do you want to spend this much money on a wedding? Would you rather use this money for a down payment on a house or pay down your student loans?
Begin to Budget
1. Determine Your Priorities: Where do you want to splurge, where are you content paying market price, and what are willing to do on the cheap?
Tip: Don’t forget about the Honeymoon. Good news is that you can now register for your Honeymoon at a site such as Traveler’s Joy.
2. Invest Time Before Money: Do a good amount of research on all of your options. There are always less expensive options that may not sacrifice quality.
Tip: Seasonally available resources. For example if you are getting married in Napa Valley in the summer, roses will be cheaper than orchids that you must fly in from Thailand
Tip: Locally available resources: There may be beautiful town halls or other local venues open to you for free or at a deeply discounted rate. Ask about it.
Tip: Perhaps consider wedding insurance. Perhaps you would feel less stressed about a lost ring, tropical storm or sudden illness if you had wedding insurance. This could make a difference if the number you’re budgeting for is large.
Tip: On the day of the event you must have cash on hand. Vendors will expect tips so be sure to budget this in.
3. Set the budget before you set foot in a store or talk to vendors: For example, before you see any bridal gowns, communicate that you do not want to see any gowns above your price range. You run the risk of falling in love with a $15,000 gown and leaving no room in the budget for those monogrammed sweatbands you wanted for the after-party dance session.
4. Use Budget Sheets – There are many great sites with sample wedding budgets. In this example you can enter your total budget and check off the items that you want in your wedding. This tool will pre-fill numbers for you. It is then up to you to finesse that.
5. Use a Timeline for Your Budget – There are many wedding timelines and checklists detailing all of the steps you should be taking from 12 months out, up until the day of your wedding. Review this when putting together a budget as it will remind you of things, which may not be so obvious at the outset—like that last hair trim before the ceremony. It all adds up!
Related Articles: Wall Street Journal: A Lavish Wedding Costs More than You Think
Photograph taken by Liz Daly Photography
Hey Everyone,
We have just added discount coupon codes to the WedShop. Make sure you check them out before purchasing favors, accessories, flowers, and decor for your wedding. They can save you some big bucks!
Cheers,
Alison
After months of combing the web for unique favors, accessories, invitations and more, we are thrilled to launch our new online WedShop! You can find fun cake toppers from Toppers with Glitz, order personalized lip balm from Beaucoup Favors, buy rose petals for your ceremony runner from FiftyFlowers.com and much more. We also have a huge selection of invitations from Hello Lucky, Minted and Wedding Paper Divas! Please let us know what you think and if there is anything that you would like to see featured. We are adding more every day so keep checking back.
We are also excited to launch some new wedding website designs- we now offer over 150 unique designs. We are adding to our collection of wedding websites with matching invitations—check out our new Hello Lucky! inspired wedding websites with matching invitations.
View all of our wedding website designs >>
Also, if you need some help customizing your wedding map to fit with your invitations, don’t forget to check with us. We have a DIY section and also offer professionally designed options at very reasonable prices.
Cheers,
Alison
Wedding Mapper
