What Ways Have You Used Technology During Wedding and Wedding Planning?LCI Paper Blog

Recently, I read an Engagement 101 Mag article, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now update your relationship status. The subjects of the article, a Chicago, IL couple, had a non-traditional wedding. The bride said,

We didn’t have a first dance, or throw the bouquet or have a garter or anything like that, so why not change our Facebook status ceremoniously?

Like the Chicago couple’s wedding, my wedding is going to be non-traditional and my fiancée and I have integrated some technology along the way. I don’t think we’ll be including our Facebook relationship status updates in our ceremony, but I admit, the thought had crossed my mind. Perhaps sometime after the reception, when we have some quiet time alone, she’ll pull out her Palm Pre and I’ll pull out my iPhone and we’ll update from “Engaged” to “Married.” But here are some examples of ways we are using technology as we build up to our wedding:

On our direction card that was included in our pocket fold invitation, we showed a link to a password protected page on my blog where further information can be found about our wedding. There’s an embedded Google map, a link to a satellite image of the wedding site, a photo from the day of engagement, things to do in the area, information about a local hotel, and a comment area.

Engagement party at the beach The exclusive blog page was a nice idea, but these days, I think the online spot where people are really connecting is Facebook. A couple weeks ago, we had an engagement party at our favorite beach. Instead of sending out paper invitations like we did for our actual wedding, I invited my guests via e-mail. My fiancée invited her guests by sending messages to her friends on Facebook. Soon after the event, I posted some of the photos on my Facebook page. I’ve enjoyed reading comments from old friends and family members who might not have seen me in many years, and who now realize that I’m getting married. They know what I look like these days and what my fiancée looks like. Through seeing photos of our guests and their interactions with us, they can interpret the vibe of the day. I hope they can see the love and support that our friends and family gave us by being there and by interacting with us and one another. So many old friends have found me on Facebook. Although I’d like to make time to reach out to each of them on the phone someday, in reality, it’s probably never going to happen. There just isn’t the time in the day. Yet with Facebook, we’re able to connect on whatever level you might call it. To me, it’s still a meaningful connection that I just wouldn’t have without the technology.