It’s not news to announce that this is the Wedding Prep season. Many, many bridal shows are in swing, and it’s the time for spring editions of magazines to line the shelves. It’s also the time for many ‘09 brides and grooms to put the last details on their summer weddings.

I’ve been thinking a lot about wedding planning and the overwhelming amount of wedding information available in print, online, at venues and through word-of-mouth. It makes me think; could I plan this wedding entirely (or almost entirely) online? Wouldn’t it be so very new media, web 2.0 friendly, of me to at least try? Well brides-to-be I’m here to say YES! The web 2.0 wedding can happen, and if I have anything to do about it, it WILL happen!

Where to start?

Online Research
Obviously lots of wedding information can be obtained online. A great place to start is Theknot - it’s a one-stop shop for all wedding information, and there is location-specific information. Yes, this site is US heavy, but there are lots of Toronto pictures, venue and dress information. I’ve been using The Knot for colour theme and centerpiece ideas. The great thing is you can create an online scrapbook to store ideas you like - then come back later for them when you actually need them. Great for planning ahead!  Also, for local Toronto information, try Toronto Brides.

Deals, Deals, Deals
I’m a fan of the online contest - I like to believe that since the web contest is so ubiquitous with almost every TV show, magazine and major event, the odds are not bad that I might actually WIN something! The same is true for wedding related contests. There are contests for the chance to win a free honeymoon or dress, but there are also smaller opportunities, like free entry to the National Bridal show. Every little bit of savings helps!

Also, I don’t know about you, but searching for beautiful wedding gowns for an affordable price is one of my favourite new weeknight activities! (Inner geek seeping out).

Just one tip though: create an email address just for all your online wedding planning, and use that one when broadcasting your information in contests; weddings = money, which also means SPAM!

Venue planning
So far, I’ve done all my venue research online. I recognize that eventually I will have to actually visit the venue where I wish to hold the big party, but for now I love the opportunity to read reviews, check out many pictures, and break down costs for large and small Toronto venues before I spend all day long visiting venue after venue. Bonus! Many venues (including my - top - 3 choices for our venue) include full party package information online, so you can get to the bottom of taxes and hidden fees prior to the tour or meeting - great for the budget hunter!  It also helps to be ready with questions and prevents being blindsided.

Online Shopping
There are some great online deals to be had - if you can find a site offering free shipping or reduced rates (especially during off-seasons, like now!) you can purchase favours, cameras, and keepsakes for often MUCH cheaper than in party stores. TheKNOT has a deal on wedding cameras right now!  They also have some really cute small favours, many for $1 each or less

Wedding Website (aka the Wedsite)
This was the FIRST thing we decided as a couple (after saying YES!! of course). A wedding website is a great way to compile all of your wedding details online. It cuts down on the number of repeat questions (can I change from chicken to fish?), you can provide a clearly legible online map (how many times have you received the itty-bitty map attached with the RSVP card?), and links to your gift registry. My favourite part of our wedding website? The online RSVP! Our plan isn’t to send out stamps at all - why bother? Everyone can RSVP online, save some trees, and a few extra pennies for our wedding budget (that means more yummy FOOD!).

Where do you start with a wedding website?  I personally think designing your own template then attaching it to a wordpress blog is the way to go, but you can also find many free wedding website templates if you’re not feeling particularly geeky.

Wedsite bonus points:  Create an online photo album of photos of the couple, but use it after as a place for guests to upload their pictures from the wedding - that way everyone can share memories from the event, even the out of towners who couldn’t make it.

Come to think of it - maybe we’ll live stream our wedding… would you watch?

Entertaining, Uncategorized, Web 2.0 Add new tag, Being Orgainzed, Entertaining, Shopping, Web 2.0, Wedding

So I’m spending today researching all the restaurants that I want to attend during Winterlicious. It was recently brought to my attention that Winterlicious, while once a foodie dream, has now become a tired tourist attraction. Can it be? Some of the most popular, fanciest restaurants in Toronto, with price-fixe menus of either $25, $35, or $45 is a BAD IDEA? Obviously I’m new to the city, but it’s sad that such a fun event is something foodies are shying away from. Maybe it’s the newbie in me (and a little left over tourist), but isn’t going out for a fun, cheap dinner a great idea, no matter the reason?

I hear and totally understand the argument; that the menu often includes cheaper ingredients, that the service is rushed, and booze isn’t cheap – so the event can still end up hurting your wallet, and possibly disappoint your date. These points are valid – who wants to get all dressed up and excited to eat at the 5-Star restaurant du jour, only to get there and receive sub-par service? So the secret is out, and maybe the fun is over. But I can’t NOT try it, right?  I admit that will be one of the ones slamming the phone lines tomorrow morning, trying to secure a reservation – I’ll let you know if the meal lives up to my expectations!

Also – in a related reservation question – where is OpenTable and why is every Toronto restaurant not signed up yet? Come on, at least some of the small, cool places should be, instead of just the big famous restaurants? Toronto, you are an awesome tech community – we need the restaurant community to catch up, stat!!

Foodie

As a result of my recent move, I’ve had to seek out new food markets and say goodbye to my reliable shops…  The market hunt has been a little challenging, but so much fun! It has allowed me to search out new local ingredients and conduct on the spot dinner brainstorming, knowing I better get all the elements at the store I’m at (until I figure out a better way to make multiple stops convenient).

I’ve been on the new food market hunt for about a week now, so I thought it would be a great time to reflect on some of the yummy meals that are a result of experimenting with new markets.  It was a good week.

• Sunday - My famous Sausage Penne… with scrumptious sausages from Pusateri’s
• Monday - Pasta leftovers… mmm…
• Tuesday - Seared scallops with bacon creamed corn and poached egg salad
• Wednesday - Thai Curry Chicken with coconut milk, sour cream and green peppers
• Thursday - Baked steak enchiladas and cheesy nachos
• Saturday - Sirloin tip roast with roasted parsnips and carrots

Foodie Foodie, Shopping, YUM

I find it so interesting that we are now fully immersed in an age of personalization. I’ve had many long conversations with friends about “the tech future” and how success seems to rest upon a company’s ability to offer customized and personalized services for each client. The age of personalization is great: Personal Video Recorders that design a program schedule based only on shows you like to watch, iTunes playlists smart enough to earn that “genius” title, and endless social media sites that provide an opportunity to establish an online space that is really just.for.you. So then, can I ask, why are my cell phone options so limited?

Yes, there are many, many more features in most cell phones than most of us really need. However, wouldn’t it be REALLY cool if there was a service that allowed you to completely design your own mobile device? Don’t want a phone that has a camera and MP3 player? Don’t add those options! Really want a pink phone with indigo lining and a full QWERTY keyboard? Not a problem! Craving a design that looks nothing like the one your rival just purchased? You see where I’m headed….

Picture this: A flash program that lets you add elements (like building an avatar), select colours and features, then forward your design to your carrier of choice, where that service provider will then send your completely customized phone to the address you’ve selected.

And just like that, I’ve created a true myPhone.

What would YOUR customized mobile device look like?

Media Cool Tools, Dreaming, Media

There have been so many positive reactions to President-Elect Obama’s win on Tuesday.  I certainly have felt the energized buzz all day Wednesday, starting with the kind Starbucks man who sang my change out to me “Here is your THREE SEVVEENNTTTY FIVVVVVVVEE!”.  While reflecting about the success of Obama’s campaign, there have been quite a few who have highlighted the internet as a driving force behind the high voter turnout, and to the historic win.

I’m wondering though, did Obama mobilize youth using the internet, or did we all spread the message of hope and change through our preferred medium?  I think it was a combination of a well executed online plan, and a strong leader who inspired youth to carry a message. Part of the brilliance of using the internet as a major election medium is that it empowers audiences to seek out their own information in order to make an informed decision. The web allows us to select the videos, websites, twitter feeds, and message boards that appeal to us, then dissect the message and go from there. If you’re not sure about the information you read on someone’s Facebook wall, you could easily browse Twitter’s election feed, check out Obama’s page, or of course, watch some of the infamous YouTube videos.  I don’t think it was any one online tool that helped define this election as the “internet election”, but instead it was the examples of so many tools used authentically.

It is worth taking note of how successfully Obama used the internet during his 2008 presidential campaign. He didn’t just have an online presence, but he has an online presence that made sense.  How great is it that within 48 hours of being elected president, he launched a new site; yet another example of Obama keeping up with the pace of the 24/7 news world. This is finally an election that promotes conversation – in the same way social media encourages community discussion.  We can come together, in whatever online / mobile form we chose, and we can participate / be informed.  As I read on Twitter today, “the 21st’ Century started on November 4th 2008 at 11pm”: we finally are in the digital age, and we (The U.S directly and the global “we” that feels the effects of Obama’s leadership) have a leader that gets it.

It’s also important to remember my favorite words from Shel Holtz: “It’s not about the tool - it’s about the conversation”. The conversation that happened online was powerful enough to win and election and change history. There were some great examples of internet election produced by celebrities and “regular Joe citizens” who used the mass medium to carry their message. The ubiquity of Obama’s messages online, and the humor in a lot of the online tools, also helped to define this election.  Yes, Obama had advisors prepared with the latest applications and social media communication methods, but we also used the tool to influence our peers, which is something the TV or Radio election eras did not provide for us.

Although my non-American status prevented me from voting, it didn’t stop me from paying very close attention to the Web 2.0 election tools. Some of my favorite Web 2.Obama examples were:

YouTube videos:

• Yes We Can
• I’ve Got a Crush…On Obama
  

The Great Schlep
Twitter
iGoogle Homepage

Media, Web 2.0 Change, Obama, Web 2.0, YouTube