DIY Bride

It’s not much of a stretch to say that the iPod has changed my life. I got my first about a year and a half ago as a birthday present from Mr. DIY. I wasn’t sure I really wanted it but after only a week, I couldn’t imagine life without it. It’s just that cool.

And now I want you to experience the coolitude that is the iPod. I’m giving away a 4 GB silver iPod Nano as part of Multimedia Month. For those of you looking to have an iPod wedding, this baby’ll rock your world!

Of course you’ll have to work for this one, my friends. This particular contest requires some creativity and action on your part.

How to enter:
To enter leave a comment (text or video) to this post with a list of your Top 10 “Get Off Your Butt and Dance!” Songs.  In other words, what songs would make your guests boogie oogie oogie on the dance floor? Your comment submission will automatically enter you in the contest.

Your entry must include:

1. Your top 10 dance songs with exact song name and artist
2. Your wedding date

Incomplete entries will not be eligible the contest.

Deadline:
I will accept entries from July 18 through July 31. On August 01, I will pick my Top 10 favorite entries and will then let you, my dear readers, vote for the winner. The final winner will be chosen on August 15th.

See contest details after the jump.

Read More…

Today we’re going to explore the vast world of online wedding planning tools. If you’ve been engaged for more than, oh, 24 hours you’ve probably visited at least one wedding site that a collection of tools & gadgets to get you organized.

Nearly every major web hub has interactive tools and, for the most part, they all provide much of the same services and features like a 12+ month checklist, guest list tracker, and budget calculator. Not all are the same, however, with the big differences being the number of bells & whistles and the user-friendliness of the design & tools.

Why Use Online Tools?

The benefits of using online planning tools are:

• Accessibility. You can access your to-do lists or budget information from any computer (or cell phone with browser). This is great if you’re on the road and don’t want to schlep around a binder or planner everywhere you go — and your fiance(e) can easily access the info, too.
• Ease of use. Most online tools are pretty darned easy to use. With just a click of a mouse or a few keystrokes you can update your lists, revise plans, etc.
• Cost. Most online tools are free to use when you sign up for an account (also usually free) with the web site that’s hosting the tools.

What You Should Look For

With so many planning sites to choose from, picking the right one can be a challenge. When choosing which service to sign up with, there are some key things to watch out for.

1. What’s the site’s downtime like? If the site is constantly down or under repair, it may be hard to access your info when you need it.
2. What’s their privacy policy? Will they sell your name/info to vendors thus creating unwanted (and endless) spam or junk mail?
3. How easy is the navigation of the site and tools? Can you find what you’re looking for at a glance or within a couple of clicks?
4. Do the tools fit your needs?
5. Does the site fit your personality and wedding style? Do you feel comfortable in the community/portal they’ve built?

Recommendations

My top 5 picks for online planning sites, based on:

• ease of use
• selection of tools
• overall design & presentation
• reputation/reliability

1. WeddingWire - WeddingWire provides one of the most comprehensive and elegant collection of tools in the industry. Included are a budget tracker, a seating arrangement tool, a timeline, a checklist, a guest tracker, a binder (storage area), and a vendor tracker. ** Edit to add that WeddingWire is powering the tools at Martha Stewart Weddings, too.
2. TheKnot - How could I not mention TheKnot? They’re responsible for the popularity of online planning tools and it’s no wonder. Their collection is easy-to-use and wonderfully well-thought out in addition to being nicely integrated into the site’s community.
3. Confetti - For those of you in the UK, Confetti is your go-to spot for the best, most comprehensive planning tools.
4. WeddingControl - I like WeddingControl because they take a minimalist approach. Instead of bombarding you with 10,000 images, flash movies/ads, and endless doohickies, they provide a very streamlined site with downright good tools.
5. Wed Depot - Don’t let the cute facade fool you. There are some great tools behind that adorable veneer. I really like how well they’re integrated into the Wed Depot site which is a pretty darned nice.

Hello, DIYers!

To kick off Multimedia Month, I wanted to clarify what my definition of “multimedia” is and how it relates to this month’s feature.

Multimedia, to me, is the use of technology/software/gadgets to incorporate audio, graphics, photos, text, animation, video, and interactivity into any aspect of one’s wedding. This is pretty broad and, due to time constraints, I won’t be able to touch on all of the great multimedia options available in the course of this month. (But do check back throughout the year for more info & multimedia goodness. It’ll be a regular topic here.)

Here’s what to expect this month*:

Week 1: Online planning tools, bride & groom websites, planning software, other software.

Week 2: Save-the-dates, invitations, RSVP services, maps.

Week 3: iPod weddings, slideshows, photo booths.

Week 4: Videography, digital imaging, ideas for photo/video gifts.

Week 5: Round-up of ideas & resources.

* Warning: My posting schedule is totally at the mercy of my pregnant body. The timing/order of the posts may be a little off.

Reader questions & comments are always welcome! If there’s a topic not covered or if you need further information, please do not hesitate to let me know.

This week begins DIY Bride’s multimedia month!

I’m very excited about this feature because, truth be told, I’m a closeted techno nerd. I love gadgets and tech toys. Incorporating them into weddings in useful, fun, non-cheesy ways is something I’ve been wanting to share with you for a long time.

The questions coming in from you, my dear readers, are awesome! I’m so impressed by your creativity. The top questions (so far) are about DIY photo booths, DVD/CD invitations, online RSVPs, slideshows, and DIY videography. We’ll be covering all of that plus lots more (including an iPod giveaway) in the coming days.

Please feel free to submit your questions and comments throughout the month. If you have a favorite gadget or wedding-tech-related resource you’d like to share please submit those, too.