Jim Regan - Site Reviews
WeddingChannel.com
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Naturally, keeping track of all these variables can be a bit of a strain for an already distracted couple, which is why the WeddingChannel.com has gathered a genuinely impressive collection of 'pre-production' tools and resources into one online location.
Although the depth of the WeddingChannel makes itself known with exploration, the strength of the design is immediately apparent.
Visually, the site is bright, uncluttered, and 'easily digestible' -- no page attempts to cram too much information into one place. And considering the fact that this site is fuelled by commerce, (weddings are a $35 billion dollar-a-year industry in the U.S.) there is a staggering lack of overt advertising on site -- one or two postage stamp-sized ads are all that you'll see on a given page, and even those are discretely blended in with content. Such restraint is a welcome change from some commercial sites that seem to have more ad than content space, and will even stall scrolling with the constant download of rotating banners.
Of course, even the best design wouldn't be worth much without some substance, and the WeddingChannel is beyond thorough, with content divided into the following nine categories:
BRIDE - which is doubles as the site's home page. (Considering the fact that 84% of visitors to the site are prospective brides, the dual-identity seems appropriate.)
FASHION - advice on all things fashion and beauty related, including definitions of key bridal fashion terminology (men are saying, "key what?..."). Also included is a searchable catalog of gowns and designers, which can be accessed by pulldown menus or through advanced searches, customized to select for such variables as sleeve type and neckline.
SHOPPING and REGISTRY - two convenient places to leave all your money. Like the fashion catalog, the Shopping section is searchable by various criteria, and the Registry allows couples to set up their own Gift Registry online, which guests can view and contribute to, from the comfort of home. (Of course, the couple can also check back periodically to see how they're doing.)
GROOM and GUEST - these sections offer various etiquette and other tips for those who study weddings less closely. The Guest area also contains a profile of the couple, gift suggestions and access to the couple's registry.
PLANNING - contains etiquette, financial and pre-marital advice, as well as a directory of relevant local businesses, searchable by city, state or zip code.
TRAVEL - book tickets, hotel rooms, cars etc. online, for the honeymoon or for out-of-town wedding guests. There is also the ability to post travel packages for out-of-town guests on the couples' Web site. The Couple's Web site? Ah, yes, this brings us to OUR WEDDING. The WeddingChannel allows couples to create free personal Web sites within WeddingChannel's own site. Available to anyone to whom the couple supplies a password, OUR WEDDING contains a Couple's Profile, wedding logistics (where, when, etc.) and information for out of town guests. (Last minute changes in plans can also be posted here.)
For those involved in planning the event, Our Wedding offers such tools as The Guest Manager (track names and RSVP's) a Calendar (suggested deadlines for important events, with the ability to automatically send e-mail reminders to responsible parties) and an Address Book, searchable by name, location or category. Future plans even include a Table Assigning Tool. There's thorough, and then there's thorough. And then, there's the WeddingChannel.
(Though we're not dealing with financial records here, there will be those concerned about keeping all this information on a remote server, so the site also has a page with comprehensive information about the site's Privacy Policy and Online Shopping.)
The WeddingChannel is one of those tools that can only exist on the Web, combining magazine, yellow pages, shopping mall, and remote and interactive event planning. The invitations will still go out in the mail, and the guests will still arrive in person, but a site like this can significantly simplify the planning behind the spectacle.
The WeddingChannel.com can be found, not surprisingly, at http://www.weddingchannel.com/.
Jim Regan provides 'Today's Links' to the e-Monitor. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.