Well, I haven’t blogged in ages. Since October, actually. Things have been busy.
In November, the Arc of New Mexico hosted the National Convention of the Arc of the United States. I was lucky enough to be the event coordinator for all of the local host events.
In December, my boyfriend, Sean, and I went to Vegas for a getaway – during the ridiculouly bad weather. Much to my surprise, Sean proposed. I, of course, said yes. I’ve spent the last six weeks planning my July wedding. I have no doubt that my own bride-based adventures will provide plenty of blog fodder, so stay tuned!
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Since I became engaged whenever I tell anyone that I’m planning my own wedding, the first thing they say is, “Is that a good idea?” and the second is, “I bet you’ll have a big fancy wedding.”
Regarding the first question, my answer is “I don’t know. I’ve never planned my own wedding before.”
The answer to the second question is a lot easier. ”No.” There will be no big fancy wedding, because Sean and I aren’t a big fancy couple.
A wedding should always reflect the personality of the couple. If you aren’t a white fluffy bride, don’t have a white fluffy wedding. You will regret it. While you’re eating chicken cordon bleu, you’ll be wishing you had a great big juicy hamburger. Everytime you look at your wedding photos, you’ll wonder why you look like a meringue.
Your wedding day is not the day to experiment with your look, your tastes, your personality or your preferences. Your wedding day is the day to embrace and express who you are.
Be bold. Defy tradition.
Unless you’re traditional. And in that case, be as traditional as you want to be and don’t let anyone talk you out of it.
It’s your turn to be queen for a day, take advantage of that. If you’re lucky, you won’t have a second chance to have the perfect wedding.
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This afternoon I gave a presentation at Perfect Wedding Guide’s Albuquerque Wedding Guild luncheon at Marriott Pyramid on the benefit to businesses of blogging. I appreciate Shauna giving me the opportunity to speak to other event professionals about the marketing tool that is the business blog.
I mentioned to the Guild’s attendees that I would post an outline of my presentation here. So… without further ado:
THE BUSINESS OF BLOGGING
What is a “blog”?
- “Blog” is shorthand for “web log.”
- A website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video.
- Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order.
How is a blog different from a website?
- A website is static. A blog is dynamic, changing frequently.
- A website is designed and maintained by a professional designer. A blog is designed and maintained by you.
- A website reflects your business’ culture and professionalism. A blog reflects your personality.
How do I get started?
Create a blog with a blog hosting website:
- Blogger: <yourname>.blogspot.com
- WordPress: <yourname>.wordpress.com
- Typepad: <yourname>.typepad.com
What do I write?!
Write what you know:
- Industry trends
- Unique professional experiences
- Local industry observations
- Problem-solving
Writing ideas:
- Serialized lists: Top Ten, New Ideas, Hints & Tips
- Real weddings: What worked and didn’t, What you learned, What you would do the same, What you would do differently
… of the Month: Vendor, Bride & Groom, Trend, Product/Service
How do I get readers?
- Link from your website
- RSS (really simple syndication) subscription through a reader – e.g. iGoogle
- Contribute to online discussions – e.g. Yahoo! Answers
- Send “You’ve been blogged” e-mails for reciprocal links
Blogging Tips
- Be positive at all times
- Post consistently – on a regular basis, if possible; e.g. every Wednesday
- Write as much as you can when you’re feeling creative, then schedule your posts
- Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through
- Use proper grammar and/or find someone to look over your posts
Resources
Best Wedding Blogs
Wedding Blog Awards
Off Beat Bride (a really great example of personality in blogging)
Thanks to everyone who was at the luncheon today. And happy blogging!
Bentley
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