Welcome back, last week we discussed the basics of setting up an online group for your wedding and listed a few alternatives where you can host it. This week we’re going to go over how to manage your wedding group. Sure, you can post basic details about the wedding, but online groups are a great resource to streamline the entire wedding planning process. You’ll be keeping in contact with people, brainstorming ideas and checking off details at the same time.
1. Who do you invite into the group?
At the least, the wedding party, i.e. the best man, the maid of honor and the entourage of groomsmen and bridesmaids. Parents of the wedding couple usually get invited as well –especially if their involved in the logistics. The wedding planner and officiant could be included too, depending on how familiar you are with them.
2. How Many Groups Should I have?
Simply, as many as you want and can handle. Some people almost become like an executive managing multiple projects and coordinating teams. For example, a main group page for everyone invited to the wedding, another group specifically for the wedding party, a third for the wedding shower and a last one for the bachelorette party. This may sound like you’re unnecessarily creating more work for yourself, but really what you’re doing is compartmentalizing all of the events and thus making them easier to plan for. I mean, you will want to tackle these things at some point, right? Creating individual groups lets you create a space in which people can throw out ideas and plan well in advance.
3. Okay, how do I prevent my groups from becoming just another hive of internet memes and cat videos?
By leading by example and posting meaningful content. Post links like the venue details, helpful D.I.Y artcles, top wedding tips, the boutiques where the wedding party will be getting their tuxes and dresses from, bakeries and catering options. By sharing these details –and asking for help and opinions –you’re encouraging people to actively participate. Sadly, in a world where our attention spans are constantly bombarded with media, it’s far more likely you’ll get people to actually look at those wedding dresses and cakes by linking it to them, as opposed to just saying, “oh yeah, you should really check it out, when you have a minute!”
Now if you want to post the occasional otter picture, we certainly have no complaints. Wedding groups certainly don’t need to be all business, all the time (how dull). But if you use your wedding group as a planning council as well as a way to socialize, you’ll find that events run more smoothly and people will stay excited for it.
