This is the Transcript of the #WeddingMarketChat on April 18th, 2012 with Chris Easter co-founder of TheManRegistry.com . The answers were made on Twitter so responses will appear different.

Chris Easter is co-founder of TheManRegistry.com, the leading wedding registry and online content provider for engaged men. Through his own experiences as a groom, he helped craft the vision for the company which includes blogs, checklists and gift ideas for the man about to take “the plunge.” Respected throughout the wedding industry as a top innovator, Easter has received many accolades for his work with The Man Registry including being named to Inc Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30 Entrepreneurs List, the 2011 Rockstar Wedding Innovator of the Year award and AOL Aisledash’s 2011 Groom Blogger of the Year Award. His expertise on the groom’s side of the wedding has been covered by media across the nation including Details Magazine, Fox News, Entrepreneur Magazine and The Knot. His first book, Be the Man: The Man Registry Groom Guide,

was released in January 2012. Learn more about The Man Registry at http://themanregistry.com/

 

Join Our Wedding Market Chats For Wedding Professionals Every Wednesday at 10:00PST, 1:00EST, and 6:00GMT (UK time) with the #WeddingMarketChat Hashmark On Twitter. Join us on Facebook every Thursday at 9:00 ET on www.facebook.com/weddingmarket . Learn something new to help your business grow every week. The chats are hosted by Wedding Market editor Julie Albaugh (@juliealbaugh).

Q1: How did you get involved with the @WeddingIndustry ?

Tweet Answer: Through our own experiences as grooms, my partners and I had noticed a major void in resources catering to the groom

Tweet Answer: TMR was launched as a gift registry (hence name) but has grown into a comprehensive planning guide for men

Q2: Why should wedding professionals think more about marketing to the groom?

Tweet Answer: Important to not get caught up in outdated stereotypes. Grooms have always cared, market only now paying attention
Tweet Answer: Couples are getting married older, more maturely & with less of parents’ $$ = grooms directly involved with spending

Q3: What are some interesting stats or information that wedding professionals should know?

Tweet Answer: We ran a user poll where 64% of grooms said they wanted input on flowers, 68% on reception decor, 83% on the cake.

Tweet Answer: 93% + wanted involvement on transportation, entertainment, reception menu, videography

#WeddingMarketChat Question: We’ve seen more Grooms involved in dessert selection, do you think that social media helped Grooms feel more involved?

Tweet Answer: Between social media & groom-blogging trend, absolutely. Grooms have a home now.

 

 

Q4: What should wedding professionals do to be more marketable to the groom?

Tweet Answer: Men respond well to humor in marketing. Weddings provide ample opportunity for this

Tweet Answer: For example, check out one of the first web spots we created for The Man Registry http://goo.gl/62Ooc

Tweet Answer: Good companies to study for male marketing: AB, Mercedes Benz, Break Media, Nike. There are even fashion stores who cater to grooms during their wedding day with custom suits san francisco for those who are interested in them.

#WeddingMarketChat Question: I’m sorry, I’m drawing a complete blank… What is AB?

Tweet Answer: Anheuser-Busch

Q5: What are the key areas in selling to the groom?

Tweet Answer: Clearly state why you are better than your competition & how your value fits into the competitive landscape.

Tweet Answer: One idea is to create an infographic w/ this information that also includes your plans & pricing

#WeddingMarketChat Question: We’ve found that Grooms tend to be more interested in the value than the price in consultations. Do you agree?

Tweet Answer: Yes, absolutely. Show me why my money is better spent going to you vs. your competition

Q6: Is there anything that should be included in your Website or marketing materials?

Tweet Answer: Video, easy access to social media, gender neutral images that don’t scream brides-only

#WeddingMarketChat Question: With my clients, the groom steps in very late in the planning…do you have suggestions on how to engage him earlier?

Tweet Answer: Receiving questions on how to engage the groom. Fortunately in age of social media, sometimes they engage you!

#WeddingMarketChat Question: Where do you recommend we find grooms to market to them?
Tweet Answer: Grooms attendance at bridal shows are up. Also, strong emergence of groom bloggers & tweeters

Tweet Answer: And of course, they’re on http://TheManRegistry.com

 

#WeddingMarketChat Question: So, do you find grooms to be less “emotionally triggered” when it comes to sales?

 

Tweet Answer: I do. Deep down, men are very cold and calculated in terms of spending.

Q7: What would surprise wedding professionals about this market?

Tweet Answer: Grooms are using #Pinterest. They may not admit it, but they’re searching pins for rehearsal dinner, style, gifts

#WeddingMarketChat Question: Can you recommend some groom blogs? Or Tweeters to follow?

Tweet Answer: Check out @thegroomsays @templeofgroom and @agroomsdiary

Q8: What % of the grooms are making wedding day decisions?

Tweet Answer: Decisions should be team effort, but it’s foolish to think anything less than 100% aren’t involved in some capacity

Tweet Answer: Obviously, some more than others

#WeddingMarketChat Question: Are marketing colors important to grooms? I avoided pink to be gender-neutral.

Tweet Answer: Yes. Men respond to bold colors. Blue is #1. Not saying eliminate pink, but at least build in a focus on other colors.

#WeddingMarketChat Question: What would you say to get grooms involved beyond their wallet and tux?

Tweet Answer: I always tell grooms that everything they think about weddings is false.

Tweet Answer: Unfortuantely, false steretypes have really ruined it for some guys. Can’t wrap minds around fact that this is actually fun

Tweet Answer: Why not leave your personal mark on the wedding day? There’s 1,000 ways to get involved.

#WeddingMarketChat Question: So what would you say are the Men’s favorite wedding activities? What are big hits for the guys?

Tweet Answer: Reception menu, videography, transportation, entertainment

#WeddingMarketChat Question: What products/services in the industry should be concerned with marketing to the groom?

Tweet Answer: Start here –http://bit.ly/Im5dJ4

Q9: Why don’t you tell me about your new book?

Tweet Answer: #BeTheMan was released in January and is an extension of the content you’ll find on our website. It serves as a

Tweet Answer: comprehensive guide from buying the engagement ring all the way through life after the honeymoon.

Tweet Answer: More info on the book here – http://goo.gl/feAbI

Q10: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Tweet Answer: Easily could go on for hours. I encourage anyone with a burning groom question to tweet me here or @chriseaster

#WeddingMarketChat Question: Do you have any info about how “Grooms” feel about working directly with #WeddingPlanners

Tweet Answer: As long as the planner makes them feel an equal, they do enjoy meeting and working with planners

Q11: What would you like the #WeddingMarket to take away from this #WeddingMarketChat ?

Tweet Answer: Grooms aren’t going anywhere. If you’re not marketing to them yet, it’s time.

#WeddingMarketChat Statement: From a recent groom’s perspective, 1) don’t BS me – I can smell it. 2) make me laugh and 3) be upfront with pricing

Tweet Answer: Exactly. Just pretend you’re selling to Don Draper. No BS.