Keija Minor is Editor-in-Chief of Brides and Brides.com and responsible for the development and oversight of all editorial initiatives and Brides-branded licensing deals. Prior to joining Brides, she was Editor-in-Chief of Uptown Magazine and Gotham Magazine. Keija practiced corporate law before making a career transition to publishing. Learn more about Keija Minor at http://www.brides.com

1) Now I heard you were involved with corporate law before you got involved with editing magazines?
Answer:
Keija Minor: I left law to follow my passion! It was my dream to become a magazine editor.

2) What inspired you to take a 85% pay cut to work as an intern for a magazine?
Answer:
Keija Minor: I wanted to do something I truly loved. There were signs along the way that editing was a better fit, so I took a risk.

3) How did you get involved with @BRIDES?
Answer:
Keija Minor: I always wanted to work at Conde Nast so joining @BRIDES was a dream come true. #Brides is the ultimate women’s magazine!

4) What made you fall in love with the idea of working with weddings?
Answer:
Keija Minor: Weddings are a huge life moment. It’s a joy to help women look & feel their best & throw the biggest party of their life.

5) What types of wedding trends are we seeing for 2014?

Answer:
Keija Minor: There’s a trend out there for every bride – from elegant & romantic to sophisticated glam. One trend that’s always a winner is being true to your personal style. A beautiful bride is comfortable & confident. For a timeless & classic bride, one trend we love at @BRIDES is black & white with a pop of color –very glam. Another popular trend this season is tone on tone. E.g. pair a pale blue with a darker shade of the same color.

6) What were your favorite bridal gown trends from Bridal Fashion Week this past month?

Bridal Fashion Week just wrapped in April and we saw lots of great gowns!
Answer:
Keija Minor: I love the illusion look with tattoo-style lace. It’s sexy, romantic, & elegant all in one. Another trend that we love is the minimalist 90’s look – think Caroline Bessette-Kennedy’s simple style.

7) What advice do you have for brides that have just gotten engaged?
Answer:
Keija Minor: Enjoy the process! Find moments of romance & celebrate your love amid the planning. Take photos throughout the journey!

8) What is a day like for you at @BRIDES?
Answer:
Keija Minor: Every hour of every day at @BRIDES is different. Today, I edited pages, chose gowns for a cover story & met w/@lisagooder on #BridesLiveWedding & Brides.com

9) Can wedding pros submit weddings to @BRIDES?
Answer:
Keija Minor: Absolutely! We are always looking for real weddings to feature. Email submissions@brides.com.

10) Are there certain topics that brides are really searching for?
Answer:
Keija Minor: Women look to @BRIDES for inspiration for all of aspects of their big day. From the dress to cake

11) Anything you can tell us about the live wedding on June 8th?

Answer:
Keija Minor: #BridesLiveWedding is curated by @BRIDES & planned by all of you! Fans vote for everything from the dress to the couple!

12) What has been the most exciting thing about @BRIDES Live Wedding this year?
Answer:
Keija Minor: New to this year’s million dollar #BridesLiveWedding, we added a YouTube series following our final couples.

13) What should we be seeing from @BRIDES in the coming year?
Answer:
Keija Minor: 2015 marks @BRIDES’ 80th anniversary, so there are big things to come, stay tuned!

14) What advice do you have for wedding pros wanting to improve their writing or blogging?

Answer:
Keija Minor: My advice is to know your reader and what they’re looking for in order to give them content they want.

15) What do you want the to take away from this chat?
Answer:
Keija Minor: Remember to enjoy the whole planning process, it’s not just about the big day & @BRIDES is here for u if you need help!

#WeddingMarket Questions From Twitter:
1. @caseyfphoto  What firm were you at? My wife works in corporate law (not a lawyer) . Were you a lawyer or in media relations before? Was moving to the editorial side a huge jump?

Answer:
Keija Minor: I worked at Bryan Cave LLP here in NYC. I was a lawyer. It was a huge jump, but I loved every minute!

2. @RoyaleAmethyst What is your advice for wedding professionals looking to make their mark in the industry?
Answer:
Keija Minor: Get great photos of your work & word of mouth is the best P.R. -you’re both planner & friend to your brides.

3. @Wed_Developer What do you think has lead to the rise in popularity and “fame” around the wedding industry?

Answer:
Keija Minor: All I can is, it’s about time! A wedding is such a huge, happy moment–and so relatable for so many people.

4. @caseyfphoto When do you set your editorial calendar each year? And on a shameless note – how do you choose photographers? 
Answer:
Keija Minor: October the previous year. Submit your work!!

@caseyfphoto I’m assuming you only take real wedding submissions? Styled shoots would be an editorial decision in advance?

Answer:
Keija Minor: Yes

5. @amorojewelry Where does your inspiration come from for articles and topics?
Answer:
Keija Minor: Inspiration is everywhere, from pop culture to RTW fashion. Real brides provide a ton of inspiration as well.

6. @LoveStyleEvents  What are must have qualities to make a magazine ad pop among the rest?
Answer:
Keija Minor: Great photography and modern styling!

7. @PortaPocketGal How much do you feel knockoff dresses being sold online has hurt the suppliers in the USA?
Answer:
Keija Minor: We are part of #bridesagainstcounterfitting and are trying to educate and protect shoppers on this.

8. @BridalFlavors What’s your favorite part of the magazine?

Answer:
Keija Minor: That’s like choosing between your kids! I can’t, I love them all!

9. @FiggieShoes Do #magazines set the standard of #trends or is their content influenced by #realweddings?
Answer:
Keija Minor: A bit of both! We have a distinct point of view but sometimes we get great ideas from vendors and brides.

10. @RoyaleAmethyst You have a proven track record of success! What is the best piece of professional advice you have ever rec’d?
Answer:
Keija Minor: “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?”

11. @andreaWEgreen How do you plan for each issue of your publication? 
Answer:
Keija Minor: We start abt 6 months out. It takes brainstorming mtgs, industry preview appts, coffee & sometimes a cocktail!

12. @kpaljug What is your favorite part working on @Brides? 

Answer:
Keija Minor: The people! I have a great team–the coolest, most creative ladies (and 1 guy) in the world!

13. @SarahJSmith29 Do you need to be in NY to get in the door with a wedding magazine? 

Answer:
Keija Minor: No, but b/c what we do is so collaborative, to be on staff @BRIDES you’d have to be in NYC.

14. SweetestEvents_When it comes to Design/Styled Shoots do you use real models or real couples?

Answer:
Keija Minor: We use models in fashion shoots, but any weddings are real brides.

15. @amorojewelry What are some of the trends that you’re seeing in wedding jewelry?

Answer:
Keija Minor: Lots of sparkle! There’s a lot of quality costume jewelry out there. Checkout @baublebar & @Lulu_Frost