This is the Transcript of the #WeddingMarket Chat on August 21st, 2013 with Dana Larue from @BrokeAssBride . The answers were made on Twitter so responses will appear different. 

Dana Larue

Dana LaRue (@brokeassbride) is the founder and CEO of Broke-Ass Media, and editor-in-chief at her award-winning blog, The Broke-Ass Bride. With a mission to empower brides to use creativity as currency in order to craft bad-ass weddings without breaking the bank, her site is the go-to spot for a practical, irreverent, and outside-the-box approach… helping couples create affordable weddings that reflect their personality and celebrate their unique love story. Her expertise has been featured in countless publications, and she was named one of the Top 10 Social Media Influencers in the Wedding Industry by WedBiz Journal. LaRue has lent her business development, branding and social media expertise to a wide range of fields, from financial corporations to women’s website networks to creative artists and actors too.  Basically, if Oprah and Suze Orman had a baby, and Carrie Bradshaw and Mary Poppins had a baby… and their babies had a baby? Yeah, she’d be that baby.

See More Information at  http://thebrokeassbride.com

Q1:   How did you become a wedding blogger?

Answer:

Dana Larue:  I was engaged & relying on blogs for inspiration, but found few that spoke to my situation.  I decided to use my blog to chronicle my own process, organize my ideas, and hopefully inspire others like me 🙂  I had no idea it would turn into this! I’m very lucky, and grateful. It’s so fun! Then my blog turned into a business, and now I have a book coming out this December via @RandomHouse!

Q2:  What advice do you have for couples that have just gotten engaged?

Answer: 

Dana Larue: Definitely my first advice is to sit down & prioritize. Figure out what aspects matter most to you and your partner…then assign the most energy and money to your top 3-4 priorities. Figure out what you can eliminate, too. To save money. so for instance, if you care most about food, music and fashion, put the most of your resources there…and don’t worry so much about the small stuff. Don’t be pressured into caring about things that don’t float your boat 🙂 in the end, make it say something about you and your relationship. Let your guests know what makes you guys special! and try to involve your guests as much as possible. Make them participants rather than just spectators. It adds so much!
Q3:   What are the best ways to save money on the wedding? 

Answer:

Dana Larue:  Try not to fall prey to the “more expensive is better” mindset that can permeate weddings/events.  Sometimes the simplest choices are just as memorable, impactful as lavish ones. The most important thing is MOOD.  It doesn’t take thousands to set the right mood, but that really can make or break your party and experience. Do tons of research, and know the market. Set realistic expectations about cost for your location and season. from there you can set ideals and try to negotiate the best prices. Being flexible gets you much better rates.

Q4:   What advice do you have for wedding pros getting into blogging?

Answer:

Dana Larue:  Pros should share their experience through their blog. Let your personality come through so we get a sense for YOU.  Your portfolio can speak for itself, so give “backstage peeks” into how you make things happen, share inspiration, etc. make sure your contact information is very prominent on your blog! Too many pros miss this, but it’s vital 🙂 Use your blog to give props to your fellow vendors that you love working with, too. Share the love and be generous!

Q5:   How do you use social media to promote your biz?
Answer:

Dana Larue: Social media helps me connect and engage with brides and fellow pros. I “meet” so many talented people online! I also use SM to share information about my business, and the wedding market/trends and promote businesses I love. The important thing to remember about soc med is that it’s a CONVERSATION. So get involved, don’t just self-promote. each social media outlet serves a different purpose. FB connects me to brides, twitter to pros & pinterest drives traffic.

Q6:   How do you work with Pinterest?

Answer:

Dana Larue: Pinterest is one of my top traffic-drivers to my site. I pin images from posts and people share them like crazy! I also source amazing inspiration that helps me stay on top of trends, and come up with ideas for blog posts. (plus pinterest is the BEST source of recipes. Holy moly, I have a huge food porn pin board 🙂 ) Pinterest is a fun way to promote contests, too. “pin it to win it” is picking up steam. Pinterest is also a great way to find new exciting wedding vendors who are sharing their work and inspiration. Pinterest is a fantastic way to organize clips from the web, for reference later. Like a digital scrapbook.

Q7 :   Do you think there should be some rules or etiquette concerning social media for guests & wedding pros at weddings?

Answer:

Dana Larue: My number one “rule” or “etiquette” is BE POLITE 🙂 Guests should respect vendors and vice versa.  Otherwise it’s up to the couple if they want to request a “social media blackout” to keep guests from sharing photos. which is a trend that’s also picking up steam. But hard to police.  I personally think as long as everyone can do their job, everyone will be happy 🙂

Q8:   How do you keep current with all the latest trends in blogging?

Answer:

Dana Larue:  I stay current on blogging trends via blogging business conferences and websites, and networking with fellow bloggers.   I stay current with wedding trends via social media, print media, conversations with brides, and vendors. @blogher is a great resource for business of blogging inspiration. So is @offbeatempire and @altsummit. There are scores!

Q9:    Does a destination wedding really save a couple money?

Answer:

Dana Larue: Destination weddings can either save you lots or cost you WAY more. Airfare plays a big part in this. The more custom your package, the more it will cost. All-inclusive packages are the best way to save money, hands down. being flexible about the specifics can also save you lots. The more you want to control, the more it costs.  Of course, Vegas is a terrific option for all-inclusive budget destinations. Domestic travel, seasoned pros. And take into account that many of your invitees may not be able to attend a destination wedding. Hawaii is a more expensive option than you’d think. Mexico is a great, affordable option for tropical settings.  Some photogs/videogs will charge WAY reduced rates for destinations, but you cover their travel fees. So always ask!

Q10:   Can you tell me a little bit about your book that will be coming out?

Answer: 

Dana Larue:  My book, “The Broke-Ass Bride’s Wedding Guide” comes out December 17, wherever books are sold.  It’s about using creativity as currency to rock a bad-ass wedding without breaking the bank!  It also has sample budgets from real brides, step-by-step DIY for dummies and a recipe chapter 🙂 I focused mostly on smart spending, expressing your personalities, making planning fun, and eco-consciousness.

Will there be a book tour?

Answer:

Dana Larue: I’ll be making appearances in several cities for book signings, but not sure where yet! Def. LA, Chicago and NY

Q11: What would you like everyone to take away from this #WeddingMarket Chat ?

Answer: 

Dana Larue:  Buy my book! LOL, just kidding (not really.)  Vendors – highlight what makes YOU different from the rest. Don’t imitate… innovate. And be generous w/information.  Find creative ways to accommodate couple’s budgets, like a la carte packages. Let social media be a two-way street and use it to make connections, not just broadcast information.  And brides, think outside-the-box for ways to save money. Never be afraid to ask for what you want. They might say yes!  and never forget – it’s only a party. You’ve planned them before, on a smaller scale. You can do this, too 🙂  it’s not about the details, it’s about saying “I do” to the rest of your lives together. That’s the best part! 

#WeddingMarket Questions From Twitter:

1. @TrendingSounds What percentage of a bride & groom’s budget should they put toward the Entertainment?

1A. Do you agree with that entertainment can dictate the success of an event?

Answer: 

Dana Larue: But the “standard” varies between 10-20% if you follow budget calculator rules. It really varies depending on how important entertainment is to them! It can be lots or little.

1A. I personally think entertainment is crucial to setting the mood, and can really impact the power of an event.

2. @ChiStyleWed  In what capacity do you work with other wedding bloggers?

2A. How much is your original content and how much is shared information from others?

2B.  Which budget buy were you most proud of when planning?

2C.  Couples are now seeing amazing blogs like yours, do you think they put stock in mags? Should mags focus on SM?

2D. On what type of blog post do you see the most traffic?

Answer: 

Dana Larue: I consult with other bloggers, feature them as guests on my blog, and engage with them on social media.

2A.  Probably 85% is original and 15% or less is shared.

2B. I bartered away 1/2 the cost of my custom gown by invoicing/cutting fabric for the designer! Best deal ever 🙂

2C. Magazines are trending big time toward Social Media. example: I’m part of the @brides magazine blogger network. Mags have to stay current digitally to stay relevant, and they’re getting creative about it. Makes me happy!

2D. Our readers love our “can’t afford it/get over it” series where we find affordable alternatives to $$$ items. Also my readers love personal/anecdotal posts that showcase who we are, behind the blog.

3. @SonarTravelPlan  When do brides start planning planning the #honeymoon?

Answer: 

Dana Larue: Some start the minute they get engaged! All depends on priorities. Honeymoon was last thing we planned 🙂

4. @TaylorWed What does your editorial calendar look like? I’m finding it challenging to blog on a regular basis.

Answer: 

Dana Larue: Start small. blog on the same schedule every week so readers can expect consistency of timing. Start weekly, then build from there. Use analytics to figure out when your site is most active and post then.

5. @LZeidner How can we as vendors best work with brides limited by budget below our service prices?

Answer: 

Dana Larue:  If you can, offer a variety of levels of service. Can you do a la carte, and let them pick n choose to lower cost?

6: @WedbyJean ‏ What is your favorite blog?

Answer: 

Dana Larue: There are tons! @bridetide Top 100 is a really comprehensive list of amazing wedding blogs.

7: @LittleMelinda How can I research and break free from the typical wedding venue & price tag for a destination wedding?

Answer: 

Dana Larue: Think outside the box. Can you do a housing swap or rent a place on airbnb or vrbo to hold your wedding? Dont be afraid to call places you’re interested in and see if they’d allow a wedding. Worked for my ceremony!