Who Will be on the Next Cover of The Southern Maryland Wedding Guide magazine?

Be sure to log on to our website at SoMdWeddings.com at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 for our LIVE WEB CAST where we will announce the winner of our Cover Picture Contest and announcements for other upcoming events.

All you need is an internet connection and the ability to hear our message. It will be like watching Southern Maryland Weddings TV on your computer!

Look who's getting married !

Don't forget to announce your engagement on SoMdWeddings.com! Congratulations to the following couples who will be getting married within the next few weeks:

*These announcements include photographs.

11/18/06 - Jessica Griffin & Russell Reynolds
12/2/2006 - Alison Barry & Chris Cadden
12/2/2006 - Darnise Pearson & Jason Nelson
12/2/2006 - Rosana Santiago Yambo & Christopher Walker
1/12/07 - Kerri Dove & Brad Bennett

Upcoming Bridal Events

Weddings & Technology - What's Hot forToday's Web Savvy Brides
By Kimberly Bean

I am one of those few people that are fortunate enough to be a part of two totally different industries, yet have found a way to join them. I'm talking about the wedding industry and web technology. I have been an event planner and web developer for over 10 years and it was my mission when I started The Southern Maryland Wedding Guide to simply make it easier for brides - by using the latest technology - to plan their wedding (or special event).

We started with the world wide web and e-mail. With a simple internet connection (take note of the word "connection") we are able to connect or communicate with anyone in the world. As businesses, we built websites as another means to market our products and/or services so that potential customers could find out more about us. As a bride-to-be, we still rely on print advertising (we love looking at pictures for ideas) but more often than not, we utilize the web because it is so much easier to find information with a few clicks of the mouse than to search through a bunch of yellow page books. Plus - we can do it while we're at work when it isn't always easy to pick up the telephone and make a lot of calls to various businesses to inquire about their services.

So what now you ask? Streaming Video. Mark my words - slowly but surely you will start to notice it more and more. Right now you have probably seen it the most on web portals where they offer streaming video "e-mercials". You may have already been one of the millions of people who have been a part of YouTube before Google just purchased it for $1.65 billion (yes, billion) in Google Stock.

So how is it being used in the wedding industry? "Wedding Webcasts". Imagine, the wedding you always dreamed of just happens to be on a beach in Hawaii (or at say Caesars Palace in Las Vegas). And although you sent out invitations to your closest friends and family members, chances are many aren't going to be able to attend. So how can you still share that special moment when your officiant says "You may now kiss the bride"? Through a live webcast! Any videographer that has a digital video camera and a computer and an internet connection can do it. With the right application, the video simply "feeds" through the computer and broadcasts the event in real time - while its actually happening.

As for family and friends that can't be there? All they need is a computer with sound and an internet connection and its just like being there. They simply need to know when and where (website address) to go to and voila!

How else are couples utilizing streaming video? Video E-mail & Live Video Chat. You have to admit - typing and reading text just isn't as fun (or personal) as recording and viewing a video e-mail. Couples can now send recorded engagement announcements and party invitations via video email. As for instant video chat - couples can talk face to face (through web cams) to up to three different people at one time LIVE. This is perfect for couples that want to spread the good news to distant relatives in friends when they don't have the luxury of doing it in person.

It's really a very exciting time as we are able to watch as new technology unfolds. So get ready- because The Southern Maryland Wedding Guide has already begun to embrace this amazing technology.

Ask the Wedding Planner Q & A

Q: Kimberly, we received that cool video email that you sent about your magazine contest? How did you do that and what type of software do you need to do that? - Bride in Charles County

Our $.02 : We are actually a subscriber for a service at Hello World that is completely web-based. This means that you don't have to download any software to your computer, you simply pay a monthly service fee (from $9.95 to $39.95 per month) and you must have an internet connection and of course a web cam ($20 & up at Circuit City or Best Buy).

What is even more amazing is that in edition to video email (resembles outlook) you can also create your own streaming video files (to put on a website or attach to an email), Video Instant Chat, Podcasting, Webcasting (imagine your own TV show!), Web Blogging, and more -all in one application! It's truly the best social networking application on the net. Plus-you can store all your video files, music files and more to manage your digital life. Because its web-based, it means you have access to it from anywhere that you have a computer and internet connection.

What's even better is that they have an affiliate program. (You earn just for introducing it to others - just like we're introducing it to you!)
Click here for more information about the product.
Click here for more information about becoming an affiiate.