Update 2: Based on your feedback, here’s a version with a larger bride and more transparent swirls here.
Update: Reader kp suggested that we make the header white, so you can check out a version with a white header here. What do you think? Better?
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We’ve been working on a site redesign for weddingbee! It’s about time we had a little facelift, wouldn’t ya say?
The very talented Irene created a purty new header for us. Please click on the image below for a full view, and let us know what you think!
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ooh i like it. so with the “blog” tab on top leads me to believe there are gonna be more tabs/sections? i wanna know!
very pretty!! - but the colors seem a bit darker..
what do you think about having the “weddingbee”banner done in white background, keeping the color of the swirly design?
i love the cleaned up type for “weddingbee”
Its really nice. And very professional looking. But I will sort of miss the simpler, more homey look. The current blog design is simple enough that it looks similar to my and my friend’s blogs. So it makes me feel like I’m sort of friends with the wedding bees too.
I like it! I definitely like how the individual sections (links, ads, etc.) are separated, it makes it a little easier to navigate. And I like the white header better.
One thing, I noticed there’s no bees anywhere. I guess the current site only has bees on the section headers, but I think it would be nice to have a little bee picture somewhere on the new site.
the title weddingbee doesn’t stand out as much with the white background.
I agree, the new title bar makes the site look much more formal/professional… =D
i love it!! very simple, pretty, and makes the site seem more professional looking!
i initially didn’t like the green swirls but then it reminded me of a wedding cake design so now i like it. ![]()
Hmph! I look forward to the wide-eyed bride with her large red bouquet! *stomps foot*
While it does look a bit crisper, formal or professional (as cozy put), I would miss that pop of red the size it is now.
love it! especially with the white header. =o) can’t wait for the new design
I prefer the first redesign option (creamy background on header instead of white), so pretty! I think it separates the header from the blog/body in a really effective way.
i kind of like the original full picture of the bride…i think she gets too cut off in the new header
I like the original better. The new one is too fussy. The original is clean and provides a good non-competing background for all of the posts and ads.
I like that in the original the bride pic is bigger and more clear.
I LOVE the new version. I think it looks much clearer. I agree that the bride could be a little bigger.
I like the white better than the cream. The cream looks out of place, IMO.
I like the new one, though I do agree with the people who say the bride needs to be bigger–she’s one of my favorite things on the site!
Also, I’ve gotta ask–does this have anything to do with Fark’s new (horrible) redesign? Ah well–at least your guys’ is a lot better than theirs! ![]()
Would it be possible to move the “More” and “Links” section on the righthand side to make those appear above those Ads by Google? Having them below the ads makes me forget somehow that they are there (it took me half a year to notice that part of the site…ooops!)
Ditto on the larger bride. The new header looks great, though.
I agree with the larger bride. And I like the white background on the header, but the swirls are too distracting though. Maybe lighten the color of the swirls a bit just like the first header.
re: update 2 - i like the cream better. it’s less harsh. i also like the bride bigger, but prefer the size of the “weddingbee” logo on the none updated 2 version. there’s too much space around the logo in the update 2 version.
I like the original header. “Weddingbee” is easier to read with the yellow background. =)
I love the new look. I don’t see much of a difference with the “white” version, but if I had to choose, I’d choose that. I definitely like the smaller bride better.
I like both of the new ones, they’re very cute. Was also amused to see that someone else thought of the Fark redesign.
I love it! Yet, I would like the cute bee featured more prominently. I know it will come up when Mrs. bee blogs but as a marketing person, I truly think the actual bee is part of your brand and should be featured prominently on the homepage.
Perhaps it could be placed right after the last “e” in Weddingbee? So that it balances the header a bit more? Just sugggestions, but
i do think the bee is important. It makes me think that the bee is buzzing around the bride in the header with creative wedding tip galore!
Not to be gender-stereotyping, but I love that the name of the page has the word “transparentish” in it. I feel like if a guy had designed it it would be something like “version2345A” or something. ![]()
I like the white header with the muted green swirls - the latest revision is definitely the best!
And someone mentioned how they thought the bee icon should be in there somewhere. I’ve got to agree, I do like that lil bee! I remember seeing them on your company t-shirts and liking it, too. I know it’d be a huge change to make, but I say get rid of the bride altogether and replace it with the bee. It’s more neutral and the bride is not a very good representative of the very varied and multicultural group you attract. Just a thought!
They all look nice, but I agree that the bride could be a bit bigger. Could she be placed/extend over the top of the green stripe w/ the tabs? That way it wouldn’t detract from the flow of the design, but you could see a bit more of her dress and she’ll pop out a little more.
If you end up going with the more transparent idea, please at least make that green stripe solid or else bring the bride image in front of it. Right now it’s as though she’s behind some funky horizontal curtain
and it doesn’t look finished.
its very simple and clean. I think the tags, city, bloggers tabs/links needs more … errr… needs more something because thats the navigation and you want readers to see that as a guide.
love the enlargement of the bride, but the right side of the weddingbee logo seems empty. Maybe a little flying bee [or a few flying bees like workers bees].
Im going to miss the little dots that outline the blog… i duno, i have a thing for dots.
i love the version with the larger bride and more transparent swirls and white header! but i think it would also look nice if a larger bride and not as transparent swirls too.
I think the changes you guys have made so far are definitely an improvement, but here are a couple thoughts…
1)I second (third? fourth?) the motion to put the bee back somewhere in above the fold. Remember when it was flying out of the bride’s bouquet?
2)I actually prefer the ‘rougher’ version of the text–it reminded me of something Gocco’d before; now it looks just a bit too smooth and almost childish (’contrived whimsy’ is the phrase that comes to mind)
3)The whole site definitely looks more streamlined, and I think that’s a good thing, but that also means it looks like it has a bit less substance. Could you perhaps put a darker color somewhere in one of the borders/margins to anchor the site, or widen the text area a bit?
I’m not a web designer, and I absolutely do NOT want to insult/play down the amount of work you guys have already done–I’m just trying to help a bit! ![]()
To me, the smoothed text looks kind of blurry. I really like the rougher “weddingbee” text…It is much sharper in clarity. But other than that, i like the cleaned up version very much!
They all look great but I agree, bigger bride and add the bees back on.
i like the larger bride, but i prefer the white background with the more visible swirls. i think the text pops more against the white background with the darer swirls.
I definitely like kp’s suggestion of the white bg so you can see the swirls better. I love the new look of site!
I also like the larger bride but prefer the white background.
I like the white background with the less transparent swirls (the swirls are cool). I also agree that the bride needs to be much bigger. She’s so darn cute! ![]()
Love the white, ligher swirls, and bigger bride. It’s a careful balance…the header can’t be too big, but you neither want to lose the full bride pic, nor have her too small.
I didn’t read all the comments, so if this is a repeat, sorry. Maybe add a little bee icon after the end of “Wedingbee”…sort of like the bee flying wrote the word “Weddingbee” since the bees write weddingbee– did that make sense? It’s pretty late…
I like the white version of the header because it’s easier to read and more cheerful– but I agree with woman007 that the *current* version seems more friendly/accessible than a more professional syle– I don’t want weddingbee to become the knot, I like it being like a friend’s blog. And I’d like to see the bride the size she is now, with the bees flying around!
I love it!!! I also agree with Birdy too .. I still like how it is a friend blog!!! But that update is awesome!
The white background with the less transparent swirls is so awesome. It gives people a very bright and neat feeling. I do agree with what others said: the cute bride should be in a bigger image! I think the sponsor link can be set to a lower level (just like how it goes in weddingbee blog now)!
Longing to see this new layout being launched!
Mrs. Bee, New York
Age and Occupation: 29, Weddingbee Publisher
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Internet
Engagement Date: May 7, 2004
Wedding Date: March 5, 2005
Venue: Westside Loft, New York
About Me: Yes, my name really is Bee! I love my blogging, wikis, and tabasco sauce!








me likey!