Weddingbee Blog

Note from Miss Pomegranate: Initially, I thought that there may be a few choice relatives that wouldn’t be able to make it to our wedding day. Add that to the billions of relatives that we won’t be able to add to our already lengthly list and there were quite a few excluded guests. Therefore, I went to work researching some options that would allow them to be there virtually if they couldn’t be there physically.

While we have decided not to use such a service, I still wanted to share my research with the Hive in case there were some brides out there heartbroken over relatives not being able to make it to their big day.

Are your family and friends dispersed throughout the United States - or rather the entire world? Do you have close family with other commitments that will be unable to travel to see you speak your vows? Well, my next question is - do they have an internet connection?

If so, problem solved! Pick up a webcam at your local computer store, enlist a friend to hold a hand-held video camera, or hire a professional to videotape your ceremony and simultaneously stream it to a secure website on the web.

To accomplish the above, you must have your own equipment, including a computer, a video or web camera, a high speed internet connection and the cables to connect them all. You can hire an outside company to provide the online secure website, the software that streams your video to your loved ones, and the login security that allows them to connect to the site. In fact, most of these sites also allow for a video archive - which is almost like getting a webcast and videographer in one, as you’ll have a recording of your special day as well!

If you’re getting married in Las Vegas, some chapels already offer this as an add-on service. Caesar’s Palace, Paris Las Vegas, MGM Grand and Little White Wedding Chapel are among the many venues that offer webcasting as an option. For as little as $200 you can run away to Vegas - without too much complaint from your friends & family being unable to join you!

However, if Vegas isn’t your style - there are several sites that offer packages to get your ceremony webcast to the web, ranging from $349 to $1,349.

Please note that I used the same wedding image for all video feeds - Print Screen won’t capture live video so easily.

I Do Stream Demo Wedding Site with Chat and Guestbook.
I couldn’t get the chat window to load completely - hopefully that’s just a fluke.

I Do Stream
www.idostream.com
I Do Stream’s Basic Broadcast Package ($349) is perfect for those with a budget and a small group of viewers. They offer up to 50 viewers, a 30 day video archive, a guestbook, a chat service for your guests, an email invitation, online tech support, and the ability to download the video to your iPod after the service. While this Basic package requires you to have all the necessary equipment (camera, laptop, Broadband internet connection), the Enhanced Broadcast Package ($595) will send you everything you need including a laptop computer, camcorder, tripod, and one-click broadcast software installed.

Vowcast Demo Wedding Site with Guestbook.

Vowcast
www.vowcast.com
Vowcast can setup a webcast that may also incorporate your already booked videographer - they’ll work with him to set up his stream with your webcast website. You can also rent Webcasting laptops, purchase the setup of an online Guest Book to completely geek-out your webcast wedding and purchase the setup of links to your online gift registries as well. Their standard package ($495) includes access to your stream for 100 viewers and an archived video for up to 30 days.

Webcast My Wedding Demo Custom Wedding Site.

Webcast My Wedding
www.webcastmywedding.net
Webcast My Wedding will set up a customized webpage with your personal photos and information. After this page is set up, you can send out electronic “wedding invitations” for your e-guest list of up to 100 people. For all of the above, you will pay a single One-Time Event Fee ($595) and you will also be provided a video archive for up to 30 days. You will need to provide your own video camera, computer and Broadband internet connection. However, you can also hire one of their Consultants to attend your wedding and set it all up ($750 plus travel).

Live Vows Demo Wedding Site with Gift Registry and Guestbook.

Live Vows
www.livevows.com
Live Vows Full Service Webcast ($895) includes an on-site staff person to make sure your webcast runs smoothly. They will setup your personalized web page that will be active for a minimum of 30 days after your wedding - but this can be extended. They offer unlimited viewers and will even mail you a webcast report so that you can see how many people attended. They also offer a Premeir Wedding Webcast ($1349) which includes all of the above, as well as email invitations, a webcast guestbook, gift registry links, a meet and greet for your viewers after the ceremony, and the extension of the webcast archive from 30 days to 6 months. You can also purchase some of these features a la carte.

These are just a few examples of video webcast sites for you wedding out there. Are any of you planning to incorporate a webcast into your schedule of wedding events?