Weddingbee Blog

How I found the hive (or rather, how the hive found me):

In the summer of 2009, I was newly engaged and eager to start planning my wedding. Of course, I had accumulated about 40 wedding magazines, was researching local vendors, and…I was searching the Internet for inspiration. I had just started a Twitter account, and one day I happened to see a Tweet from the lovely Mrs. Penguin! She was soliciting for new applications to blog for Weddingbee, and the icons were absolutely adorable! The funny thing is, the first thing that popped into my head was to tell one of my other soon-to-be bride friends from college about the site (which I did). I didn’t think much about blogging at that point, but I quickly subscribed to the site and became pretty active on the boards. Life was good.

My application story:

After joining in on the boards for a few months and starting to dive headfirst in reading the blogs (I was reading them all…archives, current bees, you name it!), it got me thinking…why the heck can’t I start a blog? I have always loved to write, and since my friends and family were not around to share every wedding-related detail with, it seemed like a great outlet to let them in on my planning! So…I did it. I started a free blog and began writing about all of my experiences.

I won’t lie: it wasn’t easy at first.

The wonderful thing about the blogosphere nowadays is that there is such diversity; writing styles vary, as well as wedding plans. In the early days, I was still unsure of how I wanted to present myself and the wedding (how much of my life do I really want to share? I am normally a pretty private individual). And, I was trying to figure out what it was that people wanted to hear about/see in regards to our planning. So…I kept writing…and kept developing.

When the 8 month mark before our wedding rolled around, I thought about applying to become a bee. However, after taking a long, hard look at my archives, I didn’t know that it was “ready.” I started filling out my application, but it sat in draft form for a while. I kept blogging for a bit longer…procrastinating. Finally, after about 6 more weeks had passed, I clicked “send.” I felt confident, but simultaneously my stomach was twisted in a knot at the thought of rejection. Then, fabulously, a few days before Christmas 2009, I received an email from Pengy in my Inbox. I remember closing my eyes REALLY tightly for few seconds, then opening them to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. It took me 2-3 minutes to gather up the courage to read the email, but I can assure you that I did a few laps around the apartment after reading those fabulous words of acceptance. I might have jumped up and down and did a little dance. And, to be honest…I was more excited to get my acceptance to Weddingbee than I was on Bid Day with my sorority in college…who knew!?!?

Being a Weddingbee blogger:

Oh my, where do I begin? My first few days/weeks of being a bee were almost overwhelming. I was absolutely hooked on receiving comments, was buzzing around the boards constantly, and pretty much couldn’t stop talking about anything related to the ‘Bee. Mr. Buttons probably found me to be incredibly annoying at that point.

However, over time, the hive has been absolutely invaluable to me. Being able to share my experiences, as well as hear from others about their own, has been amazing. I have appreciated all of the input/advice, well wishes, and support that the members of the hive have provided for me. I honestly can’t imagine my wedding planning experience without you all!

Tips for writing for the ‘Bee:

1. Be yourself. I know this has been said over and over again, but it is seriously important! It is so much easier to write when its coming from a sincere, natural place. Forcing your writing to adapt to a style that isn’t your own looks just that: forced. Write what you’re feeling, say what you want to say. You’ll look back at your writing later and be happy you did so.
2. Talk about your experiences and don’t preach. This might just be my personal opinion, but I like reading posts that speak to one’s personal experiences with their planning. I tend to skip over blog posts that sound instructional (with the exception of a tutorial, of course). I want to hear about funny stories that occur, as well as your range of emotions…happy, sad, confused, etc.! I feel much closer to a writer when I can relate to their experiences.
3. Use pictures. Lots and lots of pictures. Learn to bring your camera along with you at all times.
4. Keep a running list of post ideas with you. I always carry a little notebook in my handbag. If an idea comes up when I’m out at the grocery store, I pull the paper out and write it down. If I’m at home, I start a draft immediately…even if it is just a few sentences to get me started, or a few bullet points to get the main ideas down.
5. Don’t post immediately. Write a post, then walk away for at least an hour or two. You’ll be amazed at how many things you may want to edit afterward. It might just be me, but I lose interest in posts when they don’t flow smoothly. Grammar and punctuation are actually important!
6. You don’t HAVE to apply to be a bee at exactly 8 months before your wedding. Timing is different for everyone. I didn’t start writing for Weddingbee until 6 months from my wedding date. I can say with certainty that my blogging at 6 months out was far more developed, interesting, and frequent than what I was producing at 8 months.
7. Again, it has been said before, but don’t get discouraged! I know that some people start wedding blogs with the sole purpose of becoming a blogger for Weddingbee one day. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that! However, I urge you to continue blogging regardless of if you become a bee or not! Add your blog to the monthly list on the boards and start networking with the other amazing people out there! To be honest, I definitely would have continued with my wedding site if my application wasn’t accepted: I have met and interacted with SO many wonderful individuals because of this outlet!

So…if you love blogging, do it for the personal satisfaction!

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Read up on all the other bees’ experiences in the A Bee’s Life series here!