I love this week's giveaway because there's literally something for everyone. Many of the giveaways that we do are really just items that a future bride or groom might use, but today's giveaway would be great for an upcoming wedding, an anniversary, a wedding or anniversary gift, or just a really nice item for the holidays.
In fact, with the winter holidays coming up, I'll be trying to bring you more items that could be used as presents, since everyone seems a little short on holiday cash this year. I know that since we were getting married right after the holidays, our '08 Christmas presents were themed "hey, it's the thought that counts, right?"
This week's giveaway comes to us from the Etsy shop Laserbird, who specializes in beautiful engraved items. The shop originally caught my eye because they carry Disney-themed engraved toasting flutes in a couple of different designs:
The owners of Laserbird have generously agreed to donate a $40 gift certificate to this week's winner, which would cover a pair of those Disney toasting flutes. If you're curious, $40 from their shop will also buy you any of these lovely items:
To enter this week's giveaway, leave a comment on this post with some idea about getting more community involvement happening on this site. You know, a way for you guys to have an active voice on this space.
I still have a community week planned and it's coming along very nicely (a special thank you to all of my helpers out there!) but I think the week will happen after I come back from my trip next month so I can really give it all of my energy. So, in the meantime, leave me your ideas and hopefully I'll be able to make at least a couple of them happen.
Good luck!!
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33 comments:
Maybe set up a once a week chat room with anyone who is interested and we could have a few topics each week that we could discuss. Future Disbrides could ask some questions and the veteran dis brides could provide the answers for them each week.
I don't know if it would even be possible but maybe adding a forum of some sort where we could all chat and ask questions of each other. People could post DIY tutorials, inspirational wedding stuff like pictures or sites, etc.
I know many brides use the DIS boards for chatting, but have you considered a simple board where your readers could communicate both with you can with each other?
I think it would be fun to have polls about different issues Disney and other brides face....like the age old debate on when to send save the dates or is it really worth $XYZ to have characters at my reception?
Weekly topic discussions! Kind of like a book club post, except you get people to post their ideas in a centralized thread concerning that week's theme.
Hi Carly,
What if you or a past Disney bride did a Live Chat, where new Disney brides could ask you questions. That way we could have immediate answers to some of our pressing questions. :)
Something that might be fun could be a virtual scavenger hunt or a game or quiz.
I know, sounds kinda vague, but it would be kinda fun to maybe have a challenge to showcase things from your previous blogs.
No mater what, LOVE your blog, keep up the great work =)
One thing you could do would be to have readers send in a question about a Disney wedding. Then you post that on the blog and readers can post answers and advice.
Andrea
belle2211(at)yahoo(dot)com
I think you should ask your Disney Bride Community to maybe send you pictures or instructions for some DIY stuff they did or are doing for their wedding. You could maybe also add a chat function on the site or something. Many of us communicate via DIS board but it would be cool to chat in real time!
BTW I thought it was pretty hilarious but July 14th, 2011 (the date on the flutes) is actually the day of OUR wedding!!! I can't wait! Only 10 months to go!
My suggestion is for an "all about the brides" section where every bride can have a small bio about themselves and their wedding with a link to contact them directly via email. This way you can talk directly to a Disney bride that either had a wedding or is planning a wedding with similar interests to yours.
These flutes will be great for our anniversary! I wish I would have found them before the wedding.
I think it would be great to have weekly or monthly polls! It would also be nice to have a designated area for brides to upload their files/instructions of their DIY projects. Maybe having a live chat of you interviewing brides who just had their wedding accompanied by their pictures posted on the site. Kinda like a wedding spotlight plus interview! Could be tricky but still sounds fun! :)
Perhaps you could create more surveys or polls. That would be a simple way for us to interact on a specific subject.
Those engravings are beautiful! What a keepsake!
I love the idea of polls - I think its great reading through them and giving your thought!
When I was in the beginning of planning, I would have loved a place where I could ask 'I need photo inspirations of Yellow & Purple' and people could submit all their findings on yellow and purple flowers/dresses/decorations etc. I found it really hard to find some good colour inspirations - especially for flower bouquets in the colours that I wanted so this would be a good way for those great google searchers to showcase their searching skills.
MrsYokie
These would be great for my 2013 VR!!
You could possibly set up some type of forum or chat room.
These flutes are THE BEST!! I ordered these exact ones from this vendor and couldn't be happier. These are a great deal and a must have for all Disney Weddings!
This is probably a little "out there", but I thought it might be fun to have the readers help you plan an fictious couple's Disney wedding! Maybe one can be Memories style. Who would be on the guest list? Where would it take place? What kind of flowers would be involved? Etc. Just kinda go from there and set a budget. Challenge readers to plan an event within the budget. (That would be fun, granted, for those of us NOT already planning a wedding, but it might give some currently planning readers good ideas!)
Those are on my etsy wish list!!! The mickey and minnie one with the moon made me squee with delight because my fiance and I have a thing with the moon (an it's a wonderful life type of thing with the moon).
I definitely think a forum would be a fun thing for the community. It would also help those not having a disney world or land that want to bring a disney element to their wedding at home.
I think it would be a great idea to have a way that those could chat with on another that are planning their Disney wedding. Wether they are talking to somebody that has already had their wedding and can help answer questions or just another bride to chat with about all the quesitons we come up with and can bounce ideas off of!
I love the idea of weekly or monthly polls that was mentioned earlier. I also like the idea of putting together a fictitious wedding with various details. My suggestion would be possibly adding a readers' advice thing. Like, in the weekly update there's the "Dear Carly" Q&A. But what if it was a "question of the week" and many people could respond, then in the weekly update, you could post your own advice as well as sum up what the readers thought as well.
I think more involvement is a core issue for most bloggers. Love the idea of a live chat/Q&A with you or other Disney Brides/Vendors. Also, more bride-driven projects. Crafty DIY stuff.
I really like the idea of having brides submit/post DIY items! I definitely could use Disney-inspired ideas and instructions!
So many brides post great info like that in their PJ's on disboards but I am terrible about reading them all the way through so I often miss their handiwork. Having a central (and searchable!) place for that would be awesome!
One other thought...I'm certainly not knocking the live chat idea, but I would probably never have a chance to tune into that. My schedule is wildly irregular and I'd imagine that other busy brides might feel the same way. Just my two cents to include as you weigh the suggestions.
thanks!
Leah
I blog for the non profit I work for. Guest bloggers have been really popular. It is a new perspective, and gives people a unique way to interact. Maybe the brides you feature would like to write commentary for their spotlight. What does a photographer say is the best/ worst thing about getting pictures done at Disney? Guest bloggers wouldn't replace you, but it would take away some of the stress of having to post every week.
Seeing other brides DIY projects are always fun & inspiring! =)
Hi Carly! I think you should set up an application for guest bloggers who can contribute to the site. I know myself and I'm sure others could contribute some ideas since we are planning/planned very different weddings and came to the wedding planning process with different questions, concerns, etc. Also - definitely start a Facebook page for the blog! Even though you are friends with a lot of people who read the blog on Facebook, we don't have any way of knowing if the people on your list are a wedding blog fan/fellow Disney bride - or an actual "real life" friend! Other than the DFTW Facebook page, there really aren't that many Facebook communities for Disney brides. You could also post the teasers to your blog articles on there, and people could tag pictures themselves to have on the page. That could be another way for people to submit their photos for consideration on the blog.
Live chat! It would be great to get to know some disney brides on a personal level. Perhaps even a disney bride directory. A list of facebook or email accounts of brides who volunteer their information and want to connect with other brides.
I enjoy your site and look forward to the many new things I learn or can post about. The Etsy shop has BEAUTIFUL pieces of art and years ago, my Mom bought a set of etched glasses from Disney Land for her parents anniversary (and they used them all the time!). I don't know if my Mom still has these, but I know that they would make a great gift for our upcoming wedding, personalized and practical. Thanks for your great site and for all the sponsors sites I am learning about - it is great to have word of mouth advertising!
I love these! Etsy stuff is just so great!! I have to get my glasses! Disney has the cutest ones!
If people repost announcements that there are posts on their Facebook or Twitter pages that would definitely get the word out and even those who don't follow the blog on a regular basis can see some amazing stuff!
:D
One of my favorite things to read about Disney weddings is when brides post their Wish I did/ Glad I Didn't/ Glad I Did Section. It really lets me know what worked, what didn't and what the bride felt they should have included on their Disney Wedding day.
I also love reading their Vendor Reviews. These really help me to determine if my vendor picks (Hair, photography, etc) were the right choices or not.
It would also be great to add a place where Past Disney brides could post a kind of "trip report" of their wedding day, including pictures.
I know that many disney brides look to this blog for advice for their upcoming weddings and adding these areas would only enhance their experience and knowledge base. :)
Thanks, Debra
My fiancé loves those flutes!! lol
I think that there should be a weekly contribution from a reader. We send you what we have to say (like submitting an article to the school news paper) and it could be ideas for projects or center pieces or an experience or advice we have. You choose one and post it!
I think having an area where past or future brides can post information they think would be useful would be great. This would have to be approved by yourself first in order to make sure it is something you want on your blog, but I think this would be a great way to create more of a community feel. Another great idea would be to plan Disney bride events on here, where Disney brides from all over could come and meet other Disney brides and trade tips and tricks. Everyone is always looking for an excuse to take another trip to Disney World!
Maybe you could have email days where you answer on the blog all the email questions that you have received the previous week/month, etc..
Not sure if that is what you mean exactly by more community involvement, but I have seen other blogs do this regularly and thought it was nice because they would answer questions I didn't even realize I had! lol :)
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