Waves of Green by Sofia Brightsea
Mother Nature Network recently featured tips on planning a green wedding, and webcasting is listed among the many creative and sustainable recommendations. As the article notes, webcasting your wedding can help by limiting the number of people traveling long distances to be there in person. While you’ll want to have every person important to you in attendance, MNN suggests that brides and grooms looking to cut down on the total carbon footprint of the event — which includes feeding, housing, and ferrying each person — might consider a webcast as a chance to have it both ways, especially since there is a good chance that a few people won’t be able to attend for non-planet-saving reasons.
When new technology meets old traditions, etiquette questions are bound to ensue. In this recent entry, The Emily Post Institute answers important questions for both the hosts and guests of a wedding webcast about invitations and gifts:
Q: Does a formal invitation to the webcast of a wedding ceremony require a gift?
A: If you’ve been invited to the wedding and cannot attend but will be viewing it via webcast then yes, you should send a gift. An invitation to a wedding carries the obligation to send a gift. However, if you’ve been invited to only the webcast a gift is not necessary.
http://www.etiquettedaily.com/2009/04/webcast-wedding-invitation/
As you plan your webcast with Emily Post’s advice in mind, give your virtual guests clear expectations about their role in the community that makes up your wedding day; be sure they know how you hope for them to participate. For some couples, the webcast invitation is only extended to invited guests who cannot attend in person; for others, the webcast allows a wider circle of friends and family to experience the wedding than the plans or venue can accommodate. As the bride or groom, you will probably think of every person invited — whether to the ceremony and reception or only to the webcast — as an honored guest, but remember that some who do not receive an invitation to attend in person may feel like they’re on your B list.
What do you think? Do you agree with Emily Post’s recommendation? And how will you plan to communicate with your webcast guests and help them be included on your wedding day?