Why Your Wedding Needs a Social-Media Strategy

In the past few years, couples have been creating their own hashtags to use on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as a way of gathering the photos, videos and memories friends and family capture. And now, people around the world are starting businesses devoted solely to marketing your wedding day.

There's Appy Couple, an app referred to as a "guest concierge" service that allows couples to create a centralized page for all wedding festivities, accessible on mobile and web. You can tell your personal story, from first date to engagement pictures, as well as manage your guest list, edit photos, instant message with guests and stream photos from your wedding events. There are also links to relevant sites, through which guests can book travel and accommodations. It's $35 to download the app and get started.

WedPics is an app for couples who wish to share wedding photos and videos with guests in real-time. Sign-up is simple: Create your free account, invite guests and wait for pictures and video to appear. An interesting feature of the app allows guests to tag the type of event they are attending, so you can see photos of bachelor and bachelorette parties, the rehearsal dinner and other activities leading up to and including the main event.

If you're encouraging social media at your nuptials, make sure everyone is aware of the various platforms. "We see a lot of signage where the bride and groom are letting the guests know their custom hashtag or particular app they want their guests to use," says Jennifer Drew of Something to Remember Events. "Displaying or communicating this in a unique way is a fun way to personalize the wedding."

And if you happen to be hosting a destination wedding in the Big Apple, consider this: W Hotels in New York City announced a social-media concierge service available to guests through the end of the year. Couples pay $3,000 for a dedicated media professional to live tweet the ceremony and reception, upload photos and videos to Instagram and Vine and curate a one-of-a-kind wedding hashtag, encouraging guests to use the hashtag whenever posting on social media throughout the event. And there's even a social-media recap as part of the deal, delivered via a Shutterfly book.

While it may not be for every couple or every wedding, social-media inclusion is a trend that isn't likely to fade anytime soon.