This Wedding Company Made One Simple Switch to Help Couples Realize Their Happily Ever After
Because it's only supposed to be the best day of your life.
Your big day can be full of big stressors. It's only supposed to be the best day of your life. No pressure.
Which is why Zola took the wedding registry into the future-- and online.
Gone are the days of roaming the department store with a store associate and scanning items into your registry wish list. Zola streamlined the process so that couples can focus on more important things-- like cake testing, something that *thankfully* online will never replace.
So we checked in with Jennifer Spector, Zola's "Newlywed-At-Large" to find out why making this switch was imperative for a happily ever after, and what today's couples are looking, and registering, for.
What is the most rewarding part about being in the wedding industry?
The most rewarding part about being in the wedding industry is intersecting with couples at such an electric time in their lives. Taking the next step to get married is just the beginning, and being a part of a couple's journey as they build their home and their lives together is really gratifying.
How do you think Zola is inspiring couples to build their lives together?
We focus on what couples of this generation want and need to build their lives together. Zola offers gifts, experiences, and opportunities that uniquely reflect the couple - like cooking classes, camping equipment, artwork and funds - instead of gifts that don’t feel personal.
I used Zola before I started working for the brand, and it was a lightbulb moment for me - wedding planning could be fun! So much of wedding planning is solely focused on the bride, and Zola made registering feel inclusive for both me and my husband. That carried through in the products that were offered, and the way we could adapt the platform to our needs as we envisioned our future together. We registered for home goods, experiences, and even a fund for boxing lessons before our wedding to help take the edge off. Registering for certain items, like a nonstick pan we would use to make Sunday pancakes, made our marriage feel way more real and special than which color napkin would be at our reception.
Why was it important to take the wedding registry online?
Because couples live online! Zola is a digital first experience with best-in-class iPhone and iPad apps, as well as desktop versions that help you manage your registry wherever you are. Zola allows you to manage thank you notes, fulfill gifts, add new items to your registry, automatically transfer funds directly into your bank account, and import items from anywhere online. Couples expect a seamless digital experience and anything less does not reflect their needs, and is also extremely frustrating.
Do you think streamlining parts of a wedding makes it easier for brides and grooms to focus on the big day?
Weddings are incredible celebratory milestones, but they are also major events, which come with lots of emotions, expectations and frustrations. Plus the added pressure for it to be the best day of your life! Streamlining wedding planning helps couples focus on having a good time and what is truly important - celebrating the love they share. Using Zola helps streamline because you have everything in your pocket and on your phone - so you can delay shipping if you need to, exchange a gift digitally, or add/remove things on your registry as your wedding date gets closer.
The goal should be to focus on the big day and beyond - a wedding is only one day but a marriage should last a lifetime - so you don’t want wedding planning to take a toll on the relationship.
"You don't want wedding planning to take a toll on the relationship."
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What is the modern couple looking for when coming to Zola?
Couples are looking for a well-designed registry that has gifts that reflect their personal style and helps them build their lives together. Thousands of couples have shared with us that Zola was their favorite part of wedding planning, and many couples continue to shop the site after their wedding day because it still represents their tastes.
Are you seeing more of a shift from traditional gifts to gifting experiences and honeymoon funding?
When Zola first started 2.5 years ago, the hypothesis was that couples were moving away from traditional gifts. But what we saw instead was that couples wanted it all - they wanted a KitchenAid mixer, they wanted the experience of cooking together through Blue Apron, and they also wanted a fund for their trip to Thailand. Our couples register for a mix of gifts, experiences and funds because all three categories reflect what couples need and want in this next chapter of their lives.
"Happily ever after may be starting a family, traveling around the world, or enjoying a lifetime supply of avocados."
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What does Happily Ever After look like today?
Previous generations had a very cookie cutter ideal of happily ever after, which thankfully is no longer the case! For Zola couples, happily ever after means so many things. Happily ever after may be starting a family, traveling around the world, or enjoying a lifetime supply of avocados (a couple really registered for that). For me and my husband, happily ever after right now means living in a tiny apartment in a great neighborhood, traveling to new places, and continuing our boxing lessons!
Photo credit: Claire Esparros
10 Cost-Saving Tips for Your Wedding
The women behind 100 Layer Cake dish the bridal goods.
On 100 Layer Cake, we share a variety of weddings from DIY to Glam, and Bohemian to Romantic Elegance. All of these weddings tend to have one thing in common... they're super creative! While each wedding has an unique and varied budget, we're always so inspired when we find out that the couple was able to create their dream wedding on a small budget. To help you in your wedding planning process, and maybe save some $$$ along the way, we've combed through our site to give you a few of our favorite cost-saving tips.
USE OUR VENDOR GUIDE!
Our vendor guide is a place to find fabulous vendors as well as place service request for your wedding day. Yep, that's right, you can post a particular request for your wedding (from photography to music to flowers) and vendors in our guide will bid on your event!!! Our vendors are looking for creative brides, so pop on over and give it a try. These two New York brides found their vendors on our site.
This bride found her planner and photographer in our vendor guide.
This bride hooked up with photog Lauren Rae Photography after making a proposal right here on 100LC for wedding photographers within their budget.
RECRUIT FAMILY & FRIENDS TO HELP WITH FLORALS
Not only is this a cost saving tip, it's fun, and a great way to bring people together.
Simple one stem florals placed into antique medicine bottles can make such an elegant statement on your table.
For the adventurous bride, try foraging for your bridal bouquet.
Store bought florals popped into whimsical vessels by family and friends. So cute!
ALTERNATIVE WEDDING DRESSES
Okay, here's the deal, you don't have to go to a huge, well know bridal store to find your dream wedding dress. We're not saying you shouldn't go and try a few on, but there are other options. These creative brides found the perfect dress for their big day and saved lots of $$$!
We love that this bride spotted her vintage wedding dress on Etsy for $400.
This DIY bride found her dream wedding dress from Free People.
If you fancy an unconventional wedding, maybe think about forgoing the typical white dress for something more stylish. This bride really knew how to make a statement with her bright Mara Hoffman wedding dress.
CREATIVE CATERING
If you’re having a casual wedding, think about a potluck! This is great for an early afternoon wedding. All you need to do is create a menu and pick a few reliable friends and family member to bring a super yummy dish. Voila!
FAVORS
Try giving something really thoughtful and cost effective with these DIY colorful potted succulents.
CREATIVE DECOR.
Think beyond florals for wedding decor. The cost of hiring a florist can really rack up the cost, so think beyond a typical floral centerpiece or bouquet.
In lieu of florals, collect potted cactus or your tablescape. Bonus, you can decorate with them in your house or send them with a guest as a parting gift.
Paper flowers can be a festive, fun activity for you and your maids to create for your wedding decor.
DIY CEREMONY BACKDROPS & ARBORS IDEAS
Go bright and whimsical with this paper decor backdrop.
This couple had their family create this meaningful arbor for their ceremony.
The groom is a woodworker so he created this greenhouse structure for his bride, who's a floral designer. How thoughtful!
ALTERNATIVE CAKE
Behold the donut cake! Don’t get us wrong, we love a big dramatic wedding cake, but this donut cake concept is just too cute and a fraction of the cost.
SAVE ON YOUR LIQUOR BILL
This couple is really into beer, so instead of a full bar, they opted to pour their favorite blend. Talk about HUGE savings! We love how they stayed true to their passion.
CONSIDER A FREE VENUE
Save on your venue cost by hosting an intimate backyard wedding.
These are just a few of our favorite cost-saving wedding ideas. Be sure to pop over for more wedding ideas for your big day!