What inspired you to start Wedding Nouveau?....The wedding Nouveau story
It came up as an after thought really while planning my own wedding in 2008. I moved to the US as an impressionable teenager, however, there's a strong and unchangeable core that is uniquely Cameroonian. Wedding planning is challenging enough as is, so when you throw in very different cultures, distance, expectations and questions like: "In what country will we have the knock door?", then you've got yourself a whole new game. I was overwhelmed by the assault of wedding magazines on newstands all preaching the same old trends, gowns and refurbished ideas. On the other hand, I was extremely frustrated with the lack of resources for brides like me in interracial/ intercultural relationships. Over a year later, a teeny tiny little blog began. I think my monthly page view for that first month was a little under 1000 views (70% of which, surely came from me). In the last year and a half, we've grown from a teeny blog to an online magazine, and now a digital and print magazine to follow.
What challenges have you faced so far in setting up a blogazine and now the print version?
LOL, the question really should be "What challenges HAVEN'T I faced." Let's begin with the fact that I'm not tech savy. Yes, I can blast the occasional text with one hand, and I know a thing or two about DVRs, but when it comes to web design and internet jargon, I've become a self taught html coder. When I decided to start the blog, I had a strong sense of what I wanted the overall look and feel to be, but was completely clueless when it came to the technical stuff. And that's where google and self-help books came in. I taught myself basic terminology, do's and don'ts of web building and how to code...YIKES! I can honestly say that if you set you mind to it, you can do anything.
Secondly,marketing! In the beginning, I had an uphill battle to climb of just getting others to take me seriously. Without content, WEDDING NOUVEAU wouldn't have the readership it does now, but if photographers and designers don't know your business, they'll be less likely to share their content with you. So there was a lot of woo-ing, calling and email stalking in the beginning. All I can say to that, is I'm glad I kept knocking. As a theatre artist, trained in New York, I'm used to the brutal repetition of rejection. Little did I know that my graduate training in tenacity would prepare me for this.
Thirdly, I'm a wife and new mother. The deceptive appearance of blogging is that it's passive and quick. If you're are particular as I am, then it actually requires hours of tending for content, marketing, advertising, management, etc. When you add that demand to the reality of being a wife and mother to an 18 month (who at the time it started was a newborn)...well, let's just say, that I have a wonderful and supportive husband, who appreciates his wife who never sleeps.
And that's just for the blog...Get back to me in a few months and I'll dish on print. For now, I'll say that it is definitely not as easy as it seems, and I couldn't have done it without all the fabulous contributors for the articles, photo shoots and more.
Tell us about the Magazine and your vision for it?So here we are. Almost two years after the blog began, the magazine to me is the actual first step to what I'd always dreamed. WEDDING NOUVEAU is the premiere style guide for intercultural brides and muli-ethnic weddings. As a quaterly publication (digital & print), each issue showcases real interracial weddings, customs from around the world and fab global finds. The vision is simple, to Dream in Culture™, one inspiration at a time.
ABOUT WEDDING NOUVEAU
WEDDING NOUVEAU is the premiere style guide for intercultural brides and multi-ethnic weddings. Our mission is to dream in culture, one inspiration at a time. Wedding Nouveau magazine is a quarterly publication in digital, print and ipad ready formats.
In the premier issue:- Featured Spotlight interview on Luxury Stationery designer - Ceci Johnson of CeciNewYork.
- Over 25 pages of real fusion weddings set in California, Mexico, India, New York, and Australia (to name a few)
- Fab finds with a global twist for today's modern bride
- Summer recipes from Photographer/ food blogger - Helen Dujardin (Tartelette blog)
- Bridal Runway trends for 2012
And much more!!
Inspiration Shoot Vendors:
- Photography - Suthi Picotte - http://www.picotteweddings.com/
- Styling - Wedding Nouuveau (Fri Forjindam)
- Dress - Esther Jean- Jewelry - Carla de la Cruz Jewelry- Bouquet/ Boutonniere - Noaki Jewelry
- Hair - Nikole Denise
- Make up - Christine Craven- Furnishing - Archive Vintage Rentals
Magazine Info
WN on Facebook
Wedding Nouveau Magazine launches on Monday July 11th. In Digital, Print and iPad ready format.
Ten thumbs up to Fri..You are a creative genius...I can't wait to get Wedding Nouveau on print!!
Y.M.
IRepCamer
*****UPDATE******
CLICK TO GET YOUR COPY
Ahhhh Yefon this is fabulous!!! Fri is such an inspiration. A diligent, hardworking entrepreneur that this little woman is. You did not ask the million-dollar question: Where can we (outside the US) get a copy? Subscribe? I don di ask since sotay ma mop di hot. R-E-S-P-E-C-T (a la Aretha Franklin) to you Fri!
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