Every time I go home, I am reminded how very different my generation is from those preceding.  My parents are usually in the throws of some technology crisis, or in other words, enduring the ‘someone-changed-something-and-we-can’t-change-it-back’ paralysis.  They are not idiots.  Indeed, they are quite intelligent and worldly.  However, while the digital world emerged right under our noses, they were busy cleaning those noses.  Generation Y is shaping history in exponential ways – and so, why not the history of getting married as well?

I’m not referring to untraditional living arrangements, eloping, exchanging vows under the ocean, or anything like that.  I’m talking about merging the traditional wedding with the digital world.  Times have changed and you are getting married this year, not 20 years ago.  When a gigantic portion of everyday is spent surfing the net, blogging, emailing, and texting, doesn’t it make sense to utilize these modes of communication on the big day as well?  The following are some technology-based ideas you could incorporate into your modern wedding, or at least help you get the silicon juices flowing:

Create a central online site for your wedding. You could post something simple with blogspot.com and facebook.com or join various online services to help (check out wedsimple.com and wedsite.com).  This can be a simple, easy way to keep both you and your guests informed and organized.  Items to post may be a calendar of events, wedding colors, photo gallery, maps & directions, bridal party contact info, etc…

Utilize the internet to help get the word out. While paper invitations are nice, email is practical, free, easy, convenient, customizable, and is quickly becoming an accepted wedding protocol.  If you simply can’t imagine a wedding without paper invitations, then consider an email blast to save the date (try evite.com) and include in your paper invitation online RSVP directions.

Make gift giving easier. On your ‘wedsite’ you may include a wish-list and links directly to your bridal registries.  Or instead of gifts, perhaps you would appreciate help with the honeymoon.  A great option is an online honeymoon registry.  The idea here is that your guests purchase parts of your honeymoon.  For example, one night lodging in Fiji @ $180.00 or Dinner for Two on a Catamaran @ $100.00.  This is fun because guests are able to view your entire honeymoon itinerary and buy items out right or contribute what they want toward an item.  There are many websites that facilitate this process (visit honeymoonwishes.com or thehoneymoon.com).

Have an electronic guest registration. Instead of an elaborate book that will get stuffed in a box or trendy picture frame matting, have a laptop at the reception entrance.  Choose a program that works well on the laptop and that you are comfortable with.  Create a document and have guests type in their well wishes as they come in.  If they choose to, they could change the fonts and colors that they want to use, but if they don’t you can easily change everything after the fact.  Don’t forget to enable to auto save feature.  You will probably still want to have one of your bridal party members man the station, just to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

Skype in guests that can’t attend the reception. Perhaps your mother is ill and can’t make the flight or your sister lives overseas, use Skype.com to include them in your big day.  Skype is incredibly user friendly and, best of all, free.  All you need are webcams on both ends and the internet.

Trick out your wedding with a high tech photobooth. Serving mainly the west coast Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and soon Orlando check out HD Photobooth. This ultra modern setup takes the most amazing portraits you have ever seen of yourself with some insane equipment and custom processing software. Better yet all captured images are available for free download the next day. You can also comment on others portraits or transfer images directly to Facebook.