TO: Dr Sun, WWW Instructor
FR: Sarah Hammond
DT: 17 February 2005
RE: Wedding Website Analysis

Overview
I will be analyzing the home webpage of Ultimate Wedding. www.ultimatewedding.com
Ultimate Wedding is a website to assist people who are planning a wedding. It offers products that are available to buy, tips on making your wedding as perfect as possible, favor ideas, proposal stories, song collections, and much much more.

Writers & Developers of the Ultimatewedding.com Web Site
The authors of the website are probably people who have personally enjoyed preparing for their own wedding or weddings of family and friends, who also have the talent of designing websites. The organization probably has a variety of staff members who each specialize in their own area. However, there could be one or two head members who oversee the whole project, making sure everything functions correctly. The writers and content contributors of the document are represented mainly through their disclaimer and other legal information.

The features of the document that cue the reader in to the organization’s identity, purpose, and mission are things such as the main toolbar heading, which contains shopping, resources, services, boards, chat, contests, and the site index. Another feature the company uses is pop-up ads that advertise items or services available to purchase. They are showing the viewer what they have to offer. They can prove their credibility through the name-brand products they offer, whether wedding apparel or other wedding accessories such as unity candles, ring pillows, or aisle runners. The design and the look of the document tell the readers that the organization is very fresh with updated information, featuring the newest products and greatest ideas for planning the perfect wedding. They want the viewer to feel the excitement that is generated on the site by the writers.

Audiences & Users of the Ultimatewedding.com Web Site
The primary users of this site are primarily a bride-to-be, groom-to-be. Secondary users may include family or friends of the to-be couple. There are obvious links that are meant to appeal to these groups. For instance any user may glance at what there is to buy, but only a registered user, such as the bride or groom-to-be can go to links such as “ask the newlyweds.”

This is the type of website that is bookmarked and is repeatedly referenced. Every day something new is posted, whether it be new proposal stories, new fashions of clothing, new invitation styles, or new planning tips. As the day grows nearer, the more frequently the site is visited. While the site may be an important one, other wedding websites may be referenced as well, simultaneously.

The site has sections featured/geared specifically toward its users, particularly the bride and groom-to-be and their parents. In order to sign up as a regular user, you must type your name, status (whether it be bride, groom, or mother/father of the bride/groom). This is not for just any user. Friends of soon to be brides or grooms would only look at the website, rather than register as a user.

Format & Organization of the UltimateWedding.com Web Site

• Lists
  The lists are basic and simple. They are located all along the left-hand side of the site. This makes for easy navigation throughout the site. Users can view all their choices as they are laid out before them, in alphabetical order. Once one of the items from the list have been clicked on, images of each type of product appear on the screen, allowing the user to learn more or see more pictures.
• Pop-Up Ads
  The other is pop-up ads. These occur almost every time a link on the page is clicked on. Unlike other websites who feature random companies and offers, ultimatewedding.com features ads of companies in which they work with on a regular basis. For instance, rather than receiving pop-ups from a well known cell phone company, the user will find an ad for wedding favors, dresses, or jewelry. This works well, because though the website is making money from advertisements, they are also promoting companies useful for the user to associate with, creating happy users, with no complaints.

Formality
This genre can be both formal and informal, depending on how the user sees it. It can be seen as formal in that it includes every thing a bride-to-be or groom-to-be needs in order to plan a wedding. It includes helpful tips and gives reasonable prices through the companies the website works with. On the other hand, many may see the site as very informal. It has a playfulness to it that makes planning a wedding fun and exciting. Both seem to come through strongly, as long as the user looks for both aspects of the site.

Use of Visual Cues and Images
This site, as stated previously, uses lists as its main navigational tool. There are some main headings, such as “Online Planning tools,” “Inside the Guide,” and “Shopping Online.” These headings are in a larger font with color and more variation to them. The site also uses images to get the attention of its users. Sometimes the images flash to grab the eyes of the user.

Forecasting Your Own Experience with this Genre
I can picture myself working on a site that falls under this genre, using techniques such as bright colors, flashing images, and lists that are easy for navigation. Through this analysis, I’ve discovered that knowing the audience plays a huge part in choosing how to design a website in a specific genre. I’ve got to know what the users are looking for in a website that can meet their needs and assist them in the best way possible.

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