by Meghan Ely, OFD Consulting

I've nearly convinced my husband that the sign of a successful dinner party goes well beyond the menu itself, as there are many elements that go into it.

Perhaps I'm simply justifying my obsession with hoarding fun cocktail napkins, but I sincerely believe as a former event guru that there are many elements that goes into the dinner- from the linens and the centerpiece to the wine selection and dessert plates (Tiffany's please!).  And perhaps he's simply on board as it justifies his obsession with our new under the cabinet disco lighting, but I'll take it.

Real Wedding submissions to wedding blogs and magazines follow the same rule of thumb. While an amazing shot could get your foot in the virtual door, there are several other things to consider including to ensure your real wedding submission is as competitive as possible.

Before hitting "send" on that submission email, be sure to consider the following:

Details, details, details- A lovely shot of the bride and groom is certainly a nice opener, but the media craves shots that inspire future brides. When selecting images for a feature, remember the cake, flowers, favors and tablescape to start, as well as bridal accessories, decor and those fabulous shoes that the maid of honor is sporting.

Great Copy- It's one thing to send swoon worthy shots, but in the end, a fabulous story can be just as compelling (if not more so!) than the images. Take the time to go back and chat with the bride further. Find out what she loved most about her day and the details that were created to make their wedding day "theirs."

Vendor List-  Most real wedding features include a comprehensive list of the wedding professionals involved in the wedding planning process. Make it easy on the Editor by including a list of every vendor, including a link to their web site.

Bride's Contact Info- Despite your best efforts, you may not have all of the answers that the Editor needs in order to move forward with the feature. Include the bride's contact information in case there are loose ends that need to be tied.

Exclusivity- Bloggers and Magazines alike tend to prefer to be the first ones out of the proverbial starting gate with your feature. Know and follow the rules of exclusivity for the media outlet that you are targeting and if you do have the wedding currently in submission elsewhere, include this information in the pitch.

Wedding PR can be a fantastic addition to a strong wedding marketing campaign, as it will assist you with building value for your services. If taking the time to submit a real wedding, be sure to keep in mind the above while putting the finishing touches on your pitch.

And if you ever need any sassy cocktail napkins to shoot for the feature, you'll know where to find me.

Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding marketing and wedding pr firm OFD Consulting. She is the exclusive wedding pr columnist  to wedding marketing journal WedLock magazine and is a highly sought after speaker in the wedding industry.   She loves ruffle table runners and Royal Wedding Tchotchkes. To learn how OFD Consulting can assist you with your wedding marketing and wedding pr, please contact us today.