The Bride's Diary Web Site, Content Management System and Online Store

Launch Site

Client Introduction

The Bride's Diary, published internationally since 1964, aims to provide readers with the most practical, informative, creative and enjoyable wedding information in the world.

Project Overview

The Bride's Diary magazine turned to Switch I.T. to engender a complete online strategy, including the development of a comprehensive web site, Content Management System, two extranets, an online store with order fulfillment functionality and a number of wedding planning tools.

Public Web Site and Content Management System
The public web site features the following:

• Articles
  The web site features a growing library of comprehensive articles on every wedding topic imaginable. Users can browse articles by interest, category or search by keyword.
  
  
• Product Reviews
  Reviews are available on a range of wedding related products and services such as beauty products, jewellery and reception venues. Like articles, users can browse articles by interest, category or search by keyword.
  
  
• Wedding Services Directory
  The site features a comprehensive, Australia-wide directory of over 500 wedding service providers. Each provider has their own web page on the site featuring images, an overview of services and an email enquiry form. Users can search the directory by the type of service, location and keywords.
  
  
• Online Store
  A comprehensive shopping cart was developed to allow customers to intuitively purchase a range of products online. A simple, three-step secure checkout process was then implemented under the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) architecture to avoid confusing customers and losing potential sales. Upon completing their order, a tax invoice is emailed to the customer and the order written to The Bride's Diary order processing system.
  
  

Order and Payment Processing System
To process orders made via the Online Store, Switch I.T. integrated a simple order and payment processing system into the existing Content Management System, featuring:

• Manual Payment Processing Application
  A custom credit card decryption application was developed allowing all encrypted customer payment information to be processed by (and only by) The Bride's Diary staff. After the payment is cost-effectively processed via an EFTPOS terminal, the order is payment as processed and moved into the order processing component.
  
  
• Order Archiving and Delivery Confirmation
  Once the order is packaged, the system generated a packing slip to be attached with the delivery and automatically sends an email to the customer informing them that their order has been shipped.
  
  

My Wedding Member Extranet
A system was built allowing members of the public free subscription to the 'My Wedding' area. This personalised area featured the following:

• Interactive Planning Tools
  Bride-and-Groom's to be can now plan the majority of their wedding online via an intuitive guest list planner, table seating planner and wedding budget planner.
  
  
• Message Boards
  A number of message boards were developed allowing bride-to-be's and newlyweds to discuss their wedding with others.
  
  
• Members Only Deals
  As an incentive to potential subscribers, the 'My Wedding' area also featured special deals only available to members.
  
  

Advertiser Extranet
The Bride's Diary Advertisers can securely log into the web site to access the following:

• Engagement Notices and Reader Responses
  Advertisers can access potential contacts via downloadable engagement notices and reader responses from magazine readers.
  
  
• Web Page Maintenance
  Advertisers can now maintain their own web page on the site including uploading their own images and maintaining all contact information.
  
  

What the client said...

"Switch I.T. take web development to a whole new level. Their work is inspiring, creative and incredibly functional. Their personable approach made the development of our fabulous new website an absolute pleasure. Switch I.T. are professionals of the very highest calibre and it is a pleasure and a privilege for us to be able to recommend them to anyone in any capacity, totally and without reservation."

Anna Pedersen
Publisher, The Bride's Diary

Technologies
Client Side	HTML, DHTML, JavaScript
Server Side	C#, XML
Database	SQL Server 2000
Platform/OS	IIS, Windows 2000
Switch I.T. Components
Content Management	SwitchBack CMS
Community	SwitchBoard Message Board
e-Commerce	Credit Card Encryption Application