The Burner mobile app allows user to create a temporary phone number. While the initial buzz around disposable numbers may have focused on somewhat scandalous uses, Burner has created Burner Connections to make its app handy for all sorts of everyday applications. Couples can use their Burner number to collect RSVPs by asking guests to text the number with either “accept” or “decline,” and the responses automatically will be added to a Google spreadsheet. For photo collection, guests can text their pics to a Burner number and the Dropbox Burner Connection will collect them in one folder. The Burner number also can gather audio greetings from guests to collect in a private SoundCloud playlist. Finally, the Evernote Burner Connection can serve as an information hotline similar to a chatbot: Burner will reply to guests’ text questions using information loaded into Evernote.
Wristbands embedded with near field communication (N.F.C.) tags have become common at festivals, conferences, and other large events, and they can be used in similar ways at weddings. Guests receive the wristband ahead of time or upon arrival and are asked to link it to their email or social media accounts. Then the band can be used for things like access control and to manage consumption at an open bar, with hosts preloading each band with a set number of drinks and guests taping their bands at the bar each time they order. N.F.C. wristbands are also useful for photo sharing. Photo booths and roaming photographers can be equipped with N.F.C. readers so guests can simply swipe to have images sent directly to their linked email or social media accounts. Anthony Palermo of Connect & Go says there are many other ways N.F.C. can be used at weddings. A jukebox-style kiosk—where guests select the song they’d like to hear and then swipe their band to send that information to the DJ along with their name, so they can be thanked for the request—can be set up. Another idea is to allow guests to swipe to make a donation to the couple’s chosen charity by linking their wristband to a credit card. The wristbands come in a variety of colors and can be personalized with the couple’s name and wedding date.
Live-streaming can be a great option for family and friends who can’t attend a wedding—particularly a destination one—due to physical or financial limitations. For a casual, D.I.Y. live-stream approach, options include Skype for as many as 10 viewers or Facebook Live; for a more professional look, companies such as My Streaming Wedding provide an experienced videographer with equipment, a dedicated portable Internet uplink, no viewer limits, and the option for a live chat so viewers can leave comments for the bride and groom.
