A Wedding, With Followers

For couples planning a wedding, the process usually includes facing a jury of mothers, aunts and future sisters-in-law - all offering a verdict on gowns, hairstyles and an array of other details.

But next spring, one couple will face a jury of thousands.

Brides Magazine is set to announce on Monday that it is offering to help organize and pay for a wedding worth $1.2 million next April 7 at the St. Regis Monarch Beach resort in Dana Point, Calif. The gown and bridesmaid dresses will be supplied by David's Bridal. Buddy Valastro, known as the Cake Boss on his TLC show, will design the cake. Tresemmé will handle the hairstyles, and Jos. A. Bank will provide the tuxedos.

The catch? The bride and groom must agree to let all of the decisions about their special day be voted on and curated by followers on social media like Facebook and Twitter.

Talk about extended input. But Keija Minor, the new editor of Brides, says that's what couples want in an age w hen wedding planning crosses multiple platforms - from television shows to magazine advice to columns to Web sites like theknot.com.

“In a world of reality TV, where we have seen this level of sharing and community interaction, I think this is exciting,” Ms. Minor said. “This couple, they're going to become social media stars, and I think that's an experience for any couple.”

The entire wedding was conceived with social media in mind. Randi Zuckerberg, the sister of Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, is helping to produce the event online. The magazine has offered to donate $1 to a charity of the couple's choice for every person who “likes” something on Facebook related to the wedding. The magazine is even holding the wedding on a Sunday at 7 p.m. Eastern time because that's when Facebook has the most traffic.

The promotion comes at a time when Brides Magazine, owned by Condé Nast, is struggling. It reported a 14 percent decline in advertising pages in the first half of the year and a circulation decline to 317,687 in June, compared with 360,807 at the same time five years ago.

Michelle Myers, the publisher, says the latest program reaches brides where they are most likely to share wedding updates.

“So many millennial brides announced their engagement by changing their Facebook status to engaged,” she said.