Following the QR Code Road

Photo by Visions of RomanceThis year, Weddings in Woodinville, offered it’s attendees the ability to use QR Codes at each vendor station.  Many vendors offered discounts on services for those who scanned their code.  

What exactly is a QR code you ask?  Why was Weddings in Woodinville the first wedding show to use them?  A QR, or Quick Response, code is specific matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code), readable by barcode readers. These codes consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. By scanning these codes, you can access images, websites and text.  Embedded in the code itself is the ability to launch a website, download a file, watch a video, offer a coupon and supply almost any other kind of information.  Created in Japan, in 1994, the QR code is one of the most popular types of two-dimensional barcodes and are beginning to be found everywhere from your movie theater (free pop?  Yes, please!) to ads in magazines offering recipes and short video clips of their product (Pita Chip Candy Crunch from Frito Lay, anyone?). 

Weddings in Woodinville QR CodeDownload any of the many free QR readers to your camera-equipped smartphone through your applications, after the app is installed, you will see a red line across the screen. Move your phone forward to make the viewfinder zoom in on the QR code. Once the code is read, a notification will come up that there is a Found URL. Click the “Open Browser” button and it will then bring up your app link. This will point your browser to a website containing the companies information that they want to share.  The  idea behind scanning a bar code is that it is much faster than typing a Web address on your tiny smartphone keyboard or touch screen. 

Weddings in Woodinville decided to use this promotional tool for their guests to further enhance their mission to produce the most useful, organized and proficient wedding show to their brides.  Well, received by our attendees and vendors, alike, Weddings in Woodinville looks forward to offering even more information and deals next year.