Timothy Chi

More Bliss, Less Fuss

When Timothy Chi was planning his wedding in 2004, he discovered how many “complicated, emotional decisions” go into creating that one special day. He resolved to simplify the process for others. Chi, a 2005 graduate of the master’s program in engineering management at Tufts’ Gordon Institute, had a knack for developing online platforms—he had already cofounded Blackboard, a successful digital learning firm. So he brought together three tech colleagues and started the online nuptial-planning service WeddingWire in 2005.

WeddingWire helps couples pick out a venue, suggests vendors (such as photographers, videographers, DJs, and wedding florists) who’ve worked there before, and keeps track of little details like what songs customers recommend for the newlyweds’ first dance or the removal of the garter. And of course you’ll find all styles of wedding gowns, priced from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

The company expanded globally in 2015, when it acquired a firm offering a similar service in twelve countries, including France, Mexico, and Brazil. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., WeddingWire now has 650 employees worldwide, with 2.5 million reviews of 400,000 businesses in the wedding industry, and 45,000 merchants who pay for space on the website.

—DAVID McKAY WILSON