I always struggle with putting together a home page. I never can come to a decent decision as to what I would like to put on the home page, how I want it organized, etc. Would you please post some links to your favorite home pages. I'm hoping they can inspire me.
I'm more looking for in general, but to answer your question - this would be for informational sites - no product selling. The wedding site is definitely a candidate for redesign of the home page, and I'm putting together a parenting site currently that I am struggling with.
Well, there are a few schools of thought w/ home pages. I personally like to think of the home page as a dressed up top level site map. Some people like to offer just a few links so that they can control the users' (initial) path. I know that doesn't offer much but I usually sell stuff on my sites. Anyway, here are a few good ones: mayoclinic.com housedustmite.org lonelyplanet.com pga.com/pgachampionship/2006/ <---- just bought some tickets. And then obvously there's always http://www.coolhomepages.com/
As you proceed with your thought process you need to fix up whether you would like a flash on the home page or would it only be a static one. Just a thought, for parenting site you also need to be sure of providing a non distractive but attarctive space for advertisement. See if you can provide some roll down option like this one http://www.tmcnet.com/ at the right corner of screen
If you're having trouble choosing a layout here are some good tips... http://www.usability.gov/guidelines/