All About Wedding

Creating The Perfect Groom Wedding Speech

2011-06-03T17:13:00.002+07:00

When I first proposed to my wife the last thing on my mind at the time was that I was going to have to stand up in front of a room packed full of friends, family and work colleagues and make a groom wedding speech.

Of course, it was at the back of my mind, but it wasn't really something I was too worried about. That was until 3 weeks before the big day. I had been to a couple of weddings in the past where the groom wedding speech wasn't really that good, and it had ended up being quite a talking point later in the evening amongst everyone at the wedding.

In fact, at one of the weddings I had been to, the groom wedding speech lasted less than a minute, and we couldn't understand a single word he was saying because he was so nervous. He had mumbled his way through 45 seconds of total anxiety, and eventually raised his glass, quietly toasted his bride, and then sat down. The audience just sat in total awkward silence for about 10 seconds after that. I actually feel sorry for the guy just remembering it.

So with those memories fresh in my mind, I was determined not to share the same fate as those guys.

The one thing I would recommend to any guy that has to make a groom wedding speech, would be to make sure you get your hands on some quality groom wedding speech examples which are written by professionals.

This was without a doubt, the best thing I did. Why you ask?

Well having these examples to work from took all the pressure off me. Up until that point, I honestly didn't have a clue where to start with my speech. I didn't know how to open, I didn't have any jokes to use, and I certainly didn't know how to make a wedding toast.

By reading through a few of these groom wedding speech examples, I quickly started to pick up a good feel for what a wedding speech entailed. I worked a couple of the funny jokes they had into my opening few lines which was a winner with the audience. This by the way is a great way to open any speech, because it helps settle the mood a little and get everyone relaxed.

After working through each for the examples, I had some really great ideas to work with. I had compiled a list of the exact structure a wedding speech should follow, and knew exactly where and when to toast my bride and her parents. My toast went down very well with her parents and the audience seemed to find it a lovely gesture.

All in all, my groom wedding speech went down like a house on fire. I had the audience eating out of my hand and by the end of it they were laughing at the parts I didn't even mean to be funny.

If you're stuck with the terrifying task of creating a speech, make sure you get some examples to work through.

It was the best thing I did for sure, and you won't be sorry that you did.

So what if you are really anxious and nervous because you have to deliver a big wedding speech? Well what you need to do is make sure you take a look at our wedding speeches site which even has best man speech examples as well. Make sure you take a look to put your mind at rest.

Discount Wedding Dresses

2011-05-07T20:23:00.001+07:00

Discount Wedding Dresses. Do you want to save when buying a dress for a wedding? As you read this article, you will soon discover how to find discount wedding dresses! Don't buy a wedding outfit, until you read this article and discover more about discount wedding dresses, and how to find the most beautiful, at the best prices!

There are many ways to buy a wedding dress. The key to finding a discount wedding dress, is in this realm of options.

The big key to finding a discount dress, is to do the right kind of research. I wrote this article to help you with this, and help you to find a great dress for a wedding, at a price that is great! Yes, you can have an amazing dress, and have it at the best price!

Have your cake and eat it!

To get access to the best wedding dresses, research is in order, and there are a few ways to do this. For example, the wedding stores are a well known option. The other method is direct mail and even buying a wedding dress online.

All these methods have certain benefits.

For example, the wedding store is a great method to be able to find the best options that are available, and actually seeing them. However, most stores are limited in the range of choice. Also the prices in these stores are very expensive.

There is the option of visiting more stores, however, this can take up more than a bit of time!

So, the next option is the direct mail options, which come in the form of advertising sent to your home, such as catalogs, or even through a magazine advert.

All these are a great idea, and can provide many options.

However, to really save, I suggest that you go online, as this is by far the best method to find many options. When you go through the web sites, you will find that you can find many options through these stores.

What is more, in the online wedding store, you can be sure to find many options. The price is in most cases fantastic, and I have seen many stores beat the retail wedding store by a huge margin.

With all the options open to you, if you really want to find a good discount wedding dress, then there is nothing like going online, to find the best prices possible.

And when you consider that when you buy a wedding dress online, you can be sure to save big, it makes sense! Invest the time, and find the best! With so many options online, you can be sure to find the best dress for a wedding, at the right price!

Top 5 Ways to Save Time When Planning Your Wedding

2011-04-29T21:41:00.000+07:00

Top 5 Ways to Save Time When Planning Your Wedding. 1. Locate a planner that you connect with; one with a sensational personality, who you can work with and trust. The planner you choose will work with you hand in hand for the next several months to help with the areas, elements and needs that you want for your wedding. It is a planner's job to help you and make your vision become a reality. A planner has many ways to help you save time, and cut your stress in one quick movement. In addition, a planner does many duties themselves, which saves time and is more efficient.

2. Have a clear vision of what you and your partner want on your wedding day. This usually happens after you meet with and hire your planner. New brides are bombarded with emails and lots of information about their big day. It is easy to become confused, frustrated and overwhelmed. If this happens, your vision may become clouded. In addition, moms and grandmas may be blown away by how drastic weddings have changed in the last decade. Your mom's wedding was probably a lot less lavish then you wish yours to be; so wedding expenses may be a little mind-blowing for a parent. But, remember that parents want the best for their children. They want to give you what you want and help to make every dream and wish for your wedding come true. However, when parents become involved with expenses, they may try to tell you what to do for YOUR big day. This may be upsetting, but the planner is here to help! Working with a planner can help you make your dream wedding. A Planner will help you in blending the ideas of your family with yours, without losing your personal style. Planning a wedding is very overwhelming for the bride, and the planner is aware of that fact. A Planner will open your eyes to the different elements of a wedding and give you all the prices up front, so you can make smart and educated decisions. This is the value of a good wedding planner, and there are very few planners that work this way.

3. Plan all of your vendor/wedding professional meetings for the same day. It may feel like a long day, but in the end, a big part of the planning will be underway. The best plan is to start in the morning on one end of town and meet with all the vendors in that area, then head to the opposite end of town, and meet with all the vendors in that area.

4. Keep your entourage small when you go dress shopping. Going dress shopping with a lot of people may become overwhelming, and may result in leaving without a dress. Receiving too many, and sometimes conflicting, opinions make it confusing, and maybe even heartbreaking, if your group doesn't agree with your choice. You should plan to take 2 or 3 people who really want you to get the dress that makes you happy and who understand what your vision is for your wedding day. In addition, it is wise to bring ideas with you to the dress salon/studio. It is very helpful to your consultant to have an idea of what you want for your wedding day. It is important to be open to ideas from your consultant, especially if you're unsure about what you really want. Also, remember that wedding dresses are made in a myriad of styles, shapes and fabric textures. You may be surprised what will look beautiful on you, so you should try on all different types of dresses. Hangers don't do wedding dresses justice; it's you that does the dress justice. If the combination of your body shape and dress fit just right, then you're sure to be the princess for your entire night!

5. Delegate, delegate, delegate! Your wedding planner is there to help you. Your wedding party is there to help too. Ask the to help with tasks such as addressing, stamping and mailing. They can help with RSVP's, and call guests who haven't RSVP'd for the wedding.

Jennifer Lane is the owner and operator of A Memory Lane Event, a professional event and wedding planning, coordinating, decor and floral company. A Memory Lane Event is located in Denver Colorado, and is serving all throughout the US and International destinations.

Our goal is to help brides, individuals and companies make the visions for their special occasions come true. It is easy to become confused, overwhelmed and frustrated when trying to create your "dream" event. Together as a team, our clients and ourselves, plan, coordinate, and skillfully execute flawless quality events that have created a luxuriant "wow" factor since 1991.

Choosing Your Own Wedding Favor

2011-04-28T21:38:00.002+07:00

Choosing Your Own Wedding Favor. Your wedding day is among the greatest days ever. It is the day the bride and groom bond as one. Unfortunately there is a lot of pressure on this day. There are so a lot of details, plans and pieces that come together to create it a fantastic day. The wedding favor is one vital part of the day, as this is the one factor that your guests take home with them. Wedding organizers and online websites have come up with so many new favors it's tough to maintain up with them. The very best strategy to uncover the top favor is to go online and perform a search. There are several web sites catering to this marketplace and they all have interesting alternatives.

A wedding couple is now searching for a creative, customized wedding favor which will fit their identity. Chocolate and edible items had been at one well-liked wedding favors. Some other well-known items had been mix CDs, and gifts in connection with the location of the wedding itself. Wine glasses that guests could take house had been popular, as they could use them there. However, these most likely did not match the glasses they already had at residence. Other items which are related to the locale, will most likely be regarded as cute at the time, but then disposed when the guest returns home. Think of every item you obtain for yourself whilst on holiday vacation!

These items do have their great factors, even so cost is often an issue. A wedding favor that is too pricey for the return is not a good favor, specifically if the guests are not going to maintain or use them for a long time. When budgeting for a wedding, the favor is really a modest part, nonetheless whenever you multiply that by the number of guests attending, the total price can turn into fairly significant.

Wrapping of a wedding favor can be part of the customization. You can use preprinted bins or bags with the bride and grooms name, wedding date along with a saying that means a good deal to the couple. You then insert your wedding favor inside the personalized packaging.

Personalised koozies make a great wedding favor for numerous reasons. Can koozies - the insulated sleeves utilised to maintain drinks cool are beneficial and enjoyable. They could be personalised with the bride and groom's name, date along with a graphic that reflects their personality. There are many various styles of koozies offered. Foam, collapsible and diverse sizes. There are several colors of can koozies available and combined with the number of ink colors accessible, the choices are almost limitless. These wedding favors also provide the benefit that they can be employed appropriate at the reception, and will probably be kept for a lengthy time frame.

Wedding favors have grown to be much more competitive. Businesses are offering savings for larger items, and offering faster shipping possibilities. They are offering far more selection on the colours and styles of the products they supply too.

It has turn into the expectation of the guest that there's a wedding favor. We may not agree with that logic, but a wedding with out a favor is now fairly unusual.

Choosing and Grooming a Flower Girl

2011-04-27T21:35:00.000+07:00

Choosing and Grooming a Flower Girl, A flower girl is a young girl, usually a relative or a family friend of the bride or the groom. She walks behind the bride's maid, or around the maid of maid of honor, carrying a basket of flower petals and scattering them along the aisle. As the wedding procession reaches the altar, she may choose to stand quietly behind the bride and groom, or take a seat near the front of the audience.

In choosing a dress, one should be considerate of factors such as her age and attire. Generally, a flower girl should be between the ages of 4 to 8 years, or even slightly older. Younger girls may become too nervous and overwhelmed, whereas older girls might feel slighted, preferring instead to be chosen as bridesmaids. It is advisable that flower girls appear to be smartly dressed, and exude confidence and excitement!

Traditionally, the clothing of the flower girl was paid and provided for by the families of the bride and the groom. This trend has changed now, and it is the parents of the flower girl who are expected to pay for not just her dress but to also foot the cost of other activities involved in her participating in the wedding ceremony.

In order to prepare a flower dress to play her part, one might make her conduct a rehearsal; so that she becomes accustomed to the various ways and steps she is to take during the wedding ceremony. It may even serve well to buy her a book on the subject that talks about the role that she is to play at the wedding. Such pre-wedding practices may help to build a confidence in the flower girl, and make her feel important and excited! Generally, after preparing her, it is best to let a flower girl be her natural self. This could add a touch of charm and cuteness to the wedding ambiance!

Moving onto the subject of attire, a girl may be dressed in a mini version of the bride's own dress or one that matches it well. Colorful dresses may also be chosen, which the little girl can wear with a sash that matches the bride's dress. Generally, the little girl may wear either a smart plain dress, or a colorful one, so long as it blends in well with the environment and mood at the wedding ceremony. The aspect of comfort is important to ensure that the flower girl does not appear to be nervous and stumbling. The dress should be well fitting, and not too long, in case she trips along the movement of the wedding procession! It may be worth stating that if the flower girl does not like dresses, a formal pants outfit would be perfectly alright, as long as it does not stand out as odd or unmatched to design of bride's own dress and the overall wedding ceremony!

Finally, we talk a little bit about where to procure a dress. This is not a challenging issue, since many departmental stores, bridal boutiques, children clothing stores, and retail outlets sell these in a variety of colors, designs, and even special discounts. Furthermore, several on-line stores have sprung up recently, allowing you to browse for a dress or outfit that would best suit your flower girl!

Wedding Photographers Are Not All the Same

2011-04-26T09:30:00.001+07:00

Wedding Photographers Are Not All the Same. Choosing the right wedding photographer can provide benefits for your wedding in many different ways. But how do you know which photographer to choose? For many wedding planners this is a difficult choice, but this can be overcome if you know certain things you need to look for. Of course there are a number of things you want to ask a photographer, but one of the main things that concerns many people are how their people management skills are.

Just because they are a wedding photographer, doesn't mean that every wedding photographer will be right for your wedding. There are certain qualities that every photographer will need for every different type of wedding. You have to remember that your wedding will be different than any other wedding, and for that reason you will need to make a choice on what type of a photographer will work for you. People management skills are very important for a photographer because there are many different types of personalities a photographer will have to deal with.

While you are busy exchanging vows, talking with guests, and eating cake, your photographer will be working the crowd taking all the shots that will be remembered for a life time. If you did a really good job at the interview, you more than likely aren't worried how your photographer is interacting with your family, friends, or guests. But, what if you really hadn't taken the time to find out if your wedding photographer could actually handle managing people or if they had any people skills at all?

Your wedding day is one event you really don't want to find out if a wedding photographer is having a problem handling people. This is something that can really be avoided by choosing a wedding photographer that really understands people. There are some things many people seem to forget, and that is a photographer is a person as well, and they have personalities and communication skills. What you will want to find out is if these personalities and communication skills are going to benefit you and your wedding, or are they going to come in conflict?

This is why it is so important to begin to choose your wedding photographer soon into your wedding plans, so you can visit with them, talk over your plans, and get to know them. These visits will give you great insight into how they approach a situation as well as working with people. On one of your visits you should bring a few friends along and let them interact with your wedding photographer just to get a feel for how the photographer handles a large group of people.

When initially making the call to find a photographer you will want to be straight forward when asking them how their people management skills are. You will want to know how they may handle a situation that may require someone to remain calm and collected. You will also want to know how they feel around people that are having a joyous time, and some of those people may be a little less in control than normal. The answers you will receive will allow you to either move forward with a booking or keep on searching.

What some people do is make the mistake of not interviewing the photographer about this issue and the result is they get someone that is a professional at what they do, but they have very little people skills. When a person lacks in the people skills department, this could potentially make other people unhappy or angry. This situation cannot bear its ugly head in any situation related to your wedding. Work with your photographer and find out what their strengths and weaknesses are. Do your homework and research their previous engagements as best you can.

Hiring a wedding photographer can be done the right way as well as the wrong way, and you do not want to get caught on the wrong side of the fence. Take your time with the interviewing process, do as much research as you can on any past work they have provided and make sure they are an AIPP member. If you can talk to someone about their professionalism and the way they handled a previous wedding, take the time and follow up because you will thank yourself in the end.

The Perfect Wedding Planning Checklist

2011-04-23T19:55:00.001+07:00

The Perfect Wedding Planning Checklist. Just engaged, or about to be engaged? Congratulations to you both! Here is the perfect wedding planning checklist for you and your betrothed to use, to ensure the wedding of your dreams!

THINGS TO DO NINE TO TWELVE MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING:

Announce Engagement
Have an Engagement Party (optional)
Choose Wedding ceremony Date
Rent marriage ceremony advisor/coordinator
Determine the type of wedding:

location,
theme,
number of attendees,
formality (formal, semi-formal, casual)
time of day (morning, afternoon, evening)

Decide on the finances & how bills might be shared
Buy a daytimer to keep track of appointments & events
Develop a record for keeping a system for payments
Create an ongoing approximate # invitee record
Decide if you'll be inviting youngsters or not
Select and reserve ceremony site
Select, meet with, and reserve Officiant/Priest/Minister/Rabbi
Choose and book reception location
Shop for, choose and order bridal dress
Determine colour scheme
If ceremony or reception is at a house, arrange for any home enhancements
Acquire, passports, visas, search for birth certificates, any paperwork needed for honeymoon and/or marriage licenses

THINGS TO DO SIX TO NINE MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING DAY:

Select and book caterer, if appropriate
Select and reserve photographer/videographer
Choose members of wedding party

best man
maid/matron of honor
bridesmaids
groomsmen
flower girl
ring bearer

Contact wedding party; give them a listing of their responsibilities
Select and buy dresses of bridesmaids & flower girl
Select and book ceremony musicians
Choose and reserve live band or DJ for reception
Choose and reserve florist
Register for your wedding gifts at your favorite store(s)

THINGS TO DO FOUR TO SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING DAY:

Schedule fittings for custom made bridesmaids dresses
Arrange marriage prep-courses, if obligatory
Choose and reserve decorator
Finalize an A and B list of celebrants
Select and order invitations
Set date, time and place for rehearsal dinner
Choose and reserve honeymoon evening suite
Organize lodging for out-of-town guests
Start planning your honeymoon
Shop for your wedding gifts to each other
Shop for your wedding presents to your wedding party
Purchase footwear, lingerie and accessories for the bride
Buy footwear and accessories for the bridesmaids
Choose and order wedding bands

THINGS TO DO TWO TO FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING DAY:

Take formal engagement photo
Choose and order wedding cake
Order party favors
Select and order decorations
Buy honeymoon attire and luggage
Choose and book wedding day transportation
Start addressing your invitations
Reserve wedding day hair and makeup.
Obtain marriage license (expires in 3 months)
Mail out your invitations
Choose and invite ceremony readers
Select ushers to seat your visitors

THINGS TO DO SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING DAY:

Preserve a record of RSVP's and early wedding gifts
Keep a document of shower gifts and mail thank you's
Buy all ceremony and reception accessories: guest book, toasting glasses, garter, ring pillow, etc.
Select and reserve wedding apparel for all gentlemen in wedding party
Mail invites to rehearsal dinner
Plan bridesmaid luncheon
Select your one thing old, new, borrowed, blue
Compose your wedding speeches (use great wedding quotes and sayings which you will find online)

THINGS TO DO TWO TO SIX WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING DAY:

Finalize all food and drinks for wedding
Finalize all ceremony details with Officiant
Finalize all rehearsal arrangements
Finalize all floral arrangements
Final fittings for your self and bridesmaids
Finalize all details with all of your vendors
Determine the order of receiving line and head table setting
Contact guests that haven't replied
Pick up wedding bands
Visit reception site for floor plan
Create reception seating plan
Give musicians a listing of your music choices
Inform attendants when and where to pick up attire
Determine VIP seating for ceremony seating
Print out place cards
Pick up honeymoon tickets
Practice your wedding speeches

THINGS TO DO ONE WEEK BEFORE THE WEDDING DAY:

Give caterer/reception venue last tally of guests
Pack for your honeymoon
Wrap reception favors
Arrange mail collection|hold while you're away on honeymoon
Memorize your wedding speeches

THINGS TO DO ON THE DAY OF THE REHEARSAL DINNER (ONE DAY PRIOR TO THE WEDDING DAY):

Drop all wedding accessories and decor off at ceremony and reception location
Be sure you bring all presents that will be handed out at dinner
Make sure you have all final payments in envelopes for wedding day
Pack over night bag for honeymoon suite
Go to the marriage ceremony site for rehearsal
Review VIP seating with ushers at ceremony location
Practice your wedding speeches one last time
Go to bed early so you can wake up feeling refreshed for your big day!! Congratulations and Good Luck!!!

Fabulous Venues for Your Mexico Wedding

2011-04-23T19:27:00.001+07:00

Fabulous Venues for Your Mexico Wedding. Have you decided that a destination beach wedding would be perfect for you? Then you, like many other couples, probably have Mexico on your list of wedding destinations. Many people choose destination weddings simply because they want something that is unique and different for their special day. Getting married in Mexico can provide that type of destination wedding.

The main problem with choosing Mexico for your wedding venue is that you will have to narrow down to just one option. So, how do you determine the right venue for you? Here are some tips to help you make your decision.

Do you want a beach wedding or a tropical getaway ceremony? When you get married in Mexico, you can choose from a number of venues that will provide these options. Many people prefer to get married right on the beach in locations like Cancun or Cabo San Lucas. Other people prefer tropical gardens with exquisite scenery like you might find in Acapulco or Playa del Carmen.

Do you want a traditional Mayan-style ceremony or something modern? For traditional Mayan ceremonies, you may want to go to locations such as Tulum or Isla Mujeres. If you want something modern and elaborate, then you may prefer locations like Puerto Vallarta or Cabo.

Some venues you may want to consider for your Mexico wedding include:

Beach Weddings:

You can't go wrong with Dreams Cancun Resort and Spa, located at Punta Cancun, the eastern-most tip of Mexico. This location offers couples a gazebo-style vene surrounded on three sides by water. After your "I do's," you may decide to celebrate by swimming with the dolphins in the resort's natural saltwater lagoon. Named by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine as one of the "Top Ten Resorts in Mexico," Dreams Cancun Resort and Spa certainly deserves a top spot on your list of venue choices.

Another wonderful Mexico beach wedding venue is the Fairmont Acapulco Princess, located on 480 acres of beach-front property. The resort boasts several pools and a salt-water lagoon, as well as gardens featuring over 750 plant species and resident swans and flamingos. They offer many different wedding venues on the property, which was named by Travel + Leisure as one of the top 20 resorts in Mexico.

Tropical Garden Weddings:

While offering beach weddings, the boutique hotel, Riviera del Sol, located in Playa del Carmen, offers lush tropical gardens which make a perfect backdrop to your wedding. And, it's conveniently located to the ruins and pyramids of Chichen Itza, Tulum, and Tikal.

Traditional Mayan Weddings:

Many venues in Mexico offer traditional Mayan weddings, which involve a Shaman who blesses your union. A couple standouts for this service are the Al Cielo Hotel, a small, beachfront hotel located on Xpu-Ha Beach near Tulum, and Casa Ixchel on Isla Mujeres. Do note that the only person who can perform a legal wedding in Mexico is a local judge or justice of the peace. Therefore, if you want a Mayan ceremony and you want it to be legal you will have to also have a civil ceremony with a judge. The Mayan ceremony, or any other religious ceremony for that matter, is more of a symbolic ceremony, which can be performed before or after your legal, civil ceremony.

When planning a wedding in Mexico, also keep in mind that there may be a waiting period, which varies depending on the state in Mexico in which you are having your ceremony. You will want to research your intended Mexican destination before making your wedding plans.

By Shari Hearn

The History of Wedding Flutes and what they Mean Today

2010-01-09T04:37:00.001+07:00

by: Kim Medeiros

Mostly anything that is put together in the making of a wedding symbolizes something and means a great deal to the bride and the groom. From the type of flowers or the traditions used or the theme colors and even the symbols mean something for both the wedding couple as it is a remembrance of something or in memory of someone or traditions in their culture or religion.

The same is said for wedding flutes, which are used to symbolize a spiritual and physical union of a marrying couple. In most weddings, you can find two of the most common types of wedding flutes that are normally used which are engraved and un-engraved flutes. Most couples prefer engraved flutes so they can state the day and date of the wedding as well as a short message. These become keepsakes for not only the wedded couple but their guests as well and serve as long time memories of the wedding day. Wedding flutes that aren’t engraved become heirlooms that are passed on from one generation to another in a family and used in future nuptials of the couple’s children.

For the bride and groom, matching wedding flutes are the star of in the reception wedding toast, and provide a poignant photo opportunity in many wedding albums. Wedding flutes carry the decorative theme of the wedding and provides and elegant accent to compliment the floral arrangements and theme color. From engraved to sleek to crystal and glass, couples have an endless choice in designs and styles and shapes and sizes when it comes to picking out their favorite flutes to suit any wedding styles whether contemporary, traditional, modern, cultural or themes weddings such as Gothic, Renaissance, 20th century or Hawaii, Asian and Oriental or beach wedding.

These choices of wedding flutes also come in varying prices. If you are on a budget, then consider cheap wedding flutes that are affordable but still have that classy and elegant look. In a wedding, you can mix and match expensive and inexpensive décor and items to bring the whole wedding theme look together. Mixing and matching can save you a whole lot of money and you can use on items that really matter a lot and are rare as opposed to items that you know you can get a cheaper pricing that have good quality.

Apart from engraved and un-engraved wedding flutes, there are also ornate wedding flutes available. These ornate flutes have intricate details on them or are made with a combination or pewter to form rose designs and creepers that make the flutes unique. Regardless of style, because of their importance in the wedding day, wedding flutes need to be selected with care. there are a few simple guidelines when it comes to selecting your flutes. Determine if you want it engraved or not engraved, next is to determine the material to be used, whether it is glass or crystal or pewter. And lastly, make sure the price equates to the quantity and quality of the flutes.

Wedding Planning on the Web

2010-01-05T04:14:00.000+07:00

by: Joel Walsh

Whether you're a wedding planning pro or a do-it-yourself bride, I know one thing you don't: you aren't using the web enough.

The web has become the dominant way to shop for electronics, travel, cars, housing, even education. But you can just as easily use the web to find caterers, event halls, dressmakers, DJs, photographers, videographers--even a wedding planner if you decide to take a break from doing it all yourself.

Here's how the web helps you plan a wedding:

* Local search. No, you don't have to sort through vendors from here to Timbuktu. Local search technology now makes finding someone downtown as easy as finding someone anywhere. If you use Google, you only have to enter a place name along with your keyword to get a list of local businesses. Try "wedding planner fargo" (without the quotes) and see for yourself.

* Real people. The people you are buying from online aren't "virtual." They're as real as the people you'd meet in person. In fact, especially with local business, the website is just a first contact. You can always call them up or arrange to meet in person.

* Dedicated wedding information websites. There are now websites solely devoted not just to planning a wedding, but to catering, wedding cakes, even dying shoes for weddings. These same websites often have directories of wedding vendors arranged by location.

* Message boards and customer reviews. You wouldn't buy a book on Amazon without reading a review a customer had left. Now you don't have to buy decorations that way, either.

Web Wedding Planning Alternatives

The web has a lot of advantages over most other ways of discovering and evaluating wedding vendors. Just look at what your other options are:

* Recommendations from friends and colleagues. How much do your friends and colleagues really know about wedding planning? Very often, one person's idea of wedding elegance is any sane person's idea of bad, bad taste. Just look at anyone's wedding pictures. You can't trust this decision to your friends. This is your big day. It deserves a little research.

* Bridal fairs. If the vendors at bridal fairs were so great, why would they be trawling for business? Do you want an in-demand wedding vendor, or one who has to set up a booth and hand out free samples?

* Yellow pages. I remember the time my mother used the Yellow Pages to find a contractor to install some new doors. During the holiday season, the draft would blow out the candles in the window if they weren't electric. Anyone can get in the yellow pages--and believe me, anyone does.

Web Wedding Planning Advantages

* Selection. No offline source will ever have as many options, whether it's songs for the wedding reception or fabrics for the gowns.

* Ready information. As soon as you see an option you'd like to consider, you can find out all you'd ever like to know as easily as copying and pasting into Google.

* It's All in Writing. By their very nature, websites put a lot of information in writing. The written policies regarding shipping, warranties (if any), returns, and service will almost always be easy to access. (Hint: look for links to policies at the bottom of each web page.) The fact that everything is written down gives the vendor much less wiggle room to change the terms of the deal. Almost as good as the paper trail is the photograph trail--at least when it comes to merchandise. Save any relevant images along with the text.

* Better Business Bureau's Convenient BBBOnline. On the web, it's easy to check for Better Business Bureau membership. The site should have the BBBOnline logo displayed prominently on the order page. Click on the logo to be taken to the BBB.org profile for that business. The BBB page should say that business is a member in good standing. With the BBBOnline, the Bureau's ecommerce program, you can dispute a sale without having to go to the local Bureau where the store is headquartered.

In short, the web makes it much easier to get a perfect wedding.

About the author: Joel Walsh is a freelance writer. Check out this website for wedding planning information and to find wedding vendors: http://www.bridalocity.com?%20wedding%20planning[Publish this article on your website! Requirements: 1. Live link for above URL/web address. 2. Link anchor text: "wedding planning" OR leave this bracketed message intact.

Want To Know More About Wedding Planners?

2010-01-02T07:05:00.001+07:00

By Norm Goldman

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel and Bookpleasures is pleased to have as a guest Judy Allen. Judy is the author of Your Stress Free Wedding Planner (Sourcebooks, Inc.), as well as five professional books on event planning (John Wiley and Sons).

Judy has created-produced-orchestrated special events in over 30 countries for up to
2,000 guests.

Good day Judy and thank you for agreeing to our interview.

Norm:

Judy, could you tell us something about yourself and how you became involved in wedding planning?

Judy:

I started out in travel and managing one of the highest producing offices for a national chain. As part of my office’s growth, I developed corporate business, which evolved into handling all of their corporate events such as incentives, conferences, conventions, product launches and social corporate branding events.
Subsequently, I joined one of the leading incentive houses to design custom one- of- a kind events around the world for corporate clients.

Over ten years ago, I opened my own special events company. As a result, I have created-produced-orchestrated corporate and social special events around the world for over fifteen years, including the gala theatrical opening for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and the co-ordination of Oscar winning director Norman Jewison’s 25th Anniversary Celebration of Fiddler on the Roof.

In addition, I am also the author of five best-selling professional books on event planning that are being used around the world by industry and business professionals, and as teaching tools by Universities and Colleges.

The foreign rights for my second book, The Business of Event Planning, have been sold to China and Russia, and Harvard has deemed my third book, Event Planning Ethics and Etiquette, a “must read” for event planning and small business professionals.

The event planning series of books came about as a result of my being called “to run and rescue” non-profit gala events days before an event was scheduled to take place.

I noticed that many charitable organisations were clueless as to what to be aware of and wary of when planning events. I found this most disturbing.

The same situation occurred with wedding planning. Clients or their friends began to consult with me regarding their personal wedding plan needs. I kept hearing from them as to how stressful they found the process to be- the hidden costs and surprises they kept encountering along the way. Because of the direction I am taking my company, I do limit the number of weddings that I personally become involved in.

I wrote Your Stress Free Wedding Planner as a means to provide couples with what they need to know from a design, budget, implementation (logistics) and orchestration perspective – not etiquette – when they go to plan their wedding. I wanted to give them a wedding planning tool that would held them enjoy the process, lessen the stress and show them how to create a wedding day that is meaningful, memorable and magical.

Norm:

Could you tell us something about your book Your Stress Free Wedding Planner?

Judy:

I have shared with readers the ten key planning steps, that when followed in sequential order, will allow the bride and groom-to-be to create and co-ordinate a wedding that will exceed their expectations and stay within their wedding budget guidelines. It does not matter if a couple has six weeks to plan their wedding or a year or more, the event planning principles I have designed and the order of the steps which be followed for optimum results, remain the same.

Your Stress Free Wedding Planner simplifies the wedding planning process and allows everyone involved to relax, and enjoy the festivities that lead up to this very special day, secure in the knowledge that everything has been attended to.

What is unique about Your Stress Free Wedding Planner is the wedding design questionnaire that will show the bride and the groom how to combine their individual wedding visions and take them their personal idea of a dream wedding to one that will become “our” dream wedding. I also show couples contract red flag areas – that can cost them thousands of dollars more than they expected – that they need to be aware of before they sign on the dotted line as well as areas of negotiation and terms and conditions that they need to have amended on their contracts.

Norm:

If you had to choose 5 of the most romantic wedding destinations in the world, which ones would you choose and why?

Judy:

For me 5 of the most romantic wedding destinations in the world would be

· Greece/Greek Islands for their beauty, ambience and history – you can relax, sightsee, and have fun exploring as a couple:

· South Pacific (Bora Bora) – getting married on the beach and honeymooning in an over the water thatched bungalow with glass bottom floors – perfect setting in a romantic paradise

· Bali – staying at the Four Seasons that come with private plunge pools and secluded outdoor showers – a romantic hideaway from the world:

· Egypt (getting married with Pyramids as the backdrop) then on to the Valley of the Kings/cruising the Nile (honeymoon) exotic and a trip of a lifetime:

· Italy – Rome, Venice, Tuscany, Capri, Florence – so many romantic choices to choose from. You can hold your wedding reception in a castle, rent a private villa in Tuscany, hold the wedding and reception there (and honeymoon for the rest of your stay), take-over a medieval hamlet or be married or hold your wedding reception in a winery. Italy just has the air of romance.

Norm:

You have indicated that you have sailed on all types of yachts/ships. Which yacht or ship did you find to be the most romantic?

Judy:

Failing to afford chartering your own private yacht and set your own course, I personally found Windstar Cruises to be more romantic than larger cruiselines. I liked the more intimate feeling aboard ship.

Their guest count ranges in the low hundreds (148 to 308) as opposed to the in the thousands and they are not geared to having children onboard. I also like that you have the luxury of eating meals at your leisure and not at set times, summoned by a bell.

There are no formal seating table assignments – you can dine or your own or with couples you have met, there are no jacket and tie requirements and should you chose dinner can be served to your cabin. I also like the tucked away ports of calls available to you – due to being on a smaller sailing vessel -- and the easy on and off of the ship. And sitting out on deck, under the stars when the sails are unfurled is extremely romantic.

Norm:

What is a wedding planner and how do you separate the good ones from the incompetent?

Judy:

What is a wedding planner and how do you separate the good ones from the incompetent?

In the planning industry there are two types of planners: Event Planners and Wedding Planners.

Generally, event planners handle designing and producing corporate, social and non-profit events. The types of events they are involved in can be quite diverse -- from complex one-day entertaining events strategically planned to meet business objectives to corporate learning, performance, motivational events and elaborate arrangements of incentive or product launch theme productions that take place over the course of a week around the world. Some event planners handle not only event design, but also education and entertaining components (transportation, accommodation, food, beverage, decor, entertainment, themes) but also multimedia stage production. This is the type of event planning that I have been primarily involved in.

Wedding planners work with newly engaged couples to help them create the wedding of their dreams. They take over all the wedding planning and operation requirements, consulting closely with their clients along the way. They are compassionate, caring and adept at handling the emotional elements that are tied to planning a wedding when nerves are frayed, couples get jittery and help find areas of compromise between couples and their families when there are opposing ideas on how the wedding day should unfold. Wedding planners co-ordinate the weddings from beginning to end and are on hand on the wedding day to oversee that all goes as planned. Some wedding planners also handle social events as the two event planning styles are closely aligned whereas event planners who mainly work with corporate and business related social events generally do not cross over into wedding planning as juggling the needs of these two very different clients does not tend to mesh.

If couples are considering hiring a wedding planner, I suggest they first read Your Stress Free Wedding Planner.
With this in mind, they will immediately be able to spot the level of competency of a wedding planner, and they will be able to discern if the wedding planner is experienced or not.

Experienced wedding planners are able to fully answer questions pertaining to the budget, contract and logistical problems.

Check references- not only other wedding couples that have hired them. Also check the venues in which they have held their events.

Find out their level of ability e.g. if the wedding planner has only done events for 50 guests or less and your wedding is for 500 or more, there will be a learning curve for the wedding planner – don’t let it be at your expense.

Norm:

Have you ever planned weddings for any celebrities?

Judy:

No, not weddings, but social events with Oscar winning guests and celebrities in attendance, such as the theatrical gala premiere of Beauty and the Beast and the co-ordination of Oscar winning director’s Norman Jewison’s 25th Anniversary Celebration for Fiddler on the Roof.

Norm:

Could you tell us which wedding celebration you had planned that was the most memorable and why?

Judy:

They are all memorable – each is different and unique.
However, the one that was most memorable was one where I was a guest but got involved when there was a slight glitch.

It was an outdoor reception and the staff carrying the wedding cake out to garden for the cake cutting ceremony, tripped over one of the small children that was attending the event.

The child was okay as was the wait staff but the wedding cake landed upside down. Luckily a cloth had been placed over the cake for the reveal and guests were not aware of exactly what had taken place.

The cake was carefully righted and I went into the kitchen to meet with the chef to see what the damage had done. The top of the cake was totally smashed. I quickly gathered the bridesmaids’ bouquets that matched the flowers the bride was carrying and with the chef’s help, some plastic wrap (to protect the cake from flowers as flowers were not edible etc.) and icing.

The flowers were artfully arranged on top and fresh icing was skilfully applied to mask the dents and damage. The cake was made picture perfect without guests being any the wiser and raves were given to the floral topping on the cake. The bride and groom had been advised of what happened and were trilled with the results.

Norm:

What is your idea of a unique romantic destination?

Judy:

The amount of time it takes to get to the Seychelles can be quite daunting with airline connections and layovers (depending where you are travelling) but after arrival, there was never one moment that I regretted the travel time. What is a wonderful romantic combination is doing an African safari first and then flying to the Seychelles for the rest of your stay.

Norm:

Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers about wedding planning, romantic getaways or wedding destinations?

Judy:

Should you decide to combine your wedding with your honeymoon, there are now bridal registries that handle weddings and honeymoons at upscale hotel properties around the world.

Instead of giving a toaster as a wedding gift, family and friends celebrating your nuptials can contribute to your destination wedding. As an example: the activities on your honeymoon stay, or a couples’ massage or a private romantic dinner for two after the wedding.

These individuals work with wedding specialists at the location to pre-arrange all the wedding and personalized honeymoon details.

They also advise couples on the legal issues that being married in a specific location will entail.
If couples are planning a destination wedding they need to make sure that all is in order for them to get married and to file their marriage papers after their wedding.

One couple that flew to the Caribbean for their wedding did not check into residency requirements for weddings. They did not allow sufficient time and were unable to extend their time on the island, as they had to return to work. Unfortunately, they ended up posing for wedding photographs on the beach and then getting married at home.

One last comment, I have a second wedding planner coming out in 2006 called Engaged to Married in Three Months or Less (Sourcebooks, Inc.) and I will be covering destination weddings in the book. Stay tuned!

Wedding Vows As Special As Your Love

2009-12-30T11:34:00.000+07:00

By Wedding Writer

Your Wedding Vows are an integral part of your ceremony as you will be pledging not only your love and commitment to another person 'til death do you part, but you will be stating this solemn vow in front of your family, friends and the rest of the world. How and what you say in your vows should be as unique as the love that you and your spouse will share for eternity.

There are many ways you can approach your wedding vows. Here are some ideas to help you come up with what you want your wedding vows to say, based on the type of relationship you have.

If you are a traditional couple, you may want to stick to the traditional vows that have been spoken by generations of married couples in your family. After all, they worked for your parents, grandparents and others who have been happily married for many years. Why change something that's stood the test of time?

If you are a spiritual couple, you may choose to incorporate some meaningful verses or spiritual phrases in your vows to give them added dimension. For example, Christians often quote the beautiful words of 1 Corinthians Verse 13 that says "Love is Patient, Love is Kind..." or you may choose the very lovely Jewish verse of "With this ring, you are made holy to me, for I love you as my soul." There are hundreds of different types of religious verses that can be included in your vows, so choose one that is both meaningful and powerful to you both.

If you are a modern couple, you may be looking for something less traditional or something that speaks about your feelings of equality or of your deep friendship as a couple. Take out phrases like "To obey or to serve" and you will get the idea. This is a wonderful choice for same-sex couples as well as heterosexual mates.

If you are a couple that has been together for many years or if you are renewing your vows, you may be looking for a special set of wedding vows that will have a greater meaning. You may want to include a special memory or something that was significant in your lives together to honor in your wedding vows, such as the birth of children, any events that were special or extraordinary.

There are literally thousands of different ways to state your wedding vows. If you are overwhelmed, start by jotting down some things that are important to you, give you those feelings of romance and love and allow a skillful wedding vow writer to do the work of piecing together a wonderful set of wedding vows that will convey the true feelings of your heart. You will have a cherished memory and vows that you will keep for many years to come.

This article was brought to you by Words 2 Wed By, a skilled Wedding Writer from the Romantic Capital of the USA, Charleston, South Carolina. You can find out more about this writer by visiting http://www.words2wedby.com/

Don't Forget To Plan For Wedding Favors In Your Budget

2009-12-28T05:53:00.000+07:00

by: Rose Smith

Wedding favors are small, inexpensive gifts or souvenirs that you present to your guests as a way of saying "thank-you for attending our wedding celebration". It has become customary to give something in return to your guests that they can keep as a memory of your special day.

Favors don't have to be large or expensive. Some are elegant, some are practical and some are just plain fun. Choose a favor that reflects your wedding theme in some way. Many favor ideas can easily be interchanged with various themes just by substituting a decoration or color on the favor.

Budget For The Cost of Wedding Favors

When planning out your wedding budget, be sure to allot about 3% of your money toward favors. Make sure you know the approximate number of guests that will be attending your reception, then you will be better able to estimate the maximum amount of how much each favor can cost. The fewer guests that you have, the more expensive your favors can be, if you so choose.

When making or buying any favors, keep in mind the color scheme of your wedding and use ribbons, tulle, flowers, etc. decorations that reflect your wedding colors.

Once the favors are completed, attach personalized favor tags that have your names and wedding date printed on them. You can use paper tags or monogrammed ribbons that you either create yourself or purchase from a vendor. Some couples also add a small saying to their

tags as well.

Delight Your Guests With Unique and Creative Favors

Wedding party favors are only limited by your imagination, so mix and match, and have fun creating your own unique bridal favors.

About the author:
Rose Smith is the owner of Wedding Themes and More, a website
designed to help you discover your perfect wedding theme.
Looking for more wedding favor ideas? Then be sure to
visit today!

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Top 5 Reasons for Hiring a Wedding Planner

2009-12-27T05:10:00.000+07:00

by: Dion Semeniuk

PLANNING A WEDDING

TOP FIVE REASONS FOR HIRING A WEDDING PLANNER

One of the most joyous occasions in life is a wedding, a time when two people in love exchange those powerful words, “I Do”, which binds them legally as husband and wife. Although an exciting time of life, planning a wedding is also a very stressful time. For that reason, many people have discovered the benefits of hiring a professional coordinator to ensure everything comes together as it should. In this article, we are providing you with the top five reasons for hiring a wedding planner so you can enjoy your wedding with much less stress.

Stress-Free

The number one reason for hiring a wedding planner is to dramatically reduce the level of stress. Every wedding, even the best planned will have challenges. Unfortunately, when the bride and/or groom are the ones trying to handle all the obstacles along with everything else, they feel completely overwhelmed and suddenly, the enjoyment of wedding planning is out the door. With a professional planner, they supervise all of the events associated with your wedding so you no longer have to sweat the small (or big) stuff. That means everything from the delivery of the flowers, to the set up of the cake, to the limos arriving on time is taken care of for you.

Creativity

A good wedding planner will have been in the business for years. Because of this, they have coordinated hundreds of weddings and can take ideas to share with you for your upcoming wedding. That means instead of a wedding cake that is three layers of chocolate, you could end up with something tropical, one layer of pina colada cake, one of red raspberry, and a third of coconut cream. The point is that by hiring a wedding planner, your ideas can be expounded on, enhancing your wedding.

Precise Detailing

For all weddings, there are so many small details that often, things get overlooked. One of the frustrations for the bride and groom is trying to maintain all of those details so the wedding goes off without a hitch. An experienced wedding planner knows all about the small details and has an outstanding ability of keeping track of them. He or she would sit down with the bride and/or groom and go over each aspect of the wedding, covering every possible angle so nothing is missed.

Insider Information

A huge benefit in hiring a wedding planner is that they know who the best of the best is. If you want a DJ, they can provide you with several top choices. If you want a catered meal, they can tell you exactly which caterer serves fabulous food at an affordable price, or if you want a horse drawn carriage to take you to the reception, they know who to call. For you, that means no time is wasted making phone call after phone call, only to walk away frustrated and empty handed.

Discounts

Finally, hiring a wedding planner is an excellent idea if you want to save money. Because these professionals have connections with all types of people in the wedding industry, they can typically pass on excellent discounts to you. Keep in mind that does not affect the quality of the service, just the price.

About the author:
Dion Semeniuk has been married for over 5 years and has been helping people plan their wedding with the help of his wife. To learn more and get ideas of wedding planning, please visit

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Getting the Best Out of Your Photographs

2009-12-26T07:00:00.000+07:00

by: Elsie Gilbert

One of the most important things to any bride is the wedding photography that captures the magical day, for years to come. Most wedding gowns are made to make the bride look absolutely stunning; however, not all wedding gowns photograph as well as they should, so it is important to consider what your short listed wedding gowns will actually look like, in the photographs.

Wedding Gowns and the Accessories that Make Photographs Special

The types of wedding gowns that will look best in your wedding photographs depend largely on the style of wedding photographs that you have chosen. If you are opting for the contemporary style of photographs that are not staged but actually follow the day, on a more informal basis, then you need to be aware that your choice of wedding gowns will be viewed from every angle.

On the other hand, if you are opting for a small selection of formal photographs purely from the front, then your choice of wedding gowns should focus on the detail at the front of the dress. If you have chosen to have only black and white photographs, it is worth considering what your chosen colors of wedding gowns will look like in monochrome.

Top Photography Hints for Wedding Gowns

Never forget how important the detail on the back of wedding gowns is. During the ceremony, your guests will have little to look at other than the back of your wedding gown. Therefore, it is important that all wedding gowns have some special detail and unique look; it is also a great opportunity for the wedding photographer and a picture from the back of the ceremony venue can be stunning!

Bear in mind that accessories can look a little strange in wedding photographs so it may be worth investing in accessories that are detachable from wedding gowns, so that you can choose whether to have them in a given photograph or not. This is a really good idea when the accessory is particularly detailed as it may be superb as part of a close-up picture, however, it may just look like a stain from a distance!

Another good idea is to have a cardigan or jacket as an accessory for your choice of wedding gowns. This way you can vary the photographs and the look that you present, throughout the day. Wedding photographs can appear a little repetitive; therefore it is a great idea to have a range of accessories and additions so that you can vary the photographs and make it look like you had several wedding gowns and not just the one!

Remember, your choice of wedding gown is going to be captured in your photographs for years to come. When you are choosing your perfect dress, consider its ‘photograph ability’ as well as what it will look like in the flesh – they are both equally important!

About the author:
Elsie Gilbert offers great insights to all different types of wedding ceremonies, wedding styles, wedding accessories. From traditional to the exotic she makes it easy for the bride and groom to review and choose. For more details on all types of wedding ideas visit this site now

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Wedding Decorations – Less is More

2009-12-25T06:20:00.001+07:00

by: Elsie Gilbert

Often overlooked, wedding decorations can make a real difference to your wedding. The correct wedding decorations can really help to add that extra touch of sparkle to your wedding day. Having said this, no one wants to spend a fortune on wedding decorations that will more than likely end up in the trash can at the end of the day!

Wedding Decorations – Modern Trends

Modern trends in wedding decorations suggest that less is most certainly more. A few simple touches are normally enough to change an ordinary room into a venue fit for your special day. Ideally, wedding decorations should follow the same theme that runs throughout the wedding day. Don’t forget the smallest of details and make sure that the wedding decorations are placed in the ceremony venue, in the reception venue and even as part of the transport.

Wedding Decorations – Budget Conscious Ideas

The cost of wedding decorations can really spiral out of control, so make sure that you budget correctly and that you shop around for the best deals. You may be surprised by how many artistic people you have as friends and family; ask around to see if some of these people would be prepared to help you create that special look.

If you cannot find a friend or relative to help you out, then why not try the local college or art school as this will offer a dedicated, skilled yet cheap option. It is vital that you plan ahead, because the cost of wedding decorations will normally be a lot less if you buy them all together and not bit by bit.

Wedding Decorations – Dare to be Different

Traditional wedding decorations, such as flowers, are generally very expensive so take a different approach by creating your own decorations. Give your wedding an individual feel and save some money, into the bargain, by daring to be different!

Material of various types can be a really useful way of creating effective wedding decorations. Large bows, for example, make superb decorations for chairs in both the ceremony and the reception venue.

As a centerpiece, why not have a glass bowl with some small stones and a floating candle. Not only will these decorations be cheaper than large flower displays, but they are also more permanent and can be given as gifts or retained as a memento of your wedding day.

Wedding decorations are a matter of personal choice, but remember, be different, be organized and be consistent and you won’t go far wrong!

About the author:
Elsie Gilbert offers great insights to all different types of wedding ceremonies, wedding styles, wedding accessories. From traditional to the exotic she makes it easy for the bride and groom to review and choose. For more details on all types of wedding ideas visit this site now

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Wedding Rings

2009-12-24T04:32:00.002+07:00

by: Elsie Gilbert

Don’t tend to get the public airing that they deserve, in your average wedding celebration. However, wedding rings are likely to be worn for the rest of the bride and grooms’ living days, so they are, arguably, the most important element of the wedding accessories.

Wedding Rings – The Basics

Wedding rings are exchanged as part of the ceremony, normally as vows are said by both parties. The guests do not normally see the wedding rings until after the ceremony is well and truly over, so it can be tempting to skimp on this element and save money.

Bear in mind that the bride will almost certainly wear her wedding ring alongside her engagement ring. It is essential, therefore, that they both rings work together well. This is particularly important if the engagement ring is of an atypical shape or with a particularly large stone.

Always consider your everyday jewelry. Although it is possible to accessorize on your wedding day to complement you choice of wedding rings, this ring will be worn every day, for many years, so it must fit in well with your general style. This is equally important for the groom, as he too will have to wear the ring for some time, so he should also consider what would go well with his usual attire.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not essential to choose golden rings. If you prefer silver colored rings but want to retain the quality, why not consider white gold? It is also possible for the bride and groom to have different styles of ring, so do not feel pressured into selecting matching styled rings.

Wedding Rings – Ideas for Slashing the Budget

Whilst you want the best wedding rings possible, you do not need to spend a small fortune! Often, wedding rings are passed through the generations, particularly on the male side, so find out whether this is the case so that you can avoid the time and energy of searching for the perfect wedding rings!

When you are selecting an engagement ring, it may be possible to negotiate a discount on wedding rings, if they are purchased at the same time. Another possible option is to consider using cheaper wedding rings for the ceremony itself and to purchase the more permanent wedding rings, at a later day. The real point of this is to spread the major expenses – weddings do not come cheaply!

A great way to make cheaper wedding rings look unique is to have them engraved with your wedding date and your initials.

With a little imagination, wedding rings can truly look magical, without costing the earth!

About the author:
Elsie Gilbert offers great insights to all different types of wedding ceremonies, wedding styles, wedding accessories. From traditional to the exotic she makes it easy for the bride and groom to review and choose. For more details on all types of wedding ideas visit this site now

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Selecting a Wedding Videographer

2009-12-23T05:50:00.001+07:00

by: Shawn Hickman

Selecting the right wedding videographer is very important because wedding videos hold special moments from your wedding day. Just like you need to find the perfect wedding dress, it should be without question that you need a quality wedding videographer.

Now I don’t mean a wedding videographer that asks Aunt Gretchen to say a few words about her little niece Sharon who is all grown up. And I don’t mean a wedding videographer that likes to force everyone to smile in the middle of dinner time because he is always in your face with that video camera. Run from those wedding videographers.

The Right Wedding Videographer
Albert Ling of Encore Weddings, was the right videographer for me. He was unobtrusive (we hardly knew he was around), he didn’t use crazy special effects in his previous wedding videos and he had a demeanor that made it easy to feel comfortable around him. Don’t worry, the right wedding videographer for you is out there. And once you find him, hold on tight because he is an important part of your wedding budget and he (along with the wedding photographer) has your once in your lifetime moments in his hands. Make sure your wedding videographer is experienced. You wouldn’t believe how easy it is for someone to just call themselves a videographer. Do you really want to be one of their early wedding video mistakes? Albert had hundreds of video that my husband went through with him during the consultation but even though he had done so many wedding videos, our wedding video was still different from all the others.

I just popped in my wedding DVD (that’s right, I didn’t get my wedding video on VHS) in order to give you some important tips on what to look for in your wedding videographer’s portfolio. Yes, you need to see the wedding videographer’s portfolio.

The Wedding Videographer’s Portfolio
You need to make sure he hasn’t done 1,000 wedding videos that are exactly the opposite approach you want. It also matters if he clearly understands what you want from him. Can he produce that? And has he done that before? You don’t have to see all his videos but you don’t want to see a video montage of what he thinks are his best clips. You want to see what he has done from start to finish. See if the videos were steady if he uses a hand held video camera instead of a tripod. Watch for editing – do they make sense? Are you going from the wedding ceremony to the reception or from the reception decorations to the ceremony? Has he captured all of the members of the wedding party? Was he too slow and didn’t get the “here comes the bride” entrance? Where the close ups “too close up”? Are you having an outdoor wedding? What if it is windy? Does he have unobtrusive mikes for the wedding party? Or will you end up with the sound of wind on the wedding video and muted voices? You also want to be able to speak with happy clients from the wedding videos you liked the most.

One Videographer or Two? One Video Camera or Two?
For my wedding, we had one videographer with one handheld camera. Having a second camera can help obtain extra points of view which may be needed during editing and sometimes if the first camera man is unable to get a shot, the second camera will hopefully be able to pick it up. Our wedding videographer was experienced so we didn’t feel like we needed a second camera or videographer.

Wedding Video on DVD or VHS?
After watching the wedding video once, most people don’t sit through it in full many times after. They usually fast forward to parts that they like which over time wears out your wedding video. If you choose to have your wedding video on DVD, you can easily jump to the parts you want to highlight instead of having to sit through a few hours or constantly fast forward and rewind your videotape.

And speaking of wedding videos that last a few hours - please spare your friends and family. You don’t need every single moment from your wedding day on the wedding video. My wedding video is 30 minutes long. It was set up like a story book with scenes from throughout the day highlighting the wedding ceremony, my father’s speech and the cutting of the cake. The other scenes were played with one of four songs we chose.

Special Additions to Your Wedding Video
The wedding videographer will probably offer you a few additions to your package. I personally felt they were unnecessary but you may feel differently. You may include a prelude of some wedding planning, commentary about the couple from their family and friends, photo montages and video from before the couple met and special effects (slow motion and fading in and out).

Wedding Videographer Cost
You can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 for your wedding video. The wedding videographer will be one of your biggest wedding budget expenses.

And now some advice that was given to me that I want to share with you.

My matron of honor gave me some advice when I was planning my wedding … even if you are on the fence about a wedding video – just get it! You may never watch it or your grandmother may be the only one that watches it but one day if you want to watch it and you don’t have a wedding video, you will feel incredibly sad about not having one to watch.

One last thing! Make sure you include your wedding videographer (and camera man) on the list for a meal at the reception or else you risk having them take an hour break so they can get some lunch/dinner. (Remember they are working straight close to 8 hours if not more! Feed them! No exceptions.)

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Wedding Gifts

2009-12-22T07:11:00.001+07:00

by: Elsie Gilbert

With most contemporary weddings there is a huge entourage of individuals who are extremely important to the success of the big day. Bearing this in mind, it seems only fitting that these people should be recognized for their time and effort with specifically chosen wedding gifts all of their own.

Who Should Receive Wedding Gifts?

The obvious answer is anyone who helps out to the extent that the bride and groom feel that they deserve special wedding gifts. Typical individuals who should be considered for such wedding gifts include bridesmaids, best men, ushers and the parents of the bride and groom.

Wedding gifts are also often given to the professionals that help make the day happen, such as your hairdresser or the wedding planner, although these gifts are more token gifts and can be as simple as a nice card or a small bouquet of flowers.

With larger weddings, it is also common practice to offer a small gift to every guest in the form of a favor, placed at each place setting. Due to the large quantity of these wedding gifts that you are required to purchase, they tend to be much smaller and cheaper such as sugared almonds or small chocolates.

Choosing Wedding Gifts

Of course, your choice of wedding gifts depends largely on the known likes and dislikes of the people whom you have invited to attend your wedding party. If you have a small number of people involved you may be able to purchase individually chosen, more expensive wedding gifts such as a special ornament or piece of jewelry. But remember that it is the thought which counts, and token wedding gifts such as cufflinks, teddy bears and mugs can be just as effective.

As part of the wedding speeches, bouquets of flowers are often given to the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom; this is particularly the case with more traditional wedding ceremonies.

A great cheap way to please the wedding party guests is to offer them pictures of the day as well as any attire that you have purchased especially for them. It is very difficult to think of anything else to do with the bridesmaid dresses and jewelry, so why not use them as unique wedding gifts?

By giving the critical members of the wedding party wedding gifts you will ensure that your important helpers feel that their efforts have been noticed and they will feel that they have truly been a vital part of your big day.

Giving wedding gifts to guests may seem a little odd, but why not share the good fortune of your day and spread a little happiness?

About the author:
Elsie Gilbert offers great insights to all different types of wedding ceremonies, wedding styles, wedding accessories. From traditional to the exotic she makes it easy for the bride and groom to review and choose. For more details on all types of wedding ideas visit this site now

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How to Find Unique Wedding Favors for Your Wedding

2009-12-21T05:36:00.001+07:00

by: Brigitte Smith

Wedding favors have become an integral part of a wedding. And many brides, and couples, search for unique wedding favors which will make a statement and from which the guests will remember this wedding with fond memories.

So when you’re planning your wedding, one of the decisions you’ll undoubtedly need to make is in the selection of wedding favors for your guests - and what better wedding favors than heirloom wedding favors. These small gifts are a wonderful way to show your guests that you appreciate them coming to celebrate your special day and to say a small, personal “thank you” to your guests for their attendance, their friendship, and their wedding gifts to you.

No longer limited to weddings for the wealthy or well-to-do, unique wedding favors can now be ordered from a number of sources, including online companies, for a fraction of what they once cost. Even a modest or small wedding can be made much more special by providing thoughtful and even unique wedding favors for the guests.

Wedding favors are typically small but thoughtful items that serve as a memento of your beautiful day. Traditional items include things like ornate bottle-stoppers, cake servers, and serving spoons. Such items are intended to be a keepsake for the wedding guests rather than something they will actually use in everyday life.

Some couples, however, will choose wedding favors that serve double duty as a reminder of the event as well as a useful item. Small picture frames, decorated place card holders, lovely candy dishes, pen and pencil sets, and other such favors fall into this category. Edible wedding favors such as mints or candies in an attractive tin are also available. The choices are truly limited only by your imagination.

Typical wedding favors come with traditional wedding theme designs including bells, doves, hearts, flowers, and flowing ribbons, but can also include more modern motifs like dolphins. With the more costly but far more personalized option of custom ordering, virtually anything is possible.

The most important consideration is selecting wedding favors is to remember that these are items meant simply to say “thank you.” You’re not going to find the perfect item that will please each and every guest at your wedding, but a little thoughtfulness will result in favors that will at least let your guests know that you’re thinking of them. The guests at your wedding are primarily your family and your friends, and they will invariably appreciate a small souvenir of the event.

Wedding favors should not be confused with the traditional gifts provided by the bride and groom to members of their wedding party. It is proper to provide the bridesmaids and groomsmen with a more personal and separate gift. Anything that says you appreciate their friendship and participation in your special day is appropriate for these close friends or family members.

Your wedding is undoubtedly one of the most important days in your life and all of the planning that goes into this momentous event reflects that importance, helping to make your special day a beautiful experience for all involved. Selecting the perfect wedding favors - unique wedding favors - can help make that dream of beauty and perfection into a reality!

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For unique wedding favors that you can make yourself (of have made for you), go to and take a look at the Wonderful Crocheted Wedding Favors that you can make and give to your wedding guests.

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Wedding Flowers

2009-12-20T06:05:00.001+07:00

by: Elsie Gilbert

No wedding is complete without a selection of wedding flowers! However, bear in mind that the price of wedding flowers can escalate and most of these flowers will simply be thrown out, at the end of the day.

Choosing your Wedding Flowers

Your choice of wedding flowers can make such a difference to both the look of your wedding and of course your budget. Wedding flowers are largely seasonal; if you choose a flower that is not in season, it may not be as good as you would hope and it will certainly cost more!

Obtain professional advice from someone who regularly provides wedding flowers; they will almost certainly be better placed to advise you on the easiest way to achieve your desired look.

Wedding Flowers for the Bride

A bride will normally, as part of her outfit, hold some wedding flowers. Traditionally, these bouquets were large and flamboyant, however trends are changing. Many brides now prefer simple wedding flowers, such as a single rose or lily. This can be incredibly effective, not to mention a lot cheaper and easier to handle.

The bridal wedding flowers must complement your dress; so choose the wedding flowers with your dress in mind. As a very simple dress may be swamped by a large bouquet, pay careful attention to the combination, not just the actual wedding flowers themselves.

Wedding Flowers for the Bridal Party

It’s not just the bride who has to be considered when it comes to wedding flowers. Bridesmaids, the groom and best man will also be wearing flowers so their outfits must also be considered.

Male buttonholes are generally very small and inconspicuous, in fact it isn’t even necessary to use flowers, a small fabric attachment can be just as nice and can also double up as a keepsake as it will not wilt, in time.

When it comes to wedding flowers for your bridesmaids, it is vital that you consider their ages. A 3-year old is unlikely to be able to handle a large bouquet and similarly it may be a disaster with a thorny rose collection.

With wedding flowers, simple is often best. All of the wedding party will have many other things to consider, not just the wedding flowers; keep them simple and easy to handle.

Your choice of wedding flowers is extremely important so do give it the time it deserves. Plan in advance and take professional advice, it will be worth it, in the end.

About the author:
Elsie Gilbert offers great insights to all different types of wedding ceremonies, wedding styles, wedding accessories. From traditional to the exotic she makes it easy for the bride and groom to review and choose. For more details on all types of wedding ideas visit this site now

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Wedding Dresses – The Latest Trends!

2009-12-19T21:21:00.001+07:00

by: Elsie Gilbert

Wedding dresses are such an opportunity for any bride to show their unique sense of style and to really make a fashion statement. Gone are the days of the plain ‘meringue’ style wedding dresses with a little cute well-placed bow; now we are daring to be different!

In fact, one of the latest trends is to offer wedding dresses that can be used again. Not only is this a great idea from a budget point of view, but it is also reflective of the simple lines that are part of the modern trend in wedding dresses. Arguably, this fashion is due to the ever increasing age of first time brides as well as the large number of second weddings.

Wedding Dresses for the Winter Wedding

Whenever we think about wedding dresses, we automatically think of a warm, summer’s day, with a crisp, wafting white dress to match. However, there is a growing trend towards winter weddings. Winter wedding dresses may not be pure white and are often the preferred choice for second time brides.

Trends in winter wedding dresses include deep red colored dresses or dresses that include a large amount of black. Another great idea is to include a fur collar, or long fake fur coat. If you love a touch of luxury and you want something a little different, then winter wedding dresses may just be the thing for you!

Wedding Dresses for the Summer Wedding

The key to summer wedding dresses, this year, is color. Many wedding dresses are now using substantial amounts of colored fabric to add a classic touch to an otherwise traditional white or cream dress.

Weddings are becoming much more sophisticated; generally, brides will select a theme that they will maintain throughout all aspects of their wedding. Wedding dresses must, of course, fit into this theme and as such colors and accessories are vital. Popular, seasonal colors for wedding dresses include lilac, pink, blue and yellow. Often, brides will choose a half-color theme where the bodice is colored or the skirt is colored, but the other half of the dress is kept in a plain cream or white.

Subtle is the name of the game with modern wedding dresses.

Wedding Dresses – Standing Out From the Crowd

Today, wedding dresses are all different; no-one wants to look the same as the next bride and, naturally, brides go to extreme lengths to make sure that they stand out from the crowd. Of course everyone wants to do so in a classy and not trashy way! It seems that individually designed wedding dresses are the way of the future. By commissioning a made to measure dress you can make sure that it fits perfectly, is exactly what you want and above all, is unique.

Wedding dresses are an expression of your personality, so don’t hold back; let your imagination run wild!

About the author:
Elsie Gilbert offers great insights to all different types of wedding ceremonies, wedding styles, wedding accessories. From traditional to the exotic she makes it easy for the bride and groom to review and choose. For more details on all types of wedding ideas visit this site now

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Wedding Planning

2009-12-19T21:17:00.000+07:00

by: Samantha Taylor

Depending on your personal preferences and the preferences of your husband or wife-to-be, a wedding can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 2 years to plan. If one step in the planning process is missed, the whole wedding could be ruined. To prevent this from happening, we have created a wedding checklist in order to ensure everything goes according to plan on your big day.

7-12 Months Prior
• Announce Engagement and have your engagement party
• Decide on the wedding style and create a guest list
• Choose who you both want in the wedding party
• Set the date and time of the wedding
• Book your wedding officiant
• Choose your wedding song
• Decide on "extras" (cake, flowers, dj, photographers etc)
• Purchase your wedding dress and bridal accessories
• Purchase bridesmaids dresses and accessories (maid of honor as well)
• Start planning your honeymoon
• Buy (or make) your wedding favors
• Purchase your wedding invitations
• Plan your rehearsal ceremony and dinner

2-6 Months Prior
• Arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests
• Finalize the dinner menu
• Book your limo (or other form of transportation)
• Book the rehearsal dinner site
• Book your honeymoon
• Purchase your wedding rings
• Purchase your gifts for the wedding party
• Rent the tuxedos for groom and groomsmen (including bestman)
• Schedule a dress fitting (bride)
• Book hair and makeup appointment (bride)
• Have your bridal shower
• Send out the invitations to your guests
• Plan the wedding program

1 Month Prior
• Get your marriage license (and blood tests if needed)
• Final dress fitting (bride)
• Arrange seating for your guests
• Have your stag and doe party

1-2 Weeks Prior
• Pick up the wedding dress
• Have your bachelor and bachelorette parties

The Day Before
• Give the wedding party their gifts
• Pick up the tuxedo(s)
• Decorate the wedding site
• Have your rehearsal dinner and greet out-of-town guests

Follow these steps in the first step towards a lifetime of marital bliss!

About the author:
Samantha Taylor spent several years working in the weddings industry as a wedding planner. When she isn't being a mom of two wonderful children, she works as a freelance writer for http://www.yourwedding101.com - a site that offers information about everything wedding related - from wedding planning to wedding invitations and more.

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