Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Steps in Planning A Wedding

Getting married is not as easy as one watches it on movies. Planning a wedding is a tedious job. Several important details and considerations are taken into account.

The primary tasked in the preparations is the budget. The question of how much is available and who is footing the bill are the important questions in setting the budget.

Hiring a wedding consultant is practical for busy working couples who have less time to spare for the preparations. If the budget is tight, there are also consultants who work by the hour. An outsider’s perspective is beneficial to both the bride and the groom.

Once the budget is set, the next step is creating the timetable of schedules. The important factors to consider include honeymoon, work schedules, holidays and family occasions, and day of the week. Some consultants say the bride’s menstrual cycle should be regarded to avoid getting the gown stained or feeling busted on the wedding day. Alternate dates are also a consideration.

Now, choosing the ring and announcement to family, relatives, friends, and other significant others come next. The contemporary times suggest that couples choose the ring together. Announcements may come formally or informally. Traditions though recommend that the groom’s mother take the initiative to communicate with the bride’s mother. Usually, a dinner is set up for the families of both parties to get acquainted. This will be helpful in the following days of the preparations. In some countries, newly engaged couples send an official announcement to local newspaper or magazine.

After making the wedding known to all, the second essential is the guest list. This list usually affects several aspects of the wedding specially the budget and the size of the party. Dividing the guest list into five categories will better sort out the list: a) bride's list; b) the groom's; c) couple's common friends; d) groom's parents' list and; e) bride's parents' list. Alongside the list is the couple’s decision on invitation card designs and packages. These details match the over-all tone of the wedding. Proofreading of the invitation cards is a very important task however tiresome it may be.

The ceremony and reception music, flowers will set the mood of the wedding. Like the invitation, these things should match together to express the style and theme of the wedding. The same with the wedding gowns, bridesmaids dresses, and the groom’s attire—they are usually decided based on the theme.

The photographs and videos should not be forgotten for they will immortalize that one memorable and valuable once-in-a-lifetime moment. Many wedding planners suggest taking the formal shots a week before the wedding to avoid stress.

Then when almost everything is done and decided, the next step is the rehearsal—reducing the risk of ceremony disappointments. Rehearsal parties immediately follow the rehearsal. This is a chance to mingle with family and friends.

The ceremony site sets the tone of the wedding. Traditional weddings are celebrated in church; however, there are many non-traditional that have emerged since the 60’s and 70’s. Beach and garden weddings are just a few example of the latter one.

Last but not the least are the reception and catering. Included are the place, the food, and the wedding cake. It is pretty much anything the bride and the groom want as long as it fits the budget. The w

Other side events organized during the wedding planning are stud party and wedding shower. This is one of the exciting part in wedding traditions.

By Sutiyo Na

Chocolate Cake with Fresh Roses


Chocolate is used for filling this white cake. Decorated with pink ribbon & fresh cascade pink roses.

Wedding cake pictures by Herbert Harper.

White Castle Cake


Wedding cake pictures by el cad.

Three tier cake with castle as topper. You can make it by creating 3 tier square cake first. Then, put a castle with stone constructed on the top of cake. To make it looks real, put decorated cylindrical towers on every sides.

Chocolate Drizzle Cake


Wedding cake pictures by starfin.

Beautiful White Cake


Cake by dharmabum60

This white cake accented with fondant calla lilies & topped with rolled fondant

White & Orange Wedding Cake


Large square cake with orange roses
Dozens of orange roses set in between each tier symbolize passion and desire. If you opt for a white & orange themed wedding day, this cake is a good choice for you. It represents your passion to make your wedding day special, pure, & sacred.

Chess Wedding Cake


Check Mate !   Speck-Hopkins

Chocolate cake resembling an 8-by-8 chessboard, with the black king has been checkmated.

Fresh & Natural Cake


Four-tiered cake is accented with sugar-paste pink roses, pearls, and deep green ribbons. This is a fresh cake with natural color that suits to outdoor party.

Fun Cake

Fun Cake


Cake was decorated with fun patterns in bright and contrast colors. Everything, from paper box to ribbon on the top, was made with fondant.

Chocolate & White Buttercream Cake


South Padre Island Wedding & Groom's Cake

1st tier: chocolate mocha sour cream cake iced with chocolate mocha buttercream.
2nd tier: butter cake iced with white buttercream.
3rd tier: chocolate mocha sour cream cake iced with chocolate mocha buttercream.

White & Orange Wedding Cake


Large square cake with orange roses
Dozens of orange roses set in between each tier symbolize passion and desire. If you opt for a white & orange themed wedding day, this cake is a good choice for you. It represents your passion to make your wedding day special, pure, & sacred.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Wonderful Bali Wedding

Bali has been the favorite destination for tourists all over the world. Full of magnificent beaches, breathtaking sceneries and interesting culture. Bali is ideal for people wanting to escape from daily activities, enjoy a honeymoon, or even, have a great time with family and friends. Another things that you can have right here in Bali is your wedding day.

Having your wedding in a wonderful Bali Wedding is one option that you can have. As one of the most mystical and beautiful place in the world, the island is a good resource to aspire your love and to celebrate it wonderfully.

However, you might be wondering whether or not it would not be a hassle to have the wedding performed there. Since accurate information that is related to the possibilities and procedures for you and your couple to be married in Bali, it is crucial for you to give us your advice from the beginning concerning the nationalities and religious beliefs of the both of you. Therefore, the Bali Wedding that you want can be organized well.

The Bali Wedding shall be taken care with professional and experienced organizers that understand the needs of the groom, the bridegroom, and their respective families. Details about your celebration and your reception are treated by heart by the organizers to ensure your satisfaction. From start to finish, your event shall be conducted with professional event coordination services. Church and government authorities, caterers, entertainment, photographers, florists, transport and musician are organized professionally that what you need to do is relax and, enjoy your wedding day with all your heart.

by Dharma Putra

Saturday, December 5, 2009

How to Choose a Wedding Photographer

When planning your wedding, you’ll no doubt be spending a lot of money on quite a few different things. While everything else as a whole might total more, the cost of a wedding photographer will always seem a little daunting at first. Though, making photography a big part of your budget is more important than you’d think. This is a day for all of your friends and all of your family to remember, not to mention you and your loved one. Where To Look. One of the best places to look is the internet. Don’t stop with a simple google search for “wedding photographer + city name” as this is extremely vague. Try logging onto photo publishing sites such as flickr.com or smugmug. Most of these photo sites are home to a huge array of professionals looking for work. Do a search for “wedding” near your hometown on one of these sites and I’m sure you’ll be able to find hundreds, if not thousands, of photographers eager to shoot your wedding.


How To Choose. The most important thing you’ll need to take into consideration about a photographer is whether or not you like them and their work. Emailing back and forth, looking at randomly chosen portfolio pictures online is generally never enough. You need to develop a relationship. Call each photographer on the phone and talk. A photographer will feel more connected to your wedding and will be a lot more relaxed, and most of the time will be able to produce better results. If possible, visit the photographer’s studio. If they don’t have one, schedule a meeting at a Starbucks and ask him to bring examples from past weddings - make sure these samples are of one complete wedding and not just highlights from multiple events they’ve covered.

Digital Versus Film. While many photographers still use film (and can produce equally good results), you’re most likely going to want to make sure you’re looking into one who’s using digital. In this day in age, digital has surpassed film for multiple reasons. On top of being much more immediate, the creative freedom digital has lets photographers shoot much more quickly. Being able to check and make sure the image is good gives photographers a second chance if they’ve missed something. And there’s never any worry about whether or not something could go wrong in post processing. If a photographer insists on using film, it’s most likely because he’s never tried digital.

What To Ask. Many professional photographers either have their own studio or work for one. Since building a relationship with your photographer is key to getting great results, the most important thing to ask them is if they’re going to be the actual photographer shooting your wedding or if they’re going to be sending someone else. If the latter is true, see if you may meet with the person shooting. Secondly, make sure that there will only be one photographer. Having multiple photographers means your guests won’t know which lens to look at. One photographer is generally able to turn out anywhere from 500 to 1000 images on their own, so you can image how hard it would be to look through double that amount.

Can I Get Reprints? As soon as a professional photographer snaps a shot, he owns the copyright to that image. Even if you pay a fee to get your high resolution digital files from the wedding, the photographer has a legal right to charge you if you ever want any reprints later on. Usually, if you are paying for the digital negatives, a photographer won’t mind if you get your own reprints, but make sure you talk to them about it first. If you can, get it in writing.

Source: Free Articles


The Secret to Finding the Perfect Inexpensive Wedding Favors!

The cost of weddings today is absolutely skyrocketing. With so many things to plan for and provide – the catering, the accommodations for out of town guests, the gown and tuxedos – it’s no wonder that many couples find themselves deeply in debt the day after they get married – and even in the days leading up to marriage.

Many wise couples, however, have found ways to trim the cost of their wedding without sacrificing style or quality. For example, a bride may purchase a gown and have a friend alter it rather than the bridal store, which might save her a hundred dollars or more. A buffet at the reception rather than a plated dinner may also be a bit more affordable. And of course, many brides are searching for the best way to find inexpensive wedding favors that all the guests will enjoy.

The Secret Behind Inexpensive Wedding Favors

No one wants to sacrifice style at a wedding, that’s for sure. For most brides, every detail needs to be absolutely perfect, right down to the last flower bud and ice cube. However, brides do well to avoid the mistake of thinking that inexpensive wedding favors means purchasing something that’s tacky or that just looks cheap.

One way to save money in this area of the wedding is to purchase inexpensive wedding favors that can somehow be assembled at home. For example, buying bulk candy and tulle bags which you fill and tie off at home can save you hundreds when compared to buying these bags already put together. Purchasing small boxes and chocolate bonbons separately and wrapping them yourself is another way to go.

Baking things yourself can also be a great option. A hundred sugar cookies shaped like a heart that you frost and decorate can be very affordable.

When considering these types of inexpensive wedding favors, a bride will do well to enlist some help for herself. Your bridesmaids, maid of honor, mom, future mother-in-law, or flowergirls can be of great assistance a day or two before the wedding. Trying to do all this work yourself will probably just exhaust you and cause you even more stress than you need!

Personalized candy bar wrappers are a popular option as inexpensive wedding favors for much the same reason. They are typically very affordable when you purchase just the wrapper and foil by themselves, and again, get your own chocolate bars and assemble them at home. Many major websites have a great variety of designs available; the top wedding sites for these include TheKnot and FavorsAndWraps, both of which give you some very nice options and choices.

The important thing to remember when shopping for inexpensive wedding favors is that you don’t need to settle for something you don’t like or that you don’t think will express your own personality. With some imagination and a few minutes set aside to do a bit of the work yourself, you can still find something that will be just perfect for your special day!

Source: Free Articles

Friday, December 4, 2009

Marriage In Many Views

What is marriage? According to Confucius, "Marriage is the union (of the representatives) of two different surnames, in friendship and in love, in order to continue the posterity of the former sages, and to furnish those who shall preside at the sacrifices to heaven and earth, at those in the ancestral temple, and at those at the altars to the spirits of the land and grain." Philosopher, historian, and literary essayist Thomas De Quincey defined marriage as "a union between two persons, who lived in harmony so absolute with each other, as to be independent of the world outside." In law, marriage is an institution that is historically filled with restrictions. From age, to race, to sexual orientation, to gender, to social status, restrictions are placed on marriage by society for reasons of benefiting the children, passing on healthy genes, to keep property concentrated, or because of prejudice and fear. Almost all cultures that recognize marriage also recognize adultery as a violation of the terms of marriage

Marriage in Common-Law In some jurisdictions but not all, marriage relationships may be created by the operation of the law alone, as in common-law marriage, sometimes called "marriage by habit and repute (cohabitation)." A de facto common-law marriage without a license or ceremony is legally binding in some jurisdictions but has no legal consequence in others. A marriage also bestows rights and obligations on the married parties, and sometimes on relatives as well, being the sole mechanism for the creation of affinal ties (in-laws). These may include:

  • Giving a husband/wife or his/her family control over a spouse’s sexual services, labor, and property.
  • Giving a husband/wife responsibility for a spouse’s debts.
  • Giving a husband/wife visitation rights when his/her spouse is incarcerated or hospitalized.
  • Giving a husband/wife control over his/her spouse’s affairs when the spouse is incapacitated.
  • Establishing the second legal guardian of a parent’s child.
  • Establishing a joint fund of property for the benefit of children.
  • Establishing a relationship between the families of the spouses.

Restrictions in Marriage Marriage is an institution that is historically filled with restrictions. From age, to gender, to social status, restrictions are placed on marriage by society for reasons of benefiting the children, passing on healthy genes, to keep property concentrated, or because of prejudice and fear. Some legal, social, or religious restrictions apply in some countries on the genders of the couple. n response to changing social and political attitudes, some jurisdictions and religious denominations now recognize marriages between people of the same gender. In some jurisdictions these are sometimes called civil unions or domestic partnerships, while some others explicitly prohibit same-gender marriages. For more information visit to our site at http://philippineweddingplanner.com

by Beverly Huffine

Weddings in Thailand

If you want your marriage to be a memorable occasion then why not tie the knot in Thailand? The islands are a stunningly beautiful location to make your vows, and this will be a holiday that you and your guests will never forget. Thailand is the ultimate romantic location and evenings walking along tropical beaches will be a memory that will stay with you forever.

Weddings in Thailand are becoming increasingly popular and this offers something a bit different for those who want escape the stress and pressure involved in many western weddings. A particularly popular time to get married in Thailand is on Valentine's Day when people from all over the world flock to Ban Rak in Bangkok to get married. The reason why this area is so popular is because of its name; Ban Rak means “love Town�.

Koh Samui is a popular island for weddings because of stunning scenery on the island. This is one of the biggest islands in Thailand and one of the most popular. Here you will find busy tourist areas like Chaweng or Lamai or more laid back places like Fisherman's village. Despite its popularity it is still possible to find areas of beach where you will be left alone for some romantic solitude with your new spouse. When it comes to organizing weddings you will find plenty of local agencies to do most of the hard work. A lot can be organized before you arrive, but couples may need to visit Bangkok for some final paperwork; an agency will be able to help you complete all the necessary paperwork and it shouldn't take long.

Phuket is another destination in Thailand where weddings can be an unforgettable experience. This island is actually connected to the mainland by a bridge and the infrastructure on the island is very good. Here you will find accommodation to suit all budgets so your guest should have no problem finding somewhere to stay. You will also find some great nightlife in Pattong if you want to celebrate after the ceremony.

Koh Phi Phi is credited as being the most beautiful Thai island, but it is also the most expensive comparatively. The island is a lot smaller than the other islands, and it can get really busy during the high season when accommodation can be hard to come by. If you want a romantic location though, this will be a really good choice. A nearby island is Koh Lanta and you might want to visit here if you want something a bit quieter.

A wedding in Thailand can really be a great alternative to the traditional wedding and it is sure to be a lot less stressful. The amazing thing is that in many cases it even works out cheaper than the wedding you would have at home. Air fares to Thailand can be expensive, but once you arrive things are quite cheap. A marriage in this tropical paradise will not only be something that you will remember forever, but also an experience that your guests will thank you for.

by Ryan Fyfe

Friday, November 20, 2009

Ideas For Making The Wedding Day Enjoyable For Everybody

The special day is meant to be the most auspicious day in the life of the girl to be married and the guy who is going to be married. The day also means a lot to the family and friends of the couple. Giving out numerous invitations means that there will be plenty of guests present at the occasion and means that the household members should be ready to cater for all of them and create an ambience whereby everybody has a wonderful time and bless the couple wholeheartedly. It can be quite tough to arrange huge celebrations which normally involve hiring Chicago wedding videographer or Chicago videographer, food caterers, planners and decorators. However, there are numerous tips which families can use to make the special day a truly stunning and outstanding one. These tips will also ensure that they do not go through a lot of stress throughout the event and have a pleasant time for themselves as well.

Time can be a nerve-racking factor during huge celebrations and to prevent this stress, it is essential for families to manage time properly. This means that they should refrain from doing last minute job such as shopping, planning, deciding on the menu and appetizers and taking care of other arrangements. Preparing beforehand and perfect time management can save parents a lot of money as they will get enough time to make great deals and get the best products. It is essential to write down everything that will need to be complete. Creating a list also includes making a financial plan and determining the amount of time individual task will take.

Funds can be an issue when planning for the special day. For that reason, it is essential for the family to talk about how much they are going to need. If the financial plan is low, parents can plan a small occasion where only important members of the family, friends and relatives will be attending. They can plan the meal in budget and cut down on things like hiring a professional for beautification, designing and photography. Members of the family can get together and do these work themselves which will save them heaps of money.

Furthermore, the parents, bride and groom should create a mental image of the special day and envision all the details. They should stay focused and pay attention to all the things that needs to be done to make the day a really stunning one. With a mental image, they should be able to decide how they plan the special day to be. Moreover, the family should not start to panic regarding the event. If they are unable to plan everything by themselves, it is best to seek advice from close friends and relatives, especially those who have already accomplished these types of planning before.

It is essential to pay attention to how many guest are invited and how their seating arrangement will be to make them feel at ease. It should be acknowledged that in order to make the special day a success, parents need to plan everything in advance and do not take unwanted stress. They should also be able to enjoy the day while looking after the guests.

How To Choose The Perfect Wedding Ring

Your wedding ring is probably the most precious piece of jewellery you will ever own. It is also something you will be wearing every day for the rest of your life so you need to make sure you will be comfortable wearing it. Choose something that is suited to your style and your personality, that is timeless and high quality as well as within your budget. The traditional plain gold wedding band will be in style for years to come and will never date but there are many alternatives available if you prefer something more unique and individual.

It has only been during the last 50 or so years that grooms have been wearing wedding rings. Traditionally it was only the bride who wore the ring as a symbol of eternity, everlasting love and commitment. Now most weddings in the UK have bride and groom exchanging rings while they exchange their vows. Some couples like their wedding rings to be in a matching material and style but this is not essential. It is also common for brides to choose a wedding ring which matches their engagement ring. Ideally they should compliment each other and go together fit wise but there are no strict rules that the materials should be the same.

Yellow Gold, White Gold or Platinum?

The materials of which wedding rings are made of have improved through the years. However, the most popular are still those made from classic 9ct yellow gold or 18ct yellow gold. Gold has a timeless appeal and if looked after well, a piece of gold jewellery can last you a lifetime. Wedding rings made from 9ct white gold or 18ct white gold are also gaining popularity. White gold wedding rings are cheaper than platinum wedding rings but white gold still looks very contemporary and modern. Platinum is a very suitable material for a wedding ring as it is durable and hardwearing and therefore will endure wear and tear for a very long time. Platinum will not tarnish or discolour as it has no surface coating to wear off, this is why it is ideal for making fine jewellery such as wedding rings.

Wedding Ring Style

When it comes to style there are even more options available than there are for the choice of metals. The shape of the band itself is known as the profile and amongst the most popular are d-Shape wedding rings which have a traditional rounded look with a flat fit inside against the finger. Court wedding rings are curved on the inside and outside for a more comfortable fit. Comfort fit or sometimes called flat court wedding rings have a contemporary flat look with a comfortable court fit on the finger. Flat wedding rings are flat on the top and inside and have a more modern look. Wedding band widths generally range from about 2mm to 10mm and you have a choice of lightweight, medium and heavyweight. Your choice is completely down to personal preference and whether you want the ring to look heavy and chunky or delicate and dainty. Your ring can also be finished with a highly polished shine or with satin or matt finishes.

People used to say that the cost of the ring should be 2 months salary. The most important thing is to try to stay within your budget, regardless of if it's 2 months salary, 2 weeks salary, or 2 years salary. Your perfect ring has a great significance and should be worn for it’s meaning rather than it’s monetary value. The best way to judge value for money when buying your wedding rings is to compare the weights of the material used. Buying your wedding jewellery online will allow you make great savings as online retailers don’t have the huge overheads of high street shops. Have your ring size measured properly. Most high street jewellers will happily do this for you without cost. The ring you select should not fit too tightly as your hands will swell in hot weather. Equally the ring should not be too loose that it slides round on your finger as you may end up losing it. Rings can always be stretched if need be in the future but attempting to make a ring smaller will leave the band with a join in it. Ensure that your wedding rings come with a guarantee and are covered by an initial money back guarantee incase you are not entirely satisfied with your purchase when it arrives. Finally, ensure that your ring is hallmarked.

The Wedding Ring Specialist website stocks a wide range of competitively priced gold and platinum wedding rings where you are sure to find something to suit both your taste and your budget.

Online Wedding Albums

A wedding is a brand new beginning and a new chapter in one’s life which ushers in lots of love and happiness. It needs to be celebrated with splendor and style. Weddings are not a one day affair. They span to about 2 to 3 days. Lots of pre-wedding events add on to the festivities. These events give a perfect start to the celebrations and they have stood the tests of time.

A wedding website is wonderful way to keep family and friends informed of all your wedding plans, as well as your new life together after the big day. The wedding website gives you the opportunity to share your favourite memories, is the best way to share travel and accommodation details, schedules of wedding events, maps to wedding venue, driving directions to reach your wedding venue and special requests.

In India, marriage is not simply regarded as an event, rather it is considered as a soulful affair of the merger of two souls. India is known as the land of diversity and this fact is evident from the varied kinds of wedding traditions followed in the country. The traditions in Indian weddings vary from one region to another.

Weddings are known to be hosted and celebrated in the grandest manner possible. Your wedding guests will love browsing your personal wedding websites to see the photos, stories, and other special details you choose to display. Talk about everything from how you met and your first date to your engagement and future plans.

Building your website allows you to share more than just your ceremony. You can keep your site running long after the ceremony to share your honeymoon and newlywed memories with those you love. Everyone can share these timeless memories with you.

The wedding websites are wonderful for friends and family worldwide who can't make it to the wedding but who have an interest in the couple. They are able to feel part of the event, even though they could not be there in person.

Web Vivah is the only company to provide users with instant publishing and a direct editing approach to create a wedding websites to celebrate life’s special moments.

Web Vivah provides the easiest way to create a wedding website. Users will then have a personal wedding website with which they can begin adding their own photos, videos and stories. This ensures your wedding guests can plan their visit and are not put into any discomfort when they attend your wedding.

by free article

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

How To Change The Mood Of Your Wedding Reception With Lighting

Did you know you have the power to lighten the mood and attitudes of the guests at your wedding reception? Would you believe it's as simple as just adding a little color? Surprisingly, it's a scientific fact that certain colors can change the way people feel and act. Now how does one go about changing the colors of a traditional reception hall without paying a fortune to repaint the facilities? Well believe it or not it's actually really easy. It can be done through the power of lighting.

That's right, proper light done with the right colors and right intensities can really change the tone of the room. For example: the color red is hot and exciting while the color magenta is warm and romantic. The color blue is cool and somber while the color pink is active and flashy. Often time the more saturated the color the more pronounced the effect. So if the colors are more pastel the more delicate and subdued the effect.

To color the room with enough light you'll want to make sure you have enough lighting fixtures to cover the entire circumference of the room. Rather than purchasing these expensive fixtures you can often times rent them from your local production company or maybe even a local entertainment.

The new trend in wedding reception lighting is known as L.E.D. up-lighting. L.E.D. up-lighting is a low power consumption and low heat producing light that uses the primary colors (Red, Green, and Blue) to create a dramatic lighting effect. These lights are often placed next to a wall or corner and pointed up towards the ceiling. Along with changing the colors of the lights you're even given control of the intensities of the lights for a more dramatic or less dramatic effect.

You'll want to think of your reception hall as a white canvas that you're about to paint a picture onto. Choose colors that match the existing decor and be sure to cover the room with enough light. Try to stay away from the color green if you can. Often times the color green is looked upon as being less flattering. Try to choose colors that compliment skin tones. Colors like magenta and rose are often very effective and very elegant. As the night progresses you may also want to consider changing the colors to create some excitement and mood changes. Often times slight variations in the same color are very effective.

Remember though, it's you're wedding reception and you'll want to have full control. Opt for a lighting designer that knows your exact desires and outcomes you want for the event. Often time the right designer can help coach you in the appropriate colors and fills that are necessary to create that exact mood you want.

by Stevie Dee

Friday, September 4, 2009

Wedding Planning Stressing You Out?

Are you trying to plan a wedding and have no idea what you are doing? Do you feel like the task of wedding planning from start to finish is overwhelming?

Before you jump the gun and make decisions too quickly, first take some time to relax and celebrate your engagement. Planning a wedding should be an enjoyable time. The time before your wedding entails a lot of planning and possible stress. Take a deep breath and relax before you let any stress take hold of you.

Before you can make any solid decisions, you first need to make a rough guest list. How many people are you going to want to host at the ceremony and reception? You need a venue, food, and drinks to accommodate your guests. Estimate an approximate ballpark budget for your wedding expenses. Create a list of the big items like food, reception hall, ceremony, music, and flowers. Split up the budget by ranking each item on how important is to you. If you don’t care much about flowers but always wanted a reception outdoors, personalize your budget.

Find ways to save money on the smaller details, too. Make your own wedding invitations on your home computer. Crafting and stationary stores have pre-made templates on beautiful cardstock paper. There are matching RSVP templates and envelopes you can print on your home printer. Don’t pay professional fees when you can do the invitations yourself. Print out all the invites, addresses, and RSVP cards and have your friends help you stuff and send everything out.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Planning Your Wedding Invitations

Planning a wedding is not an easy thing to do. The larger the wedding is the tougher it becomes to make sure every aspect is taken care of and is just how you imagined it would be. One main thing to remember is the wedding invitations.

Making sure you have the ideal wedding invitation is a must as it portrays a message of the style and image of your wedding. More importantly the wedding invitations have all the details regarding the venue, date and time etc of the wedding.

It can be easy to forget when surrounded by friends and family that not everyone will know exactly where and when you’re wedding will be. Therefore providing a map with the wedding invitations is sometimes a good idea.

The first thing you must think about is how many people you will be inviting to the wedding. Make a list of the people and factor in their guests as well. Once you have a number in you’re mind you will then need to think about your budget.

We all know that the cost of weddings can be astounding and it is normally the modest incidentals like wedding invitations that cause costs to twirl out of control.

Some wedding invites ordered from a shop or printers offer pre set template designs where all you have to do is fill in the blanks. A good idea would be to ask around and in particular couples that have just got married for advice on where to get the best deals.

Traditionally it is the mother and father of the bride who send out the invitations albeit in name only. The wedding invitations should read

"Phil and Susan Stevens request the pleasure of the company of Derek Smith to celebrate the marriage of their daughter Jennifer to David Dunn (Note that only the brides first name is used on the wedding invitations) To be held at ST Paul’s church on the 9th of June 2010 at 17:00pm" The invitation should also provide details of where the reception will be held. Together with a map providing directions to the church a reply card should also be included, traditionally stating:

"Thank-you for your kind invitation to Jennifer and David Dunn’s wedding
I/We will/will not be able to attend."
The reply card should request the guests detail any unique dietary requirements for instance if they are vegetarian or have any food allergies.
Visit the following link for more information on wedding invitation and to view a range of wedding invitation templates and cheap wedding invitations.

Source: Free article

Tips to Plan Your Wedding Online

With the ease and efficiency of the internet, many bride elects have tried to plan a wedding online. You get a wider range of ideas and products for your big day when you plan a wedding online, while you do most of these things from the comfort of your own home. You can compare different prices, companies, and even talk with others online that have had similar experiences. When you plan a wedding online, the creative possibilities for your day are endless.


To plan a wedding online, you can visit theknot.com. With this website, you'll find great wedding shower invitation ideas. The wedding shower is often the first of many gatherings and parties that lead to your wedding day. So naturally, creative wedding shower invitation ideas set the tone for the approaching event. Basic invitations include information about the event -- but other wedding shower invitation ideas include creatively-written poems, stories or anything else that will get your guests' attention. Since the wedding shower usually includes your closest friends and family, you can incorporate creative and non-traditional wedding shower invitation ideas without worrying what others will think of you.

At theknot.com and other wedding-based websites, you can also get a variety of wedding speech examples. Some of your bridal party might have trouble writing reception toasts or other speeches that go along with a wedding. You can give them this website so they can get wedding speech examples in creative or traditional formats. The site also provides links to other sites that have even more examples. The wedding speech examples will show what kind of information to include, as well as tips on overcoming nervousness (other than visiting the open bar beforehand!)

When you plan a wedding online, you might also want to find some wedding program ideas. When your guests walk into your wedding, they should be handed a wedding program. These typically look like a playbill and the inside gives a short description of the events that will happen, as well as a cast of characters. Having creative wedding program ideas will give you the chance to exhibit some of your creative abilities. You can find many wedding program ideas and other wedding-related resources at ezweddingplanner.com. You can make your wedding programs any way you see fit, but the website will give you a variety of ideas to make them memorable for your guests.

A couple can plan a wedding online together. Planning a wedding online with your fiancé can be a great way to compare prices and discuss choices -- without being pressured by the presence of a wedding product vendor. Couples can also get creative ideas about things to include, in addition to traditional wedding aspects. Plan a wedding online as a couple for a learning and rewarding experience!


Source: Free article

Great Gifts for Wedding Couples

Weddings happen any time of the year and when a family member, friend, relative or a person close to us is getting married, we sometimes feel the pressure of choosing the best gift to give to the betrothed couple. It surely is fun and a special event to look forward to but buying gifts for the wedding is somehow an expensive undertaking. Some of us are wondering how we can give our friends or loved ones a good present which they will appreciate and would also be within our price range.


Common gifts are usually kitchenware such as pots and pans or expensive cookware set, kitchen electronics like toasters, coffeemakers, food processors, etc. , luxury bath towels and bath accessories, gardening equipment and supplies. For some people who can spend much more for a gift, they would even give the newly weds a time to de-stress and pamper themselves for spa treatments or even a gift certificate for a luxurious resort. It really depends on what you would like to convey about your wedding gift. It’s up to you if you want it to be a sentimental reminder of the newly weds’ special day or if you want your gift to be fun and unique.

But we don’t really have to spend a lot for the gift because we can keep our costs to a minimum by being creative and by shopping smart. If you are the type of person who has a knack for creating handicrafts or any art work, then making a personalized gift would surely be a good option. There are times that the gift we intend to give is way out of our budget, then we could ask our other friends to share the cost and by doing so, all of you will have that thing as a group gift. Skills can also be offered as a wedding gift just like when you are good in organizing events, you can offer your service as one of the wedding coordinators. When you don’t have any skill to offer or money to spend for the gift, then you can look for things in your house which you have bought before but never used at all and make that as your wedding gift. It may not sound very nice but I think it would still boil down to the saying, “It’s the thought that counts.”

Source: Free article

How Much to Spend on Your Wedding Cake

Your wedding should be one of the most memorable days in your life. Before you even start planning the wedding there are many details you need to see too. The first thing you and your finance need to discuss is how much you are willing to spend on the whole wedding. Many couples try to make the perfect day by supplementing their wedding with credit cards. This can actually add a lot of stress to the day, and in the end disappoint you. It is more important for you to pick a style of wedding that will fit in your budget, without going so far into debt that you start off with a bad financial outlook. Having said that let’s talk about just the cake portion of your wedding.


Part of getting your wedding prepared is the reception and of course the main centerpiece the cake. The cake can be any type from a simple style to the most elaborate. Again when asking how much to spend on your wedding cake that will be up to you. Most wedding cake designers offer a cake around 400 pounds and up. The more decorative you get with the cake the more it will cost. If you decide to have each layer in the cake be a different filling the cost will also increase. It is easier for the wedding cake designer to make one type of filling over four.

The design of the cake will also make a difference. If the cake needs special cake and more time to create you are going to pay a little more for it. The easiest cakes are the square or round cakes. They can be done in a regular cake pan and then the decorations can be added. Something more elaborate like a tower cake or the Castle of Edinburgh is going to require more time.

Your cake should have a particular meaning to you. This means you should choose the type of cake and the design based on the theme of your special day or a special meaning to you and your fiance. It is possible to get a cake from your local store as a premade cake if you are on a budget, but this just isn’t the same as getting a specially designed cake.

Only you can know how much you want to spend on the cake. Remember that there are some ways to spend a little less if you have a restrictive budget. A silly thing to do would to spend more on your wedding cake then you do on your wedding dress. For other pointers in how much to spend on your wedding cake you should look at how many individuals would be attending. This will help you decide if you need the larger cake or the smaller cake. You can add or drop layers to most designs based on the amount of individuals you need to serve. It is your happy day so don’t let too many things influence your decisions.

Source: Free Article

Friday, August 28, 2009

Top Five Movies Perfect for their Wedding Themes

Movies are a lot, but only a handful talks about wedding. But, when they do, it is presented with humor, love, and a little drama. What are the five movies you think will top people's list of movies perfect for their wedding themes? Here they go:

My Bestfriend's Wedding

This is one of the most popular, if not the most popular, movies with wedding themes. A lot of women can relate to the character of Julia Roberts in the movie: the man she falls in love with is her best friend and he's getting married with somebody else. Women knew this well: friends cannot be lovers. But, as someone who is deeply in love, she's willing to take all the risks just to win him. She failed at the end, but she did gain a new friend in his bride. The truth is hurting her, but, nevertheless, it is the truth.

Runaway Bride

Still a Julia Roberts movie, this film tells people one thing: before you walk down the altar and before you said yes to a wedding proposal, think long and hard. If not, you may end up just like Julia: running away from her groom(s). But what is so sweet about the movie is how Richard Gere goes out of his way to prevent Julia from escaping. That is what they call love, right?

Father of the Bride

A lot of fathers can see themselves in this movie. It is not easy to give your daughter to someone you do not know. It is not easy to think about the kind of life she will have with a man she only met three months ago. Overprotective, yes, but that is what fathers are for. But, at the end, fathers may realize, their daughters are already grown up and need to live a life of their own.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

This hilarious movie presents a closely-knit family, involving themselves in the wedding preparations of the bride and the groom. As expected, the interference has gone overboard that everything and everyone is in hysteria. But, as they say, all's well that ends well. The wedding took place.

The Bachelor

Imagine yourself running from thousands of women wearing bridal gown? This is hilarious. But, as a bachelor who will acquire a huge asset from his grandfather…why surprise? Everyone wants to be your bride, of course. Bachelors can relate to this movie. They can laugh their hearts out, but take note, they, too, can feel the same fear Chris O'Donnell felt if the same thing happens to them. Good thing he has the 'real' bride ready.

People love to watch movies. Women love romantic comedies, especially those with wedding themes because they can relate to these types of movies. Only a handful, especially women, will say they have not seen these five movies with wedding themes. All of them were able to invade the hearts of the hopeless romantics and the young at heart.

by Emily Garmona

Wedding Favours: Be Creative, Be Unique, Be Yourself

Some would say : Why bother with Wedding Favours or even to a greater degree, why bother with Chocolate Wedding Favours?

We’ve all been to enough weddings. At first when you see them, everyone is curious and excited but come the end of the festivities, half if not more are left behind. However, the point of the Wedding Favour is not if they are taken home by the guests and not if it was money well spent or not, but more the gesture on behalf of the Bride and Groom extending their appreciation for attending what could possibly be the most important day of their lives and to celebrate the beginning of something new.


Wedding Favours, whatever they are, can also be a great tool to work into your “Theme” and if done correctly could make a powerful statement which will stay with everyone for a very long time. Wouldn’t that just be the “icing on the cake” for family and friends alike to remember your day for adding something unique and creative.

Another positive attribute of a Wedding Favour is you can add your own personal touch. As a couple, presenting that personal, intimate gesture to family and friends would bring the whole wedding experience closure and leave a lasting impression that would not be forgotten.

This works equally well for couples who want to have a traditional wedding and for couples who would rather start a tradition of their own. Whichever is chosen, nothing says “Thank You” like a Wedding Favour as small a gesture as it may seem because at the end of the day, even though it is the Bride and Grooms big day, without family and friends it wouldn’t be nearly as special and memorable.

As a couple planning that special day who are unsure if Wedding Favours are the way to go, be assured you cannot go wrong and is something you won’t regret nor will guests forget. Just remember less is more.

So be creative, be unique, be yourself and add something small that would add something big to your special day.

by Jonathan Wylde

Surviving Your Wedding: Stress-Free Wedding Tips

It's down to the wire, and you find yourself pulling out your hair because the florist is slow at returning your calls, the tailor is taking too long to alter your gown, and you can't decide which dish to serve at the reception. It's enough to make anyone go crazy, but surviving wedding stress is possible.

Even if you have a wedding planner, you're still facing hurdles of your own when it comes to surviving the wedding stress, trying to make sure that everything flows smoothly on the big day. But what do you do when unexpected issues arise? Have you considered your plan of action and which stress-free wedding tips you'll rely on if something goes wrong? In these instances, a hands-on approach to the problems you'll encounter will solve everything right then and there.

So, with all the potential problems that can happen before and during your wedding day, how do you handle, manage, and overcome wedding planning stress? Here are a few of the best stress-free wedding tips that brides swear by to get them through the wedding planning stages.

Stay in Control with These Stress-Free Wedding Tips!

1. Surviving wedding stress involves giving yourself enough time to plan. Your wedding is what you make of it. If you allot no more than six or seven months for an extravagant affair, chances are it may look like it was rushed. With extra time, you can plan, make changes, hire the right vendors the first time around, and choose the best venues that match your budget (because you can shop around). And if you're in a rush to get married, opt for a simpler ceremony and reception - one that's affordable but doesn't cause you stress in the long run.

2. Remember that a holiday wedding, while beautiful, is more stressful. Not only do you have a wedding to plan, but you have to worry about the added stress from the holidays. At Thanksgiving, for instance, you'll have guests coming in from out of town, and you'll worry about a big dinner, while at Christmas, you're focused on buying gifts and decorating--all at the same time. This is not to say that surviving the wedding stress (and holiday stress) can't be done; holiday winter weddings are some of the most elegant, joyous events. But you need to keep in mind that you will have added stress to deal with. Make sure you have a dependable wedding planner who can offer valuable stress-free wedding tips as well as many helpful friends who have the time to help you plan your big day.

3. Hire the right wedding planner - and get knowledgeable stress-free wedding tips. This is a given when it comes to surviving wedding stress. Of course, some brides do not hire a wedding planner, and that's fine. Planners simply provide a sort of stress buffer for you and your family so that you can concentrate on other elements of the wedding. You'll have the opportunity beforehand to interview wedding planners in your area to see if they can accurately align with your wishes and carry them out as you see fit. Plus, you can evaluate his or her personality to see if it's someone you can work with on a regular basis.

4. Surviving wedding stress when one of your vendors goes MIA. Yikes! This is a tricky situation. You've planned for months that your vendor will show up at the time agreed upon. But it's the day of the wedding -- what can you do now? If at all possible, try to find a replacement; this may not be feasible since it's truly last minute. A missing vendor does not spell immediate doom however. Here's your chance to save the day - if the florist doesn't show up, make a pit stop at the local grocery store and buy all the flowers you can. If the DJ cancels, enlist a friend to bring along an MP3 player with music everyone can dance to. And if the minister calls out sick, there's a possibility a notary (in some states) can marry you, or you can have an eloquent guest perform the ceremony. After all, once you have that license in hand, you're officially married regardless.

5. One of the best stress-free wedding tips for you (and your family) is to avoid being a 'bridezilla.' Stress can bring out the worst in anyone, and tackling and surviving wedding stress is the most difficult. And no one knows it better than the friends and family of the bride, who may witness a change in her demeanor over time. There's no need to subject your loved ones to your emotional outbursts. Always give yourself time to reflect and relax. You don't have to spend every waking moment making plans. Trust your friends to help you when it comes to planning the wedding and surviving the wedding stress; don't go it alone.

Proper Planning Means Surviving Wedding Stress

Managing and surviving wedding stress is not easy. There are so many things that might make you want to call the planning off. Just remember that one of the most helpful stress-free wedding tips out there is to make sure that you allow yourself enough time to plan and make the day right. This is, after all, your wedding day, and while everything will not go the way you planned, keep a smile on your face and appreciate the many people who made the time to celebrate with you.

by Cherie Johnson

Honeymoon Ideas

One of the best parts of planning a wedding is deciding where to go for your honeymoon. Gone are the days when couples spend their honeymoon by booking a hotel in an exotic country, sipping exotic drinks. In today's pocket-pinching times, you would need to get the maximum out of the budget you have for your honeymoon. More than anything, this means that you would want it to be as unusual as possible. Here are some creative ideas for you to think about.

Go on a historical tour. If you and your fiancé are the curious type and would like to add to your understanding, try this one. Visit places that are frequently mentioned in history books. Check out destinations from the American Revolution. Go to India and visit the places that made an impact in Gandhi's life. Take a trip to the boyhood houses of famous presidents like Lincoln, Carter, and Kennedy. You can even go on a biblical history tour and bring the stories from the Bible to life. Not only will you be learning something new, you will also be sharing this knowledge and these memories with the person you adore by your side.

Go on a lighthouse honeymoon. Lighthouses used to be significant aids to navigation, sometimes located along threatening coastlines to provide help to incoming ships. But thanks to the arrival of more advanced technology, they became nearly obsolete. These structures are still good for a purpose though. Lighthouses are very romantic and secluded places, they are even settings for two romantic novels and these make them the perfect setting for a honeymoon. Some couples find it highly romantic to cuddle up and watch the dawn, nightfall, and the blue waves from the best point of view possible. Who knows? You can even be keepers of the light' and throw in a little adventure to share with your new partner.

Go on a holiday tour. Festival tours are fun if you and your fiancé are an adventurous couple. Try the annual international Cherry Blossom holiday in Macon, Georgia. Are not three hundred thousand flowering cherry blossom trees one of the most romantic things ever? The Cannes Film holiday is also a brilliant idea to try out if you are a film-loving couple. This event is held in the dreamy city of Cannes which is in southern France, home to a few of the most romantic destinations in the world.

Go on a literary greats tour. Are you and your partner lovers of avid readers? Do you like the classic literary greats? Why not go back in time and travel in the steps of classic writers and poets like William Wordsworth, Charlotte Bronte, Mark Twain, and John Keats. You can go to London, which is home to lots of these greats. Visit Missouri which was almost a personality in Twain's novels. Some of the houses of these authors and poets also double as museums so you can look at original manuscripts and even get a copy of their works. Stroll along the trails that inspired these folk to draft some of the best stories ever and it'll forever be a moment you hold dear with your beloved one.

Go on a honeymoon mission trip. Plenty of people nowadays are choosing an alternative way to celebrate an event by helping out the less fortunate. Debutantes and other birthday celebrants would go to an orphanage, as an example, to hold their parties there. Why not spend your honeymoon doing something that would benefit others? You could go to a poor country and interact with the people there. Learn about their culture and volunteer to join outreach organization activities for a month or two. This would be terribly remarkable because not only are you sharing something major with each other, you are also doing something that would make an impact in other people's's lives.

Your honeymoon days will be some of the most remarkable days in your life as a married couple. The places you visit also will be great backgrounds for superb footage that you can take home with you and reminisce over. You can look back at them even during the bad days and they can actually give you a smile. So don't stick with something cliché. Get creative; try the tips above or think about your own! Your fiancé will surely appreciate and reward you for your creativeness.

by Mark Gibson

Budget Wedding Dress Ideas

The bridal gown will be one of the most expensive elements of the entire wedding, but will be well worth it when your guests see the bride enter in an elegant dress and are struck speechless by her grace and beauty. Believe it or not, you can cut costs on the wedding gown without ending up with a final product that is tacky or unattractive. In fact, if you are willing to do the research, this article will help you figure out where to start looking to trim down your dress expenses, but still find the bride a dress that she will cherish forever.

The first thing you will want to do is peruse a number of bridal magazines or boutiques. This can help you get an idea of what you are looking for in your bridal dress. The detailed descriptions in the magazines or the helpful sales staff will leave you equipped with the knowledge and the vocabulary to find the right materials and tools that you will need to craft your own, negotiate with a tailor, or browse boutiques without wasting your time examining dresses that will not interest you.

If the bride has decided to wear a short dress during the ceremony, then consider accessorizing it with a home-made tulle apron. The apron is very simple to construct and even someone with little sewing experience will be able to fashion on that looks fabulous. All you will need are tulle and sewing ribbon, and if you give the clerk at a fabric store the dimensions of the dress, they will be able to help you decide how much material to use in making the apron. Remember, tulle is a very inexpensive fabric, so this will be a great cost saving measure for a piece that would likely tack on another several hundred dollars to your dress’ already weighty price tag.

With the vintage fashions coming back into vogue, purchasing a classic wedding dress will make the bride look very fashionable at a price that will make everyone happy! eBay is a great resource for vintage bridal gown shopping, and you can find some wonderful deals on there. You will need to keep a close eye on the dresses you are interested in, because they could be bought right out from under your nose if you are not very decisive. If you purchase two piece wedding dresses, you can also mix and match to find a combination that the bride enjoys, or accessorize each portion with tulle to achieve your desired style.

by Mike Bromley

Monday, April 6, 2009

Wedding Themes

Wedding theme can make all the planning for a wedding extremely easy. It can cover each and every detail of all the arrangements required for the wedding. Theme weddings are quite famous now days among brides and grooms desiring to have their wedding absolutely unique. It is actually stylizing your wedding by incorporating a design element throughout the day’s details.

Themes are a great way to create a continuous feel from the save-the-dates down to the last glass of champagne. Furthermore, wedding product manufacturers are churning out all sorts of items meant to create a wedding that is unique to you and your fiancé's personalities and interests. Items range from invitations to guest books, cake toppers, and other wedding decorations. Whether you stick to the traditional themes or create one of your own, the sky is the limit. Simply choose what reflects your backgrounds and interests. Not only will you have fun with the theme, but it will say a lot to your guests about you as a couple. Themes are also useful in planning an outdoor or destination wedding.

The trick to planning a themed wedding is to integrate elements from a theme into all aspects of the wedding from start to finish without taking any one item too far overboard. First, consider what type of a feel you want your wedding to have, whether it's casual, romantic, lavish, or traditional. Start with selecting a location that best reflects the theme. If you can't get the right locale, be creative with decorations to achieve the right look. You'll also need to develop an appropriate color scheme and attire, select the right flowers, choose befitting music, and a menu. In fact, nearly every aspect of your wedding can represent the theme down to how you say your vows or what kind of transportation you choose.

To get an idea of some of the possible themes on which you can plan your wedding, read on.

The Four Seasons
Seasonal themes are easy to work with if you are stuck for an idea. And you don't even have to use the season in which you are having the wedding as the theme. You can easily decide that you want a summer theme even in the dead of winter. It's up to you! Pick the season, the color theme, the flowers, and the typical food that is associated with it. For example, a fall wedding would feature sumptuous dishes such as roast squash, pumpkin soup, and brown sugar glazed ham. A spring wedding would have such unique treats as edible flowers, bubbles instead of rice after the ceremony, and pastel flower decorations. Along similar lines are weddings with a holiday theme, such as Christmas, Valentine's Day, or New Year's.

Spring Wedding - The tulips are blooming; the temperatures are rising - what a perfect time for a wedding!

Summer Wedding - Warm sunshine, vibrant colors, and outdoor setting opportunities abound during the summer months.

Fall Wedding - Autumn is quite an aspiring theme for many to have their wedding.

Winter Wedding – The Winter theme weddings can be umber chic and ethereal - an absolute wonderland, if you will.


Life's a Beach
A beachy nautical, or sand and surf theme is very popular considering that summer -- a naturally beachy time of year -- is the most popular time of year to marry. Plus, what could be better than wedding under the setting sun in the sand? It's positively dreamy. To keep this romantic theme throughout the wedding, think of sun, sand, seashells, starfish, sea horses, etc. Colors to focus on are blue, white, gold, and beige. If you want more casual vibes think fish, flip flops, palm trees, and dolphins. Colorful items that you can incorporate into the reception decor would nicely compliment a festive beach setting. As far as flowers go, keep them simple and summery. Perhaps even use long decorative grasses you'd find on sand dunes to complement the theme. The food should be light and the cake might be decorated like a sandcastle, or it can be feature the motif you're using for the rest of the decorations.

Tip Toe through the Tulips
Flowers, considering that they are one of the major elements of a wedding, are very easy to integrate as a wedding theme. Simply select one type of flower and stick to it throughout the entire wedding. You can keep the color the same, such as choosing all blue hydrangeas, or mix it up with all shades a tulip comes in. See the Wedding Flowers Guide for hints about choosing flowers, what's trendy, and which flowers work best for each season. Depending on the flowers you choose, think about where they come from and what types of traditions go along with them. For example, when you think of an English rose garden, you may think of tea, delicate china, and a string quartet. Bird of paradise may remind you of the tropics, fresh fruit, and Latin music. Sunflowers go hand in hand with grilled meats, corn on the cob, and blue grass music. Again, the possibilities are endless so just use your imagination.

Places of the World
From Las Vegas to New York, Paris to the Far East, or Rio to Australia, the globe is at your disposal. Pick your favorite destination, the place where you both fell head over heels in love for each other, the place where the groom proposed, or somewhere that simply fascinates you both. There is no end to the directions that you can take. The decor, the favors, the flowers, the food, and the music can all come together in marvelous ways. Choosing a theme based off of the wedding locale is also a great idea, especially if you are having a destination wedding.

More Themes
Hobby Time -- Are you both wine lovers? Crazy about Elvis? Bookworms? Or maybe you both have a sweet tooth? Whatever your mutual hobbies, you can take your interests to new heights by planning a wedding around what you and your fiancé love most.
Blast from the Past -- Era-themed weddings have inspired many couples from the ancient Rome to the days of disco. Other popular themes include the Roaring Twenties, medieval days, Victorian gardens, and the old west.

Green Wedding - Sure, green weddings are all the rage, but you’ll need to go the extra mile to make yours stand apart from the rest.

Outdoor Wedding - Outdoor weddings are romantic and scenic, but there’s a lot that can go wrong.

Labor Day Weekend Wedding - The long weekend and mild temperatures make Labor Day a popular time to get married.

Thanksgiving Wedding - Some have inspiration of having wedding with a thanksgiving theme.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Wedding Centerpiece Decorations

IDEAS FOR WEDDING CENTERPIECE DECORATIONS

An idea of getting married is incomplete without planning the wedding decorations. Just imagine this special occasion without any proper decoration, you will find the celebration is fragmentary. Actually decorations make this event personalized and exceptional. You will surely want your guests to enjoy this special event of your life and not want this to be drab, dull and monotonous. The suitable decoration can make your guests to feel like kings or queens of the mansion and the event can turn out to be a Royal event. Now going to the details of Wedding Decorations, you can not miss the importance of the Wedding Centerpiece Decoration for the Wedding tables.

Wedding Centerpiece Decoration really completes the look of the Wedding decoration. In fact, it gives final royal touch to this special event of your life. There are centerpieces which are just perfect for the wedding tables. Actually, Wedding Centerpiece Decoration for the wedding ceremony is the pivotal point of the party that fascinates all.

Wedding centerpiece choices are virtually endless, and the best part? You can let your personal style and creativity shine through on every table! Whether subtle and simple or wildly elaborate, elegant or whimsical, wedding centerpieces set the mood and carry the theme while bringing color and life to your reception. When it comes to your wedding centerpieces, do whatever makes your heart happy! Stretch your imagination and use your senses when designing your centerpieces. The difference between a wedding reception with centerpieces and without them is truly like night and day. So if you want your special day to be everything you've ever dreamed of, pick your perfect centerpieces.

You can choose to place a bowl as the centerpiece that can be filled with fluttering butterflies. Allow the flying insect to float on the water! This will form an attention-grabbing centerpiece for all. You can create more magic by adding candles to it. You can choose candles made in the form of butterflies for the purpose. Or simply using orchids with floating candles can do the trick.

How about placing floating candlesticks in the mouth blown glasses? This will look lovely and stunning when set on a buffet table or adorning the reception table. The hand blown glasses are imported from Europe and are really unique for Wedding Centerpiece Decoration. Again, you can also think for hourglass decoration as centerpieces. These candle holder glasses are in the shape of hourglass and you can put any single piece of flower in it at the bottom and a candle on top. This is just an elegant and well-designed piece of art that can be decorated on the wedding table.

Not only centerpiece decoration, Wedding Table is also famous for having delicious food together. So, what do you think about having citrus fruits for decoration too? Isn’t it a versatile idea for Wedding Centerpiece Decoration? This decoration will be refreshing as ever and delightful too. Go for ripened mellow fruits like oranges, limes, and melons with bright hues in the form of floating candles! These candles will release fruit scents. However, this idea is perfect if you are deciding to get married during the spring or summer season.

So, here it is that you can even think about Wedding Centerpiece Decoration with a theme. If your wedding has the fairy theme, then how about placing a white feather floating candle on the bowl that is already filled with water? Allow a sweet and cute fairy to lie on top of the candle to go with the theme. There can also be a fairy child or a dream fairy with wings—it entirely depends upon your choice. If the whole of the setting is based on bronze golden color theme, then look out for the similar color or color combination items and candles. These Wedding Centerpiece Decorations are quite expensive but will bring the required charm, charisma, shimmer and glitter to the wedding ceremony. However, for the simplest effect, place a bouquet of different flowers or simply, a potted plant with roses or filler flowers.

Add a creative & personalized touch to your wedding planning with wedding favors, decorations, & accessories you craft yourself!

Buffet Trees Adorn the buffet tables at your reception with these festive trees made of real fruit.

Hurricane Lamp Floral Centerpiece
This is a lovely centerpiece featuring flowers and candles which are safely tucked beneath a hurricane lamp.

Victorian Wedding Bouquet
Decorative Flower Pots Inspiring ideas for how you can pretty up ordinary flower pots which can be incorporated into wedding decor.

Decorative Garlands
Pretty garlands which can be used to adorn the cake table or can be draped and swaged across the front your head table for oh-so-elegant wedding decor!

Love Knot Bouquet
This pretty bouquet has a very Victorian influence, with lots of flowing ribbon streamers which will billow in the breeze on your wedding day.

Rose Boutonniere
Simple and elegant, perfect for any member of the wedding party!

Cake Box Centerpiece & Floral Favors
These centerpieces for your reception tables will look like pretty wedding cakes. Coordinate with pretty floral favors for each of your guests.

Ring of Roses Centerpiece
Absolutely elegant, breathtakingly beautiful centerpieces!

Victorian Fan Wedding Favors
These gorgeous little fans are made of ribbon and embellished with dried flowers. The ultimate in elegance, they will make a striking statement. Too pretty to hide away, your guests will want to use them in their homes for romantic decor on a wall, dresser, chest, or shelf - or even hang them on the tree at Christmas!

Winter Wedding Decorations

IDEAS FOR WINTER WEDDING DECORATIONS

As far as wedding decorations go, winter season is a magical season. Depending upon your wedding theme you will find all kinds of wedding decoration ideas whether it is a Christmas wedding, a typical winter wedding in January or a Valentine theme wedding in February. There are various options which will make your winter wedding something to remember for life.

There are various advantages of having your wedding in winter season. Some of them are:
You can save a lot of money since winters is not a peak season for weddings
You can get exactly what you always wanted
More guests would be able to attend due to holiday season
Winter wedding are different than traditional weddings

On the flip side, there are some disadvantages as well. Like the weather may be worse than you expected. Also, holiday season is expensive for people to travel.But I believe, these disadvantage can be easily overcome by proper planning.

Now since winter wedding are different, lets see how to decorate weddings during winter season.

A beautiful snow scape will enhance the color of your wedding if it is white, or it can create striking contrast if your color is a bit more richer or having a earthy tone. Usually the wedding colors in winter seasons are white, platinum, silver, baby blue or lavender. Any of these colors can be incorporated into each aspect of your wedding decorations starting from your save-the-date cards, invitations cards to flowers, centerpieces as well as wedding attires.

One of the most delightful ideas is to use a white horse and carriage for your arrival at the ceremony instead of a usual limo. This will create a true wonderland wedding scenario reminding of Disneyland fairy tales. Another idea is to use a harp on your wedding. You can arrange for a harpist to play before and during your ceremony. This also goes very well with your winter wedding theme.

Use of artificial snowflakes will also enhance the winter wedding theme. You can either buy artificial snowflakes of create your own paper and glitter. Have you flower girl scatter these instead of flowers. It will really make it look special.

If you start planning for your wedding one year in advance, you can make use of huge after winter discounts on a lot of decorations stuff like candles, lights, sparkles etc. You can use hundreds of candles in different shapes and sizes like snowflakes, starts, cany canes etc. Use glass holders to put in different color candles like white, lavender, pink etc. You can also add some sprinkling of confetti or snowflakes to enhance the effect. There are various other natural elements which can be used in your decorations some of which are pine cones, pomegranates, oranges, cloves, eucalyptus, berries etc.

Flowers are an evergreen way of decorations but fresh flowers can be pretty expensive. You can use poinsettias as an economical alternative in colors like white, pink, blue or yellow. You can also use gardenias to float in bowls along with candles.

Discuss your wedding decorations with your caterer as well as reception manager. Ask them to provide silver serving pieces, crystal glasses and white dishes which will go well with winter theme. To go with silverware, decorate your tables with white table cloth and matching napkin holders and floral arrangements. Bells also make excellent wedding decorations. Use bells at different places like reception tables, along with floral arrangements or you can also give them to guests so that they can ring when the couple leave. If possible, arrange for a beautiful ice sculpture. This will give a true feeling of winters. Also, see if your hall has a fireplace which would provide a warm feeling. You can use silver of crystal picture frames as place card holders which your guests can also take home as wedding favors.

Welcome your guests when they arrive by lining the path to your hall with wedding luminaries. These create a warm glow and gives a hint of cozy ambiance. Serve the guests at entrance with apple cedar which goes very well with winter theme. Other choices are hot coffee or tea.

Your wedding cake could also use some winter themed wedding decorations like snowman cake toppers, pine cones etc. Use blue or silver ribbon around the cake for a winter wedding theme.

Christmas ornaments are also a great way to add sparkle to any winter wedding theme. Place silver or ice blue ornaments (ball shaped are ideal) into 3 tall glass cylinders or vases of varying heights. Place the three cylinders on top of a mirrored square or round tile and be sure to add candles in glass votive to create a beautiful winter centerpiece. Another variation of winter wedding decoration is to add a flower arrangement to the top of each cylinder. This idea works best if your cylinder is approximately 24" tall, so it will not obstruct your guests view during the reception. You will only need one arrangement per table of this winter wedding centerpiece.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Outdoor Wedding Decorations

IDEAS FOR OUTDOOR WEDDING DECORATIONS

More and more couples now days are moving away from traditional wedding arrangements. They want something more exciting on their wedding day. What better than to have it outside the closed hall. Outdoor weddings like on a beach or a garden can be so romantic. Just imagine cool sea breeze blowing while you are taking vows or the smell of fresh flowers around you.

Regarding your wedding decorations, it all depends on the season, timings, theme and formality of your wedding. There are various options available which are limited only by your imagination. For example, if you are looking for a dinner style reception, a formal decoration would be appropriate. For a formal look, nothing is better than white or an different shade of white. But if you are looking for an informal, casual or a thematic approach, you can use a lot more imagination. You can make use of different colors to brighten up things. You can have a color theme to your wedding where most items are of similar color. Be sure to checkout if you can arrange everything like accessories in advance to avoid any last minutes hiccups.

You can also choose colors as per the season. Bright colors are for spring season like blue, pink and lilacs. Colors for autumn are chocolate, brown or apricot among others. Winter colors are usually white and pale blue.

Fresh flowers of the season will add color and nice smell to the atmosphere. Place single flowers in simple glass vases on the tables. You can fill the vases with sand, shells etc to create an interesting effect. eve water can be added to vases mixed with food coloring to match with your color theme. You can also use candles as an alternative to flowers. Either a long and think candle or a few tea lights can be used on the tables for a delightful effect. Just make sure that the candle holders are heat resistant. Other options which can be used are sea shells, colorful ribbons, fresh fruit, polished stones, lace etc. As I said, you can get as imaginative as possible.

But as romantic as it sounds, outdoor weddings are not easy to manage. A lot more planning and though needs to be put for an outdoor wedding as compared to a wedding inside a hall. Following are the tips which should be considered while planning for an outside wedding:

Make the guests comfortable - Depending upon the season, guests should be served the drinks accordingly. If it is sunny and hot, serve them cold water or lemon drinks. Rented electric fans would also be helpful. Let them know beforehand what kind of atmosphere they can expect during the wedding ceremony.

Lighting - Depending upon the timing of your ceremony, you may need to make lighting arrangements. If possible try to visit the venue an year in advance to make sure you understand the lighting patterns. How should the guests be seated? Will the lighting help the photographer or will he need additional lighting? Will there be any need for additional lighting etc.

Weather and wind - Keep a backup plan. Weather can be unpredictable. In case of rains, you should have backup in the form of tents or an indoor shelter on location. To make sure winds do blow your wedding dress, avoid light fabrics like chiffon. Tell your dress designer in advance about your plans of an outdoor wedding. Similarly, let your hair stylist also know about it so that she can do your hair accordingly. You also need to safeguard wedding decoration items from the wind like table cloths, flower vases, number plates etc. Pin up whatever you can pin. And make necessary actions for those which cannot be pinned.

Food and drinks - While deciding on your caterer check if he has experience of catering to an outdoor wedding. Menu should be decided as per the season and timings of your wedding. Drinks should be served chilled in summer season and avoid things which need to kept cold before serving like cheese.

Bugs, pests and birds - These uninvited guests may cause trouble to you or the guests. Check with the location manager to see what kind of arrangements is present to tackle these. A bug zapper would also be handy.

Permits - If applicable, contact you cit department well in advance to get a permit for outdoor wedding. Check out the rules pertaining to trash removal, lighting, noise levels etc. your location manager should be able to help you out in this.