It is common practice that the bride and groom will offer a small token of appreciation to their wedding reception guests, commonly known as wedding favors. There are many different kind of wedding favors. Wedding favors vary in material and purpose. The savviest brides often seamlessly integrate the wedding favors into their wedding theme. For example, a beach wedding may have beach wedding favors, such as flip-flop candles as wedding favors.
A common characteristic of wedding favors is that they are usually inexpensive. Brides and grooms usually spend no more than a few dollars per guest. Many brides chose to make their own wedding favors, but most will end up purchasing them ready made.
It is important to remember that the primary purpose of the wedding favor is to show your appreciation toward your wedding reception guests, your friends and your family.
The most popular wedding favors are edible. The most popular edible wedding favors are chocolate. Personalized chocolates are especially popular with brides and wedding guests. Let’s face it, everybody loves chocolate, so chocolate wedding favors are a sure hit with wedding guests of all age. While some wedding favors may be more popular with women than man, or vice versa, chocolate is a gender-neutral wedding favor.
To make chocolate wedding favors even more exiting, some companies offer personalized chocolate wedding favors. Personalization adds a special touch of elegance to your wedding favors. The personalization service includes printing the names of the bride and groom on the front of the candy wrapper. Some companies even offer to print a special message from the bride and groom on the back of the wrapper. Not only, that the personalized chocolate wedding favors can include the names of the bride and groom, but they can be color coordinated to fit the wedding colors.
"WHO EVER LOVED THAT LOVED NOT AT FIRST SIGHT?"
7/30/08
The Good Times Are Guaranteed By The Wedding Singer
There are three things that all wedding receptions must include to turn out as memorable and successful events. The three “G’s” of good food, good times, and good entertainment will make your wedding reception into an event enjoyed by all who attend. Generally taking care of the first and third of these concepts will guarantee the second. Good food is generally attained by hiring a competent caterer and not serving okra. Good entertainment brings with it a number of options and, unfortunately, none are ever ensured to be as good as they purport. One entertainment option for wedding receptions is the wedding singer. For far less than you’d pay a band and a bit more than you can expect to pay a DJ, you can get an entertainer that is a master of ceremonies, singer, and comedian all rolled into one.
Popularized by Adam Sandler’s 1998 film The Wedding Singer, the person fulfilling this role at your reception will entertain you and your guests from start to finish. The wedding singer keeps the “show” aspect of the reception rolling along smoothly by providing music for dancing, and introducing various aspects of the reception such as the throwing of the bouquet/garter, and the unwrapping of wedding gifts. A good wedding singer will be the life of the party, keeping everyone in a good mood and having a good time by filling the lulls with witty comments and by singing his heart out. Some wedding singers will also have the guests sing, making parts of the reception a kind of karaoke party. Everyone loves karaoke. Even those who claim to despise it actually have a tiny Mel Torme, David Lee Roth, or Richard Cheese deep inside them just aching to get out. The wedding singer will bring this out in people.
Finding a wedding singer to hire for your reception is often as easy as looking through the telephone directory or searching the Internet. You’ll find that there are all types of wedding singers available to perform at your reception. Wedding singers will generally have a variety of musical styles to offer in their repertoire. Some offer general services which include a number of popular songs that they can perform at your wedding. Others are more specialized and offer “tribute” performances to famous singers like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett or even the likes of Barry Manilow or Burt Bacarach. Most will be more than happy to discuss your musical tastes with you and gear their performances accordingly. Whatever musical style suits your particular tastes, you’re sure to be able to locate a wedding singer willing to perform it for you.
Wedding singers can do it all for you and the good ones can make for a truly entertaining experience. When you’re planning the entertainment for your wedding reception, consider hiring a wedding singer to help make sure your event fulfils the requirement of the three “G’s” and is a memorable occasion for you and your guests.
Popularized by Adam Sandler’s 1998 film The Wedding Singer, the person fulfilling this role at your reception will entertain you and your guests from start to finish. The wedding singer keeps the “show” aspect of the reception rolling along smoothly by providing music for dancing, and introducing various aspects of the reception such as the throwing of the bouquet/garter, and the unwrapping of wedding gifts. A good wedding singer will be the life of the party, keeping everyone in a good mood and having a good time by filling the lulls with witty comments and by singing his heart out. Some wedding singers will also have the guests sing, making parts of the reception a kind of karaoke party. Everyone loves karaoke. Even those who claim to despise it actually have a tiny Mel Torme, David Lee Roth, or Richard Cheese deep inside them just aching to get out. The wedding singer will bring this out in people.
Finding a wedding singer to hire for your reception is often as easy as looking through the telephone directory or searching the Internet. You’ll find that there are all types of wedding singers available to perform at your reception. Wedding singers will generally have a variety of musical styles to offer in their repertoire. Some offer general services which include a number of popular songs that they can perform at your wedding. Others are more specialized and offer “tribute” performances to famous singers like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett or even the likes of Barry Manilow or Burt Bacarach. Most will be more than happy to discuss your musical tastes with you and gear their performances accordingly. Whatever musical style suits your particular tastes, you’re sure to be able to locate a wedding singer willing to perform it for you.
Wedding singers can do it all for you and the good ones can make for a truly entertaining experience. When you’re planning the entertainment for your wedding reception, consider hiring a wedding singer to help make sure your event fulfils the requirement of the three “G’s” and is a memorable occasion for you and your guests.
7/29/08
The Advantages Of Professional Wedding Photography
An important aspect of planning the events and preparations for your wedding lies in the selection of a photographer. Some people are intimidated by the concept of arranging for professional wedding photography because they fear the cost will be too exorbitant. Professional wedding photography is certainly not cheap, but it is one of those things in life where the old adage “you get what you pay for” is certainly true. You can use an amateur for your wedding photos if you so desire, but the difference in the end result will be readily apparent. Still, there are ways to get good quality wedding photography, performed by a professional, and still have enough cash left for the honeymoon.
When selecting a professional to handle your wedding photography, price will be a factor in your decision. While you get what you pay for, there is no reason to pay more than you have to. Before deciding on any one photographer or photo studio, do some comparisons. Look at the sample photos that you are shown and ask if they have samples you can take with you. Compare the look of the photos from each photographer with one another. If you find two that seem to be of similar quality but with vastly different prices, then the decision is easy. Obviously the less costly photographer can do the same or similar work for less.
Another consideration in selecting a professional photographer for your wedding is what you get for your money. Most professional wedding photographers offer package deals that include a set number of prints of different shapes and sizes for one price. These packages can vary greatly in terms of content and price from one photographer to another. Look at all they have to offer and make your decision after weighing what you think is the best deal for the money in terms of what you actually get.
One thing many people do not consider when selecting a photographer for their wedding is the impact of copyright law. The photographer may hold a copyright on your wedding photographs. If so this technically makes it illegal for you to create additional prints, copies, or even computer scans of the photographs for reproduction elsewhere. Find out when interviewing photographers what rights they exercise over your photos, if any. You’ll find that most photographers do exercise some form of copyright over the finished product. Others will sell you the entire package, including the negatives for you to do with as you please. This is not the most important part of selecting a photographer, but it is something to consider carefully.
Professional wedding photography is one part of your overall wedding experience that will, unfortunately, cost you some money. There is no way around that if you want the best wedding photos you can get. With a little investigation and comparison, however, you can still save money on this most important feature and make sure that you get the absolute most for your money that you possibly can.
When selecting a professional to handle your wedding photography, price will be a factor in your decision. While you get what you pay for, there is no reason to pay more than you have to. Before deciding on any one photographer or photo studio, do some comparisons. Look at the sample photos that you are shown and ask if they have samples you can take with you. Compare the look of the photos from each photographer with one another. If you find two that seem to be of similar quality but with vastly different prices, then the decision is easy. Obviously the less costly photographer can do the same or similar work for less.
Another consideration in selecting a professional photographer for your wedding is what you get for your money. Most professional wedding photographers offer package deals that include a set number of prints of different shapes and sizes for one price. These packages can vary greatly in terms of content and price from one photographer to another. Look at all they have to offer and make your decision after weighing what you think is the best deal for the money in terms of what you actually get.
One thing many people do not consider when selecting a photographer for their wedding is the impact of copyright law. The photographer may hold a copyright on your wedding photographs. If so this technically makes it illegal for you to create additional prints, copies, or even computer scans of the photographs for reproduction elsewhere. Find out when interviewing photographers what rights they exercise over your photos, if any. You’ll find that most photographers do exercise some form of copyright over the finished product. Others will sell you the entire package, including the negatives for you to do with as you please. This is not the most important part of selecting a photographer, but it is something to consider carefully.
Professional wedding photography is one part of your overall wedding experience that will, unfortunately, cost you some money. There is no way around that if you want the best wedding photos you can get. With a little investigation and comparison, however, you can still save money on this most important feature and make sure that you get the absolute most for your money that you possibly can.
7/28/08
Special Considerations For A Garden Wedding
Every bride and groom who decides to have their wedding outside of a church usually already have a good idea of where they want their ceremony preformed. Many couples have planned their wedding in a park or beautiful garden area. If you are trying to decide where you want to make your memories, here are a few considerations to think about if a garden wedding is on your list.
Many things should be thought about before planning your garden wedding; however the biggest factor that could ruin your dream garden is the weather. It’s okay to go ahead with your plans as is, however you should have a backup location chosen or be prepared to set up a tent in the event the weatherman has made a mistake! You can also talk to your florist about weatherizing flowers and helping to protect them in the event bad weather should become a factor. Mother Nature cannot create magic, so using common sense is necessary.
When planning a garden wedding, remember that the weather can also take its toll on food. If you intend to have dairy products, such as butter, cheese or mayonnaise, hot weather may spoil them and leave you with hungry guests. Think about serving hot food that will stay preserved in hot weather. You can also create ice bowls, in which you place dishes in bowls of ice, keeping them cool and helping them to last longer.
Another factor to take into consideration when planning a garden wedding is the noise level. Visit the garden and listen before making your decision. Is traffic going to cause a problem? It is not romantic to say your vows while horns are honking and tires are squealing! Also, is the garden located in a busy park? Will there be children playing close by and families picnicking? Stop and listen for sounds that may become a problem in making your day special.
Wedding attire is another thought to be considered when planning your garden wedding. While choosing attire for yourself and your wedding party, keep in mind that with hot climates and sticky temperatures, heavily lined dresses may not be suitable for the outdoors. A sweaty wedding party will not compliment your big day and will create misery for those who want to help make this day special. Also keep away from heels, which can sink into grass, making walking down the aisle awkward for everyone.
The guests also need to be thought about when planning your garden wedding. Although they will be sitting comfortably listening to you and your groom exchange vows, think about restroom facilities. Are the restrooms clean and free of unpleasant smells? If not, you may think about renting clean, portable facilities for the day.
Even if you take all of these things into consideration when planning your garden wedding, mishaps may still occur, however using these tips can help to make your day just the way you want it to be: memorable.
Many things should be thought about before planning your garden wedding; however the biggest factor that could ruin your dream garden is the weather. It’s okay to go ahead with your plans as is, however you should have a backup location chosen or be prepared to set up a tent in the event the weatherman has made a mistake! You can also talk to your florist about weatherizing flowers and helping to protect them in the event bad weather should become a factor. Mother Nature cannot create magic, so using common sense is necessary.
When planning a garden wedding, remember that the weather can also take its toll on food. If you intend to have dairy products, such as butter, cheese or mayonnaise, hot weather may spoil them and leave you with hungry guests. Think about serving hot food that will stay preserved in hot weather. You can also create ice bowls, in which you place dishes in bowls of ice, keeping them cool and helping them to last longer.
Another factor to take into consideration when planning a garden wedding is the noise level. Visit the garden and listen before making your decision. Is traffic going to cause a problem? It is not romantic to say your vows while horns are honking and tires are squealing! Also, is the garden located in a busy park? Will there be children playing close by and families picnicking? Stop and listen for sounds that may become a problem in making your day special.
Wedding attire is another thought to be considered when planning your garden wedding. While choosing attire for yourself and your wedding party, keep in mind that with hot climates and sticky temperatures, heavily lined dresses may not be suitable for the outdoors. A sweaty wedding party will not compliment your big day and will create misery for those who want to help make this day special. Also keep away from heels, which can sink into grass, making walking down the aisle awkward for everyone.
The guests also need to be thought about when planning your garden wedding. Although they will be sitting comfortably listening to you and your groom exchange vows, think about restroom facilities. Are the restrooms clean and free of unpleasant smells? If not, you may think about renting clean, portable facilities for the day.
Even if you take all of these things into consideration when planning your garden wedding, mishaps may still occur, however using these tips can help to make your day just the way you want it to be: memorable.
7/26/08
Saving On Wedding Dresses
Saving on wedding dresses is something that every bride wants to learn how to do. If you are planning to get married anytime soon then you need to get up on all of the best ways to save money on wedding dresses. And it is good to note that there are plenty ways to save on wedding dresses and most of them are easy to find online.
One of the simplest ways for you to save on wedding dresses is to get one from a family member. If your grandmother or your mother or even your sister had a great dress when she got married then you should consider asking them if you could wear one of these wedding dresses on your wedding day. Not only will this save you money on wedding dresses it will also add to the sentimentality of the entire day. You will be helping to build a tradition in this wedding dress.
There is another very handy way for you to save on wedding dresses and this is to purchase a simple wedding dress that does not have a lot of details on it. These plain types of dresses tend to be much less expensive. Oftentimes when wedding dresses are purchased the high costs are due to the expensive embroidery or the fine details like lace and or pearls and other gems. If you get one of these plain types of wedding dresses you can then add your own details to it. If you are good with a needle you can even sew on your own pearls turning your wedding dress into a work of art. This is one of the most fabulous ways to save money on wedding dresses.
These are only a couple of was to save money on wedding dresses if you would like to read some more ideas all you have to do is a search online.
One of the simplest ways for you to save on wedding dresses is to get one from a family member. If your grandmother or your mother or even your sister had a great dress when she got married then you should consider asking them if you could wear one of these wedding dresses on your wedding day. Not only will this save you money on wedding dresses it will also add to the sentimentality of the entire day. You will be helping to build a tradition in this wedding dress.
There is another very handy way for you to save on wedding dresses and this is to purchase a simple wedding dress that does not have a lot of details on it. These plain types of dresses tend to be much less expensive. Oftentimes when wedding dresses are purchased the high costs are due to the expensive embroidery or the fine details like lace and or pearls and other gems. If you get one of these plain types of wedding dresses you can then add your own details to it. If you are good with a needle you can even sew on your own pearls turning your wedding dress into a work of art. This is one of the most fabulous ways to save money on wedding dresses.
These are only a couple of was to save money on wedding dresses if you would like to read some more ideas all you have to do is a search online.
7/25/08
Planning A Beach Wedding
A sandy beach, the sound of waves, the smell of fresh air and a gentle breeze blowing through your hair. Although romantic and memorable, there are details to pay attention to if you are planning a beach wedding.
Before choosing a specific location for your beach wedding, check weather climates for the date you want to get married on. It would be more than a memorable wedding if you reserved your wedding date for hurricane season!
When you decide on your beach wedding location, check whether it is a public or private beach. There may be limitations for either when holding weddings and receptions on the premises. Be sure to ask a county or city clerk if there are any permits needed for your wedding and apply for them several months ahead of time.
Think ahead when planning a beach wedding. For instance, sitting chairs directly on the sand is not a good idea, because they will eventually start to sink. Instead, consider renting special flooring to place the chairs on. Also consider renting canopies to shelter any wind hazards that may come up suddenly, providing umbrellas to shade your guests, if having a day wedding, and offer bottled water if the temperatures are hot.
Be sure to let guests know what to wear to your beach wedding. Depending on the weather, you may consider having them dress casually to keep them comfortable in the midst of the hot sun and suggest them bringing jackets in case a chill is in the air at night.
Parking is another consideration to take in when planning a beach wedding. Some beaches place their parking a large distance from the beach itself. If you are having elderly couples, young children or individuals who have limited mobility, you may want to rent golf carts and have “ushers” drive the guests down to the beach. Portable restrooms are another good idea for your guests if there is not a close restroom location near your wedding site.
As is with anything, have a backup plan when planning your beach wedding. Rain and winds can play havoc on a beach wedding and upset the entire ceremony. So, find a nearby building that can be rented, church or hotel. Usually if you are planning a wedding on a resort beach, they will have a party room, specifically designated for weddings and receptions.
If you are planning a reception for your beach wedding, use these ideas to create lasting decoration memories. Buy pail and shovel sets from a local toy department. You can find these very cheap and usually will come as sets. Fill them with bright flowers, fruit or candy. Buy candles with embedded sea shells already molded into them and set them on a dish, surrounded by sand. Another great idea is buying different shaped bottles. Fill with colored sand and stick tapered candles from the tops.
By using common sense and planning ahead, you can create a beautiful, lasting memory that will give you and your new husband a new start to a lifetime of happiness.
Before choosing a specific location for your beach wedding, check weather climates for the date you want to get married on. It would be more than a memorable wedding if you reserved your wedding date for hurricane season!
When you decide on your beach wedding location, check whether it is a public or private beach. There may be limitations for either when holding weddings and receptions on the premises. Be sure to ask a county or city clerk if there are any permits needed for your wedding and apply for them several months ahead of time.
Think ahead when planning a beach wedding. For instance, sitting chairs directly on the sand is not a good idea, because they will eventually start to sink. Instead, consider renting special flooring to place the chairs on. Also consider renting canopies to shelter any wind hazards that may come up suddenly, providing umbrellas to shade your guests, if having a day wedding, and offer bottled water if the temperatures are hot.
Be sure to let guests know what to wear to your beach wedding. Depending on the weather, you may consider having them dress casually to keep them comfortable in the midst of the hot sun and suggest them bringing jackets in case a chill is in the air at night.
Parking is another consideration to take in when planning a beach wedding. Some beaches place their parking a large distance from the beach itself. If you are having elderly couples, young children or individuals who have limited mobility, you may want to rent golf carts and have “ushers” drive the guests down to the beach. Portable restrooms are another good idea for your guests if there is not a close restroom location near your wedding site.
As is with anything, have a backup plan when planning your beach wedding. Rain and winds can play havoc on a beach wedding and upset the entire ceremony. So, find a nearby building that can be rented, church or hotel. Usually if you are planning a wedding on a resort beach, they will have a party room, specifically designated for weddings and receptions.
If you are planning a reception for your beach wedding, use these ideas to create lasting decoration memories. Buy pail and shovel sets from a local toy department. You can find these very cheap and usually will come as sets. Fill them with bright flowers, fruit or candy. Buy candles with embedded sea shells already molded into them and set them on a dish, surrounded by sand. Another great idea is buying different shaped bottles. Fill with colored sand and stick tapered candles from the tops.
By using common sense and planning ahead, you can create a beautiful, lasting memory that will give you and your new husband a new start to a lifetime of happiness.
7/24/08
Plan A Western Themed Wedding
Whoever said that planning a wedding had to be serious and stressful? With a western themed wedding, you can experience a whole new idea together while making it as unique as you want it to be.
For a western themed wedding, location is everything. Think about having your wedding in an “old west town”, which are located throughout the Midwest and usually offer wedding packages at a cost. You can also find an open prairie and use tents and backdrops that you have designed yourselves. Or just decorate an old country church and reception hall. The important thing is to find your own style and preferences and then incorporate them into your wedding.
Decoration will be your visual focal point for this type of ceremony. To create the ambiance of a western themed wedding, use gold bows, which can be found at Christmas time. You can also use hay bales for guest seating, drive away in a horse drawn carriage and use country music or western movie themed music at your ceremony.
Once you have the ceremony details worked out and you know for sure this is what you both want, began thinking about your attire for your western themed wedding. Watch old western movies to see what brides wore, such as heavy fabrics, long sleeves and a lot of lace. For the groom you could go simple with blue jeans, a brown vest and a brown jacket, of course worn with a hat, boots and spurs. For the bridesmaids, western themed weddings are known for keyhole, dark dresses usually worn with lace up boots. Instead of having them hold a big bouquet of attendant flowers, hand-make headbands adorned with flowers and ribbon.
To decorate your guests’ tables, use your imagination to create the western theme. Buy cowboy hats and line the insides with fresh flowers and baby’s breath, or buy old cowboy boots at a thrift store and let sunflowers dangle from the tops. Adorn small items on tables with things like sheriff’s badges or replicas of old medicine bottles.
Incorporate your western theme even on the dance floor by using kerosene lamps or lanterns hanging from posts instead of the usual string lighting. You can also hunt through antique shops and flea markets to find old wagon wheels and wooden trellises, which can be lined with wildflowers and rope.
Another original idea for guests to enjoy your western themed wedding is to have a corner of the reception hall set up for photos. Find western clothing at thrift stores or western supply stores. And instead of a dollar dance to raise money for the bride and groom, offer them black and white western photos of themselves to take home as souvenirs. You can pay your own photographer an extra fee to take the photographs.
While planning your western themed wedding, have fun and enjoy. The more fun you have planning your wedding as a couple, the more memories you’ll be making that will last a lifetime.
For a western themed wedding, location is everything. Think about having your wedding in an “old west town”, which are located throughout the Midwest and usually offer wedding packages at a cost. You can also find an open prairie and use tents and backdrops that you have designed yourselves. Or just decorate an old country church and reception hall. The important thing is to find your own style and preferences and then incorporate them into your wedding.
Decoration will be your visual focal point for this type of ceremony. To create the ambiance of a western themed wedding, use gold bows, which can be found at Christmas time. You can also use hay bales for guest seating, drive away in a horse drawn carriage and use country music or western movie themed music at your ceremony.
Once you have the ceremony details worked out and you know for sure this is what you both want, began thinking about your attire for your western themed wedding. Watch old western movies to see what brides wore, such as heavy fabrics, long sleeves and a lot of lace. For the groom you could go simple with blue jeans, a brown vest and a brown jacket, of course worn with a hat, boots and spurs. For the bridesmaids, western themed weddings are known for keyhole, dark dresses usually worn with lace up boots. Instead of having them hold a big bouquet of attendant flowers, hand-make headbands adorned with flowers and ribbon.
To decorate your guests’ tables, use your imagination to create the western theme. Buy cowboy hats and line the insides with fresh flowers and baby’s breath, or buy old cowboy boots at a thrift store and let sunflowers dangle from the tops. Adorn small items on tables with things like sheriff’s badges or replicas of old medicine bottles.
Incorporate your western theme even on the dance floor by using kerosene lamps or lanterns hanging from posts instead of the usual string lighting. You can also hunt through antique shops and flea markets to find old wagon wheels and wooden trellises, which can be lined with wildflowers and rope.
Another original idea for guests to enjoy your western themed wedding is to have a corner of the reception hall set up for photos. Find western clothing at thrift stores or western supply stores. And instead of a dollar dance to raise money for the bride and groom, offer them black and white western photos of themselves to take home as souvenirs. You can pay your own photographer an extra fee to take the photographs.
While planning your western themed wedding, have fun and enjoy. The more fun you have planning your wedding as a couple, the more memories you’ll be making that will last a lifetime.
7/22/08
Maui Weddings Are Something To Behold
Sun, sand and surf on a tropical island paradise is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. The Hawaiian Islands have it all and the island of Maui has it in spades. Maui is the perfect place for a vacation, the perfect place for a honeymoon, and the perfect place for a wedding. What could be more romantic, exotic, and exciting than a beautiful Maui wedding? In fact, with the costs of destination weddings dropping steadily, many couples are choosing to travel to this beautiful island specifically to get married in this amazing tropical location. Maui weddings are as breathtakingly romantic and astounding as anyone could ever hope their wedding could be and they’re much more affordable than you might think.
Should you choose to have your wedding in this fun and exciting location, the first thing you want to do is search for a Maui travel package. The price of travel and hotel accommodations may surprise you once you start looking into them. Contact a travel agent to see what kind of a package deal you can get on air travel and hotel rates. Booking your airfare and hotel stay together this way is bound to save you money as compared to purchasing them separately. All too often people will find what they think is a great price on a hotel room only to find that they can’t afford the airfare, and vice versa. Using a travel agent to book them together can save you a considerable percentage. Remember that booking far in advance will usually get you the best rates and that you’re always going to get a better price during the off season.
Once you have the hotel and travel arrangements out of the way, it’s time to start planning the actual wedding. Maui has become such a popular destination for weddings that several companies that specialize in planning Maui weddings have popped up all over the island. Most of these companies offer to hold ceremonies in a number of uniquely beautiful Maui locations. The majority of them also have web sites that detail the wedding packages that they have to offer. These packages include things like the wedding cake, photography, a minister or other official to perform the ceremony, and a number of other wedding related details. Some will even make an appointment with the state’s marriage licensing department so you can obtain your marriage license. The cost of the Maui wedding packages vary, of course, depending on the company making the offer and exactly what you want to include. Most of the prepared packages range in price from about three hundred dollars for the most basic to nearly three thousand dollars for the most exquisite.
A beautiful and romantic Maui wedding is definitely within your reach. By choosing to marry in such an exotic and romantic location you are basically guaranteeing yourself a wedding ceremony that you will remember fondly forever and promising yourself a wedding experience that you may have thought could only happen in your dreams.
Should you choose to have your wedding in this fun and exciting location, the first thing you want to do is search for a Maui travel package. The price of travel and hotel accommodations may surprise you once you start looking into them. Contact a travel agent to see what kind of a package deal you can get on air travel and hotel rates. Booking your airfare and hotel stay together this way is bound to save you money as compared to purchasing them separately. All too often people will find what they think is a great price on a hotel room only to find that they can’t afford the airfare, and vice versa. Using a travel agent to book them together can save you a considerable percentage. Remember that booking far in advance will usually get you the best rates and that you’re always going to get a better price during the off season.
Once you have the hotel and travel arrangements out of the way, it’s time to start planning the actual wedding. Maui has become such a popular destination for weddings that several companies that specialize in planning Maui weddings have popped up all over the island. Most of these companies offer to hold ceremonies in a number of uniquely beautiful Maui locations. The majority of them also have web sites that detail the wedding packages that they have to offer. These packages include things like the wedding cake, photography, a minister or other official to perform the ceremony, and a number of other wedding related details. Some will even make an appointment with the state’s marriage licensing department so you can obtain your marriage license. The cost of the Maui wedding packages vary, of course, depending on the company making the offer and exactly what you want to include. Most of the prepared packages range in price from about three hundred dollars for the most basic to nearly three thousand dollars for the most exquisite.
A beautiful and romantic Maui wedding is definitely within your reach. By choosing to marry in such an exotic and romantic location you are basically guaranteeing yourself a wedding ceremony that you will remember fondly forever and promising yourself a wedding experience that you may have thought could only happen in your dreams.
Matrimony In The Digital Age: Wedding Web Sites
There’s a new method of keeping your wedding memories alive that is gaining popularity among the young couples of today: the wedding web site. Wedding web sites are an online collection of images and stories detailing every facet of a wedding. Everything from choosing bridesmaids’ dresses to ordering the cake and hiring the band is recorded and included on the wedding web site. Many couples keep their wedding web sites up and running after the wedding to serve as a sort of interactive online wedding album, hosting pictures from the ceremony, reception, and honeymoon.
One of the nice things about creating a wedding web site for yourself is the flexibility that the process offers. You can include as much or as little information about your wedding as you like. The site can be used as an electronic go-between, keeping family and friends updated and informed about the tasks you’re completing in preparation for your wedding day, informing your guests of any last minute changes in planning, and letting everyone know details such as where you’re registered for wedding gifts. The site can include a “blog” that you can update as often as you like, allowing you to share every detail of your wedding experience if you so choose. You can also offer your guests the ability to R.S.V.P. online, put up guest lists so everyone knows who’s coming to your special event, and post an interesting history that describes how the two of you met, how long you dated, how he “popped the question,” and any other amusing or romantic anecdotes you desire.
If you choose to create a wedding web site there are a number of ways you can go about it. There are web hosting sites online that specialize in setting up and hosting wedding web sites. Most of these offer easy to use do-it-yourself web site building tools. If you’re proficient in web design or own web design software like Front Page or Dreamweaver, you can get even more flexibility by designing the site yourself. You can also hire a professional web designer to create your wedding web site for you.
The wedding web site concept is just one more way that weddings are stepping out of the realm of ancient traditionalism and into the information age. Modern technology has created a wonderful way for you to be able to share your wedding memories anytime, anywhere with anyone that has a computer and access to the Internet. Now you don’t have to worry about whether Aunt Edna in Sioux City will ever be able to see your wedding photographs. You can just send her an email message and give her the URL of your beautiful wedding web site. Your wedding web site is timeless too. As long as you keep paying the hosting (prices for web hosting vary greatly, but can be very low for this type of site), your wedding web site will remain online forever, allowing you to look back many years from now and remember your wedding like it all just happened yesterday.
One of the nice things about creating a wedding web site for yourself is the flexibility that the process offers. You can include as much or as little information about your wedding as you like. The site can be used as an electronic go-between, keeping family and friends updated and informed about the tasks you’re completing in preparation for your wedding day, informing your guests of any last minute changes in planning, and letting everyone know details such as where you’re registered for wedding gifts. The site can include a “blog” that you can update as often as you like, allowing you to share every detail of your wedding experience if you so choose. You can also offer your guests the ability to R.S.V.P. online, put up guest lists so everyone knows who’s coming to your special event, and post an interesting history that describes how the two of you met, how long you dated, how he “popped the question,” and any other amusing or romantic anecdotes you desire.
If you choose to create a wedding web site there are a number of ways you can go about it. There are web hosting sites online that specialize in setting up and hosting wedding web sites. Most of these offer easy to use do-it-yourself web site building tools. If you’re proficient in web design or own web design software like Front Page or Dreamweaver, you can get even more flexibility by designing the site yourself. You can also hire a professional web designer to create your wedding web site for you.
The wedding web site concept is just one more way that weddings are stepping out of the realm of ancient traditionalism and into the information age. Modern technology has created a wonderful way for you to be able to share your wedding memories anytime, anywhere with anyone that has a computer and access to the Internet. Now you don’t have to worry about whether Aunt Edna in Sioux City will ever be able to see your wedding photographs. You can just send her an email message and give her the URL of your beautiful wedding web site. Your wedding web site is timeless too. As long as you keep paying the hosting (prices for web hosting vary greatly, but can be very low for this type of site), your wedding web site will remain online forever, allowing you to look back many years from now and remember your wedding like it all just happened yesterday.
7/21/08
Marriage In The Virgin Islands: St. Thomas Weddings
To say that St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands is a beautiful place is akin to saying that Cindy Margolis is a beautiful woman. You get an idea of what the person making the statement is trying to convey, but the term “beautiful” doesn’t quite do the subject justice. St. Thomas transcends beauty and supercedes even our best definitions of the very concept. St. Thomas is home to sparkling waters, breathtaking tropical landscapes, and wonderful weather year-round. Can you think of a better place to get married? A St. Thomas wedding is an experience that will leave you reeling in romance for years to come and give you beautiful memories for the rest of your life.
As with any destination wedding, the key to your perfect St. Thomas wedding is in finding the best experience at the best price. Dealing with a travel agent to put together a package for hotel and travel arrangements is always the best and least expensive way to go. The agent can find deals that simply are not available to the general public, getting you to the islands for much less than you would have thought possible. Be sure to try and arrange for one of the impressive air or sea tours of the islands while you’re at it, the US Virgin Islands possess a beauty that simply has to be experienced.
For your St. Thomas wedding ceremony there are a number of options available, but a package deal will again get you the best prices on everything you need for a memorable wedding experience. Wedding planning companies on St. Thomas offer packages that include everything from photography and flowers to private ceremonies on a secluded beach and bottles of Dom Perignon. Pricing for the wedding packages varies based upon what the package includes and range from about five hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. The most extravagant packages will cost you the most money, of course. Even a package worth over seven thousand dollars is less expensive than what many people pay for traditional weddings at home however, and the amenities make it well worth the cost. You don’t have to be Donald Trump to enjoy your St. Thomas wedding; however, even the least costly wedding packages make for a romantic wedding that is unlike any wedding experience you could get in your own hometown.
If you’re planning to enjoy a fabulous destination wedding, St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands is well worth a look. The island offers everything that a couple could possibly desire in an exotic and romantic wedding destination while still being a part of the United States of America. For a fraction of what you might pay for a wedding here at home you can live and be treated like a celebrity for a few days surrounding the most special and romantic day of your entire life and return home with stories to tell of your incredible wedding adventure and memories that will stay with you forever.
As with any destination wedding, the key to your perfect St. Thomas wedding is in finding the best experience at the best price. Dealing with a travel agent to put together a package for hotel and travel arrangements is always the best and least expensive way to go. The agent can find deals that simply are not available to the general public, getting you to the islands for much less than you would have thought possible. Be sure to try and arrange for one of the impressive air or sea tours of the islands while you’re at it, the US Virgin Islands possess a beauty that simply has to be experienced.
For your St. Thomas wedding ceremony there are a number of options available, but a package deal will again get you the best prices on everything you need for a memorable wedding experience. Wedding planning companies on St. Thomas offer packages that include everything from photography and flowers to private ceremonies on a secluded beach and bottles of Dom Perignon. Pricing for the wedding packages varies based upon what the package includes and range from about five hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. The most extravagant packages will cost you the most money, of course. Even a package worth over seven thousand dollars is less expensive than what many people pay for traditional weddings at home however, and the amenities make it well worth the cost. You don’t have to be Donald Trump to enjoy your St. Thomas wedding; however, even the least costly wedding packages make for a romantic wedding that is unlike any wedding experience you could get in your own hometown.
If you’re planning to enjoy a fabulous destination wedding, St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands is well worth a look. The island offers everything that a couple could possibly desire in an exotic and romantic wedding destination while still being a part of the United States of America. For a fraction of what you might pay for a wedding here at home you can live and be treated like a celebrity for a few days surrounding the most special and romantic day of your entire life and return home with stories to tell of your incredible wedding adventure and memories that will stay with you forever.
7/20/08
Making The Most Of Your Wedding: The Wedding Vows
There is no doubt that planning a wedding can be one of the most daunting tasks a person can undergo. Since the majority of the work traditionally falls upon the bride and her family (let’s face it, the guys, largely, just don’t care if the flowers are yellow and pink, canary and magenta, or goldenrod and cherry) it is always a good idea to have the assistance of a professional wedding planner or at least a trusted friend or relative to help keep all of the details in order. That assistant can take care of everything from ordering the cake to making sure the reception seating arrangement is in order and Uncle Herbert is as far from the bar as possible while Aunt Helen and Aunt Gertrude won’t come in contact with one another at all. One thing that will be entirely up to the happy couple, however, is the decision on the wedding vows. This is one aspect of the event that the groom will have to participate in as well.
The traditional wedding vows are immortal and familiar to us all. We’ve all heard the phrase “to love, honor, and cherish,” a million times before and, regardless of race, religion, or nationality, we all immediately associate these words with the marriage ceremony. There is nothing wrong with that. The traditional wedding vows are powerful words of love and commitment and, if you like those vows and they hold a special place in your heart, then you should feel free to include them in your wedding ceremony.
Many couples write their own wedding vows. The practice is now so common that original wedding vows have almost replaced the traditional vows as the norm for weddings, but that does not mean that the time-honored vows are any less meaningful.
For those that do wish to write their own wedding vows, the options are limitless. Some couples pen their wedding vows completely from their hearts and minds, using this portion of the wedding ceremony as an opportunity to express their love and devotion to one another in a very personal way. Others borrow literary quotes, song lyrics, poetry, or other non-original material that expresses their feelings for their beloved, to incorporate into their wedding vows. Anything that says how you feel is acceptable.
A young spouse-to-be may sometimes experience writer’s block when composing the wedding vows. This stems from anticipation of the pending event and is perfectly natural. The best way to overcome this anxiety is to slow down, close your eyes and think about your fiancée. Imagine what you would say if he or she were right in front of you, with no one around. Find the best way to tell that person how you feel, how deep your love is, and what you promise to do and be as a husband or a wife. The words will come in no time and the result will be a beautiful wedding ceremony that is highlighted by beautiful and personal wedding vows.
The traditional wedding vows are immortal and familiar to us all. We’ve all heard the phrase “to love, honor, and cherish,” a million times before and, regardless of race, religion, or nationality, we all immediately associate these words with the marriage ceremony. There is nothing wrong with that. The traditional wedding vows are powerful words of love and commitment and, if you like those vows and they hold a special place in your heart, then you should feel free to include them in your wedding ceremony.
Many couples write their own wedding vows. The practice is now so common that original wedding vows have almost replaced the traditional vows as the norm for weddings, but that does not mean that the time-honored vows are any less meaningful.
For those that do wish to write their own wedding vows, the options are limitless. Some couples pen their wedding vows completely from their hearts and minds, using this portion of the wedding ceremony as an opportunity to express their love and devotion to one another in a very personal way. Others borrow literary quotes, song lyrics, poetry, or other non-original material that expresses their feelings for their beloved, to incorporate into their wedding vows. Anything that says how you feel is acceptable.
A young spouse-to-be may sometimes experience writer’s block when composing the wedding vows. This stems from anticipation of the pending event and is perfectly natural. The best way to overcome this anxiety is to slow down, close your eyes and think about your fiancée. Imagine what you would say if he or she were right in front of you, with no one around. Find the best way to tell that person how you feel, how deep your love is, and what you promise to do and be as a husband or a wife. The words will come in no time and the result will be a beautiful wedding ceremony that is highlighted by beautiful and personal wedding vows.
7/19/08
Making A Wedding Speech
Sooner or later, at some point in your life, you may be called upon to speak at someone’s wedding. Perhaps you’ll be the proud father of the bride or someone’s best man. Whatever the case may be, it can be a good idea to know how to make the appropriate wedding speech. Some people may think these points are obvious, but they’re not the ones that are giving the speech. If you’re not much for public speaking, you may find these tips helpful if you ever have to speak at someone’s wedding.
Keep it Short:
The worst part of any wedding celebration is when some long winded buffoon drones on and on during his opportunity to make a wedding speech. No one wants to listen to your ramblings for forty minutes, no matter how interesting you may think they are. People are at the wedding to share in the couple’s joy and have a good time. No one will be able to do either if you talk for too great a length of time. Try to keep your speech under five minutes long if possible.
Save the jokes for Henny Youngman:
Public speakers often like to try and break the ice with a joke, have you ever noticed that? Have you also noticed that the jokes are usually bad? These people have professional speech writers working for them. You do not. Unless you are truly a funny person (your name is Robin Williams, for example), steer clear of the jokes. If you do have to make jokes during your wedding speech, try to make them appropriate for the occasion. Jokes about weddings in general or the people in attendance will always work better than jokes of the “a guy walks into a bar” variety. Also remember that jokes at the groom’s expense are funny while those at the bride’s expense are not. That’s just the way it is.
Sentimentality Works:
People get all warm, fuzzy, and gushy at weddings. Sharing sentimental stories about the couple and how in love they are, about your own wedding, or any other appropriately smarmy topic will have them eating out of your hand. Make the focus of your wedding speech the subject of love and roses and good feelings and puppies and you can’t go wrong.
This Day is Not About You:
This is perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind when preparing and making a wedding speech. No matter how popular you are, no one is there to see you. The wedding day is all about the bride and groom. This is their day in the sun, so to speak. Keep your stories and anecdotes focused on the happy couple so that they can stay that way while you are speaking.
Keeping these topics in mind will help you be successful when making a wedding speech. With the right ideas and a minimal amount of preparation, even the most tongue tangled individual can come off like The Great Orator at least for five minutes or so when speaking at a wedding.
Keep it Short:
The worst part of any wedding celebration is when some long winded buffoon drones on and on during his opportunity to make a wedding speech. No one wants to listen to your ramblings for forty minutes, no matter how interesting you may think they are. People are at the wedding to share in the couple’s joy and have a good time. No one will be able to do either if you talk for too great a length of time. Try to keep your speech under five minutes long if possible.
Save the jokes for Henny Youngman:
Public speakers often like to try and break the ice with a joke, have you ever noticed that? Have you also noticed that the jokes are usually bad? These people have professional speech writers working for them. You do not. Unless you are truly a funny person (your name is Robin Williams, for example), steer clear of the jokes. If you do have to make jokes during your wedding speech, try to make them appropriate for the occasion. Jokes about weddings in general or the people in attendance will always work better than jokes of the “a guy walks into a bar” variety. Also remember that jokes at the groom’s expense are funny while those at the bride’s expense are not. That’s just the way it is.
Sentimentality Works:
People get all warm, fuzzy, and gushy at weddings. Sharing sentimental stories about the couple and how in love they are, about your own wedding, or any other appropriately smarmy topic will have them eating out of your hand. Make the focus of your wedding speech the subject of love and roses and good feelings and puppies and you can’t go wrong.
This Day is Not About You:
This is perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind when preparing and making a wedding speech. No matter how popular you are, no one is there to see you. The wedding day is all about the bride and groom. This is their day in the sun, so to speak. Keep your stories and anecdotes focused on the happy couple so that they can stay that way while you are speaking.
Keeping these topics in mind will help you be successful when making a wedding speech. With the right ideas and a minimal amount of preparation, even the most tongue tangled individual can come off like The Great Orator at least for five minutes or so when speaking at a wedding.
7/18/08
Literary Readings Make Weddings Special
There are so many options available today to help make weddings special that the happy couple planning their marriage ceremony may have to make some difficult choices as far as just what features to include. One semi-traditional aspect of the wedding ceremony that can help lend a spark of romance to the event is the literary wedding reading. Recitation of romantic poetry, heartfelt prose, or Shakespearean verse during the wedding ceremony can add a refined touch to an already beautiful occasion.
Selections of wedding readings can run the gamut of available literature; from writings as old as Biblical passages to the more modern works of authors and poets like Amy Tan and Maya Angelou. Any piece that relates a theme of love, devotion, or commitment can be appropriate as a wedding reading. The choice, really, is up to the couple as far as what they’d like to have as a wedding reading. Following are some traditional, modern, and more unusual wedding readings.
Poetry and prose about love and devotion make for wonderful wedding readings and it is selections from this category that you will hear most often. Favorites here include Shakespearean sonnets, the famous How Do I Love Thee by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and selections from The Prophet by Kahil Gibran, but can, again, include virtually anything that the couple would like to include. Thoughtful, insightful, and moving passages are the key to having your wedding reading stand out in the minds of your guests.
Inspirational Readings:
A favorite of religious wedding services, inspirational wedding readings are also quite common. The Bible is a fantastic source for these types of readings and certain passages have become standard fare in many church wedding services. Most familiar here is the instantly recognized “Love is patient and kind…” reading from I Corinthians and the “husbands love your wives” passage from the fifth chapter of Ephesians. Inspirational poetry can be used here as well as quotations from inspirational speakers. Anything that is spiritually uplifting and appropriate for the occasion will work here.
Out of the Ordinary Wedding Readings:
Some wedding readings can be very creative, while others are just plain odd. I attended a wedding between two aspiring actors. Both the bride and the groom as well as several members of the wedding party were active in community theater. They used their wedding ceremony as an opportunity to perform for their guests and actually acted out the famous balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet, complete with Elizabethan costumes. Another wedding experience featured the bride and groom reciting the lyrics to Meat Loaf’s Paradise by the Dashboard Light which, while certainly an inappropriate selection for most weddings, seemed to fit their personalities and got quite a laugh from the guests. Clearly readings like this are not going to work for every wedding, but the examples do serve to show that the choices in wedding reading selection are really unlimited. The choice of whether to include a wedding reading in your ceremony, as well as what material to use, lies entirely with you.
Selections of wedding readings can run the gamut of available literature; from writings as old as Biblical passages to the more modern works of authors and poets like Amy Tan and Maya Angelou. Any piece that relates a theme of love, devotion, or commitment can be appropriate as a wedding reading. The choice, really, is up to the couple as far as what they’d like to have as a wedding reading. Following are some traditional, modern, and more unusual wedding readings.
Poetry and prose about love and devotion make for wonderful wedding readings and it is selections from this category that you will hear most often. Favorites here include Shakespearean sonnets, the famous How Do I Love Thee by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and selections from The Prophet by Kahil Gibran, but can, again, include virtually anything that the couple would like to include. Thoughtful, insightful, and moving passages are the key to having your wedding reading stand out in the minds of your guests.
Inspirational Readings:
A favorite of religious wedding services, inspirational wedding readings are also quite common. The Bible is a fantastic source for these types of readings and certain passages have become standard fare in many church wedding services. Most familiar here is the instantly recognized “Love is patient and kind…” reading from I Corinthians and the “husbands love your wives” passage from the fifth chapter of Ephesians. Inspirational poetry can be used here as well as quotations from inspirational speakers. Anything that is spiritually uplifting and appropriate for the occasion will work here.
Out of the Ordinary Wedding Readings:
Some wedding readings can be very creative, while others are just plain odd. I attended a wedding between two aspiring actors. Both the bride and the groom as well as several members of the wedding party were active in community theater. They used their wedding ceremony as an opportunity to perform for their guests and actually acted out the famous balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet, complete with Elizabethan costumes. Another wedding experience featured the bride and groom reciting the lyrics to Meat Loaf’s Paradise by the Dashboard Light which, while certainly an inappropriate selection for most weddings, seemed to fit their personalities and got quite a laugh from the guests. Clearly readings like this are not going to work for every wedding, but the examples do serve to show that the choices in wedding reading selection are really unlimited. The choice of whether to include a wedding reading in your ceremony, as well as what material to use, lies entirely with you.
7/17/08
Planning For Your Second Wedding
You are planning your second wedding and are not sure about etiquette and what is or is not acceptable, right? The truth is that the second time around can be just as memorable and special as the first. Here are some different tips to help you make your second wedding a day to remember.
When planning for your second wedding use heartfelt, common sense before announcing your new engagement. Some couples who have previously been married may have children and previous family members who need to be informed personally of your new future. Inform them first before announcing it in a newspaper.
Also think before registering for gifts at department stores. When registering for your second wedding, think about the things you need, as a couple. You may already have items that would commonly be bought for first time marriages, such as towels and dishes. Instead think about registering for those things that will help you bring your new home together, such as new curtains, bedding or items you can use to remodel the home that you’re moving into.
Many years ago, attire for a previously married bride meant absolutely no white. That is not the case anymore. When planning your second wedding, if you decide you want to wear a flowing white gown, it’s considered perfectly acceptable. One thing to avoid is a veil, which represents virginity. Instead of a veil, think about adorning your head with a crown or tiara or a beautiful new hairstyle. Whichever you choose, keep in mind that although it is a second marriage, you can feel and look just as beautiful as you did the first time.
When choosing a destination for your second wedding, some couples choose to make it different from the first by having a small ceremony with a huge reception, inviting friends and family on a trip with marriage in mind or having a surprise wedding, by sending invitations out for a birthday party or holiday event and instead being prepared to get married. You can also just go with a traditional church wedding. Whichever you choose, make the decision together. After all, you are committing yourselves to each other and both of you should be happy with the decision.
If children are involved from previous marriages, let them know that they also are an important part of your second wedding. Rather than the ceremony joining a man and woman together, you will be joining families. Why not include the children in the ceremony? Let your son walk you down the aisle to give you away, have your daughter be an honorary attendant or let the younger children be a miniature bride and groom. The important thing is to make the children feel welcome in this new union, letting them feel that it is not just a marriage of man and wife, but of the family as a whole.
Although second weddings can be done the same as a first time wedding, let this be your opportunity to make it different while keeping it sacred. Make it known to everyone that this is the man you have chosen to spend the rest of your life with and your two families are now to be joined as one.
When planning for your second wedding use heartfelt, common sense before announcing your new engagement. Some couples who have previously been married may have children and previous family members who need to be informed personally of your new future. Inform them first before announcing it in a newspaper.
Also think before registering for gifts at department stores. When registering for your second wedding, think about the things you need, as a couple. You may already have items that would commonly be bought for first time marriages, such as towels and dishes. Instead think about registering for those things that will help you bring your new home together, such as new curtains, bedding or items you can use to remodel the home that you’re moving into.
Many years ago, attire for a previously married bride meant absolutely no white. That is not the case anymore. When planning your second wedding, if you decide you want to wear a flowing white gown, it’s considered perfectly acceptable. One thing to avoid is a veil, which represents virginity. Instead of a veil, think about adorning your head with a crown or tiara or a beautiful new hairstyle. Whichever you choose, keep in mind that although it is a second marriage, you can feel and look just as beautiful as you did the first time.
When choosing a destination for your second wedding, some couples choose to make it different from the first by having a small ceremony with a huge reception, inviting friends and family on a trip with marriage in mind or having a surprise wedding, by sending invitations out for a birthday party or holiday event and instead being prepared to get married. You can also just go with a traditional church wedding. Whichever you choose, make the decision together. After all, you are committing yourselves to each other and both of you should be happy with the decision.
If children are involved from previous marriages, let them know that they also are an important part of your second wedding. Rather than the ceremony joining a man and woman together, you will be joining families. Why not include the children in the ceremony? Let your son walk you down the aisle to give you away, have your daughter be an honorary attendant or let the younger children be a miniature bride and groom. The important thing is to make the children feel welcome in this new union, letting them feel that it is not just a marriage of man and wife, but of the family as a whole.
Although second weddings can be done the same as a first time wedding, let this be your opportunity to make it different while keeping it sacred. Make it known to everyone that this is the man you have chosen to spend the rest of your life with and your two families are now to be joined as one.
7/16/08
A Wedding You Won't Forget!
Ah, the wedding. It is one of the most joyous, and torturous, events you will ever face. It absolutely amazes me what we humans put ourselves through just to create that perfect celebration of “love”. The planning of a typical wedding is very difficult. I should know because I am planning my own right now!
There is so much that needs to be done and there never seems to be enough time. I have talked with literally hundreds of people who have gone through the planning of a wedding and I have found that it’s the little things that cause all the stress. It’s easy to plan for the obvious, but the minute details can drive you insane!
One of the most overlooked details of a wedding is what I think one of the most important details. It is making your wedding special for your guests. You see, it’s easy to forget that the wedding is not just for you and your future spouse. It’s also for everyone who attends your wedding. It’s very important you don’t forget about all the people who are special to you and who will be traveling from all over to be with you on your special day.
Picture this….the lights dim. A hush falls over the crowd. A slideshow video starts playing on the screen at the front of the room and it tells a story. What is this story, you ask? It’s a love story! It is the story of you. It is the story of your future partner. It is the story of both of you. It is pictures of you both from birth to present, arranged with text, your special music, and just about anything you want to use to entertain your guests. It will leave your guests with a smile on their faces and tears in their eyes!
Most engaged couples I have spoken with love the idea of having a slideshow video in their wedding. The problem is that they think it’s either very difficult or incredibly expensive. Neither of those assumptions is correct. It’s actually very easy to have one made. As matter of fact there are several companies online that will make a video for you. Obviously I’m biased because I think our company is the best but I will give you some things to look for when shopping for a slideshow video production company.
Price. You have to be very careful here. Many companies advertise great prices, but they don’t tell you about all the hidden costs. For example, Company “X” may say that they only charge $99.00 for a video. But if you read the fine print they charge an additional $2.00 per photo for scanning and another $1.00 for each picture enhancement. Once the video is complete, they will charge you another $50.00 just to preview it. So this $99.00 video just turned into a $500.00 video.
Previewing. Most places will not let you preview the video or, if they do allow it, they will charge extra to preview it. It’s absolutely critical that you preview any slideshow video before you buy it. Previewing the slideshow video allows you to make sure you like all the titling, screen transitions and photo arrangement. You want the video to be exactly the way you want it.
Montage. Montage videos are what I refer to as “a tech heads video dream.” They involve constant panning back and forth and zooming in and out. They also feature fancy looking screen transitions where the pictures will do flips and spins and all sorts of other “cool” things. Now, these montages may look “high tech” but they are completely inappropriate for a wedding. A wedding slideshow video needs to be classy and tasteful. It doesn’t need spins and twist, flips and twirls. It needs to have clean, smooth transitions. They need to flow from one picture to the next with elegance and grace.
Remember, you want your wedding to be special. You want your guests to remember your wedding with fondness. You want it to be an unforgettable experience. What better way than with a slideshow video that features your life up to that point! I hope your wedding is the best that has ever occurred. (Besides mine, that is!) I hope you decide to engage your guests by showing a beautiful, romantic slideshow video at the beginning of your ceremony. May you have the best of weddings and don’t forget to have fun!
There is so much that needs to be done and there never seems to be enough time. I have talked with literally hundreds of people who have gone through the planning of a wedding and I have found that it’s the little things that cause all the stress. It’s easy to plan for the obvious, but the minute details can drive you insane!
One of the most overlooked details of a wedding is what I think one of the most important details. It is making your wedding special for your guests. You see, it’s easy to forget that the wedding is not just for you and your future spouse. It’s also for everyone who attends your wedding. It’s very important you don’t forget about all the people who are special to you and who will be traveling from all over to be with you on your special day.
Picture this….the lights dim. A hush falls over the crowd. A slideshow video starts playing on the screen at the front of the room and it tells a story. What is this story, you ask? It’s a love story! It is the story of you. It is the story of your future partner. It is the story of both of you. It is pictures of you both from birth to present, arranged with text, your special music, and just about anything you want to use to entertain your guests. It will leave your guests with a smile on their faces and tears in their eyes!
Most engaged couples I have spoken with love the idea of having a slideshow video in their wedding. The problem is that they think it’s either very difficult or incredibly expensive. Neither of those assumptions is correct. It’s actually very easy to have one made. As matter of fact there are several companies online that will make a video for you. Obviously I’m biased because I think our company is the best but I will give you some things to look for when shopping for a slideshow video production company.
Price. You have to be very careful here. Many companies advertise great prices, but they don’t tell you about all the hidden costs. For example, Company “X” may say that they only charge $99.00 for a video. But if you read the fine print they charge an additional $2.00 per photo for scanning and another $1.00 for each picture enhancement. Once the video is complete, they will charge you another $50.00 just to preview it. So this $99.00 video just turned into a $500.00 video.
Previewing. Most places will not let you preview the video or, if they do allow it, they will charge extra to preview it. It’s absolutely critical that you preview any slideshow video before you buy it. Previewing the slideshow video allows you to make sure you like all the titling, screen transitions and photo arrangement. You want the video to be exactly the way you want it.
Montage. Montage videos are what I refer to as “a tech heads video dream.” They involve constant panning back and forth and zooming in and out. They also feature fancy looking screen transitions where the pictures will do flips and spins and all sorts of other “cool” things. Now, these montages may look “high tech” but they are completely inappropriate for a wedding. A wedding slideshow video needs to be classy and tasteful. It doesn’t need spins and twist, flips and twirls. It needs to have clean, smooth transitions. They need to flow from one picture to the next with elegance and grace.
Remember, you want your wedding to be special. You want your guests to remember your wedding with fondness. You want it to be an unforgettable experience. What better way than with a slideshow video that features your life up to that point! I hope your wedding is the best that has ever occurred. (Besides mine, that is!) I hope you decide to engage your guests by showing a beautiful, romantic slideshow video at the beginning of your ceremony. May you have the best of weddings and don’t forget to have fun!
7/15/08
Destination Weddings: No Longer Reserved For The Wealthy
For a long time the destination wedding, a wedding combined with a vacation for the couple, wedding party, and guests, was an exotic treat attainable only by the extremely wealthy. This is no longer the case as destination weddings have, in recent years, become an attainable and attractive alternative for more and more couples seeking to put an enjoyable romantic spin on their nuptial occasion. Destination wedding planners like to advertise that the destination wedding can cost thousands less than a traditional wedding. While this may or may not be true, depending on what a particular couple plans to spend on their traditional wedding as opposed to what they’ll have to spend for a destination wedding, it is certainly a fact that a destination wedding is no longer completely out of the question for the average couple. If you’re interested in celebrating your own marriage ceremony with a destination wedding, here are some helpful pointers that can have you enjoying your wedding in a vacation locale without completely emptying the coffers.
Your Destination Doesn’t Have to be Distant:
One of the truly beautiful things about living in the United States is that we have vacation spots nearly everywhere. By planning your destination wedding in a place that is relatively close to home, you can save considerably on airfare or other travel arrangements. Do you live on the East Coast? Make Orlando, Florida your destination and enjoy your honeymoon with Mickey Mouse. Already in Florida and been to Disneyworld far too many times? Set your sights on the Big Apple and enjoy a destination wedding in the City that Never Sleeps. Maybe you’re in the Midwest? If so a destination wedding in Chicago may have just the right romantic touch for you. You could also consider heading south to Texas to visit the Alamo. Live in the Southwest or Northwest? Then Las Vegas and Los Angeles are mere hours away by plane. The point is that your destination wedding doesn’t have to be held in London, Paris, or Munich to be an event you will remember fondly and cherish forever.
Plan Ahead and Get Group Rates:
Everyone knows that air passage costs less when booked and purchased well in advance. Be sure to make the reservations for your destination wedding far ahead of time to get the best value for you and your guests. Also, utilize the services of a talented travel agent who can negotiate your airfare and hotel accommodations all together. Doing so can save you an amazing percentage of the overall cost of your destination wedding.
If There’s an ‘Off Season,’ Take Advantage of It:
Many of the vacation spots around the country have an off season where the rates for hotels, airfare, and attractions are quite lower than they are during their busier times. By planning your destination wedding during these non-peak times you can save money and enjoy your destination when there are fewer tourists getting in the way of your enjoyment.
Your Destination Doesn’t Have to be Distant:
One of the truly beautiful things about living in the United States is that we have vacation spots nearly everywhere. By planning your destination wedding in a place that is relatively close to home, you can save considerably on airfare or other travel arrangements. Do you live on the East Coast? Make Orlando, Florida your destination and enjoy your honeymoon with Mickey Mouse. Already in Florida and been to Disneyworld far too many times? Set your sights on the Big Apple and enjoy a destination wedding in the City that Never Sleeps. Maybe you’re in the Midwest? If so a destination wedding in Chicago may have just the right romantic touch for you. You could also consider heading south to Texas to visit the Alamo. Live in the Southwest or Northwest? Then Las Vegas and Los Angeles are mere hours away by plane. The point is that your destination wedding doesn’t have to be held in London, Paris, or Munich to be an event you will remember fondly and cherish forever.
Plan Ahead and Get Group Rates:
Everyone knows that air passage costs less when booked and purchased well in advance. Be sure to make the reservations for your destination wedding far ahead of time to get the best value for you and your guests. Also, utilize the services of a talented travel agent who can negotiate your airfare and hotel accommodations all together. Doing so can save you an amazing percentage of the overall cost of your destination wedding.
If There’s an ‘Off Season,’ Take Advantage of It:
Many of the vacation spots around the country have an off season where the rates for hotels, airfare, and attractions are quite lower than they are during their busier times. By planning your destination wedding during these non-peak times you can save money and enjoy your destination when there are fewer tourists getting in the way of your enjoyment.
7/14/08
Destination Weddings
No matter where you and your future groom are wed, your wedding will have the same meaning and give you the same new start to a beautiful beginning together, however destination weddings can add a little extra touch to the wedding of your dreams.
When planning a destination wedding talk about different places where you would like to be united. An advantage to having a destination wedding is being able to have your ceremony and honeymoon in the same location. One way to get some ideas about where to hold your destination wedding is to check out some of the different resort locations on the internet. Most resorts offer wedding packages that have everything included, even a wedding planner. All you need to do is provide the bride and groom! If you want more control over your big day use these tips and ideas for planning one of the biggest days in your life.
As with every wedding, prepare a wedding planner or organizer. This will keep tasks organized and remind you of dates that certain tasks need to be accomplished by. Remember that by having a destination wedding, you will be planning your event long distance, so it will be important to have a list of things that need to be done before you arrive.
When inviting guests to your destination wedding, send out announcements early, letting them know which hotel to call to reserve rooms, as well as dates and times for plane tickets so they can be purchased in advance. You may also think about having a large reception when you return home for those who cannot attend your wedding. Send out separate announcements for this and let them know they will have a chance to congratulate you at a later date.
For destination weddings it is important to check on regulations and laws. If you are being married outside of the United States, be sure to have passports, blood tests, a U.S. marriage license, if needed, and any other paperwork that will need to be completed. Stay ahead of the game so when you arrive at your destination everything is in order.
Also consider how you will get your attire to your destination wedding. Rather than trying to check everything in at the airport on the day you fly out, ship everything separately two weeks in advance. Call the destination and confirm that everything arrived in a peaceful state. This will also give you two weeks extra time in the event that something is damaged in travel.
Do not forget to hire a photographer, clergy, wedding planner and bakery to complete your wedding. For information on different services offered, you can contact the destination’s Visitor Bureau.
A few of the more popular destination wedding spots include Jamaica in the Caribbean, the Florida Keys, the blue waters of Hawaii, and Las Vegas, with its hundreds of wedding chapels.
As long as you plan ahead and expect a few challenges, your destination wedding is sure to be day to remember.
When planning a destination wedding talk about different places where you would like to be united. An advantage to having a destination wedding is being able to have your ceremony and honeymoon in the same location. One way to get some ideas about where to hold your destination wedding is to check out some of the different resort locations on the internet. Most resorts offer wedding packages that have everything included, even a wedding planner. All you need to do is provide the bride and groom! If you want more control over your big day use these tips and ideas for planning one of the biggest days in your life.
As with every wedding, prepare a wedding planner or organizer. This will keep tasks organized and remind you of dates that certain tasks need to be accomplished by. Remember that by having a destination wedding, you will be planning your event long distance, so it will be important to have a list of things that need to be done before you arrive.
When inviting guests to your destination wedding, send out announcements early, letting them know which hotel to call to reserve rooms, as well as dates and times for plane tickets so they can be purchased in advance. You may also think about having a large reception when you return home for those who cannot attend your wedding. Send out separate announcements for this and let them know they will have a chance to congratulate you at a later date.
For destination weddings it is important to check on regulations and laws. If you are being married outside of the United States, be sure to have passports, blood tests, a U.S. marriage license, if needed, and any other paperwork that will need to be completed. Stay ahead of the game so when you arrive at your destination everything is in order.
Also consider how you will get your attire to your destination wedding. Rather than trying to check everything in at the airport on the day you fly out, ship everything separately two weeks in advance. Call the destination and confirm that everything arrived in a peaceful state. This will also give you two weeks extra time in the event that something is damaged in travel.
Do not forget to hire a photographer, clergy, wedding planner and bakery to complete your wedding. For information on different services offered, you can contact the destination’s Visitor Bureau.
A few of the more popular destination wedding spots include Jamaica in the Caribbean, the Florida Keys, the blue waters of Hawaii, and Las Vegas, with its hundreds of wedding chapels.
As long as you plan ahead and expect a few challenges, your destination wedding is sure to be day to remember.
7/13/08
Converting Your Wedding Videos To Dvd
Technology marches ever onward and, as it does, it carries us right along with it. In the early 1980’s, as VCR’s dropped in price and appeared in more and more homes, there was a sudden mass appeal for people to have their old Super 8 home movies converted to video cassette. Video tapes last far longer than film and it just made sense to convert those old reels into a more watchable and compact format. People brought their movies of their baby’s first steps, birthday parties, and weddings and turned them into video tapes. Not long after that, video cameras became cost effective for people to buy and those old super 8 cameras and projectors went the way of the dodo. People began using video tape for everything and the wedding video was born.
Technology has shifted yet again, folks. You may have noticed less and less video tapes at your local Blockbuster store. The medium is becoming extinct, replaced by DVD. Guess what? It’s time to convert yet again. DVD discs last far longer than video tape, offer higher quality picture and sound, and can run longer than video cassettes. By converting your wedding videos to DVD you can ensure that the memories you saved will last even longer.
The process of converting your wedding video to DVD is not complicated, but to do it yourself you will need some special equipment. Obviously you’ll need a DVD recording device and a way for your VCR to connect to it. If you have a DVD burner on your computer, you’re halfway there. You will also need a way for your VCR to interface with your computer. Most computers do not come shipped with a way to do this. You’ll need to install a TV card on your computer that has inputs that match your VCR’s outputs. Most TV cards do have both RF and A/V inputs.
Next you’ll need to record the wedding video onto the computer’s hard drive. You may need special software to do this if your TV card didn’t come with any bundled. Sony’s Vegas Video is a good one, but there are a number of different titles available. Keep in mind that the video will take up a lot of drive space. In order for the video to be placed on DVD it will have to be in an MPEG format. Your video recording software should be able to save it this way. Once that is done, it’s simply a matter of using your DVD burning software to transfer the video onto a DVD disc that you can then watch on any DVD player. The software will have instructions for doing this. Once the process (which can take some time, be warned) is complete, viola! Your wedding video is now on DVD and can be enjoyed forever.
If you don’t have or can’t afford the equipment and software to follow the preceding steps, fear not. There are companies that can take away all of the hassle and transfer your wedding videos to DVD for you, for a price. Whichever method you choose will have the same end result and you’ll be enjoying your old wedding videos and other home movies on a new format that’s built to last.
Technology has shifted yet again, folks. You may have noticed less and less video tapes at your local Blockbuster store. The medium is becoming extinct, replaced by DVD. Guess what? It’s time to convert yet again. DVD discs last far longer than video tape, offer higher quality picture and sound, and can run longer than video cassettes. By converting your wedding videos to DVD you can ensure that the memories you saved will last even longer.
The process of converting your wedding video to DVD is not complicated, but to do it yourself you will need some special equipment. Obviously you’ll need a DVD recording device and a way for your VCR to connect to it. If you have a DVD burner on your computer, you’re halfway there. You will also need a way for your VCR to interface with your computer. Most computers do not come shipped with a way to do this. You’ll need to install a TV card on your computer that has inputs that match your VCR’s outputs. Most TV cards do have both RF and A/V inputs.
Next you’ll need to record the wedding video onto the computer’s hard drive. You may need special software to do this if your TV card didn’t come with any bundled. Sony’s Vegas Video is a good one, but there are a number of different titles available. Keep in mind that the video will take up a lot of drive space. In order for the video to be placed on DVD it will have to be in an MPEG format. Your video recording software should be able to save it this way. Once that is done, it’s simply a matter of using your DVD burning software to transfer the video onto a DVD disc that you can then watch on any DVD player. The software will have instructions for doing this. Once the process (which can take some time, be warned) is complete, viola! Your wedding video is now on DVD and can be enjoyed forever.
If you don’t have or can’t afford the equipment and software to follow the preceding steps, fear not. There are companies that can take away all of the hassle and transfer your wedding videos to DVD for you, for a price. Whichever method you choose will have the same end result and you’ll be enjoying your old wedding videos and other home movies on a new format that’s built to last.
7/12/08
Choosing Your Wedding Dress
He’s proposed and it is time to make a decision on the most important detail of every little girl’s dream: the wedding dress. Should it be sleeveless, short, long, lacey, sequined or plain? So many questions to ask yourself, although you are sure of one thing, it needs to be perfect.
As soon as the planning begins for the big day, choosing your wedding dress becomes somewhat of an urgency for most brides, who do not want to wait until the last minute. While dealing with wedding stress and preparations, be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to try on different styles and find the one who says “you”.
The theme of your wedding will be an important point when selecting that special dress. Are you getting married on the beach? If so, you might choose a light airy style. Have you decided on a formal affair? Then by all means, go all out and wear a white dress covered in silk and lace. Whatever type of occasion your wedding will be, your dress will play one of the most important roles in it!
It’s also important to think about the month and season you are getting married in. If you are having a middle of summer wedding, then you probably shouldn’t wear a wedding dress with double layers or long sleeves. After all, this is supposed to be the most memorable day of your beginning together. You don’t want the biggest memory to be how much you perspired throughout the ceremony!
When choosing a wedding dress, try on comfortable styles. Walk around in them, if kneeling is part of your ceremony, then kneel in the dress and be sure you are not going to be uncomfortable in your choice. The beauty of the dress is only half of your decision—the other half is looking beautiful, happy and elegant. You cannot look happy if you are holding your breath so seams do not pop or you’re itchy from the lace on your arms.
One mistake that a lot of brides tend to make when choosing a wedding dress is with the size. If you are planning on losing weight before your big day, do not buy a dress the size you think you may be come the wedding day. Instead buy the size you are on the day you choose the dress. It will always be easier to take a dress in if it is too big, than to add material for a dress that ended up being too small.
With the expense of weddings, some couples try and cut back by making their own flowers, having a family member bake the wedding cake or hiring a friend to take wedding photos. Although it is okay to cut back and still have your dream wedding, don’t skimp when choosing your wedding dress. If you cannot afford to hit a wedding boutique and pay their prices, try wedding consignment shops, who offer ‘like new’ dresses at an affordable price.
Whatever style, color or price range you decide on when choosing your wedding dress, remember that you are still “You” and that is who your fiancé fell in love with, not your dress, which will only add to the ambiance of your day.
After you have chosen your wedding dress hang it in the bag it comes in and do not over show it. Give guests something to look forward to as they see you for the first time walking down the aisle. And unless it is unavoidable, do not let your future husband see your dress at all before the wedding. It’s bad luck!
As soon as the planning begins for the big day, choosing your wedding dress becomes somewhat of an urgency for most brides, who do not want to wait until the last minute. While dealing with wedding stress and preparations, be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to try on different styles and find the one who says “you”.
The theme of your wedding will be an important point when selecting that special dress. Are you getting married on the beach? If so, you might choose a light airy style. Have you decided on a formal affair? Then by all means, go all out and wear a white dress covered in silk and lace. Whatever type of occasion your wedding will be, your dress will play one of the most important roles in it!
It’s also important to think about the month and season you are getting married in. If you are having a middle of summer wedding, then you probably shouldn’t wear a wedding dress with double layers or long sleeves. After all, this is supposed to be the most memorable day of your beginning together. You don’t want the biggest memory to be how much you perspired throughout the ceremony!
When choosing a wedding dress, try on comfortable styles. Walk around in them, if kneeling is part of your ceremony, then kneel in the dress and be sure you are not going to be uncomfortable in your choice. The beauty of the dress is only half of your decision—the other half is looking beautiful, happy and elegant. You cannot look happy if you are holding your breath so seams do not pop or you’re itchy from the lace on your arms.
One mistake that a lot of brides tend to make when choosing a wedding dress is with the size. If you are planning on losing weight before your big day, do not buy a dress the size you think you may be come the wedding day. Instead buy the size you are on the day you choose the dress. It will always be easier to take a dress in if it is too big, than to add material for a dress that ended up being too small.
With the expense of weddings, some couples try and cut back by making their own flowers, having a family member bake the wedding cake or hiring a friend to take wedding photos. Although it is okay to cut back and still have your dream wedding, don’t skimp when choosing your wedding dress. If you cannot afford to hit a wedding boutique and pay their prices, try wedding consignment shops, who offer ‘like new’ dresses at an affordable price.
Whatever style, color or price range you decide on when choosing your wedding dress, remember that you are still “You” and that is who your fiancé fell in love with, not your dress, which will only add to the ambiance of your day.
After you have chosen your wedding dress hang it in the bag it comes in and do not over show it. Give guests something to look forward to as they see you for the first time walking down the aisle. And unless it is unavoidable, do not let your future husband see your dress at all before the wedding. It’s bad luck!
7/11/08
Undercover Las Vegas Wedding Invitations Operation Unveiled
VegasWedlock is an online magazine dedicated to Las Vegas brides that provides Las Vegas wedding tips and tricks, but recently, they have revealed a secret kept undercover for months. VegasWedlock recently unveiled an additional Web site to sell massive amounts of Las Vegas themed wedding invitations designed exclusively by professional graphic designers for the Las Vegas bride.
The Web site will now be the largest retailer of Las Vegas themed wedding invitations in the world. The invitations were secretly designed by professional graphic designers who were told not to leak the information about the new Las Vegas invitations to anyone.
The new site, www.VegasWedlockInvitations.com, is easy to navigate and a user can quickly see the wide variety that VegasWedlock has available. With over 50 exclusive Las Vegas wedding invitations designed already, VegasWedlock’s designers are creating more each month and will continue until they reach well over a thousand.
Within the Las Vegas wedding invitations already designed, VegasWedlock has styles to satisfy any bride and groom’s taste. They have informal, formal and contemporary invitations along with new collections that they call “holiday” and “location.”
The “location” collection includes places that couples often get married in Las Vegas like the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, the Venetian, and more. The “holiday” collection has holiday dressed invitations with a Las Vegas touch as well.
While VegasWedlock is the only organization in the world to sell these Las Vegas wedding invitations, they are willing to work with affiliates and help spread the Las Vegas themed wedding invitations to other sites as well. “We have seen a high demand for Las Vegas themed wedding invitations and want the brides and grooms getting married in Las Vegas to find these invitations easily, without a lot of hassle,” the publisher of VegasWedlock said.
The Web site will now be the largest retailer of Las Vegas themed wedding invitations in the world. The invitations were secretly designed by professional graphic designers who were told not to leak the information about the new Las Vegas invitations to anyone.
The new site, www.VegasWedlockInvitations.com, is easy to navigate and a user can quickly see the wide variety that VegasWedlock has available. With over 50 exclusive Las Vegas wedding invitations designed already, VegasWedlock’s designers are creating more each month and will continue until they reach well over a thousand.
Within the Las Vegas wedding invitations already designed, VegasWedlock has styles to satisfy any bride and groom’s taste. They have informal, formal and contemporary invitations along with new collections that they call “holiday” and “location.”
The “location” collection includes places that couples often get married in Las Vegas like the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, the Venetian, and more. The “holiday” collection has holiday dressed invitations with a Las Vegas touch as well.
While VegasWedlock is the only organization in the world to sell these Las Vegas wedding invitations, they are willing to work with affiliates and help spread the Las Vegas themed wedding invitations to other sites as well. “We have seen a high demand for Las Vegas themed wedding invitations and want the brides and grooms getting married in Las Vegas to find these invitations easily, without a lot of hassle,” the publisher of VegasWedlock said.
7/10/08
Planning A Kauai Hawaii Wedding
Planning a Kauai wedding, especially if you do not live in the area will take a lot of patience and time. However, with the following tips it can certainly be done and done well.
Kauai Wedding Tip #1 Mail
Make a detailed list before you begin packing that outlines every possible thing you might need or want for your vacation and your wedding. Don't forget anything that cannot be purchased on Kauai or in an airport because although it is said there is overnight mail, there really is not, so don't forget your wedding dress, rings, or anything of that nature because it will take at least two days to get to you. However, if you make a detailed list then packing will be easy and you will remember everything. Having everything with you will make your wedding go much smoother and reduce your stress level and you won't have to worry about the mail.
Kauai Wedding Tip #2 Pre-Trip Fitting
Before you hop on the plane with all of your wedding wares, make sure you stop one last time at the bridal shop for a very last fitting. You want to make sure your dress is perfect, and fits perfect as well, so stopping by and having any last alterations done just before you travel to the beautiful island of Kauai will reduce the risk of the dress being too big, too small, too long, or any other number of problems that could potentially arise. Knowing your dress is perfect will make you anticipate the wedding with even more excitement as well.
Kauai Wedding Tip #3 Accessories
Remember the tips about not forgetting anything and having an additional fitting? Well, while you are on the remembering kick and at the fitting appointment you should pick up some additional pairs of stockings, garter belts, any extras that you might possibly need. The truth of the matter is that stockings frequently rip when the nervous bride is trying to put them on, so having an extra pair in the right size and color is a great option and will save any additional stress. Additional pairs of everything is not realistic, but those little things that have a high potential of breaking, ripping, or causing a last minute stress situation should be considered and planned for.
Kauai Wedding Tip #4 The Details
When booking a wedding location in Kauai make sure you ask more questions than if the location is available and how much it charges. The reason for this is you could arrive and plan on your entire wedding being pink themed and the location is a bright red. Nobody wants their wedding location to clash with their colors, so ask about the details of every location you inquire about. Then, when making your decisions you will be informed and know what to expect. Also, consider ministers, size of the location, and the like. You will be glad you paid attention to the details.
Kauai Wedding Tip #5 Tuxedos
The groom and his attendants should all rent their tuxedos in their hometown where they can be fitted and order the desired tuxedos in the right sizes with the right accessories. By taking care of this the groom and his attendants can arrive in Kauai and enjoy the pre-wedding activities knowing their tuxedo fits, has all the accessories, and is waiting for the wedding day.
Kauai Wedding Tip #6 Jet Lag
Many individuals do not allow enough time between their arrival and the actual wedding day and end up jet lagged, exhausted, and completely unable to enjoy the beauty of the island, it's many offerings, not to mention the wedding day. Weddings are stressful and busy events and jet lag only increases these elements. So, plan your arrival several days before the wedding so you can settle in, enjoy the island, handle any last minute details and rest up before the big day.
Kauai Wedding Tip #7 Relax!
The island is absolutely beautiful and a very relaxing place to be. Since the wedding day is so busy and stressful it is important for the bride and groom to slip away the day before the wedding for several hours to simply relax and enjoy being in such a fabulous location to exchange vows. The bride and groom can relax, take pleasure in the island, and really benefit from some relaxation before the big day!
Kauai Wedding Tip #8 Talk to the Minister
Before the wedding day the bride and groom should meet with the minister to make sure the minister's vows are appropriate for the wedding and convey the sentiments the bride and groom wish to convey on their wedding day. Additionally, if the bride and groom have written their own vows this is a good time to make the minister aware and go over any last details. Also, meeting the minister before the wedding will make everyone more comfortable and the ceremony more sincere.
Kauai Wedding Tip #9 Date
Remember before planning your wedding date and mailing invitations with that particular date for your Kauai wedding to have the minister, location, hotels and everything booked so you know 100% that your wedding has all the elements necessary and all are available. During the summer months, which are popular wedding months, hotels and event locations are booked up solid, so if you don't plan ahead by many months you may find yourself with a wedding planned for a specific date, but no chapel, hotel room, or anything else to accommodate the wedding or guests.
Kauai Wedding Tip #10 Packing
After you make the list of things to pack, revise the list again, and again. This way you will remember anything that might have been forgotten and will give you time to buy any of the necessities and pack them. Also, when packing, check the items off your list so you know you have them and they have been packed. This will eliminate confusion as well as the event where you unpack everything to see if you did indeed remember to pack your garter belt or not. Make a list and check it off.
There are many Kauai wedding tips, but these are just a few that will help you plan your Kauai wedding and thoroughly enjoying becoming man and wife in one of the world's most beautiful locations.
Kauai Wedding Tip #1 Mail
Make a detailed list before you begin packing that outlines every possible thing you might need or want for your vacation and your wedding. Don't forget anything that cannot be purchased on Kauai or in an airport because although it is said there is overnight mail, there really is not, so don't forget your wedding dress, rings, or anything of that nature because it will take at least two days to get to you. However, if you make a detailed list then packing will be easy and you will remember everything. Having everything with you will make your wedding go much smoother and reduce your stress level and you won't have to worry about the mail.
Kauai Wedding Tip #2 Pre-Trip Fitting
Before you hop on the plane with all of your wedding wares, make sure you stop one last time at the bridal shop for a very last fitting. You want to make sure your dress is perfect, and fits perfect as well, so stopping by and having any last alterations done just before you travel to the beautiful island of Kauai will reduce the risk of the dress being too big, too small, too long, or any other number of problems that could potentially arise. Knowing your dress is perfect will make you anticipate the wedding with even more excitement as well.
Kauai Wedding Tip #3 Accessories
Remember the tips about not forgetting anything and having an additional fitting? Well, while you are on the remembering kick and at the fitting appointment you should pick up some additional pairs of stockings, garter belts, any extras that you might possibly need. The truth of the matter is that stockings frequently rip when the nervous bride is trying to put them on, so having an extra pair in the right size and color is a great option and will save any additional stress. Additional pairs of everything is not realistic, but those little things that have a high potential of breaking, ripping, or causing a last minute stress situation should be considered and planned for.
Kauai Wedding Tip #4 The Details
When booking a wedding location in Kauai make sure you ask more questions than if the location is available and how much it charges. The reason for this is you could arrive and plan on your entire wedding being pink themed and the location is a bright red. Nobody wants their wedding location to clash with their colors, so ask about the details of every location you inquire about. Then, when making your decisions you will be informed and know what to expect. Also, consider ministers, size of the location, and the like. You will be glad you paid attention to the details.
Kauai Wedding Tip #5 Tuxedos
The groom and his attendants should all rent their tuxedos in their hometown where they can be fitted and order the desired tuxedos in the right sizes with the right accessories. By taking care of this the groom and his attendants can arrive in Kauai and enjoy the pre-wedding activities knowing their tuxedo fits, has all the accessories, and is waiting for the wedding day.
Kauai Wedding Tip #6 Jet Lag
Many individuals do not allow enough time between their arrival and the actual wedding day and end up jet lagged, exhausted, and completely unable to enjoy the beauty of the island, it's many offerings, not to mention the wedding day. Weddings are stressful and busy events and jet lag only increases these elements. So, plan your arrival several days before the wedding so you can settle in, enjoy the island, handle any last minute details and rest up before the big day.
Kauai Wedding Tip #7 Relax!
The island is absolutely beautiful and a very relaxing place to be. Since the wedding day is so busy and stressful it is important for the bride and groom to slip away the day before the wedding for several hours to simply relax and enjoy being in such a fabulous location to exchange vows. The bride and groom can relax, take pleasure in the island, and really benefit from some relaxation before the big day!
Kauai Wedding Tip #8 Talk to the Minister
Before the wedding day the bride and groom should meet with the minister to make sure the minister's vows are appropriate for the wedding and convey the sentiments the bride and groom wish to convey on their wedding day. Additionally, if the bride and groom have written their own vows this is a good time to make the minister aware and go over any last details. Also, meeting the minister before the wedding will make everyone more comfortable and the ceremony more sincere.
Kauai Wedding Tip #9 Date
Remember before planning your wedding date and mailing invitations with that particular date for your Kauai wedding to have the minister, location, hotels and everything booked so you know 100% that your wedding has all the elements necessary and all are available. During the summer months, which are popular wedding months, hotels and event locations are booked up solid, so if you don't plan ahead by many months you may find yourself with a wedding planned for a specific date, but no chapel, hotel room, or anything else to accommodate the wedding or guests.
Kauai Wedding Tip #10 Packing
After you make the list of things to pack, revise the list again, and again. This way you will remember anything that might have been forgotten and will give you time to buy any of the necessities and pack them. Also, when packing, check the items off your list so you know you have them and they have been packed. This will eliminate confusion as well as the event where you unpack everything to see if you did indeed remember to pack your garter belt or not. Make a list and check it off.
There are many Kauai wedding tips, but these are just a few that will help you plan your Kauai wedding and thoroughly enjoying becoming man and wife in one of the world's most beautiful locations.
About Styles Of Wedding Dresses
There are many different styles of wedding dresses, almost as many styles of wedding dresses as there are shapes of women. No two women are shaped the same and that is why it is so important to get wedding dresses tailored to fit the bride. This often costs more money but it is well worth it if you want to look your best as you walk down the aisle. This should be the goal of all wedding dresses, to highlight all of the brides best features and attributes.
The styles of wedding dresses change with the seasons but there are a few classic styles that will never get old or go out of style. The classic A line dress is one of the wedding dresses. Of all the wedding dresses on the market today A line wedding dresses are the best. These wedding dresses look good on any woman, no matter what she looks like and what she weighs. It is the A line wedding dresses that flatter every woman alike. This cannot be said for any other of the wedding dresses out there.
When you first go shopping for wedding dresses you will want to have a sit down with the bridal consultant at the bridal boutique. He or she will be able to give you some helpful advice about which of the wedding dresses will flatter you the most. These consultants are so useful when you are looking at wedding dresses.
You should also try on all kinds of different wedding dresses just to make sure that you choose the perfect one. You need to try all of these wedding dresses to find the one that is the most comfortable and the one that will make you feel the most like a queen. That is what wedding dresses need to do, make you feel like one of a kind because that is what you are and that is why your husband to be loves you so much.
The wedding dresses that you try on can be of any color. White is the most common color of wedding dresses but there is no reason that you have to stick with it. If you want a bright red wedding dress then you should have it that is your right as a bride. If the wedding dresses you are trying on are not what you are looking for you should let your bridal consultant know. This consultant will go through all of the wedding dresses in their boutique in order to try to find the one that you will like. They can also show you some wedding dresses from their catalogs. If you see some that you think you might like your boutique should be able to order in these wedding dresses.
Your bridal boutique should be able to deal with all of your concerns with wedding dresses. If they are not then you might want to think about looking for wedding dresses elsewhere.
The styles of wedding dresses change with the seasons but there are a few classic styles that will never get old or go out of style. The classic A line dress is one of the wedding dresses. Of all the wedding dresses on the market today A line wedding dresses are the best. These wedding dresses look good on any woman, no matter what she looks like and what she weighs. It is the A line wedding dresses that flatter every woman alike. This cannot be said for any other of the wedding dresses out there.
When you first go shopping for wedding dresses you will want to have a sit down with the bridal consultant at the bridal boutique. He or she will be able to give you some helpful advice about which of the wedding dresses will flatter you the most. These consultants are so useful when you are looking at wedding dresses.
You should also try on all kinds of different wedding dresses just to make sure that you choose the perfect one. You need to try all of these wedding dresses to find the one that is the most comfortable and the one that will make you feel the most like a queen. That is what wedding dresses need to do, make you feel like one of a kind because that is what you are and that is why your husband to be loves you so much.
The wedding dresses that you try on can be of any color. White is the most common color of wedding dresses but there is no reason that you have to stick with it. If you want a bright red wedding dress then you should have it that is your right as a bride. If the wedding dresses you are trying on are not what you are looking for you should let your bridal consultant know. This consultant will go through all of the wedding dresses in their boutique in order to try to find the one that you will like. They can also show you some wedding dresses from their catalogs. If you see some that you think you might like your boutique should be able to order in these wedding dresses.
Your bridal boutique should be able to deal with all of your concerns with wedding dresses. If they are not then you might want to think about looking for wedding dresses elsewhere.
The Meaning Of Different Wedding Flowers
If you plan to walk down the aisle anytime soon, you should be aware that the flowers you carry might say more than you intended.
That's right; most flowers carry a meaning, or a special significance that has been passed down from generation to generation.
We can trace this "flower talk" back to the Victorian Era. It was improper in those days for a man to come out and tell a lady how he felt, so he would choose a flower with special meaning and send it her instead. Because the meaning of flowers was so well known, the woman receiving them understood the message as clearly as if it was written on a piece of paper.
Today, many people don't speak "flower talk," but on a day as important as your wedding, you should place a special emphasis on what the flowers that you carry mean.
Let's start by looking at a few of the most popular wedding flowers, and then examine their meanings.
Roses
There is a reason that roses are the most popular choice of flowers for brides. A white rose stands for innocence, beauty and charm-just the traits every bride wants to portray. A bride that chooses red roses for her wedding flowers is sending a message of passion and of fiery love. If dark pink roses are used for a wedding, the couple is expressing a thankfulness that they found each other. An ivy colored rose stands for fidelity in the marriage-something every new couple strives for.
Tulips
If you are having a spring wedding, there is simply no better way to express your love for your future spouse than by carrying a bouquet of tulips. They are not only beautiful, but speak of an undying love.
Daisies
Daisies are many people's favorite flower, but not a lot of brides use them in their wedding décor. They might if they understood their significance! Daisies stand for romance and an innocent spirit. Does that describe you?
Calla Lilies
These graceful flowers are reminders of our past generations when grace and beauty were the rule. Associated with elegance and charm, a calla lily would be the perfect flower if you wanted to create a sophisticated atmosphere for your wedding.
Now that we've looked at some of the most popular flowers, let's talk about how to use them to create just the right wedding event for you.
If you want a fairy tale type wedding, then you can't go wrong with roses-lots of them - Combine pinks-both dark and soft -and white and ivy colored ones. Be sure to wrap them in lots of sparkling tulle that matches the other colors in your wedding.
For a more sophisticated affair, use calla lilies. You can carry a single stem for a simple look, or a large bouquet for a stunning effect. Be sure to combine these flowers with elegance-both in the wedding party's attire and the surrounding decorations.
For a more casual event-such as a beach wedding-use daisies to make your guests feel cheery and at home. You can tie them with pretty ribbons that match the other colors in your wedding's décor, and then mix them with loads of baby's breath.
Finally, there simply is no better flower for a garden wedding than the tulip. Choose soft pastel colors to create a spring wedding, and then combine them with lots of feathery greenery, white linen and adoring looks!
As you can see, the flowers that you choose for your wedding will definitely set the mood. Knowing that, before you select your flowers, determine what type of wedding and reception event you want to have. Once you do that, choosing the flowers will be a breeze!
That's right; most flowers carry a meaning, or a special significance that has been passed down from generation to generation.
We can trace this "flower talk" back to the Victorian Era. It was improper in those days for a man to come out and tell a lady how he felt, so he would choose a flower with special meaning and send it her instead. Because the meaning of flowers was so well known, the woman receiving them understood the message as clearly as if it was written on a piece of paper.
Today, many people don't speak "flower talk," but on a day as important as your wedding, you should place a special emphasis on what the flowers that you carry mean.
Let's start by looking at a few of the most popular wedding flowers, and then examine their meanings.
Roses
There is a reason that roses are the most popular choice of flowers for brides. A white rose stands for innocence, beauty and charm-just the traits every bride wants to portray. A bride that chooses red roses for her wedding flowers is sending a message of passion and of fiery love. If dark pink roses are used for a wedding, the couple is expressing a thankfulness that they found each other. An ivy colored rose stands for fidelity in the marriage-something every new couple strives for.
Tulips
If you are having a spring wedding, there is simply no better way to express your love for your future spouse than by carrying a bouquet of tulips. They are not only beautiful, but speak of an undying love.
Daisies
Daisies are many people's favorite flower, but not a lot of brides use them in their wedding décor. They might if they understood their significance! Daisies stand for romance and an innocent spirit. Does that describe you?
Calla Lilies
These graceful flowers are reminders of our past generations when grace and beauty were the rule. Associated with elegance and charm, a calla lily would be the perfect flower if you wanted to create a sophisticated atmosphere for your wedding.
Now that we've looked at some of the most popular flowers, let's talk about how to use them to create just the right wedding event for you.
If you want a fairy tale type wedding, then you can't go wrong with roses-lots of them - Combine pinks-both dark and soft -and white and ivy colored ones. Be sure to wrap them in lots of sparkling tulle that matches the other colors in your wedding.
For a more sophisticated affair, use calla lilies. You can carry a single stem for a simple look, or a large bouquet for a stunning effect. Be sure to combine these flowers with elegance-both in the wedding party's attire and the surrounding decorations.
For a more casual event-such as a beach wedding-use daisies to make your guests feel cheery and at home. You can tie them with pretty ribbons that match the other colors in your wedding's décor, and then mix them with loads of baby's breath.
Finally, there simply is no better flower for a garden wedding than the tulip. Choose soft pastel colors to create a spring wedding, and then combine them with lots of feathery greenery, white linen and adoring looks!
As you can see, the flowers that you choose for your wedding will definitely set the mood. Knowing that, before you select your flowers, determine what type of wedding and reception event you want to have. Once you do that, choosing the flowers will be a breeze!
Planning A Las Vegas Wedding?
A Las Vegas wedding can be fast, but it can also be wonderful. There really is no reason why you shouldn’t have all of your dreams and expectations met in your wedding even if it is in Las Vegas. You will be impressed time and time again with the sheer beauty that Vegas can offer you. And, you will be able to plan just what you want to do, how you want to do it, and make it meaningful in your own special way. For all of those planning a Las Vegas wedding, read on!
Las Vegas weddings are known for being fast and simple. But, if you want to enjoy yourself while you are there and even plan your wedding day, you can do so. First of all, it doesn’t have to be fast and easy. It can be beautiful and elaborate if that is what you want it to be. Here are some planning tips for you to consider:
Plan you Las Vegas wedding as soon as you can. Okay, so we know that many of these weddings are simply fast marriages, but even doing so a few weeks in advance will save you time and money along the way.
Think about what you would like to get out of your wedding and look for the right combination of elements. If you want that Elivis wedding, by all means have it. But, if you would like something romantic and peaceful, well, that’s there as well.
Use the internet as your guide to planning your Las Vegas wedding. Yes, you can plan each thing you would like on your wedding day right on the web. Take the time to check out your options. Explore the chapels, the restaurants, the shows and maybe even the casinos.
Enjoying a Las Vegas wedding is simple when you take the time to plan the aspects of it. You will be happy and excited, but you will also feel fulfilled as well! Make it memorable. Make it happen in a Las Vegas wedding!
Las Vegas weddings are known for being fast and simple. But, if you want to enjoy yourself while you are there and even plan your wedding day, you can do so. First of all, it doesn’t have to be fast and easy. It can be beautiful and elaborate if that is what you want it to be. Here are some planning tips for you to consider:
Plan you Las Vegas wedding as soon as you can. Okay, so we know that many of these weddings are simply fast marriages, but even doing so a few weeks in advance will save you time and money along the way.
Think about what you would like to get out of your wedding and look for the right combination of elements. If you want that Elivis wedding, by all means have it. But, if you would like something romantic and peaceful, well, that’s there as well.
Use the internet as your guide to planning your Las Vegas wedding. Yes, you can plan each thing you would like on your wedding day right on the web. Take the time to check out your options. Explore the chapels, the restaurants, the shows and maybe even the casinos.
Enjoying a Las Vegas wedding is simple when you take the time to plan the aspects of it. You will be happy and excited, but you will also feel fulfilled as well! Make it memorable. Make it happen in a Las Vegas wedding!
8 Tips For Picking The Perfect Wedding Dress
When little girls spend their math classes daydreaming of weddings (instead of winning the World Series -- not to say you can't do both), what do they dream of first? The perfect wedding dress, of course: a gown in white satin with a bustle and sweeping train, the perfect embellishments, and the perfect shoes.
There are few occasions in our modern world where a woman finds herself in a position to wear a no-holds-barred ball gown, much less a crystal tiara, and all too many where she's called on to wear to a neutral suit or uninspiring "biz-caz" combo. No wonder that with so many brides, their wedding plans start with the dress.
Many of these brides are lucky. They may search high and low, braving chilly department stores and pushy bridal shops, but eventually they come face-to-face with The One. They know this is The One because they start crying, or their mother or friends all start crying at once. Suddenly the rest of the planning ... the theme, the tone, the right kind of venues ... it all springs to life.
Other brides aren't as fortunate. They've searched just as hard, working their way through shops across three or four states, but they haven't found The One. Instead, they've found three or four Contenders, all of which are serviceable and nice, but not earth-shattering enough to tell them that now is definitely time to stop the searching and get on with the planning. These brides have it harder.
Even if you're the first kind of bride, buying the dress is such a momentous decision that you run a risk of falling into that wallet-skinning category known as the Two-Dress Bride. Here are some tips for picking the perfect dress and avoiding that awful fate.
1. Bring the entourage, but don't buy. It's fun and useful to bring your mother, friends or sisters on the dress-shopping expedition. It gives you a buffer against an overbearing sales staff, and it's fun to see if your impressions of perfection are shared by your loved ones, not to mention how they'll love being part of such an important decision. But no matter how enthusiastic everyone gets over a certain dress, don't buy in the heat of the moment. Give yourself time to reconsider and buy with a cool head later, alone. The vast majority of dresses are non-returnable, so when you've bought it, you've bought it.
2. Don't buy too early unless you must. Bridal gowns can take four to ten months to come from the manufacturer, but there's no reason to buy over a year ahead of time, unless your chosen style is going to be discontinued. Give yourself some time to sit on your decision. Once you pick a gown, you'll see a hundred others nearly like it. You'll become a walking encyclopedia on that style of gown. All the better if you still have room to choose.
3. If you've bought "The One," stop shopping. Any more window-shopping at this point will only lead you down the road toward the dreary land of Two-Dress Brides. What you need to do instead is remember that blissful feeling of having tried on The One. Go get The One out of the closet, put it on and stand in front of the mirror. You'll remember exactly why it's The One.
4. If you've bought "The One" and can't stop shopping, get a second opinion. Show your first and second choices to other brides. Be honest -- tell them you've already remortgaged your condo for the first dress, but you think this second dress might be It. They'll be truthful, too -- the first one was better. You'll feel reassured.
5. Don't tell yourself "I'll sell the old dress and choose a new one." This old saw of the Two-Dress Bride just won't work. You'll never get more than a fraction of what you paid for your first dress if you bought it new.
6. Don't be afraid to aim high -- no matter what your budget. Some brides knew from the start they wanted a designer label, but life just didn't cooperate by making them heiresses. Yet all is not lost if you're willing to shop courageously. At any given moment, a better-heeled bride is selling her once-used St. Pucchi or Ulla-Maija on eBay. She paid thousands upon thousands, but you, smart shopper, will pay half that or less. To take this road, you must shop earlier than other brides so you'll have a choice of gowns. Always pay with a credit card so you'll have recourse if the dress doesn't arrive in acceptable condition, and again, shop early so you can buy another if necessary. Shop courageously, but not recklessly.
7. Shop online, but never send a check. Bridal gown businesses sometimes have a way of disappearing overnight. No matter what the proprietor tells you, never make a purchase as large as a wedding gown without the chargeback protection of a credit card. If they say they can't take plastic, move on.
8. Don't hold out forever for The One. Some brides never find The One. What they do find is a few dresses they look beautiful in. If you're this bride, try starting your planning from the theme instead of the dress. You'll probably eventually get sick to death of dress shopping. When that happens, "good enough" really will be good enough. Concentrate on other aspects of the wedding that mean a lot to you, like the venue, the food, or the inevitable adoration of your soon-to-be husband.
There are few occasions in our modern world where a woman finds herself in a position to wear a no-holds-barred ball gown, much less a crystal tiara, and all too many where she's called on to wear to a neutral suit or uninspiring "biz-caz" combo. No wonder that with so many brides, their wedding plans start with the dress.
Many of these brides are lucky. They may search high and low, braving chilly department stores and pushy bridal shops, but eventually they come face-to-face with The One. They know this is The One because they start crying, or their mother or friends all start crying at once. Suddenly the rest of the planning ... the theme, the tone, the right kind of venues ... it all springs to life.
Other brides aren't as fortunate. They've searched just as hard, working their way through shops across three or four states, but they haven't found The One. Instead, they've found three or four Contenders, all of which are serviceable and nice, but not earth-shattering enough to tell them that now is definitely time to stop the searching and get on with the planning. These brides have it harder.
Even if you're the first kind of bride, buying the dress is such a momentous decision that you run a risk of falling into that wallet-skinning category known as the Two-Dress Bride. Here are some tips for picking the perfect dress and avoiding that awful fate.
1. Bring the entourage, but don't buy. It's fun and useful to bring your mother, friends or sisters on the dress-shopping expedition. It gives you a buffer against an overbearing sales staff, and it's fun to see if your impressions of perfection are shared by your loved ones, not to mention how they'll love being part of such an important decision. But no matter how enthusiastic everyone gets over a certain dress, don't buy in the heat of the moment. Give yourself time to reconsider and buy with a cool head later, alone. The vast majority of dresses are non-returnable, so when you've bought it, you've bought it.
2. Don't buy too early unless you must. Bridal gowns can take four to ten months to come from the manufacturer, but there's no reason to buy over a year ahead of time, unless your chosen style is going to be discontinued. Give yourself some time to sit on your decision. Once you pick a gown, you'll see a hundred others nearly like it. You'll become a walking encyclopedia on that style of gown. All the better if you still have room to choose.
3. If you've bought "The One," stop shopping. Any more window-shopping at this point will only lead you down the road toward the dreary land of Two-Dress Brides. What you need to do instead is remember that blissful feeling of having tried on The One. Go get The One out of the closet, put it on and stand in front of the mirror. You'll remember exactly why it's The One.
4. If you've bought "The One" and can't stop shopping, get a second opinion. Show your first and second choices to other brides. Be honest -- tell them you've already remortgaged your condo for the first dress, but you think this second dress might be It. They'll be truthful, too -- the first one was better. You'll feel reassured.
5. Don't tell yourself "I'll sell the old dress and choose a new one." This old saw of the Two-Dress Bride just won't work. You'll never get more than a fraction of what you paid for your first dress if you bought it new.
6. Don't be afraid to aim high -- no matter what your budget. Some brides knew from the start they wanted a designer label, but life just didn't cooperate by making them heiresses. Yet all is not lost if you're willing to shop courageously. At any given moment, a better-heeled bride is selling her once-used St. Pucchi or Ulla-Maija on eBay. She paid thousands upon thousands, but you, smart shopper, will pay half that or less. To take this road, you must shop earlier than other brides so you'll have a choice of gowns. Always pay with a credit card so you'll have recourse if the dress doesn't arrive in acceptable condition, and again, shop early so you can buy another if necessary. Shop courageously, but not recklessly.
7. Shop online, but never send a check. Bridal gown businesses sometimes have a way of disappearing overnight. No matter what the proprietor tells you, never make a purchase as large as a wedding gown without the chargeback protection of a credit card. If they say they can't take plastic, move on.
8. Don't hold out forever for The One. Some brides never find The One. What they do find is a few dresses they look beautiful in. If you're this bride, try starting your planning from the theme instead of the dress. You'll probably eventually get sick to death of dress shopping. When that happens, "good enough" really will be good enough. Concentrate on other aspects of the wedding that mean a lot to you, like the venue, the food, or the inevitable adoration of your soon-to-be husband.
Planning A Wedding On A Budget
Weddings are expensive. I learned this myself three years ago when my wife and I were married. We only had about 60 guests, but when you add up the ceremony, reception, music, photographer, video, limos, tuxedoes and dresses, we still ended up spending over $15,000.
If you are planning on getting married in the near future, you should begin thinking about what is most important to you now. Sit down with your significant other and make a list of everything that you would like to have and rank them. Decide what you could live without, what you would really like to have, and what you absolutely must have. This will help you prioritize when it comes to allocating money.
Here are some things to consider if you are planning a wedding on a budget:
Food - Price and quality do not always go together when it comes to food. I've been to expensive weddings with horrible food (we once left so dissatisfied that we stopped at Burger King on the way home). And I have been to low budget weddings where the food was delicious. It's very important to ask around for opinions and if possible go for a tasting before choosing a caterer. Also, buffets are generally less expensive than a sit down dinner.
Location - If you are looking to save money, consider having your ceremony in a park or other outside area, even a friend's backyard.
Time - Weekend evenings are the busiest time for weddings and you will pay a premium for them. We got married on a Sunday at noon and it cost us half the rate of a Sunday evening wedding. We could never have afforded the evening wedding at such a nice place.
Music - DJs are generally much cheaper than live bands. Or if money is especially tight, consider not having music or just playing your own. A friend of our's had a sit down dinner for about 20 guests when she got married. There was no dancing but we all had a great time.
Flowers - Prices for flowers can vary wildly from florist to florist. It really pays to shop around. Also, if you use flowers that are in season and available locally you will save money. Out of season flowers have to be shipped from other parts of the world and you will pay considerably extra for them.
Photographs - Pictures are a sentimental memento of your wedding day and I encourage you to have pictures taken. But the cost can be prohibitive. A professional photographer will cost several thousand dollars. Prices will vary depending on the size of your package.
A less expensive option is to buy a bunch of disposable cameras and leave one on each table so your guests can take pictures for you. The downsides are low quality and lack of the ability to control the pictures taken. If you use a professional you can give her a list of the photos that you can't live without.
Video - Prices and quality vary with videographers as well. My wife watches our video all the time so it was well worth the cost. But if you are planning a wedding on a budget you can probably live without it.
Limos - Skip the Hummer or Rolls Royce models and stick with a standard limo and you'll save considerably.
If you are planning on getting married in the near future, you should begin thinking about what is most important to you now. Sit down with your significant other and make a list of everything that you would like to have and rank them. Decide what you could live without, what you would really like to have, and what you absolutely must have. This will help you prioritize when it comes to allocating money.
Here are some things to consider if you are planning a wedding on a budget:
Food - Price and quality do not always go together when it comes to food. I've been to expensive weddings with horrible food (we once left so dissatisfied that we stopped at Burger King on the way home). And I have been to low budget weddings where the food was delicious. It's very important to ask around for opinions and if possible go for a tasting before choosing a caterer. Also, buffets are generally less expensive than a sit down dinner.
Location - If you are looking to save money, consider having your ceremony in a park or other outside area, even a friend's backyard.
Time - Weekend evenings are the busiest time for weddings and you will pay a premium for them. We got married on a Sunday at noon and it cost us half the rate of a Sunday evening wedding. We could never have afforded the evening wedding at such a nice place.
Music - DJs are generally much cheaper than live bands. Or if money is especially tight, consider not having music or just playing your own. A friend of our's had a sit down dinner for about 20 guests when she got married. There was no dancing but we all had a great time.
Flowers - Prices for flowers can vary wildly from florist to florist. It really pays to shop around. Also, if you use flowers that are in season and available locally you will save money. Out of season flowers have to be shipped from other parts of the world and you will pay considerably extra for them.
Photographs - Pictures are a sentimental memento of your wedding day and I encourage you to have pictures taken. But the cost can be prohibitive. A professional photographer will cost several thousand dollars. Prices will vary depending on the size of your package.
A less expensive option is to buy a bunch of disposable cameras and leave one on each table so your guests can take pictures for you. The downsides are low quality and lack of the ability to control the pictures taken. If you use a professional you can give her a list of the photos that you can't live without.
Video - Prices and quality vary with videographers as well. My wife watches our video all the time so it was well worth the cost. But if you are planning a wedding on a budget you can probably live without it.
Limos - Skip the Hummer or Rolls Royce models and stick with a standard limo and you'll save considerably.
Finding The Honey In Honeymoon Lingerie
Imagine the scene: Your bedroom is illuminated with the smoldering glow of a hundred scented candles, you have soft music playing in the background, the champagne is chilling, and you've covered the bed in rose petals and teensy-weensy heart shaped chocolates (OK, cut the chocolates, they may get messy unless you eat them first!)
Feeling luxuriously languid in your silk negligee, you lounge against the bedroom door, caressing the door jamb like it's a small fluffy puppy. A gentle intake of breath... Yes, you've attracted his attention and he turns slowly to eye you from top to toe. "Could you turn the music down, love? I can't hear the game."
Now if this was your honeymoon, I'd be checking out the pre-nup by now. But thankfully (or hopefully, whichever is the case) this scenario may well be what you'll come to expect down the track if you don't keep your own on the ball (so to speak!)
Because unfortunately gals, unless you are one of the infinitesimal number of lucky women who finds herself with a really-truly romantic kinda guy, it's up to us to keep the spice in the hot pot we call romance. And certainly the time to put those ingredients on to boil is during your honeymoon.
Whoever said "If love is blind, then why is lingerie so popular?" certainly knew what he (or she) was talking about. Your honeymoon is that strange hiatus between the fairytale of your wedding day and the soap-opera that will become real married life. It's a time to get to know each other - intimately.
And that, my friends, is why honeymoon lingerie is one of the most successful and popular items currently bought on the Internet. And I said "bought', not "ogled at"!
Young women in their droves are searching online honeymoon lingerie sites looking for that one special item (or maybe more if your heart and wallet desires) that may get your man to take his hands off the remote control and on to you.
The secret to buying the perfect honeymoon lingerie is to compromise (and isn't that what marriage is all about?) between what makes you feel fabulous, flirty, sexy and ready for anything and what your man loves to see you in - besides nothing at all! There's simply not much point in organza and French Chantilly lace if you rock your new hubby's socks when you are wearing his Y-fronts with his 20-year-old Rangers T-shirt. A suitable compromise might be a perky DKNY cotton cami and boy-leg shorts set.
Similarly, you don't want to permanently damage the delicate psyche of your romantic-at-heart if you appear on Day 2 of your honeymoon in your pilled and tattered trakky. He's going to wonder if he married his Juliet or a grunge-band junkie.
Honeymoon lingerie has come out of the closet (so to speak!) and gone uptown in an array of colors and styles that would suit even the most coy of new brides. If the whole white lacy suspender-and-stockings-number makes you want to run to the nearest divorce lawyer, you'll be thrilled with the latest range of honeymoon lingerie available online.
"New brides are becoming color conscious - purchasing lingerie in a rainbow of colors is the trend. We are seeing honeymooners purchase sexy, classic and gorgeous lingerie for their "big day" and "afterwards", not restricting themselves to the traditional white or black any more," says Jeanine Brown from the funky and fashionable online lingerie store www.cheekyedge.com."Aqua and red were the most popular colors this past season and pale greens, lilacs and soft baby pinks are currently popular."
So, there you have it. From sexy, sporty cropped tops and boy-leg shorts, to the glamour of a silk peignoir; from cheeky, flirty baby-dolls to the sultry seductiveness of black teddies, honeymoon lingerie offers you so many choices, it would take a strong woman to stop at one. But then you did choose just one marriage partner, so now all you have to tackle is that remote. . .
Feeling luxuriously languid in your silk negligee, you lounge against the bedroom door, caressing the door jamb like it's a small fluffy puppy. A gentle intake of breath... Yes, you've attracted his attention and he turns slowly to eye you from top to toe. "Could you turn the music down, love? I can't hear the game."
Now if this was your honeymoon, I'd be checking out the pre-nup by now. But thankfully (or hopefully, whichever is the case) this scenario may well be what you'll come to expect down the track if you don't keep your own on the ball (so to speak!)
Because unfortunately gals, unless you are one of the infinitesimal number of lucky women who finds herself with a really-truly romantic kinda guy, it's up to us to keep the spice in the hot pot we call romance. And certainly the time to put those ingredients on to boil is during your honeymoon.
Whoever said "If love is blind, then why is lingerie so popular?" certainly knew what he (or she) was talking about. Your honeymoon is that strange hiatus between the fairytale of your wedding day and the soap-opera that will become real married life. It's a time to get to know each other - intimately.
And that, my friends, is why honeymoon lingerie is one of the most successful and popular items currently bought on the Internet. And I said "bought', not "ogled at"!
Young women in their droves are searching online honeymoon lingerie sites looking for that one special item (or maybe more if your heart and wallet desires) that may get your man to take his hands off the remote control and on to you.
The secret to buying the perfect honeymoon lingerie is to compromise (and isn't that what marriage is all about?) between what makes you feel fabulous, flirty, sexy and ready for anything and what your man loves to see you in - besides nothing at all! There's simply not much point in organza and French Chantilly lace if you rock your new hubby's socks when you are wearing his Y-fronts with his 20-year-old Rangers T-shirt. A suitable compromise might be a perky DKNY cotton cami and boy-leg shorts set.
Similarly, you don't want to permanently damage the delicate psyche of your romantic-at-heart if you appear on Day 2 of your honeymoon in your pilled and tattered trakky. He's going to wonder if he married his Juliet or a grunge-band junkie.
Honeymoon lingerie has come out of the closet (so to speak!) and gone uptown in an array of colors and styles that would suit even the most coy of new brides. If the whole white lacy suspender-and-stockings-number makes you want to run to the nearest divorce lawyer, you'll be thrilled with the latest range of honeymoon lingerie available online.
"New brides are becoming color conscious - purchasing lingerie in a rainbow of colors is the trend. We are seeing honeymooners purchase sexy, classic and gorgeous lingerie for their "big day" and "afterwards", not restricting themselves to the traditional white or black any more," says Jeanine Brown from the funky and fashionable online lingerie store www.cheekyedge.com."Aqua and red were the most popular colors this past season and pale greens, lilacs and soft baby pinks are currently popular."
So, there you have it. From sexy, sporty cropped tops and boy-leg shorts, to the glamour of a silk peignoir; from cheeky, flirty baby-dolls to the sultry seductiveness of black teddies, honeymoon lingerie offers you so many choices, it would take a strong woman to stop at one. But then you did choose just one marriage partner, so now all you have to tackle is that remote. . .
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