Choosing Your Wedding Vows

Just like anything else in your wedding, your vows can reflect on who you are. You may choose a traditional, a religious, a customized, an interfaith, a multilingual, the possibilities are endless. A “wedding vow” is a set of promises you and your groom make to each other during the wedding ceremony. In Western culture, the wedding vows customarily included the notions of unselfishness such as –love-, faithfulness -forsaking others-, unconditionality -in sickness and in health-, and permanence -until death do us part.

During your vows at the very least you must have an officiant and witnesses present. Traditionally, the groom pronounces his vows first, followed by the bride. The order can be changed; there is no law that sets the order in which the vows said. It is possible for the bride and groom to say the vows in unison to each other. Usually the couple will face each other and join hands for their vows.

Almost all wedding officiants allow you to customize your vows, and it should be discussed prior to the ceremony. If you are unsure about the wordage of your vows, ask your friends, family, and the officiant for some examples they’ve used in the past.

Sample Vows:

I, (your name), take you, (your name), to be my [opt: lawfully wedded] (husband/wife), my faithful friend, and partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of God, our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live.

I, (your name), take you, (your name), to be my friend, my lover, the (mother/father) of my children and my (husband/wife). I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph. I promise to cherish and respect you, to care and protect you, to comfort and encourage you, and stay with you, for all eternity.

Remember that you and your groom can say different vows.

String Quartets Still Outrank Djs In Class, Cost

While many brides are fretting over their wedding colors or centerpieces, they all have the same opinion regarding their wedding music.

String quartets are the number one choice of brides and grooms according to Chandler Judkins, owner of the most popular musician contractor company in Las Vegas called Las Vegas Wedding Music.

Las Vegas Wedding Music receives more requests for string quartets than any other music group, even though they offer dozens of options including jazz quartets, piano soloists, big bands, and more.

“Our string quartets alone have doubled, if not, tripled within the last two years,” Judkins said. “Las Vegas is fast becoming an elegant city to be married in and that means, more string quartets.”

DJs are known for their affordability and usually nothing more. So couples on a budget might hire a DJ to save a dime, but they are oftentimes disappointed in the service and atmosphere. Those same brides and grooms are quick to state that if they had the funds, a string quartet would be their number one choice of wedding music.

However, string quartets are also starting to outrank DJs in costs. In Las Vegas, DJ costs are skyrocketing and in many major wedding chapels, couples have to foot a $2,000 to $5,000 bill. Judkins thinks this is outrageous.

“Las Vegas Wedding Music will never gouge couples to make a buck just because this is Las Vegas,” Judkins said. “We want to promote live music so we keep our prices as low as possible. Any string quartet hired for a wedding should cost less than $1,000 for a few hours of performing, and if the quartet is only for the ceremony, it should cost less than $800.”

Judkins said that couples should check prices before making a commitment on their wedding music. Couples should also be careful because sometimes wedding coordinators aren’t always honest about live musician prices.

“It’s easier for wedding coordinators to use the same DJ for every wedding, so they don’t have to bother finding a band,” Judkins said. “So many times they state that a string quartet will cost a lot more because of the time they will end up putting in to find that string quartet. They often take a cut off the musician’s price because they have to work to find the perfect band.”

Judkins advises brides to find their own string quartet through a wedding musician contractor. That way they know the musicians will show up, they can hear sound demos of the band, and brides won’t have to pay a coordinator hidden costs to do the work for them.


“Those who come to me are the brides and grooms who truly know that nothing compares to live music for their wedding,” Judkins said. “No matter what DJs offer, they can never offer the same benefits that a live string quartet offers.”

Gifts For Your Wedding Guests

Coming up with distinctive wedding favor ideas is easier than you think. Historically, wedding favors were items with little or no value for wedding guests.

Today, more than ever there is a great variety of interesting wedding favors your guest will cherish. Wedding favors are a mainstay of the modern wedding celebration.

Personalized wedding favors are among the most popular guest gifts because, they more intimate. Brides want to make their guest feel special and a personalized wedding favor is the perfect gift. It is an opportunity for the bride and groom to give a small gift with their personalized message, such as “Thank you for sharing our special day!” with the bride and groom’s name and their wedding date. Personalized chocolates are among the most popular wedding favors. Chocolate wedding favors can have a dual role at your wedding reception. It can also server a seating card. Life Savers, candy tins, glass jars, bath gels, bath salts, soaps, candles and many other gifts are personalized for weddings.

Wedding favors can be beautiful while serving utility. One of the hottest wedding favor this year are glass coasters, heart shaped measuring spoons and bottle stopper. Bottle stoppers are a great wedding favor to please the wine lovers at your wedding reception.

Candles make a great wedding favor. They are attractive items in every shape and form that may be appropriate for your wedding. Rose candle wedding favors are among the most popular gifts.

Brides like to color coordinate, but the right wedding favors can event coordinate. Beach wedding favors are great for destination weddings. You can select beach themed wedding favor for a beach wedding. A prefect beach wedding favor such as seashell gel candle, or dolphin bottle stopper can greatly enhance the overall them of your wedding.

Wedding favors can be valuable gifts for your wedding guest. Wedding favors are beautiful tokens of appreciation that can add a special touch to the overall guest experience on your special day.

How To Make Great Wedding Invitations Yourself!

First impressions are important! Think about it. The first impression a friend has of what kind of wedding you will have is the little card that comes in the mail: the wedding invitation. If you want your wedding to be impressive, you must have a nice invitation. However, the budget of most weddings is usually taken up by the few expensive items, like the photographer and the caterer, while the invitations are left by the wayside.

Alright, nice invitations are a must, but who has the money for those? The reality is, cheap and discount wedding invitations don’t have to be poor quality, quarter-fold deskjet material anymore.

You can print non-streaking, nice looking invitations with a recent model printer and computer software that is relatively inexpensive. If you want a more modern invitation, with images, downloading clipart is a good way to go (clipart.com or google images). For a more formal look, pictures and clipart aren’t required, use any computer program or online templates.

First of all you’ll need card stock paper or something similar. Don’t use ordinary inkjet paper, as it is flimsy and feels cheap. For paper styles, use Vellum, Deluxe Parchment, Strathmore Natural White, Strathmore White, Laid Natural White, Laid White--something that feels heavy and sits well in your hand . Colored papers can be used as well, as a secondary matte behind the invitation and they can be tied together with white ribbon. The matte should be thicker than the paper on top of it.

Secondly, choose the proper wording for your sort of occasion (see our wedding template). Choose a font, downloadable off the internet, or one of the many choices on your card making program or word processor. Then, center the writing on the page for a formal look.

A border helps keep a collected feel, but is not necessary. Gold or silver borders are appropriate, but would require special stationery. Black is fine.

Think about adding creative touches, such as a video CD, hand made paper, or an engagement photo--being unique is one of the advantages of making your own wedding invitations.

Bridal Shower Games Ideas

So, your marriage is on the cards? It is time for a Bridal Shower Party! At the bridal shower party, family and friends will give gifts and lots of blessings for you.

The origin of the bridal shower is quite interesting and can be traced back to Holland. It is an old story which states that a Dutch girl fell in love with a miller who was very poor. When she told her father, he forbade their marriage. So the young lady decided to marry the miller and stayed with him, despite his poverty. As the neighbors heard about the news of them nearly starving, they came with help. They showered gifts and money on the newly married couple. From the money and gifts showered to the couple, they set up a good home and a good life for themselves. Since then, this tradition of bridal showers has been in practice. Though, today the celebrations of bridal shower are grand and all full of gaiety.

No bridal shower celebration is complete without bridal shower games. These games will add life to your party and keep the guests entertained.

Bridal shower games really get the party going. You can even be creative while setting the games for your bridal shower party. In fact the more bridal shower games you play the better. With today’s tradition of inviting friends, work colleagues and family members to a bridal shower, games can be great way to break the ice for people who don’t know each other.

Who Am I Bridal Shower Game
The game “Who Am I” adds smiles and vitality to the whole party with the added benefit of being a great first icebreaker.

To play this game, all you have to do is to prepare some index cards. On each card write a name of a famous personality. As soon as the guests arrive, attach a card to everyone’s back. Attach them in such a way that the guest is not able to see it, while the others can. Then start the real test. The guests have to ask each other for the clues, so that that they can know the name attached to their back. The first person to identify the correct name is the winner.

The Wedding Alphabet Game
The Wedding Alphabet Game is really fun. The game involves a combination of wit and intelligence. The game is simple; the host initiates the game by describing a wedding item, ritual or tradition starting from the letter ‘A’. They will include in their sentence the item or the culture starting from ‘A’. The next guest adds another item or anything after that sentence starting from ‘B’. This game continues as the sentences keep on building. If a person is unable to add an item of the letter they get, they drop out. The guest who stays longest wins the game.

Caught In the Middle Game
The bridal shower game “Caught in the Middle” promises to bring loads of laughter and activity to the party. The game is quite simple. Everybody is made to sit in a circle, then a bag is provided to one guest. As the music plays on, the guest has to pass it over to the other guest. This passing goes on till the music continues. As soon as the music stops, the one with the bag in their hand gets caught in the middle. As a penalty, they are asked to perform a dance, an imitation, a mono act or anything. This bridal shower game adds excitement to the party. It also brings out the latent talent of every guest that gets caught in the middle.

Charades
Charades is widely known and played all over the world. This game can be played anywhere and everywhere. The game involves intelligence and recognition power. There are two teams made out of the guests. One member of each team has to perform a mono act on the name of the actor or a movie given secretly to him. The guest only has to perform and not speak. The name of the character or the movie has to be guessed by his team. Within a time frame, if any team member guesses the correct name, his team gets a point. In the end the team with maximum points is declared as a winner.

These are just a few ideas for bridal shower games to help create a great mood for the bridal shower party. They can add excitement and joy to the whole party and are a good way to get everyone involved, as there will no doubt be guests who don’t know each other. So, get your party started with lots of bridal shower games.

How To Select A Wedding Videographer

I know some of you are probably saying to yourselves "I can't afford a videographer, I'll just have my uncle Bill do it for free.". Well actually Videography is not as expensive as you might think, and your uncle Bill should be a guest at your wedding having a good time and not having to work. Videography is one of those businesses that has benefited greatly by advances in technology. The equipment has become more readily available, better quality, easier to use, and more adaptable to the wedding environment.

Videography is one of those things that you get what you pay for. On the other hand, you don't have to pay a huge amount to get a great video. I have been a videographer since the old days when Super VHS cameras where the main camera in the industry. At that time the editing decks were also more expensive and more limited in their abilities. Today any good videographer worth his money is using a digital camera and a digital editor. There are a few things to consider when choosing a videographer; Price, Equipment, Choices, and last but certainly not least, personality.

Like I said before price is a big factor in everyone’s life, especially when it comes to a big ticket event like a wedding. You have hundreds of expenses, and countless choices as to what stays in and what goes out. Let me tell you that some times some people spend way too much on a photographer, and nothing at all on a videographer. That is not a very good choice. Photography is a very important things to have, don't get me wrong, but if you do some shopping around you can afford both. The beauty of video is that you don't have to rely on your recollection of the event by looking at motionless soundless still shots. You pop in your DVD, and instantly you are back at your wedding day. You can see yourself and your guests laughing and having fun. If any of your relatives are in another country or state and couldn’t make it to your wedding, you can send them the entire wedding on DVD instead of picking just a few pictures. We also specialize in making photo montages on DVD or VHS which are also very popular to send to relatives. On one DVD you can put hundreds of digital pictures. If you shop around a little you can find a professional videographer that will create a fantastic video for you at a reasonable price. We have packages starting at $350 and going up from there depending on how much you want done. I will warn you that some videographers think they are Spielberg and will want to charge you $5000. If your budget can accommodate that then that’s wonderful, but most people cannot. Most professional Videographers using 3 chip digital cameras as we do, and using computer non-linear editing software as we do, will charge you anywhere between $500 to $1000 for a wedding. Anything above or below that I suggest you give it a second look. If its too cheap then its someone just breaking into the business and you wont be happy with the results, and if its too high then you will probably be over paying.

The next thing you should look at is Equipment. Are they using the latest digital equipment or some dusty old cameras from the disco days and over charging for their work. Believe it or not there are still some Videographers out there using the old VHS cameras and selling themselves for top dollar. It's a case of caveat emptor (let the buyer beware). Find out what type of equipment they are using. The standard in the industry today is to use a 3 chip digital DV camera. DV Format is the best and Digital is obviously better then analog. The 3 chip refers to the inside of the camera having 3 separate computer chips that split up the visual spectrum and create a sharper and more vibrant image. For editing non-linear computer editing is the only way to go. Anything else is old and will not give you the most for your money.

Choices comes down to what will this company do for you. With our company for example we have packages that are suited to just about every budget, but since everyone is different we are able to customize each package to suit the needs of the client. With some companies the packages are written in stone and cannot be modified and there are no substitutions.

Personality is an easy one. Talk to the person who is actually going to shoot your wedding. Meet them, ask them questions Do you like them? Can you get along with them? Remember your wedding day is a very stressful day. You want to be surrounded by people whose personalities you can get along with. I believe you need all the professionals at your wedding to be team players. They all need to work together to make your day wonderful, yet get their individual jobs done. You don't want to be pulling out your hair because the person you hired to do a job doesn't know what to do. Hire someone who you feel comfortable with and who has experience. I myself have over 15 years experience as a wedding videographer and I can assure you that I have seen everything there is to see under the sun, and the only way to get through it is to keep a cool head.

In short, I just want to encourage you all to keep the video in your budget. Hire a professional company that is knowledgeable, and is reasonable priced, and that you feel comfortable with, and you will have a great video that you and your future kids and grandkids will enjoy. Best of luck.

Wedding Planning On The Web

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

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

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

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

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

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

Web Wedding Planning Alternatives

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

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

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

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

Web Wedding Planning Advantages

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

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

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

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

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

Tips On Choosing Your Wedding Invitations

This is your big day and you want everything to be absolutely perfect, so the invitation is the best way to send the right impression to your guests. You want to show the theme of your wedding as well as give important details, so there’s a lot to consider.

Setting the tone

If you’re a fun loving person, then there’s no need to pick a stodgy old wedding invitation. And why would you? You want to show your guests the real you (and that includes both soon-to-be spouses) as well as what they can expect for the events of the afternoon or evening.

Decide with your fiancé or fiancée what the overall theme of the wedding will be. If you’re stumped on that, perhaps you can choose more than one idea and figure out invitations for each. A lot of couples will actually choose a theme from the invitation, rather than the other way around.

Not only are the pictures or illustrations on the invitation a way to show guests the colors and the atmosphere, but the wording can be a sign as well. By choosing casual phrases like ‘May 28’ instead of the ‘28th of May in the Year of Our Lord,’ you can signal to the recipient that your reception and ceremony may be a little less formal.

Buying or making?

Of course, you may have looked in various bridal magazines or at print shops for wedding ideas, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to purchase them. A lot of couples decide that they want to make their own and add another personal touch to their wedding affair.

But for the busy couple, having your invitations made to order is the best course of action. By looking at samples and choosing the wording that you would like, the invitations will be personalized (even the envelopes can be printed for your convenience), so all you have to do is buy stamps and find the nearest mailbox.

If you have a little more time and patience, then you may want to consider creating your own wedding invitation. You will find that this process takes a bit longer than you think, but the results are tremendous.

Sit down with that book of samples for the printed invitations and see if there are any that you like, and can duplicate. Many times you can even use a home computer to do the printing for you.

5 Tips To Select The Best Wedding Reception Location

Being disc jockeys, we get the opportunity to evaluate many reception facilities while having little or no bias to "sell" one location over another. Most Brides and Grooms know where they will be holding the ceremony before they decide where to have the reception, so we have compiled five observations that can help you when selecting your venue.

Distance - If people have to drive a long way to get from the ceremony to the reception, some will get distracted or decide to do something else. Try to keep the reception within a 15 to 30 minute drive of your ceremony. If it is not possible to get a reception hall close to your ceremony, make a caravan. Have the Bride and Groom lead the parade, and people will follow you to your reception.

Time - Time is just like the distance issue. If your reception is several hours after the ceremony, people will get busy doing other things and not show up for the reception. Try to start the reception within an hour or two of the ceremony. If you don't want to start your wedding dance at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, have a Meet and Greet mixer before your reception. Serve some punch and get people to mingle. This will be one of the few times that both families will be together. Encourage family members to share stories about your childhoods.

Size - People like their personal space, and they have most likely spent an hour packed into a church for your ceremony. If you let them spread out, they will enjoy themselves more. Make sure your reception hall has plenty of room for your guests. The people renting the location might tell you it holds 200 people, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will hold 200 people comfortably! Make sure to visit the venue before booking.

Climate Control - Having a summer wedding? Is your reception hall air conditioned? If people sweat while just sitting, they won't dance. On the flip side, if they are cold they won't dance either (who wants to dance in a parka?). Also make sure you know who has control of the thermostat so the temperature can be adjusted if needed. Chances are your reception will be warm and stuffy while all the guest are there, but as they trickle out during the night the room will begin to cool down.

Smoking - This is a hot button issue, but if your reception hall is non-smoking, you can fully expect smoker's to leave your reception for 15-30 minutes every hour. If enough of them leave the reception area, you may find a large percentage of your guest just hanging out in the smoking area. This can be a big problem if you have many smokers in your wedding party. You don't have to allow smoking, but it is something you should consider, especially if anyone has any health problems like asthma or allergies that could be triggered by smoke. If you decide not to allow smoking in the reception area, how close is the nearest place for a smoker to go? Is it close enough that you will be able to get needed wedding party members during events like the bouquet toss or garter auction?

Facility coordinators will no doubt bring up several other factors for you to consider when you interview them for your booking, but these are often missed items, especially if they don't favor the potential venue. If you keep the overall picture in mind and work with your wedding planner or event coordinator on the decorating ideas, you will no doubt have an enjoyable and memorable wedding reception.

Are You Wondering About Bridesmaid Gifts?

Any wedding day will be full of memories, especially for the bride and groom. They, of course, are the key players, whether it is a formal or informal wedding. With a formal wedding, the months of planning may build up a high level of anticipation in not just the bride and groom, but also others who will also play key roles on the big day. To bridesmaids in particular, the lead up to the wedding day may be an exciting time. The bride and groom will undoubtedly want to commemorate the day for them with bridesmaid's gifts.

For sure, bridesmaids will appreciate at least a token gift to help them remember the day. As with any gift, what you choose as a bridesmaid gift will depend on budget and age. If anything, "older" bridesmaids are easier to choose for, as personalized silver or crystal, for example, and other more adult products, are more likely to be appreciated.

Younger bridesmaids, though, may turn out to be easier than you thought, whatever your budget. It is a matter of thinking about their tastes and interests and finding something appropriate. While it is traditional to give all bridesmaids the same gift, that does not necessarily have to be the case. After all, they have probably been forced into a uniform dress for the occasion, and if you have several, or many, bridesmaids then no doubt one or more were not too happy with the color or design, even if they are too polite to tell the bride.

Choosing the bridesmaid's gift may be a good time to redress the balance, and do something individual, a unique bridesmaid gift for each bridesmaid; unless, that is, you know the bridesmaids well enough to know that all will be happy with the same thing. At least by having the same gift, there is no danger of one bridesmaid being jealous of the other.

How, then, can you make each bridesmaid gift unique, without having to go out seeking an appropriate gift, the like of which you and your bridesmaids have never seen before? There are a couple of ways to add an individual and personal touch:

Engravable Gifts

Many items, including popular bridesmaid gift items such as jewelery, candles and candle holders, goblets, can either be engraved, embossed or have a medallion attached that can be engraved. Engraving gives you the opportunity to add an individual touch for each bridesmaid, thus acknowledging that each has played their own important part.

Bridesmaids of any age will appreciate something engraved with their name and those of the bride and groom, plus of course your personal message. If you have a wide variety of ages amongst your bridesmaids, then why not give each a different gift, appropriate for their age, but also engraved with their personal message.

If you have chosen jewelery, then you have a gift theme that can be applied to all ages, and be engraved at the same. Even young girls usually like jewelery, so you could be making your bridesmaids very happy, commemorating the occasion nicely, and making each gift choice unique.

Gift Baskets

Like jewelery, gift baskets can be made suitable for all ages of bridesmaid. If you choose an attractive and unusual basket, then even if the contents are consumable (such as chocolates) the girl will have the basket left as a memento of the wedding and her role as a bridesmaid.

With gift baskets, you can choose appropriate contents for each of your bridesmaids, whether they are 2 years old or 18; and you can even include an engraved gift inside to personalize it for her even more. So, baskets do really give a lot of scope for individuality and addressing the age problem. There are a good selection of customized gift baskets online for you to choose from.

Planning the wedding will be a big task that will preoccupy you if you are a bride or groom. But don’t forget to give a bit of thought to those bridesmaids for their part in your big day. They are sure to appreciate it.

Exclusive Wedding Gift Ideas

You are searching for a non-traditional wedding gift... You want something different that will elicit the oohs and aahs of everyone.

Of course, you could go to the couple's registry and pick something from there, but then your gift wouldn't be unique.

Here are some tips to help you come up with some great, unique wedding gift ideas.

Ask yourself these questions:

-what do you know about the couple?
-what do they like?
-where are they planning to spend their honeymoon?
-what's their personality?
-what is their lifestyle?

The answers to these questions can give you ideas for a gift that displays your thoughtfulness and care.

Here are just a few gift ideas to ponder:

1. Gift Certificates to a spa for the bride and groom are great before or after the wedding. The wedding day is often stressful, so you could offer a day at the spa to prepare them for the wedding day. Or, they could use it just after their honeymoon, as they prepare to resume their regular activities.

2. As an alternative for the day at the spa, you could give them a spa in a basket, including monogrammed robes, towels, and a few other relaxing items, like candles, bath and body lotions, some romantic music, and even engraved wine glasses accompanied by a bottle of wine for a special evening at home.

3. Keepsake Box - As time goes by, memories begin to fade, and what better and more unique gift than a special box where they can safely store all those precious mementos that become more cherished as the years go by? This box is perfect for things like: marriage license, special photos, place cards, vows, and all those other special keepsakes that often get lost as time passes.

4. Silver-Plated Picture Frames - the perfect way to display favorite photos of their special day. Have them engraved with the couple's names and the wedding date for a treasured memory.

5. Etched Glass Wedding Invitation - Have their wedding invitation, or other special verse engraved on a glass sculpture. This will be treasured for years to come, and definitely unique. Or, for a little variation, get the actual invitation, and mount it on a glass plate and finish it with matching colored paint.

6. Honeymoon Photo Album - this could be made out of wood, with something like "A Honeymoon to Remember" engraved on the cover: a perfect place to capture those wonderful honeymoon memories.

You are now ready to give the perfect wedding gift to your friends and family.

Wedding Countdown

Planning a successful wedding requires careful planning. We have created timeline for some of the most important elements of your wedding planning process.

1 year before your wedding day (or anytime after your engagement)

· Announce your engagement
· Determine the wedding date
· The bride and groom should introduce the parents, if they haven't already met
· Set your budget
· Hire the wedding planner
· Research possible reception sites
· Make a rough draft of the guest list
· Join a fitness club if you aren't already a member at one. Planning and going through your wedding is going to be a lot of fun, but you will need to be in good shape to handle the demands of the wedding planning process.
· Research your bridal shower favors and wedding favors

6-9 months before

· Decide on your caterer
· Hunt for your wedding gown
· Select your wedding party
· Book a DJ or a band
· Sign up with a bridal gift registry
· Shop for the bridal attendants' dresses
· Choose a florist
· Hire a photographer and a videographer

4-6 months before

· Finalize your wedding guest list
· Search for a hotel for your out of town guests
· Order your wedding invitations
· Purchase your wedding gown
· Call the bakeries or cake decorators in your area to check for date availability.
· Make travel arrangements for your honeymoon

2-4 months before

· Order your wedding favors
· Shop for your wedding bands
· Find out about your state's marriage license procedures
· Reserve or purchase the tuxedos for the groom and groomsmen
· If required by your state, get a blood test
· Finalize your wedding reception menu with your caterer
· Order you wedding cake
· Contact your ceremony site about your ceremony music
· Make arrangements about your reception music (DJ or band)
· Organize the rehearsal dinner
· Reserve tables and other necessary items with a party rental company

1-2 months before

· Run a complete test of your wedding makeup and hairdo. Invite some friends with you.
· Mail or deliver the wedding invitations

1-3 weeks before

· Complete the final seating chart for the wedding reception
· Contact photographer with the details of the ceremony and reception sites
· Provide your reception venue with a final head count based on the RSVPs received
· If necessary, make final adjustments to your wedding gown
· Facials should be booked for the bride, groom and bridesmaids
· Get your luggage ready for the honeymoon
· Your bridesmaid or a reliable friend should make sure the following items are promptly delivered: Toasting glasses, Band-Aids, Nail clippers, Cake knife, Emergency sewing kit

Last minute

· Most importantly, relax. This is supposed to be a fun experience.
· You are about to experience one of the best days of your life.
· Welcome your out-of-town guests
· To help you relax, do some light physical exercise
· Have your hairstylist and makeup artist do their magic on you
· Keep smiling, it's your special day!

Wedding Reception Favors – A Welcome For Your Guests

Wedding reception favors are those small tokens that say so much. After the excitement of months of planning, you are finally married – now the fun can really begin! Wedding reception favors sit waiting for your guests at their table setting, inviting them to join in the fun with you. So choose your wedding reception favors carefully – they don’t have to be expensive, but they should be welcoming.

To nearly every couple, the wedding reception is as important as the ceremony itself, as this is when the bride and groom get to share their joy with their families and friends. Wedding reception favors are the couple’s first gesture towards their invited guests, and so convey an important message. Whether large or small, expensive or more thrifty, the ideal wedding reception favor should say welcome – come and join the fun.

There is no more welcoming wedding reception favor than something personal, something that reflects the bride and groom, and the relationship they share. Symbols of love are often chosen as wedding reception favors for this reason, and cheap wedding favors can include simple items, including heart shaped boxes and candies, ribbons and even confetti.

The secret of effective wedding reception favors is often simplicity – and this means that wedding favors don’t have to cost the earth. The embracing sense of welcome is conveyed as much in the arrangement of the table setting as the gift itself, and cheap wedding favors can be highly effective when arranged thoughtfully. Pretty stationery and wild flowers are as beautiful a wedding reception favor as a more expensive gift.

Every bride has spent hours reading bridal magazines, and has seen a multitude of beautiful table setting examples. The magic behind each and every one of these is not the expense with which wedding reception favors were purchased, but the care and creativity with which the settings were arranged.

So welcome your guests to your wedding party by choosing wedding reception favors that embody the happiness of your special day. Arrange your favors with thought and care to send your guests the welcoming message that wedding reception favors were created to convey.

Choose your wedding reception favors to make a special day.

Budgeting For Your Special Wedding Day

Getting married is still very much in vogue and with so much choice available for when where and how to get married, with careful planning you should be able to guarantee that your wedding day will indeed be a very special day.

Budgeting for that special wedding day is important as you could run up bills amounting to many thousands of pounds. Decide what you budget is at the outset, stick to it and don’t be swayed and end up spending more than you can afford.

Some of the biggest expenses will arise from the cost of the wedding attire with the bridal outfit accounting for a substantial sum of money. On top of that will be the costs of bridesmaid dresses, flowers, corsages and suit hire or purchase for the groom and best man. The wedding rings for the bride and groom will also be costly purchases as will the gifts for the bridesmaids and mums. The gifts given to the bridesmaid are usually pieces of jewellery and mums usually get lovely big bouquets of flowers.

Decide on how many people you are going to invite and then look at potential venues and catering costs and explore the alternatives. You don’t have to have a costly formal sit down meal when a more relaxed buffet style function may better suit your needs. If you do opt for formal you may choose to limit the number of people at the formal sit down meal to limit costs and then invite more guests to an evening buffet disco.

If you are getting married in church you will need to arrange some form of transport and there are many options such as Rolls Royces or maybe a horse drawn carriage.
The time of year that you are getting married may dictate many of the above, for instance you may not want arrive at a marquee in the middle of winter with the real likelihood of bad weather affecting your arrangements.

These days you can just about get married anywhere you choose and it doesn’t have to be in a church so you may be able to get married in the same venue where you are holding the reception. This will cut down on transport costs and you may get a better deal all round with an all inclusive package. Whether you choose a romantic castle in the Highlands of Scotland, a magnificent stately home or something more modest, remember stick to your budget and don’t be tempted to overspend.

Of course you and you future spouse may just decide to go abroad either alone or with a few friends and family and get married on a beach, up a mountain of even Las Vegas in Elvis Presley style. Tour operators will be very helpful in providing you with the correct advice and information about getting married abroad.

When choosing your exotic destination remember that some of the destinations we normally associate with glorious sunshine and beautiful beaches and scenery may have seasons where the weather may not be so predictable or kind. Beware of monsoon and hurricane seasons in particular.

Organising a wedding can be a very stressful affair but there are usually plenty of people that will be willing to help such as friends and family as well as wedding organisers if you want to leave everything to a professional. There are also many ways that you can get the information that you need to ensure your wedding day goes smoothly and to plan.
Whatever you decide, good luck, have fun, enjoy and make you wedding day a very special day.

Wedding Reception Music - Top Tips On Making Your Evening Wedding Party Unforgettable

Live music means involvement

A group of wedding guests usually comprises of two separate family groups that are only just beginning to get to know each other. Even within each family, there will perhaps be members who seldom see each other. The bride and groom will probably have separate sets of friends that have not yet had a chance to become really intimate. There's no two ways about it, in such a situation, live music is an excellent ice-breaker.

A tremendous party involves a great shared release of energy. To complete your special day in an unforgettable way, you'll want everyone on the dance-floor, laughing and dancing.

Live Music ... centre stage

The guys on the stage are going to lead your party. No matter what the style of music, an infectious sense of fun is an essential ingredient in getting a party going. If the band is having fun on stage, so will you on the dance-floor.

You need a band that wants to party as much as you do!

As in any human situation, a happy band of musicians is a well-looked-after one. Carefully think through the logistics of the event beforehand. As a rule of thumb, the larger the band, the longer the set-up time. A six-piece pop-band with a lighting rig can take up to two hours or more to set-up. Make sure the band have enough time to get their equipment in position. If the band has to set-up early and then wait while the wedding breakfast takes place, make sure that you provide a comfortable place for them to go ... and that they, too, have some refreshments (a plate of sandwiches and some drinks will usually suffice).

Including perhaps an hour or two's travelling to and from the gig, then the set-up and break-down, a wedding performance is a long day for the band. To get the very best from them at this important time for you, it's in your interest to make sure they are comfortable and well cared for.

Let your hair down and boogie

So which way do you want to party the night away? There are lots of options. Hot rhythm is the key to getting everyone out of their seats. Evoke Hollywood glitz and glamour with Swing Jazz, Sinatra-style. A steel band gets the party going with a Caribbean holiday feel. Samba the night away with Brazilian-style Latin Jazz. Jump and jive with R'n'B and Boogie-Woogie, a la Jools Holland. Get into a really funky groove with a Soul/Disco/Funk band. Everyone enjoys the Pop Classics of the last five decades. Or you could settle for a traditional Irish-style family ceilidh. The list is endless.

Replace Your Wedding Dj With An Ipod

Whether its true or not, most everyone agrees that wedding DJs are expensive. A popular tip circulating the net is to replace your wedding DJ with an iPod and DJ your reception yourself. While this may sound like a great idea, there are some things to consider. Just as with any do-it-yourself project, you must be aware of all facets before you start.

The first most important job for a good DJ is to play music that the crowd enjoys. A simple shuffle has no way of knowing who is dancing to what. A person does need to run things, but not just any person will do. Putting your 12 year old nephew won't do you any good. The person in charge of the music needs a large amount of music knowledge. A good DJ should have this knowledge. A good DJ should be able to identify a song based on a few bars hummed out of tune or a snippet of lyrics that are slightly incorrect. Your DJ must not have a fear of speaking in front of a crowd, and this is not as easy as it sounds. One simply has to think of all the Best men who have hemmed and hawed their way through a wedding toast with the microphone held at waist level. Also, does he/she know how to auction off a garter or any of the other traditional reception activities? If not, will the bride and groom want to do these things while they should be enjoying their guests? Oh, and just like you would give your wedding singer or officiant a tip for performing your ceremony, don't forget a gratuity for your impromptu DJ.

Unless you're a music collector, chances are you don't have a music library with waltzes, polkas, old country, new country, oldies, classic rock, new rock, soft rock, hard rock, hip hop, dance, etc. And, unless you want to subject your guests to your musical tastes, you should probably buy a selection of these songs. If you're not up on popular waltzes and polkas, or don't know which songs are currently topping the country Top 40, search the web. $25 dollars should buy you enough music on iTunes to cover enough various musical tastes that most guests will enjoy themselves.

Another task for a good wedding DJ is one who is covered by insurance. Sure, your homeowners policy *might* cover it, but I'd hate to see your premiums next year if an accident does occur. Don't think accidents will happen to you? Are you serving alcohol at your reception? If you're telling yourself, "All the drunk people I know never act like fools!", stop and think about that again. Besides, many venues require proof of insurance because they don't want to see their premiums raised because your grandma tripped on a speaker cable and broke her hip. Searching the web for "wedding event insurance" will yield a whole crop of insurers who will give you a $1 million dollar policy for around $200.

Equipment is of course another important factor a good DJ brings to your reception. Do you know where to get speakers? Or mics? Or Mixer?? Larger cities will have rental companies that can provide these things. You can even find many such companies by searching the web for "dj equipment rental". Most wedding sized systems rent for anywhere from $250 to $500 dollars per day. In most cases, you must provide a truck or van to transport the equipment. Now, do you know how to set these things up? If not, will the rental company give you a tutorial? Some rental companies will give you a tutorial when you pick the equipment up, but make sure to take notes, because if you have to call them later they will likely charge you for a service call. Some equipment rental companies will deliver, setup, and test their equipment as well as pick up later, but this is extra.

That being said, if you KNOW your group will interact without being prompted (or just don't care if they interact or not), and if you've got a person with an encyclopedic knowledge of music that will run your iPod (instead of enjoying your reception), and you have adequate insurance to cover any accidents that occur due to your iPod setup, and you have a large enough music library to make sure everyone gets to hear the music they want, and you're able to get your hands on adequate dance lights and speakers, and will be saving money by spending $550 to $700 then by all means use an iPod. You honestly have no need for a DJ.

If planning and organizing all this sounds like just one more hassle, you'd probably do better to hire a professional so that you can enjoy your reception and spend your first day as husband and wife doing something besides returning rental equipment. For a few dollars more you'll get professional equipment, professional knowledge from someone who has planned and performed at hundreds of weddings, peace of mind that any glitches will be resolved quickly, no hassles about tearing down equipment when the reception is over, and no worries about getting it back before you owe another day's worth of rental fees.

Maid Of Honor: The Bride's First Lieutenant

What Does A Maid Of Honor Do?

The scope of the maid of honor's role in the wedding depends upon (1) how much responsibility she is willing to take on, and (2) how much responsibility the bride is willing to delegate. Usually the maid of honor is chosen because she is 1 of the bride's very closest friends, and her job description as maid of honor is similar to her activities as a friend.

Aide-De-Camp

The maid of honor does much more than simply walk down the aisle ahead of the bride and stand beside her during the ceremony. She is the "highest ranking" personal assistant to the bride during the wedding preparations. The maid of honor shoulders some large responsibilities, such as hosting the bridal shower and bachelorette party, and helping to choose the bridesmaid's dresses.

But she is also there just to be supportive of the bride, to act as a friend and confidante, and to help her in ways both great and small. Throughout the weeks and months of wedding planning, the maid of honor is involved every step of the way, from choosing a dress and wedding location to helping wrap favors and set up for the reception.

Party Hostess

2 of the larger responsibilities of the maid of honor are hosting the bridal shower and the bachelorette party. As 1 of the bride's closest friends, the maid of honor is the ideal candidate to host these gatherings. She knows best what type of party the bride will enjoy, and what types of gifts are most suitable for the bride's taste. Because the bridal shower and bachelorette party are aspects of the wedding preparation the bride usually has little control over, she'll have the pleasure of not stressing about them. She delegates these duties to her maid of honor, and rests assured that her friend will handle them admirably.

Wardrobe Consultant

Many times the maid of honor plays a key role in selecting dresses for the wedding. She ordinarily chooses her own dress for the wedding from a selection provided by the bride. Once the color and style of the maid of honor's dress has been selected, she works hand-in-hand with the bride to choose the bridesmaids' dresses. Their style and color will complement the maid of honor's dress, while taking into consideration what looks best on each of the bridesmaids. The maid of honor often assists the bride in choosing her own wedding dress.

Adviser And Confidante

The wedding day is understandably hectic for the maid of honor. Although she has supported the bride throughout the planning process, her most important responsibilities take place on the actual day of the wedding. Besides standing at the altar beside her friend, the most important role of the maid of honor this day is to keep the bride calm and to handle any last-minute problems that may arise.

Angel-In-Chief

Like most things in life, few weddings go exactly as planned, and it is the maid of honor's duty to be sure that any problem does not upset the bride. Emergency supplies the maid of honor should keep on hand include: extra stockings, lipstick in the bride's color, tissues, safety pins and hairpins. These can come in handy if the bride has any last-minute trouble with her attire, hair or makeup. The maid of honor plays the important role of ensuring that the bride looks her best throughout the day.

Counselor And Friend

When all is said and done, the most significant role of the maid of honor is to be a friend to the bride. The planning and preparations, and the actual wedding itself can be very stressful and emotional for the bride. What the bride needs more than anything else during this time is someone who will offer a sympathetic ear and practical advice. This, then, is the most important function of the maid of honor.

Getting Married - Is It Expensive?

Getting married can change your finances for the better or for the worse.

If you're going to get married, the last thing that you want to think about is the potential for divorce. However, when it comes to personal finance, getting married is a major step that can have good - or disastrous - consequences, depending on how it is handled. Divorces are usually very difficult for all parties involved. Therefore, you should try to make sure that you know exactly who will get what before you marry. That way, if you ever do go through a divorce, there is already a pre-existing agreement to fall back on, and the divorce proceedings can be finished as quickly as possible.

Before you get married (though this does not need to be used as a determination of whether or not you should marry) you should sit down and go through all of your personal finances. You need to find out how much money you currently have, compare the living expenses that you will have as a couple, and determine what your combined income will be.

After you have determined what you will have after you get married, you should also think about what you and your future spouse will want to have later on. For instance, if you're planning on having children, this should be factored into your financial plans - since you need a lot of money in order to make sure that you will have enough to raise your child.

It's not necessary that you have a signed prenuptial agreement in most cases, though you might want to if you want to be completely safe. However, talking things over before you get married will help you know what to expect if things don't work out, and will give your finances some direction.

Other decisions that you should make include whether or not you will have a joint bank account. This will have to do with how well you trust and know your future spouse. While it is traditional to share a bank account, most couples find it easier to keep separate bank accounts, or to have separate bank accounts and a smaller, shared account for home expenses.

No matter what you decide, it's important to realize that getting married will have a major effect on your personal finances. Therefore, you should always make sure that you have a good idea of what will happen before you tie the knot.

Classic White Color For Bridal Gown

Ever since Queen Victoria wed in 1840, however, white has remained the traditional color for wedding gowns and bouquets. A woman then used her dress for Court Presentation after marriage, usually with a different bodice. It has been accepted taditional color of the wedding dress, but wedding gowns were not always white. The marriage of Queen Victoria to her cousin Albert of Saxe- Coburg in 1840 has had more influence on weddings than any other. Queen Victoria put the wheels in motion by marrying in white.

Though brides continued to wed in gowns of different colors, white was now set as the color of choice for weddings and has continued ever since. In Godey’s Lady’s Book, 1849, this statement was printed: “ Custom has decided, from the earliest ages, that white is the most fitting hue, whatever may be the material. It is an emblem of the purity and innocence of girlhood, and the unsullied heart she now yields to the chosen one.” There is an old poem about how the color of your wedding dress will influence your future: “Married in white, you will have chosen all right. Married in grey , you will go far away. Married in black, you will wish yourself back. Married in red, you will wish yourself dead. Married in blue, you will always be true. Married in pearl, you will live in a whirl. Married in green, ashamed to be seen, Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow. Married in brown, you will live out of town. Married in pink, your spirits will sink.”

White is still the top favorite for wedding gowns an exclusive range of bridal gown in classic white color. Which have the’’sublime’’quality designed by couture designer Andy anand who believes that ‘’less is more’’, these bridal gowns are made like a ‘’piece of art’’ they are very light white and other shades of white color has been used to give it the classic touch yet they are modern.

Wedding gowns have not always been elaborate, as many are today. In the eighteenth century, poor brides dressed in simple robes. This symbolized to her future husband that she brought nothing with her into the marriage and would therefore not burden him with any debt. It wasn't until the mid nineteenth century that the all-white wedding dress became fashionable. Up until then a bride simply wore her best dress, regardless of its color. In 1840, Queen Victoria's pure white gown started the trend that many women follow today.

Bachelorette Party Ideas

While bachelor parties are a tradition dating back to the 1800s, bachelorette parties have become popular only recently. Bachelorette parties seem to be more about the bride-to-be bonding with women friends than the male tradition of enjoying a final night of freedom before marriage.

A New Tradition

Some brides choose a night of frivolity, such as male exotic dancers and lots of alcohol, much like the groom's bachelor party. But the majority of women opt for other activities. The theme of most bachelorette parties is to tease the bride in a fun way, while sharing a memorable evening with her best friends.

The Nightclub Scene

This is 1 of the most popular bachelorette activities. Parties often start with dinner at an elegant restaurant, followed by drinks and dancing at popular nightclubs. Hiring a limousine to drive everyone together from destination to destination is a great idea. First, it allows all the women to travel together and party in transit. Second, it adds a touch of class to the evening. And perhaps the best reason is to ensure that everyone arrives safely at their destinations.

The women in the bachelorette party will often create a veil for the bride to wear on that night. The style of the veil isn't important, so long as it is conspicuous and calls a great deal of attention to the bride. It's also typical for this type of party to send the bride on a scavenger hunt. The other women get together ahead of time to create a list of activities for the bride to accomplish or objects to find. This type of bachelorette party is a great way for the bride to enjoy a night of dinner, dancing, drinks and fun with her best friends.

Retreat To A Spa

Spa retreats have become quite popular as bachelorette party ideas. The bride-to-be and her friends get together at a spa to enjoy relaxing massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and other treatments. A steam room, sauna and/or hot tub adds an extra element of relaxation.

Some spas provide great meals from a selection of healthy dishes. This type of bachelorette party lets the bride relax and connect with her friends while leaving behind the stress of planning a wedding. Many brides get so caught up in the details of wedding planning that they forget to enjoy the wedding. A spa retreat bachelorette party is a great solution.

Exotic Dance Lessons

A little more risque, but lots of fun, is exotic dancing lessons. These parties are becoming more common now that pole dancing classes are beginning to spring up in health clubs. For these parties the women gather at a private home or a dance studio, and a professional dancer comes in to teach them the art of exotic dance. This can be a great way for friends to let loose and have fun.

Night Of Feature Films

Another unique bachelorette party idea is for the maid of honor to host a movie night. The hostess rents plenty of movies to select from, and stocks up on movie theater style goodies or creates a menu of hors d'oeuvres. This could be the bride's last chance to sit around with her friends watching "chick flicks" for a good long while. This is a fun, safe, and relaxing way for the women to get together to talk and have a good time.

Female Bonding

Although a new phenomenon, the bachelorette party is quickly catching on. It does not have the same feel as a bachelor party -- instead of a last night of freedom, it a night to bond with women friends.

Wedding - Celebrating That Special Occasion

A wedding is perhaps the most wonderful and memorable event in a person's life. It is a time to exchange vows and promise each other that you will be there for each other in good and bad times until the end of time. And it is not easy to arrive at that decision of committing to that special someone in this way. The reality is that marriages take a lot of work and perseverance to make them last. So, a lot of thought is required before deciding to take the plunge. For most people, weddings are the stuff of fairytales and there is much hope that the marriage will be an everlasting and beautiful one.

People start preparing well in advance to make their wedding day as perfect as they would like it to be. You need to take care of every little detail, be it the music that will play at the wedding or the dress you will be wearing. A good way to ensure you don’t overlook something is to make a checklist. The wedding showers are usually organized about 4 to 6 weeks before the nuptials wedding. The main aim of these showers is to help assemble a trousseau for the bride or help equip the couple's new home. The bride also gets a good occasion to get together with family and friends.

The main thing to ensure for both the groom and the bride is that they look good on their wedding day. Clothes should flatter them and fit well. Tuxedos are a good idea for grooms, because most men look good in those. The groom should also ensure to arrange for the other accessories that he will need e.g. shirt, tie and shoes. The bridal dress needs to be chosen or stitched carefully and should normally have a veil and headpiece that go with it. It is a good idea for brides to pamper themselves with beauty treatments before the wedding day and get their hands manicured. Most importantly, the bride should sleep well, so that she looks beautiful and fresh on her special day.

Remember to plan for the favors that you will be giving your guests on the wedding day to thank them for their presence and blessings. Gifts such as chocolates, boxes of candy, or real flowers are a good idea. If you don’t want to buy gifts, even a piece of the wedding cake can serve as a favor. If you plan well, your wedding day will be a great start to your honeymoon and hopefully, a lifetime of romance.

Ask The Right Questions Before You Book Your Wedding Reception

Think saying "I do" is going to be the most emotional moment in your wedding? Probably so, but putting down a deposit on your wedding venue could be a close runner-up.

Reception costs consume almost half the budget for the wedding, which these days means you can expect to lay out almost $13,000, including food. And the venue you select can not only limit your choice of caterers or bakers, it's sure to affect how much you spend to "cover up" its weak spots or accent its highlights. Most stressful of all, the popular venues book far in advance, forcing brides to make the big decision almost as soon as they set the date.

For that reason, the savvy venue-hunter wants to know what questions to ask before she walks in the door, much less signs the contract. Here are a few ideas:

Do you have a pre-set list of caterers I can use, or can I choose my own?

Some venues -- high-end ones with their own catering staff, or small-town ones with little competition -- require you to use the in-house caterers or choose from a small list of "approved" vendors. It can be difficult to get taste-tests or otherwise put this type of vendor through its paces. If you're stuck with such a list, search high and low for brides who have "been there, done that" and can give you their honest opinions.

Any restrictions on decorations?

Many venues have them, but rules vary widely from place to place. Common restrictions include: no open flame (or no flame whatsoever), no tape or tacks on the walls, or no confetti. When linens are provided, some halls will prohibit the use of pins. Ask if the hall can provide any decorations themselves, especially around holidays. Useful centerpiece items such as hurricane lamps or Eiffel vases are not uncommon.

Can we bring our own liquor, is there a "corkage" fee, and do we need a license?

If the liquor's to flow freely at your wedding, you'll save an immense amount of moolah by bringing your own. But some venues prohibit this and require you to buy from them. Even worse is the venue that says "yes" to bringing your own alcohol, but charges you a mandatory "corkage fee" to serve it -- which typically starts at an unbelievable $10 per bottle or more! You'll want to be crystal-clear on the fine print regarding alcohol before you commit to a venue.

As for licensing, many states consider wedding receptions to be an "unlicensed social function," meaning you don't need one as long as you're not charging anyone for the alcohol. But be sure to check your local regulations before moving ahead -- and ask your venue if they know of any licensing requirements.

Is there a cake-cutting fee?

Some venues even limit your choice of bakers, but most don't. A more common (and sneakier) tactic is to charge you a cake-cutting fee, which like corkage fees, can really add up -- often at $1 per slice!

DIY Detective Work

These, of course, are only a few of the questions you'll want to ask a prospective venue manager. A few more tips while you're checking out the place:

- Bring a tape measure. Get the dimensions of the room, the tables, and the distance between any features that might impact your decor, like windows. How many outlets are there and where are they located? What kind of climate control is available to you?

- Check the kitchen. Does it look clean, roomy and suitable for your catering staff to work from?

- Check the hall itself. Where will you put the band, the cake table, the coffee service? Are there coat racks for your guests? Is a sound system available?

- Check out the parking. Is it ample? Is it paved, or can it get muddy in the case of rain? Is there handicap access?

One final thing to get clear before you autograph that contract is your venue's cancellation policy. But hopefully, with these helpful tips, you'll have done enough homework to rest easy in your choice and not worry about having to cancel. Now that you've signed, take some time to sit back and relax ... before you tackle the next task in that thick wedding planner!

There’s More To Wedding Invitations Than You Might Think

Everybody talks about wedding invitations, but what about all the other terms and items that are associated with them. Below are explanations of some of the more common terms and items that you’ll probably encounter while shopping for your invitations.

Seal n Send Invitations: This type of invitation is mailed to guests as a single-folded piece (without an envelope) having the respond postcard attached to the invitation by a perforation for easy removal. Since the respond piece is a postcard, you will save on postage for the return mailing. Prices for this product normally include seals along with a printed return address on both the back flap when initially mailing the invitation and on the perforated respond postcard.

Announcements: For those who won’t be invited to your wedding but you would still like them to know about your marriage, you can mail them an announcement card. They can be printed on the same paper as your invitation but mailed on your wedding day or immediately after with the wording stating that your wedding has already taken place.

Reception Cards: If there isn’t enough room on your invitation for listing the details of your reception or if not all guests will be invited to attend the reception, reception cards can be ordered to match your invitations and then be included as a separate insert. Please keep in mind that this card could possibly add to your mailing cost since postage is based on weight.

Respond Cards: These cards are essential to planning for your dinner/reception since an accurate guest attendance count will be needed for food and seating preparations. The respond card along with its mailing envelope will be inserted with your invitation. Remember to include a postage stamp on this small envelope which will also have a mailing address already printed on it so all your guests have to do is fill out the card and mail it back by the date you have printed on it.

Map Cards: These direction cards would be included as a convenience for any guests who might not be familiar with the location of the church and/or reception.

Printed Invitation Envelope Flaps: This option of having your return address printed on the outside envelope can save you valuable time and ensure that undeliverable invitations are returned to you. There is a small cost involved but it also gives an address to those who might not be able to attend but still want to send you a card or gift.

Lined Inner Envelopes: For a small charge, you can request your inner envelopes have a colored lining to add a special touch to your invitation ensemble. Color choices will vary depending on the invitation style you choose.

Envelope Seals: These self-adhesive labels add just the right finishing touch. They are available in many styles and are used on your outer envelope making it look like they are holding the flap down even though it has already been sealed.

Informal Notes: These are used separately from your invitations but should be included with your original order since they are usually printed on matching paper and this will save you on shipping costs. They are personalized with either your names or monogram on the front with the inside being blank for writing your thank you notes. Any leftovers can be used long after the wedding for other purposes. Blank mailing envelopes are included with them.

Not all of the above items are necessary to make your wedding invitations complete. Remember, this is your special day, so it’s your decision as to which ones you would like to include as part of your invitation ensemble.

Your Wedding Budget: Setting And Sticking To It

Want to make sure your marriage doesn't end up on the rocks before you get to the chapel? Then set a realistic wedding budget -- and stick to it.

In the process of planning a wedding, budget concerns often is a source of disagreement for a couple. They may have different ideas about what kind of wedding they want, and about what they can afford. To make the wedding a truly happy occasion, it is important that the couple discusses financial constraints early.

Want to make sure your marriage doesn't end up on the rocks before you get to the chapel? Then set a realistic wedding budget -- and stick to it.

In the process of planning a wedding, budget concerns often is a source of disagreement for a couple. They may have different ideas about what kind of wedding they want, and about what they can afford. To make the wedding a truly happy occasion, it is important that the couple discusses financial constraints early.

Set A Budget And Save For It

The first tip is -- discuss finances before the wedding plans begin. Everyone involved in the decision-making process needs to understand exactly how much money is available for the wedding.

To maximize that budget, you should start saving early for your wedding. Advance planning and saving will allow you to maintain or even exceed your budget, comfortably. And that will make wedding planning easier and more fun.

Get Everyone On-Board

Once your wedding budget has been established, set it aside for a few days and then review it again. This gives everyone a chance to let the information sink in. The budget review after this waiting period gives the participants a chance to verify that they understand and agree to the budget. This is vitally important, because someone who does not agree with the budget may overspend in 1 area, leaving the rest of the budget in jeopardy.

Budget Line Items

When you've decided exactly how much money is available for your wedding, the next step is to divide the total into budget categories, such as the venue, food and drink, bride's attire, groom's attire, transportation, entertainment, photography, favors, centerpieces, and gifts. It is also advisable to set aside money for unforeseen expenses.

Who Pays

Part of establishing a budget is to be clear on who will pay for what.

Shopping And Negotiating

You will need to negotiate contracts for services, and so you must know the budget for each area of the wedding. If you have allotted $250 for entertainment, look for a DJ whose rate is approximately that amount, then negotiate to ensure that you remain under budget.

It's wise to shop around and compare prices for services. A company may come highly recommended, but if they are outside your price range, let them know why you are going to have to choose another company. You may be surprised at how willing they will be to give you a better offer.

Substitute Creativity For Cash

Doing things on your own is another way to stay under budget. Homemade invitations or making your own favors or centerpieces can greatly reduce the wedding cost, freeing up funds for other areas of the wedding.

Do not fall into the trap of viewing your budget as restrictive. Instead of thinking about what you can't afford, focus on how you can make your wedding and reception truly unique. You will be inspired to create a wonderful, memorable wedding regardless of your budget constraints.

Anticipate The Unforeseen

Realize that there are bound to be snags along the way. If you go over budget in 1 area, you will need to cut the budget in another area. As long as you stay aware of your spending and realize the ramifications of all your actions, you can roll with the punches and alter your plans to accommodate any needed changes.

Make It A Wonderful Memory

A wedding budget can cause emotional strain on a couple and their relationship. It is important for them to discuss their finances and establish a clear budget for their wedding plans. Doing this early in the wedding planning process can help the couple to avoid conflict during the planning phase of the wedding. It can also make the wedding more fun for everyone, and start out the marriage on a positive note.

After all, working together is what a marriage is all about.

How To Make A Seashell Bridal Bouquet

How to Make a Seashell Bridal Bouquet
By Sandra Canfield

Would you like to make a seashell bridal bouquet for yourself or for the bride? Follow these simple instructions.

Materials Needed:
Wood Dowel cut to the desired length
Foam ball 3" to 4" in diameter
White seashells (bubble shells, caycay shells, nassa shells or any other shells you desire
Hot glue (high temperature)
Hot glue gun
BOND 527 Multi-Purpose Cement Glue
Pearls or Swarovski Crystals for accent
Satin ribbon
Organza ribbon

Cut your dowel to the desired length and insert it into the center of the foam ball. The dowel can easily be pushed into the foam. Remove dowel, fill hole with hot glue and re-insert dowel into the foam ball. Let dry.

Apply seashells with hot glue as pictured or create your own design Bouquet Photos.

Once you have all the shells attached, apply the pearl or swarovski crystals for accent throughout the shells. This helps to hide any foam that is showing through. Use the BOND 527 Multi-Purpose Cement Glue for the accents.

Let the bouquet sit overnight.

Wrap the satin ribbon around the dowel to the top of the boquet and then tie on your organza ribbon.

This is a time-consuming project but the results are well worth the effort.

The Beauty Of Wedding Favors

Wedding favors have been around since ancient times. This deep-rooted tradition appears to have originated as a means for the wedding couple to express their gratitude to wedding guests for being part of their wedding day.

The idea of wedding reception favors has evolved to today’s way of brides and grooms letting their guests take home part of the magic of their special day. In different shapes, colors & sizes, wedding favors have become the means by which couples say "Thank you for sharing our special day with us" to their guests. Wedding reception favors can also reperesent an extension of the couple’s personalities as wedding favors, very often, reflect the theme of the wedding.

Dealing with a guest list of 150, the task of making the wedding favors may seem daunting. As a result, there are vendors specializing in wedding favors. Such businesses are devoted to the ordering, wrapping & personalizing of wedding favors. Reputable businesses also provide the shipping of the wedding favors to the reception location. It makes perfect sense to order your wedding favors from wedding favors specialty shops as they understand the industry and can help match the favor to your wedding budget. These wedding vendors have a wide range of wedding related products for you to choose from.

How to choose your wedding favors?
There are many different kinds of wedding favors available to brides. As brides and grooms select their wedding favors, they should consider their wedding budget and their wedding theme. Your wedding colors can be carried over to the colors of your wedding favors.

The following is a list of wedding favors that make wonderful keepsakes for your wedding guests.

Edible Wedding Favors

Personalized Chocolates
Foil Wrapped Chocolate Hearts
Foil Wrapped Chocolate Flowers
Mints
Wedding Converation Hearts

Non-edible wedding Favors

Whatever wedding favors you choose for your special day, the idea of giving out favors is a good one, and is one you should enjoy. What a wonderful way to let your guests know you appreciate their presence at your wedding.

Wedding Favor How To's...

Wedding favors are a way of spreading joy and showing your guests your appreciation for sharing your special day with you and your new husband. Favors are not a requirement, but they are a fun way to share your wedding day memories.

There are many ways of distributing wedding favors. Guests usually find favors waiting for them at each place setting when they arrive to the reception. This is probably the most traditional way of giving your favors. Today, brides have so many choices when it comes to wedding favors. You have selected the perfect favor, why not find a special way to present them.

Here are some ideas:

* Set up a table next to your cake table, with a beautiful display of your wedding favors. When the waiters are serving the cake, they can also hand a favor to each guest as a thank you from the bride and groom. The attendant responsible for orchestrating the cake cutting could also incorporate into his or her speech the favors and remind your guests to pick one up. Bottle stoppers or keepsake favors are perfect for a display table

* Hand out your wedding favors together with your new husband as you visit each guest table during your reception. What a personal way of thanking your guests.

* Use your favors as escort cards when your guests arrive to the reception. Personalized chocolate can be the perfect seating card. Have just a couple of lines printed on the front where you can use a gold or silver pen to fill in guests' names and the table number. Use the back of the chocolate to print your personal thank you message.

* Ask the catering staff to distribute your favors to your gusts during a thank your speech from you and your husband.

* Make your favors part of your table decorations. Use candle favors to illuminate your reception area. Candles are also perfect keepsakes for your guest.

* Use keepsake placecard holders. These beautiful keepsakes serve a dual purpose: they help your guests to find their seats and they are keepsake favors they can take with them. Use placecard frames, and when you send out your thank you notes why not include a photo of your wedding that is the perfect size for the frames your guests received at your reception.

Finding the perfect favor is fun and exciting. Present your guest with a thank you gift that they will enjoy and treasure long after your wedding.

Priceless Little Wedding Planning Details

Your wedding should be the happiest day of your life, not a frightening remembrance of the past. The difference between a successful wedding and a disaster greatly depends on planning. Successful planning the various details of your special day is crucial. You should worry about not only the large details such as the wedding gown but about the smaller ones such as your wedding favors.

Once you determined what method you'd like to use to announce your engagement or wedding, you should start researching the details. For example, if you'd like to announce your wedding in a newspaper, you should find out about the procedure to submit your ad. It is usually best to call the newspaper or visit their Web site for more detailed information about wedding announcements. By the time you are ready to place your add you should have the following information available:

Depending on how much space is allocated by the newspaper, you might include some additional information such as:

- names of your bridesmaids or made of honor and their cities of residence,
- your honeymoon destination,
- information about the bride's and groom's place of birth,
- education such as schools attended and place of employment or business.

Hopefully, your wedding day will be a smooth affair, but you should be prepared for emergencies on your special day. Your made of honor should be sure to have the following small but significant items available for emergencies:

- Band-Aids,
- clear nail polish,
- needle and thread,
- painkiller,
- a complete list of phone numbers of all the involved parties such as caterers and vendors.

Planning your wedding is a huge undertaking, and you deserve a break. When you feel stressed by planning your wedding, try to relax with some of your favorite music or read a good book. Put your feet up and just relax. Just closing your eyes, meditating can be a revitalizing experience. Clearing your mind can be a great stress reducer.

Your wedding reception is one of the most important components of your wedding day, so don't mess it up with a cash bar. Cash bars are a sure sign of bad taste. Don't do it. Inviting people to your wedding and then asking them to pay for their drinks is impolite. If cost is an issue, invite less people or make other arrangements. If you are on a budget, you might provide a limited selection of alcohol.

If wedding planning is not your favorite pass time or you just don't have time or afraid you might miss something important for your wedding day, you may want to consider hiring a professional wedding consultant. A wedding consultant can make the wedding planning process not only easier, but also perhaps more fun. After all, your wedding day should be the happiest day of your life.

Bridal Shower Planning Tips

Historically, brides have been showered with love and gifts on their bridal shower party. Although the maid of honor normally organizes the bridal shower, showers can be organized by anyone close to the bride. To be more politically correct, couples may decide to opt for a couple shower. It is the same concept as a bridal shower, but it is not exclusive to female friends and family. A couple shower enables friends and family to celebrate both bride and groom. Whether it's a bridal shower or a couple shower, planning the event takes considerable effort. So, read on to learn some fun and helpful bridal shower planning tips.

Planning the shower is the responsibility of the honor attendant or honor attendants. It is quite possible for the bride to choose more than one honor attendant. So, it is quite possible that planning the shower would be a team effort. If there is only one maid of honor, she shouldn't hesitate to ask for help from the other bridesmaids, friends, and family.

Hint. Several people involved in the planning process can help, but it can also create conflict.

Choosing the right date for the bridal shower is of paramount importance. There is no rule about how much time before the wedding a shower needs to take place. It can take place several months or a couple of weeks prior the wedding day. Often, bridal showers are planned in the form of a surprise party. Regardless of the date of the shower, guest should be notified well in advance. Make sure that the date doesn't conflict with holidays or other events that would prevent the guests from attending the party.

A bridal shower doesn't need to be an expensive party, but it certainly can be. Be sure that your budget is set early in the planning process. Once your budget has been determined, be sure the required funds are set aside. Don't be a hero and ask for help. Just because you plan the shower, it doesn't mean you have to pay for the whole thing. Unless you are independently wealthy, ask all the bridesmaids to help out.

A bridal shower can be a discreet get together or an extravagant party with some great bridal shower favors. The sky is the limit, and, of course, your budget. If you organize the party, you should know enough about the bride to determine what kind of shower she would enjoy the most. Would she enjoy a relaxed shower at somebody's house, or is she expecting a more formal party in a hotel ballroom? Does she have specific hobbies or interests that would provide an interesting theme for the party?

You should only invite guest to the bridal shower who will also be invited to the wedding. If you are unsure about who should be on the guest list, feel free to ask the bride to help out. If you are organizing a surprise shower, ask the bride's mother or someone who would know about the wedding reception guest list.

It is very smart to include information about where guests can purchase presents in the shower invitations. The guests will appreciate your guidance. After all, it makes it easier for them purchase the proper gifts.

The bridal shower invitations can be traditional cards or even e-cards. Most people have an e-mail address, so an electronic invitation might be a feasible option for your shower. E-cards are not only freely offered on many Web sites, but they are also fast. You send them our one-minute and they are delivered the next. If you have a larger budget, you might be interested in sending out personalized chocolate bars as bridal shower invitations. Regardless of what form of invitations you decide to use, make sure they are sent out well in advance. The bridal shower invitations should be sent out about two months prior to the bridal shower party.

Food is an important aspect of the planning process, and it is very much influenced by where the bridal shower is held. If you're planning an at-home bridal shower, you may prepare the food yourself or you have a catered party. If you're having the shower in a restaurant or a hotel, make sure they prepare one of the bride's favorite meals.

Remember: Bridal showers are supposed to be fun, so don't stress too much. After all, you are planning a party.