Bride Groom

Planning Your Wedding

2008-09-10T22:40:00.001+07:00

It used to be that mom and dad or grandma and grandpa would pay all or most of wedding expenses. Well, those days are done and over with. You are lucky if you still fall into this category. But, for the most part, couples are saving up for their wedding. With the cost of living today, many couples stress about having the wedding of their dreams. Some even decide to just live together because they feel it is not an affordable thing to get married. Some go through getting married and end up wishing they did this or did that differently. If you are planning on getting married here are several tips to consider.

Most importantly, the bride and groom must plan the wedding together. Grooms usually do not want to get involved with all the details, however, you must at least agree on the type of wedding you want to have and general information, i.e., date, location.
You need to determine a budget for your wedding. This is very important. Be careful not to overspend. Make sure you have the funds to pay for the wedding because you do not want to get stuck with a huge bill right after your wedding as this may be a start of a not-so-happy relationship and finger pointing as to who overspent. Stay within your means. A very elegant wedding does not necessarily mean it was the perfect wedding. You can still have the wedding of your dreams staying within your budget.
Once you have planned on the type of wedding you want, you may want to get other family members/close friends involved in the details, i.e., colors, flowers, party favors, etc.
If you are not utilizing a wedding planner, the bride and the matron of honor or your closest friend can plan the details of the wedding. The bride can designate who is to do what so that she is not overwhelmed and stressed throughout the planning process. If you are utilizing a wedding planner, you must make it clear from the very beginning what your budget is and your expectations. From there, the wedding planner should be able to do the research and present the couple with their options and alternatives.
Avoid going overboard on invitations and decorations. In selecting invitations, avoid home made invitations that are obviously home made. It gives a cheap appearance and a reflection on the couple getting married. Decorations can still be elegant without having to select the most expensive floral arrangement. In selecting flowers, consider the season you are in. You do not want to select flowers that cannot be easily found or will not hold up during the wedding. And, by all means, stay away from paper bells/paper ribbons and any type of paper décor. Again, this gives a very cheap appearance and is a reflection on the couple. Balloons have become an option in wedding décor, however, I am not too fond of it. I think balloons should stay with birthday and other recurring celebrations. It is very important to go over the details with whoever is in charge of this portion of the planning.
Be firm with what you want for your wedding. Remember, this is YOUR wedding. Do not allow anybody to dictate how THEY want your wedding to be.
Go over all the details of the wedding and be satisfied with the details so you are not faced with surprises on your wedding day.
On your wedding day, keep a smile on your face. Remember, there will be photos and you want to look back many years later and see that you looked your best on your wedding. Wedding gowns may go out of style but a smile never does.

While these are just some wedding planning tips, the key is for the couple to work together and agree on what is planned. If one objects, step back and re-evaluate and adjust until both of you agree. This is very important to the beginning of your relationship.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Delores_Blas

Low-Budget Wedding Reception Ideas

2008-02-16T08:44:00.000+07:00

One of the largest expenses associated with your big day is the wedding reception, but there are ways to cut costs while still creating a fun and festive party for your family and friends.

Now that you're engaged, you've got lots of planning to do. You've set the date and the budget (right?) and now you're finding that the wedding reception is going to take a big chunk out of your budget. Short of signing over your first born and selling your soul to the devil, how will you create a festive atmosphere, feed your guests and still stay within your budget? With a little creativity and the tips below, you can pull off a beautiful wedding reception that's very budget friendly.

Location, Location, Location
As the saying goes, location is everything. In this case, the location can save you a bundle. Instead of booking the ballroom of an exclusive hotel or other "must-have" location, look for something a little different and unique. You'll be surprised at how many locations are free or very low-cost. Look into gardens, vineyards, museums, church halls, hotel banquet rooms or even the home of a friend or family member. You may also be able to find restaurants in your area that specialize in affordable wedding receptions. When comparing prices, be sure to keep in mind that "free" locations require you to rent chairs, tables and more, so there is some cost involved. Sometimes it turns out to be more budget friendly to rent an inexpensive hall that provides those things for you.
Limit Your Guest List
It's tempting to invite your 50th cousin twice removed, and it's easy to give in and let family members invite people who said hello to you back in kindergarten, but for the sake of your budget, you must be firm with your guest list. Stick to inviting the people you are truly close to and you'll save hundreds on the cost of food and drink at your wedding reception.
Let them Eat Cake
Your wedding cake can average $5 per serving and up, easily taking a big bite out of your budget. You may want to consider ordering a small display cake, and also ordering a sheet cake to serve to your guests. It's much more cost effective, and your guests probably won't even think twice about it. And don't forget to ask around. Chances are, you or your fiance have an acquaintance who creates beautiful wedding cakes and charges next to nothing.
Food
Family members are usually more than happy to help prepare food for your reception. Many foods such as roast beef, ham and lasagna are easy to prepare ahead of time in large quantities. And if you're preparing the food yourself, buying in bulk (wholesale clubs, etc) saves you lots of money. Potlucks are also enjoying a degree of renewed popularity. Ask family members to provide some of the food, and then invite guests to bring a dish in lieu of a gift. Simply slip a note into the invitation altering guests of this option.
To Drink or not to Drink
Alcohol also raises the cost of your wedding reception. Consider having only limited drinks available. Of course, if you have a morning or early afternoon wedding, alcohol isn't usually necessary. And some venues don't allow alcohol at all, so this point wouldn't even be an issue . Be sure to check on this at the locations you're considering.
Decorations
With a little creativity (lights, candles, faux plants and trees), anyplace can be transformed into a beautiful reception location. Remember, your guests are there to celebrate with you, not critique the crystal chandeliers (or lack thereof). And there are scores of table decorations you can make yourself that are quite affordable. Don't be shy about family and friends to pitch in on making the decorations and decorating for the reception. Most times, they're more than happy to help.
Music
Save yourself $1000 or more by foregoing a live band. If you ask around, you probably have a family member, friend, or friend of a friend who does wedding DJ duties (or at least has a killer sound system) and would be willing to take charge of the music - usually for little or no cost. Your guests just want to dance and have fun, and it's not that important to them exactly where the music is coming from
Something Borrowed...
There are so many details to attend to when planning a wedding reception. Where does the punch bowl come from? What about the silverware? And the coffee pot? If the location does not provide these things for you, and you're not using a caterer, there's nothing wrong with renting these items or borrowing them from friends or family members. There's no need to invest in a punch bowl - unless you think you'll get more use out of it. Besides, you can always buy one down the road when you need it, but do it when you budget isn't so tight. All of these little incidentals really add up, so take advantage of other people's willingness to help.

Don't let your wedding reception bury you under a mountain of debt. With a little resourcefulness and creativity, you can create a beautiful - and affordable - wedding reception filled with memories that will last a lifetime.

Heather L. Clark is a Web researcher and writer. In her spare time, she enjoys pilates, music and Seinfeld reruns. Check out her favorite resources for planning a fairy tale wedding, free wedding planning tools and tips for affordable wedding receptions

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heather_L._Clark

Mother of the Bride Dress Colors for Spring 2008

2008-02-16T08:02:00.001+07:00

The special occasion dress manufacturers will be introducing their spring/summer lines from January through April. The spring and summer season are when mothers of the bride and groom begin to look for a special gown to wear to their daughter or son's wedding. They are in a "panic" mode as in the hustle and bustle of the wedding preparation, they tend to overlook searching for their own formal gowns.

Mother of the bride gowns this spring 2008 will still feature rich fabrics with names like shantique, hammered shimmer, brocade, hi twist crepe, satin, etc. Lace is still available but mostly as accents or forming one part of the gown for interest. Beads, rhinestones, and embroidery are always a must for formal gowns as these add the sparkle and uniqueness to the outfit, separating a regular dress from a special occasion one. These fabrics are made of polyester blends which will retain its shape and are generally wrinkle-free. Mothers of the bride and groom surely do not want their dresses to pull and crinkle while performing their individual duties.

For spring of 2008, the mother of the bride and gown manufacturers are introducing interesting colors like glacier, aqua, sea breeze, and cinnamon. Sage and dust rose are always popular from one year to the next and these are the staple colors for this spring as well. Tried and true colors of champagne, burgundy, silver, gold, navy, and black, are still very much in style as these are the basic colors that will look good not only for the wedding but can be worn to any other social occasion.

Mother of the bride dresses are very competitively priced with the traditional bridal stores and many gowns are priced for very much less. Additionally for online bridal stores, you can shop for the color that you wish to wear by typing in the color or its variation, in the "search box" of the website. Every good website should have this feature which shows a blank box for you to type in the keyword you desire. Online stores usually carry the current season's styles as they have the real-time capability to post the latest mother of the bride dress styles and delete the ones that are no longer in stock or sold out.

This spring 2008, mother of the bride and groom dresses are offered in "youthful" styles. Long gone is the dowdy looking mother of the bride. Check out the 2008 styles by Karen Miller, Scala, Cachet, and Ursula as they pave the way for trendier and upbeat styles.

Audrey's Mother of the Bride (website: http://www.audreysmotherofthebride.com) offer these styles in affordable prices and with wide size selections. They cater especially to the plus size or full figure mother of the bride and groom. Petite sizes are also available.

Author: Author: Audrey Cheong is the owner of an online bridal store specializing in mother of the bride dresses and other formal evening dresses in petite, missy, and plus sizes. Please visit her website http://www.audreysmotherofthebride.com for great selections and reasonable prices.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Audrey_Cheong

5 Important Things To Be Reminded For Honeymoon Preparation

2008-02-08T22:49:00.000+07:00

You had gone through a hard time preparing for your wedding events. Now it is time to prepare for your honeymoon. Honeymoon vacation preparation is important, equal to wedding preparation. This is the first time you want to share moments with spouses. Therefore, of course you want it to be a romantic relaxing enjoyable trip. Here are some things that you should take into account when you are preparing or planning your honeymoon.

1. Plan honeymoon early
The preparation should begin more early.Let say, if you want to have your honeymoon vacation right after your wedding, your honeymoon plan should be ready before the wedding day. Planning for your wedding events does not mean you can ignore your honeymoon plan. It is advisable you plan them long before the time comes. You may be also plan to go travel for honeymoon weeks after your wedding celebration. In this case, you still have to plan need long before the time you want to go. You have to make sure that everything is ready. You should have booked the plane ticket,made the reservation. Everything should be taken into account.

2. Make a checklist
By making a checklist, it will remind you several important things that you may forget. This is the best to avoid it. Put all things related to your honeymoon trip into the checklist,even a simple small things that you may think are not important. This helps a lot especially you are having foreign trip as it is almost impossible to turn back to take anything you leave behind.

3. Last check for travel documents
Make sure your passport,your plane tickets,all your travel documents are all set well before your honeymoon vacation. It helps you avoiding any trouble especially if your destination is foreign country. Keep them in a safe place. It is okay to make double or triple check. It does not mean you are crazy. Just checking; it will avoid you from trouble in the future.

4. Reservation and booking
At least,4 days before you go, confirm your flight and all reservation that you already made. Everything should be ready and are all set. You need to be concerned about this matter because these are the most important things that determine whether it is your dream honeymoon or it is a big nightmare with full of regrets and meaningless. You don't want to screw it up, so confirm all your bookings and reservation.

5. Relax
Relax,relax and relax.One of your honeymoon purposes is of course you want to relax after going through hectic times preparing this and that, i mean your wedding and this time your honeymoon trip. These things are important as they will help you to relax during your vacation as they avoid you from having problem.

Have a nice trip.

For more travel information, visit http://travelaca.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Natalie_Mac

Strategies to Save a Failing Marriage

2008-02-06T15:09:00.000+07:00

As marriages go through their ups and downs it is not always as easy to focus on the good times as it is the struggles. We develop expectations of our spouse over time and when we feel let down it typically stands out more than the positive aspects of our relationship. This becomes particularly true in failing marriages. As our daily interactions become more filled with conflict than agreement it can feel as though you are heading down the road to divorce.

The first step in salvaging a troubled marriage is to remind yourself what you are working towards. Take a mental inventory of the positives in your relationship, even if you do not experience them on a daily basis. You need to clearly define what it is about your spouse that made you fall in love in the beginning. When the going gets tough (which it will) you will be able to look back at these positives for inspiration.

Perhaps the toughest part of mending your relationship is confronting the issues. While it is easy to try and ignore you problems in hopes that they will go away, if you don't bring the issues out into the open then it will be difficult to attack them. You can begin this step by simply asking your spouse what changes they would like to see in your lives. Be sure to listen first and be open to their opinions.

Once the source of your problems has been identified, it is time to examine your options. Ask yourself if there are things you can do right now to change your situation. This might include some sacrifices on your part, and you may have to make some difficult decisions. The key is to be willing to act first so that you show your partner how serious you are about fixing things.

There are other important elements to a successful marriage beyond just solving conflict. Romance and passion often gets lost in the daily routine of work and maintaining a household. However, if you are going to save your failing marriage then you have to rebuild the natural attraction between you and your partner. This means coming up with creative ideas for bringing you closer together. Surprise dates, passionate surprises, and even vacations are a great way to reignite these feelings.

The final step in your resolving your differences involves being honest. It can be difficult to communicate with each other when tensions are high, but it is important to stay on the same page. Share your feelings and ideas with your partner through the healing process. Let them know how much they men to you and offer your goals for the future. Honesty is about being open and truthful, and this will help support the trust your spouse has in you.

Saving a failing marriage does take dedication and work, but if you truly love your partner then there is no reason it can't be achieved. By bringing your differences out into the open and making changes to your daily routine, you can effectively break down the barriers between you. If you always remember what you are working towards then the hard times will be much easier to deal with.

Saving a troubled marriage involves dedication, strategy, and most importantly creativity. You can find all the advice and resources you need to resurrect your marriage at MendingMarriage.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elliot_Beers

Beautiful Gowns For Expecting Brides

2008-02-05T15:17:00.000+07:00

In a more liberal and modern world, it's less unusual for couples to marry while they are expecting and women have begun building their families long before they walk down the aisle. Many women embrace the idea of being pregnant and a bride and, with so many more maternity gown options available than in the past, even brides who are seven months pregnant can look radiant and elegant on their big day.

It may be difficult to find the perfect wedding dress in a maternity store or bridal boutique so shopping online is a smart and easy option for expecting brides. Take a look at the different maternity gowns available on the web and do a search to see what stores nearest to you offer your style and size so you can try some on to see what looks best. There are also numerous magazines that cater to women who are expecting and often feature gown and bridal wear sections with tips and suggestions on what would look best on your body.

The most important thing to remember about being an expectant bride is that, since you're belly will continue to grow up until the day you deliver your baby, you should wait as long as possible to actually purchase a dress so that you know it will fit you. Start shopping months in advance and get a good idea of what style you like best and wait until you're closer to the big day before actually purchasing a gown. You should also keep a good seamstress on hand to make any final alterations your dress may need.

Available in an array of styles and designs, maternity wedding gowns are just as beautiful, delicate and elegant as traditional bridal dresses. The construction of a bridal gown around the mid-section is made to feel looser and pocketed to fit a pregnant belly. Available in traditional silk and satin materials or stretchy fabrics, such as spandex, maternity gowns are made to reflect the glow of a pregnant bride and no matter how beautiful your dress is, the natural beauty of an expecting woman is sure to upstage your elegant gown.

All-maternity-clothes.com is an informative site for the pregnant woman in today's world. Get all your information about fashionable pregnancy clothes and maternity wedding dresses.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robyn_Rae

Simple Wedding Invitations

2008-02-05T15:01:00.000+07:00

Weddings are grand social affairs with celebrations continuing for days before and after the wedding ceremony and reception. Before the beginning of this revelry, it is very important to send out the wedding invitation cards to the various guests who are to be invited to the ceremony and reception.

Wedding invitations are therefore very significant aspects of the whole occasion. The invitation cards are vital as they contain the details of the wedding ceremony, its location, and timings. This is apart from the usual reference regarding the bride and groom and their families.

Therefore, wedding cards are an integral part of organizing the wedding ceremony. Special care needs to be taken to ensure that the invites are pleasant and graceful and at the same time appealing and nice. However, the kind of the wedding invites depends fully on the couple and there are a variety of designs from where they get to choose the final outlay of the invite.

Wedding invitation cards may be simplistic as well as gorgeous and elaborate. Simply designed ones are usually pristine white adorned with silver or golden decorations and look very elegant and graceful. The inside of the invitation should be filled up by the written invitation and it should be addressed with respect to the invitees.

Often these invitations are decorated with flower motifs, at times colorful and vibrant, and sometimes simple. These decorative features add beauty to the invitations and are appealing to the guests. At the same time, wedding invitations are also symbolic of the host's power and wealth. Therefore, one can also come across very elaborately decorated invitations.

These invites are usually available in two colors, black and white. They may be striped or printed with larger motifs which garner a lot of attention from the invited and are eye-catching. They appear to be a complete contrast compared to the all white simply designed cards.

Nonetheless, the kind of wedding invitations depends greatly upon the way of expression of the bride and groom and different individuals have different modes of expression. All invitations are accessorized with suitable envelopes and are often accompanied by 'Thank You' notes.

L Hayes is a wedding professional and owner of Wedding Favors Emporium. They carry an extensive line of unique wedding favors They offer many popular gift ideas such as place card holders, discount and cheap wedding favors, and bridesmaid gifts. For more information about unique wedding favors, wedding planning, or wedding reception ideas, visit their website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=L_Hayes

Bridal Attire - Creating a Look of Your Own

2008-02-05T14:37:00.001+07:00

As the bride, you are responsible for choosing your own wedding attire. While there are hundreds of other items on your "To Do List", wedding attire ranks high on the list. Experts say that the bride's wedding ensemble sets the tone for the entire wedding. In fact, from the bride's dress, wedding jewelry, and other accessories, the remaining portion of the wedding will unfold. Because the bride's attire plays such an important role in the wedding ceremony, it is important that you decide on what type of bridal gown that you desire to wear before you move forward on any other plans.

Bridal Gown
Your gown should not only reflect who you are as a bride, but who you are as a person. For example, if you are a low-maintenance girl, who dresses conservatively, then you are more likely to refrain from wearing an overly-embellished bridal gown along with overstated wedding jewelry. Instead, you are more likely to wear a simple, yet elegant wedding dress, with subtle, yet stylish accessories. Keep in mind, however, that it is your wedding day and you have every right to steal the show. So, choosing a dress that has added embellishments and wearing glitzy wedding jewelry is perfectly okay as long as it isn't overly done.

Hairstyle
When choosing a hairstyle for your special day, it is important to realize that your hairstyle goes hand in hand with your wedding jewelry as well as the neckline of your dress. If you have your heart set on wearing a pair of long dangly earrings and a choker, then an up-do will work best with this choice of accessories. Stud earrings and a longer length necklace coordinate well with a down-do.

Wedding Jewelry
Choosing the right accessories is the key to completing your overall look. As the bride, you should wedding jewelry that coordinates well with your dress as well as your engagement ring. If you have a white gold diamond engagement ring, then you might consider wearing silver Swarovski wedding jewelry. Another element that may dictate the type of wedding jewelry that you may choose to wear is the embellishments on your bridal gown.

Shoes
When choosing shoes for your wedding day, remember that comfort overrides style. Your shoes should fit comfortaby and coordinate well with your wedding gown. Secondary to these two elements is style. Wearing inappropriate shoes on your wedding day can potentially ruin it for you.

While it is true that there are several elements that make a wedding special, the bride's wedding attire is one of the most memorable.

Nicole Lindsey writes for http://www.silverlandjewelry.com She covers jewelry and weddings as well as other related subjects.

SilverlandJewelry offers a wide selection of affordable wedding jewelry Check out more ideas on shopping for bridesmaid dresses.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Lindsey

Rose Petals - the Best Choice for Your Wedding

2008-01-24T22:05:00.000+07:00

When choosing which rose petals to buy for your wedding, you need to define when and where you will be using them and if there are any restrictions imposed by your venue. Then take into account the advantages and disadvantages of each of them, to help you reach your decision.

For Outdoor Use - you will need a natural, biodegradable petal. Many parishes have banned the use of rice and paper confetti as they are not good for the environment. You have a choice of fresh, freeze dried or heat dried rose petals.

For Indoor use - you need to check with the venue if there any restrictions.

Flower Girls - you may want to have your flower girls toss petals and any type will do as guests do not usually give these too close an examination.

Table Decoration - freeze dried petals are good for table decoration as they look realistic, but on the downside, they can be costly. Silk petals give the look of rose petals at only a fraction of the cost. Natural rose petals are not ideal as they can start to look shabby, before the guests have even sat down.

Tossing Petals - if indoors, then silk petals are probably the best choice because of cost considerations and appearance. If outdoors, then you should choose any of the natural alternatives mentioned above.

Now that we have discussed the different choices available, here are the pros and cons for each type.

Fresh rose petals need to be obtained on the day of the wedding and also need to be prepared just before use, meaning extra stress for the bridal party. The upside is that they are all-natural and biodegradable, but the downside is that they also break down fast and they may not look so great later in the day. Another disadvantage is that they can stain clothing and tablecloths, and can also be slippery, so you and your guests need to be extra careful.

Freeze Dried Rose Petals are usually less expensive than fresh rose petals and are a long lasting alternative to fresh with the look and feel of fresh petals. They can be ordered up to a month in advance of the wedding. They are preserved at the peak of their freshness so should look good. There is usually a wide choice of colours available. They need to be exposed to humidity in advance of the wedding, so that they are not too brittle, and in order to bring out the natural colour of the petals. It is best keep them in a cool dry place as exposure to light and humidity is not good for them and if you buy them too far ahead of the wedding then the colours may fade

Heat Dried Rose Petals - these can be bought well in advance but are usually only available in dark reddish colours, but they are usually cheaper than the freeze dried alternative. They can be stored for longer than freeze dried rose petals, and if any are left over, you can make a long lasting scented potpourri mix, which will remind you of your wedding day. You can also place a few of these inside each invitation to set the scene.

Silk Rose Petals - these are usually the cheapest option and are perfect for indoor use. They are good for indoor pathways or for table decorations. There are many different qualities of silk petals, so it is always best to see if you can get a sample first so you can check the quality and to see if the colour is a good match for you before committing to a large quantity.

Janice Kaye is owner of http://www.holyroses.com - your source for high quality silk and dried rose petals, dried rose heads and stems, dried lavender as well as other items for floral crafts, all at exceptional prices.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janice_Kaye

ALONE TIME: WEDDING DAY PORTRAITS WITH JUST THE BRIDE AND GROOM AND THE PHOTOGRAPHER

2007-08-20T22:02:00.001+07:00

Amid all the flowers, food, music and festivities, there are two people at the focal point of a wedding: the wedding couple.

With all the attention heaped upon the bride and groom, a portrait session away from the crowds can help capture private moments between them. It gets the couple away from the pressure that comes with their wedding, and a chance to be alone to reflect on the occasion.

So why not consider at least a brief window of time to go off with the photographer to make some creative portraits in a picturesque environment, whether it be a park, old barn or nearby beach?

To be sure, a creative portrait session is not something that will happen at all weddings. Not all couples need or want one, and many prefer to let the moments captured during the ceremony and reception serve as photos of just the two of them.

And while it may seem like a deviation from truly just sitting back and letting the wedding photojournalist document the day as it unfolds, such portraits are no different than what photojournalists may find themselves doing most days while working for a newspaper, magazine or wire service. And it’s hardly the heavily posed photos of traditional wedding photography, but rather a way of putting the bride and groom into an environment and sometimes just letting them be.

ALONE TIME

Ideally, photographers will want to spend a relaxed period of time with the bride and groom during a portrait session. But with the demands of the wedding planner, caterers and others worked into the schedule, that luxury cannot always be realized. Sometimes a schedule may leave up to an hour for portraits. On other occasions, it may be only five minutes, or perhaps no time at all.

If it is something they choose to do, the couple of honor should make sure there is some window in which they can get away. It’ll pay off, as this quiet time will often produce some of the best portrait opportunities.

If the bride and groom choose to have a portrait session, says Shawna Herring, a WPJA award winner, “I’ll suggest that we plan on spending about 15 to 20 minutes after the ceremony with me, away from everyone else.”

KINDLY DITCHING THE RELATIVES

With all the great emotions that pour out when the couple are alone together, the last thing the wedding photographer needs is a portrait session ruined by the couple being distracted by numerous flashes and guests vying for their attention. It can also be overwhelming for the couple to have so many “look here” or “do this” demands tossed at them from a crowd of well wishers.

That’s why most suggest keeping the guests away for the private photo session. In fact, Herring stipulates it in the contract that everyone stay away for the private shoot.

If the families don't understand the snub, just be sure that someone explains that the whole point is to get the best creative portraits of the soon-to-be or newly minted husband and wife—images that will season the collection of other, more unplanned moments to be shared forever among family and friends.

— by Paul Ziobro for the Wedding Photojournalist Association

Bride and Groom : Wedding Attire for Groom and Bride

2007-08-13T21:33:00.000+07:00

The guys have it easy. Pick up the tuxedos they rented months ago right before the wedding, put them on and then be sure to return all the pieces in decent condition right after the wedding. The women, however, don’t get so lucky.

For the bride, her quest for the prefect wedding dress means hours poring over bridal magazines in search of the perfect look and months of agonizing dieting and humiliating dress fittings. Plus she needs all the accessories. Unfortunately, selecting wedding attire for both the groom and bride is something that cannot be avoided, unless they’re headed to Las Vegas or the county courthouse.

Wedding attire is one of those wedding tasks you need to tackle well in advance, especially if you’re planning your wedding during the height of the season. Almost as soon as you announce the wedding date, but only after you have put together a wedding budget, you need to begin planning the attire.

Now that’s not something you have to tell most women. Many already know the type of wedding dress they want because they’ve been planning this big day for most of their lives! But still, most brides will spend 4 to 6 weeks shopping, trying on and pondering wedding attire before it’s even purchased.

And after this 1 – 2 month period, brides still need ample time for special ordering and custom fitting. They’ll need about 3 separate fittings so that the wedding dress looks absolutely perfect on the big day. It’s a good idea to allow extra time for unexpected delays and emergencies.

Most brides devote a considerable chunk of the wedding budget to the dress and accessories. It certainly doesn’t need to be this way, and there are plenty of options for looking stunning without spending thousands.

How much will be spent is a really important point to discuss beforehand, agree on, and follow through with. The bride will be center stage, lots of photos will be taken, and it’s normal to want to look better than ever.

To help the discussion along, begin with talking about the type of wedding you both want – elegant, informal, themed, seasonal, outdoors, or something else. The wedding attire that the groom and bride select is going to set the tone for every other aspect of the wedding including what others wear, the color scheme, decorations, invitations, flowers, venues, transportation, everything.

And in addition to the wedding dress, the bride needs accessories including the veil, headpiece, train, shoes, undergarments, stockings, garter, handbag, and jewelry. Much of it can be ordered along with the wedding dress, but other accessories will have to be purchased over the coming months. Be sure to factor in the costs for these accessories when planning the wedding attire budget.

And as was mentioned in the beginning, men’s wedding attire follows the lead of the bride’s. Men need only locate a tuxedo rental outlet 6 – 12 months before the date, get fitted and pick up their tuxes, which come with all the accessories they’ll need – cummerbund, bow tie, vest, even shoes!

Bride and Groom : Wedding Dinner - Cold Buffet for 120

2007-06-08T05:50:00.000+07:00

Marlene from B.C. created a cold buffet dinner for her daughter's wedding, andhas kindly agreed to share here experience here, Thanks Marlene!~~(I've left this information quite long, but maybe someone will pick upsome extra tips by reading the detailed notes)~~The Wedding Ceremony took place in their back yard at4 o'clock in the afternoon, Aug. 22, 1998.

Marlene had even planned and planted flowers in her gardento be in pinks and mauve, the wedding colors! After the ceremonythe guests were directed to a rented halland were served hors d'oeuvres while the pictures were being taken,A cold buffet dinner followed with dancing afterwards of course!

NOTE: Marlene hired a waitress to look after the serving of the food,and a bartender to look after the beverages

THE MENU
spinach bites,*-olive cheese puffs,*-small bite size sausage rolls,*-antipasto* with assorted crackers-cocktail meatballs-bruschetta-nacho chips and salsa and guacamole dip~sliced cold turkey breast, (used 5 'real' turkey breasts) all gonesliced black forest ham, (whole ham, sliced) all gonesliced roast beef (25 lb. sirloin tip roast, lots left over) -would serve more turkey next time.4 large sockeye salmon, filleted, marinated and bbq'd, served cold (8 lb. ea.) all goneturkey salad, ( grapes, apple chunks, chunks of 2 'real' turkey breast etc., well liked)potato salad, everyone like it, used Nalley's Salad Dressing for this.macaroni salad, (left out the ham, too much left over) Mediterranean Salad with feta cheese, well liked.Caesar Salad, (used 10 heads romaine, needed 15) used 2 bottles dressing,2 lb. of bacon, 2 boxes croutons, 1 lb. shredded parmesan cheese,the Waitress tossed this just before serving.Ambrosia Salad., well liked.Cranberry Jelly Mold (too much and too spicy- leave out the spices, use half the recipe)Platters of tomatoes and cucumbers with mozzarella cheese slices.Assort. buns and sesame sticks. (made by her daughter)And all the condiments to go with it.Mock Champagne Punch (5 gals. and made a second batch of it, everyone liked it)lots of pop, juices, and drinks, coffee and tea, we had a bartender.--The dessert table is the wedding cake(s), There were 5 heart shape cakes,all different with different fillings, they were decorated in whitebutter icing with real mauve roses and white things.

Mydaughter is a baker and she is making her cake and decorating it.We will also have platters of fresh fruit by the cake.Pineapple dip for the fruit--MAJOR TIP: Marlene made use of freezers forkeeping the things that needed REFRIGERATION, cool. She unplugged the freezers a day or two ahead of time, had buckets of ice frozen, a sheet of plywood, cut to fit on top of the ice filled buckets and then the salads, or whatever on top of the board. She did this at home and at the reception hall.

Bride and Groom : HOW TO INTERVIEW A CATERER by Frances King

2007-06-08T05:23:00.000+07:00

A Complete Guide To Helping You Select A Caterer for Your Wedding or Special Event.

Here are a Number of Great Tips and Some Sample Questions to Ask Your Prospective Caterer.

Many people discover that their catered event is the biggest expense of their wedding or party. The cost of your wedding reception or party includes the food, beverages, kitchen staff, waitstaff, rentals, the decorations, and the cost of the reception site itself. About 50% of a couple's wedding costs are the reception. It is very important to know how to interview and to choose a caterer.

Site/Availability

When you are selecting a facility such as a winery, hotel, country club, park, resort, reception hall, or restaurant you need to know whether the site includes the caterer. Some reception/facility sites have their own in-house caterer and they do not allow outside caterers to provide the food on their site. The site that your choose should match the formality of the event, the theme of your wedding/event, the type of food that you want to provide, and your budget. You may want to reserve a site where you have the freedom to choose your own caterer.

Is your event/wedding reception indoors or outdoors?

This is important to know what facilities are available at your site. Some facilities do not have sinks, kitchens, ovens, stoves, or barbecues for the caterers to work out of. In terms of the weather and the menu, the food may need to be kept hot or cold.

Pick a date! Once you have figured out if you need to hire an off-premise caterer, then you need to find out if they are available on the day of your event or wedding. The caterer you want could already be booked for an event on the same day of your affair.

You should try to book your caterer at least 6-12 months in advance of your event.

Budget

Now you need to decide if they can work within your budget!

What is your budget for your catered event?

Most caterers require an initial deposit to hold the date of your event. Is there a deposit required? What is the initial deposit and when is it due?

Are installments or payment plans available?

When is the final payment due for the catering?

Is there a gratuity or service charge? How much are the taxes?

How many hours of service does the caterer include in their overall cost?

How much extra will it be if my event runs overtime?

What does the caterer include in the price (e.g., set-up, clean up, staff, food, rentals, etc.)?

Experience

How long has the caterer been in business? Ask them about their experience, background, and culinary education.

Have they catered weddings or your type of event previously? Have they handled the amount of guests that you have invited?

Can they handle small or large events? What is the number of guests of the largest event that they have managed?

License/Liability/Health

Are they licensed?

Are they insured?

Do they have health permits?

Alcohol

Do they have a liquor license to purchase alcohol? If no, are they willing to serve your alcohol? Does your caterer provide bartender(s) to serve your beverages? How much extra is this service?

Is there a corkage fee for serving my own wine?

Is champagne service included for my wedding toast?

Are the beverages served at the bar, buffet style, and do the waitstaff refill drinks at the tables?

Ice; don't forget that you may need ice for the keg, bar, carafes of water. A good rule of thumb is ½ of pound of ice per guest. You may need extra ice in really hot weather.

Rentals/Equipment

What rentals are needed for your event?

Is the rental equipment provided through the catering company or through a rental company?

There are many details to consider such as tables, and chairs, plates, napkins, table linens, chaffers, glassware, sternos, silverware, serving pieces, tents, etc. Some people choose to use plastic flatware and paper plates in order to save money.

Rental costs add up quickly if you rent extra silverware such as salad and dessert forks, bread/butter knives, dessert spoons, along with the basic table setting of forks, knives, and spoons.

There are many different grades of silverware, tableware, glassware, etc, and different colors of linens to choose from. You need to make some choices and find out the price differences for your rentals.

Your caterer can help you figure out what items that you need to rent.

Request to see samples of equipment to make sure it is what you want, that's it's not old, chipped, or in poor condition.

Most caterers charge you for rental equipment. Some caterers include the cost of rentals along with their food prices per guest.

Head Count

Prices are usually based on the number of guests that you plan to invite to your wedding or event. The caterer will need an initial head count or a rough idea of the amount of your guests.

When does the caterer need to know the final head count? When you send out your invitations, keep in mind that the most caterers want a final count 1-2 weeks before your event.

Does the head count include other wedding/party vendors, such as the DJ, Band, Wedding Consultant, and Photographer?

Is there a price difference for the children and the wedding/party professionals?

Is there some place else for the vendors to eat, out of site from your guests.

Menus

Do they have set menus or can they customize menus according to the theme or style of your event?

Can they provide special menus such as vegetarian cuisine, kosher cuisine, or are they able to accommodate guests with food allergies.

Service

What methods do you want your food/beverages served?

Are the hors d'oeuvres passed around to the guests by the wait staff or are the hors d'oeuvres stationary (sitting on a table)?

What style do you want your main meal served? Types to consider are buffet, seated or sit-down, French, Russian, and family styles. Ask your caterer about different styles of service that they provide. Specify what services are included and what details that they do not handle.

Serving Styles:

1. Seated or standard sit-down service is when the food is plated and portioned in the kitchen and the guest is served the plate of food while sitting down at the table.

2.Russian Style is where the food is plattered and the server portions and serves each guest a portion of the entr?e, starch, and vegetable, served with a fork and spoon.

3.French Style is when the food is plattered tableside. The platters are presented to the guests and the guests pass and serve themselves. This requires more space and service can be slow.

4. Family Style is when the food is in bowls and on platters in the middle of the table and the quests help themselves.

5. Buffet style is when the people stand in a food line.

Does your caterer provide servers or is the buffet self serve?

Does the catering include wedding cake service or do you have to hire someone to cut and serve the cake?

Dress code for the waitstaff. Is it formal or casual? The attire should reflect the formality/theme of your event. The staff may wear tuxedo shirts with bow ties and blank pants or skirts. Butler style is when the waitpersons where white gloves. If you are having a Hawaiian theme party, ask your caterer to have the waitstaff where Hawaiian shirts.

Ratio

What is the staff to guest ratio? Generally, there should be at least one server per 30 guests for a buffet and one server per 20 guests for a sit-down dinner. However, it depends on how formal or complicated the event is. The ratio may be reduced, depending on these factors. A lavish six-course, sit-down dinner may require one server per 10-12 guests. Discuss the staff to guest ratio with your caterer.

Food

Does the caterer use fresh ingredients/produce or does he/she use canned or frozen ingredients?

Who are their food/produce suppliers?

Do they bake their own breads/desserts or do they contract out to bakeries/chefs?

Generally speaking, the price of food includes all of the ingredients, preparation, and transportation of the food to your site.

Discuss portion sizes and the amount of food that needs to be prepared.

Contract/Refunds/Cancellations

· Request a contract or proposal.

What are the general terms of the contract?

What is their cancellation policy?

Is your deposit refundable if your wedding/event is cancelled?

Read all of the fine print including their cancellation policy, price per person, service charges, and taxes.

After you read the contract make sure all parties that are involved sign it. Be ready to put down an initial deposit.

The contract should include:

1. The date, time, location of the event, and hours of service provided by the caterer.

2. The date that you need to provide the final head count.

3. The list of services provided (e.g. buffet, sit-down meal, bar service, wedding cake service, etc.)

4. The menu that you have selected.

5. The fees, including an extra expenses, a payment schedule, and when the final balance is due.

6. The name of the caterer handling the event.

7. Finally, your contract should include the caterer's cancellation policy.

Customer Service

Talk to your caterer on the phone. Request the menus ahead of time. Then, schedule an appointment and meet with your prospective caterer in person.

How does your caterer deal with you?

Do you feel comfortable with your caterer?

Does your caterer communicate with you effectively and is he/she helpful?

Your caterer should be available by appointment and by phone to answer any questions that you may have.

Tasting

Will your caterer provide an initial tasting/consultation? Some caterers will ask you to come in for a free tasting. Others will charge a fee. Some caterers will ask you to come into their restaurant if you want to try the food. However, some caterers do not provide tastings at all. They will give you references and show you pictures of their presentations of food. Be aware that preparing a meal for a few people and a few hundred is very different in the quantity, holding, and the transportation of the food.

Judging the food at the caterer's kitchen is not always a true example of the food that is served at an event.

If you do go in for a tasting, ask your caterer is the tasting for free or does he/she charge a fee for the sampling?

How many people can I bring to the tasting?

Don't assume that you can bring 5 or 6 people to a tasting. Tastings are expensive and complicated to provide for the caterer. Ask if you can bring someone along, such as the bride or groom.

Request to look at pictures of events that they have done in the past.

References

Request references from your caterer. Ask your friends, family, or colleagues for recommendations of caterers that they have employed for their events.

Some caterers will provide you with letters of references or phone numbers of clients that are willing to share their past experience with your caterer.

Ask the client questions about the quality of the food, if they were satisfied with the waitstaff/service, and ask about the overall presentation of the event.

Leftovers

What is your caterer's leftover policy? Do not assume that all of the leftovers are automatically yours. Most caterers make extra food for unexpected guests and to feed their staff. You are paying per person, much like a restaurant. However, some brides/grooms/hosts do not have time to eat during their reception/event. Therefore, some caterers will provide a leftover basket of their food. The couple can have a romantic picnic for two on their honeymoon and enjoy themselves when all of the commotion is over with.

Good Luck And Bon Appetit!

Bride And Groom : Get Tips For Cheap Weddings And YOU Can Save Thousands of Dollars

2007-06-05T16:10:00.000+07:00

Cheap weddings doesn’t mean giving up style or sentimentality. It means using your imagination, using your own hands or the help of friends and family. We’ll help you have a budget wedding that will be the event of the season.

ANNOUNCING THE 2007 TOILET PAPER WEDDING DRESS CONTEST! ENTER NOW.

Planning cheap weddings is planning dream weddings but with cash left over. Wouldn’t you rather have money to put down on a house, buy a car or take a fabulous honeymoon.

On these pages you’ll find:

How to save a bundle on a wedding gown

Where to get cheap wedding bands and rings

The scoop on inexpensive bridal bouquets and wedding flowers

Photography tricks that look pro

Do-it-yourself wedding cakes that rival the ones in bridal magazines

Tons of advice for cheap weddings

You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. Make your wedding your own. You’ll have a low cost wedding that will be a cheap, chic joyous occasion. We hope you’ll be inspired.

TAKE OUR QUICK WEDDING SURVEY NOW

Here's what one of our reader's has to say about Cheap Chic Weddings:
"I would just like to say Thank You. I planned my wedding for over a year away, because I know the stress my sister went through with hers. For 3mo. now I have been searching, and searching the Internet for ideas. Especially inexspensive ideas (My fiance and I are going with a budget of $2000.00). I have gotten little to nothing out of any website. Every Idea I have for my wedding, I have gotten off of one website. Yours. Thank You for making it so easy." Jenni Lee

Honeymoon

2007-06-01T15:00:00.001+07:00

Taking a honeymoon has its roots in the ancient days of bride capture. Once a man snagged his woman, they needed to get away to calm family emotions. Hopefully when the couple returned, everyone would be ready to acknowledge the marriage. You’re probably not escaping her family…yet. But regardless, some R&R after the I do’s is in order.

The average honeymoon lasts eight days and costs $3,700 (including transportation, lodging, meals and all those great sightseeing bus tours).

On your trip, be sure to tell everyone you are on your honeymoon. You might get bumped or upgraded. Also, if you have room in your suitcase, bring extra wedding favors as thank you’s for the people who go out of their way to help. Of course, a bigger tip would always be preferred, but one of your favors is a nice extra.

Also, be sure to order champagne and/or a fruit basket to be set up before you check in. Just another way to tell your bride how much you love her.

Want to be one of the crowd? Here are the 2005 most popular honeymoon cities are:

Paris
Venice
Honolulu
San Francisco
Sydney

Want to go where the pros suggest? Here are the top overall destinations from a survey of over six thousand travel agents:

Hawaii
Italy
Tahiti
Anguilla
Fiji
St. Lucia
Mexico
St. Barth's
Jamaica
France

Want to be a trendsetter? Here are some up and coming honeymoon suggestions from Modern Bride:

Costa Rica
South Africa
Belize
Turks & Caicos
New Zealand
Fiji
Vietnam
Anguilla
Dominican Republic
Australia

For more info, visit modernbride.com/travel/top50

Want to really consummate the marriage? According to Men's Health, after the bed, the top three places for honeymoon sex:

Shower
Hot tub
Balcony

When your lounging by the hotel pool, keep this in mind: it’s okay to look, but just don’t linger. One in three men mentally compare their wife's body to other women’s while on their honeymoon.

Packing tips:

Pack light
Pack a copy of marriage certificate (might be necessary in case airline tickets don’t match your wife's driver’s license or passport)
Pack credit cards and traveler checks, not cash
Pack extra film or camera memory and batteries
Pack for fun & adventure
Remember protection (both the SPF and anti-parenthood kind)

Not sure where to go?
Wedding travel
Top 50 honeymoon spots
National Geographic
Travel Channel top honeymoon spots

Traveling out of country?
Passport information
Visa requirements
Travel warnings
Health information

Need help booking travel?
Expedia
Travelocity
Orbitz
Travel Zoo
Cheap tickets
Priceline
Hotwire

Want to hear what the experts say?
Fodors
Frommers
Lonely Planet
Let's Go

Tuxedo

2007-06-01T14:47:00.000+07:00

Suit Up! Then you can party down!

Did you think a black tie is as stuffy as it gets? Think again. White ties (along with a black tailcoat) define a formal evening wedding. But now the semiformal tuxedo, with its black dinner jacket and tie, is the more popular choice.

If you are a stickler for formality and having a day wedding, wear a morning suit. This consists of a gray or black cutaway coat, gray vest, striped trousers, and a four-in-hand tie or ascot. Not that traditional? Wear a black or gray short jacket, called a stroller, instead of the cutaway.

And if you don’t want the bride to be the only one in white, push for a summer or hot-climate wedding so you can don a white jacket. Just be easy on the lace. And don’t pull up the sleeves like Crockett and Tubbs.

If things get ugly with your fiancée, just toss this zinger out there:

What’s black and white and red all over?
A bloody groom if his tux doesn’t fit.

If she laughs, then you know she’s the one. If she doesn’t, that’s okay. You’ll just know that this author’s not her type.

For more information, visit Gingiss Tuxedo.

Describe Your Wedding Photography for Your Photographer

2007-06-01T09:29:00.000+07:00

When you meet with your wedding photographer, you will have a lot to talk about. There will be many different moments happening before, during and after the wedding. Wedding photography is part photojournalism and part portraiture. You want your wedding photographer to be prepared for the unexpected. During your interview with them, you want to ask them about their style; their background and their experience. You want a wedding photographer who watches the people around them.

You want wedding photography that comes from being unobtrusive where they catch not only the key wedding moments, but also the moments of deep connection between the bride, the groom, the family members and other guests. Imagine, standing in the vestibule of the Church while the Bride is waiting with her father for their cue. They aren’t saying anything with words, but Dad brushes her cheek with his knuckles, ever so lightly and her eyes shimmer with tears. The corners of her mouth turn up just ever so slightly and her father’s face softens as well. That is the shot you want in your wedding photography.

Be sure to give your wedding photographer clear details of the wedding location, venue, theme and most of all – what you want to see. Take the time to talk to your wedding photographer during the interview and during the wedding planning. If it helps, write down what you want your wedding album to look like before you meet with the photographer in order to give them clear directions. Remember, however, that while the wedding photographer is a professional, it’s still your wedding.

Wedding Crasher Alert for the Bride and Groom

2007-05-18T20:56:00.000+07:00

They Just Might Make a Speech!
Like the past summer hit, wedding crashers are common. However, they are not after the ladies, but your valuables. Wedding days are the joyous times when we let our guard down for the celebration. You should be fully aware that wedding crasher thefts do happen! I’ve heard stories from both brides and photographers.
This past weekend someone crashed a wedding that I was photographing. From what I heard, there was one crasher watching the items (gifts, envelopes, etc) that were being taken out at the end of the night.

And the other was brash enough to come up to the bride and ask her to dance by grabbing her left hand and pulling her over. The crasher was literally trying to pull the ring off her finger!
Not only does this happen to the bride & groom, but professionals have to be aware as well. A good friend of mine was targeted and had their photography equipment stolen from their car at the end of the wedding. A video-grapher had his equipment in the corner of the reception hall. It is believed, but not proven, that a member of the halls staff walked away with his gear. Another video-grapher called the police because someone was watching him from another vehicle as he unloaded his van. If your photographer is constently worried about his equipement, they will most likely suffer loss of concentration to produce fine work for your important day!
Wedding Security Bottom Line:
Do not leave anything unattended or in an area where your things cannot be seen with a quick glance. I know, you have your eyes on the wine glass, and families and friends to attend to.
Hosting a wedding is tremendous undertaking. If you are already thoughtful enough to look for designated drivers for your guests, assign a designated watcher as well. If necessary, hire a security personal. Yes, the crashers will take your wedding gifts! The benefits will certainly out weight the cost. You don't want your guests to remember your wedding day as the date their valuables were stolen.
Be aware of your surroundings and the people you come across. Proactively approach unfamiliar faces.
Be more organized with your guest book. Acquire strict invitations from attendants. If you can't resolve a guest's identity, at least try to procure their photo IDs, and keep them on file.
Communicate and lookout for your wedding photographers! Lead them and get them familiarized with the surroundings. Introduce them to all the key parties at the wedding. If their equipment is stolen, you won't be getting your precious wedding photos and videos anytime soon!

Just Only For Man

2007-05-18T20:31:00.000+07:00

For the Groom

With all the excitement of wedding planning, it may seem that all attention focuses on the bride, while you, the groom sometimes appear to have been forgotten. But remember that you will also be the center of attention on your wedding day.
Before choosing your attire, consider the time of day, location and style of your wedding. Wedding attire for today's groom allows for more variety and personal style, especially in Hawai'i. Men's formal wear may be purchased or rented. If you do not foresee much need for a tuxedo in the future, consider a rental.

Tuxedo rental companies in Hawai'i can completely outfit you and your attendants with a tux, vest, shirt, tie, tuxedo studs and shoes. When renting a tuxedo, visit the store at least three months before the ceremony to assure that the style you choose will be available. Out-of-towners can visit their own formal wear store, then send their measurements to the groom. Those who live far away should arrive at least a day or two before the wedding to allow time for alterations. Arrange for a final fitting before you pick up the suit to avoid any last minute surprises.

The well groomed groom:

· If you are considering a new hairstyle - try it - but allow plenty of time for your hair to grow back if you or your fiance are not pleased.
· Make an appointment with your hair stylist a few days before the wedding for a trim.
· Buy some over-the-calf silk or cashmere socks to wear on your wedding day.
· When you shave on the morning of your wedding, use an electric razor. If you have a heavy beard, it is a good idea to carry a razor with you and shave again right before the ceremony to avoid ''five o'clock shadows'' in the wedding photos.
· Remember that your hands may be photographed. A manicure is recommended a few days before the ceremony to give your nails a neat and healthy look.