Wedding ties are now available for men and boys in different patterns, designs and colors. There are also maximum choices present for you to select from a wide range of materials. A perfect collection of ties that are meant for wedding is to deplete without the inclusion of ties that are made of silk. The advantage of choosing a silk cloth is not only for the purpose of ensuring smoothness but also for the provision of brightness that appears strikingly unique when others have a look at it. The bright look can further be enhanced with a perfect finishing, especially, towards the ends.
The number of options available for men regarding the combination of wedding ties is limited. Hence, it is a wise decision to match different combination for as many occasions. Also, less number of ties means that you need to spend less towards their maintenance. When wedding ties are matched with different accessories, the creative side of a men is unveiled which depicts that the dress sense also. Men can prefer luxurious wedding ties that are handmade in Italy. It is better to opt for ties of various lengths as most of the wedding ties need to match perfectly upon groomsmen too.
Selecting wedding ties for men is a laborious procedure. Hence, if one can dedicate some amount of time for selection, then the chances of getting the best collection is highly guaranteed. The first factor that needs to consider regarding the buying of a wedding tie for men is its look. The design and pattern are the elements that comprise of looks factor. Ensure that the tie is not heavy with a lot of designer work. The patterns should appear as thin and fine as possible. Purchasing silk ties guarantee that they are not worn out too quickly. If men can manage cotton ties, then they can go ahead with ties made of such kind of materials too.
The shape of men wedding ties needs to perfectly groom. They should not appear clumsy or wayward. In general, they should start narrowly from the top and should widen till the end. This look will get enhanced when the length of the wedding tie is perfect. Maintaining the length that is above waistline is what considered being an ideal factor. As weddings are meant for lifetime bonding, one has to be picky while choosing the right kind of wedding tie. Due to the wide range of selections available in the current market, wedding ties that are worn by ring bearers also hold much importance.
Saturday
How To Select Wedding Ties For Men
Thursday
Choosing The Perfect Songs For Your Wedding Day
So how do you make sure your play-list fits you and your soon to be spouse? Well, here are some useful tips you can use to choose the best songs perfect for the occasion of your wedding day:
- Consult with your spouse - Right off the top of his or her head, they might be able to suggest songs that they would like to use during your wedding day. You might also forget some incidents wherein certain songs have played a very important part in your life so it would be good to have your spouse help you with that. Do it together and you would surely find it such a memorable experience as part of preparing yourselves for the wedding day.
- Remember the good old days - When was the first time you met each other? What's the first song you dance with, even if you are not yet a couple? Do you have any theme song? Look back at the memories that you have had with each other and surely, you will find that the highlights of it can be encapsulated through the memory brought by a song. What's the tune blasting in your car radio while you took your first long drive together for a summer vacation. This is definitely one trip worth taking
- Consult your videographer
- You might also want to involve your videographer in the process since they will be using the songs you picked for purposes of making your wedding video. They might have a few creative suggestions worth listening to. You should also take note of copyright issues especially if you are thinking of getting your songs burned into a CD which your guests can eventually bring home with them.
Include some good old songs that are danceable and fun - Weddings are bound to be very emotional but it does not have to mean that you'd let the whole crowd drown in the moment's many different ballads. If the songs you pick for your wedding day would also be heard by the guests, you owe it to them to at least be fun and happy about the moment. Include some fun danceable tunes to which they can relate to so you can make the occasion a really fun and memorable one for everybody present there. - Get a DJ for your wedding party
- If you are still not sure with your list of songs, then you can always seek the help of a DJ to work out a good list of songs for your wedding party. You can hire someone who's actually pretty popular around the wedding scene. Having a DJ around is also much better because it allows you to find someone whom your guests could talk to and request some songs with during the party.
How To Purchase Affordable Wedding Ties
grooms.
It will look trendy when grooms consider bow ties for their weddings. A simple bow tie will not only be priced affordably but also provides a formal look. It is easier to wear and requires less maintenance. However,
it is not suitable for all. One needs to have a right combination of dress
before one prefers a bow tie for their wedding. When choosing a good
collection of wedding ties, people need to concentrate on the range. The
collection should cater to the needs of the groom along with groomsmen and
ring bearers. For this purpose, all the ties need to be unique. A wedding
tie that is black in color and made of silk cloth is preferred the most.
The trends in wedding ties have evolved over the years. Initially, the
more plain a wedding tie looks, it was thought to be that grand. People
used to prefer a simple look. However, with the latest trends in fashion,
new designs and patterns have held the centre of attraction for over
sometime now. On the flip side, there are wedding ties based on themes.
For example, ties that are either yellow or blue in color are the flavor
of the season. These ties suit grooms the most who are trying their best
to look different. Also, there are wedding neckties that are offered by
numerous brands.
If cheap wedding ties are needed, then ties that are designed with the use of various materials must be considered. The kind of quality a silk wedding tie can offer differs from the one that is offered by a cotton-wedding tie. Wedding ties made of polyester falls somewhere in between those two. It should be remembered that purchasing a good quality tie for your wedding is not enough. You need to know how you should
maintain its sheen and quality.
Wedding Gowns In Christian Marriages
for this occasion is the biggest issue for any bride. The bride comes across a dizzying selection of choices while she goes for buying wedding gowns
. The brides also choose the color, style and type of bridesmaid dresses that her bridesmaids are going to wear during her special occasion. There is a lot of importance of wedding gowns during any Christian marriages. The wedding gowns that a bride wears during her wedding are expected to be white in color. The white color of the gown symbolizes innocence, happiness, virginity and purity. Also the wedding gowns are regarded to be a treasured heirloom for any bride. This is because the brides pass down their wedding gowns to their daughter or granddaughter.There is a difference between wedding dresses and wedding gowns
. Wedding gowns are considered to be a more formal dress which is worn during the wedding. Dresses are informal or formal attire, which are mostly one piece garment. It is usually worn with a skirt of any length. Settle down to buy wedding gowns
as also bridesmaid dresses much ahead of your wedding date. This would provide the time for any kind of alterations that need to be made. 
during an off-season then there are very less chances for you to get one. So it is quite wise to look out for wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses much ahead of the wedding.There are different styles of wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses available in the market. The formality of the wedding ceremony would help people to decide about the kind of wedding gowns or bridesmaid dresses they choose to wear. Also the time of the day would be an important factor to help deciding the right wedding gowns or bridesmaid dresses.
Weddings can be classified into formal evening or day time event, semi-formal event or even informal event. Generally for formal weddings the bride chooses to wear lighter formal wedding gowns. The semi-formal wedding gowns are much less elaborate than the formal ones. They are generally made out of chiffon sans any lace or beading. Also these are long or short sleeved ones which extend up to one or two feet from the hem. Informal wedding gowns are the ones which are generally shorter dresses and suits. The hemline of informal wedding gowns runs from the knee up to the mid-calf and looks more like a cocktail or party dress.
The color of wedding gowns is very important. Generally white color wedding gowns are preferred over others. Red and black color cannot be used for wedding gowns since it is the sign of prostitution and mourning respectively. The bridesmaid can choose to wear bridesmaid dresses of any color. But the bridesmaid dresses should certainly match wedding gowns of the bride. Wedding gowns need to be preserved in a good manner so that you can pass it down to your daughter or granddaughter.
Get Your Gown Without Busting The Bank
. You don't have to have a "wedding club" membership. You don't have to "know the right people". And you don't have to travel to a different state or country. Truth be told, you just need to follow these simple tips if you want to find budget wedding dresses
that look beautiful & elegant.Getting a Wedding Dress for Less...
- Ask Mom. This is the easiest way to get a wedding gown under the budget. Chances are your mother, grandmother, or some other female relative has a dress which you could wear. Ask her if she'd grant you the "honor" of wearing the gown for your wedding. Also, ask if it would be okay to make a few small changes to the dress as well
- Shop During the Off Season. Oddly enough, the prices on wedding dresses skyrocket during the late spring and summer months. To avoid this "out of nowhere" price hike, try searching for that perfect wedding dress in the fall and/or winter months. Chances are you'll save big bucks if you do.
- Be Thrifty. There's no shame in visiting thrift stores in search of budget wedding dresses. Such places tend to have a wide selection of clothing choices; which will likely include an area filled with nice dresses and other formal attire. Browse around and see if anything catches your eye.
- Don't Dent, Rent. If you want a beautiful, new wedding dress yet wish to avoid "denting" the budget too badly, the most logical option for you is to rent. Renting is a very wise option, as you'll be able to wear the dress you want for a price you can very easily afford. The only drawback to this particular method -- if you can even call it that -- is you won't be able to keep the dress afterwards.
These are 4 of the easiest and quickest ways of acquiring budget wedding
dresses. If you refuse to follow these simple tips, well, then you're likely not going to save money with this part of the wedding planning.Find Inexpensive Wedding Photographer
1. You should get estimates and price quotes from several photographers in your area. This way you can have a little bit of leverage when you begin your negotiations.
2. Start looking online for coupons to your local photographers. Once you have a few coupons for different photographers you should get a price quote. Make sure you do not tell the company you have a coupon, save that for when you are signing the contract.
3. Negotiate with the photographer. If there are things in your package that you do not need, offer to relinquish those for a reduced price.
4. Keep in mind the number of years a particular company has been in business. Normally, you can expect to pay more money for a highly experienced wedding photographer. But don't feel that you can not negotiate with a veteran photographer to get an inexpensive wedding photographer.
When you are in negotiations with the photographer, you need to be realistic with your expectations. Do not think you are going to be able to get the price reduced by several hundred dollars. That would be offensive to even ask the photographer. They are providing a necessary service and should be compensated for it.
You have to approach the situation with class and style without making yourself look like you are trying to get something for nothing. However, you can approach the photographer without causing him or her to feel offended by simply leaving the ball in their court.
For example, let them know you are not interested in a particular part of the package and ask if there can be a change in price if you do not want the full package.
With these tips you should be able to find the perfect inexpensive wedding photographer for your wedding. Don't get discouraged if you do not get the massive discount you are hoping for, instead be ecstatic that you got a discount at all. At this point, every penny you can save on wedding related expenses is a penny more in your purse.
Sunday
You May Now Kiss The Bride
Did you ever wonder where that custom came from? Well... it is believed it comes from the western world, but has reach the four corners of the earth. The kiss between the bride and groom
At most weddings
Today, however the grooms
kiss seems to be a part of the ceremony as a symbolic gesture to seal the matrimonial sacred vows just exchanged. So now when you kiss your husband you know the meaning behind the kiss, you may even want to cry.Questions To Ask Your Wedding Videographer
Multiple award-winning Chicagoland videographer, Kris Malandruccolo of Elegant Videos by Kris, gives us her insight on choosing the best person to videotape your wedding.
How long have you been in business?
A more experienced videographer should do a better job for you. Using an established business means that they are in business for the long-term and probably won't shut down next week.
Are you the one who will be videotaping my wedding?
Make sure you speak to the person who will actually videotape your wedding. Many larger studios use free-lancers, and it is important to speak with the actual videographer ahead of time to make sure you get everything you want and to make sure you are comfortable with the videographer.
How many cameras do you use? Does that mean a second videographer?
If you are having "two cameras", then find out if that means a second videographer or just a camera on a tripod. Having a second videographer is more expensive than just a camera on a tripod (usually kept on wide angle). A second videographer can be well worth the extra cost due to the extra coverage you will get. Be sure to discuss camera placement and any videotaping restrictions ahead of time with your videographer.
What type of cameras do you use?
"3-Chip Digital" or 3CCD and HDTV is the most recent and highest resolution camera. Digital cameras have more 530 lines of resolution. Super VHS & Hi-8 cameras (which use analog tape) have 400 lines of resolution and VHS cameras have 230 lines of resolution. The higher the lines of resolution, the better quality picture you will get, but expect to pay more for a videographer who uses 3-Chip Digital cameras.
What kind of lighting do you use?
Some videographers use lights on their cameras, others do not. Some videographers will use a stand-alone soft-box light that gives off soft, even lighting. Ambient lighting at the reception hall will also help the photographer's pictures turn out better and the flash or video light won't seem quite so harsh.
How many and what kind of microphones do you use?
Audio quality is just as important as video quality. At the ceremony, have the groom wear a wireless microphone and have another one on the podium for any readers or singers. At the reception, make sure everyone who is giving a toast or blessing is using a microphone; this includes the person who is introducing the bridal party. Be sure to discuss audio placement ahead of time with your videographer.
How do you edit the wedding video?
The latest and newest technology is non-linear editing (on a computer). Ask how many hours your videographer spends on editing since it will make a difference in the final price. It is not unusual for videographers to spend between 30-40 plus hours on the computer editing a wedding. Expect a price difference (and quality difference) between those who edit non-linear and those who don't.
Can I have my wedding on DVD?
DVD is the latest trend in videography. DVD is a much better quality picture than VHS tape because there is no loss of quality when going from a digital master tape to DVD. Some videographers can customize their DVDs with multiple chapter stops/scene selection and a customized case with your wedding picture on it.. Your wedding video can last for generations without any deterioration when archived to DVD. I believe providing the finished production on DVD is a must-have!
How do you stay up-to-date in the video business?
Video technology is an ever-changing field (like the computer field) and professionals need to stay current. A videographer should be a member in local and national associations. Ask the videographer if he/she has ever been to any seminars or conventions. Any videographer belonging to WEVA (Wedding & Event Videography Association) or ABC (Association of Bridal Consultants) is a big plus.
How can I see samples of your work?
Be sure you are seeing samples of the actual videographer who will be videotaping your wedding. This is especially important when dealing with larger studios that may have several crews that they send out on the weekend. Some videographers will send out demo tapes and others will ask you to schedule an appointment to visit them, others have video clips (called streaming video) on their website where you can view their work while you are on the internet. If possible, try to meet with the videographer before you sign the contract.
What other services or special effects do you offer?
Some examples are childhood/dating photo montage, wedding/honeymoon photo montage, bridal preparations, love story video (the two of you describing how you met, etc.), short-form video, highlight video, recap video, concept video, rehearsal coverage, big screen presentation, etc. This is also a good time to ask the videographer if they use special effects such as black & white, sepia-toned, slow-motion, animation, etc. There are many options to choose from!
What about the contract?
When you decide to hire the videographer, ask to see a copy of the contract. Ask how much of a deposit is required and when the remaining balance is due. Make sure everything you want in your wedding video is spelled out. As it gets closer to your wedding day, the videographer should request a "planning meeting" either over the phone or in person. Ask your videographer if they will attend your rehearsal - some videographers attend, some do not. It should also state when you will get your finished video.
What will you charge to videotape my wedding based on the coverage I am looking for?
If you are on a budget, let the videographer know that upfront. If your budget is flexible, wait to ask about pricing until you have explained to the videographer what you are looking for and after the videographer has talked about skill, equipment and service. A professional videographer with up-to-date digital equipment can start around $2000. Videographers with S-VHS cameras and less editing will probably charge less. A more seasoned professional offering many extras can charge upwards of $5000 and more. These prices are only a guideline, as pricing can vary region to region. It is hard to put a price on talent unless you view their work. Remember, your videographer is creating a family heirloom. Great video is not expensive, it's priceless!
Selecting Attendants
It's a wonderful feeling to be surrounded by caring, familiar faces at your wedding ceremony. But, if you come from a large, close-knit family and have a wide circle of friends, selecting who will be standing beside you at the alter can be a true test of diplomacy. Here's some advice to keep everyone happy.
Shoshana Kopp Brady is a Certified Wedding Coordinator and Event Planner, from Bloomington, Indiana. She works closely with engaged couples preparing for the big day.
She comments, "Closest friends and family should be the first consideration when deciding on attendants for a wedding. These are the people who know you best and around whom you are most comfortable. Choosing between friends can be difficult and might require explanations to the friends the bride or groom did not choose. However, once everyone understands the situation, things should run smoothly."
Shoshana adds, "At times, political situations arise where individuals try to assume the role of a bridal attendant. Some brides don't want to cause friction and add the person to the party while others keep with their original plan. The day belongs to the bride and groom and should be everything they would like it to be."
A large wedding party traditionally signifies a formal wedding. So if you're planning a small, intimate gathering, ten bridesmaids might be a bit much. More people can mean more complications--in terms of coordinating schedules and making sure the attire is ordered.
Your own budget plays an important role in deciding how many attendants you should choose. In terms of expenditures, it's customary to purchase a wedding party gift for each attendant and bouquets for the bridesmaids.
For their part, attendants will be responsible for the costs of wedding attire, as well as the pre-wedding parties and possible travel expenses.
You need not ask someone to be in your wedding simply because they had you in theirs. Shoshana notes, "Reciprocation is not necessary in choosing a bridal party. However, the bride may wish to explain her decision to friends or family whose feelings may be hurt if this is the case."
Before rushing in and asking your top candidates, think about what you expect from the attendants. Will it be hands-on help, such as preparing invitations and tying ribbon favors, or simply moral support on the big day? Will multiple out-of-town trips be required for dress fittings? Keep in mind, it may not be realistic to have high expectations from friends with especially hectic schedules or those who live far away.
"Communication is key. Brides should be very open and communicate with the entire bridal party as far as expectations, schedules, accommodations, attire, pre-wedding events, and wedding day itinerary," says Shoshana.
What happens if you're the bride and your best friend is male or you're the groom and your best friend is a female? There's no reason why he/she can't stand next to you at the wedding using the more generic title of Attendant, rather than groomsman or bridesmaid.
Don't be too concerned if you haven't got the same number of bridesmaids as groomsmen. There's no rule dictating the numbers must be equal.
There are plenty of other roles good friends and family can play in your wedding. Here are some possible suggestions:
- Greeter
- Program distribution
- Candle lighting for the ceremony
- Guest book attendant
- Gift table attendant
- Favor distribution
- Poem reader
- Soloist or musician at ceremony or reception
- Birdseed or rice distribution
- Junior bridesmaid (typically girls ages 8-15)
Finally, senior family members and those less agile could be singled out with a special mention in the program or given a corsage or boutonniere.
Friday
Cheap Wedding Favor
For some couples, one of the most important task when they are planning for the wedding
You can save money on your different wedding items. You can try to save money on your wedding venue by considering the number of guests carefully. You can also save money on your wedding invitation
You may think that the best way to save money is to prepare wedding favors
In order to save time, you will need to have a budget plan. You should understand that wedding favors can be something very expensive. Of course one of the ways to save money on this issue is to search for some discount items.
Some couples will tend to think that discount items are not something good. There would like to make the wedding favor elegant
. As a result they may not want to take are look at the discount item sections of some online shops. In fact, some discount items can really be very elegant. However, you must spend some time to search for it. There are some shops which will offer beautiful and elegant discount items.In fact, you can also be able to search for some cheap wedding favors
from the superstores. You can purchase some inexpensive chocolates or cookies as your gifts to your guests. You may think that it will make the gift look cheap! However, you can make it very elegant if you can pack it well. You have to spend some time and put some effort of the packaging if you would like to make it elegant.You can purchase some beautiful bags
to and put the cookies in them. You may even try to create a small paper box yourself as the package of the wedding favor. Adding a gift tag to it is certainly a perfect idea. There are a lot of ways to make the package and gift elegant. However, you will not be able to do it if you are reluctant to spend your time to do so.If it is possible, you should avoid purchasing the favor which bear a wedding theme. It will be a lot more expensive for you to purchase cookies in the shape of a wedding gown
. It is very true that it can be a lot more meaningful if the gift bears such themes. However, you need to think about your budget before you make the decision of purchasing.Planning A Perfect Wedding
Wedding in any household is such a big event. The main responsibility lies on the shoulders of the parents of the bride and the groom. That is not to say that the bride and the groom do not have the responsibility but yes the larger responsibility is on the parents.
Wedding is such a memorable event in one's life that you can hardly afford to have any untoward and unsavory incidents on the wedding day itself. That said it is imperative that you plan the wedding very well and that too the planning should begin about three to four months in advance. Last minute running around causes undue stress and also you are likely to miss out on a few things.
The best thing to do is to get a wedding planning fact sheet or a checklist from the online websites and start the planning using that. Most likely they are very exhaustive and that means that they can be used as a guide to help you write down all the important dates and the contacts.
Another thing to consider is that whether you want to use the services of a wedding planner. They definitely cost you more money but since they are experienced they know everything about the wedding events and also they know whom to contact for each kind of service. For example rather you running around finding a good floral designer they will already have a list for you. That may save you time and undue pressure.
Then the wedding planner knows all the shops to source materials from as opposed to you doing you own research and wasting precious time. Then since you will not be experienced any misstep can cause you grave harm in terms of undue delays and last minute rush .
Apart from this you need to think about all the bookings that you need to make in advance such as the flower bookings, the wedding hall booking, the bridal car booking and also the booking for the bridal gown selection and fitting trials. You need to make these well in advance as these need time as well the rush with the retailers means that they cannot do this in the nick of time for the wedding.
You need to go through your checklist every single day and also make sure that the entire family gets involved in the planning phase itself. That way you can easily distribute the work. The other benefit is that you will get some very valuable suggestions from the family members.
Keep these things in mind or rather on a checklist or a diary and you will never go wrong planning a marriage.
Creating Informal Invitations for Your Wedding
If you are considering a very informal wedding, there are some simple, but elegant invitations available. If you are on a tight budget for your wedding, you can still hold a fabulous event, even if it is informal.
For informal wedding invitations, you might consider printing them yourself. Many of the laser printers found in home offices nowadays are comparable to what a custom print shop can provide. There are terrific box sets of blank wedding invitations available at many fine stationary and printing shops. You'll find the card stock, envelopes and reception cards are already included. This is a terrific way to save some money, but yet send out a beautiful wedding invitation.
One nice aspect to printing your own invitations is that how much you can personalize the wedding invitation. You may wish to provide a photo of the two of you, or personalize each invitation to a specific guest. Most informal weddings are usually smaller than formal affairs. This is the perfect time to let your uniqueness as a couple to shine through. You might consider simple wedding note cards, instead of complete wedding invitations. Some people often reserve the invitation only for their family members as a memento and invite friends by word of mouth.
Since printing for these types of invitations are normally completed at home, you and your soon-to-be spouse can take the time to plan out what you want on the invitations. You might be surprised at what the two of you can come up with for a beautiful, unique invitation. Consider something as informal as hand written note on pretty stationary.
If you want to have your invitations professionally printed, watch for specials that are often offered in the early spring. You may also find some bridal shops that offer a great deal on invitations, floral arrangements, or dresses. You may find this is a terrific way to budget several of your wedding items at once.
Online printing shops are also a good option for wedding invitations on a budget. Most of these sites offer templates where you are able to mix and match designs and styles to meet your needs. You will be able to see a proof of what the finished product should look like, and most also offer a money back guarantee. Be cautious of the print shops that promise deals that seem too good to be true. Look for reviews of some of the print shops you are interested in and do your research. A bargain is only a bargain if you don't have to have it reprinted again.
Informal wedding invitations do not mean you must sacrifice quality. It simply means you don't have to use the formal wording or expensive supplies. There are many beautiful invitations available for an informal wedding. You only have to do a little research to find the set that meets your expectations and budget. After all, the invitation is only a small part of the much more important event.
By Janine Sinclair
Monday
Plan Your Wedding Budget
Wedding is expensive. Of course there are a lot of people who can afford a really luxury wedding. However, there are also people who need to work within a limited budget. It will be even more important to do so in such an economic down time.
However, the problem is that most items will become very expensive the the word wedding is added to them. So, a common question couples will asked is how to plan a wedding which is within the budget. As a matter of fact, it is not that difficult to do so. However, sometimes you may need to compromise. And you will need to make sure that you will not consider your preference before your budget.
Of course the first thing you need to consider is the budget itself. You will need to think about the total amount you would like to spend. Then you will try to divide the total budget into different parts. For example, you will divide 45% of your budget for the venue and catering of your wedding reception.
Now, let us talk about some ways to save money. There is no doubt that your reception will be the most expensive in your wedding. And the number of guests you are going to invite will directly affect the amount of money you need to spend. If you invite more guests, you will need to search for a larger reception hall. And of course the catering services will also cost you more money. As a result, it will be a good idea to keep your wedding small. If you can keep it small, you will also be able to spend less on your other items such as the invitations and favors.
If you can do the first step right, you will find that it is not difficult to work within your budget. So I will assume that you will only invite 20 to 30 guests to your wedding. You may probably know that the unit price can be very high if you are going to print 20 to 30 invitations only. However, since you only need a small amount of cards, it will not be difficult for you to print them yourself. This will certainly help you to save some money.
The above also applies to your wedding favor. You can try to create the wedding favor yourself and this will not cost your much money. However, if you do not have the time to do so, you may still consider to purchase some ready made wedding favors. You can try to take a look at the discount section in some online shops and you should be able to find some excellent discount items.
You should bring the liquor yourself in your reception. This will also help to save a lot of money. The liquor provided by your caterer can be a lot more expensive. And you should also make the decoration minimal. This does not mean that you do not decorate the venue. You should try to be creative and try to do the decoration part with minimum materials.
If you can do the above, you should be able to have a wedding which is within your budget.
By Jerry Leung
Wedding Gifts For Your Best Friend
You will try to get a gift for your friends when they are going to get married. In fact, the wedding gift is very important in a way that it expresses your blessing to your friends. As a result, it will be important for you to choose an excellent piece of gift for your best friends.
Undoubtedly, it is not easy to choose a really good gift for your friends. One of the ways is of course to follow the gift registry. You will be able to give your friends something they really need if you do so. However, it will not make your gift unique. As a result, you may not want to just follow gift registry and purchase a gift for your friends.
In fact, one problem of following the gift registry is that the gift will not be a personal one. As a result, the first thing you need to consider when you are choosing the wedding gift is to make it personal. You should try to make it personal in a way that it is unique to the couple. This is very important. You will never be able to make your gift special if it is not personalized.
So the question here is how you can choose a personalized gift for your friends. One of the ways is to put the names of the couples on the gift. For example, you can purchase two really beautiful ball pens for your friends. And on the pens you will have the names of the brides and groom put on them. By doing this you will be able to make your gift more personal. In fact, any gift that can be engraved with the names of the couples will be a good idea.
If you think it is not enough to just put the names of the couple on the gift, you can try to think of it in another way. Since you are a good friend of the couple, you should know their hobbies very well. Do the bride and groom have some common hobbies? It will be perfect if the answer to this question is a YES. For example, if both the bride and the groom love fishing, you may purchase some tools for fishing as the wedding gift. The couple should be very happy when they receive the gift.
Of course the above is only an example. You should consider the issue according to the needs of your friends. You may ask what you should do if the bride and groom do not have any common hobby. If this is the case, you may need to create something for the wedding itself. For instance, a tailor made wedding album can be a good idea in this case.
The point here is that you have to consider what the couple loves before your purchase. If you can really do so, it will not be so difficult for you to choose a perfect gift for your friends.
By Jerry Leung
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Wednesday
Wedding Gown Shopping
There is no doubt about it: shopping for a wedding gown is one of the best parts of being a bride. Nothing is quite as fun as getting to try on all of those fabulous dresses in your search for the one dress that will truly make you feel like a bride. In the excitement, many brides will want to invite everyone they know to join them for the adventure. But before you do, stop and think carefully about who you should bring wedding gown shopping.
You may be surprised to hear that when it comes to finding your dream gown, having more people does not mean having more help. Did you ever hear the old expression, "Too many chefs spoil the soup"? This is exactly what usually happens when a bride brings along a whole entourage. Everyone will have a different opinion, and in all of those voices, it is often the bride's that gets drowned out. Forget about picking a wedding dress by committee or trying to please everyone: it doesn't work.
The ideal number of friends or relatives to bring gown shopping is one to three. (And three can even be pushing it if they are all highly opinionated ladies!) Although it can be fun to try on gowns for all six of your bridesmaids and have them ooh and aah over you, remember that the point is to find your wedding gown, not just to try on lots of dresses. You are better off choosing a couple of friends who will be able to remain focused on you and on what you really want.
The obvious choice for a person to bring gown shopping is the mother of the bride. For many mothers and daughters, it is an experience they have dreamed about sharing for years. If this sounds like you, then by all means, bring your mother. Make a whole mother-daughter day of it with lunch in a nice restaurant after the appointment (hopefully it will be a lunch to celebrate finding your dream dress!).
Not all mothers and daughter see eye to eye, however. If you know that your mother will not be able to keep your personal taste in mind, then you would be better off doing your gown shopping with one of your bridesmaids. You need someone who you can really trust to help you make the right choice. After you have chosen your gown, you can invite your mother to help you pick out your veil and bridal jewelry. Shopping for jewelry and other bridal accessories can also be a good way to involve your future mother-in-law.
So who should a bride avoid bringing to shop for a wedding gown? For starters, if you have a jealous sister, leave her at home. Nothing spoils the mood faster than having your sister shoot down your favorite gown. If she is not going to helpful, don't ask for her opinion.
The other thing that might not occur to many brides is that money is going to be a consideration when choosing a bridal gown. For this reason, it is best not to invite anyone that you do not wish to know either your budget or how much you spent on your wedding gown. (In some cases, this may include the bride's father, even if he is the one paying the bills!) If you are going to be sticking to a very tight budget, you might not want to bring along a friend who will try to steer you towards the latest designer looks. On the flip side, many brides worry that their fiance's family would find them to be overly extravagant if they find out that the wedding gown was very expensive.
Your bridal gown is the most special item of clothing that you will ever purchase. Nothing else that you wear will ever have quite the same emotional significance. When you are shopping for your wedding dress, be sure to bring along only those that you know will be able to help you find that one perfect gown.
By Bridget Mora
Write Lovely Favors for Your Wedding Guests
You can write or put together some lovely favors as thank yous to your guests. Even better, you can get your wedding guests to write some wonderful things for you that you can merely compile. People like receiving little books that are personal.
- Write a book of Wedding Guests: List the friends and family members who were invited to your wedding and say something wonderful about why you're grateful for each of them. Print it out (half sheet sizes), "bind" it with ribbons in your wedding colors and you have a wonderful gift.
- Solicit Love Stories: Gather love stories from your ancestors or from other older successful marriages. Try to find out what made those marriages work (you don't need to know them if they have a great story). Put them together with pictures of the couple and give people some new love stories to read and live into. This is a book that certainly everyone in your families is going to be thrilled to receive. (Be a little careful here. Pick longer marriages and older couples, you don't want to make friends who are single feel left out.)
- Assemble a cookbook from your community: Solicit recipes from all your guests. It'll be good for you to have as you're starting out your married life. And I haven't met anyone who doesn't like to have new foods to think about, whether or not they cook. And this might be a great chance to get Aunt Millie's snickerdoodle recipe!
The Way To Avoid Wedding Stress
1. You need to feel loved by your parents.
In my research, many women who wanted elaborate weddings and other related celebrations hoped that the even would make them finally feel love from their parents. The celebrations became the woman's way of finally "getting something" from unhappy childhoods of divorced, neglectful, negative, abusive or absent parents. Many brides-to-be who were not the "favorite child" especially longed for "spectacle" parties where the glare of being in the spotlight for even a few hours or days might overcome their feelings of being unloved. Some brides felt a "gotcha" effect-they finally were able to squeeze some effort, money and attention from their parents and family. After all, the brides silently reasoned, how could my family deny me "my day?"
Yet, putting all your unhatched love-eggs in the one basket of wedding related celebrations usually only leaves you with rotten eggs. Don't expect these events to make up for anything. One stress-busting wedding tip to test whether you are looking for love in all the wrong places is to pretend that, in addition to the wedding, you are having only one other related celebration such as an engagement party or bridal shower and that your wedding is small, warm, tasteful but no way near "over-the-top" either in expense or in image.
In addition, you agree to give up or greatly modify your "dream wedding" of being married on an island, mountain top or at the latest "in place." Can you live with these limitations? Or, do you suddenly feel a big dip of disappointment, despair and depression?
On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, how would you rate the lack of love you feel from your parents? Now examine all your reactions and see what you've learned. Remember, weddings can't make up for past hurts. Events are too short-lived to make up for anything-only a positive change in the long-term interactions between you and your family can do that.
Finally, pay attention to the amount of friction you feel and the number of squabbles you experience with your parents. Wedding plans often accentuate or re-ignite submerged and unresolved childhood feelings. But don't think that a wedding can resolve these problems. Instead, see these heated disagreements as a sign that you have some personal issues that you need to address within yourself and your family over time. Seek pre-marital counseling and vow to continue working on these areas after you are married. Happy couples are able to understand, manage and change their family relationships and not re-enact them in the marriage.
2. You want your wedding planning to show others from your childhood how far you've come in life.
The more outrageously expensive and exclusive (the WOW! Factor) of the event, the more the woman hoped it would erase and redo any previous, unwanted images of herself from others. "Putting on the Ritz" serves the same emotional purpose of the unpopular, ugly duckling who makes it big, turns into a swan and then goes to her high school reunion. These inflated celebrations are the equivalent of sticking out your tongue and going "Nyah, nyah."
But this "going overboard wedding plan" is just a flash-in-the-pan shortcut to feeling valued, special and attractive. The general rule of thumb is that the more lavish and over-planned the event, the more negative the self-talk is inside the head of the bride. If you felt ugly, misunderstood or overlooked, then a big deal feels like the best medicine. But the real medicine is how you live your life.
To test whether you are asking your wedding to make up for the past, try this wedding stress tip. Make a list of how many times you've said or thought "if only Heather, Samantha, Tiffany or whoever could see me." Also, keeping a journal can uncover feelings about yourself and your past hurts. Finally, chart your "disappointments" when your plans don't match your fantasy. No wedding is perfect-and no event can ever fill the hole in your soul. Smart brides don't add more stress to their weddings by expecting a wedding to heal the past.
how much you now "belong" in the upper class. Shame about former socio-economic status and class can also put pressure on a bride and her family to have an over-the-top event. If your family's country-club or business set has seen wedding parties of twelve bridesmaids, then it feels like a "lesser" celebration not to at least match the event. When your wedding has to "prove something," you add more stress.
A smart bride decides NOT to compete with these "others." Understated events always win. Keep it simple and warm. The WOW factor in weddings is not necessarily based on big bands with poor imitations of original songs, elaborate table settings, gowns and banquet halls. Guests want to come away feeling happy, joyful and included. Think back on weddings you've attended where the band was too loud to hear the person sitting next to you, where the food was served with too formal and cold an air, where you felt "stuck" at your table and where the awesomeness of the event made you feel diminished and left out rather than part of the celebration.
One of my smart bride clients who came from an upper class family decided to avoid "keeping up with the Joneses." On her wedding gift registry she listed favorite charities for her guests to donate to instead. Her centerpieces consisted of a wreath of silk flowers where each guest could pluck one to wear. In addition, she placed a small picture frame for each couple to take home. The buffet consisted of both fancy food and childhood comfort foods. One part of the buffet featured game meat and shellfish, and various stations offered pasta, pizza, meatloaf, turkey, cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies. Guess which food the people liked the best?
Smart brides know that no one event can make up for past hurts. These smart brides recognize that wedding stress and family issues go hand-in-hand. Smart brides acknowledge these issues and work hard to face them and manage them over time. They recognize that family relations, especially, usually include unresolved feelings. These brides, with the support of their new husbands, work together to improve and heal past family issues. Smart families of the bride also spend less on the wedding and put more money aside for buying a home or making investments-and leave a little bit for a uniquely personal (but not over-the-top) honeymoon.
By Dr. LeslieBeth (LB) Wish, Ed.D
Carat of The Diamond
There is a common misconception that the term carat indicates the size of the diamond. Actually this term refers to the weight of the diamond. One carat is roughly about 200 milligrams, which is less than a quarter of an ounce. A carat can also be broken up into 100 points. This means that three quarter of a carat is equivalent to 75 points.
The heavier the diamond (in carat weight), the rarer it becomes and the increase in price is exponential with the diamond's weight. Hence two half-carat diamonds will cost much lesser than a one-carat diamond, assuming that other attributes, such as color and clarity, are equal.
The size of the diamond can also be impacted by its cutting. Depending on how the cut is done, two one-carat diamonds can look unequal in size. While a flatter stone will appear bigger, a deeper cut stone will look smaller. A deeper cut stone usually has more brilliance and scintillation. So even though a flatter cut stone will appear larger or heavier, it may have less brilliance and can look cloudy.
Much as the diamond's carat weight is important, it should not sacrifice too much of its other qualities. From both a personal and investment standpoint, i feel that a beautiful one-carat diamond with outstanding brilliance and scintillation is going to be the better choice compared to a one-carat diamond that looks like a two-carat stone. You may be tempted to purchase a stone that has a flatter cut so that you can have the appearance of a larger or heavier stone, but this i feel might not be a wise choice.
A smaller diamond can always be enhanced with baguettes, trillians or smaller same-shape stones on either side. As mentioned earlier, two smaller stones won't cost as much as an equally-weighted single stone. With this knowledge, you can therefore increase the importance of the ring you're buying without doubling your cost.
To summarized, in purchasing a diamond always look at the carat of the single largest stone. Do not be fool if the jeweler said that two half-carat diamonds is as precious as a one-carat diamond.
By Karl Lee
Thursday
Choosing Flower for Your Wedding
Often the best days for a wedding are warm, hot even, and while this might be good for the bride and groom, it can wreak havoc on delicate flowers. Choosing a wedding flower that will stand up to the heat and look great throughout the ceremony and even long afterwards can be hard. You want something that is beautiful and fit for a bride, but still sturdy enough to hang in there, even in high temperatures.
What to Look For
A good wedding flower is delicate looking, but not actually that fragile. It will withstand the summer heat and look terrific doing it. You have enough worries and stresses on your wedding day, flowers should definitely not be one of them, so select hardy flowers from the very beginning and you'll be able to focus on more important things, like actually getting married.
Here are some of the characteristics to look for in a heat-resistant wedding flower.
Thick, waxy petals are best. They tend to be stiffer and hold the moisture in longer than thinner petals which tend to shrivel and wilt in the heat. The thicker the petal, the stiffer it will be, making it more resistant to wilting.
Stiff leaves help with heat resistance, too. Leaves contain a lot of moisture that can be wicked up to the bloom and the greenery helps enhance the color of the wedding flowers. Wilted leaves make the entire bouquet look sickly, so thicker, waxier leaves are the best option.
Sturdy stems keep flowers upright. While the florist can place flower stems in plastic straws to help keep them upright when the heat threatens to send them drooping downwards, but it's best to choose the right flowers with sturdy, thick stems that are strong enough to stand up even when slightly dried out.
Full blooms stay fresh longer. Flowers that aren't just a few petals will last longer. Look for ruffled petals or multiple rounds, such as with a mum or carnation. These flowers do very well with holding in the moisture needed to survive a hot day, even when not placed in a vase of water.
If you have the budget, tropical flowers tend to be far better than our native blooms when it comes to withstanding the hot interior of a church or reception hall. They are grown in heat, so you'll find that they are quite hardy when it comes to summer weddings. Most tropical flowers are very elegant, as well, so they make for very lovely bouquets and centerpieces.
Flowers like orchids, lilies and dahlias are all great ones for a wedding flower. They hold up to the heat very well and can take long drought periods, thanks to their hardy leaves and petals that retain moisture even in stifling conditions.
Your florist will also be able to recommend a more heat resistant wedding flower or two. The ideal would be a flower that you love the look of, which combines beauty with functionality. For a summer wedding, how well the flowers will stand up to the heat is a very important consideration. There is nothing more stressful on your wedding day than discovering that all your blooms are wilting away in the intense heat.
Choose your wedding flowers carefully. You don't want bouquets that look awful by the time you are ready to walk down the aisle. Tropical flowers, those with waxy, thick petals and leaves and any flower that is bushy and full of petals tend to be alright and will look great throughout the entire day.
By Amy Nut
Wedding Video, Make Wedding Moment Forever
While most people have a friend or family member taping the ceremony, it may be a good idea to hire a professional videographer to capture the ceremony in a way that may have a little more structure. You can request that your wedding day events be formatted to look like a movie, or you can go for more of a documentary feel. Also, a videographer will be able to put finishing production touches on your video that will make the colors brighter--they can even add credits! The videographer will most likely tape the whole celebration, from the actual ceremony, until the bride and groom depart at the reception. You could request that scenes or conversations before the ceremony be taped, such as the bride and groom getting ready, or having loved ones send their well wishes to the couple before the ceremony begins. Wedding videos can also include a picture of the invitation, old family photographs, baby pictures of the bride and groom, or messages from the bride and groom to one another. This, along with the raw footage that will be gathered at the reception, should give you a 'feature film' of about two hours.
Of course, you'll want the sounds and music that are included in the video to be just as beautiful as the scenery. This is why it's so important to choose the right wedding songs for each part of the ceremony. Be sure that you practice to these songs so that the footage that is gathered looks both polished and natural. For the actual ceremony, original songs are ideal. Also, you'll need a recessional song to exit the chapel. Make sure that you tell your videographer when you want the songs to fade out, and how much of the tunes you want played so that you can maintain the flow of your video.
Also, confirm that the videographer has the quality equipment that will make your video look its best. Video equipment that requires less lighting is best (usually commercial-grade), so that there won't be a glare on the images in the video. This is especially important for the candle lighting part of the ceremony, and for the first dances between the new couple and the bride and her father. When you're looking at the videographer's work, make sure that you not only look for the focus and tracking quality of the video, but check for artistic quality as well. Is the videographer good at capturing timeless moments on film? Is he/she good at making transitions throughout the video? Including wedding music in between 'scenes' and in the background as people are speaking may also help the video to 'flow' a little more naturally.
By E. Walter Smith.
