What's Expected of the Wedding Party?

There are a multitude of duties that bridesmaids, groomsmen, maids of honor and best men are usually expected to fulfill. It's a good idea for the bride and groom to identify their needs to the wedding party prior to the wedding. This can help your attendants to help you fulfill your wedding expectations.

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Planning for the Venue

Planning a wedding always begins when the question is popped. Most people know the type of wedding they would like to have, but when you add another person’s dreams, aspirations and religious feelings it can require some discussion. The couple are an important part of planning a wedding and whether it’s the parents of the bride or the groom or a wedding planner, the wishes of the couple have to be taken into account. This is especially true of the type of ceremony that the couple decides on.

Determining whether the wedding will be a religious, civil or other type of ceremony will play a part in determining the venue. The couple usually has an idea of where they want to have the wedding. Your job as the wedding planner will be to contact the venue and verify all information with regard to booking it for the day in question. Be sure to have a standard contract available that you use for negotiating a venue. At bare minimum you will need confirmation on the following:

• Contact Person?
• Location of Utilities?
• In-house staff?
• Clean-up responsibility? Yours? Theirs?
• Parking?
• Entrance?
• Dressing Room?
• Fees?
• Rehearsal availability?
• Piano? Organ?
• Rules about Photography (specifically in Churches)

You will want to confirm a booking of the venues at least three to four months ahead of time. In many cases, it’s better to settle on the venue in the first hours of planning wedding because much of the rest of the planning will center on the location. Planning a wedding is like setting up dominoes, each decision helps you make another one. The first domino is the question, the second domino is the type of ceremony and the third domino is choosing the venue and it continues from there.

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Dos and Do Nots

Do - Spend some time with your spouse checking out the places you want to register and making lists of the items you really do need.

Do not - Just add a toaster oven you know you won’t use so guests will have enough of a selection.

Do - Register at more than one store. There is no hard and fast rule that says you have to register at one location only.

Do not - Choosing items that are really expensive because you know you won’t be able to afford them in the first year of marriage isn’t fair to your guests. Instead, choose a wider price range selection.

Do - Discuss your options with different stores, online sites and even handmade facilities. You’ll be surprised by how many places feature registries this day.

Do Not - Feel limited to asking for only household goods. If you are already set up in your house and don’t need a lot, ask for some things you ‘might’ like to have or even items like movies, CDs and more.


Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Wedding Timeline

Wedding planning is arduous. The proof is in the details and if you want to keep track of the details you’ll need a wedding planning checklist. If you hire a wedding planner, he or she will have his or her own wedding planning checklist to go over. In the meanwhile, please find a sample wedding timeline below to help your wedding planning. If you are setting up your own portfolio for wedding planning, this wedding planning checklist should go at the very front of every wedding planned in order to verify that you are getting everything done and checked off in a timely manner.

Timeline:

12 Months Before:

• Book Ceremony Venue
• Book Reception Venue
• Determine and Book Liability Insurance

10-11 Months Before:

• Book Caterer
• Book Musicians
• Book Photographer
• Book Videographer

8-9 Months Before:

• Book Florist
• Book Cake Designer/Baker
• Book Transportation

6-7 Months Before:

• Book Rentals (i.e. chairs/tables etc as needed)
• Review All Vendor Contracts, Update Timeline

5 Months Before:

• Order invitations etc.
• Order Flowers
• Provide Music/Requests to Musicians

4 Months Before:

• Meet with Caterer for food tasting (w/Bride & Groom)
• Order Wedding Cake

3 Months Before:

• Have Bride Book her Beauty Appointments for hair, makeup etc.
• Provide Caterer with menu and beverage selections
• Have Bride/Groom meet Officiant to review ceremony
• Verify with Printer that Invitations, etc are ready

2 Months Before:

• Contact all book vendors to confirm arrangements
• Pay any balances to booked vendors
• Prepare information sheets for bridal party and vendors

1 Month Before:

• Provide photographer with list of desired photos
• Provide guidance for videographer
• Confirm Music and Arrangements with Musicians
• Confirm transportation
• Confirm flower orders with florist
• Confirm rental requirements
• Confirm drop off times

2 Weeks Before:

o Confirm With All Vendors One More Time

1 Week Before:

• Make sure Caterer has final RSVP numbers for reception
• Make sure vendor bills are collected to make final payment

Day Before:

o Oversee the decoration of the ceremony and reception venue

Day Of:

• Oversee and coordinate with all vendors
• Pay Vendors their Final Checks

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Make Your Own Wedding Favors

Making your own wedding favors are a frugal way to create charming gift favors for your wedding guests without breaking your budget. Wedding favors do not have to be complex to be attractive and useful. Homemade wedding favors also have a certain charm to them and they can be very unique, because you cannot buy them anywhere.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Planning a Wedding Should Be Fun

Congratulations, you’re planning a wedding. You may hire some to help out with partial planning of a wedding, complete planning and co-ordination of the wedding or coordination on the day of the service only. Wedding planning revolves around one singular event: the ceremony. There is a great deal of pre-planning and post-planning related to arranging the vendors, the dresses, the tuxes, the site and the reception. Yet all of these components are directly related to the central focus that is the actual ceremony.

Weddings are a symphony of organized chaos with the wedding planner in the role of conductor. There is a great deal to planning a wedding and the following is just a sampling of what you need to plan a wedding whether you are the wedding planner, the bride, and the mother of the bride or some combination thereof:

• Ongoing Communication with the Bride and Groom
• Budget Planning
• Schedules, Timelines and Checklists
• Selection and booking of venues for wedding and reception
• Selecting and booking of the minister or justice of the peace
• Planning theme and style of the wedding
• Coordinating design, ordering and mailing of invitations
• Coordinating selection of wedding attire and accessories
• Coordinating or Providing vendors (florist, caterer, photographer, musician, beautician, hair stylists)
• Negotiating and reviewing all contracts
• Assistance with marriage license
• Itinerary planning
• Ceremony planning
• Rehearsal oversight
• Direction of processional and attendant duties
• Planning the reception
• Wedding Day gift coordination
• On-hand coordination on the day of the wedding

One thing that people seem to forget in all the chaos and pressure and stress of planning a wedding. Planning a wedding is a lot of fun. It can be fun for the bride and it can be fun for the wedding planner. Take your time and have fun with the process of planning a wedding.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Wedding Invitation Kits

There are all different kinds of supplies in a variety of colors, styles and price ranges for wedding invitations. If you are interested in creating your own wedding invitations, talk to artistic friends and family about helping you to create the wedding invitation you’d like.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Sending the Wedding Invitations

Timing is everything and nowhere is that truer than when you are planning a wedding. Wedding invitations are critical to wedding planning not just for the bride and groom but also for the wedding guests. The wedding invitation itself serves a dual purpose. It’s first purpose is to announce the wedding plans of the couple sending it out. The second purpose is to provide the guests with a wedding planning tool of their own.

Wedding invitations provide the date, time and location of the wedding. It will also alert the guest to the type of apparel that may expected from the formal to the informal. A wedding invitation to a beach wedding will indicate a different type of clothing than one might wear to a formal Catholic wedding ceremony in a grand old cathedral. Because the wedding invitation provides so much information and the couple needs the RSVPs returned from the guests to confirm how many are coming – you might say the wedding invitation is the lynch pin that makes the wedding possible.

With that in mind, you should send out the wedding invitations no later than 12 weeks prior to the wedding. If your wedding invitations are ready, you should send them out 16 weeks prior to the wedding. 8 weeks prior to the wedding contact the guests you have not received RSVPs from. Most vendors will require a final count 4 to 6 weeks prior to the wedding, so this gives you and your guests the perfect window to coordinate their schedules with your plans.



Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Cheap Wedding Decorations

If you're a bride on a budget, you might be interested in learning where to find cheap wedding decorations.

Did you know your local dollar store yields an amazing assortment of items that can be used to decorate your ceremony and reception area? Go ahead and take a look around, you might be pleasantly surprised at what you’ll find. Behold some of the items found in the aisles of the dollar store:

• Candles
• Fabric
• Silk Flowers
• Baskets
• Plastic pearls and other jewels
• Table Cloths
• Potpourri
• Vases
• Picture frames
• Ribbon


Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

The Maid of Honor - Her Role and Duties

The maid of honor is considered a position of honor; pardon the pun, in your wedding party. A bride will typically ask a close female friend or relative to fulfill this position. In some cases, the mother or daughter of the bride will be asked to serve as maid of honor. (It’s worth noting, however, that if the woman you ask to fulfill this position is married, she should be called your Matron of Honor).

The Maid of Honor has a variety of typical responsibilities. Her primary part is to be the leader of the support for the bride. She will coordinate the bridesmaids to make sure they make it to their fittings, pick up their dresses on time as well as arranging for any pre-wedding grooming preparations like hair, make-up and nails. The Maid of Honor will also be responsible for making the arrangements for the bachelorette party.

During the wedding, the maid of honor will help the bride with pretty much everything. She will adjust her train, hold the groom’s rings, hold the bride’s flowers during the ceremony and sign the marriage certificate as an official witness of the wedding. A word to the wise, don’t let the maid of honor schedule any kind of night before the wedding party – the best thing for the prospective bride (and groom for that matter) is a good night’s sleep.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Creating Personal Traditions: Writing Your Own Wedding Vows

Writing your own wedding vows may suit your personal wedding style, but it can be a bit of a daunting task to begin with. If you are trying to write your own vows, don’t let the task overwhelm you or intimidate you. Writing your own vows should begin and end with how you feel, not what others are expecting. If you are creating your own wedding ceremony and style and you want to write your own vows, here are a few questions to consider in creating the vows you want to make.

• When and where did you first meet?
• What was the state of your life before the two of you met?
• At what point did you realize you were in love? Describe the feeling.
• What inspires you about your loved one?
• What life goals and dreams do you share?
• What have you learned from each other?
• What qualities make your love unique? What qualities will keep it strong?
• How has your view of the world changed since you fell in love?
• What do you most look forward to about life with this person?
• What are some special moments in your relationship? Use them all, even the sad times as well as the happy, moving, or profound.
• What happened the day you asked her to marry you? How did you feel?

Reading the vows you have written yourself during your wedding ceremony can be one of the most romantic things you’ve ever done. It’s the kind of thing that really helps you create your own personal wedding style. Writing your own vows is a kind of personal touch that cannot be replicated by any other style of vow.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

The Etiquette of Wedding Invitations

Wedding invitation etiquette requires that the invitation be worded as an invitation from the bride’s parents to the wedding of their daughter, her full name to the name of the groom, the son of the groom’s parents name to be held at a certain time on a certain day.
"Your RSVP is graciously requested and the envelope has been enclosed."
Wedding invitation etiquette suggests that you include a pre-paid postage stamped envelope with the RSVP card in order to facilitate the return of the invitations in a timely manner.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Centerpieces on a budget

A wedding centerpiece makes the table. It costs a pretty penny to include an elaborate floral display for each table however, especially if you're having a large wedding. How can you get around the cost and still have a stunning display?

Instead of visiting the florist, try this: visit your local garden or home center and purchase several flats of annuals or perennials in colors matching that of your wedding party. Purchase enough small plastic or terra cotta pots for each plant. Spray paint the pots in gold or silver, or wrap in elegant, metallic foil. Each pot gets a plant or two. This can also be done with tree seedlings.

Group potted blooms together at each table to make a wedding centerpiece. You may need to play around to find a suitable design. If you purchase enough so that each couple can take one home, you'll have favors as well!


Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Rehearsal Dinner Invitees

When hosting a rehearsal dinner for the bride and the groom, the immediate wedding party should be invited. This includes the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, the ushers, the parents, and the grandparents of the bride. Don't forget to include the ring bearer and the flower girl and parents of both.

The minister and his or her spouse should be invited for the rehearsal dinner also. If you have a personal attendant, who is often a close friend or family member but is not a bridesmaid, she should also be invited to attend.

Other participants of the wedding may also be included. These are entirely up to the couple. Examples of who are optional are as follows: vocalist, scripture readers, guest book attendants and gift attendant.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Reception Timelines

Looking for some ideas on how to plan the timeline for your wedding reception? Here is a sample timeline that works for a 4-hour planned reception. You can adjust it as needed to mesh with your own timeframes. The average wedding reception lasts about three hours when a served meal is included. A buffet wedding reception may last a little less than that.

Sample Wedding Reception Timeline:

• 0-30 Minutes - Pictures take of the wedding party; guests begin arriving at the wedding reception location. Drinks are available and music should be playing as a part of the backdrop for the guests to mingle and enjoy.
• 30-90 Minutes – Guests are invited to sign the guest book and are shown to their seats if seating chart is dictated. The wedding party arrives at the reception and if a receiving line is planned for, that also begins
• 60-120 Minutes – Guests will be seated for the dinner or the buffet is opened. The wedding party is served first, traditionally they must also go through the buffet line first as well. Wine and champagne may be served and the toasts begin, traditionally beginning with the best man
• 120-180 Minutes – The first dance begins and the cutting of the cake. If food courses are being served, they should be winding down. Other traditional dances are done including father/daughter and mother/son dances
• 180-240 Minutes – The last hour of the reception, the meal is wound down and the bouquet is tossed along with the garter. The bride and groom are sent off to their honeymoon.
• 240- 270 Minutes - The reception wines down with the parents of the bride and the groom seeing guests off before the reception ends formally

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Exchanging Rings and Vows

When a couple exchanges rings it is typical for them to do so with their ceremony wedding vows. Some couples want to write their own ceremony wedding vows and others want to find vows that reflect their thoughts. Ceremony wedding vows can be long and elaborate or short and sweet. They do not need to be one or the other. Here are a few sample ceremony wedding vows that may or may not be what you are looking for:

• This ring is a token of my love. I marry you with this ring and with all that I am.
• I give this ring as my gift to you. Wear it and think of me and know that I love you.
• I give you this ring in God’s name, as a symbol of all that we have shared and promised.
• This ring is a token of my love, my fidelity and of the unending circle of our lives for yesterday, today and tomorrow.
• I pledge to you all that I am and will ever be. With this ring, I am gladly yours and you are mine.
• This ring is a symbol of our love, our faith and our commitment to each other.
• Please take this ring as a token of my love, my trust and my unending desire to be with you for all the days of our lives.
• I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
• With this ring, I thee wed and I do bestow upon thee all the treasures of my heart, my mind and my hands.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Describe Your Wedding Photography for Your Photographer

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.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Gifts for the Wedding Party

Typically wedding gifts are designed around the idea of setting up a new home and that the bride and groom need staples to get their new joint home set up. But there are few typical rules applied to the gifts that the bridal couple bestows on their wedding attendants. Wedding party attendants do not expect gifts, but they are an important part of the core support that a couple receives in the months before and during their wedding. Here are a few suggestions to help you out in selecting wedding attendant gifts for bridesmaids and groomsmen. The maid of honor and best man should receive separate, more intimate gifts that can be exchanged between friends.

Wedding Attendant Gift Suggestions for Groomsmen:

• Cufflinks
• Watches
• Engraved Pocket Knives
• Monogrammed Money Clips
• Specialized Key Chains
• Personalized Coffee Mugs

Wedding Attendant Gift Suggestions for Bridesmaids:

• Bracelets (Engraved or Not)
• Watches
• Charm or Charm Bracelet or Both
• Hair Combs
• Specialized Key Chains
• Personalized Coffee Mugs

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Lighting, Location & Love

The basic elements for planning your wedding reception and reception decorations will be determined by the location you select. Some of the reception decorations will also be based on the type of food and serving you choose. Planning the reception decorations is all a part of the details of planning the wedding reception.

Wedding receptions have six basic elements in their planning:

• Location
• Physical Comforts
• Reception decorations
• Catering
• Music
• Dancing

These elements come into play based on the reception location, especially if you are planning a wedding in a place where it’s a blank slate. Some locations already have their environmental décor that will play a part in the reception decorations and you need to take that into account with your planning. There are many ways to take care of your decorations including rentals. Renting some of the accessories can save you money.

The ambience of your reception decorations includes your:

• Lighting
  
• Place settings
  
• Drapes
  
• Flowers
  
• Balloons

The lighting choices can be as simple as twinkle lights and votive candles. Your place settings can be simple or elaborate. The drapes can be made of tulle, gossamer or silk. Your flowers can match those at the wedding or be individual to the reception itself. Balloons offer a fanciful touch to the decorations.

There are so many options that you can explore with your reception decorations that the list could be endless. Decide on a venue, decide on a theme and then let that help you choose the overall look and feel you are going for with your reception decorations. You can add shallow bowls of water with candles floating in them. You can mix and match your wine goblets. You can transform candles with wrapped ribbons. Go crazy when you plan your reception decorations and create the perfect venue to celebrate your first few hours as newlyweds.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Music is a Universal Language

Wedding ceremony music is about communicating in a language that everyone can understand. From the comforting tones of the wedding march to the salutations and hymns sung during ceremonies celebrating love, relationships and their commitment to a higher divinity, music serves multiple purposes.

The wedding ceremony music is important to the theme of the wedding and the location. During your wedding planning, always check with the ceremony location about their rules for music. While you will be choosing a song for your wedding reception, the song that you and your fiancé will dance your first dance to, you can also use recorded music during your ceremony.

Looking for a romantic song for your wedding? Want to make the ideal mix tape or burn the greatest romantic CD for your evening with spouse? Want a great song to request of the DJ so you can slow dance? Here are fifteen romantic song suggestions.

• Breathe - Faith Hill
• Can't Help Falling in Love With You - Elvis Presley
• Endless Love - Lionel Richie
• From This Moment On - Shania Twain and Bryan White
  
• Have I Told You Lately - Rod Stewart
• Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman - Bryan Adams
• I'll Be - Edwin McCain
• I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
• Something - The Beatles
• Take My Breath Away - Berlin
• You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker
• Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
• Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
• When I Fall in Love - Natalie Cole / Nat King Cole
• Woman - John Lennon
• The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra
• Love of My Life - Dave Matthews and Carlos Santana
  

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Traditional Wedding Photography

Wedding photography before, during and after the service is a part of setting up the wedding album. While some wedding photographers will only focus on the traditional elements and others want to experiment with them, it’s very important to understand the ‘expectations’ of a typical album. Many can be taken before the ceremony or after. Some couples even schedule a day just for these posed shots on a day separated from the wedding. The scheduling decision will be purely between the couple and the wedding photographer:

Traditional Wedding Shots:

Bridal Shots

• Bride alone – close up, three-quarters and full length
• Bride with mom
• Bride with dad
• Bride with both parents
• Just the parents
• Bride with grandparents
• Bride with siblings
• Bride with family
• Bride with each bridesmaid
• Bride with flower girls
• Bride with bridesmaids and flower girls

Groom Shots

• Groom alone – close up, three-quarters and full length
• Groom with mom
• Groom with dad
• Groom with both parents
• Just the parents
• Groom with grandparents
• Groom with siblings
• Groom with family

Bride and Groom

• Bride and Groom with each set of parents
• Bride and groom with each immediate family and each set of grandparents
• Bride and Groom with various aunts/uncles as family chooses
• Bride and Groom with the Minister/Rabbi/Service Conductor

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

The Best Man in Your Wedding Party

A best man is someone the groom chooses to stand up for him and to be his main support during the ceremony and the weeks leading up to it. He may choose his brother, his best friend, his father or even his son. The best man will handle carrying the bride’s ring during the ceremony, he’s in charge of making sure the groom gets to his fittings, picks up the suit and is dressed and on time for his ceremony on the day of the wedding.

The best man is also in charge of the bachelor party. The bachelor party is a considerable event in the year of celebration leading up to the wedding ceremony. The best man will handle the standard organization of the bachelor party including location, events and invitees. The best man will also give a toast during the reception and he will sign the marriage license as one of the two official witnesses to the marriage ceremony.



Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Save the Date - Inviting Others to Your Reception

Wedding planning includes issuing invitations to your wedding, including information on the reception that is to follow. But you can issue separate reception invitations, specifically if you are planning a small wedding ceremony with a larger reception. However, whether you are sending out just wedding invitations with the reception to follow noted on them or a separate reception invitation, here are a few tips to help your reception guests to remember the date.

Reception Invitations :

• Can be sent with a Save the Date magnet and your wedding date, wedding time and reception time detailed on them. Including those along with your invitation is a great and convenient way to help your guests remember the date
• Can be a card with an engagement picture of the two of you to use as your reception invitation, you can include all the pertinent data about the reception
• Should include any required dress, the type of meal to be served and even reference to the theme if that’s important
• Can inspire the perfect wedding favor either with the save the date magnets or creating couple photo magnets
• Can be sent separately or as an inclusion with the wedding invitation
• Are important if you are inviting guests only to the reception and not to the wedding and it’s important to note that one the reception invitation

Invitation Wording:

A sample of your reception invitation wording may be:

GUEST NAME, your presence is requested at the Reception of BRIDE & GROOM’s married name to be held at TIME, DATE and PLACE. The newlyweds will be married in a private, intimate ceremony and look forward to your presence at sharing our celebration with us.



Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Wedding Reception Costs

The average wedding will cost a couple about $22,000. Of that money, over 50% will be spent on the wedding reception. The wedding reception is the largest expense of the wedding planning and it’s the one area where you can actually save a great deal of money by employing a few frugal measures in your reception planning.

Trim back your wedding reception costs by involving friends and family in the wedding buffet planning. Take a trip to a Sam’s Warehouse or a Costco Club to pick up quantities of finger foods. While some receptions may offer a full meal service, many guests will be just as content with a buffet of finger foods that they can carry around on small plates while they mingle and talk.

The wedding reception buffet can also help to eliminate planned seating and create a more intimate environment for wedding guests. Your wedding reception may host plates of vegetables, pinwheels, large blocks of cheese, crackers and even a variety of cheesecake platters. Other great finger foods that will taste great and offer your wedding reception guests options include:

• Stuffed Pizza Bread
• Quiches
• Egg rolls
• Vegetable platters
• Chicken fingers
• Barbecue Wings
• Cubed fruits

Providing your own catering and setting up this type of buffet is a great way for the newlyweds to conserve their wedding budget, but at the same time provide a great atmosphere for their wedding guests. So go fancy or go casual, but go frugal.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Wedding Party Guide

The wedding party includes the bride, the groom, the attendants and the parents of the bride and groom. For bridesmaids and groomsmen alike, there is some helpful instructions you can provide them with during the wedding planning. If you hire a wedding planner, they may provide you with a tip sheet or sheets for your wedding attendants. If you plan your own wedding, the following tips should come in handy for both you and your wedding party:

• Be sure to attend all fittings for the dresses and suits to avoid any surprises on the big day.
• If jewelry and accessories are coordinated, do not add or subtract anything without consulting the bride and groom.
• Pregnancies happen, be sure to let the bride know as soon as possible, especially if it means alterations to the dress or plans.
• Destination weddings automatically require additional costs for travel and lodging, be sure to discuss this.
• Bridesmaids and Groomsmen are expected to cover their own expenses; if this is an issue, please discuss it BEFORE finalizing plans.
• If readings, singing or other additions are planned for the ceremony, be sure to clear the selection with bride and groom to avoid any unpleasant surprises
• Guests of the bridesmaids and groomsmen are usually okay, but it’s always good to clear questionable additions with the bride and groom.
• Punctuality and attention to detail are the key words to success as a wedding attendant.
• If you have questions or concerns, don’t wait until the last minute to discuss them.
• Unforeseen events and emergencies happen – accept that and work with the bridal couple in the event of unforeseen events.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Wedding Favor Ideas for Your Wedding

Wedding favor ideas are a part of the décor, a part of the theme and they are entities unto themselves. So if you are looking for some wedding favor ideas, let’s talk about the options that are out there such as:

• Bookmarks
• Silver Pieces
• Crystal Pieces
• Picture Frames
• Jordan Almonds
• Boxes of Mints
• Boxes of Chocolates
• Hershey’s Chocolates
• Champagne Flutes
• Favor Boxes
• Gourmet Coffee
• Specialty Teas
• Organza Bags
• Tulle Bags
• Lace Bags

You can create your own wedding favors. You can look for wedding favor ideas on the Internet. You can get suggestions for wedding favors from your family, your husband to be’s family and even your wedding planner. You can design your wedding favor ideas from the time of the year, the holidays closest to the wedding and even where you are getting married.

Destination weddings offer some of the more interesting wedding favor ideas. A wedding in wine country for example might suggest a small wine bottle as a wedding favor. A wedding at Disney World might suggest a Disney themed wedding favor like a glass slipper. A wedding at Christmas time might inspire small Christmas presents containing candies or nuts.

You can discover wedding favor ideas everywhere and in every part of the wedding itself. Discover your wedding favor ideas in the design of your wedding, the time of the year or the season.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Questions for your Baker

If you hire a wedding planner to take care of the details, don’t skimp on asking them about wedding cake details. Before you begin ordering wedding cakes, take the time to do the research and get the answers to your questions. These questions can also help you decide on a baker.

• Ask for a Tasting – you want to try both the various types of cake and frosting. You are looking for flavor combinations and more. Some bakers will provide you with small sample cakes of your chosen cake flavors
• Ask about Customizing – Does the baker make custom designed cakes from either a photo or you own hand drawn pictures? This is only important if you want a customized cake design.
• Ask to see their Portfolio – Most professional bakers will have a portfolio featuring every cake they have ever designed or made, ask to see them to get a feel for the types of cakes they’ve made
• Ask about their Cake Preparation times – Many bakers will bake and decorate your cake days ahead of your wedding, but you don’t want it done more than 10 days and no less than 2 days before
• Ask about delivery and set up – Does the baker deliver and set up the cake for you on the big day. If they don’t, you need to discuss the pick up and set up with the catering service

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Cut Costs with Your Wedding Cake

You can expect that your cost for a wedding cake will start around $3.00 per slice on traditional cakes. Depending on how many guests you are expecting (the average wedding is usually 200 guests), cost for the wedding cake will be about $600 to $1,000.


There are ways that you can cut your wedding cake costs. While many wedding cakes are works of art in their own right, the cake itself is part of the ritual feeding that the bride and groom do during the wedding reception. The cake is then cut and served to the guests as a ritual sharing of the couple’s future bounty. But to save costs on wedding cakes can provide couples with more options in their wedding planning especially if they are not in love with the idea of the awe inspiring work of art. Here are some suggestions:

• Order a smaller cake for the art and have a similar cake made sheet style for serving to the guests
• Create mini wedding cakes cupcake style, you can even create a unique tower of wedding cupcakes that can be quite exquisite
• Order a smaller cake for the wedding party and offer a dessert bar with pastries and more so guests have other options than the wedding cake

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

An Intimate Wedding Ceremony

There is a lot to be said for an intimate wedding ceremony. Remember that the proposal was often done in quiet intimacy and will be filled with a gravitas that few other ceremonies related to marriage are going to accomplish. The wedding ceremony traditionally is about bringing the families together, but the truth is that some couples do not want to bring their families together for their wedding ceremony.

If you choose to go the route of the private wedding ceremony, you might consider this sample announcement to help calm the upset emotions from family or friends not invited to the actually ceremony.

Sample Announcement:

We invite you to take a moment on April 5th at 5:00 p.m. to say a prayer, a blessing or simply to observe a moment of silence as we, the bride and the groom, commit ourselves to one another and to walking the path of life together. In privacy and intimacy, we will make our commitment because our marriage is about joining our lives.

When you see us before, you will know us, as we were - individual and singular.

We invite you to join us at the Omni Hotel in the private dining room for a celebration dinner at 7 p.m. In lieu of any gifts, we ask that you instead make a donation to charity in our names as a couple that we will have become. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love, your kindness and your devotion.



Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Make Your Own Wedding Favors

Weddings can be very expensive. Whether you do all the planning yourself, including making the food for the reception, hosting the wedding in your home or yard and setting up the floral arrangements yourself, you are going to be spending money. The more guests you have, the more expensive the wedding will be. One of the ways you can save money at your wedding is to make your own wedding favors.

Homemade wedding favors can include such charming ideas as the votive candle holder. These are very simple and yet look classical in their setting on the guest tables. If you like chocolate, you can wander through the craft stores and find a series of different things that you can place your chocolates in such as glass slippers.

Another popular idea for homemade wedding favors is bottles of decorative sand. While this may not sound like much of a favor, consider the fact that the wedding favor should reflect some aspect of the wedding. If the wedding is as beach ceremony and the reception is hosted with decorations of seashells and ocean themes, a bottle of decorative sand is the ideal. That's the beauty of making your own wedding favors, they can tell the story you want them to tell and accent the theme you want it to accent.


Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Father/Daughter Dance

The Father/Daughter dance is typically one of the most special dances of the evening. This dance symbolizes the daughter having one last special moment with her father, dancing to a song that has special meaning to their relationship.

Typically, a daughter chooses the song that she wishes to dance with her father to during the Father/Daughter dance. However, it is always nice to get some input from Dad when deciding on the song. Generally though, the final decision often comes down to the daughter.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Wedding Cake Etiquette

There is a protocol to the handling, cutting and serving of wedding cakes. This is hardly surprising because just about everything in a traditional wedding is governed by etiquette and protocol. Many couples, no matter how formal or informal the wedding is, most wedding couples try to observe wedding cake protocol. Protocol for wedding cakes includes the following:

• The cake should always be displayed at the reception on a beautifully decorated table. It should be in front of the bride’s table and set so that while it’s is on display it does not block a view of the head table. An ornamental knife should be placed on the table.
• Protocol demands that the cake must be cut at the right time in the reception. For informal ceremonies and receptions this means serving it after the guests have been received and toasts have been given. For formal ceremonies it should be served after the main dinner.
• An announcement that the cake is to be cut should always precede the actual cutting of the cake, this allows mingling guests to view the ceremony.
• The bride should hold the knife in her right hand and the groom should stand slightly behind her with his right hand covering hers to make the cut, the first slice should be fed by the groom to the bride and the second bite should be offered by the bride to the groom.
• After the cutting of the cake and the first bites, a family member or member of the catering staff should cut the serving slices.
• The cake should be served with coffee or the beverage of the guest’s choice, guests should also be offered the opportunity to box up their piece in a gift box to take home

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Take Care of Your Wedding Photographer

In addition to paying your photographer the general fee for your wedding photos, it's a good idea to feed your wedding photographer if they are shooting pictures of the reception as well. For the majority of wedding photographers, they book one wedding per day. This allows them the time to travel to the wedding location, set up, and take pictures before, during and after the ceremony. They will also then transport their equipment to the reception to capture key moments during the reception for your wedding album.



Not only will you be providing nurishment for your wedding photographer, your wedding photography will benefit because your photographer is going to linger longer during the reception. The additional cost of a plate or allowing the wedding photographer to serve his or herself at the buffet is not enough to be concerned about.


Client Tip: Plan an extra plate for the wedding
photographers and any assistants they may have with them at your
reception. This gives them the option of eating and drinking without
being obtrusive at the wedding reception. If you are planning a buffet
reception, it’s usually good to let the photographer and his or her
assistant know they are more than welcome to a plate. You can even set
up a quiet table in a corner of the reception for staff and wedding
vendors to be able to sit and eat. If you are serving a plate dinner,
then ask the photographer ahead of time what they prefer from the menu
and plan accordingly.



Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

What's Expected of the Wedding Party?

When you ask someone to be an attendant at your wedding, do they know what it is you expect? It’s always best to clearly define your expectations for your attendants when you are asking them to be a part of your wedding. For example, many bridesmaids are expected to purchase their own dresses. If you are asking someone who cannot afford to purchase their own dress, then you need to work out these types of details. If the groomsmen are going to be required to rent tuxedos, then you are going to want to try and have all of them rent their tuxedos from the same shop in order to ensure matching styles and colors.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Plan for the Reception When Considering Your Wedding Budget

A typical wedding with fifty guests can cost about $15,000 and that when it has been budgeted. Fifty percent of your wedding costs will be invested in the reception. Receptions are where the couple cut their cake, take their first dance and generally celebrate their nuptials. The venue, food, drinks, music, flowers and photography are all just facets of the reception. So sit down with your lists and get ready to mark all the things you absolutely want to have at your wedding and then pay attention to these rules to trim back the cost.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Order of the Wedding Service

The usual order of service for the wedding reception order of events is as follows: * The Bride and Groom are welcomed by the Master of Ceremonies just prior to the service of the meal. * The cake cutting often takes place immediately after the wedding couple finish their main course. The appropriate pictures are taken at this time, giving the caterer time to prepare the cake for the guests. * After the meal is finished by all present, the Master of Ceremonies again gets the ball rolling. Typically they initiate the first toast and then introduce each member of the wedding party by name. * The first toast is usually offered to the Bride. This is often done by a brother or someone close to the groom. * Next, the parents welcome all of the guests (usually if the brides parents are hosting they will be first to speak or vice versa). They should welcome by name all of the guests that have traveled long distances to attend. They will then welcome their new "child" to the family. * The other parents will then offer a "responsal" toast and give their own words of welcome. * The best man is usually next to offer a toast and if the toast to the bride was omitted initially, he will offer it now. * Someone will next speak on behalf of the bride, typically her sister or maid of honor. This toast is usually presented to the couple. * If a toast to the bridesmaids was not offered by the best man, usually one of the groomsmen will offer it now. * Just prior to the grooms speech, any one else with a special salutation will rise and offer their words. * The final speaker is usually the groom, but it is becoming more common for both the bride and groom to speak. They usually thank all for coming and offer a toast to their parents. * The Master of Ceremonies will then close and announce the festivities of dancing and music. * The first dance is a solo by the bride and groom. * Then each will dance with their parent. * About an hour into the dancing is typically when the garter ceremony and the tossing of the bouquet takes place. * Prior to the departure of the bride and groom, the Master of Ceremonies will usually offer one final toast.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Memory Book Wedding Photography

There are key moments in every wedding that you want to have documented by the wedding photography, but you may or may not want your wedding photography to resemble traditional images. One of the best ways for a bride to figure out how to request the wedding photography she wants is to visualize the story book she wants to look at in a few years.

One way to help a bride visualize their wedding photography is to sit down and write out a memory book while visualizing the pictures that could go there. Make notes in the margins of the pages. Write down things like: “Mom’s smiling, but you can see the tears in her eyes.” Or “Cindy looks great in the dress, but what is she looking at?” Go for the funny lines, go for the sentimental and go for your own personality. These are the lines that you want to be able to show to your wedding photographer.

Think of them as a road map to your own book of memories. There plenty of important ceremony moments that your wedding photography will capture, but you can give the photographer tips on how you want those images to look and the shots he or she should be looking for:

Important Ceremony Moments:

§ Procession (Bride/Father; Close Up of Bride’s Mother, Close up of Groom waiting)

§ The passing of the Bride’s hand from the father to the mother

§ Profile Shot of Bride and Groom in front of the Minister as the ceremony Begins

§ Exchange of Vows/Rings

§ The Kiss

§ The Presentation



Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Men at Arms - Groomsmen Gifts

Choosing your groomsmen gifts will take a little forethought. You may want to choose groomsmen gifts that are reflective of the things you enjoy doing together.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Greeting Your Guests

When you´re deciding how you want to greet your guests, you have two basic options: receiving line or walking around to all of the tables at the reception.

If you have one, you don´t need the other. The point of doing either is to make sure you say "Thank You" to all of your guests for coming to your wedding.


Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Proper Invitation Wording

Finding the proper wording for wedding invitations can be complicated, and there are many different wordings that you can choose from. It's great that you want to include your parents' names on the wedding invitation even though they are not hosting the party. When the bride and groom are hosting the wedding, but wish to include the names of their parents, the proper wording is as follows:
Mary Bride,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bride
and
Doug Groom,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Groom
Request the honor of your presence…etc.
Since your fiancé's mother has passed away, proper etiquette would have you leave her name off of the wedding invitation.


Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Planning A Wedding Reception

A few days before your wedding, make follow-up calls to each vendor to make sure that they know when and where they need to show up to keep the wedding reception order of events. Ask if they need directions to the church/reception area. Take a list of all vendor phone numbers with you to your ceremony in case you need to call if a vendor doesn´t show.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Outdoor Weddings

If you plan to have an outdoor wedding, you hope to have a nice day but what is your backup plan if the weather doesn´t cooperate?

Be sure to include "rain cards" with your invitations to notify your guests of an alternate location in case it does rain.

Be prepared... Don´t let those rain drops bring you tear drops.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Cheap Wedding Favors Are Another Way of Saying Frugal

Cheap wedding favors means frugal and inexpensive, and not burdensome to your budget wedding favors. With the rising cost of weddings it behooves brides and grooms to look for ways to cut back on their expenses. So just as expensive doesn’t mean great class or great taste, cheap doesn’t mean classless or tasteless.

Popular options for wedding favors that are also cheap are sachet favors made from lace or tulle. Candy, nuts and mints are great for putting in the center of the lace or tulle and then tying it together with ribbon makes a lovely accented wedding favor. You can find the lace, tulle and ribbon in fabric stores where you can purchase the items by the yard.

You can also create cheap wedding favors by avoiding item purchases that carry the word wedding or marriage on them. For example, buy in bulk from a party or grocery store or even a Sam’s Wholesale Club rather than purchasing from a wedding shop. Bulk purchases actually reduce the amount of cost per individual item and when you buy from a standard party store, you can find any number of items that make up a charming wedding favor without excess expense.

The best part of cheap wedding favors is that they don’t necessarily look cheap. They don’t carry a price tag. They don’t advertise your investment. They advertise your love and faith in each other and your guests. Beauty doesn’t require a price tag and don’t knock cheap as meaning bad, cheap wedding favors offers you more wedding budget wiggle room for things like the menu and the entertainment.



Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Seating 101

Traditionally the head table features the bride and groom in the middle; you can go with either the best man next to the bride and the maid of honor next to the groom (and then boy-girl down both sides), or you can put all the girls on one side and all the guys on the other. If you don´t want to have one big table, you don´t have to---you can have the bride, groom, maid of honor and her date, and best man and his date at one smaller table, and the rest of the attendants and their dates at another table. It´s up to you! The parents, siblings, and grandparents of both couples sit at the table that´s closest to the head table.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Opportunities for Shots at the Reception

You’ll be able to get interesting shots during the dancing, too. Watch for the children and the older members of the family dancing. Those provide absolutely charming memories. Photographs during the reception should rarely if ever be posed. This is a time when wedding photographers take pictures of the newlyweds having fun whether they are stuffing cake into each other’s faces or going for a twirl on the dance floor.

Ask the wedding photographer to take detail pictures. Have them capture the exterior and interior of a location, especially one that’s remarkable for itself such as a bed and breakfast or old style country inn or even a Disney World Resort feature. Have the wedding photographer take pictures of the decorations, the cake placement, and the band – the atmosphere of the reception. In fact, the creative opportunities at the reception are endless. You can use many of the shots taken at the reception for more than just your memory book and wedding albums, but also for thank you cards, Christmas Cards and more.

Challenge your wedding photographer to explore their creativity during the reception. Take advantage of the fact that family members and friends, old and new, near and far have all come together to celebrate your wedding. Imagine a picture of your mother-in-law with your oldest friend and another that captures your younger brother in conversation with your great Uncle Milton, every family has a dozen stories and the creative wedding photographer will find all of those and more to tell in the candid shots they capture at your wedding reception.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Giving Directions

Write up the directions to your church, to the reception, to the rehersal dinner and then drive them yourself. Make sure you put in distances between landmarks, and make those landmarks very easy ones. "The big brick elementary school" is much preferable to "the tree that looks like a bear". Make sure the streets, lights and buildings that you refer to are actually still in existence. Remember too, that your guests may be travelling in the dark, in unfamiliar areas. Giving a time reference is good too: "the church is approximately 15 minutes from the reception". Include any special directions for parking (if you´re in a public park for instance), and clear up anything that may be confusing. A confused guest is not a happy one.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

´Downtime´

It´s important that you make every effort to keep the amount of time between the wedding and the reception as short as possible. If there are several hours between the two, then your guests (especially those from out of town) are going to be left at loose ends for something to do. If you can´t work around having some downtime, then be sure to have something planned for your guests, either a cocktail hour at the reception venue, or open your home to out-of-town relatives and friends.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Interviewing Your Wedding Photographer

When you are planning a wedding, you need to capture the moments and that means hiring a wedding photographer. There are many ways to locate a wedding photographer, including recommendations from friends and families or letting your fingers do the walking either via an Internet search or in the Yellow Pages. But when it comes to interviewing your wedding photographer, there are a few things you definitely want to know.

First and foremost, don't walk into your interview with the photographer blind. Do your homework. In 2006, 2,271,343 weddings are estimated to occur in the United States. That's nearly 3 million opportunities for wedding photographers in the United States alone. In the United Kingdom and France, the number of weddings expected to take place will reach a combined 2 million opportunities. The average wedding will cost around $26,100 U.S. with market value of items associated with weddings, such photographs, reaching over 59 billion dollars U.S.

A standard photo package in the United States for a wedding would include up to 7 hours of coverage, unlimited number of images, videography, online proofs and 35 to 70 matte or glossy finish prints in varying sizes. The average cost for this standard package is about $2400 U.S. An elite or premium package would include another photographer, more time, specialized sessions with the bride or groom for a portrait layout and a higher number of prints at $3600 U.S.

Knowing these basic facts can help you to know what it is you're looking for when you begin the interview.

• Are you actually interviewing the photographer who will be at the wedding or their corporate representative?
• Do they have samples of wedding photography they have done before?
• Do their samples of wedding photography include the types of images you have in mind?
• What is the minimum pricing package?
• What is included in the package?
• Do they offer digital packages?
• Do they include video or is that separate?
• Do they work with assistants? Will they be available for the rehearsal dinner?
• What is their booking schedule? (This is important, you don't want your photographer booking another wedding that is too close to yours on the same day)
• What is their standard method of working?
• Are they willing to listen to your input?
• What contingencies and guarantees do they offer?
• How soon after the wedding will you be able to see the proofs? (2-4 weeks is normal)

 

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Keep the Band Fed

Ask your caterer or catering hall to set up a simple cold buffet for the band (sandwiches, salads and cold drinks) that can be accessible to them all night long. This way, they aren´t at the mercy of the kitchen, and your guests are not at the mercy of the band´s stomachs. Everyone is happy, and it should cost you less than feeding them an entire wedding meal (which, if they are doing their job, they will have no time to sit and enjoy...)

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Cheap Chairs

Reception venues don´t always have the nicest-looking chairs; I´ve seen wedding consultants have fabric coverings made to fit the backs, but that can be expensive. Try using tulle instead---it´s cheap and lends a nice airiness to the reception.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Your Wedding Guests Can Be Amateur Wedding Photographers Too

Wedding photography is expensive and most couples plan at least $2,000 of their budget around the hiring of the photographer and the creating of the stills to look at - that's before you even attempt the picture package. Wedding photographers cost money and generally they are worth every penny of the investment. However, you can do more for your wedding photography than just utilizing the wedding photographer you hired.

Since your guests are often comprised of friends and family, they are more inclined towards trying to capture the odd, absurd, adorable and fun moments in the reception. Those moments that you or family may prize that a wedding photographer couldn't begin to guess at. This is the beauty of intimate friends and family capturing memorable moments on film. It also helps that getting disposable camera film developed inexpensively.

Your wedding guests can be amateur wedding photographers, too. Add a disposable indoor or outdoor camera to each place setting of your tables. You can place one for each guest or a couple per table. You can add a note to the cameras asking guests to take their own pictures and to drop them off at a designated place there at the reception.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Wedding Photography at the Reception

Receptions are as important as the wedding for both traditional and candid shots. The photographer will need to be prepared to move to the reception following the couples’ shots with the bride, groom and family after the wedding ceremony. If the reception is located in a different place from the ceremony, many photographers will need an assistant to help get the equipment broken down and moved to the reception area.

While wedding ceremonies might be typical, receptions are usually anything but. They range from long, boring affairs where people are hungry and impatient, but traditionally the party doesn’t start until the bride and groom arrive. They can also be rousing parties with lots of action. Expect the unexpected and let wedding photographer know what shots at the reception are the most important.

You’ll want to make sure you get a few of the following traditional reception activities in key shots:

• Arrival
• Cutting the Cake
• Cake Feeding
• The Toasts
• First Dance
• The Car

The cake and the dance are very important moments, both from the breaking of bread together to the absolute romance. Watch for the children and the older members of the family dancing. Those provide absolutely charming memories. Watch for reaction shots, full lengths of the couple and close-ups of their faces as well as those who are guests at the wedding.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Wedding Duties for the Mother of the Groom

It is often difficult to know what the duties and responsibilities of the mother of the groom entails.

Her first duty upon hearing of the engagement is to contact the bride's family and introduce herself and her family. If they live too far to get together for the first meeting, a friendly letter will be fine.

If there will be a meeting, either make reservations at a nice but cozy restaurant (not too upscale, you really don't know what the bride's family prefers) or a meal at your home. Your son and future daughter-in-law may enjoy attending this meeting but it is not a necessity.

Another duty for the mother of the groom is to make sure the bride has a guest list of people to invite to the wedding among the groom's friends and relatives. The groom's mother should find out the total number of guests so that she will not be suggesting too many invitations.

Etiquette suggests that the groom's mother choose a dress to complement the colors of the dress of the mother of the bride. The length is determined by the length the bride's mother chooses. Do not match the color of the dress of the bride's mother, however, just complement.

If you have guests coming to your son's wedding from out of town, you will be taking care of the reservations to make sure they have a place to stay.

After many of the details are out of the way and the wedding is about to happen, it will be your family (parents of the groom) who will host a rehearsal dinner. The type of meal and venue will be your choice.

At the wedding, your official duty will be to help greet guests in the receiving line.


Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Dresssing Up the Room

To fill up a room that´s larger than you need, consider renting shrubs and large potted plants to help fill up space. You can also dim the lights and add small white lights to help make a larger room feel more cozy and intimate.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Invitations 101: Hosted by the Couple

If the couple is hosting their own wedding, the invitation wording is as follows:

The honor of your presence
is requested at the marriage of
Ms. Amy Lynn Jones
to
Mr. Gary Raphael Gray
Monday, the fifteenth of June
at three o´clock
Galbreath Chapel
Athens, Ohio

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

budget helper

http://www.blissweddings.com/library/weddingbdgt.asp


this is and interactive budget helper.... it will be very useful to brides and grooms planning on a budget.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Invitations 101: Hosted by Parents

If your wedding is being hosted by (read: mostly paid for by) the parents of the bride or groom, the invitation format reads as follows:

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Jones
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Amy Lynn
to
Gary Raphael Gray
Monday, the fifteenth of June
at eleven o´clock
Galbreath Chapel
Athens, Ohio

If you want to include the names of both sets of parents, the wording would be

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Jones
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Amy Lynn
to
Gary Raphael Gray
son of
Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Gray
Monday, the fifteenth of June
at eleven o´clock
Galbreath Chapel
Athens, Ohio

If both sets of parents are hosting, the wording is as follows:

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Jones
and
Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Gray
request the honor of your presence
the marriage of their children
Amy Lynn
and
Gary Raphael
Monday, the fifteenth of June
at eleven o´clock
Galbreath Chapel
Athens, Ohio

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Bridal Inspiration - Wedding Guest Favors

When you were a little girl and dreaming of the wedding you would someday have, you likely dreamed about the white dress, the long walk down the aisle and the fairytale kiss when you were pronounced husband and wife. Chances are that you didn’t include dreaming about the wedding guest favors that would decorate the tables of your reception. In fact, when you began your wedding planning – those wedding guest favors were likely not even on the first page of the list of things you were thinking about doing or the questions you needed to answer with regard to the planning.

Wedding guest favors are about showing appreciation for your guests - they are a token of your gratitude for having come to the wedding and sharing the day with you. So they can be as serious and solemn or as fun and carefree as you’d like to make them. You typically match your wedding guest favors to the theme of the wedding so that they will look appropriate on the table settings. For example, one couple who were marrying found out they were pregnant about six months before the ceremony, they elected to have a silver spoon with colored ribbon tied to it for their wedding guest favor.

Wedding guest favors can be simple or elegant. They can be typical or unique. They can be serious or funny. They can be practical or joking. Wedding guest favors reflect your joy, your creativity and your love for not only the person you are marrying, but for the guests who came to share in your special day. That’s where you get the inspiration for your wedding guest favors.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Cocktails and Crab Cakes

If there is going to be a bit of time (an hour or more) between your wedding and your reception, it´s a good idea to have finger foods and beverages set up at the reception location for guests to nibble on while waiting for the ´real´ reception to begin. They´ll be able to mingle with other guests and won´t be starving by the time dinner starts.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Wedding Reception Order

If some decorations for wedding receptions happen to fall apart slip a tiny roll of scotch tape in your maid of honor´s purse. Someone will have a card fall off their gift, and that little roll will help you thank the right person for the right thing.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Ceremony Music is Fundamental

Even in more traditional weddings, the wedding music can be altered to suit the couple’s tastes. For example, a band may play as the guests are arriving and participate in the bridal march. There may be hymns sung during the ceremony and another piece during the recessional.

Most often if a band is hired to do music during the wedding ceremony, they may very well roll over to play at the reception. The music is as important to the overall theme as the setting and ceremony type. Your choices may be limited by budgetary constraints. So it’s good to familiarize yourself with local bands especially when you are planning your wedding ceremony music.

If you have friends or family in a band, there’s a chance they may play the wedding for free or a nominal fee. Depending on the venue for the wedding, a choir might be available to perform during parts of the ceremony as the couple envisions it. It’s important to realize that your selections of music are very important to their overall enjoyment of the ceremony.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

The Great Outdoors

Want to get married outdoors but aren´t sure where to have the ceremony? Have it at a local park, public gardens, town square or botanical garden. Take into account that if it rains, you will probably need a tent, and budget "plan B" into your finances. Some outdoor venues also have gazebos that could provide a pretty setting for your vows.


Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

License to Remember

Things you´ll want to remember about getting your marriage license:

*You´ll have to show proof of your age and name with your birth certificate or other ID, such as a driver´s license.
*If you´ve been previously married, you´ll need proof of divorce, death or annulment.
*Remember to bring cash or a check to pay for the license---most offices don´t take credit cards ; )
*Sometimes you can pick up the license, and sometimes it will be mailed; be sure to ask which at your office.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

A Limited Bar

This is an excellent option for alcohol: guests don´t have to pay for their own drinks, and you don´t end up with a huge bill. You decide beforehand which beverages you´re going to serve (usually a mix of wine, beer and maybe mixed drinks), and then have the bar open only during certain times (such as during the toasts and for an hour or so after dinner).

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Dicker!

In general the initially quoted price for wedding services will be high. Keep this in mind and don´t be afraid to dicker. Tell them outright that you don´t intend to spend that much and you will be surprised at the accomodations they can make rather than lose a sale.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Don´t Go Overboard

It´s not a good idea to go over your budget or go into debt in order to pay off your wedding. Beginning a married life together is a difficult transition as it is, and having a debt because of your wedding only adds to the financial problems.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Oldies but Goodies for the First Dance

Do you want a classic song to play for your first dance? Check out these suggestions from artists like Frank Sinatra:

Unforgettable, Nat King Cole (and Natalie Cole)
The Way You Look Tonight, Frank Sinatra
At Last!, Etta James
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
It Had to Be You - Harry Connick Jr (and others)
Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra
Come Rain or Come Shine - Billie Holliday

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Toasts At The Wedding Reception

Plain Champagne is not the only cocktails for a wedding reception: you could try kir royale, mimosas, or Champagne framboise (mixed with a dash of rasspberry liqueur). These alternatives are much prettier and more festive.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Think Green!

To save money on your flowers, try using more greenery than blooms in your church arrangments or garlands on archways, trellises, etc. Ferns and vines are both inexpensive and easy to obtain, sometimes for free!

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Vendors and Budgets

To stick tight to your budget, before you meet with a vendor, get a rough idea of their price range
and don´t meet with that vendor if you know that they´re out of your price range. When you do meet with the vendor, tell them your budget up front so they can help you pick from options that will stay within your budget.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Figuring It In

When trying to select a venue for your reception, be sure to ask what is included in the fee. Many halls charge extra for use of linens or ´cake-cutting´ fees.

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Choosing Your Wedding Cake Design

Your wedding cake design should mesh with your own personal taste and style. It should also fit in to the theme and menu of your wedding reception. Since you need to order your wedding cake and choose your wedding cake design about 3 months before the wedding, hold off on making your decision until after you have picked out the place for the reception, the décor, the colors and the style of dress you are going to be wearing.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Alcohol Know-How

When you´re making arrangements for alcohol at your reception, be sure to nail down the following details. They may seem trivial but the differences can add up to a big bill or big savings:

* Will waiters fill all glasses on the tables or ask each guest first?
* Will glasses be filled all the way, halfway, or 3/4 of the way?
* Will opened bottles be left on the tables or will waiters circulate to refill glasses?

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Awesome Appetizers

If you want to save money on your reception costs, consider having an "appetizers only" reception. You can serve a mix of hot and cold hors d´oeuvres. Be careful how many you choose, too many appetizers can get expensive. Also make sure it is clear on the invitation the type of reception you are having. You don´t want your guest expecting a full meal.



Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Wedding Favor Craft Ideas

Have the time and energy to make your own creative wedding favors? Try one of these ideas:
-handmade magnets with the wedding date and couple´s names
-origami animals (cranes are traditional good luck for weddings)
-beeswax candles
-handmade soap
-homemade candy or cookies

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Simple Flowers for Weddings

Decreasing the number of types of wedding flowers in your bouquet can help decrease the cost. The larger the volume of any given flower reduces the price. The difference between the cost of a dozen roses and that of a "growers dozen" (25 roses) is much less than you would think. Most retailers carry identical quality wholesale selections that can drastically reduce the cost. Wedding quality roses cost an average of $25.00, while the same roses could be as little as $30.00 to $35.00 for a growers dozen. With savings this drastic, make sure you discuss this option with your florist.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Relaxing Rehearsal Dinner

Keep your rehearsal dinner light and casual: a barbeque, clambake, pasta supper---anything non-formal that will let you chill out with your guests. If possible, have your dinner two nights ahead instead of the night before . . . you´ll have a more relaxing wedding eve, you´ll hopefully get more sleep, and you´ll have the chance to catch your breath before the big day.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Bridal 911

Make sure you´re prepared for emergencies on your big day: take along a purse or bag containing items such as Band-Aids, clear nail polish, needle and thread, aspirin, an extra pair of hose, and other things that might come in helpful in a pinch. Give them to a bridesmaid to keep for you.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Wedding Flowers Meanings

Want to give extra-special meaning to your bouquet? Consider the traditional meanings behind each wedding flower: Red rose - Love Yellow rose - Devotion Daisy - Purity Gardenia - Joy Orchard - Beauty Blue Violet - Constancy Forget-me-not - True Love Red Chrysanthemum - Sharing Lily of the Valley - Happiness

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Receiving Line: Who Goes Where?

Traditionally the bride´s parents are first in the receiving line, followed by the bride and groom and then the groom´s parents. You can also include your honor attendants in the line if you want, but it´s not necessary, especially if you have a small wedding.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Saving Money on Alcohol

Want to have something stronger than soft drinks at your wedding but are watching your pennies? Try one of these approaches:

• If you don´t have to buy your alcohol from the venue where you´re having your reception, buy your own---you´ll get it cheaper and be able to pick out what you want.
  
• Have a limited bar as opposed to an open bar.
  
• Cut back on the number of different kinds of liquor you provide---nix the mixed drinks, have champagne only for the toasting, and then serve one each of basic wines (red, white and blush) and one or two kinds of beer.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Quizzing the Caterer

Hiring a caterer to provide food for your big day? Here are some questions you´ll want to ask:

• Do you cater full-time?
  
• Do you have any formal training?
  
• How long have you been a caterer?
  
• What is the ratio of staff to guests?
  
• What equipment do you provide?
  
• Are there extra charges for buffet servers, champagne toast, having you make the cake, cake cutting, bartenders, etc.?
  
  
  Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Saturday Night Fever?

Saturday evenings are usually the most expensive times to rent banquet halls or other facilities. Consider having your wedding on a Friday evening, or during the afternoon or morning, if the place you choose is booked up.

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Contemporary Country Duets for Dances

Looking for a romantic country music duet for your first dance at the reception? Any one of these beautiful songs would be a great choice:

"It´s Your Love" (Faith Hill and Tim McGraw)

"From This Moment On (Shania Twain and Bryan White)

"When I Said ´I Do´" (Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black)

"Not Too Much to Ask" (Mary Chapin Carpenter and Joe Diffie)


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First Things First

Before you start any planning whatsoever, make sure you know your exact budget. It´s not fun to make big plans and then have to cancel them because you can´t afford them---going into your planning with a specific dollar amount in mind can save you a lot of heartache.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Mum´s the Word

If you *really* need to save money and aren´t afraid of a little sneakiness, you can do many things (flowers, banquet halls, etc.) and without mentioning the word ´wedding´ can save a bundle. Prices go way up when flowers are ´wedding flowers´ as opposed to ´party flowers´ or ´reunion flowers.´

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Tokens of Appreciation

Among some of the lovely options out there for bridesmaid gifts include several that are frugal and kind to your budget. The best part of these types of bridesmaids gifts is that although they are inexpensive, they are still charming and great tokens of appreciation.

• Engraved purse mirrors are inexpensive, attractive and utterly feminine. Compact mirrors are also a very practical gift for many women. They can be engraved with a name, a monogram or even a pet name and quotes.
• Jewelry is one of the most often given bridesmaid gifts. The jewelry can be a charm, charm bracelet or even the jewelry purchased for the wedding. This can actually be a frugal choice because you will often want your bridesmaids to wear a certain kind of jewelry
• Digital photo albums are a little more expensive, but they are becoming more and more inexpensive every passing day. These are great ways to display photos in your home and they can even have a slideshow option to switch out the image on a regular basis
• Spa certificates are a nice treat for the bridesmaids to be used before or after the wedding and can prove affordable on a limited budget, as some spas will offer group deals for buying in bulk. If you’re looking for something different to give as a bridesmaid's gift, this might be the one for you.

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Who Pays for What?

Traditionally, here´s who pays for what.

Bride and family pay for church, synagogue, sexton, organist, etc.; bride´s dress, veil, accessories, and lingerie; arrangements for church and reception, plus bouquets and corsages for bridesmaids and flower girls; all wedding photos and video; bridesmaids´ luncheon; shower; all all professional services, including food, drink, decorations, and music; groom´s ring; invitations, announcements, and wedding programs; and transportation of bridal party to and from ceremony and reception.

Groom and family pay for marriage license and officiant´s fee; groom´s outfit; bride´s bouquet and going-away corsage, boutonnieres for men, and corsages for mothers and grandmothers; complete honeymoon; the rehearsal dinner; bachelors´ dinner; and both of the bride´s rings.

That said, no one really goes by those guidelines anymore. Many couples pay for some of the wedding themselves, or figure out the costs and divide it in half, since it´s not fair for one family to carry the bulk of the burden.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Inexpensive Wedding Favor Ideas - Chocolate Kisses

Giving out creative wedding favors that contain Hershey´s kisses and Hershey´s Hugs kisses? Attach this poem for a sweet addition: "Hugs and kisses from the Mr. and Mrs!"

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Planning A Wedding

One of the worst weddings I attended was because the bride didn´t do the wedding event planning between the wedding and reception well and was also thoughtless when it came to her guests. All of the guests were seated in the reception room at the time stated on the invitation, but it was an hour and a half later before the bridal party showed up, and by then many guests were preparing to leave. It turned out that the bridal party had been riding around in the limo the entire time. Be a thoughtful bride and remember that there are many people taking time to celebrate your marriage, and the least you can do is stick to the schedule that you´ve given them.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Choose Well for Your Friends!

When you´re picking out bridesmaid dresses, remember that your friends are on budgets. Even if they´re absolutely gorgeous, don´t pick a gown that is going to make it difficult for them to purchase. They´re mostly likely only going to wear it once, and they´re not going to love you if you pick something that costs two hundred dollars or more, especially considering that they also have to pay for shoes, bridal shower, shower gift, wedding gift, lodging, transportation and more. Don´t forget to pick out a nice bridesmaid gift for your friends as well!

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTips.com

Wedding Planning Tips for Flowers

If you want to have an arch or other larger floral arrangement, try to make it do double-duty. Wedding ceremony flowers at an arch at the end of the aisle in church can also pose as decoration at the reception.

Tip Source: Wedding.LifeTi