31
January
2009

While grand, $10,000 diamond-paved Liberace-style men’s wedding rings do exist, they’re few and far between. Just take a look around; you’ll see that most men’s wedding bands are stripped-down gold circles, barely noticeable unless you look for them. But don’t condemn the guys as cheap, unromantic clods; usually, the plainness of the average man’s wedding ring stems from other considerations. The average man’s reasons for preferring an old-fashioned wedding ring usually boil down to three points: 1) That plain gold band was good enough for Dad, so it’s good enough for him; 2) he doesn’t need to be a showoff himself when he’s got such a beauty standing beside him; and 3) he’d rather spend his money on his lady’s ring.

While these may be perfectly valid reasons from viewpoints both male and female, there’s nothing stopping you from you bucking tradition a little. There’s no reason the groom’s wedding ring can’t be more noticeable than forgettable; and it doesn’t even have to cost a lot to make it that way.

For example, many men find titanium wedding rings to be an excellent choice. Titanium shines with a pure, silvery luster, and it’s easy to find an attractive ring costing less than $200. Even more importantly, titanium doesn’t tarnish and it’s amazingly tough — which makes it perfect for even the most rugged work or play environments. NASA makes spaceships out of the stuff, for heaven’s sake.

Got just a little extra cash burning a hole in your pocket? Take a look at some platinum wedding rings. Although platinum was named after silver, it’s not closely related. Not only does it not tarnish, it’s much more durable than silver. Like titanium, it’s an ideal ring metal for guys who regularly find themselves in situations that gold just wouldn’t be able to handle.

If you do decide to stick with that traditional band of gold, you’ll find that your choices are surprisingly vast, especially if you’re willing to accept a little ornamentation. A few small diamonds might add a few hundred bucks to the price, but not much more. So make a break with tradition, why don’t you, and get yourself something a little out of the ordinary?


31
January
2009

Wedding speeches are traditionally part of every wedding reception and are thought to observe the bride and bridegroom. As a broad rule, if you plan to have individuals talk at your wedding reception, make a list of who you expect to to speak and what order they will speak in. You can employ the traditional manner of best man, bridegroom, and then father of the bridegroom, which for many years has been the measure. Alternatively, you can opt to pick and choose who you want to speak and don’t forget, whoever you choose to talk, make certain that person can be depended on to be trustworthy and offer up a good address that is appropriate.

The importance of the wedding speeches varies but they are anticipated to offer thanks, short humorous tales, or heartfelt salutes to the bride and bridegroom. If you do select to have the best man talk, which is conventional, he should be the first and salute both the bride and groom and all the wedding attendants. He should be aware of the guests because if there are generally older wedding guests, talking about things that may go over their heads is not a good thing. He should not be base or insulting but merely speak about the pleased couple, how they met up, and wish them genuine luck for the future.

Fathers of the bride also generally speak, and now we have huge families, both the father of the bride and the stepfather may want to say a few words. They are there not just to give thanks to everybody but also congratulate their daughter and thank the groom for his intense love for her. If the bridegrooms father or mother wishes to speak, they ought to be words about their son and why marrying his bride will make him a a more rounded person. A maid or matron of honor address can incorporate things like how well she knows the bridegroom, a funny or amusing story about the pair and broad thanks to the bridal group.

The majority of mothers of the bride and the bridegroom traditionally don’t have to talk, but if they wish to, their speeches should talk about their son or daughter and present a warm and heartfelt speech that may bring some tears to the party. Fundamental points to remember: irrespective who is talking, try and keep your wedding speech to a minimum if you know there are other people who want to talk. The bride and groom, or wedding planner should list the names and order of the people talking and their role or title in the wedding reception program so everyone knows who is who. Last, it is always a good idea if you are scheduled to talk, not to consume too much alcohol prior to your speech. This will not only embarrass you as the speaker, but will detract from the bride and groom and their wedding day. Utilizing these broad tips will guarantee your wedding addresses will go swimmingly and will be fantastic during your festivities.

 

Find out all you need to know regarding the etiquette and how to give a great wedding speech ( the trick is to buy a pre-prepared wedding speech that you can practice) by reading our review of the best wedding speech advisors.


29
January
2009

PLANNING A WEDDING

A wedding day is a very important event in the lives of the bride and groom and of course for their parents. It comes once in a lifetime, and this day is cherished forever after. Therefore, planning a wedding is a very enormous task, and should be done very carefully if the special day is to be perfect. Patience, creativity, and a decisive mind will make planning the wedding a very easy task.

The first and foremost thing to do while planning a wedding is to set up a budget, taking into account everything that will be required. Also, the wedding size should be estimated, if you want a large wedding or a small simple ceremony. After setting the date and time, a guest list has to be formatted. A wedding planner may also be brought in to ensure the smooth functioning of the entire event. Then the caterers, musicians, florists, artists, designers, etc must be chosen, and given their specific instructions as to how the wedding should be arranged.

Wedding rings must be chosen well in advance, invitations must be sent out, and the caterers must be briefed about the menu. A major part of planning a wedding involves travelling to different places, like the dressmakers for fittings on your wedding dress and suit, the beautician, to the venue itself to check if the decorations and arrangements are coming along well. And the final stage in planning a wedding is payment; you need to pay all those agencies and people that you hire for taking care of different parts of the wedding.

Planning a wedding can be a very exciting task, but is also most of the time very tedious. Being planned well in advance is very important as it saves time lost in panicking. A last advice while planning a wedding is to always have a check-list, and ensure you follow it to the dot.


29
January
2009

Wedding favors

One of the more pleasant tasks associated with arranging a wedding is deciding on what wedding favor ideas to have for the guests. Fortunately, there are a number of different options which are very easy to arrange at the last minute. This is important because it can take a great deal of stress when you realize the big event is rapidly approaching and these haven’t been organized.

Flowers are always a favorite easy wedding favor idea and also so simple to arrange and then set up on the day. The preparation for flowers is almost non existent other than deciding on what flowers to use which can be ordered reasonably close to the big day.

A popular choice is a red rose and as a symbol of love which is very fitting at a reception. You can simply purchase one for each guest and have a member of the catering staff, a friend or family member place one rose across each place setting after the tables have been set for the wedding reception.

About 75 percent of people will use candy as it is an easy wedding favor that always pleases which can be simply presented in a box. If you prefer, there is an even easier method to give candy which can also save money at the same time. This can be accomplished by using large bowls filled with different types of candy as the centerpieces on each table.

Each wedding guest can then have a small bag or box to place their favorite candy in to eat when they like. Your guests will fill up the presentation containers with the candy in the centerpieces making this an extremely convenient gift which does not involve any wrapping.

An alternative to using candy is a picture frame which can double up as a place holder just for the occasion. For many people that give picture frames as wedding favors, they spend too much effort wrapping them in presentation paper. By using the picture frames as placeholders provides a way around this, making it a gift that does not need to be wrapped.

Another easy wedding favor idea to end this article is to arrange for a professional photographer to attend the wedding reception and take a photo of every couple as they arrive looking their best. It is a simple matter of bringing a printer along so the images can be printed off during the reception and are ready when the guests start to leave. An unusual but pleasant wedding favor is presenting each guest with a professional photograph of them arriving at the wedding. It would also be nice if the photographer could bring along a digital projector so all the photos he had taken of the guests could then be shown on a screen during the reception meal.


27
January
2009

It never happened if it is not in writing. Your wedding planner contract should result in many written contracts to protect yourself. Ensure that the details are written as smart people planning their nuptials would do. With no wedding planner contract covering all aspects from the photographer, reception room, cake and more, your journey is not complete.

It isn't good enough if you simply get along with the vendor you meet, and it most certainly doesn't matter if you like them. It is unimportant if it is a well know company of good standing. Unless you have binding, written, and signed contract, it never happened. Without anything in writing as proof, just think of all the wasted effort you put in. Keep in mind that a written wedding planner contract not only protects the consumer, it also protects the vendor. It's best for everyone involved.

There are so many details that have to be done for your wedding that it is impossible to keep it all in your head. Make sure all the details in your written notes are included in the final official wedding planner contract otherwise they are of no use.

You may arrive at the reception center to discover that it is not available for another 2 hours due to a double booking. Even worse, you find that the time of your reception is not noted in the wedding planner contract. Because you allowed such an important detail to be omitted from the contract you are not protected. The chef may substitute the lobster with fish which you will learn to your dismay.

The samples above show only a few details on why it is important to include information in your wedding planner contract. Assume nothing and ensure it is included in the wedding contract. Protect yourself by including even those details which you think are trivial into the wedding planner contract.

Having a wedding planner contract is useless if you don't fully comprehend it. This means you must read it carefully. You could ask an attorney or wedding planner to view over it to ensure you are not leaving out something crucial. Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into signing any wedding planner contract before reading it. Do not sign anything if you are being too pressured, just walk away.

For more information on wedding planning visit http://www.elkowedding.com.


27
January
2009

the Las Vegas Strip

Over 100,000 couples choose Las Vegas NV as their marriage destination of choice. Nowhere else in the world can you get married via drive-thru or married in a pink Cadillac by Elvis. You can get married in a pine chapel that’s on the National Register of Historic Places or married in a helicopter above the Las Vegas Strip. Your wedding day will be special regardless, but by choosing to have a Las Vegas wedding, you’ll already be at a thrilling honeymoon destination, you can provide your guests with affordable travel packages and you’ll have world-class food for the reception, all without breaking the bank!

Some people are drawn to Las Vegas NV for the cheap-and-easy wedding packages. Did you know you can have a Las Vegas wedding for $200 or less that includes the chapel, the minister, flowers for the bridge and groom, photos, music, a DVD and limo service? Chapels offering inexpensive services include the Las Vegas Wedding Chapel, A Special Memory Chapel, Candlelight Wedding Chapel, Chapel of the Bells, Cupid’s Wedding Chapel, Graceland Wedding Chapel, Little Church of the West, Mon Bel Ami Wedding Chapel, Shalimer Wedding Chapel, Sweetheart’s Wedding Chapel, The Bel Amour, the Little White Wedding Chapel, The Stained Glass Chapel, The Vegas Wedding Chapel and the Wee Kirk O The Heather Wedding Chapel.

If you would like, you can choose one of the Las Vegas hotels as the setting for your Las Vegas NV wedding ceremony, reception and honeymoon! How convenient is that? Las Vegas wedding packages can be found at The Bellagio Hotel, Caesars Palace, Circus Circus, Excalibur, Imperial Palace, Las Vegas Hilton, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand Hotel, Monte Carlo, Paris, Planet Hollywood, The Stratosphere, The Venetian and The Wynn. For packages starting at $1500, The Bellagio Hotel has two wedding chapels; the South for 130 guests or the East for 30 guests, as well as ceremonies on the Terrace of Dreams, which overlooks the lake and a dancing fountain show.

For $899 and up, Caesar’s Palace can seat up to 196 guests and you can choose from elegant Old World Tuscany décor, with an outdoor garden venue with Roman architecture, a koi pond, fountain, tiled aisle and palm trees. Excalibur is a cool choice because it offers medieval-themed weddings for $155 and up. The Mandalay Bay ($1100 and up) offers receptions with the Shark Reef aquarium backdrop and The Stratosphere’s Chapel in the Clouds is on the 103rd and 104th floors, high above the Las Vegas Strip.

Las Vegas NV provides some really interesting and unique additions to a traditional wedding ceremony that you won’t find elsewhere. For instance, imagine reciting your vows in a helicopter above the Las Vegas Strip or the Grand Canyon! (Prices range from $699 – $2,550 for these wedding packages through Maverick Helicopter or Papillon). Or you can have an Elvis wedding ceremony at the Graceland Wedding Chapel or the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel, ranging from $199-$1,495. Drive-thru weddings ($40-$150) are another quirky option available at the Little White Wedding Chapel. The Venetian also offers a romantic gondola marriage ceremony for $800-$900. If you’d rather get married off the Las Vegas Strip and out amid nature, then try an outdoor Red Rock Canyon wedding, a Lake Las Vegas boat ceremony, or a hot air balloon wedding from Vegas Weddings For You ($799+).


25
January
2009

Every woman dreams to have her own dream wedding, but before this becomes a reality, you need to have a good plan about every wedding detail. Planning a wedding would be easier if you know the most important things to consider before marching down the aisle.

First, you should determine the overall motif of the wedding. The motif would eventually contribute to your idea of the type of wedding gown you want to have. This is a very important thing to decide upon as a couple, no matter how trivial it may be for others.

After you decide on the motif, it is time to figure out the invitation cards that you need to give out to people who are invited. Make sure that the invitation is not too flashy. For weddings, it is best to choose pastel colors, but some also prefer an unorthodox design, so it entirely depends on the couple.

The motif would eventually help a couple decide on this manner. Next in line are the flower arrangements that you want to incorporate in your wedding. What kind of flowers would you like to have in your wedding? This is a very essential to consider.

Another important factor when planning a wedding is of course the location. Most resorts and hotels have wedding packages available that you can choose from. Make sure you set your budget first before considering any of them.

Alternatively, if you and your partner don´t have the time to plan for the wedding, you can engage a wedding planner that can help you coordinate the wedding. Of course, the price will not come cheap but it is a huge convenience for busy couples.

These are just some of the things that you may want to pay attention to when planning a wedding. But still, no matter what preparation you do, what matters is always the person whom you want to wed in that special day of yours. That person is the most important thing of all.

Check out the best guides to planning a wedding. Learn more about planning a wedding.


25
January
2009

Wedding favors become more and more unique and sometimes common every year. The idea of a wedding favor started as a thank you for the guests at the wedding. There are so many different things that can be used as a wedding favor and candies are just one of them. A candy wedding favor can be done in several different ways.

Kind Of Candy Wedding Favor

Ideally a candy wedding favor should have wrappers to be seen as hygienic. Depending on what kind of candy the bride and groom has deemed suitable for their guests, the container should also be considered well. The kind of candy wedding favor will be dependent on its size and wrapping. Most soon to be married couples prefer candies that are individually wrapped and will place these in a container. Individually wrapped candy wedding favors are seen as clean and will not stick to the container when the temperature gets too hot.

Another advantage of having individually wrapped candy wedding favors is that these can be taken in and out of the container without fear or getting these dirty or contaminating these with germs or bacteria, for the convenience of packing them. There are some candies that coat chocolates while others are hard candies. The preferences of the bride and groom will prevail in choosing their candy wedding favor.

The Candy Wedding Favor Box Container

The container for a candy wedding favor varies from fabric pouches or bags to a wedding candy favor box. The pouches or bags are usually gauzy or see through and one can see the candy wedding favor inside them. Netting is also one of the more common containers for the candies that are supposed o be the party favors for the wedding. Other materials are gauze, organza and chiffon. Ribbons usually tie up the pouch or bag and these are also coordinated with the theme or color scheme of the wedding.

Boxes are also ideal for a container of the candy wedding favor. Some boxes have windows on the lids which make them more costly but also ideal for party favors like candies or chocolates. The boxes, especially the traditional box and lid ones, are usually tied with a ribbon. The tags are attached to the ribbon as well.

A candy wedding favor is something that is totally unexpected – like a lotto ticket supporting the Red Cross – due to how common candies are. Guest will appreciate the sugar fix these provide and the couple will appreciate the lesser cost.


23
January
2009

The wedding occasion is considered as a significant event in the life of each person. In this wonderful moment, the lives of the involved people are changed forever for good as they publicly announce their vows for a lifetime of partnership under the promise of marriage. In this occasion, the involved couple says goodbye to their single life and become connected in a mutual union serving as the foundation of their incoming family.

In this marriage bond, this man and women become a part of a bond made under the sanctity of the marriage sacrament.

In this occasion, the families and friends of the couple are invited to join in the wonderful and joyous celebration of the event. These individuals partake in the moment as extension of the celebrants acknowledging the presence of the mutual bond between the two of their loved ones.

In the spirit of commemorating this act of partaking, the involved couple hand out wedding favor giveaways to their guest to signify their presence and mutual union to the decisive move of two of their loved ones. In this aspect, wedding favors become another significant part of the ceremony holding the joy of the moment through their physical manifestation.

Wedding Favor: Is It Necessary?

For most couple in the present, giving away wedding favors is considered as another expense cost on their part but is not really something necessary. Indeed, for the interest of practicality and cost reduction, this view is true. Viewing the significant purpose of the wedding favor giveaways, the involved couple would actually realize the part they manifest on the said event. Basically, these wedding favors act as a testament for the memory of the wedding event for both the married couple and their guests composed of their families and friends.

Giving these wedding favors state the account that a wonderful wedding has occurred and that the guest shared interest on that occasion. In addition, wedding favor giveaways serve as a token of appreciation for the presence of the guests in the wedding ceremony denoting their participation through giving time and effort for their presence.

Another significant view making wedding favor giveaways important is that there are many great affordable ideas to go along with it. Indeed, wedding party favors need not to be expensive and elegant in nature but something that effectively signify the event of the wedding ceremony and the participation of its recipient in the said occasion.

As a souvenir item with an engraving of the details of the wedding or a specially engraved photographs or even a handicraft can already become a wedding favor giveaways. What is important is that they serve to commemorate something and that is the mutual union of the couple based on love, harmony, and trust.


22
January
2009

Whose Day Is It?
Remember that it’s your wedding so the day should be be concerned with what your partner and you want. It is difficult to please everyone when organizing a wedding so don’t worry about it too much. Please the two most important people, your partner and yourself. If you don’t want to upset people try compromising with them over some aspect of the wedding.

Wedding Planning
Start planning your wedding right away. Use a folder/exercise book/index cards or a computer program to compile everything you can think of in relation to your wedding – and remember to plan the honeymoon. List dates when jobs need to be completed by and tick them off once completed. Keep a record of everything – deposits, receipts, phone calls and written confirmation of any bookings.

Budgeting
Decide on a budget for your wedding and once you’ve set it try not to exceed it by more than the tiniest of margins. The cost of a wedding has a habit of growing out of proportion. If you have difficulty keeping within budget, look for areas where you can cut costs. Try borrowing a car instead of hiring one? A wedding doesn’t need to be expensive to be wonderful.

Spread the Workload
Once you have compiled everything that needs to be done prior to the wedding day, enlist all the aid and support you can. Ask as many attendants, family and close friends to help out with various jpbs. People love a wedding and appreciate being involved so why not ask them.

When Things Go Wrong
Keep problems in proportion. There’s no point in getting upset over minor details. If the bridesmaids’ dresses are somewhat different than you wanted the world won’t fall apart. Learn some relaxation techniques or have a soothing massage if it all gets too much.

Enjoy the Lead Up
The time leading up to your wedding is a very special time but it will pass quickly. Don’t spend it going crazy over wedding preparations or arguing with everyone within your radius. Watch what you say is you are stressed – you might regret it later. If you feel yourself losing your cool walk away for a while take a deep breath and calm down.

Learn To Relax
Each week take time out with your partner and agree not to talk about the word ‘wedding’ or anything related to weddings. Wind down with a good bottle of wine, a tasty dinner and enjoy each other’s company.

The Wedding Day
Finally, enjoy every moment of your wedding day. It may come along but once in your lifetime so savor every moment of it.