Five Things Every Bride Must Have
Getting married is a big step for anyone who decides to take the plunge. It is a path full of adventure and change that will turn your world upside down. Be prepared for good times, tough times, and some of the best moments of your life; but before you say your I do, here are a few things that every bride must have.

A wedding shower with some of your closest friends and family is one of the best ways to kick off your wedding event. This is the perfect time for you to gather with these special people and thank them for the wonderful times you have been able to share with them. Let them celebrate this eventful time of your life and laugh about the good times you have been able to share up to this point. Listen to advice and enjoy the time preparing for you big day.

Some say that the wedding is all about the dress. This is your time to shine so shop until you drop for the perfect wedding dress, one that makes you feel as beautiful as you really are. Don’t stress about finding the right one, but enjoy the ride. The search can be just as fulfilling as finding that dream wedding dress you have in mind, so have fun with it.

The right pair of shoes can make any girl feel like a princess, so as you are out there trying to find the right dress for your wedding, remember the shoes. They don’t have to be tall heels or pointed toes; maybe your best look is a white pair of sneakers. After all, it’s you who will be standing in them all night long. Find something that will make you feel beautiful because this is your moment in the spot light.

Part of looking beautiful is feeling that way, and nothing will rid the stresses of planning a wedding event away like a day at the spa. Go get a massage and relax as you are pampered before your bid day. A manicure and pedicure will not only help you stay calm, but will have you walking away feeling your best. This day should be all about you, so take some time to visit the spa prior to your wedding.

Finally, the perfect hair day on your wedding day is exactly what the doctor ordered. Bring in a stylist and let them pamper you with the best style you have had in a long time. This will leave your hair looking at its best for all of those wonderful pictures you are guaranteed to be in on your wedding day. It won’t matter because you will be feeling and looking just the way you have always planned it. Congratulations on being engaged and the best of luck on your wedding day!

Tags: Bride, married, Wedding Articles, wedding day

The reception is traditionally one of the most expensive aspects of a wedding. However, by combining personal creativity and ingenuity with inexpensive, ready-made items available at discount retailers, brides-to-be and cash-strapped parents can host a beautiful wedding reception without blowing through the entire bridal budget.

“Creating a beautiful wedding environment on a budget is simple”. By putting a personal touch on everything from table centerpieces to wedding favors, brides and grooms can save while creating memories for years to come.

While June is still the most popular month for weddings, according to a recent study by Hallmark.com, September and October are quickly gaining in popularity. Here are some great last-minute planning tips this fall for brides and grooms-to-be:

* If renting a reception tent, create a romantic environment by purchasing sheering fabric and 2-inch ribbon from a local discount retailer to drape around the canopy. Create billows of fabric and hang from the ceiling, wrap around poles, and swag in the entryway.

* Whether throwing an indoor or outdoor reception, flowers help set the tone but can quickly add up. A typical flower budget is 15 percent of the overall cost of a wedding. Consider using some of the beautiful and realistic-looking silk flowers available today intermingled with arrangements of fresh flowers to keep the romance high and the costs low. The bride and groom can use the silk flowers in the home for years to come.

* Every bride wants to do something unique at her wedding. Create a dramatic, sweet-smelling entrance for guests by lining a walkway to the reception venue or reception tent with fresh rose petals. Also consider renting a bubble machine, available at retailers such as Wal-Mart, for some added ambiance and fun.

* Renting both table settings and white linen tablecloths can get expensive. Instead, consider purchasing clear glass plates from a discount retailer. Stack the salad plate on top of the dinner plate and place a large leaf between the two for a very pretty place setting. Buying plates is often less expensive than renting and the bride and groom can keep them for the years (and dinner parties) ahead.

* Remember to keep centerpieces either low enough or high enough so guests can see each other from across the table. A simple cake pedestal adorned with sugared fruits and a candle makes a beautiful and an inexpensive centerpiece. Add to the sugary sparkle by placing candles in votive candle holders to illuminate the centerpieces from underneath. Remember to place approximately half an inch of water in each candle holder or glass for easy removal of melted wax.

* For more formal wedding receptions, assigning guests to tables is considered proper etiquette but that doesn’t mean it has to be stuffy. Purchase large sugar cookies and pipe romantic words like “joy,” “hope,” “love,” and “forever” on each cookie. Place one cookie in each centerpiece to replace traditional numbered tables and have your place cards direct your guests to these romantically identified tables.

* Wedding favors that double as place cards can be made by purchasing sugar cookies from a local bakery that are iced in white. Pipe each guest’s names on the cookies in colored icing a day or two before the wedding. Place in cellophane bags, tied with a ribbon, and set at each guest’s place setting so guests know where to sit.

* Handmade keepsakes given out during the wedding reception are an easy and thoughtful way to thank the wedding party. Create beautiful, unique cards for the bridesmaids by purchasing simple white note cards, decorated with the wedding’s theme colors embellished with different fabrics or small trinkets purchased from a craft department. Write a cherished memory or personal note inside the card, which bridesmaids can keep for the years to come.

* And don’t forget the wedding cake, which can be very expensive, depending on the number of guests attending. Consider purchasing a decorated sheet cake from a local bakery in addition to a smaller tiered cake. Then marry them together as one elaborate cake with piping and rose petals. Brides and grooms may find that bakeries like those at a Wal-Mart Supercenter can make unique and cost-conscious tiered wedding cakes that are beautiful as well as delicious. Remember, all cakes are created equal — flour, sugar, and butter — so there’s no need to spend a fortune on one.

Tags: Budget, Wedding Reception, wedding tips

“What is the most interesting wedding you have ever performed?” This is the most commonly asked question I hear after revealing that I perform weddings. Quite often I leave a wedding with a good story to tell. There is such an array of people in this world, thus there is a variety of ways to enact that sacred ritual: the wedding ceremony. Stories range from heartwarming to humorous. Qualifying one wedding as the “most interesting” would be impossible, but I can share some of my more memorable stories.

Starting with the humorous…once I had a groom who was especially emotional. In actuality, grooms are far more emotional than brides. I suspect there is something to the way the whole formal procedure is designed, in that the groom waits in suspense as his beautiful bride is presented to him. This particular groom was crying so profusely during the ceremony that his nose started running, making quite a mess. Being an efficient minister, I come to weddings prepared with tissue. In the middle of the ceremony, I offered him a kleenex and said, “You might need to blow”. Looking back I realize that might not have been the best choice of words, for then the bride stated, “That’s my job!” The shocked, wide-eyed groom exclaimed, “my grandmother is in the audience!!” Of course this was all on the microphone, which had the entire audience in stitches.

Weddings on a tight budget are usually more out of the ordinary. Once I was way out in the country somewhere waiting for a ceremony to begin. Trying to be sociable as I waited, I commented on the beauty of the cow that was about 6 feet from the archway under which the marriage was to be held. The person next to me said, “Oh yeah, we are having her (the cow’s) mother for the reception dinner, will you be staying?” That was a little too real for a city girl such as myself. Then just before the procession was to begin, I asked if they had music for the bride to walk down the isle to. One of her brother’s ran to an old rusty pick up truck, started it up, screeched up to the isle, opened the car door and turned on the radio. The bride, then proceeded to walk down the isle. She was as lovely as could be! It always amazes me that every bride I have ever seen is astonishingly beautiful. This I cannot say for grooms, however.

Though nearly every groom I have encountered has been very handsome and gracious, there are a couple who have made me cringe. One particularly elegant wedding, I came to my favorite part of the ceremony, in which I get to say, “You may now kiss the bride!!” The groom proceeded to lift her veil, lean back and say, “Ugh, do I have to?” Although it was meant to be a humorous remark, I believe as a bride, I would have said, “No, you don’t” and walked away from that one. Another groom was so hung over on the day of his wedding, that when I came to the part that he had to repeat after me, I had to say one word at a time so he could follow me.

I’ve performed over 1,000 weddings, however, and every one of them has touched my heart. Some move me profoundly, when love between a couple is so strong and their souls are wide open to one another. There is a vulnerability present that is indescribably beautiful. Being present to that, is like looking into the face of God. In every story, seeing couples through all the foibles and fun to the touching and heartwarming moments of their wedding ceremony, there is a sacredness to every one.

Author: Lisa Holeman

Tags: wedding, wedding ceremony, wedding party

If you are planning to have a beach themed wedding, then I have some tips that can make your beach wedding a perfect occasion of your life.

Beach weddings are rather more casual then formal weddings. Thus wearing casual beach wedding dress that gives you the freedom to enjoy every bit of the occasion is your best bet.

There are beautifully designed beach wedding attires available for brides and bridegrooms.

Brides can adore wearing light wedding gowns, either halter styles or backless long gowns. Wearing a waterproof wedding gown is the best pick to enjoy the beach fun and frolic with others. Brides can choose to wear trendy flip-flops that best matches their beach wedding attires or can go barefooted. The idea of wearing shoes on beach sands is rather weird. So try wearing lightweight sandals or Slip-on beach wedding shoes to set up the tone for your wedding.

Wearing light and unique pearl or elegant Oyster wedding jewelry can get you those glamorous looks in your beach wedding dress. Flower jewelry is also a good option to look exclusive altogether. Make yourself look fabulous and let others die for your charm.

As for the others who are attending the beach wedding, there are numerous options to choose from. Girls should prefer to wear linen Capri’s or linen pants topped up with linen string or flair halter or linen button up matched up with linen knee skirt.

Groom can choose to wear Italian Linen Custom Suit or Linen-Rayon Custom Suit that best suits to be the perfect groom beach wedding attire. The bridal party men can select from comfortable custom linen shirts matched up with Drawstring linen pants or shorts as desired. Floral pattern dresses are much recognized as beach occasion attires, so party people can go for these designs too.

Though beach weddings are the cheapest occasions yet the bride and bridegroom should look distinctly beautiful and charming.

Tags: beach wedding, perfect wedding, wedding

Where and how does one shop for plus size wedding dresses? Every bride wants to wear a beautiful wedding dress and full figured women are no exception. Just because one is not slim doesn’t mean one shouldn’t have the whole fairytale.

So what choices do you have?

The Bridal Boutique
If you are intending to visit your local bridal boutique, we would advise you to call ahead to find out if they do, indeed, sell plus size wedding dresses. In many cases, they stop at size 14 or 16 and don’t carry larger. If they have a selection of wedding dresses in your size, go ahead and make an appointment. If they don’t, move on to another venue.

The Plus Size Clothing Store
Many shops specialising in plus size merchandise do sell wedding dresses. Since they also sell clothes for business and every day, the selection of wedding dresses might not be too impressive. Still it’s worth a look as there may be a selection of wedding dresses that flatters your body type.

The Internet
Believe it or not, the Internet is an excellent source of plus size wedding dresses and wedding accessories. A quick Google search will yield hundreds of websites for shops and designers specialising in wedding dresses for the full figured woman. If you don’t find your dream wedding dress at one of the other venues, you’ll definitely find one online.

There’s just one problem.
When you purchase wedding dresses over the Internet, in most cases you can’t try it on. Wedding dress sizes are funny, plus size wedding dresses are no exception. So when ordering wedding dresses from the Internet, it is important that you measure yourself carefully and order the right size dress. Even if you are on a diet, we suggest that you order your wedding dress at the size you are now, rather than ordering a smaller size wedding dress in the hope that it will fit, come the big day.

Be thorough and check your measurements with those on the Size Chart at the website. If you’re unsure, add a half inch to an inch. You can always take the dress in but it is a lot more difficult to let the dress out.

Every bride should look her very best on her wedding day. The full figured woman is no exception. Don’t settle for any dress just because it comes in your size. Take your time. Look for wedding dresses online and in the real world. When you find the right wedding dress, you’ll look stunning!

Tags: wedding, Wedding Dress Gown

After finally deciding on the perfect Hawaii wedding location, then you need the perfect Hawaii wedding photographer. After all, you’ll want to preserve all of those wonderful memories with photographs that are as special and unique as you and your wedding.

The Hawaiian islands are an incredible background for a destination wedding. There are so many wonderful choices for locations. You can have the sunny beach, a rushing waterfall or a lavish resort. They all hold their own allure and all will provide beautiful pictures.

Just how do you go about choosing a Hawaii wedding photographer? Speak with them, explain how you envision your wedding, discuss the details and see what kind of ideas they have. After you really talk with them, you may be surprised with all the ideas that they will have for your day. A wedding photographer is not only a professional, but a creative one as well.

If you have photos that you have seen that you like , send them to your photographer. Let them know if you have a particular style that most suits you. Also, be sure to let the photographer know if there are areas you would prefer to downplay during the photography session. Posing is an art.

Remember your wedding package will usually be for a specific amount of time. Be sure you and your guests are on time. Also, be sure to let the photographer know ahead of time of the groupings you would like. Let them know also if it’s best not to include certain people together. This can make the difference between rushed pictures and perfectly poised ones.

Although most locations are beautiful, they won’t show up that way if the photographer doesn’t understand the nuances of wedding photography. Your photos are not only about you, but also the location. You want your photos to tell the story, unveiling your relationship, showing honest and emotional moments.

By choosing an experienced Hawaii wedding photographer you will have direction and gorgeous pictures to share with all of your family and friends. You will remember your incredible Hawaiian wedding, for a lifetime of tomorrows.

Tags: Hawaii, wedding, Wedding Articles, Wedding Photographer

Choosing wedding favours is difficult at the best of times, the sheer variety on offer to suit almost every occasion, taste and colour scheme can seem overwhelming. Oh yes, and then there’s the new mother-in-law’s disturbing offer to “make” the wedding favours herself playing with your mind!

However there are some simple questions you can ask yourself to help you choose the right wedding favour for your biggest of big days:

Are the wedding favours part of a theme and/or colour scheme?

Answering yes will limit your choices but may make it easier to choose as a result. For instance, if you choose an ivory theme with calla lilies, ivory favours would look great especially if you introduce a contrasting colour, perhaps to match the bridesmaids dresses or a particular colour scheme present at the venue. Furthermore, you could make life even easier and opt for calla lily chocolate dragee flowers in ivory and you have a great ready-assembled favour to match your theme!

Are the wedding favours for you or your guests?

It seems like an obvious answer, but think about it. You want your wedding favours to say something about your day and give your guests something to remember your wedding by. In my experience, wedding favours which can be consumed or used on the day are always more popular than keepsake type favours which instantly accumulate dust in a drawer after the wedding. So give your guests a special surprise on the day just to add to their magical experience.

How much will you spend on wedding favours?

Wedding favours can cost as much or as little as you like, look to spend around two to three pounds (four to five dollars) for a great wedding favour. Remember to ask the supplier for samples and don’t be afraid to ask for a discount when making large orders. The worst they can say is “no” but if they say “yes” you can save yourself some money, which is no bad thing in the wedding planning process.

What makes a good wedding favour and what do my guests and I like?

In my experience confectionary, namely chocolate, wins every time. Chocolate looks goods, tastes great, everyone likes it and comes in a huge variety of colours and forms, for example, chocolate dragees are just perfect. Your guests can appreciate the effort and thought you have put into a well designed favour and can eat them as an after wedding breakfast treat.

Why bother with wedding favours?

Your guests expect them and besides it’s a tradition. Some may have travelled thousands of miles to be with you and spent precious time and money. This is your way to show how much they mean to you on your special day.

Tags: love, wedding, wedding favors

Probably the most money you will spend for a single day will be that for your wedding; the average cost of a wedding today is 20 to 25 hundred thousand dollars with an industry estimated at 25.3 billion dollars per year. It is understandable that many couples feel pressured into spending money they do not have but it really isn’t necessary; carried out properly, the majority of guests will not even realize they have attended a ‘cheap wedding‘. All you need is a few cost saving ideas to point you in the right direction; which should make for an exciting, memorable day without the financial pain.

Hand Me Down Bespoke Wedding Dresses

Fortunately there are several options available to help reduce this cost, including the option of a dress that has been worn before. The huge cost of a new wedding dress cannot always be justified these days; many bridal shops carry a large number of previously owned dresses that can be hired or bought for considerably less than new.

The Reception

It is easy for couples to get swept up in the excitement and spend a small fortune on the reception; statistics show that an average of 189 guests attend so when you are planning your cheap wedding, this is where most savings take place. Don’t invite everyone you know, in particular relatives you haven’t seen since you were a child; as far as the meal is concerned why not have a buffet instead of a full, waited on, three course meal.

Although it is nice to hold the wedding reception in a beautiful hotel, this can be another huge expense but alternatives exist; there are many clubs that would be perfectly suitable or even the home of a good friend or relative that is large enough.

Images of the Wedding

Photographers are expensive but there is generally no need to hire one for the whole day; why not have your friends and relatives take pictures during the reception. Although it may sound like an unusual idea, you always have the option to not use a professional photographer at all; there is no reason why the photos can’t be taken by your guests and you will find yourself saving many hundreds if not thousands, of dollars.

PC Produced Personalized Wedding Invites

Other areas where you can be assured of saving money is wedding invitations and other stationery; today’s home computers and printers are able to provide near professional results. Many people are now competent enough to produce near professional quality work; problems and errors can be corrected quickly without regular visits to the printers.

The Wedding Flowers

Cost cutting measures can also be found in the area of flowers and their arrangement; these can actually be purchased in large quantities from wholesalers or even from your own garden if you have the capacity. Many people have friends who are very capable cooks and love to bake so why not let them bake a two or three tier wedding cake; this can be made from sponge or even a chocolate cake which tends to be favorite amongst people these days.

The Transportation

Most people, when asked, feel proud if their car can be used as wedding transportation; it is surprising how impressive this can look when done properly.

Cheap weddings are possible without the wedding seeming it has been cost driven; the point is that guests enjoy the day!

Tags: Budget, cheap wedding

In this day and age, weddings are becoming more and more expensive and wedding cakes are no exception. However, it is possible to serve a beautiful cake while maintaining a budget.

One of the best ways to save money on wedding cakes is to consider a kitchen cake. This is a flat slab cake iced on top to match the wedding cake, but generally without piping, flowers etc. When the cake is cut and served, guests are unable to tell the difference between slices of the actual wedding cake and the kitchen cake.

You may also consider having a “dummy” cake as a centrepiece on the cake table. Rent or buy a Styrofoam show-cake from your local baker, and have the caterer serve your guests from sheet cakes or kitchen cakes that are plated in the back kitchen. Or have a single, small cake for show and several sheet cakes to cut for the guests.

When choosing your wedding cake design, opt for simple cakes with minimal decoration as the more labour that is required to decorate the cake, the more expensive. Try to also skip having multiple tiers with fancy pillars. Instead, have the cake layers stacked or borrow pillars if your baker provides this service, or have the baker use disposable pillars instead of the costly crystal ones. Also, check with your local rental company to see if it has any available.

Another option to minimise costs is to try having the cake decorator make and ice the cake, whilst you put your own fresh flowers as decoration for the cake. You can ask your florist to supply extra flowers for the cake to match your bouquets or just pick the flowers on the day of your wedding. If that’s not possible, store the flowers on a plate with some water in your fridge. Sprinkling petals, cascading down tiers or placing flowers around the base of the cake are simple yet elegant designs.

Alternatively, bake your own cake or enlist the help of a friend or family member to do this for you as their wedding gift to you. Fruit, candy, ribbon and marzipan sculpted into flowers and figurines make for beautiful wedding cake designs.

Check also if your reception venue offers a wedding cake as part of the catering deal. Some venues will provide the entire wedding cake whilst others will just provide the first tier.

Another option for couples on a budget is to have cupcakes rather than traditional wedding cakes. This is not only a great way to save money, but it is also a very popular option and can be done beautifully. It is both unique and different and can enhance the beauty of the wedding. The cupcakes are generally arranged in tiers similar to wedding cakes. Each guest will receive an individual cupcake. This saves on having to pay the fee for cake cutting as well as paying for a large, expensive cake. The fee when a reception venue or caterer charges for cutting and serving a cake is called “cakeage”. Fees can be up to $4 or $5 a head.

Finally, decide when and how the cake will be served.

As dessert: you will need a large slice of cake and need to cater for every person attending the function as the cake is a part of the formal meal and a generous slice has to be put in front of the guest whether they are going to eat it or not . When the cake is served as dessert you normally need 3 times as much cake as when the serving is as a coffee slice.

As coffee: as “finger” slice which is normally served on a platter towards the end of the evening. A general rule is that you need only cater for 70% of the guests

There are many considerations when it comes to wedding cakes: size, flavor, design, and of course choosing the right bakery. The bride and groom on a budget should remember to look at lots of different ideas before deciding what they want. Visiting several bakeries and getting quotes are a great way to taste yummy wedding cakes as well as perusing bridal magazines to find inspiration.

However, if a wedding cake is really out of the budget, than consider skipping the cake altogether and serve a non-traditional dessert, such as tartlets, cheesecake, or a dessert buffet. Mmm… yum

Tags: Budget, Wedding Cake

Is it hard for you to say something? “Say it with flowers.” Yes, that is the right idiom for us to express and describe our feel. With flowers we can express our love, sad, apologize, thank you, congratulation, purity, etc. Flower is symbol of love, beauty, and purity. Flowers can represent our feel to somebody else.

A bouquet (flower arrangement), even with a single or small arrangement, is a great way to express your feel. It can bring a great atmosphere to your heart, your sweetheart, and your wedding day. Just try to put a single flower arrangement in your living room. And it can be guessed that you will feel something different in your day. Or try not to use bouquet in your wedding day. And your guests will feel there is something wrong in your wedding day. It will also strange if you choose a wrong bouquet for your wedding day. Despite you can use any flower to your wedding day, it’s recommended for you to choose the right flowers that suit your wedding theme and can express your look & feel.

Arranging a bouquet is not as easy as we say. Moreover if the bouquet will be used in a special occasion such as wedding day. If you want to arrange a bridal bouquet, you should consider these things:

Proportional

A bouquet must be proportional in accordance with the bride’s appearance. Bouquets vary in size from small to large, and vary in shape from round (nosegay) to long (cascade & long stemmed bouquet), so they should always be proportional in size to the bride.

Wedding Theme

A bouquet should says your personality and reflects your wedding theme. As stated above, it says your fell & style. If you decided to pick an autumn theme for your wedding, you should choose a bouquet that arranged by flowers that represent vibrant hues of falls such as gold, red, dark, and orange. It can be made with roses, tulips, calla lilies, etc.

Color

Your eyes speaks to you when they are looking at a color or combination of many colors. As we all know, every color has its meaning and some can be associated with special thing. For example, many people have associated pink color with female. Although the assumptions are not too significant, you cannot avoid it for sometimes.

Budget

If you have a low budget, don’t be worry. You still have a great wedding with cheap flowers. If you choose flowers that are out of season, usually you have to spend more money to buy it. To make sure you get the best price, you can compare flower/bouquet prices before you get it.

Tags: Bouquet, flower