Many couples looking to get married are often searching for new and fresh ideas to give their wedding something special that sets them apart from the crowd. It seems people are growing tired of the old fireworks displays or the releasing of doves at the end of their ceremony or reception and are now looking for unique alternatives to create a visual spectacular that symbolises their love. Fresh from the shores of Thailand comes an exciting product called a Wish Lantern. When Wish Lanterns are released en masse they create a stunning noiseless display in the skies.

Typically used in Asian festivals, the release of a Wish Lantern sends your wishes up into the sky above in the form of a paper balloon that stands 108cm tall and 66cm wide. Made of flame retardant paper and bamboo, Wish Lanterns are safe and easy to use as you only need to light the already attached fuel cell in the centre of the lantern, then stand back and watch as it floats gracefully into the sky. Why not ask your wedding guests to write a wish for the newly weds on the Wish Lanterns prior to launching to wish them well for their life together?

Wish Lanterns can be launched singularly or together as a group, for weddings it is advised to launch a minimum of 50 Wish Lanterns to create the ‘wow’ factor.

Wish Lanterns are 100% biodegradable and are completely safe for the environment.

Tags: wedding tips, wish lantern

Flowers play an important role in enhancing your wedding style and bringing elegance and beauty to your special day. In order to perfect this aspect of your wedding, OrlandoLDSWeddings.com has some pointers for you.

Flower Tips

• Take the time to find the best florist.
• When discussing floral arrangements with your florist, consider the style and mood of your wedding, the season or environment, your budget, and what you like.
• Make sure you know what color scheme you will be using for your wedding before you visit the florist. If you have color swatches, bring them along.
• Choose flowers that are in season. They will be less expensive, easier to find, and last longer.
• Bridesmaids’ bouquets should echo the color and style of the bride’s, but smaller.
• Choose a hardy flower for boutonnieres. Orchids and roses are a popular choice.
• Ask the florist for an itemized bill in advance.
• Supply your florist with the names, addresses, and times for delivery.
• Before distributing the flowers to the wedding party, be sure the stems are dry. Water can cause problems on many types of material.
• To preserve your flowers as a keepsake and not just a faded memory, you should consider floral preservation.

Tags: florist, flowers, tips

Here are some pointers from the professionals that will help in the search for that perfect gown.

1. Look through some bridal magazines to get a general idea of what you want. The more you can tell the consultant about your likes and dislikes, the better chance you have of finding your dream gown.

2. Start early! Most gowns take between 4-6 months to order in the correct size and colour. The sooner you start shopping the better.

3. Be honest about your budget at the beginning. Don’t run the risk of falling in love with something you could not possibly afford.

4. Take only 1 or 2 people with you. It is easier to shop without a crowd.

5. Avoid shopping on a Saturday if at all possible. Phone the bridal salon and ask when the least busiest time of the week is. You will receive more personal service and will not have to wait on a dressing room or consultant. (more…)

Tags: wedding gown

Learn more about wedding invitations by selecting another topic below:

• Preparing Your Invitations
• Types of Invitations
• Examples of Wording

Tags: Addressing Invitations

Examples of Wording
Wording: Names should always be written out. Initials should not be used on a formal invitation unless the intial is actually someone’s legal name (i.e. JD Johnson.) Abbreviations are only used for the following titles: Dr., Mr., Mrs., Ms., Jr., and Lt. if combined with Colonel. The date and time are also written out. If the year is included, it should be written out.

For an example of invitiation wording etiquette, select the individuals that will be issuing your announcements:

By Bride’s Family

Dr. and Mrs. Steven Pollmann
are pleased to announce
the marriage of their daughter
Lori Dawn Pollmann
to
Ryan David Sanders
on Saturday the eighth day of August
two thousand and one
in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple.
You are cordially invited to attend a
reception held in their honor.

By Bride and Groom

Miss Kylee Michelle Roberts
and
Mr. Trevor Steven Benson
request the honour of your presence
at their wedding reception
Saturday, the fifteenth of June
two thousand and one
at six o’clock.
Marriott Hotel
Fort Wayne, Indiana (more…)

Tags: Examples of Wording

Temple Ceremony Invitation
Since the sealing rooms in the temple do not generally hold more than 50 people, you will have a limited number of people you can invite to the actual temple ceremony. Often, the easiest and most inexpensive way to let family and friends know that they are invited to the ceremony is to have an enclosure card in your invitation. See example:

When sending these invitations, be careful to make sure that the number of invitees matches the capacity of the sealing room.

The honor of your
presence is requested
at the wedding ceremony
in the Washington D.C. Temple
on Saturday
the eighth day of August
at eight-forty in the morning.
Please arrive one half hour early. (more…)

Tags: Invitations

Once you have completed your guest list, you should begin to prepare your LDS wedding invitations. You will have many styles from which to choose, so be sure to view all your options. Mail order companies and some local printers have catalogs that you can request. Our business directory provides names of businesses that can help meet your needs. Be sure to choose invitations that are appropriate for the style of reception you are planning.

All invitations and inserts should match in style and paper. And remember, invitations should be mailed 3 weeks in advance for local guests and 4-5 weeks in advance for out-of-town guests.

Learn more about wedding invitations by selecting another topic below:

* Types of Invitations
* Examples of Wording
* Addressing Invitations

Tags: Invitations

Do you feel like you are doomed to never receive the wedding you dreamed of? Think again! Use these great tips to cut back on costs, so your budget can accommodate your dreams.

1. Choose flowers that are in season and/or grown locally.
2. Forgo the personalized napkins.
3. Schedule the wedding between November 1 and April 30 (excluding December). By scheduling at an “off-peak” time, you’re likely to get better deals.
4. Order invitations online or through a mail-order catalog.
5. Pick a reception location that needs little or no decorations — a garden in bloom, a fully decorated reception center.
6. Avoid roses and orchids; they’re widely available but expensive.
7. Start shopping right away, especially for a gown. You won’t feel rushed into buying something and will be able to look for a good deal.
8. Avoid white flowers. They bruise easily, so florists must go through larger quantities to find good ones. This increases the cost.
9. Choose cheaper entrees, like chicken instead of beef, or pasta instead of seafood.
10. A good wedding cake is often enough dessert. You don’t need an entire dessert spread too.
11. Skip the wedding favors or opt for a cheaper variety.
12. DJ’s will generally cost less than a live band.
13. Avoid Saturday night. You’ll have more location (and price) options if you celebrate on Thursday or Friday.
14. Use less-expensive flowers, like daisies, in the bouquets.
15. Ask about package deals if you order all your stationary (invitations, thank you’s, etc.) at once.
16. If you decide to have a videographer tape your special day, say no to “extras” such as sound effects and artsy editing.
17. Find out how long the photographer will keep your negatives. You may be able to purchase your prints after the other wedding bills are paid.
18. Use the talents of family and friends. Their skills could save you money in many different areas.
19. Cut your guest list. There is no easier way to cut costs. You’ll save money on food, invitations, favors, linens and much more.
20. Get organized. Timely planning saves late fees and expensive compromises. (more…)

Tags: budget tips, Wedding Finances

There are no absolute guidelines regarding who pays for what. The following list states the traditional expense breakdown. However, this is something that needs to be decided upon by both the bride’s and the groom’s families.

Bride and her family

• Wedding dress, headpiece/veil, and accessories
• Announcements/invitations, thank you cards, and postage
• Cost of reception: hall rental, food, flowers, decorations, entertainment, etc.
• Groom’s wedding band
• Physical exam
• Gifts for groom and bride’s attendants
• Photography
• Wedding video
• Attendants’ bouquets
• Wedding consultant’s fee
• Guest book
• Mother’s dress

Possibly
Bridesmaids’ dresses
Accommodations for bride’s out-of-town guests (more…)

Tags: Wedding Finances

Jawbreaker
Before the shower, corner the groom and persuade him to answer personal questions about himself. Write the questions with the answer on to slips of paper, attaching a piece of bubble gum (Bubble Yum or Bubblicious work great). Seating the bride and guests is a circle, distribute the slips to all guests. Have each guest take a turn reading their question. If the bride cannot answer or gets the answer wrong, she must chew the piece of gum. If she gets the answer right, the guest asking the question chews the gum. Through the course of the game, the bride must keep all “wrong answer” pieces of gum in her mouth (you might want to keep a napkin handy), continuing to chew until all questions are answered.

Some sample questions are:

* What is his shoe size?
* What is his favorite pizza topping?
* Who was his favorite mission companion?
* What does he think is “your song”?
* What was the name of his first pet?
* Did he ever wear braces?
* Where is his birthmark?
* What is the year, make and model of his car?
* When was his last tune-up/oil change? (more…)

Tags: Bridal Showers, games