Planning Your Perfect Wedding – Wedding Planners Know What to Ask When Planning Your Perfect Wedding
by Ann Keeler Evans

Wedding planning often brings fears and problems shooting to the surface. Sibling rivalries, family splits, choices between friends, and oh, yeah, money! During the incredible stress you and your partner may find yourself fighting about all sorts of things you had no idea were issues. Yuck.

One of the ways to surface some of those issues is working with a wedding planning professional. Your wedding planner has seen this all before. They know a lot of the wedding pitfalls and are going to help you through them before you blindly crash into them. Preparedness and prevention do a lot to make things run more smoothly.

• Your WP knows the hard questions that come up because your WP has helped couples not just plan weddings but navigate the personal and familial issues that show up.
• Your WP will have good solutions (or management) for some of these problems because they’ve helped other brides and grooms deal with the issues.
• Your WP is resourceful and they’re invested in handling issues well. If there’s something that you want to do or run into, they’re going to want to figure it out because they’ll use it again. Your problems are part of their profit and ongoing business development.
• Because your WP has dealt with problems before, they’re going to be planning ahead. They don’t want you fussing and fuming at parents, attendants or your beloved. They want you to have a wonderful time planning your wedding.
• Your WP knows the flow of the planning process. They’re going to get you working on the things that will get you through to the wedding you’re . They know when you need to start working on the wedding ceremony and when it’s time to work on flowers. You’re not going to get to the end and say, “oh wow, why didn’t my bridal consultant tell me I should think about wedding vows,” because your bridal consultant knows that wedding ceremonies need wedding vows so that you can be married at the end of your wedding ceremony. They know you need a dress, and flowers, and tuxes and food at the reception.
• Your WP loves doing this. This is a chosen profession. So while you’re agonizing over details that you didn’t know you’d agreed to when one of you offered and the other said yes, he or she is willing to help, because they think weddings and wedding planning are special and wonderful.

It’s always a good idea when you do something to have experts who are passionate about their work on your team. If you find you can’t afford a wedding planner and don’t want to cut back on something else to get one, choose the books that are written by people who do this every day. They’re going to have the pragmatic advice you need to get you from “I’d love to marry you” to the end of your fabulous wedding reception (and even through the thank you notes!). Do everything you can to give yourself support through this process! And when you’re done, you’ll have developed processes for working on hard questions. Not a marriage around that can’t use that support!

Bachelorette Party Ideas & Planning
by Denise Bergeron

As the wedding approaches, there is only one thing that the bride looks forward to more than walking down the aisle to meet her beloved – the bachelorette party!

The matron of honor is responsible for this night of fun and excitement for the soon-to-be bride. When properly planned, it will be one of those nights that will live on forever in the happy memories of everyone who attends. But where do you begin? What kind of bachelorette party will be a fitting send-off for your friend as she enters the married world?

The bachelorette party is as individual as the engagement ring. Every woman likes something different, and that’s what you should offer – something she loves, a night that will go down in her history book as being the most wonderful thing you could have planned for her.

What does your friend like to do? If she loves to get manicures and days at the spa, consider scheduling a weekend of pampering for her before the big day. All the girls will be there – no men allowed! – and you will all indulge in facials, massages, cleansing treatments and makeovers. It will be the perfect way to bond with the bridal party.

If she’s more into the club scene, consider a pub crawl. Start out at one bar with a light drink, dance a bit, chat up some of the handsome men – with the understanding that nobody goes home with any of them! – and then move on to the next bar on your list. Make sure to hire a limousine to do all the driving, so the bride and all her friends can party to their heart’s content.

If she’s more low-key, consider a dinner crawl. Start at a small bistro for appetizers, have soup at that quaint little shop downtown, move on to an entrée at the hottest restaurant, and spring for dessert at the local café. You can even get after-dinner drinks at the ritzy bar down the street. The food will be varied, the conversation lively, and the evening one the bride won’t soon forget.

If you’re staying in for the evening, rent a hotel suite or simple decorate someone’s house to herald the big day. Invite everyone to bring their favorite dish and plan on having a big dinner together on the deck. Have a slumber party with all the girls while you watch sappy movies and drink homemade margaritas. Paint each other’s nails like you used to when you were kids. Listen to loud music and dance on the mattresses at four in the morning. Let her act like a teenager again!

The more creative the bachelor party, the more fun it will be for the blushing bride. Make sure you give her a send-off that will make everyone blush for years to come!

Wedding Ceremony – 9 Ways to Personalize Your Wedding Ceremony
by Cori Russell

Hey – it’s all about you; take back your ceremony! It is a ritual – time honored and sacred – but that does not mean your wedding ceremony has to be like every other…yawn. Of course, some couples choose to be extremely original and opt for exchanging vows on a roller coaster, while bungee jumping or even dressed as trekies. I say – good for them for such uninhibited displays of originality. But even if you prefer a more traditional and “scream-free” wedding ceremony, you can still add a touch of personality.

A Scenic Location

Not every wedding ceremony must take place in a house of worship. Outdoor locations and other unique ceremony sites can make for ceremonies that are both spiritual and memorable.

A Refreshing Welcome

Welcome and refresh your guests by serving lemonade, iced tea or water. It’s a nice touch, and your guests will appreciate the gesture. Depending on the season or nature of your wedding, you can use your refreshment of choice to tie in the theme or style of the day.

Personalized Pew/Row Decorations

Who says your ceremony decorations must be floral? How about draping framed photographs of the bride and groom tied with ribbon over the ends of each row?

Customized Programs

Summer brides – how about ceremony programs in the shape of a fan? Beach brides – use a shell or small piece of drift wood as a weight, and place programs on each guests’ chair before arrival. You get the idea…Or keep the shape and style traditional, and include a personal letter or poem to add some interest to this often overlooked detail.

The Grand Entrance

There are other ways to make your entrance beyond the traditional march with your father. Ride in on a horse…. Or be escorted by both parents, a close uncle, brother, friend-even a pet!

Monogrammed Aisle Runner

You will know this is your ceremony while walking down the isle on a runner personalized with your monogram or logo.

Beyond “Here Comes the Bride”

If walking down the isle to the same song as thousands of brides before you doesn’t sound appealing, let your favorite tune can’t make a memorable substitute!

Gender Bend the Bridal Party

Who says your maid of honor must be a “maid?” If your best pal happens to be a guy, have a “man of honor.” Same goes for the best man; there’s no reason why there can’t be a “best woman.”

Write your own Wedding Vows, Readings, Poems etc.

Nothing puts that special personalized stamp on a ceremony quite like vows and readings prepared by the bride and groom themselves. These spoken words expose your mind and your heart to each other and to your audience. Get started with a guide to writing your wedding vows

Wedding Reception Rentals Guide
by Cori Russell

When you book your reception site, be sure that you understand what’s included in the rental fee. Each venue is different, so you have to clarify with the site manager which items the venue provides and which wedding rentals you must provide. (this list of questions to ask your wedding reception site will help you determine what’s included) As always, make sure that everything you have agreed upon is put in writing. Depending on the venue – and the type of reception you’re planning – you may need to supply some, if not all the items listed below.

Wedding Rentals Checklist

Tables

Here’s a breakdown of the types of tables you may need:

Guest Tables -

36-inch rounds seat 4-6 guests.

48-inch rounds seat 6-8 guests

60-inch rounds seats 8-10 guests.

6 ft rectangle seats about 8 guests

Cake Table(s) -

Appropriate size depends on size of cake, whether you’ll also have a groom’s cake, and whether you’ll display both cakes on the same or separate tables. 48-inch round usually works well

Head Table -

Seats bridal party. Often consists of rectangular tables placed end-to-end.

Sweetheart Table – in place of head table, small table that seats the bride and groom while the rest of the wedding party sits at guest tables.

Buffet Tables -

If you have decided on a buffet dinner, you’ll need to arrange several food stations, such as meet carving, etc. (Buffet tables may be provided by the catering company.)

Gift Table -

Size depends on the number of guests you are expecting.

Guest Book Table -

A small table for your reception guest book.

Chairs

For a seated dinner or buffet, you will need to provide seating for all reception guests. For a buffet style cocktail reception you may able to get away with enough chairs for half or more of the total number of guests. You may need to rent or purchase chair covers separately. High chairs for children should be available from rental companies.

Linens and Chair covers

Linens and Chair covers may be included with the rented tables and chairs, or you may need to source them elsewhere.

Tableware

For a formal sit-down reception, tables are usually set with complete place settings. At a buffet reception where guests serve themselves, plates and silverware may be located at the buffet table.

Tent

A large tent or canopy may be required for receptions held outdoors to protect you and your guests from the sun or rain.

Options: Tents and canopies come in different sizes and colors. A smaller tent (20-by-20 feet) will accommodate about 40 guests at a sit-down dinner. A 20-by-40 about 200, and a 60-by-100 about 500 or more. Depending on the shape of your reception area, you may need to rent several smaller canopies rather than one large one. Contact several party rental suppliers to discuss the options.

Take pictures of the site for references for your tent rental company. Although they should survey the facility themselves before they set up the tent, the pictures are a good reference for them when you first set up an appointment.

Heaters/Air Conditioners

You may need to rent heaters if your reception will be held outdoors and if the temperature may drop below sixty-five degrees. There are electric and gas heaters, both of which come in different sizes. Gas heaters are more popular since they do not have unsightly and unsafe electric cords. In warmer climates, portable AC units may be rented for outdoor events.

Dance Floor

The size of your dance floor will depend on how many guests you expect. They can range from 12 by 12 feet up to 20 by 30 feet or larger. Get some graph paper and make a floor plan, and bring this to you when you visit your rental company.

Visit this complete wedding rentals guide for a printable checklist you can file and keep with you to manage your rentals.

Warming Hearts With Cool Winter Wedding Favors and Christmas Wedding Favors
by Aaron Y Hu

Getting married is a special occasion by any standard a person wants to set. For brides, the wedding day is supposed to be the most beautiful and special event of their lives to date. Many people work together to make this happen. Others make it so just by being present at the blessed event. When a bride chooses to marry in the winter, she wants to ensure that the wedding favors chosen to give out as thank you gifts for her guests are special enough to let them know she is feeling serious gratitude. Winter wedding favors and Christmas wedding favors are available that will convey this message in a manner that is guaranteed to warm hearts.

Winter weddings take place at a time of year that is normally not associated with warmth. Cold themes, such as snowflakes, are quite beautiful though. The decorations that are chosen for the wedding, even though associated with cold things, can lend a very warm and inviting atmosphere and a splendor to the day that is sure to warm any heart. Falling snow is one such thematic element that, when done properly, can lend a special warmth and sense of falling in love to the occasion. Winter wedding favors and Christmas wedding favors can be purchased that will fit into this theme seamlessly and are guaranteed to warm even the coldest hearts of the guests.

Another way to warm hearts and create fond memories of a winter wedding is by giving away mugs with specially chosen selections of coffees, teas, or hot cocoa mixes. The mugs can be personalized with the names of the couple and the date of the wedding to make these winter wedding favors or Christmas wedding favors even more special. Either way, the warmth of the gift at a cold time of year will evoke fond memories of the wedding and reception that are sure to bring a special warmth to the hearts of all the guests.

Some very special people should receive even more special selections of winter wedding favors or Christmas wedding favors. The members of the wedding party, bridesmaids and groomsmen, the ringbearer, and the flower girl have contributed a great deal of themselves to making this a special day for the couple. These people deserve a very special selection of winter wedding favors and/or Christmas wedding favors as thanks for their contributions. A great selection of especially heartwarming winter wedding favors or Christmas wedding favors is available to fill this need.

Winter may be the coldest time of year, but a wedding can make it seem especially warm. Choosing from a selection of heartwarming winter wedding favors and Christmas wedding favors can add a certain warmth to the occasion that will be remembered by the guests for a long time to come. These special gifts are a small touch that will make a large impression. Thematic elements, such as falling snowflakes, and warming gifts, like teas, coffees, and cocoas are special varieties of winter wedding favors and Christmas wedding favors that can be considered extremely heartwarming.

Affordable Wedding Idea – Memorable Cheap Wedding Invitations
by Janet Verra

After you determine who should be invited in your wedding, you should need to know how you are going to invite them. A good choice of wedding invitation should fit in with the main theme and formality of your wedding celebration. Your wedding invitations are your little notes that gives impression to your guests about your wedding. These little notes can be expensive, but you don’t have to spend a lot of dollars to just to show off the theme and formality of the most memorable day of your life.

Yes, you can find tons of wedding invitations in stationary stores as well as online resources. If you are one of those who have tight wedding budget, you can have inexpensive wedding invitations from such places. Or, you could always opt to craft your own, which is becoming more popular today. Do-it-yourself invitation kits are available in many craft stores. Explore all these options and go with the one that best fits your style and budget. If possible, use the same kind of stationary for everything in your wedding. You can do this by ordering everything at one time and make sure you order some extras.

Invitations are usually sold in increments of twenty-five or fifty. If you would like to make your own, purchase extra paper, velum envelopes and others that you might need in creating them. Making your own invitations is not as expensive as store-buy ones.

However, if you opt to create your own wedding invitations, you should also consider some issues you might be facing when choosing your invitations or browsing for them around. Do some checking, look at the weight of the paper, the shade, font and size of wording, size of the invitations and their envelopes, and their overall feature, postage restrictions and costs.

You may consider the idea of online shopping. Many online stores can offer you wedding invitations for half the price or more of what you will pay at your local stationary stores. Even if you don’t have a plan of buying them over the Internet, you can gather ideas from different websites, or you can compare prices. After all, the Internet has been always a life-saver as well as a money-saver not only once. Decide what you will be purchasing and including with your invitation. There is no wrong way, but usually most brides order invitations, inner and outer envelopes, a reception card, response cards and response card envelopes. Other options include place cards, and accommodation information cards, and sometimes bridal registry cards.

Apart from wedding invitations, you can also cut cost of your other wedding supplies such as you wedding decorations, outfits, favor, food and wedding gifts. Just like own-made invitations, you can also make your own wedding favors and decorations. However if your running out of time, there are always affordable wedding favors available also on the Internet. Or, instead of buying expensive wedding gifts for your attendants, choose inexpensive bridesmaids gifts like bridesmaids tote bags, compact mirrors or picture frames. Do the same thing when searching for groomsmen gifts.

How to Look Beautiful in Your Wedding Photographs
by Juhlin Youlien

Wedding preparations for you Phoenix dream wedding is all set. Every single detail from hiring your wedding photography Phoenix to the wedding favors is all taken cared of. Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life and the greatest way to remember this once in a lifetime event is through your wedding photographs. Naturally, you would want to look like a beautiful and blushing bride in each and every photo. It is essential you devote extra attention to your skin, hair and make up. Here are some tips to make sure you look radiant and flawless on your big day.

• The most important thing to consider to achieve beautiful weddings photographs is to hire a professional wedding photographer. An experienced photographer will give amazing images which will last you a lifetime.

• You should avoid tight curls and complicated hairstyles. This will look unnatural in photos. Keep it simple and elegant. If you are planning to wear a dramatic veil for your walk down the aisle, look for a style where you can detach some part of it during the reception.

• Do not be afraid to experiment with your eyeshadow. You do not need to follow any kind of rule. Use a light shade shadow at the inner corner of your eyes if you want to create an illusion of bigger eyes. Then apply a darker shade of eyeshadow at the center of your lids.

• It is important that you wear waterproof mascara. You will never know if you will get teary eyed in your big day. Black mascara will surely run and leave unflattering raccoon eyes. You should also encourage everybody in the wedding entourage to use waterproof mascara to avoid smudging.

• You will need a good foundation. The technique is to put moisturizer first to prime your skin. Apply a matte foundation, then a concealer. Dust powder foundation using a brush.

• Carefully fix a smudged eye make-up. You should be very cautious in fixing a smudged eye make up because if you smudge it more then you might have to wipe it off completely and start all over again.

• Bridal make up should look soft and romantic. Using natural pinks will make you look like a blushing bride. Lipsticks should also stick to pinks and brownish pinks.

• Bring a small pouch that matches your wedding gown. This will hold your pressed powder, lipstick and blush when you need to retouch before the reception.

• Remember to prevent breakouts on your face. Even if you are tired preparing for your wedding day, you should always remember to wash your face twice a day and don’t forget to remove makeup before going to bed.

• Instruct the wedding photographer to take pictures right after the ceremony when everybody’s makeup is still intact. You can also opt for black and white photos to create a soft and romantic feel to the images.

And lastly, the most important advice on how to look beautiful in your wedding photos is to enjoy your special day. The sincere happiness and contentment you feel on your wedding will surely shine through your wedding photography Phoenix. Always remember that regardless of what you wear, a woman’s beauty comes from within.

Planning Your Dream Wedding on a Budget
by Juhlin Youlien

Having the perfect wedding day is every girl’s fantasy. It is one of the most important days of your life and of course you want to make it special and memorable. Contrary to what they say in magazines you do not need to splurge to achieve this dream. There are so many ways that you can do to work on a tight budget. But staying on a cheaper note does not mean you have to give up on sentimentality or fashion. It means you have to use your imagination and originality to come up with ideas to make your wedding an unforgettable one.

The first step is to prioritize and focus on the things you want to attain. When planning a wedding, coming up with a good checklist is a smart strategy. It is an essential part in organizing all of the work to be done beforehand. It is easy for time and money to get away once you have started the preparations and a good checklist will keep this all under control. Here are some guidelines which you can consider in planning that perfect day with a budget in mind.

• Wedding gown. There are two ways to save money on your wedding dress, it’s either you buy your gown “off the rack” or hire a dressmaker to make it for you. Check out bridal sales at places like Bridal boutiques because they usually offer gowns at a much lesser price. But if you plan to hire a professional dressmaker, remember that price and quality may vary considerably. To get a great deal, it is much better to hire a more expensive dressmaker but decide on a much simpler fabric and detailing for the gown.

• Accessories. You should decide on to making your own headpieces and wedding accessories. Books are available in the market with a mixture of different patterns.

• Cake. Choosing cupcakes as a substitute for a wedding cake is a good idea. It can be arranged in a three-tiered cake tray and decorated with color icings and sprinkles to match your theme.

• Videography. An important professional priority in any wedding is wedding videography. If your budget is really tight, then a good option is to hire a videography student. They are usually creative and will do a great job for much less than a professional.

• Reception Hall. Consider having the wedding reception in your backyard if the yard is big enough and the weather permits it. Set up a few canopies or tarpaulins in the possibility of rain.

• Flowers. Choose flowers varieties which will be in season at the time of the wedding. You should also explore other ideas in decorating the church and reception area. Use scented candles, balloon bouquets and inexpensive live plants.

• Rings. Jewelry stores usually offer a variety of low cost golden rings with the type you are looking for. Sometimes, they also hold clearance sales for rings.
Wedding planning on a limited budget can be stressful and overwhelming. You have to remember so many things at once that it can also be a little confusing at times. Although this may happen, do not let yourself caught up in the all the drama of choosing the right gown or wedding videography to match your style. Take a deep breath and just keep in mind all of these guidelines and you will have a wedding you’ve always dreamed of.