His And/Or Yours-How to Incorporate Children into the Ceremony

If you or your fiancé have children from a previous marriage or relationship, you’re certainly not alone. Blended families are so commonplace these days that it’s not unusual to see children from previous marriages take part in their parent’s wedding to someone new. Ideally, both the new partner and the child/children involved get along well; but even if that’s not the case, including children from another relationship in the wedding is a wonderful way for each side to reinforce positive feelings about the union and forge new bonds.

Be sure to include your children from the very beginning. Allow them to express themselves, both positively and negatively, so that they’re thoughts are heard and they feel a part of the plans. If you simply announce your intentions, you may be in for some difficult times. When children are invited to take part in your wedding, they’ll be more likely to accept a parent’s remarriage, and the partner who is “marrying into” the existing family will feel closer to the children by giving them an important role in the wedding festivities.

There are many such roles for children in your ceremony as well as your reception. Young children can be flower girls, junior bridesmaids or ring bearers; older children can be ushers, bridesmaids, maids/matrons of honor, male attendants or best men. If the wedding party is especially small—or if there is no wedding party—young children can simply join the wedding couple at the altar, and older children can give a reading, sing a song or play a musical piece. Children can also take part in candle-lighting or sand-blending ceremonies that emphasize the “joining together” aspect of the ceremony.

During the vows, children’s names can be added to the traditional service after the parent’s name(s), so that the partner saying the vow is pledging to accept not just the partner but his or her children, as well. Also, consider incorporating an inside joke or story about an event that involved the child and will have special meaning to him or her. Silly or poignant times that you have experienced with the child make great anecdotes that you can add into the ceremony, whether spoken by you, your fiancé, the officiant or the child. They also make for welcome comic moments in what can be an otherwise solemn occasion.

Another option is for the individual “marrying in” to address a short speech to the child, turning toward him and looking him in the eye while expressing heartfelt sentiments about your life together as a family. This usually works best in more intimate gatherings, but even a brief reference to the future—addressed directly to the child—is appropriate in larger groups. If you and your fiancé will be holding hands and facing each other at any time during the ceremony, a child of almost any age can take charge of your bouquet and hand it back to you once that part of the ceremony is over. And having children in the receiving line is also a nice gesture of inclusion.

I’ve attended many weddings where children took part in the ceremony, and it’s always a lovely, spirit-lifting moment. On one occasion, five children—all under the age of twelve—joined their respective parents in a gazebo that was perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. After the minister pronounced the couple husband and wife, the bride and groom solemnly handed each child a necklace bearing a gold Family Medallion*. Each parent promised to cherish the children and provide them with a loving home. After a group hug, the bride, groom, and children stood facing the (damp-eyed) guests, and the minister presented the new family!

The reception offers other natural opportunities to include children, such as in posing a toast, having father/daughter or mother/son dances or introducing the newly married couple. If possible and appropriate, you and your fiancé should seat your children at the head table with you. They can also be a part of the cake-cutting ceremony or perform a rehearsed dance routine for the guests—which the wedding couple may wish to be a part of as well.

Whatever manner you choose to include your children into your ceremony, be sure to coordinate your wishes with your officiant, who will certainly be helpful with your plans. Including your children will make them feel important and help foster the idea that marriage is not just about joining a husband and a wife, but creating a new family!

Simply opening up the communication, filling children in on decisions made and asking for their opinion during the planning stages will help pave the way for a smooth-running, joyous wedding and the start of a special life together as an expanded family.

To know more about wedding planning and to get new ideas about organizing your wedding, visit Wedding Location.com.

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Crystal Bridal Jewelry Sets

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10 Ways to Accessorize a Flower Girl Dress

1 – It is all about the Dress
At your wedding, your flower girls main job is to look adorable. From head to toe, they need to look stunning, of course, not as good as the bride, but fairly close. The flower girl’s dress is a major aspect of the wedding, and not too many accessories should be needed for this dress.

You should not focus on the accessories for the dress but rather on selecting a design that on its own can stand out and receive a lot of attention. It should be bold enough to make a statement as is and in this way, no matter what is accompanying the outfit, the dress still looks fabulous.

2 – Adding accessories
Even if your flower girl’s dress is as beautiful as ever, but as the bride, you may still feel the need to spruce it up with some extras accessories. The second way of accessorizing a flower girl dress is a simple yet elegant technique, which requires a ribbon.

The ribbon should be a similar color to the dress and if your flower girl is going to be wearing white, you may want to consider the main color of your wedding theme. This ribbon can be placed around the flower girl’s waist. It looks sweet and shows that classic little girl softness.

3 – Another possible accessory
If you do not want to use a ribbon, a brooch is another excellent option to consider for the flower girl. Adding a shiny brooch can also complete a look. The brooch does not have to be something huge and overbearing but can be something small with a little sparkle or one can even pin a material flower to the dress.

4 – Adorn with jewelry

Jewelry is also a great way to accessorize but try not to over do it. Adorning your flower girls with too much jewelry may not create the appropriate look and you may need to back to planning her accessories. The fourth way to accessorize a flower girl’s dress is by giving her small cute sparkle studs or hanging earrings. Avoid chandelier earrings; they may look too heavy. The idea is for the little one to remain cute and this can be best achieved with stud earrings. Keep it plain metal, stone or even a pearl makes for an elegant touch.

Little Girl’s Flower Charm Bracelet

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5 – Using armbands
When it comes to arm bands, they look adorable on little arms. If you do however choose to add a bracelet, make sure that your flower girl is wearing very little other jewelry. The fifth way to accessorize a flower girls dress is by allowing a medium size arm bangle or band. Try to keep it a solid metal and one is more than enough. The arm bracelet should not be too sparkly and charms should be avoided.

6 – Enhance the cute Factor
Another idea that makes a flower girl’s dress look cute is by adding angel or fairy wings. They are so much fun for kids and can make them feel extra special. Whether bordered with soft fur or sprayed with glitter, your flower girl should look like a little angel.

7 – Gloves
Another great way to accessorize little flower girl dresses is by adding gloves. The seventh tip includes incorporating something as classic as gloves. The appropriate length for a young girl is a short wrist-length hand glove as it looks pretty and is very comfortable. The gloves should be the same color as the dress, but a white is fine in either satin or lace.

8- Use a Jacket
The eighth way of accessorizing a dress for a flower girl is by adding a bolero jacket. Boleros come in an array of materials, and can be found in knits, lace, satins as well as faux fur and look very chic. It also serves a great purpose, as it can keep your little flower girls warm when it gets chilly.

9 – A hair statement
Hair is equally as important on your wedding day as the dress and one has to find suitable hairstyles for your flower girl to compliment her dress. The ninth accessory when it comes to a flower girl is a headpiece.

10 – Shoe issues
Shoes are a huge part of a flower girls look and are at number 10. Stick to white shoes, they are versatile and go with any color. A ballerina pump should do the trick but stay away from heels and slippery sandals. Remember to keep shoes as comfortable as possible as sore feet equal an unhappy flower girl.

Choosing a dress for the flower girl does not have to be a difficult task. You should consider the theme of the wedding along with the many choices of accessories. A few to consider are ribbons, hanging earrings and a brooch.

Lisa Parker is a freelance writer who writes about family and family events such as weddings, often focusing on one specific aspect of a wedding, such as flower girl dresses.

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Elegant Favor Ideas for Cocktail Wedding Receptions

Cocktail wedding receptions are the perfect choice for brides who want to save money yet still have a elegant wedding reception. Here is a collection of elegant favor ideas and accessories for cocktail wedding receptions to help the happy couple to say “Thank you” to their guest in style.

Irish Wedding Customs and Traditions

By Bridget Mora

More and more couples are deciding to honor their heritage when they plan their weddings. Brides and grooms whose families hail from the Emerald Isle will find that they have a wealth of traditions from which to choose. These are some of the wonderful Irish wedding customs that you can include in your own nuptials.

Jewelry often symbolizes the beginning of an engagement as well as the start of a marriage, so this is where we will begin. The claddagh ring is a traditional and beloved Irish symbol and is often a part of a couple’s bridal jewelry. It is a design consisting of three parts, each of which has a special meaning. There is a pair of hands, symbolizing friendship, a crown for loyalty, and a heart for true love. The claddagh is a very popular choice for Irish wedding bands, and the motif is often used in other parts of the wedding, such as the invitations.

Many of the Irish wedding traditions have to do with good luck, and there are a few very easy ones that any bride can use. It is said that whenever the bride wears her bridal jewelry, especially her wedding earrings, that it will bring her good luck all day. Another custom is that the bride should never put on her own veil on the day of her wedding; rather, she should have a happily married woman do it for her. It is also said that rain on your wedding day is lucky, which is a good thing for brides who live in rainy Ireland!

Catholic weddings are the most common type amongst the Irish, but there is an old Celtic ritual that may interest Americans wishing to bring a touch of Ireland to their wedding day. This rite is called handfasting, and it is actually the origin of the phrase “tie the knot”. The bride and groom would stand facing one another with their hands crossed and clasped in front of them. A ribbon is then bound around their wrists, tying them together with an infinity symbol. In ancient times, this ceremony was done during the harvest festival, but couples who would like to use a traditional Celtic rite in their weddings now practice handfasting at any time of the year.

Food and drink are important at any wedding, and this is certainly true of the Irish. One lovely tradition to include in your wedding is the Irish wedding cake. It is usually a rich fruit cake, which is beautifully frosted in white. The top layer is supposed to be filled with Irish whiskey and saved for the Christening of the first baby. You can consider having your wedding cake frosted with traditional Irish designs, such as a basketweave texture, or even shamrocks. If your baker does not have the recipe for the Irish wedding cake, you can easily find it online.

Irish weddings are big festive parties, and the ceremony and formal reception are only the beginning. After the reception, it is customary to invite guests to an open house to continue celebrating. The hosts generally provide music and light fare, and the guests bring the Irish whiskey. After that, the party keeps going, as the younger guests will head out to a club to dance the night away.

Weddings that last many hours or even days are actually very common in many parts of Europe, so if you are planning to attend a wedding in Ireland, be prepared for a lot of fun! And when everyone raises their glasses to toast the newlyweds, be sure to call out, “Slainte!”, a traditional Irish cheer meaning “to good health”.

Ask Bridget for advice in areas of jewelry or weddings. She writes numerous articles providing information for the customers of Silverland Jewelry.com. A beautiful set of bridal jewelry will become your favorite jewelry to wear year after year.

How to Barter Your Way to Your Dream Wedding

by Bridget Mora

Money is tight these days, and yet every bride still has a vision of the perfect wedding day. Before you resign yourself to doing without or going into debt, consider a third option. The old fashioned idea of bartering has become increasingly popular lately, and it can be a great way to have the wedding of your dreams on a tight budget.

When we think of bartering, most of us probably imagine that it is something that happened in olden times. One farmer exchanges 20 chickens for 2 goats at the local market, that sort of thing. The truth is, though, that the barter system is alive and well in modern times, and its resurgence has been fueled in part by the internet. As couples look for ways to trim their wedding expenses or to afford something special that they otherwise would not be able to, bartering starts to look like a very smart idea.

The basic concept of bartering for your wedding is that you find vendors who are willing to offer their services in exchange for a service or item of equal value that you provide. In order for the barter to work, the bride and groom will have something of real value to offer in trade. It could be almost anything, from house painting to maid services to graphic design work to yoga instruction to dentistry.

This type of barter stands the best chance of success if the bride or groom is a professional in the field. In other words, if your husband owns a carpentry business, you might be able to find a florist who would be happy to barter her services in exchange for a custom built cabinet. On the other hand, just as you only want to hire someone qualified to provide your wedding services, vendors are only going to be interested in bartering with someone equally qualified. It is all well and good if you are a creative and crafty person, but that does not mean that a professional is going to be willing to exchange services with an amateur.

Goods can also be exchanged as part of a barter, or it could be a mixture of goods and services. For instance, a graphic designer could make new business cards in exchange for jewelry for her wedding. Or maybe the artist who makes the wedding jewelry would prefer a swap for the groom’s guitar. These types of swaps can be a little more difficult than the exchange of professional services, as it is harder to put a price on goods that you already own. However, it can work, and is an option when you do not have any services to offer prospective vendors.

There are a few key points to keep in mind when setting up a barter for your wedding services. The most important is that you should treat the barter just as you would any other vendor that you hire. In other words, only book a photographer or florist that you would if you were paying cash for their services. Also, the terms of the barter should be formalized in a written contract, including firm deadlines for the delivery of the goods and services on both sides of the barter. Of course, the terms of the deal need to be fair and equal. A good way to ensure this is to go through one of the online barter services. Last but not least, if you are exchanging your professional services for those of a vendor, you may owe income taxes, so check with your accountant.

Bartering is definitely a system on the rise, making it easier than ever to find partners. It can be a terrific way to afford a wedding that would otherwise be out of reach. The barter system may just be the ticket to your dream wedding.

Ask Bridget for advice in areas of jewelry or weddings. She writes numerous articles providing information for the customers of Silverland Jewelry.com. Wedding jewelry is the perfect finishing touch for the bride and her bridesmaids. It also makes a wonderful gift.

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Plantable Wedding Invitations – Beautiful, Practical, and Eco Friendly

By Deb Rosenberg

Eco Friendly Weddings are fast becoming a popular choice for green-minded couples. The conscious efforts they undertake when planning their weddings include such things as: choosing floral arrangements and centerpieces that were grown ‘pesticide-free’, serving a mainly ‘organic’ meal (using as many organic and local ingredients as possible), and handing out eco friendly favors (tree seed favors, as an example).

Something you can do at the start of your planning that will let your guests know that you are eco conscious is to send out plantable wedding invitations. Not only will they serve as very beautiful invitations – they are actually ‘small gifts of nature’ to your guests. When planted they will provide your guests with a colorful array of wildflowers. And since many of the plantable invitations I’ve seen are embedded with, at least in part, perennial wildflowers – it is a gift that keeps on giving in years to come.

Your choices for eco friendly wedding invitations are constantly expanding so make sure you do a bit of searching to find the perfect one that captures your feelings. This could include the color of the invitation, the images that grace the invitation, the color of the ink etc. Each of these elements helps you to ‘personalize’ the invitation with your sense of style and taste. And remember to check to see if the invitations are printed on 100% post-consumer waste, seeded embedded plantable paper.

Debra Rosenberg is a party planner and owns Diva Entertains and recommends these Plantable Wedding Invitations and plantable favors.

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