Archive for July, 2010
Thursday, July 29th, 2010
Wedding centerpieces are traditionally made of flowers and while lovely, they can also be expensive and won’t necessarily have your personal style or creative touch. Here are some wedding centerpiece ideas that you can use to put your personal stamp on your most important day.
By the Book
Are you and your fiancé avid readers? Artfully arrange hardcover books from your favorite authors to give guests a hint of your interests and to prompt conversation. Or have fun going to new and used book stores and finding a collection of classic love stories to display as your centerpiece. Add a little sparkle by highlighting your collection with tea lights.
Picture This
Show your guests your journey of romance through a series of framed photos of you and husband. Another option would be to show off photos of you and your guests at past gatherings. This will not only charm them but it will also be a great conversation piece for your guests and their table mates as they share stories about the photos.
Art Gallery
Do you, your fiancé or family member paint or draw? Now is a great time to have a gallery showing of your smaller pieces framed and set on the table as a centerpiece or suspend your larger framed works of art from the ceiling. Another way to show your love of art is by purchasing framed prints of your favorite artists’ works. You can frame actual prints or you can buy postcard or note cards featuring much-loved prints or purchase books that showcase these artists’ collections and cut, frame and exhibit copies of their work.
Dining by Candlelight
Select a collection of pillar candles in varying heights or have fun going to yard sales, thrift stores, flea markets and tag sales to buy a collection of candlesticks in a variety of shapes and sizes to hold an array of taper candles. And if you want to add a little colorful punch, tuck in some flowers into your arrangements or select an assortment of candles in your wedding colors.
Simply Sculptured
Lovely pieces of sculpture can make stunning and unique wedding centerpieces. Whether they are made of plaster, pottery, marble and/or wood, these elegant or charming pieces will tell much about your style and interests.
While you can certainly use flowers, consider showing your unique flair with one of our wedding centerpiece ideas. These are non-traditional pieces that will add personalized style into your table’s center of attention.
Tags: Wedding Centerpiece Ideas, Wedding Centerpieces
Posted in Planning a Wedding, Wedding Ideas | Add a comment »
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
 If you want to have a destination wedding with a tropical feel but without the hassle and expense of you and your guests getting passports to your island getaway, if you’re a United States citizen, you’re in luck. There are numerous tropical islands that await your wedding.
Passport to Your Wedding
While having a passport is always a good investment because it’s an almost-universally accepted form of identification throughout the world that’s valid for ten years, there is an excellent chance that some of your guests might not have one.
By choosing one of these getaways, all you and your guests may need to travel is a copy of a valid birth certificate and/or a government-issued form of picture identification such as a driver’s license. Check with your destination’s tourism website or your travel agent to determine what identification is required to arrive and/or leave the locale.
Living Here, Marrying There
Most of these destinations won’t require that you arrive early to establish residency (from a few days to a week or more at some other island getaways), but most will necessitate that you acquire your wedding license before your arrival.
However, this easily can be done by completing the forms and filing payment online which will take away the hassle and expense of the extra days needed at many other islands to establish residency to qualify for a marriage license.
Aloha!
What could be more romantic than having your wedding on one of the beautiful islands of Hawaii? Island breezes, spectacular volcanoes and mountains, exquisite settings, luxury resorts and stunning beaches await you.
Yes, Hawaii can be quite expensive, but if you consider that you’ll likely have far fewer guests traveling to your wedding and you’re already at your honeymoon site, chances are you can have a lovely Hawaiian wedding for about what a traditional wedding would cost on the mainland.
Pretty Puerto Rico
The U.S.-owned island of Puerto Rico brings you the flavor of the Caribbean with a decidedly Latin beat. From its miles of lush tropical beaches, incredible Spanish-inspired cuisine, luxury resorts and the splendor and history of Old San Juan, what more could you want from your destination wedding and honeymoon site?
Tropical Retreats
Chances are that as you’ve been researching possible island destination wedding locales, you’ve looked at the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St.Croix and St. John).
All of these islands are not only popular destination wedding and honeymoon sites, they are also a possession of the United States. So if you’re an American citizen, you won’t need a passport to enjoy a Caribbean getaway at these islands.
Other U.S.-owned commonwealths and territories that are lesser-known and more private include American Samoa, Baker Island, Howland Island, Guam, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, and Palmyra Atoll.
In Part II of this series, you’ll learn about other popular and even more affordable U.S. island destination wedding getaways that you can get to by car, boat or air. Check out this and other tips about destination wedding planning in the category in the top right column above.
Looking for the perfect gift to give the traveling bride, maid of honor, or bridesmaid? Consider our best gift idea: amazing monogrammed bags. An assortment of personalized, beautiful and useful travel accessories.
Tags: destination wedding planning, Destination weddings
Posted in Destination weddings | Add a comment »
Sunday, July 18th, 2010
 If you’re not used to speaking in public, you may think that one of the most nerve-wracking duties of being the maid or matron of honor is giving a speech or a toast at the reception. However, with the tips you’ll learn here, you’ll be able to be prepared and relaxed.
It Will Be Over in a Minute or Two
Maid of honor speeches are generally given after the best man gives his toast. If written correctly, the best man speech focused primarily on the groom, just as yours should specifically be directed toward your relationship with the bride. Most of all, since toasts are often plentiful at weddings, guests will appreciate it if you keep your speech to less than two minutes
Go for a Giggle or a Grin
You don’t have to be a stand-up comedian but if you can inject a little humor, especially at the beginning your toast, everyone will love it. For instance, if you’re sisters or roommates, you might say something like, “I’m not losing a sister/roommate, I’m gaining more closet space.” The best man probably went for the big laughs; unless you’re genuinely a funny person, you only need to make people smile.
Be Gracious
Thank the bride and groom for letting you be such a big part of their special day. Don’t forget to thank the bride’s and/or groom’s parents as hosts of the reception if they paid for any part of the wedding. Also thank the guests for coming and tell the other bridal attendants how much you enjoyed going on this journey with them and the bride.
Make it Personal…But Not Too Personal
It’s important that you speak from your heart and share a sweet story or two about why you and the bride are close and how important she is to you. However, never relate something about the bride’s past relationships or anything else that could remotely embarrass her. And be sure to say something complimentary and encouraging to the groom as well.
When In Doubt, Write it Out
Very few people can give a toast off the cuff. It’s much better to take the time to write out your speech and put it on note cards. This will help you to keep your nerves in control or prevent you from blathering on.
Practice Makes Perfect
You don’t want to read your speech word for word but you do want to be so familiar with it that you will only need to look at your notes periodically.
It’s also helpful to read your speech aloud to someone close to the bride to make sure that your speech works and isn’t offensive. Plus, by reading it out loud you’ll find that how you might phrase something on paper will be much different than how you would normally speak so it will give you a chance to make the necessary adjustments.
Stand and Be Clear
Never give your speech from a seated position. Just as your mother taught you, you should stand up straight. If you’re unfamiliar with public speaking, ask the bandleader or DJ before it’s your turn to speak for advice on how to hold the microphone or where you should stand.
Avoid the impulse to rush through your speech and be careful not to mumble. You also might want to consider hold off drinking any alcohol until after your speech so that you don’t inadvertently slur your words.
Wrap it Up
Wind up your toast with a line of poetry dealing with love or marriage, a favorite quote of the bride’s, or even a line or two from a song. Then ask the guests to raise their glasses with you to toast the bride and groom and take a sip and say, “Cheers!
Looking for more wedding tips? Browse through our categories above – our quality ranks with the best of wedding planning websites.
Tags: maid of honor speech, matron of honor speeches
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Wednesday, July 14th, 2010
In Part 1 of “Destination Weddings – Bright Lights, Big City” you learned about metropolitan locations as alternatives to island getaways. Here are a few more areas to consider when planning your destination wedding.
Hooray for Hollywood
Looking for star style and celebrity spotting? Then set your own wedding production in and around Los Angeles and Hollywood. Turn a corner and watch your favorite TV show being filmed or visit the location sites of well-known romantic movies. Feel like a member of the rich and famous when you travel down Rodeo Drive or drive over to Malibu for your star-style beach wedding. Make Southern California the home to your own theatrical wedding event.
San Francisco – Open Your Golden Gates
From Fisherman’s Wharf to Chinatown along San Francisco Bay you’ll find a wealth of beautiful locales and expansive vistas to enjoy. Gardens, rolling hills, historic hotels, fine dining, magnificent houses of worship, modern and historic skyscrapers and charming neighborhoods are around every corner. Arrive by trolley or rickshaw to your wedding and set the stage for a Frisco-style destination wedding.
For more rustic or artistic appeal, travel along the coast and host your wedding in the nearby Monterey, Carmel or Sausalito communities or head to Napa Valley where you’ll find stunning wineries, fabulous food, and breathtaking mountain views all in a one-of-a-kind setting.
The Deep South
From “Gone with the Wind”-style plantations to rustic retreats, the Deep South offers innumerable opportunities for your Scarlett O’Hara-style wedding dreams. There’s the southern hospitality of Charleston, or the singular splendor of New Orleans’ French Quarter.
Perhaps you prefer to go a little bit country in Nashville or visit the former home of Elvis at his Graceland estate in Memphis. Atlanta offers modern city style with old southern charm. You can get married by the bayou or while sailing along the Mississippi. Wherever you decide, southern style can be simply stunning.
Sunny South Florida
Come stay where the stars play on the beautiful white sandy shores of Miami Beach. You’ll find Art Deco-designed wedding and reception sites or the old world charm of Latin architecture.
From an authentic Spanish mission to luxury estates and world-class resorts, Miami is the in-country hot spot for trendy, formal, Latin or Caribbean style weddings. With the diversity that Miami offers, you’ll be able to mix a tropical wedding with city style.
Or take a short drive up the coast and plan your destination wedding sailing along the many waterways of the “Venice of the Americas” in Fort Lauderdale or drive a little further north and get married in one of the “old money” mansions or resorts of Palm Beach.
Get Married with Mickey or Orcas
Want a feel like a bridal princess at your wedding? Well look no further than Walt Disney World. With its many luxury resorts you can enjoy a wide variety of themed hotels all with the charm of your own modern day fairytale wedding. Orlando offers an immense array of hotels and destinations not limited to Mickey and Minnie and their friends but also the characters and movie settings of Universal Studios.
Another option, have a whale of a wedding when plan to get married at Sea World. As a world-renowned destination, Orlando will have a venue with a theme that suits any culture or budget making it not only the perfect place for your destination wedding but also a fun-filled and romantic honeymoon locale.
Tags: destination wedding planning, Destination weddings
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Saturday, July 10th, 2010
 Today with easy access to countless songs you would think that downloading your favorite hits and attaching your iPod to a set of speakers would eliminate the need for a DJ at your wedding, right? Well, before you make that decision, consider this.
What Does a DJ Do Anyway?
A professional DJ does more than just hit the play button of a set of songs. They act as the MC and music coordinator of your wedding.
They announce the bridal party, alert guests when it’s time for toasts and make sure you’re spotlighted when you do your first dance or when you dance with your parent or other special guests.
The DJ also will work with the catering staff to choose the right music at the right time so that guests can enjoy their meal with an appropriate soundtrack and make announcements when the various courses are being served so guests can return to their seats.
Let’s Get This Party Started!
A good DJ will also interact with your guests and distribute any party props (hats, horns, glow sticks, etc.) you may have chosen and lead your guests onto the floor if you’re tossing the bouquet and the garter.
If you’re doing line or ethnic dances, they may teach the guests the steps and encourage even your most shy guests to get on their feet.
The right professional disc jockey also can stir the crowd and get them excited but most of all, they’ll be able to read the crowd so they’ll know what type of music seems to appeal to your guests the most. That’s something that’s difficult to judge when you’re creating your own play list.
Uh-oh! What happened to the music?
As sound professionals, they’ll know the best place to set up their equipment to achieve the best acoustics for your room. And should a speaker break or there is other equipment failure, they’ll likely be able to resolve the issue quickly and/or have back-up equipment available.
When music is as important to your wedding’s success as it usually is, do you still think that an iPod, speakers and pre-determined play list is your best choice?
Looking for other wedding planning tips? Browse through our wedding categories above on the top right.
Tags: disc jockey, djs, ipods, wedding music
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Tuesday, July 6th, 2010
Most couples think of destination weddings taking place on an exotic island. But if you’re more of an uptown girl rather than a beach baby, consider holding your destination wedding in one of America’s major cities.
While lavish weddings are undoubtedly more costly in big cities, there are generally numerous venues and options available that will suit virtually any budget.
Big Apple Wedding
New York – the city that never sleeps – can be the ideal wedding location because it offers so many options. Whether you want to get married in one of the iconic hotels, walk down the aisle in Central Park, arrive by rickshaw or hansom cab, or get married in Chinatown and have your reception in Little Italy, New York City is the place to be.
If you’re on a small budget, take a tip from “Sex and the City’s” Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big and get married in the City’s legendary City Hall and then host a brunch or luncheon at one of the city’s more famous deli’s or trendy but affordable restaurants. Or take your small wedding group to one of its many skyscrapers with its unparallel vistas of New York to say, “I do.”
Perhaps you’d like to get married sailing along the Hudson and East River with the infamous New York City skyline and the Statue of Liberty as your backdrop. There are numerous sailing vessels that will enable you to do this.
Whatever you can dream you can find in New York City. From the Bowery to Broadway, from the Upper East Side to Tribeca, from SoHo to NoHo, there’s a New York City neighborhood that’s perfect for your wedding.
Windy City Wedding
Chicago is another great U.S. city that boasts an array of beautiful scenery and spectacular wedding sites. Whether your want the fun of city’s famous pier or you choose to have a beach wedding on Lake Michigan with the cityscape backdrop, Chicago offers a variety of settings to suit your style and budget. Like New York, Chicago is home to famous hotels, fascinating museums, world class dining and the city’s signature deep-dish pizza.
The Nation’s Capital
Washington, D.C. easily has some of the nation’s most recognizable landmarks for your patriotic wedding. Imagine your photos with the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial or The White House in the background.
Marry in springtime among the cherry blossoms or set your wedding in one of the city’s historic and elegant venues where many of history’s great have dined and danced. The District of Columbia has played host to virtually every world leader. Now it can play host to you and your fiancé as you become another legendary power couple.
Vegas, Baby!
If you’re looking for an extensive variety of entertainment options and remarkable venues for you and your guests, Las Vegas is the place. And there’s more choices of places to get married than the little chapels the town is famous for.
With a variety of themed resorts, you can get the feeling of being married in Paris, Rome, Venice, New York, Monte Carlo, Mandalay Bay, New York City or any number of other diverse-themed venues. Travel the world and through time in Las Vegas and yet never leave the Strip.
Look for more ideas for Destination Weddings in our Part 2 of Bright Lights, Big City. Or, browse any of our categories of wedding planning tips that interest you. Our list of categories are located at the top right of this page. Just click on any category to browse its tips.
Tags: destination wedding planning, Destination weddings
Posted in Destination weddings, Planning a Wedding | 1 Comment »
Friday, July 2nd, 2010
If you have not already read Part 1: Renting a Limousine for Your Wedding, you may want to start there first and then come back to this more detailed set of considerations. Like us, you probably have other questions. Lets get started! Here is our list . . .
Timing Counts
- When does the rental time start?
- Is it from the time the limo leaves the company or when it arrives at your home?
Little details – Nice or Musts?
- Does the vehicle(s) come equipped with appropriate heating and/or air conditioning?
- How will the driver(s) be dressed?
- Do they have a “Just Married” sign available or can you affix your own sign?
Company Quality
- How large is their fleet?
- Do they have a backup available on your wedding day if your vehicle breaks down?
- Can you reserve a specific vehicle so that you don’t have a “bait and switch” situation where you inspected one car but get one of lesser quality?
- How long has the company been in business?
- Can they provide you with references?
- Are they properly licensed and insured?
Any Extra Cost Options?
- Is the tip/gratuity/mileage included in the price or is there an extra charge?
- Are beverages available and is there an additional fee?
- Are tolls, if any, included in the fee?
With so many things to take into consideration, you can easily see why the lowest price isn’t always the ‘best deal’. Looking for more wedding planning tips? Browse this page or click on a category link or enter a topic into our search box (both are on the right side above).
Tags: limousine tips, Renting a Limousine
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