It was definitely a sigh of relief after the wedding dinner. A year or more of wedding planning certainly was no joke.
As much as we found it really enjoyable and stressful at the same time, we also realised it was the beginning of another long journey for us.
But who cares at that point in time. "Let's go for our honeymoon first" say most couples.
It was a time to relax and reward yourselves for a mega project completed.
There are some routines that some husbands and wives share with me.
A colleague of mine shared with me that she and husband will go for daily walk after their dinner without fail.
We are doing our best to go for walks at night too to find out more about each other's daily lives. And of course, it is a good chance for us to grumble and let out our negative energy.
Another friend of mine who was newly wed for a few months made it a point to go travelling once a year. Even though travelling can be quite common for locals, making the trips to become a yearly "honeymoon" certainly make those trips more meaningful.
This year, we went to Vietnam, Ho Chin Minh and next year perhaps to Cambodia, Laos and North Korea. How exciting!!!
A good friend of mine plans a yearly joint activity with his wife, be it cooking, dancing or jogging. On alternate year, they will do something that each of them enjoys. One year, he accompanied his wife to a flower-decor class.
I remembered I attended Hatha Yoga class with my wife last year and I was the only guy in the class beside the teacher. It was completely uncomfortable at first but I was doing it for my wife. This year, I attended Pilate. Not too bad as there was one more guy.
If you find going for long classes can be quite inconvenient to your work, you may want to delegate a day to be work-free.
This day is meant to be both you and your spouse to be together. It doesn't matter if both of you take your dinner at a posh restuarant or by the road chomping sandwiches.
There are many things to do such as going for a slow stroll in the city area, sitting by the river or people-watching. Two hours or more will suffice.
Again, I would like to stress that it is the quality, not quantity.
Planning a routine is easy. Execution of it is the challenging part. It takes lots of discipline to carry out what you have planned with your spouse.
A common excuse to postpone these committments is "no time" or "because of work".
Working no doubt is important, but your spouse is more important than work unless work is your spouse.
Thus, if you are guilty of spending more time at work rather than at home, you may want to consider planning a routine with your spouse.
In summary, these are the 3 routines you may want to plan with your spouse. 1. Daily routine such as a good chat before sleep 2. Weekly routine such as having dinner together 3. Yearly routine such as taking class together or going on a trip
About the Author
Jhong Ren runs My Wedding Blog- an online wedding diary that gives more than just the usual tips and advice on a daily basis. Check out http://www.romance-fire.com now and by all means leave us your comments, share some of your own wedding experiences.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Wedding Plans - Get It Right Before Dressing In White
One wedding plan quite often overlooked is, the actual preparation of the to-do list itself. If the to-do-list is not organized and itemised properly with all your wedding desires then you can expect last minute hiccups. This part of planning your wedding is the conclusion to a beginning. Meaning, now you have the list in order (finished), you can start the ball rolling.
To avoid any disappointment on your wedding day - prep friends and family in advance who have offered their services to help. To lighten the load you need to allot each person with a wedding task. You need to remind each helper after receiving their instructions that they need to report back with a progress report on how they are getting along with their assignments.
Wedding tasks may include ordering the wedding cake, ordering flowers from the florist, wedding cars to transport the bride, bridesmaid dresses, decorating the reception hall, arranging entertainment - right down to what hymns are sung in the church for the marriage service. All of these are wedding plans which are considerably important so therefore the reason why you need to be kept updated.
Do you the betrothed find you're self in a catch 22 situation i.e. worrying over having to ask others for help with your wedding arrangements, who you feel may give you reason for concern in not fulfilling their duties, or, are you worried if you don't because of all the pressure involved going it alone - so as to speak.
Unnecessary stress for any future bride before her wedding is not good. Okay so you need help, well, the first thing to do is pick family members and friends you can trust in carrying out your requests. The more intimate the friend is with you the better because they know your traits, likes and dislikes, so therefore if faced with a dilemma i.e. having to make a decision on your behalf in your absence, it will be in your best interest. (This is where trust prevails)
One wedding plan is to sit down with your disciples and talk things through. You will be surprised how this will help ease pressure. Give them each a note pad to make their own wedding to-do-list on your behalf and then compare notes when the sitting is over. Once again there maybe surprises in store with what each individual sees fit for your wedding. Ask each friend before hand if they will be comfortable with the wedding task you have lined up for them. By doing this, - and you receive an indecisive reply, then it gives you the opportunity to reallocate them with a different assignment, The more finer in detail of what you want from them will get you positive results.
Wedding plans normally entail - Bridal Gown, headwear, bridesmaid dresses, wedding cars, booking the church, wedding cake, flowers, wedding rings, entertainment, photographer, food, wedding invitations, wedding speech, marriage vows, venue hall etc.
The list is endless, but the most important of all wedding essentials not be forgotten is to have the groom at your side. Before dressing in white - Get it right.
About the Author
Congratulations
Bridal Beauty http://www.spotthepimple.com Fabulous Complexion http://www.remedy4wrinkles.com Hen Night Party 4 Chicks http://www.jesterminute.com
To avoid any disappointment on your wedding day - prep friends and family in advance who have offered their services to help. To lighten the load you need to allot each person with a wedding task. You need to remind each helper after receiving their instructions that they need to report back with a progress report on how they are getting along with their assignments.
Wedding tasks may include ordering the wedding cake, ordering flowers from the florist, wedding cars to transport the bride, bridesmaid dresses, decorating the reception hall, arranging entertainment - right down to what hymns are sung in the church for the marriage service. All of these are wedding plans which are considerably important so therefore the reason why you need to be kept updated.
Do you the betrothed find you're self in a catch 22 situation i.e. worrying over having to ask others for help with your wedding arrangements, who you feel may give you reason for concern in not fulfilling their duties, or, are you worried if you don't because of all the pressure involved going it alone - so as to speak.
Unnecessary stress for any future bride before her wedding is not good. Okay so you need help, well, the first thing to do is pick family members and friends you can trust in carrying out your requests. The more intimate the friend is with you the better because they know your traits, likes and dislikes, so therefore if faced with a dilemma i.e. having to make a decision on your behalf in your absence, it will be in your best interest. (This is where trust prevails)
One wedding plan is to sit down with your disciples and talk things through. You will be surprised how this will help ease pressure. Give them each a note pad to make their own wedding to-do-list on your behalf and then compare notes when the sitting is over. Once again there maybe surprises in store with what each individual sees fit for your wedding. Ask each friend before hand if they will be comfortable with the wedding task you have lined up for them. By doing this, - and you receive an indecisive reply, then it gives you the opportunity to reallocate them with a different assignment, The more finer in detail of what you want from them will get you positive results.
Wedding plans normally entail - Bridal Gown, headwear, bridesmaid dresses, wedding cars, booking the church, wedding cake, flowers, wedding rings, entertainment, photographer, food, wedding invitations, wedding speech, marriage vows, venue hall etc.
The list is endless, but the most important of all wedding essentials not be forgotten is to have the groom at your side. Before dressing in white - Get it right.
About the Author
Congratulations
Bridal Beauty http://www.spotthepimple.com Fabulous Complexion http://www.remedy4wrinkles.com Hen Night Party 4 Chicks http://www.jesterminute.com
Beautiful Wedding Songs For Your Wedding
Wedding songs have always been a very sentimental and sweet touch to add to a wedding ceremony. Your wedding day is a big event for you and you want to choose wedding songs that fit your personality and to show your love for one another, it gives everyone at your wedding an emotional feeling. Wedding songs can move your guests and leave everyone feeling very happy about your marriage and teary-eyed at the same time.
As you begin sifting through your choices of wedding songs, take some time to consider what you want. There are very traditional songs that you can use for your wedding, such as the "Wedding March" and you can choose very unconventional songs. In addition, you can play more than one song. Many wedding ceremonies feature a live singer or stringed instruments playing the bride and groom his favorite songs. These ceremonies tend to be the most memorable for you and your guests.
If you are at a loss for what kind of wedding songs to play for your ceremony consider thinking about other weddings that you have been to. Which ones do you remember the most and why do you remember them? Is it because of the beautiful dress, or is it because of the music that was played during your ceremony. There are many reasons why weddings are memorable, but the wedding songs can help make this possible for your wedding.
Also, if you need help choosing the right wedding songs for your wedding ceremony, talk to the musicians that will play. Ask them what type of songs they recommend. If you are choosing a traditional piano player, he or she might recommend some more traditional wedding music. If you are looking for nontraditional music, then you might want to consider choosing other types of musicians to play. For example, you want a love ballad played at your wedding ceremony, and then you might want to ask a close friend or family to play an acoustic guitar.
You have many options when it comes to choosing wedding songs for your ceremony and reception. Take the time to listen to songs that are traditionally played at a wedding and consider whether you want that type of music. Choose your musicians according to the type of music you want for your wedding. The wedding songs and the reception song will be an expression of your love. However, some churches will not allow certain songs; therefore, you need to talk with the church wedding director to make sure they can play your songs. Once the music is set, you can rest easy knowing that part of the ceremony will flow without any trouble.
About the Author
You can also find more info on Wedding Invitations and Wedding Photographer .Dreamweddingplanning.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about dream wedding planning.
As you begin sifting through your choices of wedding songs, take some time to consider what you want. There are very traditional songs that you can use for your wedding, such as the "Wedding March" and you can choose very unconventional songs. In addition, you can play more than one song. Many wedding ceremonies feature a live singer or stringed instruments playing the bride and groom his favorite songs. These ceremonies tend to be the most memorable for you and your guests.
If you are at a loss for what kind of wedding songs to play for your ceremony consider thinking about other weddings that you have been to. Which ones do you remember the most and why do you remember them? Is it because of the beautiful dress, or is it because of the music that was played during your ceremony. There are many reasons why weddings are memorable, but the wedding songs can help make this possible for your wedding.
Also, if you need help choosing the right wedding songs for your wedding ceremony, talk to the musicians that will play. Ask them what type of songs they recommend. If you are choosing a traditional piano player, he or she might recommend some more traditional wedding music. If you are looking for nontraditional music, then you might want to consider choosing other types of musicians to play. For example, you want a love ballad played at your wedding ceremony, and then you might want to ask a close friend or family to play an acoustic guitar.
You have many options when it comes to choosing wedding songs for your ceremony and reception. Take the time to listen to songs that are traditionally played at a wedding and consider whether you want that type of music. Choose your musicians according to the type of music you want for your wedding. The wedding songs and the reception song will be an expression of your love. However, some churches will not allow certain songs; therefore, you need to talk with the church wedding director to make sure they can play your songs. Once the music is set, you can rest easy knowing that part of the ceremony will flow without any trouble.
About the Author
You can also find more info on Wedding Invitations and Wedding Photographer .Dreamweddingplanning.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about dream wedding planning.
Wedding Anniversaries - Traditional and Modern Gifts
Traditional and Modern Gifts for Wedding Anniversaries
The traditional and modern gifts for wedding anniversaries have both good and bad aspects.
The good part about it is that it focuses the mind in terms of what to get, demonstrates you have thought about it and has sentimental value. The bad is that is restricts the things you can get and in some cases makes it very difficult. I have to admit that finding a bronze gift nowadays is no mean feat!
The history begins in the early days of Christianity where they took every opportunity to celebrate something. A wedding anniversary was an obvious occasion and fitted well into their belief system, making it a cause of celebration for the whole group, village etc.
Until a couple of centuries ago only eight anniversaries had gifts designated to them: first (paper), fifth (wood), tenth (tin), fifteenth (crystal), twentieth (china), twenty-fifth (silver), fiftieth (gold) and sixtieth (diamond).
By the mid 1800s this had expanded to the first fifteen anniversaries and every five years after that up to the sixtieth. The items were (roughly) based on the value of the goods, assigning more value the longer the union.
In more recent time modern gifts have been allocated to make it easier for people to actually get gifts and fitting in more with current habits and tastes.
People, in general, tend to stick to the major milestones in trying to match the appropriate gift, and simply get something meaningful for the anniversaries in between.
The list below should only be one factor when getting an anniversary gift. Knowledge of the person, your shared interests and what they would actually like should also be factored in.
ANNIVERSARY - TRADITIONAL, MODERN
First - paper, clocks
Second - cotton, china
Third - leather, crystal/glass
Fourth - fruit/flowers, appliances
Fifth - wood, silverware
Sixth - candy/iron, wood
Seventh - wool/copper, desk sets
Eighth - bronze/pottery, linens, lace
Ninth - pottery/willow, leather
Tenth - tin/aluminum, diamond jewelry
Eleventh - steel, fashion jewelry
Twelfth - silk/linen, pearls
Thirteenth - lace, textiles/furs
Fourteenth - ivory, gold jewelry
Fifteenth - crystal, watches
Twentieth - china, platinum
Twenty-Fifth - silver, silver
Thirtieth - pearl, diamond
Thirty-Fifth - coral, jade
Fortieth - ruby, ruby
Forty-Fifth - sapphire, sapphire
Fiftieth - gold, gold
Fifty-Fifth - emerald, emerald
Sixtieth - diamond, diamond
Seventy-fifth - diamond, diamond
About the Author
Tony Connor has agonized over what to get people for their birthdays, Christmas etc. for many, many years. In order to build upon this foundation of angst he set up Bright Gift Ideas, a resource for people who need inspiration when it comes to gift giving. He is ably supported by his wife who, if shopping was a sport, would be a member of the US olympic team with an
The traditional and modern gifts for wedding anniversaries have both good and bad aspects.
The good part about it is that it focuses the mind in terms of what to get, demonstrates you have thought about it and has sentimental value. The bad is that is restricts the things you can get and in some cases makes it very difficult. I have to admit that finding a bronze gift nowadays is no mean feat!
The history begins in the early days of Christianity where they took every opportunity to celebrate something. A wedding anniversary was an obvious occasion and fitted well into their belief system, making it a cause of celebration for the whole group, village etc.
Until a couple of centuries ago only eight anniversaries had gifts designated to them: first (paper), fifth (wood), tenth (tin), fifteenth (crystal), twentieth (china), twenty-fifth (silver), fiftieth (gold) and sixtieth (diamond).
By the mid 1800s this had expanded to the first fifteen anniversaries and every five years after that up to the sixtieth. The items were (roughly) based on the value of the goods, assigning more value the longer the union.
In more recent time modern gifts have been allocated to make it easier for people to actually get gifts and fitting in more with current habits and tastes.
People, in general, tend to stick to the major milestones in trying to match the appropriate gift, and simply get something meaningful for the anniversaries in between.
The list below should only be one factor when getting an anniversary gift. Knowledge of the person, your shared interests and what they would actually like should also be factored in.
ANNIVERSARY - TRADITIONAL, MODERN
First - paper, clocks
Second - cotton, china
Third - leather, crystal/glass
Fourth - fruit/flowers, appliances
Fifth - wood, silverware
Sixth - candy/iron, wood
Seventh - wool/copper, desk sets
Eighth - bronze/pottery, linens, lace
Ninth - pottery/willow, leather
Tenth - tin/aluminum, diamond jewelry
Eleventh - steel, fashion jewelry
Twelfth - silk/linen, pearls
Thirteenth - lace, textiles/furs
Fourteenth - ivory, gold jewelry
Fifteenth - crystal, watches
Twentieth - china, platinum
Twenty-Fifth - silver, silver
Thirtieth - pearl, diamond
Thirty-Fifth - coral, jade
Fortieth - ruby, ruby
Forty-Fifth - sapphire, sapphire
Fiftieth - gold, gold
Fifty-Fifth - emerald, emerald
Sixtieth - diamond, diamond
Seventy-fifth - diamond, diamond
About the Author
Tony Connor has agonized over what to get people for their birthdays, Christmas etc. for many, many years. In order to build upon this foundation of angst he set up Bright Gift Ideas, a resource for people who need inspiration when it comes to gift giving. He is ably supported by his wife who, if shopping was a sport, would be a member of the US olympic team with an
Wedding Invitations
In a wedding, many friends and relative would be invited to grace and witness the occasion. It is important that you secure them as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Once you have finalized the date for the wedding, it is time to draw up a preliminary guest list. Depending on the type of wedding chosen, you might want to quickly send out a "Save the Date" card to the people on your guest list to secure the day. Then quickly follow up with the invitation for them to r.s.v.p. By planning early, you would know exactly how many people would be turning up for the event and you can better plan your logistics for the event.
What should you then decide on the wedding invitation? Firstly, you should consider the type of design you want. The details can go all the way down to the envelope used and the type of printing. Try to do this at least 6 months in advance. Prior to that, it is recommended that you send out the "Save the Date" cards so that your guests are aware that you are getting married on this day.
After you have gone to the printer to discuss on the design and start printing, it is important that you keep track of the timeline. It is important that you send out the invitation at least eight weeks before the wedding so that your guests have sufficient time to respond to you. Sometimes, the postal delivery might take up to two weeks and for them to revert to you on their availability, four weeks might already be gone. Before you panic and try to finalize the details with the wedding planner and the hotel, it is advisable to draw up a timeline with the printer to ensure the timely printing of the invitation cards.
Some tips you can keep in mind:
1. Mail the cards to friends and relatives who live out of town, or far away. This would give you some time to ensure that they have sufficient time to respond to you and to make the necessary transport arrangements.
2. Put a website address on the card. This is to make things easier. If they can respond via your wedding website, it would help to speed up the process.
3. While printing the wedding invitation cards, you might want to also prepare thank you cards which are mailed out after the event. In this way, you might be able to get a better deal as you are printing both sets of cards out at the same time.
About the Author
Beach Wedding Planning Guide has detailed information and tips how to go about to plan the perfect beach wedding.
Once you have finalized the date for the wedding, it is time to draw up a preliminary guest list. Depending on the type of wedding chosen, you might want to quickly send out a "Save the Date" card to the people on your guest list to secure the day. Then quickly follow up with the invitation for them to r.s.v.p. By planning early, you would know exactly how many people would be turning up for the event and you can better plan your logistics for the event.
What should you then decide on the wedding invitation? Firstly, you should consider the type of design you want. The details can go all the way down to the envelope used and the type of printing. Try to do this at least 6 months in advance. Prior to that, it is recommended that you send out the "Save the Date" cards so that your guests are aware that you are getting married on this day.
After you have gone to the printer to discuss on the design and start printing, it is important that you keep track of the timeline. It is important that you send out the invitation at least eight weeks before the wedding so that your guests have sufficient time to respond to you. Sometimes, the postal delivery might take up to two weeks and for them to revert to you on their availability, four weeks might already be gone. Before you panic and try to finalize the details with the wedding planner and the hotel, it is advisable to draw up a timeline with the printer to ensure the timely printing of the invitation cards.
Some tips you can keep in mind:
1. Mail the cards to friends and relatives who live out of town, or far away. This would give you some time to ensure that they have sufficient time to respond to you and to make the necessary transport arrangements.
2. Put a website address on the card. This is to make things easier. If they can respond via your wedding website, it would help to speed up the process.
3. While printing the wedding invitation cards, you might want to also prepare thank you cards which are mailed out after the event. In this way, you might be able to get a better deal as you are printing both sets of cards out at the same time.
About the Author
Beach Wedding Planning Guide has detailed information and tips how to go about to plan the perfect beach wedding.
Wedding Items to Get for Your Wedding
Do you know what to get for your wedding? I'm sure you may be already overwhelmed by the endless list of wedding items you need to get them, not forgetting you still have an endless list of things to do.
As for me, I even forgot about getting my Ang Pow Box till the week before my wedding. There are just too many things on my mind.
I will be doing a few posts on the wedding items wedding couples need to get or make.
Yes, some wedding couples I know make their very own wedding items.
For me, I had to learnt what are the things to do-it-yourself or buy. If you are talking about the wedding items in large quantity, please spend some money to get them. Imagine having already spent a few thousands of dollars on your honey moon trip, wedding gows and photohsoot, what is another tens of dollars for a nicer wedding item say wedding favors or an ang pow box and the ring pillow?
Here are first 5 items you need for your wedding:
Flower basket: Do you have flower girls to sprinkle rose petals as you are walking down the aisle with your dear one? These flower girls need a flower basket to put their flowers. I know some brides actually knitted the baskets themselves. Yes, you can do it only if you have time.
Corsages: Just in case you do not know what a corsage is, it is a flower accessory tied around the wrist of bridesmaids during wedding. Please get corsages that suit your wedding theme and let your bridesmaids know the color theme too. A color contrast of the flowers and the dresses could make the bridesmaids feel awkward.
Ang Pow Box: An Ang Pow Box is a box to contain the many red packets that friends and relatives will be giving just before the wedding dinner. I intended to make my very own Ang Pow Box for my wedding but I realised I didn't have time.
My colleague was very kind to do one for me but it ended up to be quite nice. Another colleague lent me hers and it had a nice ribboon on top of the box.
I think things to note for an Ang Pow Box is that it must be big enough to contain all the red packets. And it must be taken care by someone who is very responsible and realiable.
I heard of a case when a bridesmaid forgot all about the box and left. It was stolen with about S$30,000 of cash in it!
Wedding Favors: Wedding favors are small gifts given as a gesture of appreciation or gratitude to guests from the bride and groom during a wedding ceremony or a wedding reception.
There are favors that are readily available by the hotel or those that you want to be customised. You may even want dates and both of your names to be on your wedding favors so that guests can rememember this very special day.
Again for me, I look at whether the favor is useful for the guests. Mine were a magnetic picture frame and a wine charm. Things I feel that my guests could use when they got back home.
I know some wedding favors were in the forms of cakes or pastries and many were left uncollected after the wedding dinner. Perishable food items could go to waste.
Ring Pillows: I got this quote from wikipedia.com
"Wedding rings, continuous with no beginning and no end, symbolised eternal love to the Romans and Egyptians who used precious stones as well as silver and gold and were carried on a cushion. Hence the ring cushion (ring bearer pillow). The Page boy or Chief Bridesmaid would carry the cushion up the aisle to the Best Man who will place the rings on the cushion ready for the minister to bless."
Mostly ring pillows come together with the rings you have purchased. Alternatively, if you don't like their design, you can get one from an online vendor such as lovedroplets.com to suit your wedding theme.
About the Author
Jhong Ren runs My Wedding Blog- an online wedding diary that gives more than just the usual tips and advice on a daily basis. Check out http://www.romance-fire.com now and by all means leave us your comments, share some of your own wedding experiences.
As for me, I even forgot about getting my Ang Pow Box till the week before my wedding. There are just too many things on my mind.
I will be doing a few posts on the wedding items wedding couples need to get or make.
Yes, some wedding couples I know make their very own wedding items.
For me, I had to learnt what are the things to do-it-yourself or buy. If you are talking about the wedding items in large quantity, please spend some money to get them. Imagine having already spent a few thousands of dollars on your honey moon trip, wedding gows and photohsoot, what is another tens of dollars for a nicer wedding item say wedding favors or an ang pow box and the ring pillow?
Here are first 5 items you need for your wedding:
Flower basket: Do you have flower girls to sprinkle rose petals as you are walking down the aisle with your dear one? These flower girls need a flower basket to put their flowers. I know some brides actually knitted the baskets themselves. Yes, you can do it only if you have time.
Corsages: Just in case you do not know what a corsage is, it is a flower accessory tied around the wrist of bridesmaids during wedding. Please get corsages that suit your wedding theme and let your bridesmaids know the color theme too. A color contrast of the flowers and the dresses could make the bridesmaids feel awkward.
Ang Pow Box: An Ang Pow Box is a box to contain the many red packets that friends and relatives will be giving just before the wedding dinner. I intended to make my very own Ang Pow Box for my wedding but I realised I didn't have time.
My colleague was very kind to do one for me but it ended up to be quite nice. Another colleague lent me hers and it had a nice ribboon on top of the box.
I think things to note for an Ang Pow Box is that it must be big enough to contain all the red packets. And it must be taken care by someone who is very responsible and realiable.
I heard of a case when a bridesmaid forgot all about the box and left. It was stolen with about S$30,000 of cash in it!
Wedding Favors: Wedding favors are small gifts given as a gesture of appreciation or gratitude to guests from the bride and groom during a wedding ceremony or a wedding reception.
There are favors that are readily available by the hotel or those that you want to be customised. You may even want dates and both of your names to be on your wedding favors so that guests can rememember this very special day.
Again for me, I look at whether the favor is useful for the guests. Mine were a magnetic picture frame and a wine charm. Things I feel that my guests could use when they got back home.
I know some wedding favors were in the forms of cakes or pastries and many were left uncollected after the wedding dinner. Perishable food items could go to waste.
Ring Pillows: I got this quote from wikipedia.com
"Wedding rings, continuous with no beginning and no end, symbolised eternal love to the Romans and Egyptians who used precious stones as well as silver and gold and were carried on a cushion. Hence the ring cushion (ring bearer pillow). The Page boy or Chief Bridesmaid would carry the cushion up the aisle to the Best Man who will place the rings on the cushion ready for the minister to bless."
Mostly ring pillows come together with the rings you have purchased. Alternatively, if you don't like their design, you can get one from an online vendor such as lovedroplets.com to suit your wedding theme.
About the Author
Jhong Ren runs My Wedding Blog- an online wedding diary that gives more than just the usual tips and advice on a daily basis. Check out http://www.romance-fire.com now and by all means leave us your comments, share some of your own wedding experiences.
How to Add a Personal Touch to Your Wedding Flowers
Your wedding day will last forever in photographs as well as in the memories of those who attend. You can make it even more memorable by doing some or all of the floral design yourself. Designing your own wedding flowers is a great way to infuse your wedding day with personal style. And you'll save money, too!
While creating your own wedding flowers can be extremely satisfying, you'll need careful planning and a few extra resources to perfect your floral plans. Here are some simple things to keep in mind when tackling your DIY wedding flower project.
1) What is your time budget?
From the moment you got engaged, you've probably been thinking of your wedding budget. Chances are you've had to cut a couple of corners or add a few dollars to it as the big day grows near. But when it comes to do-it-yourself projects, like your wedding flowers, you'll need to be mindful of more than money. Time is a precious resource for a busy bride-to-be.
Know in advance which projects will take the longest. For example, making a simple boutonniere will take less time than constructing a large floral centerpiece. Choose DIY floral projects that fit your time budget, do as much as you can ahead of time, and make a floral design timeline to follow in those hectic days right before the event.
2) How much can you really take on?
Creating your gorgeous bridal bouquet with your own two hands may be your dream come true, but realistically it takes patience and know-how to get the job done. Think about your experience with flowers or other crafts. Can you apply that knowledge to your wedding flower plans? Do you know where to get supplies and how to care for fresh cut flowers?
If you are unsure about your ability, consider taking a floral design class or use a good online resource like Wedding Flowers DIY. A little research will keep you from getting in over your head and make your wedding day even more special.
3) Practice makes perfect
No matter how simple your DIY flower projects are or how skilled you are in floral design, practice your arrangements before the big day. During your practice run, note how long it takes you to finish each sample, then multiply by how many you need to make. This will help you create your time budget for the real wedding flowers.
A practice run also lets you evaluate supplies and designs ahead of time. Better to find out now that you'll need more ribbon, or that you don't like a certain flower combination, than the day before your wedding.
4) Don't go it alone!
Just because you've decided to do-it-yourself doesn't mean you have to do it alone! Enlist the help of friends and family. Have a bridal party luncheon the week of the wedding and have your bridesmaids help you make bows or even their own bouquets.
With time, planning and the right attitude, you can have gorgeous floral arrangements at your wedding, along with the pride that they came from your hands and the hands of those you love.
About the Author
Jo Lind was once faced with five family weddings in eight months and with budgets that most professional florists would have laughed at. Today, Lind is a certified master florist who has created breathtaking floral arrangements for weddings large and small. To learn everything you need to know about DIY wedding flowers from her, visit WeddingFlowers-DIY.com.
While creating your own wedding flowers can be extremely satisfying, you'll need careful planning and a few extra resources to perfect your floral plans. Here are some simple things to keep in mind when tackling your DIY wedding flower project.
1) What is your time budget?
From the moment you got engaged, you've probably been thinking of your wedding budget. Chances are you've had to cut a couple of corners or add a few dollars to it as the big day grows near. But when it comes to do-it-yourself projects, like your wedding flowers, you'll need to be mindful of more than money. Time is a precious resource for a busy bride-to-be.
Know in advance which projects will take the longest. For example, making a simple boutonniere will take less time than constructing a large floral centerpiece. Choose DIY floral projects that fit your time budget, do as much as you can ahead of time, and make a floral design timeline to follow in those hectic days right before the event.
2) How much can you really take on?
Creating your gorgeous bridal bouquet with your own two hands may be your dream come true, but realistically it takes patience and know-how to get the job done. Think about your experience with flowers or other crafts. Can you apply that knowledge to your wedding flower plans? Do you know where to get supplies and how to care for fresh cut flowers?
If you are unsure about your ability, consider taking a floral design class or use a good online resource like Wedding Flowers DIY. A little research will keep you from getting in over your head and make your wedding day even more special.
3) Practice makes perfect
No matter how simple your DIY flower projects are or how skilled you are in floral design, practice your arrangements before the big day. During your practice run, note how long it takes you to finish each sample, then multiply by how many you need to make. This will help you create your time budget for the real wedding flowers.
A practice run also lets you evaluate supplies and designs ahead of time. Better to find out now that you'll need more ribbon, or that you don't like a certain flower combination, than the day before your wedding.
4) Don't go it alone!
Just because you've decided to do-it-yourself doesn't mean you have to do it alone! Enlist the help of friends and family. Have a bridal party luncheon the week of the wedding and have your bridesmaids help you make bows or even their own bouquets.
With time, planning and the right attitude, you can have gorgeous floral arrangements at your wedding, along with the pride that they came from your hands and the hands of those you love.
About the Author
Jo Lind was once faced with five family weddings in eight months and with budgets that most professional florists would have laughed at. Today, Lind is a certified master florist who has created breathtaking floral arrangements for weddings large and small. To learn everything you need to know about DIY wedding flowers from her, visit WeddingFlowers-DIY.com.
Weddings 'increase financial stress' for guests and couples
According to new figures, Britons could be incurring debt problems by attending weddings.
Research carried out by CreditExpert has indicated that the average consumer spends £386 for someone else's big day on areas such as gifts, clothes and accommodation - a figure which could impact upon their ability to make repayments on Personal Loans, credit cards and other forms of borrowing.
Stag and hen parties were reported to be the most costly expense, accounting for some £130 of this total.
However, according to the findings a number of Britons are shelling out begrudgingly and so incurring debt management difficulties.
Jim Hodgkins, managing director of CreditExpert, said: "Weddings are a time to celebrate but it's clear that people are increasing their financial stress and spending money they don't have simply in order to be there."
He added that although weddings costs are often underestimated by both those getting married and their guests, consumers who are "still burdened by student debt" and first-time buyers were said to be the ones facing most financial stress in meeting essential costs and making loan repayments as a result of going to weddings.
Figures from CreditExpert also showed that that almost half of Britons (45 per cent) have felt pressured by their friends and family to attend a ceremony.
More than one in four guests at a wedding taking place overseas were reported to be resentful about attending.
The study also indicated that 1.6 million Britons - about six per cent of the entire population - have run up debts just to be able to attend a wedding.
However, for those from London this proportion was reported to have risen to nine per cent.
Meanwhile, three per cent of people living in the capital had admitted to spending between £400 and £500 on a wedding gift, compared to the national average of £70.
Some 15 per cent of those over the age of 65 were said to have refused attending a wedding if they thought it would be too expensive - the highest proportion noted among any age group.
However, about one in 20 (seven per cent) of consumers aged at least 65 claim to be prepared to spend more than £500 on a wedding present.
Britons could also be running up debts when it comes to their own wedding.
The findings revealed that Britons are underestimating the cost of their big day by about £8,000 - as respondents believe getting married will only set them back by £9,000 instead of the actual average cost of £17,000.
Last week, a study by moneysupermarket.com indicted that the majority of couples well look to borrow money to finance their big day.
According to the research, 41 and 15 per cent of potential brides and grooms will opt for credit cards and personal loans respectively to help meet various wedding costs such as entertainment and food, reports Sky News.
About a quarter of those who got married in 2002 were said to be currently making repayments for debts run up during their marriage.
About the Author
Abbi Rouse writes for 1 stop finance shop where visitors can apply for UK secured loans and also focuses on personal loans for UK residents. Visit Today: http://www.1stopfinanceshopuk.biz
Research carried out by CreditExpert has indicated that the average consumer spends £386 for someone else's big day on areas such as gifts, clothes and accommodation - a figure which could impact upon their ability to make repayments on Personal Loans, credit cards and other forms of borrowing.
Stag and hen parties were reported to be the most costly expense, accounting for some £130 of this total.
However, according to the findings a number of Britons are shelling out begrudgingly and so incurring debt management difficulties.
Jim Hodgkins, managing director of CreditExpert, said: "Weddings are a time to celebrate but it's clear that people are increasing their financial stress and spending money they don't have simply in order to be there."
He added that although weddings costs are often underestimated by both those getting married and their guests, consumers who are "still burdened by student debt" and first-time buyers were said to be the ones facing most financial stress in meeting essential costs and making loan repayments as a result of going to weddings.
Figures from CreditExpert also showed that that almost half of Britons (45 per cent) have felt pressured by their friends and family to attend a ceremony.
More than one in four guests at a wedding taking place overseas were reported to be resentful about attending.
The study also indicated that 1.6 million Britons - about six per cent of the entire population - have run up debts just to be able to attend a wedding.
However, for those from London this proportion was reported to have risen to nine per cent.
Meanwhile, three per cent of people living in the capital had admitted to spending between £400 and £500 on a wedding gift, compared to the national average of £70.
Some 15 per cent of those over the age of 65 were said to have refused attending a wedding if they thought it would be too expensive - the highest proportion noted among any age group.
However, about one in 20 (seven per cent) of consumers aged at least 65 claim to be prepared to spend more than £500 on a wedding present.
Britons could also be running up debts when it comes to their own wedding.
The findings revealed that Britons are underestimating the cost of their big day by about £8,000 - as respondents believe getting married will only set them back by £9,000 instead of the actual average cost of £17,000.
Last week, a study by moneysupermarket.com indicted that the majority of couples well look to borrow money to finance their big day.
According to the research, 41 and 15 per cent of potential brides and grooms will opt for credit cards and personal loans respectively to help meet various wedding costs such as entertainment and food, reports Sky News.
About a quarter of those who got married in 2002 were said to be currently making repayments for debts run up during their marriage.
About the Author
Abbi Rouse writes for 1 stop finance shop where visitors can apply for UK secured loans and also focuses on personal loans for UK residents. Visit Today: http://www.1stopfinanceshopuk.biz
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
What You Should Expect From Wedding Professionals
Wedding professionals remove a great deal of stress when planning your big day. Since they are generally rather expensive, they should only be used if you have a big budget for your event and the extra fees will not take away from making your wedding special.
Typically, they provide help with high-class weddings that have a huge guest list and other intricate details that would overwhelm the bride. In recent years, however, the use of wedding professionals has increased as an essential for planning the perfect marriage.
Wedding professionals are experts in wedding planning. They need to go through special training and classes to receive certification. They generally have wedding consultant certification and are specially trained to plan marriages and deal with snags that might arise during the planning stages.
They might also have extra tips and techniques that will help your day go off without a hitch. Wedding professionals act as an intermediary between the bride and the vendors, so it is important that they are familiar with the way the bride wants things to be.
Since the wedding reception schedule is one of the most vital and difficult aspects of planning a marriage, wedding professionals are trained to organize the marriage reception itinerary. This helps the reception flow smoothly so the guests can stay involved and thrilled, rather than bored and ready to leave.
The reception itinerary generally involves a list of events, including the cake cutting, garter removal, and so forth. It can also be done in any order you prefer and you can leave certain events out, too. Your marriage professionals will help you decide how to do this. Once the open dancing portion of the marriage reception starts, the professionals' job is technically over, but they generally stick around until the end of the event.
Wedding professionals have experience with a variety of weddings and traditions that accompany them. If you want to make your big day more creative than a traditional marriage, they can help you think of ideas that will make your day unlike any other.
They also have expert knowledge regarding etiquette questions, so you can be sure all your affairs will be handled with a classy attitude. If you have any questions about any aspect of your marriage at all, wedding professionals have the training and experience to set your mind at ease.
Wedding professionals can be costly, but sometimes the services they provide are invaluable. From the day you set a marriage date until the last dance at your reception, wedding professionals are trained to help you make decisions and keep you sane during the weeks leading up to the big day.
They can relieve a great deal of stress by letting you be involved in only the parts you want to be involved in.
About the Author
Get your FREE wedding tips gift and the best information on wedding professionals at Mike Selvon's wedding planner portal, and leave a comment at our wedding planner blog.
Typically, they provide help with high-class weddings that have a huge guest list and other intricate details that would overwhelm the bride. In recent years, however, the use of wedding professionals has increased as an essential for planning the perfect marriage.
Wedding professionals are experts in wedding planning. They need to go through special training and classes to receive certification. They generally have wedding consultant certification and are specially trained to plan marriages and deal with snags that might arise during the planning stages.
They might also have extra tips and techniques that will help your day go off without a hitch. Wedding professionals act as an intermediary between the bride and the vendors, so it is important that they are familiar with the way the bride wants things to be.
Since the wedding reception schedule is one of the most vital and difficult aspects of planning a marriage, wedding professionals are trained to organize the marriage reception itinerary. This helps the reception flow smoothly so the guests can stay involved and thrilled, rather than bored and ready to leave.
The reception itinerary generally involves a list of events, including the cake cutting, garter removal, and so forth. It can also be done in any order you prefer and you can leave certain events out, too. Your marriage professionals will help you decide how to do this. Once the open dancing portion of the marriage reception starts, the professionals' job is technically over, but they generally stick around until the end of the event.
Wedding professionals have experience with a variety of weddings and traditions that accompany them. If you want to make your big day more creative than a traditional marriage, they can help you think of ideas that will make your day unlike any other.
They also have expert knowledge regarding etiquette questions, so you can be sure all your affairs will be handled with a classy attitude. If you have any questions about any aspect of your marriage at all, wedding professionals have the training and experience to set your mind at ease.
Wedding professionals can be costly, but sometimes the services they provide are invaluable. From the day you set a marriage date until the last dance at your reception, wedding professionals are trained to help you make decisions and keep you sane during the weeks leading up to the big day.
They can relieve a great deal of stress by letting you be involved in only the parts you want to be involved in.
About the Author
Get your FREE wedding tips gift and the best information on wedding professionals at Mike Selvon's wedding planner portal, and leave a comment at our wedding planner blog.
Tips For Planning A Wedding On A Budget
When you are planning a wedding on a budget, you have many options to help you save money. Whether you are trying to cut costs so you can have more money for your honeymoon, a new home or simply because you have limited funds, planning a wedding on a budget is easier than you think.
If you have a supportive family and group of friends, oftentimes they will be willing to provide services that you would normally pay other people to do.
One way to help you when planning a wedding on a budget is to look for cheap wedding packages with different vendors. Oftentimes, companies that provide services for weddings offer more than one service. As such, when you use a combination of their services, they may offer low price packages at a discounted price.
For instance, when you hire a photographer for your wedding, they might also offer a videographer service. When you hire the company to do both services, they might offer a number of cheap packages for their services, whereas it would have cost more to pay for the services separately.
Another thing to consider when planning a wedding on a budget is the cost of marriage receptions. Generally, the reception is what costs the most money because of the food, music, and hall rental fees. You might be able to find cheap packages with the reception hall, too.
Oftentimes, the hall will have specially designated wedding reception prices to cover several services. With the hall rental, you might have the option of packages that include catering, decorations, and linens. Although expensive, choosing one of their less expensive marriage packages will most likely be less expensive than hiring different vendors for each service.
If you are trying to plan a wedding on a budget, a little flexibility will help you cut wedding reception prices. Plan your marriage during the winter to save money on the peak season rates for wedding reception rentals. Also, plan for a Friday or another day of the week -- instead of Saturday.
Wedding reception rentals tend to cost more for Saturday rental because that is a highly competitive day for weddings. You can cut even more reception prices if you make some of the decorations yourself.
In addition to the aforementioned ways of having cheap marriage receptions, you can cut costs in several other ways. If you make the decorations yourself with some of your friends and family, you can save money on floral arrangements and decorating fees.
You can also hire your friends to play music and save money on DJ costs. If you have a church you attend, they will likely rent their facilities to you at a discounted rate -- or try a VFW hall. These are things to consider when planning a wedding on a budget.
Planning a wedding on a budget is a great way to have a memorable wedding. When you put more thought into each aspect of your marriage and find the resources to make it happen, you will have better memories of your special day in the long run.
Planning a wedding on a budget is actually an admirable thing to do in today's culture of utter indulgence. Besides, why spend thousands of dollars on an event that is only going to last a few hours?
About the Author
Get your FREE wedding tips gift and the best information on planning a wedding on a budget at Mike Selvon's wedding planner portal, and leave a comment at our wedding planner blog.
If you have a supportive family and group of friends, oftentimes they will be willing to provide services that you would normally pay other people to do.
One way to help you when planning a wedding on a budget is to look for cheap wedding packages with different vendors. Oftentimes, companies that provide services for weddings offer more than one service. As such, when you use a combination of their services, they may offer low price packages at a discounted price.
For instance, when you hire a photographer for your wedding, they might also offer a videographer service. When you hire the company to do both services, they might offer a number of cheap packages for their services, whereas it would have cost more to pay for the services separately.
Another thing to consider when planning a wedding on a budget is the cost of marriage receptions. Generally, the reception is what costs the most money because of the food, music, and hall rental fees. You might be able to find cheap packages with the reception hall, too.
Oftentimes, the hall will have specially designated wedding reception prices to cover several services. With the hall rental, you might have the option of packages that include catering, decorations, and linens. Although expensive, choosing one of their less expensive marriage packages will most likely be less expensive than hiring different vendors for each service.
If you are trying to plan a wedding on a budget, a little flexibility will help you cut wedding reception prices. Plan your marriage during the winter to save money on the peak season rates for wedding reception rentals. Also, plan for a Friday or another day of the week -- instead of Saturday.
Wedding reception rentals tend to cost more for Saturday rental because that is a highly competitive day for weddings. You can cut even more reception prices if you make some of the decorations yourself.
In addition to the aforementioned ways of having cheap marriage receptions, you can cut costs in several other ways. If you make the decorations yourself with some of your friends and family, you can save money on floral arrangements and decorating fees.
You can also hire your friends to play music and save money on DJ costs. If you have a church you attend, they will likely rent their facilities to you at a discounted rate -- or try a VFW hall. These are things to consider when planning a wedding on a budget.
Planning a wedding on a budget is a great way to have a memorable wedding. When you put more thought into each aspect of your marriage and find the resources to make it happen, you will have better memories of your special day in the long run.
Planning a wedding on a budget is actually an admirable thing to do in today's culture of utter indulgence. Besides, why spend thousands of dollars on an event that is only going to last a few hours?
About the Author
Get your FREE wedding tips gift and the best information on planning a wedding on a budget at Mike Selvon's wedding planner portal, and leave a comment at our wedding planner blog.
Money and Time Saving Bridal Shower Planning Tips
Summer marks the start of wedding season, and preceding every wedding is usually a bridal shower. Bridal shower hosts and hostesses will want to make sure that the bride has a memorable bridal shower without digging too deep into their own pockets. Save time and money hosting your next bridal shower by following a few simple guidelines. These tips apply nicely to baby showers and birthday parties as well.
Start a list of everything you will need-from food to decorations. This way you can jot down ideas as you get closer to the bridal shower and you won't be as likely to forget something important. Stick to the list when shopping to avoid purchasing unnecessary extras.
Make your own invitations or use free printable bridal shower invitations found on the Internet. Cute bridal shower invitations found at a specialty party stores can cost anywhere from $5-$10 for just 10 invites. Save money by making your own invitations. Use colored card stock and rubber stamps to create personalized initiations that the bride will be sure to appreciate more than store bought invitations. Not crafty? Choose from a variety of free printable invitations that can be found on the Internet.
Create a simple yet elegant menu for the bridal shower. For example, a menu of chicken salad with croissants, cucumber sandwiches, fruit salad, cupcakes, mints and peanuts would be appropriate. Having an early morning bridal shower? Serve brunch items such as cinnamon rolls, breakfast casserole, or a buffet of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and toast. Aim to serve recipes that can be prepared the day or two before the bridal shower to save time the day of the bridal shower.
Don't go overboard with decorations-this can get costly! Look around your home and garden for decorations for the bridal shower. Fresh flowers placed around the house in pretty vases or a bowl with floating candles are really all of the decor that you will need. Set a romantic mood by playing love songs or classical music during the bridal shower.
Use free printable bridal shower games that you can find on the Internet, instead of purchasing expensive bridal shower games from a party supplies store.
Scour your local dollar store for door prize and bridal shower game winner prizes. Some inexpensive gift ideas include: facial and pedicure supplies, an assortment of candles, cookbooks, or kitchen supplies.
Above all, make sure that the bride feels special during her bridal shower. It doesn't take a lot of money to show a friend your heartfelt congratulations for her upcoming wedding.
About the Author
Amanda is a writer for The Craft Cafe free printable greeting cards (http://www.thecraftcafe.com), Print n' Learn free preschool printables (http://www.printnlearn.com) and Busy Mom Relief Blog (http://busymomrelief.blogspot.com).
Start a list of everything you will need-from food to decorations. This way you can jot down ideas as you get closer to the bridal shower and you won't be as likely to forget something important. Stick to the list when shopping to avoid purchasing unnecessary extras.
Make your own invitations or use free printable bridal shower invitations found on the Internet. Cute bridal shower invitations found at a specialty party stores can cost anywhere from $5-$10 for just 10 invites. Save money by making your own invitations. Use colored card stock and rubber stamps to create personalized initiations that the bride will be sure to appreciate more than store bought invitations. Not crafty? Choose from a variety of free printable invitations that can be found on the Internet.
Create a simple yet elegant menu for the bridal shower. For example, a menu of chicken salad with croissants, cucumber sandwiches, fruit salad, cupcakes, mints and peanuts would be appropriate. Having an early morning bridal shower? Serve brunch items such as cinnamon rolls, breakfast casserole, or a buffet of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and toast. Aim to serve recipes that can be prepared the day or two before the bridal shower to save time the day of the bridal shower.
Don't go overboard with decorations-this can get costly! Look around your home and garden for decorations for the bridal shower. Fresh flowers placed around the house in pretty vases or a bowl with floating candles are really all of the decor that you will need. Set a romantic mood by playing love songs or classical music during the bridal shower.
Use free printable bridal shower games that you can find on the Internet, instead of purchasing expensive bridal shower games from a party supplies store.
Scour your local dollar store for door prize and bridal shower game winner prizes. Some inexpensive gift ideas include: facial and pedicure supplies, an assortment of candles, cookbooks, or kitchen supplies.
Above all, make sure that the bride feels special during her bridal shower. It doesn't take a lot of money to show a friend your heartfelt congratulations for her upcoming wedding.
About the Author
Amanda is a writer for The Craft Cafe free printable greeting cards (http://www.thecraftcafe.com), Print n' Learn free preschool printables (http://www.printnlearn.com) and Busy Mom Relief Blog (http://busymomrelief.blogspot.com).
Wedding Speech Tips For Mother Of The Bride
During the wedding reception, the mother of the bride gets the chance to offer a toast for her newlywed daughter. However, it could be a really difficult process because a mother usually gets a lot of mixed emotions during this event. This difficulty could be doubled if a mother will attend the event unprepared. Seeing a daughter getting married is an exciting and sad event for a parent and delivering an appropriate speech during this affair could be difficult. But all these difficulties could be somehow appeased if you would come prepared.
These are some of a few tips that a mother could use to be able to deliver a very much-appreciated speech during her daughter's wedding.
First, you may thank the guests that attended the wedding. Remember that this event will not be successful without the guests you invited. Thank them for their efforts to make the wedding successful and memorable for your child. You may mention some names especially the primary sponsors but you need not mention the entire guest lists because it will take a lot of time and before you knew it, the wedding reception is over.
Second, give the newlyweds an advice that they could use as their foundation for marriage. You have experienced living in a married life and you know the ups and downs or marriage. Feel free to share some tips on what have you learned during your marriage.
Third, it is your chance to formally welcome the groom as part of your family. There are some parents who do not see the worth of a guy in their daughters not until they became married. This part could not be too elaborative as it may embarrass the guy especially if there has been some bad blood with the guy in the past. A simple "Welcome to the Family" would be enough to show that you have fully accepted him.
Fourth, avoid thinking sad thoughts during speech delivery. It is really difficult not to do so but if it would allow you more time to talk rather than cry, then it will be much better. A lot of moms commit this error of thinking that they will be losing their child during speeches that's why it disables them to deliver a good speech. It even causes them to have breakdowns!
Lastly, since tears are not avoidable during this event, be sure you have a tissue or a handkerchief before starting with your speech. It is not a good sight to have somebody with smeared mascara.
About the Author
Instantly download 100 complete Wedding Speech Templates and Toasts, Jokes and Quotes or get absolutely Free Wedding Toasts and Speeches at http://www.FreeWeddingToasts.net.
These are some of a few tips that a mother could use to be able to deliver a very much-appreciated speech during her daughter's wedding.
First, you may thank the guests that attended the wedding. Remember that this event will not be successful without the guests you invited. Thank them for their efforts to make the wedding successful and memorable for your child. You may mention some names especially the primary sponsors but you need not mention the entire guest lists because it will take a lot of time and before you knew it, the wedding reception is over.
Second, give the newlyweds an advice that they could use as their foundation for marriage. You have experienced living in a married life and you know the ups and downs or marriage. Feel free to share some tips on what have you learned during your marriage.
Third, it is your chance to formally welcome the groom as part of your family. There are some parents who do not see the worth of a guy in their daughters not until they became married. This part could not be too elaborative as it may embarrass the guy especially if there has been some bad blood with the guy in the past. A simple "Welcome to the Family" would be enough to show that you have fully accepted him.
Fourth, avoid thinking sad thoughts during speech delivery. It is really difficult not to do so but if it would allow you more time to talk rather than cry, then it will be much better. A lot of moms commit this error of thinking that they will be losing their child during speeches that's why it disables them to deliver a good speech. It even causes them to have breakdowns!
Lastly, since tears are not avoidable during this event, be sure you have a tissue or a handkerchief before starting with your speech. It is not a good sight to have somebody with smeared mascara.
About the Author
Instantly download 100 complete Wedding Speech Templates and Toasts, Jokes and Quotes or get absolutely Free Wedding Toasts and Speeches at http://www.FreeWeddingToasts.net.
Concepts for wedding invitation Design: Some Tips
Nowadays couples tend to search for really unique wedding invitations. There are also a number of wedding invitation designers who provide this service. Yet a couple may want to have their own idea and concept for designing the wedding invitation. A question follows this notion will be "Is there any formula to generate these ideas?" The answer is yes and no. There is no such formula in the view of design. However, there are some methodologies that we can follow to make a beautiful and unique wedding invitation. These methodologies are namely "Make it Grand", "Ready made Concepts" and "Do it abstract".
Make it Grand
This is the most common way to design a wedding invitation. Every detail have to be very nice looking. And it mainly connects with the elements and printing processes adopted in the wedding invitation card. Some common elements that will be used are vine patterns in Victorian style, Monograms or even the word double happiness in the context of Chinese wedding invitation. These elements are used to create a sense of nobleness. To facilitate this sense of nobleness, process such as hot stamping, embossing, engraving and die-cutting will be adopted.
The material used will be paper with sparkling effect. The key of making this wedding invitation look nice will be the way of composing the patterns and the combination of different printing process described. Indeed this kind of design is material and process oriented. One may even feel that the more processes / material is involved, the better the design. Of course the cost of the card will be higher in this case. To make a wedding invitation under the concept of "Make it Grand", a couple has to research on different monograms and patterns to fit their needs. There are plenty of books about this patterns and one good thing is that most patterns in these books are royalty free. Couples can apply these patterns directly to their wedding invitation card design. If they have knowledge in image processing software, they can even make the design themselves and have a print shop to print them out.
Ready made Concepts
The notion of Ready made Concepts does not necessarily mean it is not unique. The true meaning of "Ready made Concepts" here is "picking some ideas / items we see everyday and transform them to wedding invitations". In Hong Kong, there has been wedding invitation design trying to imitate a passport. This is an interesting and creative concept indeed. The couple can put their photos in this "passport". They can even put their story, such as how they met, when they became boy and girl friends in this passport. The wedding invitation is not only an invitation, but also a story book which tells the story of the couple.
Another idea is an air ticket, an air ticket may not be as romantic as the passport since there may not be enough space for telling the stories. However, it is very interesting in sense that a guest gets a "ticket", and with this ticket he/she can attend the wedding ceremony. At this point, it will not be surprising to think of a wedding invitation in the form of a sculpture, or to be more exact, a 3-dimensional piece of wedding invitation. Some wedding invitation providers provide glass bottles as wedding invitations. The only concern for this kind of wedding invitation may cost a couple a lot when they try to mail them out. There are tremendous amount of "Ready made Concepts". Couples can just observe and make their own unique wedding invitation.
Do it Abstract
This is the most difficult concept for wedding invitation design. The concept of the wedding invitation is more abstract but there will be much more meaning in this kind of wedding invitation. A couple, say, Angela and Peter, can make two wedding invitations, one with the initial A and one with P on the covers. Angela's friend will receive invitations with a P and Peter's friend will receive that with an A. In the wedding banquet, the couple will be pulled together.
Every item will be printing with both A and P. This design is based on the following concept. Conceptually Angela and Peter are two different units before marriage, and this is the reason for two wedding invitations. However, starting from the day of marriage, they become one unit and everything is united together as "ONE". All the items such as table cards, Order of Services and Thank You Cards will be printed with both A and P. This kind of wedding invitation may be the most interesting among the three. However, it requires more thought in order to generate the design concept.
About the Author
Jerry Leung is a wedding invitation based in Hong Kong. Leung has a great interest in Chinese Style Wedding Invitations. His works can be found from http://www.983wedding.com/, some other vendors of wedding invitations in USA can be found from http://www.imarry.org/.
Make it Grand
This is the most common way to design a wedding invitation. Every detail have to be very nice looking. And it mainly connects with the elements and printing processes adopted in the wedding invitation card. Some common elements that will be used are vine patterns in Victorian style, Monograms or even the word double happiness in the context of Chinese wedding invitation. These elements are used to create a sense of nobleness. To facilitate this sense of nobleness, process such as hot stamping, embossing, engraving and die-cutting will be adopted.
The material used will be paper with sparkling effect. The key of making this wedding invitation look nice will be the way of composing the patterns and the combination of different printing process described. Indeed this kind of design is material and process oriented. One may even feel that the more processes / material is involved, the better the design. Of course the cost of the card will be higher in this case. To make a wedding invitation under the concept of "Make it Grand", a couple has to research on different monograms and patterns to fit their needs. There are plenty of books about this patterns and one good thing is that most patterns in these books are royalty free. Couples can apply these patterns directly to their wedding invitation card design. If they have knowledge in image processing software, they can even make the design themselves and have a print shop to print them out.
Ready made Concepts
The notion of Ready made Concepts does not necessarily mean it is not unique. The true meaning of "Ready made Concepts" here is "picking some ideas / items we see everyday and transform them to wedding invitations". In Hong Kong, there has been wedding invitation design trying to imitate a passport. This is an interesting and creative concept indeed. The couple can put their photos in this "passport". They can even put their story, such as how they met, when they became boy and girl friends in this passport. The wedding invitation is not only an invitation, but also a story book which tells the story of the couple.
Another idea is an air ticket, an air ticket may not be as romantic as the passport since there may not be enough space for telling the stories. However, it is very interesting in sense that a guest gets a "ticket", and with this ticket he/she can attend the wedding ceremony. At this point, it will not be surprising to think of a wedding invitation in the form of a sculpture, or to be more exact, a 3-dimensional piece of wedding invitation. Some wedding invitation providers provide glass bottles as wedding invitations. The only concern for this kind of wedding invitation may cost a couple a lot when they try to mail them out. There are tremendous amount of "Ready made Concepts". Couples can just observe and make their own unique wedding invitation.
Do it Abstract
This is the most difficult concept for wedding invitation design. The concept of the wedding invitation is more abstract but there will be much more meaning in this kind of wedding invitation. A couple, say, Angela and Peter, can make two wedding invitations, one with the initial A and one with P on the covers. Angela's friend will receive invitations with a P and Peter's friend will receive that with an A. In the wedding banquet, the couple will be pulled together.
Every item will be printing with both A and P. This design is based on the following concept. Conceptually Angela and Peter are two different units before marriage, and this is the reason for two wedding invitations. However, starting from the day of marriage, they become one unit and everything is united together as "ONE". All the items such as table cards, Order of Services and Thank You Cards will be printed with both A and P. This kind of wedding invitation may be the most interesting among the three. However, it requires more thought in order to generate the design concept.
About the Author
Jerry Leung is a wedding invitation based in Hong Kong. Leung has a great interest in Chinese Style Wedding Invitations. His works can be found from http://www.983wedding.com/, some other vendors of wedding invitations in USA can be found from http://www.imarry.org/.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
