Archive for the ‘Ceremony’ Category

Social Wedding Posts – January 2012 in Review

February 1st, 2012 | Rss Feed

We are starting 2012 off in the right direction.  Please see our best social wedding related posts.  You can check us out on Facebook with our link in the right sidebar to follow us!

January 2 - Unbelievable Story – Swedish woman finds wedding ring after 16 years, on a carrot - http://yhoo.it/tgkG33

January 3 - Video posted by GMA on Yahoo! – Wedding Trends 2012: Liposuction, Breast Lifts for Brides-to-Be? - http://bit.ly/wA18OG

January 3 - Just for a laugh – BofA: New Bride Can’t Deposit Wedding Checks Because She Didn’t Take Husband’s Name http://huff.to/yrd7gM

January 4 - Hot news story on MSN – Destruction of wedding dresses sparks outrage, disbelief - http://on.today.com/yrcGyM

January 4 - Wedding Saving Tip – Skip save-the date cards. Instead, save trees and send emails through services like Pingg http://bit.ly/vdzP1u

January 5 - Article on MSN – 50 Genius Wedding Cost Cutters -http://bit.ly/whYh7Z

January 5 - Wedding Saving Tip – People are smart and they can follow a basic wedding ceremony without a program. Save the money unless necessary.

January 6 - The next BIG celebrity wedding Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel?http://huff.to/yPfOvo

January 6 - Easiest wedding centerpiece? Buy a potted plant and a pot that suites your wedding style. Then, care for the plants with sun and water as needed until your wedding day. Hope you have a green thumb!

January 7 - A retro DIY project for place cards – Get music cassettes and create your own custom label with the guest’s name on it.http://amzn.to/tKhpOv

January 8 - Planning a late-night wedding reception party fest? Consider a late snack before guests drive home like burgers, tacos, and pizza.http://mcd.to/xD77As

January 9 - A photo album of upcoming 2012 celebrity weddings http://on-msn.com/xsRT5a. Includes Drew Barrymore, Matthew McConaughey, Britney Spears, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Mario Lopez and LeBron James.

January 9 - Picture of Vera Wang’s wedding dress for Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott - http://bit.ly/wPksax

January 10 - Found a great article thought we would share for decor ideas – 10 Great Etsy Shops You Need to Know - http://bit.ly/xsh1wj

January 10 - Trying to lose a few lbs before the wedding? New Year: New You: 5 easy ways to get fit at home for Under $50 - http://abcn.ws/zkjzGI

January 10 - OMG – This is a very funny photo at a wedding. No one is safe from the photographer; including the alter boy!http://imgur.com/gallery/bBs7D We all have seen photos like this. Sometimes they make the best pics – photojournalistic photography! Check out Wedding Photojournalist Assn for more infohttp://www.wpja.com/

January 11 - A unique guestbook is to have a dictionary http://amzn.to/rzKipJ with colored pencils. Then, guests circle a word and write a story about it on the page that describes the bride and groom. Better yet, go to a garage sale and get an older edition to add a more unique aspect.

January 12 - Creating a DIY centerpiece? Check out supplies from Michaels, Joanne’s, Pier 1, Target, Hobby Lobby, Walmart and local craft stores! You can do it! I read today that 90% of Americans are within 15 miles of a Walmart.

January 14 - Wedding Saving Tip – Skip printing menus for every guest. DIY Project – Make your own giant menu from particle board and chalkboard paint

January 15 - Love music? Download the sheet music for your favorite songhttp://bit.ly/rrEnn9 Then, roll the paper for a candy favor or cover.

January 16 - Wedding Saving Tip – Want to save cash on your wedding cake? Use real flowers vs sugar flowers as they are less expensive to buy than make.

January 16 - Great wedding video of the groom and groomsmen dancing for the bride to Justin Bieber’s Baby Baby Baby. http://bit.ly/wbmcTW

January 17 - Pinterest is an online pinboard. We found their page for wedding events with very cool picture ideas. Check it out! http://pinterest.com/all/?category=wedding_events

January 17 - Wedding Reception Tip – Having a low-lying table centerpiece? Be sure it is lower than 14″ so that guests can talk with each other effortlessly.

January 18 - 12 months before the wedding, decide on a wedding budget. Utilize our wedding budget calculator: http://bit.ly/vB2xqX

January 18 - Feel Good Story – Cancer Diagnosis Leads To Impromptu Weddinghttp://news.yahoo.com/video/portlandmewmtw-18230145/cancer-diagnosis-leads-to-impromptu-wedding-27910134.html via @YahooNews

January 19 - Wedding Saving Tip – Skip a second reception dress. Purchase a comfortable wedding dress that you can dance all night long in

January 20 - ad wedding story but a reminder to live life to the fullest! – Man Marries Dead Girlfriend In Joint Funeral And Wedding Ceremony In Thailand - http://aol.it/xrf3r8

January 20 - Add some flare to wedding invitations with personalized stickers. Visit Partyink on Etsy as an example. http://etsy.me/tiwycj

January 22 - According to The Wedding Report – The total average wedding spending for 2011 was $25,631, a 3.4% decrease from the 2010 total of $26,542.

January 23 - Wedding Honeymoon Saving Tip – Top 5 Travel Sites To Help You Save Money article - http://bit.ly/z6zpLF

January 24 - Wedding Tip – Spend money on what matters to you. If you will throw away napkins, then why get them printed? Instead, upgrade photography package as your pictures will last a lifetime!

January 25 - Wedding Saving Tip – If you are watching every penny and have pretty handwriting, skip a calligrapher – Plus, print on your PC as there are many special fonts available.

January 26 - Interesting wedding photographer’s story online – Why Wedding Photographers Prices are “Wack” - http://bit.ly/x7oGSD

January 30 - Wedding Saving Tip – DIY project, decorate your vehicle with a Just Married theme and skip paid for transportation. Also think tandem bike.

January 30 - Wow! Interesting wedding photo album – Dad missed brother’s wedding, photoshopped him in - http://imgur.com/a/rSXoc

January 31 - A picture of a sign at a wedding venue. Not your typical wedding location! http://bit.ly/y6EeI8

January 31 - Not sure what to do with your flowers after the wedding? Donate them! Consider senior center, nursing home, church or hospice center. Keep in mind that hospitals will not accept flowers due to health risks.

Posted in Articles for Planning a Wedding, Centerpieces, Ceremony, Decor, Planning | No Comments »
 

Wedding Timeline Countdown

December 21st, 2011 | Rss Feed

There is a timeline tradition for any wedding.  This is a suggestion of when you should have particular details of your wedding completed (or at least started) by month.  Here is a guideline for your consideration:

wedding timeline

12 Months – Announce your engagement, choose a wedding theme, work out a budget, research wedding professionals (caterer, florist, DJ or band, photographer and videographer) and venues.  You can also set appointments with the wedding pros at this time.

11 Months – Select a wedding consultant (if you are using one), meet with caterers and arrange tastings, select and book the caterer, select and book the music entertainment (band/DJ), decide on music selections, select and reserve your venue, (ceremony and reception), start thinking about your wedding dress.  If you are choosing a destination wedding, now would be the best time to send save the date cards.

10 Months – Choose and purchase your wedding dress and veil.  Choose attendants and discuss with them their duties and what you expect of them.  If choosing a park or recreational area for the venue, secure the proper permits.

9 Months – Register for your wedding gifts, decide on food for the reception, choose whether you will have an open bar, limited bar or no alcohol at your reception, make a playlist for your music, research places for guests to stay, reserve blocks of rooms at a local hotel for guests.

8 Months – Go to your first gown fitting, order bridesmaid dresses and accessories, look at wedding rings, confirm florist and discuss wedding theme and flower arrangements, start making a decision regarding invitations (style, color, font, etc),

7 Months – Review and finalize your wedding details with your consultant, set fittings for bridesmaids’ dresses, choose tux styles for groomsmen,  select a flower girl and ring bearer, choose and purchase wedding rings, finalize invitations.

6 Months – Review invitation proofs and make changes if needed, finalize invitations, discuss honeymoon ideas, meet with travel agent, work on wedding decorations (table decorations, favors, etc).

5 Months – Order place cards and programs, finalize honeymoon arrangements, make reservations for rehearsal dinner and menu.

4 Months – Get groom to try on tuxedos and purchase accessories, work on vow’s, make appoint with stylist regarding hair and makeup, address wedding invitations.

3 Months – Approve anything that is being printed for the wedding (programs, place cards, etc), decide about rehearsal dinner, next day brunch and reserve restaurants, discuss bachelorette party, review registry and make any adjustments.

2 Months – Mail invitations, purchase wedding gifts for wedding party members, go to second (possibly final) gown fitting, have groom make final decision regarding tux and reserve, arrange transportation for bride and groom to reception from ceremony site, purchase ceremony accessories (unity candle, wine glasses, etc).

6 Weeks – Send rehearsal dinner invitations, write thank you notes as you receive gifts, confirm music playlist with music entertainment, purchase any remaining wedding favors or table decorations, purchase a gift for your spouse-to-be, meet with stylist again for a practice run (take veil with you).

4 Weeks – Confirm with florist and arrange delivery times, meet with officiant to discuss details, determine any seating arrangements and reception layout, placement of cake table, placement of DJ or band, schedule an appointment for a mani/pedi  just before the wedding, schedule pick up of grooms tux, finalize photographer and videographer.

3 Weeks – Go over RSVP’s and finalize head count with caterer, call anyone who has not responded to get accurate count.

1 Week – Confirm honeymoon arrangements and start packing, pick up wedding dress and tux.

WEDDING DAY – Eat a good breakfast, attend hairstyle appointment and make up appointment.  RELAX and ENJOY  yourself!!

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Posted in Articles for Planning a Wedding, Attire, Beauty, Bride, Ceremony, Entertainment, Groom, Honeymoon, Invitations, Jewelry, Photography, Planners, Planning, Reception, Venue, Videography, Vows | No Comments »
 

DIY Ring Bearer’s Wedding Pillow

October 3rd, 2011 | Rss Feed

Want to save a little money on your wedding?  How about making your own ring bearer’s pillow?   It is not as hard as it sounds even if you are not the craftiest person around.  The easiest way to go about it is to first find a form in the size you want the pillow to be.  Pillow forms are basically already made pillows that need to have covers made for them.  They can either be pieces of foam cut to whatever shape and size you choose, or they may actually be a small pillow that you just want to change to look like a ring bearer’s pillow.  If you are a little more adept with a sewing machine, you can also just make your pillowcase and fill it with fiberfill.

ring bearer pillow

Once you have decided on a shape and size, you need to choose a material you like.  This is a perfect time to customize another aspect of your wedding.  Ring bearer’s pillows do not just need to be white on white.  You may choose to make it any color that fits the theme of your wedding.  If the bide has chosen an ivory color wedding dress, then you may choose to make the pillow with ivory colored material.  Have a white dress that has a red sash?  Make the pillow white with red ribbons to tie the rings in place.  Anything you choose is perfectly acceptable for your wedding.

After you have chosen shape, size and material, you need to give some thought to what you want the finished pillow to look like.  Do you want a smooth pillow?  Maybe you want something with a more gathered look.  Here are a couple of ideas.

Smooth pillow – Say your pillow is going to be a 12-inch square pillow.  Cut your material 13 inches square.  Put right sides of the material together, pin in place, and then sew three of the four sides with a ¼ inch seam allowance.  Leave one side open to insert your pillow form into.  After inserting the pillow form, fold down a ¼ in seam allowance on both sides of the open end of fabric.  Carefully sew up the open edge with a simple whipstitch.  This pillow will be smooth on both sides.  You can now decorate the pillow any way you choose.  Add ribbons, flowers, lace, buttons, or anything else you may choose.  If you are very good at sewing, you can add some cording around the outside edge of the pillow.

Gathered look – This look can be a little faster to put together easily because you do not need to be as careful with the fabric.  With the gathered look you need to measure your fabric larger than the pillow’s intended finished size.  Cut the fabric with pinking shears on all four sides.  Place pillow form in the middle and start gathering the fabric around the form.  Start with opposite corners and bring them together over the center of the pillow.  Next, add in the other two corners.  When all four corners are together in the center of the pillow, pull in the edges so that you are pulling the fabric tight around the pillow.  When the fabric is tight around the form you can secure it with a rubber band.  Make sure that the rubber band is as tight as you can get it to keep the pillow from coming apart.  Take your pinking shears and trim off any fabric that you feel sticks out too far.  Make sure you do not trim it too short or it will come loose from the rubber band.  Cover the band with some ribbon and add any other decorations you like.  One good thing about this type of pillow cover is that it can be temporary.  You can always undo the pillow covering after the wedding.

Be as creative as you like for your ring bearer’s pillow.  You are only limited by your imagination.

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Wedding Songs Can Make a Wedding Ceremony Really Special

October 6th, 2010 | Rss Feed

Summary: It is your best friend’s wedding and you want to make it really special for her but do not know what to do or how to go about it. Then you should take charge of selecting the wedding songs to be played on the special day. Read this article to find out what type of songs and music you need to choose for the wedding ceremony.

Without doubt wedding songs are an integral part of a wedding ceremony. Thus, it becomes important to choose the right songs so as to make the wedding more memorable. So what type of wedding songs to choose? This can be a bit tricky with the option to choose from millions of songs and thousands of wedding songs. But then, the whole task can be quite enjoyable too. While choosing the songs, one consideration could be whether the wedding will be a traditional or contemporary affair. Depending on the type of wedding, songs can be chosen to reflect the whole ambiance of the wedding.

If the wedding ceremony is planned to take place in a traditional manner, then slow-moving traditional songs can be played. Though, it is not a hard and fast rule to opt for traditional songs. Some contemporary love songs can be played too. There are lots of songs that can certainly make the ceremony quite lively. Another good option could be to hire a pianist. The pianist can play at a slower tempo and could give the feeling of the start of the ceremony.

Besides a pianist, an orchestra can be a good choice too, with people to play the violin, cello and saxophone. Another great option could be to hire professional singers to sing wedding songs during the whole wedding affair. The professional singers can be asked to sing from the list of selected songs.

You can also purchase a CD of best wedding songs for the special day, if the ceremony is planned to be a simple one. This could be the choice for couples who prefer a small and simple wedding ceremony and do not wish to hire an orchestra. These music CDs will deliver just what is required to be played on the wedding day from traditional wedding songs to groovier and slow dance tracks. One can also choose the songs before hand and get it burned on a CD to be played on the wedding day. The songs can be chosen and downloaded from popular music websites.

However, the most important thing to remember while selecting the wedding songs is to make it absolutely personal for the bride and the bridegroom. The idea should not be just to please the guests but more so to make it memorable for the wedding couple. The first dance of the married couple is special to both the bride and groom and care should be taken to select a song that is liked by both or somehow reflects their love story.

A wedding is a once in a lifetime occasion and it becomes that much more crucial to make it really special and memorable and by choosing the right songs to be played on the wedding day, this goal can be achieved.

To make the wedding ceremony a grand success, songs and music play an important role. By taking care of this need, the wedding can be made quite a special and unforgettable event for both the married couple as well as the guests.

This article has been written by an expert working with WeddingMuseum.com, a website that offers a list of professional wedding planners along with free wedding website service.

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Choosing Your Ceremony Readings

October 19th, 2009 | Rss Feed

Words of Love – Choosing Your Ceremony Readings

by Jean Neuhart

You’re getting married and you want the world, or at least your closest friends and family, to know what’s in your heart.  Choosing ceremony readings that represent the beauty and love of your relationship is a wonderful and relatively easy way to share these feelings and personalize your ceremony.  Your readings should be beautiful, moving and interesting to your guests, reflect the words and feelings in your heart, yet still adhere to the formality and “feel” that you want for your ceremony.

There are so many wonderful sources to find suitable readings.  You can find them in scripture; (I Corinthians 13:4-8 – “Love is patient.  Love is kind  . . . ,” Ephesians 5:21-32 – “Honor Christ by submitting to each other. . . . And the two shall become one.”, Song of Solomon 6:3 – “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine  . . . ”; from selections of poetry (Alfred, Lord Tennyson – “In true marriage lies, Nor equal, or unequal,” anonymous Chinese poet, Han Dynasty – “O, celestial beings, Let our feelings for each other, continue without diminishing,” ); or excerpts from literature, William Shakespeare from As You Like It – “ . . . no sooner met but they looked, no sooner looked but they loved, no sooner loved but they sighed, no sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason, no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy . . . ”).  However, since there are so many, it can get so overwhelming.  Don’t let this send you down the simple route of merely looking at a list of possible selections (usually provided by your officiant or person who is helping with the ceremony), and picking a couple readings only because they’re on his/her list and therefore must be the appropriate choices.  Visit your local library and look under topics such as poetry, literature, and wedding readings.  Check your (and your fiancé’s) bookshelves, and music collection.  Some of the most beautiful words of love are song lyrics.

Don’t be too quick to dismiss readings that have “been done.”  If you find yourself hesitating over a particular selection because you’re afraid that your guests will groan, “Oh, no!  Not this one again,” stop a moment and give it a thorough once over.  Read the selection out loud, or have someone read it to you. The spoken word has a much greater impact than just seeing them on a piece of paper.  You may need to back up a bit to include a preceding verse or sentence or two, or if you have someone who is creative with words, can write a suitable introduction.  Including this intro can help make the “same old” come alive, becoming something that is new and fresh.  In a beautiful introduction to Corinthians 13:4-8, an aunt of the bride described the differences between love and infatuation.  An excerpt follows.  “Infatuation is fleeting desire.  True love is a friendship that has caught fire.  Infatuation says we must get married right away,  I can’t risk losing you.  Love says be patient, don’t panic, plan your future with confidence.  Infatuation might lead you to do things you will regret.  Love never steers you in the wrong direction.  God, in His amazing, infinite wisdom, said it perfectly in Corinthians.”

Of course, you’ll want to take special care in choosing the person(s) who will be your readers.  Look for someone who is comfortable in front of a crowd, and can read in a good speaking voice.  Even the most beautiful, emotion evoking words will lose their meaning if read in a droning, monotone voice.

Finally, to avoid any unpleasant surprises on your wedding day, make sure to obtain a list of rules and regulations from your ceremony site regarding what they do and do not permit for a wedding ceremony, and get your officiant’s okay before finalizing any choices.  And remember, if worse comes to worse, and you aren’t allowed to use a reading that you just cannot imagine doing without – have someone read it at the reception.  Words of Love aren’t just for the ceremony.

About the Author

Jean Neuhart is the owner of Weddings From The Heart. As a Professional Bridal Consultant, she helps busy brides and their fiances plan creative, personalized and stress-free weddings. Visit Jean at www.weddingsfromtheheart.net.  You can email her at jean@weddingsfromtheheart.net.

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