Beach Wedding Dresses

Wedding is the most auspicious occasion. Instead of the normal wedding party, some of you might prefer your wedding at an exotic location with an ocean view. Organizing wedding on a beach would convey your message to your beloved how romantic and thoughtful you are. Although it may sound a very unique concept but many beaches around the world are witnessing the vows of two hearts. Now days it has become very common for a couple to fly down to tropical island and take their vows on the surface of beach and sand. The wedding at beach doesn’t let you wear long flowing gowns. The wedding is very informal which makes it important to wear something comfortable and casual. Keeping this in mind, varied ranges of beach wedding dress are available which provides refined and classy look. Some of the wedding dress that could be worn is strapless dress, halter, one-shoulder dress and ones with sleeves as well. Avoid wearing headpieces and full formal skirts as this would look out of place.

With this wedding trend becoming more popular, the designers are coming up with innovative and unique ideas perfect for the occasion. For the beach wedding, its utmost vital to consider the quality of fabric as you might have to travel a lot and also the fabric should not be out of place in high humidity. The destination brides should spend some time in market research for their wedding dress so that they can look trendier yet they should feel like a bride and not like a guest in a party. The beach wedding dress should be a perfect merge of elegance and simplicity. The beach wedding can let you enjoy the sun tan in your comfortable wedding outfit. The wedding becomes more personalized with only few of your close friends and relatives attending the ceremony. This involves more frolic and enjoyment. After the small celebration, the newly wed couple skips off to honeymoon in their pre-arranged accommodation.

Even though the beach wedding is very informal, make sure to pick the right accessories with your wedding dress. The bride will look magnificent by plugging some fresh flowers in her hair. It will not only make you look fresh but also will complement the wedding theme. Try not to tie up your hair completely, instead allow it to flow naturally. Proper care should be taken to cover up your lovely feet. Go for flip-flops or sandals instead of shoes, which will go right with an informal beach wedding dress. This would be the most appropriate decision yet it will come in your budget as well. Also, inform your guest well in advance that it would be an informal party otherwise they will end up in formal outfit. To make the wedding livelier, the invitation card should also relate to the theme of the party. It should be vary casual and to provide a more personalized touch give a hand made invitation card. Also plan what you are going to give to your guest as favors. A pair of flip-flops or sandal to ladies would be a great as well as an inexpensive idea.

One of the unique selling points of a beach wedding is that you don’t have to much thoughtful about your wedding attire. In fact, the wedding dress could be picked off the rack for the couple with short engagement. You might even be lucky to get a perfect fitting beach wedding dress without any need for alterations. Even if alterations are required it would be normally minimal and wouldn’t take much of your time. One important factor to consider is the weather. Even if you have planned your wedding in a beautiful day, the breezes at the ocean might blow off some loosely fitted part of the dress. Look for some better options to avoid such inconvenience. Make sure to pin your hat properly, if you consider wearing one. Besides, opt for the dress as per the season as well. If you are uncomfortable to carry a floral bouquet with your wedding informal frock, take few long stemmed lilies or white roses beautifully laced with a ribbon. A small basket filled with roses, lilies or daisies look good too. In fact, flowers perfectly complement your beach wedding.

While giving the order for your beach wedding dress make sure to ask about the expected delivery time. Make sure that your wedding attire is handover to you few days well in advance. This will give you enough time for trial and making some alterations if required. If possible ask them to give in writing about the arrival time of your dress. Most important thing is that it’s the most important day of your life so try to make it as special as you can. The perfect location, perfect man and your perfect dress, there could be nothing more that you could have desired for.

Running a wedding car business

Running a wedding car business can be, although stressful, interesting and exciting. You are among beautiful cars, you often meet new people and you have the feeling that you help them have a perfect wedding day.

You have to always think how to fulfil and extend your clients' wishes, while remaining competitive and increasing your income. There are some tips that you can follow.

Firstly, you should have your auto park kept in best possible conditions. Enlarge the number of the cars according to the clients wishes. Most of them want limousines or old cars for their wedding day. But a lot of other cars are required for the guests. Be flexible and accept to decorate the cars according to their wishes (flowers, traditional white or colored ribbons).

Secondly, make sure that you have hired the best personnel. A fully trained chauffeur is not only a must, but can add a plus to your firm's image. They have to be professional, persuasive, but friendly.

Then it would be better to have different offer packages (for example transports from the bride's house to the church, from here to the restaurant and from there to the chosen hotel or the airport / railway station).

It will be also a plus for your business if you assure the exclusivity of the car on the wedding day (everybody will be more relaxed and it will be plenty of time for photographs).

The wedding transport plays an important part of the celebration. You and your firm have the possibility to help making the wedding day a day to remember!
North East Wedding Cars.

Make Money Creating Wedding/Memorial Scrapbooks

If you're familiar with creating scrapbooks then you have a work at home business waiting to be opened in your lap. Scrapbooks are a wonderful way to treasure wedding memories or the memories of a lost loved one.

To create a wedding scrapbook for a client you will need to attend the wedding or reception in order to gather photographs and quotes from family and friends of the happy couple. For this you will need a digital camera and a small tape recorder or notepad.

If the scrapbook is meant to be a memorial for someone you will need to gather photographs of the person from his or her relatives. Try to get photos from all phases of the person's life. Ask the friends and family of the person to recall their memories of their loved one.

It would be best to use a tape recorder for this for accuracy. You don't want entire chapters about the person, just words he or she said or funny events that occurred in their life.

Use the wedding's theme for the wedding scrapbook. Use items from the wedding in the scrapbook, pressed flowers, ribbons, and lace from the veil, the couple's vows, and even the groom's tie. This scrapbook will become a family treasure. You want the scrapbook to bring the wedding to life each time someone opens it.

For the memorial scrapbook try to base the theme on the person being honored. What is the one personality trait or hobby or quirk of his or hers that the person's relatives remember best? Was the person a comedian, an avid fisher, or the scholarly type? Was the person a proud veteran? Maybe he or she was a community activist.

Try to use small objects from the person's life in the scrapbook to personalize it, a bit of cloth from a favorite dress, favorite flowers, awards, the ugly tie a child bought for a dad's birthday or for Father's Day, school drawings made by the person's children.

While performing either scrapbook service you must remember that discretion is of utmost importance. For example, leave out the embarrassing remark the bride's aunt made no matter how funny you may think it. Don't include an ugly quote or memory in the memorial scrapbook. Your clients won't appreciate it.

To advertise your wedding scrapbook service create eye-catching business cards and brochures on your computer and leave them at bridal shops, at stores with wedding registries, and place ads in your local newspaper. You might try church bulletins boards as well, as long as the powers that be don't mind.

For your memorial scrapbook service leave brochures at funeral homes, place newspaper ads, and leave your card with the ministers and priests in your town. Act with respect and discretion. In other words, don't hand out brochures at the funeral.

When a client asks about your service it would be wise to have a scrapbook you've already made on hand that you can show the client to demonstrate your skill. Your client wants to know what he or she is getting in exchange for their hard-earned money.

But how much should you charge?

People are willing to pay well for a truly beautiful scrapbook of their memories. $50 to $100 isn't unreasonable for the work and time you put into the scrapbook. You could charge more for a really detailed wedding scrapbook.

Charging more for a detailed memorial album would be up to you. But it might be wise to set a fixed price for memorial albums, for example $50 for a small album and $75 for a large album.

You don't want to seem as if you're trying to gouge the mourning family as doing so could harm your business reputation. Treat the family with respect and do the finest job possible on their scrapbook. Soon word of your skill will spread to other people interested in having a memorial album created.

Put your love for creating scrapbooks to work, and one day you can create a scrapbook about your successful business that you created one memory at a time.

Kids Wedding Reception Activities

Not all brides and grooms want to exclude children from their wedding. Many are happy to welcome children into their wedding both as members of the wedding party and as guests.

Having children at a wedding, however, poses a myriad of problems. Do you leave the children to their own devices and hope they behave and don't get in the way? Do you provide a room with childcare so they are "present" but not too much under foot? Perhaps the best solution is a simple mix of both, with a smattering of fun built in.

First of all, if children are invited to the wedding, take into consideration the ages of the children. Babies will have to stay with mom and/or dad, for a variety of reasons. So planning to have all the children in another room might not be feasible. But if the children are toddlers up to about age 12, you can provide a separate room for them with childcare and a make a number of activities available to them.

If the children will be in a separate room at the reception, you can provide a coloring table, perhaps a TV with an appropriate movie ready to roll, and some board games. That could probably be enough for the duration of the wedding reception. Be aware of a few things: there should be a ratio of at least 1 adult for every 5 children if the children are toddlers, or 1 adult to every 10 children if the kids are older. Don't expect the kids to take up the activities on their own, but rather tell the childcare provider to get the kids involved in the activities by doing them him or herself.

What if the children will be part of the reception festivities? What activities can be geared specifically to children at the reception? There are plenty of things you can do, really. You can certainly plan a coloring table at the back of the reception hall or room. There, you can provide loads of paper, coloring books, markers and crayons. Paints are not recommended, for obvious reasons, and moms will thank you if you remember to supply the kids with washable markers and crayons only.

The art table can be more than just coloring, however. Buy a huge bag of pipe cleaners. Kids can amuse themselves for long periods of time, making animals, odd figures and the like. Make sure you have at least 20 or more pipe cleaners for each child, however, as children can go through these quickly. Think about "clean" clay, the new products that don't stick to anything and don't leave a trace on furniture. With a few different colors, kids can create a variety of figures, faces or forms.

Many brides like to plan more formally for their small guests. There are several options if this is the route you want to take. One popular option is to have paid entertainment on hand just for the children. This can take place in a separate room or toward the back of the reception room or hall if it's large and the guest list is big. You can hire a clown or a balloon artist. You can have someone braid the children's hair and provide temporary tattoos. If there is a separate room available, you can even hire a children's musician to come and entertain the kids. The options are endless.

If no plans are made for the children, but they arrive at the wedding expecting entertainment, you'll have to make some plans. One option is a "child only" dance, which allows only the children on the dance floor. This is not only cute to watch, and could be entertaining as well, but it will bring a smile to the face of every grandma and grandpa present.

Interesting Wedding Night Rituals from Around The World

Weddings are occasions of lasting traditions and rituals. All over the world, people’s beliefs, culture and history has affected this memorable event. It is common knowledge that wedding ceremonies are different all over the world, but did you know that the diversity extends even on the wedding night? Read this to know the interesting activities that couples, families and friends do before letting the newlyweds reach a night of wedding bliss!

It is customary in an American wedding for the bride and groom to hop into a get-away car with tin cans attached to the rear of the car, off to their secret honeymoon, immediately after the wedding. Did you know that this rooted from escaping a Celtic wedding night tradition?

In Gaelic cultures, it was a tradition for friends and family of the couple to mess with the couple’s wedding night. In the olden days, when couples spend their wedding night in a barn, girl friends of the bride would dress her for bed and ask each of the male guests to kiss her good night. The friends would do other things to prevent the groom from seeing her new wife. Even if the couple finally comes together, they would disturb the union by making noise outside the barn and even peep into the couple, while drinking the night away. The couple waits for everyone to get too drunk to eventually leave them alone. This kind of prank is something that newly weds want to get away from, thus, they keep their honeymoon destination a secret and speed away after the wedding.
More Celtic wedding night ritual come from Scotland: sleeping in the barn on the first night, sprinkling water on the marriage bed for luck and staying for a week with the bride's parents before moving into the newlywed’s home.

The Germans and the French do a similar tradition of “disturbing” the wedding night, called Chiverie, known in the US as Shivaree. They make noise outside the place where the couple spends their first night together. Some even play around with the room where they will stay, like put plenty of balloons, spread food all over the bed, and hide alarm clock everywhere, just for fun.
The Romans believed that it was bad fortune when the bride stumbles when entering the newlywed’s house for the first time. Thus, after the wedding, male friends of the couple would carry her over the doorstep. At present, the groom is expected to do the job himself.

In Benin, western Africa, they value virginity. The bride’s mother rewards her with cash if she’s a virgin at their wedding night! In the morning, the sheets that the couples used are inspected for bloodstains. Some mothers even fly the flag out the window, showing off their daughter's bloodstained nightgown. Seriously!

For the Chinese, at the night of the wedding, candles designed with a phoenix and a dragon is lit to drive the evil spirit away. The newlyweds will drink wine from goblets tied together with a red ribbon, while arms intertwined. Then the bride will be given half-raw dumplings, which symbolize prosperity.

Marquesasian (from Polynesia) brides have a notable wedding night ritual: they are expected to have sex with all the male guests and then saving the groom for last. Now that can make your wedding night … extremely unforgettable!

INTERRACIAL COUPLES: Multicultural Weddings - a New Kind of Celebration

Planning a wedding is a very personal matter, and a stressful one too. Many interracial couples are encountering even more stresses when attempting to prepare a celebration that combines two cultures. There is little in the way of resources for those planning for a multicultural wedding, and thus, the current and past generations of planners can be considered pioneers of the multicultural wedding evolution. With over 1.6 million multicultural marriages in the United States, it is apparent that multicultural weddings will be the trend of the future. While many couples prefer their weddings to be culturally neutral, others are facing the multiethnic issue face on and are incorporating both cultures in a unique style of their own.

There are many cultural groups that are currently practicing multicultural wedding traditions, including Jewish-Korean, Japanese-Protestant, and Hindu-Catholic, just to name a few. These pairings are facing increasing social acceptance and as a result the popularity of having multicultural weddings is on the rise. Multicultural weddings are difficult to organize because a variety of factors, over and above the normal elements of cultural neutral weddings must be considered. Choosing the right mix of religious, ethnic and traditional parts of the ceremony is time consuming and emotional. Even the basics, i.e. location, food, and clothing can be the most strenuous problems to solve. Deeply cultural families and paying families tend to get involved and feel the most offended when portions of their traditions are omitted. Sometimes, the best decision is to compromise and create new traditions that are composed of both cultures.

Interracial couples do not necessarily have to be practicing members of their culture in order to celebrate with traditional customs. To give a wedding character and to celebrate one's family, couples will draw upon their favorite and most appropriate customs to include in the wedding. Multiethnic weddings can contain as much or as little cultural detail, giving the couple more control over the overwhelming interests of both families. Weddings consists of such a vast variety of factors from invitations, flowers and music to dress, food and the ceremony itself, that there are an infinite number of ways of adjusting and tweaking the wedding to suit everyone's desires.
Although there is no such thing as a cookie-cutter multiethnic wedding, there are still many ways of getting help with difficult planning choices. Wedding planners, caterers, friends and family are excellent resources for designing a custom multicultural wedding. Weddings are personal experiences, and the best one's are the most unique.

 

Have you attended a Gujarati Wedding?

The Gujarati weddings are full of splendor and fun. As most of the Gujarati population indulge in business rather than employment, they are financially well off and hence money is never a problem at such weddings. A function like a wedding also serves as a rapport development exercise between customers and vendors.

The following rituals are performed in a guajarati marriage. Let us first have look at the pre marriage rituals.

First among the pre marriage rituals is the Mandap Mahurat.
Here the families of both the bride and groom in their respective homes and the groom seek the blessings of the lord Ganesha.  The house is full of relatives at such times and every one enjoys the wedding. Such a pooja is performed a few days before the actual marriage and is performed by a priest.

Graha shanti is performed by the all the relatives who have gathered in the house to attend the wedding.  The priest decides an auspicious time  for the pooja and the entire family performs this pooja at such times.

Jaan is an interesting ritual performed at the bride's residence. The grooms, along with his family arrive at the bride's residence and seek the blessing of the in laws.

Now its wedding time.

The bride and groom arrive at the wedding location in their own decorated vehicles. Both the bride and the groom change to the wedding attire and come on the common dais. Here the first function to be performed is the Kanya Daan. The bride's father lays trust on the groom that his daughter will the well taken care of. As per the rituals, the brides are considered the Goddess Laxmi and groom is considered Lord Narayana. The father of the brides takes her hand and places it on the hand of the groom. All these are performed before the sacred fire.

Hasta Milap is a step further to Kanya Daan. The grooms scarf and the bride's sari are tied in a knot which signifies their union before the entire guest, who are present on the occasion. This is done by the priest who performs a pooja along side the sacred fire.

The final step before the couple is fully married is called Saptapadi. This is very significant ritual. This is performed in the north India by walking around the sacred fire. In case of Gujarati and some other communities, the priest places 7 small heaps of rice on the floor. The bride and the groom take 7 vows together as the bride places the here thumb on each of the small heaps of rice. In case of Gujarati , the couple also takes 4 mangal pheras,  which represent "Dharma", "Artha", "Kama" and "Moksha".

Now the couple is married and is now man and wife in full view of the entire guest present. The couple then seeks the blessing of the all the elderly guest present for their long happy married life.

All these rituals are over by the mid of after noon. The bride and the groom go to their respective homes if they are nearby and now the post marriage ceremony takes place.

The Reception takes in full splendor. One of the best halls is selected. The bride and groom are seated at and decorated seat on the dais. They are visible to each of the guest who arrives at the reception. The guest meets the couple one at a time and exchange greeting and gifts with them. This goes on till all the guest has been attended by the bride and the groom. The guests then have their dinner and so do the bride and the groom.

Now the reception is over, it is time for the bride to leave the fathers  house to be with her newly wed husband. Here we have the Vidaai ceremony in which the bride gives a tearful farewell to her family.

Now one last ceremony before the couple start their married life.
This is called the Ghar ni Laxmi. The bride is considered as Laxmi of the house and is welcomed to the groom's house. A bride pushes down and vessel filled with rice. All the grooms' family gather around the couple and then they play some games. These are fun games which are intended to help the bride mix with the groom's family members.

After some of the games, the bride and groom are left together to start their married life.

We wish them both a long happy married life.

Free Wedding Invitation Templates

For casual ceremonies, the sky is really the limit as to style.
But most weddings follow a certain set of formalities in their
invitations. Here is a template for a normal wedding invitation:

         Mr. and Mrs. John Doe
   request the honour of your presence
    at the marriage of their daughter
              Kathryn Marie
                   and
          Mr. James Henry Smith
     on Saturday, the tenth of July
         two thousand and five
            at seven o’clock
          First Baptist Church
            222 Ellerbe Road
              Paris, Texas

As for a formal wedding template, there are some rules of wording
that are appropriate:

1.  Spell out every word, even the date and year. Street, not St.
Road, not Rd.
2.  Use Roman numerals in titles, such as David Kenneth Williams
III. Do not use "3rd" or "third".
3.  For weddings in a church, say "request the honour of your
presence". For non-religious weddings, say "request the pleasure
of your company".
4.  Write out full names. Do not use initials.

You can copy and paste this template onto your word processor for
easy guidance:

       (the name of bride’s parents/parent)
        request the honour of your presence
         at the marriage of their daughter
               (the name of bride)
                      to
               (the name of groom)
                on (weekday name),
    the (day of month, spelled out) of (month)
           at (time, spelled out) o’clock
          (name of church or building)
          (address of church/building)
           (city, state of ceremony)

Optional:
        Reception Immediately Following
                      At
             (name of location)

Directions to the reception hall can be given at the wedding or
on a separate card in the invitation envelope.

Five Things Your Wedding Photographer MUST Offer

You’re getting married, right?  Congratulations! And, you want your wedding day to be as perfect and beautiful as you’ve always dreamed.  But, if you choose the wrong photographer, your day may be a lot less than perfect and you may not be satisfied with the images your photographer captures.  Bummer.  So, how do you choose the right photographer?

Here’s how.  Make sure your wedding photographer offers you these five things. Then you can relax and feel confident the love, special moments and important details of your wedding day will be captured in beautiful images for a lifetime of memories.

1. Do you like the photographer’s work?  Look at a fairly good selection of the photographers wedding images, not just a few photos on a web site.  It’s best if you can see at least an album or two and a proof book of a complete wedding.  The albums probably represent the best of the photographer’s work, and the proof book shows all the typical images he or she captures during a wedding day. How do the images look to you?  Are they pleasing to look at?  Does the lighting and the color look good to you?  Is the photographer’s style what you are looking for?  Most of our bridal couples are looking for a mix of photojournalistic images and classic posed traditional ones.  Make sure your photographer is capable of, and comfortable with, taking the style of images you want for your wedding.  If you don’t like the photographer’s work, there is no need to consider them further.  Also, make sure the work you see was done by the photographer who will photograph your wedding.  Some studios will show you a lot of good work from various photographers, but will not guarantee you will get the photographer whose work you like the best. Sometimes, a husband and wife team like ours is the best way to be sure the photographer’s work you see is the work you will get.

2. Do you like the photographer’s personality and mannerisms?  Is the photographer confident, easy going and not a nervous ninny? Does the photographer have a good sense of humor?  Remember, the photographer will be present through most of your wedding day, interacting with you, your wedding party, your family, and your guests.  A demanding, inflexible, and uptight photographer can make your day unpleasant.  I know you don’t want that!  Make sure you and your spouse-to-be get along well with the photographer you choose.  If the photographer is going to have a second photographer help at your wedding, meet the assistant photographer and make sure you feel comfortable with them also.  To get to know your photographer before you choose them, it is really important you meet with them personally.  If it is physically impossible to meet with the photographer, you should make sure some of their testimonials from previous clients make you feel comfortable with the photographer’s personality.

3. Does the photographer have a strong sense of commitment to photographing your wedding and a professional work ethic?  Does the photographer use professional cameras, lenses and flash systems?  Does he or she have at least some lenses that will produce good images in low light situations (f2.8 aperture)?  Does the photographer use a soft box over the flash and keep the flash above the lens on both horizontal and vertical photos to minimize shadows in their images?  Does he or she always bring a complete set of backup equipment, or bring a second photographer with another set of equipment, to every wedding?  How will the photographer and their assistant be dressed on your wedding day?  Ask them.  Hopefully, they will professional enough to arrive dressed in a tux, suit, or dressy dress.  Although, if your photographer is a man and he says he’s coming in a dressy dress, you might worry a little about that :-).  You should get the feeling that your photographer is dedicated to making sure your wedding day is wonderful, and that all of the love, emotions and important details will be captured in images you will be able to enjoy for the rest of your life.

4. Does your photographer have the experience to anticipate all the good things that will happen on your wedding day, and the experience to deal with the bad things that could happen also?  An experienced photographer will have photographed enough weddings to anticipate and capture special moments during your day, and the important details that may easily be missed by a “newbie”.  An experienced photographer also knows that things do go wrong sometimes and will be able to anticipate and deal with them, often without you even knowing that something went wrong.  That’s why a complete set of backup equipment is necessary.  My little kit of duct tape, extra cables, pen knife with scissors, and band-aids has been a life saver several times.

5. Does your photographer offer you the right value? Not the right price, but, the right value.  If your photographer doesn’t have all of the above four characteristics, it may not matter what their prices are.  If the photographer has all four, that’s a big part of the value they offer you. In this case, the price should be less important.  Just make sure your photographer will provide what is really important to you and is upfront with you about costs for everything you want.  Someone who offers a “low” price up front may sound attractive.  But, things change when you find they charge extra for every location stop, for the digital image files, for a studio set up at the reception, and so on.  A photographer who charges twice as much, but includes almost everything, can often be a better value for you.

So, there you have it.  Choose your wedding photographer based on the above five factors and you will go a long way toward having the wedding of your dreams.  Good luck and congratulations again.

Five Reasons Las Vegas is the Wedding Capital of the World

Las Vegas is the known as not only the Entertainment Capital of the World, but also the Wedding Capital of the World.  Over 120,000 couples now flock there every year to say I do.  There are many reasons so many couples choose to take the plunge in this glitz and glamour city. Let's examine some of them:

1. Where else can you get the exciting wedding options that Las Vegas has to offer?  The wedding packages Las Vegas offer are vast and unusual and many of them can't be found anywhere else.  Drive thru wedding chapels, Elvis ceremonies, and a wide variety of themed wedding packages are just some of the unique wedding opportunities you will find if you choose to say I do in Las Vegas.

2.  The ease of obtaining a marriage license is a big draw for many couples. There are no blood tests and no waiting periods making it easy to be spontaneous. You can wake up one morning and decide you want to get married, hop a flight to Vegas, and be married by that evening.

3. No time consuming wedding planning. Chapels all over the city offer pre arranged wedding packages that include everything you need for your wedding. This takes the stress out of having to plan your nuptials. No having to coordinate the minister, site, photographer, florist, etc. They do it all for you. The biggest decisions you will have to make is deciding which Las Vegas chapel or location to wed at and then choosing the wedding date, time, and package that you want. The wedding coordinators at the location you choose will help you with the rest.

4. It can be very inexpensive. A marriage license costs $55 and a no frills Vegas wedding package starts at about $40 (not including the minister fee) so you can easily say I do for around $200. Figure in the cost of airfare and other travel costs and you can still get by with spending between $1000-2000 which is well below the average cost of a wedding which is now somewhere between $20,000-30,000.

5. After the wedding is over, you can take advantage of the fact that you are in one of the most exciting cities in the world and enjoy some of the wonderful entertainment and attractions that Las Vegas has to offer.

So if you are contemplating Vegas nuptials, know that you can have an easy, affordable, and exciting wedding ceremony if you decide to say your vows in the Wedding Capital of World.

Every Bride Must Have It

Wedding favors are quickly becoming a trendy essential of the wedding celebration. Wedding favors are small gifts that are given to each guest at the wedding reception. It says, “thank you” for coming to our wedding and celebrating this most special day with us.

Wedding favors are becoming an important part of the wedding planning process. Before you make or purchase your wedding favors you have to determine the following:

1. How many people are invited to the wedding?

You need to know how many people are attending the wedding to determine the number of wedding favors needed. Wedding favors are usually bought after the RSVPs to make sure there are enough favors for each guest. Therefore, the favors are usually bough one month or closer to the actual wedding day.

2. What is your budget per guest?

You have to determine the budget for your wedding favors. You can buy some very nice wedding favors for about $2-$3. If you are crafty you can make your own favors, but most people leave it to the professionals and buy their favors.

3. What is your theme?

Your theme or wedding location or the time of the year can determine your wedding favors. For example, a beach wedding calls for a beach theme wedding favor such as a dolphin wine stopper, a seashell candle, or a beach chair candle or cardholder.

Just like the bridal gown, wedding favors are a part of the bride’s to do list. The decision on what favors to give to the guest should be made by the bride and groom. You can purchase inexpensive but useful wedding favors that will end up in someone’s home not in trash can of your reception venue. An elegant wine stopper, a pretty candle, a shiny bottle opener, a personalized chocolate bar all have the power say to your guest “thank you” with style and elegance.

Emerald Gardens: An Elegant Las Vegas Wedding Venue

Emerald Gardens is a beautiful wedding venue located in Las Vegas, west of the famous Las Vegas Strip. This location offers a breathtaking outdoor courtyard for wedding ceremonies and is a great alternative if you aren’t interested in the wedding chapels that Las Vegas is famous for. The courtyard features lush landscaping, flower beds, palm trees with twinkle lights, a gazebo, and amazing views of a golf course and nearby mountains.

Emerald Gardens also has a beautiful banquet room that is great for a memorable wedding reception.  The banquet facility offers a glass staircase, mahogany dance floor, granite bar, and views of the outdoor courtyard area.

Packages offered include a ceremony only package as well as packages for a ceremony and reception.  The ceremony only package is offered Monday through Thursday only.
Ceremony packages include the site, an officiant, music, and a bouquet for the bride and boutonniere for the groom. If you prefer not to have your wedding outdoors, they can arrange your ceremony in the reception room. A bridal dressing room and groom’s room are also available.

Reception packages are available for up to 300 include a disc jockey, wedding cake, buffet style or sit down dinner, and choice of bar packages.  The delicious gourmet menu that they offer is extensive and includes everything from Cornish Game Hens with Herbed Wild Rice Stuffing to Virginia Baked Ham with Brown Sugar, Cloves, and Cinnamon Apple Slices.  Emerald Gardens also gives you a lot of choices when it comes to choosing your wedding cake.  They offer many cake flavors and fillings and have many designs to choose from so you can create the perfect cake for your wedding.

Emerald Gardens is definitely worth looking into if you are looking for an elegant and scenic locale for you wedding ceremony and reception.  Their wedding coordinators can assist you and help take the pain out of planning your special day.

Your Matchmaker Recommends a Titanium Wedding Ring

Your wedding ring is a symbol of eternal love between marriage partners - it shines in the wedding photographs, and it is the first thing your guests will want to look at.   Sadly most wedding rings do not stay shiny and new – after ten years, many gold rings are dented and scratched with no shine.   Did you know that titanium is an option for your wedding ring?

Titanium was first discovered in England in 1791 by Reverend William Gregor.  It is named after the Titans, a race of powerful deities who ruled during the legendary Golden Age. The metal is produced in its highest quantity in Australia, and is prized for its strength and light weight.  This makes it very suitable for anyone involved in manual work, as it will stand up to wear much better than gold.  It is also a hypoallergenic material, making it suitable for sensitive skin.

Until recently, Titanium was most likely to be used in high tech fields such as space and medical fields – if you wear lightweight glasses, they probably contain Titanium.  In jewellery, the use of titanium is a new innovation. Jewellers are just learning that the metal is easy to work with and makes for some very beautiful jewellery. You should be able to find Titanium wedding rings in a variety of designs and styles, set with stones and also inlaid with other precious metals.  If your Matchmaker found you a rich spouse, you can set your titanium ring with diamonds or emeralds.

The good news is that it usually costs less than the equivalent version in other precious metals.  Matrimonial experts will normally advise against trendy wedding rings – as anyone sporting a wide wedding band from the seventies now realises.  However, the look of a Titanium wedding ring is not radically different from gold or platinum but it has so many advantages – lower or average cost, high tensile strength, scratch resistance, and it is hypoallergenic.

Of all the things in your wedding day budget, your wedding ring is the most permanent.  The bridal dress will probably gather dust in a box or go to a charity shop, flowers are gone in a few days, the cake might last until the birth of your first child.  The ring, however, is here forever as a reminder of your love match.  And if your matrimonial arrangement does go wrong, remember that titanium is a stronger material as you take aim to throw it at your beloved!

Your Wedding Budget: Setting And Sticking To It

Want to make sure your marriage doesn't end up on the rocks before you get to the chapel? Then set a realistic wedding budget -- and stick to it.

In the process of planning a wedding, budget concerns often is a source of disagreement for a couple. They may have different ideas about what kind of wedding they want, and about what they can afford. To make the wedding a truly happy occasion, it is important that the couple discusses financial constraints early.

Set A Budget And Save For It

The first tip is -- discuss finances before the wedding plans begin. Everyone involved in the decision-making process needs to understand exactly how much money is available for the wedding.

To maximize that budget, you should start saving early for your wedding. Advance planning and saving will allow you to maintain or even exceed your budget, comfortably. And that will make wedding planning easier and more fun.

Get Everyone On-Board

Once your wedding budget has been established, set it aside for a few days and then review it again. This gives everyone a chance to let the information sink in. The budget review after this waiting period gives the participants a chance to verify that they understand and agree to the budget. This is vitally important, because someone who does not agree with the budget may overspend in 1 area, leaving the rest of the budget in jeopardy.

Budget Line Items

When you've decided exactly how much money is available for your wedding, the next step is to divide the total into budget categories, such as the venue, food and drink, bride's attire, groom's attire, transportation, entertainment, photography, favors, centerpieces, and gifts. It is also advisable to set aside money for unforeseen expenses.

Who Pays

Part of establishing a budget is to be clear on who will pay for what.

Shopping And Negotiating

You will need to negotiate contracts for services, and so you must know the budget for each area of the wedding. If you have allotted $250 for entertainment, look for a DJ whose rate is approximately that amount, then negotiate to ensure that you remain under budget.
 
It's wise to shop around and compare prices for services. A company may come highly recommended, but if they are outside your price range, let them know why you are going to have to choose another company. You may be surprised at how willing they will be to give you a better offer.

Substitute Creativity For Cash

Doing things on your own is another way to stay under budget. Homemade invitations or making your own favors or centerpieces can greatly reduce the wedding cost, freeing up funds for other areas of the wedding.

Do not fall into the trap of viewing your budget as restrictive. Instead of thinking about what you can't afford, focus on how you can make your wedding and reception truly unique. You will be inspired to create a wonderful, memorable wedding regardless of your budget constraints.

Anticipate The Unforeseen

Realize that there are bound to be snags along the way. If you go over budget in 1 area, you will need to cut the budget in another area. As long as you stay aware of your spending and realize the ramifications of all your actions, you can roll with the punches and alter your plans to accommodate any needed changes.

Make It A Wonderful Memory

A wedding budget can cause emotional strain on a couple and their relationship. It is important for them to discuss their finances and establish a clear budget for their wedding plans. Doing this early in the wedding planning process can help the couple to avoid conflict during the planning phase of the wedding. It can also make the wedding more fun for everyone, and start out the marriage on a positive note.

After all, working together is what a marriage is all about.

Elegant Ways to Say I do in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is known as the Wedding Capital of the World and is famous for it’s wedding chapels, drive thru ceremonies and Elvis nuptials.  Although these popular options are available, there are also numerous other ways to say I do in Las Vegas.  Many hotels, resorts, and other locations in the Las Vegas area offer some very elegant and breathtaking wedding sites.

Lake Las Vegas is quickly becoming a very popular destination for weddings in the Las Vegas area.  Located about 17 miles from the famous Strip, this stunning lake location offers ritzy resorts and amazing views of the mountains, desert, and Vegas skyline.  There are many wedding venues to choose from at Lake Las Vegas.  The Ritz Carlton Lake Las Vegas offers several including a cobblestone courtyard in a garden and a lakeside location with a bridge and gazebo.  They also have a beach venue which provides a waterfall, bridge and a dock in a lagoon which acts as the altar.  The MonteLago Village Resort Lake Las Vegas also has several wedding sites to choose from.  A balcony in a hotel suite, a gazebo, and golf course locations are just a few of the wedding settings offered there.  Another great option they offer are yacht weddings on Lake Las Vegas.  The Wedding Company of Las Vegas offers a wedding package that offers a gondola wedding on Lake Las Vegas and includes helicopter transportation to and from the wedding as well as a helicopter tour of the Las Vegas lights.

Las Vegas is home to many top notch golf courses and country clubs which also provide amazing wedding sites.  At Siena Golf Club, you can have your ceremony on their lawn under a wedding arbor.  You can then hold your reception in their clubhouse or community center which both offer wonderful views of the golf course, a lake, and the Las Vegas Strip.

Mount Charleston is another wonderful alternative for a wedding in the Las Vegas area.  Located about a 45 minute drive from the Strip, this beautiful mountain locale offers not only cooler weather than the Valley but also stunning scenery.  The Mount Charleston Hotel provides packages for wedding ceremonies and receptions.  You can have your wedding ceremony outdoors with all the beauty of the mountain surrounding you.  Receptions can also be arranged outside, or can be held inside the hotel.

Planning your Las Vegas wedding no longer means that you are limited just to wedding chapels, drive thru ceremonies, and Elvis.  These are still great options but they are not for everybody.  If you dreamed of something more extraordinary for you big day, Las Vegas provides you with plenty of options to consider.

Dos And Don’ts Of Shopping For Your Wedding Dress

DO Shop early! Avoid the “Two Weeks ‘til Wedding Day Attack.” Get your wedding dress early.

DO Research before your buy. The quickest and easiest way to research is by searching online. There are many Web sites dedicated do wedding dresses where you can get a ton of useful information about styles, designs, trends, etc.

DO Go to a wedding dress specialist. You should visit several wedding boutiques, and learn from the pros. Of course, keep in mind they are selling, so you should take everything with a grain of salt.

DO Expect minor alterations. Even the most expensive designer wedding gowns might need a few adjustments. If you buy your gown well in advance, you may need to alter the dress again a couple of weeks prior to the wedding.

DO Keep an open mind while you shop for your wedding dress. Try lots of things on. Often the dress you thought you’d never like is the one that makes you look and feel the best.

DO Bring shoes with the same height as your wedding shoes are going to be on your special day.

DO Slip a bustier, a control-top panty hose into your purse.

DO Have Fun!

DON'T panic if you have to special order! Wedding dress salons can special order your dress faster than you can say "panic."

DON'T put up with unfriendly sales people. This is your wedding day, your big purchase. The sales person who sells your wedding dress to you should share in your enthusiasm and make it exciting for you.

DON'T shop after you’ve bought. Instead enjoy the rest of your wedding planning journey.

DON'T give up! Finding that perfect wedding dress is going to take some work.

DON'T take too many people with you on your hunt for your wedding dress. You shouldn't take more than five people with you on your shopping trip.

Don’t Get Married Without It!

It is true that weddings are wonderful affairs; proper preparation requires a great deal of down-to-earth paperwork. The written contracts with all the vendors you take into service to carry out the biggest day of your life. Contracts are legal documents that define specific terms and conditions of the service to be done, keeping misunderstandings to an absolute minimum. A properly prepared contract should protect you and the vendor you hire.

Most commonly wedding vendors provide you with formal contracts that may have been drawn up by an attorney. Contracts are not fun to read, and may be difficult to understand. You can pay an attorney to help you understand it, or you can spend the time to decipher it yourself. It is your responsibility to understand everything included in the contract. If you are unsure of something is included in the contract have it appended. If there are several things you are concerned about, you may need to append a detailed list of important points.

Most importantly include the exact date of the wedding day. The exact time of you event must also be included. Many reception sites have multiple events, even multiple weddings on the same day. The total cost and itemized rundown of what is included in the prices is important to avoid last minute surprises and expenses. You may assume certain accessories are part of the price until you are told on the big day that it costs extra.

Make sure that accessories such as tables, chairs linens, etc. are included in the price.
What specific decoration is included? What areas are decorated? If you agreed on specific colors, be sure to include it in as much detail as you can.

Insist on including the date and dollar amount of your deposit and the date of when the total amount is due. Include the exact address of the venue. You don’t want to send out invitations without having the exact address in writing. If the company has multiple rooms for events, make sure the name of the room is included in the contract.

Make sure you understand the cancellation and refund policy of the venue. You have to understand you options in case you must change the date or change the venue altogether.
You should be provided with name and phone number of the emergency contact person.
Room capacity, to make sure the site is big enough to accommodate your wedding party.

Contracts are a serious matter, and they require careful attention. They are legal and binding, so you might want an attorney or a wedding professional review it for you before you sign it. You may save a lot of money by investing a little in some professional help. Before signing the contract read it over carefully. Don’t allow it to be rushed into signing the contract until you have understood it entirely.

Never pay the entire amount in advance, but many companies will ask you to pay half of the total amount upon closure of the contract. Others may ask only for a down payment. Be prepared to pay with cash or a personal check, and always get a receipt. To protect yourself, try to pay with a credit card. When reading the contract and before signing, find out what your obligations are. If you guests drink a bit too much, find out who would be responsible should anything happen. Make sure the place is insured; get detailed information about their coverage.

Once you made your decision, you have to receive a written contract signed and dated by the person in charge. The contract must include all of your responsibilities and all of the responsibilities, warranties and guarantees offered by the venue.

Disneyland Weddings

Your wedding day is the happiest day of your life. 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the happiest day of 

your life at the happiest place on earth? Of course it 

would – and Disneyland has made that possible with 

Disneyland Weddings.

Women start dreaming of their weddings from the
time that they are little girl’s. Now, you can really
have a fairy tale wedding that is truly unique,
romantic, and enchanting – and you can have your
very own ‘happily ever after’ wedding day at
Disneyland. Disneyland weddings include a magical
ceremony and a creative reception that you can’t
find any place else on earth.

You won’t have to stress over the details. Like
Cinderella, you can have your very own God Mother
to take care of the details – although in this case, it
will actually be a fairy God Planner.

Disneyland weddings are not last minute events.
The planning stage starts one year before the date
of the wedding with a meeting with the Disney
wedding planner, a site tour, and a selection of the
possible locations for the wedding. Eleven months
before the big day, the letter of agreement must be
signed and returned with a deposit. At ten months,
announcements are mailed out to the guests who
are to be invited.

Eight months before the big day, the planning steps
up. Planning sessions are held by phone or in
person with the wedding planner, and ceremony and
reception event orders are prepared. Everything starts
falling into place, and the planning continues until one
month before the big day. Final payments are due
thirty days before the wedding date, and the final
guest count is due four days before the wedding is
to take place.

Everything is planned with your input, and all of the
details are handled without any stress being placed
on the happy couple. Flowers, invitations, and
catering are all included. After a ceremony that will l
ive in your memory forever, you and your new spouse
will enjoy the reception of your dreams.

The reception will be handled by a white gloved staff,
complete with elegant resort table settings, a head
table, floor length linens, and place cards. Your
wedding cake will be like nothing you could imagine
in your wildest dreams, selected by you from a variety
of choices.

There are also honeymoon packages available at all
of the Disneyland Resorts. From start to finish, your
Disneyland wedding will have all of your dreams
coming true, so you and your spouse can start your
road to happily ever after.

Wedding Marquee - An Alternative Wedding Venue

Choosing a marquee for your wedding reception can be an inspired affair. A marquee allows you choices and freedoms that would be limited by choosing a normal wedding reception venue. With a marquee you can choose to have your wedding anyplace anytime. You will also have the freedom to choose your decor, caterers, and to express your individuality and personal style for the event.

There a very different types of marquees to choose from. Perhaps a marquee with silk lined walls, hard polished floors and fairy lights scattered throughout would suit your style. For that soft romantic feel you could choose a marquee or tent with no side walls and have draped silk flowing in the breeze, on a beautifully manicured lawn or on the beach at sunset.
Another type of marquee you could to choose is an event pavilion. Event Pavilions are more stable structures and would be better suited for certain weather condition. They are definitely the premium option when it comes to marquees. Event pavilions come in a wide range of options. A completely clear pavilion would be beautiful and allow you to view the stars during you special evening. You could choose side walls which are solid for privacy or clear for a little sunlight and to view to beautiful location of your wedding or event.
When it comes to decorating your marquee or event pavilion, stick to classic white or ivory for the draping. Perhaps you can choose a trim that matches your colour theme or the bridesmaid's dresses. Round tables still work best in a wedding marquee, as they are the most social table arrangement. They facilitate a more social atmosphere amongst the guests. Lighting in the marquee could vary from fairy lights, spot lights to candle light. Candle light is the most natural, soft and romantic light. Another option for lighting is lanterns with can add a touch a flare to your wedding or chandeliers which could hang from your marquee to make for a more elegant and sophisticated event.

For the perfect table centerpiece, take into consideration your surrounding and remember simple is best. When it comes to candelabras for your table centerpiece, you may want to consider the height and size. Marquees come in varied sizes and shapes to suit the number of guests you wish to have, type of entertainment and floor plan.

By choosing a wedding marquee you are only limited by your own imagination. So whether you choose a wedding marquee or an event pavilion, your wedding day can be a truly romantic occasion.

Elegant Celtic Wedding Rings

Now that you have popped the marriage question and got a "Yes" answer, what's next? For many, this is the start of many wedding day preparations. The planning of this special day can be a stressful experience considering the myriad of activities needing to be planned for and coordinated such as the catering, wedding ceremony, location booking, photographer, and wedding gown shopping. Being that it is an important milestone in people's lives, the preparations must be perfect with everything in it's proper place on wedding day.

While this event will come and go, the memories of the wedding day will live on. One of the symbols of the love between two people on this special day is the wedding ring. While buying wedding rings will depend on the couple's budget, it's also important to realize that a wedding ring will be the enduring symbol of a couple's love long after the champagne toasts and wedding ceremony are over. After all, a couple will have it for the rest of their lives. Thus, the decision to buy a ring should not be taken lightly and a couple should get the best wedding rings they can afford from a trusted jeweler.

As a symbol of everlasting love, what better way to represent it than with a Celtic engagement ring? Compared to traditional wedding rings, the Irish have a rich romantic and enduring Celtic jewelry tradition. Because of this, Celtic wedding bands have become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional wedding rings. Celtic wedding rings are perfect way to seal your wedding vows on this special occasion. It's easy to see why. Celtic rings are steeped in history and tradition dating back centuries. Their intricate designs or interwoven patterns throughout the metalwork denote a couple's promise to create a new life together with the one never-ending, continuous circle signifying eternal and endless love. Celtic wedding band designs are derived from Irish manuscripts such as the Book of Kells. In the past, the wearing of Celtic jewelry was an outward sign of a person's wealth and status. This resulted in many Celtic wedding rings being passed on from one generation to another becoming treasured family heirlooms.

Today, the popularity of such elegant wedding rings enable couples to purchase these Celtic rings from specialty retail jewelry stores online so there is no need to travel to Ireland to get an authentic Celtic wedding ring. Celtic rings are handmade by Irish craftspeople and are shipped all around the world. If you opt to have your wedding ring custom designed, it's best to do so early. For those couples who prefer to go for classic and timeless Celtic wedding ring designs, there are also many existing design varieties to choose from. A good online retailer like Shanore will have a wide choice of the following ring characteristics: precious metal (white gold or yellow gold), Celtic pattern, ring size, number of gemstones, size of gemstones, etc. The number of possibilities are truly endless and is completely within your control, making them timeless pieces of art that remind you and your loved one of your uncompromising love for each other.