Themed weddings are becoming more and more popular because they are really the most memorable kinds of wedding celebrations. Your wedding day is the most important celebration you will ever have so it is really a priority that you make it extremely special so that you, your new souse, and each and every individual guest can really remember it and all the great things that happened. Themed weddings are really great because they provide a way for you to collect your ideas and really put them into something spectacular that will impress your guests and display your decorating prowess.
Also, another amazing thing about themed weddings is that you can really show your personality and you can really create the ultimate manifestation of your dream wedding that you have always wanted since you were really young. Your personality will be felt by all of your guests because you will have chosen the theme and then embellished upon it will all the proper decorations. The theme you choose will really say a lot about your personality, preferences, and the way you and your spouse have bonded and will continue to increase that bond now that you have entered into an eternal marriage.
Some of the most popular wedding themes are beach themes, seasonal themes, and anything else you can think of that represents who you are and what you expect to get out of your relationship. Beach wedding themes are really more for the types of people that like to be relaxed and feel really comfortable. If you love the beach then this is a great way to show everyone how much being relaxed and carefree means to you. The seasonal themes are really great because you can use different symbols from each season. Also, bringing in colors from a particular season really makes all your guests feel like they are really taking part in the feelings of that season because the colors really evoke emotional responses. A lot of other themes are a little bit more traditional but still authentic. The most important thing to remember is to make you wedding really unique and memorable.
Another great example of a themed wedding would be the ever popular calla lily wedding favors. Calla lily wedding favors are a girl’s best friend. This popular collection seems to be a big hit at every wedding and bridal shower. Calla lily wedding favors bring a touch of prestige and elegance to any special event. Your wedding reception guest or wedding party will simply love these favors as gifts.
Making sure that your wedding favors go along with you theme is a really important part of the whole decorating experience and the ways that you make your guests feel with the atmosphere you create. This is important because each of your guests will be bringing home a wedding favor, which is a representation of the whole night and the rest of your future with your new spouse.
To add to your very special day, choose a theme wedding the most fits your personal style.
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July 6, 2008
destination beach weddings are now very popular please visit www.sugarbeachweddings.com or www.destinweddings.org and see the different packages a typical beach wedding offers,prices are less for a beach wedding than a wedding at home that averages over 30k now,,as posted by all the experts,,please visit our new web sites for additional info.
About the Author
owner operator of destin florida beach weddings -
Who says that the wedding of your dreams requires a sleeveless dress and air-conditioning? A beautiful winter theme wedding can be breath-taking, cozy, and come with a lot of financial benefits! What are you waiting for? Start planning your wonderful winter-themed wedding!
When selecting decorations, choose d?cor that is ‘warm’ and inviting for your guests. Colors play a very important role in a winter wedding. In order to pull off a successful wedding with a comfortable appeal, steer clear of bright colors that are ’summery.’ Try warm tones.
Colors like purple, terra-cotta, forest-green, ruby, and navy look excellent with the glow of candlelight. They can add a special ambiance and warmth to any reception site. Winter weddings provide the perfect opportunity to have an ‘elegant’ wedding with such rich colors.
Accessories are just as important as color if you’ve selected ‘winter’ as your wedding theme. Centerpieces can come in the form of frosted glass bowls filled with cinnamon scented pine-cones. Glittery snow-flakes can be hung from the ceiling. Holly-branches with berries can also add a lavish touch to your decorations.
Instead of ’summery’ plants, poinsettias, roses, lilies and red ribbons can cover the place of reception. Unfortunately, sprint/summer bouquets may not be readily available from your local florist, so any other flowers (other than those mentioned) can be costly during the winter months.
Still looking for a place to hold your wonderful winter themed wedding? How about a bread and breakfast, or a quaint little cottage? Imagine your guests warming themselves in front of a toasty fire, smiling with a mug of hot chocolate in hand. A breath-taking view of a frozen pond and small friendly wildlife will add just the right touch of relaxation. While snow-covered landscapes may not sound appealing to everyone- think of how fun a sleigh ride and an afternoon of skiing can be.
Worried about what wedding favors to give as a token from your winter themed wedding? Spiced teas, scented candles, personalized mugs, Christmas ornaments with the wedding date imprinted upon them, personalized snow globes with a photograph inside, there are so many items to choose from!
Instead of having a ordinary catered meal, try creating a unique dinner menu. As everyone from your family to share a traditional family recipe, submit some of these recipes to your caterer and have a wonderful meal that everyone will enjoy! The idea is let everyone have some (possibly, well-needed) R&R as they celebrate your festivities.
About the Author
Jen Carter is owner of My Wedding Blog, a free wedding planner designed to assist people develop ideas to plan a wedding. Visit My Wedding blog at: www.my-wedding-bog.com.
July 5, 2008
Las Vegas 4-star hotels make excellent venues for weddings. These hotels have world-class amenities that let you and your guests live a life of luxury - without the high price.
When it comes to Las Vegas 4-star hotels for weddings, there are a lot of choices. There are hotels with a lot of interesting themes. One is shaped like a pyramid. Another makes you feel like you are a pirate, and many others are designed with elegance in mind. What do they all have in common? Each is designed to give you a unique wedding experience.
Celebrate your union in style
Imagine getting ready for your wedding at a world class spa. What about an elegant reception in a private room with world class food? You can experience all these in a 4-star Las Vegas hotel. Most 4-star hotels in Las Vegas have professional wedding coordinators to help you personalize your wedding to include upgraded floral, music, video, or photography options.
Costs
Wedding packages in 4-star hotels in Las Vegas cost as little as $800, but the prices tend to get higher on weekends. You can also avail yourself of deluxe rooms complete with breakfast and dining packages, free champagne, and complimentary spa admission. Two nights go for about $500 from Sundays to Thursdays, and go up to about $550 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Las Vegas never sleeps, so the party doesn’t need to stop. You can spend your honeymoon watching variety shows, dancing in the lounge, or dining in a top-rated restaurant, all while getting first class treatment in a 4-star hotel.
To find the Las Vegas 4-star hotel that is right for your wedding, do a little research. Which hotels do you like best? If you don’t know, you can narrow it down by theme. Ask your travel agent for advice, or ask others who’ve been to Las Vegas what their suggestions are.
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Contemporary Japanese weddings are celebrated in a great variety of ways. Many contain traditional Japanese and Western elements side by side.
Traditionally, the religious wedding ceremony is held in Shinto style at a shrine. Nowadays, this shrine may be located inside the hotel where the festivities take place. A Shinto priest conducts the ceremony which is visited by only the close family members of the couple. In the ceremony, the couple is purified, drinks sake, and the groom reads the words of commitment. At last, symbolic offerings are given to the kami. The couple is dressed in traditional kimono.
After the ceremony, the couple welcomes all the guests, and the reception party is held. Usually the party is visited by about 20 to 200 guests among whom are relatives, friends, co-workers and bosses of the bride and groom. The party normally starts with the introductions of the bride and groom. Afterwards, a meal is held and several guests make contributions such as speeches, songs and the like. During the whole celebrations, the groom and especially the bride may change their dresses several times. At the very end of the party, the couple will speech to all the guests and thank everybody.
During recent decades, Japanese couples have introduced many Western wedding ideas and elements to Japanese weddings. Many brides chose to wear white, Christian style dresses, and some religious ceremonies are even held completely in Christian style at a Christian church even though the couple may not be Christian. The ritual of cake cutting, the exchange of rings and honeymoons are a few other very common adopted elements.
Recently, the number of Japanese couples who hold their wedding ceremony outside of Japan has also increased. One reason for this phenomena is the fact that by marrying abroad, the honeymoon can be combined with the ceremony, and the number of guests and, therefore, the overall costs for the event can be reduced.
About the Author
This article is copyright2006 Aki Desorcy For more info on wedding ideas please see Aki’s blog at http://www.wedding-idea.blogspot.com You may use this article as long as all links stay active and this resource box stays with the article.
July 4, 2008
Couples getting married at a destination location often want a wedding invitation to match. Couples getting married in Las Vegas are no different. However, vendors for Las Vegas themed invitations are scarce despite Las Vegas being the wedding capital of the world.
Google reports that the search terms like “Las Vegas Wedding Invitations” and “Las Vegas Wedding Announcements” receives over 2,000 clicks a month. Vendors are still scarce despite this. Wholesale invitation companies have included a couple of Las Vegas themed wedding invitations in their collections, but the Las Vegas wedding invitation choices available are slim compared to the other destination themed invitations online. Beach invitations are one example of a destination themed wedding invitation with a lot of options and invitations. Wedding invitation wholesalers often have an entire collection devoted to the beach. A tropical themed invitation is also easy to find among the destination wedding invitations.
Many brides report searching over three months for their perfect Las Vegas wedding invitation, and many of those brides are forced to give up and go to their local retailer for a common invitation with no theme. Unfortunately, Las Vegas wedding invitation vendors do exist, but many couples getting married in Las Vegas don’t know where to find them. These Las Vegas wedding invitation vendors haven’t been around for very long. In fact, most of the Las Vegas wedding invitation companies have been around for less than a year. This is why they are so hard to find.
Oftentimes, Google uses time as a trustworthy aspect. A site that has been number one for the search term “Las Vegas wedding invitations” for ten years, isn’t going to be replaced by a new Las Vegas wedding invitation vendor within a few months. Thus, the search engine optimization and search engine marketing continue for these Las Vegas wedding invitation companies.
Currently on the top of the search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN, the top listings for searches like “Las Vegas wedding invitations” and “Las Vegas wedding announcements” go to directory listings for actual brick and mortar shops located in Las Vegas, but have nothing to do with and do not sell Las Vegas themed wedding invitations like many of the couples getting married in Las Vegas are looking for.
Even so, couples getting married in Las Vegas who are looking for Las Vegas themed wedding invitations should not lose hope. Las Vegas wedding invitation Web sites are still chugging along to get number one for the several search terms on the major search engines. They plan on achieving their goal within the next 12 months.
About the Author
Las Vegas wedding invitations for Las Vegas weddings can be found at http://www.vegaswedlockinvitations.com/
Renae earned her journalism degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. -
For most people, the wedding is a very import event in their lives. The joining of two people and the creation of a new family is one of the most meaningful occasions in a person?s life.
Weddings are complex and memorable events. Weddings take extensive planning and good execution as a great number of people come together to celebrate the occasion. Both the wedding itself and the related reception, showers and pre-wedding parties can benefit from custom designed private label drinking water.
One very effective way to establish a theme and create reminders of the memorable occasion is private label drinking water. Since a wedding is celebratory with food and refreshments for a large number of persons, private label drinking water serves a number of functions:
? The label can be designed to celebrate the occasion with quality designed artwork that reflects a custom message and theme
? The drinking water in the bottle is refreshing and healthy
? Many of the participants will save the water as a memory of the event
? The private label water can be combined with other items to create memorable party favors and gift baskets
Private label drinking water affords a wedding planner the ability to create a custom designed label with a very personalized message that meets the specification of the wedding couple. Since the event is personal, an individualized thematic message can be created. With the proper technology, high quality individualized graphics can also be added to create a personalized memory.
Personalized Bottled Water Memories
Personalized bottled water is an excellent way to preserve the memory of the wedding event. With a custom designed label for every occasion, the water can be consumed at the wedding or at a later date. In addition, personalized bottled water is ideal for the common theme of the wedding and associated wedding parties.
The technology is available to create a cost effective, high-quality personalized label that imparts a lasting message. Application of a custom designed label to a quality water bottle adds a powerful and distinctive message and advertising component to a high-quality refreshment drink.
Often referred to as consumable advertising, personalized bottled water can include graphics and pictures as well as text that can refer to a specific wedding event and can often be modified for subsequent events. Designed labels can also be stored for future use and other occasions like anniversaries and birth announcements.
An important feature of branded drinking water is the long term nature of the message. Many people who receive private label water tend to retain the bottles because of the uniqueness and quality of the label.
Create a Personal Message and Brand
Although brand creation has been identified in the corporate world, individuals can also create their own brand image related to their own interests. Private label water for weddings and anniversaries, the golfer, hunter, fisherman or sports car enthusiast for example can convey a personal message or one related to an individual?s club or organization; personalized branding can also create interest and enjoyment at future events or family gatherings.
The key to the creation of an effective message is through the development of a unique and focused idea that is simple yet powerful. As a result, care must be taken during label design to maintain quality and keep the message as simple as possible.
The Element of Quality
An overriding feature in the creation of personalized bottled water is the consideration of quality in three areas:
? Quality of water
The basic element of private label bottled water is, of course, water. However, there are many differences in the quality of bottled water. Ultra-pure bottled water produced by a combination of the distillation, filtration and oxygenation processes is considered by many to be of the best quality because it tastes very good and does not contain minerals, contaminants or bacteria.
? Quality of packaging
Since personalized bottled water combines health, refreshment and advertising, the packaging component must make a bold and forthright statement. Substandard bottle quality will seriously compromise the strength of the message.
? Quality of labeling design, printing and application
The label is the most significant part of private label drinking water; the message must be communicated in the strongest and clearest way in order to extend its original intent to the consumer. The label should be developed by a graphics designer or with technology that will aid the consumer in developing their own quality image.
Printing is especially critical and the printing process should create labels that are guaranteed to have the same quality of any top-shelf brand in your gourmet or quality food store.
All labels should be waterproof and preferably laminated to ensure a long service life.
What to Look For In a Private Label Water Supplier
Personalized bottled water has become increasingly popular for personal life style events. This is particularly true with the advent of e-commerce that allows users the ability to design a label and purchase water online.
Quality is critical because the label serves as a statement for the individual. If any portion of the water, package or label combination contains substandard quality, then the entire product is compromised.
Reliable vendors with a reputation for quality, customer service and the ability to design labels and provide online service will almost always guarantee customer satisfaction.
About the Author:
Marcus Stout is President of Element H2O. For more information about bottled water, private label bottled water and bottled water delivery go to www.elementh2o.com
July 3, 2008
By Annie Jones
December 17, 2005
Located just a short drive from the capital city of New Delhi and close to Agra (home to the Taj Mahal), the royal city of Jaipur (also known as ‘The Pink City’ due to the predominant colour of its buildings), is well established as one of the most romantic places on earth to get married. From the rich history of its palaces to the gorgeous landscaped gardens of the luxury hotels to the serenity of the floating palace on Ramgarh Lake…everywhere you look there is pink…the colour of romance.
Jaipur is the throbbing, vibrant capital city of the colourful state of Rajasthan where the regal ambience of yesteryear is still felt throughout the city’s numerous carved arches and once-bejewelled fortress walls. Enter this mystical city through a narrow, cobbled street where street vendors selling everything from sweetmeats to silver trinkets and leather slippers call out to passing trade. Pass the huge hill on the right with its stunning royal residence where decorated elephants obediently transport delighted tourists to the top for its amazing vistas of the city spread out below. Follow the winding road until you begin to see the glittering lights of the city’s numerous palaces begin to emerge on the left hand side across the glistening waters of the Ramgarh Lake. Stop to take pictures or simply gaze in stunned silence at the beauty of the floating palace of Ramgarh - perfectly illuminated by golden lights strategically placed on all four corners of the palace.
And then comes the main city…surprisingly wide, clean roads with some of the most well known brand names dotted on each side…from the newly opened Hilton Trident to the Sheraton and Le Meridien…you will find a massive choice of premium accommodation in Jaipur. Each hotel has retained the city’s former glory and royal demeanour and the service excels itself. Just remember to book your stay well in advance to avoid disappointment, as it is busy year round in this city of royal romance. Some of the most highly recommended hotels to stay in whilst visiting Jaipur include the Taj Group’s Rambagh Palace and the Jai Mahal Palace Hotel. The opulence of both hotels will literally take your breath away and many a wedding takes place in the perfectly landscaped grounds of these hotels with their backdrop of lush palms and fountains.
A quick tip: whether staying at the Rambagh Palace or not, do take time to enjoy the delicious al-fresco breakfast buffet where the smart Jodhpur & waistcoat clad staff will treat you like royalty. With eggs made to order and succulent sausages and bacon following plates of the freshest, sweetest fruits, the plump muffins and Danish pastries are hard to refuse especially when accompanied with a choice of teas, coffee and piping hot chocolate. And all served in the finest china and silver.
Drive further down the main boulevards of Jaipur city and you come to a set of intricately carved arches, which divide the Old City from the New City. Once through the arches, your senses are immediately assaulted by the noisy onslaught of rickshaws, buffalo carts, taxis, bicycles, scooters, elephants and cars all jostling for space on the same road. Whistle blowing policemen, horn blowing cars, mooing cows and convincing street peddlars create a melodious harmony of ethnic sounds, which to the first time visitor to Jaipur, can be quite startling!
In addition to booking your flights and accommodation, we can also arrange:
Meet & Greet at Airport
Assistance of a Wedding Planner
Wedding Day schedule
A beauty treatment for the bride (manicure /pedicure /hair styling etc)
A professional wedding photographer to record memories of your special day
Assistance with all legal paperwork
Appointment at the Registrar’s Office the day before the Wedding
With the romantic hues of pink all round you, this romantic city of Jaipur never fails to satisfy all your touristic senses. It is no wonder then that Jaipur has fast become one of the most popular places on earth in which to tie the knot? Yes, more and more couples are choosing to get married Maharajah-style at one of the opulent palaces in a style reminiscent of the British Raj. For more information on wedding & holiday packages to Jaipur, check out www.ticketstoindia.co.uk for great deals on air fares and discounted hotel rates. Do not even try and book a hotel in Jaipur directly yourself…unless you have just won the lottery! Prices are sky high and it is only through a specialist tour operator like Tickets To India that you can be assured of excellent quality combined with low prices.
Plan your wedding in the romantic pink city of Jaipur. Log on to www.ticketstoindia.co.uk and get connected to your very own Wedding Planner who will take you through all the options available to make your special day all that more special!
About the Author
Annie Jones writes about “Weddings In India”. Get more information about Indian Weddings and Cheap Flights To India at “www.ticketstoindia.co.uk” -
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Most Popular Wedding Cakes For Celebrity Weddings
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When people are trying to figure out what kind of a wedding cake that they want at their wedding reception, they sometimes do some research on what their favorite celebrities have had at their weddings. There are a lot of different options available out there for wedding cakes, and even if your favorite celebrity?s cake costs forty thousand dollars to make, this doesn?t mean that an experienced wedding cake maker can?t make a cheaper copy of it for you. Some of the most popular wedding cakes out there are pretty elaborate and expensive, but don?t get discouraged by these facts; there are many great caterers out there who will be able to design a great cake for your wedding.
Donald Trump and Melania Knauss had an impressive five foot high, fifty pound, seven tiered orange and white wedding cake that had three thousand white icing roses on it. Obviously, not many people will want to be quite as elaborate as that with their wedding cake! Donald Trump was probably expected to go all out with everything in his wedding, and he has enough money to cover any costs, including his wedding cake. If you like the sound of his wedding cake though, you could probably scale it down to a regular size, and still be able to afford it.
Hip hop artists Kalis and Nas had a five tiered wedding cake that was covered in sugar roses and gilded in twenty four karat gold! There aren?t too many people out there who would want to spend that kind of money on their wedding cake, or even on their whole wedding for that matter.
Celebs Toni Braxton and Keri Lewis? wedding cake was a popular one. They had a four tier cake that was designed to look like four Tiffany?s boxes, all painted robin?s egg blue. The store must have appreciated the celebrity endorsement.
The now split up couple, Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen had a multi flavored wedding cake that was quite popular. The cake had three layers: chocolate fudge, banana cream and white satin. This must have been appreciated by their wedding guests, because most people like at least one of those flavors. This kind of wedding cake would probably be the cheapest celebrity cake to replicate, and it would be very popular among your guests.
Leanne Rimes and Dean Sheremat?s wedding cake was a five foot, multi tiered, white chocolate and strawberry cake that was decorated with over thirty five dozen roses. This cake was a very popular and much talked about cake, and would again, not be too hard to make, as long as you cut down on the size and the amount of the roses used!
When Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro got married, they had a four tiered wedding cake that was layered with Oreo cheesecake, chocolate cake, and strawberry shortcake. It was decorated with the same crystals that Carmen had on her wedding dress.
Any of these cakes can be the inspiration for your wedding cake, as long as you don?t mind compromising on a few things to make it more affordable. However, if you can afford it, go all out and spend the money to have one if these popular wedding cakes.
Article Tags: cake, popular, wedding
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July 2, 2008
I attended a Bridal Show yesterday afternoon with a friend at the local Friends Community Center. One of the things that impressed me most was the many ways that you can use a fountain at a wedding reception. Traditionally, fountains have been used for years for punch or champagne, but now they are coming in all shapes and sizes and are being used for all kinds of foods.
The large 3 tier champagne fountain now looks very elegant with melted chocolate pouring over it’s sides, and a matching 3 to 4 tier serving tray piled high with strawberries, chunks of fresh pineapple, marshmallows and pretzel sticks. The guests can help themselves using wooden skewers and let as much chocolate as they dare to drizzle over their choice of fruit or marshmallows. I’ve even heard that at some weddings the chocolate fountain is beginning to replace the wedding cake. The large 3 tier was by far the most elegant, but the splash over was greater as well. If you are considering a fountain of this size be sure to surround the area with white linen towels that can be washed.
I saw chocolate in smaller two tier fountains. By the way, you can choose white chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or just any variation that you can come up with. I would probably go for this smaller fountain because it would be just as much fun with a lot less mess.
Punch, champagne and chocolate are not the only things that you can put in the fountains. Ranch dressing flowing from the smaller two tier fountain looked great sitting on a table with fresh vegetable trays or salads, or next to a cheese tray.
What about barbecue sauce in the small fountain next to a plate of meatballs or tray of chicken or ribs. Even melted cheese can be used in the fountains. Quite frankly, you can just use your imagination to see what uses you can come up with.
All of the fountains that I saw were available for rental by the day. The elegant 3 tier fountains with gold trim went for around $35.00 to $40.00 per day, while the small two tier fountains rented for $15.00 to $20.00 per day depending on the company and how they were made. The 3 tier elegant clear plastic tray for the fruit display rented for $14.00 per day, but you get the tray lighted for $20.00 per day.
One thing you might want to realize is that you will need to designate someone to remove the leftover chocolate and clean the items rented and make sure that they are returned in good condition.
Adding a chocolate fountain can add a whole lot of fun and elegance to any wedding reception, and as you can see it doesn’t have to be expensive.
About the Author
Author: Barbara King
Owner:Tips For Budget Weddings Plan your wedding like a professional would. Plan A Wedding You Can Be Proud Of -Without Breaking The Bank! You Don’t Have To Be Rich To Have An Unforgettable Wedding Ceremony! (And No One Will Ever Know You Did It For Less! -
Have you ever wondered where some of our wedding traditions have originated? Well read on …
The Wedding Ring, traditionally a plain, gold band, is the oldest surviving symbol of marriage. The circle represents eternity and never-ending love, while the gold represents purity of intent. It is placed on the fourth finger of the left-hand as it was believed that a vein called the Vena Amoris ran straight from it to the heart.
The throwing of the Garter by the groom to unmarried men and the Bouquet by the bride to unmarried girls is believed to bring good luck and marriage to whomever they are caught by.
The conventional white Dress is said to be a sign of purity and high virtues. Green signifies youth, hope and happiness. Red denotes vigour, courage and passion, while violet symbolises dignity, pride and high ideals.
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue Something Old could be a piece of jewellery or something from a happily married woman as a blessing of matrimonial bliss. This represents the married woman?s links with her family and her past.
Something New depicts the new life that the bride is starting ? usually this is her dress or shoes.
Something Borrowed is to remind the bride of the need to rely on others for help. This is normally gold, representing the sun, the source of life.
Something Blue, usually the garter, denotes faithfulness and is a compliment to the moon, protector of women.
Honeymoon ? about 4000 years ago in Babylon it was the accepted practise that after a wedding the bride?s father would supply his new son-in-law with all the beer he could drink for a month. The beer, called mead, was a honey-based beer, and because the Babylonian calendar was lunar-based the period became known as the honey month, or as we know it today, the honeymoon.
Ringing of the wedding bells after the ceremony. This was meant to scare away the evil spirits that could destroy the couple’s happiness.
The Bridal Bouquets. In ancient times, the first bridal bouquets were made of not only flowers but special herbs and spices. This was done to ward off the evil spirits. They also used particular herbs that symbolized fertility.
Throwing rice (or birdseed) as the couple departs. The birdseed was thrown to promote fertility.
The Receiving Line - In ancient times, it was believed that the bride and groom were blessed. Those who touched them would have good luck.
Bride and groom cut the cake and then feed each other. Feeding each other the cake symbolizes how the couple will “feed” and nourish the relationship for the rest of their lives. Now, this was meant as loving and caring symbol for each other. As for the “smearing” and pushing cake into each other’s faces? No one knows how that started… Hopefully, that’s a “tradition” that will die out!
Giving almonds at a wedding symbolises the bitter and sweet aspect of married life. The five almonds represent Love, Happiness, Loyalty, Prosperity and Virility.
Anne Mihelakos is the owner of True Bride, your ultimate wedding directory, good wedding guide and home to the Bride of the Year competition. With over 15,000 wedding suppliers across Australia, including everything from wedding dresses to the honeymoon registry - a fantastic resource for planning your wedding day. For more information, visit the website http://www.truebride.com.au
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July 1, 2008
Imagine the cheapest wedding you?d like. You have to pay the $55.00 fee for the marriage license and you have to pay someone to perform the service. Then there?s the witness who must be present at the ceremony. And you have to perform the service somewhere, although it doesn?t have to be lavish. There are many places in and around Las Vegas that will perform the service and provide the witness for as little as $40.00. And they?ll even throw in a CD in the background featuring traditional wedding music.
You get there on your own, present your paid license and in a few short moments you?ll be in front of a person licensed to perform wedding services in Las Vegas that are recognized around the world. Not exactly the wedding of your dreams but for $40.00 and the price of the license what did you expect. Go for another $60.00 and they?ll throw in a limousine ride back to your hotel, a few photos taken with a disposable film camera that you?ll get developed on your own, a bouquet of flowers and a boutonni?re for the groom.
It really doesn?t get any cheaper than that and you?ll have more than just your memory of the event to take home and share with friends and family. Getting married on the cheap in any other city but Las Vegas would be, well, tacky. But cheap Las Vegas weddings have been turned into an art form, unequaled in any other city in the world. Anybody can spend a lot of money, but doing a fun wedding and reception on the cheap shows real talent!
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It has finally happened - your partner has finally popped the question, you said yes and put on the ring, and now there is a wedding date hovering somewhere in the future. At this point, you may be asking yourself how on earth you are going to afford all the essential parts you have so longed envisioned as part of your dream wedding. The good news is that with the proper length of time, you can plan your wedding in such a way that you will find the best bargains possible and the proceedings do not cost you a fortune.
As in any money-saving endeavor, the most important rule in saving on the costs of your wedding is to shop around religiously. Remember to compare every price on every part of the wedding that you are going to be shopping for. This is especially important when considering the various service providers for your wedding, including the florists, the photographer, the caterer, and even the venue. Do not jump at the first price or location that comes along- the payoff of patience may be a lot of money.
Setting your date well ahead of time will often also allow you some wiggle room when it comes to many of the areas where you will be laying out finances for your weddings. Setting an early date will mean that you will not be desperate for any particular service when the time of your wedding comes along. Often the people who provide services for weddings begin to be booked up very quickly when it comes to specific times, such as the wedding “season” and around other occasions that are particularly geared towards the same services that might be used for weddings, such as graduations and even holidays such as New Year’s Eve. Planning and booking well ahead of time will mean that you are not desperate when talking to the agency, and thus you will not be stuck with one of the higher-priced options after having left the decision to the last minute.
You can also end up saving quite a bit of money for your wedding by choosing to do some of the tasks involved yourself. With the huge increase in the popularity of various crafts, and the subsequent rise in the number of craft stores, many people are now making a lot of their own paraphernalia for their weddings themselves. Wedding invitations, favors, decorations, and thank-you notes are all projects on which you can save money and add a unique touch by doing the work on your own, often with the help of your bridal party and other family members.
In order to save money on your wedding, you will also want to pay close attention to your networking possibilities. Many people know friends and family who just seem to have a knack when it comes to some of the skills that will be necessary for your wedding. Having friends who know what they are doing could significantly reduce your costs when it comes to decorating and even catering the weddings. Many friends will also be able to do the videography for your special day, although the photography is best left to a professional (and if you happen to have a friend who is a professional, so much the better!)
There are many ways to make sure that your dream wedding is a success without mortgaging you future. With the right amount of time, planning, do-it-yourself will and contacts, your wedding may be much less expensive than you would have believed!
About the Author
Porche Reingold is a wedding planner with a site dedicated to wedding blogs.
June 30, 2008
You’ve met the perfect man, and you have the perfect ring on your finger. How do you plan the perfect wedding? While wedding planning can be stressful and overwhelming at times, there is a way for you to make things perfect for you and your husband to be. All it requires is a little communication and patience while you make w hat seems like a never-ending list of choices and decisions. Breaking your wedding planning down into sections and considering the following questions should have you well on your way to planning your perfect wedding.
First, you will need to choose the kind of reception you would like to have. Are you planning a large wedding, or a more intimate gathering of friends and family? Talk with your relatives and soon to be in laws to get an idea of what their needs are, as their concept of small may be quite different than yours. Once you have a general idea of how many guests you will have, you can then visit reception possibilities and talk with them about what they offer. Remember that the places you choose to visit have most likely hosted many weddings before yours, and they present suggestions that you haven’t thought about. It is perfectly okay to not have all the answers immediately, and many reception sites will gladly let you take their information so you can spend time considering what they have to offer. If you have questions, be sure to ask them, as this is a great way to see how flexible the site and staff will be to meet your individual needs. Of course, you will need to determine your wedding budget, as the reception will be where you spend the most money.
The next item on your list is to choose the food and the wedding cake. It’s a great idea to sample the food at each reception site, preferably the same food you might choose for your wedding. The time of day that you choose to get married will also impact your food choice. If you choose a mid morning wedding, you might prefer to have a brunch buffet, while an evening wedding calls for more a more formal presentation. Whatever you choose, do not hesitate to ask for references from whomever will be providing the food at your reception. ,These references will take you beyond the food preparation and help you evaluate service and accuracy.
Flowers, invitations, music and photography are all personal choices you will make based on the style you desire for your wedding. These are also areas that you can trim your budget if you need to. Considering a simplified invitation and less formally arranged flowers can literally save you hundreds of dollars. The perfect wedding does not necessarily need to be the most expensive one! Use your creativity and you will find that your wedding is just as perfect as the man you’ve chosen to marry.
About the Author
Author: Barbara King
Owner: Tips For Budget Weddings You’ll find plenty of helpful ideas to stretch your budget for your wedding. -
There are so many options for outdoor weddings! San Diego Wedding Dreams offers you their tips and things to plan for!
* When a bride is selecting an outdoor location for her wedding, what do you suggest to her regarding a bad weather back up plan?
There are many lovely outdoor wedding locations - beach weddings, lake front weddings, forest weddings, mountain weddings, garden weddings…the options are endless! With any outdoor wedding, it is vital that the bride and groom work with their coordinator or wedding company to establish a backup plan in the event of bad weather. If the wedding location is on the grounds of a hotel or inn, coordinate ahead of time to have a banquet room ready for you in the event of inclement weather. This option may cost a little more, but it will save you worry and potential heartache later!
Another option is to plan to have only the ceremony outdoors and the reception inside (or inside with an outside portion). In the event of inclement weather, you can simply hold the entire event in the room you planned to have the reception in - without incurring extra costs! This is by far the most “secure” and least expensive way of having an outdoor wedding, and one of the easier backup plans. If your outdoor wedding will be held in an area with no building nearby (or a building too small to hold your guests), such as in a forest clearing or in the garden of a private estate, consider using a tent for the reception.
In the event of bad weather, you can move the ceremony and reception into the tent. Be sure the tent is water tight and sturdy! Whatever backup plan you select, be sure you tell ALL of your wedding vendors (especially those that require lighting and electricity) of your plan ahead of time. They may bring up alternate concerns you have not thought of and can help you solidify a great backup plan. After all, your wedding vendors are professionals, and have likely had experience with this sort of thing before.
* Can you give us an example of a wedding you’ve planned which had to be relocated due to weather and how you worked with the indoor option to create a memorable event?
Last January we had an intimate outdoor wedding planned for approximately 55 guests. The bride had her heart set on an outdoor wedding in the mountains in the winter! She loved the lakeview and wanted to bring heaters outside so all could enjoy the atmosphere. That morning it began snowing - and did not stop until late that night! This was a destination wedding so most of the guests were already in accommodations nearby.
The bride and groom did not let this spoil their day! They had many gorgeous photos taken outside in the snow, the guests loved it, and everyone enjoyed a lovely ceremony and reception inside with a snowy lake as a backdrop. Both fireplaces were roaring and the beverages flowed. The Lake Arrowhead Weddings staff had a job to do! We had to figure out what to do with all the guests while we moved all the ceremony seats (that were supposed to be outside) after the ceremony to make room for the reception dinner seating and tables!
We asked everyone to adjourn to the great room for appetizers (not part of the original plan) while we speedily setup for the reception - the guests didn’t even know this wasn’t the original plan! Given that the bride had purchased one of our outdoor wedding packages, she didn’t even have to worry about plan B. We simply asked her if she liked our plan (which we discussed with her well before the wedding day) and that, in the event of inclement weather, we would just implement it without further distracting her on her wedding day. She was able to sit back and enjoy her day without worrying about what to do about the weather and where to put her guests.
* What special advice do you have for outdoor brides in regard to dress, veils, makeup?
If you are planning an outdoor wedding in the summer, and you think it will be hot - wear a light gown so that you do not overheat and sweat unnecessarily (not becoming in photographs). If your dress does have a train, be sure to consider what the ground you will be walking over is like. Is it dirt that will turn your train brown? Is it grass? Is the train heavy enough to where the grass might stain it?
Using an aisle runner can help with this, but, in a windy outdoor setting, if not secured, the runner will come loose. Be sure to solidly secure your aisle runner before the ceremony if your location is windy. Also, consider consulting a professional makeup artist and your photographer about your makeup plans. The shimmer powder that is so popular today can, if applied too liberally, and photographed in sunlight, produce a slight glare in your photographs. You will also want to use makeup that holds up nicely, even if you do sweat (or “glow”) a little. You want you makeup to hold up well during the outdoor sunlit ceremony, and through the reception, without looking caked on or streaking.
If your outdoor location may be slightly windy, opt for a veil that can be secured behind your head before you walk down the aisle (or don’t wear one at all). You do not want your veil floating in front of your face and moving about during the ceremony. A bride (or officiate or bridesmaid or groom) swatting at and moving your veil around during the ceremony does not make for elegant photographs.
* Do you have any special advice for brides which take a boat wedding package in regard to dress, shoes, decorations?
For those brides having a boat wedding, be sure to plan accordingly. It is a good idea to bring along some motion-sickness medication (available over-the-counter), or take some ahead of time if you have a tendency to be affected by repeated motion. If the wedding will be proceeding into the night, be sure to bring a shawl or other decorative piece to help keep you warm. The air is typically colder over water, and as night falls, you may get chilly. You can have an informal or formal wedding on a boat, depending on the time of day and the decor and style of the boat.
For more informal weddings during the daytime you may opt for a gown with a shorter train and veil. For more formal evening weddings, you may choose to wear a more embellished gown with a longer train (be sure the train bustles well for ease of dancing later on) and a longer veil. Whatever style your dress, wear shoes that have the look you want, but that are also comfortable! You will be walking and dancing most of the reception. Another option is to have only the ceremony or only the reception on the boat, while having the remainder of the wedding at your favorite hotel, inn or country club.
Article By Michelle O’Connor
www.SanDiegoWeddingDreams.com
San Diego Weddings and Wedding Packages
Copyright Michelle O’Connor - www.sandiegoweddingdreams.com
June 29, 2008
Your wedding day is undoubtedly one of the most special and important days of your life. Making the profound commitment to love, honour and obey isn’t even half as difficult as the year of wedding planning mayhem that precedes it.
Once the engagement ring has been slipped onto your finger you have approximately one to two weeks in which you can float round on your own personal cloud nine. Once the euphoria has worn off and reality has kicked, in the drama begins. Planning a wedding is by no means an easy task and the dreaded “to do” lists are longer than the guest list; which increases with each relative that, although you had no intention of inviting, ‘has’ to be invited. Many couples choose to plan their own weddings and whilst this is a special time by the time they get to their wedding day they need a trip to a rejuvenation centre more than a romantic honeymoon.
Safari Weddings
Many couples are avoiding the stress that goes hand in hand with this epic day by choosing to hold their weddings at resorts or hotels which take the majority of planning away from the bride, groom and their families; allowing them to focus on the real reason they are all there - love.
Imagine exchanging your wedding vows whilst the African sun sets behind you, overlooking the wilderness plains where the wild animals roam free. A wedding on a private game reserve in South Africa is something your wedding guests will talk of for years to come.
Star Treatment
For a bride what could be better than the day before your wedding to be receiving beauty treatments in the comfort of a luxurious lodge rather than running around, from manicurists to hair dressers to dress fittings and then back to the manicurists because somewhere along the line you have managed to smudge something and have had a near nervous breakdown in the process.
Spending an afternoon getting manicures, pedicures and massages while sipping champagne with your bridesmaids and mother sounds like a far more civilised way to get through the day.
After your relaxing day of pampering it’s nice to know that you can go for a game drive instead of rushing to the reception hall to sort our d?cor and seating arrangements. There is something so soul affecting about seeing the mighty beasts of Africa in such natural settings. Whether it be the elephants, cooling off at the waterhole or the lion cubs, playfully clambering over the lioness for her attention or the herds of zebras, galloping across the plains; each memory will stay with you for the rest of time. What could be more magical than sharing this experience with your future husband and your families?
Whether you wish to spend the nights leading up to your wedding having stag and hen nights, fabulous rehearsal dinners or drinking delicious sunset cocktails while the sun makes way for the moon and stars; the lodges’ wedding co-ordinator and staff will make your every wish their priority.
The Wedding Day
On the morning of your wedding wake up to a scrumptious breakfast that will be difficult for even the most butterfly ridden tummies to resist. Enjoy a long and rejuvenating massage before heading to your bridal suite in the knowledge that your soon-to-be husband has just enjoyed a similar massage and will be going up to his suite too. Your hair and make up team will assist you and your bridesmaids with the finishing touches before getting dressed. Before leaving for the ceremony take the opportunity to indulge in a glass of champagne and your final toast as a single woman. Prior to this very special day you would have made the decision as to where you wish to hold the ceremony and whether that decision is to have it outside amongst the amazing wilderness vistas or inside in the beautifully decorated lodge venues you will not be disappointed. Your wedding co-ordinator will already have arranged a minister for ceremony including preparation and processing of all legal documents. All of the flowers and music will be taken care of; all that will be left for you to do is take the first step on your next journey.
The Reception
Once the ceremony is over, the wedding party will move on to have photographs taken in one of the game reserves exquisite locations, these pictures really will be a testament to the beauty and luxury of your wedding in heaven on earth.
The reception is another thing that you will not have to worry about; the d?cor, seating arrangements and music will all be taken care of. The reception will be a feast of culinary delights, fine French champagne and plenty of memorable moments.
Once the excitement of the night has wound down, the luxurious honeymoon suite awaits! Private game reserves are also the perfect location for a honeymoon; so once the guests have left, you and your husband can forget all the pre-wedding nerves and begin your lives together in one of the most natural settings on earth.
About the Author
Owned by Sir Richard Branson, Ulusaba Private Game Reserve, in South Africa is the perfect location for your special day. Uulsaba offers truly spectacular wedding packages for an intimate elopement in the bush or a ceremony with your loved ones that they will be talking about forever - Weddings in Heaven on Earth. -
Most people love a wedding, and when you combine that with the obsession we have for celebrities?
Every so often, after reading about some celebrities wedding and what it cost, I would wonder why they even bothered. These lavish weddings really amaze me. Some celebrities spend millions just to wed and pamper their guests only to get divorced within a few years. Granted when they are saying ?till death us do part? they are not planning a future divorce in the back of their minds, well not normally, but so many of the marriages end in court cases.
I have to admit, I love to look at photos of glamorous celebrity wedding days. I enjoy gazing at the gowns and decorations. The cakes are unique and extravagant; I always imagine they taste as wonderful as they look. I also love to see pictures of the guests to see how many other celebrities were attending. The weddings of celebrities are always a top priority for the media as they attract more attention than they probably deserve. Of course, some of the weddings have resulted in what appears to be a ?happily ever after? story book ending. There are some famous couples who have been together for a very long time, which is an encouraging thought.
Many of the weddings are held out of the country in an attempt to avoid the paparazzi and media frenzy. They try to keep wedding dates and locations top secret to further avoid the attention. Sometimes they are successful, but, once the media has even the whiff of a wedding, they will camp out for days in the hope of a photo opportunity. Let’s face it, the wedding will provide some photographer with a great deal of money. When photos do surface from these weddings, brides-to-be cut out the photos and carry them around with them. They want their cake to resemble some celebrity or another?s cake; they want their hair to be done like the celebrities was. Brides want to wear dresses that a particular celebrity wore. It seems to be not uncommon for people to abandon having their own unique wedding in order to copy that of a celebrity. In fact many fans planning their weddings will find out where the celebrity couple spent their honeymoon and attempt to visit there too.
Something I have always wondered is, if you are invited to celebrities wedding, what in the world do you take as a gift? After all you are attending a wedding of a celebrity - what can you get them that they don’t already have? Personally I’d just like to have the money that is spent to have one of these lavish celebrity weddings. I’d even take a quarter of the money. Or, if any celebs are out there reading, how about an invitation?
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