Titanium Wedding Rings: Wave of the Future?

Amongst all of the traditions we use in matrimonial ceremonies and celebrations, none is more familiar or meaningful than the wedding ring. The time honored tradition of couples wearing bands to signify their unyielding love and devotion for one another goes back perhaps farther than recorded history. In modern tradition, the wedding ring is typically a band of 18 karat gold, but that tradition has changed in recent years. Today there are many more designs in wedding rings available than there were even as recently as when your parents were married. The traditional plain gold bands are still available, of course, but so are more intricate and ornate designs, as well as bands made of white gold, platinum, and a popular new choice: titanium. In fact, titanium wedding rings are getting more and more popular and there are several reasons for this phenomenon.

Most certainly a part of the reason for the steady increase in the use of titanium wedding rings is the price. Titanium wedding rings cost considerably less than gold or platinum rings but are every bit as beautiful. A titanium wedding ring can cost hundreds of dollars less than comparable rings made of the other precious metals. This is an important consideration for many couples who, due to budgetary limitations, may have had to buy the poorest quality gold rings or do without wedding rings entirely. Titanium rings are a good choice for the budget conscious.

Titanium wedding rings are also more durable than the traditional gold rings. Titanium becomes scratched less easily than gold and can stand up to more of the wear and tear that can result from a person wearing the ring all the time. This is especially true of the men’s rings as men tend to be much harder on their wedding rings than women are. Titanium is more resistive to heat and cold and extreme pressure than gold or platinum are. Think about it. Titanium is used in the space shuttle. It is an alloy that can take a beating.

Titanium is a very smooth alloy as well. Due to this, titanium wedding rings tend to be very comfortable and there is less chance of skin irritation. Also, there are some people who, due to an allergic reaction, can not wear gold jewelry at all. In the past the only option for them has been the far more costly platinum rings. Now titanium wedding rings are a viable alternative for these people.

When it comes time for you to choose wedding rings for yourself and your intended spouse, you may want to look into titanium. Many jewelers as well as online marketers carry an impressive array of titanium wedding rings that are every bit as lovely as their more traditional gold, white gold, and platinum counterparts. In an aspect of life that is full of tradition and similarity all through history, it’s nice that there are now more choices available. Titanium wedding rings are now just one more of those choices that may be right for you.

The Advantages of Professional Wedding Photography

An important aspect of planning the events and preparations for your wedding lies in the selection of a photographer. Some people are intimidated by the concept of arranging for professional wedding photography because they fear the cost will be too exorbitant. Professional wedding photography is certainly not cheap, but it is one of those things in life where the old adage “you get what you pay for” is certainly true. You can use an amateur for your wedding photos if you so desire, but the difference in the end result will be readily apparent. Still, there are ways to get good quality wedding photography, performed by a professional, and still have enough cash left for the honeymoon.

When selecting a professional to handle your wedding photography, price will be a factor in your decision. While you get what you pay for, there is no reason to pay more than you have to. Before deciding on any one photographer or photo studio, do some comparisons. Look at the sample photos that you are shown and ask if they have samples you can take with you. Compare the look of the photos from each photographer with one another. If you find two that seem to be of similar quality but with vastly different prices, then the decision is easy. Obviously the less costly photographer can do the same or similar work for less.

Another consideration in selecting a professional photographer for your wedding is what you get for your money. Most professional wedding photographers offer package deals that include a set number of prints of different shapes and sizes for one price. These packages can vary greatly in terms of content and price from one photographer to another. Look at all they have to offer and make your decision after weighing what you think is the best deal for the money in terms of what you actually get.

One thing many people do not consider when selecting a photographer for their wedding is the impact of copyright law. The photographer may hold a copyright on your wedding photographs. If so this technically makes it illegal for you to create additional prints, copies, or even computer scans of the photographs for reproduction elsewhere. Find out when interviewing photographers what rights they exercise over your photos, if any. You’ll find that most photographers do exercise some form of copyright over the finished product. Others will sell you the entire package, including the negatives for you to do with as you please. This is not the most important part of selecting a photographer, but it is something to consider carefully.

Professional wedding photography is one part of your overall wedding experience that will, unfortunately, cost you some money. There is no way around that if you want the best wedding photos you can get. With a little investigation and comparison, however, you can still save money on this most important feature and make sure that you get the absolute most for your money that you possibly can.

Celtic Wedding Rings

A fairly new trend in wedding ring design has risen in popularity over the past few years and it’s based on something that is anything but new. Celtic wedding rings, wedding bands and engagement rings that are designed featuring classic Celtic knot work are adorning more and more matrimonial fingers than ever before, perhaps since the days of the Celts themselves. At one time these rings could only be special ordered from specific companies and were very costly. Today, however, with the rise in popularity of ancient Celtic design, many jewelers are carrying Celtic wedding rings and jewelry of all kinds on a regular basis.

The best and most beautiful Celtic wedding rings still come from companies that design the jewelry and do all the work themselves. Special intricate designs can be custom ordered and there are companies that will work your initials into a unique Celtic design for your wedding band... Purchasing your wedding rings from one of these companies can result in your having a true one of a kind ring that is completely unique to you. If you love the Celtic look but want to spend a bit less, however, you can simply go to your closest jeweler and find a Celtic wedding ring that suits your tastes. The method you use is entirely up to you.

Celtic wedding rings take their laced designs from the patterns of the ancient Celts, European peoples in the areas of England and Ireland in the last few hundred years B.C. At one time the Celtic civilization stretched across most of Europe, but it is from Ireland that most of the Celtic traditions and designs have been gleaned. Celtic wedding rings incorporate the most recognizable of Celtic designs, the interwoven lacework of basic shapes, entwined and overlapping in a distinct pattern.

Celtic jewelry, including Celtic wedding rings, first gained popularity with followers of neo-pagan religions like Wicca, but are now worn by people of many faiths who simply like the look of the designs. Influences of Celtic design can be seen in many cultures, traditions, and religions of today, most notably in Roman Catholicism which has long since adopted the image of the Celtic Cross as one of their own. It seems only natural that the intricate, ornate, and beautiful designs of the Celts would once again find their way into popular culture. Celtic jewelry began appearing in mainstream America again about ten years ago, although it has been around in one form or another for ages before that.

Celtic wedding rings and other Celtic jewelry make a statement about the person who wears them to the rest of the world. Wearing it says that this is a unique and different person with their own style and a different perspective. Having a Celtic wedding ring on your finger will let you hear some things as well. Most common is the comment, “Oh my gosh, what a gorgeous ring! Where did you get that?”

Buying a Unique wedding Gift

Your best friend’s wedding is coming up and you have to buy a gift. You don’t really want to get them a blender or a vacuum cleaner or a set of dishes. You could just give them money, but that seems so impersonal, albeit useful. What do you do to find a truly unique wedding gift that will stand out from the throngs of average and mundane gifts that seem to populate weddings? A wedding gift should be something that is useful to the new couple as well as thoughtful. The first step to buying any wedding gift should be to check the store where the couple is registered, if they are at all. This will tell you what has already been purchased and what they still need. To be truly unique, however, your gift will be something that no one else will even consider getting them. Food processors and sets of towels are out of the question. Your unique wedding gift will be something astounding, amazing, and thoughtful. But what will it be? Here are some things that are perfectly appropriate as wedding gifts but are not often given. Any of them will be sure to speak to the couple and say that you cared enough to give something very different.

Artwork

A very unique wedding gift, artwork is something for the couple’s new home together but can also be very personal. This is an option that should be seriously considered before being purchased, because art is very subjective. Something that you love could be something they hate. This is also the type of gift that you need to be prepared to spend some money on. An oil painting from the local gallery blowout for ten bucks is not going to cut it. Artwork as a wedding gift should be an artist’s original and that will cost a few hundred dollars at the very least. If the couple has a favorite classical artist, however, a lower cost option could be a framed print of one of that artist’s works.

Gift Certificates

A gift certificate can be a very thoughtful and unique wedding gift, as long as what the certificate is for is something thoughtful and unique. You don’t want a simple department store gift certificate here. Find a gift that can be something tailored to suit the personalities of the couple. Are they the active, outdoors type? Try a gift certificate good for a camping trip in a national park. Maybe they are extreme sports freaks? If so a gift certificate for skydiving lessons or parasailing may be the perfect thing.

These are just a couple of examples of the special and unique wedding gifts you can come up with if you just put your mind to it. With a little bit of creativity and thoughtfulness, you can give a wedding gift that will stand out from all the others and put all the blender buyers and gravy boat givers to shame.

Beautiful Weddings on the Florida Beach

In the Southeastern United States we find the gorgeous peninsula state of Florida. Florida is known for its beautiful beaches, abundant citrus orchards, the thrilling Everglades, as well as its reputation as a favorite place for retirees to enjoy the rest of their days relaxing in the sun. Florida is also home to fabulous and exciting attractions like Disneyworld, Universal Studios, the Epcot Center, and the world famous speedway at Daytona Beach, home of the Daytona 500 auto race. The beaches of Florida are also an exciting and romantic location for young couples to hold their wedding ceremonies. Florida beach weddings are particularly popular in the area of St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Together these cities host about 8,500 weddings annually.

Part of the reason for the popularity of this area for weddings is the number of options available for couples that are seeking romantic places for their weddings. In addition to weddings held along their glorious Florida beaches, weddings are held in botanical gardens, at the base of a lighthouse overlooking Tampa Bay, and numerous other exotic locations. Since so many choices are available, it’s no surprise that this part of Florida have become so popular for beach weddings.

Florida beach weddings are an ideal choice for those planning a romantic destination wedding. Most of the weddings offered at the Florida beaches and other locations are designed with romance and privacy in mind. Most are geared toward small ceremonies. “Perfect for 2 to 52,” boasts one company’s advertisements. Package prices range from the truly affordable to the incredibly extravagant, but there’s definitely something for every conceivable budget.

Attending a wedding on the Florida beach is truly an experience. The combination of sun, sand, and beautiful ocean waves fill the air with a spark of romance. As you watch your friends recite their vows amongst the natural splendor of the Florida beach, you can’t help but feel the passion between them and be moved.

The couple holding a Florida beach wedding is truly providing a treat for themselves and their guests alike. The memories created here will last a lifetime for everyone involved.

When planning a destination wedding, Florida is a choice you may not have considered. Do yourself a favor and look into it. The many chapels and wedding service companies offer attractive packages for their Florida beach weddings, including everything from photographers to marriage licensing appointments, with no detail left unaccounted for. Contacting your travel agent can help you determine whether a Florida beach wedding is within your budget, but in most cases a wedding like this will cost far less than a traditional wedding at home. The romantic difference and the savings certainly make the Florida beach wedding a viable romantic alternative. You’ll remember your beautiful wedding for a lifetime, no matter where the ceremony actually takes place. By marrying in a romantic location like the breathtaking beaches of Florida you will make your entire wedding experience just that much more special and memorable, treating yourself, your spouse, and your guests to the wedding of a lifetime.

Be Nice When Choosing Your Bridesmaids Dresses!

You have chosen your dream dress, you and your future husband have decided on the wedding party and the bridesmaids are anxious to see what their dresses are going to look like. When choosing your bridesmaid dresses, don’t forget to keep their emotions and tastes in mind!

Remember that although this is your big day, your bridesmaids have decided to share in your joy and help you make lasting memories. And one of the biggest ways that you can include them in the merriment is to ask them to help you with the decision. In other words, in addition to your own ideas, find out what their likes and dislikes are. After all, if they’re not happy with your choice and they feel uncomfortable, it will show in your wedding photos.

Compliment your bridesmaids’ figures, hair color and complexions when choosing their dresses. You can still be the center of attention while allowing your wedding party to glow and shine behind you. Be sure to have your bridesmaids try on several styles and colors and let them choose one or two of their favorites to help you make your decision.

As important as comfort is for you, it is just as important for your girls. So, when choosing the bridesmaids dresses, look for comfort in the fit and the style. If you are a courteous bride, thinking of their needs while tending to your own, it will be appreciated by your wedding party and they will be more willing to help you.

If you’ve ever been bridesmaid yourself, then you likely understand how important it is to consider cost when choosing the bridesmaid dresses. While you may be working on a wedding budget, keep in mind that your wedding party also may be hoping for affordable attire. Talk to your bridesmaids and ask them how much they are willing to spend.

Be sure while choosing bridesmaids dresses you record everything in a notebook so that you won’t forget or lose the valuable information. Through the chaos of planning the rest of the wedding, it could be all too easy to forget sizes, styles, alteration decisions, and how much is owed on the dresses. Keeping everything in a notebook will help you stay organized and feel less stress.

After the bridesmaids dresses have been decided on, don’t forget to ask about fittings. Find out how many fitting will be needed for each girl and exactly what the cost is for each one of them. Write down times and dates to help your wedding party remember and if possible, let the bridesmaids schedule the appointments themselves to ensure it is a good time for them.

Now you have chosen the bridesmaids dresses, they are happy about the color, style and fit. Don’t forget the shoes! Remember to tell your bridesmaids whether they are to wear flats or pumps. And if you want them dyed to match the dresses, let them know and give them time to prepare. As long as you use respect and common courtesy, you will most likely have a happy wedding party thus giving you a beautiful, happy day to remember.

A Gorgeous Hawaii Wedding – Romance Awaits

Almost every girl dreams of a beautiful and romantic wedding for most of her life. Now that your time has come and you’re planning your dream wedding, what could be more beautiful or more romantic than a dream wedding in Hawaii? With the costs of so-called destination weddings dropping into the ranges of affordability for more and more people and resort hotels and airlines offering attractive packages at reduced and combined rates, now is the perfect time to arrange an incredible and exotic Hawaii wedding!

If you’re interested in holding your wedding ceremony among the beauty and splendor of the Hawaiian Islands there are an incredible number of sources to help you plan your lavish Hawaii wedding. Hawaii has long been a favorite destination for newlywed honeymooners and couples looking for an exotic locale for their wedding celebrations, and there are a large number of companies on the islands that specialize in helping you create and enjoy the most amazing wedding in the splendor of Hawaii. Companies that specialize in waterfall wedding and beach weddings abound and are there to see to every detail of a wedding service that you will remember for a lifetime. A romantic tropical paradise wedding can be yours for much less cost than you may think.

Feeling adventurous? Then a whirlwind wedding on the island of Maui followed by a thrilling helicopter trip high above the beautiful landscape may be right up your alley. Maybe you and your beloved are more reserved? Then perhaps a quite beach or garden gazebo Hawaii wedding is more your style. There are companies that will marry you on a yacht in the middle of the Pacific Ocean if that’s your style. And who could resist the temptation of saying “I do” at a small, private Maui ceremony followed by a romantic dinner for two? All these options and more await you when you decide to have your wedding in beautiful Hawaii.

If you’ve dreamed of a glamorous Hawaii wedding but never looked into it because you assumed the cost would be prohibitive, you should put those thoughts out of your mind right away. Companies offering the romantic Hawaii weddings discussed above have rates that will surprise you. Many of the tempting Hawaii weddings available can be had for anywhere between several hundred to less than two thousand dollars (not including hotel and airfare, of course.) With the costs of traditional weddings skyrocketing, a small but memorable Hawaii wedding may be well within your reach.

Regardless of where you have your wedding, you’re sure to remember it fondly for the rest of your life. If you want those memories to be that much more special and to spark romance in your heart and mind whenever you think of them, then an amazing and breathtaking Hawaii wedding on the beach, in a lush garden paradise, or in front of a romantic waterfall may be the perfect thing for you and your spouse to enjoy today and remember forever.

8 Questions Brides Ask About Setting up a Wedding Registry

8 Questions Brides Ask About Setting up a Wedding Registry
by Blake Kritzberg

In theory, setting up a registry is simple. You decide on one or several stores, create a registry online or in person, select various items, and get the word out to your guests. In practice, things are a little more complicated -- but only a little!

With that said, here's the real deal on setting up your wedding registry and getting the word out without offending your guests. Remember that retailers can be an enormous help to both you and your guests. At the same time, you can’t take everything they say at face value.

Q: Where should I register?

A: Chances are, if you're getting married in your own town, you already know where "everyone goes" to set up and shop from a registry. If not, and guests are flying in from far away, pick from some bride-tested standbys likely to be present almost anywhere. Macy’s has a great reputation for registries, as does Williams-Sonoma, Bed Bath & Beyond and other retailers.

Before you choose your stores, be sure to stop by a wedding forum and get feedback from brides who have been there, done that. Store policies vary quite dramatically, ranging from the easy-does-it (who’ll give you cash back for returns off the registry, no questions asked) to the extremely restrictive (who’ll only let you exchange for another item *in that department*, requires a receipt for each item, and so on). You'll want to know about these policies and the store's overall reputation for bridal friendliness before you go in, or returns and exchanges could become a big hassle.

Q: I have a wide range of interests. How many stores should I register at?

A: Two to three stores is fairly typical. They don't have to be typical stores, though. If you're a wine drinker, and live in a state where it's legal to ship wine, set up a registry at one of the great online wine merchants.

Q: When should I register?

A: Although close family members may pressure you to start earlier, it's helpful to wait three to six months before the wedding. Not only are the vast majority of gifts bought within a day or so of the shower or ceremony itself, stores turn over merchandise so rapidly that any gifts you select earlier may be discontinued.

Q: What if I already have all the kitchen appliances and throw pillows I need?

A: Consider putting together a honeymoon registry instead, so guests can contribute toward a special meal or snorkeling trip or a night’s lodging during your honeymoon.

Q: When I signed up at Store X, they gave me a bunch of attractive registry cards to enclose with my wedding invitations. Should I do it, or is that tacky?

A: Sorry, but the consensus is almost universal -- it's uncouth to include any mention of gifts in your invitations. You can, however, tuck those cards into shower invitations. Perhaps the best solution is to include a note in your invitations that reads, "Please see our wedding web site at www.xyz.com" and place your registry information there.

Q: How many gifts should I register for? I don't want to look demanding.

A: Typically, you'll want to select two or three items per guest. That gives people room to choose instead of locking them into something they don't enjoy buying, or worse, forcing them to guess what else you might like, giving birth to the “second yogurt maker” type of gift.

If you have many guests, you can avoid creating a 16-page monstrosity for them to print out by breaking up your registry over several stores.

At the end of the day, “more is more.” Many retailers offer discounts on those items you registered for but didn't receive. Many stores also retain your registry for at least 12 months after the wedding. You may find it's best to register for everything that you plan to buy, even if you don't expect to get it as a gift; you can then purchase your selections for 10% or 20% off after the ceremony. Many brides also find friends and family tapping registries for gift buying ideas for birthdays and other holidays!

Q: What price range should I stick with when selecting items?

A: Generally, you should register for things you really feel you want or need, without worrying too much about the price. Some guests enjoy picking up a number of items in the low price range, and sometimes guests will group together to purchase bigger-ticket items.

Q: I've set up my registry just fine, but now I’m addicted to checking it online. How can I stop?

A: Sorry, there's no known antidote for registry-checking addiction, though it's a widespread phenomenon. Counting to ten, taking deep breaths or distracting yourself with double-fudge ice cream might be worth a shot.

----------------
About the Author
Blake Kritzberg is editor at "FavorIdeas.com." Stop by for wedding favor ideas, Save-the-Date eCards, free wedding screensaver, free wedding templates and Bridezilla's weekly adventures at:
http://www.favorideas.com

Writing Your Wedding Vows the Way Poets Do

Writing Your Wedding Vows the Way Poets Do
by Chris Simeral

Let’s face it, not many of us have the kind of skills or experience to write truly poetic wedding vows. Or do we? Here’s the truth: Even if you don’t know Dylan Thomas from Bob Dylan, and you’re pretty sure T.S. Elliot was that guy who wrote the words to Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Cats,” all is not lost! In fact, there are ways to learn to write the words you want. With four simple steps, you can take what you feel in your heart and make it come out as sweetly as any Shakespearian sonnet.

Step 1: Decide on a theme

Finding a theme should arguably be the easiest part of writing poetry for your wedding vows. But you don’t want to be stuck with something trite or cliché, even though the theme of romantic love is probably the oldest known for poetry. There are lots of ways to avoid writing the same old “roses are red, violets are blue” type of poem. One trick the pros use is to envision what a newspaper article about your relationship would say. Would it discuss how and where you met? How your relationship has stayed strong, even during the hard times? What your love has meant to one another? Since newspaper articles get right to the point, this exercise can help you pick out an overriding theme for your vows.

Step 2: Allow time for reverie

No, not “revelry” (hopefully that will be what your wedding day is all about), but reverie – a quiet time devoted to a kind of dreamy meditation. Try some tricks for allowing yourself time to truly think about your poem -- and not just those things that allow you to “act like a poet.” Go for a walk alone, listen to instrumental music, or simply shut the door to a room in your house and ask not to be disturbed. The most important thing to remember with any of these methods is that you don’t let other people interrupt your time.

Step 3: Choose your topic

Theme, as discussed above, is the driving idea behind your poem. The topic, however, is the specific vehicle you use to express the theme. While finding the theme should be the easiest part of writing a poem for your wedding, finding a topic that isn’t hackneyed and trite can be a challenge. For instance, love is your theme, but the beauty of your betrothed’s eyes may be the topic. You are using the example of her eyes as the symbol for your love. The key is to find something new. There’s something that makes your chosen one special, be it appearance, wit, or style. That’s the topic you want to choose. Poets use tools like automatic writing, journals, or “dream work” to come up with topics for their prose. (These tools are all discussed in detail in the home-study course I put together for couples personalizing their wedding vows – visit http://www.WeddingVowToolkit.com for more info.) But anything that allows you to spark your creativity can suffice if you’re short on time.

Step 4: Pick Your Style

As many different poems as there are, there are almost an equal number of styles in which they are written. There are traditional forms, modern, post modern, and many more. You can work on fitting your rough draft poem into one of these many forms, or you can go with no form at all. The benefit of working on an art form is that there are no hard and fast rules on what the end product must look like. Perhaps you’d like to try your hand at penning your vows in the form of a Shakespearean sonnet. Or, to go a completely different route, maybe “experimental” is right up your alley. No matter what you choose, just make sure it fits your style. After all, personalizing your wedding vows means just that – they should be personal, not forced to fit into a style that just isn’t “you.”

----------------
About the Author
Chris Simeral is the creator of The Ultimate Wedding Vow Toolkit, the wedding-coordinator-approved home-study course for couples personalizing or renewing their wedding vows. Learn more at http://www.WeddingVowToolkit.com.

Choosing a Wedding Date –- When You’re Feeling Indecisive

Choosing a Wedding Date –- When You’re Feeling Indecisive
by Blake Kritzberg

He – or she – proposed, and you answered in the affirmative! Now's the time to bask in the romance, and enjoy the first phase of your new life together. But soon, you'll need a response for that timeless question: "when's the wedding?"

For some couples, it's easy – they know just when they want to tie the knot. For others, it's less clear. After all, you have a lot of options. Even more than you might think, since it's really not necessary to get married on a Saturday. Friday and Sunday afternoons are good choices too, and less expensive.

So if you're looking at the calendar ahead and seeing a hundred alternatives, all about equally attractive, here's how to narrow them down.

Must-have venues

No matter how flexible you are, there's bound to be things you won't compromise on. Maybe it's a particular church, temple and officiant for your ceremony. Maybe it's a special venue for your reception. And there are certain indispensable guests, like your parents.

Luckily for you, putting just these three things together is bound to reduce your choices. Once you call on the church/temple, ceremony venue or reception hall, you'll probably find many dates already filled, especially if you call less than nine months in advance. Good. That makes things easier!

Must-have ambiance

But maybe you don't have a must-have venue. Maybe you just have an image in your mind of the perfect wedding. Maybe it involves falling snow, ermine mantles, a horse-drawn carriage, and a crackling fireplace. Maybe it involves stacks of shiny apples, heaped pumpkins, a scattering of leaves and the scent of cranberry-apple cider. Or delicate pastels, gossamer pashminas for the bridesmaids, and a dove release. In this case your time of year is set: all that's needed it to work out the logistics of venue, local climate and the availability of your most important guests.

Must-have flowers

Some people know exactly what floral arrangements they want at their wedding. Flowers are such an enormous part of the wedding budget, if particular ones are important to you, you might want to arrange your date around them. Unless you're an heiress, for example, you'll want to avoid buying roses for your Valentine's Day wedding. On the other hand, December and January are great months to buy calla lilies. To study flower availability charts, Google for "flower availability by month."

Must-have honeymoons

If you have your heart set on a certain destination, you'll probably find the honeymoon helps set the date for you. Chances are, some dates are good for travel but others involve the risk of hurricanes or lengthy rains.

Limited budget

For now, winter is the slow wedding season. So it's often (though not always) true that you can get a break on expenses by having your ceremony during the holidays. Brides often find that by marrying near Christmas, they benefit from already-decorated churches and don't need to add much themselves. Plus, if they shop the year before, they can stock up on decorations at incredibly discounted post-holiday sales. The trick is to avoid competing with office parties for reception venues and limousines (New Year's Eve is particularly competitive).

Another factor to consider, besides the possibility of dismal weather, is how many guests are due from out-of-town. Flying in for a holiday wedding can strain any family's Christmas budget, plus airlines often charge extra during the season.

If you need to keep expenses in check but want to avoid winter, make sure you steer clear of proms, graduation, "parents' day" at colleges, major sporting events and other local events.

"Life" dates

You might find your own life gives more guidance than you think. Are you a teacher, with set vacation times? Are you graduating from college or ending an internship? Are many of your relations students, available only during the holidays or the summer? If you're working, is your vacation time limited to a certain time of year? If many guests are flying in, will Labor Day weekend or Memorial Day weekend give them time to get acclimated and enjoy your big day? If none of these apply, is there a date that has special significance to you as a couple, such as the date you first met or first dated?

"Auspicious" dates

Many people find little extra jolt of comfort in picking auspicious days for their wedding. In India and China, this is standard practice. But even in the West, people often find it reassuring to pick numbers or dates with personal meaning. A Chinese custom is to select a date with as many even numbers as possible (such as 2-18-2006). The Irish believed that New Year's Eve is luckiest for weddings. The Romans (and consequently, modern westerners) favored the month of June. For Victorians, it was lucky to marry on the groom's birthday.

----------------
About the Author
Blake Kritzberg is editor at "FavorIdeas.com." Stop by for wedding favor ideas, Save-the-Date eCards, free wedding screensaver, free wedding templates and Bridezilla's weekly adventures at: http://www.favorideas.com

Wedding Entertainment – selecting a Quality DJ

By Todd Mumford

Months in advance of your wedding ceremony, comes hours and hours of planning – how many people to invite, what food items to provide, drinks, wedding flowers, and more. Finding a good, dependable DJ is usually not the first thing on your mind. However the entertainment for you party needs to be one of the most important things you plan for, for many reasons. Some suggestions we have in terms of finding good dependable music entertainment are:

1. Plan to meet the DJ in advance.

If your disc jockey turns out to be late, unprofessional, or comes unequipped for your meeting, you’ll have time to search for another. Finding a DJ who looks motivated to help make your ceremony and reception a huge success can do wonders for stress levels for both bride and groom.

2. Inquire about music tracks

This sounds simple, but ensure that the DJ has a wide range of songs to play for the celebration – everything from oldies to waltzes for the bride and groom, and additionally, some up-tempo, newer type music. Good DJ’s can sense the mood of the crowd at your event and ‘elevate’ the mood when the guests feel like dancing and ‘tone it down’ when people feel a need to relax. In addition, a professional DJ knows what to play in terms of requests, what will come across well and also, what type of music that wouldn’t be appreciated .

3. Get it in writing

As in any business transaction, a legal contract is mandatory. Ensure that you have in writing what will be provided and for how long. Be sure to include actual playing times, equipment that will be provided, number of breaks and attire. Also, it’s usually a good idea to have an overrun clause stipulated, just in case the wedding goes on longer than planned. If this happens, the overrun clause should address the extra pay for the additional entertainment.

4. References

This has already been mentioned, but it is most important so I’ll touch on it again. Find out what other married couples experiences were. If your choice of entertainment cannot provide a number of verifiable references, you may be well served to look elsewhere.

5. Make sure you have a backup plan

Having some type of backup entertainment plan is not always possible, but it is worth considering. This again is a “what if” scenario that could mean disaster on your wedding day. “What if,” even after all your preparation, the entertainment did not show up? At the very minimum, it would be prudent to have some form of music available at your request to fill the void in the worst case scenario. Alternately, there are those couples that feel that they should ‘let the chips fall where they may’ and leave things at that.

6. Most of all, be prepared, but have fun

Plan all the details well in advance and ensure that you confirm everything a few days before the actual event. Good planning will ensure your special day will be one of the most memorable of your life for you and your partner.

----------------
About the Author
Staff writer for My Wedding Blog

How to Significantly Lower Your Wedding Flower Costs

How to Significantly Lower Your Wedding Flower Costs
by Candice Barrigher

When planning a wedding, it is vital to keep in mind that approximately 5-10% of the budget may be consumed by floral costs. Whether your budget is $5000 or $15,000, this percentage is a significant amount considering all of the other things that are battling over your hard earned dollars (or, your parents’ hard earned dollars!) Although the thought of spending so much on an element of your wedding that may not last past the day itself may depress you, flowers add the power of elegance and richness to your event.

“So, what do I do?” is a question that I have been asked. The answer is quite simple; you must find ways to cuts costs and maintain the same desired effect. What most do not find simple is discovering ways to cut the costs. Well, here are a few tried and true ways that will allow you to incorporate one of nature’s most glorious creations without breaking the bank.

1) One word…SILK! Silk flowers today appear to be so life-like, that I have actually had to touch and smell a bouquet just to be sure! They come is huge variations of blooms and colors. You are most certain to find silk flowers in exactly the same bloom and color you desire for actual flowers at a fraction of the costs.

2) Purchase flowers that are in season at the time of your wedding. The prices and choices available may vary across the country, but, the guide below is general and may apply in most states.

Summer Blooms

Lilies
Asters
Straw Flowers
Stephanotis

Winter Blooms

Holly
Poinsettias

Fall Blooms

Sunflowers
Orange Blossoms

Spring/Summer Blooms

Calla Lilies
Freesia
Magnolias
Lily of the Valley

Annual Blooms

Baby's Breath
Gerbera Daisies
Daisies
Freesia
Carnations

Spring Blooms

Lilacs
Tulips
Violets
Irises

3) Use decorations that do not require flowers. With a little bit of creativity and compromising, you can create gorgeous centerpieces that are not floral at all. Candles have made some of the best centerpieces I have seen yet. One idea is to place pillar candles in hurricane lamps of varying sizes and place tulle and glitter/confetti around the setting. Candles can create a romantic ambience and will cast a warm, peachy glow on the smiling faces of your guests!

----------------
About the Author
Candice Barrigher is a Home Entertaining expert, as well as a Certified Bridal Consultant. She has been assisting clients offline for 4 years now and has decided to take her presence on the web in February. The web presence of UniqueEntertaining will contain a plethora of entertaining tips, ideas, advice and many wonderful items that will allow clients to have beautiful and memorable events.
She can currently be reached at fortunate5182@yahoo.com.

Common Format Of A Wedding Reception

Common Format Of A Wedding Reception
by Matt Campbell

Common format of a wedding reception:

·Arrival of guests at hall
·Introduction of wedding party
·Introduction of bride and groom
·Blessing
·Meal
·Cake Cutting
·Toasts
·Bride & Groom’s First Dance
·Father & Daughter’s Dance
·Mother & Groom’s Dance
·Special Dances
·Bouquet and Garter Toss
·Dancing and Fun

Arrival of guests at reception site
Typically, a wedding lasts about 15 minutes. However, some guests do arrive early to the reception. Therefore, be sure all reception to-dos are complete by the start time of the wedding. Also, all wedding vendors should be wearing proper attire for early arriving and late staying guests. All tables should be set-up including cake table, entertainment’s table, sign-in table, food tables, and tables with chairs for all guests. If you have a seating arrangement, all seating lists should be at the reception with everyone’s name with where they are sitting.

Introduction of wedding party
This step is not mandatory, but it is nice for everyone to know who the wedding party is as many have not met before your wedding. Create a “Reception Planning Guide” and give this to your master of ceremonies prior to your wedding. This details, among other things, the order of entrance into the reception site with their names and titles. The order of entrance is as follows: parents of the bride, parents of the groom, ushers with bridesmaids, flower girl and ring bearer, special guests, best man, maid/matron of honor, bride and groom. In addition, review the pronunciations of the wedding party's names with the master of ceremonies.

Introduction of bride and groom
This is always the last of the introductions. Everyone should stand before the bride and groom enter. In addition, a special song can be arranged with the music entertainment and a special announcement made to punctuate a true grand entrance. Also, inform the master of ceremonies how you would like to be introduced: Mr. and Mrs. Smith or John and Jane Doe.

Blessing
This is another step that is not mandatory, but for the religious couples makes a nice setting. If you invite the person who performed the marriage ceremony to the reception, I would recommend having them conduct the blessing. If they are not able to attend, a parent or family friend is a good idea. Lastly, the master of ceremonies could give the meal blessing. Be sure to communicate with whomever is giving the blessing in advance so they are prepared to give a personal touch.

Meal
It's time to eat! Bride and Groom, be sure to stop and take a moment to eat. This may be your only chance in the day. In addition, it is customary for the bride and groom to start the food line. Most guests know to wait until the bride and groom start the food line. So don't be late!

Cake Cutting
This is the traditional bride and groom making the first cut on their wedding cake. Then, the bride feeds half of the piece of cake to the groom and the groom feeds the remaining half to the bride. The cutting of the cake is a ceremony intended to symbolize the caring and sharing for one another. Forks may be used as they make the image very attractive for the photographer. Forks may also minimize the possibility of someone being hurt with the more playful squashing that sometimes happens.

Toasts
The toast is when the bride and groom toast each other then interlock arms and drink. Immediately following, the best man and maid/matron of honor make toasts to the bridal couple. Be prepared for other family and friends to follow with their toasts too.

Bride & Groom’s First Dance
The Bride & Groom’s Dance is the first dance between a bride and groom as a married couple. The dance is also commonly known as the "First Dance". The timing of the bride groom dance can vary in the evening based on your preferences. The first dance can be done immediately following the grand entrance with the wedding party circling the dance.

Father & Daughter’s Dance
The Father & Daughter’s Dance or the Father Bride Dance is the dance between the father(s) of the bride and the bride. Brides, if you have more than one father in your life, one can tap the other on the shoulder in the middle of the dance so you can dance with both of them. If you do not have a father, a common substitute is a father figure or even your brother would make a very nice gesture.

Mother & Groom’s Dance
The Mother & Groom’s dance is the dance between the mother(s) of the groom and the groom. Grooms, if you have more than one mother in your life, one can tap the other on the shoulder in the middle of the dance so you can dance with both of them. If you do not have a mother, a common substitute is a mother figure or even your sister would make a very nice gesture.

Special Dances
There may be songs in your life that mean dear to your heart. You can ask the music entertainment to play these songs during the night or immediately following the formal dances. An example would be: If someone dear to you passed recently, you may ask the music entertainment to play Angels Among Us by Alabama.

Bouquet and Garter Toss
The traditional tossing of the bouquet is when the bride tosses the bridal bouquet to all single women in attendance. Immediately following the bouquet tossing, a chair is set in the middle of the dance floor. The chair is for the bride to sit and the groom to remove the bride's garter from her leg. The traditional tossing of the garter is when the groom tosses the bride's garter to all the single men in attendance. The people whom catch the garter and bouquet are said to be the next one to marry.

Dancing and Fun
This is what you pay the music entertainment to do...get people to dance and have a good time. Give the music entertainment music examples and limitations of what type of music you want but don’t give them a list of 100 songs they need to play.

----------------
About The Author: Matt Campbell is the owner and webmaster for Weddingmuseum.com. Weddingmuseum.com is a place to plan, book and rate your wedding day. You can email him at matt@weddingmuseum.com or visit WeddingMuseum.com

5 Tips To Select The Best Wedding Reception Location

5 Tips To Select The Best Wedding Reception Location
by Tim and Tammy Smith

Being disc jockeys, we get the opportunity to evaluate many reception facilities while having little or no bias to “sell” one location over another. Most Brides and Grooms know where they will be holding the ceremony before they decide where to have the reception, so we have compiled five observations that can help you when selecting your venue.

Distance - If people have to drive a long way to get from the ceremony to the reception, some will get distracted or decide to do something else. Try to keep the reception within a 15 to 30 minute drive of your ceremony. If it is not possible to get a reception hall close to your ceremony, make a caravan. Have the Bride and Groom lead the parade, and people will follow you to your reception.

Time – Time is just like the distance issue. If your reception is several hours after the ceremony, people will get busy doing other things and not show up for the reception. Try to start the reception within an hour or two of the ceremony. If you don’t want to start your wedding dance at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, have a Meet and Greet mixer before your reception. Serve some punch and get people to mingle. This will be one of the few times that both families will be together. Encourage family members to share stories about your childhoods.

Size - People like their personal space, and they have most likely spent an hour packed into a church for your ceremony. If you let them spread out, they will enjoy themselves more. Make sure your reception hall has plenty of room for your guests. The people renting the location might tell you it holds 200 people, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will hold 200 people comfortably! Make sure to visit the venue before booking.

Climate Control - Having a summer wedding? Is your reception hall air conditioned? If people sweat while just sitting, they won't dance. On the flip side, if they are cold they won't dance either (who wants to dance in a parka?). Also make sure you know who has control of the thermostat so the temperature can be adjusted if needed. Chances are your reception will be warm and stuffy while all the guest are there, but as they trickle out during the night the room will begin to cool down.

Smoking - This is a hot button issue, but if your reception hall is non-smoking, you can fully expect smoker's to leave your reception for 15-30 minutes every hour. If enough of them leave the reception area, you may find a large percentage of your guest just hanging out in the smoking area. This can be a big problem if you have many smokers in your wedding party. You don’t have to allow smoking, but it is something you should consider, especially if anyone has any health problems like asthma or allergies that could be triggered by smoke. If you decide not to allow smoking in the reception area, how close is the nearest place for a smoker to go? Is it close enough that you will be able to get needed wedding party members during events like the bouquet toss or garter auction?

Facility coordinators will no doubt bring up several other factors for you to consider when you interview them for your booking, but these are often missed items, especially if they don’t favor the potential venue. If you keep the overall picture in mind and work with your wedding planner or event coordinator on the decorating ideas, you will no doubt have an enjoyable and memorable wedding reception.

----------------

About the Authors: Tim & Tammy Smith operate By Request DJ & Karaoke Company (http://www.byrequest.dj), located in Fargo, North Dakota. They have been providing entertainment for wedding receptions since 1994 and belong to several professional disc jockey organizations.