Final Planning Tips for your Wedding Day

by Penny Olsen

Recently, I went to my home town to help my Mother and my Sister with the final planning for my Sister’s wedding. Every member of my family is a "Do-It-Yourselfer", so we had an unbelievable amount of flower arrangements, pew decorations, garlands, candles, silver, you name it, we had to set it up. We were working with a total of four hours to decorate the church, a huge reception hall, a large lobby and two gazebos.

When I arrived at home I felt a little bit overwhelmed with the amount of time that was allotted and the sheer volume of decorating that we had to execute within the tiny window. But we were able to pull it off with time to relax and enjoy the beauty of all of the work that gone into it during the many, many months prior.

The first thing that had to happen was to figure out how many people were able to come and help us to decorate. It really helps, but it is not totally necessary to have a group of people that have an eye for design. Anyone that is willing is completely capable to come and lend a hand.

My mother and I set up all of the arrangements in my parents’ basement, just as they would be set up in each of their locations around the hall and Church. With a digital camera, we snapped a photo of each so that if necessary, we had a visual reference for all of our helpers and our intentions for the finished product. A digital camera and a computer with a color printer are the handiest tools to have at this point. But regular, 4x6 photos are just as helpful, it will just cost a bit more and take a little longer to get them printed.

While everything was arranged in the basement, we numbered each piece with a small piece of masking tape and a number so that the set up on the big day of hustle and bustle always started at one and went from the left to the right.

Then we packed everything for transport in banana boxes that we got from the local grocery store. You may be saying, “Why banana boxes?” They are very strong and also very light, so you can fill them with just about anything and not have to worry about the bottom dropping out. The top of each box was labeled with the exact location of its contents, ie: On top of the piano in the lobby. We then loaded all the boxes in a logical order, with similar decorations grouped together, into a rented box truck.

When we arrived on the morning of decorating, there was crew of 12 waiting for us, so we hopped out of the truck and handed out instruction sheets to each person stating how everything was labeled, what the general layout would be, what to expect once they opened the boxes, and who they could come to if they had any questions at all. From that point, everyone was off and running. It went like clockwork, and everyone let us know that they were very thankful that we were all on the same page. Due to the extra time that we put into organizing before we arrived, we finished early and were able to enjoy all of the work that we had done and got a few photos of the venue that was decorated beautifully, before any of the guests arrived.

The day of the wedding was very relaxing since we didn’t have to go back for last minute touch ups. We could spend the time casually with our family and friends until it was time to get the show on the road that afternoon.


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Penny Olson is the owner and designer for Brilliant Wedding Jewelry. Visit her on the web at www.Brilliant-Wedding-Jewelry.com

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The Wedding Etiquette of Giving Cash

A wedding of an acquiantance is going to be held some time soon. You are now thinking of what gift you should give the newly wed. But do you know that there are gift giving wedding etiquette? Yes, there is such a thing. If you are contemplating on giving cash as a gift, read on first the gift giving cash wedding etiquette before you do such a move.

Gift Giving Cash Wedding Etiquette Fact 1:

If a guest who receive an invitation can't make it to the wedding, they are not obligated to send gifts and much more cash gifts. Wedding etiquette dictates, however, that those who are unable to attend should send a congratulatory card for the groom or for both couples or a simple best wishes note to the bride.

Gift Giving Cash Wedding Etiquette Fact 2:

Cash gifts or any gift items may be sent to the bride or groom's home before the wedding or to the couple's new home one year afterwards. This is a way of guests to lessen the burden to the newlyweds, such as how would they transport heavy gift items. Couple need not worry about renting a truct to transport the gifts to their new home. Also, your cash gift will be a great help to couples within their first year of marriage who are still in the stage of raising their own savings.

Gift Giving Cash Wedding Etiquette Fact 3:

Giving cash gifts are not a violation of wedding etiquette. Couples need cash as a start up money for them. They need to rent a new apartment, bigger than their bachelor pad, if any of them has one, buy toiletries and groceries for the two of them, buy appliances and furniture that the two of them needs. These are just few among the many expenses that a couple would face in the first few months of their marriage which is why gift giving cash is a good idea to do and does not violate any wedding etiquette.

Gift Giving Cash Wedding Etiquette Fact 4:

So how much should you give if you decide to give the couple cash as a gift?

It is a horrible idea that the amount or price of one's wedding gift should equate to what the couples had spent on your dinner at the wedding reception. It is untrue. You can give as much as you want and as less as you want, if your budget is really tight. But in gift giving cash wedding etiquette, a guest's transportation does not count as a cash gift to the couple.

Gift Giving Cash Wedding Etiquette Fact 5:

Also, don't stop yourself from giving cash gifts if the couple has listed their preferred wedding gifts in registry.
Buying gifts from the wedding registry list are optional; you can either give the couple the gift of their choice or don't.

So, the gift giving cash wedding etiquette fact # 5 is that you can give cash gifts eventhough the couples have a wedding registry.

Here are gift giving cash wedding etiquette for couples:

Wedding registries are gaining popularity these days. But there are limitations on how much the bride and groom may direct gift giving. Gift giving cash is a wedding etiquette violation. You should not tell your guests that you prefer cash than gift items or request donations in cash to pay up a mortgage or ask them to give you cash to fund your honeymoon or that gift giving cash is preferred because you will send the money to charity.

Whether you like it or not, don't ask for cash! It will make you look greedy, even if you claim that the money will go to charity. Also, your guests will fell less generous.

Gift giving of cash is an option to guests. They may opt to give cash as a wedding gift but wedding etiquette tells that you should not, ever, ask them for gift giving of cash. You may use the cash gifts in anyway you want.

If the bride and groom receive cash from guests, accept it and say your thanks, write them a thank you note the way you would do after opening a gift item.

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Great Ideas for Wedding Hairstyles to make you look the Perfect Bride

A wedding is a very special event in everyone's life. Everything has to be perfect, however many brides do not take into consideration that their wedding hairstyle plays a very important part on their overall look. If you are wearing a veil or a headpiece, your hair needs to be as perfect as your gown. Sometimes it can take up to two months to treat and condition your hair.

Hair care usually requires a lot of work. Frequent visits to the hairdresser may be necessary to ensure that your hair is in excellent condition for your wedding. Trimming all of the split ends is just the beginning this not only keeps your hair healthy, it will also help your hair grow faster.

There are different hair types, and using a shampoo that is right for your specific type is critical to keeping your hair healthy and beautiful. It is recommended that you avoid using blow dryers and curling irons, as they tend to over dry your hair and leave it susceptible to breaking and split ends.

When there is no time to let your hair grow, and the damage to your hair is extensive, you may want to consider using a hairpiece. These are easily attached to your hair. Hairpieces are so realistic that no one will tell the difference.

Once your hair is in excellent condition, choosing which hairstyle will be best for your wedding theme. There are several different ways you can style your hair.

You could twist it into a bun or pin it back. If you are not sure which style will fit into your wedding theme, do some research. Wedding hairstyle you can choose from include romantic, elegant, modern or formal. It would benefit you to research as much as possible before finally settling on you chosen wedding hairstyle.

There are hundreds of wedding magazines and books to look through to find the exact style you want. The Internet holds a wealth of information, and wedding styles are no exception.

When you have found the perfect wedding hairstyle, you can bring a picture to your hairdresser. If the style is right for your hair type, then your stylist will fix your hair.

When you have decided on a wedding hairstyle, you do not want to wait till your wedding day to see how it will look. Having your hairstylist fix your hair in the chosen style will assist you in your decision to keep it or change it to another style. This will also show you if your hairstylist has the necessary skills.

It is crucial to make sure that you give your stylist plenty of notice on the date of your wedding day. There are many things that can go wrong, and often do. It is recommended that you schedule your hair appointment early enough in the morning so that you can finish all the last minute details.

Summary:

Your wedding hairstyle is an important part of your wedding. Your veil or hairpiece will draw as much attention as your gown. Doing some research will reveal that it is not a simple decision, but rather a complex one because it will complete your wedding ensemble.

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Building your Perfect Wedding Ceremony ~ Including History of Marriage

What is marriage? Why have you decided to commit your lives to one another in this way? What's the institution of marriage got to do with who you are and what you are doing? Answering these questions is a way to focus your guests attention on the role of marriage and the purpose of this wedding ceremony.

The second major building block of my 10 Steps to Building Your Perfect Wedding is the Invocation. In the Invocation, the first thing you want to talk about is ~

History: You are not the first people to stand hand and hand with your beloved before your community. Yours is not the first community to gather to witness. Your wedding is one in the long tail of history. As you stand today, so shall others stand tomorrow. Let's look at the questions this important segment might answer.

What is marriage? Marriage is the social institution that has created families in which we raise children and care for one another. No matter what certain pundits say, its purpose and its practice are continually evolving. Traditional marriage is a fairly meaningless term. But by proclaiming your allegiance to the notion of a lifelong relationship, you call on the strength of earlier marriages to support yours and you announce your intention to add your successful marriage to the ranks that have gone before.

What is the role of public ritual in successful marriage? Marriages that are rooted in their community do better than marriages without that support. In addition, saying things, out loud, before your community, helps clarify those things in your mind. So you become more engaged in keeping your wedding vows if you've declared them before your community.

What is the promise of Love in marriage? Love makes the impossible, possible. We are better people, in better relationships, with better dreams when we love. And commitments made and kept in love yield the most important and outrageous advances. Take the opportunity to remind people of the commitments that they have in love and claim that for yourself.

There is amazing strength in history's sweep. Even if your marriage does not look just like everyone else's (hint: no one marriage looks like everyone else's), you want to tap into the power of history, the strength of your community and the overwhelming transformative power of Love.
If you believe in marriage equality, this is a good place to state that belief: saying that you believe in the importance of the free access to legal marriage for all people.

In the midst of your wedding ceremony, before you make your wedding vows, proudly claim your place as people seeking your community's support as you declare your promises to live together in love. And then move forward into a happy and healthy marriage.

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Middle-aged Brides ~ 3 Huge Advantages you have over Youth when Planning your Perfect Wedding

Congratulations! You've found Love and Love has found you and you're ready to settle down and live happily and healthily ever after. You're excited to plan your wedding, but find the whole bridal mania a little daunting and not quite your style. That's great! Because here's the secret: You don't have to do it the way everyone else does. You can do it exactly the way you want to do it. Many of those things that matter to the minors, don't matter to you. You need a good ceremony and wedding vows: after all, you want your friends and families to support the blue print that you are creating from which you will build your marriage. Some of the rest of it. It's up to you.

What do you have that they don't have?


You know what matters. You're getting married to the person you love. You know how easy it is for love to slip away, so you're going to do it differently than you've ever conducted relationship. You know what matters at the wedding. You know what your skills are. You're pretty clear about your foibles to. So you build to your strengths!

You've had major life events and you know who has stuck with you through all those things. You know with whom you've share the best laughs, the most down-to-earth conversations and the most inspiring talks. You're at the point where you've chosen family as well as inherited it. And you're loving sharing those people with your soon-to-be spouse.

You know what your style is. You're not going to open a magazine and say, "oh, I must have that thing," because you know it's not going to suit you. You know how much you want to spend and how to stick with that. You've managed budgets for a long time and usually the money you spend will be your own, so that makes a wedding budget easier. That brings a lot of clarity to wedding planning.

You've done your homework in life, you've had heartbreaks and real successes. And now you've got a partner to celebrate those things with. You understand you don't have to become someone else before your wedding day because your partner chose to marry you! So relax, look fabulous, craft wedding vows that make sense to the two of you, create a wedding ceremony that celebrates your love and your community, throw a wedding reception your friends will recognize, and then live happily and healthily ever after in marriage. Sweet.

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Questions to Ask your Wedding Florist??

silk

1. Is my date available?

If it is, check to see if a deposit is necessary to hold the date. Also ask if there is any consultation fee. Inquire as to whether you can receive a price proposal before deposit is placed.

2. Do you have actual photographs or samples of your past work?

It's important to see the work of the actual florist, not air brushed photos from a FTD book. There is no better way to see if their style complements your tastes and verify just how skilled they are.

3. Is there a delivery or set-up fee?

Watch out this can be a substantial extra charge. Most florists will charge a delivery and set-up fee especially if you have either complex flower arrangements or a site that is a long distance from their shop. If the charge is high, consider finding a florist closer to the site or cut back on the complicated decorations.

4. Do you offer any silk or dried flower arrangements?

This may be important to you if you want to save your bouquet or want an unusual look for a table centerpiece. Sometimes these two options may be less expensive than fresh flowers, especially for some exotics like orchids. A table centerpiece idea: dried rose topiaries double as an elegant keepsake.

5. How many weddings do you do in a day?

The biggest problem with some florists is that they become over-extended trying to do too many weddings in one day. A florist can probably do two or three events a day if the events are held at different times or the florist has plenty of help. If the florist schedule looks crowded for your wedding date, they may arrive late or deliver the wrong flowers. Be sure to look for someone focused on your wedding not just your checkbook.

6. Are you familiar with my ceremony and reception site locations?

If not, will you visit it with me? It may be a good idea to introduce your florist to the ceremony or reception site if they have never seen it. Ask if there is any charge for this on-site visit.

7. What rental items do you have? How are they priced?

Some things you many want to rent include a candelabrum, aisle standards or urns. The best florists don't over charge on rentals. One way to find out is to compare prices with a local rental store. A common markup for florists is about 10% for their time to coordinate this detail. If you would prefer to rent the items yourself because you can get a better price, be sure you have the time to pick up and return the items.

8. Can I attend one of your weddings during set-up for a look at your designs?

Here is another way to determine how professional and talented your florist is. You will need to visit during set-up and leave before the wedding party arrives. Try not to interrupt the florists or their staff while they work (save your questions for later.) Look for timeliness, freshness of the flowers, and how well the florist and staff work together.

9. What time will you be at my ceremony and reception sites to set up my wedding?

Confirm this time constantly throughout your planning. Many florists set up weddings a couple of hours in advance. If this is the case with your wedding, make sure the temperature at your site will not be too hot for the flowers.

10. Will you merely drop off my flowers or stay through the ceremony?

The degree of service here differs dramatically from florist to florist. Some just drop off the flowers for the ceremony and leave, while others will stay to pin on corsages, make sure nothing is missing etc. There will be an extra fee of generally $50-75 for this service; however this could be a worthwhile investment.
11. What happens if the flowers I pick are not available for my wedding?

How will you determine what flowers to substitute?

12. What is the policy if I want to add extra items such as another table centerpiece or boutonniere at the last minute?

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About the author: Jasmine MacDonald is the editor of Fun Weddings and Merry Brides which will provide you with daily ideas and tips to help you plan the perfect wedding while staying within your budget. http://www.funweddings.com/


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How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Cake for Your Wedding

Early American Pattern Glass Cake Stands & Serving Pieces


A wedding cake is the center of attention at any wedding reception. It can also reflect the personalities of the couple and any themes they have incorporated into the wedding. The Traditional fruit wedding cake is supposed to represent fertility and the cutting of the cake symbolises the first act of the couples working together in a caring, sharing way.

If you are a good enough cook, then you can bake the cake yourself but lesser mortals will have to buy a cake from a cake shop, bakers, or department store. However, before buying a cake, there are some basic factors that you will have to consider.

Style

What style do you want? Traditional, elegant or fun? What type of cake would best fit in with your wedding theme? If you are having a traditional wedding, then does it really make sense to have esoteric cake?

Also, make sure the company you are using can provide the cake you want. Before commissioning the cake, always have at look at their portfolio to assure yourself that they are up to the job. It may also give you some good ideas for the type of cake you want.

Flavour

Traditional flavours are Coconut, vanilla, Chocolate, Madeira, or Lemon. However, nowadays, Rum, Grand Marnier, or Kahlua are also very popular. Whichever you fancy, you should always have a tasting session of the different types of flavours before making up your mind.

Consistency

You also have to consider cake consistency. If the cake is using tiers and columns, then a sponge may collapse under the weight. However, the good, old, fruit cake will take a fair bit of weight. Of course, you can get stands, which will support any type of cake tiers.

Longevity

The traditional type of cake for weddings is a heavily iced, tiered, fruit cake. The advantage of a fruit cake (with say, rum) is that if it stored properly, it will last for years. This is useful to remember if you intend to follow the tradition of keeping the top tier for your first wedding anniversary or first child's christening.

Size

The size of the cake is determined by the amount of guests you have at the wedding reception. The baker will be able to assist you when it comes to calculating this. However, keep in mind that you may also need to include the people who cannot attend the wedding when calculating numbers.

Transporting To The Venue

Many brides do not think about this until nearer the wedding day. When choosing your cake make sure it can be safely delivered to the reception venue. If the cake is very delicate then you might be better paying a little more and having the cake delivered by the shop or caterer. That puts the onus on them to deliver it in one piece. After all, they are the professionals and are used to delivering cakes all the time.

Only use the back of Uncle Fred's car if your are confident that it will survive the journey!

Cost

It is not the cake that is expensive - it is the detail that goes into the cake that cost the real money. The more detail you have, the more expensive the cake will be. So, keep things simple, if you are on a tight budget. Alternatively, if money is no object, then the sky is the limit!

Obviously, you should always get a detailed quote before buying a cake. Also, look out for hidden extras like delivery charges.

Whatever style of wedding cake you buy or make - have a lovely wedding!




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Michael Breck is a professional Magician and runs an Entertainment Agency in Scotland called The Magic Agency. He has been entertaining at weddings and booking entertainment for weddings for over twenty years. For more ideas about wedding entertainment go to Entertainment For Weddings or Magician For Weddings.

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