Those Perfect Gulf Shores Beach Weddings (Gulf Shores Beach Weddings)

When planning your perfect wedding, Gulf Shores beach weddings are the best for those magic moments to start your married bliss. Nothing can compare with Alabama's Gulf Shores beach weddings when it comes to letting the world go by and indulge in a tropical paradise.
Special offers abound when it concerns Gulf Shores beach weddings. There are many packages to choose from to suit any budget. The unbelievably white powdery sand beaches and emerald blue waters makes you forget the world and lets you focus on your loved one alone for that magic moment.

Gulf Shores beach weddings make you enjoy your honeymoon to the fullest. You can easily go to nature trails and commune with Mother Nature by watching shore birds peek at sea shells or going on a deep-sea fishing boat that you can charter at very reasonable rates.

Once done, you can enjoy any of the championship golf courses located nearby. If you are one of those history buffs, you can opt to visit the nearby Fort Morgan which saw an important battle during the American Civil War. That is one way to combine sightseeing, history and culture in one go.

Gulf Shores beach weddings provide ultimate privacy whenever you want to. Being a newly wed couple, you can hie off to one of the numerous wildlife trails or rent a beach house exclusively. For total enjoyment, it is best to book for a week's stay so you can do all the things you have ever wanted.

The best in Gulf Shores beach weddings allow you to let loose your inner being, make you savor the companionship of your very special loved one and slow down life itself to let you rediscover your wonderful self. You can plan your Gulf Shores beach weddings by ordering a vacation guide in advance and see what life really has to offer you: the best in everything you can imagine.

You can book your guests at your Gulf Shores beach weddings in any of the local hotels or the local branch of national hotel and motel chains. There are also many beach front condo units available at affordable rates for your close family members. That way, Gulf Shores beach weddings are a family vacation outing too. There is probably nothing more you can ask in terms of accommodations.

The bad economy should not weigh you down when it comes to Gulf Shores beach weddings. The best hotels offer a fourth night free (that means you need to book for a minimum 3-days' stay). Anyway, when you book a room, you get the entire beach free! Other hotels require only two days and you get the third day entirely free with a lot of freebies to go along with it like free tickets to the zoo.

How to Choose Your Wedding Catering Service Properly

A wedding is the biggest day of many people's lives, and the amount of time and energy that goes into planning a wedding is so great that there is even an entire career centered around it - wedding planner. With all of the suspense and the music, and cake, and fancy dresses, it is no surprise that setting up the catering service for a wedding could also be somewhat of a tedious task, if not downright difficult. You have to decide whether you would like it to be buffet style, finger buffet style, or just an all out sit down meal. You also have to make sure your catering makes sense for the time of day it is taking places. Obviously you would not want a lunch buffet if it is dinner time, so it would be wise to plan around the number of guests you are having and what time of day they would be showing up.

Also take into consideration that you do not need to cater to every single one of your guests during a wedding. Most professional catering services agree that seventy-five percent is a good percentage of guests to cater to. You also want to make the decision whether your meal style will be an informal buffet or a formal silver service type meal. It would also be wise to plan around how long your guests will be waiting to eat. If the weeding is going to take place at 3PM, and lunch is served at 2PM, then you are obviously not giving your guests enough time to eat lunch before the wedding ceremonies actually start.

It is also good to be sensitive to specific guest needs and preferences. If for example you know you will be entertaining a vegetarian guest, then it would be kind to serve vegetarian selections. It would also be kind to observe your guests allergies if you know of any, and to avoid having one of your guests stricken with an allergic reaction during the wedding ceremonies, after all that doesn't sound very fun does it? If you are having a good amount of children at the wedding then it would be good to have some sort of snacks for the children like crackers, raisins, appetizers, candy etc etc. Try to customize the catering service to the liking of the bride and groom. This means selecting the right colors for the banquet and the entire setup of the wedding.

Once you have made up your mind about these key issues then it is time to find a good, reliable and affordable catering service to meet your needs. It is a good idea to set a budget and to stick to that budget. Ask around the community or your circle of friends to see if they have anyone they can recommend as a caterer for the wedding. Be sure to make comparisons of multiple catering services in the area. Remember to shop around and to always think ahead, as planning is one of the most important parts in any wedding.

West Palm Beach Catering provided by Alexander Event Catering with over 25 years of experience in the hospitality field. We cater to weddings, as well as corporate functions in West Palm Beach, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and South Florida.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Praveen_Sivaraman

Posted: November 06,2009

Planning Your Church Weddings the Right Way to Make it the Most Important Day of Your Life

Making preparations for your church wedding might turn out to be an up-hill task for you if you are not too adept at organizing things. So it's best to seek help from your friends and family to help you with your wedding preparations. And with wedding being a fun event, your friends and family will be all too eager to be with you on the most important day of your life.

Among the many things that you need to take into account for your church wedding, the most important is the date, time and the venue where you plan to host the event. Also, though its sure you're going to get married in a church, what you also have to ensure is the specific church among the many churches in your locality where its going to be held.

With this done, the next big thing for you to do will be to plan your finances since church weddings can turn out to be an expensive affair requiring considerable investment. So you should be pretty sure you have enough of what it takes for a proper church wedding. You surely won't like to carry an extra baggage of debts while moving on to your married life. So its important you plan your wedding strictly as per your budget. If you happen to be the bride and it's your parents who are paying your wedding bills, surely you should refrain from being too demanding on them. Obviously your wedding is perhaps the biggest event of your life, but then if a big church wedding is beyond their scope, scaling down your aspiration is a wise choice.

After having finalized your budget, the thing that you have to do next is to eke out the plan that would elaborate the flow of events during your actual wedding day. A good idea will be to have a checklist in place of the things that are to be done along with their schedule. If any of your friends and relatives is assisting you in your wedding preparations, call upon them and let each of them know what they are supposed to do.

This way you'll also know whom to call upon if any task has been left unattended. And if you think supervising everything is wearing you down, let someone else like your mother, sister, best friend or anyone whom you trust to take up the job. This is especially true the day before your wedding, as this is the time you should maintain your cool and composure. So that the next day, on the day of your wedding, you can really put your best foot forward, and in style; instead of running about making last minute adjustments.

Learn more about the best ways to plan your wedding day and how you can save with cheap blank wedding invitations, check out also how to benefit from using blank wedding invitation paper to create your perfect wedding invitation cards and response cards with. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_Winter

Digital Wedding Photos - Capture Those Amazing Moments

So much happens at a wedding that without photographic images, many of the days events would be lost. The beauty of digital wedding photography is the speed at which you can see and distribute the images, around the world if required. Digital photography may have replaced film but people still like to see photographs they can handle!

Most wedding photographers have assistants so they can create a wedding album that will be memorable but if you want to take pictures of a friend's wedding, who will help you? Ensuring photos taken with your digital camera are something special for your friend's or relation on their big day might be a little easier once you have read the tips in this article.

Most importantly try to ensure you don't have poor background scenery and that there aren't too many people in the shot. Don't worry too much if you can't get a full body shot of the couple as you can get around this problem by taking a portrait shot of them which will solve the problem.

If some of the guests are wearing glasses, they can be asked to stand with their heads a little down or sideways to avoid the glare effect from spectacles that normally appears when a flash is used. To avoid people in the shot coming out dark when the sunlight is behind them, unless you know what you are doing, move them so the sun is behind you.

Some of the best pictures you will take will be those where the subject(s) do not know the shot is being taken and the best way to do this is by using a zoom lens. As you can't keep asking people to pose for you, always have the camera to hand because digital wedding photography is just as much about having natural, un-posed for shots.

The last thing you want to happen is for your digital camera to have half charged batteries and a memory card that is already half full as it will restrict how many shots you can take. Professional digital slr cameras start at 6 mega pixels and very few compacts are now below that so your card will need to be a minimum of one gigabyte to be on the safe side.

The higher the resolution you set the better the images will be and the larger they can be printed out. This is achieved by saving the images to your computer where you can print them out at your leisure on special photographic paper.

How successful you are at digital wedding photography will all depend on your camera and your love for this truly wonderful art.

For more wedding tips, check out the articles at Great Weddings. Recommended reading on choosing the right digital camera for you is at Digital Cameras, where you will find many informative free aritcles. Ron King is a web developer; visit his website Authoring Articles.

Copyright 2008 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact and the links live.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_King

The New Trend in Weddings - Cupcake Wedding Cakes

Remember when you were seven years old and your mom threw a birthday party for you? All your friends gathered around and everybody raved at how delicious those cupcakes were with the little sprinkles on top. That was fine when you're seven but now that you're getting married you may be a little nervous about the new trend in wedding cakes. Many couples are choosing to go with cupcake wedding cakes over the more traditional cake.

These cupcake wedding cakes are a long way away from what you had at your seven year old birthday party. Most of the time they won't have those little confetti sprinkles on top (unless you want them). Often they're going to take on shapes that you may have never thought were possible for cupcake such as stars, squares and even hearts.

Most cupcake wedding cake still take on the traditional form of wedding cake in the use of tiers and layers but, once you get past that the creativity put into these is endless. Because you're often working with over 100 individual cakes you have a lot of options available. Not only are you decorating each cake you're decorating around each cake as well.

One of the fun little additions to using cupcake wedding cakes is the ability to provide a keepsake topper for each guest. Whether you choose to go with a monogram topper or a miniature bride and room, your guests are going to love their little take-home item. You could even provide personalized outer cups for each cupcake with your names and the date embossed on them.

If the bride and groom can't agree on what flavor of cake, that's no longer a problem when you go this route. As a matter of fact, you can provide four, five, or six different flavors of cupcakes. You've got an equally as diverse selection for frostings.

When it comes to decorating around the cupcakes you have a lot of options as well. Some choose to have beautiful soft silk flowing in between each cupcake while others decorate around each cupcake with fresh fruit or flowers. I've even seen some with seashells to create a beach wedding theme.

Once you see a well decorated cupcake wedding cake you'll understand exactly why so many people are going this way. They can be fun, they can be elegant, and they can be as glamorous or casual as you want them to be. One thing is for sure, your guests will walk away remembering those cupcakes just as much as your friends did at your seven year birthday party. It just might be at a little different level.

Pablo is a huge fan of anything that makes you say "Mmmmm." He's created The Wedding Cakes Guide to help brides decide on the perfect cake. Pablo can help with very simple wedding cakes as well as those with a specific theme such as western or cupcake wedding cakes. He really enjoys helping brides create elegant wedding cakes where only the best will do. Reading through some of his advice will make your mouth water with anticipation.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pablo_Adame

Posted: October 21,2009

A Wedding Ceremony to Remember

A wedding ceremony is one of the most important events in both the lives of the couple and of the people who are with them on this special day. These ceremonies may be a religious rite or a civil ceremony. It may take place in a church, a garden, at the beach, or at a local city hall. There are many aspects and traditions that make a wedding ceremony special. From the bride's march down the aisle to the reception, it is important that guests are included in the celebration by informing and guiding them of what is taking place at any given time. Thus, a wedding ceremony program is one of the basic necessities that you must have on your big day.

Most wedding ceremony programs are patterned similar to those traditional programs that have been used in hundreds of weddings. They all have the same purpose and that is to serve as a record of the wedding ceremony, providing guests with the details and the order of the events that happen. But you need not confine yourself on them. You can make your own wedding program and incorporate whatever you want that is not commonly found in most programs. Make yours especially unique.

What you need to do is to activate the creative molecules in your body - be creative! By now, you already know your partner well and you can figure out many creative solutions for your ceremony. Take time to just be still and think about it and in no time, ideas will flow that will help you with this predicament. Choosing a location where weddings are not commonly celebrated may add an interesting twist in the occasion. Consider such places like the park, bed and breakfasts, a museum, or even a private home. If these places are too small, then keep your guest list short and invite the rest to the party afterward. You can also choose a wedding date that falls on an untraditional holiday like during the Halloween! Now that would really be interesting as you can include trick or treating in your program! And since it is a family affair, have the special people in your lives play specific parts on your wedding. You could give flowers to your mom and new mother-in-law as they also walk down the aisle. Or ask your Maid of Honor to do the readings instead of someone from the church.

You can also make an impact in your wedding by dressing unconventionally. Try accessories like some unique Mickey Mouse Cufflinks They would look best on your groom, but as you want to be unique, why not have a set of your own, too? Of course, your wedding dress will need cuffs, and thus, will not be the same traditional wedding gown that brides of several generations have already worn. The change will certainly add an air of elegance to your ceremony no matter how non-traditional it might be. Wedding Cuff links can be personalized to make it truly yours. Now, are you ready to have your own brand of wedding program?
Whether your interests are in silver, gold, artistic, sports, or other theme-related cufflinks we've got you covered. Cufflink Aficionado carries a broad range of men's cuff links designed to meet each connoisseur's individual style and interest. Our selection of unique Wedding Cuff links are sure to top off that perfect look.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leah_Pisay

Finding Affordable Church Services For Your Wedding

Even though eloping may be the cheapest way to get married, most people wouldn't dream of getting married without their close friends and family members. If you plan to have a traditional ceremony, you'll likely have to pay a fee in order to have your wedding ceremony in church. This can be expensive, but fortunately there are a number of ways you can reduce costs in this area.

Getting Married Off-Season
As with many other aspects of your wedding, everything will be cheaper at a time of year when fewer couples are exchanging their vows. Therefore, you may want to consider a winter or fall wedding to avoid peak wedding season. You may even be able to save by selecting the month before or after the busiest times - typically April through October. This will help you save some money, but if you're set on a June wedding, there are some other options.

Choose a Small Church
For the most part, the smaller the church you choose, the less you'll pay in rental fees. If you're on a budget, you've probably already pared down your guest list, but take the time to review the list of people you're inviting with care. If you can fit everyone into a smaller church, you'll save on rental fees, food and beverage costs and more. You may also find that you enjoy the charm of a smaller building or the more intimate atmosphere it provides.

Getting Married Outdoors
Getting married outdoors has become much more popular in recent years. As a result, it should be fairly easy to find a clergyman that will perform a service in this setting. In some cases, you may find that this will also be a cost-effective option for your reception. That said, you'll have to make sure you have alternative arrangements should the weather choose to not cooperate with you.

Group Weddings
Even though it's relatively unheard of in the US, group weddings are becoming very popular in some foreign countries. Depending on the number of people you plan to invite to your wedding, it might make sense to set up a group wedding. If you have any close friends that are planning weddings at the same time, see if you can split a facility for your ceremonies. This is a great way to reduce your costs by spreading them out among more parties, and you may find that celebrating with a larger group makes the occasion even more special.

Aside from your wedding dress, your most important concern is likely to be the place where you'll exchange your vows. However, if you're on a tight budget, it's important to think about all of the different options that are available. Try to visit a number of different churches with your fiance to get a feel for the type of setting you prefer. Don't be swayed by any tempting facility sales pitches - be sure to stick with your budget before making your final decision.

The author writes about wedding ideas at a site where couples can get ideas for a cheap wedding, http://WeddingsAffordable.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Johnson

Posted: October 19,2009

Simple Ways to Save On Your Wedding Catering

Today's weddings are normally catered according to a particular tradition: canapés with the wedding drinks, a three-course, formal meal, and a hot buffet bar near the end of the reception. All these courses really drive up the cost of catering quickly. But you don't have to follow this tradition, especially when breaking it can give you loads more money in your budget for other things. The following tips will end up saving you tons of money. Be simple Footing the bill for a high-class multi-course meal for a hundred people is incredible expensive, but serving a simpler, more laid-back menu can really keep your costs low. Think about having traditional pub foods like fish and chips or bangers and mash (it's what Kate Winslet did!). These foods are crowd-pleasers, and they're better for your budget. Use a catering school Many bigger cities have a catering college somewhere, and their students often love to practice catering at wedding receptions. They may do it for practically free. Check with your local education office to look at catering schools near you. Even if the college doesn't hire out catering teams, you may find some students who will help you on an individual basis. Go through a local company Hiring a local restaurant or small catering company rather than a large, nation-wide catering company can save you lots of money. Many smaller companies won't charge as much for catering, and the service and food will still be great. DIY catering Find friends and family members who will help you cater your own reception. If each person makes a dish or two, you can easily put together a wonderful buffet-style dinner without much fuss. See it differently Worry more about what you want than about what tradition dictates. Instead of a full meal, provide a dessert menu with sweet wines, or simply serve canapés and champagne. For a fun feel, serve a spit-roast or BBQ at an outdoor wedding. Serve less food The tradition of serving a sit-down meal followed by a buffet later on is only a recent thin, and there's no rule you have to follow here. Following the same trends other brides are following will only cost you thousands. If you need to cut money from your budget, consider making your day less stressful by opting for a streamlines, simple reception dinner without the added extras.
About The Author
Nicola Ray writes for Cheap Wedding Success, a website dedicated to planning beautiful budget weddings. You’ll find hundreds of ideas on cheap wedding dresses, catering, venues, stationery and more at http://www.cheap-wedding-success.co.uk.

Posted: October 16,2009

Doing Your Wedding Your Way

When you were a little girl playing wedding dress up with friends, you probably had ideas of spun-sugar cakes, lacy veils, and, of course, white dresses, but does this vision still fit you? Will a traditional wedding really represent who you and your partner are and what your relationship is like? More and more often, brides are deciding that a white wedding is not for them, and the current trend is actually to buck the trend. Now the thing that’s most in style for weddings is to create your own style.

The first thing to think about is what wedding format suits you and your groom. If you both love to hike and garden, consider getting married outside, or if you prefer a quiet, reclusive ceremony, why not just elope? Or if this is a little too atypical for you, you can still put together a small ceremony where you and your groom are married in front of a handful of close friends and family members. If, on the other hand, you love to plan huge parties and put on a show, you can really give a personal touch to your big day by doing much of the preparation yourself.

While getting ready for any large wedding can be a stressful process, doing your wedding the way you want means that you have more control over both the individual touches of the ceremony and reception and the cost of the entire shebang. This essentially means that a unique, do-it-yourself wedding is cheaper and more cost-effective. Instead of paying for a lot of extra tradition-dictated items and plans, you and your husband-to-be can create a day that is really about you, which becomes a day you can really enjoy.

Also, if you don’t let yourself be controlled by traditions and the expectations of others, you’ll not only have a more cost-effective wedding, but you’ll also be able to really let loose and have fun on your wedding day. If you’re not comfortable with the long veil, high heels, and poofy dress, you can dispense with them and just enjoy being beautiful in your own way.

Sometimes a traditional wedding with all the trappings – white roses, lace veils, and hundred-year-old vows – can be gorgeous, but does this style really express you and your love? If not, then don’t worry about it. Feel free to explore other options for dress, decorations, music, and even vows. With this individuality, even your guests will remember your wedding day for years to come.

About The Author

Nicola Ray is the editor of Cheap Wedding Success, a website dedicated to planning and creating the perfect cheap wedding. With lots of advice, tips and ideas to lower the cost of your wedding, www.cheap-wedding-success.co.uk is the perfect place to start. Why not start planning your wedding on a budget?

Wedding Photography - Tips For a Smooth Wedding Photo Shoot

The wedding photographer may just be the most important part of your wedding ensemble well, aside from the person who conducts the ceremony. This person is responsible for chronicling your big day and making sure that every memory is captured on film.

Because you want the whole day to go smoothly, being organized is essential. Whether you, someone in your family or a wedding planner is handling the events of the day, here are some tips to make the photo sessions run smoothly:

1. Make a list of all the photos you want. Be specific about who is in them, the location and what time the photos are scheduled for. So, if you want a picture of you with all of your cousins outside under oak tree-write it down! Once you have your detailed list made, go over it again to make sure haven't left anything or anyone out of the photo shoot.

Then, make sure the wedding photographer gets a copy of the list as well as the planner or a trusted friend. This way, you can make sure the wedding photographer knows what to expect and someone else is there making sure nothing is skipped.

2. Tell people when and where to be for the photo shoot. A list is great as long as you notify everyone on it. Be sure to tell let them know of the times, places and attire for their photo and to be on time. If you have to, tell your chronically late friends and family members to be there earlier than necessary. This is especially important for photos taken before the ceremony so the timing of the actual event isn't delayed.

3. Make sure that you and the wedding photographer have a clear understanding of what you are getting. If you didn't discuss black and white photos with him prior to the shoot but have some listed, he may not be prepared.

Also, if you want candid shots, make sure they are included in the price you decided on. Discussing the details of film type, poses, candid, and number of shots ahead of time means that when you get the bill, there won't be any surprises.

4. Be respectful of the process. Yes, this is your day. But if you're feeling chaotic, just imagine how the photographer feels trying to reign in all the chaos around him for a photo. Bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, children, friends, family-everyone milling about, talking, and getting in the way.

The wedding photographer is used to dealing with a lot of people at once, but to make sure you get what you want and keep him happy by being organized. It may even be necessary to politely ask those not in photos to leave the room.

Following the steps above can really ease your mind and make the whole process run smoothly for everybody involved. You can make sure the ceremony starts on time and that everyone gets to the reception before all the food is gone! The wedding photographer is responsible for recording this day so treat him well and you'll be happy with the results.

by:Andrew Stratton

How to Plan a Great Wedding

Wedding planning is not as hard as it may seem. First of all, you will need some tools that will assist you in your planning. Secondly, you will need to do some research. However, the right tool will minimize the amount of research that you will need to do on your own. Alternatively, you may hire a wedding planner to eliminate any hassles whatsoever.

The tools in question are online wedding planners. Wedding planners are special software applications that will help you manage all the aspects of a wedding, including guest lists, guest seating, reminders for the upcoming things-to-do, and so on. The good point is that these tools already have a built in list of things-to-do, freeing you from having to do research on your own. All you need to do is keep the points on the lists that fit you, and delete the ones that don't. Once you input the information about your wedding (the number of guests, the budget, the date of your wedding, etc.) the program will create custom reports and reminders for you.

However, if you would like to do some research on your own, it's not that hard either. There are hundreds of websites that can provide you with the additional information required for planning your wedding, including: databases of bridal gowns, databases of the vendors offering wedding products and services , forums and chats with the users experiences, galleries with hundreds of bridal hairstyles, and so on.

Is there an easier way to plan a wedding? How to plan a wedding without any research whatsoever? In order to plan a wedding the easiest way possible you may want to look into wedding planning service providers. These range from amateur planners to large specialized wedding planning services. If you decide to shift your concerns to a wedding planner, you will be able to simply sit back and enjoy, while your chosen planner arranges your future wedding as per your specifications.

The main drawback with hiring an amateur or a professional wedding planner is the cost. According to many sources, a wedding planner will earn a commission of around 10-15% of the total cost of a wedding. Therefore, if you are planning to organize an average-price wedding, which is currently $20,000 in the USA and $18,000 in the UK, around $2,000-$3,000 of this amount will be absorbed by your wedding planner. Is shifting your wedding planning hassles worth $2,000-$3,000? The choice is, of course, yours.

So, how to plan a wedding well? Decide whether you would like to use a wedding planning tool, to do the research on your own, or hire a wedding planner, and start with the planning. In each case, most important is to start planning your wedding way in advance.

Personalized Wedding Cakes

The hottest trend in weddings these days is personalization. From unique gowns to custom bridal jewelry to specialty menus, brides are finding ways to make every element in their wedding tell a story. One of the best elements to customize is your wedding cake; it is literally a blank canvas just waiting for you to make it uniquely yours. These are some clever ideas for personalized wedding cakes that you and your guests will love.

One of the ways that brides and grooms like to personalize their weddings is by writing their own vows. Another idea is to recite the same vows that were exchanged by the bride or groom's parents a generation before. You take it one step further and incorporate a meaningful set of vows into your wedding cake design. Give your baker a copy of your vows, and ask her to write them on the cake in a beautiful calligraphy. If you want them to be easily read, choose a dark color like chocolate icing on a white fondant for contrast, or allow the vows to become a more subtle pattern by using a low contrast color, such as an apricot lettering on ivory frosting.

Lettering can be used to customize your wedding cake in other ways. One of the most fun is to have the newlyweds' names boldly emblazoned across the largest tier of the cake. On the adjacent tier, print the wedding date, and perhaps use a special motto or message on the third tier. This will look particularly nice when done in your wedding colors, and the result will be a truly one-of-a-kind cake.

Maybe you have always believed the old saying that "a picture is worth a thousand words". In that case, your photos can be used to decorate the wedding cake. Small black and white pictures can be attached to the cake behind frosting "frames" with vintage styling. Engagement pictures, pre-wedding photos in your gown and tux, and even pictures of your parents on their wedding days can all make excellent additions to a very unique and sentimental cake.

Custom wedding cake toppers are another really fun way to personalized a cake. You can have toppers specially made in a huge range of styles. They can be anything from life-like miniatures of the bride and groom in their wedding attire to cartoony characters engaged in a favorite activity, such as bowling or fishing. Whichever cake topper you choose, be sure to find a place of honor for it in your new home. It will bring back happy memories of your wedding every time that you see it.

Custom colors are another idea for adding unique character to your wedding cake. Many brides will choose a color that is meaningful to them and carry it throughout their wedding. For instance, if you and your fiance met while you were students at the University of Tennessee, splashes of that signature Volunteer orange can pop up throughout your wedding. Use your special custom color to enhance everything from your bridal jewelry to your bouquet to your bridal shoes. And of course, be sure to feature your color on the largest bridal accessory of all: your wedding cake.

Guy writes on many subjects including travel,customs and society. SilverlandJewelry.com. Treat yourself to fabulous custom bridal jewelry for your wedding. It can be more affordable than you think and it will look stunning. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Guy_Antonelli

Wedding Catering: Buffet Or Service

Another conundrum for soon-to-be married couples is the dilemma of having servers versus having a buffet for the reception. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so let’s look at both sides before you make your decision.

At the buffet table

The first and most obvious upshot of having a buffet style dinner at the wedding is the opportunity for all of the guests to choose what they want to eat. This way everyone is happy and they can have as much or as little as they want. There can be multiple things for various dietary restrictions as well as a multitude of side dishes for the vegetarian that hates getting pasta at every wedding.

But the downside of the buffet table is that things that are popular will run out. If you do not plan ahead for shortages, then you may have guests that didn’t get what they really wanted to eat. In terms of movement, the buffet table can be tricky. The bride may have troubles moving up there and might be afraid to spill anything on her dress, as other may be as well. Trying to find ways to serve items without having a large opportunity for spillage will help to avoid any dry cleaning bills.

The service is excellent

Having servers for the reception is a classy and easy way to keep everyone happy during the reception. Not only will no one have to move until the dance, but the servers can also attend to any problems without the couple even knowing about them. Drinks can also be served, which is wonderful for everyone—no more needing to get up and down during dinner.

On the other hand, this excellent service does come with a price tag. It will be costlier to have staff waiting on the guests, especially with more guests. You will also take the chance of the staff being nice to the head table and not to the rest of the guests. The best advice is to interview each staff member as well before the reception.

Both buffets and service are great options for reception dinners. If you’re looking for something a little more casual, then the buffet will be great, but for the more formal occasion, service is best. You may want to stop and consider your guests at this point. If they’re older and don’t move around well, service is a great way to keep them comfortable.

About The Author Amy Spade is an expert on planning weddings, and she has written an amazing totally free minicourse on how to make sure that you have the day of your dreams, and avoid wedding day disaster! Get the free course "Your Special Day from Start to Finish" now at at http://www.weddingdata.com. weddingsmarriage@yahoo.co.uk

Simple Steps to Create a Wedding Budget

When you start writing your wedding budget, you might feel a little overwhelmed at first. There are so many things to spend money on that you may not even know where to begin writing budget items. You can, however, write and stick with a successful budget if you follow these easy steps. Where to begin Before you even start crunching numbers, write down the things that are essential for your wedding.

Talk to your fiancé because he might have different ideas from you, and you'll want to figure out the best way to merge your styles before writing a budget. Talk to your fiancé about what your perfect wedding would be like, and listen to him talk about his perfect wedding. If you're coming from opposite ends of the spectrum, figure out how to meet in the middle and agree on a theme or look you'll both love. Next, how much can you spend? This is a pretty important step, of course. The best place to start is usually with your parents. They may want to contribute a lump sum to your wedding plans, or they may have a few particular things in mind that they'll pay for. Any money your parents contribute plus any wedding money you have saved can be set aside for your wedding budget. Don't use credit or loans to up the ante for your wedding budget. Even if you only have a little to work with, adding debt will only stress you and your husband-to-be out, especially at the start of your marriage. You may want to open a bank account or a credit card specifically for your wedding because it will help you track each payment. Each month leading up to the big day, you can look over an account ledger to find out just how much you've spent. (If you decide to go the credit card route, find one with a 0% introductory interest rate, and pay it off every month. You don't want interest rolled into your wedding budget!) Use all your resources If you know people who would make excellent photographers, chauffeurs, invitation-makers, dress makers, or anything else you'll need on your wedding day, make a list. Your friends and family members will most likely be elated to help out on your wedding day. Plus, using the talents of people you know will make your wedding day both more special and more affordable. Make a guest list Create a rough list of how many guests you'll invite. It's really easy for your parents and his parents to add extended family members and out-of-town friends to this list, so be careful here. You really shouldn't invite people to your wedding if you don't want them there or know them well, so here are a few ideas to help you pare down the list don't invite people you just work with; only friends only include relatives up to first cousins have an adults-only wedding Paring down the guest list is difficult but necessary, and you'll need to include your fiancé and his family as well as your family, as they may want to add people you hadn't thought of. Total up the big costs Having an approximate number of guests will help you figure out some of your big costs such as catering, venues, and drinks, and you can include these in your budget plan now. You can start getting more specific by calling vendors you like. See if they're available first of all, and then get estimated costs for the number of guests you'll have. It will be easy to see whether or not the vendors fit into your budget, so you can move on quickly and ask for more specific quotes from the most affordable vendors. Add up smaller costs too Start filling up a spreadsheet with the smaller costs of decorations and favours. Keep the sheet updated as you figure out exact costs for everything. Over budget? If the rough budget you've written out now is much too high, you'll have to consider your priorities. Maybe you need a smaller cake, or a DJ instead of a live band. Decide how you and your fiancé want to splurge and how you can afford to save. You could make your own invitations so that you have extra money for a designer dress. It's really important that you prioritize and stay on budget, as going over budget will be very stressful. If you simply don't have enough money saved to create the wedding day you want, you could consider moving your date back a few months giving you time to save that extra cash. The little things When it comes to your wedding budget, it won't be the costly items that throw your budget off but the small ones. It can be simple to save money on big ticket items, but the little things can really start adding to your budget. So watch yourself when it comes to little things, and keep all your receipts so you can update your wedding budget all the time.
About The Author
Nicola Ray is the editor of Cheap Wedding Success, a website dedicated to planning and creating the perfect cheap wedding. Read more about budgeting for a wedding here.

8 Tips For Doing Your Own Wedding Catering

DIY wedding catering is a great way to feed a lot of hungry people. Although it isn't easy, it can be done if you plan carefully and look at all your options. Before you begin planning, though, look at the following ideas to create the perfect catered wedding reception.

1. Make it simple As you decide what to serve at your reception, take into account your talents and the time that will be available to you, and make the menu as simple as you can. Find items for your menu that you can make ahead of time and store until the day of your wedding, and don't use complex, difficult recipes that will only stress you out.

2. Ask for help You probably have friends and relatives who love to cook, so ask around to see if people can help with side dishes, salads, and even breads. Those who help might even take care of the cost of the dish they make too, helping you save a little more.

3. Think about health regulations It's essential when preparing your own food to follow health regulations just like a professional caterer would. Wash your hands often, and keep your work spaces clean. Avoid cross-contamination, especially when working with meats, and be sure that items are both cooked and stored correctly. If you're having a summer wedding, be sure you have plenty of fridge space to keep all the food cold. You should have more than enough space, even if you have to beg fridges from relatives or rent them from specialty stores.

4. Remember the utensils Don't forget to count how you will eat the foot and what utensils will be needed. Plates, bowls, spoons, knives, and forks will all probably be necessary, and you'll also need napkins and tablecloths to complete the ensemble. You can probably rent these items from a specialty shop, and the shop may even clean them up afterwards for a little extra money, which will be well worth it.

5. Find Free Service Help Even if you cook the whole meal, you obviously won't be the one serving the food and drinks, so get people to volunteer for these jobs, or hire a few local teenagers for a small fee. Before they serve, though, you or someone you put in charge needs to be sure they know what they're doing.

6. Think About Little Things Professional caterers have been doing this for years, but you might easily forget about salt and pepper, sugar, butter, storage containers, bottle openers, ice buckets, ash trays, and such. Make a complete list of everything you need, and double check it a few days before the wedding.

7. Find Good Deals You can look for deals on storable essentials like flour, sugar, and even butter in the months leading up to your wedding. Having these things on hand will be helpful later on, and you'll save lots of money if you shop around for them. 8. Shop Locally Local shops will have the best quality meats and produce, and they'll probably even deliver the food to your door for free, which makes for one less pre-wedding errand to run! Hopefully these tips will help you understand what goes into catering your own wedding, but you'll still need to think carefully about what to serve and how. Good luck!

*Nicola Ray

How to Choose Great Wedding Invitations

Before you know it the wedding season will be upon us and with the joy of getting married comes all of the preparations we must deal with. Deciding on your invitation and getting the save the date card is something you can not leave to the last minute. Once you have mailed the save the date card, your friends and family know there will be a wedding and now plus plan to set the date aside. It is official you are getting married.

First you must shop around and decide what type of invitation you want, formal or casual. Whether you will have them professionally printed or you will do it at home on your personal PC. There are many options to the bride today. Set a budget and try to stay within the budget. When figuring the cost, don't forget the postage. If you are sending out a large number of invitations it can quickly add up.

Next, you must choose the save a date card that usually has a similar look to your invitation. These can be sent out as early as one year in advance, but 6 months is usually the norm. It is important to send these so your guests can start making plans. Such as plane and hotel reservations. Usually the earlier they plan the better rate they will receive.

Continuing with your choices, it is time to select the actual invitation. Keep in mind invitations can be very expensive or quite reasonable depending on what you select. The type of paper, the type of print, how many sheets of paper are included in the invitation. How the paper is folded and if there is a RSVP card enclosed with an envelope all adds to the price of the invitation. By the time you order your invitations the two of you should have decided with your parents what type of invitation you want to send out. Today with the aid of the internet you can get a vast amount of information without too much foot work.

Lastly, keep in mind the theme of your invitation reflects the theme of the wedding. The colors of your invitation could very well be the colors of your whole wedding theme. The bridesmaid dresses, flowers, tablecloths, and all wedding decorations. So when choosing your invitation put a lot of thought in your invitation as this will set the tone for all things to come. This will be the first of many decisions.

*by: Bryan Burbank

Wedding Planning Services

Wedding planning services - can you find a company or an individual proprietor that would help you plan your wedding? In fact, there are numerous companies and individuals offering their wedding planning services. The question is - how to find a good one?

First, when you are looking for a service that would help you plan your wedding; you should try to find out as much as you can about their background. It's not only important to compare the prices and services of various planners, but it's also vital to find real feedback from the users. Some of the companies have forums and chat rooms where their users can share their thoughts and ask questions. Other companies will provide you with real references of the couples which they have serviced in the past, allowing you to read the feedback from real people or even contact them if you have any questions.

Furthermore, think about if you would prefer a local wedding planner, whom you could visit when you have questions. Local planners are the preferred option of many couples, since the close proximity of the planner allows you to promptly receive assistance.

Next are the costs. It's obvious that if you turn to a large established company, you will most likely have to pay for. The costs rise due to the larger number of staff, renting more expensive offices, and so on. If you turn to a smaller company or someone new to wedding planning, you may get much better prices simply because of the need of these proprietors to establish a larger clientele and collect new references. The pitfall of newer planners is that they are not as skilled as the ones that have been in business for years. Thus, you will have to make your own choice - a reputable and more expensive company or a newly established and cheaper one.

In the end, it's all about the feedback, and the real issue here is the credibility of the feedback, because there is almost no way to tell if the company is providing you with an assortment of feedbacks or only with the ones from their most satisfied customers. What could be a way around this issue? The best way to check the validity of feedback is through online forums and chats. Simply search for the feedback on the planner of your interest in the wedding forums and chats, and you will get the real information. Additionally, here you will be able to find other wedding planners that people recommend to use or not to use.

Wedding planning services will help you organize a wedding with ease. However, try to do thorough research in order to obtain the optimal result.

-Adam Gaines

How to Decorate a Church For a Wedding

Decorating a church for a wedding may not seem like such a difficult feat. However, there is some work involved. You don't want to find yourself in a situation where you use up all of the decorations you have to only find that you need more. That can result in a disaster, especially if you can't find anything that is the same color or the same thing that you're out of.

You need to make sure that you can go to the church and assess the sanctuary before you even order your decorations. You need to know how many pews there are, how many windows, the width of the windows, details about the altar area, and so much more.

So when you are decorating a church for a wedding, ask yourself these three questions:

- What decorations can I use? This is an important question because some churches will not allow certain decorations. They have a rather traditional view of decorations. So make sure you consult with the church first. Tell them what you want to do and make sure that it is allowed. You don't want to buy decorations and then find out that you can't use what you have bought.

- Are the decorations necessary? Many churches are already very ornate, which means they may not need much in the way of decorations. So you have to evaluate how much you actually need based on the natural décor of the sanctuary. This can save you a lot of money on the decorations.

- What decorations are suitable? Again, you have to evaluate the sanctuary so that you know what decorations are suitable. If you don't want to have an extremely formal event, some flowers here and there are great. You don't have to overdo it. Although many flowers are nice, church sanctuaries have a natural beauty to them. And the bride is the focus of the wedding anyway. People pay closer attention to her dress.

Some tips

There are simple tips that you can use to make the ceremony look great. You may even be able to borrow some decorations from the church, especially if past wedding parties have left some of their things behind. Sometimes churches will store those things that have been left behind in case they can be used again.

Churches may also have candelabras that you can use. Most churches already have them and they will not have a problem letting you borrow them. In the meantime, you can use flowers in the windows, on the altar, and use flowers at the end of the pews so that the aisle is lined with flowers. Sometimes the simplest of decorations can be the most beautiful. Also, having flowers at the ends of the pews go great with the petals that are sprinkled along the aisle by the flower girl.

And when it comes to your flower arrangements, it is better to opt for larger arrangements than a series of smaller arrangements.

Research

So make sure you do the proper research. If you don't, then you may find that you have too many decorations or not enough. Consult with anyone in the church who can help you with this so that you know what is appropriate and what isn't appropriate. You might be amazed at how much time, effort, and money you save by doing the proper assessment before the wedding. In the end, you'll be able to have a beautiful wedding that is charming and a lot of fun for everyone. It is the most important day of your life, so it is important that it is perfect.

Decorate a Church for a Wedding is now considered a necessity for a wedding requirement, along side all the other wedding requirements, things like wedding invitations, a wedding cake, wedding flowers arrangements, Wedding limos, a wedding photographer and wedding videographer to name a few.

**Amy Nutt

Think Outside the Invitation With Pocket Wedding Invitations

Are you ready to give your wedding invitation a little
something extra? Set your invite apart from the pack with the absolutely
fabulous and incredibly functional pocket wedding invitations. These unique
pieces of stationery are designed to carry all the information your guests will
need for your special day in one fashionable piece. Available in a range of
colors and designs and offered at a price point that won't ruin your budget,
these invitations truly set the mood for the happiest day of your
life.

Pocket wedding invitations are designed to include the invitation, the
RSVP card, directions to the ceremony and reception, and also reception
preferences in one piece of stationery. To make these invitations, a stiff piece
of high grade paper is used as a matte foundation on which the traditional
wedding invitation is fixed. On the back of this piece of stiff paper is a small
envelope pocket that is secure enough to hold the three additional parts of the
wedding invitation. The additional elements are arranged in an aesthetically
pleasing order from smallest to largest from the front of the envelope pocket,
with the RSVP card at the front, followed by the reception preferences card,
followed by the largest piece of paper with the directions to the ceremony
tucked into the back. The effect of this multifaceted and functional piece of
stationery is truly striking.

The best part about pocket wedding invitations
is the fact that they are customizable down to a T. You can select not only what
color and font scheme you would like to use, but you can also choose the type
and grade of paper for all four elements. And of course the wording of all four
pieces is entirely in your control. Each of the four elements can be customized
in whatever unique way that you'd like. For example, the RSVP card can be made
into a postcard or come with its own small pre-stamped envelope. The ways in
which you can make these unique invitations personal to you are almost
endless.

Not only are these invitations incredibly chic and functional, but
they are also affordable for brides regardless of the size of their wedding.
Like all items bought in bulk, the more you buy the cheaper the individual unit
is. These fun, fresh, and feminine pieces of stationery won't make you choose
between having a super cute invitation and inviting those cousins that you
really don't know to your wedding.

The truth is, while some people may notice
the flowers or the way that the flower girl's dress matches the special hue used
strategically in your bouquet, there are few other details of your wedding that
will make an impact on your guests more than your invitations. The invitation is
an announcement of a celebration. It is the first moment when you will be
letting most of the world know that you have found your life partner and you are
over the moon with happiness. Your invitation needs to convey your joy, your
excitement, and also your expressed hope that each guest you invite will be able
to share this moment with you. Through their beautiful designs, pocket wedding
invitations share the depth of your emotion with your guests. However, it is the
thoughtful functionality, keeping everything the guests need in one place, which
shows how much their attendance will mean to you. So start your wedding off the
right way with these absolute gems, and get ready for a truly magical
wedding!

by Andy West

Free Wedding Planning

Free wedding planning will help you save a sufficient amount of money on planning a wedding. Even though numerous companies and private people currently offer their wedding planning services, these services tend to be rather expensive. Furthermore, even if you find an affordable planner, it might make you feel left out or even out of control, if another person manages the planning of your wedding.

How can you plan your wedding on your own? There are two main approaches: free online or downloadable wedding planning software, or a regular spreadsheet application.

1. Free Wedding Planning with the Use of a Spreadsheet

If you have a good command of any spreadsheet application, you can simply turn it into an excellent wedding planner. Spreadsheet application would help you easily calculate the costs, manage the budget, and manage all other aspects of planning a wedding.

Advantages of this method are as follows: no need to research for free wedding planning software, and no need to install that software on your computer in case it's downloadable software. Furthermore, this method eliminates any headache that may arise from incompatibility of some applications with some computers (e.g., Mac) or a certain operating system. Furthermore, some tools have a "not very user-friendly" interface, and using a spreadsheet would eliminate the need of learning how to use this new program.

The drawbacks are as follows: since you would not be using a specialized tool, you would need to do all the required research on your own, searching for the wedding etiquette information, guides about wedding ceremonies, the order of events, and hundreds of things- to-do needed for a wedding.

2. Free Wedding Planning with the Use of a Wedding Planning Software

Free wedding software is another easy way to plan a wedding on your own and free of charge. There are many online tools that do not even require installation, allowing for their easy use in any browser.

The benefits of using such a tool are that this is a specialized application, which generally comprises all of the aspects of planning a wedding. In fact, this might be beneficial and negative at the same time, since such a tool may provide you with too many features and possibilities, "making your eyes cross". However, more is better than less, and you can rest assure that you will find any possible detail of things needed to be done.

The bottom line: you can easily plan your wedding on your own and at no cost, if you simply choose to use a regular spreadsheet application or free online or downloadable wedding planning software.
~Adam Gaines

Wedding Planners Event Coordinator

Any event, wedding inclusive can be a day one would like to remember, but this can only be if it has been well planned and coordinated. Those who have wedded have said that their wedding day is the greatest day of their lives. Despite this, some of the minor things that may have been ignored can cause much havoc and dissatisfaction, some of which can be long-lived. One may not want to imagine what would happen if during the d-day, the photographer or the driver does not turn up. Another tragedy can be if another group had already booked the venue that had been planned for.

An event coordinator does the work of organizing and coordinating public or private events, appearances and events. This entails organizing participants, securing appropriate venues, notifying those who may attend and organizing them, acquiring the relevant tools, equipment and materials and finally to organize and delegate duties to those assisting him or her during the day of the event. On the other hand, the wedding planner also referred to as the wedding consultant is the mediator, the money manager and the facilitator.

There are several character traits that a planner should posses. Obviously, he or she should be patient and calm even when things seem to be going asunder. He also very importantly should be a good negotiator as he would be the one who does all the orders and the purchasing on behalf of the bride and the bridegroom such as buying the gown and the other attire, get the catering team, hire the venue, musicians, public address system, photographers and so on. This is because only the best is required but at the cheapest rate. He must also be somebody who can network meaning that he or she handles differently people and issues at the same time. A good wedding planner should also be one who has a sense for proper fashion, which includes the color, the flowers, the music and the clothing. It would be so embarrassing if there were no color coordination in the clothing or the flowers and the decorations. This means that they must take their time in studying on the topic from the magazines or the internet.

The event planners must be prepared to work for long hours especially just before and during the event which may include much traveling and moving up and down to make sure that the purpose of the meeting is achieved. Therefore, the first thing that the planners need to know is the nature and the purpose of the meeting. That would then motivate delegates or the audience. All the work ranging from bookings, reception, stationery issuing, vehicle parking, accommodation, decorations among others should be done focusing on that aim.

One of the companies that specialize on the Sasha Souza of the United States that offers services such as, destination weddings and the green They have a large team that can handle different events at the same time.

~Rafi Michael

Wedding Service Providers - Why Choose Them?

Weddings are one of the milestones in many people's lives. It is not only a milestone for the couple getting married but in many cases, for their parents as well. Naturally, the persons involved in this celebration of the union of two people who choose and commit to share their lives together, want to make the occasion as meaningful and as memorable as they possibly can.

Most weddings still follow the traditional way but themed or personalized weddings are becoming popular. One reason why there is an increase in those choosing themed weddings is that there is also an increase in couples coming from diverse backgrounds or cultures that plan to get married.

Whether you plan to have a traditional or a themed wedding, both require a lot of effort to push through. Of course, it is already understood that money is needed. But, you get what you pay for so they say and spending out a little extra for a professional wedding provider can reap rewards not least of which is peace of mind.

In this age of smaller families, many brides have fewer relatives to ask for help from in the wedding preparations. Luckily, there are now professional weddings service providers to help the wedding participants with their expertise and experience in planning and coordinating weddings. Modern communications make it easier to search and contact these wedding services providers. There are also wedding expositions where you can meet a lot of wedding services providers exhibiting the services they offer.

They will take the weight off of your shoulders and take the strain of the preparations. This means that you can concentrate on other things and leave the important tasks to the wedding provider.

~Mark Clayson

Top 5 Custom Wedding Gifts For the Couple Who Has Everything

Custom wedding gifts are becoming more and more popular among shoppers and gift-givers. The main benefit of getting a couple custom gifts is that you can find suitable items that come in sets or pairs at a low price. When you compare shopping online versus offline, you'll be able to get more from your set budget since you don't need to pay for additional costs such as for gas, other unnecessary shopping items, as well as snack foods.

You can browse from hundreds of online stores in a matter of minutes and there will definitely be a couple of items that will fit your recipients' tastes and of course your budget too. Remember that you are giving a special gift to a couple and it is advisable to give them something for their new home or for them to use. To give you an idea of what the internet has to offer, here are the top 7 suggested custom wedding gifts for the couple.

(1) Monogrammed pillow cases and bed sheet
One way to customize your gifts for the couple is to have their gifts monogrammed. In this case, they will need several items for their own home or apartment when they finally move in together after the honeymoon. A set of monogrammed pillow cases and bed sheet are great customized wedding gifts since you can find an online store to order from, they're usually not expensive and the couple will remember you because you went the trouble in having these items especially-made for them.

(2) His and her bath set
It is easy to find custom bath sets that range from $20 to $60. But if you have set a budget of $100 for a wedding gift, why not go the extra mile and include in a pair of bath towels or bath robes for the couple and have them embroidered with their initials or nicknames. You can find online stores that offer personalization services from etching, embroidery, etc. and the cost is very minimal if not free. You can choose from a custom set of bath products already packaged or you can hand-pick the products yourself and have the online store wrap and ship it for you.

(3) Monogrammed champagne flutes or wine glasses
There will always be other special occasions that the couple will celebrate. It is nice to give them monogrammed or etched champagne flutes or wine glass set for their home. Have the items wrapped and shipped directly to their home if you wish to buy from an online store. Offline stores may not offer etching or customization services, but some stores may refer you to a service shop for a cost.

(4) Customized beverage tub
As mentioned earlier, there will be occasions that the couple will celebrate in the months and years to come, so why not give them the gifts that they will need for entertaining guests. Customized beverage tubs may only be available online since you need to order it and have it etched or engraved with the couple's last name or initials. Galvanized or tin tubs give that homey but rustic feel. Plastic tubs are also great since they are lightweight and can be painted with the couple's initials. Best of all, this item is usually affordable. You can include other items such as beer mugs or ice buckets to complete the ensemble.

(5) Customized wedding photo quilt
This is a great way to have the couple remember their special day and of course you, the gift-giver. You need to ask the couple first regarding their favorite wedding photos before you can have the item custom-made. This gift is a post-wedding gift, but it is all worth it once the couple see the end product. You can also order it already framed from selected online stores.

`Emily Garmona

Guide For Personalized Wedding Favor Tags

Your wedding is all about sharing your special day with the people you love. Wedding favors are a great way to show your appreciation for the people who helped you get where you are as a couple and as a thanks for sharing your special day.

Many wedding favors can be used to decorate your reception location. Favors such as coasters and kitchen gadgets can also be useful tools your wedding guests can use in their homes.

Since these favors have purposes other than just to announce your wedding, a personalized wedding tag can provide a great option for customizing your favors. The tags can also be used in your wedding scrapbook or in family and friends' scrapbooks.

You can find personalized wedding tags to match almost any wedding décor. Here is a guide to personalized wedding tags.

Use the tags to personalize bridesmaids' gifts such as bracelets, bags or a spa kit.

Here are some examples of how personalized favor tags can be used to make your wedding favors more special:

For a destination wedding, airplane luggage tags are a great way to send your guests off in style. Use the coordinating tags to add a special message.

For a beach wedding, give guests a seashell reminder of your wedding in the sand with this seashell gel candle with personalized tag. Spread the love with the seashell spreader and personalized tag.

For a cute shower giveaway, use these purse-shaped tags with the matching manicure set.

Practical gifts don't have to be boring. Spice them up with a personalized gift tag. For instance, whip up a little appreciation with personalized tags for this heart-shaped whisk. Your guests can add a little love to their recipes with this olive oil bottle. Personalize it with a matching favor tag. Give your guests a little cheer with their next bottle of wine. This wine opener and stopper set and personalized designer tag makes a great wedding or rehearsal dinner favor.

Here are some tips for using personalized tags for your wedding favors.

1. Match the color and style of the tag to your décor or theme. Get something cute like a shell-shaped tag for your beach wedding or a heart-shaped tag for your Valentine's Day celebration.

2. Be sure to order the tags early enough to get them secured to the giveaways. This means you need to allow time for printing and shipping. Order tags at least six weeks before the wedding to allow you time to assemble.

3. Get a favor assembling team. This will save you lots of time. Assign tasks to each person. Have one tie ribbons. Have another attach the tag to the string. Have another attach the tag to the favor.

by:Ashley Rader

tips for the weds

Getting married is a truly exciting time for the happy couple and that excitement can lead to a very expensive occasion but it doesn't have to be like that. You can get married for less with these cheap wedding ideas.

There are many ways to limit your total spend on the wedding, just because you have a budget does not mean it has to be a dull day.

You can have a wonderful day, which of course it should be and still not break the bank. Remember the point of getting married, it is because you want to be with your partner and to show your devotion in a formal manner.

Flashy weddings are for the celebrities who feel the need to impress their friends and the glossy magazines so leave them to it. A British newspaper recently featured couples who got married for less than £500, do they love each other any less? I do not believe so.

Probably the single most expensive item for the day will be the wedding dress. This is also one of the most important items to the bride, men, take note you will have to take a back seat here. You can trim the cost if you try, by looking at used wedding dress, gasp, horror, used wedding dress? OK, lets take a look at it from this angle, many brides will marry in a vintage wedding dress, for vintage read secondhand.

A used wedding gown can be bought from many places and when you consider it has probably only been worn once if at all then a slightly less expensive dress can be a great saving. You can buy fabulous wedding dresses online so check it out.

The next items are the rings, huge diamonds may look impressive but a plain gold band will be more practical, less likely to lose a stone and be cheaper to insure! Remember it is not the size of the diamond but the size of the heart that gives it.

The wedding breakfast can be made cheaper by inviting a small gathering of family and close friends, wedding venues make a fair amount of money out of catering for weddings so reduce the number of guests and you reduce the cost. If you want a big party for everyone that you have ever met, do it after the honeymoon at a cheaper venue. You will be more relaxed then anyway and probably enjoy it more.

The wedding cake does not have to be a massive commercially made one, if you have a friend who loves cooking ask her to make one, it will make her day and probably be tastier.

A major expense will be the honeymoon if you let it. Think ahead, holidays vary considerably in price throughout the year so if you are set on a couple of weeks in the Caribbean plan your wedding for the cheaper times. Organizing a long haul holiday can be stressful at the best of times so consider a short break in a country hotel instead, you have the rest of your lives to see the world. I hope you find these cheap wedding ideas useful.

`Norman Stanley

Its All About the Wedding

Wedding accessories are small details but paying close attention to it will make the whole event appear more polished. These accessories are items used at the ceremony and the reception. Some are for the purposes of presentation while some are for symbolic value.

The basic accessories used in the ceremony involve the following: decorations; guest books and albums; pens; pillows and ring boxes, baskets and bags; unity candles and garters. These small details play a part big in the ceremony.

The decorations set the romantic and festive mood of the wedding. Decorations consist of visually appealing materials such as flowers, fabrics, lights and fixtures. These decorations often follow a specific color theme for a sophisticated and refined look.

Guest books and albums are accessories that help document the event. Guest books contain names, addresses and signatures of those who actually attended the wedding. These not only serve as a remembrance but also as a guide when the newlyweds are writing their "thank you" cards. The guest books go with the pen so that there won't be delays when the guests sign. Pens are also present after the ceremony when the newlyweds sign their marriage contract.

Albums, on the other hand, contain photos taken during the entire event. Just like the guest books, it also serves as a remembrance. It is a visual narration of the events that transpired during the occasion.
Pillows and ring boxes also form part of wedding accessories. These little containers make the wedding trinkets look more presentable when used during the ceremony. Wouldn't it be inappropriate when the ring to be worn by the couple is just handed by the ring bearer without the silky cushion?

Baskets and bags are also considered as accessories. These containers are held by the flower girls and contain flower petals and confetti's. Petals and confetti's are to be scattered by the flower girls before the bride makes and her entrance and after the newlyweds leave the venue.

Other accessories such as unity candles, cords and arras are included because of what it symbolizes. Unity candles symbolize the light that will guide the couple as they journey into the married life together. The cords symbolize the union of two souls, making them inseparable forever. Arras is a wedding accessory not commonly used in wedding ceremonies. It is a symbol of wealth and prosperity. It also represents the role of the husband as the bread winner of his family.

Taking a close look on wedding accessories is important. These accessories may be small details in a wedding but if combined, they play an important part in the success of the wedding.

To your beautiful wedding!--Bobbie Hamilton

Are you looking for Christian marriage advice? Well, you came to the right place. I want to first start off by encouraging you that it is not too late, no matter how far down you may be. The sad fact is that you are reading this more than likely because you are hurting and in pain. Let me reassure you that God cares and He has a plan for you and your marriage. Do not forget that He said, "I know the plans I have for you..." Perhaps you are feeling desperate and looking for a Christian marriage retreat or a Christian marriage seminar. Let me say that there is a lot out there to choose from.

Both options can be very helpful.

Be careful with the Christian marriage advice you get because not everyone that calls them self a Christian is in fact a believer. Make sure that whatever Christian marriage advice you do get lines up with the Word of God. At the bottom of the page I give a recommendation of someone that has helped many Christian Marriages succeed. He has a great deal of experience and his education is marked by a Doctorate of Theology and he also holds a PhD. His program offers an 8 week guarantee so you might want to check it out. Regardless, of what you do to save your marriage I want to applaud you for not giving up. Hang in there because God can do great things with very difficult circumstances. He may use a Christian Marriage seminar or a Christian marriage retreat or perhaps He may use the resource at the bottom of the page.--George Knoechel

Let me leave you with this Christian marriage advice: He parted the Red Sea. He made the sun to stand still. He made a way for His creation to come back to Him by coming into the world. If those things are true (they are) then can't He also save your marriage no matter what you have been through?

The wedding cake is truly the showpiece of the reception. Cakes have become more creative, and also follow trends in design and fashion like never before. These are some of the hottest trends for wedding cakes in 2009.

Clean lines are king right now. The smooth-as-glass finish of fondant icing is still all the rage at most weddings, and one stand-out design feature is more popular than a busy cake with a pattern all over it. One interesting trend in wedding cakes has to do with the layers. The basic look of three stacked round layers is still the most common, but you are also seeing a lot more of cakes that are square, octagonal, hexagonal, or a combination of round and shaped layers. Offset layers, which are stacked slightly off-kilter are also a hot look for wedding cakes right now.

When it comes to cake decorations, truly you can have anything that your heart desires. There is nothing that a skilled baker cannot create out of sugar, gum paste, or royal icing. That said, there are some definite trends for decorations for 2009 wedding cakes. Most lean towards being mod or minimalist.

The most minimalist cakes consist of three to five round layers covered in smooth white fondant. The only decoration is a colored ribbon around the base of each layer and perhaps a monogrammed medallion on the side of the center layer. These cakes are kept very simple, with no cake topper. They are very urban chic, though they may be too simple for some brides.

Mod design is also something that is being seen in wedding cakes these days. Round circles layered over fondant is one cool effect. Simplistic sugar flowers are another big trend. They are often scattered over the cake in varying density, such as many flowers clustered near the top of the cake, gradually thinning out to just a few blossoms scattered at the base of the cake.

Another very popular trend is to have a vine of sugar flowers set diagonally down one side of the cake. The flowers can be large or small, subtle or colorful, but they are usually done in only one branch, leaving the rest of the cake plain. Although fresh flowers will never be out of style for wedding cake decorations, they are not being seen as much this season.

Brides are still interested in having cakes designed that complement their bridal ensemble in some way. For a very unique look, cover a cake in large white sugar "pearls" which are dusted with an opalescent powder. This is a fun and modern reference to classic pearl bridal jewelry. If crystal bridal jewelry is more your style, you can adorn your cake with clear molded sugar "crystals" arranged in a geometric design. Note that the sugar crystals are intended to mimic clear crystals, not silvery rhinestones. It is a more subtle style than the ornate cake jewelry that has been seen in recent years.

The great thing about a wedding cake is that you can have whatever you want. So, take some pointers from the latest trends, or choose to go in another direction; the choice is entirely yours. In the nd, all that matters is that you love the way your wedding cake looks, and that your guests love how it tastes.--Bridget Mora