honeymoon delights

Although there are some magazines and advertisements available for you to look at when you are still deciding for your honeymoon destination, the most probable thing to happen to you is to select not the best for you but the most advertised destination.

Here’s how to choose your honeymoon destination, unadulterated;

personalized style:

When are you going?

The first thing you have to identify when choosing your honeymoon destination is not where or how will you spend your honeymoon; but the “when”. Most honeymoon destinations have their season-highs and season-lows. These are influenced by the weather on the location. Activities and some amenities depend on in the time of the year. The number of visitor also relies on time. Some hotels and resorts are best on a particular time of the year. Some also offer special prices on a particular season. If you would want to know what you would get and the things you can do on your honeymoon, try to figure out first when will you hold your honeymoon.

What are the activities you would like to do?

Making sure you know what you want to do on your honeymoon destination will certainly make your selection easier. For example, you like to do water sports on your honeymoon; or you like have a luxurious pampering: or you want to explore culture and history; or you want to just relax and enjoy each other’s company. Knowing this will keep you on your aim to get the honeymoon destination of your choice.

Set your budget and identify the possible honeymoon destination…

The next big questions in planning your honeymoon are the budget and the destination. After you have identified the time of the year of your honeymoon, you must now set your budget. You should also have identified the your possible honeymoon destinations. Doing this at the same time will let you figure out how much money will you have to take out and how luxurious or simple your location would be.

If you have a shortlist of possible destination that fits your budget, the next you should do is identify what places offer the best accommodation, amenities, services, sights, luxury, and comfort among others. Then, choose one that is right for both of you.

Remember that the place should not necessarily be the least expensive; it should be the place where you will be able to enjoy and have fun together.

be glam with your weddihg apparels

Your wedding gown is the most special garment that you will ever own. You want to make sure that you are getting a good one, but it can be difficult at times to know. There are a few things that you can look for to ensure that you are getting a fine quality bridal gown.

The first thing to look at is the price. It is a simple fact that well made wedding dresses will cost more than those that are slapped together. However, what if you are getting your gown at a sample sale, where the prices are reduced? If you know what to look for, you will be able to tell if the gown is a good value, or just cheap.

The best bridal gowns are created from natural materials, primarily silk. Beware of dresses that are use the word silk in their description, but do not clearly state that they are made of silk. Designers will often use terms like "Italian silk" to make a silk blend or even a synthetic fabric sound more luxurious than it really is. When in doubt, look for the tag inside the gown that lists the contents. The more silk, the better.

While you are there, stop and peek at the country of origin. Although many fine wedding gowns are made overseas (especially those that are heavily embroidered), it is even better when you can find a gown that is made in the United States, usually New York City. Those gowns are almost always created to order for each bride, instead of being mass-produced. This will ensure you both an excellent fit, and a more carefully crafted dress.

Another sign of a quality bridal gown is how the inside is finished. Are the seams neatly finished, or do they look bunchy and rough? Many top-notch dresses will be more elaborately constructed than the less expensive versions. This can be very important if you are choosing a strapless gown, because it means that the dress will have the necessary boning, and maybe even a built in corset, that will help it to stay up. Poorly made strapless gowns can be a recipe for wedding day disaster!

On a well made gown, all of the outside seams will also be nicely finished. You should not see any puckering along the bust or side seams. If there is embroidery or beadwork, it should be well aligned over the side seams. Even better, it should be on a ribbon stitched onto the dress, or stop before the side seams so that the dress can be properly altered.

Once you have found a wedding gown that was lovingly made, you will want to finish it off with equally beautiful accessories. Look for quality pieces like handmade wedding jewelry. Just like your gown, it is great to know that a real person took the time to carefully create wedding jewelry handmade just for you. When choosing a veil, make sure that any trim lays flat, and that it is neatly secured to the comb. All of these small details will add up to a perfectly polished bridal ensemble.

When you put on your bridal gown on your wedding day, it should make you feel like a million dollars (even though hopefully you didn't have to spend that much on it!). A gown that is a fine quality will go a long way towards helping you achieve that feeling. After all, when you know that your gown looks great, you will feel even more beautiful.--Bridget Mora

Barong Tagalog is properly referred to as the Barong Tagalog (dress of the Tagalog)
and it cannot be contacted to simply Barong since that would be equivalent in
English to saying “He is wearing a dress of “. The word Barong, one realizes, means
“dress of”.If one wishes to shorten the phrase, then it would be Baro or “dress”. Yes,
the
Barong Tagalog is a dress, a garment, a coat in itself. It is not a “shirt”. If it were,
then it would need a coat or a jacket over it to quality as formal wear and would
have to be worn tucked inside the trousers. Barong Tagalog can be worn at formal
and informal occasions, for day and evening wear, for business and at leisure.--Matt Barong

cuppycake weddings

Wedding cakes are always present in every reception. This is because aside from the newlyweds, there are instances where these sweet and towering creations become the attraction during the after party.

Unlike common cakes, the cakes served in a wedding usually consist of several layers and elaborate designs. In fact, there is art incorporated in designing these cakes. Bakers and pastry designers practice delicate techniques just for the construction of these wonderful creations. Some cakes take days of preparation before it is finally finished.

Though a traditional wedding cake is made with layers, there is also the modern wedding cake which is made with smaller pieces such as cupcakes. Cupcakes make a good wedding cake because of the uniqueness it creates. Also, it makes it easier to serve to guests.

The colors used to design the cake are commonly based on the color motif of the wedding. Marzipan and fondant are the common elements used throughout the layer the cake. There are taste tests done to see which cake flavor and type will be used. Other ornaments such as flowers and fruits are added to make the cake colorful. Flowers and fruits are best used in weddings to be held during spring and summer. There are also other decorations such as edible pearls, gold and beads to make the cake look a lot more interesting.

Cakes in the wedding have an important part in the reception as it is sliced by the couple together. The first slice is consumed by the couple together as a symbol of sharing everything in their lifetime. This is the most common tradition so far. Afterwards, the cake is served to the guests as part of the dessert.

The top layer in wedding cakes is another story. Traditionally, a figurine resembling the newlyweds is placed at the top. There are also instances where the top layer of wedding cake is saved. It is consumed at the day of the couple's first wedding anniversary.

There are other traditions that surround the cakes found in a wedding. In some cultures, these cakes are one of the symbols of sweetness and romance in the newlywed's life. A cake pull is one tradition practiced in the United States and in some Asian regions where charms are inserted at the bottom of the cake and can only be taken out by pulling the ribbons or strings attached to it.

Wedding cakes is one detail that will always be looked at. With its intricate details and sweet taste, it is no wonder that it is chosen as one of the great symbols of the newlywed's love for each other.

++Bobbie Hamilton

fabulous receptions...

Planning a wedding in tough economic times can be a really challenging task particularly when you are limited with money. Thus making and sticking to your budget will be the primary requirement. As the reception usually arrives at approximately 50% of the overall wedding expenses, you may want to have a look at this first and consider being after a low budget wedding reception.

With putting some clever thoughts and individual creativity into your reception planning, a low budget wedding reception does not need to appear cheap while in the same time it is also not going to blow your whole bridal budget through the roof.

In general you need to know, that formal weddings that are accommodated in any trendy wedding reception venue are a good deal more expensive than those held in any other location. To boot, those wedding receptions are usually going together with additional expensive things, such as food, drinks, decoration and music.

But also when paying attention to the details, you will find many things that will help you setting up a low budget wedding reception. For instance a lot of off-the-shelf items can be beautified with a little bit of creative thinking, as the following examples show:

1. Realistic looking silk flowers intermingled with a fresh flower arrangement
2. Cookies with the guest's name on it, for them to know where to sit
3. Handmade keepsakes to say "thank you" to the wedding party

Keeping these tips in mind you will not only be able to stay within your budget, but also to save a lot of money on your wedding.

**Peter Meyers

bloom up your wedding

Flowers, being vibrant, colorful, and appealing, have the ability to convey different meanings; hence, they are known as a non-verbal form of expressing feelings. Weddings demand elegance and a beautiful flower arrangement can make any wedding look stylish. Wedding flowers are therefore, one of the most essential elements for the big day. Wedding florists are professionals in the art of decorating for all kinds of wedding ceremonies, receptions, and wedding parties. These florists are specialists and are trained with numerous years of experience to make weddings look glamorous and memorable. They provide services of a full set up, offer delivery to the place of the wedding ceremonies and receptions. Florists are trained and experienced enough to know how to arrange the flowers at the entrance, at the podium where actual ceremony will take place, at the buffet table, near the guests sitting area, and the entire wedding premises.

Wedding florists take the responsibility of all the decorations and ensure that they attend to every detail and perform their duty well. The services of florists during the off-season are cheaper because during that time the prices of flowers are low as compared to the holiday season prices. Wedding florists also recommend that couples use seasonal flowers, as they are inexpensive and avoid additional costs.

The costs for flowers for decorating wedding ceremonies and receptions may vary depending on the budget of the couples. These couples can discuss the ideas and suggestions regarding the wedding decorations with the wedding florist. Wedding florists may prepare contracts that detail the fee, labor charges, delivery place and time, color and types of flowers required, substituting the flowers if the ones mentioned are not available, and any other details that may be included.

Wedding florists can also design the theme depending on the bride's gown and the groom's suit. Numerous wedding florists can be found online and couples can get easy access to the different price lists, flowers, and their types

Bridal Hair and Makeup Artist

This is the day you have dreamed of since you were just a little girl. You have always pictured in your mind how you would look on your wedding day. Now, it is coming time to actually start planning for that wonderful, romantic, "dream come true" of a day. You have finally found Mr. Wonderful, your perfect dress, the perfect place you want to walk down the aisle, the look and feel of the bridesmaids standing by your side, your flowers...but did you think about your hair and makeup? Are you going to leave that last detail to chance? It is time to think about hiring a professional bridal hair and makeup artist.

Why should you hire a professional bridal hair makeup artist for your wedding day? The answer is quite simple, education, experience, knowledge and the stress-free, convenient environment they create. You want every thing to be perfect on your wedding day and so do they. The last thing you need to stress about is making sure your makeup and hair looks just right. Relax; hire a professional bridal hair and makeup artist that will come to you, which puts more time in your already busy schedule. You will save time and energy and its fun! It is very important that your hair and makeup will look as beautiful and relevant in 20 years as it does on the day of your wedding.

A bridal hair and makeup artist knows how to achieve the trendy styles of today without "dating" your photos, creating a perfect memory of your wedding day for you and your family to enjoy for years to come. Bridal hair and makeup artists use professional products and have the knowledge as to which ones will work with your particular hair or skin type. They are trained to create looks that compliment your dress, the theme of the wedding and your personality. When choosing a makeup artist, make sure you choose one that has specialized training in what is called "Media Makeup". Media Makeup is the knowledge of what the camera (or photograph) will need for color and definition. Bridal Makeup artists understand how makeup will show up with the flash of the camera or under certain lighting conditions. With this education and skill, bridal makeup artists will insure your makeup is never too much or too little and that your wedding photos will be "picture perfect".

be captivated on your wedding day!

If the rule of thumb for planning a wedding is to start a year ahead of time, hiring a photographer and a videographer or at least asking for their input should be close to the same date. Acquiring a good relationship with your photographer early on is important because you want him to attend your wedding from the beginning to the end, so he can capture every memorable moment for you to reminisce many years afterwards.

With fancy and elaborate weddings, as well as with impromptu weddings or weddings on small budgets, a good photographer will be the most important person to hire. Most photographers, since they have an eye for color and design, can give precious tips in the planning stage before the couple and their parents start spending money.

After the wedding of a daughter of a friend when the wedding photos arrived, the newlywed bride burst in tears. She thought, when in print, the pansy motif background and the purple and pink bridesmaid gowns mixed and clashed with each other, making the bride and the groom look cheap against a ridiculous background. Had they consulted with the photographer beforehand about the colors and designs of the flowers, the decorations, the background, and the bridesmaids’ outfits, her heartache could be avoided.

My daughter-in-law hired a very apt photographer who gave her a good deal by including the videography in the overall price. Moreover, when he found out that the beach with the sun coming up meant a lot to the couple, he made an appointment with them to have their photos taken at a local beach deserted at dawn. He had them dress in formal wear and enlarged the best photo to 16’’x 20’’ in size. He put a huge white border around the photo and everyone in the wedding signed on the border, scribbling a wish or two. Now, this is one of the most cherished possessions for the couple. It is truly priceless.

If you are on a budget and can’t afford the fancy touches the photographer suggests, you might decide to put up big poster board on an easel for all the wedding guests’ thoughts, wishes and signatures. Make sure you leave enough space in the middle of the board for a wedding photo. It will make a wonderful memento, not just for you but for your great grandchildren to come.

Giving the photographer freedom in creating spontaneous photos and letting him practice his or her artistic style always works for the couple’s benefit. A qualified photographer will take the couple’s wishes into account and work from there. Involving the photographer in every step of the way makes it possible for him to interact better with the couple and their families in order to see and learn their best angles before the wedding.

The alert photographer who took my nephew’s wedding photos counseled the couple against holding their outdoor wedding at midday when it is the worst possible time to take photos. They decided on a late afternoon wedding and an early to late evening reception. Everyone was happy with the results because the photos and the video were spectacular.

A good photographer will let all wedding attendees into the photos. With closest relatives and friends of the couple taking the front row, every person who has attended the wedding deserves to be at least in a group picture. Giving the photographer a list and introducing him to the guests as they arrive is a good idea. Who wouldn’t want to exhibit a magnificent album of wedding photos and a recorded video many years after when the wedding becomes a hazy image in most anyone’s mind?

If you have a different videographer other than your photographer, it is a good idea to let him know, several weeks before the wedding, how you prefer things. Before you hire a videographer always ask to see samples of his work. For the videography, filming with a soft-box light turns out better than the flash or the video light. Audio quality is just as important as the video quality. Choosing a DVD recording instead of a VHS is always a good idea, since the DVDs can be divided into chapters and scene selections. Also a DVD will give you superior quality pictures and images.

Yet, the most important tip is this: You, the bride or the groom, when that great day comes, remember to be yourself while looking at the camera. Your photographer wants to capture you as a human being, not just a beautiful image.

get planned and coordinated

Newly engaged and don't know where to start? Do you know exactly how you want your wedding to go and just don't have the time to execute it? Can't keep up with all the lists that you made? Engaged couples start off happy and excited and can often end up stressed out and quite frankly, waiting for the day to just be done and over. That is not way to remember you special day.

Planning a wedding can be a full-time job, the majority of the public work full-time already and simply cannot attend to every minute detail...interviewing and selecting vendors and negotiating prices, trying to stay within a budget, handling last minute changes or cancellations, all the while attempting to keep your family and loved ones happy and included. You both deserve to enjoy this celebration. This is where a Wedding Coordinator can save your sanity...and possibly your checkbook!

Wedding Coordinators, also called wedding planners or consultants, provide you with everything from simple advice on how and where to start to crisis management and day of event coordination. Wedding Coordinators offer various services and packages including establishing and maintaining a budget, vendor interviews and selection, and most important...doing the leg work so you can RELAX and ENJOY your day!

A good wedding coordinator will have well established vendor relationships, and should have a good idea up front if they can get you a deal when it comes to signing a contract for the DJ, florist, caterer, banquet hall, etc. The wedding coordinator will make sure the contracts are in good order and contain provisions that not only protect you from a cost perspective, but will offer a back up plan in the case of a cancellation. The wedding coordinator will also make sure that each vendor shows up and delivers on time!

So where does that leave you? In the driver's seat is where you will be. With your wedding coordinator handling the planning of events and scheduling appointments, you approve the details and sit back, stress-free, and enjoy the festivities!

print it!

There are a lot of things you need to consider when you start the invitation printing process. Even before that first invitation is printed, you need to know the exact details, conventions, design elements and printing options. Through these things, you can make the best and most eye catching invitation for your event.

To help you with this, we have created this guide. It should help you start out planning your designs and other strategies before you start on invitation printing.

The first thing that you need to know is the invitation type. This is an obvious and crucial step. Invitations can be printed for various events. More commonly there are wedding invitations, party invitations, invitations to conventions, talks, official functions, gala shows, opening ceremonies, and other such social gatherings and functions.

Each kind of event has its own sets of rules and preferences for its invitations. It is important to know the rules and options you have for a particular kind of event in terms of invitation printing. This keeps your invitations appropriate and of course more professional and apt.

Invitations being the social tools that they are have a few appropriate conventions in design depending on the occasion or type. For weddings of course, the design should match the motif chosen. Typically, these types of invitations are designed with elegance and sophistication in mind that thoroughly represents the joyous and graceful event that is a marriage. This can also apply to debutante balls, business events and other formal social gatherings.

Of course, for official functions or events, designs that are more utilitarian have replaced the elegant and sophisticated designs, to emphasize the basic facts of an event. For example, in an opening ceremony or commemorative address, most invitations are just simple note cards that detail the program of an event. It can have a few text details, maybe a logo or two and little else. Since it is a function and not a social event per se, the invitation design does not have to be complex or as artful as other events.

For occasions that are more informal however like birthday party, a Halloween or Christmas party or other such casual events, the invitation design can be casual as well. In fact, with these kinds of parties any kind of invitation design can be made as long as it matches the theme of the event. This is where most invitation designers have the creative freedom to think about absolutely any kind of idea.

Now, with the design choices out of the way, it is time to choose the invitation printing options. You must make a couple of choices. You can decide on the color choices and the paper material. In terms of color, you can opt for a full color invitation in both sides or you can save some money by printing only one side in full color with the other side being left alone or printed in black and white. Depending on your design and event, one or the other may be appropriate. However, a full color invitation is of course the best way to entice your guests to attend your event.

The next thing you want to figure out is your paper material. An invitation's paper is typically harder and sturdier than usual paper. It can have a UV coating or glossy finish, or you can choose some textured paper materials with a matte finish for the invitation. You can even print on recycled paper if you are environmentally conscious of your printed materials. The choice boils down to your preferences. However, a glossy white finish for an invitation typically looks well for most occasions.

Once you have a decision for all of these options, then you are ready to start printing invitations. If you followed these tips right, you should have an easy and efficient time with the invitation printing company.

Your Wedding Catering Can Be Something Inexpensive!

The catering services should be very important in your wedding. You will certainly serve your guests food in your reception. This is why the catering is so essential. A really good catering service can something be very expensive. It will create a very difficult situation for the couple if they are in a tight budget. Yet there are some money saving tips on the catering services for your wedding.

The first thing you need to consider is whether the wedding theme will affect the catering services you need. For example, if you are going to have a Chinese theme wedding, you may need catering services for Chinese style food. On the other hand, if you are having a Christmas theme wedding, you may need to prepare the food in a way that it is like in a Christmas part. You have to understand that this will have great impact on the cost of the catering services.

In most cases, a buffet style banquet will be a lot cheaper. This is probably because less food will be needed in the case of a buffet. Yet you have to consider your guests before you make the decision of going for a buffet. If most of your guests are very reluctant to have a buffet, you may not go for this option. Of course in most cases the choice is up to your preference since most guests will have no preference on whether they will like a buffet of a sit down dinner in a wedding.

Usually, the reception venue will also provide the catering services. However, there are also some venues which do not provide these services. In this case you will need to search for you own caterer. However, you will need to ask a few questions if you are going to hire your own caterer. You will first of all ask the venue if they will provide the plates, cups, and glasses for free. If this is the case, the caterer will not need to prepare them and you may be able to save some money. You may also need to discuss with the caterer if they will charge you in the case that you bring your own liquor. It will be a lot cheaper if you can bring your own liquor. Of course you will still need to ask clearly who will prepare the glasses even if you are going to bring your own liquor.

If you would like to save some more money, you may arrange your catering so that there will be no dessert. This does not mean that you do not serve dessert to the guests. Instead you will cut the wedding cake and the cake will be the dessert. You have already spent some money on your wedding cake and it will just be a waste if you do not eat it. As a result, it is always a good idea to serve the cake to the guests as dessert. At the end of the day it will not be a good idea to waste the cake.

*Jerry Leung

wedding crafts

Common wedding favors you will usually give out during typical weddings are chrome and candles. These things are elegant, however, things that are creative and unique often stand out and make a statement. If you wish to get creative on your wedding, there are so many unique ideas that are fun to give out your guests will surely get impressed by.

Plenty of unique and creative wedding favors are available today, they are perfect for couples who are not wishing for a mundane stuff on their wedding. There are several ways to come up with a unique wedding favor idea, one of which is by means of personalization. For example, you can make traditional wedding souvenirs unique by personalizing them. Custom monograms and engravings are usually the ones that makes wedding favors personalized. This lets you add your own personal touch on your wedding souvenirs, as well as other accessories if you wish to personalize them too. Even personalized wedding favor boxes and ribbons makes a wonderful accessory, affordable yet eye appealing.

You can get creative in making your own homemade wedding favors. Homemade favors are very popular today as they are a practical option for many couples who have tight budget. You may consider homemade cookies, jams, pies etc. You can then include your personal creativity when decorating your flavorful souvenirs, or during the packaging. There are DIY kits available at your local craft stores, if you want you may try them for yourself. Another unique idea is a personalized chocolate favor. You can make your chocolate souvenirs personalize by personalizing the cover with names or monograms, wedding date and a special message.

You may also just want to distribute something unusual or extraordinary that you guests haven't seen at other weddings. Actually, there are so many unusual favor ideas you can find in many markets today. Examples are wines stoppers, shot glasses, bookmarks, CDs, flower seeds, coffee or tea packets, personalized pens, personalized coasters, wine bottles, miniature wedding bells and so on. There are thousands of them to choose from.

If you are planning to have an unusual wedding theme, you may also need unusual wedding souvenirs to go along with it. For example, there are Vegas themed wedding favors that are perfect for a Las Vegas themed wedding. On the other hand, you may also consider choosing something that is according to the season of your wedding. Seasonal favors such as fall, winter and summer themed items are also available. Beach themed wedding favors are usually a hit for summer weddings, while maple leaf themed is for fall, and snowflakes themed is for winter. You will also need to think of the colors when deciding on unique wedding favors. While formal Christian weddings usually go with white and cream colors, a unique nuptial may get crazy with colorful decorations and supplies.

With the advent of the Internet, planning a unique wedding become easier now. There are endless ideas you can find online. Thousands of websites can help you decide what wedding favors to choose. Also, there are much wider selection of affordable wedding favors to choose from, than at local part stores. From wedding outfits, wedding cakes, wedding rings, to reception supplies, name it they have it.