If you want to keep your wedding going long after your reception time is up and the band goes home, consider an after party. This event can be immediately following your reception at a nearby site and it will keep the good times rolling. But you have to plan ahead. Weddings, the After Party »
If you have never thrown a shower before, you probably have some questions. The questions and answers below should help get you started:
Wedding Showers: The Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Showers »
Ancient brides carried herbs instead of flowers in their bouquets to cast off evil spirits. A bride carried sage for wisdom, dill for lust, rosemary for remembrance. Rosemary would also ensure faithfulness. Brides would also carry marigolds that had been dipped in rosewater. They would later eat them for their powers as an aphrodisiac.
Embellishments on a gown add the little extra bit of style and uniqueness. They can take a good wedding gown and elevate it to a great wedding gown. Use our wedding gown embellishment glossary to learn more about them.
Don’t know your princess from your empire our wedding gown bodice glossary is here to help.
Finding the perfect gown that accentuates your assets and hides your flaws is the goal of every bride. However knowing what type of gown works best for your body type can be tricky. Here is our Wedding Gown Shape Glossary
Wedding gown come is all shapes and sizes, and knowing one type from another is often very difficult. To you keep you A-Lines from your sheaths use our wedding gown type glossary
Looking to learn about the different types of wedding gown necklines our glossary is here to help.
Once your wedding and reception are over you’ll be looking forward to spending some quality alone time with your new husband. Why not take this opportunity to give him a special thank you for looking through all of those wedding invitations. For men lingerie is like gift wrapping they can’t wait to get to what’s inside. Here is a glossary of some lingerie items you’re likely to find when you are out shopping.
While every bride spends a lot of time thinking about and choosing her wedding dress, most women don’t spend any time thinking about bridal lingerie. When we talk about bridal lingerie we mean the foundation and body shapers you will be wearing under your wedding gown not the naughty nighty you’ll wear on your honeymoon. Bridal Lingerie for Your Wedding Day »
“Presently, 40% of all first marriages in this country end in divorce. 60% of all second marriages and 75% of third marriages fail as well.” –Dr. Gary Chapman Marriage: Where is the Fairy Tale? »
You have made the decision to contact a marriage counselor. The next question is “How to choose the right marriage counselor?” The success of your counseling experience will relate directly to your compatibility with your counselor. How to Choose a Marriage Counselor »
If you’re like most people, you probably entered into marriage with a number of unchallenged assumptions in place. These assumptions may have been about what marriage is and entails, about love, or about your spouse. While you may have already bumped into reality concerning some of your assumptions, you still may be operating with others firmly in place. Marriage Advice: Seven Marriage Myths You Can’t Afford to Ignore »
How to Attract a Man (Who Will Make You Happy for the Rest of Your Life!)
By Terry Hernon MacDonald
“It’s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.”–Somerset Maugham How to Attract a Man »
Everyone has heard about mail order brides but very few people actually know what they are and how it works. Here is a brief overview of the mail order bride business.
During the 1980’s entrepreneurs and business men from many Asian countries like Thailand and the Philippines set up businesses to introduce American men to eligible women. They printed glossy catalogues with brief biographies about the women and distributed them. The American men were encouraged to start conversations with them through the mail. If the relationship progressed the American men usually paid a visit to her in her native country. If a romance blossomed they couple was eventually married and moved to the United States. What are Mail Order Brides? »
More and more brides and grooms are going with theme weddings to make the event more memorable. If you’ve chosen to go with a more traditional wedding theme why not have a limousine that matches the story you are trying to tell. If you are looking for classic wedding look why not try a classic car to match some cars to consider are Cadillac or Rolls Royce touring cars from the 1920’s or 1930’s. Particularly popular are the Rolls Royce Phantom or Princess Rolls Royce or Rolls Royce Corniche. Some other cars which are less common but no less elegant include the Pierce Arrow, Packard or Duesenberg. If you arrive at your wedding in cars like these you’ll set the stage for a classy and exquisite wedding.
While prenuptial agreements have typically been used only by the celebrities or extremely wealthy more and more people are starting to see the value of having one. Many people see a prenuptial agreement as having the divorce fight before you are even married, but for many people a prenuptial agreement is good decision. So if you are getting married you may want to think about these points and decide if a prenuptial agreement is right for you. Do you need a Prenuptial Agreement? »
If you’re looking a unique honeymoon vacation that you will remember for years to come you should consider Africa. From is ancient Pyramids in Egypt, to adventure safaris across the savanna, down to the luxurious southern coast, Africa has something for everyone. African Honeymoon Vacations »
Choosing formal wear for the groom in a wedding is more complicated than walking into your nearest tuxedo store and choosing the first thing that meets your eye. To get an eye catching piece of formal wear for the groom in your wedding requires a little bit of planning. Selecting Formal Wear for the Groom »
Being disc jockeys, we get the opportunity to evaluate many reception facilities while having little or no bias to “sell” one location over another. Most Brides and Grooms know where they will be holding the ceremony before they decide where to have the reception, so we have compiled five observations that can help you when selecting your venue. 5 Tips To Select The Best Wedding Reception Location »
So he’s proposed and you’ve accepted. Congratulations! You’re about to start on the exciting course of getting married and planning a wedding. The first milestone on this journey is traditionally the Engagement Party. The Engagement Party »
Let’s be honest the words wedding and ‘bad hair day‘ aren’t allowed to be in the same sentence. For the most important day of your life you’re going to want your hair to look its absolute best. Simply put you want it to be perfect. Here are some basic tips to keep in mind about your wedding hairstyle: Wedding Hairstyles - the Basics »
Everyone is looking to have the perfect fairytale wedding. However sometimes our fairytale wishes are bigger than the reality of our checkbooks. A recent survey by the leading bridal registry website The Knot, an online wedding retailer says the average wedding will cost between $10,000 and $20,000. The reality is many newlyweds have less than $3000 dollars put aside for their wedding. Financing Your Wedding »
Every bride envisions the perfect wedding. However, the “perfect wedding” also involves months of organizing, planning, and cost. Cost will mean a lot more to you if you and your fiancé are the ones who will be paying for the wedding, rather than your parents. Not to mention that you will want to save money for your beautiful honeymoon in a magical place. You can have a perfect wedding and the beautiful honeymoon at a lowered cost. How so? By purchasing a wedding-honeymoon package in the destination of your choice.
When selecting formal wear for the groom there are some points to consider. The two most important ones are matching the bride gown and becoming part of the wedding theme. If you and your fiancé have decided to go with a beach wedding in the Caribbean or Hawaii choosing formal wear will be somewhat easy. You will want to choose a nice subdued think blues, or browns and pair it with a nice pair of white slacks. You want it to subdued and romantic, that means no Hawaiian shirts and shorts allowed. For an informal wedding a dress suit or sports jacket are the most appropriate choices. For indoor weddings again something understated is best try colors like dark blues, black or brown pair with a nice solid pattered tie. If you are going for an outdoor affair and reception you can opt for a white jacket with dark blue or black slacks. Depending on the weather a tie is optional. For semi-formal and formal affairs a tuxedo is the recommended choice here. Black is a safe color but you can try other colors if the affair is less formal. Your groomsmen should all be wearing the same tuxedo as you. While the groom is allowed to wear a different color bowtie and cummerbund the groomsmen should all wear the same color. Typically the color of groomsmen ties and cummerbunds matched the dresses of the bridesmaids, this is trend that is changing so feel free to choose another color if you prefer it. For very formal or luxury style weddings the most appropriate choice is black tailcoat. You can find tailcoats in other colors, but black lends the affair and extra air of class and dignity. Pair it with a white vest and the look is classic. Your choice of neckwear is flexible from an ascot, or bowtie. Many modern grooms are skipping the tie entirely and going for band collar with a simple decorative stud clasp. Older grooms may decide to include the top hat or gray gloves.
Viva! Las Vegas Baby! So you’ve decided to try your luck at the slots, listen to Wayne Newton, ‘croon a tune’, and then head to the ‘little white chapel’ for an Elvis themed wedding to tie the knot? Believe it or not, you’re not alone. Las Vegas weddings are popular for movie, TV, and sports figures, as well as the general public with about 1 in 20 of all marriages taking place in Las Vegas. The bright neon lights, the sounds of bells ringing, coins dropping, the atmosphere created by the hotels/casinos that line the strip has enticed many a couple to marry here. A Las Vegas Wedding »
A wedding should truly be happiest moment of your life. However many moderns brides try to take on too much in an effort to create the perfect wedding. Instead of ending up with a beautiful service and reception that they can enjoy they stress out over every last detail and turn into the dreaded Bridezilla. Here are some tips to help you keep your sanity in tact when planning your wedding:
The key to success with a wedding or any type of party is to plan ahead, the further ahead you know and work out the details the better.
Unless you are having a small simple affair it will be impossible to manage the entire event yourself. Get a small group of family or friends who are willing to help and delegate some responsibilities.
For more complicated events you may want to hire a professional wedding planner. Typically wedding planners will get a commission based on the cost of the entire event. It varies from 10 to 25 percent based on the work, and location involved.
For more detailed tips on how to plan your wedding reception visit our wedding reception section.
We’ve all heard tales of a “Bridezilla” losing it, and not being able to enjoy their own wedding. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that no one wants to be a Bridezilla, they end up becoming one because they don’t know how to deal with wedding stress. Here is a list of helpful tips to keep you from turning into a Bridezilla.
Wedding bands have a long and rich history that goes back thousands of years to the time of the pyramids. Since the earliest of times wedding bands have stood for love, commitment, fidelity, eternity, and honor. According to legend wedding bands originated in ancient Egypt on the banks of the Nile River. Plant stems were fashioned in circles, the symbols of eternity. These rings represented immortal and undying love. History of the Wedding Band »
Trust is the basis of all human relationships. Trust can be thought of as a thermometer that can measure the positive and negative nature of a relationship. The more positive one feels about a person, the higher the trust level associated with him/her. Trust in Marriage »
Choosing transportation or a limousine for your wedding is an important step. Do you want a horse drawn carriage, a classic Rolls Royce or an Exotic stretch Hummer? Here are some tips to consider:
We’ve all seen or even been to the traditional bachelor parties seen on TV or in the movies. A distant relative or tag-along friend get a little out of control, or the groom has too much to drink, and the “entertainment” gets a little out of hand.
The design of the traditional wedding cake has varied greatly over time. Once a sign of fertility, the wedding cake of the Roman Empire was made of wheat or Barley. The small cake was then broken over the bride’s head, celebrating her fertility. Wedding Cake Design through History »
The giving of engagement rings has a history that goes back thousands of years. It’s not always clear and often conflicting but here are some agreed upon ideas about how the engagement ring got its start. The ancient Greeks are generally credited with the giving of rings in a betrothal ceremony. While it wasn’t a requirement it was an act that was looked upon favorably. The ancient Romans who adopted much of the Greek culture adopted the practice of exchanging gifts upon marriage. However instead of giving rings the ancient Romans gave keys to their bride. The symbolism of the key is a debatable subject, some claim this was an invitation to the woman to share everything in the household while other historians believe it was symbolic of the keys to her husband’s heart. History of the Engagement Ring »
Wedding Flowers
By Tenley McDonald
The selection process of your wedding flowers will usually begin with a discussion of the Bride’s bouquet. You will have a choice of several basic styles. These are cascade, crescent, contemporary, nosegay, hand tied bouquet and arm or presentation style. You can better prepare for your first meeting with your florist if you bring the following; Wedding Flowers »
While we all hope that everyone’s wedding goes off perfectly and without any problems, the reality is sometimes things go wrong. Here’s a list of things that could go wrong an ruin your wedding day. Do you need Wedding Insurance? »
The honeymoon is the reward for all of those hard stressful months of wedding planning. To get the most out of your honeymoon here is a basic timetable of things you should consider. Honeymoon Planning – the Basics »
Games For A Wedding Shower
By Randy Wilson
Games for a wedding shower are the best ways to make the most of your merriment in a wedding shower party. There are a lot of unique and varied games for wedding showers like the fish pond, men or women-who are better off?, coffee pot, guess the answer, guess my name, weave a story, my secret friend, how well do you know the bride/ groom games? etc. Games For A Wedding Shower »
Every bride wants a fairytale wedding. Therefore, this article is to try and minimize problems that may occur during a wedding reception. Listed below are the more common mistakes made by brides and grooms during your wedding reception. We will tell you what to do! 10 Common Wedding Reception Mistakes »
Do you need a wedding planner? It’s a complicated question with no hard and fast answers. If you are planning a medium to large sized event with over 100 guests the answer will definitely be yes. Do you have a hard time keeping track of multiple services and contractors, if so the answer is yes. Are you simply overwhelmed by the entire thing, then the answer is definitely yes. Here are some things to keep in mind if you are considering hiring a wedding planner.
There are very few types of fabric that can say wedding like piece of lace. Lace has a long history of being associated with weddings and wedding gowns. Did you know there is more than one type of lace, our wedding gown lace glossary will help you know and Alencon from a Venice.
Being asked to be an usher for a friend or family members wedding is an honor. While there will be a little work, remember the couple has chosen you to be an ambassador for them on their special day. Here are some things you may want to keep in mind:
People are looking for life-long relationships in the most peculiar places. There’s the favourite haunt – the hotel. Here, the optimists imagine they’re going to meet a partner who never drinks or swears, apparently having accidentally stumbled into the hotel while seeking directions to the nearest church. Love on the Internet »
Are you looking for a way to make a grand and unique entrance to you wedding or reception, then you may want to consider an exotic wedding limousine. Here are some suggestions for wedding limousines that will make sure everyone takes notice of you. Consider an SUV for your wedding transportation companies offer Lincoln Navigators, Cadillac Escalades, GMC Excursions and the impossible to ignore H2 Hummer Limousines. Some recent new entries to the SUV line of cars can be found as well like a Lexus LS430, BMW X5 or Porsche Cayenne Super stretch limousine. Maybe you still want to make a statement, just in as big a way, here are some other exotic wedding limousines you may want to consider a Jaguar S type or Chrysler M300 for your wedding limousine. Perhaps the most exotic type of limousines will be sports cars, you can find models from Lamborghini, Porsche, and Ferrari at specialty transportation companies.
Have you ever noticed that weddings seem to be all about the bride? There’s information available for the wedding dress, shoes, makeup and accessories. But…what about the groom and his ushers? After all, they need to wear something to the wedding too! Selecting Men’s Formalwear For The Wedding »
Wedding dress, flowers, church, reception, cake topper, decorations, music AND wedding colors. Although it sounds daunting, choosing wedding colors is really quite simple. Choosing Your Wedding Colors »
As your wedding day gets closer the stress about finding the perfect wedding hairstyle becomes a bigger concern. Here are some helpful tips to help you manage and deal with the stress.
Trying to find the perfect length wedding gown, our glossary will help you learn the right terminology so you can shop with confidence.
Many people who are planning a unique or themed wedding often shop for a Vintage Wedding Dress. There are quite a few styles that fall under the classification of vintage wedding dress here are a few of the more popular ones
How to Find the Right Bridesmaid Dresses for Your Wedding
By Stacey Martin
The kind of bridesmaid dresses your bridal attendants should should wear depends on the type of wedding you end up having.
What’s your wedding theme?
Do you have a particular theme in mind? For instance, if you had a nautical theme for your wedding as a whole, you might want to have special sailor-style dresses for your bridesmaids.
Likewise, an Irish theme wedding might have bridesmaids in traditional Celtic apparel. A casual beach wedding calls for sundresses in a fun print or perhaps a solid linen to match your flowers.
Plan your bridesmaid dresses based on your budget
You should select bridesmaid dresses that are not only complementary to your wedding dress and overall wedding theme, but you also need to consider whether your choice of dress is also affordable for your bridesmaids, who often don’t have the same budget as you do for your dress.
If your bridesmaids cannot afford a fancy dress, you should pay for them yourself rather than force them to forfeit their role in your wedding. More than one wedding has been ruined because of hurt feelings, and it’s easy to overcome them if you show a little sensitivity to your bridesmaids’ needs.
Bridesmaid dresses for a large wedding?
If you have a large wedding party, you might want to select different dresses for your attendants other than the maid/matron of honor. Then you can come up with a special dress for your maid of honor that has extra-special touches to let her shine.
Large bridesmaids?
Pardon the pun in that subhead, but sometimes your bridesmaids have figure problems that you don’t. In those cases, you should try to ensure that they look their best in the bridesmaid dresses you choose for your bridal attendants.
Slightly overweight bridesmaids will feel uncomfortable in tight bridesmaid dresses that don’t complement their figures — and your tomboyish friends won’t want to wear lilac ruffles and frills. How to Find the Right Bridesmaid Dresses for Your Wedding »
Perhaps the most difficult but certainly the most romantic type of transportation is a wedding carriage. Nothing can make you feel more like a princess than arriving in horse drawn carriage. If you are considering choosing a horse drawn carriage for your wedding you will have to make some special arrangements. First you will need to check with your local municipalities to make sure there aren’t any restrictions in your area, the transportation company you choose can help you with this. Next you will need to consider distance and timing. Driving 20 miles in Cadillac Deville is one thing 20 miles in a horse drawn carriage is another, horses really should only be used for short distances. Try to have a closed top carriage or convertible carriage, to protect you from surprise rainstorms. Remember choosing a horse drawn wedding carriage can really help you complete the perfect fairytale wedding.
When most couples dream of the perfect honeymoon, they dream of crystal clear waters, cold strawberry daiquiris, and a relaxing day spent on the sands of an exotic beach. If this is your idea of the perfect honeymoon, consider Hawaii as your destination. The following tips will help ensure that you plan the perfect Hawaiian honeymoon. Honeymooning in Hawaii: Planning the Perfect Trip »
Wedding Shower Favors
By Kevin Stith
Wedding shower favors are a way to extend gratitude from the bride-to-be and her maid of honor, to the guests of the wedding shower, for providing wedding gifts to the bride before the wedding day. Wedding shower favors can be elegant trinkets or small humorous gifts. Since women are primarily the guests at wedding showers, pampering bath sets are frequently selected as the thank you gift. Wedding Shower Favors »
Planning a wedding is an exciting thing, and can be very scary. With some basic tips and tricks, you will be sure to make you day special. Wedding Planning Tips and Tricks »
While choosing a wedding band may not be as significant or stressful as choosing an engagement ring, it’s still an important purchase. As part of our Wedding Basics series of articles we’ve come up with some helpful tips:
Wedding Flowers — Determining What You Need
By Andrea Britt
Wedding flowers make up a large part of the wedding decoration. When you talk about wedding flowers, you don’t mean the flowers for the wedding reception only. Wedding flowers also include the bride’s bouquet, corsages, attendants’ flowers and all the other flowers you need throughout the wedding ceremony. Wedding Flowers — Determining What You Need »
Wedding Flowers: How It Emulates Your Personality
By Willie Jones
Your wedding day, what is presumed to be the happiest day and the start of your new life. The excitement of all the preparations, and so many things to do to make it perfection. Choosing the perfect flowers is an important part of not only the reception, but also the actual service itself. I think you would find it extremely rare not to see flowers at a wedding. Wedding Flowers: How It Emulates Your Personality »
Wedding Flowers and Arrangements—Best Advice from the Experts
By Jean Bachcroft
Now that you are planning your wedding, you’ve got to choose bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces, church arrangements, and a stunning corsage for one of the most important people who will attend the ceremony—your mother. Somehow, you’ll have to make the arrangements for all this, and at a cost that will likely be between 10 and 15 percent of your overall wedding budget. Wedding Flowers and Arrangements—Best Advice from the Experts »
The style, cut and fabric of wedding gown will affect the overall look of wedding dress. To learn how to find that perfect wedding dress with the exact look you are looking for use our helpful wedding gown fabric glossary.
Is there nothing more romantic than taking the last name of your husband-to-be, or do you see it as a bureaucratic-form-filling-out-nightmare? Do you wish the world to know you’re married just by seeing your names side by side, or do you fear every achievement up to that point will be forgotten as your name vanishes into thin air? Was your single life one embarrassing event after another and you welcome this new ‘identity’, or is his name about 15 more letters than imagined possible? The Name Blame: To Change or Not to Change »
For those couples looking to experience a vacation with a little more local flavor a vacation south of the United States border is in order. Here are some popular destinations for honeymoon couples. Popular Honeymoon Destinations South of the Border »
You’ve decided you’re going to buy a ring and pop the question, congratulations. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Are you confused by some of the terms used to describe wedding gown sleeves, our wedding gown sleeve glossary is here to help
The Maid of Honor – Remember, It’s All About the Bride!
By Charity Plaster
The term and role “Maid of Honor” is sometimes confusing, and desperately needs some clear definition! When a Bride is choosing who will be her MOH, she needs to think about who will offer her the support, the helping hand, and the positive attitude she will need on her wedding day and the months leading up to it. The Maid of Honor – Remember, It’s All About the Bride! »
Simply put, intimacy is more than sex or making love. It’s more than the physical or even emotional connection you feel with your partner. Intimacy involves a soul connection between two people. Intimacy, What is It Really? »
Maid to Perfection: Favorite Tips for Managing Your Beautifully Bewitching Bridesmaids
By Terrie Needham
As a highly evolved, yet completely realistic, woman, I’ll be the first to admit that when you place 10 females in a room, you’ll wind up with 25 different opinions.
That’s the dilemma each of us faces when we plan our weddings. As we peruse bridesmaids’ gowns, jewelry and accessories, each ‘maid will not be shy about sharing her own favorite colors, personal preferences and style agenda. In addition to a wedding gown, you may want to invest in a striped referee’s shirt! After all, you’re the umpire-but how can you stay in charge, while also keeping the peace as you prep for the most important day of your life? Maid to Perfection: Favorite Tips for Managing Your Beautifully Bewitching Bridesmaids »
As the popularity of cruising increases so has the popularity of Honeymoon Cruises. Many couples are attracted to the all-inclusive expense of a cruise honeymoon in addition to the wide array of shipboard activities offered by all of today luxury and mega-cruise ships. While there is some variation from one cruise line to another here are some traits they all have in common. Honeymoon Cruises - The Basics »
The skies the limit when it comes to today’s wedding themes, literally! A daring couple may choose to parachute into their wedding ceremony. Or perhaps NASCAR gets your motor running, and you would prefer to say your vows standing on the start/finish line at Talladega. Traditional themes are still good choices, but nontraditional wedding themes are gaining in popularity. Choosing the Wedding Theme »
When it comes time to choose an engagement ring, the things that everyone talks about are the four C’s of diamond quality. Learning them is a crucial step before you purchase and engagement ring. The 4C’s of Engagement Rings »
After your big wedding day you’re going to want to care for a store your wedding dress properly. Here are some helpful tips to help you care for your wedding dress.
The Planning of a Bridal Shower!
By Mike Yeager
Planning a bridal shower? Maybe a dear friend or even sister is getting married and you are in charge of planning the bridal shower? Bridal showers are customary and traditional. They aren’t all about the bridal shower gifts though! They are a way to welcome new family members and celebrate a new beginning for the couple. But, they can also be fun if planned to be. The Planning of a Bridal Shower! »
You have agreed to marry the love of your life; you have set a date to exchange your vows, now it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty of planning your wedding. The first thing you will want to do is to decide how much money you have available to put towards creating the wedding of your dreams. Once you know how much money you have to work with, you can begin to budget your funds accordingly. One consideration should be to hire a wedding event planner. The cost of employing a professional consultant to help plan and implement your wishes, will be a worthwhile expenditure that repays itself with added benefits that you might not have considered. The Wedding Event Planner »
Bridal Hair Stylist Goes Above and Beyond the Call of Duty
By Perriann Rodriguez
You are locked in your seat on the most famous roller coaster in the world, the Cyclone in Brooklyn, New York. Your fiancé is right next to you, both of you dressed in wedding attire. As you go up the steep climb the preacher, who is seated behind you, begins reading your vows. At the pinnacle of the climb, you are pronounced Mr. and Mrs., only to let out a loud scream as you plummet almost 60 miles per hour at a 60 degree incline. On the second time around, your hair stylist, who is seated next to the preacher, reaches over and fixes a few hairs that have fallen out of place in your fancy bridal updo… Bridal Hair Stylist Goes Above and Beyond the Call of Duty »
Wedding Flowers — What Every Bride Should Know before Her Big Day
By Jean Bachcroft
Whether your wedding will be coming up roses, daffodils, or something else, choosing the wrong flowers for that blissful day can create a scene you’ll want to soon forget. But armed with a few basics about flowers, the arrangements you choose will land you a bevy of compliments and queries.
When selecting your wedding flowers, the single most important thing to keep in mind is that all flowers have distinct characteristics. Knowing what the characteristics are of the flowers you’ll be choosing can mean the difference between crying because you’re exchanging vows with the man of your dreams and tearing up thanks to an allergic reaction to the pollen in some of those beautiful flowers in your wedding bouquet.
To avoid sniffles and sneezes at the alter, know which blooms might cause you trouble. And ask each person in your wedding party which blooms they are allergic to before ordering bouquets. Topping the list of highly allergenic blossoms are lilies and gardenias.
If you are planning a warm-weather wedding, be sure to stick with flowers that can withstand heat and high humidity. Delicate flowers, like hydrangeas, are likely to wilt and sag in warm weather. Choose hardier flowers, such as orchids, roses, or herbs.
The fragrance from flowers will be stronger during warm weather, therefore take this into consideration when making your selections. You will want your guests to feel as if they’ve just walked into a flower garden, not a perfume factory. When planning a summer wedding that will take place in a small, completely enclosed room, choose less-fragrant flowers such as orchids or asters. Freesia, tuberose, and gardenias should be avoided.
Want to take your guests’ breath away (figuratively speaking, that is)? Near the entrance to the reception area, be sure to have lovely floral centerpieces, or perhaps candles, at eye level. Stringing garlands, ribbons, or some other kind of delicate ornaments above windows or doorways will also add to the effect.
Winter brides should consult a florist before settling on a particular arrangement. Below 42 degrees, some flowers may turn black. This doesn’t necessarily mean that those flowers must be excluded from your bouquet, but it does mean that they shouldn’t be taken along for an outdoor photo shoot.
Lilies will help you to put on a stunning show, but before you carry them next to your dress, be sure to have your florist remove the stamens. Left intact, they’ll stain your dress with bright yellow pollen.
Although charming to look at, some field flowers are best left out in nature. Once they are cut, most—poppies and bluebells, for example—will droop and wilt before you get to the altar. Notable exceptions to this general rule include asters, sweet peas, and daisies.
Flowers are sensitive to cigarette smoke. So, if you don’t want your bouquet to turn colors or wilt, ask your guests to smoke outside.
Some popular wedding flowers, such as euphorbia and daffodils, are hollow-stemmed, so their sap can drip onto your lovely gown. If you choose one of these varieties for your bouquet, have your florist completely wrap the stems.
Many couples begin greeting their guests well before the ceremony is scheduled to begin. If this is your plan, the groom’s boutonniere may be completely flattened by the time he has finished hugging and kissing his and your relatives and friends. Consider ordering a second boutonniere, which will be fresh for the ceremony and the photo session.
Don’t allow your centerpieces to hinder conversation between guest. Centerpieces should always be either high or low, never in between, forcing your guests to crane their necks to speak to someone on the other side of the table.
Here are a few final points to keep in mind:
Know in advance where everything is supposed to take place. In fact, it’s a good idea to write down the schedule of where everyone should be and when. Give a copy to your mom or dad, the maid-of-honor, your caterer, and your florist. Giving a copy of the schedule to the florist will help to ensure that the right floral arrangements arrive at the right location on time.
Reusing the floral arrangements from the ceremony for the reception areas will help to keep down costs. As long as you’ve planned in advance by making sure that the color schemes blend, there is no reason not to recycle wedding flowers.
AUTHOR BIO
Jean Bachcroft is a former public relations director. Currently she is the owner of Bachcroft and Aloha Labels and the publisher and editor-in-chief of Town and Country Shopping Bargains Magazine. For designer wedding, holiday, and year-round mailing and return address labels, visit Bachcroft Mailing and Return Address Labels and Aloha Return Address Labels.
For bargains and bargain shopping articles, visit Town and Country Shopping Bargains.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Wedding dresses are such an opportunity for any bride to show their unique sense of style and to really make a fashion statement. Gone are the days of the plain ‘meringue’ style wedding dresses with a little cute well-placed bow; now we are daring to be different!
In fact, one of the latest trends is to offer wedding dresses that can be used again. Not only is this a great idea from a budget point of view, but it is also reflective of the simple lines that are part of the modern trend in wedding dresses. Arguably, this fashion is due to the ever increasing age of first time brides as well as the large number of second weddings.
Wedding Dresses for the Winter Wedding
Whenever we think about wedding dresses, we automatically think of a warm, summer’s day, with a crisp, wafting white dress to match. However, there is a growing trend towards winter weddings. Winter wedding dresses may not be pure white and are often the preferred choice for second time brides.
Trends in winter wedding dresses include deep red colored dresses or dresses that include a large amount of black. Another great idea is to include a fur collar, or long fake fur coat. If you love a touch of luxury and you want something a little different, then winter wedding dresses may just be the thing for you!
Wedding Dresses for the Summer Wedding
The key to summer wedding dresses, this year, is color. Many wedding dresses are now using substantial amounts of colored fabric to add a classic touch to an otherwise traditional white or cream dress.
Weddings are becoming much more sophisticated; generally, brides will select a theme that they will maintain throughout all aspects of their wedding. Wedding dresses must, of course, fit into this theme and as such colors and accessories are vital. Popular, seasonal colors for wedding dresses include lilac, pink, blue and yellow. Often, brides will choose a half-color theme where the bodice is colored or the skirt is colored, but the other half of the dress is kept in a plain cream or white.
Subtle is the name of the game with modern wedding dresses.
Wedding Dresses – Standing Out From the Crowd
Today, wedding dresses are all different; no-one wants to look the same as the next bride and, naturally, brides go to extreme lengths to make sure that they stand out from the crowd. Of course everyone wants to do so in a classy and not trashy way! It seems that individually designed wedding dresses are the way of the future. By commissioning a made to measure dress you can make sure that it fits perfectly, is exactly what you want and above all, is unique.
Wedding dresses are an expression of your personality, so don’t hold back; let your imagination run wild!
AUTHOR BIO
Elsie Gilbert offers great insights to all different types of wedding ceremonies, wedding styles, wedding accessories. From traditional to the exotic she makes it easy for the bride and groom to review and choose. For more details on all types of wedding ideas visit this site now www.weddingfinery.com.
One of the most important parts of any wedding is the brides wedding dress. When every bride goes shopping she is looking to find the Perfect Wedding Dress. Here are some helpful tips to help you.
The Caribbean occupies 750,000 square miles from the coast of Florida to the northern coast of Brazil. It’s known for crystal clear blue green waters, and clean white sandy beaches. There are literally hundreds of islands in the Caribbean for Newlyweds to choose for their honeymoon vacation, here is an introduction to some of the most popular choices couples make every year. Popular Caribbean Honeymoon Destinations »
There’s more to men’s formal wear than tuxedoes and tailcoats. You can take already charming tuxedo and give it an extra bit of polish with what right accessories. The most popular shirts are those with pleat from ¼” to ¾” wide. For larger or huskier grooms the pique front shirt is an excellent choice. For thin and tall grooms a shirt with horizontal pleating is a good selection. The most popular collar is the wingtip which shows the complete bow tie. Some choose the lay down collar which is like a traditional dress shirt leaving only the knot exposed. Among younger moderns groom the band collar is becoming increasingly popular. There is no tie just a simple band secured with a cufflink like fastener at the top. While many formal wear stores off standard button shirts, a French cuff is a much more elegant and classy choice. While investing in a nice set of cufflinks is an option you can always rent them if you choose. You should also wear stud which are tiny little fasteners that work like cufflinks where shirt buttons are usually found. If possible try to coordinate the color of the cufflinks and studs with your wedding band and jewelry. Unless you happen to know how to tie a bow tie opt for a pre-tied version, you will really save yourself a lot of stress and aggravations. Silk or satin are the most popular choices for material, with black and gray being the most popular color choices. The choice of cummerbund or vest is up to the bride and groom. The vest give a much more formal sophisticated look, but the cummerbund is easier to move and dance in. Vests are usually white or grey in color. Cummerbunds are usually black or grey. Some couples try to match the cummerbunds to colors of the bridesmaid’s dresses.
In the same way that a bride has consider her physical characteristics when choosing a wedding gown a groom has to consider them when choosing his formal wear or tuxedo. Choosing the Right Formal Wear for the Grooms Body Type »
A favorite among brides is the formal up do. With its clean lines and timeless elegance it can work with a variety of veils. When choosing a hairstyle and veil, you must consider your face shape. With a rounder face, sleeker styles with longer veils work best. Fuller styles and veils flatter narrow faces. Veils that hang longer than your waist, like your fingertip, chapel and ballet styles, are heavy. Tighter styles hold up better under all that tulle. If you are wearing a longer veil, choose a hairstyle with less volume on top. A chignon, where the hair is gathered into a roll at the nape of the neck is a good bet. Another option is the Juliet topknot where the hair is twisted into a tight coil at the top of your head. The drama of an intricate up do with lengths of hair woven into an elaborate creation can work with a longer veil. But instead of covering the hair with the veil, consider pilling your hair on top of your veil. The veil will cascade down your back and add romance to your style. The French Twist is classic and versatile. This style looks good with long veils and shorter styles. If you decide to leave your locks down for that romantic look, be sure to set your hair and use hairspray or gel to give structure and prevent flyaways. Hair left down can work with almost any veil length but your veil should always be longer than your hair. Remember that long veils may be too heavy for hairstyles with lots of body, so try a sleek look. A good way to compromise is several in-between styles where the hair from your crown is swept back and the rest of your hair is left down. You can gather the hair from the crown into a bun or pull the top layer back with combs. You can also consider wearing an up do for the ceremony and letting your hair down for the reception. Styling is important for brides with short hair. Short styles have a tendency to look messy. A nice look for cropped cuts is tiny crystal-tipped hairpins strategically placed throughout the hair to add sparkle. Short hair looks lovely with short veils but cascading veils can look fabulous also. Dress your hair up with a tiara or halo of flowers. All accessories including combs, clips, jeweled hair sticks and hairpins are popular and can look great with a variety of hairstyles. But use them sparingly- too many can distract from your face.
Popular with many brides, are strapless bridal gowns. They flatter almost all figures and are very elegant. This style also lets you choose your own accessories like your family pearls or a sentimental diamond. Boleros and shrugs can also be used to spark up a simple gown. Also popular are mermaid style gowns. These dresses are figure hugging at the bodice, hips and thighs and then flare out giving a bride a mermaid-like silhouette. These will give you a curvaceous look. Brides are sparkling up their gowns with rhinestones, pearls and beads in spectacular designs. Metallic thread embroidery and trails of tiny buttons adorn many gowns. Women are choosing feminine and flirty styles. Bows, leather, lace, ruffles and tiers are sexy and feminine. Many brides are using a simple tie of a ribbon around the waist to accentuate their figure or add a splash of their wedding colors to their gowns. Brides should consult a bridal gown professional that offers a variety of styles, fabrics, sizes, and prices. The professionals can select a few gowns that will flatter your figure and work with you to express yourself and your style.
Choosing a wedding dress is one of the most important things when you are getting married. As part of our FlawlessWedding.com ‘the Basics’ series we’ve put together a list of helpful tips.
Traditionally honeymoons were paid for and planned by the groom and his family. However in more modern times the costs are generally figured into the wedding as a whole and the bride has an integral part in its planning. Here are something’s to think about when planning your honeymoon vacation Planning for your Honeymoon »
