Ensure you big day is a success by committing to your health

Throughout our lives we will encounter all sorts of stresses. However, planning a wedding might be one of those times when our health can be extremely comprised due to anxiety. Making everyone else happy on your big day can take a lot out on you—both mentally and physically. That’s why good nutrition should be your biggest commitment prior to saying your “I dos.”

And, as an added bonus, over-the-counter Canadian drugs like vitamins and supplements can be used to boost your immunity during times of extreme pressure and stress. The biggest support system that you can put in place for dealing with the stress of a wedding is 3-tired (kind of like your cake). It includes:

• Effective coping skills
• Positive, nurturing self-love
• Committing to a nutritious, balanced diet

These three elements are most vital during times of high anxiety because they are your army of stress fighters. And we all know how much our physical and mental health can diminish during times of prolonged stress. When the body experiences high amounts of stress, our adrenal glands, or our “glands of combat”, feel it first. These tiny pea-sized glands control the body’s “fight or flight” response, meaning they:

• Moderate heart rate and blood pressure
• Control our breathing/oxygen intake
• Control eyesight
• Control the body’s glucose or sugar levels

You can imagine the domino effect! So, to avoid one, here are four essential supplements and nutrients that can help you to ward off the stress associated with wedding planning:

1. Amino Acids

How often have we heard a bride dubbed “Bridezilla” by one of her bridesmaids? Often enough to see the link between stress and mood swings. However, a diet rich in amino acids—the nutrients responsible for healthy brain function and—can help you shrug it off when your mother-in-law insists on wearing white to YOUR wedding. Eat eggs, meat, fish and beans are all great sources of mood-regulating amino acids.

2. B Vitamins

The B vitamins support the adrenal glands—you know, the “glands of combat” that we’ve already discussed. The B’s are also essential nutrients in your fight against stress because they support as well as your body’s entire nervous system and maintain normal blood sugar levels—both of which can be extremely compromised during times of stress. Foods like salmon, beef liver, broccoli, legumes, lentils, corn, soy, citrus fruits, nuts, sunflower seeds and eggs are all high in B vitamins.

3. Vitamin C

The C vitamin can improve immunity, lower cortisol (the stress hormone), reduce blood pressure and blast the negative symptoms of stress on the body due to its antioxidant properties. Fruits in the citrus family, melon, mangoes, tomatoes, broccoli, red and green bell peppers, and other green leafy vegetables will all give you a blast of Vitamin C.

4. Magnesium

The muscles get all knotted up when we’re stressed out! So magnesium, the essential nutrient for muscle health, regulating heartbeat and sleep can be a big ally for looking and feeling your best on your wedding day. Magnesium-rich foods include dairy products like milk and cheese; meat and veggie proteins like eggs, fish, seafood and tofu; as well as whole grains, leafy greens and nuts.

Foods to avoid during stressful wedding planning

Now that you have a rundown of what your body needs as far as essential nutrients to get you to the alter looking and feeling your best—let’s examine the stress-intensifying foods and habits that you should avoid, such as:

Smoking: Harmful nicotine elevates your heart rate and increases your chances of a broken heart (aka: heart disease). When you experience the stress of a wedding, the worst thing you can do for your health is aggravate that stress by smoking.

Caffeine: Coffee, tea, chocolate and soda all have one thing in common—they contain a lot of caffeine—which increases feelings of anxiety. If you absolutely need a coffee to perk you up in the morning, drink one and switch to decaf coffee or herbal tea for the remainder of the day.

Drinking: Of course you plan to toast with a glass of champagne on your wedding day. But keep in mind that regular drinking will increase stress and disrupt sleep if you use it as a coping mechanism while planning your wedding. Long term alcohol abuse does damage to your mental and physical health, and increases depression. A happy bride or groom is never blue.

4 Nutrients to Help you Manage the Stress of Wedding Planning is a post from: Wedding Information & Articles

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4 Nutrients to Help you Manage the Stress of Wedding Planning is a post from: Wedding Information & Articles

Choosing a wedding cake can be overwhelming when you first start to look at all of the various options available to you, but when you really break it down, it’s not so complicated at all. All it really comes down to is finding the crossroads of what you want, what’s in your budget and what a cake designer can do for you.

Developing Your Cake Ideas

When you first start out, your head will be swimming with ideas. Making a great cake isn’t so much about coming up with ideas, that’s the easy part. Making a cake is really about narrowing those ideas down to one or two really great ideas, and finally settling on one that you can be truly happy with.

So what makes for a great cake idea? Well it really comes down to a few basic factors. First of all, if your wedding has a theme already, then you should probably stick to it. If you’re having a traditional themed wedding with a novelty themed cake, it’s going to seem out of place on the big day.

Just try to stick within a theme. The cake should match the event. That said, if you haven’t made any decisions yet on the theme of the wedding, you can always start with the cake, and then design the rest of the wedding around the theme you selected for the cake itself.

Building a Low Budget Cake

A great cake doesn’t have to cost a fortune. If you have a small budget, just find a few bakeries in your area who handle wedding cakes, present them with some ideas and ask what they can offer you on the budget you’re providing them with.

You should be willing to shop around and see what various bakeries can offer you. You may wind up being pleasantly surprised at just what’s possible on a limited budget.

If you don’t have a lot of money to spend, then you should have a plan in mind for the theme, you should know where you’re drawing the line, what you absolutely have to have on the cake, but you should be open to suggestion for a lot of aspects of the design. If you have a limited budget, you might not be able to get the five tiers you wanted, for instance. Just keep an open mind and you may be pleasantly surprised.

Building a Big Budget Cake

When building a big budget cake, the sky’s the limit. If you have a successful career or a rich uncle footing the bill, then there’s no reason not to be very specific with what you want.

These days, we’re all familiar with those celebrity cake designers like Duff Goldman, and the great thing about having the money to hire anyone you want to design your cake is, well, you can actually afford those celebrity cake designers. If this is you, these people make a living on crafting those wild cakes that most bakeries never thought possible, so let your imagination run wild.

Mid-Range Cakes

Of course, chances are that most of us will be somewhere in the middle: we may not be able to hire Duff Goldman, but we have a little bit of money to spend and want to get the very best cake for our buck.

In this case, the most important thing is to keep a close relationship with your cake designer. The more back and forth between the two of you, the more satisfied you’ll eventually be with the cake. If they have a problem and your initial idea turns out to be impossible, you want to be there to suggest alternatives. Being there every step of the way will help to ensure that you get the cake you want at a fair price, so if you take one thing from this article, let it be this: be good to your cake designer, and they’ll be good to you.

photo credit:Photospin

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Budget

Prior to researching photographers, a couple needs to establish a working budget for their wedding photography. On average, a conservative estimate, by industry standard is 10% of the total wedding budget. While this number may seem high, please consider that aside from the wedding dress, few items will survive the actual wedding event than the photographs. Couples should be mindful of the old adage “you get what you pay for.” What may seem like a bargain up front, can result in heartbreak with the delivery of subpar photographic capture of the nuptials and reception. Alternatively, higher prices afford no guarantees either. Couples should look for a quality, professional vendor with experience who falls within the confines of the event budget and offers well-priced services and packages.

Style

With an agreed upon budget, couples should begin searching for their chosen photographer or studio. Prior to searching for a vendor, pause and lend consideration to the images desired want from the wedding. What thoughts come to mind? Natural settings, capturing raw emotions, more traditional posed portraits or a combination of both? Couples should contract with a photographer who best aligns with their desired end product.

Locating Photographers

Couples will find contact information for photographers online, in wedding magazines, from the recommendations of friends and relatives and also at bridal shows. Professional wedding photographers are happy to share their portfolios of work with potential patrons. Prospective couples should spend time reviewing the collection of images to get a feel for the photographer’s work and look for a consistent standard of excellence. In the case of contracting with a studio, ensure the work presented is the photographer who will be assigned to your event. Depending on the size of your wedding, you may want to discuss the need for a second or assistant photographer with your vendor of choice. Most will be happy to discuss logistics and their professional assessment of need. Professional accreditations and awards are another great source of reference and recommendation for a prospective vendor.

Interviewing Vendors

After short-listing a group of potential vendors, call to schedule consultation appointments. During these interview sessions, you should discuss the availability of the vendor, your vision of the day, price, deposit and expected deliverables. An experienced photographer will likely have their own set of questions regarding logistics, location and bridal party specifics. If you find yourself interested in contracting for services, request a list of current references. In addition to references, checking with the Better Business Bureau can be an extra safeguard prior to depositing with a vendor.

Personality

In addition to the artistic talent of a wedding photographer, couples should look to engage a lively and personable individual. Weddings are complicated, fun yet occasionally stressful events and photographers need to be gifted at getting the desired end results from family and guests. To that end, the photographer should be adept at interacting with people, managing situations and working both conspicuously and unobtrusively to properly shoot an event from start to finish.

Test Run Engagement Session

Many couples will choose to opt for a test run with their chosen photographer with an engagement photograph session. A trial-run photo session allows a couple to work hands-on with their photographer under a relaxed professional setting and getting a glimpse at how their wedding day may play out. An engagement session can also be a fun escape from the monotony of wedding planning.

Using the aforementioned suggestions, couples will be well poised to hire the perfect professional wedding photographer for their celebration. Attention to detail when selecting a vendor, prior to the event, should lead to a lifetime of happiness with the end product. Couples should ensure they get everything in writing including contracted dates, hours of service and package details. A professional wedding photographer will ultimately provide couples with quality images designed to last a lifetime.

Roman Grinev has been a Washington DC Wedding Photographer for over 12 years His studio is environmentally friendly and carbon neutral, and has offices in Maryland and Virginia.

How to Hire A Wedding Photographer is a post from: Wedding Information & Articles

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Make is easy for your guests to continue the celebration. It can be at a nearby bar or club as long as you have reserved space and tables. Make arrangements for the tab to be paid entirely by you. It might be easy to have the party in the same building as the reception for example in the hotel lounge.

Invite as much as your party as you wish. If it is going to be a designated part of your wedding reception plans, you can include the information on the invitations. You can also treat the party as a surprise part of the reception. As the wedding is winding down, your band or DJ can make an announcement that the bride and groom are inviting guest to join them at a given location.

Have snacks served. Two big trends in after-party fare are comfort foods (like cheeseburgers, fries, soup, and grilled cheese sandwiches) and sweet foods (like coolies, ice cream, candy and crepe stands). It does not need to be a heavy meal. It is also acceptable to limit the party to drinks. You can bring your own music to play or consider a group activity, like karaoke or a sing-along.

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Q: I don’t know all of the bride and groom’s family and friends, so who should I invite?

A: If the shower is going to be a surprise, you obviously can’t discuss the guest list with the bride. The next best person is the groom. If he can’t help, speak to the bride’s mother.

Q: What kind of food should I serve?

A: Most showers are not terribly formal. If this is true of the party you are planning, serve finger foods, and hors d’oeuvres, along with a selection of beverages. For a formal event, serve hot hors d’oeuvres or a buffet style meal and consider having the shower catered.

Q: My house isn’t really that large. Where should I have the shower?

A: Inquire about halls for rent in your area. Frequently, churches, lodges, and community centers will rent out a hall complete with kitchen, for a small fee. Many also require a deposit, which will be returned if the hall is returned to its previous condition. If you rent a hall that requires you to clean up, secure help from others in advance. If you cannot find a hall, try a restaurant that offers group rates.

Q: When is the best time for the shower?

A: Give a shower about two weeks to a month before the wedding. Any closer to the big day will make it more difficult as the bride and others in the wedding party become busier with preparations.

Q: Why do people give showers?

A: A shower is a celebration of the coming wedding, which not only allows the bride a chance to receive gifts, but also gives family members and friends -from both sides- a chance to become better acquainted before the big day.

Q: How can I pull off a surprise shower?

A: Truthfully, most brides will be expecting a shower so it can be tricky. The best way is probably to make up an excuse to get the bride to your home. A casual excuse is the best choice. Ask her to come over to help you with something rather than inviting her to lunch. Trying to get her to another location will require more creativity. In the event that you are using a hall, tell her you ordered something for a fundraiser from the organization that owns the hall, and ask her to go with you to pick up your purchase.

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Later flowers replaced herbs. Orange blossoms stood for happiness and fertility, ivy stood for fidelity, lilies for purity. Wheat was used to symbolize fertility. Most often the flowers were dried and hung in the bride’s new home.

Modern brides tend to carry flowers based on color and personal preference. Some still carry flowers based on their meanings. If you would like to incorporate a little more symbolism into your bouquets here are some widely accepted flowers and their meanings.

The Society of American Florists provides the following list of flowers and their meanings:

• 
  Alstroemeria: aspiring
• 
  Amaryllis: dramatic
• 
  Anemone: fragile
• 
  Apple Blossom: promise
• 
  Aster: contentment

• 
  Azalea: abundance
• 
  Baby’s Breath: festivity
• 
  Bachelor Button: anticipation

• 
  Begonia: deep thoughts
• 
  Black-Eyed Susan: encouragement
• 
  Camellia: graciousness

• 
  Carnation, Pink: gratitude
• 
  Carnation, Red: flashy
• 
  Carnation, Striped: refusal

• 
  Carnation, White: remembrance
• 
  Carnation, Yellow: cheerful
• 
  Chrysanthemum, Bronze: excitement

• 
  Chrysanthemum, White: truth
• 
  Chrysanthemum, Red: sharing
• 
  Chrysanthemum, Yellow: secret admirer

• 
  Cosmos: peaceful
• 
  Crocus: foresight
• 
  Daffodil: chivalry

• 
  Delphinium: boldness
• 
  Daisy: innocence
• 
  Freesia: spirited

• 
  Forget-Me-Not: remember me forever
• 
  Gardenia: joy
• 
  Geranium: comfort

• 
  Ginger: proud
• 
  Gladiolus: strength of character
• 
  Heather: solitude

• 
  Hibiscus: delicate beauty
• 
  Holly: domestic happiness
• 
  Hyacinth: sincerity

• 
  Hydrangea: perseverance
• 
  Iris: inspiration
• 
  Ivy: fidelity

• 
  Jasmine: grace and elegance
• 
  Larkspur: beautiful spirit
• 
  Lavender: distrust

• 
  Lilac: first love
• 
  Lily, Calla: regal
• 
  Lily, Casablanca: celebration

• 
  Lily, Day: enthusiasm
• 
  Lily, Stargazer: ambition
• 
  Lisianthus: calming

• 
  Magnolia: dignity
• 
  Marigold: desire for riches
• 
  Nasturtium: patriotism

• 
  Orange Blossom: fertility
• 
  Orchid: delicate beauty
• 
  Pansy: loving thoughts

• 
  Passion Flower: passion
• 
  Peony: healing
• 
  Poppy: consolation

• 
  Queen Anne’s Lace: delicate femininity
• 
  Ranunculus: radiant
• 
  Rhododendron: beware

• 
  Rose, Pink: friendship
• 
  Rose, Red: passionate love
• 
  Rose, Red & White: unity

• 
  Rose, White: purity
• 
  Rose, Yellow: zealous
• 
  Snapdragon: presumptuous

• 
  Star of Bethlehem: hope
• 
  Stephanotis: good luck
• 
  Statice: success

• 
  Sunflower: adoration
• 
  Sweet pea: shyness
• 
  Tuberose: pleasure

• 
  Tulip, Pink: caring
• 
  Tulip, Purple: royalty
• 
  Tulip, Red: declaration of love

• 
  Tulip, White: forgiveness
• 
  Tulip, Yellow: hopelessly in love
• 
  Violet: faithfulness

• 
  Wisteria: steadfast
• 
  Yarrow: good health
• 
  Zinnia: thoughts of friends

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Appliques:

Shapes or cutouts of fabric that have been sewn onto the dress.

Beading:

Small beads of gemstones, crystal, glass or other materials that have been glued or sewn onto the wedding gown.

Austrian Crystal:

Lead crystal with polished facets giving it more luminance, brilliance and sparkle.

Border Trim:

Riffles, ribbons, braided or scalloped edges that on a wedding gown.

Bugle Beads:

glass beads that are in long tubular shapes.

Crystal:

Transparent carved bead that are made from quartz.

Edging:

A thin or narrow border of embroidery, lace or fringe used as an accent or trim.

Embroidery:

Fancy or decorative stitching sewn in a gown.

Fringe:

A long sequence of closely packed fabric or threads, like those seen in flapper dresses. Fringes ad a sense of flowing graceful movement to a dress line.

Jewels:

Faux jewel are applied to an illusion lace fabric giving it a shimmering sparkling look.

Ribbons & Bows:

These come in various shapes and sizes to different effects. A large butterfly bow is very dramatic, a small shoestring bow is much more subdued and demure.

Seed Pearls:

Tiny faux or real pearls often applied to headpieces or shoes.

Baroque Pearls:

Faux or natural pearls that are in irregular oblong shapes.

Sequins & Paillettes:

Sequins are small tiny plastic discs that are very reflective and add a slot of sparkle and twinkle to a gown. Paillettes are larger and usually hang off of a gown, to increase sense of movement and sparkle.

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Corset:

A structured ribbed or lightly boned bodice that is very form fitting and curve enhancing. It can be found with spaghetti straps or strapless, is very reminiscent of bridal lingerie of the same name.

Empire:

A very flattering bodice that ends just below the bust line, Is popular with petite sizes or pregnant brides.

Halter:

A sleeveless bodice that wraps around the neck. Very dramatic and sexy especially when it its backless.

Midriff:

This bodice gives a snug fir around the middle of the ribcage, works really well for small waists or women with curvy hourglass figures.

One-shoulder or Asymmetrical:

A bodice that has one exposed shoulder.

Princess-line:

A sleek or slimming bodice that has two distinct lines running from the bust line down to the hemline. This design makes you appear taller and thinner.

Surplice:

A surplice bodice consists of two crossing overlapping pieces of fabric over the bust line. Depending on how low the neckline drops this can create a dramatic and very sexy look.

Tank:

A short top with wide opening for the arms. This style bodice is very popular and looks very elegant if worn with a sheer wrap.

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Hourglass Shape:

This shape has a large bust line and hip line and a small thin waist, or curvy in all the right places. All of us want it, few of us have. If you are lucky enough to have this shape you have a lot of choices something like a sweetheart neckline will show off your bust line and dropped waist will accentuate your curves. Stay away from ball gown or empire waistlines as they make you look misproportioned.

Short Waist:

This shape has the right proportions it’s just the distance from your bust to your waist is small. For this figure type try a princess line silhouette. If you have nice shoulders and arms you can also wear a halter top. Avoid a sheath type dress it will draw attention to your short waistline.

Thick Waist:

While normally proportioned this figure type isn’t very curvy. The line from the shoulders to the hips is very straight. Try to choose am empire waist it will emphasize your waist area and make you look longer and slimmer. Avoid a princess line it will accentuate your waistline.

Full Figure:

This figure type has a medium to large bust line, round curvy hips, and a bit of a tummy. A good choice is an A line dress or ball gown which can hide some key areas. Avoid spaghetti straps and sheath type dresses.

Pear Shape:

This body shape has a waistline bigger that’s bigger than the bust line. Try to choose something to draw the attention to your bust line with an off the shoulder neckline or a strapless ball gown.

Thin Shape:

A thin body type can be found on women of different heights. A ball gown is a good choice, and a sheath or mermaid gown was designed with you in mind. Stay away from off the shoulder or halter necklines.

Petite Shape:

Everything is in the right proportions you just aren’t very tall. Try to keep your dress choices simple and not complicated, you don’t want to create the impression there is more dress than you, stay away from big ball gowns.

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A-Line :

This type of gown has angled sides like a capital A. It has a waistline but it is not well defined. This is the most popular type of wedding gown and can be worn by almost any body type

Ball Gown:

When you think of a fairy tale wedding chances are you see a fairytale gown. It has a tightly fitted bodice a well defined waist and a large flowing skirt.

Empire:

This is a great dress for a slim slight build the waistline starts just under the bust line and has flowing or billowy skirt

Sheath:

A snug form fitting dress that shows off all of your curves. The hemline usually ends below the knee and often comes with a detachable train. This style of dress is very popular with modern brides

Mermaid:

This dress looks like it sounds. It’s slinky and form fitting hugging and showing off your curves. It has a fishtail hem that touches and rapes onto the floor

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