Wedding Layers

I know she don’t want Traditional, not to be by ourselves and very creative

As in is there a tradition that the bride stands on the left side of her groom? What about in Japanese weddings? Do they even stand at alters?
~Please and thanks!

Are you including a ring bearer in your ceremony? A ring bearer walks in front of the flower girl carrying either your wedding rings or faux rings. He is usually from four to eight years old and has a special connection to the bride and groom. Dressed in a tuxedo to die for, this little man is always a special part of any wedding.

As he marches, strolls, or hesitantly walks down the aisle, your ring bearer carries a pillow of satin or silk. Today, pillows are available in all shapes and colors to coordinate with the theme of your wedding. In the past, ring bearers were responsible for carrying the train of the bride, but things have changed. Today, the ring bearer is not usually responsible for carrying the wedding rings, but if real rings are used, they are tacked to the pillow to avoid them rolling off. Most often, however, faux rings are used and the real rings are given to the Best Man for safekeeping.

Planning your wedding is time consuming and stressful. Choosing your attendants is important, so think it through and then give it a couple of days and look at your list. If you are still sure you’ve made the right decisions, ask your attendants to stand up at your wedding and make a checklist of what you expect, or need from each. After your list is complete, be sure to share it with your Best Man and Maid of Honor and ask for their help. Delegating, but overseeing, makes sure that your wedding turns out exactly the way you want it to turn out and that you have beautiful, warm and fuzzy memories that last a lifetime.

If you are having a ring bearer, be sure to start early looking for a tuxedo for this special attendant. There are many online wedding sites that carry special packages for the ring bearer, but don’t buy them too early…boys this age grow quickly! In most cases, the ring bearer’s mom is responsible for these items, but it never hurts to double check and let her know what is expected.

Be sure to select a special for your Ring Bearer for being a very special wedding attendant. This gift should remind him of this very special day. One unusual and sentimental gift we found was a silver medallion instructing the ring to save this keepsake and pass it down on his wedding day. If you are looking for something less sentimental, you might want to consider a personalized tee shirt, personalized silver bank, personalized silver mini-baseball bats and we have even seen personalized, silver yoyos. Items like this are best found on sites that cater to brides and have multiple gifts from which to choose.

Laurie Cohen is the mother of three daughters and is the developer and editor of http://www.ForBrideAndBaby.com – ForBrideAndBaby is a guide to help women through marriage, maternity and motherhood. Her site is packed with informative articles, wedding products and http://www.forbrideandbaby.com/bridaluxe/?m=category&id=009424 Visit today!

Author: Laurie Cohen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Many brides find that while there are a lot of suitable wedding invitations, their perfect invitation is often a combination of colors, styles and creations. Most commercial printers don’t allow this sort of amalgamation, so what is a bride to do? In this situation, the best answer just might be hand-made wedding invitations.

Personalization
You want your very own special look for your wedding. And your wedding invitation should be as stylish and unique as you are. If you do choose to hand make your wedding invitations you’ll able to customize so many aspects of your invitation to suit your taste. You can even personalize your invitations for each guest if you choose. You can add your very own personal touches with plant-able paper (a new eco-friendly favorite) a swatch of fabric, a wax stamp, flower petals, or ribbon to match your color or pattern. Your only limit is your own imagination. And if you don’t know where to start, there are many DIY wedding invitation kits available to get you started down the right path.

Wedding invitation party
Once you decide to hand make your wedding invitations, you may discover that you need some help. Enlist the aid of your bridal party and have your own wedding invitation making party. Many brides have called on their maid-of-honor and brides maids to pitch in with their invitations. If you’re inviting a lot of guests, you’ll be happy to have the help. And your bridal party just might have a clever touch or charming accent that you hadn’t thought of. Alternately, many brides have enlisted the help of their grooms for the invitation project. In either case, you’ll have fun putting together an invitation that you made with love.

A chance for savings
Hand making your wedding invitations can also be a source of savings. You can pick out paper and accents that not only fit your style, but fit your budget. This will help you gauge your expenses as you go. And if you’re printing your invitations at home on your own printer, you can count on more savings there. If you’re starting with a DIY wedding kit it can be as simple or as complex as you like, so you have a great chance to save some cash.

Some limitations
There are a few things to know when you’re planning on making your own wedding invitations. First of all, making your own wedding invitations can be very time consuming. Make sure you’ve set aside enough time if your schedule to be able to get your save-the-date cards and invitations in the mail on time. If you’re wedding invitations are lovely, but late, your guests will be slightly less impressed. You should also try to keep your imagination in check. If you get too creative, you may find yourself needing additional postage on your invitations and incurring costs you didn’t count on. You might try taking a sample invitation to your local post office and have them weigh it just in case. You don’t want to find out that you needed more postage by having your wonderful, handmade invitations sent back to you for insufficient postage.

Hand made invitations can be a wonderful, personal accent to your wedding day. If you find that taking on the project of making all of your invitations is just too time consuming you have other options. Put your creative touch on your escort cards, ceremony programs, or even post-wedding thank-you cards.

Satisfy all of your creative wedding invitation needs at MyExpression.com. We’ve also got many great resources and advice for creating your perfect wedding invitation.

Author: Amy Carter
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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A good wedding reception plan is a must at any and every wedding. I have been to a wedding that lacked a reception plan and it can be embarrassing, I think more so to the couple getting married. Imagine all your closest friends, family and coworkers sharing that special day with you only for the whole thing to be a big mess. It’s not fun!

The key to a memorable wedding reception is a plan that can be well executed. Each part of the reception needs to be accounted for. Questions such as how many guests will be coming? What are the sitting arrangements? Is the reception by invitation only? And who will be seating guest? are a few of the questions that should have clear and defined answers well in advance.

If possible you should have a particular person or persons in charge of the wedding reception and each person should clearly know their responsibility. Having your wedding reception plan on paper is a must, as with any kind of plan. To get this plan on paper I would suggest you sit down for an hour and think of every element of your wedding reception you can and then figure out who is responsible for it and make sure they fully understand their responsibilities and what needs to be done to carry them out.

It does not matter if you have a wedding planner or not, its going to be one of the most important days of your life so its still going to be your duty to make sure that the reception goes as planned without any big mishaps. At very minimum ask to see your reception planners plan in writing. That way you can make additions or subtractions to have it, customized to the way you want it to take place.

For more wedding planning ideas and money saving tips to save 40% to 70% on your wedding reception expenses, click here

Author: Tayo Binuyo
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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When setting up a budget for a wedding, many couples forget to include a line item for tips and gratuities. Sure, you could bypass this area completely, but that really wouldn’t be very nice, now would it? It would also go against accepted wedding etiquette.

Maybe you think a quick $100 will cover tips to everyone? Well, it may have 50 years ago, but in current times, it’s not uncommon for this area to run into the hundreds of dollars. This is why it’s important to include them in the budget. Tips & Gratuities are known for being budget busters of many a wedding.

You will want to be sure to check contracts out because some have a gratuity included. In these cases, there is no need to tip those associated with these particular contracts, unless of course you feel that one of the staff goes way above and beyond. If that’s the case, you may want to slip that person an extra tips.

Now, as far as wedding etiquette goes, the following people should be (and expect to be) tipped:

Altar boys / girls – $10 to $15 a piece

Bartenders – 10% of the total bill (unless a cash bar)

Chauffeurs – 10 to 15% of the total bill

Coat Check / Restroom Attendants – 50 cents to $1 per guest

DJ – $50 to $100

Hair Stylist / Makeup Artist – 10 to 15% of the total bill

Valet Parking Attendants – 50 cents to $1.00 per car (on top of what guests give them)

Waitstaff – 15% of the catering bill

There are also some optional folks you may want to tip as well. You’ll need to know about how these type of folks operate and make the call from there. For example, if you are doing business with the business owner directly for a particular service – say a florist – they may be doing the work themselves and have been compensated fairly in the contract you have with them. In this case, a nice thank you note may suffice and would be most appreciated. However, if you are dealing with an employee of the florist, a tip would likely be appropriate.

Here are the folks that tipping is optional with:

Baker / Cake Designer – $10 or $20

Catering / Reception Manager – $50 to $100

Musicians – $5 to $10 per hour, per musician

Florist – $10 to $20 per staff member

Officiant: $75 to $200 – This can also be paid as a donation to the church

Photographer / Videographer – $50 to $100

On site Wedding Coordinator – $50

Wedding Planner – 10% of their total bill

Tips should be paid in cash and should be placed in envelopes. Plan on them being paid just as the vendor and staff are leaving. By doing this in this fashion, you’ll be able to judge how much of a tip they have actually earned. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments on the fly if necessary. The best man – or trusted person – will generally be in charge of taking care of this for you.

You may not have considered tips and gratuities to be an item worthy of being in your wedding budget. Hopefully, this article has shown you otherwise. You may want to set up a second account for expenses that may be overlooked so that you aren’t shocked by them. Consider funding this account to the tune of 10 to 15% of your total wedding budget. This is something that could save you from pulling your hair out trying to redo your budget so that it comes in where you need it to.

Be sure to keep these extra funds separate from your main wedding account. Don’t use these funds unless you run into unexpected expenses. This extra fund could go a long way to ensuring your wedding comes in at or under budget.

Becky has been writing about several topics that have touched her life in the last decade. When she was engaged to be married back in 2002, both she and her fiance knew that in order to have the wedding she’d always dreamed of, they were going to have to get creative. She has taken to writing about her wedding on a budget experiences so that others can experience a first class wedding without having to pay for it the rest of their lives. Becky also maintains a number of web sites on a wide range of topics. You can check out her latest site here: Backyard Birdwatching which features the Equipment For Birdwatching

Author: Becky McLaurin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The best method to shop for a suitable men’s wedding band is to first look around and get to know what is available. A good place to start would be your nearest jewelry store. You will be able to physically examine different bands. Use this opportunity to get your finger sized and get familiar with different varieties and prices.

Start looking at catalogues featured on online jewelry stores. You will be amazed at the wide range of men’s wedding bands on display.

Simple gold wedding bands can start at $125 and the prices rise as features are added. The quality of gold, the thickness of the ring, engraving, setting with gemstones, etc., can hike up the prices considerably. A 14k yellow gold band set with a few diamonds could set you back about $700.

A simple platinum men’s wedding band is often priced around $145. Varying thicknesses will result in a variation in cost.

Men’s wedding bands set with diamonds start as low as $175. The quality of diamond and the type of metal it is set in are features that will affect the price. The size and cut of the diamond is an important feature. Solitaires are the most expensive and need a good setting to be displayed flatteringly. Platinum bands set with good quality diamonds can cost $1000 and more.

Generally 14-carat gold is used to make most of the gold wedding bands set with diamonds. They can be set in 18-carat or 24-carat on demand. Classy gold bands with diamonds can be purchased between $500- $750.

Men generally do not like to spend much on jewelry. In that case 9 carat gold wedding bands can be purchased. These will be easy on the pocket and they look good too. These bands are available in the price range of $125-$200.

Stainless steel wedding bands are also pretty inexpensive. These bands are popular because of the macho look they project.

Mens Wedding Bands provides detailed information on Men’s Comfort Fit Wedding Bands, Men’s Diamond Wedding Bands, Men’s Gold Wedding Bands, Men’s Platinum Wedding Bands and more. Mens Wedding Bands is affiliated with Mens Platinum Wedding Rings [http://www.e-mensweddingrings.com].

Author: Kevin Stith
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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More than most factors, music can shape the mood of your wedding service and reception in a really big way. This is particularly so with string quartet and instrumental ensemble music.

The beauty of hiring a string quartet is the versatility of what they can play. Literally, any music classical or popular, (within reason), can be adapted for use by a string quartet. Moreover, string ensemble music provides the perfect backdrop for such a special occasion.

Do you want to relax your guests as they arrive? Complement the conversations during your wedding meal? Don’t forget that string quartet music can also accompany an organist or other musicians during the wedding ceremony itself.

If your venue is small or your budget is tight, consider a string quintet or trio in lieu of a string quartet. The difference is only a violin player – plus or minus!

It’s imaginative to involve quite different styles of music over the duration of your ceremony and reception. For example, you may want to start the church service with guests being met by a piper, (if it’s a Scottish wedding), or a classical rendition from a string quartet just prior to the proceedings commencing. Also what about a jazz band for a bit of gusto after the speeches?

During the reception itself, string quartet instrumental music is a wonderful accompaniment during the meal, when guests want to have a conversation along with the soothing backdrop of great instrumental music

From experience, we recommend that you select a wedding band, jazz band, swing band or an entertainment group that you’ve personally chosen to start the proceedings proper during the all important, dancing phase of the reception. Alternatively, if your budget is limited you may want to select a string quartet plus disco.

What will you need for wedding day music?

For the most part, this question will be answered by six factors:

o The size of your budget.

o Do you want a lot of special requests?

o The availability of good local bands, string quartets and musicians.

o The logistics of your venue and the size of your wedding party.

o Your desire to have a live vocalist present.

o The amount of dancing that you’ll want during your wedding.

If you are planning to have live music at your wedding – consider the following:

o Does your chosen band or string quartet have recordings of tracks that you can listen to?

o Do they have testimonials that can be seen and if necessary, can you have the opportunity to speak to people who have hired the band previously?

o Is there enough space for the string quartet or band at the venue? Is the venue big enough and are the acoustics suited to the sounds of your band?

o Will extra PA and sound systems be required to be hired – where they are not being provided by the band or quartet?

o What will the band be wearing? For example, if you’ve hired a string quartet, will the players be in black or white tuxedos.

o Are back up musicians available in case one of the band or string quartet has to drop out at short notice?

o Is the bandleader, or dance caller, willing and able to act as M.C. and organise the evening’s entertainment, direct guests and convey announcements etc?

o Who is the leader of the band – and can they be contacted easily prior to the event?

o Who will be the responsible person for the band or string quartet at the reception?

o What is the total charge? What is the deposit? When and in what payment form is the final balance due?

o If you can afford it, wouldn’t it be great to have a band and string quartet playing in an alternating fashion or in different parts of the venue?

o Will you or the band want a break whilst an evening buffet is being served, for example?

To conclude, music is frequently the last service to be booked for a wedding. Yet it is so important to the ambiance and atmosphere of such a special occasion. At the very least you should consider the possibility of string quartet music alongside a function band or disco. The beauty of string quartet instrumental music is that it can be provided in popular, contemporary or classical styles.

A quartet can play during the ceremony itself – in tandem with a church organist. Whilst, during the welcoming and wedding meal stages of the reception, string quartet music can provide a wonderful romantic backdrop to the occasion.

If your guests are staying overnight at your hotel venue – what about surprising them with beautiful string quartet instrumentals first thing in the morning as they eat their breakfast. Soothing classical music is a sure way to relieve the effects of a wedding hangover.

Finally, don’t be afraid to negotiate with a band leader. It’s important that you get what you require at a price that’s acceptable to you. However, remember that good bands and string quartets cost money and often a cut in costs can only be done when cheaper alternatives are considered.

Good luck with planning your wedding day.

Anthony Coogan

String Quartets Live

Anthony Coogan has been involved in providing classical and contemporary music in the UK and Europe for the last 20 years. String Quartets Live developed as a result of his classical music training coupled with his experience of playing at hundreds of weddings over the years.

Click for more information on wedding string quartets

Author: Tony Coogan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Singapore has many beautiful and exotic places that are suitable for wedding photography. Because of the usually good weather, it is definitely one of the best places to take wedding photographs and have them immortalized. There are a lot of places in Singapore that are really good, but we had to slim it down to a few. From parks to the urban picture, from the classic home setting to the modern city life, Singapore is surely to take your breath away.

Marina Promenade is one of the locations that can bring you back to nature while still staying within the sophistication of the urban life. The picturesque is different at every turn. There are the more natural palm trees and water forms, from the sky wheel to the skyscrapers. For better lighting, there are lots of trees in the park so the shading and the light can help with a good picture. View of the water is very much abundant especially across the condominiums.

There is also the east and west Bishan Park. The west gives a beautiful Asian garden-inspired scenery that creates different views and options to provide you a beautiful picture. The east however, gives you more lighting and a lighter, more urban feel with condominiums although there are still a few grassy areas and a large field with the buildings as backdrop.

If you are interested in having a port area as your location, the Labrador Park can give you just that. It gives you the view of clear blue waters under the wooden bridge, stone benches, antique warfare, and an old lighthouse.

If you opt for one that has height, the Telok Blanah Hill Park is a photo haven above the city. The hill in itself is beautiful with staircases that seem to lead up to the sky with flowers and trees.

No matter which pre wedding photography location you choose, the most important thing is to enjoy the photoshoot with your loved one.

For more information, visit Singapore Grooms Wedding site to find out more.

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Author: James Wee
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Shopping for a wedding gown should be a joyous occasion. For plus sized brides, however, the experience is often more frustrating and depressing than it is uplifting, which is a terrible shame. It does not have to be that way! Finding a beautiful plus sized wedding gown is definitely very doable, and it can be the happy experience that every bride deserves. These are some great tips on shopping for plus sized wedding gowns.

Tip No. 1: First Shop for a Bridal Salon. More than anything else, the staff at the salon will determine how good or bad your dress shopping experience is. Some bridal salons are built around the spirit that their purpose is to help every bride feel absolutely stunning on her wedding day, especially those women who may never have felt that way before in their lives. Unfortunately, there are also places where the staff may turn up their noses at women who do not fit the sample size. Run screaming from those bridal shops! An easy way to get a feel for a bridal salon is to call ahead for an appointment and mention that you are looking for a plus sized gown. Does the shop say, “Great, we would be happy to help you” or do they say, “Well, we only carry size 8s”?

Tip No. 2: Don’t Worry About Sample Size. Some stores will have plus sized samples on hand, which is certainly helpful. They will typically be found in stores which carry a lot of off-the-rack wedding gowns, though, as those are the salons which keep size ranges in stock. While is is a great feeling to be able to try on a wedding gown which actually fits, ready-made dresses have the distinct disadvantage of being hard to change. If you are a petite woman who wears a size 20 dress, the gown which zips comfortably will also be way too long for you (all manufacturers increase the length of the bodice and skirt with each size increase). Brides who like the quality of materials and design found only in designer gowns will rarely find a store which carries a plus sized sample to try, but that is okay! A well-trained bridal consultant can help you understand how a gown will look on you when it is the proper size, regardless of how the sample fits, so try to keep an open mind.

Tip No. 3: Consider Customization. Women also come in all different shapes and sizes, and the pear shaped bride who wears a different size on top than the bottom would be better off ordering a combination size from the designer rather than trying to drastically alter the half of a ready-made dress which is the wrong size. If you have found a salon where you feel very comfortable, they will be able to assist you in making pattern and design changes that can turn a very pretty gown into an absolutely beautiful one. You might even find that you like the top of one dress and the cut of the skirt or the beadwork on another. Many designers can make special pattern changes to get you just the gown that you want.

Tip No. 4: Fit is First. Never choose a wedding gown based on style or details over how flattering the silhouette is. You will look far more beautiful in a gown which cuts a tiny waistline, gives you a gorgeous hourglass silhouette, and trims your tummy than one which is made in your favorite lace but does not give you a great shape. Always remember that a plain gown in a fantastic cut can be embellished, but if the cut is unflattering, the dress will do you no justice, no matter how exquisite the beading. Another option is to add fabulous accessories to a flattering gown that needs a little more wow. Add a dazzling set of crystal bridal jewelry, a veil with a beaded edge, and a sparkling bridal headpiece which complements your crystal jewelry – your entire look will instantly go from nice to incredible.

Tip No. 5: Be Kind to Yourself. It can be disheartening to struggle with sample gowns that do not zip or trendy styles that only look good on size 8s, but don’t let it make you feel bad about yourself. After all, your fiance loves you just the way you are, so you should try to do yourself the same favor. And remember that the perfect wedding gown is out there for every bride, and you will definitely find yours!

Laura helps brides with their wedding plans by offering advice on selecting bridesmaids gifts,reception ideas and other aspects of planning a wedding. Treat yourself to fabulous crystal bridal jewelry from http://silverlandjewelry.com/ and receive free shipping on your jewelry order over $99.

Author: Laura Firenze
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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