Wedding Layers

I just planned on having bridesmaids but I keep reading about having bride’s attendants too and just want to know what the difference is.

I’m in a wedding and the bride is adamant about when she wanted the shower,what food she wanted,gitfs,etc. She has completely taken over as far as what will be served, and what gifts she wants to receive. Is this unreasonable? Shouldn’t the bridesmaids have been able to plan the party and take her requests into consideration, without her running the whole show?

The couple is getting married in a church and their reception is at a nice golf course. There are 8 groomsmen and 8 bridesmaids any creative photos for this large party? There are three flower girls & three ring bearers. Do you have any great ideas of unusual and creative photos of the bride & groom alone or with their Wedding party?

I thought either the bridesmaids or friends of the bride gave the shower, not the mother. Please only answer IF you know. Someone told the bride its the maid-of-honor, which in this case lives out-of-state, is supposed to throw the shower.

A destination wedding is a wonderful and unique event. With that comes a special set of questions that would not arise with a hometown marriage. These are the answers to your questions about the etiquette for destination weddings.

The first question to arise is usually who to invite. Certainly you will want to ask your immediate family and closest friends. Many couples choose to have a destination wedding in part because it does allow for a smaller guest list limited to only those that mean the most to you. However, some brides and grooms would like to invite a more extended group of friends, and the question becomes whether or not you should invite someone to a destination wedding that you believe will not be able to attend.

The answer is yes. If you hope that the guest in question will join you in Hawaii or Italy or wherever your destination wedding is being held, by all means extend the invitation. As the host, it is not up to you to answer the invitation (or to withhold an invitation based on an anticipated response), only to offer it sincerely. Besides, you may be surprised at who decides that a trip to a fabulous spot is well worth the time and expense. When you are inviting a large number of guests who are unlikely to be able to make it to your wedding, you may also want to think about holding a reception for them back in your hometown. It is nice to mention the second reception on the original invitation, so that those who are not able to attend your destination wedding will not feel badly, knowing that they will have another chance to celebrate with you.

A related etiquette question is whether or not the bride and groom are required to cover the airfare and hotel accommodations for their wedding party. As with any other type of wedding, the answer is no. The usual way to thank your bridesmaids for being in your wedding is with gifts, such as bridesmaid jewelry. For a destination wedding, it would be fun to select bridesmaid jewelry gifts with a theme that relates to the locale, such as a beach motif.

However, you should take the cost of participating in a destination wedding into account. Definitely mention the location of your wedding when asking someone to be in your bridal party. This gives them a chance to graciously decline if they know that they will be unable to afford the travel. Although it is not strictly required, many brides and grooms will choose to help out one or more of their attendants with travel costs, if it means the difference between a dear friend attending the wedding or staying home. You can also be considerate by keeping costs as low as possible for your wedding party. Booking blocks of hotel rooms or pairing up bridesmaids in a room can help to keep their expenses more reasonable.

One final and very important piece of etiquette for a destination wedding is to take your guests into consideration when booking the site. For instance, if all of your siblings have young children that they would plan to bring to your wedding, it would be very rude to choose an adults-only resort. Likewise, if you know that most of your guests will be stretching their budget just to cover the airfare for your nuptials, don’t block rooms only at the most expensive hotel in the area. Be sure to reserve rooms in a few price ranges so that everyone has an affordable place to stay.

With these tips in mind, you will find it easier to plan a destination wedding that will not result in any hard feelings. Be keeping your guests’ needs in the forefront of your planning, you will be able to plan a wedding that is as much fun for them as it is for you. Then all that is left to do is relax, have fun, and get married in a fabulous destination.

Look to Bridget for advice on planning your wedding. Check out how we can help with your bridesmaids jewelry at SilverlandJewelry.com. Unique bridesmaid jewelry gifts are a wonderful way to thank your attendants for being in your wedding.

Author: Bridget Mora
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Cellphone news

With wedding planning, it can get very hectic quickly. That’s why you need a “plan for your wedding planning” as odd as this may sound. You should determine early on what tasks will have to be completed to successfully plan the wedding on time and within budget.

Things to Do Very Early On

There are some things that just can’t wait when it comes to wedding planning. First, secure your photographer of choice with a money deposit. Once you have a wedding date set, you can talk with a photographer and schedule the photo session for your bridal portraits and secure their services for your wedding day. The reason you’ll want to book this very early is because photographers (really good ones) are usually booked months in advance, and many weddings are on weekend days.

Find a wedding dress early on as well so you’ll have time for fitting, ordering, and alterations (if needed). The bridesmaids will need plenty of time for their dresses so keep them informed also. Choose wedding colors and possibly a wedding theme before you start planning. Once you know the colors, you can start shopping for wedding favors and decorations early and possibly find some great bargains when you’re not in a rush.

Choose a Location for Your Wedding

Probably one of the most important things you’ll do is choose a location for your wedding. If having the wedding in a church, consider the types of decorations you will need and where you might hold the reception. If planning a wedding outdoors, you’ll have to take possible weather conditions into consideration – and do have a backup plan! Pick a location with great lighting, or plan to illuminate with additional lighting. The location is important to know how many decorations you will need, depending on the size of the building or area, and how many guests you can invite.

Hire a Wedding Director

A wedding director should be booked early on as well so you can be sure to have one when the day arrives. The director can help with last minute planning and the formalities of the ceremony. You’ll likely consider the director to be a lifesaver when the day finally arrives!

Order Decorations, Flowers, Invitations, and Wedding Party Gifts

The little details can cause big headaches if you don’t do these early on. You’ll need invitations early enough to address them and mail them at least a month ahead of the wedding date. Flowers and corsages should be ordered well in advance along with small appreciation gifts for the wedding party including bridesmaids, groomsmen, etc.

To save time and possibly money, you might be able to order many of the small wedding items online. There are thousands of wedding websites that carry almost every decoration, gift, or invitation you can think of at reasonable prices. The wedding websites also usually offer great tips on wedding planning for your benefit.

Don’t forget about the wedding rings, catering, wedding songs, reception decorations, punch, food, and of course, the wedding cake. These are all crucial parts of wedding planning and have to be taken care of early on to minimize stress. If you take care of the wedding planning far in advance, you’ll see things fall into place and be able to enjoy your wedding as it was meant to be!

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Wedding Planning Tips

Author: Chris Robertson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Smart cooker

There are only three principal public occasions in a person’s life: baptismal, burial and marriage. Among the three, only marriage allows great honor for the principals. Throughout the tradition, marriages had been considered as the special day for a lady who is about to pledge her matrimonial vows towards the chosen one.

Marriage is Her Big Day more than that of the groom. This is why marriages have always been made special and bridal dresses created as such to fit the festive occasion. This practice of making the bride look magnificent in her bridal dress runs down throughout the history, with widespread influence dating back to medieval times.

Bridal dresses were not always white, in opposition for what have been usually perceived by most people. Bridal dresses before the Victorian era would normally adapt the color of what is trendy and what is available. Shades of lively colors were normally used and pastel colors were also popular. But by mid-1800s, white bridal dresses became the norm when Queen Victoria chose a white bridal dress for her wedding day. The same dress was worn over a black silk dress fifty years later. She also was responsible for setting the fashion of having her bridesmaids carry the train.

1920s

In his decade, revolutionary changes were done with fashion. Up well to 1920s, bridal dresses were created in accordance with what’s the norm. The hemlines rose from shoe to above the knee and became more curtailed. But later, many considered the length of the bridal dress inappropriate for church services, thus the replacement of full-length gowns. In this decade too was the dropped waist and shapeless bodice dresses reach its height of popularity.

1930s

The depression in thirties followed the roaring of the twenties. Women changed from the boyish look to the more profound expression of a woman’s body. Normally, the bridal dresses in this era hugged the body of the bride. To emphasize the shape of the body, bridal dresses were given boat-shaped collars.

1940s

Fashion in the 1940s almost died down, and the same was true for the white bridal dresses. Clothes rations started in 1941 and continued up to the end of the World War I. A number of brides struggled for silk dresses but most suited themselves for the uniform. Those who were not commissioned in the army wore the same costumes.

1950s

The padded shoulders of the last decade were superseded by the narrow shoulders in the 1950s. However, many brides wanted their dresses adopt the intermediate style. The bridal trains were fashioned after the trains of the Elizabethan era. But another fashion arrived- The New Look outfit. Simply put, the New Look outfit is tailored after the ballerina dresses in terms of length. The dress typically has a jacket bodice with tight sleeves.

1960s

There were not so much changes in the bridal fashion in the 1960s. Ladies still preferred wearing the circular dresses, short veils and tight sleeves only differing on the veils with more bouffant approach. Most women wore coronets and a single rose with the veil gathered together from the flower. In contrast with the extravagant and flowing bridal dresses, bouquets in the 1960s were made simpler. More often than not, tiny flowers in tight posies are used.

1970s

After two decades of tights sleeves, Tudor sleeves were introduced in the seventies. The high-waisted line of the 1960s gradually moved lower to a princess line. Trains diminished too and the cuts of the dresses were made far simpler.

1980s

By this era, the waistlines had returned to their normal position. The dresses were much fuller now and the big bouquets returned back to fashion. This period was marked with more extravagant sleeves, suited after the bridal dress of the Princess of Wales.

1990s

Wide skirts remained popular with the start of the 1990s. However, different fashion icons popularized varieties of skirts. But among the most popular are the super low waists with skirts flared down.

New Century

With the coming of the new century, the norms with wedding have changed too. Themed costumes were much more practiced today and so are the themed bridal dresses.

There is no doubt that bridal dresses remain to be the eternal testimony of a wedding. And the efforts of making the dresses extravagant and special are both to the benefit of the bride’s contentment and the ever-changing fashion trends.

Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides bridal dress resources on [http://www.your-bridal-dress.info].

Author: Robert Thatcher
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger

Our friends are playing acoustic guitar for us and asked how long they should plan to play the songs for…

We’ll need a song for the bridesmaid processional, my (bride’s) processional and than recessional. I have 9 bridsemaids walking, three sets of parents and two ring bearers……..

Approximately how long for each song should the guitar players plan for?

When organising your wedding, it’s all a bit of a minefield especially when it comes to the photographs and photographer. You already have so many choices to make about your big day without having to think about whether or not you want your wedding filmed, have black and white prints, sepia prints, classic or modern style? Phew!

The best advice is to choose a photographer that has been recommended by someone. Ensure you see the wedding photographs of the couple who have recommended the photographer as their idea of great photographs may not be the same as yours. If it is not possible to have a photographer recommended then ask them to show you their portfolio. Looking at photographs shot by them will give you an idea of what their style is like. You also need to like the photographer you select. Now this may sound silly but actually wedding photographers are central to the wedding day and will be there for most of it. Why not request to see one in action? This will then help you decide whether or not you could get on with him/her on the big day. Good photographers are decisive, clear and professional; the good ones manage to round everyone up successfully without bossing wedding guests and without upsetting anyone.

When it comes to style, the best thing to do is to not pick one! Yes, that’s right, don’t pick one. The best wedding photographs are often a different style from the ones you thought would be the best. So, when you meet with your photographer say that you want a range of photographs. These are to include set ‘stiff’ posed photographs with various family members/wedding guests. In other words, ensure that you get the usual shots; Father of the Bride and the Bride, Bride getting out of the car, Bride and Groom saying vows, Bride and Groom with his family, Bride and Groom with her family, Bridesmaids, Bride and Groom with friends etc etc. These are so important and will form the basis of your wedding album. Also request some ‘arty’ shots e.g. black and white prints of your bouquet, the marriage certificate, the church, your wedding shoes, your dress hanging up etc etc. Why not also request some church shots in sepia to give them a gentle feel? When it comes to the reception, make sure shots are taken of the room before the guests enter. With even the most civilised of guests, reception rooms always look messy once people are eating, napkins are used, plates dirtied and glasses used. This is also an opportune time for that all-important shot of the cake too.

With regards to the rest of the reception, ask your photographer to take 1 shot of each of the tables with your guests. This will be a posed photograph and a great memento for your album. Later, the photographer can then take some random pictures of guests enjoying themselves. You could also put disposable wedding cameras out on the tables for your guests to take pictures of each other. Quite often, shots taken on these cameras are really liked by the bride and groom and end up in the album. If you can afford to keep your photographer into the evening, ask him to take lots of shots of people dancing, drinking, chatting and laughing. These ‘fun’ style pictures will give a really different twist to your wedding album.

So, in essence, try not to go for anything too rigid when it comes to choosing your photograph style; best to go for a range of styles, themes and colours for an album to remember. And, remember that you will only get one chance to get the photographs right so it’s one of those areas that you can’t really afford to cut back on.

This article is brought to you by Emily Tanner at “Chloe Beck Ltd” – Offering brides high quality wedding favours and bomboniere at low cost prices. To view our vast range of wedding cameras to suit your special occasion please visit: Disposable Cameras

Author: Emily Tanner
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital Camera Information

So, you recently got engaged and have spent the last 6 months or so worrying over perfecting every detail of your wedding. Your closest girlfriends have been undoubtedly supportive and have proven their friendship over and over again. Now, it’s time to show them just how much you appreciate their hard work and dedication. You most likely spent weeks searching for the perfect bridesmaids gift for your girlfriends and now it’s time to present them with it. In addition to giving your bridesmaids a token of appreciation, it is also suitable to give them a handwritten note of thanks as well. To make their note even more special you might consider making the card yourself. There are three elements that you should communicate in your bridesmaids’ thank you cards. These elements include: creativity, sentiment, and personality.

Creativity

Using creativity in your thank you card is just as important as being creative when choosing a unique bridesmaids gift. A creative way to construct your own thank you cards is to use materials that are not ordinarily found in everyday greeting cards. You might consider inserting a handwritten note of thanks inside of a decorative picture frame. This is an awesome way for the recipient to repurpose your card given the fact that most people tuck their cards away in a keepsake box. If you choose to construct a thank you card using paper materials, you may consider using items from a Scrapbooking kit.

Sentiment

Your bridesmaids are friends that you have a shared a bond with for many years. Along with your bridesmaids gift, your note of thanks should communicate your deep feelings of appreciation for all of the support that they lent to you during your engagement.

Personality

Most brides have bridesmaids with varying personalities. A great way to show your girlfriends just how unique they are is to personalize each bridesmaids gift and thank you card. To each card, you may attach stickers, objects, or decals that reflect each of your girlfriend’s hobbies, likes, or occupation.

The wonderful benefit to having best friends is that you spend a lifetime sharing special moments with each other. In fact, your wedding is one of the most important occasions that your bridesmaids will experience with you. Presenting your girlfriends with a special bridesmaids gift and handmade thank you card is the perfect way to express your heartfelt gratitude for the support that you received from of each one of them.

Nicole Lindsey writes for http://www.silverlandjewelry.com She covers jewelry and weddings as well as other related subjects.

Give Swarovski crystal pearl wedding jewelry as gifts for your wedding attendants. They make elegant bridesmaids gifts that can be worn over and over.

Author: Nicole Lindsey
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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