Wedding Layers

My boyfriend is going into the military and we’ve been together for over 2 years, and we decided to get married before he goes to basic, but that is about 2 months away. I only know a few things to planning a wedding, but I know there’s a lot of stuff to do especially with only 2 months to do so. I’m going to do a bridal shower, and a small beach wedding with a very low budget, so I can ideas or suggestions to help this process. Thanks

Hi- just got engaged! I engagement ring belonged to my future mother in law. Its really pretty and special. Means a lot. Does anyone know of a good online card that I can send to say thank you for everything or I’m exctied to be a part of the family or something that would acknowledge the engagement?

The first things brides-to-be do when they get engaged is think about the wedding dress. We all want to look breathtaking on our wedding day and the dress seems to be the most important factor. There are so many options, styles and different prizes when it comes to Wedding Dresses and it can be very overwhelming in the beginning. It is therefore very important to ask yourself a few questions before running to the nearest boutique.

The theme, style, season and venue will play a big role in the selection of your dress.

Another thing to decide on is whether you’re going to buy your dress in a Boutique or Online. A few years ago, there wasn’t even an option, as it was very risky to buy a wedding dress online. But not everyone lives in a big city with a lot of dress options and buying online has never been easier.

Buying a dress in a Boutique: Advantages:

• Professional help fitting the dress: Boutiques usually have qualified people that work with brides everyday. They know body types and what would suite your figure the best.
• Fit your favorite dresses: In a boutique, you will be able to try on a few dresses, which will give you a good idea of what style of dress fits you best.
• Get good help and advise about your Accessories. When you buy a dress in a boutique, you can be sure to get the best advise about your accessories and lingerie. They will know all the secrets about good undergarments and can give you ideas for your jewelry, veil and tiara. Most of the time you can even buy these accessories at the same boutique.

Disadvantages:

• Pay to try on a few dresses: Most of the time, you will have to pay an amount to fit a few dresses. And there is usually a 3-5 fit limit per appointment.
• Expensive choice: Dresses bought in a Bridal Boutique can be much more expensive than the ones you get online.
• View and fit only with an appointment: You will have to make an appointment to fit wedding dresses. You sometimes need an appointment just to enter the premises. The working brides-to-be will have to make appointments for the weekends which are also their busiest time.
• You might miss out on the dress of your dreams: It can be very overwhelming to see rows and rows of dresses on hangers. It is very difficult to brows through gown pressed together on a rail and then imagining your body in them.

Buying a dress Online: Advantages:

• Save hundreds of dollars: Online Dresses are usually a lot cheaper to buy. You can sometimes buy two or three dresses online for the prize of one boutique dress.
• Variety: You can see a huge variety with the click of a button.
• Any time or day: You can go online and view or buy a dress any time or day and the delivery time is usually quick.
• Real picture of the dress: You can see the dress on an actual person, even though it’s just a photo.
• Exchange and Alterations: Most of the online stores will give you the opportunity to exchange or make alterations if you are not satisfied.

Disadvantages:

• Quality risk: You can’t always get an accurate idea of the quality of the dress and the fabric it’s made of from just viewing it on your computer.

Make sure you have considered all of your options before buying your dress. You can sometimes find the exact same style of dress you saw in the Boutique, for a lot less online.

We know how it feels to dream about a big, expensive & romantic wedding and not being able to have the budget for it. There are a lot of great ideas and products out there that can help you plan the wedding of your dreams. For more Budget tips and advise for your wedding day, visit http://bellsandbrides.com.

Author: Estie Higgs
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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My fiance and I are newly engaged and are having trouble planning a wedding that is not so "cookie-cutter". (We’ve been to four weddings since January and could pretty much make a play by play call of what was going to happen at each wedding.) We don’t want our guests to be bored, and we don’t want a lot of cliches….but I am just stumped at what to do to make this wedding "ours". Any suggestions would be so helpful! Thank you!

You want your wedding ceremony to be perfect, and the reception that follows to be fabulous, but how do you achieve that dream idea? A lot of it starts with your wedding location.

First, you will want to find venues that are suitable to your wedding theme, if you have one. Holding your reception at a seafood restaurant would be out of place for a Christmas or western themed wedding for obvious reasons. However, don’t get stuck on this idea either. If your theme is “Rock and Roll” you can still have your ceremony in a quaint church and use subtle decorations to convey the theme. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you scout around looking for that perfect location.

• Start by taking a drive around the town jotting down ideas as you pass by possible venues.
• Take your time when looking for a good location for the ceremony and/or reception. Don’t rush in and book the first place you visit. Search out 2 or 3 different locations and then do a comparison of the sites (this applies to both the ceremony location and the reception location.) In some cases, you may not be able to book the date you’ve chosen to be married on and will need an alternative choice. It’s always good to have options.
• Take a checklist of questions that you want answered when you go so you can be sure you’ll be able to find a place that will provide exactly what you want and need.
• Ask family, friends, co-workers… even strangers on the bus, if they know of any good locations. You may be pleasantly surprised at some of the inspired answers you could receive of spots you would never have thought of.
• Call and make appointments to tour your top three picks. Don’t commit to anything during your first visit. Your first visit should be to get a good visual of the location, as well as have all of your questions answered regarding the venue.
• Take notes wherever you go. Jot down impressions of when you first enter the area, note how you were treated – was the person helpful or did you have to stand around waiting to be noticed? That’s a pretty good indication of how they’ll handle the wedding services.
• Make sure to look at available parking in the area, plus wheelchair access (if it might be needed) into the building. How large is the entrance and is there room out front for people to stand when the bridal party exits? Can a limousine or several cars park out front for the bridal party?
• Bring an instant Polaroid or digital camera with you and take pictures of the outside of the building and surrounding area, including the parking lot and entrance. Take pictures of the inside as well, including the entrance hall, the altar area, pews, and rooms that can be used for getting ready just before the ceremony. These will help you to recall what each place looked like once you get home. When checking out several locations they can start to blur together. Also, you will notice things in the pictures that you may not have noticed on your visual tour.

The above tips should help to get you started in the right direction. Obviously, there is a lot more involved in choosing a special place to hold your wedding ceremony and reception than can be discussed in a short article. If you are looking for more advice on how to plan a great wedding, while keeping your expenses in check, you can find some great wedding planning e-books on the Internet that will guide you step-by-step through the whole process.

(c) 2007 Rose Smith. Are you at a loss on what you need to do to start your wedding planning? Visit First Step Wedding Planning where brides and grooms can find the resources needed to plan a dazzling, yet inexpensive wedding. http://www.firststepweddings.com. For wedding theme ideas, check out Wedding Themes and More at http://www.wedthemes.com

Author: Rose Smith
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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There is one thing that every couple must do when planning a wedding, and that is finding the right photographer. This may not be as easy as you think, as a lot of things depend on the photographer. You want to make sure you make the best decision since you will only get one chance at this. Having someone who captures this priceless day is important. So make sure you do not make the mistakes listed below when you are searching for your wedding photographer.

1. Having the Thoughts that All Photographers are Equal

As you know, no one is the same as anyone else. This is especially true when it comes to photographers. To get this point through, think of your favorite sport, and now think of the top two players. Notice how these players are both great, but have their own style.

2. Choosing a Photographers Based On Their Price

Choosing the cheapest or most expensive photographer, does not guarantee you they quality. You may choose the cheapest photographer and get the best quality, or choose the most expensive and get the worse quality.

3. Thinking the Right Gear With Get Great Results

Just because the photographer you choose carries around the best equipment, does not mean they are an expert using it. These expensive cameras come with a lot of great features, but unless your photographer is skilled on the equipment, these features mean nothing,

4. Letting Friends and Relatives Take the Pictures For You, and Expecting Professional Results

It is always nice to have your friends and family take pictures at your wedding, but remember that taking professional pictures needs experience. Even if your favorite Uncle does have the best camera, if he is not experienced, these pictures will not be professional.

5. Cutting Your Photographers Time

A lot of times we want a lot in a little bit of time. If you want family pictures or pictures of the wedding party, make sure you schedule time for it. If you try to get everyone together and rush the photographer to take the pictures fast, you are more than likely going to get bad results. Know who you want pictures taken of, and make time for it. Make sure you tell your photographer the must have pictures well in advance. Having a time schedule will give your photographer and chance to organize and take great pictures.

6. You Entertain Too Many Photographers

Though price shopping with a number of different service providers is often a good idea, with photography this is not necessarily so.

A good photographer often has an already established client base and relies more on word of mouth than on advertising or on overly competitive prices. Many quality photographers will not even consider lowering rates for a price shopper. While it is important to get a good price and to stay within budget for photography services, it is even more important to have a professional experience and a high quality product.

7. You Sign the Paperwork Without Looking it Over First

It is not only one of the biggest mistakes but also one of the most commonly occurring – many people do not read the paperwork provided by their photographers. If a couple is serious about getting the best photographer, they need to take the time to read the contracts. Also, any items that are discussed between the photographer and client must appear in writing.

8. You Do Not Trust Your Own Instincts

A couple may get the feeling that an offer from a photographer is too good to be true, then will ignore that feeling in order to get a good deal. It is more important to trust those instincts; if something seems fishy, it probably is.

9. Lack of Professionalism is Ignored

A person who is planning a wedding has a long list of items to attend to, so it can be easy to ignore small things, such as a photographer who is dressed unprofessionally or behaves in any way other than a business-like fashion. It may seem unimportant how a person is dressed at the time of procuring their services, but if you attempt to picture this person in the midst of a wedding ceremony and formal reception, you may understand why professionalism is vital.

10. You Do Not Make Inquiries Into the Sample Album

Amateur photographers may attempt to piece together a sample album from multiple weddings, showing only one or two of the best shots taken at each wedding. A professional photographer will show a sample album with shots obtained at one wedding, showcasing the ability to capture multiple excellent photographs during the event.

It is also important to ask the photographer about the wedding; ask specific questions about techniques used or about the wedding itself so that you know for certain that the photographer is showing a legitimate sample album rather than one obtained from another photographer.

Gareth Osgood is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For Hampshire Wedding Photography, he recommends Cooper Photography.

Author: Gareth Osgood
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Many couples will just overlook their wedding invitations because the cost of it is just a fraction of other wedding items. Yes it is true that you may only need to spend a few hundred dollars on your wedding invitations. However, it does not mean that your wedding invitation is not important.

In fact, as all other experts will put, the invitation cards are very important in a way that it will give the first impression of your wedding to your guests. And as a result it will probably set the tone of your event. At the point you will certainly know that if you do not choose the cards with extra care, you may give a bad impression of your wedding to your guest.

From the above, you should understand that you need to search for a really good wedding invitation. As a matter of fact, there are lots of choices out there. You have virtually unlimited number of styles and designs for you to choose from. Nowadays there are a lot of invitations that are printed in full color. In this case you can print your photos onto your wedding invitation. One such wedding invitation is usually called a photo invitation.

One of the advantages of such an invitation card is that it will be a unique one. This is of course because you have put your photos onto the card. Your photos are making the card unique. Others will not be able to copy the design of your card since they will not use a card with photos of other people.

It is also a great way to tell your guest what kind of wedding you are going to host. For example, if you are going to have a beach wedding, you can pick a photo which depicts a beach. Of course it will be perfect if you and your spouse are in the photo. This will make the design of the card perfect. On the other hand, if you are going to host a Las Vegas wedding, you can put a photo of Las Vegas onto the card. Again, it will be perfect if both of you and your spouse are in the photo.

Since a photo wedding invitation is printed in full color in most cases, you can virtually print anything you want onto the card. To this end you can have control on the style of the card. You can draw some cartoons and printed them onto the card. You may even put a photo of your cat on the card! If both of you and your spouse love Formula 1 racing, you may even print the vehicle and your photos together so that the invitation can reflect what you love or like.

If you can master some graphic software, you can consider creating the card yourself. On the other hand, you may also try to hire a graphic designer to work with you in order to create the most perfect wedding invitation. Of course you may need to pay for some fees in this case.

Jerry Leung has great interest Chinese Wedding Traditions. Be sure to check Unique Wedding Favors Ideas.

Author: Jerry Leung
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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I want my wedding to be outside somewhere. A small wedding, maybe 75 to 100 people(is that a lot?). Dont know about the reception. I’m talking like everything though including the dress and stuff. I want to start my wedding savings fund but I don’t even know how much I should be trying to save. Thanks in advance!

There are people who will try to hire a wedding planner when they are planning for their big day. However, there are some other people who would like to enjoy the planning process. As a result they will decide to plan the big day themselves. It is very true that wedding planning should be a very enjoyable task. However, a fact is that no couple will have a lot of experiences in wedding planning.

In fact, it is not easy to plan for the big day. The couple will need to deal with various issues and vendors. They will also need to deal with the family members. It is very true that your family members will be giving you a lot of “ideas” when you are planning for your most important day in your life. This can be very stressful since you have to on one hand respect the opinions from your family members and on the other hand try to make your dream wedding come true.

As a result, it will certainly be useful for you to have a guide for your wedding. You will of course create a wedding planning checklist in order to plan for it. You may wonder why you need to create a checklist. There are just too many items to be involved in your big day and you will need to list all these items. You will need to make sure that nothing will be missed in the list.

When you have your checklist, you will probably need to think about your budget. Your budget is the most important thing you need to consider when you are planning for your wedding. You will try your best to work within your budget. As a result, you will try to consider how much you will going to spend for each of the items you have listed in the checklist.

Then you will need to set the date of your wedding. It is very important to know that you should avoid to plan it on Friday or Saturday if you are on a relatively tight budget. This is because the rent for the venue can be much more expensive on Friday and Saturday.

After you set your wedding date, you will need to think about your venue. The choice of venue will probably be depending on the size of your wedding. You will not go for a very big venue if you are planning to invite 20 guests only. On the contrary, a small venue will not be suitable if you are going to plan for a really big wedding.

The next step will be planning for your other items. For example, you will need to plan for your wedding invitation, favor, gown, photography and so on. There are a lot of details associated with these items. You have to be very careful when you are planning for these items.

As discussed, planning for a wedding is certainly something enjoyable. However, you have to be prepared to work hard and stand the pressure from different parties. If you can really handle it, it can be sure that your wedding will be a perfect one!

Author: Jerry Leung
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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