What Is an Irish Wedding Band?

An Irish wedding band is a design that has its roots set deep in Celtic history. It continues a tradition that has been thousands of years in the making. To avoid confusion, it's useful to know that Irish wedding bands are also referred to as Celtic wedding bands, and are the same thing.

Irish wedding bands are typified by bold construction with elegant flowing designs, or by the symbolic Claddagh, the heart held by two hands. They are most often of silver or white gold construction, but can be made out of any hard metal with the right skills.

The Claddagh is the most famous Irish wedding band, but one of the more recent designs. The first archaeological evidence for this style dates to the 7th century, which coincides with the time that Irish missionaries crossed the sea to Britain. Originally the Claddagh was meant as a friendship ring, but it soon became used for many other reasons to convey thought and meaning.

Another Irish wedding band is the more traditional plain band with Gaelic writing on either the inside our outside. Typical inscriptions include "Gra Dilseacht Cairdeas," which means love, friendship and loyalty, "Gra Go Deo," which means love forever and "Mo Anam Cara," which means soul mate. All three inscriptions lend themselves well to marriage, which is why they are still popular today.

The bolder, more intricate Celtic designs are also used as wedding jewelry. The Celtic knot often features in Irish wedding bands. The continuous knot has no beginning or ending, which is ideal for marriage. It symbolizes the spirit, as it is believed by the Celts to be timeless, having no beginning and no end. Some people also interpret the knot as the cycle of life. From birth, through the knot in life, to death, and round again to rebirth. Whatever the actual meaning, couples can take what they want from Celtic legend and make their jewelry personal to themselves.

The love knot ring is a particular style of Celtic jewelry that's particular to Scotland alone. It's now regarded as traditional Scottish design which was influenced by the Celts when they first populated Britain. It consists of a band, and what looks like a double-reef knot which symbolizes the intertwining of two souls. Again, lending itself well to marriage.

Lesser-known Irish wedding band designs include the Celtic cross and pentacles. The cross features on many architectural designs and on Celtic artifacts other than jewelry. However, some designers have incorporated the cross into their designs to symbolize the four elements of earth, air, fire and water.

Pentacles have a tendency to be viewed as dark and evil. In fact, the origins of the pentacles come directly from Celtic pagan rituals. The five points of the star are again elements, with the addition of spirit to make the fifth. They are interconnected in the design to reflect their interdependency.

There are a few Irish wedding band designs, making the style ideal for finding a personal meaning of your own. The ability to pick and choose a particular provenance and meaning from each style is unique to the Celtic design.

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Event Planning Checklist!

Are you planning an event yourself or looking for a credible service to seek the best possible help to make your event remain fresh in your memory. For making a comprehensive event planning successful and organized, you need to find the most experienced person who can handle the pressure of specific jobs. You need the services of someone who can give you accurate arrangements and show you problem solving skills. If you think you can handle all the pressures of event organization, you can easily plan your event successfully. However, the option of hiring an expert is always open for you.

Following are the important factors for planning a successful event as per your wishes:

Budget:
For planning any event, you need to take tough decisions which are closely concerned with setting up of a budget. Stick with your budgets and plan your events as per your needs.

Event Site/Venue:
Sometimes, many people just know where they want to host their programs. Indeed it is a convenient option to choose. However, many times, you should check the availability of the venue for a special occasion.

Scheduling and Dates:
Date is an important factor for making an event successful. You need to see the availability of the proper dates to check if everything can be done as per your preferences or not.

Supplies, Props, Equipment:
When you are working in assistance with your planner, you should see if you have the availability of a list of supplies and equipment for the much needed event.

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Wear a Traditional Japanese Wedding Dress for an Anime-Themed Wedding

With the growing number of people admittedly going crazy over Japanese culture, mostly because of anime, there are brides that are showing interest in wearing a traditional Japanese wedding dress at their anime or cosplay-themed wedding. It's a wedding theme that is a bit on the unusual side but the wedding dress definitely is not. While it is also a beautiful white dress, there are quite a few things that make it different from the traditional Western wedding outfit. Plus, if the bride is seriously following Japanese wedding tradition, she'll need two dresses, not one.

The first wedding dress is for the ceremony only and is called a shiro-maku. It's a simple silk dress with absolutely no decorations because of its name, meaning white (shiro) and pure (maku). One unusual thing about this kimono is that the dress itself is so long that attendants need to help the bride hold it up. The bride is all in white, including her wooden clogs, socks and even her face, in order to advertise her maiden's status to the gods. Another kind of kimono is used for the wedding reception. This kimono is called the uchikake and is an elaborately decorated, brightly colored silk kimono. It's actually put on top of the shiro-maku and right after the ceremonies are over. Any color would be considered correct although the most popular one is red since it means luck and happiness.

The bride's hair is put up in an elaborate hairstyle called the bunkin-takashimada which is, more often than not, a wig. It's decorated with gold combs and hair accessories to bring good luck to the couple. During the ceremony, a white hood called the tsuno kakushi covers the bride's hair. Actually, the name means "hide the horns of jealousy" and signifies that the bride is being married willingly and vows to be a pleasant and serene wife, despite her mother-in-law! The hood is taken off at the reception to show off the beautiful hairstyle. It's not uncommon for them to change into another gown as well - a Western style one this time.

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The Popularity of Sapphire Engagement Rings

The recent engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton has sparked a renewed interest in sapphire engagement rings, thanks to Princess Diana's stunning 18 carat blue sapphire ring which Miss Middleton now wears. Sapphires are actually excellent gems for engagement rings for several reasons and can be a nice alternative to the standard diamond ring. Learn more about sapphires and decide if one might be perfect for your engagement ring.

Engagement ring styles come in and out of fashion (marquis shaped diamond, anyone?), but a few constants remain true in bridal jewelry sets. The first is that the style should transcend a particular time, since it is a piece of jewelry which will hopefully be worn for decades to come. The other is that the ring must be durable enough to withstand daily wear. That is why certain otherwise popular gems such as tanzanites or emeralds make less-than-ideal engagement ring stones. The sapphire, however, is second hardest only to diamonds, and as such makes a very practical as well as beautiful choice for bridal jewelry sets.

The sapphire is a member of the mineral family corundum, which also includes rubies. While blue sapphires are the best known, the gem can actually be found in a wide number of colors, including purple, pink, green, orange, and yellow. When a corundum reaches a certain saturation of red color, it is classified as a ruby; in any other color, the gem is a sapphire. Blue sapphires are the most popular for engagement rings for several reasons. Unlike a more vibrant hue like an orange gem, the blue color is fairly neutral, meaning it will complement any other jewelry that the woman chooses to wear with it, from bridal jewelry sets to everyday jewelry. Blue is also appropriate for a ring pledging betrothal because the color has symbolized fidelity since Biblical times.

Another excellent choice for a sapphire engagement ring is a yellow sapphire. Their popularity has increased in the last decade as a response to the yellow or canary diamond trend. A yellow sapphire can be found in a very rich hue, but costs a small fraction of a rare canary diamond. They look especially gorgeous in couture style ring settings with micro-pave diamond accents. Yellow gold prongs should be used over the yellow sapphire to help retain its rich color, and the white diamonds should be set in white gold or platinum to make them as icy as possible.

Pink sapphires are fabulous for the woman who loves very girly jewelry. A pink sapphire generally looks best set in white gold or platinum, and will usually feature side diamonds for sparkle. In fact, most sapphire engagement rings will have some diamond trim, because the sapphire itself does not have the same sparkle and fire as a diamond. When you combine the rich color of the gem with the icy sparkle of diamonds, you get the best of both worlds!

Shopping for a sapphire engagement ring is different than shopping for a diamond ring because you are going on more subjective qualities. The exact hue which most appeals to an individual is a matter of personal taste, unlike in diamonds which have a uniform color grading system. That said, there are still certain things one should look for in a sapphire. The color saturation should be even throughout the stone and you should not see any "windows", which are clear areas.

Colored gems are often cut deeper than diamonds because the extra weight on the bottom helps to make the color richer. For that reason, expect to select the gem size by its diameter, rather than the carat weight. To give you an idea, a 6.5 mm round sapphire is appropriately the same size as a 1 carat diamond, although it will probably weigh more. Always inquire about any treatments or enhancements which your sapphire may have undergone. Permanent treatments such as enhancing color with heat are fairly common and widely accepted, while the use of fillers would be a reason to pass on a gem. Without a doubt, a sapphire can make a beautiful choice for an engagement ring, whether you like a classic style like Kate Middleton's ring or something more modern and eclectic.

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Create the Perfect Seating Plan for Your Wedding Reception

The seating arrangements for your wedding reception can be a bit of a puzzle. Here are some tips for creating the perfect seating plan for your wedding reception.

Determine the number of seats and tables.
Traditional wedding reception floor plans will have the wedding party at a long table facing the guests. Some couples prefer a separate "sweetheart table". The wedding guests usually sit at round or small tables in groups of 4-20, with an average of about 8 to 12 per table. Example; for 100 guests, you'll need approximately 8 to 12 tables depending on the floor plan of your reception site. Your reception site may be able to provide you with a pre-drawn floor plan designed with the long table facing the guest tables.

If they do not have a sketch, it's pretty simple to put one together yourself. Just draw corresponding circles and squares to represent tables. Number the tables and then you can write in names as you determine who will sit where. *Note; include the DJ set up table in your sketch.

Enlist some help in seating guests.
Talk with your parents and the groom's parents about your guests and what they may have in common. Try to place people with similar backgrounds and interests at the same table. Be sure to think about any possible uncomfortable situations such as divorced or separated parents or couples. Your reception will run much more smoothly if you do this.

Determine some common interest categories.
Your list can include factors such as ages, couples, singles, families with children, elderly family and friends, guests from far away, or co-workers.

Put guests that don't know each other together.
By mixing up friends with family, you give your guests the opportunity to have interesting conversations and to get to know people who are very close to you.

Make sure couples and families with children are seated at the same table.
Be sure to place parents and small children together. No one wants to end up babysitting other people's children at your wedding reception. Consider a kids' area with food and activities if you expect to have a number of children at your reception.

Do a site survey with the place cards in the reception hall.
By going to the site and looking at the floor plan in person, you can make adjustments that can make your guests more comfortable. Some things to remember:

? Make sure older guests are near the food tables and restrooms.
? Let families with young children sit on the perimeter near an exit in case anyone gets restless.
? A guest table right next to a DJ speakers and can be a nuisance for your guests, as well as for the DJ during the announcements and while mixing your music.
? Talk to the wedding coordinator or banquet manager to make sure you are not overlooking anything in the floor plan arrangement.

Put the seating chart somewhere safe.
Store your seating chart in your wedding planning binder and a copy with your wedding planner/coordinator. Give a copy to anyone involved in setting up the wedding reception places and/or d?cor.

Tip: Consider giving your photographer and DJ a final copy of the seating chart and letting them know where your key guests are seated such as grand parents, your point person or your boss. The photographer can be sure to get a photo of them, and the DJ will know where they are seated for any special announcements or issues that may arise.

Don't stress.
With all the planning you've done, your guests should be more than accommodated. Remember, above all, your wedding day is your day. Have fun!

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A Brief Overview Of The Kannada Matrimony

Kannada Matrimony is an easy and blissful event as opposed to other wedding events in India, which are usually vibrant.

The primary custom is a ceremony called naandi in which the bride-to-be and the groom attend. The relevance of this ritual is to ensure that there aren't any disruptions with the big event. Then there is the kashi yatra. The soon-to-be husband acts as if he is departing for kashi while father of the bride or his mother's brother attempts to stop him by presenting him with the life partner that he chose. The final ritual prior to the wedding ceremony is referred to as dev karya. This custom requires the placing of the items for the wedding before lord ganesha prior to the groom's trip to the bride's home. The ritual ends with the application of turmeric paste to the bodies of both parties.

On the wedding day the first ritual that is carried out is the mandap Puja which is the purification of the hall in which the wedding will take place. After that is complete the bride's father welcomes his soon to be son-in-law by performing the var puja which is simply washing of the feet. When the bride arrives, she exchanges garlands with her husband and then the kanya daan or dhare hardu is done which is the bride is given away by her parents. It involves placing betel leaves and a coconut on the bride's neck and then pouring holy water over it. The groom then ties a mangalsutra around the bride's neck and they then make go around a holy fire seven times.

When the wedding ceremony is complete there are a few post Kannada matrimony rituals which take place. The groom first takes the bride to his house for the first time as his wife (griha pravesh). The newly wed wife knocks a vessel filled with rice with her right foot as part of that ritual.

One unique practice in Kannada matrimony is the fact that the groom carries out a naming ceremony in which he gives his spouse a fresh name and then uses a ring to write it in a plate filled with rice. The last ritual involves the brides parents hosting the new couple for a few days then the couple is fetched by the groom's parents. It all ends with a fantastic reception party which is a celebration of the union of the couple. This is where the bride is introduced to the groom's friends and extended family as the newest member of the household.

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The Simplistic Rituals Of A Tamil Matrimony

Tamil matrimony represents a practice which demonstrates the simple nature of the Tamil society, maintaining the distinct practices and customs which come before the standard wedding customs. Southern India offers its simplicity and the humbleness of the group, which is consequently reflected in their cultural traditions.

A wedding for the Tamil group is really an event of the joining between cherished ones to enjoy the celebrations. Specific to the typical matters of weddings, Tamil matrimony customs are relatively huge.

Tamil matrimony consists of several pre-wedding customs. The rituals include distinct routines like Paalikali Thalippu which involves the adorning clay pots, seven in number with sandalwood paste and also kumkum powder. They are then packed with nine varieties of grains nava dhaanyam and curd. Sumangalai Prarthanai is a practice which includes the process of consecrating the brides to be with a destiny of dying before their spouses, which is certainly thought to be fortunate. The traditions include a ritual known as Kalyanaponnu, carried out independently at the young lady and young man's home where they are bathed and anointed with perfumed oils. After this process is complete they are not expected to leave home until the wedding. Additional customs like Navgraha Pooja, Nandi Devata Pooja, Naandi Shraartham, Vritham, Nicchiyadharatham, Janavasanam are likewise observed.

The matrimonial traditions include the observation of Mangalasnanam. This is a ceremonial bath at a lucky hour early in the morning of the day of the nuptials for the Tamil bride and groom. At this juncture, aarti is carried out by the women in the household, after which the bride and groom are dressed. Then there is Gauri Pooja in which the bride pays privately to gauriamma. Pada Pooja and Kaasi Yatra are the customs which are observed after, which lead to the matrimonial proceedings.

Tamil weddings should not be kept from July fifteenth to August fifteenth- Aashad or from September fifteenth to October fifteenth- Bhadrapad and December fifteenth to January fifteenth- Shunya. This also applies to Tuesdays and Saturdays, each of which are regarded as unfavorable.

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Guidelines for Selecting the Prefect Outdoor Wedding Venue

There are a number of different choices for your wedding venue, the most common being the church. But if you want a little more excitement on the wedding day then why stick to a conventional church wedding when you can celebrate that special moment at a gorgeous outdoor wedding venue.

Finding the perfect outdoor venue for a dream day can sometimes turn into a nightmare. There are a number of factors to consider when booking an outdoor wedding venue in the Bay Area. This makes it important to begin searching for the perfect venue well in advance. However, if you do not have time on your hands, it is better to go online and search for a good outdoor wedding venue in the Bay Area. You can find many outdoor venues that provide different services such as catering, decorating and even transportation.

Finding the perfect outdoor wedding venue helps rid one of stress since there is no worry about the venue and what to do with it, anymore. Outdoor, Bay Area, wedding venues help create a theme for your wedding which sets the wedding accordingly.

Below are some guidelines on selecting the perfect wedding venue:

First, one must pick the out door venue. When deciding on the type of venue, you should consider: the weather, the arrival time, the number of guests, duration of stay, parking availability for the guests. The wedding venue should be convenient for the guests to locate and to have access.

Second, the venue selection is made while keeping the budget in mind, since there are many different expenses that occur, aside from the venue itself. The venue plays a vital role in making the memory of the wedding last forever. The venue is reflected in the wedding pictures, video, and through stories, it is important that one makes the right choice.

In order to make the correct decision regarding the venue, the types of venue are discussed in detail as follows:

? Garden Wedding -
Gardens are surrounded with beautiful greenery, flowers, and water making garden weddings a very natural environment. This gives the wedding an elegant-classic ambiance. The use and types of flowers, trees, and open space is important for a garden venue and the right garden venue must be selected to make it match with the wedding theme and the venues surrounding environment. You can find outdoor wedding venues that customize the flower decorations in a way that complements a wide verity of wedding themes.

? Beach Wedding -
These have a wide budget range: from being most economical to most expensive wedding. A beach wedding offers a very comfortable and relaxing environment offering simplicity to your choice of wedding dress and decorations. A beach wedding you will not have to spend much on the decorations, but the theme cannot be changed much.

? Banquet halls -

Banquet halls are usually used to continue the wedding celebration after the church ceremony. This is when all friends and family relatives of the wedding couple come together for the celebration. A banquet hall can be a good choice for a reception as well. It can be stylish and fun. Lightings play a key element, in banquet halls, because the venue is indoors. If you choose this option you will need to find a good event company that works with lighting and/or lighting rental companies to get the best design.

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Why Guests Have More Fun at Weddings in Leicester

Well, what can we say; people in Leicester just know how to have fun! There are many reasons why people who attend weddings in Leicester will always have a great time, and here are a few listed for you now:

Prices

Leicester is based in the heart of the country, not in the expensive South or in the overpriced North. As a result of the affordable pricing in the Midlands, newly-wed couples have far more of their wedding budget left over to spend on entertainment and personal touches, rather than it being eaten up by costly venues or caterers. So, Leicester weddings allow for more freedom when it comes to fun instead of spending every single penny on the necessities.

Location

The central location of this multi-cultural city means that everyone is able to have an easy and stress free journey to attend. With regular direct 1 hour trains from London and direct routes on the motorway your guests can arrive relaxed and fresh ready to see you make your vows to one another. Nothing is worse than having miserable guests.

Culture

Leicester is home to numerous different ethnicities and cultures and these can easily be infused into weddings which happen here. Whether it be using an ethnic caterer, using a cultural building or even having entertainment guests are often wowed by weddings in Leicester which incorporate some kind of cultural twist. There is also quite a lot for visitors to see and so if your guests are travelling a long way to attend your wedding, they could make a whole weekend of it!

There you have it, 3 reasons why people hugely enjoying attending weddings in Leicester!

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Hottest Ideas for a Stylish Summer 2011 Wedding

If you're engaged - or about to be engaged! - and are planning a wedding for the summer of 2011, be prepared for some adorable details and wild colours. As with many weddings, lots of the details are going to actually come down to the colours, and the 2011 wedding trends for colours are hot, hot, hot.

Right now, it looks like many of the colours for summertime weddings are going to be in jewel tones, building on the recent trends for deep, luscious shades. Wine colours like deep red and purple are in, as are deep orange, bright yellow, and even hot pink and lime green. These bright colours can impart a sense of fun to an otherwise formal occasion.

Of course, we've got to have other colours to tone down our brightness. Following on the trends of the last year or so, black is in right now. In fact, many bridesmaids are ending up with black dresses and different coloured bouquets, which can be very visually striking, especially if the bouquets are particularly bright colours. Other tone-down colours include chocolate brown, which has become ubiquitous in wedding ideas for now, and dove grey, which is a new colour coming out particularly in Vera Wang wedding dresses.

Wedding invitation trends for summer weddings are ranging from the traditional white and ivory invitations to those with interesting ink colours and the bright colours of the season. One of the interesting things that's happening with wedding invites right now is that many of them are becoming more eco-friendly. If you want to give your wedding a 'green' feel, start by ordering post-consumer recycled paper for your invitations and by using eco-friendly soy inks, both hot trends for the summer of 2011.

Wedding dresses with 2011 wedding trends are featuring lots of tulle overlays, which can be elegantly summery. Rather than the simple, clean lines of the past, today's dresses are getting all sorts of interesting cuts and details. For a summer wedding, select a light dress that has beautiful details like corsages of flowers at the waist or neckline. Gathered and overlaid bodices are still very popular, and they can be completely flattering for many brides who want to cover up figure flaws.

As in the past few years, simple weddings and destination weddings are becoming more and more popular. People are trying to add romance to their wedding days without worrying too much about the details. Weddings in 2011 are going to be focused less on traditional items and more on personalised details for the bride and groom and their guests. If you're planning a wedding for next summer, why not see how you can shake up tradition and have a more interesting wedding day by changing around traditional times, themes, and meals?

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Wedding Cakes and Their Prices

Wedding cakes play a great role on a wedding day occasion. It is the centerpiece of all the food that is made for the guest. It also represents the couple that is being wed. if you are budget conscious then you ought to know how much a cake should cost. If you want to know how a cake would cost, then continue reading this article. You might just learn a thing or two about how much cakes should cost.

The costs of wedding cakes depend on the design, the size, and the ingredients used for the cake. The bigger the wedding cake, the more intricate the designs are made the higher the price would be. Fondant cakes have higher cost than other cakes like buttercream cakes. Additional cost would arise if you want intricate designs like molded shapes, hand-made sugar-flower detailing and added vibrant colors. Usually, slices of these kinds of cakes would range from $1.5 to $12 per slice.

The Bridal Association of America declared that the average cost of a wedding cake is $543.00. If you think this is expensive then try having your guests given only one-half of a slice. Since the guests only eat half of the cake and leave the other half on the table, giving them half slices would be alright. If you want to have tiered cakes, then you must be prepared to pay an additional of $50 to $100 to get it delivered. This depends on the distance to where the cake would be delivered and the size of the cake. A simple way of avoiding this additional payment is getting the cake from the makers yourself of having a close friend get it for you. With these rough estimates, you may get some data on how to go about with the wedding cake that you like.

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The Top 3 Wedding Locations

The process of getting married is a wonderful and exciting experience. If you think about the fact that there are thousands of people who get married everyday or the fact that you will be spending the rest of your life with one person. Weddings can be quite a pleasant experience

Weddings can be planned to your perfection.Weddings can be exotic or traditional based on the amount of money you are willing to spend and also cater to the taste and fancies of the bride and groom.

Las Vegas is on the top of the list of destinations for brides and grooms to get married.Every body wants to go to Sin city for their marriage.

There are many wedding chapels and hotel rooms and amenities available at Las Vegas to choose from. It also caters to a couple's budget ranging from a few hundred dollars up to several thousands of dollars based on the couple's choices.

The second best place to get married on the top destinations list is the Niagara Falls. The charm attracts a lot of Americans and Canadians couples to tie the not there.

Weddings are now an industry at the falls with many hotels having come up and package tours being organized for the guests after the wedding program.

Third on the list has belonged to the Hawaiian Islands. The Islands have wonderful weather round the year. This gives couples the added advantage of having an outdoor wedding thanks to the beautiful weather.

Weddings on the beach with small ceremonies and only friends and family are a very common sight. Large weddings are accommodated in hotels which have excellent facilities and are more than willing to work with the bride and groom to create a wonderful experience for the couple and their guests.

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Wedding Venue - Planning Your Wedding On A Budget

Weddings can be costly with expenses ranging from: food, venue, decorations, and lighting amongst other things. However, you can work the smart way and reduce your wedding budget by a great extent. First step towards an inexpensive wedding is through the wedding venue. Now days, the venue rental fees are high due to an increase in demand for unusual-unique venues. Couples are looking for something more extravagant in place of the traditional church wedding. The venue can cost a lot and is the bulk of the budget amongst most weddings. Couples tend to cut costs through spending less on their venue in order to make their special day.

Second, way to save money is through booking wedding packages that include a place for the wedding reception. You can save a great deal of money and have a great wedding. Through wedding packages the venue takes care of everything relieving some stress. Before booking wedding packages that include the reception the couple needs to decide on a per-person/individual budget thus the best wedding package can be chosen for your perfect day. The wedding packages help to increase the personalization of ones wedding. The venue organizer will work with you to achieve the look and feel you desire.

You can also consider other places like elegant nightclubs, a favorite restaurant, local galleries and any other type of place that might appeal to you. All you need is a little creativity and you can a have a great wedding. You can inquire for a newly opened venue because they might provide you with a discount for their publicity. If you are planning a wedding with a large amount of guests consider having the wedding in a warehouse or if out doors is your theme then look at golf courses. A wedding planner can help you with finding large venues, getting the venue decorated, and elegantly lit.

Lastly another way to plan your wedding on a budget is to consider planning it in the suburbs. Out of town/city wedding reception halls are cheaper than the ones located in bigger metropolitan cities. Another way is to hire a place where you can have both the ceremony and reception. Outdoor wedding venues are great and you can decorate them any way you wish. You can check websites that provide these services for more information. These websites also provide discounts, which is really easy on the budget. Outdoor wedding venues Bay Area in Oakland, California is one of the best venues for such a grand occasion. Hope, you found this article informative and helpful.

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Worst Wedding Trends of 2010

2010 saw many excellent wedding trends take hold, but also a few real duds. Check out this list of the worst wedding trends of the year. Here's hoping they disappear for 2011!

Wedding Social Networking Overload: Can't anyone get married without tweeting from the ceremony ("getting married now"), updating their Facebook status at the altar, or posting a wedding video to YouTube on their wedding night? Sharing a few pictures of your wedding with your Facebook friends is one thing, but people are taking it to a whole new extreme. Remember that all of the most important people in your life are already at your wedding - sharing every little detail with your casual acquaintances is not necessary, especially when it takes time away from actually enjoying your wedding or honeymoon.

Choreographed Dances: Enough already! First people were doing ridiculous first dances at the reception (surprise! - we are doing the theme from "Rocky" instead of dancing to something romantic). Then there were alarming father / bride choreographed first dances (really, you think it's a good idea to dance to "Baby Got Back" with your daddy?). And let's not forget the choreographed wedding processional (thanks for sparking a horrible trend, JK Wedding Entrance Dance!). Let's hope that in 2011, newlyweds can share a romantic first dance and walk down the aisle with dignity. It's about time.

Wacky Props: It seems as though couples are really afraid that their guests will find their weddings boring. Apparently it is no longer enough to wear a beautiful gown and pearl bridal jewelry, serve a delicious meal in an elegant location, and hire a fantastic band. One of the trends for 2010 was to lay out wacky props that guests could wear in photographs - fake mustaches, big glasses, monocles, wigs, you get the idea. I guess the idea is to take a few pictures of the bride wearing a fake mustache to complement her pearl bridal jewelry and to post it on Facebook before the cake has even been cut. Although the idea is harmless enough, the wacky props simply are not necessary and don't exactly fit with an elegant wedding.

Wedding as Fundraiser: We all know that the economy has been tough, but that is no excuse for using your wedding as a fundraiser for the bride and groom. You hear of couples having money dances, setting up wishing wells, and even raffling off the garter to try to get more cash out of their guests. While the money dance may be customary in certain cultures, in 2010 far too many brides tried to get away with appropriating it for their own weddings, even though it was not a tradition in their family. Shaking down wedding guests is just plain tacky, and let's hope that trend fades away for 2011.

Trends come and go for weddings each year, while customs and traditions hold more steady. Including a few current trends can be a great way to make your wedding feel fresh and modern, but it is important to pick wisely. Let's hope that the above trends will be seen as "so last year" when the 2011 brides have their weddings!

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Mother of the Groom Duties and Responsibilities

The mother of the groom traditionally plays a support role in the wedding planning process. Today, many couples' families are splitting costs for the wedding, so her role can be more defined in the planning process. Here is what is expected of the mother of the groom.

Engagement Announcement

? Call the bride's parents to communicate your family's happiness for the couple. It is also proper to extend an invitation to dinner.
? Introduce the bride to your side of the family at a dinner or other family get-together.
? Co-host an engagement party with the bride's parents for the couple.

Planning Period

? Know what wedding expenses are expected of your family.
? Offer to be a point of contact, if the couple is to be married in your town.
? Offer to help scout locations for the wedding and reception.
? Put together a list of the groom's family and contact information, after you receive a number of guests from the bride and groom.
? Purchase a gift and go to the bridal shower.
? Talk to the bride's mother about what she will wear and purchase your outfit about four to six months before the wedding.
? Keep track of RSVPs on invitations.
? Offer to call anyone on your side of the family who has not responded three to four weeks before the big day.
? Let the groom's side of the list know where the couple is registered.
? Plan the rehearsal dinner at least six months before the wedding. The dinner is hosted the day before the wedding.

At the Wedding

? Take your place in the receiving line after the bride and groom (with the groom's father) at the reception.
? Sit at the parent's table.
? Dance with your Son in the mother and son dance.

When There Isn't a Mother of the Groom

Choose a close, female relative or old family friend to assume this role. She can be a grandmother, aunt, sister or other woman important to the groom. This person should be asked to assume this role, and she should be consulted just as if she were the groom's mother.

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How To Assemble Your Wedding Day Wardrobe

It takes quite a bit of planning to get ready for your wedding day. In addition to all of the event parts of the day you have to arrange, you, as the bride, have to look your best. You will be posing for pictures all day and people's eyes will be on you during the ceremony and reception. Most brides want to look better on their wedding day than ever before and are willing to invest a great deal of time and effort into creating just the right look. To look fabulous for your special day means more than just having the wedding gown of your dreams. Once you have chosen the dress, there are plenty of things you need to go along with it. A great pair of Vibram fivefinger shoes or Thierry Rabotin shoes will have your feet looking great and feeling comfortable. You will be standing a lot on your wedding day, so make sure you choose a style that is supportive, comfortable and stylish.

To ensure your dress looks as good as it possibly can, be sure you choose the right underclothes. Foundation garments can alter the shape of your body so you are closer to your ideal size and body type. While they may not be able to work miracles, they can give you a defined waist and help you stand taller. When trying on your dress, be sure to do so with the appropriate undergarments. This helps the seamstress create alterations to the gown that will be form-fitted to your altered shape.

You can pair great pieces of jewelry with your gown. The dress will set the tone for the jewelry, so try everything on together before the big day. More ornate gowns will look better with simpler pieces of jewelry. If you have chosen a plain dress, give it a punch with one bold accessory. Remember, the jewelry will be in every photograph you are in, so be sure the pieces are something you love and that will still be considered elegant in years to come.

The veil is one of the most important parts of the wedding day look. Many brides are option for different styles of veils these days, so do not limit yourself to what may be considered standard. In some cases, brides are foregoing the veil altogether and option for hair accessories that are bold. Like the jewelry, the headpiece should coordinate with the dress, so try it all on together so you know that it works. If you are uncomfortable wearing the veil all through the reception, or you are having a tough time deciding between a hair accessory and a veil, consider doing both.

Finally, consider having a traditional going-away outfit or a different reception outfit. Wedding gowns are often bulky and heavy, so if you want to be comfortable and let loose at the reception, choose a different dress that is easier to move in. However, remember how expensive gowns can get, so do not cheat yourself out of time to wear the dress which will only be available to you one day out of your entire life. You may want to slip into something more comfortable a few hours into the reception, shortly before you are ready to leave.

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Advantages of Opting a Wedding Suit or Tuxedo Hire

One of the main arrangement or requirement of a wedding involves the attires of the wedding and the groom. However, the enthusiasm with which the wedding gown of a bride is chosen often vanishes when it comes to the dress of the groom. Most of the times, you will find a groom wearing the plain old black suit in his wedding. This happens either due to the lack of fashion sense or due to the fear of the groom to go wrong in his dressing. To help the grooms in selecting a unique and extremely stylish suit for his wedding, many wedding suit hire companies have emerged in the market. These suit rental companies provide a good variety and choice in different types of wedding suites that can make a groom stand out in the crowd.

By opting for a wedding or formal wear hire you get the advantage of selecting an expensive category of suit for your special occasion. Good suit hire companies offer you a large variety in class, materials, styles, and colors of suites so that you can choose the most suitable one. Purchasing an expensive class of suit means, a costly investment and any other specific additions as per your personal choice add another chunk of money to it. However, when you choose an expensive class of suit from a suit hire company, you don't have to bother about the cost of it. Even the color or design specifications do not make much difference to its rental prices and will always come much lesser than its actual price.

Many of these companies also offer you helpers and fashion specialists to assist you in choosing the most appropriate suit as per the occasion. They give you free and satisfying trials of the suits to estimate the correct fittings along with facilitating the required alterations. Amongst the different class of suits, one very popular category includes tuxedos. Tuxedos have remained a favorable choice of people from any years, as it stands perfect for many types of occasions. This is the reason that many tuxedo hire companies prevail in market. With the changing times, the traditional image of tuxedo being black and plain has changed and nowadays there is a quantum of variety in tuxedos available in the market. Tuxedo hire companies facilitate different styles and colors of tuxedos for various types of occasions available at best affordable prices.

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Wedding Bands And Key Information

Hello and welcome to all our website viewers. To know all about wedding bands you have come to the right place as we have all kinds of information on wedding bands. These are probably the most important part of a wedding and to choose the right one is no easy task.

The most generally used bands are the plain ones which are traditional. However, more and more people are heading towards designer jewelry because they feel the need for their wedding ring to look really special. A lot of men hardly wear any kind of jewelry and for them this may be their only chance at getting something snazzy.

These symbolizes an eternal bond and a communion of two people in mind, body and soul. It has to be rather special to symbolize everything that a couple wants but that too within the budget that has been planned.

Gold, platinum or silver

Most people like to get their wedding rings made in the above metals. Out of the three, the gold bands are what are most commonly seen. If one is looking for a plain wedding band with traditional values then a gold band will be the best to get. It is also not as heavy on the pocket as platinum and is not as cheap as silver rings.

You will be able to get gold in various densities but the popular ones are 14karat and 18karat. The 14 karat gold is most stable but does not have the sheen that an 18 karat will give you. However, the 18 karat is softer and can get easily scratched at anytime. Those who want to opt for silver must remember that it is prone to color fade. Platinum is the most expensive of the lot.

Styles

You can use any ring that takes your fancy as a wedding ring. However there are basic distinctions that are available in the traditional wedding bands itself. You can find either traditional ones or you can go for decorated bands. You will have the option to choose from flat bands which in most cases decorative or unique wedding bands that are half round or you can even try out the comfort fits which gets its name because it is very smooth and heavy which makes it very easy to wear.

Engraving

Most wedding band sets have something engraved on the side of the ring. Your jeweler will be able to engrave almost everything you want from words to numbers to even any kind of symbols. Sometimes people also like to engrave personalized phrases inside of the ring. You must do whatever gives you the feeling that this unique ring has been specially made for you and your partner.

Ring size

To determine the size of your ring you will have to visit a jeweler. There are two types of size determinants and they are used according what kind of women's wedding band or men's wedding band you would like. They have one based on thick rings and one based on thin rings.

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20 More Questions to Ask a Wedding Photographer

Preserving the memories of your wedding day starts with choosing the right photographer. For some brides and grooms, selecting this professional is the most important decision you will make in planning your special day.

The best way to start investigating your photographer is to ask friends and family for recommendations. It's also wise to consider your budget for a photographer. Also, consider where you are hosting the wedding. A fantastic photographer from your home town may not be able to travel to your destination. Wedding professionals such as a resort wedding coordinator may be a better source for recommendations.

When looking closer to home than a place such as Bermuda, hearing the name more than once from friends and relatives is a good place to start. For far-away destination weddings, you may have to rely more on phone interviews with the photographer and/or references and samples. Regardless of your wedding location, your questions for a photographer may be very similar. Here are 20 questions for the wedding photographer to get you started in making this important decision.

1. Discuss your style ideas (formal, informal, candid, etc.) and ask the photographer for suggestions. Ask about specific experience in these areas.

2. What is your (the bride) involvement in shot direction? Will the photographer provide a list of packaged shots and charge extra for any not on the list?

3. If you're working with a large photography company, can you meet with the photographer who is actually shooting your wedding? Will there be any assistants?

4. How many weddings has the photographer covered? Are weddings their specialty or something they do in addition to other photography work?

5. What type of photos can you expect? Color, black and white? Film or digital?

6. What type of equipment does the photographer use? Does the photographer provide all the equipment? What arrangements will you need for setup?

7. Does the photographer have backup equipment in the case of failure? What is the backup plan if there is an emergency?

8. How much time will be needed to shoot the photos? This will help you plan for travel and reception details.

9. Does the photographer events other than ours scheduled for that day or weekend? Will that cause any conflicts or delays?

10. Has the photographer handled similar weddings (size and style)?

11. Does the photographer belong to any associations or professional groups?

12. Will the equipment be obtrusive or discreet? Will you need any modifications to the wedding setup, or will you work around our plans?

13. Does the photographer carry liability insurance and provide proof?

14. Ask for a few references? Ask if you may contact them personally.

15. Can you review a copy of the contract before we sign it?

16. What are all of the package choices available?

17. Who does the film or digital processing? If someone else, what are their qualifications? What assurance do you have if the film is lost?

18. What type of material is used? What brand? What finish?

19. Can we purchase the negatives or storage media? If not, why?

20. What sets you above other photographers for our wedding?

These questions are a basic overview of what you should ask the photographer. Your individual wedding plans will play into it, but this should get you started.

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5 Bridal Tiara Styles to Consider for Your Wedding Day

When you are a bride thinking of the zillion of things you have to plan for your wedding day - choosing a hair accessory is something that might be easy to put off until the last minute. But here's the thing - a lovely hairpiece can be the perfect finishing touch for any bride.

One of the best ways to adorn your hair is a wearing a bridal tiara. If you thought tiaras were only for beauty and prom queens - think again. There are literally hundreds of styles of bridal tiaras to consider for your wedding day including crystal, pearls and rhinestones hair pieces. Bridal tiaras can be found in most any bridal store as well as online and many have matching jewelry sets as well.

The prices vary depending on what kind of tiara you choose - but the good news is they run the gamut no matter your budget. Here are five styles of bridal tiaras to consider for your wedding day:

Pearl bridal tiaras Pearl tiaras tend to go best with ivory or off-white dresses - especially gowns with inlaid pearl on the waste-band or bodice. Since many brides wear pearl necklaces, these tiaras are especially becoming. Depending on your budget, you can buy tiaras with real or faux pearls.

Crystal bridal tiaras Crystal tiaras are a lot of fun - and beautiful. They can be big, bold three or four strand sparkling bands with Swarovski crystals or for those who yearn for a little sparkle but not too much might go for a one strand crystal tiara.

Colored tiaras For brides that yearn for color there are many crystal and rhinestone tiaras in just about any color scheme including red, blue, gold and silver. Brides with dark hair might choose a faux ruby-stoned tiara while those with lighter colored hair might look at pink or blue crystal tiaras.

Color tiaras are also perfect accessories for bridesmaids. For example, your bridesmaids can wear one-strand pink crystal tiaras while you as the bride can adorn a multi-strand tiara with a similar color theme.

Rhinestone tiaras Sparkling rhinestones are glamorous and beautiful -- no matter the color of your hair or style of your dress. Many of these bands come in different colors from the more traditional silver and gold to sparking reds and blues. Some rhinestone tiaras feature radiant floral arrangements accented with crystals and pearls, while others are more simple and elegant one-strand bands.

Satin Tiaras: Satin tiaras are pure refined elegance with a touch of vintage. Many satin tiaras come with small crystal or pearl ornaments and can tie beautifully around an upswept hair style. These bands are best with evening-gown styled wedding dresses that evoke an elegant period of long ago.

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Wedding Is the Highly Memorable Occasion In Spain

A Spanish wedding is seen not as an occasion to make merry, but a serious and sometimes even bothering duty. These weddings are highly profitable undertakings, which can result for the spouses in net earnings of millions of pesetas. Much preparation is involved in such weddings. Almost every family member is a part of the ceremony. Cost is usually not a factor when one considers these weddings as an investment.

A Spanish Bride:

The most striking sights at a Spanish wedding are the bride and her choice of dress. In past times a black dress and black veil were considered appropriate. In modern days, bride wears white or antique white. Most gowns are still very long and graceful with a veil. Most dresses have a complex hand-woven detail. There is always Spanish lace to praise the beautiful gown.

The Family and Spanish Weddings:

Both the bride and groom's families come together to celebrate what is considered one of the life's most wonderful events. The bride is always seen as the most beautiful woman in the room. It is wish of everyone to be well-dressed. Men look in their best suits and women in wonderful gowns. A woman should decide to wear a strapless gown. It is considered appropriate to her to wear a covering shawl.

Unexpected Ceremony in Tradition:

The culture and religion of Spain are one of the main components of a wedding in Spain. It is common to expect a wonderful sequence of events that usually begins at the groom's family home. It is either here or at the groom's Godmother's home where the family will gather before beginning their travel to the church. The Godmother guides him to be met by the bride who is accompanied by her Godfather. From this point, the bride and groom remain together. Prior to entering the church the bride is presented with a traditional gift of thirteen Spanish coins by her groom. These will be blessed by the Priest to implore prosperity.

At this ceremony, guests will find a church that is filled with orange blossoms. These blossoms are representative of wealth, fulfillment, and happiness. Mostly, brides prefer these flowers. The bride and groom traditionally exchange their rings in that church. In Spain, rings are placed on the right hand as opposed to the left hand.

The beauty of a Spanish wedding is nothing less than spectacular and is something that everyone who attends will remember for a long time to come. After everyone leaves the church, they meet the bride and groom at the reception where the celebration continues. Every effort is taken to make a wedding in Spain a truly memorable occasion!

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Getting a Budget Wedding Gown

From the time a girl is young, she started dreaming for the fairytale way of wedding, like a princess gown of wedding to match to meet the budget wedding gowns that must not be the part of fantasy. Conversely, as soon as one grows up, you will realize that these princess gowns come up with the princely royal price.

At the time, when you're able to pay thousands of dollars for your dress, so you, most of the time, pay extra for the label than the quality of the dress you are offered to. Most of the dresses, either they are being knocked off or couture, are made with the fabrics of the same counties and are made by the unchanged people.

However, if you are interested in buying through the name of the wedding brand gown, prefer to buy online. There many discounted wedding gown websites that offer you a less price with more discounts.

There will be not different in the quality of dress of local shop or buying through online markets, but you should make sure that particular shop must be offering you money back guarantees against their all purchases.

Another option is when you are not fixed with style, so to pay a visit at the clearance side of local bridal stores. As compare to the full price bridal gowns, these clearance sides will offer you beautiful dress at very low cost.

Another option is to buy dress through the eBay makers as they usually live somewhere in china and will list you the price under 300 USD.

In addition, you may go to the eBay sites and order some of your styles to the dress makers so that it will add your touch too. Again, you must contact to those who offer you a money back guarantee.

By going with above points, you can make you big day devoid of paying a big price.

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Options For Bridal Shower Themes

Hosting the bridal shower is usually the responsibility of the maid or matron of honour although the bridesmaids can also pitch in. As the name implies, it is an opportunity every female member of the entourage, of the family and of the guest list - or only those invited to the event - to shower the bride with their gifts. More importantly, a bridal shower is a fun activity for both bride and her family and friends.

Choose a theme for the bridal shower. In this way, you can plan the games, menu and other activities around the chosen theme. You will then be able to pull off a bridal shower that's not only fun but also as organized as can be, which will definitely earn raves from the bride.

The chosen theme can be anything that the bride likes and loves. Keep in mind that the bride is the star of the show so it pays to know what kinds of things will make her happy on her bridal shower. In fact, you can organize the event so that the bride will feel pampered, relaxed and just enjoying the company of family and friends instead of worrying about the details of her wedding.

And speaking of pampering the bride, many a maid of honour books an entire spa or salon for the bridal shower. Then all the attendees will be pampered from head to toe. But if that's way beyond your budget, you can recreate the atmosphere in these places of rest and relaxation. Then, your invited guests can be instructed to provide gifts like spa certificates for the bride.

If you can let your imagination run wild and then balance it with what the bride will love in her bridal shower, you can come up with more ideas to choose from. We made your job easier by offering these tried and tested bridal shower themes.

? Tea Party - Instruct the guests to come in tea party attire. The menu will be scones and other finger foods along with a selection of teas. It's a chance to dress up like ladies who lunch.

? Lingerie - The bride will be provided with luxurious lingerie from the sultry to the naughty as well as other thingamajigs that can be used during the honeymoon.

? Ethnic - If the bride is proud of her heritage, the bridal shower theme can revolve around her ethic traditions. Thus, the d?cor, menu and games will have an ethnic flavour while the gifts can be authentic items from her country, too.

? Garden Party - The venue can be the garden in spring while the food and beverage reflect the season. The guests can bring gifts related to gardens and gardening.

? Pajama Party - This is similar to a sleepover party, which is popular among close friends. The night can be filled with all things girly like pedicures and manicures, fashion shows and beauty tips and, of course, plenty of naughty girl talk.

You can organize a bridal shower around any kind of theme that you can think of. Just remember that you want to make the bride happy and, in so doing, make her guests happy, too.

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Great Gift Ideas For Your Bridal Party

If your wedding is right around the corner, you may be shopping for thank you gifts for your bridal party. While the majority of the focus of the day will be on you and your spouse, you will want to take a moment to let those surrounding you know how much you appreciate their effort and support. Different bridal parties contribute different amounts and you may have a bridal party that was there to help you every step of the way. If this is the case, you will really want to go all out thanking them. Even if your bridal party was not overly involved, but you knew they would be there on the big day, it is important to give them a token of thanks. One of the most popular gifts for the bridal party is artisan jewelry. Sundance jewelry is a great way to say thank you and you can even coordinate the pieces with the bridesmaid's gowns so the girls will coordinate on your big day. The pieces can be worn later with different outfits.

Another idea for bridal gifts is to give purses or handbags. Many brides are opting to have their girls carry handbags down the aisle instead of bouquets of flowers. This gives the ceremony a more modern look and it saves money. It also avoids having bunches of flowers that do not last past the big day. Handbags can coordinate with the bridesmaid's gowns and it gives the girls an easy way to carry tissues, lipstick and other items they may want to have with them during the wedding. If you are more traditional and you want to stick with flowers, consider giving handbags as the gift that the girls can use at the reception for their belongings or even use after the wedding.

Spa days are usually a big hit with bridesmaids and they can be given in preparation for the wedding or as a chance to relax once the wedding is over. Everyone can get together for a spa day to get ready for the wedding and have their hair done and a manicure and pedicure. This way if anyone in your bridal party is unable to afford it, you ensure they are looking and feeling their best for the big day. If you prefer, you can give the spa day for the weeks before or after the wedding.

If you are not sure exactly what to get your girls for a thank you gift, you can always opt for gift cards. This allows them to buy exactly what they want. You can even give them in advance so if they need to pick up any accessories for the wedding, they can use the gift card to make the purchase.

A final option for a thank you wedding gift is a memento from the wedding. You can even pair this with another of the gifts from the list. Giving your bridesmaids a group picture or a picture with the bride from the big day is a great way to remember their role in your special day.

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Getting Married in Las Vegas Is Romantic and Fun

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Well almost everything. With over three hundred weddings per day, a lot of people are leaving Vegas married. A new husband or wife is not something you can leave behind very easily. While marriage is a big decision, getting married in Las Vegas is an easy one to make. With hundreds of wedding venues to choose from, almost anyone's dream wedding can become reality. Las Vegas is the only place in the world where a couple can be married in a pyramid and then visit the Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower, and ride in a gondola along a village canal all in the same night. Nowhere else in the world could a couple see the Phantom of the Opera, play black jack, and then have dinner on top of the world.

A couple can choose to be married at one of Las Vegas' famous hotels or a wedding chapel frequented by celebrity couples. There are specialty wedding venues off the strip that cater to a couples style and budget. There are cowboy themed weddings where a couple can be married in an old wooden chapel with grand views of the Red Rock Canyons. For the adventurous couple getting married on a roller coaster or flown into the Grand Canyon may make their wildest dreams come true.

To capture all the romance and emotion of the wedding day a professional photographer is a must. Notice I said "professional" photographer. There are many people who buy a camera and start clicking away on auto. However, just because they bought an expensive camera and advertise on Craigslist does not mean they are any good. A novice can pick up a camera and take a thousand pictures just to have one or two great images. These will be the images they display on their website or wherever they advertise. When it comes to choosing a professional photographer there are some things a bride and groom should know.

Here is my list of what to look for when choosing your Las Vegas wedding photographer:

Style. Look at the photographers portfolio, usually found on their website or blog. A professional photographer will have a blog that is constantly updated with current photography shoots. You will be able to see hundreds of pictures which will help evaluate how the photographer shoots. Does the photographer have a journalistic style, traditional style, lifestyle, or edgy style and do you want that style to be showcased in your wedding album? Some photographers are stuck in there ways and if they shoot traditional style with formal poses they may not be able to shoot in a journalistic style.

Personality. This is a deal breaker, if a photographer does not have the ability to be personal or inviting the photography process will be painful. Get to know your photographer through their blog and read what other brides are writing about them. If you are out of state the blog will help you gauge the photographers personality so there are no surprises on the wedding day.

Contract. A professional photographer will have a contract spelling out exactly what services they are providing. There are also explanations regarding what the photographer will do in case of sickness or other extenuating circumstances. Photographers are human so they can get sick causing them not to show up on the wedding day. The contact will usually include the name of a back up photographer with a similar style. The back up photographer will be able to cover your wedding with similar quality photography. The contract will also spell out exactly what is included in the photography package, including turnaround times. The contract helps weed out shoot-and-run photographers.

No matter where in Las Vegas you choose to take your vows, your wedding photography will be the only physical memory from your wedding day. The investment of getting a professional photographer will pay huge dividends each time you open your album and recall the feelings you had on that special day.

As part owner of Red Rock Studios Vance has been involved with hundreds of weddings both in Las Vegas and throughout the world. At one point Vance participated in a wedding on the Island of Borneo in the South China sea. The wedding was held in a traditional long-house in a remote village in Sarawak, Malaysia. As an honored guest Vance was able to view the traditional ceremonies of the Iban tribal marriage. Very few Americans ever get to witness such ceremonies. Vance is very active in the Las Vegas wedding industry. Red Rock Studios is a premier wedding photography studio and its Las Vegas photographers are professional and fun.

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All About Bonbonnieres

Bonbonniere is the Italian term for a favour or a small gift is given to the guests after the conclusion of special occasions such as weddings. Unlike the American concept, the bonbonniere is usually made from Jordan almonds with their colours and quantity depending on the occasion.

Thus, for weddings, the bonbonniere is usually a set of five white sugared almonds to symbolize wealth, happiness, health, fertility and long life. For other occasions, it can be light blue or pink for a baptism or a birthday depending on the gender of the celebrant, red for a graduation, and silver for a 25-year wedding anniversary.

The sugared almonds are then placed inside a small fabric bag, either tulle or satin, and then tied with the choice of coloured ribbons. Others may choose to finish off the favour by adorning it with artificial paper flowers or dried flowers. It is also possible to place the entire bag into yet another container, say, a bottle made from glass, silver, crystal or porcelain.

You are only limited by your own imagination when making your own wedding bonbonniere. It is even acceptable to veer away from the Italian tradition by giving other sweet treats inside the bag instead of the sugared and coloured Jordan almonds. This way, you can inject your own sense of style into the bonbonniere while making everybody happy with your meaningful token of thanks.

You can choose to either order the bonbonniere ready-made from a wedding favours site or make the favours yourself. The latter allows for more savings and more personalized touches since you can add a poem, a short verse or just a note to the favour.

If Jordan almonds are not in your alley, you can choose other edible gifts. Chocolates, candies and nuts are good ideas as these food items will hold their shape for a longer time than cupcakes can. Just make sure that these will not be spoiled by the time your guests receive and then eat them after your wedding reception.

You may also order these sugary treats so that you have more time to decorate the bags and the containers. Although making the candies is admirable and thoughtful, you are left with little time for other more important matters for the wedding. Be sure to order the edible goodies so that these things are delivered at least a week before the wedding, which will give you and your assistants time to warp them up every so beautifully.

Many brides are also ordering other non-edible items for their bonbonniere. Examples include scented soaps and candles, charming trinkets and thingamajigs, and even cute photo frames. You will be surprise at the wide range of possible wedding favours that will bust your heart with their cuteness while not busting your pockets.

Order 10-20 more favours just in case there are additional guests who failed to give their RSVP. Don't forget to order at least a couple for yourself. You also want to enjoy your bonbonniere during your honeymoon!

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How to Plan the Perfect Wedding Ceremony

By Margaret Moore Margaret Moore
Level: Basic

Margaret Moore is the Senior Planner for Simple Elegance Event and Wedding Designs, located in Bloomington, Illinois. Margaret graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a ...

What is the real focus of this day? The Ceremony! The whole reason for the day is the fact that you have found the love of your life. The most important moment is when you say, "I DO." It is the moment when two lives join. Two families unite and a new generation is born, that is so awesome. There is so much focus put on the dress, the reception, and the flowers; let us not forget the most important part of the day. Let's talk Ceremony.

Your Wedding Ceremony should be full of meaning, reflecting the story of you and your fianc. So let's break it down into three doable pieces.

Music and Reading SelectionsCeremony itself includes the Opening Commentary, Declarations of Intent, Exchange of Wedding vows, Blessing of the rings, Exchange of rings.Reflections of you and your fianc.

First, here is a typical Order for a Ceremony. Pretty generic, how do we make it special.

Ushers seat the guests (Prelude music playing)Special music beginsMothers/parents/VIPs enter and light candelabrasParents of the Bride and Groom are seatedThe Minister and Groom enter and proceed to the frontThe Bridal party enters and proceeds to the frontThe Ring Bearer and/or Flower Girl enter, proceed to front, sit downMusic concludes for bridal partyUshers unroll the aisle runnerThe Minister asks the audience to rise and welcome the BrideMusic begins for the Bride's entrance (Processional music)The Bride and her escort enter, and are met by the GroomBride's music concludes.Opening commentaryBride and Groom light "family candles" to represent their familiesBride and Groom present flowers to parents and/or VIPs"Declarations Of Intent" by Bride and GroomFirst reading (religious or romantic literature)Musical interlude (solo, etc.)Second readingSpecial music (musical interlude, or musical and vocal performance)Exchange of wedding vows (traditional or customized)Blessing of the ringsExchange of wedding rings (traditional or customized)Minister's prayer of blessing for the Bride and GroomBride and Groom light Unity Candle (music in background)Final commentaryBride and Groom kissIntroduction of the new couple by the MinisterRecessional music beginsBride and Groom exitBridal party exitsMinister's instructions to the audience.

Let's make this the ceremony that people talk about. A year after the wedding what do you want to hear from your guests? What will they say about the ceremony? I want them to walk away saying that was the most touching wedding I have ever been at. I felt so connected with the whole event.

1. The Music and Readings will influence every aspect of your ceremony.

The mood and ambiance you want to create begins with the music. Take the time to think about your guests. Was there a special song that your Grandparents waltzed to when they were young? What music touches your heart? When the room goes silent, the doors open what music can you hear as you put your arm in your father's arm and begin to walk to you new life?The music played while your Mothers light the Unity Candle will reflect two families. We had one Bride and Groom have an instrumental of "Someone to Watch Over Me" play, and as the Moms lit the candles a reader expressed the Bride and Groom's thoughts about the love and support their parents had given them, as they became adults. There was not a dry eye in the house! They were simple, sweet, and short thoughts that were very touching and truly set the loving tone for the rest of the day.The lighting of the Unity Candle by the Bride and Groom can be special. The same couple had an instrumental played and as they lit the candle, the parents had a reader express their love for their children. Again not a dry eye in the house! They then presented each Mom with a rose that had a pretty silver key chain with their an picture and a poem on the other side. What a nice keepsake for the Moms.Someone you care about should do the Readings. Readings can come from The Bible where you can find many scriptures that reflect the quality of love. You can use poetry or excerpts of a Novel. You will have to check with your Officiate to determine what is acceptable.

2. The Ceremony Itself

Talk with your Officiate about their opening comments. How much can you influence this? Ask if you can get an overview of what he is going to say. This can be touchy; some Officiates may be pretty set in their ways. Talk it over with them and let them know what you want. Some Officiates will include a cute loving story of how you met. You want it to be personal, not cheesy.Exchange of Vows, This is a personal choice. Do you want the traditional exchange or are you going to write your own. Again, you will have to consult with your Officiate to find out what is acceptable to him or her.

3. Your Ceremony should reflect you and your fiance. There should be personal touches wherever you look.

Personalize your runner by adding your Monogram in the center or on the ends.Programs can be made interesting to read. Rather than having, the same old program, make it special. You can highlight the basics that everyone includes but then add a paragraph on how you met, a funny moment in your relationship. We had one Bride that didn't even put anything about the ceremony. She wanted people to know about the people in the wedding. She then included a poem about growing up on the cover titled, "Suddenly." The inside cover was a letter from the Bride and Groom genuinely thanking everyone for coming. She and her groom then wrote about each person in their wedding party and why they asked them to be in the wedding. People actually enjoyed reading their program. It gave them something to smile about while they waited for the ceremony to begin.Your sign in book, make it unique. You can ask your photographer about a picture sign in book. Your guest can then write little notes to you. make sure you have an attendant letting people know they are to write in the book with pictures. You can also make one yourself if you need to save money. Just "Google" "Make your own photo guest book, "you will get all kinds of places to do it yourself. You will then bring this sign in book to the reception for those that missed signing it at the ceremony.I love this idea. It came from Thomas Witham Day of Dreams - Wedding Ceremonies in Chicago. As you enter the ceremony on your father's arm after a few steps, stop hug your father's arm a little tighter and look into your Dad's eyes and just give him a smile. You are his little girl and always will be. You have no idea how difficult this moment is for a parent. The treasure that he is about to give to the young man in front can never be measured. Take the moment, when you look back at the pictures or the video I guarantee you will need a tissue.Family traditions-Are there any old traditions for example we had a Scottish wedding where we tied heather along the aisle. Ask your family.

The most important part of the day is the Ceremony. Make your ceremony meaningful and unique. Remember to keep things in perspective and enjoy the moment.

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Renewing Wedding Vows

On wedding anniversaries, one way to honor the day is through renewing wedding vows. Such ceremonies may go by various names but are usually described as vow renewal or reaffirmation ceremonies. For the married duo, these celebrations offer a way to reconnect, share their love with all those they care about and even improve upon the original wedding ceremony.

Couples often see vow renewals as a more romantic gesture than simply exchanging gifts on their anniversary. These ceremonies are often done to honor major milestones such as the 10th, 25th and 50th anniversary, these reaffirmation ceremonies are also being increasingly used to celebrate any year of marriage. All types of married couples choose to participate in vow renewals. Often these couples are simply looking to celebrate and renew their commitments to each other, especially in a society where divorce seems to be so commonplace.

Another reason why so many couples choose to renew their wedding vows is the improvement in their financial stability. When first getting married, couples typically have less disposable income. Through promotions, raises, investments and savings throughout the years, however, these couples often develop a sizable savings, money that some may choose to use to get the wedding of their dreams that they were initially unable to afford.

Vow renewals also allow the wedded couple to redo the mistakes or regrets they may have had about their first wedding. For instance, some couples may regret choosing to elope instead of having a wedding ceremony or being pregnant during the original wedding and not feeling comfortable in the dress. Others may have been married by the justice of the peace or clerk at a court house and may wish to have a more passionate and intimate wedding.

Through a vow renewal, couples can rectify these regrets. The celebrating couple can choose to have a large traditional religious ceremony that reflects their faith or culture. Couples may also choose to take the destination wedding they always desired and renew their vows on beaches in Hawaii, on a cruise ship while in an exotic location or even on a mountaintop. A major influence for many couples to have a vow renewal is the desire to share their love with their extended family and friends. Sometimes these ceremonies are even held by a couples children or grandchildren who were not even alive when the couple was first married. An emerging trend in such renewal ceremonies is to have the couple's children escort them down the aisle.

For some wedded couples, the desire for an affirmation ceremony is to reflect on all the couple has been through and achieved throughout the years. A couple that has dealt with some difficult or traumatic issues such as debating divorce, diagnosis of cancer or loss of a child may choose to renew their vows as a means of reaffirming their commitment to each other and to put the past behind them.

At a vow renewal, the ceremony can be as extravagant or simple as the couple desires. The style of the reception, its location, types of invitations and outfits worn can be done to reflect the original wedding. For instance, many brides save their original wedding dress to wear for their renewal ceremony. Poetry, the original wedding vows and readings and reflections from family and friends can also help the reaffirmation become a touching and memorable ceremony for the couple, their family and friends.

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Ideas for a Tiffany Blue Theme Wedding

Tiffany blue wedding theme invitations and flowers
Begin your Tiffany wedding theme by selecting invitations that incorporate the infamous blue along with an elegant accent colour - silver or white, for example. A box from Tiffany's is wrapped with a lovely white ribbon, and the famous Tiffany charms are silver; either colour will make the perfect accent. Consider an invitation in Tiffany blue with a white ribbon around it, giving it the appearance of a gift from Tiffany's. When selecting your flowers, opt for white roses that are tied with blue ribbons; alternatively, you can request flowers to be died Tiffany blue, but do keep in mind that the exact colour could be hard to match.

Decorating for your wedding theme
The d?cor for your Tiffany wedding theme should be selected in the same colours as your flowers and invitations. Along with elegant blue and white colours hang imitation Tiffany charms on chains around flower vases on the tables. Tiffany blue napkin holders around white napkins and place cards that resemble a Tiffany's box will further add to your theme. Add streaming ribbons and chair slipcovers in tiffany blue for an extra touch.

A Tiffany bridal party
To dress your bridal party for your theme, select bridesmaid dresses in Tiffany blue, silver and white. Small blue accents on your wedding gown will add incredible detail and elegance to it without detracting from its beauty. In lieu of accents on your gown, consider tying a simple Tiffany blue ribbon around your waist if the dress is the right style, or simply adding a ribbon to your flowers. Don't leave the men out of your Tiffanytheme; blue flowers for their lapel or Tiffany blue vests are an ideal way to include them!

Wedding favours inspired by Tiffany's
Any of your chosen wedding favours can fit into your wedding theme; simply place them inside of imitation Tiffany's boxes. You may not have the budget to provide everyone a gift from Tiffany's, but you can certainly opt for an imitation choice that is still sure to please! Fill the boxes with chocolates or a replica Tiffany's charm. Your wedding favours are sure to be a hit with those who have always wanted something from Tiffany's!

A special meal
Are you struggling with the best foods to serve for your theme wedding? Take your incorporation of the theme one step further and plan a brunch wedding - that's right, Breakfast at Tiffany's! Can you think of a more fun way to top off your theme than by having your guests sit down to a scene from the famous movie? Brunch weddings are a popular choice for brides who are looking for something a little different; and for a Tiffany's wedding, it's the perfect choice.

Your Tiffany blue theme wedding is certain to be a beautifully elegant event with the beautiful theme colours from this famous jeweler, elegant d?cor and a fabulous meal that will make everyone feel like a star. Incorporate the colours into every aspect of your big day from invitations to wedding favours for a unique wedding not soon forgotten!

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Outdoor Wedding - What Time of Day?

Guests: Most outdoor weddings will take place between 10:00am to after 9:00pm in the evening. Will there be shade provided by trees and shrubbery? Or will you need to consider a tent to keep your guest comfortable? Some facilities will have an extra building or barn that could provide shade to those who would rather not be out in the direct sun.

Also, will your guest be heading to a hotel or trying to catch that plane to get home. Will having the wedding in the evening make it difficult for them on their return home, or does that really matter?

Food and Beverages: These items will need special attention. If you hire a caterer they will take care of these details. However, if you are trying to save money by doing things on your own you'll need to address the issue of making sure everything is kept from spoiling. You definitely do not want your guest getting food poisoning. Even on hot summer nights ice will melt quickly. Be sure there is enough on hand.

People will also drink more beverages if it's hot out. We had round metal tubs situated around the yard filled with ice. In these we had bottled water, bottled coffee drinks and juice boxes for the children. If your guest will be doing any kind of dancing this too will increase beverage consumption.

Bugs: We found that the bees and bugs were worse during mid-day weddings than during an evening wedding. If it gets too late though, depending where you live, the mosquitos start to come out. Since it's an outside wedding it might be nice to have a basket under the cake table with bee sting supplies and mosquito spray in it.

Flowers: This is a biggie! Some flowers just do not do well in the heat. Be sure and ask your florist about this. You don't want your flowers wilted before you get to walk down the aisle.

My daughters had pictures taken before the wedding so the flowers were out in the heat for a long time. We were prepared though and they were beautiful through the whole event.

You can always try and put the bouquets back in the water containers in between the pictures and ceremony. But taking off boutonnieres and putting them back on would be a hassle, so choose wisely.

Outdoor weddings are my favorite! Just plan ahead and think through that "what time of day" question and what it means in your situation.

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How To Create A Fun Reception

Anyone who has ever attended a marriage reception knows they have a tendency to be boring, stuffy and not all that fun. Receptions often feel canned and depending on where it is held, it may look like every other reception that has ever happened throughout time. If you are planning your reception and you want something that is unique and personalized, there are a few things you can do. Your first goal should be to make sure everyone has fun. Planning a reception is essentially planning a party and you want the event to be as comfortable and entertaining as possible. Make sure you have plenty of great food for everyone to eat. You can contact wedding catering or BBQ catering for a laid-back, casual meal that tastes delicious and will fill your guests up. Nobody wants to go home hungry from a reception and nothing is more filling than delicious tasting, stick to your ribs meat.

If you think having your reception in a standard hall is your only option, think again. There are plenty of great locations that can suit any budget and any style. Look for something that will be comfortable for your guests and take into consideration how many people will be attending and how much you want to spend. Great reception venues include parks, farms, museums and community centers. You can turn any space into something great, so even if you are on a tight budget, do not rule out a place before you consider how you can make it fun and suitable.

Those who want to keep their guests engaged in the festivities should plan games or social activities to keep everyone entertained. Not everyone will want to participate, but those who get bored just sitting around or who do not like dancing may enjoy other activities. Offering the option of unusual or unexpected fun at a reception really makes the event a memorable occasion.

For those who do love dancing, be sure to provide plenty of great music. Regardless of whether your reception has a band, DJ or you just load up the CD changer, be sure there are plenty of dance tunes and a place to get moving. Mix together everyone's favorite dance songs with modern music that the younger generation will enjoy. Do not panic if you loathe some of the classic songs played at receptions that are affiliated with organized dances. There is no rule stating you have to play anything you cannot stand. It is your day, so you make the call.

Finally, be sure you are comfortable and relaxed during the reception so others can do the same. The more fun the bride and groom are having, the easier it will be for everyone else to let loose and have a great time. If you need a few drinks to loosen yourself up, go ahead and have a couple of drinks. Try to avoid having too much though because you want to remember your big day once it is all over with.

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What Is the Perfect Wedding Venue?

The fact is that ideally you only have one chance to get a wedding right. Now of course it doesn't always turn out that way and some folks get second and even third chances at weddings further down the road, but people in general like to think that this doesn't apply to them. They like to think of themselves as "one wedding" types.

So then in light of this fact, it's only natural that a prospective bride, and groom, and their group of wedding planners who ever they might be should want to locate the perfect wedding venue to host their event. So then just what is it that goes into what would turn out to be the perfect wedding venue? Well for starters you want a beautiful location, but it has to be more than that.

Now most planning experts would agree that the first item that needs to be taken into account is the number of guests that will be attending your wedding. After all, the perfect venue for a wedding party of, say 100 guests for sure may not be the optimal location to bring in some 500 wedding party guests.

So once you've made out your guest list and determined how many people will be attending, only then can you begin to decide that would be the optimal location to host it. Even then you may be surprised to discover that there are a whole lot of little things to take into account that you may not tend to think of.
Some important things; for instance for sure you'll want to hold your wedding in a quaint location with plenty of ambiance but what about parking, and bathroom facilities? Oh sure you may have the most beautiful location in mind but what if there is nowhere for your guests to park, and what about the bathrooms?

Still another thing to take into account is location. You see you may be willing to drive for an hour to get to "your" perfect wedding venue because it's your special day to bring memories to last a lifetime, but what about your guests? The fact is that they'll be hoping for a venue that's convenient to get to, and easy to find once they get there.

Now if you plan on seating your guests and serving a lunch or a dinner than for sure your perfect wedding venue will have a kitchen, and also room to seat all your guests comfortably. Don't even think of cooking the food elsewhere then transporting it to your venue because that never works. The hot food will arrive cool, and the cold dishes will arrive warm.

So the perfect venue to hold a wedding will have a lot of things to offer and if it's missing any of them well then it just isn't "perfect". Also keep in mind that you need to have plenty of time ahead of the actual wedding, so you can set everything up because the perfect wedding isn't a rushed affair.

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Go Red for Romance at Your Valentines Day Wedding

From the tip of your red bridal tiara down to your ruby red slippers; if you follow these suggestions, you can truly make your Valentines day wedding special!

The first rule to keep in mind when planning a Valentine's Day wedding is to ration the red! This means, don't go overboard with the red theme; red is such a dramatic color that decor can easily take a turn for an overly theatrical or gothic theme if you aren't careful. To achieve a tasteful balance, keep the color scheme of your wedding traditional and add red accents only where it will pop. Ruby jewels on a tiara are the perfect way to add a strike of red to the classic look of a bride in white.

A bride has many options while shopping for her tiara. Styles range from rhinestone to cubic zirconia to crystal; from dramatic to subtle. It is important to pick out your dress before shopping for the perfect topper to your ensemble. A simpler bridal gown invites the opportunity for a tiara that is dripping in jewels; while heavy beading on a dress will require something that compliments rather than competes.

Most important is that the bride feels comfortable with the tiara and wedding accessories she chooses for her special day. The tiara is meant to be worn for the entire wedding day and to be incorporated into the bride's hairstyle. If a bride is getting her hair done professionally, she should let her stylist know ahead of time what type of headpiece she intends to wear; and if the bride is doing a hair practice run leading up to the wedding, she should bring the tiara along. Tiaras compliment any hairstyle, from lavish up-dos to simple long and sleek down styles. If you already have a hairstyle in mind, wear your hair up or down as you would envision it on your wedding day when shopping for your tiara. This will allow you to better decide what fits your total look.

Don't forget the groom. The bride, with a red bridal tiara may look like the queen of hearts, but we don't want to leave the groom without a hand to play! A simple red tie and cumber bun will compliment a bejeweled bride nicely. So go ahead and have fun playing dress up - your wedding guests will expect nothing less on the most romantic day of the year.

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