Beautiful Wedding

As you leave it is polite to thank the bridal party and then when you return home it is good to write to the hosts and thank them for their hospitality. This is especially important if they have put you up for the night. It is a lovely gesture anyway and if your letter can reach them before the thank you letter for your gift reaches you, then that is even better. It is great to stay in touch with the couple after the wedding, once their honeymoon is over and share the photographs that you have taken with them.

If they are good friends or close family the it is also nice to send them a wedding anniversary card and mention a special moment that you remember from the big day. It might be a nice occasion to visit near the date and show them the photos that you took on the big day as well. As a wedding guest you are asked to provide the couple with love and support and if they are close to you then it is great if you can do this by talking about their wedding and reminding them of the big day and why they made that commitment to each other.

It can be difficult knowing what time to arrive and leave a wedding. It is good idea to get to the ceremony a bit early so that you allow yourself enough time to find a parking space and get settled. If you are too early it will not matter as you can just wait outside but if you are late you will disturb the proceedings and spoil things for everyone. Timing your exit can be difficult as well. If you are staying for the reception then it is polite to wait outside the venue that the ceremony has been held at until you are instructed to go to the reception.

If you are not staying then this is the time to make an exit. After the reception, there is normally a celebration and it is polite to stay for this. There may be a time gap where you can go and change your clothes but guests would be expected to return after this. If you are old, have a long way to travel or have young children then you can politely leave early but everyone else should wait until the bride and groom have made their exit before they leave.

Sometimes it is a little difficult knowing exactly how to behave at a wedding. Obviously you know you have to try to make polite conversation with people, but who? It is good to chat to the people on your table at the meal but it is also a good idea to speak to the bride and groom and their parents. It is polite to thank the parents of the bride before you leave as well as the bride and groom as they are likely to have paid towards it.

Also try to speak to all of the people that you know, even if you just say a few words. However, do not feel that you have to buy everyone you know a drink, because that could be very expensive but it is nice to make sure the bride an groom have one as they are often left out when it comes to drinks. Make sure that you have a good time as the bride and groom would want that. They have invited guests because they want to celebrate with them and all have fun together. Do not drink too much alcohol though as no one enjoys drunks at a wedding.

Most couples will provide a gift list with their wedding invitation and presents nowadays are bought online and there is no need to take one with you to the ceremony. Some people are more old fashioned and would rather give a list on request which is a far more polite way of doing things. The list should contain a selection of items at different price ranges so that guests do not feel they have to spend a lot of money, however sometimes everything can be rather pricey.

It can be embarrassing if their is nothing you can afford but consider sharing a gift with someone else – maybe a friend or relative who is also going to the wedding may go halves with you on a gift. Do not feel you have to pay more than you can afford as the bride and groom would not want you to go bankrupt just to get them a gift. Some couples ask for money, especially those that have already moved in together or are not on their first marriage. This can be tricky as you have to decide how much to spend, but just do what you can afford as they should be grateful for anything.

Clothing for weddings tends to be very traditional and if you are part of the bridal party then it is very much the bride and grooms decision as to what you will need to wear. However, most guests are left to choose whatever they like. It is important to make sure that you are wearing something appropriate and this may not be as easy as it sounds. Although there are standard wedding clothes, depending on the venue, the time of day and the class of the family the attire will be different. In some weddings all men wear tails, whereas in some just the bridal party do or men just wear standard suits. The women have a similar problem with some weddings needing designer wear whereas others require something far less formal.

Sometimes women are required to wear hats and other times they are not. The best thing to do is to speak to the bride or her parents about what they expect their guests to be wearing so that you can get or hire something appropriate. You may feel that you should not have to follow their requirements but you may feel out of place if you do not fit in with the rest of the guests.

It’s a rare occasion when a bride does not have at least one shower thrown for her before she takes the momentous trip down the aisle. Generally, brides are given multiple showers with different purposes in mind-such as a home shower, lingerie shower, etc. Regardless of the style and type of shower, unless the bride has been married before she usually has some questions on proper shower etiquette. This also holds true for the family and friends of the bride. One of the most often pondered and asked questions regarding showers involve proper etiquette for wedding shower invitations. Just about anyone can host a wedding shower and have their name included as host or hostess on the wedding shower invitations, but there are some rules of etiquette that should be obeyed. While close friends and some relatives such as cousins, siblings and aunts may host the shower, the mothers of grandmothers or other very close relatives of the bride or groom should not host the shower.

Another idea to keep in mind is that it is considered very poor etiquette to send wedding shower invitations to people you are not planning to invite to the wedding. In situations like this, you appear to be asking only for gifts and this is quite rude and basically, poor behavior. Circumstances where this would be appropriate are when you have eloped and someone is kind enough to throw you a bridal shower after the fact. Hostesses should also keep in mind that it is polite to send wedding shower invitations to mothers of both the bride and the groom, even though under most circumstances they will be well aware of the event and have the date and time already programmed into their mind. This is a social nicety that should be observed and many mothers like to preserve wedding shower invitations in their scrapbooks.

One of the most confusing problems arises when the bride is being given multiple wedding showers. In this case, all care must be taken to insure that wedding shower invitations are not sent to the same people for different showers. For example, if Aunt Sue is invited to the main bridal shower, you wouldn’t invite her to the lingerie shower as well because she would then feel obligated to purchase two gifts.

It is quite appropriate to indicate where the bride, and groom, is registered on the wedding shower invitations. Most guests consider this to be helpful in deciding on gifts. Guests then have the option of either checking out your registry or deciding on their own what to give you. Online registries have made it much easier, especially for guests, who live out of town to stay involved.

One of the most popular traditions involves a hostess gift. This gift is usually a fairly large gift because several people can pitch in towards the cost. If numerous people are helping to host the shower, the cost per individual can be quite reasonable. The main hostess, however, should always make a point to inform everyone involved what the cost per person will be so that no one is stuck paying for something they really can’t afford.

Wedding shower themes are especially appropriate if the bride and groom wish to have a couple’s shower. With a themed wedding shower, the bride and groom receive “extra” items that are nice to have, but not absolutely necessary to set up a household. If you opt to have a theme for the event, be sure the theme is clearly listed on the wedding shower invitations. Some possible themes are as follows:

• At an outdoor shower, guests bring camping equipment and gadgets.
• At a grill shower, guests bring anything related to cooking outdoors.
• At a bar shower, guests bring wine or other types of liquor and everything a well stocked bar would need such as mixers, shakers and various types of glasses.
• At a recipe shower, guests bring a recipe and a gift to help make the recipe.
• At a gardening shower, guests bring any type of gardening tool, plants or gift certificates to a gardening center.

Wedding decorations will create a festive atmosphere and help make your wedding an event to remember. When used as part of an overall decorating scheme, wedding centerpieces will add a decorative touch to your reception tables.

The romantic effect of candlelight is perfect for a wedding. Colored ribbons down the center of the tables accented with either votive candles or tall candlesticks and a selection of greenery can make for cost-effective wedding centerpieces. Pillar candles placed on mirror squares are another option for wedding centerpieces. Also, clusters of candles in clear votive holders make attractive wedding centerpieces that can double as wedding favors. Unscented candles make the most appropriate wedding centerpieces; you don’t want any fragrance to overpower the aroma of the food. If you wish to use candles as your wedding centerpieces, remember to take the necessary safety precautions.

Work with your florist to design colorful and attractive floral arrangements to be used as wedding centerpieces. Flowers can be either real or silk, depending on your preference. One advantage of choosing silk flowers as your wedding centerpieces is that the arrangements can double as thank-you gifts for guest book attendants, ushers, and other people who helped make your event special. If you opt to use real flowers as your wedding centerpieces, just make sure none of your guests are allergic.

For the creative bride and groom, choosing a theme can offer some unique wedding centerpiece ideas. Themes can reflect the couple’s personal interests, honor their cultural heritage, or simply add a seasonal element to the celebration. Use your imagination when selecting themed centerpieces. Christmas ornaments work well at a winter themed wedding while goldfish in colorful bowls make beautiful centerpieces at an under-the-sea wedding. If you have an assortment of collectible items, such as antique teapots or crystal bowls, consider using these as your wedding centerpieces.

For the budget conscious, bouquets of brightly colored balloons make lovely wedding centerpieces. Wildflowers, seashells, polished rocks, potted plants, and other natural elements can also double as low-cost wedding centerpieces. Wedding favors clustered in groups or placed in attractive baskets can do double-duty as wedding centerpieces. Framed photos of the bride and groom taken throughout their courtship make inexpensive and unique centerpieces.

For an informal wedding, consider using your centerpieces to add an interactive element to your reception. A basket filled with attractive note cards will allow each guest to offer good wishes to the bride and groom. Vintage game boards placed on each table are a fun way to keep guests occupied, especially if you will be having children at your wedding reception.

If you’re pressed for time while planning your wedding, a professional wedding consultant will able to offer excellent wedding decoration ideas. If you’re making some of your own wedding centerpieces, enlisting the help of family and friends will cut down on the amount of labor involved and help make those closest to you feel like they are helping to contribute to your special day.

When it comes time to choose the dessert for your wedding, you will have a number of decisions to make and options to consider. One of the primary considerations is wedding cake designs. Wedding cake designs run the gamut for simple and elegant to multiple tiered and exotic. Many brides take the cue for their wedding cake designs from the style and tone of their wedding as well as the overall theme. For example, a bride who is having a Cinderella or Fairy Tale themed wedding might consider wedding cake designs that include a carriage and castle.

Even if you aren’t having a theme, that doesn’t mean that the wedding cake designs you look at have to be boring. Many years ago wedding cake designs that incorporated lights and fountains were extremely popular. Today, the trend is leaning towards sleeker and simpler lines in wedding cake designs. A multiple tiered cakes decorated with fresh flowers can be a refreshing break from wedding cake designs that appear overdone.

The size of wedding cake designs generally depends on the number of guests that you need to feed. Various layers feed a different number of guests, so if you are having a hundred or less guests all you may really need is a small one or two tiered cake. On the other hand, if you will be hosting a formal wedding reception with hundreds of guests in attendance you’ll definitely want to chat with your baker or caterer to insure that the wedding cake designs you consider will yield enough servings for all your guests.

Wedding cake designs are usually more important than the actual taste of the cake, as many brides use the wedding cake at the central focus of their reception’s decorations. In this regard, it is important to make sure you choose an icing that will hold up well under the pressure and stress of the day. Keep in mind that while a fondant icing generally doesn’t taste as yummy as a butter cream icing, it is definitely the icing of choices for many wedding cake designs. A fondant icing will yield a smooth design that is easy to accessorize with other decorations. A fondant icing will also hold up better to heat and humidity than a butter cream, which is an important consideration if you will be having an outdoor wedding. Ganache is a rich dark chocolate icing, but it does not hold up well under heat at all. Ganache is best preserved for indoor weddings. Royal icing is the rock hard icing that is generally used to create all those lovely little flowers that decorate many wedding cake designs.

If you are concerned about the stability of your cake but still want a large and fabulous design you might consider having your baker make up a ‘dummy’ wedding cake that looks fabulous at the reception. With this strategy, only the first layer is actually cake; the others are for show only. This way the servers don’t have to try and dis-assemble the cake in order to serve the guests and risk the whole cake falling apart. Instead, after the bride and groom have taken the traditional first slice, the guests are inconspicuously served cake slices from the kitchen, cut from a beautifully decorated sheet cake. This is also a great cost cutting strategy.

Since the selection of music can affect the entire tone of the wedding ceremony, it’s important to select music that you truly enjoy. The options are endless, providing that the music is in keeping with the religious significance of the ceremony. The following, in no particular order, is a list of the top 10 wedding songs for a traditional wedding ceremony:

1. Air from “Water Music” – George Frideric Handel

2. Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel

3. A Little Night Music – W. A. Mozart

4. Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring – J.S. Bach

5. Arioso – Bach

6. Spring – A. Vivaldi

7. Ave Maria – Franz Peter Schubert

8. Sleepers Awake – J.S. Bach

9. Ode to Joy – Ludwig van Beethoven

10. Bridal March – F. Mendelssohn

If you’re not familiar with classical music, many of the above selections as well as examples of other traditional wedding music are easily available for purchase or at your local library. When selecting your wedding music, there are some general guidelines to keep in mind. For example, processional music should be joyous, yet dignified. Recessional music is typically quicker in tempo and livelier than the processional. Another idea for selecting traditional wedding music is to use some of the same songs from a parent or grandparent’s wedding. Wedding music is highly emotional, so choosing a song with personal significance is an excellent way to add a sentimental touch to your wedding day.

Increasingly today, non-religious music is often heard at weddings. Many couples have a favorite song that they wish to incorporate into their ceremony. If you’re having an informal wedding, consider creating your own list of top 10 wedding songs as modern alternatives to the traditional wedding music. However, some clergymen still discourage anything but non-secular music as part of the service. If you opt to use strictly traditional music for the ceremony, feel free to include some contemporary love songs in your wedding reception.
With the wide variety of wedding songs available, it’s easy to find yourself confused. Choosing the top 10 wedding songs is a highly subjective manner. Every couple is likely to have their own personal list of the top 10 wedding songs. Professional musicians with experience performing at weddings should be able to offer expert opinions on which of the top 10 wedding songs would be best for your ceremony.

Once you’ve selected the music for your wedding ceremony, you’ll need to decide between having live or taped music. Musically-inclined friends or family members may be able to provide the music for your ceremony. Hiring a professional musician or band is another option, just be sure to ask for references. The cheapest alternative is too simply used taped music for your ceremony. CD’s of top 10 wedding songs are inexpensive and widely available. If you choose this option, just make sure your equipment has been tested before the ceremony to avoid the embarrassment of any technical difficulties.

You know that your wedding day will be special and unique. You may even want your ceremony and reception to be traditional for the most part. However, you’re still looking for creative wedding ideas that will set your wedding apart from all the rest. Here are a few suggestions that may help.

First, think about all the things you’re using to plan your wedding and to let people know about the occasion. Wedding programs that reflect your own personal style and interests as a couple is a good way to start being creative. If you’re especially crafty, you can make your wedding programs yourself, using materials, colors, and pictures that will reflect the personal style and interests of you and your mate. Think about how you want your wedding favors to look. Even if you have classic favors in traditional shapes, like hearts or doves, you can paint the favors your favorite colors, or add accents like pearl strings or ribbon to your favors.

Next, think about the actual ceremony. You can find a number of ways for the bridal party to enter the chapel (or place where the wedding will be held), including having the bridesmaids and groomsmen flank the aisle as the bride enters, or letting smaller children in the bridal party hold the bride’s train as she walks down the aisle. After the wedding party is in place, the groom may want to walk in on his own instead of with the groomsmen before the bride enters. Writing your own vows is also a wonderfully creative wedding idea, and you can be sure that no one else will say the same thing at their ceremony. You may choose to recite your vows to your mate in the form of a poem, a song, or a letter. This adds a very nice touch to any wedding.

Use the reception as yet another way of reflecting the personality of you and your mate as a couple. You may choose to tell the story of how you met in a creative way, through a slide show or video reenactment. Use colors and decorations that will make your reception one to remember. You could even create centerpieces for the tables that are replicas of gifts that the two of you have bought for one another over the years, or objects that hold special significance in either of your lives. Using photographs of friends and family members, or pictures of the two of you as a couple to decorate the table works well, too.

If you want to do something especially different at your wedding, brainstorm with your fiancé and wedding planner about possible ideas. Take into consideration the size of the place where the wedding will be held, how long the reception will be, and how many people will be in attendance. If your creative idea will involve other people, such as a musical of poetic presentation during the ceremony, make sure that you take enough time to rehearse your idea, and give yourself enough time to change your mind if you decide you don’t like the idea, or if you want to expand on your creative wedding adventure.