Oh SNAP!!! She Said "YES" | Keeping Your Sanity While Preparing for Your Wedding

OK....BREATH!

If you are gong to be hearing wedding bells soon, there is obviously a lot to do. 

Whether you are the bride, the groom or a member of the family, the solution for getting overwhelmed is being organized ahead of time.

Venue

As soon as you think wedding bells are in the future for yourself, research, visit and select a venue as soon as possible.  Usually the good venues AND dates are reserved months in advance and while you may feel there is time for a spring wedding, many others may have booked the location of your choice the winter before. So, unless you are hosting it in your back yard, you should get a venue deiced upon as soon as possible.

Another advantage to booking a venue is that when you have a date in front of you, organizing becomes much simpler. When you have a selected date, you can start booking the wedding band, the florist, the cake, the deejay or any other vendor you need. Just making castles in the air by saying that you might be getting married some time in the spring makes everything ambiguous and difficult to plan accurately.

Theme

If there is one thing everyone is doing these days is having a theme for their wedding. From Hawaiian weddings to a color theme to a motif like wedding bells, everyone is going with a theme so that their reception looks more coordinated and everything ties in tighter. If you choose to have wedding bells for a theme, then the cake can have wedding bell toppers, the centerpieces on the guest tables can have wedding bell flower arrangements and the invitation cards can have the same motif.  Just a thought here...

Calm Your Nerves

Whether you are the bride, the groom, a member of the family, or someone close to the party, being calm and confident about the wedding day is the most important element of organizing. Even the most professionally choreographed wedding can go disastrously wrong if the couple have last minute jitters, if they are too laid back or if they are too much on top of things. Having a balanced approach and being involved but continuing with your life is the most important thing for the both of you. Plan your wedding but do not let that take over your entire life.

Keep in mind the following:
Have realistic expectations. Do not be so extravagant that you begin your married life in credit card debt.  Be mindful of the extremes and limits you will accept. For example, extreme diets to fit into a size 2 wedding dress when you normally wear a 14 will lead to a host of medical issue to deal with soon after.

Just Remember To Breath.  

At the end of the day...your only concern is for the person standing next to you...Right?

Congratulation and ...Cheers! 

#WeddingsNLoveKnots

     

  

Your Wedding Night: Possible Indicators of the Marriage Ahead.

Relax...we're having some fun here!

Ah the wedding night!  There is no greater indicator of the future bliss of a marriage than how things go on the wedding night and don't even think there will be any personal accounts in this article. 

I'm here to offer some tips on how to read the future of your marriage in the activities that happen on your wedding night.  There are some good things that will happen and then there are some bad things that will happen and you should be aware of as much as possible so you can know if you will be spending a lot of time together or apart for the next couple of years.

Some Good Things

If you get to the hotel room on your wedding night and she puts the Do Not Disturb sign on the door with no intention of taking it off the door for the weekend then that is a good thing.

If it takes the two of you nearly two days to realize that there is a television in the room and that the curtains covering the windows actually open; then that is a really good sign.

If room service has you on a schedule because you haven't left your room since your wedding night and they want to be sure you are at least eating something then that is a really good sign.

If at checkout the person at the check out desk has no idea you were in the hotel for the last week because you never left your room then that is probably a really good sign that your marriage is at least off to a good start.

Some Bad Things

If you run up a $1000 bill just renting Disney movies from the hotel television service on your wedding night then that is a really bad sign.

If she tells you that the "horizontal festivities" will have to wait until her show Scandal is over then that is probably a bad sign. (Note to self: Do Not Schedule Any Weddings on Thursday Evening...lol)

If your wedding night is ruined because you can't get the fact that your team lost the game that day then you are probably in for a long marriage.

If she calls her mother every half hour just because she is bored and wants something to do on your wedding night then you are probably really in for a very long marriage.

The Point Here: ...Keep the humor and Keep Laughing... This Builds Stronger Unions AND Friendships within the Union.

Congratulation and ...Cheers to the Two of You! 

Significance of The Rings

In many countries wedding rings are considered sacred symbols of love and endless devotion. There are many customs that concern wedding rings across the world, each one offering a heart warming symbolism that celebrates love.

A Rose by Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet

There are different variants of customs regarding wedding rings all over the world – all meaning more or less the same. In most countries, the wedding rings are made of a type of metal, though the favorite and most popular choice is gold, in the form of a flat band.

These rings normally have no design, stone or embellishment on it. These wedding rings are shaped in this way for a reason – the flat band that looks like a continuous circle symbolizes the eternal love the couple vows to give one another.

In some countries the name of the spouse is engraved on the inside of the ring with a tiny inscription. This would once again symbolic of the fact that the name of the spouse is forever inscribed in one another's heart.

Wedding rings are usually worn on the fourth finger of the left hand – this is because it is believed that there is a vein that connects it directly to the heart and hence when the ring is worn here it stays closest to the heart. In other countries it is worn on the right hand symbolizing its importance – from the custom that believe that the most important guest to be seated on the right side of the host.

There are customs that hold the belief that once the wedding rings are made, they can never be individually modified as this would mean that the couple would separate. In case any change is required, both the rings would be melted and remade. Under this premise, it is considered extreme bad luck to lose your wedding ring under any circumstance. In case one of the spouses does lose his/ her wedding ring, two more need to be made at the earliest and worn in unison. The odd one in the pair (the ring that was not lost) should never be worn again.

These traditions are such that their meaning and symbolism have become ageless. This shows that no matter how modern you are, no matter where you live, no matter the country from where you originate, no matter how rich or poor you are - when you speak of love, the language in universal.

How to Choose the Right Wedding Band for Him

It used to be that the bride had her finger decorated with very elaborate wedding bands that consisted of gold and diamonds and was something she would forever show off to the rest of the world as her own personal treasure.

Of course you cannot assume the degree of love just based on the wedding bands however, that was the standard that was used.

On the other hand, the groom's wedding band was akin to a small gold leash that was a simple gold ring that sometimes had an inscription on the inside and over time the ring stopped fitting so great thus over time making it very difficult to remove. 

If the groom wanted elaborate wedding bands he had to have them specially made or pick from a set of some of the most horrendous looking wedding bands anyone has ever seen.  So, the wife got the glamour and the husband got the mini handcuffs.

Over the years a lot about wedding bands has changed and that is a good thing for the husband.
Now wedding band sets are complete sets which include a wide assortment of  ring designs and elements for the groom. 
So now the groom gets to use his imagination when it comes to choosing wedding bands.  With some grooms this is a wonderful thing, with others it could be the biggest mistake they could ever make. 

Make It Coordinate Well

Well coordinated wedding bands don't just match each other but they match the bride and groom as well.  You can get wedding bands made of gold, silver, or platinum and the stones you can have put in the rings are also a wide variety.  Take your time and talk to your jeweler because chances are that the one set you see cast in gold is also available in platinum.

If you are more of a platinum couple, then you will want to explore that option.  Make sure that the statements your rings make are statements you can live with for awhile.  It would be terrible to spend a lot of money on an elaborate groom's ring only to find you can never wear it.  So be smart.


Your wedding is all your personality and your rings should reflect that.  But just remember that the glowing groom's ring you buy now will be the same thing wore throughout everyday life AFTER the honeymoon is over.

Congratulation and ...Cheers!

Wedding 101: Planning the Perfect Wedding Programs

Long after your wedding, when your wedding day is a distant memory, your wedding program will be a treasured keepsake for all your guests. Wedding programs are a gift from the bride and groom to the guests. They provide ample opportunity for the bride and groom to display their unique, individual personalities and the personality of the wedding, be it formal or informal.

You don't have to have a wedding program, of course. But there are certain situations where having one is a good idea. If you have a large wedding with many attendants, the program is recommended because you can list all the attendants' names, along with each attendant's relationship to the bride or groom. Out-of-town guests who may not know the entire wedding party will appreciate the chance to "meet" the attendants via the wedding program.

Another useful purpose for a program is to thank those who have contributed toward making the wedding day special. If friends or family have provided music, photography, flower arrangements or some other service or product to help defray wedding expenses, a mention of the couple's gratitude for this gift in the wedding program is an appropriate way to express thanks to the donor.

What Every Wedding Program Should Include

At a minimum, every program should include:

The wedding date; the time of the wedding need not be included.

The name of the bride and groom; be sure to use the bride's maiden name.

The order of the ceremony: wedding guests will appreciate knowing what's coming next in the wedding and how much longer they need to remain quietly seated.

Members of the bridal party: here, include the names of the officiant; the couple's parents, step-parents, and grandparents in attendance; names of the attendants, best man, and maid or matron of honor.

Beyond those basics, the rest of the wedding program is really up to the bride and groom. Some couples include lyrics to songs sung during the ceremony. Others include a special poem or quotation that is meaningful to the couple. Practical wedding programs include the location of the reception, along with a map or driving directions from the church to the reception.

Wedding programs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some are individual cards, with an elegant border and decorative bow in the colors of the wedding. Other programs are cardstock folded in half or in thirds.

Wedding programs are easy to make yourself. If you or your bridesmaids have experience with paper crafts like rubber stamping or scrapbooking, you can easily create your own unique wedding programs. If you have access to a laser printer, you can print them yourselves. Otherwise, you can easily order programs from your wedding invitation printer.


  

Congratulation and ...Cheers!

Wedding Accessories Checklist

Wedding accessories actually depend on what culture you belong to and what religion you practice. The numerous cultures and religions around the world add to the variety of wedding accessories that abound.

In most American weddings, the race and country of origin of the couple can be influential in the wedding accessories used for the nuptials. The couple to be married must initially agree to use the wedding accessories that each want to use and it is best to coordinate these with each other if they have different beliefs and customs or culture and religion.

Toasting Glasses and Cake Knives

Toasting glasses are wedding accessories that are used at the reception. These are usually made from crystal glass while others use goblets. Most have their names inscribed on the glasses or goblets. The cake knife and cake server used for the cutting of the wedding cake are wedding accessories that can be personalized. Many couples have their names inscribed on the metal knife and server.

Ring Pillow and Flower Girls' Baskets

These wedding accessories are not used by the bride no the groom but by the children who march down the aisle preceding the bride. The ring pillow usually has ribbons and other decoration in the center to which the couple's rings are tied to. Flower girls' baskets are filled with flower petals and some small flower which are strewn on the aisle where the bride treads. These wedding accessories are usually decorated with flower and ribbons coordinated with the bridal motif.

The Veil and Garter

The bridal veil is also among the many wedding accessories that have been around for some time. These wedding accessories come in many different styles dependent on the culture, tradition and preference of the bride. Some brides even opt not to wear a veil these days. The wedding garter is one accessory that is used during the reception. It stays on the thigh of the bride until such time that the groom takes it off and tosses it onto his single male friends. Whosoever catches it is paired with the unmarried female who catches the bouquet.

The Wedding Guestbook

This is where guests sign their names to show that they were present during the nuptials. In many cases, this guestbook complements the motif or the color of the wedding theme.

The many different kinds of wedding accessories are usually chosen by the bride and groom for their wedding. These are kept as heirlooms after the wedding.

How to Give the Best Wedding Toast

Wedding toasts are an enduring tradition and an important part of every wedding reception.

Popular culture, films, television shows, and commercial ads have all emphasized the hilarity that ensues when the best man or woman flubs the wedding toast.

In real life, however, no couple wants their wedding to be remembered for a botched wedding toast, so it is important that the individual giving the toast at the reception take the time to plan their words carefully, well in advance of the reception. Typically, this speech for the wedding toast is the first speech of the wedding reception, and it sets the tone for the rest of the event.  Even if the individual identified as "the best" has not been asked to give a wedding toast, he or she should be prepared to do so.

Be mindful, the best wedding toasts include several important elements.

Introduction

Wedding guests, especially at a large wedding, may not know the wedding party. First, "the best"  should begin by getting the crowd's attention, introducing themselves, explaining their relationship to the couple, and warning the guests that a wedding toast is coming, so they can fill their glasses and be ready for the toast.

Congratulations to the Happy Couple

Next, "the best" should congratulate the couple on their marriage. They have just survived perhaps the most important and momentous event in their lives so far, and they deserve to be congratulated. It is also appropriate at this time for the "the best"  to comment on couple and how they make such the perfect couple.

Personalize the Wedding Toast

The best wedding toasts include a personal touch. Be sure to incorporate a funny story about your experiences with the bride(s) or groom(s) or an anecdote from the bachelor or bachelorette party. This story should not embarrass the couple in any way, and it should not mention old boyfriends, girlfriends or former marriages. "The best" should share a brief reminiscence that is appropriate for all ages – nothing that will cause the couple or their parents or grandparents to cringe.

Go for the Emotion

A wedding is an emotional experience, and  "the best" should not be afraid to pull out the stops and be more emotional than they ordinarily would be in a speech. Appropriate emotional remarks might include a comment about how the couple inspires you to find your true love, or how you hope that your marriage will be as happy as theirs.

Whatever the speech, it is vital that the "the best" write down the wedding toast and rehearse it beforehand. When the toast goes well the bride and groom couple will have a memorable moment they will talk about for the rest of their lives.
  
Congratulation and ...Cheers!

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