Wedding Plan
First, you have to decide on what type of wedding you want to have. This will depend on the amount of money you want to spend, the number of guests you want to invite, where and when your ceremony and reception will be held, and the degree of formality you want your wedding to express.
A formal wedding means that you basically want to conform to strict traditional rites both of the church and of secular society. Semiformal weddings basically stay with tradition, but everything is slightly less elaborate and more flexible than a formal wedding. An informal wedding can be either a simple ceremony or you can let your imagination go to work. Informal weddings normally have a smaller wedding party and fewer guests than formal or semiformal weddings.
There are two types of wedding components: Tangibles and intangibles. Tangibles are: engagement rings, gowns, tuxes, invitations, ceremony and reception sites. For tangible, shop for value, service, and comfort. The intangibles include entertainment, flowers, photography, and wedding cake. The intangibles require the vendor's talent and artistry.
Don't shortcut tradition. When you plan your wedding, think of it and of all the beautiful customs that make weddings meaningful and special. You must have a broad idea of what you want before you interview and hire anyone to implement your ideas. The more specific you are with a vendor, the better off you'll be.
If you don't budget wisely, it is very easy to get into trouble. Read the contract, including the fine print. A Contract can also be modified. Always get a receipt and make sure it's specific. More does not mean better. Elegant weddings are not vulgar, crass, or overdone.
It is a good suggestion to have a handy "first aid" kit with you on the wedding day. Items in the kit should include: safety pins, band-aids, hair pins, tissues, breath mints, hand towel, nail polish, scissors, needle and thread, comb/brush, baby powder, scotch tape, nail file, tampons, aspirin, pantyhose, mascara, lip gloss, contact lens fluid, hair spray.
Some Marriage Proposal Stories:
He is in the Navy Reserve and asked me to come to the reserve center to help out
with a "change of command" rehearsal in the morning. I went and it seemed like I
really served no purpose!
After it was over, his chief came over to me and asked if I new a certain young man by the name of Jerry. I said of course. He said, "Well he is kind of a chicken and needs our help."
Then he called him over. Jerry got down on his knee and pulled out a little black box from his uniform pocket. Then the entire unit said out loud, "Will you marry him?!"
It was so cute! Oh, and I said yes of course!! They got it all on video, too.
He took me to a wonderful dinner on my birthday and told me to pack a bag. After dinner we went to a beautiful bed and breakfast. When we walked in the room there was a dozen roses and champagne chilling. There was a fire place with a beautifully upholstered chair in front of it.
He told me to sit in the chair while he lit the fire. He gave me my birthday card in which he professed his love and wrote of how special this day was to him. After I read the card he asked me if I knew why this day was so special. I said, "Why?" He kneeled down if front of me and proposed. And gave me a beautiful ring that he picked out himself - I nearly passed out.
We cried and hugged for hours. It was wonderful.
How to select the right Wedding Month
From popular folklore that believes your marriage will take on certain characteristics depending upon the month you chose to wed. Do you think it's true?
January
- Marry when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind and true.
February - When February birds do mate, you wed nor dread your fate.
March - If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know.
April - Marry in April if you can, joy for maiden and for man.
May - Marry in the month of May, you will romance the day.
June - Marry when June roses grow and over land and sea you'll go.
July - Those who in July do wed must labor for their daily bread.
August - Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see.
September - Marry in September's shine so that your life is rich and fine.
October - If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.
November - If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember!
December - When December's snows fall fast, marry and your love will last
Wedding Engagement
A Wedding engagement is an agreement to marry, and also refers to the time between proposal and marriage. Following the Wedding agreement, a couple is said to be "engaged to be married," or simply "engaged."
Engagements have no set length, and may range from days to years. Customs surrounding engagement vary greatly, and may include a formal or informal announcement to friends, family, and community, or a celebratory party or gathering.
A man who is engaged to a woman is said to be that woman's fiancée, and she is called his fiancée. These words are pronounced identically in English; the final -e in the feminine form is simply a French feminine ending.
Engagements rings are to be worn on the third finger of the left hand. There is a lot of speculation about the origins of the engagement ring. One is thought to be from the Romans, who believed this finger to be the "vena amoris" (vein of love) The vein that leads to the heart. Romantic rings found in this era (from as far back as 4AD) which resembled the Claddagh Celtic symbol (two hands holding a loveheart) and so it is thought that this was used as some symbol of love and commitment between a man and a woman. It is also theorized that the rings could have evolved from slave rings and shackles made to tie the mates of cavemen up.
Shopping Tips for Wedding
The following is a list of shopping tips for wedding:
| Take the time to research and shop
before you purchase. It will save you money. |
| Ask recently married friends,
relatives, and business associates for names of places and vendors they used
for their wedding and if they are happy with the results. |
| Don't take a group of relatives with
you when you shop. What they want for you and your wedding and what you want
for you and your wedding, may be two different things. |
| The factors that will have the most
impact in terms of saving money are the guest list, the bridal party,
extraneous extras, and the selection of your wedding date. |
| The more people you invite to your
wedding and reception, the greater the cost. Control your guest list to obtain
the greatest savings. |
| Avoid the Holiday Trap. It costs more
to have your wedding on a long, holiday weekend; at the same time, service and
quality suffer during holiday. |
| Reception sites, photography, video,
limousine company, and entertainment are most open to negotiation. |
| Most brides marry in the summer and most prefer Saturday night. To save money, book your wedding on an off-day or on an off-month. |
Wedding Invitation
A wedding invitation is a letter sent to a person, asking the recipient to attend a wedding. They are typically mailed out 6 weeks before the wedding date. Wedding invitations can sometimes have fancy writing on them known as calligraphy. Other types of printing include Engraving, Thermography, Letterpress printing and sometimes Blind Embossing. Most of time, they are mailed in double envelopes. The inner envelope can be lined in a matching color, is not gummed and fits into the outer envelope. The outer envelope is gummed for sealing and addressing.
Today's invitations offer a wide variety of options to help set the tone of your wedding. As soon as as you and your fiancée set a date and guest lists are complete, select and order your invitations.. Allow at least three months before your wedding so you will have plenty of time for addressing, mailing, and responses.
Along with the wedding invitation, the ensemble may also include a respond card or folder and envelope. The respond card or folder is traditionally used for gathering totals for the caterer and getting a general number of guests attending. The recipient is asked to mail back the respond card or folder roughly two weeks before the wedding or by the date indicated. The envelope is pre-addressed and pre-stamped by the wedding party for ease.
Other pieces often included in the ensemble are the reception card or folder, map or direction card, and accommodation information. The reception card simply lists the addresses and times of any post-wedding events, such as a cocktail hour, dinner or dance. Map or direction cards provide details about the location of the wedding and reception.
Invitations are usually issued by the parents of the bride, or by the surviving parent, or. if the bride is an orphan, by the nearest of kin.
Wedding announcements should be sent to your hometown newspaper and your fiancée's, if he lives elsewhere. If you have many relatives living in another community, include that paper and do the same for your fiancée.
Three Steps Wedding Invitation
The followings are instructions on how to organize your wedding invitation in three steps:
Step 1 - Make three lists:
On List One:
 | a) Place the names of immediate
families, including parents and grand parents, stepparents, brothers and
sisters, uncles, aunts, and first cousins with spouses or dates. |
| b) The bridal party. Include spouses
and dates and parents of the ring bearer and flower girl(s). |
| c) Clergy or efficient, with spouse if applicable. |
On List Two:
| Place the names of: close family
friends of the bride and groom, close friends of the bride and groom, close
business associates of the families. |
On List Three:
| Place the names of those who did not
make list two, distant relatives and friends, casual acquaintances in the
workplace or community. |
Step 2 - The lists are sent to the hosts
| a) The families send their lists to the
bride and groom who will check for duplication. |
| b) The hosts address the invitations
and send them out. |
| c) They wait for the responses to come
back. |
Step 3 - Tallying responses
| When a negative response come back, the
hosts will check the list, find another name and then send out another
invitation. |
| Once the quota is full, no more invitations will be sent. |
Wedding Dress and Veil
A wedding dress or wedding gown is
clothing worn by a bride during a wedding ceremony. Color, style and ceremonial
importance of the gown depends on the religion and culture of the participants.
In modern tradition, the color of western-culture wedding dresses is white. Used
in this sense, 'white' or 'wedding white' includes creamy shades such as
eggshell, ecru and ivory. The popularity of this color can be traced back to
1840 and the marriage of Queen Victoria to Albert of Saxe-Coburg. The Queen
chose to wear a white gown for the event. The official wedding portrait
photograph was widely published and many brides opted for a similar dress in
honor of that choice. The tradition continues today. Prior to the Victorian era
a bride was married in any color except black (the color of mourning) or red
(which was connected with prostitutes). The white dress came to symbolize purity
of heart and the innocence of childhood. Later attribution suggested that the
color white symbolized virginity.
The term Bridal Gown originates from the word al which means party combined with bride is Bridal i.e. "Brides Party Gown". Originally in the Middle Ages wedding parties were simply called Bride-al's. A bridal train is the part of the wedding dress that trails behind the bride, the term is derived from similar train worn by Kings & Queens, which themselves are derived from seeing a Peacock, which were used as royal birds.
Veils are articles of clothing, worn
almost exclusively by women, which cover some part of the head or face. An
occasion on which a Western non-Muslim woman is likely to wear a veil is on her
wedding day, if she follows the traditions of a white wedding. Brides used to
wear their hair flowing down their back at their wedding to symbolize their
virginity, now the white diaphanous veil is often said to represent this.
Tips for Wedding Dress
The following is a list of tips in search for your wedding dress.
| The search for the perfect wedding gown
must begin early. It must be diligent, targeted, and focused. |
| Choose the most important dress you
will wear on the most important day of your life. The dress must also be
beautiful, elegant, and combine the right mixture of sexuality and innocence. |
| Also it must be the kind of dress that
produces admiration as the bride makes her way down the aisle. |
| There are a number of things to
consider when choosing your wedding dress: The size and type of wedding you
want. |
| Keep in mind the season of the year. |
| Take the time to note the full effect
of a dress, since your guests will see more of the back of you than the front
during the ceremony. |
| When going for fittings, wear the
undergarments, shoes, and accessories that you plan to wear on your wedding
day. |
| Once you have selected your dress, you
should choose the attire for your attendants. Their dresses should compliment
your dress. |
| Many brides have been hurt by dishonest
bridal shops. |
| Unfair practices that exists in the
industry. Victim to shop that goes out of business and leaves you stranded, or
you pay hundreds of dollars more for a gown than you should, or your gown does
not come in on time, or you get ripped off. |
| Shop only at reliable, honest stores
that have been referred to you by recently married relatives, friends, or
business associates. |
| Many retailers remove the labels from
their gowns. They do it for two reasons: one, they don't want you to shop
price. Two: they want to stymie their competition. |
| when you find your dream dress, shop
other stores until you find the same one. Make sure the price is competitive
and the gowns are identical. |
| When you specifically ask a retailer
for a designer gown, it's essential to know that the gown is an original, not
a copy. |
| A shop that is in poor repair and has
few samples may be in financial trouble. Make sure they carry the latest
styles. |
| If a store can get you a dress they
don't stock, they should be willing to offer you an incentive. |
| Gown rental is a viable option,
provided you do your homework. Read the contracts and the small print. |
| Many online resources are available for brides, and their bridal gown search. They provide you a great, relaxing way to preview the latest styles in wedding gowns in the comfort of your own home. |
Tips for The Headpiece and Veil
The following is a list of tips for getting the Headpiece and Veil
| If you want to save money, make your
own headpiece and veils. There is no excuse not to make your own headpiece and
veil(s). |
| Once you get your dress, decide on how
you want to wear your hear. Once your determine a hairstyle, choose a
headpiece. Not the other around. |
| Your headpiece must complement your
hairstyle. |
| If you purchase your headpiece and
veil, try on your dress, then select a headpiece and veil to match. |
| If your headpiece and veil are included in the piece of your dress, chances are that you're paying an inflated price for the gown. |
Tips for Formal Wear
Tips for getting the formal ware:
| Tuxes are not for every wedding. |
| Strollers and cutaways are suitable for
morning affairs. |
| For a semiformal affair, like an
afternoon wedding, there's nothing wrong with a plain navy blue suit with a
white shirt and matching or contracting tie. |
| For semiformal or formal weddings in
tropical climates and in summer, it's perfectly appropriate for men to wear
white dinner jackets, white shirts, black cummerbunds and ties, and black
pants. |
| You can save money by sticking with the
standard black tuxedo. They are inexpensive and the look is classic. |
| If you want to follow fashion trends, a
frock coat or decorative vests, cummerbunds and ties are recommended. |
| If your wedding falls near prom time,
be sure to reserve your formal wear at least three to four months in advance. |
| When you order tuxedos or formal wear,
get the specifics in writing: date, style, color, price, and deposit paid. |
| Always get tuxedo insurance to protect you in case something happens to the rental wear. |
Wedding Band, or Wedding Ring
A wedding band, or wedding ring consists of a precious metal ring, usually worn on the base of the ring finger of the left hand. Such a ring symbolizes marriage: a spouse wears it to indicate a marital commitment to fidelity.
During a traditional wedding ceremony, the best man has a traditional duty to keep track of a marrying couple's wedding ring(s) and to produce them at the symbolic moment of the giving and receiving of the ring(s).
In most Western cultures, the wedding ring is worn on the left hand. In some countries, however (such as Germany, Norway, and Chile), it is worn on the right hand. Orthodox Christians, Hindus, East Europeans and Jews also wear the wedding band on the right hand traditionally.
Before medical science discovered how the circulatory system functioned, people believed that a vein of blood ran directly from the fourth finger on the left hand to the heart. (This belief allegedly dates to the 3rd century BC in Greece.) Because of the hand-heart connection, people named the putative vein descriptively vena amori, Latin for "the vein of love". Due to this tradition, it became accepted to wear the wedding ring on this finger. By wearing rings on the fourth finger of their left hands, a married couple symbolically declares their eternal love for each other. This has now become a matter of tradition and etiquette.
In the United Kingdom and the United States in past generations women wore wedding bands much more commonly than men did. Today, both partners often wear wedding rings, but where occupations or professions forbid or discourage the wearing of jewellery (as in the cases of actors, police and electrical workers) either marriage partner may not wear a ring. In addition, people often remove wedding rings for comfort or safety. Others may object to the idea of precious metals, or dislike the idea of declaring their legal status through jewellery. So it commonly occurs for chaste married people not to wear a wedding ring.
Most religious marital ceremonies accept a band of any material (even a rubber band) to symbolize the taking of marriage vows, with unusual substitutions permitted in marriages under unusual circumstances. When people marry on shipboard and cannot obtain or adjust a metal ring of appropriate size, the partners often use rubber bands.
A European tradition encourages the engraving of the name of one's intended spouse and the date of one's intended marriage on the inside surface of wedding rings, thus strengthening the symbolism and sentimentality of the rings as they become family heirlooms.
Tips for Wedding Rings
The following is a list of tips for getting the wedding ring:
| There is no substitute for a reliable,
reputable jeweler when selecting your wedding rings. His expertise will help
you make your selection to ensure that you will be happy and satisfied for
years to come. |
| Four basic things to look for when
selecting your diamond: color, clarity, cut and carat. |
| The plain gold band is the most popular
pattern. Medical personnel commonly wear it because it can be kept very clean.
Women usually wear narrow bands, while men wear broader bands. |
| In grandiose weddings, a ring bearer
(usually a young boy) may assist in the ceremonial of parading the ring(s)
into the ceremony, often on a special cushion or pillow(s). |
| One interpretation states that the
woman wears the wedding ring below the engagement ring, thus making it closer
to the heart. Purists hold this practice, though common, as incorrect: they
claim no ring should fit above the wedding ring, which should be worn alone. |
| Either partner may also wear a wedding
ring on a chain around the neck, thus conveying the socially equivalent
message to wearing it on a finger. |
| Many married women wear two rings on
the same finger: an engagement ring and a plain wedding band. Couples often
purchase such rings as a pair of bands designed to fit together. |
| As for the engagement ring and whether
or not it should be worn during the ceremony, there are a few options. The
bride may wear it on her left ring finger and have the groom put the wedding
band over it. |
| The bride may also wear the engagement
ring on her right ring finger - although that may cause the surprise of the
groom (she can continue wearing the rings on different hands after the wedding
- this may prevent the engagement ring from scratching and scuffing). |
| Another option is to have the main
bridesmaid keep the ring during the ceremony - there are a variety ways to
keep it - in a pouch, on a plate, etc. After the ceremony, the ring can be
placed back on either left or right hand. |
| Remove rings when doing housework.
Bleaches and cleansers can pit or mountings. |
| Remove rings during sports activities
or heavy work to lessen the chance of losing. |
| Be sure your ring is ensured, in case of theft or loss. |
Wedding Cake
A wedding cake is the traditional cake served to the guests at a wedding breakfast, after a wedding. It is usually a large cake, multi-layered or tiered, and heavily decorated, often with icing over a layer of marzipan, topped with a small statue of a bride and groom. Other common motifs include doves, gold rings and horseshoes, the latter symbolizing good luck. Achieving a dense, strong cake that can support the decorations while remaining edible can be considered the epitome of the baker's art and skill.
Tradition generally requires that the first cut of the cake be performed by bride and groom together, often with a ceremonial knife, or even a sword. An older, archaic tradition had the bride serve all portions to the groom's family, as a symbolic transfer of her household labor from her family to the grooms family.
Tradition may also dictate that the bride and groom feed the first bites of this cake to each other. Again, this may symbolize the new family unit formed and the replacement of the old parent-child union.
Other guests may then partake of the cake, portions may be taken home or shipped to people who missed the festivities.
A portion may be stored, and eaten by the couple at their first wedding anniversary, or at the christening of their first child.
A large cake can take a long time to make, and without modern refrigeration, a heavy fat and sugar frosting may have prevented spoilage by limiting moisture exposure. Another possibility is the use of sugar and fat required satisfying the need for conspicuous consumption for the families involved in the wedding.
Tips for Wedding Cake
The following is a list of useful tips for your wedding cake:
| The wedding cake is as important as the
bridal veil, gown, rings, etc. |
| Yet it's expensive and costs hundreds,
even thousands of dollars. |
| You have paid for a wedding cake, even
if it's part of your packaged deal. |
| If your catering contract includes an
expensive dessert that you're paying for, cancel it. If your cake and an
additional dessert are part of of your packaged deal, cancel the dessert. |
| Instead of their dessert, put a good
plate of chocolate mints on the table. The repast should always end with
something sweet. |
| Save the cake for later, when everyone
can enjoy and savor it. |
| Your cake is the focal point of the
reception, to be looked at and admired. It should be cut at the end of the
evening. |
| The cake is sometimes placed as a
centerpiece on the bridal table if there is one; if not, the cake sits on its
own table so that it may be admired by everyone; or it may also form the
centerpiece for a buffet table. |
| It is tradition that the bride and groom freeze the top of their wedding cake for their first-year anniversary. |
Wedding Music
From the sixteenth to the twentieth century a church wedding would involve the bride walking alone slowly down the church aisle to a processional tune and returning together with her new husband to a lively recessional tune. For over 100 years the most popular processional has been Wagner's Wedding March from Lohengrin (1850), often called "Here Comes The Bride". For the recessional the most popular tune is Mendelssohn's Wedding March from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1826). Another popular choice is Widor's toccata from Symphony no 5 (1880). As the couple leave the church, a peel of bells is rung. During the service there will be a few hymns, often chosen by the bride. The law now requires paper documentation so there is an extra piece of music while the couple retires to sign the register. This might be a reflective piece such as Bach's "Jesus Joy of Man's Desiring". For civil weddings there is usually no wedding music.
After the few photographs the reception follows. This is a meal followed by a dance. In previous centuries the newly-weds would be the first to dance and then they would separate to dance briefly with each of the other people present. Only the most conservative or wealthy weddings now have couple dancing. Instead a DJ is employed to play popular records, often chosen by the couple.
Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" and Mendelssohn's "Midsummer Night's Dream" contain wedding marches. Bach wrote a "Wedding Cantata" (1723) and Smetana wrote an opera called "The Bartered Bride". Goldmark wrote a "Rustic Wedding Symphony". Tippett wrote "The Midsummer Marriage" (1955). Stravinsky wrote "Les Noces". Edmund Spencer's poem "Epithalamion" of 1595 is an ode to marriage. It has been set to music by Roberto Gerard.
At Jewish weddings, the entrance of the bride is accompanied by a tune called baruch chaba. After the ceremony there is a traditional dance called the hora. This is a circle dance, with the men circling the groom and the women circling the bride.
Coco Palms Resort was a luxury in Hawaii. It opened in 1953 and became the focus of the last 20 minutes of Elvis Presley's film "Blue Hawaii" (1961). The climax was a wedding with Elvis singing "The Hawaiian Wedding Song". This had originally been written in Hawaiian by Charles E King in 1926. It had been given English lyrics by Hoffman and Mannin. Elvis's version is a dual-language version of both songs. He sang it to his bride at his own wedding. As a direct result of the film, about 500 Americans per year were married at the Coco Palms Resort, and most of them used the famous song as part of the ceremony. Even after the hotel closed in 1992 the song is still a popular choice, especially for Presley fans.
In Egypt there is a specific rhythm called the zaffa. Traditionally a belly dancer will lead the bride to the Mosque accompanied by musicians playing the elzaff, on drums and trumpets, sometimes the flaming torches. This is of unknown antiquity, and may even be pre-Islamic.
In America, In the deep south, before the emancipation of slaves, it was not possible for slaves to receive a Christian marriage. Instead they would each jump over a broomstick. It is not clear if this represented a new start in their lives, a clean sweep, or whether the ceremony was a show of liveliness. The song "Jump The Broomstick" was a hit for Brenda Lee and was also recorded by Sandy Denny.
The traditional English "Wedding Song" is
also known as "Come Write Me Down" or "The Second Answer is Better". It dates
from before 1820. A young man woos a women, who replies saying her freedom is
more important than marriage. Just as he turns to leave, she changes her mind
and accepts his advances.
Tips for Wedding Music
The followings are useful tips for selecting your wedding music:
| Music is a very important part of your
wedding ceremony. |
| Before selecting your service music it
is advisable to check with your clergy-person and organist on any special
rules for music selection that your church may have. |
| Prelude music can begin about a half
hour before the ceremony begins. In a church wedding, these pieces are usually
classical organ music. |
| The processional music should be
majestic and joyful. |
| The recessional music should have much the same presence as the processional, but should be a slightly faster tempo. |
Wedding Photo
You should choose a reputable,
professional photographer specializing in wedding pictures. Begin your search
for a photographer far in advance of the wedding date as many of the best
photographers are booked up to a year or two ahead of time.
Find out what exactly is included in their package price.
Also appoint a friend or relative to help the photographer round up special
people.
Many couples today are having their posed church pictures taken before the
service so as not to hold up families and friends afterward.
During the Mass or service, the photographer should be most discreet and not
distract from the central action taking place.
Wedding Flower and Decoration
Flower will enhance your wedding style, as
well as add beauty and elegance at the ceremony and reception. It is suggested
that you choose a reputable florist well in advance of the wedding date, as the
most experienced ones tend to be reserved far in advance.
Fresh flowers and weddings are traditional. Your wedding is the one time in your
life when you should carry fresh flowers.
Create the illusion of having an abundance of elegantly styled fresh flowers that look like they cost thousands of dollars.
The bridal bouquet is the most beautiful of all, but the gown you will be wearing will determine the type of bouquet you choose.
Have the majority of your flowers in your bridal party, with a couple of of fresh flower bouquets for the ceremony.
Do not attempt to do your own bridal party flowers. Flowers are extremely perishable, require preservatives to stay and look their best.
Most churches permit altar flowers. The purpose of flowers at a church ceremony is to help enhance the worship space.
Tips on flowers needed for the wedding
The following is a list of tips on how to determine the amount of flower needed for the wedding:
| Bride's bouquet and toss-away bouquet. |
| Bridesmaids' bouquets and flower girl(s). |
| Groomsmen's boutonnieres and ring
bearer. |
| Corsages for mothers and grandmothers. |
| Boutonnieres for fathers and grand
fathers. |
| Boutonnieres and/or corsages for clergy
and vocalist(s), organnist. |
| Boutonnieres and/or corsages for
wedding helpers. |
| Boutonnieres and/or corsage for immediate family members who are not wedding participants. |
Tips on Wedding Flower and decoration
The following is a list of tips for the decoration and flower arrangements:
| For the ceremony site, one or two
fresh-flower arrangements is adequate. |
| Do not spend a lot of money on
decorations for the cocktail hour. |
| Be aware of the fact that some churches
do not allow silk or artificial flowers, on the other hand, some may not allow
potted flowers/ plants inside the church. |
| Keep in mind that the bride's bouquet
and her attendants' bouquets should be coordinated in theme and color. |
| The bouquet for the maid of honor may
be slightly different from the bridesmaids' bouquets. |
| The flowers carried by the flower girl
should be demure, as befits her age and size. |
| Corsages for mothers and grandmothers
should be chosen with the color of their dresses in mind. |
| Boutonnieres for the men in the wedding
party should be small and simple. |
| Reception flowers should be coordinated
with the wedding theme in both color and design. |
| The buffet table which is the center
piece of attention, should be elaborate. |
| The tables for the guests also need
centerpieces. |
| The base of the cake can be surrounded by the wedding bouquets during the reception and for pictures. |
Wedding Transportation
Transportation - A very important part of planning a wedding is arranging the transportation.
You will feel so special on your wedding
day, and look so grand, you deserve to travel in style.
The classic way to travel on your wedding day is by a nice , shiny limousine.
You can also ask a friend or relative if their cars would be available to use.
On the wedding day, have all the cars arrive at your house in time to reach the
church at least 15 minutes before the ceremony. In the first car should be your
mother with your honor attendants, and perhaps another bridesmaid or two. The
second car has the rest of your bridesmaids. The third car is for the bride and
her father. A separate car can pick-up the groom's parents.
If you have many out-of -town guests coming to your wedding, be sure they know
how to get to the church and to the reception hall.
You may want to have map made up giving directions. These can be included with
the invitation.
When leaving the church, you and your new husband ride in one car.
The car should be decorated.
Additional Tips for Wedding Transportation
| If you want to save money, call your
local car-rental agency and rent a luxury car for twenty-four hours or the
weekend, depending on their rates. Be sure the person driving the car is
present at the time the vehicle is rented. |
| With a rental car, not only you are
able to use a beautiful automobile, you save money, with an extra car to pick
up guests at the airport or to run errands. |
| Have a friend or relative to be your
chauffeur, and drive you and your parents to the ceremony, and you and your
groom to the reception. |
| Make arrangements for them to return
the car to the agency. |
| If you decide to rent a limo, reserve
early if your wedding and prom season coincide. |
| When you call, don't say you're
considering a limo for your wedding. Ask what their hourly rate. |
| Rent a large limousine that will
accommodate more people, eliminating the need to rent two limos. |
| Most wedding and prom limos are white,
but black cars are attracting many brides and grooms. |
| It may be wise to purchase complete
insurance coverage from the rental agency in case something went wrong. |
| Ask to see the cars beforehand. This is
a must. An old or unkempt car is a signal to look elsewhere. |
| Once you find a car, make a note of the
license plate number to ensure that the same car is delivered on the wedding
day. Make sure the vendor and the drivers are licensed and insured. |
| Leave a deposit and specify the
reserved date and times on your receipt, with balance due on a credit card. |
| Be sure the cancellation policy is
specified in the contract. |
| Most limo drivers live on tips. It's
wise to give the driver a few dollars beforehand. Let him know that if he does
a good job, there will be another tip after his services are completed. |
| You may also find it a good idea to notify the local police department, so they can decide if a traffic officer is necessary. |
Wedding Ceremony
The wedding ceremony is the most important one of your life, make sure you achieve elegance and beauty.
The order of service outlines the
individual service segments. Prelude, Processional, Solo, Invocation, Scripture
Reading, Marriage Ceremony, Lighting of United Candle, Benediction, Recessional.
Depending on the faith, the customers and liturgical terminology will vary.. It
is best to consult with your clergy regarding the service.
Brides are often married in their place of worship. Many brides also like to be married in public parks or on beaches.
Wedding vows are promises made by the bride and groom to each other during a wedding ceremony. In Western culture, these promises have traditionally included the notions of unselfishness ("love, comfort, keep"), faithfulness ("forsaking all others"), unconditionally ("for richer or for poorer", "in sickness and in health"), and permanence ("as long as we both shall live", "until death do us part").
Tips for Wedding Ceremony
The following is a list of tips for planning the wedding ceremony:
| Use your common sense not only to save
money, but to achieve elegance and beauty. |
| The place should be the right size to
accommodate the size of your wedding. |
| The ambiance should be warm or can be
decorated to achieve the desired effect. |
| You will save money if your home or
family can accommodate a wedding and reception. |
| Have contingency plan for bad weather,
if you intend to be married in a public park or on a beach. |
| A wedding and reception, held at the
same location, may also save you money. |
| After setting the date with an
efficient, always call later to confirm that your date and time are on their
schedule. |
| It is important to find a clergy or
efficient with good orating skills, that can address and involve your guests
in a sensitive and caring way. |
| Many religions require premarital
counseling that may take months to complete. |
| Many churches and temples offer
coordinators who help with wedding day setup. On the wedding day, these
invaluable coordinators arrive early, turn on the air or heat; make sure the
place is clean; shows the photographer, florist where to go; and much more.
|
| The right music sets the mood and
creates the right ambiance for the wedding ceremony. You will have to pay for
the for the organist and vocalists provided by the temples or church. |
| Avoid excessive decorations. They are
unnecessary. |
| If you find a religious institution
that's reasonable, then the clergy should receive a donation. |
| A rehearsal before a wedding insures
that the bridal party is coordinated with the efficient and musicians and that
they know their place and the order of events. |
| Do not be late to your wedding This is not the way to be elegant. |
Wedding Reception
A wedding reception is a party held after the completion of a marriage ceremony. Some sort of post-marriage party is traditional in most societies around the world, but with considerable variety on the details.
The wedding is often followed or accompanied by a wedding reception, at which an elaborate wedding cake is served.
In most Western countries, following a meal with copious quantities of food and alcohol, speeches are made by members of the wedding party wishing the couple well in the future. Traditionally, the speaking parties include bride's father, the best man, and then finally the groom. In the modern U.S., speeches are more often given by the best man and the maid of honor.
After the speeches, the bride and groom
begin their First Dance, which used to be called the "bridal waltz". Different
dance styles are now used, depending on the nature of this pop song.
The wedding reception dance party may involve a certain sequence of special dances. For example, after the First Dance, the groom may escort his bride to her father for a special Father/Daughter dance.
Following the various special dances, the guests are invited to join in the dancing. The party continues with toasts and various celebrations until the bride and groom leave in a car "decorated" by the couple's friends.
Wedding traditions vary considerably between countries, and even between regions of the same countries. In some cultures, there is the "tossing of the bride's bouquet and garter". The bride tosses her bouquet over her shoulder to a group of all the single women present. Whoever catches it is supposed to be the next to get married. Similarly, the groom tosses the bride's garter to the single men, often after removing it from her leg, to the amusement of the guests. Sometimes the man who catches the garter is supposed to put it on the leg of the woman who catches the bouquet. Sometimes the garter is sold in a raffle instead of being tossed.
Clinking of the glasses: Guests will often clink their glasses during dinner to ask the newlyweds to stand up and kiss. Some couples pass out wedding favor bells for guests to ring instead of clinking glasses.
In Chinese societies, the wedding reception is far more important than the wedding itself which tends to be a brief civil ceremony. The timing and the characteristics of the reception varies strongly from locale to locale. They are typically extremely elaborate and expensive often costing several years salary of the bride's family.
Wedding Reception Tips
the following is a list of tips for wedding reception:
| Wedding reception is the first party
that a bride and groom host as husband and wife. Responsible, gracious hosts
make sure their guests are their first priority. |
| The reception is the largest expense of
your wedding, don't begin married life heartbroken and broke. |
| The reception is the celebration of
your marriage - the tone and style should reflect and compliment your wedding
theme. |
| Choosing the right caterer is very
important. The caterers will supply all dishes, flatware, glasses, cups,
saucers, and table linens. |
| Your guests should not pay for their
own beverages and they should be given plenty to eat and drink. |
| A sit-down dinner reception for 150,
with dancing, will take five hours: one hour for cocktails, four hours for
dinner, dancing, and everything else. |
| Do not allow the caterer or property
to control the consumption of liquor. |
| If they charge for open bottles, for
every open bottle, consumed or not, you pay for it. |
| If they charge by the drink, every
drink that's consumed, you pay for it. |
| The solution is to limit the number of bartender serving liquors. You should have on average one bartender for every fifty guests. |
Possible Wedding Reception Sites
The following is a list of possible reception sites:
| Fraternal organizations. |
| Churches. |
| Country club. |
| Restaurants with banquet rooms. |
| Ballrooms. |
| Parks. |
| Home. |
| Outdoors. |
Rental Wedding Reception Sites Tips
Rental properties are available to the public and may be very advantageous to you. The following information are important to know:
| Rental fees. |
| What the facility includes ( table,
chairs, etc..). |
| The number of guests the facility can
accommodate. |
| Date and time available and hours
scheduled for the reception. |
| Overtime fees. |
| Restrictions. |
| Clean-up fees and terms of security
deposit. |
| Deposit; how much, when due, and terms
for refunding. |
| Cancellation policy. |
| Liability. |
| Can site accommodate the electrical
power needed to generate the needs of caterer and entertainment. |
| Is the facility licensed. |
Best Impression Tips
The following is a list of tips to remember during the wedding to make it a success:
| The wedding party should be seated
facing the guests, so that everyone can see. |
| Throughout the wedding reception, keep
that wedding glow about yourself. Remember you are the focus of attention. |
| A low centerpiece should be used so
that it won't block anyone's view. |
| Rise to greet guest who come to offer
their best wishes, and let them know how glad you are that they could come. |
| Groomsmen should leave their jackets
on. |
| Bridesmaids should keep their shoes on. |
| Keep your voice at a moderate level and
refrain from conversation during any ceremonies. |
| Be careful when eating so that you
don't accidentally spill some food or beverage on that beautiful dress. |
| Appoint a special person to wait on the
head table to keep it uncluttered. |
| The guest book is a special way of preserving the names of those friends and relatives who shared your wedding day with you. The guest book should be set in a prominent place to make sure that your guests will see it and sign it. You may wish to designate a teenaged friend to be the guest book attendant. Your helper could direct guests to sign the book. |
Superstitions about Weddings
Wedding Day Superstitions and Traditions:
BRIDAL SHOWER:
The first gift the bride opens should be the first gift she uses.
Everything the bride says as she opens her gifts will be repeated on her wedding night. Someone should be assigned to write down these comments during the shower.
The person who gives the third gift to be opened will soon have a baby.
Save the ribbons from the shower gifts to make a mock bouquet to be used at the wedding rehearsal.
WEDDING DAY
Certain days of the week, and certain months of the year are better than others for a wedding.
Monday for health,
Tuesday for wealth,
Wednesday best of all,
Thursday for losses,
Friday for crosses,
Saturday for no luck at all
Married when the year is new, he'll be
loving, kind & true,
When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread your fate.
If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know.
Marry in April when you can, Joy for Maiden & for Man.
Marry in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day.
Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you'll go.
Those who in July do wed, must labor for their daily bred.
Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see
Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine.
If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.
If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.
When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.
FOR A LUCKY BRIDE
Something old,
Something new,
Something borrowed,
Something blue,
And a lucky sixpence
In her shoe.
Married in White, you have chosen right
Married in Grey, you will go far away,
Married in Black, you will wish yourself back,
Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead,
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in Blue, you will always be true,
Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl,
Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow,
Married in Brown, you will live in the town,
Married in Pink, you spirit will sink.
WEDDING DAY
Good Omens:
seeing a rainbow
having the sun shine
meeting a black cat
meeting a chimney sweep
Bad Omens:
a pig, hare, or lizard running across the
road
seeing an open grave
meeting a nun or a monk foretell barrenness
If the groom drops the wedding band during the ceremony, the marriage is doomed.
The new bride must enter her home by the main door, and must not trip or fall - hence the custom of carrying the bride over the threshold.
The spouse who goes to sleep first on the wedding day will be the first to die.
If a single woman sleeps with a piece of wedding cake under her pillow, she will dream of her future husband.
==============================================================
Additional Links related to Wedding Plan:
| Photo
Before Ceremony
To Do List: Six Months Before Wedding To Do List: Three Months before Wedding To Do List: Two Months before Wedding |