Wedding Infatuated

Determining the exact way to word the wedding invitations can prove to be quite the task. The biggest problem with choosing the wedding invitation wording is the fact that there are often a lot of people involved. Traditionally the invitations would always include the names of the bride’s parents as the hosts:

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Suzy Q

to

Mr. Jacob Jingleheimer Jr.

Saturday, the fourth of May

at six o’clock in the evening

Big White Church

Chicago, Illinois

Now, however, the sponsor may not be the bride’s parents it may be any number of other people. For this reason you will need to include both sets of parent’s names in the beginning and adjust the wording accordingly:

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

and

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Jingleheimer

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their children

Miss Suzy Q Smith

to

Mr. Jacob Jingleheimer Jr. 

Other options include using phrases like:

“Along with their parents Suzy Q Smith and Jacob Jingleheimer Jr. request…”

“…and Mr. Jacob Jingleheimer Jr. son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Jingleheimer…”

“The honour of your presence is requested at the marriage of Suzy Q Smith to Mr….”

In modern, casual invitations it is appropriate to abbreviate and change wording as desired. For a formal occassion, however, it is important to spell out every word.

A honey wedding theme seems a bit odd but the event can be truly stunning.

Decor

Amber tones of honey. All tulle, bridesmaid dresses, tablecloths and the lot can be in varying shades of cream and amber for a decadent feel.

Flowers

The flowers should all be flowers that bees love. Ornamental strawberry, marigold, zinnia, flowering pear, orange tree, lime tree, hibiscus, and cosmos are a few of the bee favorites that are easily found in a florist shop.

Food

Go for a dessert only wedding. Not only is this inexpensive but it is the easiest way to pull this theme through. Serve a beautiful honey cake with pulled sugar for effect.

Favors

Wedding favors are of course, personalized honey jars for a sweet touch.  

Personalized Honey Favors

http://www.beau-coup.com/personalized_honey_jars.htm

The wedding reception venue is a crucial part to all weddings. This is the place where you and all your guests will spend the most time so the location should be great. Even on a tight budget it is possible to find the perfect venue, that is, if you know who to talk to.

Wedding Coordinators–sometimes the wedding coordinators at your ceremony site will have a little privileged information that they will gladly pass off to any curious bride.

Bridal Shows–bridal shows are notorious for hosting dress boutiques, ring shops and caterers but yes, even reception halls will sometimes make an appearance. A bridal show is a great way to question several venue managers at one time.

Caterers–experienced caterers have personally seen weddings in every great location in your area. They will be a great resource.

Newlyweds–newlyweds will have a little experience and can tell you about any positive or negatice experiences they had.

So get out a pen and paper and start jotting down the advice of the town!

While the ring pillow is a seemingly insignificant part of a wedding it is still a fun addition. The ring pillow is used by the ring bearer to carry the rings down the aisle. There is nothing more to it. However, the options are endless.

Handmade is always a good option. Making a non-functional pillow takes no more than a few pieces of felt and some cotton stuffing. Tack a ribbon on top to secure the rings and bingo. Easy, cheap, ring pillow. The options for handmade ring pillows is limitless. If, however, you are less than handy there are still a ton of options out there. For under $20 you can find a ring pillow to fit any wedding decor.  Check out these fun pillows for a little inspiration before embarking on the ring pillow hunt.

Most wedding budgets are fairly set in stone. All the same, most weddings tend to go over budget. It is a sad situation when so many marriages start off in debt over the wedding day. To avoid this common pitfall it is important to stick to the budget.

The best idea to help stick to your budget is to break the budget down into workable amounts. Rather than stating, “I will spend no more than $15,000 on this wedding,” you should say, “I will spend no more than $2,500 for catering, $1,500 for the wedding dress, etc.” This will keep you on track in your spending.

The next thing you will want to do is plan ahead for each and every purchase, once a purchase is made do not look back. Take the wedding favors for instance. If you see something you like, price it and move along. Calculate whether that particular favor will be within your budget. If it doesn’t fit the budget do not splurge. Keep looking. If it is within your price range, purchase the item and stop looking at wedding favors. If you continue to shop for favors once you’ve already purchased a set there is a good chance you’ll want to change your mind and that can be a costly mistake.

 The last thing to do is bargain shop. Never accept the first price given. Either search other bridal shops or online sources for your wedding needs. It is also okay to haggle. When discussing the venue point out reasons why they should offer a discount, “Well the wedding is on a Sunday, that’s a slow day. It’s also the off season so really I can’t fathom paying whole price for this.” When shopping for rings and dresses realize that the prices are marked up incredibly high so most local vendors will work with you.

If you are really committed to sticking to your budget it is not as difficult as you may think. We all want a beautiful wedding day, however, deep in debt is no way to kick off a marriage.

Picking the perfect wedding dress is one of the most exciting parts of planning a wedding. Many women are so excited to find a great dress that they actually purchase the wedding dress before deciding on a date. When choosing a dress there is a lot to think about. However, before embarking on a dress shopping adventure it is important to know this one thing; wedding dresses are sized differently than other dresses.

The main reason I like to point this out to blushing brides early on is simply because many women become very discouraged when they wear a petite size 6 in their casual dresses but have to settle for a size 8 or 10 for their wedding dress. It is well known that white is not the most slimming shade and then to hit a woman with the idea that she’s gained weight can cause a meltdown for many brides to be.

Just remember, when shopping for your wedding dress you should expect to move up at least one full size. It does not mean you are fat. It does not meant you will look fat. It just means that wedding dress designers are a cruel, cruel, bunch of folks.

Choosing the venue for your wedding is a huge task. Many things need to be considered. How much does it cost? How large is the venue? Is the wedding venue available for your specific date? This is why this decision should not be rushed.

Before choosing your venue it is a good idea to have a rough guest list hashed out. Estimate the number of guests you expect to have so you know the number of seats you will need for the ceremony and the number of placesettings needed for the reception. Once you have a rough estimate of the guests you think will come add 10% to be safe.

You should also have a theme laid out before choosing your wedding venue. If you are planning a gothic wedding you may require a very different sort of venue then a Las Vegas or Monte Carlo themed wedding. You will also want to check with potential venues about their decoration policies and clean up fees.

 Of course, however, the very first thing you will want to consider is your budget. On a large budget you can consider nearly any venue available to you. If, however, your budget is a bit diminuitive you may have to limit your choices. For a smaller budget consider an outdoor wedding or consider holding your wedding ceremony and reception in a single place. The costs will be greatly reduced if either of these options are utilized.

While it is wise to take your time deciding on a wedding venue it is also crucial to make your selection at least 6 months before the wedding date to ensure that your day is available.

If you love the idea of having personal handmade touches throughout your wedding but are not too handy yourself there are still many things you can do. www.etsy.com is probably the best resource for handmade items that are appropriate for a wedding.

Erica Bapst creates beautiful jewelry that would be perfect for the bride or bridal party.

A Punkin Card Company and Dear Emma both create beautiful invitations, thank you cards and save the date cards that guests will love.

Elm Studios Online and Mary Wibis provide lovely glass and ceramic items that would make great handmade touches.

Picture Courtesy of Dear Emma at dearemma.etsy.com

There are hundreds more. No matter what handmade item you may be looking for it can likely be found on etsy.com. The best part about working with these artisans is that you are directly connected with the artists so you can request special orders to suit your needs. Just because you are not too crafty your self does not mean you should miss out.

Are you the best chef you know? Does this make it hard to justify hiring a caterer? If you have the skills and confidence to take on the task of catering your own wedding you may not be completely crazy to try.

A few things to remember if you are taking on this task is that quality is king and it’s easier to achieve that high quality with a smaller guest list. Catering for 60 people is going to be a hell of a lot easier than trying to take on 200. If you keep these two things in mind your job will not be quite so tricky.

You also have to think about all the supplies you need. While catering an event yourself will greatly save on food costs you will also have to examine rental costs for all the serving gear you will need. You will also have to assess your preparation area. Most home kitchens are not well suited for cooking a three course meal for 60. You may, however, seek a venue that will allow you access to not only their kitchen but also their supplies.

Here are a few ideas for what to serve:

• Veggie and Fruit Platters
• Chips and Dip
• Various Meats, Breads and Cheeses
• Pasta Buffet
• Barbecue
• Baked Ham
• Turkey
• Dinner Rolls
• Potato Salad
• Rice Pilaf
• Green Salad

All of these options are fairly inexpensive, versatile, and easy to prepare. If you have the skills, if you have the space, give it a try, cater your own wedding.

Is your pretty pooch like your child? Is your kitty your little doll? If you really love your pets and consider them part of the family, why not involve them in your wedding? Pets are now acting as best men and maids of owner, flower girls and ring bearers, with a little creativity you can get your pets involved too.

If you would like your pet to be by your side as you say your nuptials you can have one of the bridesmaids or groomsmen walk or carry your pet. Dress them in their best with a flashy new color and leash or even a little outfit if you enjoy dressing your pet. If you prefer to give your pet a more active role in the ceremony you can send them down the aisle with a ring pillow attached to their collar (and the ring securely fastened to the ring pillow of course). Other options include having your large dog tow a wagon full of young flower girls, teaching your dog to give you away at the alter by walking you down the aisle and barking at the appropriate time, and if you own horses, you can ride the horses all the way up to the ceremony location. There are hundreds of ways to get your pet, no matter what type of pet it may be, involved in your wedding.