posted by Jacob Du Plessis on February 16, 2009 16:18 as General
How to Choose the PerfectBeach Wedding Dress
So you have decided to have a beach wedding? Congratulations! There’s nothing quite as romantic as a wedding in the open air, with the sun on your faces, the sound of the sea in the background – and perhaps even sand between your toes!
Beach wedding dress options
The first thing to consider is the exact location and setting of the wedding. Is the actual ceremony going to take place in a church or chapel overlooking the sea? Will you walk to the beach for the reception party – and crucially, will you be able to change your dress and/or your shoes in between?
If the whole event is going to be on the beach, you have a lot of sand to take into consideration, as well as the chance of gusts of wind and the risk of overheating in the sun.
Beach wedding dresses can be great value
You may have decided to get married abroad because of cost savings, and if this is the case then the wedding dress needs to be no exception. While traditional wedding dresses tend to be heavy affairs made with vast amounts of material, outfits for a beach ceremony and reception are usually quite modest wedding dresses.
Another advantage of the more casual wedding dress options that are favored for beach weddings is that you can often buy them without complex and time-consuming alterations being required.
What style of beach wedding dress to choose?
A floaty, casual wedding dress is probably your top option. You’ll find plenty of flattering designs. A beach discount wedding dress is a real option, as wedding dresses certainly don’t need to cost the earth when you are getting married on the beach!
A Hawaiian wedding dress is another popular style, and there are even shops and suppliers that specialize in this type of beach wedding dress.
You may wish to consider a backless dress, something short, or even dressing casually and not in a dress at all. Beach weddings are special without needing you to be overly formal!
What about the veil and shoes?
Most brides choose not to wear a veil with their beach wedding dress – or if they do, they tend to opt for a much lighter, shorter, more casual type.
Footwear is another place where you are likely to spend a lot less money thanks to your choice of tying the knot on the beach. Lots of beach brides even go barefoot! Whatever you choose in the way of accessories, you should pick your beach wedding dress first and then base the rest of your outfit around it.
posted by Jacob Du Plessis on January 18, 2009 4:19 as General
How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Bands
So you want to seal the deal. You've already proposed, she has accepted. Now, it's time to get down to business and make it official.
Aside from your vows, there's nothing more that makes it official than the exchange offering of wedding bands.These are the rings that the bride and groom will be wearing forever, 'til death do us part! So it is important for the bride and groom to purchase a wedding band that they both like and feel good about.
One thing that you should consider when buying a wedding band, is both the personal style of the future husband and wife. This is a joint effort, so both parties should agree. It is essential that both are comfortable with the rings that they choose, because they'd be wearing these rings for a lifetime.
There are a variety of wedding band to choose from, made from different materials. 14 karat white and yellow gold being still two of the most popular choices. A 14 karat gold wedding band is not entirely made of gold. It is mixed with an alloy of gold and other metals such as copper and silver.
Wedding bands also come in silver and platinum. Platinum is heavier than gold. It is considered to bethe most precious of all metals. It makes for a beautiful wedding ring because of its stunning white metal that shines after it has been polished.
Silver is not considered superior in quality. Silver metal tend to be very soft. Wedding bands made of silver are prone to discoloration. But they are very inexpensive. So those who are shopping on a budget might want to consider this as an option.
In choosing a wedding band,the thickness of the band must be considered, and whether the bride and groom would want a wedding band with a design, or just a plain set of wedding bands.
Now, it is common for couples to choose the same wedding band. Except, that the woman's wedding band is slightly smaller. It is advisable for couples who are shopping for rings to visit a number of jewelry stores. This way, they'd have a wide selection to choose from. They could also compare prices. If you have any questions regarding the rings, you can always ask a professional jeweler to assist you. He or she can also offer you an expert opinion when it comes to your selection.
If couples chose to have an engraving in their rings, they should already have a dedication in mind. Also, they should be careful in choosing the type of engraving they will put in their wedding bands, because these engravings are lasting.
Most couples chose to have their initials brandished inside their wedding rings. While others chose symbols, or dedications as a gesture, or profession of their love and devotion to each other. Engravings are a wonderful thing, because they make the rings more meaningful and special.
Ask your friends and family who are blissfully married to recommend some names of places where you can acquire the wedding bands of your dream.
If you cannot find a ready made ring that suits your style, you can always have them custom made. A lot of jeweler specialize in making wedding bands. Having your wedding bands made, actually is less expensive than purchasing in store wedding bands. The great thing about this is it also adds a personal touch to the ring selection process.
But in the end, it's not really just about the rings, so couples should not stress over the whole ring selection process. Rather they should enjoy and relish this special time, when they are about to be made future husband and wife, and bonded for all eternity.
posted by Jacob Du Plessis on January 11, 2009 16:42 as General
Weddings: Some Odd Traditions
And for the rest of their lives, the man and woman shall be together….
Doesn’t it sound romantic? For the man and the woman to leave their families to be as one, to form a new family? It has been like this from time immemorial. And throughout the millennia, the concept of family and marriage have been so closely knotted together that it is sometimes impossible to separate one from the other.
Marriage is present in every culture in some form. Although the laws, norms, and cultures may differ, they all still recognize the union of man and woman under one roof.
Marriage has evolved in so many ways from the different cultures all throughout the world throughout the ages. For each culture, there are diverse ways of celebrating something like marriage. But in each culture, there has always been one thing that has remained the same – that in every culture, and every tribe, marriage has always been one to be celebrated with the utmost of festivities, with singing, eating, and celebrating.
Along with these festivities, man has also adopted a growing, and evolving number of traditions each filled with meaning and – believe it or not – shocking origins.
The Wedding Cake:
Today’s tall, elaborated, and delicately crafted wedding cakes evolved from the simple grooms-cakes made by family members for the bride. Before the wedding day, one of theses cakes was put under the pillow of the bride. The bride would then sleep and “dream” of the groom, and yes, squish that cake into oblivion.
The real wedding cake would be a pound cake that would be “pound up” and crumbled and tossed at the couple as a sign of fertility. That is where we get today’s custom of sprinkling the couple with rice after the wedding.
Cakes during weddings are usually stacked up in large layers. The higher the stack, the more ‘glamorous’ the cake. People usually regard these arrangements are mere style. However, they were done so in the past as a symbol of fertility. Couples would stack these cakes to symbolize how many children the wished to have. So in the past, the higher the stack, the more the children.
Tying the Knot:
Now the truth can be told. Tying the knot did not necessarily mean getting knotted together. During ancient tribal times, the bride would usually be wrapped in a sheep with a knot out in front. This was to symbolize virginity.‘Untying the knot’ was the groom’s privilege after the wedding the night.
Best Man – Secret Agent:
And startling enough, the best man used to play a different role in the early days. During tribal times, it was the best man’s duty to abduct potential brides from other tribes. He would usually do so by clubbing the poor damsel over the head and drag her back home – just like those comic skits about cavemen seem to suggest. It was also the best man’s job to ward off the angry relatives of the bride. So in the early days, it was the best man swinging his axe while the groom got hitched.
Today:
Although we are a little less barbaric than earlier times, we still see an evolution of the wedding ceremony and its tradition. These traditions are filled with meaning and can only serve to make your wedding day more memorable.
posted by Jacob Du Plessis on November 14, 2008 15:28 as General
The Perfect Wedding Flower Arrangements
Flowers can be a really big expense for a wedding. Your first decision is whether to buy in a full service to cover all the wedding flower arrangements from the wedding flower centerpiece and the wedding flower bouquet right down to the little flower for your pageboy’s buttonhole – or whether to do some or all of the wedding flower arrangements yourself.
Wedding flower ideas for self-made wedding flower arrangements
If you want to do some or all of the wedding flower arrangements yourself, and save yourself a lot of money into the bargain, remember that you can always pick and choose which parts you want to do yourself, and then buy in the rest so that you are not overwhelmed.
If making your own flower arrangements, remember that good flower arrangers know that it is important to include plenty of greenery with the flowers. The foliage itself can be expensive, but with a little hunting you may be able to get suitable greenery for free from your own garden or a friend’s. Ivy works well, as does the foliage from many garden shrubs.
The list of flower arrangements to consider might include:
Wedding flower arrangements for the ceremony venue (remember to check, if the venue is a church, what the protocol is for flowers and decorations as some churches can be strict about where you are allowed to place them).
Reception wedding flower arrangements, including a wedding flower centrepiece for the top table, pedestal arrangements and flowers for general areas, wedding cake flowers.
Flowers for the wedding car or other transport.
The bride’s flowers, including bouquet, hair flowers and extra bouquet to throw.
The groom’s buttonhole.
Guests and others – flowers for the bridesmaids and mothers, and buttonholes for best man, ushers, fathers and pageboys
Fresh or silk?
Fresh flowers always have the added beauty of fragrance as well as looking wonderful, while silk flowers are less prone to spoiling.
If you are making some or all of the wedding flower arrangements yourself, silk wedding flowers have the added benefit of being easier to work with for an inexperienced flower arranger!
Getting the best from your wedding flowers
Plan well in advance to ensure that you have sourced a good supplier and that they are responsive to your needs.
If your flowers arrive ready prepared, they will probably need to be stored somewhere cool.
Fresh flowers will last much longer and look better if you invest in a holding spray that helps them retain moisture.
Whatever your choice of flower idea, wedding flower arrangements that are carefully chosen and thoughtfully designed will transform your special day!
posted by Jacob Du Plessis on October 30, 2008 8:19 as General
A Winter Wedding - White Honeymoon - Going on Winter Honeymoon Destinations
A winter wedding hardly seems like a perfect season to tie the knot. But a winter honeymoon is the perfect escape to some snow-capped destinations in the world, cuddling in front of a log fire with mugs of hot chocolate or playing in the snow like kids. And because it happens to be Christmas time as well, it’s a romantic honeymoon setting with the golden candles in a European castle or some hotel hidden in the mountains. Feed each other winterberries, Apricots and cherries.
Explore on one of the snow-capped mountains of Canada. The Rockies and the Laurentains are perfect for winter sports. Go skiing in one of the many ski resorts and enjoy the natural topography and snow. Whether you’re a serious skier or just a neophyte, there’s definitely something in store for you and your honey.
Tremblant is a skiing resort you can definitely visit, providing you with the sights of Quebec’s local color and a theme park. A quaint village, it offers brightly colored buildings with boutiques and restaurants dotting the streets. And to cap off an afternoon ski experience, there are wood cabin bistros and cafes where you can relax and enjoy. For some evening activity, your loved one and you can explore its many open-air theaters with performances of fire-eaters, clowns and live music. There are also skating activities in Lac Miroir and water slides at La Source. To cap off your day, cozy up in one of their wood cabins and drink hot chocolate in front of the fire.
Here are five other European destinations you can explore on your winter honeymoon.
1. Kitzbühel, Austria
An Alpine town perfect for skiing, Kitzbühel has chalets complete with fireplaces for cuddling up, top-notch cross country trails and downhill slopes and a perfect nightlife.
2. St. Moritz, Switzerland
Aside from the mountain slopes perfect for snow activities, there’s also the après-ski café fertig, a coffee with shots of schnapps you surely wouldn’t want to miss on your visit, dining at the La Marmite and of course, shopping at Armani and Cartier. For evening revelry, there’s the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel and a tour of small buildings connected by underground passageways at the Chesa Guardalej.
3. Courchevel, France
Part of a series of villages in the Trois Vallees area connected by the cable cars, this is a good way to spend time skiing and partying during your honeymoon. You can sunbathe on the Riviera in the summer retreat here – and at winter, of all times.
4. Cortina d’Ampezzo,
Italy Great food, great wine, great slopes…what more could you ask for? Skiing couple enthusiasts, both amateur and advanced, will enjoy what this place has to offer, not to mention the trails for cross-country lovers. Local restaurants give you a filling of homemade pasta and risotto and there’s dancing in the discos at night.
5. The DolomiteMountains
The DolomiteMountains are home to the sophisticated and elegant city of Cortina D'Ampezzo. The slopes are paradise for advanced as well as intermediate skiers, and there are trails for cross-country enthusiasts. Restaurants satisfy those who savor homemade pasta and risotto. Discos do exist, but dining out is nightlife enough for most.
6. Lillehammer, Norway
Probably the place of origin of skiing and slalom, LillehammerNorway offers slopes, slopes and more slopes. With the 200 plus miles of cross-country trails and skiing slopes, all lit by torches, it’s a lovely way to go skiing with your loved one. If not skiing, take a look at the world’s oldest skis on view at the SkiMuseum in the capital city of Oslo.
There’s beauty to spending a white Christmas, a white winter wedding and a white winter honeymoon.
posted by Jacob Du Plessis on September 22, 2008 11:05 as General
Funny Wedding Speeches - Three Crucial Tips For Successful Funny Wedding Speeches
Thinking about Funny Wedding Speeches? Serious wedding toasts are great, especially getting those tears on camera, but sometimes it’s better to make the crowd laugh. Funny wedding speeches can provide some much needed relief from what is naturally an emotional day. However not all humor is appropriate and just because you think you’re funny doesn’t necessarily mean that you actually are.Here are some tips for giving a great comedic wedding speech.
1. Consider your audience:
Who will be there? Will there be small children present that you shouldn’t swear in front of? Is the family very religious and might take offense to certain jokes? Do the bride and groom have a good sense of humor? Think about who all the guests will be before you start working on your speech. Keep it age and interest appropriate. If the family is over the top and out of the box a roast may be in order but if not keep it on the safe side.
2. Think of funny stories:
Humorous stories involving the bride and groom are always good as long as they are clean. No sex, drugs or illegal activity stories unless they are widely known by the entire family and close friends. Otherwise this could be a recipe for disaster. If you reveal an embarrassing secret that the parents, siblings or grandparents didn’t know about you are stirring up the pot. You are creating a potentially uncomfortable situation for both the bride/groom and family as well as for yourself and everyone else.
3. Tell jokes:
Write a couple jokes about the family, bride and groom, or the wedding and planning process. Make sure it is all “light” humor. Don’t let anything be serious or presented in a serious tone. Avoid anything potentially embarrassing. Again, keep it clean, short and sweet. Remember, if you cannot tell it to your mother or granny, it is not suitable. Do not offend any of the bridal party or the guests at all costs.
Heed these warnings and you will be able to give funny wedding speeches that will have the guests rolling without offending anyone.
posted by Jacob Du Plessis on August 26, 2008 15:51 as General
The main purpose of wedding favors are that they are a great way for couples to show their gratitude to family and friends that graciously attended their wedding day. Wedding favors are small tokens of appreciation that couples can give out to the people that came to celebrate their wedding day with them. Wedding favors come in all shapes and sizes. There are an infinite number of items for wedding favors that couples can choose from.
1. Keep your budget in mind:
The couple's budget is a significant factor to consider when selecting wedding favors. However a resourceful and creative couple can easily find a solution to their problem. Couples can also choose to have their wedding favors centered on their wedding theme. Wedding favors can either be store bought or made by the bride herself with the help of her bridal entourage.
2. History of wedding favors:
The history of wedding favors dates back several centuries ago in European countries. People then believed that weddings were a fortunate occasion and that the giving of wedding favors by the groom and bride is a way of sharing that luck to family and friends.
Wedding favors began as a tradition of upper class families in Europe centuries ago. French and Italian families would hand out 'bonbonnieres' to guests as wedding favors. These confectionary delicacies are placed in small fancy boxes made of metal, crystal or porcelain. The boxes are also decorated with precious stones that create a precious keepsake for guests.
Later on, other social classes took on the tradition of giving wedding favors to their guests. Almonds were popular wedding favors given by couples in the earlier days. People believed that the almonds represented longevity, happiness, wealth, health and fertility. Up to now, almonds are still common wedding favors given by couples in the form of candy-coated almonds.
3. Modern day wedding favors
Wedding favors are now an essential part of the preparations for the wedding day. Couples have limitless choices for wedding favors. Wedding favors can be bought or made to match the style of the couple's wedding. Couples can choose to have either practical or decorative wedding favors to give away to family and friends.
4. Ideas for wedding favors:
Many sensible couples opt to give out practical wedding favors that guests can use afterwards i.e.
Salt and peppershakers
Coasters
Cookie cutters
Candles
Seeds that the guests can plant
Fancy chocolates
Ideas for wedding favors can be as wild as the imagination can get. Couples can come up with the wildest wedding favors for their giveaway to family and friends. Wedding favors also come in a variety of prices that helps make it easier for couples to find the right gift at the right price.
5. Some more ideas:
Couples can choose to have wedding favors that symbolize the theme of the wedding.
Wedding favors can also be selected in relation to the season in which the wedding is scheduled.
Christmas or winter theme, summer theme or fall theme wedding favors also makes it easier for couples to select the right giveaway for the event.
Wedding songs recorded on compact discs are popular wedding favors that let couples share their special day with guests for years to come.
At any rate, the choice of wedding favors is limited only by the couple's imagination.
posted by Jacob Du Plessis on August 23, 2008 13:45 as General
Here are a few tips to think about while you are planning your wedding, it is for afterwards when you have to make a life together. Ideas for a happy marriage:
RULES FOR A HAPPY MARRIED LIFE
Don’t nag.
Don’t try to take your partner
over.
Don’t criticize.
Give honest appreciation.
Pay little attentions.
Be courteous.
Read a good book (together) on the
sexual side of marriage.
For good help with your wedding planning, you can have a look at Amazing Wedding Planning.
posted by Jacob Du Plessis on August 19, 2008 13:55 as General
WEDDING WISDOM
There are many legal requirements regarding marriage. These
vary from state to state, and include restrictions on who may marry, who may
perform the ceremony, number of witnesses needed, and requisite licenses and
blood tests involved. Check with your local marriage bureau or county clerk to
obtain the guidelines for your region.There are many ways to get married, and the only “right” way
is to discover what is meaningful to you.
Decisions regarding your ceremony should be determined by both
bride and groom together, for marriage is a major undertaking and should be
entered into with more than just consent. Responsibility, collaboration,
anticipation, intent and interest will all be required throughout your
marriage. What better way to start your married life than planning this first
step together? If a five-minute wedding rite with only the bare necessities
spoken is your style, don’t feel you have to change it. This might be the
perfect ceremony for you, but it should be a decision, not a default. Rituals should only be incorporated in your wedding if they
have true significance for you. A showy display of unrelated practices used
only for the sake of making your ceremony appear glamorous or unusual will, in
actuality, seem hollow and out of place.
posted by Jacob Du Plessis on July 20, 2008 16:28 as General
Free Best Man Speeches Are They Helpful Or Dreadful?
You’re sitting in your couch watching TV on a Saturday night, minding your own business and then your Best friend calls you up, tells you he’s getting hitched and wants you to be his best man. You sweat, but can’t decline, so you end up agreeing on a toast at the wedding. After you hang up the phone, you go straight to the net and search for Free Wedding speeches.
Get the picture? Statistics have shown that more people are afraid of public speaking then they are of more common fears, and it is indeed a very fearful act, speaking in public, anything you say cannot be taken back, and if you say something bad, you’ll get foot “in” mouth disease.
But does looking for free speeches on the net really help? Most of the time you’ll find some cheap tips on how to make the perfect, speech or how to say it. Or maybe you’ll be lucky enough to find one that is already made, and you’ll just have to print it. But these speeches tend to be rather, impersonal and very general, and if you’re the best man, you’ll probably just end up boring your friends and family.
When making speeches, the simpler the better, you won’t have to depend on free wedding speeches off the net if you have memories of your friends.
What you are asked to do on a wedding toast is to tell the people something about your friends, the ones getting married, how they were meant for each other and how you wish them happiness for the rest of their lives. You don’t need a factory made, winding speech, all you need is memories, and your genuine care for your loved ones.
If you’re still having the jiggly stomach about giving your speech you can follow these free wedding speech tips, they may not be ready made but they’ll surely help.
1. Forget the preaching go on with the memories
Most people give winding speeches because they tend to give “unasked advice” leave that to the marriage counselor or the pastor, just give ‘em memories. Most couples appreciate the nostalgia of a few well chosen memories. Find a funny or a touching memory you have of the couple and share it with the room, plus a few well wishes and you’re done.
2. Go for short but effective, rather than long and winding
Many of us know that a long speech is very boring; you don’t want to dull the night with your talks of your childhood, and your games, with your friend. A biography is for a book, one or two memories are for a wedding.
3. Write a Poem
You may say that poems are for sissies but that depends on every person point of view. But a Wedding Is a very emotional moment and it’s sure that everyone is in the mood for a little emotion and tears and what more to provoke those dams to flow than a few well said lines in the form of a poem?
4. Don’t forget to introduce yourself
A simple “Jade has been my friend since high school and I’ve never seen her gaga over any guy other than Andrew” Make a basis for what you’re saying, especially if you’re talking about moments in the newlywed’s life. If it was a trial, you’re the witness, and you’ll need credibility. Just imagine would people “feel” your speech if they’re don’t know who the heck you are?
