Tips on Planning a Wedding, Where to Start

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Marriage is an institution that is meant to last forever, and so should be entered into after a lot of thought and consideration of all relevant factors. When thinking of getting married, there a lot of things that go through your mind, and so it is important to consolidate your thoughts to avoid getting overwhelmed. The moment that you make the engagement announcement, everyone will probably want to know if you have set a date. In case the date has already been set, then you need the information and tips on planning a wedding in order to succeed.

The information and tips on planning a wedding - where to start is diverse as the people offering it, so it is important to pick up only the ones that are relevant to your relationship. Some of the most helpful advice given to those planning to get married and have no idea where to start includes:

Plan early - It is very important to start planning for the wedding as soon as you can. Many couples get stressed as the wedding date gets near because not everything is in place. Have a team that will help you bring your dream day into reality.

Involve family - Many times couples think they have everything under control and would not like a lot of involvement from their family when it comes to the wedding. However, this should not be the case because most family members are willing to help, and feel bad if left out of the preparations. Their participation is likely to give them some sense of ownership of the whole event.

Confirm documents - Depending on whom you are marrying and where the wedding is to take place, it is important to have all the relevant documents on hand. Most documents that are needed to make a marriage official are usually applied for in advance. Make sure all the documents are in place at least a month before the wedding to avoid any mishaps.

Have a checklist - Checklists are very important because they allow you to keep track of the progress of the planning. It shows you what you have done, what is left, and the time in which everything has to get done. Update your list on a regular basis so that you are motivated to continue accomplishing the tasks at hand.

Challenges to expect when planning a wedding

Getting married is a smooth ride for some people, but for some it can be quite challenging. The reasons for the challenges may differ from one couple to another, but when they are expected, it is much easier to tackle them together and emerge victorious. Some of the challenges to expect when getting married include:

Conflicts - Finding yourselves on different sides on some decisions that need to be made for the wedding and your future life together is common when getting married. However, this does not mean that the relationship is doomed, because with some discussions you will be able to resolve the issues and continue with your plans. Conflicts are common in relationships and so it is important to find a way of resolving them amicably.

Fear and uncertainty - The decision to get married comes with its fears as well, with many people starting to experience doubt as to whether they are marrying the right person, or even if they want to get married in the first place. These types of uncertainties are normal and should not be taken too seriously, unless the reasons leading to those feelings have evidence to back them.

Lack of support from family or friends - When getting married, most people seek support from both sides of the family and even their closest friends, whom they hope will encourage them along the way. However, this is not always the case because sometimes your family or that of your fiancée, do not approve of your choice for one reason or another. This can also apply to friends who may feel you deserve a better person among others.

Overall, it is important to use the information and helpful tips on planning a wedding - where to start that are relevant to your particular situation. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

A Special Wedding Without the Cost

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Creating a memorable, unique wedding is probably your goal. Your budget may not be huge, but you want to rent a facility that is going to provide you with the most amazing experience possible. They say that women dream of this day for their entire lives. You definitely want to ensure any location you select is going to live up to those dreams. Yet, doing this on a budget can seem difficult. The goal is just to think outside of the box and to invest your money wisely.

Invest in a Beautiful Location

Instead of a boring hall with basic features and standard fixtures, look for a destination that has something special to offer to you. For example, consider hosting your wedding under the stars on an open terrace. It does not have to cost a lot to do this either. Look for a destination location that is closer to home. For example, choose a local zoo, garden, or park to host it. This will be the type of celebration you remember with fond memories with the right lighting.

Know What Matters

In the grand scheme of things, the small details will be less memorable than the initial impression that guests have when they arrive at your destination. For example, you will treasure having access to the right lighting to create that romantic glimmer throughout the room, but people will be less likely to remember whether or not the napkins matched your bridesmaids' gowns. Look for a location that is affordable and has the features that do matter.

Keep in mind what the costs of any vendor will be, and look for ways to reduce that cost. Instead of offering a dozen meal choices, offer two. Instead of having a celebration with a live band, go for a more romantic and quiet event with soft music playing in the background. Rather than spending money on an ornate cake, select something that is special to you such as a design that brings together your love for each other, or have a small cake to cut and other cheaper desserts to serve in addition.

Finally, be sure to work with the facility to get what you need. Sometimes, by asking for a better price or different fixtures, you can get just that. The only thing you have to do to get it is to ask for it, and the worst that can happen is they will say no. It may be easier than you think to get the beauty you are looking for.

Your wedding is your special day, and it should have everything you need to make it a special evening. Yet, you do not have to put every ounce of your savings into it. Look for a memorable location. Cut out those features you just do not need. Then, make it special with the right lighting, layout, and atmosphere.

If you are planning a destination wedding New Orleans has lots of unique venues. Visit auduboninstitute.org for more information. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

Three Events for Local Banquet Halls

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A good event has to have a foundation of effortlessness. All of the questions should have been planned for so all the information can be provided to all guest and all services are completely available so everyone feels taken care of. Anyone can have a party at their own home but banquet halls take out a lot of the worry because all professional spaces have a check list of responsibilities in order to properly rent out the space. Clients continue to depend on these halls' services because once they've done their part of organizing their event then all they have to do is pay their fees to the hall to book the available date with possible tables and chairs. The provided spaces are very basic in their presentation. They are clean and vary in size from small meeting rooms to large rooms for special occasions. From baby showers and graduations to weddings and corporate events, banquet halls offer space to celebrate and keep businesses on track for it all.

Banquet halls are most well known for the wedding ceremonies that they are open to throughout the year. They can accommodate the smallest parties and up to only a few hundreds of people. A client can not only have a space for their wedding ceremonies but their celebration's reception as well. There can be a separation of spaces or a morphing of the ceremony space into the reception space. A bar can be set up; food service can be set up buffet style; and there can be a stage for toasts and announcements and they never forget the dance floor.

Banquet halls are also frequently used for corporate events. Corporate events include company meetings, large presentations to special clients, convention (industry) events, and for team building exercises. The space can be as simple as one large conference room that is set up for visual presentations or a stage for panels and demonstrations. Or, they can rent several rooms for a weekend or week long presentations and activities that help to strengthen a team and help with improve education and skills at the same time. Sometimes they need the space to do it.

Banquet halls are just ideal for special occasions that someone's home or offices cannot accommodate. Whether it is business related for the growth of co-workers and business connections or for those personal special occasions such as birthday parties, retirement and welcome home parties too. As long as the event meets the food, alcohol, safety and activity standards of that specific banquet space then it can happen during its renting season or year round, again, depending upon the facility.

Grand Rapids banquet halls can hold your entire wedding party and then some. Throw the party of a lifetime at thegoeicenter.com. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

Do It Yourself Weddings - Don't Do It

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When it comes to weddings these days, many people are looking to save money and stay within a budget. There are a lot of brides that are choosing Do-it-yourself or "DIY" options when it comes to the centerpieces, wedding favors, and even the flowers. While a DIY wedding would seem to offer a romantic chance to personalize your wedding on a budget, many brides do not consider the actual logistics of attempting to take on some of the crafts that have been perfected by professionals in the industry.

Brides are constantly bombarded with artistically photographed images on the internet of DIY wedding receptions in which the homemade centerpieces and unique wedding favors are perfectly personalized and everything looks amazing. However, what the internet can not show you is how much time, stress, and tears these projects actually took to complete. The effort involved in DIY wedding projects is not usually taken into consideration when you are pouring through DIY wedding ideas in bridal magazines.

For those brides who have never tried to plan a wedding before, the planning process can easily become overwhelming and stressful with everything that needs to be done. Adding extra projects to the process of planning your wedding is simply not a good idea in most cases unless the bride has lots of help.

Have you ever had an idea for a project in your head that seems perfect, and when you actually sit down to do it things don't come out looking like they did in your head? This is what often happens with DIY projects. When it comes to a wedding, you can't have things as important as the flowers or wedding favors looking anything but breathtaking. Figuring out how to make your ideas come to life takes some experimentation. You go out and purchase all the supplies to create your crafty DIY project hoping to save some money in the end, but by the end of the first attempt half of your supplies have been used up just in the experimenting phase.

Now you have to go spend more money on more supplies so that you have enough decorations for your reception, and suddenly your homemade centerpieces are costing more than if you had them made professionally. In some cases, the idea never quite looks right in reality and then a bride ends up completely giving up and paying retail anyway just to be done with it.

Your time is worth money! Especially during the wedding planning process when almost everything has to be done by the bride and can't be delegated. Don't underestimate how valuable your time is during this stressful planning process in which there will be appointments to keep, dresses to pick out, and decisions to be made. While DIY projects may seem to be cheaper if you are looking at the retail price tag alone, when you factor in the time it will take you to complete something like 100-150 wedding favors for your guests, you might be better off just purchasing the favors and using your time to do something else. After all, cheap wedding favors are surprisingly abundant, and you can often find beautiful favors for under $1.00 each! You have to ask yourself if it is really worth the hassle of making all those favors to save a few cents each when you can easily purchase them completely finished from a website and check that off of your to-do list.

DIY wedding ideas are everywhere, but you have to beware of taking on extra projects while your plate is already full with wedding planning. By the time you factor in the cost of supplies, the cost of trial-and-error, and the time it will take to complete, you are often better off leaving the wedding accessories to the professionals. Don't get sucked into the beautiful pictures and the romanticized DIY ideas in bridal magazines unless you have plenty of help and extra time to complete things like wedding favors or centerpieces before your big day.

Visit expressweddingfavors.com for affordable wedding favors that will compliment any occasion. Express Wedding Favors will deliver unique favors right to your door in time for your big event. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

Elements of a Great Wedding Invitation

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Your Wedding Invitation is an important part of the wedding planning process, and is something you will want to prepare once you have set your wedding date and secured the location. If you are planning to have out of town guests at your wedding, or are planning a destination wedding, it is also best to send a save the date card 4 to 6 months prior to your wedding date. This will allow your guests plenty of make their travel arrangements, and will ensure more of your family and friends are in attendance. Your save the date card does not need more detail than the date, location (even a city and state will do), your wedding planning website (if applicable) and a note that a formal invitation will follow. Your formal wedding invitation should be sent about 8 weeks prior to your wedding, and you should request RSVP replies 3 weeks prior to your wedding date.

A formal wedding invitation should include the following elements:

- Wedding Response Cards: This will tell you who will and will not attend your wedding reception. The do not forget to include a stamped return address envelope with the response card. Note that the response card should be that of the person hosting the wedding.

- Directions and Maps: This is an important element, especially if you have out of town guests attending. Note that these should be printed individually and not photocopied. Most reception halls will have this information available to download off their website just be sure to double check the details for accuracy before you start printing copies.

- Accommodation Cards: Like the directions and maps, this is another important element if you are planning on inviting many out of town guests. You should include nearby airports, hotel options, area attractions and rental car agencies. If you have booked a block of rooms in a nearby hotel or you have reserved rental cars in their names, you would provide this information as well.

Optional elements for your wedding invitation include:

- Reception Cards: Reception cards should be used if you are planning on having different guest lists for your wedding ceremony and wedding reception. The reception card is used to include details about the wedding reception such as the time and venue.

- Website Links: Some couples have a wedding website to post details about their wedding. If you would like to include a website, a simple card with the web address can be included in the invitation.

Keep in mind that any extra inserts included in your invitation should be printed on a high quality paper that is the same thickness and color as your actual invitation if you do not have coordinating stationary in the same pattern.

Forget the printer, consider printing your own Wedding Invitation! Wedding Staples has a wide selection of DIY Wedding Invitation Kits in a variety of colors and themes. Kits include blank invitations with envelopes, response cards and coordinating envelopes, test printing sheets, instructions and template information. Find the perfect invitation for your wedding today. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

Choosing a Best Beach Wedding Dress

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So, you've already zeroed in on the most suitable ocean venue to say "I do" to the love of your life. It is a joyful moment you are going to share with your soon-to-be spouse at the most romantic site of your choice. But wait, have you selected the wedding dresses that you may prefer to wear on your special day. However, choosing the right beach wedding dress can be a bit tricky. Here are some ideas:

Dressing the bride

Since most beach weddings are much more informal than the church wedding, the rules for the beach wedding dresses aren't so much strict. To make the sand-walk more convenient, you need to avoid satin pumps, long veils and heavy trails. Instead go for the non-traditional bridal gowns such as the colorful bridal gowns or knee length. You can also put on a white delightful shirt with a unique colorful sarong. You could also go for a sundress for your beach wedding. Choose bold color shifts and floral prints. You also have to take into account the wedding color theme when selecting the bridal gown colors. Colors like brown, yellow, pink, plum, light orange shades, purple, yellow, peach, blue, lavender, beige, cream, chic white among others are the best for beach weddings. In addition, you can also pick less flashy bridal jewelry such as dewdrop earrings and string of pearls.

Dressing the groom

Since you have to select informal beach wedding dresses, go for drawstring pants and casual shirts. Choose colors that match the color of the bride's wedding attire. You could also settle for the above mentioned color hues. Just ensure that you look casual but trendy. Try Cuban Guayabera or Hawaiian flower printed shirt with color contrasting knee length shorts. Ensure your shirt complement the sarong worn by the bride. Avoid ties or tuxedo and leave top buttons of your shirt open.

Dresses for the wedding party

Both groomsmen's and bridesmaids' dresses should complement the groom's and bride's dresses as well as the wedding theme. The bridesmaid dresses include frilled skirts, pleated frocks or gowns together with casual tops. Actually, white top and sarong is the perfect combination for bridesmaids. In case you are looking for the tropical wedding dresses, then accessorize them more with any head band or floral garland. When it comes to the groomsmen attire, wearing loose pants with causal shirts can do. Khaki also looks perfect with a white linen shirt. The head rule for the groomsman and bridesmaid dress is that it should not overshadow that of the groom and bride. You also need to consider the season and weather of the beach when choosing dresses.

Dresses for the guest

If you're a guest, you can pick bright shades of coral, purple, blue and red colors; when selecting women's dresses, ties and shirts to wear to the beach wedding. Women can also choose patterned short sundresses and t-length sundresses. Pick flower printed fabrics, incase it's a casual and tropical wedding. Children's dresses should be the same as those of adults.

And for tips on how to select a beach wedding dress, visit Bridal Warehouse. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

Things To Remember When Planning Weddings

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Wedding planning preparation tips can aid in making the wedding fun-filled and exciting for everyone.

Preparation And Planning Tips:
Wasting time and money on sending invitations to all the people working in your office, when only the ones who are close to you will attend, is a big no.The foremost step is to decide how much amount of money can be spent. Always calculate 25% more than what is expected.The invitations have to be sent a month is advance. Sufficient postage has to be accompanied with the invitations when you post them.Emergency kits containing threads, needles, hairspray, hairpins, safety pins, extra pantyhose and nail polish has to be kept.Wedding dress shopping has to start at least six months before the wedding.Makeup and hair has to be in place before wearing the wedding dress.Sampling of food from different caterers is always good. If food is ordered from a restaurant, make it a point to visit it for dinner before finalizing it for the wedding food requirement.Use a fountain pen for addressing wedding invitations.Disagreements between the bride and the groom have to be settled before involving parents.The price range for the wedding dress has to be decided in advance.Send a note of thanks for the received wedding gifts. The wedding date has to be finalized keeping in mind close ones. Remember to avoid anniversary dates and birthdays and give a thought to people who need a lot of travelling to reach the venue.Book photographers well in advance.Hire the services of wedding consultants if you do not have time.The wedding flower setting has to be decided keeping in mind the budget and the choice of colours. Eating before the wedding is always good, as you might feel hungry during the wedding.All the wedding schedule documents and other important things have to be photocopied; right from the date of the wedding to the departure for honeymoon. Important members of the family should have the photocopies with them. This ensures that everyone in the family is aware of the wedding details and important aspects for saving confusion later on.

Friends and family members have to be roped in for the preparations without any hesitation. Choose appropriate tasks to be assigned to friends and family members. This can reduce the workload and aid in getting the work done much more quickly and efficiently.

If the planning is perfect, any wedding in Edinburgh can be done without hiccups, and if you want to save time, hiring professional services can aid in arranging weddings Edinburgh. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

3 Options For Wedding Reception Music: Wedding Bands And More

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If you're planning your wedding, you know that you have a lot of choices when it comes to music. From soloists and pianists during the ceremonies, to wedding bands for the reception, couples have plenty of options. If you're not sure what to choose, here are some of your choices.

Find The Best Wedding Bands

The best wedding bands can perform nearly any type of music. Whether you're looking for a band to play classical music during a sophisticated cocktail hour or a group of rousing musicians to get your guests up and dancing, the best wedding bands can handle the task. Before hiring one, however, ask for a list of references, a recording and also a set list. The best wedding bands will have an extensive set list, but it's important to ask the band if they'll be able to play any special songs, such as a first dance song. If they don't know it, chances are good that they'll be able to find the music and learn it before your event.

Many bands also provide corporate entertainment, which means it will be important to book them well in advance; however, this means that you may be able to catch a live performance at another corporate entertainment event. Hiring a live band is typically the most expensive music option, but many couples find that the expense is worth it because the band is able to read whether the guests are enjoying the music and change the tone if necessary.

Use A DJ

Another option is to use a DJ. Many DJs have an extensive list of songs, whether on CD or on an MP3 player. They'll bring all the equipment necessary, as well as be able to read the crowd and adapt the playlist to fit your event's tone. However, if you're looking for a truly personal reception, it can be hard to get this with a DJ since you'll be limited to popular radio versions of songs. If you do decide to hire a DJ, make sure he or she is given a strict 'do not play' list so that you're not listening to music you hate all night long.

Use Your Own MP3 Player

One last option is to use your own MP3 player and a sound system. Although many couples think that this is a great way to cut costs, it's actually a terrible idea! While many couples feel like this option gives them complete control over their playlist and their reception, leaving the music unmanned means that there's no one to read the crowd. What if your dance floor is packed with guests having a great time dancing to a fast song and suddenly the MP3 player switches over to a slow, romantic one? Chances are good that the dance floor will empty fast! Also, what happens when an unruly guest finds the MP3 player and takes over? You'll also need to consider who's going to announce you as you enter the room for the first time as husband and wife. Once you've considered all these factors, many couples find that using their own MP3 player isn't such a great idea.

Whether you're looking for the best wedding bands, a DJ or are considering using your own MP3 player to provide musical entertainment for your reception, make sure you consider all the benefits of each option. After all, you only get married once, so you want to make sure that your reception is a memorable one!

Couples who are looking for the best Chicago wedding bands or corporate entertainment in Chicago can count on The Orchestra 33. As one of the top wedding bands in Chicago, The Orchestra 33 can play music from nearly any genre from classical to contemporary. To learn more or to hear songs from The Orchestra 33, please visit their site. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

Do It Yourself Weddings - Don't Do It

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When it comes to weddings these days, many people are looking to save money and stay within a budget. There are a lot of brides that are choosing Do-it-yourself or "DIY" options when it comes to the centerpieces, wedding favors, and even the flowers. While a DIY wedding would seem to offer a romantic chance to personalize your wedding on a budget, many brides do not consider the actual logistics of attempting to take on some of the crafts that have been perfected by professionals in the industry.

Brides are constantly bombarded with artistically photographed images on the internet of DIY wedding receptions in which the homemade centerpieces and unique wedding favors are perfectly personalized and everything looks amazing. However, what the internet can not show you is how much time, stress, and tears these projects actually took to complete. The effort involved in DIY wedding projects is not usually taken into consideration when you are pouring through DIY wedding ideas in bridal magazines.

For those brides who have never tried to plan a wedding before, the planning process can easily become overwhelming and stressful with everything that needs to be done. Adding extra projects to the process of planning your wedding is simply not a good idea in most cases unless the bride has lots of help.

Have you ever had an idea for a project in your head that seems perfect, and when you actually sit down to do it things don't come out looking like they did in your head? This is what often happens with DIY projects. When it comes to a wedding, you can't have things as important as the flowers or wedding favors looking anything but breathtaking. Figuring out how to make your ideas come to life takes some experimentation. You go out and purchase all the supplies to create your crafty DIY project hoping to save some money in the end, but by the end of the first attempt half of your supplies have been used up just in the experimenting phase.

Now you have to go spend more money on more supplies so that you have enough decorations for your reception, and suddenly your homemade centerpieces are costing more than if you had them made professionally. In some cases, the idea never quite looks right in reality and then a bride ends up completely giving up and paying retail anyway just to be done with it.

Your time is worth money! Especially during the wedding planning process when almost everything has to be done by the bride and can't be delegated. Don't underestimate how valuable your time is during this stressful planning process in which there will be appointments to keep, dresses to pick out, and decisions to be made. While DIY projects may seem to be cheaper if you are looking at the retail price tag alone, when you factor in the time it will take you to complete something like 100-150 wedding favors for your guests, you might be better off just purchasing the favors and using your time to do something else. After all, cheap wedding favors are surprisingly abundant, and you can often find beautiful favors for under $1.00 each! You have to ask yourself if it is really worth the hassle of making all those favors to save a few cents each when you can easily purchase them completely finished from a website and check that off of your to-do list.

DIY wedding ideas are everywhere, but you have to beware of taking on extra projects while your plate is already full with wedding planning. By the time you factor in the cost of supplies, the cost of trial-and-error, and the time it will take to complete, you are often better off leaving the wedding accessories to the professionals. Don't get sucked into the beautiful pictures and the romanticized DIY ideas in bridal magazines unless you have plenty of help and extra time to complete things like wedding favors or centerpieces before your big day.

Visit expressweddingfavors.com for affordable wedding favors that will compliment any occasion. Express Wedding Favors will deliver unique favors right to your door in time for your big event. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

Wedding Venues at Destination Locations, How to Find a Treasure

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For those looking for wedding venues in destination locations, the biggest problem is being able to know what to expect when you arrive. You should pick out a location in person, but you can narrow down your options considerably by spending some time comparing these facilities online. Depending on what your needs are and what your budget is, you may be able to find a truly beautiful location to host your ceremony and your reception. How can you find the best location for before you even arrive in the city?

Tips for Choosing Destination Facilities

A good place to start with any wedding venues search is with basic information. Is the location large enough for your needs? Is it within your budget? It is a good idea to have an estimate of the actual number of people you can anticipate for your event. However, you will not need exact numbers right away. Consider the location and the basic features the location has to offer as well.

Is the Location Special?

Next, consider just how unique or fitting the location is for your needs. A venue should be something that is special and interesting. This will create an incredible memory for you. For example, you may want to host your ceremony in a lavish garden or even on the beach. You may want an outdoor and indoor reception. You may want the decor to be Victorian. You can get a good idea of what the location is going to really offer by looking at photos.

Photos Are Not Enough

Before you put a venue on your list of places worth considering, ask the provider to take a video of the site. With most cell phones offering this option, it is very easy for this to be done. Ask them to walk through the venue and capture the details you are looking for. This may include things like the food, the table setting, the decor, and the overall size of the space. A video can often give you a better idea of spatial considerations than a photo can. With this information, you can have a better idea if the venue is one worth visiting.

Keep in mind that you should not select wedding venues in any destination location without first considering what they look like in person. Make a trip to the location before you actually sign on the dotted line. Then, you will have no problem ensuring it is just right for your special day. Even if you are miles away, you can still get a good idea of what one facility can offer compared to another by taking these steps. With so much riding on the right location, you do not want to take chances.

If you are searching for wedding venues in New Orleans la, don't forget to check out all of your options. Visit auduboninstitute.org for more information on several locations. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

DIY Bridal Accessories With Swarovski Rhinestones

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DIY bridal accessories are all the rage - and they're super easy to make when you use Swarovski rhinestones. Read on to learn about the top DIY bridal accessories and how you can make them yourself using loose rhinestones.

Rhinestone Bridal Jewelry

Of course, the first thing you think of when you hear the word rhinestones is jewelry. And bridal jewelry is no exception. You can easily make your own bridal brooch to go on your dress using hot fix rhinestones and a pin backing. Or make a cute bracelet or necklace to match your dress using rhinestones and lace or ribbon. Most DIY bridal accessories feature clear Swarovski rhinestones, but you could also use aquamarine stones as part of your "something blue" or use the colors of your wedding theme.

Rhinestone Bridal Hair Accessories

Rhinestone bridal hair accessories, including headbands, bridal combs, veils, barrettes, and tiaras, are especially popular as they're so easy to make. Just purchase the plain item you wish to decorate and go to town on it with rhinestones! Because most hair accessories are hard surfaces, they're very simple to decorate. As for the veil, you could decorate just the part that attaches into your hair, or put rhinestones spaced out on the actual veil so that it sparkles and shines as you move your head.

Rhinestone Bridal Shoes

There are two ways you can go about decorating your shoes: the tops or the bottoms - or three ways if you decorate both. Many women choose to affix rhinestones to the tops of their high heels for some extra shimmer as they walk. Or for some more subtle shine, simply glue to the rhinestones to the soles of your high heels (just not the part that makes contact with the ground - you don't want to fall on your wedding day!). If you're not a high heel kind of girl, rhinestones are a great way to glam up the shoes you will be wearing. We've even seen wedding sneakers and flip-flop sandals decorated with rhinestones!

Other Rhinestone Bridal Accessories

There are many other bridal accessories you can decorate yourself. Consider decorating your bridal sash for some extra bling on your wedding gown. Or decorate your garter for a surprise when your groom takes it off your leg and throws it to your single male guests. Last but not least, what about adding some sparkle to your wedding bouquet with a rhinestone pin that attaches to the stems of the flowers?

You can never go wrong with DIY bridal accessories when it comes to using rhinestones. Just get Swarovski rhinestones in the color of your choosing and let your imagination go wild!

Rhinestoneshop.com is the one-stop shop for genuine Swarovski rhinestones, rhinestone cell phone bling and rhinestone accessories. After almost 40 years in the business, they are able to answer nearly any question regarding rhinestones. With more than 150 colors in stock at Rhinestoneshop.com, the only thing holding customers back is their imagination. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

Are You Ready for Your Wedding?

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Planning a wedding is like having a second job. When you aren't working you spend nearly all of your spare time making plans. Once you become engaged it is never too soon to begin on plans. There are many decisions that you will have to make. There are color schemes, flowers, cakes, dresses for you and your bridesmaids, tuxedos, and so much more that you will have to get done before the big day. Where should you begin? If you haven't chosen the day yet, that is where you need to start.

Choosing the Day for the Wedding

This should be a decision that you and your fiancé make together. There are decisions for you to make. Do you want a wedding in the spring, summer, fall or winter. What you decide will make a difference in the rest of your decisions. Your flowers and color scheme could be affected by your decision. Also you will need to see if you are choosing the prime wedding season. This could make a difference in hiring a photographer and renting a limo to take you to the wedding and reception.

Pick a Colour Scheme

This is something that should be decided very early on. The reason is there are a lot of things that will be affected by your decision. What colour are the flowers arrangements? What colour for the bridesmaids? Certain colours look good depending on the month. Burgundy is a great colour for winter weddings and pastels work well for spring and summer. The choice is yours but you will find different colours to go better certain times of the year.

Your Flowers
Of course you know you have to order flowers for the wedding but did you stop to think that the time of year will influence the availability of some types of flowers? This is something to consider when you choose your day too. The colour scheme can also affect flowers since there are certain flowers that will go well with certain colours and not others. Many flowers can be dyed to match clothing and colour schemes. Daisies and carnations are two of them.

The Dresses
Although you can start shopping for your dress immediately, you may want to put off the purchase until the wedding is a bit closer. The reason is the size you need could change if you buy it too much in advance. Have it picked out early however. The same is true for the bridesmaid gowns. They may like a say in the style. This is your day so you decide if you want to take them with you when shopping for dresses. Often they can give you good advice for your dress as well. Do order dresses early enough to be ready for any alterations that have to be made. Remember you will need some shoes, stockings and slips to go with the dresses. You will also need to pick clothing for the ring bearer and flower girl. Sometimes taking mum with you so she can get her dress is a plus. Just remember it is your wedding dress and your special day. Don't let her influence your choice too much.

Les Trois Soeurs is a discerning luxury bridal boutique based in Canary Wharf offering Bridal Accessories. Click here for Wedding Dresses London. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

Do It Yourself Weddings - Don't Do It

To contact us Click HERE

When it comes to weddings these days, many people are looking to save money and stay within a budget. There are a lot of brides that are choosing Do-it-yourself or "DIY" options when it comes to the centerpieces, wedding favors, and even the flowers. While a DIY wedding would seem to offer a romantic chance to personalize your wedding on a budget, many brides do not consider the actual logistics of attempting to take on some of the crafts that have been perfected by professionals in the industry.

Brides are constantly bombarded with artistically photographed images on the internet of DIY wedding receptions in which the homemade centerpieces and unique wedding favors are perfectly personalized and everything looks amazing. However, what the internet can not show you is how much time, stress, and tears these projects actually took to complete. The effort involved in DIY wedding projects is not usually taken into consideration when you are pouring through DIY wedding ideas in bridal magazines.

For those brides who have never tried to plan a wedding before, the planning process can easily become overwhelming and stressful with everything that needs to be done. Adding extra projects to the process of planning your wedding is simply not a good idea in most cases unless the bride has lots of help.

Have you ever had an idea for a project in your head that seems perfect, and when you actually sit down to do it things don't come out looking like they did in your head? This is what often happens with DIY projects. When it comes to a wedding, you can't have things as important as the flowers or wedding favors looking anything but breathtaking. Figuring out how to make your ideas come to life takes some experimentation. You go out and purchase all the supplies to create your crafty DIY project hoping to save some money in the end, but by the end of the first attempt half of your supplies have been used up just in the experimenting phase.

Now you have to go spend more money on more supplies so that you have enough decorations for your reception, and suddenly your homemade centerpieces are costing more than if you had them made professionally. In some cases, the idea never quite looks right in reality and then a bride ends up completely giving up and paying retail anyway just to be done with it.

Your time is worth money! Especially during the wedding planning process when almost everything has to be done by the bride and can't be delegated. Don't underestimate how valuable your time is during this stressful planning process in which there will be appointments to keep, dresses to pick out, and decisions to be made. While DIY projects may seem to be cheaper if you are looking at the retail price tag alone, when you factor in the time it will take you to complete something like 100-150 wedding favors for your guests, you might be better off just purchasing the favors and using your time to do something else. After all, cheap wedding favors are surprisingly abundant, and you can often find beautiful favors for under $1.00 each! You have to ask yourself if it is really worth the hassle of making all those favors to save a few cents each when you can easily purchase them completely finished from a website and check that off of your to-do list.

DIY wedding ideas are everywhere, but you have to beware of taking on extra projects while your plate is already full with wedding planning. By the time you factor in the cost of supplies, the cost of trial-and-error, and the time it will take to complete, you are often better off leaving the wedding accessories to the professionals. Don't get sucked into the beautiful pictures and the romanticized DIY ideas in bridal magazines unless you have plenty of help and extra time to complete things like wedding favors or centerpieces before your big day.

Visit expressweddingfavors.com for affordable wedding favors that will compliment any occasion. Express Wedding Favors will deliver unique favors right to your door in time for your big event. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

Autumn Weddings Are a Lot of Fun to Plan and Attend

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Everyone gets married in the spring. Planning a wedding in the months of May and June is expensive, tedious, and can be downright boring for those who do a lot of that type of thing. Eventually, the selection process for wedding décor, colors, cakes, and wedding favors becomes meaningless and monotonous for a wedding planner. You, as the couple getting married, may not realize it while it's happening, but the end result will not be quite what it could be.

An autumn wedding, on the other hand, is an exciting affair that doesn't happen all that often. Couples tend to shy away from the later months of the year because temperatures get colder and the holidays are right around the corner. Won't projected guests be tied up with other plans or have a hard time getting a free weekend with all the kids activities that happen in the fall? What about football season? No one wants to miss the game of the year because you're getting married that day. That could be a disaster, couldn't it?

If you're thinking that this all sounds a bit neurotic, you're right. If you don't understand why, you've probably never planned a wedding before. These are the thoughts that run through the minds of brides and groom everywhere when put under stress before the big day. The "experts" in wedding planning will tell them that spring is better because the weather usually cooperates and guest lists tend to be more complete. Football is long over, baseball is just beginning, and the kids are getting ready for summer vacation.

Those are all good reasons, but when you start planning, you'll find that the demand for spring wedding venues means higher prices. Fall, on the other hand, tends to be more affordable because halls don't generally get booked heavily between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. You'll also find lots of bargains with back to school and pre-holiday sales going on, everything from linens to fall wedding favors. The savings alone can make waiting the extra few months worthwhile.

If you live in the northern part of the country, fall means foliage. Think of the wedding photos you can take with a backdrop of orange, red, gold, and brown to offset that stunning white wedding gown and selective choice of bridesmaids' dresses. If you live down south, fall means cooler temperatures and breezy nights. You'll be more comfortable, your guests can relax, and you won't have to worry about excessively hot temperatures or seasonal storms. You can just enjoy yourself. Fall, after all, is a ball.

Visit trulyweddingfavors.com for a vast selection of unique wedding favors, spring wedding favors, and more. With fast shipping, affordable prices, volume pricing discounts, and friendly customer service you are sure to have a confident shopping experience. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

New poll: What's your main wedding flower?

To contact us Click HERE

Between bouquets, centerpieces, boutonnières, altar arrangements and more, chances are you'll be using a lot of flowers on your big day. But one is the one bloom that is the focus of your wedding floral arrangements?

Vote in the poll in the left sidebar and tell me, what's your main wedding flower?

• Roses
• Calla Lilies
• Daisies
• Hydrangeas
• Tulips
• Other

Check back soon for results!

5 Tips For Choosing The Right Wedding Band For Your Reception

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If you're getting married, you're probably feeling a little overwhelmed by all the planning details. From the ceremony, to the dress, to the reception details, brides and grooms have decision after decision to make. If you're interested in choosing the right wedding band, use these tips to ensure that you're selecting the right one. You only have one day to get married so take some time to be certain that you're doing it right!

Tip #1: Know What Type Of Music You Want

Do you want a classical sound or is contemporary music more your style? Before you can choose an ensemble, you need to know what you want. Some professional wedding orchestras can accommodate different types of music, while others may be more comfortable with only one style. Also, consider if would prefer live music or a DJ.

Tip #2: Make Sure You Get To Hear Potential Wedding Bands

It makes sense that before you can choose an orchestra or band, you need to hear it! If the group has a website, see if they have video and audio clips so you can see and hear what they sound like. Also, ask if they'll be performing anywhere and if you can attend an event. It's not uncommon for couples to attend a reception just to check out the wedding band. If you're doing this, remember that you're there just to check out the music -- not take advantage of the couple's food and drinks.

Tip #3: Check To Make Sure They Can Play Your Song

If you have a special song, you'll definitely want it played during your reception! If there's a special piece of music that means a lot to you, check to be certain that the orchestra can play it. If your parents have been married a long time, also ask if the band is able to play your parents' special song as a tribute to their lasting love.

Tip #4: Make Sure Your Venue Can Handle Large Wedding Orchestras

If you're planning on a large orchestra, you'll need to ensure that your venue has enough room to accommodate everyone. A 30-piece orchestra will obviously require more space than a single DJ. You may need to upgrade to a bigger venue, so make sure you tell your venue staff that you're considering using a large band.

Tip #5: Ask About Prices

Lastly, make sure you understand how wedding orchestras are priced. It shouldn't come as a surprise to realize that a 30-piece orchestra will cost more than an MP3 player set to shuffle music. However, an orchestra will able to take requests from guests, as well as read the mood of the reception so that couples get a truly personal reception that guests will talk about for years to come.

Choosing a wedding band is just one of the many decisions you need to make, but it's one of the most important. Whether you're looking for a reception with understated elegance, or you want to have a rousing party atmosphere, the right band can make all the difference.

Couples who are looking for Chicago wedding orchestras or Chicago wedding bands can count on The Orchestra 33. This outstanding wedding band in Chicago can play music from nearly any genre from classical to contemporary. To learn more or to hear songs from The Orchestra 33, please visit their site. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

Tinsley Mortimer's Southern Charm

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Spring and Summer always seem to be filled with lots of fun events, and this year is no exception!  I have fun photos from past events on the way, and lucky me Tidbits is constantly hosting new fetes!  I am super excited about the appearance of Tinsley Mortimer at Neiman's Thursday, where I'll snag a copy of her new book, Southern Charm.  Anyone had a chance to check it out yet? Lovelies, you have lots of fun to look forward to from THYM!!  Happy Monday!

Ina's coming to Houston!!!

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I have been waiting for Ina to post info about her upcoming book tour and I am thrilled she will be making a stop in Houston!!! If you live in the area let me know if you plan to make the pilgrimage to meet her at Sur La Table 11/12/12. If not check the website to see if she is coming to an area near you!!

http://www.barefootcontessa.com/tour.aspx

Also I highly recommend following her blog here:
http://barefootcontessa.com/blog.aspx
Her most recent post includes her fabulous flag cake, which is perfect for your Independence Day festivities!!

xoxo

Lilly Love

To contact us Click HERE
TGIF!!! Work has been so busy for me lately I have had trouble finding energy to post. I have lots of fun recipes, products and events to share though!!

Being summertime I have the Lilly Pulitzer Endless Summer Sale on the brain! I can't wait for the late August sale. I'll be sure to post details as the sale approaches. I did snag two lovelies last week to tide me over!! Since they are past season styles, I got great deals!! Hooray!!

Also downloaded the app Pic Jointer and love how easy it is to use :)

New poll: What's your main wedding flower?

To contact us Click HERE

Between bouquets, centerpieces, boutonnières, altar arrangements and more, chances are you'll be using a lot of flowers on your big day. But one is the one bloom that is the focus of your wedding floral arrangements?

Vote in the poll in the left sidebar and tell me, what's your main wedding flower?

• Roses
• Calla Lilies
• Daisies
• Hydrangeas
• Tulips
• Other

Check back soon for results!

Top 10 Wedding Flower Mistakes to Avoid

To contact us Click HERE

When deciding on flowers for your wedding what you don't do is just as important as what you do. With all of the intricacies involved, picking your wedding flowers can be helped greatly by hiring a wedding planner.

1) Not Trusting the Florist
Choosing the right florist for your wedding can take some time, but once you do choose your florist you should trust them. Explain your entire vision, all of your ideas, your like and dislikes, then trust in the florist to make that vision come to life.

2) Refusing to Compromise
You might have one perfect flower in mind for your bouquet or centerpieces, but that particular flower might not be available year-round. By being flexible and giving your florist some room to make suggestions, you may end up with a better finished product than you imagined.

3) Ruling Out Expensive Flowers
Ruling out expensive flowers from the on-set of process may hinder the over all look and feel of your arrangements. Give your florist your budget and ask them to work within it. You may find out that you can get a pricier flower than you expected.

4) Using a Single Color
Traditionally many brides match their arrangements to their bridesmaid's dresses, choosing to ignore many other colors to focus on the one main theme. Flowers are the perfect place to add in an accent color to offset your main theme.

5) Choosing Highly Fragrant Flowers
While gardenias, lilac, or hyacinths might be your favorite flowers, adding an extremely fragrant bud to your centerpieces can be a bad idea. Highly scented flowers can aggravate allergies, cause headaches, and even make food less appealing. If your heart is set on a fragrant flower it is best to isolate these to your bouquet so that guests with allergies won't be affected.

6) Not Caring for the Flowers
Every flower has different needs, and a different lifespan after being arranged. Improper care of your flowers prior to the ceremony can be a recipe for disaster. Talk to your florist about the care your flowers will need after you receive them to avoid any potential issues.

7) Doing Too Much Yourself
Doing your arrangements yourself can seem like a good idea initially, however it often becomes more trouble than it's worth. Many brides try to undertake the massive project of doing all of the wedding flowers themselves, which can end up being even more expensive in the end than having a professional taking care of everything.

8) Ordering the Flowers Too Late
Waiting until the last minute to order your wedding flowers can add unnecessary complication to the process. It's nearly impossible to get flowers within a few weeks, most florists will suggest a minimum of six weeks between the time the order is placed and the wedding date.

9) Choosing an Over-sized Bouquet
While large bouquets can be beautiful and impressive, they may be lacking in practicality. When considering an over-sized bouquet, keep in mind the weight and how long you will be carrying it. Large bouquets can also off-set the overall look of your dress as well. Thinking about size, comfort, and aesthetics of the overall look should be your main concerns when deciding on your bouquet.

10) Forgetting to Budget for Flowers
Your flower budget should be part of the plan from the beginning. Not factoring the flowers into the overall budget can be a huge set-back to the ceremony. Flowers can make up a substantial part of your overall budget, meaning that not taking them into consideration can significantly increase the cost of your wedding.

With hundreds of individual options, and thousands of combinations, wedding flowers can be a daunting part of your planning. By doing your research and making sure to do the right things and avoid the wrong things, you should be able to get the perfect flowers for your perfect wedding. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

5 Steps to Getting the Perfect Wedding Flowers

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Picking the type of flowers you want is only the tip of the iceberg. There are quite a few considerations to keep in mind to help make your big day a smooth celebration instead of a complicated mess.

Find the Right Florist
Determining the right florist for your wedding is a personal decision and should be someone that you get along with and can work with over the months leading up to your big day. Choose a florist that compliments your strengths, and makes up for your weaknesses. Getting recommendations from friends and family on florist can be a great way to get contacts. Always meet with a few florists to get a sense for their different styles. Viewing samples and options from your possible florists will help you get ideas and determine if the florist is right for you.

Establish a Vision
Without a vision your florist will have very little to go off of. Determining the style and overall theme of your wedding is important to every aspect of the big day, but it can be especially influential on the flowers. Minimalism, high romance, or country chic, all of these themes need a different touch to make them perfect. Take notes of styles and themes you see online, at a friends wedding, or in a magazine. All of these pieces can be put together to make your day just right.

Create a Wedding Color Concept
Wedding colors are a big decision. The colors influence everything from the cake, to the dresses, to the flowers. When choosing colors it is best to pick one or two main colors as well as some accent colors. The accent colors can be especially important for the bouquets and centerpieces and can help offset the entire theme properly. Bring your color palette to your florist to discuss the availability of the flowers you want in the colors of your choosing.

Consider Your Wedding Dress
Many brides choose their flowers before even picking their dress. Before deciding on your bouquet you should consider the style of your wedding dress. An over-large bouquet can be overwhelming when paired with a large dress, and many flowers look odd against unusually fabric types. By having a picture of your dress with you, your florist should be able to help you pick a bouquet that will bring the whole look together.

Get Everything in Writing
Nothing is worse that finding out on that day of your wedding that a miscommunication led to you having too few bouquets or centerpieces. By getting all of your vendors contracts in writing, florist included, you can avoid possibly devastating mishaps on the day of the ceremony. Including things you want to avoid can also help make sure your flowers, food, and venue are all exactly the way you planned for them to be.

Many wedding planners can help you learn how to pick your wedding flowers. If you choose to go at it alone, get as much help from family and your wedding party as you can since a second opinion can go a long way! Wedding planning should be fun, and picking your flowers is one of the most creative steps in the whole process. By taking it slow, asking the right questions, and staying organized choosing the perfect flowers for your wedding should be a breeze. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

Do It Yourself Weddings - Don't Do It

To contact us Click HERE

When it comes to weddings these days, many people are looking to save money and stay within a budget. There are a lot of brides that are choosing Do-it-yourself or "DIY" options when it comes to the centerpieces, wedding favors, and even the flowers. While a DIY wedding would seem to offer a romantic chance to personalize your wedding on a budget, many brides do not consider the actual logistics of attempting to take on some of the crafts that have been perfected by professionals in the industry.

Brides are constantly bombarded with artistically photographed images on the internet of DIY wedding receptions in which the homemade centerpieces and unique wedding favors are perfectly personalized and everything looks amazing. However, what the internet can not show you is how much time, stress, and tears these projects actually took to complete. The effort involved in DIY wedding projects is not usually taken into consideration when you are pouring through DIY wedding ideas in bridal magazines.

For those brides who have never tried to plan a wedding before, the planning process can easily become overwhelming and stressful with everything that needs to be done. Adding extra projects to the process of planning your wedding is simply not a good idea in most cases unless the bride has lots of help.

Have you ever had an idea for a project in your head that seems perfect, and when you actually sit down to do it things don't come out looking like they did in your head? This is what often happens with DIY projects. When it comes to a wedding, you can't have things as important as the flowers or wedding favors looking anything but breathtaking. Figuring out how to make your ideas come to life takes some experimentation. You go out and purchase all the supplies to create your crafty DIY project hoping to save some money in the end, but by the end of the first attempt half of your supplies have been used up just in the experimenting phase.

Now you have to go spend more money on more supplies so that you have enough decorations for your reception, and suddenly your homemade centerpieces are costing more than if you had them made professionally. In some cases, the idea never quite looks right in reality and then a bride ends up completely giving up and paying retail anyway just to be done with it.

Your time is worth money! Especially during the wedding planning process when almost everything has to be done by the bride and can't be delegated. Don't underestimate how valuable your time is during this stressful planning process in which there will be appointments to keep, dresses to pick out, and decisions to be made. While DIY projects may seem to be cheaper if you are looking at the retail price tag alone, when you factor in the time it will take you to complete something like 100-150 wedding favors for your guests, you might be better off just purchasing the favors and using your time to do something else. After all, cheap wedding favors are surprisingly abundant, and you can often find beautiful favors for under $1.00 each! You have to ask yourself if it is really worth the hassle of making all those favors to save a few cents each when you can easily purchase them completely finished from a website and check that off of your to-do list.

DIY wedding ideas are everywhere, but you have to beware of taking on extra projects while your plate is already full with wedding planning. By the time you factor in the cost of supplies, the cost of trial-and-error, and the time it will take to complete, you are often better off leaving the wedding accessories to the professionals. Don't get sucked into the beautiful pictures and the romanticized DIY ideas in bridal magazines unless you have plenty of help and extra time to complete things like wedding favors or centerpieces before your big day.

Visit expressweddingfavors.com for affordable wedding favors that will compliment any occasion. Express Wedding Favors will deliver unique favors right to your door in time for your big event. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Venue

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For many newly engaged couples, the question of where to host their big day is top of a very long list of decisions, with setting a date coming in a close second. Very often these two decisions go hand in hand, with venue availability depending on date and vice versa. But before the bride and groom decide on a venue, there are a number of things to consider.

Firstly, do you want a venue that can host both the wedding service and the reception? Many venues now have the ability to hold both, with either a room or outside space dedicated to wedding services. If you want the venue to do both you need to consider whether space available for the service is big enough? The number of church weddings is beginning to rise again so if you choose this option you will need to think about the distance to your preferred wedding reception venue. Is it within easy travelling distance? If not consider how will your guests get between the two?

Budget should also be top of the list to consider before booking a venue. The cost of hiring a venue can vary considerably depending on size, location and package. If budget is really tight, consider a mid-week wedding which are normally cheaper and therefore your options in choosing the perfect venue are not limited.

You then need to think about the size of your wedding. You may have your heart set on a location but if it's not big enough for the amount of guests you want to invite you may have to think again. At the other end of the spectrum, is your wedding reception venue too big for your party? You certainly don't want your room to look empty on your wedding day, so if this is the case but you have decided it is the venue for you, ask if part of the room can be screened off.

It's traditional to choose to get married in the area the bride is from, but with many people moving away through work, university or relationships few people now stick to this tradition. You will have to consider where the majority of your guests are travelling from, and whether there is accommodation available nearby if needed. Also think about the cost of this, and whether you will pay or whether your guests will be expected to pay. If it's the second, you will need to bear in mind whether your guests can afford this and whether it will put them off. The same can be said if you choose to get married abroad. This can be an amazing experience for many couples and involve less organisation than a wedding at home, but you will need to consider if the people you want to share your day with you can afford to go abroad.

The type of venue will also play a big role in the decision making. Do you want a modern feel to your day or a classic country wedding, or something completely unique? There is a variety of venues hosting weddings, from country houses, restaurants, football stadiums and even tourist attractions such as Wookey Hole now host weddings. You should ensure your venue fits with any theme you might have - there's no point trying to host a traditional country style wedding at a football stadium!

Finally, once you have chosen a venue make sure you meet with the staff responsible for your big day before you pay your deposit. Most venues will give you a designated point of contact and you have to trust this person with your big day and getting on with them is essential. A good relationship with this person will help eliminate much of the stress involved in organising a wedding, and will ensure your day is one to remember - for the right reasons.

Braxted Park is a beautiful wedding venue in Essex, just half hour from London. The stunning Queen Anne's house is set in 500 acres of unique parkland, and its Pavilion can hold weddings up to 300 people, dedicated, licensed wedding venue both inside and out.

For more information visit: braxtedparkweddings.co.uk. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

New poll: What's your main wedding flower?

To contact us Click HERE

Between bouquets, centerpieces, boutonnières, altar arrangements and more, chances are you'll be using a lot of flowers on your big day. But one is the one bloom that is the focus of your wedding floral arrangements?

Vote in the poll in the left sidebar and tell me, what's your main wedding flower?

• Roses
• Calla Lilies
• Daisies
• Hydrangeas
• Tulips
• Other

Check back soon for results!

Sunday Inspiration

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The Lord Appears to Elijah: 1 Kings 19 9:13

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
As our Pastor shared a message about rest this Sunday it began to rain.  There are few things more powerful than scripture being read as thunder rolls outside.  It was a beautiful reminder of what a mighty God I serve and that nothing in this world can give our spirit rest.  True rest is only found in Jesus.  I am so thankful for the gentle whisper in my life!

eBay Tips + Graphic Image Discount!!

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Commence happy dance!  Even though children are years away, God willing, I think about our future wee ones all the time!  I adore Lilly Pulitzer and their matching Mommy and Minnie outfits.  I did purchase one little girls dress to match a style I already own and I hope I am blessed with a little girl one day to wear it!!  I did not want to leave a future son out of the planning, so when I saw this Lilly jumper on eBay I knew I had to make it mine!  Particularly because as far as I know Lilly no longer manufactures boys clothing :(
If you'll notice the auction ended at 12:51:03 PDT and I swooped in at 12:50:58 PDT and struck with the winning bid.  This is the secret to eBay, don't bid early and just drive up the price.  Bid in the last 4-6 seconds with your max bid and catch the competition by surprise.  Clearly eBay shopping is competitive sport!  Now the secret to last minute victory is to sign up for a service like Gixen and let software bid for you. The web-based software actually logs into your eBay account and bids in the last 4-6 seconds up to a predetermined maximum.  Brilliant!!  
In other news on the interwebs, leather goods mecca, Graphic Image, is having a site-wide 50% off sale!  That is my kind of sale!!  Order by 3AM Tuesday July 17th and the 50% discount will be automatically applied to your cart!  Seeing as how I signed up for their emails July 8th, because I wanted an iPad case, further cements I am in good favor with the shopping gods :)
I am hoping my new case arrives in the perfect shade of equestrian orange.  I added my initials in gold.  Swoon.

Gossip Girl Inspiration

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I have loads of recipe posts, a "new" coffee table, and a Neiman Marcus fashion show to blog about, but SPL has a big project and is logging tons of hours on the pc :( My MacBook is out of commission, but I did find out a new hard drive should only cost about $75!! Which I thought was great news! I promise I'll get back to longer posts soon, but short and sweet is all I can manage for now. I hope I am not overloading my dear readers with Pic Jointer, but this little preppy inspiration is a favorite!

I just adore Brittany Snow and loved her role as Lily in GG's flashback 80's episode from season 2. Yes, I did re-watch the episode tonight to share a favorite GG moment with you!!  Love this outfit! Enjoy!! xoxo

Sugar Cookie Throwdown

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I made sugar cookies tonight for a coworker's baby shower Friday. I was on a mission to find the best sugar cookie recipe and I think we have a winner! I also wanted to try my hand at the professional-looking "flooded" (more on this terminology later) style and it was a humbling experience!! I learned a lot tonight. I have neon royal icing all over myself and my kitchen and it's almost midnight. I must be delirious because I find this wildly amusing! I doubt I will be laughing tomorrow at work, but these lovelies are worth it. I'll be sharing all 3 recipes and tons of tips and tricks! xoxo

New poll: What's your main wedding flower?

To contact us Click HERE

Between bouquets, centerpieces, boutonnières, altar arrangements and more, chances are you'll be using a lot of flowers on your big day. But one is the one bloom that is the focus of your wedding floral arrangements?

Vote in the poll in the left sidebar and tell me, what's your main wedding flower?

• Roses
• Calla Lilies
• Daisies
• Hydrangeas
• Tulips
• Other

Check back soon for results!

Things To Remember When Planning Weddings

Wedding planning preparation tips can aid in making the wedding fun-filled and exciting for everyone.

Preparation And Planning Tips:
Wasting time and money on sending invitations to all the people working in your office, when only the ones who are close to you will attend, is a big no.The foremost step is to decide how much amount of money can be spent. Always calculate 25% more than what is expected.The invitations have to be sent a month is advance. Sufficient postage has to be accompanied with the invitations when you post them.Emergency kits containing threads, needles, hairspray, hairpins, safety pins, extra pantyhose and nail polish has to be kept.Wedding dress shopping has to start at least six months before the wedding.Makeup and hair has to be in place before wearing the wedding dress.Sampling of food from different caterers is always good. If food is ordered from a restaurant, make it a point to visit it for dinner before finalizing it for the wedding food requirement.Use a fountain pen for addressing wedding invitations.Disagreements between the bride and the groom have to be settled before involving parents.The price range for the wedding dress has to be decided in advance.Send a note of thanks for the received wedding gifts. The wedding date has to be finalized keeping in mind close ones. Remember to avoid anniversary dates and birthdays and give a thought to people who need a lot of travelling to reach the venue.Book photographers well in advance.Hire the services of wedding consultants if you do not have time.The wedding flower setting has to be decided keeping in mind the budget and the choice of colours. Eating before the wedding is always good, as you might feel hungry during the wedding.All the wedding schedule documents and other important things have to be photocopied; right from the date of the wedding to the departure for honeymoon. Important members of the family should have the photocopies with them. This ensures that everyone in the family is aware of the wedding details and important aspects for saving confusion later on.

Friends and family members have to be roped in for the preparations without any hesitation. Choose appropriate tasks to be assigned to friends and family members. This can reduce the workload and aid in getting the work done much more quickly and efficiently.

If the planning is perfect, any wedding in Edinburgh can be done without hiccups, and if you want to save time, hiring professional services can aid in arranging weddings Edinburgh. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.

3 Options For Wedding Reception Music: Wedding Bands And More

If you're planning your wedding, you know that you have a lot of choices when it comes to music. From soloists and pianists during the ceremonies, to wedding bands for the reception, couples have plenty of options. If you're not sure what to choose, here are some of your choices.

Find The Best Wedding Bands

The best wedding bands can perform nearly any type of music. Whether you're looking for a band to play classical music during a sophisticated cocktail hour or a group of rousing musicians to get your guests up and dancing, the best wedding bands can handle the task. Before hiring one, however, ask for a list of references, a recording and also a set list. The best wedding bands will have an extensive set list, but it's important to ask the band if they'll be able to play any special songs, such as a first dance song. If they don't know it, chances are good that they'll be able to find the music and learn it before your event.

Many bands also provide corporate entertainment, which means it will be important to book them well in advance; however, this means that you may be able to catch a live performance at another corporate entertainment event. Hiring a live band is typically the most expensive music option, but many couples find that the expense is worth it because the band is able to read whether the guests are enjoying the music and change the tone if necessary.

Use A DJ

Another option is to use a DJ. Many DJs have an extensive list of songs, whether on CD or on an MP3 player. They'll bring all the equipment necessary, as well as be able to read the crowd and adapt the playlist to fit your event's tone. However, if you're looking for a truly personal reception, it can be hard to get this with a DJ since you'll be limited to popular radio versions of songs. If you do decide to hire a DJ, make sure he or she is given a strict 'do not play' list so that you're not listening to music you hate all night long.

Use Your Own MP3 Player

One last option is to use your own MP3 player and a sound system. Although many couples think that this is a great way to cut costs, it's actually a terrible idea! While many couples feel like this option gives them complete control over their playlist and their reception, leaving the music unmanned means that there's no one to read the crowd. What if your dance floor is packed with guests having a great time dancing to a fast song and suddenly the MP3 player switches over to a slow, romantic one? Chances are good that the dance floor will empty fast! Also, what happens when an unruly guest finds the MP3 player and takes over? You'll also need to consider who's going to announce you as you enter the room for the first time as husband and wife. Once you've considered all these factors, many couples find that using their own MP3 player isn't such a great idea.

Whether you're looking for the best wedding bands, a DJ or are considering using your own MP3 player to provide musical entertainment for your reception, make sure you consider all the benefits of each option. After all, you only get married once, so you want to make sure that your reception is a memorable one!

Couples who are looking for the best Chicago wedding bands or corporate entertainment in Chicago can count on The Orchestra 33. As one of the top wedding bands in Chicago, The Orchestra 33 can play music from nearly any genre from classical to contemporary. To learn more or to hear songs from The Orchestra 33, please visit their site. Providing quality articles, reviews and writings on love, relationships and weddings online.