Showing posts with label Weddings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weddings. Show all posts

Friday, April 4, 2008

Personalize your Wedding


How to Personalize Your Wedding


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Instead of letting a wedding planner or catering consultant turn your wedding into another cookie cutter event, use your imagination to make the event one-of-a-kind. Creativity can help to make any wedding look like it cost a million dollars.

Steps


  1. Consider all your invitation options. Don't limit yourself to the conservative engraved variety. How about one that's folded -- origami style -- into a crane? Why not use a delicate blue or shell pink paper stock instead of white? Simple is always better for a bride. Engraved is nice, but a small wedding might use calligraphy -- or even your own personally handwritten invitation. Did you fall in love while on vacation? How about printing the invitation on a postcard from the site of your meeting?
  2. Choose interesting mood music. "Here Comes the Bride" is traditional but boring. No one will call a halt to the proceedings if you choose the Toreador song from "Carmen" or "Love Will Keep Us Together" by the Captain & Tennille. Pick a song that has real meaning for you both.
  3. Instead of rounding up the usual catering suspects, call on your favorite restaurant and see if they can provide the wedding goodies. And it doesn't have to be a dinner. An early wedding brunch after a sunrise ceremony or an intimate supper following a late afternoon wedding are more glamourous than the usual reception. Pick foods you love, not run of the mill chicken-or-fish. Can you serve chili and beer? Why not? Mushroom risotto and a 100% vegan menu? Absolutely.
  4. Make it your celebration. And don't forget dessert. The wedding cake can be the usual bridal delight, or you can let your fantasy take sweet flight...cakes come in virtually any shape, size or configuration. They can be covered with real flowers, or dripping in edible pearls. The happy couple can be displayed in icing, or the cake can pay homage to the hobby that brought you together. It's your choice to make.
  5. Don't forget the personalized M&Ms. Yes, it's true. You can pick your own M&M colors and have them monogrammed or printed with your name (short names work best...this is an M&M we're talking about). You get two lines of 8 letters/spaces. Enough for an I Love You, or your wedding date, and a choice of 13 colors, including silver. An 8 oz. bag is 8.50.


Tips


  • Use personalized postage stamps for your invitations. You select a photo, go to photostamps.com, zazzle, stamps.com or similar, upload the picture, pick out a stamp you like and place your order. Voila, about a week or so later, you've got personalized postage stamps.
  • Your favorite "couples" picture is perfect for wedding invitations...and think long term: This could be the start of a family tradition, with babies, anniversaries, all the milestones marked by your own family stamps.
  • Include your special pet in your wedding, and be sure to dress them up in a dog tuxedo or dress! Some pets can be excitable, though, so to save your dress, be sure to visit the groomer and have vinyl nail caps applied to your pet's nails. They are made for cats as well as dogs, and they come in several colors.
  • Consider a dress of another color! Or order a custom corset with matching skirt. It can be cheaper than many wedding dresses from local retailers.


Warnings


  • Remember to check with the post office about any possible rate increases in postage. If you don't it could cost you a lot more that you budgeted for.


Related wikiHows




Sources and Citations





Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Personalize Your Wedding. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Posted by Cheesesays at 9:21 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Make inexspensive Wedding Invitations


How to Make Cheap Homemade Wedding Invitations


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Would you like to save money on your wedding invitations and
still have lovely invites that will impress everybody who
receives one? Of course you would! Why not make them yourself? You are probably thinking that you have no idea of how to make cheap homemade wedding invitations. It isn’t difficult, saves you quite a bit of money and can be great fun.

Steps


  1. Decide on the level of formality your wedding will have. This will have an effect on your design and wording choices.
  2. Browse the web, looking for, do it yourself wedding invitation ideas. Many sites offer free templates with or without designs and wording samples. They allow you to download templates to use as is or to adapt to suit your needs. Some sites only allow you to download free templates if you purchase your wedding stationary from them.
  3. Decide on your design, or graphic image and the wording that you will use.
  4. Pick a font that goes with the theme and style of your invitations.
  5. Buy your wedding invitation stationery, including cards for any enclosures, such as RSVPs, Thank You cards and programs. You may want to use your stationery blanks which are available in a wide variety of sizes and colors, purchase a few extra in case of a printing mishap, such as an ink smear or paper jam.
  6. Purchase extra ink cartridges, so that you don’t run out in the middle of this important project.
  7. Schedule an afternoon or evening to create your invitations and then print them. The whole thing shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours to complete.
  8. Before telling the printer to begin making X number of copies, print one copy of each piece on plain paper cut to the sizes of your stationery, to make sure that everything is lined up properly, and to check for typographical errors.
  9. Make sure that the printer you plan on using adjusts to the different sizes of your stationary.
  10. Enlist family and friends with nice handwriting to help you address your invitations.
  11. Have fun while learning how to make cheap homemade wedding invitations.

  13. If you're printing on vellum or other specialty paper and find it smears, you might google "The Perfect Printing Pouch"--by ScraPerfect Here's a and typical comment from the website:
  14. "If I had to describe this product in 2 words, they would be, 'Like Magic!'
  15. Seriously, this saved me further frustrations. I was printing Wedding
  16. invitations with vellum and no matter what I did (that I researched on the
  17. inter-net) it still would eventually bleed! When I came across your product,
  18. for the price, "I thought what do I have to lose?" Your service was
  19. top-notch and within 2 days, I was printing invitations that were keepers!
  20. Thank you! You may print my comments, although it seems you have plenty of
  21. very satisfied customers!
  22. Christina H. from Winfield, KS"


Tips


  • Are you feeling overwhelmed, by trying to choose a design for your invitations? What is your theme? If you are having a destination wedding use clip art, photos or original art work that represent your destination, such as a beach scene, flip flops, palm trees, sunsets, or mountains.
  • Here, are some design ideas, that you may want to use on your invitations. For a western wedding a WANTED poster is at present very popular. Cowboy boots, and hats are often seen on western invitations. Couples often use fonts that look like logs or rope on this type of invitations.
  • Disney weddings are also extremely popular, and you can download free clip art of Cinderella and Prince Charming to use on your invitations, as well as other Disney icons like Lady and the Tramp.
  • Many couples are choosing to honor their religious or ethnic roots, for example, a Celtic Cross might be chosen by an Irish Catholic couple, and a Star of David or a rolled Torah scroll by a Jewish couple. A native American bride and groom might use a dream catcher on theirs. Consider honoring your heritage on this special day. Photos of landmarks from your ancestral homeland, also make great images for wedding invitations.
  • Where to find wording examples? How about using a quote from your favorite love song or poem or the Bible. We hope these tips on how to make cheap homemade wedding invitations, have inspired you to give it a try.


Related wikiHows




Sources and Citations





Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make Cheap Homemade Wedding Invitations. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Posted by Cheesesays at 9:26 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Choose flowers for your Wedding Day


How to Choose Flowers for Your Wedding Day


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

A wedding would just not be the same without flowers. Every bride wants her wedding to be memorable and her choice of flowers or arrangements should reflect her specific taste and personality. Her flowers should create a theme to make her wedding day special and provide the finishing touch to this very special day.

Steps


Wedding flowers can be simple or elaborate depending on the type of wedding that is being planned. They should have a look of individuality and look as if they have all been specially created for the bride.
  1. The style of dress, the height of the woman, the overall theme of the wedding should all have a bearing on the choice of the flowers.
  2. There are various styles of bouquets. These include round, trailer, sheaf, crescent, line and cascade bouquets.
    • Round bouquets made of roses are a popular choice for many brides.
    • Large trailing bouquets particularly suit romantic style wedding gowns.
    • An elegant line bouquet of lilies would be a good choice for a slim fitting gown.
    • A modern style bouquet made of exotic flowers and tropical foliage will suit the contemporary bride.


The bride's bouquet should be the largest and most spectacular bouquet in the wedding party. White is still traditionally the most popular color for the bride's bouquet, but many different colors are used in weddings today for the bride and bridesmaids from soft pastels such as pale pink through rich, vibrant colors such as hot pink, burgundy and violets.
  1. Pearls and crystals can be incorporated into bouquets for a touch of added glamour.
    • For a delicate touch sheer organza ribbon can be used to create ribbon bows and long streamers.
    • Wide satin ribbon will give a rich, luxurious look.

  2. Know that bridesmaids flowers can be a smaller version of the brides flowers or a different shape. If the bride is carrying a trailer bouquet the bridesmaids could carry round bouquets. Each of the bouquets can be the same colour as the brides bouquet or a different colour.
  3. Learn that to give a different look, the bridesmaids could carry elegant evening bags filled with flowers. The bag would need to be lined with a piece of plastic to prevent staining the inside of the bag. A piece of soaked florist foam can be placed in the bag and the flowers and foliage arranged in the foam to extend gracefully from the top of the bag.
  4. Notice that the flower girl could carry a small basket of flowers to match the bridesmaids flowers. The basket can be sprayed white or a pastel shade. Another alternative is to attach a spray of flowers to a piece of ribbon and tie it around the flower girls wrist, tying the ribbon ends in a bow with long ends. This is particularly suitable for a very young flower girl who may find a basket awkward to carry.
  5. Remember that the bridegroom and groomsmen wear a buttonhole which often consists of a single flower such as a rose or a carnation or another flower the same type as used in the brides bouquet.
  6. Notice that the mothers of the bride and groom also wear corsages. Often grandmothers and special aunts also wear corsages. It is helpful to know the colour of their dresses so colours will not clash. White or cream is always a safe choice


Tips


  • Flowers really do provide the finishing touch to a wedding! By choosing flowers to complement your wedding theme it will give you wonderful memories to treasure for a lifetime.


Warnings


  • Planning a wedding can be stressful. By working out the style and colours of your wedding flowers ahead of time will help you work to an overall theme to have the wedding of your dreams.


Related wikiHows




Sources and Citations





Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Choose Flowers for Your Wedding Day. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Posted by Cheesesays at 10:12 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

America's funniest weddings

Posted by Cheesesays at 9:07 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Monday, March 31, 2008

Save Money on your Wedding


How to Save Money on Your Wedding Ceremony and Reception


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

You are getting married and want a beautiful event, yet you need to stick to a tight budget. This is a problem that faces many brides. Don't worry; there are ways to have your dream wedding without breaking the bank.

Steps


  1. Prioritize! Make a list of the most important things you want for your wedding and have your fiance do the same. Are you most committed to having gorgeous flowers, inviting 400 people, hosting the wedding at a particular location, or serving filet mignon and lobster? Knowing your priorities before the planning starts will help you decide what to spend money on, and what you don't mind doing cheaply or doing without.
  2. Trim the guest list. This is difficult but sometimes necessary if the cost per guest is going to break your budget. Cross off names on the list of guests who might feel obligated to come to the wedding if they are invited, but would not have their feelings hurt if they are not asked to attend. Think of inviting only relatives with whom you have a close relationship instead of everyone related to you. Invite only the people who are important to you and your parents, rather than everyone you know.
  3. Reduce the number of people in your bridal party. You have to buy nice gifts for every member of your bridal party, and that adds up. Plus, traditionally, the entire bridal party plus their dates are invited to the rehearsal dinner. Seven bridesmaids and seven groomsmen, all their dates, ring bearer and flower girls, and their families, plus both sets of parents and all the readers in the ceremony, plus officiant could add up to 40+ people to feed!
  4. Have your wedding ceremony and reception held at a hotel, and ask for discounts when family and friends are staying at same hotel. Reserve a block of rooms for your guests several months before the wedding for the best rates. Speak with the appropriate manager when asking for discounts and reserving rooms.
  5. Consider a country or small town wedding. Venues, catering, and florists tend to be cheaper in small towns than in large metro areas.
  6. Stick to the schedule for your ceremony and reception. Musicians will charge more if asked to perform beyond the time stated in their contract. You will also incur additional limo charges if your event runs longer than planned.
  7. If you don't know any musicians yourself, call local college music departments rather then browsing the yellow pages. Students will be cheaper then professionals.
  8. Have your ceremony and reception in the same location to simplify things and save you money. There will be no need for limos to take you to the second location. Many houses of worship have halls that are equipped to handle wedding receptions at reasonable fees - especially if you are a member.
  9. Ask friends to lend their talents by helping out with such things as invitations, flowers, and programs. Ask a friend with pretty penmanship to address your invitations instead of hiring a calligrapher. If you simplify your flowers and arrangements, perhaps a friend can assemble fresh or silk flowers which will save you hundreds of dollars. Some of the most attractive wedding programs are printed from a home computer and then creatively assembled with colored cardboard, tissue paper, ribbon, etc.
  10. Consider having your wedding any day but Saturday. Fridays are also popular wedding days but may cost a lot less than a Saturday event. For even greater savings, choose a weekday evening for your wedding. Schedule the wedding to allow guests time to arrive at the ceremony after the work day has ended. Many guests enjoy weekday weddings as this frees up their weekends for other activities. Choose a date between November and April to avoid higher peak season rates in many areas.
  11. Consider altering tradition. If you are doing a round of toasts, guests can toast with whatever they are currently drinking instead of you having to purchase champagne for everyone. Instead of a limo, consider a regular vehicle. If you are happy with just serving beer and wine, skip the full bar and save a bundle on liquor. Consider a lovely formal dress that isn't a traditional gown from a bridal shop.
  12. Ask your married friends how often they pull out their expensive wedding album... Photos, though a nice luxury, can be a huge and potentially unnecessary expense. In reality, you only need one beautiful photo to hang on the wall. If you supply disposable cameras you will be surprised how well the candid pictures turn out. Also, ask a friend who you know is good at ensuring that your guests heads aren't cut off in pictures to help. Make a list of all the family and group shots, research wedding magazines for some nice "set up shots" of the bride and groom, and pass them on to your photographer friend. Also ask friends with digital cameras to email you all the photos they take. Ask a man and a woman who you love having around but couldn't have in the bridal party to capture the bride and groom getting ready. Remember that this is one very happy day when you are both looking your best so it shouldn't be that hard to get a nice album made up without thousands of dollars. You can hire a professional photographer for the ceremony, and leave the rest up to friends.
  13. Remember that the wedding is one day at the start of a life-long commitment. Look beyond the wedding day to the goals you will have as newlyweds. If you want to purchase a house in the next few years, keeping that as a priority throughout the wedding planning process will help you to be prudent about how much you spend on that one day.


Tips


  • Ask for deals when negotiating the costs for your cake, flowers, and reception hall. For instance, if you are able to pay up-front, you should be able to obtain a 20% discount on your cake, which can add up to hundreds off your cake! This is also useful in negotiating your flowers.
  • Take independent businesses seriously. Individuals are more willing to cut a break than say, your grocer's flower department.
  • When planning your ceremony and reception at a hotel, ask to speak to a manager who is in charge of these services. A manager should be in a position to offer the best rates for the hotel’s services.
  • Cut out the travel (and limo fees) between the chapel and reception hall by having the wedding on the same location as your reception! Also, you may be able to negotiate a cheaper price for using more than one service provided at a particular location. This also makes it easier for out of town guests, since they won't have to drive to two locations. They will appreciate it greatly!
  • Consider getting married during an off season, such as Lent, September through November, or April. You will be able to negotiate rental prices with reception halls due to decreased demand and business. For instance, if you marry during Lent, you may be able to negotiate a bigger reception hall for the same price as a smaller one. Also, off season weddings allow for more flexibility because in the off chance you have a 95% return rate on your wedding invites, you will be able to scramble for a bigger room, cake, or food order more easily and often at less cost than during the summer months.
  • Consider a centerpiece that doubles as something else. For example, instead of one big wedding cake, put a small cake on each table. The cake is the dessert and the centerpiece! Or, if you are doing favors, put the pile of favors neatly stacked in the middle of the table. Or, create a beautiful table number, possibly decorated with a photo of the couple or a photo of a city the couple visited together, and use that as the centerpiece, surrounded by inexpensive votive candles.
  • Ask the manager to throw in extras. Use hotel house linens instead of renting others. Hotels and catering halls have their own props and centerpieces that they are happy to loan. Always ask for at least 10% off stated rates.
  • Another way to reduce the costs associated with weddings is to not mention that the item or service is for a wedding. For example, if you are renting a venue for the wedding, indicate the room will be used for a "family gathering." This approach can also be helpful for wedding cakes. A regular cake is generally priced much lower than an identical cake which has been identified as a wedding cake. If you plan to have a simple flower scheme (like gerberas and green poms) you can avoid a large markup and the need for an appointment by not mentioning the wedding.
  • For couples with many friends, have a small, family-only ceremony. Then have a large, informal reception on another date. Decorations, location, dress and everything else can be very informal and not terribly expensive. Be gracious though, and serve good food!
  • Use a tuxedo place that gives you the groom's tux for free when you order others at the same time.
  • Borrow a veil or buy one off eBay. The bridal stores charge outrageous prices for veils.
  • Have bouquets made of dried flowers or nice "silk" flowers instead of costly, fresh flowers. Cloth or ribbon flowers are also a lovely and durable option. Having the arrangements made days or weeks in advance can save time, money and stress.
  • Buy your centerpiece flowers at a wholesale warehouse. Wholesale warehouses often sell products in bulk and cheaper than normal stores. You can often get 30-40 small centerpieces for less than $100 if you are willing to ask friends and family to help.
  • Ask for assistance from friends and family! They are FREE and often happy to help.
  • Instead of flowers and ribbons to decorate the church, try large potted ferns up at the altar with simple candles. They're inexpensive and very elegant. (Keep the ferns back from open flames, safety first!)
  • If you do decide to go with fresh flowers, choose flowers that are in season. Possibly grow them yourself or buy the flowers in bulk at a Farmer's Market and arrange them yourself. Or, some trade schools that train florists will arrange wedding bouquets for the cost of the flowers.
  • Check at the chapel to see if there's another wedding the same day. Sometimes you can split the cost of decorating with the other couple - if you're both willing to choose neutral colors and whoever goes first makes sure no well-intentioned relatives "clear things up".
  • Instead of a catered event, you can serve it as a 'Pot Luck' style for the meals and can save you money.
  • Also, ask if someone might be willing to purchase the wedding cake in lieu of giving you a wedding gift.
  • Use an online service for RSVP and simply include the web address on your invitations, saving the need for RSVP cards and extra postage. Consider including a phone number for those who may not have Internet access.
  • Consider a sheet cake instead of a tiered cake, it will save you enough that you could get a fancier recipe or fancier cake decorations if you really want and still spend less.
  • Look for a dress at a thrift or consignment store or eBay and then have it altered if necessary. Even consider non-traditional dress, perhaps just something you feel looks great and you could wear it again after the wedding too.


Warnings


  • Sometimes Do-It-Yourself projects cost just as much as buying or renting the finished product. And the time costs can be enormous when you have so much else to do.
  • Don't forget to include postage costs in your budget. After invitations (usually at 60 cents), reply cards (use postcards instead of envelopes), and a zillion thank you cards, it really adds up.
  • When you are considering the cost of postage check with the Post Office to find out if there is going to be a rate increase. This can blow your budget.


Related wikiHows




Sources and Citations





Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Save Money on Your Wedding Ceremony and Reception. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Posted by Cheesesays at 9:58 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Friday, March 28, 2008

Wedding Planning

Posted by Cheesesays at 11:27 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Wedding Bloopers

Posted by Cheesesays at 11:48 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , , , ,

Friday, March 21, 2008

Trying on wedding dresses

When trying on wedding dresses, make sure you are able to sit comfortably and that you are able to dance in it. You might want to also make sure that when the dress is bustled it's still flattering on you.

Posted by Cheesesays at 10:39 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , , , , ,

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Boquet toss

Want an alternative way to give away your bouquet? Have an "Anniversary Dance" and present it to the longest married couple.

Posted by Cheesesays at 9:52 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , , ,

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Greetin Guests Tip

Have your parents or the groom greet guests arriving at your ceremony site, as a hospitable gesture that sets the right tone.

Posted by Cheesesays at 10:52 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , ,

Friday, March 14, 2008

Ice Breaker - First Dance

Start off your reception with your first dance. This breaks the ice right away and allows for dancing between courses and also creates a more relaxed atmosphere.

Posted by Cheesesays at 12:57 PM 0 comments
Labels: , , , , ,

Thursday, March 13, 2008

What your friends and family can do to help

If your family and friends ask you how they can help, urge them to dance at your wedding.

Posted by Cheesesays at 10:05 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , ,

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

When to say your I Do's

Legend has it that saying your wedding vows in the first 30 minutes of any hour is bad luck. Say your "I Do's" when the minute hand is on the rise. It is supposed to symbolize you and your mate working together successfully in your marriage.

Posted by Cheesesays at 9:23 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , ,

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Something Old...

Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue,
And a lucky sixpence in your shoe.

I never heard the shoe part before.
The coin in the shoe is to symbolize wealth in the coming years, and many brides still slip a coint into their shoe before they walk down the aisle. In the US, the dime is the currency of choice.

Posted by Cheesesays at 9:36 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , ,

Monday, March 10, 2008

Seating assignments

What to do if a member of your bridal party brings a date and is not in the bridal party. Where to seat that person.

Spouses of attendants don't sit at the head table with their husbands or wives. If they don't know anyone else at the wedding, try to seat them with someone they might have something in common with.

Posted by Cheesesays at 10:13 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , , , ,

Friday, March 7, 2008

How to Create Silk Flower Sachets Wedding Favors


How to Create Silk Flower Sachets Wedding Favors


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Creating your own silk flower sachets wedding favors is easy and cost of the ingredients are inexpensive Silk flower sachet make an elegant gift for wedding guests. Although it's simple to make, a ready-made silk flower sachet at retail stores could run between $4 up to $12 each.

Steps


  1. Cut a piece of fabric 10"x10" and lay it flat on a table.
  2. Put some potpourri in the middle of the fabric.
  3. Lift each corners of the fabric to meet the ends together in the middle with one hand, then with your other hand grab tight the middle of the sachet until you can see the round bulky shape of sachet.
  4. Tie it real tight with cotton yarn and make sure the buds were covered with fabric.
  5. Cover the yarn by tying a ribbon on top of it.
  6. Cut the extra fabric on top by making a round shape , cut it short but not too short.
  7. Take a silk flower (just the flower) and apply some glue on the bottom with the glue gun.
  8. Stick the flower on to the top of the silk sachet and Viola! You've made your first flower sachet.


Tips


  • Heat up the glue gun before you start.
  • Cut cotton yarn long enough to tie the sachet.


Things You'll Need


  • A glue gun, a scissor, cotton yarn, potpourri, silk flowers, ribbon color and silk fabric of your choice.


Related wikiHows




Sources and Citations





Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Create Silk Flower Sachets Wedding Favors. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Posted by Cheesesays at 2:39 PM 0 comments
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

How to Plan Your Wedding


How to Plan Your Wedding


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Planning your wedding is not an easy task and it can be quite stressful. The key is to stay organized. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Steps


  1. Set a budget. Very important -- you should plan how much you want to spend on each detail of your wedding, and make sure you don't exceed that amount. In some cases but not all, parents of the bride or groom will offer to pay for specific things.
  2. Choose a theme. It doesn't have to be anything really specific, but you want there to be a consistent feeling throughout.
  3. Decide on the size of your wedding. Remember to talk this over with your fiance. A dream wedding for one may not be for the other.
  4. Choose your venue. Even church venues can charge fees.
  5. Choose your officiant (a pastor, for example). If they don't charge a fee outright to perform the ceremony, be courteous to pay a generous gratuity for their time.
  6. Attend pre-marriage counseling. This may take a large time commitment, but is worth it in the long-run. Be honest about your desires and expectations for marriage.
  7. Set the date. The factors in choosing a date include the availability of your venue, friends and family.
  8. Send out invitations. Be creative; you can make your own and add a personal touch. Send them as early as feasible, for yours to make schedule arrangements.
  9. Get the gown. Start looking early, months before the wedding. This way you will have plenty of time to make a selection and take care of fitting.
  10. Get some wedding rings. This is a fun task to do together.
  11. Find a photographer/videographer. Consider a professional for this special occasion.
  12. Decide what type of food and refreshments you will offer at the reception dinner. Try to find a happy medium between what would please your guests and what you can afford. Weigh the pros and cons of hiring a professional caterer, as it's not cheap, but it's one less thing you'll have to handle personally.
  13. Pick a cake. Before settling on a cake it's best to have a tasting first.


Tips


  • Stay organized; get a looseleaf binder and insert tab pages for each detail of your wedding. Keep notes and worksheets for each detail and you will be well on your way to making your wedding unforgettable and reducing your stress.
  • On the wedding day, be prepared for things not to go exactly as planned. This is a fun day! Regard the mishaps as part of the fun!
  • If your pet is important in your life, it is becoming increasingly common to include your special pet in your wedding, and be sure to dress them up in a dog tuxedo or dress!
  • Consider reading about married and home life at least twice as much as you read about wedding planning even as you prepare towards the wedding day. It will keep a better set of priorities in perspective. A wedding lasts a day, but a marriage lasts a lifetime.


Warnings


  • If you try to plan your wedding by yourself, you may feel overwhelmed. Assign tasks to others in your party and family.
  • Pay attention to wedding etiquette. Consult books by true experts like Miss Manners, rather than wedding magazines or popular (but etiquette-unreliable) websites like theknot.com. Contrary to popular belief, following proper modern etiquette will often lead to you spending LESS money on your wedding, NOT more!


Related wikiHows




Sources and Citations





Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Plan Your Wedding. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Posted by Cheesesays at 3:05 PM 0 comments
Labels: , , , , , ,

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

How to Make Inexpensive Quality Homemade Wedding Invitations


How to Make Cheap Homemade Wedding Invitations


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Would you like to save money on your wedding invitations and
still have lovely invites that will impress everybody who
receives one? Of course you would! Why not make them yourself? You are probably thinking that you have no idea of how to make cheap homemade wedding invitations. It isn’t difficult, saves you quite a bit of money and can be great fun.

Steps


  1. Decide on the level of formality your wedding will have. This will have an effect on your design and wording choices.
  2. Browse the web, looking for, do it yourself wedding invitation ideas. Many sites offer free templates with or without designs and wording samples. They allow you to download templates to use as is or to adapt to suit your needs. Some sites only allow you to download free templates if you purchase your wedding stationary from them.
  3. Decide on your design, or graphic image and the wording that you will use.
  4. Pick a font that goes with the theme and style of your invitations.
  5. Buy your wedding invitation stationery, including cards for any enclosures, such as RSVPs, Thank You cards and programs. You may want to use your stationery blanks which are available in a wide variety of sizes and colors, purchase a few extra in case of a printing mishap, such as an ink smear or paper jam.
  6. Purchase extra ink cartridges, so that you don’t run out in the middle of this important project.
  7. Schedule an afternoon or evening to create your invitations and then print them. The whole thing shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours to complete.
  8. Before telling the printer to begin making X number of copies, print one copy of each piece on plain paper cut to the sizes of your stationery, to make sure that everything is lined up properly, and to check for typographical errors.
  9. Make sure that the printer you plan on using adjusts to the different sizes of your stationary.
  10. Enlist family and friends with nice handwriting to help you address your invitations.
  11. Have fun while learning how to make cheap homemade wedding invitations.

  13. If you're printing on vellum or other specialty paper and find it smears, you might google "The Perfect Printing Pouch"--by ScraPerfect Here's a and typical comment from the website:
  14. "If I had to describe this product in 2 words, they would be, 'Like Magic!'
  15. Seriously, this saved me further frustrations. I was printing Wedding
  16. invitations with vellum and no matter what I did (that I researched on the
  17. inter-net) it still would eventually bleed! When I came across your product,
  18. for the price, "I thought what do I have to lose?" Your service was
  19. top-notch and within 2 days, I was printing invitations that were keepers!
  20. Thank you! You may print my comments, although it seems you have plenty of
  21. very satisfied customers!
  22. Christina H. from Winfield, KS"


Tips


  • Are you feeling overwhelmed, by trying to choose a design for your invitations? What is your theme? If you are having a destination wedding use clip art, photos or original art work that represent your destination, such as a beach scene, flip flops, palm trees, sunsets, or mountains.
  • Here, are some design ideas, that you may want to use on your invitations. For a western wedding a WANTED poster is at present very popular. Cowboy boots, and hats are often seen on western invitations. Couples often use fonts that look like logs or rope on this type of invitations.
  • Disney weddings are also extremely popular, and you can download free clip art of Cinderella and Prince Charming to use on your invitations, as well as other Disney icons like Lady and the Tramp.
  • Many couples are choosing to honor their religious or ethnic roots, for example, a Celtic Cross might be chosen by an Irish Catholic couple, and a Star of David or a rolled Torah scroll by a Jewish couple. A native American bride and groom might use a dream catcher on theirs. Consider honoring your heritage on this special day. Photos of landmarks from your ancestral homeland, also make great images for wedding invitations.
  • Where to find wording examples? How about using a quote from your favorite love song or poem or the Bible. We hope these tips on how to make cheap homemade wedding invitations, have inspired you to give it a try.


Related wikiHows




Sources and Citations





Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make Cheap Homemade Wedding Invitations. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Posted by Cheesesays at 9:32 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , , , , ,

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Be the Best, Best Man


How to Be a Great Best Man


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

If a groom chooses you to be the best man at his wedding, it's perfectly normal to feel a little proud of yourself. It's also normal to feel a bone-chilling dread creeping over you as you realize what you've committed to. Actually, you've got it easy. When the German Goths began the best man tradition nearly 2,000 years ago, the best man had to fight off the bride's angry relatives when the groom kidnapped her. All you've got to do is have a party, make a toast, and make sure the wedding runs smoothly.

Steps


  1. Serve as the groom’s personal aide and adviser for the wedding planning and arrangements. Thankfully, you can pretty much stay out of the wedding planning, but you should offer to help the groom with anything he might need, particularly if you live nearby. You will most likely need to get measured for your tuxedo well in advance.
  2. Ask the groom if he would like a bachelor party. If yes, great. (If not, see step 3.) The party is the first of your responsibilities. It's generally held a few days or a week before the wedding, but coordinate with the groom to figure out the best time. The best man is usually in charge of all planning, though some tasks can be delegated to the groomsmen who should also help you pay. The party could range from a barbecue to Vegas debauchery. The plans are usually hidden (at least somewhat) from the groom, so consider what he would like, as a guide. But, start arranging and inviting ASAP.
  3. Make sure the groomsmen are ready for the wedding. Make sure everyone has their tuxedos and that they have all tried them on. Brief them on how to usher guests at the wedding and on where and how they are to stand during the ceremony.
  4. Assist the groom on wedding day. On the big day, you should be ready to provide the groom with all the moral support he needs. You should also make sure he looks sharp, by straightening his bow tie or making sure his cuff links are on right, for example. Most importantly, a best man must make sure the groom gets to the wedding on time. In addition, there are some other small, but very important, duties you'll usually need to take care of:
    • Get a check, usually from the groom, to give to the officiant after the ceremony. You may also need to give checks (again, not your own) to the DJ or photographer.
    • Make sure the groom brings the marriage license to the ceremony. In most jurisdictions, the officiant will need to sign the marriage license or certificate after the ceremony in order to legally marry the bride and groom. You will probably be in charge of holding onto this document, and you should also offer to sign it as a witness after the ceremony.
    • Make sure you have the ring(s). On wedding day, you are the caretaker of the bride's ring and often the groom's ring, as well. Make sure you have the rings with you at the ceremony. Take every precaution not to lose them.
    • Make sure everything is in order. Perform any last minute tasks necessary to get the wedding location, the families, or the guests ready for the ceremony. Offer to help in whatever way you can. Keep an eye out for potential disasters, and act quickly to remedy them. The bride's mother will also usually be able to think of a few things for you to do.

  5. Stand next to the groom at the altar and hold onto the bride’s ring (and possibly the groom's ring) until the vows are exchanged. Typically you'll escort the maid of honor up the aisle and then await the groom and, finally, the bride. Depending on the ceremony, you may have to stand up there for awhile. Look sharp and dignified, stand up straight, don't make faces, and don't shuffle about.
  6. Present the ring(s) at the appropriate time. If you're holding only the groom's ring, you will generally give it to him directly. If you're holding both rings, you'll probably give them to the officiant or to the bride and groom individually. Don't worry about the timing, as this will be covered in the rehearsal. Do worry about making sure you have the ring(s), and avoid fumbling to find it/them.
  7. Get to the reception early to make sure everything is in order. If any last-minute arrangements are required, you should take care of them. Greet the guests as they arrive and make sure they are ready for the bride and groom's grand entrance.
  8. Propose the first toast at the reception. For most people, this is the most frightening part of being a best man. It will go a lot smoother if you prepare your toast in advance. It's also a good idea to carry some notes with you, even if you've memorized your toast. You don't want to read the toast word-for-word, but you also don't want to forget anything important. Look good and speak loud enough for everyone to hear you.
  9. Dance and be charming throughout the reception. Perhaps at previous weddings you've been deliriously drunk an hour into the reception. Not this time. When the dancing starts, you should usually try to dance with the bride's mother, the bride, the maid of honor, and the bride's other attendants if possible. Be attentive to the needs of the bride and groom, and assist them in any way possible to ensure they can thoroughly enjoy the reception.
  10. Decorate the getaway car. At some point during the reception, sneak out to the car or limo in which the bride and groom will leave and decorate it, usually with the groomsmen. You can tie some cans on the bumper and write just married on the back window, or you can be more creative. This is a good time to finally unwind and play a harmless practical joke on the new couple.
  11. Return the tuxedos. If the tuxedos are rented, you absolutely need to make sure they're back on time. If the groom owns his tuxedo, you should take it to be dry cleaned.
  12. Send the couple off on their honeymoon. Make travel arrangements to get the newlyweds to the airport for their honeymoon, or drive them yourself.


Tips


  • Try to be proactive. Guys sometimes have a hard time asking guys for help, but if you're attentive and eager to help, you'll be able to take care of most things without even being asked.
  • If there will be a ring bearer, make sure he understands what he's supposed to do. It's usually a good idea for you to hold the actual wedding rings so that the child doesn't lose them or create a scene.
  • Don't ask the groom "Are you sure?" OK, ask once. But that's it.
  • Be a good friend -- make sure the groom enjoys the day and doesn't embarrass himself. That includes not letting him drink so much he'll be hung-over for the wedding!
  • Keep useful stuff in your pockets - stuff the groom will need. This may include a watch, pocket knife, comb, breath mints, gum, enough change for a snack, extra straight pins, and a pen (in your jacket pocket). Use kleenex to reduce the rattle of loose change.
  • Give your groom time to relax. Sometimes you will have a bossy bridesmaid try to boss the groom around on the wedding. Be non-confrontational, but make her go through you.
  • Enjoy yourself. You'll probably have a lot of work to do, but there'll also be plenty of time for fun, especially at the reception. Once you've made sure everything has gone off without a hitch--OK, one hitch(ing)--you can relax and party.


Warnings


  • Watch out for bossy women - be a good wing-man, and try to keep things light and fun. Remember, it's his day too.
  • When giving the toast, don't embarrass the bride or make crazy revelations about the groom. Sex stories and drinking/drug stories are right out. Don't tell the story about how he puked all over the prostitute. Tell the story about how he fell over his bike trying to jump off the steps, or how he studied all night for a final that was not for another two days.


Related wikiHows





Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Be a Great Best Man. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Posted by Cheesesays at 9:32 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , , , , ,

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Making a toast


How to Make a Wedding Toast


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

If someone close to you is getting married, you're probably going to want to make a toast at their wedding and show the couple how happy you are for them. But if you've never made a toast before, and your tongue gets tied and palms get sweaty just thinking about it, you might be looking for some guidance. While what you say on their special day is up to you, there are some common conventions as to how it's said.

Steps


  1. Write the toast. This is your chance to honor the couple, so don't wait until the night before the wedding to think of what you're going to say. Even if you want to be spontaneous, it's good to have a toast written in case your mind goes blank. The toast should be short, sweet, and personal. A humorous quote or story can add a nice touch, just keep it tasteful. Anecdotes that involve nakedness, drunkenness, or ex-significant others of the couple could make the moment very awkward for yourself, the couple, and the guests!
  2. Make notes. You might get flashbacks of making presentations in school, but putting notes on index cards really is a good idea, especially if you're not confident in your public speaking abilities. Don't write your entire speech out word-for-word...You don't want to spend the entirety of the toast staring at your index cards and sounding like a robot. Instead, include short quotes or key phrases like "Talk about meeting bride for first time, mention how comfortable they were with each other." The idea is for the note to jog your memory, but the actual wording should be off the top of your head, provided you follow the next step.
  3. Practice your speech. Get a kitchen timer, a mirror, and an audience (any combination of people and stuffed animals will do, as long as they have eyes and can sit still like attentive wedding guests). Rehearse your speech in its entirety as if you were at the wedding. Modify your index cards as needed. Keep practicing until you feel at ease with the toast.
    • Go through all the motions. Imagine where the audience is sitting, for example, and pretend to make gestures and eye contact in that direction.
    • Insert strategic pauses to add emphasis. Doing so will also help prevent you from rushing through the speech.
    • Keep your toast to around two minutes. If you find yourself talking quickly (which is likely if you're nervous) make a conscious effort to slow down.

  4. Wait for your turn. Timing is everything. Chances are, you're not the only one who wants to make a toast. Your order in the line-up depends on your relationship to the bride and groom.
    • In formal weddings, the toast is usually given after the meal. If the couple is cutting a wedding cake for dessert, the toast is given after the cutting but before dessert. But if it's a less formal or afternoon wedding, the toasting often takes place after the couple's first dance.[1]
    • If there is a toastmaster (which may be the case in a formal, traditional wedding), follow his or her cues. If there is no toastmaster, the best man might be expected to coordinate the toasts.
    • One traditional order for toasts is as follows:[2]
      • To the couple, by the father of the bride or an old friend of the family.
      • To the health of the bridesmaids, normally by the groom.
      • To the health of the parents of the couple, normally by the best man.

    • More commonly, the best man gives the first toast, followed by the fathers, the groom, the bride, family friends, relatives, maid or matron of honor, the mothers and anyone else who would like to.[3]

  5. Stand up. Look around and check that all glasses (including yours) are full before making the toast. There should be wine, champagne, or something that looks like wine or champagne in your glass, as toasting with water is offensive in some cultures.[4]
  6. Raise your glass to the person you're toasting. While many people associate making a toast with tapping the side of your glass with a utensil, consider that you might damage fine crystal at a formal affair.[5] To play it safe, say "I'd like to make a toast" in a firm voice and wait.
  7. Announce your relationship to the couple. Some people at the wedding might not know who you are, so making this clear at the beginning will avoid any confusion. Bring your glass down as you start to speak, but continue holding it in one hand (unless you're holding both a microphone and notes).
  8. Give the speech. Look at the person you're toasting to, but also shift eye contact towards the guests occasionally.
  9. End the toast on a positive note. Include a formal indication to inform them of the ending of the toast and what to say next. For example: "Let us now toast the happiness of Jill and Jack. To Jill and Jack!" As you say this, wave your glass to all, then tip it towards the person you are toasting to, or clink their glass if you're close enough.[6] Then clink your glass gently with those around you and sip (don't gulp or chug) your drink.
  10. Sit down and wait for the next toast. If the person you toasted to offers a toast in response, remain seated and don't raise your glass; just say "Thank you", smile and sip your drink when they're done!


Tips


  • Since weddings are as individual as the couples that have them, feel free to adjust your words and the toasting conventions to suit the occasion.
  • Usually, the people in the wedding party are more familiar with one half of the newly married couple than the other. Try to get to know that other person as much as possible, and include something that relates to a unique aspect of both the bride and groom - something about their personality or their interests.
  • The toast will certainly be colored by the lens you view the couple through, but check to be sure that the star in the toast is the couple (or at least the half of the couple you know) and not the person giving it.
  • It can be tempting to do a short, sweet and generic toast. But the couple would probably like something a little more personal, otherwise it may seem like you didn't care about this duty, or that the couple isn't interesting enough to be the subject of a toast.
  • Bring tissues if you think you may shed a few tears while you're speaking.


Warnings


  • Don't drink before you toast. Your speech should be spoken, not slurred.
  • Speeches that dwell on how difficult marriage is, however realistic, can make it sound like the couple is doomed to fail.
  • An audience will be very forgiving as long as your toast is heartfelt, decent, and relatively short. A TV commercial is only 30 seconds long. Only confident speakers should go longer than a minute and a half.
  • Avoid inside jokes as well as other references which might be deemed inappropriate for the occasion.
  • Do not use this event as a way to kick-start your comedy career. If you tell a joke and it bombs, finish up as quickly as possible.


Related wikiHows




Sources and Citations



  1. ↑ http://www.weddingpaperdivas.com/wedding-toasts.htm

  2. ↑ http://www.finespeeches.com/help/wedding_speeches_etiquette.html

  3. ↑ http://www.lovegevity.com/engagement/features/wedding_toast.html

  4. ↑ http://media.www.harbus.org/media/storage/paper343/news/2004/12/13/News/Top-Eight.Tips.For.Making.A.Toast-828608.shtml

  5. ↑ http://southshoreweddings.com/articles/072.shtml

  6. ↑ http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2005/jan/17toast.htm



Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make a Wedding Toast. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Posted by Cheesesays at 11:03 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)