Florida Weddings & Wedding Planning Advice

by Christopher Anderson
If you are a bride-to-be, and you’re attracted to traditional weddings, you’ve probably browsed for months through wedding fashion magazines, trying to find the perfect style of gown. You may have spent weeks traveling from boutique to boutique trying gowns on for size. The bridal gown is indeed the focus of the entire affair, and the right accessories will complete your beautiful picture.

Wedding veils For many cultures, the veil is a symbolic element as important as the ring itself, and traditional wedding ensembles just aren’t complete without a pretty wedding veil. If you choose to wear a veil, be sure that it compliments your wedding gown and suits the theme of your wedding. Traditionally, veils were very formal and measured over ten feet in length. Thankfully, modern bridal fashions dictate that the bride may choose a veil of any length. A shoulder-length flyaway style is a popular choice of veil by many modern brides.

Shoes and stockings The right shoes and stockings are a crucial element to your bridal ensemble. As a bride, you may find it a struggle to find a pair of shoes that complement your gown. If your wedding will be an elegant affair, try to find shoes made of satin, velvet or silk. Some bridal shoes can be embellished with embellished with crystals, beads, sequins or pearls for a more extravagant effect. The most important thing to consider is comfort. You will be spending most of the day on your feet and you will want to appear as happy and comfortable as possible.

Headpieces Headpieces such as combs, headbands, Juliet caps and back pieces are generally used to hold the wedding veil in place. You can make your headpiece as dainty or as breathtaking as you wish by decorating it with flowers, crystals, pearls or beads. What seems like a small and unimportant detail can turn an otherwise dull bridal accessory into a memorable one. If you have a beautiful headpiece you can wear it alone and forego the veil altogether. Tiaras, crowns, half-crowns, bun-wraps and wreaths can be gorgeous stand-alone headpieces.

Jewelry There is no piece of bridal jewelry more important than the wedding band, but don’t forget the impact that your earrings, necklace and bracelet can have. Jewelry should always compliment a dress and not overpower it. Make sure that the jewelry you are wearing is pretty enough to make your guests take notice, without stealing the entire show. Treasured family heirlooms can be the perfect choice to complete your bridal accessory package. Diamonds and pearls can be simple yet elegant choices.

Gloves If your gown is strapless or sleeveless, a beautiful pair of gloves will provide a lovely, finished look. In general, shorter sleeves require longer gloves. Choose silk or satin gloves to bring a sophisticated air to your ensemble.

Handbags You won’t be carrying a handbag during the wedding ceremony or the reception, but this is a bridal accessory that should not be overlooked. You will likely wish to have a small purse handy to contain small necessities for the day, like makeup and tissues. Your handbag shouldn’t be a large shoulder bag. Instead, choose a pretty clutch to complement your shoes and gown.

You will be in the spotlight on your wedding day. Give as much thought to your bridal accessories as you do to your gown. It’s your time to shine, so choose top to toe accessories to be your most elegant, polished, beautiful best.

About the Author

Christopher Anderson contributes to several web magazines, on products guide and products and shopping issues.

1. Too many styles of wedding bouquets?
2. Not sure which style suits my gown?
3. Not sure which style suits my bridesmaid gowns?
4. Not sure of flower choices and colour schemes?

These questions are the 4 main questions that the Florist is asked by the Bride during the first Bridal Consultation. A bride may not understand a great deal about flowers, but will be aware of the effect they want to achieve to create the atmosphere they want for their wedding.

The role of the Florist is to show you, the bride, a range of designs, discuss which designs will suit your individual style of gown and discuss the flowers and colours that are available when the wedding is to occur. The aim is to design a bouquet that interprets the bride’s wishes and enhances her dress. Full simple gowns are enhanced by large bouquets of flowers with trailing foliage. Slim line fitted gowns can be overpowered by large bouquets and results in neither the dress or bouquet being seen at their best. The bouquet may be a simple posy or arm spray, or you may choose a bold crescent design containing a minimal number of flowers.

Matching the colour of the flowers with the bridal gown is very important and it is also important to either tone in, or contrast the flowers to the colour of the bridesmaid gowns. Another important factor that needs to be considered is the setting for the wedding. This is due to the wide range of wedding venues now available to the bride and her partner. For example, a relaxed country or garden style wedding, a reception house or a beach side wedding. The setting will reflect the atmosphere and personality of the couple getting married.

Lets begin with the range of designs that are available. Bouquets can be simple, a Circular Posy, or very complex, a Shower Bouquet, and the bride’s bouquet does not have to be the same style as the bridesmaid’s bouquet. The link may be bouquet shape, flowers or colours used or a combination of all the above. However, the style of the dresses and the height of the bride and bridesmaids is taken into consideration when advising on the size and style of the bouquet.

Wired Bouquets

Circular Posy Bouquet

Formal

Clearly defined circular bouquet with either an even edge of foliage bordering the flowers or foliage spread evenly through the flowers. A simple and elegant design may only use one variety of rose edged with Camellia leaves.

An example of a formal style is the Biedermeier or Victorian Posy. Flowers are arranged in concentric circles of flowers and colour. The circles do not have to be the same flower or colour. For example, alternating rings of Roses and Sweet Peas

Informal

Posy that is not strictly round (oval) and flowers are placed in a less formal pattern, balance is achieved by equal amounts of flower and foliage colour on either side of the bouquet

Both the informal and formal posy styles go well with the short or slim fitting dresses as they allow the dress to be viewed as well

Teardrop bouquet

• Posy top with a wide trail ending in a point. Classical bouquet that suits most gowns.
• Formal, structured design usually with a mix of small and large blooms at the top of the bouquet gradually forming a point at the bottom with the smaller blooms. For example roses with foliage.

Trailing bouquet

• Formal , less structured bouquet than the teardrop bouquet, the trail is narrower and generally longer
• For example a mix of tiger lilies, fruit and wheat in the body of the design leading down to a trail consisting of a single stem of tiger lilies and wheat.

Crescent Bouquets

• bouquet with two trails attached to form a crescent shape with a central posy section between.
• Can be a ver bold design using a minimal number of flowers , such as cymbidium orchids and fern
• Allows the skirt of the gown to be viewed more than a teardrop or cascade design allows.

Shower Bouquet

• A classical larger style bouquet that is very free flowing and has multiple trails leading from the body of the design.

Looks great with a romantic billowing dress that has a full train and veil

Cascade or Waterfall Bouquet

• Not overly different in shape to the shower bouquet, the difference is how the foliage and flowers are placed into the design.
• All flowers and foliage appear to be cascade forwards with some of the lighter ferns flowing over the top of the flowers

Natural Stem Bouquets

Circular Posy Bouquet (Strauss)

• A hand tied posy of flowers held together by the wrapping of their natural stems with ribbon
• Flowers can be mixed varieties or a single variety.
• Can be either formal or informal (garden wedding) depending on the flowers chosen and the ribbon or bow that completes the design.

Arm Spray

• A selection of usually long stem flowers that rest on the inside of the arm which is completed with a bow at the base of the bouquet.
• Examples of flowers used in this style are Roses, Arum lilies and Tulips.

Popular bouquet in the 1920’s and has become increasingly popular in the 1990’s with the development of the cascading arm spray made from such flowers as arum lilies, asparagus or filigree fern and freesias.

Now, lets consider colour.

The type of flower and the colours of the flowers chosen for you bouquet will reflect the atmosphere of the wedding. Matching the colour of the flowers with the bridal gown is very important and it is also important to either tone in, or contrast the flowers to the colour of the bridesmaid gowns. The season and the setting of your wedding will also reflect on your choice and colour of flowers. Lets look at some examples of bouquets for each of the seasons and a few different settings.

Spring wedding in the garden either at home or at a reception venue with a formal luncheon in the garden

• Ivory wedding gown and purple bridesmaid dresses
• Natural stem hand-tied bouquet of spring blooms, roses, lily of the valley and foliage for the bride and her attendants. The bride’s bouquet may use a different tone or colour of roses. eg darker pink or cream. A different option for the bride is an arm spray using the same flowers as the bridesmaid posy.
• Rose buttonhole for the men

Table centre-pieces of roses and lily of the valley in cream pots

Summer wedding with a sea side reception

• White wedding gown and lemon bridesmaids dresses
• Teardrop bouquet for the bride of shells, green Singapore orchids, Camellia leaves and strand of green amaranth. Wired round posy of shells, green Singapore orchids, Camellia leaves and strand of green amaranth for the bridesmaids.
• Orchid buttonhole for the men.
• Table centre-pieces of green Singapore orchids and amaranth displayed in Bamboo bases with shells scattered on the table.

Autumn wedding at a heritage listed reception house

• Ivory wedding gown with terracotta bridesmaid dresses
• Cascade bouquet for the bride of autumn tones (orange, yellow, cream, terracotta, dark red). For example orange tiger lilies, lemon roses, lemon freesias and red peppercorn berries with asparagus fern. Bridesmaids may have a teardrop or posy of the same flowers finished with gold ribbon.
• Peppercorn berries and rose buttonhole for the men
• Table centre-pieces of three small terracotta pots each containing red, yellow or orange roses. Another option is gold candelabras containing a mix of red, yellow and orange roses with lilies and peppercorn berries and fern

Winter wedding at a chalet in the snow

• White wedding gown with a fur trim cloak and mint green bridesmaid dresses
• Trailing bouquet of white tulips and dark green camellia leaves and ivy trail coming out of an imitation fur muff. Bridesmaids bouquets could be a wired round posy of white tulips and dark green camellia leaves
• Tulip buttonhole for the men
• Table centre-pieces of white tulips in chrome containers(pots, goblets, buckets)

The main thing to remember is that your bouquets are a reflection of your personality. an Allow enough time with your florist to discuss all the floral designs required for the day and delivery arrangements. It is also a good idea to take along a picture of you wedding gown, the bridesmaid dresses and a swatch of the material if possible for colour matching purposes

About the Author

Gail Anderson is the managing director of The Sydney School of Floristry.

Coresponding bouquet images for this article can be seen at: http://www.ssof.com.au/florist-articles.htm

Information for the Bride

You’re in the last month before the wedding. What seemed fairly simple in the beginning has now morphed into what looks like an insurrmountable, out-of-control list of things to do. You thought you were organized and now it seems there are a million details still to be conquered, accomplished, put in order. (Emphasis here is on the word “seems.” Remember this.) From your point of view it may seem that:

• No one is helping
• No one understands
• There’s too much to do
• It costs too much
• There’s not enough time
• And: Where is HE and why isn’t he helping more?

This may move into:

• Maybe this is a mistake
• Maybe I should call the whole thing off
• Maybe I just thought I loved him

Information For the Groom

Things were going pretty well. You nodded your approval at which invitations she picked out, made a list of friends and family you wanted to invite and even addressed a few.You went with her to choose the venue, select a minister, pick a D.J. or live muisic, taste cake and look at flowers. You were fitted for the tux and shoes and you’ve planned the honeymoon. Now you just need to know when and where to show up. In the meantime you can sit back, watch the game and leave the details to the women.

You begin to notice, however, that your beautiful bride-to-be is getting bossier and more short-tempered every day. She doesn’t say much but her mood seems to be getting darker and she looks at you like you’re from another planet. And you begin to wonder:

What’s the problem here?

• Is this who she really is?
• Is this what it will be like after we’re married?
• This thing is getting way out of hand.

And this begins to deteriorate into:

• This is not what I bargained for.
• Maybe I’m not ready to get married.
• Maybe she’s not the right one for me.

If it gets to this STOP, LOOK, LISTEN!

This is a time of tremendous stress for each of you. Your whole life is about to change and somewhere inside you, regardless of how much you love each other and how long you’ve been together, an alarm goes off. Change of this magnitude often creates fear and fear causes all kinds of disruption. Every tiny detail is magnified. Emotions are running like a raging river and cannot (seemingly) be contained.

So what do you do?

If you’ve been together for a number of years, you know how the other functions, and you know you love them and have made a commitment to become partners in every sense of the word. When you had a clear mind, you knew this is what you wanted. If this is not the case, then take a serious look about what you’re doing so there is not an impasse on wedding day when one of you chooses not to show up.

You know you want to continue and so:

Bride - talk to the love of your life. Tell him how you feel. Make it clear what you need him to do. He is not unwilling (generally). He just doesn’t know how to help and thinks the best thing to do is just stay out of the way. Tell him you love him and need him. Tell him what you want and need. He doesn’t intuit this. You have to tell him.

Groom - listen to her without judgment and without barking orders. Ask her how you can help. Ask her for specific instructions on how she wants it done and what the deadline is. If you do this, you may find that she relaxes and realizes that, actually, there isn’t that much for you do to do. The most important thing for you to do is

• Stay calm
• Reassure her that you love her more than anything and that
• all you want is to be married to her.

To Both of You

If every tiny detail isn’t perfect, your wedding will still be wonderful because it’s about how much you love each other and not about the tiny details.

It’s about you. Your guests will notice the love, not the color of the napkins. The guests will notice the radiance and be pleased that the flowers are nice and the music good.

Your guests will notice the look in your eyes when you see each other and really won’t care if the bridesmaids didn’t have matching shoes or perfect hairdos.

Take some time to be with each other. Just the two of you. DO NOT TALK ABOUT THE WEDDING OR WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE DURING THIS TIME. Talk about anything else. Talk about how much you love each other and how special the other is. As they say in sports, “Keep your eyes on the prize.” Soon it will all be over and you can settle into building a wonderful marriage.

Your big day has arrived. You are getting ready and suddenly trouble happens. You develop a run in your pantyhose. What do you do? Do you send a bridesmaid to a nearby store? Your mother? How can you resolve this problem without delaying the wedding?

If you have a bridal survival kit all you have to do is get your spare pair of pantyhose and your back on track to get married.

Things happen even on the most perfect of days. All the planning in the world can’t keep the little things from spoiling your special time. But there are things you can do to make your day go easier.

Purchase a small cloth bag, the kind you’d get for traveling to hold small items in your suitcase. Inside it put the following items:

1. 1 or 2 pair of pantyhose. Runs happen, especially when you’re nervous already and trying to wiggle your way into them. Having a spare pair or two will help keep snags from ruining your day.

2. Clear nail polish. If you get a run in your pantyhose high enough you might be able to stop it from going further by placing a line of clear polish below it. Clear polish is also nice for touching up your manicure if you need to.

3. A needle and thread sewing kit. You can find pre-threaded multi-colored sewing kits at fabric and craft stores. Perfect for last minute rips and tears.

4. A travel size can of hairspray. Muggy weather, wind and even a little rain can mess up a beautiful hair style. You can fix almost any style with a little hairspray and a bit of patience.

5. Tissues and wet wipes. Tissues are needed for the tears that are sure to come. Wet wipes are crucial for spills or cleaning hands.

6. Touch up makeup. The lipstick, eye shadow, and blush you plan on wearing are nice to keep with you. Smudges happen and it’s nice to be able to fix your makeup before you walk down the isle. You might want to have a bottle of foundation too, or powder, just in case too.

7. Headache medicine. The stress of getting ready and nerves have the making of a headache. Stopping a headache before it becomes full-blown will make your day nicer.

8. Gum, mints, or toothbrush and paste. No bride wants to enjoy her first kiss as wife with bad breath. And chewing gum can calm a nervous bride down before the ceremony.

9. A small pair of scissors to clip stray strings or trim a hangnail.

10. Safety pins in different sizes. Rips and tears can happen, and when time is of the essence, using a safety pin to close the tear might be easier than sewing it.

11. A few bobby pins in case of hair disasters. Bobby pins are great for keeping the veil in place too.

12. Small first aid kit. Cuts and scrapes can happen and taking care of it before the ceremony will keep you from having an infection later on. Or getting blood on your beautiful wedding dress.

13. Tampons or napkins. Stress can bring on a menstrual period even if it’s not your time. Being prepared is better than being surprised.

You want your wedding day to run smooth. But there is no guarantee it will. By being prepared with a few emergency supplies, your day will be a wonderful day.

About the Author

Dawn Arkin is a writer who loves to plan and attend weddings. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.Prye.Com/ which is a site for Wedding Invitations.

We all know that brides spend hours, days, and weeks searching for the perfect wedding gown, so it should come as no surprise that what she wears underneath the gown attracts just as much of her attention. If there is a special time to shed white plain jane panties and bras and slip into something sheer, sexy, and magnificent, it has got to be your wedding night. Hey, it only happens once in a marriage! Make it count! So you should be sure to put just as much effort into what your wear under your dress as you do choosing your dress. You won’t regret it, and neither will your future mate.

Thankfully, most of the bustiers and corsets that are designed to be worn underneath a wedding dress are sexy in themselves. They provide the lift and support you will need to look, and feel, your absolute best. And you should, because it is your day. After the day is over, you can go slip out of your dress and be ready for your night, without having to take time to slip into something else.

You can start looking for your bridal lingerie only after you have selected your dress. It must be compatible with your gown. Nothing should poke or peak out from underneath your dress, that’s for you and your future husband’s eyes only! So that’s just one more reason to be on top of things. When you start looking, you will want to go to specialty lingerie shops, where the selection is wider and of a higher quality than typical department stores. The people who work at these shops will be able to better help you as well, since they are experts in fitting lingerie and working with gowns.

If you have chosen a wedding gown that is strapless or one that sets off of your shoulders, you cannot wear a strapless bra. Luckily for you, this is exactly the situation for which the bustier was designed. Bustiers are sort of like strapless bras that are attached to a fabric that wraps around your torso. If your dress is completely backless, you cannot use a bustier, but must choose a different alternative. If you are a C cup or less, look into the adhesive Nu Bra, which looks real and provides ample support. If you are bustier than a C cup, you will have to use a strapless bra that connects around your waist.

When choosing your bridal panties, choose a fabric that is comfortable to you. Some brides opt to knock panties and bra out with one punch by choosing a one piece lingerie shaper. Doing so will also shape your stomach, making you look svelte.

The last thing that you need to choose for your wedding lingerie is your hosiery. If you decide to do full hose, make sure that it fits well and does not cause any discomfort or bulging. The best thing to wear, though, and the most fun, is stockings with a garter. Whatever hosiery you decide on, make sure that the fabric is premium quality so that it doesn’t tear or snag. It’s best to buy an extra set, just in case.

Beach weddings are becoming increasingly popular with couples. Beach wedding or destination weddings have grown into multi billion industry over the decades.

Being the most special and important event of the lifetime, many couples are opting for theme destination weddings at the popular beach resorts and venues.

It seems to be a trend that couples are spending more on lavish weddings. Some opt to have flower gardens or to have a fairytale wedding. The average cost for destination weddings can cost from US$20,000 to US$50,000, depending on the elaborateness and grandness of the event.

Some couples also model their weddings after celebrities. They hope to the ’stars’ for the event. Some would even tell their wedding planner to plan a wedding similar to their favorite celebrities.

Whatever the scale of the wedding might be, do take note of the following:

Budget

Know your budget can try to work within it. Do not try to include all fancy items or to overdo it. You might find yourself out of the pocket if you do not practice some self restraint.

Venue

For a beach wedding, the venue is the most important decision to make. Find a place that has fantastic scenery or has fond memories for you both. Do think of what are the available accommodations for the guests. If you decide on an upscale resort with a terrific frontage but is really steep on the price, you might find that you would have a lot fewer guests.

Programs

Do plan wet weather programs. You will never know when the weather would turn against you. In order to avoid disappointment, do check out alternative wet weather venues. Do inform your wedding planner on this.

Wedding insurance

Why do I say that wedding insurance is important? For destination weddings, the risk involved is quite high as compared to a traditional wedding. Things could go wrong and thus it’s important to be prepared at all times. In case of a cancellation due to wet weather, you could be rest assured that you will get come compensation from the cancellations or postponement of the event.

Checklist

To me, this does not seem important as the wedding planner would be the right person to advise you and come up with the list. However, if you are on your own, you might need some help and one good resource is the Internet. Do take note that you do not use the checklist from the Internet in its original form. Customize it! Not everything that’s written is applicable to you. You might get yourself confused by the details.

Planning a destination or beach wedding can be quite taxing, so do exercise discretion and be patient in planning. You may find yourself enjoying the wedding preparation process!

About the Author

Beach Wedding Planning Guide has detailed information and tips how to go about to plan the perfect beach wedding.

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It is no suprise that preparing for a wedding is one of a woman’s most stressful times in life. Often she has to try to please everyone from family to friends even though it’s not their wedding. Expectations and emotions can run high during such a time. Friends suddenly want to be your best friend, parents want to be recognized and honored, siblings want a special place in the ceremony, and disagreements can abound as to who to invite or not to invite.

Truly the devil can get in the details concerning how, what, where and with whom you will celebrate your wedding. The key is to remember it is ultimately your wedding. It amazes me how many people, be it family or friends, complain when your wedding is not done their way. Of course those who complain the most usually financially contribute the least.

Here are some fast hard-hitting secrets to secure your sanity and keep your fiancee around while preparing for your wedding.

1. Gauge to what extent your fiancee wants to be involved.

Often guys could not care less how you do the wedding ceremony. After all the guy wants to marry the girl, not all of the people coming to the wedding. Most guys would happily marry the woman of their dreams anywhere. It’s usually the woman who is all idealized about what her big day should be. The man can typically see beyond this and isn’t overly mesmerized with the process since he knows the two of you very likely will be paying for the elaborate ceremony long after the wedding is over.

If your man is interested in the details and wants to get involved, so be it. Happily involve him. Perhaps there are some things he cares about more passionately than others. Maybe the songs the dj will play or the color tuxedo he and the guys will wear will interest him. Things that may not be overly interesting to him could be the party favors, decorations and the order of ceremony.

Know every guy is different so get a feel early on for his level of interest and to what extent he wants to be involved. Don’t try to lure him into your emotional frenzy just because you are all into the elaborate details. Keep it fun. Avoid pressuring him to make decisions about or participate in things he never signed up for.

2. Minimize complaining to your man daily about the details of the wedding preparations.

Remember it wasn’t complaining that enabled you to win his heart to begin with. Therefore it won’t be complaining that keeps his heart fond of you after he has said “I do.”

Stay happy and positive. Keep your level of joy and pleasure strong in your relationship. The last thing you want to do is drive him crazy before the wedding so he goes into it with mixed emotions. If you’re going to have a meltdown, do it privately with a good friend or your mother. Spare your man the emotional roller coaster ride.

If you are one of those rare and lucky women who have an extra sensitive soul who genuinely understands you and wants to hear everything, than take the liberty to confide in him. However avoid dumping on him or biting at him in irritation because of your preparation woes.

3. Be thankful for the guy you are marrying more than fixating on how you are marrying him.

Keep things in perspective, you are marrying a man not a ceremony to excel your ego and promote yourself. Don’t get diverted from what is going on here. Let your focus be your relationship, heartfelt interaction and sustaining a love that lasts a lifetime. Don’t get so business like and task oriented that you begin treating your future spouse like a co-worker from the office.

4. Don’t compare your wedding to that of your friends.

The quickest way to stress yourself out, drive yourself beyond your threshold of pain and have a breakdown is to try to be like somebody else. Just because a close friend did her wedding one way and spent a certain sum of money does not mean you have to or should.

Unfortunately women tend to compare notes about how a wedding ceremony should be conducted, where it should be held and how elaborate the celebration should be. (Oh come on ladies you certainly compare engagements rings.) The best advice I can give you is to refrain from comparing notes and do it your way according to your desire and budget.

5. Forget tradition.

Start your own tradition. Don’t feel obligated to conform to family, church or cultural traditions. Be yourself. Be a history maker. Have fun and celebrate in a way most suitable for you. If you are adventurous, break the mold and do something memorable. If you prefer elegance and class, than don’t be pressured by your friends to do things you don’t deem appropriate.

6. Stay within your designated budget.

A sure sign of coming marital woes is a spendthrift who exceeds her budget for a wedding. Don’t borrow from your future to pay for your todays. It doesn’t work. You are essentially only robbing yourselves of your future. Because after the wedding it is the two of you who must pay all the bills, juggle all of the credit card interest payments and stress about your debts incurred.

The quickest way you can gain your fiance’s trust and make him feel confident about you is to honor him when budgeting a wedding. Wedding preparations however tend to be a time when women lose it and go wild. The emotional exuberance seems to take over when one is to be the center of attention and everyone is going to be there.

Just remember if after the wedding you never see your new groom because he is working two jobs to pay for “your wedding,” don’t be angry at him.

Every little girl dreams of her big wedding day but few save up financially for it. Why is that? Perhaps therein lies the true psyche of a woman, that daddy or hubby will pay for me, shower me with gifts, me, me, me.

Beware of this mentality.

It’s not only the princesses today who are becoming runaway brides. Many men are catching on too and abandoning the thought of marriage altogether because of the drama they have seen and experienced pertaining to wedding preparations.

Don’t get me wrong. I wholeheartedly believe in the institution of marriage. What I don’t however believe in is the excessive merchandising of matrimony and the egofest it has become for some bridezillas. In the old days they did things differently. Women didn’t expect big rocks and men didn’t give them to women until after they were married and had proven themselves over many years. They were much more modest, simple and sincere. I think we would benefit returning to those days and ridding ourselves of the excesses that so often put us in debt.

Ladies, do yourself a favor and pace yourself. Harness your emotions. Think realistically and long-term when you budget your wedding. Most importantly remember that when it is all over it is just the two of you.

7. Say thank-you to all those who help you with your wedding.

Whether you deem your wedding a “success” or not (now that’s an interesting topic worthy of discussion….what makes a wedding a “success”), be quick to thank everyone for their time, gifts and contributions to make it happen.

If one thing is for sure, planning a wedding and all the events that precede it (showers and the rehearsal dinner) is not easy. If you are fortunate enough to have some sweet family and friends to help you a bit with it all, consider yourself blessed and be thankful. However never expect it.

Live and let live when they get involved, which is to say don’t put unrealistic expectations on these people to go out of their way for “your big day.” Be thankful for whatever they do and however they do it. Remember they are volunteering and doing this from the kindness of their hearts, not because they have to.

Never compare gifts given be it past or present. Happily and thankfully receive whatever is given you. Don’t put dollar amounts on people as to what you expect is customary to give.

Just because you chose to have a wedding that cost a certain dollar amount a plate does not mean that your guests will be thinking in that manner when they decide what to give you as a gift. If they do, great for you. If they don’t, you shouldn’t get disappointed.

Nowadays with the disintegration of the family, women are often having to prepare their own weddings as mothers are becoming less involved. Having a wedding is quite similar to having a baby for a woman as she very much must take ownership of it. Unlike a baby however a wedding day will come and go.

Therefore give your best when preparing, but when it is all said and done go with the flow.

Blessings, wishes for dream fulfillment and a love that lasts a lifetime.

Destination weddings to Hawaii, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Maui, Jamaica and more are becoming more and more popular as destination wedding planning online has become easier and easier. The beach is the most popular destination wedding theme these days and many brides want to start their wedding theme off right with a beautiful beach theme wedding invitation.

Many beach wedding invitation sites like BeachWedlockInvitations.com exist to offer hundreds of beach wedding invitations, but beach brides aren’t worried about finding the right beach invitation as much as they are worried about their beach wedding invitation wording.

Every bride wants her wedding to be unique and her wedding invitation is no different. Finding the perfect beach wedding invitation wording is as important as finding the perfect beach wedding invitation itself, so here are 5 beach wedding invitation wording tips.

1. Know yourself and your spouse to be - Your beach invitation wording should reflect you and your future spouses personalities, love and quirkiness … yes, quirkiness. Wedding invitations have been done for millions of years, if you want to be original, you are going to have to capture what makes you and your beach love different than other couples.

2. There is no wrong wording - Certain wedding invitation wording ethics exist, but most people don’t know them and wouldn’t notice if you went according to the rules or not. Besides, more and more brides and grooms are throwing the rules to the wind these days and just writing what they want. Don’t worry about trying to follow all the rules. The reason you’re probably having a beach wedding is because you didn’t want the traditional wedding ceremony anyway, so have your beach wedding invitation reflect the same free flowing spirit that the beach has.

3. Know your audience - Even though we just mentioned that your beach wedding invitation wording should be about you and your future beach spouse by placing your quirkiness in your beach invitation wording, remember who your audience is. If you are sending this invitation to an 80-year-old grandma, you probably don’t want to use profanity or other inappropriate language.

4. Beach phrases - Find a single beach phrase that fits you and your spouse but also suits the beach setting you will be married in. “Once upon a time on a beach …” or “What happens on the beach … stays in our hearts,” are just some examples. More examples can be found at BeachWedlockInvitations.com.

5. Match your wording to your invitation - Simple beach weddings with simple beach themes should have simple beach wedding invitation themes as well. A beach wedding with 10 - 50 people is an intimate setting and the invitations should reflect that. Don’t bog down the wording with a 20 line poem to begin the invitation. A beach wedding with over 500 people can be reason for the 20 line poem.

Good luck with your beach weddings, your beach wedding invitations, and your beach wedding invitation wording. To see the most beach wedding invitations in the world on one Web site go to: BeachWedlockInvitations.com.Article Source: http://mycontentbuilder.com

Renae C. Judkins is the owner of the largest Web site for beach themed wedding invitations in the world, www.BeachWedlockInvitations.com.

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Lots of couple these days are deciding on outdoor weddings just to get away from the traditional church wedding. One of the big benefits to outdoor weddings is that they are much less expensive and sometimes cost nothing. These events take some special planning to be sure they go off without a hitch while you are getting hitched. For example, if you are being married in a public place you will most likely have to hold the reception in another location. Weather is also a huge concern, if you live in an area prone to hurricanes like Florida you may want to have a backup plan if you are getting married during hurricane season! Here are some guidelines to keep in mind while planning your big day.

The location you choose is the most crucial part on an outdoor wedding and if you are choosing a true outdoor locale like a beach or lake then you need to be sure that you have shelter available in case of rain. Considering that you plan the event months ahead of time there is no way of knowing what the weather will be like on that particular day. So be sure to have your option B ready in case Mother Nature is being uncooperative. You could also opt for a home wedding around a pool; I have attended weddings like this that are very beautiful.

If you are holding the event at a beach or park check with the city or county government to see if they require any kind of permit. Sometimes you only have to get written permission but other times you may have to have a specific permit. Some other things you need to know are whether you can decorate and bring your own tables and chairs, if you can serve food, have music, etc. If your reception will be at the same place and you will be serving alcohol you need to find out if it is allowed. Many parks and beaches do not allow alcohol to be consumed on their grounds. This will prevent any unpleasant situations on your special day, so take the time to plan it properly.

If you are planning to be married outside you can take advantage of natural beauty which will save you some money on floral arrangements and other decorations. Just be sure that if you are using a public location or one run by local government that you have permission to put up any decorations. Most will allow you to decorate but you have to make sure that you take all of it with you when you leave.

Make sure that you let your guests know ahead of time that the event will be held outside so that they can plan accordingly. You don’t want people coming thinking they are going to be inside and not be clothed properly or otherwise prepared for the elements.

Be prepared for foul weather if you have your mind set on a place like the beach and be sure that everyone in the wedding party has lightweight clothes that will dry easily if you get wet. You should also abort the idea of a fancy long dress with a train because if it rains it will just get wet and muddy. Be prepared and have a fun special day!

1. Book wedding photographer early - The best ones are hard to get and may have bookings over a year in advance. (book 6-12 month prior to wedding)

2. Never order the photographer by phone. Meat him/her and get a first hand impression of the photographer. Remember the personal chemistry between you and the photographer is important in making you feel free and relaxed. This will again show in the pictures.

3. Pick 3-4 interesting photographers in the area you are getting married. Surf their web sites. If you are having a theme wedding check if they have experience doing the theme wedding you are planning. Look for sample pictures made at earlier wedding. Be extra observant on the picture quality. Make sure the sample photos are taken by the same person coming to your wedding. And finally - what is your overall feeling. Do you think the photographers style and personal touch will match your wedding picture ideas?

4. Ask for references and use them. Only through firsthand info from other brides will you get real objective critics.

5. If you have a clear plan on how you want the pictures to be - stick to that plan. Don’t let other people push you into anything else unless you feel their advice is genuinely a better choice.

6. Use the pre meetings at the photographer well. It is here you lay it all out for him/her. Tell him/her your wishes and ideas for the wedding photos. Bee clear on you wishes.

7. Be aware of the different photo styles and expressions common at wedding of today. Would you like it classical and simple (black and white pictures could be a great idea.) or maybe big, fluffy and romantic( go with large to everything and prepare yourself for a rollercoaster.)

8. During the photo session it is important that you relax. Be in the moment and focus on each other. Be playful and daring - Remember it is emotions that make a good wedding picture. Don’t get stuck up in thinking about how you appear and how the pictures are going to look. THAT is the photographer’s job.

9. Sit down with your love one after the wedding and look through the 100 to 150 different pictures taken ( the standard number of pictures photographers take at a wedding session) Look through them several times - put them away and look at them again. Let the Groom pick his favourite picture of the bride and vice versa. Take chances and dare to choose untraditional wedding photos.

10. Have in mind that it is usually not a problem to choose 2 or 3 different pictures styles for the thank you card. This makes it easier to customize the picture cards you send to your family and you know everyone gets a wedding picture that fits them.

About the Author

The author has been fascinated by weddings and beach weddings for many years.

There are few things as romantic as an outdoor wedding witnessing two happy people unite. Have a look at her wedding site http://www.your-florida-beachwedding-guide.com if you too are into romantic weddings.

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