Wedding Congratulations

by Jo Mazak


Wedding Congratulations
Have you ever been to a wedding and hit a complete blank wall when it comes time for you to extend your congratulations and best wishes to the happy couple? Well, if you have, don't worry, you're not the only person to do so. Certain situations just tend to make your forget what you were going to say, and this is why keeping a small book of wedding congratulations can come in handy.
These can help you to get through even a difficult task such as making a wedding toast, all you need to do is to keep the relevant sayings in mind. But then again, that was the entire problem wasn't it, the fact that you couldn't keep any good wedding congratulations in your mind.
Some people will mumble something that passes for your generic congratulations and be done with it, but others will cast around in their brain to find something more fitting for the occasion and come up with odd things.
So at a time like that, don't try to find something positively genius to say, stick with the most basic of wedding congratulations, and move on. If you didn't do well, then only you will be aware of this fact, and you can later go through the book on wedding congratulations and sayings which you bought just the other day, and look longingly at all the things you could have said, but didn't.
The one thing that can be said about this, or indeed any other such situation, is that it gets decidedly easier as you go through a few of them, and you will find that eventually you can deliver a smooth, "Many happy congratulations!", with a straight face and an unwavering voice.
There are however, only a limited number of ways in which you can give wedding congratulations to a bridal couple and once you have one that suits you, you can keep using it, even going so far as to make variations of it when necessary.
As mentioned it keeps getting easier with practice, and if you feel really nervous of going up to the couple and giving them your best wishes, you can even practice in front of a mirror until you feel comfortable with yourself.
There are more people out there than you might even realize who have the same problem that you do and who feel nervous when they are thrust outside of their normal social environment and find that they have to do something they have never done before in their lives.
This is why a book of wedding congratulations and sayings can come in so handy. And if you can't find such a book near you, then you can always make use of something like the internet to help you find the sayings that you need.
About the Author
Discover the secret to amazing wedding speeches by signing up for a FREE 5-Part mini lesson here at Free Wedding Speech!

Thanks to Jo Mazak for this article.

Wedding Etiquette

by Jo Mazak


Wedding Etiquette
Some weddings can be excruciatingly formal and for the guests, this can mean an interminable wait for the dinner bell to be sounded, or for all the wedding speeches to be wrapped up nice and tidy. However, common courtesy demands that not only must the hosts of the wedding reception adhere strictly to any wedding etiquette they feel necessary to have in the wedding, but guests must do so as well.
There is nothing ruder than a person who is constantly fidgeting in plain view when the speeches are being given, or a person who is always looking at their watch. And just as there are unwritten rules of wedding etiquette which should be followed by wedding party and guests alike, there is wedding etiquette which also determines who gets seated where, who is asked to give a speech, and also in which order the speeches are delivered.
It is also true that traditionally, it is the father of the bride who is first asked to speak, and this is for the simple reason that since he is the person footing the bill, wedding etiquette demands that he do the honors and welcome everyone to wedding reception. It is also a gesture of honor which is directed at the father of bride, an acknowledgement of sorts for all that he has done.
The groom will usually follow the father of the bride in the speech department, and wedding etiquette demands that he thank his new father-in-law for the wonderful reception. There are also other types of wedding etiquette, other than that which you see used for speeches. These are all too easy to get confused with wedding traditions, but when you look closely at these, it is possible to differentiate between the two.
For instance, opening the dance floor to the guests is usually done by the bridal couple, and this not tradition per se, but wedding etiquette instead. Father and daughter having their customary dance, is not wedding etiquette, but simply tradition. Then you have the tradition of cutting the cake, throwing the bouquet etc. These are all traditions and can go any which way that you please.
Wedding etiquette on the other hand, demands certain things of you which needs to be fulfilled, like for instance having a receiving line for all the guests at the beginning of the reception. This is not only common courtesy, but also a part of wedding etiquette which must be fulfilled. Thanking the guests for coming to the reception, is also another such part of wedding etiquette that must be looked at.
As you can see there are a number of things that can be construed as wedding etiquette, and these can also be confused equally with wedding traditions. If you find that your wedding is drawing nearer and nearer, you can make a list of the things which are necessary for you to do, which can be construed as wedding etiquette, and which ones are traditions.
About the Author
Discover the secret to amazing wedding speeches by signing up for a FREE 5-Part mini lesson here at Free Wedding Speech!

Thanks to Jo Mazak for this article.

Wedding Toasts

by Jo Mazak


Wedding Toasts
Wedding toasts can be a nightmare of blunders, long windedness, and forced joviality. Or they can be a fun and interesting way for people to share their joy with the newly married couple, and make a memorable day, even more memorable. Or like I mentioned earlier, they can be an unmitigated disaster.
A lot I believe depends on the type of wedding that you're going to have. If it's a formal wedding, you have a reasonably good chance of keeping things under control and giving the mike over to those of the guests whom you have already invited to make a toast.
If however, you have a more informal occasion, you might not find it so easy to keep things under control, and your beloved Uncle Freddy who has had a one two many, might find the mike in his hands, in which case all you can do is to sit back and wait to see what happens.
On the other hand, you will find wedding toasts can be the life of the party so to speak. Having a slew of wedding toasts can become very boring, very fast, but if you can keep the can of worms firmly tamped down, you might find that you end up with a memorable few minutes from the people whom you love, and whom you have invited to share your special day together.
It should also be noted that wedding toasts can be said by anyone wanting to give their good wishes to the bridal couple, and if you're not on the list of people to give a toast but suddenly find yourself overwhelmed by the joy and happiness you're feeling and want to share it with everyone there are a few rules that you should follow to make your wedding toast a pleasant one.
And the very first thing that you need to do, is to keep it short. Wedding toasts are not wedding speeches, and chances are that the wedding speeches have already come and gone. And if not, don't worry there will be more than enough people who are there to make a wedding speech. So remember to keep it short, and sweet.
Be careful about what you say. Rude jokes and humiliating or potentially embarrassing anecdotes never go down well at such occasions. Keep things on an even keel, and remember that there is a wide array or ears listening in to what you're saying, and also remember that embarrassment never works in such situations.
Wedding toasts for the most part should be clean and fun, in keeping with the festive occasion, and should not bring any bad feelings on the part of anyone, least of all the newly married couple. And don't forget to raise your glass in toast, and to take a sip from your drink. Many people are so nervous about standing up to make the toast that they forget to do the actual toast!
About the Author
Discover the secret to amazing wedding speeches by signing up for a FREE 5-Part mini lesson here at Free Wedding Speech!

Thanks to Jo Mazak for this article.

The Romance Of A Beach Wedding

by Sharon Vaz


How romantic can a beach wedding ceremony be? What better way to say 'I love you' than with the sand running between your toes? It's all true; a beach wedding isbeautiful, romantic and picturesque. But beach wedding ceremonies have their problems too.
So where are you intending to have your beach wedding? Is it a Caribbean beach wedding or a Hawaii beach wedding or maybe your intending to have a Florida beach wedding? It doesn't really matter which divine tropical location you're going to have your ocean theme wedding at, they all have one thing in common. They are all warm to hot and that can play merry hell with your choice of beach wedding clothes. It's not much good wearing a really beautiful gown only to have hideous wet marks from heat induced sweat ruining the look and all the beach wedding photos. So wear something appropriate and pick the cooler morning or late afternoon for the beach wedding ceremony. Wear something light and loose in natural materials, for instance cotton, and for the men (who sweat more) suggest under vests to absorb the sweat and keep them feeling cooler and dryer during the beach wedding.
Wind And The Beach Wedding CeremonyRemember that a beach wedding is an outdoor wedding and therefore you are at the mercy of the elements. Mostly in the tropics, they are at least predictable and can be worked around. For instance remember it may well be windy so don't have things that are easily blown around as part of the d�cor of your beach wedding. And make sure that things like the centre pieces are heavy enough to stay where they are put. Use lovely heavy glass vases or add a layer of sand inside the containers to increase their weight. And you can outline the path to your beach wedding ceremony with stones or sea shells to give even more of a marine feeling to your beach wedding.
And don't forget to be prepared for the worst. Just in case the weather should turn to rain have a back up room in the venue which you can use so the wedding can happily proceed. Make sure the guests are fully informed of what is happening before the time arrives.
The Unity Sand CeremonyAnother beach wedding idea is to have the more traditional Unity Candle Ceremony replaced by the Unity Sand Ceremony. At your beach wedding, you can even scoop up the sand at your feet to use in the ceremony and as a permanent souvenir of the glorious beach where you had your beach wedding ceremony. It also solves the problem of the wind blowing the Unity Candle out.
The Unity Sand Ceremony is a ceremony a couple of minutes long during which the bride and groom pour sand into a Unity Vase from a separate container each and is really well suited to a beach wedding. This symbolizes their two separate lives coming together, being joined and continuing on as one. It is a simple, beautiful and heart felt ceremony. Other family members, particularly children of the couple, are also able to join in and feel part of the beach wedding ceremony.
The beach wedding site can be pretty noisy with wind, surf, birds and maybe other happy people if you are on a public beach. So ensure that there is some kind of public address system so you can be heard taking your vows.
Soft Sand and High HeelsSoft sand can be difficult for the elderly or disabled to walk on. And it can be a real challenge for high heels. For yourself consider sandals or bare feet for your beach wedding, it's wonderful feeling the sand squidging up between your toes. And for your guests, seriously consider getting some flooring for the seating and tables to prevent them from sinking into the sand.
Keep the beach wedding theme flowing through the food you serve. Use sea shells or abalone shells to serve seafoods in. Have a Hawaiian pit roast or a BBQ instead of a 'normal' meal. And for the cake have it laced with dark or heavy rum as they do in the West Indies.
We may have made the idea of a beach wedding sound as if it has insurmountable problems. But this is not really so. At least no more so than any wedding has challenges to overcome. With a little planning your beach theme wedding can be a true highlight of your life.
About the Author
Sharon Vaz is founder of http://www.unitysandceremony.net, an authority site dedicated to helping brides plan an unforgettable Unity Sand Ceremony.

Thanks to Sharon Vaz for this article.

Wedding Cakes Don`t Come Cheaper Than This? The No Bake Cake

by Kacy Carr


Wedding Cakes - Completion of wedding planning aside from choosing the bridal gown, gold bands, hiring wedding cars is the wedding cake. Are wedding cakes essential pieces, "yes and no"? Traditionally guests expect a slice of the action. If you are on a budget then remember that elaborately designed wedding cakes filled with rich ingredients can take a huge slice out of your bank account. If the wedding cake is to grace the table as a centre piece, then bear in mind that cheap wedding cakes are just as tasty as an expensive one - if not more scrumptious.
The wedding cake aside from the blushing bride herself will attract a lot of attention, coming in at second best, however, sweet toothed folk may beg to differ, and their reason for this assumption is they can bite into the cake. Choosing a cheap or expensive wedding cake can be difficult due to numerous amount of cake designs available. Are you counting the pennies, if so be extra careful not to fall into temptation all because one cake has more cream icing or edible rosebuds on top. Wedding cakes are specially decorated for this purpose to tempt you. An extra tier an extra cherry or sultana can up the cost.
You can save a lot of money (hundreds of pounds) by baking the wedding cake yourself or ask a friend. Your friend can donate her time baking as a wedding gift. This is a good thing for both parties meaning your friend will not have to go in search of an ideal wedding gift for you and the groom, hence her services rendered will save you money to spend on other wedding essentials. However if you have decided that you are prepared to bake the cake - then so be it. Practice makes perfect and perfect saves money.
Tradition nowadays seen at most wedding ceremonies "is not seen" couples who marry today are looking to do something different on their wedding day like serving sponge baked cupcakes or jam ring doughnuts. Personal preference prevails here. Consider ordering a small wedding cake, if there is not enough to go round the guests then serve slices of sheet cake as a substitute, they will never know. Wedding cakes are cheaper bought from a shop other than one purely directed towards baking wedding cakes
Do not buy a wedding cake that is too large for your reception. Do your maths and take into account how many guests will be attending the reception and plan your cake accordingly. Weddings are expensive occasions but don't have to be if you put your thinking cap on. How about putting on the crafty cap and have the most delicious and beautiful looking - as many tiers as you like wedding cake of your dreams sitting on the table at no extra cost.
Are you aware that most wedding cakes displayed in shop windows are not the real thing? That's right card board cut outs. Now put that thinking cap on and take it from there.
About the Author
CongratulationsElegant Weddings http://www.wedding-organizing.comBridal Beauty http://www.spotthepimple.comBlushing Brides http://www.your-wedding-planning-help.com

Thanks to Kacy Carr for this article.

Travel Registries: The Latest Trend for Wedding Gifts

by Chris Robertson


These days, chances are that betrothed couples already have all of the blenders, towels, dishes, silverware, and other household items they need. With the swing toward men and women getting married later in life, most couples either have individual homes that they'll combine once they're married, or they have been building their own trousseau while living together. Because they're often footing the bill for all or part of their wedding, the one thing couples don't have is money for the honeymoon of their dreams. That's why the latest trend in bridal registries is the honeymoon travel registry.

Perhaps a couple wants to go on a cruise, vacation in Europe, or enjoy a Disney vacation. They may dream of four-star hotel accommodations or flying first class on their favorite airline. Whatever their fantasy honeymoon, more and more couples are opting to register with an online travel agency.

With a bridal travel registry, the couple can have their dream honeymoon while wedding guests can be assured that their gifts will combine to form memories that will last a lifetime. And, the process of both registering and giving is easy and straightforward.

Essentially, a honeymoon bridal registry allows the couple to set up a personal registry web page. If the couple already knows their honeymoon destination, they can reveal that on their web page and select items to include in their gift registry. For example, if the couple is traveling to Hawaii for their honeymoon, they may decide they'd like to go to a Hawaiian luau and list two luaus (one for the bride and one for the groom) in their registry. They may also select a romantic candlelight dinner, breakfast in bed, and a hotel room upgrade. They can include entertainment and activities, such as scuba diving lessons, a helicopter ride, horseback riding, and snorkeling. The couple can even add travel items like inter-island flights, limousine service, and a rental car.

Similarly, if the bride and groom have decided that London is their destination of choice, they can include an English afternoon tea in their travel registry, dinner for two at Jamie Oliver's restaurant, a medieval banquet, and a Harrods' shopping spree. Perhaps they would like tickets to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, London theatre tickets, or a tour of Shakespeare's Globe Theater. If so, they can add those items to their travel registry as well.

For wedding guests, a honeymoon travel registry makes it easy to find a personal, yet remarkable gift. Giving a sunset cruise, for example, is much more memorable than a set of mixing bowls. Gift givers can even opt to send the couple a customized gift card, or print one out and bring it to the wedding.

A honeymoon signifies the beginning of a couple's life together, and is a welcome relief from the stresses of planning their wedding. Having a honeymoon travel registry can help make the couple's dreams come true and give them memories to last a lifetime.

About the Author
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies.For tips/information, click here: Travel
Visit Majon's Travel directory.

Thanks to Chris Robertson for this article.

Tips for Selecting Wedding Musicians

by Mrs. Party... Gail Leino


"Planning a wedding celebration can be crazy, fun, and overwhelming all at once! So many decisions, so little time. Menu? Decorations? Flowers? Wedding Invitations? Bridal Showers? Music? Lets focus on the music and share suggestions to ensure a successful wedding celebration.
Things happen so just keep cool and let the wedding professionals help you by virtue of their expertise! If you are a do it yourselfer, allow extra time for the learning curve. Just relax if stuff goes wrong like the ring bearer forgetting the ring up on the 16th floor of the hotel room or the ceremony starting 35 minutes late because Uncle Bob took a wrong turn driving to the church.
Always trust a professional. Remember: You are planning one wedding. Professional help plan thousands. Many people are looking for value today and may believe that because Aunt Bertha plays the piano, she'd be perfect as your cocktail pianist. Aunt Bertha may know "Love Me Tender" ~ but do you want to hear it over and over? Don't disappoint your guests or yourself by cutting corners? If she wants to play as her gift to you, invite her to play one or two songs. Let Aunt Bertha be a guest. Leave the music to the professional who has a wide repertoire for everyone. They are able to take requests, play polished, professional arrangements ~ and do it all while smiling and carrying on a conversation without taking their hands off the keys.
For a beautiful, elegant, and classy wedding ceremony and reception use "live" music. Keep the CDs in the car. If you are absolutely on the tightest budget ~ you can hire a solo musician for what two dinner entrees or a lovely flower arrangement would cost. Do not cut corners with your ambience. Music sets the tone for your day. Your guests WILL notice. Keep this thought in mind for your wedding showers, rehearsal dinners, and your post nuptial champagne brunches.
Trust your friends for referrals that they have dealt with for their bridal showers. If you don't know of anyone, the facility where you are planning your event usually has a list of preferred Musicians for specializing in Wedding Ceremonies, Receptions, and Corporate Events. Ask your friend and the venue about Bands, Orchestras, DJ's, Florists, Photographers, and Caterers. Just ask a Catering Coordinator for their list of Professional Musicians; this lists of recommended vendors most likely did not PAY to be listed! Anyone can get listed in a phone book or a wedding magazine for a fee. Recommendations cost nothing but are tremendously valuable resources.
Brides planning Catholic wedding ceremonies need to consult with the Musical Director of their local churches before selecting musicians. It is common practice for the church to REQUIRE you utilize their "in house" musicians and will not allow you to bring in "outside" vendors. Remember when planning your wedding, always trust a professional with a proven reputation. Enjoy your special day!"
About the Author
Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority for the best party supplies with clever themes and fun facts for character birthdays, holidays and theme parties. Plus, ideas for personalized and birthday party favors to make your event unforgettable.

Thanks to Mrs. Party... Gail Leino for this article.

Wedding Planning - Advice, Budget, Organization

by Mrs. Party... Gail Leino


"So you're engaged, now it's time to go on with the wedding planning. It can be a huge project costing a lot of money. What are you going to do?
Step one, no hyperventilating. Take a few deep breaths into a paper bag and remind yourself that you've got months, maybe even years before the wedding. You also have a lot of relatives giving advice on dates, florists and reception halls. While this may be annoying, these relatives are actually a valuable resource. Try redirecting their advice with specific questions asking what it was about their weddings they liked best and most importantly what it is that nearly ruined them. I once knew a woman who spent a lot of money on her wedding but neglected to keep the liquor in a guarded location. At the end of the wedding reception some staff stole several cases of unwatched, unused alcohol that she had to pay the caterer for. It's the little things we forget that can upturn a carefully planned event.
Step two; decide just how much you and your soon-to-be spouse are willing to pay for this wedding event. There are ways to cut costs. Outdoor receptions bring people back to the beauty of nature without the high cost of reception halls, but be careful not to schedule on a day when it's likely to rain. It might be helpful to look up specific dates in almanacs detailing the weather for previous years.
Step three; organize, organize, organize. Set up a timeline of major events that you need to have accomplished before the wedding day like the bridal shower. That way if something is running behind a few months early you can adjust your schedule. Creating a down to the minute timeline for the day of the wedding is important too. As it can help prevent last second mix-ups."
About the Author
Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority for the best party supplies with clever themes and fun facts for character birthdays, holidays and theme parties. Plus, ideas for personalized and birthday party favors to make your event unforgettable.

Thanks to Mrs. Party... Gail Leino for this article.

Wedding planning: how to save on flower bills

by Nathalie Fiset


Wedding planning can be stressful and the bill easily adds-up pretty fast. Aside from the catering and music, flowers can be a big part of the spending when planning a wedding. There are ways to save on flower spnding when planning a wedding while still getting the most gorgeous wedding a bride always dreamed of. Here are some tips on how you can save on flower spending for a wedding.
Wedding has the power of increasing the prices of everything and anything that goes into the preparation of the celebration. When a future bride steps into a flower shop and asks for prices for flowers for her wedding, the odds are she will be billed an increased amount. The first tip here is to not mention that the flowers you are looking for are for a wedding. Simply mentioning that the flowers are for a celebration or an anniversary will keep the prices to a reasonable range.
When choosing flowers for a wedding, the future bride must inquire of what flower is in season, Buying the flower that is in season at the moment of the wedding will ensure that the price will be kept within a reasonable range. Furthermore, selecting a bouquet that is of reasonable size has the power to limit the expenses to a great account. Adding-up a little flower here and there in the bouquets can make a dramatic difference in the overall bill for the wedding.
Synthetic flowers can also also be a valuable alternative to buying expensive bouquets that might look good during the wedding but will increase the overall bill.
When buying flowers for a wedding there are items that cannot be overlooked. First, there is the bride's bouquet which should be splendid as it is going to be on every picture. It should also be strong and withhold the traditional throwing of the bouquet and sometimes the riot that follows.When buying the flowers for a wedding, planning in advance will help the future bride and groom to shop around and find the best deal for what they are looking for. The differences in prices can be surprising between one florist to the other, one having made a special deal with a gross provider.
Above all, when planning a wedding, the future bride and groom should always keep in mind that the size of the bouquets and the kind of flowers do not matter much if they truly love each other. In the long run. Long after their flowers will have shrunk and disappeared, true love will last a lifetime to those newly weds who really love each other.
About the Author
For more information on acne please go to:http://www.the-perfect-weddings.com/http://www.the-perfect-weddings.com/gift-online-perfect-wedding.htmlhttp://www.drnathaliefiset.com

Thanks to Nathalie Fiset for this article.

Wedding Planners - Should You Hire One?

by Stephen Badiali


Many couples wonder if they should hire a wedding planner to help plan and run their wedding. Planning a wedding is probably one of the most stressful times of your life, and it is very easy for couples to feel overwhelmed with the amount of information that is available.
When planning a wedding there are some very important decisions that need to be made. There are also many different tasks that need to be completed leading up to the wedding day and during the wedding.
Wedding planners can be an important part of your wedding in many ways. Below is a sample of some of the ways a wedding planner can help.
Wedding planners can:

• Take the business side of the wedding out of your hands by reviewing your contracts and negotiating with vendors to get the best deal available. They can also handle making payments to the vendors and giving out tips at the end of the reception.


• Recommend reliable, highly rated wedding vendors. There are many wedding vendors out there, and wedding planners can recommend the ones that are proven and reliable. Instead of spending hours researching wedding vendors, wedding planners can provide you with a list of preferred vendors.


• Save you many hours of time. The average wedding takes almost 300 hours to plan. Can your time be better used for other activities such as making more money?


• Allow you to enjoy a stress-free wedding. Wedding can be stressful. Let a wedding planner handle the difficult aspects of your wedding so you can enjoy more time with you family and friends.


• Provide wedding planning ideas and guidance. Being creative is one of the requirements for being a good wedding planner. Rely on them for wedding theme ideas and guidance on all aspects of your wedding.

While wedding planners can be a very important part of your wedding, they might not be right for everyone. Here are three reasons why you should NOT hire a wedding planner:
1) You are a total control freak and have to be involved on every small detail of planning your wedding.
2) You have friends and family with a lot of extra time on their hands that are willing to donate their personal time to help you plan and run your wedding.
3) Your budget is so tight that you aren't sure if you can even afford to have food at your wedding.
If the three reasons above don't apply to you, then you may want to consider hiring a wedding planner.

About the Author
Stephen Badiali is the owner of Wedding Ideas Guide. Visit 10 Reasons To Hire A Wedding Planner for more information about wedding planners.

Thanks to Stephen Badiali for this article.