Planning your wedding? Congratulations! If you're just getting started, you'll need to prioritize. Did you set the date? Do you have a budget? What about the guest list? Here is a timeline to help you get organized. Some important steps in the process include choosing your venue, selecting just the right wedding invitation, finding the perfect wedding photography package PLUS so much more.
Custom Wedding Invitations
2011 HOT WEDDING TRENDS
Vintage
One of the top wedding trends for the upcoming
year is vintage and retro-inspired with a modern twist. What's old is
new again. We'll see vintage wedding dresses with cap sleeves, beautiful
textures, ornate details.
Photography is taking a vintage spin as well, with wedding albums that
are reminiscent of the '70s. Draped textiles as backgrounds in a relaxed
setting are a big trend, as well as photo booths (actual and set areas) with draped-cloth backdrops.
In
2011, we'll continue to see more green, environmentally friendly
weddings. Think second-hand and vintage wedding dresses, LED lighting,
recycled paper invitations and programs,electronic save-the-dates and
rehearsal dinner
invitations. Food from local farms and providers. Give your guests green
wedding favors, like locally harvested honey, candles, preserves,
organic chocolate
bars from Endangered Species Chocolate, or locally grown seed packets.
Charity donations will continue to be a popular option instead of
traditional wedding favors, and more couples will be asking for
donations to their favorite charity instead of wedding gifts.
The
contemporary, modern wedding will still be big in 2011. Brides are
opting for non-traditional dress choices, such as beautiful hues instead
of the usual white or ivory, over one shoulder instead of strapless;
and short cocktail dresses (the little white dress) instead of a long
gown. Letting bridesmaids choose different styles of dresses all in one
color. Wedding color choices ranging from metallics to bold, bright
colors.This trend will continue through decor, as well, with couples
steering away from the customary 10-person round table and opting to mix
table shapes and sizes. They are also incorporating bright and bold
colors, cool lounge settings, and after parties. Choosing cupcakes
instead of a wedding cake.
The
trend is one type of flower hand tied. Brides wanting more glamorous
bouquets choose beads, brooches, jewel pins, pearls, crystal/rhinestone
picks, and monogrammed ribbon to dress up plain ribbon-wrapped stems and
blooms. With the continuing popularity of the beach and garden themes,
brides wanting a more rustic and natural look to their bouquet add
elements such as shells/starfish, feathers, berries and pinecones.
The
rose continues to be the most popular and elegant bouquet flower.
Lilies, peonies, hydrangeas, tulips and orchids represent the trendier
choices. Arrangements with a just-picked and looser casual look have
replaced the more tightly-bound bouquet shapes of previous seasons.
Vivid flower colors will continue in popularity.
"Do it yourself" is another wedding trend that we'll see this year. Originally brought on by the economy, this trend is here to stay because it not only saves money, but also adds a special something to the big day. Personalized touches and little details are very important; couples are incorporating their favorite interests, hobbies, places and even sports.
Social Media Influence
Social media is playing a big part in the wedding planning process. Couples will keep guests informed through wedding websites and posting updates about their plans on Facebook and Twitter. Posts such as "We booked the band today!"allow friends and family to feel like they are part of the planning.
Building on the idea of wedding photo booths, take it up a notch and create a confessional-style video booth for your guests to say a few words about you to the camera. You could even dress up your iPad as a guest book as the newest way for guests to "write" you well wishes. Post wedding, you can easily share your guest book online via YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr or Vimeo.
"One of the most fun (and often easiest) parts of developing a theme wedding is deciding the menu. From a traditional New England clambake to a spicy Southern barbecue, theme-wedding menus create a fun, exciting, and memorable event. It might even be the way you eat the food that stays in your guests' minds -- cracking crabs at a Maryland riverside wedding, or nibbling satay at a Thai-inspired city garden reception.
A Rat Pack cocktail reception is a cool new way to show your style. Couples can skip the sit-down dinner and go for more of a supper club-style cocktail party instead. Think big band music, heavy appetizers, and old-fashioned cocktails, like Manhattans, sidecars and martinis.
Cakes
"Blame it on the popularity of Top Chef: Just Desserts, Amazing Cakes and Cake Boss, but cake bakers and pastry chefs are churning out incredible desserts and wedding cakes with gourmet flavors and haute style.
Your entertainment doesn't only have to come in human form. Firework displays can be another tremendous example of entertainment, especially near the end of the festivities. If you're having an outdoor reception, pass out sparklers to all the guests. Ice sculptures are another popular form of wedding entertainment. While they basically just sit and melt, guests can become mesmerized by the beauty and intricate details of these sculptures, and they double as decorations.
Wedding Man Caves Blackjack tables, brandy bars, XBOX and stogies. The man cave has officially moved from the home to the wedding, so create your own and don't be surprised if you see all the male wedding guests in the new "groom's corner" at the reception. Food Truck Fun Waffles, tacos and dumplings -- oh yes! If you have a hunger for gourmet food trucks, embrace it wholeheartedly by requesting makeshift sidewalk carts during the cocktail hour or food trucks for the wedding after-party
Sources: The Knot, She Knows Weddings, Kori Ellis, Josh Gurvitz
YOU'RE ENGAGED! NOW WHAT?
First off, congratulations on your very exciting engagement! Your wedding will be a dream come true and what you've always imagined. Once the excitement calms down and you've told everyone, you need to start planning. The sooner the better! So, Wedding And Party Network is here to give you a few wedding planning tips that will help you get started. With these planning tips, your dream wedding will unfold right before you.
Beautiful Wedding Location Take Care Of Things In Advance -Once you have told everyone and things have calmed down a bit, immediately start planning. Staying on top of things is a must when planning your wedding. Sit down with your groom and decide on a date. That's the first thing you must do. Then, you can go from there. It's your wedding day, therefore you want it to be perfect. Well, start planning. Paperwork – Some brides maybe so wrapped up into planning their wedding that they forget about one main important detail. The paperwork. Yes, a lot of us aren't a fan of doing paperwork. However, it must be done, especially if you want to get married. Make sure to research what you need in your state or for your destination wedding. Every state is different and require different documentations and even blood tests. So, be prepared.
Finances – You may already know this and it seems like a business detail. However, knowing each others' finances is a very important detail. You will be making important decisions and big purchases together. We hate to be downers, but one of the top reasons for divorce is finances. So, you should be up front. Just take a moment with your future husband-to-be and lay out all your finances, student loans, debts, credit score and whatever else you may have. It'll be that much better for the both of you.
Wedding Exit Be Available – Don't forget about all the emergencies that can occur. Even AFTER the wedding, while you're on your honeymoon. Therefore, be available to handle all situations. If you've planned ahead, you most likely are ready for any emergency that may occur. Make an emergency guide for yourself or even your closet friends or family members. That way, they know how to handle the situation if you're not around. Being prepared never hurt anyone. Consider Your Guests – We know this is your wedding day, however, consider your guests. You sent out wedding invitations far enough in advance to know exactly who is coming.
Therefore, if you know someone who has an allergy towards peanuts, make sure they get a dish that is peanut free. Maybe you have a guest who is vegetarian, well plan ahead and let your caterer create them a meat free dish. If you are having an out-of-town wedding, make sure you provide them with some fun activities they can enjoy. Your guests are there for you, so you should be there for them too.
These 5 wedding planning tips will help you plan a smooth and well thought out wedding. You'll be ready for anything that comes your way. We want your wedding day to be everything you've dreamed of and it will be. Just remember, bring your unique style to your wedding day and enjoy!
This post is brought to you by Austin Wedding Planners.
A Guide to Wedding Party Favors
Author: Steven Barnhart
Wedding party favors are an important part of most weddings. Many couples do not realize just how important picking the right favor is or they overlook them altogether. Wedding favors are small gifts that a couple gives to guests which have a very special meaning to all who attend your wedding. Many wedding guests expect to receive a wedding favor and look forward to them. Most guests appreciate receiving a favor and enjoy them because they give guests a way to remember your special day for years to come. Wedding favors are also a great way for the wedded couple to say thanks to all of their guests and honor their presence. Picking the perfect wedding favor may seem like a challenging task, but if you consider a few things about your wedding you will easily be able to pick a great wedding favor that is also affordable. There are endless options when it comes to favors from picture frames, to plants, and even edible favors. Because there is no shortage of wedding favor ideas you should probably take into consideration the theme of your wedding, the season, and location, before you start looking at favors for your wedding. Some favors such as shells and potpourri are great for spring or beach weddings but would not fit as well in a church or winter wedding. The favors are usually given out during the reception by having them placed on each table or at one table in the entrance to the reception area where guests can take one as they enter. If you do place your wedding favors on the table, they can double as place cards if you personalize them. Giving out personalized favors by having them all in one location will force guests to hunt for theirs, which can be fun or turn frustrating. Where you place your favors is not as important as putting thoughtfulness into the favors you choose. You will want to choose a wedding favor that guests can continue to use for years and that will always remind them of your special day. Personalized favors with your wedding date and names are a good way to give guests something that they will always remember and cherish. Personalized wedding favors do not have to be expensive and can range form engraved wine glasses to personalized tins of candy. You should also consider your guests' tastes and personalities when selecting the favors for your wedding. Usually couples give everyone the same thing which is perfectly acceptable, but you should consider the tastes and preferences of the majority of your guests when picking out the favor. Try to give something that will be useful and appreciated. There are many great places to find favors for your wedding. Local party stores will usually have a good selection of wedding favors but for the best selection and usually prices you should also look online. There are many different companies that sell wedding favors online and it is a great place to find both ideas and the perfect wedding favors for your ceremony.
About the AuthorHaving a guide to wedding party favors can be very helpful with tips and suggestions to create the perfect wedding day! http://www.firstavenueweddingfavors.com/
Ketubah Buying Guide
Buying a ketubah can seem overwhelming. Designs. Texts. Personalization. How do you know where to start? Fortunately, we’ve designed an innovative, incredibly accessible site to help you on your way. Just follow our step-by-step guide, and you’ll find the perfect Ketubah in a snap.
1. Consult with your wedding officiant to determine which text option (Reform, Orthodox, Conservative, etc.) is right for you. Many officiants prefer or require a certain type of text - the Ketubah is a religious document and a binding legal contract - so make sure to ask them before you make your selection. 2. Once you’ve narrowed down your choice by text, think about what else might be important to you in your Ketubah. Have your heart set on a certain kind of artistic theme? Trying to stick to a budget? Need something in a hurry? Use our advanced searching to narrow down your browing to your own unique set of criteria. 3. After you’ve settled on a design and text combination, the next step is to decide if you’d like personalization. Personalization is the process of integrating your individual information - your names, the wedding date, the wedding location, etc. - seemlessly into the body of the Ketubah text, in a calligraphy style that matches the rest of the wording. Should you wish to omit this step, your Ketubah will arrive with blank spaces at the relevant points in the text, for your wedding officiant to fill our during the ceremony. 4. Select your final finishing touches. Expedited delivery? Print on canvas? Our easy drop-down menus will guide you through all of the options available on each Ketubah. A few clicks later, you’ll be through our automated, secure online checkout. 5. Shortly after you complete your checkout, you’ll get an email from us, confirming the details of your order. If you’ve decided on a Ketubah with personalization, the email will include a link to our online Personalization Wizard. This easy-to-use, step-by-step guide will allow you to enter in all your personalization information, in both English and Hebrew, and send it either to your wedding officiant for review, or directly to our staff. 6. Curious about the progress of your order? Log into your account on our website, click on “My Account”, and see the status of your Ketubah right online. Your information is continuously updated, so you can see just how far along your order has come. 7. As soon as your order has shipped out, we’ll send you an email with the anticipated delivery date. That way, you’ll know exactly when to keep an eye out. Before you know it, your Ketubah will be at your door!
This information, compliments of KetubahKetubah. Check their site to order your custom Ketubah.
Planning A Wedding On A Budget - Wedding Budgeting Tips For You
Planning
a wedding on a budget, by far is the easiest things, if you have some
presence of mind and responsibility towards your well earned money.
(Free-Press-Release.com) September 22, 2009 --
Planning a wedding
on a budget, by far is the easiest things, if you have some presence of
mind and responsibility towards your well earned money. Wedding is
certain an expensive event, even like buying your home. If you do not
plan properly, you are likely to confront a lifetime disaster after
wedding, and things can become sour. Therefore a wedding planning guide
is necessary.
Of course wedding planning guides, both in the form of books and
counseling agents are available in the virtual world, as well as in
your neighborhood. Therefore realize this budget planning is an important exercise, as important as choosing your bride. You can access more free wedding planning tips for free at http://www.weddingbudgetingtips.com.
Consider the following seven wedding budgeting tips
, before you plan out your wedding.
1. Make sure you have a set budget. Include in this budget, who is
going to meet which expenses. Take into account the money at your
disposal from your family, earmarked for the wedding, as well as the
amount you can spend. This will be your estimate for the budget, which
you should stick to.
2. Paying by credit card is a better option, for your services and
purchases. This will protect you from any possible closure of the
company before your goods are delivered, as credit cards do have
policies to ensure you get your money back. Click here for more tips
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