Archive for June, 2010

Planning a Vintage Wedding

Jun

A Celebration of Times Past: Planning a Vintage Wedding

In 1840, the pageantry of the American wedding took off, thanks to England’s Queen Victoria, who quickly captivated onlookers around the world. She had thrown one of the most elaborate weddings the world had ever seen up to that time, and it was only natural for her contemporaries to emulate her. Weddings soon became events for everyone to enjoy and were no longer limited to just the couple and their families. They were extravagant celebrations of love, life, and happiness.

Before Victoria, weddings were simpler affairs. The sweet strains of Lohengrin were soon overpowered by DJs and bands, and beautiful, handmade nose-gays were eclipsed by bursting, colorful bouquets, among other things. For today’s bride, toning down what’s already an over-the-top affair is made appealing with the resurgence of the vintage wedding, a nod to nuptials of the past. Yet, there are multiple avenues to take when considering a vintage wedding theme; fortunately, there are also countless websites and books devoted to the subject.

As with anything, you can take inspiration from the past and carefully intertwine it with modern ambience to create a blend of old and new, or you can host a blowout vintage wedding bash that replicates the past to a T. The choices are endless!

Refining the Vintage Wedding Theme

Dress/Accessories: Finding the perfect dress is the goal of every bride. For those hoping to wear a vintage wedding gown to their ceremony, the search can be somewhat more complicated. If you live in large metropolitan city, there are likely quite a few vintage clothing or consignment stores that you can check out. Online browsing/shopping is always a good alternative, and if you do purchase anything, your local tailor can easily handle most alteration needs.

You can also opt for modern wedding dresses that have vintage vibes, such as mermaid or trumpet styles. Though, of course, when the elegant Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier in 1956, she chose a beautiful, full-skirted gown in ivory. The point here is to stick with flowing, high quality fabrics and classic embellishments that keep with the vintage wedding theme.

As far as shoes, jewelry, and veils, many of these items are also available online, either in their original vintage form or as modern reproductions. Your mother or grandmother may even have some pieces lying around that you can use to round out the vintage wedding theme.

Music: Undoubtedly, there are bands in your area that specialize in old-time hits or, at the very least, jazz standards. Some larger cities might even have mock big bands that can perform at your reception. There are a couple ways you can go about this: consider having the band greet guests on the lawn, in the style of an old garden party, or create a faux bandstand at the front of the reception venue to feature the band in all its glory.

To get guests excited about the wedding theme, before the band comes on, have a victrola or phonograph that you’ve rented or purchased piping music throughout the reception venue. It will set the stage for the coming attractions!

Food: Weddings in the past have traditionally been sit-down dinners, though you don’t have to follow this when planning a vintage wedding. Offerings weren’t nearly as diversified as today, and the usual fare consisted of various meats, salads, and fruits. Occasionally, brides also held pot-lucks, a way to get everyone involved in the festivities.

Selecting your menu can certainly play off these more traditional choices, but you can also mix and match. Pair old favorites with some new choices, and be creative! In terms of the cake, the flavor of choice was always buttercream. Obviously, white cake is still the reigning champ of wedding cakes, but if you decide to go with chocolate, red velvet, or the like, you can have your cake decorated with vintage flair – pearls, beads, feathers, lace, and other trimmings that meld with your wedding theme.

Pictures: As with your music, finding a photographer who specializes in snapping pictures with an ‘old-timey’ feel is not necessarily vital, but a consideration in your search. Certainly, the photographer can take pictures as usual, and revise certain elements when he’s back at his studio. Perhaps you’d like black and white or sepia-toned pictures – that’s doable. Maybe you want a crackled finish – sure. Get to know your photographer and his capabilities! Look at portfolios before hiring anyone, and you’re sure to find a photographer who can carry out your wishes for great ‘vintage’ wedding pictures.

Lighting: The right light is important for any wedding! Regardless of the time of day your reception takes place, the lighting you choose should foster both warmth and invitation. Elaborate chandeliers, candles housed in extravagant candelabras, and other sources of ambient light are ideal for a vintage wedding theme.

Warm up reception tables with centerpieces surrounded by candles, or purchase multiple mini-chandeliers and hang them around the appetizer tables, gift tables, or in the bathrooms. Milk-glass lanterns/lamps were also a popular choice of lighting; they provide a soft glow that’s unequaled.

A New Take on the Classics

A vintage wedding theme allows you and your guests to re-discover the beauty and elegance of the past. However you choose to incorporate these elements into your vintage wedding, just remember — have fun! From birdcage veils and quaint petit-fours to jazz standards and a 1940s getaway vehicle, there are multiple ways to make the ceremony and reception unique to you. Plus, a vintage wedding theme can be a lot of fun for everyone involved! They’re a great way to re-invent the past, learn a little history, and infuse your ceremony and reception with some wonderful, old-fashioned glamour.

About the Author

In 2006, Cherie Johnson blended her love of weddings with a business model to start Creative Wedding Favors, the premier site for customizable anniversary, baby and bridal shower, graduation, quinceañera, and wedding favors. Her wedding ideas have also benefited readers of many websites, including Women Of, Wedding Lenox, and The Wedding Guide. Before establishing Creative Wedding Favors, Cherie worked as a professional wedding photographer, capturing all the special moments of the nuptials and ceremony. Visit www.CreativeWeddingFavors.com to find fun, festive favors for any event.

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What Are Seal and Send Wedding Invitations

Jun

If you are looking for unique and affordable, seal and send wedding invitations may be your choice. Their all-in-one design has some very appealing features and benefits that make it economical, eco-friendly, convenient and time-saving. What more can you ask for in a wedding invitation design.

Here are some attributes of seal and send wedding invitations:

All ensemble items can be included in one simple invitation piece.
The seal n send invitations easily fold up into their own self-mailing pieces using pre-marked folding lines and are then fastened by clear or decorative seals eliminating the need for mailing envelopes. This saves time by not having to stuff and address inner and outer envelopes.
The response card is attached at the bottom with a perforation for easy removal and return by guests. Since it is postcard size, no return envelope is needed and the return postage you affix is at the postcard rate which is cheaper than regular first class.
Pricing typically includes both the return address printed on the outside when mailing the invitations and also the return mailing address for the response postcards.

There are many beautiful designs of seal and send wedding invitations from classic to contemporary. There is even a style now that is larger in width so it not only has the response postcard attached at the bottom but also a smaller sized reception card that can also be removed by guests if they so choose.

The seal and send style can also be your choice for other events for which you will need to collect RSVPs for accurate seating and food preparations. This design could be used for rehearsal dinners, post-wedding receptions, or anniversary celebrations as well as wedding invitations.

Being true to their name, seal and send invitations are all-in-one invites that are easy to fold, seal and send to your wedding guests.

Now that you know all about them, see how seal and send wedding invitations (also known as seal n send) actually look in various designs and colors. You can also sign up to receive a FREE Guide with tips to prepare you for the entire wedding invitation process at www.PrintedCreationsWeddingStore.com.

About The Author: Sara Haese is the owner of www.PrintedCreationsWeddingStore.com where you’ll find a great online selection of both traditional and contemporary wedding invitations. Visitors can also sign up to receive her FREE Wedding Invitation Guide.

Posted in Invitations | 1 Comment »

Popping the Question – A Guide to Wedding Proposals

Jun

The time has come — you’re ready to ask your best girl to marry you and make it official. Unfortunately, Hollywood has brainwashed us all into thinking that popping the question has to be over-the-top and perhaps even expensive. Yes, it would seem that most of us girls want elaborate wedding proposals, just so we can race home and tell our girlfriends all about it.

In reality, popping the question should be an intimate moment that is special to both of you. Whether you decide to ask her during a quiet dinner for two or propose in front of thousands of baseball fans, choosing the right spot and ambiance is important when you ask for her hand.

Unless you know your girlfriend will appreciate a flashy proposal, keeping it romantic between just the two of you is the best approach, one she will remember long after a public proposition. Before asking her to marry you, use this list of tips and hints to dream up fabulous wedding proposals that leave her speechless.

The Dos and Don’ts of Wedding Proposal Ideas

Personalized wedding proposals: No girl wants a canned version of a tired, old proposal. Above all, don’t do anything you’ve seen in the movies no matter how much she swooned. This is your opportunity to make it special for her and show her that you know and love her! When the time comes for popping the question, choose her favorite spot, as long as it’s quiet, uncrowded, and romantic. She wants a magical day/night that she can share again and again, so it should be memorable. And never just say, “Will you marry me?” Tell her why you want her to marry you; personalize your proposal and let her know why she is so special to you!

Make the ambiance romantic: Most guidelines on wedding proposals agree that no matter how big a sports fan your girlfriend is, asking her to marry you at a game is probably not the ideal way to go about things. After popping the question, there is no time to reflect or even whisper sweet nothings to her. Keep the chaos to a minimum, so that the two of you can properly discuss this momentous occasion. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t ask her at a sports game – maybe she’s the type of girl who would enjoy a thousand sets of eyes on her when you ask.

Furthermore, this doesn’t mean you have to focus on popping the question over candlelight, but the locale should be – at least – semi-secluded, away from loud restaurant music, gawking crowds, and family. (Always remember that asking her in front of her family or yours adds unneeded stress when popping the question.)

Show a little respect: When discussing potential wedding proposals, you’ll probably meet countless people who think asking her parents for her hand is lame and outmoded. Maybe, but it shows you’re responsible and respectful of her parents and family. Sure, it’s not easy to discuss such a big step, but her parents will remember that you approached them long after. Plus, you don’t have to ask for her hand per se – use it as a way to encourage communication between the two newly merging families. It’s a great way to start working on your in-law relationships!

Make it a surprise: You’ve undoubtedly discussed marriage prior to popping the question. The only thing that should come as a surprise is when you actually ask her to marry you. Previous discussions of merging your lives, including evaluating what’s important to both of you in life and love, is vital to the success of your marriage. If you haven’t talked about marriage prior to the proposal, you may want to brace yourself for a quizzical look followed by a hesitant maybe.

Choosing the ring: Please don’t come unprepared to the proposal. Many women expect to have a ring on this night. It’s not that we need something flashy and expensive to make it real; it’s just that it helps cement your commitment and lets us know you’re ready to take the plunge.

However, if your girl is the type who wants to pick and/or design her own ring, you should have discussed marriage well in advance. She knows it’s coming, and is happy to say yes without hardware in hand. But just take her ring shopping as soon as possible after popping the question!

Wedding Proposals from the Heart

Asking your girlfriend to marry you is an exciting time! Sure, you may get nervous, but practicing those all important words in advance will help to alleviate some of those jitters. Don’t worry if things go awry — remember what you’re there to do – ask the love of your life to commemorate your commitment to each other!

Wedding proposals are a great way to incorporate what your love means to the both of you and should be as unique as the two of you. Cherish the time and make it special!

About the Author

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Guide to the Ultimate Wedding Vows

Jun

Todd and I experienced the ultimate beach wedding on March 11, 2007. We found the perfect destination, the perfect music, the perfect flowers, the perfect dress, wrote the perfect vows and exchanged the perfect rings for us to create our dream wedding. We want to share our experience so you can create your own ultimate wedding.

Creating the ultimate dream wedding does not have to be difficult, but it does take knowing what you want and what is important to both the bride and the groom.

Todd and I spent a lot of time writing our complete wedding ceremony. We did not just write the vows. We wrote the complete ceremony from opening to introduction of the bride and groom and selected music to compliment each facet of the wedding from the prelude to the closing music.

The major elements of a wedding are universal with a greeting, exchange of wedding vows, exchanging of the rings, a reading or blessing, and the pronouncement of the couple. However each element can be customized from ceremony to ceremony.

You do not have to write the entire wedding ceremony to create your ultimate dream wedding, but we do suggest you review the major elements of the ceremony and customize as appropriate. For example, we used a reading from the book of Corinthians in our opening, and we edited a reading from Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward from 1958 as our first reading.

Your wedding vows are an expression of your love and devotion witnessed by family and friends and God. And in order to create your ultimate dream wedding, you need to ensure the vows are memorable and meaningful to you. We have a collection of sample wedding vows on OurUltimateWedding.com from traditional wedding vows, to various religious vows, to our very own custom vows to help you get started.

As an example, here are the vows my husband wrote for me.

Wedding Vows – Groom
I, (Groom), take you (Bride ) to be my
Best friend and My True Love
The One I Laugh With
The One I Live Life With
The One I Want To Grow Old With

You Give Me Hope, Strength, and Courage

You are My World
The Sun, the Stars, and the Sky

I promise to Love, Honor, and Cherish You
Through all of our years
And Through All that Life May Bring

We want to share our experience so you can create your own ultimate wedding. We created OurUltimateWedding.com to help brides and grooms create their own ultimate wedding for a lifetime.

About The Author: Todd and Amy Huston planned their ultimate beach wedding and created OurUltimateWedding.Com to share their experience with others. The website offers tips and services to plan the ultimate dream wedding.

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Do I Really Need a Wedding Video

Jun

Your wedding day will be a blur to you and your parents. You plan the many details for months, if not years, but your wedding day goes by so fast that you will miss a large part of it.

A wedding video is like a “time machine”. It lets you relive your wedding day as often as you like, anytime you like. As a fellow videographer put it, “It let’s you attend your own wedding at your leisure without the stresses and distractions of the day.” It is also a significant and important “living” document for your families, your children, and grandchildren. Some couples don’t realize just how important their wedding video will become until they experience the loss of a loved one that attended their wedding.

I Want a Wedding Video but I Have a Friend With a Camcorder
Some couples use a friend or family member to videotape their wedding day. Would you have a friend or family member take all of your wedding photographs? Probably not.

There are numerous stories of people running out of tape or batteries, not shooting important activities, and taking shaky or bad footage. Using a friend or relative can cause hard feelings and ruin relationships if your video is poorly done or not done at all. Also, that person can’t enjoy themselves at your wedding while they are videotaping it.

A wedding video is a movie of your wedding day, a lasting memory that contains 30 pictures every second and includes the timeless sites and sounds of every important event that took place on your special day. A professional wedding video should tell the story of your wedding day. Using creative camera work, a keen attention to detail, and artistic editing using music and the right blend of effects and transitions, the professional wedding videographer should produce a video you will watch often and be proud to show others.

I’m Having a Photographer So I Don’t Need a Video
Both your photographs and your wedding video are of equal importance. You can’t frame your wedding video or carry it with you in your purse or wallet to show a friend.

But, you can’t look at a photograph and hear your marriage vows, see a tear as it rolls down your cheek, or relive the sights, sounds, and emotions you felt as your dad walked you down the aisle or your first dance as husband and wife.

Photography and videography are both artistic expressions and vary from artist to artist. It is important to view the work of each and meet one-on-one with the person(s) that will be producing your photographs and your wedding video. Make sure that their style and personalities match your expectations.

How Much Will It Cost?
There is a misconception that your wedding video should be less expensive than your photographs. The training and experience are equally extensive, the equipment used by both is costly, the time spent producing a professional wedding video takes longer than producing your photographs. Your video is a movie of your wedding day with sound.

A professional videographer should attend your rehearsal to meet the Officiant, become familiar with the order of activities, and offer ideas and assistance to improve the video
A professional videographer will invest around $20,000 or more in equipment plus training and experience
Typical wedding day coverage includes two cameras with operators that shoot almost continuously for five hours or more
Your wedding video will take 30 to 50 hours or more to edit to transform the raw footage into a smoothly flowing story of your wedding day
And, unlike Steven Spielberg or even your photographer, your videographer has only one take to capture your wedding day activities. The ceremony or special events can’t be stopped and done over if something isn’t perfect.

Your wedding videographer must be the:

producer
director
lighting technician
sound person
cinematographer
editor

They must perform all of these jobs well to produce the wedding video that you hope for and deserve. Pricing varies depending on experience, services offered, time spent, etc. Choose a videographer based on how their work makes your feel when you see it then discuss pricing based on what it will take to produce your personal video memory.

Couples tell us that the best money they spent was on their wedding video and are so happy they made the decision to have one.

When Should I Book a Videographer?
As with your first choice for your ceremony, reception, and other vendors the best wedding videographers will be booked first. You should meet with videographers as you would photographers, if not earlier in your planning process. There are fewer videographers than there are photographers. Eight months to one year prior to your day is not too early.

Do I Really Need a Wedding Video?
It’s up to you. Your wedding day will only happen once in your life. Don’t regret not having your precious memories preserved in a video that you can see and relive over and over.

Posted in Videography | 1 Comment »

Old-Fashioned Wedding Traditions Coming Back Into Style

Jun

Everything Old is New again. In today’s weddings, there has been a tremendous shift towards the traditional, bringing back the rituals and choices that up until now were considered ‘out of style.’

“Brides and grooms love the symbolism of these old-world traditions, which got lost in the past five years in favor of personalizing receptions and make them ‘a show,” says Sharon Naylor, author of 1000 Best Secrets For Your Perfect Wedding and a resident wedding expert at www.PashWeddings.com. “Now, they’re back, as a matter of personal choice made by the bride and groom who are determined to build their weddings not by what’s ‘in,’ but by what says ‘our wedding.’ And for so many, it’s the same traditions their parents had at their weddings.”

Here, we’ve collected the top ten old-fashioned traditions that have made a comeback, ones that brides and grooms love to experience and that guests love to see as a touching reminder of their own weddings:

There is a return to the big, formal wedding with over 150 guests. According to The Wedding Report, a national survey of the wedding industry, 57% of weddings are traditional, while only 19% are casual now. And the average number of wedding guests is 167.
Brides and grooms are choosing the traditional, formal invitation of black print on simpler white or ecru card stock. While there are still plenty of color and design options out there, wedding couples say they love the look of the classic bridal invitation. They may add an ornate monogram as a modern touch, but the invitation itself is an homage to the traditional wedding etiquette of invitations.
Wedding couples are choosing to have a receiving line after the ceremony. For the past few years, the bride and groom have opted to skip the receiving line and rush to get their photos taken before they miss too much of the cocktail hour. Now, they’re scheduling in a delay to the start of the cocktail party to allow them the time for a traditional receiving line where they greet their guests properly, introduce their new spouse or their parents to their guests, and accept congratulations right in the freshest moment.
The father-daughter dance is back, as well as the mother-son dance. For a short period of time, brides and grooms chose to skip this spotlight dance, but it’s back now. The songs are custom-selected to reflect a special time in the family, not just a sentimental song. For instance, at a recent wedding, the groom and his mother chose to dance to Johnny Mathis’s version of “On Broadway,” since they cherished the long-ago memories of the groom playing the drums in the high school marching band, and that was the ‘big’ song during his performing days. They danced to half of the song, and then they invited all of the groom’s marching band friends (including his sisters who were on the flag squad during those high school years) to join them on the dance floor.
The bouquet toss is back. Brides have decided that they still want to throw their bouquet to their single friends, and if they’re short on single friends – which was part of the reason for this rituals decline in past years – they invite all of the female guests onto the dance floor to catch the bouquet for luck, not a ‘next to marry.’
The garter toss is back as well, with the bride positioning the garter just below knee level for a classier retrieval. We no longer have that ‘disappearing under the skirt’ gimmick.
Guests are given the chance to dance with the bride and groom during a song or two, but there is no ‘dollar dance’ as in decades past where each guests had to give the bride a dollar bill to earn a dance. Today’s couples want the chance to dance, even briefly, with as many guests as possible, but they don’t want the dollar bills stuffed into their outfits.
Even with photojournalistic styles, where the photographer captures the events of the day, brides and grooms are skipping the ‘no posed photos’ decision and going back to the practice of getting a great range of bridal portraits. They’re asking for posed shots of themselves, with their parents and families, with their bridal parties, individual shots of their bridal parties, and shots of them with all of their wedding guests. The return to old-fashioned tradition shows a wish to capture these relationship shots over action shots during the reception.
Brides and grooms have returned to not seeing each other before the ceremony. In the past few years, couples skipped this superstition to ‘get things done’ for the wedding. Now, they assign their families or wedding coordinator the tasks, and they steer clear of one another until that big moment at the start of the ceremony.
Brides are asking their fathers to walk them down the aisle, and they give the honor of lighting the unity candle to the mothers. While the equality trend has many brides opting to have both parents walk them down the aisle as well, we’re seeing fewer brides walking down the aisle on their own. If they don’t have parents at the wedding, they will ask an uncle, or their own children, to escort them down the aisle. It’s not a belief of being ‘given away,’ as was the old-fashioned definition of this tradition, but rather a symbolic transition from her family of origin to this new family she’s about to create.

About The Author: Sharon Toris is a freelance writer and contributor to the top women’s and bridal magazines such as www.PashWeddings.com. She lives in Morristown, New Jersey. © 2007, Blue Grotto Media, Inc.

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Wedding Planning Timeline

Jun

9-12 Months Before Wedding

Agree to a date and time for your wedding.
Decide on a wedding budget.
Hire a wedding planner/coordinator if you plan to do so.
Select wedding party including maid/matron of honor and best man.
Compile a guest list.
Plan a meeting with your officiant or clergyman/woman.
Decide on rehearsal, ceremony and reception sites along with times.
Hire a videographer, photographer, caterer, florist and music entertainment.
Choose a wedding gown and wedding party attire.
Choose and apply for all bridal registries.
Plan your honeymoon (may include passport).

6-9 Months Before Wedding

Make all necessary honeymoon reservations (airline, hotel, etc.).
Fine tune guest list to meet site sizes.
Order invitations, announcements, and thank you’s.
Order wedding favors.
Order the wedding cake.
Plan the bridal portrait with your photographer.
Plan transportation on your wedding day (limousine).
Make reservations for any party rentals needed (tables, chairs, helium).
Decide where you will live after the wedding.

2-6 Months Before Wedding

Contact officiant to schedule rehearsal and go over specifics. Call all vendors to discuss final specifics.
Finalize guest list.
Make reservation for rehearsal dinner.
Chose wedding party gifts.
Make final alterations and fittings on wedding gown.
Get bridal portrait.
Purchase all the little items (guest book, cake knife, etc.)

1-2 Months Before Wedding

Complete and purchase marriage license.
Purchase all necessary wedding rings not yet bought.
Mail invitations (don’t forget stamps).
Block rooms at a hotel for out-of-town guests.
Finalize reception format and music with the M.C. or music entertainment.
Make reservation for bridesmaids’ luncheon.

2 weeks Before Wedding

Make appointments for all personal well being. (massage, hair, nails, etc.).
Verify all wedding party attire is what was ordered.
Contact local newspapers and publish your wedding announcement.
Make arrangements for name and address changes (if needed).

1 Week Before Wedding

Contact all people who did not RSVP
Pack for the honeymoon including change of clothes after wedding.
Discuss final details with all parties involved.
Get final guest counts to the caterer and reception site.

Day Before Wedding

Visit the beauty salon.
Attend the rehearsal dinner
Decorate the reception site (if necessary).

Day Of The Wedding

Finish hair and make-up.
Try and greet all your guests who came to your wedding.
Smile!

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Wedding Table Plans

Jun

Table plans can require a lot of thought and planning but are a fundamental item for weddings with more than twenty guests. Otherwise it can be a bit hectic with your guests trying to find their own seats. The process of deciding on your table plan can be a bit stressful when you have to consider those that don’t get on, divorced couples and distribution of the better seats between the two sets of family members.

When you decide to start forming your table plan you need to take into consideration the shape of the room and where you would like the tables placed.

There are many companies that provide table plans, from hand made designs to printed plans. The usual size for a table plan is either A3 or A2 depending on the size of your wedding and can be provided in a frame of left open. The common choice for table plans is to have one that matches the rest of your wedding stationery with the guest names personalised, the wedding date printed and the table numbers or names printed as you chose.

You do not necessarily need to have your table plan made for you. If you are feeling creative you should consider making your own. All you will need is a piece of canvas or thick board, some card and the embellishments you would like to stick on. There are many craft sellers on the Internet who are more than willing to help you make your stunning table plan.

About The Author: Louise Walczak, Bubbly Creations, sales[at]bubblycreations[dot]co[dot]uk, www.bubblycreations.co.uk

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Wedding Invitations Are Your Guest’s First Glimpse

Jun

Wedding invitations are your guest’s first glimpse of what your wedding theme may be!

Firstly your invitations or whole stationery packages should reflect you the bride and groom. More and more people are looking to have their invitations personal screaming this is us! It should show your personalities and style.

Many moons ago traditional was the way to go, not to say that it is not the way to go now if that is what says you. Traditional invitations are pretty set in there colour with gold or silver wedding invitation written on the front. In today’s world wedding invitations come in a vast array of colours and styles not to mention prices.

So before you begin there are a few things for you to consider when choosing your invitations.

1. What is your budget?
2. Do you want a full stationery package?
3. What are your colour themes?
4. What is your style? Fluffy and glittery, plain and simple, bright and bold, funny?
5. Do you have a theme that you would like throughout the wedding carried from the invitations?

What is your budget?

Some people don’t look at the bigger picture when it comes to weddings. Then again some people don’t care. That is what it will cost and that is it.

Look at your finances and set aside an amount for your stationery. Always look at sites to get an idea of what you would like and price it up on more than one person’s site as there is always someone out there that will be happy to help meet your budget.

If you have seen an Invitation to die for and that is what you want but it is not in your price range, why not email the person and explain your situation and maybe they could work something out for you. On the other hand if your feeling a little creative why not try to make it yourself to cut the costs a little. Then sometimes these things are more hassle then they are worth if you don’t have a creative bone in your body!

Do you want a full stationery package?

Another major player to your budget is do you want a full stationery package. Money money money. Definitely worth it in my opinion. I personally love to see a full matching stationery package as once you get to the wedding in brings you back to when you received the invitations. Not everyone thinks this though and it is all cost dependant. The cost is a large factor in weddings these days with the average wedding costing about £16,000 which is beyond me. I can see how it is done though! Ok back to the full whammy!

Firstly you can have save the date cards to tell all your guests as soon as you have a date to keep it free. Then we move onto Day Invitations and Evening Invitations, these should be sent out approx 6 – 8 weeks prior to the wedding but if you’re having your wedding away from home and guests need to sort out accommodation I myself would send before the stated 6 – 8 weeks.

Ok so moving on you have Order of Service with all the wedding ceremony and hymns printed inside but your church, chapel will provide hymn books for you.

Then you have the Menu’s. If you have the money and you want to keep the themes going these are great to pretty up your tables, again these may be supplied by your hotel or caterers not essential but if you have the cash why not.

Table names and Numbers a must to let all your guests know where to sit. You could buy these plain and write the names on them yourselves to save on cost or you could have them printed to save you writing the names you could also have them decorated to your theme.

Table Planer will cost a lot but sure should look good and will also tell all your guests where to sit. Again this should also be supplied by your hotel if your wedding breakfast is there or you could just print out a list and place it on tables around the room for guests to look at while waiting for you to arrive.

Last but not least you have the Thank you cards. To say a huge thank you to all your guests for the lovely gifts that they have sent to you. One of the most important things to get I would think! Although if they are too much to buy for your budget you can buy them from any high street shop at any cost to suit you.

What are your colour themes?

Have you decided on you dress colour? The Bridesmaids and flower girls? Your Bridegroom? Since us women make all the decisions!

Once you have made the decision you may want to incorporate your colour theme onto your Invitations. You may have seen an invitation that you like and that makes you decide on the theme. You may even decide that you want them to be plain and simple, a little elegant and to ensure that your guests have no idea what type of wedding there are in for. Leaving it a big surprise. In saying that you might want your whole wedding simple and elegant anyway. You will most probably end up with a theme wither it be purple and pink, or brown and yellow to red and Ivory or just white and silver. There will always be your theme.

What is your style? Fluffy and glittery, plain and simple, bright and bold, funny?

Along with the theme you will have your style. Traditional, Classic, Bespoke, there are many different words out there for different styles but amongst it you will find yours.

Do you want flowers, feathers, crystals, toppers, embellishments, bows, bells, doves, confetti, pictures you name it, it is possible. You just need to use your imagination and think what says you.

Do you have a theme that you would like throughout the wedding carried from the invitations?

Some people have a theme that they would like to carry throughout there wedding. It might be just colours or as much as dressing up for the occasion. What have you got in mind?

Do you want a Robin Hood and Maid Marion theme or do you want all your guests to be wearing something purple?

Just another little thing for you to add to your thinking list!

My top tips for choosing your invitations. Most of all just have fun. That is what it is all about. You’re sure to find what you’re looking for and as soon as you see it you will know that is the one for you. It is a bit like buying that wedding dress. As soon as you see it and try it you will know. So as soon as you see them ask for a sample and you will know.

Good Luck with all your plans.

About The Author: Catherine Marsh, www.cmcards.co.uk. I create and design wedding Invitations for you. I hope I can create something special for you to add to you perfect wedding and leave a lasting memory.

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Symbolism of Wedding Rings

Jun

“The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances; if there is any reaction, both are transformed.” - C.G. Jung

Rings have been exchanged as a symbol of the bond of marriage for so long, and in so many different cultures, that the origin of the practice is obscure. Certainly, the circle of a ring represents undying love and the continually renewed vows of the married couple. Circles have long been archetypes for not only timelessness, but also wholeness and homecoming. The circle also speaks to the constant round of the heavens, as well as the eternal return of the seasons, marked by cyclical ritual and celebration.

In addition, the circle in rock art, sacred stone arrays, and astrology represents both the Sun and the Moon, themselves astrological and alchemical symbols for the masculine and feminine aspects of the cosmos. This correspondence with the Sun and Moon is emphasized by the frequent practice of choosing gold for one betrothed and silver for the other, as gold and silver are the metals long associated with the Sun and Moon respectively.

Rings in general have a deeply rooted magical significance. Enchanted rings figure in many ancient folk tales. Incantations and spells for the protection of the wearer of rings are common motifs. Today, in traditional religious ceremonies, Christian and otherwise, the wedding rings are blessed by a minister or priest, thus continuing the symbolic practice of imbuing rings with protective powers.

The widespread tradition of embellishing the plain gold or silver wedding band with various designs and patterns has been known since at least 700 AD, in both Pan-Hellenic and Celtic cultures. The quite ancient symbol of the ouroboros, the serpent which consumes its own tail, was a theme used for wedding rings made of iron in Rome. The ouroboros itself is a symbol of the oneness of creation and destruction in renewal, and the life principle which timelessly feeds on its own inspiration. It also represents the hope for a lifelong marriage union that’s continually renewed.

Celtic wedding rings are often gorgeously decorated with geometrically knot work patterns that have a long history and central place in Celtic art. These patterns are strongly vegetative, suggesting tendrils and vines. In fact, in much of Celtic art, including the famous illuminated Bible, The Book of Kells, these Celtic Knots emerge from or transform into vegetative foliage. The beautiful symmetry of these woven patterns is often not square, rigid, or overly formal, but organic, flowing, and a stylized reflection of the curves and spirals found in nature. Indeed, the Celtic Knots that embellish wedding rings herald the ideas of spring, fertility, and the eternal reawakening of the life force- all of which bode well for a fruitful life partnership.

Wedding rings have most commonly been worn on the third finger of the left hand. Speculation has it that this is because the Romans believed that a vein ran directly from this finger to the heart. An alternate suggestion for this tradition is that each finger on the hand is associated with a planet in the ancient systems of astrology, and the ring finger of the left hand was associated with the Sun. In this way, the wearing of a wedding ring on that finger signifies the public proclamation of the union in the daylight, in other words, the conscious and clearly visible world of human community. This correspondence is perhaps even more strongly emphasized by the general tendency to craft wedding rings out of gold, which is symbolically the metal of the Sun throughout folk history and across cultures.

Wedding rings capture the full range of the ceremonial, symbolic, and communal aspects of marriage, and preserve these many levels of significance as a durable and constant reminder. Ancient yet contemporary, steeped in lore and mystery yet almost universally exchanged, wedding rings combine the art of the jeweler, the reverence of the betrothed, and the beauty of love and partnership in a single, resonant symbol.

About The Author: Peter Breslin is musician & teacher and an artist in residence with the Santa Fe Opera’s Student Program. He writes for on the arts The Santa Fe Reporter and blogs on creative music at peterbreslin.blogspot.com. He also writes for , Reflective Images, a ethical jewelry company that sells wedding rings at www.artisanweddingrings.com

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What Will Your Wedding Invitations Say About You

Jun

Everything about your wedding, starting with your wedding invitations, should reflect your own personal style. Now, more than ever, couples are doing everything they can to make their wedding day uniquely personalized.

You and your fiancé chose the location, theme and colors of your wedding based on your personal preferences. Since your wedding invitations are an introduction to your wedding, they should reflect your choices and ultimately your personalities and styles.

It used to be that wedding invitations were always very traditional in their color and appearance. Today, wedding invitations come in a vast array of exciting colors, styles, sizes and themes to reflect the creativity of modern wedding couples.

Not to say traditional is out of date, but today your options are truly unlimited. There are choices based on seasons, hobbies, color combinations, themes, ceremony locations, ethnic backgrounds, flowers, etc. Your wedding invitations can have a modern contemporary look or they might feature photos of youngsters sharing tender moments.

Your choices don’t end with the wedding invitation itself. There’s the font style and ink color. Again, there is an impressive selection of font styles to fit any type of wedding design. Just keep in mind you want to choose a style that your guests will find easy to read. The more script the style, the more difficult it usually is to read. Colored ink choices are not quite as abundant as font styles, but there are still plenty to accommodate your chosen wedding colors.

Here are some questions for you to consider when choosing your wedding invitation style:

1. In what type of setting are you getting married – church, formal, casual, outdoor, destination?

2. What is the color scheme of your wedding?

3. Is there an overall theme to your wedding?

4. Do you want to incorporate a specific ethnic or religious theme?

5. In what season will your wedding take place?

6. What type of flowers are you having in your wedding?

7. Do you want to include your photo on your invitations?

8. What is your wedding invitation budget?

Another great idea for personalizing your wedding invitations is to include a favorite line of poetry, a beloved quotation, a particular Bible verse, or words from a special song. Many times the company who prints your invitations will also have a large selection of small verses to choose from. Just be sure your chosen wedding invitation style will have enough room for these extra lines of printing.

Your wedding invitations should be both beautiful and uniquely personal, just like your wedding ceremony. With all of today’s gorgeous choices, you’re sure to find exactly what you desire.

About The Author: Sara Haese owns http://www.PrintedCreationsWeddingStore.com where you’ll find a huge selection of casual and elegant wedding invitations as well as save the dates and wedding accessories. Visitors can also sign up to receive her FREE Wedding Invitation Guide.

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Choosing Your Wedding Cake

Jun

Happy Endings – Your Wedding Cake

When you think of wedding receptions, what is the one thing that they all have? A “stately mountain of snowy frosting and royal icing blossoms,” (from “The Perfect Wedding Cake” by Kate Manchester), aka the wedding cake! Not bad for a dessert which has its roots clear back to the Roman Empire. But back then, there was no beautifully decorated, sweet confection. Instead, a loaf of barley bread was broken over the bride’s head to symbolize her fertility. Can you imagine picking crumbs out of your hair? As the barley bread evolved into today’s wedding cake, the symbolism of the cake and the cake cutting ceremony evolved into your first joint act as a married couple, your commitment to provide for each other, and the sweet life you will share together.

Your wedding cake should taste absolutely wonderful, however, it is not just dessert. Your wedding cake will be an integral part of the reception decor, so plan accordingly and place it in a strategic location where all of your guests can easily see it. How about in the center of the dance floor? It can be removed after the cake cutting ceremony – table and all – so you have room for your first dance as husband and wife. Just be sure that someone carefully cleans up any stray icing that may hit the floor which can be very slippery and dangerous. Or how about placing your wedding cake in a corner with pin lights or a small spotlight highlighting its glory?

The Statue of Liberty has its pedestal, a queen has her throne, the cake table needs to be worthy to hold such a beautiful creation. Like a beautiful frame that surrounds a lovely painting, the cake table should be decorated to complement the wonderful confection that it holds. Decorating the cake table needn’t be time consuming nor expensive. You may already have something appropriate in your closet or on the dining room table. A lace tablecloth would be lovely draped across the cake table. A length of tulle loosely billowed on the top of the table gives the impression of your cake floating on clouds. Or, swag the table with tulle, organza, lame, or garlands of greenery and flowers.

If your motto is “Life’s too short, eat dessert first,” then you may want to go all out with your desserts. Have a dessert bar with trays of different scrumptious delicacies – iced cookies, brownies, mini bite-sized cheesecakes – with your wedding cake as the centerpiece. And speaking of centerpieces, if one large cake to feed hundreds of people isn’t your thing, how about a small (only big enough for two) cake which you and your new spouse get to cut and feed each other, and in place of the more traditional floral or candle centerpieces for each guest table, have a single tiered cake that serves 8-10 people.

Cake Toppers – The Crowning Glory

You’re finished sampling yummy cake and icing flavors and have picked out your wedding cake. What’s next? Well, what to put on top of the cake, of course! While an arrangement of fresh flowers is one of the most popular choices, cake topper figurines are making a huge comeback. Traditional choices are doves, hearts and a bride & groom. Who can go wrong with such romantic icons? But they aren’t the only way to top your cake.

If you’re having a specific theme to your wedding, a cake topper is an excellent place to further express it. How about a snowflake figurine for a winter wedding? Perhaps pumpkins or gourds for a fall wedding – either a pretty figurine, or something yummy made out of marzipan. Dolphins or starfish would be perfect for a beach theme.

Seasonal fruits and berries are a delicious, and practical choice. Bunches of gorgeous grapes, or fresh strawberries or blueberries have such beautiful colors that add a lovely rich look – so perfect for spring or summer weddings. If you’re having a winter wedding, use small sugared fruits like apples and pears.

New trends in cake toppers include candles (make sure your baker reinforces the cake where the candles will be placed, so the weight of the candles don’t cause them to sink into the cake), vintage bride & groom toppers, and monograms – several companies offer silver or Swarovski crystal monogram cake toppers. And speaking of Swarovski, their wedding cake jewelry of romantic sprays of heart-shaped crystal drops adds an extra touch of glitz and glitter.

The possibilities are truly endless!

About The Author: Jean Neuhart is the owner of Weddings From The Heart. As a Professional Bridal Consultant, she helps busy brides and their fiances plan creative, personalized and stress-free weddings. Visit Jean at www.weddingsfromtheheart.net. You can e-mail her at jean[at]weddingsfromtheheart.net.

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Winning Ideas For A Wedding Video In Vegas

Jun

The mood outside the Little White Chapel was one for the ages for Jennifer Baits, 31 and Jason Frisby, 29. Located at 1301 Las Vegas Blvd, this charming and cozy chapel has been home to numerous celebrity weddings and has been featured on “Entertainment Tonite”, and the Discovery Channel.

Las Vegas is where such icons as Zsa Zsa Gabor, Richard Gere, Elvis Presley and a host of other famous singers, actors, and entertainers have tied the knot. So what is it about the city of neon lights that attracts over 150,000 couples to exchange vows each year?

Perhaps, it’s the excitement of saying; “I do” above the lights of the strip in a helicopter. Or perhaps, it’s the excitement of getting married by an American icon like Elvis, at the Graceland wedding chapel.

A common challenge for couples planning a destination wedding is finding the right vendors. For example, Las Vegas couples can sign up for the video package offered by the venue or book their own.

Fortunately for Jennifer and Jason, they didn’t rely on luck, but instead hard work in selecting their wedding videographer.

Yes To A Quality Wedding Video -

Like photography, videos are something that should allow you to relive your memories for a lifetime. With all the unique wedding attractions in Vegas, you can be assured your day will be worth remembering. Unlike other mementos such as flowers, wedding cake, and even that special champagne, they are something that can be passed on from generation and experienced for a lifetime.

If you want a great video, you have to do it right. Don’t simply do what everyone else does. To hire a competent videographer, do your homework and don’t just settle on the lowest priced vendor. Remember that you want a video that you can look at for a lifetime. Look at quality first, not price. If you don’t, you may regret what you get; remember that you wedding happens only once, so you can’t do your video over, either.

Use Your Eyes and Ears -

In order to make an effective decision on who will successfully produce a video illuminating the overall allure of a wedding, analyzing the previous work of a potential professional is essential. Las Vegas has a bunch of video professionals offering different packages. As you view samples, it is important to pay attention to clarity, quality of video, composition, as well as skill in shooting and editing. Some videographers will give you sample DVDs or CDs of their work. This is a good way to sample their work on your own time. You can take your time, compare styles and make your decision without being rushed.

Pay attention to audio quality. Most experienced videographers use wireless microphones during the ceremony and reception to make sure they fully capture such important moments as vows and speeches. Audio is a critical element. When you have Elvis singing at your reception, you don’t want him to sound like he’s rehearsing in the shower. Therefore, if you find a videographer during your search that only uses one microphone, look elsewhere- it should not sound like it was recorded in an airplane hangar.

If this all sounds like a lot of work, it’s worth it because these are memories that will literally last a lifetime; you’ll be sharing them with your children and grandchildren, too, if you’re lucky. After the fact, you’ll be glad that you put in the extra effort to make sure you had a quality video. You can even have your videographer do something special like a “vignette” tape on the Las Vegas strip, where he or she constructs a short “movie” or series of photographs in a montage set to music, to encapsulate you and your spouse’s lives before your special day.

Video Formats -

Nowadays, there is a wide array of video formats that a videographer may offer when covering a wedding. To guarantee the best quality and results, knowing the different types of options you may select from will help you make a decision a lot easier. The most commonly used approaches include S-VHS, DV, and HDV. S-VHS produces the lowest quality, while HDV (also known as high definition video) offers the best in quality, which can be repeatedly recopied without loss of quality. For couples looking to receive video with the feel of a broadcast quality event, HDV offers the best display of digital sound and video that comes in the form of a DVD. Just make sure you have a high definition compatible player such as Blu-Ray or HD-DVD.

Get Special Touches In Your Video -

You can ask your videographer to add some special touches in your wedding video such as family interviews, a stroll down to Excalibur Hotel & Casino, and even some special behind the scenes coverage. It would be great for you and your spouse to be able to watch the video afterwards and see each other before the wedding while getting ready. You can share some special moments, laughs and memories for a long time.

It’s also worth noting that Las Vegas has a ton of excitement to offer. A romantic way to capture those precious moments in the city is to have your wedding filmed not only at the ceremony and reception but also as you tour the city.

Some memorable attractions worth mentioning include a trip to the Grand Canyon, a romantic tour on the waters of Lake Las Vegas, or a lift in a helicopter across the lights of the city.

Whatever you choose to do, the sin city will bring substance, excitement, and allure, to your wedding.

The Cost -

Videographers generally offer a variety of options and therefore, prices can vary wildly. For a basic package, look for:

The Number Of Cameras/Operators At Your Event
The Hours Of Coverage They Provide
The Add-Ons (Such As A Photo Montage) Included
What If Any Editing Of The Footage Occurs?
How Many Final Copies Of Your Video You Receive?

There can be other factors as well, although these are most common. The market in your area will generally determine how much you’ll pay. Again, online searches can do a lot to help you determine the proper price range. Some videographers will charge by the hour, while others will provide one flat package price. Other services, like same day highlights, may cost extra. One new option that has recently come into play is that some videographers are now offering high-definition video.

If the quality of the work and the personality of the videographer fit what you want, then you’ve found the right one. Viva Las Vegas!

About the Author: Mark Pommett is an experienced wedding videographer. He shot his first Las Vegas wedding video 10 yrs ago and has been shooting ever since.

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10 Tips To Purchasing Green, Ethically Sourced Wedding Rings Online

Jun

Would you feel good about a wedding ring if it was created by maltreated labor or with materials that trashed the environment? Does your expression of love just extend to your intimate ones; or beyond them to the greater human family? It takes real courage for a bride and groom to even consider these issues, but there is a greater danger for those who ignore them.

With the recent controversies of blood diamonds and dirty gold, it is easy to conclude that many in the jewelry industry lag far behind other business sectors in terms of environmental and corporate responsibility. But there are jewelers out there that are passionately concerned about the environment and the fair treatment of the human family. Finding these fair, compassionate, ethical jewelers can pose problems though.

Here are ten points to consider when purchasing such an environmentally friendly piece of jewelry online. The first five points focus on questions you can ask to determine if a ring is fairly and ethically produced. The last five concern the jeweler’s reputation and things you can investigate on their website – they can be applied to the purchase of any wedding ring online.

1. Ask the jeweler where they source their precious metals. It can take up to twenty tons of mining to produce one wedding ring. It is now possible for a jeweler to produce rings made from recycled gold, platinum and palladium, so ask about recycled metals, as well as the actions the jeweler’s taking against using dirty gold.

2. Ask the jeweler what their in-factory environmental practices are at their own location. Jewelers can offset the carbon use of their employees and production from travel and commutes. They can recycle extensively, purchase green sourced energy if available, and use compact fluorescent lighting. They can choose to use less toxic fluxes and chemicals. Any jeweler who is concerned about these issues will be able to talk about them in detail when you ask.

3. If the jeweler is manufacturing internationally, ask what their environmental practices are off shore. First, determine where the piece was made and then find out as much as you can about the practices of that company by searching for them online and even searching for names of current investors or executives in the company. Their past actions will give you an idea of their current practices.

4. What are the environmental effects of the mining of your diamond? This is a difficult question to answer for just about any diamond coming out of Africa, even with the Kimberly Process. Ethical jewelers typically offer Canadian diamonds that bypass the African DeBeers supply chain.

5. Gemstones. There are just a few gemstones available from environmentally concerned mines. A few jewelers are able to source directly from suppliers who work with environmentally responsible sourcing.

6. Research the reputation of the jeweler. A company that you work with online should have some kind of third party consumer advocacy group, such as the Better Business Bureau, that assures you that the company is reputable. Many companies also list testimonials from satisfied buyers, but such listings have more credibility when they have a last name, physical origin and at least a first initial. A brick and mortar store location that has been in business at least ten years gives added credibility.

7. Consider the depth of the line. A jeweler with a reputable line of wedding rings should be able to offer the same style in various widths. The gents sizes are wider and paired with ladies sizes. Most engagement rings are under 4.5mm. That means that they can be worn with a match under 9mm, which is about as wide as two rings can be for the average person. Most men prefer a ring between 6.5mm and 8.5mm. Some men prefer wider sizes, and some ladies, narrower. The width of a ring is really a matter of personal taste.

8. Sizing of the ring and resizing. This point is often overlooked by someone who purchases a ring online. How will the company help you out after you purchase the ring? Some rings have sizing bands and some are made without. Sizing bands make the ring easier to size, which is important because many people will lose or gain twenty pounds during the course of a marriage. Some are comfort fit as well, which means that the rings are convex in such a way that the center of the ring touches the finger instead of the entire ring.

9. Customer Service. After you have reviewed the products, make a list of questions and give the company a call. A company that is concerned about their environmental practices should have sales people who can articulate the practices. You can learn a lot simply by spending some time talking to the person who picks up the phone.

10. The soul of the ring. Some pieces of jewelry really do feel better than other pieces. A wedding ring is the most important piece of jewelry you will own and it will carry irreplaceable sentimental and spiritual value. The rings should be unique and resonate with your own profound, sacred connection and commitment to your beloved. You may well want to ask the company to send you a sample of the wedding ring before you place your order.

By raising these issues, you will be helping to change an industry. If just five percent of the market asked jewelers about environmental sourcing, we will see a huge shift. Do your part and buy an ethical, green wedding ring to celebrate your commitment to your beloved through your commitment to the great human family!

About The Author: Marc Choyt is President of Reflective Images an winning company, www.celticjewelry.com and www.artisanweddingrings.com, that produces fair and ecologically sourced jewelry designs. Marc authors www.fairjewelry.org a movement website for consumers and jewelers supporting green, fair trade, socially responsible business practices in the jewelry industry. He also originated The Circle Manifesto, www.circlemanifesto.com, a business model based on indigenous wisdom traditions.

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How to Personalize your Wedding Reception

Jun

Your wedding reception is your chance to throw a fantastic party for all your wedding guests and it is very popular to include ‘the personal touch’ with your decorations.

Many couples have a theme or a colour scheme, which is incorporated into the day through subtle touches like the flowers, chair covers, wedding stationery and bridesmaids and even your menu choices.

Reception Stationery

To add a personal touch to your reception why not hand make all of your menu’s place cards, table plans and table numbers? Many couples include a theme into their stationery. For example one couple got engaged in New York and therefore had their colour scheme as black and white, their reception tables were named after famous monuments in New York and the table plan incorporated images of these monuments. It was a lovely touch, as all the guests knew that they had got engaged in New York and appreciated the theme. Another couple enjoyed their confectionery so much that they included this into their day by having images of sweets printed onto their stationery, having the tables named after different sweets and placing a bowl of the sweets on each table for the favours. If you don’t have a particular theme it doesn’t mean that your reception can’t be personalized, you can still do this by using your colour scheme on all of the items including your wedding cake!

Favours

A popular way of personalizing wedding reception is through the favours. There have been many couples that have made their own favours, like making gingerbread men to go with their bonfire night theme or mulled wine when their wedding has been in the winter.

If you would prefer you can provide small lavender bags or bath products (you can even make your own bath bombs).

I have been to many weddings where the favours have been very personal to the couple. One wedding I went to the bride had grown up in Spain but had moved back to England so she had traditional Spanish favours of pearl pins. Another wedding I went to the Bride was welsh and therefore provided everyone with traditional Welsh love spoons.

Decoration

There are many ways that you can decorate your wedding reception room. There may be a stunning focus point of the room which you can highlight and also incorporate your flowers i.e. there may be columns in the room which could have some ivy, lights and some of your wedding flowers pinned to or it could be something as simple as tying some ribbon around the napkins on the tables in your colour scheme.

About The Author: Louise Walczak, Bubbly Creations, sales[at]bubblycreations[dot]co[dot]uk, www.bubblycreations.co.uk

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