Archive for August, 2010

10 Best Ways to Include a Carriage in Your Wedding

Aug

10 Best Ways to Include a Carriage in Your Wedding

There is simply something magical about a horse and carriage. It might be because it’s something that you don’t see everyday. It might be that is how relatives in your family got married and you’d like to continue the tradition. Maybe you love animals and horses as much as we do. Whatever your reason, adding a horse carriage rental to your wedding is classy and is always followed by a chorus of “Oh” and “Ah.”

Your wedding is a fantasy. It is a dream come true. You’ve found your soul mate and now you are announcing to the world that you will be together forever. It is a cause for celebration and this special day can be whatever you want it to be. Let your imagination take flight. Do you want to feel like royalty or maybe even a princess for the day? Why not arrive like Cinderella?

The pace of the carriage is slower than a car, of course. This is a good thing because it gives you time to savor the moment and really let it become a part of your memory. You want to look back on all the little things of the day and just smile happily at the thought. Why not, it’s your day.

We’ve worked on a lot of weddings and seen a hundred fabulous ideas. Let me share with you some of our favorites.

1. Surprise! This one is my favorite. I love when the bride or groom organizes to have the carriage incorporated into the wedding but keeps it a surprise for their future spouse. It’s amazing to watch their faces light up when they walk out and see a beautiful horse and carriage waiting patiently ready to escort them into their happily ever after.

2. Have the bride ride in with whoever is giving her away. After the ceremony, the bride and groom can ride away together afterward. Take a relaxing ride enjoying those special moments together before returning to the reception area to party the night away. This is the most popular idea.

3. Use the carriage to first transport the wedding party to the chapel. I like when the bridesmaids are taken first and the best man and ushers graciously help them down and walk them down the aisle. Then the bride arrives by herself and is helped out of the carriage by her father or grandfather to be given away down the aisle.

4. Make it a fairytale day by keeping the theme of Cinderella. Many carriages like ours have an option for a Pumpkin Top, just like Cinderella. Have the traditional white horse and carriage with the intricate twinings of the archwork of the pumpkin. It is out of the ordinary and draws a lot of attention. It’s also a great place to hang a lot of flowers.

5. A lot of people like to share the experience of the carriage ride with their guests after the wedding by offering rides at the reception. It gives guests an added activity to enjoy and is great fun.

6. Use it as a photo opportunity. It’s unique. It’s original and you’ll probably not get a better time to snap a few photos. A lot of times, I’ve seen a lot of people only think about the travel that they need and forget about the photographer. Sure, he can catch a couple pictures of you coming and going but why not incorporate a time to actually take some pictures in the carriage before your ride. Make the memory really last a lifetime with a beautiful photo. My favorite photo is when the bride stands by the horse and kisses his nose.

7. There’s a Jewish wedding tradition that the bride is to be led in on a white horse bedecked in flowers. I think that it’s very sweet and is actually how I myself got married. Arrive one way riding the horse and then I would think leaving together in the carriage would be phenomenal. You could even ride in on two separate horses (bride and groom each have their own) and then ride away together on one horse signifying your unity.

8. Have a low budget for your wedding? There’s nothing wrong with that. If you’re cutting costs like having the wedding at home or at a park, you can really dress up the event by incorporating a carriage. Imagine being escorted around your own property just like kings and queens are. It’s an inexpensive way to add to your event.

9. It’s a big attention getter. Every time, we travel down the street with a couple that’s just been hitched. They get tons of well-wishes, waves and smiles from the people that we pass by. This goes for strangers too. Seeing the carriage and the happy couple just puts everyone into a better mood.

10. This one is special. If you have the carriage as part of your wedding, have it again on your first anniversary. Make it a tradition. Pack a picnic and enjoy the ride. You can even be picked up at a fancy restaurant. It’s one year that you’ve been married, celebrate and recreate the day a little by enjoying a buggy ride once more.

Whatever it is that you decide to do. Remember that it’s your day.
Celebrate. Enjoy. Smile. Laugh.
Don’t let the little things get you down and then begin your happily ever after.

About the Author: Nicole Pinto is the owner of Pinto Carriage Works, LLC, a horse-drawn carriage service for special occasions. Servicing the northeast Florida area including Jacksonville, Gainesville, St. Augustine, Lake City, Daytona and more.

Check out our website at: Pinto Carriage Works.com

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For An Unbelievable Wedding: Get a Professional Wedding Planner

Aug

For An Unbelievable Wedding: Get a Professional Wedding Planner!

Every engaged bride and groom dreams about an eventful marriage ceremony. One always wishes that his/her wedding day would be the best day of his/her life, which he/she can always cherish. But to see such a cherished dream come true, one has to plan everything in advance from the place of wedding to the date of the wedding.

There are innumerable issues that have to be addressed while planning for a wedding. Details include the photographer, who could beautifully capture all the wedding events, transportation, and the catering that should be well appreciated by all the guests. Other details include the wedding hall or backyard, where the guests can enjoy the ceremony and stay comfortable, and the florist who can creatively decorate every corner of the wedding and/or reception facility.

On the personal front, one has to plan out what to wear and how to don the accessories. Brides naturally want to look like the most glamorous person in the entire wedding since she will be the center of attention that day. For this, one can hire a wedding planner who is not just knowledgeable, but professional enough to hold wedding events and carry them very well.

The greatest advantage that one gets from a wedding planner is they help in reducing both the cost and the time required during the entire wedding work as it becomes easier instead of hectic. From going to the beauty salon to making up the invitations list, the wedding planner takes care of everything. The wedding planner conserves a lot of energy of the bride and groom and all relatives by taking care of everything on their behalf. Even the bride does not to need to wander around to get her hair and make-up done, as the wedding planner’s team takes care of this as well.

Apart from relieving one from the burden of planning, the wedding planner helps to get much better rates, thus helping one to meet his/her budget constraints.

The wedding planner puts all of their hard efforts in pleasing the guests as well as making everything in the wedding, “just perfect”.

The wedding planner may get a team of subordinates with him where each individual is assigned with a particular job. Like one person is assigned to look at the catering, one is asked to look after how the flowers and other decorating items are being taken care of.

In the given budget, the wedding planner will plan out everything. But these days, event management business and wedding planning business has increased to a great extent where unprofessional individuals too, have become a part of it. Unlicensed and unprofessional wedding planners charge a lot of money from their customers and do not bring that quality which the customer would be expecting.

Hence, one must look for professional wedding planners who are reliable enough to take care of the wedding perfectly and help reduce your cost as well. One can ask around from friends and relatives and get to know about the most reputed wedding planner company in his nearest location and pick the most appropriate one for his marriage.

The above article is written by an expert working for Weddingmuseum.com, a company engaged in wedding shop.

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10 Steps To A Gorgeous Backyard Wedding

Aug

10 Steps To A Gorgeous Backyard Wedding

A backyard wedding can be a lovely, intimate affair or an extravagant bash, depending on the size of your yard and your pocketbook. Hosting your wedding celebration at home can be an appealing option. One advantage is that your wedding date will not be dictated by the availability of a venue. Also, renting venues for the ceremony and reception often consume as much as one third of the total wedding budget. Investing those funds into home improvement instead makes good financial sense. There are special challenges to consider when planning a backyard wedding, so here are ten steps to ensure that yours is memorable for all the right reasons:

1. Make Room

The first step is to review your guest list and determine how much space you’ll need to comfortably accommodate everyone. If your yard is modest in size, you may need to limit the number of invited guests. If you plan on hiring caterers, be sure to anticipate the number of staff as well.

2. Expect The Unexpected

Unless you can easily move the party inside, it’s wise to plan for inclement weather by erecting a canopy or tent. Push pole tents, frame tents and tension tents take up varying amounts of room, so be sure to take careful measurements before committing to one type or another.

3. Choose A Theme

Choosing a theme for your at-home wedding will answer a lot of questions. Ideas will suggest themselves for everything from decor to food to wedding favors. When choosing your color scheme, build on what Mother Nature has provided. Shades of violet, blue, cream, pink or yellow are all gorgeous complements for an expanse of green lawn. Decorations can be made with sashes, ribbons and crepe paper. Scrapbooking paper is useful for adorning small items. Centerpieces generally consist of flowers, but for a fun alternative try over-sized glass bowls of luscious fruit.

4. Delegate The Important Tasks

Everybody wants to help, so give your friends and relatives an assignment. Doing so will free you up to take care of other critical and enjoyable details yourself. Good examples of tasks you can delegate are:

• Parking – Have a volunteer negotiate with a church or nearby retail store for use of their parking lot. A shuttle bus can be arranged to ferry guests to and from the lot, or you may wish to hire a valet parking service. If you plan on asking your guests to park on the street, be sure to notify the neighbors in advance.
• Back-up power – Find a quiet generator that can be rented in case the power goes out during your festivities.
• Portable restrooms – There should be one toilet for every 25 people, so do the math.

5. Plan Major Improvements And Purchases

Fill holes in the lawn and sow grass seeds over bare spots several weeks in advance. Keep the lawn neatly mowed on a regular basis leading up to the event. That will prevent piles of freshly mowed grass from clinging to your guests’ finery or your wedding gown. Do a bit of detective work before the big day to determine where water and mud puddles accumulate. Check to ensure that surfaces are flat enough to navigate in high heels. You may have a patio that needs refinishing, or a driveway that needs resurfacing. Remember the requirements of elderly guests, and ensure their comfort and safety.

Wedding receptions are perfect opportunities for friends and family to reconnect. Make sure your backyard is outfitted with comfortable seating to encourage conversation. Is there a place for hanging hammocks? A porch where you can place an old-fashioned swing? Maybe even a quiet nook that’s perfect for a loveseat or bench? Since you’re not just decorating for one day, you can invest in high quality furniture that lasts.

6. Grow Your Colors

Landscape your yard with flowering shrubs that echo your color scheme. Be sure that they flower continuously or that the blooms will coincide with your wedding date. The shrubs will continue to grow and provide years of enjoyment, blooming on your anniversary for years to come.

7. Set The Mood With Music And Lighting

Music will liven up your reception, whether it’s a string quartet, a live rock band, or a playlist that’s piped in through speakers hidden in the trees. For the traditional wedding march, perhaps a musical friend could provide that bit of melody on guitar, electric piano, or even accordion.

If your backyard wedding and reception extend into the night, lighting will be required. Strings of lights can be attached inside the tent. You may want to locate freestanding lights strategically at the edge of the yard to act as a decoy for moths. Solar powered lights can be placed near walkways for strolling after sunset.

8. To Rent Or To Buy

You’ll probably have to rent tables and chairs, but you may actually save money buying simple dishes, flatware and glassware at Ikea or a similar designer discount store. After your wedding, these items can become a tax-deductible donation to charity.

9. Don’t Let ‘em See You Sweat

The tent will keep you dry but you still need to maintain your cool. Elaborate misting systems are available that utilize flash evaporation technology to cool without drenching. Portable fans can be distributed to generate a heavenly breeze.

10. Document The Event

Consider hiring a professional photographer or videographer to circulate among your friends and family, capturing the fun. It’s also possible to position the photographer with a backdrop in a corner of the yard, so that guests can drop by to have their portraits taken. A rented photo booth will allow guests to create their own pictographic record. Or provide everyone with a disposable camera and encourage them to snap away, providing spontaneous witness to your at-home wedding.

Exchanging vows in the backyard of the home you will share as a newly married couple is a treasured experience you’ll remember for the rest of your lives.

About The Author

Jay Chua is an Internet Entrepreneur and publisher of PorchSwingSets.com, a site that features reviews of trendy hammocks and porch swings. Jay lives with his wife Deisy in Vancouver, Canada, where they indulge their passion for home and gardening, relaxing on outdoor porch swings or pawleys hammocks. Jay and Deisy also enjoy keeping up with the latest wedding design trends in the marketplace.

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A Wedding Planner Can Make Your Wedding A Grand Success

Aug

A Wedding Planner Can Make Your Wedding Event A Grand Success

A Wedding Planner is a professional who plans and organizes weddings. The planner looks after the services and supplies required for the wedding. The wedding planner also negotiates contracts with companies, who provide supplies and services for the wedding. A wedding planner is the person who makes sure that the wedding event is smooth and without any hiccups.

Planning for a wedding can be quite taxing and needs a lot of effort from everyone involved in the planning and organizing process. A lot of arrangement is required for a wedding and it sometimes becomes difficult to manage everything perfectly. However, a wedding is such an event that comes once in one’s life, so it becomes that much more important to make it a success.

To make their weddings a grand success, couples are hiring the services of wedding planners, who excel in making the wedding event a memorable experience for the bride and groom as well as for the people attending the wedding.

Some of the things that a wedding planner does are:

* Interviewing the couple and their family – It is necessary for the planner to know exactly how the groom and bride and their families want the wedding affair to be conducted. So, it requires the planner to sit with them and discuss the various possibilities and options that they would like to be included in the wedding.

* Budget preparation – This is the most important factor of a wedding and the planner has to make sure that the money delegated for each aspect ultimately produces the desired results.

* Wedding Attires – The planner has the added responsibility of getting the clothes to be worn by the bride and groom in the wedding and in some cases for a couple of days running up to the gala event.

* Planning detailed checklist – A checklist is quite crucial for any event and more so for a wedding, as one has to take care of every single detail. The checklist serves as a helpful tool to manage the whole event.

* Attendee list preparation – A planner’s job also involves preparing the attendee list for the wedding day plus the planner is supposed to send the attendees an invitation for the wedding.

* Identifying Event venue – The planner is also required to assist the client in deciding the venue for the event and once the choice is made, he/she has to do the booking of the venue.

* Identifying and hiring services of wedding professionals – A planner is also responsible to arrange for the caterers, videographers, florists, photographers, beauticians, bakers along with the coordinators required for both the bride and groom on their wedding day. The planner also does the negotiations and executions of the contracts.

* Coordination of deliveries/services on the wedding day – On the wedding day, a planner has his/her work cutout with the requirement of proper coordination and delivery of supplies.

* Contingency Plan – A planner must prepare a contingency plan in case of any glitch that might happen on the wedding day.

Brides can search for professional wedding planners, who could provide the services one is looking for online. Brides can also compare between the services provided and the pricing among available planners and then settle for the one who fits the bill.

This article has been written by an expert working with WeddingMuseum.com, a website that offers free ideas and creation of wedding websites for engaged couples along with a list of wedding songs and wedding planner that can be played on the wedding day.

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Most Unusual Places to Get Married in the UK

Aug

The most unusual places to get married in the UK

Have you ever thought that a church or a registry office wedding just wouldn’t be enough for you? These days couples are no longer restricted to church weddings, and as long as the venue is licensed to conduct a wedding, you can get married almost anywhere. More and more people are indulging their fantasies and getting married in all sorts of unusual venues.

If you love heights

If the thought of a wedding held at sea level is excruciatingly boring, then you may want to think about some of these more elevated venues. Believe it or not, you can get married in a capsule on the London Eye. The ceremony is conducted in a private pod which is decorated with flowers. The wedding takes place during two full rotations of the Eye, and includes champagne to celebrate. Alternatively you could hold your wedding in Altitude 360 in Westminster which is 29 floors up and offers panoramic views across the Thames.

A sense of history

If you’re a history nut, then you will love some of these historical venues. Kew Bridge Steam museum holds wedding receptions in its restored Victorian pumping station, whilst the Foundling Museum holds receptions in its picture gallery and court room. If you’re a fan of 1930s modernism, then the art deco pavilion at Bexhill on sea would make an excellent venue for you. For a trip further back in time, why not hold your reception at Somerset house, an 18^th century palace in the heart of London.

Along with the animals

For animal fans, there is little that will beat a wedding held in a zoo. Bristol zoo gardens holds ceremonies in their Clifton pavilion, whilst the Wildlife Heritage Foundation, Kent, conduct ceremonies on a terrace surrounded by lions and tigers.

At the Pictures

If you’re a cinema fan and dream of being on the silver screen, then you can find a bit of Hollywood magic by getting married at a cinema. The Little Theatre in Bath is a 1930s picture house which enables couples to get married on the cinema stage with accompanying film and music.

Sports fans

For sports fans there are many wedding venues which will indulge sporting fantasies. Tottenham Hotspur football club allows fans to hold their reception in suites overlooking the pitch, Lords cricket ground holds wedding receptions in their pavilion, and Emirates stadium has the capacity for a 1200 guest reception.

About the Author: Olivier Laudus loves finding interesting places where people can get married. He can usually be found on his wedding accessories website offering a large range of Wedding Tiaras.

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What Makes A Good Wedding DJ

Aug

What Really Makes A Good Wedding DJ

After 13 years in the industry I’ve seen my share of good DJs and heard the horror stories. The question comes up: what separates a good wedding DJ from an average one and then the rest?

Let’s begin by defining what a makes a wedding DJ different from let’s say, a club DJ.

Basically a club DJ will DJ a club (or a dance floor at a club) with a certain “vibe”. Which means that he/she will play a particular genre/style of music and for a particular night won’t play anything else. The crowd that visits that club will party to the music and if they don’t like the music, ditch the club (or floor) and go to another party.

A wedding is different. You have a crowd of 50 to 150 guests ranging in age from 5 – 85 with music taste that range from 50’s jazz to modern day fidget. Now the wedding DJ’s job is to entertain all of these people at the same time,
and they can’t just up and leave (that’s usually considered rude. Now I use the word entertain, and not keep everyone on the dance floor for a reason.

Typically at a wedding you will have about 50% smokers (who will spend half the night outdoors smoking – due to our country’s strict smoking laws), some of these, along with another 15% of the crowd will hang out at the bar. This
leaves about 35% of the crowd. Of these about 10% will just want to hang out (they’re either too old, or haven’t seen each other in ages and just want to chill). This leaves you with about 25% who will want to spend the whole
night on the dancefloor. Of this 25%, 10% will dance to just about anything the DJ plays (which makes it easy, right?)

WRONG!

The art lies in entertaining 100% of the crowd. The old folk, the young folk. The ones who enjoys the electro?pop and the metalheads. All of them in one night.

So the question you should ask your wedding DJ is not “what kind of music do you play?”. The question you should ask your DJ is “why are you a wedding DJ?”

Being a wedding DJ is an art, and you have to love it. It’s like cooking a soufflé. Anyone can cook macaroni and cheese, but not everyone has mastered the art of baking a cheese soufflé. It takes time, patience, and a love of the art.

So there you have it, in a nutshell.

Of course there are all the other questions to ask, like equipment, is the DJ registered with SAMRO and SADJA. But a DJ that takes his art seriously will use production?grade equipment, always have backup equipment available, be registered with SAMRO (to legally perform publically), and be registered with SADJA because he is a professional and wants to be recognised as such.

About the Author: By Derek Jansen ? founder of DerekJay Entertainment. DerekJay Entertainment specializes in wedding DJs and DJ
Hire. For more information, visit www.djentertainment.co.za/dj?hire.html

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Choosing A Wedding Venue – From A DJ’s Perspective

Aug

Choosing A Wedding Venue – From A DJ’s Perspective

So, you’ve read the “how to choose the perfect wedding venue” articles posted on the web, published in the bridal magazines and you’re wondering what the heck it’s a DJ would know about the topic… Well consider this, who
attends more weddings in a year than your maid of honour, and who gets to leave the wedding venue with the last of the wedding guests (keeping in mind that the wedding photographer only stays until the bouquet and garter has
been thrown)?

In other words who really gets to know the ins and outs of choosing a wedding venue to have a decent party at? There are loads of things to consider when choosing a wedding venue. First there are the obvious ones: How many guests can it accommodate; does it have sufficient parking; is it safe; what’s the food like; are there electrical outlets for the DJ’s, band; etc.

But what about the party? I mean the ceremony, while it is the essence of the wedding, only lasts 30 to 45 minutes, while the reception can keep going for anything between 4 to 8 hours, and it is in this time that your guests will want
to be entertained. And honestly, the jazz band only plays for so long! This is where I come in. You see, I’ve been a DJ for 13 years now. My speciality: weddings. And I’ve seen my share, trust me!

So what should you be looking at when you choose a wedding venue, to not only make sure that the wedding is unique, stunning, elegant, but also a wedding that your guests will talk about for years to come?

Let’s start with the basics: there’s a good chance that 50% of your guests will be smokers, so the venue must have a facility for smokers. Now usually this is done outside, which works fine, but what happens when it rains? Can they
cater for this, or will the smokers just leave early? I mean let’s face it, smokers don’t party unless they have a cigarette in hand…

Secondly, what do they have planned for the kids? I know that some couples specifically request their guests to not bring kids along, but hey, if that were you, would you want to leave your kids at home? How about booking a
smaller venue (or a room) for the kids and arranging alternative entertainment for them, together with a qualified child minder? Did you know that there are entertainment companies out there that provide these services? This prevents anyone getting hurt on the dance floor and the kids will have a ball! Remember that weddings are a time for friends and family to get together…

Did you know that if you choose a venue in a residential area you’ll be restricted in terms of the music on the night? So instead of the rocking party you expected, you’ll be having a toned down affair with guests nagging you (and your DJ) to turn up the tunes. Now you might not have thought about this, and the venue probably neglected to mention this, but as they are in a residential area, they are not allowed to play loud music, especially not after 22h00 at night. And as a DJ we are obliged to stick to that rule, or we might be kicked out. Usually your party will also end strictly at 00h00, so no overtime here…

While a wedding in the country or in outlying areas are a better choice in terms of the music, you have to consider that your guests might have been drinking the whole evening and some of them will be driving home afterwards. A good idea might be to have the telephone numbers of cab companies handy for those guests who have had one drink too many, after all you wouldn’t want your guests to remember your wedding as the night they spent in jail…

Finally, always keep in mind that your entertainment for the evening will be one of the most important choices you’ll make. Should you decide to go with a DJ, always ensure that they are registered with both SAMRO and SADJA (the South African Music Rights Organisation and the South African DJ Association). This will prevent embarrassment during the evening and also ensure that you get quality entertainment – All Night Long! (For more on SAMRO and SADJA please visit their respective websites).

By Derek Jansen ? founder of DerekJay Entertainment. DerekJay Entertainment specializes in wedding DJs and DJ Hire. For more information, visit www.djentertainment.co.za/dj-hire.html

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Retro Bakery Review

Aug

Retro Bakery Review

Rating: B
Neighborhood: North end of Las Vegas
Address: 7785 N Durango Drive #130 (near Durango & I-93/95)
Website: Retro Bakery

A big fad right now are cupcake wedding cakes. Also popular are custom wedding cakes and custom groom cakes. With shows on television such as Cake Boss, DC Cupcakes and Ace of Cakes, many bridal couples are willing to spend extra money to have a one-of-a-kind wedding “cake”.

The most popular cupcake at Retro Bakery is the Hop Scotch. The Hop Scotch consists of vanilla cake topped with vanilla buttercream dipped in butterscotch ganache. The store is open Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays.

Retro bakery can provide cake orders for weddings. However, give them a minimum of 2 weeks for custom orders or special cupcake toppers. Custom cupcakes start at $3 each or $36 per dozen. Custom wedding cakes are also available. Everyday cupcakes are $2.65 each. Custom cake prices are determined by size and intricacy of design.

Cupcake towers are available for rent. A 4-tier cupcake tower holds 70 cupcakes. A 5-tier cupcake tower holds 120 cupcakes. Either tower you can rent for a $40 fee.

The workers at Retro Bakery were very friendly and willing to answer any questions. The downfall of the bakery was that they had no printed information about providing cakes for weddings. We were instructed to go to their website.

Retro Bakery will deliver anywhere in the Las Vegas area, for an additional fee of $20. Otherwise, Retro Bakery is about 25 minutes NW of the Las Vegas Strip.

If you like buttercream cupcakes, then Retro Bakery is the place for you!

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