Wedding preparations can be an arduous task if the proper manner is not utilized. If it is logically done in advance, it can be less tense and more pleasant. For most couples, their wedding is more than simply booking a reception venue for a reception or the entire ceremony. Coordinating by utilizing a wedding checklist often makes good sense as it allows for enlisting the items thus making you persevere with your wedding planning details in order. Despite wherever you dream to have your joyful wedding day, the occasion requires a large degree of planning with ideas and details.

Wedding planning involves loads of things for instance bridesmaid dresses, invitation ideas, clothing for the bride’s mother, wedding flower bouquets and so forth. For the most part, you would want to make your wedding celebration enjoyable and terrific. Each and any manner of wedding, be it a low-key smaller event or a no-holds extravaganza has a measurable budget. Generally couples are exhausted in the course of wedding arranging. You can aptly kickoff your arranging by generating a bespoke month-by-month checklist with an estimated wedding date. After that you can fit all appointment and assignments allied to the event to your checklist for constant recall.

As we all recognize, the reception party is where your family and friends gather together to celebrate your life as a newly married couple. Then, it should display and harmonize the formality of the occasion. The wedding reception location should be selected depending on its capacity, closeness to the ceremony place, availability and price. Your elected entertainment is a meaning of the kind of wedding planned that ranges from the classical stringed quartet all the way through to the full on DJ. If apparently you dream to offer the service a personal impression, writing personal vows is a great idea. You don’t have to shy away from this as everybody is a sucker for romance, the vows would go along way to insert intimacy to your wedding.

As well, the bridal dress would be the centre of attention for all eyes in all of the wedding. The bridal dress should be magic, making the bride appear glamorous and above all, be comfortable to be dressed in throught the day. Photographs are all but the standing piece of your significant wedding day as such; you could do with them to be remarkable. You can consider suggestions from people and pals especially those that only got married. You can trim down spending of all the wedding without compromising the environment and style. You can organise the wedding day yourself with family and pals to lend a hand with stuff like taking the wedding photographs, videoing the day or driving guests about. On the other hand, unless the individual taking the wedding photographs is a professional wedding photographer, it is best left to an expert wedding photographer.

A Wedding Planner Can Make Easier The Organization Of Your Wedding

In spite of this, you might employ a wedding organiser. As a largest part of brides and grooms are working professionals, comparing and reviewing deals and vendors can be difficult. A wedding organiser is a specialist giving expert information to help you complete your wedding planning process. They will recognize your needs and come up with a service that reflects your character, approach and preferences without exceeding your plan. As a rule wedding planners provide end-to-end wedding orgainising services at the same time as some provide a-la-carte services for the financial aware couples.

How A Wedding Toastmaster Can Help Your Big Day

Wedding Toastmaster Richard Birtchnell

As you would want your wedding day to occur without a glitch, the functions of a wedding toastmaster can be put to better employment if you enlist them for your service. As a rule people don’t understand the functions and benefits of toastmasters in a wedding service. They have diverse skills that they can use to considerably help to oversee your day effortlessly. As your guests arrive at the event venue, they can be welcomed by a professional toastmaster. They are the officials that proclaim the brides’ father, groom and best man prior to the wedding speeches.

Let us now review the benefits of a wedding toastmaster. There are many benefits of hiring a wedding toastmaster at your wedding. With his red tail coat and starched white shirt, he will stand out from the crowd thereby adding to the splendor and pomp of the ceremony:

• A wedding toastmaster would meet your guests and navigate them to their chair’s
• He could aiding the set photographs with the wedding photographer
• He can make known the dignitaries of the ceremony including the couple, namely the bride and groom
• He ensures that the wedding runs to plan effectively and effortlessly
• He provides a calming forcefulness and assurance on the wedding party
• He knows the various marriage protocols and etiquette as such; he makes sure that each and every member of the wedding party accomplish their responsibility without embarrassment
• With his universal skills, the toastmaster is truly a bona fide asset to your marriage

If you are thinking of having a personal wedding website then you MUST check out Big White Frock – Create Your Own Wedding Website. Even though you have to pay for the site (the price is nothing in the overall cost of a wedding), you get so much for it. It’s not only a great web site design, unlike a lot of free wedding websites, but it’s great value too.

What you get for you money:

• a choice of great designs
• the ability to add new pages
• Upload load wedding menus, and wedding lists (a great idea)
• Integrated map of the venue and reception
• RSVP form
• Photo Galleries – to show your friends and family the pics of your big day. Also good for those family and friends that were unable to make it
• Secure login for updating your site
• Your own web address
• Site live for 12 months

All this allows you to share your celebration and communicate your wedding details online with your family and friends. Great idea.

Having a stylish wedding means making sophisticated, elegant and fashion-conscious choice for every detail of your wedding.   Brides often take great care in selecting gifts for their bridesmaids, making sure that they are thoughtful and something that they will genuinely like.  When it comes to the groom choosing his groomsman gifts we aren’t sure the same can be said.

Groomsman wedding gifts don’t have to be (and indeed shouldn’t be!) something snatched up from the high street at the last minute.

 We’ve found a great site online that offers some really fashionable gifts for the Best Man and other male members of the wedding party.   Based in the US,  they ship worldwide, and the stregnth of the Euro and Pound to the dollar means that you are getting an amazing value for money.

Here are our favourite picks:

Leather Hip Flask

This genuine leather hip flask speaks of taste and luxury, but is surprisingly affordable.  (Seriously, you should take a look at the prices on the site before you buy a tackier equivalent in a UK shop.)  The silver front tab can also be personalized with a name.

Brushed Silver Pocket Watch

Uber fashionable in a retro way, a pocketwatch is a timeless (pardon the pun) gift. The brushed silver case can be personalized for free, which we think makes it even more cool.

Personalized humidor

OK, so it’s not very politically correct at the moment to advocate smoking in any way shape or form. But we know that guys like to enjoy a cigar on special occassions, and what is more special that your wedding?

Cool Superman Cufflinks with Personalized Case

We actually think that these would be a super-romantic gift for the bride to give the groom.   Aaaaw.

Browse VIP Groomsmens Gifts for more ideas and be sure to come back and let us know which were your favourites.

Original post by Weddingfashionfiles.com

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You have the whole outfit sorted- dress, hair, make up. There’s just one thing you need to complete the look and that is the wedding ring. Unlike everything else you will be wearing on the day, this is for life. You need to ensure that it is timeless, that you will love it just as much in 30 years time as you do when you buy it.

Weding rings often get overlooked in all the flurry about dresses, cakes and venues when in fact they are arguably the most vital part of the wedding. Don’t be afraid to spend a large portion of your budget on the rings- they’re going to be around a long time after all.

Make sure it fits well with your engagement ring. It’s possible to get wedding rings shaped around your engagement ring if, like mine, it’s an awkward shape. It needs to match in carat if nothing else- if you are going to be wearing different carats next to each other they can rub together and cause damage. A lot of people obsess about the tone of gold matching, but this is not necessary. If you want a yellow gold band with your white gold engagement ring, go for it.

Likewise, your ring doesn’t have to match your husband’s. If he wants simple 9ct yellow gold, and you have your heart set on diamond encrusted platinum neither of you has to compromise. Just each buy the ring you like. If you want the matching element there, how about getting the same engraving within the ring?

For a smaller budget, have a look around on the high street. Before you turn your nose up at me, that doesn’t mean you have to resort to Elizabeth Duke. Beaverbrooks sell lovely wedding bands from just £95. This 9ct yellow gold and diamond ring (above) is just £250 and looks stunning. A 9ct yellow gold mens band starts from just £235, so you could have a matching set for a steal at less than £500.

Those with more cash to spend after something a little different should have a look at Dominic Walmsley’s amazing designs. Unique and breathtakingly beautiful, these rings are perfect for the couple who want to stand out. My personal favourites are the fingerprint rings- your partner’s fingerprint is forever embedded within your wedding ring. Starting at £950 for the male ring and £720 for the female ring, they’ll be something to cherish for your whole life together.

The wedding ring is a symbol of eternity- there is no beginning or end to a ring, just one continuous circle. Choosing a ring that you will love and cherish forever is the perfect way to start your lives together.

 Original Post by Weddingfashionfiles.com

Which Style of Wedding Music to Choose?

Choosing the style of wedding music is very important and must be done as soon as possible, as like popular wedding photographers, the best wedding bands and DJs get booked well in advance, anything from months to years in advance.

Where do you start looking? It could be as simple as booking a wedding band that you thought were really good at a friend’s wedding or, alternatively, from personal recommendations. Otherwise it’s sifting through the wedding magazines classified adds and the internet. Make a short list and ask to either see and listen to the band perform live or ask for a demo disc. Also, ask for references and if at all possible, contact other couples who have hired them and ask their thoughts on the band.

Request List

Make sure that you tell the band what you would like them to play, as well as what not to play, before the wedding. If you have a specific song that you would like them play, especially for the First Dance, contact them in advance, as it will give them plenty of time to learn the song if they do not already know it.

Is there Enough Space?

Carefully consider whether there is enough space available for the musicians. Will the registry office/venue or church accommodate musicians? What are the acoustics like – check with the musician and see if the are happy with the quality of sound. At the reception, where will the musicians perform? Is there enough room for them and their equipment? Is there a dance floor? Liaise with your wedding venue’s wedding co-ordinator – they should even have contact details for bands and musicians that have performed well there in the past.

How Much Will It Cost?

Prices vary due to the wide variety of musicians available and their quality. Generally, you get what you pay for, and from my experience a great wedding band can make your celebration even more memorable, as unfortunately, can a bad band do the opposite.

About the Author: Paul Birkett of Blue Square Images is a wedding photographer in Kent . If you like our style of Kent wedding photography, why not follow us on Twitter or contact us.

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The Victorian wedding was a grand affair. It was a chance to show the world how lavish and respectable your family was in society. In many ways they were very similar to today’s traditional weddings: The exchanging of rings, dramatic dresses and throwing a sophisticated party for friends and family. They were extravagant yet romantic events; True fairytale weddings.

If you are interested in incorporating some Victorian touches in your vintage wedding then here are some ideas.
The Dress
Victorian wedding dresses reflected the fashion of the era for small waists, large bosoms and flowing skirts. They were normally modest, with high necks and long sleeves to symbolise the innocence of the bride. For die-hard Victorian fans, Sally C Designs sell beautiful wedding dresses made to authentic Victorian patterns.

However, most brides of today find these to be a bit too authentic. The trick is to find a dress that is Victorian inspired. One of the most successful designers influenced by this era is Ian Stuart. His creations certainly have the drama and opulence that Victorian brides craved, yet still have a modern twist for the ultimate in vintage wedding dresses.

Stuart’s “Nocturne” dress is reminiscent of Victorian ballgowns. It is beautifully elegant with romantic touches in the corsage.

The Reception

Victorian receptions were more civilised affairs than today- no Uncle Tony dancing to Amarillo booming from a lurid DJ booth as children run riot at his feet. Instead, the ceremony (always in a church) was followed by a light lunch from which we get our Wedding Breakfast tradition. The receiving line was very popular during this time.

To imitate the sophisticated wedding breakfast of the 19th Century, an al fresco tea party would be perfect.

Serve up cloudy lemonade and Pimm’s (first produced in 1823, making it a quintessential Victorian drink) with Victoria sponge. It’s also possible to hire Victorian-themed ice cream or candyfloss carts from companies such as Candyfloss Crazy.

Or, to go all out, how about a Victorian fairground? Candyfloss Crazy also hire out carousels and ferris wheels.

For a winter wedding, a Dickensian Christmas theme is perfectly quaint. Serve mulled wine and mince pie canapés, and don’t forget the Christmas tree- introduced to England by Prince Albert in 1846.

As for entertainment, why not hire a local brass band? Or for something that will really turn heads- a chimney sweep. It was considered lucky to cross a chimney sweep, most of all on your wedding day. Lucky Chimney Sweeps hire them out to offer a good luck kiss to the bride. They look great in wedding photos too!

Celebrity Weddings

Celebrity weddings of the time are a fantastic source of inspiration, and who could possible have had a more famous Victorian wedding than Queen Victoria herself? Marrying her cousin Albert in 1840, she wore a white satin dress in quite a daring style for the era: Off-the-shoulder and with short sleeves.

An orange blossom headdress- a symbol of fertility (She went on to carry nine children!) and lace veil adorned her hair, while for jewellery she wore diamond earrings and a diamond necklace which were extremely fashionable.

Victorian Traditions

Traditions can act as inspiration for wedding plans. Many of these have now died out over the years, but there are always possibilities to revive them!

• The tradition of the “something blue” rhyme was a Victorian tradition, but ended with “and a silver sixpence in the shoe” which was worn in the left shoe to bring wealth.
• The bride decided on the date, and was not seen in public after invitations were sent out.
• Presents were received several days before the wedding, and set up as decoration on the day.
• Pearls were bad luck as they were seen to symbolise tears.

The Victorian era was a time of elegant and sophisticated weddings. They make the ideal inspiration for brides-to-be who want a romantic vintage wedding.

Original post by Weddingfashionfiles.com

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1. Make the groom, best man and father-of-the-bride feel as confident as you can, as they all feel nervous and worry that their wedding speech will ruin their wedding day.
2. It’s all about preparation. Write your wedding speech well in advance and try to learn it of by heart as much as you can. This preparation will help you beat those big day nerves.
3. Gather unusual stories from family and friends who have known the couple at different times of their lives.
4. Try to include something for everyone and do not swear, as there may be children present and some people may find it offensive. Consider what your audience will want to hear. The bride’s grandparents probably do not want to hear a best man’s speech that focuses exclusively on the groom’s drunken stag weekend in Budapest dressed as a pink fairy!
5. Balance your wedding speech with humour and sincerity. A speech that is over sentimental can be dull, while a wedding speech that is full on humour can miss the point of what the wedding day is all about.
6. There is no “correct way” to write a speech, but try to keep to short punchy sentences rather than long rambling paragraphs. Being a wedding photographer, I have seen my fair share of wedding speehes, some fantastic, where I’ve had problems trying to keep my camera steady due to me laughing so much, to ones that bore the-pants-off you, not just me but the guests as well, and these ones tend to be the long rambling paragraph style speeches!
7. The short punchy sentence style means that you can give a speech that exudes confidence. Practice is the key here. Practice, out loud, over and over again until you feel totally confident with it, may be even in front of a mirror or partner/friend, reading slowly with emphasis on key words.
8. Practice means that you should know your wedding speech pretty well, which will mean that you do not have to keep looking down at your notes. Make eye contact with your audience, as there is nothing worse than a nervous speaker looking down reading his notes with out engaging his  or her audience. Have cue cards key phrases in large type so that they can be easily read and will trigger your memory for what is coming next.
9. To avoid any nasty surprises on the big day, there are a few things you need to find out. Firstly, where you will be standing, secondly, whether there will be a microphone (not all venues supply them) and thirdly, will there be somewhere to rest you notes.
10. However, if after all these little tips you are still unable to write a speech , there are plenty of services on the internet that offer to write speeches for you. Good luck, and try to enjoy the day.

About the Author: Paul Birkett of Blue Square Images is a contemporary wedding photographer . If you like our style of wedding photography, why not follow us on Twitter or  contact us.
 

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Wedding Dress - Tips on Buying Your Wedding Dress

• Buy your wedding dress from a shop!
• If you buy your wedding online, over the internet, all you will usually get is an image of the dress and you will not get a colour swatch of the wedding dress material. This is a must if you are trying to match colours for your bridesmaids dresses, flowers, cake or waistcoats. Without the colour swatch you have  a good chance of not getting the shade you want.
• You need to be measured for your wedding dress by a qualified person who is experienced in choosing the right size that will suit you. You will not have this when purchasing a dress online. The website may have a size chart but that does not guarantee a correct fit.
• The majority of wedding dresses need some form of alteration and fitting. Online sellers do not have this facility of a seamstress, where a wedding dress shop will.
• Buying your wedding online via the internet means that it will be delivered in a box and therefore will need to steamed and ironed, and doing this yourself could lead to a disaster. You do not want to damage your wedding dress because you had the iron on too hot a setting! Buying your dress from a shop means that you will collect your wedding dress in immaculate condition and already to wear.
• Just because the image of your dream wedding dress looks great online, does not mean that it will suit you. You need to try a number of wedding dresses on to find the “one” and you will know when you find it. You make make a day of it, take your mother and/or best friends to help you and listen to what they have to say. Also, the shop assistants will be able to advise you on what style may suit you best and the available accessories to go with your dream dress.
• Many shops offer some type of payment plan where you are able to spread the cost of your wedding dress, this is particularly helpful in today’s economic climate. Where buying via the internet means you will have to pay the full amount up front before your order is confirmed.
• You are more likely to get better after sales care from a shop than you are from an online store.

About the Author: Paul Birkett of Blue Square Images is a wedding photographer in Kent . If you like our style of wedding photography, why not contact us.
 

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Bridal Portrait

• A bride that is healthy and glowing will look good in her wedding photos. You can do this by looking after yourself in lead up to your wedding. Make sure you drink loads of water in the months before your big day and eat sensibly.

• You may have very definite ideas about the wedding photos you want taken on your day, but listen to your wedding photographer and take advantage of their creative flair and photographic skill and experience. They are the professionals, and don’t forget you are paying them to get great shots, so use them.

• If you are not having a wedding toastmaster, have someone help your wedding photographers, may be a confident groomsman or bridesmaid, who can help identify family members and friends and can gather people for the group photos.

• Apart from the formal wedding photos, try to ignore the camera and your wedding photographer. Any good wedding photographer should be able to blend into the background and almost become a guest, so you are unaware of their presence. You then become much more relaxed and can enjoy your wedding . The most important thing is that you have fun and enjoy your wedding – have a great day.

• Even though candid and reportage style wedding photography looks beautiful, don’t forget to have the traditional formal group photos as well. One way to look at it, is like this, the informal, candid reportage style of wedding photography tells the story, in pictures, of your wedding day, while the formal group shots are a record of who was at your wedding. Also, older family members will very much appreciate the group pictures, as your wedding is one of those very rare occasions when whole families get together and is a  great opportunity to get those family group photos.

About the Author: Paul Birkett of Blue Square Images is a kent based wedding photographer who specialises in modern and contemporary wedding photography. You can follow him on Twitter or contact Paul.

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Commissioning Your Wedding Cake

What Style Wedding Cake?

Wedding Cake

Choose a wedding cake to match the mood and style of your wedding day. A good starting point is to use your choice of wedding flower. A good wedding cake designer will be able to use any flower that you are considering into the overall cake design. To judge their creativity, ask to see examples of their work.

What Flavour Wedding Cake?

The type of wedding cake  to some extent determines how the cake will be arranged. For example, a sponge wedding cake may well collapse under the weight of multiple tiers. Different types of stands will be able to get around this problem without the need for columns to hold the tiers, or have a fruit cake as the base layer which will be able to support the sponge layers. There is little to stop you of having anything you want, provided the consistency is compatible with the design of the wedding cake, from Maderia to coconut, chocolate and lemon.

What Size Wedding Cake?

The number of guests dictate the size of your cake and your wedding cake designer will be able to guide you by telling which size would be suit the number of guests you are inviting. Consider having different layers, for example a sponge layer for your guests on the day and a fruit layer, which will stay fresher for longer, to send to family and friends that were unable to attend your wedding.

Transporting It To The Venue?

The wedding cake makers usually offer a delivery service within their area to transport your cake safely to the wedding venue – agree any additional costs in advance.

How Much Will A Wedding Cake Cost?

It’s the decorative detail of a wedding cake that is expensive, the basic cake itself is relatively inexpensive. Those on a budget should keep things simple and discuss the cost and payment terms with your designer before placing an order. To help keep the cost down, do you know anyone that could make the basic cake for you and get decorative detail done professionally; this would save quite a bit.

About the Author: Paul Birkett of Blue Square Images is a wedding photographer in Kent who specialises in reportage wedding photography. You can follow him on Twitter or contact Paul.
 

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