Happy Wedding Wisdom

So, your marriage is on the cards? It is time for a Bridal Shower Party! At the bridal shower party, family and friends will give gifts and lots of blessings for you. The origin of the bridal shower is quite interesting and can be traced back to Holland. It is an old story which states that a Dutch girl fell in love with a miller who was very poor. When she told her father, he forbade their marriage. So the young lady decided to marry the miller and stayed with him, despite his poverty. As the neighbors heard about the news of them nearly starving, they came with help. They showered gifts and money on the newly married couple. From the money and gifts showered to the couple, they set up a good home and a good life for themselves. Since then, this tradition of bridal showers has been in practice. Though, today the celebrations of bridal shower are grand and all full of gaiety. No bridal shower celebration is complete without bridal shower games. These games will add life to your party and keep the guests entertained. Bridal shower games really get the party going. You can even be creative while setting the games for your bridal shower party. In fact the more bridal shower games you play the better. With today’s tradition of inviting friends, work colleagues and family members to a bridal shower, games can be great way to break the ice for people who don’t know each other. Who Am I Bridal Shower Game The game “Who Am I” adds smiles and vitality to the whole party with the added benefit of being a great first icebreaker. To play this game, all you have to do is to prepare some index cards. On each card write a name of a famous personality. As soon as the guests arrive, attach a card to everyone’s back. Attach them in such a way that the guest is not able to see it, while the others can. Then start the real test. The guests have to ask each other for the clues, so that that they can know the name attached to their back. The first person to identify the correct name is the winner. The Wedding Alphabet Game The Wedding Alphabet Game is really fun. The game involves a combination of wit and intelligence. The game is simple; the host initiates the game by describing a wedding item, ritual or tradition starting from the letter ‘A’. They will include in their sentence the item or the culture starting from ‘A’. The next guest adds another item or anything after that sentence starting from ‘B’. This game continues as the sentences keep on building. If a person is unable to add an item of the letter they get, they drop out. The guest who stays longest wins the game. Caught In the Middle Game The bridal shower game “Caught in the Middle” promises to bring loads of laughter and activity to the party. The game is quite simple. Everybody is made to sit in a circle, then a bag is provided to one guest. As the music plays on, the guest has to pass it over to the other guest. This passing goes on till the music continues. As soon as the music stops, the one with the bag in their hand gets caught in the middle. As a penalty, they are asked to perform a dance, an imitation, a mono act or anything. This bridal shower game adds excitement to the party. It also brings out the latent talent of every guest that gets caught in the middle. Charades Charades is widely known and played all over the world. This game can be played anywhere and everywhere. The game involves intelligence and recognition power. There are two teams made out of the guests. One member of each team has to perform a mono act on the name of the actor or a movie given secretly to him. The guest only has to perform and not speak. The name of the character or the movie has to be guessed by his team. Within a time frame, if any team member guesses the correct name, his team gets a point. In the end the team with maximum points is declared as a winner. These are just a few ideas for bridal shower games to help create a great mood for the bridal shower party. They can add excitement and joy to the whole party and are a good way to get everyone involved, as there will no doubt be guests who don’t know each other. So, get your party started with lots of bridal shower games.

Keep in touch with your wedding vendors. Calling them periodically doesn’t mean you are bothering them. You might get more attention and better service due to your proactive approach. If you have concerns, be sure to voice them early.

You are planning your second wedding and are not sure about etiquette and what is or is not acceptable, right? The truth is that the second time around can be just as memorable and special as the first. Here are some different tips to help you make your second wedding a day to remember. When planning for your second wedding use heartfelt, common sense before announcing your new engagement. Some couples who have previously been married may have children and previous family members who need to be informed personally of your new future. Inform them first before announcing it in a newspaper. Also think before registering for gifts at department stores. When registering for your second wedding, think about the things you need, as a couple. You may already have items that would commonly be bought for first time marriages, such as towels and dishes. Instead think about registering for those things that will help you bring your new home together, such as new curtains, bedding or items you can use to remodel the home that you’re moving into. Many years ago, attire for a previously married bride meant absolutely no white. That is not the case anymore. When planning your second wedding, if you decide you want to wear a flowing white gown, it’s considered perfectly acceptable. One thing to avoid is a veil, which represents virginity. Instead of a veil, think about adorning your head with a crown or tiara or a beautiful new hairstyle. Whichever you choose, keep in mind that although it is a second marriage, you can feel and look just as beautiful as you did the first time. When choosing a destination for your second wedding, some couples choose to make it different from the first by having a small ceremony with a huge reception, inviting friends and family on a trip with marriage in mind or having a surprise wedding, by sending invitations out for a birthday party or holiday event and instead being prepared to get married. You can also just go with a traditional church wedding. Whichever you choose, make the decision together. After all, you are committing yourselves to each other and both of you should be happy with the decision. If children are involved from previous marriages, let them know that they also are an important part of your second wedding. Rather than the ceremony joining a man and woman together, you will be joining families. Why not include the children in the ceremony? Let your son walk you down the aisle to give you away, have your daughter be an honorary attendant or let the younger children be a miniature bride and groom. The important thing is to make the children feel welcome in this new union, letting them feel that it is not just a marriage of man and wife, but of the family as a whole. Although second weddings can be done the same as a first time wedding, let this be your opportunity to make it different while keeping it sacred. Make it known to everyone that this is the man you have chosen to spend the rest of your life with and your two families are now to be joined as one.

The Jewish faith is one that is deeply ensconced in tradition. A traditional Jewish wedding follows a number of beautiful traditions that date back for thousands of years. The traditions include the signing of the Ketubah, the use of the chuppah as well as traditional dances that are performed at the wedding. The rings exchanged during a Jewish wedding also have traditional connotations. One of the easiest ways to handle a multi-cultural wedding is to allow one culture to dominate the wedding ceremony while the other culture dominates the wedding reception. At the ceremony care could be used to ensure that the attire, words, music, decorations and procedures adhere to the culture of either the bride or the groom. If the culture of the bride dominates the ceremony then you could allow the culture of the groom to dominate the reception. This could be done by providing food, entertainment and toasts that reflect on the time-honored traditions of the groom’s cultural background. While the preceding solution of having one culture control the ceremony and another culture control the reception is one way to plan a multi-cultural wedding, many couple choose to blend both of the components of the wedding instead. While this can be more difficult, it may be a better solution because neither family feels left out of a party of the wedding. After the couple exchanges their wedding vows, a rabbi reads 7 traditional blessings. After the blessings the groom steps on a wine glass to break the glass in a symbol of human frailty and the suffering that members of the Jewish faith have endured and this with a final blessing from the rabbi concludes the ceremony. Unlike other traditional weddings, there is usually not a receiving line at the conclusion of a Jewish wedding. Tradition holds that the couple spends a few minutes alone immediately following the wedding so many members of the Jewish faith honor this tradition by leaving the ceremony immediately and waiting until the reception to offer their well wishes to the couple. This togetherness time was traditionally an opportunity for the couple to consummate the marriage but in modern times it is more of chance for the couple to reflect on their wedding ceremony and the start of their life together before the chaos of the wedding. Cultural weddings can also be blended at the reception in a number of ways. A simple way to do this is to serve foods that relate to one culture and provide entertainment that relates to the other culture. This separation may seem too harsh for some couples and they may want to blend their cultures in a more subtle way. One way to do this is to serve a buffet style dinner that serves cultural favorites of both heritages. Also, if you budget a significant amount of money for entertainment, you could consider hiring two bands so that you can have one band that specializes in the cultural heritage of the bride and one to represent the groom’s heritage. This could not only serve to unite the families but can also serve to ensure that the entertainment never ceases. Many live bands play for only about 20 minutes at a time and then take a break. The two bands could alternate playing their music so that there is never a dull moment at the reception. If budget constraints do not allow hiring two separate bands you might want to consider hiring a band to play the music of one culture and consider hiring dancers to represent the other culture. The Jewish faith is a faith that is full of history and tradition. Many couples and their guests choose to honor these traditions by incorporating them into their wedding ceremony and reception. Many of these traditions are the defining moments of the celebration and they lend an atmosphere of historical significance to the wedding.

As one of the biggest and most potentially stressful events of your life, getting engaged and subsequently planning a wedding brings with it an onslaught of questions. As times change and weddings evolve, traditional rules of etiquette have followed suit, only adding to the confusion. To gain perspective, first understand that “etiquette” is above all about treating people with courtesy and making them feel comfortable. When an etiquette question arises, consider the feelings of those who will be affected. To steer you through the fog of questions, I’ve compiled a quick look at the top five most common wedding etiquette dilemmas: Family Etiquette, Invitation Etiquette, Gift Etiquette, Attire Etiquette and The Cash Bar Issue. Family Etiquette: Introducing Your Parents – If the bride and groom’s parents have not met prior to the engagement, tradition dictates that the groom’s family calls and introduces themselves to the bride’s family and arranges a meeting. If the groom’s parents do not make the first introduction, then the bride’s parents should. Nowadays, who makes the first call is irrelevant; all that really matters is that the parents meet. If meeting face to face is impossible, a letter or phone call will suffice. Introducing Divorced Parents – If the groom’s parents are divorced, the parent with the closest relationship to the groom should take the first step in meeting the bride’s parents. If both sets are divorced, the parent closest to the groom should first contact the bride’s suggested parent. If no one begins the introduction process, the couple should step in and ensure that everyone meets, while refraining from forcing potentially awkward situations. Your In-Laws – The groom’s parents often feel left out of the planning process. To avoid this, invite your future in-laws into the initial dialogue. You should immediately inform them of your ideas regarding location, date, size and style of the wedding. Take queues on their desired level of involvement and include them accordingly. Let them make offers to pitch in with finances or planning. Above all, keep them informed throughout your engagement. Invitation Etiquette: Inviting partners and guests – If an invited guest is married, engaged or living with a significant other, that partner must be included in the invitation. A single invitation addressed to both individuals should be sent to spouses or couples who live together, while separate invitations should be sent to each member of an engaged or long term couple who don’t live together. Inviting single guests with a date is a thoughtful gesture, but one that is not required. If you are inviting a single guest with a date, try to find out the name of your friend’s intended date and include that person’s name on the invitation. Otherwise, inner envelopes may include “And Guest,” indicating that he or she may bring any chosen escort or friend. Guests Who Ask to Bring a Guest – Your guests should know better! It is never appropriate for a guest to ask to bring a date, and you have every right to politely say no. However, if you discover that a guest is engaged or living with a significant other, you should extend a written or verbal invitation. Invitations to out-of-town guests – Many brides ponder whether or not it’s appropriate to invite long distance guests for whom it may be impossible to attend. Use your best judgment. Is this person truly a close friend who would want to attend your celebration? If so, failing to extend an invitation may be insulting. Remember, these days friends and family are often spread all over the country, and people are accustomed to traveling. On the other hand, if you haven’t spoken in years, an invitation may look like no more than a request for a gift. In those cases, send a wedding announcement instead, which carries no gift-giving obligation. Gift-giving Etiquette: Yes, we all love to receive gifts, and weddings are a perfect occasion for gift-giving. Friends and loved ones customarily honor the commitment of the newly betrothed by showering them with gifts. As the happy couple, just remember to always feel privileged

Best man speeches are a very important part of a wedding. The best man usually gives a toast at the start of the reception to honor the bride and the groom. Many best men stress out a great deal about writing the toast while others simply rely on their instincts and speak from the heart on the day of the wedding. In either approach best man speeches are often difficult to compose which is why many best men find the situation to be so stressful. This article will provide tips for giving a memorable toast at a wedding. First of all best man speeches should be written a few weeks before the wedding day. This is important because best men who wait until the last minute may be stressed and may have difficulty writing anything. Planning ahead gives the best man time to write the speech and rewrite or edit it as needed. Best man speeches should avoid embarrassing anecdotes. Although these stories are popular fodder for television and movies, most wedding toasts do not include stories of debauchery or earlier transgressions. Inclusion of crude or vulgar references in a wedding toast is considered to be in bad taste because it may be offensive to those in attendance. Weddings are usually attended by older relatives of both the bride and the groom. These relatives will not likely appreciate this type of humor. Similarly best man speeches should not include inside jokes which will not be understood by the majority of guests at the wedding. Although these little jokes may be quite funny to the couple, the best man and a few guests, most guests will likely not understand the joke. This can create an awkward situation because the guests will not know why a few guests are laughing so uproariously. Keeping best man speeches short and simple is also recommended. Many best men make the mistake of thinking the toast has to be long but this isn’t true. Some of the most memorable toasts are quick and to the point. This is important because the guests will not become confused or lose track of the point being made by the best man. Using common language is also recommended when giving best man speeches. A best man who attempts to use unfamiliar words may be uncomfortable and their discomfort will not translate well to the other guests. Seeking outside advice when writing best man speeches can be very helpful. The best man may wish to recite the speech or toast for an audience before the wedding day to ensure everything comes out as he planned. Friends of the bride and groom or the parents of the couple are good resources for this practice speech. They make a good audience because they know the couple well and can provide insight into how the speech will be received. The best man should also practice reciting the speech several more times before the wedding. The trial run with others is helpful but practicing in front of a mirror or a camcorder will allow the best man to determine how well the speech sounds. Best man speeches should sound natural and not over rehearsed but repeating the words out loud a few times will help the best man to deliver the toast smoothly on the day of the wedding.

When designing jewelry, the sky is the limit as far as color choices, stones, shapes and over-all design. But just like a cherry on a sundae or the star on the top of a Christmas tree, no outfit is complete without jewelry. I would start with making a choice on your bridesmaids dresses. Take your Maid of Honor with you to help you make a decision because usually there are more choices of bridesmaid dresses than there are Wedding gowns in the boutiques. This will help you get some feedback as far as what will work for all of the girls and she can also try some of them on, since they normally look very different on a person than they do on the rack. Once you have made a decision, make sure that you get a swatch of the fabric so that you have a true reference to the color of the gowns. I would not recommend trying to match the tones in the jewelry by memory, especially if you’d like to go with a similar color scheme. This simple, and not to mention free, tip will make life much easier in the long run. The next thing you will need to consider is what sort of stones you’d like your girls to wear on the big day. There are quite a lot of choices when it comes to this subject, you can go with semi-precious stones, crystals, pearls or even just a simple pendant on a satin cord. The best place to start is with style of the dresses, taking into consideration the color and the cut of the dress itself. Then you can decide if you’d like to go with one type and shape of stone for example, crystals or pearls, you can have a single strand or you can also go with a layered look of two or three stands of the same stone. I personally find this very effective and it’s also nice because if you go with a necklace and bracelet that are of a simpler design, your girls will get much more use out of them in the future. If you are having trouble finding something that will compliment your dresses closely, don’t worry, I find that if you go with a mono-chromatic scheme and put several shades together that are in the same family it will give you a little more interest in the jewelry and you don’t have to be so concerned with having a perfect match. You can view a sampling of Swarovski Crystal colors using a Swarovski Crystal color chart. Also, don’t be afraid to consider other color options when working with hues in this manner. For example, you may find that with a pale green dress, shades of citrine or yellow topaz will look very nice, or even shades of blue. It all depends on the undertones in the fabric. The last thing to consider is the shapes of the stones that you wish to use. You could go with a single size, like tiny pearls on layered strings for a very feminine and classic look. Or you may want to go with several shapes and sizes that when put together, will make a pattern and create some interest like a Swarovski Crystal Round and Bicone Necklace, this can be very dramatic or just slight variations in the shapes.

Wedding guest favors that are unique and thoughtful can add a real personal touch to your special day. When we are constantly bombarded with images of the latest expensive celebrity wedding, we can become overwhelmed by aspirations of similar lavishness, and forget that the real significance of a special day can be in the simple details such as wedding guest favors. By putting extra care into choosing your wedding guest favors, you can help simplify your nuptials while still creating a day to remember. Wedding guest favors are only one of the wedding traditions that have ballooned from simple symbolism into all out ostentation. Many couples feel compelled to spend huge amounts of money on their special day, gifting their family and friends with wedding guest favors that are showy and expensive. The truth is that unless you really are one of those celebrity divas inviting hundreds of your celebrity acquaintances to share in your day, the people at your wedding really do not want to be showered with expensive wedding guest favors. Family and friends are delighted to share in your special day, and hope for wedding guest favors that will simply remind them later of a special couple and a wonderful day. Choosing your wedding guest favors can really be one of the nicest parts of planning your wedding. Wedding guest favors should make your guests think of you and your partner, so something personal is always a good choice. There are a whole host of wedding favors to make, which creates an even more intimate gift for your special friends. Choosing wedding favors to make yourself can also prove rather therapeutic, affording you a moment of peaceful time amidst all the chaos of planning. Select a wedding favor to make that is simple and thoughtful, like a photo of the happy couple with a homemade frame. The important thing is that wedding guest favors gain their significance from the thought with which they are made or chosen, rather than the price ticket attached. So if you want to beat the pants off those ostentatious celebrity weddings, make it simple, with wedding guest favors that are personal and unique. You need to put some thought into the wedding guest favors you are planning. It can be fun.

While bachelor parties are a tradition dating back to the 1800s, bachelorette parties have become popular only recently. Bachelorette parties seem to be more about the bride-to-be bonding with women friends than the male tradition of enjoying a final night of freedom before marriage. A New Tradition Some brides choose a night of frivolity, such as male exotic dancers and lots of alcohol, much like the groom’s bachelor party. But the majority of women opt for other activities. The theme of most bachelorette parties is to tease the bride in a fun way, while sharing a memorable evening with her best friends. The Nightclub Scene This is 1 of the most popular bachelorette activities. Parties often start with dinner at an elegant restaurant, followed by drinks and dancing at popular nightclubs. Hiring a limousine to drive everyone together from destination to destination is a great idea. First, it allows all the women to travel together and party in transit. Second, it adds a touch of class to the evening. And perhaps the best reason is to ensure that everyone arrives safely at their destinations. The women in the bachelorette party will often create a veil for the bride to wear on that night. The style of the veil isn’t important, so long as it is conspicuous and calls a great deal of attention to the bride. It’s also typical for this type of party to send the bride on a scavenger hunt. The other women get together ahead of time to create a list of activities for the bride to accomplish or objects to find. This type of bachelorette party is a great way for the bride to enjoy a night of dinner, dancing, drinks and fun with her best friends. Retreat To A Spa Spa retreats have become quite popular as bachelorette party ideas. The bride-to-be and her friends get together at a spa to enjoy relaxing massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and other treatments. A steam room, sauna and/or hot tub adds an extra element of relaxation. Some spas provide great meals from a selection of healthy dishes. This type of bachelorette party lets the bride relax and connect with her friends while leaving behind the stress of planning a wedding. Many brides get so caught up in the details of wedding planning that they forget to enjoy the wedding. A spa retreat bachelorette party is a great solution. Exotic Dance Lessons A little more risque, but lots of fun, is exotic dancing lessons. These parties are becoming more common now that pole dancing classes are beginning to spring up in health clubs. For these parties the women gather at a private home or a dance studio, and a professional dancer comes in to teach them the art of exotic dance. This can be a great way for friends to let loose and have fun. Night Of Feature Films Another unique bachelorette party idea is for the maid of honor to host a movie night. The hostess rents plenty of movies to select from, and stocks up on movie theater style goodies or creates a menu of hors d’oeuvres. This could be the bride’s last chance to sit around with her friends watching “chick flicks” for a good long while. This is a fun, safe, and relaxing way for the women to get together to talk and have a good time. Although a new phenomenon, the bachelorette party is quickly catching on. It does not have the same feel as a bachelor party — instead of a last night of freedom, it a night to bond with women friends.

DO Shop early! Avoid the “Two Weeks ’til Wedding Day Attack.” Get your wedding dress early. DO Research before your buy. The quickest and easiest way to research is by searching online. There are many Web sites dedicated do wedding dresses where you can get a ton of useful information about styles, designs, trends, etc. DO Go to a wedding dress specialist. You should visit several wedding boutiques, and learn from the pros. Of course, keep in mind they are selling, so you should take everything with a grain of salt. DO Expect minor alterations. Even the most expensive designer wedding gowns might need a few adjustments. If you buy your gown well in advance, you may need to alter the dress again a couple of weeks prior to the wedding. DO Keep an open mind while you shop for your wedding dress. Try lots of things on. Often the dress you thought you’d never like is the one that makes you look and feel the best. DO Bring shoes with the same height as your wedding shoes are going to be on your special day. DO Slip a bustier, a control-top panty hose into your purse. DO Have Fun! DON’T panic if you have to special order! Wedding dress salons can special order your dress faster than you can say “panic.” DON’T put up with unfriendly sales people. This is your wedding day, your big purchase. The sales person who sells your wedding dress to you should share in your enthusiasm and make it exciting for you. DON’T shop after you’ve bought. Instead enjoy the rest of your wedding planning journey. DON’T give up! Finding that perfect wedding dress is going to take some work. DON’T take too many people with you on your hunt for your wedding dress. You shouldn’t take more than five people with you on your shopping trip.

What did I learn from my own wedding? Work out a time schedule and stick to it. Plotting out your beauty details months before your wedding will help you remain calm and collected so that your big day goes off without a hitch. Two Months Before • A good skin care regimen is important to get ready for your big day but don’t do anything too extreme. To bump up your normal routine, try adding I-Skin Intelligent Microdermabrasion System. • Moisture is so important for healthy glowing skin. Apply an oil-free moisturizer each morning before your makeup and after you take if off each night. I suggest Beyond Belief ABH Oil Free Moisturizer for your face and throat. Four to Six Weeks Before • Make your appointment now to have your hair and makeup done. Schedule a consultation and try several different styles with and without your veil and experiment with more dramatic makeup. Remember the waterproof mascara. Two Weeks Before • Time for a trim and to touch up your hair color or highlights. Keep hair healthy with a deep conditioner twice a week. Beyond the Zone Last Call Hair Masque is made to repair any damage and make your hair super shiny. One Week Before • Schedule a pedicure but keep feet fabulous until the big day with some extra pampering. The Soothing Lavender Foot Soak can be handy if you plan on dancing the night away at your reception. • Don’t leave any waxing until the last minute. You could end up with shiny, red skin and that isn’t what you want for your wedding photos. Day Before • Slip an eye mask in the freezer for a few minutes and use it to minimize puffy eyes. • For an always-classic look, try Sally Girl polish in Mellow for fingernails and a fun red for toenails. The small-size bottles are excellent to have on hand for touch-ups and the polish dries quickly. Help the day go smoothly by keeping a small bag with beauty basics such as clear fingernail polish to stop a run, bob pins to help hold an unruly curl and toupee tape for a fallen hem.

Of all the pieces of jewelry that you will ever have to purchase the most important one of all is her engagement ring. This is the ring that she will carry with her and most likely wear for the rest of her life. At least as long as things go the way you are planning! Choosing the right ring is going to make your life much happier and she will be able to feel proud every time that she walks out of the house. In order to choose the right engagement ring you need to know what she likes. Find out what her tastes are in jewelry because there are many different kinds of rings out there on the market today. Some of the rings are every traditional and stately and others are more modern and interesting. The choice is yours but if she doesn’t like it that can be pretty bad for you both. It is a very important thing to learn just what kind of ring she will like the best. So how can you find this out without asking her? Talk to her family and friends. Let them know what you are planning and make sure that they don’t say anything! They most likely have a good idea of what she will like the best. Ask if there is a type of ring or a shape of stone that she has always talked of. Perhaps she has always wanted a trinity engagement ring or a princess cut solitaire diamond, or maybe she wants some colored gems in her engagement ring. Find out these kinds of things before you go shopping for the ring and you will have a much better chance of choosing appropriately. If you have a definite idea of the engagement ring that you want to get for her and you cannot find it in any stores then you are going to have to look into getting it custom made. There are many jewelers, most of the higher end ones, that will be able to do design the perfect ring for your favorite woman. They can help you bring to life any ideas that you have in mind. We are talking about talented and creative designers who have been doing this kind of thing for years. If you are ready to take the matter into your own hands then you need to get a fantastic designer to work on your engagement ring. This also adds a personal touch that no store bought ring can do. If you want to pick the way the ring works but you do not want to go to the time and expense that a custom ring can cost you can choose to put it together yourself. There are all kinds of website that will allow you to customize an engagement ring in just a couple of minutes. The choices that you will get to choose from will not be as advanced as a true custom ring, but you will be able to choose the shape and size of the diamond, as well as the setting and the kind of gold.

Wedding receptions usually last for between three to five hours. To make the most of it, it is best to plan it. It is good to know in advance what you expect to happen and when you expect it to happen. The First Hour Wedding pictures are taken. Even if pictures were taken before the wedding ceremony, it is good to allocate some time for taking pictures at the beginning of the wedding reception. Music should be always present during the reception, and it should be started as soon as the first guests arrive. The receiving line should be in place to greet the arriving guests. Some of the most fitting songs for the introduction of the wedding party are: All you need is love by The Beatles and At last by Etta James. The Second Hour By this time there should be mood setting music, both the bride and groom and all the guests should have arrived. During the second hour the guests should view the bride and groom’s first dance. Then, the father and daughter’s and mother and groom’s dance should follow. The Third Hour By this time your hungry guests will welcome the announcement of the serving of the dinner. Usually the wedding party is seated and served first. Then, food is served to the rest of the guests. During the dinner the best man proposes the first toast. The Fourth or Final Hours The tossing of the bride’s bouquet is a popular activity for the later part of the wedding reception that is followed by the groom throwing the garter. The last dance is followed by the bride and groom’s getaway. By the end of a successful reception you should have a lot of happy and full wedding guests. Use the above timeline to prepare your wedding reception with your wedding planner and your vendors.

Las Vegas is a very popular place for couples to get married, especially couples in America. If the couple is getting grief about being together or getting married then they usually plan to elope to Las Vegas and have a wedding there. They are quick weddings and all you need is two people there to witness the wedding, you don’t need to be dressed up or anything, but you can be! You can have a glamorous wedding at one of the top hotels in Las Vegas if you have a lot of money behind you, the smaller weddings are usually performed at what is like a drive through wedding service. Las Vegas is casino central in America, they have the large flashing lights, the nude ladies dancing and the lights that take your breath away… Las Vegas is a marriage hot spot. A Las Vegas wedding is somewhat controversial, some people call it cheesy others call it class. You can get anything in America fast food, fast drinks and now a fast wedding, parlors are all over Las Vegas where you can quickly pop in and a minister or a court official will make your marriage legal and that is that, for a small fee of course. Then there is the great weddings that take place in hotels like the Plaza. These weddings cost a fortune and an arm and a leg to buy and they are very, very worth it. A Las Vegas wedding with a white stunning gown, hundreds of flowers and the man or woman of your dreams has got to be one of the biggest wedding fantasies, you then spend a night in the honeymoon suite together and enjoy the rest of your honeymoon by visiting the sights and sounds of Las Vegas. Can you just image standing in front of hundreds of guests wearing a long elegant white dress holding the most stunning bouquet of flowers you have ever seen, then walking towards the man of dreams down a plush red carpet and all your guests staring at you, the lights from the chandelier hitting of your diamond earrings and necklace, welcome to Las Vegas!

Since medieval times, Anglo-Saxon and Anglo Norman women’s attire included veils. The tradition of wearing a veil was part of most married women. Historically unmarried girls wore no veils. The veil had a practical purpose for it had covered the woman’s hair, their neck and the chins. Veils had served a functional purpose, protecting women’s skin from wind and sun damage. By the 15th century, hoods become prevalent, and veils became less widespread. Historically, brides wore their hair flowing down their back on their wedding day to symbolize their virginity, now the white veil is often said to symbolize purity. The bridal veil may have a place in mythology. Ishtar, ancient Goddess of Love, came from the depths to me her betrothed; the vapors of the earth and sea covering her “like a veil”. According to folklore, the tradition of the veil changed to include a blusher after Jacob was tricked into marrying his beloved Rachel’s sister, Leah, who was distinguished under the full veiling. It seems there is much to be said for scrutinizing the bride before it is too late! The development of the wide loom and silk tulle in the 19th century gave women a sheer covering that enhanced their attractiveness. The wedding veil signifies modesty, privacy, youth and virginity. That way of thinking still has significance on bridal etiquette, as only a first-time bride wears a veil. Remember, your bridal veil supposed to complement your bridal gown. The most popular colors are white, diamond white, and ivory. Diamond white is an excellent choice if your bridal gown has a sheen. The lifting of the veil at the end of the ceremony symbolizes male dominance. If the bride takes the initiative in lifting it, thereby presenting herself to him, she is showing more independence. White bridal veils symbolize the bride’s purity and modesty. Moreover, veils are used to add to the final touches of a wedding dress and to frame the bride’s face.

Many engaged couples wish to show appreciation to their parents for funding their big day, yet struggle with finding ideas for such a meaningful gift. Fortunately, there are many options for unique wedding gifts for parents of the bride and groom. Personalized Gifts One idea is to produce a personalized wedding gift for parents. Personalized items provide a special memento of love and family history. Engraved frames with a heartfelt message and memorable photo will be cherished for years to come. Personal jewelry items such as a locket or cufflinks with the wedding date engraved are another option. Plaques with a special poem can be displayed with pride as a reminder of the merging of two families. Holiday ornaments may be engraved with couple’s names. A framed representation of the family tree (with the new son/daughter included) is another option. Classic Gifts Another idea is to give a classic item made from precious materials. The bride and groom may wish to give the timeless gift of crystal, in the form of a clock or vase. Silver candlestick holders or a serving piece provide another option. Creative Gifts Couples may wish to exercise their special talents by creating their own unique wedding gift for their parents. A handcrafted scrapbook chronicling the journey from childhood to marriage will bring tears to a parent’s eyes. A handmade quilt would become an instant family heirloom. Pottery, lovingly created or painted, will hold a place of honor on the mantel of the family home. Gift Certificates Yet another option is to give the gift of relaxation. After months of stressful (and expensive) wedding planning, most parents of the bride and groom would appreciate a gift certificate for a relaxing spa treatment or weekend getaway. Couples can get creative and research local recreational activities, bed and breakfasts and formal dining options. Wedding Mementos Once married, the bride and groom can provide parents with a special photo album with candid shots of the wedding preparations, ceremony and honeymoon. Regardless of the wedding gift that a couple decides to give their parents, the heartfelt message of gratitude will be clearly and lovingly communicated.