If you want to serve a dessert your guests will actually eat, consider a wedding “cake” made of cheese. No, not the rich, loaded with sugar variety with graham cracker crust - literally a cake made of cheese stacked in tiers and decorated to look like a wedding cake. The trend is taking off in the U.K. where cheese for dessert is prevalent.
read more about cheese wedding cakes | digg story
No doubt about it, theme weddings are all the rage. Tired of wedding clichés, more and more brides and grooms are setting out to craft events with a little more personality by incorporating a design element throughout the day's details.
Of course, coming up with those creative design elements can prove a challenge. To help get your creative juices flowing, this complete guide to theme weddings suggests ideas for every wedding detail that will tie together the day's theme, whether an outdoor wedding, spring wedding, winter wedding, summer wedding, fall wedding, or green wedding.
In an industry notorious for recycling tired advice and information, unearthing something fresh in the world of weddings can prove as difficult as predicting the weather for an outdoor spring ceremony.
That's where Unveiled - the new wedding blog from Elegala.com - comes in. Like a clever, in-the-know friend, Unveiled editors scour the web to bring you weekly ideas, products, and tools that are guaranteed to set your wedding apart from the rest.
See it first - then decide if you want to share the scoop with your friends.
So he popped the question - now what?
Unfortunately, for most newly engaged women – the excitement of finally finding “the one” is dampened by a hard dose of stress and anxiety. Sure, you’ll find about a gazillion wedding planning checklists out there, but they all tend to overwhelm more than they help, and all essentially fail to address the fundamental question: “Where do I begin?”
This article on the first three steps of wedding planning is here to help. After you’ve announced the exciting news and taken some time to bask in your newly engaged glow, it’s time to get cracking. Here are the first three wedding planning tasks you absolutely must accomplish before anything else. Cross these items off your wedding checklist – and you’re on your way.
Step 1: Determine Your Budget
Every decision stems from the wedding budget. Before you can plan anything, you must know how much you can spend and who plans to contribute. Your budget will determine the type of wedding you can have - from how many guests you invite, to where and when you host your wedding, right down to the specific blooms in your bouquet.
Step 2: Tackle the Guest List
Some “checklists” suggest setting a date and commencing other wedding plans before this step, but Elegala.com considers the guest count is the most vital decision after the budget. Here’s why: Capacity is one of the most important criteria in finding a suitable wedding venue – more so even than style and vision - and you must secure your location before you can successfully plan anything else.
Step 3: Set on a Site and Date
Only once you have an estimated budget and guest count can you begin searching for a place to hold your event with any accuracy. Remember – many reception sites book over a year in advance, so you really can’t decide on a wedding date until you have officially booked your venue with a signed contract.
Don’t stop now - this complete ideas and advice guide will walk you every step of the wedding planning process, from setting the theme and style to managing every wedding detail.
Gone are the days when wedding etiquette mandated that the bride’s parents, and the bride’s parent’s only, hosted the wedding. Today anyone can foot the bill, and with modern familial arrangements often anything but nuclear, there is no straightforward rule for wording invitations. This wedding invitation wording guide sorts through the confusion to bring you wording samples for the most common arrangements. Here are a few wording formats listed in the article:
Simple, Traditional Format
[proper names of those hosting] official hosts
request the honour of your presence request line
at the marriage of their [relationship of the bride to the host]
[bride’s first and middle names]
to
[groom’s full name],
the [day of the week] of [day and month of wedding]
at [hour] o’clock in the [time of day] at
[name of wedding venue] in
[city, state]
Reception to follow
Divorced Parents
[proper name of host]
requests the honour of your presence
at the marriage of [his/her] [relationship of the bride to the host]
Or, if parent is remarried and hosting with new spouse:
[proper names of those hosting]
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of [his/her] [relationship of the bride to the host]
Or, if divorced parents are mutually hosting:
[proper name of mother]
and
[proper name of father]
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their [relationship of the bride to the host]
When the bride’s one living parent is hosting
The invitation is issued only in the name of the living parent:
Mr. [Mrs.] Jonathan Stephen Smith and Timothy Wright
requests the honour of your presence
at the marriage of his [her] daughter
Elizabeth Ann
When the Bride and Groom host
The honour of your presence
is requested
it the marriage of
Miss Ashley Johnson
to
Mr. Paul Wilkins
OR
Miss Ashley Johnson
and
Mr. Paul Wilkins
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage
Should you go traditional gold or platinum? Titium or silver? This wedding rings guide's excerpt on ring metals will help you decide:
Platinum
Great Because…
It’s valuable – King Louis declared platinum the only metal fit for a king, need we say more?
It’s durable – platinum is resistant to tarnish and great for holding prong settings
It’s hypoallergenic – platinum is 90-95% pure and won’t irritate the skin
The Downside… It’s expensive – it’s rare, making it more price sensitive
It’s malleable – platinum nicks and scratches easily; however, since no metal is lost - it can be buffed to look good as new.
Gold
Great Because…
It’s traditional – gold has withstood the test of time to be the most common wedding ring metal
It’s less expensive – gold is more abundant than platinum, making it more affordable
The Downside…
It’s not as pure – gold is always mixed with metal alloys (copper, silver, nickel) to make it stronger. The lower the karat, the higher the percentage of other metals.
It’s soft – making it susceptible to denting. The higher the karat, the more pure – and therefore softer - it is. If you’re highly active and not planning to purchase platinum, you may want to consider a lower karat gold.
It’s not as pure – gold is always mixed with metal alloys (copper, silver, nickel) to make it stronger. The lower the karat, the higher the percentage of other metals.
It can irritate skin – metal alloys can cause allergic reactions
Titanium
Great Because…
It’s hypoallergenic
It’s strong – three times stronger than steel
It’s inexpensive
The Downside…
It can’t be resized
Silver
Great Because…
It’s the least expensive precious metal
The Downside…
It’s extremely soft – even when combined with other metals, it shows wear over time
It can irritate skin – usually combined with nickel to make it stronger, silver can cause skin irritations
So you're not a froofy floral arrangement kind of bride - that doesn't mean you can't still have a wedding décor scheme that wows. Think outside the proverbial flower box with this list of blossom-free ideas for wedding decorations.
Love Visually -
Build a structure consisting of a bunch of different ornate frames with photos of not only you and your fiancé, but also parents and grandparents whose marriages serve as inspiration for time-tested love.
The Food Pyramid
Fill cylindrical glass vases with fruits and vegetables reflecting your colors. Oranges, lemons, and limes have been done, so try a unique, more contemporary look with mangos or coconuts - or tie it to the season with texture-rich earthy vegetables like husked corn, acorn squash, or artichokes.
Outside Looking In -
Give your guests something to really look at with goldfish swimming in aesthetically shaped vases. Consider building interesting mantels or use other species like Siamese fighting fish or white clouds. For their sake, add the water and fish right before the reception and return them to a bigger tank before the party's over.
Au Natural -
Consult Mother Nature for inspiration, and bring the outdoors in. Natural objects like stones, leaves, pine cones, even twigs can add an organic aesthetic to your reception décor. Place in rustic containers or scatter amongst pillar candles for added ambiance. This idea will nicely complement a fall wedding theme.
A Library Look -
Stacks of books intricately piled can work in a number of different ways. For sophisticates, choose antique leather-bounds. For a more fun approach, use kitschy romance novels. Or, tie it to your wedding location - if beach-side, go with maritime classics like Moby Dick and The Old Man and the Sea.
Wine-O -
Wine bottles and decanters create interesting focal pieces. Turn a wine bottle into a "lamp" by filling it with candle oil and adding a wick. Decorate the base of the bottle with bunches of grapes.
This article offers even more unique ideas for wedding decorations. Or visit this complete guide to planning your wedding flowers and wedding decorations.
Gone are the days when wedding etiquette mandated that the bride’s parents, and the bride’s parent’s only, hosted the wedding. Today anyone can foot the bill, and with modern familial arrangements often anything but nuclear, there is no straightforward rule for wording invitations. This wedding invitation wording guide has sorted through the confusion to bring you wording samples for the most common arrangements:
Simple, Traditional Format
[proper names of those hosting] official hosts
request the honour of your presence request line
at the marriage of their [relationship of the bride to the host]
[bride’s first and middle names]
to
[groom’s full name],
the [day of the week] of [day and month of wedding]
at [hour] o’clock in the [time of day] at
[name of wedding venue] in
[city, state]
Reception to follow
Divorced Parents
[proper name of host]
requests the honour of your presence
at the marriage of [his/her] [relationship of the bride to the host]
Or, if parent is remarried and hosting with new spouse:
[proper names of those hosting]
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of [his/her] [relationship of the bride to the host]
Or, if divorced parents are mutually hosting:
[proper name of mother]
and
[proper name of father]
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their [relationship of the bride to the host]
When the bride’s one living parent is hosting
The invitation is issued only in the name of the living parent:
Mr. [Mrs.] Jonathan Stephen Smith and Timothy Wright
requests the honour of your presence
at the marriage of his [her] daughter
Elizabeth Ann
When the Bride and Groom host
The honour of your presence
is requested
it the marriage of
Miss Ashley Johnson
to
Mr. Paul Wilkins
OR
Miss Ashley Johnson
and
Mr. Paul Wilkins
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage
Alternative “Request Line” Options
“pleasure of your company”
“honor of your presence”
“share and celebrate in their joy” another creative idea that reflects the theme and tone of your wedding
Looking for ways to personalize your wedding ceremony? Consider incorporating your own carefully chosen words into the occasion. Writing your own vows is can be an ambitious undertaking - not only must you determine the perfect words to say, but those words must be rehearsed and recited in front of your closest family and friends on a day that will be one of the most important of your life.
It may be intimadating, but being able to recite personal promises from the heart - rather than the same tired words uttered by every other couple - makes the effort worthwhile.
To help you get started, this guide to writing your wedding vows has some useful tips to make the task a little less laborious.
Throughout history, the guys had pretty much been relegated to the sidelines of wedding planning. But as more couples get married at an older age and fund their own weddings, the guys are starting to take a more active role in wedding plans. But traditional planning resources like bridal mangazines still seem to be lagging behind the times, targeting the majority of their advice and tips to the brides. So where's a guy to turn when he wants some advice on executing his share of the wedding plans?
This groom's wedding planning guide is a good place for guys to start, answering questions on everything from buying the ring and popping the question, to choosing groomsmen and making his wedding toast.
There’s nothing like a great toast. And nothing worse than an absolutely torturous one. Here’s how to handle the speeches whether you’re the bride, groom, best man or really any wedding guest...
What to Say (and not to say)
- Always thank the bride’s parents. And both families for that matter.
- Thank the guests too since they make the day what it truly is.
- Look for a particular anecdote that quickly emphasizes a point you’re trying to make. For the best man: a moment when the groom’s personality truly shined.
- Funny is always good, but dirty or too risqué almost always falls flat.
- Inside jokes in front of hundreds of family and friends are pointless too.
Speaking Tips
Think back to the last time you gave a speech or presentation in front of lots of people. How nervous were you? Did you get on a roll when you had cues to rely on or was it better when you were speaking off the top of your head? This should be your guide as to how much time, thought, and effort you need to put into preparing for the speech. Beyond that, here are some tips:
- Even if you’re a veritable John Stewart, think of what you want to say at least a day or two before the wedding.
- The good news is that your subject is something (or rather, someone) dear to your heart. Let that guide you.
- Try to avoid needing to memorize or type out the entire speech. Instead, use a few note cards and practice it a few times to get your rhythm.
- Perhaps the most important thing about a toast though, beyond its pithy stories and emotional moments, is its brevity. Keep it to 2-3 minutes max. Whether you’re the bride, groom, best man, father of the bride, or maid of honor, this day obviously means a lot to you. And while it means something to all of the guests, it’s not as big of a deal for them. So get to the heart of the matter quickly, and get out.
Looking for more advice on making a wedding toast? This complete guide to wedding toasts and speeches will walk you through it.
I found a list of poplar weddings songs for your ceremony and reception. The categorized lists are a good starting point for creating your wedding playlist, but I'd probably try to get a bit more creative. That said, here are some highlights from the list:
First Dance Songs:
Amazed - Lonestar
From This Moment - Shania Twan & Bryan White
At Last - Etta James
When You Say Nothing At All - Allison Krause
All My Life - K-Ci & Jojo
I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You - Savage Garden
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
It's Your Love - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
My Best Friend - Tim McGraw
You're The First, The Last, My Everything - Barry White
Father/Daughter Dance Songs:
A Song For My Daughter - Ray Allure/Mikki Viereck
Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
Butterfly Kisses - Bob Carlisle
If I Could - Ray Charles
Daddy's Girl - Red Sovine
Daddy's Hands - Holly Dunn
Daddy's Little Girl - Al Martino
Daughter of Mine - John McDermott
Have I Told You Lately - Rod Stewart
Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
Mother/Son Dance Songs:
A Song For My Son - Mikki Viereck/Donna Lee Honeywell
A Song For Mama - Boyz II Men
Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
Boy Of Mine - Traditional
I Am Your Child - Barry Manilow
Cake Cutting Songs:
Chapel Of Love - Dixie Cups
Cut The Cake - Average White Band
Cuts Like A Knife - Bryan Adams
Eat It - Wierd Al Yankovic
The Bride Cuts The Cake - Traditional
Bouquet Toss/Garter Removal Songs:Ladies Night - Kool & The Gang
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
It's Raining Men - Weather Girls
Another One Bites The Dust - Queen Bad Boys - Inner Circle
Bad To The Bone - George Thorogood
Last Dance Songs:
As Times Go By - Jimmy Durante
Goodnight Sweetheart - Spaniels
Always & Forever - Heatwave
Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) - Green Day
Hit The Road Jack - Buster Poindexter
Sometimes we brides just need a little inspiration when it comes to choosing our wedding day 'do. Thankfully, with this gallery of wedding hairstyles, you can while away the hours gazing at chic bridal coifs to find the one that suits your style.
Print the images you like and bring them to your stylist to recreate. It doesn't get any easier than that!
Sigh..after all the planning and anticipation, it's hard to believe the big day is already over. Want to see how it all panned out? You can view my real wedding story and wedding pictures at Elegala.com
If you're looking for even more inspiration from real weddings across the country, you can view wedding pictures from all types of events at this catelog of real weddings stories and photos.
Tired of standing aside while the guys flaunted their wild last night escapades, the gals are joining in the fun with bachelorette parties often just as raucous as their male counterpoints. But donning a dimestore tiara while a lubed up dancer named Duke invades your personal space isn’t required if that’s not your thing. So just does a bachelorette bash entail? This guide to planning a bachelorette party has everything you need to know to plan the perfect sendoff.
To get you started, here are some fun ideas mentioned in the article, perfect if the bride isn't necessarily the bar hopping and shot taking type of gal:
Adventure Bachelorette – go hiking, rafting, horseback riding, or camping.
Spa Party – gather the girls for some serious pampering
Fondue Party – or any other style of intimate dinner party (fondue just seems to make things more fun!)
Beach Weekend – enjoy some sun, sand - plenty of tropical beverages.
Casino Night – all bets are on! Set up game tables, break out the decks, and test your luck with a roll of the dice.
Wine Tasting – hit up Napa Valley (or the nearest winery) for a day – or weekend – filled with good wine, good conversation, and good friends.
Packing for your honeymoon is less of a chore when you know what to bring with you, and what to leave at home. There is a fine line between too much and too little when it comes to gathering your belongings: too much and you'll be plagued by an unmanageable load; too little and you'll find yourself buying what you didn't bring.
With flowers and tulle still on your mind, you may want to use this honeymoon packing checklist to get you through the seemingly endless piles of questionable belongings.
If you're writing your wedding vows or personalizing your wedding ceremony with meaningful readings, delve into the world of literature, poetry, quotes and lyrics for inspiration. Here are some sample passages to get you started...
Note: You can get even more weddings readings information at this complete readings, speeches, and toasts guide.
Poetry
William Shakespeare - "Romeo and Juliet"
My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite. William Shakespeare - "Sonnet 116"
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
Wilferd Peterson - The Art of Marriage
The little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say, "I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through all the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other,
not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation,
and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo
or the wife to have the wings of an angel.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience,
understanding and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere
in which each can grow.
It is finding room for the things of the Spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which
the independence is equal, dependence is mutual,
and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner,
it is BEING the right partner.
This is "The Art of Marriage"
Cultural Heritage
Irish Wedding Blessing
May God be with you and bless you
May you see your children's children
May you be poor in misfortunes,
Rich in blessings
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward
Apache Wedding Blessing
Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to each other.
Now there is no more loneliness for you,
For each of you will be comfort to the other.
Though you are two bodies,
There is but one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And, may the days of your life
Be good and long upon the earth.
Hollywood
When Harry Met Sally
I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.
To Love and Be Loved
We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.
Moulin Rouge
The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.
The Notebook
The best love is the kind that weakens the soul, that makes us reach for more, that plants fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that's what you've given me. That's what I hope to give to you forever.
The Notebook
Poets often describe love as an emotion that we can't control, one that overwhelms logic and common sense. That's what it's like for me. I didn't plan on falling in love with you, and I doubt that you planned on falling in love with me. But once we met, it was clear that neither of us could control what was happening to us. We fell in love, despite our differences, and once we did, something rare and beautiful was created. For me love like that has happened only once, and that's why every minute we spent together has been seared in my memory. I'll never forget a single moment of it.
Warm sunshine...vibrant colors...three day weekends...sounds like you've got a summer wedding in mind! Better yet, weave a little patriotic ferver into your summer nuptial bliss and plan your wedding around the Fourth of July holiday.
Before you get started, however, here are some things to consider when planning a summer - or more specifically a fourth of july - themed wedding:
Beat the Heat – Seriously consider renting fans or portable AC units for an outdoor wedding (even northern climates can hit 90 this time of year), and try to find a location with ample shade so guests can escape blazing sun and heat. Even if your wedding is inside, you’ll need to check the comfort level beforehand – some older venues lack good ventilation or aren’t air conditioned.
Brave the Elements – Outdoor settings are popular during the summer, but high temperatures aren’t the only discomfort you’ll have to contend with. Damaging UV rays, killer mosquitoes and pop-up showers are just some of the elements you may have to endure. Have bug spray, sunscreen and umbrellas on hand just in case.
Work Around Summer Travel - Remember that summer is prime time for family vacations, holiday weekends, oh yeah – and other weddings. Try to book your date and notify your guests as early as possible.
Now read on for a complete list of summer themed wedding details, for everything fron invitations and decor, to attire, favors and transportation
Even though you've planned for everything to go perfectly, you never know what unforeseen glitches may threaten your day. That's why packing a bag full of fast-fix tools will ensure your wedding goes off without a hitch.
Every bride should come prepped with these basic items in her wedding day emergency beauty kit!
