The Wedding Check List – 3 Months Before the Wedding
January 23, 2010
There is no way you are going to survive wedding planning with your sanity intact if you refuse to use a wedding check list. There are just too many things that need to be addressed for you to merely remember & keep track of them all. Trying to do so will not only cause a ton of hassles, it probably even end up costing you a whole lot of money too.
Wedding Check List for 3 Months Before
- Start searching for the appropriate flowers for your wedding. Make sure you purchase flowers that are in season rather than those out of season if you wish to save money.
- Once the right flowers have been found for your wedding, place an order.
- Talk with your partner about honeymoon destinations. Once decided on, plan out and book the honeymoon trip.
- Choose the attire for the groom, best-man, as well as for the usher.
- Learn about the requirements for a wedding license in your state.
- Congratulate yourself, as you’ve just completed the 3-month wedding check list.
Ways to Save With the 3 Month Wedding Check List
1. When it comes to the wedding flowers, try to save in any way you can. Professionally arranged flowers can be insanely expensive, so consider arranging them yourself or with the help of a friend. Another way to save is by using flowering potted plants and NOT cut flowers.
2. Look for discount honeymoon packages and check online travel websites. If you plan on having your wedding during wedding season (late spring & early summer months), the trip will be more expensive than if you had waited until the fall/winter months. However, no matter what time of the year it is, there are always ways to save.
3. Rather than buying the tuxedo for the groom, rent it instead. It’s far cheaper and more economical considering it’ll probably never be worn again.
With this 3 month wedding check list and the three easy ways you can save, you should have a much easier time planning and organizing your wedding.
Matron of Honor Speeches
January 20, 2010
Matron of honor speeches are a time to propose a toast to the wonderful friend or family member who asked for your guidance on her special day. Generally given after the best man’s speech, the matron of honor speeches that are most fondly remembered will combine the wisdom that marriage has brought balanced with fabulous friendship that the matron of honor and the bride share. A time to thank the bride and welcome the groom into a wonderful friendship, these special words will put your unique voice into this very special day.
Matron of Honor Speeches Share Love, Wisdom and Friendship
Being matron of honor is an esteemed place within the wedding party, and your married wisdom can enrich the words you share with your dear friend and her groom on this very important day. By thinking ahead and forming a clear idea of what you’d like to say, the nervousness of speaking in front of a group of people will diminish. Perhaps there’s a fond memory which could be a charming anecdote to share the bride’s lasting and loving imprint upon your life, or a pearl of wisdom from your own married life that you’d like to impart to your newlywed friend. Remember to keep your words to the point however. As the matron of honor speech is typically the final of several speeches, people may be losing their attention spans by time it’s your turn to speak. Taking the time to carefully consider what exactly you’d like to say will ensure that your love and friendship makes for a memorable moment in a very magical day.
A Toast to the Bride from Her Matron Of Honor
The matron of honor speech is traditionally ended with a toast to the lovely bride, thanking her for the honor and offering ongoing support to the couple’s new marriage. For those who know the bride’s family well, this is a good time to thank them as well for the assistance they’ve offered in organizing the ceremony and the related parties. Welcoming the groom into the friendship you share with the bride may be a nice option to add into your toast as well. It can be tempting to insert a joke, but use caution and keep any humor family-rated and kind. If humor isn’t comfortable, a heartfelt and honest showing of your loving support for the couple will always be well-received. By delivering well thought out and caring matron of honor speeches, this vital role within the wedding party receives the commendation it merits.
Delivered with wisdom and love, matron of honor speeches are an important part of the wedding speech tradition. The perfect time to share precious memories or a gem of marital advice, the words shared in your speech should be well-selected to concisely show your loving sentiments. A well-planned speech on this very special occasion will be a memorable and loving way to share your friendship with the bride. By thinking ahead, you can deliver a charming and interesting congratulatory toast to a newly married bride who has entrusted your guidance on this very special day.
Thank you for the time you spent with me reading this article about matron of honor speeches! I’d also love to meet you on my blog to have a chance to tell you more about wedding speeches – actually you could start by browsing the category page for bridesmaid and matron of honor speeches right away – you will want to share it with others.
Fun Wedding Wear For Your Bridal Party
January 19, 2010
Your bridal party-these are the people you cannot do without. They help with the planning, organize rehearsals, run errands, and do all things they can to make the event less stressful for you. They even put up with your bridezilla moments!
Fun Options for Bridal Party Wear
1. Keeping up with the theme
If your wedding has a theme, it would be ideal for your party to wear attire that would complement your wedding theme. For example, if your wedding celebration has a Hawaiian motif, the women in the bridal party can don bright and vibrant floral dresses while the men can wear fun hibiscus printed polo shirts and kaftan pants.
Now if you are going for a fairytale fantasy-wedding theme, flower girls can dress up as little fairies with wings, bridesmaids can go as beautiful maidens, and the groomsmen can come as dashing princes.
2. Shirts with funny texts
Ideal to wear during wedding rehearsals, meetings, dinner preparations, and so on, these shirts with funny texts would surely be a hit among your party. These shirts will have their designations printed on them with a slight comical twist to it. Some ideas for these kinds of shirts include:
“Maid of Honor: Bridezilla in the Making”
“Best Man (in the Whole World!)”
“Best Man (Short for Just the Next Best Man to the Groom!)”
3. Fun and exciting colors
Gone were the days when the bridal party could only wear pastel shades and traditional wedding colors. Nowadays, bright, bold and fun colors like red, orange, fuchsia, hot pink, purple, and yellow can add to the fun of the whole wedding event. Just be sure to coordinate the color of the bridal party wear to the motif of your wedding.
Tips on How to Choose Wedding Wear for the Bridal Party
- Gather the bridal party for a meeting – Talk to the bridal party and ask them for any ideas regarding what they would want to wear for your big day. Pitch in some ideas as well and come up with a unified decision. It would even be a good idea if the bridal party can coordinate to shop together at the same time.
- Pick practical and reusable outfits – You are going to spend money on these dresses so unless you are having a theme wedding, it would be a practical idea to give your bridal party attire that they can wear again for other occasions.
- Make sure the dress fits – There is nothing worse than squeezing into a dress or tux that does not fit. Do not turn the shopping activity into a guessing game; make sure each of the member of the bridal party is able to fit their own attire before you purchase them.
- Do not forget the accessories – Accessories are an important part of the wedding wear especially with the ladies so do not forget about this item! If the bridesmaids do not want to wear matching outfits, respect their decision. However, you may ask them to wear matching accessories that you can also give to them as a gift.
Your wedding is as every bit as special not only because you are marrying the love of your life but also because you are celebrating it with the people closest to you. Choose fun and elegant wedding wear for your party so they can feel how special they are to you.
Wedding Preparation – Tips For the Best Man
January 17, 2010
There are a multitude of significant decisions that have to be made in a hurry during the wedding preparation time. Many of these decisions are simple regarding plating or floral décor. Although some of these quick decisions will hold great importance such as wedding location or choosing the Best man. The choice of a Best man is very important because they can have many important responsibilities for a couple that is planning their own wedding. In relation to making decisions the Best man can been seen as a wedding cherub whereas this man will always put the desires and needs of the wedding couple first and foremost. Also the Best man represents a pillar of support for the Groom, helping him maintain focus during the wedding preparation and assuring him when the inevitable thoughts of doubt begin to surface. Both the bride and groom need their own level of support and the Best man is the lead general in that support structure.
The Best man also stands in as a free wedding planner that the couple should recruit to assist during the planning in addition to encouraging the groom in this extremely stressful time. Quite often the Best man is a family member or the best friend of the groom and no one knows you better than friend or family. On many occasions utilizing the Best man as a free wedding planner will help the couple notice things that they did not see as a result of the stress they are under. This can be seen in something as small as a hated color in the floral arrangements to something as crucial as seating arrangements to make sure peace is maintained during the reception. The Best man is not experiencing the stress the couple may be experiencing in planning their own wedding and the Best man has a familiarity with you and knows your tastes. When you combine the Best man with the Maid of Honor you have a potent pair of weapons who can do great things when you utilize them as free wedding planners.
One of the most vital roles of the Best man comes on the wedding day itself pertaining to wedding preparation. All the wedding preparation in the world cannot help to reduce the developing pressures when all the plans come to fruition in a short period of time prior to the wedding. The bride and groom at this point have done all they can in regards to wedding preparation and it is now time for the Best man and wedding party to step up. Due to the dependence of coordination in regards to the wedding preparation a wise Best man will use all the resources available to him including the supporting cast of the wedding party. What this division of wedding preparation will accomplish is having a large group of individuals reporting to one person so that the Best man can delegate over all events and have his influence in more than one place at once. The Best man is an important feature in wedding preparation as they act as your free wedding planner.
The Maid of Honor and Wedding Preparation
January 16, 2010
The wedding day is commonly referred to the day of the bride. The story behind this reference develops from a woman’s childhood imaginings of the perfected wedding image. When the bride takes the leap into marriage and has a goal of achieving the perfect image she must turn to friends and family in the marriage party to assist with the planning to make that fantasy a reality. The Maid of Honor often represents the leading individual found in these supporting wedding parties. The position of the Maid of Honor goes beyond the honor of an individual being awarded the position. The Maid of Honor is the support pillar for the bride during this time of great stress. When the bride needs to vent she turns towards the Maid of Honor, when she needs emotional support the Maid of Honor is there, and when she needs advice the Maid of Honor knows the Bride best. The Maid of Honor plays a pivotal role in the events pertaining to a wedding and wedding preparation.
In addition to wedding preparation support the Maid of Honor acts as a free wedding planner during the wedding process. On many occasions both the Maid of Honor and the Best man take part in coming to decisions regarding wedding preparation. For the bride the Maid of Honor represents an individual who will support her decisions during the wedding preparation process and always have her best interests in mind. The Maid of Honor also represents a buffer between the groom and bride when wedding preparation decision become heated. When issues over budget occur a bride is more open to hearing the opinions of her Maid of Honor over the opinions of a male pushing the issues of cost management. The Maid of Honor is also often the individual that knows the marrying couple best so she has a unique insight into the preferences of the couple. In the process of wedding preparation the Maid of Honor represents the best free wedding planner a couple could ever have.
Another event that the Maid of Honor has the pleasure of planning is the bridal shower. The style of a bridal shower can vary greatly and really depends on the tastes of the bride. When the Maid of Honor pursues the bridal shower portion of wedding preparation she should remember that this party needs to be designed around the brides preferences. All too often these parties turn south as the Maid of Honor makes the mistake of planning a party to her preferences rather than keeping the style of the bride in mind. Wedding preparation is a stressful time and the bridal shower represents an occasion where the bride can shed wedding responsibility and fall into the capable hands of the Maid of Honor. For the Maid of Honor this part of wedding preparation represents her chance to relieve the stresses of the bride and help reset her wedding stress clock. Picking out the right Maid of Honor is an essential task for the bride and groom due to the responsibilities this individual will undertake.
A Groom’s Speech should Make Everyone Feel Good
January 5, 2010
A groom’s speech can start his marriage off on the right note. Depending on what he says he can make his bride feel loved, his parents appreciated and assure his in-laws of his devotion to their daughter. Unfortunately many of the groom’s speeches miss out on these core messages and, instead, are boring and unoriginal.
Of course none of the things he has to say are original in themselves. It is the way he approaches his speech that will make all the difference to it. If he tells his bride how his breath was taken away by her beauty as she came up the aisle she will love it. If he tells her he is finding it hard to speak because he has a lump in his throat she will be touched. His guests will feel welcome if he tells them he could not imagine his wedding day being so special if they weren’t there to celebrate it with him. Naturally too he will thank them for their lovely gifts although, of course, he will also send out formal thank you letters later on.
Saying thank you to his parents isn’t enough. He might mention how they survived his teenage years with their sense of humour intact, or how they froze on the sideline at every game of football he played. In other words he should personalise his thanks. When he is speaking about his in-laws he might mention how his mother-in-law always makes his favourite apple pie or how his father-in-law has helped him cut his golf handicap. He should always mention, though, how much he loves their daughter and say how well he intends taking care of her.
A groom’s speech would not be complete without some mention of the best man. Usually their relationship is a long one because a best man is quite often a brother or a best friend. It is definitely in order for the groom to say something about their relationship in his speech. He might mention how much his best man snored and how relieved he was to go away to college or say something about the holidays they shared over the years. Naturally he should avoid speaking of old girlfriends they may have had unless of course he says he is now a reformed character being a happily married man.
Sometimes there are people who have helped make the wedding day special. The groom’s speech might include a thank you to the clergyman or woman or to a friend who sang in church. The traditional ending to his speech is a very special toast to the wonderful bridesmaids.
Niamh Crowe
Copyright Speechwriters 1994-2009
marketing@speech-writers.com
Tel. +353 1 8333599
Bridegroom Speeches
August 27, 2009
A very nightmarish experience for the bridegroom can be his wedding day, for he has to take the trouble to get up before the guests and deliver his speech. The bridegroom might have never faced anything more torturing than delivering his speech on his own matrimony.
This gets even more troublesome for the public speakers who are always uncomfortable to relish their own wedding. The reason is the speech-delivering job. This is the nightmarish fear that we have to speak before the public and it has deathly connotations for some people just over the idea of it.
Conventionally, the turn of the bridegroom to deliver his speech comes second after the father of the bride. However, if he is already not comfortable in public speaking, he seems to be dashing to the ground over the time, his turn draws near.
The time depends on the conventions and customs that have been set by the families. It may be delivered before the meal, or may be enjoyed after the dessert. Moreover, as said earlier, the families decide the suitable timing for the delivery of speeches.
When the turn of the bridegroom to deliver his speech is over, some other person, the best man’s speech follows him. However, it is not just a strict rule. It depends again on the traditions and customs of the occasions followed by families as to who should follow the suit after bridegroom.
Just imagine that you are the bridegroom and have been informed that you are to deliver your speech and have been given freehand and you are in fear over it. What you are to do? You are to do two things immediately. First, prepare yourself for the experience.
Preparation is an excellent idea. You are to take some time out of your wedding preoccupations to take down your best thoughts on the paper. Now you should practice your speech by reading it twice or thrice, so that the sentences could be easily digested by you. Make sure you practice your speech in front of a mirror, the bigger the better. Professional actors practice their characters in this exact way. After a couple of times reading your bridegroom speech in front of a mirror you will feel a lot more comfortable. This is just a practice but it can mitigate your fear a lot. You can also restore your confidence somewhat in order to finally deliver the speech.
Please read the complete article about Bridegroom Speeches in our Wedding Speeches Guide
Wedding Etiquette Today
August 24, 2009
Wedding etiquette is not what is used to be. The more stringent rules of propriety, although still implemented by many, no longer have such full sway over the minds and hearts of brides and grooms [and family members] embroiled in furtive wedding planning activities. From the way wedding invitations are presented and worded to what’s considered acceptable at ceremony and reception, wedding etiquette truly has—perhaps of necessity—morphed with the times.
A few, notable examples on how wedding etiquette has been modified are as follows.
Personalized weddings. Couples today often opt to “throw the wedding etiquette book out the window” and strive for a more personalized wedding that fits their tastes and personalities. Personal, hand-written wedding vows written by the bride and groom are an indication of this trend.
Sharing the costs. The cost of wedding expenses and today’s economy are having an effect on who pays for the wedding. Sharing costs among the family members, even asking the groom’s parents to help, is a significant departure from what tradition and etiquette have long dictated through history.
Honor Attendants. One of the most drastic deviations from traditional etiquette is when the bride has a special male friend stand in place of a maid of honor, as the bride’s “honor attendant.” The groom might do the same with a female “honor attendant” rather than a best man. These unusual variations on etiquette are respectively referred to as “Man of Honor” and “Best Woman.”
Wedding Attire Variations. For as long as anyone can remember, wedding etiquette has dictated the bride’s wedding gown be either white or ivory. But today, more and more brides are feeling free to go with whichever color suits them and allows them to express themselves more freely—especially if cultural heritage is in play. Even those who attend the wedding have more latitude in choice of color as far as wedding attire goes; black is no longer “out”, and all are free to dress in white, if so desired.
Color Variations. It used to be wedding etiquette “required” white to dominate: floral arrangements, bouquets, wedding attire, wedding invitations, reception decors, table linens, wedding cake, even gift wrapping, have all traditionally been white. Nowadays, sweeping color arrays are showing up more frequently.
If a person were to show up at a wedding today, that person might not recognize wedding etiquette if he or she were looking for its existence. But it’s true: wedding etiquette has changed much. Who knows how much it will change over the next fifty years?
Information provided as a service by Beautiful Wedding Invitations.com.
First Dance Wedding Songs
August 12, 2009
The first dance is traditionally danced by the bride and groom at the start of the evening party. The choice of wedding songs for the first dance usually includes romantic love songs, typically chosen by the couple because they hold some significant meaning to them.
After the first dance the bride will dance with her father and the groom with his mother. It is also traditional for the best man to dance with the best man. Some couples choose to hold these dances at the same time whilst others will dance them separately requiring a further selection of wedding songs to be made. After the first dances have finished the wedding guests are then free to join the couple on the dance floor.
Although the traditional first dance song is something romantic and slow, in modern times some couples have chosen something more upbeat and preceded to perform a dance which wows their guests. But whether you choose a slow song or something more lively, it should hold some significance to you both.
If you are nervous about the first dance, perhaps because you are not at all confident about your dancing skills, then it can be worth investing in some dancing lessons before the big day. If lessons don’t appeal then try to get some practice in at home together, so you look at least a little polished!
It can also be a good idea to choose a song that you like and that you are familiar with. If you prime the DJ to start the music when you are ready to take to the dance floor you can then dance with confidence knowing that you won’t miss a beat! Always make sure the DJ has the right version of your wedding songs rather than a remix or poor cover remake.
Here are a few suggestions for wedding songs for the first dance:
Classic first dance wedding songs:
Endless Love – Diana Ross and Lionel Ritchie
It Had to Be You – Harry Connick Jr
Devoted to You – The Everly Brothers
When I Fall in Love – Nat King Cole
Contemporary first dance wedding songs:
Ain’t No Stopping Us Now – McFadden and Whitehead
From This Moment On – Shania Twain
Just The Two of Us – Grover Washington Jr
Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
First dance songs for the Bride and her father
A Whole New World – Peabo Bryson and Regina Bell (from Aladdin)
Fathers Eyes – Amy Grant
Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
My Girl – The Temptations
First dance songs for the Groom and his mother
Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
Blessed – Elton John
Greatest Love of All – Whitney Houston
Have I Told You Lately – Rod Stewart
Surprise proposal – Planned engagement Surprises My Fiance
August 10, 2009
Suprise proposal planned out and delivered to my fiance a week before Christmas Wedding proposal, surprise wedding engagements wedding ring with diamond engagement ring. The wedding gowns and best man’s bride maids wearing pink with flowers were all surprised by the Surprise proposal
