Setting Up Your First Home Together

It is pretty rare these days that the bride or groom goes straight from living with their parents to being married. Most people have spent some time living on their own, and therefore will already have some of the things that you need to set up a house. But before deciding that you are all set, take some time to evaluate what you really have. One scratched up old saucepot from your college days does not exactly constitute a well-appointed kitchen!

A good way to get the things that you will need for your first home is through the bridal registry. If you register at a department store or a place like Pottery Barn, not only can you request registry standards like bedding, towels, dishes, and stemware, but you can also register for some of the large items needed to make a beautiful home, like sofas, tables, and chairs.

Beyond the basics, you will want to think about the things that will make your first place really feel like a home. Painting the walls is an inexpensive and easy way to add character to a house. If you do not want to commit to a bold color, choose a subtle one like a soft warm gold, or a pale sage green. Neutrals can be safe without being boring.

Then it is on to the personal touches. Of course, you will want several of your wedding photos prominently displayed in your home. From there, the newlyweds can practice the fine art of compromise. The key is to strike a balance, and create an environment that is neither too feminine, nor too much like a frat house.

The first night that you spend in your new home together is a very big deal. It is worth planning something special for that night. Even if you end up eating a pizza while sitting on the moving boxes, try to make it romantic. The groom can make the moment extra memorable by surprising his new wife with a gift of jewelry to match her wedding set.

You will always remember your first home together as a married couple. Whether it is a big house in the suburbs or a tiny studio apartment in the city, it will be special because it is yours together. Put the effort into making your home a relaxing oasis that you will both love to return to every night.

Last Minute Brides

If you are a procrastinator, you know it. You are the type of person who sends out your Christmas cards on January 2^nd, and is waiting in line at the post office on April 15^th to mail in your taxes. You probably have every intention of getting things done in advance, and yet you always seem to end up scrambling at the last minute.

If this sounds like you, it will be important that you find a way to go against your usual ways and plan your wedding efficiently from the start. Perhaps you have an organized friend who would be happy to help you. Brides who know that the wedding planning is going to end up a mess in their own hands should consider hiring a wedding planner to get them through the process.

Another thing that will help a last minute type of gal is to get as many things done early as possible. That way, whatever is left to do in the end will be more manageable. What this means is that if your planning workbook says to purchase bridesmaid jewelry for gifts two or three months before the wedding, mark it on your calendar to complete by four months out. That way, if you do take a little longer than planned to find just the right bridesmaid jewelry gifts, you will still have it done by two or three months out. It is almost like playing a little trick on yourself, building in extra time to compensate for procrastination.

One other good way to stay on top of your planning is with a reward system. If you find yourself putting off wedding planning because you find it to be a real chore, promise yourself a treat for every major thing that you complete on time. It might be all that you need to keep yourself going through the wedding planning process.

Wedding planning will be a much easier process if you allow yourself plenty of time to complete it. Brides who tend to procrastinate will only make the process more difficult and stressful for themselves. Find the way the you can motivate yourself to stay on task and on time, and you will sail into your wedding day feeling happy and relaxed.

When Your Family Disapproves of Your Fiance

There can be any number of reasons why a bride’s family may wish that she would make a different choice for her husband. It may be that they want her to marry someone from within their religious faith, or a man in a certain profession, like a doctor. They could be concerned about whether the young man will adequately be able to provide for a family. Whatever the reason, the bride should try to figure it out, so that she can begin to tackle the problem.

You know your family best, so you should be able to decide whether it is better to try to soften up your mother or father first. It is often the case that a bride’s parents will be able to overcome their initial opposition once they get to know more about her fiance. Maybe the groom and the bride’s dad should go to a baseball game together. Try to find common interests that will help to mitigate whatever it is that your parents are uncertain about.

If the best route to family harmony runs through the bride’s mother, perhaps the groom could approach her for help in selecting a special piece of wedding jewelry as a surprise gift for the bride. Chance are that her mother will be delighted to be asked her opinion, and the wedding jewelry will be a good way for the fiance to show her mother just how well he intends to treat her daughter. Every mother wants to see her daughter being treated like a princess.

There will be cases when the bride’s family will not change their minds no matter what. In that situation, all that you can do is tell them that you wish they felt differently, and hope that they will attend the wedding anyway.

When it comes time to plan the wedding, the bride may be happier if she leans on a more supportive friend or aunt for help instead of a disapproving mother. In the end, the bride and groom have to make their own happiness as they start their new life together.

How Do You Know She’s the One?

Alright guys, let’s say that you have been dating a very special woman for a while now. You may even be living with her. But how do you know if she is “The One”, the woman that you want to marry and spend the rest of your life with?

What are some earlier signs to indicate that you have found your dream girl? Well, certainly if you have a lot of common interests, that will make the relationship smoother. Many a couple has been brought together by their shared passions. Whether it is animals, politics, or sports that brings you together does not matter. What does matter is that a shared interest or a common goal can be something that will help to bring you together.

On the other hand, it is said that opposites attract. If you find your love for your girlfriend is undiminished by the things that you do not have in common, that can be a sign that she is the one. And if you find yourself doing things like holding her purse during a marathon shopping trip to the mall or buying season tickets to the ballet, well, you might as well get her that piece of wedding jewelry, and make it official, because you are as good as married.

Ultimately, the best way to know whether you have found “The One” is to listen to your heart. When you picture your future together, do you feel a warm glow? Do you imagine having a family together, and growing old side by side? If the answer to these questions is yes, than you will know that you have found the right woman build your life with.

A Wedding Planning Timeline

One of the best ways to prepare for your wedding is to follow a wedding timeline . That way, you will be certain that you are allowing enough time to get everything ready. These are a few of the things to keep in mind:

12 months before: Set a date, book vendors and venues, decide on bridal party

8-9 months before: Hire band, caterer, photographer, and florist. Purchase bridal gown.

6 months before: Order invitations, plan honeymoon, and find bridesmaid dresses. Purchase wedding rings.

4 months before: Order cake. Arrange rehearsal dinner and post-wedding brunch.

3 months before: Finalize menu. Choose favors. Order personalized gifts for groomsmen, bridesmaids, and flower girls.

2 months before: Mail invitations. Have bridal shower. Get playlist to band.

1 month before: Get marriage license, write vows, and get a haircut.

Final week: Pick up bridal gown, get mani/pedi, pack for honeymoon, and…get married! Congratulations!

Lovely Garden Style Weddings

Gardens are very special places to hold a wedding. There is nothing quite like the soft romance of a wedding in a garden. Whether your wedding will be in an actual garden, or if you just want to have a garden style wedding indoors, there are many ways to make your event beautiful.

Flowers will be the highlight of a garden style wedding. For a soft and feminine look, choose a coordinated color palette for your flowers that you can carry through into the rest of the wedding. Ideas include pale pink with ivory and hints of celadon green, or shades of lavender, lilac, and purple.

Some of the most romantic flowers include: lush garden roses, peonies, hydrangeas, and iris. Flowers for a garden style wedding should be loosely arranged in a beautiful vessel, such as footed urns. Avoid any centerpieces that are too modern or structured.

A garden style wedding dress should be soft, feminine, and very pretty. A very trendy or modern gown would look out of place. Look for fabrics that float, such as organza or chiffon. Romantic floral details will make your gown stand out. Accents that relate to a garden would be especially nice, like embroidered vines or fabric flower elements. Finish the bride’s ensemble with romantic pearl bridal jewelry.

Having your wedding in a garden or creating the feel of a garden inside is a wonderful style for your wedding. There is nothing quite so beautiful being wed surrounded by the bounty of nature. Whether you are blessed with a green thumb or not, you may find that a garden style would be perfect for your wedding.

Should You Go to a Bridal Show?

The basic concept of a bridal show is that many of the wedding vendors in a region will get together for an afternoon or a weekend under one roof. This gives brides a chance to meet a lot of different vendors in a short amount of time. Do not think, though, that speaking briefly with someone at a show is a substitute for a formal appointment to evaluate their services. It is more like an opportunity to see who is out there, gather business cards, and make follow up appointments for a later date.

There are certain categories of wedding vendors that you are more likely to meet at bridal shows than others. For instance, many well-established bridal shops will choose not to participate in bridal shows because they figure that most brides already have their gowns by the time they get around to attending shows.

However, there are great reasons to attend the bridal shows. Bridal shows are a great place to find photographers, bakers, limos, entertainment bookers, calligraphers, and others. You will also see small craftspeople showing products that they make. Artisans who create things such as candles, soaps, chocolates and other favors will often gather at bridal shows. You may also find people who make handmade wedding jewelry for gifts (although many brides prefer to search for their wedding jewelry gifts online for a greater variety).

Of course, many brides who attend bridal shows will go just because it is a fun thing to do. That can be reason enough. One word of advice though: unless you have a focused plan, do not expect your fiance to spend a Saturday afternoon wandering through a bridal show. He will be eternally grateful if you take your mother or maid of honor instead!

Handicapped Accessible Weddings

Something that you may not have given much thought to is whether your wedding is going to be handicapped accessible. But if one of the members of the bridal party or any of the guests use a wheelchair, special consideration must be given to their needs. After all, you want to make sure that nothing stands in the way of everyone having a great time at your wedding.

As you are shopping around for a reception site, be sure to make a thorough review of the facility. It is not only the entrance that you should consider. The shape and size of the rooms is important. Also don’t forget to see if the restrooms are handicapped accessible.

If the cocktail hour and the dinner are to be held in two separate rooms, how do guests flow from one space to the other? Are the doorways sufficiently wide? Do you have to step down from one room into the other? The last thing that you want is for your grandmother, all decked out in a pretty dress and her best wedding jewelry, to be stuck in one room when it is time to move into the other.

Outdoor weddings can prevent many additional things to consider. If you have your heart set on a ceremony atop a mountain peak, stop and ask yourself if any of your guests would have difficulty getting to the site. Is there an access road nearby? And if so, could the guest get from the road to the spot where the service would be? If it means choosing a different site that your loved ones can access, then that is the right thing to do.

One of the most important things that a host should do is try to anticipate the needs of his or her guests. When one of the people attending your wedding has special needs, this is even more true. With a little foresight, you can be certain that your wedding will be accessible and enjoyable for all of your guests.

Wedding Planning for the Aries Bride

Looking for fun inspiration in your wedding planning? A great idea is to plan a wedding based on your astrological sign. For the bride born under the sign of Aries, this means full speed ahead!

An Aries will be happiest with a wedding that is bold and exciting. It should express her personality and zest for life. If you are the sporty type, a unique adventure type of wedding might be just your style. When you see a bride who is getting married while scuba diving or hang gliding, she is probably an Aries!

Since an Aries loves to be in motion, great dance music will be a must for the reception. Pick a band or d.j. that will keep the party jumping all night long. A fun idea is to start off with more classic wedding music and then bring out a d.j. to play dance hits into the wee hours of the morning.

Because she likes to move, an Aries bride will not want a wedding gown that is restrictive or cumbersome. Forget about dresses with skirts so straight that you can barely walk, or skirts so full that it practically requires a team of horses to drag you around the room. Look for a gown that is easy to move in, and you will feel great. To add some drama, spice up your ensemble with flashy crystal bridal jewelry.

You want to plan your wedding in a way that will really reflect who you are. That is what makes the affair memorable for the guests, and enjoyable for the bride. For the Aries bride, be sure to use your wedding to highlight your great sense of fun, adventure, and love of life.

Disco Themed Weddings

The disco era was all about dancing and having a great time, so it certainly makes a great theme for a festive occasion like a wedding. It is perfect for a bride and groom who love to dance, and are not afraid to have a wedding that is a little bit different. A disco theme also will make the wedding attire and decorations very easy to choose.

The bride at a disco themed wedding should wear something fabulous. The perfect dress would be a body conscious style made out of a fabric with a sheen or shimmer, like a charmuese or a sequined fabric. The dress should look great moving and twirling on the dance floor as you show off your moves. Accessorize it with low platform sandals and crystal bridal jewelry.

Dancing and décor will be the other things that really make your disco themed wedding spectacular. For music, you will obviously play all of the great dance hits from the 1970s. Just watch how much fun your guests will have trying out their moves on the dance floor! Naturally, the newlyweds will want their first dance to be choreographed to a great disco hit, as well.

The theme of your wedding will definitely determine the mood for the affair. A disco themed wedding might not be right for everyone, but it could be a lot of fun for a playful, fun-loving couple. It will certainly make your wedding one that nobody will ever forget!