Determining the Ideal Timing for Your Wedding Day

The start time for your wedding ceremony may well be set in stone by your church. If they only do ceremonies on 1pm on Saturdays, then a 1pm ceremony it is. Knowing that, you will have to find a reception venue that can host your reception at a reasonably close time to the end of the ceremony. A typical marriage ceremony at a church runs for about 45 minutes to an hour. After that, there will usually be a receiving line outside and people may hang around and chat outside the church for a few minutes. The newlyweds and bridal party will also have pictures done at this point.

Long gaps between the ceremony and reception are often caused by extended photo sessions. A good way to prevent that issue is by doing a lot of the wedding pictures before the start of the ceremony. Some couples like to do a “first look”, where the bride and groom can get together to take some photographs before their ceremony. If you do not want your groom to see you before the ceremony, you can still do all of the formal pictures with your bridesmaids and immediate family to get those out of the way. That will limit the time you need to do pictures following the ceremony so you can keep the day moving forward on schedule. Besides, it is nice to get some pictures when you have just gotten into your bridal gown and elegant wedding jewelry while your hair and makeup are freshly done.

Cocktail hours typically last for 45 minutes to an hour. Anything less than that feels rushed, but if it runs too much longer, people drink too much. After about an hour, people are definitely ready to move on to the main part of the reception. Everyone moves into the dining room, and the bride and groom make their grand entrance. A lot of newlyweds will do their first dance immediately upon entering the room and being announced, while others will wait until after dinner to do the spotlight dances. You will need to decide if you will open the floor up to general dancing if you do your first dance in the beginning of the reception or move from there directly to the meal. People do not like to be kept waiting too long for dinner, so limit how long those pre-meal dances last.

The total length of your reception will be anywhere from three to six hours, depending on whether you serve a full meal or not, if there is dancing, and if you have a late night snack or Viennese hour. When you schedule your day well, your wedding will flow seamlessly from one part to the next, and everyone will have a fantastic time!

Wedding Dress Regrets

Shopping for a bridal gown, veil, and wedding jewelry is one of the highlights of planning a wedding. In fact, many brides have been dreaming about their wedding gown since they were little girls. But what happens if you buy a wedding gown and start having second thoughts about it? These are some tips on how to handle wedding dress regrets.

If there is one piece of advice every bridal consultant wishes engaged women would listen to, it is stop looking at wedding gowns once you have picked yours! There will always, always be another beautiful gown to admire, and you could shop forever, but then you would have nothing to wear on your wedding day. After you have placed a deposit on your bridal gown, the best thing you can do for yourself is to close the dress shopping chapter of your wedding planning. And besides, you will still get to shop for wedding jewelry, a veil, a headpiece, shoes, and lots of other gorgeous accessories.

But what if you just can’t shake the feeling that you have made a bad choice and ordered the wrong gown for your wedding? 99% of the time, this second guessing is simply pre-wedding jitters. Call up the bridal salon and make an appointment to try on the sample gown again. The chances are very strong that as soon as you put it on you will remember exactly what you loved about it. If you still are not sure, try on a few other dresses, and you will probably be reminded that your original dress is still the one for you.

With all these tips in mind, there might still be occasions when brides come to realize that they have definitely chosen a wedding gown that they no longer love. At that point, it is time to re-select. You only have one wedding day (hopefully!), and you deserve to feel incredible for it. You will also be living with your wedding photos for the rest of your life, and it would be a terrible shame to hate the way you look in your pictures. Some salons may allow you to transfer a deposit from one gown to another, but most will not. In that case, you can sell the first gown online and treat yourself to the wedding dress that you really love. Just promise yourself that you will really stop shopping after that!

Fun Ideas For Active Honeymoons

In the springtime, you will have many great possibilities for a active honeymoon. The nice thing about spring is you can head for a warmer or colder climate to pursue your favorite type of sport. It is not too late to head up to Canada for spring skiing. In March and April, resorts in Colorado and Idaho can also still have some great skiing going on, although the Eastern resorts may be winding down. If you are tired of the cold, head south for your honeymoon. Spring golf is beautiful in places like Hilton Head, SC before the summer heat and humidity hit.

It would be marvelous to go on a sailing honeymoon. There are some great companies that will rent you the sailboat and crew. You can sail when you want to, and then let someone else captain the boat when you want a break.  Sail around the islands of the Caribbean, have picnics on private islands, and swim off the side of the boat. Another great active summer honeymoon is hiking in the mountains of the Appalachian Trail. Check out the northern end of the trail, such as the White Mountains in New Hampshire. The temperatures will be comfortable for hiking, and of course the scenery is breathtaking. Book a night or two in a romantic hotel like the Mt. Washington Inn so you can dress up in a pretty dress and your wedding jewelry for an intimate fancy dinner. It is your honeymoon, after all!

In the autumn, cycling, horseback riding, and hiking make great honeymoon trips for the sporty couple. It would be just wonderful to go on a cycling trip in the Great Smokies in the autumn when the leaves are starting to change. Check out areas like Asheville, NC and eastern Tennessee, which will have pleasant temperatures and beautiful scenery. The fall is also a good time to head out West. You could go horseback riding in the deserts of Arizona once the intense summer heat has subsided. Or stay at a dude ranch in Wyoming and ride every day. It would be a fun and unique vacation for the newlyweds who like to stay busy.

There are certainly many great honeymoon options in the winter months for active couples. It is the perfect time of year for outdoor winter sports like skiing and snowboarding, whether you are in the East or the West. Don’t overlook the charming ski resorts in the mountains of the Southeast, either, such as Wintergreen in Virginia. If downhill skiing isn’t your cup of tea, you can honeymoon at a romantic country inn in New England that offers great cross country skiing and snowshoeing trails. You can go out and enjoy the frosty air by day, and cuddle by a roaring fire in the evenings. Some inns even have guest rooms with fireplaces right in the room. Put on a special piece of your wedding jewelry and a sexy dress and enjoy a night in.

Tips For DIY Wedding Catering

It can be very challenging to balance out having the wedding you want and the wedding you can actually afford, the one that looks as great as the events showcased in the wedding planning books.  With the general trend towards more casual food at weddings, many brides are now considering going the DIY route and catering their own weddings. Before you decide whether to hire someone or DIY your wedding catering, check out these important tips.

First and foremost, only do your own wedding food if you are having a small reception. Anything more than fifty guests is going to make it very, very difficult to pull off. The last thing you need to be doing on your wedding day is running around refilling platters or bowls. Nor does your mom want to get all dressed up in a new dress and elegant pearl wedding jewelry to spend the whole event serving food at the buffet. Worse yet is to let the food run out before your guests are done eating dinner. All the wedding planning books will tell you that is a huge wedding “don’t”.

For weddings that are small enough to cater yourself, there are some key things you should know. For one thing, you will not have enough time to cook from scratch for fifty people the day before your wedding! Buy as much as you can readymade from a store, and then add your own seasonings or extra ingredients to make it special. A warehouse club is ideal for this. You can get huge quantities of classic picnic food like potato salad, rolls, and fruit salad for a very reasonable cost. Transfer everything into attractive serving bowls to give it a homemade look.

Something very important to plan when catering your own wedding dinner is having people on hand to fill bowls, clear plates from tables, and so forth. Even if you bring in all of the food, you should still plan on hiring a few servers to keep everything running smoothly. Some caterers will allow you to hire their servers and rent their silverware, napkins, and plates for a reasonable fee. You can also hire college or culinary students to be in charge of the dinner, but keep in mind that by the time you pay for the rentals, it might not be any savings to hire the servers a la carte.

How to Plan a Wedding Even the Men Will Enjoy

Weddings tend to be super girly events, but if you think about it, probably half the people there will be men. Is it any wonder, then, that most guys groan at the idea of attending a wedding? With a little extra thought, it is entirely possible to plan a wedding that all of your guests will enjoy – even the men.

While every couple should feel free to plan a wedding that is as formal or casual as they like, the truth of the matter is that most men do not enjoy dressing up. Your female guests might find it a treat to have an excuse to shop for wedding jewelry and a fabulous new dress, but the men would be much happier wearing something that they already have in their closet. Consider a semi-formal afternoon wedding so the guys can wear jackets and trousers instead of suits or tuxedos. That way, they can take off their jackets and relax after the ceremony. As the bride, you will still get to splurge on a stylish bridal gown and special wedding jewelry, so everyone should be happy.

The next tip for designing a guy-friendly wedding is to have it at a less stuffy venue. Few men feel at ease in a grand ballroom or an historic mansion crowded with fragile antiques. They will feel much more relaxed at a wedding on a lawn, in a rustic barn, or at a casual country club. The nice thing about outdoor receptions is that you can take advantage of the new trend of having lawn games during the cocktail hour. Set up activities like cornhole (bean bag toss), horseshoes, and bocce ball so the men feel like they have something to do other than chatting over cocktails. Croquet is another great lawn game for a wedding reception, and it is one that the ladies will also really enjoy.

Many weddings feature lounge areas during the reception, but if you really want to make your event a hit with the men, think about setting up a man cave. Arrange comfy leather sofas and club chairs in a corner of the reception site. Have a special bar offering “manly” after dinner drinks like bourbon. If the man cave will be outdoors, you can even set up a custom cigar rolling station if you like. Just be careful not to make it such a comfy place that the men will never leave. This means no televisions and no video game stations, no matter how hard your groom tries to talk you into them!

Proper Wedding Reception Etiquette

Some things are a matter of opinion, while others are truly a matter of etiquette. You might think it is a fabulous idea to change into a second bridal gown and different wedding jewelry for your wedding reception, while your mother might think that a bride should wear her original bridal gown and pearl wedding jewelry for the entire event. That is a question of taste, not of etiquette. Things become a matter of wedding etiquette when they involve how others are being treated or whether they are being embarrassed. Making a boring toast might drag the reception down, but it is not in poor taste; talking about how wild the bride was before she met the groom is definitely a breach of etiquette!

The worst breaches of wedding reception etiquette typically occur when the bride and groom focus more on money than on their guests. The most glaring example of this is the cash bar. It is never acceptable to invite someone to be your guest and then demand that they pay for their own refreshments. Not even if your mom says it is okay or you have been to other receptions with cash bars. The correct approach is to serve what you can afford and to do it graciously. If that means you only have beer and wine, fine. If it means you do not have any alcohol at all, that is also fine. What is not fine is expecting guests to whip out their wallets at any point during your wedding.

Which brings us to the next point of wedding etiquette…your guests should not need any money at your reception. This includes things like tips for the coat check attendant and paying the parking valet. They should be prepaid by the hosts, with a notice to that effect prominently displayed so the guests know they should not tip. Sometimes the question arises of who should get the money from the tip jar at the bar; some people say it should go to the bartender, while others say it goes to the bride. The correct answer is neither, because there should not be a tip jar on the bar at a wedding! If you notice that the bartender has put one out, kindly ask him to remove it, and assure him that you will be covering his gratuity at the end of the evening.

One of the most important aspects of hosting a wedding is attending to the comfort and ease of your guests. There are several ways in which to do this politely. First of all is to seat elderly guests away from speakers and other noisy parts of the room (including the table of your rowdiest friends!). In addition, the guests of honor should be seated closer to the head table. This means that the “prime” tables are usually reserved for the immediate family of the newlyweds, while the ones near the kitchen door are generally inhabited by your co-workers. Speaking of seating etiquette, it is fine to have as many parents’ tables as it takes to make everyone comfortable. Divorced parents should each be the head of their own table. It is rarely a good idea to seat the bride’s divorced parents at the same table for the pretense of having one big happy family.

Wedding Reception Speech Planning

First of all, you should determine before your wedding who will give toasts. Typically, it will be the best man, the father of the bride, and the groom. There are others who may wish to say something as well, including the father of the groom, the maid of honor, and the bride. Sometimes the siblings of the bride and groom are also interested in giving toasts. It is generally best not to open the floor up to everyone at the reception, however, as the speeches can end up going on until the point where everyone is bored to tears.

Everyone who is going to speak should prepare a short speech beforehand to avoid rambling toasts that seem to go nowhere. A reasonable length for a wedding toast is two to five minutes. If you have a fairly large group of people who wish to give toasts, urge them to limit their remarks to two or three minutes. While that may not sound long, all of those short toasts can start to add up to a long time. The best time to fit the toasts into the schedule is during the salad course at dinner so people can eat while they listen.

It is not a bad idea to give the people who will speak some hints about what is appropriate to include in a wedding toast – especially if your best man fancies himself a comedian. A good speech involves a few opening pleasantries, such as thanking everyone for coming. It can go on to talk about the first time that the speaker met the bride or groom (only if the story is suitable for guests of all ages!), wish the couple every happiness, etc. At no time should a speaker reveal something personal or embarrassing about the bride or groom or say something embarrassing in an attempt to be funny. Comments from the best man like, “The bride looks so pretty in her dress and wedding jewelry that no one would ever guess she is pregnant!” are never appropriate, whether it is true or not!

Something that will help keep your wedding toasts moving along at a good clip is to put someone in charge. This job can be undertaken by the band leader, m.c., or the best man. That individual should have a list of the order of speakers, so that he can prompt them to come to the microphone in the correct order. It cannot be emphasized enough that wedding guests do not enjoy sitting for a long time listening to toasts, so it is important to keep everything moving along in a timely manner.

Gift Grabby Brides and Grooms

There are many things that a bride or groom can do which will come across as looking greedy, even if that is not their intention. Anything that shifts focus away from the point of a wedding towards getting presents runs this risk. Some things are fine in moderation, but can cross the line if not done in good taste. The perfect example of this is the bridal shower. Having a small bridal shower with the bride’s bridesmaids, immediate family, and best friends is a perfectly fine wedding tradition, even though it is all about giving presents.

Where it becomes not-so-fine is when the bride starts demanding that people throw showers for her. Another problem with showers is when there are an excessive number of parties. One or two events (with different guests) is fine, but three, four, or five bridal showers is ridiculous. Previously married brides having bridal showers can also look gift grabby, as will any bride who is gauche enough to host her own shower. Something else that definitely crosses the line is a shower by mail, when there is no actual party, and the “guests” are expected to mail in presents. That is little more than social blackmail to get as many presents as possible.

Making any mention of gifts on the wedding invitation is another faux pas that can make you look gift grabby, even if you really are not. It has become more common in recent years to include bridal registry information on the invitations, but that has never been polite, and it still isn’t. It makes it appear too much like a gift is the price of admission to the event. Worse yet is to request “cash gifts only” on an invitation. It is truly offensive to most people, and they will suspect you of trying to get them to finance your wedding. Guests want to be able to choose a wedding gift, not pay for their reception dinner, the limo, or the bride’s wedding jewelry!

Anytime you are making it clear that you expect your wedding guests to give you cash, you are likely to cause offense. This is why so many people deem the money dance at the reception to be in poor taste. The couple can then put that money towards their honeymoon, paying for the wedding, or whatever. While the money dance is still relatively common in certain communities, it is a dying custom. There is something ridiculous about having a wedding that costs thousands of dollars and then demanding cash from your friends and family. Just have the wedding you can afford, and people will give you money if they want to.

How to Have a Wedding For Under $5000

Going into this project, it is important to prioritize. What you absolutely must have for a wedding is a bride, a groom, an officiant, and a couple of witnesses. Everything else is really gravy. So the first step in pulling off a wedding for less than $5000 is to accept that you will not be able to have all of the little extras that you see in the bridal magazines. This is okay! The main rules to remember are: shop smart, DIY what you can, borrow or barter when possible, hire students or young professionals, and accept all offers of help.

A great way to have an affordable wedding is to have the ceremony in a free location. Some state parks will waive the rental fee if you do not bring things like chair and arbors. Keep your ceremony short and sweet, since guests will be standing for it. If you live in a state which allows individuals to become ordained online, you can even have a close friend act as your officiant instead of hiring a justice of the peace. Music can be quite simple. It would be lovely for the bride to walk to her groom accompanied by the sounds of classical guitar. Ask a talented friend to play or hire someone from a music college. The total cost for your ceremony will be next to nothing.

Some brides spend more than $5000 on just their wedding gowns! For the bride on a budget, the custom designer gown is not the most practical idea…unless you happen to score big at a bridal clearance sale (think Running of the Brides) or find one being sold on Craig’s List. But you can still look every bit the beautiful bride in an elegant gown with sparkling wedding jewelry without spending thousands. Consider a long white or ivory formal dress from a department store instead of a traditional wedding gown. You can find something gorgeous and chic at a place like Nordstrom for under $200. Definitely use the Internet to shop for wedding jewelry and veils at the best price, as well. Rather than buy white bridal shoes that you will never wear again, get a great pair of silver evening sandals that you can use again and again.

Wedding decorations are another area where you can save big. Plan on ordering your flowers online and arranging them yourself. The most affordable option is to decorate primarily around candles, and use the fresh flowers as accents. You can get 100 stems of roses for under $200 from an Internet floral wholesaler, which will go a long way if you are using them for bouquets and with candles for the centerpieces. Another idea is to spring for a more costly blossom like dendrobium orchids. It only takes one or two stems of these exotic flowers to create a stunning submerged centerpiece. For the rest of your wedding decorations, shop at craft stores at the end of the season clearance sales. Also check out wedding chat boards for newlyweds selling off their extra wedding supplies so you can create a gorgeous look without having to pay retail.

Non-Floral Decorations for Wedding Receptions

As beautiful as fresh flowers are to decorate a wedding, they do not fit in with everybody’s taste or budget. There are many elegant and beautiful ways to dress up your reception venue without using cut flowers. These are some wonderful choices for non-floral decorations for wedding receptions.

Candles: The flickering glow of candlelight will add romance to any style of wedding. They are generally quite affordable when compared to flowers, which makes candles an excellent option for the bride on a budget. When decorating with candles, the key is to use them in large numbers to really make a statement. While a couple of votive candles in the middle of a table for ten will not look very impressive, a collection of ten candles in different heights will look marvelous. You can also use one large pillar candle and display it in an interesting holder like a lantern or a hurricane to give it style and size.

Balloons: This type of non-floral reception decoration is a bit more controversial. Some people feel that balloons are a fantastic way to add color and fill up a large reception space in a festive way. Others believe that balloons are either too casual or too juvenile for an event where the bride is wearing an elegant bridal gown with gorgeous wedding jewelry. As a rule of thumb, balloons work best for informal or whimsical receptions. They will look more sophisticated if you use chic color palettes such as gray and yellow or jewel tones, rather than primary colors that will call to mind a child’s birthday party.

Props: There is a big trend these days of using unique props for wedding decorations. They are fun because they are so different than the standard floral centerpiece. In addition, carefully selecting the props you use will allow you to express your personality and give your reception character. Ideas for cool props include stacks of vintage books, old birdcages, funky little sculptures, and large wicker balls. Use props that enhance the overall theme of your wedding, whether your style is a Roaring ’20s bridal gown with vintage wedding jewelry or an ultra modern loft wedding.

Fabric: Gorgeous fabrics can be used to truly transform your wedding venue without flowers. Drape the ceiling in pink organza to cast a flattering romantic glow over the entire space. Hide ugly columns with elegant curtains. Decorate the front of the bar with a swag of material in your wedding colors. Because fabric effects are done on a large dramatic scale, you will only need a minimum of additional decorations to complete your reception decor.