Wedding Slide Shows: Are They a Do or a Don’t?

It has become very popular in recent years for the bride and groom to put together a slide show for their wedding. Sometimes displayed during the ceremony, sometimes during the reception, and in a few cases at both, the slide show can be a chance to share pictures which show bow the bride and groom’s relationship developed over the years. The wedding slide show can be very sweet, but it can also be a major bore for guests. This is a look at the slide show concept, and whether it is a do or a don’t.

In an era where “personalization” is the biggest buzzword of wedding planning, there is nothing more personal than pictures of the bride and groom, often set to music. Many of the shows do go all the way back to childhood, through the early courtship of the bride and groom, right up through engagement photos, and even studio shots of the bride in her wedding gown and bridal jewelry taken just days before the event. Such an involved presentation may well last 20 – 30 minutes, which frankly, is well past the attention span of most of the people in attendance.

The chief complaint that wedding guests have about slide presentations is being forced to sit and watch them for extended periods of time. At one wedding I recently heard about, the bride and groom stopped their marriage ceremony to show a 20 minute presentation before they exchanged their vows, and then subjected their hapless guests to a second slide show during the toast portion of the reception. It might have been a beautiful journey down memory lane for the bride and groom, but for everyone else, the slide show was the obstacle standing between themselves and getting fed in a timely fashion!

This is not to say that a couple cannot choose to do a photo presentation without aggravating their guests. The key is to have a slide show playing in the background while something else is going on rather than forcing people to sit still and watch it continuously. If you want to project some images on a wall while guests mingle during cocktails, fine. As long as your guests do not feel like a captive audience, a wedding slide show can be a wonderful addition to a reception.

Tips on Choosing a Wedding Date

One of the first steps after getting engaged is to select a date for your wedding. There is a lot than can go into this seemingly straightforward decision, though, and it can be more complex than it initially seems. Let these tips on choosing a wedding date guide you to the perfect date for your wedding.

A couple of basic things to consider when setting a wedding date are the season in which you would like to get married, where, and how long you are willing to wait. If you have your heart set on a destination wedding in the Caribbean, for instance, it would be best to avoid hurricane season. Women who become engaged at a popular time like Valentine’s Day will need to decide if they want to rush to pull together a wedding for this summer, or if they can stand to have a year and a half engagement and put off the wedding until next summer.

If you know that you want to plan an elaborate affair with all of the trimmings, it might be sensible to have a long engagement to allow you to save more money. A farther out wedding date also allows you to spread out both your expenses and your effort over a comfortable time period. Rather than spending every weekend in a frantic search for the perfect wedding gown and bridal jewelry, some brides prefer to have a more leisurely approach to wedding planning. When your wedding is over a year away, you can take your time choosing your gown, bridal jewelry, and other details, without a looming deadline hanging over your head.

Special dates can also be an important factor in setting a day for your wedding. Perhaps you would like to be married on your birthday, or your parents’ wedding anniversary. Maybe the anniversary of your first date would be a great time to get married. Calendar dates with auspicious numbers tend to be very popular, such as 7-7-07 a few years ago, or this year’s favorite, 10-10-10. Conversely, some dates are often avoided due to specific associations. Would it depress you to host your wedding on the anniversary of a loved one’s passing, for instance? In a more general sense, September 11^th remains a less-than-popular wedding date, despite falling within prime wedding season.

There are so many things that go into picking the perfect date for your wedding. From religious factors to work obligations to your favorite flowers, there are any number of reasons why some dates will be more appropriate than others. In the end, the perfect wedding date ends up being a personal decision that only the bride and groom can make for themselves.

How Real Brides Save on Their Weddings

Take a look at these ideas that real brides have used to save money on their weddings…

Trim the Guest List: You do not have to invite your second cousin or your old college roommate whom you never see anymore. Even if they had you at their weddings, you are not obligated to invite distant relations or casual acquaintances to yours. The absolute best way to trim your wedding costs is to be ruthless about cutting down the guest list. You will save thousands on food, decorating the tables, invitations, favors, and more. Not only that, but the people who you do have at your wedding will be the ones who mean the most to you.

Seek Deals Online: Many times you can find significantly lower prices for your wedding essentials at online retailers. This is especially true when buying items which are specifically designed for weddings, like many favors, bridesmaid jewelry gifts, unity candles, and decorations. Bridal stores often have large mark ups on all of the little extras that brides need, and it can add up to be quite a large sum. The bridesmaid jewelry gifts which cost $75 each at your bridal salon might go for as much as 60% - 75% less at an online bridal jewelry store, so it really pays to shop around.

Choose Your Venue Wisely: Look at your reception venue selection as a business decision. Before signing on the dotted line, find out the details about what they provide and what they allow you to provide. If you can find a venue which permits you to bring in your own alcohol, you can save thousands of dollars just on that. Venues which include all of the basics like tables, chairs, and linens in their base price will also be far more cost effective than places which require you to rent each piece individually. All of the little ways in which you save money on your reception can really end up being a lot of money left in your pocket at the end of the day.

Big City Weddings

There are many wonderful places to have a wedding, but none can beat a major metropolis for excitement and drama. The options for venues are nearly endless, meaning that you can have virtually any style of wedding that your heart desires. Here are some ideas for planning fabulous big city weddings.

The first step is to decide on a venue. Most cities offer infinite possibilities. If your vision of a dream wedding includes a grand ballroom, a dramatic wedding gown, and custom bridal jewelry, look into the ballroom of a top notch hotel. They will often be lavishly decorated with gilt details, dazzling crystal chandeliers, and impressive entrances. Imagine yourself pulling up to the most gorgeous hotel in the city, resplendent in your designer bridal gown and stunning custom jewelry – if this makes your heart beat faster, then a grand ballroom wedding is perfect for you.

On the other hand, many people who live in cities like things which are more minimal and edgy. For these couples, a wedding in an urban loft can be ideal. Most lofts which are available for weddings and events are wide open spaces with huge windows. Talk about a blank canvas upon which to paint your dream wedding. Decorate the loft with rented lounge furniture, unusual centerpieces, and custom lighting. Loft spaces lend themselves to weddings with a predominantly younger crowd; the older generation might not get the appeal of a raw space.

Even nature lovers can find plenty to please them in a city wedding venue. Most major cities have breathtaking botanical gardens which can be used for weddings. You can have a totally romantic garden wedding right in the heart of a big city. For many couples this can be the perfect solution, as you will be able to be married surrounded by an abundance of flowers without the hassle of planning a wedding out in the countryside far from your place in the city. There could surely be no better way to celebrate both your love for each other and your native city.

Balancing a Wedding With Work or School

Timing, as they say, is everything. There is no doubt that as soon as he pops the question, most women start thinking about having the wedding and getting married. The idea of putting off your nuptials due to the other things going on in your life can seem downright unromantic. On the other hand, if you know that you are in a hectic part of your life now, but that in a year things will have settled down, a long engagement might be well worth the stress saved.

Balancing school with planning a wedding can be one challenge. Although it seems very exciting to graduate from college in May and get married in June, the truth of the matter is that you might have more fun with both your senior year and your wedding planning if you push the wedding back to the following year, or at least until the autumn. After all, you don’t want to feel rushed when you are shopping for your wedding gown or bridal jewelry because you have an exam looming that you need to study for. Nor do you want to miss out on the best venue or band because your weekends were so tied up with school that you did not get anything booked.

Women with demanding careers would be wise to determine if the workload is temporary or ongoing before jumping into the wedding planning process. In other words, if you are finishing a medical residency, you would be insane to try to plan a wedding at the same time, but waiting is not so terrible, because there is a definite end to that particular work situation. On the other hand, if you are trying to make partner at your law firm and eighty hour weeks will be the norm for the foreseeable future, there is no point in waiting, since things are unlikely to change.

When a demanding career is the norm for you, the best possible thing which you can do for yourself is to hire a wedding planner.  Better yet, plan a destination wedding at a beautiful resort. They are used to taking care of most of the details for their long distance brides, and when you are working a grueling schedule, a trip to a tropical paradise is exactly what you need! You can have your dream wedding and a relaxing vacation, all in one. What could be better?

Guide to Choosing Wedding Colors

Think about how many elements of your wedding will feature your chosen color or colors: the flowers, the bridesmaid dresses and bridesmaid jewelry, the invitations, the wedding cake, maybe even the invitations. That is why the color that you select is so important. Almost any color can be beautiful for a wedding, but not all will be ideal for the style that you wish to create. First and foremost, the wedding color that you select should be one which you really love, but beyond that, it should suit the season, the location, and the formality of your event.

Pastel colors like pink, yellow, lilac, and celadon are all wonderful for springtime weddings. They have a light and airy effect that is as lovely as the first breeze of spring on a sunny day. Colors this light will tend to look the best for daytime weddings, especially those which are held outdoors. The softness of these shades makes them very easy to use in combination with each other, as well. Just be careful that your wedding does not end up looking like an Easter egg!

Bright colors such as hot pink, lime green, turquoise, and true orange are very festive. They work beautifully for a summertime wedding, especially a casual one. These bright choices are cheerful and fun, which makes them great when your main goal is to design a wedding at which everyone will really get into a party spirit. They are not so great for formal weddings, however, as they really do feel more like a beach afternoon. The turquoise and lime green make a fantastic pair, and the hot pink and orange are equally terrific together.

Rich colors such as red and purple are more elegant and formal (depending on the shade of red and how it is used it can also work for a casual wedding). Think of deep red roses or dramatic purple orchids for an opulent evening wedding. To enhance the feeling of richness, choose silver or gold accents. On the other hand, these same colors can be used with a more lighthearted approach by combining them with a bright or light shade. Lime green with cherry red is modern and fresh, and lilac mixed with purple will brighten it up for a daytime wedding.

Dealing with Wedding Disagreements

It is inevitable when planning a wedding that disagreements are going to arise between the bride and her mother. Here are some tips to help brides deal with common wedding disagreements.

Scenario No. 1: You and your friends all love a great party and your mom thinks drinking is wrong.  This is an area where sometimes a middle ground can be found between the two sides. Maybe your mom is worried less about people having a glass of Champagne for toasting and more about the younger generation getting drunk and rowdy. Perhaps you can agree that only wine will be served at the reception, and then the newlyweds and their friends can have an afterparty later.  Of course, if your mom is paying for the wedding and insists on an absolute ban on alcohol, there is not too much you can do about it.

Scenario No. 2: Your mom wants to see you wear a traditional long sleeve wedding gown with her strand of pearls. You imagine yourself in a trendy one-shoulder dress with modern crystal bridal jewelry. There can be some ways to appease a traditional mom. For instance, you might agree to wear the modern dress with a little jacket for the ceremony.  Do your best to make your mom feel respected, but also make sure that when you put on your entire wedding ensemble that you feel gorgeous.

Scenario No. 3: Budget conflicts. It is really, really easy to spend a huge sum of money on a wedding in the blink of an eye. And yet, when your parents are paying for the wedding, they will likely have in mind what they consider to be a reasonable budget. This is one dispute that has to go to the parents. Even if you think that your parents’ idea of what a wedding should cost is hopelessly outdated, you cannot in fairness ask them to spend more than they can afford. Your best bet is to find a way to work within their budget or to make up the shortfall with your own money if you can.

With these tips in mind, you should be able to handle most wedding issues which crop up in a graceful manner.

Perk Up Your Wedding With Polka Dots

There are so many fun ways that you can use pattern to make your wedding more festive. Rather than safe (and potentially boring) solids, why not introduce a cheery pattern to your wedding attire and décor? These are some suggestions on how to perk up your wedding with polka dots.

One fun idea for polka dots is to select dotted bridesmaid dresses. For a classic nautically inspired effect, a white or ivory dot on a navy dress is crisp and fresh; perfect for a seaside wedding. The timeless look of pearl bridesmaid jewelry would complete the look beautifully. If your style is more retro, choose a red fabric with medium sized white dots, which have a touch of whimsy. A great cut for this dress would be a strapless style with a red fabric belt.

Polka dots can be used in many ways throughout the wedding decorations. They would be wonderful for tablecloths to dress up a plain space. The color combination that you select will help to create the feeling that you want. Black and white polka dotted tablecloths are both chic and vintage, especially when paired with pink flowers in the centerpieces. For a cheerful spring wedding reception, a pale yellow and white polka dot fabric would be a great way to perk up the tables. Or go for a very stylish color palette of pink and brown. The polka dots will help make this sophisticated color pair more upbeat and relaxed.

When you have a great wedding design going, naturally you will want to extend it to your wedding cake. Polka dots are fabulous for a cake, and in fact if you want only one polka dot detail, this could be the place to introduce it. Small white on white Swiss dots are a classic style for a wedding cake. They look simply sweet with “pearl” borders along each tier. If ultra girly is your goal, top the cake with a large frosting bow with streamers that cascade down the tiers of the Swiss dot cake.

There are many more wonderful ways to make your wedding cheery with polka dots. From the invitations to the ribbons on the bouquets, you can have fun using either a little or a lot of this upbeat pattern. One thing is for certain: a polka dot design wedding is one which is going to be very happy and a lot of fun for everyone.

Who Needs a Wedding Planner?

Think wedding planners are only for opulent weddings with six figure budgets? Well, think again, because couples with all different budgets and tastes hire wedding planners these days. In fact, more people can benefit from some professional help than may realize it. This is a look at who needs a wedding planner and why.

Budget conscious brides and grooms. Surprised? Yes, you have to pay a wedding planner for his or her services, but they can also be really helpful in making sure that you stick to your budget. There are even planners who specialize in fabulous weddings on tight budgets, which is ideal if you are looking for tricks to stretch your wedding dollars. Besides knowing the tricks of the trade, a planner will also know vendors with whom they can negotiate to get you the best rate or freebies thrown in.

Busy brides. Let’s face it, most of the wedding planning is still handled by the bride, maybe with help from her mother. If you are a bride with a demanding career, finding time to interview caterers, shop around for the perfect bridesmaid jewelry gifts, and pore through dozens of wedding stationery books can be flat out impossible. The planner will do all the legwork for you, and present you with the top few options which suit your needs. From listening to bands to searching for custom gifts of bridesmaid jewelry for your girls to seeking out a caterer who specializes in Portuguese cuisine, a wedding planner can do it all so that you don’t have to.

Destination wedding brides. This is a big one. Planning a long distance wedding on your own can be next to impossible. How are you going to visit with florists, check out venues, and go hear local bands play when your home is hundreds of miles from your wedding location? A common scenario is that the planner does all the research and the bride and groom make just one or two trips to the wedding location to see the options that the coordinator has rounded up and to make their final decisions.

It is always a good idea to know when you could use some help along the way, whether it is just a wedding day coordinator to make sure that everything goes smoothly, or a full service planner who will arrange everything from soup to nuts. One thing is for sure, if you need one, you sure will be glad to have a professional wedding planner on your side!

Wedding Planner Checklist

A wedding planner can be a best friend to a busy bride. But to make sure that you are getting the most for your money (and that you know what to expect from her), it is important that you and your wedding planner are on the same page. This is a wedding planner checklist that all brides can use.

The time to begin asking questions of your wedding planner is before you sign the contract. You need to know just exactly what her services will cost, and what you should get for that money. There are wedding planners who work by the hour, those that base their fee on a percentage of the total wedding cost, and coordinators who take a more limited role, such as working only on the day of the wedding. Any of these types of planners can work out well, as long as you are clear on what to expect.

Another important question to ask your wedding planner is what type of wedding is her specialty. Most planners will be competent enough to design a wide range of events, yet you will be happiest if you find one whose vision meshes well with your own. When you are having a specialized type of affair, such a traditional Indian wedding, you will have the best results with a planner who is already familiar with the customs of your culture, from the suite of bridal jewelry to the food to the music. Your vendor will be better equipped to source the best vendors if she has experience planning events that were similar to yours.

Another big question on your wedding planner checklist is her timeline. This is one of the key roles that a coordinator will fill – making sure that you know what steps need to be taken when, and seeing to it that they get done in a timely fashion. Remember that when your planner gives you a deadline, it is for the good of your wedding, so don’t be resentful if you feel like she is always bugging you to get decisions made. The whole reason to hire a wedding planner is to ensure that you have the most beautiful wedding possible, and at times, you will need to help her help you.