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Planning for the Perfect Site for your Wedding
History of Wedding Favors
10 Cheap Wedding Favors
How to Look Good in Wedding Photographs
Traditional Polish Wedding Reception

Planning for the Perfect Site for your Wedding

Now a days, there are several options open for your wedding site. One of the limiting factors in choosing your wedding site is your budget for your wedding. But, do not let this discourage you from looking at what is out there. Some of them are perfect for limited budget. There are also categories where the "sky is the limit". The resources below list some of your options.

Church Weddings - This involves a considerate amount of planing. You will need to meet with the priest, pastor or rabbi for an available date, usually way before your wedding date. Some churches will conduct wedding ceremonies only for their congregation members. Some churches do not have membership requirements. The first thing to do is to choose a church and then find out what are their requirements.

Chapel Weddings - Simple venues where you and your groom need to take care and provide all the necessities for the ceremony such as the clergy or someone who will perform the ceremony, music, flowers, photographers, etc, to full-service chapels that offer full-packages which include not only the regular necessities, but also limousines and even gowns and tuxedos. Ask for their chapel policy and make sure you read the fine prints to determine what services are included and which ones have additional charges. Also, look into reception facilities that have chapels in their properties.

Home Weddings- Just as Chapel Weddings, this category spans the spectrum from simple small living room or garden wedding with a justice of the peace and a handful of invited close friends and relatives to an outside spectacular wedding under a large tent with all the trimmings. A small garden wedding right in your home's backyard is more personal. You get to meet and talk with all your invited guests, share their stories and laughters. It does not necessarily mean "inexpensive". With few guests, you can, if you wish, splurge on your bridal accessories, wedding favors, food and entertainment. Again, your budget will dictate how elaborate or how simple your wedding ceremony will be.

Historical Places - If you both like history and have a favorite historical place - an art museum, perhaps? Why not ask the curators if they will allow you to hold your wedding ceremony at their place? This event will be so special for you and your guests. Of course, you will need to observe the historical place's policy and abide with them.

Beach Weddings Do you both love the beach? Then, this is a good option. You can hold your wedding ceremony in your favorite beach. It could be a public beach, although you have to contend with uninvited onlookers, or look into private beaches if you do not care for curious onlookers. The sound of waves rushing to the beach is so romantic and refreshing. Do you live far from the beach? You can still have a beach wedding theme by bringing in beach theme wedding favors and decorations. As for the relaxing sound of rushing water, how about using miniature waterfalls as center pieces for the reception tables?

Destination Weddings - This is becoming very popular today. The site could be a far-away hometown of one of the engaged couple or a vacation spot. Most vacation spots have packages for the entire family, other invited guests and even programs for children of the bride or groom. Before you leave, however, be sure to check the rules for residency, legalities, licenses and other details. Call the destination site’s board of tourism or consulate to find the necessary papers or permits required, especially for destinations outside the United States.

Yacht or Cruise Wedding – Similar to destination weddings, except the ceremony is held several miles off land. Yacht weddings usually last from 4 to 6 hours where the ceremony, food, and dancing are all provided. It is actually a trip to nowhere. The couple and guest board the yacht, sail, attend the ceremony and reception, then disembark in the same place they boarded the yacht. Cruise weddings are more elaborate, but less private. Unlike the Yacht wedding, not all the passengers in the cruise ship are your invited guests. Consider, though that you can have the wedding, reception and honeymoon all in the same place. No honeymoon destination to drive to, everything you'll need is right there - gyms, theather, spas, salons, night clubs, fine restaurants, swimming pools, casinos and shopping. The cruise can last for 3 days to a whole week or more. There are ports of calls where you and your spouse can disembark and spend quality time together while enjoying the sights and shopping in these port of calls. Sounds like fun!

No matter what site or style you choose for your wedding day, do not forget to make it your own – something that reflects your personality, your cherished memories and most of all, your love for one another.

Congratulations!

Article Source: https://www.bridalnbeauty.com/site/1566638/page/765836#2

Author: Floriam Florida is the Sales & Marketing Manager of Bridal ‘N Beauty – an online store for quality wedding favors, bridal accessories, bridal gifts and bridal jewelries and more! The Bride, Groom, Best Man, Bridesmaids and Groomsmen can find it all at the www.bridalnbeauty.com website.

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History of Wedding Favors

There are no definite dates on when the tradition of giving wedding favors started. However, it is an accepted fact that this tradition dates back several centuries ago. The belief is that wedding favors started with the Europeans, especially the Italians and French nobilities and aristocrats. The wedding favors were made of sugar cubes or delicate confections, since sugar was quite an expensive commodity during that era. In addition, sugar also symbolizes wealth and royalty. These sugar cubes are placed inside small trinket boxes called “Bombonieres”, which are made of crystal, porcelain or metal and decorated with precious or semi-precious stones. These bonbonieres were given by the bride and groom to their wedding guests as gestures of thanks for sharing in the happiness of their wedding day.

As sugar became more affordable, this tradition spread to the common masses. The delicate confections were also replaced with sugar coated almonds called “confetti”. Eventually, the confetti were replaced with Jordan Almonds. Traditionally, five Jordan Almonds are wrapped in artistically shaped containers made of elegant fabric to represent fertility, longevity, wealth, heath and happiness for the bride and groom.

Today, choosing wedding favors has become an intricate and necessary part of wedding planning. The wedding couples are no longer limited to bonbonieres, confetti or Jordan Almonds, although these are still popular. The choice of wedding favors is usually given to the bride to decide. She has the option to select favors based on her wedding theme, her wedding colors, the wedding season or anything she fancies. Her choice is limited only by her imagination, budget, personality type and taste.

Brides usually ask us how many wedding favors should they buy or make. The number of favors to purchase for your wedding depends on; you guess it, your wedding budget. A good rule of thumb is to plan on purchasing one favor for each couple or, if the favors are expensive, one per family in your wedding guests list. However, budget on giving each guest one edible favor, unless you have at least two in the edible favor container. In essence, each guest should get a taste of the edible favor.

Some brides choose keepsakes and practical wedding favors such as photo frames, photo albums, wind chimes, seedlings or personalized gifts that their guest will remember them by and still enjoy using the keepsakes years after the wedding.

Placing a disposable wedding camera per reception table is also a simple and affordable way to get your guests’ perspective on your special day. Remember to have someone to collect the wedding cameras after the reception. This way, the pictures can be developed and you will have shots of the moments you may have missed. You’ll cherish the memory-filled photos each of these disposable wedding cameras contains and they will give your guests fun times playing “photographer” at your wedding reception.

Best of all, once you have chosen your wedding favors, relax and look forward to having a grand time at your wedding reception.

Article Source: https://www.bridalnbeauty.com/site/1566638/page/765836#2

Author: Floriam Florida is the Sales & Marketing Manager of Bridal ‘N Beauty – an online store for quality wedding favors, bridal accessories, bridal gifts and bridal jewelries and more! The Bride, Groom, Best Man, Bridesmaids and Groomsmen can find it all at the www.bridalnbeauty.com website.

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10 Cheap Wedding Favors

Don’t let the idea of buying expensive wedding favors get you down. If you’re on a tight budget, we have some great affordable wedding favor ideas that will let your guest know how much you appreciated their presence on your special day.

1. Fortune Cookies - Buy some fortune cookies in bulk, carefully slip the message out of each cookie and insert your own. Your messages can be humorous, sweet, or a simple thank you from the both of you.

2. Seashells - Live near the beach? Spend the day collecting beautiful shells that will look great wrapped in tulle with a ribbon embossed with your names and wedding date. Don’t forget to soak the shells them in warm antibacterial soapy water for several hours.

3. Bookmarks - Purchase a package of heavy paper from a local business supply store. Create a unique bookmark including an image of you and your spouse. Add a unique quip, such as: “Each day of our lives together is a page in a special book,” then add your names and wedding date. Punch a hole at the top of each bookmark and use strands of colored yarn as a tassel for this favor.

4. Deck of Cards - Have your images printed on a pack of playing cards. This will really stun your guests. What a unique gift idea! Ask your local printer of he can do this for you.

5. Message in a Bottle - Purchase clear bottles in bulk. Type a special message up for each of your guests. Print them off and roll them up like scrolls. Slip each scroll into a bottle. You may wish to add confetti to each bottle for décor too! Your guests will love the message of thank you and they’ll treasure it as a keepsake for years to come.

6. Personalized Key-Rings - Have your picture placed on a key-ring with your names and the date of your wedding printed on it. It’s a great little wedding favor that’s inexpensive. It will also provide the opportunity for your loved ones to have a great picture of the newly wed couple.

7. Gourmet Coffee Packs Mix and Match! Add different coffee flavors to different tables so guests can trade-off. Place the coffee in tulle and tie a beautiful ribbon (which matches your bridal party’s colors) around the favor. This wedding favor will be well-received by the adults!

8. Mini Liquors - Give everyone a miniature liquor bottle with a card attached to it. You can print these cards yourself, they may read: A Toast to Mr. and Mrs. (Last Name) . Supply a different favor for all of your underage guests.

9. Flower Seed Packages - Purchase flower seeds for all of your guests. Wrap the package in mesh with a note attached that reads: “May your garden bloom as healthy as our love for one another.”

10. Photograph CD - For the computer savvy families, this is an excellent idea for a wedding favor. Compile photographs from both of your childhoods, then your first pictures together–all the way until this moment. Place them onto a CD for each guest. Your families and friends won’t believe how much you’ve grown into the people you are today.

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

Author: Jen Carter is owner of My Wedding Blog, a free wedding planner. The above article is found in our wedding favors category.

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How to Look Good in Wedding Photographs

The dress was beautiful, you got through the ceremony and reception without a hitch, but just when you thought your wedding was perfect, your pictures come back and you look awful. What can you do to make sure that your photos are as beautiful as the memories you have?

• Never scrimp on your photographer. Nobody’s going to remember if your bouquets had daisies or rare, exotic orchids. But years from now, your great grand children will be looking at your wedding album. They’re not just souvenirs, they’re heirlooms. Spend on them.

• Avoid complicated hairstyles and veils. You’ll be walking around, too busy talking to guests to check the mirror. You don’t want your veil hanging to the side, or your bangs plastered to your face. Keep it simple and elegant. If you want a dramatic veil for your walk down the aisle, look for a style that allows you to detach part of it, leaving you with something less cumbersome at the reception.

• Buy or make a small clutch bag or pouch that matches your gown. It should carry blotting paper, pressed powder, lipstick and blush. Ask your maid of honor to keep it handy for you.

• Wear waterproof mascara. You will cry a lot. It’s guaranteed. Black mascara will run and leave unflattering raccoon eyes.

• Don’t wear heavy powder eyeshadow. Again, you will cry. You will also sweat from walking around in heavy makeup, a thick gown, and hundreds of guests milling around you. Powder smears and cakes, and ends up under your eyes.

• Don’t wear sheer lipstick. You’ll eat it off. Or if you do, wear a matte or semi-matte base and apply the sheer lipstick as a top coat. Be sure to blot well, or it’ll end up around your mouth or on your teeth.

• Don’t wear heavy shimmery makeup, unless it’s applied by a professional makeup artist. It doesn’t photograph well under less than perfect lighting conditions. If you do, apply only on the eyes.

• Bridal makeup should be soft and romantic, not harsh. Natural pinks are most flattering, and really make you look like a “blushing bride”. Avoid hard-edged contouring and dramatic browns, unless blended well and kept close to the eyeline. Even lipsticks should stick to the pinks and brownish pinks. Bright reds look too harsh worn against a white dress.

• You’ll need good foundation that lasts long but doesn’t cake. The trick is to apply moisturizer first and let it “set”. This will prime your skin. Apply a matte or cream foundation, then concealer. Dust powder foundation with a brush.

• Take good photographs right after the ceremony, when everyone’s make up is still intact. You should have solo shots, couple shots, and group photos with your entourage, friends, family members.

• Ask for a few black and white photographs. They always have a soft, romantic feel.

• If you’ll be having outdoor photographs, light is most flattering in the morning and at dusk. Avoid any outdoor shots from 11 am to 2 pm; everyone will just be squinting.

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

Author: Lesley-Ann Graham runs WeddingTrix.com - a valuable wedding planning resource with bridal guides, articles for the bride and bridesmaid, wedding etiquette advice for brides, tips for brides, bridal checklists, wedding planning worksheets, and more! The Bride, Groom, Best Man, Bridesmaids and Groomsmen can find it all at the www.WeddingTrix.com website.

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Traditional Polish Wedding Reception

Two of the traditional Polish wedding customs during the wedding reception are the "Oczepiny" or the Unveiling and Capping Ceremony and the "Pani Mloda" or the Bridal Money Dance.

The Capping Ceremony represents the rite of passage-from young maiden to a married woman. All the single ladies at the reception circle the bride as the maid of honor stands behind the bride and removes the veil from the bride's head as music is played. A married woman (usually the bride's mother or godmother) is given the responsibility of pinning the "Czepek" - the cap of a married woman, on the head of the bride as all the married women present at the reception circle around the bride. At this moment, the bride is officially considered a married woman! In some weddings, after the unveiling, the bride will toss the veil rather than the bouquet to the single women or she will give her veil to the maid of honor. The maid of honor then puts the veil to her head and proceed to waltz with the best man for a few minutes. She then passes the veil to another single woman, who will wear it for a few minutes while dancing. This "passing of the veil" continues until all the single women in the reception has worn the veil. Then the veil is given back to the maid of honor who keeps the veil.

The last dance at a Polish American wedding, before the bride and groom leave, is usually reserved for the bride and is called the "Pani Mloda" or Bridal Dance, also called the Apron Dance. A Polish wedding apron is wrapped around the bride's waist over her wedding dress. This symbolizes that she gives up her innocence and accepts her duties as a wife, a hostess, and a mother. All the guests at the reception then line up for a last chance to dance (acually a short spin to keep the line going) with the bride and to donate money to the newly wed couple either by pinning the money on the Apron or by placing the money in one of the two Apron pockets while dancing with the bride. After the guest has danced with the bride, the guest is given a drink and a piece of the freshly cut wedding cake. When the final guest completes his or her dance with the bride, the groom takes his turn. He dances with the bride and at the end of the dance, he throws his wallet into the Apron's pocket, takes his bride and the Apron, and they leave the reception together to start their new life as husband and wife.

Bridal 'N Beauty offers a traditional Polish Wedding Apron with a bride's cap (Czepek). This beautiful set is handcrafted by FloridaSeams of Flemington, New Jersey, exclusively for www.bridalnbeauty.com. Click here to view our Traditional Polish Wedding Dance Apron with Bride's Cap (Czepek).

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