Wedding Bible

Wednesday, 13 January 2010

Keeping Your Wedding Inexpensive on a Really Tight Budget

There is a growing trend towards keeping weddings inexpensive today and rightly so. Spending your life savings on your big day is not just crazy, it is totally insane. Wouldn't you rather have money to put down on a house and furnish it, or to pay for your honeymoon? I mean, you have to have a honeymoon...don't you?

In fact, the down payment for a house or mortgage is far more beneficial for your future happiness than squandering it all away on an expensive wedding. You can still have an elegant and beautiful wedding and reception without having to go broke in the process.

In today's economy couples know that keeping a wedding inexpensive just makes more sense than spending money like crazy. That along with the days when the bride's parent's paid for everything is just about over. Nowadays couples are more often spending their own money on the wedding as many of them live together long before the wedding day. Budget Weddings don't have to mean that you have to give up on style. It means using your imagination, and doing a lot of the work yourself or getting the help of your friends and family rather than paying through the nose for professionals.

You don't have to do what everyone else is doing to make your day special either. There are so many ideas out there that can make your wedding a great deal cheaper in the long run. You can save some money without skimping on any of the good stuff and still make your wedding inexpensive.

A good example is to buy your dress secondhand; you can still get a fabulous dress and save lots in the process. Another good one is to have friends and family make your food and cake for you instead of a wedding gift; you'll just want to make sure that they are decent cooks before you enlist their help.

Also try using an MP3 player instead of hiring a DJ. I know its budget but it's different. You can also have your reception at home or at a friend or relative's house who has a really nice back yard with only close friends and family.

You really don't need to have the entire world at your wedding either, do you? Trim that guest list to include only friends and family that are close to you. This is difficult to do but sometimes it is necessary if the cost per guest is going to break your budget. This is probably the most cost-saving thing you can do in keeping your wedding inexpensive.

There are just so many things that you can do to make your wedding inexpensive that this article alone cannot begin to cover them all. Brainstorm and use your imagination to find more creative, fun ways to plan your wedding on a really tight budget.

Hey, Charles Powers here...Making your wedding inexpensive can be challenging. If you want to learn more, there is this great eBook that'll make you practically an expert, and it is up for grabs FREE at my blog. Visit http://makeyourweddinginexpensive.com/blog.

Tuesday, 12 January 2010

Fergie Josh Duhamel Renew Wedding Vows | eCanadaNow

Transformers star Josh Duhamel renewed his wedding vows last week with wife Fergie and they have decided to do it again each year. Supermodel Heidi Klum and husband Seal also renew their vows each year and this is where Josh admits he got the idea from.

It has been reported to be a rough first year of marriage for Fergie and Josh, including rumors of his infidelity. Fergie has stood strong however say she didn’t believe the Josh cheated with stripper. Nicole Forrester. The vows were renewed last week in a private ceremony in California in celebration of their first year anniversary. The seaside ceremony held last Saturday was held outside a hotel where weddings were often held. They were both reported to be dressed very nicely and Fergie seemed very emotional.

Life however returned to normal on Monday and the couple was spotted running in the Canyons of Santa Monica.

Latest Trends in Winter Weddings

The moment is still fresh in your mind. You knew your beloved was up to something but it was not until he bent on one knee and took out a beautiful diamond ring that you finally realized that he was going to ask your hand in marriage. You were filled with all sorts of emotions at that time-you were happy, nervous, excited, and anxious all at the same time.

Of course, you said yes. After all, you have been waiting for this moment all your life. Your dream to become a winter bride has come true because your spouse-to-be has chosen the perfect season of winter to celebrate your union. You cannot be any happier.

Having dreamed of this several times, you know what being a winter bride means. It means being able to enjoy a backdrop of awesome white snow and being able to do excited and thrilling winter activities.

Aside from this, you also are aware the trends for winter weddings are constantly changing so what may be trendy when you first imagined yourself as a winter bride ten years ago may not be the trend of today. To help you with this matter, here are the latest trends in winter weddings that can contribute to the smashing success of your big day.

1. Black and White

Black and white wedding is a very popular trend for winter weddings this year. The guests and the entourage can all wear black so that the bride will stand out in a shimmering white gown. You can decorate the wedding venue with black and white embellishments for dramatic beauty and striking contrast. Moreover, the event could also be captured in black and white still photographs to complete the effect.

2. Calligraphy

Calligraphy, which refers to the use of stylized writing or creation of monogram of the couple's initials, is becoming more and more popular especially during the winter season. This monogram can be used to mark invitations, candles, wedding favors, tableware, table napkins, and even the aisle runner. This can also be used to adorn the wedding cake through icing calligraphy.

3. The Wedding Dress

Think of a fairy tale wedding. Think of ball gowns and long gloves. These are the hot items for this year, which is definitely most suitable for the chilly season of winter. This is especially nice for winter wonderland themes or fantasy fairy tale themes. The bride can easily imagine herself as a beautiful princess bride.

4. Little Details

When it comes to winter weddings, the ideas are endless. For one, you can make use of snowflakes, icicles, mini wedding bells and crystal accents to decorate the wedding venue and add glamor to the event. You can even adorn yourself and your bridesmaids with snowflake wedding accessories. You can send in invitations that have little snowflake designed embossed. Little touches that seemed unimportant years back are certainly trendy and hot this winter season.

5. Wedding Cake

Dressing up the wedding cupcake tower with blue, silver, and white icing and decors is very trendy for winter weddings this year. Use of cupcakes in lieu of the traditional tiered wedding cake has become a popular trend not only because they are hip and unconventional but also because they are less expensive, something that we can all use during a time of financial crisis.

6. Flowers

The traditional wedding flowers for winter are red roses, amaryllis, and calla lilies. However, the fad this year tells us to experiment with fuller flowers such as hydrangeas and ranunculus. Adding mini wedding bells or crystals can make these blooms even more dashing.

Sure enough, you will spend time in preparing and planning the whole event to ensure that it will be beautiful and memorable not only for you and your partner, but also for all the people attending your big day.

Nina Lampe loves all things weddings, blogging, article writing, talking with brides and helping them prepare their wedding. She specializes in wedding table decorations and in particular, in unique wedding accessories.

Points to Consider While Choosing Wedding Venues

It is beyond any doubt that all of us want to have a memorable wedding. In order to truly make it memorable, you have to take care of the most intricate details. When headed in this direction, it's not only sufficient to have perfect wedding dress and food, but also to have a proper wedding venue. A venue adds a lot to your special occasion and only a place that is unique and striking makes the event all the more memorable. So, which ever venue, you choose, it should have something unique about it, which would make your wedding memorable. Choosing a wedding ceremony Venue is not an uncomplicated task. You need to have an eye for details.

The very first factor that needs your due consideration is your budget. You need to decide the cost involved in making the arrangements.
You need to have a family meeting to decide and prepare a list of guests to be invited. This decision matters a lot in deciding the wedding area. If the numbers of guests are less, then we can choose a small wedding venue. If numbers of guests are more, we can have a big wedding venue.
You need to decide whether you want to have a luxury wedding venue or an average one.
Maintain a record of all your requirements. There can be some, which might be fulfilled at the opted location or in other case; you might need to hire someone, who could provide you with all the related items.

You can also choose some outdoor wedding venue, if you are planning to invite a lot of guests. There are big grounds, banquet halls, forested area, or big cathedrals. It is easier for guests to spread out in the entire area and enjoy the memorable moment. Such places also give you an option of setting up a deck for the live bands to entertain your invitees, which would otherwise not be so easy to organize indoors. While arranging wedding outdoors, you need to pray for good weather conditions. If weather turns unfavourable, it can ruin the entire celebration. At the same time, a good weather condition can make your day memorable.

But, if you fear that the number of invited guests is less, then you can opt for a small venue. Or, if you suspect a bad weather condition, it is better to go for some indoor option. Hence, you need to consider several factors before you can decide an exact wedding venue. Remember that a lavish and striking venue never fails to leave a long lasting impression on the audiences.

For any help on luxury wedding venues, check out the info available online; these will help you learn to find thewedding reception venues!

Few Important Points to Remember When Selecting Wedding Function Venues

Wedding is a very special occasion in everyone's lives. Some people claim it to be the happiest day of their life. As it is a special day, the wedding function venues should also be special and perfect for the occasion. Choosing a perfect and beautiful location for marriage function can be a hectic task. But if planned and selected carefully, it can also be fun.

To choose a venue, we must keep in mind three important criteria- food, entertainment and convenient location. These attributes are responsible for making a function successful and enjoyable. As said before, if planned properly, an event can turn out to be fun and successful. First thing to list down when planning for a venue is the budget.

Once the budget is decided, it is easier to look for the location. After the budget, list out how many invitees are there for the ceremony. Decide just how grand the function should be. Then search for the locations online. There are many banquet halls available for the function and they can accommodate a large number of people. Outdoor wedding ceremonies are also becoming popular nowadays.

The area in which a ceremony is going to take place should be selected carefully. It should be centrally located and within reach of the guests. Check if the surroundings of the function venue have a pleasing environment or not. Check the venue directory if there is confusion in selecting the location. Directories have enormous information about these locations and will provide some great ideas.

If there is no limitation on budget, then opt for wedding planners. They ease a major part of the tension. Nowadays, hiring planners to organise the marriage ceremony is a trend. Though, it relieves our worries, they are little over the budget to afford. Not everyone can hire planner; thus, one can always apply their own creative mind and organise a beautiful function.

Music and food are as important for the function as the decoration and the surroundings. Music can make the party rocking and entertaining. Guests love to dance during wedding and events. Hiring DJs and bands is also a nice idea when planning for the perfect ceremony.

Food and refreshments are a vital part of any function. Usually, guests look forward to a good meal during marriage functions. If the food is good, guests are satisfied. So, when selecting the venue, check whether they provide the catering services or we need to book on our own. If they provide the food, check whether the quality of the food is up to the mark or not. After all, it is a grand function for the special day.

Before finalising on any venue, make sure you get the best deal out of the money invested.

For any help on Wedding Function Venues, check out the info available online; these will help you learn to find the Corporate New Year Events!

Monday, 11 January 2010

How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget - Wedding Budget Tips

Having limited funds is causing many people to consider postponing their wedding. Don't put it off yet. There are ways to save for those needing low budget weddings that may keep you from needing to postpone. You can actually have a wonderful dress, wedding, reception and honeymoon for much less than many people realize. Here are wedding budget tips for how to plan a wedding on a budget even when it is a low budget.

First let's talk dresses. If you don't have the means to be on the cutting edge of style and you can appreciate the beauty of dresses that may be last season's or earlier design, you can save substantially by buying off of the sales or clearance rack. Also there are bridal stores around that once or more often during the year have major discounts that future brides line up or even camp out for. If you take advantage of one of these, try to get in there before and try things on so you know some dresses you like, where they are and size. Don't forget about the internet. There are a number of stores and resources online.

Next let's discuss the wedding venue. If you plan to have your wedding in a Church, most require a small donation for the use of the Church and the services of the minister. You may also be able to have a reception there if you don't have loud music or serve alcohol. This is potentially a huge savings, especially if you have friends or family members that cater.

Other money saving venues are parks and homes. Both of these are great venues for having ceremonies and/or receptions in warm weather. Reserving a pavilion in a park and renting or going to a craft store for decorations can make for a really beautiful event. Plus, if it is a more natural park with fantastic natural views, this will contribute even more to the beauty of the event as well as make it more memorable.

Having a wedding and/ or reception at home or at a relative's home has sentimental value. Here again you can rent or purchase decorations from a craft store. At night, candlelight is so romantic wherever you have it. Whether in the park or at home, you can have a memorable event and save a substantial amount.

To save on flowers, my first suggestion is for those having their wedding in a large Church. Many large churches have florists that they work with. You may be able to save by using the church florist. You may receive a discount for being a member of the church. This florist may allow the use of greenery for no or a very low charge. The florist may sell you candles and flowers at a discount that they can use in that Sunday's service.

My other suggestions are to not underestimate the beauty of greenery, candles and ribbons. If you use more inexpensive items like these, you may be able to get by with fewer more costly flowers. Also see if your florist will give a discount if you or a family member or friend offers some free labor.

The Honeymoon is a substantial part of the wedding budget and the one that you will probably get the most enjoyment out of. Some people spend a lot on the wedding and dress and put what is leftover into this or skip it all together. For us the most expensive things were the reception and the honeymoon and the only regret I have about that is spending so much time taking pictures that we didn't get to enjoy the reception more. My first idea of how to save here is to take advantage of those discount timeshare vacations. Yes I know it may mean enduring a major possibly half to full day sales pitch while you are there. But to get a week in Hawaii or other wonderful destination for well below what it would cost otherwise it can be worth it. Besides, you may be able to book somewhere that will throw in a wedding ceremony for free or very little at a neighbor resort. Your friends and family paying to come and stay at a different hotel or resort from you could be their contribution to helping make your special day a reality. I have to warn you though that, if you are a personality type that has your whole day ruined by a pushy telemarketer's call, you might want to give this idea a miss.

Do some research and find a beautiful destination or spa within driving distance. Many people don't know about wonderful and interesting destinations within driving distance of their home until someone comes to visit and they are showing them around and researching places for them to go. Put in the research and you may have a wonderful honeymoon for the cost of a few nights stay.

Last minute travel is another option. Who says you need to have everything completely planned out? You could set a budget and have some flexibility in your travel dates and add an element of surprise to your honeymoon. Many have friends that have told them about great trips they have taken and booked at the last minute. It's true that you don't know where you will be going but, if you make up your mind that you will enjoy wherever you go, you likely will. This option lends itself to the more spontaneous. If it will cause you a great deal of stress not knowing your destination in advance, this option is probably not for you. Wedding planning and the wedding day itself can be stressful enough.

There you have it - ideas and tips for saving money on your dress, wedding, reception and honeymoon. Hopefully following these tips will allow you to save money, not need to delay your special day and to still enjoy it to the fullest.

By Velica Galaud

For more engagement and wedding tips as well as information on engagement and wedding rings, promise rings or other jewelry, visit http://www.LovesPromiseRings.com.

Start Your Wedding Planning Today

Planning a wedding can be one of the more stressful things that you ever do. There are a lot of details to cover, many decisions to make. The good news is that if you get yourself organized you can cut down on the stress of this activity.

Start Big

Even if picking out the perfect favors or shopping for decorations seems like a good idea, it is best to hold off on that for now. There will be plenty of time for that later. Besides if you pick out the small things now, there is a chance that you will change your mind about what you really need later.

The Location

Do you know where you are getting married yet? If you answered no this is where to begin. Where you are getting married can drastically change the look and feel of the day. There is a huge difference between a small backyard wedding and a huge church wedding. Choose wisely. Think about what your day is going to be like, what you want, how many guests you have and of course your budget comes into play as well.

The decision of where the ceremony will be held is one that needs to be made early because wedding venues may be reserved for long periods of time. If you absolutely fall in love with a certain venue you will need to see if they are available on your wedding date. If they are not you may either have to change the venue or the wedding date. If you change the wedding date this can affect other decisions you may have already made and that is why it is imperative to choose the venue early on in the wedding planning process.

The same rules apply to choosing where the reception will be held. You need to make this decision early, usually immediately after choosing the ceremony location. Also keep in mind that you will need to know what time the reception begins so you will need to know how long the ceremony lasts and give yourself adequate time in between the two for wedding photos and travel.

Choosing a Wedding Theme

Next you want to choose a theme for your wedding. Many brides are being creative these days and choosing to incorporate a wedding theme for their big day. You might be interested in creating a theme like the beach or a fairytale wedding. Even if a theme is not for you, it is still important to decide the type of wedding it will be. All weddings are different. Yours could be traditional, modern, elegant or casual. Making these decisions early will help the planning process go easier.

Choosing the Wedding Clothing

The final big decision you will want to make is the type of clothes for your wedding. This includes choosing the wedding dress, the bridesmaid dresses, the flower girl dress and ring bearer tuxedo as well as the tuxedos for the rest of the men, including the groom. Choosing these clothes will also help you decide on a wedding color, or colors, if you have not already picked them out.

Making Decisions of the Rest of the Day

Of course there are still many more details to choose, but those details will be much easier once the basics are covered. Once you know the type of wedding you are having and the colors and themes of the day you can truly start looking at flowers, wedding cakes, wedding food, music, centerpieces and favors. By waiting to start on the smaller details, you have made it so much easier. You know what will fit into your own wedding and therefore it will easier to choose the perfect invitations, decorations and more.

Pamela Kazmierczak is an expert in the wedding field. She loves writing articles about Wedding Planning to assist brides to be plan their perfect wedding. She also has a big Wedding Store at her site which includes thousands of items to make your wedding special.