In each wedding dress you don (and later at the actual fittings), try sitting, dancing, and hugging. Wave your arms around to make sure the shoulders and sleeves aren't binding. Pay attention to weight — will wearing pounds of beading leave you exhausted? Will a full skirt present a tripping hazard? Does the gown's shape cry out for a higher heel than you care to wear? In general, try to visualize yourself wearing the dress throughout your ceremony and reception. When the picture is right, you'll know it.
Flatter Your FigureFinding the perfect gown style for you is easy when you know what flatters your figure. Whether you’re pear-shaped or petite, top-heavy or tall, wearing the right cut for your body type can highlight your best features and downplay those you’re concerned about.
The Triangle (small on top, heavier on the bottom)The key here is to balance your proportions. Broaden and emphasize your top half with full sleeve treatments, padded shoulders, or pouf sleeves that extend your shoulder line, and a textured bodice accented with lace overlays, appliqués, and beadwork. Elongated bodices and skirts with controlled fullness will emphasize your waist and de-emphasize your hip area. Avoid set-in sleeves and narrow shoulders, skirts with side panels or excess fullness, and body-hugging sheaths — they’ll make you look disproportioned.
The Inverted Triangle (fuller on top, narrow hips)In order to de-emphasize your shoulder area and give more width to your lower body, look for wedding gowns with minimal shoulder details, simple sleeves, moderate padding, and natural shoulder lines. Simple bodices, with accents kept to a minimum, will draw less attention to your top. For better overall proportion, wear a full skirt or a style with skirt details such as peplums, bustles, sashes, and bows. Avoid gowns with full sleeves, slim, straight skirts, empire waistlines, and plunging necklines.
The Rectangle (nearly equal bust and hips, minimal waist definition)To create the illusion of curves, look for full, voluminous skirts with jewel or bateau necklines. Horizontal detailing will draw the eye across the body and combat vertical body lines, and oversized shoulders and sleeves will add width to your top and shape to your overall appearance. Avoid slim silhouettes or gowns in soft, clingy fabrics that will only make you appear too thin and narrow.
The Hourglass (small waist, full hips and bust)To maximize your curves and maintain balance, look for gowns with simple, classic lines like sheaths and mermaid styles — too much detailing can make you look heavier than you really are. Show off your shoulders with off-the-shoulder sleeves, v-necklines, and strapless dresses. Avoid gowns with very full or ruffled skirts, pouf sleeves, highly detailed bodices, and high necklines that cover the shoulder area and minimize the bust.
Camouflaging ConcernsPetite figures are lengthened in controlled-but-full skirts with minimal details. Basque waistlines, simple sleeves, modestly detailed shoulders, vertical pleating, and a-line or princess silhouettes elongate the torso and add height. For slim petites, the sheath or mermaid style is ideal.
Full figures look best in fitted v-neck bodices and dropped v-waistlines. Full skirts camouflage hips and thighs and shoulder pads make waists look smaller. Styling details around the neckline draw the eye up. Long sleeves tapering toward the wrist slenderize arms; avoid strapless or sleeveless gowns which only emphasize fullness. Opt for dresses where the fabric drapes gracefully to the floor instead of ones that are form-fitting, body-hugging.
Minimize a thick waist with an empire waistline. Princess-style dresses elongate a short waist and lengthen the torso. Long waists look shorter when the waistline is cut above the torso, as in a basque-waist gown.
To slim heavy hips, try a full-but-controlled skirt without bows, flounces, or ruffles.
A full bust is flattered in an off-the-shoulder portrait or v-neckline with minimal detailing. Small busts look larger when accentuated with intricate details and on-the-shoulder necklines.
Finishing TouchesOnce you've chosen a wedding gown, the bridal salon will order it and then custom-fit it to your body once it arrives. Typically, you'll require three fittings before your gown is ready. It's best to bring the lingerie and shoes you'll wear with your wedding dress to your fittings so that you can see how the entire ensemble looks together. (If you're not sure what kind of undergarments your dress requires, ask your fitter for advice.) It's also a good idea to bring your mother or maid of honor to your second or final dress fitting so she can learn how to help you get into your gown and how to bustle your train, if necessary.
Even if your dress is ready well in advance, resist the urge to pick it up until the week of your wedding. Your bridal salon is better equipped to store your wedding dress properly than you are, and you wouldn't want it to get wrinkled or crushed in your closet
9/25/2007
choosing the PERFECT DRESS
Whether you've dreamed about it for years or never gave it a thought, here's how to find a dress that reflects your personal style.
No Regrets: Finding THE Dress
- Don't make up your mind for or against any dress without trying it on. Hangers just don't do justice to some gowns, and others may not flatter your figure as you'd hoped.
- It's nice to bring your mother or maid of honor along for a second opinion (and some major bonding) while gown shopping, but make sure you stay true to your own style and aren't swayed by their comments, or by those of the salespeople. Do not allow yourself to be talked into anything ?if you're not positive about a dress, keep looking.
- Don't worry if you feel a touch of buyer's remorse after you choose your dress ?it's a big commitment and it's natural to wonder if you made the right choice. Focus on how you felt when the dress was on and you realized it was the one, and the doubts will fade away.
Your wedding gown provides a chance to dress completely differently than you do on any other day in your life, so feel free to pursue your bridal fantasies when you start shopping. Even if you don't choose an ornately styled gown, it can't hurt to try one on; many brides report being talked into trying on a more elaborate dress than they'd envisioned and then falling in love with the look. Experiment with different styles to see what suits your figure, and don't rule anything out based on how it looks on a hanger — many wedding gowns look odd without a figure filling them out.
Consider the formality of your weddings first when selecting a gown style. Generally, the more formal the wedding, the more formal the bride's attire. And keep the season of your wedding in mind, since some fabrics might be too heavy or light for certain times of the year.
Also consider your comfort, both physical and emotional. All eyes will be on you throughout your big day, so this might not be the best occasion to wear your first strapless gown (you don't want every picture to show you looking down to make sure your cleavage hasn't shifted!). And a body-skimming sheath won't let you kick up your heels on the dance floor as freely as you might like.
No Regrets: Finding THE Dress
- Don't make up your mind for or against any dress without trying it on. Hangers just don't do justice to some gowns, and others may not flatter your figure as you'd hoped.
- It's nice to bring your mother or maid of honor along for a second opinion (and some major bonding) while gown shopping, but make sure you stay true to your own style and aren't swayed by their comments, or by those of the salespeople. Do not allow yourself to be talked into anything ?if you're not positive about a dress, keep looking.
- Don't worry if you feel a touch of buyer's remorse after you choose your dress ?it's a big commitment and it's natural to wonder if you made the right choice. Focus on how you felt when the dress was on and you realized it was the one, and the doubts will fade away.
Your wedding gown provides a chance to dress completely differently than you do on any other day in your life, so feel free to pursue your bridal fantasies when you start shopping. Even if you don't choose an ornately styled gown, it can't hurt to try one on; many brides report being talked into trying on a more elaborate dress than they'd envisioned and then falling in love with the look. Experiment with different styles to see what suits your figure, and don't rule anything out based on how it looks on a hanger — many wedding gowns look odd without a figure filling them out.
Consider the formality of your weddings first when selecting a gown style. Generally, the more formal the wedding, the more formal the bride's attire. And keep the season of your wedding in mind, since some fabrics might be too heavy or light for certain times of the year.
Also consider your comfort, both physical and emotional. All eyes will be on you throughout your big day, so this might not be the best occasion to wear your first strapless gown (you don't want every picture to show you looking down to make sure your cleavage hasn't shifted!). And a body-skimming sheath won't let you kick up your heels on the dance floor as freely as you might like.
Ready, Set, Shop (for Your Wedding Gown!)
It’s time to buy your wedding gown! Here’s how to find the one of your dreams. by Amy Elliott
Dress Dos
Try on styles you think you抎 never wear. You抣l be pleasantly surprised.
Think 揷lassic?and 搕imeless.?A gown that抯 too trendy is bound to look outdated, or goofy, in photographs
20 years from now.
For feedback, bring only one or two people whose opinions you trust.
Bring the jewelry you plan to wear so that you can see how it works with
the necklines of the dresses you like.
At fittings, wear proper under-garments and heels similar in height to the ones you抣l wear with your dress.
Pick up Bridal Guide抯 How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Gown ($16.95; Warner Books) for more pearls of wisdom, plus attire info for the groom and your bridesmaids.
When it comes to clothing purchases, the wedding gown is in a class of its own. No other garment is as “it has to be perfect” as this one, and it’s probably the finest and most expensive item of clothing you’ll ever buy. Exciting? Yes. Scary? Not if you use these tips:
Start early
Ideally, you should begin shopping nine months before your wedding day. This time frame will allow for a stress-free pace and is very important if you’re buying a custom-made wedding gown (as opposed to an off-the-rack one), which may take several months to produce and require at least three fittings for alterations when it arrives. Only have a few months? Most bridal salons can fulfill rush orders, usually for a fee.
Establish a budget
Try to spend no more than 5% of your total wedding budget on a wedding gown and wedding accessories (veil, shoes, jewelry and so on). Wedding dresses can go for as little as $200 to $300; most brides spend about $700. Couture wedding gowns are likely to fetch $2,500 and more. And, don’t forget to factor in the cost of alterations like shortening the hem, or adjusting the bodice and sleeves. Prices vary, depending on the complexity of what you need done. Be sure to get an estimate upfront.
At a bridal salon, or a department store with an in-house bridal boutique, like J.C. Penney or Saks Fifth Avenue, doing so will get you one-on-one attention from a sales consultant who can pull the right styles for your body type, help get you into the gowns (those tiny satin-covered buttons can be tricky) and give you her undivided attention.
Plan your salon visits wisely
Most appointments last about an hour. Avoid feeling rushed by limiting yourself to trying on just five gowns per salon trip. Try not to go on a Saturday afternoon, because the brdial shop will be mobbed, and don’t go during your lunch hour or you may feel pressured by the need to get back to work.
Love the fit and feel
Comfort is important—your wedding dress should look and feel good on your body. Make sure you can breathe easily and move around in your wedding gown—raise your arms up above your head, sit down, boogie a little. Do you feel constricted? Is that tulle skirt starting to prickle? Another way to decide if this is the dress: Designers and brides swear you’ll have an immediate, in-your-gut feeling when you see yourself in the mirror.
Read the fine print
You’ve heard the horror stories (the bridal salon that mysteriously goes out of business, the wedding dress that doesn’t arrive on time), and that’s why you need to have all the details of the sale outlined in a contract. You’ll have some recourse if the terms of the contract aren’t properly executed. Make sure it includes: a dress description (style number, manufacturer, color and size); deposit and balance amounts; special requests (like removing the train); alterations info and estimated cost; the store’s cancellation policy; and the anticipated delivery date.
Pay up
A 50% deposit is standard. Pay with a credit card—if you are wrongfully charged, your credit card company will go after the store and (if everything checks out) you won’t be held responsible.
Bring it home
You should plan to pick up your wedding gown no sooner than one week before your wedding date—it will be safer at the shop than at your home. Then, you can get really excited. You’re going to look amazing!
Dress Dos
Try on styles you think you抎 never wear. You抣l be pleasantly surprised.
Think 揷lassic?and 搕imeless.?A gown that抯 too trendy is bound to look outdated, or goofy, in photographs
20 years from now.
For feedback, bring only one or two people whose opinions you trust.
Bring the jewelry you plan to wear so that you can see how it works with
the necklines of the dresses you like.
At fittings, wear proper under-garments and heels similar in height to the ones you抣l wear with your dress.
Pick up Bridal Guide抯 How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Gown ($16.95; Warner Books) for more pearls of wisdom, plus attire info for the groom and your bridesmaids.
When it comes to clothing purchases, the wedding gown is in a class of its own. No other garment is as “it has to be perfect” as this one, and it’s probably the finest and most expensive item of clothing you’ll ever buy. Exciting? Yes. Scary? Not if you use these tips:
Start early
Ideally, you should begin shopping nine months before your wedding day. This time frame will allow for a stress-free pace and is very important if you’re buying a custom-made wedding gown (as opposed to an off-the-rack one), which may take several months to produce and require at least three fittings for alterations when it arrives. Only have a few months? Most bridal salons can fulfill rush orders, usually for a fee.
Establish a budget
Try to spend no more than 5% of your total wedding budget on a wedding gown and wedding accessories (veil, shoes, jewelry and so on). Wedding dresses can go for as little as $200 to $300; most brides spend about $700. Couture wedding gowns are likely to fetch $2,500 and more. And, don’t forget to factor in the cost of alterations like shortening the hem, or adjusting the bodice and sleeves. Prices vary, depending on the complexity of what you need done. Be sure to get an estimate upfront.
At a bridal salon, or a department store with an in-house bridal boutique, like J.C. Penney or Saks Fifth Avenue, doing so will get you one-on-one attention from a sales consultant who can pull the right styles for your body type, help get you into the gowns (those tiny satin-covered buttons can be tricky) and give you her undivided attention.
Plan your salon visits wisely
Most appointments last about an hour. Avoid feeling rushed by limiting yourself to trying on just five gowns per salon trip. Try not to go on a Saturday afternoon, because the brdial shop will be mobbed, and don’t go during your lunch hour or you may feel pressured by the need to get back to work.
Love the fit and feel
Comfort is important—your wedding dress should look and feel good on your body. Make sure you can breathe easily and move around in your wedding gown—raise your arms up above your head, sit down, boogie a little. Do you feel constricted? Is that tulle skirt starting to prickle? Another way to decide if this is the dress: Designers and brides swear you’ll have an immediate, in-your-gut feeling when you see yourself in the mirror.
Read the fine print
You’ve heard the horror stories (the bridal salon that mysteriously goes out of business, the wedding dress that doesn’t arrive on time), and that’s why you need to have all the details of the sale outlined in a contract. You’ll have some recourse if the terms of the contract aren’t properly executed. Make sure it includes: a dress description (style number, manufacturer, color and size); deposit and balance amounts; special requests (like removing the train); alterations info and estimated cost; the store’s cancellation policy; and the anticipated delivery date.
Pay up
A 50% deposit is standard. Pay with a credit card—if you are wrongfully charged, your credit card company will go after the store and (if everything checks out) you won’t be held responsible.
Bring it home
You should plan to pick up your wedding gown no sooner than one week before your wedding date—it will be safer at the shop than at your home. Then, you can get really excited. You’re going to look amazing!
GOWN SHOPPING primer
Shopping for your dress is a unique experience. Here's how to decide where to shop, and what to expect when you get there.
No Regrets: Smart Wedding Gown Shopping
- Don't get burned by unexpected charges, or seduced by promises (such as free accessories) that never materialize. Get the terms of your agreement in writing on the bridal salon抯 letterhead, including any added fees for alterations and accessories. Also include the salon抯 policy on when it has fulfilled its tailoring obligation (when the hem is right, after three fittings, when you抮e satisfied with the total fit, etc.).
- Do pay by credit card (or, if you absolutely have to, by check) so you have a record of the payment in case problems arise.
The wedding gown you select will probably be the most meaningful ?and expensive ?piece of clothing you抣l ever own. Therefore, shopping for your gown can be not only a highly charged emotional experience but also a serious financial commitment. It's also likely to be an entirely different kind of shopping experience than any you've ever had (unless you're lucky enough to order couture or custom-made clothes regularly). Here's our advice on how to make the gown shopping process enjoyable and successful.
More than 3,000 different bridal gown styles are created by more than 250 nationally recognized designers each year. These gowns are available through about 7,500 bridal shops, salons, and department stores across the country. In addition, hundreds of regional and local designers and dressmakers contribute at least 2,000 more styles to the bridal gown design pool. While this proliferation of gown styles and retail resources means you'll almost certainly be able to find your ideal dress, it also can cause tremendous confusion about where and when to shop.
Finding the one store where you can purchase the perfect gown can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. It can lead to a shopping experience that's frustrating and stressful, or it can lead to the kind of pampered, exciting, and fulfilling experience you抳e dreamed of. For the most part, the difference depends upon the time you invest in obtaining information and evaluating your options before you cross the threshold of even one bridal store.
No Regrets: Smart Wedding Gown Shopping
- Don't get burned by unexpected charges, or seduced by promises (such as free accessories) that never materialize. Get the terms of your agreement in writing on the bridal salon抯 letterhead, including any added fees for alterations and accessories. Also include the salon抯 policy on when it has fulfilled its tailoring obligation (when the hem is right, after three fittings, when you抮e satisfied with the total fit, etc.).
- Do pay by credit card (or, if you absolutely have to, by check) so you have a record of the payment in case problems arise.
The wedding gown you select will probably be the most meaningful ?and expensive ?piece of clothing you抣l ever own. Therefore, shopping for your gown can be not only a highly charged emotional experience but also a serious financial commitment. It's also likely to be an entirely different kind of shopping experience than any you've ever had (unless you're lucky enough to order couture or custom-made clothes regularly). Here's our advice on how to make the gown shopping process enjoyable and successful.
More than 3,000 different bridal gown styles are created by more than 250 nationally recognized designers each year. These gowns are available through about 7,500 bridal shops, salons, and department stores across the country. In addition, hundreds of regional and local designers and dressmakers contribute at least 2,000 more styles to the bridal gown design pool. While this proliferation of gown styles and retail resources means you'll almost certainly be able to find your ideal dress, it also can cause tremendous confusion about where and when to shop.
Finding the one store where you can purchase the perfect gown can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. It can lead to a shopping experience that's frustrating and stressful, or it can lead to the kind of pampered, exciting, and fulfilling experience you抳e dreamed of. For the most part, the difference depends upon the time you invest in obtaining information and evaluating your options before you cross the threshold of even one bridal store.
GOWN SHOPPING primer
Do Your HomeworkBefore you start to shop, take the time to study Bridal Guide magazine and any other bridal publication available to you - both articles and advertisements. Review the websites of as many designers as possible. Web addresses usually are available on magazine ads, as well as in our Wedding Gown Designer Directory. Take notes. Make a list of the designers you like best, the specific styles that appeal to you, and the retailers who are authorized to sell the gowns you prefer in your local area.
Next, ask as many people as possible for retail store recommendations in general and specifically about their experiences at the shops included on your list. This will help you narrow your list of shops to visit.
While some resource books suggest that your decision regarding where to shop should be guided by information obtained from the Better Business Bureau, it’s important to understand the limitations of this type of information. Consumer complaints to the B.B.B. are filed against virtually every retail store in the country, and bridal stores are no exception. You’ll place unrealistic restrictions on your options if you avoid any store that has ever inspired a complaint. If you do check B.B.B. records, closely evaluate the number and the nature of the complaints and decide whether they're significant enough to eliminate the store from your list. Again, your best bet is a word-of-mouth reference from a friend, a friend of a friend, or anyone with a recent experience with a retailer.
Timing It RightUnlike the instant gratification of shopping for most clothes, acquiring a wedding gown can be a lengthy process so it's important to allow enough time for it. Typically, a woman begins shopping for her bridal gown immediately following her engagement and devotes roughly four to six weeks to the search. The typical Bridal Guide reader tells us that she visits three to four bridal stores and tries on from fifteen to twenty gowns before making a buying decision. But remember, this is just an average. Some women purchase a gown from the first store they visit. Others agonize over the process for months.
Next, ask as many people as possible for retail store recommendations in general and specifically about their experiences at the shops included on your list. This will help you narrow your list of shops to visit.
While some resource books suggest that your decision regarding where to shop should be guided by information obtained from the Better Business Bureau, it’s important to understand the limitations of this type of information. Consumer complaints to the B.B.B. are filed against virtually every retail store in the country, and bridal stores are no exception. You’ll place unrealistic restrictions on your options if you avoid any store that has ever inspired a complaint. If you do check B.B.B. records, closely evaluate the number and the nature of the complaints and decide whether they're significant enough to eliminate the store from your list. Again, your best bet is a word-of-mouth reference from a friend, a friend of a friend, or anyone with a recent experience with a retailer.
Timing It RightUnlike the instant gratification of shopping for most clothes, acquiring a wedding gown can be a lengthy process so it's important to allow enough time for it. Typically, a woman begins shopping for her bridal gown immediately following her engagement and devotes roughly four to six weeks to the search. The typical Bridal Guide reader tells us that she visits three to four bridal stores and tries on from fifteen to twenty gowns before making a buying decision. But remember, this is just an average. Some women purchase a gown from the first store they visit. Others agonize over the process for months.
GOWN SHOPPING primer
Where you shop and the gown you select is impacted not only by personal style preferences and financial choices but also by time considerations. Custom-ordered gowns (a popular option for many brides-to-be) require from six weeks to six months for delivery, depending upon the designer. On top of that add an additional month for alterations. If you'll have a wedding portrait taken in the weeks before your wedding, be sure to use that photography date as your deadline rather than your wedding date, to make sure your alterations are complete in time to wear the dress for the portrait. If time is an issue, consider purchasing a formal gown off-the-rack – available through many full service bridal and department stores.
Your BudgetThe average bride spends about $700 on her gown. Remember, this is the average. Many engaged women spend less – many spend significantly more. A limited budget increases the challenge of your gown search but won’t decrease the satisfaction you’ll feel when you find the perfect dress at a price you can afford.
Whatever your budget, spending hours or days of your time going from store to store to save $50 or even $100 on your gown purchase may not necessarily be worth the frustration or the time you invest. Your time and energy have a price tag too, after all. First and foremost, you should select a store where you feel comfortable, one with an excellent reputation for service which will provide you with a stress-free shopping experience.
To this end, there are pros and cons to each of the three major types of bridal stores.
Full-Service Bridal StoresApproximately 75% of Bridal Guide readers purchase their gowns at a full service bridal store or salon. (Roughly 12% purchase their gown at a department store, and the rest wear an heirloom, sew their own or have their gown custom made.)
Your BudgetThe average bride spends about $700 on her gown. Remember, this is the average. Many engaged women spend less – many spend significantly more. A limited budget increases the challenge of your gown search but won’t decrease the satisfaction you’ll feel when you find the perfect dress at a price you can afford.
Whatever your budget, spending hours or days of your time going from store to store to save $50 or even $100 on your gown purchase may not necessarily be worth the frustration or the time you invest. Your time and energy have a price tag too, after all. First and foremost, you should select a store where you feel comfortable, one with an excellent reputation for service which will provide you with a stress-free shopping experience.
To this end, there are pros and cons to each of the three major types of bridal stores.
Full-Service Bridal StoresApproximately 75% of Bridal Guide readers purchase their gowns at a full service bridal store or salon. (Roughly 12% purchase their gown at a department store, and the rest wear an heirloom, sew their own or have their gown custom made.)
GOWN SHOPPING primer
The vast majority of bridal stores - including some of the largest and most prestigious in the country - are family-owned businesses. The atmosphere and services offered by these stores can be as different as the personalities of the people who own them. Most bridal stores are owed and operated by people who live within the community they serve so shopping at these stores isn’t at all like shopping at a department store owned by an anonymous corporation. You can expect a higher level of personal attention and service – and in return the store staff will expect a higher level of courtesy from you.
All full-service stores provide a qualified, professional, trained consultant to assist you in shopping for your gown. Most stores require some form of customer registration before a fitting room is assigned to you. The information requested during the registration process can range from a few basic questions printed on an index card to an entire battery of questions that may fill two or more pages. This registration is meant to identify the specific needs of each customer, which will allow your consultant to determine how she can best respond to all of your needs. If you’re simply shopping for the best price for a gown you’ve already selected at another store, share this information with the consultant. It will save time for both of you.
Many full-service stores (and department stores too) offer a selection of traditional and contemporary bridal gowns that can be purchased off-the-rack as a supplement to their custom-order gown inventory. In addition, many stores offer a collection of sample or discontinued styles that may be purchased off-the-rack at only a fraction of the original retail price.
Any full-service bridal store should provide a one-stop shopping experience for the bride- to-be, offering a selection of veils and other accessories in addition to gowns. While there is absolutely no obligation to purchase your entire ensemble at any one store, it’s best to see yourself in a gown you're considering with all the trimmings before you make your final decision.
Some stores go far beyond catering solely to the bride’s apparel needs. Many offer an impressive selection of bridesmaid and social occasion dresses as well as dresses that are ideal for mothers of the bride and groom. Some also offer tuxedo rental and men’s formal wear and accessory retail items.
All full-service stores provide a qualified, professional, trained consultant to assist you in shopping for your gown. Most stores require some form of customer registration before a fitting room is assigned to you. The information requested during the registration process can range from a few basic questions printed on an index card to an entire battery of questions that may fill two or more pages. This registration is meant to identify the specific needs of each customer, which will allow your consultant to determine how she can best respond to all of your needs. If you’re simply shopping for the best price for a gown you’ve already selected at another store, share this information with the consultant. It will save time for both of you.
Many full-service stores (and department stores too) offer a selection of traditional and contemporary bridal gowns that can be purchased off-the-rack as a supplement to their custom-order gown inventory. In addition, many stores offer a collection of sample or discontinued styles that may be purchased off-the-rack at only a fraction of the original retail price.
Any full-service bridal store should provide a one-stop shopping experience for the bride- to-be, offering a selection of veils and other accessories in addition to gowns. While there is absolutely no obligation to purchase your entire ensemble at any one store, it’s best to see yourself in a gown you're considering with all the trimmings before you make your final decision.
Some stores go far beyond catering solely to the bride’s apparel needs. Many offer an impressive selection of bridesmaid and social occasion dresses as well as dresses that are ideal for mothers of the bride and groom. Some also offer tuxedo rental and men’s formal wear and accessory retail items.
GOWN SHOPPING primer
Perhaps most importantly, full service stores generally are authorized dealers of the designers they select to sell. As such, you’ll have both the shop’s guarantee and the designer’s assurance of satisfaction to stand behind your gown purchase, which will help you avoid delivery date and quality control problems on custom orders.
Some stores that aren’t authorized may offer to obtain the dress you’ve selected (and tried on at an authorized retailer) at a discounted price. On the surface, this may seem like a great idea. However, there are inherent problems in purchasing a gown this way. If a retailer isn’t authorized to sell a designer’s gown, this means that the retailer doesn’t have an account with the designer and can’t order the gown directly. Instead the gown is obtained through a process called trans-shipping, or a third party sale. This isn’t illegal but it can present a risky situation for the average consumer. If there are problems with the gown you’ve ordered, an unauthorized retailer can’t discuss these problems directly with the manufacturer that produced the dress. Rather, the retailer is required to go through a third party - the person or store that is authorized to do business with the manufacturer – to correct the problem. This can get extremely complicated and can jeopardize delivery appropriate to your needs or to your wedding date.
You can overcome this problem by shopping only at stores listed for the gown you’ve selected in bridal magazines or on the designer’s website. Alternatively, you may call the manufacturer directly to confirm that the store you’ve selected is authorized to sell a designer’s gowns.
Virtually all full-service bridal stores require appointments in advance. However, most will do whatever possible to accommodate you without an appointment. It’s a good idea always to call the store in advance of your visit. If possible, schedule your appointment on a weekday. Weekends usually are hectic at full-service stores. A weekday appointment will allow your consultant to spend as much time as possible assisting you.
Some stores that aren’t authorized may offer to obtain the dress you’ve selected (and tried on at an authorized retailer) at a discounted price. On the surface, this may seem like a great idea. However, there are inherent problems in purchasing a gown this way. If a retailer isn’t authorized to sell a designer’s gown, this means that the retailer doesn’t have an account with the designer and can’t order the gown directly. Instead the gown is obtained through a process called trans-shipping, or a third party sale. This isn’t illegal but it can present a risky situation for the average consumer. If there are problems with the gown you’ve ordered, an unauthorized retailer can’t discuss these problems directly with the manufacturer that produced the dress. Rather, the retailer is required to go through a third party - the person or store that is authorized to do business with the manufacturer – to correct the problem. This can get extremely complicated and can jeopardize delivery appropriate to your needs or to your wedding date.
You can overcome this problem by shopping only at stores listed for the gown you’ve selected in bridal magazines or on the designer’s website. Alternatively, you may call the manufacturer directly to confirm that the store you’ve selected is authorized to sell a designer’s gowns.
Virtually all full-service bridal stores require appointments in advance. However, most will do whatever possible to accommodate you without an appointment. It’s a good idea always to call the store in advance of your visit. If possible, schedule your appointment on a weekday. Weekends usually are hectic at full-service stores. A weekday appointment will allow your consultant to spend as much time as possible assisting you.
GOWN SHOPPING primer
Bridal SalonsIf you take the level of personal attention at a typical full-service bridal store several steps farther, you'll arrive at the bridal salon experience. (Don't be confused by the fact that many full-service bridal stores include the word 'salon' as part of their name - what we're referring to here is those stores that operate in the European tradition of couture salons.) Few true bridal salons exist in this country, though there usually is at least one in each major metropolitan area.
This is not a casual shopping experience. You'll be required to schedule an appointment in advance so you can meet with the salon’s consultant. Taking the term full-service to the highest level, the consultant will discuss your wedding plans with you in great detail. Based upon the information you provide, she'll help you to select a designer appropriate to your personal style and best suited to the type of wedding you’re planning.
Bridal salons do not display gowns on racks. Instead the salon consultant will pre-select gowns and bring them to you for consideration. The consultant also may suggest custom changes to the styles available at the salon. In addition to designers' dresses, custom design services are available through many salons, and some also offer bridesmaid dress styles for your review. Some engaged women thrive in the salon environment while others feel that it’s extremely frustrating.
Department StoresOnly a few major stores maintain full-service bridal departments. In essence, department stores that sell bridal gowns operate much like independently owned full-service bridal shops. Like other full-service bridal shops, some department store bridal shops offer custom-ordered gowns exclusively while others offer custom-ordered as well as off-the-rack merchandise for your consideration. The advantage of shopping at a department store is that you have the store’s reputation behind any purchase. Unlike shopping in the rest of the store, a prescheduled appointment often is necessary. Call ahead to make arrangements.
This is not a casual shopping experience. You'll be required to schedule an appointment in advance so you can meet with the salon’s consultant. Taking the term full-service to the highest level, the consultant will discuss your wedding plans with you in great detail. Based upon the information you provide, she'll help you to select a designer appropriate to your personal style and best suited to the type of wedding you’re planning.
Bridal salons do not display gowns on racks. Instead the salon consultant will pre-select gowns and bring them to you for consideration. The consultant also may suggest custom changes to the styles available at the salon. In addition to designers' dresses, custom design services are available through many salons, and some also offer bridesmaid dress styles for your review. Some engaged women thrive in the salon environment while others feel that it’s extremely frustrating.
Department StoresOnly a few major stores maintain full-service bridal departments. In essence, department stores that sell bridal gowns operate much like independently owned full-service bridal shops. Like other full-service bridal shops, some department store bridal shops offer custom-ordered gowns exclusively while others offer custom-ordered as well as off-the-rack merchandise for your consideration. The advantage of shopping at a department store is that you have the store’s reputation behind any purchase. Unlike shopping in the rest of the store, a prescheduled appointment often is necessary. Call ahead to make arrangements.
GOWN SHOPPING primer
SizingOnce you're ready to order your dress, you may be in for a surprise when you hear the size your consultant recommends. The size charts for bridal apparel don’t necessarily match the size charts for the clothes you wear every day; they also fluctuate from one designer to another, so don't expect consistency. Consultants at full-service bridal stores and salons will help you to identify the size that most closely matches your measurements from the size chart for the designer you’ve selected. If her recommendation shocks you, it's reasonable to ask to see the chart yourself. It's unlikely that your measurements will perfectly match the chart; the goal is to order the dress as close to right as possible and then make alterations to adjust it perfectly.
Virtually any dress can be made smaller but few can be expanded an entire size, so never order a size smaller in anticipating of losing weight. Also, your consultant will warn you that you shouldn’t custom-order a gown based upon the way a sample gown fits. Sample gowns are tried on so often that a size 10 can stretch to fit a size 12 or even a size 14.
Custom-Ordered GownsCustom-ordered gowns are ordered by the store from the designer as soon as the sale is completed. Many but not all custom-ordered gowns are available with custom change possibilities – you might choose to change the sleeves, the neckline, the fabric or lace. These changes can completely modify the overall appearance of the gown. Naturally, the bridal store will establish a fee for each change. These fees should be indicated on your contract with the store and, like the gown itself, usually require a 50% deposit when the gown is ordered.
A tentative delivery date will be scheduled for your custom-ordered gown. The delivery date should be specified on your contract or receipt when the gown is purchased. It’s a good idea to specify a date after which delivery isn’t acceptable to you. If the gown isn’t delivered by then, you have an option to arrange for the purchase of another gown from the store.
It’s important to note that bridal stores aren’t necessarily in complete control of delivery dates. In some instances, a designer may postpone a delivery date depending upon production demands. Therefore, it’s imperative that you follow up on the specified date. Keep communication open with the store to avoid last minute surprises.
Virtually any dress can be made smaller but few can be expanded an entire size, so never order a size smaller in anticipating of losing weight. Also, your consultant will warn you that you shouldn’t custom-order a gown based upon the way a sample gown fits. Sample gowns are tried on so often that a size 10 can stretch to fit a size 12 or even a size 14.
Custom-Ordered GownsCustom-ordered gowns are ordered by the store from the designer as soon as the sale is completed. Many but not all custom-ordered gowns are available with custom change possibilities – you might choose to change the sleeves, the neckline, the fabric or lace. These changes can completely modify the overall appearance of the gown. Naturally, the bridal store will establish a fee for each change. These fees should be indicated on your contract with the store and, like the gown itself, usually require a 50% deposit when the gown is ordered.
A tentative delivery date will be scheduled for your custom-ordered gown. The delivery date should be specified on your contract or receipt when the gown is purchased. It’s a good idea to specify a date after which delivery isn’t acceptable to you. If the gown isn’t delivered by then, you have an option to arrange for the purchase of another gown from the store.
It’s important to note that bridal stores aren’t necessarily in complete control of delivery dates. In some instances, a designer may postpone a delivery date depending upon production demands. Therefore, it’s imperative that you follow up on the specified date. Keep communication open with the store to avoid last minute surprises.
GOWN SHOPPING primer
AlterationsOnce your dress arrives, it will almost certainly need some alterations to make it fit perfectly. Some full-service bridal stores have seamstresses on staff as a part of the store’s services, and some hire an independent contractor for alterations. Other stores offer no alteration services but instead refer you to one or more outside resources. Alternatively, you may select a seamstress with whom you’re familiar to alter your gown. In spite of the cost of alterations, few stores actually make a profit on this service so they won't object to you going elsewhere.
Alteration costs vary depending upon the extent and nature of alterations required. Even standard-seeming needs like shortening a dress can range widely in complexity and expense. If you’ve selected a gown with lace trim at the hem, for example, it may not be possible to shorten the gown from the hemline. Instead some gowns must be shortened from the waistline, which involves more complicated work.
If your alterations will be performed by the store or salon, obtain a written estimate for all alterations either when you purchase your gown or when you visit the store for your first fitting and see what changes will be needed.
The Fine PrintVirtually all bridal stores require a 50% deposit for custom ordered merchandise. Deposits are generally not refundable – even if your wedding is canceled. Always use a credit card when purchasing your gown. This will afford you some negotiating power in the event that a dispute arises.
Purchasing a custom ordered gown is a contractual negotiation. Be certain that all of the terms and conditions of the purchase are included in your contract (or on your receipt). Many stores will require you to sign an actual contract. Others will simply specify all details on the reverse side of your receipt. Be certain that you understand all terms and conditions of the contract before you leave the store.
Armed with this knowledge, get ready to enjoy the unique experience of shopping for your dream wedding gown.
Alteration costs vary depending upon the extent and nature of alterations required. Even standard-seeming needs like shortening a dress can range widely in complexity and expense. If you’ve selected a gown with lace trim at the hem, for example, it may not be possible to shorten the gown from the hemline. Instead some gowns must be shortened from the waistline, which involves more complicated work.
If your alterations will be performed by the store or salon, obtain a written estimate for all alterations either when you purchase your gown or when you visit the store for your first fitting and see what changes will be needed.
The Fine PrintVirtually all bridal stores require a 50% deposit for custom ordered merchandise. Deposits are generally not refundable – even if your wedding is canceled. Always use a credit card when purchasing your gown. This will afford you some negotiating power in the event that a dispute arises.
Purchasing a custom ordered gown is a contractual negotiation. Be certain that all of the terms and conditions of the purchase are included in your contract (or on your receipt). Many stores will require you to sign an actual contract. Others will simply specify all details on the reverse side of your receipt. Be certain that you understand all terms and conditions of the contract before you leave the store.
Armed with this knowledge, get ready to enjoy the unique experience of shopping for your dream wedding gown.
9/17/2007
Weddings by Desire
Weddings by Desire are here not only to make you look more Beautiful than you could imagine, but we can ensure your Wedding Day is both relaxing and of course fun. We set up due to the distinct lack of highly skilled hair and make-up artists working in the wedding industry, who were also prepared to travel any distance to a venue or family home to attend to the bridal party. We have established a successful business offering a wealth of experience and access to highly qualified professionals. We want our clients to talk freely in a relaxed environment, with a warm and friendly service, so that they feel able to voice their ideas.
We believe that the communication between the bride and the artist is of paramount importance. A Client who is comfortable and relaxed talking through their requirements will ultimately get what they want. A happy Bride is a Beautiful one.
Services
At Weddings by Desire we believe Customer Service is of the utmost importance. We provide many services to our Brides and their Guests in their Home or Venue.
Prior to your Special day we setup a Consultation. We begin each consultation discussing the style of the brides wedding, colours of flowers, dresses and venues and also look at the day to day make-up regime of the bride, enabling us to create the perfect look. The 'perfect look' is very different for every bride, whether she normally does not wear make-up and wants a fresh natural finish, or the girl who loves her make-up and wants a stronger more dramatic look. We pride ourselves on our ability to tailor a style to each individual bride.
We do not only want you to look and feel stunning but that you look radiant on your wedding photographs for years to come. Reportage photography has become increasingly popular and it is therefore essential that the hairstyle is balanced from all angles and does the neckline of the dress justice as well as the profile and hair-line of the bride. All these aspects are taken into account when designing a hairstyle for a bride, so from whatever angle she is photographed she will look her absolute best.
We record the consultation on a digital camera to check for style and balance. There is not set time limit put on these Consultations so we can ensure we create the perfect image for you. From Consultation through to your Big day we keep in regular contact and are always delighted to answer your questions or concerns whatever the time, no issue is too big or small.
Contact Details for Weddings by Desire
Serves: Antrim, Armagh, Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Derry, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Fermanagh, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, WicklowPhone: 086-0566586 Email: beauty@weddingsbydesire.comWeb: http://www.weddingsbydesire.com Contact: Desiree
We believe that the communication between the bride and the artist is of paramount importance. A Client who is comfortable and relaxed talking through their requirements will ultimately get what they want. A happy Bride is a Beautiful one.
Services
At Weddings by Desire we believe Customer Service is of the utmost importance. We provide many services to our Brides and their Guests in their Home or Venue.
Prior to your Special day we setup a Consultation. We begin each consultation discussing the style of the brides wedding, colours of flowers, dresses and venues and also look at the day to day make-up regime of the bride, enabling us to create the perfect look. The 'perfect look' is very different for every bride, whether she normally does not wear make-up and wants a fresh natural finish, or the girl who loves her make-up and wants a stronger more dramatic look. We pride ourselves on our ability to tailor a style to each individual bride.
We do not only want you to look and feel stunning but that you look radiant on your wedding photographs for years to come. Reportage photography has become increasingly popular and it is therefore essential that the hairstyle is balanced from all angles and does the neckline of the dress justice as well as the profile and hair-line of the bride. All these aspects are taken into account when designing a hairstyle for a bride, so from whatever angle she is photographed she will look her absolute best.
We record the consultation on a digital camera to check for style and balance. There is not set time limit put on these Consultations so we can ensure we create the perfect image for you. From Consultation through to your Big day we keep in regular contact and are always delighted to answer your questions or concerns whatever the time, no issue is too big or small.
Contact Details for Weddings by Desire
Serves: Antrim, Armagh, Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Derry, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Fermanagh, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, WicklowPhone: 086-0566586 Email: beauty@weddingsbydesire.comWeb: http://www.weddingsbydesire.com Contact: Desiree
View wedding supplier
At Advanced Cosmetic Treatments, we believe that you should love your body and feel confident inside and out. Through expert consultancy, advanced technology and caring after-care, we help our clients to look and feel their best.
We are a trusted name in the cosmetic trreatments industry and our medical team are among the most experienced in their field. We set a precedence of offering our clients the most innovative, reliable procedures and the most dedicated support and after-care.
Anti-Wrinkle Treatment and Facial Fillers
These simple, safe but effective treatments are used to reverse the visible signs of aging. They are non-toxic, non-allergenic fillers that reduce the appearance of wrinkles and skin folds around the mouth and nose and fills certain scars.
Skin Analysis Machine
The definitive Facial Stage System is the latest innovation in scientific based skin evaluation and assessment systems. Combining high resolution digital photo technology with leading edge image analysis & artificial intelligence software, the Facial Stage System now allows Advanced Cosmetic Treatments to provide a quantifiable skin counselling service.
We are a trusted name in the cosmetic trreatments industry and our medical team are among the most experienced in their field. We set a precedence of offering our clients the most innovative, reliable procedures and the most dedicated support and after-care.
Anti-Wrinkle Treatment and Facial Fillers
These simple, safe but effective treatments are used to reverse the visible signs of aging. They are non-toxic, non-allergenic fillers that reduce the appearance of wrinkles and skin folds around the mouth and nose and fills certain scars.
Skin Analysis Machine
The definitive Facial Stage System is the latest innovation in scientific based skin evaluation and assessment systems. Combining high resolution digital photo technology with leading edge image analysis & artificial intelligence software, the Facial Stage System now allows Advanced Cosmetic Treatments to provide a quantifiable skin counselling service.
View wedding advice article
9 things men do
1. Not lifting the toilet when going for a pee. Typical.
2. Say 'I will do it later' any time you need something sorted (that could mean next wee, next year or even never)
3. Asking where their underwear is. Someone needs a secretary to keep track on their boxershorts?
4. They never, ever want to go the doctor- If they ever agree to go to the GP, prepare for the worst.
5. Number 4 doesn't keep them from treating every sign of cold as 'the flu'. Any sneezing man with red nose has 'the flu' and will tell you how bad his flu is over and over again until you tell them to shut up and go to the doctor (their worst enemy).
6. Pretending they know about cars.
7. Pretending they are listening when they are not. The easiest way to prove this: ask him what he thinks about what you just said. He will not have a clue.
8. Driving with one hand, even though it has no specific purpose.
9. Finally, they can do all this things but bear in mind: Only one thing at the time!
For some good relationship advice, why not reading best-seller Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by John Gray?
1. Not lifting the toilet when going for a pee. Typical.
2. Say 'I will do it later' any time you need something sorted (that could mean next wee, next year or even never)
3. Asking where their underwear is. Someone needs a secretary to keep track on their boxershorts?
4. They never, ever want to go the doctor- If they ever agree to go to the GP, prepare for the worst.
5. Number 4 doesn't keep them from treating every sign of cold as 'the flu'. Any sneezing man with red nose has 'the flu' and will tell you how bad his flu is over and over again until you tell them to shut up and go to the doctor (their worst enemy).
6. Pretending they know about cars.
7. Pretending they are listening when they are not. The easiest way to prove this: ask him what he thinks about what you just said. He will not have a clue.
8. Driving with one hand, even though it has no specific purpose.
9. Finally, they can do all this things but bear in mind: Only one thing at the time!
For some good relationship advice, why not reading best-seller Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by John Gray?
9/15/2007
How I Turned Into a Stepmonster
I HAD fallen, against all advice, for a father. Robert had two sweet and adorable children, a boy and a girl. They were 6 and 9, with little blond heads and big blue eyes, and eyelashes so long they seemed fake. To friends, I referred to them as “The Poster Children.”
When I started dating Robert, he was legally separated, at the beginning of what would become a two-year arbitration/negotiation/divorce odyssey, but despite this, the children and I got along spectacularly.
At least, we did while I was living in New York City and they were living in Seattle and we saw each other only during the rare weekend visits I made to their dad.
I regarded them as beings to be wooed with all my strength, and so I made cookies, sculptured with clay and read them fairy tales, convincing myself that those stories about evil stepmothers (and those equally traumatizing stories about wicked stepchildren) had been invented to discourage “step” relationships and thereby keep them from upsetting the balance of the universe.
A friend of mine, herself the product of divorced parents and a stepmother, warned me that Robert’s children would never really love me, or that if they did, it would not be until they were in their 20s and had gone through years of therapy. Even now, she told me, she referred to her stepmother as a “stepmonster.”
I laughed. She was so wrong.
Two years later, when the girl and the boy were 11 and 8, and the parents were officially divorced with a shared custody agreement, I packed up my 15 boxes of books, rented an apartment in Seattle and made the cross-country move to be with Robert, convinced, at the tender age of 23, that stepparenting came naturally to me. No one had kicked me in the shins. No one had opened a fangy mouth and chomped me. The boy and I had even played blocks together. They were little; why wouldn’t we get along? I couldn’t think of a reason.
I had the idea that once I had won the children’s hearts, they would stay won. I had no concept of the secret truth of stepparenting: that you must win their hearts again and again, every morning, every night, for at least the first five years. And that even then, the slightest misstep puts you back at the entrance to a labyrinth full of booby traps.
During our first dinner together, when Robert raised his glass to toast my arrival, the boy spun adorably in his chair.
“When are you leaving?” he asked.
“I’m not,” I said, expecting a cheer. I had, after all, brought puppets and candy in my purse. Surely, I was everyone’s favorite adult. “Isn’t that great? I’m never leaving!”
The boy, alarmed, looked toward his sister, who slit her eyes in my general direction.
“What do you mean by never?” she asked.
Presently she informed me that she had thought I was a “business colleague” of her father’s. The boy, displeased to discover that I had not been imported as a playmate solely for him, decided that if I was not his friend, I was no one’s friend.
He wasn’t wrong. I had left my entire life behind in New York, and the only people I knew in Seattle were Robert and his children. Now that two-thirds of them had started hating me, the other third was forced to constantly shuffle his schedule to keep the children and me from encountering one another. When we did eat dinner or see a movie together, I sat as far from the children as possible, and even so, I could feel them spitting venom.
It wasn’t their fault, I reminded myself, they were children. Alas, I was apparently a child, too. I clenched my teeth to keep from spitting venom back, and discovered that I was hyperventilating.
I always had a vision of myself as a very nice person, the sort who would never think murderous thoughts; the sort who, when making peanut butter sandwiches for her boyfriend’s children, would not suddenly find herself wishing they had peanut allergies.
I wondered if maybe I should bail out of the relationship entirely, before I ruined everyone’s lives. The three of them were a family. I didn’t belong. What had I been thinking?
When I started dating Robert, he was legally separated, at the beginning of what would become a two-year arbitration/negotiation/divorce odyssey, but despite this, the children and I got along spectacularly.
At least, we did while I was living in New York City and they were living in Seattle and we saw each other only during the rare weekend visits I made to their dad.
I regarded them as beings to be wooed with all my strength, and so I made cookies, sculptured with clay and read them fairy tales, convincing myself that those stories about evil stepmothers (and those equally traumatizing stories about wicked stepchildren) had been invented to discourage “step” relationships and thereby keep them from upsetting the balance of the universe.
A friend of mine, herself the product of divorced parents and a stepmother, warned me that Robert’s children would never really love me, or that if they did, it would not be until they were in their 20s and had gone through years of therapy. Even now, she told me, she referred to her stepmother as a “stepmonster.”
I laughed. She was so wrong.
Two years later, when the girl and the boy were 11 and 8, and the parents were officially divorced with a shared custody agreement, I packed up my 15 boxes of books, rented an apartment in Seattle and made the cross-country move to be with Robert, convinced, at the tender age of 23, that stepparenting came naturally to me. No one had kicked me in the shins. No one had opened a fangy mouth and chomped me. The boy and I had even played blocks together. They were little; why wouldn’t we get along? I couldn’t think of a reason.
I had the idea that once I had won the children’s hearts, they would stay won. I had no concept of the secret truth of stepparenting: that you must win their hearts again and again, every morning, every night, for at least the first five years. And that even then, the slightest misstep puts you back at the entrance to a labyrinth full of booby traps.
During our first dinner together, when Robert raised his glass to toast my arrival, the boy spun adorably in his chair.
“When are you leaving?” he asked.
“I’m not,” I said, expecting a cheer. I had, after all, brought puppets and candy in my purse. Surely, I was everyone’s favorite adult. “Isn’t that great? I’m never leaving!”
The boy, alarmed, looked toward his sister, who slit her eyes in my general direction.
“What do you mean by never?” she asked.
Presently she informed me that she had thought I was a “business colleague” of her father’s. The boy, displeased to discover that I had not been imported as a playmate solely for him, decided that if I was not his friend, I was no one’s friend.
He wasn’t wrong. I had left my entire life behind in New York, and the only people I knew in Seattle were Robert and his children. Now that two-thirds of them had started hating me, the other third was forced to constantly shuffle his schedule to keep the children and me from encountering one another. When we did eat dinner or see a movie together, I sat as far from the children as possible, and even so, I could feel them spitting venom.
It wasn’t their fault, I reminded myself, they were children. Alas, I was apparently a child, too. I clenched my teeth to keep from spitting venom back, and discovered that I was hyperventilating.
I always had a vision of myself as a very nice person, the sort who would never think murderous thoughts; the sort who, when making peanut butter sandwiches for her boyfriend’s children, would not suddenly find herself wishing they had peanut allergies.
I wondered if maybe I should bail out of the relationship entirely, before I ruined everyone’s lives. The three of them were a family. I didn’t belong. What had I been thinking?
Kay Lipper and Andy Anderson
ANDY ANDERSON takes long daily walks around Summit, N.J., greeting those he meets so heartily that some people call him the city’s unofficial mayor.“He’s very gregarious and well liked,” said Gil Owren, a lawyer who has known Mr. Anderson for 30 years. His popularity also stems from his avid support of the town’s sports teams, including those of his alma mater, Summit High School. Mr. Anderson was in the special education program there.
“Andy remembers facts and figures, and things that happened in games that even the players don’t,” said his friend John Dougherty, a Summit police sergeant.
Kay Lipper, who graduated from nearby Westfield High School, and completed the Threshold Program, a curriculum for adults with learning disabilities, is described by her stepmother, Ruth Lipper, as “determined to see the world in an optimistic, hopeful point of view.”
At a nursing home where Kay Lipper was a recreation assistant, Ruth Lipper said, “She noticed that many people didn’t get visitors.” So, her stepmother said, she’d stop by with a plant or a box of candy, or a personalized birthday card she’d made on her computer.
Mr. Anderson, 46, and Kay Lipper, 41, met in passing a few years ago at Central Presbyterian Church in Summit. The church was one of Mr. Anderson’s regular stops after he got off work as a maintenance staff member at two Pathmark supermarkets. Ms. Lipper is a full-time volunteer secretary at the church.
“He looked like a nice, friendly guy,” Kay Lipper recalled, “but I’m kind of a shy person.”
In spring 2004, Jean Kelley, Central Presbyterian’s business administrator, decided a little push was in order. She gave Ms. Lipper her ticket to the annual party for Our House, an organization that supports independent living for adults with developmental disabilities. She knew that Mr. Anderson, who lived in an Our House apartment, would be there.
Ms. Lipper went to the party. Mr. Anderson was dancing with a partner when, in mid-step, he noticed Ms. Lipper. He quickly abandoned his partner and began dancing with a group that Ms. Lipper was with.
“I liked her a lot,” Mr. Anderson explained.
Ms. Lipper said she was flattered by the attention, but also surprised.
Chaperoned on their first date by Ms. Kelley, the couple went to the Colorado Cafe, a Western-theme restaurant and dance bar in Watchung, N.J. There, Mr. Anderson came straight to the point, Ms. Lipper said.
“He said, ‘Do you want to get married?’ ” she recalled. “I said, ‘No, let’s give it a while.’ He said, ‘O.K., I’ll wait a month,’ and I said, ‘No, try a year.’ ”
They dated for over a year, going to movies, restaurants or plays about once a week.
“Since neither of them drives,” Ms. Kelley said, “they’d take the train to the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn or other places they could reach by mass transit or on foot.”
Ms. Lipper said she came to love Mr. Anderson’s “big heart for people.”
She said: “Andy is the type of person that if a lady needs help reaching something on a shelf, he won’t think twice, he’ll just reach over and help.”
The church’s staff advised Mr. Anderson on etiquette — pulling out the woman’s chair, opening a door for her. And in October 2005, Ms. Kelley spent a week coaching Mr. Anderson for a very special date.
“Normally when we go out, I’m the one who plans everything,” Ms. Lipper said. “But he wouldn’t tell me what we were doing.”
They met at La Pastaria, a restaurant in Summit. “He walks in and I could tell he had some things behind his back,” she said. “And he was kind of nervous.”
After dinner he presented her with three roses — red, white and yellow — because “roses are a signal of love from me to her,” he said. Each came with a card attached, and when she opened the last card, he was holding a ring and “asked the question,” she recalled.
“After I finished crying, I screamed, ‘Yes!’ ” she said. “Then I took out my cellphone and called everybody. But because Andy knows everybody, everyone knew before I did, which is no surprise.”
The bride’s father, A. Michael Lipper, escorted her down the aisle of Central Presbyterian on Sept. 1, when she and Mr. Anderson were married by the Rev. Rebecca Laird before 135 invited guests; another 300 responded to an open invitation.
Ruth Lipper says the bride and bridegroom are right for each other because, “they are both so determined to be happy.”
“Most people only function up to a certain percentage of their capacity,” she said. “They don’t put the effort that Olympic athletes and classically trained opera singers do to reach their maximum capacity. But Kay and Andy put everything into everything they do.”
Amy Bloom and Brian Ameche
Amy Bloom and Brian A. Ameche were married yesterday at their home in Durham, Conn. The Rev. Kathleen McTigue, a Unitarian Universalist minister, officiated.
The bride, 54, is keeping her name. She is the author of five books including the novel “Away” (Random House, 2007), and an adjunct professor of creative writing at Yale. She is also an executive producer, a writer and a creator of the Lifetime Network television series “State of Mind.” Ms. Bloom graduated from Wesleyan University and received a master’s degree in social work from Smith. She is a daughter of Murray Teigh Bloom of Branford, Conn., and the late Sydelle Bloom. Her father was, until his retirement, a freelance magazine writer. He also wrote six books, including “The Trouble With Lawyers” (Simon & Schuster, 1968). Her mother wrote for magazines as well, and was a radio and television columnist for the Newhouse Syndicate.
The bridegroom, also 54, is an architect with Marx/Okubo, a real estate investment consulting firm in Farmington, Conn. He is also the chairman of Durham’s Conservation Commission. He graduated from Yale and has a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Minnesota. He is a son of Yvonne Ameche Davis of Berwyn, Pa., and the late Alan Ameche. His father was a football star at the University of Wisconsin and won the Heisman Trophy in 1954. He played for the Baltimore Colts from 1955 to 1960, and scored in overtime to defeat the New York Giants in the National Football League’s 1958 championship game. The bridegroom is the stepson of the late Glenn Davis, a halfback who played for Army and won the Heisman Trophy in 1946.
The couple’s previous marriages each ended in divorce.
The bride, 54, is keeping her name. She is the author of five books including the novel “Away” (Random House, 2007), and an adjunct professor of creative writing at Yale. She is also an executive producer, a writer and a creator of the Lifetime Network television series “State of Mind.” Ms. Bloom graduated from Wesleyan University and received a master’s degree in social work from Smith. She is a daughter of Murray Teigh Bloom of Branford, Conn., and the late Sydelle Bloom. Her father was, until his retirement, a freelance magazine writer. He also wrote six books, including “The Trouble With Lawyers” (Simon & Schuster, 1968). Her mother wrote for magazines as well, and was a radio and television columnist for the Newhouse Syndicate.
The bridegroom, also 54, is an architect with Marx/Okubo, a real estate investment consulting firm in Farmington, Conn. He is also the chairman of Durham’s Conservation Commission. He graduated from Yale and has a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Minnesota. He is a son of Yvonne Ameche Davis of Berwyn, Pa., and the late Alan Ameche. His father was a football star at the University of Wisconsin and won the Heisman Trophy in 1954. He played for the Baltimore Colts from 1955 to 1960, and scored in overtime to defeat the New York Giants in the National Football League’s 1958 championship game. The bridegroom is the stepson of the late Glenn Davis, a halfback who played for Army and won the Heisman Trophy in 1946.
The couple’s previous marriages each ended in divorce.
Everything You Need To Know About Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids serve a significant role in the wedding process. They are there to assist, advise and support the bride through the whole operation. Generally this is a sister of the bride or groom, a close friend or another close female relative.
Some of her duties might include:
* Shopping for bridesmaids dressee
Hosting a bridal shower
Hosting a bachelorette party
Helping out-of-town guests with travel arrangements
Helping with decorations
Making favors
Starting the dancing at the reception
Emotional support
Receiving guests at the reception
Addressing invitations
Helping with seating arrangements
Assisting with rehearsal dinner
Assisting bride with her dress and make-up
Getting the bride anything she needs before going down the aisle-like food or drink
Using any special talents they may have to help create a beautiful, low cost wedding
The size of your bridal party will depend on the size of the venue and it should also be appropriate to the number of guests you've invited.
In a formal wedding with 200 guests-having 10 bridesmaids would be in order. On the other hand, a casual wedding with 50 guests and a small alter would call for 1-3 bridesmaids.
But hey, remember this is your day, do what feels right to you.
Responsibilities of the maid-of-honor, the chief unmarried woman attendant of the bride or the matron-of-honor, the chief married woman attendant of the bride might include:
Holding grooms ring until given to the bride at the ceremony
Witnessing the signing of the marriage license
Keeping the brides bouquet during the ceremony
Giving a toast the bride at the reception mentioning things like: what the bride said about the groom when they first met, a story about growing up together, a funny habit of the bride that the groom may not know, words of advice or wishes for success, happiness or babies etc.
You don't have to accept the invitation to be one of the bridesmaids, but it's hard to say no, unless you have a really good reason. If money is tight-let the bride know, maybe the two of you can brainstorm a way to make it possible.
Some of the expenses you might incur are:
Gifts-engagement, shower, wedding
Travel expenses
Dress/shoes/accessories
Having your hair and nails done
Be one of the best bridesmaids in the world, the best you can be. No whining and complaining to the bride.
Help make her day as stress free as possible. Be punctual to all the functions, smile, help and socialize.
Click here for inexpensive ideas for attendant gifts
Some of her duties might include:
* Shopping for bridesmaids dressee
Hosting a bridal shower
Hosting a bachelorette party
Helping out-of-town guests with travel arrangements
Helping with decorations
Making favors
Starting the dancing at the reception
Emotional support
Receiving guests at the reception
Addressing invitations
Helping with seating arrangements
Assisting with rehearsal dinner
Assisting bride with her dress and make-up
Getting the bride anything she needs before going down the aisle-like food or drink
Using any special talents they may have to help create a beautiful, low cost wedding
The size of your bridal party will depend on the size of the venue and it should also be appropriate to the number of guests you've invited.
In a formal wedding with 200 guests-having 10 bridesmaids would be in order. On the other hand, a casual wedding with 50 guests and a small alter would call for 1-3 bridesmaids.
But hey, remember this is your day, do what feels right to you.
Responsibilities of the maid-of-honor, the chief unmarried woman attendant of the bride or the matron-of-honor, the chief married woman attendant of the bride might include:
Holding grooms ring until given to the bride at the ceremony
Witnessing the signing of the marriage license
Keeping the brides bouquet during the ceremony
Giving a toast the bride at the reception mentioning things like: what the bride said about the groom when they first met, a story about growing up together, a funny habit of the bride that the groom may not know, words of advice or wishes for success, happiness or babies etc.
You don't have to accept the invitation to be one of the bridesmaids, but it's hard to say no, unless you have a really good reason. If money is tight-let the bride know, maybe the two of you can brainstorm a way to make it possible.
Some of the expenses you might incur are:
Gifts-engagement, shower, wedding
Travel expenses
Dress/shoes/accessories
Having your hair and nails done
Be one of the best bridesmaids in the world, the best you can be. No whining and complaining to the bride.
Help make her day as stress free as possible. Be punctual to all the functions, smile, help and socialize.
Click here for inexpensive ideas for attendant gifts
Wedding Etiquette Advice and Suggestions
Really wedding etiquette is only common sense.
Do what feels right to you deep down and more than likely it will be right. Manners are doing things in a way to keep from hurting someone’s feelings.
It brings to mind the story about the queen who was eating with a beggar (don’t know why). The beggar was eating peas with his knife because he didn’t know it was proper to eat them with a fork. In order not to make him feel bad, she ate her peas with a knife. That is real class.
Here are some things to take note of when thinking of wedding etiquette:
An engagement party may be hosted by the couple or either set of parents. It can be cocktails and hors d’oeuveres at your home. You could include family and friends. Dinner at a restaurant with just family is another option. In any case don’t expect a gift at this party.
Some say it’s o.k. to say “adults only reception” in the invitations. In my opinion I would relax about having children at the wedding. Of course if children are part of the wedding party they definitely will be there, but don’t get bent out of shape if others come along with their parents. More than likely people won’t bring them unless they are particularly close to you (they enjoy an evening out). Never include the words “no kids” on the invitation.
Think a long time about who your attendants will be. It wouldn’t be very good wedding etiquette to “uninvite” someone after you’ve already asked them to be a bridesmaid, for instance. By the way, bridesmaids and ushers don’t have to be an even number. One usher may escort two bridesmaids if necessary.
If this is your second marriage and you have children, by all means include them in the wedding. One way is to let them give you away. It will make it a lot easier for them knowing you want them to be a part of it.
Wedding etiquette has changed. If it’s your second time around it’s alright to wear white.
If it’s your first time around it’s o.k. to wear a color.
If money is an object, you and your fiancé should invite only the people that mean the most to you. Sometimes the guest list is very lopsided. This should be discussed and all parties should have a meeting of the minds.
The groom’s mother should talk to the bride’s mother about what she should wear. It’s only good wedding etiquette.
Everyone should feel comfortable at the reception. Use place cards at the tables so people will be with others that they are compatible with. Have a seating chart where they enter so that they don’t have to search for their table.
Where there are more than two sets of parents (stepparents) it can sometimes be unpleasant. Come to an agreement beforehand about seating, the receiving line and such.
Speaking of receiving lines, it is not necessary at a small and informal wedding. You can just mingle and introduce people.
It is just not cool or good wedding etiquette to ask for cash only as a gift for your wedding. In fact it’s down-right tacky.
Your thank-you notes should be sent out within two to four weeks after the wedding. Don’t forget to mention the specific gift and how you plan to use it.
Wedding etiquette on tipping
Remember that wedding etiquette is about civility, code, decency and good behavior.
Do what feels right to you deep down and more than likely it will be right. Manners are doing things in a way to keep from hurting someone’s feelings.
It brings to mind the story about the queen who was eating with a beggar (don’t know why). The beggar was eating peas with his knife because he didn’t know it was proper to eat them with a fork. In order not to make him feel bad, she ate her peas with a knife. That is real class.
Here are some things to take note of when thinking of wedding etiquette:
An engagement party may be hosted by the couple or either set of parents. It can be cocktails and hors d’oeuveres at your home. You could include family and friends. Dinner at a restaurant with just family is another option. In any case don’t expect a gift at this party.
Some say it’s o.k. to say “adults only reception” in the invitations. In my opinion I would relax about having children at the wedding. Of course if children are part of the wedding party they definitely will be there, but don’t get bent out of shape if others come along with their parents. More than likely people won’t bring them unless they are particularly close to you (they enjoy an evening out). Never include the words “no kids” on the invitation.
Think a long time about who your attendants will be. It wouldn’t be very good wedding etiquette to “uninvite” someone after you’ve already asked them to be a bridesmaid, for instance. By the way, bridesmaids and ushers don’t have to be an even number. One usher may escort two bridesmaids if necessary.
If this is your second marriage and you have children, by all means include them in the wedding. One way is to let them give you away. It will make it a lot easier for them knowing you want them to be a part of it.
Wedding etiquette has changed. If it’s your second time around it’s alright to wear white.
If it’s your first time around it’s o.k. to wear a color.
If money is an object, you and your fiancé should invite only the people that mean the most to you. Sometimes the guest list is very lopsided. This should be discussed and all parties should have a meeting of the minds.
The groom’s mother should talk to the bride’s mother about what she should wear. It’s only good wedding etiquette.
Everyone should feel comfortable at the reception. Use place cards at the tables so people will be with others that they are compatible with. Have a seating chart where they enter so that they don’t have to search for their table.
Where there are more than two sets of parents (stepparents) it can sometimes be unpleasant. Come to an agreement beforehand about seating, the receiving line and such.
Speaking of receiving lines, it is not necessary at a small and informal wedding. You can just mingle and introduce people.
It is just not cool or good wedding etiquette to ask for cash only as a gift for your wedding. In fact it’s down-right tacky.
Your thank-you notes should be sent out within two to four weeks after the wedding. Don’t forget to mention the specific gift and how you plan to use it.
Wedding etiquette on tipping
Remember that wedding etiquette is about civility, code, decency and good behavior.
Make The Most Of Your Wedding Ceremony
The wedding ceremony is the highlight of your wedding day.
The greatest thing about a wedding ceremony is that it is completely yours!
It can be shared with a few people in an intimate setting or in front of tons of friends and loved ones on a grand scale.
Keeping in mind that this is probably the most important part of the day, you may want to include certain elements in the ceremony.
Some tips and certain components we suggest:
Obtain your marriage license as soon as possible and according to the requirements where you live.
Find an “authorized” person to perform your ceremony.
Find a setting. Sometimes the person officiating has requirements on this.
Set aside lots of time to carefully choose beautiful music for each part of the ceremony.
Decide on your wedding vows.
Work with the officiator of the ceremony on the set up of the procession.
Decide on a seating arrangement that best suits your families and friends.
Devise a wedding program as a way to share the day with your guests.
Include as little or as many “traditional” elements as you like.
Mix and match customs from your country and other countries for a personal touch.
Use unity candles in your wedding ceremony.
The ceremony is where you can share your true feelings for one another with your guests. You could perhaps tie in some family traditions, religious practices and spiritual values.
Take the time in the planning of the ceremony and you’re sure to have memories that last a lifetime.
For a really cheap way to have a wedding ceremony....you could elope.
We couldn't talk about ceremonies without mentioning dogs in weddings. We discovered a great site all about small dogs...it has excellent tips for including your dog in your big day. (good advice for any size pup)
They even have a section about dog weddings.
The greatest thing about a wedding ceremony is that it is completely yours!
It can be shared with a few people in an intimate setting or in front of tons of friends and loved ones on a grand scale.
Keeping in mind that this is probably the most important part of the day, you may want to include certain elements in the ceremony.
Some tips and certain components we suggest:
Obtain your marriage license as soon as possible and according to the requirements where you live.
Find an “authorized” person to perform your ceremony.
Find a setting. Sometimes the person officiating has requirements on this.
Set aside lots of time to carefully choose beautiful music for each part of the ceremony.
Decide on your wedding vows.
Work with the officiator of the ceremony on the set up of the procession.
Decide on a seating arrangement that best suits your families and friends.
Devise a wedding program as a way to share the day with your guests.
Include as little or as many “traditional” elements as you like.
Mix and match customs from your country and other countries for a personal touch.
Use unity candles in your wedding ceremony.
The ceremony is where you can share your true feelings for one another with your guests. You could perhaps tie in some family traditions, religious practices and spiritual values.
Take the time in the planning of the ceremony and you’re sure to have memories that last a lifetime.
For a really cheap way to have a wedding ceremony....you could elope.
We couldn't talk about ceremonies without mentioning dogs in weddings. We discovered a great site all about small dogs...it has excellent tips for including your dog in your big day. (good advice for any size pup)
They even have a section about dog weddings.
How To Create Your Wedding Budget
When you first decide on the date of your wedding, you should make a wedding budget checklist.
It should include all of the things you will need.
Also list the things you want and see if you can eliminate some items or make an inexpensive substitution. Of course this site is about cheap-chic-weddings and for that reason there are some things that won’t be listed here.
It should include:
Invitations. Keep the guest list within your budget.
Thank You notes
Music for the ceremony and the reception. There are many options for this to stay within your budget.
Flowers for the ceremony, reception centerpieces, attendants bouquets, bride’s bouquets and mother’s corsages
Photography that includes portraits and candids. Of course the type of photography will depend on how much you can spend.
Food for the bachelor party, engagement party, rehearsal dinner, reception food, liquor and wedding cake
Bride’s dress, headpiece, veil and shoes
Rings
Gifts for attendants (a must), parents or each other (optional)
Don't forget tipping in your wedding budget!
Start planning early and shop around for ideas and best prices. Make yourself a nice chart and keep prices written down. With careful shopping and the advice we have given you I know you can stay within your wedding budget.
It should include all of the things you will need.
Also list the things you want and see if you can eliminate some items or make an inexpensive substitution. Of course this site is about cheap-chic-weddings and for that reason there are some things that won’t be listed here.
It should include:
Invitations. Keep the guest list within your budget.
Thank You notes
Music for the ceremony and the reception. There are many options for this to stay within your budget.
Flowers for the ceremony, reception centerpieces, attendants bouquets, bride’s bouquets and mother’s corsages
Photography that includes portraits and candids. Of course the type of photography will depend on how much you can spend.
Food for the bachelor party, engagement party, rehearsal dinner, reception food, liquor and wedding cake
Bride’s dress, headpiece, veil and shoes
Rings
Gifts for attendants (a must), parents or each other (optional)
Don't forget tipping in your wedding budget!
Start planning early and shop around for ideas and best prices. Make yourself a nice chart and keep prices written down. With careful shopping and the advice we have given you I know you can stay within your wedding budget.
Choosing your favorite wedding music
Above everything else, please have the kind of wedding music that you love.
You do want to keep in mind your budget. I think there are several routes you can take to achieve your goal and not spend a fortune.
When my youngest daughter was in high school she played violin. Her music teacher got married and she had her students play strings at the wedding. Wasn't that a great idea for wedding music? Even if you're not a teacher maybe you could work something out with some students.
My middle daughter had her sister's teacher and a small group of strings play her wedding music for a small fee. It was just beautiful. They both had a DJ at the reception.
A DJ is a good choice for music. You can have it all for not too much money. It could include music for the ceremony and the reception as well as the DJ being emcee for the party.
You may know of a local band that you like that you could get a good deal from. Make sure they know the songs you want to hear. That especially applies to the song for the first dance.
The location of the wedding and reception would certainly dictate what you use to make music. A beach wedding for instance, would be a great place for someone just playing the guitar. It would work great at any kind of wedding actually. I once had a young man play Spanish guitar at a function and it was very beautiful. Use whatever method that is inexpensive and would work for you. It will be beautiful.
You do want to keep in mind your budget. I think there are several routes you can take to achieve your goal and not spend a fortune.
When my youngest daughter was in high school she played violin. Her music teacher got married and she had her students play strings at the wedding. Wasn't that a great idea for wedding music? Even if you're not a teacher maybe you could work something out with some students.
My middle daughter had her sister's teacher and a small group of strings play her wedding music for a small fee. It was just beautiful. They both had a DJ at the reception.
A DJ is a good choice for music. You can have it all for not too much money. It could include music for the ceremony and the reception as well as the DJ being emcee for the party.
You may know of a local band that you like that you could get a good deal from. Make sure they know the songs you want to hear. That especially applies to the song for the first dance.
The location of the wedding and reception would certainly dictate what you use to make music. A beach wedding for instance, would be a great place for someone just playing the guitar. It would work great at any kind of wedding actually. I once had a young man play Spanish guitar at a function and it was very beautiful. Use whatever method that is inexpensive and would work for you. It will be beautiful.
Secrets Of Beautiful Wedding Centerpieces
Wedding centerpieces can be very inexpensive. The following ideas include materials that aren't flowers but I thought you should know about them.
I hope these suggestions will stir up your imagination:
Large bouquets can be made with big bunches of Baby's Breath only. It looks high end if it is large and makes a beautiful statement. For the head table you can do the same thing but add a few roses.
If you have a gardenia bush that is in bloom when you're have your wedding, they would be outstanding floating in a pedestal bowl. Tie a satin ribbon around the pedestal. Use a color that coordinates with your wedding. Camellias are gorgeous used this way and make great wedding centerpieces. Oh, by the way, don't touch your gardenia petals or they will turn yellow.
Fruit is inexpensive and can be made into lovely wedding centerpieces. Try to find fruit that isn't blemished. Stack it pyramid style in a glass bowl or on a pedestal glass stand. Frosted fruit makes a wonderful wedding centerpiece. Some fruits to use are; strawberries, figs, apricots, pears, plums, grapes, oranges, lemons, limes, apples, any berries, cherries, kumquats, cranberries and pomegranates that have been cut in half to show the beautiful seeds.
To do:
Use pasteurized egg whites found in cartons in the dairy section of the supermarket. Beat the egg whites until bubbles start to form. Paint fruit with a pastry brush dipped in the whites.
Sprinkle sugar on fruit with a sieve or roll fruit in sugar. Let dry completely on a cookie sheet or something similar before using. Raw cranberries may be put in a glass bowl and topped with frosted fruit. You can use cranberries in a glass vase also for a flower arrangement.
If you have a bougainvillea bush or know someone who does, they are gorgeous for making wedding centerpieces. They come in many colors and are very showy. Make them in into an upright bouquet or a long arrangement. For that use some sort of shallow dish or plate. Tape an oasis to the dish that has been soaked for a good long time in water. Stick long branches into each end and fill in with shorter ones to hide the oasis.
Hydrangeas, Azaleas, Dogwood blooms and Magnolias from your garden or a friend's, are perfect arranged in any way you like.
Have your friends save glass jars for you of any size. They don't all have to be the same because they will be covered. Measure your containers up both sides, across the bottom and up the other side and add about three inches. Cut circles of tulle these dimensions. Sit your container in the center and gather up around the sides and put a rubber band at the top to hold. Fluff up the top and play with it to hide the rubber band. Put water in your container and fill with flowers. For my daughter's wedding her two sisters and I made these. On the day of the wedding we went to the site and made them. They were just beautiful and got wonderful compliments. We used lots of different colors of tulle but you could use one color.
An extremely cheap wedding centerpiece could be made with branches (with leaves) from your yard or someone else's. Spay paint them with silver or gold or any color you like and arrange them in any container that suits you. They would be nice used with clear Christmas ornaments that have been painted inside.
To do: Take the top off the ornament and pour color or colors of your choice inside them and swirl around until you achieve the look you want. With more than one color you will get a marbled look. You may make a long low arrangement in floral foam or a tall one in a vase. You could use them with a few flowers or tulle bows.
Hibiscus blooms can be put around on a table with no water. They will last for one day. Use them with any other arrangements. Rose petals can be spread on the table also. Get roses that have seen better days and are on sale. Use just the petals.
Lots of small, pretty containers with one bloom can be used for lovely wedding centerpieces.
Candles are very nice with any flowers or anything else you are using. Floating candles in a glass bowl with a few floating blooms are exquisite wedding centerpieces. You could even sprinkle a little glitter on top of the water in your color.
Don’t forget potted plants can be used and are very pretty. Caladiums or azaleas or anything with a colorful leaf or bloom works great.
Wedding centerpieces can be created from just about anything. Use your imagination and have fun doing it.
I hope these suggestions will stir up your imagination:
Large bouquets can be made with big bunches of Baby's Breath only. It looks high end if it is large and makes a beautiful statement. For the head table you can do the same thing but add a few roses.
If you have a gardenia bush that is in bloom when you're have your wedding, they would be outstanding floating in a pedestal bowl. Tie a satin ribbon around the pedestal. Use a color that coordinates with your wedding. Camellias are gorgeous used this way and make great wedding centerpieces. Oh, by the way, don't touch your gardenia petals or they will turn yellow.
Fruit is inexpensive and can be made into lovely wedding centerpieces. Try to find fruit that isn't blemished. Stack it pyramid style in a glass bowl or on a pedestal glass stand. Frosted fruit makes a wonderful wedding centerpiece. Some fruits to use are; strawberries, figs, apricots, pears, plums, grapes, oranges, lemons, limes, apples, any berries, cherries, kumquats, cranberries and pomegranates that have been cut in half to show the beautiful seeds.
To do:
Use pasteurized egg whites found in cartons in the dairy section of the supermarket. Beat the egg whites until bubbles start to form. Paint fruit with a pastry brush dipped in the whites.
Sprinkle sugar on fruit with a sieve or roll fruit in sugar. Let dry completely on a cookie sheet or something similar before using. Raw cranberries may be put in a glass bowl and topped with frosted fruit. You can use cranberries in a glass vase also for a flower arrangement.
If you have a bougainvillea bush or know someone who does, they are gorgeous for making wedding centerpieces. They come in many colors and are very showy. Make them in into an upright bouquet or a long arrangement. For that use some sort of shallow dish or plate. Tape an oasis to the dish that has been soaked for a good long time in water. Stick long branches into each end and fill in with shorter ones to hide the oasis.
Hydrangeas, Azaleas, Dogwood blooms and Magnolias from your garden or a friend's, are perfect arranged in any way you like.
Have your friends save glass jars for you of any size. They don't all have to be the same because they will be covered. Measure your containers up both sides, across the bottom and up the other side and add about three inches. Cut circles of tulle these dimensions. Sit your container in the center and gather up around the sides and put a rubber band at the top to hold. Fluff up the top and play with it to hide the rubber band. Put water in your container and fill with flowers. For my daughter's wedding her two sisters and I made these. On the day of the wedding we went to the site and made them. They were just beautiful and got wonderful compliments. We used lots of different colors of tulle but you could use one color.
An extremely cheap wedding centerpiece could be made with branches (with leaves) from your yard or someone else's. Spay paint them with silver or gold or any color you like and arrange them in any container that suits you. They would be nice used with clear Christmas ornaments that have been painted inside.
To do: Take the top off the ornament and pour color or colors of your choice inside them and swirl around until you achieve the look you want. With more than one color you will get a marbled look. You may make a long low arrangement in floral foam or a tall one in a vase. You could use them with a few flowers or tulle bows.
Hibiscus blooms can be put around on a table with no water. They will last for one day. Use them with any other arrangements. Rose petals can be spread on the table also. Get roses that have seen better days and are on sale. Use just the petals.
Lots of small, pretty containers with one bloom can be used for lovely wedding centerpieces.
Candles are very nice with any flowers or anything else you are using. Floating candles in a glass bowl with a few floating blooms are exquisite wedding centerpieces. You could even sprinkle a little glitter on top of the water in your color.
Don’t forget potted plants can be used and are very pretty. Caladiums or azaleas or anything with a colorful leaf or bloom works great.
Wedding centerpieces can be created from just about anything. Use your imagination and have fun doing it.
Get Tips For Cheap Weddings And YOU Can Save Thousands of Dollars
Cheap weddings? Sounds like an oxy-moron, doesn’t it? Well it’s the wave of the future.
Spending your life savings on your big day is crazy. You can have elegant, beautiful weddings without breaking the bank. That’s our promise here at Cheap-Chic-Weddings.com. You’ll find suggestions for great weddings…and lots of tips for cheap weddings here.
Cheap weddings doesn’t mean giving up style or sentimentality. It means using your imagination, using your own hands or the help of friends and family. We’ll help you have a budget wedding that will be the event of the season.
Planning cheap weddings is planning dream weddings but with cash left over. Wouldn’t you rather have money to put down on a house, buy a car or take a fabulous honeymoon.
On these pages you’ll find:
How to save a bundle on a wedding gown
Where to get cheap wedding bands and rings
The scoop on inexpensive bridal bouquets and wedding flowers
Photography tricks that look pro
Do-it-yourself wedding cakes that rival the ones in bridal magazines
Tons of advice for cheap weddings
You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. Make your wedding your own. You’ll have a low cost wedding that will be a cheap, chic joyous occasion. We hope you’ll be inspired.
TAKE OUR QUICK WEDDING SURVEY NOW
Here's what one of our reader's has to say about Cheap Chic Weddings:
"I would just like to say Thank You. I planned my wedding for over a year away, because I know the stress my sister went through with hers. For 3mo. now I have been searching, and searching the Internet for ideas. Especially inexspensive ideas (My fiance and I are going with a budget of $2000.00). I have gotten little to nothing out of any website. Every Idea I have for my wedding, I have gotten off of one website. Yours. Thank You for making it so easy." Jenni Lee
Spending your life savings on your big day is crazy. You can have elegant, beautiful weddings without breaking the bank. That’s our promise here at Cheap-Chic-Weddings.com. You’ll find suggestions for great weddings…and lots of tips for cheap weddings here.
Cheap weddings doesn’t mean giving up style or sentimentality. It means using your imagination, using your own hands or the help of friends and family. We’ll help you have a budget wedding that will be the event of the season.
Planning cheap weddings is planning dream weddings but with cash left over. Wouldn’t you rather have money to put down on a house, buy a car or take a fabulous honeymoon.
On these pages you’ll find:
How to save a bundle on a wedding gown
Where to get cheap wedding bands and rings
The scoop on inexpensive bridal bouquets and wedding flowers
Photography tricks that look pro
Do-it-yourself wedding cakes that rival the ones in bridal magazines
Tons of advice for cheap weddings
You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. Make your wedding your own. You’ll have a low cost wedding that will be a cheap, chic joyous occasion. We hope you’ll be inspired.
TAKE OUR QUICK WEDDING SURVEY NOW
Here's what one of our reader's has to say about Cheap Chic Weddings:
"I would just like to say Thank You. I planned my wedding for over a year away, because I know the stress my sister went through with hers. For 3mo. now I have been searching, and searching the Internet for ideas. Especially inexspensive ideas (My fiance and I are going with a budget of $2000.00). I have gotten little to nothing out of any website. Every Idea I have for my wedding, I have gotten off of one website. Yours. Thank You for making it so easy." Jenni Lee
Ideas For Cheap Wedding Invitations
Ah, wedding invitations... cheap wedding invitations. You open your mailbox and there...a special envelope, so neat, so pretty, you know right away what it is.
Writing them out takes a bit of doing. First get organized. Make sure you have everyone's full name or title and their correct address. Next, get your supplies together. Now you're ready to hand-write the addresses on your envelopes. You might consider a professional calligrapher (very expensive) or you might just enlist the help of a friend or family member with beautiful handwriting.
Don't forget, your invites should be mailed out six to eight weeks before the wedding. You need to give your guests plenty of time to RSVP so you can get an accurate head count at least a week before the event.
Ideas For Cheap Wedding Invitations:
It used to be proper etiquette to mail them in two envelopes. The inner envelope protected the invitation. But that isn't necessary nowadays and is an added expense.
Consider using a postcard inside for the RSVP. You'll save on postage
You can check online for wholesale or discount invites. There are lots of sources on the net.
Check out places like Kinko's. They have very reasonable prices
A very cheap alternative is a kit- this allows you to make them yourself right on your computer
Cheap wedding invitations can be beautiful. Do some searching, make the hand-written addresses elegant and pick pretty stamps. You won't sacrifice style; you'll just save money.
Online resources:
Buy invitations online at wedding invitations 411.com Buy wedding invitations, announcements or stationary from our online discount invitations catalog. Preview your wedding invitations before you order them.
Wedding Invitations Wedding invitations, wedding shower invitations, Save the Day and much more. Over500 wedding designs online from America's top stationers. Quick turn around, Great Prices!
Writing them out takes a bit of doing. First get organized. Make sure you have everyone's full name or title and their correct address. Next, get your supplies together. Now you're ready to hand-write the addresses on your envelopes. You might consider a professional calligrapher (very expensive) or you might just enlist the help of a friend or family member with beautiful handwriting.
Don't forget, your invites should be mailed out six to eight weeks before the wedding. You need to give your guests plenty of time to RSVP so you can get an accurate head count at least a week before the event.
Ideas For Cheap Wedding Invitations:
It used to be proper etiquette to mail them in two envelopes. The inner envelope protected the invitation. But that isn't necessary nowadays and is an added expense.
Consider using a postcard inside for the RSVP. You'll save on postage
You can check online for wholesale or discount invites. There are lots of sources on the net.
Check out places like Kinko's. They have very reasonable prices
A very cheap alternative is a kit- this allows you to make them yourself right on your computer
Cheap wedding invitations can be beautiful. Do some searching, make the hand-written addresses elegant and pick pretty stamps. You won't sacrifice style; you'll just save money.
Online resources:
Buy invitations online at wedding invitations 411.com Buy wedding invitations, announcements or stationary from our online discount invitations catalog. Preview your wedding invitations before you order them.
Wedding Invitations Wedding invitations, wedding shower invitations, Save the Day and much more. Over500 wedding designs online from America's top stationers. Quick turn around, Great Prices!
Save A Bundle On A Cheap Honeymoon
A cheap honeymoon can be a dream vacation.
A fantastic honeymoon doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Plan ahead, even before your wedding. Discuss what the two of you would enjoy doing.
Do you want to lounge on a tropical beach or go skiing? Do you want to go on a cruise or get married in the same place you vacation? Get clear about you ideas.
This is a trip of a lifetime. So how do you have a trip of a lifetime without spending your life savings?
Some of the most popular destinations are a good deal:
Cruises
All-inclusive resorts
The Poconos
Disney World
California Wine Country
Skiing in Vermont or Colorado
Niagara Falls
Las Vegas
Here are some other wonderful ideas for a cheap honeymoon:
White water rafting
An outdoor trip to a national park
Cozy, romantic Bed & Breakfasts
Ecellent money saving ideas:
Pick a destination close to home and go by car. Go for a weekend and save even more.
Locations like:
Disney World (That’s what we did. It was amazing-and I’ve been there 100 times before. Plus I got a Florida residence deal too.)
New Orleans
Smoky Mountains, etc.
More money saving tips for a fabulous cheap honeymoon:
Go off season-in June
Look in Sunday’s paper for honeymoon value packages
This is my favorite:
Register with an airline for plane tickets as part of your wedding gift registry(who needs china!)
Check online resources. Sometines you can find great rates, sales and “last” minute deals (not for the faint hearted).
For a really cheap wedding/honeymoon...you could elop
Choose a destination wedding. They can be a real bargain. For example, Jamaica Super Clubs includes your wedding ceremony, flowers, music, paperwork, a short reception, champagne, cake and the honeymoon all for one price. It saves money and headaches.
A fantastic honeymoon doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Plan ahead, even before your wedding. Discuss what the two of you would enjoy doing.
Do you want to lounge on a tropical beach or go skiing? Do you want to go on a cruise or get married in the same place you vacation? Get clear about you ideas.
This is a trip of a lifetime. So how do you have a trip of a lifetime without spending your life savings?
Some of the most popular destinations are a good deal:
Cruises
All-inclusive resorts
The Poconos
Disney World
California Wine Country
Skiing in Vermont or Colorado
Niagara Falls
Las Vegas
Here are some other wonderful ideas for a cheap honeymoon:
White water rafting
An outdoor trip to a national park
Cozy, romantic Bed & Breakfasts
Ecellent money saving ideas:
Pick a destination close to home and go by car. Go for a weekend and save even more.
Locations like:
Disney World (That’s what we did. It was amazing-and I’ve been there 100 times before. Plus I got a Florida residence deal too.)
New Orleans
Smoky Mountains, etc.
More money saving tips for a fabulous cheap honeymoon:
Go off season-in June
Look in Sunday’s paper for honeymoon value packages
This is my favorite:
Register with an airline for plane tickets as part of your wedding gift registry(who needs china!)
Check online resources. Sometines you can find great rates, sales and “last” minute deals (not for the faint hearted).
For a really cheap wedding/honeymoon...you could elop
Choose a destination wedding. They can be a real bargain. For example, Jamaica Super Clubs includes your wedding ceremony, flowers, music, paperwork, a short reception, champagne, cake and the honeymoon all for one price. It saves money and headaches.
Want a Diamond Wedding Ring?
Almost every bride wants a diamond wedding ring; after all it is very traditional. There are some things you should take into consideration before making the big purchase however.
Here are some of them:
Know what you can afford and stick to your budget.
Decide if you really need a wedding ring with diamonds or if you would be as happy with a plain band and a diamond engagement ring. That would be less expensive.
Make sure you deal with a reputable store or person when buying you rings.
Make sure you get a certificate of authenticity from the dealer.
Check out the guarantees.
If you buy online check with the Internet Better Business Bureau and make sure the dealer can easily be contacted.
It is important to do lot of homework on diamonds. There are lots of things that you need to know about them.
Some of those things are:
Clarity: This has to do with being flawless. The closer to flawless it is the more brilliant it is and the more expensive.
Color: Until a stone crosses over to lots of color such as yellow, the more colorless it is the better and more expensive.
Cut: The cut is how the diamond is faceted. Look at all the different cuts and find the one you love.
Carat: Diamonds are measured in carat weight. The bigger ones of course are more expensive.
A good alternative to diamonds are lab created diamonds. (not to be confused with cubic zirconia) They are just as beautiful. They cut glass like the real thing and they are flawless. They are set in precious metal and are virtually undetectable. And of course they are a fraction of the cost of mined diamonds. Keep in mind, it is still important to deal with a reputable dealer.
You can find lots of information online about diamond wedding rings and the precious metals they are set in. Gold and diamond rings are less expensive than a platinum diamond wedding ring. Don’t forget there is white gold, silver, 14k gold and 18k gold. Do some research and find yourself a beautiful diamond wedding ring set.
Here are some of them:
Know what you can afford and stick to your budget.
Decide if you really need a wedding ring with diamonds or if you would be as happy with a plain band and a diamond engagement ring. That would be less expensive.
Make sure you deal with a reputable store or person when buying you rings.
Make sure you get a certificate of authenticity from the dealer.
Check out the guarantees.
If you buy online check with the Internet Better Business Bureau and make sure the dealer can easily be contacted.
It is important to do lot of homework on diamonds. There are lots of things that you need to know about them.
Some of those things are:
Clarity: This has to do with being flawless. The closer to flawless it is the more brilliant it is and the more expensive.
Color: Until a stone crosses over to lots of color such as yellow, the more colorless it is the better and more expensive.
Cut: The cut is how the diamond is faceted. Look at all the different cuts and find the one you love.
Carat: Diamonds are measured in carat weight. The bigger ones of course are more expensive.
A good alternative to diamonds are lab created diamonds. (not to be confused with cubic zirconia) They are just as beautiful. They cut glass like the real thing and they are flawless. They are set in precious metal and are virtually undetectable. And of course they are a fraction of the cost of mined diamonds. Keep in mind, it is still important to deal with a reputable dealer.
You can find lots of information online about diamond wedding rings and the precious metals they are set in. Gold and diamond rings are less expensive than a platinum diamond wedding ring. Don’t forget there is white gold, silver, 14k gold and 18k gold. Do some research and find yourself a beautiful diamond wedding ring set.
Save Money On Your Wedding Rings
Wedding rings symbolize the union of two people joined by the ring finger.
Some people say the ring finger has an artery that leads straight to the heart. I don't know if that's true but it is romantic.
Once married most people don't take off their wedding bands, as a sign of their faithfulness to each other.
It's also a good idea to leave them on because it is surprisingly easy to lose your rings.
Here is the buzz on saving a few bucks on your wedding rings:
Simple gold bands are the cheapest. They can run $125 to $400 each. They are also classic and elegant.
Silver bands are modern and cheap.
Don't buy the designer version of gold bands. That will save you a bunch.
If you want white metal, opt for white gold. Platinum is almost double the price.
You'll save almost half if you buy a coordinating set or trio (engagement ring, your wedding band and his band.)
If you want a ring with a stone, don't forget semi-precious stones are beautiful. You don't have to have diamonds in your rings.
Family wedding bands are a romantic heirloom and free.
Shopping online can save you money. Make sure you pick a secure site with great customer service.
If you really want something more-make a plan-start saving now and decide to upgrade your wedding rings on your fifth anniversary or your tenth anniversary.
Some people say the ring finger has an artery that leads straight to the heart. I don't know if that's true but it is romantic.
Once married most people don't take off their wedding bands, as a sign of their faithfulness to each other.
It's also a good idea to leave them on because it is surprisingly easy to lose your rings.
Here is the buzz on saving a few bucks on your wedding rings:
Simple gold bands are the cheapest. They can run $125 to $400 each. They are also classic and elegant.
Silver bands are modern and cheap.
Don't buy the designer version of gold bands. That will save you a bunch.
If you want white metal, opt for white gold. Platinum is almost double the price.
You'll save almost half if you buy a coordinating set or trio (engagement ring, your wedding band and his band.)
If you want a ring with a stone, don't forget semi-precious stones are beautiful. You don't have to have diamonds in your rings.
Family wedding bands are a romantic heirloom and free.
Shopping online can save you money. Make sure you pick a secure site with great customer service.
If you really want something more-make a plan-start saving now and decide to upgrade your wedding rings on your fifth anniversary or your tenth anniversary.
Discover Great Cheap Wedding Favors
Cheap wedding favors say thank you to your guest and I'm glad you're here (without spending a fortune).
You definitely won't break the bank with cheap wedding favors though.
Here are a few ideas that can be done inexpensively:
Small flower arrangements at each place setting could double as wedding favors and table decorations. I have bought glass containers at thrift stores for twenty-five cents. They don't have to match. If you're using artificial flowers you could use terracotta pots.
Divinity fudge makes delicious cheap wedding favors. Wrapped up in white tulle and tied with a white ribbon it would be beautiful. Add a tag; you make yourself, with a little message like "Love is divine". Cut out the tag with scallop scissors and punch a hole for the ribbon. One warning, divinity doesn't come out well in high humidity.
Candles made in seashells are pretty for a beach wedding or any wedding for that matter. Melt some beeswax but don't get it too hot. Pour it into the shell and add a wick. Get directions at your craft store. If you live near the sea gather shells yourself. Shells can also be bought by the bag.
Regular candles are nice too for cheap wedding favors. Wrap in tulle and tie with ribbon. Stick a small flower in the ribbon.
Tree seedlings, such as citrus or any kind of tree, are something everybody would love. They will always remember your wedding with this unique wedding favor idea. Wrap the plastic pot to disguise.
Small frames for later use can also serve as place cards or to hold a message from you.
Flower seedlings or seed packets are a nice wedding favors. Wrap in anyway that is appropriate for your wedding. Tie with ribbon, raffia or paper ribbon.
Make wine glass markers from wire and beads. You can find instructions at the craft store. One is enough for a wedding party favor. Place in a small box and tie with ribbon.
Sachets made from lavender. Make a small bag from lace. Sew up three sides, put the lavender in and sew up fourth side. Attach a small silk flower. Potpourris in drawstring bags made of lace or tulle are pretty. They smell nice too. You can use any kind of bag that's easy for you to make.
Everybody loves herbs. Buy small ones and place plastic container right into a small terracotta pot. Put some moss around the top to disguise the plastic planter. Include a pretty tag with instructions for care and attach to a ribbon tied around the pot.
A strawberry plant is another live wedding favor idea. It can be presented in the same way as an herb. Anything of this nature that is in season is appreciated.
Candies, such as M&Ms in your wedding colors, Kisses or Hugs, mints, a wonderful piece of chocolate or any kind that you would like, look great in a cupcake liner. They come in different sizes and colors.
If there is a special theme to your wedding, use anything that would carry out that theme. For example, you could use fall wedding favors for an autumn inspired reception.
Here are some ideas for candle wedding favors I hope I've given you some ideas for cheap wedding favors you can use or that will inspire you to come up with your own.
You definitely won't break the bank with cheap wedding favors though.
Here are a few ideas that can be done inexpensively:
Small flower arrangements at each place setting could double as wedding favors and table decorations. I have bought glass containers at thrift stores for twenty-five cents. They don't have to match. If you're using artificial flowers you could use terracotta pots.
Divinity fudge makes delicious cheap wedding favors. Wrapped up in white tulle and tied with a white ribbon it would be beautiful. Add a tag; you make yourself, with a little message like "Love is divine". Cut out the tag with scallop scissors and punch a hole for the ribbon. One warning, divinity doesn't come out well in high humidity.
Candles made in seashells are pretty for a beach wedding or any wedding for that matter. Melt some beeswax but don't get it too hot. Pour it into the shell and add a wick. Get directions at your craft store. If you live near the sea gather shells yourself. Shells can also be bought by the bag.
Regular candles are nice too for cheap wedding favors. Wrap in tulle and tie with ribbon. Stick a small flower in the ribbon.
Tree seedlings, such as citrus or any kind of tree, are something everybody would love. They will always remember your wedding with this unique wedding favor idea. Wrap the plastic pot to disguise.
Small frames for later use can also serve as place cards or to hold a message from you.
Flower seedlings or seed packets are a nice wedding favors. Wrap in anyway that is appropriate for your wedding. Tie with ribbon, raffia or paper ribbon.
Make wine glass markers from wire and beads. You can find instructions at the craft store. One is enough for a wedding party favor. Place in a small box and tie with ribbon.
Sachets made from lavender. Make a small bag from lace. Sew up three sides, put the lavender in and sew up fourth side. Attach a small silk flower. Potpourris in drawstring bags made of lace or tulle are pretty. They smell nice too. You can use any kind of bag that's easy for you to make.
Everybody loves herbs. Buy small ones and place plastic container right into a small terracotta pot. Put some moss around the top to disguise the plastic planter. Include a pretty tag with instructions for care and attach to a ribbon tied around the pot.
A strawberry plant is another live wedding favor idea. It can be presented in the same way as an herb. Anything of this nature that is in season is appreciated.
Candies, such as M&Ms in your wedding colors, Kisses or Hugs, mints, a wonderful piece of chocolate or any kind that you would like, look great in a cupcake liner. They come in different sizes and colors.
If there is a special theme to your wedding, use anything that would carry out that theme. For example, you could use fall wedding favors for an autumn inspired reception.
Here are some ideas for candle wedding favors I hope I've given you some ideas for cheap wedding favors you can use or that will inspire you to come up with your own.
Save Money With Bridal Bouquet Ideas
Bridal bouquet ideas from a special friend or relative are the nicest. When it's made with love it is always beautiful.
It should include some your favorite flowers, which can be done in different styles. The color is entirely up to you, but I would have it go along with the colors of the wedding.
A simple bouquet idea would be a pretty bunch of flowers with a nice ribbon tied around it. This would be great for an informal wedding, such as a beach wedding.
A single gorgeous bloom such as a Calla Lilly is very elegant and very trendy these days. Just tie a nice ribbon around it. How simple is that?
For more complex bridal bouquet ideas you will need floral wire and tape. When using a flower with a thick stem, such as roses, cut the stem off, insert wire through the base of the rose, bend down the portion you punched through the flower and wrap with floral tape.
You need to do this with flowers that have a thick stem or you would have a huge mass of flowers. Wrap the stems with a pretty ribbon and use a pearl head pin to attach to the stems. Trailing greens such as Ivy or any flowing flower or green would look great in the bouquet. A mix of flowers as well as one kind may be used for this bridal bouquet idea.
A silk bridal bouquet may be made very inexpensively. Check out the craft stores for that.
The bridal bouquet of fresh flowers should be made just a few hours before the wedding, sprayed with a little water and put into the refrigerator. Be sure and have it to her in time for the pictures.
Copyright
It should include some your favorite flowers, which can be done in different styles. The color is entirely up to you, but I would have it go along with the colors of the wedding.
A simple bouquet idea would be a pretty bunch of flowers with a nice ribbon tied around it. This would be great for an informal wedding, such as a beach wedding.
A single gorgeous bloom such as a Calla Lilly is very elegant and very trendy these days. Just tie a nice ribbon around it. How simple is that?
For more complex bridal bouquet ideas you will need floral wire and tape. When using a flower with a thick stem, such as roses, cut the stem off, insert wire through the base of the rose, bend down the portion you punched through the flower and wrap with floral tape.
You need to do this with flowers that have a thick stem or you would have a huge mass of flowers. Wrap the stems with a pretty ribbon and use a pearl head pin to attach to the stems. Trailing greens such as Ivy or any flowing flower or green would look great in the bouquet. A mix of flowers as well as one kind may be used for this bridal bouquet idea.
A silk bridal bouquet may be made very inexpensively. Check out the craft stores for that.
The bridal bouquet of fresh flowers should be made just a few hours before the wedding, sprayed with a little water and put into the refrigerator. Be sure and have it to her in time for the pictures.
Copyright
Save On Creative Wedding Flowers
Cheap doesn't mean that your wedding flowers can't be beautiful. All flowers are lovely no matter what they cost.
It can cost you a bundle, but there are many ways to save yourself a bundle. Check out wholesalers in your area. You can use flowers from your own garden or the garden of friends; you can even use flowers from street vendors or the grocery store. Or try online shopping.
Just keep in mind to use flowers that hold up, as you will need to make arrangements ahead of time. Don't forget you can use silk flowers as well. You will want to use blooms that you particularly love and that will reflect your personality and lifestyle.
When you have purchased your fresh flowers cut off about an inch at an angle under water and put into a bucket of water until you're ready to arrange them.
Decide on the type of containers you will need and scour thrift shop or dollar stores for them. If it's in your plan ask others to save jars for you.
Enlist the help of family or friends to help you with the arrangements and bouquets. You will all have lots of fun and it will be very satisfying. They won't be like every other wedding flowers, no cookie-cutter plan here. When the compliments start flowing it will be that much better. The guest will remember your handy work for a long time.
It can cost you a bundle, but there are many ways to save yourself a bundle. Check out wholesalers in your area. You can use flowers from your own garden or the garden of friends; you can even use flowers from street vendors or the grocery store. Or try online shopping.
Just keep in mind to use flowers that hold up, as you will need to make arrangements ahead of time. Don't forget you can use silk flowers as well. You will want to use blooms that you particularly love and that will reflect your personality and lifestyle.
When you have purchased your fresh flowers cut off about an inch at an angle under water and put into a bucket of water until you're ready to arrange them.
Decide on the type of containers you will need and scour thrift shop or dollar stores for them. If it's in your plan ask others to save jars for you.
Enlist the help of family or friends to help you with the arrangements and bouquets. You will all have lots of fun and it will be very satisfying. They won't be like every other wedding flowers, no cookie-cutter plan here. When the compliments start flowing it will be that much better. The guest will remember your handy work for a long time.
Saving on Wedding Cakes without Sacrificing Style
Traditionally wedding cakes have been white, round, tiered or stacked and pretty tasteless.
Today's cakes can be different shapes-i.e. hearts, squares or triangles and as far as flavor goes nowadays anything goes.
Opt for your favorite. It can be chocolate, strawberry, carrot cake or cheesecake.
Cupcakes displayed in round tiers like a cake are very popular as well as cheap and practical.
Beautiful adornments include fresh flowers, fruit, ribbon or marzipan sculpted into flowers and figurines.
Your cake is the centerpiece of the reception. It is a scrumptious dessert as well as part of a tradition- the beautiful or messy cutting-of-the-cake.
Look at lots of different ideas before you decide what you want. Visit bakeries and peruse bridal magazines. You might also find inspiration at a toy store, in china patterns or from your favorite candies.
Remember fancy cakes from the bakery are expensive, anywhere from three dollars to fifteen dollars a slice plus other charges like delivery, etc.
Some brides display their cakes on the buffet table. In my opinion, whether it's a plain cake or an elaborate five-tier designer's masterpiece, the cake should stand alone on their own table for all to admire.
Simple cakes can be very elegant. We'll give you great ideas to have a marvelous confection that will long be remembered after it's eaten and smashed in the face of the bride and groom.
Today's cakes can be different shapes-i.e. hearts, squares or triangles and as far as flavor goes nowadays anything goes.
Opt for your favorite. It can be chocolate, strawberry, carrot cake or cheesecake.
Cupcakes displayed in round tiers like a cake are very popular as well as cheap and practical.
Beautiful adornments include fresh flowers, fruit, ribbon or marzipan sculpted into flowers and figurines.
Your cake is the centerpiece of the reception. It is a scrumptious dessert as well as part of a tradition- the beautiful or messy cutting-of-the-cake.
Look at lots of different ideas before you decide what you want. Visit bakeries and peruse bridal magazines. You might also find inspiration at a toy store, in china patterns or from your favorite candies.
Remember fancy cakes from the bakery are expensive, anywhere from three dollars to fifteen dollars a slice plus other charges like delivery, etc.
Some brides display their cakes on the buffet table. In my opinion, whether it's a plain cake or an elaborate five-tier designer's masterpiece, the cake should stand alone on their own table for all to admire.
Simple cakes can be very elegant. We'll give you great ideas to have a marvelous confection that will long be remembered after it's eaten and smashed in the face of the bride and groom.
9/14/2007
Wedding Gifts
“I’ll just wait until closer to the time” – how many of us are guilty of saying this when it comes to buying wedding gifts? Unless you are extremely well organized, which so many of us today are not, you will find yourself in a state of panic a few weeks before the wedding without the slightest clue as to what to get the future couple. So, to help you avoid this, I have outlined some of the best wedding gift ideas around so you can approach the big day with a sense of calm, knowing that you are giving the couple something they will truly cherish.
Make married life easierWith all the stress that surrounds the wedding day, give the couple a gift that helps them relax. Spas are a great gift idea and something both the bride and groom will be extremely grateful for.
Let them get away againA weekend stay at an exclusive hotel is something any couple will look forward to. You may want to consider a location near you so you can meet up with the couple for dinner. A good time for this gift would be after they return from their honeymoon as it will allow them to adjust into life as a married couple slowly.
Keep them out of the kitchenHave they ever mentioned a wonderful restaurant they visited together? If so, get them a gift voucher so they can enjoy a special meal there together.
With all new couples, gifts for the home are probably the most valued as these are the things they will use most. Therefore, here are a few ideas for each of the rooms in the house.
KitchenPerhaps the most important room in the house is the kitchen, so, a few good ideas for this room include: a bread maker, wok, blender, microwave oven, pasta machine, juice machine, and of course, cutlery.
Dining Room Most couples who marry today will be moving into a new house so items for the dining room are always useful. Silverware and tableware are among the most important objects but you could also provide them with some candles or cushions for the seats.
Living RoomThis room will be used the most – it’s a fact. For that reason, TV trays, a magazine rack, a lamp, and lots of cushions are all very useful items for the new couple. Depending on your budget, a TV and sound system may be a good idea too.
Bathroom Items such as towels, bath furnishings, his and her bathrobes and bathroom accessories are all excellent gift ideas and will help make a new home feel more comfortable.
GardenFor those couples moving into a new home, trees and plants for the garden are always a very nice surprise as not many people think of this.
If you are having trouble finding a gift for a young energetic couple, you may want to consider the following:
Keep them activeDancing lessons are more fun together and can be very romantic for any couple.
AdventureA champagne breakfast in a hot air balloon is amazing and relaxing - an experience they will never forget.
If none of the above has grabbed your attention, you may want to consider a new set of luggage as the new couple will have to pack for their honeymoon. In the end, if all else fails and you find yourself out of ideas, with so many gifts being received sometimes the gift of choice is good too. Money and the choice for the couple to buy what they want can perhaps be the best gift of all.
by Damien McKeever
Make married life easierWith all the stress that surrounds the wedding day, give the couple a gift that helps them relax. Spas are a great gift idea and something both the bride and groom will be extremely grateful for.
Let them get away againA weekend stay at an exclusive hotel is something any couple will look forward to. You may want to consider a location near you so you can meet up with the couple for dinner. A good time for this gift would be after they return from their honeymoon as it will allow them to adjust into life as a married couple slowly.
Keep them out of the kitchenHave they ever mentioned a wonderful restaurant they visited together? If so, get them a gift voucher so they can enjoy a special meal there together.
With all new couples, gifts for the home are probably the most valued as these are the things they will use most. Therefore, here are a few ideas for each of the rooms in the house.
KitchenPerhaps the most important room in the house is the kitchen, so, a few good ideas for this room include: a bread maker, wok, blender, microwave oven, pasta machine, juice machine, and of course, cutlery.
Dining Room Most couples who marry today will be moving into a new house so items for the dining room are always useful. Silverware and tableware are among the most important objects but you could also provide them with some candles or cushions for the seats.
Living RoomThis room will be used the most – it’s a fact. For that reason, TV trays, a magazine rack, a lamp, and lots of cushions are all very useful items for the new couple. Depending on your budget, a TV and sound system may be a good idea too.
Bathroom Items such as towels, bath furnishings, his and her bathrobes and bathroom accessories are all excellent gift ideas and will help make a new home feel more comfortable.
GardenFor those couples moving into a new home, trees and plants for the garden are always a very nice surprise as not many people think of this.
If you are having trouble finding a gift for a young energetic couple, you may want to consider the following:
Keep them activeDancing lessons are more fun together and can be very romantic for any couple.
AdventureA champagne breakfast in a hot air balloon is amazing and relaxing - an experience they will never forget.
If none of the above has grabbed your attention, you may want to consider a new set of luggage as the new couple will have to pack for their honeymoon. In the end, if all else fails and you find yourself out of ideas, with so many gifts being received sometimes the gift of choice is good too. Money and the choice for the couple to buy what they want can perhaps be the best gift of all.
by Damien McKeever
Irish Weddings
An Irish Wedding
For couples who decide to get married, their commitment is a sign of unification between two people as they begin their lives together. In Ireland, a variety of different traditions and rituals are performed in the belief the couple will have happy, wealthy, and healthy lives together.
One important tradition is the style of the wedding ring chosen. This ring is called the Claddagh ring and it belongs to a group of finger rings, called ‘Faith Rings or ‘Fede’ in Irish. It is a particularly distinctive ring in Ireland, with two hands clasping a heart, topped by a crown. The hands are said to represent faith, whereas the crown and heart symbolize honour and love respectively.
Another Irish tradition follows that the couple getting married should walk to the church together, to exchange their wedding vows. An older, no longer practiced tradition would have a couple walking to the chapel, while onlookers would not only throw rice to bless the marriage, but larger items as well, such as pots and pans. Fortunately, this is no longer practiced as injuries are inevitable!
As superstitions are rife in Ireland and especially where weddings are concerned, some of the most common involve the bride using herbs such as English lavender to mix with her wedding flowers. As well as this, it is very traditional for the bride to braid her hair, as this is considered a sacred way to keep feminine power and luck. Combine all this with a Saint Patrick’s Day wedding and you should have a very special wedding indeed as this day is considered one of the luckiest wedding anniversary dates in Ireland.
The ceremony itself follows a similar pattern to that of a Catholic mass. On entering the Church, the congregation is greeted with the sound of musical instruments native to Ireland such as the harp and bodhran. At the end of the ceremony, Holy Communion is given to out by the Priest – as in a normal Catholic mass.
Following on from this is the wedding reception, perhaps what everyone, including the bride and groom look forward to the most. And, popular to belief, Irish families are large in number, even more so at times of weddings, as this is a time when family members who may have emigrated to far – off places return for one hell of a party, swelling numbers to 300 guests, all family related, so add to this a partner for those old enough to have one and you have a staggering number of people – all ready for the ‘craic’! Not surprisingly, the ‘craic’ unfolds at a rapid pace with the help of some world-famous Guinness and Irish music. Not surprisingly, the choice of music for the reception never strays too far from well-known Irish favourites, such as ‘When Irish Eyes are Smiling’, which always lends to amazing atmosphere.
A much older tradition in Ireland required newlyweds to spend a month together drinking honeyed wine, secluded, in case their families tried to separate them – and this was regarded as their Honeymoon! The idea came from the Irish translation for ‘honeymoon, which is ‘mi na meala’, meaning - the month of honey. Happily for couples today, this is no longer the case and they are free to honeymoon where they like.
To date, perhaps the most important wedding tradition in Ireland, which comes before all those mentioned above, recognizes that the sacrament of matrimony is a solemn observance in the Christian Church - an outward sign that faithful worshipers are receiving the grace of God in their lives together. It is this tradition that is likely to remain unchanged for some time to come.
by Damien McKeever
For couples who decide to get married, their commitment is a sign of unification between two people as they begin their lives together. In Ireland, a variety of different traditions and rituals are performed in the belief the couple will have happy, wealthy, and healthy lives together.
One important tradition is the style of the wedding ring chosen. This ring is called the Claddagh ring and it belongs to a group of finger rings, called ‘Faith Rings or ‘Fede’ in Irish. It is a particularly distinctive ring in Ireland, with two hands clasping a heart, topped by a crown. The hands are said to represent faith, whereas the crown and heart symbolize honour and love respectively.
Another Irish tradition follows that the couple getting married should walk to the church together, to exchange their wedding vows. An older, no longer practiced tradition would have a couple walking to the chapel, while onlookers would not only throw rice to bless the marriage, but larger items as well, such as pots and pans. Fortunately, this is no longer practiced as injuries are inevitable!
As superstitions are rife in Ireland and especially where weddings are concerned, some of the most common involve the bride using herbs such as English lavender to mix with her wedding flowers. As well as this, it is very traditional for the bride to braid her hair, as this is considered a sacred way to keep feminine power and luck. Combine all this with a Saint Patrick’s Day wedding and you should have a very special wedding indeed as this day is considered one of the luckiest wedding anniversary dates in Ireland.
The ceremony itself follows a similar pattern to that of a Catholic mass. On entering the Church, the congregation is greeted with the sound of musical instruments native to Ireland such as the harp and bodhran. At the end of the ceremony, Holy Communion is given to out by the Priest – as in a normal Catholic mass.
Following on from this is the wedding reception, perhaps what everyone, including the bride and groom look forward to the most. And, popular to belief, Irish families are large in number, even more so at times of weddings, as this is a time when family members who may have emigrated to far – off places return for one hell of a party, swelling numbers to 300 guests, all family related, so add to this a partner for those old enough to have one and you have a staggering number of people – all ready for the ‘craic’! Not surprisingly, the ‘craic’ unfolds at a rapid pace with the help of some world-famous Guinness and Irish music. Not surprisingly, the choice of music for the reception never strays too far from well-known Irish favourites, such as ‘When Irish Eyes are Smiling’, which always lends to amazing atmosphere.
A much older tradition in Ireland required newlyweds to spend a month together drinking honeyed wine, secluded, in case their families tried to separate them – and this was regarded as their Honeymoon! The idea came from the Irish translation for ‘honeymoon, which is ‘mi na meala’, meaning - the month of honey. Happily for couples today, this is no longer the case and they are free to honeymoon where they like.
To date, perhaps the most important wedding tradition in Ireland, which comes before all those mentioned above, recognizes that the sacrament of matrimony is a solemn observance in the Christian Church - an outward sign that faithful worshipers are receiving the grace of God in their lives together. It is this tradition that is likely to remain unchanged for some time to come.
by Damien McKeever
The Slip Knot: Marriage in Chile
In Chile, marriage remains a ceremony for the young. There is a great deal of pressure on women to marry before thirty and most women tie the knot in their early twenties. Though there exists a growing population of liberals, and unmarried couples have been known to cohabitate, Chileans are deeply rooted in the traditions of the Catholic Church and living together before marriage is thought to be living in sin. For this reason and a myriad of others, the majority of Chileans live at home with their families until they marry. It is quite common for a household to include several grown children still living at home. Chilean culture supports this idea and families, spending years together as a adults, get to know one another quite well. They eat together, celebrate together and generally spend time as a family on the weekends. On Saturday and Sunday you are hard pressed to find an open store because the weekends are reserved for things other than working. The city parks are full of picnics, the sidewalks overflow with strollers and walkers alike, generations loiter together and talk about the weather, their children and recent goings-on. Birthdays are made to include everyone, so the invited guests can expect to celebrate in the company of the family; aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. There is great importance placed on the union between two people and they are encouraged to procreate extending the family even further. So, for most young fiancйes, getting married is the beginning of a life outside of Mom and Dad’s house complete with independence and responsibility. It is also the beginning of a family of their own. And in Chile, it remains the beginning of forever. It is important to note that forever does mean “until death do us part.” In most countries around the world, it means “until the courts legally dissolve our promise,” as divorce laws have been put into place to legally untie the knot in the wake of admitted miscalculations and heartache. However, in Chile divorce has been and is still illegal. The illegality of divorce has resulted in very high numbers of annulments because Chileans inside of failed marriages have not been left any other option. Just this year, 2004, a divorce law bill was voted on and passed through by the voting public and it is now being processed by the Chilean government. As with all new legislation, there are the supporters and then there are those who are vehemently against the idea. There have been conversations printed in the newspapers likening this legislation to the beginning of the end of family values. Some believe that given the easy out, many will cease to work on the marriage with the degree of resolve that was present in earlier times. Others have breathed a sigh of relief welcoming the new legislation and explaining that failed marriages are a reality and society should not choose to ignore its reality. In either case, we welcome Chileans to the era of the slip knot. Tie it and untie it as you see fit.
by Rachel Davis
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by Rachel Davis
Wedding Articles
Wedding Planning
Gift Lists
Honeymoons
For The Bride
For The Groom
For The Guests
Celebrations
Ask The Experts
Weddings Around the World
Your Wedding Dress & Shoes
Stag Parties : Hen Parties
Services
Cake Toppers
Wedding Accessories
Wedding Cake ToppersWedding Guest Books
Case study – Weddings in Bulgaria: Urban/Rural Cultural Divide
The issue: The growing polarization between the rural and urban lifestyles of young people and the fast disappearance of traditional rural culture.
The case study: The following is an analogy which portraits and compares the experiences of two young couples on what should be the most memorable day of their lives – their wedding.
Roles:
Ivan (19) & Maria (18)
Hristo(25) & Kremena (24)
Setting:
Bialo Imare Village Strandja Mountains, South Eastern Bulgaria
Sofia, Bulgarian Capital, Western Bulgaria
Time:
7.00 am
Ivan has been up for the last hour and a half. Has seen to the live stock, done the usual household chores, washed, dressed, checked on the weather forecast and is presently nervously drinking coffee in expectation of his mother’s final inspection of his suite and tie. Maria is in the company of her mother, 2 sisters, 3 aunts and numerous cousins, meticulously arranging every detail of her wedding dress and for the last time going over every aspect of the coming ceremony and following festivities.
Hristo and Kremena are still asleep.Hristo - onthe floor, in a friend’s apartment following an all night binge.Kremena is in the studio which the two share.
9.00 am
The groom, in the company of his close friends has checked whether the priest is sober and capable, helped with the arrangement of the tables at the village hall, and supervises the food and drink preparations in the local restaurant. The most important thing on his mind is whether the 90+ cases of assorted booze are going to be enough for the 300 expected guests or if another truck run will be required to the local distillery.The bride is listening for the 11th time the tale of her aunt ( also called Maria ) of her own wedding and varied details of her subsequent married life
Hristo and Kremena are still asleep.
10.00am
Ivan surrounded by the multitude of his family and friends is waiting nervously in front of the village church, while Maria’s party is has already dispatched an 11 year old cousin to make the run from the bride’s house to the church and calculate the precise time they need to leave the house to arrive for the 11.00 ceremony.
Hristo is still asleep. Kremena has awoken, dressed for the 11.00 wedding appointment and is trying to call Hristo on his mobile phone with no success.
10.30am
Ivan’s party is holding their position, while Maria is pacing nervously in front of her house waiting for her mother’s signal to proceed.
Hristo being kicked in the ribs by his friend the host, wakes up and takes Kremena’s call. After listening with a painful expression to her verbal abuse, he borrows a suite from his friend and hurriedly proceeds with his entourage of 4 male friends to a taxi outside
11.00am
In all her splendour the bride enters the church to the sound of gasps, cries and cheers originating from the hundreds of gathered guests.
Kremena, surrounded by about a dozen friends, her mother ( there has’t been any communication with her father since the divorce ) and brides mate ( her sister ) is located in front of the district wedding office, being urged by the attendants waiting for the next scheduled wedding appointment to “get on with it”. Kremena communicates her views on the subject back to them in a rather overt manner.
11.30am
In the glint of golden icons, surrounded by plumes for mirth the couple take their wedding vows and exchange rings. At this point the pitched crying by female family members takes the form of continuous loud sobs.
Sweating and panting Hristo exchanges vows with Kremena, who’s ominous sarcastic grin says volumes as to the expected nature of their first wedding night.
12.00pm
In a shower of rice, confetti and candy, the couple lead the 300+ strong procession from the church to the village hall, where dozen’s of tables have had to be placed outside to be able to accommodate all the guests.
In a cafe near the couple’s studio the 8 or so guests who have chosen to stay are saluting to the marriage and discussing the couple’s future prospects as well as each other.
3.00pm
Toasts are still being delivered by close relatives to the sound of whistling and cheers from the seated crowd. The bride sits next to her husband exhausted from having accepted hundreds of personal greetings and presents.
Hristo, Kremena, Kremena’s mother and sister are parting in front of the cafй.
5.00pm two days later
The last of the guests have finally departed (or being carried) home. The bride and groom have already departed to a seaside resort for a week- long honeymoon.
Hristo and Kremena have just finished their day at work. Kremena on her way to meet her sister and planning to do some shopping on the way, while Hristo is heading to meet his friends at a local bar.
by Peter Stanev
The case study: The following is an analogy which portraits and compares the experiences of two young couples on what should be the most memorable day of their lives – their wedding.
Roles:
Ivan (19) & Maria (18)
Hristo(25) & Kremena (24)
Setting:
Bialo Imare Village Strandja Mountains, South Eastern Bulgaria
Sofia, Bulgarian Capital, Western Bulgaria
Time:
7.00 am
Ivan has been up for the last hour and a half. Has seen to the live stock, done the usual household chores, washed, dressed, checked on the weather forecast and is presently nervously drinking coffee in expectation of his mother’s final inspection of his suite and tie. Maria is in the company of her mother, 2 sisters, 3 aunts and numerous cousins, meticulously arranging every detail of her wedding dress and for the last time going over every aspect of the coming ceremony and following festivities.
Hristo and Kremena are still asleep.Hristo - onthe floor, in a friend’s apartment following an all night binge.Kremena is in the studio which the two share.
9.00 am
The groom, in the company of his close friends has checked whether the priest is sober and capable, helped with the arrangement of the tables at the village hall, and supervises the food and drink preparations in the local restaurant. The most important thing on his mind is whether the 90+ cases of assorted booze are going to be enough for the 300 expected guests or if another truck run will be required to the local distillery.The bride is listening for the 11th time the tale of her aunt ( also called Maria ) of her own wedding and varied details of her subsequent married life
Hristo and Kremena are still asleep.
10.00am
Ivan surrounded by the multitude of his family and friends is waiting nervously in front of the village church, while Maria’s party is has already dispatched an 11 year old cousin to make the run from the bride’s house to the church and calculate the precise time they need to leave the house to arrive for the 11.00 ceremony.
Hristo is still asleep. Kremena has awoken, dressed for the 11.00 wedding appointment and is trying to call Hristo on his mobile phone with no success.
10.30am
Ivan’s party is holding their position, while Maria is pacing nervously in front of her house waiting for her mother’s signal to proceed.
Hristo being kicked in the ribs by his friend the host, wakes up and takes Kremena’s call. After listening with a painful expression to her verbal abuse, he borrows a suite from his friend and hurriedly proceeds with his entourage of 4 male friends to a taxi outside
11.00am
In all her splendour the bride enters the church to the sound of gasps, cries and cheers originating from the hundreds of gathered guests.
Kremena, surrounded by about a dozen friends, her mother ( there has’t been any communication with her father since the divorce ) and brides mate ( her sister ) is located in front of the district wedding office, being urged by the attendants waiting for the next scheduled wedding appointment to “get on with it”. Kremena communicates her views on the subject back to them in a rather overt manner.
11.30am
In the glint of golden icons, surrounded by plumes for mirth the couple take their wedding vows and exchange rings. At this point the pitched crying by female family members takes the form of continuous loud sobs.
Sweating and panting Hristo exchanges vows with Kremena, who’s ominous sarcastic grin says volumes as to the expected nature of their first wedding night.
12.00pm
In a shower of rice, confetti and candy, the couple lead the 300+ strong procession from the church to the village hall, where dozen’s of tables have had to be placed outside to be able to accommodate all the guests.
In a cafe near the couple’s studio the 8 or so guests who have chosen to stay are saluting to the marriage and discussing the couple’s future prospects as well as each other.
3.00pm
Toasts are still being delivered by close relatives to the sound of whistling and cheers from the seated crowd. The bride sits next to her husband exhausted from having accepted hundreds of personal greetings and presents.
Hristo, Kremena, Kremena’s mother and sister are parting in front of the cafй.
5.00pm two days later
The last of the guests have finally departed (or being carried) home. The bride and groom have already departed to a seaside resort for a week- long honeymoon.
Hristo and Kremena have just finished their day at work. Kremena on her way to meet her sister and planning to do some shopping on the way, while Hristo is heading to meet his friends at a local bar.
by Peter Stanev
10 Reasons Why Every Bride Needs a Mother or Surrogate Mother
By Leslie Milk author of It's Her Wedding but I'll Cry If I Want To: A Survival Guide for the Mother of the Bride
1. You are the only one willing to work unlimited hours doing such menial jobs as typing lists, licking envelopes, and picking up and delivering for no pay.
2. You are the only other person who really cares whether the swirls on the wedding cake match the embroidery on her dress or if the yellow flowers are more citron than buttercup.
3. You'll negotiate the budget with the father of the bride and take the heat when the bills arrive.
4. You'll come to the rescue when the recalcitrant caterer refuses to make the groom's favorite pigs-in-blankets for the reception.
5. You'll go with her to 54 shoe stores looking for the perfect white wedding shoes even though you know that no one will see them under the wedding dress.
6. You'll go with her to every dress fitting and assure her that she's going to be a beautiful bride even if she doesn't lose the last 5 pounds.
7. You'll get the bridal salon to alter the wedding dress at the last minute when she does lose the last 5 pounds.
8. You'll entertain his mother and all of your relatives.
9. Whenever the bride begins to panic, she'll feel free to yell at you, knowing that you won't hate her in the morning.
10. After the wedding, you are the only one who'll be willing to watch the wedding video 20 times in the first month, marveling with the bride about every delightful detail.
Reprinted from: It's Her Wedding but I'll Cry If I Want To By Leslie Milk © 2005 Leslie Milk. (February 2005; $15.95US/$22.95CAN; 1-59486-001-7) Permission granted by Rodale, Inc., Emmaus, PA 18098. Available wherever books are sold or directly from the publisher by calling (800) 848-4735 or visit their website at www.rodalestore.com
Author
Leslie Milk is the lifestyle editor of the Washingtonian, a monthly magazine covering the nation's capital. She has written about subjects ranging from caring for aging parents to Washington's most powerful women and from climbing Mount Everest to losing weight.
In the interests of full disclosure, Milk admits that she wrote about someone else's climb and, judging by the results, she probably should have written about someone else's weight loss.
Previously, Milk was a columnist for the Washington Post and the Journal newspapers. She has also written for Glamour, Shape, and Woman's Day magazines. She has appeared on Nightline, ABC's Turning Point, Entertainment Tonight, CNN, and BBC News.
1. You are the only one willing to work unlimited hours doing such menial jobs as typing lists, licking envelopes, and picking up and delivering for no pay.
2. You are the only other person who really cares whether the swirls on the wedding cake match the embroidery on her dress or if the yellow flowers are more citron than buttercup.
3. You'll negotiate the budget with the father of the bride and take the heat when the bills arrive.
4. You'll come to the rescue when the recalcitrant caterer refuses to make the groom's favorite pigs-in-blankets for the reception.
5. You'll go with her to 54 shoe stores looking for the perfect white wedding shoes even though you know that no one will see them under the wedding dress.
6. You'll go with her to every dress fitting and assure her that she's going to be a beautiful bride even if she doesn't lose the last 5 pounds.
7. You'll get the bridal salon to alter the wedding dress at the last minute when she does lose the last 5 pounds.
8. You'll entertain his mother and all of your relatives.
9. Whenever the bride begins to panic, she'll feel free to yell at you, knowing that you won't hate her in the morning.
10. After the wedding, you are the only one who'll be willing to watch the wedding video 20 times in the first month, marveling with the bride about every delightful detail.
Reprinted from: It's Her Wedding but I'll Cry If I Want To By Leslie Milk © 2005 Leslie Milk. (February 2005; $15.95US/$22.95CAN; 1-59486-001-7) Permission granted by Rodale, Inc., Emmaus, PA 18098. Available wherever books are sold or directly from the publisher by calling (800) 848-4735 or visit their website at www.rodalestore.com
Author
Leslie Milk is the lifestyle editor of the Washingtonian, a monthly magazine covering the nation's capital. She has written about subjects ranging from caring for aging parents to Washington's most powerful women and from climbing Mount Everest to losing weight.
In the interests of full disclosure, Milk admits that she wrote about someone else's climb and, judging by the results, she probably should have written about someone else's weight loss.
Previously, Milk was a columnist for the Washington Post and the Journal newspapers. She has also written for Glamour, Shape, and Woman's Day magazines. She has appeared on Nightline, ABC's Turning Point, Entertainment Tonight, CNN, and BBC News.
Wedding Preparations
So, you’ve decided to run the London marathon and as far your preparations go, you prefer to do a few light stretches before the race rather than months of hard physical training. The trouble is, you will not last very long and your hopes of completing the race will fall apart. This same outcome is true for many weddings because couples don't prepare themselves beforehand for the long run ahead. The result of doing it this way is you end up being exhausted on the big day and your dream of that perfect wedding is completely shattered.
So what can you do to make a very real, positive difference to your wedding experience? By following these ‘Five Rules of Wedding Organisation ’you will find the whole process so much more enjoyable. These include:
Getting your priorities right from the beginning
Believing in your ability to make your own decisions
Creating and sharing your vision
Being a leader
Assigning clear-cut roles for the bride and groom
On establishing these guidelines, you have the perfect starting point and are well prepared to make the right decisions to help build the wedding you really want.
Unfortunately, not all couples who want to get married will plan their big day as they should. Most couples, in fact, do not realize how far in advance they need to start organizing, occasionally with disastrous effects. In view of that, I have completed a step-by-step wedding guide that, should you follow, will allow things to run smoothly.
26 Weeks beforeBegin viewing invitations by visiting different invitation companies. And also, decide what flowers will be used by the bride and for the wedding reception.20 Weeks beforeInvitation design should be chosen and begin being made. It is important to order the right number of invitations now and perhaps a few extra as it can be very expensive to have a couple extra made at a later date.14 Weeks beforeAll invitations collected should be given to guests.
6 weeks beforeAll RSVPs will be required back. As some people will always be late, this gives you enough time to chase up any stragglers.1 month beforeThe reception venue needs to know exactly how many people will be attendingWedding Day Sit back and enjoy!
It can also do no harm to cast an eye on the wedding speeches to make sure they are in tone with the rest of the day. The following guidelines should keep things in order:
The father of the bride’s speech ideally should:
Welcome the groom’s parents, relatives of both families and friends
Praise the bride’s appearance and relate about her family life
Welcome the groom into the family
Give words of wisdom and good wishes to the couple
Propose a toast to the bride and groom
The bridegroom’s speech should follow next. Basically, this speech is to:
Thank the bride’s parents for allowing him to take their daughter’s hand in marriage
Give thanks to his parents, for all the happy years together
Say some nice words about the bride
Thank and propose a toast to the bridesmaids
Thank the flower girls, page boys and ring bearers
Thank everybody for the kind wishes, cards and lovely presents
The best man’s speech is last. It should be funny, but it should not be an extension of the stag night and it will be better received by the family audience, if it is written accordingly. Then, it should:
Compliment the bride and groom and give good wishes for their future together
Thank the groom for asking you to be best man
Relate funny stories about the groom, nothing too rude and no mention of previous lady friends
Read out a few cards, probably from absent relatives or close friends
By following these guidelines, your special day should be just that - free from any hiccups and mishaps. If you only remember one thing, let it be this - success lies in preparation.
by Damien McKeever
So what can you do to make a very real, positive difference to your wedding experience? By following these ‘Five Rules of Wedding Organisation ’you will find the whole process so much more enjoyable. These include:
Getting your priorities right from the beginning
Believing in your ability to make your own decisions
Creating and sharing your vision
Being a leader
Assigning clear-cut roles for the bride and groom
On establishing these guidelines, you have the perfect starting point and are well prepared to make the right decisions to help build the wedding you really want.
Unfortunately, not all couples who want to get married will plan their big day as they should. Most couples, in fact, do not realize how far in advance they need to start organizing, occasionally with disastrous effects. In view of that, I have completed a step-by-step wedding guide that, should you follow, will allow things to run smoothly.
26 Weeks beforeBegin viewing invitations by visiting different invitation companies. And also, decide what flowers will be used by the bride and for the wedding reception.20 Weeks beforeInvitation design should be chosen and begin being made. It is important to order the right number of invitations now and perhaps a few extra as it can be very expensive to have a couple extra made at a later date.14 Weeks beforeAll invitations collected should be given to guests.
6 weeks beforeAll RSVPs will be required back. As some people will always be late, this gives you enough time to chase up any stragglers.1 month beforeThe reception venue needs to know exactly how many people will be attendingWedding Day Sit back and enjoy!
It can also do no harm to cast an eye on the wedding speeches to make sure they are in tone with the rest of the day. The following guidelines should keep things in order:
The father of the bride’s speech ideally should:
Welcome the groom’s parents, relatives of both families and friends
Praise the bride’s appearance and relate about her family life
Welcome the groom into the family
Give words of wisdom and good wishes to the couple
Propose a toast to the bride and groom
The bridegroom’s speech should follow next. Basically, this speech is to:
Thank the bride’s parents for allowing him to take their daughter’s hand in marriage
Give thanks to his parents, for all the happy years together
Say some nice words about the bride
Thank and propose a toast to the bridesmaids
Thank the flower girls, page boys and ring bearers
Thank everybody for the kind wishes, cards and lovely presents
The best man’s speech is last. It should be funny, but it should not be an extension of the stag night and it will be better received by the family audience, if it is written accordingly. Then, it should:
Compliment the bride and groom and give good wishes for their future together
Thank the groom for asking you to be best man
Relate funny stories about the groom, nothing too rude and no mention of previous lady friends
Read out a few cards, probably from absent relatives or close friends
By following these guidelines, your special day should be just that - free from any hiccups and mishaps. If you only remember one thing, let it be this - success lies in preparation.
by Damien McKeever
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