Being away from family and deployments add challenges for troops planning their wedding. Internet wedding planning resources may help.
EDWARDS, Calif., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagine planning your wedding while your fiance is half-way around the world for the entire year leading up to your ceremony. Your budget is small and communication is limited to the occasional email. Additionally, both your family and your fiance's family are from different parts of the country.
This problem is faced everyday by young military couples stationed around the world. How do you coordinate plans with your fiance? How do you spread the word about wedding details to guests located around the country? Many couples are turning to the internet for help.
The current generation of marrying couples is more tech savvy than ever. A recent study shows 77% of couples are now using the internet to help plan their wedding and the annual online wedding market has surpassed $7.9B. Websites like theKnot.com and MarthaStewart.com provide all the information a couple needs about etiquette, wedding cakes, wedding dresses, etc. There are also websites where brides and grooms can buy wedding favors, attendant gifts, and wedding invitations all from the comfort of their home. The next logical step is to use the internet to communicate information to guests such as event information, directions, accommodation information, gift registry links, and even let guests RSVP online.
One company that provides this online capability is trying to help military couples cope with their unique wedding planning challenges.
OurWeddingPlus.com, an online retailer of wedding websites and wedding invitations, is providing military couples free access to their premium wedding website service through February 2008.
OurWeddingPlus.com gives couples the ability to easily create their own website for their wedding. The couple's website can include a wealth of information for guests, accessible anytime via the internet.
OurWeddingPlus.com is also giving military couples free access to online wedding planning tools including secure online RSVP capability and an online guest list builder which couples can access over the internet from anywhere.
"Our military personnel have made great sacrifices for our country and spend significant amounts of time away from their loved ones," said Rhonda Pullis, Vice President of OurWeddingPlus. "We hope the use of a wedding website will help them with the planning process and communication." According to Rhonda, "a wedding website is a great tool for military personnel and their fiances to communicate with their wedding guests who are typically spread all around the country. We hope our services will help our deployed troops stay engaged in the planning process."
About OurWeddingPlus.com:
OurWeddingPlus.com gives couples the ability to easily create their own professional quality wedding website to enhance communication with guests, receive and manage RSVPs and guest lists online.
OurWeddingPlus.com also offers a full line of wedding invitations and publishes a popular wedding blog covering the latest wedding trends.
10/30/2007
Gus Gould misses Joey Johns' wedding boat
October 30, 2007 12:00am
HE WAS by his side for one of the most important moments in Andrew Johns' life, but former Origin coach Phil Gould missed the boat when it came to attending the star player's weekend wedding.Secrecy surrounding the nuptials meant guests were phoned or sent a text message with details of the ceremony early Saturday afternoon.According to plan, all those invited were asked to gather at Rose Bay Wharf by 4.15pm, from where they would be ferried to Shark Island for the celebrant service.But Gould, who earlier this year helped Johns navigate a way through his drugs and depression confessional on TV, was a notable no-show by departure time, leaving the boat party to embark without him and his wife. An insider told Confidential a water taxi was arranged to wait on stand-by for any stragglers but waited in vain. When it was noticed the Channel 9 commentator was not among guests on the island, a friend of the bride, Cathrine Mahoney (a Nine Network publicist) again attempted to make contact with Gould, but to no avail. Several further attempts were made to contact him on his mobile phone to check on his whereabouts and confirm his place at the reception at Simmer On The Bay. But it was only after the ceremony, as guests made their way to the reception at Simmer On The Bay, Walsh Bay, at around 6.30pm, that Gould responded. "He reckoned he hadn't received a phone call and then said he'd now made other plans,'' a Confidential source said yesterday. "Andrew and Cathrine certainly wanted him and his wife there.'' Gould did not return Confidential's calls for comment yesterday.
HE WAS by his side for one of the most important moments in Andrew Johns' life, but former Origin coach Phil Gould missed the boat when it came to attending the star player's weekend wedding.Secrecy surrounding the nuptials meant guests were phoned or sent a text message with details of the ceremony early Saturday afternoon.According to plan, all those invited were asked to gather at Rose Bay Wharf by 4.15pm, from where they would be ferried to Shark Island for the celebrant service.But Gould, who earlier this year helped Johns navigate a way through his drugs and depression confessional on TV, was a notable no-show by departure time, leaving the boat party to embark without him and his wife. An insider told Confidential a water taxi was arranged to wait on stand-by for any stragglers but waited in vain. When it was noticed the Channel 9 commentator was not among guests on the island, a friend of the bride, Cathrine Mahoney (a Nine Network publicist) again attempted to make contact with Gould, but to no avail. Several further attempts were made to contact him on his mobile phone to check on his whereabouts and confirm his place at the reception at Simmer On The Bay. But it was only after the ceremony, as guests made their way to the reception at Simmer On The Bay, Walsh Bay, at around 6.30pm, that Gould responded. "He reckoned he hadn't received a phone call and then said he'd now made other plans,'' a Confidential source said yesterday. "Andrew and Cathrine certainly wanted him and his wife there.'' Gould did not return Confidential's calls for comment yesterday.
New York City Creates it's First "Las Vegas-Style" Wedding Chapel
Watch out Las Vegas!
New York City is officially throwing its (groom's) hat and (a wedding veil) into the ring and taking on Las Vegas to compete as a the top spot for destination weddings.
For years, the office of the Marriage Bureau in the New York City Clerks Office in lower Manhattan has offered dingy, unromantic little room as their "wedding chapel." There, couples would line up in the dozens to get hitched for $27 dollars (up from $5 dollars as of 20 years ago).
Despite the lack of pizzazz, it has it's own kind of offbeat charm, and couples and entire families have been spotted (especially Fridays) waiting for their number to be called and to be ushered into the tiny chapel for a ceremony so short they'd take a breath and it would be over.
Officials have called in the same decorator who decorated New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's town house. He's been given the task of designing a more "romantic" space, something that will be a little more appealing to brides and grooms, especially those coming from out of town to tie the knot here.
New York's Mayor Bloomberg said this month that this transformation comes on the heel of years of complaints from people who think the existing chapel is too bureaucratic and businesslike. In fact, it's been driving couples away.
"It is dehumanizing," said Bloomberg. "it is anything but the kind of environment you would want for a happy day for two people."
In New York, there is a 24 hour waiting period from the time you receive the license to the moment you can officially be pronounced husband and wife. Once they get their license, many couples here plan big weddings, or small ones, outside of "City Hall." The City wants to change that.
At the moment, brides and grooms have to go through a metal detector at the landmark Municipal Building at 1 Centre Street and head up to the second floor to sign in and get a number (like at the bakery).
The creation of a real, Las-Vegas style wedding chapel is intended to transform the environment into one that is romantic and elegant. Reports are that the entire marriage bureau will be moved to another city-owned building.
New York City is officially throwing its (groom's) hat and (a wedding veil) into the ring and taking on Las Vegas to compete as a the top spot for destination weddings.
For years, the office of the Marriage Bureau in the New York City Clerks Office in lower Manhattan has offered dingy, unromantic little room as their "wedding chapel." There, couples would line up in the dozens to get hitched for $27 dollars (up from $5 dollars as of 20 years ago).
Despite the lack of pizzazz, it has it's own kind of offbeat charm, and couples and entire families have been spotted (especially Fridays) waiting for their number to be called and to be ushered into the tiny chapel for a ceremony so short they'd take a breath and it would be over.
Officials have called in the same decorator who decorated New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's town house. He's been given the task of designing a more "romantic" space, something that will be a little more appealing to brides and grooms, especially those coming from out of town to tie the knot here.
New York's Mayor Bloomberg said this month that this transformation comes on the heel of years of complaints from people who think the existing chapel is too bureaucratic and businesslike. In fact, it's been driving couples away.
"It is dehumanizing," said Bloomberg. "it is anything but the kind of environment you would want for a happy day for two people."
In New York, there is a 24 hour waiting period from the time you receive the license to the moment you can officially be pronounced husband and wife. Once they get their license, many couples here plan big weddings, or small ones, outside of "City Hall." The City wants to change that.
At the moment, brides and grooms have to go through a metal detector at the landmark Municipal Building at 1 Centre Street and head up to the second floor to sign in and get a number (like at the bakery).
The creation of a real, Las-Vegas style wedding chapel is intended to transform the environment into one that is romantic and elegant. Reports are that the entire marriage bureau will be moved to another city-owned building.
10/26/2007
2008 Wedding Trends
A Guide to the Hottest Wedding Trends of 2008
Incorporating some of the latest wedding trends is a great way of ensuring your wedding feels fresh and up-to-date. But with many engagements lasting a year or more, figuring out what the the trends will be is a tricky business. Fortunately, I've done the hard work for you. Here's what I predict will be the biggest 2008 wedding trends.
1. An Emphasis on the Waist for Wedding Dresses
After a tumultuous affair with the trapeze dress, America is ready to re-embrace the waist. And not a moment too soon in my opinion! At the Spring 2008 Fashion Week, designers showed nipped in waists, often accented with wide belts. Look for wedding dresses to follow suit, with a reinvigoration of the obi belt, and contrasting color sashes
2. Great Wedding Invitations
A wedding invitation is the first clue guests will get about your wedding style and theme. It helps get them excited for the big event, and even gives guests clues about what to wear! Letterpress wedding invitations will be an especially big wedding trend for 2008, with couples designing custom invitation packages to reflect their personality. But if your wallet doesn't stretch for top-of-the-line letterpressed invitations (like this one from Dauphine Press), there are many other options. Consider making your own wedding invitations using an at-home screenprinting kit like Print Gocco, or even finding affordable letterpress at Costco!
3. Yellow
Yellow was all over the spring 2008 runways, which is great news for brides. This ideal wedding color is fresh, energetic, and summery. For a day-time wedding, consider yellow and white for your wedding colors, with yellow daisies, gingham accents, and cheery yellow ribbons tied around vases, napkins, bouquets, and waists. For an evening wedding, pair lemon yellow with chocolate brown. Or, choose a brighter yellow paired with silvery gray.
4. Silver
The bride who wears a metallic silver wedding dress is sure to stand out and be remembered. If you're more traditional, incorporate the silver wedding trend in other ways. Your bridesmaids could wear grey satin bridesmaids dresses, or carry bouquets of white roses mixed with eucalyptus, Artemisia Silver King and/or Dusty Miller. Decorate your reception space with silver linens, branches painted silver, and rhinestone accents. Or punch up your own look with silver heels peeking out from under your dress, and a rhinestone hairpin.
5. Other Bold Colors
Jewel tones are back in style! If you love rich purples, bright greens, and shocking pinks, you'll be excited by 2008 wedding trends. But stay far away from the '80s. Today's couples should look to use jewel tones sparingly, mixing brights with cream or gray, or more muted versions of the same color. Avoid the satin jewel tone bridesmaid dress – it's definitely one look she won't wear again. Instead, look for chiffon or other matte fabrics to carry off this look.
6. Green Weddings
Many couples are realizing that if we don't take care of our planet, who will? A wedding is full of opportunities to make ethical informed decisions as well as many opportunities for waste. If you're an environmentalist, consider using organic flowers in your bouquet, recycled paper in your invitations, local and organic foods at your reception, and even biodegradable plates and forks. Each step can make a difference in this world!
Incorporating some of the latest wedding trends is a great way of ensuring your wedding feels fresh and up-to-date. But with many engagements lasting a year or more, figuring out what the the trends will be is a tricky business. Fortunately, I've done the hard work for you. Here's what I predict will be the biggest 2008 wedding trends.
1. An Emphasis on the Waist for Wedding Dresses
After a tumultuous affair with the trapeze dress, America is ready to re-embrace the waist. And not a moment too soon in my opinion! At the Spring 2008 Fashion Week, designers showed nipped in waists, often accented with wide belts. Look for wedding dresses to follow suit, with a reinvigoration of the obi belt, and contrasting color sashes
2. Great Wedding Invitations
A wedding invitation is the first clue guests will get about your wedding style and theme. It helps get them excited for the big event, and even gives guests clues about what to wear! Letterpress wedding invitations will be an especially big wedding trend for 2008, with couples designing custom invitation packages to reflect their personality. But if your wallet doesn't stretch for top-of-the-line letterpressed invitations (like this one from Dauphine Press), there are many other options. Consider making your own wedding invitations using an at-home screenprinting kit like Print Gocco, or even finding affordable letterpress at Costco!
3. Yellow
Yellow was all over the spring 2008 runways, which is great news for brides. This ideal wedding color is fresh, energetic, and summery. For a day-time wedding, consider yellow and white for your wedding colors, with yellow daisies, gingham accents, and cheery yellow ribbons tied around vases, napkins, bouquets, and waists. For an evening wedding, pair lemon yellow with chocolate brown. Or, choose a brighter yellow paired with silvery gray.
4. Silver
The bride who wears a metallic silver wedding dress is sure to stand out and be remembered. If you're more traditional, incorporate the silver wedding trend in other ways. Your bridesmaids could wear grey satin bridesmaids dresses, or carry bouquets of white roses mixed with eucalyptus, Artemisia Silver King and/or Dusty Miller. Decorate your reception space with silver linens, branches painted silver, and rhinestone accents. Or punch up your own look with silver heels peeking out from under your dress, and a rhinestone hairpin.
5. Other Bold Colors
Jewel tones are back in style! If you love rich purples, bright greens, and shocking pinks, you'll be excited by 2008 wedding trends. But stay far away from the '80s. Today's couples should look to use jewel tones sparingly, mixing brights with cream or gray, or more muted versions of the same color. Avoid the satin jewel tone bridesmaid dress – it's definitely one look she won't wear again. Instead, look for chiffon or other matte fabrics to carry off this look.
6. Green Weddings
Many couples are realizing that if we don't take care of our planet, who will? A wedding is full of opportunities to make ethical informed decisions as well as many opportunities for waste. If you're an environmentalist, consider using organic flowers in your bouquet, recycled paper in your invitations, local and organic foods at your reception, and even biodegradable plates and forks. Each step can make a difference in this world!
Advice and Tips from an Almost-Professional Bridesmaid
Whenever the wedding expert needs wedding advice, I rely on my friend Ariel Federow. I call her the Perpetual Bridesmaid, as she's always jetting off to yet another wedding. She's been a bridesmaid in 5 weddings this year alone! So she's great to bounce ideas off of, or just hear from about latest trends in various areas of the country.
I thought it would be great if all of you could directly benefit from the Perpetual Bridesmaid's expertise. She agreed to answer a few questions, and give us her hints and tips.
Weddings.about.com: What's your favorite part about weddings? What makes you continue to agree to be in them, in spite of the cost, time, and other considerations? Ariel: You know, it's sappy -- the ceremony part. I love watching people, especially people I care about, get married.
It's so beautiful to watch my friends get up in front of all the important people in their lives and commit to each other. I'm a sucker! And yes, it's a lot of time, and it's expensive -- I've said yes to some weddings for family reasons or out of obligation. But I think it's an honor to be asked; I think it's important to rejoice with the people getting married and celebrate with them.
Weddings.about.com: Sometimes being in a wedding means biting your tongue. What do you wish you could tell brides, but haven't Ariel: Oh man, that's hard! There is always the point in the wedding preparation where I want to sit the bride down and say "Okay, I know this is an incredibly important day, but it isn't as if not having this one little detail perfect is going to change your marriage. You're not getting married to the flowers!" or to the decorations or the hair bands of the bridesmaids. It's about the people around you and the person you're getting married to and that should be the most important thing. Also, make sure you schedule a nap! Make sure you leave time on the day of your wedding to have some quiet time, reflect on what you're doing and rest up, so that you're not cranky and tired by the time the fun part -- the part where everyone cheers for and celebrates you and your spouse -- starts.
Weddings.about.com: You must have bought a lot of bridesmaids dresses! What have you done with them all? Can you really wear any of them again? Ariel: Well, I am a very pale-skinned and dark-haired person who has been forced to wear a lot of awkward pastels. But I am a performer and so believe it or not I can find a use for almost anything. I turned one bridesmaid dress into a dress for a show; another I've worn as part of a Halloween costume. I've also been lucky in that most of the brides I have been bridesmaid for have been pretty sensible about their dresses; no horrible puffed-sleeve affairs for me. But I assure you that you can only have sleeveless to-the-knee dresses in so many colors before it starts getting ludicrous.
Weddings.about.com: Last question: If you were to get married, are there any details from the weddings you've been in that you'd copy? What would your wedding look like? Ariel: All of the weddings I have been in have been really beautiful mixes of tradition and the specificity of the couple and I think that is so important. I'm Jewish, and even though I am not sure it is important for me to marry a Jew, it is definitely important for me to marry someone willing to work inside of Jewish tradition. I've loved the ways some of my friends and family have created Jewish weddings that aren't stodgy but are meaningful.
I would make sure that all of my attendants were there because I wanted them there, and because we had a CURRENT and important relationship, not just because I felt I needed the right number of people. I would make sure people could dance! Music is essential. But one of the best ways I've seen this handled was the good old ipod dj -- or, even better, having friends make dj sets.
And I would try as hard as I could not to be overly controlling. Trust your wedding party! Trust your wedding professionals! The worst wedding I was ever in was when one of the brides couldn't let anyone else do anything. We had to drag her into her bridal suite to get ready -- she was almost late to her own wedding! It is an important day, and maybe even the most important day of your life, but try to relax a little. You should be having fun at your own wedding!
I thought it would be great if all of you could directly benefit from the Perpetual Bridesmaid's expertise. She agreed to answer a few questions, and give us her hints and tips.
Weddings.about.com: What's your favorite part about weddings? What makes you continue to agree to be in them, in spite of the cost, time, and other considerations? Ariel: You know, it's sappy -- the ceremony part. I love watching people, especially people I care about, get married.
It's so beautiful to watch my friends get up in front of all the important people in their lives and commit to each other. I'm a sucker! And yes, it's a lot of time, and it's expensive -- I've said yes to some weddings for family reasons or out of obligation. But I think it's an honor to be asked; I think it's important to rejoice with the people getting married and celebrate with them.
Weddings.about.com: Sometimes being in a wedding means biting your tongue. What do you wish you could tell brides, but haven't Ariel: Oh man, that's hard! There is always the point in the wedding preparation where I want to sit the bride down and say "Okay, I know this is an incredibly important day, but it isn't as if not having this one little detail perfect is going to change your marriage. You're not getting married to the flowers!" or to the decorations or the hair bands of the bridesmaids. It's about the people around you and the person you're getting married to and that should be the most important thing. Also, make sure you schedule a nap! Make sure you leave time on the day of your wedding to have some quiet time, reflect on what you're doing and rest up, so that you're not cranky and tired by the time the fun part -- the part where everyone cheers for and celebrates you and your spouse -- starts.
Weddings.about.com: You must have bought a lot of bridesmaids dresses! What have you done with them all? Can you really wear any of them again? Ariel: Well, I am a very pale-skinned and dark-haired person who has been forced to wear a lot of awkward pastels. But I am a performer and so believe it or not I can find a use for almost anything. I turned one bridesmaid dress into a dress for a show; another I've worn as part of a Halloween costume. I've also been lucky in that most of the brides I have been bridesmaid for have been pretty sensible about their dresses; no horrible puffed-sleeve affairs for me. But I assure you that you can only have sleeveless to-the-knee dresses in so many colors before it starts getting ludicrous.
Weddings.about.com: Last question: If you were to get married, are there any details from the weddings you've been in that you'd copy? What would your wedding look like? Ariel: All of the weddings I have been in have been really beautiful mixes of tradition and the specificity of the couple and I think that is so important. I'm Jewish, and even though I am not sure it is important for me to marry a Jew, it is definitely important for me to marry someone willing to work inside of Jewish tradition. I've loved the ways some of my friends and family have created Jewish weddings that aren't stodgy but are meaningful.
I would make sure that all of my attendants were there because I wanted them there, and because we had a CURRENT and important relationship, not just because I felt I needed the right number of people. I would make sure people could dance! Music is essential. But one of the best ways I've seen this handled was the good old ipod dj -- or, even better, having friends make dj sets.
And I would try as hard as I could not to be overly controlling. Trust your wedding party! Trust your wedding professionals! The worst wedding I was ever in was when one of the brides couldn't let anyone else do anything. We had to drag her into her bridal suite to get ready -- she was almost late to her own wedding! It is an important day, and maybe even the most important day of your life, but try to relax a little. You should be having fun at your own wedding!
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