“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
9/14/2007
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
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
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
Wedding Music
I’ve always loved the story of the bride who insisted on playing U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking for” at her wedding. Apparently it was her favourite song, but I can’t help wondering what the groom thought about it. When my sister got married the whole family pitched in to suggest suitable songs. The Velvet Underground’s “I’m sticking with you” was an early contender, as was Lou Reed’s solo track “I Love You”, although the addition of “for now” on the later choruses somehow didn’t seem appropriate. In the end we decided it was just too hard to pick a song that said exactly what you wanted it to and abandoned the idea of specific songs being played.My sister was keen however for the music on the day to be at least memorable and asked if I could lend a hand. I was happy to help out with the general background music for the day and maybe a little drunken DJing later in the night, but I though it might be cool to have some live music on the day. As I have little or no ability to produce music (aside from pressing a play button) I needed a little help on this one.Tom had been a friend of the family’s since we were kids, always a lovely boy, he had recently started to flourish on the local music scene playing a distinctive brand of very loud and slightly nasty rock and roll. His original compositions may not have been quite suitable for a wedding, but he had become a very decent guitarist, capable of anything from pleasant jazz to the unusual and tinnitus-inducing chord progressions he was becoming famous for. I figured we could work something out.The wedding was being held in the gardens of our parent’s house in the country. Carved out of the bush and blackberries some ten years earlier, it was beautiful spot, with colourful and unusual plantings around the house (Mums area) giving way to sloping lawns dotted with rare advanced trees (Dad’s specialty).The day of the wedding turned out brilliantly, clear blue sky, not too hot and not a breath of wind. There were some dramas early in the day, but as the guests cars began to stack up between the trees on the east boundary and people were milling about in front of the marquee happily enjoying oysters and Boag’s premiums, one felt that everything was going to be alright.The ceremony took place under the willow tree on the lawn at the east of the house, a beautiful setting marred only slightly by the fact that the willow had been planted over the septic tank. An underlying fear that the tank would overflow, due to the increased toilet usage (taking into account 80 guests present, plus the nerves of those staying in the house), remained unfounded and only the faintest whiff of unpleasantness was noticeable.After the photos (“Cheese!” being replaced with choruses of “Septic!”) people made their way down the hill to the marquee for further drinks, dinner and speeches. Tom was going to go on at the end of the speeches. He had spent most of the morning in the house practicing his piece and as the day wore on was becoming surprisingly nervous. Whilst the bride, groom and other figures went through their speeches, we set Tom up with his guitar and amp outside the marquee. Satisfied that he was all set, yet safely concealed behind the front wall of the marquee, I went back inside to let Dad know we were good to go. The father of groom, who was MCing, was just winding up when he opened up the floor, asking if there was anyone else who wanted to say a few words. When no one spoke up, my Dad stepped up to the microphone “Actually, young Tom Lyngcoln has something he’d like to say”. We threw back the wall of the marquee to reveal Tom, framed against the sloping green lawn, elegantly disheveled in a black suit and checked-blue work shirt, facing just away from the crowd, Telecaster in hand, a Marshall amp off to one side.The crowd looked hesitant, apparently not quite sure what they were in for. He led in with some nice jazzy finger picking (his hands were shaking so badly from nerves that he claimed later to have mucked it up completely – we couldn’t tell) which gradually gave way to a jazz rendition of “The Bridal March”. Thinking they had it pegged, the crowd laughed appreciatively and gave a quiet clap. Just then Tom wheeled around to face them, stomped on his distortion pedal, and launched into a blisteringly high decibel, Hendrix-at-Woodstock-Star-Spangled-Banner inspired version of the same song.Soon the crowd were either falling out of their chairs laughing or on their feet whooping with joy. Tom kept it up for a minute and a half before reigning in his guitar in a squall of feedback, the crowd applauding wildly. We let the side of the marquee fall back into place and the crowd continued to applaud as Tom carried his guitar and amp back up to the house.And that was it, like a dam bursting, people were up out of their chairs - drinking, talking and dancing. The formal part of the day was over and the real party began.
by Chris Lumb
by Chris Lumb
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