Creative Wedding Ceremonies

Creative Wedding Ceremonies - Make your wedding ceremony special

Because you’re wedding day is one of the most personal and cherished days of your life, your ceremony should be just as special. Every aspect of it, from readings to music to symbolism, should be a reflection of you and the bond that you share, making this day truly your own, rejoicing in everything that makes your union unique. You can express yourself among family and friends through a personalized ceremony. Additionally, when the ceremony is great, the tone is set for a wonderful celebration. Here are some ideas to make your ceremony unique:

Tell your personal story. Share the story of how you met and why you fell in love. What were the first words you said to each other? Where was your first date? How did the proposal happen? What actions of the other say I love you? What does your partner do that always makes you laugh? Your celebrant can include these words in the introduction or elsewhere in the ceremony.

Honor the Presenter. If one or both of you will be presented in marriage, take this time to reflect on what this relationship means to you. Have your Celebrant include words of homage, amusing stories, and thanks.

Celebrate Your Heritage. Make a list of your respective ethnic, cultural or religious backgrounds. Research wedding rituals, poets and music from these traditions and create a distinctive blend of words and symbols. Honor both your backgrounds and the ceremony will reflect your unique partnership.

Something New. Borrow freely from the rich wedding customs around the world. You don't need to belong to a particular culture or religion for its rituals to have meaning. Such rituals have been performed for hundreds or thousands of years because they resonate with universal truths about marriage.

Interfaith Weddings. Over 25% of marriages are between partners of different faiths. A good officiant will help you honor each faith tradition in a way that pleases everyone.

Involving Children & Stepchildren. When children are involved, your wedding reflects not only the joining of husband and wife, but the creation of a new family or stepfamily. There are many ways to reflect family unity in your ceremony.

You may have found the perfect spot for your wedding ceremony, but are unsure of how to find a minister, Priest, clergy, or other officiant. You can have a ceremony that reflects your values, and the joy of your wedding day, and a Celebrant may be the answer. Celebrants are people who are trained to officiate at, compose and perform the highest quality personalized ceremonies.

Garden Wedding Ideas

Garden Wedding Ideas

Planning a garden wedding can be lots of fun. A garden setting offers one of the most romantic and sensual locations for celebrating your special day. Remember to keep it simple and elegant. Below you will find suggestions on how to achieve the ultimate garden wedding of your dreams.

1. Use varying shades of one color accented with white or cream to create a very visual and striking combination.
2. Use lots of delicate fabrics. Solid table linens with vintage overlays purchased at flea markets can make an unforgettable statement.
3. Small painted terracotta pots with seedlings make great favors.
4. Buffet-style catering with large clear glass jugs of lemonade, punch and sweet tea add whimsy.
5. Keep the menu simple. Grilling favorites are an easy and affordable way to go.
6. Decorate tall trees with lights. Hand-write placecards, then tie them with a ribbon and hang from the trees for the guests to pick.
7. A trellis decorated with ivy, Spanish moss and fresh flowers is the perfect focal point for your ceremony. If possible, use the trellis for the reception by placing the cake table underneath it.
8. Use a floral topper for the wedding cake instead of a traditional cake topper.
9. Monogrammed linens add a touch of elegance.
10. Set up a birdbath. Have guests make special wishes for you and your spouse by throwing pennies or flower petals into the birdbath.
11. String white lights around trees and across from one tree to the next.
12. Using a favorite theme, give each table a name. EX: Butterfly, Dragonfly, Lightning Bug, Lady Bug, etc...
13. Use chair covers and tie with a white sash. Before the sash is tied, place a single flower bud in each knot. Roses are a strong flower and work well for this.
14. Hire a band, not a disc jockey.
15. Hire a local dance group to perform the May Day dance during the reception.
16. Serve coffee in vintage teacups and saucers from local flea market finds. If they have chips or imperfections...perfect! Even if the colors do not exactly match your theme, go for it!
17. Keep your invitations simple. Choose hand-made paper with pressed flower petals and a velum overlay tied with a coordinating ribbon. It does a great job setting the tone of the wedding for guests.
18. Use a rectangular table for the head table. Decorate it with tulle and mini white lights. Use flowers on the corners and area where the tulle is bunched up.
19. Large mason jars filled with sand and tea lights make great additions to tables or pathways. They can even be wrapped in heavy wire and hung from trees.
20. Cone shaped bags with potpourri make cute favors. Hang them from the arms of chairs for a festive look.

Civil Wedding Ceremony

Having a Civil Wedding Ceremony

With the number of mixed marriages taking place, many couples are opting to have a civil ceremony instead of a religious ceremony for their wedding. This allows them to include special readings, vows, symbols or wedding themes (whether religious or not) that they may not be able to include in a religious ceremony or location.

A civil ceremony contains no religious elements (except for what the couple may add) and can be performed in a judge's chambers, registrar's/lawyer's office or a venue of your choice, depending on the area in which you wish to get married in. Different laws apply to different states and countries and you can usually find out most of the information from the local court house or City Hall in the city where you wish to be married.

For a small fee, they should also be able to supply you with a list of names, addresses and phone numbers of
various officiants who can perform a civil ceremony.

It's a good idea to set up appointments and meet with 3 or 4 different officiant's, as some won't be available on your wedding date and some you may not like. It is important that you feel comfortable with the officiant who is performing the ceremony and that you feel that he/she is interested in you as a couple.

Some important questions to ask the officiant are:

1. Are you available on this date and are you willing to travel to the location? If you are planning on having a private ceremony and a reception later for family and friends, ask if the officiant can provide a room or location in which to conduct the ceremony.

2. How long have you been conducting civil ceremonies and what is your fee?

3. Are you available for a rehearsal and when are you available?

4. What is the standard ceremony that you use and can we add our own vows, readings, etc. to the ceremony? Do you have any sample ceremony sheets that you could provide?

5. What is the procedure we need to follow in order to obtain a marriage license?

The officiant should be able to advise you on the procedure you will need to follow in order to get your marriage license. Here are a few things that are fairly standard in most areas. You will each need to have the following documents:

* a birth certificate and/or passport for identification (with a picture)
* a copy of your Marriage Certificate and the Certificate of Divorce if either of you were previously married
* any name change deeds if you had your name legally changed
* a utility bill or some other type of document that gives your current address
* some areas require that you also provide your father and your mother's (maiden) names
* if you are under 18, you will most likely need signed permission from a parent or guardian in most places.

Some locals still require couples to have a blood test before issuing a license. This is probably a good idea regardless of whether it is required or not. Remember, you're not just marrying one person...
but every other person your mate may have slept with.

Also keep in mind to budget for the various fees, such as the officiant's fee (for the ceremony), the registration fee and the marriage license fee. These vary from location to location.

As with any marriage ceremony, you will need to have two witnesses to sign the legal documents once the ceremony is performed. If you are eloping, often times the officiant can provide the two witnesses from his/her staff.

All in all, a civil ceremony is much more flexible in today's world. You both may incorporate aspects of each of your religions if you wish, write your own vows and have any type of wedding theme you want, whereas a typical religious ceremony tends to restrict much of this. Civil ceremonies also tend to be a favorite with
the budget conscious couple, as they are usually much cheaper in the long run. Whatever type of ceremony you choose, the most important thing to remember is do what makes you happy as a couple. It's your wedding after all.

Wedding Traditions

Wedding Traditions

Something old, something new, something borrowed!

Why a wedding ring? As far back as literature documents weddings, the wedding ring has been in evidence. Some believe the wedding ring was the first element of wedding traditions. The circular shape of the wedding ring symbolizes never-ending love.Third finger, left hand? It is believed that the vein in the third finger of the left hand runs directly to the heart.

Why does the bride where a veil? Many moons ago it was believed that a veil would protect the bride form evil spirits. Today the white veil is a symbol of modesty and virginity.

Why does the bride wear white? In Colonial times a bride often wore her "Sunday best" to her wedding. It was not until the 1840's, when Queen Victoria was married in a white wedding gown, that "white gowns" became the rage. White is also a symbol of affluence, purity, joy and virginity. Today, brides can choose many shades of white, from bright white to champagne.

Why carry flowers? Historically, flowers & herbs have played a significant role in the attraction of "good" and/or the warding off of "evil". Greeks used ivy for the sign of lasting love. Today, pretty wedding flowers convey a message of fertility and enduring love and romance.

Why something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue? To insure a happy and lasting marriage, a bride should carry something old from someone who has been married for a long time and something new, to carry into her new life. Something borrowed, "borrowed happiness", something blue, "the color blue has been associated with purity and modesty". A penny in your shoe, place a penny in your shoe to bring good fortune and protection against want.

Why is a white runner used? The white runner, signifies a pure pathway into happiness. Rose petals in the bride's path lead her to a sweet and plentiful future.

Why is the bride given away? In days of old, the bride was literally given to the groom in an arranged marriage. Today "giving away" is seen as symbolic of her parent's support for her union.

Why is the ceremony sealed with a kiss? Occurring at the end of the ceremony, the kiss announces a new union and married status.

Why is there a wedding cake? It is a symbol of good luck and fertility, cake being exchanged is to show loyalty and devotion to one another.

What is a groom's cake? A groom's cake is often a rich dark cake or a cake in the groom's favorite color, sport or hobby. The groom's cake is a way to share the couple's good fortune and the sweetness of married life.

Why toast at a reception? Toasting represents the collective best wishes of friends & family. Toasts may be offered with any beverage, but champagne is a wedding favorite. Raising a glass together is a way for everyone to share in wishing wellness & happiness to the newlyweds.

Why are there wedding favors? The bride and groom are considered to be lucky, as is anything they touch. Wedding favors are a way for the bride and groom to thank their guests for sharing in their happiness and to symbolically pass on their "good luck".

Why is the bouquet tossed? The custom of tossing the bouquet is the modern day alternative to the old tradition of the "tearing of the wedding dress". In days gone by, single ladies would tear a piece of the brides dress for good luck. One can only imagine the fate of the brides gown at a large gathering! Thus the tossing of the bouquet is the modern alternative that allows the bride's gown to remain intact. It should not be forgotten that the lady who catches the bouquet is the next woman to be married.

Why is the garter tossed? Like the bouquet toss, the garter toss is also a modern alternative to the less than savory tradition of old. In the old days, guest would follow the newlyweds to their room and wait for them to undress then take their stockings and toss them at the bride & groom. The first male to hit the bride or groom with their stocking would be lucky and the next to marry. Thus the garter toss. The gentleman who catches the garter would be next to wed.

Why are shoes attached to the car? Shoes represented power. Shoes signify the creation of a new family unit. Shoes and cans were attached to the bumper of a car to cause a noisy clatter intended to drive off evil spirits.

Why is the bride carried over the threshold? It was believed that evil spirits hovered at the threshold of the home the newlyweds would enter. The bride was lifted over the entrance to keep the evil spirits from entering through her feet.

Why throw rice? Rice and wheat symbolize fertility, prosperity, and bounty. Today guests throw rose petals, potpourri, wheat, millet seed and birdseed. Showering the newlyweds in bubbles or releasing birds, butterflies and ringing of bells replace rice today.

Fall Wedding Planning

Fall Wedding Decor Ideas and Planning

Fall is a beautiful and romantic time of year to have your wedding. The leaves begin to change, the days are still warm and sunny, and people are beginning to spend more time with one another in preparation for the upcoming holiday season.

Location
Where to have your fall wedding is a very important decision. Because fall weather is really beautiful, many brides-to-be choose to exchange their vows outside amongst the vibrant fall foliage, and fallen leaves. An apple orchard or vineyard can be a perfect backdrop for a beautiful outdoor fall wedding. However, indoor locations can also work for fall wedding. Indoor locations perfect for fall include historical romantic inns, old barns, or in any building rich with dark wood and a fireplace. If you choose to have an outdoor wedding, take into consideration that fall evenings can become rather cool, so either way make sure that there is a place where your guests can go to warm up and carry on the celebration.

Colors and Decor
Traditional fall color schemes include reds, oranges, yellows, and browns. A more modern fall wedding decor uses more chocolate browns with light blue accents. Whatever color palette you choose for your fall wedding decor, there are a lot of options available for decorations. Many brides choose to use sheaths of wheat or corn, apples, carved pumpkins, acorns, gourds, and cornucopias.

Flowers
The flowers for a fall wedding can include richly colored mums, roses, yarrow, daisies, amaryllis, chrysanthemum, fuchsia, statice, sweet william, and tallow berries. Centerpieces can be made from carved or hollowed out pumpkins with a few fall leaves and acorns scattered on the tables. Dry grasses such as rye and wheat, can be used in your bridal bouquet. To save money and carry on the fall wedding theme, choose flowers that are in season and local.

Attire
For your bridal gown, cream colored or off white gowns accented with gold are perfect for a fall wedding. Your gown and bridesmaids dresses can be strapless, but because fall weather can be a little cool you want to consider using wraps, stoles, or shawls. The outer layer can easily be removed during warm hours, but will not leave you or your bridesmaids shivering when the day turns cold.

Food and Drink
When planning your fall wedding meal, choose a hearty meat that will compliment heavier side dishes, such as mashed potatoes or squash. Roasted turkey with pumpkin pie for dessert is a very common choice, but for something different consider roasted quail or rib roast. Some brides choose to begin the meal with a hearty soup served in a hollowed out pumpkin, whole grain rolls, and warm apple cider in glass mugs with a cinnamon stirrer to warm up their guest and fit the fall theme.

Cake
Some brides-to-be choose to use a spiced cake or spiced chocolate cake for their wedding cake. Pumpkin pie, apple and pecan pie, pumpkin bread, or a baked apple dessert can all be nice alternatives too.

Whatever choices you choose for your fall wedding, remember make it your own, relax, and enjoy!

Reducing Stress on Your Wedding Day

Tips for Reducing Stress on Your Wedding Day

Even though your wedding day is billed as your 'special day', you often can't help but feel stressed and overwhelmed by the whole affair.

Here are some tips to help you reduce the stress on your wedding day:

1. Try and eat a healthy breakfast. A healthy, nutritious breakfast will provide a wonderful start to your wedding day, followed by several small meals throughout the rest of the day. Incorporate into your meals a light menu of unsweetened fresh/dried fruit, unsalted nuts, raw vegetables, low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, and high-fiber bread. Unsweetened fruit juices also help to calm stressed-out nerves.

2. Make sure you have some fresh bottled water with you at all times. Taking a few sips throughout the day is better than guzzling down the whole bottle in 10 minutes, unless you want to spend a lot of time running to and from the restroom. Among a host of other things, water is necessary for the body to digest and absorb vitamins and minerals. Coffee, tea, and caffeinated sodas prompt the body to lose water, so they can work against you on your wedding day.

3. Laugh! Find every reason throughout the day to find things around you that help to make you laugh. Laughter has been found to help in decreasing stress hormones that can constrict blood vessels and suppress immune activity.

4. Be very well organized. The more time you spend organizing everything with everybody prior to the wedding (e.g., caterer, event coordinator, photographer, disk jockey/DJ, videographer, limo driver, etc.) the less stress you will have on your wedding day. Do not leave things to the last minute, and try to have everything finalized at least one week ahead of your wedding day.

5. If you are leaving for your honeymoon immediately after the reception, don’t forget to have your entire luggage (along with important items like passports, airline tickets, travelers checks, etc.,) packed and placed in a safe location you have access to.

6. Get a good night’s sleep the night before your wedding. In order to get a good night’s sleep the night before, you should

• avoid watching TV in bed;
• minimize noise, light, and temperature extremes in your room;
• avoid any naps during the day before;
• not drink caffeine at least 4 hours prior to going to sleep;
• avoid eating, exercise or alcohol prior to going to sleep.

7. Delegate as many tasks to as many people that are willing to help as possible. The less you have to do on your wedding day, the less stressful it will be for you.

8. Keep a healthy perspective on the day. Even though the wedding day is important, your future happiness does not depend on this single day alone.

9. Research has shown that music has a profound effect on your body and psyche. Music can be used to bring about a more positive state of mind, which can help prevent the stress response from wreaking havoc on the body. Make sure you work with your disc jockey/DJ to incorporate all the songs that mean the most to you in your ceremony and/or reception.

10. Understand that not everything on your wedding day is under your control. Names can get mispronounced, important participants can get lost or arrive late, nature can refuse to cooperate, vehicles can break down, and so on. Amidst all this, try and accept with grace and humility the fact that not everything is under your control.

11. Bonus tip! Above all, make sure you take the time to enjoy your special day, even though there will be a lot going on. Take in the elegant floral arrangements, the exquisite table settings, the smiling faces, the soothing music, and all the other special touches that have been put together just for you.

TYPES OF WEDDING CEREMONIES

TYPES OF WEDDING CEREMONIES

Roman Catholic Weddings

• A wedding ceremony is one of the seven sacraments in the Catholic faith.
• Before getting married, the couple must attend marriage counseling, called “pre-cana programs”.
• The Bride and Groom get married at her parish.
• The ceremony must include the nuptial blessing, prayers and at least three readings.
• As the vows are being exchanged, the entire congregation stands.
• Mass is often included in the ceremony.

Protestant Weddings

• Often portrayed in movies, the Protestant wedding is the most familiar ceremony to Americans.
• Most denominations allow a couple to get married outside of their place of worship.
• After the processional, the service begins with a greeting and call to worship by the minister. Readings, a short sermon, the exchange of vows and the lighting of a unity candle follow this. The ceremony concludes with a prayer of Thanksgiving, the benediction and finally, the recessional.

Jewish Weddings

• Wedding cannot be held on the Sabbath day or on major holidays.
• The couple is allowed to have their wedding ceremony outside of the synagogue, but the ceremony must take place under a Chuppah. This symbolizes a husband bringing his wife into their home.
• The highlight of the ceremony is the exchange of rings. Other memorable elements are the blessing of the wine, the reading of the Ketubah and the breaking of the glass.

Muslim Weddings

• The ceremony is the signing of the wedding contract. It lasts only for about five minutes.
• The public celebration can last for days afterwards.
• The celebration begins with a Walima, which is a feast where chicken, fish and rice are served.
• Toward the end of the festivities, the bride is often lifted like royalty and "displayed" for the crowd to see. Afterwards, she is given to the groom and the public celebration is considered over.

Buddhist Weddings

• Ceremonies are usually designed by the couple and are quite simple.
• An O jujo, a 21-bead strand, is used to offer prayers and incense to Buddha.

Better Wedding Photos

Bride's Guide to Better Wedding Photos

I'm sure you already know that choosing the right wedding photographer is more important as choosing the right groom. Getting the right photographer is important, but there are lots of things that YOU can do to ensure that your wedding photos are as good as they can be.

1.Pre-Wedding Photo shoot.

Having a pre-wedding photo shoot can improve your wedding pictures more than anything else you might do. Think about it, your photographer is VERY comfortable on his end of the camera. The time you spend with your photographer in front of the camera will help you become more comfortable being the subject. Try to get to know your photographer. Have fun. Be crazy. Let's face it; those "magazine bride photos" that you have been looking at do not happen all by
themselves. They are well planned, rehearsed, and the photo that you finally see in the magazine was probably picked from hundreds of photos. The more time you spend with your photographer, the more likely it is that he will capture that one special moment that only happens once.

2.The Pose.

"Chin up, a little to the left, shoulders back, stand on one foot, hold your breath...hang on?don?t move. " Any photographer worth his salt should be able to pose you in an elegant and attractive position. Do you know the reason for all these the contortions? By lifting your chin you banish the double chin. Holding your elbows away from your body reduces the apparent width of your torso and accentuates the bosom. Shifting your weight to your rear foot cocks your hips into a position that gives you a sexy curviness. There are many other little tricks your photographer may teach you. Just listen and he will not lead you astray.

3.Hair and Makeup.

Your wedding day is not the right time to experiment with makeup and hairstyles. Be sure to plan a separate day to have a hair and makeup "dress rehearsal". If you plan to wear a headpiece, use this time to make sure that it will fit with your hairstyle. If you plan it right, your photographer may be available to take some formals on this day too.

4.Props.

Give you photographer the tools he needs to be creative. When ordering flowers for the wedding, be sure to order an extra single rose, boutonniere, ribbon or other inexpensive items that the photographer can use in your photos. Don't forget to have a copy of your wedding invitation that he can incorporate into the detail shots of your big day. Photos of wedding rings with flowers,invitation, maybe even your shoes and garter can really add to your album.

5. The Bouquet.

How should you hold a bouquet? In a single word.. DOWN!! Never hide your thousand dollar dress with a hundred dollar bouquet. If you?re a five foot bride, do not order a 3 foot cascading bouquet. It's going to be a long day. By the end of the day, you will be wishing that your bouquet was smaller, lighter, more durable, and maybe even artificial. And if it's too big you may
even injure your guests during the bouquet toss.

6. Backgrounds and angles.

Remember, your wedding day is all about you. Many times complicated backgrounds in your photos distract the viewer?s attention away from the bride and will take away from your photographs. Keep backgrounds as simple as possible. Interesting angles are what keeps the images of a professional photographer from looking like the images of "Uncle Joe". Everyone knows what a wedding looks like from 5 feet 6. You may see your photographer lying on the ground or climbing trees. Don't laugh at him. That's why he gets paid the big bucks.

7.Lighting

When choosing your venue and time of day, keep lighting in mind. If your wedding is outdoors, the best light happens 1-2 hours before sunset. If your wedding is indoors, try to avoid buildings with high dark ceilings and few windows. Since natural light will look much better in your photos, try to plan your wedding when the room will be the brightest. By the way, photographers hate fluorescent lights. They make you look green.

8.Single Use Cameras

Lots of people use them and they seldom work. You may get a few good photos here and there but don't expect too much. You'll probably get a whole camera full of photos of Cousin Skip's girlfriend that you hardly know. Your three year old niece will probably take a lot of pictures of people's belly buttons. And if anyone gets tipsy at the reception you may get a lot of photos of the ground, shoes, or eyeballs (from holding the camera backwards). Your photography is best left to professionals.

Well that's it for "The Bride's Guide to Better Wedding Photos". Congratulations on your big day. Now let's make those memories last!

Checklist and Timeline For Planning A Wedding

Checklist and Timeline

6 - 12 months before the big day

Decide on a date.
.Make an appointment with Clergyman / Officiant
.Determine a budget
.Compose a guest list.
.Set time, location of Ceremony, Rehearsal & Reception Venue.
.Choose Professional Photographer / Videographer
.Shop for wedding gown :Several fittings will be required.
.Obtain Floral & Music estimates; book services if possible.
.Register with gift registry
.Select brides maids.
.Pick a honeymoon destination
.Begin selection of a Caterer.
.Set a date to order dresses for bridesmaids.

5 months before the big day.

.Finalize guest lists
.Order invitations & announcements
.Order personal stationery & thank you notes
.Plan reception.
.Choose florist.
.Men choose attire.
.Make honeymoon reservations.
.Choose caterer
.Confirm delivery of bridal gown
.Make appointment for bridal portrait
.Order wedding cake.
.Arrange transportation for the bridal party to & from ceremony/reception.
.Go over details of reception with caterer / hotel manager
.If you are renting any equipment, reserve now(arch, floral pillars etc.)

2 months before the big day.

.Inform clergyman of all the details of your ceremony.
.Keep a gift diary - send thank you notes as gifts arrive
.Fine tune guest list.
.Plan rehearsal dinner.
.Select attendants' gifts, grooms gift
.Check all services.
.Make moving arrangements
.Final gown fitting.
.Bridal portrait setting.

1 month before the big day.

.Choose wedding bands
.Mail invitations.
.Make room reservations for out of town guests
.Check wedding party apparel
.Confirm music arrangements & check selections
.Make reservations for bridesmaids' luncheon
.Discuss rehearsal dinner with hosts
.Attend showers
.Marriage license

2 weeks before the big day

.Plan your wedding day hair style
.Schedule hair appointment for day of wedding
.Final check on bridal party clothing.
.Notify newspapers.
.Arrange for name & address change.
.Check with caterer / reception venue with last minute changes.

1 week before the big day.

. Remind rehearsal dinner guests of time / location.
.Start honeymoon packing.
.Wrap groom's & attendants' gifts
.Check wedding announcements, ready to mail day after wedding.
.Bridesmaids' luncheon.
.Schedule rehearsal for 1 - 2 days prior to wedding
.Remind wedding party of exact time & place
.Go over final details of ceremony & reception with all parties involved.
.Assign small jobs to family/friends. (pick up guest book, cameras etc.)

1 day before the big day.

.RELAX !
.Have manicure & pedicure done
.Attend wedding rehearsal & dinner.
.Give ushers guest list.

Wedding Day

.Eat!
.Hair & make-up.
.Check wedding dress
.Have family member check ceremony/reception for left behind items
.Change of clothes.
.Breath! Enjoy your day.

The Most Important in Life

The most likely be one of the most important events of our life is our wedding and light up our face with memories for many years to come.