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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Wedding Fashions and Trends

Wedding Fashion & Design Trends
Compliments of Carol Beaugard, Affairs of Distinction

Now that you're engaged it's time to create your dream wedding. As you begin planning all the details for your wedding are you hoping to have an affair that will capture some of the most beautiful new fashion trends? Do you want your wedding to be wonderfully unique with thrilling new details? Carol Beaugard, president of Affairs of Distinction, an event planning company headquartered in Montclair, NJ, wants to share some of the hottest trends forecast by industry experts so your celebration can be truly exceptional. A few major example sites are:


puma roma http://www.become.com/puma-roma
backpack purses http://www.become.com/backpack-purse
purse handles http://www.become.com/dritz-purse-handles


Europe and the media are reporting some major trends for the upcoming year. New, richer color schemes are predicted; vintage accents will increasingly be seen; events will reflect more international and ethnic elements; global awareness will spawn more organic and charitable selections; destination events are on the rise and budgets are increasing.


Let's first talk about color. In Europe brides are boldly choosing deep, rich colors for not only their bridesmaids dresses but also for their bridal gowns. Here in the United States, Ms. Beaugard predicts that American brides will stay true to the traditional white wedding gown but will pick up the new color palettes with smart accent details. 


We'll continue to see sashes, ribbons, and embroidered detailing in beautiful colors and brides will pull these bolder color choices into their selections for linens, stationery, additional décor and even the wedding cake.


The trend that brides in the U.S. will embrace will be gowns that feature multi-layers of fabric, including tinted mutli-layered voile and chiffon that will suggest beautiful seasonal colors mingled with a white silhouette. The effect will be a breathtaking blend of both color and white purity. Chic brides will also turn to colored crinoline underskirts and accent colors featured on the soles of their bridal shoes.


The hottest color for next season is purple so expect to see everything ranging from pale lavender to deep eggplant reigning supreme. Seasonal colors will include: for Winter ­ black, plum and navy; for Spring ­ latte, coral and lavender; for Summer ­ mauve, sage and turquoise and for Fall ­ emerald, burgundy and chocolate. Another important trend will be the use of floral patterns and geometric shapes for fabrics and materials and a heavy emphasis on shiny metallics.


Vintage is in and we'll see vintage influences harkening back to the glory days of Hollywood and beyond. Romance is everywhere seen in more halter necklines, capelet sleeves, light and airy styles, strapless gowns, plunging necklines, antique lace, satin ribbons for straps, ruffles, tea-length dresses in Spring and Summer, diamond or rhinestone accessories, open-toed stilettos and dangling earrings.


There is also a move toward embracing more ethnic and international looks. The East is creating a hunger for the Bollywood look so expect to see an increased use of hand beading and sari looks and ethnic choices in catered food. We'll see more Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Latin American cuisine featured on menus presented on tables featuring linens in bolder, brighter colors or patterns. Menu items will be colorful and more diverse and even wedding cakes will show lots of vivid color in frosting hues, flowers and fruit. 


Other catering trends will include miniature portions, side dishes and geometrically shaped fare. You can also expect to see increased interest in interactive cooking stations. The vintage influence will lead to more personalization and Ms. Beaugard predicts that brides will draw more personal touches into their experience by using old family recipes, nostalgic favors and more signature drinks. 


Beaugard also forecasts that custom-designed wedding logos will replace monograms, which are quickly becoming passé. Branding on pillows, cups, napkins, furniture, ice and more will continue to advance the personalization of the event.


Today's bride and groom is also much more educated and globally aware. This raised awareness and concern for the environment is leading to the heightened use of organic produce and materials. Many couples are also applying this sensibility by using their wedding as a way to give back to the community through the selection of charitable donations to relief efforts in lieu of traditional favors.


Room décor and design will also reflect more updated looks. Couples and event designers will increasingly move away from traditional white décor and will rather utilize bolder, richer colors for rentals with retro-design concepts set in alternative spaces, such as rectangular and square tables accented by multiple centerpieces.


Many couples are fortunate enough to enjoy bigger budgets to make their weddings truly unique, featuring hi-tech lighting, videos, projections on walls, ceilings, floor and décor for a grand mood and fluid feeling. Far-away relatives and friends unable to attend an affairm can now view the event through the use of podcasting over the Internet, which can offer worldwide access to an event. Bigger budgets also allow couples to enhance their affairs by showcasing more live bands, higher end talent and specialty entertainment, including performers, staging games and virtual reality entertainment.


Finally, Beaugard is noting an increased interest in destination weddings. Over the last decade there has been a 400% increase in destination events and more couples are realizing that they can create a once-in-a-lifetime experience for family and friends at a destination at a cost which comparable or less expensive than having a grand affair held regionally.


View our most recent website post on upcoming Wedding Trends.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Wedding Ettiqutte

Wedding Budget Etiquette - Who Pays for What?

If you are like me then you have always heard the myth about the brides family paying for this and the grooms family paying for that, but I was never truly sure about what was what. So I found this article on www.elegala.com

I figured that it should clear the air and hopefully prove to be a valuable resource in the future.

Learn which side of the family is typically responsible for which wedding costs and the tradtional wedding budget etiquette. Tradition states that the bride’s parents are responsible for fronting the bill for the wedding reception; these days, the bride’s parents, groom’s parents, and the couple themselves all contribute to the wedding pool.  That said, it helps to come to the budgeting table prepped with the traditional list of which side pays for what.  These conventional “rules” can then be adjusted according to your financial situations:

Wedding Costs Paid by the Bride and/or Bride’s Parents:




  • Ceremony rental fee
  • Bride’s dress and accessories
  • Ceremony flowers and décor
  • Bouquets for bridesmaids and flower girl
  • Photography and videography
  • Engagement party
  • Bridesmaids’ luncheon
  • All vendor services for reception, including food, beverages, décor, and entertainment
  • Groom’s ring
  • Invitations and stationery
  • Transportation for bridal party to and from ceremony and reception

Wedding Costs Paid by the Groom and/or Groom’s Parents:


  • Marriage license and officiant’s fee
  • Groom’s attire
  • Bride’s bouquet, boutonnieres for ushers, and corsages for mothers and grandmothers
  • Honeymoon Travel
  • Rehearsal dinner
  • Bachelors’ dinner
  • Both of the bride’s rings

Costs Incurred by the Wedding Attendants:



This article is sponsored by Flower Gallery


 

10 Things to do after the wedding

Reality is starting to set in now. You have just returned from your Honeymoon and life is starting to move on. For some reason you are not quite ready to let go of that special wedding spirit. Well I have good news it is not over. Here are some etiquette tips for after the wedding.



1. Send flowers to all the parents. Even if you paid for the wedding yourself, sending a bouquet to both sets of parents is a great way to let them know how grateful you are for their support in the lead-up to the big day. 


2. Have a post – Wedding brunch. Not only will it give you an opportunity to thank and farewell all those guests who traveled far and wide to come to your wedding, it's also perfect for catching up on any gossip, stories and tales of shame from the night before.




3.
Plan a romantic dinner for two. Once the wedding has come and gone, it's easy to slip into life as usual. However, scheduling a special dinner exactly one month after your wedding (it's your first lunar-versary, after all!) will give the two of you a chance to reflect on how it feels to be Mr and Mrs. Try to organise for it to be at a place that means something to the both of you – where he proposed, where you had your first date or even the reception venue. That way it's guaranteed to be a romantic affair.



4.
Preserve your wedding dress. It's important to have this done as soon as possible, so if you're going on a honeymoon ask someone to take it to the cleaners for you. Selling a dress you're likely to never wear again may make good financial sense, but, who knows, maybe one day you'll have a daughter who'll want to wear it on her own wedding day (sigh).

5. Change your name. Everyone might be calling you "Mrs Jones" with a grin and a wink, but just being       married doesn't officially change your name. If your doing the name changing thing, it's important to notify the relevant authorities as quickly as possible, try and get the most important ones out of the way first include: Driver licence, car registration, passport, bank accounts, Medicare and employment records.


6.    Write and send out thank-you cards. These can hang our your head like an unfinished assignment in high school, so  the sooner you get them out of the way, the better. Make sure that you write something personal about the gift on each card, no matter how brief. Also remember that pre-printed cards are a big no no and email thank yous are the height of bad manners!



 
7.   Have an official "Bridesmaid Day". Let's face it, the last few months have been all about you, you, you. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, it could be time you gave a little back to the girls who were there for you. It's likely you've been so caught up in wedding fever that you've missed quite a bit of your girlfriend's lives. On Bridesmaid's Day, make it your mission to let them talk about themselves as much as they want. It's the least you can do!


8.   Make your photo choices now. Selecting your wedding pictures will bring all the emotions of the day flooding back, but often there are so many to choose from, that trying to decide which ones you really love can be a bit daunting. Make the task less overwhelming by inviting a close friend, your parents or in-laws around to help. It's easy to think you "need" every shot, but keep your budget in mind and try and stick to it.



9.  Send you picture to the newspaper. Yeah, it's cheesy, but, hey, you have to admit that you'd secretly love to see your wedding pic staring at you from the paper as you eat your Sunday brekky. Check out your local paper's wedding page for details of what they need. (If anyone asks, you can always blame it on your mom).


10.   Make a wedding memento box. This is a great way to store all the little bits and pieces from you wedding that don't fit into an album. The obvious things to include would be invitations, pressed flowers from your bouquet and menus, but you could also put in your wedding ideas scrapbook, a CD of the songs played during the ceremony and reception, typed transcripts of your speeches. You'll be amazed at how your list of things to do the day before your wedding, scrawled on the back of a napkin, will bring tears to your eyes in a few years time.




 Information taken from "Wedding Links
http://www.weddinglinks.com.au/news266/10-Things-To-Do-After-Your-Wedding/


 Article sponsored by Asheville Florist The Flower Gallery




Thursday, May 19, 2011

Staying Calm on your Wedding Day!!!

Fabulous Wedding Advice

Article pulled from  http://www.fabulouslywed.com/search/label/Wedding%20Etiquette


You've been planning your wedding for the last 12+ months and it's finally here!  Every detail has been attended to.  All the logistics are planned.  You just had the best bachelorette party EVER!  And now it's time.  The moment you walk down the aisle to join your life with the man of your dreams is here.  
So why do you feel so nervous?

There are many factors that go into why your emotions are on overdrive on wedding day.  It could be the realization that you are now going to be a wife.  It could be that you are worried about how the day will play out.  You could just be flat out nervous and not even know why!  Here is my most FABULOUS advice on how to stay calm, cool and collected on wedding day:
  • Start with a nice long bubble bath.  This is a rare treat in a world where we are always rushing and taking quick showers.  There is nothing like sitting back in warm water, closing your eyes and letting the Calgon take you away.  I highly suggest bath salts, candles and soothing music to set the tone for relaxation.

  • Eat a good breakfast.  Even if it's a small one.  Be sure to include carbohydrates and protein.  I can't stress to you how important it is to get something in your belly.  It's so easy to get caught up in the activities of wedding day prep, that this very important meal gets skipped.  There is nothing worse that getting woozy or fainting on your wedding day for lack of food. A good breakfast really does help get your day started right.  
  • Be sure to have a detailed schedule complete a few days prior to your wedding day, showing exactly what's going to happen when.  The more organized you are, the less you'll have to stress about.  Your wedding planner is well equipped to create this for you.

    • Prepare an emergency kit for those unforeseen disasters.  Include a sewing kit, safety pins, extra hosiery, bottled water, saltines, breath mints, sanitary napkins, etc.  Our emergency kit is used at EVERY wedding we direct.  There has never been a time when our clients don't need something that we carry.  It's so important to have items that are readily available for any small unforeseen circumstance.

      • Rely on your wedding planner.  After all, that is why you hired her.  She can get the gowns to the chapel on time, transport any necessary personal belongings, oversee the setup of the ceremony and reception site and even handle guest relations.  She is not an option but a Godsend on wedding day!

        • Leave for the ceremony with plenty of time to spare.  One of the worst feelings on your wedding day is to feel rushed.  Allow a decent cushion so that you can relax, knowing that you will be ready on time and in your calmest possible state of mind.
        • Allow yourself plenty of time to get dressed.  Bask in it!  How about a pre-wedding indulgence?  I stress to all of my brides the importance of spoiling yourself a little before the wedding.  Invite a mobile massage therapist, manicurist, makeup artist and/or professional hairstylist to the wedding site and be the Queen that you are!
        • Expect the unexpected.  I'm not preaching doom and gloom here. Yes, things may go wrong, but if you face the day with a cool head, a sense of humor and a positive attitude, you can pull it off without a catastrophe.  Your wedding planner is there, on hand to help deal with any emergencies that may arise.
        • ENJOY YOUR DAY!  After all, it does belong to you and your groom!

          Friday, May 13, 2011

          Royalty Wedding Dress Designs Sketches



          01-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride02-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride03-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride04-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride05-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride06-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride07-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride08-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride09-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride10-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride11-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride12-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride13-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride14-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride15-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride16-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride17-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride18-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride19-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride20-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride






          21-royalty-wedding-dress-design-sketch-ideas-for-the-bride


          Article sponsored by Flower Gallery

          The Bizarre Origins of 8 Wedding Traditions

          If the throngs of crazed customers clutching registry printouts at Crate & Barrel are any indication, wedding season is once again upon us. Before you head off to the next joyous union on your jam-packed calendar, let’s take a moment to reflect on the rich history of marriage celebrations and revel in the realization that weddings are, at their core, incredibly bizarre.

          white-wedding.jpgThe White Wedding Dress
          Technically, today’s wedding gowns aren’t white. They are “Candlelight,” “Warm Ivory,” “Ecru” or “Frost.” But there was a time when a bride’s wedding attire was simply the best thing in her closet (talk about “off the rack”), and could be any color, even black. To convince her groom that she came from a wealthy family, brides would also pile on layers of fur, silk and velvet, as apparently grooms didn’t care if his wife-to-be reeked of sweaty B.O. as long as she was loaded. It was dear ol’ Queen Victoria (whose reign lasted from 1837-1901) who made white fashionable. She wore a pale gown trimmed in orange blossoms for her 1840 wedding to her first cousin, Prince Albert. Hordes of royal-crazed plebeians immediately began to copy her, which is an astonishing feat considering that People Magazine wasn’t around to publish the Super Exclusive Wedding Photos, or instruct readers on how to Steal Vicki’s Hot Wedding Style.
          Giving Away the Bride
          Remember that “Women’s Studies” class you considered taking in college? Allow us to summarize what you would have learned: All of our society’s gender issues stem from the fact that fathers once used their daughters as currency to a) pay off a debt to a wealthier land owner, b) symbolize a sacrificial, monetary peace offering to an opposing tribe or c) buy their way into a higher social strata. So next time you tear up watching a beaming father walk his little girl down the aisle, remember that it’s just a tiny, barbaric little hold over from the days when daughters were nothing but dollar signs to daddy dearest. And that veil she’s wearing? Yeah, that was so the groom wouldn’t know if he was stuck with an uggo until it was time to kiss the bride and too late to back out on the transaction. (There is also some superstitious B.S. about warding off evil spirits, but we think you’ll agree that hiding a busted grill from the husband-to-be is a more practical purpose.)
          The Wedding Party

          Talk about your runaway brides—the original duty of a “Best Man” was to serve as armed backup for the groom in case he had to resort to kidnapping his intended bride away from disapproving parents. The “best” part of that title refers to his skill with a sword, should the need arise. (You wouldn’t want to take the “just okay” member of your weapon-wielding posse with you to steal yourself a wife, would you?)
          The best man stands guard next to the groom right up through the exchange of vows (and later, outside the newlyweds’ bedroom door), just in case anyone should attack or if a non-acquiescent bride should try to make a run for it. It’s said that feisty groups like the Huns, Goths and Visigoths took so many brides by force that they kept a cache of weapons stored beneath the floorboards of churches for convenience. Modern-day best men are more likely to store an emergency six-pack at the ceremony for convenience, but the title remains an apt one.
          Ladies—believe it or not, the concept of the bridesmaid’s gown was not invented to inflict painful dowdiness upon the bride’s friends and female relatives thus making the bride look hotter by comparison. Historically, that dress you’ll never wear again was actually selected with the purpose of tricking the eye of evil spirits and jealous ex-lovers (spicy!). Brides’ faithful attendants were instructed to wear a dress similar to that of the bride so that during their group stroll to the church it would be hard for any ill-willed spirits or former boy-toys to spot the bride and curse/kidnap/throw rocks at her. (Ditto for the boys in matching penguin suits, saving the groom from a similar fate.) Memo to the Maid of Honor: if you think organizing a themed shower complete with quiche, cupcakes and creative uses of toilet paper as a game is a tough gig, imagine this: MoH’s of old used to be responsible for making nearly all of the wedding decorations and putting them up herself.
          Garter and Bouquet Toss
          bouquet-toss.jpg
          This pair of rituals has long been the scourge of the modern wedding guest. What could possibly be more humiliating than being forced out to the center of a parquet dance floor while a wedding DJ advertises your lack of a boyfriend and then being expected to further demonstrate your desperation by diving for flying flowers? Wait…. Yup, we can top that. How about grasping in the air for a lacy piece of undergarment that until moments ago resided uncomfortably close to the crotch of your buddy’s wife? At any other point in time, that would make you a total perv, so why is it acceptable at a wedding? Well, hold on to your scruples boys and girls, because the history behind these customs is downright dirty.
          It used to be that after the bride and groom said, “I do,” they were to go immediately into a nearby room and “close the deal” and consummate the marriage. Obviously, to really make it official, there would need to be witnesses, which basically led to hordes of wedding guests crowding around the bed, pushing and shoving to get a good view and hopefully to get their hands on a lucky piece of the bride’s dress as it was ripped from her body. Sometimes the greedy guests helped get the process going by grabbing at the bride’s dress as she walked by, hoping for a few threads of good fortune. In time, it seems, people realized that this was all a bit, well… creepy, and it was decided that for modesty’s sake the bride could toss her bouquet as a diversion as she made her getaway and the groom could simply remove an item of the bride’s undergarments and then toss it back outside to the waiting throngs to prove that he was about to, uh, get ‘er done.
          Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue (and a Sixpence in My Shoe?)
          A common theme that you’ve no doubt noticed throughout this post: humans used to be a superstitious bunch. This rhyming phrase neatly lists a number of English customs dating back to the Victorian age which, when worn in combination, should bring the bride oodles of fabulous good luck. The something old was meant to tie the bride to her family and her past, while the something new represented her new life as the property of a new family. The item borrowed was supposed to be taken from someone who was already a successfully married wife, so as to pass on a bit of her good fortune to the new bride. The color blue (Virgin Mary-approved!) stood for all sorts of super fun things like faithfulness, loyalty, and purity. The sixpence, of course, was meant to bring the bride and her new groom actual, cold, hard fortune. Just in case that wasn’t enough, brides of yore also carried bunches of herbs (which most brides now replace with expensive, out-of-season peonies) to ward off evil spirits.
          246142812_0ff72323ea.jpgThe Wedding Cake
          We have to believe that there was a time, somewhere in history, when the whole, “Will they/won’t they smash cake in each other’s faces!” scenario was actually clever and original (even if we couldn’t find any evidence of it). What we did find was the granddaddy predecessor to cake-face-smashing: the breaking of baked goods over the bride’s head. Customarily, the groom would gnaw off a bite of barley bread and then the remainder of the loaf was held above the newlywed bride’s head and then broken, showering her with crumbs and a soul-crushing message of her husband’s male dominance. Guests would then scramble to pick up any wayward crumbs off the floor as they were said to bring good…wait for it… luck!

          This tradition evolved as cake emerged as the preferred confection for wedding celebrations. Fortunately for the bride, a whole cake doesn’t break in two quite as dramatically as a loaf of bread and so it was sliced on a table instead. Rather than scrounge for lucky crumbs on the floor, guests would stand in line while the bride passed tiny, fortune-blessed morsels of cake through her own wedding ring into the hands of the waiting masses. This act also fell by the wayside, as we can only assume the bride determined that it was a lousy waste of her time. Thus began the tradition of giving out whole slices of cake to each guest, not to be eaten, but to be placed under their pillow at night for (yup, here it is again) good luck and, for the ladies, sweet dreams of their future husbands. [Image courtesy of alt text.]
          Refusing to Throw Away the Leftovers
          This leads to another sweet, delicious, buttercream-iced mystery to be solved: Why do couples eat freezer-burned wedding cake on their one-year anniversary? To answer this, we must look to the lyrics of a schoolyard classic: First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage! It used to be assumed that when there was a wedding, a christening would follow shortly. So, rather than bake two cakes for the occasions, they’d just bake one big one and save a part of it to be eaten at a later date when the squealing bundle of joy arrived. Eventually folks warmed to the idea of giving the poor kid his own, newly baked cake, but the custom of saving a portion of the wedding cake far longer than it should be saved and then eating it and deluding oneself to believe that it actually tastes good is one that persists to this day.
          Throwing Rice
          Pelting newlyweds with uncooked starchy vegetables is a time-honored tradition meant to shower the new couple with prosperity, fertility and, of course, good fortune. Oats, grains and dried corn were english-wedding.jpgalso used before rice rose to the top as the preferred symbolic sprinkle. Rice lost its popularity when it became widely rumored that if birds ate the rice, it would expand in their stomach and kill them. This is decidedly untrue, as is evidenced by the fact that birds eat dried rice and corn and other dehydrated vegetables and grains from fields all the time and we have yet to see any mention of a national, exploding-bird epidemic running on the CNN news ticker.

          Rice can be a hazard to guests, who can lose their footing on rice covered pavement and take a nasty spill. Turns out, even rice alternatives have their drawbacks. Two Texas women were badly injured at a wedding in May 2008 while trying to light celebratory sparklers to send off the bride and groom. The group of sparklers ignited all at once and exploded, burning one woman’s face and both of their arms. One guest at a Russian wedding in Chechnya last March decided to buck tradition altogether and threw an armed hand grenade into the unsuspecting crowd, injuring a dozen people. Our advice? Stick with rose petals. They are soft, non-hazardous, non-lethal and biodegradable.



          Article sponsored by Flower Gallery

          Wednesday, May 11, 2011

          The Ultimate Wedding Planning Checklist

          The Ultimate Wedding Planning Checklist


           

          Before your engagement…
          After you are engaged…
          • Take engagement pictures.
          • Send out engagement announcements; announce your wedding in the newspaper if you’d like.
          • Have your engagement party.
          12 months before your wedding day…
          11 months before your wedding day…
          10 months before your wedding day…
          9 months before your wedding day…
          8 months before your wedding day…
          7 months before your wedding day…
          • Order save-the-date cards or magnets
          • Get all your guests’ addresses
          • Order bridesmaids dresses & accessories
          • Decide on a baker and order your wedding cake. Need help deciding what kind? Take our quiz: What type of wedding cake fits your personality? 
          • Think about what your groom and groomsmen will wear. Suits or Tuxes?
          • Shop around for invitations and work on the invitation wording
          6 months before your wedding day…
          • Make a final selection for a wedding dress
          • Choose your veil and accessories to match your dress
          • Decide what your parents will wear
          • Finalize your honeymoon details
          • Request off work if you need to
          • Send out save the date cards
          • Purchase or rent groom’s and groomsmen’s suits or tuxes
          • Finalize the menu with the caterer
          • Register! All your wedding registry questions are answered here.
          5 months before your wedding day…
          • Order or make your wedding favors. Here are some unique ideas.
          • Reserve hotel rooms and make accomodations for out-of-town guests
          • Start thinking about your make-up and hair
          • Order your wedding invitations
          • Create a wedding day timeline
          • Make your wedding night plans & reservations
          • Begin thinking about the rehearsal dinner
          4 months before your wedding day…
          • Plan your rehearsal dinner; decide on a location, menu, etc.
          • Reserve a car, limo, or your desired wedding transportation
          • Think about your wedding music (first dance song, father/daughter dance song, etc.)
          • Book a hair dresser and make-up artist
          • Help your maid of honor make a bridal shower guestlist
          • Shop for your wedding bands
          3 months before your wedding day…
          • Have your wedding shower
          • Make sure your dress is tailored
          • Finalize your wedding music
          • Address the envelopes for your invitations
          • Buy your wedding rings
          • Have the maid of honor and best man make sure the wedding party has purchased their outfits and accessories
          • Designate people to give toasts at the reception
          • Make sure you have started an exercise routine and diet if you need to lose a few inches before getting into your dress! Here are some tips to tighten your tummy before your wedding day.
          2 months before your wedding day…
          • Buy your wedding party their gifts. Check out some cool wedding party gift ideas.
          • Write your wedding vows if you so desire. Read about the secret to writing great vows!
          • Send your wedding invitation 6-8 weeks before the wedding
          • Start making a final guestlist as you begin to hear back from guests
          • Fill out any documents needed to change your name
          • If you are going to have your rings engraved, do so
          • Fill out any documents needed to change your insurance information after married
          • Create and print wedding programs
          • Buy lingerie or undergarments before final dress fitting
          • Send thank you notes for gifts received at your shower
          1 month before your wedding day…
          • Work on your seating chart
          • Make or buy placeholder cards
          • Get anything you need before your honeymoon (passport, shots, etc.)
          • Do a final fitting for your dress; begin a diet and exercise routine if necessary
          • Confirm all the details (arrival time, cost, etc.) with your wedding vendors
          • Get a marriage license
          • Send rehearsal dinner invitations
          • Order alcohol
          • Buy a guestbook
          2 weeks before your wedding day…
          • Take care of all the details like what you will use to cut the cake, toasting glasses, etc.
          • Prepare welcome baskets for out-of-town guests
          • Purchase thank you notes
          • Finalize the menu, etc. for the rehearsal dinner.
          • Finalize your seating chart.
          • Give final headcount to caterer, etc.
          • Do a hair and make-up trial run.
          • Plan the activities for the night before your wedding.
          • Help your wedding party plan the bachelor and bachelorette parties if they need it.
          1 week before your wedding day…
          • Get checks ready to give your wedding vendors.
          • Make sure you have something old, something new, something borrowed, and (most importantly to us) something blue.
          • Make sure you have a garter.
          • Get a manicure, pedicure, hair cut, eye-brow wax, etc.
          • Pick up your wedding dress and the bridesmaids dresses
          • Confirm all the details with your florist.
          • Give the members of your wedding party their tasks for your special day.
          • Pack for your honeymoon!
          The day before your wedding day…
          • Go to the spa to get a massage!
          • Hold the rehearsal dinner.
          • Give your wedding party and parents their gifts.
          • Attend the bachelor or bacheloretter party.
          After your wedding day…
          Article from:
          http://somethingbluebook.com/03/the-ultimate-wedding-planning-checklist/

          Sunday, May 8, 2011

          Pictures of Michelle and Daniel's wedding

          Wedding of Michelle and Daniel
          Photographs by Regina Holder
          Flowers designed by The Flower Gallery