Saturday, September 20, 2008

Beach Wedding

More Celebrity Weddings -
One of the public health nurses that I work with has been talking about getting married for several years. She has been engaged for three years and recently gave birth to the second child that she and her fiance have. Several months ago she announced that they had set a wedding date. They decided that they were going to get married on the fourth anniversary of meeting each other.
As she started making calls for the wedding she discovered that she could not find a place for the reception. Rather than change the date the couple decided that they would have a beach wedding instead. The couple lives close to a large public beach. There is a pavilion close by in a large park. They decided that the ceremony would take place by the water and the reception would be catered in the pavilion. The brides uncle is a minister and he did agree to perform the beach wedding, however he warned the couple that this arrangement does not always work out the best because the beach is a public place. The couple felt that he was exaggerating. They thought that strangers would respect the privacy of a gathering of people attending a beach wedding. The plan was to have an early evening ceremony followed by a light supper and dancing.
The day of the beach wedding was beautiful. The temperatures were warm and there was only a slight breeze coming off the ocean. The moon was close to full so the evening promised to be lovely also. Due to the warmth of the day the beech was very busy. The day was so nice that many of the sunbathers and swimmers were reluctant to leave. There was a problem finding parking for the wedding guests, this was one thing that the bride and groom had not considered. Another thing they did not consider is that strangers would move the ropes of the area where the ceremony was to be held. It took time to find a space on the beach that was large enough to accommodate the wedding guests. Once we were all in place the minister signaled the musicians to begin playing. Their music could barely be heard above the radios, talking and screaming of the beach dwellers. The bride made her appearance and the ceremony started. Many of the people that were spending the day on the beach came over to watch the ceremony.
The reception went much smoother and everyone had a very nice time. The bride admits that she should have listened to the minister regarding the beach wedding. She did not like how many strangers were standing around as they were trying to say their vows. She had wished for a nice weather day, but did not realize the amount of people that would stay on the beach to enjoy the nice day.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Wedding Traditions

Las Vegas Outdoor Weddings -
Every Sunday you can hear those chapel bells. Some lucky couple is tying the knot and making it official. This is a time in everyone's life that is memorable to say the least. We love this day. Ideally it should occur only one time for each person. There's the massive cake, the champagne, the jovial crowd and the wonderful wedding traditions. These are the things we look forward to on our day of perfect bliss. The soon-to-be bride paces softly toward her one true love, the father gives her away as the two souls become one with the exchange of rings. Are you prepared for your big day? Who doesn't enjoy wedding traditions? There's the ceremony itself, the honeymoon, and don't forget the pre-celebration. This is the part that so many men look forward to. If not the soon-to-be groom, the buddies throwing the bash. Yep, the bachelor party is a king amongst wedding traditions. It may not be a literal aspect of the wedding, but it sure is a blast nonetheless. I've been to a total of two bachelor parties in my day. One was my brother's and one was my best buddy's. These were two of the craziest bashes I've ever witnessed. You commonly have the group of guys, the booze, and maybe a few "dancers." Most of this celebration is about friendship and letting go of the single lifestyle. Notice that I didn't say it is about getting buck wild with the "dancers." Of course girls have their versions of this as well. They lounge about sipping tea and nibbling on crumpets. Or at least this is what I've heard. Probably one of my favorite wedding traditions is the honeymoon. Okay, this is definitely my favorite. This is the part where it is finally just the two of you. Alone at last for a whopping two weeks or so. In my opinion, this is what most of the money should go toward. Although other wedding traditions are imperative, this is the most fun and personal. This is the tradition that is solely meant for the bride and groom. It is about getting pampered, lounging about, and dining at the finest eateries. Where wedding traditions are concerned, I highly recommend you put much thought into the honeymoon.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Hawaiin Wedding Favors

Wedding Photos -
I have always thought Hawaiian wedding favors were a lot of fun. My bride-to-be finds them tacky, and I have to admit that she has a point. They really are tacky. They are clichd, overused, stereotyped, and cheaply made. Nonetheless, they are also festive, brightly colored, enjoyable, and fun for everyone. Putting up Hawaiian tiki torches, giving all the guests leis, and having a Hawaiian style appetizers can make any wedding a more festive event. This is doubly true if it is going to be a summer wedding. We are going to have ours in August, and it is going to be outdoors with hundreds of guests dancing. I can't think of anything better than a Hawaiian wedding favor theme. Of course, having a Hawaiian wedding party requires more planning than you might expect. Everything has to comply with a Hawaiian wedding theme. It is not just a matter of having Hawaiian wedding favors and Hawaiian wedding centerpieces. The invitations, the hors d'oeuvres, the meal, and even the drinks have to have a sort of Hawaiian theme. If you do it halfheartedly, no one will get into it. It is too silly an idea to just play with. If you want to turn your wedding into a Hawaiian luau, you need to be serious about it. Just having Hawaiian wedding favors is not enough. You need to hire a Hawaiian band the works. Only then will the guests get into the game. If people are not playing along, it is no fun! The great thing about Hawaiian wedding favors is that they are so cheap to acquire and so easy to find. When you compare Hawaiian wedding favors to other sorts of traditional wedding centerpieces, you'll see what I'm talking about. If you want to have a more traditional wedding, everything has to look very serious and very elegant. It is a matter of tremendous work to make all the decorations fit together. But if you are using Hawaiian wedding favors, everything can be bright and festive. As long as the colors are bright, they will work together perfectly. The look will be less formal, and it doesn't have to be perfect. As long as each Hawaiian wedding favor is a different, bright color, everything will work. You must make sure that you hand out the Hawaiian wedding favors at the door, and make everyone wear one at all times. Once they are resigned to it, they will start to enjoy it!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

More American Wedding Invitations

Hawaiin Wedding Favors -
Me and my wife get along pretty well on everything. We have had very few fights since we first got together. Even when we were getting ready for marriage, we had very little to argue about. We are both pretty strong willed, but we have learned how to work together flawlessly. There is, however, one area in which we disagreed and sometimes argued: wedding invitations.
I was a big fan of all American wedding invitations. I wanted our invitations for wedding to sparkle. I wasn't really into calligraphy or soft colors, and I certainly wasn't into a crafty, homemade look. I wanted something that was direct, bold, and to the point. If it was clever, all the better. Most importantly however, it needed to have a slick and straightforward design.
My wife, however, had much different ideas about the ideal American wedding invitations. She was all about do it yourself wedding invitations. Of the two of us, she is definitely the artist, but I am the businessman. She thought that her idea of American wedding invitations was better than mine because it showed more art. On the other hand, I thought my ideas were better because they showed greater propriety. To me, American wedding invitations should look professional and well made. The ones on so-called fancy paper with uneven grains have always looked cheap to me. I know that they are actually quite expensive to buy, but that is hardly the point. I have always thought that American stationery should dispense with the quaint and crafty in favor of the sleek and modern.
Finally, we compromised on the American wedding invitations. I got to chose the paper and the layout, and she got to choose the font and the content. This allowed her to get the formal lettering that she likes so much, while allowing me to have the straightforward and modern design that I have always admired. It made us both pretty happy, but to this day we do not discuss the fight we had over American wedding invitations. After all, we are getting along so well. Why bring up an old scuffle, no matter how small. Before that point, I could never have pictured myself getting into an argument about the look of American wedding invitations. It just goes to show you that you never know until you try something. Weddings are very stressful, and it is always surprising how the stress boils over.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Las Vegas Wedding Chapels

Wedding Cards -
Although almost everything that happens in Vegas stays there, thats not really true when you get married there. Las Vegas is well known for two things and thats gambling and weddings. Many a blushing bride has taken a quick trip to the strip with her gallant groom to tie the knot. When you want to elope, Vegas is the place to do it. All one has to do is look at the multitude of Las Vegas wedding chapels to see why that is. Elvis can even attend your nuptials although of course, the real King of Rock and Roll has left us. Instead you can have one of the many Elvis impersonators located in Sin City come to your wedding. In fact, many of the Las Vega wedding chapels have their own Elvis who will conduct the ceremony. Imagine the stories you can tell your grandchildren! Of course you can have an elegant and sophisticated ceremony if you choose. Many people mistakenly believe that all Las Vegas wedding chapels are designed for quickie weddings with the bride wearing blue jeans and the groom wearing a trucker hat. You can have a beautiful wedding that would be reminiscent of a ceremony that took months to plan. People who want to elope do flock to Vegas but so do people who have been planning on getting married for years. Many Las Vegas wedding chapels are seeing an influx of couples who bring along their own entourage including their parents, the best man and the maid or matron of honor. They combine the wedding with a mini-family vacation, even giving each of the attendees a few dollars for gambling. Considering the price of a large wedding complete with venue rental and reception, having it at one of the Las Vegas wedding chapels is a bargain. Some of the well-known hotels located on the strip also have their own facilities for weddings. Those that dont will often offer a package deal that includes a room, champagne and transportation to one of the famous Las Vegas wedding chapels. This way after the ceremony the happy couple can head back to their room to begin their honeymoon. Your wedding day is supposed to be special and memorable so why not do it in style in Las Vegas? Youll have unique memories to share and the time of your life. Youll also have the chance to visit a casino or two and maybe even catch a show. Las Vegas is a great place to get hitched.

The Wedding Photographer

Las Vegas Helicopter Weddings -
Does anyone else hear chapel bells? Okay, maybe that is just in my head. However, there's no doubt that couples are tying the knot every day on this planet. It is just one of those rituals that humans seem to adore. Ah, who am I kidding? It is women! They're the ones that adore them. Typically they have to trap the man somehow so he'll stay in the relationship. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Uh, actually we should steer away from that topic. On to the wedding scene. Now, there are certainly many aspects to a proper wedding ceremony. You have the attire, the cake, the rings, the official, and much more. One of the factors of a wedding that I never truly pondered until it literally hit me was the wedding photographer. Ah ha, have you forgotten about this aspect as well. All I can say is get ready for a bill. I can still recall my wedding ceremony like it was yesterday. In all truth, it was only a year ago. Regardless, I was not that happy about all the bills that went along with it. There were so many more than I imagined. It is hard to believe that so much can be forked out for a wedding. And you might as well forget about that whole "the bride's parents are paying" garbage. That is clearly a concept of the past. My bride's mother hardly wants to pay her own bills. So basically what I'm saying here is that you're on your own. Looking back, i would have to say that the wedding photographer was the worst aspect of the wedding routine. First of all, if you didn't already know, a wedding photographer is expensive. They charge a grand and up for a few pictures. It is kind of ridiculous. Now of course it depends on what quality of pictures you want. Anyway, once we found our wedding photographer, we sent her a 200 dollar deposit as requested. This was a full year before the wedding took place. No problem! We were getting everything set up. It is typical, and we expected it. However, a month down the road she emailed us. Now she wanted a 700 dollar deposit. HUH? This is absurd. The wedding is a year away. We told her to forget it! To make a long story short, we paid at when she actually took the pictures, and everything turned out fine. If you're looking for a decent wedding photographer, I suggest the Internet all the way. This is the best way to research various photographers and see who's available. Make sure you take a glance at their previous work before contacting them.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Sterling Silver Wedding Rings

Those Fall Wedding Bouquets -
Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life. Its important to put careful thought into every aspect of your special day. One of the issues that both the bride and groom will want to consult on is what type and design of rings complement them both. Although gold has been the standard choice theres a renewed interest in sterling silver wedding rings in recent years. Sterling silver wedding rings are a more economical choice than gold but their aesthetic value is at the same level as both gold and platinum. Many jewelers are recognizing that some couples have a deep interest in sterling silver wedding rings and they are designing new sets all the time. Many couples dream of designing their own rings and with sterling silver wedding rings that dream is very attainable. Many jewelers have design experts on site that will sit down with the happy couple and draw out a design of their dream rings. Every detail including the size and quality of the stones are discussed. The jewelry designer will craft an image of what the sterling silver wedding rings will look like upon completion. This way the couple has a clear view of what they will be receiving. Its also a lovely way for the couple to have something unique for their wedding day. If you arent interested in having someone design your rings for you there are many sterling silver wedding rings already available for purchase. One of the most popular designs are those in a weave pattern. In these types of sterling silver wedding rings, each band has a matching design of woven silver. The design can be somewhat simple or very intricate. The reason these types of sterling silver wedding rings are so desirable is that some couples prefer a band that isnt solid. They want something that has a flow to it and can be captivating even without a diamond. Sterling silver wedding rings with this type of woven design are eye catching. If you do prefer the more traditional wedding band than you can also find that in sterling silver wedding rings. There are very plain and simple rings available that complement both the hand of the groom and the bride. The bride might also wear a solitaire along with her band to complete her set. The man will generally just wear a band that matches his wifes. Sterling silver wedding rings are perfect for couples who want something different and affordable. They are a true reflection of the love that is shared between the two people wearing them.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

California Beach Weddings

Fall Wedding Bouquets -
California is a beautiful state bordered by the Pacific Ocean, which serves as a gorgeous backdrop for all types of activities and events year round. The smell of salt water, a soft wind blowing, and sand between your toes as you sit listening to the waves rolling in. Absolutely rejuvenating yet relaxing all at once. Even if youre surrounded by people, youre having a unique experience all your own that will remain with you forever. This is one of the reasons why California beach weddings are so popular. The ocean is a powerful presence, and it is both captivating and romantic, very much like a true love story. Must have something to do with why California beach weddings are so popular. To locate the most popular beaches in the state and the top wedding sites, visit www.beachcalifornia.com. The perfect California beach wedding complete with arch laden with intertwined rose vines, is the perfect setting for a romantic exchange of vows. There are many beautiful beaches to choose from for a memorable day. One of San Diegos finest beach resorts, the LAuberge Del Mar Resort and Spa located north of the city off the historic coast highway, is an ideal setting for the perfect California wedding by the sea. For more information visit www.laubergedelmar.com, and to take care of the creative aspects of your celebration consult the resorts Director of Romance, who is available upon request. Couples should also check out beautiful California beach weddings in Mendocino at www.mendocinoguide.com, the perfect setting with private sandy beaches, and local businesses that specialize in destination weddings and all the details, including catering, floral services, formal clothing, entertainment, and more. There are many businesses that are dedicated to providing professional wedding services for all budgets and tastes. All-inclusive California beach wedding packages are another popular option for couples featured on www.sandiegodestinationweddings.com and www.marcyann.com, offering a basic wedding package starting at $495 that includes a personalized romantic wedding ceremony, decorations at the beach, and keepsake sand container. Small weddings and larger gatherings up to one hundred guests can be accommodated, however, some cities may require a special day use permit for the wedding, and parking could be an issue. Shuttle buses are an option that is available to eliminate any parking problems, and your guests will thank you for it. Its a very special day and nothing should ruin it, especially lack of parking. Enlist the help of a professional wedding coordinator to avoid wedding day nightmares; youll more than likely be glad you did!