Join us at the Wedding Palace Bridal Show

Come and visit Marry Me's booth (booth 230) at the Ottawa Wedding Palace Bridal Show at The Westin Hotel the weekend of January 9 & 10 2010. Show hours Saturday and Sunday are from 11am to 5pm. Get inspired with the hot trends Marry Me has planned for your wedding !

We can't wait to meet you !

http://www.weddingpalace.ca/

Find us on Facebook

Marry Me Productions is happy to announce that we have joined Facebook and Twitter. Find us on both social networks.

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/marrymeplanner

Become our fan on Facebook: http://tiny.cc./A4qtw

And stay up to date on what we're up to, trends we love, photos from our weddings, amazing events we're organizing and much more.

See you in cyberspace !

What is necessary in a marriage ceremony?

Since we’re only talking about the ceremony itself, we’ll not go into the legal aspects. That’s another blog.

What is actually necessary is for the man to want to marry that woman, for the woman to want to marry that man and to agree for it to happen right then. That’s it. The rest of it is fluff.

That means that you get to have the whole, entire ceremony exactly as you want to have it. Fluff means you can play with “the rules”. You can be as solemn, as dignified, as creative and unique as you wish; even inject humor! Your only limits are if you belong to a particular church, religion, or sect that has specific rituals or wording that must be adhered to in the rules of that organization.

When you plan your own wedding ceremony, you can have a favorite person do a reading, sing or play a song, write your own meaningful vows, incorporate other ceremonies with the service (see my list under “Additional Ceremonies”), do a dance, release birds or balloons, have a theme wedding and include costumes for the bridal party or for everyone.

If you’re not sure of what you want you may have an idea of what you don’t want. Fine! Work from that end. It’s nice to take other people’s desires into consideration but on your wedding day YOU come first.

The most important thing to remember is to seek a minister who is willing to work with you. Maybe you want lots of prayers or maybe you don’t want any prayers. Every person has their own viewpoint, including the minister, but it should not infringe on yours. After all it’s YOUR wedding and above all you want it to reflect your tastes, wishes and desires.

I strongly suggest meeting the minister face to face in a personal consultation or at least speaking with them on the phone to see if you’re compatible. You always have options and you always have choices. Choose the minister you want to say the “magic words” to pronounce you husband and wife.

Breast Dress Project featured in Metro News

Our Breast Dress Project has been picked up by (Ottawa) Metro News today. Pick up your copy or read about the project here: http://tiny.cc/jFMWf

Remember giving new life to your wedding dresses can save lives !

Say 'YES' to this contest...

How many of you have watched other brides-to-be go through the Kleinfeld experience while on your couches watching TLC's great new series 'Say YES to the Dress'. Well, what if we told you that you have a chance to experience Kleinfeld's in person with a once in a lifetime contest....

The prize package includes:

- $5,000 gift certificate to Kleinfeld's (bridal store) in Manhattan

- Personal styling with bridal consultant Randy Fenoli (from the TV show)

- Free airfare and accommodations while in New York

Contest opens January 1 2010. Listen up grooms-to-be, this would be a great contest to enter your sweetheart in !

Visit www.theringbearer.ca/kleinfeld for more information

Good luck !

The Breast Dress Project

Marry Me Productions and Groovy Linen have joined forces to create 'The Breast Dress Project'. The Breast Dress Project was launched in November 2009 in conjunction with Something White for Something Right by two friends committed to making a difference in the lives of women. Not only will the Brest Dress Project raise funds for breast cancer research but it will provide an opportunity for future brides to feel beautiful on their special day too.

Excited to help ? It could not get any easier. Just drop off your gently used wedding dress (it doesn't even have to be cleaned) to Groovy Linen at 19 Grenfell Crescent Unit 11. Please see http://www.groovylinen.com/ for store hours. You will be asked to fill out a small (confidential) questionnaire when you drop off the dress. Easy questions like: the size of the dress, was it altered from the original size, is there any damage, where was it purchased, what was the purchase price etc. We are also hoping that you'll include a photo of yourself in the dress. You can request that your face not be shown. We'll also gladly accept veils and shoes if you have them.

Once our inventory is large enough, we will be hosting soirees so that brides-to-be can come by Groovy Linen and try on the dresses they are interested in. More information will be posted once our first soiree is organized.

Don't worry about not having a dress to wear for Something White for Something Right 2010 if you give away your wedding dress. Women can wear their wedding dress but it's not a requirement, anything white will do. This year we saw women in their original wedding dresses, second hand wedding dresses, borrowed wedding dresses and all white outfits. So don't let the fact that Something White has become and annual event, stop you from helping us find a cure for breast cancer and making another bride's wedding day magical.

Our website is still under construction but eventually more information will be available at http://www.breastdressproject.com/

For the time being if you have questions, feel free to contact Jamie at 613-723-5755, jamie@groovylinen.com, or Stacey at 613-796-3629, stacey@marrymeproductions.ca

Thank you to everyone for helping us making a difference. We will find a cure for breast cancer.

Readers, we need your feedback....

On your wedding day, shouldn't you be the only thing in a big white dress...not your chairs.

Chair covers come in only a few styles meaning if your venue has odd sized chairs, the chairs can be swimming in the chair covers. When you think of your wedding decor, are you looking for more of a clean and modern look ?

Marry Me Productions has met with a representative that can provide lounge furniture for your weddings/events. However, both the company and MMP want to go directly to our blog readers to see if you would have any interest in these chairs.

Let us know in the comment section. We'd love to bring them to Ottawa if there is enough interest.

Something White for Something Right Photos Posted

It's what all our Something White guests have been waiting for! The gorgeous photos by Sam and Mary Photography have been posted. Here is the link:

http://www.samandmaryphotography.com/pickpic/gallery/splash.php?gallery_id=41

They also assembled a few of their favourite Something White pics on their blog:

http://samandmaryphotography.com/blog/

More good news. If you fall in love with any of the pics you see, they are available for purchase from Sam and Mary directly! Sam and Mary will be donating the proceeds from the sale of all photos to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Thanks Sam and Mary; your support of the event has been inspiring !

The photo gallery will expire on December 15 2009.

It's so much fun to re-live the event though these photos. Everyone looked amazing. Stay tuned for more information about Something White for Something Right 2010.

Happy browsing everyone !

Ceremony of Champions

This is a good example of how a ceremony can be written to celebrate any occasion, an accomplishment, or any life-affirming event.

Priscilla (fictitious name) had been through chemo, radiation, a double mastectomy, and reconstructive surgery - and had become cancer free! Her friends and family wanted to celebrate her, her struggles, her life and her victories. They had been there for her, cried, laughed, baked bread, brought food, watched movies, and prayed.

At the same time, all of them had walked through their own fires of hell at some point in their lives, separately and together. In considering such a ceremony, it also caused everyone involved to internally reflect on what they had overcome to achieve their own personal victories in life, and they realized in their hearts that they were all champions, because they had gotten through those challenges and grown from them. They all needed - and deserved - to be appreciated and celebrated! A place was chosen, a date was set. Each person was asked to bring a small symbol of themselves or their accomplishments.

That night, when all were assembled, we opened with a prayer of gratitude for everyone present. One by one, each person in turn came to the “altar” to place their symbol and tell their story. Many tissues were passed among the circle.

We entered into a guided meditation in preparation for the Burning Bowl, to help reveal the next blocks that each person needed to release in order to move on to the next phase of their life. After the meditation, the obstacles were recorded on paper, taken outside, and placed in the fire as a sign of willingness to let go of fears, frustrations, and self criticisms.

The group reassembled, with each person receiving the gift of a candle with a personal message. As each gift was opened, the message was shared, thoughts were shared, hugs were shared. Again, the tissues were passed around the circle.

The ceremony ended with a heartfelt prayer, but the celebration continued with food, drink, and camaraderie!

Life is to live, to experience, and to celebrate.

Something White for Something Right a Huge Success

The fundraiser was sold out, The Ottawa Citizen showed up, some guests had to be turned away at the door because they didn't have tickets.... all signs of a successful event. An event that was three years in the making for Stacey Price.

But the most important part of the evening was that we made a difference; we educated women (and men) on the importance of discovering and fighting breast cancer. This was done though inspirational speeches, handouts for performing a self examination and a moving video tribute of breast cancer survivors and fighters.

We hope to make this an annual event and we hope to make it larger every year so that everyone can be educated about breast cancer; a disease that 22,700 Canadian women will be diagnosed with in 2009 alone.

Thanks to everyone who made this event a huge success !

Men... need a tux for Something White gala ?

Something White for Something Right is fast approaching, ladies does your date have his tux yet? If not, Moores Clothing for Men is extending a great deal giving men $25 off their tux rental. With this offer, prices start as low as $104.99-$124.99. The deal includes white tuxedo jacket, pants, neckwear, vest, jewellery and shoes.

Please reference group #559313 when placing your order at our South Keys location on 2210 Bank Street.

Order your tux before October 30 to avoid rush fees.

Thanks to the great team at Moores for giving our Something White for Something Right guests this great deal !

Wedding Rings - the Tradition

One of the earliest symbols of marriage, and one that we still use today, is the wedding ring. You may well ask, “But how did it start?”

Centuries ago in Egypt, rings were twisted or braided from reeds - the same reeds from which Egyptian “paper” or papyrus was made. Since a ring (or circle) has no beginning and no end, it represented eternity. The center hole symbolized things known and unknown. When a lover gave a ring, it was in the hopes that the love would be eternal, without end, like the ring. The problem was that the reed ring would only last about a year at best.

When metal was introduced, iron became the chosen material. The ring now had the added symbol of strength. The strong man gave his woman the iron ring so their love would have the strength of iron. But, eventually the iron ring rusted.

Before coinage, the legal tender was gold rings. If a man gave a woman a gold ring, it proved that he trusted her with his wealth. The chosen woman would wear the marriage ring on the third finger of the left hand because it was believed that a vein traveled from that finger directly to the heart.

Along comes Maxmillian, the Archduke of Austria. He desired Mary of Burgundy as his wife and wanted to give her a gift she couldn’t refuse. Upon consulting his counselors, he was advised to give her a diamond ring. He did. She accepted. And thus, the precedent was set for diamond rings as engagement rings.

Many gems were rare, but the diamond was chosen because it was the stone of Venus, the Goddess of Love – and rightly so, because the brilliant diamond carried a fire in its depths that would go on forever.

However, diamonds were so rare that they were only available to the very rich, until the 1800’s, when a huge diamond mine was discovered in South Africa. Several decades later, in the 1900’s, a method was devised to cut the stones in little pieces and mass market them to the general public. Now it was possible for almost anyone to buy a diamond ring. It might be miniscule, but it WAS a diamond - proof of unending love.

In this fast-changing world, I wonder when it will become common for women to give men diamond engagement rings?

Something White is SOLD OUT

Marry Me is happy to announce that Something White for Something Right is officially sold out !

We thank everyone who has purchased tickets. We are looking forward to spending an amazing evening with you !

Say 'Cheese' to no cheesy photos

http://www.michellepattee.com/ is a professional photographer in the US who has been shooting brides for 15 years. Below, she shares some tips for brides to put their best face forward for their wedding day photographs to make everyone smile for years to come. (Photo is courtesy of Michelle Pattee)

1. Get some rest, and plenty of it. The night before your wedding will probably be a party, but make every effort possible to get eight hours of sleep. It is the best beauty treatment out there and it does not cost a cent. Try to pack in the sleep hours the week before your wedding also – it will definitely make a difference. If you are feeling overwhelmed with tasks, then delegate, delegate, delegate, so you can hit the hay!

2. Don’t get your first facial the week of your wedding. If you have never been to an aesthetician, then pace yourself and schedule your treatments in advance. Your skin may react unpleasantly and you need a window of time for it to calm down. Skin treatments are more effective in a series, and should begin at least six months before your Big Day.

3. Drink water. I know you have heard this plenty before, but it plumps the skin. Plus, it ranks as another FREE beauty treatment and we like those. Eat something too. You may be too nervous for food on your wedding day, but you must eat, especially breakfast. You need the fuel food provides to get you through the party (and the photo session).

4. Put your faith in yourself. Go with your gut when you hire your photographer. She or he will be in very close proximity to you on a day in your life that is like no other. Listen to your instincts when you are interviewing prospective shooters and ask yourself these questions: Can I be comfortable around this person, even in my bathrobe? Will my family and friends be comfortable with this person? You will be relaxed and confident, and that will translate though to the photographs, if you are at ease with your photographer.

5. Put your faith in your photographer. Once you have hired your photo soul mate, hand over the reins and let them fly. Tell them in advance of your wedding day, about any insecurities or opinions you have when it comes to being photographed. Once that is covered, don’t give it another thought. On the day of your wedding, let the photographer direct you and try not to second guess their instructions.

Stamp of Approval

Everything you put on your wedding invitation is important- even the stamp affixed to the outside envelope. Continue your wedding's theme or colour scheme by personalizing a stamp for your wedding invitations, save-the-date cards, RSVPs or even your thank you cards.

Canada Post's website has all the instructions and you can do it from your home by simply uploading a digital photo:

http://tinyurl.com/dox5n

Take a photo of you and your fiance, or perhaps a flower that will be included in the centrepieces, the church you'll be married at or your honeymoon destination. If you want to include the photo-stamp on your thank you cards, use one from your wedding day or from your honeymoon !

The Sand Ceremony

A very popular addition to wedding services is the Sand Ceremony. It’s usually performed by the bride and groom, each having a vial of sand of their chosen color, and pouring it at the same time into some sort of a container. You may have heard about it or seen it performed. It’s very symbolic in that each person, represented by their color of sand, is willing to pour themselves forth to be joined by the other person, represented by their color of sand, to create a new color, a new item, a new family.

At least that’s the basic idea of the ceremony.

Whenever someone mentions Sand Ceremony, I immediately think of this one particular couple. If you asked their names, I would have to say Barbie and Ken. (You remember Barbie & Ken!?) She was thin, lithe, blond and beautiful. He was gorgeous, so handsome in his perfectly fitted tux. Standing together, they were radiant; fairly glowing in their love for each other.

Fast forward to the “sand” time in the ceremony. They gracefully process to the small, draped, table that holds her vial of blue sand to represent peace and his vial of red sand to represent love, or passion. Together they pick up their vials, together they start pouring and mingling their sand. And then I notice that his hand is still poised but no longer tipping. She keeps pouring, then realizes he isn’t, looks up at him and down again at the vial. He returns her look and smiles, letting a few grains of sand fall. She continues to pour. He holds his own, so to speak.

Again, she lovingly looks up at him and down at the vial. Again he lets a few more grains of sand fall. A few more desperate darts of her eyes back and forth, forth and back. Now she is out of sand.

Dump, goes his sand. The last half vial of bright red sand squarely sits on top of hers. Exactly what is he trying to tell her? Maybe he feels that his passion is enough to overcome any obstacle. Maybe the sand was damp and wouldn’t pour. I don’t know. I didn’t ask.

The Sand Ceremony usually works out very nicely and the couple has a new, beautiful container filled with a symbol of their union which they put in a place of honor in their new home.

This ceremony may also be written to include the parents. But I’ll leave that story for another blog, another time.

Something White for Something Right: Update

As of September 17, only 37 tickets were left. Visit http://www.somethingwhite.ca/ to purchase your ticket before they are sold out! don't miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity !

Ottawa Wedding Show this Weekend

Come and visit Marry Me's booth at the Ottawa Wedding Show at Landsdowne Park this weekend. Show hours Saturday and Sunday are from 10am to 5pm. We can't wait to meet you !

http://www.ottawaweddingshow.com/

Honeymoon Hot Find

It's easy to forget about the details regarding your honeymoon when you have napkin folds and signature drinks to design for your wedding day. Your honeymoon wardrobe should not be overlooked, and thinking about it also gives your mind a nice break from the wedding planning process.

We absolutely love the clutches from http://www.kaijany.com/

They are small enough for travel and the selection is vast enough that you can find bags for the evening or for daytime sightseeing. What's even better is that they are made from organic, natural, eco-friendly materials. And a portion of all purchases goes to UNICEF's program for orphan children.

Who said you can't look good while saving the earth ?

Send us your photos !

Click......Flash......"What are you wearing?"....."Big Smiles Everyone".....Click.....Flash.......

In keeping with the 'new theme' (new website, new look), we will begin featuring a wedding of the month on our blog where we will feature photos and details of a special couple's big day that we were lucky enough to be a part of.

We don't want our past brides to be left out of this so ex-MMP brides, please send us your paparazzi shots from your wedding:

stacey@marrymeproductions.ca

Looking so forward to putting together these portfolios !

Tune in

Tune into Kiss FM (105.3 on the FM dial) Friday August 14 at 7:30am to hear Marry Me talk in detail about Something White for Something Right ! If you're not near a radio, you can tune in online at:

http://www.1053kissfm.com/

Tickets are selling fast so get yours today.

OH WHAT A DAY!

The team at Marry Me Productions was honored to be the wedding planner for the Spezza wedding last weekend. After a year of planning, everything went off without a hitch.
A special thanks to all the vendors who helped to make the day run smoothly, we could not have done it without you!
We would like to wish Jennifer and Jason all the best as they begin their journey as husband and wife.

Exciting News !

Have you ever stared at that gorgeous wedding dress hidden deep in your closet thinking about how fast the big day went and how you'd love to wear it one last time? Well Marry Me Productions has the event for you !

Something White for Something Right will take place on Saturday November 7 2009 (starting at 5:00pm) at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa. The idea behind it is that all ladies must wear their wedding dress (or something else all white- including your men!)

The evening will include cocktails, makeup application, jewellery rentals, a four course meal, live entertainment, dancing and amazing prizes. All proceeds from the evening will benefit the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Tickets are $150 each or purchase a table for 8 guests for $1,000.

For tickets, call 613-796-3639. Our website has not gone 'live' yet but keep checking http://www.somethingwhite.ca/ for more information leading up to the big event !

Say YES to your wedding dress (again) and join us on November 7 2009.

Be Ready for Wedding

Wedding is the eternal relation and when you will meet with your dream partner on your wedding day and that feeling is not described in words. Your look and your dress will makes you eye catching and if you feel romantic and sensual than you need to dress in the softer fabric.

The Bridal Couture gives you the softer and elegance thinking that enhances your beauty and the Bridal Couture design is the beast designs that never forgotten in your life. Stunning wedding gown with perfect tailoring will give you the best look.

Every gown is created on your taste and style and your look will be closed in the photography forever which tells the story of your beauty and treasures in alls heart. The latest fabrics like chiffon, organza, duchess satin and French lace with the ultimate decoration of the Swarovski crystals and beautiful embroidery makes it stunning and beautiful and this is touch of modern designs and picky designs make it classic and pretty.

Why wedding flowers are important in weddings

Everyone knows that wedding flowers has its own importance in every kind of wedding and wedding flowers have been using from ancient times in wedding ceremony and a flowers are the symbol of beauty that’s why our society or all over the wedding flowers are used in the wedding.


Flowers look so beautiful and for increasing, the beauty atmosphere of your wedding ceremony and wedding flowers plays very important role so I think that use wedding flowers in yours or yours friends wedding it will increase the attractiveness of your wedding.

If we talk about wedding accessories of any wedding and it is sure that wedding flowers comes in the top. Wedding flowers are very important in type of wedding whether it has related to Indian culture and Muslims culture etc and wedding flowers have been using in all cultures form preceding years.

Wedding Horse Riding

Horse riding is itself full of enjoy and excitement and this is done during wedding ceremony and its excitement is on peak. Horse riding is also a ritual of wedding ceremony in many religions and in India and horse riding is very old tradition that is performed to arrive at the wedding place with dance and music. Groom rides on horse to get married with his sweat heart and wedding horse riding is a symbol of status and honor and even this trend is moving to wedding car traveling.

At present various many people like to use a car to reach at the wedding spot because there are many reasons behind it such as less availability of wedding horse, high cost and more. In some religion it is necessary due to their oldest wedding rituals. The people who believe in their oldest wedding tradition prefer horse riding during wedding ceremony and thus as wedding horse riding ritual is in practice still now.

Spend Friday Morning with Marry Me

Marry Me Productions will be featured on the A Channel's morning news program at 8:35am this Friday (Friday June 26 2009).

We will be featuring theme party ideas for a child's birthday party and adult's birthday party.

Tune in for some great ideas!

Modify free wedding vows

A well-versed and well rehearsed wedding vow, especially when it comes from the heart, sends a certain chill to everyone who hears it. Vows have been a long time tradition in wedding ceremonies. The promise of a lifetime commitment to each other despite of difficulties and differences guarantee that true love really exists. Isn’t that a nice thought?

Both the groom and bride exchange wedding vows. Commonly, the vows would include a pledge of unselfishness, faithfulness, and unconditional love. If you are in the dark on what to write in your wedding vows, don’t be! You can find one of a kind wedding vow just by a click of your mouse. Surfing the internet for wedding vows proved to be a good source of ideas and tips that you can readily use on your wedding day. You may need to pay for the service on some sites, but you can scout one for free too.

Free wedding vows do away with the traditional and scripted promise one hears over and over again in common wedding ceremonies. The good thing about free wedding vows on the net, aside from the fact that they are free, they give you the freedom and flexibility to write what you want to say from your heart. You can modify the free sample vows or if you find the writing incredibly heart-warming, you can go ahead and use it without revisions.

There are different vows you can choose from. Like everything, vows can be customized according to the circumstances that you are in. There can be vows specially written for second marriage couples, couples with children, religious variations or wedding anniversaries. Using poetry as part of a vow is a common practice too. Those of Gibran, Keats and Browning are popular choices. You can browse on some internet sites that can even offer a free worksheet format and questionnaires that you need to fill out for you to easily modify your chosen wedding vow. These will serve as your guideline so that you can re-evaluate what you want to say.

Before that big day, preparing your wedding vows is very crucial. Writing your vows together is a very special activity that is highly recommended.

When writing a wedding vow together, set a specific time and place where the two of you can have some privacy. You can jot down your promises on a separate sheet of paper and agree to compare what you’ve written after an hour or so. First, write a letter professing your love for your partner. Do not hesitate to elaborate what you are feeling. Be creative and be sure to take note of your favorite and memorable times together, either good or bad. Some suggestions are the first time that you met, the moment when finally said ‘yes’ or when a trying situation happened but still your love for each others endure. Grab sweet lines from songs, books or scriptures that translate your love for your partner. After writing down your letter, get back together and read each other’s writings. Reading the letters can be truly heart-warming. Prepare to share a laugh or even occasional crying. Share your thoughts on the best part of the letter and from there start your outline for your vows.

The secret of a good wedding vow is making it a personal commitment to your other half and make sure that the message you convey are made clear and simple. Nothing beats anything that genuinely comes from the heart.

Free Wedding Speeches, helpful or dreadful?

You’re sitting in your couch watching TV on a Saturday night, minding your own business and then your Best friend calls you up, tells you he’s getting hitched and wants you to be his best man. You sweat, but can’t decline, so you end up agreeing on a toast at the wedding. After you hang up the phone, you go straight to the net and search for Free Wedding speeches.

Get the picture? Statistics have shown that more people are afraid of public speaking then they are of more common fears, and it is indeed a very fearful act, speaking in public, anything you say cannot be taken back, and if you say something bad, you’ll get foot “in” mouth disease.

But does looking for free speeches on the net really help? Most of the time you’ll find some cheap tips on how to make the perfect, speech or how to say it. Or maybe you’ll be lucky enough to find one that is already made, and you’ll just have to print it. But these speeches tend to be rather, impersonal and very general, and if you’re the best man, you’ll probably just end up boring your friends and family.

When making speeches, the simpler the better, you won’t have to depend on free wedding speeches off the net if you have memories of your friends.

What you are asked to do on a wedding toast is to tell the people something about your friends, the ones getting married, how they were meant for each other and how you wish them happiness for the rest of their lives. You don’t need a factory made, winding speech, all you need is memories, and your genuine care for your loved ones.

If you’re still having the jiggly stomach about giving your speech you can follow these free wedding speech tips, they may not be ready made but they’ll surely help.

- Forget the preaching go on with the memories
Most people give winding speeches because they tend to give “unasked advice” leave that to the marriage counselor or the pastor, just give ‘em memories. Most couples appreciate the nostalgia of a few well chosen memories. Find a funny or a touching memory you have of the couple and share it with the room, plus a few well wishes and you’re done.

- go for short but effective, rather than long and winding
Many of us know that a long speech is very boring; you don’t want to dull the night with your talks of your childhood, and your games, with your friend. A biography is for a book, one or two memories are for a wedding.

- Write a Poem
You may say that poems are for sissies but that depends on every person point of view. But a Wedding Is a very emotional moment and it’s sure that everyone is in the mood for a little emotion and tears and what more to provoke those dams to flow than a few well said lines in the form of a poem?

- Don’t forget to introduce yourself
A simple “Jade has been my friend since high school and I’ve never seen her gaga over any guy other than Andrew” Make a basis for what you’re saying, especially if you’re talking about moments in the newlywed’s life. If it was a trial, you’re the witness, and you’ll need credibility. Just imagine would people “feel” your speech if they’re don’t know who the heck you are?

Tips in selecting discount wedding invitations

Choosing a wedding invitation is very important because it will give your guests a first impression or glimpse of what your actual wedding will be like. A wedding invitation must, first and foremost, reflect your wedding theme and motif. Wedding invitations also often serves the purpose of being delightful keepsakes.

However, the right wedding invitation need not cost an arm and a leg. It is not wise to spend a fortune that can be used somewhere else. The range of kinds and styles of discount wedding invitation is vast. Choosing a particular one can be very confusing. There are discount wedding invitations and if you follow the guidelines below you will definitely never go wrong in choosing one. The key is to be prudent and not letting yourself get carried away. You can even save more money if you follow these guidelines.

Choose wedding invitation style well. As mentioned earlier, your primary consideration in choosing a wedding invitation style is the theme and motif of your wedding. Is your wedding grad or simple? Will your wedding be light or formal? Other than that, it all depends on personal taste and budget. But whatever your taste or budget range is, you will definitely be able to find a good wedding invitation. If you want, you can even buy some cards and design your own invitation by buying a printing kit which is offered by some wedding service providers.

Determine the kind of wedding you’ll have. Your type of wedding invitation will largely depend on whether you will have a traditional or modern wedding. Traditional weddings would require a more formal invitation. On the other hand, a modern wedding will call for a more modern kind of wedding invitation. Traditional wedding invitations would only contain texts. It wouldn’t contain any graphics. Traditional wedding invitations are usually upright and folded with the words engraved on the right side. Cards used in traditional wedding invitations are usually white or cream and the letterings are in silver and black. If you are having a themes wedding then choose a wedding invitation that is appropriate for your chosen theme. For example, you can have a sixteenth century scrolled parchment wedding invitation if the theme of your wedding is Tudor.

Choosing a supplier. Wedding invitations can be obtained by mail order, printer, stationers and stationery designers or you can buy online. Choose a supplier hat provides value added services and features so you will get real value for your money. Some suppliers will help you right the wording in your wedding invitation. Some will even help you with wedding etiquette rules and would help you if you are confused about all the etiquette rules involved in sending out wedding invitations. It would also be nice if the supplier has trained and experienced wedding etiquette and social correctness experts. Choose a supplier that offers personalized service so you can be sure that you are not getting run of the mill wedding invitation.

A good discount wedding invitation supplier will also respond to your inquiries and requests promptly either through email or by phone. But your privacy must always be requested so make sure that any personal information you provide to them is used for the sole purpose of processing your order. Your order must be transmitted across a secure server, so your billing information is kept private.

American Wedding

Living in the US makes one feel free - free to do anything, free to live, free to love, free from traditions. While this is true, there are still many practices done during wedding that renders this memorable event with a distinct American touch. Here are some:

Starting from the engagement, Americans can think of unique ways to personalize their wedding. As there really isn't any engagement tradition, the more unique the marriage proposal is done, the better.

For most wedding preparations, the engaged couple visits their parents to inform them of their recent engagement.

At times, the engaged couple hosts an engagement party. The engagement party costs less than a wedding reception since most of the time, the menu will only include cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Therefore, if the couple is on a tight budget, they can just invite more guests to the engagement party if they plan to limit the number of guests during the wedding.

Most wedding preparations have a bridal shower given by the maid of honor and the bridesmaids. The groom may also have a bachelor party the night before the wedding but he has to be careful not to drink too much.

Wedding invitations should include response cards to quickly inform the couple whether the person has accepted or declined the invitation. The wedding invitations should also be sent within four to six weeks before the event.

Usually, there is a rehearsal dinner in which the wedding party and guests came from far places to be present at the wedding attend. It was practiced that the groom's parents pay for this dinner.

A bridal luncheon may be hosted for the bride's attendants during the wedding day. However, time constraints may not permit this to be part of the schedule for the wedding day. Likewise, the groom may also host a groom's dinner for his groomsmen.

Interestingly, even if the couple is not very religious, they still prefer a religious ceremony. However, this may pose a problem since in America people of different faiths and religious backgrounds get married.

Even if there are few people who believe in bad luck, some couples still make sure that the groom does not see his bride until she starts waking on the aisle.

It is still practiced that the groom and his groomsmen enter the church through a side door. The bride will then walk down the aisle with her father. In some cases when both her father and stepfather brought up the bride, she may ask them both to escort her.

During a formal reception, there is usually a bridal table where the couple and the attendants sit. Also, food and drinks should be served as the guests appear at the reception.

Before, gift giving used to depend on what the guest will feel useful for the couple. Now, it is better to register for gifts so the guests will know what to bring that the couple will need.

Upon receiving an engagement or wedding gift, it is better to send a thank you note apart from saying "thank you" to the giver. This should be sent within two weeks upon receipt of the gift. Make a personalized thank you note, instead of using an impersonal generic thank you note.

These are just some American practices during weddings. Whether one chooses to this or prefers to have a very different wedding, what's more important is that American's still believe in the wedding vow, "For better or worse, 'til death do us part."

Cheap Wedding Dress Or Best Wedding Dress

Bride to be, as you plan your wedding on a tight budget there is already enough anxiety attached to getting the perfect gown at a price you can live with. When the internet came into being, it became easier to search for a cheap wedding dress that could fit your budget, along with style, elegance and taste.

As a girl, the wedding dress really bring us to much imagine, and the dream has begian at the first sight of Mr Right. however, do you know how can select an elegent, delicated design wedding dress with low price. No one deny that the wedding is sacred, a siutable wedding dress will give bride and groom more happy and romantic feelings.

Compared with Europe , some Asia countries can supply quality and more competitive price for bride to be. The mateirals they use in the wedding dress making are best silk that from China Hangzhou (a well-known China silk city with more than 1000 years) or India. If you are considering buying direct from China, or overseas, here are a few additional things to consider, based on some independent research. You need to Beware because the pictures they use do not always represent the actual dress that they send.

Here is a source for a cheap wedding dress online. You can go to the Aminweddingdress bridal Online Store website and find prices that are 60-80 percent lower than bridal shops. I hope this article will give you useful information of quality and Cheap wedding dress.

How to Plan a Cheap Wedding
Don't let the title fool you! A Cheap wedding doesn't mean running off and eloping or running down to city hall on your lunch hour. You can have a very memorable wedding and not spend an arm and a leg on the whole event.

Here are some tips to save money and cut on the costs.

Tip1: Cut back on some of the guests. Every time a name gets added you are adding to the catering bill, the table arrangements and postage. A Good rule of thumb is this, if you haven't seen or talked to them in 5 years, it won't hurt for them to miss the event. Don't feel obligated to invite everyone you work with and just because some one is single, they don't have to bring a date and veto children.

Tip2: There are a couple of ways to save money in this category. If you just have to have the invitations done by a professional, get rid of the inner envelope, blotter paper and the R.S.V.P cards. Have people respond back by email or by telephone. Of course, another way to save money is buy your own paper stock and print them yourself. It will take some time, but will save money in the long run.

Tip3: The wedding dress. Cheap weddings don't mean you have to forgo the lavish wedding dress. Search the web; check Ebay and Craigslist for people selling used dresses. There are also sample sales and resale shops. Other things to look for are bridal stores that have special sales on certain dresses for 99.00 and up. You may not get all the lace and pearls, but still have a beautiful dress.

Tip4: The day you are having your wedding could cost your more than you think. Saturdays one the big day for weddings and as such vendors are usually booked. Change the day to a weeknight or a Sunday. Vendors may cut you deals or give you discounts on packages.

Tip5: If you are having a church wedding, try to plan around a holiday. The church will already be decorated and could save you a ton on flowers and decorations. Candlelight ceremonies are also romantic. Try those for off days in the church. Candles are usually abundant.

Tip6: Another way to have a cheap wedding is check with family and friends see who can do what and see who they know. You may have a preacher or minister in the family, some who is crafty and can design center pieces or help you do corsages or put together the flower arrangements. Maybe you know someone that has a bar or a restaurant and would let you use it on the day he or she is normally closed. Or maybe there is an aspiring photographer in the family, give them practice and get your wedding pictures free or at least at a discount.

These are just a few tips for have a cheap wedding but still having a memorable day and including family and friends. It doesn't take a lot of money to have a good time and keep a memory for the rest of your life.

How to plan a low cost wedding: Focus on these eight specific areas.

Food: When it comes to food there are a number of creative ways to save on food costs. Wedding venues that cater for the event will build healthy margins into the food they serve as is expected when running a business. They will also charge differently depending on the day of the week and time of the day. By doing some leg work you can pick a venue and establish your cost guidelines that fits in with you budget allocations. Sometimes picking a venue that doesn’t break the bank and using your own source of catering can end up being cheaper. Examine the options before you proceed.

Bar: Buying wholesale will definitely save you money. If you use a reception center this is not likely permitted. By hiring your own venue you may be able to assemble your own team of caters/waiters and supply the alcohol and food. If you find a suitable venue then this low budget wedding tip can save you thousands alone.

Wedding attire: In general, the more formal you make the occasion the more expensive the cost. Consider employing a less formal approach. You can still look stunning by selecting wedding attire that doesn’t cost a fortune. Custom made dresses are often expensive and if you do some research you can often find a discount designer dress at a greatly reduced price.

Flowers: Select flowers that are stunning in appearance but not as expensive as high end alternatives. There are also other ways to employ decorations that can minimize your investment in flowers. By having one main centerpiece and using other decorations you can greatly reduce the money you need to allocate towards floral arrangements.

Photography & Videography: This is a major cost and is something you will need to carefully consider. Having a professional do the job is essential because it is something you will cherish for years to come. If you are investigating cost cutting in this area you need to make sure that the person you employ has the necessary professional expertise and experience to be able to deliver a high quality reproduction of the event. You can go for a student to reduce costs but you need to make sure they will be able to handle the job.

Music: If you are going to hire someone to provide the music this will add additional expense. You can save in this area by using prerecorded music or by hiring a person who is musically talented but doesn’t charge professional rates. Asking friends can often produce someone who is talented and can be booked at a greatly reduced cost.

Honeymoon: Saving money on your honeymoon depends on a number of factors including the time of the year, duration and the honeymoon destination. You will have to be prepared to do extensive online research to find bargains. You can often get a great deal by traveling at the end of the season. Making use of any frequent flyer miles can also help reduce your honeymoon costs.

Guest List: Keeping the numbers down will greatly reduce your costs. If you have a large guest list then you will need to find an approach that reduces the cost per head. You can also save on your wedding invitations by creating your own. If you add humor to the occasion you can often create memorable invitations that will really strike a chord with your friends for very little outlay.

The above represents some basic guidelines to plan a cheap wedding. The more you research the more creative solutions you will find. It just takes time and a little effort. Creating a memorable wedding that doesn’t cost a fortune is attainable for everyone provided you are prepared to do a little leg work.