Tips For The Perfect Wedding

by Priscilla Bernstein

Many brides ask me this question, as they dread having to decide who will sit next to who, and who to put on which table at their wedding party. Well I’m afraid I usually tell them ‘no’. Having unassigned seating at your wedding reception has a lot of drawbacks, a few of which are listed below.

• It will take more time for your guests to sit down
• There will be a stampede for the ‘good seats’
• People may be refused seats that are ‘saved’ for friends
• Couples and families with children may get split up
• Some people will have to take seats at tables where they don’t know anyone
• Guests may have unsuitable seats, e.g. deaf grandparents sitting at the back

- Determining your type of seating plan

Before you begin to design your seating plan, call your chosen venue and make sure you know how many tables you will have access to, how they will be arranged, and how many people can sit comfortably at each table. The shape of your venue and the arrangement of the tables can have an enormous impact on your seating plan.

So are you going to assign actual seats to your guests or are you simply going to assign them to a specified table? In the US it is more common just to assign a table and let your guests make up their own mind about who they sit next to. This gives your guests a bit more choice, and is certainly less work for you. In Europe it is probably more common to assign actual seats. The argument is that this helps planning, but I suspect it helps matchmaking just as much!

- The following tips may help in arranging your seating plan

• It is perfectly alright to mix the bride and groom’s families if that is practical, after all they will be meeting again many times in the future so they need to get to know one another

• Try to put people of similar age on a table to keep conversation flowing. Grouping guests by interests can also be effective.

• Make sure there is at least one person on each table that will try to start up a conversation, and if possible try to make sure that everybody knows at least one other person on their table

• Try to get a balance of male and female on every table. If the couple have a lot of single friends, a singles table with alternate men and women can produce interesting results

• Couples do not necessarily need to sit right next to each other but should be placed on the same table. I once saw a couple leave the wedding breakfast to eat at the pub down the road because they had been put on opposite sides of the room

• Younger children should sit with their parents but if you have many older children attending you could consider a special child’s table

• You can legitimately split up large groups of friends; they will have plenty of time to socialise when the dancing starts, so they do not all need to sit as a group during the meal

- Check which of your guests have special needs

There are a number of special needs you may need to take into account when designing your seating plan:

• Elderly or pregnant guests may need easy access to the facilities
• Guests with limited sight or hearing will need to sit near the speech makers
• Parents with young children will need space for a highchair
• Disabled guests may need space for a wheelchair

Many of these guests should be seated at tables which will not be moved away to create room for dancing later on. This gives them the option to remain seated once the meal is over, should they choose to do so.

When you issue your invitations make sure you ask whether your guests have any allergies or particular nutritional needs. If you have many vegetarians, and guests with food allergies or intolerances, it may be worth opting for assigning specific places, rather than tables, so it is easier for the caterers to get the right dish to the right guest.

- How to deal with guests that don’t like each other

There are likely to be some members of your wedding party that don’t get on very well. Whether they are ex lovers or cousins that have a longstanding grudge, it is best for you and your guests if you can keep them as far apart as possible during the meal. Don’t think you can make them put their differences aside for your big day. You can’t. Also make sure both parties have seats equally near the top table so that you don’t appear to be taking sides in their feud.

- Don’t be afraid to be different

Finally I would advise you to consult your own feelings in designing your seating plan. It is your big day after all. If you have an original idea, don’t be afraid to try it out. I recently attended a Swedish wedding where there were guests from all over the world. Because of this the couple placed a leaflet in each guest’s place listing the names of every other guest and a few interesting or amusing facts about each one. The caption about my husband mentioned that he was a big fan of fast cars, and as luck would have it the young man sitting on my right worked for a well known motor racing team. Needless to say the conversation flowed easily on our table.

Priscilla Bernstein is an experienced author, whose research and writing focuses on society subjects. You may view further wedding planning ideas at Wedding Decorations and selecting a Wedding Party Gift

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by SamD

The invitation you choose will be your guests’ first impression of your wedding. For this reason, it is important to pick a style that is consistent with the formality and personality of your event. Don’t choose traditional highly formal invitations if your wedding will be a casual, contemporary affair. Many brides today are expressing their style with custom invitations. Handmade papers pressed with flowers, can offer an especially romantic touch.

The Basics

Wedding etiquette provides three invitation options. One of these formats will work for your ceremony and celebration.

1. Use a combination wedding/reception invitation if your events are at the same place and all guests are invited to both. The phrase “reception immediately following the ceremony” typically appears on this invitation.

2. Order separate wedding invitations if your reception will follow at another location or many guests are invited only to the ceremony. A reception card inserted into the primary envelope invites guests to the reception.

3. A reception invitation is appropriate when only family and close friends are invited to the wedding. In this case, a ceremony card invites guests to the service. An RSVP card should be inserted into the primary invitation envelope unless yours is a wedding only invitation. A response set, containing a reply card and self-addressed stamped envelope, is usually enclosed.

Choices

1. Engraved invitations are the most traditional and most expensive. Engraving raises the letters on your invitations so that you can feel each character when you run a finger across the back of the paper.
2. Thermography results in raised print that doesn’t press through the back of the paper. The letters are shinier than engraved characters and less expensive.

3. Embossing is great for formal invitations or if you want initials on your thank you notes or stationery. Large initials or borders are usually embossed.

The Wording

Invitations are always written in the third person. Spell out everything- date, time, numbers and names.
The only acceptable abbreviations are Mr., Mrs., Ms., and Jr.
Besides announcing your upcoming marriage, your wedding invitation needs to convey: who is hosting the affair, the level of formality (casual, semiformal, formal) the time, date, and location

It should also include any special information (for example, that only cake and champagne will be served at the reception so guests don’t expect dinner, or that it will be an outdoor reception so guests can dress properly).

Traditional wording includes: no punctuation marks except for commas after the day of the week or periods after abbreviations British spellings for words like honour and favour dates and times are spelled out (the fifteenth of May; half after three o’clock) and a.m. or p.m. are not used church addresses are omitted, except in large cities.

In a case where only some of the ceremony guests are invited to a reception afterward, separate cards announcing. “Reception immediately following the ceremony” and naming the location should be printed and placed in the invited guests’ envelopes. Otherwise, printing the above reception announcements directly on the invitation is appropriate. Street addresses and zip codes need not be included in invitation text, except in the R.S.V.P. address.

Enclosure Cards

There are re several types of enclosure cards which you mat wish to include with your invitation to address special arrangements.

Ceremony Cards - to invite a limited number of guests to the ceremony.

Response Cards - Wedding invitations include response cards as a convenience to their guests. The guests simply fill in their name and let you know how many guests will or will not be attending. Then they mail it back to you or the host in the enclosed self-addressed, stamped envelope.

The last day for your guests to respond should be two to four weeks before the wedding. This will give you enough time to contact the guests who have not responded and to get a final head count for your caterer.

Sample

Kindly respond on or before
June 15, 2008
Name (s) ______________________
____ Declines with regret
____ Number of Persons Attending

Directions Cards - these should be complete with directions to your ceremony and/or reception from the major highways in your area. A map is often included. On the back side of the direction card, you may choose to include options for accommodations for your out-of-town guests.

The separate Reception Cards - In your invitation you may enclose a separate enclosure inviting your guests to the reception. The reception card states the time, date and place of the reception. However, if the guests are invited to both the ceremony and the reception, you could invite the guests to the reception at the bottom of the ceremony invitation.

Rain Cards - Will your guests know what to do if your outdoor wedding is rained out? On the face side of your map card, write out directions to and the name/address of the ceremony and/or reception if moved indoors at the last minute.

At Home Cards - A nice way to provide others with your new name and address.

Quantity & Timing

You’ll need one for every married couple, each single adult guest, your parents, each attendant and their parents (if invited), your attendants’ dates (if single), children over the age of 18 (even if the invitation is being sent to their parents at the same address), everyone in the groom’s family as well as your wedding officiant and guests. Order extras for emergencies and keepsakes. Extra envelopes are a must; as they allow for any mistakes you make when addressing.

Print at least 4 months before your wedding.
Mail six to eight weeks in advance of your big day!
If you’re planning a Destination Wedding send ‘Save-the-Date’ cards, which specify that the invitations will follow, at least 6 months in advance.

Include date and location of wedding along with information on accommodations and reservations. A good time would be about ten to twelve weeks before the wedding. You want your guests to be able to make their travel plans in order to attend your wedding. Not only will they have to make travel plans, but they will also have to make sure that they have vacation time off from work.

If your wedding is taking place during a busy time of the year (such as Christmas or a three-day weekend), you should mail your invitations ten to twelve weeks before the big day. This will give your guests ample time to plan their holidays and weekends around your wedding day.

Assembly

When your invitations are delivered from the printer, you’ll have to assemble the many components. (If possible, enlist your bridesmaids or fiancé to help.) With all the text facing up, layer the insertions in this order:
The main invitation
The tissue paper (if you want - it’s not necessary)
The reception card (if you’re using them)
All other cards in order of size (smallest on top)
Slip the entire package into the ungummed inner envelope (if you’re using them) so that the text is facing the flap. Finally, insert the inner envelope, with the guest’s name facing the flap, into the outer, gummed envelope, which gets sealed.

Addressing

Common titles such as Mr., Mrs., and Ms. can be abbreviated.
If you are sending an invitation to a teenager, be sure to put a title before their name (Miss, Mr.).
Be sure to also include the street address and zip codes on the outer envelope. The street name and state should be spelled out.
Spell out special titles (Rabbi David Turner), including for guests who are medical doctors or have academic degrees by which they are commonly referred to (see examples below).
For couples who are married, without special titles: Mr. and Mrs. Bert Allred
For couples who are unmarried, living together: Put names on separate lines in alphabetical order
For couples who are unmarried, living separately: Send a separate invitation to each at their respective addresses.
It’s unnecessary to include children’s names on the outer envelope, but do list them on the inner envelope with their parents (Mr. and Mrs. Bert Allred and Carl). The absence of a child’s name implies that he or she is not invited.
Before posting your invitations, be sure to take a fully assembled sample to the post office and have it weighed one last time to confirm how much postage each one requires. Be sure to buy pretty stamps for both the outer envelope and the reply card envelope, and apply them neatly.

Formal titles such as Doctor, Reverend, and Captain should be written:

Minister:
Outer envelope: The Reverend George Johnson
Inner envelope: The Reverend Johnson
Roman Catholics would use Father

Rabbi:
Outer envelope: Rabbi George Jones
Inner envelope: Rabbi Jones

Doctor:
Outer envelope: David Turner, M.D. or Doctor David Turner
Inner envelope: Dr. Turner

Lawyer:
Outer envelope: Ms. Patricia Pinkerton, Esq.
Inner envelope: Ms. Pinkerton

Judge:
Outer envelope: The Honorable David Turner
Inner envelope: Judge Turner

Captain:
Outer envelope: Captain John Doe
Inner envelope: Captain Doe

Professor:
Outer envelope: Professor John Doe or John Doe, Ph.D.
Inner envelope: Prof. Doe

Sam D. writes for http://www.bridalmart4corners.com and http://www.yourwayelectronics.com for more articles please go to our websites.

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Only in America will you find dogs all dressed up and walking down the aisle! Don’t get me wrong, I am a dog lover myself, but I have to admit I was a little concerned when I arrived to the wedding and found out the bride was sending the rings down the aisle with her two beloved doggies.

I am an ordained interfaith minister and have been performing non-traditional, unique ceremonies since 1999. My philosophy is it is your day and you should have it your way. My concern was not that she wanted the dogs in the ceremony, after all my philosophy is it is your day and you should have it your way. My concern was more of a practical one. The wedding was taking place outside within a fenced area, which was right next to a large pond with lots of birds and ducks. It can be difficult to count on children behaving just right in a ceremony, let alone trying to keep a dog from barking or God Forbid, chasing a bird or duck that should happen across his path.

I understood that the pets were very important to the bride. They had been an integral part of her life, and she wanted them to be a part of her wedding ceremony. And, if that is what she wanted, then that is what she should have. She had arranged to have a ring pillow attached to a harness on the back of each dog. In order for the wedding rings to stay put, they would need to be tied pretty tightly, which at the altar can be a problem!

Nervous grooms with shaky hands can have a difficult time untying tight knots. On the other hand, if she did not tie them tightly, the walking motion of the dogs (or running) may cause the wedding rings to come loose and fall to the ground. Can’t you see it now, loose wedding rings rolling around on the ground and people falling all over each other to try to catch them? This would not be a good scene and definitely not a moment to cherish for a lifetime.

My suggested solution to her was simple. She could put fake wedding rings on the pillows and give the real wedding rings to a trusted adult member of the bridal party. That way, she could incorporate the animals she loved so dearly, while not risking the loss or damage to the real rings. (By the way, we do that all of the time with little kids and ring pillows!) With a little creativity and forethought, you can really have just about anything on your wedding day that you desire!

Rev. Kathy Karlander is an ordained interfaith minister in the Order of Melchizedek. Since 1999 she has specialized in creating unique and memorable wedding ceremonies for her clients. Now you can put your own unique, meaningful ceremony together with the help of her ebook, Your Wedding Your Way, at http://www.writeyourceremony.com.

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By Low Jeremy -

Have no ideas where to go on your honeymoon? Here are the top honeymoon destinations in America you can consider according to the result of user’s searches on the internet:

Hawaii – Despite the fact that going and spending vacation in Hawaii or honeymoon for that matter, are expensive, it is still the primary choice destination of honeymooner. And who would not dream of spending their honeymoon here. The long white sand beaches, endless velvet waters, perfect weather, natural wonders, world-class hotels, top-notch accommodation, hidden coves, water sports, and inventive cuisine are enough reasons to spend time honeymoon in Hawaii.

New York and Niagara Falls – The Big Apple has attracted newlyweds do spend their honeymoon. With plenty of things to do including visiting the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, dining at fancy restaurants, shopping, and witnessing other forms of entertainment, New York City is the place to be.

Located almost 500 miles from New York City is the Niagara Falls. The Falls have several sites to offer with affordable amenities. Both Canada and US residents can spend their honeymoon here together with nature.

Florida – From the stretch of beaches to the city attractions, the State of Florida has something for everyone. As honeymoon destination, the State offers vibrant beaches of Miami. The Walt Disney World in Orlando is one of the primary places where honeymooners go. In fact, the Walt Disney World works to promote the place as and honeymoon destination with their honeymoon packages that include accommodation on their premier resort-hotels and visits to their 4 unique theme parks. If you want some actions, Florida has Daytona and Cape Kennedy.

Las Vegas – The Sin City is another place to set your honeymoon. Hotels and resorts also offer wedding and honeymoon packages suitable for every budget. You can stay at one of the world-class hotels like Bellagio Hotel, Mirage Hotel, Ceasar’s Palace, MGM Grand Hotel, and Wynn Hotel. You can take a visit to Downtown Las Vegas, Fremont Street, Fountain Show, and dine at some of the fancy restaurants and gamble your money at one of the casinos.

California – California packages several attractions suitable for a honeymoon destination. You can either visit one of the top cities of the state like San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, and Los Angeles, or spend your days at towns that offer exciting alternative. California has several world-class hotels, fancy restaurants, hundreds of spas, mountain lodges, and long beaches, giving you enough reasons to consider it as your honeymoon destination.

This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on honeymoon & other useful information, please visit http://honeymoon.articlekeep.com

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By Charlena Stadelman

If you are getting married soon, you are going to find out that silk wedding flowers are the new and improved flower to have at any wedding. Hardly any brides will use real flowers anymore. This is because the silk flowers will last longer, and they can be used over and over after the wedding is over and done with. This is a great reason to use silk flowers, and they will stay looking pretty even weeks after the wedding.

You are also going to find that the bouquet the bride carries down the aisle are all being made from silk wedding flowers as well. This is an excellent idea, because then the bride will have the bouquet for many years after her wedding to remind her of the flowers she carried on that special day.

Once the wedding is over, and you and your husband go home together, you will find that your silk wedding flowers will look pretty and remind you of your special day while you spread them all over the house. Putting a bouquet in each room will bring back memories of not too long ago when you walked down the aisle. You can also take a few of the flower petals and add them to your wedding scrapbook as well. This is a great idea for preserving those wedding day memories.

It has also been heard of that wedding cakes have been decorated with the silk wedding flowers as well. Not only the church your getting married in, but the cake that you will eat and serve your guest at your wedding. Of course the flowers can not be eaten, but they will make your wedding cake very pretty, and make your special day even more enjoyable.

You may even find that you will want the flower girl to drop silk wedding flowers as she is walking down the aisle on your wedding day. This will save you some money when you are paying for wedding expenses, and the flowers will be gorgeous even tho they are made of silk. None of the guest will be able to tell the difference, and you will love the flowers that are dropped down the aisle just the same.

As you can see, the silk wedding flowers are sweeping across the states and becoming the new thing for wedding flowers. While they are a little more affordable, you will also find that they are quite practical, as well. Everyone will love your wedding flowers that match the colors of your wedding, and so will you.

Charlena has over 10 years of experience in the silk apparel department for a large retailer of clothing. She enjoys helping customers with their gift selections and giving them insights on the latest trends and styles. Charlena shares views and comments on http://www.silkfacts.com which includes silk draperies as well as a buying guide.

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