The Wedding Doc

Making the Most of Your Wedding: The Wedding Vows

There is no doubt that planning a wedding can be one of the most daunting tasks a person can undergo. Since the majority of the work traditionally falls upon the bride and her family (let’s face it, the guys, largely, just don’t care if the flowers are yellow and pink, canary and magenta, or goldenrod and cherry) it is always a good idea to have the assistance of a professional wedding planner or at least a trusted friend or relative to help keep all of the details in order. That assistant can take care of everything from ordering the cake to making sure the reception seating arrangement is in order and Uncle Herbert is as far from the bar as possible while Aunt Helen and Aunt Gertrude won’t come in contact with one another at all. One thing that will be entirely up to the happy couple, however, is the decision on the wedding vows. This is one aspect of the event that the groom will have to participate in as well.

The traditional wedding vows are immortal and familiar to us all. We’ve all heard the phrase “to love, honor, and cherish,” a million times before and, regardless of race, religion, or nationality, we all immediately associate these words with the marriage ceremony. There is nothing wrong with that. The traditional wedding vows are powerful words of love and commitment and, if you like those vows and they hold a special place in your heart, then you should feel free to include them in your wedding ceremony.

Many couples write their own wedding vows. The practice is now so common that original wedding vows have almost replaced the traditional vows as the norm for weddings, but that does not mean that the time-honored vows are any less meaningful.

For those that do wish to write their own wedding vows, the options are limitless. Some couples pen their wedding vows completely from their hearts and minds, using this portion of the wedding ceremony as an opportunity to express their love and devotion to one another in a very personal way. Others borrow literary quotes, song lyrics, poetry, or other non-original material that expresses their feelings for their beloved, to incorporate into their wedding vows. Anything that says how you feel is acceptable.

A young spouse-to-be may sometimes experience writer’s block when composing the wedding vows. This stems from anticipation of the pending event and is perfectly natural. The best way to overcome this anxiety is to slow down, close your eyes and think about your fianc�e. Imagine what you would say if he or she were right in front of you, with no one around. Find the best way to tell that person how you feel, how deep your love is, and what you promise to do and be as a husband or a wife. The words will come in no time and the result will be a beautiful wedding ceremony that is highlighted by beautiful and personal wedding vows.

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Destination Weddings

No matter where you and your future groom are wed, your wedding will have the same meaning and give you the same new start to a beautiful beginning together, however destination weddings can add a little extra touch to the wedding of your dreams.

When planning a destination wedding talk about different places where you would like to be united. An advantage to having a destination wedding is being able to have your ceremony and honeymoon in the same location. One way to get some ideas about where to hold your destination wedding is to check out some of the different resort locations on the internet. Most resorts offer wedding packages that have everything included, even a wedding planner. All you need to do is provide the bride and groom! If you want more control over your big day use these tips and ideas for planning one of the biggest days in your life.

As with every wedding, prepare a wedding planner or organizer. This will keep tasks organized and remind you of dates that certain tasks need to be accomplished by. Remember that by having a destination wedding, you will be planning your event long distance, so it will be important to have a list of things that need to be done before you arrive.

When inviting guests to your destination wedding, send out announcements early, letting them know which hotel to call to reserve rooms, as well as dates and times for plane tickets so they can be purchased in advance. You may also think about having a large reception when you return home for those who cannot attend your wedding. Send out separate announcements for this and let them know they will have a chance to congratulate you at a later date.

For destination weddings it is important to check on regulations and laws. If you are being married outside of the United States, be sure to have passports, blood tests, a U.S. marriage license, if needed, and any other paperwork that will need to be completed. Stay ahead of the game so when you arrive at your destination everything is in order.

Also consider how you will get your attire to your destination wedding. Rather than trying to check everything in at the airport on the day you fly out, ship everything separately two weeks in advance. Call the destination and confirm that everything arrived in a peaceful state. This will also give you two weeks extra time in the event that something is damaged in travel.

Do not forget to hire a photographer, clergy, wedding planner and bakery to complete your wedding. For information on different services offered, you can contact the destination’s Visitor Bureau.

A few of the more popular destination wedding spots include Jamaica in the Caribbean, the Florida Keys, the blue waters of Hawaii, and Las Vegas, with its hundreds of wedding chapels.

As long as you plan ahead and expect a few challenges, your destination wedding is sure to be day to remember.

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Choices in Wedding Music

American weddings have come a long way over the years. In a society that is made up of people from so many different cultures, lifestyles, religions, and backgrounds, it is no surprise that the traditions in the wedding ceremony are as vastly different as well. Wedding music is no exception. From the ceremony itself to the party atmosphere of the reception, the wedding music sets the tone for the event.

Traditional Wedding Music

At most weddings we can expect to hear selections that have come to be known as traditional wedding music. Titles like Ave Maria, the Minuet from Don Giovanni, and, of course, The Bridal Chorus and The Wedding March have long been the standard music for a wedding. Particularly religious ceremonies may include hymns like Amazing Grace and a Jewish wedding almost always includes a hora danced to a medley of tunes like Hava Nagila, and Siman Tov U Mazeltov.

The traditional wedding music holds a special place in our hearts and many think that a wedding ceremony is incomplete without it. The couple must decide whether or not to use traditional wedding music in the ceremony, as well as how much of it to use. If this part of the wedding tradition is important to you, then traditional wedding music is the way to go.

Modern Wedding Music

Often couples will forgo the traditional wedding music selections and instead include modern or popular music in the wedding ceremony. This practice is so common that some titles are becoming traditional wedding song selections themselves. It is not unusual to hear When a Man Loves a Woman, Always and Forever, or I Will Always Love You sung, performed, or played at weddings today. Often more modern titles like these will appear in a ceremony along with the more traditional wedding music.

Avant-Garde Wedding Music

As people’s attitudes change and varying forms of wedding ceremonies take place, the choice of wedding music often changes right along with them. Occasionally couples will choose music for their wedding that reflects the stark difference in their personalities and makes a unique and bold statement. While your wedding ceremony is primarily for the couple getting married, it is important to remember that it is an event attended by your family members as well. While you may wish to make an impression on your guests with your choice of music, you should still be cautious not to offend your respective grandmothers. As such, a selection by an artist like Marilyn Manson may never be appropriate for a wedding ceremony. This does not mean that your wedding music choices are restricted to traditional classics or sappy love songs. I once attended a very avant-garde wedding where three couples married in the same ceremony. It was a beautiful event and was made memorable by their choice of music. The couples strode down the aisle to the sounds of Pink Floyd’s Signs of Life, an instrumental track from the album A Momentary Lapse of Reason. It was a wedding ceremony that I will remember forever.

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Choosing Your Flower Girl’s Dress

If you have decided on a flower girl for your wedding, it is time to choose her dress, which can actually be a fun time for her and you. After all, next to the bride, the flower girl will be getting a lot of the ‘ooh’s’ and ‘ahh’s’.

When choosing a flower girl’s dress, begin by checking out boutiques that specialize in children’s wedding wear. A regular wedding shop may be able to help, however usually these shops will only adjust adult measurements to fit a small child, which could cause the dress to look disproportionate to the child’s body frame.

Although the bride may already have a design in mind for choosing the flower girl’s dress, remember that the parents will be paying for it, unless otherwise arranged. Let the flower girl’s mom and the flower girl, herself give opinions to the dress you are looking at and be sure it is in a price range they can afford.

Remember to keep in mind that little girls grow fast, when choosing your flower girl’s dress. If you are ordering the dress six months in advance, you may want to add a few inches to the dress, which can then be altered the week before the wedding. Just like with any dress, it will be easier to take it in than adding material to a dress that is too small.

Little girls like to feel like princesses in their dresses. So consider a smaller make to your wedding gown when choosing a flower girl’s dress. Traditional flower girl dresses are usually white with full, ruffle skirts underneath to give them the ‘bridal’ look. Flower accented dresses are also popular among flower girls. Use hoop slips to give them that princess look. Keep in mind the material you are selecting. A soft, silky feel will leave your flower girl less fidgety versus and rougher material that will make them itch and feeling uncomfortable.

When choosing your flower girl’s dress, do not forget to find matching accents for her hair. Decide if you want her hair up or down. With either, adding baby’s breath and ribbons will give her a beautiful look of enchantment. Also let her parent’s know what type of shoe you would like her to wear with her dress. If you choose a shorter dress, close toe or an open sandal, depending on the time of year, would be appropriate. If the dress is long and flowing, covering her feet, think about letting her wear white slippers. This will ensure her comfort and make the event more enjoyable for everyone.

Flower girls add a cute touch to any wedding. Let her carry a beautiful bouquet or throw flower pedals down the aisle as she walks, which is usually the tradition of her role. If the child you choose is too small to walk, decorate a red wagon in a lot of white lace and flowers and let an older child, or bridesmaid pull the wagon down the aisle.

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Buying a Unique wedding Gift

Your best friend’s wedding is coming up and you have to buy a gift. You don’t really want to get them a blender or a vacuum cleaner or a set of dishes. You could just give them money, but that seems so impersonal, albeit useful. What do you do to find a truly unique wedding gift that will stand out from the throngs of average and mundane gifts that seem to populate weddings? A wedding gift should be something that is useful to the new couple as well as thoughtful. The first step to buying any wedding gift should be to check the store where the couple is registered, if they are at all. This will tell you what has already been purchased and what they still need. To be truly unique, however, your gift will be something that no one else will even consider getting them. Food processors and sets of towels are out of the question. Your unique wedding gift will be something astounding, amazing, and thoughtful. But what will it be? Here are some things that are perfectly appropriate as wedding gifts but are not often given. Any of them will be sure to speak to the couple and say that you cared enough to give something very different.

Artwork

A very unique wedding gift, artwork is something for the couple’s new home together but can also be very personal. This is an option that should be seriously considered before being purchased, because art is very subjective. Something that you love could be something they hate. This is also the type of gift that you need to be prepared to spend some money on. An oil painting from the local gallery blowout for ten bucks is not going to cut it. Artwork as a wedding gift should be an artist’s original and that will cost a few hundred dollars at the very least. If the couple has a favorite classical artist, however, a lower cost option could be a framed print of one of that artist’s works.

Gift Certificates

A gift certificate can be a very thoughtful and unique wedding gift, as long as what the certificate is for is something thoughtful and unique. You don’t want a simple department store gift certificate here. Find a gift that can be something tailored to suit the personalities of the couple. Are they the active, outdoors type? Try a gift certificate good for a camping trip in a national park. Maybe they are extreme sports freaks? If so a gift certificate for skydiving lessons or parasailing may be the perfect thing.

These are just a couple of examples of the special and unique wedding gifts you can come up with if you just put your mind to it. With a little bit of creativity and thoughtfulness, you can give a wedding gift that will stand out from all the others and put all the blender buyers and gravy boat givers to shame.

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How to be a Good Wedding DJ

If you love music and have a decent collection, a good way to make extra money may be to become a DJ for live events. To get up and rolling may take a small investment as a DJ must have top of the line stereo equipment and a music collection that reflects a wide variety of musical tastes, but the financial rewards can be well worth the initial expenditure. DJs are hired for any of a variety of events from school dances to weddings and Bar-Mitzvahs, and the manner in which you conduct yourself may need to vary depending on the event that you’re working. Weddings are a particularly valuable market for a disc jockey and the wedding DJ often has one of the most fun jobs of anyone associated with a decent sized wedding reception. Following are some tips that can help you find success as a wedding DJ.

Let’s Get it Started in Here

A wedding reception is essentially a big party. Like any party, the reception will evolve slowly over the course of the evening and it is the responsibility of the wedding DJ to ensure that it moves along at the proper pace. When the reception first begins the wedding DJ will notice that people are milling around and talking, eating, and congratulating the happy couple. This is a good time to start playing music, making a selection that is both in line with the requested genres or tastes that should have been previously discussed with the couple or the person that hired the wedding DJ. Something upbeat but not overpowering is good here.

When it is time for the dancing to start, it’s time for the party to start. Sometimes people are a bit shy to get going. It is at this point that the wedding DJ needs to show some personality. Get on that microphone and motivate people to get on the dance floor and move. Make some congratulatory statements to the newlyweds and tell the guests to get out there and shake it.

Once You’ve Sold it, Don’t Buy it Back

Now that you’ve got the music going and the dance floor is full, shut your pie hole! No one comes to a wedding reception to hear the wedding DJ blather on into the microphone like a wannabe Howard Stern. If it’s fallen on you to announce mini reception events like a dollar dance or the removal of the garter, then do so, but speak as little as possible. Let the music move the party and keep that microphone securely in the upright and locked position.

Hey, Mr. DJ… Put a Record on

Requests equal tips for the wedding DJ. If a guest approaches you with a song request that falls into the category of music that you’ve been hired to spin, get it on there post haste. People get all warm and fuzzy inside when they hear a song that they specifically requested.

Finally, two things that every wedding DJ should have in his collection are copies of The Hokey Pokey and The Chicken Dance. Treat these like the American Express Card of the wedding DJ: don’t leave home without them.

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Wedding Dress Fashion For 2006 Crystals and gemstones make this year’s wedding gowns sparkle. Taffeta and accessories add appeal without adding weight.

(NAPSI)-Today’s bride looks best when she’s expressing herself and showing off her own unique style. Whether you’ve imagined your wedding gown for as long as you can remember or you only know the size and color, there’s something out there for your special day.

Today’s modern bride loves the look of the couture runway, but not the price tag. According to Wedding Channel.com editor Marilyn Oliveira, “Making your dress stand out is all about the details, not the cost. Find a dress that you love and that accentuates your figure.”

If you’re not sure what type of gown would look best on you, consult a bridal gown professional. Choose a professional who offers a wide variety of styles, fabrics, sizes and prices, so that you will have lots of options. Odds are they can select quite a few dresses that are flattering to your figure. Bridal Web sites are also a useful resource for information. WeddingChannel.com, for example, features more than 35,000 bridal fashion images to inspire brides.

Strapless dresses continue to be a timeless choice for many brides. This look provides an air of elegance and prestige that is flattering on most figures. This style can also be accessorized in many ways and is available in a multitude of fabrics to fit your specific taste.

Bridal designers are delivering fresh new takes on wedding fashion that look fabulous now and forever. Here are a few tips to make your gown dazzle:

• Brides are glamming up their wedding dresses with metallic thread embroidery and trails of tiny buttons.

• Bows, feathers, lace, ruffles, and tiers of fabric are ultrafeminine and sexy.

• Strategically placed rhinestones, pearls and beads create spectacular designs to make you look and feel glamorous.

• Luxurious as satin yet light as a cloud, taffeta rustles up high drama without getting heavy.

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Wonderful Wedding Tips From A Celebrity 

Event Planner

(NAPSI)-If you want to create a wedding to remember, say “I do” to the advice of the person who created dream weddings for clients such as Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, Heidi Klum and Seal, and Trista and Ryan from “The Bachelorette.”

Event planner Mindy Weiss is happy to help. As Linens ‘n Things exclusive new Bridal and Gift Registry expert, Mindy Weiss offers some of her favorite ideas for creating a once-in-a-lifetime event and a one-of-a-kind new home.

Registering For Gifts

Give guests lots of choices and price ranges. To make it easier on yourself, wear comfortable shoes and clothes when choosing your gifts. Take along some water and snacks. If your fiance doesn’t want to be involved, do most of the legwork yourself and reinvite him once you’ve narrowed down the choices. Let him be the one to wield the scanner that logs in your selections

Personalize Your Registry

Let the registry reflect your personality and style. Think about your entertaining style and develop plans around that. If formal is your style, consider place settings as a good option along with stemware and silverware.

If you’re a novice cook, think about a good stainless-steel cookware set. If you’re an aspiring gourmet, consider the performance of hard anodized, tri-ply stainless.

Wedding Ideas

The Cake

Get personal. Give each guest his or her own miniature wedding cake or cupcake-a work of art to win over the toughest critic. Have a larger cake created so you can have the fun of slicing it. If you’re on a budget, stick to cupcakes.

Add a special touch with your monogram, a special flower or color that makes the guests think of you two.

Flowers

Take a cue from nature. An “unkempt garden” is a popular look with tall centerpieces overflowing with beautiful flowers, branches and leaves. Candles all over the table are a great way to give the room a warm, inviting finish. The idea is to make your guests feel as if they’ve entered a beautiful garden.

To save money, you can put the centerpieces together yourself. To cut costs, buy lots of filler pieces such as branches and greenery and fill in with selected flowers for pops of color.

Home Decor

Don’t forget to feather the nest before leaving for your honeymoon. When registering for gifts, Weiss and the design experts at Linens ‘n Things recommend signing up for timeless pieces in whites and neutrals with pops of color. Add trend items through decorative accessories such as toss pillows and throws that can be inexpensively changed seasonally.

Living and Dining Space: Dazzling Classic Whites

Comfort is key. Look for comfort in seating with sectionals made to fit your space, layered with decorative pillows in classic whites with navy accents.

Table linens, plates, glassware and flatware should all be traditional in style but with a personality that reflects the both of you. Let the color come alive in the food and flowers.

The Bedroom:

Affordable Luxury

Create a private retreat. Layer beds with a down comforter, duvet cover and plenty of pillows. Mix decorative pillows of different shapes and textures with tone-on-tone color and touches of white.

The Bathroom: Personalize It

Make it yours. Add color and personality to the bathroom-monogram your bathrobes, towels and guest towels.

The Kitchen: Function and Design

Equip yourself. Take an inventory of what you own and take this opportunity to upgrade your existing appliances. Remember that technology has changed how these tools perform. The hottest items are hot beverage systems, grill pans and stand mixers. The hottest trend is making your kitchen have the look of a commercial kitchen. Start with stainless-steel appliances and add some personality with colored appliances and the latest in kitchen gadgets.

The Outdoors: Bring The Indoors Al Fresco

Think outside the house. Place some cable knit throws in baskets on outdoor seating to create a cozy conversation area.

Remembering to include something for every room in your home when you register can make it even sweeter to return from your honeymoon.

For more information, go to www.LNT.com.

A few details can make a world of difference whether you’re designing your wedding ceremony or decorating your new home.

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