Is Your Wedding In The City of Lights

August 11, 2009 by  
Filed under Blog, Ideas, Themes

Theme wedding favors help to brighten up your wedding even more by highlighting your theme. There are many different types of themes to choose from – you have your choice of humorous themes to seasonal ones, and from color themes to era-inspired ones. Wedding venues can also be your inspiration – the beach, countryside and luaus are common wedding favor themes.

Another interesting theme for wedding favors is the Vegas theme. Perfect for weddings in the City of Lights, Vegas wedding favors carry the same bright and festive ambiance that is synonymous with the city. Some of the most popular choices for these are:

- Bride And Groom favors. These are wedding favors that look like a typical bride and groom, complete with wedding gown and tuxedo. These little lookalikes can be made into place card holders, notepads, photo frames, favor boxes and even edibles like cookies and candy. As they are often in formal garb and colors of black and white, they are best suited for more formal weddings.

- Showgirl favors. Similar to the bride and groom favors, these are wedding favors that showcase showgirl pictures in their shimmery garb. With showgirl favors, however, you have the option of being more adventurous in your choice of keepsakes. Instead of conventional photo frames and place card holders, you could have feathered fans, lucky charms, fortune cookies or scented water disguised “potions” in little bottles.

- Playing cards. In line with the infamous casinos and entertainment scene in Las Vegas, playing cards are also an appropriate and practical favor. For a more conservative guest list, these cards can have pictures of the various scenic spots around the city and Nevada, while a more risqué crowd could have showgirls in their daring costumes.

- Faux gambling dice are also very appropriate as Vegas favors. These can be made into key chains, gift boxes, bottle stoppers or metal tins with likewise-designed cookies or candles inside. Actual playing dice can also be given as wedding favors, as long as the guests you are giving them to are adults.

- Las Vegas signboards bearing familiar and well-known Vegas nightspots make very memorable wedding favors. Place card holders are the best favors to carry such names.

- Iconic keepsakes are also popular for weddings with a Vegas theme. Right at the top of the list is Elvis, who has been a big icon favorite at most weddings. Elvis-inspired favors include having the superstar’s infamous caped, sequined outfits on notepad covers, salt-and-pepper shakers and even tall candles.

- Show tickets make a rare momentum. Tickets to a current show that will be on around the same time as your wedding date would make a memorable favor for your guests who, it is guaranteed, will always remember your wedding every time someone mentions “Las Vegas”.

- Crystals are also great gift ideas, although a little more expensive than the average wedding keepsake. To keep in line with the Las Vegas theme, have crystals in the form of playing dice encased in a clear casing or paperweight in the exact design of an iconic Las Vegas building like the MGM casino and hotel.

- Casino chips are also an extremely unique yet highly appropriate Las Vegas gift. You can have the chips as edible gifts like chocolate and strawberry cookies, as decorative items like statuettes and paperweight or on practical favors like watering cans and glasses.

- Venue-inspired keepsakes can also be beautiful, memorable pieces of your wedding. Carefully framed postcards can be interesting, personal and unique Las Vegas wedding favors. These postcards can be personalized with a little note from you and your spouse and for an added personal touch, should ideally be a significant spot in Vegas. If buying postcards of the same place proves too challenging, even better would be a photograph or photographs of the same spot that you can take. This cuts down on cost and ensures you have enough pictures for each favor.

Las Vegas keepsakes are perfect to give that little bit of excitement into your wedding, particularly it is in the city itself. Even if it was elsewhere, adding a little Vegas touch like with Las Vegas wedding favors makes the celebration a little bit more interesting.

Source: Angela White is an expert article writer on the topic of weddings, we hope you found this article about Vegas Wedding Favors enjoyable to read.

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Wedding Planning Checklists – What is it that we call a List

July 27, 2009 by  
Filed under Blog, Ideas

Welcome to our video series of the top 20 questions brides ask when planning their wedding.  Juliet may have said:  “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose   By any other name would smell as sweet.”.  Well, I say:  “What’s in a list?  That which we call a list, by any other name would be as useful.”

Ah, you can tell we are getting to the end of our video series.  I’m getting whimsical and quoting Shakespeare!  Well, you may have figured out that today’s video is about LISTS.

Lists need to become your best friend during the wedding planning process.  Start with  getting a bunch of wedding planning checklists.  Take what YOU need from them, and make YOUR list.  You don’t need to do everything on every list.  For example, if you are having an informal wedding in your backyard, you don’t need to book a church—but you might need to book a tent in case it rains.  So takes those lists, and make it YOURS.

Then, you need to find lists that state what the responsibilities are for the bride, groom, MOH, bridesmaids, Bestman, Groomsmen, and parents of the bride and groom.  There are traditional responsibilities for all these people.  They need to know what they are if they are going to do them.  It will make YOUR life a lot easier because they are doing their stuff.  Feel free to add stuff from your list onto their list.  That is what the bridal party is for—to help the bride and the groom with their wedding.

Then, there are the lists that state who traditionally pays for what at the wedding.  You can then approach the parents of the bride and groom, and ask them, based on that list, what they might be willing to pay for.  If you gave them a copy of the list, it will break the ice, and give them a basis from which to start from.  They might just give you a set amount of money, or offer to pay for something from the list.  Whatever you get—be thankful.  Weddings cost a lot of money and everything helps.  It is rare these days that the old traditional list of who pays for what is strictly followed, but it is a nice place to start.

In our online wedding planning membership site, we have extensive lists, which we call SmartBride Action Plans.  Interviewing a caterer?  We have a list of questions to ask.  Need to tell your bridal party what to do?  We have a list for that.  In fact, every module on our membership site consists of an informative, fun video, and a SmartBride Action Plan to get it done.  Information and a to-do list.  No reading and researching.  It’s right there for you.  If you have a question, no problem!  Talk to one of our coaches and get your answers that day.

Wedding planning does not need to be difficult or stressful.  You just need the right tools—information to make smart decisions, and checklists to make sure it is done.

Good luck and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

Source: Angela Fiebelkorn is an expert article writer on the topic of weddings, we hope you found this article/video about wedding lists practical and useful for your upcoming wedding.
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Celebrate the Joy of Getting Married with Unique Ideas

July 27, 2009 by  
Filed under Ideas

Wedding shower ideas celebrate the joy of love with a gathering of the bride’s family and friends. The best wedding shower ideas reflect the passion of the couple and create a fun environment where everyone has a good time.

The wedding shower is usually held about a month before the wedding date. While in the past it was considered improper for a close family member to hold the wedding shower, today this practice is acceptable. However, often the maid of honor or other close friends of the bride organize the wedding shower. To make sure wedding shower ideas don’t offend the bride, you can talk to her about what she prefers.

Most wedding showers are women-only, although there are some that include men such as family barbecues. Because most wedding showers include just women, often racy games are played during the party. Sometimes the shower is called a stagette party, which may even include an exotic dancer or suggestive presents for the bride, such as skimpy lingerie.

Wedding shower ideas include certain traditional elements. A large chair is decorated for the bride-to-be so she can sit there like a queen and open all her presents. An umbrella may be rented or purchased to display as a wedding shower decoration by the big chair. As the bride opens her presents, the guests create a hat from the bows on the gifts. At the end, the bride has to put on the hat created from her shower gifts and take pictures.

Wedding showers are held in various locations. You can have an informal barbecue in a backyard or beach. For a more formal setting, rent a restaurant for a few hours for the wedding shower. A shower may be held at a house, country club or favorite bar. The wedding shower venue is a place everyone knows the bride-to-be will enjoy.

If you have the wedding shower in a backyard or beach, you can invite as many people as you want. Order hero sandwiches and/or serve hot dishes. Include beer and wine for the guests. Give out thank you flip flop note pads after the shower to everyone attending. The informal vibe will be fun for the bride-to-be who doesn’t like a fuss.

A formal bride-to-be will appreciate the service and ambiance at a restaurant for her wedding shower. This is a benefit for those giving the shower, too, because they don’t have to cook or clean. Have place cards at each seat so the guests know where to sit. Give out elegant favors, such as silver plated wine stoppers. Offer three or four meal choices so everyone eats something they like.

Include games in your wedding shower ideas to get everyone to socialize at the party. Try a variation on Pin the Tail on the Donkey with Pin the Boutonniere on the Groom. Tack up a large picture of the groom and give out flower stickers for everyone to try to pin the groom after they put on a blindfold. Have door prizes at the wedding shower. Each guest writes their name, birthday and anniversary date on a slip of paper. The guest with an anniversary closest to the bride’s wedding date wins the door prize. After the shower, give the bride the slips of paper so she has the birthdays and anniversary dates for everyone she knows.

Along with great wedding shower ideas, encourage everyone to have thoughtful gifts. The bride should register with one or more retail stores so guests can easily purchase items for the shower and wedding. Close family and friends should give the bride-to-be themed accessories for her wedding day such as a personalized toasting set, fancy bridal garter and an elegant cake serving set.

Your wedding shower ideas should include favors for all the guests who attend. Putting out place cards and favors adds a professional feel to any wedding shower location. Novelty light up engagement rings are perfect favors for any type of wedding shower.

Choose personalized wedding shower ideas to show how much you love and support the happy couple.

Source: Jennifer Mills is an expert article writer on the topic of weddings, we hope you found this article about unique wedding ideas helpful.
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Wedding Ideas for Creative Couples

July 20, 2009 by  
Filed under Ideas

Many celebrities are choosing destination weddings in exotic tropical locations. More couples are planning information, intimate weddings in the Caribbean, Hawaii and other famous warm weather beach areas. The gathering is smaller and the couple can be informal and relaxed, exchanging vows with the sun overhead and the sand between their toes. Wedding ideas for destination marriages include starfish and seashells on all the accessories to bring the beach to every aspect of the day. Give out goodies in mini beach bags as favors for the all the guests.

Wedding ideas are also based on the different seasons. Each season has its own beauty, which is captured by using similarly themed wedding decorations and accessories. Autumn is a lovely tie to have a wedding with a backdrop of colorful leaves. The weather is still pleasant and often couples can get great deals on fall weddings. Autumn splendor accents featuring fall leaves express the essence of the season.

Spring weddings celebrate your new love during the season of new life. The flowers, warmer weather and possibility of summer have everyone in a happy mood. Your spring wedding can include a butterfly release after you exchange your vows. Live butterflies are released into the spring afternoon. Have a garden reception with butterfly decorations and accents. From your toasting set to your cake topper, butterflies should embellish all the decorative elements of your wedding day for a uniform theme.

Winter weddings have a magic all their own with the icy weather, possibility of snowfall and holiday season. Create a winter wonderland with snowflake accessories. Hang snowflakes from the ceiling at the reception. Using a toasting set with snowflakes for a wintry mood. Have the reception at a ski lodge or manor house where guests can look out the window at the snowy ground. Create a comforting ambiance with luminaries at the wedding reception tables and a fireplace with a real fire burning.

Flowers are part of most wedding ideas. Calla lilies are traditional blooms used in weddings along with roses and orchids. Use silk flowers to create lasting centerpieces and bouquets without any fragrance to irritate sensitive people.

Other wedding ideas include your favorite styles and music. A western wedding is a fun way to bring guests of all ages together. Give out cowboy hats to everyone to get them in the spirit of a country wedding. Have a square dance caller to get the crowd moving. Fill glass cylinders shaped like Western boots with candies, nuts and mints on all the reception tables. Use a western themed guest book with a fancy pen for your guests to sign.

Ethnic wedding ideas express heritage or simply décor you and your groom appreciate. A Celtic wedding brings the joy of this lively heritage to any reception. Include Celtic themed accessories for an upbeat feeling. An Oriental theme is both exotic and romantic. Give fans out to your guests and display place cards in silver plated fortune cookies to create an Asian atmosphere.

There are literally hundreds of different wedding ideas to choose from. Discuss your thoughts with your groom, family, maid of honor and friends to see which ones sound the best. Review websites and read magazines to get new wedding ideas. Create fresh wedding ideas of your own for a very original day based on your own unique theme.

Source: Jennifer Clark is an expert article writer on the topic of weddings, we hope you found this article about wedding ideas helpful.

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