Friday, May 6, 2011

Wedding Entertainment Can Be an Engaging Outlet During the Wedding Reception

Many people who are getting married opt for the easiest thing and just hire a wedding planner who will hire singers, professional musicians and other entertainment after he discusses it with you. Sometimes this is very difficult to plan especially if you know nothing about whom to call. You may not even want to think about it at this time.

On the other hand, you may be so excited to plan for your wedding entertainment that it may be something you and your future husband are looking forward to doing. You can hire a well known singer with a small orchestra to sing all through the evening. Or you can hire just an orchestra to be playing in the background at all times. You may want to hire someone silly to do a performance that will put everyone at ease and get all the guests laughing with his comedic antics.

You may want to hire someone to do readings of special delight while guests are dining at the reception. There are any number of wedding entertainments you can check into online and find, that will be exceptional entertainment and memorable to remember when you look back at the photos long after the wedding.

Whatever your heart desires and if you can visualize it and pay for it, you will find that entertainment on the Internet. It could be violins playing while you are having the reception and then a group who is well known to play "oldies," or you could opt to have a more formal orchestra with classical music.

You will find that providing wedding entertainment can be an engaging outlet during the wedding reception. It is going to be a treat and a way of releasing the stresses of the day and all the days before the wedding. It will be a time of letting off steam and throwing caution to the winds, as they say and allowing everyone attending the wedding to have a very happy time.

Whatever wedding entertainment you provide, it can take some research, just like everything else, but you are sure to find exactly what you want that will meet with your personality and that of your groom. Entertainment that goes along with the type of individuals you, he and your families are, that will not be "eyebrow lifters," when it comes to what your guests perceive and will talk about for days to come.


George Howard has been involved in the wedding planning industry for many years and has used his experience to source all the resources needed to plan a wedding from hiring a master of ceremony to finding wedding entertainment for your reception. Visit George's website, Comprehensive Australian Wedding Directory for help with every aspect of your wedding plans.

Being Married by Civil Marriage Celebrants Is Wonderful

Many people who get married today get married by an official of the government as Civil Marriage Celebrants. They do not have the traditional marriage performed in a church by a priest or pastor of that church. They still consider themselves as married in every sense of the word even if they did not spend thousands of dollars on a church wedding.

Some individuals just do not have the money, friends or relatives to have a large church wedding or even a small church wedding, and so they opt to just go and get married quietly in the chambers of a government official appointed to do civil marriages. They view themselves as still married and have all the papers to attest to that fact that they were married by Civil Marriage Celebrants who were authorized by the Australian Government to perform a legal marriage.

They can still invite friends in for a quiet marriage dinner, go off to a fantastic island hotel, or even take a trip for so much less money than if they had decided on the much larger wedding with all the invitations and the expensive gown, dinners, the tuxedo, travel plans for those invited, floral arrangements, bridesmaids, best man, food and so much more. At this time, it all seemed so mind boggling and expensive they just could not do it. But, marriage was still what this couple wanted and so they chose to have their marriage vows performed in this way.

Now, they have the money for the trip to a foreign land they have wanted to visit together as a trip of a lifetime. If they had spent all the money on a large wedding even if there were large gifts they felt that it was not for them to be married in this way. In years to come when they renew their vows, having a church wedding in every sense of the word can be something to plan on and a goal to reach for. But, for now being married by Civil Marriage Celebrants is wonderful.

To be recognized by the Australian Government you must become a Civil Marriage Celebrant and be able to perform marriages, providing civil or non-religious weddings. Just the authorized, registered marriage celebrants are allowed and have this special authority to perform these marriages in Australia. Many thousands of couples have been married in this manner.

Not everyone wants to get married in a church, and having an outdoor wedding on a beach, in your own home or in a park may be what you have dreamed of doing for your wedding. Going with a civil celebrant offers you the flexibility to make this choice and have the wedding in the location of your choice.

George Howard has been involved in the wedding planning industry for many years and has used his experience to source all the resources needed to plan a wedding from choosing a wedding decorator to finding the right Civil Marriage Celebrant for you. Visit George's website, Australian Wedding Professionals for help with every aspect of your wedding plans.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

What Looks Better on Your Wedding Invitations Than Fine Handwritten Calligraphy?

What looks better on your wedding invitations than fine hand calligraphy services? You can find the services online and request pricing from various companies which will be e-mailed back to you.

Calligraphy is an art in itself, one that began originally in pictures drawn in caves. Then in 1000 BC a step further was taken by the Phoenicians when they created one of the very first alphabets along with one of the very first systems of writing. Then, in the middle ages ancient texts were scribed by monks who created a style of writing narrower with more lines fitting on a single line. This was known as Gothic writing whose style lasted quite a long time.

The art of calligraphy flourished during Europe's Renaissance when the Italians developed the Italic script. In the 19th century flat-edged pens were replaced with fountain pens and steel pens making calligraphy extremely more difficult to do in the way it was purposed. Then in the mid-19th century a man named William Morris revived this fine art. Today this art form is more popular than ever and is considered and revered in China to be a master form of art which can be created with the stroke of a brush. Many calligraphers of today must meditate in advance in order to fully understand how to display a text someone wants printed for them in the full and glorious beauty of their moment.

If you are in Australia, you will find one of the services very near to you. They include Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney Calligraphy Services. You are also going to find many professional freelance services when you do a search online. There are many people who have learned calligraphy from parents and now make a total business of it themselves.

You will find people who hand write all the invitations to Weddings, Showers, Parties, your Rehearsal dinner, other special events leading up to the wedding and of course, the wedding invitations themselves. Do not forget the thank you notes you are going to send.

There are many fine Calligraphy Services Online that do all the handwritten script styles for any need you have. They are committed to detail with your total satisfaction in mind. Your true classic and elegant wedding invitation will most surely enhance and entice those who open it to be in attendance on the day of your marriage.

George Howard has been involved in the wedding planning industry for many years and has used his experience to source all the resources needed to plan a wedding from hiring the right wedding decorator to finding professional Calligraphy Services to do all the handwritten scripts. Visit George's website, Australian Wedding Professionals for help with every aspect of your wedding plans.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

On Your Wedding Day You Want to Be Wearing the Most Comfortable, Stylish, and Classic Bridal Shoes

You have heard the saying that how your feet feel reflects in your face! That is certainly true. But, on your wedding day you want to be wearing the most comfortable, stylish, and Classic Bridal Shoes that you can find. Shoes are not inexpensive and they change with the trends and colors, but a beautiful shoe will always be in style. It is possible that not much of your shoes will be visible underneath your gown, you still want to wear shoes of beauty and class.

Choosing which ones you want to wear on your special day will not be too difficult to do because you will find many stores with so many styles to pick from. You will have your choice of low heels, which might happen if you are taller than your husband to be if you wear heels and if that troubles you, then you may want to choose a fine pair of pretty flats.

If he doesn't mind you being taller than him in heels and you don't either, then go for the high heels. You will always find wonderful high heels in style. If they are not the color you want you can also have they dyed the right color. This goes for the bridesmaids and mothers of the bride and groom, also. You may want high heeled and open toe glamorous shoes with tiny straps that make you feel so very feminine.

Whether your Bridal Shoes are stiletto, a pump style, sandals, open toe, or high heels, one thing to remember is to try them on with your gown. If you have shoes chosen already you may want to take them with you to all your fittings so that you know how they will look on your wedding day.

Color is another thing. Most brides will go with an Ivory or white to match their wedding gown. Your shoes can be ordered online by choosing them from the privacy of your own home in peace and quiet. Or, you can take a day and go shopping with a bridesmaid or your mom and have fun searching for your special Bridal Shoes.

The key is for you to pick a pair of Bridal Shoes that are feminine, gorgeous, above all comfortable, beautiful, shoes that make you feel good when you are wearing them and that are going to last the day into the evening when you begin and end your dancing.

George Howard has been involved in the wedding planning industry for many years and has used his experience to source all the resources needed to plan a wedding from finding the best wedding entertainment to finding glamorous wedding shoes for the bride to be. Visit George's website, Australian Wedding Professionals for help with every aspect of your wedding plans.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Bridal Magazines to Help You With Each Aspect of Your Wedding

You are going to find bridal magazines on shelves at the stores near you which are going to help you with each aspect of your wedding. You will find page after page of information of do's and what not to do and what happened when someone did something their way and it was a disaster. You will find out other things that worked out fabulously from tips learned in a bridal magazine.

You can also find online bridal magazines that are so full of information about weddings, how to plan them, the proper etiquette, what the best man says at his speech, what each family pays for, if you should serve alcohol at the reception, what style of gowns are popular this year, how much should the bridal gown cost, how much should the wedding cost, total?

Many people do not know how to plan a wedding, or even what goes on while at the church. Learning is fun but all of it can be very stressful. The proper etiquette is so very important and with the use of bridal magazines, they will help you to get a head start on what goes on at weddings. From the rented hall for the reception, which minister or rabbi you want to marry you, classes you may have to take based on your religion, the rehearsal dinner, your grooms tuxedo and what is a popular style for the men this year?

Many people are so stressed out by the time of the wedding that they are not sure they want to get married after all. This is due to relentless pressure, especially as the time for the wedding day draws nearer. With proper planning, though, you can make it as stress free as possible by knowing what is expected, knowing what is proper to do and doing it.

No one knows all of this information unless they hire a wedding planner or they read it from a book or magazine or online because they submitted a search and received many links to click on with so much information.

By knowing what you are doing, you are ensuring that all is going to go off without a hitch and everyone is going to feel as important as they are to you, personally, and your wedding.
You can find answers to all these questions by reading bridal magazines online or from buying one to read when you have your tea.

George Howard has been involved in the wedding planning industry for many years and has used his experience to source all the resources needed to plan a wedding from finding the right bridal shoes to recommending the best wedding magazines to find all the right information that the bride will need. Visit George's website, Australian Wedding Professionals for help with every aspect of your wedding plans.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Choosing Your Extremely Soft, Sensual and Gorgeous Bridal Lingerie

Your extremely soft, sensual and gorgeous bridal lingerie is not going to wait for your wedding night. It begins during the day underneath your bridal gown. Beginning with your bra, panties, garter belt, nylons, everything you are going to wear underneath the gown should be hidden perfectly, fit you perfectly, and be as comfortable as though you are wearing nothing.
For instance, depending on your body type, you may want a push up bra if you are thinner, you may want a demi bra depending on the style of gown you are wearing. Possibly you are going to wear a long line bra because you have just a little something you would like to be hidden to make the gown fit more perfectly. What you want to be sure of is that you are comfortable and feel great about yourself on this remarkable day.

Remember, before you put on your evening lingerie, you want to look so demure in the lingerie you have under your gown. If you groom's eyes were glued to you when you walked down the aisle, just think of the evening that is going to be! If you are tall with long legs, you may want some beautiful hosiery along with a chemise and sheer panties. If you have larger hips you may want a soft and see through baby doll pajama with sheer panties. As you can see, you know your body type and what you will look the most appealing in when you are wearing it.

Also, for this evening you may want to choose the most beautiful, colorful, exciting, and caressingly soft gown, in material that feels like feather down, with nylons and sexy heeled slippers the same color as the gown. You know what you will feel great in and what will give you the most self confidence to wear. You chose your bridal lingerie according to this because you want your groom to see you in the perfect lingerie creating an evening with memories to last a lifetime.

You will find many places to shop for the exact chemises and gowns you are searching for online and offline. You will find the sizes and the prices you want and have them come directly to your door without having to go out, fighting the crowds and shopping for them. As busy as you are at this time, ordering online will save you lots of time when you order your wedding lingerie.

George Howard has been involved in the wedding industry for many years and has used his experience to source all the resources needed to plan a wedding from choosing the florist to finding gorgeous wedding lingerie for his brides. Visit George's website, Australian Wedding Professionals for help with every aspect of your wedding plans.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Deciding on Your Bridal Gown Is a Decision of Utmost Importance

Planning a wedding takes almost a year, and deciding on your bridal gown is a decision of utmost importance that you will be making for your wedding. After all, all eyes are going to be upon you when the first strum of your wedding song begins and every head turns and all eyes are upon you, the Bride. But, the most important one you want to make happy and the one you want to please is waiting for you at the altar. What are his eyes conveying to you on this day as you walk down the aisle? All the searching and planning you did is being rewarded right now!

So, you know the type of person you are, what you feel best in, (no, today it is not jeans!), your body size, the dimensions and type of shape you have. Possibly, you need some assistance in getting the gown that will bring out every good quality you have in that one special gown. When you go shopping for your gown after you have looked in every catalog you own, and on every Web site you could find, you have finally come up with some ideas of the gown you want.

Now, you will be going shopping. There are fine stores near to you who carry the exact gown in the size you need. One of them is Alfred Angelo whose gowns come in 0 to 30W. He carries the most colours in gowns, they come in 55 colours with crystal and pearl beading at the bodice. Helen Rodriques boutiques offer famous maker gowns such as Vera Wang. In the Sydney area is the Soma Design where you can get a custom made gown just for you in a price range that is very affordable and beautiful. His gowns require fewer fittings and he has beautiful gowns for the entire wedding party available.

If being economical is crucial at this time and you would like a bridal gown that is a very fair price, but still immensely beautiful, then order one from Cheap Wedding and Prom Dresses. You can read on his Web site how satisfied those who ordered from him were in the testimonial section. The gowns were less than a third of what you will pay elsewhere. If you are looking for plus sizes they will tailor make your gown with the measurements you send to them.

Deciding for the right wedding gown is not an easy task and you will want your wedding dress to be the centre of attention on your special day.

George Howard has been involved in the wedding planning industry for many years and has used his experience to source all the resources needed to plan a wedding from finding professionally trained marriage celebrants to finding the best looking bridal gowns for you. Visit George's website, Australian Wedding Professionals for help with every aspect of your wedding plans.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Hiring a Wedding Coordinator - Questions to Ask

If you don't have time or don't want to plan your wedding or you're not getting married in your home town or if you just want your wedding to be professionally managed then you'll be in the market for a wedding coordinator. However, you can't just hire one without (a) letting them have your thoughts, likes, dislikes, colour scheme and so on and (b) without asking them some questions regarding how they go about doing their job of wedding coordinator. Here are the most important questions you should ask:

No. 1: How many weddings has the wedding coordinator planned? Does he or she have a portfolio of photographs that you can see and references from happy couples? This is important as you don't want an amateur planning your big day.

No. 2: Who will produce the master plan or your wedding? If the wedding planner wants you to do it then look elsewhere. They should be prepared to plan everything from the table decorations to the need or otherwise for a master of ceremonies.

No 3: Is the wedding planner familiar with the area in which you want to hold the wedding? This may seem irrelevant but if they have prior experience of possible venues, local florists, photographers, wedding car firms and so on, it will be a great advantage.

No 4: Assuming that the wedding coordinator is familiar with the area and has planned plenty of weddings here in the past, can they get you discounts from any of the businesses that they'll be dealing with? If they have favourites which they often use then there should be scope for some price reductions.

No. 5: Will the wedding planner deal exclusively with the vendors, including price negotiations, contract reviews and coordinating their time of arrival and setup activities on the day?

No. 6: Will the wedding coordinator create a detailed schedule so that everyone involved in the wedding in any way, including the bride and groom, will know where they should be and when and what they should be doing?

No. 7: Will the coordinator do some of the other tasks associated with the wedding such as ordering, addressing and mailing the invitations and booking the honeymoon?

No. 8: What will the wedding planner cost? The normal fee is around 10 - 15% of the total budget for the wedding. Will they be able to stick to that budget?

If you ask all these questions when interviewing your potential wedding coordinator, then you should end up with your wedding planned to perfection.

George Howard has been involved in the wedding planning industry for many years and has used his experience to source all the resources needed to plan a wedding from hiring the cars to hiring the wedding planner to do the whole thing for you. Visit George's website, Australian Wedding Professionals for help with every aspect of your wedding plans.

Wedding Reception Ideas For That Special Day

Are you going to be searching for venues for wedding receptions but don't know where to start? Here are some wedding reception ideas.
If you're planning a summer wedding or live in nice sunny, warm climes, a beach would be a romantic setting for a reception. However, do make sure it's nice and sheltered from too much wind and crashing breakers. If you're looking at wedding receptions on a budget, choose a beach and set up your own barbeque arrangements but if you have a bit more to spend, check out beachside venues to see what they can offer by way of wedding reception ideas.

Harbourside hotels often have lovely function rooms overlooking the best views. These venues for wedding receptions are especially romantic for an evening with twinkling lights and boats bobbing at their moorings so are well worth checking out.
If you don't want to risk the sand or the sea, how about a garden? If nobody in your family has a big enough garden for a marquee, then turn to local hotels or stately homes. If it's possible, choose a venue with a themed garden with lots of flowers. For example, in England in May, find a garden with lots of lovely flowering azaleas and rhododendrons, earlier in Atlanta, Georgia. Lovely natural flowers make a really romantic setting.

Alternatively, hire a marquee but deck it out any way you want with balloons, candles, Chinese lanterns, flowers or anything else that appeals to you. Save money by persuading your artistic friends to make or paint decorations.

Have a themed wedding party with appropriate decorations. This could be anything from golf to skiing to cowboys to Disney. It would be limited only by your imagination.

Venues for wedding receptions come in all shapes and sizes. You could hire a castle or a boat or a sports stadium. If you're considering a boat, choose a river boat. The sea is too unpredictable and the guests, or indeed the bride and groom, could be seasick. If you can't afford to hire a stadium but one or both of you are really keen on a particular sport then theme your reception decorations around your favourite sport.

Country houses or chateaux in France are both lovely venues for weddings but may not be suitable for wedding receptions on a budget. However, you may be able to provide accommodation for your guests in this way.

George Howard has been involved in seeking out interesting venues for wedding receptions for many years and has used his experience to source all the resources needed to plan a wedding from hiring the cars to providing wedding reception ideas. Visit George's website, Australian Wedding Professionals for help with every aspect of your wedding plans.

What You Do When Making the Wedding Accommodations

You can remember when you were a little girl and you would see weddings at a church or on television, and you thought to yourself, "One day that is going to be me." You loved the pure white gown with the veil and the groom so handsome in his tuxedo, it was all a dream to you at that time. Now it is coming true for you!

The day is arriving and you are so excited. You have planned for this day for close to a year now and the countdown has begun. Your wedding day is going to be the most wonderful and memorable day of your life.

Getting to that day can be stressful. There is so much to plan for. How many guests? Where you will have the wedding itself? Where to have the rehearsal dinner, the reception, the food, the drinks, the cake, the guests, where will the guests stay when they come from out of state, and so much more?

Relatives are getting excited, your friends are calling, bridesmaids and the matron of honor are getting dresses fitted, mothers and fathers are pulling at their hair, which nephew or niece is going to be flower girl and carry the ring. (Oh, Lord, please help the ring get to the altar!) It will all work out and whatever does not, you will deal with it at the time.

One thing you can make very easy on yourself, early on, (and you should), are the wedding accommodations. On the day of and the day before your wedding you will have to note if there are other weddings or events which will fill hotel rooms. The more popular the location of your wedding is the less available rooms you will find if another event is going on. Imagine your guests dismay if they came to your wedding and rooms are unavailable.

Here is what you do when making the wedding accommodations. You reserve a block of rooms in two hotels if you can. Reserving them will cut down the expenses for your guests and they will appreciate it. When you enclose your map card inside the invitations, put the address and phone number of the hotel on the back of them and let those invited see where they can obtain a room. You are not paying for the rooms, just reserving them ahead of time so they know the address and phone. If you have bridesmaids coming who are challenged with what they can afford, you can quietly and tactfully offer to assist. One thing that would be great is if you could pair them up with each other. Or if another bridesmaid has a home close by with some extra rooms that would be a great help for any guest coming in from out of town. Your wedding will go off without a hitch.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Wedding Entertainment Ideas - Something Different

If you want to make your wedding a bit different and offer your guests something other than just a slap up meal or a disco in the evening, then you'll be looking for wedding entertainment ideas.
Here are a few wedding reception entertainment ideas to help you along the way:
Music: Live music is very atmospheric and you could have just about anything, only restricted by cost. Try to suit the size of the band to the size of the venue though or your guests could be deafened by that seven piece jazz band in a small reception room. If you're a Scot, why not have a piper or for gentle mood music a harpist. A ceilidh band can really make things go with a swing, particularly if your guests are Scottish or Irish. A country band with a caller for square dancing is also a fun idea.
Singer or live band: A wedding singer can lend atmosphere at the ceremony and while pre-reception drinks are in progress. However, there's usually too much chatting during the actual reception to warrant a wedding singer, unless you want a special song to be sung before or after the speeches. A live band will get the dancing going at your evening reception; get each couple to choose their favourite in advance and have the band play it with a dedication to your friends or family.
Themed: A murder mystery is an ideal theme for an informal wedding reception entertainment. A team of actors enacts a murder mystery and each table tries to guess who did it. Make sure that there are prizes.
Speciality acts: There are a number of these wedding reception entertainment acts that you can choose who go strolling amongst the tables; how about magicians, card sharps, sketch artists, mind readers, temporary tattooists, jugglers or comedy waiters, to name but a few.
Activities: If the weather's good and your reception will be in the afternoon, outdoor activities are always good for a laugh. Try out a bouncy castle or assault course - the kids will certainly enjoy it.
Casino: For your evening reception, why not have a casino set up with black jack tables and roulette wheels. These professional outfits provide croupiers and chips and teach everyone how to enjoy casino games. To add to the fun, provide a prize or two for those with the most chips at the end of the evening.
If you choose an entertainment that's a bit out of the ordinary, your guests will be talking about your wedding for years to come.
There's really no limit to wedding reception entertainment which only depends on the style of wedding you're going to have.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Howard

Friday, March 18, 2011

Tips For Choosing the Right Wedding Gown

The bride's wedding gown is always the main attraction at any wedding. Beautiful white bridal dresses make everyone envision their wedding fantasies. What young girl hasn't spent years dreaming about their bridal dress, possibly even wearing a designer wedding gown?
When choosing the right bridal gown you want to take a few things into consideration.
· The location of your special event
· The time of the your special event
· Your budget
· The style of the wedding
You want the dress to compliment the location of your special day. If you are getting married on the beach you would choose a different bridal gown than if you were getting married in a formal church. As well you want it to be easy for the bridesmaid's dresses to compliment yours. This is especially true if the bridesmaids are purchasing their own dresses.
If your wedding is more in the casual style, you can choose the right bridal gown, by finding a dress which you can use for another occasion. This is very useful if your budget is tight.
Of course you want to choose the right bridal dress and it is helpful to take along a close friend or family member. This way you can be sure you can trust their opinion about how you look in the various wedding gowns, dresses and other outfits you try on. Choosing the right wedding gown is a big decision and you want to buy the best wedding gown which you can afford.
Keep in mind how far you will be travelling to your wedding destination. If you are travelling by plane you want to have lots of time to unpack and hang your wedding gown before the big day arrives. You want to have time to ensure your dress is wrinkle free.
As much as you will wish to have that fairy tale wedding, you must take your budget into account. Set aside a certain dollar amount for choosing the right wedding gown and don't go over budget. Add in extra money for alterations and a wedding veil.
Many brides choose to wear an antique wedding dress, maybe one handed down by a great grandmother. You can also find wonderful discount bridal gowns in an antique shop. This type of dress can look spectacular when spruced up with a new ribbon or accentuated with pearls or flowers.
Choosing the right wedding gown will take time and it is advisable to take someone you trust shopping with you. After all, you will only be getting married once, and you want your dress to be the centre of attention on your wedding day.

Wedding Stationery and Invitations - Choosing the Right Style

Of course you can buy your wedding stationery and invitations from your local stationer but they won't be special to you; anyone can buy them. If you want your wedding stationery and invitations to be unique, you need to choose the right style.
When it comes to stylish wedding invitations, the choice is enormous.
Firstly, colour; cream and white predominate but there are all sorts of combinations available using brown, mauve, pink, blue or just about anything you want.
Secondly you need to choose what type of invitation you want. There's the traditional folded card, double folded card or a scroll but I think that the most stylish wedding invitations are those which come individually boxed.
Really stylish wedding invitations come decorated in all sorts of ways from silk flowers and chiffon or satin ribbon to decorative pearls or diamonds. Elegantly embossed flowers, leaves or hearts complete the picture.
If your wedding has a specific theme or colour scheme then you may want your wedding stationery and invitations to match up with that.
If you want to inject humour or romance into your wedding then there are invitations to match. How about a Disney theme or animals and birds or a fairy tale?
Are you holding your wedding on a beach? You can get beautiful wedding stationery and invitations with beach scenes or palm trees.
Don't forget to think about the stationery that you'll need other than the invitations. You may want menu cards, table number cards, place cards and thank you notes.
Other accessories available are table napkins, individual boxed chocolates, ribbons, candles and place card holders.
Basically, choosing the right style for your wedding stationery and invitations is a personal thing and they should suit the type of wedding and your personality.
After all, if you don't go for frills and flowers, your friends will think you've gone mad if you choose that style for your wedding and if you're usually a serious person then Disney invitations aren't going to be suitable either.
For more ideas on choosing the right style of wedding stationery and invitations, visit Australian Wedding Professionals.

Beautiful and Delicious Wedding Cakes

Besides the wedding dress, one of the next most looked at items is the beautiful and delicious wedding cakes. These beautiful works of art sit forefront at the reception and are viewed by all the guests. Of course you want to make sure you have one of the most beautiful cake around.
If you are on a budget you have to wonder about the wedding cake cost. An easy way to keep the cost down is to have a friend bake and decorate your cake. Making a wedding cake takes time so be sure to plan this well in advance. Don't drop a last minute request and expect a fabulous cake in return.
If you don't have a friend who bakes cakes, go to a local community college. See if they have an up and coming cake decorator in their midst's. They are sure to want to take the opportunity and bake a dream wedding cake for you. Tell them you will recommend them to all your friends and guests, this would be a great form of advertising for them. Plus it would be a wonderful way to start up a cake decorating business.
When making plans for your cake you want to make sure that the theme and style of your cake matches the wedding dress and location. If you are having a traditional church wedding and dress, then make sure your cakes style is that of traditional wedding cakes.
The Wedding cakes have changed over the years. At one time traditional wedding cakes were fruit cakes, covered in fondant, marzipan and icing. Today many cakes are sponge cakes filled with cream and decorated lavishly.
They be adorned with flowers, ribbons and even mini photos depicting how the happy couple met, photos of their engagement and more. Many bride and grooms still like the traditional figurine on top. Others prefer to replace this with a vase of fresh flowers or some other memorable item.
The cost is an important part of your wedding plans, so don't forget to set aside enough money for it. As well be sure to order it well in advance. If you are planning on using a popular bakery, plan and order ahead as you might find they are booked months in advance.
As you can see you do have choices. From having it made at a professional bakery to having a close friend or student cake decorator bake it for you. No matter which you choose you can be assured of having a beautiful wedding cakes as your reception centerpiece.

Hair Beauty and Makeup Artists - Why Hiring a Good Professional Is Key

There are certain special events in our lives that warrant using hair, beauty and make-up artists. One popular reason is using them on your wedding day. Knowing which artist to hire can be tricky and hiring a professional is important. Continue reading to find out why.
Normally women have a trusted hairstylist which they use regularly. But when it comes to makeup and beauty care very few women have personal professional hair, beauty and makeup artists available. When the need for one arises they don't have any idea about how to hire one.
Many women will start asking their friends for referrals or look on the internet for any local hair, beauty and makeup artists. The beauty industry is a big business with new makeup artists constantly coming onto the scene. Some makeup artists work at cosmetic counters while others sell cosmetics or work in the fashion and entertainment industry.
There is a difference in hiring someone to do your makeup versus booking a professional. Professional hair, beauty and makeup artists would have gone to school to learn their trade and have become a licensed esthetician or facial specialist. Other's learn their skills from the ground up, training hands on. They would be very familiar with working with brides and other private functions.
Many hair, beauty and make-up artists make a living working in the film, television or magazine and catalogue industries. They will also work closely with all types of models and therefore have lots of experience.
A professional hair, beauty and make-up artist will understand skin types and bone structure. They will know how to use and sanitize their tools correctly. They will also have a good understanding of contouring and shading to compliment or even hide eye, nose and cheek bones flaws.
Good hair, beauty and makeup artists have a goal to make you happy with their service. They might recommend products to you, but their main objective is not to sell you a line of beauty products.
When looking for hair, beauty and makeup artists don't always go with the lowest price. A picture can last many, many years and looking your best on that special is really important to you. It just might be worth spending that extra money to get a top makeup artist.
When hiring a make-up artist check out their credentials and see if they have a professional license or not, hiring a licensed professional makes you feel more comfortable. You know that they have had the proper training to do your hair and makeup correctly. They should also carry a portfolio with photos of their work. This way you know you are getting a good hair, beauty & makeup artists and will receive exactly what you are paying for.

What Are Marriage Celebrants and What Ceremonies Do They Perform?

A marriage celebrant is known as someone who conducts wedding ceremonies in Australia. Marriage celebrants will also conduct other ceremonies including renewing wedding vows, naming babies and funeral services.
The celebrants may or may not be part of a religious organization. This allows many couples to be married through a civil marriage ceremony. At one time becoming a celebrant depended up the geographic location and the need for celebrants in that particular area.
Becoming a marriage celebrant today consists of undergoing a government accredited training program in marriage celebrancy. Each person must meet certain criteria and then be put on a waiting list until wedding celebrants are required in their area. Becoming registered as an official civil marriage celebrant allows the person to marry couples in almost any location. As well they have the authorization to process the required paper work.
Many couples today prefer to get married in many different locations and settings. Outside at home or at a scenic location, beach and boat weddings are extremely popular too. It is great to know that you may get married with all the wedding traditions you want at a location unique to each couple.
As couples reach their 25th wedding anniversary they often look to getting their wedding vows renewed. This time the ceremony might be in a place which will often hold a happy memory from their years together. The marriage celebrants are able to perform non traditional wedding vows or even personalized wedding vows to accommodate the couple's choices.
Today a bride and groom have many places to get married, and no one takes offensive if the civil marriage ceremony does not take place in a church. Mindsets have changed and nontraditional weddings and wedding vows are becoming commonplace.
Knowing too that you can get a civil marriage celebrant to perform your wedding ceremony almost anywhere, makes arranging your wedding that much easier. This means that you could get married at home, at your favorite golf club or even at an historic building or landmark in your town. More choices allow weddings to take on a new theme of their own.
Today's weddings are definitely more open minded and relaxed than in earlier years. Traditional outfits do not have to be worn and the wedding itself can be a much more relaxed affair. This makes planning and holding a wedding a lot more stress free, and who wouldn't love that!
Come and visit our comprehensive wedding directory providing many listings of Professional Wedding Celebrants.

How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Bombonieres or Wedding Favors

There are so many details which go into planning a wedding, but sometimes it is those little decorations that can become annoying. Trying to find the perfect wedding bombonieres or favors can be trying and sometimes just downright frustrating.
Things such as wedding table decorations and personalized wedding favors can be very expensive and knowing where to buy them without blowing your budget is important. Of course, your guests are going to notice every smallest detail and you both want everything to be perfect. There are some easy ways to get great table decorations for weddings without sacrificing your budget.
You want to remember that your wedding reception decorations should suit the theme and the mood of your wedding. This will help you determine what types of candles, flowers and other small items are necessary for your decorations.
Remember too, to get your wedding favors to match your color scheme. Plus they will need to be small enough that they don't take up too much room on the table. Choose decorations which can be set up quickly on the day of your wedding, or you could delegate this job to a trusted family member.
Guests love to take their wedding favors or bombonieres home with them. Personalized place markers engraved with the guests name are good. Other ideas include small pots and baskets filled with flowers, colored stones, small bath soaps and even herbs. They all add color and pizazz to the table and make great mementos.
If you have a friend who is creative why not get them to stencil a picture of the bride and groom onto a candle or even a small box. This makes a personalized wedding favor which any guest would treasure for years to come.
If you are having a sit down reception then you should have one large flower or candle arrangement on each table. A fun idea is to mark one chair before the reception begins and that guest gets to take home the centerpiece. You can easily mark the chair with a ribbon or chalk mark.
If you have guests that will be bringing small children with them, then get some crayons and place mats that can be colored. The children will be kept busy coloring while their parents socialize.
You don't have to buy expensive wedding table decorations. Go to any large dollar store and you will have a wide assortment of colorful vases, jars, soaps, beads and candles from which to choose. Just use your imagination to jazz them up and you will have some great personal, yet affordable wedding favors.

Wedding Shoes - How to Choose Them

A girl's wedding day is meant to be the best day of her life but it certainly won't be if she isn't wearing comfortable wedding shoes. There's a huge choice out there but think carefully about your big day and what's been planned before you choose the shoes that you're going to spend a whole day in.
I think that comfort has to be the most important factor. Your big day will be ruined if your feet hurt the whole day long and you know that pain always shows on the face so your photos might not turn out too well either.
Comfortable bridal shoes don't have to be plain or frumpy just chosen to fit your feet properly and your personal preference.
High heel wedding shoes always look elegant but you need to be used to wearing high heels or you'll spend the whole day tottering about and hanging onto walls to keep yourself upright. Added to that there's the danger that you'll fall over or everyone will think that you've had one too many sherries. So if you don't habitually wear high heeled shoes, don't pick your wedding day to experiment.
Low heel wedding shoes are ideal in many ways, particularly if you're wearing a floor length dress. They can still be pretty and elegant but without the dangers of high heel wedding shoes mentioned above. Low heels are an especially good idea if your wedding or reception is taking place outside or in any situation where you may have to walk on gravel or grass as high heels can sink or catch and will probably be ruined. Low heels are also pretty much essential if you're already taller than your bridegroom or if high heels will make you appear taller. Some people even choose flip-flops or trainers but that will depend on the style of your wedding.
Choosing designer wedding shoes will certainly get you what you want but they will come at a steep price. However, if you want your bridal shoes decorated with crystal or feathers then designer wedding shoes are for you. Some are even transparent so that you can show off your feet to best effect; don't choose these if you have less than perfect feet though.
Traditional styles include court shoes, peep toes, wedge heels, strappy sandals and pumps, to name but a few.
Some people choose wedding shoes which can be dyed a different colour after the wedding to be worn with a different outfit.
In short, no matter what your taste or style of wedding, choose comfortable wedding shoes which you'll be able to wear for the whole of your important day with a smile on your face.

Wedding Favours for Your Guests - What To Choose

If you're about to be married and would like to give wedding favours to your guests but can't think what to choose for them, here are a few ideas.
Before we get into detail, you need to decide what you want to pay for your wedding bomboniere; the sky's the limit, but a good range to consider would be $2 to $10. Obviously $2 wedding favours aren't going to be of the quality of the more expensive items but this is just meant to be a little memento of your wedding, so don't stress if you can't afford $10 per guest.
You also need to decide whether you're going to give different wedding favours to male guests than to female. This is probably a good idea as there isn't too much in the wedding bomboniere line that is suitable for both men and women. However, if you do decide to give different gifts, make sure that the price is about the same.
Ideas for women:
- perfume
- perfume bottles
- candles
- candle holders
- photograph frames
- jewellery boxes
If you're opting for perfume as a wedding bomboniere, be careful as it's rather a personal thing, however a pretty perfume bottle would suit any lady.
There's a vast array of candles and candle holders ranging from plain glass tealight holders and frosted votive holders to stained glass tealight holders and colourful gel candles in cocktail glasses.
Photograph frames abound in all different shapes and styles. Personalise this gift by inserting a photo of yourselves in each one or better still one of you with the person to whom you're giving.
In the absence of real jewels, fill the jewellery boxes with sweets or chocolates in colourful wrappers.
Ideas for men:
- fragrances
- bottle openers and corkscrews
- bottle stoppers
- keyrings
- letter openers
Glass coasters and glass goblets are a welcome addition to anyone's cocktail cabinet.
Tea kits are fun and useful but spare a thought for any guest who doesn't drink tea.
Ideas for either:
- engraved glass coasters
- glassware
- tea kits
- bookmarks
Bookmarks have always been useful to the avid reader but in these days of electronic book readers, be careful that you're not giving a useless gift.
Fragrances are again fraught with difficulty so unless you know your males guests extremely well, you may want to give this a miss.
Bar accessories as wedding favours are popular and will usually have a wedding themed decoration in the shape of a heart or a cross; the same goes for keyrings and letter openers.
So, as you can see there are plenty of wedding favours to choose from in a range of prices and for more ideas please visit our site with quality listings of wedding bomboniere specialists.

Choosing the Best Bridal Wedding Accessories (For a Summer Wedding)

Getting married is a huge task, it is just not the thought of the wedding ceremony itself that matters. It is all those other smaller details that need attending to. This includes choosing the best bridal wedding accessories, and this list can be enormous.
First you need to think about what type of wedding dress accessories you will need, and don't forget any accessories for your bridal party here. You want everything to match from flowers to ribbons and the boutonnieres. You could even carry the theme over into your wedding cake accessories, using the same colors and possibly miniature versions of the same flowers.
Another area of bridal wedding accessories are those that will sit on the tables at your reception along with your wedding favours. These items should all compliment the theme of your wedding. So if you live in a warm climate and are getting married on the beach, then carry colors from the beach into your wedding accessories.
This can be done in many ways. First by using items such as coloured stones and pebbles, pastel ribbons make great accessories too, along with candles. Candles are great if you are having an evening reception. Hand soaps are available in a wide range of colors and styles. It is easy to pick up miniature soaps in the shapes of starfish and shells.
For added flair on your reception tables use place holders for your guests in the shapes of shells and fish, anything with a nautical theme would be great. If you are going to Hawaii for your honeymoon, then you could use pineapple designs on your table.
Simple tins or baskets filled with coloured beads to resemble beach pebbles are a fun and inexpensive wedding accessory idea. How about using miniature photo frames which look like a beach chair, these would make wonderful keepsakes for your guests.
If you want to add a touch of humour to your bridal wedding accessories in keeping with the beach theme, then use flip-flop tea lights on your tables. You may even be able to find place holders to match. The possibilities are endless, it is just a matter of using your imagination and doing some research.
The internet is a great place to look for wedding accessories and ideas, you don't necessarily have to order them online. Just use the ideas and come up with your own unique version. The beach theme is just one idea to use for your bridal wedding accessories, but you can come up with others depending on where you are getting married. Garden, flowers, hearts and doves all make great theme ideas and have tons of available wedding accessories.

Wedding Photography - Don't Rely on an Amateur

When you're planning your wedding, there are a lot of different things to think about to make your day wonderful. However, long after the last piece of cake has been eaten, you'll want to be able to relive your special day through the photos. Wedding photography is a specialist art and no matter what else you economise on, do employ a professional photographer. Just because your cousin or your brother takes great snaps, it doesn't mean that they will be able to get your wedding photography just right with all the traditional poses, the right people in the photos and everyone looking their best.
Take out a professional wedding photography contract and you won't regret it. You'll know the cost in advance for the number of photos you want to be taken and for the number you'll want reprinted for your special album.
However, I'm getting ahead here; first of all you need to find someone to do your wedding photography. You can search the web for wedding photographers in your area or consult your local phone book, but the best recommendation is a personal one so if you have friends or colleagues who have been married lately, ask them who they used. Ask to see their wedding album and ask them if the photographer was pleasant and easy to work with.
When choosing your photographer, don't forget that you'll be seeing quite a lot of one another on your big day. If you want to invite your photographer behind the scenes, to photograph you getting dressed or made up, you'll want to be working with someone you can get along with and whom you can trust.
Wedding photography is a very personal thing so be sure to choose a photographer who will produce the sort of pictures that you want. If you want zany, off-the-wall pics, don't choose a traditionalist and vice versa. Interview a few photographers and exchange ideas before you make your final choice. Don't forget that a photographer is like an extra guest at your wedding. He or she should be dressed appropriately and be able to get along with all your guests from your five year old page boy to your aged granny.
The average cost of wedding photography is between $1500 and $4000. I know that this is a wide band, but it very much depends on the type of wedding that you're planning and the number and style of photos. If you want the photographer to get up at dawn to take your photos on the beach at sunrise then the cost of his or her time will obviously increase. The number of guests at your wedding can also have a bearing on the average cost of wedding photography as well as any special effects or props that you ask for.
Try not to economise on your wedding photography because in years to come, those photos will be your only reminder of your happiest day.

Why Wedding Video Services Are So Popular Today

Wedding video clips are becoming more popular today as they make it easy to keep your wedding memories for years to come. The videos will not fade the way photos do and they are easy to store. Even with this said it is wonderful to have a mixture of wedding photography and video done at your wedding.
Most photographers today are happy to provide you with either a print photo or video of your wedding. Wedding video clips are great to send to guests who were not able to make the wedding in person. The wedding video clips can be recorded onto a disc or send through an email.
If you are looking at the costs for wedding video services you will be pleasantly surprised to see that they are not that expensive. In many cases using these services can prove to be more cost effective than opting for strictly print photos.
Many of today's bride and grooms are purchasing wedding photography and video packages. This way they get plenty of video material to send home with their guests. But they also get print photos of certain moments during the wedding ceremony.
Popular print photos include pictures of the inside of the church when the couple is exchanging their rings. Walking down the aisle as man and wife and of course the traditional family photo and cutting of the wedding cake photo.
It really is up to each couple which photos they choose to have printed. It is the same with the video options. You can ask the photographer to tape the entire ceremony and the reception, or just certain parts.
Wedding DVD's are a great wedding favor to give to your guests at a later date. This way they will have their own memories and favorite scenes to watch again. You could also easily edit these videos to include video from your engagement party.
Thinking ahead you could also include moments from your first wedding anniversary and even the arrival of your first child. You could make your wedding videos as an ongoing documentation of your life together. This can easily be shared with other family members and close friends.
If you decide to use professional wedding video services don't forget to get them to include all the songs from your wedding. This will add more personality to your own songs for wedding films and is another great way to share your favorite moments with your family.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Howard 

Your Perfect Choice in Wedding Photography

Your wedding day is such a special day and you definitely want to find a great photographer to capture those wonderful moments. There are so many options when looking for wedding photography packages that you can become overwhelmed by all the choices.
When looking for a photographer you want to make certain that they have a good portfolio to show you. This way you can see their work firsthand. This is extremely important if you want to have any special effects done on any of your wedding photographs.
There are several types of services around including professional wedding photography businesses and those that deal only in special event photography. Your best option is to visit with a few photographers first and get a good idea of what type of pictures they take.
Then once you find the type of photos you would like for your wedding you can go into more detail regarding your order. This is where you want to consider the sizes of your photos and who you want to give copies to. Large prints are going to cost more and many people are happy with wallet size photos which they can carry around and show off.
If you choose any type of masters of wedding photography you must be prepared to pay their prices. Just another reason why you want to look at all your wedding photography options first. You should know how much you can afford to spend on photographs and make sure you stick to it. It is so easy to get talked into a more expensive type of wedding photography packages.
If cost is becoming an issue then consider getting some videos made of your wedding day. Many times this is more cost effective and copies can be made cheaply. Videos instead of wedding photography packages are becoming very popular.
Many professional wedding photography places will probably offer you video along with your photographs. Having a mixture of both is great and videos are easy to send to relatives and friends who couldn't make it to your wedding.
Remember not to go overboard with your wedding photography. After all you can only hang so many pictures in your home. As you spend more time together you will have other pictures that will need to find a home in your house.
Your wedding day is special and everyone wants to have mementos. Just ensure that you have enough wedding pictures and videos to share with family members and close friends.