How To Plan Your Wedding Ceremony Music

Not all songs are created equal. The type of wedding ceremony music that you choose will be quite different from the wedding reception music. There is also the consideration on the type of wedding you will be having - whether it is a traditional religious ceremony or a less formal occasion, such as a garden wedding or beach wedding. In this article, we are going to be looking at music choices that would fit into a more formal and religious atmosphere.

What Type Of Music Is Needed For Each Segment

In a traditional ceremony arrangement, low-key instrumental music is usually played and begins about a half hour before the ceremony begins. This is called the Prelude. Most times, if you don't have any real choices in songs, the organist will play the typical wedding selections that other bride's and groom's have used. If you wish to pick your own Prelude songs, a few of the more popular choices are:

* Canon in D by Pachelbel
* Air From Water Music by Handel
* Ave Maria by Bach
* Greensleeves by David Chamberlain
* Waltz (from Sleeping Beauty) by Tchaikovsky
* We've Only Just Begun by The Carpenters
* Tonight I Celebrate My Love (For You) by Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack
* Breathless by Kenny G

You will then need to choose what music you would prefer for your Processional (as you walk down the aisle). Some brides will elect to have traditional instrumental music such as Canon in D, Ave Maria, and of course the tune that everyone knows: The Wedding March (Here Comes The Bride). However, more and more of today's brides are chosing tunes from popular song artists. Here is a short list of Processional songs that tend to be favorites:

* Power Of Love by Celine Dion
* What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong and Kenny G
* Endless Love by Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross
* Grow Old With Me by Mary Chapin Carpenter
* Look At You Girl by Chris Ledoux
* From This Moment On by Shania Twain
* Because you Loved me by Celine Dion
* Only Time by Enya
* This I Swear by Nick Lachey
* Nadia's Theme by Barry De Vorzon and Perry Botkin, Jr.

During the ceremony itself, there will be breaks when you will need to provide solos, hymns or instrumental music, such as when you are signing the register. Some common pieces sung by soloists are:

* Wedding (There Is Love) by Stookey
* Ave Maria by Schubert
* Evergreen by Barbra Streisand
* One Hand, One Heart (West Side Story) by Bernstein and Sondheim
* Sunrise, Sunset (Fiddler on the Roof) by Harnick and Bock
* Ode to Joy by Bethoven

Finally the ceremony ends and the bride and groom turn to leave to the sounds of the Recessional. Here you will want a vibrant, joyous song or instrumental to play. You may choose from classical music or the more popular pop songs of today. A few examples are:

* Wedding March from a Midsummer Night's Dream by Mendelssohn
* Overture from The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart
* Bridal March by Hollins
* Ode to Joy by Beethoven
* Nothings Going To Stop Us Now by Jefferson Starship
* Beautiful Day by U2
* Walking On Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves
* Forever and Ever, Amen by Randy Travis

Tips For Planning Your Music Selections

Before you select any music, soloists or instrumentalists, you will need to get the answers to certain questions as follows:

1) Speak with your clergy member to find out if the religious venue you are considering provides an organist and/or choir. What other types of musicians are allowed and can he/she recommend anyone? Are other types of musicians allowed such as a harpist, flutist, guitarist, etc.? Can he/she recommend any soloists?

2) You will also need to determine if there are any restrictions on the types of songs and music played during the ceremony. In a very strict, religious church, you may be prohibited from playing any non-religious songs.

3) If the church or synagogue provides an organist or other instrumentalist, what is the fee that is charged for using them? What if you wish to use a friend or a particular organist rather than the one provided, are you allowed to substitute?

4) Determine what type of mood you want for your ceremony. Some couples want a more serious, solemn service, while other couples want a fun-filled, vibrant atmosphere. This will help you in your selection of wedding music, as well as deteriming the best soloist and musicians to hire.

5) If you have any friends or family members that are gifted musicians, you may want to consider asking them to provide the songs and music. It will provide an added personal touch to your ceremony. Be sure to thank them by presenting them with a small gift. In some cases, you may need to hire them just as you would any other professional musician, but it is usually much less expensive to do so.

6) Once you determine what music and songs you will be using, make sure all soloists and musicians have a copy of the music list along with when they are to be sung/played. If any of the songs or music are new to your performers, make sure you provide sheet music and give it to them early so they can prepare.

7) Purchase tapes and CD's of wedding music to listen to. This will help make your choices much easier.

As you can see, there are quite a few details to resolve when planning out your wedding ceremony music. The above song suggestions are the ones more traditionally chosen. However, there are alway new popular songs by song artists that can also be wonderful choices for a wedding ceremony. Keep your ears open for them. Hopefully, the above guidelines should give you a good start toward picking the perfect music that will personalize your own wedding.

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Brides - Dreading His Bachelor Party? Here's How To Deal...

So you just overheard your man’s buddies brainstorming the dreaded bachelor party….ugh. There’s nothing like the vision of a beer-goggled groom-to-be ogling scantily clad women named after inanimate objects that makes even the most grounded woman shudder in her stilettos. It’s no wonder why the traditional bachelor party isn’t high on a bride-to-be’s list of exciting wedding-related milestones. Here’s the reality: No, you can’t throw a tantrum to halt the festivities, but you can take a few steps to make sure your guy’s final send off doesn’t leave you wanting to off your guy.

Here are five tips to help you deal with his bachelor party:

Plan Ahead

Try to talk your guy and his friends out of planning the bachelor party the night – or weekend-before the wedding. An event well in advance of the big day will give the guys ample time to recover and ensure his bachelor party doesn’t land on your list of final wedding worries

Two Can Play

Why should you sit home and knit while he’s partying with his friends? You’re saying goodbye to your single self too, you know. Even if your traditional bachelorette bash doesn’t fall on the same night, make sure you’re sufficiently distracted by your own good time to worry about his.

Go Co-Ed

Co-ed showers are fast becoming the norm; bachelor and bachelorette parties are following suit. This is a great idea, especially if you and your man share a close circle of male and female friends. Even if your co-ed party does get a little wild – you’ll both feel much more comfortable knowing that you’re together - and can keep an eye on each other.

Talk it Over

Don’t be afraid to express any of your concerns to your fiancé. You may find that your worries are unfounded. Believe it or not, modern bachelor parties don’t always involve sweaty lap dances with buxom blondes named Barbi. Just as many consist of fishing, hiking and wine tasting. Your guy may even feel pressured by his buddies to partake in traditional debauchery, and he might welcome your dialogue to the contrary. Regardless – remember that you cannot force him to forgo the party (he’ll resent you if you try), so be open to listening and talking about his bachelor party plans.

Have a Little Faith

Even if your man’s crew goes the traditional g-string route, most bachelor parties really are innocent fun. If your guy cares about you and loves you, he won’t commit any transgressions. And if you find that you simply cannot trust him around a few scantily clad women – you may need to investigate whether this guy is even worth marrying in the first place.

Remember ladies, his bachelor party isn't the end of the world. And if he seems just a little starry eyed at the concept of a night in a strip club – give him a little lap dance of your own. That's sure to return his focus to you!

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Wedding Receiving Line Etiquette-Greeting Your Guests with Style

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Even though it’s a great tradition with a long history, some couples choose not to greet their guests in a receiving line fearing that this might take too long. Frank Gregoli, a top New York party planner says realistically, one should allow 30 minutes for every 100 people in the line.

If this time allotment fits within your plans and you’d like to be certain that you personally welcome and thank each of your guests, read on.

Know the Basics

Being familiar with the basics of what a receiving line is all about will immediately help you to feel comfortable with this elegant formality.

Exactly when and where the receiving line is formed is really based upon your particular situation. In general, people like to form their line either in the vestibule right after the ceremony or at the entrance to the reception
area.

With the exception of the groom, this is really a lady’s affair. Here’s the lineup: first in line is the bride’s mother, followed by the bride, the groom and, next to him, his mother.

Dads, groomsmen, bridesmaids, and children in the wedding party generally are not a part of the receiving line. If for some reason you choose to include any of these people, keep in mind that every person you add will cause the line to proceed slower.

Short and Sweet

Once everyone is in position, the rule should be to keep greetings brief yet warm and sincere. This will avoid a bottleneck. If there is time before your wedding day, review your list of guests with the groom and parents. A little homework never hurts.

Since your mother and you are the first in line, it’s expected that relatives and friends of his side of the family will introduce themselves to each of you. As your relatives and friends proceed, you should introduce them to the groom and his mother.

Include the Pleasantries

Consider adding a few pleasantries if your receiving line will not be in a house of worship. This will liven up everyone’s mood, get conversations going, and make waiting in line easier for your guests. For instance, you could:
Include music—Have the band or your dj positioned close enough so that
there is music in the background. Plan ahead though. You don’t want to
have to take time to make these arrangements at the last moment. Pass
the tray—Ask your caterer to set hors d’oeuvres and champagne on a
table nearby or have a waiter offer these on a tray.

Receiving Guests Like a Pro

There are always instances where, for one reason or another, a person’s name is not ready to roll off your tongue. You can handle these moments as if you’ve been in receiving lines all your life by saying something like: "I’m so glad you came. (Groom’s name) and I hope you’ll have a wonderful time." Or you could say, "It’s great to see you again. Please say hello to my husband, (Groom’s name)." Or "Thank you so much for coming. (Groom’s name) and I feel lucky to be with so many good friends."

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Planning a Rehearsal Dinner

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The great thing about a Rehearsal Dinner is that there are no set rules. Depending on your personality and budget you can create any type of dinner party you want.

Traditionally the Rehearsal Dinner is hosted by the groom's parents. But it is now becoming more common for the bride and groom to host their own dinner.

If you are throwing your own party, here are some ideas you might want to consider.

Formal Party A formal Dinner is nice if you are having a small party for twenty people or less. You can host the party at your favorite resturant. Usually you allow your guests to order off the menu.

Pizza Party This is a fun idea for groups who want a very casual party. The party can be hosted at a friends home or at your favorite pizza parlor. A pizza party is a great way to relax your guests before the formal wedding.

Pot Luck Dinner If you are low on cash, a potluck dinner is a great idea. Ask your in-town guests to bring their favorite food and host a party at your home (or friends house). Be sure to organize in advance what your guests will bring. You would not want to end up with five plates of ham sandwiches and no desserts. A potluck dinner is a great way for friends and family to spend time together without going into debt.

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Determine Your Wedding Budget

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First and for most congratulations on your engagement!! You are about to embark on a journey of a lifetime, but before you start planning a wedding you must decide on a budget. Wedding budgets are very important; they allow you to decide on the total amount you will spend and how much you are allowed in each category. By setting your budget you also make decisions such as theme of your wedding, formality, location and size.

I understand you just got engaged and money is the last thing that you want to think about but trust me it is crucial that you set your budget before you start spending money. Start with an amount of what you believe you can afford to spend on your wedding. Do this before you sign one contract or write a single check. If you are not careful the wedding will plan you and your wedding will end up costing two to three times more than you expected.

It is easy to get out of control with the wedding “adrenaline” rushing through you. You get engaged, you tell your family and decisions begin happening before you have established a foundation, your budget. You want to make sure your wedding is how you always dreamed so in order to guarantee that, start with a solid budget.

Here is a budget guideline to help you plan that dream wedding. Referenced from PremierWeddingPlanning.com

Reception 50% of total budget
Bridal Attire 10% of total budget
Photography/Videography 10% of total budget
Flowers/Decorations 10% of total budget
Music 5% of total budget
Transportation 5% of total budget
Invitations 4% of total budget
Misc. 6% of total budget

Here is an example cost breakdown of an average $20, 000 wedding:

Reception $10, 000
Bridal Attire $2,000
Photography/Videography $2,000
Flowers/Decorations $2,000
Music $1,000
Transportation $1,000
Invitations $800
Misc. $1,200

This is just a guideline, every wedding is unique and there are no set of rules. It all depends on the couples preferences and priorities. Some couples may want to spend more on the reception and less on the ceremony or more on bridal attire and modify the floral budget. The variations are endless.

The average bride and groom these days are older and more career established resulting in 70% of all weddings today being paid by the couple themselves entirely. If your parents are paying for the wedding or contributing now is the time to discuss budgets and limits. Be realistic and appreciative. If you wish to have a wedding that goes above and beyond what your parents are willing to expense then compromise. You can cut corners without sacrificing quality. By choosing the time of year when costs are lower, by choosing an affordable venue site, finding vendors with special wedding packages, or having a smaller wedding party.

If you are paying for your own wedding then you should have a good idea of what you can realistically afford. If your budget is limited then you need to decide your priority vs. cost. You can have a large guest lest with a causal wedding or a small guest list with a big, fancy wedding, you get to decide!

If you would like a simple budget calculator worksheet like the one above go to Premier Planner at PremierWeddingPlanning.com. It is a FREE online wedding planner with a fantastic wedding budget notebook. You can save it right there and have your very own wedding planner organizer online for Free! By logging in you can use all the wedding planning services it offers including, budget calculator, guest list, seating chart, email reminders, RSVP online, wedding planning calendar and much more.

Good luck with your budget planning and congratulations on marrying your best friend!

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The style of your wedding determines the type of invitation you choose. For a formal wedding the invitation is usually on white paper with black printing. For less informal weddings, you can have it any way you wish ~ pastel paper to beads to lace matching the bride's gown. It's your choice!!

The following is a short list of lingo for printing invitations.

Blind Embossing: Blind embossing is a printing method where an image is pressed into paper resulting in a raised design.

Bright White: This shade is the ultimate in white, very crisp, pure and bright!

Deckle Edge: An uneven, feathery edge on a piece of paper is called a deckle edge. This edge is most commonly found on parchment invitations;

Die-Cutting: The process of using sharp metal rules to cut shapes and designs into paper. Die-cutting includes cutout shapes and sculpted edges.

Embossing: is a type of printing which uses ink or foil on the raised area to add drama and dimension.

Foil Stamping: is achieved when colored foil is hot-stamped onto paper such as napkins.

French-Fold: A sheet of paper folded twice to create a four-paneled invitation .

Liners: This term refers to the decorative paper used to line the inside of an inner envelope or a single envelope.

Panel: A panel is the center section of your invitation .

Parchment: Translucent paper made to look like original parchment.

Pearlize: A process that applies a luminous pearl-like finish to part of an invitation.

Short-Fold: A short-fold is created when a sheet of paper is folded once, not exactly in half, forming an invitation with a short front panel and longer back panel.

Tri-Fold: A tri-fold is created when a sheet of paper is folded twice to form a three-paneled invitation.

Vellum: Vellum is a paper with a rich, smooth finish paper.

White: This shade is a soft white, like wedding gowns. It is a delicate hue.

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Preserve Your Bridal Bouquet for a Lifetime

Just as you preserve a wedding gown, preserve a bridal bouquet.

Wedding-day memories are preserved in a photo album and maybe a video. Your wedding dress is preserved in a box. Don't forget to add your bridal bouquet to the list. You spent a lot of time and money to ensure the floral arrangements were perfect. Keep that memory alive by having your bouquet professionally preserved.

There are three bouquet-preservation methods. They are:

1. Silica gel: It's a quick-drying mode where flowers are immersed in a sand-like silicon substance.

2. Pressing: Selected blooms are pressed and flattened with a flower press and then framed.

3. Freeze-dry: Flowers are sprayed with a starch and then "baked" in a freeze-dryer. This is the only preservation method where flowers don't need a protective covering. Plus it will give you the most realistic looking shapes and colors of flowers.

It's best to make bouquet-preservation arrangements before the wedding. Ask to see samples of the preservationist's work so you can get an idea of how your flowers will look. Inquire about prices. Costs vary but it will always be less expensive to preserve a few blooms instead of the full bouquet.

The fresher and healthier the flowers, the prettier they will look preserved. Consider leaving your actual bouquet in a safe place during the reception. Have the caterer store it in the refrigerator or stick the stems of a hand-tied bouquet in water. Then, at the ceremony, toss another bouquet instead. These steps will ensure that the flowers will be in their most pristine state come preservation time.

Ask if the preservationist can pick up the flowers the day of your wedding or the very next day. If you can't do it yourself, give the bouquet to a trusted bridesmaid who can bring it to the preservationist for you or mail it to one that's further away.

Your bouquet can become a decorative keepsake in your home. Put it in a glass or acrylic dome and mount it on a wall. Choose a tabletop frame style that can adorn your living room table. Perhaps you can have your wedding invitation, program or vows framed alongside the arrangement. However you display it, preservation methods will let you enjoy your bridal flowers for a lifetime.

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Tips for Choosing Great Flower Girl Dresses

If you're planning a wedding, you may be tempted to just buy a cute white dress for your flower girl, and have her carry a bouquet that matches yours. After all, she's just a kid, right? And if she looks adorable, the guests will be pleasantly pleased.

Well there's a bit more to it than that. Let's first take a quick look at the flower girl tradition.

Starting with the middle ages, flower girls were assigned a special job; to walk down the wedding aisle ahead of the bride and groom and spread grain (not flowers) in order to pave the way for a new beginnings, fertility and happiness in the marriage.

Today's flowers girls usually carry rose petals, and while they aren't believed to have special powers that will grant the new couple a harmonious relationship, they do tend to set the tone for a wedding.

Think about the last wedding you attended. If the flower girls came out in formal dark colored dresses, you quickly understood that the wedding would have a formal tone. On the other hand, if they came out in wispy flower girl dresses with roses laced into their hair, you knew that you would experience a more whimsical wedding.

In other words, the flower girls are generally the first part of the wedding party to walk down the isle, and because of that, they will make a strong first impression on your guests.

How will you dress your flower girls?

Here are some flower girl dress ideas for the most popular wedding themes around:

Cinderella Wedding theme:
If you are planning a Cinderella wedding theme, then extravagance and beauty should be a part of everything. And since your flower girls will be the first to appear, they need to set the tone boldly. For this theme, you should have more than one flower girl-three or four would be ideal-and then dress them spectacularly. Choose frilly white dresses with huge skirts and satin bows. You can tie in some of your wedding colors by adding fresh pale pink, yellow or blue flowers to their hair. In addition, they should wear satin ballerina slippers. Have them carry baskets decorated to match their dresses and throw tons of soft rose petals along the isle.

Beach Wedding Theme
Depending on the type of beach wedding that you want, you will have various choices with your flower girl dresses. If you want a romantic beach wedding, then put your flower girls in soft pastel tones or white, and use lots of fresh flowers-both in their hair and for them to throw. The flower girl wedding dresses can be shorter than in a formal wedding, and appropriate sandals would set the tone nicely. Instead of a basket, they could carry a pastel painted beach bucket filled to the rim with wildflowers to scatter along the isle.

If you have a stronger, more colorful beach wedding planned, why not have some fun with the flower girl dresses? Putting them in typical beach dresses to match your wedding décor would immediately let the wedding guests know that your wedding will be fun and adventurous.

Roaring 20's Wedding
Imagine a black and white wedding, wing tips shoes and ostrich feathers. That's the idea behind a roaring 20 wedding theme, and as you can imagine, a precious frilly flower girl dress simply won't fit the bill. With this type of gutsy wedding, you will have to get imaginative with them. Why not dress your flower girls in white satin flapper girl dresses, with bands around their hair and beads around the hemline? With this type of dress, you will certainly hear ooh and ahs from the crowd!

Garden Party Wedding
If you dream of an outdoor wedding surrounded by blooming flowers and ivy-laced arches, then your flower girl dresses should take on an entirely different style. White, off-white or pale pastel linen would be an ideal choice. In addition, a beautiful soft cotton dress with a muted flower pattern would be lovely, tied with a large solid satin bow in the back. Add lace up satin sandals and an armful of colorful tulips, and your guests won't be likely to forget your flower girls for some time to come.

As you can see, your flower girl dresses will set the mood of your entire event. Don't just automatically dress your flower girls in the typical dress, but instead get creative. What is the first thing you want your guest to see?

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Wedding Dress Styles - The Anatomy of a Wedding Gown

Before stepping into a bridal salon, you should know the basic wedding dress styles and the terms used to describe them. A wedding dress is typically described by 5 parts: silhouette, sleeves, bodice, neckline and train. For each part of the dress, there are many different styles:

Silhouette The silhouette is the basic shape of the gown:

Ball Gown: The ball gown is characterized by a fitted bodice and a waistline leading to a very full skirt (Think Cinderella).

Empire: An empire-style gown features a high waistline (right under the bust) falling to a slimmer (yet not body-fitting) skirt.

A-Line or Princess: An A-line or Princess shape features vertical seams flowing from the shoulders down to a flared skirt, creating and inverted V — or A — shape.

Sheath: The slim sheath closely follows the line of the body, creating a form-fitting look.

Mermaid: The mermaid style is form fitting at the top, similar to the sheath, and then flows out around the knees, creating a mermaid shape.

Sleeves For wedding gowns, sleeves are more than just long or short. Read below to decide which type of sleeve is best for you.

T-Shirt Sleeves: As the name indicates, these sleeves resemble those of your favorite T-shirt. This style is a good option for brides who want to cover their upper arms but don't want to go all the way.

Cap Sleeves: Shorter than a T-shirt sleeve and more rounded, therefore a little more baring. Cap sleeves work best on women with fairly slender and well-toned upper arms.

Off-The-Shoulder Sleeves: These sleeves cover the upper part of the arms while leaving the tops of the shoulders exposed. The sleeves also cover enough of the upper arm to make most feel comfortable.

¾ Length Sleeves: This style has a classic, ladylike feel, with the sleeves ending midway between the elbow and the wrist. An elegant look suited for a formal or winter wedding.

Spaghetti Straps: These are skinny straps with no sleeves attached. Not for the "arm-shy," this style works best for brides with well-toned upper arms or who just want to look sexy!

Sleeveless: Today, strapless gowns with no sleeves are actually the most popular choice among brides. This style works for many body types.

Bodice As the name indicates, the bodice represents the "body" of the gown, or the section between the neckline and skirt.

Corset: This is a form-fitting bodice, complete with boning and lace-up or snap closures. This bodice style is fashioned after the ladies undergarment with the same name.

Empire: This bodice style ends just below the bust and flares into a full skirt. This style is flattering on almost all body types.

Halter: The halter is a sleeveless bodice that wraps around the neck. Sometimes backless; always sexy.

Midriff: This bodice fits closely around the mid-ribcage, and is a great choice for accentuating a small waist.

Princess-line: This sleek bodice, characterized by two vertical seams that travel from bust to hem, is super-slimming and gives the illusion of extra height.

Surplice: The surplice bodice cross-wraps the fabric in either the front or back.

Tank: The tank is a short, sleeveless top with wide armholes. This popular style looks great on most body types.

Neckline The most noticeable part of the dress in your wedding photos, the right neckline can create a truly stunning wedding gown. Below, we help you decipher the different styles.

Off-The-Shoulder: As the name implies, this neckline sits below the shoulders, showcasing a woman's collarbone and shoulders, while sleeves cover part of the upper arm. This neckline flatters almost all figures.

Portrait: The Portrait neckline is similar to an off-the-shoulder style but additional fabric covers the shoulders. The portrait neckline is characterized by a wide, soft scoop from the tip of one shoulder to the tip of the other.

Sweetheart: Shaped like the top half of a heart, the sweetheart neckline's ability to accentuate décolletage makes it a great option for fuller-chested women.

Sabrina/Bateau: This shape is cut straight across, following the curve of the collarbone to almost the tip of the shoulders, showing less décolletage. This neckline can be paired with sleeves or a sleeveless style.

Halter: The halter wraps around the back of the neck, creating deep armholes. The halter is often paired with a backless style, creating a very sexy look.

Scoop: The classic scoop is a U-shaped neckline, and flatters almost all body types. For a sexier look, it can be cut low. The scoop will often continue on the back of the dress.

Jewel or T-Shirt: Similar to an actual T-shirt, the jewel neckline is round and sits at the base of the throat. This neckline creates a bustier look.

V-Neck: This neckline dips in the front into a V-shape. Since it de-emphasizes the bustline, this neckline is good for B or C cups.

Train More than any other element of the wedding dress, the bridal train has the ability to transform. It's the elongated back portion of the gown that lies on the floor and trails out behind the bride as she walks, giving her a majestic appearance.

Trains date from the Middle Ages, when length worn at court indicated rank. Today, gowns with long chapel and cathedral trains extending past the hem of the dress are considered the most formal, lending themselves to bustling following the ceremony. Watteau and court trains, which spill from the shoulders and fall to the floor or hem, are less formal. And the detachable train — which can be any length — is generally attached to the gown via buttons or hooks, then later removed to reveal a less imposing look.

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Cori Locklin is editor-in-chief for Elegala.com and Elegala Magazine (and a recent bride!). Elegala is a new wedding planning resource offering the most comprehensive portfolio of superior wedding reception sites and wedding services, along with planning tips, photo galleries and checklists to keep brides in-the-know on today's wedding trends and styles. For a complete guide to creating an elegant and memorable wedding celebration, visit Elegala.com, your ultimate wedding planning resource.
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Secrets Your Husband/Significant Other Don't Want You to Know

1. He Only Pretends Not to Listen.

He heard what you said. He’s just not interested in hearing it at the moment. Don’t try to give your man instructions or talk about your feelings when he’s watching TV (especially sports), eating, reading, or has just come home from work. He will only be half listening. His mind is on other things like: will his team win, his day at work, how hungry he is, etc. He can only pay attention to one thing at a time. If he lets you think that he is giving you his full attention, and then you will want to talk to him at these inappropriate moments all the time. If he gives you a detailed response, you’ll just continue to talk. If he completely ignores you, you’ll get mad. If he pretends that he is listening, you will be content and walk away.

2. He Does Look at Other Women.

Not because he wants to cheat, but because men are visually stimulated. Getting mad at him for looking is just going to make him sneak a peek. Hey, it’s just a passing glance. It’s not like we don’t check guys out too!

3. He Needs Time Away From You.

Men need time to reflect, socialize and just get away from it all. Men like the time to regroup. It doesn’t mean that they don’t want to be with us, it is just an escape to appreciate what they have at home. So lighten up, while he’s out of the house, take the kids out or get a babysitter and go something you enjoy.

4. He Doesn’t Feel Like Being Bothered Sometimes

You’ve probably asked him to do something several times, but yet he still doesn’t do it in a timely manner. In frustration, you do it yourself. What is he thinking, “Thank Goodness!” Men do things at their own pace. You can ask your man to take out the trash and 3 hours later, it’s still there. Technically, he still has time to take out the trash. In his mind, the trash isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and if you do it yourself, that just makes it better for him.

5. He Really Enjoys Gossip

If your man overhears you gossiping on the phone, he’ll probably shake his head in disapproval. However, if he talks about Joe and Margaret, his co workers who are having an affair, it’s not gossip. Actually men enjoy to gossip. They just have a different name for it “Commenting.”

6. Yes, He Was Thinking About Sex

Your man has a far away look in his eyes. He seems distant. He was thinking about sex. He can’t help it, he thinks about it several times a day. Wouldn’t you prefer that he thinks about it several times a day rather than having sex several times a day?

7. When His Voice Goes High, or He Answers a Question With the Same Question, He’s Thinking of a Lie.

If you ask your man, “What You’d Do Today?’ and he replies “What I’d Do Today?” he’s probably thinking of lie. It doesn’t mean that he did something inappropriate, just something you wouldn’t approve of. Maybe, he left work early to hang out with the guys. If he told you this, you’d be upset because you had a long day at work or at home with the kids. The problem is he was having too much fun to think about if you would ask him that question, so he didn’t plan a lie beforehand.

8. Nothing is Wrong, So Stop Asking Him

Admit it, you see your man sitting quietly and you naturally assume something is wrong or has happened. So you ask, “What’s wrong?” and he replies, “Nothing, I’m just thinking.” Well, this answer doesn’t satisfy you, so you ask again throughout the day, which leads to his frustration. Men reflect too! He was probably thinking about how he wants to change careers, if you are satisfied and happy with him, how he can make more money, how he doesn’t want to grow old and fat, or how he would really like to buy that sports car. Ask him once, and then leave it alone. If you really sense something is wrong, give him some time and talk to him when you both feel like talking.

9. Most Men are Conquerors and Most Women are Venters

You just told him about your horrible experience at work. You want him to comfort and console you; instead he gives you logical facts about how to solve the problem. You feel cheated. You wanted to share your feelings about the day and all he wanted to do was fix the problem. Men like to offer solutions. Most men are not concerned about being in touch with their feelings when there’s a conflict. You want to feel understood; he wants to make the problem go away. He can’t relate to how you are feeling, so he does what he knows best, helps you to plan a solution.

10. He Wants to Feel Successful.

A man needs to feel he has accomplished something in life, and often times that accomplishment is found in their jobs or careers. Men don’t like to feel conflicted between work and quality time with their families. To men, if they are working hard to earn money, this will improve the quality of their family’s life.

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Marie Magdala Roker is a Personal Development Coach an Author of Successful Thinking for a Successful Life: How to Banish the Unhealthy Thoughts and Habits That Limit Your Success. Her Successful Thinking™ program is an affordable coaching resource that offers support and encouragement when there are roadblocks to success. You can find out more about the program at http://www.thinkandbesuccessful.com/ or sign up for her free Be Inspired newsletter at http://www.smartbeecoaching.com/ Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?

expert=Marie_Roker http://funweddings.blog.com http://funweddings.wordpress.com

Planning A Military Wedding

Any man or woman who is an active member of the military may have a military wedding.

A military ceremony is conducted according to the religion and traditions of the couple but with a few twists. A military wedding is different from a civilian wedding in the following ways.

ATTIRE

Formal attire must be worn. Any man in the military must wear his full-dress uniform including white gloves and sword/saber. Men in uniform do not wear boutonnieres.

If the bride is a military member, she may wear her uniform if she so chooses.

Since this is a formal wedding the bride should wear an appropriate gown - no low-cut necklines or backs, and nothing strapless. A long elegant gown with a flowing train would be ideal.

All non-military attendants must wear formal attire.

If a bride wears her uniform, she cannot wear flowers or a corsage.

An American flag should be displayed along with the standards (colors) of the couple’s military unit(s) during the ceremony.

RECESSIONAL

The bride and groom pass under an arch of drawn swords or sabers. The arch is formed by an honor guard (made up of commissioned officers), and symbolizes a safe passage into marriage.

On command swords or sabers are raised with the sharp edge facing up. The couple enters the arch, stops to kiss, then pass through. The newlywed(s) in uniform salutes the honor guard. The officers then return the swords/sabers to the carry position.

RECEPTION

At a seated reception, military guests are shown to their places in order of rank.

The bride and groom cut the wedding cake with a sword/saber.

DECORATING IDEAS

The reception hall can be decorated in military style. You can use the standars of the couples military unit(s) for the color scheme.

Feature regimental decoations. Display the American flag and place mini flags on tables.

Green wreaths with white flowers would make lovely centerpieces.

Special touch: Play the theme song of the groom’s and/or bride’s branch of service.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

A military wedding can be held in the couple’s own church, synagogue, or the chapel at a military base. You can also marry at a military academy if you are a graduate (active, or retired); a child of a graduate or a member of the staff.

Only someone who is wearing a full-dress uniform can carry a sword or saber.

Naval officers carry swords, while Army, Air force, and Marine Officers carry sabers.

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Tips on Choosing a Wedding Ceremony Location

Selection of a Wedding Ceremony Location seems on the surface to be an easy task, but it is actually the one that requires most careful planning and a very thoughtful coordination especially if the ceremony is a non traditional one.
As Wedding Ceremony is an event where two people who want to make a supposedly lifelong commitment to each other unite, many people prefer to hold the ceremony at their place of worship, usually the one that bride or groom or some friend or relative attends. In this case the selection of location becomes fairly easy provided the location is available on the date the ceremony is taking place. Now the question is what if the bride and the groom belong to different denominations or even if they don’t have any sort of religious affiliation?

In any case there are numerous locations that the wedding ceremony can take place other than the place of worship. The location can be practically anywhere, It can be at home, at a country or yacht club, outdoors at a local, national or state park, on a yacht, on a tropical island, at a mountaintop retreat, in a medieval castle, at Disney World or any other exotic or non exotic place which is limited by your imagination and bank account.

Before the location is decided on the couple needs to get together to agree upon their wedding ceremony location options as there are many to consider.

Before selecting a location, however, you've got to make sure it'll accommodate what you want. Is the location large enough to accommodate all your guests? Are dressing rooms available? Are there electrical outlets for acoustics and/or music? Is the location easily accessible, especially for those with special needs? Can you find someone to officiate at the location?

The amount you'll pay will vary from location to location. When you're finding out the costs, be sure to ask what is included with the price. Make sure the items mentioned are written out on the contract, too. You'll likely be asked to provide a deposit to reserve the date. This needs to be reflected on the contract as well as the balance amount and due date.

Selecting the location of the ceremony should happen well in advance of the wedding date, up to 12 months if possible. If you wait too long to reserve the location, you may find it's already booked, as there is more to consider about the wedding ceremony than just the location.

The music and the vows need special attention, especially if you wish not to follow the more traditional route. The music may be included with the location. For example, oftentimes a church will use its own organist. However, if your budget allows, you may wish to write your own wedding songs and hire a soloist and accompanist to perform them. Or you can hire musicians to match the theme of your wedding. If these types of arrangements are in your budget, be sure to reserve the talent far in advance, right after you've secured the wedding ceremony location.

Consider every aspect of the Ceremony and then decide upon the location that will be sure to make you and your guests and your partner happy to be there.

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The Wedding Party

In ancient times, brides were thought to be particularly vulnerable to evil spirits, so in order to protect the bride, her friends were richly dressed in costumes similar to the bride's and acted as decoys to confuse the evil spirits.

It was once common for the bride and groom, as well as their friends, to walk to the church on the morning of the wedding. Afraid that a spurned suitor would try to place a curse on the bride and groom, their friends would garb themselves similar to the bride and groom in order to trick the evil wishers.

Today, the function of the bridesmaid is to be a support to the bride as well as her confidant and friend.

Have you ever wondered about the purpose of groomsmen? Legend has it that this came about during ancient times when women were in short supply and a man had to literally kidnap his bride from her village, clan or tribe. The groom-to-be would bring along his 'best men' to help fight off angry family members or from competing suitors.

The best man of days-gone-by was responsible for more than the wedding ring. Since there remained a threat of the bride's family attempting to forcibly gain her return, the best man stayed by the groom's side throughout the marriage ceremony, protecting the bride and groom from any threats. He also served as a sentry outside the newlyweds' home.

It is believed to bring good luck to the groom if the best man arranges for the groom to carry a good luck charm in his pocket on his wedding day. It is also considered good luck for the best man to pay the officiant's fee in an odd sum.

Nowadays, the role of the groomsmen and best man has been confined to the honorary positions.

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Tom Tsatsos http://www.theamericanwedding.com/ Source: ArticleTrader.com

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Photographing Your Wedding Formals

Whether you choose to do you your formal photographs prior to the ceremony or immediately afterwards, you'll find that these formal group photographs will become some of your most treasured memories in years to come. How your photographer organizes these groupings will have a great effect on the outcome of these photographs. There are a number of different philosophies when it comes to photographing families, bridesmaids and ushers and the biggest obstacle facing you and your photographer are the time constraints which are an unfortunate part of the wedding day.

This is where having a gameplan will be of great benefit. It has been my experience that a "formals" session will typically last anywhere between forty minutes and one hour. Clock-watching becomes a necessity because everyone involved in your wedding day has a job to do, and running late is never a good idea. Your function director will generally have a pretty tight timeline regarding seating your guests and getting dinner on the table. Timely completion of your formal photography session may prevent the burning of 250 plates of Chicken Cordon Bleu, and there's nothing worse than dry, overdone chicken!

I like to start a photography session with the largest groups first. If you have a sizable wedding party they'll appreciate the fact that you've completed their photographs and now they can go enjoy a cocktail and some hor's doerves. Next I like to photograph the bride's family and the groom's, followed by any aunts, uncles, cousins and special requests. Finally, I can concentrate on the Bride and Groom and give them the attention they deserve without worrying about the "next" shot we'll need to take. At this point everyone is ready to be introduced into the reception hall, with nothing but free-flowing candid coverage for the remainder of the day.

If formal photographs are important to you, (and why wouldn't they be) I strongly suggest that you create a list of the formal groupings that you wouldn't want to miss. On such a busy and exciting day you're likely to forget a grouping or two, and you certainly can't hold your photographer responsible for missing a family photo if you never told him to take it! My photography assistant plays the role of "second-string quarterback", holding the clipboard containing the shot list and checking them off as we go. Another tip is to let those folks who you'd like involved in photographs know in advance that they'll be needed. Remember, you may have less than one hour to get this done. You don't have time to track people down and get them to the photography area.

Another possibility which works for some couples is to complete the formal photographs prior to the ceremony. I know some of you are cringing at the thought of breaking with tradition, but if you analyze the advantages you may find that this is an option worth considering. Obviously, a pre-ceremony photo session isn't possible in all cases, but works particularly well when the ceremony and reception are taking place at the same venue. I'll simply have the key parties arrive about one and a half hours prior to the start of the ceremony and then go through the groupings in much the same way as described above. The advantages here are obvious: Time restrictions have been eliminated, cocktail hour can now be enjoyed by everyone, including the bride and groom and best of all, no burnt chicken!
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Andy Heller is the owner/operator of Heller Photography, http://www.hellerphoto.com specializing in Boston Wedding Photography and social events throughout Massachusetts since 1987. He can be reached at 508-668-4277 or by email: andy@hellerphoto.com Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_Heller HTTP://FUNWEDDINGS.BLOG.COM, HTTP://FUNWEDDINGS.WORDPRESS.COM http://http://fun.createswebsites.com