What Will Your Wedding Invitations Say About You?

Everything about your wedding, starting with your wedding invitations, should reflect your own personal style. Now, more than ever, couples are doing everything they can to make their wedding day uniquely personalized.

You and your fiancé chose the location, theme and colors of your wedding based on your personal preferences. Since your wedding invitations are an introduction to your wedding, they should reflect your choices and ultimately your personalities and styles.

It used to be that wedding invitations were always very traditional in their color and appearance. Today, wedding invitations come in a vast array of exciting colors, styles, sizes and themes to reflect the creativity of modern wedding couples.

Not to say traditional is out of date, but today your options are truly unlimited. There are choices based on seasons, hobbies, color combinations, themes, ceremony locations, ethnic backgrounds, flowers, etc. Your wedding invitations can have a modern contemporary look or they might feature photos of youngsters sharing tender moments.

Your choices don’t end with the wedding invitation itself. There’s the font style and ink color. Again, there is an impressive selection of font styles to fit any type of wedding design. Just keep in mind you want to choose a style that your guests will find easy to read. The more script the style, the more difficult it usually is to read. Colored ink choices are not quite as abundant as font styles, but there are still plenty to accommodate your chosen wedding colors.

Here are some questions for you to consider when choosing your wedding invitation style:

1. In what type of setting are you getting married – church, formal, casual, outdoor, destination?
2. What is the color scheme of your wedding?

3. Is there an overall theme to your wedding?

4. Do you want to incorporate a specific ethnic or religious theme?

5. In what season will your wedding take place?

6. What type of flowers are you having in your wedding?

7. Do you want to include your photo on your wedding invitations?

8. What is your wedding invitation budget?

Another great idea for personalizing your wedding invitations is to include a favorite line of poetry, a beloved quotation, a particular Bible verse, or words from a special song. Many times the company who prints your invitations will also have a large selection of small verses to choose from. Just be sure your chosen wedding invitation style will have enough room for these extra lines of printing.

Your wedding invitations should be both beautiful and uniquely personal, just like your wedding ceremony. With all of today’s gorgeous choices, you’re sure to find exactly what you desire.

This article was submitted by Sara Haese of Printed Creations Wedding Store

Louisiana has been added

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Words of Love - Choosing Your Ceremony Readings

If you are planning a wedding ceremony that will incorporate readings, this article from Jean Neuhart will be of interest:

Words of Love - Choosing Your Ceremony Readings

You’re getting married and you want the world, or at least your closest friends and family, to know what’s in your heart. Choosing ceremony readings that represent the beauty and love of your relationship is a wonderful, and relatively easy way to share these feelings and personalize your ceremony. Your readings should be beautiful, moving and interesting to your guests, reflect the words and feelings in your heart, yet still adhere to the formality and "feel" that you want for your ceremony.

There are so many wonderful sources to find suitable readings. You can find them in scripture; (I Corinthians 13:4-8 – "Love is patient. Love is kind . . . ," Ephesians 5:21-32 – "Honor Christ by submitting to each other. . . . And the two shall become one.", Song of Solomon 6:3 – "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine . . . "; from selections of poetry (Alfred, Lord Tennyson – "In true marriage lies, Nor equal, or unequal," anonymous Chinese poet, Han Dynasty – "O, celestial beings, Let our feelings for each other, continue without diminishing," ); or excerpts from literature, William Shakespeare from As You Like It – " . . . no sooner met but they looked, no sooner looked but they loved, no sooner loved but they sighed, no sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason, no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy . . . ").

However, since there are so many, it can get so overwhelming. Don’t let this send you down the simple route of merely looking at a list of possible selections (usually provided by your officiant or person who is helping with the ceremony), and picking a couple readings only because they’re on his/her list and therefore must be the appropriate choices. Visit your local library and look under topics such as poetry, literature, wedding readings. Check your (and your fiancé’s) bookshelves, and music collection. Some of the most beautiful words of love are song lyrics.

Don’t be too quick to dismiss readings that have "been done." If you find yourself hesitating over a particular selection because you’re afraid that your guests will groan, "Oh, no! Not this one again," stop a moment and give it a thorough once over. Read the selection out loud, or have someone read it to you. The spoken word has a much greater impact than just seeing them on a piece of paper. You may need to back up a bit to include a preceding verse or sentence or two, or if you have someone who is creative with words, can write a suitable introduction. Including this intro can help make the "same old" come alive, becoming something that is new and fresh. In a beautiful introduction to Corinthians 13:4-8, an aunt of the bride described the differences between love and infatuation. An excerpt follows. "Infatuation is fleeting desire. True love is a friendship that has caught fire. Infatuation says we must get married right away, I can’t risk losing you. Love says be patient, don’t panic, plan your future with confidence. Infatuation might lead you to do things you will regret. Love never steers you in the wrong direction. God, in His amazing, infinite wisdom, said it perfectly in Corinthians."

Of course, you’ll want to take special care in choosing the person(s) who will be your readers. Look for someone who is comfortable in front of a crowd, and can read in a good speaking voice. Even the most beautiful, emotion evoking words will lose their meaning if read in a droning, monotone voice.

Finally, to avoid any unpleasant surprises on your wedding day, make sure to obtain a list of rules and regulations from your ceremony site regarding what they do and do not permit for a wedding ceremony, and get your officiant’s okay before finalizing any choices. And remember, if worse comes to worse, and you aren’t allowed to use a reading that you just cannot imagine doing without – have someone read it at the reception. Words of Love aren’t just for the ceremony.

Jean Neuhart is the owner of Weddings From The Heart.

Memory Insurance: Making Your Video/Photo Investment Worthwhile

Jim Hatlo, from WeddingVideo.Com has provided the following article:

As a bride, it’s likely you will spend a significant amount of money for video and photo coverage of your wedding day. Almost certainly you will have the coverage extended to include your wedding reception.

That’s an important investment – and if you think of it in those terms, you’ll realize you should put some effort into protecting your investment.

Brides often fail to take that long-term view. Mentally, they tend to lump videography and photography in with other wedding services -- like catering or cake decorating. The right contracts are signed with the right businesses. Ideally, everyone shows up on the wedding day when they are supposed to, with the right materials in hand. If all goes well, that’s the end of it.

Wrong. That’s only the first phase for your videographer and your photographer. After the wedding there will be tapes to capture, clips to edit, film to be developed or digital images to be catalogued and processed, and then DVDs and albums to be produced. When all those steps are complete, you will have visual records of your wedding day (which will include memories of the cake, the flowers, the reception celebration, and everything else) that you and your husband will treasure for years – and which may be treasured by your children and your grandchildren, too. That’s an investment!

How much can you do, personally, to ensure a good return on your investment? More than you might think. Obviously, choosing a skilled videographer and a skilled photographer are crucial first steps. Beyond that, though, you have the ability to exert control over the environment in which they will be working. The degree of control will vary, depending on the circumstances of your wedding day; but in most cases, you will have a lot to say about arrangements for your reception, in particular.

As you plan your reception, you’ll want to make it a wonderful experience for you, your groom, your bridal party, and your guests. But don’t forget your investment. You also will want wonderful experiences whenever you relive your reception through your video and your photos. If you think about organizing your reception so that your videographer and your photographer can do their best work, you’ll reap benefits in the future as well as in the present.

Don’t Guess, Don’t Stress
There are two things you don’t want to do. First, don’t jot down a list of the pivotal events during the reception – grand entrance, toasts, first dance, and so on – and then trust to spontaneity for everything to take place at just the right time. (As unlikely as it might seem, I’ve seen that happen.) The old adage “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail” truly applies here.

If you wait for the timing to “feel right” to move from one stage of your reception to another, I can almost guarantee that what you’ll feel later, as you review your video footage and your photos, will be twinges of disappointment. Spontaneity isn’t the best friend of the camera professionals you hire to document your wedding events. You need to make a detailed timeline, specifying the order and the times for everything to take place. (More about that in a moment.)

Second, don’t leave yourself as the key decision-maker on your wedding day. Do your planning well in advance, then delegate the execution of your plans to one or more people you trust. Once they understand their role, leave it entirely in their hands.

I’ve seen brides rushing around rearranging table decorations before the reception doors opened, or tied up in last-minute consultations with the catering director while the groom and the rest of the bridal party were having cocktails. Take yourself out of that loop. You should be enjoying the festivities while someone else worries about the details. Relaxed, happy brides look a lot better on camera than anxious, frazzled brides.

Put Someone In Charge
A bride’s best ally in orchestrating a smooth, orderly reception is a true master or mistress of ceremonies – somebody who knows the plan for the entire event and has authority to call the shots, as in: “All right, everyone, we’re doing the cake cutting in exactly five minutes!” That person might be your wedding coordinator, your catering director, your DJ, or your bandleader.

DJs or bandleaders have an important edge: They control the microphone. They also are free of other duties (such as directing the wait staff in getting appetizers served) that might take them away from the main reception area. Even if your wedding coordinator or catering director is running the show, they still will need announcements from the DJ or bandleader to keep your reception on track.

With that in mind, when you’re choosing a DJ or a band, look for someone experienced in directing the flow of a live event. They aren’t there to just play music for you and your guests. They need to be adept at doing announcements, at keeping a lively patter going during unexpected delays (such as a groomsman gone missing at the line-up for the Grand Entrance), and at keeping track of what’s happening in the hall so they can alert the videographer and the photographer to all “photo-ops.” The best DJs and bandleaders are team players who also know how to keep the team moving and working together – and how to be an extra pair of eyes for your camera professionals.

Allow Breathing Room
Any wedding planner will tell you that you need a master timeline for your reception. As we noted, it should list all the major events, in order. A typical list might include:
- Reception Start
- Grand Entrance
- Toasts
- Dinner
- First Dance, Parent Dances
- Cake Cutting
- Dessert
- Bouquet Toss, Garter Toss
- Last Dance

Once you’ve created your own list, you can start attaching times to the events. Don’t write down times arbitrarily. Think through each event. How much time will it take for the various members of the bridal party to walk through the room during the Grand Entrance? Who will be speaking during the toasts, and how long are they likely to talk? (Be very generous with your estimates on that one!) How long will it take for dinner to be served to all the guests, and how long will it take for everyone to finish eating?

What sometimes is overlooked is that you also need to consider how your timeline affects your videographer and your photographer. As you work out the overall timing for your reception, make sure to leave some breathing room between the events. Your camera professionals will greatly appreciate having a few moments to prepare for whatever is coming next. Tapes, batteries, and film packs need to be changed as the reception goes on. Allow a little slack time so those changes can occur, if needed, and so your “film crew” can relocate gracefully to other areas of the hall.

One of the most difficult receptions I ever covered went from an after-dinner presentation of a photo montage -- which I was in charge of screening – immediately to the cake cutting; and that, in turn, was immediately followed by the first dance. (No, I wasn’t informed in advance about the rapid-fire scheduling, and neither was the DJ.) It was a mad rush to get from one point to another, trying to squirm politely but quickly through the crowd of guests. I found myself playing catch-up, unable to get to good vantage points before the guests surrounded the bridal couple. Making good shots – or even just acceptable shots – was a big challenge.

Remember that while you want to enjoy the flow of the reception as it happens, you still have your background goal of enjoying the visual records later. Don’t hand your camera professionals any surprises. Leave space for them to work, and be sure you give them advance copies of your timeline. (Naturally you’ll also give a copy to your DJ or whoever is directing the proceedings.)

Does your timeline have to be followed with split-second military precision? No -- in fact, I’ve never covered a reception that stayed perfectly on schedule. What is important is that the person or people in charge stick to the outlined order of events, and avoid the temptation to rush things if the reception is running behind. Should any changes be necessary, your “designated director” needs to see that the changes are communicated as soon as possible to the videographer and to the photographer.

Available People, Available Light
Here are two final tips, one on scheduling and one on lighting: Be sure your instructions to your catering director clearly spell out that the videographer and the photographer should be served their meals immediately after the bridal party is served; and also make it clear that you do not want any lights dimmed in the hall until well into the reception, after your first dance with your groom, and preferably after the cake-cutting.

The first tip is important because caterers and reception halls often wait until all guests have their food before serving “vendor meals” to videographers, photographers, and musicians. That scenario means that the videographer and photographer probably will be sitting down to eat just as you and your groom finish your meal. If you start going from table to table to greet your guests, as bridal couples often do, then it will be without benefit of camera coverage. Be sure that the “down time” for your camera professionals is in sync with your own down time, and you’ll minimize the risk of missed coverage opportunities.

The second tip is important because videographers need sufficient light to capture good footage, and photographers need light so they can focus accurately (whether or not they are using electronic flash for their shots).

I’ve covered more than one reception where, just as the first dance began, some well-meaning person dialed down the room lighting to a low, “romantic” level. The problem is that the darker the room gets, the more your video may start to look like footage captured by a surveillance camera. Professional camcorders can operate in remarkably low light levels – but there is a trade-off in image quality. For pleasing images, there has to be a reasonable level of light in the room. Similarly, dim light will make it hard for photographers to see well enough through their viewfinders to keep moving dancers in focus.

The lights need not be bright and harsh. Soft and somewhat subdued lighting can work very well for both guests and video/photo professionals. But save the romance of candlelight levels for later in the reception, when no critical shots need to be captured.

Be a Visionary
As you look ahead to your wedding, you probably are trying to peer through a swirling cloud of details and decisions: menu choices, floral decorations, seating arrangements, guest favors, table linens, and so much more. All those need to be wrestled into the framework of the vision you have for your wedding day. It’s easy to slip into a habit of thinking that the fulfillment of the vision will coincide exactly with triple-underlined day on the calendar marked “Our Wedding!”

True enough – to a point. But if you’re taking the trouble to have that day documented by videography and photography professionals, then the long-term fulfillment of your vision will rest on how well they can perform their jobs. If you put them in a position to do their best, then years from now children yet unborn will be able to share the joy and excitement of the day with you. No one will simply have to take your word for how wonderful your wedding was; they will be able to experience the highlights for themselves.

That kind of return on your investment can’t be quantified in dollars and cents – so do all you can in the time before your wedding to ensure that your investment grows in value for generations afterward.

Louisiana Weddings

WedAlert is adding a page specific to Louisiana, so if you are a wedding professional who works in the state of Louisiana, from the Crescent City Area of New Orleans to the Shreveport, be sure to add your listing here.

Choosing Your Groomsmen: No Matter What They Say, Nobody "Must" Be In the Wedding Party

Jennifer Baumann of Wedding Gazette has provided us with the following article on Choosing Your Groomsmen.

Your lovely fiancée has chosen her 'maids, and now you're stuck with the task of finding just the right number of family and friends to pair them with. How do you decide who makes the cut?

The Usual Suspects

Remember: No matter what your family or friends say, there aren't people who "must" be in the wedding party. Select buddies you're close with-not guys you feel obligated to ask. If you're unfamiliar with wedding etiquette, however, here are the "usual" rules for including groomsmen in your wedding party.

Brothers-yours and your bride's-come first. Unless there are strange circumstances (if you don't speak to your brother, for instance), your brothers and her brothers are automatically in the wedding party. Next come your closest friends (some may be relatives) who are responsible-and let's get real here-financially sound. Being in a wedding, especially if travel is involved, is expensive.

The Best Man for the Job

We'd like to advise you to ignore anyone who offers input on choosing your best man, but we know this isn't entirely realistic. We will say, however, that you'll want to choose the male who is closest to you and has been there for you. Whether he's a blood relative or close friend, you'll be glad when your wedding day arrives that you picked your best friend.

Great Expectations

When you begin asking your friends to stand up in your wedding, be sure to explain what's expected. The basics include:
Travel and accommodationsAttend the rehearsal and dinnerRenting tuxedo and shoesAttend tuxedo fittingsHelp plan and attend the bachelor partySeat guests at the weddingWalk down the aisle with a bridesmaid (maybe)Dance with same bridesmaidWedding gift (unspoken requirement, of course!)

If this is manageable for your buds, you're in business.

Who Doesn't Make It

Keep in mind that a lot of money (whether it's yours is inconsequential) and effort are being spent on the biggest day of your life. You don't want to start your lifetime commitment with the following burdens (trust me, I'm a wife): friends who get too drunk, who are late for everything, and who have a reputation for not showing up for important events. These guys are not the best choice for groomsmen. If there's any doubt about whether your skiing buddy, "GanjaDaddy," will fulfill his duties, you probably shouldn't ask him. We suggest, based on horror stories we've heard and witnessed, that you choose your most responsible friends for this very special day.

This doesn't mean you load your wedding party with a bunch of stiffs. You know what we're saying. Keep it reasonable.

About the Author
Jennifer Baumann is editor of Wedding Gazette.

Getting Along with Your Future In-Laws

It's vital to get to know your fiance's parents! Nowadays, it's different than previous generations when most Americans married the girl or boy next door, who had a similar upbringing, religious beliefs, etc. That made it easier for the bride and groom to understand how each others' parents behaved, and how they are expected to behave with them (e.g., calling them Mr. or Mrs. Whatever versus calling them by their first names).

Misunderstandings are bound to occur, as brides and grooms are increasingly coming together from different parts of the country, as well as different countries all together! That's why it's so important for couples to talk about their families' beliefs, traditions, customs, etc. before getting married. Because as the saying goes, you’re not just marrying a person, but their family as well! Plus, since his/her parents are the ones who raised your spouse to be, you can learn a lot about what to expect from your spouse in your marriage, in terms of behavior, personality, etc.

In addition to the traditions of each of your families, brides and grooms shouldn’t forget to establish some unique traditions of their own for the new family that they’re creating together through their marriage!

Think before you say something negative about your fiancé(e)’s relatives! A good rule of thumb? If you wouldn’t want to hear your fiancé(e) say it about your relatives, don’t say it about theirs.

Ask your in-laws about their love story and wedding day, and compliment them on it—they’ll appreciate your interest and consideration!

The bride-to-be should invite the groom’s parents over to her place, at least for coffee and dessert. This is a way of inviting them into her life, and letting them get to know her.

Plan holiday visits ahead of time. For example, if Christmas is approaching, ask your in-laws if they’d prefer to have you and your beloved over on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, showing them that it’s important to you as a couple to spend time with both families during the holidays. You can also alternate on an annual basis whose family you will spend the holidays with (e.g., Thanksgiving at his parents’ house one year, and at your parents’ the next).

The bride can bond with her mother-in-law by talking food and family recipes. The groom’s mom will appreciate you wanting to cook your husband-to-be’s favorite foods! Along the same lines, help out in the kitchen when you visit, and act like you are part of the family in other ways, like helping your groom’s younger sibling or cousin with their homework.

If your father-in-law is a big sports fan, you can score points by getting familiar with what teams he roots for, and will score extra points by treating him to some tickets to the big game!

Pick up the phone, and call just to say hi. Especially during the wedding planning period, the mother of the groom will appreciate the attention from the bride, especially if her son doesn’t call her very often.

Even if your in-laws give you a family heirloom that you find unsightly, or that totally clashes with your décor, the fact that they gave you something that’s special to them speaks volumes, so the least that you can do is display it and show them your appreciation!

Early on in your engagement, stay neutral in family decisions even if they ask for your opinion to avoid getting on anyone’s bad side. You have plenty of time to put in your two cents later on down the road…

Last but definitely not least, let your in-laws know how much you love their son/daughter by allowing them to witness a little affection and hear your sweet nothings.