Plain Wedding Invitations - A Simple and Classic Touch to Your Wedding

Plain wedding invitations aren't to everyone's taste. Some couples prefer wedding invites that shout "We're Getting Married!". A design that is full of colour and in your face. However, simple designs remain a popular choice for many couples. They exude an understated sophistication and have a timeless feel. Their timeless quality comes from the fact that simple handwritten notes were the original choice for couples when wedding invitations became popular. Before then most guests were told about a wedding by word of mouth.

Traditionally, wedding invitations consisted of a single sheet of card with your invitation details printed in black ink. However, other printing techniques are now used to enhance but not overpower simple designs.

An example of a popular plain wedding invite is a single sheet of heavy weight card with a simple embossed or raised border. A border has the advantage of still keeping an understated feel to the card but provides a frame for your invitation wording.

The wording can now be printed in a choice of colours, although to create a sophisticated feel I recommend using black ink. For a touch of sparkle you can have your invites printed in gold or silver foil. Often gold or silver foil is combined with embossing to create an expensive feel to your invitations.

Another option to consider is raised ink. This creates texture on your wedding invites but is a cheaper option than engraving. Raised ink is created by using a special powder which coats the wet ink and when heated hardens to form the raised effect.

The majority of modern wedding invites are folded cards opposed to a single sheet, containing a paper insert with your wording. A simple but effect design is to have the word "wedding" printed in foil on the front of the card in a stylish font. To add a bit of interest use textured card and possibly a tassel to complete the design.

Favorite Beach Wedding Clothes

If you have been invited to a wedding on the beach but you have never attended one before, you may be unclear about how to choose appropriate beach wedding clothes. Most weddings are formal, and if not, they are at least dressy. But this one will be on the beach!

Guys, should you wear a designer silk suit or tropical-print beach shorts? Do you comb your hair neatly or leave it wild and tangled in true surfer fashion? Ladies, should you wear those expensive Prada pumps you save for special occasions - or would a pair of flip-flops do just as well? Normally, a beach ceremony is a more casual affair than a traditional church wedding. Beach attire for a seaside wedding is typically less formal as well.

Some wedding guests are fortunate and receive invitations with hints about what they should wear. If your invitation didn't give you a clue, send the bride and groom a quick email asking for their suggestions before you start planning your beach wedding clothes. They will probably suggest some type of upscale beach attire, but no matter what they recommend, they will appreciate your concern and the indication that you are planning to attend.

If after asking you are still bewildered, here are some guidelines to help:

Men's Wedding Beach Clothing: Forget about wearing black beach wedding clothes. Black is usually reserved for the groom (although this rule isn't quite as strictly followed as the rule that says white is reserved for brides). A white cotton shirt with a button-down collar is usually safe for a less formal ceremony when it is paired with dress slacks.

If wearing a suit would make you more comfortable, light-colored linen slacks with a matching jacket and a casual, striped shirt will provide some laid-back formality and can be the perfect blend of casual and dressy. If your tastes run to the adventuresome or "beachy," select a pair of well-tailored linen, cotton or silk-blend shorts or pants with draw-strings, and pair them with a silk shirt in a tropical print.

Leather sandals are a good choice as footwear for the wedding, although you want to make sure they are open enough to let sand get out. You won't have that problem with leather flip-flops, so they make a nice alternative. You can even go barefoot, depending on the formality of the ceremony and your other clothing. But be careful not to go overboard. You wouldn't want to be barefoot while you are wearing a posh linen suit.

Women's Beach Wedding Attire: You don't want to upstage the bride with your beach wedding clothes, so whatever you decide to wear, don't out-dress her. Formal weddings give you more freedom to wear dressy clothes, but if the ceremony is casual, your best choice is the type of beach attire you might wear to a fancy resort. Cotton or rayon lightweight skirts are perfect if the wedding beach is in the tropics. You will achieve a flawless look if you pair one of these skirts with a cotton or rayon island-style top in bright, primary colors. A well-tailored jersey dress is another ideal option.

As for length, a shorter dress or skirt will be best on the wedding beach. Try to avoid wearing a long dress and high heels, because these can make walking through deep sand almost impossible. Add some chic, subdued "bling" like a bracelet, necklace and earrings with an island or beach theme and you're almost there.

To complete the look, wear sandals or dressy flip-flops with pretty painted toe-nails. If you would rather go barefoot, wear a toe ring, ankle bracelet or barefoot sandals. Foot jewelry works particularly well if it is crafted from coral, shells or other items that show off your beach wedding clothes.

Too Young Or Too Old to Get Married?

We all know that the average age to get married is the mid-20s. But people of all age find love and want to make a permanent commitment to their beloved. Is there one perfect age to say "I Do" or can a person follow their heart at any age? Can a person ever be too young or too old to get married?

When it comes to being too old, the answer is no. As long as both people are of sound mind, why shouldn't they have the chance to enjoy a romance as seniors? I know a woman who creates custom bridal gowns, and she says that one of the sweetest brides she ever made a gown for was a woman in her 80s. She had been widowed for many years, and met a man in a similar situation through a place where they both volunteered. This man was a true gentleman, and courted her properly; he even asked the widow's daughter for permission to propose to his sweetheart.

As for the elderly bride-to-be, she said she agreed to be remarried after so many years alone because she finally met a man who was not looking for "a nurse or a purse". This brings us to a key point, that a marriage between people in their golden years will work best if the pair is on even footing. In other words, they both had their health and were financially secure, so they knew that the relationship was based on love, not need. And she made a truly beautiful bride in her custom blue wedding gown and elegant bridal jewelry.

The other question is not so easily answered. The short answer is yes, people certainly can be too young to make the lifelong commitment involved in a marriage. Don't look to your grandparents as examples of why a young marriage is fine; everyone got married younger a couple of generations ago, but people were typically more mature and had a firm belief that marriage was a long term commitment and were willing to put in the work to make it a success.

Readiness to marry is less a question of a particular age, perhaps, but one of the maturity of the potential bride and groom. That said, few people are truly mature before they have had time to live on their own, take responsibility for running a home, and gotten a little life experience. Statistics bear this out; couples who wait until their late 20s or early 30s to get married have a lower divorce rate than teen brides and grooms. So don't go rushing off to marry your high school sweetheart just yet.

Young men or women in their late teens or early 20s may be too inexperienced or immature to fully comprehend the responsibility of nurturing a marriage (actually that can be the case with people of any age!). A younger person who is considering marriage should take the time to evaluate what their expectations are of marriage and whether or not they are realistic. If you want to get married because you think it would be exciting to get all dressed up in a fabulous gown and sparkling bridal jewelry and feel like a princess for a day, it might be a good idea to wait a while.

A final piece of advice for young engaged couples is to opt for a long engagement. Both people should definitely be out of high school; finished with college would be even better. After all, if it is true love, the relationship will last and grow into something even better over the period of a long engagement. And besides, every bride and groom should be able to raise a toast at their wedding.

How to Come Up With and Write a Maid of Honor Speech That Will Never Be Forgotten and Loved by All

If you've been chosen to give a maid of honor speech at a wedding, you are probably in a state of extreme happiness and yet a little frustrated. Being chosen to give a speech is a great honor, but this may quickly subside when you have difficulty actually writing and then giving the speech. What should you put in your speech? It's easy to understand why so many women have problems putting pen to paper and coming up with their own speech. It doesn't have to be hard.

Don't put off writing the speech. As soon as you find out that you are to give one, go home and start. You don't have to finish it there and then but if you don't at least start it, it will probably be the night before the wedding before you have no choice but to start and finish the speech in one night. Doing it this way means you haven't given enough time to dwell over what you want to put in your speech to make it meaningful and touching. You want to give a good speech, so plan ahead and give yourself more than enough time to write it.

During your planning stages you don't have to write the entire speech. You can just jot down ideas as they come to you. Did you suddenly remember something from the past about the bride that you think is important and will adequately express how you feel about her and the groom? Keep a notepad with you at all times because what usually happens is you have a great idea at the most obscure times and having pen and paper in your purse means you'll be able to write it down before you forget it.

Your speech doesn't have to be long but make sure you put your heart into it. Write from your heart and express how you feel. Mention details that make it personal and obvious to anyone who might catch only half the speech who you are talking about. However, be sure that your speech isn't too personal. There might be some moments that you think are funny but the bride will be furious if you mention them on "her day". Remember that it is a wedding and she is the center of attention, so be sure to only enhance this and not take it away by saying something out of place.

Find Cheap Personalized Shot Glasses For Best Man Gifts

Life is hard these days. The economy is not at its best. You, as part of the population, feel this. You are not receiving the same number of gifts you used to receive before. You are also afraid you may not be able to give all the people you wish to offer with gifts during special occasions, like Thanksgiving and Christmas. But, you do not want this to happen. Even in these tough times, you still want to give gifts to friends during occasions. You still want to show them you care. But, of course, this time, budget becomes a major factor in choosing which gift to give them. You have a tight budget that you want to fit for all of them. Because shot glasses are small, why not give each individual one shot glass? There are cheap personalized shot glasses available in local stores or gift shops. The simpler the design is, the more reasonable the cost.

A shot glass is necessary in every home, especially during occasions when hard drinks are present. However, some need this during time of relaxation, when they want to take a rest from a very stressful day they had. A shot glass provides the comfort and satisfaction in drinking because it holds the exact amount of liquid sufficient for one hard drink. No need to measure the liquid. It comes in different shapes and designs. But, what separates a shot glass from another? It is when it becomes personalized.

Some prefer to give personalized shot glasses that are engraved with the name or the initials of the recipients. No need to worry about the prices, though. They still remain affordable because more often than not, companies that sell personalized shot glasses offer free engraving of these items. You just need to look for them in stores or in the Internet. Because local stores or gift shops have limited styles available, among the two, the Internet is a better option because even in your home, you can see a wide variety of personalized shot glasses. You need not go to their stores to choose designs personally. In just few clicks, you have seen, chosen, and purchased the ones that are suitable to you. This is easy, right?

But remember, affordability should not be compromised with quality. Make sure that you are buying a shot glass with good quality, or less, your money is wasted and, more important, your gift is gone. On the other hand, giving out personalized shot glasses will make the recipients feel special because you have provided the extra effort to make each shot glass exclusive for everyone. You will also feel rewarded because they appreciate your gift, as well as your effort.

Shot glasses are often mistaken as limited for individual gifts. This is wrong. In fact, some would-be husband and wife have chosen shot glasses as their wedding souvenirs. Some prefer to give them as gifts for groomsmen. They are also not only for drinkers; they are also for collectors.

Outstanding Wedding Favor Ideas For Themed Weddings

If you are planning to have a themed wedding, you need to make sure that every detail of it reflects the story you want to show off, and that will basically include your wedding favors. These little pieces will serve as the souvenir of your wedding, which guests will take home after the reception is through. These pieces doesn't have to be too much nor should give you a headache, but it is highly recommended to ensure that they will carry the reflection of what your wedding was all about. Luckily, with so many choices to choose from nowadays, finding wedding favors that is excellent for your themed wedding is quite easy to do.

Your wedding favors should not also be stereotype; not only that you want them to match with the theme of your wedding, but they should also say something about your personality as a couple. It seems tricky, but this doesn't have to be that stressful. Enjoy yourself haunting for what's suitable for your wedding, a fun way to include your own personality into your nuptial. Below are some outstanding wedding favor ideas for themes weddings:

Summer is one of the best seasons to plan a beach wedding. When we say beach wedding, it is usually fun and laid back type of nuptial, and wedding favors that will be used should be of that type too. Among the popular beach themed wedding favors to choose from are flip flops, luggage tags, candle holders, and other stuff that reflect some tropical touches that are usually linked with beaches.

June, July and August are also among the best months to get married. Over the past years, Fall weddings have been very popular, which make many brides haunt for Fall themed favors. One of the best things about Fall wedding favors is their breathtaking accent that reflects the beautiful backdrop of Fall season. Because there is a big demand for Fall weddings, there are now so many choices of Fall themed favors to choose from, that reflects all the wonderful colors of the season.

Winter weddings offer great opportunities to use unique wedding favors that guests will sure to cherish. If you are planning a wedding that is near to holidays, you can use holiday ornaments that your guests can include on their Christmas trees. Or, you may consider snowflake themed party favors that are available in various selections, from candle holders, picture frames, wine stoppers, cookie cutters to many more.

If your are wondering where to find great choices of themed favors, check out the Internet. There are so many online stores nowadays that carry a wide selection of different kinds of supplies, including themed ones. Due to the market competition, these online items can be purchased at low prices. So, if you are really in need of wedding favors that reflect a theme match to yours, there's no other easy way to do that than browsing the Net. Online stores that specialize on accessories can offer anything you need to make your big day a success.

Things to Say in a Wedding Thank You Speech

Weddings just seem to be full of speeches; you've got the best man's speech that wreaks havoc on the nerves of that poor guy. Then there is oftentimes a speech given by a parent or two, although these tend to be impromptu. Here we will look at the all-important Thank You speech that the bride or groom, or both, will give at their beautiful reception.

There are enough things to think about when planning your wedding, so do all that you can to find time to sit back and relax every now and then. When you are relaxed and calm, coming up with a wedding thank you speech can be a much smoother process. The tips included here may help you to come up with the best possible things to say in your wedding thank you speech.

Above all, do not succumb to the stress of giving a speech in front of your friends and family. Your speech is your own; it doesn't have to compete with anyone else's wedding thank you speech. It is your message to those you feel closest to, and those who have participated in helping your wedding go off without a hitch. A wedding thank you speech does not have to be long and drawn out. It doesn't even matter if you make your mom and dad cry. Really. What matters is that you come prepared with the right things to say so you don't leave anyone out.

Wedding speeches can be given by both the bride and the groom, or by both together. It is helpful for you both to discuss what you feel most comfortable with and come up with a format that will be followed in order to alleviate any stress involved in this public speaking engagement. Keeping the following in mind when you prepare your wedding thank you speech can get you a well spoken work that will be remembered.

First, WHO do you want to thank? Is it your parents? Your siblings? Friends? Don't forget your new spouse! Think of those who have made an impact on either your wedding day specifically or your relationship in general. Perhaps you want to thank the friend that introduced you, or the father that gave solid advice.

This brings up the next point, which is to be specific about WHAT you are thanking people for. If your speech is general, it will not be interesting and special; it's that simple. Being specific about what you are thankful for can include what a persons input, advice, or help meant to you. A wedding pulled off without help from friends and family could be extremely stressful, so there is certainly a lot you can say thank you for!

If you are worried that you won't remember what you want to say come the big day, you can right important points on a small card that will jog your memory. Thank you quotes can be found online and placed into your wedding thank you speech in just the right spot to make it extra special. Whatever you do, just remember that it's your day and everyone of those eyes looking your way as you stand up and take the mic will be filled with love and joy for your special event.

Great Wedding Venues Ideas

There is no doubt that a perfect location can make your wedding day more special. And finding such perfect location is no longer a formidable task. Searching for perfect wedding reception venues involves a great attention and effort to make everything best for the 'D-day'.

And if you are still striving to make your day into something impressive and grand, then have a look at some great ways to make your wedding day special.

Significance of a Reception Party

Normally, a reception party is arranged to thank invited guests who spared their time to attend the wedding and shower their blessing on the newlywed couples. It is the part of the wedding where you can enjoy lighter moments with your guest with the gift giving ceremony.

It could be grand and elaborate, simply or casual and comfortable. Depending upon your budget and guest list, you can easily arrange a party with great splendor! You can hire a decorator and wedding planner to ease your apprehension and hassle regarding the arrangements. You can organize your party at some good and artful restaurant or some great appeasing resort to make it even grander.

Party as You Want

Your reception party may blend style and décor together lending an absolute different expression of wedding. Organizing a cruise wedding can somewhat cost you a lot. But it is a matchless venue where you can share special moments with your soul mate. The venue is the main part of the décor and gives room to show the artful decoration lively.

Coordinating with your wedding decorator helps you manage the things around and will not let you down on your special day. You must have proper contact with your wedding coordinator and be informed about the various changes or additions in the function. With their creative help, you can add candy stall, photo shooting section, kids section, drinks & mock tail bar too!

Ready to Groove

Organizing your wedding in some lounge or great pub can be a great idea. It is fascinating for the young couple who want to exchange vows in a stylish manner. Making your wedding reception rocking this way can actually be icing on the cake. The arrangement of music & DJ can liven up your function and make your day most memorable!

The Party Elements

A beautiful and huge set of flowers as centerpiece on the dinner table makes the venue appealing. The addition of some great features like running small water fountain, dangling crystals over the heads on the ceiling and cozy comfortable sofa-beds for a relaxing evening are great attractions.

Flower decorations are the key ingredients for any function or wedding. Beautiful bunches of fresh and fragrant flowers makes the venue refreshing for guests and enchanting as they enter.

Keeping in mind some small and essential details will lead to a perfect flawless wedding!

Sample Father of the Groom Speech - Exclusive Samples to Make Your Job Easier!

When your son's wedding is just round the corner, you suddenly wake up to the need of sample father of the groom speech. Writing a father of the groom speech can be very taxing and challenging. The usual tendency is to delay writing a speech till the last minute.

When the wedding day is very close the best way to come up with a great speech is by taking help from father of the groom speech samples. Well-written speech samples not only will give you the right inspiration for your speech but also fill you in with ideas and give you the right words to use. If you follow speech samples you will also be clear about the theme, duration and structure of your speech. Thus it will eliminate all your worries and guesswork about your speech.

Sample father of the groom speech - guidelines

* A father of the groom speech cannot afford to be too long or boring and it should not be very emotional also.
* It has to be less sentimental than a father of the bride speech and more humorous, more entertaining, so that it can lighten up the mood and add to the joy of the occasion.
* However, at the same time, the speech should not offend anyone's sensibilities and religious or personal beliefs.
* Try to avoid toilet humor - it is not cool!
* Another thing that you must resist yourself from doing (though fathers have an inclination and genius for this particular thing) is time traveling while delivering your speech.
* No one wants to hear the history of your family. And being self centered while delivering a wedding speech also does not strike a chord with the guests or the newly weds.
* However you can include a few anecdotes and funny stories about the growing up years of your son.
* Surely you do not want to make the newly weds and the guests yawn and fidget with their watches when they hear your speech!
* Your speech should be the right blend of humor, substance and meaning.

5 Fun Trends in Wedding Cakes For 2010

Planning a wedding can be a stressful time for a bride and groom. Imagine having to organize everything from the church and reception, the photographers and videographers, the clothes and the caterers - in fact, you can probably imagine this all too well!

Aside from everything mentioned, the wedding cake is one of the most important items in the event. That's because the cutting and feeding of the cake by the bride and groom signifies their first meal together as a married couple. As it becomes the focus of attention at some point during the wedding affair, many couples want their cake to be just perfect.

To help couples choose what style of cake is stylish and suits them best, here are five fabulous new trends in wedding cakes to choose from.

Black and White

This style of cake has become popular in 2009 and is set to continue that way for the year ahead. This style is inspired by the fashion runways, with their current fondness for monochromatics and black Spanish lace. You can have your wedding cake designed in this classic color scheme, using white fondant icing and black or dark brown accents. This design works wonderfully if the design coordinates with the wedding dress or the bridesmaids' gowns.

Hexagonal or square shapes

The typical heart or circular shaped wedding cakes have now become too conventional for many couples. So, cube-layered or hexagonal layered cakes have recently become an emerging trend. These angular cakes can also double as lovely centerpieces during the reception, especially if they sport geometric accents in their designs.

Blue is the hue

The color blue in wedding cakes has also become popular of late with soon-to-be-married couples. Shades of blue, sometimes meshed with green like aquamarine or turquoise, have made an appearance with couples who prefer a colorful cake. Incorporating this cake trend with a tropical wedding theme will work fabulously, especially if you use sky blue, aquamarine and turquoise as the base colors of your cake icing. Decorating the cake with white, silver, lilac or light grey accents will liven up your overall cake design.

Think pink

The color pink is projected to be used even more in 2010 as a wedding motif. So it's only natural to draw on pink for the wedding cake, coordinating with your bridesmaids' dresses and bridal gown accents. Try using pink as the base color of your cake icing and decorating it with white, silver or pink embellishments and flowers. But if that's too much pink for your liking, try white as the cake base icing, and pink for the accents, like fresh roses.

Square cupcakes

Using a tower of cupcakes instead of a traditional wedding cake was also a huge trend in 2009. It's become fashionable to use cupcakes, which conveniently eliminates the need for a skilled and designated cake cutter. In this way, the guests each enjoy an individual treat of their own, with ease. Because it's practical, cute and inexpensive, it's expected that this trend will continue throughout the year, but with a twist: 2010's cupcakes will often actually be square-shaped mini-cakes, while still reflecting the year's most popular colors and designs.

10 Wedding Saving Tips So You'll Have Money For the Ever After Part!

When it comes to weddings many brides and grooms are moving away from lavish expenditures and are instead taking a more calculated approach to their big day. Here are some tips that will help you create an elegant wedding without breaking the bank:

1. Prioritize Your Needs:

Decide on the top three elements that are most important in defining your vision of a fabulous wedding and make them the investment priority (e.g. venue, photography and catering for example). Build them into your budget from the beginning, so you don't lose your focus.

2. Time is Money:

Having an off-season wedding (November-April) on a day other than Saturday will most likely get you the best rates from your ceremony/reception venue and vendors. Remember it comes down to supply and demand. If there are fewer brides/grooms looking for services, vendors are much more accommodating when it comes to their fees.

3. One Spot:

Book a location that can accommodate your ceremony and reception to avoid multiple site fees and the cost of transportation between locations

4. It's a Numbers Game:

Keeping your guest list down is a sure-fire way to keep your budget in order. One suggestion would be to trim young children from the guest list. While this may sound cruel, it will cut down expenses and can be a welcome treat for parents as well. Another suggestion for number-control is to address invitations to specific people. This will help avoid having additional guests arrive at the reception unexpectedly.

5. Food - Keep it Simple Without Looking Cheap:

Think of alternatives besides a plated dinner that will keep your wedding elegant yet save you money. A plated lunch reception will likely be better priced than dinner and will be more convenient for your guests to go from a morning ceremony directly to the reception. Another appealing option might be a cocktail style reception which, if done right, can be very elegant, offer great mingling opportunities for guests, and be budget friendly. However, make sure you avoid having a cash bar as this cheapens your event and can be insulting to your guests! Instead, to trim your alcohol costs you may choose to simplify the selection offered.

6. Fake the Cake:

You can have the multi-tiered cake without the expense by having a real top tier for cutting, with the remaining tier(s) for display only. Guests can be served sheet cake which is much more economical and easier to serve.

7. Flower Smarts:

Buy in season flowers wholesale and get a florist to do the arrangements as this will save you the markup fees on the flowers. You can also use the same flowers in the ceremony and reception sites or split the cost with a couple marrying directly before or after you at the same ceremony location.

8. Save On Your Wedding Dress:

Look at online classifieds, e-Bay etc. and find the perfect designer dress at a discount price. Buy it a size bigger and you can always have a tailor make the final adjustments for you. You will still look like a million bucks! No one will know and you can pocket the rest!

9. Network with Professionals and other couples:

Use forums to network with other brides/grooms and professionals. Keep an eye out for professionals that are serving weddings in your venue on the same day to see if you can get added savings. Find brides that are getting married on the same day and see if there's an interest in cost sharing (decoration rentals)

10. Get Wedding Vendors Bidding Competitively:

Nothing gets you a better deal than a little friendly competition between vendors. Post your wedding service needs using sites such as bestbiddy.com (photographers, DJs, caterers, musicians etc.) and receive competitive bids quickly, anonymously and for free. It's a great tool for those wanting a great deal without having to feel like they are haggling with vendors and jeopardizing a service relationship.

Super Simple Tips to Make Sure Your Maid of Honor Speech is One That is Remembered and Enjoyed

There couldn't be anything more embarrassing than when your friend asks you to be the maid of honor at her wedding and you have no idea about how to write a good speech. What kind of speech will you prepare? What should or shouldn't you say? How long should it be? There are many different resources around that offer maid of honor speeches to the public, but what you really want is something good, unique, different and even a little funny so you can make the bride happy that she chose you to give the speech. What you definitely don't want is a speech that people have all heard before or find so boring that they regret going to the wedding. Here are a few tips to what to look for in speeches so you can decide how good or bad they really are so you won't embarrass yourself on the big day.

The most obvious thing is that a good speech needs to be thoroughly prepared. We've all done this before. You have something due that needs to be finished, but you don't start on it until the last minute. If you are writing your own, make sure start as soon as possible, don't leave it until the night before the wedding because doing this will only result in a rushed speech that lacks any real significant meaning to the bride and the groom. If you are using someone else's speech or your own, check with the bride to see what kind of speech she'd like. Knowing what kind of speech she'd like at least gives you a place to start and makes your planning much easier. Also be sure to remember that your speech will be given at a wedding and you don't want to embarrass the bride on her big day. Is there anything in the speech that is a little too private? It might seem funny to you, but to other people it could be the complete opposite. You may want to run your speech by a friend first to make sure that nothing seems inappropriate.

Besides starting on the speech early and being well written, make sure that it has a little flavour, spice and personal touch. This is probably one of the hardest areas when it comes to writing a speech, as a personal touch is required and you must customize your speech to suit the bride and the groom. Do you like sitting through boring speeches? Probably not, so make sure you throw in some jokes or a few funny lines that you feel as though would be good on the day. However, as mentioned above, always remember that anything funny must be in good taste, as families will be attending on the day. It is common for speeches to include a brief poem, but the truth is that poems aren't always necessary. Speeches are meant to be short so you may want to just use a short quote or joke if you are worried about a poem taking up too much time.

New Ideas For Wedding Favors in 2010

Finding new ideas for wedding favors may be challenging, as many popular favors are the tried and true. However, using new ideas can occur in different degrees. For instance you may want to include one new favor idea among several classics like place card holders or wedding box favors. Even these traditional favors can be revolutionized to feature new attractions.

Craft stores like Michael's and Hobby Lobby can be a goldmine for finding materials to create your own wedding favors. Using your imagination, you can use just about anything to make a wedding favor. After all, these are gifts to your guests from you and your future spouse.

Beads and string can be fashioned in many different ways for several creations including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and key chains. Depending on your theme, you can even buy the appropriate beads like starfish or shells for a beach-themed wedding. These homemade goodies will be beautiful decorations for the reception tables as well as thoughtful wedding favors.

Using solid black or white matte frames, you can construct homemade photo frames to use as wedding favors. One way to make the frames classy is to write something like "John & Marie's Wedding Day" in glue and then sprinkle silver glitter over the wet letters. Allow time for the glue to dry, then shake the excess glitter and you have an elegant and inexpensive idea that will be sure to impress your crowd.

Other embellishments can also be used to decorate matte frames. Cut squares from decorative foil and make a checkerboard pattern for the border. Ribbons, beads, mirrors, letters, or stickers are all great choices for making creative wedding favor frames.

Cuts of wood from craft stores can be a blank canvas for new wedding ideas. Using spheres, rectangles, squares, or even letters, the wood can be painted in various patterns and designs. Organic and cheap, they will be sure to make a statement as art pieces for your guests.

Any good wedding party should have plenty of food. Bring along your own homemade treats to serve to everyone as wedding favors. Cupcakes, brownies, candy, chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate covered cherries, cookies, and homemade snack mixes are dynamite ideas for your guests. Make them pop with colored sprinkles and vivid icing. Also consider placing them in fabric or colored netting complete with a tied piece of ribbon to hold the favor together.

For country or western themed weddings, a fun idea might be to give guests access to delicious roasted, shelled peanuts. Peanuts are nutritious and fun to eat. Send guests home with extra peanuts by giving them their own pails or bags full. Outdoor weddings are especially fun for peanuts because then you can throw the shells on the ground.

Coordinated Bridal Bouquets and Wedding Centerpieces

Flowers are one of the most beautiful parts of a wedding (other than the bride, of course!). Make the most of your floral decor by creating a cohesive design for all of the different arrangements. Here are some tips on how to design stunning coordinated bridal bouquets and wedding centerpieces.

The general style of the bridal bouquet and centerpieces should definitely aim to achieve a certain flow. It would not look quite right to have a bouquet of orchids, for instance, with gerbera daisy centerpieces. All of the flowers in your wedding should have the same spirit, whether it is formal, casual, earthy, romantic, eclectic, or something else. It is kind of like how you take the care to ensure that your entire bridal ensemble is harmonious, right down to the custom bridal jewelry which brings out the details in your gown. When everything works together, the total effect is more beautiful.

One nice way to ensure continuity between the bouquets and centerpieces is to select either a central color or flower type around which to design. There may be some flowers that work very well for bouquets but are too small for table arrangements, in which case you can use a signature color to achieve coordination. For example, the pale lilac shade of delicate lily-of-the-valley would be a lovely bouquet for a May bride, truly romantic with a vintage flavor. To build centerpieces of any size, however, larger flowers will be much easier to work with, not to mention cost effective. Ruffly old-fashioned sweetpeas in a similar shade of lilac mixed with some other purple and white sweetpeas would have the same feeling as the romantic bouquets.

In many cases, a primary flower from the bridal bouquet can be carried into the centerpieces. If you have a single variety of flower in your bouquet, you can use it in combination with complementary blossoms for the table arrangements. The reverse works as well: select your favorite flower type from a mixed bouquet and design single variety centerpieces around it. Not only will this help to you achieve a unified feeling with all of your wedding floral, but it can save on cost. An all rose bouquet, for example, would be very nice with centerpieces created from a blend of roses and less pricey lisyanthus. You give up nothing as far as style, but it can be an easy way to trim the wedding budget.

For a very chic and modern combination, think about using non-floral elements. One hot trend is to add showy flowers to the wedding bouquets, either all white or multi-colored peacock feathers. This looks fantastic with unique wedding details, such as an eclectic bridal gown and handmade custom bridal jewelry. Mix the feathers in with flowers for the bouquets to add a touch of drama. Then for the reception, go all out with show-stopping centerpieces created entirely from feathers. Your guests will never forget how incredible your centerpieces were.

The final way to coordinate the bouquets and centerpieces is to simply make the bouquets into smaller versions of the reception flowers. This works well when the blossoms are a medium size which is neither too large for a handheld bouquet nor too small to make an impact in the large reception space. The time spent designing coordinated bridal bouquets and wedding centerpieces will yield fabulous results.

A Baseball Themed Wedding

For the ultimate baseball fans, what better way to show their love for their team and the sport than to have a baseball themed wedding? There are so many clever, subtle ways to incorporate the baseball theme into any wedding. If you are looking for a more casual, laid-back celebration or a formal affair, a baseball themed wedding may add that special, personalized, memorable touch you are looking for. Here are some ideas to help you brainstorm for your own baseball themed wedding.

Invitations can be traditional with only a hint of baseball or extremely themed as tickets to the game. Or you can do a combination of both, using the tickets as more casual save the date and the more formal conventional invitations later. Or if you would like to trim your budget somewhat, you could make your own invitations using baseball themed ribbon, scrapbook paper, and/or stickers from your local craft shop. If you can, consider getting married at a local baseball stadium. Minor league stadiums can be an inexpensive and very memorable way to celebrate your big day.

The bride can wear whatever type of gown she pleases, using the colors of the couple's favorite team for the bridesmaids and groomsmen. However, consider adding unexpected elements of your theme into your outfits, such as the bridesmaids carrying teddy bears dressed as baseball players or mini baseball and bat boutonnieres. Another idea is to have your wedding party wear baseball caps, even just for pictures.

The programs for the ceremony have a lot of potential to correspond with your theme. Whether you arrange a "play by play" of the service or have "innings", the bride, groom, and the wedding party can be listed as opposing "teams" with their parents as the coaches. Another idea is to structure the programs similarly to baseball cards with a picture of the couple on the front with their "information" on the back. Introducing the members of the wedding party like a baseball team is almost a must for the reception. You can add to the fun with baseball caps and high fives as the individuals enter the party.

The food and favors for a baseball themed wedding should be fairly simple. Peanuts, popcorn, cotton candy, hot dogs; all your favorite baseball stadium foods can be present. You wedding cake can easily be included in your theme as well with a baseball as your cake topper or a figurine of a bride and groom playing the game. Cracker Jacks or chocolate baseballs would make perfect and inexpensive wedding favors. Instead of a guest book, consider having your guests sign baseballs or a jersey with your name and wedding year as the number which you can later display in your home.

Budget Wedding Planning - Setting a Date & Time With Your Budget in Mind - Part 1

This is part one of my two part series that focuses on dates and times of your wedding.

My guess it that has never occurred to you or your spouse to be to have your wedding on any other day than a Saturday in June. If that's true, perhaps you weren't aware that you could save a ton of money by choosing another day or month - say a Tuesday in April or a Friday in November. Sure, some would think it's a bit odd, but who cares? It's your wedding and it's likely your money that is being spent.

The sooner you choose a wedding date, the sooner you'll be able to start researching venues that fit into both of your visions of the perfect wedding. Maybe you've both thought of a wedding only on a day that is warm and sunny. Or, perhaps one of you has allergies and would rather the wedding be held in the winter. Whatever the case, you'll be far more likely to be able to snag the venue you both want at the price you can afford if you begin your search early on.

Start by choosing what your ideal day, date and time is. After you have these things figure out, begin doing some research to determine what the associated costs will be. Be sure to include location rental as well as the catering costs. If you find that the costs are putting way too much strain on your budget, consider changing the date, or even time of day.

You should know that by changing your date, or even the time can impact pricing by upwards of 30%. It's true - from the limo bill to the bill for the band, all can be significantly lower at certain times of the day, days of the week and even the month you have your wedding.

June and September are the most costly months to have a wedding because they are the two most popular wedding months in the US. Of course this means you'd have more competition for ceremony and reception space as well as all the normal wedding related services. These vendors charge more because they are in more demand at that time. Those willing to pay these higher costs get those dates.

Another interesting situation is that evening weddings are more expensive than afternoon weddings. They are not only more popular (stronger demand = higher prices), but they also tend to be more formal. This means more expensive attire, accessories, flowers, etc., etc. A Saturday evening wedding in June or September will likely be the most expensive option for your wedding.

June and September are the most popular times for a wedding because in most areas of the country, it's neither too hot nor too cold at that time. Of course, it's a gamble with the weather anytime of the year, but more so if you want to hold an outdoor wedding in early spring or late fall.

If you are looking to save based on the date, look to January, March, April and November as these months are far less expensive for holding a wedding. It's back to the supply / demand situation. There simply isn't the demand during these months.

Notice that even though December and February are colder months, they are not amongst the less in demand months. This is because many couples choose to get married around Christmas and Valentines day. Trying to book a wedding on Valentines Day weekend could cost you far more than a June or September wedding. Christmas can also be a tough time because venues are usually booked up early for Christmas parties.

Some other interesting points to consider - dates in July and August tend to fill up fast thanks to couples who didn't book their June or September wedding dates soon enough. May and October dates are popular wedding dates in the Midwest. Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends are good weekends to look at because vendors and venues are usually cheaper and guests have more time available to travel.

In the second article of this series, I'll discuss what having your wedding on non traditional days and times can mean for your budget.

Becky has been writing about several topics that have touched her life in the last decade. When she was engaged to be married back in 2002, both she and her fiance knew that in order to have the wedding she'd always dreamed of, they were going to have to get creative. She has taken to writing about her wedding on a budget experiences so that others can experience a first class wedding without having to pay for it the rest of their lives.

Save the Date Ideas - 4 Creative Ways to Spice Up Your Wedding

Save-the-date cards are not the actual invitation cards that people receive to be invited to your wedding ceremony; they are merely previews to what they will be looking forward to receive in the near future - your formal wedding invitation.

However, it still serves a strong purpose to urge recipients to mark down this date for your special day. It is ideal especially for people who are out-of-town or have hectic travelling and work schedules as it allows them to have a heads up to what's upcoming and make special arrangements to keep themselves available. So do you have any save-the-date ideas in mind?

You have to remember that modern people are exposed to many forms of information everyday, and they receive huge loads of mail every single day too. So how can you stand out among that heap of information? Personalization is the key. You need to customize your save-the-date to have that special touch, and have striking colors to catch your recipients' attention. Here are some save-the-date ideas that you may want to consider using:

1. Digitalizing your cards

There are many websites online that allow you to use predesigned templates with your own picture on stock backgrounds along with a set of preselected texts. Doing so allows you to have more effects on your cards, and also can save you a lot of time and effort.

2. Predesigned cards

If you do not have much time on hand, why not try predesigned card templates available for purchase online or at your local stationery store? All you have to do is handwrite down your wedding details and send them out. You can save the hassle of trying to conceptualize what you have in mind onto paper. They work well for people who think they do not have an artistic flair.

3. Wedding theme

Having a wedding theme creates a purpose to an event. Although it being your special day is a purpose itself, the themes will ignite enthusiasm and make the event more memorable for the couple and their guests. It also gives you more save-the-date ideas when you design your cards

4. DIY

What can be more personalized than having something you designed on your own? Whether you are constrained by a tight budget or just want to be creative because you have time on your hands, this works out pretty well. You could get your loved ones to help to get more save-the-date ideas too. Some of them could be more experienced than you, so it's always good to seek more opinions.

Of course, do not be controlled by other people's opinions. Only you know what designs represent the both of you as a couple, and what the tone and theme of the wedding is. Seek opinions, but let the power of authority lie in your hands. Don't let someone else decide for you. Last of all, have fun and explore the many save-the-date ideas that you have in your head.

Top 10 Wedding Trends

Wedding trends change like Michigan weather. One year chocolate fountains are in, the next year it is Michigan up lights. It can be tough just to keep up on all the wedding services available. The most important thing is to pick the things that make you happy. There is no right or wrong way to plan a reception. The only way to plan your big day is your way. Read the list below for the top wedding trends.

Top 10 Wedding Trends

1. Clients are downsizing guest lists into more intimate parties. Not only is this great on the wallet, it also enables guest to enjoy night. Your reception becomes more inviting since they know a majority of people.

2. Many couples are focusing on customized receptions and personalized vows. They are avoiding the cookie-cutter stuff and trying new things just to make a statement.

3. People want to feel like celebrities and multiple photographers on location are a big hit. We are talking about photographers that give a paparazzi feel. Not only does it ensure every special moment is captured, it also adds the flair of spontaneous to your night.

4. Guests are looking forward to larger than life center pieces and up lighting. Anyway you can make your reception standout, brides are doing it. Center pieces create a focal point on your table while up lighting gives a beautiful backdrop in your photos.

5. Everyone knows that the economy is in a slump and so people are looking for a deal. There has been a trend moving towards bundled packages that highlight convenience and quality at discounted rates.

6. Going back to working with a budget, newlyweds are reserving their reception on off days including Fridays and Sundays. Since a majority of your budget lies with the caterer and banquet hall, you can save money by booking on days you know they are trying to fill.

7. Candy carts are a new trend that is taking the place of traditional favors. Candy carts are similar to chocolate fountains, but they include more variety, how fun!

8. Most brides are going for natural looking styles for hair and makeup. Less is more and simple is beautiful.

9. Over the last several years more and more movies have been released on Blue Ray. Videographers are now supplying clients with High definition Blue Ray films.

10. Out with the old and in with the new. Traditions such as the bouquet and garter are being done less and less. Many brides consider these activities cliche, and they are replacing them with modern substitutes.

Most Brides Make This Mistake With Off-the-Rack Gowns

Drawing on over 38 years of experience in the bridal business, I can tell you that 90% or more of brides get their gowns off-the-rack. THAT is NOT the mistake I'm referring to. A bride can get a beautiful gown, the gown of her dreams, off the rack at just about any bridal shop around.

The mistake I'm referring to that most brides make is in relying on the fitting "process" that most-not all, but most-bridal shops use. You can see what I'm taking about if you watch the TLC show, "Say Yes to the Dress."

In that show you'll see that most brides choose from pictures the gowns they like, and then the clerks bring out those gowns, the brides put one on, stand in front of a mirror, and the fitter pins the gown down the back to get it to fit the bride.

What's going on here is that it's just too expensive for most bridal shops to have BOTH a huge selection of STYLES of gowns, and the to have all those styles in a lot of different SIZES, too. For example, a good retail bridal shop may have 200 or more different styles of dresses.

If they were to have 1 of each size, from 0 to 20 let's say, that shop would need to have $1 million or more worth of inventory. But also, that shop would need to spend more money each month in rent or mortgage payment for a much bigger area to hold all that inventory.

That's just too much money. Practically no bridal shops can afford to do business that way.

The alternative, for most shops, is to have only 1 gown of each style, have it in a large size like a 16 or an 18, and use that as the gown that all the brides try on. When a bride decides she wants that gown, then they order it in her size.

Here's where the mistake, the problem, comes in. The bodice/cup area of a size 16 or 18 gown fits very nicely around the breasts of most brides. But if that bride is a size 12 or smaller, when her actual gown comes in, it will have a bodice/cup area that is smaller than the gown she tried on at the bridal shop, and the gown that looked so good before suddenly has issues that need to be addressed.

Suddenly her gown isn't fitting right. Her breasts are popping out some where that they didn't pop out at the bridal shop.

When that happens, if the bride does not have a skilled alterations person to help her-and many bridal shops do not have skilled alterations people who work there-her wedding day is going to be special alright, but not in the way she dreamed about, because she'll end up wearing an ill-fitting gown on the most important day of her life.

What questions can a bride ask a bridal alterations shop that will guarantee she's found a quality shop? You can find that answer in a very short, 90 second video which you can find at the link below.

Discount Bridal Dresses - How to Find Discount Bridal Dresses

Are you finding that bridal dresses are too expensive these days? Would you like to save money with discounted bridal dresses? Then you definitely need to read this article. You will find many ways to save on these expensive dresses.

A wedding could be in Florida, it could be on a private island, it could be in someone's backyard but in all of these cases the dress is what makes the occasion. A bridal dress is often one of the focal points of a wedding. We always want to save our money, but when we think about discount bridal dresses we might question the quality.

A discount bridal dress does not have to mean cheap. It can be a great deal and still be a quality dress. So how do you find these discounts you ask? One way is to shop at a wedding specialist store. But the best way if you want to find a discounted bridal dress is to look through many different stores. This is also the easiest way to find the best deals on a bridal dress.