Wedding Ceremony

The bride and the groom have their clearly defined part in the story. They are the ones to coordinate all the tasks such as choosing a date, a venue, clothes, flowers, invites, rings, photographer and above all setting a budget. But what about the other wedding roles and responsibilities?

Bride and Groom

Usually, the bride and the groom have separate tasks. For example, the bride makes sure her parents have a list of their guests, chooses the maid of honor and bridesmaids, set all the details for the bridesmaid’s luncheon and offer them thank-you gifts. In addition, she buys a present for the groom.

The groom has similar duties, including his parents list of guests, choosing the best man and groomsmen, thank-you gifts and the present for his future wife. He is also responsible for the officiant’s fee, and to take care of the out of town guests (hotel reservations, transport, if necessary).

All these efforts by the bride and the groom may result in some tiresome moments, so a little bit of help is always welcomed.

Bride’s and groom’s parents

The parents, as in many other life circumstances, should be ready for moral support and secondly for financial help, as in today’s tradition the costs as evenly distributed among the parent’s and the couple.

The bride’s parents duties:

–   Hosting the engagement party;

–   May contribute to some expenses;

– The mother chooses her clothes and then informs the groom’s mother so they can complement each other;

–   The bride’s father is always ready for any wedding duties, escorts the bride on the aisle, he is ready for the Father- Daughter Dance, and traditionally he is the last to leave the reception. He also may prepare a special toast.

The groom’s parents duties:

–   Hosting the rehearsal party and may organize a second engagement party;

–   May also contribute to some expenses;

–   They consult with the bride’s parents regarding the formal wear.

Maid of Honor

She is one of the most important persons in a wedding. Everybody relies on her abilities to solve things, to organize activities, to respond quickly to all the problems. Customarily, she is the bride’s sister or best friend.

–   Before the wedding, she is in charge with the bridesmaids and their activities (bachelorette party, dresses, etc.), and she is also ready to help in any tasks of the bride and groom.

–   On the wedding day, the maid of honor will help the bride dress and prepare, will stand as a witness when signing the marriage license, will take care of the veil and dress to look perfectly, and keep the bouquet at the altar. She will bring the groom’s ring. She is also in charge of organizing the bridesmaids for the photo sessions. She’ll finally help the bride to change, at the end of the wedding, and will take care of her dress and bouquet until the couple comes back from the honeymoon.

–   She will pay for her attire and other costs generated by her role (accommodation, transport, etc.)

Bridesmaids

The bridesmaids can be of any age starting 16, single or married. A bride can choose as many bridesmaids as she wants however in most weddings you don’t see more than 12.

–   They assist the maid of honor and is ready to help the bride;

–   They may contribute to the bachelorette party costs;

–   Similar to the maid of honor, they will pay for their attire and other expenses generated by their roles (accommodation, transport, etc.)

If you’re used to shopping for costume jewelry, you’ll find that choosing an engagement ring is much more complicated. You don’t just walk into a store, choose a design you like, plop down a credit card, and call it done-at least, not if you want to be sure you’re getting a good price on the ring.

Diamond prices vary hugely by the color and clarity of the diamond. You don’t need the absolute top-of-the-line diamond unless you’re a connoisseur, but you do need to understand what you’re paying for, and whether you’re getting a fair price.

The most important terms in buying diamonds are the “Four C’s:” color, cut, clarity, and carat. In a very broad, general way:
◾The “whiter” the diamond, the more expensive it is.
◾The round cut you want is usually the least expensive cut.
◾The “sparklier” the diamond, the more expensive it is.
◾The larger the diamond, the more expensive it is.

These are very general rules! Bear in mind that a large but cloudy and yellowish diamond will cost less than a smaller but very sparkly and white diamond.

The typical engagement ring looks nice and sparkly, but it isn’t really a top-of-the-line diamond. You won’t find top-of-the-line diamonds in commercial jewelry stores-or really, anywhere other than at a jewelry wholesaler. And as you noticed, the price tag for the “very best possible” is quite high. You probably want a diamond that looks good in the ring and is fairly priced for its size and quality.

If you’re an inexperienced diamond buyer, a commercial jewelry store is the easiest route. There are jewelers in every mall! Flip back and forth among your local alternative and Top 40 radio stations for a day or two, and you’ll hear all of their commercials. This will tell you which ones emphasize low price, which ones emphasize service, and so on. Or you can just browse a large mall. Different jewelers may have virtually identical rings for widely different prices, so it does pay to shop around. The mark-up on diamonds can be quite significant, so it’s not impossible that a jeweler will run a 40% off sale.

Jewelers also often offer helpful services. As well as resizing rings, many will give you free cleanings and will tighten the prongs holding the diamond in place.

It is also possible to buy diamonds wholesale and arrange to have the stone put in a setting of your choice. There are “real” wholesalers in big cities (New York City’s Diamond District has huge numbers of them) and “virtual” wholesalers on the Web.

The wholesale price of the diamond itself is considerably lower than you’ll pay at a jewelery store-figure 30% to 45% less than retail. However, you’ll still have to find a jeweler to design the setting! If you aren’t “into” finding the perfect diamond or designing the perfect ring, it will be much easier to just shop around at the local jewelry stores-unless you live near a diamond wholesale shop that’s open to the public.

A few wholesalers sell actual rings, as well as loose diamonds, over the Web. I don’t feel comfortable recommending specific sites, as I’ve never dealt with any of them, but if you search on “diamond” and “wholesale,” you’ll get plenty of listings. Most sites have some sort of catalog or “diamond search” feature, but there’s not much uniformity from site to site as to how the search works.

Do your research and shop around-but remember, you don’t have to be a diamond expert to get a nice engagement ring.

Wedding Rehearsal Dinners are wonderful intimate events. A Mexican Fiesta, A Hawaiin Luau, A Low Country Boil, A Clam Bake and a Spanish Tapas Party are five great rehearsal dinner themes that will add pizzazz to a special evening that will long be remembered.

Out of all the wedding festivities, it is often the wedding rehearsal dinner that brides, grooms and family members say was the most fun event of the weekend wedding festivities.

“I love wedding rehearsal dinners!” is a sentiment that resonates across a broad, eclectic range of ethnic, cultural and social economic spectrums.

While wedding receptions tend to be very large functions with perhaps several hundred invited guests, rehearsal dinners are smaller and more intimate with only the closest family and friends in attendance. Often times there are guests in attendance at a large wedding reception, that the bride and groom barely know. That seems rather odd! I suppose that is why wedding crashers can go unnoticed!

I’ve never heard of a rehearsal dinner crasher… have you? Rehearsal Dinners are far too intimate.

To create a great rehearsal dinner, think about your combined passions. Use the themes of other rehearsal dinners, soirees, movies or other passions to serve as a springboard to creating a theme that fits your unique situation for this once in a lifetime special night!

1. A Mexican Fiesta
One couple loved hot spicy food and bold vibrant colors. When it came time to think of a theme, the Southwestern Fiesta was a natural.

2. A Hawaiian Luau
Another couple wanted to have a Hawaiian Luau to build on the theme of the honeymoon they would be going on.

3. A Low Country Boil
One grooms family had a tradition of hosting Low Country Boils for special occasions and asked to honor the couple with this special tradition.

4. A Clam Bake
One couple threw an authentic clam bake for their family and friends on a sandy beach.

5. A Spanish Tapas Party
Another couple who had met while studying abroad in Spain requested a Spanish Tapas Party for the theme of their rehearsal dinner.

Whatever you decide to do for your rehearsal dinner, have fun with it! Take out a pad of paper and start jotting notes, sketches and inspirations. I suggested this technique to one couple. After giggles and a couple whispers they said they wanted butcher paper for tablecloths and magic markers on each table because they loved doodling “I love you” to each other at the restaurants and bistros that they have eaten at during their courtship that covered their tables in newsprint or butcher paper.

The sky is really the limit when it comes to selecting a theme for your rehearsal dinner.

© 2006 Kathi Dameron, Kathi Dameron and Associates
Wedding Reception Teleseminars For Brides

Learn How To Self-Cater or Semi-Cater Your Own Wedding Reception

http://www.kathidameron.com 850-422-3599

Kathi Dameron teaches brides-to-be how to create beautiful and affordable wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, bridesmaid luncheons and other festive soirees that pop with personality and panache.

Today, Kathi shares her wedding reception expertise that she gained during her tenure as the owner, chef, and event designer of Canopy Rose Catering, a high end catering and special event company that was located in Tallahassee, Florida. Brides and other interested individuals who want to learn the secrets to creating a dream wedding on any budget can attend Kathi’s Wedding Reception Teleseminars.

If you play an important role in an upcoming wedding, you know the inevitable is on it’s way – the traditional speech or “toast” as it is widely known.

If you are unfamiliar with this traditional, usually people in the wedding, such as the best man, maid of honor, the bride, groom, and bride’s parents make a toast to the couple who wed, kicking off the celebration of the couple’s new life together. Since many will remember this moment forever, you will want to make sure you deliver the best speech possible.

The wedding rehearsal dinner is the perfect place to somewhat “practice” your speech, as you will most likely be making a similar speech at the actual wedding reception dinner. The wedding rehearsal dinner speech is your time to shine. You will want to deliver a speech that is humorous, yet heartwarming and sincere. Take your time in crafting your speech and really put some thought into it. Think about the couple who is being wed and their personalities. If they are more of a humorous couple, put more humor into your speech. If they are more conservative, consider toning your speech down a bit. Think about the guests at the wedding and the rehearsal dinner as well. I always say, if something sounds too risky to use in a speech, then you probably shouldn’t use it.

Another big rule in your speech is don’t make it too long, as well as too short. You want people to remember how great of a speech you gave, not how long and boring or short and cut-off it was. A great speech needs only to be around two minutes in length. You should be able to tell plenty of a story in this time frame. If it helps, write an outline of what you want to say. This way, you can find what points to elaborate on and what points to keep brief. Either way, if you follow some of these tips and get in some practice, your speech will be a knock-out, at the wedding rehearsal dinner and the wedding itself!

Are you in a wedding party or have your own wedding coming up? If you don’t already have a speech prepared, you need to visit Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Speeches Get prepared with several techniques and tactics to give a knock-out speech on the big day!

Most people wouldn’t hire the cheapest surgeon, or stay at the cheapest hotel, yet, many brides-to-be shop for a limousine service in this fashion. Don’t make a precious mistake!

The biggest mistake brides and grooms make when hiring a limousine service for their wedding is basing their decision solely on the “best price”. This translates into a large risk for you. Getting the “best price” is like choosing a surgeon who offers the least expensive surgery — a foolhardy choice.

“Best Limo Price” – Shopping risks

Risks you accept when shopping for the “Best Price”

Your limousine does not arrive on time. You are late for your wedding ceremony.

The limousine is late. You miss your honeymoon flight and an special guided tour in Hawaii.

A 1989 limousine rusting at the seams arrives at your door when you were expecting at a 2007 model. Instead of being lavished in luxury, you are embarrassed on your big wedding day.

Your limousine chauffeur exercises poor customer service with the bride’s mother and a verbal altercation ensues. Your day is ruined.

Your limo breaks down on the freeway during transport to the reception. You and your bridal party miss the wedding reception where it cost $60 a plate, yet you saved $35.00 on limo service.

Your limousine service gets into an accident and does not have proper insurance to cover the damages involved in your injuries.

Your limousine arrives late for your wedding. The groom is transported to the church 1 hour after the ceremony was scheduled to consummate. Wedding guests are bewildered and disgruntled. Yet, you saved $50.

Smart wedding limo rental choices

When renting, employ these guidelines!

Ask to See The Company’s Limos

Check out the vehicle you plan on renting. Some companies utilize older limo fleets . You don’t want to be surprised on your wedding day when a 1988 limousine shows up at the church when you were expecting a year 2007 model! Many Limos.com advertisers have pictures of their vehicles posted online with their company listings.

Get A Signed Contract For Your Wedding

Reliable and professional service will be more than happy to provide you with a signed-contract for service. Companies who can’t supply a contract may not be confident in their ability to fulfill.

Ask About Limo Insurance And Permits

All limousines are required to carry commercial livery insurance and proper permits. Unfortunately, the Yellow Pages and advertising services such as ours do not require the same in order to advertise. To protect yourself from “gypsy companies”, ask for proof of these with your signed contract.

Ask About Limo Industry Associations

Companies who belong to industry associations usually must abide by special insurance regulations and service rules. Reputable associations such as the National Limousine Association (NLA) and the local livery association are good indications that your service provider does their due diligence. The Better Business Bureau also is a good research source- complaints about limousine services are not far behind auto mechanics complaints.

“The Limo Got Into An Accident!”

Don’t be the bride which gets the “The Limo Got Into An Accident” or “We don’t have your reservation” story. Cover yourself by getting a signed contract and by shopping smart. Shopping on price alone is dangerous. Some unethical operators do not hesitate to drop a reservation to pickup a better paying fare.

Your ceremony is the beginning of the most wonderful day of your life. It sets the tone for the entire day; it is the smile on his face, the lump in his throat, the look that takes his breath away as he sees you coming down the aisle.

This is your day, your moment in time, a moment that will forever be cherished and remembered. As important as this day is, many brides neglect to give their wedding rehearsal the time and attention it deserves.

It is amazing there is so little information regarding the rehearsal. Beautiful ceremonies do not just happen. So often, you hear, “I wish I would have done this or said that” or “I was going to do, whatever but I wasn’t sure when to do it”. Unfortunately, actions may appear hesitant, awkward or sloppy; romantic words or gestures can easily be overlooked or bypassed because it is unclear when and how to proceed. The day of the wedding, nerves and emotions are at their peak and so many things are going on; this is not the time to leave things to chance.

Everyone from the bride and groom, their families and wedding party are expected to know exactly what to do, how to do it and when to do it and yet there is very little available on how to organize a rehearsal and what to include. Unless the bride has a coordinator to oversee the rehearsal, she is pretty much on her own. Even with a coordinator, the bride may only get the very basics, the seating of mothers, processional, attendant placement and recessional with no attention given to form or actual timing.

Some will argue that if you rehearse, the ceremony will not be fresh and the romantic gestures or words will not be spontaneous, which is a valid argument if you are attempting to rehearse every word and detail of your ceremony. However, the wedding rehearsal is not to practice dialogue, it is to block and stage your ceremony as if it were a theatrical production. In theatrical terms, blocking is directing the positions and movement of the actors; it is choreography of movement.

The choreography of the ceremony begins with the seating of family by the ushers or groomsmen and concludes with the bride and groom leaving the ceremony and may extend beyond the ceremony depending on the couple. Most people know the basics, it is the style and manner in which something is done that makes the difference. The attention to that type of detail is what will set a ceremony apart from all the others and it will show in both photography and video. If you are comfortable with what you are doing, you will be more relaxed and able to enjoy this wonderful time in your life.

Here are a few brief suggestions for your rehearsal:

When to Schedule
If possible, avoid scheduling a rehearsal for right after work. If your wedding party has to fight rush hour traffic, you can be almost certain the rehearsal will not start on time.
Wedding professionals including the minister, judge, photographer etc. whom you have requested attend the rehearsal may charge a fee and give you a specific block of time. Some professionals charge an additional fee when asked to stay longer than scheduled.
Rehearsals on weekends or holidays may be difficult for wedding professionals to attend and if they are charging you a fee, it may be higher.

Time
Allow at least 1 hour for your rehearsal.
The rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner are two separate events. Schedule a time for the rehearsal and a time for the dinner. If the rehearsal and dinner will be held at different locations, make sure to allow for travel time.

Who Should Attend
Invite only those who will actually be in the wedding ceremony and parents of the bride and groom to the rehearsal.
Invite everyone else to join you later at the rehearsal dinner.

What to Bring
Bring the wedding music to the rehearsal.
If the bride will wear gloves during the ceremony then bring them to the rehearsal.
Bridesmaids should have the shoes they will wear for the ceremony with them, especially if your ceremony is outdoors.

Common Sense
Show up sober. You would be amazed at how many times the bride, groom or members of the wedding party have shown up drunk. The rehearsal should be fun but it does serve a purpose; if you want to party wait until after the rehearsal otherwise you are just wasting everyone’s time.

For more information on weddings and downloads please visit http://www.weddingsonchurchstreet.com and click on Blog in the menu bar.

There are many styles of wedding rings and wedding bands. When looking for your own rings or bands, browse stores to compare the styles and prices that’s right for you. By giving yourself knowledge you can get a better deal and value for your purchase.

First, create a budget, then give yourself some space within that budget for wiggle room.

Next, choose your favorite style, so when you go into stores you have an idea of what you want and you will not buy on impulse. Do you want wedding bands or wedding rings or both? Compare prices by comparing the price per gram and carat weight.

A wedding band is not only for personal adornment, it’s also a symbol of love and devotion.

There are many styles of wedding rings and wedding bands to pick from. There is the diamond solitaire, diamond solitaires with accents, diamond wedding rings with other precious gemstones, titanium wedding bands, platinum rings, Celtic design wedding bands, antique and vintage bands and rings, cubic zirconia, silver rings, dolphin rings, and other designer wedding rings and wedding bands from around the world, each culture having their own unique style of bridal jewelry.

Solitaires are single precious stone wedding rings usually set in 14k or 18k yellow or white gold, platinum and other metals. There are many shapes and settings for the diamond wedding ring. You can have shapes such as round, marquise, heart, emerald, oval, pear, princess, trillion, multi cut, and radiant. Settings include prong, bezel, chevron, bar, channel, invisible, and paved.

Solitaires with accents are much like a solitaire, but with small accent stones on the side that could be either diamonds or other precious stones such as sapphires, rubies and emeralds.

Titanium wedding bands and bridal jewelry are durable and light because titanium is an extremely lightweight metal that’s as strong as steel and widely popular on aircrafts. It is very strong, durable, does not tarnish and is hypoallergenic. The nice sheen is a lovely alternative to white gold, silver and platinum. Men’s titanium band is especially popular.

Celtic/Irish wedding bands and bridal jewelry come in gold, silver, platinum and titanium featuring ancient celtic designs and symbols. Celtic designs are beautifully made with knotworks looping around into a band that are reminiscent of Ireland.

Wedding rings, wedding bands and bridal jewelry in antique and vintage style have designs that are from Art Noveau, Art Deco, Victorian, or Retro eras. They feature styles that are classic and always a favorite.

When you are shopping for wedding rings, wedding bands, and bridal jewelry, think about your favorite styles because they are for everyday wear, and you want to get bridal jewelry that you can cherish forever.