Wedding Guest Book Activities

Traditional brides don't have to have traditional guest books. Certainly you can purchase a standard guest book and matching pen and ask your guests to sign it, but there are so many more guest book-like activities that are more unique.

 Let's move from the popular to the less well known. One very popular option allows guests to sign a picture of the bride and groom. Simply take a picture of the bride and groom and have it matted in a mat several inches larger than the photo itself. Place a frame around this, but don't include the glass or Plexiglas frame. You'll add this later. Some people prefer to use "bulldog" clips to keep the mat together instead of putting the picture in the frame. The picture can be framed after the wedding.

Most couples choose a nice photo of themselves for this picture/guestbook option, although if there's a formal engagement photo, this is an excellent way to preserve that photo and show it off to friends and family. If photos are taken before the wedding with the bride and groom in their wedding attire, you can certainly use this photo. Many couples opt to either leave the mat empty or they place a temporary picture in the mat and add a wedding picture later.

Be sure to have a nice Sharpie marker handy and place the picture on either a sturdy easel or on a table where guests are sure to see it.

Another option is instead of providing a picture of the bride and groom to sign, the guests are provided with a picture of themselves! Simply provide a Polaroid camera and assign someone the job of taking pictures of the guests as they arrive at the reception. Once the picture is dry, provide a Sharpie and they can sign the picture, make a note to the bride and groom or hand draw a silly picture. It can be whatever the guest wants it to be. This is a unique, and personal, way for guests to 'sign in" at the wedding.

Whoever handles the taking of the pictures should also handle putting them in an album of some sort. A scrap booker might provide a special memory book with the Polaroid pictures in it, or the pictures can simply be placed in a nice album and presented later to the bride and groom.

Many guests don't give a great deal of thought to the guest book. They whiz by the guest book table more concerned with getting their cocktail and hitting the dance floor. If this is a concern, provide a 'traveling" guest book. Send each guest something either to sign or decorate before the wedding.

In this 'traveling" guest book scenario, there are several options. One of the easiest is to send each guest a small piece of paper and ask them to write something meaningful or thoughtful for the bride and groom on it. The pieces of paper are returned prior to the wedding (to ensure a better response, provide a self-addressed stamped envelope with the paper) and can be compiled in some meaningful way for the bride and groom and presented to them on their wedding day.

If the guest list is a creative or particularly close group, there is one other option that is even more meaningful. Again, in a scrapbook fashion, send each guest a piece of paper to sign or decorate. The paper should be the size of a photo album, so it might be a 6 x 6 piece of paper, an 8 x 8 piece of paper, or even 12 x 12, if the guests are up to that larger size.

In a letter that arrives with the paper, the guests are instructed to create a memory page for the bride and groom. They might include photos, quotes, little anecdotal stories, or combine all of these with stickers or embellishments. It's thoughtful, meaningful and personal and it's an excellent way to include guests who might not be able to attend the wedding, but would still like to be a part of it.

 

Add Beauty to Your Special Occasions

 

Add Incredible Beauty to Your Special Occasions with Paper Lanterns, Floating Water Lanterns & Wish Lanterns

Undoubtedly, paper lanterns look extremely charming and elegant. They are capable of bringing about a trendy amazing look to any surrounding. These lanterns have always fascinated people around the world with their soothing and distinct glow. They can set mood to almost any occasion, whether it is the Christmas eve, New Year’s party, birthday party or a wedding. Lanterns prove to be an effective way of eliminating tension and stress from the atmosphere and making you feel on top of the world with their soothing and incredible effect.

Benefits of using these lanterns

The best thing about these lanterns is they are not only posh and exquisite, but they are reasonably priced and affordable too. A whole array of designs, styles, colors and patterns are available out there, which you can choose as per the theme of your decoration and the occasion.

How to use paper lanterns for your special occasion

You can decorate your house with these wonderful pieces both inside and out. Let us find out some ways of making use of paper lanterns:

• If you are hosting a party, then these  gorgous paper lantern candle bags, can prove to be a great accessory to beautify the place. They look grand and royal and you can have them by shelling a very reasonable amount of money on them.
• These lanterns can also be used to decorate wedding halls, particularly the red shade ones as red color signifies love.  Use them as a table centrepiece, or climbing the staircase.
• You can use them to decorate your Christmas tree, especially the white color ones which look amazing in contrast.
• If you have a pool or pond in your venue, you can embellish it with floating waterlanterns.

• Place a series of lanterns in your garden or lawn, as they are believed to eliminate negative energies from your household. They bring in positive vibes in your house, especially the red ones which are believed to be auspicious.

Wherever you are placing these lanterns, make sure to keep them away from the reach of children.  As alternative use LED flameless candles, so you don't need to worry about the flame. 

These wish lanterns are available in a variety of sizes, colors and patterns. Use a little creativity and choose the right ones to create a mix and match combination of these lanterns.

At www.weddingforyou.co.nz, you can find elegant and amazing ones at very reasonable rates.

Try decorating your home and garden with these lanterns, and add a fascinating effect to your special occasion. By decorating your venue in such a way, your occasion will become a memorable event in the minds of your guests.

Christmas Wonderland

Visit Tree No. 75 'I Do'

What a great week we have had this week with the start of the Christmas Wonderland in Birkenhead.

New Zealand's most spectacular Christmas Tree Trail and this year we were really proud to sponsor a tree and be a part of it.   The wonderful people who put this event together have got such passion and it really enables you to enjoy the real magic of christmas.   

If you haven't visited this event before it is really worth going and have a look and experience the Christmas journey through the wonderland.   It is a truly outstanding event that the Birkenhead community provide at the Rawene Community Centre.    www.christmaswonderland.org.nz.

Check out our opening hours but whilst this event is running every Thursday to Sunday, Wedding For You will be open until 9.00pm on the Thursday and Friday and from the 2nd of December every Sunday from 10am - 1pm until Christmas.  So enjoy the Christmas Wonderland and pop in and see us on your way through.

The Gorgous decorations displaying our tree that was a surprise until we saw it on the opening night.
 

Weddings | Some Old Traditions

And for the rest of their lives, the man and woman shall be together....

Doesn't it sound romantic? For the man and the woman to leave their families to be as one, to form a new family? It has been like this from time immemorial. And throughout the millennia, the concept of family and marriage have been so closely knotted together that it is sometimes impossible to separate one from the other.

Marriage is present in every culture in some form. Although the laws, norms, and cultures may differ, they all still recognize the union of man and woman under one roof.

Marriage has evolved in so many ways from the different cultures all throughout the world throughout the ages. For each culture, there are diverse ways of celebrating something like marriage. But in each culture, there has always been one thing that has remained the same – that in every culture, and every tribe, marriage has always been one to be celebrated with the utmost of festivities, with singing, eating, and celebrating.

Along with these festivities, man has also adopted a growing, and evolving number of traditions each filled with meaning and – believe it or not – shocking origins.

The Wedding Cake Today's tall, elaborated, and delicately crafted wedding cakes evolved from the simple grooms-cakes made by family members for the bride. Before the wedding day, one of theses cakes was put under the pillow of the bride. The bride would then sleep and 'dream" of the groom, and yes, squish that cake into oblivion.

The real wedding cake would be a pound cake that would be "pound up" and crumbled and tossed at the couple as a sign of fertility. That is where we get today's custom of sprinkling the couple with rice after the wedding.

Cakes during weddings are usually stacked up in large layers. The higher the stack, the more "glamorous" the cake. People usually regard these arrangements are mere style. However, they were done so in the past as a symbol of fertility. Couples would stack these cakes to symbolize how many children the wished to have. So in the past, the higher the stack, the more the children.

 

Tying the Knot Now the truth can be told. Tying the knot did not necessarily mean getting knotted together.. During ancient tribal times, the bride would usually be wrapped in a sheep with a knot out in front. This was to symbolize virginity.  "Untying the knot" was the groom's privilege after the wedding the night.

Best Man – Secret Agent And startling enough, the best man used to play a different role in the early days. During tribal times, it was the best man's duty to abduct potential brides from other tribes. He would usually do so by clubbing the poor damsel over the head and drag her back home – just like those comic skits about cavemen seem to suggest. It was also the best man's job to ward off the angry relatives of the bride. So in the early days, it was the best man swinging his axe while the groom got hitched.

Today Although we are a little less barbaric than earlier times, we still see an evolution of the wedding ceremony and its tradition. These traditions are filled with meaning and can only serve to make your wedding day more memorable.

Choosing The Perfect Wedding Venue



Taken in one of the bathrooms, model wearing
Wedding For You garter &
'Bride' embroidered waffle bathrobe.

Wedding For You has had the pleasure of joining other experts in the Wedding Industry to showcase at the Esplanade Hotel. 

This very historic hotel had some amazing features for your wedding venue, but what venue can offer the the most amazing toilets which we had to give everyone a tour of. 

Included in this article are some of the wonderful photos taken showcasing this great venue, wedding gowns and some of Wedding For You's accessories and decoration supplies.  The Esplanade makes for a great wedding venue, including rooms for guests needing accommodation and of course a honeymoon suite.

With this great event in mind, I have written some helpful hints for choosing the perfect wedding venue and hope you enjoy. 

Choosing The Perfect Wedding Venue

 

Esplanade Hotel, Devonport
 

You've found the perfect groom. You've bought the perfect dress. You"re expecting a perfect wedding. Now all you need is the perfect wedding venue. Having a perfect wedding relies largely on having a perfect venue. That's why you should treat finding a wedding venue as if you are buying a new house. It is, after all, where you will receive and treat your friends and relatives in probably the most memorable night of your life.    Here are some tips to help you search for that perfect wedding venue.

Trust your instincts. As soon as you arrive in a particular venue you will automatically have a certain feeling towards it. You have to trust your instinct. If you feel a certain positive vibration to the venue then that's a good start. In the same way, you will know automatically if a certain venue is not right for you and your wedding. This doesn't mean though that you should not be logical in choosing a wedding venue. It's the place where you will exchange vows with the man you love so it has to feel right. 

Take your time. Don't ever rush in choosing the perfect wedding venue. A wedding is a very important event so take time to get the venue right. Ideally, you should start looking for a venue at least a year before the wedding date. This would give you enough time to make the right decisions and change the venue in case anything happens.

 

Consider the size.  The size of the venue is a very important consideration. If the venue is too small, the wedding will loose its intimacy. If it's too big, it will be cramped and uncomfortable. The size of your wedding will depend of course on the number of your guests. So before looking for a wedding you must at least have a rough idea of how many guests you will be planning to invite. Be as precise as possible. You cannot say that you"re planning to invite from 200 to 500 guests. The 300 person difference would matter a lot in terms of the venue size. You must also leave ample space for the dance area. The more guests you have, the larger space you need to allot for the dance area.

 

Check the parking space.  One of the complaints of people who have attended weddings is the lack of parking space.. Be sure that the wedding venue you will choose has ample space for all of your guests. Parking may be a minor consideration but it can spell the difference between a happy guest and a dissatisfied one. 

Know the restrictions of the venue.  Be sure to ask about the restrictions of a wedding venue if there are any. There may be restrictions about noise so you might not be able to employ a band or even a sound system. Some venues have time restrictions while some would allow you to party all night long. There are even venues with decorations restrictions. Check if the wedding venue would allow you to bring your own caterer, florist, decorator, etc because there are venues that have preferred contractors and suppliers.  

Draw a layout of your wedding. Have a layout of your wedding. Before choosing a wedding venue, you must already have a layout (either on your mind or drawn into paper) of your wedding. You must know where you want gusts to sit, the reception area, the dining area, etc. Then check if the venue fits your layout.



Wedding Etiquette For The Groom's Parents

Weddings are wonderful experiences of two lovers who want to signify their commitment to bond, intentionally, for the rest of their lives. In Western countries, wedding ceremonies are symbolic and overwhelmingly romantic, making the event really expensive, as well.
Weddings are lifetime dreams of every woman. Some men also dream of being involved in one, though, the extent and magnitude is not that great compared to girls" longing for it.
Because weddings are ceremonies that have evolved through the years to emerge as formal occasions, a lot of symbolic gestures and actions are required from the participants. From the bride to the groom, to the maid of honour and best man, Western culture has come up with universal wedding etiquette for every person in every wedding.

This article will inform and acquaint you to the minimal responsibilities given to the groom's parents in every wedding. You will be surprised that the role of the groom's parents are nothing much and intense compared to the role provided to other participants in the wedding.

Role of the Groom's Parents

The groom's parents are often fall at a loss when asked about the role they will be playing in the wedding of their beloved son. In movies and in real life, it is always assumed that parents of the bride get more emotional during weddings.The assumption is true and is a well-accepted fact. However, the groom's parents should not be seen as parents who should not be shedding tears during weddings. Of course, they should also. It is because they are also sending their beloved offspring or son away.

The groom's parents will surely not be familiar of their role in their son's wedding, especially if they had not participated previously in a wedding for a daughter, another son or other siblings. Here are some points and tips for the groom's parents who wish to accomplish their role in the wedding well and with flying colors.

The first wedding etiquette to be followed by the groom's parents is to initiate contact and communication with the bride's family. Introducing themselves to the bride's parents is the groom's parents" first and utmost responsibility. It would be a really, really great gesture to start up good relations between the two families.

It is a role of the groom's parents, as written in wedding etiquettes, to host and pay for the wedding rehearsal dinner. The event should not necessarily be expensive. Simple salad potlucks or simple dinners can do. The groom's parents should also not hold back if they want to impress the bride's family by throwing out elaborate or exotic dinners in the finest restaurants.
To get along with customary wedding etiquettes, the groom's parents can also participate in the planning stage of the wedding. However, the role is almost always limited to just providing timely, appropriate and accurate guest list. The groom's family and relatives should not be overlooked at this very important event.

Wedding etiquette for groom's parents during the wedding

The father of the groom's responsibilities during weddings are often overlooked. It is because they are just always tasked to escorting the mother of the groom, and that role is still conditional if they are in good relations---that is, they are not divorced.

The groom's mother can be busier. Women are very particular to dresses and that is where the groom's mum should first strike.

The groom's mum should leave the role of dealing for the bride's dress to the bride's mum. She should also not mind the dresses for the maid of honour or bridesmaids. The groom's mou should only compliment the gowns to be worn by the bride's mum and bridesmaids, not overdo or outdo them.
The groom's parents are expected to follow customs and traditions during wedding ceremonies. They will be led by ushers as where they should be seated in the wedding venue.

Other important roles for the groom's parents 

It can be funny, but in the Western or modern culture, the groom's parents are mainly involved just in funding or shouldering wedding-related bills.

Among the other things the groom's parents should pay for are the bride's wedding ring, the clergy fees in the church, transportation expenses of groom's men, gifts or tokens for groom's men as well as lodging costs if necessary, gift for the bride and the bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages.

Wedding ceremonies are just that---ceremonies. The marriage will not principally depend on the wedding, but a good one will make a good start for the couple. The groom's parents should be as supportive as ever for their beloved son is embarking on a new life.

Planning Your Memorable Wedding

You have finally said, "Yes."  This is the start of your life as a couple.  And prior to that much-awaited big day, you, both the bride and groom have so many decisions to make and wedding-related tasks to complete.

Preparing for your wedding day need not be stressful.  On the other hand, it should be fun and memorable.  And to do this, start off by putting together a wedding timetable. 

A short list of wedding-related tasks as well as a rough estimate of when the activities should be done follows. It presents tips and guidelines to keep you organised and help you think of all the matters that you must take into consideration in the course of planning for your big day.  Of course, these are mere suggestions.  All activities and schedule are still up to the couple to decide on depending on their priorities.

At the Time of the Engagement - You must tell your parents the happy news as soon as possible that is if they don't already know.  If you were having an engagement party, it would be good to keep your close friends and relatives in the know, too.  An organiser would be best to have in handy.  This will help you keep track of all the appointments, payments and other wedding-related activities that you must attend to. - Have your engagement photo taken.  This would be nice to have as a keepsake of this wonderful occasion.

6 to 12 Months In Advance Before the Big Day

The couple should have already picked and decided on the wedding date.  Do the reservation for the venue where the ceremony and reception is to be held. - Set an appointment with the wedding officiant. - Establish a budget for the wedding, and try as much as possible to stick to it. - Prepare a wedding guest list.  You wouldn't want to leave somebody uninvited unintentionally. Look around for a photographer, florists, musicians, and a caterer.  Obtain estimates for these services. Register at the bridal gift registry. - Pick a wedding dress and accessories to go with it.  If you are having a seamstress make you one, this is the time to have it arranged.  Several fittings may be required for this. - For the bride, select your bridesmaids.  Set a date for ordering dresses for them.

4 to 6 Months In Advance Before the Big Day

Have the invitations, stationeries, and thank you notes ordered. - The photographer, florist, musician, and caterer should have already been chosen. Go over details with each of these services to make sure that everything is as agreed upon.. - For the groom, select attire. - Honeymoon reservations should be made already at this point. - Confirm the delivery of the bridal gown.

2 Months In Advance Before the Big Day

Plan your rehearsal dinner. - If you are having out-of-town attendants, arrange for their lodging. - Make an appointment with your chosen photographer for the shooting of the bridal portrait. - Order the wedding cake.

1 Month In Advance Before the Big Day

The couple should decide on a wedding band set. - Mail the invitations. - Check the apparel for the wedding party. - The couple attends showers.

2 Weeks Before the Wedding

It is time to apply for marriage license and attend to other legal matters, especially for the bride - name and address changes on bank accounts and other official documents. - Plan a wedding hairstyle and make-up with your stylist. - Check with the caterer and the reception venue for last minute changes.

1 Week Before the Wedding 

Do your honeymoon packing. - Wrap gifts for the groom and attendants. - Schedule the wedding rehearsal. - Remind the wedding party of the exact time and place for the occasion.

On Wedding Day

Take breakfast!  Fainting on the aisle wouldn't be cool. - Have your hair and make-up done. - Shake off all your wedding details worries and enjoy your day.