Wedding Invites

Great Tips On Wedding Invitations

One of the most important things whenever somebody wants to get married is to have a complete line-up of the couple's guests. Along with this preparation is the creation of wedding invitation cards that should reflect your earnest desire to invite those you want to be present on your very special day.

For so many years now, it has long been a part of the tradition that wedding invitations should be distributed so that the people will know that they are invited. It also makes them feel special because of the fact that the couple had included them as their guests.

Today, wedding invitations need not be the usual unfussy cards that our ancestors had long been using. The concept of the modern wedding invites lies on the premise that they are a part of the wedding and any neglected details of the wedding invitation designs would reflect how haphazard the wedding plans were made.

So, for people who wish to know some useful tips regarding wedding invitations ideas, here are some of pointers that you may use.

1. Use a reply card with your wedding invitation.

In reality, the main reason of creating and giving out wedding invitations is to approximately determine the number of guests that will attend on your wedding day. Hence, it would be better for if you place a reply card along with the wedding invitation card. In this way, you will get to know the estimated number of guests that you will be expecting.

2. Specify on the wedding invitation what type of occasion you will use.

In most cases, weddings are formal events. However, there are instances wherein the couples prefer informal celebration. So, it is best to specify exactly what type of celebration will be imposed.

Moreover, it is also important to specify the dress code so that the guests will know if they need to comply or not as far as clothing is concerned.

3. For a smaller wedding, it is best to have the wedding invitations personalised.

In cases where the wedding celebration entails only quite a few numbers of guests, it would be better to make your own wedding invitation.

Usually, wedding invitations are more expensive and requires the least number of orders. So, if you would not be ordering a lot, then, it would be better to make your own do it yourself wedding invitations.

4. For a more innovative look, choose the colors you will use with your wedding invitation.

White will always be the colour of the wedding and will never go out of style. However, because of the continuous change that technology is bringing us, it is best to try some bright colors on your wedding invite that will reflect your personality or your partner.

The key point is not to use one colour but a conglomeration of all the bright colors you can use.

5. Choose a design that will best reflect your taste or your partner's personality.

Before, wedding invitations come in the traditional rectangular adorned with laces and flowers. It has been deemed as good design for so many years now but the fact remains the same: it is dull and lifeless.

What you need to present them is the beauty of life that you and your partner had agreed to cherish forever. Hence, it is strongly recommended to come up with a modern designs embedded with pure beauty.

Boiled down, wedding invitations are not just mere invitations that you usually have in your other occasions like birthday party or victory party. Wedding invitations are ways of inviting somebody whom you want to be a part of your wonderful moment with your partner.

As they say, wedding invites are not just papers, they are the breath of the couple's desire to tell the whole world how much they love each other, and they want their guests to witness that.

Wedding Speech

The Important Factor In A Wedding Speech

In any speaking engagement, one of the most important factor (and the most neglected, too) is the audience. People are so worried about the speech itself that they tend to forget the real factor that will affect the whole execution of the speech.

There are many kinds of speeches and one of them is the wedding speech. It is that part of the weeding that everybody is so excited to hear.

In a wedding, there are three primary wedding speeches that will be heard. The most common wedding speech order is the first one coming from the bride's father wedding speech.. This is usually the most emotional speech and the most unforgettable one. It becomes so touchy when the father includes in his speech how he is endorsing his daughter to his husband.

The second part of the wedding speech is the groom wedding speech. Here, he will thank his parents for all the love and care. He will also thank all those who made the celebration possible and memorable.

And last is the wedding speeches bestman. Usually, this type of wedding speech is the most enlightening one because it entails the lighter side of the event. The best man will tell stories about the groom and his crazy antics.

Of all these wedding speeches, the audience should be the primary factor that should be

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considered when making the wedding speech. Through the analysis of the audience, the speaker will be able to identify which things that should be said and which things that should be left out.

In most cases, the most common misconception of most wedding speakers about wedding speeches is that they thought that they are speaking before the bride and the groom only, which should not be the case. The wedding speech should be delivered to the whole guests. In fact, the impression most wedding speakers make would reflect back to the bride and groom.

For example, if you are to make a wedding speech and you have thought of including some jokes that you think would make the couple happy, try to think of the audience first if it will make them happy too. There may be instances wherein your joke will not amuse the elderly ones who will be present at the wedding.

Problems and conflicts may happen just because of the wedding speech you have made. So, it is extremely important to make a speech that will focus on the general interest of the audience and not centered on the bride and groom or to your own judgment of what you think would be funny and okay.

Another misconception that wedding speakers usually make is that they tend to think that wedding speeches are not all worth the trouble. That is why most of them would not make a speech that is well-thought of, with words that are carefully chosen, and the idea creatively generated to come up with a good speech.

Usually, they would make a speech that they think will do for the time being. Just to get over it, they would just think of mentioning some stories and that is it.

What matters most in a wedding speech is the reaction and impression that the audience will have on your wedding speech. Just like the way you want to talk to your boss or your colleague and consider their feelings and principles is also the same way you should be delivering your speech. You should also consider the audience's feelings and beliefs.

Moreover, you should know how to identify with the audience. Through identification you will be able to come up with a wedding speech wherein the audience can relate to whatever stories or information that you will be telling them.

So, now you know how important great wedding speeches can be, it is important to take note of the most important factor before making a wedding speech — the audience. And because wedding speeches are an important part of the wedding, it should never be taken for granted.

Engagement Party Games

The engagement party is a time when the families of the couple will get to know one another. In some cases, this might be the first meeting between the two families or groups of friends and any icebreaker activity will be a welcome event.

In that light, whoever plans the engagement party (likely the bride's family, but it can be the engaged couple or anyone else who wants to plan the party) should plan a few games and activities designed to help everyone get to know everyone else.

First up is a trivia game. Create a "Trivial Pursuit" type game with questions about the bride and groom's lives. You might contain the questions to just facts and events relating to both the bride and groom (such as how long did it take her to say "yes" when he asked, where did he propose, where did they meet, etc), or you can include questions pertaining to their lives outside of each other and before they met each other. Not only can this be fun, but also it's an entertaining way for people to get to know each other and the engaged couple better.

One popular icebreaker that's used at corporate functions and company parties can also work really well at engagement parties. Tape a card to each person's back and encourage him or her to work the room, mingle with everyone and particularly try to get to know someone they have never met before. Before moving on to someone else, be sure to make a comment about the person on the card on his or her back. Partiers write an impression of that person, such as "she seems sweet" or "he knows a lot about the weather".

This icebreaker ends when the mingling session is over. The cards are then read one by one and people not only get to know each other better, but enjoy hearing all the comments people made about them. Try to ensure that comments are complimentary or somehow presented in a positive light. Hurtful comments, obviously, are not appropriate.

If this is truly the first time many of the guests have met, then another fun game involving the wearing of cards might be in order. In this game, each guest wears a card on their front that has their name on the front and a number on the back. They don't share with anyone what their number is. Guests mingle and chat and get to know each other over the course of the evening.

Toward the end of the evening, the cards are flipped over and the number side is shown. Everyone gets a piece of paper and writes the numbers on the paper, then tries to correspond the name of someone with their number. This fun game can be hard for people who are bad with names, but it's fun nonetheless.

For an activity that doesn't put people on the spot quite so much, consider letting the already marrieds help out the to-be marrieds. Place two pieces of posterboard on the wall and mark them "advice from women" and "advice from men". Now is the time to offer advice about wedding planning, not about being married. That advice can come later. Encourage guests to offer their own wedding planning advice. The advice from older people at the party could be decidedly different from the younger couples in the group, making for an enlightening group of comments.

Wedding Toast Activities

 

Giving a toast is a responsibility that puts fear in the speaking hearts of most members of a wedding party. While it's not usually something that is particularly long or involved, it's public speaking (which doesn't sit well with many people) and really puts people on the spot.

If you are planning a wedding and know that most members of this wedding party are hams who won't mind the whole "public speaking" thing, then by all means keep the toasts traditional with dad, the best man and others taking their expected turns at the microphone.

But if you're looking for something different, either because you want to save putting people on the spot, or you simply want to do something different and fun, read on.

First, you can certainly take the whole toast thing off the agenda if you wish. There are no rules requiring a toast at any wedding. Weddings should be unique events and reflect the personalities of the bride and groom.

But if you want to do something a little different, there are options. You can go the video route, which asks people to essentially make a toast on camera and then the video is given to the bride and groom later. This isn't a particularly unique idea, but it does solve the issue of not wanting to put people on the spot and still gives everyone a chance to say something special to the bride and groom.

If your guest list includes many outgoing people then consider "pass the microphone". This can work in several ways. You can either be silly with it, or deadly serious. Most people like silly. Say dad takes the microphone first. His last name ends with T (so, let's say dad's last name is Smith). He must find someone whose first name begins with a T (Tom? Tony? Tina? Theresa?) and pass the microphone to that person, who then gives a toast.

This method of giving toasts does put people on the spot (certainly before the fun begins you can warn them so if they are really uncomfortable, they can escape to the restroom or bar) but it can also be a lot of fun. Getting people when they least expect it and then asking them to remember something funny or meaningful about the bride and groom can result in interesting, funny and truthful results.

You might also decide that one person at each table be required to give a toast. Number the tables and at various intervals, have the MC or DJ call a number, which will require guests at that table to decide amongst themselves who will give the toast at that table. Certainly, more than one person can if they like, but there will likely be at least one ham at each table who will enjoy standing up and toasting the newlyweds.

Say you have plenty of public speakers in the group, and finding willing toast participants won't be a problem. But you think the subject matter might be. There's an easy solution to this problem. You can provide open-ended topics for the toast speakers. Say you are providing an "open mike" toast arrangement, where anyone can request the microphone and offer a toast. The DJ, MC or someone else in the wedding party (perhaps the maid of honor or best man) can offer the speaker a surprise topic, which might be pulled from a champagne flute or drawn out of the floral arrangement on the head table. There might be slips of paper to choose, or just one sheet of paper with several ideas.

The speaker might choose to finish this sentence, "I remember when (groom's name here) was a little boy, he always ..." or answer this question, "When was (insert bride's name here) at her silliest? Tell us the story". You might have to give each speaker a minute or two to collect their thoughts, but you're sure to have some interesting stories, some unique anecdotes and some different perspectives on the bride and groom.

Getting Married? Beauty Preparations You Need to Make

Have you recently been engaged? If you have, have you started planning your wedding yet? If you haven’t, you will want to get started with the planning soon. Even if you have already started planning your wedding, have you made all of your beauty preparations yet? Beauty preparation are an important part of planning a wedding, if not the most important part. For that reason, you will want to start making your beauty arrangements right away.

When it comes to beauty preparations for your wedding, you will find that are a number of different steps that you will need to take. First off all, you may want to decide how you would like your hair and makeup to be done. If you are also interested in having your bridesmaids’ hair be all the same, you may want to think about planning out their hair styles as well. If you find yourself having a difficult time doing so, you may want to think about hiring the services of a beauty consultant or making “testing,” appointments at your local beauty or hair salon. 

Speaking of a beauty or hair salon, if you need to make appointments for you and the rest of your wedding party to get your hair done, you will want to make your appointments in advance. If your wedding is scheduled for “wedding season,” you will want to make your appointments as soon as possible, especially if you have your heart set on getting your hair done at a particular salon. Smaller salons can only handle one wedding party at a time.

In addition to getting your hair done on your wedding day, you may also be interested in getting your nails done or having your makeup professionally applied. If you are interested in getting your makeup professionally applied, you will likely have your makeup done right after your hair is. As for your nails, you may be required to make an appointment in the days leading up to the wedding. If you or your bridesmaids need nail touch ups, they can be done at the last minute.

Although you hope that everything will go well on your wedding day, you will want to prepare for the unexpected. In terms of beauty and fashion, the unexpected may include a tear in your dress or the dress one of your bridesmaids, a stain, or too much sweating. For that reason, you may want to think about having an emergency beauty bag on hand and with you at all times during your wedding, particularly before the ceremony takes place. Many times, the maid of honour will be responsible for coming up with such a bag, but you still may want to make sure that it is done.

As for the items that should go inside an emergency beauty bag, you may want to stock it full of anything that you think you or your bridesmaids may need. Items that you will definitely want to include in an emergency beauty bag include makeup, deodorant, hand lotion, hairspray or hair gel, a brush, a comb, extra bobby pins, a small sewing kit, and emergency stain removing chemicals. Having these types of items and more inside an emergency beauty bag will reduce the number of unexpected events that may end up hampering your wedding day.

The above mentioned beauty preparation tips are just a few of the many that you will want to make. In fact, beauty preparation tips are just a few of the plans and arrangements that you will have to make. For instance, you will need to choose a venue for your wedding reception, a band or a DJ, a wedding cake, and so forth. With all of the preparations and arrangements that need to be made, you may want to think about hiring the services of a professional wedding planner or at least buying a wedding planning guide, which will hopefully include a detailed checklist for you.

Wedding Etiquette: Cash Bar Wedding Parties

Open bar wedding party has been gaining popularity these days because more and more couples have been celebrating an evening wedding. With open bar, guests are free to order any brand of drink to their liking without limit as to how many shots or glasses they should order.

However, some couples with limited budget see cash bar as the best option for them.  As opposed to open bar, guests must pay for every drink that they order in a cash bar wedding party. The newly weds won't be held liable for a guest's non-payment of a drink ordered. Guests should leave a bill for a drink the way a customer does when he ordered a drink in a local bar.

If you, a groom or bride-to-be, are concerned with wedding etiquette, wedding etiquette specialists will tell you not to go for a cash bar. If you would be graded for a wedding etiquette examination, saying yes to a cash bar has a grade of zero

For specialists on wedding etiquette, cash bar is not an option even for couples who are tight on a budget.  Since cash bar violates wedding etiquette, wedding etiquette specialists say that you should expect snide remarks from your guests if you pursue a cash bar wedding party. You might even hear them saying things like, the newly wed do not know wedding etiquette, or if they couldn't afford an open bar, they shouldn't have hosted a cocktail party at all and they should have stayed with a sit down dinner.

Guests who would make such a remark obviously are unaware of wedding etiquette too. But just the same, we cannot silence them for making such remarks.

Some wedding etiquette books even say that if you are thinking of a cash bar night party, make a pass for a night party; it's better not to have a night party at all if it would be a cash bar.

Solution to Cash Bar

There is a solution though to cash bar. According to books on wedding etiquette, you can implement the semi-open bar. With this strategy, you won't worry about violating wedding etiquette through cash bar and you won't need a big budget to throw an open bar wedding party.

Wedding etiquette specialists would recommend you to open bar the first two drinks to your wedding guests and cash bar the ordered drinks thereafter.

Two drinks are considered socially acceptable standards for social drinking. In implementing the semi open, semi cash bar wedding party, you have satisfied the needs of guests expecting you to practice wedding etiquette while at the same time you have satisfied yourself for not spending too much.

Many couples who are not limited on a budget implement the two-drink open bar and cash bar afterwards cocktail or evening wedding party. This is to avoid excessive drinking from wedding guests, and for wedding guests to maintain social composure.

Wedding Gift Ideas

A wedding is a red letter day for anyone. Just being invited to one can really bring about excitement. It is always a pleasure to see someone walk down the aisle with the promise of true love and life long happiness. Picking out wedding gifts can be a lot of fun too. There are thousands of gifts ideas that you can purchase online or on retail stores. Personalized gifts have been a common trend in weddings presents. Customized gifts bring out your creativity because you can dictate the style, design and message you want to be printed on them. Items range from photo frames, mugs and clocks, among others.

In buying gifts, always keep in mind your budget and be sure to get the look you want to achieve on your purchased items. Here are some gift ideas that would surely be a hit:

Photo Frames Keep your memorable pictures in unique photo frames. You can add on sweet messages like 'sweethearts forever" or "perfect couple". Sweet lines from songs or poems are greatly recommended too. You can choose from the different frames available like natural wood, quality plastic, or metal steel. Personal messages are mostly laser engraved or wood cut-outs. The couple would love putting there favorite wedding photos to keep them reminded of the bliss of their special day.

T-shirts - If you are part of the bridal party, then think about ideas for the wedding clothing for before the wedding whilst getting ready.   Waffle robes and hoodies are a great idea with mens trunks and socks for the guys.

Mugs are very functional. They make a great gift for the wedding couple.   Mr & Mrs mugs or, customising their mug or wineglass would surely be appreciated. Be sure to choose mugs that exude manly elegance. Black or brown mugs would definitely look nice and  personal messages would be a real stand out.

Looking for wedding gifts can be enjoyable. Personalising your gifts would add a special touch to each present. No matter what the value of the gift is, remember that it is always the pure intention of giving that matters most.