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Centerpiece Ideas

November 12, 2011 By Jennifer Leave a Comment

7 Wedding Centerpiece Ideas That Transform Your Tables

After selecting your wedding theme, your next step is to think very carefully about the details. The wedding gown, the bridal accessories and makeup, the menu, the wedding favors, venue for the ceremony and of course, the reception must be well-organized and planned to keep you safe from any problems when the big day sets in. Since the reception is one of the most important parts of the wedding, you need to lay out your plans to make it extra special. Aside from selecting the set menu with the appetizer, main course, dessert and drinks, you must also use your creative juices to select the best centerpiece that would complement your wedding theme and make the dining table more beautiful and enticing.

Think about a certain level of formality and how the food will be served to your guests during the reception to identify the perfect wedding centerpiece. Also, consider your preferences and the time of your wedding. This will be easy for you because you can choose the centerpiece inspired by the following seasons. Make sure to opt for the one that falls within the same season as your wedding date.

Fall Season Table Centerpiece Ideas:

Arrange fruits such as berries and grapes on fruits bowls to add texture and color to the dining tables. Opt for the fruit bowls made of glass to create a more classy appeal. Make sure the fruits have been washed thoroughly so the guests can help themselves.
You may also use a clear glass bowl with some floating candles and pebbles at the bottom if you are having a fall beach wedding. Add bunches of roses, mums, sunflowers and daisies to make a very beautiful centerpiece that will delight guests at your reception.

Winter Season Table Centerpiece Idea:

The most predominant color for this season is white because it’s reminiscent of the pristine snow. For a magnificent winter-inspired centerpiece, opt for towering candelabras with long white candles to provide illumination and at the same time, design to the wedding tables. These will exude a very romantic atmosphere especially when white roses surround the candelabras.

Spring Season Table Centerpiece Ideas:

Since spring is all about everything in bloom, why not create a centerpiece from flowers in season? These are cheap and abundant so grab the opportunity to take all your favorite in-season flowers and arrange them in unique and beautiful manner. Mix several kinds with different complimenting colors or just have a single stalk of flower in a clear glass vase, you will definitely have a lovely and fresh centerpiece. You may also arrange flowers in a tall table and adorn them with rhinestones or Swarovski crystals for an elegant décor.
Fruits in season also make a great centerpiece when arranged in the same ways like arranging flowers. Have them on silver trays or clear vases and stare at them with amazement. Wash the fruits clean and place them on trays or bowls to add pizzazz to your dining table. The fruits can also be eaten by the guests if they want to.

Summer Season Table Centerpiece Ideas:

Since beach weddings are very famous during this season, you can use marine-inspired materials for your centerpiece. Have some sea shells arranged in an artistic manner and tie a ribbon around them for a simple yet classy do-it-yourself centerpiece. You may also half-fill a glass bottle with white sand and adorn it with tiny pebbles, sea shells and little sailboats to invoke the feel of the beach.
If you love flowers, then opt for tulips, roses and lilies for your centerpiece. You may use these flowers for arrangements or in combination with crystals for a modern look. Have them tall or short depending on your preference. You can also combine them with tea light candles for a romantic and cheerful ambience. Make sure the flowers are tall enough so that they will not interfere with your guests’ dining.

These season-themed wedding table centerpieces could really transform your tables from plain-looking to beautiful and breath-taking. Set your budget first and work within it. Make sure to opt for the centerpiece that you can afford to avoid wasting valuable resources. Use your imagination to come up with the most interesting and magnificent centerpiece for the wedding reception.

Filed Under: eCommerce Portfolio Tagged With: centerpiece ideas, Wedding Centerpieces, wedding table decorations

Ceremony Decorations

November 12, 2011 By Wendy Leave a Comment

Gorgeous Accessories, Supplies, and Décor for Your Wedding Ceremony

Having a beautiful wedding doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to spend a fortune on different wedding details such as the wedding venue, reception, invitations, wedding favors, menu and many more. In fact, you can still have an unforgettable wedding on a shoestring budget. All you need to do is to rely on your creativity and resourcefulness to get things right for your big day.

Beyond the usual wedding decorations such as flowers, doves and white candles, you can be as creative as you can to achieve an impressing wedding look. You may hire the services of a wedding planner if you have sufficient funds or do it yourself to save some precious money.

You can find very affordable materials and supplies in unlikely places and use these to make your centerpieces, invitations and wedding favors. If you’re a really frugal person, you need to watch out for clearance sales to avail of even cheaper items to be used on your wedding ornaments. Most of the items on sale are seasonal, so it’s the right time to purchase them if you are planning a season-themed wedding.

Here is a rundown of some gorgeous yet cheap decors which are ideal for your wedding day.

A plant that you can eat- Yes, there’s such a thing as edible plant desserts. To make this yummy and decadent dessert for your wedding, just fill a glass candle holder with chocolate pudding and top it with crushed chocolate cookies which will serve as the “dirt”. You may add some flowers to make it more realistic. Serve with wooden ice cream spoons.
Simple yet lovely wedding car ornament- Attach some pompom garlands on your wedding car. You can make these by combining twines and tissue paper and forming them into pompoms.
Opt for the tea cup centerpiece- Fresh flowers are fragrant, colorful and beautiful but they tend to wilt and fade so why not choose elegant tea cups and saucers as your dining table’s centerpiece? Aside from being inexpensive, you can have an instantly classy and pretty table décor everyone will love.
Dry cleaning kits- For your bridesmaids, try giving dry cleaning kits that they can use to deal with different kinds of stains on clothes. These will keep them worry-free from mascara or lipstick stains while enjoying the wedding.
Ditch the old flower basket- For a modern look, opt for the pinafore instead of the basket for the flower girls. Pinafores are free and distinctive; you can create them using old table linens. You can even hand these down to the next generation.
Button seat cards- With the names of the guests on the buttons-cum-seating cards, you can make the occasion more special by letting your guests introduce themselves to one another.
Wrap the bouquet with a handkerchief- Who says handkerchiefs are only used to wipe tears? In a special occasion such as a wedding, you can use your white handkerchiefs to tie a bouquet of flowers and to decorate even the floral centerpiece on the reception table.
Get your hands dirty with handmade fans- For outdoor weddings which are usually and uncomfortably hot, it is ideal to use handmade fans. To keep the guests from too much heat, distribute these to them and they’ll be really thankful for your thoughtfulness. Be creative on your designs.
Address book as wedding favor- Ensure that the friendship formed among guests will last longer by giving our address books as gifts.
Make your placecards beautiful with a butterfly detail- Create butterfly-shaped placecards using special paper of any color of your choice and place them on the rims of champagne or wine glasses.
Opt for an inexpensive table centerpiece- Use flowers or fruits in season and arrange them artistically on glass bowls or vases for a simple yet attractive wedding centerpiece. You may also use candles placed in decorated bags or floating on glass bowls filled halfway with water for a lovely effect.
Interesting wedding invitations- Create some DIY invitations with pressed flowers and leaves, an artwork made by you or your fiancé and other personalized details to make your guests feel extra special. Also, make sure to handwrite the names of the people you want to invite to make it more significant.

Filed Under: eCommerce Portfolio Tagged With: family wedding ceremony, flower girl baskets, flower petals, ring bearer pillows, unity candle ceremony, unity sand ceremony, wedding aisle runners, wedding memorial

Reception Decorations

November 12, 2011 By Stephanie Leave a Comment

Unique Decoration Ideas For The Perfect Wedding Reception

What makes a wedding reception unique? Aside from the food, it’s the décor that really sets the stage. In order to distinguish your wedding reception, be sure to pay a lot of attention to the details that go into it. Even the littlest things are very important. If choreographed correctly, all the tiny details that you worked hard to get exactly right will come together to form a beautiful reception. Here are some unique decoration ideas for the perfect wedding reception.

Pick a Theme

Are you getting married on the beach or in a hotel? During summer or fall? Your décor will be guided by your theme, so be sure to choose carefully. Once you’ve picked a them, such as Fall Country Wedding, then you can get started. First, think about your wedding and reception venue. For a fall country wedding, an orchard would be a good place to hold it, or in a re-purposed barn. If you live in a state where the leaves change color, make the most of it and use gorgeous golden and russet leaves in your décor. For a fall country wedding, you’ll want everything to be cozy and homey. Hire a popular fiddlers quartet to provide your wedding music. Serve traditional desserts like apple pie. Once you’ve picked a theme, it’s up to you to make it come alive.

Play with Flowers

Flowers are a traditional component of every wedding. But you can be unique in the way that you use your wedding flowers. Instead of putting your flower centerpieces on the table, why not hang these above the table? Dangling flowers will be a creative and unexpected touch that will be sure to impress your guests. If your budget can’t accommodate a lot of fresh flowers, you can use fresh flowers only in your bouquet and buy or rent matching silk flowers to decorate the church and use as centerpieces. You can also scour garage sales for old vases that fit your wedding theme. Centerpieces don’t have to be large and costly. A single flower with greenery in a simple vase is elegant and affordable.

One fun way to coordinate your wedding flowers with your centerpieces is to use flowers instead of table numbers. Use a different type of flower for each table. Make sure that the flower is easily recognizable to most people.

Coordinating your wedding flowers to your centerpieces will ensure a complementary wedding that will leave a sweet scent in the minds of your guests.

Living wedding favors

Guests can remember you even after the wedding if you give away handmade paper cards with flower seeds as wedding favors. When they get home they can plant the card and then wait for a beautiful flower to bloom. Each time they see the flower they will be reminded of your wedding. Check local shops to see if the cards are available. You can also make your own. Buy your favorite flower seeds in bulk. Next, look for paper cards that can be planted. Attach the flowers seeds to the card using biodegradable material. Voila, you’ve got yourself a live wedding favor.

Go back to your roots

Do your families have any cherished wedding traditions? Ask your elderly relatives for customs and traditions that they followed for their weddings reception. One nice touch is putting a picture of you and your grooms’ parents cutting their wedding cake next to your own wedding cake. It’s a nice gesture that honors both your families. You can also come up with your very own tradition.

Customize your cake

Instead of a single giant wedding cake, try small tiers of cupcakes or small cakes. You can mix and match flavors and colors for a fun twist on a traditional white wedding cake.

Ins lieu of a traditional bride and groom cake topper, top off your cake with an object that is significant to both of you such as a sailboat or car.

There are many ways to make your wedding reception unique using décor. Incorporate some of these suggestions into your wedding reception, or let them serve as inspiration. They say that the devil is in the details, so you’ll want to make sure that every detail of your décor is perfect.

Filed Under: eCommerce Portfolio Tagged With: Accessories, disposable wedding cameras, supplies, wedding pens, wedding place cards, wedding reception decorations, wedding wishing wells

Collections

November 11, 2011 By Nicole Leave a Comment

Wedding Themes and Ideas for the Coming Year

Aside from 18^th birthday, the most important event in a woman’s life is her wedding day. This is why women spend a great deal of time planning this big day—from consulting wedding magazines to talking to planners to visiting shops that specialize in weddings.

If you are planning to get married for the coming year, one of the first things that you and your partner should consider is the overall theme of your wedding. Having a theme is not a requirement, however, this option has become popular over the last few years for various reasons. First, having a theme sets the overall direction of your wedding. It means that everything that is included in your program is related, making it easier for you to arrange everything that has to do with the celebration. In addition, it gives the impression that you have carefully prepared everything about your wedding. Second, it makes your day extra special. It makes people easily remember your special day because it was marked with something else, that is the theme of your wedding. Third, it allows you to be creative. It makes you and your partner explore on different ideas as to how your dress will look like, what wedding favors to give, or what kinds of food to serve.

What are the themes to consider for 2012?

Vintage is the new glamour in 2012. If you Google the wedding options for 2012, vintage is by far the most popular theme suggested by most wedding experts. Victorian-themed weddings are something to look forward to next year. In fact, you can already find plenty of Victorian-inspired dresses online, which goes to say that many brides would be wearing those Queen Victoria-type wedding dresses—long skirts, corsets, and high necklines, all but with a modern edge. Popular fabric choices for the bride’s gown include lace, linen, cashmere, silk, organdy, and tulle. If you would go for this theme, aside from concentrating on the entourage’s wardrobe and the overall decoration, you may also incorporate the Victorian-inspired theme in your invitations, wedding favors, flowers, and cakes. Fill up the church with roses, for gardens during the Victorian times are filled with these symbols of love. Candles and lanterns would also be popular choices for lighting, since Victorians are all about being romantic.

Match your theme with the season. When you say “wedding theme,” it does not have to be something grand or something super crazy since your guests might think they are attending a birthday party rather than a wedding. If you prefer something simple yet memorable, you can match your wedding with the season.

Spring is a wonderful time for weddings and if you plan to get married during this time, you may consider matching your wedding theme with it. Yellow, along with other bright colors, is not much of a wedding color next year. Go for subtle tones instead such as peach, apricot, and blush. Aside from the fact that these colors are pleasing to the eyes, they are very feminine, highly chic, and exceptionally romantic.

Match the decorations and the bridesmaids’ dresses with the wonderful colors of spring.

Do-It-Yourself. Many couples are now into DIY weddings, not only because they want to add their personal touch to their wedding but more importantly because of budget considerations. This is a good choice for couples with plenty of time to spend before the big day comes as well as for those who have creative hands so as to make everything pleasing and presentable to the guests. In addition, it is an opportunity for the couple to bond well before the big day comes. If you are running out of time, you can simply choose three to five items to personalize: invitations, favors, playlist of wedding songs, guest book, and table decorations. Do not forget to add a signature or something that would tell the guests that you personally created and arranged those items.

Preparing for a wedding is something that couples should take seriously. Deciding on a wedding theme is one way of getting your wedding organized, for not only it creates a unifying idea for your wedding where you can get all things started; it also makes your day extra special for everyone to remember.

Filed Under: eCommerce Portfolio Tagged With: Themes, wedding collections, wedding themes

Clearance

November 11, 2011 By Maggie Leave a Comment

Discount Decorations, Supplies, and Accessories To Help You Stay On Budget

Getting married doesn’t have to be expensive. Whatever budget you may have planned for your wedding, you’ll want to make sure that you stick to it and that you don’t break the bank. After all you won’t wart so start your married life in debt. Read on to find discount decorations, supplies, and accessories to help you stay on budget.

Go Online

Go online in order to find the best deals. There are many large online wedding, reception, and event decorating stores where you will be able to find what you need. Don’t buy the first product that you see even if it’s very, very cheap. Instead, try to do some comparison shopping. Look around and make that you’ve seen a comprehensive selection of what you’re going to buy before you commit to it. If you’re looking for wedding accessories, the website Etsy.com is good for cheap, high-quality jewelry, such as bracelets and necklaces. You can also look out for pretty headbands and other hairpieces. Make sure to check the seller’s rating before you buy and see what their buyers have to say about them.

You can also sign up for online newsletter that will give you coupons for products that you will need for your wedding. You will be able to save a lot if you use 40 or 50 percent off coupons for your wedding needs.

Buy in Bulk

For things that you’re going to need a lot of, such as vases and fabric, be sure to buy in bulk from a wholesaler so that you can negotiate a hefty discount. Here’s a tip for brides doing beach weddings: check out your local hardware for a hefty 40 or 50 pound bag of play sand. This is a lot cheaper that the sand that is sold online. Now you can have sand to line the bottom of your vases and to use in your other décor.

DIY

Whenever possible, don’t buy, create. You can make your own wedding invitations, décor, and favors. If you’re a master baker, you can even bake your own wedding cake. You can also do your own wedding desserts. If you’re a chef, you can even plan and shop for your own wedding menu. Just make sure that someone you trust does the cooking on your big day. The same goes for your wedding dress if you’re a whiz with a sewing machine. Doing things yourself instead of buying them is labor-intensive and time-consuming, but it will definitely help you to save money. If you’re not interested in arts and crafts, don’t despair. Enlist the help of your mother, sister or friend. They can teach you the basics of DIY, and in no time at all, you’ll be happily making your own wedding décor.

Buy Local and In Season

If you’ve lived in a place for some time, you’ll probably have developed good relationships with your local merchants. Now that it’s time for you to get married, they’ll be only too happy to help you make sure that everything is perfect and of good value for your wedding. Don’t be afraid to ask for discounts from your local vendors. Give them your budget and ask them to work within that. If you’ve established a warm relationship with your local merchants, they’ll be sure to assist you.

Another way to save money is to buy what’s in season. This goes for flowers as well as food. Flowers that are in season are cheap and are available locally, whereas those that are not in season must be imported and will be sure to cost an arm and a leg. Coordinate with your florist well ahead of time in order to make sure that the flowers that you’re using are in season.

You should also coordinate with your caterer to see what’s in season during your wedding. Not only will you be able to serve yummy fruits and vegetables, you’ll also be able to save a lot because these will be cheap and widely available when you’re getting married.

It takes some effort in order to hunt for a bargain, but in the end, it’s worth it. You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you had a wonderful wedding and you didn’t exceed your budget.

Filed Under: eCommerce Portfolio

10 Best Ideas for Wedding Table Centerpieces

May 7, 2010 By Wendy Leave a Comment

centerpiece ideas Wedding table centerpieces are going beyond the basic floral arrangements. Interested in stepping out of that box? Take inspiration from these decorating trends:

1. Go natural

Create a tabletop botanical garden. Hit the local nursery or go online to purchase small potted plants, or if there is time to spare, seedlings. If want to showcase flowers, consider Gerber daisies, tulips, daffodils or orchids in terracotta pots. You can also take the green route with herbs and ferns. Cacti would be perfect for a Mexican or cowboy theme wedding. Another popular option is wheatgrass grown in flat, shallow boxes. The plus side to all this? The plants can double as wedding favors. Just leave a sign next to the centerpiece asking guests to “Please pick one”. Or incorporate a “For you” label on every pot.

2. Dazzle with lights

Make each table shine with a light fixture centerpiece. Use a structural shaded lamp surrounded with flowers at the base (to hide the cords) or centerpiece ideas 2 studded with blooms around the stem for added visual interest. Place metal-framed lanterns to create a rustic appeal. Or go ultrachic with square paper lanterns. Want something more high-tech? LED lights in water-filled vessels will do the trick.

3. Cast a glow

If your venue is dimly lit, a “candlescape” can imbue drama and enchantment to any dinner reception. Combine votives, pillars and tapers on a single table. Consider mounting them on top of a round mirror for a reflective light effect. You can also float candles on stemmed glasses of varying shapes and heights.

4. Submerge them flowers

Aiming for a serene but stunning look? Push in calla lilies or orchids in a tall-enough glass vessel so they appear submerged underwater. For a beach wedding, create an aquarium-like centerpiece by using a rectangular or bowl-shaped container with corals nestled onto a sand base. Budget-wise, this kind of display will cost you less because it requires fewer stems.

5. Break container conventions

Arrange flowers in martini glasses or soup bowls instead of traditional vases. Coffee pot creamers, sugar holders and teacups would be great for country weddings. Pails dressed up as planters suit outdoor receptions. Mix and Square Vase Centerpiece match the containers for aesthetic appeal. You can buy them at thrift stores, flea markets or garage sales.

6. Be Zen-inspired

If you’re a minimalist at heart, go with Zen-inspired centerpieces. One option is a willow or cherry blossom branch display. Leave the stems as is or spray-paint them in silver or gold. Embellish with beads, ribbons, or handmade paper birds and blooms. You may even ask guests to hang tags on which they have written down their well wishes. You can also incorporate bonsai trees, battery-powered water fountains, bamboo, origami creations and mini sandboxes.

7. Pick fruits

Try using fruits as the focal point of your table centerpiece. Their rich colors will surely make for vibrant displays. Lemons, limes or clementines packed in a glass vessel are wonderful for summer outdoor receptions. Clusters of apples, pears and gourds would work with autumn weddings, and pomegranates or cranberries at winter celebrations. To add height to arrangements, leave the fruits on their vines or branches.

8. Satisfy sweet cravings

Sweet treats add a fun and light touch to your table décor. To give guests something to munch on throughout the evening, fill in glassware with your candy of choice. Or create an edible topiary using round chocolate pieces. Another trend is to have cupcakes or smaller versions of the wedding cake arranged on a multi-tier serving tray.

9. Pile up gift boxes

To add a surprising element to your centerpiece, stack up gift boxes atop cake stands. Make sure to pick out boxes of different sizes and have them dressed up with ribbons or flowers. Fill in each with candy, soap, candle or any other goodies you want to give away at your wedding.

10. Create an activity area

If you want to see interaction within each table, consider items that guests can play with. Take your pick from board games, glass chess sets or colorful checkerboards. Surround these with glitter or confetti for a decorative touch. You can also have decks of cards and puzzles personalized with you and your husband-to-be’s photo.

Play with the decorations as much as you want to. Remember you can turn your table centerpiece spectacular and memorable with just a little creativity, resourcefulness and imagination.

Filed Under: Decorations, Tips & Ideas Tagged With: Best Ideas, Wedding Table Centerpieces

How to Coordinate Wedding Flowers with Spectacular Centerpieces

March 8, 2010 By Harmony Leave a Comment

Wedding centerpiece with flowers Coordination is key when it comes to planning weddings. With all the different elements such as gown, flowers, and reception, you’ll want to make sure that each element enhances the other. Flowers are the most common and popular type of centerpieces at wedding receptions. Matching your wedding flowers with your centerpiece not only makes sense, it will also add harmony to your wedding. If you would like to match your wedding flowers with spectacular centerpieces, read on for some cool tips.

Buy in bulk
Choose your favorite flower and decide which colors to use in your wedding. Remember to match your flowers to your wedding theme, if you have one. Once you’ve made your decision, buy in bulk. This way, you’ll get a better deal from the florist. You should also ask about the blooming period of your chosen flowers. Some flowers may need to be bought and delivered a few days before the ceremony in order to be in perfect full bloom for your wedding. If your chosen flowers have a strong scent, think twice before adding these to centerpieces. The strong odors may clash with the food.

Be consistent
To match your wedding flowers and your centerpiece, use the same flowers in decorating the church, the bridal bouquet, and the centerpieces. Be sure to choose a versatile flower that will look good in many different arrangements.

Be creative
You can move beyond exact flower matches and choose different colors of the same type of flower for church decorations, the bridal bouquet, and the centerpieces. You can also opt for different flowers in the same color palette. Still another alternative is to choose flowers by theme, such as spring, English garden, or tropical. If you want to use the same flowers for your wedding decorations and centerpieces, experiment with creative containers. Outdoor adventurers might use miniature lanterns instead of vases.

Add other elements
Avoid overwhelming guests with flowers by adding other elements to your centerpieces, such as fruit or candles. Make sure that your chosen items will complement and enhance the flowers, not overpower them. You can also opt for a personal touch and use copies of cherished pictures or other mementos along with your chosen flowers in your centerpieces.

Hang it up
Instead of putting your flower centerpieces on the table, why not hang these above the table? Dangling flowers will be a creative and unexpected touch that will be sure to wow your guests.

Use flowers for numbers
One fun way to coordinate your wedding flowers with your centerpieces is to use flowers instead of table numbers. Use a different type of flower for each table. Make sure that the flower is easily recognizable to most people.

Incorporate your wedding favors
Your flowers can do double duty as centerpieces and wedding favors. Once you have matched your wedding flowers to your centerpiece, arrange bunches of a single type of flower as your centerpiece. Engrave the vases with the newlyweds’ initials or a special message. Request guests to take a vase of flowers home as a wedding favor.

Go silk.
If your budget can’t accommodate a lot of fresh flowers, you can use fresh flowers only in your bouquet and buy or rent matching silk flowers to decorate the church and use as centerpieces. You can also scour garage sales for old vases that fit your wedding theme. Centerpieces don’t have to be large and costly. A single flower with greenery in a simple vase is elegant and affordable.

Coordinating your wedding flowers to your centerpieces will ensure a complementary wedding that will leave a sweet scent in the minds of your guests.

Filed Under: Tips & Ideas Tagged With: Wedding Centerpieces, wedding flowers

The Smart Way To Plan Your Wedding

October 27, 2009 By Angela Leave a Comment

Here Is A Brief Summary Of All The Benefits That Await You Inside TheBridalCoach.ca

This one-of-a-kind Wedding Planning and Coaching Membership site (www.thebridalcoach.ca) is all about you and your perfect wedding. Everything here will support your dream and help you to really get there. Our team of virtual wedding planners is committed to provide you with what you need every step of the way, with your vision, with your theme, how to get things done, how to deal with your relatives and friends, and so much more. You have everything in one place and you can do it all from the comfort of your home.

Click Here to Learn More!

We will keep you up-to-date with newest wedding trends through our weekly webinars, and we connect you through our members’ forum with other brides and wedding planners so you aren’t doing this alone. The wedding planning checklists accompanied by how-to videos will get you organized, which in turn reduces all the stress brides report when planning their wedding. You will be confident that you will have done everything on-time and in the most creative way, and best of all, the money you spend for our membership site will be put back into your pocket many times over by following our time-proven money saving tips with vendors.

Click Here to Learn More!

Here is what you will receive when you order a membership with TheBridalCoach.ca TODAY!

Time-proven wedding planning checklists

The first cluster of information in the members only area called Start Here explains through text, videos, and checklists the following: engagment, wedding vision, wedding budget, legal stuff, reception site, ceremony site, photographer, videographer, bridal party, wedding gown and encore weddings.

Comprehensive wedding planning videos covering every aspect of your wedding

The second cluster Build On It includes bridal party attire, honeymoon, stationary, guest list, florist, wedding cake, personal grooming, bridal registries, ceremony musicians, reception musicians, wedding rings, and bridal suite.

Daily answers to your questions by our wedding planners in the members’ forum

The third cluster called Finalize explains through text, videos, and checklists the following: transportation, reception and catering, ceremony and vows, rental items, rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, parties, guest accommodation, finalize contracts, and spousal gifts.

Weekly webinars with the latest trends, ideas, and information

Virtual wedding planners in the forums and on the weekly coaching calls

Almost There is the 4th cluster of modules where you will be guided through topics like wedding invitations, decorations, wedding favours, itineraries, music selection, toast to parents, wedding announcements, thank you gifts, more legal stuff and attire tryouts.

Wedding planning timeline to keep you on-track

Money saving video series for every part of your wedding—gowns, caterer, flowers, musicians, wedding favors, and much more

The final cluster is called Countdown and that’s where we coach you through topics like seating plan, task assignments, bridesmaids’ luncheon, groomsmen outing, vendor payments, wedding day kit, rehearsal, decorating, and final confirmations.

Click Here to Learn More!

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Filed Under: Launch Tagged With: Planning

Inexpensive Ways to Decorate Your Outdoor Wedding

September 21, 2009 By Wendy Leave a Comment

Outdoor weddings have become a trend for couples who are looking for a wedding that is beyond the traditional. The fact that an outdoor wedding ceremony is already surrounded with beautiful scenery makes it even more popular because this means fewer expenses for the decoration. With so many outdoor venues to choose, finding that perfect place to hold your big day is not too much of a difficult task.

Finding inexpensive ways to decorate your outdoor wedding should not be too hard either. Here is a practical guide that will help you come up with nice and wonderful decorations for your outdoor wedding without going beyond your budget.

Where, oh where?

The venue of the outdoor wedding is one of the factors that will determine what kind of decorations to have. Since outdoor locations vary, you have to make your choice first to make the decoration planning simpler and easier. Some of these ideas will help you get started:

Beach – White folding chairs, tropical flowers, tiki torches, driftwood decorations, centerpieces made of shells and sand

Backyard – Printed backdrops, tarpaulins, lattice fences, trellis of flowers, wire arch of flowers or balloons

Garden – Floral arrangements, garlands, tulle, lights, tea light candles

Park – Flowers arranged neatly on pills or columns, balloon sculptures, candles, Grecian columns

Table Centerpiece: Center of Attraction

Table centerpieces are some of the most important elements of wedding decoration. To save on this aspect, try making it a do-it-yourself project with the help of your bridesmaids or friends. Here are some table centerpiece ideas that are easy to make.

Put a candle inside a tall glass, wrap the glass with thin handmade paper and you will have one elegant piece of a candle table centerpiece.
Find some mason jars at home, put some flowers in it and tie the jar with a raffia ribbon.
Borrow some small potted plants from your dad’s garden and decorate the pots with satin ribbon.
Get a hold of a clear vase, fill it up with sand, and top it off with seashells, starfish and other great finds on the beach.

More Ideas on Inexpensive Outdoor Wedding Décor

Use tulle to hang around the edges of gazebos, podiums, aisles, trellises and so on. Tulle is an expensive material that can add a touch of class to your wedding.
Do not tie all the chairs with a bow tie, have it on every other chair only or only on the chairs located near the aisle.
Opt for balloons to decorate a wedding trellis or arch. If you really want to use flowers, choose those that are grown in your area and are in season.
Rent a tent. It may add to the cost of the wedding but it pays to be sure that your guests will be kept safe from sudden burst of rains or extreme heat. If possible, find a venue that provides free tent covering.
Gather some friends to trim the lawn in your backyard. To save the extra cost of hiring someone to manicure the lawn, turn the chore into one afternoon of fun and enjoyment by making it a time to do the chore together and have some bonding moment.
Use candles for lighting. Instead of equipping the venue with light bulbs that cost a lot, use candles that would even add a dramatic effect to the event.

Outdoors weddings are always fun. Not only do people get to enjoy the wonderful warmth of the sun and the cool breeze, the beauty of nature also makes the event beautiful and stunning. To ensure that you make the most out of your outdoor wedding celebration, keep all of these tips in mind.

Source: This article was submitted by Wendy L. Bishop.

Filed Under: My Theme, Reception & Ceremony Tagged With: Outdoor Weddings, wedding on shoestring budget

How to Plan a Beautiful Wedding on a Shoestring Budget

September 8, 2009 By Nicole Leave a Comment

shoestring In today’s financial crunch, having a grand, extravagant and ostentatious wedding is not smart. It is not all practical to spend your life savings on one big day and then have nothing left for more important expenses like buying a house or car, saving for a child’s education, or investing on a business.

After all, you can have a beautiful, elegant, and memorable wedding on a shoestring budget. All it takes is a dash of creativity, some resourcefulness, little help from family and friends, and a couple of useful tips on how to have a budget wedding.

The Budget Plan

Before you set out planning for your wedding details, one of the foremost things you have to do is to formulate a budget. To help you do this, you and your partner should sit down and discuss what your priorities are in your wedding. This way, it would be easier to allocate a budget for each aspect of the wedding and to avoid overspending.

Save Money on the Wedding Gown

It is true that the bride’s gown is one of the anticipated aspects of the wedding but it does not have to be expensive. You can save money on this by scouting for budget wedding dress stores, renting a wedding gown or wearing the gown that your mom wore on her wedding day (and perhaps doing some modification on it to make it look chic and modern).

Guest List: Needs Some Trimming

Limit the number of guests to a minimum and expect big savings on your wedding budget. With fewer guests, you will need a smaller reception area, less food and drink, smaller wedding cake, and lesser invitations. Make this an intimate gathering between you, your partner and the closest people in your lives.

Invitations and Decorations: Turn them into DIY Projects

With the computer and Internet technology that we have today, making an invitation does not need the hands of a professional anymore. This is especially true if the bride and groom are crafty ones. Sure enough, anyone can whip up beautiful, creative, and personalized invitations and decorations.

Buffet instead of a Formal Sit-Down Meal

To save money on the food and drinks, consider having a buffet style meal instead of a formal sit-down dinner. A formal sit-down meal is more expensive because of the extra staff that would plate and serve the meals.

Have a Wedding Tower of Cupcakes

A wedding tower made of sumptuous and alluring cupcakes can be a better option than the usual tiered wedding cake. With this, you can enjoy a wedding cake for a lesser cost without sacrificing beauty, quality and taste.

Capture the Moments for a Smaller Tag Price

To minimize the cost, one thing you can do is to hire a service-only photographer and videographer who will be there during the event to capture priceless moments but will leave the printing of the photos or editing of the video to your hands. Again, with the modern technology of today, this can be a piece of cake.

Another way to cut down the expenses is to have disposable cameras spread on your guest tables for them to use to catch candid moments during the event. You can also have a trusted friend or family member take video shots of the wedding.

Wedding on a shoestring budget is not in any way less special than an extravagant wedding. After all, what is important is not the event itself but the journey that you and your spouse will be sharing together for the rest of your lives.

Filed Under: Plan The Wedding, Tips & Ideas Tagged With: budget weddings, wedding on shoestring budget

Bridesmaids And Groomsmen Gifts As Tokens of Appreciation

September 7, 2009 By Jennifer Leave a Comment

honeymoon2 It’s your wedding and you feel that you and your spouse are all left alone to face the enormous task of organizing the wedding. Well, you’re not really alone since you have those friends to back you up and guide you every step of the way.

There is absolutely more to a wedding than dressing up to the nines, posing for pictures, rubbing elbows with familiar and unfamiliar faces, eating, drinking, dancing and merrymaking. Marriage is first and foremost the union of two souls so it means it is something sacred, something divinely-inspired. It is a kind of event where every detail is carefully planned because such celebration takes place once in a lifetime.

There will we be people who will be assisting the groom and the bride in the over-all wedding preparations. There will be their respective parents and siblings to assist them as they go along with making plenty of decision regarding the budget, the reception, the food, the decorations, the wedding motif and so many other things that spell wedding. Of course, along with the groom and the bride’s respective families are their friends. They, too have special roles to fill in. From the groom and the bride’s circle of friends, they will select a few who will work closely with them in organizing a dream wedding, and those gathered friends will temporarily be rendered the job title of bridesmaids and groomsmen.

The bridesmaids and groomsmen have very special roles in their friends’ wedding. They will shoulder some responsibilities in the general pre and post wedding preparations. Take the bridesmaids for instance. They will aid the bride in hosting a bachelorette party and a bridal shower and in preparing for a rehearsal dinner.

wedding-t-shirt3 Groomsmen, on the other hand, will also coordinate with the groom in throwing a stag party and in making reservations at hotels or club houses and restaurants. Both the bridesmaids and groomsmen will devote their time, energy and talents and skills in their friends’ wedding. There will also be instances where they will be obliged to spend on behalf of the couple-to-be.

See the apparent significance of the bridesmaids and groomsmen? These people are also as busy as the pair getting married, but for friendship’s sake they will generously offer their time and efforts just to ensure a successful wedding for their friends who are tying the knot.

It is just right that the bride and the groom must show their earnest appreciation for their friends’ acts of love, so to speak that wedding favors would not be enough. Special gifts for the bridesmaids and groomsmen are just proper, and will make them feel that their hardships and efforts are acknowledged and deeply appreciated.

Even though the bridesmaids and groomsmen not really anticipating to be rewarded or are expecting any gestures that would compensate for their contributions to the wedding (since they did everything out of pure, sincere support), it is still wonderful to give them something that would remind them of their valuable support.

Filed Under: Bridesmaid Gifts, Gifts, Groomsmen Gifts, Reception & Ceremony Tagged With: Bridesmaid Gifts, Groomsmen Gifts

Add Wedding Elegance For Less With These Fabrics

September 7, 2009 By Jennifer Leave a Comment

Selecting the right fabric for wedding decorations adds elegance to the event for less. Even the most budget-conscious brides can find fabric for wedding decorations to make their own unique creations to celebrate the day. From cost-effective weaves to costly fabrics, you can create a magical mood with material.

Fabric for wedding decorations should make your theme and accessories. You will need a bridal runner for that famous walk down the aisle. Select a durable runner made from rayon or nylon with a rubber back to avoid slipping. Avoid plastic runners that may rip under high-heeled shoes.

Ribbons are the basic element of most wedding decorations. Large ribbons are used to mark chairs and pew, medium ribbons to decoration railings and small ribbons tie wedding favor bags and bouquets. Wedding ribbons are made in a variety of fabrics, colors and styles. Wire ribbons hold their shape for floral arrangements. Bridal bouquets are luxurious with silk ribbons. Satin ribbons create traditional decorations for your wedding. Dramatic tulle ribbons make outstanding chair and pew markers. Other ribbon materials include tartan, chiffon, velvet and gingham.

Tulle is a frequently used fabric for wedding decorations because of its versatile, hexagonal weave that won’t fray when cut. Purchase a roll of tulle to mark chairs and pews, decorate ceilings and walls and even cut down into small squares to wrap wedding favors then tie at the top with a small ribbon. Brides even use tulle as a bridal train or to puff out the bridal gown skirt.

Silk flowers are a lasting way to decoration your wedding with flowers. Have your flower girl throw silk rose petals down the aisle to announce the arrival of the bride. Another popular fabric for wedding decorations is linen, which is perfect at formal parties for tablecloths and covering chairs and is less costly than silk. Affordable materials to use for tablecloths and chair coverings including cotton, polyester, organza and lame. Lame has silver or gold threads to add a gossamer metallic glimmer to any area.

Lace is used for a variety of wedding decorations, the bridal gown and can even be copied on the wedding cake icing. Paper streamers and bells are an affordable way to fill in every corner at your wedding ceremony and reception.

Fabric for wedding decorations may be pricey or affordable, based on your budget. With a bit of creativity, you can use almost any material to create magic on your special day.

Filed Under: Reception & Ceremony Tagged With: fabrics for decoration

How Do We Word The Wedding Invitation To Invite Guests After The Dinner? – Ask The Expert Answer

September 1, 2009 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Peggy:

Due to finances, my fiancee and I are forced to just invite our very immediate family to our wedding. My fiancee is very well known in the community and many people were wanting to attend. We decided that we could just invite the friends and co-workers to the reception afterward. How do we word the invitation so that they don’t feel that they have been slighted by not being invited to the wedding as well as the invitation.

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Peggy and congratulations on your upcoming wedding. Balancing the budget is the biggest challenge couples have when planning their wedding. Unfortunately, inviting people to only 1/2 of your reception is considered very bad etiquette. You can have a closed ceremony and an open reception, or a open ceremony and a closed reception. That is acceptable.

To do that, everyone would receive an invitation to the wedding ceremony, for example, and then a separate reception card would be inserted into those invitations for those invited to the reception. You never invite people to come ‘after the meal’ to a reception. It is in very bad taste.

Because of the cost of a sit down dinner, many couples choose to have a different kind of wedding reception—there are 7 different choices for receptions after all. The sit-down dinner is just one of the seven, and the most costly option.

Your choices are:

1. early morning ceremony, followed by a breakfast reception (9 am to 11 am)

2. morning ceremony, followed by a luncheon reception (11 am to 2 pm)

3. morning ceremony, followed by a brunch reception (10 am to 3 pm)

4. early afternoon ceremony, followed by a ‘high tea’ or tea reception (3 pm to 5 pm)

For the morning and early afternoon weddings, think an art gallery, roof top terrace, formal gardens, historical building/museum for location. Jazz quartet, classical music, world music all lend themselves well to these types of reception. Yes you can have a DJ and dancing, if you like, or have the reception in a hotel. But, often, couples who choose a reception like these ones, choose unique locations to make the wedding memorable.

5. afternoon ceremony, followed by a cocktail reception (5 pm to 7 pm)

6. afternoon ceremony, followed by a dinner reception (6 pm to 9 pm)

7. evening ceremony, followed by a cake and champagne reception (or dessert reception) (9 pm to midnight)

For the afternoon and evening weddings, the above locations would also work, and so would your more traditional hotel type reception locations.

It is considered acceptable to have a private dinner with family before a evening reception, but the dinner is NOT held at the same location (room) as the reception. The reception location is for the reception. Private dinners are often held in a restaurant, or a separate, smaller banquet room at the same hotel. Normally, the dinner is held before the ceremony, but, on occassion the dinner is held between the ceremony and reception, but remember, expecting your wedding guests to wait for hours between the ceremony and the reception is poor etiquette. Any speeches, garter toss, etc. will be reserved for the reception proper. If you are planning this option, it is best to do the formal photography before the ceremony (a common, modern practice). Often there is a ‘moment’ planned, where the bride and groom meet for the first time that day, before the photo shoot begins.

An evening wedding (say at 7pm), followed by a dessert reception with cake and champagne, or even hors d’ouevres is a great option. It is common to have a dance band, and the room is usually set as for a cocktail reception. Ask at your reception venue for how they handle the various types of receptions. They have held many of them, and know the best ways to make them work for you. They are your ‘expert’, so use their expertise.

Remember, that whatever type of wedding reception you choose, it needs to be specified on your wedding invitation. Where it says ‘reception to follow’, always state what kind of reception will follow so your guests know what to expect.

If you have further questions, feel free to ask.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Ideas, Invitations, Planning, Reception

How Do I Decorate My Wedding? – Ask The Expert Answer

August 31, 2009 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Rochelle:

Hi. I’m getting married in Dec 2009 and wanted your advice on what theme is best with fuschia and off white. We are thinking of having orchids. The groomsmen will wear white shirts with fuschia cravats and the bridesmaids will be in short fuschia dresses with a white border. Should I have silver instead of white? How do I dress the tables? I need ideas on what to have as a centerpiece? Thanks

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Rochelle, and congratuations on your upcoming wedding. Fushia and white sound like a great colour combination. You could go with silver, but many silver colours look like grey, so it would depend upon what silver you chose.

As for what theme, you could just have a colour theme of fushia and white. Your choice of theme is usually generic, or specific. Generic themes are like a colour theme, or you could also have an orchid theme. If you wanted to have a specific theme, usually couples choose a wedding theme that reflects their interests and personality.

Wedding table decorations are usually flowers, candles, sand, water, or food, in various combinations. A lot depends upon how formal a wedding you are having, and what feel you are going for. Tables can be dressed is lace overlays, table runners, table squares, etc. Have you asked your reception site what they have available? Most reception sites have a variety of choices for you to choose from, and for a cost, can bring in unique items based on your budget.

If you look at all the categories on your right as you scroll down, you will see many posts talking about this subject, where you can get more ideas. The shopping items at the top right also have lots of great ideas. Check them out. If you have further questions, feel free to ask.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colours, Decorations, Reception, Themes

How Do I WOW My Guests On A Limited Budget? – Ask The Wedding Expert Answer

July 30, 2009 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Karen:

Hi, I’m getting married on 27febuary 2010 in a nice beach hotel in Mexico. Is going to be an outdoor wedding but not in the sand. I’m looking for a wedding theme (unexpensive) but with a look of luxury. I really love beach weddings but I don’t like the typical shells decor… what other options you recommend for decorating it?

It is going to be at night with a forward view of the beach. I’ll love to have something that really wows people without expending a lot of money. The hotel offers me white or beige table linens with golden chairs and that’s it. Thanks.

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Karen, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding. I, personally, love destination weddings, but they DO have the side effect of limited choices in linens and decorations.

My first thought is to explore the option of a flower theme. Flowers are much less expensive in Mexico (and other Carribean countries) than other places in North America, and they do give the feel of luxury. Explore your flower options, and see what you can arrange. With flowers that you can get there, you won’t have to bring so many things along with you to create the look that you want.

Ask your hotel what colour napkins they have available. Also ask them if they have table runners. If they have coloured napkins, you can use one napkin on the centre of each table as a table square to give yourself some colour.

Basically you have white, beige and gold for your colour choices. I’m not sure how "yellow" your gold chairs are, but let’s assume they are yellowy. Both white and beige are neutral, so let’s concentate on the fact that you might have ‘yellow" in your decor.

As you can see from this photo, that white on white can look very spectacular with a nice pop of colour. So if you have the choice of white linens, and white napkins, your ‘gold’ chairs with flowers in yellow, violet, purple, and pink could be very beautiful.

You could go with blue, yellow, and melon as another colour option. This video I made on wedding colour ideas will help you with what other colours go well together.

Because your decoration choices are limited by cost and the hassle of bringing it to Mexico, you might consider some sinamay mesh or tulle which is really a net fabric and quite light to transport. You can use these fabrics to accent the head table or to add colour into your decor.

Once you choose your colours, consider unique wedding favours to make a statement. They can reflect your personality as a couple, and there are many great destination wedding themed wedding favours that don’t have the tradition sea shells. I was at a destination wedding where all the guests were given small photo album wedding favours that allowed us to put our photos of the wedding and the trip. It is a great keepsake that I keep on my fireplace mantel.

Once you have decided on your colours and overall decor, it is important to find a wedding invitation to reflect your overall theme and look. Whether you choose the destination wedding type invitations or go more subtle with a colour themed wedding invitation, you are sure to find something here.

I made this video on how to create a wow factor for your wedding which might give you some ideas.

Good luck, and if you have further questions, feel free to email again.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Beach Wedding Favours, Beach Weddings, Colour themed, Colours, Decorations, Ideas, Invitations, Invitations, Themes, Wedding Favours

How Can I Dress Up Our Reception Site? – Ask The Expert Answer

July 15, 2009 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Shalindra:

Hi! The reception hall we’ve chosen is one that hosts 300 people, at a hotel and has a high roof. It’s rectangular in shape with 10 foot corridors on the lengths, white walls and a dark parquet floor. The walls between the corridors and the hall have arched opennings. I’m trying to think of what kinda lighting we should use to really bring out a sorta fairytale effect in this place. I’m guessing white lights should do the trick. But, how and where should I use them? What’s your opinion? Help!

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

"Fairy" lights help make a fairytale effect. These are your basic light garlands, which are very effective when entwined with tulle or mesh. Imagine them outlining the arches—stunning. Or light garlands entwinned with tulle draping your headtable.

Check with your reception site to see whether you can attach things to walls or not. Most places have restrictions.

If you are planning elaborate decorations for your wedding site, I suggest you hire a wedding planner or interior designer for the day to "dress" your reception room. It will save you the work (you have more important things to do on your wedding day), and ensure you have a great design. For the few hundred dollars it will cost to hire something, it will be SO much easier. Remember, whatever goes up, has to come down after the wedding, and someone has to do that also.

Wedding supply companies have trellises, archways, portable fountains and MANY other props to dress a room, so a lot depends upon your budget. Check them out to see what is available in your area.

Honestly, your room sounds very beautiful already. I don’t know how much extra stuff you need to do to make it beautiful. Have you seen the lighting that already exists there? Have you seen the room dressed for a function, with the lights softly glowing? It might be fine the way it is. Ask your reception site for ideas—they have seen MANY functions in their space, knows what works, and can advise you best.

Good luck, and if you have further questions, feel free to email.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Decorations, Ideas, Planning, Reception, Wedding Reception Themes

How Do I Create A Medieval Wedding Theme? – Ask The Expert Answer

April 19, 2009 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Sanja:

We are having a medieval themed wedding being held in a restored theatre. We want to make this a full on production. I am doing all the planning/catering
myself. After the wedding a light finger food buffet will follow in the lounge area of the theatre. As this is our second time we are on a tight budget. I can’t find favours or decorating ideas. There are only so many things you can do with a family coat of arms or crest. Any ideas would be so appreciated. Cheers!

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Sanja, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding. In the wedding world, many medieval things are classified as celtic or claddaugh. This article on medieval weddings has some great ideas. Another way to search for medieval things is to search for castle wedding favours and decorations. These are often listed under "fairytale".

There are many medieval websites on-line where you can purchase crests, armour, swords and the like. Not the most conducive to a wedding! Consider lots of large, chunky candles, mixed with long tapered candles to create the ambience you are looking for.

I suggest you watch a medieval movie like The Name of The Rose, or some other one, and look at the decor. Tapestries on the stone walls where common. Candles were common. Everything was wood or stone. Food was simple. No one used utensils to eat, but ate with their fingers. Clothing, of course, is the way to really show your theme. Then, medieval music will also lend an authentic atmosphere to your wedding.

The Society of Creative Anachronism, Inc. is the organization that is keeping the medieval alive, so you may want to Google them. You are sure to find more ideas on their website.

Good luck and if you have further questions, feel free to email.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Ideas, Irish or Claddaugh, Medieval Theme Weddings

Church wedding decorations – what you need to know

March 25, 2009 By Nicole Leave a Comment

Churches, by themselves, are already beautiful buildings both inside and out. Old churches with architecture of historical value and excellent acoustics would have completed half the church wedding decorations effort needed for the ceremony. The most important thing to remember is, first and foremost, to obtain the permission of the vicar before contracting the services of a decorator (or buying the resources if you intend to do it yourself). As churches are places of worship, permission will usually be granted for minimal décor, with the exclusion of several sections like the altar, side chapel and areas around statues. Take note of these areas to be excluded from any form of ornamentation as you will have to explain them in detail to your decorator. In fact, upon exclusion of these sectors, you may find that it may be quite unnecessary to hire one, particularly if the church is not a big one.

The next thing to do is to "measure" the space that is available for decoration. This is where your wedding guest list comes into importance. By now, you should be able to have a rough idea of the attendees. The estimated number of guests will help you to decide just how many pews to decorate and which parts of the church you will wish to make accessible to them. Some couples prefer a cozy ceremony and thus, will block off the second half or up to two thirds of the church. Methods of blocking off the sections are varied. Some decorators use white or colored (depending on the theme of the wedding) bows may be used to indicate pews to be used to seat guests. Others make garlands of flowers or buy a delicate string of white or silver tinsel to tie along the aisle to block the entrance to blocked-off pews. Whatever you use to block off these sections, make sure they are not misleading to your guests so they will not have to bear the embarrassment of sitting in the "wrong" seats.

Marking the pews is optional but a good idea to do at your wedding – depending on how many VIPs you will be inviting. Decorating the pews with different colored bows, ribbons, lace or flowers is one way of ensuring that the correct guests are seated where they should be. Some groups of segregation are Family (immediate) and Close Friends (first few pews), followed by Relatives, Colleagues and Others with the optional VIP pew somewhere between Immediate Family and Relatives.

Having ushers to seat your guests would be ideal as long as they themselves are clear on the seating arrangements.

The choice of flowers used for decoration may be themed – some decorators use the same kind flowers that the bride and her entourage will be carrying, albeit in different colors (roses, carnations, orchids) while others use the same main color but in a myriad of flowers (yellow, red, pink). And even others will use just about every single flower there is available at the florist, creating a slightly looser, more bohemian look to the event.

Main areas for decoration are the entrance, mid way through the aisle and the altar. While the altar is usually an off-limits area, a floral arrangement adorned in lace is usually allowed. And as most of your wedding photographs and footage will include the altar, it will be wise to ensure that the altar boasts of a big floral arrangement that is as eye-catching as it is awesome. As for the entrance, an arch full of flowers, ribbons and balloons may be used with some decorators even inscribing phrases of love like "Me & You" or "Love" on it. Halfway up the aisle, a smaller arch can be erected similarly decorated but on a more muted scale. The number of arches to have along the aisle is your choice – just remember, more arches mean more decorations and a bigger budget.

If you are having flower girls carrying baskets of flower petals, be sure to have those baskets decorated with a little bow or lace matching to the rest of the materials used in the ceremony.

Other areas to decorate may include the registration table where the couple will be signing their marriage certificates. Some churches will do this after the ceremony in which case, decorations may not be necessary. Otherwise, a basket of "happy" flowers like lilies and daisies will suffice.

No matter what the décor, it is best to choose the type of décor that will match the church’s architecture and culture. An ultra-conservative congregation, for example, may find arches constructed along the aisle a little too overwhelming. Whichever your choice, remember that every décor works best when it blends in with its surroundings.

Filed Under: Ceremony, Decorations, Planning, Weddings Canada

What Is The Average Cost of A Wedding? – Ask The Expert Answer

January 29, 2009 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Dave:

i am wondering what the average cost of a wedding is these days and what one should budget for if they are planing a church wedding, with reception at
one of the major hotels in edmonton such as the Greenwood in Ramada south Edmonton or the Marriot river cree resort. This will include chair coverings center pieces buffet dinner at $40.00 a plate for about 80 people. oh 1 maid of honor and 3 brides maids.

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Dave, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding. The average cost of a wedding in Canada in 2007 was $18,500, but does range from $10,000 to over $30,000. It is impossible to answer your question without knowing the taste of the couple, and what they feel comfortable spending.

For example, a wedding dress can cost $500 or $5,000. All churches charge different rates for their services. Are you having live music, or a DJ. All these things will affect the cost. How much will you spend on rings thousands, or ten thousands?

For a breakdown on AVERAGE wedding costs, check out this list. Remember that people with a larger budget, still spend roughly the same % on the differernt aspects of the wedding. Based on the average Canadian wedding last year:

Invitations 2% of $18,500 = $370

Limo 1% of $18,500 = $185

Video 5% of $18,500 = $925

Photography 8% of $18,500 = $1,480

Reception/Catering 42% of $18,500 = $7,700

Cake 3% of $18,500 = $555

Flowers 5% of $18,500 = $925

Ceremony 3% of $18,500 = $555

Music 3% of $18,500 = $555

Rings 20% of $18,500 = $3,700

Apparel 7% of $18,500 = $1,295

Miscellaneous 4% of $18,500 = $740

It is best to negotiate your wedding reception with the catering department of the hotels you are interested in. See what they will throw in, for example, they might let you use decorations, archways, etc. at no extra cost if they are hungry enough for your business. Can you bring in your own alcohol? If so, what extra charges will they tack on for "corkage"? If it is cheaper, who will look after it? Will that cost anything?

There are many things to consider when planning your wedding, and a wide range of services and costs to choose from. Enjoy the process!

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Planning, Reception

How Do I Create A Wedding Garden Theme? – Ask The Expert Answer

January 20, 2009 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Pat:

My daughter is getting married in August and although the wedding and reception are taking place indoors, she wants to have a "garden" theme. How can we decorate to make the venue look more like a garden without breaking our budget? The venue is a community hall so it’s not very fancy.

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Pat. A garden theme gives you many options in decorating. Think of a garden and what do you think of? I think of a trellis covered in vines and flowers , an archway covered with flowers and foliage, large pots of plants, topiary’s, watering cans, patio furniture, benches, and of course, flowers, flowers and more flowers.

Many of these items you might already have, and some you can purchase quite inexpensively. Trellis is not expensive. Fake topiary’s are available in large stores like Walmart quite inexpensively. Your local dollar store is a great source of vines and flowers for archways and trellis’s.

If you want real flowers, I suggest you enlist family and friends to provide fresh flowers from their gardens. Asking them now for their help and support allows them to plan the planting of great blooming summer flowers like: daisies, petunias, lobelia, dahlias, mini roses, turtles head, black eyed susan vine, honeysuckle vine, morning glories, and geraniums to name just a few. Of course, this depends upon where you live, so check with your local nursery. The major mail order flower catalogues will tell you the best summer blooming flowers for you area.

If you have some topiaries, for example, flanking the head table, you can accent them with "uplights" which can be purchased for around $10 each. The uplights could be placed behind them, illuminating the trees from behind. These lights can later be used in the couple’s home to accent dark corners and add ambience to a space.

Because using fresh flowers can be work intensive, I suggest you plan for three or four aunts, cousins, or friends who are not directly involved in the wedding to take over the flower decorations. I’m sure you have someone in the family group who would be perfect for the job. Make sure that there are thanks and accolates acknowledging the contribution of everyone who helps with the flowers—-growing or decorating. Small gifts of thanks would be appropriate.

I don’t know if the wedding favours have been chosen yet, but these great summer wedding favours can continue the garden theme on every table. You can get some great ideas for decorating here. The biggest decorating tip I can give you is lighting. Lighting can take a sterile room, and used right, can create drama and feeling you are looking for. Keep overhead lights low, and use accent lighting to create a statement.

If you have any other questions, or comments, please enter them below, and I will respond.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask the Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Decorations, Ideas, Reception, Seasonal Favours, Tips & Advice, Wedding Favours

Wedding Colours – How Do You Put A Look Together From A Bridal Bouquet? – Ask The Expert Answer

December 19, 2008 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Bailey:

I have fallen in love with the bouquet that was on the front of real weddings a couple of months back. I know its probably not the best idea to base the wedding around that bouquet, but I love it!! It was purples, blues, oranges and maybe some blue. I really love the pomegranate colour for my bridesmaids and I want to have a plain strapless dress with a cathedral veil and a pomegranate sash. Do these colours work together? What could I use as an accent colour for the bridesmaids? What are some centre piece ideas? and with this colour, what time of year should I have the wedding?? Thanks a bunch!!

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Bailey, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding. Let’s start with your colour choices. Red-orange (pomegranate) and blue-green are complimentary colours (opposite each other on the colour wheel). Hence, they go well together. Blues and Purple are harmonious colours (next to each other on the colour wheel) and look wonderful together. I would suggest punches of pomegranate coloured flowers with your blues and purples in your bouquet. This combination of blue, purple and pomegranate could then move into your total colour scheme for the wedding. Your bridesmaids could have accent colours of blue and purple with the pomogranate. I would suggest using both those colours (blue and purple) as opposed to only one of the colours, as it will have a more put together look, based on your bouquet. Wedding table centrepieces would benefit from all three colours also.

I saw that bouquet you mentioned, and it is very beautiful, so I am not surprised at your desire to have it for your wedding. I would suggest you visit your florist with the picture of the bouquet, and find out what flowers they can use that match those colour tones. You might find alternative flowers that are just as beautiful as those flowers, at a less costly price. Then you need to ask the florist when those flowers you choose are in-season. In-season flowers are cheaper than bringing in out-of-season flowers, so depending upon your flower choices and your budget, that should decide the seaons for you. The colours you are interested in are perfect for any season.

A plain strapless wedding dress with a cathedral veil and pomegranate sash sounds beautiful. When you are going for simple elegance in your wedding dress, I would suggest dressing it up with a pearl necklace, and possibly a tiara to contribute to an overall look of elegance. If a wedding dress is more elaborate, then the jewellery needs to be more simple.

There are many ways to go when coming up with centrepiece ideas—-almost all of them depend upon your budget. Flowers are an obvious choice, and can be in a single vase, floating in water with candles or clustered in a multitude of vases destined for each guest. If you want to move away from the obvious, I saw a gorgeous centrepiece made with dead branches, painted white, and strung with faux crystals and ribbons in the wedding colours. There are so many choices, and they are limited only by your imagination. Have you looked at all the choices you have for wedding decorations?

Depending upon the wedding favours that you choose, that too can make a statement in your decor without the need to purchase other decorations. For example, the bride and groom wine bottle stoppers are a whimsical touch, and having your wine grouped in the centre of the table with these bottle stoppers would make a great centrepiece. The bottle stoppers can then be given away to the guests through a simple "game" like which couple at the table have been married the longest. Looking through the wedding favours will give you more ideas of what you can do to decorate your tables.

If you have any other questions, feel free to email again.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colour themed, Reception Centerpiece Ideas, Wedding and Bridesmaid Dresses

How To Plan A Wedding On A Budget? – Ask The Expert Answer

November 16, 2008 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Anna Lisa:

Hi. My name is Anna Lisa, and I am 28 years old . My wedding date is for 2-14-10. But I want to get a nice start so I’m not going crazy and before I know it my wedding date will be here ( we are shotting for this date ). I need help because I have no idea how to plan a wedding or where to start and I have a budget of $10,000 for about 150 people. Can you please help me ??????? I want it to be nice and special because I only plan on walking down the aisle once.

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

How wise you are to start early! Congratulations on both your upcoming wedding and your wisdom in doing this right. I would suggest you review the Ask The Expert posts to get an idea of the issues other brides have, so you can avoid them yourself.

There are many books in your local library on planning a wedding, as well as online. The internet has many websites with wedding planning checklists. If you scroll down the My Dream Wedding homepage, on the right you will find Wedding Categories, including wedding planning, where you can find a lot of information.

You will want to think about your wedding theme, whether you want an elegant or casual affair, and where you would like to hold it. Think about wedding decorations, wedding favours, and wedding colours. Shop around for what is available BEFORE making up your mind. The perfect wedding cake topper might suggest your wedding theme and colours, or the perfect wedding favour suggest a theme.

The average wedding in Canada (2007) costs approximately $18,000 according to a recent study. Reception/Catering is the largest part of the budget (48%), so you may want to think of less expensive alternatives in this area as well as other areas of your wedding plan. For example, if someone is a great baker in your family, ask them to make the wedding cake. You will still pay them, but a lot less than a professional caterer or baker for the cake.

A breakdown of average wedding costs is as follows: Stationary (invitations, thank you notes, guest book, postage) 3%, Apparel for both bride and groom 10%, Rings 3%, Music 8%, Ceremony 3%, Flowers 8%, Reception (catering, cake, wedding favours, etc.) 48%, Photography and Videography 12%, Transportation (wedding party, guest shuttle, etc.) 2%, Gifts (bridal party, parents, out-of-town guests, spouse) 3%. You will find different percentages in different sources, but these will give you a rough idea of what you should be spending.

For every % in save in one place, you will be able to spend it somewhere else and give yourself the extras you really want. With the trend towards eco-friendly weddings, reusing a family member’s wedding gown has become all the rage—your only cost is for alterations. I have seen some reused wedding gowns that have had lavish embellishments so you wouldn’t even know it was someone else’s gown. Sometimes family traditions have the daughter revamping the mothers gown.

Another cost saving meaure is to rent the gown along with the tuxedo rentals. This is much more common than most people realize. You are lucky. You have time to plan and look for what suits you best. Pick up some bridal magazines, and look through them. They are full of ideas, suggestions and lists to help you plan the perfect wedding.

If you have any other questions along the way, feel free to email me again. Good luck and enjoy!

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Decorations, Decorations, Planning, Themes, Wedding Favours

How Do I Plan A Wedding Reception on a Small Budget? – Ask The Expert Answer

August 15, 2008 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Leigh:

My husband and I married each other on July 28, 2008. My mother in-law is pretty upset about it because we did not have a wedding. Now, we did not have a wedding because we can not afford one. We have express this to the family. A family member has offered their back yard to us to host some sort of celebration. I have no clue what I am supose to do. What inviations am I to send out, what shouild it say? Am I suppose to register some place? How am I suppose to decorate the back yard. It needs some work? I am stressed.

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

The most difficult thing about marriage is not the spouse, but the family stuff that comes with the spouse!

With cost being the main issue, I would suggest a simple reception. Treat it like you would a backyard BBQ or other type of gathering of friends and family. Firstly, establish a budget that both your and your husband agree upon. Then go from there. You will need food, decorations, music, seating, and tables at the very least. If a sit-down dinner is too expensive, plan for an afternoon cocktail reception. Then you only need appetizers and drinks. Decide if it will be a formal event, or a casual event. If it is a casual event, a BBQ might be the perfect solution. If it is a formal event, a cocktail reception would be most cost effective.

You have a number of options: 1) don’t have a reception; 2) plan a reception you and your spouse agree on; or 3) (and I say this with trepidation) involve your mother-in-law in the planning of the reception. This last suggestion may be difficult, but if you share with her the budget and what things cost as you are planning the wedding, she may back down from her unrealistic expectations—or maybe she will offer to pay for those things you can’t do on your budget. If you approach it in the right way, you may find a way to bond together as a family. Of course this depends upon the personalities involved, but you could try it. Be calm, cool, and responsible with the budget. Your mother-in-law will (hopefully) come to respect your realistic approach. Make the planning process enjoyable—smile, make jokes, get her in synch with you and your husband.

I must say that if you are going to do this, your husband needs to be at each planning meeting, and needs to be involved in the planning of the reception—after all it is HIS mother.

Since you are doing this to appease the family, I would suggest you discuss with them (or your mother-in-law) exactly what she thinks you should do for a reception. Can you imagine having a reception, and then have your mother-in-law still upset because it wasn’t what she thought it should be?!? Ask her what her wedding reception was like—it will give you an idea of where she is coming from emotionally about this issue.

As for invitations, check out some of the wedding invitation wording on these posts. If you are paying for the reception you would say "Mr. and Mrs. your name" request the pleasure of your company at a "choose one – cocktail reception, wedding reception, etc" to celebrate the recent marriage of "husband’s first name", son of "his parents name" to "wife’s first name" daughter of "her parents name". Reception will be held….date, time, place…. RSVP.

You say the yard needs some work. I would suggest that you figure out what needs to be done to the yard, and then have a "wedding clean up" of the yard. Invite family and friends to come and help get the yard ready. Instead of planting flowers or doing permanent things to liven it up, get some plant pots with blooming flowers and line the yard. Or, if friends and family have lots of flowers in their gardens, plan to get vases of flowers placed around the yard. Be creative with your ideas. Ask family for their input.

It is a tradition in some parts of the country to have a "wedding social" when one cannot afford to pay for a wedding. At these events, the couple books the hall, caterers, music, etc., figures out the cost per guest (usually around $15) and sells tickets. Alcohol is served at a "cash bar" meaning the guests pay for their drinks. You would make tickets the size of a business card (can be made on your computer) that says:

You are invited to a

WEDDING SOCIAL

in honour of Mr. and Mrs. Name

at Place, Date, Time.

Cash Bar in one bottom corner. Ticket price in another bottom corner.

It is common for 30% of your guest list not to come (although they may buy a ticket anyway). Only about 1/2 the guests give gifts at a Wedding Social. It is important to thank everyone who brings a gift with a personalized thank you card.

Yes you can do the bridal registry thing. It is not proper etiquette to put the bridal registry on the wedding invitation. Instead you would let your family know and if guests ask about gifts, they will then be told which registries you are registered with.

You and your husband would wear your "wedding clothes" for the reception, and have a receiving line to welcome guests to the party. A lot of what you decide will depend upon how formal or casual your event will be. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me again. Good Luck! and enjoy the process. These are memories you are creating.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Ideas, Invitations, Invitations, Planning, Reception

How Do I Plan My Wedding? – Ask The Expert Answer

August 8, 2008 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Keneuwe:

I just want you to give me any advice especialy how to prepare my wedding cause i dont have a clue!!!

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Keneuwe. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. I suggest that get yourself a wedding planning guide. There are many thing to consider when planning a wedding. There is wedding planning software which will help you plan and budget your wedding properly. Another option is to do a internet search on a wedding planning checklist, or get a book on wedding planning from your local library. Reading through the Ask The Expert blog will give you lots of ideas as well as insights into the problems other brides have faced.

A wedding includes booking the reception hall, the church, the caterers, the photographer, the music, the limo/car service, and the florist to name a few. In addition, you need to decide your wedding theme, choose ceremony and reception decorations, wedding invitations, wedding cake toppers, and, of course, wedding favours.

There is a lot involved in planning a wedding, and the sooner you start the better. It is easy to find yourself with too much to do right before the wedding. Good luck, and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Cake Toppers, Decorations, Planning, Wedding Favours, Wedding Reception Themes

What Can I Use As Accents For My Wedding Decor? – Ask The Expert Answer

July 26, 2008 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Tanya:

The theme of my wedding is reflections of love. Tell me what could I use as my accents for my decor at the reception site. (like) things to put on my tables to have them stand out but to also be reasonable as far as our budget.

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Tanya. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. If you follow this link to wedding decorations, you will find a large variety of items to choose from for both wedding receptions and wedding ceremonies.

No knowing your colour scheme, budget or how many you need makes making specific recommendations difficult.

If you go to the mydreamwedding homepage, and scroll down, you will find Wedding Categories on the right side of the screen. Here you can check out Reception Centrepiece Ideas, and Wedding Table Decorations to get ideas for your wedding. You can also check out the Wedding Theme products like Classic Double Heart, Flower of Love, Romantic Vintage, or Fairytale Dreams. Because all weddings are about love, browse through the many collections and you will find unique ideas to make your wedding special.

Once you have explored these options, and if you still have questions, feel free to email me again. Congratulations and enjoy the wedding planning.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Decorations, Decorations, Fairy Tale, Ideas, Planning, Reception, Reception Centerpiece Ideas, Supplies, Unique Wedding Reception Themes, Wedding Reception Themes, Wedding Table Decorations, Wedding Theme Collections by Weddingstar

Example of Wedding Decorations at Receptions

July 21, 2008 By Nicole Leave a Comment

When we talk about an example of wedding decorations at receptions on your big day, it is easier than you may think to make it count on your big day. Regardless of budget or venue, creatively themed wedding decorations can transform a simple location into a complete fantasy world.

An affordable example of wedding decorations at receptions including simple paper accessories. Paper is one of the cheapest ways to add color and design to any location. Whether you have a princess wedding or a casual outdoor ceremony, paper streamers transform the ordinary into extraordinary. Hang up puffed paper wedding bells to celebrate the essence of your love everywhere your guests look. Paper flowers sprayed with essential oils add fragrance and beauty without the expense of a florist or creating silk arrangements.

Silk is another way to create the best example of wedding decorations at receptions. If you have a more generous budget for your wedding decorations, add the elegance of silk. Mark or cover your chairs with soft silk. Have the flower girl toss silk petals out to announce the arrival of the bride. Use a flower girl basket that matches the theme of your wedding, such as butterflies or Celtic. Have a dramatic nylon or rayon runner for the bride to take her trademark walk. The runner should have a rubber backing to avoid embarrassing slippage.

Covering chairs is a cost-effective way to beautify your wedding ceremony and reception locations. Use linen, organza or other fabrics to cover or mark chairs. If you have a church wedding, get a roll of tulle and satin ribbon to create bows for pew markers. Extra tulle and ribbon can be used to wrap wedding favors. Large strips over doors and window create a magical effect.

Theming is a key way to attain the best example of wedding decorations at receptions for your party. If you really want to wow your guests, include your wedding theme in every element of your day. Your invitations, ceremony accessories, reception decorations, wedding favors and thank you cards should all reflect the unique theme of your day for a uniform, professional feel. If you decide to have a western wedding, everyone will know by the cowboy hats on all your accessories. Having a theme also puts your guests in the mood to have a good time because they know the direction of the wedding reception.

Guest favors are also an example of wedding decorations at receptions. While your centerpieces are the focal point at the reception tables, everyone looks for a place card and a favor at their seat. Your place cards can double as guest favors when you use decorative place card holders. A silver plated fortune cookie holding an Asian themed place card is a lovely keepsake from an Oriental themed wedding. Using a vase filled with a single silk flower to hold a place card is also an attractive favor for your wedding guests. Include a disposable camera by each place setting so guests can take spontaneous pictures throughout your reception.

Your centerpieces should be eye-catching but not overwhelming. You want your guests to be able to see each other and talk without straining their necks to see around an oversized centerpiece. Dishes filled with candies, mint and nuts are a great accent at the center of your table. Flowers based on the wedding theme and season brings life to the center of your wedding reception tables. Use a square vases in different sizes filled with colorful water pearls and flowers for wedding reception centerpiece with interesting visual appeal.

Choose wedding reception accessories to match the theme of your day. Your photographs are fabulous when you use a matching toasting set, bridal garter, cake serving set and cake topper. Make sure to set up a table with a themed guest book and fancy pen so all your guests can write their names, addresses and a special sentiment. A guest book helps you write efficiently write your thank-you notes and becomes a treasured keepsake of your wedding day.

This is just an overall example of wedding decorations at receptions and how to create a mood that reflects your unique love. The right wedding decorations express your personalities and get your guests in the mood to celebrate your special day.

Filed Under: Accessories, Decorations, Reception, Themes, Wedding Favours

How To Create A Lavish Wedding on a Budget? – Ask The Expert Answer

June 23, 2008 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Amanda:

We are a fairly young couple getting married in two years, and we would love to have a lavish wedding, the only thing is we cannot afford anything too lavish. How can we have a really beautiful classic wedding whithout the price tag, and not looking cheap!?!?

Thanx!

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Amanda. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

The first thing to do is to define all those things you would like to have for your lavish wedding. Then, find ways to do them cheaper. Maybe friends can take part by doing some music, taking photos, etc. This would decrease those particular costs. For example, maybe just hire a professional photographer for the ceremony and offical photos, but have friends video, and take digital pictures at your reception.

At one wedding I attended, they had a friend video tape a personal wedding message from every person at the reception. It was great fun, and quite funny at times.

Maybe someone in the family has a nice classic car, or knows someone in your local classic car club, and would let you use their car as your wedding car. They could be your chauffeur. This could save the cost of a limousine.

There are many options and ways around spending money, but the first thing to do is to define what you want for your lavish wedding. The second is to find less expensive ways to create the same thing. You have a lot of time, so you can search out good deals, purchase used wedding tulle, etc.

Some reception halls have many beautiful decorations that are available for your use. Check around and see what you can find. Some wedding planners supply all the lavish decorations you desire, and it might be more feasible to hire a wedding planner than to purchase everything yourself. You will need to do some cost comparisons.

Good luck, and feel free to write again with any questions.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Ceremony, Decorations, Planning, Reception

Personalized Wedding Candle Favors that Do Double Duty as Table Accessories

June 8, 2008 By Jennifer Leave a Comment

When you are planning a wedding, especially the reception that follows the ceremony, it can be expensive but personalized wedding candle favors can do double duty as décor and take home gifts for your wedding guests. The nice thing about candle wedding favors is that they offer soft light, elegance and ambiance to the table décor at your wedding Choosing personalized wedding candle favors is easy, and your choices are endless. If you have a certain theme for your wedding, there are candle wedding favors available that will match or coordinate with your wedding theme.

Wedding receptions can be very expensive, and closer to your wedding day, as you are buying the final items for your reception, you will be looking for ways to cut costs – trust me on that point! No matter how much you budget for your wedding, you will cut it close or go over budget. Even a little detail such as a table candleholder that doubles as a cute wedding candle favor for your wedding guests will save you money. Think about it like this – you are having 200 guests at your wedding reception and you are looking at glass candleholders for each table that costs $20 each – that is a total of $400 for 20 tables. If you forego the $20 glass candle holders, and place a single personalized wedding candle favor (at a cost of $1.98 each) at the place setting of each wedding guest, you will have saved hundreds of dollars by making your candle favors work twice as hard for you!

Felt daisies, stunning orchids, wooden deck chairs, love set glass, cute frogs, hugs and kisses, snowflakes, sea animals, frosted glass flowers and miniature Asian lanterns are just a few of the candleholders you can choose to personalize. For an added pop of color, select colored votive candles that match your wedding colors, and perhaps choose a lovely soft scent like rain, lavender or vanilla for a very special touch. If you want something really opulent, consider the diamond shaped candle holders or battery operated flickering tea lights.

By using wedding stickers or favor cards that have been personalized, you can give each wedding guest a lovely candle favor by simply attaching the sticker or tying the favor card to the candleholder with a personalized ribbon – it is the ultimate in thoughtful and personal gift giving for everyone attending your wedding. This is particularly appreciated at large weddings where the bride and groom may not get a chance to chat with everyone in attendance.

After dinner, when the lights are dimmed… the wedding speeches begin, toasts to the bride and groom are made and everyone settles in to dance and talk. At this time, it is a great décor tip to have the soft glow of candle at each table – whether you provide one candleholder for each guest that they can later take home; decide to use floating candles in glass vases; or have a single extravagant one for the whole table.

If you are looking specifically for personalized wedding candle favors that will be boxed or wrapped in ribbon and not used on the table, there are many cute theme candle sets available. For example, flip flop candles for a beach theme, peas in a pod theme for the perfect couple, Cinderella carriage candle, or country cows candles – all can be personalized with wedding stickers or favor tags to make them the perfect wedding accessory. In most cases, when these are given as candle wedding favors, they do not come with a glass or ceramic candleholder.

Choosing a favor for your wedding guests is a big deal. It is the little something special that your wedding guests will be leaving with – a small token of your appreciation and a snippet to remember your wedding day. Candles are always warmly received, and will be used by the majority of your guests.

When you are considering personalized wedding candle favors – specifically if they will double as table décor – be extra careful if you have a lot of young children at your wedding. Fire is dangerous and oftentimes very alluring to young minds that are bored and left at a table to amuse themselves. In such cases, flowers on a table and battery operated flickering “flameless” candles are the way to go. Also, votive candles are safest in the metal sleeve as opposed to the plastic version. If you have large taper candles or tall pillars for your reception tables, be mindful of where wax will be dripping.

Filed Under: Candle Favors, Wedding Favours Tagged With: personalized wedding candle favors

How To Make Your Wedding Unforgettable – Ask the Expert Answer

April 19, 2008 By Angela Leave a Comment

Question from Borani:

i would like to know how to plan a wedding with 15 guest and step by step, i would like to know how make that day the unfergetable day for me, i have not to much money

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela

Hi Borani,

The secret to making your wedding day unforgettable is to make it uniquely reflect the personality of the couple getting married.

Ask yourself "what do I love?" colours, theme, etc. What does your partner love? I know a couple who got engaged ice fishing in the middle of winter, with the ring put on the hook, and when she pulled up her hook to check her bait, there was the ring, and her fellow by her side proposing. They both love fishing, and it became a minor theme to their wedding with lots of fishing stories and lots of laughter. It reflected the couple perfectly.

So, what do you love? Do you have something in common with your fiance that you would like to have your wedding reflect? Are you and your partner known for your humour? Maybe you would like to reflect that with a comical wedding topper on your cake; or, you may be more traditional and want to reflect that in your wedding.

As for the actual wedding planning, you could use a software program like My Style Wedding that will assist with the planning process. Doing a google search with "wedding planning" or "wedding checklist" will give you a variety of information for you to choose from. Your local library will also have books on wedding planning.

A great way to save costs for a wedding is to involve family and friends in the wedding planning. Can someone make the centrepieces or other decorations? Can someone make the invitations? Is someone great with makeup and hair to do the bridal party instead of going to an expensive salon?

You need to decide what things you want for your wedding (there are many options) and then see what you are willing to do yourself, and what you will purchase. Know what your budget is, and then plan accordingly. It is possible to have a very affordable wedding without sacrificing all the special touches that make your day special.

These are all things for you to decide. Your wedding should be a reflection of you and your partner.

Good luck, and feel free to contact me with any other questions you may have. If you are reading this post and have a suggestion, please feel free to comment.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Bridal Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert

Be Wise, Get Free Samples of Wedding Invitations Before You Decide

April 8, 2008 By Nicole Leave a Comment

When it comes to preparing for a wedding, all those who are involved in the process, especially the bride and groom, would want everything to turn out just as planned and perfect. However, this is usually less than possible if the wedding is more than a simple affair like inviting hundreds if not thousand of guests; held at different locations for the different events like ceremony, reception, party and banquet; as well as involving different cultures and traditions from both the newly-weds. Thus, to avoid having any ‘accident’, it is wise to rehearse the wedding proceedings and also to gather free samples of wedding supplies such as free samples of wedding invitations before deciding on the final purchase.

With increasing competition and the innovations in designing and printing, there are just plentiful of companies who provide free samples of wedding invitation cards for the newly-weds to choose from nowadays. The couple can choose few samples from the same supplier or even from a few suppliers who offer different designs and themes for comparison purposes. They can also get some idea from these samples if they choose to design their own wedding invitation cards instead of picking from the pool of designs available.

The option of giving the samples is important and cannot be avoided as it helps to appease any doubts and anxiety that the bride and groom may have towards the quality of the cards. For example, the type of paper used, the font type and size, the design, the color, the small decorations that come with it like the ribbons, diamond dust and silver foil. For a perfectionist, all these are just too important to ignore and overlook. Thus, a free sample would give the opportunity for one to see it, touch it and even smell it personally to help make the right and ideal choice to set the right tone for the once-in-a-lifetime affair.

When requesting for a sample, it is wise to choose those that match the wedding theme to avoid having too many different kinds of cards to choose from. At times, too many choices would just complicate the process of deciding the final product. Besides the wedding card itself, it is also advisable to get a sample of the respond card and the corresponding envelopes for both cards, if one chooses to have them. This is to ensure that one is satisfied with the whole set of the invitations and respond cards before placing an order. It is better to be satisfied with everything about the cards at the initial stage rather than regret it later when printing is done.

If one is satisfied with the sample as given by the supplier, then the bride and the groom can proceed in penning down the wordings, negotiating the price and making the order. If some minor amendments is needed like the colors, font type or size, and paper type, the couple may request the supplier to change according to the request and provide a sample again, either free of charge or at a nominal fee. The sample can then be weighed at the post office to determine the correct postage. This would help to decide whether the total postage cost falls within the budget set for invitation cards. Otherwise, a lighter paper material or a card with fewer accessories can be chosen as an alternative.

In the early days, it would be very time consuming to visit a supplier of wedding cards to choose and request for samples, more so if a couple had to visit a few suppliers to make the choice. In addition, they might have to drop by a number of times before they were satisfied with their final outlay of the card. However, nowadays, with the advancement of technology and the existence of internet, anyone can just request for a sample through a ‘click’ on the mouse of a computer that will just do all the requests job within a minute. If one is only looking for a simple and ready-made invitation card, then it is always easy and wise to choose over the internet and request for a sample. When one is satisfied with the sample, then the placement of the order can be made instantly without any hassle.

Filed Under: Invitations

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