Wedding Tips

Wedding Movies for Edutainment

2009-07-27T13:16:00.000-07:00

Are you currently in the midst of planning your wedding celebration and possibly looking for a good excuse to relax a little and enjoy some quality wedding planning edutainment? Perhaps you are just starting to plan or soon will be starting to plan your very special wedding extravaganza and you are looking for a little inspiration and perhaps some guidance on what to do and what not to do during your wedding planning process. You may even just be feeling really romantic and want to cozy up to some sweet and endearing entertainment that is almost sure to bring sighs of empathy and tears of joy as you ponder your own wedding plan.

There are many wedding movies out there and many of them are actually quite romantic and truly endearing. Let’s take a look at some of the best of recent years and see what kind of insight and inspiration you may be able to bring from your enjoyable research in the justifiably educational viewing of the following modern wedding classics.

Father of the Bride
This is a spectacularly comedic character movie starring Steve Martin and Martin Short. Steve Martin plays the “straight man” part in more ways than one, while Martin Short is the all too flamboyant and rather effeminate wedding planner. Short basically takes over the wedding in many ways and it is a good lesson in making sure you as the wedding couple maintain your concept of what you want your wedding to be rather than letting anyone else project their opinions so much that you compromise your own happiness.

Monsoon Wedding
This is a beautiful and fun cultural epic about a wedding in India during a monsoon. It gives a lot of insight into what a wonderful and immense extravaganza a wedding in India can be. It also gives insight into the romantic lives and challenges of lovers in a society where arranged marriage was the norm until recently.

Mamma Mia
Originally a musical, this totally delightful and amazing film will have your heart singing and possibly even have you singing too. It is a musical based on music of ABBA, a disco band popular in the 70’s, and if you know anything about ABBA’s music then you know this is a really fun movie. It is truly a blast and if you don’t have fun watching it you may need therapy. This is possibly our favorite on the list. Go watch it as soon as possible if you haven’t seen it at least twice already.

27 Dresses
This is a good look into just what it takes to be a good bridesmaid and it is likely a good movie for any bride to watch just to make sure she appreciates her bridesmaids appropriately. If you have ever been a bridesmaid then you can certainly empathize with the main character who has actually been a bridesmaid dozens of times prior to marrying. If you haven’t ever been a bridesmaid, then now is your chance to see what it is like again and again. It is also likely a great movie to get some inspiration for different wedding styles and also dresses for your bridesmaids.

Whether the couples in these movies always get married or not, it is more the overall theme that you should be concerned with. You can learn a lot from watching these movies, not only about love but also about wedding planning and decoration. Enjoy and have fun studying about weddings!

Wedding Symbolism

2009-07-15T13:08:00.001-07:00

Are you soon hoping to begin, or possibly in the midst of, planning your own very special wedding extravaganza? Perhaps a friend or relative is about to be tying the proverbial knot and you plan to be there to offer your loving support on their truly wonderful and romantic wedding occasion. In any case, you will almost certainly want to study and understand as much as you possibly can to learn just a bit more about what the ceremony and its symbolism are really all about, so that you can truly enjoy the spectacular wedding day festivities as much as humanly possible. So here is a short guide to some of the symbolic wedding traditions from many years ago that are still found in modern western weddings today and likely are a part of the wedding you will soon be attending.
Hopefully you will find something in this guide truly enlightening so that you will happily understand even more about the ceremonial traditions involved in a modern western wedding ceremony.

The Kiss at the Altar
The kiss at the altar is symbolic of a kind of holy and legal seal from Roman times. It is also, rather obviously, a symbol of the romantic union of the couple and their loving dedication to be as one sharing a continuous body of holy love.

The Wedding Ring
The wedding ring is an amazingly wonderful symbol that is really at the heart of a wedding ceremony as the entire ceremony really revolves around these shiny circular bonds of matrimony. The ancient Egyptians believed that there is a vein that runs straight from the third finger all the way to the heart and so the rings act as a symbol of infinity essentially uniting the connection between the bride and groom’s hearts and acting as a circuit for love to flow. The diamond supposedly is an Italian tradition as this particular gem was seen to have been forged from the proverbial “flames of love”. Though it is also likely a marketing ploy made popular by the diamond cartel who decided diamonds would be profitable if people could be convinced to buy them for some special purpose. It is a truly wonderful symbol, regardless of the cartel, as a diamond is the most indivisible material known in the world today.

The White Wedding Gown
White is a symbol of purity and sometimes even seen as a symbol of virginity. Although this all may seem like a perfect reason to make a wedding dress white, it is actually not such an old tradition and surprisingly is more of a long lasting fashion trend which supposedly began with Queen Victoria in her marriage to her first cousin, Prince Albert. It is actually a sign of wealth as anyone who could afford an elaborate white dress to be worn only once was considered to be relatively wealthy!

The Bride’s Veil
The veil is an interesting tradition that seems to have some conflicting interpretation and history. It was actually a tent at one point and, depending on the source, either represented the groom’s protection of the bride or possibly protection from the bride. It is also a modern replacement for the tradition of a bride wearing her hair down and flowing as it represented youthful purity and innocence.

Hope you enjoyed it and understand even more about wedding symbols and their origin.

Wedding Photography Styles

2009-06-16T13:11:00.001-07:00

Is it about time for you to begin searching for just the right wonderful and skilled wedding photographer to really make your romantic memories of the special day as spectacular as they can possibly be? Wondering just what is involved in choosing the right photographer and even what specifically to be looking for when interviewing to find the one most suitable for your specific aesthetic choice? Hopefully this article will be just the thing to get you on your way to finding a great photographer for your big day!

There are two main styles in wedding photography, with a third style being a combination of the two primary styles. The two styles being considered here are Traditional and Photojournalistic.

Traditional wedding photography is the classic wedding photography involving lots of beautiful portraits and posing, which is really wonderful and truly lasting in the most traditional of senses. If you want a stunning shot for a wall or desk that will symbolize your loving union and your special day, it will most likely be a shot taken in a traditional photography style. When you think of photos of weddings from a century ago, they are usually in this style and often still hold up in their aesthetic beauty and possible insight into the couple’s world today. An additional option to deepen this style is including black and white photography to the mix. Black and white photography really makes for elegant wedding photography and is a beautiful addition to your color repertoire, so go for it and be sure to enjoy your classic Vogue portraits for years to come!

Photojournalistic wedding photography is essentially the way to really capture the spectacular joy and spontaneous moments of the day. This style of wedding photography is steadily gaining in popularity and will likely continue to do so. It is the kind you generally see in fanfare magazines documenting the most amazing moments in popular weddings. If you want a shot of your mother shedding a tear of absolute joy while you speak your wedding vows, this is the style of photography that can do it. Be sure to find one with a great portfolio full of photos that are simply amazing moments in people’s lives.

While it is usually best to hire two photographers, one of each style, when at all possible, there is a third style option which may offer a solution if on a budget or similar. A combinatory style consisting of both of the primary styles is best if you want to have the ultimate in one wedding photographer. It is possible to find a really good photographer who can do both primary styles really well, so don’t be sad if this is more your budget. Like many aspects of wedding planning, you can usually get the same quality as if you had a larger budget if you are willing to put in some more time and efficient searching.

Now you have a general overview of what you may be looking for and are hopefully just about ready to begin your search.

Weddings, Future, and Fashion

2009-06-03T09:08:00.000-07:00

Let’s say that you have a taste for futuristic styles, high fashion designs, and fabrics. How could you make work? How would you integrate the scheme, outfits, and decor? There is an obvious answer to this. Keep it simple. Let this desire for abstract fashion spill over into your wedding desires.

Begin by writing out a list. Whatever you desire to see at your wedding, write it out on paper. Don’t try to create a plan yet. That comes later. All you need to do is make a pallet, an outline, for your full scheme. It will fall into place later. If you want silvers, write it down. If you want bubbles, log that. The same with metallic flowers or clear heels. Try a collage if that will give you a more physical representation.

Try going to a fabric shoppe and picking up about six swatches of material that light up your eyes. Visit the sample section of the local Sherwin-Williams and pick several color sheets that will bring fruition to your ideas. You need to be clear on what colors you want to see, the flowers you like the most, your favorite aspects. If high fashion is your thing then keep note of the patterns and complimenting aspects that make the top of your list. Cut out pictures of dresses, decor items, and tableware from magazines.

Your wedding can easily be as unique and high fashion as you are. Just remember that you are painting your wedding with your tastes. Don’t make the mistake of trying to cram. If you decide to hire a wedding planner they will keep this from happening, but if you are planning your own, use caution. With a wedding you have so much to choose from and things can easily clash. Remember to be sparing. If there is ever a time to be a minimalist, now is that time. Futuristic design is based on bare necessity mixed with style.

Do you want to see yourself in a wedding dress of multiple layers and a clear tiara with crystal flecks? Will the reception have a still-models dressed in silver and reflective fountains? A beautiful, uneven wedding cake with silver flecks and icing vines? Or centerpieces with clear goldfish swimming in champagne vases? The ideas are endless and so are the thousands and thousands of combination possibilities. You have more options than you could ever display in one wedding, but this offers you a multitude of choice. The simplistic, ingenious designs of tomorrow can be displayed by your hand. Not only can you make the wedding of your dreams, but you can create a wedding that others will dream of. You can start a style that other people will crave, just let your love shine through with your own design and style. Be yourself, be unique.

Pets As Wedding Attendants

2009-05-27T15:41:00.001-07:00

The latest trend is something that comes straight from the heart. We have all had at least one pet in our life that we cherish, or have cherished in the past. But what about couples who love their pets like their children and wish to include them in the ceremony? Do they have the option? And is it do-able? The answer is absolutely yes!

It may be as simple as bringing the pets out for the ceremony and reception photos, but even a simple appearance of your pets can bring great joy to you and even provide some free entertainment for your guests.

The best idea is to start with a plan. You will want to determine your pet’s role before making a decision. You want to take into consideration whether your pet will be appropriate in the type of ceremony that you are planning. Most fancier venues will not allow for pet’s to make an appearance, so take this into consideration. If the ceremony will be held at a private estate then your chances are greater. If the venue will not accommodate the pet, then compromise by having the pet waiting (with an animal-sitter or family member) for you when you come out of the ceremony, and then accompany you to the reception venue.

You will want to make sure that your pet is willing to participate. Since some animals may be very uncomfortable in strange places, it may be a good idea to take them for a test-run. Drive them to the venue and walk with them around the site. Give them a full run of the place where you will be expecting them to walk and behave. Give them treats to show them that they are doing well. You just want to be aware of their present attitude with the environment. You want to observe the test run and take their immediate response into full consideration.

Try to keep their role simple. If you are going so far as to have your pet dog carry the rings to you and your fiancé, then be aware of all possibilities. Should they walk alone, or guided? Are there ducks, geese, or other birds and animals that will distract them? Will the “ooh’s” and “ah’s” of the crowd alarm them? You just want to keep the simplest form of participation available for you pet in conjunction with their attitude and temperament. You know your pet best.

Take the surroundings into consideration. Will the cheering, laughing, crying babies, or constant distraction alarm, scare, or upset your pet in anyway? If there will be a band, or loud “noises”, you may want to take this into consideration and take the pet for a walk around the band equipment and to meet the band members before the wedding day. Match their role with their capabilities, and love them for willing participation. You can have a beautiful wedding day with your pet present, and they may have a better time than you think.

Choosing the Perfect Wedding Dress

2009-05-26T13:38:00.001-07:00

Are there really that many options to consider when planning for a wedding dress? Absolutely. There are many aspects to consider, and here are a few important things to remember when picking out that beautiful gown. It is, after all, your special day and all eyes will be on the one in the dress at the head of the aisle.

It can be as simple as promising to wear your Grandmother’s wedding dress, and if it really is that easy for you, then we salute you. Even if this is your way of deciding and the style is a little out-dated, try adding a few simple alterations to make it your own. Just be sure to get permission if you have to return the dress to Grandma (or Mom) when you are through. If the other option seems likely, the one where you pick one yourself, then here are some important factors to consider.

First things first, you will want to take the set date into perspective. Will it be a Fall wedding, Spring? Summer? Or even Winter? Either way, you need to consider how hot, cool, warm, or cold it will be and be sure to dress accordingly. This is how you decide on sleeve length, or sleeves at all, a strapless gown, or a shoulder-hugging dress. Will it be cool enough for gloves, short or long?

If your venue is indoors then your options are different from an outdoor wedding. What about a versatile wedding? An indoor ceremony and an outdoor reception, or vice versa? Will you choose two dresses; one for the ceremony and one for the reception? Consider these options.

You will want to consider the budget that you are working with. Narrow down the expenses for the other main aspects of the event before deciding on a tally amount to spend on attire. Remember that you will also be covering the cost of a tuxedo purchase or rental for the groom, and there is always the possibility of paying part or all of the attendants clothing. Take it all into consideration.

Now you will want to find a boutique, catalogue, or store that offers good prices and even better service. Do not just consider pricing. If you find a dress you love, but they have no idea how to alter and personalize it to fit you, then you will have to make extra plans for a tailor. It is important to find a retailer that offers all of the services you will need most. Ask these questions: “Does the store offer alterations?”, “Do the gowns in the store, or catalogue, come in a variety of styles?”, and “Do the employees know about style, what looks good, and how to adjust what I need?”.

You may even consider hiring a designer to create the perfect gown from scratch. This can end up being cheaper in some cases, and you will more than likely end up with a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Whatever the design, color, or style, all that matters is what you want. You deserve the best on your special day, so be informed and ask questions, and you are sure to find what you are looking for.

Basic Kinds Of Honeymoon Resorts

2009-05-22T13:12:00.000-07:00

Are you planning a honeymoon sometime in the near future or even just pondering what options are available for when that special moment does arrive? Planning a good honeymoon can be a lavish affair, and it’s wise to have a good idea of the available options before deciding on what would most likely be best for you and your significant other. Let’s take a look at a couple of popular options and see which of them is the most appealing to you!

The honeymoon cruise is a classic mainstay among newlyweds that seems to remain popular year after year. Cruises have gotten a lot more advanced and it may sometimes feel like you are in a small city floating across the ocean. Having a single consistent room as a home base, while visiting many different ports, can be an amazingly unique experience. There are cruises in many parts of the world, from tropical to glacial, so there should be something to fit just about anyone’s tastes. Speaking of tastes, the wide variety of restaurants available on many cruise ships, in addition to the variety of restaurants and local foods at the ports, will also likely be enough to satisfy your taste buds. As far as entertainment goes, cruise ships are a notorious place for an abundance of shows, dancing, and even various sports.

There are some things to consider though, as you will primarily be on a large boat for a good majority of the time. It’s not likely you will feel too “out at sea”, considering that you are on a massive ship, but it is wise to still take into consideration that you will be on the water. Also, you may find it more difficult to change your choice in honeymoon destinations until you arrive at a port appropriate to disembarking. Additionally, it may be good to keep in mind that the rooms might not be as large and lavish as a hotel or resort. If you are focused on spending most of the time alone with your new partner in a large luxurious suite with a lavish Jacuzzi, then another option is likely more appropriate.

If sailing across the ocean isn’t your optimal honeymoon or just isn’t a viable option, then perhaps a luxurious resort geared specifically toward honeymooning couples is a little more your pace. Many resorts and travel agencies have begun offering an “all inclusive” honeymoon package which will take care of everything from your nightly accommodations and flights to meals and entertainment. These are often tropical island vacations. In addition to being a convenient way to minimize stress and alleviate budgetary concerns during your honeymoon, you will likely even save a good amount of money in the process. Since you are purchasing everything at once, the savings available may be truly astounding and help you more easily afford a honeymoon you once thought too expensive.

Some things to consider with such a package include a possibility that you may be less spontaneous as everything has already been planned and paid in advance. You may get bored of a limited number of dining and entertainment options. Also, it still isn’t the most secluded of honeymoons as it is still a resort atmosphere.

These are just a couple of the most popular options, but it is hopefully a good way to get started planning the honeymoon of your dreams!

In Marriage: Fair Fights Are Better

2009-05-19T14:51:00.000-07:00

Marital fights, also known as spats, are a fact of life. Even though a marriage starts out as a romantic relationship, it does not stay limited to that. For a marriage to be healthy and strong it needs to include romance, but a lot more goes into it. It is inevitable that we start seeing our one and only as real people at some point in the relationship. This awakening happens a lot quicker in relationships where two people live together. But for those who put off cohabitating until after the wedding day, this process happens usually in the first year. This explains why the first year of marriage is typically known as one of the hardest.

People, in love, start out at the most, superficially best places to be when a relationship is new and in bloom. Love is not blind, but it is very selective in what it allows our brains to register about the other person. Even the less desirable traits that the apple of our eye possesses, seems like cute endearments that we find a way to savor.

This cute cuddly time when we agree with everything the other person says and does, is a happy care free time that doesn’t last forever. The ending can take about a year, give or take a few months, to happen, but it does end. Just following the end of the rose colored glasses era is the transitional time when we do notice the things that bug us about the other person, but decide that grinning and bearing it keeps the peace. This stage lasts for an even shorter amount of time than the last and during it we can feel the winds of change on their way.

In a marriage these winds of change happen in the form of one or both people making their boundaries known to the other and expecting that those boundaries will be respected. In a perfect world all boundaries would be respected, all people would be on their best behavior at all times, and we would never take out having a bad day on the one we love.

Nobody lives in a perfect world, not even close. People have bad days and get in bad moods. One person in a marriage gets excited about something while the other hates the idea, and sometimes these failures to agree result in fights. Important things to understand when arguing within a marriage are:

1. The person you are about to fight with is someone you live under the same roof with, and will see every day.
2. You have made a life- long commitment to this person and a lifetime can be very long.
3. This person loves you and everything you say to them will be held against you at some point in the future.
4. You love this person and really don’t want to hurt them you’re just mad
5. Once you have said something in anger you cannot take it back and if it is nasty enough it can cause cracks in the foundation of the marriage than can lead to its death.
6. Fighting fair can create an environment of learning to compromise and that will lead to a lot less fighting in the long run, which makes everybody a winner.

Guidelines For A Good Wedding Toast

2009-05-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

If you are preparing for a friend or relative’s wedding and know that you will likely be expected to give a toast to the bride and groom, celebrating their newfound union, then you may be looking for some advice on how to give a good wedding toast. It is likely that everyone will be watching you, so it is truly wise to be effectively prepared to make a great impression. See it as an opportunity to help the couple shine and to express the positive celebratory wishes of the collective wedding party for the longevity of this wonderful new endeavor. In this way, you can look forward to the event rather than being unnecessarily apprehensive about it.

Where to begin? What makes a really amazing toast? The toast is essentially a blessing of good will for the newlywed couple. It is meant to be positive and full of encouragement. It is wise to remember that this is all about the couple and not about impressing people with your charm, so if you do feel the need to break the tension with a bit of humor, do so with extreme caution. Also, your speech does not need to be too long. Short and sweet is the best bet.

With those guidelines in place, you are ready to begin enjoying the process of formulating a really wonderful wedding toast. It is always wise to include some background about how long you have known the loving couple and state your general relationship to them, as many in the wedding party may not know. As far as the main body of the speech is concerned, some easy ways to approach the task include telling a story. An endearing and/or romantic story about the couple and how they met or some other really special moment in their relationship would be good to share with the wedding party. Another easy method you may find effective is to locate something romantic in one of the couple’s favorite movies or songs. This can go a long way, as it is a practically guaranteed to engage the audience if it is a popular song or movie the excerpt is being related from. You may also wish to find some famous historical quotes to draw from. This is another particularly easy way to easily engage the wedding party.

The Best Man’s toast at the wedding reception is usually the most challenging and potentially delicate to formulate. It is a poignant moment in the celebration and is honestly a rather important responsibility. If you are the Best Man, then there are some extras to really watch out for. Regardless of how nervous you are, it is definitely not advisable to drink enough to get intoxicated prior to the moment of your speech. It will likely only embarrass you and the couple. Also make sure you don’t mention any former lovers of the bride or groom. Keep your language as polite as possible, since you are likely addressing a wide age range in the audience. Other than that, just make sure you focus on making the couple look amazing, as they are in the spotlight.

Hopefully these tips and guidelines have helped you get started on your way to a really wonderful wedding toast. Cheers!