Destination Weddings

Traditionally, weddings have been held in your own home church, or in a local 

garden, or in some venue close to the home of the groom or bride's family. But 

as Americans become more mobile, living thousands of miles from their families 

in some cases and marrying people from the other side of the country in others, 

it's grown more and more inconvenient to schedule the right place to have your 

wedding. His home, or hers? How do family who live in fifteen different cities 

get here? What is fair?

Rather than worrying about these issues, more brides and grooms have been opting 

for destination weddings. A destination wedding is one that is centered around 

getting married at a particular place that is not at the home of either bride or 

groom, often a tropical or otherwise romantic location. This isn't a runaway 

marriage, like the ones that used to take place frequently at Niagara Falls and 

that still take place in Las Vegas; rather, it's a planned wedding with guests, 

with the only difference between it and other weddings being the away-from-home 

location.

Popular places for destination weddings include Hawaii, the South Carolina 

beaches, Disneyworld, and, yes, Las Vegas. Brides not satisfied with these 

locations can consider some other, more unique ideas: getting married on a 

yacht, Ireland, Fiji, the Bahamas, or weddings in locations that are important 

to the bride and groom for some reason. A destination wedding can be a very 

personal event.

Advantages of Destination Weddings

There are numerous significant advantages to having a destination wedding, 

especially if you have a far-flung family. For one, it spares you from having to 

make the decision between his city and her city; instead, everyone has to travel 

to get to your wedding, making it fair. And then, if you have relatives you feel 

certain would cause trouble at a wedding, a destination wedding is a subtle 

discouragement for them to show up, so you can apologize profusely to them when 

they complain about not being able to get to your wedding and just say you had 

your heart set on a beach wedding at Cabo, or being married in front of the 

falls at Niagara, or whatever destination wedding you've chosen.

Additionally, if there are family clashes between bride and groom in laws, a 

destination wedding brings the whole thing to a neutral location. The only thing 

you want to avoid, in this case, is renting a huge house for everyone to stay 

in; better keep them in separate houses!

One of the worst things that happens to weddings is when Mom takes over, trying 

to plan the wedding for her daughter - and sometimes son - to "make it easier" 

for the bride. Choosing a destination wedding is a great way to get rid of the 

interference of a mother.

Destination weddings tend to be in very romantic, often exotic, locations, which 

leads to several other things. First, those weddings on the beach lead to some 

amazing wedding photographs, especially if you choose your location so that you 

catch the sunset. They also allow you to combine your honeymoon with your 

wedding, and you can tell reluctant family that it will make a great excuse for 

them to take a vacation at your destination.

The surprising advantage some destination weddings has is that they can be much 

cheaper than traditional weddings, if you plan them carefully and choose the 

right destination at the right time. While the U.S. dollar is a little weak 

right now, it still has an excellent exchange rate over some countries. And many 

popular destination wedding sites have been taking advantage of the wedding 

tourist trade by offering great deals on wedding packages of all sorts.

Disadvantages of Destination Weddings

To be fair, destination weddings also have drawbacks. Many of your invited 

guests won't come, and others may invite themselves on your honeymoon if you're 

not careful. Of course, since fewer guests are coming, the wedding will be 

smaller and you'll save money on catering, venue size, and other things, so you 

can dip into your wedding funds to help subsidize the plane tickets for people 

you absolutely must have at your wedding.

Not all destinations are cheap and glorious; it's entirely possible that the 

destination you have your heart set will be more expensive, so you'll have to 

shop around and lock in the best deal you can early. Because the destination may 

be quite remote from America, you'll find planning of sorts you didn't expect is 

necessary, and a good travel agent may become your best friend.

Finally, you must think about a few legalities: passports, visas, and whether or 

not a wedding at your destination will be recognized in the U.S. (not all are!) 

The last problem can be bypassed if you have a simple civil ceremony back home 

and then your elaborate wedding at your destination.

A destination wedding is not the right answer for everyone. And many people who 

would like a destination wedding decide in the end to get married at home for a 

variety of reasons. But if you have your heart set on one and you have plenty of 

time to plan, there is no reason you can't have a destination wedding, and all 

the wonderful memories that go along with it.

Dream Wedding Gown

Most brides are not interested in a "mere" wedding gown as they would prefer a dream wedding gown. That is why a great deal of care and attention goes into the process of selecting the right wedding gown. No, a wedding gown is not something that can be plucked errantly from a rack. It needs to look original, stunning, and truly appeal to the bride that is to wear it. This does raise a few questions regarding how to select a wedding gown that is so perfect. Thankfully, there are answers available.

It is necessary from the outset to clearly establish the budget you will be working with. For many, there are a number of dream wedding gowns they would love to purchase but they are outside of the range of affordability. While it is fine to browse these items, it probably would not be best to dwell on them. Instead, examining those dress designers that are in your range of affordability is advised. This way, you will be allocating your time towards a dress that you can actually purchase.

The key to finding a quality wedding dress would be to start your search long in advance. Honestly, it would be pretty tough to locate a dream wedding gown with 30 days notice! So, try to start your search for a quality wedding dress many months in advance. This way, you will have adequate time to search for the gown and procure the best one for your needs.

Beach Wedding Ideas

Ready for the rest of your life? Ready to take the plunge into the waters of married bliss? Looking for the best beach wedding ideas to launch you into happily ever after?

Getting married is a big step in one's life. Making the decision to spend the rest of your life with someone is an important and momentous one. That's why it's understandable that so many brides go ballistic with trying to make every detail in their wedding perfect.

Thinking of saying "I do" with the sea, sun and wind as your witnesses? Wondering what memento your guests can take away that will serve as the perfect reminder of your special day? Here are some beach wedding ideas to hopefully spark inspiration as you prepare for the day you and your mate tie the knot.

Wedding Mementos

Wedding favors should serve as a reminder of the unforgettable time your guests had at your wedding. But that doesn't mean that they can't be functional as well. You'll want to give something your guests can keep and use, not something that will just gather dust and be thrown away.

Here are some ideas I came across when I was doing my duty as the Maid of Honor (otherwise known as MOH) for my friend's beach wedding:

1. Mini lanterns with tea candles

A favorite of mine. Mini lanterns will not only be symbolic of your love, but will also be incredibly useful to your guests. Plus, they're really pretty and decorative too.

2. Sea shell bottle opener

What better way to remind your guests of what a good time they had at your wedding than through a sea shell bottle opener. They'll remember you every time they pop a cork!

3. Wine bottle stopper

A variation of the sea shell bottle opener. Look for one with a beach theme, like a starfish or a shell.

Wedding Gift

Wedding gifts are given as a token of that love and support. The purpose of wedding gifts is to communicate happiness at the union in a perceptible physical form to newlyweds, and delight in their exhilaration. Traditionally, gift giving was a way to help the newlyweds set up their new household.

The value of a gift should never be judged in monetary terms. A wedding gift should reflect the thought behind it. The belief that the value of a wedding gift should at least be equivalent to the money expended per person at a party is a gross misnomer. In a monetary sense, the kind of relation a guest shares with the couple is a determinant of the gift value. All the same, a handmade gift like a scrapbook ranks high in personal value, although it has little monetary value.

There are various rules of wedding gift-giving etiquette which should be followed. All invited guests who attend the wedding should bring gifts. While giving gifts, one should ideally keep the couple's individual taste in mind. Giving away a golf set to one interested only in active sports is a thoughtless gift and erodes the very purpose of the tradition.

Wedding Shoes

The bride can select from a variety of bridal or evening shoes from a bridal boutique or online wedding store. If the bride wants to add a bit of height which can boost confidence on this special day, she can go for heels. There are many styles of high heel wedding footwear. The bride can wear a stiletto heel, open or pointed toe heeled shoes as well as closed toe. High heels will help to elongate the bride-to-be legs and the footwear can go well with any style of wedding gown.

Round Toe Wedding Shoes

Another favourite wedding shoe is the round toe shoes. This kind of evening bridal footwear is suitable to wear with any style of knee-length wedding dress. For the bride, there is no wrong or right bridal footwear. It all points to what style of shoes that the bride will feel better wearing. Traditionally, there are some shoes that could not be accepted for the bride to wear, but many of the bridal fashion designers have modernized so many wedding dresses and accessories including bridal shoes.

Wedge Heel Wedding Shoes

The bride-to-be can also select wedge shoes to wear during the wedding occasion. Wedge shoes come in different designs especially the ones that will be perfect to wear for a wedding. There is the trendy chunky wedge footwear, wedge platform wedding shoes and other wedges such as canvas. Choose the wedge footwear that will make you walk comfortably during the bridal event.

The bride, bridesmaids and mother of the bride can choose to wear any of these bridal shoes. Many evening party shoes are chosen as wedding footwear. What matters most is that the bridal footwear should have complementary shade with the other wedding outfits that the bride and wedding party wear as well as match the wedding theme.

Beach Wedding Shoes

If the wedding is to be a beach wedding, there is no reason for the bride to have on kitten heels or heel sandals. The bride can wear flats. Ballet pump or flip flops are the best selection for any beach destination wedding. The bride and other bridal party do not want to walk on the sand with sinking shoe heels. A thin soled pair of sandals will be perfect for a summer evening garden wedding party in the garden.

The bridal shoes come in many different colours such as, taupe, navy, black, white bridal shoes, purple, green and many others. The wedding footwear can have any kind of embellishments such as beads, rhinestones, pearl, ties and straps. Many of the bridal shoes are really pretty and have the added bonus of being very comfortable shoes. The bride may also choose a style of bridal shoes that she will be able to wear to other formal occasions long after the wedding event is over.

Spring Wedding

Spring weddings are beautiful weddings with many different ideas to easily incorporate into the wedding theme. There are many different ways to easily incorporate spring into your wedding theme. This be accomplished in a variety of ways.

Some brides actively use an element of this season as the theme for their wedding. This could mean having a wedding theme like Easter, spring colors or spring flowers. Another idea is to incorporate this season in general to a wedding. This means saturating the wedding with spring filled nuances that will create an overall feeling of this season and renewal. Either method can be effective to create a beautiful spring wedding.

One of the first important elements to consider if it is being planned is to remember that the colors of spring must be present. These colors are generally pastel and include: green, pink, lavender, yellow and white or cream. Use all of these colors or a combination to create a spring wedding color scheme.

Invitations with a spring wedding theme will also be easy to acquire and select. Choose an invitation with spring colors, spring flowers or both. Birds, animals and flowers are common elements on spring wedding invitations.

Another way to incorporate this season into a wedding is through the wedding favors. Consider giving guests small plants or packets of seeds. Bags of spring colored candies or Easter eggs are other beautiful options for creating spring wedding favors. There are many options and most favors can be modified to carry some element of spring.

The cake is another beautiful way to incorporate spring. A large simple cake made of spring colors can serve as an elegant tribute to spring. Additionally, spring flowers can top a cake for a fresh and beautiful look.

A spring wedding also commonly will be filled with spring flowers. When your guests think of spring they think of flowers and so if this theme will be accurately created, flowers need to be a large element in your decorations. Talk to a florist and get ideas of the flower options that will be available. You should also try and find out how to get the most flowers for your available budget.

However a spring wedding is decorated it will carry many common spring themes. The most common are spring flowers, colors and décor. Carefully plan your wedding to include these elements and others that you may decide to use. There are many beautiful ways to infuse spring into any wedding ceremony and reception.

Wedding Invitation Ideas

Choosing wedding invitations is one of the most fun parts of wedding planning for brides to be. Not only is it a cool way to express your personality and creativity, it is the first taste your guests will get of your upcoming big day. You will want to make a great first impression while sharing all the important details of the what, where and when of your wedding. This article shares some Wedding Invitation Ideas to make the process a little easier.

Budgeting and Style for Invitations

The very first thing to take into consideration is your budget. It is a good idea to establish up front how much you are willing to spend on your invites. As a general rule, the more customized you get, the more you are going to pay. Think about the many components you may still have left to cover financially--cake, linens, favors, honeymoon....where do invitations rank in importance to you and your fiancee?

Once you have that established, its time to think about style. You could keep it simple with an elegant single card or go trendy with pocketfolds. Will you have separate cards for response or directions? Will your font be modern or traditional? Block, script or a mix of both? Perhaps your style will be influenced by your ethnicity, the formality of your wedding or the location.

Personalizing invitations is very popular right now. Think monograms of the couple's initials, photos and lyrics or poetry which is special to the bride and groom. Are there any symbols or motifs you could add which would reflect your personalities?

Another trend involves the use of color or embellishments. If your wedding has a color theme, you will want to incorporate this somehow. It could be small touches such as a flower or heart or the use of rich, colored cardstock. Some of the hottest color combos right now include fuchsia and orange, light pink and kiwi, brown and teal and lilac and coral. Influences for color can be anything from the season you will be married in to personal favorite shades. Add embellishments like vellum, rhinestones, ribbon or beads and you will achieve a truly unique look.

Addressing and Wording your Invitations

Additional decisions include wording and addressing. Wording your invitations involves giving the basic details of the ceremony and reception, but also expressing who is throwing the celebration. Traditionally, a bride's parents were responsible for paying but those days are long gone. It is still the case sometimes, but what if both sets of parents are sharing the responsibility? Or how about if the bride and groom are paying for it themselves or partially contributing? It has become common to use such phrases as "together with their parents" or other alternatives and you can find many examples online to help you.

In terms of addressing, you may choose to have a calligrapher do this or do it yourself if you have nice handwriting. I have known brides who bought a beginner-level book on calligraphy and taught themselves fairly quickly. Calligraphy can be pricey and you may not feel up to learning a new skill during the chaos of wedding planning, so another option is using your printer to address the envelopes. If it prints in color you can even have the ink match the shade of the invitations inside. Labels are another idea but can be a bit controversial. Some see this as a faux pas so be sure to at least use clear ones if you go this route for a cleaner look.

Also, make sure you know how to correctly address married and unmarried couples, families, unmarried children living at home, doctors and the like. Again, there is much information out there on this type of etiquette. You will also need to decide whether you will add "and guest" to the invitations you send to your single friends and family members. This is purely a personal decision.

Some Final Tips

Finally, have one of your invitations weighed at the post office to be sure you have the correct postage before sending them all out. Embellishments and heavier cardstock can make them quite heavy. If you are including a response envelope that will need to have a stamp as well for your guests convenience.

Hopefully these tips and wedding invitation ideas will help make this aspect of your wedding preparations a little less stressful. Give yourself plenty of time to have the invitations ordered, assembled and sent out and you can check one more thing off your list which feels great! Happy planning!