As women, when we are asked to be married, the first thing that comes to our mind is the ceremony. We picture it all in white lace, satin and roses. More importantly we already have an image of all of our bridesmaids in our mind. In our perfect picture we see all of our friends, sisters, and cousins standing there in a wonderful taffeta parade. The wondrous glory of it all can make our heart pound with joy. OK, now it’s time to come down from the gold laced clouds and come back to reality. That was fun wasn’t it? The fact is that we could actually have all fifteen of those ladies by our side, but how in the world will your groom come up with that many groomsmen. Not to mention all the personality conflicts that go along with gathering all of them for the task.

When choosing your bridesmaids, it is easier to begin by talking with your fiance. First figure out how many men he will be asking and get them into place. There has to be an equal number of bridesmaids and groomsmen or the wedding dance will not work out very well. Men tend not to think of these things as soon as we do so by letting him go first that part of the ceremony will be planned. This lets the groom off the hook at an early stage of the planning which is usually right where he prefers to be.

Now it is you turn. The bridesmaids are supposed to be the people you want most to share this moment of your life with. It should be the women you choose, not the ones your dear aunt believes is the right choice. There is no rule that says your bridesmaid has to be the person you spend the most time with or your sister. They should be the people you are the most comfortable with. Keep in mind that although there is a great number of women who would be thrilled if they were asked to be a bridesmaid, there are a few who cringe at the mere thought of it. Not because they don’t want to respect the fact that you asked them,  because they will probably do it anyway if asked to. But because the idea of a wedding and being a part of it is just not something they would enjoy. Try to be a good judge of character when choosing your bridesmaids, if you know this person would dislike it, then ask the next person on your list. If you do that, then you will be keeping that friend happy which is what you wanted to begin with. This process can be a dramatic event for a bride and her friends so be prepared and try not to fall into the drama yourself.

The wedding day is definitely one of the most important events in the life of a marrying couple. This marks the day when two people will live together as one.

There is a long lifetime to look forward to. Thus, it will definitely be a good way to start this togetherness in the best way possible. It is a must to come up with the most perfect wedding.

Weddings can vary as much as the personalities of every person differ from one another. Some can go every elegant. Some can be very expensive. Some are simple and intimate. Some are just beyond words to describe the magnificence.

This characteristic will all depend on the theme that the marrying couple will choose. As such, picking the best theme for the wedding will be very crucial in the whole success of the special celebration.

The couple must keep in mind the desires of their heart and the plans they have when they pick out the perfect wedding theme.

For brides and grooms who want to have a cozy and fun wedding celebration, then the garden wedding is the best idea.

The Garden Wedding

Setting the wedding celebration in the garden can be one of the most romantic events there will be. The location can provide a sensual atmosphere that will make the event simply elegant.

The garden serves as a good environment that makes one feel close to nature without having to leave to some far off location away from civilization. The plants, shrubs and flowers can provide enough feeling of serenity and simplicity.

This garden theme will also allow the guests of the couple to enjoy the wedding day because it can exude a cozy and intimate charm that will make movement and conversation easy and light.

How to Have the Perfect Garden Wedding

Knowing that the garden wedding theme is a perfect way to celebrate love and life with family and friends, then it is only a must to put all efforts to put this plan into a reality.

The event should be more than just another wedding. It must impress people of the celebration of love in this wedding day. Give it the effect that you will want people to remember you by.

Here are some ideas to consider.

1. Find a location that will give the basic foundations for your garden. It may be some garden where you will only be adding some details. You can also find venues that are constructed for this type of occasion.

Look for places that have stone walls or low-hanging trees. These are the typical features of a garden that will be perfect for a wedding.

2. Accentuate the place by putting details that will awe your audience. Some of the features that will give the dramatic effect you want are rock gardens, water fountains or even a small pond with colorful fish.

3. Delicate fabrics are perfect for the tables in the garden. They can create a fine texture that will complement the elegance of the venue. You can add some vintage accents to give it more character.

4. The color that you will pick for your motif can be very well combined with some cream or white that will surround the garden.

5. If you are celebrating the wedding at night, it will be great to put some lights to embellish the taller trees in the garden.

6. The bride can also freely choose the wedding gown to wear. There are, of course, certain choices that will best complement the garden setting and give out the best impression to your guests.

Old-world styles are perfect for garden weddings. You can use details like chiffon, long sleeves, empire waist gowns or Victorian lace to make your wedding gown the best attraction for the event.

7. Make sure also that you give enough attention to the ceremony of the wedding. Better yet, do the ceremony in a trellis and this can be the focal point of the event.

A trellis can be best embellished with Spanish moss and ivy. This can also be added with some fresh flowers that will complement the motif and the gown of the bride.

Conclusion

You can easily enjoy the wedding of your dreams through the garden theme. Just put your heart and soul in every detail and surely, this will be very rewarding.

By: Molly Dalbec

Do you have a wedding coming up? Are you sick of trying to plan a wedding and fighting for overbooked halls and churches and caterers? Wouldn’t you rather get married on the white sands of Jamaica surrounded by a turquoise ocean and your most beloved family and friends? If so, you should plan a destination wedding in Jamaica. Destination weddings are very trendy right now. Destination weddings might seem extravagant but really they are very practical. The bride and groom can honeymoon without having to go anywhere and all the wedding guests get a nice vacation in addition to being able to see a loved one get married. When you plan a destination wedding you don’t have to worry over what hall to choose and what church to hold the ceremony at or anything like that either. Most of the time when you book a destination wedding all the arrangements are handled at the hotel and the event is held at the hotel or on the beach. Some resorts even have private beaches that are perfect for weddings.

Think of how great it would be to just be able to relax and be excited about your wedding and let the hotel staff handle all the arrangements. Often when you book a destination wedding there is a wedding planner assigned to help you that can tell you about different packages that the hotel offers. Many wedding packages are all-inclusive so you don’t need to worry about silverware, linens, glasses, food, the bar, entertainment or anything else. You can just relax and enjoy the beautiful tropical sunshine.

Jamaica is the perfect place for a destination wedding. It’s warm and tropical and beautiful and yet it’s close and accessible too so that travel isn’t a huge hassle for friends and family who want to attend the wedding. There are several resorts in the larger tourist towns that cater to brides who are planning weddings but any hotel or resort will have staff on hand to help you plan a wedding. Plus you can usually get a substantial discount from a hotel or resort when you book rooms for all your family and friends and have your wedding and honeymoon at that resort.

Since the bride and groom are expected to pay for the accommodations and expenses of the entire bridal party and often the guests as well that discount from the hotels can really help out your bottom line. But a destination wedding isn’t as expensive as you might think; it’s really very close to the price of a traditional wedding in most cases even with the expense of paying for the accommodations of your family and friends. For the price of a traditional wedding you can have a lovely destination wedding and vacation combined in Jamaica. Just picture what it would be like to be exchanging vows with your partner at sunset on a white sandy beach with all your loved ones there to wish you well. Wouldn’t that be a beautiful way to start your new life together?

Article Source: http://articles-mart.com

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The act  of giving traditional wedding gifts has remained popular for so long for only one reason, they are presents that people both want and need. When choosing a wedding gift you should try to choose a gift that fits in leave the wedding couples on unique tastes. You should also take into consideration the type of lifestyle that the couple tends to lead. Last but not least you should consider what type of wedding gift preferences that the intended recipients have expressed. Always make sure that any wedding gift that you give is on the best quality that you can get, this way your wedding present will be a gift which will last for a lifetime.

When giving traditional wedding gifts many people like to stay with gifts which are at home in the kitchen. Every kitchen needs the basics such as pots and pans to cook out of and of course the utensils which go a long with cooking a meal. Try to keep in mind that a kitchen is not composed just of appliances. There are several things that go into a kitchen which can be given as a wedding gift. You will need to give this some thought before choosing the wedding gift you would like to give the new couple.

The kitchen is not the only room in the house which will be used by the new couple. Areas which are perfect to consider a wedding gift are of course the bedroom, the living room and the bathroom. Bedding as a wedding gift is very traditional. You can spice it up by having their initials and embroidered onto a quilt or perhaps even their names and wedding date. For the living room the gift of a wedding portrait in a high-quality frame is an ideal gift. A perfect traditional wedding gift for the bathroom would be a monogrammed set of his and her towels.

Keep in mind that just because you are giving a traditional wedding gift it does not mean you cannot add a special touch to it and have it personalized. Personalized wedding gifts make ideal gifts because it shows that you to the additional time and effort to make your gift extra special. There are different types of personalization that can be utilized when you decide to personalize your wedding gifts. You can use the couples initials or you can spell out  their full names. Of course you can also put their names with a wedding date or a special message from you to them. A personalised wedding gift with  is always a big hit.

It makes no difference whether you decide to stay with traditional wedding gifts or if you decide to give a wedding gift which is off the beaten path. If you take the time to find out exactly what it is that the new couple is going to need you can be certain that it will make a very well received wedding gift.

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by The Powder Room

Every culture follows its own customs and practices. Whether it’s about celebrating birthdays or simply decorating homes, culture commands a great influence on how things are turned. This is very true to those who came from a Greek lineage. While there will always be some similarities of traditions in some cultures, there are still major differences in the customs followed in a Greek wedding that make it unique. So, What makes a Greek wedding distinctive from all other weddings?

Let us go through the different moments of a Greek wedding to determine how it is different from all other weddings celebrated in other parts of the world.

The Engagement. Exchanging engagement rings between a couple in front of family and friends as witnesses is considered as binding as a wedding. Then, the engagement is usually followed by by a celebration.

The Dowry. The concept of a dowry may not be uniquely Greek and may seem antiquated to other cultures, but it is still being followed by Greeks. It is usually the bride’s mother that prepares the dowry by collecting household wares such as linens, curtains, etc. The items collected as dowry help the bride to set up what she and her husband would need for their house.

The Wedding Date. Almost after the engagement, the couple plans a date for the wedding. Most weddings in Greece are usually held on a Sunday. There are no restrictions on which day to marry except on some particular dates. Most of these days fall on the country’s religious holidays like some days during Lent and the Christmas season.

The Attire. A traditional wedding veil of yellow or red, which represents fire, is commonly worn by the bride. These brightly colored veils are believed to protect the bride from evil spirits and demons.

Part of a Greek bride’s wear is a lump of sugar she must carry on her wedding day to ensure that she will have a sweet life. She may also carry ivy as a symbol of endless love.

Before the Wedding. A few days before the wedding which usually falls on Wednesday, relatives visit the bride’s house to watch a boy and a girl sieving the flour. Silence is observed through the duration of the process until enough flour has been sieved. Then those who are watching throw coins into the sieve as they yell their wishes of good luck.

Two days after, the bride’s mother places a cooper pan in a sack. As the bride continues filling it and perhaps other sacks with her belongings, visitors place coins together with her things. This ceremony is known as ‘filling of the sacks’.

Meanwhile, the groom gives away bottles of wine to his relatives and friends together with a letter inviting them to attend the wedding. The father of the bride also sends wind for his friends and relatives. By Saturday, the bride walks around the village to invite her friends and give them sweets.

The Beginning of the Wedding. The procession begins at the house of the groom where the wedding flag is located. Then the wedding flag bearer goes in front to lead everyone over to the house of the bride. Then the would-be mother-in-law serves the groom some herbs and wine for his lapel. As soon as he drinks the wine, the bride leaves the house and goes to the church clinging on the arm of her father while the rest follows her to the church.

Wedding Rings. The rings used for the engagement are the same rings that would be used for the wedding rings. These rings blessed by the priest twice. The first s during the couples’ official engagement. The second is when the priest blesses the rings and as the couple wears the rings from their left ring finger to their right hand at the wedding ceremony.

Crowns. While the ceremony takes place, The couple are crowned with thin crowns, or “stefana”. Their crowns are connected by a single stranded white ribbon. This is to signify the glory and honor that is being bestowed on them by God. This also symbolizes their unity as a couple and indicates the pair’s “rule” over their household.

Other Greek wedding traditions.

Although, these traditions are no longer widely practiced during weddings, they are still interesting traces of the rich Greek heritage.

• Rolling a baby on the marital bed is believed to encourage fertility.
• Throwing of money onto the marital bed also symbolizes luck and fortune for the couple.
• Pinning of money onto the bride and also the groom at the wedding reception is not solely Greek but is a tradition that invites fortune to rest on them..
If you have the chance to witness a Greek wedding, never hesitate to attend and be enthralled by the lavish traditions and symbols that depicts the kind of value Greeks bestow on love and marriage.