Your mother-in-law is probably the perfect helper when it comes to planning your wedding, isn’t she? Truth be told, sometimes dealing with family members can be a challenge when planning your wedding, and mother-in-laws are typically the family member you will have a challenge with. If you follow some basic tips you will get more of what you want, have a better relationship with your mother-in-law and be less likely to turn gray while planning your wedding.
She Really Does Mean Well
Mother-in-laws can often be overbearing with their input in your wedding plans. Their son is getting married, and they have their own ideas of what a proper wedding should look like. Remember that most mother-in-laws really do mean well. Keep reminding yourself that when you think she is just trying to butt into your life. It’s better to try and be diplomatic than to start fighting with your new mom.
Make Her Feel Good
Your mother-in-law might mean well but if her plans don’t match up with yours you have a problem. Sit down with your mother-in-law and politely tell her thanks, but no thanks. Tell her nicely that you know what you want and you really appreciate her input. Think of parts of your wedding that she can help with that won’t make a difference on your wedding day. For example perhaps your mother-in-law can be in charge of the out of town guests and can help them plan for their stay. Or assign her the task of helping with the rehearsal dinner. Pick one or two things that are important that she can help with and hopefully she will be too busy working on those tasks, and won’t bother you about more important aspects of the wedding.
Avoid Trouble
If you find yourself constantly arguing with your mother-in-law during the planning process, it may be better to limit your communication so that your differences don’t escalate further. If she calls, send it to voicemail. Send her an email and tell her you missed her call and see if you can communicate that way. Remember that this isn’t a lifetime arrangement. After the wedding the stress level for you and her will deflate and you can work on repairing the relationship.
Planning your wedding is stressful enough and you really don’t need the added tension of arguing with your mother-in-law about the wedding plans. Remember not to make rash decisions that you will regret later. Think before you speak, and try to compromise when possible. If your mother in law is helping pay for the wedding, have a discussion with your new in laws and set the expectations that while you really appreciate the financial help, you have some ideas of how you want your day to be. Your wedding planning is the beginning of the rest of your life with your groom, but also the beginning of the relationship with your mother-in-law. By being diplomatic and avoiding unnecessary fighting with your mother-in-law you will have a better relationship with your groom, as well as your future in-laws.
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Every bride wants her wedding to be perfect. A surprisingly big part of this is the purchase of wedding flowers. There are some ideas you can use to make sure this part of the plan goes exactly as you need it to make sure your wedding day is exactly how you want. You also want to be able to pull off the day on a budget, so indulge with these money saving tips!
One: The Right Florist
You have to be able to find the florist you trust with your wedding flowers. While price is definitely your top concern, you should also keep in mind the florist who wants to serve your needs the best. A good florist will have access to many different modes of acquiring your wedding flowers and they will often offer you discounts if you buy in bulk.
Two: The Right Budget
You should determine how much money will be going to the purchase of your flowers. If you figure that 10 percent of your budget is dedicated to the flowers then you should stick with that. Go no higher and no lower. Make sure that your florist knows your budget and helps you to stick with it while serving your needs.
Three: The Right Vision
Only you and your bride/groom should be making the decisions on the wedding. While others can offer suggestions, the vision is yours. Your wedding flowers should express your vision totally and be a pinnacle of exactly what you need and desire in flowers. Seek out bridal magazines to find the right kind of flowers for you.
Four: The Right Setting
Your wedding flowers are going to be positioned somewhere as a monument to the marriage. Whether you want them at the reception as centerpieces or display them on a beautiful wood kitchen island for the guestbook attendant, or on the wedding aisle they have to look as close to perfect as possible. Your florist should be able to offer suggestions to you about where the wedding flowers should be placed and how.
Five: The Right Colors
Your flowers have to match the wedding party. Most of the groomsmen will probably be clad in black tuxedos so you mainly have to work with the bridesmaids and your mothers. The flowers should complement the dresses without outshining them or standing out too much. It’s a waste of time to pick the flowers before you get your wedding colors.
Six: The Right Dress
The florist will need to see your dress before they can properly prescribe your wedding flowers. You might think this is irrelevant, but the type of dress you wear will directly influence the types of flowers the florist will suggest. Your wedding flowers will have to complement your dress just as the colors of bouquets will complement the bride’s maids. This will also allow for you to stay within your budget, and at the same time choosing the perfect flowers.
Seven: The Right Commitment
Drafting a contract between you and your florist might not be the first thing you’ve thought of, but if you don’t, you run the risk of being left at the altar with no flowers. As well, you may end up with a bill larger than expected. Make sure the price is drafted as soon as it is decided upon so the florist cannot change the commitment.
Following these seven guidelines, will definitely keep you on budget. Flowers are the beauty of any wedding so indulge with these budget saving tip.
Romona Weston and her family lives in the beautiful Amish countryside of Lancaster County, PA. She loves everything about weddings and have helped many brides on their special day! She is a mom to 7 beautiful children and is married to a very patient and loving man. Romona loves to organize, write and hike and started a review blog where she uses her love for writing to give thorough and in-depth reviews, of all models and kinds of portable and stationary kitchen carts and kitchen islands and rolling kitchen carts on wheels. As a researcher she presents an unbiased view of products. Explore her reviews at http://www.kitchencarts360.com. If you are a retailer or manufacturer and would like her to review your product you can contact her via her website.
Image: http://www.weddingfloweridea.com
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]]>Because even the most unique weddings can seem redundant after awhile, one of the best ways to add a little spice to your ceremony and/or reception is to incorporate your cultural heritage into the design of the wedding.
Whether your heritage is Chinese, Indian, Greek, Irish, African-American or even American, there are numerous ways you could incorporate your own culture into the style of your wedding. Here are some things to keep in mind if you’re hoping to plan a cultural wedding:
The wedding music
Finding a specific band and/or songs to play at your wedding is one of the easiest ways to incorporate your cultural heritage into your wedding. If you are of Irish descent, for instance, you could find a Celtic group to perform at your reception, or if you are African-American you could look into some R&B performers or even traditional African drummers to perform on your special day.
If you’re lucky enough to find the right performer, you could hire them o perform a song in the language of your culture, or even dress up in a traditional outfit and dance out a routine as well.
Sometimes it’s as easy as a Google search in finding the right band to perform at your wedding, but if are struggling to find the right band and/or musician online you could always do some research into the various musicians and bands that are known for performing a certain genre or style of music, and then download their music off iTunes.
Bridesmaids dresses
Incorporating your cultural heritage into the design of your bridesmaids dresses can be a little tricky, especially if you are on a strict budget. Not only that, some cultures (like the American Indian culture for example) believe that white is a color of mourning, so be sure to do the proper research beforehand before picking the colors for your bridesmaid dresses.
Sometimes it can be as easy and choosing a specific color for your dresses that will match the flag of your country, (for instance blue and red if you are English, or red if you are Chinese). You could also try shopping around for different designs, like a plaid design if you are of Scottish descent, or even traditional Geisha dresses if you are of Japanese descent.
Food and alcohol
When it comes to incorporating your cultural heritage into the food that will be eaten at your wedding, the world is your oyster…literally.
All you have to do is do some background research into the most common and favourable dishes that are typically eaten in a specific country, and you could also look into alcohol and/or beverages as well.
If you are of Asian descent you could serve some Saki or even rice wine at your reception, or if you are of French descent you could have some classy red and white wine to leave out for your guests.
Flowers
When choosing the flower arrangements for your wedding or even the bouquet for the bride, try to research the various traditional flowers and plants that are prominent in your country of heritage.
If you are planning a traditional Indian wedding, try to pick flowers like the water or gloriosa lily, orchids, and musk rose. For traditional French weddings look for lilies or yellow and purple irises.
Superstitions and customs
If you truly want to pull off a cultural wedding, it is extremely important to look into the various superstitions and customs for each heritage and culture.
For instance, if you are planning a Russian wedding it is custom for the male guests to bring flowers, but not to give yellow flowers as they are considered to be bad luck. For a traditional Swedish wedding, the bride must wear three bands on her wedding finger, and for Spanish weddings the bride must carry twelve coins given to her by the groom in a small bag as a symbol of the groom’s passion and support.
For a traditional Korean wedding, apparently it is superstition to incorporate ducks and geese into the ceremony as they represent faithfulness, and in a traditional Greek wedding the bride must carry sugar on her wedding day to “ensure she has a sweet life.” Also, in Eastern European ceremonies, it is custom for the bride and groom to circle the altar three times to represent their “first steps together as husband and wife.”
Bio: Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education where she’s written on online graphic arts programs along with a piece on English degree programs. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, playing piano, and working with origami. 
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]]>After all, it’s your day; why not make it your own?
Here are four crazy wedding ideas for the hopelessly in love.
1. Get Married and Cross Something off Your ‘Bucket List’ at the Same Time
Have you ever wanted to go sky diving? Scuba diving? Bungee jumping? Parasailing? Rock climbing? Surfing? Skiing? If there’s something you’ve both always wanted to do, now is the time. Your wedding day only happens once and the sky’s the limit. Couples have said their vows underwater, free falling from the sky, and on the side of a mountain. No matter what you’ve both always wanted to do, there’s a way to make it happen as part of your wedding ceremonies.
2. Get Married at an Extreme Location
Is there a special place where you both met? How about a place that you’ve always wanted to go? Whether you’re looking to get married in Italy or you’re thinking about getting married at SXSW (it recently ended but you can still plan for next year), get creative with your partner and dream big.
There’s no reason you should settle for anything less.
Get married on a boat, on an island, in a foreign country, or at a live event to make even more memories that you’ll never forget.
3. Have a Themed Wedding that Matches Your Interests
Themed weddings may seem like a silly idea to those who want a traditional church wedding- but for those hopelessly in love that share the same passions, a themed wedding might be just what you need.
Are you both comic book geeks? Have a comic-themed wedding and enforce a costume-only dress code. Are you foodies? Plan an extreme tasting menu for you and your guests. If you’re both wine aficionados, research local wineries. Photographers can rent a photo booth or decorate their reception hall with shots they’ve taken. Have a sports-themed wedding outside (or in) your favorite venue. Dog lovers can even have their dogs be in the wedding party. Ask yourself what you love to do together, and use that as a springboard for personalizing your wedding.
4. Use Romance as Your Inspiration
Host a fairy-tale wedding, complete with tiaras and rose petals. Recreate a favorite old movie scene. Go horseback riding on the beach at sunset. Invite your guests to a tropical paradise for your wedding. Start by discussing what you both picture when you say the word “romance” and go from there. Do you see an intimate candlelit dinner? How about a picnic near a waterfall?
Do you picture you both languishing with an umbrella drink in side-by-side hammocks?
Even if he sees a cozy cabin and you see candlelight, you can easily combine these two aesthetics so you’ll both have the romantic wedding of your dreams.
There’s no reason you need to follow every wedding rule and tradition in the book. It’s your day, so make it something that you’ll like, with memories you’ll always cherish. Forget what everyone else wants. So what if your family is pushing for a big church wedding? If you want something small and intimate on the beach, do it.
As long as you’re pleasing yourself and your future spouse, it’s sure to be the wedding of a lifetime.
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Just as with any big show, your wedding day will not be perfect – but that’s okay. While you cannot plan ahead for every little detail or problematic situation that may arise, you can arm yourself with some helpful advice to be prepared at all times for any potential wedding mistakes. But before you begin planning your special day, consider these five biggest wedding preparation and planning mistakes that amateur ‘wedding planners’ often make.
1. Not Budgeting Costs
It’s hard to believe, but true – many couples do not create a budget when it comes to wedding preparation and end up in a deep hole of debt. The very first thing you should do to avoid disastrous (and bankrupting) wedding mistakes is devise an itemized budget, allowing for the necessary requirements, such as a venue for both the ceremony and reception, food and drinks, flowers, favors, decorations, etc. If anything is left over, either use this money for your honeymoon or spend it on something a little more frivolous, like a horse drawn carriage for your departure from the reception.
Budgeting ahead of time also involves your acknowledging the fact that you may surpass the total by at least 10%. Surprises do happen, so cutting back on other needless things will ensure that you don’t go over budget too much. In these initial wedding preparation stages, you and your fiancé need to discuss who will be paying for what. It used to be that the bride’s parents paid for everything, but this ideal is slowly fading away. If you’re still coming up short on funds, there are literally hundreds of ways to cut costs for your wedding day, including having fewer guests, choosing an off-season date, selecting flowers that are in season, and having friends and family play a bigger part by making the wedding cake or trying their hand at photography.
2. Not Giving Yourself Enough Time
The image of the harried bride has been engrained into the psyche through a number of television shows that hype up the combination of little to no time and a ‘my way or the highway’ attitude. This is why giving yourself ample wedding preparation time is necessary to ensuring that your wedding flows seamlessly. If you want a large, extravagant wedding, you need to begin planning at least a year and a half in advance; for a smaller, more intimate wedding of about 50 guests, eight months to a year is fine. You need to take into account what your plans are for your wedding and adjust your schedule accordingly to prevent costly wedding mistakes from occurring.
Giving yourself more wedding preparation time allows you to order your cake, dress, wedding favors, flowers, decorations, etc. well in advance so that you don’t come up empty-handed from last minute rushing. Allotting enough time also applies to your wedding ceremony and reception. Don’t keep your guests waiting at the reception venue while you and your wedding party are taking hundreds of photos – consider taking a majority of the pictures before the ceremony and the all-important couple, wedding party, and family pictures after the vows have been exchanged.
3. Not Delegating Responsibilities
Delegating responsibilities, wedding preparation tasks, and roles is vital – you cannot do everything! For brides, their bridesmaids are there to help them with the important duties of the wedding day, so creating a short list of responsibilities for each friend is not unexpected. Mothers, family members, and friends are also glad to help run a few errands or make calls for you if you ask. Just make sure you ask someone you know will get the job done on time.
Part of the wedding experience also relies on a number of people who require detailed wedding preparation directives from you, such as the caterer, photographer, florist, transportation and/or drivers, and DJ. Discussing your ideas with them ensures that you can work together on the same wavelength and avoid embarrassing wedding mistakes during the actual reception. You should also arrange for the wedding party to meet at the church or the wedding ceremony location at a specified time. Corralling so many people at the same time is what leads many couples to pick up the wedding party members at their homes. Late arriving wedding party members is one of the most frequent and sometimes uncontrollable wedding mistakes a bride and groom have to deal with.
4. Not Hiring a Wedding Planner or Someone You Trust
Many brides swear by their wedding planners, and yes, it’s true that they take care of just about everything involved in wedding preparation and planning, preventing a number of the more common wedding mistakes brides make. It’s kind of like you and your fiancé are the stars, while the wedding planner works behind the scenes for your big performance, seeing everything from start to finish. Wedding planners know all the ins and outs of great wedding preparation and planning and can help the couple find reliable caterers, bridal attire and supply stores, transportation, and DJs at lower prices. Before signing any contracts, however, talk with the wedding planner to see if it’s a situation you’re happy with.
While incredibly helpful, wedding planners can also be pricey, unfortunate for the bride who is trying to cut costs. This scenario goes back to delegating responsibilities – ask someone you trust to help you make wedding preparation arrangements and appointments with each wedding supply store and/or vendor. You can even scale back operations and have a simplistic wedding that you plan or DIY completely to save money.
5. Not Fully Considering the Reception Venue and Details
Sending your guests on a wild goose chase to find the reception venue is something that happens more often than you’d think and is one of the biggest wedding mistakes couples overlook. For out-of-town guests, this is confusing; for in-town guests, it’s an annoyance. Choosing a reception venue that’s close to the wedding site is a must, unless you provide the transportation to and from the reception. More than 15 – 20 minutes away is a hassle, and some guests may not even bother going if it’s farther than that.
Otherwise, if your reception venue is outside (or exposed to the elements), rain and windy conditions may appear so you should always have a back up in cases of inclement weather. A rained out wedding reception is one of the more common wedding mistakes brides have neglected to plan for. Part of the wedding preparation necessities should also include your requesting the venue’s landscaper to spray for bugs so your guests aren’t being bitten by mosquitoes and gnats.
Learn to Laugh Off Those Wedding Mistakes
Pre-wedding preparation, while helpful, will inevitably miss some little detail of your big day. These wedding mistakes (or, more likely, minor ‘blips’) are to be expected and may even provide a funny moment for you and your fiancé to laugh about in the future. Wedding mistakes do and will happen, but you shouldn’t be bothered by them. Simply go on with the show and smile – no one will know the difference!
Cherie Johnson is the founder and owner of Creative Bride, a one-stop shop for personalized, unique baby and bridal shower and wedding favors, helping couples. Cherie’s wedding advice has appeared on several websites including Little Wedding Guide, Wedding Lenox, and The Wedding Source. For more information on Creative Bride, please visit http://www.Creative-Bride.com.
Photo by audioeric & by saikofish
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Finally – something about the wedding that doesn’t involve what color the flowers should be or how many tiers the wedding cake should have! One wedding-related issue that should get most guys very excited is cars. It’s the groom’s financial responsibility to arrange transportation from the reception site to the hotel, airport, or wherever else the married couple will be headed after the festivities have ended. Because there are a lot of options when it comes to wedding transportation, we’ve broken it down to help simplify the decision. Here are some of the most popular options.
Traditional Limousine - You can’t go wrong with this traditional and always classy option.
Stretch SUV – Popular models include the Cadillac Escalade, Ford Excursion, and Hummer limos. Just be sure to book early because these choices tend to go fast!
Sports Car - Check your local phone book for companies that specialize in renting high-end sports cars such as Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Or if you happen to know someone who’s a car collector, you might even be able to borrow one for the occasion.
Classic Car – This is another classy option. Rolls Royce, Packard, or Bentley limos are usually available through a limo service.
Horse Drawn Carriage – If you want to make your bride feel like she is in a fairytale, this could be your best bet. These are very popular for summer weddings when you can count on the weather being warm. If you or someone you know owns a horse, this could be the perfect opportunity to include pets in the wedding.
Want to Stand Out from the Crowd? – Use your imagination. On your wedding day, the world is your oyster. If you want to fly off in a helicopter, make it happen!
How soon should you book? Grooms should reserve your transportation no later than four months before the wedding. This is especially important if you’re getting married during the popular spring and summer wedding months. If you wait too long, you could end up calling every limo service in the state to find exactly what you want.
Typically, your costs will include a flat hourly rate, fuel, and gratuity. Most limo services that specialize in weddings can also provide champagne, wine, or flowers in the vehicle (at an extra cost). However, if you really want any of these extras, we recommend buying it yourself and dropping it off beforehand to save you a few bucks.
It’s pretty tough to go wrong with any of these choices. If you’re a car lover, go with something that represents your style, and surprise your bride with some champagne waiting in the car. This ride can often be some of your first alone time as a married couple. Have a toast in honor of each other.
http://themanregistry.com/Groom101.aspx
Photo by tomeppy
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If you grew up like I did with a romantic vision of what my wedding should be like, then no matter how many questions there are to ask yourself, you’re sure of one thing, it needs to be perfect. Nowadays not everyone appears as concerned about finding the perfect dress, but for most of us – deep inside – it really does matter.
As soon as you begin planning or the big day, choosing your wedding dress becomes an urgent need for most brides. Nobody wants to wait. While dealing with wedding stress and preparations, be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to try on different styles and find the one who says “you”.
The theme of your wedding will be an important point when selecting that special dress. Are you getting married on the beach? If so, you might choose a light airy style. Have you decided on a formal affair? Then by all means, go all out and wear a white dress covered in silk and lace. Whatever type of occasion your wedding will be, your dress will play one of the most important roles in it!
It’s also important to think about the month and season you are getting married in. If you are having a middle of summer wedding, then you probably shouldn’t wear a wedding dress with double layers or long sleeves. After all, this is supposed to be the most memorable day of your beginning together. You don’t want the biggest memory to be how much you sweated through the whole ceremony!
When choosing a wedding dress, try on comfortable styles. Walk around in them, if kneeling is part of your ceremony, then kneel in the dress. You need to certain that you will be comfortable in your choice. The beauty of the dress is only half of your decision – the other half is looking beautiful, happy and elegant. And you won’t look – or be – happy if you are holding your breath so seams do not pop or you’re itchy from the lace on your arms.
One mistake that a lot of brides tend to make when choosing a wedding dress is with the size. If you are planning on losing weight before your big day, do not buy a dress the size you think you may be come the wedding day. Instead buy the size you are on the day you choose the dress. It will always be easier to take a dress in if it is too big. It’s an awful job trying to add material for a dress that ended up being too small.
With the expense of weddings, some couples try and cut back by making their own flowers, having a family member bake the wedding cake or hiring a friend to take wedding photos. Although it is okay to cut back and still have your dream wedding, don’t skimp when choosing your wedding dress. If you cannot afford to hit a wedding boutique and pay their prices, try wedding consignment shops, who offer ‘like new’ dresses at an affordable price. Remember too that there are many discount wedding dress shops.
Whatever style, color or price range you eventually decide on when choosing your wedding dress, don’t forget that it’s you your fiancé fell in love with, not your dress. The dress adds to the ambiance of the day, but it isn’t the real centerpiece.
After you have chosen your wedding dress hang it in the bag it comes in and don’t show it to everybody. Give guests something to look forward to when they see you for the first time walking down the aisle. And unless it is truly unavoidable, don’t let your future husband see your dress at all before the wedding. They say it’s bad luck and even if that’s just a superstition, it certainly does spoil his surprise!
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photo credit: www.sweetchicevents.com
Don’t underestimate the usefulness of hiring a qualified and experienced wedding planner or wedding coordinator.
Each and every year around 2.5 million weddings take place nationwide. This means that the number of weddings that will take place in your immediate area is astounding. Your wedding plans are going to be affected by number of factors, because many more weddings will happen at or around the same time as yours.
If you want even the tiniest little detail to be taken care of at your wedding, it would be recommended that you hire a wedding planner. He or she can save you a lot of time and money. The wedding planner will help you coordinate your wedding and the most important of all they will save you from frustration.
So, what is a wedding planner anyway, and what do they do?
A wedding planner (sometimes called a wedding consultant, wedding coordinator or a wedding producer) is hired to help the bride and groom coordinate a wide variety of tasks associated with their wedding. Planning your wedding can get vary frustrating at times that will make you forget about the fun that you need to have. So, it is a good idea to spend a little bit more on a wedding planner to make sure your wedding day goes smooth.
A wedding planner can help plan many aspects of your wedding, including DJs, floral arrangements, cake, seating arrangements, invitations, photography, and so on. In some cases, they might also be able to use their industry connections with vendors to get you a good deal on many things.
The wedding planner will conduct an interview with the bride-to-be and the groom, and then coordinate the details of the wedding that have been agreed upon. A good wedding planner should be able to assist in organizing, budgeting, purchasing services for your wedding, and after the interview he or she will put a contract together that you and him or her need to sign. Without a contract there’s a lot of room for misunderstanding and confusion of what was agreed upon.
In the contract, or often referred to as a letter of agreement, the wedding planner will include his or her services, the cost of these services and payment terms.
When you receive the contract, if there’s anything you do not agree with or anything not to your desire, discuss it before signing. When you sign the contract, you and your soon to-be wedding planner have to agree on all of the items listed to avoid any possible misunderstanding. But remember: even though you have been through the interview process, you are not obligated to continue with his or her service until you sign the contract.
So, how can you find a good wedding planner?
Nowadays, it’s probably the easiest to find them on the Internet. But, it’s best if you know anyone who had had them for their wedding. Referrals are always the best.
Even if you have to seek help from the Internet or yellow pages, be sure to ask for his or her credentials. Ask for references from each of your potential planners and research their past work. Also, ask to see a few other weddings your potential planner has prepared. This will help you make a decision very easily of whether you like their style or you need to seek another one.
Some of the advantages of hiring a wedding planner are: saving you from frustration; money savings, since most have connections in the industry; low stress, and so on.
However, there could also be some disadvantages, such as: overconfident (ego) planner may try to convince you into having a wedding of his or her dreams and not of your dreams. If you’re a person who likes to be known or to show off, hiring a planner may not be a good idea as they will be in charge of your wedding. Another disadvantage would be that you may hire a scam artist who may not have done any weddings while broadcasting his or her enormous experience. That’s why it is vital to do a thorough research on the planners of your interest.
So, how much does a wedding planner cost?
Expect their fee to be anywhere between 5% and up to 20% of your total wedding budget.
Some important points:
- Be sure your wedding planner is a member of the Association of Bridal Consultants.
- Contact your wedding planner’s references. Contact at least three brides and be sure that the wedding planner performed well.
- Be sure the wedding planner is dressed to match on your wedding day.
Photo credit: www.sweetchicevents.com
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“Unveiling Weddings” Book Launches as the Something Blue for Today’s Bride Co-Authors mix narrative stories and solid psychotherapy tools to create a fun-loving read that brings peace of mind for brides-to-be
San Francisco, CA – The old adage, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” just got a modern gift idea for the bride-to-be before her wedding day with “Unveiling Weddings,” a smart read written by two psychotherapists who bring a collection of stories and advice for brides to make the most out of their engagement. The book gives readers emotional support to find clarity, balance and joy leading up to their big wedding day and it’s the perfect girlfriends’ guide to support the bride from “Yes” to “I Do!” With a cauliflower blue book cover and illustration of a bride riding a bicycle with her feet up in the air, the book instantly references the balancing act brides face during their engagement that can turn any self-assured woman into an anxious “bridezilla.” On November 29, 2010 “Unveiling Weddings” will be available for purchase at www.amazon.com or on www.unveilingweddings.com for $14.95 in a 173-page paperback edition.
Co-authors Rebecca Sacerdoti, Ph.D., and Tasha Jackson Fitzgerald, M.A., who make their living helping individuals navigate their major life transitions, were struck by the intensity of issues a bride-to-be faces when planning her wedding. From cultural and social expectations to relationship fears and amplified family dynamics, an engagement brings an immense opportunity for a bride-to-be to get a better understanding of herself and her relationship with her future husband. Through a variety of narratives and comforting psychological guidance, “Unveiling Weddings” brings a chance for brides-to-be to feel nourished throughout the marriage planning process. With chapter titles such as “I Am Engaged, But I Feel a Bit Zany,” and “Relationships: Managing the 3 F’s Without Letting the ‘F’ Word Sneak In” the book will bring smiles, serenity and happy tears for the bride-to-be who reads about the myths and legends passed down from one generation to the next. This shared knowledge can help a woman experience her engagement as a time of empowerment and as an opportunity to improve her relationships.
“I was able to smile at things that happened on my wedding day, like when my mother-in-law took it upon herself to surprise us all with a song to her son to the tune of Celine Dion,” said former bride Michelle Walsh. If I hadn’t read the book “Unveiling Weddings,” I might not have had the insight to put my ‘quickie calmer’ into action and remember that everything will work out – now the story brings laughs to my husband and me.”
According to the Bridal Association of America, there were more than two million weddings held in 2009 with an average engagement lasting 17 months. Today’s bride is more aware about constructive psychotherapy tools that can be instrumental in helping to ease the challenges leading up to the big day, yet schedules and budgets may not allow for one-on-one scheduled visits to a therapist. For those brides, “Unveiling Weddings” is a welcomed “something blue” that will bring peace of mind leading up to and on her wedding day. In addition, the book may also be referenced as a tool as part of an ongoing therapist practice with brides-to-be nationwide.
“We wanted to write a book that would support women through this important rite of passage by providing them with stories and psychological insight, so they could get the most of their engagement,” said Rebecca Sacerdoti, who has a doctorate in psychology. “As co-authors, Tasha and I worked tirelessly to capture the best stories and write in a style that makes the book accessible and fun-loving. We’re proud that “Unveiling Weddings” can be read from front to back or flipped through for the chapters of interest that a bride-to-be can turn to when she needs it.”
Brides can also engage with the expert authors and fellow readers through social media channels including Facebook (www.facebook.com/unveilingweddings) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/readytowed). Through these interfaces, the authors will share information on upcoming book signings, recommended resources, nuggets of wisdom, and more. The online resources are a welcomed addition to the host of wedding conversations taking place, as well as the resources found in “Unveiling Weddings.” The book’s focus is helping brides to find their authentic voice and experience during their engagement rather than seeking to aspire to a level of unachievable perfection.
More information about “Unveiling Weddings” can be found by visiting www.unveilingweddings.com or by e-mailing [email protected].
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source: Bridalguide.com
There are plenty of ways that a bride and groom can personalize their wedding. Adding their own little touches or even big touches into their wedding can make their wedding day their very own. From everything from personalized favors to incorporating heritage or culture into your wedding, here are several ways that you can personalize your wedding day.
Instead of using boring numbers for your seating arrangements at your wedding ceremony, use names of places or things that have to do with your relationship. It could be things like places that you have visited, your favorite foods, the letters from your last name or any other hobbies or interests that you have.
Choose a first dance song that is not so ordinary. If you really want to get daring, take a couple dance classes before your wedding and really wow the socks off your guests. They will be expecting the same old slow song first wedding dance and instead you can give them a tango or fox trot routine. If you are really, really daring, choose a dance song and choreograph a dance routine to it.
For the wedding reception menu, re-create what you ate on your first date. If you went to an Italian restaurant, you can have rigatoni, sausage, lasagna, and chicken parmigiana for your menu. Another option is to have your favorite restaurant cater the wedding for you.
A simple way to add your own personalization to your wedding, is to buy personalized wedding favors. These favors can have your names, date of the wedding, or just your monogram. There are a variety of favors that you can choose from such as candy bars, mint tins, and CDs.
Incorporate any cultural traditions into your wedding ceremony or reception. You may have to do some research for this, but this is a great way to remember your family and its past heritage. You can easily find wedding traditions online for just about any culture or nationality.
If you are musically gifted, then you can sing or play your spouse a song. This is a great way to make your wedding your very own and pay such a special tribute to your new spouse. Even if you are not musically inclined, you can always write a poem for them or even just recite a love poem.
Instead of having a traditional wedding guest book, have your guests write advice and well wishes on pieces of paper. You can then take those pieces of paper and make your own scrapbook out of them. This way you actually have nice messages from your guests rather than just their name signed in a book.
Show your personalization with your wedding cake. Use a personalized wedding cake topper to show off your new name or monogram on your cake. This is a very trendy idea but still adds originality to your wedding, as it says who you are now as a couple.
Display pictures of your parents, grandparents, and siblings from their weddings at a special table. This is a unique way to involve your family and show that you are all one extended family. It also celebrates the ceremony of marriage and the commitment that is made.
There are plenty of ways that a couple can personalize their wedding. The best way is to think of what your interests and hobbies are as a couple and draw from those and your past to come up with some great ideas.
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