Having an Outdoor Weddings

The pros and cons of having an outdoor wedding...

Depending on where you live, 3 of the 4 seasons allow brides to at least entertain the thought of getting married outdoors. But before you get your heart set on saying 'I do' with nothing more than the big blue sky overhead, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

- Having an alternative plan is a must. Weddings require weeks, if not months, of preparation. There's no way to predict the weather for a particular day that far in advance, so having an alternate location is essential. Your alternative location, including address, needs to be included on the invitation, too.

- You need to accommodate your guests' needs in regards to shade, bathroom facilities, parking, and convenience of getting to and from the seating area. Is it possible for guests with handicaps or limitations to attend without complications?

-Will your location have a building or room for a tent for the wedding party to get ready in? Or will you arrive ready to walk down the aisle?

-Will you hold the reception in the same location or somewhere else? If 'somewhere else' is the answer to this question, how convenient is your location to your reception area? Will guests be driving across town, several miles away, or forget it and go home?

-What happens to deposits made on either the outdoor location or alternative-depending on which one you use? Will you forfeit any monies paid for the one not used?

-What about wedding vendors; the florist, caterer, etc. Will they know where to go?

Outdoor weddings do take some extra planning, but they're not something to be discounted. An outdoor wedding can be absolutely beautiful-and there are just as many pro's as there are con's to having one...

-Outdoor weddings usually eliminate the need for flowers and other decorations. Most outdoor venues come 'wedding ready'.

-Outdoor wedding venues usually tend to be able to accommodate more people. All you have to do is make sure there are plenty of chairs.

-Outdoor weddings are often a bit less formal. This allows you to go a bit more casual with the reception decor, food served and other such items.

If you have your heart set on an outdoor wedding, then by all means, do so. It's your day. Just be sure you think ahead, have a 'plan b', and know that if you have to use it, you won't be any less happily married.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Having-an-Outdoor-Weddings

Say Your "I Dos" in a Gorgeous Bridal Lehenga Choli

The minute that your significant other pops the question and you tearfully say yes, what comes next? It usually has something to do with planning the 1,001 details involved with the wedding. One of the major decisions that you need to make is which bridal dress it is that you are going to wear to look your best on your big day. If you are planning a traditional Indian wedding, for example, one of the most popular options that most brides go for is wearing the bridal Lehenga Choli.

Worn during Indian wedding ceremonies and festivities, Lehenga Choli is an outfit consisting of a Lehenga, Dupatta and a tight choli. A choli is a blouse which bares a woman's midriff when worn. It is the base of most Indian outfits including the Indian Sari costume. Lehenga is a type of long, pleated or embroidered skirts; while a Dupatta completes the Lehenga Choli. This type of garment is made with different types of materials like:

    Brocade
    Chiffon
    Cotton
    Crape
    Khadi
    Net
    Satin
    Silk

Silk, however, is still the most preferred material. Embroidery work, beading and other embellishments are added to the garment to make it even more beautiful.

Now, if you are in the process of choosing which Lehenga Choli bridal style to wear on your big day, one of the top things that you need to consider is your body type. Just as it is with every bride, women have different body types and instead of focusing on your flaws, it does pay to choose the right style of Lehenga Choli to wear so that you can look your best on your big day.

Here are a few suggestions on how you can choose the right style to wear based on your body type:

For tall women.

For tall women, modern Lehenga Choli styles like ones with A-line, straight cut or mermaid skirts would elongate your body even more.

For petite women.

For women who are slender but are not that tall, almost any cut of the skirt for the Lehenga Choli should look good on them.

For pear-shaped women.

Pear-shaped women are those with a heavier lower body and narrower torso. If you fall under this category, choose designs which help disguise your hips, thighs and buttocks while accentuating the upper portion of your body.

For apple-figured women.

Apple-figured women are the opposite of pear shaped women. They have heavier bust lines and a narrower bottom. Instead of going for midriff-baring Lehenga Choli designs, choose ones which have a more fitted top and a loose, flowing bottom to balance out your shape.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Say-Your-I-Dos-in-a-Gorgeous-Bridal-Lehenga-Choli

Wedding Registry: 101

The wedding gift registry can be one of the most exciting things about getting married. It may seem overwhelming to pick out every single thing that will be part of your new home, but here are a few wedding registry tips to make the process easier.

When can I start to register for my wedding?

You'll want to have an idea of what you need and want before you go "shopping," so it's a good idea to start thinking about your registry shortly after your engagement. Put it on your wedding checklist as a priority task, and make sure to have your registry completed before your first bridal shower so people know where to shop for gifts.

How many places should I register?

Couples will register at anywhere from one to four stores. Be sure to allow for a variety of gift options, but don't overwhelm your guests by registering at too many retailers. Try to register at stores that offer online shopping to make things more convenient for guests. But remember not all of your guests may use the computer so don't make your wedding registry purely online.

Regardless of where you register, be sure to select items at a variety of price points so all of your guests will find a gift they're comfortable purchasing.

What do I need to register for?

It's important to take an inventory of what you already have, what needs to be updated, what you really want, and what you'll need later. For example, even if you're not hosting a lot of dinner parties now, consider that at some point you might, and you'll want to be prepared with good china, servingware, etc.

You can even choose to register for donations to your honeymoon fund or house payment. If this is something you're interested in doing, you should still consider creating at least one traditional registry at a store, as not everyone is comfortable giving money as a gift. Plus it's always nice to have something tangible to open!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Wedding-Registry:-101

Top Tips For Writing A Best Man's Speech

Getting ready

Do your research. No speech is improved by getting basic facts wrong, whether that's about how the groom and bride met, the names of their respective family members, or the name of their pooch. Similarly, even the most experienced speakers - in fact, especially the most experienced speakers - ensure that their speeches are structured. Again, preparation is all. There is no disadvantage in sitting down well in advance and thinking about what you'd like to say, relying on the ability to 'wing it' will rarely work. Write a draft; refine your draft; then run this past a friend whose judgement you value. Finally, once you are happy with the speech, write it up on flash cards so that you are equipped on the day itself.

Practice makes perfect
There is no substitute for rehearsal. Most best men are not regular public speakers, and so they are novices who are making a speech in an extremely emotional and very public forum. This is a very high-pressure debut, even for the most confident character. So start running through your speech well in advance of the big day. Start in front of your bathroom mirror if that's where you're comfortable! The idea is to familiarise yourself with your words. Once you feel happy and confident with the basic speech, you should graduate to running through it in front of a friend. Again, leave yourself plenty of time for this stage, as this is your chance to use their input to hone your performance. Listen to their comments and incorporate them!

Timing is all

Traditionally, the wedding breakfast format has run: ceremony; photographs; reception; dinner; then speeches and dancing. However, more and more weddings now feature the speeches before dinner starts. If you can persuade the happy couple to consider this option, it has real advantages for the nervous best man. Your audience is already in the mood - they've had the ceremony, and some refreshments at the reception - so you're not speaking to an unreceptive group. However, no one is too drunk, meaning no boisterous heckling, and more importantly you can get the speech done early in proceedings. Then you can relax and enjoy the rest of the celebrations, and that includes a glass or three of champagne.

Humour

Lastly, a word on humour. There is a premium on the best man's speech being a comic turn. This leads to often ill-advised jokes scattered seemingly at random through the speech. If you are not naturally a comic genius - and how many of us are? then avoid this temptation. This is where thought and practice are at a premium. Use the support of your chosen friend and take their advice. Learn a couple of set piece jokes if necessary, and remember - you are not delivering a speech to a party conference or a sermon. Your best man's speech can be short but sweet, and better that than remembered for all the wrong reasons.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-Tips-For-Writing-A-Best-Mans-Speech

Tips For Choosing Your Wedding Party

One of the first tasks on your wedding checklist should be selecting the members of your wedding party. While this may seem like a fun part of planning, remember to choose wisely: There are actual responsibilities involved with being a bridesmaid or groomsman. Your best friend from college may seem like a fun bridesmaid, but will she be available and willing to complete all her tasks? Here are some things to consider when choosing your wedding party.

Maid/Matron of Honor

The maid or matron of honor (she's a matron if she's married and a maid if she's not) can easily end up with the most responsibility in the wedding party (save for the bride and groom). Her number one responsibility is keeping the bride calm and cool both during the planning process and on the wedding day. Some of her many other tasks may include organizing the bridal shower and bachelorette party, assisting with pre-wedding errands and projects (such as wedding dress shopping, helping design the wedding website, invitation addressing, etc.), and wedding day responsibilities such as coordinating the bridesmaids, signing the marriage license, and giving a toast at the reception.

Best Man

The groom may be tempted to choose the biggest party animal in his group of pals to be his best man, as he is head of the bachelor party planning committee. However, the best man is also responsible for keeping the groom on schedule throughout the wedding day, as well as giving the first toast at the reception. He will also hold onto the wedding bands for the ceremony, and may be asked to give remaining payments and gratuities to the wedding vendors.

Bridesmaids

In addition to helping the bride get ready for the big day, and attending and helping to organize the showers and bachelorette party, bridesmaids also serve as backup for the maid/matron of honor. Bridesmaids should be available for dress shopping, to help out with DIY wedding projects, and to share any advice the bride needs.

Groomsmen

Although most men think their only task as a groomsman is to help plan a bachelor party for their buddy, there is a bit more to it. The groomsmen generally act as ushers before the ceremony - distributing programs and escorting guests to their seats.

Ring Bearers and Flower Girls

The youngest members of the wedding party walk down the aisle just before the bride. The ring bearer carries a small decorative pillow with the wedding rings (or fake rings, just in case). The flower girl may carry a basket of petals, scattering them as she walks. Small children always look cute dressed up in their fanciest attire, but make sure the kids in your wedding can handle the responsibility of walking down the aisle and sitting through the ceremony (or come up with an escape route for them before the vow begin).

Wedding planning can be stressful, but the right bridesmaids and groomsmen can help make the process easier and more fun. Just remember to consider the responsibilities of each role before you choose the members of your wedding party.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Tips-For-Choosing-Your-Wedding-Party

Asian Wedding Themes: Soothing, Sophisticated and Exotic

Asian themed weddings have become quite popular these days. The understated elegance of Asian décor can create a wedding celebration that is visually stunning. Simple, soothing and sophisticated, Asian décor also offers a touch of the exotic, a combination that has proven irresistible to many couples who wish to create a wedding look and atmosphere that is beyond the ordinary. Read on for a few tips on giving your event a bit of traditional Asian flair.

Whether your wedding will be a daytime event or an evening one, no Asian themed wedding would be complete without paper lanterns. Whether you choose mini lanterns as elements of your centerpieces or as specialty wedding favors, or large paper lanterns to serve as your primary reception lighting, lanterns are an indispensable detail of Asian wedding décor. And, no matter your wedding color scheme, you'll want to have at least a few red lanterns scattered about, since red is the color of luck in the Chinese tradition.

Fans are another must-have item for an Asian wedding theme. Decorative silk or sandalwood fans certainly lend an Asian feel when they are incorporated into the wedding décor. They can be used as table decorations, in centerpieces, placed around your guest book or given to your guests as wedding favors. Wedding programs can be printed on paper fans, and napkins can be folded into fan shape to add flair to your reception place settings. Traditional Asian fans can be purchased in a variety of sizes and can be found in an array of colors and patterns to suit any wedding color scheme.

Parasols make wonderful accent pieces in an Asian themed wedding. They can be used as decorations along the wedding aisle or carried by bridesmaids to add a colorful, exotic touch to the ceremony. As part of your reception décor, large paper parasols can be hung from the ceiling, or miniature ones used as table decorations. They can be purchased in bright, bold colors or more subtle shades, as well as in a variety of patterns.

Bamboo is traditionally included in wedding décor in some Asian cultures. Live bamboo plants scattered about as accents is a great way to use bamboo at your wedding, or use bamboo place card holders on your reception tables. Another great way to incorporate bamboo into your celebration is to give bamboo picture frames, coasters or bookmarks to your guests. Any of these items make lovely Asian wedding favors to compliment your wedding theme.

Other details that can help create just the right atmosphere at an Asian themed wedding are water features, such as small, battery operated fountains or decorative bowls with floating candles, lotus flowers, orchids or cherry blossoms. Elephants, in some Asian cultures, symbolize happiness, luck and longevity, and are traditional additions to the wedding celebration as décor elements or Asian wedding favors.

With a little imagination and research, you can put together all the elements you need for a beautiful Asian themed wedding. Whether you lean towards Chinese, Japanese or Indian elements, or a combination of them all, the simple elegance of Asian style décor is sure to set a lovely, romantic scene for your wedding celebration.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Asian-Wedding-Themes:-Soothing,-Sophisticated-and-Exotic