Tips for Your Wedding Invitation

Sending out wedding invitations to friends and family members has been a tradition for a long time. Modern wedding invitations have turned out to be a vital part of the wedding. I have provided number of tips about wedding invitations in this article.

What are the various wedding invitation styles?

There are different types of wedding invitations from which you can choose. You can either stick to a formal, traditional style or choose a modern and more personal invitation. You can also try a blend of the traditional and the modern style. For example you can give your invitation a traditional look with a modern message.

A traditional wedding invitation is the one, which is very formal in style. In a traditional wedding invitation, letters are engraved with black ink on a white or a fine light brown paper. The wording will be formal and will be written in third person. The script of these invitations is usually old fashioned.

Usually, this kind of wedding invitation is sent in 2 envelopes. The name and address of the guest is written in the outer envelope while the name and title of the guest is written in the inner envelope. The inner envelope has the wedding invitation, which is protected by an elegant tissue sheet.

You can choose from a variety of papers for your invitation. There are many types of papers including wood fiber, rag (cotton) and hand made in a range of textures. Moreover, You can decide from a variety of shapes and colors for your invitation. You can use traditional engravure, offset printing or thermography for printing your message. Nowadays, photo invitations have started to become very popular. So you can get your picture printed on your wedding invitation card.

You can follow many techniques to make your invitation more attractive. The ornamentations you can employ for enhancing your invitation are wax seals, pressed flowers, silk ribbons, embossing and illustrations. You can also make your message more personal and less formal by writing the message in first person and it can be addressed from the groom and bride.

Sometimes you may need a separate invitation to the reception, a reception card. If you are inviting only a few guests, then you can send the reception card enclosed with their invitations. If you are inviting all the guests to the reception then you can include the information about the reception in the invitation.

Your wedding invitation can contain the following attachments also.

• Travel instructions and map,
• Parking information,
• Pew card,
• A program of the ceremony,
• Reply card.


How to buy or make your own invitation card?

You can buy or make your own wedding invitation card. You can get ideas from bridal magazines or wedding card shops. This doesn’t mean that you should not make your own wedding cards. Couples those who have enough time and those who want to add a personal touch to their wedding can always make your own wedding card.

However, if you are a busy couple then you can select your wedding invitation by looking at samples. You can also choose the wordings as you like. So, buying stamps and finding the nearest mailbox is all that you have to do.


What are the invitation tips?

Here are a few handy invitation tips.

• You should have a complete guest list before starting to send the invitations. This is to ensure that you don’t miss any of the guests who you want to be the part of this special occasion.
• The purpose of sending invitations is that you will get an approximate count of the guests who will attend the wedding. If you include a reply card with your invitation it will further ease the task.
• In the invitation, you should clearly mention what type of setting you are planning. This will inform the guest about what to expect at the function and they can plan accordingly. You can also include the dress code. This is because guests will like to know what you expect from them.
• You can send more personalized invitations, if you plan to have a more intimate wedding. Wedding invitations may be costly if you buy them in small numbers. So, I suggest that you make your invitations. More over, if you are inviting only those who are close to you, it may be better to create your own invitation.
• To be more creative, you can also include the colors of your wedding in your wedding invitation card. You may not go wrong if you choose white for your invitation because it is never out of fashion. You can choose colors that reflect the personality of the couple.
• You should consider your taste and that of your partner’s when choosing the design of your invitation.


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2

Choosing Your Wedding Ring Would Be an Exciting Time in Your Life


Wedding is commonly believed to be the union of two souls. Therefore the wedding ring could be the most important purchase for the couples. The exchange of wedding rings between the couple symbolizes their everlasting love. In the modern era, wedding rings are available in a variety of designs and styles. Wedding rings are usually composed of various metals. In certain countries, the wedding ring will be worn on the base of the left ring finger and in other countries; it will be worn on the right ring finger. Most of the wedding rings contain only metal and sometimes a precious stone may be embedded on it.

What are the metals used for making wedding rings?

A wedding ring can be made from different metals. Wedding rings come in silver, platinum, white gold and yellow gold. The most popular choice remains to be a 14 karat yellow gold and white gold. 14 karat gold comprises of 58.33% pure gold and 41.67% other metals such as silver and copper. These gold offers excellent durability without losing its color and luster. 18 karat gold comprises of 75% pure gold and 25% of other metals. It is softer and gets easily scratched than 14 karat gold. But it has a richer color and luster.

Silver can also be used as a wedding ring, especially when your financial resources are limited. Though the silver is very soft, silver will lose its color quickly and it is prone to tarnish. Recently, the platinum has gained much popularity for the use in wedding rings. It is a heavy, dense and precious metal and it costs much more than gold. A small amount of iridium and ruthenium will be added to increase the hardness of the platinum. Platinum is an excellent choice for wedding rings as it will last for lifetime.

If you want something stylish and trendiest then a platinum wedding ring would be the best option. A plain gold ring is the most popular and traditional pattern but mostly it is designed by embedding diamonds and other precious stones on it. Titanium has recently gained much popularity as a material for wedding rings as it is a scratch resistant metal.

Why do you pay more attention to your wedding ring?

A wedding ring symbolizes your love to your beloved one. Purchasing your wedding ring can be an exciting time in your life as it will be a symbol of your love that you are going to wear throughout your lifetime. It also symbolizes true and everlasting love which the couple is promising to each other. If you want to express your love to your beloved you can choose personalized wedding rings.

What are the steps involved in selecting a wedding ring?

The primary step for getting a perfect fit is to find out the wearer's ring size. The best thing is to take the person who is going to wear the ring, and select from the available collection of rings. Then you can determine the type of metal which you are going to choose in accordance with your budget and beloved’s choice. After choosing the metal, select the stone which is to be embedded on the ring. Use same metals for the wedding and engagement rings; otherwise it would distract the attention. Moreover the gems on both rings should be the same. Most of the people prefer to have diamonds on their engagement ring and birthstones on their wedding ring. But when placed together it looks tacky. If your beloved is engaged in some physical labor, then it is advisable to go for a broader and heavier ring as it can minimize the damage and it will be able to last long. It is better to have a smooth stone that fits well into the ring.

The custom of exchanging rings is the oldest and most universal symbol of marriage. There are many hidden meanings behind the use of wedding rings but the actual origins are unclear. The ring’s circular shape symbolizes perfection and never-ending love. The couples will exchange the rings during wedding ceremony and it symbolizes the love and faithfulness of the marriage union.


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3

Make Your Wedding Reception a Joyful Occasion


A wedding reception is held in order to honor a newly wed couple where friends and relatives get together to wish them a happy and long married life. It is usually held after the completion of a marriage ceremony.

How to select a wedding reception location?

This is a very important question and you have to consider the number of guests attending the reception while choosing the location. You can eliminate those sites which are too small or too large for you, and thus saving the valuable time and effort. The professional coordinators can help you in the selection of wedding reception location based on your expected guest list.

How to arrange food and beverage to your guests?

There are many catering professionals available; you can choose a caterer under contract. Your caterer or site representative, should be able to present you with several options and packages for both food and beverage service. During a wedding reception, the lack of alcohol and how it is to be served at your reception are always a large concern. Therefore try to choose a talented caterer who is capable of handling all such situations.

The procedures in a wedding reception include

Arrival of Guests at Reception Site

Normally, a wedding lasts about 15 minutes. However, some guests may arrive early to the reception. Therefore, try to complete all arrangements for the wedding reception in advance. All the tables including cake table, food tables, sign-in table and entertainment’s table should be arranged with chairs for all guests.

Introduction of Bride and Groom

Everyone should stand when the bride and groom enter the hall. A special song can also be arranged with the music entertainment in order to make it a true grand entrance. Also, inform your master of ceremonies how you would like to be introduced.

Providing Meals

Most receptions feature a meal. It is a custom that both the bride and groom have to start the food line. Most of the guests know this custom and they will wait until the bride and groom start the food line. So don't be late. The meal is usually either a buffet dinner or plated dinner. Some couples decide to host a dessert reception.

Cake Cutting

This is a traditional custom. Both the bride and groom have to make their first cut on their wedding cake. Then, the bride feeds half of the piece of cake to the groom and the groom feeds the remaining half to the bride. Cake Cutting symbolizes the caring and sharing for one another. Usually this cake will be at least two tiers, often more.

Toasts

In most of the countries, toasts are made before or after a meal, by the wedding party for wishing the couple. The bride and groom interlock the arms then the best man and maid/matron of honor make toasts to the bridal couple.

Bride and Groom’s First Dance

The bride and groom will dance in the reception function as it will be their first dance as a married couple. The dance is also commonly known as the "first dance or bridal waltz”. The “first dance” has to be done immediately with the wedding party after the grand entrance.

Father and Daughter’s Dance

The father and daughter’s dance is the dance between the bride and her father. If the Bride do not have father, even her brother would make a very nice gesture.

Mother and Groom’s Dance

The mother and groom’s dance is the dance between the groom and his mother. If the groom does not have a mother, someone who is in the position of mother or his sister would make a very nice gesture.

Bouquet and Garter Toss

It is a custom that the bride has to toss her bridal bouquet to all single women in attendance. Immediately after the bouquet tossing, the groom removes the garter from the bride's leg and tosses to all the bachelor men in attendance. The men and women who catch the garter and bouquet are said to be the next one to marry.

Dancing and Fun

Following the various special dances, the guests are invited to join in the dancing, thus comes the importance of music entertainment. You have to inform the music entertainment group about what type of music you want.

Favors

The hosts may provide a small gift for each guest. Popular gifts include candles, chocolates and small picture frames. The party continues with toasts and various celebrations until the bride and groom leave in a car decorated by the couple's friends.

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4

What Do You Expect From Your Wedding Videographer?

Wedding videography can capture the precious moments of your wedding along with the sounds, music and momentum of your wedding. Couples spend more time in selecting their wedding photographer and fail to give importance for choosing a wedding videographer. Some times they may end up asking any of their friends or relatives to videograph the event. However, the result is often drastic. So, I recommend such an approach only when your budget is low. A good professional videographer can deliver great quality.

How to choose your wedding videographer?

When you are choosing your wedding videographer, it is essential to view samples of his previous work. Producing professional quality video needs special training and talent. Moreover, by looking at his previous work you can make a judgment on how the end result will be.

Just like interviewing wedding photographers, you should carefully interview potential wedding videographers. Here are few sample questions to be asked to your videographer.


• Who will be the actual videographer for the day?
This is because some studios may employ staff videographers. You should meet the actual person who will be filming your wedding.


• Was the sample video recorded on the same type of equipment, which will be used for filming your wedding?
• Will I incur any additional fees? If yes, then will be of what sort?
You should discuss all packages available. Negotiate all fees and also extras that you may incur.


• What will be the format of the equipment that you will use and how familiar are you to that format?
Like photography, the film versus digital debate exists in videography also. Both film and digital formats have their own benefits and shortcomings. Whatever format you prefer, make sure that your videographer is experienced and comfortable with that format.


• What backup equipment will you carry? What is the difference between the back up and the original?
Your wedding is a special and it happens once in a lifetime. It is important that the videographer has back up equipment in case his actual equipment fails. You should check the back up equipment whether it is of the acceptable quality because many videographers use old and outdated equipments as back up.


What are the tips for successful filming of your wedding?


Before researching on your videographers, you should check whether all your venues including your church, wedding, reception hall and restaurants that they allow filming. Some times you may be asked to pay service charges for receiving permission. If you choose to pay then get the permission to film on paper and also a receipt. After you have got permission from all the venues you can start your research on videographers.


The best wedding videographers are hard to find at the last minute because they usually get booked a year or more in advance. Usually wedding couples book their church and reception hall a year in advance. I suggest you to reserve your wedding videographer at the time you book your reception hall. You can have various benefits by selecting your videographer early. Your wedding videographer will get the chance to visit the venue and plan early. Videographers usually upgrade their software and equipment. At the time of your wedding you may end up with better quality equipment and obviously a better quality wedding video. As you have booked early, you will not end up paying for the upgrades.

You should take care of your wedding videographer well on the wedding day. They will have to work for long hours, carrying around all those equipments. So prepare your reception hall and church keeping the videographer in mind. Your wedding photographer may require parking space for transporting equipments in and out of hall or church quickly. This will save a lot of energy and time, which may reflect on your wedding video. Your videographer should be well prepared. You should give your videographer all possible information including your contact information.

You should feed your videographer properly. On an average a videographer would spend about more than ten hours on your wedding day. He is human and not battery powered. A hungry videographer will not be able to give his best so you have to treat him like one of your guest and give him good food.

You should ensure that the relationship between your videographer and photographer is good. Because the last thing you will need on your wedding day is that your photographer and your videographer fighting for getting a particular shot. The photographer and videographer should complement each other and not compete. You can avoid this in many ways. If you have already chosen your wedding photographer, you can ask him for a referral. He may provide you with whom he might have worked in the past. You can also make a line of contact between your videographer and your photographer long before your wedding.

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