InvitingSmiles Blog

One of the most memorable moments during your reception will be the father and daughter dance, so choosing the right song is very important. You and your father may have a favorite song of your own. If not, then do some research and make this special dance memorable for all.

Here are some excellent song choices:

And Then They Do by Trace Adkins

In My Daughter’s Eyes by Martina McBride

Dance With My Father by Luther Vandross

The Angel In My Arms by Joe Pizzulo

And my number one favorite is Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle

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Recently YouTube featured a wedding entrance where the wedding party danced down the aisle. This informal entrance seems to be catching on. This weekend I had the pleasure of witnessing the marriage of my nephew and his new wife. We are usually a formal family, so when the groom, groomsmen and bridesmaids came dancing down the aisle in sunglasses, tuxes, and wedding gowns it was a shocker. However, I must admit, it was fun.

The entrance made everyone relax as we all clapped to the music. Once the wedding party took their places, it was back to tradition. The exchange of vows and the ceremony was beautiful and meaningful. However, the entrance made this wedding fun and memorable.

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The wedding is over, so now it is time to trash the wedding dress. Photographers are enjoying the new trend to trash the bride’s dress after the wedding. Many brides are choosing these non-traditional photographic opportunities displaying their dress in a ‘messy’ situation.

Pose in your wedding dress knee deep in the ocean, sitting in the mud, covered in paint, or pelted with icing. Photographers are getting creative and the brides love it. Speak to your photographer about this new trend and some opportunities that you may be of interest to you.

For more about wedding photos, click here:
http://www.invitingsmiles.com/wedding-photos.html

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Many brides choose to have wedding place cards for their guests seating arrangements at the reception. This is especially nice for sit down dinners.

The place card is usually a flat card, or folded card.

o Display the flat card in a stand, or frame.

o Bi-fold cards are great for two reasons. By writing the name of the guest on both sides of the card, she will know where to sit, and the guests at the table will be able to see her name.

Write out your guest’s full names, including Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.

o Handwrite the names personally, hire a calligrapher, custom print the name from a computer, or order the place cards from a stationery company that will print them for you.

Put the place card at the top of the plate, or lay it on top of the napkin.

There are many choices of paper, font, size, holders, and more. Be sure to choose a place card that fits with your wedding theme and/or decorations!

For more wedding information, click here:
http://www.invitingsmiles.com/wedding-day-titles.html

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Wedding flowers can be quite costly, but if you plan well, you can buy wedding flowers on any budget. Budgets are tighter than ever before and the way to stick to a budget is research and planning. The same applies to acquiring flowers for your wedding.

Use the seasons (or avoid them) to your advantage:

o Flowers will be more expensive around Valentines Day and Mother’s Day, avoid these times. 

o Flowers, like fruit have their seasons. The same type of flowers can be expensive at certain times of the year and inexpensive at other times. Speak to your florist.

o If your wedding is during the spring, or summer, an outdoor ceremony can provide all the natural greenery and floral decorations that you may need. If outdoors is not an option, choose a venue with plenty of windows and beautiful landscaping to view.

o If your wedding is during the winter, say around the holidays, many venues will already be decorated for the season. You can coordinate with the current decorations and your costs will be less.

o Mix artificial and real flowers. Use artificial flowers for arrangements that are viewed from a distance and real for the arrangements that will be truly noticed.

Let your creativity flourish and you can have an elegant and meaningful wedding without spending a fortune.
Click for more wedding flower tips: http://www.invitingsmiles.com/wedding-flowers.html

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Bridal gloves offer elegance to the bridal attire that sets the tone for a chic, sophisticated wedding. As with the veil (http://blog.invitingsmiles.com/?p=787), there are a variety of choices for glove length and style…

Wrist-Length      Fingerless    Elbow-Length      Gauntlet    Opera-Length

And their fabric:

Satin     Lace Velvet    Leather Sheer

Some simple rules to consider:

The gloves should match the color of your dress.
The gloves should be an accessory to the dress, not overwhelming the dress.
If you choose a glove that covers your fingers, decide on how you will handle the ring exchange*.
o Some brides carefully cut the glove’s ring finger in a way that allows them to discretely slip their finger out of the glove and then back in.
o Some choose to put the ring over the gloved finger during the ceremony.
o You may also elegantly remove the glove and hand it to an attendant.

*All of these choices should be practiced prior to the wedding as to not be an amusing side-show to the elegant ceremony.

Consider your options with bridal gloves and decide what will fit your style the best. 

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Will the bride wear a wedding veil, tiara, or no hair accessory? What is your preference?
I love tradition, so I personally like a veil. A veil exudes elegance, and when worn over the face, creates a sense of mystery for the groom and their guests.  

Veil choices are many: Floor length, waist length, cover the face, do not cover the face, etc. Accent choices for the veil are plentiful as well: headpiece, edgings, beading, etc.

The only problem I had with my veil was after the wedding. When everyone hugged me, they unintentionally pulled the veil back, pulling my hair until my head hurt. Thank goodness for bobby pins, and aspirin!

Veils are not for everyone. Some brides simply do not like the look and some do not like the traditional usage of a veil:

* As mentioned in an earlier Wedding Wisdom Blog, Superstitious Bride, a bride used to wear a veil over her face to assure that the groom completed his vows, before he saw what she looked like. This sounds silly to us now, but many couples had arranged marriages. The groom may have never seen the bride before the wedding date. The fathers wanted to make sure the vows were legal, before the groom could see the bride, in case he were to find her undesirable and want to back out of the wedding.

I can certainly understand why many modern brides may not wish to carry on this tradition in their wedding. Thank goodness for the many choices provided now!

Do you have any opinions, or suggestions? Help our brides decide, Veil, or no veil!

Click this link for information about Wedding Hairstyles: http://www.invitingsmiles.com/wedding-hairstyles.html

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I’m a bridesmaid and now I’m broke! While the costs of weddings have become outrageous, so has the cost of being in a wedding. Accepting the honor of being a bridesmaid in your friend’s wedding may set you back a few months.

The dress and shoes alone are expensive. Then there are the accessories, the hair and makeup, the shower gift(s), and the wedding gift. When the wedding or a shower is out of state, your expensives hit top dollar. Your hotel accomodations and airfare will be on you.

I, frankly, just can’t afford it.

When asked to be a bridesmaid, discuss your approximate costs up front. State how it will be an honor to stand up for your friend, however, money is tight right now and you are on a budget. This way it will be out in the open from the beginning. If your bride insists on expensive bridesmaid’s dresses, etc. then you may have to respectfully decline.

If you know that the wedding will be out of state, you may have to say that while you will love to attend the wedding, the travel expenses will not allow you to afford the other expenses of being in the wedding.

Being up front and honest from the beginning, will show that you have monetary limits. The bride should respect these limits, or find someone else to be a bridesmaid. While feelings may be hurt at first, your honesty should at least preserve the friendship.

For more wedding information, click:
http://www.invitingsmiles.com/wedding-day-titles.html

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If you are in the middle of your wedding planning, you may have had a few stressful moments when you have asked yourself the elusive question, ‘To elope, or not to elope… that is the real question!’

Eloping can be romantic and exciting. However, you will definitely offend some people. Your moms are going to be offended the most. They have dreamed of this wedding day as long, or longer, than you have. If you are seriously considering the idea of eloping, think of other’s feelings, as well as your own.

Finances, family feuds, and impatience are all reasons that couples finally decide to run off, and get married. While we are not suggesting elopement in any way, we thought we would research and discuss some options.

* Finances do not have to be such a factor in a wedding. The tabloids with their “Hollywood” weddings make everything so elaborate. However, a very meaningful private wedding can include only close family and friends. Your attire can be simple and decorations few. Focus on the meaning, not the money. Later you may wish to have a larger party, or reception to celebrate your marriage with more family and friends.

* Family feuds are difficult, especially when trying to plan a wedding. You and your fiancé may choose to get married privately with just the two of you and your best man and maid of honor. A small celebration with your family could follow at your home.

* Impatience is the scariest reason to elope. Ask yourself many questions: How well do you know the person that you are about to marry? Are they able to hold a job? Is this true love, or just a whim? If only one of you is impatient, ask yourself why. Is there a reason you need to be married so quickly? Besides, you will have the rest of your life together, right. Why get married so quickly.

Many couples, who have chosen to elope, later regret not having their big wedding day. If you are frustrated with wedding plans, take a day or two off. Go to the gym, or go to the spa. Choose something that will take your mind off your wedding and exhilarate you at the same time. Making hasty decisions is never a good idea.

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Choosing your wedding photographer may be one of the most important steps you take. This person will be responsible for gathering your wedding images that will be viewed for many years.

Meet your photographer – Be sure to meet and speak with the actual photographer that will be taking the photos at your wedding.

View portfolio – Ask to view a portfolio of wedding photos taken by your photographer, not a collection of photos by all of the photographers of the company.

Consider location photo ops – Once the venue(s) of your ceremony and reception are established, make an appointment to have your photographer tour the facility(s). This will allow the photographer an idea of the available lighting. You may also speak of some photo opportunities the venue allows (sunset view, water view, fireplace, fountain, etc.)

Must have Photos! – You may have a particular photo that you have always wanted: Dancing with dad, mom and dad dancing together, the whole family, etc. Be specific with your requests.

Next week we will discuss some personal, sweet and unique ideas for photo ops!

Until then, click here for more Wedding Photo ideas:
http://www.invitingsmiles.com/wedding-photos.html

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