05.30.08

10 Step Guide on How to Choose Your Wedding Invitations

Posted in Wedding Invitations tagged at 5:31 pm by Barb

Here is a 10 step guide on how to choose your wedding invitations:

  1. Begin as early as eight months before the wedding. This means that you will have plenty of time paying attention to perfect the wording, and should something goes wrong, you will have ample time to revise it and make sure that it is “the way you want it” before sending them out.
  2. Set a budget and be creative. As well as there are beautiful expansive invitations, there are also inexpensive but equally beautiful ones in the market. You just got to be creative and know where to look. There are even templates in Word you can use.
  3. Decide on a theme and color motif for your wedding. Your invitation should suggest the same theme or the color motif of your wedding.
  4. Create your guest list so that you will know how many invitations to order.
  5. Select a style that reflects your personality. It should also reflect on the type of wedding that you are planning. For example, will it be formal or casual.
  6. Before you order or create your invitations, make sure that all of your wedding details such as the date, time and place of the ceremony and reception are already confirmed.
  7. Asking help from professionals on the look and style of your invitation will help you pull your ideas together for a more beautiful outcome. There are many places on the internet that you can also find this information to save some time and money.
  8. With regards to the proper wording and etiquette, a professional or the internet should be consulted to make sure that everything in the invitation is properly placed.
  9. Order or create more invitations than the amount that you really need. This will give you a few extras in case you missed adding anyone to your list.
  10. If ordering your wedding invitations, it is best that you type up your order for the shop, so they can clearly read it.

When you are ordering your wedding invitations do it with style. Be creative and try to combine materials to achieve your own personal touch. Leave me a comment and let me know if you found this article helpful.
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A Wedding Checklist For Planning Your Wedding

Posted in Wedding Preparations tagged , , , , at 7:05 am by Barb

You have finally said, “Yes.” This is the start of your life as a couple. And prior to that much-awaited big day, you, both the bride and groom have so many decisions to make and wedding-related tasks to complete.

Preparing for your wedding day need not be stressful. On the other hand, it should be fun and memorable. And to do this, start off by putting together a wedding planner checklist with timetable.

A short list of wedding-related tasks as well as a rough estimate of when the activities should be done follows on your free wedding checklist. It presents tips and guidelines to keep you organized and help you think of all the things that you must take into consideration in the course of planning for your big day. Of course, these are mere suggestions. All activities and schedules are still up to the couple to decide on depending on their priorities.

At the Time of the Engagement

  • You must tell your parents the happy news as soon as possible that is if they don’t already know. If you are having an engagement party, it would be good to keep your close friends and relatives in the know, too.
  • An organizer would be best to have handy. This will help you keep track of all the appointments, payments and other wedding-related activities that you must attend to.
  • Have your engagement photo taken. This would be nice to have as a keepsake of this wonderful occasion.

6 to 12 Months in Advance Before the Big Day

  • The couple should have already picked and decided on the wedding date. Make the reservations for the venue where the ceremony and reception is to be held.
  • Set an appointment with the wedding officiates.
  • Establish a budget for the wedding, and try as much as possible to stick to it.
  • Prepare a wedding guest list. You wouldn’t want to leave somebody uninvited unintentionally.
  • Look around for a photographer, florist, musicians, and a caterer. Obtain estimates for these services.
  • Register at the bridal gift registry at your favorite stores at Brides.com. You can do this online.
  • Pick a wedding dress and accessories to go with it. If you are having a seamstress make you one, this is the time to have it arranged. Several fittings may be required for this.
  • For the bride, select your bridesmaids. Set a date for ordering dresses for them.

4 to 6 Months In Advance Before the Big Day

  • Have the invitations, stationeries, and thank you notes ordered.
  • The photographer, florist, musician, and caterer should have already been chosen. Go over details with each of these services to make sure that everything is as agreed upon.
  • For the groom, select attire.
  • Honeymoon reservations should be made already at this point.
  • Confirm the delivery of the bridal gown.

2 Months In Advance Before the Big Day

  • Plan your rehearsal dinner.
  • If you are having out-of-town attendants, arrange for their lodging.
  • Make an appointment with your chosen photographer for the shooting of the bridal portrait.
  • Order the wedding cake.

1 Month In Advance Before the Big Day

  • The couple should decide on a wedding band set.
  • Mail the invitations.
  • Check the apparel for the wedding party.
  • The couple attends showers.

2 Weeks Before the Wedding.

  • It is time to apply for marriage license and attend to other legal matters, especially for the bride – name and address changes on bank accounts and other official documents.
  • Plan a wedding hairstyle and make-up with your stylist.
  • Check with the caterer and the reception venue for last minute changes.

1 Week Before the Wedding

  • Do your honeymoon packing.
  • Wrap gifts for the groom and attendants.
  • Schedule the wedding rehearsal.
  • Remind the wedding party of the exact time and place for the occasion.

On the Wedding Day

  • Eat breakfast! Fainting on the aisle wouldn’t be cool.
  • Have your hair and make-up done.
  • Shake off all your wedding details worries and enjoy your day.

Please check back as we go through each step and bring you time and money saving tips and ideas. Please feel free to comment and let me know if this check list is useful to you.

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05.29.08

Most Important Factor in a Wedding Speech

Posted in Wedding Preparations, Wedding Speech tagged , , at 6:17 pm by Barb

In any speaking engagement, one of the most important factors (and the most neglected, too) is the audience. People are so worried about the speech itself that they tend to forget the real factor that will affect the whole execution of the speech.

There are many kinds of speeches and one of them is the wedding speech. It is that part of the wedding that everyone is excited to hear.

In a wedding, there are three primary wedding speeches that will be heard. The first one will be coming from the bride’s father. This is usually the most emotional speech and the most unforgettable one. It becomes very touching when the father includes in his speech how he is giving his blessing to his daughter and her new husband.

The second part of the wedding speech is the groom’s speech. Here, he will thank his parents for all their love and care. He will also thank all those who made the celebration possible and memorable.

And last is the best man’s speech. Usually, this type of wedding speech is the most enlightening one because it entails the lighter side of the event. The best man will tell stories about the groom and his crazy antics.

Of all these speeches, the audience should be the primary factor that should be considered when making the wedding speech. Thinking of the audience, the speaker will be able to identify which things should be said and which things should be left out.

In most cases, the most common misconception of most wedding speakers about wedding speeches is that they thought that they were speaking to the bride and the groom only, which should not be the case. The wedding speech should be delivered to all of the guests. In fact, the impression most wedding speakers make reflects back to the bride and groom.

For example, if you are to make a wedding speech and you have thought of including some jokes that you think would make the couple happy, try to think of the audience first if it will make them happy too. There may be instances where your joke will not amuse the elderly ones who will be present at the wedding.

Problems and conflicts may happen just because of the wedding speech you have made. So, it is extremely important to make a speech that will focus on the general interest of the audience and not centered on the bride and groom or to your own judgment of what you think would be funny .

Another misconception that wedding speakers usually make is that they tend to think that wedding speeches are not worth all the trouble. That is why many speakers do not make a speech that is well thought out, with words that are carefully chosen, and the idea creatively generated to come up with a good speech. A good short groom wedding speech is better than a long unprepared speech.

Usually, they may make a speech that they think will do for the time being. Just to get it over with, they might just think of mentioning some stories and that is it.

What matters most in a wedding speech is the reaction and impression that the audience will have on your speech. You should also consider the audience’s feelings and beliefs. Similarly to when you talk to your boss or your colleague and consider their feelings and principles in the same way you should be delivering your speech.

You should know how to identify with the audience. Through identification of the audience you will be able to come up with a wedding speech that the audience can relate to whatever stories or information that you will be telling them.

So, now that you know how important wedding speeches can be, it is important to take note of the most important factor before making a wedding speech – the audience. And because wedding speeches are an important part of the wedding, it should never be taken for granted.


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The Importance of Wedding Invitation Verses

Posted in Wedding Invitations tagged , , at 4:29 pm by Barb

It is crucial in wedding invitation verses to choose carefully your use of words and establishing them correctly. This is because wedding invitations are the first impression of the wonderful celebration that is about to take place.

Generally, wedding invitation verses should be clearly written to avoid confusion and misunderstandings. There are times when a word may have several meanings depending on how it is used in a sentence. Moreover, the wedding invitation verses must accurately define the details of the wedding like the date, the exact time, and the place where the wedding ceremony will take place. These things should be clearly stated because most guests assume that once they are invited, it means that they are asked to attend to the wedding ceremony and the reception.

However, there are some weddings when couples want to invite the guests only for the reception. Perhaps the couple has decided to make the wedding very private and they only want their immediate relatives present during the ceremony. The guests are asked to attend the reception only. Therefore, to avoid confusion, it is best to carefully state in the invitation the purpose of the invitation.

On the other hand, wedding invitation verses may also vary depending on certain circumstances. An example of this may be who paid for the wedding. In this instance, it is best to choose words that would pay respect to the party to whom the recognition is due but should also be made in consideration of the feelings of the other party.

For example, in the case of the bride’s parents being the ones who had paid for the wedding, then, the wedding invitation verse should state that it is the bride’s parents who are requesting for the presence of the guests.

Alternatively, the setting of the wedding should also be considered when establishing the wedding invitation verses. If the wedding is informal and will take place in a home, then it is best to replace the usual verses being used in formal invitations to a more casual tone but still with respect.

The words in the wedding invitation verses should clearly state the intention of the invitation, the details of the date, time and place of the wedding and/or reception with the appropriate respect to whomever is paying for the wedding and should be stated in a tone matching of the type of ceremony taking place.

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Welcome to Wedding Secret Savings

Posted in Wedding Preparations tagged , at 4:23 pm by Barb

Let’s face it: it’s expensive to have a wedding! Wedding Secret Savings was created to have a place to come to have a great wedding without breaking the bank. I will be posting information on how to do things on a budget as well as information on the basics for planning a wedding. I hope you enjoy your visit here and are able to gain some ideas for saving some of your money for your honeymoon, house, or just life in general while still enjoying a fabulous wedding. Please feel free to post your comments, ideas, suggestions and your own wedding secret savings ideas.