Caribbean Wedding: Wedding Planner and Organizer
With more and more couples opting to escape the high costs and stresses of a large and elaborate wedding, which is often expected, particularly in families that come from an Afro Caribbean background, the trend of getting married abroad is an increasingly popular one – with the Caribbean still topping the list as one of the most popular locations for an overseas wedding.
Many fall in love with the idea of the tropical setting and backdrop, which make for the most romantic of wedding photos, but on investigating the possibilities further, find they are overwhelmed on where to start in trying to arrange the kind of wedding they envisaged.
Traditionally many of the couples who travel to the Caribbean to get married have come from a European background, and have opted to travel alone or with just a couple of additional guests to accompany them, and therefore their requirements have been met perfectly by the set wedding packages that many hotels offer. These wedding packages tend to be fairly inflexible offering a set itinerary, location or menu. However, with more couples of color also wishing to join the throngs of couples marrying in an exotic Caribbean location, the wedding packages arranged through most holiday companies do not generally cater for their needs. They are looking for something a little different and more personalized.
This need has been recognized by one travel company. Culsen Travel is an independent travel company that specializes in Caribbean villa holidays. The company is owned by a couple who have had firsthand experience of marrying in the Caribbean. Two years ago they traveled to the island of Tobago along with 40 guests and enjoyed not only a wonderful wedding day but a memorable large family holiday. “Having experienced getting married in the Caribbean ourselves, we appreciated that it can be very difficult to find anyone who caters for this kind of specialist area. Many couples would like the option of taking a large number of guests with them and perhaps having the kind of wedding they would have had here, but in a Caribbean setting, and at a fraction of the cost, but most holiday companies do not cater for this kind of wedding party”, says Director of Products & Sales, Stephanie Morson.
Culsen Travel have therefore established themselves as a travel company who can recommend the perfect alternative accommodation on the island of your choice for any number of persons within your group – specialising in villas which range from 2-9 bedrooms, and having viewed each on of them personally. As a fully bonded operator, they can also take care of your flight and transfer arrangements too, but they are also able to take care of all your wedding arrangements, from the ceremony, right through to the reception – complete with all the trimmings with the assistance of their on-island personal wedding co-ordinators. “The weddings we arrange are many and varied, therefore we do not offer any set packages. Unlike most hotel wedding packages, we aim to offer a more tailor-made wedding so couples feel that their wedding day is unique and special. We also aim to cater to all budgets.”
Giving some examples of some of the types of weddings they can arrange:
For those on a more limited budget they recommend a stay in Tobago at one of their Seashell Villas. This collection of villas each sleep up to 6 persons and have their own swimming pool and daily housekeeper, and are the ideal option for accommodating wedding guests who travel out to share the couples special day. Costs start from around £658 per adult for a 7 night stay inclusive of flights and transfers for 6 persons sharing a villa. For a low key wedding, the gardens of the villa can provide the perfect setting for a private ceremony performed by a minister, followed by a barbecue or buffet reception with a selection of local dishes provided by a caterer. Or for a more formal affair, the couple can hold their wedding ceremony and reception at one of he island’s most popular seafront restaurants, The Seahorse Inn. A beachside ceremony can be followed by canapés & champagne whilst photographs are taken at sunset. Guests can then move up to the restaurant to enjoy a private reception party where a menu of their choosing is served for larger wedding groups, or for a smaller wedding party tables can be booked and guests can select from the A la carte menu. Entertainment can be provided in the form of a local band or DJ.
Based on a Wedding Packages with ceremony inclusive of all the legal arrangements, minister’s fee and services of the personal wedding co-ordinator, with extras such as a bouquet, groom & bestman’s buttonholes, photographer, and reception party for 20 guests inclusive of 3 courses and a two tier wedding cake, wedding costs start from approx £1,200.
For a more private and elaborate wedding, how about getting married in your very own villa surrounding by acres of tropical gardens. Culsen Travel have a range of villas in Jamaica that provide the most idyllic venue for a large wedding. Many of these villas permit a high number of guests for weddings, but charge a small per additional wedding guest fee for those attending wedding but not residing at the villa to compensate for the additional work that the villa staff will do, and wear and tear on the villa & grounds. Spyglass Hill is a popular choice for a villa wedding. Accommodating up to 19 persons in a beautiful property that is spread over 9 acres of lawns and tropical gardens, and has a main house with 4 bedrooms, and 4 additional bedrooms divided between two cottages situated within the grounds, the villa is fully staffed and well equipped to take care of the needs of a wedding party who wish to be accommodated together in a spacious deluxe property with a large private pool and separate plunge pool and staffed with cook, butler, maids & night watchman.
The wedding, with up to 75 guests permitted, can take place in the villas’ own bridal gazebo located within the gardens set against a backdrop of a stunning ocean. Guests staying at this villa can expect to pay from £933 per person for flights, accommodation & transfers, inclusive of staff gratuities. A budget of around £4,000 can cater a wedding for up to 40 guests inclusive of location fee, decoration of venue, floral bouquet for bride & bridesmaid, set up for sit down reception including waiting service, a 3 course meal, a local bar & DJ for the evening, plus the services a minister & photographer for the ceremony, all legal fees and the services of the wedding co-ordinator to oversee all events. However, weddings can be catered for considerably less for a more casual buffet style reception, depending on the couple’s wishes and guest numbers.
For those desiring something a little different they can also arrange wedding ceremonies in the rainforest or by the waterfall in St Lucia, at a beachside chapel in Barbados, or on top of a world heritage site in St Kitts. With 10 Caribbean islands to choose from, whatever the size of your wedding party or your vision for an idyllic tropical wedding day, Culsen Travel can recommend the island, property and ideal wedding venue to suit, and put the arrangements in place for your special day. They also have a selection of villas and hotels which they recommend for a Caribbean honeymoons. Check out their website on www.culsentravel.com, or call them 01582 729333
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Best Places to Wedding in Mississauga
Garden weddings are another choice for Mississauga weddings. A garden wedding is an outdoor type of wedding that present the couple with the choice of holding the wedding ceremony and reception in the same location. They may however be limited to the period that a wedding can last. Summer can be an excellent choice because it is warm and the guests do not have to worry about the elements. For one to hold a garden wedding one needs a permit that specifies the duration the wedding will take.
Mississauga wedding locations are numerous and most provide a good backdrop for wedding photos. When booking a wedding photographer, one can ask him/her for advice on locations. The location chosen has to be within the budget otherwise, the planning stage is of no consequence. When the wedding ceremony carried out in a church, it is prudent to locate the reception ceremony in a different area. For instance, hotels can be booked for wedding receptions. Hotels provide food to the guests and different hotels will offer competitive rates. Thus, it is important to book these in advance to have adequate staff members provided for the event. Hotels provide excellent services for Mississauga weddings and one is spoilt for choice when choosing one.
For most Mississauga wedding locations, ownership is private. One can hire restaurant for the reception location of their wedding. The staff is very accommodating and can create a menu suitable for the varied tastes of the guests. A restaurant offers an intimate environment since most host single wedding parties at any given time. One can hire a wedding DJ to entertain the guests. Mississauga DJ’s are widely experienced and keep the guests entertained throughout the wedding festivities.
Private homes, historical mansions, and private gardens are other Mississauga wedding locations. A wedding videographer will capture the beauty of the surrounding area and the wedding pictures will be a remarkable sight. The private gardens have plenty of flowers and plants that are beautiful. To get to the historical mansions or private homes, one can use a wedding limousine. These locations can be expensive hence; one adequate planning of the budget is required before committing to any one specific location. Having a wide array of choices to choose from gives one confidence of getting good Mississauga wedding location. One should book any location months in advance, to avoid disappointment.
Planning The Perfect Wedding
As your wedding day approaches it is important to begin making preparations for your honeymoon. Early in the week before your wedding you will want to confirm all of your honeymoon arrangements such as transportation, hotels and any other special plans you have made for your honeymoon destination such as excursions, dinner reservations or lessons. You may also want to pack for your honeymoon during this time to prevent you from feeling overwhelmed and trying to pack the day before or even the day of your wedding. Getting the packing out of the way early will help to alleviate any concerns you have over being prepared for the honeymoon and gives you something to look forward to. If you procrastinate with your packing you may find yourself dreading even talking about your honeymoon because doing so makes you realize that you are not yet prepared for the honeymoon.
Most caterers also require a final count for the number of guest in the week preceding your wedding. If all of your guests have not yet responded to your invitation, you might want to consider calling them instead of assuming that they will not be coming to the wedding. These phone calls can save you the embarrassment of not being prepared for additional guests. Having a confirmed response from all of your invited guests will ensure that you give the caterer an accurate number of guests.
Now is also the time to confirm the final details with all of your service providers such as your photographer, florist, DJ or band and transportation provider. It’s important to confirm details such as times and expectations to ensure that there are no misunderstandings and that you will have all of the services that you are expecting at your wedding. You might also want to make arrangements to pay your balances with each of these providers if you have previously only left a deposit. While you may be hesitant to provide payment in full before the service is rendered and most of these services providers don’t require you to do so, you could make arrangements to leave the balance with a responsible friend or family member who will ensure that they are all paid on the wedding day. Many of these agencies will only accept cash or certified checks so you will have to provide the balance in either of these forms in individual envelopes to your trusted friend.
The rehearsal dinner is usually held the night before the wedding so it is important to confirm the details of the rehearsal dinner in the final week before the wedding. Whether the couple themselves is hosting the dinner or another person is taking on the responsibilities of the event, it is still necessary to confirm all of the details such as time, location and number of guests. Also, since the couple typically uses the rehearsal dinner to thank their parents, the wedding party and anyone else who has supported them in the wedding planning, now would be the time to plan out exactly what you plan to say during this offering of thanks. While it is important to speak from the heart, it’s also important to make sure that no one who has really gone out of their way to assist the couple is left out of the thank you speech.
Finally, while there are many details that require your attention in the final week before your wedding it is also important to take some time for yourself and do something that you consider relaxing. Whether you go to a spa to get a massage or spend an evening at the movies, it’s important to take some time to just relax before your wedding day to ensure that you are not completely frazzled by the time your wedding day arrives.
The final week before a wedding can be extremely harried and filled with last minute details but it is important to take some time to relax during this week. It’s important to ensure that everything is in place for the wedding and that nothing is overlooked but it’s also important to remain calm and not get caught up in the details of the wedding. Allowing yourself some relaxation time will ensure that you are well prepared for your wedding and that you have fully enjoyed the planning process.
How the DJ Can Make or Break Your Wedding
It is evident that there is a lot of competition between DJ companies in San Diego and Southern California as a whole which probably comes from the beautiful weather, homes, restaurants and venues throughout the county. Let’s find out exactly why and how the DJ for your wedding reception in San Diego can either make, or break it.
If you view many of the websites for these entertainment and DJ companies you will see a lot of self-righteous claims about how the DJ will not only provide music for your wedding, but will also perform at the capacity of a reception coordinator, or something to that effect. This is true. The wedding coordinator is typically best for the ceremony and actually planning of the wedding (booking a location, entertainment, florist, catering and arranging the ceremony). After dinner is served, is when the DJ or Emcee will take over and become a larger coordinator of the events and arrangement. This is exactly why so many people, put so much weight in the impact of a wedding DJ.
There are many people who simply purchase home stereo equipment and claim to be a DJ who have no idea how to run the standard wedding itinerary. People often think they can save money by plugging in an ipod to a decent stereo system, which is truly not the case. If you do not have an arrangement of events and someone taking charge in the where and when of the event, it will either fall apart or people will go home early and you basically had yourself a really expensive dinner party.
If you dig even deeper into the inherent responsibilities of a Wedding DJ, you will see that this is just the beginning. Often times the DJ of a Wedding reception will perform as the mini-crisis manager or safety net, so to speak. If you are having your wedding at a family or friends back yard where you are having catering come to serve your guests and they happen to be understaffed, a good DJ will actually come away from his music playing and help out the catering staff or other vendors to ensure that evening maintains it’s time line of events (or itinerary).
If there is something that everyone needs to hear, like a freeway closure on the way home, or a reminder to turn off all cell phones prior to the ceremony, the DJ will act as the Emcee by making these announcement with experience and confidence so that all of your guests are well informed. This is extremely important if a very unfortunate event were to happen at your event. This is also important in keeping your guests entertained.
A good DJ will use the microphone and events of the itinerary as a tool to keep your guests there and entertained. For example: if the open dancing commences following the first dance, than you can invite all of the couples out to the dance floor to join the bride and groom. This will be a key turning point of the evening. Either the guests will get up out of their seats and stay entertained by the music, refreshments and dancing, or they will get bored that there isn’t much going on but an empty dance floor (because the DJ went right into an upbeat song) and they will begin to get bored and eventually go home.
The success of your wedding reception can be judged from how long your guests stay and enjoy themselves with what you have provided them.
This model for the importance of a good wedding DJ can not only be useful for couples in San Diego, but all cities. San Diego is a very popular city for Weddings and events as it is a vacation destination. Because of this, there are many Wedding DJ companies, people who claim to be Wedding DJ’s, many independents and even many very good Wedding bands. Be sure that you seek the correct entertainment for your personal taste and preferences. If you go into it understanding it’s weight and importance you will do well.
Civil Wedding Ceremony by Babylon Weddings Centre Toronto
Different laws usually apply to different areas and jurisdictions like Toronto, Niagara Falls, Markham, Brampton and Mississauga. It is good to find out before hand from the local courts and authorities on venues where one can be allowed or denied to get married in. In Ontario, Canada the bride and groom should each have a witness who speaks and understands English and a marriage license. The marriage license can be obtained from any certified marriage license issuer including the clerks of cities, townships or villages. The complete civil process is usually inexpensive. A few guests are also invited and all should arrive at the Superintendent Register’s Office at least ten minutes before the marriage ceremony commences.
On arrival, a Registrar who checks with them to find out if the details needed for the marriage register are correct meet the couple’s specification. This includes the full names and occupations of the fathers of both the bride and the groom. In today’s civil marriage ceremony, the couple is presented with several choices to choose from, usually before the actual day. It is also possible for the bride and the groom to add a couple of their personal vows with a light touch of music, poetry or just prose readings. A ring can be given at a desired time during the ceremony. A few wedding photos can be taken afterwards.
When entering the marriage room, the bride may wish to be accompanied by her father or any other relative or friend. It is also possible to separately interview the couple. Where such a case arises, it should be requested a few days before the nuptials day so the arrival and interview times can be scheduled and adjusted accordingly. Otherwise, both the bride and groom can simply enter the room together where the guests will be waiting for the ceremony. When the Registrar has welcomed the bride, the groom and the guests, he/she explains what will take place and asks the marriage couple to turn and face each other in readiness for their marriage vows.
For same-sex couples, ensure that the local authorities do allow same *** marriage ceremonies. In those that allow, the rights accorded to a heterosexual couple might also differ significantly. It’s advisable also to make appointments with more than one Officiant, as you might opt for some more than others, or some may be absent. Choose an Officiant who is interested in you as a couple and who understands the ceremony well.
Find Out the Latest Trend in Wedding Photography
The newest trend in wedding photography is online photography galleries of your wedding. The reason these photography galleries are becoming so popular is because of the simplicity of them. Never heard of an online photography gallery for your wedding? It works like this: after your wedding, your photographer will give you a website to go to with a password and login name. You will be able to access all of your wedding photos on this website. You will then be able to hand out the login and password on your wedding photography gallery to all your friends and family, so they can pick the photos they want. This takes the work of the bride to a minimum. All she needs to do is send out a link to the photography gallery for her wedding with the sign in information in a bulk email and her work is done. All she has to do is choose photos for her album and individual pictures she wants.
Often in wedding photography galleries, the order information will be listed somewhere on the site and orders can be taken right online, without having to stress the newlyweds over how much what size photo costs and how to order it. It’s a great way for friends and family to get the photos they want in a timely manner. Keep in mind, though, that most of these photography galleries are only online for a limited time, so make sure your photographer is willing to give you a disc or hard proofs of your photos after that time or you may lose them.
While there are plenty of pros to choosing photography galleries for your wedding, there can be many cons as well. Many people like to have their proofs to look at. Often, people feel that a proof serves as a better representation of how the photo will actually look when you receive it. Having proofs in a photography gallery is an efficient way to utilize easy access and convenience, but it also misleads some people as to how the photos will actually look. Since most photographers work with digital cameras, however, it’s usually a pretty good chance that the photos will be sharp and crisp.
Another type of photography gallery that is commonly being used in weddings now is a running slideshow, or photo montage of the couple in all stages of life. Usually, the photo gallery will be put to music and it is the DJ’s responsibility to put those together. These types of photo galleries can be a lot of fun for the guests and are usually shown just before dinner is served.
While the timing of your photo gallery or photo montage is up to you, these can offer a valuable insight into what type of families you and your new spouse have, what your interests are and how you two are as a couple. Do you travel? Have you been to some really fun, fabulous events that you want all your wedding guests to know about? Then a photography gallery for your wedding is the way to go.
You can put it against all kinds of music, but try to choose your favorite songs, as well as some music that most of your guests will enjoy, as well.
Scared of the Horrible Djs in Town –don’t be
If you are planning to throw a party for your wedding in the coming month, and you are having nightmares after having recently attending a DJ party of your friend, don’t lose heart for help is at hand! No do not panic – I will tell you how to go about choosing the right DJ for your memorable day. Here are few guidelines to decide on real good one and hopefully put all your fears to end.
In House Disc Jockeys: The other option is to check from your function venue, as most of them will recommend a good disc jockey that they have seen performing. A few arrange it themselves as an added service to the client. After all, their reputation depends upon the disc jockey. Sometimes a bad DJ can spoil the effect of the good catering done by the hotels, so it is likely they would like you to have the best to give them a good reputation.
Disc Jockey Agencies : Disc jockey agencies have many disc jockeys on their books with recording studio equipment predominantly owned by the agency. Or they maybe having some contracts with other DJs also. But choosing a DJ through them can be a risky affair as the quality may vary from company to company, and within the company, amongst individuals. Some may be very good but some of their DJ staff they may not have been even heard or seen for months, so they can be short of good quality. Moreover, some of these employees are poorly paid so they find it very hard to maintain a class as they try to cut on the cost of their music collection. Some, in an effort to cut costs, will even resort to illegally copying music onto tapes, compact discs or mini discs. This being the case, they find it hard to keep motivated and interested enough to deliver a superior level of attention, service and entertainment.
Some of the agencies have also been known to have music software and can forward you a list of songs but again it depends upon the DJ. If unfortunately you get a wrong selection then you are left at the mercy of a Disc Joker instead of a Disc Jockey.
You must ensure from your DJ agency that how much personal attention they will give to you as most of the time they are more interested in putting up more DJs on the road rather than providing the best possible service to the client.
Do not get unduly worried – all this talk is only meant to show you the possible way of things. Taking a few simple precautions may be all you need to get your party the right mix of fun and entertainment.
In part two of this article, we shall see some more options of Disc Jockeys available to you. We shall also see some of the tips that will help you make a wise decision for selecting the right person to make your party a roaring success.
15 Steps to Your Perfect Wedding
Step 1: Budget. Whether you are spending $30,000 or $3,000 you can have a beautiful, meaningful wedding. Decide what is most important to you and then be creative. When planning your budget you will need to decide which of these items you want to include in your wedding and how much money to spend on each:
Clothing:
Wedding dress
Undergarments-special bra, crinoline, garter
Veil/Hair Jewelry
Shoes
Tux
Church Rental/Fees
Reception Rental/Fees
Catering Fees
Alcohol, Drinks
Flowers:
Church
Bridal Bouquet
Bouquets for the Bridesmaids & Maid of Honor
Bouquets for the Mothers of the Bride and Groom
Boutonnieres for the Groom and Groomsmen
Reception Tables
Photographer
Videographer
Music:
Wedding
Cocktail Hour
Reception
Wedding Cake
Cake Topper
Wedding Favors
Gifts for Wedding Party Attendants
Gifts for the Parents of the Bride and Groom
Hair and Makeup
Stationary Items:
Save the Date
Invitations
Wedding Programs
Place Cards
Menu Cards
Thank you Cards
Other:
Serving Set
Toasting Flutes
Ring Bearer Pillow
Flower Girl Basket
Flower Petals or other item to toss on Bride and Groom
Tips:
Pastor
Maitre d’
Photographer
Limo Driver
Musicians
You do not need to include or buy every item. Wearing your mother’s wedding dress or using your parents’ cake topper will save money and add meaning to your day. There are also things that you can make; such as the ring pillow or wedding favors. Some items you can exclude all together. My husband and I decided to hire a photographer but no videographer.
Step 2: Size. The size of your guest list will depend on personal preference and budget. Some brides dream of a huge wedding with 300 guests, while others prefer an intimate ceremony with only close friends and family. We settled on 100 guests–large enough to invite who we really wanted to come and small enough that it still felt personal.
Step 3: Planning and Scheduling. Planning and follow-up are the most important factors in getting the wedding you want. That beautiful atrium in the park is probably booked years in advance as are many beautiful, old churches. Even if you are planning to get married in your own church and use its reception hall, you’ll need to find out about fees and availability. Research reception locations by looking in local bridal magazines, newspaper bridal sections and online. If a friend or family member has a beautiful back yard, you may want to have your wedding there. It would make an excellent wedding present. Choosing the locations of your ceremony and reception should be the first thing you do after settling on a budget. You can not plan or schedule anything until you know when and where everything will happen.
Step 4: Food and Alcohol. The food you give your guests does not have to be expensive. They are there to witness your marriage and celebrate with you. If you serve Chicken Francaise instead of Filet Mignon they will not enjoy themselves less. For drinks, you have many options. You may decide not to serve alcohol. Or, you may serve one or two special drinks-you can even name one after yourself and your groom. You may also decide to offer an open bar. Remember that alcohol can eat up a large portion of your budget. Talk to the caterer about your options.
Step 5: Wedding Party. The size of your wedding party should match the size of your wedding. If you have 300 guests, 10 bridesmaids and 10 groomsmen will fit right in. But, if you have 80 guests in a small church, it may look comical trying to fit those 20 attendants on the small church alter.
Step 6: Music. If you are having a church wedding, ask the priest or pastor if he can recommend someone to play the ceremony music. Or, you may know someone who could play at your wedding as a wedding gift. For your reception, should you choose a band or a DJ? Having a live band at your reception can be special, but expensive. We chose to have a DJ, not just for the savings but because he could play any song and it would sound great. Whatever you choose, go over what is required. Are there any songs you DO NOT want played? Do you want the DJ or musician to introduce the wedding party, start off the first dance, and announce when it is time to cut the cake? Often this is included, if not-speak to whoever is in charge of your reception location and find out if they offer this service.
Step 7: Traditions. Some couples disregard traditions. Other couples want to include them or even start their own. The biggest tradition is probably the bride carrying “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” But, there are many other traditions you can incorporate. If you don’t wear your mother’s wedding dress, you may want to pin a piece of its lace onto your slip or tie it around your bouquet. You can wrap a family locket around your bouquet with pictures of you and your groom. I attached my mother’s antique brooch, which had been handed down from my grandmother, to a chain and wore it as a necklace. It made me feel as if they were with me on my wedding day and it meant a lot.
Step 8: Invitations. Invitations are another item that can be surprisingly expensive. They don’t have to be. I knew exactly what type of invitation I wanted, but at a stationer, it would have cost $800 to $1000. I did a lot of searching online and was able to order two less expensive sets of invitations, put them together how I wanted and ended up spending less than $400. Places like Staples and Michael’s also have nice invitations that you can print yourself at home for less than $100.
Step 9: Photographer. This is where we spent a bigger portion of our budget (Only the reception location, with food included, cost more). Even if our wedding was the best wedding in the world, it would only last for a few hours. With good pictures, we could relive it over and over. When you look for a photographer, ask questions. Who will be the photographer? What if he is sick? If you hire a company that has several photographers you may be shown sample wedding photographs from the best photographer. You sign up. Then on your wedding day “your” photographer can’t make it and someone else shows up-someone probably much less talented. Also, ask if the photographer will shoot in color, black and white, or both. Will he shoot traditional shots, photojournalism, or both? Will you be able to keep the proofs? Can you buy the negatives? How much time will the photographer spend at your wedding? Will he also take photos of the bride and groom preparing for the wedding?
Step 10: Dress. Some brides feel they need to spend a lot of money on “the dress.” My husband thought my dress would be the biggest expense, but it was one of the smallest. The dress I fell in love with happened to be on sale because it was discontinued. It was just my size! I didn’t even need alterations. How often does that happen?! Even if you are not that lucky, there are thousands of beautiful wedding dresses between $150 and $850. Check out the large bridal stores as well as your local bridal shops. If you like tradition, you can wear your mother’s wedding dress and have it altered to fit your style. You want to love your wedding dress, but remember-you will only wear it one time for about 8 hours.
Step 11: Flowers. Choose flowers that match your wedding colors. Your local florist can make suggestions and tell which flowers will be in season (they will be less expensive). The flower arrangements were one thing I should have followed-up on with a second meeting. I told the florist exactly what I wanted for my bridal bouquet-deep red roses, no greenery, long matching ribbons (which I provided), and how I wanted the roses gathered. I even gave her a picture. We also discussed the attendants’ bouquets and flowers for the reception tables. The day of the wedding, the attendants’ flowers were more beautiful than I imagined and the table flowers were gorgeous. My bridal bouquet was almost nothing like what I had asked for. I had red roses, but also plenty of greenery, no ribbons, and an ugly plastic piece that held the flowers. The wedding was in an hour and there was nothing I could do. I tried to put it out of my mind and concentrated on everything else that was wonderful about that day. Remember-follow up is one of the most important factors in getting the wedding you want.
Step 12: Hair & Makeup. Many brides go to a salon and have their hair and makeup done. If you do, have a trial run so you know you will be happy with the results on your wedding day. Going to a salon is not a necessity. You may decide to do your own hair and makeup or have a friend do it. You can schedule practice sessions and try several hairstyles to get it perfect.
Step 13: Cake. Many reception halls provide the wedding cake. Mine did. However, I was not happy with my choices. They agreed to make the red velvet cake I requested, but not the decoration I wanted. I had seen exactly what I wanted in a wedding magazine so I called the bakery listed in the back. The baker was able to make the decoration (without the cake) and ship it to my reception hall. The nice people at the hall, accepted the shipment and put the decoration on the cake. It was perfect! If you plan to do something like this, make sure everyone involved is willing to do their part. Then follow through and make sure the shipment is sent, that it arrives, and that the cake maker knows how to arrange the decorations (give her a picture).
Step 14: Favors. These little mementos are small tokens of appreciation to your guests for sharing in your special day. There are many options to choose from. You can give something that matches the theme of your wedding, such as starfish wine stoppers if you are having a beach wedding. Or, you can give something that symbolizes the love you share with your new husband such as a scented candle with the monogram you share as a couple. You can give something edible such as the traditional chocolate covered almonds, or you can make your own favors. Just try to give something your guests will appreciate and use. A wine glass with your and your groom’s name and wedding date may be pretty, but not very practical to a guest.
Step 15: Relax! You’ve done the research. You’ve done the planning. You’ve done the shopping and creating. And, you’ve done the follow-up. It’s now time to relax and enjoy the day. Don’t worry about the little things that go wrong-because something will go wrong (remember my wedding bouquet?). The important thing is that at the end of the day-after the ceremony that is witnessed by your friends and family, after the dancing and laughing and partying-you will be married. You and your groom are starting your new life together. That’s the most important thing.
How To Choose A Disc Jockey For Your Wedding Reception
Research your options for DJ services. Do you want to have music through the sit-down dinner? Do you also want music for the cake-cutting, toasting, and throwing of the bouquet and garter? Will there be dancing at the reception? Remember that music helps create memories. We associate certain parts of our life to the music at the time of the event or experience. Music sets the tone for your event.
Let the songs you choose tell your love story. Take the time to choose music with your special someone so that it creates an unforgettable finish to your wedding day.
If you don’t know where to start looking for a professional disc jockey, go to the wedding websites such as Wedding Wire, Wedj, and The Knot. Try to find a local DJ so that travel time is not excessive for the DJ and this keeps your cost down. If a DJ has to travel more than 100 miles, it may increase the cost. Most DJ’s have a per-hour cost for the event which may or may not cover travel time, set-up and break-down time. There are great DJs out there who specialize in weddings. These are the ones you want to seek out. They tend to be professional and know how to keep the guests happy. They know how to make the introductions of the bridal party, and any announcements you may need. They can help you navigate through the reception activities with ease. They also know how to keep your guests dancing, if that is what you desire.
Professional wedding DJs will have an amazing database of music for you to select from. They will have selections for your First Dance, Father-Daughter Dance, Mother-Son Dance, and Last Dance.
They will offer suggestions for you if you feel overwhelmed by the vast selection of music, since they have experience in what works best or with what is most popular at the time.
A professional wedding DJ will have a contract so that nothing is left to chance. This protects you and the DJ. If a DJ does not offer you a contract, ask for one.
Remember, this is your special day and you want your guests to remember it as much as you will. Music creates wonderful memories and experiences. Choosing a DJ wisely will pay off in a day to remember!