Posts Tagged ‘ Wedding ’

Along with your wedding dress, your wedding cake will be one of the main focal points of your big day, not to mention being an important photographic opportunity. It is as time-honoured as the bride being late or the best man bungling his speech! wedding ceremonies wouldn’t be the same without the cutting of the cake, but did you realise that there is a particular way in which to cut it?

It is customary for the bride & groom to make the first two cuts together, usually with a ceremonial knife or a wedding cake serving set. Some couples have a serving set with their names and / or venue and date engraved on the knife and cake server.

To begin the bride should place her right hand on the handle of the knife. The groom should put his hand over hers, and together they begin cutting on the bottom tier of the cake with the point of the knife. Two incisions are made to cut a small piece which is then placed on a plate.

Traditionally the bride and groom will then feed it to each other. This will be their first duty as man and wide and is said to signify that they are committed to sharing their lives with one another. It is also believed to symbolise the creation of new family unit and the replacement of the old parent-child union. In antiquated rituals the bride would serve portions of cake to members of the parents of the groom as a symbol of the transfer of her household labour to his family.

During the cutting of the cake the attention of the entire wedding party will be focused on it, so ensure that it is placed in a prominent but secure spot, preferably close to the top table, without obscuring the guests’ view if possible.

 

To relieve themselves of the stress that a couple can amass in the run up to their wedding, many newly weds are honeymooning in a growing range of exotic locations. Undoubtedly there is no better way to begin your married life together than to bask in the luxury and extravagance of such destinations.

Envisage a beautiful white sandy beach, tropical blue skies, a warm breeze and palm trees . If this image creates a vision of romance in your minds eye then honeymooning in an exotic location could be for you. But where exactly should you go?

Where?

The world is a very big place and the choices are huge. From Mauritius to the Seychelles to St Lucia, the choices are vast when it comes to honeymoon destinations. Often these placed are recognized for their beautiful scenery and romantic atmosphere, and many companies offer special packages specifically designed for honeymooners.

 
When?

Obviously after you are wed! But you should also take into consideration the time of year that you will be honeymooning due to the tropical climate of some destinations. For example, the best time to visit Antigua is November through to July, however the best time to visit the Seychelles is May through to November. A fortnight during hurricane season might not be every newly weds idea of paradise!

Vaccinations

Some locations will require a visit to your GP for vaccinations. Many of the tropical locations popular with honeymooners carry the risk of diseases that one might not ordinarily come into contact with. Your Doctor or local Health Centre will advise you which vaccinations are necessary for which locations. Another thing to bear in mind is that will likely need to take these vaccinations around four to six weeks before you travel.

Passports

If you are taking your spouses name when you marry, remember that in the UK it is possible to have the name on your passport changed up to three months in advance. However your new passport will be post-dated and so will only be valid from your wedding date.

Failing this, as long as your honeymoon is booked in both your maiden names so that the names on the travel documents match those on your passports, there shouldn’t be a problem, the country that you are travelling to requires you to have a visa. You should consult the Embassy of your destination or your travel agent to make certain that a visa stamped in a post dated passport is accepted. If it isn’t, you will need to travel using your passport in your maiden name.

 
Although your wedding is likely to be one of the happiest occasions of your life, the stress of planning a wedding can be enormous, particularly when planning your budget for the big day. Totalling the seemingly relentless catalogue of expenses is enough to have any bride to be running for the hills.

However, having a limited budget does not necessarily mean that you are limited as to how special your wedding day can be. There are many ways to stay in control of your budget and still achieve the wedding of your dreams.

Contemplate purchasing your wedding invitations online or via mail order . They offer a great choice and the prices are usually unbeatable.

Consider hiring your wedding dress rather than going to the unnecessary expense of purchasing one, after all, its not likely that you will be wearing it again. You could also try shopping at a wedding outlet store, you might find some good deals here and save a fortune against retail prices, remember cheap dresses aren’t necessarily bad dresses. Keep your eye out for bridal accessories here too.

To save money when planning flowers for your wedding, choose flowers can be sourced locally and are in season. Opt for simple, readily available flowers or at least use them for the greater part of the bouquets and arrangements.

Arrange a Champagne reception rather than a sit down meal, but remember to time the reception accordingly to make sure that none of the wedding party expect a meal. Late afternoon would be most appropriate.

Also, find an inexpensive photographer and book them as far in advance as possible. Ask them to take the minimum number of shots that they will consider in one booking and buy some disposable cameras for your reception. Place one at each table and draw on these pictures to complete your wedding album, its probable that many of your guests will find taking the pictures entertaining!

 

Wedding vows are a significant part of any wedding. The promises that you make to each other throughout the course of the ceremony will set the tone for your married life together.

The most popular preferences are perhaps the more traditional wedding vows, which are still seen by many as the most appropriate wording to use.

But promising to ‘love, honour and obey’ might not be considered the perfect recipe for marriage in these modern times, and an increasing number of couples are deciding to personalise their vows, giving them meaning that is apt to the more avant-garde marriage. But how exactly do you write your own?

Your vows are not just words that you read out during your wedding. These words will stay with you throughout your marriage, so your heart should be in each and every word. These very public promises are expected to be genuine and heartfelt, but it can be difficult to know where to begin. Here are a few basic elements that you might want to consider when personalising your vows.

Confirm your appreciation that your partner has come into your life. Relay how your life has been enhanced by this

Include a declaration of lasting love

Verbally pledge your intention to be faithful and to love your partner through good times and bad

Refer to spiritual or religious meaning of your nuptials if this is appropriate to your relationship

Since they are personal there is no right or wrong way to write your vows and more intimate couples might even opt to use lines of poetry or lyrics from a special song to convey their feelings. They should be designed to meet the individual and emotional needs of both the bride and groom, and although the language used may be more modern and appropriate to today’s society, their intentions need not be any less earnest or sincere that traditional vows.

 

If this is the first time that you have heard of a marriage proposal consultant then you are not alone. As more men than ever before consult the experts to help steer their efforts in asking the words ‘Will you marry me?’, this relatively recent concept is growing rapidly. Whilst the phrase remains timeless, gone are the days when it was sufficient to go down on bedded knee and request the hand of your beloved.

In this competitive era, many women demand more than an uncomplicated declaration of love. In the same way that some might employ an accountant or a personal trainer, it is now possible to hire the professional services of a Wedding Proposal Consultant to guarantee the most attractive approach to that all important question.

I read recently in an online survey that 85% of women were disappointed in the way that their partner proposed to them, suggesting that this service hasn’t arrived a moment too soon. Today’s women are looking for the ultimate display of affection, which is where the experts come in, helping men develop the most innovative ways of proposing, thus ensuring a positive response. The consultants services range from offering a few idea’s right through to arranging the whole event with military precision on their clients behalf.

So ladies, whether you want your proposal to be written in the sky, announced on a local TV station or you want to re-enact the scene from Sleepless in Seattle on top of Empire State Building, you can rest assured that help is at hand to make certain that in this age where excess is the norm, your wedding proposal is increasing likely to be as memorable as your wedding day!