Zen Wedding Style

Do you want your wedding to be serene and stylish at the same time? Then consider designing a wedding with a Zen style. You will enjoy your special day in a feeling of bliss.

Zen style is simple and clean and peaceful. It is relaxing, and can also be quite modern and chic. It is a great idea for a wedding theme, as you and your guests will feel quite at ease in the oasis that you create. For a few ideas on how to have a Zen wedding, read on...

Think about your wedding location. A space like an open loft in a city with great hardwood floors and lots of natural light would be one excellent option. Another possibility is an outdoor setting. An Asian inspired garden would be ideal, as would a setting near running water, which will make a soothing background sound.

A peaceful color palette is a great place to being when creating your Zen design. Soft colors from nature like taupe, celadon, and pale blue work beautifully in combination with an accent color like espresso. Your color scheme will be serene and modern at the same time. Patterns that use some of the colors together in a stripe would make a very pleasing addition to the overall wedding décor.

Your color palette can be carried throughout the wedding. You will certainly want to use it for your bridesmaid dresses. Tea length chiffon dresses in celadon or pale blue would be lovely. To add a little punch, choose ones that also use the espresso accent color, either in a sash, or as a wide border at the hemline. For the bridesmaid jewelry sets, think simple and clean lines, such as elegant sterling silver pieces. Bridesmaid jewelry sets that use elements with a natural and organic form, like keshi pearls, would also be wonderful for your Zen wedding.

For your wedding décor, imagine a fabulous Asian inspired spa setting. Think about ways to incorporate natural elements, such as smooth rocks, bamboo, seagrass, and even water. A great touch for a Zen theme wedding would be to have a water element, such as a simple modern fountain, or another source of running water. If your venue does not have such a feature, see about renting or even custom designing a piece like a copper wall fountain to add the tranquil sound of water to your reception.

In keeping with the idea of being in harmony with nature and the senses, your reception menu should include foods that are fresh, light, and seasonal. If you love Asian food, then you could go with a Pan-Asian menu, but you could also choose to feature your local cuisine, preferably fresh from the farm. Roasted vegetables, free range chicken and artisanal cheeses are all wonderful menu choices.

For the ultimate in Zen wedding design, consider hiring a feng shui expert to design the floorplan of your reception. You will be ensured that the vibe at your wedding is as serene as possible. In addition, you will ensure good flow throughout the room, as well as the best luck to get your marriage off to a happy and harmonious start. If a wedding theme can do all that, then who wouldn't want to have their big day be as Zen as possible?

Look to Bridget for advice on planning your wedding. Check out how we can help with your bridesmaids jewelry at SilverlandJewelry.com. Bridesmaid jewelry sets should reflect the style and theme of your wedding.

Wedding Quotes

Your wedding planning is almost over but you have to have a lot of wedding quotes in your hand. You can use these quotes in various things in your wedding especially when you are to give wedding favors for your guests. Generic and popular wedding favors can be personalized by printing wedding quotes on them and signing your names, the date and venue of your wedding below. You can also have your own quotable speech marks. You can be humorous, dramatic or whatever style you prefer as long as you are communicating clearly and that you are touching the hearts of those who can read it.

When you have chosen a theme from the movies, the best way to present your wedding quotes is to say the memorable and sweet lines from the movie. There are also a lot of wedding quotes available from the internet where you can choose the best works that suit your theme or the story of your love. Some are listed below for your convenience.

Marriage is a book of which the first chapter is written in poetry and the remaining chapters written in prose.

Beverly Nichols

He is the half part of a blessed man

Left to be finished by such as she:

And she a fair divided excellence

Whose fullness of perfection lies in him.

William Shakespeare

Come live with me and be my Love,

And we will all the pleasures prove

That hills and valleys, dale and field,

And all the craggy mountains yield.

Christopher Marlowe

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.

Germaine Greer

Two such as you with such a master speed cannot be parted nor be swept away from one another once you are agreed that life is only life forevermore together wing to wing and oar to oar.

Robert Frost

Marriage requires a person to prepare 4 types of Rings: Engagement Ring, Wedding Ring, Suffering, and Enduring

Anonymous

Love is temporary insanity curable by marriage.

Ambrose Bierce

Marrying a man is like buying something you have been admiring for a long time in a shop window. You may love it when you get it home, but it doesn't always go with everything else in the house.
Jean Kerr

Wedding quotes are very useful for encouragement for your bride or groom and for your guests as well. When you have chosen to print a humorous one, at least you can have your guest smile not only because they have enjoyed the ceremony and reception but they are entertained with their favors.

When you do not want to adopt quotes from other persons, you can always make your own. Bring out the creativity in you and say whatever you heart wants to tell to your partner or to your guests. You could be the next romantic writer and write one of the most celebrated love quotes like : Passionate Shepherd of His Love - by Christopher Marlowe. All you need to do is to listen to your heart and pen your wedding quotes that touches the heart.

For more information about weddings please visit http://www.happydaywedding.com

7 Ideas for Summer Wedding Centerpieces

Centerpieces are a key element to any wedding reception. They not only add beauty and appeal to a table, they often tie the theme of the wedding together. When choosing a centerpiece, you will want to consider the theme of your wedding as well as the season of your wedding. This way, everything ties in together seamlessly.

Summer is a beautiful time of year to have a wedding. The endless colors of summer and warm temperatures make planning a summer wedding fun. There are a variety of options where you can have your summer wedding. And the centerpiece ideas are practically unlimited in the summer.

You will want your centerpieces to coordinate with the rest of your wedding. When deciding what type of centerpiece to have, you will need to consider the size of the tables you will be using, as well as the theme and colors of the wedding and most importantly, your budget.

Below are some great ideas for centerpieces for your summer wedding.

1. One of the most common centerpieces for any wedding is flowers. In the summer time, flowers are in bloom everywhere. Therefore, they are generally a less expensive way to make a beautiful and elegant centerpiece. You can simply have an arrangement of fresh cut flowers in a lovely vase setting on each table.

2. A glass pond filled with river rock will sure to be a hit at any wedding. You can add glass bubbles to the centerpieces for a simply breathtaking work of art.

3. If you are having a less formal wedding on the beach, consider using sand buckets as your centerpieces. You can fill the buckets half way full with sand and place toy shovels in the bucket.

4. If you wedding happens to be on or around 4th of July, think of using a red, white and blue theme. You can purchase small picnic baskets to use as centerpieces. Fill the baskets with red, white and blue shredded paper. For more pizzaz, you can add wine bottles and glasses to the baskets and small American flags.

5. Summer is a great time for herbs. Take ceramic pots and fill them with herbs to use as centerpieces. Some of the more beautiful herbs are lavender, rosemary and fresh mint.

6. For a night wedding, use glass bowls with floating candles. The candles will add that romantic feeling to your wedding. The candles can be shaped in a variety of different patterns, such as flowers or butterflies. You can also purchase the candles to coordinate with the color of your wedding.

7. If you are looking to add some height to your centerpieces, consider using lilies. Calla lilies are not only elegant and breathtaking, they can add flair to any centerpiece. Choose a beautiful, tall glass and fill with three buds.

You can use the above list as a good starting point for creating the perfect centerpieces for your wedding. Simply tailor the ideas to fit in with the theme and mood you have decided upon. Before you know it, you will have the perfect centerpiece to go with your perfect day.

Guy writes about travel,customs and society. for http://www.silverlandjewelry.com

Shop for beach wedding jewelry and other jewelry for your bridesmaids gifts at SilverlandJewelry

Themed Wedding Decorations

If you are planning a themed wedding, your decorations will be even more important than for a traditional wedding. This is because it is your decorations that establish your theme. Otherwise you end up with the proverbial princess wedding just because you are wearing a tiara wedding. You want your wedding to be memorable and the key to creating a themed wedding that you will look back on with fondness are your decoration choices.

When deciding on wedding decorations for your theme, it will be necessary to use some imagination. Take an afternoon with your groom-to-be or your bridesmaids and dream. If your theme is based on a movie or time period grab a movie and pay special attention to the decor elements they chose.

Most of all take the time to make your theme specific. Instead of choosing a garden wedding, for example, you might choose a butterfly wedding. Or a ladybug wedding or a mixture of butterflies, dragonflies, and lady bugs. Once you have made your theme specific it will be much easier to shop for your themed decorations because you will know exactly what you are looking for.

Where to Find Your Themed Wedding Decorations

You might be able to find your decorations at a local wedding shop or party store, but since stores can only afford to keep a limited stock on hand you probably will have to look elsewhere. Many themed wedding decorations can be found at party rental stores. Because themed weddings are becoming so popular, many party rental stores carry themed backdrops, such as western, gothic, or medieval.

The Internet is an easier place to shop for your decor elements for your wedding day. The obvious advantage is that you can do your shopping at any time of the day or night in whatever you happen to be wearing at the moment. But an even greater advantage the Internet has is the luxury of being able to offer a much wider variety of products than your local store so you have a better chance of finding exactly what you want. Of course, the third advantage is that anything you purchase on the internet is shipped directly to your door. You don't have to haul it home.

For themed wedding decorations you will find that some of them may have to be made by hand, others you can implement into your theme. For example, a medieval theme it might be nice to have someone craft a banner with the coat of arms and crest of both the bride and groom. This would add a touch of nobility to your theme.

Don't for get your wedding favors! Yes, your wedding favors can play a huge role in developing your theme and as a part of your wedding decorations. In fact, if you choose your favors well there is a very good chance you won't have to spend as much on the rest of your wedding decorations. For example, choosing glass grape place card holders as favors and butterfly cake jewelry on a wedding cake decorated with gum paste or marzipan grapes and grape leaves would go a long ways toward developing a vineyard wedding theme.

Other Themed Wedding Decoration Concerns

It's easy to get so wrapped up in any one element of your wedding that you loose sight of the other elements that play a role in the development of your themed wedding. Wedding decorations for your theme is not the only important subject you will need to worry about. With a themed wedding, location is also very important. You will want to choose a location that goes well with your theme. Old houses and gardens work well for some themes, while your mermaid theme or ocean theme might want to be located on the coast - though it's certainly not essential.

Another decor element that is often overlooked in terms of the development of a wedding theme is your own appearance and that of the rest of your bridal party. How you appear tells the viewer much about your theme. You want that message to be just right. If you are building a Victorian themed wedding then you will want a Victorian styled wedding dress. But if you want to build a different theme you will want to consider the clothing of your bridal party to fit your theme.

A little imagination will go a long way in creating the perfect atmosphere for your themed wedding. The good news is that it also makes it easier to search because once you know what you are looking for it becomes easier to know when you found the right themed wedding decorations.

Jeanette Shinn is a wedding professional with over a dozen years experience making dreams come alive. Find tips and accessories from cake jewelry to Cinderella themed wedding favors options at http://www.ExcitingWeddingFavors.com.

Wedding Toasts For the Reception Dinner

The wedding toasts are a short speech that is about five minute. There are three important wedding toasts on the wedding reception. That is the toasts of the father of the bride, groom of the bride, and the best man of the wedding. Although a wedding can have more wedding toasts, these are the three most important wedding toasts.

The father of the bride is traditionally the main toastmaster of the wedding reception. The father of the bride asks for toasts to the bride and groom at first. Then, he usually gives a warm thanks to the father of the groom, groom of the bride, relatives of the bride, relatives of the groom, friends of the bride, friends of the groom, and special guests of the wedding. Finally, he gives a special welcome to everyone who comes to the wedding.

Now, the groom of the bride responds to the toasts of the father. The grooms usually ask for toasts for the parents of the bride, bride of the wedding, and his parents. He may also thanks who took part in the wedding. This requires a little research and observation. For example, the best man picks up the tuxedoes of the groomsmen, the groomsmen decorates the limousine, and the bridesmaids usher on the wedding.

The best man toasts for the lovely bride and groom of course. This is the most stressful wedding roles to him. He usually knows the groom very well. This wedding toast is highly emotional which may bring tons of laughter and tears. He also speaks on behalf of the bridesmaids.

In a wedding, you are all dressed up nice and good. You may want to sound as good as your wedding attire. To avoid mistakes, you must practice ahead of time. The best way is to practice in front of the mirror with glass and spoon. In case you forget what you need to say, you can always bring up the written down copy of the wedding speech.

A short speech can still be a good wedding speech. You can speak slower to lengthen the speech. However, you may not want to bore the audience with slowness too much.

The wish of good health and happiness to the bride and groom is always a good idea. Actually, it is a very good closing of the wedding speech. Now, the wedding guests are in the mood for toasts. For example, a wish to change from for better or worse to for better, happiness, and good health.

Although alcohol can relieve stress and nervousness, the alcohol deprives the body to perform well with high consumption of alcohol. To perform at best, you may want to defer until you finish the wedding toasts.

By adding past experience, you are personalizing the wedding toasts. This shows how much you know about the groom, bride, or someone. For example, you remember what advice that you gave to win the heart of the bride. For any highly embarrassing moment for the groom or bride, you may want to save the story some other time. This is their special moment. And, the embarrassing stories might ruin the mood on the wedding.

To lighten up the wedding toasts, you may add a few jokes and humor. Not all jokes are funny. Jokes are all about timing. There are clubs, and restaurant that offers stand up comic. Watching the professional stand up comic at work, you can learn about timing and delivery. If you are brave enough, you can also try the jokes to friends, and relatives. The jokes also must relate to the background and origin of the audience. When you get a few laughs, you know that it is a hit on wedding toasts.

Sometimes, the some guests may not be able to make to the wedding and reception. For example, the guest got in an accident. Another, the guest is out of town. Or, the guest is ill or sick. It is good to mention the guest who could not make to the wedding and reception for sympathy.

Best of all, many of the guests, and sponsors have greatly contributed to the success of the wedding. It is also great to mention congratulations for a job well done. In the wedding entourage, you will see the list of sponsors to congratulate.

Dennis Estrada owns wedding roles, wedding entourage, and Wedding Bubbles And Wedding Tosses website that provides fashion, trends, and resouces about wedding.

Wedding Freebies

When you are planning of your or someone's wedding, there are many ideas to make it budgeted, getting free gifts and other ideas to make it very memorable exciting. This is obviously very important day and to find the perfect wedding freebies, there are so many websites that gives the amazing offers for wedding which are free giveaways.

If you are getting married, you need to check out such websites and the websites not only offers freebies for wedding but also make sure you have all required information regarding your wedding. Many things which are need to be organized well, these websites helps you to gather the best plan for your wedding as well as provide you with coolest wedding freebies.

Internet is big resource and you can find anything that you are looking for and all you have do is do some research. For your wedding, there are varieties of wedding freebies and you can have so many ideas provided by these websites. So many websites sends you different offers including many freebies before you try their items in future.

For instance there are few websites that offers free wedding cliparts that you can use for your own personalized wedding invitation. These are very good ways to save your money if you can use them.

Some websites allows you to make a free wedding websites to make your wedding more memorable and exciting. You can share your photos and all the events to your friends and family. However some websites also provides free wedding dress or in a very heavy discount if not and these are just perfect for saving couple of hundreds dollars in your wedding.

You can look over on some websites that always provides free chocolates, small bottle of wines, cakes, champagnes etc. You have to send them requests, fill some forms or just subscribe to their newsletters. Those websites are always happy to send out the wedding freebies and other gift items. The more you do research the more you have chance to get varieties of freebies for your wedding. If you join many social network websites, forums where you can meet many people from different places, you can ask them on recommended sites that give wedding freebies and other gifts. They will give you the best resources and quickest way to get such freebies. Many people share their experiences with those websites and share how their wedding went perfectly without spending thousands of dollars on something you or anybody wouldn't have known how to save more on it. Signing up with many websites can also give you chance to win many big prizes like long vacation, collection of kitchen wares, decoration items and much more. Free items like bridal shower games, free cook books, flowers for wedding ceremony, magazines for your perfect wedding, wedding planner books and resources, and many other giveaways are always there online which you have to search, subscribe in them and get them for wedding.

Certainly if you really want to avoid spending thousands of dollars on something that you can totally manage, why wouldn't you do that? After all you will be saving that money for your family and secured future.

If you are looking for a few nice wedding freebies you could always check FreebieReporter.com for the latest freebies and deals for your perfect wedding.

Symbolism of Wedding Rings

"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of
two chemical substances; if there is any reaction,
both are transformed." -C.G. Jung

Rings have been exchanged as a symbol of the bond of marriage for so long, and in so many different cultures, that the origin of the practice is obscure. Certainly, the circle of a ring represents undying love and the continually renewed vows of the married couple. Circles have long been archetypes for not only timelessness, but also wholeness and homecoming. The circle also speaks to the constant round of the heavens, as well as the eternal return of the seasons, marked by cyclical ritual and celebration.
In addition, the circle in rock art, sacred stone arrays, and astrology represents both the Sun and the Moon, themselves astrological and alchemical symbols for the masculine and feminine aspects of the cosmos. This correspondence with the Sun and Moon is emphasized by the frequent practice of choosing gold for one betrothed and silver for the other, as gold and silver are the metals long associated with the Sun and Moon respectively.

Rings in general have a deeply rooted magical significance. Enchanted rings figure in many ancient folk tales. Incantations and spells for the protection of the wearer of rings are common motifs. Today, in traditional religious ceremonies, Christian and otherwise, the wedding rings are blessed by a minister or priest, thus continuing the symbolic practice of imbuing rings with protective powers.

The widespread tradition of embellishing the plain gold or silver wedding band with various designs and patterns has been known since at least 700 AD, in both Pan-Hellenic and Celtic cultures. The quite ancient symbol of the ouroboros, the serpent which consumes its own tail, was a theme used for wedding rings made of iron in Rome. The ouroboros itself is a symbol of the oneness of creation and destruction in renewal, and the life principle which timelessly feeds on its own inspiration. It also represents the hope for a lifelong marriage union that's continually renewed.

Celtic wedding rings are often gorgeously decorated with geometric knot work patterns that have a long history and central place in Celtic art. These patterns are strongly vegetative, suggesting tendrils and vines. In fact, in much of Celtic art, including the famous illuminated Bible, The Book of Kells, these Celtic Knots emerge from or transform into vegetative foliage. The beautiful symmetry of these woven patterns is often not square, rigid, or overly formal, but organic, flowing, and a stylized reflection of the curves and spirals found in nature. Indeed, the Celtic Knots that embellish wedding rings herald the ideas of spring, fertility, and the eternal reawakening of the life force - all of which bode well for a fruitful life partnership.

Wedding rings have most commonly been worn on the third finger of the left hand. Speculation has it that this is because the Romans believed that a vein ran directly from this finger to the heart. An alternate suggestion for this tradition is that each finger on the hand is associated with a planet in the ancient systems of astrology, and the ring finger of the left hand was associated with the Sun. In this way, the wearing of a wedding ring on that finger signifies the public proclamation of the union in the daylight, in other words, the conscious and clearly visible world of human community. This correspondence is perhaps even more strongly emphasized by the general tendency to craft wedding rings out of gold, which is symbolically the metal of the Sun throughout folk history and across cultures.

Wedding rings capture the full range of the ceremonial, symbolic, and communal aspects of marriage, and preserve these many levels of significance as a durable and constant reminder. Ancient yet contemporary, steeped in lore and mystery yet almost universally exchanged, wedding rings combine the art of the jeweler, the reverence of the betrothed, and the beauty of love and partnership in a single, resonant symbol.

Peter Breslin,

Reflective Images

http://www.artisanweddingrings.com

http://www.celticjewelry.com

Email at: marek@celticjewelry.com

Peter Breslin is a musician, astrologer, Tarot reader, teacher and freelance writer for Artisanweddingrings.com and Celticjewelry.com living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has taught mathematics, music, writing, and literature in the course of a 20-year teaching career in Pennsylvania, New York, New Mexico, and California. Writings include a variety of pieces for publications online and otherwise. He is currently at work on a novel.

Wedding Reception Decor

Choosing wedding reception decor is almost always a balance between time and budget. Knowing what you will have time to create, how much time you will have to decorate the site and how much you will be able to spend are all critical in the planning process. Stores, magazines and wedding shows are all full of ideas and creative options for wedding reception decor. However, the key to making any reception unique is to take these generic items and transform them in to something special.

Old Ideas with New Twists

Craft stores often have an aisle meant for brides. This handy selection of reception decor can be great in a time crunch, but are otherwise un-inventive which is likely not the goal you have for your special day. There may be a few things you want to grab out of the bridal aisle, but for the most part, hunting around the rest of the store will find you what you need- but only better.

Taking plain ideas and making them unique can start with thinking about what you can add. White twinkling lights are beautiful accents to an otherwise boring venue, but taking it a step further than hanging strands of lights on the wall will be what makes your idea stand out in the minds of guests. Wrapping the lights in colored tulle or selecting interesting colored lights that match your color pallet can be incredibly simple yet stunning decorations. Lights come in a wide variety of colors including magenta, bright blues and purples.

One wedding reception decor idea that maximizes value is to use various potted blooms throughout your reception venue. You can wrap the containers in coordinating fabrics and distribute your flowers to guests following the ceremony. Similarly, if you need a larger item to cover an eye sore, you can often find artificial plants at event rental stores that you can use. Adding light strands to the artificial plants may enhance their appearance.

You can often use your table favors to double as decorative items. Wrapping your table favors in colored tissue paper or tulle and tying them with simple crafting ribbon will have a beautiful effect on your tables. The centrepieces should also be a coordinating decor item, continuing to carry out your theme and color palette.

What to Watch For

Your venue choice may limit your decor ideas so be sure to check ahead of time. Many sites may not permit anything that adheres to the wall or lit candles. Additionally, if you are holding an outdoor event, your decor items should be prepared for the weather including wind and heat. You also don't want your wedding reception decor to look like a pre-school craft project. Look for help amongst your friends and family. A few extra hands could be useful if you have selected something that will take a great deal of time.

If you are choosing to create your own wedding reception decor items, be sure to allow enough time to assemble them, place them at your reception and remove them. Waiting until the last minute will only leave a bride stressed more than necessary. If you think outside of what is in the package in the bridal aisle, you are more likely to create something special and meaningful that you and your guests will remember.

My name is Karen and I have been helping brides plan their weddings for many years, why not visit our website for more help with your wedding planning along with more ideas for the wedding reception

Do it Yourself Wedding Centerpieces

Having a wedding on a budget can be difficult. One way many brides cut costs is to have do-it-yourself decorations. Not only can this save money, but it can also be a very fun project; especially if you have loved ones to help you. The engagement and wedding preparation periods are just as exciting as the wedding itself, and homemade wedding decorations make preparing for the wedding much more memorable.

Do it yourself wedding centerpieces are probably the easiest way to make homemade wedding decorations. If done correctly, they can add a lot of the bride and grooms personal style to the décor. Additionally, the unique personal touches will be appreciated by your wedding guests. However, it can be very easy to make tacky decorations when you make them yourself.

First of all, think about the colors of your wedding. Anything you can find with a shape and texture that you like can be painted to that color. For example, sticks can be sprat-painted to match any décor for a stunning look.

Candles are a cheap way to add romance and ambience to a centerpiece. Candles can be decorated with ribbons, gems, or decoupage. Or they can be left alone and clustered with several candles of varying heights and sizes.

Placing centerpieces on mirrors adds depth and style as well. Colors and lights are reflected and can juice up a simple decoration.

Jars, baskets, and vases can be mixed and matched on different tables. These types of things are probably laying around useless in your house or can be found for cheap at garage sales and thrift stores. Again, simple things like this can be decorated to match the style of the wedding with paint, ribbon, gems etc.

Fruits and vegetables can also be used in your centerpieces. Choose a fruit of vegetable that comes in a color that matches your wedding colors.

Water with colored stones in it can also be used in wedding centerpieces. The light in the colored stones is reflected through the water, so a little bit of color can go a long way.

Even people who do not consider themselves to be creative can make their own wedding centerpieces. The trick is to look for potential and beauty in everything we come across. Then, with a little glue and bedazzling that item is ready for the wedding!

Use the wedding centerpieces guide for more information about wedding centerpieces.

Fall Wedding Centerpiece

Fall is the most ideal time to get married as the season brings with itself a cool weather. Moreover, it is harvest time and there are many attractive options of fall wedding centerpiece. If you can add a little bit of creativity, you can bring about an excellent centerpiece idea in a fall wedding. You can have a lot of options from apple, wine, leaves and fall flowers. You can match a theme with any of the above mentioned materials.

While deciding on the theme of your fall wedding centerpiece, you must consider the following factors. The theme must match the decoration of the reception space, the size of the tables, wedding colors and your budget. Take ideas from the florists and the wedding planner, as they can flood you with ideas.

Flower is obviously the most natural choice while going for a fall wedding centerpiece and you can get a lot of flowers during this season. Mums are really beautiful and can go well with the wedding dress and the centerpiece. Other attractive flowers that you can get in this season are Hydrangea and Sunflower. They can be used alone or with a combination of other flowers like rose, etc.

One can also make several designs with the pumpkins. You can create a jack-o-lantern and place it on each table. You can also make table numbers with pumpkins and keep them at the center of the table. One can also make a design combination of pumpkin with flowers. Instead of having a flower vase, one can keep the flowers in a hollowed out pumpkin.

If you decide to serve wine at the reception, you can keep big wedding glasses as flower vase, one each at the center of each table. In that case, wine bottles can also be kept at the center of each table. This will serve dual purpose.

Other innovative ideas will be using of apples and pears in the decoration. Apple can be added as a display item in the centerpiece displays with flowers. Funny ideas with apples can make the thing really attractive. Pears are another item which is available during fall and it can be easily added as a display item along with other fruits. They can also be added as display with other floral designs.

Use of candles is also another very popular idea of a fall wedding centerpiece. You can make wonderful designs with candles if you are creative or borrow ideas from a creative person. For example, hurricane vases can be half-filled with coffee beans and a pillar candle can be placed on it.

Another very attractive and popular item for making a wonderful fall wedding centerpiece is leaves. Many color leaves are available that fall from the trees during fall and they can be used for decorating the tables, your centerpiece and also the reception area. One can get a lot of color combination of such leaves fallen on the ground during fall. Consider your budget and see which of these ideas suits your pocket.

Get more info and our help for fall wedding centerpiece buying, planning and much more.

We have all the necessary info for you when choosing wedding reception centerpieces.

Wedding Planning Binder and Checkilsts

A wedding is such a wonderful event and a big day in any new couples life together. It will hopefully be the start of a life long partnership between husband and wife. However, since many couples planning a wedding have little to no experience in event coordination and planning things can quickly become disastrous. The details of florists, priests, caterers, decorations and many other such details can quickly become overwhelming and almost choke out any fun that might be had. Don't let this happen to you, don't let your wedding become a nightmare of disorganized chaos in which you are rushing around so frantically that you won't remember what happened.

By following some simple wedding planning checklists and organization skills you can ensure that your wedding will be pulled off with class, grace and even be a fun carefree event that you can actually enjoy. There are many different ways to keep organized and everyone is individual and will want to do what works for them. However, one of the most universally used tools in wedding planning or even event planning is a wedding binder.

A wedding binder is important because it will keep track of all the paperwork and details so that you are not scrambling around looking for these things. This does not need to be a fancy elaborate binder any three ring binder will work. Of course, there is nothing wrong with a little decoration and you will be using this binder on a daily basis so if you choose to purchase something with a little style that will work just fine also.

1. Site - In this section you can keep all of the details regarding both the site where the ceremony will be held and where the reception will be. You will want phone numbers and contact information for both of these sites along with directions or maps to the place. You will also want to keep any contracts and agreements that have been made in renting the site for the event.

2. Clothing - You will want to keep information in this section regarding everything about clothing. This includes information about your wedding dress, the bridesmaid dress and accessories and where the tuxedos for the groom, best man and so on. Make sure you have phone numbers and a contact person, brochures from the places if available. As well as maps or directions to the place for out of town or out of state visitors. You might also want to include photos of wedding clothing that you like to use as a sample when shopping. Colors for the wedding are also very important make sure you clearly layout and decide what colors are being used.

3. Decorations - Centerpieces, floral arrangements, table clothes, trinity candles and much more can go in this general category. Essentiality this category will contain any information about any type of decoration that will be used.

4. Ceremony - In this section you can include information on the offciant of the wedding, the location for the ceremony, music lists, maps, and programs

5. Reception - You will want to include any catering, food prep ideas, and site information including phone numbers and contact people.

6. Honeymoon - Hopefully you are planning a wonderful honeymoon vacation after the wedding. You might want to keep tickets, itineraries, email and phone numbers all in this section. Along with any brochures and other vacation options.

7. Photographers - This section is of course dedicated to photography. You will want to include contact information or a business card for photographers, and videographers. Keep your contracts and terms of agreements with photographers in here also.

A binder can not solve all the problems and complications associated with planning a wedding. However by regularly using wedding planning checklists and a wedding planning binder and keep up with organizing the information you wedding will run smoother. Which means you will be able to enjoy the special occasion like it was meant to be.

Chris Ryerson Plan Best Wedding. A great resource for: wedding Planning Checklists.

Trends in Wedding Flowers

Wondering what is in or out for weddings this year? The flowers that you choose for your special day will have a big impact, so you want to make sure that they look stylish and current. These are some of the latest trends in wedding flowers.

The most chic centerpieces this season focus on one or two key elements. Rather than having floral displays with a lot of different types of flowers in a variety of colors, pick one type of flower or one color to use. If you choose a single type of bloom, you can keep the look totally streamlined by using it in only one color, or go for a bit more drama by pairing two contrasting colors. The hottest choices are the boldest, such as fuchsia and orange or red with lime green.

If you like a bit more texture and variety for your centerpieces, then choose one focal color and mix together a variety of flowers in that hue. Any shade of green is especially in vogue right now. It is in keeping with the trend towards more natural weddings, and green flowers combine very well with colors like bark brown for an eco-chic wedding.

With all of these simple floral displays, it is up to the vessels to add some oomph. Many floral designers are getting away from the cookie cutter effect of matching centerpieces on every table. More special is to get a variety of vessels that tie together. This trend works with either the traditional round dinner tables or the long tables that are popular these days.

When you are looking for the perfect vessels for your centerpieces, think about what will work best with the overall style of your wedding. For instance, brides who are wearing formal ballgowns with opulent bridal jewelry sets will want to find centerpiece displays with the same luxe feeling. A perfect complement would be antique silver vessels in a variety of shapes and heights.

Brides who are going for a more modern style, with sleek gowns and minimalist sets of bridal jewelry, will need an elegant and contemporary way to display their flowers. Lucite vessels are an ideal solution. These clear forms, often done in square or rectangular shapes, will highlight the beauty of your flowers in an absolutely modern and unfussy way. The nice thing about lucite vases is that they are clear, so they will make it easier for your guests to see around them on the reception tables.

Another trend in wedding flowers is not really about flowers at all. With the idea of bringing a touch of nature to the wedding, some couples are introducing other natural elements either to go with the flowers or instead of flowers. The trend includes things like smooth river rocks, moss, and tree branches, all artfully arranged. One great way to use this idea in your wedding is to fill a clear vessel with smooth pebbles or rocks, fill it with water, and float a single perfect blossom on the top. It is the ultimate in natural chic design.

With all of these ideas in mind, you may find it easier to narrow down the overwhelming options for your wedding flowers. You can still use your favorite flower, whatever that may be. Simply ask your florist to create a centerpiece design that uses your chosen blossom in one of the most current trends.

Ask Bridget for advice in areas of jewelry or weddings. She writes numerous articles providing information for the customers of Silverland Jewelry.com. Shop online for the best selection of fabulous bridal jewelry sets

Unusual Cheap Wedding Favor Ideas

Cheap wedding favor ideas are ones that are not left behind at the end of the day, there is nothing worse than wasted money when you are planning a cheap wedding.

The cheapest wedding favors will always be the ones that you make yourself and if you love cooking why not share your favorite recipes with your guests, you could even ask your guests to share some of their famous recipes. It doesn't need to be a big book, four recipe cards tied together with a ribbon that matches your theme would be perfect. You could even make up different books for the men, women and children to enjoy. Add photographs from when you have cooked and enjoyed the dishes.

If you have extra time to prepare the favors you could add a piece of the famous cake or a cookie with the recipe book for a complete yummy favor.

Children's recipe books should have fun recipes that they could try themselves; gingerbread men, chocolate krispy cakes, flapjack, fairy cakes. If your budget allows you could tie a cookie cutter to the book. Look out for sets of cookie cutters in bargain shops that you could use. Children love lots of pictures and you could have photos of yourselves being silly while cooking these treats or you could have photos of your child guests starring in the book.

Recipe books for the ladies could be of yummy chocolate cakes and secret recipes that have been carefully guarded by family members, until now!

Recipe books for men could be full of great recipes for them to surprise and impress the love of their life or you could have a jokey recipe book on how to boil an egg - it depends on the men!

If cooking is not your thing then you could have recipe books for cocktails, or the family secrets to a successful marriage. Ask all of your married guests for their secret of a successful marriage, combine them in cards with photos of the couples and yourselves and you will have a trully personal wedding favor.

Suzanne Daykin is owner of http://www.cheap-wedding-solutions.com

Suzanne has spent the last 12 years working in the Hospitality Industry as a wedding planner and event manager. Organising thousands of functions from small personal parties to large corporate product launches in the UK and Europe. Currently a work at home mum, Suzanne set up her own event company in 2006 and now looks to help future brides and grooms save money when they are planning their wedding.

More cheap wedding favor ideas here http://www.cheap-wedding-solutions.com/cheap-wedding-favor.html

How to Plan a Great Wedding

Wedding planning is not as hard as it may seem. First of all, you will need some tools that will assist you in your planning. Secondly, you will need to do some research. However, the right tool will minimize the amount of research that you will need to do on your own. Alternatively, you may hire a wedding planner to eliminate any hassles whatsoever.

The tools in question are online wedding planners. Wedding planners are special software applications that will help you manage all the aspects of a wedding, including guest lists, guest seating, reminders for the upcoming things-to-do, and so on. The good point is that these tools already have a built in list of things-to-do, freeing you from having to do research on your own. All you need to do is keep the points on the lists that fit you, and delete the ones that don't. Once you input the information about your wedding (the number of guests, the budget, the date of your wedding, etc.) the program will create custom reports and reminders for you.

However, if you would like to do some research on your own, it's not that hard either. There are hundreds of websites that can provide you with the additional information required for planning your wedding, including: databases of bridal gowns, databases of the vendors offering wedding products and services , forums and chats with the users experiences, galleries with hundreds of bridal hairstyles, and so on.

Is there an easier way to plan a wedding? How to plan a wedding without any research whatsoever? In order to plan a wedding the easiest way possible you may want to look into wedding planning service providers. These range from amateur planners to large specialized wedding planning services. If you decide to shift your concerns to a wedding planner, you will be able to simply sit back and enjoy, while your chosen planner arranges your future wedding as per your specifications.

The main drawback with hiring an amateur or a professional wedding planner is the cost. According to many sources, a wedding planner will earn a commission of around 10-15% of the total cost of a wedding. Therefore, if you are planning to organize an average-price wedding, which is currently $20,000 in the USA and $18,000 in the UK, around $2,000-$3,000 of this amount will be absorbed by your wedding planner. Is shifting your wedding planning hassles worth $2,000-$3,000? The choice is, of course, yours.

So, how to plan a wedding well? Decide whether you would like to use a wedding planning tool, to do the research on your own, or hire a wedding planner, and start with the planning. In each case, most important is to start planning your wedding way in advance.

Visit for a great Wedding Planner Book

A Splendid Wedding Under $1000

During the excitement of the Wedding Planning process we sometimes forget that the most important part of the Wedding is the magical life two people are going to spend together after the Ceremony, and not the Party itself. So in light of that, here are some great ideas to make Marriage the focus of your wedding and accomplish it in the most inexpensive way possible.

Ceremony

Whether or not you are truly religious you can have a wedding ceremony take place at your local church. Most church fees can be waived for members of the congregation who are in need and truly want to be joined in Holy Matrimony. And even if you had to pay for the rental it is minuscule compared to the cost of a Ceremony site at a Reception Venue. Cost 0-350

Reception

Ask around your friends and families and search for the biggest house or yard and see if you can use it to have your reception at. You can have a buffet, set up a sound system and attach an Ipod or CD player. You don't need to even have too many tables. You can rent everything you need for 100 guests for under $300.

Wedding Cake

Make your own wedding cake. Simply buy an extra amount of frosting. Shop online for a cake topper and buy three different size cakes. Use toothpicks to stabilize each tier or pins. Add a piece of Cardboard over the Stabilizers and put the next size cake on. Use the extra frosting to cover the cardboard and getting some icing to detail the base of each layer. Add the Cake topper you found online. Voila instant Wedding Cake. All for under $100 and if you take your time or have an artistic friend it can look great.

Remember that if you have the money and WANT to spend it a Wedding can be as expensive as you want. If you are on a budget or realize the most important part is the actual Marriage then cut the items you don't need and insert some of these ideas, you will have a great wedding day either way.

--Mickey

Mickey is a Wedding Advice guru specializing in the Modern Groom. His articles can be read daily at Modern Wedding Advice- http://navillus99.blogspot.com Modern Wedding Advice is now available at http://www.modernweddingadvice.com

Meaningful Wedding Gift Ideas

A wedding is one of the most special days planned in a life. Everything must be perfect, thought of and taken care of so that the wedding day turns out as beautiful as a dream.

A normal wedding takes months to properly plan, takes many to be involved and becomes the focus of many family members and friends.

The tradition of a wedding gift to the parents of the bride or groom, the bridal party and other family members and friends taking part in the wedding began as a sign or gesture of thanks.

To show your appreciation or heartfelt thanks, think of a gift idea that expresses your true feelings.

1. A handwritten thank you note sharing a favorite memory or thanking someone for the part they played is always something meaningful.

2. A personalized or customized gift with the wedding date or wedding colors.

3. A special photograph of the bride/groom or a photograph that includes the family member or friend that you are giving the gift to.

Some special gift ideas for the groomsmen are personalized sport equipment (such as baseball bats, putters, baseballs, etc.), personalized leather valets or travel bags.

Gift ideas for women are customized bracelets with your wedding colors, engraved jewelry boxes, or charm bracelets.

More and more people as they get married are also gifting their parents with special gifts of appreciation. Some of the most meaningful gift ideas for parents are poems, jewelry or simply a handwritten note. Each of these items are easily a keepsake gift item that will be treasured for a lifetime.

As you plan your wedding and are ready to finalize those last minute details and gifts, remember to show your appreciation to those loved ones by expressing in words the important part they played in making your wedding a dream come true.

http://www.abernook.com or http://www.moljewelry.com for meaningful, unique and expressive wedding gift ideas.

Wedding Dress Embellishments and Decorations 101

A little something "extra" can give your dress that little boost to make it a jaw-dropping, spectacular and completely incomparable number. The embellishments and decorations you add to your gown can set your dress apart in a sea of ordinary and generic-looking wedding gowns.

Think about it; why spend thousands of dollars on a designer wedding dress when a little detailing and some embellishments can turn your $100 bargain dress into a luxurious gown? Enhance your gown with the right wedding dress decorations and embellishments.

The following is a list of techniques you can use to add some embellishments to your wedding dress.

Understanding the Use of Appliqués

The word appliqués refer to some additional fabric items that can be used to create intricate designs on clothing and accessories. The following are some examples of popular appliqués.

* Small Flowers: Add some three-dimensional fabric flowers to your gown for a completely feminine look. You can also add these flowers to your veil and your dress for a more coordinated overall look.

* Ribbons, Sashes and Bows: Remember those flower girl dresses you used to abhor wearing as a child? Modify that overly-accessorized look by going for strategically placed ribbons, sashes and bows on your wedding dress, gloves and veil. A colored ribbon or sash tied to the waist of your dress can be a great way to add color.

* Beading: This is perhaps the most commonly used appliqué technique. You can use freshwater pearls, glass beads and even real rhinestones and semi-precious gems as part of your attire. The right beading can help emphasize a particularly stylish neckline or hemline. You can also use beading to help bring a little sparkle to your gown.

Explaining the Art of Embroidery

Embroidery is an old technique that was used centuries ago to create wonderful patterns on fabrics. Today, most fabric designers still use this technique to add unique patterns to ordinary cloth.

This is the product of fine and oftentimes manual needlework that uses a mesh of multi-colored threads to create curls, floral designs and swirls on the wedding dress. Sometimes embroidery can be used with beading to create complex designs on the fabric of your gown.

Another great way to add color to a white wedding dress is, for a softer, more feminine appearance, to use pastel colors for your gown's embroidery.

Want to read more of this article? You can read more tips on Wedding Dress Tips [http://fancyweddingattire.com/category/article-pages/wedding-dress-tips/decorationembellishment], plus other Bridal Tips only at http://fancyweddingattire.com

3 Cheap Wedding Reception Menu Ideas

Weddings are expensive, and if you didn't know that before you starting planning your wedding you certainly know it now. Setting your wedding budget and planning your wedding reception meal can be one of the most stressful things you will do.

There are several ways to help you stay within budget, however. Cutting back on the number of guests you invite, not getting married on Saturday or Sunday and silk flowers instead of fresh can all be great ways to help you stay on budget.

If you have done all of those things or can't do those things, one of the next steps is to look at the food you will be serving at your reception.

When deciding on your wedding reception menu there are a few things to avoid if you want to save the most money. Skipping the open bar, avoiding sit down dinners and only offering cake as a dessert option are a few places to start.

To further help with your menu planning, here are 3 cheap wedding reception menu ideas:

Do It Yourself

Depending on the size of your wedding, making your own wedding food might be a good cheap wedding reception menu option. It also helps if you have friends that are good cooks as well that can provide you with some much needed help.

If you are getting married in warmer months, consider having a barbecue in your backyard or at a local park. Ask close friends and family to bring a dish to help cut down on costs.

Even if you don't cook the entire menu yourself or with friends, you can ask a talented, good friend to bake your cake as a wedding gift to you.

Inexpensive Catering

Not all catering has to be expensive. Many of your favorite casual restaurants also offer catering and have separate catering menus for events.

As long as the food is good, no one will even notice. Just make sure that the caterer has sufficient staff to handle a large event like a wedding, or arrange to have staff hired to help out.

Also, many grocery stores or specialty food markets offer great catering options that should be considered.

Cocktail Reception

If you still want to use your favorite high end caterer but don't have the budget for a full sit down dinner reception, a cocktail wedding reception might be the perfect solution.

You will be able to choose from several stations (like pasta, carving, etc.) as well as a few passed butler passed hors d'oeuvres. Guests typically enjoy the cocktail reception the most at a wedding reception, and you can sometimes save significant money as well.

Stephen Badiali is the owner of Wedding Ideas Guide. For more ideas visit Wedding Reception Food and Wedding Reception Idea.

Wedding Day Wedding Theme Ideas

If you are looking for a unique wedding favor this season, then there are a variety of items that you can chose from. There are differing themes from classic to modern and from love to elegance and there are so many variations that you can look for in a favor. But most people go for elegance when they are shopping for unique favors.

They want class and style in their favors and they want it to be unique and outstanding; so that the wedding guests will remember your wedding with joy and appreciation for many years to come. So if you are looking for that something special then you should definitely look for this great wedding favor.

This beautiful ones have the elegance and the grace that will enlighten your tables in your ceremony. The glass in this wedding favor will sparkle like the rain after a clear night. It will give your guests a feeling of freshness and beauty, which they will not be able to forget. The overall look will definitely win the heart of even the most skeptic guest. The place card holders are made from fine sparkling glass and the names of your guests written on them will just dazzle them and impress your guests with their elegance. You may write their names down in handwriting calligraphy or you can have the names of your guests engraved on the cards.

This type of detail really shows your involvement and how much you care about your wedding day and your guest who will attend.

If you really want to take the work out of looking for that right Theme idea or Cheap Wedding Favors [http://www.mybridalfavor.com] go to My Bridal Favor now and find ideas for Unique Wedding Favors [http://www.mybridalfavor.com/Unique-Wedding-Favors.html] and Allure Glass Grapes Placecard Holders [http://www.mybridalfavor.com/Unique-Wedding-Favors/Allure-Glass-Grapes-Placecard-Holders.html] like Glass photo Coaster Wedding Favors. I think Ever Bride deserves that one great wedding don't you if so go now and look.

A 5000 Wedding - Is it Possible?

Finally, time to start planning for the day every girl dreams about, the day you say "I do". You start planning, the dress, venues, reception and invitations when you start to realize the cost that is abundantly accumulating. In the Pacific Northwest, the average cost for a wedding (including rings) is $30,000. However, not everyone is willing or able to spend that kind of money for their wedding! Here at NWweddingplace, we would recommend to anyone that they go into their marriage debt free, or with as little debt from your wedding as possible. Maybe that still means you could spend $30,000 and be just fine (or your parents could). In these modern days, the brides and grooms are often footing the bill for the glorious day. Maybe that means you could only afford $20,000... or $12,000.... or what about only $5000? We believe that it is possible to have a nice wedding with a budget of $5000. We've come up with the essential 12 wedding must-have categories (below), not including your rings. For each category, we offer several possible solutions for having a nice wedding for less:

#1 - Wedding Dress

Brides, you can buy a really great wedding dress for under $400. In fact, NWweddingplace.com sells destination wedding gowns in our shop online section... just a thought! Anyway, there's always the tradition of wearing your mother's passed down dress too. You can get it altered if necessary! Maybe a friend has one you could borrow? Or, purchase a used gown - it was only worn once before! If you're really talented, make your own. Approx. cost - free to $400.

#2 - Tuxes

It is not uncommon to ask your groomsmen to pay for their own tux rentals - Just like bridesmaids buy their own dresses. Then, the only one you'd need to pay for is the groom's. At some tux rental shops, you can receive the groom's tux rental for free when the groomsmen rent there also. Approx. cost: $100.

#3 - Venue

This is where it can become potentially expensive. For a spring or summer wedding, consider having your special day at a park, landscaped backyard, beach, or on city grounds. If you belong to a church, usually they will allow members to use facilities very inexpensively or even free. City parks and community centers normally offer low pricing! Approx. cost - Free to $450.

#4 - Decorations

For ceremony decor, it totally depends on what your venue looks like and how much decoration it needs (or doesn't need). We have many low-cost aisle runner ideas. Tulle fabric is inexpensive, and can be creatively used to decorate ceremonies with.

To decorate your reception, try using high-impact, big bang for your buck items like balloons. Balloons are a beautiful and inexpensive way to add elegance to the room. Floral centerpieces can get pricy, unless you DIY them yourselves. As an alternative example, try using crystal hurricanes with floating candles, and tulle as a table runner. Using petals and tea lights is simple and inexpensive too. Use the bride's bouquet and bridesmaids' bouquets strategically at the bridal party's table to add some floral beauty. Simple guest books and toasting sets can be purchased very inexpensively at party or craft stores. Approx. cost - $150-$350

#5 - Guest Favors & Gifts

It can be expensive to get all your guests little thank-you gifts. Although, Jordan almonds are very affordable! It is traditional to give your guests little sash bags full of Jordan almonds, whose bittersweet taste is said to signify life, and the sugar coating is added to ensure a sweeter marriage. Giving 5 almonds represents health, wealth, longevity, fertility, and happiness! Normally, edible guest favors are great, since they are less likely to be wasted.

For your bridesmaid gifts, put your centerpieces to good use! Or, buy your attendants a wedding jewelry set. Ladies love jewelry, it's great for future use, they need some for your wedding, and it would all be matching - perfect! Approx. cost - $175

#6 - Photography

This is an important aspect. In 30 years, you may not remember every detail about your wedding day and that's when you look at your wedding pictures. Photographers are very expensive, and you have them for a limited time period. If you'd be willing to hire someone for one hour, have them come right at ceremony time. Ceremonies usually lasts for 20 min, and then they can take posed shots of the couple and families for approx. 30 min afterward.

Ask your friends to bring their digital cameras. With technology today, it's easy to edit, crop and touch them up yourself. If you have a friend that does photography work, ask them to take your pictures as their gift to you. Have disposable cameras on your reception tables for guests to capture candid shots. It can be fun to see all the pictures that your friends and family took! Afterward, you'll probably want to print some out and this will require ink and photo paper. Approx. cost - $75-$700

#7 - Veil & Accessories

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Why not wear jewelry passed down in the family or borrowed from a friend? If you're set on new items, accessory stores offer a big selection at great prices (especially during sales).

You should be able to get all your bridal accessories for $150 or under if you shop smart. Veils are fairly easy to make yourself if you have any sewing skills at all. If not, maybe you have a handy friend? A simple veil would only cost about $15 to make yourself!!

#8 - Cake

This is where your bargain shopper instincts really kick in. Wedding cakes come in all shapes, sizes and prices. Generally, they are fairly expensive. If you know someone who makes cakes, find out if they are willing to make yours as their gift. Another money saving idea is to order from a store or bakery in plain pieces. In other words, order 2 or 3 sections separately, plain, in white or ivory. Decorate them yourself with flowers, ribbons or with other items from craft stores. Approx. cost - Free (if a gift) to $250.

#9 - Music

Try downloading music and making CD's to play for your ceremony and at the reception. Ask your maid of honor or best man to be in charge of making announcements (i.e., time to cut the cake, first dance, etc.), and keeping track of switching the music when necessary. Approx. cost - $25.

#10 - Flowers

The scale of wedding floral varies a lot, from very simple to very extravagant and lush. If you are wanting extravagant and lush, prepare to pay for it unless you're willing and able to do a lot of it yourself.

Use fresh flowers from a local store. Before you go, make a list of everything you need flowers for so you don't forget anything. Find flowers suitable for your bouquets and wrap the stems with securing wires and ribbon. Some bouquets are literally just long-stemmed flowers held loosely together with ribbon. If you're not against silk flowers, there are many artificial flowers available at craft stores that can add an elegant, garden feel to your ceremony and reception. Get store bought flowers for your cake, reception tables and boutonnieres as well. Approx. cost - $100-$250.

#11 - Invitations

Try DIY invitations. There are many beautiful invitations that you can purchase and print out on your own computer. Or, having them professionally printed costs less if you already have your own paper. Are you skilled at paper crafting? Stamping? Calligraphy writing? Any of these skills could help you make your own invitations. Any way you choose, you'll need to purchase paper, envelopes, stamps, and possibly printer ink. Approx. cost - $75-$100.

#12 - Food

Now it's time to feed your hungry guests! All guests expect to see some sort of food at a reception, even if it's just hors d'oeuvres. If you're having a late evening wedding, consider having a dessert bar. Afternoon weddings could have sandwiches or barbequed foods. The easiest way to have food at your reception is to order platters from your local supermarket, or buy snacks in bulk at a warehouse store. Borrow bowls and serving dishes whenever possible to save costs. Some of your close family friends might love to bring food if you asked. What about this idea - use fresh fruit as your reception table decor! It's snacks and decor all in one! Sparkling cider is less expensive than champagne or wine for toasting with, and obviously more kid-friendly for guests with kids. Stock up during the holidays, or when they otherwise go on sale. Ask your venue if they have plates, cups and utensils to borrow. If not, purchase coordinating napkins, toasting cups and paper plates at a party store or online. Approx. cost - $200-$375.

If you stay within these budget recommendations, you'll still have money to spare for incidental things like beauty costs, items for flower girls, alterations, shoes, cake topper figurine, etc. As you can tell, being on a $5000 budget requires creativity, planning skills and a bit of spare time. Hopefully with these ideas, you are able to save money and still have the beautiful wedding you dreamed of. And remember, your wedding is only the first day of your married life together. Plan for your wedding and for your successful marriage. Enjoy your wonderful day and happy planning!

Krista Dunk, Founder & CEO
http://www.NWweddingplace.com
"Helping Pacific Northwest Couples Plan Their Dream Weddings & Successful Marriages™"
Olympia, WA
Read our Blog at: http://www.NWweddingplace.blogspot.com
Copyright 2008