Limo and Leisure Blog

Sharing fire is traditional in many cultures. For instance, the Kung tribe of South Africa bring a bit of the hot stuff from the bride's family hearth and some from the groom's- these are combined to begin the first fire in the kitchen of a newly-married couple. It is both symbolic and functional and a lovely way to begin their new life together. A similar tradition is enjoyed in the West as well, and it's called the ceremony of the 'unity candle'.

When lovers decide to marry they are, essentially merging their two families. Sometimes more than two. Performing a unity ceremony with the softly glowing light of wax candles symbolizes this in a special way. The bride and groom each bring a lit candle to the altar where a third, larger, unlit candle awaits. They simultaneously light this third 'unity' candle with their respective flames and thus bring into being a new light, one shared by both their families and representing the new family unit that begins that day.

In these times when family-blending takes many varied forms, performing a unity ceremony can be a beautiful way of evincing the love and cooperation that led the celebrants to that special day. If children are being brought into the new marriage, by all means allow them to take part in the act of passing fire from the divergent hearths into the new family that they will be part of. In this way, the children (who sometimes feel 'left out' of things like adult weddings) can be active participants. The unity candle celebration is a tradition to be enjoyed and passed along again and again. It's about sharing and cooperating and celebrating the dance that is love.

Wedding insurance is exactly what it sounds like. It is an insurance policy that covers your wedding and protects you financially against misfortune and mishap. Wedding insurance policies are usually pretty inexpensive, with a basic policy costing between $125 and $500, and can give the couple to be wed piece of mind. Whether or not you need to purchase Wedding insurance is a personal decision, and is an additional cost for your wedding. The average cost of weddings in the United States is now about twenty seven thousand dollars; so wedding insurance is becoming more of a necessity.

Wedding insurance policies typically cover several things. Weather is usually covered. If your celebration must be postponed due to rain or other bad weather, your policy should cover the costs of rescheduling. If essential people get sick or injured, and cause the wedding to be postponed, the expenses involved with that postponement are usually covered as well. If your minister, justice of the peace, rabbi, or other celebrant should be a no-show, you should be able to recoup some of your costs. If your caterer, florist, photographer, or other key vendor is missing in action, you may recover some costs, and possibly the costs of rescheduling the whole thing. If your ceremony and reception sites do not already carry their own insurance, your wedding insurance policy can cover damage to the site, or going out of business.

There are many additional riders that you can purchase on Wedding insurance policies. If the bride or groom is in the military or active reserves, you can be insured in case they are called to duty. Your gowns and tuxedos can be covered, including stores going out of business, or being damaged. If your homeowners or renters insurance doesn't cover them, you might want to protect gifts against theft or damage. Most sites carry liability insurance, but if you are having your wedding at home, you might want to purchase a liability rider in case a guest gets hurt or hurts someone else. You can also protect yourself against having to cancel your honeymoon trip in case of illness, weather, or other circumstances.

You should know that cancellation due to cold feet, or a special circumstance that could cause the wedding to not take place that you had knowledge of when you took out the policy is not covered.

Congratulations. You're engaged to be married. What comes next? Here is a brief list of what you need to do, as far as proper wedding engagement etiquette goes.

Step one is obvious. Share the good news! Your parents, and any children either of you may have from previous unions should hear the news first. Next share the big news with relatives and close friends. Whether you call on the phone or tell them in person, you need to do this yourself. Those who are very close to you will no doubt be hurt if they hear the news second hand. Never announce an engagement until a former union has been dissolved, whether by divorce, or by annulment.

Next, you need to meet each other's parents. Your engagement should not come as a shock to your parents. It's a good idea to get acquainted while you are dating. Your engagement symbolizes a change in the relationship with your future in-laws. Now is the time to create a positive bond with them. This is also when they parents of the bride typically meet or make contact in some way with the parent's of the groom.

Next, create a guest list, and set a budget. Your budget is the determining factor for the shape, size, and style of your wedding. You cannot decide what type of wedding to have until you have some idea of the size of the guest list. The easiest way to cut costs is to trim your guest list.

Pick a date. The time of year you choose to have your wedding is a key consideration. The most popular wedding months are June, September, August, May, October, and July. Popular wedding sites will be at a premium price and lower availability during these times. Those who want an outdoor wedding may want to consider being married in warmer months.

Last but not least, don't forget the three C's of wedding engagement etiquette. Consideration, communication, and compromise are these three C's. How you handle your wedding plans can foretell how you will handle the other major decisions of your life together. Along with stress, this should be a sense of adventure, and fun. You are celebrating one of the happiest days of your lives, do it with the three C's, and the whole process will surely be a lot smoother.

It was not so long ago, (and the tradition survives to this day in certain regions of the planet) that arranged marriages were the order of the day. Parents selected a suitable spouse for their beloved child, based entirely upon social status, financial prospects and political gain. Love wasn't even a small part of the equation. Sometimes, love (or something similar to it) would eventually come. Even if it did not, an arranged marriage was still more about family standing than anything having to do with heartstrings and enchantment.

More often than not, the betrothed couple would not even see each other before the wedding. Thus, the veil. Of course, veils weren't used solely at arranged weddings-- yet the mystery and intrigue of a veiled woman waiting approaching an altar would be an image to stand the tests of time. When one's parents arranged a marriage, a person could be reasonably assured of having a fruitful, if not love-filled, union.

Veils add much to the mystery and feeling of conquest that a revealed secret provides to some men. Veils may be constructed of ivory lace or stiffly starched organza- the eventual effect is the same. Fingertip-length or so long as to require attendants, veils are a lovely and mysterious addition to any style of wedding attire. If you'd like to add an air of mystery to your wedding day, find a veil that suits your style, and wait for the moment your groom lifts your veil to those words, "You may now kiss the bride".

Your wedding day should be perfect, whatever your notion of perfection is. The one day when your dreams of being a fairy princess actually come true.

And why not? Your wedding day is the tender beginning of what promises to be a forever thing. What other day would you even consider wearing a tiara? Actually, any day or night when you have a luxurious white limousine at your beck and call is a tiara sort of event. While many brides choose to wear a diaphanous veil and of course that's quite lovely, too. Crowning yourself with a sparkling tiara -with or without a veil- will make you feel like the princess you are on this most magickal of all possible days.

Tiaras can be decorated with almost any type of precious or semi-precious gems. There are even tiaras encrusted with ocean pearls and magnificent seashells. An elegant silver headpiece can be safely kept for handing-down to your daughter or giving to the girl your son eventually marries and a tiara is much easier to preserve than a fragile lace veil. The custom of wedding tiaras go back as long as women have had weddings to plan and heads to decorate. Choose one that sparkles like Liz Taylor's left hand or one with a simply set pearl. Your wedding, your head, your decision. A tiara is a sophisticated choice and wearing one will make you feel like royalty, indeed.

Make your wedding day the dream you always envisioned. Veil or tiara-or both. Enjoy looking beautiful on your special day.

On any other day of your life, shoes are just shoes. Something to keep your feet comfortable, warm and dry. But when taken in the context of your wedding day, shoes take on an entirely new meaning. Don't even try to fight it; simply surrender to the fact that wedding shoes have a long, interesting history and you might as well learn it right now.

Since the first cave woman tied reeds around her ankles and promised to love her darling Neil Anderthal forevermore, wedding shoes have been a vital part of what will be fondly remembered as one of the most important day in any girl's life. In the days of ye olde cobbler shopped, it might take two weeks to have a pair of custom footwear made. These days it doesn't nearly as long but still, a good deal of though should go into your entire ensemble, and that includes shoes.

Some traditions have the bride slipping a bit of money into her shoe, to ensure a long and profitable marriage. Even if you leave that dime out of your slipper, think about that post-vows moment when your brand-new husband kneels down to pull your garter off with his teeth. Not just any old pair of pumps will do. This may well be the one time in your life when comfort is NOT the prime focus of your footwear. You can suffer an hour or two, especially when you know it's making you look fabulous. Splurge on pair of white satin Manolos if you must; just be sure that whatever you wear is foxy. Bah to blisters-- strut down that aisle with your head held high and your feet encased in the prettiest shoes you ever imagined.

Planning your wedding should be something that you do only once and you want everything to be perfect. Every detail, from your selection of venue to the fragrance of the flowers on display, matters. And of course you want these details to be a lovely reflection of the personalities of the persons celebrating their love and devotion. The invitations you select may well be the first glimpse your far-away family members have of your Dearly Intended and you want that first glance to be an accurate one.

If you and your beloved aren't the stuffy, traditional type there's simply no reason your wedding invites should be, either. Forget fancy, formal engravings and go for something that suits the two of you happily. Say the giddy couple is devoted to skydiving. Perhaps they're intending to be wedded while free falling wouldn't it be cool to design invitations that coordinate with that idea? Having the RSVP cards printed on squares of parachute silk might be a fun way to go. Maybe the pairing partners are Gypsies at heart; in that case, a Tarot-themed invitation would be a delightful choice.

If the bride-to-be and her betrothed are artistically inclined they could enjoy designing their wedding invitations together. With the advent of computer programs that can practically draw themselves, even the less talented can make a perfectly wonderful wedding invitation. If the couple decides to go with a traditional sort of invitation, tucking a little something different into each envelope can add a unique touch specific to the marrying couple. A white feather adds zero weight or dimension to the mailing and will be remembered. Plotting to wed in Las Vegas? A poker chip slipped into each envelope would be a fun idea.

If everything goes as intended, you'll only be inviting your friends and family to ONE wedding, so you might as well make every detail as special as you can and that includes how you invite your guests. Check out a few scrapbooking stores for inspiration. Stores like these are chock-full of flat, envelope-friendly ideas- little somethings to tuck in along with a map and RSVP card. Stay focused on your love and remember to have fun.

The ultimate quickie wedding is certainly a Las Vegas Drive Through Wedding! There are dozens upon dozens of choices for you and yours if this is what you two want to do! Here are just a few.

Just as easy as ordering at your favorite fast food restaurant, A Special Memory Wedding Chapel at 800 South 4th Street offers an extensive drive through wedding menu! There are appetizer, breakfast, lunch, and dinner packages (menus) available, as well as an extensive ala carte menu, which includes everything from photos to videos, and from t-shirts to commemorative post cards. You can customize this drive through wedding to suit your needs.

Another popular choice is the Tunnel of Love Drive Through Wedding Chapel, which is part of the Little White Chapel on the Las Vegas Strip. The Tunnel of Love was originally created to make it easier for individuals who have difficulty walking to get married. Today, couples opt for the fun, and the novelty of getting married at the drive through. As of 2005, the rates for drive through weddings ranged from $40 (for couples who supply their own car) to $150 for a package that includes a limousine. The Tunnel of Love also offers rates for bikers and motorcyclists. All participants travel through the Tunnel of Vows, which looks like an underground garage whose ceiling has been painted with stars and cherubs.

If you choose to get married in Las Vegas, remember to give yourself an hour or so to go to the Las Vegas Marriage Bureau to obtain your marriage license. You cannot get married without a license, and chapels do not supply them for you.

If you think that modern traditions are a little strange, you would be interested to know which wedding customs did not stand the test of time!

A bouquet of flowers symbolizes fertility and new life. Another reason this custom began, however, was far more practical. Flowers were often used to mask the smells of the farm and the sweat from hard work when bathing was at a minimum in history. It was considered good luck for the groom to wear a flower from the bride’s bouquet. The custom is still here today, but thankfully, flowers are not used to mask body odor anymore! Here are a few more strange wedding customs that did not survive over time.

A week before the wedding, it was considered good luck for a cat to eat out of the bride’s left shoe. In Anglo-Saxon times, the bride was struck with a shoe by her groom, which established his authority over her. The bride would then throw a shoe at her attendants to see who would be married next. In the old days, rather than tossing birdseed, or blowing bubbles, guests threw handfuls of grain, nuts, or eggs (yes, eggs) at the happy couple as part of an ancient fertility rite!

Some wedding customs are still alive today, and these strange wedding customs are often brought to us from other cultures. Remember, they may seem like strange wedding customs to us, but they are perfectly normal to people from these cultures, and wedding customs all have their reasons for being performed!

Tradition has it that members of the community of Tidong, in Sandakan, Sabah, prohibit newly married couples from clearing their bowels or urinating for three days and nights, or from leaving their home during this time. The belief is that couples who breached this custom might suffer a broken marriage, infertility, or death of their children at a young age. To ensure that people passed this test, several people would watch over the couple, and they would only be fed a minimal amount of food and drink. The couple is then bathed after this three day time period.

Before the marriage, the bridegroom is carried on a stretcher to the bride’s home. The wedding ring is not placed on the bride’s finger by the groom, but hy his mother. In the case of the Suluk community, the engagement period takes not more than one week, and the bride is not allowed outside during this time. Any bridegroom who arrived late would have to pay a fine, usually in the form of a ring. Before the marriage, the bridegroom is not allowed to see the face of the bride until he sings several love songs.

Nothing can kill romance faster than bringing up a prenuptial agreement. A prenuptial agreement, however, is an often misunderstood agreement, and is becoming more and more common. With one out of three first marriages ending in divorce these days, and half of subsequent marriages also ending the same way, a prenuptial agreement is smart financial planning. Remove some of the emotion that's involved by thinking of the prenuptial agreement as a business agreement of insurance policy. Marriage, whether you like it or not, is not just an emotional and physical union, it is also a financial union. A prenuptial agreement helps to ensure the financial well being of a marriage.

A prenuptial agreement is a contract between two engaged people that spells out how their assets are to be distributed in the event of divorce, or death. Such agreements have existed for centuries in one form or another. You don't need to be a Rockefeller to need a prenuptial agreement. A person who has saved as little as $30,000 may be more protective of their nest egg than someone who has millions, because it has likely taken them a lot of work to accumulate that money.

If you have assets such as home, stock, or retirement funds, or may be receiving an inheritance you should consider having a prenuptial agreement. You should also consider having one if you own all or part of a business, if one of you will be supporting the other through college, or if you have, or are pursuing a degree or license in a potentially lucrative profession like medicine. If either of you has children from a previous union, or have loved ones who need to be taken care of, you need to consider an agreement as well.

Approach this subject as early as possible. This prenuptial agreement should not come as a surprise. Let your loved one know that you believe these are important, and that you would like to go over this topic. The discussion must be honest; you need to be candid about why you want the agreement. Hire separate attorneys to ensure an enforceable agreement. A valid prenuptial agreement will not leave one of the parties destitute, and needs not to appear that it has been coerced. This is one reason that such agreements need to be signed well in advance.

Prenuptial agreements can also include responsibilities that do not involve money, but avoid making ridiculous demands such as requiring that your spouse will not gain weight. Some couples will stipulate that your children will observe a particular religion, if you and your future spouse are of different faiths. Know that you cannot waive certain things, like child support payments, and that a spouse's will cannot supersede the prenuptial agreements if the will is stingier. Also, some states require that property acquired during the marriage will be divided equally.

Weddings during the medieval times provided us with several modern traditions and customs. There was more to the Middle Ages than just chivalry, castles, and vibrant colors. This was a time of development for many social and marriage customs that are still followed today. Grooms were generally much older than their brides. Some noble women didn’t marry until the age of twenty four, but this was rare. More than three quarters of women were married before they saw their nineteenth birthday.

One medieval wedding custom was that every part of a woman’s face should be painted with some type of cosmetic. Many women during the Middle Ages would sun bleach their hair as well. Medieval fashion also prompted many young women to pluck their hairline to give them a higher forehead. A wedding might be the one time when a woman would wear her hair loose, and others would weave flowers into their hair to make a crown.

Medieval society actually liked to bathe, and hot baths were popular. Most towns had public bath houses. By the mid 1300’s though, the cost of heating the water had forced most bath houses to close. Perfumes made from floral oils and spices were very popular in these times as a quick and easy fix for those who could not bathe.

Precious stones also held deep meanings for people during this time. Wearing one or more of these stones let people know of personal characteristics, hopes, and beliefes. Some of these meanings include:
Chrysoprase: Virtue
Red Jasper: Love
Beryl: Purification
Green Jasper: Faith
White Jasper: Gentleness
Amethyst: Christ’s Martyrdom
Chalcedony: Closeness to God
Emerald: Christian hope
Sardonyx: Chastity or humility
Chrysolite: Heavenly life
Sapphire: Heaven bound
Hyacinth: God’s grace

A traditional Medieval wedding dress was usually not white. Blue was the traditional symbol of purity. Often a band of blue ribbon would be worn by the bride and groom, which is where the part of the traditional rhyme comes from, saying the bride should wear “something blue.” Wedding dresses could have been any color. Garters became one of the most important parts of a bride’s wardrobe. Wedding guests would follow the couple back to their roo and try and grab the garter for good luck. Medieval tradition held that a man who gave his love the garter of a bride would be guaranteed faithfulness.

A marriage license is a permit. It is a legal confirmation that couples are free to marry each other, are of legal age, and have met all of the local requirements for a legal marriage. The licensing requirements, and the locations where you may get them vary from state to state. Licenses are valid for a certain window of time, from ten days to six months, and there may be a short waiting period once you get the license.

Once you have located where you need to get your license, call to ask when you should ably, so that you are within the time frame that they are valid for, and so that you are aware of any waiting periods. In most states, you can walk in and apply, but some offices require an appointment. Both the bride and groom will need to be present. You will probably need to bring with you birth certificates, proof of residence, photo identification, parental consent if needed, and death certificates or divorce degrees. After the wedding, your officiate will send your signed license to the marriage license bureau and then you should receive a certified copy within a few weeks or months depending on your state.

If you are having a destination wedding, check with the resort you are going to. Some resorts will handle the paperwork for you, but in most cases, you will need to go to the local town hall and get a marriage license for yourselves. This should be one of the first things you should check on when you decide on your wedding destination.

If you choose to have a Halloween wedding, but still want the wedding to be elegant, you need to read this. You can make your wedding fun, and elegant at the same time. You don't need ghosts and ghouls for elegant décor, but you can take some of the nicer elements of the day and incorporation them into a Halloween wedding theme. For instance, you can use orange, purple, or black linens for color and class. Instead of carving Jack O'Lanterns, you can use a small pumpkin, and carve an elegant, elaborate design in and use it as a centerpiece with a candle inside. For favors, you can give your guests a crystal candy dish with your favorite treats inside.

Of course, don't forget that Halloween is in the fall. Use the vivid red, orange, and gold fall flowers and incorporate foliage into the bouquets. You can also hang orange, black, yellow, or purple twinkle lights. If you fancy making your own linens, drape your tables with black, very dark purple, or midnight blue cloth. Use silver, gold, bronze, or orange glitter paint to decorate those cloths with stars, moons, and elegant swirls. You can have themed foods as well. Weave vines or leaves throughout the food as décor if you are having a buffet table, and you can do the same with the bar.

You can also stack bales of hay at the corners of the dance floor, and place pumpkins and autumn leaves on them. You can also use autumn vegetables, such as multicolored corn with husks attached, gourds, and squash.

The term “goth” does not necessarily refer to the black leather and chain crowd that is so popular these days. A gothic wedding ties heavily into the middle ages, and can be done in a very classy manner, if you so wish. A ‘goth’ wedding will generally include very elaborate attire, that is quite Medieval in style. The brides will often wear a very old-days style maiden style dress, either in white or some other color. Long full skirts and trains, as well as tight gathered bodices are common choices. Grooms often wear ruffled shirts or jackets, looking very chivalrous. You will often find Gothic grooms in poet shirts, romeo style shirts, pirate shirts, or coats with long tails. Many times these garments will be made of lace, cotton gauze, or velvet. Sometimes satin or silk is used, and often the bride and groom wear elaborate, middle ages style jewelry. Floral headpieces are popular, as well as metal décor, such as goblets rather than glass flutes for the head table.

A Gothic wedding ceremony is very spiritual, with many references to the souls of the couple, nature, and the two souls becoming as one. Evening ceremonies are common with this style of wedding as well. Goblets of wine are often included, and the couple will often share this wine together as part of the ceremony. In some cases, a drop or two of each the bride and groom’s blood is used as a bonding ritual during the ceremony, symbolizing that the two are now one, bonded by blood.

Let’s face it. One of the first things that comes to mind when people think about Las Vegas weddings is an Elvis wedding! What does an ideal Elvis wedding include though? Here are a few of the details that make an Elvis wedding everything that an Elvis wedding should be. Elvis himself chose to tie the knot with Priscilla in 1967, at the original Aladdin, which is part of why Elvis weddings are so immensely popular in Las Vegas.

You and your family and friends are sure to be talking about this Elvis wedding for years to come. First and foremost, an Elvis impersonator is an important detail. What would an Elvis wedding be without the King himself in attendance? Many packages are available at the many many locations in Vegas for Elvis weddings. Elvis will be a guest at your wedding, and often serenade you and your spouse to be with classic Elvis tunes. At some locations, Elvis will perform the ceremony himself. At some locations, Elvis himself will whisk you away in a legendary pink Cadillac convertible. At others, Elvis will pick the couple up in a limousine, and other creative ways, including a four seat bicycle at one location! Elvis props and memorabilia are available at almost all Elvis wedding locations in Vegas.

This is a fun, funky, and quirky way to celebrate a wedding for an adventurous, fun loving couple, or any die hard Elvis fan. There is no shortage of chapels and impersonators in Vegas to perform these Elvis weddings, so take your pick from all they have to offer!

Easter is a lovely time in early spring, and a great way to share your beliefs with your wedding guests. Start your day with a beautiful church ceremony, and consider lining the aisle with lilies in pastel shades. Take advantage of the beauty of spring and have an outdoor lunch reception. Let nature do most of your decorating. Choose a lush, green lawn, or a well-landscaped area with plenty of flower gardens.

Springtime hues in beautiful pastels will evoke all of the charm and romance that echo the coming of summer. Consider using delicately decorated eggs in baskets for centerpieces. Use fresh, crisp white linens with minimal adornments, to keep the look clean and fresh, like spring. You can consider releasing white doves, or butterflies at your wedding.

You can use satin ribbons to decorate, and carry seasonal tulips and lilies in your bouquets. Handcrafted ceramic or glass Easter eggs, engraved with the initials of the couple or details of the wedding can serve as both a centerpiece and a favor. If you have children attending, you can choose to organize an egg hunt for the kids. Beautiful butterflies are also an option to decorate with. You can also use colorful, miniature candy baskets as part of your décor. We all know that at Easter time, there is no shortage of pastel colored candies. Gourmet candies are an appropriate option for a more elegant style of wedding. For elegant centerpieces, consider using elegant square crystal or glass vases, filled with a few bright spring tulips, to make eye-catching centerpieces.

A maid of honor is one part worker and one part emotional lifeline. You have been chosen for your energetic, get the ball rolling qualities, and you should remember that listening to the bride, making her laugh, and offering both emotional and logistical support are part of your job description. Here is a run down of what is expected of you as the maid of honor.

Lead the bridesmaid troupe. It’s the maid of honor’s duty to direct the other maids through their duties. Make sure all of the maids get their dresses, go to fittings, and find the right jewelry. It is also your job to provide them with all of the prewedding party information. Help the bride shop for dresses, both hers and the bridesmaid’s. The maid of honor pays for her own outfit, including shoes.

Offer to help with prewedding tasks, from addressing invites to choosing wedding colors. Spread the news about where the couple is registered. Help the bride change for her honeymoon and take charge of her dress until she returns from the honeymoon.

Lend a sympathetic ear. Whether it’s about planning, marriage, or china patterns, the maid of honor needs to be someone the bride can share all of her thoughts with. Host or co-host a shower with the other maids, attend all prewedding parties, and keep a record of gifts received at these parties and showers. Plan the bachelorette party with the other maids as well. See to it that all bridesmaids get to the rehearsal, and coordinate transportation and lodging if needed. Make sure all the maids get their hair and makeup done and get to the ceremony on time, and have the right bouquets.

Hold the groom’s ring during the ceremony, arrange the bride’s train and veil before the ceremony and after she gets to the altar. Help her bustle her train before the reception if needed. Hold the bride’s bouquet during the vows, and stand next to the groom in the receiving line if requested. Sign the marriage license as a witness, along with the best man. Play hostess at the reception, and direct guests if needed.

No matter how happy the couple might be, wedding cancellations do happen. If you are the bride or groom, there may be quite a bit of emotional turmoil involved. Above all else, you will want to enlist the help of friends and family to provide you with emotional support, and the logistics of formally canceling.

The first thing that you will have to consider when calling off your wedding is your guests. If you have not sent out invitations yet, letting close friends and family members know that the wedding was cancelled is enough notification. From there, news will trickle down to would be guests. If you have already sent invitations, and you have time, then mailing your guests a note is proper. It should be worded similarly to the original invitation, saying, for example that “Mr & Mrs John Smith announce that the marriage of their daughter Jane Marie to John Smith will not take place.” If there is not enough time for a formal note, however, a telephone call will suffice. It is best to enlist help for this task. If a wedding announcement was published, you might want to consider a cancellation announcement.

Remember that nobody needs to explain why the wedding will not be taking place. Be prepared for guests to ask why, but remember that they have no right to this information unless you feel the need to inform them.

If you have already had a shower, you will need to return these gifts, as well as any wedding gifts that you have received. Include a note thanking them for their gift, but that you feel you should return it, as the wedding has been cancelled. Depending on who called off the wedding, the bride may or may not want to give back the engagement ring. The classiest move, however, is to return the ring to the groom if he is who purchased and presented the ring.

A bridesmaid, though the position is the butt of many jokes, is an integral part of a wedding. The bridesmaids are on hand to comfort, console, multitask, and party at all bridal events. Here is a brief job description for you to follow.

Offer to help with prewedding tasts. Try to be as specific as possible…offer to do specific things, rather than just saying “what can I do?” Scout out bridesmaid dresses, shoes, jewelry, and other accessories. Pay for your ensemble. Here’s a tip, break in your shoes before the wedding day. Help to plan, cohost, and pay for the shower and bachelorette party with the other bridesmaids.

If the Maid of Honor is not already handling this task, keep a record of all gifts received at events, and maintain RSVP lists. Attend the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Run last minute errands, and on the wedding day, be available to confirm delivery times, meet and greet vendors, or even satisfy junk food cravings. Serve as auxiliary hostess at the reception, by introducing and directing guests when needed. Hit the dance floor when the music starts! Keep an eye out for guests who might need a dance partner!

Give the maid of honor a break when needed. Purchase a wedding gift with one or several of the bridesmaids. This provides more buying power, and you can all kick in for one knock your socks off gift! Be a trooper, no matter how stressful things become. Don’t complain about the dress, be gracious and tactful. Last but not least, provide plenty of emotional support.

Ah, to be wedded at the seaside. Not every little girl dreams of being a mermaid, but to those who did, nothing but a beach wedding will ever do. If you and your Dearly Intended are fortunate enough to live near a coast -any coast- then a beach wedding is entirely plausible. Nothing but weather could interfere and even then, a silvery ocean-scented thunderstorm can only add a special magick to the festivities.

Underwater weddings are one thing, beachside nuptials entirely another. Blurbling one's vows while in white wetsuits is nothing new; whisper those tender 'I Do's while standing ankle-deep in sugary sand and you'll likely be the only one of your crowd to ever do so. Yes, a lot of women these days are trapped by tradition. It's white organza, a rented church and an MP3 of "Ave Maria" or nothing. This isn't for you, though, is it? Nope. If you've managed to find this brief peek into Beachside Weddings and the dresses that apply, then it's fairly certain that you've already decided upon a beach wedding.

Now. What to wear? Actually, about any dress that you might wear while sashaying down an aisle will work, with only a minor modification or two. Especially if you plan to wear your Grandmother's antique Chantilly Lace gown. First, measure and hire someone to hem that irreplaceable wedding dress an inch or so shorter than it would be for a 'dry' celebration. Absolutely plan on the tide to rise when you least expect it and have your seamstress shorten your gown by two inches. Better a lovely ankle showing than a ruined hemline, right?

Now here's a beach wedding dress hint you may not have heard of: find six or so subway tokens, polish 'em up and sew them into the inside of your hemline. Seriously. Why? Because, at a beach wedding you can never be sure how the winds are going to behave. Having a few tiny weights sewn into your hem will ensure that your wedding pics aren't marred by snaps of your dress flying above your head. The small added weight of subway tokens will add just enough ballast so that your dress stays where it belongs.

There's no more appropriate time to celebrate a loving union than on Valentine's day. Decor will also be easy to find, and you have a wide variety of choices at your disposal. Valentine's Day is synonymous with romance, and if you have chosen this day to marry, you're a truly romantic soul. Let this sense of romance set the stage for your wedding.

Red is the obvious, and dramatic color of Valentine's weddings. This is the traditional color of the heart as it relates to love. You can play with this color, it does not need to be bright screaming red. Deep burgundies and maroons are just as romantic as true red. You can choose a totally different color to work with as your basic theme color, and just have touches of red as accents. Deep colors tend to be more dramatic than pastels, regal blues, gold, deep greens, and rich ivory are all shades that set a lovely backdrop for little hints of red.

For your gown, think about something that feels romantic for you, whether it is a dramatic satin or velvet with a plunging neckline, a tight bodice, and tremendous skirts with a sweeping train. A simpler gown is another option, and may remind you of simple romance. Hire a band or a DJ that is familiar with classic and romantic dance numbers. Lots of slow dancing, and perhaps a classical string quartet is perfect for this type of wedding.

Candles in shimmering candelabras or crystal candleholders will set a wonderful mood. Lighting should be low, and try to use soft gauzy fabrics. Roses are very expensive at this time of year, but one magnificent collection of old fashioned roses spilling from a vase in a strategic location will make a huge impact. Let the traditional motif come into play. Use frilly heart shaped place cards.

Many couples decide they want a lovely Christmas wedding. The cold winter can be warmed with elegant decor, for a beautiful, richly decorated, spectacular Christmas wedding. Colors can be, of course, red and green, gold, silver, white, burgundy, or hunter green. You can decorate with seasonal foliage, such as Poinsettia, Evergreen, Holly, and Baby's Breath. Taffeta, plaid, and velvet bows are also great options for your decor. Consider adding a Christmas tree, wreaths, and Christmas music for special touches.

The attire for your wedding party can easily reflect the season. Many brides opt for a white gown, but an elegant cape and faux fur trim can be added to reflect the season. Grooms can also wear white, and bridesmaids can be dressed in silver gowns, and groomsmen can wear white tuxes with silver, or gray bowties and vests.

One benefit to planning a Christmas wedding is that many of your vendors may have already decorated for the season. Many use colors of red and green, but silver and white are also common colors for the season. When looking for vendors, search well in advance to book early, and ask if they decorate for the holidays. If they do, ask if they can perhaps decorate to suit your needs. White tablecloths are inexpensive, and perfect for a Christmas wedding. Small amounts of glitter, or confetti can be tossed on the tables for sparkle. You can also do things like fill wine glasses with floating white flowers or silver streamers, and Christmas ornaments. Custom ornaments make great wedding favors. It would be stunning to have a miniature Christmas village on your cake table. When the wedding is over, you can use the village as Christmas décor every year in your home. Twinkle lights wrapped in tulle look wonderful also, just make sure you buy cool to the touch bulbs!

When you plan any sort of party, the point is to be sure that your guests have a good time. This is true for weddings as well. The DJ is crucial to a wedding. The DJ you choose is a direct reflection on you. Here are some important things to consider when choosing a wedding DJ.

Does the company return your phone calls promptly? You should expect to get a call or email back within about 24 hours. Remember that many DJs are out working and may not be able to return your call within a couple of hours.

Will the DJ try to meet with you soon, or is he or she trying to book the date sight unseen? Is their material professional looking, and neat, organized and informative? Is the price too good to be true? It seems that those planning a wedding often tend to bargain hunt when choosing a wedding DJ. This backfires when you hold out for the lowest price. To some degree, you get what you pay for.

Do you like the person that shows up? There is nothing worse than doing business with someone you do not like. Choosing a person who "feels" right is an important factor when choosing a wedding DJ. The DJ you choose should be very open about what he or she can do for you, and should volunteer that information. Make sure that the DJ you choose is knowledgeable about your type of event. There are all types of DJs, and some simply don't usually do weddings!

Ask to see what music the DJ has available. You need to be assured; in some form or another that the DJ you choose has the type of music that you want. You also need to make sure that the DJ uses professional equipment.

Get everything in writing. Make sure any questions you have are answered to your satisfaction. A professional DJ should always be willing to discuss your event with you at any time before the event begins, and should be able to accommodate changes when needed. Also, make sure that the person you interview will be the person who performs at your event. This is a major complaint in the DJ industry today.

As the Best Man, you are not just a glorified groomsman. You have special responsibilities, as you help the groom come through this nerve-racking experience. Here are some details as to what the job of Best Man entails, so that you can truly be the Best Man for the job!

You will serve as the Groom's personal aide and advisor before and during the wedding. You can help the groom choose and rent or purchase his formalwear, and coordinate other rentals help him pack for the honeymoon, and you may be asked to arrange accommodations for out of town groomsmen. The bachelor party, of course, is your responsibility. Don't be shy about asking for help, most guys don't mind helping with this duty! Also, don't worry about financial obligations; the cost should be split among those who attend the party.

It is also your job to attend the rehearsal with the bride, groom, and other attendants. This is your chance to figure out how you are supposed to walk down the aisle. You will stand beside the groom at the altar and keep the bride's ring until vows are exchanged. Find a safe place for the ring, and make sure you have it in a place where you will not have to fumble for it when it is time to whip it out! And for crying out loud, don't choose to store this ring on your finger. Most likely, her fingers are smaller than yours, and you do not want to look like a fool when it is stuck on your finger!

It is your job to corral the other groomsmen and make sure they are performing their duties as well. You will sign the marriage license as a witness after the ceremony, along with the maid of honor. You will be entrusted to give the officiate a sealed envelope with his or her fee just after the ceremony. You will likely be announced with the maid of honor when the reception begins, and dance with her during wedding party dances. You will also possibly be expected to collect any gift envelopes that guests bring to the reception, and might be asked to deposit them in the couple's bank account or hold them until the couple returns from their honeymoon.

You will decorate the getaway vehicle; grab the other attendants for this one. You might be asked to drive the couple to the hotel or airport after the reception. Probably the most important, and possibly most frightening of your duties, is to give the first toast to the bride and groom at the reception. Read up on proper toasting etiquette, and remember, the bachelor debauchery is not appropriate content!

Are you planning on starting your own business? If so, and you like to work with people, plan big parties, and are very good at networking and negotiating, you might consider becoming a wedding planner. A wedding planner, also known as a wedding consultant or bridal consultant, is a career where you are guaranteed to meet lots of people, from all different walks of life. Even though less people are getting married these days, those who are getting married are older. This means that they are generally more established and have more money to spend on their special day. This also means that they are busy with work, and likely don't have the time needed to plan a wedding, which is where a wedding planner comes in.

A wedding planner is a facilitator, mediator, money manager, and constructor of dreams. Add to that therapist, sounding board, and even punching bag, figuratively speaking. A wedding planner must be able to stay calm even though things may be going crazy. He or she must be personable, and a good negotiator. You must be able to get the couple the services they want and need at the lowest price. Your reputation will depend on this. You will be responsible for hiring a band, caterer, photographer, and ordering flowers, and so on. Networking is very important, since establishing connections will ensure you get great deals. You must also be very good at handling finances and well organized.

An estimate of startup costs for becoming a wedding planner is widely varied. You can spend approximately $2000 on a new computer and software, from $100-$5000 to market yourself, $500 or more for your wardrobe, and office space, if needed. Office space is not a huge issue, however, since more than half of planners work from home offices.

If you're a bride to be and you've Googled various aspects of putting together your wedding, you probably came up with millions of return searches. We've put together a small gathering of great places to make planning your special day a little bit easier. The Knot has a huge number of resources. Including useful tips and articles, links to registries and so much more. The Wedding Channel has a nicely done website that includes links to gift registries, honeymoon ideas and information on planning your own wedding. Ultimate Wedding has a treasure trove of great ideas, destination-wedding ideas, a public forum loaded with ideas and comments from other brides-to-be, a song library and so much more.

Wedding Bells is for US and Canadian brides-to-be. Another valuable website is located at Weddings in Bliss. This is a web community for people who love to plan weddings. There are fantastic ideas for original weddings, themes, articles and more. USA Bride has a cool checklist that will help you get all the "little" things together for your wedding. There is a countdown chart for the full 12-months before your wedding.

Planning your transportation will be a breeze. If you check around the US Coachways Limousine site you will find a huge number of choices from the classic stretch that will hold ten passengers comfortably. To the new wave modernized limousines that come in the form of stretched out SUVs such as Excursions, Escalades and Hummers. You might be sweating getting your dress made, your tiara designed or the hue for your bridesmaid's dresses but you can make a solid decision in US Coachways early on in your planning.

And these just barely scratch the surface for great places to get information for planning your big day from the smallest details to the very largest.