Wedding Planning – WeddingMusings

By: Alexine

Your sister, cousin or best friend is getting married and it is time to plan a special day for the girls. While you may be contemplating what to do, the most appropriate gathering for an expecting bride would be a shower. Bachelorette parties are a lot of fun but the activities involved are a little inappropriate. Here are some of the differences to help you understand why a shower is best for the pregnant bride.

Time of Day

A huge difference between a bridal shower and a bachelorette party is the time of day. Bridal showers are usually for a couple of hours during the day sometime between lunch and dinner. On the other hand bachelorette parties are normally on a Friday or Saturday night. Late nights are not good for an expecting mother as she needs lots of rest. The bridal shower would be easier on her sleep schedule.
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By: Alexine

While planning your wedding is already stressful, adding the time crunch and pregnancy on top of that makes it a disaster waiting to happen. Thankfully you can avoid the stress by putting together a simple wedding, one that will satisfy your taste and keep your nerves at rest. To help plan your maternity wedding on a time crunch I have put together tips on how to plan a simple wedding close to home.

Location

The most convenient location for a wedding ceremony and reception would be at a local hotel, Public Park, community center or your family’s back yard/house. This way you can have both events at one location. It will cut down on how many flower arrangements and décor you have to order and worrying about people getting to and from each event.
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By: Alexine

By the time most people disclose to their families that they are pregnant there are only about six months left to have the maternity wedding before the little one arrives. Whether you were already engaged or decided based on the pregnancy it is an exciting time. To make sure you can plan and execute your dream wedding before baby comes I have put together five quick wedding ideas.

On the Farm

If you live in the city or a very populated area then getting out into the country for a farm wedding might be just what you need. From the vast open scenery to the gorgeous gazebos and farm houses, you are sure to find the perfect place to have the ceremony and reception. Look online or in the phone book to see if there are any farms that do weddings in the countryside near you.
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By: Alexine

Planning a maternity wedding is extra special because it is planning a celebration for two life changing events. Not only are you and your partner taking your relationship to the next level but you are also bringing new life into the world and expanding your new family.

While it may seem like your wedding will have to be very different than you originally thought, the only thing you really have to change is the style of your wedding dress. Accommodating that adorable baby bump is more fun than you could have ever imagined. There are so many maternity wedding dresses to choose from these days it’s no wonder so many women are getting married pregnant.

Since there is such a large selection of wedding dresses for the pregnant bride the decision can be overwhelming. Which wedding dress suits your style is the big question. To help you figure out which maternity wedding dress you may want to try I have briefly explained the different styles available.
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By: Alexine

Planning your pirate wedding can be lots of fun, especially when it comes to decorating your reception hall. While it would be nice to have the wedding on a pirate ship or on the beach, those locations are not always available or in the budget. For a more affordable alternative you can rent any typical reception hall and decorate it to feel like your very own pirate ship. Here are some decorating ideas to help you bring the idea to life.

Entrance

To give the feel of entering into the world of pirate ships and booty you can decorate the entrance with a creative sign with the words “Ahoy Me Mateys” or “Here Be the Weddin”. Use a piece of driftwood or regular poster board to paint the sign and then hang it over the door or put it on an easel.
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By: Alexine

One of the most popular themes at weddings today is pirates. There is something about pirates that makes weddings full of fun and games. From the costumes to the role playing, there is something for everyone in a pirate themed wedding. Here are some tips to help you plan your own pirate wedding.

Location

The best locations for a pirate wedding would be on the water or on the beach. Renting a boat to have the wedding on the water would be a great experience as long as you didn’t have a very large guest list. On the other hand if you have a lot of guests to invite then having your wedding on the beach would be easier to accommodate a large reception while still giving the feeling of a pirate theme.
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By: Alexine

The old-fashioned idea of a shotgun wedding paints the picture of a father threatening death upon his daughter’s lover if he chooses not to marry her after discovering she is pregnant. This was done to protect both the woman and her family from social scrutiny. While the death threat is not something that happens these days there is still a stigma associated with unwed mothers in society. Here are some examples of how and why shotgun weddings are still happening in the twenty-first century.
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By: Alexine

In addition to getting to spend the rest of your life with your spouse marriage has many benefits. While there are people who feel differently, the benefits of not getting married do not ever seem to outweigh the benefits of getting married. To help you understand how wonderful the decision you made can be, here are some of the benefits of getting married.

Best Friend

With marriage comes an entire lifetime of experiences with your best friend. Whether you love hanging out after work watching movies or extreme adventures, you both can share all these moments together. It is such a wonderful feeling knowing that you will not be alone to handle life’s challenges. As it was as a child, spending time with a best friend is the greatest feeling. Now you get to experience that every day of your life.
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By: Alexine

From a young age many women dream of being in love someday. It may start off as a princess story out of a children’s movie but grows into the reality of getting to spend every day with your best friend. As you get older the boys don’t have cooties anymore and before you know it there is a boyfriend or guy friend in your life that has become your fiancé.

While life may seem to go by a lot slower when you are younger, the time flies by as you get older and have more responsibilities. Juggling school, work, finances, family and a serious relationship is quite a bit for one person. As if you could not add anymore to your plate, now you are engaged and busy planning your dream wedding.
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By: Alexine

One of the most beautiful places to relax on the beach is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on the island of Kauai. This the furthest island from the mainland that you can fly to and visit if you do not have a passport. For a honeymoon you will never forget, make plans to travel to this beautiful oasis. Here are some tips for planning your honeymoon to the Garden Island.

Travel Arrangements

In order to reach the beautiful island of Kauai you have to take at least one five or six hour flight depending on the jet stream. There are great deals on roundtrip non-stop flights out of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle.

If you live far away from the west coast you may want to look into specials out of your airport to any of those destinations. Sometimes the price will be less expensive if you book two separate itineraries.
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By: Alexine

You don’t have to travel very far to find a beautiful place to honeymoon in the United States. There is so much natural beauty around this country that is worthy of newlywed bliss. So pack up your bags and head out to a beautiful National Park in your area. This is the perfect way to spend some quality time with your new spouse.

All of the National Parks have a variety of outdoor activities to take part in depending on their location. Whether you live in the northeast, northwest, Midwest, southeast or southwest there is a park close by. Here are some of the activities you might want to consider for your honeymoon trip to a National Park.
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By: Alexine

Deciding where to have your wedding ceremony and reception can be quite a headache. There are many places that advertise for weddings but most get booked up years in advance and cost an arm and a leg. While this is acceptable to some brides, most are in need of a more reasonable price. To help with the headache here are some venues where you might like to have your wedding ceremony or reception.

Country Club

If you or someone close to you is a member of a country club then this would be a great place to have your ceremony and your reception. Of course if you want to have you ceremony in a church that is fine too but the reception would be wonderful at a country club. Whether you are overlooking a golf course or an array of tennis courts and swimming pools, the scenery is usually very beautiful.
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By: Alexine

Whether your wedding planning is in full force or just beginning at some point you will be thinking about who is going to marry you and your fiancé. The person who you hire or ask to conduct the ceremony can come from a number of backgrounds and relationships in your lives. While some people are less particular about this, it is a pretty important part of the wedding. Here are some ideas to help you choose who you want marrying you and your fiancé at the wedding.

Leader at Your Church

This is a pretty common decision for those who have grown up going to a particular church. The hard thing to choose is between the bride’s church and the groom’s church. This decision might be based on the religion you have chosen to pursue which could mean going with the Minister at your church instead of the Rabi from your fiancés synagogue or temple.
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By: Alexine

With the new year upon us and a wedding to plan there is much to do. In order to make sure your guests have the time to arrange for coming to your wedding it is important to send save-the-dates. While some places charge an arm and a leg to do this for you, it is relatively easy to make some yourself. With that in mind here are several ideas for you to make your own save-the-date announcements.

Photo Cards

One of the easiest ways to make inexpensive save-the-date announcements is to design a photo greeting card. Almost all stores that have a photo department will print the photo cards. Some allow you to upload your pictures online and use them to design the card from the comfort of your home. The program in the store and online has the same idea where you choose a template and customize the photo and text boxes.
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By: Alexine

With New Years only days away it is important to include your new spouse in this year’s resolution. In previous years you were focused on personal goals in regards to your job, health and school, but this year is very different. Now there are two of you that are working together as a unit. In order to stay strong for the year to come here are some ideas for your New Year’s resolution.

Communicate

The most important aspect of any relationship is communication and what better resolution for you and your spouse to work on next year. With hope of many more years to come it is important to work on communicating right from the start. Transition may have been hard on you both as you adjust to living together and doing everything as one. However, as a commitment to the longevity of your relationship this year would be a great time to work on communicating.
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By: Alexine

After your wedding and honeymoon are over the reality of a huge life change sets in. As a result many decisions have to be made. Both you and your spouse will have to discuss your feelings on important matters to help the transition go smoothly. In order to help prepare for these discussions I have come up with ten very important topics you will want to cover after the wedding.

Moving In

While this is not the case for some couples who moved in together while they were dating, there are still many couples that choose to wait until after the wedding. Overall moving in together can be a very exciting thing to think about and prepare for but it can be a very stressful transition. Every person has their particulars when it comes to their daily schedules and how they live on their own. Be patient with each other in the beginning as it takes time to adjust to the other person’s ways.
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By: Alexine

One of the biggest worries about planning a wedding reception is making sure your guests enjoy themselves. The last thing you need is a bunch of family and friends complaining about how they didn’t have a good time at your wedding. To ensure the guests have a night to remember you will want to hire great entertainment. Here are some great ideas to make your wedding reception very entertaining.
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By: Alexine

While wedding cake is a great traditional desert and masterpiece for your reception it is not always the most desired desert. There are many delicious treats out there that you might want to indulge in instead of a cake. To help determine if you want to venture outside the box when it comes to wedding cake I came up with some alternative deserts for your reception.

Whipped Mousse Tower

This idea was inspired by the champagne flute tower with a different technique of filling the glasses. Instead of a champagne tower you could have a tower of round wine glasses filled with your favorite flavor of whipped mousse. If you do not know what flavor to choose that everyone will enjoy, you can have a double layered glass of chocolate and vanilla topped with a slice of strawberry or shaved chocolate. This desert is sure to put a smile on everyone’s face.
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By: Alexine

With a tight budget and big heart it is hard to figure out a wedding gift this time of year. There are so many beautiful things that you can buy, but they are not always in your budget. In order to help you brainstorm an idea for a handmade wedding gift I have come up with a handful of ideas you might want to try. Although it may cost less, the thought and love you put into the gift will make it priceless.

Pot Holders

These make a wonderful gift and are very handy in the kitchen for any household. They have important uses including taking pans out of the oven and a place to put hot dishes on to save the table and counters. Surprisingly they don’t take a lot of time depending on how well you can knit, crochet or sew.
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By: Alexine

Decorating your church and reception can be quite costly these days. Many brides have turned to making up their own centerpieces and decorations for the tables. To help you decide on some homemade centerpieces for your wedding I have come up with some different ideas you might want to try out. Good luck being crafty and enjoy the creativity.

Flower Holders

Items for holding flowers come in all shapes and sizes. You can even make flower holders out of materials around you house or in the garden. The most obvious items you can use to make centerpieces are different shaped vases. They come in many geometric shapes including squares, circles and ovals.
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