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Bachelor Party Do's and Don'ts
Choosing a Date for Your Wedding
Do I really have to book the best florist in town 2 years in advance?
Ease Wedding Day Stress
First Impressions
Getting Along With Your In-Laws before the Wedding
Getting Started on Wedding Planning
Honeymoon Countdown
How far in advance to send wedding invitations?
Pointers for planning your wedding seating arrangements
Selecting the Perfect Wedding Invitation
Stress-free Tips for Choosing a Band for Your Wedding
Stress-free Tips for Choosing a Wedding Venue
The perfect wedding cake: from baking it to cutting it.
Wedding Registry - Top 10 Wedding Registry Tips
Wedding RSVPs - Are they really a true indicator of the final number?
Wedding Save the Date Magnets: The Complete Primer
Wedding Shower Themes

Bachelor Party Do's and Don'ts

Your best friend or brother is getting married. Your partner in crime has finally decided to take the plunge. And he’s asked you to be his best man. Aside from standing next to him – and making sure he doesn’t faint – while he says his I Do’s, your most important job is planning the bachelor party.

As bachelor party planner extraordinaire, your mission is to organize the last great night of his single life. But you don’t know where to start. This handy list of do’s – and do NOT’s – will help you chart the course for your buddy’s last hurrah.

DO’S:

1. Check potential dates with the groom – and the rest of the wedding party. You don’t want a conflict arising at the last minute, so as soon as you’ve confirmed the date and time, send out Save The Date reminders.
2. Know your audience. If the man of the hour loves baseball, box seats at the local stadium could be perfect. When you tailor the party to the groom’s interests, he is sure to have fun.
3. Think outside the box. Bachelor parties are no longer just drunken debaucheries with strippers. Consider golfing, fishing, or paintball. You can even fly off to Vegas for some casino action or hightail it to the Boundary Waters for a canoeing adventure.

DON’T’S:

1. Don’t plan a night of heavy drinking 12 hours before the groom is scheduled to say “I Do”. Especially if a morning ceremony is set, the bachelor party can – and should – be held a few days before the momentous occasion.
2. Don’t ignore the bottom line. Check your budget. And then check in with the guests that they can afford it. While knocking back a few beers at the local tavern is probably doable for anyone, a three-night stay at a five-star Vegas casino isn’t. It’s no fun for the groom if his best friends and brothers can’t afford to be there.
3. Don’t forget to consider your guest list. If the groom’s Amish cousin or octogenarian grandfather are invited, consider making reservations for dinner before the debauchery begins. Anyone uncomfortable with your later plans can bow out gracefully at that point.
4. Don’t drink and drive. Make sure you arrange for a designated driver. Or better yet, hire a stretch limo for your evening (or weekend) to make sure that everyone arrives in style – and safety.

Choosing a Date for Your Wedding

You’ve been waiting all of your life for your wedding, and now you’ve finally decided that this is the right person, you want to get married, and you’re really sure. Now you have to decide what day is the perfect day to get married.

There are advantages and disadvantages to pretty much every date, so how do you find the date that’s right for you?

There are a lot of factors to consider. If you have a lot of friends and relatives coming from far away, then it’s best to have your wedding on a weekend so that they can make a weekend trip instead of driving or flying up for just one day. If people are coming from very far away, a weekend like Labor Day, Memorial Day, or Thanksgiving weekend will make the whole experience better.

If you get married on a weekend or a long weekend, you may end up having a whole wedding weekend with events the whole weekend such as a rehearsal supper, a family breakfast, and even pre- and post-wedding photo shoots. If a lot of kids are coming, you’ll have to plan some activities for the kids.

If you want to get married outdoors, then you’ll have to consider the weather. You certainly can’t plan an outdoor wedding for New Year’s if you live in Massachusetts. If you live in Florida, you might have more leeway. Even if you get married in mid-summer, you’ll need to have an alternate plan in case it rains. A tent might do the trick, and it might be a good idea to keep the sun off of your guests anyway.

An important consideration in selecting your date is your venue. You’ll need to make sure that your venue is available on the date that you choose. Often, you’ll have to be flexible either with your venue or with your date to get the right combination.

Once you’ve selected the perfect venue and the perfect date, you’ll discover that several of your close relatives and friends have objections to the date. You’ll have to decide which complaints are significant and real and which you will ignore. For example, if your wedding date is on your nephew’s birthday, then you might choose to offer to have a special cake and sing “Happy Birthday.” If, on the other hand, it is the date of your best friend’s wedding, you’ll need to consider changing your date or risking future discomfort with your friend. You also need to consider that many of your mutual friends will be forced to choose one friend over another. This is a bad idea overall. If close friends are getting married when you are, it’s a good idea to choose another date.

You won’t be able to please everyone, though. Decide who is most important to you and make sure that they will be able to attend your wedding. They may have to make complex arrangements, but they should understand that this is your big day and their effort is part of their wedding gift to you.

When you’re stressing over your wedding date, though, it’s important to remember that whatever day you get married, what is really important is the partner that you take home at the end of the wedding.

Do I really have to book the best florist in town 2 years in advance?

The simple answer to this question is no!

Sometimes, people do not know even know who their wedding partner is going to be two years in advance – so are you going to book the wedding florist before meeting the spouse?

If you are reading this article, it is clear that you appreciate the value and importance of flowers at a wedding. A splash of color in contrast to the traditional white dress, the wedding bouquet, the centerpieces – the whole floral scheme can enhance the beauty of a special bride on her special day. However, each bride is an individual and the choice of floral wedding decorations at one's wedding is an excellent demonstration of this statement.

Just as one bride may like to have her own bouquet and small elegant centerpieces, another may prefer the whole wedding hall to be filled with flowery decorations. A good florist can help you to find the right flowers for your wedding, whether this refers to color, size or shape of floral arrangements.

Some wedding planning experts would suggest booking the florist for your wedding about six to eight months before the date of the big day. However, do not forget that there are plenty of florists with wedding experience and perhaps if one is already booked up, you will find a different one. This is obviously not a recommendation to leave the floral arrangements until two or three days before the wedding, but on the other hand there is no need to panic two years before the big day. In addition, there are florists that recommend that six to nine months before the wedding should be enough time to make the necessary planning and arrangements.

Locating the best florist for you in your local area is often best by word of mouth. This part of wedding planning can be done through personal recommendations and perhaps via friends who have recently got married. Do bear in mind that there are certain things you will need to finalize before you book a florist, such as the wedding date, location and approximate number of guests.

Flowers, along with other elements of the wedding plans, can help to provide a personal flavor to your wedding. Booking a florist two years in advance is not a necessity in order to ensure attractive floral arrangements on your special day.

Ease Wedding Day Stress

1. Think about how you want to run your wedding day, set a schedule for yourself that works for you and do your best to stick to it. You'll feel less frantic on your wedding day and you'll have more energy to get things done.

2. Get Served. Make use of family and friends offering to help. It will make your life easier and give you more spare time.

3. Transportation. Have a family member or a friend drive you to and from. It might be the only time on your wedding day you can just be quiet and take a deep breath. Take advantage of it.

4. Leave Perfection at The Door. Do not freak out over every wedding detail, laboring over simple tasks for longer than necessary. It is mentally exhausting and the pressure you put on yourself is insane. You are supposed to enjoy your wedding day.

First Impressions

First Impressions - He PROPOSED! You said YES!

Now it is a time to celebrate the engagement and recognize the future wedding.

Once the main details have been set, specifically the date and location (city/state) of your wedding, you can announce your engagement and your wedding date with a save the date magnet.

Save the date magnets offer the opportunity to make a striking first impression on your guests before your wedding day. More importantly, with everyone’s busy schedules, a save the date magnet offers a fun way for your guests to save your date on their calendar. A save the date magnet will give your guests plenty of time to set up travel arrangements so they can make it into town for your wedding.

There are many ways to personalize your save the date magnet: Traditional, Elegant, Unique, Modern, Retro, Favorite Colors, Wedding Colors, Baby Photos, Engagement Photos, the design options are endless. A Save the date magnet gives the bride and groom the opportunity to capture their personalities and style, making the announcement of their wedding fun. Save the formal stuff for your wedding invitations.

When guests receive your save the date magnet, they will know the who, what, when and where of your wedding. Besides mailing save the date magnets, couples also like to pass them out at engagement parties and wedding showers as a party favor or souvenir.

If you choose to mail your save the date magnets, each order does come with envelopes. Our envelopes are slightly larger than the magnets (3.5 x 4 inches) and will mail at the .41 cent rate.

Getting Along With Your In-Laws before the Wedding

So you’ve decided to get married, congratulations! Along with all the wonders of your new spouse, your new life, and the most amazing party, you get a booby prize, the in-laws!

In-laws, unfortunately, are part of the package, and they’re sometimes even useful, particularly if they have a lot of money. When you’re in the throes of planning a wedding, you often wish you could muzzle them. Try not to. It’s really not polite. In the meantime, here are some practical tips for getting along with those in-laws.

First, assess the problem. Are your in-laws too controlling? Too stand-offish? Too traditional? Too hippy? Whatever the problem, once you’ve figured out the root of the problem, it will be easier to handle it. For example, if you know that your in-laws are very traditional, the bright red bridal gown you choose should be described as “following the Chinese tradition which states that red is the most fortuitous color for a bride.” If your in-laws are hippies and you want a very traditional wedding, be sure to describe it as “retro.” Sometimes, just using the right words will help.

If, on the other hand, your in-laws are very controlling, you may have a whole different set of problems. If they’re paying for the wedding, then you’ll probably have to bow to their wishes on mostly everything. If they’re not, then you’ll have more leeway. For example, if the in-laws insist on having a full bar, but they’re not paying, you can say “well, it’s not in our budget, but if you’d like to pay for it…” If they want you to invite more of their guests, the same applies.

If they are paying for the wedding, then you have a whole series of issues. For example, you’ll have to have every guest they want, even sixth-cousin-twice-removed Ray who has a reputation for getting drunk and trying to feel up the mother of the bride at every wedding. You may, however, want to warn your mother about this cherished guest, and perhaps arm her with a small ice pick.

On the other hand, they may not want you to invite all of your guests. You should put your foot down about it. When you look back at your wedding, you really won’t care whether you had orchids, lilies, roses, or tulips, but if your college roommate wasn’t there, you’ll regret it.

There are a variety of issues which will come into play with controlling in-laws, and you’ll have to be very careful in choosing your battles. Only fight about things that really matter. If your mother-in-law wants your first dance to be the same as hers and her husbands, give in. Go for it. Unless their song was “Stayin’ Alive,” because, come on. But seriously, don’t make every disagreement an issue. Be willing to give in. Not only that, but it’s best to let your future spouse handle his or her own parents. You don’t want to get into direct conflict with your in-laws until the wedding is safely over. Then, if you’re lucky, you can move to another state and only see them a few times a year.

Getting Started on Wedding Planning

Congratulations!
Your future husband has popped the question and you have said yes. While he may have been sweating bullets waiting to propose, the truly hard work has not yet even started.Now it’s time to plan your wedding!The average engagement in the United States is 15 months, however couples certainly can and do plan a wedding in less time. The first thing to do is set your date and for that, you will want to keep in mind several factors:

• Have you always envisioned a spring wedding? Well, if your fiancé popped the question on March 30, you will, in all likelihood, need to wait until at least the following spring. Once you have a tentative date – or even just a month – scheduled, start calling around to see if wedding sites are available. Some top wedding locales (from luxury hotels to private gardens), particularly those in big cities or at popular vacation spots, fill up more than two years in advance. If you’ve always had your heart set on an Irish destination wedding at Waterford Castle in the month of August, you may need to wait an August – or two – to get your booking. Likewise, caterers, bands, DJs, photographers and florists book up. While there is likely greater flexibility than with your wedding site, a six-month lead-time is usually required to have the pick of your vendors.
• It is never easy to find a date that everyone will agree on – in fact, it’s nearly impossible! So set your priorities early; ask yourselves: Who “has” to be at the wedding? Figure that out and then check for any conflicts of interest. Graduations, bar and bat mitzvahs, other weddings, even travel plans can cause conflicts for your nearest and dearest, so it’s a good idea to approach setting the date with some flexibility.
• Unless you are planning a truly shotgun wedding, invitations should be sent out 4 to 8 weeks in advance. Regardless of whether you are planning a two-month engagement, or a two-year one, the wedding planning can – and should – begin immediately.

Twelve Months or More In Advance

• Announce your engagement.
• Set the date and begin looking into Save the Date Magnets or cards.
• Get organized.Whether it’s a three-ring binder, a hardbound book available at bridal stores, or an excel chart on your laptop, you will need to keep a lot of information orderly and handy.
• Keep open the lines of communication with your fiancé and your respective families; discuss the wedding budget as early as possible, as well as the style, theme and location of your wedding.
• If you are planning a religious ceremony, meet with clergy members.
• Interview and sign contracts with your cater, photographer and videograpaher, band or DJ, and florist.
• Select and ask your attendants.
• Shop for your dress.

Three to Six Months Before the Wedding

• Register Send out Save the Data cards.
• Select your invitations.
• Finalize your floral arrangements.
• Select your wedding cake.
• Arrange your rehearsal dinner, if planned.
• Plan your honeymoon

One to Two Months Before the Wedding

• Mail invitations.
• Apply for marriage license.
• Start working on your seating chart

One to Two Weeks Before the Wedding

• Give final guest count to the caterer and/or wedding planner.
• Pick up your gown and groom’s attire.
• Write your vows

Honeymoon Countdown

6 months prior to wedding date •Types of honeymoon: tropical/beach, big city, cruise, mountains •Determine how much time off of work you can take •Research destinations •Set your budget

5 months prior to wedding date •Make your reservations •Book airline tickets, rental cars, etc. •Write down all your confirmation numbers •Make sure your passport is valid

2 months prior to wedding date •Make sure you have the proper/adequate luggage

1 month prior to wedding date •Create a checklist of everything you will need/want (clothes, accessories, camera)

1 week prior to wedding date •Confirm all your travel reservations •Provide copies of your itinerary to your family

Travel Day •Arrive at the airport early •Relax and have fun. The stress of the big wedding day is finally behind you •Send postcards

How far in advance to send wedding invitations?

So you have booked the venue and are now deep in wedding invitation and RSVP planning. Knowing the right time to send out your perfectly chosen invitation is an important matter, as I am sure you wish to do everything possible in advance to ensure that your special day will be perfect and just as planned.

The quick and general answer as to when to send out the wedding invitations for your wedding is six weeks before the event. This should provide people from out of town the time that they may need in order to clear schedules and make the necessary arrangements in order to attend the wedding. It should be noted that this broad answer of six weeks does often vary from country to country and in different cultures.

There are people that believe that if they send out invitations six weeks in advance, their potential guests may forget the date when it does finally come around. However, if you have guests that you would like to invite that reside in different countries, it is advisable to give them additional advance warning – that is, if you really want them to attend. Approximately six months before the wedding date, you could always make use of a specially created save the date card for your long distance guests. In this way, you can provide such members of the family or friends with a real possibility to take time off work and make the required travel plans so that they will be able to be a part of your big day.

Although it is sensible to do all the planning you can in advance, perhaps it should be pointed out that perfection itself is difficult to achieve – but do bear in mind that perfection in the wedding sense can also means personal and creative.

In the event that the wedding itself is scheduled to take place in a different far away location, that is that all of the guests will have to travel either out of town, or to a foreign country to the wedding, then it is customary and recommended to send out Save the Date cards and wedding invitations earlier than the six weeks mentioned above. This will provide your guests with additional time to make the necessary preparations. The advance warning could also be done in this case by sending a save the date card before the actual wedding invitation is sent out.

Whenever you do sent out your wedding invitations, it is advisable to write down such details on a plan or schedule, so that nothing will be missed out.

As far as the wedding invitations go, don't lose too much sleep over it – as there is plenty more planning to do!

Pointers for planning your wedding seating arrangements

Figuring out your guest sitting plan is one of the toughest chores you’ll have to face when planning your wedding because seat placement is a deal breaker when it comes to the atmosphere you want to creat. But when you actually do it, it turns out to be very hard because it may happen that just when you thought you had everything figured out, it seems you have seated your Aunt Gertrude next to your boss. The secret to survive this stage of planning (as with many other things in your wedding) is patience and remembering that your happiness is the most important thing in this party.

To help you have a smooth trip down this rocky road we have put together a few simple pointers:

1. The shape of the room where you will be holding your reception will be an important factor when determining the way to arrange the tables. You can have square or round tables, or a mixture of them. Modern brides are now going for the lounge setting for the wedding reception, with low tables and comfortable sofas. Depending on the formality of your wedding you can have a top table for the bridal party or having them sit at regular smaller tables. Bear in mind that the way in which you arrange the tables will set the tone and atmosphere of your wedding.
2. The number of people you have sitting at each table will depend on how many guests are attending your wedding. But remember it is better to have fewer tables with more guests than to have lots of tables half full (this also cuts the expenses on the centerpieces). Be careful not to overcrowd your tables, give guests enough room to maneuver!
3. When deciding how to sit your guests bear in mind that the best arrangements can be made based on who does your guest spend time with already. Long-time-no-see sitting arrangements can end up being uncomfortable to your guests. Age can also be a great mingling factor, but stay away from dividing the reception hall into “old” and “young”. Other great factors for matching guests are: backgrounds, lifestyles, education, income, careers, interests and hobbies.
4. If you decide to have a children’s table be sure to have someone in charge of watching them. Also be sure not to seat them, or older guests, near the kitchen.
5. Make sure to have an easy to follow seating plan at the entrance of the reception hall for the guests to see. Depending on your wedding style, there are many elegant favors that you can use to this purpose.

 

There are no set rules for managing wedding seating arrangements so you should follow what best works for you and also allows your guests to mingle and feel comfortable. One important note: there will always be someone who disagrees with the seating arrangement you have planned for. Please do not pay any attention to their complaints. Remember a good sitting arrangement encourages a fun atmosphere; making the wedding unforgettable is up to you.

Selecting the Perfect Wedding Invitation

The right wedding invitation is like the sublime appetizer at an impeccable dinner party.It sets the tone, whets your guests’ appetite and lets them know what to expect from the rest of your event (great things!).

Of course, the wrong invitation is like the appetizer that has been scorched beyond recognition at a meal you would rather forget.
So, how do you make sure the invitation to your wedding hits the mark – and not the floor (or the trash bin)?

First things first: take a step back and think about your wedding itself. A wedding should be a reflection of the bride’s and groom’s personality and panache. For some, that might mean an uber formal, black tie gala, complete with champagne flutes and doves released just as the couple says their I Dos. For others, it means a hoedown with BBQ ribs and beer from a keg. In either case, the wedding invitation should be like the illustrated book jacket of a great novel – and in this case, you should be able to judge the book from its cover!

There are a countless number of styles – from super serene to completely kitsch – in wedding invitations and even a great number of choices for paper and ink. The important thing as you navigate your choices is to remember that your wedding invitation should suit the wedding you will have. A hoedown doesn’t require – and really doesn’t fit with – a hand-engraved invite on sumptuous silk. Consider instead a cute inlay with red and white gingham over a navy blue embossed font.

The wording on your wedding invitation can also range from super formal to way laid-back. Whatever you chose, you will be helping to tell your wedding story – so choose carefully. Of course there are family politics that may influence things; the invite of a young couple with financial support from both parents will and should read differently than that of a more established couple sponsoring the affair on their own. Whatever you end up with, just remember that grammatical and spelling errors are never a good thing!

A few other tips as you work to select the perfect wedding invitation:

• Don’t forget to include (and double and triple check) the date, time, and location of your event on the invitation.
• Calligraphy is still the preferred method for addressing invitations, but if penmanship isn’t your strong suit, rest assured that computerized labels are coming into their own vogue. Whatever you go with, legibility is of utmost importance.
• Plan to have your invitations at the post office no later than 4 weeks before your wedding date; double that (6 to 8 weeks) if you are inviting guests from overseas.

Stress-free Tips for Choosing a Band for Your Wedding

During a wedding, as far as entertainment is concerned, the most basic necessity is some fabulous music to keep the guests on their feet and having a good time. You have to hire a band that has the ability to hold the attention of all the guests. That can be quite a tough act if you do not know how. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you are planning the music for your wedding.

When choosing the wedding band, the two most important things to consider are the kind of music they play and their price. So what is the ideal music for a wedding? While that may seem like a tough question, the choice usually boils down to one of two types of music – dance music that would let everyone let their hair down, but can be loud, and background music that allows people to converse with each other and also enjoy the ambience.

If you are planning to have party music get a band that can play a little of everything. That way, you can ensure all the people at the wedding will get to hear at least some of their favorite music. The opening number is critical; it sets the tone for the rest of the evening, and has therefore got to be something that everyone has heard. Ensure the opening number is instantly identifiable.

Once you have decided on the type of music, the next thing to look at is cost. The cost of hiring a band depends on a number of factors. The basic among these are the kind of music they play, the popularity of the band, the number of members in it, the distance they will have to travel to play at the wedding, and the time period for which they will have to play. It makes sense to use a band that is located close to the venue.

However, before hiring a band, make sure the venue has a license for playing live music. It would be a real damp squib if the best band arrived at the venue, only to find they could not play because the venue does not have a license for live music. Critically, as the organizer, you must ensure you have a contingency plan, a Plan B so to speak, for everything related to the wedding, even the music. What if the band does not turn up? Or there is a major power failure? You have to have a plan to tackle all these eventualities.

Many of the venues usually have their own in-house band. If your wedding venue has one too, it solves half your problems. You will just have to ensure the music the in-house band plays is the kind of music you are looking for. Besides in-house bands, another option, and one that many people are beginning to opt for today, is to hire a DJ.

While live music provides a charm that is undeniable, you have another option for the music: hire a DJ. A DJ usually has a large collection of songs, all of which you get access to when you bring the DJ on board. The DJ provides the kind of variety that a band may not be able to. A DJ will also usually come cheaper than a band.

Whichever option you go for, make sure you do a thorough check first so there are no nasty surprises later on. The bottom line is everybody must have a good time. That is what the music is there for; it should not cause any headaches to anyone.

Stress-free Tips for Choosing a Wedding Venue

Getting married is something that you don’t plan on doing everyday. And if you are not prepared for it, your big day might just turn out to be your big nightmare. Organizing a wedding is like try to juggle 100 different things at the same time. If you don’t learn how to manage it best, chances are you will wind up getting all stressed out. The biggest problem is obviously organization, and the solution to the problem is getting things organized early to make the nuptial manageable.

There are a number of critical things which, if not done well, can make the entire experience a nightmarish one. The first thing to do is decide on a venue. Choosing a venue is just one of many things that are critical about a wedding. The two most important things that will influence your choice of a venue are the number of people you wish to invite and the budget you wish to allocate.

Venues usually come with a team of professionals who are equipped to provide you with all the services that you may need at a wedding. However, it would still be a good idea to ensure you cover the following points.

The first thing to check in a venue is whether it has a catering facility, and the kind of food it offers, if there is one. Does it have a house policy against catering from outside? Beautiful venues can lose their luster if the food is bad. You also need to check if the décor at the venue is in sync with the style you have in mind. If it isn’t, would you have to spend heavily to get it to look the way you want?

Another important thing is to see if the venue has a liquor license. You also need to find out if you would be allowed to make provisions for liquor on your own. While carrying your own liquor may make it easier on your purse, certain venues may not allow you to bring your own liquor.

It is critical that you determine the payment schedule and the deposits that you may have to pay to book a venue. Different venues have different payment schedules and deposits. Also, check if they have a cancellation policy. Go through the contract carefully to make sure that there are no hidden costs associated with a venue. Sometimes it may happen that you like a venue immensely and blindly sign the contract, only to find out later hidden costs are involved.

There are a few other critical things besides costs and décor each venue must have for it to be deemed suitable for a proper wedding. The venue must have space for the groom and the bride to change. It must also have adequate restrooms for the guests you are inviting.

If the location is open-air, make sure they have a contingency plan for bad weather. Many people prefer venues with overnight accommodation, as part of this contingency planning. Access for the disabled is something you should not overlook. Parking space for the guests is again something that you should ask about. Check if they have valet parking and whether a parking fee needs to be paid.

There are a few other things you would do well to ask and find out before deciding on a venue. Does the venue have an in-house photographer and an in-house band? Music is an important part of the wedding, and you would feel foolish, at the very least, if you did not have a good band providing wholesome entertainment to your guests.

As you can see, organizing a wedding is not an easy affair. With so many things to check just about the venue, you can imagine how much more you would have to go through for the entire wedding. However, getting started is half the job done, as they say, and by determining the venue, you would have solved a major problem on your hands. It would also mean you have the base ready, and all you have to do is center the rest of the wedding requirements around it.

The perfect wedding cake: from baking it to cutting it.

No matter what is the style of your wedding (romantic, destination, classical, relaxed…) you’ll want to have the perfect wedding cake. Endless trips to the baker and there is nothing else you can think about except frosting, flavors, toppers, fillings and so on. Don’t worry, here is some advice to help you survive the cake frenzy and have the exquisite creation of your dreams.

The cake: to have or not to have
The wedding cake is always a major have at wedding receptions, but if you want to do away with the traditional, there are endless possibilities. Give your guests the idea of a cake without the cake by stacking beautifully adorned cupcakes, yummy pies or mouth watering mini cheesecakes on trays in tiers. You can also surprise them and serve a different assortment of pastries and tiny desserts on their plates. When it comes to dessert everything is possible!

Finding Mr. Right
If you want to have the perfect wedding cake make sure you do your homework and research different designs, flavors and toppers that will be adequate to your wedding style, location and season. A wedding cake can say a lot about the bride and groom so try to choose a design that matches your personality. Also make sure the cake is appropriate to your wedding location. Stick with fondant if you’re having an outdoor wedding, butter-cream and whipped cream icings will melt with the heat

Dreamy designs
Turn to bridal magazines and web sites to find amazing ideas for wedding cake designs. There are a few things you can keep in mind to save money. Use lightweight fresh fruit and nontoxic flower decorations instead of hand made sugar flowers and marzipan decorations that can be expensive. Make a head count before going to the baker, cakes are prized not only by the complexity of the design but also by the number of servings. By the way, a square cake will serve more than a round cake of the same dimensions. Also if you have a tight budget but still want the huge cake be sure to ask your baker about iced Styrofoam to create fake tiers or just order a small fancy cake for the cutting ceremony and serve your guests frosted sheet cakes of the same flavor and filling (just make sure the cakes are sliced out of sight).

Who bakes it?
In the wedding cake industry expertise counts, so make sure your confectioner has experience creating the kind of cake you want (well intentioned friends can end up being costly). Good bakers are booked well in advance, so be sure to do some research and make your choice at least three to six months before your wedding day. But before you do, talk to them personally, see samples of their work, ask for references, taste their creations. If your budget is tight you may want to check if your caterer can make a cake or create your special dessert preference. If your caterer is also an experienced confectioner you’ll avoid delivery charges and cake cutting fees.

Show it off
You have done your research, tasted your cakes, and chosen your topper. You have found the perfect wedding cake, now it’s time to show it off! Give it a special place in the party; make sure to place your dream wedding cake in a photogenic spot. Make it the star of your wedding by choosing a cloth that, while coordinating with your other linens, makes the cake stand out. Depending on the style of your reception you can decorate the table with confetti, flowers or seashells.

The perfect wedding cake is ready, enjoy!

Wedding Registry - Top 10 Wedding Registry Tips

1. You can register as soon as you would like, even if you do not know your wedding date.
   
   
2. Make a list of what you and your fiancée each currently have. Decide what you will and won’t be taking with you to your new home after your wedding. Be careful when selecting seasonal items. They may be discontinued by the time a guest goes to purchase your gift.
   
   
3. Determine the formality/style you and your fiancee will want along with color schemes and patterns; especially for linens, dinnerware, flatware, etc.
   
   
4. Ask the retailers that you are considering registering with if they offer discounts. Some retailers will offer a discount up to 1 year after the wedding date so you can buy items and complete your registry.
   
   
5. Give your guests plenty of options. It is a good idea to register for more items than the number of family and friends on your guest list. Provide them a nice variety of gift ideas along with a range of price points. Keep these general categories in mind: dinnerware, serveware, flatware, stemware, barware, cutlery, table accessories, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, hardware, electronics, furnishings.
   
   
6. Do not be in a rush. Give yourself plenty of time to register.
   
   
7. Register with your fiancée. Do not register alone.
   
   
8. Check your wedding registry often. Make sure it is accurate and up to date. You may need to add items as your wedding date approaches.
   
   
9. Write thank you notes with in two weeks if you receive a gift prior to your wedding date, and within 4 weeks if you receive a gift after your wedding date.
   
   
10. Enjoy the process and have fun. Your wedding day will be here before you know it.

Wedding RSVPs - Are they really a true indicator of the final number?

Let's face it –like to hear it or not, unfortunately not everybody replies to a wedding RSVP.  However attractive and persuasive the little RSVP card may be, a record of 100% responses is difficult to obtain. Some people may be busy (not that this is a good excuse) – they may not know if they will be able to attend, perhaps they forgot to reply or they may just be downright rude.

It is so annoying – you may have planned everything, included a RSVP date that gives you enough time to give a final number to the caterers and people do not bother to respond. We agree, it is bad mannered and extremely irritating – however, we cannot educate everybody. So the question is what do we do about it?

There are those that would recommend not even spending good money on the inclusion of RSVP cards, as they believe that it does not provide an accurate indication of the number of guests who will actually attend your event. However, many others prefer to send out a RSVP card in order to get a general idea. A precise idea is preferable but not always possible.

Once the requested date for the RSVP passes and the time to update the wedding hall with final numbers approaches, it may be a good idea to call the remaining guests on your list. Do bear in mind, that some people may feel uncomfortable on the telephone and may give a positive answer even though they do not actually intend attending your wedding. This is one of the negative sides of human nature – difficult to explain but it happens.

Today, there are special RSVP services to assist you in collecting replies from your guests. Although there is a charge for such a service, this will cut out the hassle on your part, especially when you have plenty other issues and wedding planning details on your mind. In addition, it should also be noted that a call from an impartial wedding service representative is probably more likely to inspire a truthful answer from your guests. It is hoped that in this way, it may be possible to reach a more accurate RSVP count.

Some couples also take advantage of modern technology and use the Internet to help control their wedding RSVPs. There are those that place an e-mail address on the invitation itself in addition to or instead of a telephone number. However, for those who really want to save time and reduce stress levels, online wedding RSVPs could be the perfect answer. This is a quick solution that often produces replies on the same day that the invitation is received.

However you decide to handle the matter of RSVPs, do not forget that this will be your special day. The important issue here is your marriage and once the big day of your wedding arrives, the matter of RSVP cards really does vanish into the distance.

Wedding Save the Date Magnets: The Complete Primer

Save the Date magnets are a relatively recent add-on to the wedding planning litany.

In fact, they are so recent that no real “rules” apply. Given that, brides (and their grooms) are often confused about when, to whom and how to send out these date savers. If you’re one of the confused ones, look no further: this handy primer should answer all your questions!

What Exactly Is a Save the Date??
Consider a Save the Date card or magnet as a pre-invitation to your wedding. While certainly not pro-forma, Save the Date magnets are a wonderful (and convenient) way to give far-away friends and families the opportunity to begin making arrangements to attend your special day. They are especially helpful if your nuptials are planned during “high-season” (think Christmas, Thanksgiving and summertime), when airfares skyrocket and hotel rooms fill up quickly.

When Should We Send Out Our Save the Date Magnets?
Save the Date magnets or cards should be sent at least four months before your big day. If you are planning a destination wedding or to get married in a popular vacation spot (Miami, New York City, San Francisco), you might want to send them out even earlier (up to six months in advance).

To Whom Should We Send a Save the Date Magnet or Card?
If you have any out-of-town guests, they should definitely be included on your pre-invitation list. Keep in mind that your actual wedding invitation should only be mailed 4 to 8 weeks before your big day – at which point many guests might already have other plans. Send a save the date magnet or card to every household on your invitation list.

Now that you have the basics down, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you select, order and post your Save the Date magnets:

• Be sure to include the date and location of your wedding (and double and triple check your proof for any typos before you post the magnets!)
• Save the Date magnets should not require a formal RSVP, although you can begin to get an unofficial “head count” based on responses to your save the date.
• Everyone who gets a Save the Date magnet or card must then receive an invitation, so be sure that you and your fiancé are in agreement about the guest list before sending out the magnets!
• Your Save the Date magnet or card is the first impression you will be giving guests of your wedding. And you know what they say about making a first impression: you don’t get a second chance! You want to whet guests’ appetite with your Save the Date magnets, so be mindful in choosing one that fits the style and theme of your wedding. If you have selected special wedding colors, be sure to use them!
• Use your imagination!The possibilities are endless – just be sure you’ve got the essential information on there!

Wedding Shower Themes

1. Around The Clock Wedding Shower: Each guest is assigned a certain time of day. Their gift is something that is commonly used for that time. Makes for great fun and lots of laughs.
   
   
2. Stock The Bar Wedding Shower: Guests bring items associated with stocking your bar such as martini glasses, wine glasses, beer mugs, nice bottles of wine, booze, etc. A fun one for the guys.
   
   
3. Room of the House Wedding Shower:Each guest is assigned a certain room in your house and brings a gift that can be used in that room.
   
   
4. Garden Theme Wedding Shower: Guest bring gifts associated with the outdoors. Items that the newly weds can use in the garden or the yard.
   
   
5. Stock the Kitchen Wedding Shower:Same idea as Stock the Bar. Guests are asked to bring items for the kitchen along with their favorite recipe.