DJ XTC Entertainment

Being disc jockeys, we get the opportunity to evaluate many reception facilities while having little or no bias to "sell” one location over another. Most couples know where they will be holding the ceremony before they decide where to have the reception, so I have compiled five observations that can help you when selecting your venue.

Distance – If people have to drive a long way to get from the ceremony to the reception, some will get distracted or decide to do something else. Try to keep the reception within a 15 to 30 minute drive of your ceremony. If it is not possible to get a reception hall close to your ceremony, make a caravan. Have the wedding couple lead the parade, and people will follow you to your reception.
 
Time – Time is just like the distance issue. If your reception is several hours after the ceremony,during the break, people will get busy doing other things and not show up for the reception. Try to start the reception within an hour or two of the ceremony. If you don’t want to start your wedding dance at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, have a cocktail mixer before your reception. Serve some punch and get people to mingle. This will be one of the few times that both families will be together. Encourage family members to share stories about your childhoods.
 
Size – People like their personal space, and they have most likely spent an hour packed into a church for your ceremony. If you let them spread out, they will enjoy themselves more. Make sure your reception hall has plenty of room for your guests. The people renting the location might tell you it holds 200 people, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will hold 200 people comfortably! Make sure to visit the venue before booking. 

Climate Control – Having a summer wedding? Is your reception hall air conditioned? If people sweat while just sitting, they won’t dance. On the flip side, if they are cold they won’t dance either (who wants to dance in a parka?). Also make sure you know who has control of the thermostat so the temperature can be adjusted if needed. Chances are your reception will be warm and stuffy while all the guest are there, but as they trickle out during the night the room will begin to cool down.

Smoking – This is a hot button issue, you can fully expect smokers to leave your reception for 15-30 minutes every hour. If enough of them leave the reception area, you may find a large percentage of your guest just hanging outside in the smoking area. This can be a big problem if you have many smokers in your wedding party. You might not be a smoker but it is something you should consider. How close is the nearest place for a smoker to go? Is it close enough that you will be able to get needed wedding party members during events like the bouquet toss or garter auction?

Facility coordinators will no doubt bring up several other factors for you to consider when you interview them for your booking, but these are often missed items.If you keep the overall picture in mind and work with your wedding planner or event coordinator on the decorating ideas, you will no doubt have an enjoyable and memorable wedding reception.

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The wedding vow is the promise the couple make to each other during the wedding ceremony.  A wedding without vows is an unfamiliar sight.

Wedding vows are essential in any marriage ceremony.  Now-a-days, modern wedding ceremonies offer the flexibility of allowing you to write and say your own vows.

If you decide to write your own personally meaningful wedding vows, then here are a few things to keep in mind.

1.  When you write your own vows, you naturally start to think of all the good reasons why you want to be with the person you are going to marry.  Writing your own vows makes the words you say more natural and from the heart.

2.  If you don’t know what to say, or you don’t know how to start it, or you just want to add a few additional thoughts, then you can get ideas by reading books on the topic or performing a search on the web for free wedding vows.

You can look at a few of the sample wedding vows online and borrow some ideas or words from each to add to your own unique vows.  You can also try taking a particular sample and just changing a few words to suit you.  You can also take a wedding vow you really like and use it as is.

3.  If you want a touch of artistic expression to your vows, try adding a few lines of poetry from the popular works by Gibran, Keats or Browning.

4.  You may want to include some of the lyrics from your favourite song.  Couple’s often have a song or tune that symbolizes their love for each other, sort of like the song that is danced to during the reception or after the wedding dinner.

5.  While you are thinking about what to say in your vows, you may consider your lifestyles, your personalities and your interests.

7.  Share with each other what you have written.  You both can bounce back ideas; revive special moments you had with each other.  This will help you discover what to include in your vows.

Make sure you let the Officiate or person who will be marrying you know ahead of time that you are writing your own vows.  He or she can inform you about what must be included and may provide a few pointers.

One final thought.  Saying your wedding vows during the ceremony can be frightening.  You may be scared that you might mess up.  Well don’t be.  It’s okay to stumble a bit.  You will be able to correct yourself.  Know that writing your own vows and practicing a bit will help you both gain the confidence you need to do well.

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I have been blessed to have been a Best Man twice so far. They were about fifteen years apart and I admit freely that the first time I really sucked ( Sorry Michelle & Jeremy ) .
The second time however I was determined to do the job fully and to the best of my ability. The way I made sure that I took care of my Best Man duties was to research and compile the following list .

Contribute
You don’t really have to do any wedding planning but you should offer to help with anything that might be needed. Step in where you can lessen the weight of everything that is being put together. 

Organize A Party 
I guess this should really start with “ASK , if a party is desired”.  This could be an Engagement Party , Jack and Jill , Buck and Doe or any other Pre-wedding event. Of course all the planning is not yours alone. Delegate essential tasks to the other members of the wedding in party.

Prepare 
Make sure that the members of the Wedding Party have their wedding attire fitted. Let the Ushers know what their jobs are and where they will be standing.

Assist 
When the big day arrives is when your main job starts : 
- Organize and distribute final payment to vendors.
- Make sure all paper work is brought to the ceremony to be signed and witnessed.
- On wedding day you are most likely in charge of the safe keeping of the Wedding Rings.

Present The Rings 
Present The Rings at the appropriate time during the ceremony. You may have to present the rings to the officiant or even to the couple . That aspect should be sorted out during the Wedding Rehearsal.

 Make sure there are no last minute tasks left undone
Be at the reception early to finalize last minute tasks, greet the guest and get the Wedding Party ready for the Grand Entrance.

Toast 
Most people are not fans of public speaking but this is the spot where the Best Man can shine. If toasts are not scheduled then this is a great time to step up and propose the first toast. An organized and witty Best Man Speech will help make your contributions memorable.

Be attentive
Your job is to help by being a contributing member of the events . Yes that will include dancing . It will also include attending to the wedding couple’s needs this will free them up to enjoy their reception. 

After the reception 
The wedding day is over but the Best Man should make sure that all rentals are returned
( tuxedos , decor , equipment etc ) 

This list isn’t the be all but it has helped me to be a contributing member of the wedding party as opposed to just a fixture at the head table.Can you think of other things not mentioned that should be taken care of by the best man? 

I would love to hear your thoughts

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Wedding invitations are one of the most important decisions that the bride and groom need to make. Without wedding invitations, then there can be no guests. The bride and groom will have literally thousands of potential invitations to choose from. There are retailers everywhere and each offers different options. One of the most unique options however, is to purchase blank invitations. This offers the bride and groom many benefits that the preprinted invitations do not.

Blank wedding invitations are perfect for the bride and groom that have a tight budget. These invitations will be much less expensive than those that are preprinted. The bride and groom can then shop around and find the least expensive place to have the invitations printed or they may choose to print the wedding invitations on their own printer. These blank invitations can be printed in either an inkjet or laser printer, which offers the bride and groom endless possibilities while maintaining their budget.

Another benefit to purchasing blank wedding invitations is time. This is an excellent option for the bride and groom who are planning far ahead and want to have everything purchased and planned early. This will allow them to purchase the wedding invitations without having to have chosen the wording for the invitations yet. This is also an excellent option for the bride and groom who are on a tight timeline. Shipping for blank wedding invitations will be much quicker and the bride and groom can have them printed out quickly and send them out to guests sooner than preprinted invitations.

Blank wedding invitations also give the bride and groom the opportunity to decide on their wedding invitation wording and make sure it is exactly how they want it. Once they have finalized the wording, they can have the invitations printed. In addition, the bride and groom may choose to personalize their wedding invitations to suit different guests. Every invitation does not need to be the same. This allows the bride and groom to be truly creative with their wedding invitations.

The designs of blank invitations are just as diverse as those that are preprinted. This is perfect for the bride and groom who are using their invitations to set the tone of their wedding. An elegant invitation conveys to guests that the event will be formal. Since many couples are choosing special themes for their weddings, this is a great way to incorporate that theme into the wedding.

Wedding invitations are not only an important purchase, but it is fun for the bride and groom as well. The couple can hold the wedding invitations in their hands and it makes the entire event seem more real and that is exciting. It does not need to be a stressful decision. Blank wedding invitations offer the bride and groom endless possibilities and benefits. Time and money are both precious commodities that a couple can use elsewhere.

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Spring is a fabulous time of year for weddings. Many couples choose to have a wedding in the springtime because it is such a wonderful time of year when the plants start to flourish after a dormant winter. With the combination of a variety of flowers in bloom and the temperate weather, many couples feel as though spring is the ideal time for a wedding. These couples are also likely to want to give there guests wedding favours which are closely associated to the spring season. This article will offer a few ideas for wedding favours which would be appropriate for weddings in the springtime.

Flowers are one of the most obvious choices for wedding favours for a spring wedding. Spring is one of the best times of year for fresh flowers. There are a wide variety of bright and fragrant flowers which are available in the spring. Couples who get married at this time of year may have trouble choosing flowers for centrepieces and bouquets because there are so many options available to them. Because flowers are so plentiful this time of year, giving flowers as wedding favours is also a very common practice at spring weddings. The couple may choose to give fresh flowers because they are so bright and fragrant or artificial flowers because they will serve as a lasting memento of the wedding for the guests. With either option the couple may choose to give either a single flower or a bouquet of flowers tied with a ribbon matching the other colours used at the wedding.

Knick knacks such as ceramic umbrellas or ceramic rain boots can also be very cute wedding favours for a springtime wedding. These favours can also often be personalized to include the name of the bride and the groom as well as the wedding date. By personalizing the favour the couple makes the gift more appropriate for the wedding but by keeping the favour related to the season the couple makes the favour a really fun gift for the guests.

Real umbrellas can also be used as favours for a springtime wedding. In many locations, spring is typically a rainy time of year. A favour of umbrellas is a really practical idea because the guests are likely to be able to use the favour for years to come. One way to personalize this type of favour is to include a small tag on the handle with the name of the bride and the groom as well as the wedding date. The umbrellas can also be made more appropriate for the season by seeking out umbrellas in bright pastel colours.

A final idea for springtime wedding favours is simply candy. There are candies available in a variety of vibrant colours. While chocolate bars with personalize wrappers may be popular wedding favours year round, couples having a spring wedding may wish to select more colourful candies such as jelly beans or hard candies which come in a variety of colours. These candies can be distributed in see through containers such as votive candle holders or clear bags so the colours will be prominently displayed at the place settings. This type of wedding favour is not only a great deal of fun but it also relates very well to the season of the wedding and it is a favour which is likely to be greatly appreciated by the guests. While it is not a favour which will serve as a lasting memento of the wedding, it is a favour your guests will enjoy while they are eating the favour.

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Seating during your wedding reception is more important than it seems. You want your guests to feel comfortable and, for that, seating is critical. You can shape how much fun everyone has, since you can choose the best seating positions for your guests. 

To begin your wedding reception seating plan, you will first need to know how many tables you will set up at your wedding reception, as well as how many chairs will be at each table. To find this out, contact your wedding reception facility and make sure to also ask them for a chart of where the tables will be at your wedding reception. 

Although your seating chart should be prepared early, you shouldn’t finalize it until about two weeks prior to the date of your wedding reception. 

Place card holders are not only attractive decorations, but they provide a great way to help your wedding guests with the seating. Your guests should be able to quickly find their seat. Each card should have the guest’s or couple’s names. 

Seat people with similar interests at the same table. Think of a unique and fun way to identify each table. 
Seat wedding guest of similar ages together.
Seat family members who don't see each other often to help them catch up on the latest family matters. You should only seat family members together, if they like each other!
Seat an even number of guests at each table.
Seat your wedding reception guests who enjoy dancing close to the dance floor.

To avoid possible conflicts, divorced parents should have their own tables. Seat them separately with their respective family members. 

Keep small children next to their parents unless there is a designated children's room or table with a caregiver.

Don’t worry about a seating chart for a cocktails only the wedding reception. If it is a very small party, you can skip the seating chart altogether. For a formal dinner reception, a seating chart is essential. Don’t wait until the last minute to decide who should sit at which table.  As you can see, proper seating is hard work, and it requires careful planning.

We would love to hear your thoughts. 
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The Jewish faith is one that is deeply rooted in tradition. A traditional Jewish wedding follows a number of beautiful traditions that date back for thousands of years. The traditions include the signing of the Ketubah, the use of the chuppah as well as traditional dances that are performed at the wedding. The rings exchanged during a Jewish wedding also have traditional connotations.

The signing of the Ketubah is the traditional start to a Jewish wedding ceremony. The Ketubah is a written agreement that not only asserts that the bride is not already married but also outlines the expectations that the couple hold for each other in the marriage. This ornate document can later be framed and prominently displayed in the couple’s home as a reminder of their commitment. After the bride and groom have signed the Ketubah, the groom takes one final look at his bride before lowering her veil and beginning the wedding procession. This tradition has biblical roots and recalls the story of Jacob who married the wrong woman because she was veiled and he did not realize his mistake in time.

The wedding party traditionally precedes the couple in the wedding procession. The bride and groom then proceed down the aisle together accompanied by both of their parents to symbolize that their union includes the union of both families and not just the bride and the groom. The couple ends their procession under a traditional canopy called a chuppah. This canopy symbolizes that God is present and that he is sheltering and protecting the couple.

After the couple exchanges their wedding vows, a Rabbi reads 7 traditional blessings. After the blessings the groom steps on a wine glass to break the glass in a symbol of human frailty and the suffering that members of the Jewish faith have endured and this with a final blessing from the rabbi concludes the ceremony. Unlike other traditional weddings, there is usually not a receiving line at the conclusion of a Jewish wedding. Tradition holds that the couple spends a few minutes alone immediately following the wedding so many members of the Jewish faith honour this tradition by leaving the ceremony immediately and waiting until the reception to offer their well wishes to the couple. This togetherness time was traditionally an opportunity for the couple to consummate the marriage but in modern times it is more of chance for the couple to reflect on their wedding ceremony and the start of their life together before the chaos of the wedding.

Even the rings that a couple exchanges during a Jewish wedding have traditional values. Tradition holds that the couple exchange very simple rings that are devoid of gems, engravings or other distinguishing marks. With nothing to distinguish the beginning or the end of the ring, it is a beautiful symbol of a love that endures forever with no clear beginning or end. This symbolizes both the couples love for each other as well as Godís love for his people.

A traditional Jewish wedding reception features many dances. An energetic dance called the Hora is performed at many traditional Jewish weddings. In this dance the bride and groom hold a handkerchief between them while they are seated in chairs and hoisted into the air by their guests. This dance is a celebration of the bride and groom and recognizes the significance of their union.  If this wedding represents the last son or daughter of one of the parents to be married there are a few more traditional dances that may take place. If the bride was the last in her family to be married, she and her sisters may honour their mother in a tradition known as Krenzi. The mother is crowned with flowers and her daughters honour her in the form of dance. Also, if either the bride or groom was the youngest to be married both of the parents will be honoured through the Mizinke dance. In this tradition all of the guests circle the parents and shower them with flowers and praise.

The Jewish faith is a faith that is full of history and tradition. Many couples and their guests choose to honour these traditions by incorporating them into their wedding ceremony and reception. Many of these traditions are the defining moments of the celebration and they lend an atmosphere of historical significance to the wedding.

We would love to hear your thoughts. 

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Another dilemma that often comes up when planning a wedding is who will walk who down the aisle. Although traditionally it is the father that does this, the plethora of step-families has made it a more difficult decision. This is especially true when the step parents have been in the children’s lives for a long time.

Breaking tradition

A bride that has both a step father and a biological father may opt still to have her biological father walk her down the aisle. This can be a way to show her family bond as well as stick with tradition. In the case of a bride that hasn’t been close to her father, she may opt to have her step father walk her down the aisle. This is a newly emerging sight at weddings, and quite touching.

Of course, if the bride loves both of the men and wants to include them, there’s nothing wrong with having both walk her down the aisle. It honours her relationship with both men and lets them have the chance to hold her arm.

This also holds true for the groom. He can choose to escort both a step mother and his biological mother down the aisle at the beginning is she should choose to. Or the best man can do so, as is tradition.

If the father has passed on, the bride may opt to have an older brother or an uncle walk her down the aisle. Likewise, if the mother of the groom has passed, then a sister or an aunt may want to walk with him.

Dealing with difficulties

While this all seems like a loving and simple solution to include everyone in the wedding, some parents may still have issues with their ex-spouses. And this can lead to bitter feelings about your choice in who walks who down the aisle.

Should you fight for what you want? That’s entirely up to you. If walking with both fathers makes you happy, then you should do that even if the opposite partners are not pleased for whatever reason.

If you feel that it may cause more trouble than it is worth, then you may opt to stick with tradition. Just be sure to include your step parent in some other part of the wedding so they don’t feel left out because of biological status.

In the end, remember that it’s your day and your decision.

We would love to hear your thoughts. 

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Social media has taken over pretty much every aspect of our daily lives . That being said it may be something that you want to include in your wedding. The idea of a hashtag is something that more and more couples are using . It is an excellent way to to keep all the photos and other posts in an easy to find format .
When creating your hashtag you definitely want to choose something that is unique but not too unique. You might be the only Jack and Jill that you know but understand that the world wide web is world wide and forever. Instead of #jackjill you might want to add the married last name or even the date or year. #jackjilljonesjune2015 is something that is specific without being too obscure.
We see all the time really long hashtags but in this case it might be something to avoid. Imagine your friends posting a picture they just took and taking five minutes to type in your hashtag. Chances are they will give up after the first two posts. 
Make sure that the hashtag you choose actually works . Keep it to simple letters and number combinations. Adding spaces, punctuation or symbols a no-no for hashtags.
Even if you believe that you have a unique hashtag that no one else will ever think of there is a good chance someone all ready has. Try your hashtag out on social media prior to sharing it. That way you can alter it if is already too popular 
Once you have the hashtag that works then spread the word. Add it to your invites, programs, signage,website and anything else that you would use as a communication tool. Then you are ready to go ! 

We would love to hear your thoughts. 

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Many couples are opting to pay for their weddings themselves. Some couples decide to pay for their own weddings because they have not other choice, some do so as a matter of choice. The best reason to pay for your own wedding is because you do not want to compromise on how, when and where you get married and you are ready to pay for it all on your own.

The average cost of a wedding in the North America is over $25,000, so financing your wedding requires a serious financial commitment. The sooner you start planning and saving for your wedding, the more time you have to come up with the necessary funds. The average time between the engagement and the wedding day is 12 to 18 months. Such time frame gives you an opportunity to plan and save for your wedding. The most important task you have is to determine the total amount you wish to spend on your wedding. Then, divide the amount by the number of months to determine how much money you need to put aside each month to meet your goal. If you estimate that your wedding will cost $25,000, and you have two years until your wedding, you need to save about $1042.00 per month. Realistically, not everyone can put aside a thousand dollars each month. If you are unable to save enough to cover all the costs, you may need to start cutting costs until you come up with a figure that you can meet. Aside from cost cutting, you can do a lot by saving one everything you do. You can save by taking your lunch instead of going out, spend less on clothes and entertainment. You could also, take on a part time job to help you with your budget. You have many options.

Opening a separate savings account for your wedding may help enforce the need to save. Even if you start with a modest amount a special wedding savings account should help you make the right spending and saving decisions. 

You can find ways to save money by learning as much as you can about the products and services you need for your big day. The more educated you become about prices, the more you can bargain with vendors to make sure you get the best possible deals in town.

We would love to hear your thoughts. 
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Are you trying to decide whether to hire a professional wedding planner or do it yourself? Take a look at this rudimentary collection of chores and details to be attended to in order to pull off a successful wedding. You'll probably want to run, not walk, to find the nearest professional wedding planner or consultant. 

There's the church wedding, and all it entails, from providing your baptism certificate to choosing between confetti and biodegradable rice. Then there are such items as who sits where, ushers, bridesmaids, best men, flower girls, music, wardrobe, hairstyles, flowers, and rings. Not to mention the vows. And all the rehearsals. 

There's the reception. Finding the right venue and the right caterers can be a really stressful task. Then you have to plan the menu, the bar and the service, all the while hoping against hope that everything comes out okay. Not to mention the wedding cake!

There's the photographer. And do you want stills and videos too? What kind of transportation will you use? What about the invitations; how to know what to put on them, who to invite? What about all the other vendors? 

Are you getting the picture yet? The above list shows only the tip of the iceberg. The myriad chores involved in completing just one of those tasks is enough to make one elope to Las Vegas or Mexico!

In fact, the only reason you might hold back on hiring awedding planner is your budget, but that reasoning is not well thought out. A professionalwedding planner not only has the know-how and the contacts to get you the best deals around, but also will hold you to your original budget with an iron will and the experience to back it up. Without someone like this on your side, things can get out of hand pretty fast.

Make your dream wedding a memory to cherish forever, not a nightmare full of stressful problems to solve. Awedding planner will stick with you through thick and thin and be a shield and a comfort, so you can relax and enjoy the best day of your life!


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The image of nuptials on a tropical beach on the warm sand is a fantastic wedding picture. Having your closest friends and family multiplies that pretty picture to a masterpiece that many couples dream of. Being a mobile wedding dj for over 30 years I have come across many different scenarios that might not be considered when looking to hire a Toronto destination wedding DJ.

As with any of my potential clients I always suggest meeting with your wedding professional . If it a large company that has several different wedding DJs make sure that you are able to meet the dj that will be responsible for YOUR specific wedding. If you are unable to have face-to-face meeting there are still several internet streaming options such as Skype.

If you have met with your Toronto wedding dj the next step should be the music. For instance you should always book a professional event dj that specializes in all the music that you , your partner , your family and your guest will want to hear. In my biased opinion there is NOTHING more important than the right music for your ceremony, dinner , cocktails and reception. Leaving that up to a CD or iPod playlist is really setting yourself up for failure.

The cost of hiring a Toronto destination wedding Dj is a bit different than a local one. Locally the dj will have their transportation budgeted into you pricing . For a destination wedding a couple will be responsible for flight , transportation and a minimum one to two night stay at the resort.

Another cost that is sometimes forgotten is the cost of equipment. Your local Toronto wedding DJ has the same weight restrictions that you do so they won’t be able to bring all of their wedding dj equipment when they travel. They may have previously worked at you destination wedding venue and have procedures in place but usually it is clients responsibility to secure the equipment for the ceremony and reception. There are wedding destination resorts that sometimes inflate the pricing for use of their equipment. Be wary and have a contract to avoid any hidden fees.

When you are looking for an experienced destination wedding dj feel free to consider me 

We would love to hear your thoughts. 

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A destination wedding is a wedding that takes place in a location that is not home to the couple or their families. Couples may choose a location that they have always wanted to visit for the location of their destination wedding. The couple may also opt to have their wedding in the location of their honeymoon so that there honeymoon will start immediately after the wedding. There are certain advantages and disadvantages to having a destination wedding. One of the most defining advantages is the ability to have a wedding in a beautiful and exotic location. Another advantage to a destination wedding is that if you choose to honeymoon in the same location you will first of all already be at your honeymoon location at the conclusion of the wedding and furthermore you will likely receive a discount on your honeymoon stay because you have already had your wedding at the location. One of the distinct disadvantages of a destination wedding is that the planning process can be difficult and that you are often unable to fully enjoy the planning process. Another disadvantage to destination weddings is that they are typically not well attended due to the fact that travel is expensive. A destination wedding can be used as the opportunity to enjoy a trip with close friends in a convenient location. The following are a few tips for turning your destination wedding into a fun-filed extended weekend for your guests.

Choosing a scenic location for your destination wedding can offer your guests a variety of fun activities to participate in either before or after your wedding. The couple could choose to have their wedding on a resort, ranch or at a ski resort and there are a wide variety of activities available for the couple to participate in. Some of these activities include tours, skiing, mountain biking, rock climbing and hiking.

A destination wedding is basically a wedding and vacation combination. The key to hosting a great destination wedding is to choose a location that provides your guests with a beautiful background as well as a wealth of activities to keep them entertained for at least a few days. Although a destination wedding may sound perfect, it is important to realize that there are a few downsides to hosting a destination wedding. One problem is that many guests will decline your invitation because they are either unable or unwilling to travel for the wedding. This can also work to your advantage by limiting the number of guests as well. While you may be disappointed if close friends decline your wedding invitation, you are likely to be relieved that you do not have to pay for distant relatives or casual acquaintances at your wedding. The advantage, however, to a destination wedding is that the couple does not have to travel for their honeymoon and that the guests have the luxury of spending a few day in an exotic location.

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Quality is the first thing that you need to look for in an item that could potentially be an heirloom. Without quality construction, no item will last long enough to be in the family for generations to come.

Timelessness is another aspect to consider. When choosing items that you’d like to pass down to your children and grand children try to avoid fads and trends. Chances are, it will be a few generations before they will come back into style again.

A very easy way to start a tradition that will stay in the family is with jewelry. Do you know a woman who doesn’t own a piece of jewelry with a story behind it? A good story is the start of a lasting heirloom. It’s a perfect place to begin.

Just imagine yourself in 10 years, sitting on your couch with your children while you’re flipping through the photo album from your wedding day. And in all of the photos, you are wearing a Swarovski Three Point Necklace , a stunning pair of cufflinks or even a tie pin that sparkles beautifully, and is the finishing touch that really makes your day prince or princess for the day .

Now imagine yourself in 30 years, standing with your child on his or her special day. Both of you are absolutely overwhelmed with anticipation for the events to come and cherishing every moment. You have tied each bow and buttoned each tiny button they are almost ready to go down the aisle when you present your gift that you wore on your big day ,NOW everything is ready !

You can make these moments happen starting today and lasting for a lifetime, not only for you but the people that you love the most!

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A proposal would never be complete without an engagement ring. Engagement rings have been part of the tradition of countries all over the world. Engagement rings symbolize love and commitment to the person given with it.

Most engagement rings come with diamonds from various sizes and no other stone can be placed with it. It has been interpreted that the round and never ending shape of the ring symbolizes the never-ending love and devotion to a partner. It is also a sign of offering ones commitment to the other .

There are many types of engagement rings that are sold in the market. However, there are things that need to be considered before buying one like the type of ring, the diamond, the trends that are in the market and even the value. When choosing an engagement ring, these are the things that buyers need to check on.

The diamond of the engagement ring should be considered before all things. There are four areas to look for in a good diamond. They are the cut, clarity, colour and carat. 

When the cut is considered, it simply means the number of angles that are in the diamond including their proportions. The cut gives luster to the diamond. The fire or the shine of the diamond will depend on how many cuts are in it. The more cuts in the diamond, the more costly it becomes.

Diamonds are coloured yellow in nature. The colourless ones are considered to be the most expensive and the most sought for diamonds. These colourless diamonds are very rare, which is why they are priced higher than the yellow ones. When considering an engagement ring, it is better to choose one that has a colourless diamond.

Clarity of diamonds refers to the impurities that are in them. These impurities resulted from pressure, heat, and rock sedimentation for over thousands of years. Clarity of a diamond could not be judged using the naked eyes. However, those diamonds that are priced higher are considerably high in clarity.

Acquiring an engagement ring may be done through cash or credit in jewelry stores. There are various types that are sold and some may come in installment plans. When buying from a jewelry store, the name and the credibility of the store should be considered. This will ensure that the engagement ring is authentic and has a very good quality. There are also engagement rings that can be found in pawnshops where great savings are guaranteed.

There are also some who use an inherited ring as engagement rings. These may be rings that were passed over generations. Those who have inherited these rings are considered fortunate since they surely saved thousands of dollars plus, they were able to impress their partner with this romantic approach.

Engagement rings come in different trends and styles. This will depend on the taste of the person who selected a specific engagement ring. There are some who prefer the classic or the antique types of engagement rings. On the other hand, many prefer the trendy ones. The trend nowadays includes platinum and white gold for rings.

You should not forget the commitment that comes with an engagement ring, no matter the price, the style or how large the diamond is in the ring. The symbol engagement rings carry should not be forgotten. It does not matter whether a ring is expensive or not, what matters is the commitment to love and devotion that should be kept once a ring is offered your partner. 


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Dreaming of having the perfect wedding is what every couple wish for and why wouldn’t they with all the time and effort they put into the preparations. Wedding plans and what goes on behind the scenes is very time consuming. Things like ordering the wedding bands, gown,suits and securing the date for the reception hall and chapel can all prove to be an ordeal, but if carefully thought out instead of leaving arrangements like this to the last minute then you can be sure of a smooth road ahead. 
Sometimes it is the little things that are overlooked that can cause the whole event to go pear shaped and one being is the absence of a centrepiece. Wedding centrepieces are beautiful embellishments that are extremely important. These eye catching pieces of work will add beauty where ever they are placed.
Centrepieces do not have to be the centre of attention on the day but if displayed with perfection in mind then expect surrounding areas to send out volumes of high tone attractiveness especially if the centrepiece is flowers.
Classical yet simple wedding centrepieces intend to evolve round flowers and ornaments. Flowers without doubt are a hot favourite for couples tying the knot because of the way the nature blooms add colour and project a lingering natural fragranced aroma. Check availability on flowers because they are seasonal and therefore your choice may have to be shipped in from another country.
Have an organizer come in early to arrange all flower displays; this will give you time to satisfy your curiosity of how they will look. Remember wrong blossoms can do more harm taking away beauty instead of enhancing it. Other ideal options for a wedding centrepiece are silver candelabras. If you are considering floating candles in a glass bowl then you have a guarantee of a pretty enough sight to take the limelight.
Depending on where you marry centrepieces will differ, if the wedding ceremony is to be held in the garden then consider nature for your theme. Miniature birdhouses and flower baskets are fabulous items that can be used.
If after all those months of scrimping and scraping and you find your self still counting the pennies then budget wisely but do not freakout. Have fresh fruit, just as sweet smelling as flowers but this way you get the best of both worlds where you have a centre piece juicy enough to eat.

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There are two aspects of wedding music that need to be addressed when planning your big day. First, you may wish to select certain music or arrange for professional DJ or musicians to play during the actual wedding ceremony. But at the wedding reception, it’s pretty much anything goes when it comes to selecting wedding music, provided it’s tasteful.

Right away is the time to plan your wedding music. Good talent gets booked fast and you don’t want to end up having to select the brand new DJ with only a few weddings under his or her belt or something even worse. Booking your music entertainment a full year in advance is advisable but at a minimum, you should know who will be showing up and what he or she will be playing at least six months prior to the wedding date.

For most weddings, selecting the music for the wedding ceremony isn’t that complicated because most often, has been planned by the wedding couple. When you’re researching your wedding ceremony options, be sure to inquire about any guidelines with respect to wedding ceremony music as these could possibly impact your decision. If the ceremony is being held outdoors, check for electrical hook-ups at your venue or book live musicians.

Wedding music during the ceremony is basically secondary to the ceremony itself so the music is really meant to sort of ‘fill in the gaps’ during the non-speaking periods such as while guests are being seated, during the procession, while lighting the unity candles and of course the recessional. Of course, it’s your wedding and it can be custom-designed.

The music that’s played at the reception, however, is going to mean the difference between a successful reception and one that’s ho-hum. And this is where things can start to get complicated. When you begin searching for wedding reception music, you’ll realize rather quickly that you have a lot of options. You can book a live band, or a DJ that’ll play pre-recorded music, or you can buy that CD full of top wedding songs and have someone act as the DJ. The later leaves little or no control and isn’t really suggested since the person is not actually a professional.

It’s important that you both agree on the type of wedding music you want played at your reception. There are ‘traditional’ songs that almost always are played at certain points during the reception such as the father/daughter dance, the cake cutting, the dollar dance and so on. And then there is all the music in between. Do you want Jazz, Country, R&B, New age, Italian, Latin, Jewish-inspired, or a little bit of everything? That’s an important decision to make because the DJ you select has to be able to deliver what you want or you won’t be happy.

Try to book experienced professionals for your wedding music. If booking live talent, arrange to hear a live performance before booking. Scrutinize the contract before signing to make sure all parties agree on the number of hours music will be provided and that everything that has been agreed to is in writing. Find out the cancellation and refund policy, too. At the end of the day a contract will clarify all parties roles and protect everyone involved.
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It is my recommendation that you order your Wedding Invitations at least four weeks prior to mailing them out to your guests.  This will allow you plenty of time to receive your Wedding Invitations and double check your order to make sure you have received everything you ordered and no mistakes were made.  It will allow you enough time for a reprint is needed.  It will also allow you plenty of time to address all the envelopes.

Wedding Invitations should be mailed out so that your guest will receive them at least  six to eight weeks prior to the Wedding.  This will allow your guest enough time to make travel plans and return the respond card you included with your Wedding Invitation.  Typically the respond by date should be two weeks prior to your wedding date.  This should allow you enough time to make your final preparations.

You will have many other things to take care of as your wedding approaches and the last thing you need is to have to rush to get your wedding invitations addressed and mailed out.  There will undoubtedly be last minute names to add and address changes to deal with so please allow yourself plenty of time to accomplish this task.
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The announcement of your engagement to your future life partner is the precursor to the wedding itself. For a person who is deeply in love, the importance of the engagement ring takes on a great significance as the engagement ring is a forbearer of sorts for the wedding ring. The engagement ring does not and should not be relegated to an inferior ring when compared with the wedding ring.

So when you are getting engaged, it is important for you to consider some tips on getting your best engagement ring.

What then is the best engagement ring?

Your engagement is a declaration to the whole world that you are a couple in love, and are making a public announcement that you are serious or going steady with a view to getting married shortly.

Most if not all couples getting engaged would like their engagement ring to represent such a beautiful declaration of love. Many take the engagement ring as the surety of commitment, and as long as the engagement ring is on their finger, they are keeping themselves solely for each other, and can appear as an "item".

In choosing their engagement ring, they would have to decide on the material they would want their engagement ring to be structured from. Some would like to have it in gold, with diamonds, or some in white gold or silver, but by and large, this would be decided based on the question of affordability.

An engagement ring can be of any precious metal with infilled gemstones, including jade or diamonds, but more important than that is the design of the ring. Connotations of love, symbols of enduring love can be designed on the ring. 

If the engagement ring is a pre-made or jeweller's designed engagement ring, then it is important to buy that engagement ring from reputable jewellers to avoid being overcharged by unscrupulous dealers who treat this as a once-off purchase, and so take the opportunity to jack up the price.

When you purchase your engagement ring from a reputable and honest jeweller, you can be sure of a realistic price as he will want to be your choice dealer when it comes to your actual wedding, and hopefully can be your family jeweller, and to supply all your jewellery needs in the future.

So when it comes to the engagement ring, first settle on the design, then settle on the expenditure, then make sure you purchase your engagement ring from the most reputable jewellery in town.

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One of the most challenging things about getting married is finding and hiring the wedding vendors.  However large or small their roles may be, they will have a significant impact in the overall outcome of your wedding day. Because of this, it is imperative to take your time and follow some very simple steps to ensure you are hiring quality and reputable wedding professionals that you can trust. As you will soon discover, there is really no shortage of wedding vendors in any given category. The goal is finding the professional that is right for you, not only with product, service and price, but with personality as well. The search for wedding day vendors can begin in a number of places. Knowing where to look and what to look for will assist you in your search. The following are suggestions as to where you may begin the search for your vendors.
Bridal Shows 
The greatest value in bridal shows is the opportunity to meet with a large number of wedding vendors and view many products at one time, in one location. There are many categories of vendors represented at the shows, making it an invaluable tool for doing research and for gathering wedding-related information. When you find vendors you particularly interested in, make a note of it and call soon after the show to book a personal one on one appointment. 
Ceremony and Reception Location 
The locations you select for your wedding day are quite familiar with particular vendors, and usually have a preferred vendor list. The vendors on this list have worked at that site many times before and are familiar with the logistics and rules of the location. 
Friends and Family 
You will usually get honest no nonsense answers and opinions regarding products and services when you ask married friends and family members (even co-workers) about their own weddings. Ask them about their vendors, the services they used, what they liked and didn’t like, would they hire them again, etc.? 
The Internet
The Internet is an easy access, easy to use, anytime resource. You can find a wealth of vendors on the web. Checking out a vendor’s web site can give you a good idea of pricing, packages, and type of work they do before making a personal appointment.
Local Bridal Magazines 
Using local wedding magazines and directories can at first seem overwhelming, as there are a large number of advertisements in these publications. You can, however, find excellent vendors in the magazines, but it will take some calling around to acquaint yourself with these vendors. 
Wedding Planners/Consultants 
Wedding consultants have several pre-established relationships with local vendors. If you are working with a consultant, she should be able to provide you with preferred vendor list. However, if you are not working with a consultant, you can still benefit from this knowledge, as most consultants will share their preferred vendor list with you for a fee. 
Conclusion 
Once you have made your final decisions, you must get a written contract. Call the vendor to confirm the details and ask for a contract to be sent to you. A contract is the best way of ensuring you and the vendor understand what is expected, as it should outline specifics such as dates, times, names, and types of services/products provided. It will also spell out payment plans, refund and cancellation policies. It behooves (I always wanted to use that in a sentence) you to read and understand the contract. Do not assume you have secured a vendor for your wedding day until you have a contract that is signed by you and the vendor. And finally remember, part of getting the most from a vendor’s service is also being a good client and providing the vendors with the payments and other requested information in a timely manner. 

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The question of who will get to take home the centrepiece can sometimes be a central discussion at reception dinner tables, particularly if the centrepiece is particularly pretty or original.

Making an Interactive game of who gets the centrepiece can be an amusing diversion and one many guests will enjoy participating in. Here are some ideas for giving away that reception table centrepiece :

How about a game of 20 questions? Give each guest a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. The MC or DJ asks a series of 20 questions, but first gives the guests the basic background information, that is, that the answer is an animal, place, person or thing. Once that’s taken care of, people can shout out questions and the MC or DJ will answer yes or no, and whoever figures out the answer first gets the first centerpiece, and that particular table is done playing. The game is repeated until one person at each table has won the centrepiece.

One of the most popular ways brides give away the table centrepiece is to put a number on the bottom of the centrepiece and give each guest a number. At some point in the evening, a number is called, each guest checks his or her number and whoever has the called number gets the centerpiece. There are many ways to put a twist on this traditional activity.

For example, you might provide each table with a number, but make it a lower number (ie. between 1 and 10) and theDJ or MC could move from table to table and have each guest do something a certain number of times. So, at the first table, for example, the guests might need to do “head, shoulders, knees and toes” six times and whoever does it first gets the centrepiece. Or, at the second table, the guests might be required to sing the alphabet 3 times or sing “twinkle, twinkle, little star” three times and whoever does that first get the centerpiece.

Another fun activity for divvying up the centrepieces is to require guests to produce a certain item. The DJ or MC moves from table to table, announcing what guests at that table will be required to produce in order to get the centrepiece. Maybe it’s a American quarter or a mint, or a doctor’s appointment card. Whatever it is, the guest at each table who produces the requested item will get the centrepiece.

You can always make it easy and offer the centrepiece to the oldest person at the table, or the one who took the most number of years to finish college. Perhaps you could create an activity where the person who has the strangest talent (as voted on by the tablemates) wins the centrepiece. Then, if possible, that person might show off the talent for the entire reception party.

If you like musical chairs, you can play a game of musical dollar bills in order to give the centrepiece away. Someone takes out a one-dollar bill and music begins playing. Everyone at the table passes the dollar bill around the table and when the music stops, whoever is left holding the bill gets the centrepiece. Or this game can be played a bit more traditionally with the person with the bill being eliminated, and the game continuing until only one person is holding the bill. That person can then be awarded with the centerpiece. Or, for a fun twist, the bill can be passed around and when the music stops, the person holding the bill is told to return it to the person who first supplied it. That is the person who gets the centrepiece.

Some fun, and fairly traditional, ideas include the birthday person getting the centrepiece. At each table, the person who has a birthday closest to the wedding gets the centrepiece. Or if there are married couples at the table, the couple who have been together the longest can get the centrepiece, or the couple who were married most recently. Perhaps the centrepiece should go to the person with the longest hair, or the strangest shoes (again, this would be voted on by tablemates).

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If you’re not used to public speaking, then making a wedding speech can be very daunting. With this in mind, I have prepared a few important tips to help you overcome your nerves and deliver a great wedding speech.

1. Remember these people are on your side. They aren’t secretly hoping you’ll mess things up. The reason you’re there giving a speech is because you are connected with the wedding couple and so are the audience. Bearing this in mind, you can rest assured that anything you say in your wedding speech will be listened to and respected fully. Also, people listening to speeches at weddings are wanting to laugh as this breaks the tension. So any vague attempt of a joke will get you a response.

2. Practice your wedding speech thoroughly. The more your practice, the less nervous you’ll feel on the actual day. Remember to practice the intonation of your voice and the pauses. By showing you’ve put effort into your preparation, any mistakes you may make on the day will be easily forgiven.

3. Learn your speech by heart. Whenever you have some spare time, in the car on the way to work, in the shower or wherever practice your speech. Repeat it over and over again as many times as you can before the big day. You will feel much calmer on the wedding day as you’ll know the whole speech inside out.

4. Remember to breathe. As simple as this sounds, it is often overlooked. Practice where you’ll take a breath in the speech, and learn to breathe correctly. Diaphragmatic breathing, as used by singers and public speakers, will help you here. If you’re unfamiliar with this, a quick search on Google will show you.

5. Think of a funny story before you stand up. Nothing so funny that you lose your focus, but something mildly titillating that will bring a smile to your face. This will loosen you up, and give a nice energy to your wedding speech that will improve the delivery immensely.

6. Have a banana 20 minutes before you make your speech. This tip is often used by professional public speakers, and helps the nerves of many people. It also gives a nice energy boost which also helps reduce your nerves.

7. Speak slowly and clearly. If you are nervous, you will feel the urge to speed up and your speech will become unclear. So try to consciously slow yourself down and speak clear so people can hear what you say.

8. Make eye contact with people in the audience so it feels like you're just chatting with everyone who is there.

9. Lastly, remember to simply enjoy yourself! Your life isn’t going to end if you make a few mistakes and the speech will be over in just a few minutes. Have fun!

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The day you get married is one of your most important days of your life. Some people tend to have a budget wedding to save their money. What is important to know is that a budget wedding does not mean a cheap wedding. It all depends on how smart you plan your budget wedding. There are many aspects that can the cut cost of your wedding. However, you should pay attention to certain aspects so that you don't sacrifice the quality of it.

Wedding Photography and/or Videography
A professional wedding photographer can charge you anywhere between $1000-$3000. You might think that you can just ask your friend or relative to take your wedding pictures. That's a No-No. Wedding pictures and videos are the only things that you can see or view to re-live your wedding moments in future. If you really need to cut your budget, try asking around from some photography clubs. There are some members out there who a hobbyist and wouldn't mind giving lower prices. One good practice is to pay them first to do your engagement or pre-wedding picture or video. If you're satisfied with the results then you can contract them again for your wedding day.

Wedding Venue
If you think that you could save money by having your wedding money in your house for free of charge, make sure that your house is comfortable enough for guests to gather around. You would like the guests to be comfortable enough to want to stay longer. In the end, how could the wedding reception be fun when guests are leaving early? Try to find good venue that match your theme. Some venues could have off-season and weekday wedding discount pricing.

Flowers
​Have you asked about prices for wedding ceremony flowers? You be might shocked at the pricing for that. Some flower vendors might give you cheaper pricing but be careful. Vendors might show you a great sample of flowers, and when it is time for your wedding day, he/she will arrange the flowers with some “less fresh” ones. You can always cut your cost here buy ordering the flowers that are in season. Or, you can have a garden wedding without adding costs to your flower budget.

DJ / Entertainment
The first complaint after wedding is usually about the food or poor entertainment . Do yourself a favour and don’t cut corners.Hire a professional entertainer. A professional disc jockey, band or entertainer doesn't have to be a full timer. There are many people who are experienced and do it at a part time basis. They may be able to give you the same level of service without sacrificing quality.

There are many other aspects to consider for your budget wedding. Overall, the important thing is to have proper planning for your budget wedding. You can cut cost up to 50% and still have a great wedding. 

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