Wedding Music, Wedding Videos, and Copyright Infringement Laws

Every industry is affected by the restraints of music copyright laws and the wedding industry is no exception. With the increase in enforcement of those that commit copyright infringement, wedding professionals including wedding videographers, wedding planners and anyone else choosing or using wedding music in their projects are not exempt from paying large fees for all wedding video music, music for wedding videos and any other music they need.

The ease of downloading all types of music, and particularly wedding music via the internet and through both illegal and legal file sharing programs has gone up exponentially as the availability of such programs has increased. Because of the increased availability of copyright protected music, large music providers such as BMI and ASCAP have begun to prosecute in cases where people have not paid appropriately for use of the wedding video music, background music and production music that professionals and other individuals use in their projects.

While it is impossible for large companies to prosecute all violators of copyright laws, many wedding video companies, both large and small have already found themselves paying exorbitant fees that total well over the amount they would have paid had they legally purchased the wedding music in the first place just to settle copyright infringement issues. Just because a video is not intended for public viewing does not make it non-infringing to use popular music as a background music or production music, and public performance is one of the reserved rights of the copyright owners.

Wedding professionals and videographers have a tall order to fill. Not only are they responsible for filming the ceremony, reception and all other aspects of the wedding day, but also they are responsible either for choosing music that compliments the spirit of the day, the couple's personalities and the high quality of the video through an appropriate and rich soundtrack of background music and production music. Weddings today vary much more than they used to; more couples are seeking wedding music and wedding video music that strays from the traditional and ranges from contemporary to cutting edge and progressive.

Regardless of the couple's preferences, wedding professionals must either choose fully representative wedding video music themselves from the huge amount available, or buy the rights to the music the couple asks for from a music provider. Unfortunately, the cost of paying royalties to large companies in order to use both traditional and contemporary original wedding music in videos, ceremonies and at receptions is extremely expensive. Wedding videographers and other individuals that handle many ceremonies, receptions and projects per month might expect to pay thousands of dollars per month in order to legally use popular wedding video music, music for wedding ceremonies and all other types of wedding music.

How to Choose the Right Wedding Band

You've heard the "4 Cs" of smart diamond buying. But what about the wedding band? Wedding bands are not the most expensive wedding purchase you will make, not like spending between $1,000-$10,000 on that beautiful sparkling diamond rock. You may not spend a lot of time researching the wedding band purchase, but many people end up wearing their wedding band more often and on a day to day basis compared to their engagement ring.

Make an informed decision when purchasing your wedding band.

o Do you prefer a traditional plain wedding band or a design wedding band?

o Do you want to budget in for a designer name brand or do you prefer to forgo the brand name and opt out for essentially the same ring without the "name", thereby significantly reducing costs?

o Pricing Your Wedding Band.

Plain Wedding Bands

You may want to consider a plain band if you prefer a simple design or are not a big "jewelry person". As a jeweler, I often get women shopping for their husbands wedding bands who are considering a plain band because their husband "does not like jewelry". I usually recommend a narrower plain wedding band, such as a white gold or yellow gold 4mm wide band. Although a wider 6mm, 7mm, or 8mm band is standard for most men, someone who does not wear a lot of jewelry may feel more comfortable in a narrow band. (Wedding bands are usually measured in millimeters. A 4mm band is approx. ¼" wide).

If someone is looking for something with a little more of a design, but still wants a simpler band, I may even steer them towards a more subtle design, such as a hammered wedding band. Hammered bands are still understated, but a little more exciting than a traditional plain band.

Design Band

There are many types of design wedding bands to choose from, such as braided wedding bands, hammered design bands, paisley bands, and other unique designs, such as a Celtic wedding band.

The type of design band wedding you choose is a personal choice. There is nothing scientific or practical in selecting a design wedding band other than primarily deciding what type of design you simply like.

The only practical considerations that you may want to make in selecting a wedding band with designs is in understanding that trends come and go and you will be wearing and looking at the design hopefully forever. The other consideration is in deciding whether you will wear your ring on a daily basis and what kind of wear and tear your ring can safely sustain. This usually depends on the type of work or career or regular hobbies.

Wedding Planning In The 21st Century

Wedding planning in the 21st century has changed immensely thanks to the world wide web. The Internet has made searching for wedding ideas, wedding themes, and wedding vendors a lot easier than it used to be. Personal wedding websites have also become a necessity in this day and age. There is no better way to communicate all the vital details to wedding guests, and entertaining family and friends prior to the big day.

Creating an incredible wedding website requires absolutely no programming or technical skills whatsoever. Anyone who can surf the Internet is able to create an awesome personal wedding web page using one of many wedding website builders. The user simply fills in forms with their information, and their data is driven into one of many beautiful wedding website design templates. It is 100% dummy proof!

Personal Wedding Websites are becoming a must have for couples getting married. There is so much information to circulate regarding the details of events, maps, suggested accommodations, and much more. A wedding web page makes all the important particulars available to everyone 24 hours a day worldwide. People can visit your wedding website at any time to find out any important information or just to catch up on what you've been up to the last few years.

Couples can post tons of images on their wedding web site before and after the Big Day. This is a great way for people to get to know the engaged couple and the wedding party before the wedding and relive the festivities for months after. The couple can also post stories about how they met, their favorite things to do, biographies, a quiz, poll, guest book, as well as Real Music and Video Clips on their wedding website.

No matter what your wedding theme is, there is a wedding website design to accommodate you. Wedding website builders have templates that include all of the seasons so that if you are having a winter wedding, you can choose a snowcapped wedding website designs. Getting married in the summer on a beach ? There are many beautiful ocean designs you can try. There are lots of flower motifs, and more formal templates as well. Best of all you can try any of them with a click of a button. Most wedding website builders allow for automatic switching between template designs.

A personal wedding website is an ideal way to make guests aware of the gift registries the couple has selected. It is standard Wedding Etiquette not to include information about the Gift Registry in the Wedding invitation. However it is perfectly acceptable to broadcast the wedding website address. This allows the couple to tactfully inform their friends and family where they are registered and allows them to easily buy gifts online.

Wedding websites also allow couples to plan their entire wedding and related events online. The user can send invitations by email and track all of the important information such as Invitations, RSVP's, Gifts, Thank You's, and more with the planning tools on their wedding website.

Personal wedding websites are the best way to share the events with those unable to attend the festivities. Friends and family worldwide who can't make it to the wedding but who have an interest in the couple are able to feel part of the event, even though they could not be there in person by visiting the wedding website.

Scottish Wedding Folklore & Traditions

Traditional Scottish Wedding

The origins of the traditional Scottish wedding:

Scotland always seems to do things in it's own way and style - and a Scottish wedding is no exception to the rule. In the 21st century, the Scottish wedding is an intricate blend of ancient highland tradition mixed in with modern, streamlined rites. Present day Scottish wedding traditions have their origins as far back as the 13th century. Back then the medieval Celtic church would proclaim the 'banns of marriage' for three successive Sundays. This practice of announcing a forthcoming marriage lasted for 600 years - until in the latter years of the 20th century it became standard to 'give notice of intent' to a registry office several weeks before the intended event.

Medieval Scottish wedding traditions:

It was normal practice in olden times for an entire village to get involved in the preparations for the 'big day'. People would line the streets to the church to cheer on the happy couple before they took their vows. In pre-reformation times, there is evidence that two Scottish wedding services would frequently take place. One in which the priest would address the party in Scots dialect and lead a ceremony outside the church. Whilst the more formal Latin mass and nuptial ceremony would take place inside.

The exchange of the rings has always been a main feature in Scottish wedding ceremonies from ancient times . A ring has no beginning and no end and as such symbolises the love within a marriage. The kissing of the bride follows on from this exchange of rings, and often leads to a cheer from the body of the kirk.

Following on from the formal church ceremony, a piper or group of pipers would frequently lead the entire group of guests down the streets, often to a relative's house, for a non-stop night of celebration, feasting and enjoyment. Local musicians led by pipers would get the dancing started and tradition has it that the first dance, normally a reel, would involve the newly wed couple. Following on from their efforts, the rest of the guests would then dance all the way into the sma' hours. In this respect, little has changed over 800 years - maybe apart from the dress code and the type of beer on tap.

When the wedding celebrations were over, the married couple would then leave to spend the night in their new home. The ancient tradition of carrying the bride over the dnorstep was linked to the superstition that evil spirits inhabit the thresholds of doors. Hence the bride is lifted over the thresholds - and into the wedding bed. In medieval times, a priest would often bless the house and bless the wedding bed at this time. Then for the first time, as man and wife, the newly weds would have some quality time on their own.

Other wedding rituals such as the Highland custom of 'creeling the bridegroom', involved the groom carrying a large creel or basket filled with stones from one end of a village to the other. He continued with this arduous task until such times as his bride to be would come out of her house and kiss him. Only if she did, would his friends allow him to escape from the 'creeling' otherwise he had to continue until he had completed the circuit of the town.

Modern Scottish Wedding Traditions:

In more modern times, a lot of the superstition and rituals have been replaced by more showpiece proceedings. However, many of today's traditions still hark back to the past.

The bagpipes can be used to add atmosphere and grandeur to a wedding. The piper, in full Highland dress, stands at the church door and plays as the guests arrive. Later he leads the couple from the church to the car. The piping traditions continue, the married couple are frequently piped to the top table of honour along with the bridal party. With the cutting of the cake, again a piper is often asked to perform and a dirk, 'sharp highland dagger', is traditionally handed over by the piper to start the 'cutting of the cake'. As the bride slices the first piece of cake, custom dictates that her hand is guided by that of her new husband.

The bride's 'show of presents' originates from the tradition of the 'bridal shower', where local female villagers would gift items that would help a young couple get started successfully in their own home. Nowadays, this often takes place in the home of the mother of the bride and the gifts have a touch more luxury than those in older times.

A bridegroom's stag night, likewise has ancient roots. The young man accompanied by his friends takes to the town and downs a fountain of beverages. One tradition has it that in smaller towns the groom to be would be stripped of his clothes and left in the street outside his home - or worse still tied to a lamp post! The good news is that he wouldn't realise what had happened till the next morning.

The wedding ring, until the late 20th century tended to be for the bride and not the groom. In later decades both bride and groom now wear rings for the most part. The traditional Scottish gold wedding band dates back to the 1500's. This style of ring is still popular as a wedding ring today - as also are Celtic knot work designed engagement and wedding rings.

Traditions in Scotland Before the Wedding Ceremony:

Often before a Scottish bride is married, her mother holds an open house for a traditional "show of presents." Invitations are sent to those who gave wedding gifts to the couple and the wedding gifts are unwrapped and set out for viewing. After the show of presents the bride-to-be is often dressed up and her friends escort her through her town, singing and banging pots and pans, heralding the bride's wedding day. This tradition has evolved into the legendary 'hen night'.

The groom, meanwhile, is taken out for a stag night on one of the evenings preceding the wedding. The Stag Night is meant to be a celebration of the last night of freedom, and a way of reassuring friends that being married doesn't mean that they are shut out of your life. The groom, like the bride, is dressed up and taken around town by his friends and work mates. There is often a great deal of harmless practical joking, of which the poor groom is the main target. When the night winds down, the groom is sometimes stripped of his clothes and covered in soot, treacle and feathers and left overnight tied to a tree or post. In some rural areas an open lorry is hired and the groom is paraded through his local area with much noise and celebration.

Traditional Scottish Wedding Dress:

There is little doubt that traditional Scottish outfits add a touch of class and splendour to the wedding day and its associated ceremonies. The use of highland dress and the kilt, jacket, dirk and sporran in Scottish weddings has continued over the centuries. Whilst the bride's white gown and veil has its roots in more modern times. A Scottish bride will usually wear a traditional white or cream wedding gown. The groom's party and her father may come to the wedding resplendent in full Highland dress in the traditional clan tartan of their clans. She might wear a horseshoe on her arm for good luck, or a pageboy might deliver one to her as she arrives at the ceremony. Bridesmaids may wear whatever the bride has chosen to match her dress and it may include a little tartan accessory. Bouquets may include tartan ribbons or bows.

A gent's highland wedding outfit in its entirety consists of the following:

Bonnie Prince Charlie jacket and waistcoat, kilt, tartan flashes to match kilt, white hose, gillie brogues, kilt pin, sgian dubh, black belt with buckle, formal sporran with chain strap, wing collar shirt, black or coloured bow tie, and a piece of lucky heather on the lapel. He also has the option of wearing a fly plaid, which is anchored under the paulette on the shoulder of the jacket and secured by a large plaid brooch, (Cairngorm).

For the bride 'something old .... something new' -

For the bride a universal custom is the 'something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue' - of course the 'something new' can be the bride's dress! The 'something new' at the wedding can become the 'something old' or 'something borrowed' at the next generation' s weddings. The bride sometimes wears a blue garter (symbolizing love) which plays a part later at the wedding reception. It was also traditional in some areas for the bride to put a small silver coin in her shoe to bring her good luck.

Cheap Wedding Favors

Wedding favors are small gifts given as a gesture of appreciation or gratitude to guests from the bride and groom during a wedding ceremony or a wedding reception.

The tradition of distributing wedding favors is a very old one. It is believed that the first wedding favor, common amongst European aristocrats, was known as a bonbonniere. A bonbonniere is a small trinket box made of crystal, porcelain, and/or precious stones. The contents of these precious boxes were generally sugar cubes or delicate confections, which symbolize wealth and royalty. (In this era, sugar was an expensive commodity and was treasured only among the wealthy. It was believed that sugar contained medical benefits). As the price of sugar decreased throughout centuries, the tradition of providing gifts to guests reached the general populace and was embraced by couples of modest means.

As sugar became more affordable, bonbonnieres were replaced among the modest with almonds. For centuries, almonds were commonly distributed to wedding guests to signify well wishes on the bridegroom's new life. In the thirteenth century, almonds coated with sugar, known as confetti, were introduced. Confetti soon transformed to Jordan almonds, which later evolved into the signature wedding favor for modern day weddings. Traditionally, five Jordan almonds are presented in a confection box or wrapped in elegant fabric to represent fertility, longevity, wealth, health and happiness. The bitterness of the almond and the sweetness of the coated candy exemplify the bitter sweetness of a marriage.

Wedding Videography in the Digital Age

What's the state of the wedding videography industry today? To find out, we talked with working wedding videographers, found industry statistics and fleshed out what is undoubtedly a flourishing business in a growing market. Although some might wonder if amateurs are moving in on the pros because of lower-cost gear and easier-to-use software, our consensus of wedding shooters and editors say that isn't so. We also took a look at the tools wedding videographers are using, and found out how the best wedding videographers are using the Web to open up new avenues of business for their bustling enterprises.

To get an idea of the size of the wedding videography market, first let's take a look at statistics that reveal the enormous amount of money spent on weddings in the United States. According to the American Wedding Study by Conde Nast's Bridal Infobank, in the last ten years spending on an average wedding has exploded by 50%, to an average of $22,360 per wedding this year, up from $15,208 in 1994. And, according to Richard Markel, President of the Association for Wedding Professionals International, of the $65 billion spent on weddings each year, "6% of the budget would be for video." Markel added, "But using the 6% of the estimated $65 billion spent will equate out to $390 million." This signals a wide-open market for wedding videography professionals. Markel continued, "We just had a show here in Sacramento and several of our videographers booked business with an average ticket price of $2,500."

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Looking at those stats, wedding videography appears to be a growth industry. Let's do the math for a moment. Consider an experienced videographer , charging $2500 for an average wedding, shooting one wedding per week. In a year, that person has earned $130,000. But that would be a very hard-working videographer -- most of the videographers we talked to said they spent up to 40 hours editing each wedding video, meaning a weekly shoot would constitute nearly-constant travail with hardly any time off.

One great success story would be that of high-end videographer Kris Malandruccolo, whose company Elegant Videos by Kris has been operating in the Chicago area for the past 16 years. Her business can command as much as $5000 for a wedding video package, and regularly signs contracts for $3000 weddings. But the mother of three doesn't want to work all the time, so she limits herself. "Someone else could shoot four or five per month. But I average two or three weddings a month," she told Digital Media Net.

According to Luisa Winters, an award-winning videographer and editor who has her own wedding videography business, Unforgettable Events, most wedding videographers charge under $2000 for their services -- with higher-end wedding video companies charging as much as $15,000-$20,000. "I do not consider anyone a true professional unless they are able to make enough money to support themselves with this business," Winters told Digital Media Net. "Anything else is a side business. Supporting a family means different things depending on what part of the country you are located. If you are in a less expensive location, then less income will suffice -- and you are still professional," Winters added.

Wedding Planning: Tips for Choosing Online Wedding Vendors

If you're looking to the internet for help with your wedding plans, you're sure to benefit from the wealth of organizational and comprehensive wedding tips, ideas, tools and resources available right at your fingertips! The internet is packed with useful websites, as well as online stores offering every wedding product and service imaginable. You'll find everything from wedding invitations, wedding keepsakes and wedding favors to online bridal gift registries, travel agencies for destination weddings and honeymoons, wedding consulting services and much more. To ensure that you can recognize and hire or purchase from qualified wedding vendors, the key is to be aware of a few general guidelines.

First, it's important to understand the two basic kinds of online wedding vendors with whom you may choose to do business with.

Wedding Vendor Type 1) An actual, physical storefront who opts to have a website to further broaden their customer base and supplement their offline business.

+ Possible benefits of this type of wedding vendor: This is a wonderful opportunity for you, as you may familiarize yourself with the wedding vendor's offerings via their website and then choose to drop by their store to have a look around and complete your purchase in person. Or you may do this vice-versa - have a look around their store and then go online to make your purchase. This is a very flexible consumer environment for you, as there can be multiple sources of contact and convenient ways to browse! You can also get a personal feel for the type and level of service you may expect from the wedding vendor and their staff.

- Possible drawbacks to this type of wedding vendor: Though not true or hard to measure in many cases, the wedding vendor with a physical storefront does have the potential to be more expensive. And though the storefront exists, it may not be within reasonable driving distance for you to visit in person and explore.

Want To Know More About Wedding Planners?

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel and Bookpleasures is pleased to have as a guest Judy Allen. Judy is the author of Your Stress Free Wedding Planner (Sourcebooks, Inc.), as well as five professional books on event planning (John Wiley and Sons).

Judy has created-produced-orchestrated special events in over 30 countries for up to 

2,000 guests.

Good day Judy and thank you for agreeing to our interview.

Norm:

Judy, could you tell us something about yourself and how you became involved in wedding planning?

Judy:

I started out in travel and managing one of the highest producing offices for a national chain. As part of my office's growth, I developed corporate business, which evolved into handling all of their corporate events such as incentives, conferences, conventions, product launches and social corporate branding events. 

Subsequently, I joined one of the leading incentive houses to design custom one- of- a kind events around the world for corporate clients.

Over ten years ago, I opened my own special events company. As a result, I have created-produced-orchestrated corporate and social special events around the world for over fifteen years, including the gala theatrical opening for Disney's Beauty and the Beast and the co-ordination of Oscar winning director Norman Jewison's 25th Anniversary Celebration of Fiddler on the Roof.

In addition, I am also the author of five best-selling professional books on event planning that are being used around the world by industry and business professionals, and as teaching tools by Universities and Colleges.

The foreign rights for my second book, The Business of Event Planning, have been sold to China and Russia, and Harvard has deemed my third book, Event Planning Ethics and Etiquette, a "must read" for event planning and small business professionals.

The event planning series of books came about as a result of my being called "to run and rescue" non-profit gala events days before an event was scheduled to take place.

I noticed that many charitable organisations were clueless as to what to be aware of and wary of when planning events. I found this most disturbing.

The same situation occurred with wedding planning. Clients or their friends began to consult with me regarding their personal wedding plan needs. I kept hearing from them as to how stressful they found the process to be- the hidden costs and surprises they kept encountering along the way. Because of the direction I am taking my company, I do limit the number of weddings that I personally become involved in.

I wrote Your Stress Free Wedding Planner as a means to provide couples with what they need to know from a design, budget, implementation (logistics) and orchestration perspective - not etiquette - when they go to plan their wedding. I wanted to give them a wedding planning tool that would held them enjoy the process, lessen the stress and show them how to create a wedding day that is meaningful, memorable and magical.

Wedding Loans in the UK - Saving Future from the Present Wedding Expenses

It is wrong if you thought that typical British weddings are starving of novel ideas. In fact, there is a glut of ideas, and each idea sounds as enthralling as the previous ones. The only glitch then is of finance. Had weddings been the be-all and end-all of life, not an iota of concern would have been put on the expenses. It isn't though. Wedding marks the onset of a new life for the married couple. Rash expenses at this stage of life are only going to make things worse in the future.

However, it is difficult to stop oneself from spending on a momentous occasion as wedding. Perceiving the difficulty that borrowers face in arranging finance for weddings, loan providers in the UK have now come up with wedding loans. A wedding loan is a specialised loan service that aims to cater to the borrowers who need finance for organising weddings or meeting payments of a wedding already held.

Wouldn't it be easier had the entire cost of wedding been broken into a number of parts and repayable in small instalments? A wedding loan intends to do this with the expenses incurred during weddings, and thus ease the burden on the borrower.

The following section lists down a few "must dos" for couples who intend to use wedding loans to say, "I do".

* Failing to plan is planning to fail

You would not want your wedding to go awry because of a shortage of funds. Planning ensures that there is enough to expend on weddings. Adequate consideration must be given to planning the budget of the wedding. The planning process may be fun, but the results obviously are unprecedented. The various concerned people sit together and decide the various costs that are incurred. In addition, a priority table is prepared so that a less important expenditure can be postponed or omitted altogether. With the changing times, the couple themselves finance the wedding. Nevertheless, it will be prudent to consult the elderly for a proper understanding of the expenses that are commonly incurred on such occasions. A proper planning for wedding budget must have in built flexibilities to provide for contingencies as and when they crop up.

Wedding Planning: Benefits of Online Wedding RSVPs

Want to manage your wedding guests with style and ease? Forget about multiple checklists and trying to decipher the illegible handwriting sent in by your wedding guests. The days of sorting through scattered mail-back response cards and calculating, then recalculating your guest counts are gone. Thanks to the internet, there's a better way to approach the entire RSVP process for your wedding!

Online wedding RSVPs, one of the most recent developments in the wedding industry, have skyrocketed in popularity among brides and grooms looking to efficiently handle their guest list. Receiving RSVPs online is an inexpensive way to stay organized and have a bit of fun with the helpful extras that some online RSVP systems offer.

So how can you have your own wedding RSVPs online? It's very easy! There are a few free sites offering a basic RSVP service, or you can purchase a complete personal wedding website which will, among other things, give you the capability to have your wedding RSVPs set up and online in minutes. Other brides and grooms simply choose to include an email address, however, the advantages of a full service wedding RSVP system can be numerous and well worth the small fee.

Features to look for with Online Wedding RSVPs:

(Note: Prior to ordering, check with your wedding RSVP service provider to confirm that any options of interest to you are available.)

1) Multiple Events - Collect online RSVPs for any multiple events surrounding your wedding, such as RSVPs for: bridal showers, engagement parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinner and gift openings.

2) Print Capabilities - Create and print custom lists of RSVPs and corresponding information to hand out to your wedding planner, bridal party members and caterer.

3) Downloadable Capabilities - Download all RSVPs to a convenient spreadsheet format. Flexible to suit the format you want!

4) Live, Real-Time Data - No waiting! Receive all RSVPs the second they are submitted by your wedding guests. You will enjoy the fast turnaround that is only possible through the internet. In fact, you may even begin to collect RSVPs the same day your wedding guests receive your wedding invitations in the mail!

5) 24/7 Access to all Reports - Online wedding RSVPs work to your schedule and may be received and viewed at any time of day or night, seven days a week. You can even receive RSVPs on the weekend...yet another perk of the online RSVP method versus the postal route!

6) Share and Collect Additional Information - Customize your online wedding RSVP form to collect more than "accept" or "decline" responses from your wedding guests. If your wedding calls for it, customize your RSVP form to collect child care bookings, hotel preferences and more. Or you may choose to share certain information in conjunction with your RSVP form, such as gift registry information, allergy alerts and more.

To Be Mr. and Mrs. Sometimes You Need Wedding Loans

The conception of wedding has changed over the years. Its conception, its configuration, the way it is planned - all have changed through the past times. You can see it since you are planning your wedding or your child's wedding. Wedding has been planned in your room, your mind, your house, your in-laws house. Every wall, every floor, everywhere you walk, your wedding is being planned. It is on your mind and finances come invariably into focus while the planning is going on. They are like the slight tap on your head that is constant and irksome and yet wanting to tell you something that is so essential. How do you stop that? You want to stop that! It can be stopped through - Wedding personal loans.

Around 2.5 millions weddings take place every year in U.K. an average budget on a wedding is estimated to be £ 20,000. Well that kind of money is not easy to accumulate. With 70% of the couples paying for their own wedding, it is not surprising that you are looking for a wedding loan. A wedding personal loan will provide your wedding plan with the solid foundation that it requires.

Finances are undoubtedly the root cause of disagreement between most of the couples. Planning and that too thoughtful planning are integral while taking a personal loan for wedding. Finding a low cost wedding loan can be sometimes an uphill struggle. It is, however, very important to know what you are getting into before taking a wedding loan. It is important to understand that every loan needs to be paid back. Wedding personal loans can be a very effective instrument provided you pick it up carefully like your best man or your wedding dress.

Wedding loan types are flooded with variety making it possible for every person to get a wedding loan. Personal loans for wedding will impart you the freedom to use the loan in whichever fashion you want. Loan lenders who provide personal loans are not much concerned with the way you use the loan amount, all they are concerned with is the repayment. You can pay for your reception, hotel, honeymoon, wedding photography, wedding cars etc. with wedding personal loans.

The Wedding Dress Revealed

Fashion Trends and Popular Styles and Colors

The Wedding Dress - How did it all begin?

Did you ever wonder how the tradition of wearing a wedding dress came about? Wedding dresses have been worn by brides young and old alike for centuries. In modern times almost anything passes for a wedding dress however, in times of old, traditional wedding dresses were flowing gowns usually white in color.

White is usually accepted as the "traditional" color of gowns, and many designer wedding gowns are still fashioned in this color, representing the "purity" and "innocence" of the bride to be. Many women opt for other colors, including blue, pink, cream, yellow and more.

Wedding dresses have changed with time much as everything in the world has. In times of old most women selected a gown based on her financial status. Women who were at an economic disadvantage usually did not have the luxury of selecting an extraordinary gown that would be worn only once. Rather, most selected something more "plain" that could be worn for church services and other occasions after their blessed day.

Wedding gowns of varying styles and colors were popular among the elite, and by and large represented the unique style and personality of the bride to be, as well as modern trends at the time.

Popular Colors

An old poem states about the color of a wedding dress that "Married in white, you will have chosen all right." This is not to say that all brides historically have chosen white for their wedding gown. In fact, many brides chose colors including blue, pearl and even black. Many brides believed that if they wore blue their husbands would remain true to them (also a famous line in the wedding poem). Pink was even a popular wedding gown color for a time, though its darker variant, red was often considered taboo because it was associated with "scarlet women".

Many women who did not have a large budget to spend on a wedding dress in times of old opted for fashions that could be worn any day, rather than solely on their wedding day. For their wedding day, they would dress up their gown with accessories and flowers, even bows that could be removed after the festivities.

Wedding Gown Fashion

In the United States for a short spell the color white fell out of favor, but around the time of the Industrial Revolution, when the department store made it possible for a bride with any budget to purchase the gown of her dreams, white once again became the fashion. The style worn by women has changed through time.

Wedding dresses fashioned during the Roaring twenties were very different from those that came about in the thirties. In the twenties, women sought out gowns that de-emphasized their shape, in line with the style of the flappers that was trendy at the time.

During the 30's most women emphasized their shape and wore gowns that highlighted their waists and bosoms. Perhaps the most interesting period of time for the wedding gown was during the 1980s, when big puffy sleeves and extravagant skirts were worn by a majority of women. These gowns, while well suited for trim and petite women, often were not the most flattering choice for the average size woman. Despite this, gowns did not trim down again until the mid to late 1990s.

Wedding Gown Fashion Today

As mentioned at the start, almost anything passes for a wedding dress today. More and more women are buying a wedding dress online, because of the wide variety and selection of unique and custom made gowns available.

Informal wedding dresses, designer wedding dresses and even discount wedding dresses can all be found online thanks to modern technology. More popular than even designer wedding dresses are discount bridal gowns online. Most brides to be can purchase extravagant looking, custom made gowns for a fraction of the cost they would find them in a department store.

Another benefit of buying a wedding dress online is convenience. With so many things to plan for a wedding (location, cake, reception, flowers, invitations, rehearsal dinner etc.etc) most women appreciate having a handy resource for buying their wedding dress. Most women also find a wider selection of sizes and custom features available when they shop online vs. when they shop in a traditional store.

Trends

Trends have changed when it comes to modern wedding attire. No longer do all brides seek out a traditional white gown for their special occasion. In fact, there is a huge selection of vintage and informal wedding dresses available, many of which don't even look like official wedding gowns.

Most dresses today focus on the unique personality of the bride rather than socially accepted "norms" when it comes to buying a wedding dress. In general many brides are looking for wedding gowns that are narrower than they have been in times of old, and those that offer clean silhouettes. These types of dresses usually lengthen the body and provide a slimming effect. Some more popular trends include the following:

• A-line dresses that are long and slimming
• Sheaths with trains built into the silhouette, so that it trails behind the bride
• Bias-cut wedding gowns that follow the natural curves of the body, ending in a small flare at the bottom
• Raised waistline ball-gown styles
• Square necklines that provide a fresh open look
• Off the shoulder dresses providing a full neckline
• Sleeveless or cap sleeve gowns which are especially popular for summer brides
• Empire waists which elongate the figure and shift the focus upward

Trends are also apparent with regard to fabrics. Satin and silk gowns have long been popular, though sheer fabrics are also becoming more trendy, including chiffon and organzas. Embroidery is also replacing lace for many modern gowns, and some brides are opting to accent their dresses with pearls and other quality beads.

Wedding Flowers -- Determining What You Need

Wedding flowers make up a large part of the wedding decoration. When you talk about wedding flowers, you don't mean the flowers for the wedding reception only. Wedding flowers also include the bride's bouquet, corsages, attendants' flowers and all the other flowers you need throughout the wedding ceremony.

Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding what wedding flowers you need. 

• Bride's bouquet: The most talked about wedding flowers in the whole ceremony. This one has to match your dress and other accessories so decide accordingly. Also, if you intend to preserve your wedding bouquet, then ask the florist for a smaller or similar version of the original wedding bouquet. You can use this for the tossing.
• Floral hairpieces: If you intend to wear flowers in your hair instead of a wedding veil, place an order with the florist well in advance. You may even want to try out the hairstyle a week before the wedding.
• Attendants' flowers: It is the bride's duty to coordinate the wedding flowers for the attendants. The maid of honor and the bridesmaids generally carry bouquets that complement the wedding bouquet.
• Flower girl: As the name suggests, wedding flowers are very much required for the youngest member of the wedding party. You can have the flower girl carry a basket full of rose petals, a nosegay or a simple floral and ribbon wreath.
• Corsages: It is wedding tradition to present wedding flowers to the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom in the form of corsages. The corsages can match the wedding bouquet, the wedding decoration or the dresses worn by the women in the wedding party. Make sure you ask beforehand whether the women would like corsages to be pinned to their dresses or purses or to wear on their wrist.
• Boutonnieres: The groom's boutonniere almost always matches the wedding bouquet. The best man, groomsmen and ushers also wear boutonnieres, but different from the groom. The fathers and grandfathers of the groom and bride receive boutonnieres as well.
• Ceremony wedding flowers: You will need to check with the coordinator at the ceremony site before you place any orders for wedding flowers for the ceremony. You generally have the option of decorating the beginning of the pews, the aisle and the arches with wedding flowers. You may also want wedding flowers at the guest book table. A beautiful tradition is to pass around rose petals to all the guests to toss at the bride and groom when they are finally introduced as man and wife.
• Reception wedding flowers: Wedding flowers to be used as part of the wedding decoration for your reception will be determined entirely by the theme of your wedding reception. In general, it is common to have some kind of wedding flowers at each table. The buffet table also needs to be decorated with wedding flowers. One way to cost cut on wedding flowers is to use the attendants' bouquets to decorate the cake table.

As beautiful as flowers make the occasion, remember to order only as many wedding flowers as you can afford. Also, a great way to share your joy with others is to arrange to have the wedding flowers sent to an orphanage or old age home the day after your wedding. Not only will this bring a smile to the faces of those who receive them, it will bring a big smile to you knowing you passed on your joy to others.

Wedding Dresses - How to Buy Dreamy Wedding Gowns Online

Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search.

First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you.

Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests -- and, of course, your husband-to-be.

By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps.

Here are some general guidelines:

In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves.

In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired.

In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color -- short or long -- or even a suit.

What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme!

Wedding Loans Because Wedding May Be Made In Heaven But They Are Certainly Not Made For Free

Wedding loans because wedding may be made in heaven but they are certainly not made for free.

The one day that encompasses the glamour, the thrill, the dreams, the nervousness, the apprehension, the happiness and the most profound feelings of your life is the wedding day. Everything is special from the wedding dress to the wine, to the tiny flowers hanging on the doorway of the church you choose with special care for your wedding day. So, if everything is so special wouldn't you want to pick the best? The answer is definitely yes. At least the brides-to-be are saying yes. But reality bites and you think what about the expenses. 'Expenses' and now the grooms reading this are saying, now you are talking. How do we deal with that? Simple get a wedding loan.

Now, it can't be that simple, am I joking or what? No, I am not joking, I know wedding is a serious event in one's life. We want to handle wedding with care and wedding loans facilitate us to do exactly that. Wedding loans have been processed so that all the couples can make that all necessary expenses without thinking whether you have the funds or not.

We all know that weddings are not for free. Seventy percent of the couples are paying for their own wedding. Twenty five percent of them are applying for a loan to finance their wedding. More and more loan lending companies across UK are coming forward to help people who are planning their wedding. Wedding loans through finance companies enable to make that all important day more memorable.

Taking a loan makes most of the couples worried about the question of repayment. Most of the people don't want to start their married life with debt. With so many wedding loan types, it is a shame if we don't choose a loan that is nothing but the best. UK homeowners can take secured wedding loans. Take advantage on the equity on your home and obtain the wedding loan you require on the terms and rate of interest you want. Secured loans attract lower rate of interest and the loan lenders provide repayment options that you have fancied.

Loan companies have various finance plans to pay for expensive things like reception, hotel, honeymoon, wedding photography, wedding cars. There are several loan products even for parents of brides and bridegrooms, who want to finance the wedding of their children. Make it the wedding of their dreams by taking wedding loans against your property or home. Compare rates online to get flexible plans that satisfy your financial needs and also are in accordance to your repayment needs.

Wedding Themes to Make Your Big Day Special

Wedding themes are used by more and more couples to turn their big day into an event that is both meaningful to them and enjoyable for their guests. You can always stick with wedding themes that are simple and elegant or go all out and do something that's never been done before to make your wedding truly special. Remember that a wedding is an important occasion for both the bride and the groom, and a wedding theme needs to reflect that. Take the time to sit down with your partner to explore possible wedding theme ideas that will make you both happy. Consider the mood and atmosphere you want to set for your wedding. Would you like it to be very traditional or fun and quirky? Sophisticated or relaxed? Then go a little deeper and think about your personal style, personality and interests. When you figure out a general direction for coming up with a theme, the ideas will come to you naturally. Take a look at some wedding themes below and the areas of your ceremony and reception that can be influenced by the theme you choose.

Time Period

Medieval - The perfect setting for this theme would be in historical churches or castles. The use of calligraphy is a great way to distinguish this time period. Decorations with a gothic feel and deep rich colors such as blue and purple work best.

Victorian - The ideal ceremony location for this theme is a Victorian style mansion or a garden with a beautiful gazebo, and there is nothing more fitting for the reception than having it in a grand ballroom. Lace can be used to adorn not only the bride's dress, but also the table setting and other elements for décor. Go with light colors in white, off white and pastels, and do not forget to add tea to the menu.

Tips to Avoid the 3 Most Common Wedding Photography Pitfalls

When a person is about to get married or have their engagement photos taken, they generally have expectations of their wedding photographer. We all have expectations and that's ok. The issue is does your photographer know what you want, what you like and how to get it to you? Doesn't that sound like a relationship? It is. You have to develop a trusting relationship with your wedding photographer so that you can get exactly what you want - great engagement and wedding pictures. Just like most relationships, communication is one of the key elements to getting the great wedding photos you've dreamed about. Using these wedding photography tips will help you avoid the 3 most common wedding photography pitfalls.

Did You Clearly Define Your Wedding Photography Goals? Your wedding photographer needs to know exactly what you want and what will make you happy. That's right, it's important for you to clearly spell out what you want in your wedding photography. This is your dream wedding day and you need to make sure that the photographer knows exactly what you want. Are you interested in tons of formals or are you more interested in creative bridal images? Do you want engagement pictures or do you just want to focus on your wedding images?

One of the best ways to show your wedding photographer what you want is by using examples. I know you've heard it before, but it's true. A picture is worth a thousand words and surfing the web is free. Spend some time looking at wedding photography and decide on a style that you like. Once you find it, you can easily send the photographer an email with links to the images you want him to review. After that, make sure you explain why you like those particular images so the photographer can duplicate the style in your wedding photos.

Step By Step Wedding Planning Guide

%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0ASome+might+say+that+one%27s+wedding+day+is+the+most+important+day+of+their+lives.+It+is+a+union+that+is+only+surpassed+by+the+birth+of+one%27s+children.+The+key+to+a+happy+and+well+organized+wedding+is+preparation+and+organization.+That+is+the+goal+of+this+step+by+step+wedding+planning+guide.+Some+may+think+that+all+the+hype+about+wedding+planning+is+just+overplay%3B+however+that+is+not+the+case.+Planning+your+wedding+can+be+one+of+the+most+complicated+things+to+do%3B+especially+if+you+don%27t+prepare+yourself+for+the+long+list+of+things+that+need+to+be+done.+This+quick+little+wedding+checklist+should+help+you+get+all+aspects+of+your+wedding+moving+in+the+right+direction.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3Cstrong%3EStep+By+Step+Wedding+Planning+Guide-+The+Breakdown%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0ALet%27s+break+down+planning+your+wedding+into+3+sections.+First+we+will+talk+about+the+budget%2C+location%2C+guest+list+and+theme+for+the+wedding.+Once+we+have+a+direction+on+the+where%3B+we+will+move+to+the+when.+Those+are+the+first+and+foremost+things+that+need+to+be+considered+and+decided+before+any+further+steps+are+taken.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0AThen+we+will+move+over+to+all+the+booking+and+reservations+that+are+involved+with+wedding+planning.+This+would+include+aspects+like+catering%2C+the+band+and+the+photographer.+The+last+thing+that+we+will+cover+in+this+wedding+checklist+will+be+the+maid+of+honor+and+the+bridesmaids%3B+the+best+man+and+the+groomsmen%3B+the+ushers%2C+the+ring+bearer+and+the+flower+girls.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3Cstrong%3EStep+By+Step+Wedding+Planning+Guide-+Section+One%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0AThe+first+thing+to+consider+when+you+begin+planning+your+wedding+is+the+budget.+This+is+usually+a+touchy+subject%3B+as+it+is+traditionally+the+parents+of+the+bride+who+will+foot+the+bill.+However%3B+now+that+we+have+entered+the+21st+century%3B+just+like+many+other+common+traditions%3B+the+parents+are+no+longer+expected+to+carry+all+of+the+financial+weight.+The+funds+can+come+from+anywhere%3B+but+the+most+important+thing+is+getting+a+realistic+estimate+of+what+you+will+have+to+spend.+Once+you+know+how+much+you+can+spend%3B+you+know+how+much+you+can+afford.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0AThe+next+thing+on+the+wedding+checklist+in+this+step+by+step+wedding+planning+guide+is+the+guest+list.+Many+think+that+this+is+the+hardest+part+of+wedding+planning+because+it+has+to+be+based+around+the+budget.+Deciding+how+many+are+going+to+be+on+your+guest+list+does+take+presentence%2C+to+most+people%2C+nver+the+location+and+theme.+This+is+because+of+how+special+this+day+is.+It+all+revolves+around+how+many+close+friends+and+family+members+you+want+to+share+your+special+day+with.+Some+may+want+to+decide+the+location%2C+theme+and+guest+list+all+at+once%3B+as+these+will+be+the+major+contributors+to+the+overall+expense.+Either+way%3B+the+guest+list+is+a+crucial+factor+when+considering+the+realistic+budget+you+have+to+divvy+up+for+the+other+aspects+of+your+wedding.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3C%21--more--%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0ANow+the+wedding+checklist+comes+to+the+location+and+theme.+The+further+ahead+that+you+book+the+place+in+which+you+want+to+have+the+wedding+ceremony%3B+the+cheaper+it+will+be.+Some+people+are+very+traditional+and+want+to+be+married+in+a+church%3B+but+for+those+who+want+to+choose+another+special+place%3B+there+are+many+alternate+locations+to+consider+when+planning+your+wedding.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0AHere+are+some+ideas+for+planning+your+wedding+location%3A%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cul+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+margin%3A+0px+0px+1em+2em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3Cli+style%3D%22line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin%3A+0px%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3EThe+Park%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A%3Cli+style%3D%22line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin%3A+0px%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3EThe+Beach%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A%3Cli+style%3D%22line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin%3A+0px%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3EA+Place+of+Historical+Significance%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A%3Cli+style%3D%22line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin%3A+0px%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3EA+Place+of+Personal+Significance%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A%3Cli+style%3D%22line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin%3A+0px%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3EAt+A+Family+or+Friends+Home%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A%3Cli+style%3D%22line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin%3A+0px%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3EOverseas%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0AOnce+you+have+decided+on+the+location%3B+the+theme+is+next+on+the+wedding+checklist.+The+theme+and+location+sometimes+go+hand+in+hand.+For+example%3B+if+you+choose+to+have+a+beach+wedding%3B+then+the+theme+will+most+likely+be+based+around+a+luau+of+some+sort.+After+choosing+a+theme+to+match+your+budget%2C+location+and+guest+list%3B+you+can+move+onto+the+more+intricate+pieces+of+planning+your+wedding%3B+like+the+actual+reservations+and+bookings.+%28See+section+two+of+this+step+by+step+wedding+planning+guide%29%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0AThe+final+aspect+covered+in+this+wedding+planning+section+is+all+about+the+when.+Ask+yourself%3A+When+do+I+want+to+have+my+wedding%3F+There+are+12+months+every+year.+Some+are+warm%3B+some+are+cool%3B+some+are+hot%3B+some+are+cold.+You+may+want+to+choose+a+special+time+of+year+that+is+significant+to+you+both+when+planning+your+wedding+date.+This+could+be+a+reminder+of+when+you+met%2C+based+around+a+special+holiday+that+you+shared%2C+or+just+simply+your+favorite+time+of+the+year.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0APeople+come+in+all+different+likes+and+dislikes%3B+meaning+the+groom+may+want+to+have+the+wedding+in+the+dead+of+winter%3B+while+the+bride+may+want+the+flowers+to+be+blooming+while+she+walks+down+the+aisle.+Coming+to+a+compromise+on+the+time+of+year+to+have+the+wedding+is+only+one+of+the+many+compromises+that+will+need+to+be+made+throughout+the+wedding+planning+stages.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3Cstrong%3EStep+By+Step+Wedding+Planning+Guide-+Section+Two%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0AThis+part+of+the+wedding+checklist+covers+the+reservations+and+booking+of+all+the+fine+details+of+a+wedding%3B+this+includes+everything+from+the+caterer+to+the+band%3B+from+the+wedding+location+to+the+photographer.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0AWhen+planning+your+wedding%3B+if+one+thing+is+not+reserved+or+booked+correctly+it+could+throw+the+whole+wedding+off+course.+Double+checking+and+then+triple+checking+again+can+never+hurt.+The+last+thing+anyone+would+want+is+to+show+up+at+their+wedding+location+and+there+be+nothing+there+set+up.+For+the+most+part%3B+booking+and+scheduling+your+wedding+activities+months+prior+to+the+actual+wedding+will+save+lots+of+money.+Last+minute+weddings+always+tend+to+cost+more+than+ones+that+are+scheduled+way+ahead+of+time.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0@This+next+section+basically+consists+of+the+more+intricate+and+detailed+tasks+that+are+outlined+in+this+step+by+step+wedding+planning+guide.+This+is+instrumental+to+the+overall+flow+of+the+wedding+in+general.+You+will+need+to+choose+a+caterer+for+the+reception+meal.+The+catering+company+needs+to+be+reliable%2C+professional+at+what+they+do+and+most+importantly+offer+quality+of+service+and+great+food.+Caterers+can+provide+testing+samples+during+your+decision+stages+to+assure+that+the+proposed+menu+will+meet+the+tastes+of+the+bride+and+groom.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0ACoordinating+the+music+is+usually+a+pretty+easy+aspect+of+planning+your+wedding.+All+that+is+really+needed+is+a+musician%2C+band+or+DJ+that+can+be+versatile+enough+to+meet+the+music+likings+of+the+bride+and+groom.+It+is+important+to+seek+out+a+semi+professional+band%3B+as+one+of+the+worst+things+would+be+if+they+never+even+showed+up.+You+would+also+want+to+look+for+someone+who+has+experience+with+weddings%3B+as+they+will+need+to+entertain+the+guests+and+keep+the+mood+and+events+of+the+reception+flowing%3B+leading+your+guests+through+a+series+of+predesigned+reception+events.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0ASo+at+this+point+of+the+wedding+checklist%3B+one+must+first+look+at+the+type+of+music+that+the+married+to+be+couple+enjoys+together.+This+same+logic+applies+to+choosing+your+photographer%3B+as+this+is+an+important+decision+because+the+pictures+taken+will+be+wedding+keepsakes+forever.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3Cstrong%3EStep+By+Step+Wedding+Planning+Guide-+Section+Three%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0AThis+is+the+final+section+in+this+wedding+checklist+and+it+covers+the+wedding+party.+This+part+of+wedding+planning+may+just+be+the+toughest.+Choosing+the+actual+wedding+party+is+very+important%3B+not+only+to+the+bride+and+groom%3B+but+to+the+ones+who+are+chosen.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0AIt+is+a+great+honor+for+most+to+be+chosen+as+a+best+man+or+maid+of+honor%3B+that%27s+a+given%3B+but+it+is+also+an+honor+to+just+be+chosen+to+participate+as+a+bridesmaid%2C+groomsmen%2C+flower+girl+and%2For+ring+bearer.+This+is+usually+what+makes+up+the+wedding+party%3B+though+additional+roles+and+positions+can+be+added+or+removed+depending+on+the+bride+and+grooms+wishes.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0A%3Cstrong%3EStep+By+Step+Wedding+Planning+Guide-+In+Review%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0AThough+there+are+other+aspects+of+planning+your+wedding+that+should+be+on+your+wedding+checklist%3B+this+Step+By+Step+Wedding+Planning+Guideshould+get+you+well+on+your+way+to+making+the+appropriate+arrangements+and+decisions.+The+key+thing+to+remember+when+planning+your+wedding+is+the+budget.+Once+you+know+how+much+you+have+to+spend%3B+everything+else+will+fall+into+place%21%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A%3Cdiv+style%3D%22color%3A+%23333333%3B+font-family%3A+Arial%3B+font-size%3A+12px%3B+line-height%3A+1.5em%3B+margin-bottom%3A+1em%3B+padding%3A+0px%3B+text-align%3A+justify%3B%22%3E%0D%0AWe+here+at+EtcTrade.com+wish+you+and+your+loved+one+good+luck+in+planning+your+wedding+and+all+the+best+on+your+long+journey+of+marital+bliss.%3C%2Fdiv%3E%0D%0A

Secrets In Choosing The Right Style Of Wedding Photography On Your Wedding Day

What is Wedding Photography?

For most couples, this may sound an odd question to ask, most would answer that wedding photography is the kind of photography done during weddings. That is partly correct. But that over simplifies the meaning of wedding photography. The art of wedding photography has change tremendously in the past twenty years. Today it may even have a different meaning for each couple.

In the past, wedding photographers are technicians behind a black box almost mystical that very few would even try to operate it. Back then, wedding couples are hiring wedding photographers to produce wedding pictures of their big day. It is to simply record the event. And the one they chose might be doing six weddings a day.

In 2010, almost all wedding guests have their own digital camera that could produce well-exposed pictures at very minimal cost. What it means is that the professional wedding photographers must have something more to offer to their wedding couples. At the same time, the digital revolution also allowed wedding photographers the new technologies to offer something different. This is one of the reasons why wedding photography has improved compared to what it was years ago. It also attracted people who would never venture into wedding photography if not for the new technology of digital photography. Wedding photographers who at their prime offer beautiful and stunning photos that record the wedding in an artistic and narrative, sometimes evocative and most of the time in a flattering manner.

But it also means that being a wedding photographer today; one has to be able to offer something not seen before. True to the complexities of wedding photography today, it would not be true anymore that all wedding photographers are the same and that all wedding couples desire the same kind of photography.

Ideas for Wedding Planning

Your wedding day should be the happiest day of your life. Ensuring that things go smoothly on this day should be the priority of every bride. The key to a flawless wedding day is proper wedding planning. What is wedding planning? This all-encompassing term simply means that you plan for everything that should happen on your wedding day, and you plan to avoid everything that should not happen. There are thousands of things to consider, from the color theme of your wedding to the travel arrangements of your guests. Some brides thrive on actively participating in every aspect of the planning of their wedding, while others prefer to delegate many tasks to a professional wedding planner.

Wedding Planning Checklist

Regardless of whether you intend to plan every aspect of your nuptials, or whether you wish to use the services of a wedding planner, you should at least be aware of the key elements that need to be planned for your wedding day. Here is a checklist for wedding planning and a guide for selecting necessary wedding vendors.

Stationary

From wedding invitations to napkins, there are many pieces of stationary that will need to be matched to your wedding color theme or printed with your nuptial details. Following are some of the important stationary you need to plan for your special day.

• Announce Engagement and "Save the Date" cards. Proper engagement announcement etiquette dictates that the groom should inform the parents of the bride in person of an engagement before anyone else discovers your intentions. Thereafter, announce to everyone your intentions to become married with engagement announcement cards and "Save the Date" cards. Engagement announcing cards can also invite your loved ones to an engagement party. Save the date cards are for when you have decided on the date of your wedding.
• Wedding Invitations. What is the difference between a wedding invitation and save the date cards? Often times, you will decide on the date of your wedding long before you have decided upon all the details of your big day. Once you have the date of your wedding nailed down, it is appropriate to immediately send "Save the Date" cards. This lets everyone set aside your wedding day so that conflicts in schedule do not happen. Later on, when you know the location of your wedding, the reception and all other necessary details is when you send your wedding invitation.
• Place cards, napkins and programs. To let your guests know their seating arrangements at the reception, place cards must be printed. Customized napkins are an excellent way to accent the celebration and provide a keep-sake for those attending. Programs notify your guests of the flow of activities at your wedding and reception, allowing for a celebration that is more ordered.

Expressions of Devotion: Buying Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings, and Wedding Bands Online

Ritual symbolism abounds in everything we do; this is particularly the case when an individual commits their love and devotion to another and offers a promise of marriage. The custom of offering and exchanging engagement rings and wedding bands is a time honored tradition rich in symbolism and meaning that has been carried on for centuries.

As time has changed so have consumer traditions and buying patterns. The rich tradition of exchanging vows as a symbol of love and devotion is still a traditional time honored ritual practiced in many cultures. Certain aspects of engagement and marriage have changed with time however. Whereas in times of old a couple might take several outings together in search of the perfect engagement rings or wedding bands, in modern times more and more couples are buying engagement rings, wedding rings and wedding bands online.

Thanks to the internet and the resulting access to a global marketplace, couples are realizing they have more options available to them all from the comforts of their living room. Some couples are even going to the extreme, not only buying engagement rings, wedding rings and wedding bands online, but also purchasing wedding gowns, flowers and even participating in virtual marriages.

How have these changes come about? What can today's modern couple expect when planning a walk down the aisle?

The Engagement Ring

The practice of a groom offering his bride to be an engagement ring as a promise of love and affection began nearly 2 centuries ago in the United States; many associate the giving of engagement rings with a need to express implied commitment and understanding forever. The term "A Diamond is Forever" was in fact used as a means of reinforcing the notion that an engagement ring is a commitment from one fiancé to another to live a life together in marital harmony forever. The phrase is also a popular advertising catch phrase that reinforces the notion that love and devotion are part of everyday symbolisms that require an outlet for expression.

The use of engagement rings as a token of love and affection is a norm that instilled in the hearts and minds of most people, in part due to heavy marketing and advertising from diamond ring and other jewelry manufacturers, and in part based on the needs of mankind to project symbolism into everyday living.

Organising Your Wedding Stationery

Of all the things you need to do, buy and organize in preparation for your wedding, wedding stationery is something that must be planned ahead. After all, you need to let your guests know well in advance of your forthcoming big day. Your wedding invitation and accessories set the tone for your special day firmly establishing your style and taste. It is the first official message about your wedding that a guest will receive from you, so make it special. If wedding etiquette is important to you, then make a start with your wedding stationery.

The Use of the Internet

The Internet has opened up new avenues for anyone planning a wedding. All your research can literally be done online and this also applies to finding your stationery items. There are hundreds of online stationery and wedding related websites that display all types of wedding invitations and accessories for you to choose from. Today many brides do their wedding research online as you can become quickly informed of the latest trends and new products available. You can either buy your wedding stationery directly over the Internet, or collect ideas and samples and take these to your local stationery store to implement. Most online stores actually send you a sample in the post to let you look and feel the stationery items before you purchase them.

Custom Stationery

Every bride wants her wedding to be as unique as can be. A good place to start is with custom wedding stationery. The great advantage with custom stationery is that you can enter your own wording, select the typeface, text size and color. No matter what theme you have set for your wedding, you will surely be able to customize your stationery to compliment the tone. Wedding invitations and accessories can be bought in various styles such as classic, contemporary, floral, embossed, layered and religious.