4 Great Guest Book Ideas

Maybe you don't want just any ordinary guest book. Here are a few ideas on how to remember who attended your wedding.

1. Have your guests give you marital advice or wishes. Place a stack of cards on a table with a pen. Have directions printed for your guests so they know what to do. Once they write on the card have them put it in a jar. Don't open the jar until your one year anniversary. Then read what your guests wrote.

2. When sending out your wedding invitations, ask guests to bring a picture of you and your spouse that they may have. When they arrive at the reception they can place the picture into the photo album and write a memory they may have of the two of you.

3. If you are having a videographer at your wedding, have them go around to the guests at your tables and have guests bring up past memories or give you advice.

4. Purchase a frame with the matting around the center. Add your photo to the center and have guests sign around the picture so you remember who attended your wedding.

Wedding Guests 101

So here it is,  the day you create the guest list for your big day. Who do you invite? Naturally everyone comes to mind. That “everyone” can also cost a pretty penny and leave you with very little money towards other wedding needs. Your reception costs will take up a large portion of your budget. Between renting the hall, country club, etc., food, alcohol, cake cutting fees, gratuity, and taxes, it's normal for this portion of your budget to add up quickly. You also want to make sure your guests are happy and enjoy your wedding.  Here are some wedding guest etiquette tips.

*Children don't eat much, so why should you have to pay an adult dinner price for a child? You don't! Most chef's or caterers will have a list of foods that are child friendly not to mention price friendly.

*Focus on immediate family and close friends first when creating the guest list. Go from there.

*If the bride's parents are paying, it's customary that they get to have more say in whose invited and vice versa.

*Find out which is cheaper, paying for each individual plate or having a buffet.

* When creating the seating chart, put guests withing the same age groups together. You don't want twenty somethings at the same table with sixty somethings. Keep guests closer in age at the same tables so they have better conversations.

*At some point during your reception, go around and greet all guests. Thank them for coming to your wedding!

*If you have out of town guests, it's best to send them a list of hotels near your wedding reception. You know the area better than they do so they will trust your hotel suggestions and take them to heart.

*It's not a bad idea to send an itinerary to out of town guests. They may be in town for a few days and not know what to do. Suggest a few parks, museums, and places they can see.

The Perfect Diamond

Every woman wants the perfect diamond. Not sure what you want? Build your own diamond at Blue Nile. You can select the diamond (round, princess, etc.) you want and the setting. The program allows you to choose the cut, clarity, color, and carat. So build your own diamond ring today.

Ceremony Music

Your wedding music will  be heard all day long, at your ceremony and at your reception. However, choosing the right music can be hard, so were here to help. We've got the top fifteen choices for ceremony music. Many of these songs are written by various artists. If you don't like one rendition of the song, don't give up on the song. You may like one artist verse another.

1. “Canon in D” Pachelbel

2. “Air” George Frederic Handel

3. “Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring” Several Artists

4. “Ave Maria” Andrea Bocelli or Sarah Brightman (one of my favorites)

5. “Trumpet, Tune, and Air” Several Artists

6. Prelude from Te Deum Wynton Marsalis

7. “Trumpet Voluntary” Peter Hurford

8. “Vivaldi Largo Winter”

9. “Charpentier: Te Deum”

10. “Gabrieli: Candzon V”

11. Wagner: Bridal Chorus”

12. “The Prince of Denmark's March” Anthony Newman

13. “Rondeau (J.J. Mouret)” William Picher

14. “Handel: Larghetto”

15. “Liszt: Dream of Love”

The Best Wedding Gifts

Choosing the perfect gift for the bride and groom is never easy. Here are some simple gift ideas that the blissful couple may enjoy if your not sure what to give them.

1. I know this sounds so cliche, but money is greatly appreciated by all. You can never go wrong with the gift of money. The bride and groom can purchase items they may need or put it away in the bank for a rainy day.

2. Their registry is always a great place to check for items they have registered for and surely need.

3. A gift card is another great gift idea. If your not sure where to get the gift card to, you can always give them a Visa card.

4. A fine wine is a great idea. Pin a note to the bottle telling them not to open in until their first year anniversary.

5. Gift Certificates to restaurants are always nice. After the wedding the couple must get situated. This means they many not have time for making dinner right away.

Rehearsal Dinner Themes

Looking for some ideas for your rehearsal dinner? Search no more… here are some great themes you can use any time.

1. Island Theme: Have an easy dinner with island foods and Hawaiian leis for all the guests.

2. BBQ Theme: Have finger foods like chicken and burgers. Guests will love how low key it is and the parents will be happy because of how inexpensive it is.

3. Chinese/Japanese Fusion Theme: Have simple Chinese or Japanese foods or hire a sushi chef to make fresh sushi for your guests.

4. Fish Fry: Going to a local restaurant where the fresh catch is always good. Your wedding party will be happy they can get their hands dirty eating fish and chips.

5. Honeymoon Theme: Give your guests a taste of where your going on your honeymoon. Going some place tropical? Then have tropical food and a casual dress code.

6. Elegant Theme: Maybe you couldn't afford to have an all out elegant wedding. Well then treat your wedding party to a nice dinner at a steak house. It may not be affordable for 100 people, but can be easier on the wallet when there is only a party of 20.

Is There a Happily Ever After?

You look forward to your wedding from the time you are a little girl. You want a great spouse, children, and a happy marriage. Sometimes you may wonder is a great marriage possible? Yes, a “happily ever after” is possible. How? You can start off by taking some classes marriage prep), getting to know your husband or your wife is important, even if you think you know them well. Many churches have marriage prep classes and counseling to ensure you are ready for the long hold. You may think these preparations are a waste of time, but studies show couples who have taken any type of marriage preparation have longer lasting marriages.

These classes teach you about being open and communicating, family origin, what to expect in the first years of marriage, commitment, sexuality, and more. If you are getting married in a church or even if you are being married by the justice of the peace, consider a form of marriage success training. Many churches offer pre cana or another form of marriage and family preparation. It's something to consider and can only strengthen the bond between you and your spouse.

Romantic Weddings

Romantic weddings have a lot to do with color, setting, and time. What will it take to make “your” wedding romantic? Each person has a different perspective of what romance looks like. Is it candles and subtle lighting? Is it roses and petals? Is it outside on the beach at sunset? Jot down your ideas and collect pictures to offer your vendors. You want to portray your image as clearly as possible. If you are going the romantic route, be sure and have specific lighting in mind. Lighting has a lot to do with the mood. Music will also set the mood for a romantic feel. Brainstorm your idea of the perfect romantic setting. Once you think you know what you'd like to have, sit down with your vendors and give them a detailed image of what you expect.

When I think of romantic, I think outdoors, flowers, yellows and whites, nature-like atmosphere. However, another person may have an entirely different image. Check out a great article listed on The Knot about a romantic affair.

The Meaning of the Rings

What does the wedding band symbolize? Women wait for the day where the man drops to one knee, opens a small velvet box and presents a stunning ring asking the words, “Will you marry me?” But what does it all mean? This is a little lesson on what the rings represent.

Traditionally, the engagement ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand, also known as the ring finger. Why this finger you should ask, because that specific finger contains the vena amors (vein of love). This vein is said to run from your finger to your heart. A ring is also circular in shape and a circle represents unity. The circle is never ending and when you get married that circle also represents the never ending relationship among two people.

So we know why the ring, but why a diamond ring? A diamond catches the light when worn. It stands for beauty as well as a sign that one is soon to be married. Because it catches the light, it draws attention to the womens hand so that others know the women is soon to be wed.

Bridal Jewelry

When picking your jewelry out be sure and keep it simple, especially if your dress has a lot of beading and sequence. Like they say, less is more. Most brides keep it traditional with a simple pearl  necklace and earrings. However, if you decide to do something different just remember no more than two pieces of jewelry. This is not including your wedding rings. If you wear earrings than go with a necklace, but not a necklace, earrings, a bracelet, etc. A bride is supposed to look timeless and elegant. Keep that in mind when picking out your accessories.

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