A beautiful Indian Wedding Ceremony in progress – Photo Courtesy: m-bot
Traditional Indian Weddings happen within a span of days! It can be a span of 6 days or a span of 7 days and during these days there are over 40 different traditions that are observed. It is indeed a beautiful and culturally rich wedding which deserves all the photo and video coverage (and the best one at that) that it can get.
The different traditions can also differ from regions, families and castes. For the Hindus, marriage is very, very important as it also celebrates not only the joining of two individuals but two families as well.
The wedding has different parts; the pre-wedding ceremonies include an engagement which has an oral agreement as well as a written declaration, the next part would be the arrival of the groom and his party to the bride’s residence. The celebrations continue with the bride and groom entering their new home.
Here are more details on the ceremonies and traditions that are observed:
The Misri – the Ring Ceremony
Ring Ceremony of an Indian couple – Photo Courtesy: Rishabh Mathur
The Misri – the ring ceremony needs seven married women who will draw the sign of Lord Ganesha in red powder which is spread above a bowl of rock sugar. Then prayers are said by the engaged couple and their parents; the couple will then exchange flowered garlands and gold rings. All of these is done in front of your priest. The groom’s parents then place a basket of fruit on the future bride’s lap to welcome her to the family and the bride’s family is then fed misri (rock sugar) which confirms the engagement and promises a life of sweetness.
The ‘Mehendi’ – Henna
Beautiful Mehendi on an Indian Bride’s hands – Photo Courtesy: Christine Long
Another ceremony is known as the ‘Mehendi’ which takes place before the wedding and is a ‘ladies only affair’. During the Mehendi, intricate and detailed henna patterns are applied to the hands and feet of the ladies which symbolize the deepening bonds with the future husband. The Mehendi is often celebrated together with the Sagri which could also be considered as an acquaintance party where the groom’s female relatives visit the bride giving gifts and flowers.
‘Shaadi’ – The Wedding
During the wedding day, the priest will perform a tradition known as Nav-Graha Puja which will be done in both the houses of the bride and the groom; here the priest says prayers to the Gods of the nine planets. Afterwards, the priest will perform the Ghari Puja which is a series of prayers that is done with offerings of betel nuts, wheat, coconut as well as rice and spices.
Happy girls dancing during Prema & Mohin’s wedding celebrations – Photo Courtesy: Nono Fara
The mothers of the bride and groom will wear their wedding clothes and have earthenware pots with water on their heads; they will walk to their respective doorways. The water will be cut with a knife – this is to ward off evil spirits; relatives and friends will then give the parents flowers and money. The next part of the tradition is a fun one, where the the celebrations begin with dancing and feasting.
There are definitely more traditions during Hindu weddings, so make sure you prepare for it and have a great wedding videographer to catch all of the rich culture.
This article is by Tom Hewett from Octavo Pictures who produce Affordable Wedding Videography for capture your special day.
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Above: Carolyn’s shoes and gown were hand- beaded by her cousin Pauline Donatelli and porcelainized at Jordan Marsh as a wedding gift from Pauline and another cousin Josephine Arena who made her wedding gown. Photo Courtesy: Carolyn Wakefield
Despite the stressful organisation, the months of planning and the pressure to make it the best 24 hours of the bride and groom’s life, a wedding day is the ultimate opportunity for a couple to demonstrate their shared love and respect before all their nearest and dearest ones.
Being part of a loved one’s celebration is without doubt a rewarding experience but, on a more materialistic level, finding the perfect wedding gift can prove to be challenging – least of all when you are struggling to stay out of the red.
Here is where DIY wedding gifts really come into their own – read on to find inspiration for an ideal present that won’t break the bank.
Step Away From The Wedding List…
A beautiful ‘Falling Leaf’ quilt made by Sally of Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA, for a friend’s son’s wedding gift. Photo Courtesy: Sally
As practical as a wedding list can be for newlyweds moving into their first marital home, the featured items tend to be not only just a tad impersonal but also reasonably expensive. Personally – and I am sure I speak for a large majority here – I find it ultimately endearing to think that a lot of time and thought have gone into an intimate, handmade gift that really is one-of-a-kind.
“Days I’ll Remember All My Life”
A nicely framed collection of pictures as wedding gift from Rick to Ken & Pauline. Photo Courtesy: Rick
Firstly, photographs and memories are eternal: you can never go wrong with a memento of a treasured moment or reminder of a hilarious anecdote. Find yourself a cheap, vintage looking frame and fill it with images of the happy couple – a timeline of their relationship, if you like.
Alternatively – but along the same theme – use one of the various internet sites that specialise in photography to upload a favourite image which can be reprinted onto canvases, mugs, coasters or even placemats, and create an item that will furnish and personalise their home much more than a state of the art toaster or grilling machine.
Get Creative in the Kitchen!
If you fancy yourself as a bit of a culinary genius, what better way to create a gift than to get baking? Treats such as personalised cookies or cupcakes (which are experiencing a spurt in popularity like never before!) provide a cute and tasty token that is no more complicated and expensive to make than your average sponge cake.
Photo Courtesy: Clever Cupcakes
Besides which, such snacks are ideal for the time-pushed bride on the morning of the wedding who has not even considered breakfast arrangements but still needs a way to avoid all the champagne going straight to her head!
The Start of the Rest of Your Life Together
Often after the months of planning, the day of the wedding can rush by in a complete haze. So much so that the bride and groom can often find they have missed the opportunity to store valuable keepsakes to remind them of their special day. Why not then collect mementos such as place cards, invitations, pressed flowers etc. and present them in a pretty frame or hand decorated scrapbook?
A beautiful ‘Travel Box’ made by Katy for a friend – A newly wed couple could start collecting and saving their pictures in such a box, starting from their honeymoon and onto later travels. Photo Courtesy: Katy Bayard
Or, you could mark the occasion by starting a tradition: find a vintage wooden box and fill it with record cards. Fill in the first card with the details of the wedding day and then encourage them to write their own annual contribution, detailing what has changed or been achieved over the past year together – a cheap, simple solution that can be looked back upon and shared with the family in years to come.
So there we have it: a few ideas to stimulate the imagination and ensure you give a present that is personal, thoughtful and individual – all things that are highly appreciated no matter what the material cost. And when you visit the marital home and find your DIY wedding photo frames in pride of place, you can rest assured it truly is a cherished gift.
Do you have any creative ideas for DIY wedding gifts? Share them in the comments below!
Jade Douglas is a 20 year old enthusiast of travel, linguistics and any undertaking that involves a little originality and imagination. She writes here for Wedding and Party Store.
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Beautiful bride Michelle – Photo Courtesy: Steven Brooks
Once they’ve chosen the dress, a lot of brides make the mistake of thinking that their outfit is sorted, until the day is almost upon them – that is when they remember that a veil, shoes, jewellery, hair accessories and underwear are all essential too.
When choosing your wedding accessories, it’s important to take your time because just like choosing your dress, you can’t rush.
Wedding Shoes – Beauty and Comfort
Your shoes will ultimately depend on the style of dress that you’ve chosen. If your dress is a full length gown then your shoes aren’t going to be on show that much; however, you can’t get away with wearing trainers. They do still have to look nice for the brief amount of time that they are on show – but that doesn’t mean that you can’t incorporate comfort into the design.
Diane Hassall Wedding Shoes at the Bridal Shoes of UK
As you’ll be spending the majority of the day standing, it’s important to get the balance between beauty and comfort right. A huge mistake that a lot of brides make is to wear brand new shoes on the day of their wedding – this is the worst thing if you still want to be standing at the end of the day. If you want your shoes to be comfortable all through the day then it’s essential that you wear them in as much as possible first.
Tiara or Hair Piece
A lot of brides love to have a tiara because it makes them feel like a princess; however, they don’t suit everybody and not everyone likes them, so if a tiara’s not for you then why not go for hair accessories? Whatever hair pieces you choose just be sure to remember them when you go for your rehearsal at the hair salon so that your hair dresser knows exactly what they have to work with.
Wedding Veil
Nowadays, veils aren’t generally a choice for younger brides but they’re still a hit with the older bride. Veils seem to have gone out of fashion slightly although they can be used to completely change the look of a bride into a real fairy tale princess.
Jewellery
When it comes to jewellery, there really aren’t any rules; if you don’t want to be then you don’t have to be understated – it’s your wedding day so make sure you do whatever you want. One thing that is essential though is that your jewellery goes with your dress and compliments your entire outfit.
A lot of brides choose to wear either classic jewellery like pearls or pieces that have been passed down through their family. There is a common misconception that jewellery should be new and expensive but this doesn’t have to be the case; in fact, why not kill two birds with one stone and use a piece of family jewellery that complements your outfit but can also act as your ‘something borrowed’.
Undergarments
Bridal …er… Underwear from (who else?) Victoria’s Secret – Photo Courtesy: Shoshanah
Finally, the comfort element in your underwear is just as important as it is in your shoes, so it’s essential to choose something that fits. Advice that everyone should take when buying underwear is to go for a professional measurement to ensure that it fits perfectly and you feel comfortable and confident on your big day.
Emily Saunders spent months trying to find the perfect shoes for her wedding but Bridal Shoes UK put an end to her search as they sold exactly what she’d been looking for.
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Choosing and booking a venue should be done well in advance of your big day as venues, like the one shown above in Hadlow, near Tonbridge, Kent, UK, are always in demand.
Getting engaged makes the whole fairy tale real, and as soon as it happens your thoughts will turn to your big day right away. Don’t think into it too deeply at this moment though, because thinking about everything you’ve got to organise can be a little overwhelming and will take your focus away from the emotional moment of getting engaged.
When you’ve got over the initial ‘shock’ and happiness of getting engaged, one of the first things you’ll have to choose is a venue for your wedding and when the big event will happen. Sometimes you’ll know all of this already – some people really have been planning their wedding since they were little and will have already planned every detail – the majority of people, though, will have no idea where to start.
Choosing a venue isn’t as simple as you might first hope because there are a number of factors that will affect your choice:
1. Time of the Year and Weather
The time of the year and accompanying weather are also a deciding factor for your wedding day. You’ll have to decide in advance whether the ceremonies may be held in a garden venue or indoors due to the weather.
Most people have a good idea about the time of year that they’d like to hold their wedding, and if it’s not a busy point of the year then usually you’ll get the date and the venue that you want. Sometimes, though, you might find that your chosen venue isn’t available on the date that you had planned which is why it’s a good idea to have a few potential dates in mind before you go looking for your dream venue.
2. Number of Guests
Before you even think about venue hunting, you’ve got to think about the number of guests that you’re likely to invite. A rough guess of numbers isn’t good enough when it comes to your wedding because the number of guests could make the decision on whether you can hold it at your dream venue.
It’s pretty easy to get an accurate number though; just write down a list off all of our friends and family who will be invited – don’t forget to add any plus ones in too – and you’ll have a pretty accurate figure. Once you have this figure in hand, you’ll find it much easier to narrow down potential venues and you’ll be able to cross any venues off your list that you know won’t be able to cater for your party.
2. Geographical Location
Venue of Andrew & Emily’s wedding at Frog Pond Village in Interlochen, Michigan, USA. Now, you might like this nice venue for your own wedding but since most of your friends and family live in England, they can’t all fly down there. So you have to alter your plans. Photo Courtesy: Tom Page
Once you’ve got a few dates in mind and an approximate number of guests, it’s time to think about the geographical positioning of the venue. You should first talk to each other (the couple) and decide on the surroundings that you can both picture yourself getting married in. You should then think about your guests and how far they’ll have to travel to get to the venue as many people will want to avoid long journeys and expensive accommodation. A huge trend nowadays is to get married abroad so this is something that should be considered before you decide on a venue.
3. Type of Wedding
Craig & Phyllis’ Wedding at the beuatiful outdoor venue ‘The Pulgas Water Temple’ in Highlands, Sand Mateo, California, USA – Photo Courtesy: Craig Howell
Finally, it’s important to consider the type of wedding that you want:
- Do you want a church wedding with a venue for the reception or will the ceremony and the reception be held at the same place?
- Do you want a traditional wedding or something that’s more flamboyant?
- Do you want a wedding that’s outdoor – like an English country garden – or indoor at a castle or stately home?
The options really are endless and they all need to be considered before you even start looking for a venue.
Neil and Amanda Ship spent months trying to find the perfect wedding venue near to their home in Kent and when a friend recommended hadlowmanor.co.uk they realised it was perfect.
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Teresa and Jay were married at St Margaret’s Church in Tylers Green, UK
Your wedding is one of the most important days in your life and anybody would want the day to go as well as it possibly can. There is usually a lot to be planned in the wedding process which sometimes leaves you with a lot to worry about, and that is why many people get very nervous as the big day approaches.
However, on such a big occasion, you should be able to enjoy it instead of spending the day worrying, so it is a good idea to enlist the help of people that can make sure everything goes well. Some people in particular can help to make sure that your wedding day is one to remember for all the right reasons.
Flower Arrangers
On your wedding day, you will want everything looking beautiful and flowers add that sense of beauty and a great aroma to your ceremony. However, knowing what flowers to use and how to keep them looking their best can be difficult if you don’t know about flowers. Therefore, it might be wise to enlist the help of a professional.
A professional florist will know how to create stunning displays that will look great all day long in addition to flowers that are to be worn by the wedding couple and their guests. If you really do want to make sure that everything is just right on the big day, then a flower arranger can certainly help you keep your flowers looking stunning.
Photographers
As special as your wedding should be on the day, it is also something that you should cherish for many more years to come. Having wonderful memories is all very well but many of us want more than just memories, and a wedding photographer will help to keep the memories even stronger.
With a beautiful wedding album, you can show your children and grandchildren photos from your wedding and they will remain with you for as long as you wish to keep them. If you have the budget, you could also consider hiring a professional video producer so you can watch your day on DVD whenever you like. Whether you do hire a video producer, a wedding photographer or even both, they will help to keep your wedding fresh in you and your family’s memory for many years to come.
Catering
Feeding a lot of hungry mouths can be a very big challenge and if you are expecting a lot of guests, you may need help. Professional caterers will help keep all your guests well fed and they will do all the hard work themselves, leaving you to enjoy your day. Even the cleaning up afterward will be done by the caterers and you also get a huge choice of menus to choose from.
You could have 3 course meals for all your guests or even just finger buffets so anybody can enjoy a snack throughout the day. The reality is that you are likely to struggle to keep your guests fed and you are also unlikely to have the facilities that are needed. Hire some caterers and you will have peace of mind in knowing that all of your guests will be taken care of where food is concerned.
Entertainment
After the ceremony itself, it is time to celebrate and everybody will be looking forward to letting their hair down and having a good time. With this in mind, it is wise to hire some entertainment so everybody has a good night. There are several different types of entertainment you could choose from. A DJ will play tunes all night long and you could even hire a band for some live music as well. Hire some entertainment for the evening and you can be sure that your guests will have a night to remember.
All wedding pictures above courtesy: Steven Brooks
Gem Wilson is a writer who believes that there are many professional people who can help you to make your wedding day look and feel perfect whilst also reducing the stress of the planning for you. If you require a Wedding Photographer or catering team, then you should shop around for the best price.
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A glamorous wedding needn’t break the bank, and it doesn’t mean trimming the guest list, sacrificing the must-haves, or going crazy with DIY. All that’s really required is a little resourcefulness. So what are the secrets behind a high style and yet low cost wedding?
Go through the list given below and you’ll find that by following these tips, you may be able to save a lot of your precious money while at the same time fulfilling all your wishes for your big day.
The Gown
A bride in a beautiful laced wedding dress and pearl necklace with a bouquet of white rosebuds. Photo Courtesy: Smartphotostock.com
Opt for simple and elegant, as it’s the handwork of adding beads and trim that skyrockets cost. Even better, leave the bridal boutiques behind and shop for a designer evening gown, many of which come in wedding-worthy shades and styles but cost hundreds or even thousands less. Check out formal wear rental shops, which are constantly selling off last season’s gowns at deep discounts. Where accessories are concerned, borrow items like the veil, purse, gloves and shoes from friends and choose family jewelry like grandmother’s pears instead of buying new bling.
The Flowers
Find out whose weddings are scheduled just before and after yours. If you can coordinate flowers with either bride, you can share expenses. Ask the florist to use plentiful in-season blooms rather than expensive exotics and don’t overlook blossoming shrubs like lilac and hydrangea. For the bouquet, an arrangement in a holder will look larger and fuller than the same flowers hand tied.
The Invitations
DIY Wedding Invitation of Yaffa and Kerin – Photo Courtesy: Yaffa Phillips
Avoid extra postage by saying no to anything that weighs over an ounce in its envelope or is a square or other non-standard shape. Handle RSVP by email and phone rather than enclosing cards and envelopes. For super savings and the option to personalize, design and print your own invitations.
The Music
If you have a friend with a beautiful voice, explain that you’d love to have a solo as a wedding gift. If there’s a nearby college, music majors often support themselves by playing events, and hiring a trio or quintet for the ceremony and receiving line is an affordable touch of elegance.
The Photography and Video
Many a time, wedding pictures clicked by friends come out even better than a professional would have taken. Look above at this excellent shot of Lotta & Sebastian clicked by their good friend Camilla. Wow. Photo Courtesy: Camilla
Hire professionals only for the ceremony and start of the reception, then rely on friends and family for the rest. Look for a photographer who offers a gift registry, where guests give cash to defray the costs, and skip the extras like special effects, editing and multiple copies.
The Cake
Order a modest two tier cake for the bride and groom to cut, and serve guests less expensive sheet cake, or order a cake that’s been frosted but not decorated cake and have your florist add a few blossoms and ribbons. The current trend of replacing the huge cake with fanciful cupcakes or a cake tree is popular and saves $1-2 per serving.
The Food and Drink
Go with hors d’oeuvres, finger foods or a dessert buffet instead of a full meal. Limiting beverages to wine and soft drinks, rather than liquor, cuts the bar tab and eliminates the need for a bartender.
The Decorations
Alex & Brin’s backyard wedding in Westport, Bristol County, Massachusetts – Photo Courtesy: Kenji Ross
Bypass the done up wedding hall and look for a reception venue you can decorate yourself, such as a friend’s large back yard, church hall, or community center. Rent good quality linens, silver, glasses and plates, and instead of expensive flower arrangements, opt for simpler centerpieces like lanterns, candles floating in water tinted to your colors, scattered rose petals, trailing ivy, crystal bowls of fruit sprayed gold or silver, flowering branches or placemark flowers in miniature pots.
A good general strategy is to get married in the off-season months of January through April, which means more choice and bargaining power in everything from the DJ to the reception venue. Post-Christmas is also sale season, and a good time to stock up on candles, ribbons, and other decorations. Be an indefatigable bargain hunter and use the internet, where Ebay, Save on Crafts and other sites discount everything from gowns to chair sashes to shaded tea lights, vases, favor tins and other accessories.
Stylish Weddings Melbourne specialise in stylish yet affordable accessories and decorations for your wedding, including essential items for the bride & groom.
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Noah & Yasmin saying Wedding Vows – Photo Courtesy: Your Special Day of UK
The moment when a man proposes to his accepting and joyous partner is a hugely significant and unforgettable moment and from that point onwards, all the anticipation is of the wedding day itself. The excitement is shared between many friends and family and all the arrangements and efforts feel truly worth it as the bride walks down the aisle surrounded by all the important people to her and the groom.
After the birth of their children, many happy couples will point to their wedding day as the best occasion of their life and some extra touches along the way can make it all the more memorable.
Having a professionally-produced video
Recording the wedding has been one of the traits linked to the occasion for many years, although in the past it was filmed on a basic camcorder and the end result was a slightly fuzzy video. With the hugely advanced state that technology is now at, it makes perfect sense to have a recording that does justice to the day. Unless you have someone on hand with a background or keen interest in media production, it can be a great idea to hire a professional company to film the day and to edit it to give you a truly polished keepsake of your wedding. You get the facility to relive the day whenever you want and you can feel safe in the knowledge that those in charge of it will give you an extremely impressive end result.
To get an idea of how beautiful your wedding memory may become, take a look at this beautiful video of Neil and Lisa’s wedding below:
http://www.youtube.com/das_captcha?next=/watch%3Fv%3Dajpo5lE5DU4%26feature%3Dyoutu.be
Neil and Lisa’s wedding at St Andrew’s Church in High Ham, Somerset, England – Filmed by YSD
Live music
Hiring a live band is an ideal option for a lot of occasions and you can certainly add a wedding to that list too.
A live band will put life into any wedding party.
You may well decide that you want to stick to the formula of having a DJ there to play your requests but for more of an interaction and closeness with the music that is being played, a live band is perfect. It is even possible to try your luck at booking a well-known act to perform – if you do not try then you will never know.
Dedications
In your truly perfect scenario, the ones who have passed that were special would also be there to enjoy the day with you all. On your wedding day, you can find so many opportunities to pay tribute to friends and relatives who are no longer with you. It is possible to have a portrait of someone in the church or you can incorporate dedications during toasts or before songs when everyone is together.
Article written by Tina Chambers on behalf of the film making and editing company responsible for some of the most subtly high-polished wedding videos Cheshire can offer.
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Bridal flowers (artificial) and Glitterati flower holders by Inspirations of UK
The world of floristry goes far beyond the arrangement of a vase of flowers, although that requires skill too. There are lots of amazing tricks and special effects that florists use to create stunning displays for occasions big and small like weddings and birthdays.
If you want to create your very own extra special bouquets and floral arrangements at your wedding, take a look at some of the ideas below.
Balloons
Photo Courtesy: Shawn Skriver
Nothing says ‘celebrate’ like balloons. Adding a balloon to a floral display really lifts it to new heights. There is wide variety of styles of balloon you can choose, from bright, solid colours to message balloons and shaped balloons. Shaped balloons are great, especially heart shaped ones for weddings. However, it’s important to make sure you match the colours of balloons to the colour scheme of your wedding flowers. Together, they would make for an attractive decoration set for your special day.
Sparkles and Crystals
For an added touch of sophistication, crystals can be a delightful way to create a sense of razzle dazzle. Small crystals and diamantés can also be applied to twigs and other dried plants to offer a magical quality. These are available in various sizes, and only need to be scattered around a display for real impact. When scattered on a mirrored plate, the effect can be quite impressive.
Mirrored Plates
To offer your display different lighting, place the vase or container on a mirrored plate. These can come in a range of sizes and shapes, and direct light up toward the arrangement. They’re also a good base for other decorative touches, not only crystals as previously mentioned, but also confetti and coloured glass beads or decorative stones.
Left: A mirrored plate with jewels
Water Dyes
One area that we tend to forget about when creating a floral arrangement is the colour of the water, and how this too can be used for special effects. Of course, this doesn’t matter if the vase or container isn’t clear, but if it is, the results can be incredible. Different coloured water tends to work best in taller containers, and you can choose water to fit in with the colour scheme of a particular theme, such as corporate colours.
Lighting
This is where we get really serious about special effects! There are very subtle tricks that can add impact to a floral display; then there are those that really make the show. You can now get submersible lighting accessories that offer a beautiful glow in the water of the display itself. Oasis Floral Products have released small, individual LED lights in a diamond casing. The effect is remarkable. Although don’t expect to see them come back at the end of a wedding reception or party – they do tend to end up in pockets and bags!
Inspirations Wholesale sell a wide range of Oasis florist products.
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Nicely laid out tables at the Brandview Ballroom by LA Banquet in Glendale, California
There are millions of details to stress over when it comes to the wedding, but one of the hardest decisions that you can make concerning your big day is how to present your wedding meal. The difference of tone between a formal sit-down dinner and a buffet are stark, and choosing one or the other can change the entire course of the day. If you’re trying to figure out what to do at your wedding, then here is a quick guide to what to consider when planning your wedding meal.
Formality
A formal sit-down meal arrangement at Le Foyer in North Hollywood
There is no denying that sit-down meals are much more formal affairs than buffets, and weddings are supposed to be formal occasions. It is not very often that you get to enjoy being served a formal meal of multiple courses, so you might want to enjoy being waited on. If you have gone to great lengths to have a big white wedding with all the trappings, it may seem a little strange to have the guests running up and down a buffet table serving themselves.
However the less formal styling of a buffet suits some weddings. Not every wedding is a white-tie strict occasion, and some people have much more laid-back ceremonies at which a formal sit-down meal may seem a little over-the-top and stuffy. On this topic, the tone of your wedding should be the deciding factor.
Planning
Both – Sit-down meals and Buffets – require good planning. Above: Glenoaks Ballroom
Sit-down meals are more difficult to plan than buffets because they have many intricate parts that must fit together. The timing of courses, the number of servers and the dreaded seating plan must all be planned down to the tiniest detail – a headache for any bride and groom.
However buffets are not easy to plan either. The sheer amount of food required presents a bit of a logistical problem when it comes to preparation and keeping it all warm, but at least that is a problem that can be solved by a caterer and not by you directly.
Flexibility
Wedding Buffet at Galleria Ballroom & Lounge
One vast difference between sit-down meals and buffets is their flexibility. Buffet meals are far friendlier to any last minute additions or the inevitable person who turns up without an RSVP. An extra person or two isn’t going to starve everybody to death or cause a fuss. If the same thing happens at a sit-down meal, it can be much more difficult to rustle up extra food and an extra seat.
Some say that buffets are friendlier for people whose wedding parties contain a wide variety of dietary requirements, but I actually find the opposite to be true. It is much easier to create one individual nut-free meal in a sit down meal than try to find an entire nut-free platter for a buffet.
Cost
You will likely spend much more on the food for a buffet because you generally buy a little more than you would if you bought each meal individually. However the layout of buffets tends to require less manpower in the form of servers and caterers, saving your vital money on personnel. When trying to decide if a buffet or sit-down meal will be cheaper, the best person to ask is your caterer. However, as a general rule of thumb, sit-down meals are cheaper at smaller weddings whilst buffets are cheaper for larger crowds.
At the end of the day, your wedding is about marrying the person you love. Obsessing about buffet versus sit-down meals might seem important right now but remember to put everything in perspective. Have a quick conversation with your partner and caterer, and then simply make the choice and stick to it. Stress eliminated!
Your Wedding Meal: Buffet Style or Sit-down Dinner? – contributed article written by Sonia Meehan on behalf of LA Banquets, a LA wedding venues chain.
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Beautiful bride Lisa wearing a Double Row Necklace, Oyster Pearls designed by Pearls of Purity
Choosing the right jewellery for your wedding day
It’s the big day, the day she’s dreamed of since she was a little girl. She’s got the dress, the venue is booked, she’s just got the final things to sort out like what accessories she’ll be wearing with her dress. However these “little things” are more often the most important things. And this is why this stage of the wedding is so lucrative to the wedding industry and why brides find it hard to work out what accessories to wear.
Jewellery options
Elegant 18ct white gold diamond bow and chain necklace by Pearls of Purity
Let’s look at the options. There are necklaces, tiaras, earrings and bracelets and all are as important as each other. There are several options when it comes to the type and style of jewellery. There are obviously diamonds which are a classic choice and the safe (easy) option. However, another option that is becoming more popular all the time is pearls. Pearls give off an elegant shine and give a look of 1950′s chic.
3 Row Tapestry Swarovski Crystal Droplet Choker worn by bride Jodie.
With the likes are Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Lopez recently sporting pearls, they seem to be the ‘in’ thing right now, adding that touch of old school glamour. Many new brides have been opting to take this look down the aisle, which is probably due to excessive use of the bling look that the hip-hop stars of the late 90′s and early 00′s pushed at every opportunity. Young brides these days seem to want to go for the classic yet stylish look.
How pearls are formed
Pearls are formed from a tiny part of a foreign substance which gets into the part between the mantle and the shell of the oyster and begin to irritate the mantle. Just like the human body an oyster has a natural reaction to remedy the irritation and uses the same material it uses to create its shell to cover up the foreign body. Over time a pearl is created.
This is why quality pearls fetch such a high price as their creation is such a slow process. To combat this there has been several companies which have started to cultivate their own pearls. These don’t fetch the same high prices but have allowed the pearl to become more easily mass produced.
Popularity of pearls
Bride Natalie Surridge look all aglow and happy in her pearls!
Mass producing pearls is understandable, with the rise in their popularity among the young brides of today and the fact that A-list celebrities are now wearing them, it is only natural that someone would jump on the mass market bandwagon and try to cash in. That being said, they are still not overplayed currently and they still hold the same appeal as they did when the Hollywood stars of the past like Marilyn Monroe wore them.
This article was written by Jordan Turner. To get your hands on a set of luscious pearl earrings, a pearl bracelet or any pearl jewellery visit www.pearlsofpurity.com.
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