Desire a destination wedding? Domestic destinations offer beauty, value
August 3, 2010 by admin
Filed under Destinations, Features
Myrtle Beach Destination Weddings
Desire a destination wedding? Domestic destinations offer beauty, value
(ARA) – Every wedding is as special as the bride who takes her vows that day, no matter if the setting is a centuries-old church, a hotel ballroom or the bride’s own backyard. But if you dream of saying your “I do’s” beside the gentle tide, or greeting your guests from the top of a staircase that looks like it’s straight out of “Gone With the Wind,” then a destination wedding might be right for you.
Destination weddings are becoming more and more popular, but dragging your wedding dress, favors and all the guests overseas can be pricey for brides and grooms on a budget. However, many domestic destinations right here within the continental U.S. can offer the same breath-taking scenery, diverse settings and luxurious amenities you would expect to find – and pay more for – if you go abroad.
What kind of domestic destination should you seek? Here are a few popular, cost-effective options that don’t require a long trip for your guests or you to spend a lot of money:
Beauty at the beach
When it comes to versatility in a natural setting, it’s hard to beat the beauty of the beach. A beach wedding can capture the romance of the sea, evoke the party atmosphere of an island escape, and tap the depth and power of Mother Nature in all her glory.
With miles of beautiful beaches on both coasts, the good old U.S. of A. offers plenty of locales for your beach wedding. On the East Coast, Myrtle Beach, S.C. is a popular spot that offers a wide range of versatile venues and accommodating lodging for you and your guests. The region is a reasonable drive from just about anywhere along the eastern seaboard. Plus, you can find affordable direct flights to the nearby Myrtle Beach International Airport.
For a pure beach wedding, check out Myrtle Beach State Park, which offers pristine white beaches and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. Or, to marry the beauty of the beach with elegant style, check out Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach State Park in nearby Murrells Inlet, S.C.
Keep in mind if you’re holding your wedding on a public beach or park, you’ll likely need to obtain permits from the appropriate city or county agency.
The charm of the Old South
She might have had trouble staying happily married, but “Gone with the Wind” heroine Scarlett O’Hara sure knew how to throw a romantic wedding. You can recapture the grace, elegance and romance of Scarlett’s bygone era with a plantation destination wedding. Throughout the south, you’ll find representations of the gracious architecture that personified the classic southern plantation, with grand staircases, sweeping front porches and sprawling green gardens.
You can build an entire wedding theme around the locale, with attire that evokes the elegance of the Old South and southern colors like peach and lavender. A simple online search will yield numerous plantation-style venues, like Litchfield Plantation and Pawley’s Plantation, both in Pawley’s Island, S.C., or Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, S.C.
To the sea, to the sea
If you relish in the beauty of the sea but not the idea of the sand that comes with it, holding your wedding at an oceanfront hotel may be the perfect way to enjoy the beauty and majesty of the beach. Many oceanfront hotels and resorts offer event venues with great views of the beach and ocean.
Plan to hold your wedding in one of Myrtle Beach’s many oceanfront hotels, and you can savor the benefits of a beach destination with all the comforts, conveniences and luxuries of top hotels. These resorts cater to brides with comprehensive wedding packages, creative menus and breathtaking views.
By looking for a domestic destination, you can have a dream wedding without a nightmare price tag – or the inconveniences of traveling abroad with your wedding party and guests.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Fall in love with these fall wedding ideas
Fall Wedding Ideas
Fall in love with these fall wedding ideas
(ARA) – Spring and summer may be the seasons that first come to mind when you begin planning a wedding, but autumn has a lot to offer brides too. From cooler, dryer weather and the glorious backdrop of fall colors to the opportunity to land a great deal on a reception venue, fall delivers many rewards for couples on the road to wedded bliss.
“We’re seeing increased interest in fall weddings,” says Raymond Miller of My Wedding Reception Ideas.com, a leading online resource for brides seeking unique wedding favors and other items. “Brides love the natural colorfulness of the season and the weather tends to be more reliable and comfortable for outdoor weddings. In fact, autumn may soon surpass spring as a preferred month to hold a wedding.”
If you’re planning your nuptials for harvest season, Miller offers some advice for incorporating the best elements of the season in your big day.
Cash in on color
Vibrant reds, dazzling oranges, glittering golds and bold browns – fall’s palate is a glorious profusion of colors unique to the season. Autumn brides should revel in the season’s colors, drawing the hues of fall into all aspects of their weddings, from bridesmaid gowns to table linens, floral arrangements and fall wedding favors.
“Fall colors offer many advantages when it comes to planning a wedding,” Miller says. For example, it’s easy to mix and match more than one fall color because they tend to naturally complement each other. For a spring wedding, it might be difficult to find just the right floral colors to enhance a particular shade of lavender bridesmaid gown. But pair bronze gowns with flowers that sport autumnal reds and golds, and you’ll have a sure win.
Favor the fall
Brides looking for truly unique wedding favors will find that the variety of fall wedding favors available makes it easy to put their personal stamp on their wedding. “Favors are an important part of any wedding,” Miller says. “After all, they’re the keepsakes that will hopefully remind your guests for years to come of how much they enjoyed your special day.”
Whether they’re whimsical (pear-shaped scented soaps), practical (oak leaf keychains) or sophisticated (bronze metal fall leaf wine bottle stoppers), fall wedding favors are a great way to underscore a wedding’s autumnal theme. Choosing favors that allow for optimum personalization – like personalized candy apple boxes that you fill with a homemade version of the classic autumn treat – will also help guests remember your wedding with warmth and fondness. You can find ample fall wedding favor ideas at My Wedding Reception Ideas.com.
Accessorizing with autumn
Don’t forget to continue your autumn theme throughout your wedding with fall themed wedding accessories. You can find leaf-motif unity candles, napkins and guest towels in fall colors, autumn-themed invitations and save-the-date cards, cake serving sets with maple leaf details, and a host of other items that all play to a fall theme.
Floral arrangements also offer a chance to convey an autumn theme and do something unique at the same time. Whether you opt for arrangements that feature fall flowers, like mums or gardenias, or out-of-season flowers that sport fall colors, you can accent arrangements with brightly hued leaves, branches, berries, cornstalks, hay and other natural or nature-inspired touches that are special to the season.
For more fall wedding favors, accessories, and decoration ideas, visit www.myweddingreceptionideas.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Secrets every bride can use to make her wedding unique
Unique Wedding Decorations
Secrets every bride can use to make her wedding unique
(ARA) – Every bride-to-be dreams of putting her unique stamp on her wedding day. Blending her chosen wedding colors into many of the occasion’s elements is just the first step toward a creative and beautiful event. Brides in gorgeous gowns, bridesmaids and groomsmen decked out in the wedding party’s colors and striking flowers are the perfect accompaniment to the colorful landscape of the summer and fall wedding seasons.
Selecting the perfect ways to feature wedding colors is a very personal representation of the bride and groom. If you’re a bride-to-be, picture homemade jewelry embellishing your wedding dress, table decorations that match your wedding theme and colors perfectly, or all your guests looking over unique programs that you made at your kitchen table.
“Making wedding decorations or even gifts for the wedding party allows you to put a lot of creativity and personality into the project. And, because you made it yourself, you’ll have a customized, one-of-a-kind item that perfectly matches your wedding and its decor,” says Courtney Talkington, manager of education and inspiration for Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. “Another idea for your DIY wedding is to involve your family, friends and wedding party in making the projects, allowing everyone to be included in the fun and creativity.”
Using a centuries-old technique of quilling is one way to create a homemade necklace with a unique look in beautiful colors. Not only does the rolled paper look beautiful in decorative flower shapes, it’s also a great way to incorporate keepsakes such as ticket stubs or love letters from the dating and engagement years into meaningful, wearable art. Are you new to quilling? Quilling classes will be offered at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores starting in September.
Quilled memory necklace
Supplies and tools:
Thin paper strips for quilling: scrapbook papers, ticket stubs, old love letters and other paper mementos
Quilling tool
X-Acto knife and cutting mat
Tacky glue
1 spool tiger tail
1 package each of 3 mm and 4 mm Blue Moon glass pearl beads
1 clasp set
Crimp beads
Crimp tool
Bent-nose pliers
Wire cutter
2 6 mm jump rings
1/4 yard Tulle
1/4 yard of 1/4 inch wide Organdy ribbon
Hand sewing needle
Thread
Optional book: “The Art of Paper Quilling, Designing Handcrafted Gifts and Cards”
Directions:
1. Using paper strips for quilling, make several flower shapes in various sizes and colors. Set aside.
2. Cut two pieces of tiger tail about 12 inches long.
3. Attach one end of one tiger tail strand to clasp using crimp bead and crimp tool. Trim excess wire.
4. String glass pearl beads for about 8 to 9 inches.
5. Attach one jump ring to opposite end using a crimp bead and crimp tool. Trim excess wire. Set aside.
6. Repeat steps three to five for second tiger tail strand.
7. Cut two pieces of tiger tail – one 8 inches long and another 10 inches long.
8. Attach tiger tail strands to jump ring. Adjust the 8 inch strand to measure approximately 6 inches and the 10 inch strand to measure approximately 8 inches.
9. Lay paper flowers out on work surface so they fit nicely between the two pearl strands and on top of the two tiger tail strands.
10. Cut two pieces of tulle slightly larger than your flower layout, following the outline of the flower shapes. Cut two large strips of tulle – about 3/4 inches wide and 3 inches long – to tie onto necklace at the sides.
11. Sandwich the two tiger tail wires between the tulle. Hand stitch the tulle together close to the tiger tail wire.
12. Tie the tulle onto the necklace at jump rings. Trim tulle to desired length.
13. Cut two pieces of organdy ribbon each 2 1/2 inches long. Tie onto necklace at jump rings. Trim.
14. Glue paper flower in place on top of the tulle following desired layout. Let dry.
15. Add glass pearl beads to flower centers. Let dry.
If you’re looking for something for your guests to take home with them, consider designing your wedding programs with a keepsake envelope. The directions below use fall burgundy colors, but feel free to mix and match the colors to personalize the program to your wedding.
Personalized wedding program
Supplies and tools:
8 1/2 inches by 11 inches of Burgundy suede cardstock
12 inches by 12 inches of Black Magic cardstock, black/red two-sided
12 inches by 12 inches of Burgundy suede paper
Lime green cardstock
12 inches by 12 inches Vellum sheets, translucent clouds
2 shades of purple, narrow ribbon
5 round beads, grape
5 seed beads, grape
Silver leaf charm
Silver “Follow your heart” charm
5 headpins
2 jump rings
Silver heart brad
20-gauge Silver wire
Grape leaf template
Paper trimmer and scissors
Corner rounder
Hole punches, regular and large
Vellum tape
Adhesive dot runner or glue stick
Jewelry tools: wire cutter, round-nose and chain-nose pliers
Computer (to generate text)
Ruler and stylus (or bone folder)
Directions
1. Cut burgundy suede cardstock 5 1/2 inches by 12 inches. Score 4 inches up from bottom edge and fold, using ruler and stylus, to create a pocket. If left and right edges are not quite even, trim them now, up to 1/2 inch total. Punch top four corners of folded pocket with corner rounder.
2. Using included pattern, trace a grape leaf on the back of the pocket flap and cut out with scissors. Print the bride’s and groom’s names and wedding date on vellum, so that it will fit the leaf shape. Attach the vellum to the inside of the pocket with adhesive dot runner. Attach a panel of lime green cardstock behind the vellum for a subtle green hue. Cut a thin strip of burgundy suede cardstock to fit behind top of pocket. Round corners and attach so the back side of the paper is visible behind the suede pocket. Using large hole punch, punch a notch on the left and right sides, using photo as guide for securing ribbon.
3. Print vellum panels with wedding information, no wider than 4 1/4 inches. Mount on burgundy suede paper and Black Magic cardstock; round top right corner of vellum.
4. To create bead grape cluster, string a green seed bead on a headpin, followed by a round green bead. Make six to eight. Create a wrapped loop at the end of each. Curl one end of 20-gauge wire and string on grapes and leaf charm. Create a wrapped loop.
5. Wrap narrow purple ribbons around the wedding program pocket and tie in a knot to the right of the leaf cut-out. Slip the bead cluster onto a jump ring and attach over the knot. Tie the ribbon, catching the jump ring, to prevent it from sliding. Attach the “Follow your heart” charm to a second jump ring and attach it to the first jump ring.
6. Punch a hole through all three layers of the program and insert a silver heart brad.
“There are so many ways to take your wedding from mainstream to magnificent” advises Talkington. “A little inspiration is all you need to incorporate your ideas into the wedding of your dreams.”
For additional ideas for unique ways to personalize your wedding through crafts, visit www.joann.com/wedding.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Engaged? How to experience all the excitement of this special time
Enjoy This Time Together
Engaged? How to experience all the excitement of this special time
(ARA) – Congratulations – you’re engaged! This is a special time, leading up to the big day that will change your lives forever. Don’t wait for the nuptials to arrive, however, before you bask in the bliss. Savor every minute of your engagement experience.
“Brides may find that making wedding plans can distract them from the simple joy of being engaged,” says Raymond Miller, a wedding planning expert with the Web site My Wedding Reception Ideas.com. “But some advanced planning and creative ideas can help them fully enjoy their engagement while still preparing for the wedding day of their dreams.”
Miller offers brides-to-be some simple advice for getting the most enjoyment out of being engaged:
Announcing your big news
News of your engagement is one of the most exciting pieces of information you’ll ever share with family and friends. Get creative and fun with your engagement announcement, but don’t overlook practicality. You want to announce your engagement and wedding date in a way that will be quick and easy for you – and memorable to those receiving the message. Save the date magnets can be a great way to get the word out and put your wedding date front-of-mind for those who are invited.
Traditional engagement announcements in local newspapers limit your creativity and the reach of your news. Save the date wedding magnets can relay information about your wedding plans across the country to distant loved ones. And because we all have a tendency to hold on to magnets (How many pizza delivery magnets do you have on your refrigerator?) in conspicuous places in our homes, your guests-to-be will see a constant reminder of your special day.
My Wedding Reception Ideas.com can help you create customized wedding save the date magnets that reflect your individuality, convey the theme of your wedding and keep your date on the minds of friends and family.
Sharing the celebration
Sure, your maid of honor and other girlfriends will probably throw you a bridal shower. But you don’t have to wait to begin celebrating the good news. You and your fiancé can involve loved ones in the celebrating – and do it at a time you choose – by hosting your own engagement party.
Staging your own party allows you to share the excitement sooner. Plus, you can use the occasion as an opportunity to “test drive” wedding day seating arrangements or check out a restaurant you’re considering for the rehearsal dinner. You can also experiment with linens and décor; using colors you’re considering for your wedding will give you an idea of what these decorator items will look like in an elegant setting. Or, use the engagement party as way to preview your wedding theme – for example, host the party at a seaside location for a beach-themed wedding.
And don’t forget to celebrate as a couple, as well. If planning starts to feel too stressful, consider taking a pre-honeymoon trip that will help you decompress and reconnect as a couple. Time away together will help remind you what all your wedding planning is really about – your love for each other. The break could be as simple as a weekly date night or as elaborate as a weekend getaway.
Be resourceful
The Internet has made wedding planning easier than ever. Use online resources, like sites that allow you to experiment with seating charts for receptions, compare color schemes and create sample menus. My Wedding Reception Ideas.com can help you pick and plan personalized wedding favors, accessories and gifts for your wedding party. The site also provides tips on different kinds of napkins and how to choose them, and other useful planning hints. Visit www.myweddingreceptionideas.com to learn more.
“Planning a wedding should be part of the enjoyable experience of being engaged,” Miller says. “With creativity and some expert help, it’s possible to make the months of your engagement as memorable and special as the wedding day itself.”
Courtesy of ARAcontent
More brides choosing heirloom china
More Brides Choose China
More brides choosing heirloom china
(ARA) – Ever since she was a little girl, Amanda Davis dreamed of one day having her grandmother’s cherished wedding china as her very own.
“As a child, I always loved listening to stories about past family gatherings as Mamo took each piece of her china out of the hutch so carefully,” says Davis. “I can remember thinking about how this same china had been used for numerous family gatherings and feeling a sense of connection to my grandfather, who died before I was born, through the china that I knew he had used with my grandmother on similar family occasions.”
Davis had no idea her grandmother, Bettie Guillion, shared a similar dream. Guillion knew her granddaughter loved her china, and planned to pass along her precious heirlooms when Davis grew up and set her own big date. But there was one problem — missing pieces. Guillion received the set for her own wedding in the early 1940s and while she had managed to keep most of her beloved collection through the decades, somewhere along the way, the cups and saucers disappeared. Guillion’s daughter, Linda Bohannon, thought it would be impossible to replace them.
“My mother picked her china out of the Sears and Roebuck catalog more than 60 years ago, so we knew there was just no way we’d ever find it,” says Bohannon. “The only thing she could remember about her china was that it was made by Homer Laughlin. That didn’t seem like much to go on, so at that point I just hoped we could find some nice cream colored pieces Amanda could use with the set.”
Bohannon heard about Replacements, Ltd., known as the world’s largest supplier of old and new china, crystal, silver and collectibles. When she visited the company’s Web site, Bohannon found a list of china made by Homer Laughlin and noticed photographs of most patterns. She started clicking away and was almost speechless when she came across an image that looked very familiar.
“I called my mother up and asked her, does your china have little pink and yellow roses on it, and could the pattern name be ‘Countess’?” Bohannon remembers. “That was it; that was her china! I was completely flabbergasted. It never entered my mind that we would be able to find the exact pattern. My mother was absolutely thrilled!”
Davis isn’t alone in creating wedding registries for family treasures. Many brides are choosing to complete china, crystal and flatware sets lovingly handed down from mother to daughter to granddaughter. Unfortunately, if the patterns are especially old there is a good chance that the manufacturer no longer produces the pieces, making it nearly impossible to track down at most department stores.
“We’re one of the few places brides inheriting heirloom patterns can turn to for help because of our huge, diverse inventory of discontinued patterns, some more than 100 years old,” says Traci Hart, Replacements’ director of customer service. “Nearly 80 percent of our bridal registry sales are generated from discontinued and heirloom patterns. What’s more, we’ve put together a group of associates to specifically handle all registry requests. Because these folks are really familiar with our bridal customers, we can offer more personalized attention. It’s almost like having your own personal shopper.”
Brides like Davis, who don’t know their pattern name, are in luck. The company also offers a free pattern identification service. Replacements’ research team receives nearly 3,000 requests weekly from people who don’t know the name or manufacturer of their patterns.
“I cannot tell you how much it meant to me to receive this piece of family history,” Davis says. “I can already picture myself as a mother and grandmother pulling this same china out of my own hutch as I tell stories of my grandmother. I hope that in the future they will feel the same sense of family history and pride and that I will one day be able to pass it on to my own granddaughter. To know that it will be used in future generations of my family in the same way it was used in past generations is an amazing gift.” You can learn more about Replacements’ bridal registry and free pattern identification service at Replacements.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Need a bridal shower gift? Make it personal
Spice Up Your Shower Gift
Need a bridal shower gift? Make it personal
(ARA) – Looking for an affordable bridal shower gift with a personal touch? A spice gift basket can fit any budget and makes an ideal personal gift for every cook. With just a little thought and a few supplies, you can assemble a personalized basket. With Internet and mail-order shopping, it’s possible to buy everything you need without leaving the house.
Begin with a basket or any other useful kitchen container, such as a mixing bowl, cake pan, serving dish or colander. Vintage items you pick up at a second-hand store or garage sale can be charming. Line the container with a pretty cloth napkin, a colorful dishtowel or even a piece of fabric cut with pinking shears, or use tissue paper if you prefer. Add bottles or packets of spices, herbs, seasonings and other ingredients. For a special touch, include a favorite recipe, a cookbook, a wooden spoon, a potholder, or any related accessory.
With a little imagination, you can personalize a basket for any bride. Kendall McFarland, research and development manager at Frontier Natural Products Co-op, has a few ideas to get you started.
* Mexican fiesta – Tuck a brightly colored potholder in with chili powder, cumin, dried peppers, taco seasoning or other Mexican spices. Add a jar of salsa, some tortilla chips and margarita mix if you like. For your “basket,” use an inexpensive sombrero, available at card and party stores.
* Mama mia – Line a colander or pasta serving dish with a red checkered tablecloth or cloth or paper napkins. Add seasonings such as garlic, basil, oregano and Italian blend and include a package of pasta. Supply a packet of spaghetti sauce or fettuccine alfredo seasoning mix or a favorite pasta recipe. A candle and bottle of Chianti add a special romantic touch.
* Beginner’s basket – Create a very basic basket for a new cook or a bride just starting out on her own with a handful of popular and common spices – such as salt, pepper, cinnamon, basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary and turmeric. Include a cookbook, a recipe box or a file with copies of some favorite family recipes.
* Spice of life – Even the most experienced cooks need some variety. Try assembling some unusual or new flavor combinations or savory spice blends. Frontier Natural Products has just introduced a line of Pepper Fusion spice grinders that combine organic peppercorns with garlic, chipotle, cayenne and lemon. Add an unusual or interesting kitchen gadget to intrigue the seasoned cook, such as a set of garnishing spoons.
* Grill master – Place a variety of grilling spices and marinade mixes with a mitt and tongs or other grilling tools in a grilling basket. Add an apron, a roll of heavy-duty aluminum foil or a grill cleaning brush for an extra touch.
Small containers of spices are especially handy for gift baskets, because you can provide a variety of spices at a lower cost. Simply Organic brand offers attractively packaged organic mini-spices and other seasonings and mixes for those who want to add a natural touch to their baskets.
With the wide variety of seasonings and accessories available, the possibilities are endless. Just use your imagination and you can spice up your gift-giving with personal and original gifts for the bride. For more tips and suggestions for specific gift baskets made with spices, seasonings, mixes and cooking accessories go to www.frontiercoop.com/giftbaskets.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Design and style tips offer a creative spin on an old wedding tradition
Creative Ideas for Old Traditions
Design and style tips offer a creative spin on an old wedding tradition
(ARA) – Something old, something new;
Something borrowed, something blue;
And a silver sixpence in her shoe.
An enduring Victorian tradition steeped in superstitious symbolism, the verse containing a series of old, new, borrowed and blue good luck tokens for the bride dates back centuries in England.
John C. Franke, style expert and faculty member at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, offers a creative spin on the age-old tradition for the bride-to-be in 2010.
Something old: Continuity with the bride’s family and the past
According to Franke, trends suggest a rising popularity in vintage gowns. “A 1960s-era gown will not only allow a bride to check something “old” off her list, but may also offer affordability and superior workmanship,” says Franke who recommends vintage shops as well as eBay to begin the search. “To make her purchase even more meaningful, a bride might consider purchasing a dress from one of many organizations who recycle wedding gowns for charitable fundraising.”
For another possibility to represent something “old,” Franke suggests implementing a table of wedding photographs collected from family and friends attending the reception. The photos will honor the marriages of couples close to the bride and groom as well as provide a wonderful center for conversation.
Something new: Optimism and hope for the bride’s life ahead
“Renewable is the new ‘new,’” says Franke. For a fresh approach to something new, Franke suggests environmentally responsible decisions such as selecting potted perennials for centerpieces. “Potted wildflowers will create a vibrant setting for the reception and can later be planted in the garden at the newlywed’s home.”
Franke also suggests seed satchels as favors to serve as a long-living connection to the wedding.
Even guests can get into the game. “If you’re invited to a wedding this year, consider presenting the couple with a gift that offers a new spin on traditional gift options.” Franke suggests antiques carefully selected for the couple or aluminum serving pieces.
Something borrowed: A reminder that the bride can still depend on friends and family
Traditionally, a bride can borrow anything from her best friend’s punch bowl to her grandmother’s pearls, but Franke suggests fulfilling the adage by creating a buzz. “Why not borrow an antique car and create a dramatic exit from your wedding?” Franke asks.
Another emerging trend is the borrowing of the cake knife from one bride to another within a family. Starting a tradition now of passing along your cake knife or other wedding essentials is not only cost-saving, but also creates a legacy that future generations will treasure.
Something blue: A color suggesting purity and fidelity as evidenced in the 19th century phrase “Marry in blue, lover be true.”
Building blues into the wedding color scheme is an option for completing your old, new, borrowed and blue checklist, and at the same time, developing a color scheme for your reception.
“Think like a graphic designer,” says Franke. “Consider your wedding colors as a controlled palette.” Franke encourages the bride to visit a paint store or check a Pantone system and define a series of colors, never more than three.
Once selected, the bride can keep the color chips with her throughout the planning period so that the exact colors are always available when decisions are made about bridesmaids’ gowns, table linens, floral arrangements and other decorative elements.
According to Franke, blues are an elegant choice for any season. He suggests pairing royal blues with yellow for a classic summer wedding; blue and pink for spring; and icy blues with whites or silver for a winter wedding.
To learn more about The Art Institutes schools, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Why do I need Wedding Insurance?
By Padma Pickering
You’ve planned for the big day since you were a little girl. You have put so much time and money into making sure everything is just right. You have planned a beautiful garden ceremony in September. But now, a hurricane threathens to ruin your special day. What are you going to do?
Don’t leave your wedding day up to chance. Wedding Insurance is meant to take the worry out of all your planning. But what exactly is wedding insurance and what does it cover?
What is Wedding Insurance?
Wedding Insurance is an insurance policy designed to protect the wedding couple from financial loss due to cancellation or postponement of the wedding due to circumstances beyond their control or loss/damage of key elements of their wedding.
Wedding insurance will cover the costs if you need to postpone the wedding due to unforeseen weather events, if the bride/groom or a family member becomes ill and cannot attend the wedding, or even if the flight of a key person of the wedding party was cancelled.
Wedding insurance also covers loss from your vendors. If your limousine driver does not show up and you need to book another limousine at the last minute thus paying 3 times the expense, wedding insurance will cover the added cost. If one of your vendors goes out of business before your wedding, you are covered for the non-refundable deposit.
Most wedding insurance policies cover cancellation/postponement expenses, wedding attire, rings, photographs, gifts, video, cakes, documents, cars, flowers, vendors, general liability, personal accident, expenses and overseas travels
Do I need Wedding Insurance and how much it it?
Check with your ceremony and reception venue to see if they carry insurance and what it covers. Ask your vendors if they carry insurance as well, get a copy of their policy to see where you aren’t fully covered. Do no wait until the last minute to purchase wedding insurance. If you reserve a reception hall and you find out it was double booked a month before the ceremony, your insurance will cover the added expense of finding a new venue. Find the best insurance policy that fits your needs. Wedding coverage can range from $130 to $800 for cancellation/postponement depending on the coverage on WedSafe.com. Liability insurance can also be purchased for $175 for $1,000,000 coverage. Check with your homeowner’s policy for your coverage before you purchase liability insurance. Wedding Insurance can be tailored to your needs, whatever they are.
When you’re shopping around for your wedding insurance policy, make sure the wedding insurance company has a license, ask about how much reimbursement you receive if a loss takes place, and what supplemental coverage they offer.
Supplemental Coverage
In some cases, couples have had a hard time receiving the wedding pictures from the photographers or the pictures are of poor quality. Wedding Insurance can cover the cost of re-creating key wedding moments from the cake, flowers, and having key people present to have photographs re-taken.
Wedding Insurance also offers honeymoon supplement insurance. Check with your credit card or homeowners policy to see if you are covered, otherwise you can purchase honeymoon travel insurance with your wedding insurance
Wedding Insurance covers many different things but does not cover a change of heart. Be sure to purchase a wedding insurance policy that fits your needs so you can make this day a memorable one
Purchase Wedding Insurance at
http://www.protectmywedding.com
What to expect when you marry off your first child
A Parent's Prospective
By Aaron Grossman, Babyboomers.tv Staff Writer
It can happen in many ways; your daughter’s boyfriend pulls you aside and asks for your daughter’s hand in marriage; your son asks you to help him find a source for selecting an engagement ring; your kid calls you from a Hawaiian vacation with her boyfriend and excitedly shouts “We’re engaged”; or, your son gets down on one knee in front of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center and proposes to his girlfriend while you’re watching it on “The Today Show.”
There are thousands of ways in which parents learn that the moment has come. For those of us with adult children, ecstatic to realize our pride and joy is going to walk down the aisle, the journey has just begun.
In 1890, the U.S. Census started keeping records of the age of brides and grooms at their first marriage. It’s been rising for decades to a median age now of almost 26 for women and almost 28 for men.
Median age at first marriage: U.S. Census Bureau
So, chances are that if you’re still in the afterglow of celebrating the engagement news, let’s remember that we’re talking about an adult child in his or her 20s or even 30s. Your kids have likely been on their own for some time, usually working and living on their own or completing an education.
The wedding planning journey will be handled as a team effort with adult participants. The paradigm of Mommy and Daddy planning their 18-year-old darling’s wedding with the groom’s family on a “need-to-know” basis has been smashed. We ought to know that baby boomers tore those walls down years ago.
First steps: Set a budget and a guest list count
You’ll need to establish who’s contributing to the funding of the wedding. It may be both the bride and groom’s side. It may just the bride’s parents, or it may be the bride and groom themselves. At the end of the day, it’s better to start out with a firm grasp on what’s feasible financially.
The wedding planning experience is going to be an emotional roller coaster ride. Prepare to budget it as you can afford it. And build in an extra cushion of 10 to 15 percent… that way the inevitable surprise costs won’t bite you in the behind.
Part and parcel of the budget planning is setting up a rough count of how many guests will attend. I warn you — this can be emotional. You may just have to pass over a distant relative for the bottom-line number.
Obviously, there are three lists: bride and groom’s list, bride’s parents and groom’s parents. However, in today’s “new family” realities, there can be several sets of parents on both sides due to divorce, remarriage, same-sex parents, and so on. This can explode the guest list count and, at the same time, offer additional sources of revenue for the budget.
For both budgeting and guest list planning, the Internet will provide tremendous benefits to novice planners. Most wedding sites offer advice and cost parameters. They even localize the cost estimates for different cities and regions.
Next step: What kind of wedding?
I think it’s fair to say that if you haven’t been to all types of weddings (yet), you’ve heard, read or clicked on news of how vastly different today’s options are. From a traditional wedding in a house of worship or catering hall to a destination wedding to a wedding on a beach in white linen clothing, there are many choices. Boomers, let the bride and groom decide!
They may already be living in a locale far away from you and decide they want to have the wedding in their adopted new home. Or, they may decide they want a non-traditional wedding in a museum or some other grand venue. Work with them to make it happen.
Two examples:
- A cousin’s child is a respected physician working in the San Francisco Bay area and got engaged to a fellow in the wine business out there. Both are originally from New York, but they decided they wanted to get married on a Napa Valley ranch.Her father groused for a bit about how the entire family would have to fly across country and why couldn’t they come back east and have the wedding here. Who won the battle? No contest! The guests flew out to Napa and it was one of the Top 10 weddings on my list!
- A close friend has a son who, along with his fiancée, really did not want to have their wedding in a typical venue like a catering hall or restaurant or country club.They discovered that the Brooklyn Museum can be booked for weddings and other affairs, and they fell in love with the place.Planning such a party is not for the faint of heart — you have to hire a caterer and make sure they coordinate every detail with the venue. Same with the band, florist, photographer, decorator and other key services. Ostensibly, you become the general contractor of an extremely detailed proceeding.The time and effort can certainly pay off. The couple was married in a cupola surrounding by Rodin sculptures, and the reception was in the museum’s grand rotunda with Picasso, Monet and de Kooning peeking over the guests’ shoulders.
Final major step: Who’s in charge?
Trust me when I tell you this one is a biggie and may determine the tone of the new family’s relations for years to come.
This kind of enterprise needs a leader, co-leaders, or a very well-coordinated team of peers. And keep in mind that we’re all adults, right? Your very accomplished son or daughter is entitled to use the black lab and the golden retriever as ring bearers. After all, the bride and groom met in a dog park.
Meddlesome future in-laws are also entitled to their opinions, as long as they know that there’s a designated driver at the wheel. Anybody see “Meet the Parents” or “Meet the Fokkers”?
Make the call early and reinforce the chain of command often. In our case, it was our daughter getting married, and both my wife and daughter assumed leadership roles. That’s not to say that the rest of us were relegated to the bleachers; but mother and daughter basically did most of the legwork. The groom, his parents and I were brought in for reactions and confirmation.
And, I’m happy to report that we are a very congenial set of in-laws 1½ years into the marriage.
OK, so four major decisions have been made: budget, guest list, type of wedding and identification of the Chief Planning Officer(s). Prepare yourself for a whirlwind. But do yourself a favor first: Surf the web for favorite wedding planning web sites. There is a wealth of information and tips that will be both time-saving and cost-saving as well.
Your checklist
- Choose a date. Don’t be afraid of off-season times of the year — caterers offer discounted prices and out-of-town travelers will appreciate it, too. Send out “save the date” announcements, if desired.
(See why the guest list must be done up front?) - Choose a wedding planner, if desired.
- Choose a venue.
- Notify and/or hire the clergy or judge presiding over the wedding.
- Choose a DJ or band. In our case, it was easy: The band who could sound great in Brooklyn Museum’s 150-year-old rotunda was going to sound even better in our venue.
- Choose a florist.
- Don’t be afraid to mix it up. My daughter married in early January and the florist created magic with both flowers and lots of candles.
- Choose a photographer and videographer, if desired. These days, most all photography is digital; however, you will find wedding photographers offering different choices as to how you access and keep your proofs, post-wedding. Some still maintain strict control over the proofs with no access to a digital file, but most allow you and your guests to view all proofs on their web site, and the guests can purchase “proof-quality” photos a la carte directly from the photographer. Alternatively, enlist a friend or family member to photograph the affair. The photos they shoot can be assembled in sensational, professional-quality albums from photo web sites these days, including Kodak Gallery, Snapfish, iPhoto, and others.
- Organize the bridal registry. The Internet is a “must” for this activity, preempting all previous methods of setting up a registry. Most brides and grooms choose several retail sites for both casual and formal gift choices.
- Choose bridal gowns and haberdashery.
- Prepare invitations and note cards.
- Select gifts for the wedding party, including maid of honor, bridesmaids, ushers, flower children, ring bearer, etc.
- Religious artifacts, if necessary. Consult your clergy, catering facility or your favorite wedding planning web site.
- Bridal shower
- Bachelor and bachelorette party
- Book hotel and see to transportation arrangements for out-of-town guests. I, father of the bride, assumed this role with relish — it was something I was actually good at!
- Submit announcement of the blessed event to your local newspaper of choice.
- Rehearsal dinner. Again, someone’s home or a venue? Traditionally, this is hosted by the groom’s family and is usually just for the wedding party and out-of-town guests; however, anything goes today. Often, the rehearsal dinner can be a key highlight of the wedding weekend. It’s the first time everyone is together. It’s much more casual than the wedding, and the groom’s family tends to be in charge of the toasts. In some Southern cities, like New Orleans, the rehearsal dinner is of equal importance to the wedding.
The big day
Ladies usually start early for their beautification process.
Dads usually go to the bank for the night’s payouts; many tips are dispensed so bring lots of cash.
A good catering hall or a very well-organized Chief Planning Officer will have brought last-minute items to the venue: grooming aids, change-of-clothing, and a pouch to collect wedding gifts of currency.
Take a deep breath, walk down the aisle and marvel at the out-of-body experience that it is.
The reception
Dads: Don’t “wing it” for your toast to the happy couple. Words matter, and you don’t get a chance very often to stand up in front of everyone who means something to you to proclaim your blessing over a union of such importance.
Moms: You are the most important women after the bride. Own your beaming countenance — you are as beautiful as you feel at this singular moment.
All: Party, party, party!
Getting people home
Be responsible about potential DUI incidents: Prepare ahead of time with phone numbers of cab companies, limousines and/or public transportation. Anyone can come back the next day for a car left behind.
The morning after
Some families have a brunch the day after the wedding, typically hosted by the bride’s family at their home or at a venue. Again, anything goes these days as to ownership of the affair.
It is a chance to bask in the love of the room one last time and say good bye to your out-of-town guests.
Final thoughts
Your son’s or daughter’s wedding really is a day you’ll remember forever. The video and the photo proofs will arrive soon and you’ll re-live it all over again. Enjoy the ride. It’s a rare moment when everything and everyone is in perfect order.
Notably, for our generation, we’ve hosted and have been attending weddings of the children of lifelong friends whose weddings we all went to back in the day. Life comes full cycle. It’s a very satisfying feeling.
Very last thought: It’s ALL about the bride!
Insuring a New Marriage
Neal A Deutsch. CFP
Financial Reporter for Babyboomers.TV
Since the last newsletter, I have had the joy of walking my daughter down the aisle in the course of her marriage to my new son-in-law. They spent a considerable amount of time in the planning for that memorable occasion. However, re-evaluating their insurance coverage wasn’t one of the items uppermost on their minds and neither is it in the minds of most newlyweds. But the right insurance programs can go a long way toward shielding you against the kinds of financial calamities that can strain and sometimes break a marriage. In that regard, we thought we would indicate several key insurance areas that we recommend newlyweds (and all married folks, for that matter) review.
It’s a given that couples should have life insurance if they have or expect to have children, or if one spouse earns most or all of the couple’s income. But, it is often suggested that life insurance is not needed where couples have no dependents and where both spouses work in comparable-paying jobs. This may be suitable in some cases, but you may still want to consider additional life insurance beyond what is offered at work.
The fourth advantage of getting life insurance early for many newlyweds is that they can lock in low premiums while they are young and healthy. Lastly, while group term insurance is probably available at work, it can’t go with you if you leave your job, and it often is inadequate. Also, you don’t want to need additional life insurance at a time when you’re uninsurable for an individual policy.
If either one or both spouses bring existing life insurance to the marriage, they’ll probably want to name their new spouse as beneficiary. Otherwise, death proceeds could end up going to an ex-spouse or parents.
Competing with life insurance premium dollars are other insurance needs for newlyweds, and high on that list should be disability insurance. This insurance is designed to partially make up for lost wages should you not be able to work because of an injury or long-term illness. Statistically, young people are more likely to suffer a lengthy disability than to die prematurely. Group disability coverage at work typically is not sufficient, so you may want to augment it with a private policy. While any worker, single or married, should consider this, it becomes even more important when you have a spouse, particularly one who may be dependent on your income. Newlyweds commonly live in apartments or rented houses before buying their first home or condo, yet they often mistakenly believe that the landlord’s insurance will cover damage to their personal property. Renter’s insurance is inexpensive and easy to get.
So, for newlyweds, it is clearly the time now to assess your insurance coverage and ensure its adequacy. The wedding planning came to its conclusion and the serious side of the new marriage in terms of financial planning must come into focus. If we can be of any assistance in answering your questions, please do not hesitate to give us a call.
Neal A. Deutsch is a Certified Financial Planner™ & Registered Securities Principal, offering securities through First Allied Securities, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Neal is President of Chestnut Investment Group in Suffern, NY, helping people with financial planning since 1984. Please feel free to call Neal at 845.369.0016 or email him with your questions at neald@chestnutinvestment.com. Visit his website at www.chestnutinvestment.com
