Now that you are engaged and you have completed the guest list, you need to start considering what colour themes that will be central to your wedding.

But, before you make a decision you must first consider your groom. Think about his colourings and consider which colours he would look good in. Then, think about your bridesmaids. Not all ages of bridesmaid will look their best in every colour and equally it is important to consider body shapes and sizes as well as skin tones and hair colour. Lastly, pay close attention to the dominant colours in the room where the reception will take place as these may affect your choice.

The most popular colour choice for Autumn and Winter weddings is still burgundy. It is probably because of the classy, regal and opulent feel this colour has that has ensured it has lasted the test of time. Depending on the depth of the shade, burgundy tends to suit most skin colours and hair colour. Take care if you have a blonde bridesmaid with pale skin though as this colour can be a little draining if it is too dark. This colour is always best matched with deep cream colours as well as gold tones. Keep accessories and flowers cream and gold in colour as well as table decorations. This ensures that the burgundy dresses stand out and do not dominate the other areas of detail.

Much as burgundy is an ever-popular choice, recent polls have hinted that chocolate tones are becoming a more common colour theme. Whether it be chocolate rose petals scattered on reception tables, chocolate ribbon tied on placecards and wedding stationery or bridesmaid dresses, this is definitely a great colour for this time of year. Some brides have reported though, that when some bridesmaid dresses were photographed in poor light, the dresses appeared almost black, so watch our for this.

If you are looking for a more traditional Winter wedding, then why not go flat out and make red your dominant colour theme? It does not need to look tacky if you are careful with the shades of red that are used. Best to stay away from cherry reds in the winter and stick with deep reds that can be teamed with rich creams. You may even choose to have some red on your dress bodice if you are a daring bride. And why not, if you can’t be the belle of the ball on your wedding day, then when can you be?

Perhaps you are looking for a safer colour option, in which case join forces with thousands of brides who opt for a traditional gold. No matter how you do this, you can’t possibly go wrong. Gold and ivory always oozes class and sophistication and naturally suits all skin tones. There is always such a vast selection of bridal accessories, table decorations, wedding stationery, jewellery and favours available that will blend brilliantly with any gold wedding theme. Equally, in years to come when you look back at your wedding photographs, this colour will not age and look old fashioned. This means that your future kids will think you are really cool � and that has to be a winning factor for choosing a gold wedding theme doesn’t it!?

This article is brought to you by “World of Wedding Favours” - Offering brides high quality wedding favours and bomboniere at low-cost prices. To view our vast range of wedding favours to suit your special occasion please visit: Autumn and Winter Weddings

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As one of the biggest and most potentially stressful events of your life, getting engaged and subsequently planning a wedding brings with it an onslaught of questions. As times change and weddings evolve, traditional rules of etiquette have followed suit, only adding to the confusion.

To gain perspective, first understand that “etiquette” is above all about treating people with courtesy and making them feel comfortable. When an etiquette question arises, consider the feelings of those who will be affected. Let us steer you through the fog of questions with this quick look at the most common wedding etiquette dilemmas:

Family Etiquette

Introducing Your Parents -

If the bride and groom’s parents have not met prior to the engagement, tradition dictates that the groom’s family calls and introduces themselves to the bride’s family and arranges a meeting. If the groom's parents do not make the first introduction, then the bride’s parents should. Nowadays, who makes the first call is irrelevant; all that really matters is that the parents meet. If meeting face to face is impossible, a letter or phone call will suffice.

Introducing Divorced Parents -

If the groom’s parents are divorced, the parent with the closest relationship to the groom should take the first step in meeting the bride’s parents. If both sets are divorced, the parent closest to the groom should first contact the bride’s suggested parent. If no one begins the introduction process, the couple should step in and ensure that everyone meets, while refraining from forcing potentially awkward situations.

Your In-Laws -

The groom’s parents often feel left out of the planning process. To avoid this, invite your future in-laws into the initial dialog. You should immediately inform them of your ideas regarding location, date, size and style of the wedding. Take queues on their desired level of involvement, and include them accordingly. Let them make offers to pitch in with finances or planning (here is a useful list of the traditional wedding costs the groom’s family is responsible for. Above all, keep them in the informed throughout your engagement.

Invitation Etiquette

Inviting partners and guests -

If an invited guest is married, engaged or living with a significant other, that partner must be included in the invitation. A single invitation addressed to both individuals should be sent to spouses or couples who live together, while separate invitations should be sent to each member of an engaged or long term couple who don’t live together. Inviting single guests with a date is a thoughtful gesture, but one that is not required. If you are inviting a single guest with a date, try to find out the name of your friend’s intended date and include that person’s name on the invitation. Otherwise, inner envelopes may include "And Guest,” indicating that he or she may bring any chosen escort or friend.

Inviting Children -

To invite or not invite the little ones - this is a situation that can quickly get ugly. Make your decision and stick with it - then inform your guests through carefully addressed invitations:

Children over 18 who are invited to the wedding should receive their own invitations - regardless of whether or not they live with their parents. If you don’t send them an invitation - it’s clear that they’re not invited.

Children under 18 who are invited to the wedding should have their name included on the invitation. If you’re inviting Joe and Mary Smith without their two little ones, their invitation should read “Joe and Mary Smith.”

If you’re still worried that some guests may add write-ins on their reply card - print the names of those invited on the reply card as well.

Guests Who Ask to Bring a Guest -

Your guests should know better! It is never appropriate for a guest to ask to bring a date, and you have every right to politely say no. However, if you discover that a guest is engaged or living with a significant other, you should extend a written or verbal invitation.

Invitations to out-of-town guests -

Many brides ponder whether or not it’s appropriate to invite long distance guests for whom it may be impossible to attend. Use your best judgment. Is this person truly a close friend who would want to attend your celebration? If so, failing to extend an invitation may be insulting. Remember, these days friends and family are often spread all over the country, and people are accustomed to traveling. On the other hand, if you haven’t spoken in years, an invitation may look like no more than a request for a gift. In those cases, send a wedding announcement instead, which carries no gift-giving obligation.

Gift-giving Etiquette

Yes, everyone likes to get gifts, and weddings are a perfect occasion for gift-giving. Friends and loved ones customarily honor the commitment of the newly betrothed by showering them with gifts. As the happy couple, just remember to always feel privileged–not entitled. Here’s some useful wedding gift etiquette advice:

• Do not print registry information on the invitation.
• Do publicize your registry information by word of mouth only
• Don’t explicitly request cash gifts; your close friends or family numbers can inform guests of your preferences if asked.
• Do return all gifts - even shower and engagement gifts - if the wedding is called off (so don’t be tempted to use any gifts until after the wedding!)
• Do respond to each gift with a personal hand-written thank you note within two weeks of receiving the gift (or within 2 weeks of returning from your honeymoon)
• There is no special formula for determining the appropriate amount a guest should spend on a gift. The idea that each gift should cost as much as one plate at the reception is an impractical misconception.

Attire Etiquette
Rules for modern wedding attire have evolved with the times, but there are still traditional standards for fabrics, lengths and styles. Here are some guidelines:

The formality of your bridesmaids’ dresses should match that of your wedding dress. Although traditionally the dresses were the same length as the wedding gown, the rise in popularity of tea- and knee-length bridesmaids’ dresses has relaxed that rule. As long as the fabric and overall style matches the formality of your floor-length gown, shorter bridesmaids’ dresses are perfectly acceptable.

For evening weddings, guests should dress for a nice dinner or event - which includes suits (or black tie) for men and dresses or skirts in sophisticated colors and fabrics for women. Lengths can vary according to the style of the event and location. Female guests may now wear black, but never white.

The Cash Bar Issue

Yes, weddings are expensive. Yes, couples should be on the lookout for budget saving tips. Yes, weddings are expensive - we know. But never - under any circumstances - should you ever consider hosting a cash bar at your reception. Think about it - you would never ask anyone to pay for a cocktail in your own home. People at your reception are still your guests, even if the event is not held in your house. That said, if a full bar is not within your budget, consider these alternatives:

1. Host a soft bar, in which guests can order champagne, beer and wine.

2. Find a reception site that allows you to bring in your own alcohol; you will save serious cash, and anything unopened can be returned for a full refund.

3. Cut down the size of your guest list - the only significant way to reduce costs in the first place.

Asking For Money; Are Money Showers Appropriate?

What is the proper etiquette for monetary gifts? Is it ever appropriate to ask for them? Are “money trees” and “money showers” considered in bad taste? What if I receive an invitation requesting a monetary gift?

Asking for Monetary Gifts -

You’re planning a bridal shower, and let’s face it - the bride and groom have been living together for three years, already accumulating at least two blenders and a toaster oven. What they could really use is some extra cash (they’ve been dying to remodel their bathroom.) However, blatantly asking for specific gifts - monetary or otherwise - is in poor taste. Just imagine an invitation that reads: “I could really use some new shoes - please send me some strappy sandals.” (Just because Carrie Bradshaw got away with it does not make it ok!) What you can do is let guests know if they ask that the bride prefers cash gifts. Send shower invites without registry information; inquiring guests will ask where the couple is registered, presenting a perfect opportunity to respond with the bride’s preference. Some guests will still prefer to give a tangible gift, so the couple should register for a few items. Avoid drawing attention to the cash with a “money tree," or other cash-displaying gimmick, so guests bringing tangible gifts don’t feel awkward. Simply display all cards and gifts together for the bride to open and acknowledge.

Bottom line? The happy bride-to-be should always remember to feel privileged, not entitled.

Giving Monetary Gifts -

You’re sorting through your mail, and to your dismay discover a shower invitation with a cutesy rhyme such as…

…To make it easy for you

and avoid a shopping spree

We thought that we would have instead,

a little money tree…

Although this presents a clear breach of etiquette, it does not justify an uprising of the etiquette police. Pointing out another’s faux pas is just as rude as the original blunder. Here are your options:

Bring a monetary gift - If you choose to participate with a cash donation, give whatever you feel comfortable giving. The shower host will start the tree off for guests by tying a bill or small envelope on the tree, and guests will follow suit. There is usually no way to tell who gave what amount. In this instance, bring a card separate from the cash for the bride.

Bring a tangible gift - I say this with caution, because you don’t want to appear as if you're protesting the shower theme. However, if you’ve put a lot of thought into selecting something memorable for the bride, take pride in presenting her with a thoughtful gift to acknowledge her upcoming nuptials.

---

For more advice on invitation etiquette, consult this complete wedding invitation guide.

Get advice on how to cut your wedding guest list

Cori Russell is editor for Elegala.com and Gala Weddings Magazine. Elegala.com is a comprehensive wedding planning resource with a national directory of wedding venues and services, along with articles, expert advice, checklists and photo galleries to lead brides through every step of the planning process.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cori_Russell

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Are you, or someone you are close to, planning a wedding? If so, you know that there are tons of choices, and so many things to plan for. Bridal bouquets and other wedding flowers are just a small part of the planning, but it can be time consuming. Here are some ideas to help move things along.

Bridal Bouquets

Many brides hold white bouquets. They can be all on type of flower, like white roses or mini carnations. They could also be a combination of flower types, like dendrobium orchids with white roses and/or carnations. A nice white ranunculus bunch would be a nice alternative to white roses.

There are many beautiful color combinations that can be mixed with white roses or held alone. If you like blue or violet, delphiniums are a nice choice. An iris is also lovely in blue. For those of you who like pastel colors (the colors of spring) pink and purple blossoms and pink roses might be right for you. An iris might come is white and yellow, too.

A bunch of baby breaths add a nice touch to the arrangement. The ribbon on the bridal bouquet is usually white, but you can match the ribbon to the wedding colors or bridesmaid dresses if you like.

Wedding Bouquets

Speaking of the bridesmaids, what are they going to carry? Sometimes these ladies have a smaller version of the bridal bouquet. Others have done a single flower that is white or matches their dresses. A simple group of pink carnations might do.

Sweet peas are also a lovely delicate flower that you can get in lavender, pink, white, or pretty much whatever color you like. They are also a lovely combination with hyacinths, which come in different colors as well. You may want to save the rose combinations for your bridal bouquet.

Geraniums can be a nice alternative to carnations in violet, red, or pink. A fresh ranunculus has lots of petals, and looks like such a nice full flower. They are slightly bigger and fluffier than carnations, and would also make a great alternative to carnations.

Other Wedding Flowers

Small floral arrangements can be made for the hair. Clips with fresh flowers, a crown of baby breaths, or a single flower by the ear are a few simple adornments that are simple yet elegant.

Corsages and boutonnieres are of course given to the parents of the bride and groom, the groom, and the bridal party. They can have matching ribbons, bows or and colors, or they can all be unique. The flowers can be white with ribbons that match the bridesmaid dresses, or the flower can match those dresses and the ribbon could be white. Small to medium flowers should be used in a small arrangement of no more than three flowers (not including baby breaths).

What about the centerpieces, the church decorations, and the reception hall? The possibilities are endless, and flowers are almost always included somewhere. One idea is to get imitation flowers. There are very realistic and beautiful imitation flowers available at arts and crafts stores that would serve the purpose. They are much easier to preserve, and you can get them in advance without worrying about them wilting. You can also use them to study some flower types and get some ideas. If you come up with something you like, you can arrange them yourself with imitation flowers and have a florist put together a real set that looks just like it.

Remember to have fun, and relax as much as possible. Flowers are nothing compared to the long wonderful life ahead, after the special day is done.

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One occasion that can safely be termed as the red letter day in the life of every human, man or woman, is their marriage. From time immemorial it has been considered the most important event in everyone's life. If, now the question arises, there is any event which is so important then it deserves to be celebrated on a large scale. Talking about wedding celebrations it must be said that they lose all their spunk if not supplanted with nice wedding cakes. There are plenty of ways to make a wedding cake that would add a coat or two of sheen and glamour to the occasion and would make the whole event memorable for everyone concerned.

One way of making a nice wedding cake is by preparing it with plenty of sugar and cream with a fair sprinkling of chocolate thrown in. This would give an extremely yummy taste to the cake which is sure to win everyone over. Cakes can also be prepared in various flavours to add variety.

However, it must be mentioned that merely preparing nice wedding cakes wouldn't suffice for they also have to be properly braced up to meet the greatness of the occasion. Talking about decorating a cake it must be said that one sure way of doing it is by preparing the cake in various colours. This surely would add tremendous attraction to the cake. Another way of adding attraction to the cakes is by preparing them in different shapes. For example preparing a cake in the shape of a heart can also be a very good way of making the the cake look attractive.

Advent of Internet has further provided people with a plethora of options to prepare some nice wedding cakes. They can now have a look at various different ways how people around the world prepare and decorate such cakes and come up with a unique preparation that would completely rock the occasion.

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Your wedding cake design should demonstrate your personal taste and style and of course fit the décor of your reception.

Follow me and I will help you with every step in choosing the right cake. You will develop a feeling of joy and relief, as you should, while preparing for your wedding. I promise you that.

Choose your wedding cake only after you have decided on your gown, the bridesmaid dresses, the reception site, the theme, colors and anything else that could have an effect on which cake you choose.

You could select a photo of a cake you love first and then try to match everything else to that. However, that approach will likely be much harder. After all once you cut and serve the cake everything else you have chosen to match it will still be there but the cake is just a memory.
Couples only fool themselves if they think guests only care about the cake's taste and the decorating and design of a wedding cake. Other than the bride’s beautiful dress and glowing face nothing says wedding like a wonderfully decorated and designed wedding cake.

Unique wedding cake inspiration may come from looking at pictures of wedding cake designs. You may find a photo that will help you design the wedding cake of your dreams to enhance your reception.

There are several approaches one can take in choosing wedding cake designs, from traditional cream or white icing in classical designs to totally modern artistic colorful masterpieces. Nowadays anything goes.

The wedding cakes we see today are very different than in the past. Designs have evolved to suit the taste of today’s couples. More and more couples are choosing cupcake towers for the wedding. This is one of the newest and original wedding cake ideas ever.

Another wedding cake style that is gaining in popularity is the miniature cake. Traditional round wedding cakes may soon fade out since all sorts of other shapes are becoming very popular. Square, oval, heart, octagon and other shapes are gaining in popularity. However some couples still prefer traditional round cakes and flavors like cheesecake for the wedding cakes.

Whatever shape or flavor you choose, your wedding cake, to your friends and family will always symbolize love, the sweetness of life, prosperity and fertility.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when deciding your wedding cake design. How much can you spend on the cake? Will the cake be the only dessert? How big of a cake will you need? Not every guest will want cake if you offer other desserts or a meal.

Will a particular cake fit your reception decorating scheme and menu? Today’s cake designers offer an almost endless variety of cake styles, decorating, choice of construction, flavors, icing and decorations.

How many tiers do you want, in what colors? Do you want a custom made, one of a kind cake topper? Do you as a couple have a shared passion, job or hobby? Make your cake topper reflect that interest. You can get anything from animal to motorcycle cake toppers.

Or do you just want a porcelain or crystal bride and groom cake topper?

There are very nice online stores that sell a wide variety of elegant and whimsical wedding cake toppers.

Are you planning to serve the cake as dessert or do you want to put slices in little boxes for the guests to take home?

Try to make preliminary decisions on these and other issues before you consider visiting any bakery or cake designer. However stay open to suggestions from these experts. You can get your wedding cake from your caterer, reception site or bakery. Try to order your cake from someone who specializes in wedding cakes or who does one or more weddings a week.

Ask for references and check them out. Ask past clients if they were satisfied with the cake and if they have any hints for dealing with this particular baker or bakery.

Some newlyweds want to save the top layer of their wedding cake for their first anniversary or the birth of their first child. Check with your baker to see if he can freeze and store the top layer of your wedding cake for a year.

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Author: Kim Hart

Every bride to be carefully picks out her wedding invitations to make sure they express the taste and tone that she wants on her big day. However, in working so hard to convey mood, some forget to put in very important details that could help your wedding guests and even yourself out tremendously. Below are the top five things to remember when you are about to write and send out your wedding invitations:

1.Buy 20% more invites than you actually think you will need. This may seem a little wasteful to you but it is sound advice. There are several reasons why this is a great tip in terms of wedding invitations. First, you may encounter someone later that you forgot to put on your list. They may feel snubbed if they don’t get an invite. You also might meet new people who you will want to invite later. Mail can occasionally get lost, so you want replacements handy in case this happens.

2.Start writing out your wedding invitations two months before the wedding. This way, you will finish them all in time to get them to the invitees 4-6 weeks before the actual wedding date. Starting at least eight weeks in advance means that you are giving yourself plenty of time to hand-write all invites and envelopes. You should never use address labels on wedding invitations, so writing them out by hand is a time-consuming task that must be started well in advance.

3.If a child is over the age of 16, give them their own invite. This is customary in most wedding etiquette books-anyone over sixteen years of age should not get invited as a part of the ‘and family’ that most people add to their wedding invitations. Today’s teenagers have busy schedules and so may have to attend later and need their own invite. This is not completely necessary but it is a nice rule to adhere to, and makes the teenager feel special.

4.If your wedding is a location wedding, make sure you warn your guests about this on the wedding invitations. For example, if your wedding is going to be outdoors, make sure they know so they can take a hat or sunscreen and sunglasses. If it is going to be near a body of water like a lake or ocean, it is always good to let people know, especially if they have little ones. If it is spring, they may want to bring an umbrella in case it rains, or a coat in case it becomes chilly.

5.If you intend to invite some guests to the wedding only, and other guests to the reception only, make sure you have two sets of wedding invitations printed up. The first set should include the address of the church, and the second should include the address of the reception. This way, if you have strict head counts on how many can fit into the church or reception hall, you don't have to worry about going over that stated headcount. Just make sure you send the correct wedding invitation to each person.

About the Author:
Kim Hart is a wedding planner who puts a special touch on wedding invitations. From Carlson Craft to handmade wedding invitations Kim specializes each detail.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/marriage-articles/5-tips-to-remember-when-writing-your-wedding-invitations-188496.html

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Author: Bonnie Ray

It’s not your mother’s wedding, so stop worrying about doing everything her way. This is a time for you to express your individual taste and style. So what if she never would have dreamed of carrying “fake” flowers in her bridal bouquet. In her generation fake flowers were plastic. Of course she wouldn’t have used them!

This is a new generation and silk wedding flowers are the rage! Not only have “fake” flowers evolved in leaps and bounds, but they have also become very popular as alternatives to fresh flowers for wedding bouquets, flower girl baskets, corsages and boutonnieres. From the exquisite cascading bridal bouquet to the simplistic hand-tied wedding bouquet, silk wedding flowers lend themselves to every style imaginable!

Elegant silk calla lilies look lovely, whether cascading downward intermingled with ivy, or when in a hand-tied bridal bouquet. Silk roses in a rainbow of colors combine nicely with a variety of other flowers in a clutch bridal bouquet or in a cascading wedding bouquet. The look is so close to that of fresh flowers that most people will never even know the difference. But your checkbook will!

Purchasing silk wedding flower packages is what many smart brides are doing. Eliminating the stress of last-minute florist mix-ups, ordering your silk wedding flower sets from one of the online merchants is convenient and cost-effective. With packages starting under $300, silks have made wedding flowers affordable.

Beware of low-quality silks, however. Make sure that you’re getting top-of-the-line silk flowers if you want to fool everyone that they’re real. Quality silk wedding flowers are so realistic that people will want to smell your bridal bouquet! To fool them, try spritzing your wedding bouquets with rose oil or another floral fragrance.

Flower girl baskets can carry a stationary arrangement or an assortment of silk rose petals to be scattered down the aisle for the bride to walk upon. Walking on rose petals is symbolic of both beauty and of the bride walking down the path of a new life that is about to begin. Another alternative for the flower girl is for her to carry a silk floral pomander. The flowers can match those in the bridal bouquet and your little flower girl will look adorable swinging her beautiful pomander to and fro as she heads down the aisle. This is especially conducive to very young flower girls.

The ring bearer’s pillow has an alternative as well. A fabric covered ring box can be carried down the aisle by your young attendant. This is a more contemporary look for the ring bearer, who often balks at carrying a lacy pillow.

In lieu of traditional corsages, consider giving the special women at the wedding small hand-tied bouquets for them to carry. With today's flimsier fabrics, pin on corsages are sometimes too bulky to wear. However, by using silk flowers, the weight of the corsages is dramatically decreased. Maybe you could point that out as a benefit to your mother as you gently remind her — this isn’t her wedding after all.

About the Author:
Bonnie Goodwin Ray has more than sixteen years experience in the wedding industry. She is the author of Wedding Planning Made Easier and has become a leading expert in silk wedding flower design.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/marriage-articles/a-new-generation-of-wedding-flowers-11197.html

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