The Savvy Bride - Wedding Planning & Tips » Wedding Tips

Seven tips to ensure a worry-free wedding day

Jennifer — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:05:41 +0000

(ARA) – You can hear the wedding bells already. Friends and family gathered together to witness your big day. The limousine ride, the toasts, wedding cake and the first dance — it’s all coming together for the perfect day. But wait! Before you say “I do,” there are a number of important things that you and your future spouse must do to become officially married.

Many newlyweds overlook the fact that a marriage is a legal contract. Two individuals merge all they have into a new legal entity or partnership. While many couples often focus on the big day and all of the events surrounding the ceremony and reception, there are a number of legal steps that newlyweds must consider as part of the process, according to FindLaw.com, the world’s leading online source of legal information for consumers.

To help you and your partner have a worry-free wedding day, here’s a prenuptial checklist from FindLaw.com with legal items to consider as you merge your households into one.

Changing names

It’s often one of the first big dilemmas facing a new bride: Keep your maiden name, or take his last name? It’s a big decision, because if you decide to change your legal name, it means changing your name on everything from your driver’s license to stock certificates. While thinking this through, also think about the last names of children you may have in the future.

Marriage requirements

Each state has its own requirements for couples wishing to be married, some of which include: marriage licenses, blood tests or residency requirements. Make sure you and your future spouse know what the requirements are in your state, and have fulfilled all marriage requirements before the big day. If either you or your future spouse has been married before, make sure you have obtained all legal documents to ensure that your new marriage is valid and legal in the eyes of your state.

Marriage ceremonies

Most states have legal requirements pertaining to the marriage ceremony itself, including who may perform the marriage ceremony and whether witnesses are required. Check with your county or state government Web site about these requirements.

Prenuptial agreements

A prenuptial or pre-marriage agreement can help define the property and financial rights and obligations of marrying spouses, including what will happen if the marriage ends. If you are considering entering into a prenuptial agreement, you should be aware of the legal requirements that must be met in order for the agreement to be considered valid and enforceable.

Marriage, money and property

In a recent, national consumer survey by FindLaw.com, the topic of money came in second, tied with having and raising children, as the topic that most led to a fight among married 18- to 34 year-olds. When you get married, your property and finances will, to a certain extent, merge with those of your spouse. Based on the laws of the state in which you marry and/or intend to establish your permanent residence, you should become familiar with what is and is not considered marital or “community” property, and understand how to keep certain assets as separate property. You also should become familiar with your obligations as a new spouse in taking on the debts and tax liabilities of your partner, and agree on how you’re going to handle finances as a newly married couple.

Wedding day contracts

In preparing for your big day, you will sign a number of contracts for items such as wedding day photos, the reception hall and a honeymoon package. Now is a good time to start working together as a team to carefully identify credible wedding day vendors, to negotiate these contracts together, and to decide in advance how you will handle a problem if something goes wrong.

Will and health care directives

As you and your new spouse work together on merging your finances and assets, now is a good time to write a will together that also incorporates end-of-life health care directives. This is especially important for previously married individuals who may be merging families together.

For more information about preparing to get married, visit findlaw.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Bridal Style Alert – Classic is Back

Jennifer — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:51:35 +0000

Good news for brides inspired by Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, classic is back.

Good news for brides inspired by Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, classic is back. Fabrics, silhouettes and accessories borrowed from the 1940s through 1960s offer brides the opportunity to start with the basics and enhance them with luxurious finishing touches.

The Dress
Eschewing large, modern swags of fabrics, designers are embracing the hourglass figure. Waists are nipped in or defined with belts and sashes, often in a color that slightly contrasts with the dress. Charming gowns with the look of prom dresses from the 1950s glide down the aisle with fitted bodices and full skirts of tulle, lace and applique.

For a less formal wedding, brides can go bombshell in frocks reminiscent of 1960s cocktail dresses. The length is shorter, but the look is equally sophisticated with gathered waists and narrower skirts.

The Accessories
Birdcage veils — with large netting that falls at cheekbone length — are back in a big way. These simple veils frame the bride’s glowing face and highlight special jewelry. Ladylike wrist-length gloves are the perfect complement to vintage bridal looks.

Eschewing large, modern swags of fabrics, designers are embracing the hourglass figure.

The classic bridal look is a perfect match with a simple and elegant pair of pearl stud earrings and a lustrous 16-inch strand of cultured pearls around the bride’s neck.

“The Hindu Lord Krishna is said to have offered pearls to his daughter as a wedding gift which is where pearls and weddings were first married,” says Jeremy Shepherd of PearlParadise.com, the world’s largest online pearl company. “Pearls are considered a symbol of purity, making them the perfect fit with a bride’s white dress.”

Shepherd recommends white akoya pearls, a saltwater pearl that grows primarily in the coastal areas of Japan and China. Considered to be the classic pearls for jewelry, akoya pearls are prized for their perfect round shape, mirror-like luster and soft, neutral colors.

Visit www.PearlParadise.com for more ideas and classic bridal pearls.

The Look
Tie a classic dress and accessories together with a polished hairstyle such as a bun or chignon and keep make-up understated. Dark brown or black eyeliner extended slightly past the end of the eyelid, a touch of black mascara and a shade of red lipstick perfectly matched to the bride’s complexion are all that’s necessary to complete the perfect, classic Hollywood face.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Wedding Savings Tip: Rent the Best and Save

Jennifer — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:25:19 +0000

There are a million things to think about when you begin planning a wedding. There are the big things like booking the reception site, the church, the DJ, and, of course, finding the dress. But once those are out of the way, there are little details to think about, such as a theme, the flowers, the centerpieces, linens, invitations, champagne glasses and countless other things.

With all the elements that go into planning a dream wedding, it doesn’t take long to realize that details can add up — not only when it comes to spending, but also when it comes to storage space. After all, who wants to end up with 250 pink linen napkins once the big day has passed?

Renting materials for your wedding from an American Rental Association (ARA) member rental store is one way to solve this problem. Not only is renting often a more economical solution, it also eliminates the storage issue.

“Renting will not only cut down on storage, but you can lower the cost of your wedding too,” says Becky Baumgartner, owner of Aero Rental and Party Shoppe, in Iowa City, Ia. “People often come in to look for materials to buy for their wedding, and I’ll say to them ‘How important is this to you, because it’s more affordable to rent.’ ”

Renting materials for your wedding also gives you access to the latest styles in decor, table settings, linens, chair covers and other things. According to Baumgartner, people often don’t really realize the vast variety of items you can rent for weddings.

In her many years helping couples plan weddings, Baumgartner has learned plenty of lessons. Here are some of her most helpful tips to keep in mind when renting materials for your wedding:

* It’s much more affordable to rent the equipment than to buy it. Chances are you will never use half the things at your wedding again so why would you waste storage space and money?

* You can rent anything you need for your wedding, from a backdrop to hide the wall color at the hall to champagne fountains to holders for the unity candle. Check with your local rental store; they may even sell invitations.

* Rental store employees can help you think of things you might have forgotten. Let them help you in the planning process to make sure that you have everything you need for your big day.

* Unlike halls and churches that need to be booked at least a year in advance, generally you only need to reserve the rental equipment six to seven months in advance.

* Some rental stores allow you to pick up the rental materials on Thursday evening and drop them off on Monday morning for no additional charge. That way, you don’t have to worry about pick-up and drop off on your wedding day.

* A rental store will provide you with more options, in terms of color and design, than a reception hall will.

When it comes to planning your wedding, don’t let the cost wipe out your entire savings account — rent your wedding materials. To find your local ARA member rental business, visit www.RentalHQ.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Things Going Right and Wrong on Your Wedding Night

Author — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:27:42 +0000

Ah the wedding night! There is no greater indicator of the future bliss of a marriage than how things go on the wedding night and don’t even think there will be any personal accounts in this article.

I am here to offer some tips on how to read the future of your marriage in the activities that happen on your wedding night. There are some good things that will happen and then there are some bad things that will happen and you should be aware of as much as possible so you can know if you will be spending a lot of time sleeping on the couch for the next 40 years or not.

Some Good Things

If you get to the hotel room on your wedding night and she puts the Do Not Disturb sign on the door with no intention of taking it off the door for the weekend then that is a good thing.

If it takes the two of you nearly two days to realize that there is a television in the room and that the curtains covering the windows actually open; then that is a really good sign.

If room service has you on a schedule because you haven’t left your room since your wedding night and they want to be sure you are at least eating something then that is a really good sign.

If at check out the person at the check out desk has no idea you were in the hotel for the last week because you never left your room then that is probably a really good sign that your marriage is at least off to a good start.

Some Bad Things

If you run up a $100 bill just renting Disney movies from the hotel television service on your wedding night then that is a really bad sign.

If she tells you that the “festivities” will have to wait until her shows are over then that is probably a bad sign.

If your wedding night is ruined because you can’t get the fact that your team lost the game that day then you are probably in for a long marriage.

If she calls her mother every half hour just because she is bored and wants something to do on your wedding night then you are probably really in for a very long marriage.

Wedding Hair Styles Need To Fit The Occasion

Author — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:21:10 +0000

For the most part, wedding hair styles are a matter of personal choice, although most brides will say they want something that adds to their beauty, as well as being easy to maintain throughout the wedding and reception and not fall apart in the middle of it all. Once things for sure about wedding hair styles is that it will be remembered by everyone through pictures, both professionally taken and those taken by family and friends of the bride.

When deciding on wedding hair styles, the type of wedding, casual or formal is taken into consideration. Such as what might be called a bottoms up hair style that has most of the hair together at the top of bride’s head flowing freely at the shoulders or below. These wedding hair styles fit into the picture in both formal or casual weddings, but may look better with off the shoulder gowns. They are easy to style and hold a tiara without any difficulty.

Long hair can be placed in a loose French braid and with a slight part, the hair can be layered towards the back. Also good for formal or casual wedding hair styles, half of the hair can be swept into an up-do, with the under hair of the sides gently swept to the back into the braid, or even a bun in the back.

Add Elegance To Hair Style For Formal Wedding

For a more mature look, the simplicity of some wedding hair styles create the illusion of longer hair with a slight up-do and hair on the back of the head can be held in place with a plain clip. A small floral arrangement to match the bride’s bouquet or colors of the wedding party can be used to off set the relative simplicity of this style.

Shorter hair can also be styled with a simple part, using gel to hold it in place and out of the bride’s eyes. This simple, yet elegant style can hold through the rigors of the day and well into the night. It is one of the few wedding hair styles that manages to hold its style throughout the entire ceremony and with a little help can hold its position through the following day.

When choosing wedding hair styles, most brides will want a style to fit into the theme of the wedding. Spanish up-dos or straight sides determined by a single part with flowing hair secured with a braid are some of the most common, but personal preference as well as the ability of the stylist will be key on which of the wedding hair styles the bride chooses.

Don’t Let Your Guests Get Lost on Your Big Day

Jennifer — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:17:23 +0000

Planning to get married any time soon? It’s true what they say — your wedding day is one of the most important and defining moments in your life. How do you envision yours?

In a perfect world, everything will go like clockwork. At exactly 1 o’clock, the music will start to play, all the guests will arrive on-time and anxiously wait for the bride to appear. Then they’ll hold back tears as she marches down the aisle on her father’s arm.

In reality, however, it’s more likely that there will be some snags. The person delivering the flowers and decorations could be late, pushing the ceremony back an hour. The hired photographer could have written down the wrong date and not show up at all. Or even worse, your out-of-town guests won’t show up on time either because they got stuck in traffic or were unable to find the ceremony.

Because for most weddings, a good portion of the guest list includes people from out-of-town, it is critical to be as detail orientated as possible when helping them get from destination to destination.

Along with the invitation, include multi-view maps that will show guests where all the wedding-related events are taking place. You’ll need one showing directions to the wedding venue from the hotel, the bride’s parents’ home and the airport. Another showing directions from the ceremony location to the reception hall.

Be sure to include a link to a traffic Web site, such as Traffic.com, at the bottom of any map you provide, as well as your wedding Web site. The site will be a great resource for your guests as it shows the most direct route from place to place, and also provides real-time information on delays, traffic jams and detours.

Guests can pre-plan their route by accessing the site from the hotel computer or their Internet-enabled cell phone. All they have to do is enter the address where they’re staying, and of the place they’re going to, and the information they need will come back instantly. Guests can also get the information they need through the (866) MY-TRAFC (866-698-7232) traffic hotline.

After the wedding is over, Traffic.com can serve as a resource your out-of-town guests can use to find their way to local attractions, restaurants and long-lost friends’ houses. The possibilities are endless. And who knows, maybe when all is said and done, you’ll be the one getting the “Thank You” note.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Why Single Parents Should Consider a Family-Oriented Wedding When They Remarry

Jennifer — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 22:41:01 +0000

When Tabitha Irwin began dating Michael Leach, she would never have predicted that this casual friend would turn out to be the man of her dreams. But once she realized that the 30-year-old radio producer had a heart big enough to embrace her and her four-year-old son Calym, she was smitten. By the following year, the couple announced their engagement.

One thing muted the joy of her pending nuptials — the memory of her own mother’s remarriage when Tabitha was a typical, insecure adolescent. “I wasn’t included in the wedding and, from then on, I never really felt like part of the family,” she recalls. “That’s why Michael and I wanted to do something special during the wedding to communicate to my son that he was going to be an integral part of our lives.”

The marketing manager was grappling with a problem experienced by most of the tens of thousands of single parents who walk down the aisle each year: What can be done to ease the concerns of young children who feel, on a conscious or unconscious level, that their secure place in the family is threatened by the marriage/remarriage of a parent?

After much research, Tabitha found a simple and emotionally satisfying answer to her dilemma in the form of a family-oriented wedding service that gives children a meaningful role in the wedding celebration. This five-minute ceremony — known as the Family Medallion service — can easily be integrated into any religious or civil wedding ceremony. It differs from the traditional wedding in only one respect: After the newlyweds exchange rings, their children join them for a special service focusing on the family nature of a marriage. Each child is given a gold or silver medallion with three interlocking circles, a symbol that represents family love in much the same way the wedding ring signifies conjugal love.

Although the family service seemed to be an ideal way to recognize Calym during the wedding, Tabitha and Michael let the kindergartener cast the deciding vote. First, they explained the meaning of the family ceremony in a way that a young child could understand. Then they allowed Calym to select the specific Family Medallion from www.FamilyMedallion.com that he wanted to receive. “It made him feel important to be involved in the decision-making process,” Tabitha adds. “He became more excited about the wedding with each passing day.”

The Leaches say they will never forget the moment during their wedding at a local park when Michel presented the Family Medallion to Calym. While the minister led Michael in a recitation of the words of the ceremony — a promise to love and care for the youngster and help him grow into a responsible adult — he placed the family symbol around his stepson’s neck. Calym responded with a giant hug.

“It was an incredible bonding experience,” Michael recalls. “In that instant, Tabitha, Calym and I came together as a family.” Tabitha was moved to tears watching her new husband make a formal commitment to her son.

As for young Calym, he was just plain thrilled. “I really liked having a ceremony just for me,” he explains. “It meant that Mike loved me and was going to be my dad.

For the wedding guests, this unique family service was the pinnacle of the marriage celebration. “Many later told me how moving it was to see us assure Calym, in such a loving and public way, that he would always be part of our family,” says Tabitha.

The family wedding concept is an idea whose time has come. With a high divorce rate — nearly two in five marriages fail, according to the Heritage Foundation — more and more single parents with young children are remarrying. Additionally, the U.S. is experiencing a wave of first-time marriages among young single parents who had a child during the course of a common-law union or other relationship outside of marriage.

Yet, despite the fact that a growing legion of single parents are bringing one or more children into their marriages, virtually no religious or civil wedding ceremony acknowledges the existence of these youngsters. This void frustrated Dr. Roger Coleman, ministers and president of Clergy Services, Inc., an organization in Kansas City, Missouri, devoted to developing family-oriented services for weddings and other important life events.

“The so-called traditional wedding ceremony does not serve the needs of couples with children, whether their own or children from previous relationships,” Coleman explains. “That’s because traditional weddings focus exclusively on the union of a man and a woman. The important role of existing children and the family nature of marriage are simply ignored.”

Today, more than 25,000 couples annually use the Family Medallion ceremony to help strengthen the bond between parents, stepparents and children.

Tabitha, Michael and Calym are among its biggest fans. Today, more than a year after their family wedding, the Irwin-Leach blended family is thriving. Young Calym is ecstatic to have a baby brother, who was born this summer. “He doesn’t feel rejected like I did when my mother and stepdad had a baby,” Tabitha says. “That’s because from the moment Michael and I decided to marry, we included Calym every step of the way.”

For more information about family weddings, visit www.familymedallion.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

EDITOR’S NOTE:Names of those using the Family Wedding ceremony in your readership area are available upon request. For more information, contact Reverend Coleman at (816) 753-3886 or by e-mail at rcoleman@clergyservices.com.

Spotlight Brides: Look Red Carpet Worthy While Walking Down the Aisle

Jennifer — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:05:34 +0000

This spring, it will be difficult to tell if a bride is walking down the aisle or making her way down the red carpet. After a year-long love affair with the boxy trapeze dress, designers are emphasizing the waist and adding elegant details.

“This focus on the feminine calls for glamorous bridal jewelry fit for a queen,” says Shawn Diddy, Jewelry Television’s trend tracker. Here are some of the looks she’s expecting to be hot in 2008:

*Brides will make a “ready for your close-up” impact in an off-the-shoulder dress. The look from the runways calls for minimal accents — a single, “statement” piece of jewelry such as a pair of dangle earrings that sparkle or a thick, signature bracelet. Wear hair up to really show off your shoulders in that gorgeous dress.

*Pleats, ruffles and tulip tiers abound in light and frothy fabrics. Because of the unusual silhouettes of these trendy dresses, keep hair and jewelry simple. A loose chignon softens your face while a classic pair of diamond stud earrings adds elegance and light to the ensemble.

*A white dress and Grandma’s pearls is what everyone else is wearing, so why not go with this season’s hot pastels? Diaphanous dresses in shades of peach, blush and baby blue are fresh and stylish. Pull your hair back into a soft ponytail to show off sparkling crystal earrings or a necklace in a complementary color.

*Lace is always in, but this season’s unique lace details work especially well with long, flowing hair. Rich, jewel-toned, vintage-look jewelry adds texture to the ensemble.

*Whether the dress is short or long, designers have put the emphasis back on the waist. Nipped-in lines and wide belts or sashes showed all over New York’s runways. Because of the symmetry of the dress, wear your hair parted to the side and add drama with strong platinum jewelry pieces.

“Few brides can spend a fortune on a couture gown and estate diamonds so we recommend Jewelry Television’s Bella Luce Collection,” says Diddy. “Most pieces are platinum plated sterling silver for elegant, affordable, designer-inspired wearability.” For more information on the latest trends in bridal jewelry, visit www.jtv.com or check your local listings for Jewelry Television.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Rocking a New Ring in the New Year?

Jennifer — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 23:59:52 +0000

With a twinkle in her eye and sparkle on her finger, it’s no wonder the bride-to-be has a contagious glow. For the bevy of brides who got engaged during the holiday season, it’s time to begin the exciting, yet sometimes hectic task of planning their special day.

To better understand the preferences and attitudes of today’s brides and offer the most relevant wedding planning advice, the second annual “What’s on Bride’s Minds?” survey was conducted by Leflein Associates, Inc. for David’s Bridal, the nation’s leading bridal authority. Following are some up-to-the-minute planning tips to help each woman achieve her own wedding unique style, without breaking the bank:

Keep an Eye on the Bottom Line
First and foremost, establish a budget. Determine which aspects of the wedding are most important, and scale back on items that are not a top priority. Almost two-thirds of survey respondents said that the wedding dresses they found were too expensive. To keep finances in check without sacrificing quality or style, shop at a store that offers a wide selection of designer looks and matches your budget.

Online Oasis
The Internet is a wonderful planning tool and a great time-saver, so it’s no surprise that 53 percent of brides-to-be ranked wedding Web sites as a top resource for useful wedding planning advice, tips and ideas. Today’s brides shop for a variety of wedding products online; invitations were cited as the most popular item, followed by favors, bridal accessories and jewelry and bridal gowns. Among the top Web sites catering to brides, is davidsbridal.com, which offers more than 4,000 unique wedding related items and services. Check out the new db Online Collections featuring stylish bridal and bridesmaid dresses to suit any size, budget and timeline. Or, use the unique Dress Your Wedding tool to create your own virtual wedding party online.

Consult the Experts
When searching for that dream dress, take advantage of bridal consultants’ advice, as they provide great insight into the gowns’ quality, fit and construction. In fact, more than four out of five brides agreed that their consultant positively affected their shopping experience. In addition to these gown gurus, it’s a good idea to bring along a trusted friend or family member to provide honest feedback.

Time is On Your Side
Sixty-three percent of recently engaged women give themselves less than six months before their wedding to purchase their gown, while 38 percent wait until the final three months. If you are planning on getting married under a tight timetable, visit a bridal shop where you can try on the dress in your own size and take it home that day. David’s Bridal stocks a wide array of affordable bridal gowns ($299 – $1200), including designer collections from Oleg Cassini, Monique Luo and Galina, in sizes 0 to 26W, as well as select styles in petite sizes, so you can tell exactly how your dream dress looks and feels on you.

Obliging Bridesmaids
Searching for the perfect bridesmaid dress? The top issue brides found with dressing their bridal party was agreeing on one style to fit all different body types. Coordination remains in vogue, with almost three-quarters of respondents wanting their bridal party to wear the same color or color scheme, and thirty-four percent planning to have their bridesmaids wear the same dress in the same color. It’s a good idea to select a national retailer that carries a large assortment of bridesmaid styles, in a wide range of sizes and colors, for ease of shopping and to ensure everyone looks and feels their best.

Customization is Key
If you’re looking for ways to personalize your look without paying a hefty custom price tag, you’re not alone. Over 60 percent of brides said they would like to customize their gown to reflect their personality, but 40 percent felt it would be difficult to do so without costing a fortune. To solve this all-too-common dilemma, look for cost-effective solutions for personalizing your wedding dress. Try adding optional sleeves, a colorful sash that matches your wedding color scheme or a sparkling brooch. Don’t forget to ask your consultant about coordinating accessories, such as tiaras, veils, handbags, shoes and jewelry; you can never go wrong by selecting pieces that complement your dress and personal style.

Showcase Your Style
To create a seamless look, visit a one-stop-shop and choose a personalized color scheme that makes it easy to coordinate every aspect of the big day. From save-the-date cards and invitations to ceremony and reception items, right down to the icing on the cake, David’s Bridal offers an amazing assortment of options, available both in-store and online, to create a perfectly coordinated event.

While finding the love of her life is up to the bride, following these simple steps will help ease the wedding-planning process and make it more enjoyable. So when the big day finally arrives, her only responsibility will be to enjoy herself as she dances the night away.

To find the David’s Bridal store near you, call (877) 693-BRIDE or visit www.davidsbridal.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Technology Tips to Revolutionize your Wedding

Jennifer — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:52:47 +0000

(ARA) – Technology transforms every aspect of modern life these days, even the biggest day of most people’s lives – their wedding day. From wedding planning Web sites to digital photo slideshows presented at receptions and rehearsal dinners, technology is helping couples plan their weddings in ways that are much easier and save more time than ever before. Technology also helps engage the couple’s loved ones in, and preserve their memories of, their special day.

Here are four of the hottest technology trends that are revolutionizing the way Americans plan their weddings.

Planning and Research Goes Online

Brides once turned to monthly or seasonal wedding magazines for advice and ideas. Now, modern brides go online for their wedding planning purposes. Popular sites have made it easy for brides to track the latest trends, look at thousands of gown options, and organize themselves for their big day. Where once a bride might tote around clips torn from magazines, fabric swatches, and contracts in a wedding planning binder, now most of those things are found and stored digitally through a wedding planning Web site.

Projectors for Rehearsal Dinners and Receptions

Every couple wants to make their wedding as personal as possible, and leave guests with the feeling that, “Oh, that was so Todd and Rebecca!” Where once brides and grooms may have decorated a reception or rehearsal dinner with photos of themselves arranged around the room, now a multimedia presentation is all the rage. Video and still images, typically set to music, features the couple throughout their lives, apart and together, and are replacing traditional photo albums and can create an exciting personal touch to any wedding celebration.

Web sites like www.projector123.com rent state-of-the-art high definition projectors for as little as $99 for a weekend. Couples order a projector online, have it shipped to them or their reception site for next day arrival, and then connect the projector to a device like a laptop to project their photo montage presentation for the enjoyment of their guests.

“Jason and I really wanted to have a photo slideshow at our rehearsal dinner, but the restaurant wanted us to pay $500 on top of our reservation fee for all the equipment! So we went online to Projector123, and were able to order our own equipment and have it shipped directly to the restaurant,” says Christine Goldenberg of Los Angeles, California, a bride-to-be. “Finding areas to cut costs for a wedding can be challenging, and by ordering the projector online we were able to save a significant amount of money.”

Personal Wedding Web sites

Personal wedding Web sites are popping up everywhere; for a small fee, couples design their very own Web site in advance of their wedding day where they post pictures of themselves, detail the specifics of their wedding day, feature bios of the bridal party, reveal their honeymoon destination and provide gift registry information all in one convenient location online.

“Most people have access to the Internet, so you now have the ability to use technology to make your wedding day as special and memorable as possible,” says Jay Joyer of Irvine, California, a recent newlywed. “We had a small wedding, but wanted all our friends and family to feel part of our big day so we set up a wedding Web site where our guests could sign our online guestbook, read the story of our proposal, or make hotel reservations through the Accommodations section of our site. Everyone said it made making plans or staying up to date on our wedding so easy.”

As most guests now have access to the Internet, a personal wedding Web site is the ultimate convenience for guests to stay in touch with the couple and their latest wedding planning developments.

Online Ordering of Wedding Photos

No more waiting months for wedding albums. Many wedding photographers and videographers now take digital pictures or film and post their proofs online. This streamlines the developing and choosing processes and entire albums can be viewed by couples and their guests no matter where their location.

Courtesy of ARAcontent