Choosing The Best Wedding Songs

Music sets the mood of any festive event, including your wedding day celebrations. Therefore, choose your songs with care. Here are some tips for you.

Wedding songs are the life and soul of your wedding celebrations. They set the mood of the celebrations from the beginning to the end. Choosing the best songs for your wedding day celebrations can enhance the joyous mood of the day and make it a memorable event.

The weddings of the past featured traditional wedding songs. Today, couples can choose from a wide range of music. Choosing the best songs for their wedding celebrations is the most exciting aspect of the wedding day celebrations.

Couples usually select songs that are deeply significant to them in a special way. Playing such songs on the wedding day makes it a unique and personal experience for them. For example, a couple could select a song that they heard during their first date or a few songs of their favorite singer.

Consider the following points when you select your wedding day songs:

Venue

Select songs that suit the venue you have chosen for your wedding day celebrations. Wedding ceremonies are usually conducted in a church, and couples must first ascertain whether the church authorities allow their favorite music to be played within the church premises. Some churches are particular about the type of songs that should played during the services.

Other venues might not have placed any constraint on the type of songs that can be played. In any case, choose sober songs for your wedding ceremony, not the type of songs that might be in sharp contrast to the solemnity of the occasion. You can play all the amusing and entertaining music you like at your reception.

Music Band

Select a good DJ or music band that will create great wedding music for you. If you have decided to have a traditional wedding, you might hire a classical ensemble to play at your reception. If you are having a quiet wedding at home in the company of your friends and family members, you could get a flute trio, a solo pianist, or a string quartet to play your classical wedding music.

Planning Wedding Songs

Couples have to select several songs for their wedding. In fact, you have to select different types of songs for six different aspects of the wedding.

Prelude music is joyous and festive and is played chiefly to welcome family members and friends to your wedding ceremony.

The wedding procession marks the beginning of the ceremony, and the songs played at this time are to welcome the gathering and to alert the guests that the bride is about to enter.

A bridal procession is the most important part of the ceremony. Many prefer the conventional bridal march. However, the practice of playing different type of music during it can make it a unique and memorable event. Besides, it is quite acceptable in the modern days.

During the interludes, you can use a variety of songs to enhance the emotional charging of the environment.

Festive wedding songs should play during the recessional because the music is to celebrate the fact that the couples are now officially united.

The music of the postlude is more grateful, full of thanks to the guests who have made it to the wedding ceremony.

How to Choose a Perfect Wedding Ring

The most important part of wedding shopping is the purchase of a wedding ring. Many brides and grooms feel lost when faced with the prospect of purchasing a ring. Here are some tips on how to purchase the best wedding ring for you.

You have finally decided on an appropriate day to get married. Now you are faced with the task of making preparations for the great day. You have to make a list of people you would like to invite, find a suitable caterer, shop for a wedding gown, and many more. All these preparations are absolutely necessary to ensure a great wedding. When you make your wedding checklist, remember to put in all these details. Don't forget to write, "Purchase a wedding ring" as the first item on the checklist.

Choosing the perfect wedding ring is a challenging task. You have to invest a lot of time and thought into it. The wedding ring, after all, is not only an accessory, but also a symbol of your loving union. You have to wear it throughout your life together. Therefore, you have to select such a wedding ring that will delight you for many years to come.

Budget

Before you go shopping for your wedding ring, make up your mind about the budget. You and your partner should determine exactly how much you can invest in a wedding ring. You can then decide what type of wedding ring you would like to purchase depending on the budget you have in mind.

Wedding rings are made of a variety of substances. However, most couples prefer to purchase wedding rings made of 18K or 14K yellow gold. Many people prefer gold rings for engagement as well as wedding ceremonies.

Wedding rings made of white gold are now rapidly becoming more popular. White gold not only looks fashionable and trendy, but also matches the other platinum and silver accessories you might possess and clothes of different colors.

Platinum, being the hardest of precious metals, makes a very strong wedding ring. It lasts long and does not wear easily. Due to their long-lasting quality, platinum rings have an added symbolic value. They are, therefore, ideal for couples with romantic ideas of lasting love. Moreover, platinum resembles white gold and looks very elegant and fashionable. You should remember that platinum rings are very expensive. But if you want a ring made of material that can last a lifetime, platinum rings are the best for you.

Men usually prefer titanium wedding rings. Titanium is light and durable. It looks like white gold and is less expensive than platinum. The only difference is that titanium is light, and you are hardly aware of its presence on your ring finger.

Style and Design


A variety of styles and designs are available for you to choose from. You can choose a traditional plain wedding band or an intricate beaded design. You might also find the two-toned modern designs more attractive. The Celtic patterns with their ancient knot work are quite popular nowadays. Modern couples also find a precious stone set in the traditional wedding band quite appealing.

Usually, a bride would like to purchase wedding and engagement rings that match. If you want your rings to match and especially if you intend to wear them on the same hand, you have to take this point into consideration too.

When you shop for your wedding ring, keep your budget and the material of your choice in your mind. Since you have to wear your wedding ring for several years, choose a wedding ring that matches your personality and the type of clothes that you wear. Make sure that your wedding ring is very comfortable.

Tips For Purchasing A Wedding Ring Within Budget

A wedding ring is not just a piece of jewelry; it symbolizes great love and commitment. Besides, you will have to wear your wedding ring as long as you live. So, select your wedding ring with care.

Wedding rings have an ancient history. Couples in ancient Egypt used to exchange rings made of reeds as a symbol of their undying love. The wedding ring comprises the most traditional aspect of a marriage. Being the most important part of a wedding ceremony, it symbolizes a couple's promise to love and honor each other for the rest of their lives.

Modern wedding rings are usually made of precious metals such as gold and platinum. Most couples wear it on the fourth finger of their left hand, also known as the ring finger. The practice of wearing the wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand is based on the age-old belief that this finger has a direct connection to the heart.

A vein, believed to originate in the fourth finger, is believed to lead to the heart. After researching the circulatory system thoroughly, medical scientists have said that there is no truth in this belief. In spite of this, the practice of wearing the wedding ring on the ring finger prevails although some people have now started wearing their wedding rings on their right hands.

Wedding rings are emblematic of everlasting love and commitment, which is why you should purchase a ring made of top-quality material. Your ring should last as long as your marriage and that is several years.

Consider the following factors when you go shopping for a wedding ring:

Budget

Fix a budget for your ring. If you know the limits of your budget, you can save plenty of time choosing from a collection of rings within that price range.

Material

Wedding rings are made of a variety of material. Determine the type of wedding ring you would like to purchase within your established budget. The most traditional wedding rings are made of gold. You can purchase a ring of yellow, pink, white, or green gold. Different qualities of gold are also available.

Platinum is the finest, rarest, and purest of all precious metals. In addition, it is strong, heavy, and resistant. Platinum wedding rings are good for daily wear because they are hypoallergenic, resist tarnish, and don't wear off easily. However, platinum is costlier than gold.

Diamond wedding rings are vastly popular because diamonds are the loveliest, hardest, and most expensive gems ever known to humankind. Their dazzling purity, beauty, and durability is symbolic of eternal love. The amount you will have to spend on a diamond, however, depends on its cut, color, clarity, and weight.

You can also purchase rings of titanium, nickel, silver, tungsten carbide with precious stones such as ruby, emerald, sapphire, and topaz set in them.

Style and Design

Select the appropriate style and design. Wedding rings are available in a number of designs such as Celtic or Irish, vintage and antique rings, designer rings, custom, traditional, beaded edges, and engraved rings.

Visit a number of stores before you make a purchase. Compare various patterns, designs, materials, qualities, and the price ranges.

Seek the advice of an expert. A jeweler of great repute can give you excellent advice on the purchase of wedding rings. Remember that your wedding ring, while reflecting your character and personality, should fit comfortably on your finger.

A wedding ring is not just an accessory. It is a traditional symbol of love and commitment. So purchase your wedding ring with care.

Purposes Of A Wedding Program

A wedding program greatly enhances the charm of your wedding celebrations. It also makes your guests feel at home and involved in the celebration. Here is something more about wedding programs.

Your married life begins with your wedding ceremony. You can have either a civil or a religious ceremony at any venue such as a garden, beach, the city hall, or the local church. The latest fashion is to get married online, a practice known as "online wedding."

A wedding comprises a number of traditions beginning with the bridal march to the wedding reception. Of course, you can alter these traditions to suit your taste and make your wedding a unique event. A wedding ceremony program, which describes all the events your wedding comprises, involves your guests in your wedding day celebration and makes them feel comfortable.

A wedding ceremony program or a church program or the "order of worship" or ceremony program is just a customized book that guides guests about the various events of a wedding ceremony. Its functions are similar to those of a concert or a drama program. A wedding program:

Describes the various events of the wedding celebrations and gives the guests relevant information about the order in which the events are to take place and the details regarding these events

Not only makes guests aware of what is happening, but also make them feel involved in your ceremony instead of being mute spectators

Honor and introduce the sponsors, the bridal party, and the other participants of the ceremony

Serve as a memento of the wedding for everybody present if they are beautifully designed

Gives couples something to include in their scrapbook

Wedding programs are not mandatory. However, the presence of one lends a unique overtone to your wedding celebration. You might also need a wedding program if:

1. your wedding is a multicultural event and your guests might not be able to understand the ceremony.
2. you have invited a lot of guests belonging to a different culture or religion.
3. this is a large-scale wedding, and the guests are not acquainted with the bridal party.
4. your wedding ceremony and the reception that follows is long.
5. your wedding celebrations include a number of people that the newly weds are grateful to.

Usually, wedding programs comprise three sections:

The "introduction" contains the names of the bride and the groom, the date of the wedding, and the time and venue of the ceremony.

The "order of events" contains greetings, poetry, readings, exchange of vows, explanation of traditional and religious rites such as the ring ceremony, the pronouncement of the marriage, the unity candle ceremony, along with the titles of the musical compositions that are to be played. You could also include the names of the singers, readers, and the musicians

The third and the last section, the "acknowledgments," contains the names of those in the bridal party, the name of the priest who married the couple, tributes to those who have passed away, notes of gratitude to parents and those who have supported the couple, a few words from the couple to their guests, and the directions to the reception venue.

The printer who has been hired to work on the wedding invitations can be asked to design and print the wedding program too. A few couples prefer to be creative and prepare a wedding program of their own. While it gives them a chance to exercise their creativity, it helps them save some money too.

A unique wedding program is a tiny detail that can transform your wedding into a memorable event. Whether you have hired a professional to create your wedding program or done it yourself, a wedding program expresses the love and joy you experience as a couple experience on that special day.

Effective Tips to Plan Your Wedding Celebrations

Making plans for your celebration can be a daunting task. The tiniest details have to be taken care of. Here are some tips on how to plan your wedding celebrations.

Planning your wedding celebrations can be the toughest task you have ever undertaken. Tensions mount as the important day draws closer, and most couples worry a lot about whether everything will take place as planned.

Create a wedding checklist; make use of the following tips.

Agree on Important Aspects of Your Wedding

Couple have to discuss their respective ideas of an ideal wedding before it takes place. What comprises an ideal wedding for one need not be an ideal wedding for the other. To prevent any misunderstanding or heartbreak, couples have to discuss issues related to venue, reception, ceremony, the number of invitees, and the wedding entertainment.

Before making any plans, coming to a consensus about important details such as the list of invitees is very important. Do you want your wedding to be a very informal, casual celebration to which only friends and family members are welcome? Or would you like a wedding on a grand scale to which you will have to invite half the locality, half-forgotten relatives, high school friends and so on? Discuss these questions with your partner.

Fix a Budget

Before you begin planning for your wedding, agree on a wedding budget. Only then will you be able to plan the tiniest details of your wedding celebrations.

Set a Date

One of the first aspects of planning a wedding includes fixing an appropriate date. This tiny detail has to be taken care of right at the beginning. Set a convenient date for your wedding according to the availability of a suitable venue as well as the availability of family members and friends.

Book a Suitable Venue

If your wedding budget is low, you could try booking a venue at a discount. Certain wedding venues offer a discount when it is not the season for marriages. For example, you can get a venue at a discount rate immediately after the vacations. Not many people get married during that time, so the prices are low as the demand for venues is not high. The time of the wedding is also important. Evening weddings are costlier than morning or noon receptions.

Make sure that the venue you have chosen is enough to seat all the guests you plan to invite.

Hire Professionals

Hire a professional photographer to take the photographs. Granted that your friends can take great pictures, and anyway, a lot of them possess a camcorder. But you want this great event captured by a professional who will be able to present it in a really special manner, something you can treasure for the rest of your life together and share with your friends, family, and later, your children.

Choose the Cake

Pay attention to the wedding cake. Having a cake tasting session before you order your cake is a great idea. You can even invite your family and friends to the cake tasting event. In this way, you can ensure a lot of fun for your loved ones.

Printing the Wedding Invitations

There are two ways to take care of your wedding invitations: purchase the services of a professional to design and print them or create and print them yourself.


Shop for Your Wedding Dress

Start shopping for wedding gowns and tuxedos well in advance. This will give you ample time to choose your wedding dress well. Besides, if you have any problems with the dress, there will be ample time to get the alterations done.

If you are busy with your careers and have no time to plan a wedding and look into its finer details, you can simply purchase the services of a wedding planner who will plan the entire event and organize it according to your taste.

Word Your Wedding Invitation With Care

Words are of utmost importance, especially when they are set down on a wedding invite. The words you use on your wedding invite should accentuate its purpose, not destroy it. Besides, it should conform with the ethical standards of polite society.

Art is of immense importance in our lives. It finds its way into each and every aspect of our life and lends grace and beauty to it. One of the places where art plays an important role is within the words of a wedding invitation. Since a wedding invitation is a symbol of the glorious celebration of union that is to take place soon, words should be used with care when you create your wedding invite.

Many times, a couple has absolutely no control over the words on their wedding invitation. This happens, for example, when someone else is meeting the expenses of the wedding. In many cases, a combination of words might mean several things. The wrong choice of words on a wedding invite might lead to misunderstand due to misinterpretation among the wedding guests. As far as possible, words can create a misunderstanding should be avoided in a wedding invitation.

The words on a wedding invite should be concise and clear. They should give no scope for any confusion whatsoever. First and foremost, the words on your invite must clearly state all the important details of your wedding such as the location, date, and time.

Second, your guests should know, through the words on your wedding invite, which aspect of your wedding celebration they are invited for. When they receive a wedding invite, many guests take it for granted that they are invited for the wedding ceremony as well as the reception. This need not always be the case, and you should make this point clear in your wedding invite.

Some couples invite only a small section of their contacts for the wedding ceremony. This is because the couple might wish to be married in private with only a few family members and friends for company. They will not desire the presence of colleagues and neighbors under such circumstances. If this is the case with you, make sure that the words on your wedding invite state clearly that the invitation is only for the wedding reception and not for the wedding ceremony. Otherwise, you can invite people for both the reception and the ceremony. It all depends on your choice.

You should also consider the venue of the wedding when you decide the words that go on your wedding invite. If you are getting married in your house, make the words informal while maintaining a respectful, solemn tone.

To put it in a nutshell, see that the words on your wedding invite conform to the ethics and standards set by society. If the words on your wedding invite are flowery, but do not state the most important details of your wedding celebration, the wedding invitation will lose its intended purpose.

Wedding Cost Saving Ideas

Budget plays an important role in any wedding day celebration. Since couples do not want to spend the first golden phase of their married life paying off debts, they would like to cut the costs of wedding celebrations as much as possible. Here are some tips for such couples.

Each girl has her own idea of an ideal wedding. Her wedding dreams might have derived inspiration from fairy tales that have a rosy ending. Girls visualize flowers, laces, and ribbons on their wedding day.

However, when faced with the challenges of reality, a girl might get practical. She does not reject her ideas of an ideal wedding; simultaneously, she also takes into consideration other factors such as budget, latest styles, trends, and decorations. Cost plays a major role in any wedding celebration plans.

A newly married couple definitely wouldn't want to spend the first phase of their wedded life paying off debts incurred at their wedding. Therefore, the bride and the groom should pay special attention to the wedding budget and stick to it.

Here are some cost-cutting ideas for you:

Personalize Your Wedding

If you personalize your wedding decorations, you will not only make your wedding day unique, but also cut down the cost. For instance, if one of the couple is a professional photographer, they could use their own photographs to create the theme of their reception. The photos could be even be incorporated into the wedding invitations.

Rent the Decoration

You will never again get the chance of using the decorations you have used on your wedding day. So, why purchase them? Instead, consider renting items of decoration such as the arc ways, the vases, and the artificial flowers. Renting them, instead of purchasing them, will cut down the cost of your wedding celebration considerably.

Make Separate Arrangements for Kids

Wedding receptions usually bore children. You can arrange a separate corner for the children so that they can have fun by themselves.

If you want to show that your wedding is not just the union of the bride and the groom, but also of their families, you can even customize the wedding rites to match this thought. You could arrange things in such a way that bride's and the groom's children by previous marriages and also the couples' families can participate in a special rite of union.

Obtain the Food from Culinary Schools

You could request culinary schools to provide the food for your wedding reception. You will then have to pay only for the food. Alternatively, you could arrange for a pot luck dinner where friends and family members contribute a dish each.

Keep the Guest List Small

If you want to cut down the cost of your reception, you can invite lesser people to it. Instead, you can invite more people for your engagement party. This way you can cut the cost because only hors d'oeuvres and cocktails are served at engagement parties. On the other hand, the luncheons or dinners of a wedding reception cost more.

Music at Low Cost

For music, you could request a DJ or a local college band. Or, you could just download your favorite songs from the Internet, burn them into a CD, and play them over a loudspeaker during your wedding reception.

Sharing Costs

If another couple is planning to celebrate their wedding on the same day, you can share the cost of decorating the church. The same decorations could be used for both ceremonies, instead of changing the decorations.

Spending too much on a wedding is not at all a great idea. Marriage is not just a party; it is the union of two people. Don't , arrange a reception to just to please your guests. They are supposed to share in your joy, not criticize the arrangements you have made for the celebration.