Wedding Reception Music: DJ or Band?

<img alt="Wedding Singer" src="ImageHandler.ashx?id=266e1a03-d74b-482c-b77c-135be178c5ca&size=original" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 10px; width: 205px; height: 138px; float: left;" /> As someone who really loves music, I was nervous about deciding who to hire for my reception music: a DJ or a live band. There are benefits and drawbacks to both, so it's critical to shop wisely and check references. A DJ is typically less expensive than a live band and can offer a wider range of music that will please <a href="http://eventplanning.about.com/od/Wedding-Planning/a/wedding-dance-songs-all-ages-pack-dance-floor.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href, '', 'resizable=yes,status=no,location=no,toolbar=no,menubar=yes,fullscreen=no,scrollbars=yes,dependent=no'); return false;">guests of all ages</a>. One friend of mine hired a DJ who was great at getting the crowd excited. He even managed to get my friend's mother-in-law, who never dances, out on the dance floor!  However, if the DJ isn't up to par, it can really ruin the mood of the reception. A band offers a more full-on experience for the guests than a DJ does. Watching the band can give non-dancers something to do.  A good band is more likely than most DJs to read the crowd and improvise when necessary, which is a bonus. But the variety of songs the band knows may be limited compared to the extensive catalog a DJ has on hand. My best friend and her fiancé had heard their reception band playing at a bar and fell in love with their unique style. It turned out that that the group had some experience playing at weddings and the couple was very pleased with their performance. I was in that wedding, and I can confirm that they really rocked the house! In the end, my husband and I ended up going with a DJ, which turned out to be the right decision for our wedding. She fit our budget, read the crowd well, and even requested and used our list of must-play and must-not-play songs.
5/14/2012 9:13:56 AM
(BettyG)

The Perfect Wedding Program

<img alt="Wedding Program as Fan" src="ImageHandler.ashx?id=711eb2cb-9028-42b3-a85c-0485de938c7c&size=original" style="margin: 10px; width: 205px; height: 154px; float: left;" /> Wedding programs are a great way for guests to know who's who at the altar and what to expect from the ceremony. They also make wonderful keepsakes. I designed my own wedding programs for a personal touch. People were coming up to me all night at the reception to tell me how much they liked the programs! Wedding programs are not mandatory, of course, but for those who choose to have them, there are a few things to keep in mind: • Wedding programs can be expensive, but they don't have to be. Couples can spend as little as the cost of printer paper, or as much as $2,000, depending on their budgets and how fancy they want to get. Our programs were mid-range, but more expensive than I thought they would be. • An option to cut costs is to make DIY (do-it-yourself) programs. This requires a fair amount of effort and time. Still, going DIY is an excellent way to personalize the programs and save money. • Programs can be simple, listing only the order of the ceremony, or they can be more complex. Our wedding programs not only listed the order of the ceremony, but also the names of attendants, the music used in the ceremony, the reading from the Bible, and a special note about the history of the ceremony venue, followed by a thank-you page. • Get creative! The program can be a single sheet of paper, or a pamphlet, or a bound booklet. It can be any shape or size, limited only by imagination and the capabilities of the vendor used. I was especially proud of ours: a thin, rectangular program that guests could fan out and use to cool themselves – a thoughtful touch for summer weddings.
5/9/2012 5:13:52 AM
(BettyG)

Kate and Will Anniversary 04/29/2012

Subject: Kate and Will Anniversary Date: 04/29/2012 Time: from 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM Location: Source: Wedding Knots Description: Kate Middleton and Prince William Married One Year Today!
5/1/2012 6:55:06 AM
(BettyG)

Writing Your Own Vows Without Writing Off Your Sanity

<img alt="Wedding Vows" src="ImageHandler.ashx?id=7f344449-219c-4250-b47d-1142934d7aa5&size=original" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 10px; width: 305px; height: 182px; float: left;" /> What could be sweeter than reciting self-written vows while standing alongside the love of one's life? That's what I was thinking when my now-husband and I decided to write our own vows. Still, like many things about a wedding, it was not as simple as it seemed. There were a few steps that we had to take before sitting down and writing away. First, we needed to check with our officiant to make sure he was okay with it--and he was. He did not need to see the vows beforehand, but this is a requirement in some faith communities. We had to decide if we wanted to collaborate on writing our vows or if we wanted to each write our own separate vows. We went with the latter. In the end my husband and I wrote our vows at 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., respectively, the morning of the wedding.  I do not recommend this! We felt rushed, and it compounded the wedding-related stress we were already feeling. Ideally, the bride and groom would write their vows at least a month before the wedding, and perhaps earlier if the officiant needed to approve them. Although writer's block struck pretty hard, we were both able to move past it and create something meaningful. I focused on some poignant memories we had. He focused on our future together. Between us, we seemed to cover all the bases, which was a nice surprise since we chose not to share our vows ahead of time. Both of us threw in a bit of humor, which our guests loved. So really, everything worked out for the best. But I still wouldn't recommend waiting until the last minute!
5/1/2012 6:43:33 AM
(BettyG)

Wedding Registry Dos and Don'ts

<img alt="Wedding Gift" src="ImageHandler.ashx?id=e1137e59-3382-48ad-b86c-508602e64a07&size=original" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 10px; width: 205px; height: 205px; float: left;" /> There are a lot of things to keep in mind when setting up a wedding gift registry. I was overwhelmed when a sales associate placed a scanner in my hand, said "Have fun!," and walked away. The entire store was at my disposal; where to begin? Here are some tips that helped me organize the wish-list as well as the thank-you notes aspects of wedding gifts: DO register for gifts together. Your spouse-to-be probably will think it's fun, and after all, your gifts will go into the home you’ll be sharing together. DO select items in a range of prices, from inexpensive to pricey.  We needed napkins and place mats as well as a stand mixer, and this allowed guests to select something within their budget. DO register at more than one store to give guests the opportunity to shop where it’s most convenient for them. We did not do this and I wish we had; we ended up with a lot of gifts from other stores, which meant two toasters and three can openers. DON'T go crazy with the scanner. My fiance managed to register for three propane grills, a fish tank, and a single light bulb before I wrested the scanner away from him.  DON'T register at a store that doesn't have a shopping-enabled website UNLESS you have covered your bases by registering at another store. The shop we selected had an online presence as well as a physical one.  My tech-savvy brother and out-of-town guests could buy over the Internet, while family and friends who live in our community could purchase in person. DON'T forget to say thank-you! Buy thank-you notes early on and send them promptly. The more notes that are sent before the wedding, the easier it will be to send the rest after returning from the honeymoon. I'm rarely prompt about anything -- I was, in fact, late to my wedding -- but I am proud of the fact that I sent thank-you notes within three weeks of receiving each gift.
4/23/2012 9:47:13 AM
(BettyG)

Pruning a Wedding Budget: Subtle Ways to Save Money

<img alt="Wedding Postage" src="ImageHandler.ashx?id=81f85f8d-90b2-4533-8f72-b731d522e126&size=original" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 10px; width: 205px; height: 264px; float: left;" />   It's easy for a wedding budget to get out of control. There always was something else I'd forgotten about--tips for the vendors, gift bags for out-of-town guests, the cost of postage stamps. I quickly discovered the necessity of pruning the budget in small ways. Done right, the guests won't miss a thing! Here are some ideas to keep down costs. • Opt for a small, one- or two-tiered wedding cake for ceremonial cutting, and have a sheet cake in the same flavors to feed the guests. My best friend did this at her wedding, and the sheet cake was every bit as delicious as the tiered one. • Rather than having a full open bar, stick with moderately priced beer and wine and serve a "signature" cocktail. We had a full open bar at my wedding because my husband really wanted one, but offering a special, personalized cocktail instead would have saved us a mint. • Skip the live band and ask the DJ to take care of the music for the ceremony and the reception. I selected instrumental music for the ceremony, and the DJ provided a large catalog of songs for the reception. • Postage is more expensive for oversized and square invitations – stick to a standard size and shape. But consider ditching the traditional inner envelope to save weight.  You might even ask friends and family to RSVP by e-mail or phone so response cards, stamps, and envelopes aren't needed. • I saved on the cost of decorations by getting married in a park at a local zoo. The lush backdrop of trees and plants provided built-in greenery that kept down the floral expenses. • Instead of purchasing a traditional wedding dress, look for a bridesmaid dress in white. This saved a friend of mine hundreds of dollars.
4/12/2012 11:48:35 AM
(BettyG)

How Many Is Too Many Bridesmaids?

<img alt="Bridesmaids Bouquets" src="ImageHandler.ashx?id=370d0f01-7294-4a03-92c6-1fa1859157ee&size=original" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 10px; width: 300px; height: 249px; float: left;" /> I thought compiling a guest list was tricky. Selecting bridesmaids was even harder! Should I have asked the girlfriend of the best man to be a bridesmaid, even though I didn't know her that well (I chose not to)? What about the girlfriend of my future brother-in-law (nope)? Or my brother's girlfriend (I did ask her)?  Emotions ran high, but we managed to make it through without hurting feelings too much. Here are a few things to consider when selecting attendants:   • There's not a set number for bridesmaids, but a good rule of thumb is to have one for every 50 guests. My husband and I went a little higher, with three bridesmaids and three groomsmen for a total of 100 guests, but it seemed to work out perfectly for us. It really comes down to the feel of the individual wedding. Formal weddings tend to have larger bridal parties, and more casual weddings can get by with fewer attendants. • It's not a requirement to have an even number of attendants. If a bride has one more bridesmaid than her groom has groomsmen, it's not that unbalanced.  We had an even number of attendants, but it just worked out that way.  If it hadn't, I would not have scrambled to find an extra bridesmaid or groomsman. • Just because I was invited to be in a high-school friend's wedding six years ago didn't mean I had to invite her to be in my wedding--so I didn't. This tradition goes back to the days when most people married in the same town they grew up in.  People also tended to marry younger back then; now we don’t necessarily hit life’s milestones at the same time as our classmates. • When in doubt, go with the relatives. If I'd had four sisters, you'd better believe I would have had four bridesmaids!
4/2/2012 2:32:37 PM
(BettyG)

Bridal Blooms -- Wedding Flowers Don’t Have to Break the Budget

<img alt="Kate Middleton's Bouquet" src="ImageHandler.ashx?id=ffc2d738-735f-4978-b0c9-54e2e6779347&size=original" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 10px; width: 305px; height: 197px; float: left;" /> I hate to say it, but flowers are not cheap. I spent around the standard 8% of my budget on them. This included my bouquet, bridesmaids' bouquets, boutonnières, decoration for the ceremony, and centerpieces for the reception. Considering that the average wedding costs around $25,000, the flower budget can easily come out to $2,000.. I won't tell you exactly what I spent on my flowers, but it was more than I'd intended!   It doesn't have to be that way, though. The biggest tip to saving money on your flowers is to go with what's in season. That could be tulips or peonies in spring, hydrangeas in the summer, mums in the fall, evergreens and holly in winter, and roses and lilies year-round. I went with the classic bloom of brides, the rose, for the bulk of my floral arrangements, rather than opting for more expensive out-of-season flowers. Being flexible helps – tell your florist to use whatever flowers are in season and within budget. If he's a decent florist, he can make a lovely display without billing a fortune. Here's another tip: centerpieces do not have to involve flowers at all.  I had glass vases containing white and red roses, but I could have saved a fair amount of cash by going with a flowerless alternative. Think about an arrangement of economical pillar candles in varying sizes, all in the wedding's colors. Or perhaps glass cylinders featuring sand and seashells for a wedding with beach theme.  For couples who really want fresh flowers and don’t mind putting in the labor, wholesale flowers are an option. Some wholesale florists in big cities will sell to the public, or you can search “wholesale flowers” online to find internet vendors. Of course, you’d have to clean and trim the flowers, arrange them, and keep them alive until the wedding.  Doing all the finishing work can cut costs by half or more. I'm ultimately glad I made the decision to go with a professional florist, but the savings certainly would have been nice!
3/26/2012 7:26:41 AM
(BettyG)

Exploring Wedding Venues

<img alt="Mansion at the Zoo" src="ImageHandler.ashx?id=5963e4ad-7ff5-4219-918d-eea654b0cbd5&size=original" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 10px; width: 400px; height: 266px; float: left;" /> For many couples, getting married in a house of worship is an absolute must. But some couples  want something a bit, or even very different for their ceremony and / or reception.  I, for one, got married at a zoo. Yes, that's right: a zoo! Technically, it was in a beautiful mansion house that happened to be on zoo property. I wasn't in the cages with the monkeys, I promise! And a zoo setting could have given a whole new meaning to “monkey suit.” But it goes to show that brides can get married just about anywhere, with great results. For couples not too far from a coast, beaches are a popular option.  To lower the effects of bad luck with weather, look for a beachside restaurant with experience doing weddings – ask about their contingency plan in case storm clouds start brewing.  If you’re landlocked, consider having a destination wedding, but be thoughtful about the resources available to family and friends for that kind of travel commitment. If the countryside isn’t too far away, you might have the ceremony and reception on a farm or ranch. Imagine how rustic and beautiful that could be! One bride I know had the reception dinner in a (well-scrubbed) barn, and it was just lovely. How about holding the wedding at an <a href="http://www.catalystranchevents.com/weddings1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href, '', 'resizable=yes,status=no,location=no,toolbar=no,menubar=yes,fullscreen=no,scrollbars=yes,dependent=no'); return false;">art gallery </a>or museum? It's especially fitting if the bride and groom share an interest in whatever the gallery or museum focuses on. One pair of friends of mine, both artists, tied the knot at a local gallery. Other landmarks, such as <a href="http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/hprs/dranesville.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href, '', 'resizable=yes,status=no,location=no,toolbar=no,menubar=yes,fullscreen=no,scrollbars=yes,dependent=no'); return false;">public parks</a>,<a href="http://mobilebotanicalgardens.org/rentals/weddings/" onclick="window.open(this.href, '', 'resizable=yes,status=no,location=no,toolbar=no,menubar=yes,fullscreen=no,scrollbars=yes,dependent=no'); return false;"> botanical gardens</a>, picturesque colleges, or historic restaurants are other options.  Out-of-town guests will particularly appreciate being able to see the couple's locale through their eyes. A potential benefit to less traditional ceremony and reception venues is that they can be cheaper and less in-demand than hotels, country clubs and other more traditional wedding spaces.  One word of caution though -- if you want to be married by clergy, be sure to check with him or her about denomination requirements for marriage ceremonies before booking anything.
3/15/2012 8:52:56 AM
(BettyG)

Going Green On Your Wedding Day

<img src="ImageHandler.ashx?id=49aa759e-9b09-4e57-b42f-a1c141cecfe1&size=original" style="margin: 10px; width: 300px; height: 252px; float: left;" /> My wedding's colors were gold and red, but I rather wish I'd added another: green. Not actually the hue—I mean having an eco-friendly wedding. Green weddings are quickly gaining momentum as something positive that brides and grooms can do for our planet. And it's not about restricting venue options to certified-green buildings, or eschewing paper invitations altogether (although there's nothing wrong with doing those things!). Here are a few ideas that I wish I'd had when I was planning my own wedding:   • Post-consumer recycled paper invitations are a good way to save some trees. If your heart is already set on a design that uses non-recycled paper, think about skipping the traditional second envelope (as I did) or request RSVPs online instead of including paper RSVPs (as my brother and sister-in-law did). • Instead of a bleached, single-use wedding gown, consider a lovely vintage gown.  Or reuse --  single-use gowns can be donated through organizations such as <a href="http://bridesagainstbreastcancer.org/index.php/make-a-donation/" onclick="window.open(this.href, '', 'resizable=yes,status=no,location=no,toolbar=no,menubar=yes,fullscreen=no,scrollbars=yes,dependent=no'); return false;">Brides Against Breast Cancer</a>. I chose to keep my single-use gown, but my intention is to pass it down to my daughter one day, another option for green brides. • Instead of handing out plastic or metal favors that won't biodegrade and might just sit in a landfill, give earth-friendly favors.  How about flower and herb seed packets tied together with pretty jute ribbon? Or, these <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/79176738/personalized-plantable-seed-paper" onclick="window.open(this.href, '', 'resizable=yes,status=no,location=no,toolbar=no,menubar=yes,fullscreen=no,scrollbars=yes,dependent=no'); return false;">seed paper place cards</a>, with your choice of flowers or heart done to match your wedding colors. I made origami paper cranes for each guest to keep, and they were a big hit, though I wish I'd thought to use recycled paper. If my experience is any indication, it's not too much trouble to swap out traditional choices for better, greener options. Little changes make big differences, after all!
2/28/2012 11:03:56 AM
(BettyG)

Planning a Wedding -- Getting Started Without Getting Overwhelmed

<img alt="The Ring" src="ImageHandler.ashx?id=e1153113-03fb-447f-aeb4-4c092f54071c&size=original" style="margin: 10px; width: 205px; height: 148px; float: left;" /> Congratulations! He popped the question, you said "Yes!," and now you're engaged. It's time to start the wedding planning. Many brides-to-be feel a little overwhelmed at this point in the process; I know I did. There's so much to think about: when to get married; where to hold the ceremony and reception; who to invite; what vendors to use; and so on, and so on. . . One of the first things to do is to regain some perspective.  It's a big day, but it's one day in your future together. Just like with any other big project, break your planning-related tasks down into manageable chunks. Being reasonably well-organized is the key to staving off wedding stress. I opted to use a three-ring binder with folders for all of my wedding-related miscellany, and this approach worked well for me. Personally I'm also a big fan of checklists, so here's one to start you off: MY FIRST POST-ENGAGEMENT PRIORITIES <ul> <li> Let everyone know the good news! There are many ways to do this--telling them face-to-face, placing a notice in the local newspaper, mailing out announcements, or sending an email, which is what I did.</li> <li> Get together with your fiancé and decide on a budget. If your parents or his parents have committed to providing financial help, include that in your budget. This step may have been the trickiest part of the planning for me, since weddings tend to be expensive.  But I found many ways to keep costs down, which I'll tell you about later.</li> <li> Once you've determined how much you'd like to spend, select a rough date for your nuptials, usually about a year away for a traditional wedding. You won't be able to finalize the date until you secure your venue.</li> <li> Consider hiring a wedding planner. She can help guide you through the sometimes-overwhelming process of planning the big day, saving you some frustration. Is that expensive? It certainly can be. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. And if you're going to hire a planner, get the most out of it by engaging one early.</li> </ul> There's much more to think about as your wedding gets closer, but this is what I focused on first, and it definitely helped keep the stress at a minimum.
2/21/2012 2:52:40 PM
(BettyG)

Congratulation on creating a new tab for your group Wedding Knots.

Congratulations on your new tab! You’re halfway to solving your group communication problems. Now, invite others to share in the discussion. Whenever you post to your tab, everyone gets the message.
2/14/2012 7:38:35 AM
(BettyG)

talkAbout index

Tab Events