If you are not sure whether you should be married in a church or go to a justice of the peace, then read on for some suggestions that can help make this decision easier.

If you and your beloved are religious, then most likely you are going to want to opt for a wedding in a church, which will allow you to feel the presence of God when you exchange your vows.

The justice of the peace is a good option for couples who are not very religious or for those who do not attend church on a regular basis. The justice of the peace (JP) is also an appropriate choice if you do not have the time, energy or resources to plan a big wedding and reception with all the trimmings.

If you are in a hurry to marry, then a justice of the peace wedding can make it official as soon as possible. On the other hand, you may be a person of faith who for any number of reasons is not able to get married in the church of your choice and, therefore, visiting a justice of the peace and having a civil ceremony might be the most appropriate choice for you.

A JP sits as a judge in the Justice of the Peace Court. However, it is worth noting that a justice of the peace does not have to be an attorney. This officer of the court has some, but not all of the powers, that are given to a judge of the higher courts.

Couples who wish to wed in a civil ceremony can visit a JP to take their vows. Two witnesses are all that is required for a justice of the peace wedding. However, if you wish to have a few more guests than that, that is perfectly acceptable.

A wedding performed by a JP may not be as fancy as a church wedding, but you can do everything you can to make it as meaningful as possible if you choose to take this route for your special day.

Church weddings on the other hand offer a level of intimacy, elegance and tradition that a JP wedding does not. If walking down the aisle in a beautiful wedding gown and hearing church bells is what you want most in the world then a church wedding is what you should be planning.

Weddings often come with numbers. How many guests are you going to have? How much food is your caterer going to serve? What is the wedding dress going to cost? How many songs are going to be played during the reception?  It’s pretty obvious that most engaged couples have numbers on their mind. Why not take a break from the math crunching, and read some interesting wedding facts by the numbers? Some of them may shock you.

• Grace Kelly (actress and Monaco’s princess) wore a wedding gown with a vintage bodice that was made with 125 year old lace.
• The average number of American couples getting hitched every day? 7,000.
• Octavio Guillen and Adriana Martinez were engaged for 67 years, which is the longest celebrity engagement period.
• Only 70% of brides wear the traditional diamond ring on the fourth finger of their left hand.
• When it comes to celebrity marriages, the more the merrier: Zsa Zsa  Gabor was married 9 times, Billy Bob Thornton was married 5 times, and Elizabeth Taylor was married 8 times (only one less that Zsa Zsa).
• In 1993, one of the largest weddings took place in Jerusalem. About 30,000 people attended the wedding.
• Too old to get married? Don’t tell that to Minnie Munro, who got married when she was 102, while her groom was only 82.
• How much would you spend for a wedding singer? Multimillionare Peter Shalson paid roughly 2 million  pounds to have the legendary Elton John perform a song at their wedding.
• In 1981, the son of a Dubai Sheik named Rashid Bin Saeed Maktoum spent about $44 million on his wedding.
• The average engagement is 13 months, which is a little over a year.
• The average number of wedding guests is 189.
• The average total cost of a wedding is anywhere from $20,000 to $25,000
• Nearly half of the weddings in the United States are second weddings.
• 31% of post wedding honeymoons are on the Caribbean islands.
• No surprise here: Las Vegas is the number 1 location of destination weddings with 100,000 weddings a year! How’s that for kitsch?

As you are planning your wedding, you will need to consider hiring a photographer.  You can choose the no cost route of asking friends to take photos during the event, but you may not get the style and quality of pictures you wanted.  The other option is to hire a professional photographer.

Recently, I spoke with Alyse Liebowitz, founder of 3 Chicks That Click, which was formed when Alyse was laid off from her corporate job.  As a photographer with 25 years experience, this was the perfect hobby to transform into a career.  Speaking with Alyse reminded me of the importance of budgeting for a professional photographer.

Prior to our interview, I perused her company’s website and found an important thought about wedding photography.  “The important thing to remember is which component has the most long-term value. Of all the aspects of a wonderful wedding — the food, the band or DJ, the liquor, the venue, the luxurious invitations, even the honeymoon — only the photographs will be the permanent memory of your special day.”

Talking with Alyse, we discussed what makes makes her photography company unique.  Her company, as the name notes, consists primarily of three women.  This is beneficial to the bride, reducing her stress on the big day.  “With female photographers, the bride doesn’t feel weird being half-dressed,” Alyse noted, which might be something that brides don’t consider when hiring a photographer.

In addition to being female, Alyse has a calming personality.  While speaking with her, she said that she reminds a nervous bride that nobody else knows exactly how things should go.  So, if one detail isn’t perfect, no one will know, and it should not be a cause for concern.

As for the important pictures to be taken that day, posed shots are important for the family, but candid shots can be the best photos from the wedding.  She recalled a wedding in Honduras that 3 Chicks photographed.  Set on a beach at sunset, it seemed perfect as the sun started to set. . . until the bugs arrived.  One of the popular photos from that wedding is of the bride being sprayed with bug spray by an attendant.

Based on her wedding photography experience, I asked Alyse for the most important tip she would give to a bride.  Her answer was simple, “Have fun, and react the way you normally would.  Forget about the photographer.”

While you will want to ignore the photographer’s presence on your wedding day, and focus on the event itself, don’t forget to hire a reliable photographer for your wedding.  There is no redo for wedding day photos.

It is no secret that celebrities influence everything we do from what we wear to where we shop. So, it should come as no surprise that we sometimes take trends or ideas from celebrity nuptials to incorporate in out own weddings. Some of the ideas are clever, some are a bit pricey, and others are original, but each idea can be copied if you add your own personal touch. Whether the event you’re planning is big or small, traditional or modern, here are some ideas you can borrow from celebrities.

Expensive as it may seems, some famous brides (like Melania Knauss when she wed Donald Trump) wear two wedding gowns- one for the ceremony and one for the reception.

Why wear white? Some celeb brides go for a non-traditional route and choose a gown in another color, like Sarah Jessica Parker’s glamorous black gown.

If you’ve got the extra cash and time, plan a private wedding ceremony with your loved ones, and a few weeks later throw a reception party.  It is a good option for those who want a private ceremony and later a large reception party. Celebrities who chose this route are Jessica Alba and Cash Warren, as did Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr.

Majandra Delfino and Devon Gummersall made their wedding guests feel special by writing out little personalized notes for each guest on pieces of pretty stationery.

What do Billy Martin (guitarist from Good Charlotte), Travis Barker (from Blink 182), and Avril Lavigne all have in common? Besides being rock stars, they each incorporated gothic style in their wedding plans.

If you have a beloved pooch, then why not have him (or her) substitute as a ring bearer like Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson did.

If you love your hair and don’t like the idea of covering it up with a veil, do what some celebrity brides do and shun veils altogether, like Tori Spelling and Rebecca Romjin. Or why not wear a few flowers in your hair like Jenna Bush did when she married Henry Hagler?

Which celebrity wedding was your favorite?

An outdoor wedding can be joyous and lovely. Unfortunately, it also brings with it some problems that you might not have to deal with if you have an indoor wedding. If you have your heart set on an outdoor wedding, then read on for some tips to help make it as beautiful and as stress-free as possible!

Maybe an outdoor wedding seems romantic, but is it practical? If you want to get married outdoors but the rainy season is coming, then go ahead and plan but come up with a backup plan as well. You might want to have the wedding ceremony outside since it will be shorter but take the reception inside. Another option is to set up a tent outdoors if it starts to rain. Unfortunately this will only work for a little bit of rain and not steady or torrential rain. Anticipate and prepare for the weather!

Always keep the comfort of your guests in mind.  If you plan to marry outdoors during the sweltering months, then provide cold bottles of water to your guests so they will not melt during the exchanging of vows! You might want to offer sunscreen and hats to those who need them most. To keep everyone as cool as possible, rent electric fans (and a generator to power them). It also would be good to rent a tent or canopy to shield as much of the sun’s rays as possible.

If you plan to have an evening wedding or marry during the fall or early spring when it is still cold and damp, then providing blankets or portable heaters is always a good idea.

An outdoor wedding celebrates the beauty of nature, and it is therefore not necessary to overdo the decorations. But it is always nice to have a few well placed decorations that make it obvious that a wedding is about to take place. Visit the site frequently in the weeks leading up to the wedding. Ensure that the grass is mowed, raked and that all of the hedges are trimmed. Also make sure that the beautiful flowers indeed look healthy and beautiful! Some decorations you might want to add include an arch or trellis, strings of lanterns or lights, or luminarias.

If food will be served outdoors, choose a caterer familiar with such things.

These days many people are becoming more conscious of the environment and seek out ways to help preserve it. Living an environmentally sound life can consume one’s time when it comes to searching for ideas to live by and sustain the earth. If you are environmentally conscious, planning your wedding around it shouldn’t be a hard task. There are many ways that you can incorporate an eco-lifestyle into planning the big day, here’s how.

Start with a natural locale, such as a backyard, garden, city park, or even a beach. The setting alone will be scenic and thus make the decorating a bit easier. Use natural or recycled items when it comes to décor, it may take a little effort but will be worth it. Ideas include miniature potted plants on a rustic picnic table covered with a tablecloth made of recycled material, or a seaside reception party held in a large gazebo that is decorated with seashells and hurricane lanterns. Remember that if you’re planning an outdoor wedding, you should plan according to season.

Then with the menu, whether you’re vegetarian or vegan, most caterers are willing to accommodate your wishes. There are plenty of options including salads, seafood, and even meatless entrees. You also can ask your caterer to incorporate more organic vegetables and dairy products into the menu. And if you’re creative enough, you can save some money with meatless menus, as meat is often expensive.

If you’re planning a large event, chances are you will use wedding stationery that includes save-the-date cards, invitations, and wedding programs. Botanical Paperworks offers a good selection of  not just wedding stationery but wedding favors, too.  What makes Botanical Paperworks unique is that their stationery is actually embedded with wildflower seeds, so when you’re done using it, simply plant the paper and grow wildflowers. Another good option is to use paperless invitations through  an online website.

Luckily, it is very easy to have a green wedding.

For more information on eco-weddings, visit Eco Wedding.

I often wondered why it is that the maid of honor and the bridesmaids must all look as similar as possible in a wedding party. Why the same color and style of dress? Yes, it looks uniform, classic and has a nice flow to it, but it also leaves out that element of individuality.

I, on the other hand think a bit of diversity and being able to inject one’s own personality into the wedding look is desirable. That is why I was delighted to see that when Carrie Bradshaw was to marry Mr. Big in the Sex and the City movie, all of the girls looked lovely in their long dresses- that were neither the same style nor the same color!

Samantha looked fantastic in her red gown while Miranda’s blue gown suited her to a tee. Charlotte was most becoming in her elegant black gown. And of course, Carrie wore white. White for a bride is still my chosen color as certain traditions are best upheld.

We are creating new wedding rules for the millennium that show a degree of flexibility. Some rules remain in place, but others are being bent somewhat. What else is happening in the wedding world?

Rituals are undergoing some gender bending, even as you read this. Do you prefer a man of honor to a maid of honor? Or how about a best woman instead of a best man? Sure, why not! If you are a bride whose best friend is a man or a man whose best friend is a woman, then many couples decide to incorporate that element into their wedding. It makes sense if that is the reality of your life.

While it has been common for some time now for some brides to choose to keep their maiden names or to hyphenate the two names, a new trend to emerge when it comes to the name game is to blend the two last names together in order to come up with a new name! According to a recent poll conducted by WeddingChannel.com, 15 percent of brides-to-be said that the concept of a blended name appeals to them.

There are plenty of twists on traditional wedding rules that are happening all of the time.  For example, if you have no father or grandfather, you might opt for a female family member to walk you down the aisle.

What new wedding rules can you think of?

These days almost anything goes (almost) when it comes to taste, style, and traditions.  What used to be mandatory when your parents got married has now become optional.  Reasons to forgo familiar traditions include monetary issues, cultural clashing, and even personal reasons.  However, if you do find something on the list that you absolutely must do, go ahead. But if not, then feel free to skip traditions that don’t appeal to you.  Here are such traditions.

Over The Top Receptions
These days the economy is tightening everyone’s budget, and thus modern brides and grooms opt for cheaper and chic alternatives. Ideas include skipping a large meal and replacing it with a cocktail party; staying in the United States for the honeymoon instead of jetting off to the Caribbean; buying cheaper (and more eco-friendly) wedding stationary. These days, less is more.

Rigid Rules
Sure, weddings are still formal, but that doesn’t mean you need to abide by certain rules if they cramp your style. Your bridesmaids don’t need to wear the same dress, they can wear dresses in the same color family. You also can ditch the arranged seating, which would not only relieve stress on your part, but it also leaves a more friendly experience for your guests.

Unnecessarily Wasteful Traditions
Want to know a little secret that saves time, money, and even the environment? Forgo useless items and replace them with something smarter like skipping the throwing  rice tradition and light sparklers.  And those tacky little wedding favors (something that often gets left behind or thrown away) can be replaced with acknowledging each guest at the reception. And even if you can’t, your guests will leave the wedding with memories, which is what really counts.

Weddings bring families together in a literal sense, so it is important to know that the whole planning process is no cakewalk. You’re not only dealing with your own family, you’re dealing with your fiancé’s as well, and everyone has different ideas and dreams for your wedding. That said, it is your wedding, and you don’t need your idea derailed. Here are two common issues you may come across and how to deal with them wisely.

Who Pays Is The One Who Plans
First of all you need to devise a budget plan, who is paying for what. Depending on who is paying the highest percentage of the total wedding costs (say, your parents), they do have some say when it comes to the planning process. However, you don’t need to be a doormat to everything they want. After all, it is your wedding! Learn the art of compromise.

The Bride’s Fiancé Won’t Contribute To Wedding Plans
If he doesn’t want to contribute ideas or money, it is time to get him involved. Arguing isn’t going to work, but you do need to ask him what he wants to do. If he’s reluctant, tell him that the planning process is hard to do alone and that you really would appreciate it if he helped. If he makes less money than you, you still can work out a plan that both of you can contribute to equally.

You have been asked to be a maid of honor. Perhaps it is your best friend’s upcoming nuptials, your sister’s or your cousin’s. You are so excited to have been asked, as you consider it to be an honor. Now what?

The duties that are designated to a maid of honor are not written in stone and can vary from person to person. Some brides will want their maid of honor to play an integral role in all wedding preparations, whereas others may not require as much of a helping hand.

Regardless of which situation describes yours, there are certain duties that are important to observe when you find yourself sitting at the right hand of a bride (so to speak).

It is your job to keep her as happy as possible. One of the most important jobs of a maid of honor is to be supportive of the bride. Listen to her when she wants to talk, offer advice when she asks for it, and be encouraging and upbeat!

Wedding planning can be stressful for everyone concerned (possibly including you). Make sure that you get the bride away from the wedding frenzy whenever possible, so her stress levels don’t reach the boiling point. Go for a walk or drive together or go out for coffee and spend time talking about anything other than the wedding.

A certain amount of wedding planning may be allocated to you. Make sure you find out from the bride what she wishes for you to do before you go ahead with anything in particular.

Some of the wedding planning that the maid of honor may be asked to participate in includes:

• Helping to research and choose the site for the wedding ceremony and/or the reception
• Shopping for a wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses
• Shopping for the wedding invitations, as well as decorations and wedding favors
• Meeting with caterers, photographers and videographers
• Working on the gift registry
• Planning the seating arrangement for the reception
• The bridal shower and bachelorette party are the responsibility of the maid of honor and bridesmaids to arrange.
• The maid of honor may be asked to help with the preparations for the rehearsal dinner.
• As a maid of honor you will need to write a speech to toast the bride at the wedding.

Enjoy!