Archive for For the Groom

Selecting the right wedding invitations and stationery is so important because that is what sets the tone for the wedding. You and your fiance should sit down and talk about both of your visions of the wedding and set a theme. If you haven’t already, then do so soon or at least before you start sending out the invitations. You will want the invitations to invoke the details of the wedding, which would include the theme and formality. When you purchase your invitations, you probably want to think about other stationery options like save-the-date cards, ceremony programs, and thank you cards. Lets take a look at all your options.

Save-The-Date Cards
Many engaged couples opt to send out save-the-date cards before the formal invitation to remind the guests of the upcoming nuptials. You send them out after you have the official date of the wedding but before the formal invitations are sent out. A save-the-date isn’t mandatory, but it is ideal for those who are planning a destination wedding. Be sure to send them at least 6 months before the wedding day or weekend.

Formal Invitations
After you’ve made the list, you can send out the formal invites about 6 to 8 weeks in advance. That should give invitees enough time to RSVP and let you know if they’ll be there. About three or two weeks before the big day, you should start to take the final count of how many people will attend.

Programs
Once you’ve got all the ceremony details, it’s time to start planning a program. The ceremony program usually outlines the important events in the order that will take place during the wedding. A proper program should include the full names of the couple, officiant, and wedding party.  Many couples also add song lyrics or hymns to give the program a personal touch, but it’s not mandatory.

Thank You Cards
You and your fiance will be showered with gifts, so it’s only fair to send thank you cards. Don’t wait until you receive all the gifts, instead send out a thank you card as each gift arrives-  send them within two weeks of receiving it. Don’t forget to take out the time to write a heartfelt message in the thank you card. Never send out a thank you card that lacks a personal, handwritten message from you or your fiance.

Tweet This Post

Bachelor and bachelorette parties are most often held anywhere from one to three weeks before the wedding day. In most cases these pre-wedding events are hosted by the best man and the maid of honor respectively. They tend to be focused on the celebration of friendship as opposed to the celebration of family. With this said, should the parents of the bride and the groom be included on the guest list?

A bachelor party is a time when male bonding occurs. A bachelorette party also provides an opportunity for women to bond as friends in their own unique way. It is also a way for women to celebrate the upcoming union.

There are some men that decide to invite their fathers and/or their fathers-in-law to be to the bachelor party. The decision to do so rests on how the groom feels about this. Many men are nervous about having their future father-in-law at the party because they feel that they must be on their best behavior and must be more restrained than they would be otherwise. On the other hand, inviting the groom’s father may provide him with the chance to feel young again and to really cut loose!

Traditionally speaking, neither the mother of the bride nor the mother of the groom is invited to the bachelorette party. This pre-wedding bash is all about the bride and her closest female friends. It is the bridal shower held in the bride’s honor and not the bachelorette party that both mothers are invited to attend. The two events are different. A bachelorette party is an opportunity for the bride to let her hair down and to relax and have a good time with her closest gal pals. She may feel that this would not be possible if she were under the watchful (and sometimes very scrutinizing) eye of her mother or future mother-in-law.

When the guest list is drawn up for both parties the bride and groom should let the host/hostess know to whom they wish to extend invitations. The final decision to invite or not to invite parents to the bachelor/bachelorette parties rests with the bride and groom. Bear in mind that there are plenty of other opportunities for the parents to be a part of the joyous celebration of the marital union.

Tweet This Post

Not every engaged couple is going to want fine china, crystal, and a new blender. Many  a couple these days don’t spend much time in the kitchen, and even less time actually cooking. Why make a list of gifts that will probably end up collecting dust in the pantry? If a gift registry is not your (nor your fiance’s) thing, then what options do you have? Aside from asking for money (not a bad idea once you know how to phrase it well), there are more creative options out there.

1. Ask Them to Chip in for Honeymoon Expenses
The whole wedding is pricey, and so is the honeymoon. Why not let them help pay for the romantic getaway of your dreams? With website like Buy Our Honeymoon, you easily can make a list of experiences, accommodations and more. Then your family and friends can select what they want to pay for, which saves you more money in the long run.

2. Have Them Donate to a Meaningful Charity
Perhaps you and your fiance are involved in a charity that means a lot to both of you. Why not politely ask guests to donate money to your preferred charity in your honor? This is truly a gift that keeps on giving, plus they can donate a little or a lot. The I Do Foundation is just one website specializing in charity registries.

3. Ask Them to Purchase the Big Picture
If what you really want is a new couch, who says that a new piece of furniture or maybe a new kitchen appliance doesn’t make a great gift? Now, since these are probably the most expensive and largest of gift idea, you might ask for everyone to pitch in together to purchase that big screen television or new china hutch.

4. Money Is Always Welcome
If you really need financial assistance or just would like to start a saving account, then make sure the word gets out that you would like financial gifts.  One method includes mentioning this on your wedding website, but word of mouth is always best!

Tweet This Post

When I hear the word elope I immediately think of 24-hour wedding chapels in Las Vegas. I also think of young people who are deeply in love but whose parents do not approve of the union. I also think of soap operas. The whole idea of elopement seems to be clandestine, incredibly romantic and chillingly exciting!

To elope is to run away to get married. For many it is a secretm, and it happens out of the blue. However, it is quite possible for a happily in love couple to decide to elope even when their parents approve of their relationship and no matter what their ages are.

One of the most common reasons that couples elope is because they want to get married in a very simple manner and do not want have to deal with all of the preparations and headaches that come with planning and having an extravagant wedding. This is especially the case if they realize that someone else is calling the shots for their upcoming wedding day.

Eloping is kind of like getting married incognito. It might seem like a devilish adventure, but bear in mind that you risk upsetting certain people if you decide to forego marriage in the traditional manner and run off to be wed elsewhere.

Deciding to elope should not be a decision that is made spur of the moment. It should be something that the two of you discuss at length. Planning still needs to be involved when you are leaning towards eloping. You will be embarking on a couple’s adventure, but first make sure that this is what you both want. If one person is just giving in to make the other one happy, then perhaps you need to do some more talking on the subject.

Keep in mind, too, that just because you elope does not mean that everyone who is special to you must be excluded. Even if you plan to have a very basic wedding ceremony in city hall in a town a few miles away (or in another state), you can still invite a handful of loved ones and close friends to come along. In fact, there are certain areas in both the United States and Canada where you must have a marriage license and two witnesses in order to make your marriage legal.

Tweet This Post

The best man in a wedding is generally the brother of the groom. If the groom does not have a brother or stepbrother, then he may choose either a close friend of his or the brother of the bride, if she has one and if the two men are close.

It is the job of the best man to be the groom’s right hand man. He is the person who takes care of the groom’s needs and must be a responsible individual who is good at organizing. The role of best man is one that must be taken seriously.

It is the best man who throws the bachelor party for the groom. He can accept input and help from other people involved, but the crux of the responsibility falls on his shoulders. The best man must buy or rent his own tuxedo and shoes for the wedding, and in most cases he must pay for his own travel and accommodations if he is coming from afar.

He also is expected to act as a guide or leader for the groomsmen in making sure that everything to do with the tuxedo fittings goes as smoothly as possible, including making sure each one knows the date, time and place.

If the groomsmen are acting as ushers in the wedding, then the best man needs to be able to organize the gentlemen and coach them on their jobs where he sees fit. The best man and maid of honor traditionally are supposed to work together in organizing any special dinners being held for the bride and groom and/or the wedding party. It is their task to decide on a location and a date and time, as well as any extras that are needed for the occasion. The best man and maid of honor typically pay for the meals of the bride and groom while each member of the wedding party pays for his/her own meal.

In some weddings the best man escorts the maid of honor down the aisle. It is also the best man who gives a speech at the reception and makes a toast to the newlyweds. Of course, the most important job of the best man’s is to be a friend and confidant to the groom!

Tweet This Post

There are many reasons to host your wedding at home (or perhaps at the house that belongs to your parents, relatives, or a close friend). For one thing, you will save quite a bit if you don’t have to pay extra for the ceremony and/or  reception locations. Another reason may be you want a rather small and intimate reception at home. Whatever the reason for your at-home wedding, there are some basic things to know that will help make planning this special day easier.

1- Make Sure Your House Is Ready
Other than the obvious like cleaning, make sure that there will be enough space for all your guests to move around and have a good time. If you know children will be attending, make sure that your home is child-friendly and take extra precautions for their safety. As always, make sure that there are at least several clean bathrooms and make sure that the guests know about them. If you don’t, see if you can rent a few extra portable bathrooms.

2- Enlist A Wedding Planner
If you’re planning to hold your nupitals at home, it would not hurt to hire a wedding planner to help assist you and to guide you through this process.

3- Check The Laws
Depending on where you live, it would be a smart idea to check with local ordinances to see if your house or yard need safety or fire inspections. Don’t forget to find out about your local laws on noise regulations. You might need to apply for a permit at least 6 to 9 months in advance.

4- Plan For The Inevitable
It happens. You finalize all the fine details and then something goes wrong either the day before or on the day of. While you cannot predict the future, it’s a good idea to come up with backup plans should such occasions arrive. Discuss various scenarios (like a rainstorm on the day of your backyard wedding) and come up with alternative plans. In the end, it is best to be prepared no matter what situations arrive.

Tweet This Post

Part three (the final conclusion to my Wedding Budget Series)  will show you how to save money for and during your honeymoon. After the long awaited celebration called a wedding, you and your spouse want and need a little R and R. But like everything else wedding related, you have to budget for this. Luckily you’ve got plenty of options and tools to help you plan and book your dream honeymoon, and I am here to share some great tips for budgeting your dream honeymoon. Here they are.

1- Go all-inclusive and pay a package price for the airfare, hotel, meals, and entertainment.  Best off all, many of these resorts have it all in one location, which means you won’t have to rent a car (unless, of course, you want to do some sightseeing or shopping). Some packages even throw extras like free wine, dinner, or massages. Ask before you book.

2- Stay close to home. If you live in the northeast, consider New York City, Martha’s Vineyard, Philadelphia, or Boston. If you live in the west, maybe you should vacation in the Grand Canyon, Los Angeles or Las Vegas.  Not only will you save on airfare, you also will save yourself from having to renew or obtain a passport.

3- Consider a honeymoon registry where your friends and family can chip in to pay for your honeymoon. This is an extraordinary idea if you want to stay in the Caribbean, Pacific Islands, or Europe. Check out TheBigDay.com or Honeymoon Wishes to get started.

4- Seek a travel agent that specializes in the area you want to stay. Sure you have to pay, but a smart agent will not only save you money, they often will give savvy tips on how to snag perks and freebies during your honeymoon. Who couldn’t use that?

5- Use these two little words that can save you money, “We’re newlyweds!”. Now this is no guarantee to anything, but you could receive a few discounts or freebies by just mentioning these two words.

Tweet This Post

If you recently have been proposed to by way of a canary diamond, then it is hard not to get swept away by the brilliance of this diamond, which is named after the bird of the same color. A canary diamond is a yellow gem that is bright and pure, meaning that it contains no hint of other colors, such as brown, green or red. Canary diamonds are some of the rarest of all yellow diamonds. It is one of the most popular shades of what are known as fancy colored diamonds.

The yellow of a canary diamond is very bright. Due to its vividness it is sometimes called a lemon or a lemon drop stone. There is no denying the beauty of a canary diamond engagement ring. What gives the canary diamond its bright hue is nitrogen that is present in the carbon crystals when the stone is being formed. In order to get the sharpest yellow possible there needs to be a high concentration of nitrogen that cannot be tainted by any other kinds of elements that would modify its radiant color or detract from it in any way.

A diamond is beautiful no matter how you look at it, and every diamond is a symbol of love and commitment. However, when the diamond happens to be yellow there is an even deeper meaning inherent in it.  The shade of yellow is synonymous with happiness, joy and prosperity.

For those who follow astrology, yellow is the color for the Zodiac sign for Leo. Yellow is also the official ribbon color for those in the military and in particular for those deployed throughout the globe. A man in the military might propose to his beloved with a canary diamond. The color would be a reminder of their lasting love when the two are separated by many miles.

When choosing the metal for a canary diamond, platinum or white gold are the most appropriate choices as opposed to yellow gold. This is because the monochrome hues of these two metals will allow the true brilliance of the canary diamond to shine through in all of its dazzling glory.

If expense is an issue, then choose an alternative gem that feature a bright yellow hue, such as a yellow sapphire, cubic zirconia, citrine or tourmaline topaz.

Tweet This Post

Part two of the Wedding Budget Series- the guide that gives you simple ways to save on everything wedding. Last week it was all about saving on the costs of the wedding reception. This week it’s all about saving on bridal gowns and attire for the wedding party.  Why pay full price for dresses and suits that everyone will only wear once?  Here are some tips that should save you valuable money.

• Are you seeking a wedding gown by a particular designer? Avoid eBay and search for a locally owned discount bridal boutique that specializes in designer gowns.  Try to ask recently married friends or a wedding planner for their recommendations.

• Looking for local consignment boutiques that specialize in used bridal gowns is another fabulous option. Once again, do your research before you purchase.

• Another good option is to purchase a beautiful  but simple wedding dress. A wedding dress made with silk organza is often a better budget option than an overly embellished dress.

• If you have to spend a lot on the wedding gown, then spend lightly on the accessories, like shoes and jewelry. If you’ve already got some beautiful pieces of jewelry, then feel free to wear them on your wedding day.

• Even though the wedding party generally pays for their own attire, shoes, and accessories- it would be a smart idea to keep their budgets in mind when choosing the outfits for your bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girl, and ring bearer. However, you are responsible for the flowers and boutonnieres.

• Try to check local tuxedo rental shops for discounted rentals for the groom and groomsmen. Sometimes, you’ll find special discounts when there are 4 or more rentals from the same shop.

Coming up next? Part 3 of the Wedding Budget Series:  Saving money on your honeymoon!

Tweet This Post

Have you ever heard the saying, “What’s old is new”?  This saying is definitely resonating in the minds of today’s engaged couples, and vintage is in full swing. Maybe you want to give a nod to your parents’ era when tying the knot, or maybe you just love the style of a particular era. Whatever your inspiration may be, adding that vintage touch will indeed make the big day unique and memorable. Here are some ideas on how to add a little old-fashioned style to your wedding.

1- Instead of buying a brand new wedding gown, why not wear a vintage wedding gown, or a vintage white dress? Some vintage boutiques specialize in wedding gowns, try to find one in your city. You also could have the groom and/or groomsmen don vintage suits.

2- Walk down the aisle to an older love song that has significant meaning. If you don’t have a talented (and close) friend to play the piano, make sure that you hire a professional musician or group to perform the song during the ceremony or perhaps reception.

3- Go with vintage décor. Scour the flea markets or perhaps ask one of your mothers if she has any vintage item that she could loan on your wedding day. As a bonus, using a vintage heirloom not only will add something special, it also will save extra money.

4- Ride in style, and rent a vintage convertible or other car for the big day. Caution, it might be a bit costly, so check to see if you can rent a fairly new automobile that looks vintage.

5- Another fabulous and affordable option that your parents probably will love is to use your great-grandparents’ (or perhaps even grandparents’) wedding bands or engagement rings in your upcoming nuptials.

6- Take a few cues from the more romantic Victorian era with lots of elegant lace details and décor. Or perhaps you could have all the invitations and coordinating wedding stationary designed by a good calligrapher.

When it comes to weddings, the possibilities are endless.

Tweet This Post