-If you will be honeymooning outside of the country, make sure that when you purchase foreign currency you remember to get some small bills for things such as snacks, refreshments, tips, taxis, etc. There may be establishments that do not accept large bills, so having smaller bills is preferable.

-Find out at your bank if your ATM card will work in the country you will be going to. If you can use your bank card in the country you will be honeymooning in, then do so, but do not depend on it to the exclusion of other financial means. Issues can crop up using your card that you may not have anticipated. It would not hurt to pay close attention to the systems that your bank makes use of. Some examples of these include Cirrus, Interac and Plus.

-Book an appointment with your doctor before leaving for your honeymoon. If you are currently taking medication then make sure you have enough for the duration of your time away. If you will be traveling internationally, then find out if you need to get any vaccinations.

-Buy yourself a small safe, and place all of your valuables inside it before you leave for your honeymoon. It would be smart to leave your most expensive jewelry at home. You do not want to make yourself a target for any thieves on your honeymoon. Consider leaving your engagement ring at home for safe keeping.

-Make sure your family knows where you will be going for your honeymoon and has flight numbers and times. It would be good to leave an itinerary with them in the event that you need to be reached while you are away.

-If you have a pet(s) find someone who can look after him while you are away or else make arrangements to board your pet.

-Arrange for someone to check in on your home, as well as to bring in your mail and water your plants.

-If you currently have newspapers delivered to your home, then call the company to have it stopped while you are away. (That goes for anything else that you have delivered to your home on a daily or weekly basis as well.)

-Buy a timer for the lights in your home in order that others cannot tell that you are away.

-You can book your trip directly by way of the Internet or through a travel agent, regardless of whether you need to book plane fare or a trip on a cruise.

-When booking your trip make sure that you make it known that this is your honeymoon. This could mean that you will be granted a discount, will be upgraded or that you will get an extra of one sort or another.

-A visa is required to enter another country. Make sure you find out what other type of documentation you require before you book your honeymoon. If you already have a passport, make sure that it is current and will not expire while you are enjoying time with your new spouse!

-While the Internet can provide you with plenty of information to help plan your trip, it never hurts to buy a travel book such as Frommer’s or Fodor’s. Travel books can provide you with lots of valuable insights such as listings for various accommodations, points of interest and options for transportation.

-Knowing how to dress for the various places you plan to go on your honeymoon makes a difference. You do not want to be overdressed or underdressed for dinner after all!

-If you plan to change your name to your husband’s after you get married, then either book your honeymoon under his name or book it under your maiden name. You don’t want any confusion or problems to result if you book it under Mr. and Mrs. Ross. You will need to book the honeymoon before your wedding and your identification will reflect your maiden name as you will not have had the opportunity to change it just yet.

-If you plan to travel to another country for your honeymoon, familiarize yourself with the customs of the country in question before you go.

-Do not forget to do the obvious- take time off work to get married, and go on your honeymoon!

-Do you have travel medical insurance? Find out if the extended medical coverage through your workplace is enough. If it is not, consider buying some more. You can do this through your bank or through the travel agent.

Appearance Enhancers

You want to look as good as you possibly can to wed your beloved but you do not want to go overboard with appearance enhancers too close to the wedding date. Professional teeth bleaching is a gradual process that needs to be undertaken in the weeks (or even a months) preceding the wedding. If you want a slight tan, go to a tanning bed well in advance of the wedding. The same is true if you wish to have a facial done or any type of facial rejuvenation. Do not do anything drastic too close to the wedding as it can spell disaster for your appearance. The stress you already are experiencing can serve to worsen the problem considerably. This is also true in terms of trying new skincare products, hair products or a new brand of makeup. This is not the time to experiment because some experiments can go terribly wrong!

Makeup Overkill

If you are not really a makeup person, then allow yourself to be talked into wearing just a little to give you the bridal glow. If you do wear makeup on a regular basis, then do not make the mistake of putting on too much. Your pretty face is going to be on display, and the last thing you want is to look like your face is ready to do battle!

In the same way, do not force anyone else to wear makeup if they rarely do. Let everyone choose for herself.

Trendy is not Bridal

Trends are fine but not for your wedding day. You should aim for a classic and neutral look that never goes out of style. Put away the flashy eye shadows, the glitter gel and the blue mascara. Choose matte colors, and blend them well.

Bridal Party Makeup

Be considerate of the differences in the appearances of the ladies in your bridal party. Allow them to choose makeup colors that complement their looks. Do not get caught up in matching shades of lipstick to dress colors and the like. Celebrate everyone’s individuality, and work with them to find color schemes that are harmonizing, not hazardous to their looks.

-Your bridal makeup should not overwhelm or underwhelm you. You need to find a balance between too much and too little. Remember your pretty features should stand out, not the makeup colors you use.

-If you generally wear very little in the way of makeup, change that for your wedding day. Aim for skin that looks flawless and glowing with vitality.

-Before you put foundation on your face apply what is known as a “primer” or a transparent gel. What this does is it creates a barrier between your face and the makeup. This allows for the longevity of your makeup and colors that will last throughout the day. The gel is also good for another reason- it prevents makeup from finding its way deep into your pores.

-Choose a concealer that is slightly lighter than your foundation. The concealer is particularly important to disguise any under eye circles you may have. Make sure you blend the concealer towards your nose using downward strokes. Blend both your concealer and foundation well. You don’t want to be able to tell where either one ends.

-Neutrals are the best choice for wedding day makeup colors. They look the most natural. Save the wild, bright colors for another occasion. In particular, morning weddings require the most natural makeup while evening weddings allow you to go with slightly darker makeup shades if you prefer.

-Eye definition is important, therefore your eyeliner should be soft, not harsh. Line eyes softly with smudgeable powder liner.

-Curl your eyelashes with an eyelash curler. Then carefully apply two to three coats of waterproof mascara. Soft black or brownish black shades are best for your wedding day.

-Light peach eye shadow works well as an eyelid base. Choose neutral colors for your eye shadow. Stay away from blue or green shades, as they will look dated in your photos when you look back. Bright colors are a no-no, as is gray.

-Line your lips but do so with a natural color.

-Brush your lipstick on if possible and dot the middle of your bottom lip with a touch of gloss. This makes for a dewy and romantic look.

-Avoid very pale shades for your lips as they will give you a washed out look.

It is perfectly normal to find yourself at a point where you are stressed out, restless, anxious and unsure. Often cold feet are simply a culmination of all of the tension that builds up in preparing for a wedding.

Be aware that a case of cold feet can be a good thing. It provides you with the golden opportunity to take a serious look at your relationship and ask yourself what marriage means to you.

Individual Cold Feet and Relationship Cold Feet

Cold feet can be broken down into two types- individual cold feet and relationship cold feet. How can you tell the difference between the two? If you are dealing with insecurities and fears related to marriage in a general way, such as worrying about loss of independence once you become a married woman or hoping that you will make a good wife, then you are suffering from individual cold feet. Relationship cold feet on the other hand is when you have specific fears about marrying your partner.

How to Cope

It is necessary for you to dig deep into your psyche and explore the reasons behind your fears and insecurities. Certain fears may be “deal breakers” and will signal to you that getting married at the moment is not a good idea. On the other hand, some worries are smaller issues that you simply need to talk out with a family member or friend. Recognizing the existence of cold feet is important, but you must not overreact to it and make it larger than life.

If it is the groom who is suffering from a case of cold feet, then encourage him to write a list of the fears and insecurities that assail him. Doing this can bring the situation into sharper focus and can provide perspective when it is needed most.

Amid the craziness of planning for the wedding, make sure the two of you spend quality time together that DOES NOT involve talk of the upcoming nuptials at all. Enjoy a drive in the country or a simple walk in the park.

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Here are some points to consider when searching for a photographer:

How experienced is the photographer? Does he photograph weddings in his free time for extra money or does the person do it as a full time job?

It is important that you communicate to the photographer what your “photographic style” is, and then see if hers matches yours (or if you can find a middle ground). When it comes to photography there are many styles. What is yours? Some examples include classic, candid, formal, and so on. Some couples like the authentic and traditional look of black and white pictures and might want to have a series of these taken along with the more modern looking color photos.

Some photographers work alone while others work with other photographers. Make sure that the individual whom you hire to photograph your wedding is the person who will indeed be doing the work. Arrange a face-to-face meeting and request to see samples of the photographer’s work.

The personality of the photographer is important. Can the two of you get along and communicate effectively?

Following closely on the personality of the photographer is the person’s appearance. Is the photographer well groomed? How does he plan to dress the day of the wedding?

What does the photographer charge for her services? While price should not be the only factor in your decision making process, it is still significant. Just as you comparison shop in other areas of your life, it is smart to shop around and find different rates for photographers before you settle on the one you wish to hire.

What will the delivery rate be for the proofs for your pictures? What about your wedding album, bridal portraits, etc.?

Does the photographer offer a package deal or is everything separate?

What does the contract consist of? Read through it thoroughly before you sign on the dotted line. If you do not understand something, ask about it before signing.

Find out everything you need to about deposits, payments and the cancellation policy. Leave no stone unturned.

Ask the photographer for references, and then take the time to talk to others about him.

Wedding Veil Lengths to Consider:

Elbow Length Veil- This type of veil is best worn with shorter wedding gowns that do not have a train. Due to the short length of the veil, all of the detail and ornamentation at the waist of the gown will be seen. This type of wedding veil is best for weddings of a formal or semi-formal nature.

Fingertip Length Veil- This kind of veil would look fine if it were worn with any type of wedding gown that is longer than tea length (which means that it is hemmed to end at the shin). If the bride puts her hands to her sides, the veil should fall to her fingertips. This length is appropriate for both semi-formal as well as formal weddings.

Chapel Veil- This kind of wedding veil is three yards in length. The chapel veil is most becoming when it is paired with a full-length wedding gown that has long sleeves. The chapel veil is an excellent choice for a formal wedding.

Cathedral Length Veil- The cathedral length veil is the longest veil there is. This type of veil hangs to the floor and beyond. It generally extends an estimated six inches beyond the train of the dress. The cathedral length veil (as the name suggests) works best when paired with a cathedral length gown or a semi-cathedral length.

As you are considering your options, do not forget about the blusher, which is the shoulder-length layer of the veil that covers your face as you walk down the aisle. The blusher can play as large a role in how you look as can the rest of the veil. A blusher can be combined with a veil of any length.

Many brides today are choosing to forego the use of a blusher, but that decision is entirely up to the blushing bride-to-be. A blusher can be used for a formal wedding or a semi-formal wedding.

Designing your own dress does not necessarily mean that you have to sew it yourself! You can design the pattern that is so “you” and then have the dress made by a seamstress in your area.

Understand Your Body Type for Dress Style and Fabric

In order to design the most appropriate wedding dress possible, you have to familiarize yourself with your body type. Consider your height, weight and the shape of of your figure. You want a dress that will flatter both your unique body type, as well as your complexion and hair. Keep in mind that there are many wedding dress styles available. You can have a romantic wedding dress or a traditional wedding dress or you can go with something a little sexier. The choice is yours.

It is also essential that you choose the right fabric for the style of dress you choose. Be aware that the cut of the dress and how the fabric falls are closely connected. Avoid stiff unyielding material, and go for one that is wrinkle free.

There is a variety of wedding dress designs to choose from. Read on for a few of the most popular:

The basic A line is a winner for most women’s figures as it is very complementary. This style of dress is narrow on the top and then flares widely as it reaches the bottom. If this style seems too basic for you, then you can always enhance it with further decorations to the bodice.

This style is best for women who are in very good shape and are well toned. The skirt flares out at the mid calf or lower calf area and it features a fitted bodice. If you plan to dance at your wedding reception this dress might not be the best choice for you, as it restricts your freedom to move in a normal manner.

This style is very good at camouflaging figure flaws and is favored by many women. It has a fitted bodice and a skirt that is very full.

Traditionally speaking, wedding cakes were made up of three tiers and royal icing was used to cover the entire cake. They also were made of vanilla pound cake. Wedding cakes today can be as creative and as imaginative (not to mention as wild!) as the couple wishes them to be! There are a multitude of designs, flavors and decorations to choose from. You can customize the cake to suit whatever theme you would like.

Here are some important factors to take into consideration when choosing the cake for your upcoming wedding:

Size of the Cake

The size you choose has to do with how many guests you expect will be attending. If you plan to send cake to those who are not able to attend, bear this in mind. If you are uncertain about the size of cake you need in relation to the number of guests, then speak to a local baker for suggestions.

Wedding cakes are generally several tiers but you can use your individuality to choose the shape and size that is best for your wedding.

Cake Design

Flip through wedding magazines to get ideas, and go online and visit any number of websites to see photos of wedding cakes. Another option is to visit bakers and confectioners in your area and go through their books to see samples. If you do not find exactly what you want, you might want to combine something you saw in a magazine with something that caught your eye somewhere else. Or you might even want to design your very own cake!

Cake Flavor

You want your cake to look good but also to taste good, too! Search around for a baker who uses only top quality ingredients. You can go with the regular vanilla or chocolate flavor or you might decide upon a cheesecake. Other delicious options include sponge cake, fruit cake or a cake with a mousse filling. If you like more than one flavor you can have different tiers of the cake made with different flavors to delight the taste buds.

For more information on wedding cakes visit http://topweddingsites.com/articles/cakes.html.