Father-Daughter Wedding Dance
Posted on 20. Jun, 2011 by Patricia in Weddings
If you haven’t seen this father-daughter wedding dance, watch. It’s a lot of fun.
How to Change Your Name After Marriage
Posted on 11. May, 2011 by Patricia in Weddings
Most women, and some grooms, change their name after the wedding. However, it’s often difficult to anticipate all the different organizations you need to notify and how to do it. There are now many online services to assist you.
Too Many Wedding Invitations? Avoiding Wedding Guest Fatigue
Posted on 02. May, 2011 by Patricia in Weddings
Not invited to the royal wedding? Neither was I. But perhaps you’re invited to several other weddings this summer. It does get to be expensive and, in some cases, a little tiresome. Smart Money Magazine recently ran an article on tips for beating wedding guest fatigue.
The Wedding Dress: Preserve, Trash, Donate or Sell It?
Posted on 06. Apr, 2011 by Patricia in Weddings
More and more brides are choosing to upend wedding tradition, and the wedding dress is no exception. While some brides still preserve their wedding gown for sentimental value; more are choosing to trash their dress for fun or the sake of a memorable moment, donate their wedding gown to charity or sell their wedding dress online.
More Brides Want Smaller Weddings and Five Minutes of Fame
Posted on 23. Feb, 2011 by Patricia in Weddings
Brides are spending less, tossing out old traditions, going green, and figuring out how to get their five minutes of fame on YouTube according to the “What’s on Brides’ Minds’ 2011 Survey” by David’s Bridal.
Weddings: What’s Hot for 2011
Posted on 05. Jan, 2011 by Patricia in Weddings
Some of the hot wedding trends predicted for last year included retro-styled weddings, “living-room-vibe” ceremonies, tea length dresses, and classic white tiered wedding cakes according to The Knot.
This year, Anja Winikka, from The Knot, is predicting the following wedding trends for 2011:
Planning a Wedding? Avoid These Common Mistakes
Posted on 08. Dec, 2010 by Patricia in Weddings
What bride doesn’t want the perfect wedding? No matter how meticulous the planning, it’s difficult to think of everything. Here are top wedding mistakes to avoid – tips and regrets from couples who recently walked down the aisle.
Wedding Insurance: What Is It and Should You Buy It?
Posted on 19. Nov, 2010 by Patricia in Weddings
The average cost of a wedding in the United States hovers around $29,000 according to The Wedding Report, a market research publication. That’s a lot of money to lose if the wedding needs to be postponed because the father of the bride had a heart attack or the venue burned down two weeks before the event.
Enter wedding insurance.
Top Seven Wedding Guest Mistakes
Posted on 29. Sep, 2010 by Patricia in Weddings
Well, of course, it should go without saying that a wedding guest should not come on to the bride or groom. That being said, it’s important to remember that most couples spend countless hours and dollars trying to make their wedding memorable and special. If we’re fortunate enough to be invited, the least we can do is be a gracious guest. Here are some common, and not-so-minor, mistakes wedding guests make.
The Wedding Gift – Eight Frequently Asked Questions
Posted on 27. Sep, 2010 by Patricia in Weddings
Going to a wedding and have questions about the gift?
First of all, forget the notion about needing to spend equivalent to what the couple is spending at their wedding. “If anyone comes to my wedding, without a gift, I would be beyond ticked,” said LisaTyler1984 on The Knot. “You are supposed to get gifts off your registry for your shower. Then, people give money for the wedding because the bride and groom are probably hoping to recoup what they spent on the affair.”
Are you kidding me?
It’s a wedding not a business transaction. It’s an expression of goodwill from the guest to the couple. That being said, people do struggle with wedding gift-giving. Here are some common questions and answers from the experts.
1. IS IT OK TO GIVE CASH? IF SO, HOW MUCH?
It’s OK to give cash. There are different customs in other countries, so if you’re going to a wedding of someone not from the United States, check their local customs. If you do give cash, the question is how much. No one wants to appear cheap but yet no one wants to spend more than they can afford.
How close you are to the couple, or their families, and your budget often determine how much you should spend. Summer Krecke, deputy editor of WeddingChannel.com, offers guidelines. If it’s a co-worker’s wedding, she says you should spend $75 to $100; a relative or friend, $100-$125; and if it’s a close friend or close relative, anywhere from $100 to $150 or more is acceptable.
If you want to get technical, there is a wedding gift calculator at theweddingenvelope.com. You answer a number of questions such as whether it’s a first or second wedding, an off- or on-season wedding, how well you know the couple, etc. and it gives you a recommended amount.
If you’re uncomfortable giving cash, you can give a gift certificate to either the store where the bride and groom are registered or a large site like Amazon.
2. WHAT IF I CAN’T AFFORD A NICE GIFT?
Give something of yourself or be creative. You could make a DVD photo album or framed collage of pictures from the wedding shower, the wedding, favorite past events, etc.; or frame their wedding invite. You could make a CD of their favorite songs, including songs played at their wedding. Buy a nice bottle of wine, two glasses and make a nice gift basket. Offer your services if you have any special talents. Or buy something inexpensive off their gift registry or go in on a gift with others.
Above all, don’t worry. Most couples understand and are just happy to have you be a part of this very special time in their lives. If you have a friend who worries more about what gift you’re giving and its worth, is she really a friend?
3. DO I HAVE TO CHOOSE A GIFT FROM THEIR REGISTRY?
No. Although, according to The Knot, nearly 85% of brides want you to select a wedding gift from their wedding registry, and 98% have at least one registry, either in a store or online.
Ask the family where the couple is registered. Four in 10 couples have a wedding website with links to their online registry. Many retailers make shopping more convenient by allowing guests to access registries online or you can purchase it at the store in person. The couple set up the registry for a reason, and if you stick to it, you can’t possibly buy a gift they won’t like!
If you don’t see the right item that you would like to give, you can check this list of 25 popular wedding gifts.
4. DO I NEED TO GIVE A WEDDING AND SHOWER GIFT?
Bringing a gift to the shower does not technically constitute a “get-out-of-gift-free” pass for the wedding, says The Knot. Just split your gift-giving budget between the shower and the wedding. For example, if you have $100 to spend total, budget $25 for the shower gift and $75 for the wedding present.
5. I’M THE WEDDING DATE. DO I NEED TO GIVE A GIFT?
Your name would just go on the card with your date’s name. How the gift is paid for is between you and your date.
6. DO I HAVE TO SEND THE GIFT IN ADVANCE?
No, but it’s easier on everyone if you do and safer. This way no one from the bride or groom’s family has to lug a lot of gifts home from the reception. It also prevents cards and gifts getting mixed up as they can in all the commotion or at a table with piles of gifts.
7. IF I CAN’T MAKE THE WEDDING, DO I STILL SEND A GIFT?
Yes
8. HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO SEND THE WEDDING GIFT?
Some experts say up to a year but others say that’s old including Emily Post, the grand dame of etiquette. She advises sending the wedding gift as soon as the invite arrives or at the latest, within three months.
Remember “the point of a wedding gift is not to prove how much you have done for/spent on someone; rather, it’s a token of your love, support and well-wishes for the newly betrothed couple,” said a recent bride.
The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.
Pierre Corneille, Le Menteur
(Source: The Knot, The Wedding Channel, Emily Post, The Wedding Envelope, Yahoo wedding questions, Popular Wedding Gifts, Photo: Project Hot Sauce)
