Congratulations! By tomorrow evening, you will finally be married. You have been waiting months (maybe even years) for the big day to finally arrive. Your dress has been pressed, your bouquet has been designed and your family and friends have all arrived in town in honor of your wedding. By now, everything has been settled on and you are simply waiting for tomorrow to hurry up and come. To help you relax a bit more and to prevent you from forgetting anything, here is a checklist of items to remember for the day before the wedding.
* If you plan on getting your nails done, schedule a manicure and/or pedicure for today. Not only will it help you feel more pampered and beautiful, it will serve to relax you. If you have time, you can probably schedule a massage or facial, as well. It is best to schedule your nail appointment closer to the wedding day so there is less time for the paint to chip or flake off.
* Some couples choose to drive themselves straight from the wedding to their hotel (or the airport, if they are heading straight to their honeymoon), but if you have scheduled a limo or luxury car service to transport you to the ceremony, reception and beyond, give the service a call to confirm times of pick up.
* Make sure that you put everything you will need for your wedding day into easy-to-carry bags. This includes, but is not limited to, your wedding dress, shoes, jewelry, accessories, makeup, hair products and purse. Leave all of these items somewhere where you will not forget them (by the front door, for example).
* If you and your spouse-to-be plan on taking off for your honeymoon immediately after the wedding reception or early the next day, be sure to pack your luggage and all necessary and important documents you will need to travel (passport and driver’s license), as well as your purse or wallet.
* Tonight is your rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, so be sure to prepare for that. Do not forget to bring the gifts you have purchased or made for your wedding party and parents to the rehearsal dinner so you can hand them out. If you or your fiancé plan on giving a toast at the dinner, remember to bring these along.
* Sometime before or after the rehearsal dinner, have a quick meeting with your wedding party to discuss any extra duties that may be performing at the wedding. For instance, if you do not have separate ushers, you may ask the groomsmen to temporarily fulfill these duties before the ceremony begins. Now would also be a great time to hand off wedding rings to the best man and maid or matron of honor for safekeeping.
* Most importantly, try to relax and get a good night’s sleep. You will be running around all day on your wedding day and will not have a chance to simply sit back and catch your breath, so enjoy these last quiet moments before your big day tomorrow.
November 20
Friendly Budget Wedding Trends 2010Intimate Backyard Weddings:
In a trend that brings to mind the wedding at the end of “In Her Shoes” with Cameron Diaz, many 2010 brides are opting for elegant, intimate weddings in their own backyards. This growing trends is extremely budget friendly for obvious reasons: no location fees, smaller guest lists and a more casual menu allow for a much more affordable affair. If you don’t have a great backyard – consider the yard of a close friend or family member. A local park may be the next best thing. Brides opting for this style of wedding need to keep the weather in mind and make sure to have a foul-weather back up plan.
DIY Wedding Favors
DIY Brides are going to love the return of personal, handmade wedding favors. While handmade wedding favors may be a time consuming option, 2010 brides appreciate the savings and their guests appreciate the personalize sentiment.
Mismatched Bridesmaids Dresses
The perfectly matched group of maids is a thing of the past. Brides are opting for mismatched styles in a number of different ways. Some brides are choosing to allow their bridesmaids the freedom to choose dresses they love (at prices they pick) by simply providing a color guideline. Other brides are choosing to outfit their maids in a variety of colors that compliment each other. Patterned styles are also popular, as are combinations of patterns and solids. Why is this budget friendly? This allows your and your bridesmaids to shop at smaller boutiques and shops that wouldn’t generally be considered bridesmaid gown shops.
Statement Jewelry
2010 brides want to make a statement but without the cost. One great way brides are choosing to do this is with bright, bold statement jewelry. Statement jewelry pieces don’t have to be expensive: bright colored beaded necklaces are huge this year – and a lot less costly the pearls or diamonds.
Nearby Destination Weddings
Brides who love the idea of a destination wedding are turning to more affordable options closer to home. This may be a local beach, a bed and breakfast or a small local resort where the couple can have their dream destination wedding without the travel expenses.
Meaning Over Materialism
Over all, as we adjust to the changing economy, brides are beginning to adjust their priorities. 2010 weddings will concentrate more on the meaning of the even rather then the materialism. As brides look for ways to cut costs, they will also be looking for special ways to convey the true meaning of the event. Many brides are choosing to concentrate more on the why rather then the how.
When it comes to wedding planning the most important thing first and foremost is to set a budget and stick to it. If you do this before you do anything else then it will really help before you get carried away with all the buzz and excitement that only planning a wedding can bring. At the very least it will pay off dividends to have an amount that your really don’t want to go above whatever happens.
Something else to factor in at this stage is if there is anyone that is likely to chip in and pay for anything or at the very least towards something. It can sometimes be an awkward conversation to have but one that is in your best interest to broach at the outset.
Decide what is the most important section of your wedding day to you both. Is it the location for the actual ceremony or maybe the reception and party afterward? It may even be that your honeymoon is the most important thing to you both. Decide this again at the outset so that you can apportion relative amounts to whatever means the most to you both.
If one of you is a list person why not create a spreadsheet or keep an expenses notebook? It’s often amazing how seeing things written down in black and white can help pull in the spending reins a little! Think carefully before you spend large amounts of money or lay down large deposits. Especially in the case of an unforeseen emergency find out if deposits can be clawed back. Consider wedding insurance as well and get some quotes for this to cover things that you wouldn’t even consider happening a year down the line. Seek a second opinion on large financial outlays from someone whose opinion you respect. Check the terms and conditions on everything!
If you or anyone close has a talent for being creative then a wedding is the time for using it. Get family and friends together for a brainstorm on who can be the most creative using the least amount of money. This could be fun, too and really gets everyone involved. Someone might be able to offer your something you hadn’t even considered or knew about. .. a home baked chocolate wedding cake, wedding flowers from someone’s wild flower collection or maybe a ride in your great uncle’s vintage car?
People will still get married recession or not and wedding gifts will still need to be bought but maybe this is the time to use all our skills for getting the most amount of fun out of spending the least amount of money on a wedding day!
October 26
Top Wedding songs to play at your WeddingWedding songs are a very important factor to consider when planning your wedding. They set the general mood and tone for your ceremony or reception, while also allowing you to express your feelings through music.Chapel of Love-Dixie Cups, The
Prelude music: Played prior to the ceremony, while guests are arriving.
- Moonlight Sonata (Beethoven)
- Isn’t It Romantic (Glenn Miller)
- Water Music (Handel)
- Ave Maria (Schubert / Gounod)
- The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)
- Greensleeves (Traditional)
- Rhapsody In Blue (Gershwin)
- God Only Knows (The Beach Boys)
- As Time Goes By (A Kiss Is Just A Kiss) (Tony Bennett)
- Arioso (Bach)
- Ode To Joy (Beethoven)
- Brandenburg Concerto #2 (Bach)
- Gloria (Vivaldi)
- Unchained Melody (Righteous Brothers)
Processional & Bridal music: Played during the time the family, wedding party, and the bride walk down the aisle.
- Bridal Chorus (Here Comes The Bride) from “Lohengrin” (Wagner)
- Trumpet Voluntary in D (The Prince of Denmark’s March) (Clarke or Purcell)
- Canon in D (Pachelbel)
- The Four Seasons (Handel)
- Water Music (Handel)
- What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
- Unforgettable (Nat King Cole)
- I Can’t Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley)
- When A Man Loves A Woman (Percy Sledge)
- In My Life (The Beatles)
- March From Lohengrin (Wagner)
Interlude music (optional): The songs played during the ceremony.
- Ave Maria (Schubert)
- Amazing Grace (Traditional)
- La Traviata (Verdi)
- Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach)
- And I Love Her (The Beatles)
- Primavera: First Movement, Allegro (Vivaldi)
- Love Me Tender (Elvis Presley)
- Für Elise (Beethoven)
- We’ve Only Just Begun (The Carpenters)
- Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison)
Recessional music: Music played as the new husband and wife walk up the aisle together.
- Wedding March (from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”) (Mendelssohn)
- Ode To Joy (from The Ninth Symphony) (Beethoven)
- Hallelujah Chorus (from “The Messiah”) (Handel)
- Trumpet Tune (Purcell)
- Magnificat In D (Bach)
- The Long And Winding Road (The Beatles)
- I Got You (I Feel Good) (James Brown)
- How Sweet It Is (James Taylor)
- Then He Kissed Me (The Crystals)
- I Got You Babe (Sonny and Cher)
Reception music:
First Dance music: First dance as husband and wife.
- Unforgettable (Nat King Cole)
- Can’t Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley)
- Can I Have This Dance? (Ann Murray)
- The Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra)
- It Had To Be You (Harry Connick, Jr.)
- What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
- Endless Love (Diana Ross and Lionel Richie)
- I Cross My Heart (George Strait)
- I Swear (John M. Montgomery or All 4 One)
- A Whole New World (Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle)
- As Time Goes By (A Kiss Is Just A Kiss) (Michael Feinstein)
- When You Say Nothing At All (Allison Krauss)
- Faithfully (Journey)
- No Ordinary Love (Sade)
- Here And Now (Luther Vandross)
- I Can Love you Like That (John M. Montgomery)
- Power Of Love (Celine Dion)
- Tonight I Celebrate My Love (Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson)
- Everything I Do {I Do For You} (Bryan Adams)
- When A Man Loves A Woman (Percy Sledge or Michael Bolton)
- All My Life (Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville)
- I’ll Be There (Mariah Carey)
- On Bended Knee (Boyz II Men)
- At Last (Etta James)
- Don’t Know Much (Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville)
- From This Moment On (Shania Twain)
- Our Love Is Here To Stay (Harry Connick, Jr.)
- Unchained Melody (The Righteous Brothers)
*These are the most requested songs, but there are many others. Ask your DJ.
Father/Daughter music: The dance between the new bride and her father.
- My Girl (The Temptations)
- Thank Heaven For Little Girls (Gigi)
- Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
- Unforgettable (Nat King Cole / Natalie Cole)
- The Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)
- My Dad (Paul Petersen)
- Hero (Mariah Carey)
- Butterfly Kisses (Bob Carlisle)
- Times of Your Life (Paul Anka)
- A Song For My Daughter (Steve Moser, Mikki Viereck, Ray Allaire)
- Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Elton John)
- The Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra)
- Have I Told You Lately (Rod Stewart)
- Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion)
- My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion)
- Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison)
- What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
- Through The Years (Kenny Rogers)
- Daddy’s Hand (Holly Dunn)
- Daddy’s little Girl (Kippi Brannon)
- Daddy’s Girl (Peter Cetera)
- Sunrise, Sunset (Fiddler On The Roof – Sndtrk)
- Lullabye (Billy Joel)
- A Whole New World (Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle)
- How Do You Fall In Love (Alabama)
- Isn’t She Lovely (Stevie Wonder)
- Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)
- Thank Heaven For Little Girls (Gigi)
- Father’s Eyes (Amy Grant)
- Friends (Elton John)
- In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
Mother/Son music: The dance between the husband and his mother.
- Don’t Know Much (Linda Rondstadt and Aaron Neville)
- Butterfly Kisses (Bob Carlisle)
- I.O.U (Jimmy Dean)
- Moon River (Andy Williams)
- Moon Dance (Van Morrison)
- ‘Til The End Of Time (Perry Como)
- Through The Years (Kenny Rogers)
- Have I Told You Lately (Rod Stewart)
- Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion)
- Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
- Unforgettable (Nat King Cole / Natalie Cole)
- What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstong)
- In This Life (Bette Midler)
- You’re The Inspiration (Chicago)
- Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)
- Friends (Elton John)
- Wishing Tree (Sonia Dada)
- Blessed (Elton John)
- Hero (Mariah Carey)
- In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
- A Song For My Son (Steve Moser, Mikki Viereck, Ray Allaire)
- Sunrise, Sunset (Fiddler On The Roof – Sndtrk)
- In My Life (The Beatles)
- Ever I Saw Your face (Roberta Flasck)
- Greatest Love Of All (Whitney Houston)
- I Wish You Love (Natalie Cole)
- Thanks Again (Ricky Skaggs)
- Stand By Me (Ben E. King)
Bridal Party Dances music: The dance including the Bride & Groom, Bridesmaids & Groomsmen, and family members.
- That’s What Friends Are For (Dionne & Friends: Elton John, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder)
- Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Elton John)
- Friends In Low Places (Garth Brooks)
- We Are Family (Sister Sledge)
- Friends (Elton John)
- Heroes and Friends (Randy Travis)
- In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
- Celebration (Kool & The Gang)
Cutting The Cake music: Played while the Bride & Groom cut the cake.
- Cut the Cake (Average White Band)
- I Wanna Grow Old With You (Adam Sandler)
- How Sweet It Is (James Taylor)
- Sugar, Sugar (The Archies)
- Hit me With Your Best Shot (Pat Benatar)
- When I’m 64 (The Beatles)
- Recipe For Love (Harry Connick Jr.)
- That’s Amore’ (Dean Martin)
- Happy Together (The Turtles)
- Pour Some Sugar On Me (Def Leppard)
- I Got You Babe (Sunny & Cher)
- Love & Marriage (Frank Sinatra)
- Oh Yeah! (Yello)
- Axel F (Harold Faltermeyer)
- Peter Gunn Theme
Money/Dollar (Honeymoon) Dance music (Optional) Played during the time the Bride & Groom dance with guests while the Best man and Maid of Honor collect the money for their honeymoon.
- See music list above: “Bridal Party Music”
- Ask your DJ for suggestions
Garter And Bouquet Toss music: Played during the bouquet toss and garter toss.
- The Stripper (David Rose)
- Legs (ZZ Top)
- You Sexy Thing (Hot Chocolate)
- Oh Yeah! (Yello)
- Macho Man (Village People)
- Theme From Mission Impossible (Danny Elfman)
- Wild Thing (The Troggs or Tone Loc)
- Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye)
- Bad Boys (Inner Circle)
- Another One Bites The Dust (Queen)
- Curly Shuffle (Jump n’ The Saddle)
- Kiss (Prince)
- Do Ya Think I’m Sexy (Rod Stewart)
- Gimme All Your Lovin’ (ZZ Top)
- Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison)
- Freak Me (Silk)
- Hungry Eyes (Eric Carmen)
- Heaven (Bryan Adams)
- U Can’t Touch This (MC Hammer)
- Shameless (Garth Brooks)
- *Girls Night Out (The Judds)
- *Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper)
- *Whipped Cream {Dating Game Theme} (Herb Alpert)
- *Miss America Theme (Various)
*Songs for Bouquet Toss Only.
Last Dance music: The last song of the night for the Bride & Groom and their remaining guests.
- Last Dance (Donna Summer)
- New York, New York (Frank Sinatra)
- Good Riddance {Time Of Your Life} (Green Day)
- From This Moment On (Shania Twain & Bryan White)
- Save The Best For Last (Vanessa Williams)
- Wonderful Tonight (David Kersh)
- Could I Have This Dance (Anne Murray)
- You’re Still The One (Shania Twain)
- Closing Time (Semisonic)
- Unforgettable (Nat King Cole / Natalie Cole)
- I’ve Had The Time Of My Life (Bill Medly & Jennifer Warnes)
- How Your Love Makes Me Feel (Diamond Rio)
- Goodnight, Sweetheart (David Kersh)
- The Party’s Over (Nat King Cole)
- Goodnight Sweetheart (Spaniels)
- What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
- The Dance (Garth Brooks)
- Truly, Madly, Deeply (Savage Garden)
- Always And Forever (Heatwave)