Planning a wedding is not easy!  When you first begin planning a wedding, there are so many forks in the road, a multitude of decisions to make, and so many ways to go astray.  At this amazing and crazy time in your life, take a minute to step back, relax and organize your thoughts. Get a grip on the project you have just undertaken, follow some seemingly simple steps, and planning a wedding can be a wonderful and memorable experience.

Establish a budget, stick to it and don’t deviate.

This is often a neglected characteristic of planning a wedding.  It is essential to get your budget in order before making any financial decisions. Too often, many couples book a reception location or a wedding day professionals without solid financials in hand, only to find out they have overspent and are now bound by a contract. Big tip: Use a number for the budget that is 10-15% less than what you actually plan on spending, so you essentially have a buffer when additional expenses arise, because they will. The great thing is that if you don’t use your entire buffer, you will have some extra spending money for your honeymoon.

Hire Wedding Professionals.

When your best friend’s second cousin volunteers to do be your wedding photographer, and promises a nice discount, it might be tempting to take advantage of the offer.  However, a big word of caution – hiring friends and some cased family can often backfire.  Expectations may not be met on the wedding day and friendships can become estranged. Additionally, these friends may not have all the necessary experience or equipment to complete the task effectively.   You should hire wedding professionals for their experience, expertise, and resources. True professionals will assist in making your day hassle free. You hire them, you can direct them, and the relationship is not personal.

Compare apples to apples, not apples to oranges

Many times, when a bride begins a search for a reception location or for wedding vendors, she simply compares prices, not services or characteristics of the services. It is rare that you will find two locations offering the exact same “package,” or two videographers that offer the same quality of service (time and style) and amount of product (prints and albums). You need to carefully evaluate each aspect of the potential venue or vendor. What seems too expensive at first glance may actually be a better deal when you realize what it offers compares to others in the same category.

Be different – cookie cutter weddings are out of style.

Brides and groom continue to look for new ways to add personal flavor to their wedding day. Giving your wedding personal style does not mean doing the same thing your best friend did, or what you watched on Entertainment Tonight about Nicole Kidman’s wedding.  Think out of the box. Hiring a wedding planner or event designer, even for a few hours, can help you be inspired and lead to amazing results. Instead of a guest book, have guests sign a coffee table book on a subject that is of interest to you. Learn an unexpected choreographed first dance, like the tango, and wow the crowd.

Surround yourself with the positive people.

When selecting a wedding party and asking other friends to be involved in the wedding, select people who have positive attitudes and those who, as Bill O’Reilly says are, “lookout for you”.  Single girlfriends, your older single sister, even your brother may feel a tad envious of your engagement. For the most part, this is a passing phase, but that does not make it any easier for you to deal with. These people may often criticize your decisions, attempt to have attention diverted away from you with their own theatrics, or simply try to make themselves the focus of many decisions (the style of the bridesmaids dresses, what foods they like or dislike for the meal, or which date for the wedding is “better” for her schedule). If and when this situation arises, try your best to walk away from it and ignore it. Realize their behavior is not your fault, and if they must be included in the celebrations, have your mother or a trusted friend intercept the stressful dealings with these people.

Make your ceremony mean something.

The best way to do this is to write your own vows and/or select special poems, readings or Biblical verses. Even though the ceremony is really the only event that needs to take place on the wedding day, so many couples put little focus on the actual planning of the service itself.  Is there a special song for you and your fiancй, perhaps the one that was playing the night you or he proposed? Why not walk the aisle to it and surprise your fiancй? Have you ever written a poem or love letter to your fiancй? Read it during the ceremony, or if nerves won’t allow you to read it yourself, have the Officiant read it for you. Look into your fiancйs eyes during the ceremony and focus on the two of you and the life you are preparing together.

Create a timeline for the wedding day.

If you are not working with a wedding planner, it is your job to create a realistic timeline for everyone to follow.  Detail and document all key elements and activities that are to take place on the day. Include addresses of locations and who needs to be where and when. If you do not do this, you take the risk of all the wedding vendors establishing their own agendas.  Of course, consult with the ceremony and reception venue, as well as key vendors regarding the timeline, but ultimately most all of the timeline decisions are up to you.

Ask for help when you need it.

It is not uncommon for a bride or groom to become overwhelmed with wedding planning. It takes a lot of time, dedication and work. Typically there are many people knocking at your door anxious to help—your future mother in law, your mother, your sister, his sister, your best friend, your single best friend…the list can go on forever. When asking for help from friends or family members, give them specific instructions and deadlines. Also, make sure they know you still have final say.

When wedding planning consumers every aspect of your life, take a breather.

Schedule a date with your fiancй and go to dinner, take a walk, or just go for ice cream. There is only one rule—no wedding talk. Reconnect with the ones you love and then get back to the planning with your mind and heart focused on the right things.

Of course these are not the only steps to planning a wedding, but these are very important aspects of planning that will help you keep your sanity and your focus on the reason for this whole crazy thing, love.

So you have made it to the wedding planning stage, congratulations! Now that you have set a date you need to start getting everything together that you will need for the big day. You need to take it in steps so that you won’t be overwhelmed; you know eat the elephant one bite at a time!

Some of the things you need to plan are what kind of dress, make up, your hairstyle, what kind of jewelry, and other things that you want included in your special day. There are lots of helpful resources available to help you with the planning stage of your wedding, especially online, plus you can pick up some wedding and bridal magazines.

When you are choosing a wedding dress don’t just choose it because it looks pretty on the model. Your wedding dress should be something that you really like, but it should also go with your body type as well. Choose a wedding dress that accentuates the positive aspects and minimizes any negatives. Look at a lot of different styles before making a choice. Take a friend along, or better yet make it a fun event and take several friends or your sisters and go make a day of it. When you find a dress you like, try it on and make sure it isn’t too tight. You want it to fit well and still be comfortable and be able to move around so that you will be able to dance and have fun at the reception afterwards!

After you have chosen a dress that you are happy with you have to find a pair of shoes that will look good with it. If you are going with the traditional look of a white wedding dress then you will want some sort of white shoe. The exact type of shoe is a personal preference. You can choose everything from a shoe that is like a ballet slipper to sandals, to a pump. I do recommend however that if you are very tall, not to wear a heel. The length of the dress you have chosen will have a lot to do with the decision of shoes as well.

Now that you have covered the main parts of your wedding day wardrobe, you may want to add some customization to your apparel to personalize it a bit. One excellent way of doing this is by accessorizing with jewelry. The jewelry should accentuate your wedding dress and not draw attention away from it as the dress should be the focal point. A nice necklace and earrings and possibly something woven into your hair will do nicely. Remember not to wear any rings at all other than your wedding ring that you will receive on your big day.

It is very helpful to work backwards from the “Wedding Day” to plan the wedding. Some of the guidelines for creating the wedding timeline are as follows.

1. Here’s what needs to be accomplished during this timeframe. Six to Eight months before your wedding date is the time when you need to make most of your reservations and put down deposits. You’ve got to get a rough but fairly accurate estimate of the number of guests you’ll have because each wedding location can accommodate a certain number of people and you want a location that can comfortably accommodate everyone.

2. Selection and Reservation of locations for wedding ceremony and reception.Interviewing and reserving your professional talent including musician or DJ, photographer or videographer, florists, caterers, wedding cake baker, wedding official and optionally wedding planner or consultant.

3. Selection and confirmation of wedding party attendants for both bride and groom. Selection of wedding party attire and coordination of fittings, transportation arrangements for bridal party on the big day.

4. Placing of engagement announcement in local newspaper . Three to Four months before your wedding date is the time to make sure everything is in place.

5. Finalization of your guest lists including complete mailing addresses for invitations, ordering of wedding invitations.

6. Selection of honeymoon destination, hotel and airfare reservations, passports and documents.

7. Reconfirmation of bridal party dresses delivery and coordination of menswear rental attire.

8. Planning of wedding shower.

9. Registeration of bridal registries for showers and wedding gifts – if not registering at national chains, remember to register at stores that are local to the families of both bride and groom.

10. Reservation of Hotel suites for bride and groom’s wedding night and for out of town wedding guests.

11 Shopping and ordering of Wedding Rings.

12. Living accommodations after your wedding.

These are the general timeline guides for planning your wedding that will help you put everything down on paper so you don’t leave anything out in the process.

The tradition of the bachelor party may date as far back as the 1800s.  The stereotype of a bachelor party is a last night of debauchery for the groom and his friends before the wedding but in more recent times soon to be grooms are looking to less traditional activities to mark their final days as bachelors.  While there are still would be grooms, who opt to spend the last hours before their wedding partying with alcohol and female exotic dancers, many men are choosing a less traditional route such as camping trips, sporting events, daredevil activities and even co-ed bachelor parties that include the soon to be bride and her friends.  These types of activities are much less likely to get the groom in trouble with his bride not to mention that they won’t leave the groom feeling too sick to even remember his wedding day.

The traditional best man’s toast is a verbal speech that is given early in the reception.  Although it is unoriginal, this type of toast is widely accepted and popular.  If the best man is married himself, he may want to take this opportunity to offer the couple some sage advice for enjoying a happy and peaceful marriage.  He may also wish to simply state why he admires the bride and the groom and offer his best wishes.  Still another popular option for this traditional version of a best man’s toast is to regale the guests with a slew of stories from the groom’s wilder days.  This, however, is not recommended at a wedding attended by mostly conservative guests as this can be embarrassing to both the couple and the guests.

A slideshow is on increasingly popular way for the best man to toast the new couple.  You could take the opportunity to display various pictures of the bride and groom separately and as a couple.  One option is to interview both parents prior to the wedding and ask them to contribute pictures of their child from when they were a baby until now.  You would ask the parents a series of questions about the bride or grooms childhood, adolescence and adult life.  Then you could take the pictures and arrange them in a slideshow presentation that you could narrate with information gleaned from your interviews.  This type of toast is especially popular with the older generation in attendance at the wedding because many of them knew the bride or groom as children and will enjoy reminiscing about those times through the pictures and stories.

It is wise to try choosing a sport that all of your guests will be able to participate in especially if you plan to include very young or very old guests.  In this situation playing a game of football may not be the best idea but taking everyone to play a round of golf might be an activity that all of the guest can enjoy.

A video presentation is another unique way to make the best man’s toast.  One way to do this is to arrange meetings with close friends and family members and ask them a series of questions about love and relationships and videotape their answers.  You could then videotape yourself giving a short toast and introducing the other members on the tape.  This is an excellent idea for the best man who is afraid that he will forget what he wants to say on the wedding day.  The video allows him to practice his speech and record it over and over again until it is perfect.

Another original toast idea is the idea of memory boxes.  The best man could talk to the parents of the bride and groom ahead of time and obtain a few objects from their pasts such a photos, childhood security blankets and special gifts from loved ones.  The bet man would put each of these items into one of the boxes and leave the other one empty.  When it comes time for the toast the best man could present the couple with the filled box.  He would then open the box and explain the story behind each of the memory items.  When he is done with the first box, he could present the couple with the second box and explain that this box is for the couple to fill up with keepsakes of the memories that they will share together.

The debauchery of stereotypical bachelor parties is not the only way to enjoy a fun-filled bachelor party that gives you the opportunity to bond with your friends.  Camping trips, sporting activities, extreme adventures and even co-ed bachelor parties are redefining the traditional bachelor party.  These bachelor party ideas not only serve to keep the groom out of trouble but also offer the opportunity to enjoy a new adventure.

Vocational Schools offer courses of study for wedding planners (wedding consultants, bridal consultants) for those who like working with people, who enjoy planning large gatherings, and who are good at negotiating and networking.

Too often, brides and grooms are busy with their jobs and don’t have time to spend planning their weddings. The wedding planner, or wedding consultant, facilitates, mediates, manages, and fulfills dreams of their clients. Wedding planning is a stressful job, requiring patience and the ability to remain calm in adverse situations. On occasion, wedding planners may feel as though they are cast in roles as therapists, sounding boards, and “punching bags.”

The wedding planner must be personable, a good listener, and a good delegate for their clients. They are the spokesperson for the bride and groom in all facets of planning, including ordering flowers, hiring musicians, hiring photographers, finding a caterers, finding locations, choosing colors, etc. Wedding planners look for the best services, best prices, and connections that will ensure successful events. Wedding planners must be very organized and must be adept at handling financial arrangements they make for their clients, as well as their own finances.

Knowledge of customs and traditions of various ethnic groups and various religious practices is essential for wedding planners. Professional wedding planners should expect to regularly read current materials throughout their careers to keep abreast of the latest wedding styles, colors, and trends.

If you are interested in learning more about Wedding Planning Vocational Schools, search our site for more in-depth information and resources.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2006 – All Rights ReservedMichael Bustamante, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com

Notice to Publishers: Please feel free to use this article in your Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active.

Wedding Planning and Event Planning degrees are offered by a variety of schools. Wedding planners are also known as wedding consultants and bridal consultants. Community colleges offer diplomas and associate degrees in applied sciences for wedding and event planners.

Colleges and universities offer bachelor degrees and master degrees in event planning through their business degree programs. Event planning universities and colleges provide students with skills and knowledge in managing staff as well as coordinating and planning events, such as banquets and dances.

The business of event/wedding planning is for those who like working with people, who enjoy planning large gatherings, and who are good at negotiating and networking. The event/wedding planner must be personable, a good listener, and a good delegate for their clients. They are the spokesperson in all facets of planning, including ordering flowers, hiring musicians, hiring photographers, finding a caterers, finding locations, choosing colors, etc., for their clients. Event and wedding planners look for the best services, best prices, and connections that will ensure successful events.

Event and wedding planners must be very organized and must be adept at handling financial arrangements they make for their clients, as well as their own finances. Studies may include English and communication skills, mathematics, management, hospitality, sanitation and safety, computer uses for planning and executing events, foods, marketing and sales, legal issues, travel industry, and more.

Knowledge of customs and traditions of various ethnic groups and various religious practices is essential for event planners. Professional planners should expect to regularly read current materials throughout their careers to keep abreast of the latest styles, colors, and trends for large and small events.

If you are interested in learning more about Event Planning and Wedding Planning Schools, colleges, and universities, please search our site for more in-depth information and resources.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2006 – All Rights ReservedMichael Bustamante, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com

Notice to Publishers: Please feel free to use this article in your Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active.

Ever dream of a wedding in an island paradise? Why not Fiji? Fiji provides one of the most Idyllic scenes for a wedding one could imagine. From hot island breezes to the white sandy beaches, this pacific tropical paradise has so much to offer in the way of weddings as well as honeymoons. Fiji wedding planning could be the key to having an absolute wedding of dreams.

Fiji offers a lot for weddings. The beautiful tropical scenery, the friendly people and a nation rich in culture just to name a few. Fiji is also a place of excitement and action. It I a nation of over 300 islands all to be explored. It is also known as the hub of the Pacific with the comings and goings of tourists and business people. Fiji wedding planning makes it quite easy to get married. Fiji allows foreigners to get married legally without residency or citizenship requirements. All one needs is a passport and other valid I.D for a Fijian wedding license. The parties wanting to marry must present themselves in person with this documentation. Once this application is made, you are on your way.

Fiji wedding planning also offers several packages to suit nearly any budget. Whether you want just the basics or a lavish celebration fit for a king and queen the nation of Fiji has what you need.

The island of Fiji offers everything you and your spouse could possibly want for the perfect dream wedding. The sun, sand and hospitality and culture of this group of islands are just some of the many wonderful things you will experience while having your wedding in Fiji. The ease of obtaining a marriage license and the sheer beauty of the location make it an ideayllic setting that anyone could fall in love with. You and your spouse could have a dream wedding and honeymoon all rolled into one with friends and family engaging in their own vacation of a lifetime. What are you waiting for? Fiji wedding planning can make it happen with easy and affordable packages. Why not consider Fiji? It could be worth it.

A wedding can be exciting and nerve racking. You want everything to go off without incident as well as wanting your guests to enjoy themselves. You want to look back upon this day and the events that went into creating this day with pleasure not scorn. In this article we will give you some wedding planning ideas and tips to help your guests happy and make the day run as smoothly as possible for you.

A first piece of advice and wedding planning idea was gained from a friend of mine at her wedding. All of the photos were taken before the ceremony in the morning. True, this meant that everyone had to be ready that much earlier but it was one thing out of the way early and the photos were taken while everyone was bright and fresh. It also avoids the hassle of guests having to wait for you at the reception.

A second piece of wedding planning advice is to have disposable cameras on the tables at the reception. True, you will most likely have a professional photographer for those formal wedding shots but you will want photos of the r3eception as well. By placing cameras around you can get the guests to take the photos for you. This also lets them become involved in your big day.

A third wedding planning Idea and general piece of advice is to take a moment for you. Make sure you have some food available. The day will go by quickly and you are likely to get caught up in a whirlwind of excitement. You’ll also be talking to people that you may not have seen in a long time. You’ll want to enjoy the day as much as anyone else so take a few moments out and take the day in for your own benefit.

Your wedding should be a happy occasion for both of you and your guests. By having a few simple ideas in place and taking some time for yourself you can ensure that your wedding day will be a day enjoyed by all.

Imagine a cruise on Lake Michigan, taking a tour up the golden mile. Driving down rush street and taking the elevator ride up to the top of the Sears Tower. We’re of course talking about the great city of Chicago. Despite the cities gangster past not helped by the recent movie with Catherine Zeta Jones, Chicago has transformed itself to one of the most exciting and beautiful cities. Chicago is also one of our most culturally diverse cities as well. The purpose of this article is to give you some tips on wedding planning in the city of Chicago.

Those planning their weddings in Chicago will have a wealth of opportunity and choice at their fingertips. There are literally hundreds of businesses available to help you sort out the necessities of wedding planning. The yellow pages is packed full of photographers, caterers, restaurants, tailors and plenty more. Chicago, being our third largest city brings resources by the millions to plan the perfect day for any and all budgets.

Chicago is a major travel hub in America. It is served by O’Hare international airport and can be reached from nearly any destination in the world. Chicago provides hundreds of hotels and restaurants as well as ranging from upscale to downright dirt cheap. So relatives attending will have an abundance of choice at hand on where to stay and eat. This will make the chore of Chicago wedding planning much easier.

Those planning their wedding in Chicago may wish to consider having their honeymoon their as well. Chicago has plenty to offer from theaters, museums and endless blues and jazz bars where you can dance the night away. If your wedding is in the summer the shores of Lake Michigan provide an atmosphere that could rival and beach on the French reverie

For those planning their wedding in Chicago, you can’t go wrong. This vibrant, windy city provides a perfect backdrop for weddings and honeymoons. The cultural diversity, music, bars and restaurants will guarantee a good time and a fantastic wedding. Escape to the windy city for your big day. You, your friends and family will love it.

In the past grooms took a backseat when it came to planning a wedding, preferring to let their bride-to-be do the majority of the work. However, times are now changing and more men want to be involved in the planning process. The problem is that most men really don’t know how to plan a wedding so they need your guidance.

Here are some responsibilities for the groom:

1. Gather Paperwork

Make it his responsibility to apply for the wedding license, research blood-test requirements, and coordinate passport applications if needed for travel. In addition, add the bride’s name to financial accounts, wills, insurance policies, if you have mutually decided this will be in your best interest.

2. Arrange Transportation

Interview Limousine companies or arrange for other transportation to the wedding, and reception hall. Make sure to provide the transportation company with accurate directions and with a time schedule of the days events.

3. Plan the Honeymoon

Once you both decide upon your locale, he should go about booking the trip and securing transportation to and from the airport, which could be provided by the best man.

4. Coordinate Groomsmen Attire

In addition to the grooms attire, set up fittings for tuxedo rentals for the wedding. He should make sure everyone has the necessary accessories (i.e. vest, tie, matching shoes & socks). He should also arrange to have the tuxedos returned to the store the next business day after the wedding.

5. Help the bride set up a budget, write the guest list, and pick out the invitations.

If the groom’s parents want to contribute financially to the wedding, he should speak to them privately (without the bride). That way they will not feel any pressure. (Remember, his parents are going to be a very important part of your life so you do not want to alienate them!)

The groom should ask his parents who they would like to invite to the wedding. Again, the groom may want to do this without his bride. Before speaking to the parents, make sure you know exactly how many people they are allowed to invite.