You will be amazed at how much you will gain both for your wedding and in your relationship if the two of you sit down, figure out what has meaning, what you can spend and how you’re going to allocate your funds. Your wedding will be beautiful because it will reflect who you are, how you love one another and what you believe. You will walk down the aisle to your future and stand there, hand in hand while you make your wedding vows. Then celebrate with your community at a reception that truly celebrates your marriage. Celebrate with your community at a reception that is paid for! Go ahead, bring it in under budget!

Were do we begin? Well the most obvious place to begin is with our accessories, the veil, the gloves, our make-up, and hair. First we want to pick a theme. For the sake of this article we will go with a Victorian theme, it is classic and flawless.

The veil would need to be somewhat vintage; a crown head piece with a long flowing veil is idea. Not only is this a lovely accessory but it also has an enchanting effect on the bride. You could also go with a flower adorned headpiece with a sheer veil, giving the bride a fresh but still classic look. Finally one of my personal favorites is the sheer head piece lined with tiny pearls, this is undeniably classic and a lovely soft look.

Onto the gloves, one might think any white glove would do, but in the true spirit of a themed wedding we need to pay closer attention to the details. One thing with gloves is choosing a fabric. There is the usually choices between lace, silk, and polyester. The lace glove is sheer and dainty, giving that feminine frailty that can be quite captivating. Silk fabrics with their smooth texture and shimmering appeal hold a more elegant presence to them. With the polyester we are focused more on simplicity, practicality, and affordability. Normally you would want your bag if you choose to have one to match or at least compliment your gloves and other accessories.

With shoes it also has a lot to do with the theme of your wedding and the dress you will wear, open toe heels are popular, as are heels with a satin fabric. If there are not many embellishments on your gown you might want to consider choosing a shoe with a little be of embellishment, you could also use this with your hair.

Most women want that upswept look to their hair, choosing the style in which you will wear your hair is the crowning touch. Speaking of crowns, a crown of ringlets is a very classic and popular look.

No matter what theme you decide on, or how many accessories you choose to incorporated, your accessories should tie everything together, the last torches that make a huge impact on the final look and feel of your day.

All that remains is the activities, the ceremony, the reception, and whatever else you choose to plan for your guests. Consider karaoke, this is an activity that everyone young and old alike can have fun with. Also a big hit that is lots of silly fun for everyone is song and dance like the Hokie Pokie and the Chicken Dance, or even the May Poll. The main idea is that everyone enjoys the event especially you.

Unequally Yoked?

I hear about it (mainly from women)from Christians who should know better, who marry someone of a completely different religion and belief system and cast aside all the biblical admonitions against marrying unbelievers. To the christian, Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with God and marrying an unbeliever will not strengthen your walk with Christ. Even if your fiance is a christian, you need to discuss each other’s beliefs as they can vary widely.

Being in a spiritual mismatch can cause strife, can cause you to turn away from your beliefs (Think King Solomon in 1Kings 11) and its especially important when deciding what values or beliefs you will instill in any children you two may choose to have.

We are told in the bible to live peaceably and respect people who don’t share our beliefs, but you certainly don’t have to marry them regardless of how they make your “feel” 2 Corinthians 6v14 says, we are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers.

Readiness

Are you ready to get married?, yes you say, I really love this person, we’re so right for one another; but are you the right person?, unless you do so introspection and determine if you have beliefs or habits that are not in line with what God’s commands in his word, how could you even think of getting married?

If you still smoke pot or still have that porn collection stashed under the bed or you have a temper or you are generally a bitter and angry person before marriage, you will be an angry person in your marriage. Just getting married alone will not fix bad habits. Work on becoming a better “you” before you even think of getting married.

Your Fiance: In their “Natural” state:

Have you ever seen your bride without all the make up or perfect hair?, Is your groom a total slob and you think I love him and when we’re married he’s going to change?, its not going to happen. The point being, if you haven’t been seeing each other long enough to see each other when you’re not dressed up to the nines or you may not look or smell your best, you might want to hold off on getting married. Being married is the real world, not some childish fantasy and unless you are able to accept the good and the bad, you really need to put things on hold until you are. This is really one more thing to put on your wedding planning checklist.

Pre marital counseling:

Too many people have a fairy tale, Hollywood or pollyanish view of marriage and marry based on emotions alone and all logic seems to go out the door. There is a real need for an objective third party, like a trusted family member and for Christians, that would be a local pastor or christian counselor to really weigh in to give you two as a couple, some sound advice. People these days are slowly realizing the need for pre-marital counseling, given the high divorce rate.

As more and more marriages end in divorce, many states are looking for ways to stop or at least slow the trend like The state of Louisiana, which gives couples the option of choosing a traditional or a covenant marriage (which can be dissolved only under more stringent circumstances or Lenawee County in the state of Michigan, which requires couples to undergo pre-marital counseling before being allowed to say “I do” (get married) in their jurisdiction.

The first jewelry you should look into purchasing though is the wedding bands. There are a lot of styles and metals to choose from, so this may be a bit of a difficult decision. Think about what you like, what you can afford, and what really works for you, as a couple. You could go with a simple classic, the gold band, which may seem plain but it is what it represents more then what it is. Still if you and your partner at into a bit more flare you can choose from a range of precious metals, like white gold, gold, and platinum! Platinum has really taken off lately and it seems to be one of the more desired metals for jewelry.

The bride will most likely want a piece of jewelry for every area that can hold it. So get ready for earring, bracelet, necklace, and tiara shopping extravaganza! But what about you budget, don’t worry; bridal jewelry is crafted in precious stones as well as crystal, rhinestone, and glass. Consult a professional to decide which alternative will give you the look you want and the flare you expect. Also faux pearls are a big hit with the cost conscience that also want to add a bit of elegance to their occasion.

Here are some things to think about when purchasing your bridal jewelry:

1. Rhinestone pre-made pieces can save you a bundle and are just as beautiful as diamonds and sapphires are.

2. Tiaras do not have to be embellished with stones; you can have the cut to shimmer all on their own.

3. You can also have your tiara special made for a monetary price, but it will be uniquely yours and made just the way you have always dreamed.

4. Give thought to nerves when purchasing jewelry, so of us swell a little when we are nervous.

5. Never underestimate the beauty of a classic piece, like a simple pearl necklace with matching tear drop earrings and a set of hear pins or a head piece.

What is most important it what you want, and what your budget will allow, consult a jeweler, most of them are very happy to give advice and show you your options.

As you can see there are many possibilities and many more options. The key is to look and see what’s out there, you don’t have to settle for the usual if that is not something you want.

Here are a few gift ideas for young newlyweds:

* Linen, bed sheets, pillow cases, ideally a new couple will need several sets of bed clothes, and you can really get creative with these as well, with fabric and design.

* House wares, if the couple is truly just starting out they probably need everything, dinnerware sets and cooking ware are sure to be a hit.

* Small appliances. Get them some of those little delights that make everyday life a little easier.

* Home Dйcor, give them something they can enjoy everyday. This could be a bright painting, or a signature mantle clock. Either way try to choose gifts that fit the couple’s tastes.

What about couples who have a full home and little need for useful addition to their homes? Well there are a lot of gift ideas for them as well. Here are a few:

* Treat them to a romantic dinner. Gift cards are a hit today, and even some of the most elegant restaurants provide them. Gift them the gift of time alone.

* Offer to do something nice for them. Keep the kids for a weekend while the get away and relax.

* Send them to the local spa.

* Plan a romantic outing for them.

* It’s not very original but it will be much appreciated, give them cash, they can find the perfect gift from you, for you.

Most couples will also take a lot of the guess work out of gifting for you. With invitations send out where you have registered gifts, this gives guests an idea of what they would like and need. Also it prevents getting duplicate gifts. Most department stores offer wedding registries, and so do a lot of web sites. A gift registry is a win win situation, but don’t think it means you cannot give an original and personal gift. Trust what you know about the couple, go with what you feel is right.

Here are a few ideas on how to make these decisions less stressful and more fun.

* Consider choosing a location for your reception that caters, this may limit your menu choices, but it also takes a lot of work out of the reception coordination for you.

* If you do rent a place that does not offer catering needs a good choice to go with is a buffet style catering, giving your guest freedom to choose what they want upon seeing it, and eliminating the need for extra serves!

* Here’s an idea to save you a lot of money, if you are having a small intimate event with a small budget you could always call in a favor from friends and family and have them bring along their famous home cooked dishes.

* Going with an expensive cater gives you a lot of choices in what food will be served at the reception, you could plan for anything from filet mignon and caviar to country fried chicken and mashed potatoes.

* Most small restaurants off catering services as well, so if you have a favorite fast food or local restaurant you can look into having them cater your reception for a great deal less then the pricier caters.

* If you will be choosing all of the food consider choosing a theme as well, like seafood or beef dishes with sides that compliment them. Those with sensitive stomachs will thank you!

* Consider offering healthy choices, as well as choices for guests who may be vegetarian. A veggie tray and fruit salads are great choices for appetizers.

Let me just highlight a few bad advices that might turn up on your plate as I have seen them landing up with my cousins and friends.

The worst wedding advice ever will be to have a grand traditional wedding without having any worry about money. After all, you two will be able to repay all debts with time! That is the worst advice. Do not ever make the mistake of listening to it. Starting your new life on debt is not at a good idea. Of course it is your special day but that does not mean you should go overboard and ruin all your financial plans on the first day of your married life and live the rest paying the huge bills.

Another bad advice comes from well meaning friends and relatives regarding wedding planning tips. Many people consider other weddings as a chance of fulfilling their own desires and dreams. That should not be the case. It is your wedding day and you should plan it the way you two want, and not according to what your best friend, your sister or even your mom wants.

Wedding involves lots of costs and most of us try to plan a wedding that will be elegant, beautiful and yet would not make us poorer. Another of the worst wedding advice was given to my friend by her cousin. She was asked to leave out the RSVP card from her wedding cards to save money. The guests were asked to log into a particular website which was specially created and to leave their answers on the RSVP page there. Though the idea seemed fine at first, but only four people ended up logging into the site and in the end my friend had to call all her guests personally to ensure they were coming. It wasted lots of time and created unnecessary nuisance. Whatever you do do not leave out the RSVP card, it is essential.

Another of the worst advice is again related to wedding planning tips and this came at my best friends’ wedding. Her brother thought it would be a good idea to randomly select who sits with whom; this way everyone would get a chance to meet new people. But this turned out to be a major disaster. Though there were one or two new couples who emerged from this arrangement but maximum people were not happy, many got stuck with people they did not like. It is best to carefully arrange the way people sit, it helps to keep them all happy and in friendly atmosphere.

All said and done, it is your wedding and you have the right to be happy and relaxed, without worrying at all. Just enjoy your day and if you are unfortunate enough to receive the worst wedding advice ever just forget it and keep smiling.

1.  Lets begin with the most obvious, dressed for the bride, groom and bridesmaid.  Of course the wedding cards, cake, marriage celebrant and the guest book.

2.  If you are having a lavish party, accessories like ribbons, specialty decoration papers, bonbonniere and catering.  Make sure you have covered all tastes.

3.  If you are expecting a big number of guests, book the venue as soon as the date is fixed.  On the same note, select the chair covers, table cloth, flowers, candles and vases.

4.  The highlight of the whole celebration – flowers.  Choose the flower and color.

5.  Make your hair and makeup appointments allowing some extra time in case of delays.

6.  Buy and make up your mind on the jewelry to go with your dressers for the vows as well as reception.  Do not forget your shoes, perfume and before hand beauty appointments like waxing.

7.  If you are going to have a music band or a DJ entertainment, do your research and confirm them.

8.  You have to keep long memories of this life event, do not forget the photographer and videographer.

9.  Small but cute stuff like wedding bells, floral art, beautiful candles and gifts for guests make all the difference.

10.  Reserve your transportation be it a limo or just a wonderfully decorated car.

11. Booking your honeymoon, it is a part of your wedding.  Get in quick if you have a place in mind, book early before you miss out.

12. Taking dance classes and bridal shower are also part of the game.