Of course you do! My own kids did also when they got married. Children can add such a sweet touch to the ceremony, just as much as those sweet little edible wedding favors. However, the day can be a disaster without some much needed preparation.

When it came time for my oldest daughter to get married, her youngest sister was only 3 years old and was the flower girl. She wanted her little gown to emulate her bridal gown. It was difficult, but we accomplished it.

She looked adorable and the rehearsal went very well, so we thought we were free and clear. Not true! She was getting antsy once the wedding ceremony kicked in. We fed her, played games with her, held her, did everything we could to keep her from making a scene, but a kid is a kid. So the bridal party began walking down this VERY long aisle as the wedding processional music began. The last one to walk down the aisle before bride was my youngest daughter, the hungry, miserable, and tired 3 year old. When it was her turn to go, she refused and screamed loud right there in the church. When we had one of the younger boys help her down the aisle, she began to scream even louder and threw herself on the floor in a mini tantrum, crying for me. Well, there went the poise of the mother of the bride and she never did walk down the aisle. We were never able to get her in those pictures. The entire church was stressed and my daughter, the bride, was late walking down the aisle. Now what age should you consider allowing children to join the bridal party?

So besides eliminating those unique wedding favors, do you decide to eliminate the really little children? I wouldn’t, because children can be a precious and wonderful addition to any wedding. You just have to know the rules when dealing with kids and you’ll be okay.

If it’s a night wedding, a nap would be very wise for them. Make sure they get lots of sleep. During the rehearsal, make sure they rehearse their part several times more than the adults. If the adults are having a problem remembering what to do, just think about what that little one is going through. Also, if the child is under 6 years old, be sure to have an older child or adult that is in the wedding party walk with them. I’ve learned through experience, that it is an insurance policy much like those inexpensive wedding favors. Another great tip is to put a piece of tape on the floor where the child is to stand after walking down the aisle. They will feel more assured and secure and so will you!

You young ones will be OK if you follow the rules and be aware of their age. They usually tend to be forgotten in the middle of the craziness of the day. Don’t worry, if you forget them, and they’ll make sure their presence is known!

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So many couples complain, right after their wedding day, that they totally missed their wedding. They feel like they’ve been robbed. They spent most of the day (especially with large wedding receptions) greeting, speaking to and hugging and thanking their guests. Suddenly the day is over. What happened? Hopefully this will help clear your mind and rid you of the ‘guest guilt’ that plagues so many wedding receptions. What could possibly help is to have edible wedding favors greet them at the door!

First of all, have a receiving line after the wedding ceremony. This may seem like a nuisance right now, but you will be glad that is over and done with on the day of your wedding. Also, when you get to the reception, do not greet people immediately. Enjoy your time with your new spouse. Take in the sights, the smells; listen to the sounds of people, enjoy the music. The day will be over before you know it and if you have candle wedding favors lighting up the room, it will help even more to relax you.

Your day will be spent with others telling you what to do and where to go. If you’re not ready to cut the cake or have that first dance, say so. Please remember, it is your wedding. Now of course you can’t put it off forever, or you’ll never get to it and have that part missing in your photos and video. But show people around you, right from the first dance, that this is your day and you and your loved one are going to make sure that you enjoy it.

Guests are wonderful people for the most part. But they, more than anyone, forget that it really is your wedding and that they are not the only people there. They will walk up to your table while you are having an intimate conversation as a couple and intrude. If this happens, I would very nicely look up, smile and ask them if they could come back in a few minutes. And give them their beautiful inexpensive wedding favors and they will be happy.

When you feel it is the right time, greet the guests that you didn’t see at your ceremony, but don’t get caught up in useless conversation. Before you know it, hours will have past and you didn’t even enjoy your own wedding.

One idea we used on a wedding I was the consultant, was to put wedding riddles, puzzles and games on each table as well as a wedding camera. We added a note for the guests to please take many pictures of themselves for a keepsake for the newly married couple. Also, another way to keep guests occupied so you can enjoy yourself is with a great band or DJ that encourages your guests to get involved on the dance floor.

More than anything, you have to remember that this is your special day. It’s not your guests. They will have forgotten it in a few days, but you will remember the highlights and lowlights of this day forever. Be polite but do not forget that you have but a few short hours to enjoy this day and it will be one forever.

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When Chester entered the world of digital media, he vowed to be the most affordable wedding photographer Louisville Ky residents could find. He also hoped he could be the most dependable wedding photographer Ky brides could hire. He figured by having the best prices and by being the most dependable, he would never be lacking for customers. Unfortunately, this was not to be the case. He found himself many weekends without a job and wondered what it would take to get his business booming. He questioned the quality of his work. Were his pictures on par or better than his competition? He tried to view his work objectively and he believed that indeed, his pictures were quite impressive. He had truthful colleagues take a look at his pictures as well. They assured him that his work was creative and fun and captured vibrant images and scenes. This led Chester in the belief that his lack of business was not a result of poor quality, but of a failure to properly market his services. He seriously critiqued his method of advertising. He had spent a tidy sum of money taking out an advertisement in his local yellow pages. He also, from time to time, would run a small ad in the local newspaper. Chester realized that he needed an advertising strategy where his pictures could be seen by possible clients. He brainstormed several marketing options that might serve him well.

The first thing Chester decided to do in order to get his pictures seen by potential customers was to create a portfolio on his very own website. A friend of his offered to help Chester create a business website that would showcase his prior work. The website would also include the studio phone number and address, as well as, background information. Although Chester used the internet everyday for checking e-mail and sports headlines, he had not really considered the possibility of customizing his own web page. He was not particularly computer savvy and truthfully, had been doubtful that a web address would see a lot of action. As he looked into this type of advertising he had to admit he was very impressed with all he found. He thought that for the minimal time and financial investment it would take to create, a website would definitely be worth a try.

The second strategy Chester utilized was donating services to take pictures for well- attended community events. As he took images of happy float riders during town parades, and kids with faces being painted at charity carnivals, he had plenty of personalized business cards available for distribution. That way, as these great quality pictures were processed and displayed around town and in local newspaper articles, his contact information was in the hands of the people who were seen in the snapshots.

The third strategy Chester tried was taking class pictures and individual portraits at area schools. By marketing his services there, he was attempting to develop name and quality recognition with local families. He discounted his portrait packages in the hope of acquiring further business in the future. The family able to experience the quality of his work as he captured a standard picture, like a school portrait, was sure to be pleased with a more in-depth studio session.

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The process of planning a wedding invites all kinds of disasters. It can lead to arguments with your future spouse, it can cause discomfort between you and those in your wedding party and cause future in-law issues. There are tried and true words of wisdom that every bride and groom should know before beginning. You don’t want to be at the point of looking for unique wedding favors and then finding out about what could go wrong.

First things first. If you’re the bride, know who you are. Be constantly aware that this is your day, and hopefully the only one you’ll ever experience. So make sure that the things that are important to you, get accomplished. Make a checklist of specific things that you want to have in your wedding, from who you and your fiancee want in the wedding party, to the ceremony through to every detail of the entire day, including right down to picking out the totally amazing candle wedding favor. This will eliminate any confusion and problems that may arise from being undecided.

Secondly, be careful who you give control to. You don’t need to please everyone. This is your special day, not your mother’s, aunt’s, sister’s, friend’s or future mom-in-law’s day. It’s yours. To avoid problems, don’t say yes to everything if you don’t agree with it just to be nice and get everyone involved. You will regret this and you will resent those that take over. Be nicely firm. You’ll be happy you did when your day rolls around.

That being said, you will want to enlist the help and experience of those close to you. And they will want to get involved also. Just make sure, like I said above, that you keep control, especially when it has to do with the moms. I love them. In fact I am one. But I’ve seen too many weddings ruined because of in-law battles. If your mom is different, you’re blessed. Then involve her all the way, along with the aid of those that will do what you really want and not what they want including if you want the adorable personalized wedding favors and she wants something else. Just try to be aware of your fiancee’s family also. Remember, whatever happens during the planning stages of your wedding, will live with you for years.

Lastly, make sure you have a budget no matter who’s paying for the wedding. The average wedding today costs between $20,000 to $25,000. Yes, some are less, but many are more. So you have to know exactly what you want to spend and stick to it, or you will end up paying for this for many years to come.

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I used these tips to write four best man speeches in less than an hour. The wedding I was attending kept creeping up, and I had to write some best man speeches for my friends. I am no stand up comedian, so I looked up on the Internet funny joke examples. Each of them were perfect, nagging the Bride and talking about a spiked wedding cake. The audience laughed, and it helped move the wedding along at a brisk pace. Even the father of the bride came up to shake my hand. He wondered if I was a professional speech writer. I just smiled. Only a few men get the honor of receiving compliments after best man speeches. I learned that you need a four minute speech, nothing longer or shorter, and that does the trick. People love shortened best man speeches at weddings. Brides want the attention to be on them, not on you, so contour your speech to compliment her beauty and white dress at least three times. The Groom, on the other hand, can be made fun of all you want. He did, after all, choose you as the best man. Do your job and create some fantastic material that gets the entire wedding up and about.

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Wedding Photographer: How to Select the Best One

One important decision you make while planning your wedding is selecting the best wedding photographer. These photos will serve as sweet memories of your wedding day, forever. You can’t just trust anyone with your special moments. Here, we give you some insights into selecting the ideal photographer for your requirements.

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When you choose a wedding photographer, ensure that he is an expert photographer. There are two ways to appraise their skills. You can seek references from their previous customers. With this it is possible to speak personally with other couples who used the photographer earlier. The next step is meeting the photographer before offering him the assignment so that you are sure he is the right choice. If you find that the photographer does not appeal to you, go on to the next one on your list.

The next factor that needs to be considered is whether the photographer you intend to hire is a member of any professional trade association. A photographer having a membership with the Australian Institute of Professional Photography is highly skilled and proficient in photography. Using a photographer connected with this institute ensures that he will deliver the professional quality photographs that you expect.

An important issue to know about is the photographer’s familiarity and experience in the area of wedding photography. Some Sydney wedding photography studio may opt to do just few wedding projects and devote the rest of the time to other clients. To find out if the photographer can give you the photographic style you desire, take a look at his previous work. Sometimes the photographer may be good at natural and candid photos but may not be well qualified to photograph formal occasions.

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As a final point, ask your Sydney wedding photographer how many years of experience he possesses. A reputed business being carried on for years indicates that the photographer has worked for many clients successfully. This tells you that the business is not likely to fold up just during your wedding plan. Professional photographers are adept at taking good pictures while remaining in the background throughout the wedding.

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The purpose of wedding etiquette books has always to ensure that before and on the wedding day, everyone who is involved knows exactly what they are supposed to be doing. A wedding is a complicated event to arrange for all concerned but it should run smoothly and by using wedding etiquette, this is normally the result.

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We often forget that the bride and groom combined will probably know almost everyone at the wedding but that is not the case for both families involved and then of course there are friends as well. The wedding etiquette guide was formulated over many years from experience at many large weddings and can help the smooth running when so many unfamiliar faces are thrown together at a gathering like a wedding.

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While it is always hoped that the couple getting married have not done this many times before, so will not be aware of all the pitfalls, writers of wedding etiquette books have much more experience at arranging successful weddings. The knowledge these writers can share is worth the expense as they are able to help with almost any situation that could arise on that very special day.

In fact, many couples who are to be wed actually use these books as wedding planners, which places them in a very strong position when it comes to the wedding arrangements. A conscientious bride and groom will probably consult a couple of different wedding etiquette books before their wedding day.

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It is important to remember that organizing a wedding is a complicated matter as there are many steps but they have to be carried out in the correct order and a good book on wedding etiquette will provide this information. As there is so much to remember, these wedding guides can be invaluable as everything is mapped out so it is easy to follow and nothing gets forgotten.

Wedding etiquette provides information on all aspects of a wedding ceremony and the events leading up to the special day plus this information includes tips on who should be invited and where they should sit when they get there. You may ask yourself why go to such lengths but there is a good reason when you consider just how easily guests can be offended if they feel less worthy than other guests who have been invited.

Writers of books on wedding etiquette are all too aware of the problems that can arise when the steps to organize a wedding are not followed. Obviously, every wedding should be different and wedding etiquette guides are not trying to make them regimented, only well organized. Weddings that use these guides are usually much better organized and this is something that will show.

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In every culture where alcoholic drinks form part of the food repertoire, drinking is very common, even mandatory, at weddings. It must have something to do about alcohol loosening our inhibitions and encouraging temporary amnesia to the point where we can forget cold feet, stuttering toasts, monster in laws, stratospheric costs and prenuptial agreements. (If you see your groom toting one of your groomsman gifts that just so happens to be a Flask, be afraid, be very afraid)

In short, drinking adds to the general merriment of weddings, not to mention a few funny moments. But what happens when funny moments progress into not-so-funny, drunken embarrassments? Other than clubbing your guests and your groom on their caveman heads, you can only watch in frustration, right?

Well, actually no. Since prevention is always better than the cure, you can always take the necessary steps to ensure that booze does not ruin your dream wedding.

#1 Cash Bar

With a cash bar, you will be hitting two birds with one stone. First, you can save on wedding reception costs because your guests will pay for their own drinks. You need not worry too much about the booze budget. Second, your guests might limit their own alcohol consumption since they have to pay for them. No freebies, no overindulgence. Either way, you can have a win-win solution to the drinking provided.

But (there are always buts in a wedding, as you well know by now) you have to prepare yourself for either of two things. First, you will be seen as a Scrooge-type cheapskate who will not indulge her guests on her wedding day with some good old drinking. Second, your guests might leave early to seek merrier company elsewhere. Then again, is it such a bad thing to save your checkbook wallet from excessive use in these recessionary times and to be rid of guests as soon as possible?

#2 Limited Bar Hours and Selections

If you are reluctant to make your guests pay at your own wedding reception, you can always choose to limit the number of hours the bar is open and/or limit the number of booze selections available. Either way, you can satisfy your guests’ need to drink and be merry while you can save on costs and chagrin.

You can do these in so many ways like: a) Have the master of ceremonies announce when the bar is open for drinks. Either you can have it open for short intervals throughout the reception or just at the beginning of the reception for a longer period; b) Stick to the basics of wine and beer. This way, you can control how much alcohol flows from the bar to the bodies; c) Provide for a specific number of wine/beer bottles per table and stick to the plan.

In all these methods to control drinking at your wedding, just be sure that your guests will not have to pay for the traditional wedding toasts of champagne. Now that would be extreme Stooge!

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In the past, the idea of a 2nd wedding being elaborate was frowned upon. You could not even make your 2nd wedding formal or extravagant in anyway. Most people would rather be people pleasers and have a smaller, intimate and quieter 2nd wedding. But, today many are having bigger weddings whether it is their second one or not. The main focus should be on the two people who are in love and want to get married. Discovering love again and beginning a new life together should be the primary concern.

Social stigma for a 2nd wedding is getting to be more tolerable because people are realizing that life is too short to be stuck on what others think. Couples are making up their own rules about what they want and for a 2nd wedding this is no different.

Before Making Plans For a 2nd Wedding
One of the greatest worries when planning your 2nd wedding is the effect that it will have on any children you may have had previously. They should probably be told first about your intentions. You should be sensitive to their feelings and exercise some common courtesy for them since you will be merging two families together anyway. Remember, this is not their choice to make. You are imposing this on them. They should be the first to know of your decision to get married and plan a 2nd wedding.

Next, you should inform your parents and your previous partner, if you were married before and if you have joint custody of the children. Your previous partner should have the chance to assure the children that he will still reamin a part of their lives and that will not alter.

Organizing the Wedding
When you begin your 2nd wedding plans, you must get rid of any past relationships or love interest. To avoid any confusion, Do not invite former in-laws, ex-husbands, or ex-boyfriends even if you are on good terms. They may become a bit sad and make the day a little awkward for you.

Most couples do pay for a 2nd wedding so make sure you have a budget, discuss what you expect from each other. When it comes to inviting family and friends to the wedding, be sure to talk about it first. You don’t want any surprises to ruin your special day. You have a second chance to make this wedding different from the first. Not many people get that chance. So you don’t want to be fussing over a guest list before you tie the knot.

Other articles
role of mc at wedding
wedding emcee
wedding mc tips
These articles will help you choose the right person to be your master of ceremonies for the reception. And it will help that person prepare properly for their duties.

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