Add more romance with wedding poetry

Wedding poetry has been used to spice up any ceremony. It is amazing how poetry’s play of words effectively translate the heart’s language.  This is basically the reason why poetry reading is a standard activity in wedding activities. Poetry is usually used a part of wedding vows, activity programs, ceremonial weddings, speeches and toasts.

There are limitless selections of wedding poetry you can choose from for that big day. You can just grab some snippets from a longer poem or get a shorter one and entirely use it with modifications. Popular poetries are those written by George Sand, Thomas Moore, Kahlil Gibran or Shakespeare. There are other contemporary writers having the same passion that are eminent in traditional poetries. Just by surfing on the internet, you can find poetries that can be used for wedding ceremonies that are submitted by ordinary people. These contributors are simply inspired by love and their poems are very well written too.

If you feel you do not relate with any of published works or submitted poems, you can go ahead and create one or hire a personalized wedding poetry vendor. The interne is a portal to find one. A phone interview or an online conference will be conducted by the vendor. This will be used as a reference for his writing. It is recommended that both the bride and groom will attend the interview.

Looking for poetry provider is not a hard job. You can ask your wedding coordinators, the head of your clergy for recommendations. You might even have a friend or a family member who can write real well. Professional wedding poem providers may charge as high as a hundred dollars. Compare prices and sample works of at least three vendors. This way you can weight your options and select the best vendor with a reasonable price. Pick the one you are comfortable in dealing with. Give the provider ample time to complete the poem, a good one would take time. Be sure to order around six months or so before the wedding.

In personalizing poetry consider the type of ceremony you will be having. A formal event might need elegant and romantic poems while you can add on some humor if it is an informal one. Poems used in wedding toasts must definitely have a lighter note to it.  Take note of the mood that you wanted to project. It is important to know your guests and the person who would read the poem.

Poetries along with a good musical background can truly set that romantic atmosphere in any weddings. Through poetry reading you can express your deepest emotions of love and hopes. You can either read your chosen prime poetry during the ceremony itself or during the reception.

Tell every one of your joy and contentment of finding your true love by scribbling wedding poetries on invitations. Another option will be to print out a line or two of you favorite poem on your wedding souvenir. Poetry verses can come along with your photograph, the celebrant’s name, date of your wedding and your message.

Poetry compliments that romantic atmosphere in any weddings. It can surely add magic on your wedding day. A well rehearsed and a well written poetry can make your partner’s feet weak and make your heart jump a mile. Nothing can truly beat something that comes from the heart.

Planning Your Memorable Wedding

You have finally said, “Yes.”  This is the start of your life as a couple.  And prior to that much-awaited big day, you, both the bride and groom have so many decisions to make and wedding-related tasks to complete.

Preparing for your wedding day need not be stressful.  On the other had, it should be fun and memorable.  And to do this, start off by putting together a wedding timetable.

A short list of wedding-related tasks as well as a rough estimate of when the activities should be done follows. It presents tips and guidelines to keep you organized and help you think of all the matters that you must take into consideration in the course of planning for your big day.  Of course, these are mere suggestions.  All activities and schedule are still up to the couple to decide on depending on their priorities.

At the Time of the Engagement
- You must tell your parents the happy news as soon as possible that is if they don’t already know.  If you were having an engagement party, it would be good to keep your close friends and relatives in the know, too.<br>
- An organizer would be best to have in handy.  This will help you keep track of all the appointments, payments and other wedding-related activities that you must attend to.
- Have your engagement photo taken.  This would be nice to have as a keepsake of this wonderful occasion.

6 to 12 Months In Advance Before the Big Day

- The couple should have already picked and decided on the wedding date.  Do the reservation for the venue where the ceremony and reception is to be held.
- Set an appointment with the wedding officiant.
- Establish a budget for the wedding, and try as much as possible to stick to it.
- Prepare a wedding guest list.  You wouldn’t want to leave somebody uninvited unintentionally.<br>
- Look around for a photographer, florists, musicians, and a caterer.  Obtain estimates for these services.<br>
- Register at the bridal gift registry.
- Pick a wedding dress and accessories to go with it.  If you are having a seamstress make you one, this is the time to have it arranged.  Several fittings may be required for this.
- For the bride, select your bridesmaids.  Set a date for ordering dresses for them.

4 to 6 Months In Advance Before the Big Day
- Have the invitations, stationeries, and thank you notes ordered.
- The photographer, florist, musician, and caterer should have already been chosen. Go over details with each of these services to make sure that everything is as agreed upon.
- For the groom, select attire.
- Honeymoon reservations should be made already at this point.
- Confirm the delivery of the bridal gown.

2 Months In Advance Before the Big Day
- Plan your rehearsal dinner.
- If you are having out-of-town attendants, arrange for their lodging.
- Make an appointment with your chosen photographer for the shooting of the bridal portrait.<br>
- Order the wedding cake.

1 Month In Advance Before the Big Day
- The couple should decide on a wedding band set.
- Mail the invitations.
- Check the apparel for the wedding party.
- The couple attends showers.

2 Weeks Before the Wedding.
- It is time to apply for marriage license and attend to other legal matters, especially for the bride - name and address changes on bank accounts and other official documents.
- Plan a wedding hairstyle and make-up with your stylist.
- Check with the caterer and the reception venue for last minute changes.

1 Week Before the Wedding
- Do your honeymoon packing.
- Wrap gifts for the groom and attendants.
- Schedule the wedding rehearsal.
- Remind the wedding party of the exact time and place for the occasion.

On Wedding Day
- Take breakfast!  Fainting on the aisle wouldn’t be cool.
- Have your hair and make-up done.
- Shake off all your wedding details worries and enjoy your day.

Interesting Wedding Night Rituals from Around The World

Weddings are occasions of lasting traditions and rituals.  All over the world, people’s beliefs, culture and history has affected this memorable event.  It is common knowledge that wedding ceremonies are different all over the world, but did you know that the diversity extends even on the wedding night?  Read this to know the interesting activities that couples, families and friends do before letting the newlyweds reach a night of wedding bliss!

It is customary in an American wedding for the bride and groom to hop into a get-away car with tin cans attached to the rear of the car, off to their secret honeymoon, immediately after the wedding.  Did you know that this rooted from escaping a Celtic wedding night tradition?

In Gaelic cultures, it was a tradition for friends and family of the couple to mess with the couple’s wedding night.  In the olden days, when couples spend their wedding night in a barn, girl friends of the bride would dress her for bed and ask each of the male guests to kiss her good night.  The friends would do other things to prevent the groom from seeing her new wife.  Even if the couple finally comes together, they would disturb the union by making noise outside the barn and even peep into the couple, while drinking the night away.  The couple waits for everyone to get too drunk to eventually leave them alone. This kind of prank is something that newly weds want to get away from, thus, they keep their honeymoon destination a secret and speed away after the wedding.

More Celtic wedding night ritual come from Scotland: sleeping in the barn on the first night, sprinkling water on the marriage bed for luck and staying for a week with the bride’s parents before moving into the newlywed’s home.

The Germans and the French do a similar tradition of “disturbing” the wedding night, called Chiverie, known in the US as Shivaree.  They make noise outside the place where the couple spends their first night together.  Some even play around with the room where they will stay, like put plenty of balloons, spread food all over the bed, and hide alarm clock everywhere, just for fun.

The Romans believed that it was bad fortune when the bride stumbles when entering the newlywed’s house for the first time. Thus, after the wedding, male friends of the couple would carry her over the doorstep. At present, the groom is expected to do the job himself.

In Benin, western Africa, they value virginity.  The bride’s mother rewards her with cash if she’s a virgin at their wedding night! In the morning, the sheets that the couples used are inspected for bloodstains.  Some mothers even “fly the flag” out the window, showing off their daughter’s bloodstained nightgown. Seriously!

For the Chinese, at the night of the wedding, candles designed with a phoenix and a dragon is lit to drive the evil spirit away.  The newlyweds will drink wine from goblets tied together with a red ribbon, while arms intertwined. Then the bride will be given half-raw dumplings, which symbolize prosperity.

Marquesasian (from Polynesia) brides have a notable wedding night ritual: they are expected to have sex with all the male guests and then saving the groom for last. Now that can make your wedding night … extremely unforgettable!

Wedding Programs: What To Look For

A wedding ceremony marks the beginning of a marriage, and a couple’s life together. Wedding ceremonies may be a civil or religious rite that can take place anywhere - at a church, in the gardens, at the beach, or at the city hall. Modern-day weddings can now also take place in the Internet (what is known as “Online Wedding).

From the bride’s march down the aisle to the wedding reception, there are a number of wedding traditions and aspects that make a wedding ceremony special. It is important that the couple ‘include’ their guests and the people around them in the celebration by guiding and informing them of what is happening at any given time. This is made possible by wedding ceremony programs.

A wedding program (also called church programs, ceremony programs, or “The Order of Woship”) is a personalized guidebook for the guests in a wedding. Essentially similar to that of a program at a theater play, wedding programs serve the following purposes:

They serve as a record of the wedding ceremony, providing guests with the order and details of the events that will happen in the ceremony.

· They help guests understand what is happening, making them feel included.

· They introduce and honor the bridal party, the sponsors, and the other people who are participating in the ceremony.

· They serve as a beautiful and sentimental souvenir for everyone, which can be included in the couple’s scrapbook.

While a wedding program is not a strict requirement to have, but it certainly adds a unique and personal touch to any wedding ceremony. A wedding program can also be essential in the following cases:

· A wedding that is inter-cultural and no one understands the ceremony.

· A wedding with a number of guests from another faith or culture.

· A wedding so large that guests may not know the bridal party.

· A wedding that is particularly long and time-consuming.

· A wedding that involves so many people that the couple would like to thank and pay tribute to.

A wedding program is generally broken down into 3 sections, with the additional detailed information listed below:

1. Introduction

· Names of the couple

· Wedding date

· Time and place of the service.

2. Event or Ceremony Order

· Greetings

· Poetry

· Reading

· Exchange of vows

· Explanations of special religiuos rituals (such as the ring ceremony, unity candle ceremony, and pronouncement of marriage)

· Titles of the ceremony music to be played (including the names of the musicians, soloists, or readers)

3. Acknowledgement or Wedding Party

· Names of the members of the bridal party

· Name of the priest or officiant who will perform the ceremony

· Memorials, tributes or homages to someone who has passed away

· Thank-you notes and dedications to the parents and to people who gave support to the couple (and to the wedding)

· The couple’s special message to their wedding guests

· Directions to the reception

Wedding programs are usually ordered from the same printer who does the wedding invitations. Other couples, however, opt to do their wedding programs on their own - it gives a couple a chance to be more flexible and creative while saving money.

Wedding programs are one of the little details that make such a big day extra special. Ordered ready-made or done personally, a wedding program can be made unique by the expressive feelings of love and joy that it conveys.

How to Plan for a Wedding

Planning for a wedding is not an easy task. It could be an extremely stressful, and trying time, especially as the big day approaches. When couples worry about coordinating all of the details of the wedding, just to make sure everything goes according to plan.

Probably, one of the most important details of the wedding that a couple has to decide on is the actual date of the wedding. This is usually the detail that is taken care of first. Factors in choosing a date include: the availability of the venue where the wedding will take place. Availability of friends and family on the assigned date.

Some venues where weddings are held offer discounts on days when traditionally, weddings are not held. Also, the time the wedding takes place also become a factor in the expense. For example, mornings, and afternoon receptions are somewhat more cheaper that receptions held at nighttime.

It is also advisable to set a budget, even before a couple start to make plans. This way they’d be able to organize the details according to the budget they could afford.

Once you’ve done this, you can now choose a venue for the wedding. Some places offer discounts, depending on the time of year. Just after the holidays, would be a good time to hold a wedding, if you are considering the cost. This time is not considered a ‘peak time’, therefore the price tend to be less expensive.

For couples who are about to get married, it is important to talk about the size of wedding they both have in mind. The dream wedding of one person might not be that of the other. So it is necessary for couples to discuss details regarding the arrangement of the wedding, such as: the location of the venue/reception, the number of people who get invited to the wedding reception, and the choice of entertainment.

It is important to reach an agreement pertaining to the guest list and the entourage. Whether you want to keep the wedding an intimate affair, in which case the bride and groom will just invite their family and friends; or  maybe, they’d want to make this affair, into the wedding of the century. In which case, the bride and groom get to invite the whole neighborhood, long lost relatives, high school buddies, etc., in  addition to their friends and family. When making the guest list, consider the space capacity of your chosen venue.

Hire a professional to capture this momentous occasion. Sure you friends can take good pictures, and most of them own a camcorder. But for this special occasion, you would want something special, lasting, and visually presentable. So you’d have something to remember this occasion by. This way you could also share them with your friends and family.

Don’t forget the cake! It’s best to have a tasting first, before settling on a cake. Invite your family and friends, for the cake tasting. This way, this task becomes fun for everyone!

Order wedding invitations. If you want to get creative, you can always print your own invites. This way, you can customize them, and add a more personal touch to the invitation.

Don’t forget to start looking for a wedding gown months before the wedding. This way, the bride has plenty of time to make a selection. Also, the groom should make arrangement to rent or buy a tuxedo, preferably in advance also. Just in case you encounter some trouble with the fitting, you’d have some time to make other arrangements.

Couples who don’t have enough time on their hands, or just find the preparations that go into planning a wedding too overwhelming, can always just hire a wedding planner! This way, everything gets organized and coordinated for them.

Essential Wedding Accessories

Wedding accessories are important to complete your bridal look. Without wedding accessories, the wedding gown would look bare and incomplete. Below are some of the essential wedding accessories.

Wedding veils
Would a wedding be complete without a wedding veil? Of course you’ve probably seen weddings where brides where gowns without veils but it sure don’t look much like a wedding. A wedding veil, along with the ring and cord, is one wedding accessory that symbolizes the wedding itself. In picking out a wedding veil make sure that it will suit your wedding gown and the theme of your wedding. Traditional veils are very formal and usually measure around three and a half yards long. Veils nowadays come in various lengths. There is even a shoulder length flyaway type that is preferred by many modern brides.

Shoes & stockings
Shoes and stockings are a crucial element to your overall look on your wedding day. All girls know how difficult it is to find a shoe that will complement attire. What more if you are trying to look for a pair that would match your wedding gown. Try to look for shoes made of velvet, satin and silk as these materials provide a formal and delicate touch to any event. You can also choose shoes with embellishment like beads, sequins, pearls or crystals. Just make sure that the shoes you will buy is comfortable on your feet because you will ear them on probably the most important event of your life.

Jewelry
Aside from the wedding band and wedding ring, you should also take time to consider the other jewelry you will ear like necklace, earrings and bracelet. Jewelry should always compliment a dress and not be the star of the evening. So make sure that the jewelry you will wear would be noticeable enough to get attention but not too loud as to over shadow your wedding gown. Consider wearing family heirlooms because they are proven to be an ideal wedding accessory. Of course, diamonds and pearls would also be very nice.

Headpieces
Headpieces such as combs, headbands, back pieces and Juliet caps are generally used to hold the wedding veil in place. Often, headpieces are decorated with beads, pearls, crystals or flowers to make them look attractive. It seems like a small detail but a headpiece can spell the difference between a boring wedding attire and an exciting one. Actually, a beautiful headpiece can even replace a veil altogether.  Examples of headpieces that can stand alone are tiaras, crowns, half-crowns, wreaths and bun wraps.

Gloves
Gloves make great accessories especially if you are wearing a strapless or sleeveless gown. The general rule is that the shorter the sleeve the longer the glove should be. Gloves simply provide an air of sophistication to any outfit.

Handbags
Of course you shouldn’t be carrying a bag with you during the wedding ceremony or even during the reception. But still it would be nice to have a small purse where all the things you will need, particularly make up for touch ups, would be contained. It doesn’t have to be a big shoulder bag. Clutches will work just fine.

As they say, God is in the details. And in wedding the little details provided by wedding accessories can make all the difference. That’s is why it is very important to give as much attention to the wedding accessories you will wear or carry on your wedding day as you would to your wedding gown.

The Advantages of a Wedding Planner

Have you ever wondered why Jennifer Lopez had made such a great impact on her movie, “The Wedding Planner?” This is because most people, after watching the film, had finally realized the importance of hiring a wedding planner.

Long before, most couples are having second thoughts on the idea of hiring a wedding planner. They have doubts if hiring the services of a wedding planner is really worth their money, especially those who are in a tight budget.

Basically, hiring the services of a wedding planner is actually a matter of choice and personal preference. If you think that you and your fiancé can handle most of the wedding planning without any burden, then, go on with your plans.

But if you think that doing all the planning from the very beginning is already tedious, then, it is time for you to hire the services of a wedding planner.

Basically, a wedding planner is someone who is adept and knowledgeable when it comes to wedding plans. Wedding planners have already established their contacts with many businesses that are important in the wedding such as flower arrangers, caterers, venues, etc.

So, for most people who are not yet aware the benefits they can derive from hiring a wedding planner, here are some facts that you need to know:

1. Hiring a wedding planner will save you time.

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task. It can even be more tedious if the person who plans the wedding is a participant also like the bride or the groom. It can be really difficult to have an open mind especially with all the jitters and everything.

Moreover, planning a wedding does not happen overnight. Usually, it would take you 200 to 300 hours of planning, thinking, and brainstorming. Hence, to save you time and effort, it is best to hire the services of a wedding planner.

2. More savings

Many people contend that the reason why they do not hire a wedding planner is that it will be an additional cost on their part.

What they do not know is that hiring the services of a wedding planner can actually save you more money because most of the wedding planners have already established solid contacts with some of the common wedding businesses like flower arrangers, venues, and the like. Therefore, discounts are more likely to happen because they have their own connections already.

3. Organized planning

With wedding planners, weddings can be more organized because most wedding planners are very particular from the biggest down to the last details of the wedding.

After all, it is their job so they know what should be done best.

Moreover, wedding planners have actual timeline that they follow in order to have all the details be ready on time or even way ahead of time, leaving all the last-minute changes behind.

4. The decisions are still yours

With wedding planners, the decisions are still with the couple. The wedding planner will just guide, render some suggestions, and assist the couple in making the decision.

Hence, the couple will be able to, still, have their own style and preference with regards to the planning of their wedding.

5. Confidence boosters

One of the best things about wedding planners is that they act as confidence boosters for the bride and the groom.

We all know how jittery and edgy wedding couples can be especially if they are in a rush or having trouble finding the perfect item for their wedding. But wedding planner, they will be more at ease and more confident that their wedding will be perfect because they know that they have laid the details of their wedding upon the hands of a professional.

Indeed, there could be no better person who really knows the ins and outs of wedding planning more than what the wedding planner can do.

So, for great weddings, it is best to hire the services of a wedding planner.

Wedding Songs to Celebrate the Day

Wedding songs play a vital role throughout the entire wedding day. Wedding songs help create the mood and ambiance of the day from start to end. Choosing the right wedding songs can also help accentuate the emotional significance of the occasion for a more memorable celebration.

In earlier years many weddings showcased traditional wedding songs. However, nowadays there is no limit to the type of wedding songs that couples can choose to play on their wedding day. Selecting wedding songs is also one of the fun things that couples can do to prepare for their wedding day.

Most couples prefer choosing wedding songs that have a significant meaning to them in order to create a more unique and personal atmosphere for their wedding day. A song that was played on their first date or songs of the couple’s favorite artist are typical selections for wedding songs of many couples.

Things to remember when selecting wedding songs

When selecting wedding songs, it is important to take into consideration the venue for the ceremony. Most wedding ceremonies often take place in a church, couples should first check with the minister if there are any restrictions to the type of wedding songs that can be played. Some churches have concerns regarding the kind of wedding songs that should be played during the sacrament of matrimony.

Other venues may not have a strict policy regarding the variety of wedding songs to be played. However it is still a good idea to choose wedding songs for the ceremony that would not turn the occasion into a comedy act. It is best to reserve the entertaining wedding songs for the reception where everyone can cut loose to the music.

Another important factor to consider is the selection of the band or DJ who will play the wedding songs during the reception. Couples with a more traditional wedding theme may opt for a classical ensemble to perform wedding songs at their reception. For an intimate gathering a solo pianist, flute trio or string quartet serve as an ideal choice to play classical wedding songs.

For a more contemporary wedding theme, there are a number of professional bands that cater specifically to wedding receptions. Couples can also choose to hire a DJ to play wedding songs at the reception.

Planning the wedding songs

Couples need to select a number of wedding songs for different parts of the wedding. There are essentially six parts of the wedding ceremony that would require music. The type of wedding songs for the prelude music is used to welcome family and friends to the ceremony. Happy and festive wedding songs can help set the tone for the entire wedding day.

Wedding songs for the processional of the wedding party marks the start of the ceremony. The songs are meant to usher in the wedding party and to prepare the guests for the entrance of the bride. The bride’s processional is the critical moment of the ceremony. Though many would opt for the traditional bridal march, it is also a good idea to select different wedding songs that can make it more memorable.

The interludes are the various moments during the ceremony wherein a number of wedding songs can help enhance the overwhelming emotion of the occasion. Wedding songs during the recessional should be festive to celebrate the official union of the couple. The postlude wedding songs are meant to create a pleasant atmosphere to thank guests for coming to the ceremony.

Wedding Shoes, Buying and Preparation

A bride should be blooming and perfect, just like the wedding and the wedding day, and for a perfect bride, there should be perfect wedding shoes. To help you in buying the perfect pair here is a guide that you can follow to buy that perfect pair for that very special day.

Choosing a color

There are different shades of white, diamond white, pearl white, satin white, etc. If you’re all for a traditional wedding you can have white, but if you’re one of the radials who like colorful gowns instead of plain white ones, you can still match the color of your shoes to your gown.

Style

Aside from color, style should be your next priority, your shoes should fit the occasion and the place, and if you have a garden wedding or a beach wedding it’s not advisable to wear stilettos. For an evening event, you can use strappy evening sandals. Remember both shoe and dress need not be fancy, quite the opposite, wear fancy shoes for a simple dress and simple shoes for an extravagant dress, so that they sort of balance each other.

Comfort

Now after choosing the style and color, you must try your shoes on, remember you’d be wearing your shoes for the whole day, and maybe on the reception as well, you’d be expected to be in those shoes for more than four hours, and during the reception, might be asked to dance in them, you don’t want to get blisters on your special day so make sure that your shoes a re comfortable.

Also, buy shoes towards the end of the day. The foot expands during the course of the day and you want to buy shoes when your feet are at its largest size.

* Tip: Wear your shoes inside the house before the wedding, do this until you can wear your shoes for 4-5 hours without hurting, this’ll make sure that the shoes are soft and comfortable on your wedding day, just don’t wear them outside.

Your dress and your shoes

Fabric

Wedding shoes should also match your dress, the type of fabric for your shoes is usually determined by the type of fabric of the hem of your gown. Wear satin shoes for shiny fabrics and lacy shoes for a lacy gown. You can also use crepe shoes for fabrics that have a matte finish.

Details

If you want details on your shoes like crystals or rhinestones, make sure that the color , sheen and style match those of your dress, don’t wear bejeweled shoes on a gown that doesn’t have a single bit of crystal on it or you’ll look like an upside down lampshade when the lights hit you.

Extra shoes

If you think that your dancing shoes should be different than your actual wedding shoes, and you’d want an extra one, make sure that the heels of your extra shoes match those of your actual shoes so that your gown doesn’t look too short or too long when you wear them.

Alterations

Remember to bring your shoes with you when you’re getting your dress made or altered, this’ll make sure that the length of your gown matches the heels of your shoes, you won’t want your dress to drag or to look like its too short don’t you?

First Impressions Lasts Choose Your Wedding Invitations Properly

How to choose your wedding invitation:

1. Set a budget and be creative.  As well as there are beautiful expensive invitations, there are also inexpensive but equally beautiful ones in the market.  You just got to be creative and know where to look.

2. Decide on a theme and color motif for your wedding.  Your invitation should suggest the theme or the color motif of your wedding.

3. Do your guest list so that you will know how many invitations to order.

4. Select a style that reflects your personality as well as it should give an idea of the wedding that you are planning.

5. Begin as early as eight months before the wedding.  This means that you will have plenty of time paying attention to perfect the wording, and should something goes wrong, you will have ample time to revise it and make sure that it is “the way you want it” before sending them out.

6. Before you order your invitations, make sure that all of your wedding details such as the date, time and place of the ceremony and reception are already confirmed.

7. Asking help from professionals on the look and style of your invitation will help you pull your ideas together for a more beautiful outcome.

8. With regards to the proper wording and etiquette, a professional should be consulted to make sure that everything in the invitation is properly placed.

9. Order more invitations than the amount that you really need.  This will give you a few extras in case you miss anyone out.

10. When giving the shop your wording, it is best that you give it to them typewritten, so they can clearly read it.

11. Do it with style.  Be creative and try to combine materials to achieve your own personal touch.

Invitation Etiquette

1. When the ceremony and the reception will be held at different locations, you can enclose a reception card along with your invitation.  The reception card should also be provided with an envelope and contain specific information about the reception.

2. Do not address envelopes as Mr. and Mrs. William Cooper and Family.  This is not proper.  The names of children under eighteen years old should be included in the invitation, while children over eighteen should be sent their own invitation.

3. You can use casual names such as “Uncle Henry and Aunt Beth” or “Grandma” to relatives that are close to you, in addressing the inner envelope as this will show how much you mean to them, even if you are planning a formal event.

4. Mail your invitation six to eight weeks before your wedding date.  If however, your wedding date is set on a holiday season or you are inviting a lot of guests that are from out of State, you should mail the invitations sooner to give them ample time to plan and make hotel reservations and organize their schedule.

5. Position the word “black tie” in the lower right hand corner of the invitation if you are planning for a formal wedding so that your guests can dress accordingly.

Don’ts when placing invitation wordings:

1. Don’t use nicknames.  Always use the first, middle, and last name.  Some people do not want their middle names included in the invitation; don’t use initials, simply do not include their middle names.

2. Don’t make abbreviations.  Only “Mr.”, “Mrs.”, or “Dr.” can be abbreviated.  All other titles should be written completely.

3. Don’t abbreviate dates, addresses and time.

4. Don’t write the word “and” as “&”.

Invitation assembly:

1. Place the invitation inside the large envelope along with its protective tissue and make certain that the invitation is facing you.

2. Place in the reception invitation on top of the invitation, also facing you.

3. Position the response card in, and leaning within the flap of the response envelope, which is facing down.

4. The last to go in are the directions or map which guides the guests.

5. When addressing the outer envelope, it is best that you use calligraphy.

6. For added touch, choose a postage stamp that well compliments the general appearance of your invitation.

7. If possible, bring your invitations to the post office and ask that they be hand cancelled, to avoid unattractive marks or scratches that a machine cancelling can cause.

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