Wedding Announcements

One of the most traditional ways for a bride and groom to spread the good news of their marriage is with an announcement in the newspaper. Even in these days of electronic media, many couples still want to do the old fashioned notice in their local paper, for their scrapbook, if no other reason. This is what you need to know about how to post newspaper wedding announcements.

The first step is to decide which paper or papers you would like to place your wedding announcements in. Often, a bride will place a notice in both the paper for her current residence and the paper for the town in which she grew up (generally only if her parents still live there or the family has strong ties to the community). Keep in mind that most newspapers do charge a fee for placing a wedding announcement, and in some cases that charge can run well into hundreds of dollars. For that reason, couples may prefer to choose only one newspaper for their announcement. Something else that couples should be aware of is that smaller community papers will tend to charge less for their events section than the large metropolitan publications. If all you really want is the announcement to post in your wedding album, you can save some cash by placing your notice in a small paper if you have one in your town.  

   

As for timing, try to have your announcement ready to file as soon after the wedding date as possible. All papers have deadlines, so you won't necessarily be able to share the news of your marriage in the Sunday paper the week after your wedding, but it would be nice to have it posted in a timely manner. One idea is to have your announcement written and your paperwork filled out before the wedding, so all you need to do after the event is add your favorite wedding photo. Some newspapers require notices to be submitted by fax or mail, whereas others have easy online submission formats. Be sure to see a proof of your announcement before approving it. The last thing you want is for the paper to spell your name wrong or mis-print your wedding date!

There are two general styles of wedding announcements for newspapers, the formal version and the brief summary. In the long formal version, the notice will talk about everything from the officiant, to the best man, to how the bride met the maid of honor. It will also mention where the bride and groom attended college, their current occupations, and where they will honeymoon, in addition to the standard details about the date and location of the wedding. The short version of an announcement will cover just the bare minimum: names of the brides and groom, date and location of the wedding, and the officiant. The longer announcements are more fun to read, but the shorter ones will be less expensive, as the papers charge by the line.

The photo included in your wedding announcement will generally be printed in black and white, though some papers will print in color for an additional hefty fee. Choose a picture which is timeless and shows the bride and groom in all their finery. People want to be able to see the bride's wedding gown, her pearl jewelry, and her hairstyle! The groom should be in the shot too, but really it is the bride's gown and pearl wedding jewelry which will get all the attention from casual readers of the newspaper. Remember that your wedding announcement will become a part of posterity, and select an appropriately elegant photograph. Be sure to check on the specific photo size and orientation requirements for the newspapers you intend to use for your notice.

Placing an announcement in the paper when a couple is married is an old custom which is still popular today. With care, you can be sure that your wedding announcement will be a newspaper clipping that you will cherish forever.

edding Arch

There are a number of things that you are able to use when trying to plan the ideal wedding. One that is quickly becoming a tradition is to use an arch. This is placed at the head of the wedding party and is where the minister and couple will stand when speaking their vows.

There are two things that you can do if this is what you wish to utilize. You will either rent one of these or you will be able to purchase them. It is not difficult to find them at a craft store. You may have to assemble it (this is not hard) - but then you will have the ability to decorate it the way you want. You can also find these at a party store. When you rent or buy one from these places they will come put together.  

When the arch has been put together you can start to decorate it whatever way you want. Numerous of these will be solid white all around. Twine tulle all round it to create the look that it is flowing. This is best done first because it is the main ornament that you will use.

Choose silk flowers that can be placed sporadically round the whole thing. They may be as colorful as you would wish as long as it goes with the colors of the wedding. Stick every one into Styrofoam to make a special pattern.

Ensure to glue each stem into the Styrofoam so they don't fall off. The overlapping Styrofoam can be cut off. Place the bouquets along the front of the arch by putting wires through the middle of the Styrofoam and wrap the ends round the top of it. When that is done you will be ready for a great centerpiece - flower garland. Twist this round the length of the arch.

Wedding Anniversary Gifts

Have you ever wondered how the tradition of giving wedding anniversary gifts began? It is said that the earliest wedding anniversary gifts were silver garlands given by Germanic husbands to their wives on the 25th anniversary. History also shows that some European countries celebrated half of that time, 12.5 years of marriage, with gifts of copper. Around 1875, wood seems to have come into vogue as a 5th wedding anniversary gift.  

Wedding anniversary gifts by mail were undoubtedly rare in those days. The postal service itself was unreliable. Couples who wanted to celebrate their marriage by giving one another gifts often had to choose between making gifts or purchasing at the general store.

Times have changed dramatically, and we now can not only purchase wedding anniversary gifts by mail, we can order them electronically on the Internet.

My bump of curiosity stirred a desire today to see what was available. Here are the first seven anniversary gifts I found.

7 Ideas for Wedding Anniversary Gifts by Mail

1. PAPER: I began with the 1st wedding anniversary gift, wondering what ideas would fit the traditional "paper" gift idea. It was easy to find paper for a husband to give. A framed family tree with her name added! He might have to research, and get information from his parents. A bride of 1 year would appreciate his thoughtfulness, and the renewed knowledge that she had been added to his family tree would be a wonderful wedding anniversary gift. He can order a family tree online at most of the genealogy websites. She could give him paper tickets to a sports event that he would love - and go with him, even if she doesn't share his love for sports. Ticket wedding anniversary gifts are easily found at Ticketmaster.

2. COTTON: For the 2nd wedding anniversary gift, cotton shirts or cotton sheets would be good choices. Order quality cotton shirts from Lands End and have them monogrammed. You can order quality sheets from there, too. Either gift would be appropriate for one to give the other - or sit down together and make out your order. All are gifts by mail.

3. GLASS: One choice for the 3rd wedding anniversary gift was glass, and I found unique, beautiful glass butterfly pendants at Solstice Glass! He could order these by mail and she would never know he had gone shopping. Each glass butterfly pendant is hand-blown and contains a beautiful, realistic butterfly perched atop a lovely flower. Solstice Glass has other shapes, too, of course - a good variety of hand-crafted glass. A wife can shop at Solstice glass, too, and make her husband's third wedding anniversary gift a hand-blown, one-of-a-kind glass marble. He can carry it with him daily as a reminder of her love.

4. FRUIT, FLOWERS, and SILK: The traditional wedding anniversary gift for the 4th anniversary is listed as fruit and flowers. I knew immediately that I could order delicious fruit and beautiful flowers at a place like Gift Tree. Then I noticed that one of the modern choices for this anniversary is silk. You could combine the two, and order a beautiful, quality silk fruit tree or silk flowers. They would last longer than real fruit or flowers. You can find silk pomegranate trees at USI Floral. Since pomegranates are often called the fruit of love, and these trees are filled with the beautiful red fruit, he might order this wedding anniversary gift by mail. She might order him a silk Hawaiian shirt with flowers or fruit in the design. Hawaii Tropicals is one of many places online that will ship this wedding anniversary gift by mail.

5. WOOD: Wood Cutting Boards is a good website to visit for 5th wedding anniversary gifts by mail. Either chef would appreciate the choice of cutting boards they offer. Their hardwood mugs are also beautiful for either husband or wife. If there is any doubt about the strength of the marriage, a new wooden rolling pin is not recommended.

6. IRON: Although sugar is also a traditional 6th wedding anniversary gift, you might want to think in terms of durable gifts rather than consumables. The two of you could choose a wrought iron love seat for your garden from Furniture Central. If you enjoy golf, give each other new iron sets. At Golf Smith, you can order this wedding anniversary gift to be sent by mail.

7. WOOL: Even if your wedding anniversary gift celebrates a summer wedding, you know that either one of you would enjoy a gift of wool from the New Zealand Nature Company. Wool pillows and comforters are cozy in the winter, but cool in the summer. Wool slippers and boots are just as wonderful. They insulate you as they insulate the sheep. Order these wedding anniversary gifts by mail, and you will have the joy of celebrating with gifts from a different hemisphere.

You can, of course, go to your local mall and buy a gift. But when you order wedding anniversary gifts by mail, you can shop the entire world for the perfect gift. You can keep your shopping a secret, and surprise the one you love.

Wedding Anniversary

Only the very best wedding anniversary gifts can be found here. And you will see a better selection of potential presents online than you can find anywhere else. In addition to the convenience of shopping on the web, you will find more gifts for wedding anniversaries than you could possibly imagine. I know you will love the great selection available for you when you browse around for the perfect wedding and wedding anniversary presents.  

    

There are several kinds of wedding anniversary gifts to choose from which are somewhat "classified" by the length of the marriage, as well as your familiarity or kind of relationship you have with the couple. In other words, as a very close fiend you will likely purchase something more meaningful, more personal, and more expensive than if you know the couple well (but not THAT well).

Most importantly, if you are the husband or wife, your anniversary gift to your significant other must be very meaningful, or at least that should be the goal. Guessing that yours (as a couple) is a happy marriage, you will certainly want to express the extent of your love for your partner in the best possible way that you can.

For example:

· Newlyweds:

Even if the couple is celebrating their first or second year of marriage, they may still be considered, in a sense, newlyweds. After all, they have just begun the rest of their lives together.

In such a case you may decide to buy more typical kinds of wedding anniversary gifts such as jewelry, flowers, a fancy gourmet dinner etc. These are great ideas for the husband or wife to purchase as gifts for their anniversary. Show your new spouse that you can reaffirm and reassure him or her of the dedication and the promises you made on your wedding day--reaffirm the love you already have.

· Golden anniversaries:

When you and your spouse celebrate your golden wedding anniversary, it is certainly a time to be cherished. The above is true for any wedding anniversary gifts that are for a couple whose marriage has lasted for many years. Especially in our current situation in America, where fifty percent of couples divorce, your wedding anniversary gifts should show your admiration for making the relationship, the love, and the friendship last and last.

By the same token, if you are celebrating a golden wedding anniversary, by buying a wedding anniversary gift for someone you know such as friend or family members, you want any wedding anniversary gifts to be appropriate for the occasion. Think of wedding anniversary gifts that would be especially significant to them as a couple; think of wedding anniversary gifts that symbolize their love for each other, even after fifty years of marriage. What a immense and beautiful feeling that must be.

· Wedding anniversary gifts for troubled couples:

For a spouse, this may be a tough gift to choose if you are going through a rough patch in your marriage. However, especially at this delicate and crucial time between you and your spouse . . . wedding anniversary gifts are not something to take lightly. Remember your wedding anniversary above all else--to forget or to not acknowledge could be a huge mistake. And try to purchase a gift that will not be misinterpreted in any way--whether raising your spouse's hopes too high, or making them feel less important to you than they really are.

Whether you know that you want things to work out between you and your spouse, or even if you are not quite sure what you want. At least let him or her (but especially her) know that you were thinking of him or her on the anniversary of your union.

Women take gifts much more seriously than men most of the time, and for the husband, you do not want to accidentally give her something that does not express your true feelings.

Wedding Wishes

Toronto weddings are among the most treasured events in society that they occur. The major means of transport of the couple to the event is wedding limousine, which might be funded by a wealthy relative conveying their love and wedding wishes to the couple. For many people weddings spell the beginning of a new life with the one they love. Hiring a professional wedding photographer and wedding videographer is the best way a couple can ensure that all the memories and wishes are stored for posterity. A Toronto photographer is a well-trained professional, since the images they capture are well intended to portray family and friends convey their wedding wishes to the couple. Images with both relatives and friends delivering their speeches at Toronto weddings, an action that is of great traditional significance are also captured.  

Ontario weddings are renowned as merry making events with an on going conveyance of wishes to the couple. The wishes are as varied as the people who attend these weddings. The expression media of these wishes vary too, from cards to posters to speeches delivered by individuals close to the couple. Some of the wedding wishes conveyed on gifts are meant to blend decor present during the Ontario wedding reception. The uniqueness of a great majority of these wishes is portrayed in the manner at which they blend with the day's prevalent mood. Friends and family buy gifts for their loved ones, which are meant to express their wedding wishes.

When a person is invited to a Mississauga wedding, they are requested to articulate their wedding wishes. However, most of those asked to convey this wishes get nervous and in most cases are not able to speak publicly. There are several ways that one can be able to express their wedding wishes at a Mississauga wedding. These have been adequately conveyed by many renowned writers and poets and may be expressed to the couple. Personalizing these wishes to suit the couple adds personality to it. One can have the Mississauga photographer specifically capture these wishes providing beautiful memories of these wedding wishes since they are images etched in wedding photos or wedding pictures. These provide a host of memories both for the conveyor of the message and the recipient. Thus, this makes certain that the event remains memorable to both parties.

When people are called upon to make an impromptu wedding wishes a professional wedding DJ could play music as one awaits those called upon to deliver their speeches. This ensures that the event is not plagued by silent uneventful moments. Some may actually dedicate their wishes through songs which the DJ can play. This helps to avoid copying the style used by others and creates variety. While making wedding wishes it is advisable to share experiences shared with the couple. This helps the guests differentiate between parents, extended relatives, former school mates and colleagues. The wedding wishes should serve as a personal connection between the conveyor and the couple, thus making certain that the wishes are personalized to suit the event'

Wedding Songs

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. It's filled with love, joy, celebration, and of course, music. Many people might even say a wedding isn't a wedding without music. So, how do you go about choosing the soundtrack for your wedding? Here are some expert guidelines on picking the best wedding songs for your big day.

Processional Wedding Songs

"Here comes the bride!" Everyone knows Wagner's Bridal Chorus as the traditional song played as the bride walks down the aisle, but that doesn't mean that you have to use it for your wedding. You can pick a soft and romantic alternative that has deep meaning for the bride and groom, or totally resist tradition and go for a fast and funky song that encourages the whole bridal party to dance down the aisle. Some brides pick one song for the wedding party to walk down to and a different song as her very own. Whatever you choose, just make sure it fits your personality and is not someone else's "suggestion."  

    

Recessional Wedding Songs

Once the ceremony is over, it's time to celebrate, so your recessional wedding song should be something upbeat and triumphant (think "We are the Champions" by Queen). Your recessional song should be happy and inspire your wedding guests to cheer as the happy couple walks together back down the aisle. Recessional wedding songs should also make a smooth transition for guests to the reception.

First Dance

The first dance is not just the first dance of the wedding, it's your very first dance as husband and wife; don't put off choosing the song for your first dance till the last minute. While it's important that you really like the song that you choose, it shouldn't be the only basis for your selection. Consider the context of your first dance and analyze the lyrics of any song you consider for your important first dance. For example, some of your favorite songs may have embarrassingly provocative lyrics and should not be used as wedding songs. If you really like a song but the lyrics are not appropriate, one option is to find an instrumental version of it to dance to. However, remember that many guests might be singing along with it in their heads.

Whatever you choose as the first dance wedding song, it should reflect the perfect relationship that you have with your new husband or wife. Be sure you both agree that it defines you as a couple, and last but not least, time the song. While the song may seem really short while just listening to it, four minutes can seem like an eternity when all eyes are on you. If the song you have picked is a ten-minute ballad, consider cutting it down to a more realistic length for your first dance (this goes for any of your wedding songs).

Father/Daughter Dance

Weddings can be especially emotional for the father of the bride; after all, it's the day he is "giving his daughter away" to another man. When looking at wedding songs for the father/daughter dance, include the bride's father in the decision process. If the two of you have a special song, maybe one that you used to listen to together while you were growing up, that would make a good selection. If you don't automatically have a song in mind, that's okay, too. You can choose a serious and slow song to honor the moment, or perhaps a fast and upbeat song to keep the mood light. Just remember to review the lyrics and ensure the song that you choose is appropriate.

Mother/Son Dance

Recently, the father and daughter dance is commonly followed by the mother/son dance. Deciding on the mother and son dance song may be a bit difficult for the groom, so he may want to defer to his mother to make the choice. However, suggest to the mother of the groom that the selection is sincere, and not one that might be more suitable for a husband/wife dance.

Cake Cutting Wedding Songs

The sky's the limit when it comes to what song will play while you cut the cake. It's a playful time that may involve a cake fight, so choose something upbeat. You can go for a romantic song like "All You Need is Love" by the Beatles, something silly like "Kiss the Girl" from the Little Mermaid, or something literal, like "Sugar, Sugar" by the Archies- the choice is entirely yours.

Bouquet Toss

Bouquet toss songs are played when the bride tosses her bouquet to all of the single female guests at the wedding. So what better song to play than "Single Ladies" by Beyonce? Any sassy song with a female singer could work, too. Make sure it's a song that the bride enjoys so she can have fun as she throws her bouquet.

Garter Toss

The garter toss is typically more wild, so this is one of your wedding songs that you can go wild with. Depending on the groom's personality, the garter toss song can be edgy, risqué or fun. Maybe the groom's favorite hip-hop or country song? The bride also gets some input (it's her garter after all), so find a song that you both like and think wedding guests will enjoy.

Last Dance

Your wedding is sure to be one party you won't forget. The last dance song is a great way to finish the evening on a positive note. Much like the first dance wedding song, this song should reflect the couple's relationship, and may even signify goals that you might have for your marriage (such as everlasting love). Depending on how you want the evening to end, you can choose an upbeat and fast-paced wedding song as one last, fun dance, or if you want your wedding day to end on a romantic note, go for a slower-paced wedding song that will leave everyone feeling sentimental.

Wedding songs are a very important part of wedding planning, so it is best not to leave the decision process till the last minute. For years after your wedding you'll hear these wedding songs and think back to your wedding day, so make meaningful decisions!

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