"Now and Forever Wedding" Planning Ideas

NOW AND FOREVER WEDDING

Ideas
WEDDING PLANNING FOR YOUR “NOW AND FOREVER” WEDDING EXPERIENCE

STEVE SYMES
Principal
IPPTS Associates

info@stepstogetmarried.info
http://stepstogetmarried.info

NOW AND FOREVER WEDDING IDEAS STEVE SYMES

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided Wedding 8
"as is". The author, publishers and marketers
of this information disclaim any loss or
5. Saving Money on Wedding Costs
liability, either directly or indirectly as a
consequence of applying the information 9
presented herein, or in regard to the use and
application of said information. No 6. Types of Wedding Receptions 11
guarantee is given, either expressed or
implied, in regard to the merchantability, 7. Venues for Wedding Receptions
accuracy, or acceptability of the
12
information.

8. Food for Your Wedding Reception
Now and Forever Wedding 14
Planning Ideas
9. Best Music for the Wedding
Wedding planning for your “now and Reception 16
forever” wedding experience

10. Wedding DJ vs. Live Band 17
Table of Contents
11. Unusual Wedding Reception
Now and Forever Wedding Ideas 1 Ideas 19

Wedding planning for your “now 13. History of Wedding Traditions
and forever” wedding experience 1 and Symbolism 22

Introduction 3 14. Overseas Wedding Traditions 23

1. When is the Best Time of Year for 15. Pros and Cons of Tropical Island
a Wedding? 3 Weddings 25

2. Where to Hold Your Wedding 5 Special Report 27
(Approximate page numbers only)
3. Formal or Casual Wedding
Choice? 6

4. Clothing to Suit the Style of

INFO@STEPSTOGETMARRIED.INFO - HTTP://STEPSTOGETMARRIED.INFO
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NOW AND FOREVER WEDDING IDEAS S

Introduction

Those that will make their wedding day a
now and forever event need the very best
ideas and the most help in planning their
most amazing wedding event. The reason
is of course obvious! There will only be
one wedding they will ever have, now and
forever, and this is the awesome reality
that befits an amazing couple.

We really want to help you achieve the
demanding task of planning this once in a
lifetime and totally memorable event, so
we have put together this e-book just for
you. With 15 articles we hope that we
have covered most aspects of your
wedding, with helpful tips and ideas
throughout.

The date you choose should be one that
1. When is the Best Time of Year for a will allow all the bridal party to be present.
Wedding? After all your wedding will be for now and
forever so ensuring that all of those close
to you who you wish to be present can be
Many brides like to choose a date for their
there is important. People have lives and
wedding that has a special meaning, such
they cannot always adjust their schedule
as one year to the day after her loved one
to attend a wedding. What about the
proposed, but this cannot always be
people on the guest list that you would
accommodated due to a number of
like to have sharing the celebration with
factors. It is sometimes best to remain
you? They have to be considered as well.
practical as to the date and season of the
year, because you may hate the thought
of having a wedding in bitterly cold Other things you need to consider will be
weather or the steaming heat of summer. stuff like does your wedding theme match
the season – beach wedding and winter
do not go together! How comfortable are
you going to be getting married in the
dead of winter? How cost effective are the
dates you have chosen, high season for

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weddings is usually summer to early fall or wait for your honeymoon. Big mistake,
May to August. Everything from venues to something will keep coming up and you
caterers and beyond costs a fortune. may never get around to it! If you want to
go exploring a brand new country, check
You may have a secret desire to marry at a what the weather will be like at that end.
particular time. Here again unfortunately Tramping around in high temperatures
the voice of reason must be heard. If you will not a perfect honeymoon make!
or your fiancé have a career that
necessitates you being in the office, Life is always full of complications and you
choosing a date at that inopportune time always have to keep making choices.
is not going to help. For example, a When picking the wedding date, it is
finance person like a tax accountant is recommended that you get all your ducks
never going to get away in the spring in a row. Meaning make a list of all the
time. The period between November to important considerations you have to
April (northern hemisphere) is known to make regarding dates and choose one
be a slack time for the wedding trade. You that has the highest match to everything
could cut your costs in half if you have the on your list. You will not get a perfect, 100
wedding at this time. Why follow the percent match so be willing to
crowd and plump for a May wedding that compromise.
will cost a fortune?
Spring is a great time to get married, the
flowers are full bloom and the sun beams
down on you, but not too brightly.
Everything seems to be reborn and
renewed, a great time to begin a new
adventure called marriage. In spring you
will have flowers in abundance to choose
from and every conceivable color to
choose from. Great time to travel as well
on your honeymoon!

A summer wedding can be held from May
to August and be warned it is the most
popular time of year for weddings. You
can expect prices to be high on
everything. To compensate for the high
Another factor to be considered is the prices you can revel in the warmth of
kind of honeymoon you want to have. If summer and have an outdoor wedding.
you want to go skiing then it has to be a
winter wedding, unless you are willing to

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Fall weddings are great if you are thinking
along the lines of an intimate wedding. A
winter wedding can be turned into a
magical event with a bit of creativity.

What couples need to be aware of is that
there is no perfect time of year to marry
that will guarantee lifelong marital bliss. It
is not the time of year or the day of the
week that will make your marriage work,
but the level of love, commitment, fidelity
and trust you bring to the relationship.

1. Where to Hold Your Wedding

Every bride to be has, hidden somewhere
in the deep recesses of the mind, a
wedding fantasy that includes where the
wedding ceremony will take place. Maybe
you want a spring wedding with all the Fix your guest list before you do anything
beauty and color of fresh flowers, summer else. This is the rock on which you will
warmth and outdoor festivities, the build your wedding plans. Once you have
awesome beauty of fall colors or the your guest list you can make informed
winter wonderland wedding full of glitter decisions about a lot of things. If all of
and sparkle. your guests or at least 85-90 percent of
them are from the same town as you,
consider having the wedding in the off
season to get better rates.

Choosing the wedding venue is a huge
decision and one that is governed by
many factors. After the guest list is
finalized, the next most important aspect
to be decided upon is the venue. The type
of venue you choose will depend on the
sort of wedding you have always dreamed
of having. For example, if you have always
dreamed of a fairy tale wedding with a

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castle in the background and knight in require a different type of planning. Many
shining armor carrying you off on his factors like religion, race and social
steed, you obviously need to book a standing can affect the wedding
castle! ceremony location. Most white weddings
as they are referred to in the western
Another important factor for world are generally performed in a church
consideration is how religious your beliefs of the couple’s choice and officiated by a
are. If both you and your partner are religious minister.
religious, a church wedding ceremony is
the best way forward. Christians typically For the people who are not too particular
have wedding ceremonies performed in about having a church wedding, the
churches; Jewish tradition dictates the ceremony can be held anywhere you
ceremony takes place in a temple or please. All you need is an official who is
synagogue. authorized to perform the ceremony. You
may find these ideas useful when deciding
where to hold the ceremony.

A Civil ceremony is performed by the
Justice of the Peace or a judge, or in some
cases the mayor. These people are
authorized to perform a civil ceremony
anywhere outside the church. The
ceremony is very brief and does not
involve any reference to God. It is a purely
legal ceremony and can be held in City
Hall or a courtroom.

If you want to have a civil ceremony, you
can always have the ceremony in your
own garden. In this way you can have
lovely decorations, serve food and drinks
and have an intimate wedding reception
after the ceremony.

How about a cruise wedding, the official
will first perform the wedding ceremony,
Every religion has its own beliefs and
which unfortunately cannot be performed
traditions that will need to be upheld.
while sailing. It has to be done in port on
Then again, inter-racial marriages where
American soil so to speak. You can set sail
two different faiths are involved will

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once the official ceremony is over, to mountains, cliffs, waterfalls, gorges or
enjoy a wonderful cruise reception. other natural wonders that will make a
sensational backdrop to the entire
So you cannot afford to have a cruise ceremonial proceedings.
wedding ceremony and reception, you
can still have the ceremony on a dock, The final decision on the location and
harbor, riverside, lake or beach if a water venue for your wedding ceremony will
based theme is what you want. You can depend on such factors as your budget
have the ceremony in a public park or and your religious beliefs. Once the
botanical garden; you can choose a roof location is settled on you have to make
deck or a beautifully landscaped private certain other decisions such as whether
garden. you wedding should be casual or formal.

Formal or Casual Wedding Choice?

Not all brides have an unlimited budget –
in fact, most do not. Therefore it is
essential not to let romantic – and
expensive - notions override your
wedding planning decisions. Weddings
that are simple and inexpensive can be
just as romantic as the most expensive
ones. Much of the cost depends on
whether you choose a formal or casual
wedding.

Weddings involve stupendous amounts of
planning, organization and coordination.
Are you looking for something with all the
bells and whistles or a laid back,
understated style wedding?

We will begin with the formal wedding
Is your idea of the perfect wedding requirements. The concept of a formal
ceremony something rare? Why not have wedding is based on the fact that a
the ceremony against the backdrop of a wedding is actually a very solemn
natural wonder. Check out the geography occasion. It is the coming together of two
of the place you plan to have the separate individuals to become one. It is a
wedding. Find out if there are any union before God and man that is

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sanctified and blessed, vows are spoken complete with train and veil, groom in
and a commitment made for a lifetime. In black tie, bridesmaids and groomsmen all
light of the solemnity of the occasion, formally attired in tuxedos and the décor
tradition and elegance become the highly respectable.
cornerstones of the entire affair.
Other features of the formal wedding
include a full band, engraved wedding
invitations, extravagant flower
arrangements, full church service and
formal reception with sit down meal at an
exclusive hotel or club. Transportation
usually runs to a stretch limousine service.

A casual wedding celebration can be semi
formal or totally informal. In a semi formal
or smart casual setting you will generally
find that allowances are made for non
On the other hand the casual wedding has
traditional wedding elements to be
an understated elegance and can be a
incorporated into the ceremony and
beautiful affair. You don’t have to spend
celebration. Guests are quite relaxed and
enough money to break the bank; people
range from 100-250 people. The bridal
will be relaxed and will have a really
gown is not a very formal full gown, more
enjoyable time. Casual weddings will have
a wedding dress with short train and veil.
kids running around, noise and a lot of
Men wear black tie or dark suits, even
hilarity.
dinner jackets. Invitations can be
engraved or printed on regular invitation
The planning and organization of a formal paper. The bride and groom have fewer
wedding will be an expensive one. But if bridesmaids and groomsmen in
you have budget constraints, (don’t we attendance and the band is more or less
all!) you can easily find ways to trim costs, made up of 2-3 musicians or one DJ.
but still make your elegant dreams come
true.

Formal weddings hold fast to tradition
and seriousness rules the day. Etiquette
and behavior are emphasized and the
wedding planning has to be professionally
done. Formal weddings generally mean a
guest list with anywhere from 250-500
people, the bride in a white gown

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lunch or tea is served. The wedding
ceremony itself will be held in the same
place as the reception and décor will be
limited to a simple arch and flowers.
Deciding upon whether to have a formal
or casual wedding is really the couple’s
choice and one they have to be
comfortable with. But sometimes the
simplest wedding is the most romantic.
One thing is for sure, the type of wedding
you have will dictate the type of clothing
that should be worn.

Clothing to Suit the Style of Wedding

The casual wedding is quite different from
what we just read. People at this type of Once, weddings were traditional, staid
wedding really get to let their hair down affairs; these days most tend to be quite
and have fun. Guest numbers are small informal or semi-formal. There is nothing
and usually comprise close family and wrong with choosing an all traditional
friends in a more intimate setting. Casual formal wedding, but these days, wedding
weddings are characterized by styles often showcase the preferences of
approximately 50-100 guests. The bridal the couple who are getting married. Such
attire can be a simple dress, either long or a wedding is a very personal and unique
short with a token veil and no train. At the kind of wedding.
most there will be two bridesmaids and
groomsmen. The men wear dark suits and Wedding styles can be broadly classified
the groom will probably wear black tie. into formal, semi formal and casual
Invitations are handwritten and weddings. It has rightly been said that
sometimes given over the phone. clothes make the man; in the case of
weddings, the clothing chosen for the
A formal wedding is usually held in the occasion dictates the style of the wedding.
back garden with tables set around the Here is an explanation of the kind of
place for people to sit. A buffet set up clothing that suits different wedding
encourages guests to mingle and help styles.
themselves. There may or may not be a
bartender, so the self-help theme would
probably be the standard norm.

Casual weddings can be receptions where

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and time of day when the wedding is held
will wield considerable influence over the
right clothing to be worn.

A very handy guide to the kind of clothing
you need to wear to match the wedding
style is the invitation. It should inform the
guests about the expected dress code. If
the invitation is a very formal looking
engraved black script with formal
language on heavy paper, it means formal
attire is expected. On the other hand if the
language is less formal and the quality of
the paper not so very elegant, it means
smart casual wear is expected.

Next thing you need to consider is the
venue. Outdoors in summer means no
black at any cost. Forget modesty in favor
of the practical and if you are hesitant,
think about the wind factor. That will help
The bridal couple will decide on the style
you make up your mind. High heeled
of the wedding and if it is going to be a
shoes are out if you have to walk on sand
formal wedding, the bride will generally
or grass. If the wedding reception is to be
wear a formal gown with a long train and
held indoors like a hotel or club, you need
veil. The groom will be attired in black tie
to choose something dressy, well tailored
or even a tuxedo. Guests will be informed
and smart.
in the invitation as to the type of attire to
be worn. This is by way of the dress code
instructions that state either formal or
semi formal, smart casual or relaxed.

There are certain factors that the couple
should consider when planning the
wedding attire for themselves and their
guests. If, for example, you are going to
have a day wedding in the month of July
and the reception outdoors, you cannot in For a daytime wedding, ladies should
all good conscience expect your guests to wear floral print dresses or smart skirt suits
show up in formal black tie. The seasons with good shoes. There are plenty of

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stylish skirts available in stores, which will anticipation. However there is a lot of
work well for a wedding reception in the planning and organization required
daytime. Find a matching top and before that day arrives and this time can
accessories and you are set for the be one of great stress if care is not taken.
wedding. You could also wear a light Part of the stress is caused by having to
colored suit and hat to compliment the stick to a budget.
outfit. For the guys, it is best to go with a
light colored linen or seersucker suit. A wedding can be ‘break the bank’
expensive or downright simple and low
Evening weddings are different and where budget. It is really up to the couple to
daytime weddings tend to be a bit more decide. Brides, of course, dreaming of and
casual, evening weddings are at least semi longing for their special day would ideally
formal if not formal. You need to dress for like the works. In reality it is not always
the wedding as if to the theater or a wise to splurge mega bucks on a wedding
formal dinner. Black is good for evening when you have to think about the
wear, so go with a classy dress suit or honeymoon costs and the expenditure
cocktail suit. Dark colors look involved in setting up your new home.
sophisticated and beads and fancy bits are
not done if it is a formal reception. Black
tie for ladies means a floor length dress or
formal gown if you have one. Accessorize
with formal jewelry and bring that black
beaded purse out of hibernation!

Men are generally best off choosing a
black or dark suit with tie for formal
settings. Tuxedos are good provided the
wedding will be held after 6 in the
evening. It is not the done thing to be
seen wearing a tuxedo in the daytime.
Semi formal or casual weddings held in
the evenings generally means slacks, tie
and blazer or jacket.

1. Saving Money on Wedding Costs

Most brides look forward to their
wonderful wedding day with great The traditional wedding ceremony can

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cost quite a bit and if you are working off a plan to invite, you can have a nice meal
tight budget, do what other couples are served or set up a buffet table with a bar
doing, forgo tradition. Here are a few tips at one end. Guests will be more relaxed
you may want to consider to shave some and enjoy the ceremony and the
money off the wedding ceremony costs. reception a great deal.

If you are not too particular about having Quite honestly the two most expensive
a church wedding, you can have a Justice items on the wedding checklist that will
of the Peace officiate. The obvious cause your bank account grief is the
advantage here is you can marry at City wedding reception and the clothes you
Hall, in a courtroom or even in the JP’s wear. Apart from that the traditional
office. You can find a JP online, call the church ceremony and the rehearsal
county courthouse or District Magistrate’s dinner, the flowers, decorations, band and
office or just drive up there to finalize just about everything else has a large
things. A simple, yet cheap solution! The price tag on it!
cost is very nominal when compared to
high fees you will pay for a traditional, full
celebration. Expenses mount up when
you consider the church fee, minister’s
fee, decorations and choir’s cost.

Couples, who are not quite satisfied with
the simplicity of a wedding ceremony in
City Hall or the JP’s office, have another
cost effective option available to them.
You can plan to have the wedding
ceremony in your own backyard and
follow it up with the reception. You will
really save a very big chunk of your
wedding budget if you have it at home.

You can even get a minister to officiate at
your wedding ceremony to retain a bit of
the traditional church ceremony. The
garden can be decorated quite simply
with flowers and other things depending
on whether it is a day or evening wedding.
Weddings are a huge money spinner and
a very big revenue generating industry.
Depending on the number of guests you
Now, it is understood that you want to

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make the day as memorable as possible, Wedding planning can be fun if you plan
but don’t throw caution to the winds and well and a major part of the wedding
simply spend. Talk things through with planning is all about the wedding
your partner and come to firm decisions reception. While ceremony may be a
on what you want but can do without and solemn affair, the reception that follows
what you want, period. can be a really enjoyable time. But first
you have to know what kind of reception
Most couples start out by wanting the you want.
works and then reality sets in and they are
forced to take a step back to analyze costs. The kind of wedding reception you will
Here’s a good way to start out cutting cost have depends on what you have long
on your wedding ceremony. Make a dreamed your wedding day should be
comprehensive checklist of everything like. Weddings have spawned a huge
that needs to be done – you will find some industry that offers a very wide array of
good ones online. Now start pricing each choices in everything related to weddings.
item on your list till you are done and you Your most important consideration has to
have a total be the budget you need to work with.

If you have just collapsed in shock, pick
yourself up – it’s time for a reality check.
What items on your list can you omit
entirely? Now you have a new list and a
new total. From the second list identify
the things you can do either by yourselves
or with the help of family and friends.

For example, you can easily print the
invitations out yourself on your computer,
or have an artistic friend do them. Have
friends or family cook the cake and Once you know how much you
decorate it with flowers and ribbons realistically have to spend, you will have to
rather than icing. Have candles, pretty do an itemized costing to know what
pebbles or greenery and ribbons to everything will cost. Wedding reception
decorate the tables rather than more venues are many and the whims and
expensive flower decorations. fancies of most every bride to be can be
catered to. There are many traditions that
are part of a wedding reception. Here
1. Types of Wedding Receptions again, you need to decide what you want
to have happening at your wedding.

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Let us look at a few options to get an idea
of how you need to plan the reception.

Wedding receptions traditionally have a
receiving party at the entrance to receive
guests. Before that guests will begin to
arrive at the reception hall while the bridal
party is doing the photo shoot. There has
to be a receiving line to greet guests and
make sure you have some sort of
entertainment planned to keep your
guests happy.

When you arrive at the reception venue
there’s the traditional cake cutting, first
dance, toasts, dinner and dancing to be
enjoyed. Try to space things out and give
your guests a chance to have a drink and
some food. They will feel a lot happier if
you do! Starting with a morning wedding, you
have to decide whether to have a
There are many exciting wedding breakfast reception or a brunch. Are you
traditions that you can borrow from other planning on a sunrise wedding with only
countries to add excitement to your family and dear friends present? People
reception. You don’t have to follow who show up are going to want breakfast.
standard tradition all the way; get creative Traditional menus generally include
and either borrow or invent your own standard fare like eggs Benedict, omelets,
wedding traditions. French toast and quiche. Luxury menus
for a brunch include smoked salmon,
caviar, carving stations for ham, beef and
turkey. Lots of coffee and of course wine
and champagne to liven the atmosphere.

On the positive side a brunch reception is
a whole lot cheaper than a full sit down
dinner. An early wedding lets you get off
to a good start on your honeymoon.
People don’t generally drink you out of
house and home so early in the morning.

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On the downside, you need to consider can be anything you want them to be. But
how early people have to leave their the type of wedding reception you decide
homes to get to the wedding. The bridal on may to a great extent dictate the actual
party will not have much time to get ready venue chosen. If you decide on a morning
so early in the morning and the bride - wedding you will not need to host it in a
unless a super fast dresser - is going to grand ballroom, for instance.
face problems.

Most morning weddings generally start at
around 10.30 or 11 am. This gives
everyone more time to get ready and the
guests can make it to the ceremony in
good time. A lunch reception is a good
idea and you can have some of the dinner
favorites served to your guests. Lunches
help free up the evening for you to either
leave on your honeymoon or rest up and
get an early start the next day.
There is no limit to the grand scale on
which you can host your wedding
A wedding reception is what you make it
reception, but remember that weddings
out to be. Arrange dancing, lively music
are a very expensive proposition without
and a free flowing wet bar with a cheerful
the addition of expensive fantasies. Let us
bartender to make your guests happy.
take a look at a selection of wedding
People are relaxed and can enjoy the
reception venues that cover a broad
festivities, but you need to pick a date
spectrum of offerings.
when people can attend a daytime
wedding.
First of all if you have a limited budget you
don’t want to waste anything on a
Another idea for a less expensive wedding
professional wedding planner. This means
reception is to have it at afternoon tea
you have to get as creative as you can to
time. Then there is the cocktail reception
find the wedding venue you want within
or a casual dinner reception. But don’t
the budget you have. Here are a few tips
forget you have to choose the venue for
to save money when planning your
the reception.
wedding reception and they don’t include
skimping on the quality.
1. Venues for Wedding Receptions
Hotels are a popular choice because of the
advantages they come with. The bridal
We know now that wedding receptions party and guests can stay overnight, food

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is served in-house and so is the alcohol, Public parks and botanical gardens do
which means you don’t need to bother allow wedding receptions to take place for
getting the license and bringing your own a nominal fee, provided of course that you
booze. You can get good discounts and do a great clean up job afterwards. You
may even get the bridal suite free for an may need to enquire about their rules
overnight stay if you book a hall for the concerning the serving of alcohol in a
reception with the hotel. public place.

Beaches, piers, harbors, riverbanks and
lakes have become very popular for
wedding receptions. The natural beauty of
these spots makes them a highly
attractive choice for the beautiful
backdrops they provide. Harbor side
weddings with boats in the background
look lovely. Of course you have to
consider where exactly you will serve the
food and drinks in such a public place.

In a hotel you are not confined to a Museums and art galleries offer their
ballroom or reception hall; hotels have places for a fee and they certainly make
lawns and gazebos that make great very elegant wedding reception settings.
wedding backdrops. Hotels also have the If you have the budget you can opt for a
staff necessary to set up the tables and cruise reception. You will have to marry in
provide excellent table décor. Many of the port according to the law and then sail off
other items like the cake stand, buffet set to hold the reception at sea. Tropical
up, bar area, band area and dance floor islands and other destination weddings
can be provided by the hotel. Many hotels are great fun but not everyone can afford
will offer you their own wedding packages to attend and the overall cost can be quite
that can be customized to meet your high.
needs. These packages will include limo
service, champagne breakfast for the
newly married couple and more.

If the hotel idea is all too common, you
can always choose a different setting that
will allow you to arrange the food and
drinks. How about a fort, a historical inn or
some other historical structure you can
rent.

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Saturday weddings better.

When choosing a venue you need to
consider how easy it is to get to, whether
there is enough parking and if the entry is
safe. For instance entry to a venue with
steep steps up or down may be difficult
for older people.

1. Food for Your Wedding Reception

When planning a wedding it can be easy
to concentrate on all the glitz and glamor
at the expense of the food. Don’t forget
that from the guests’ point of view, the
food is of prime importance. Forget
tradition with your wedding reception
food and serve what you think people will
There are many places to choose from to like best – and of course, you do need to
have a wedding reception that is elegant, please yourself and your groom.
fun filled and sensational. Make sure to
keep the following tips in mind when Here are some hints about what food to
choosing. choose for your wedding reception. It is
helpful to know the kinds of foods you can
First you have to get your guest list serve for formal, semi formal and casual
squared away. Only then will you know wedding receptions. It is also useful to
the size of the venue you are going to have ideas on what to serve for wedding
need. When you do be an early bird and reception breakfasts, lunches and
get your booking in as fast as possible. dinners.
Popular sites may need a year’s notice and
you will have to pay a sizeable deposit so
don’t go changing your mind about the
venue.

Choosing a Friday or Sunday wedding is
more cost effective and you are sure to
find the venue of your choice available. In
case you are wondering, most people like

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You can also treat your guests to a
splendid buffet dinner beginning with
cocktails and moving on to the dinner
itself. You can have dancing afterward,
followed by the cake cutting ceremony,
tossing the bouquet and any other
traditions you wish to include. An
excellent way to draw out the entire
evening; you can fill it to overflowing with
celebration and good cheer.

Have you heard of the fork buffet? It falls
somewhere between the formal dinner
service and finger buffet. On offer will be a
spread of hot (chicken wings, cutlets, rolls,
etc.) and cold food items (prawns, lobster
meat, crab meat salad, chicken salad, etc.)
laid out buffet style for your guests to help
themselves. Then the guests sit at formal
tables to eat dinner. You still get to have
the formal table settings and seating plan
A wedding is supposed to be a time of combined with a more relaxed eating
great enjoyment and celebration. Find style.
yourself a qualified and reputed wedding
caterer to suggest menu ideas. Make sure
How about having the caterer set up a
you sample their offerings to find out how
variety of food stalls as some of the big
good they really are. You can also check
hotels do? It is very exciting for the guests
references to see whether the catering
to move around informally checking out
company is all it claims to be.
what’s on offer at each food station. This
will help solve the problem of what to
Formal, sit down dinners in the best feed your guests who will have individual
wedding tradition are one of the biggest preferences for sure. Asian and Far Eastern
expense items on your wedding list. You foods generally go down well and you can
need furniture, table settings, table add a pasta station to the mix for added
centerpieces and decoration, a minimum variety.
of 3 courses comprising soup, entrée and
main course, coffee and wedding cake not
to mention drinks including dinner wines.
Then you have the wait staff to add to
your bill. Quite an expense!

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save on food could very well be spent on
drinks!

Wedding reception food runs the gamut
from picnics to barbeques, breakfast,
brunch and afternoon tea. If you have a
themed wedding the kind of meal you
serve will need to be blended into the mix.
Make sure to cater to children and elderly
people and request guests to inform you
in advance about any special diets or
allergies.

Once you have chosen the best kind of
food and a variety so that all tastes can be
catered for, you can be sure that your
wedding reception will be a success. But
don’t forget to choose music to suit all
Finger buffets are a very relaxed, informal
reception style where all types of finger tastes too.
foods are served. Guests simply tuck in
and there are no formal tables and
1. Best Music for the Wedding
confusion over which fork to use.
Canapés, pastries, rolls, dips, small Reception
sandwiches, open face sandwiches,
cheeses and more can be set out for Not everyone thinks a great deal about
guests to indulge themselves. This type of the music to be played at their wedding.
reception cannot be dragged out over an They may simply leave the choice up to
entire evening simply because your the wedding DJ and believe that
guests cannot stand for so long. It may be something romantic will surely be played.
a better idea to provide tables with less But there is more to it than this. Firstly,
formal settings for people to sit and eat in you want to ensure that the music will be
comfort. played softly while people are eating so
that they can talk together more easily.
This type of food style is also referred to as Then during the dancing it can be played
a cocktail reception. If you don’t plan on more loudly.
having a very long reception, cut out the
tables and let people move around freely. Music is what makes the party rock and
Bear in mind that people really load up on without it things can fall rather flat. In fact,
drinks at this type of reception. What you good music often helps gloss over the

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little hiccups that happen to even the The best way to do things is to play a
most carefully planned receptions. Have selection of songs from various periods to
you ever noticed how things and people cover every age group in the room. Let us
tend to be a little stiff at the start of the assume your older guests come to the
party and then begin to warm up as the floor for a lively number from the 60s, a
band strikes up? Music is a fantastic ice period they can relate to. They are going
breaker and good music will soon have to have so much fun few of them will want
your reception guests’ boogying the night to leave when Shakira comes on. Mixing
away. up the music will have feet tapping and
people twirling around the floor.

The music you choose for your reception
party should be the life of the party. It
should get the guests to relax and let their
hair down, step out onto the floor to
dance and generally remove any initial
stiffness people usually feel.

How well do you know the people you are
inviting to your wedding reception? You
should know your immediate family and
close friends well enough to play their
favorite music. There is no harm in getting
people to give suggestions on the kind of
music to be played. You have the whole
evening and will probably be able to
cover most suggestions.

Here is some insight about the kind of
music used for the wedding reception.
The following tips are useful in helping
you select a variety of fast and slow
numbers to make sure everyone in the
crowd regardless of age has a rocking
good time.

You have a room full of people, each one a
unique individual with distinct tastes and
preferences. Whom do you please when
selecting the music for your reception?

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elderly people too near the band and
dance floor area. Start off the music with
hits from the 40s then progress to the 50s
and 60s early in the evening, then start
mixing them up with current hits. Lots of
old time favorites have fantastic beats that
will make anyone young or old want to
dance. The reason for this suggestion is
that older people generally put in an
appearance first and also leave earlier
than the young crowd. There’ll be time
enough to play all the current hits as the
evening progresses.

One way to get the crowd going is to start
the music early. Don’t let your guests sit
around getting bored while you follow the
tradition of starting the music after the
Are you planning on having a live band to cutting of the cake. In fact it may be best
provide the music for your reception? A to have dance sessions interspersed with
great way to get the guests involved in toasts, dinner, cake cutting and all the
the spirit of having fun and making the other festivities you have planned.
reception a resounding success is to have
the guests hand in song requests. You But when planning the music for your
could place a small song request pad on wedding you may suddenly wonder who
every table with a mini pen or pencil. Let to put in charge of it. Should you have a
the guest write out the request, tear it off wedding DJ or a live band?
the pad and hand it over to the wait staff
to deliver to the band.
10. Wedding DJ vs. Live Band

If you use this suggestion you are going to
Traditionally, it was simply a friend who
see your guests really bopping around
organized the wedding music, but these
and having fun – that’s what music does
days things are a little more sophisticated.
to people. It was Shakespeare who said, “if
Remember, that friend may not be too
music be the food of love, play on,…”
reliable if he has taken too much to drink.
What better place to put that line to
But a wedding DJ or a live band will be
practice than at a wedding reception!
doing it for pay and their reputations are
on the line so they will give their best
One thing that you need to consider when service.
making out your seating plan, don’t put

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But how can you decide whether to dancing the night away on your agenda, it
choose a live band or wedding DJ for your will require a lot of music being played.
reception party? Before we begin talking Will the band be able to last all night long
about music, bands and DJs, remember is the question?
it’s your day; do what pleases you and
forget about traditions and what other What sort of wedding venue have you
people think. decided upon? Will there be sufficient
space for a full band complement? Are
there restrictions on the kinds of music to
be played? These are some of the
questions you will need to consider before
deciding on whether to go with a live
band or DJ.

Formal weddings with all the trappings of
age old traditions and live bands make a
perfect match. On the other hand, a DJ
may be better suited to a semi formal or
casual wedding style. If your choice of
music is going to be traditional and
dignified, then by all means a live band
will better suit the occasion. DJs are cool
To start out let’s be clear that both live for casual wedding style receptions.
bands and DJs have their positive and
negative aspects. Rather than
stereotyping, why not check it out for
yourself? If you have a large enough
budget, the ideal thing to do would be to
get both, a live band and a DJ. This could
really keep the party going all night.
However, wedding budgets with the
gazillion things that needing paying for,
seldom stretch that far.

The general consensus is that live bands
are more expensive than a DJ and prices
vary according to the reputation, demand
and quality of the band or DJ. If you are
planning a really long evening with

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You need to listen to them play, better yet wedding reception music and they
attend an event where the band is playing generally have a wider collection of music
and also attend an event featuring the DJ. to offer. However, elegant, traditional,
This will help you to make a more black tie receptions and DJs do not go
informed decision. together very well.

With a live band you have the option to Whichever you decide on, be sure to book
use the band leader as master of well in advance so that you do not miss
ceremonies. Band leaders generally (but out. It will add to your frustrations to
not always) have the right kind of decide on one option after a lot of
personality for this job. thought, only to find there are none left
available on your date.
You need to inquire about the music
repertoire of the live band as well as the 11. Unusual Wedding Reception Ideas
DJ’s collection of music. With the varied
crowd one expects at wedding receptions, Every bride and groom wants their
a plentiful mix of music spanning the wedding to be a day to remember. In fact
decades is important to get the crowd weddings are truly a monumental
going. Will the band be able to experience and need to be celebrated in a
accommodate song requests from your way that makes the memory linger on.
guests? For example, if you have guests Apart from the seriousness of the
who want songs from the 60s and guests wedding ceremony, weddings are
who want songs that are current favorites, symbolic of a new beginning. And so
can they do both? many couples like to choose something a
little out of the ordinary for their
Live bands are to put it simply, live! Well reception.
experienced musicians can really make
the party come alive with their music. Live Here are some new ideas that you can use
bands can incorporate the wedding as a springboard to creating your own out
theme beautifully and are fully capable of of this world wedding reception
switching tempos should the party spirit experience.
start flagging.

The downside to a live band is the price
and also finding a band that can play the
wide eclectic mix of music you are
planning for your guests.

DJs are the cheaper option for your

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to sign the check. It can be as intimate or
as huge a splash as you want it to be. If
you are tight on finances, you can always
choose to hire a boat big enough to hold
everyone and sail off into the wild blue
yonder with your guests. You can actually
have the wedding reception on the boat
while it sails, but don’t forget to remind
your guests to carry their seasick pills.

In order to find a wedding reception idea
that is really out there, you need to know
that the standard fare is typically a sit
down meal with the cutting of the cake,
dancing, music, speeches and general
celebration.

The couple wants their guests to be happy
and talk about the fantastic time they had
for simply years to come. The parents of
the happy couple want to be able to look Are there any castles, forts or other
back and regret nothing including the big historic buildings in your area that you can
dent in their bank balances. The bride and rent for the reception? It will really blow
groom want to be able to remember this your guests away! The reception can be
day for the rest of their lives. catered, the castle and surrounding lawns
will make a fabulous wedding backdrop
A wedding cruise is a really great idea and and you can really turn up the volume on
a very grand one at that. Don’t venture the music system. If you do manage to get
into it if you don’t have daddy Warbucks a castle or fort you can always get the

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groom to ride up on a white horse to heart shape around the bride and groom
sweep you off your feet! who dance their first dance inside it.

Themed wedding receptions are really To add some sparkle to the festivities,
popular and you can choose any theme have helpers hand out sparklers and little
you want from a Las Vegas casino to matchbooks to the guests; let them form a
something truly outrageous. There are huge circle with the couple in the middle.
many themes to choose from like seasonal When the band begins to play the music
themes, vintage, romantic, beach, tropical for the couple’s first dance, people light
island, cultural, western, outdoor, in a cave their sparklers and someone turns off the
or the top of a mountain. There have even lights. An absolutely incredible sight! But
been weddings in hot air balloons. don’t forget to watch that budget.

When the guest list is made up of a small 12. How to Save Money on the Wedding
intimate group, a romantic wedding Reception
reception is an excellent choice. Picture it
– candlelight, champagne, soft lighting, Let’s face it; weddings are usually a
flowers, music that speaks to the heart, monumental expense. And in the west it is
elegant décor and there you have it – the traditionally the bride’s father who pays
makings of a fairytale wedding. for most of it. However, it does not hurt to
dispense with tradition if necessary and
If the church where the wedding these days often the bride and groom
ceremony will be held and the wedding contribute significantly to the expense of
reception venue are far apart, lay on some their wedding. Other family members may
entertainment so that your guests don’t also offer to pay for certain things.
get impatient waiting for you to arrive.
Whatever you do avoid playing loud
music that only serves to deafen your
guests. When expecting a lot of kids, you
can always get a magician to do a class act
that keeps kids and adults spellbound.
The guests need to be entertained and
relaxed not tense and fretting.

Borrowing from the wedding reception
traditions of other countries is a great way Traditionally the bride’s father pays for the
to add fun and laughter to your own wedding ceremony, reception, flowers,
wedding. A Mexican wedding reception photographer, florist, bridal attire and
tradition is to have all the guests form a more. The groom’s family will pay for the

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celebrant, the bride’s bouquet, rehearsal
dinner and flowers for the groom’s family.
An uneven sharing out of the burden if
ever there was one!

However, weddings have evolved to be a
far cry from the financial negotiations they
once were between families. Couples now
marry for love not the age old custom of
dowry. Here are some useful tips on how
to save money on wedding reception
costs to help all to be brides and grooms
avoid bankruptcy!

You have to know that the most
expensive area of your wedding reception
is the guest list. Not the actual list itself of Ideally the guest list should feature your
course but what it means in terms of food immediate families, relatives you actually
and drink, seating capacity of the venue, have a relationship with and your closest
transportation, valet parking, serving staff, friends. These people are important to you
bartenders and more. To cut costs it is and your parents. It is always a good idea
vital to trim the guest list to the people to leave out people you know will not be
you really want at your wedding. If you insulted by the absence of an invitation.
both come from extended families and
find it very hard to decide who to leave off Bridal parties should not be too large
the guest list, you may want to consider because when they do they become
having the reception in a location that is expensive. Everyone in the bridal party
slightly remote. Distant relatives whom has to get a decent gift and that can really
you have never met in your life and all cost. Don’t forget that everyone in the
those friends of friends may not want to bridal party with their spouses or dates
make the trip. get invited to the rehearsal dinner. Think
about it, if you have 6 or 7 bridesmaids,
equal number of groomsmen, their dates,
flower girls and ring bearer all their
families, the celebrant and whomever he
decides to bring along, two sets of parents
and the couple – wow! That is going to be
some bill!

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If you pare down the bridal party
numbers, you could do a very nice home
catered or cooked meal. It will not cost
you half as much as a formal restaurant
would.

If you are not all that keen on a church
wedding, you can always get a relative or
family friend to officiate or a Justice of the
Peace. Then you can have the wedding
ceremony and reception in the hotel and
speak to the manager in charge for
discounts.

Hiring very popular music bands will cost
a fortune, you could choose to have a DJ
and play recorded music. Maybe you can
get a young group, just starting out to
play the music so that they don’t charge
too much.
November to April is a kind of off season
If you choose a Saturday, your wedding period for weddings and you can really
bash is going to be an expensive one save a lot if you have yours during this
because that day is mighty popular. Why time.
not a Friday – it’s the start of the weekend
and people will be more inclined to show
There are many other ways of cutting
up. Alternatively, opt for an evening
costs while still having a great wedding.
weekday wedding and people will still
Remember that it is not necessary to make
come.
a big, expensive show of your wedding. In
fact, in the olden days all the guest
brought a plate of food for the reception.

13. History of Wedding Traditions and
Symbolism

We have no record of the very first
wedding, but all countries have different
traditions and symbolic additions to their
wedding rituals. However what they do

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have in common is that they all celebrate
their weddings in some way or another.

Weddings today are a far cry from what
was once the fashion! It is quite
interesting to read about wedding
traditions and where they originated from.
In early times the woman was kidnapped
by the prospective groom and some of his
friends. Today we have the groom and his
best men, but thankfully they don’t do any
kidnapping! After kidnapping the woman,
the couple disappeared for a long time,
quite possibly, to avoid the repercussions
of such an act. Soon this disappearance
came to be known as the honeymoon
period.

While it is hard to delve really deep in
wedding history that goes far back in
time, what is known is that as society
An old favorite tradition is something old,
evolved, people and their thinking began
something new, something borrowed,
to change. Tribes began to trade and also
something blue. The meaning of this
to live in harmony. In fact, little is known
Victorian rhyme has some significance to
about weddings and their history except
it that has been preserved through time as
that it is believed that the Egyptians first
a wedding tradition. The old refers to the
recognized the idea of marriage. The
bride’s ties to family and her old life. The
engagement or betrothal was also
new of course is symbolic of the couple’s
invented by the Egyptians as a way for the
new life as one, their hopes and dreams of
couple to get to know each other.
a life of happiness and prosperity. When
the bride to be borrows something from a
happily married woman the symbolic
meaning is that similar happiness will
come to the bride. The blue refers to
fidelity in the marriage and faithfulness to
the vows the couple makes.

Rice is considered to be a life giving seed,
throwing it on the couple symbolizes the

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bestowing of fertility and the resultant
children. There are many churches who
have politely but firmly refused to allow
the throwing of rice. People now throw
flower petals or confetti to uphold the
ancient tradition.

The white bridal gown dates back to
Victorian times when Queen Victoria
decided to throw tradition to the wind
and wear a white gown. Prior to that there
really was no wedding gown per se; brides
simply wore their best gown. The color
white is attributed to purity and virginity,
so many women the world over still wear
white bridal gowns, though the gowns
themselves have grown more daring with
each passing generation!

The kiss that traditionally ends the
wedding ceremony is believed to
symbolize the ancient Roman sentiment A less romantic notion is that in the 17th
that a kiss sealed the couple’s union and century, the groom would slide the ring
agreement to a lifelong commitment. It is up the thumb, index and middle finger of
representative of the couple joining their the bride while the priest intoned a prayer
souls. that began with ‘in the name of the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit’. Three for
three and if you follow the design of the
There are two possible meanings to the
hand, logically the third finger comes after
tradition of placing the wedding ring on
the middle finger, so the ring finally came
the third finger or ring finger of the left
to rest on it.
hand. According to the Egyptians who
seem well up in all marital matters, the
vein of love runs directly from this finger Let us close with something humorous. In
to the heart, ergo it is placed there to the old days women walked down the
embody eternal, undying love. aisle carrying bouquets of herbs and garlic
not for their beauty surely, but to ward of
the evil spirits. Time changed this tradition
and today women carry a beautiful
bouquet of flowers.

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In most countries traditional wedding are
still popular, but alongside the traditional
ceremony, many modern ones are
constantly evolving. And very often they
incorporate overseas wedding traditions.

We have more about this subject at our
website at http://stepstogetmarried.info/
.

14. Overseas Wedding Traditions

Little girls seem to fantasize about being a
bride much more than little boys think
about being a groom. Girls seem to have
that romantic streak that is stirred up by Many people like to incorporate overseas
thoughts of love, a long white dress, marriage traditions into their weddings to
flowers and other features of a wedding. spice up the entire event. With
globalization spreading its wings on a
truly massive scale, why not import some
There is no denying that a wedding is one of the foreign wedding traditions as well,
of life’s most momentous occasions. There with everything else we import. We also
is a special solemnity to it that no other live in an age where online dating allows
event quite matches. There is also a great relationships to span the globe. This of
deal of fun, laughter, happiness and tears course has resulted in a larger number of
all blended into a strange mix. inter-racial marriages than ever before.

As society has evolved there have been Let us look at a few examples that
numerous changes in the way we did showcase the incorporation of overseas
things in the past and how we do them wedding traditions into a western
today. Weddings have undergone a lot of wedding ceremony. In other words, just
changes, progressing to what they have how well do these traditions and customs
become today. Though we still hold on to merge together? Here are some classic
many of the wedding traditions of examples that really highlight the wide
yesteryear - no wedding would be range of differences in marriage traditions
complete without them - couples have that exist.
become more adventurous in their
wedding planning.
A marriage between a Christian bride from
the west and a non Christian groom from

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Asia means what exactly? Simply put the couple can decide what foreign wedding
church wedding is out because the groom traditions they want to incorporate into
will have to convert first before being the wedding.
allowed to marry in a church.
How about a Belgium wedding to really
Then you have customs that dictate which add to the ceremony? Here are some
family pays for the wedding. The Chinese noteworthy Belgian wedding features you
custom says the groom pays for the can incorporate into your wedding. The
wedding while in the western world the bride walks up the aisle to give her mother
bride’s family pays. The Chinese wear red a single flower and a huge embrace. When
as a ceremonial wedding color, of course the wedding ceremony is over, the bride
in the west people wear white. presents her new mother in law with a
single flower followed by the embrace.
This is a very symbolic gesture to show the
bride’s acceptance of her new mother.

Another very traditional wedding tradition
is that the bride carries a special
handkerchief, embroidered with her name
on it. After the wedding the handkerchief
is framed and hung in a place of honor till
the time when it is passed on to the next
female family member on the bride’s side
who is getting married.

Why not try the French croquembouche
or French wedding cake that has survived
since the 1600s! A pyramid of creampuffs
that have to be covered with hard-crack
sugar followed by spun caramelized
sugar. Quite a deviation from the
traditional wedding cake one might say.

These examples barely scratch the surface
of what lies in store for couples from
different racial backgrounds who plan to
wed. You can choose to either turn it into
a three ring circus with everyone
squabbling with everyone, or the bridal

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Destination weddings have become
increasingly popular as more couples
choose to head off to some romantic
destination to get married. Many people
feel that the most romantic spot in the
whole world would have to be a tropical
island paradise.

There are some advantages to be had in
choosing a destination wedding. One of
them being that it helps you combine the
wedding ceremony and honeymoon in
one package. For another, only close
family and friends will attend, making the
whole event very intimate and of course
less expensive.

In this article we want to explore the pros
Maybe you would like a touch of Scotland and cons of tropical island weddings. Now
with its strange blend of ancient Highland tropical paradises abound from the
traditions and modernistic rights. Have a Caribbean to Mauritius and so many
wedding reception filled with music, others, just as lovely or even lovelier
singing, toasting and much drinking – a places. It all boils down to a matter of
celebration to end all celebrations that personal choice.
continues on till the early morning hours.
Too much to handle! Try having the It should be understood that as with most
groom carry you over the threshold of things in this world, there are advantages
your new home. This is a 700 year old and disadvantages to be considered when
custom and a very symbolic one at that. planning a wedding in a tropical setting.

It might be fun to do some more research Let us go with the positive side to having
into the different wedding features of a tropical island wedding first.
other countries and incorporate some of
them into your own wedding. Many
couples might even dream of an island
wedding.

15. Pros and Cons of Tropical Island
Weddings

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"Now and Forever Wedding" Planning Ideas

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