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Archive for the ‘Weddings By Theme’ Category

Imagine leaving the chapel with your new spouse and walking under an arch of sabers.  There is no more dramatic and tear-inducing way to start a marriage!  Military weddings do much more than offer pomp and circumstance and pageantry; they honor patriotism, sacrifice, and service.  Men and women in the service vow to protect and serve their country; it is a very powerful and moving experience when they vow to love and honor their spouses as well.  A military wedding is memorable for everyone on the guest list, so start planning now!

As you might expect, military weddings carry with them a great amount of tradition, ritual, rules, and regulations.  But in many respects, planning a military ceremony is just like planning a “regular” one: you need to start early.  Just as desired venues get scooped up fast, especially during peak seasons, military chapels and halls are also booked well in advance.  It is advisable to book your chapel and reception venue a year in advance by applying to the chaplain’s office.  Check to make sure you are eligible for a military wedding as some rules apply.

If the service is performed at a military chapel or on academy grounds, the chaplain charges no fee, but do plan on making a donation to the chapel.  Some chapels allow another clergy person to co-officiate, so do ask if you would like to pursue that option – and you will have to pay that officiant’s fee.  Your chaplain may require pre-wedding counseling as well.

Speak with your chaplain about proper seating as there are some guidelines to consider.  Also ask about flowers and chapel decorations because rules vary.  The Chapel Altar Guild does arrange the flowers, candelabra, and other décor, and this is the same for every wedding.  You may have to provide your own reception decoration or even plan it yourself.  Part of the appeal of military weddings is the sense of tradition, and this extends to every detail, down to the decorations. And don't forget to look into matching wedding accessories as well.

Military weddings are gorgeous, and a large part of that are the uniforms.  Officers or enlisted personnel in the bridal party wear their uniforms (which may differ depending on the seasonal regulations or formality of the wedding).  A black-tie affair, for instance, would require dinner or mess dress uniforms, while a white-tie and tails event would require evening dress uniforms.  Non-commissioned officers wear dress blues or Army greens, and none of the uniformed service people wear a boutonniere.  Guests who serve in the military can choose to wear their uniforms or civilian clothing.

What if the bride is an officer?  Does she have to wear her uniform?  She may, but she may also wear a bridal gown, if she chooses.  Even the military knows not to mess with the dress.

There are also rules for the receiving line and reception.  For example, if the groom is uniformed, he must be before the bride in the receiving line.  Again, your chaplain is a great resource and can help you follow the regs – and have a great wedding!

The arch of the sabers (or swords, for the Navy) is optional, but it is often a highlight of the ceremony. Surprise; there are rules for this too!  In the Army, for instance, the couple exits the church under the arch.  In the Navy and Marines, the ushers usually form the saber detail, while in the Air Force, they cannot.  Regardless of the branch of the military, it is a stunning tradition.

From seating and decorations to dress and cutting the cake, there are rituals and traditions in every detail of the ceremony and reception. The rules and regulations may seem overwhelming at first, but chaplains (and handy websites!) are there to guide you through your military wedding preparations.

Related Articles:

• Remembering the Men and Women Who Serve
• Creative Groomsmen Gift Ideas
• Inspiration: Nautical & Sailor Style Wedding

First, you fell in love. Then you got engaged and all thoughts turned to planning your wedding. What better way to celebrate your love than with a wedding based around a Love theme?

Perhaps love for you means hearts. Maybe it means flowers. Or you might be more literal and would like the world “love” on your favors and in your décor. Any way you choose to portray it, love is a romantic theme to surround yourselves in on the big day.

• Start your Love theme rolling with your Save the Date cards and invitations. Choose very ornate scrollwork that spells out LOVE or choose a simple heart to represent love.
• Set the tone with love songs. Have the DJ or band play all love songs that your guests will immediately recognize. Include sappy songs from yesteryear as well as your favorite modern songs.
• Choose colors like red and white or red and silver. They’ll immediately register as colors of love (think Valentine’s Day). Carry the red throughout the day with hearts, red and white roses, red heart shaped candies, etc.
• Your gown can have little heart accents embroidered into it. Or you can wear a red velvet sash or a glittering garnet heart. Add a little splash of red and you’ve instantly drawn in everyone’s attention.
• Give out love theme wedding favors. Heart-shaped soaps or candles are charming. But you can also choose from an array of favors that actually spell out LOVE. Coasters, key rings, bookmarks, mint tins, letter openers, cookies, cupcakes, luggage tags, coffee scoops, wine glasses, and more can all be ordered with the letters L-O-V-E imprinted on them.
• Have satin ribbon imprinted with the word love. Use it to tie your bouquets, favors, around your cake and in other places. It will be a nice touch that everyone will remember.
• Your cake will, of course, be a tower of love. You can go ultra suave or super funky with the cake. You might want to subtly have the word love iced all over the cake or you might want a completely red cake with hearts all over it. Make a statement about your love with this focal point of the reception.
• Order soap favors or chocolates in the individual letters L-O-V-E. Scatter them throughout the reception, in the restrooms, and on the sign-in table, and let people find them. When you scatter them, guests will try to figure out what the individual letters spell.

• Have a “Love Tree” instead of a guest book. Have a potted topiary in the shape of a heart or the word love at the sign-in table. Instead of just signing their names have guests write a word or two about love on a slip of paper and attach it to the tree. You can use heart charms or heart-shaped tacks to hang the cards. It will be a nice way to relive the day when you return from your honeymoon.

• Show your love for your parents, family and friends with a tribute to them. Have a little speech ready for you or your fiancé to give before your first dance at the reception. This will truly bring your whole love theme together and ensure that there’s not a dry eye in the place.

Related Articles:

1. Monogram Wedding Theme
2. Vintage Theme Wedding Ideas
3. Planning a Love Bird Themed Wedding

So you want to have a destination wedding—Aruba, Jamaica, Hawaii—and can’t invite everyone from back home? What should you do if you still want to have a reception when you return so that you can celebrate with everyone? This can be a touchy subject with some, so consider how you present your reception and the timing of it.

First off, some guests may feel snubbed if they are not invited to the actual wedding. They feel they should at least have been offered the invite even if they can’t hop a flight to Jamaica. They may also feel that you only invited the “good” people and that they are second string. To avoid hurt feelings you should consider the wording on your invitation. If you are going to send out invitations to your post-destination reception before your off-site wedding, you will not want to include the exact date and time of your reception back home. For instance, you should say something like, “Joe and Rita are going to be married June 8^th in Hawaii. A reception will be held in Milwaukee on Friday, July 7 at 9:00.” Notice, you are giving the guest just enough information to say the wedding will take place off-site but not so much that they feel you are flaunting it in their face that they are not invited. The wording above makes it seem like everyone has been invited to the wedding reception back home and hence, the guest is not missing out on anything.

While there are various schools of thought on exactly when you should host that post-destination party, it’s usually a good idea to schedule it for within a month of your actual wedding. However, if you live in an area of the country where it is going to be extremely cold or the weather is prohibitive and may ruin your party, then by all means, stretch the date to a time when it’s nicer where you live. But most people will find it odd if you don’t have your reception within at least a few months from your wedding date.

Make sure you enlist the help of a family member or friend back home to mail your wedding stationery & invitations while you are at your destination on your honeymoon. The invitations should arrive in your guests’ mailboxes while you are away so that the announcement that you were just married remains fresh. So have Aunt Barb take your invitations to the post office while you’re gone and you can rest easy on your honeymoon knowing you’ve taken care of everything.

Prepare your invitations well in advance with the correct wording and you’ll have one less thing to think about. You might choose to do an informal set of invitations if the reception is going to be an outdoor barbecue. Or, you send something formal if you’re going ahead with a very upscale reception. Just have your date set in advance for the reception. The worst thing you can do is run off and get married in a tropical destination thinking you’ll plan the reception when you return. You’ll have so much to do when you get back that the plans may fall behind and you’ll end up not scheduling your reception (or not being able to get a venue) for six or seven months after the wedding. This will make guests feel left out. By the time half a year rolls around, the excitement of the initial celebration will have faded in the minds of your guests and they may feel forgotten.

So a good rule of thumb to stick with is to invite everyone in writing before you leave for your wedding. Have everything booked and ready to roll for within a month of your actual wedding date. Of course you can take care of wedding favors and other little details when you return, but don’t hold off on booking a band or hiring a caterer until you return. Have your reservations etched in stone at the restaurant or hall so that there are no unpleasant surprises when you return home to pick up your reception planning again.

Helpful Article: How to Announce that You Have Eloped

For the couple who loves to golf, there are so many ways to create an interesting and fun wedding around the sport. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

• If you can, get out on the greens. Having the actual ceremony out on the golf course would be a delightful surprise. You can use a golf cart to convey any guests who are unable to walk.
• If a country club is on the premises, by all means, use it! You’ll probably have to book well in advance, so check out dates early. You’ll have very little decorating to do since the surroundings will be so beautiful.
• Decorate a golf cart with flowers and streamers to drive off in after the ceremony. Even if you’re only going a few yards back to the country club it will be a fun exit.
• Choose a color scheme. White and green are an excellent choice, but you can choose any colors that suit your fancy. Stick to two to keep the theme coherent. You might even do silver and black to mimic the colors of a golf club.
• Have props on hand. Bring in golf bags and clubs and stand them in groups in the corners. It will add to the ambiance.
• Have fun with the centerpieces. You can purchase decorative grass through a florist or use artificial grass. Make sure the blades are strong enough and stand up straight. Place a circle of grass in a decorative bowl and stick a golf ball and tee in the center. Or, you could have golf ball-shaped candles lit and placed in low bowls of water or on grass.
• Go mini. Once inside the reception, you might want to have a little fun with the golf theme. Have mini golf-type décor as centerpieces (think one fun hole at each table such as an elephant with his mouth open) or in corners of the room. Include putters too. Guests will get into the spirit of the not so serious version of the sport.
• Give each guest a mini golf desk set for them to take home as a golf wedding favor. You’ll be surprised to see many people open it early and play at their tables. It’ll be a fun little treat.
• Other fun wedding favors include chocolate golf balls or chocolates shaped as golf shoes. You could even do golf club candies. Candles shaped like golf balls are also a good idea. You can now find and elaborate array of tees and golf balls personalized with the bride and grooms names and date.
• The cake can be an elaborate golf course scene. Have a green cake and have the top tier represent the bride and groom golfing. You can have the entire thing done in sugar by a talented baker. Add a whimsical touch by having the groom dressed in a tuxedo with plaid golf pants or the bride in a veil and golf shirt and skirt.
• Carry the theme through in everything you do. Offer those little pencils they have at the golf course and a place card that looks like a score card at each place. Have fun with it. The more touches you add, the more fun the guests will have and the more they’ll remember about your unique day.

Related Articles:

• Golf Gift Ideas
• Great Golf Gifts for Father's Day
• Golf Themed Wedding Cake Ideas
• Bachelor Golfing

Oh #tuesdayshoesday, we love you. And that's why this week, we are helping brides research some fun, Spring wedding shoes. Why not? Spring is coming up and sometimes the toughest part is finding the perfect shoes once you've found the perfect dress. So, this post is going to highlight all kinds of fun, Springy shoes!

Meet the Shoes

• Steve Madden - Fifi - $99.99
• Badgley Mischka - Karlisle - $199.99
• Chinese Laundry - Baldwin - $55.99

I just love soft and subtle colors for Spring, but if you wanted to go a little crazy for color, you certainly could. The nice thing about white is that it goes with anything. So if you want something that will pop with your white wedding dress, any color is a go!

Here are a few colorful Spring shoes that might make your heart zing!

Meet the Shoes

• Rsvp - Bryn - $42.40
• Nine West - Annalisa - $79.95
• Nina - Electra - $67.46

So what are your thoughts? Would you go light, soft and Springy - or would you go bright, colorful and Springy?

If you’re in love with daisy flowers, you can incorporate them into many aspects of your wedding. If you are having one of many Summer weddings when daisies are plentiful, wonderful. If not, you can still use silk daisies for your accents. They’ll last forever. You may want to do a combination of both since florists can now get daisies any time of year.

The daisy is a sweet white flower with a yellow center. That’s what most people think of when they think of the kind of daisies that grow wild. But did you know that there are many shades of daisies from bright red to bright orange and even all green? Make use of the many colors of daisies and you can add pops of color all throughout your day.

Start off with your attire. You can either wear a daisy crown and a veil or you can choose a dress that features daisies in either beading or silk flowers. Don’t be afraid to add silk daisies to your waistline or place them in your hair.

The cake is another place that it’s lovely to add daisies. You can have them cascading down your cake in bright shades or fall colors. Or you can have a yellow cake with white daisies adorning it. The cake shown here was actually found on Flickr, it is so stunning that I had to add it to my daisy wedding inspiration board on Dessy.com - which you'll see below.

Your garter can be a crocheted daisy pattern. If you know a handy crafter who likes to crochet, ask them to make one for you. If not, you can find them online.

Of course, incorporate daisies into all your printed materials. From your save-the-date card to the invitations and table cards and programs, you’ll want to have daisies to carry your theme throughout it all. You can either have light daisies printed on vellum paper or have a card printed in black and white with a daisy motif.

Have bubbles instead of rice, which has been known to harm birds, at your ceremony for the sendoff. The tops of the bubbles can have silk daisies on them. If you can’t find them ready made at a wedding supply store, it’s easy to add a silk daisy bud to each small bottle of white wedding bubbles.

The flower girl will of course want to carry a basket of daisy petals, real or silk, to throw as she comes down the aisle. She can also be adorned in a sweet outfit featuring daisies. She can wear a daisy crown and her basket can be adorned with silk daisies. A cute idea for her dress is to have an overlay made in gauzy fabric that actually contains silk daisies inside it. She’ll look like a walking flower patch and everyone will ooh and ahh at her adorableness as she comes down the aisle and runs around the reception.

Your shoes are another place to add daisy accents. Clip-on daisies work well but you can also do a subtle sandal with rhinestone daisy accents.

Cupcakes at your reception can have daisies done in icing. Their entire tops can feature one big daisy bloom. Place them on stacking trays around the dessert table, or put one at each person’s plate for a really cute favor idea.

When all is set up, your daisy wedding accessories will look like a charming romp through a peaceful meadow. Everyone will sigh with delight.

For more yellow wedding ideas, see our post on Going Yellow With Your Wedding.

Weddings are a time of fun and enjoyment for the whole family.  Wedding favors can sometimes be a difficult task, but themed weddings often make this task a bit simpler.  When you have opted for a true fairytale wedding and mimicked the Cinderella wedding of your childhood bedtime story, then the favor options can be just plain fun. What better way is there to give Cinderella wedding favors that represents the happily ever after that we all hope for when we say “I do.”

Candy holders

Tables at receptions are often adorned with candles, bells for toasting, and candies.  These settings provide a perfect opportunity to have fun with wedding favors.  Continuing with the Cinderella theme, perhaps pumpkin carriage candy holders or glass shoe favors filled with individuals chocolates could be placed thoughtfully around each table.

Silverware and glasses

Glass and Cinderella go hand-in-hand, so take advantage and make your wedding favors sparkle.  Consider inexpensive glasses etched with a special quote, the name of the bride and groom, the Cinderella castle, or just the date of the wedding.  These make wonderful, reusable gifts that will be cherished for many years to come.  Symbolic of a marriage, they require special care so that the fragile nature is not harmed.

Prince Charming

The prince and his white horse represent every young girl’s dream of being whisked away to a happy ever after.  There are a number of wedding favors that make use of the symbolic prince.  From key chains to silverware; from decorative tins to candle holders, the prince and his trusty horse can be found in a myriad of adorable forms.  All can make a special little statement about the dreams of yesterday and the dreams for tomorrow.

The Castle

Okay, so maybe you aren’t being whisked away to go live in a giant castle, but that doesn’t mean that the fabled structure can’t make an appearance on your big day.  Just as with the prince, there are many items that feature the Cinderella castle.  Votives, snow globes, Christmas tree ornaments, and even crystals to hang in a window can make gorgeous favors and fun ways to spread the theme.

Clocks

They represent time, an essential element in life and a wonderful way to mark the special moments in our life.  It was also an important piece in the Cinderella story, as the slave to her stepmother races against the clock, dreading the moment the clock strikes midnight. Clocks as wedding favors can symbolize the time that was, the time that is, and the times to come.

Fairy Godmother

A very famous character of late, given her appearances in the Shrek series, the fairy godmother is one that can make a wonderful, easily found, wedding favor theme.   From figurine salt and pepper wedding favors to magic wands for the younger attendees, the fairy godmother theme can offer a variety of stunning gift ideas.  You might even consider “fairy dust” to throw at the bride and groom as they leave for their honeymoon.

For more fairytale wedding ideas, try some of the following articles:

• Fairytale Castle Wedding Cakes
• Cinderella Themed Wedding Cakes

So you want to have a Las Vegas wedding? Whether you plan on doing a spur of the moment ceremony or want to fly in friends and family, Vegas offers an exciting backdrop for the wedding of your dreams.

Getting a License

First thing you will need is a marriage license. You will need to get that through the Nevada Marriage Licenses bureau. You can find them at:

Clark County Court House
200 South Third Street, First Floor
Las Vegas, Nevada 89115
702-455-4415

They stay open until midnight most nights, and on holidays they are open 24-hours. You’ll need to be at least 18 or have written parental consent if you’re 16 or 17. You’ll need to bring photo identifications, so call the Court House to see which documents they require to avoid disappointment. No blood tests are required. For a cash fee of $35, you’ll be granted a license you can use any time within one year from the issue date.

The Finer Points

As you might imagine, there are a host of businesses in Vegas that specialize in nothing but weddings. You’ll find more information online than you ever thought possible. Everything you need to know about a Vegas wedding can be found by searching “Vegas wedding” online. Ideas for chapels, reception venues, cakes, flowers and more abound. www.vegasweddingguide is a great source as is www.vegas.com, the official Las Vegas travel site.

Planning Logistics

Assuming you live outside the greater Las Vegas area, you’ll need to plan how you are going to get your guests into town. Allow guests enough time to make their travel arrangements. Send out Save the Date cards up to a year in advance if you can. Block out rooms at a hotel for guests and include that information with the card. Try to make everything as simple as possible for people.

Other things such as Vegas wedding favors or table centerpieces can get really creative. Play up your Las Vegas theme, and pick favors and decor that will be really fun for you and your guests. If you’re planning an elopement, keep reading.

Eloping

What an adventure to fly off to Vegas with just you and your fiancé to get married! If this is the route you are choosing, you can add little traditional elements that make the day special. There are bakeries in Las Vegas that will deliver you a miniature wedding cake for free. You and your new husband can enjoy it back at your hotel room. And speaking of hotels, there are many wonderful packages offered that include the wedding ceremony and hotel. You can find those on the internet. Often for as little as $199 you can have the ceremony and a night at a nice hotel.

There are also companies that will do your whole wedding outdoors in a garden or park including limo, flowers and champagne. Check out www.lasvegasmasterpieceweddings.com as a starting point. They’ll even include a minister for you! Other companies will provide a helicopter wedding complete with transport from your hotel to the top of a canyon for the ceremony. You can even get a violinist and special foods and beverages included. Vegas offers everything from gondola ride weddings to the original Elvis chapel. So dream big. If you can dream it, Vegas can accommodate it.

Consider…

While it may sound romantic to fly off to Vegas to get married, keep some important factors in mind.

• From May through September, temperatures can often reach a scorching one hundred degrees or hotter. A bridal gown with long sleeves or a heavy tuxedo jacket may not be the best option. Also, consider the time of year you’re going. Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve are two of the most crowded times for weddings in Vegas. You might want to plan for fall or early spring to beat the wedding chapel lines.
• You can actually rent a wedding gown in Vegas! This might be something to consider so you don’t have to invest a fortune in a dress you’ll wear once.
• Have your hair and makeup done in the hotel’s spa. It will save you having to run around looking for a stylist. And have your coiffure done right before you plan to leave for the ceremony so it doesn’t fall flat.
• If this is either party’s second marriage, you’ll need to have your divorce decree handy. You’ll need to provide the exact date and state of the divorce before you’ll be able to get a new license.

For more tips on Las Vegas weddings, try:

• Vegas Themed Wedding Cake Ideas
• Decorating for your Las Vegas Wedding
• Las Vegas Wedding Invitations
• Planning a Las Vegas Wedding

Fall weddings are always beautiful. The changing leaves, pure blue skies and wonderful sun sets create beautiful backgrounds for your perfect day. The air is crisp but not too cold to wear the dress of your dreams. This season’s wedding dresses have been far from ordinary and they have included details like feathers, ruffles and lace that create beautiful shapes and will certainly make you an unforgettable bride.

Short wedding dresses are wonderful for fall weddings as the ground can sometimes be rainy, leafy and muddy while the grass is often covered with a soft layer of dew. Short dresses will not result in traumatic ruining of your beautiful trains and will liberate your thoughts of any damage to your dress. These styles are also very modern and elegant, and allow you to wear shoes that you really love.

Wear bright colored shoes that perhaps match your groom’s ensemble and you two will look stunning. Choose styles with creative necklines and asymmetrical figures in order to look as trendy and chic as possible.

Show off your legs in these beautiful styles and look your best for your wedding day!

There are so many winter colors out there that look stunning when put together. Of course, there are the natural picks (white, light blue, midnight blue, burgundy, pine green) and other picks that are earth tones (brown, light green, blue) and more. So when it comes to planning your wedding colors, consider where you are having your wedding ceremony and reception. Will you be somewhere with lots of snow? Then maybe opt for the lighter colors such as light blue and white.

If your winter wedding is going to be in a ritzy location such as a glam hotel or chalet, then maybe burgundy, green, or midnight blue would be practical. Don't forget the overlooked essentials for winter weddings such as gold, platinum, and silver. These colors look great with any of the above mentioned colors and will make it really feel like the holiday season.

Images by Polyvore.com

There are other ways to incorporate the winter wedding theme into your reception and ceremony. There are so many details to a wedding that the opportunities are endless. Consider your favorite winter activities (ice skating, sledding, snowball fights, icicle hunting, snowman making) and think about incorporating those into your theme somewhere along the line.

Key details that you can incorporate fun props into include:

• Wedding favors
• Table centerpieces
• Guest book table decor
• Table confetti
• Invitations, programs, place cards, thank you cards
• Between-time lounge activities
• Special drinks (hot chocolate, hot cider) at reception
• Aisle runners
• Flower girl petals (snow flakes)
• Bridesmaid jewelry
• Groomsmen tux squares
• Gift table (instead use Santa's sleigh)

Winter Wedding Favors

Of course, wedding favors are another big part of incorporating your theme. Shown above are just a few examples of some fun ideas by Wedding Favors Unlimited. They include snowflake place card holders, snowflake candles, snowman cookies, and more. There are also glass snowflake coaster sets, snowflake bottle stoppers, snowflake bookmarks, and more.

What about winter wedding centerpieces? There are so many different ideas you can use for your centerpieces. You could use pillar candles that would look like something you might see in a church during the winter seasons. Other winter items you might enjoy are poinsettias, they are truly a winter plant and their colors look beautiful in any atmosphere. If poinsettias have too much color, try wreathes with a candle in the middle. These look adorable and bring in the pine feel from the outdoors (like Christmas trees!)

Be creative, use your imagination and let your brain take control. Before you know it, you'll have come up with all sorts of clever ideas to incorporate into your winter wedding theme!

More winter wedding ideas:

• Winter Wedding Favor Ideas
• Winter Wedding Color Ideas
• How to Create a Winter Wonderland For Your Wedding
• Silver and Blue Color Scheme: Inspiration for a Winter Wedding
• Winter Themed Bridal Party Gifts