Wedding Planning Blog

Wedding Buffet Ideas on a Budget

2011-08-08T07:13:00.000-07:00

You’ve tied the knot! You have been pronounced man and wife…now it’s time to serve your wedding guests a great buffet meal.

Are you looking for some wedding buffet ideas on a budget? Here are a few ideas to spark your own creative juices and help you to come up with even more of your very own.

Your wedding guests won't even know that you are on a budget.

First a few tips:

1. Be frugal
2. Do not confuse frugal with stingy
3. Create flair in your presentations
4. Do not be afraid to ask for help to make and serve these foods
5. Prepare things in advance as much as possible

Here are some tasty food ideas:

One of the most popular foods and one of the easiest to make ahead: Deviled Eggs. These can be jazzed up with flavors and tidbits to make them every bit as tasty as they are pretty. They can rest on beds of lettuce and they make a very pretty presentation. The bonus is that they are not pricey to prepare.

Another thing that is not only frugal, but always a hit and can be done ahead, stored in airtight containers is the ever popular stuffed celery. Using cream cheese or peanut butter adds a little something but serving it ‘naked’ will please your guests, as well.
Simple crackers arranged on a plate with tiny toppings of sliced olives, or wee slices of assorted cheeses look very appealing. Assorted crackers and/or veggie sticks surrounding bowls of hummus on a plate invite dipping. Stacks of little plates nearby will remind your guests to take a few treats and move along.

Something a little grander and somewhat showier would be tiny biscuits topped with egg salad, chicken salad, shrimp salad or thin slices of turkey. If you choose to do the tiny biscuit routine, be sure you have help to bake, slice and top these little munchies. It makes a good assembly line project but it is a good choice if you are faithful to your frugality!

Depending on the season of your wedding and weather considerations, you might consider an assortment of fresh fruits. For instance, an autumn wedding can feature as part of the reception a cinnamon flavored apple cider and slices of apple and cheddar cheese. These will not be budget busters and the bonus is that they will make an attractive presentation with little fuss.

The Italian favorite of crusty, toasted bread with a tomato/basil topping is always popular with wedding reception guests. Again, you will need to have help in keeping platters of this treat filled and ready to be partaken. It is both beautiful and cost effective.
Pita bread and dips are always popular and will not bust your budget. The pita bread can be sliced quickly with a pizza cutter and placed next to bowls of simple dip as if they were chips.

Speaking of pizza, you can wow your guests with mini pizzas made with biscuit dough and topped with all the toppings that everyone loves: cheese, mushrooms, and of course pizza sauce from someone’s legendary family recipe. Frugal is your friend, remember! And do request help in preparation and serving.

When recruiting help to prepare or serve at your reception, employ your prized creativity. Offer to trade your time or labour for their service. If your neighbour loves to cook and offers to help, take your neighbor up on the offer. If you know that your cousin’s friend has a great recipe and you know how to groom pets, offer to make a swap: recipe for pet grooming.

Asking favourite relatives and close family friends to help with the planning, preparation and presentation of the reception foods can be a warm, bonding experience. Memories will be made and intertwined with foods, family and friends during this process. These are to be forever cherished and treasured. It is the EXPERIENCE, not the EXPENSE that makes a beautiful wedding reception successful, enjoyable and memorable.

Hopefully this gives you a few Wedding Buffet Ideas on a Budget and you can compliment these with some of your own ideas!

Planning a Wedding Budget

2011-02-03T06:58:00.000-08:00

Weddings come in all shapes, sizes and costs. If you are just getting to grips with planning your ideal wedding day, you're probably curious about the type of wedding you would like to have and how much it'll cost you. In this post we'll talk about planning a wedding budget and ways to cut down on costs.

For a wedding with a couple of bridesmaids, entertainment, and food for about 100 guests, wedding planners estimate that you'll probably spend around £5-10,000.

But many weddings have a few more guests than that and can as much as $10,000 to $20,000!

Why is there such a large range in price? The reason is that there are so many choices! Not only are there various kinds of flowers to choose from, but also the size and style of the bouquets, how labour-intensive they are, and whether you end up picking out-of-season flowers that must be ordered specially or seasonal flowers that are plentiful and not as expensive.

It's not easy to pin down a price on a wedding cake either. How many people will it serve? How detailed? Buttercream icing or rolled fondant? Do you want a fruit filling? All of these choices can result in bigger cheques being written.

With this seemingly endless desire for celebrity lifestyles, the bar has been raised and people's expectations have become a lot higher.

A good wedding can be put together for far less than the celebs shell out. If you want to, you can get married for £15,000, for £2,000, or even for less. This will depend on what your expectations are and what kind of reception you want.

The reception, usually the biggest expense, can be controlled by the time of day you choose. Which would you prefer -- a morning wedding with a brunch reception or an afternoon wedding with light finger foods? For an evening wedding, will you pick heavy hors d'oeuvres, a self serve buffet or a sit-down evening meal?

One of the most popular options is to choose heavy hors d'oeuvres, but sometimes that can be more expensive than a served meal. The reason? You're paying for more items and paying by the piece.

If you want to cut expenses on your food, the time of day you plan your reception is a big factor. The least expensive time of day is the middle of the afternoon. That isn't a time people are usually hungry, so they'll eat less, and you can get away with serving less food.

If you are planning a wedding budget and trying to find other ways to cut costs let the creativity flow and put your personality into it. Be creative in your thinking and choose one area of your wedding to really, really shine.

Keep in mind it is possible to create a stunning occasion regardless of what you can pay for. It is wise to avoid going into debt for your wedding. It's not necassary to still be paying for your wedding when you start paying the hospital bills for having your first baby!.

Whether you spend £2,000 or £20,000, you'll still be just as married.

Gothic Wedding Gowns

2010-12-26T06:33:00.000-08:00

Are you considering planning a Gothic Wedding or wearing a Gothic Wedding Gown? Gothic wedding gowns do not have to be black. In fact, because you are designing a gothic theme for your wedding ceremony, so much of the rest of the decor is likely to be black that you will actually want something a little bit different to jump out.

Black, purple and deep deep red red are the classical colours that most people associate with gothic clothing and you'll most likely want your groom to dress in black with blood-red trim. A black velvet-effect waistcoat with bone clasps over a white or red ruffed shirt may look impressive.

For you as the bride, remember that in time-honoured 19th-century gothic literature the story was always the perfect and innocent young lady with a passionate streak who was seduced by or sacrificed to the dark master of the castle with the bite on the neck that drew blood. It can be very provocative and visually beautiful to duplicate this at your nuptials with a sensual Victorian-style white or off-white gothic wedding gown. Pick out one with flowing long sleeves, a high neck and lots of lace and tulle for the full sacrificial impression.

Gothic themed wedding ceremonies are frequently booked in wintertime or close to Halloween, so you can expect that it won't be excessively hot, particularly as night time approaches. For the evening, if you're changing out of your gothic wedding gown, you might want to choose a Morticia-style black satin gown with hanging sleeves, or a medieval-style dresses in purple or red. Or how about a gothic boned corset in black or deep red? It fits the theme for you and your groom to be dressed alike now that you are married, and you can change your make-up and hairdo to give you that vampish look.

Your jewellery will be all important as well. This is one facet of your costume that can carry-over from the daytime into the evening, and if you pick out darkside jewelry that will go well with both wedding gowns you can create a link that also has a deep symbolic sensual meaning. Slave or maille bangles and choker necklaces are ideal and will put the finishing touches on your wedding day look.

Among the best things about wearing gothic wedding gowns is that your photos will be impressive, so take the time to make the most of that by considering how your dress or dresses will look beside your groom's outfit so that the two of you make the most of every similarity and contrast that you have. Individuality is the key here and you will find a lot of ideas are triggered by all of the gothic wedding dresses that you will find on the internet. When you are planning your wedding it can help to keep a scrapbook and fill this with ideas as you come across them. This will help to make it easier to visualize your wedding day and gothic theme.

Cheap Bridesmaids Gifts

2010-11-29T17:03:00.000-08:00

There are so many wonderful and exciting moments when a Bride and Groom begin planning for their wedding day. As the date gets closer for the big day, you start to think about gifts for the bridesmaids and other attendants. You’ve chosen these people because of your relationship with them; and, you would like to give them a nice present. When planning a wedding, you are often on a budget; so, when choosing a gift for your bridesmaids and groomsmen; keeping an eye on the cost is important. Here are some ideas for cheap bridesmaids gifts.

No one wants to appear cheap when they give a gift. On the other hand, spending money unwisely will probably not make your soon- to- be spouse happy. Sticking to a budget and showing that you care about the bridesmaids and groomsmen is easy if you remember to do two things.

1) The first thing you must do is make a list of the attendants-both the groomsmen and the bridesmaids. As a couple, it would be nice if you could do this shopping together; however, it may not be realistic with the demands on your time. So, the list is a really important tool to use. You may have to refer to this list for gifts for the persons on the list that you may not know as well as your future spouse does. The list will help you if one of you is out shopping and runs across something that you may feel would be a good choice for one of those individuals.

On this list will be the name of each person representing the Groom and the Bride. Next to that person’s name will be some of that person’s likes/dislikes, hobbies, colour preferences, and favourite brands. Knowing your attendants really well will help you in putting together the list. View it as an opportunity to share with your future spouse about the people in your life; and, the reason that you asked them to stand up with you on your wedding day. Of course, this idea mainly applies to people that you have just met, as you prepare for the wedding; if you already know them well, then you should already have some great ideas.

2) As far as being budget friendly, it is important to set a specific amount that you each have decided is appropriate for each bridesmaid’s gift. Remember to keep the same limit for each gift as it would not do well to spend more on one person over another.

As far as cheap bridesmaids gifts ideas go; how about these items for the ladies who are attending the Bride: earrings, bracelets, photo frames, perfume, or gift cards/or gift certificates for a favourite restaurant, service, or store?

And for the gentlemen who will attend the Groom; how about these items: money clips, cuff links, photo frames, or gift cards/ or gift certificates? You know them best…what would please them the most and bring a smile to their faces?

Getting a cheap bridesmaids gift that is thoughtful and classy shouldn't be too difficult if you give it some thought.

Try Before you Buy Wedding Photography

2010-11-08T10:27:00.000-08:00

Stuart Walker Photography has introduced a unique new incentive for prospective wedding clients that allows you to “try before you buy”.

Brides and grooms should enjoy wedding photography and it should enhance your special day rather than detract from it. A skilled photographer is not just a 'camera operator'. They need to have the personality to match your needs in order to produce the most natural looking images. It is very difficult for people to know how well they will get on with a particular photographer without the benefit of having worked with them already.

Many professional wedding photographers offer 'Engagement' or 'Pre-Wedding' photo sessions but at a cost or tied into a commitment to book their services for the wedding.

Stuart Walker Photography has a simple and unique approach. If you are not entirely happy with your photo session, you receive a full refund.

However, if you enjoy the experience then you benefit from having built a rapport with the photographer which will make your wedding an even better day. Also, when your wedding booking is confirmed then the cost of the pre-wedding session is deducted from the package price.

An added benefit to a Pre-Wedding photo session is that you will have a large 12x16” print mounted in a card border that can be used for friends and family to sign at the reception rather than a guest book. The print is then ready to frame as a lasting memento.

The Pre-Wedding Photo Session costs £99 and includes a one hour 'on location' or 'at home' shoot, on-line image gallery, one 12x16” mounted print and travel within a 30 mile distance of Cumbernauld, including the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The session is available to everyone (even if you have already booked a wedding photographer) but clients must be actively looking for a wedding photographer to qualify for a refund.

Details and terms of the offer are available at:
http://www.photography-services.co.uk/preweddingshoot

Further enquiries can be made by contacting Stuart Walker Photography on 0141 416 5141 or at: http://www.photography-services.co.uk/wedding_form.php

Hairstyles for Weddings

2010-11-02T03:58:00.000-07:00

The first thing to decide before you make your mind up on how you want your hair to look for your wedding is which headpiece do you want to be wearing. This makes a big difference when considering suitable hairstyles for weddings. But truthfully, the options are unlimited.

Wedding hairstyles should reflect what you want to say about yourself just as much as your gown or veil. If you choose to not wear a veil than that opens up a whole group of other potential wedding hairstyles to chose from. Perhaps what you want is a soft style, with your hair up and flowers delicately placed around the crown of your head. That style is becoming more popular these days.

If you’re trying to find suggestions on hairstyles for weddings there are bridal magazines to search through and Internet websites filled with more alternatives than you can imagine. If you have long hair and have decided to wear it down with a veil there are still many wedding hairstyles you can try to make it look just the way you want for your special day. Wearing your hair long means you will likely be wearing a veil, likely the wreath style with whatever length veil you prefer. Or, if you want to be different try a hat. Just pull your hair back behind your ears so your face will be seen.

The option on hairstyles for weddings only partially depends on the length of your hair. You can always use extensions if that suits better the hair statement you want to make. You can do anything that makes you feel good, and look good, for your special day from braids, extensions, and updos, curled or in a bun. Some women decide that their wedding day is a new beginning and so decide to reflect that with a new hair color.

Whichever one of the wedding hairstyles that you choose, a good idea is to do your hair, or have it done, in that style a few weeks before the wedding. You want to be certain the style will please you for your wedding day.

15% Discount at Confetti

2010-10-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

If you are planning on buying any invitations, disposible cameras, favours, candles, table decorations, petals, confetti or ribbon for your wedding day (or if you are just having party or getting ready for Christmas) you may be interested to know that you can get 15% discount at Confetti until November 7th 2010!

All you need to do is visit Confetti through this link and then after you have finished shopping enter the discount code DISCVOUC at the checkout and you'll get 15% off all your purchases.

Gazebo Wedding Decorations

2010-10-27T13:27:00.000-07:00

Gazebo wedding decorations are an important but often overlooked part of the planning of a wedding ceremony or reception in an outdoor or garden setting. Here you will find many different ideas for decorating the gazebo that will make it very clearly the center of your outdoor event.

The structure of a gazebo is perfect for a wedding, whether it be wooden, plastic or metal. It provides a central focus from which guests can move around the rest of the location. It allows the whole of the marriage to take place outside, while offering shelter if there should be a rain shower.

The posts and trellises that form the gazebo are ideal for all kinds of decorations and you can be very imaginative. Plan it well, look at a few examples and a simple summerhouse structure can blossom into the perfect romantic wedding location.

Beach Wedding Theme - Even if you are thousands of miles from the coast, you can have your very own beach style wedding by turning your gazebo into a seaside bower. Decorate with sea shells and an aqua and sand color scheme. Use dark green ribbon for seaweed. You could even strew sand on the floor and be married barefoot.

Other Themes - Almost any theme that you can think of can be applied to a gazebo wedding: a sport, the season, holidays such as Halloween, a cultural wedding, etc. However, the very simple structure of the shelter also means that it looks great for certain themes that might not be appropriate for an indoor setting. You can decorate it to suit a historical theme or a romantic fairytale wedding, or you can create the impression of a foreign country.

Plants And Flowers - Don't forget to have bridal flowers visible around the outside as well as inside, to give it that romantic touch from a distance. You can bring plants in containers such as rose bushes, flowering shrubs and small trees as well as bouquets, vines and trailing flowers all around the posts. If you can, have someone on a ladder arrange flowers on the roof too.

Evening Wedding Or Reception - If your ceremony or reception will be held in the evening, consider how you will light the gazebo. Old fashioned style lanterns or lamps are ideal. You will want plenty of light for a ceremony and a slightly darker arena for dancing.

Other Gazebo Wedding Decorations - You can use ribbons, crepe paper, light fabric such as tulle or net, satin and lace to give a charming, romantic and colorful aspect to your bower. You could wind alternate colored ribbons all around the poles in the style of a maypole, especially for a spring wedding. If you wish, you could cover the whole of the sides of the structure in colored fabric or paper in your color scheme to personalize the gazebo completely for the day.

Just like with other aspects of the wedding the gazebo wedding decorations will need to be planned. Take photographs of the gazebo or draw a sketch and add in your ideas. Measurements are useful too when it comes to buying materials. You will want to know how much you need of all the materials that you will use in your gazebo wedding decorations.

Choosing a Wedding Gown

2010-10-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

Choosing a wedding gown is an important moment in a woman’s life. Its become more a reflection of what you want your wedding to be instead of just the gown you want to wear. Women are choosing to make their wedding celebration an event not just a party after the ceremony.

Many women are looking at designing a wedding gown that suits an era that has styles they are attracted to. No longer is the wedding gown only a reflection of the styles of the day. Now women are more likely to pick what they want to wear instead of just succumbing to the pressures to wear the current style. No longer do they want to look like every other bride. Maybe the interest lies with a retro wedding where the wedding gown is actually a mini dress from the sixties.

Women are looking to express themselves with their choice of wedding gown. Although most brides still like to continue the tradition of marrying in white, which was first begun by Queen Victoria in 1840, many decide that a solid white wedding gown is not necessarily what they want. A little color on the dress to accent it or an off white or cream gown may better suit what she wants to wear.

What the groom would like to wear is also a consideration when choosing what the bride will wear. This is not as big an issue since usually a man will simply choose a tuxedo to wear and it will only be a matter of deciding on the style or color to be sure it suits her choice of gown.

What about those women who decide to marry in what their mother’s wore? This has come back into fashion as well. A woman who is fortunate enough to be built similar to her mother, and so chooses to wear her mother’s wedding gown is following in a tradition when daughters wore what their mothers had and maybe so did their sisters.

Choosing a wedding gown is a very important part of planning a wedding and no matter what a woman chooses to wear for her special day the day will be one she should remember forever.

Tiffany Wedding Cake

2010-09-26T06:34:00.000-07:00

If you want a celebrity feel to your wedding, you can make a big hit with a Tiffany wedding cake. This will be a multi layered cake designed to resemble the famous Tiffany boxes.

The layers of the cake can be frosted in aqua blue, the trademark Tiffany color. The layers can be either rectangular or square and finished with a wide white ribbon tied in a bow.

There are two main ways of achieving the ribbon effect on each layer. First, if you want a bow on every layer of cake, then in order to stack the layers you will need to have the bow to the side. Alternatively, you can have a bow on the top layer only. Another idea is to offset the layers, having alternate layers set at an angle rather than square on the one below. This allows a bow to be placed on the corner.

If you want to have the ribbon made of sugar paste then you will probably need the skills of a specialist cake baker. You can order from a cake maker who offers Tiffany wedding cakes in their online or offline catalog. You can expect to pay several hundred dollars for a professionally baked 4 or 5 tier Tiffany cake, but as the centerpiece of your reception room it can be a stunning sight that guests will never forget.

If you prefer to make your own cake then you can use real ribbon for the bows and simply untie them before cutting the cake. You can surround the bottom layer with white sugar paste roses and have the traditional bridge and groom or other style of cake topper on the top layer.

One of the more difficult points of creating a Tiffany style cake is making it appear that the boxes have lids. Our solution for this is to cover the whole layer or box in frosting once, let it set, then take an extra layer of frosting over the top and around the upper 1-2 inches of the sides. You will need to use something like a ruler or a sheet of card held against the side of the cake to create a straight line for the bottom of the 'lid'.

The cake itself can be flavored however you like. Vanilla sponge with a buttercream filling works very well. You could have any fruit flavor or even a dried fruit cake although this would be a surprise to guests after the light and delicate appearance of the layers with their ribbon and bows.

When you are planning a wedding there is plenty to occupy your time. One of the advantages of choosing a Tiffany style cake is its simplicity. Instantly recognizable and supremely elegant, a Tiffany wedding cake is a choice that you will not regret.

Find out more about Edinburgh Wedding Cakes.

Budget Honeymoon Ideas

2010-09-19T04:02:00.000-07:00

Unless you have a rich relative who’s willing to send you on a honeymoon cruise, a lavish honeymoon is probably out of the realm of possibility. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a nice getaway after your wedding.

Here are a few budget honeymoon ideas:

Consider local travel. Stay at a bed and breakfast. What about a theme park honeymoon? Some couples relish the idea of camping. Rent and RV and get to an RV park for a secluded honeymoon where you can enjoy each other exclusively.

Plan well in advance. If you can get away for your honeymoon, be sure to plan early. The earlier you book your trip, the better chance you have of getting a good rate. Consider an all-inclusive vacation or a cruise. These can be relatively low-cost and immensely enjoyable!

Don’t be afraid to ask for freebies. Everyone loves newlyweds, so take advantage of this nearly universal sentimentality by asking for discounts or freebies. If you tell your waiter that you're on your honeymoon, you may get a free dessert or bottle of wine, tell the check in clerk at the airport that you are on your honeymoon, and assk the hotel receptionist where you're staying for any free upgrades, as well.

Ask for your wedding guests to contribute towards your honeymoon as a wedding gift. This is becoming very popular now and there are lots of websites dedicated to creating a honeymoon gift list where wedding guests can contribute towards your honeymoon.

Hopefully these budget honeymoon ideas will help you discover new ways to enjoy a great honeymoon at a lower price.

Planning a Wedding on a Small Budget

2010-09-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

When it comes to planning a wedding on a small budget, there are plenty of ways to cut costs without compromising your sense of style.

Here are 8 ideas for saving money on your big day:

Make your own invitations. Office supply stores have wedding invitation paper that you can put in your printer and look fabulous for a fraction of the cost of engraved invites. You may also find some great paper at your favourite stationary store's paper selection

Borrow toasting glasses and knives for your cake cutting ceremony from you parents or another relative nstead of buying new ones. This will add a touch of sentimentality to the day knowing you're using the same set as your parents.

Buy simple dinner napkins in bulk at a wholesale or party store. No one will notice or care if the napkins aren't stamped with your names, the date and swirly hearts.

Reuse your flowers. Order floral arrangements for the tables at the rehearsal dinner, and then place them on the tables at your reception site. After the ceremony, set the bridesmaids' bouquets along the front of the head table at the reception.

Forget about disposable cameras on each table at the reception. The cameras aren't cheap and the development costs multiply quickly. A better bet is to ask your photographer to get candid shots of each table.

Save money on your Wedding Dress. If a fancy puffy wedding dress just isn't your style, browse through the selection of bridesmaid or evening gowns. Find a flattering style, order it in white or ivory, and you've just slashed several hundred dollars from the bill.

Don't go overboard with the bouquets. Choose smaller and unique bouquets rather than elaborate ones. Bridesmaids might carry a few striking stems rather than a bouquet. The impact can be stunning.

Make your own favours. You can save a lot of money by creating your own favours using boxes and ribbon from craft shops and chocolates or candy. Or alternatively don't bother with the favours at all.

With a little creativity and shopping in the right places, planning a wedding on a small budget is achievable and most people won't notice the difference!

Wedding Cruise Packages

2010-09-01T07:51:00.000-07:00

There are many options open to a couple when planning their wedding. There are equally unlimited options when planning a honeymoon. What if you could do them both at the same time, at the same place? Wouldn’t that be much easier, and maybe even more romantic?

If this option sounds even remotely interesting then you may want to consider wedding cruise packages. Now we all know about how amazing taking a cruise for your honeymoon would be. Many couples have chosen that option and had a wonderful time. But what if you could take a wedding cruise. That means getting married on the ship and then having your honeymoon on that same ship.

If a wedding cruise appeals to you then you should know that you will be expected to provide the clergyman or whatever official you require to perform the ceremony. Most cruise lines offer a wedding cruise option and have not only a honeymoon suite to make the trip even more special, but also a nice chapel for you to marry in. The ceremony and party afterwards all take place on the ship Then your guests disembark and the honeymoon begins.

Some couples have even arranged a wedding cruise package to allow them to meet their guests at one of the places the ship docks at to have their wedding instead in an exotic port. As the popularity of the wedding cruise grows, and it has by huge leaps, there are now companies that specialize in helping you to plan your wedding cruise. They will work just as hard for you when your big day is on a ship as others do wherever you choose to marry; a wedding hall, religious setting or your parent’s backyard.

Wedding cruise packages are truly worth considering. More couples are doing it as the number of weddings on ships last year, reported by one cruise line only, went over two thousand. Couples are looking to make their weddings special, different from the norm, and this alternative could make their dreams come true.

Professional Wedding Videography

2010-08-25T05:41:00.000-07:00

Are you thinking of having professional wedding videography for your big day? Although having an album filled with wedding pictures is a wonderful keepsake of the special day, it can be taken a step further though and that is through the use of wedding videography.

Wedding videography is when the wedding ceremony and often part of the reception is captured on video. The person hired to do this films the day and then presents the bride and the groom with either a DVD of the wedding.

Finding someone to handle your wedding videography isn’t difficult. The photographer that you hire may also provide this service. Often photographers will have interns working with them who can handle the wedding videography while the photographer captures the still images.

Once you have decided on who will be handling the wedding videography for you, you’ll need to discuss which aspects of your wedding you want filmed. Some brides choose to have just the ceremony and the reception filmed. Others want other moments captured including the bride getting ready and the groom and his groomsmen in the final minutes before the ceremony.

Choosing to hire someone to do wedding videography for you is a great idea. It allows you to relive your wedding whenever you want. It’s also a nice way for you to share the magic of your wedding with your children in future years as well as any friends or family who couldn’t be there.

Although wedding videography can be expensive it’s important to bear in mind that most people view their wedding as a very special day. Having the ability to look back and see and hear the ceremony and watch the toasts and first dance can’t really be replaced with anything else. By investing a bit more money in your wedding and choosing to hire someone skilled in wedding videography you’ll have a memory that will last forever. Just imagine how much fun it will be to replay the DVD on your tenth, twentieth or fiftieth wedding anniversary.

Find out more about Professional Wedding Videography in Scotland.

Wedding Photography in Edinburgh

2010-08-06T04:18:00.000-07:00

Once you have decided on your wedding venue, choosing a wedding photographer is one of the next most important parts of your wedding planning. In years to come you want to be able to look back on your wedding photos and remember your happy day

In order to get the pictures of your dreams you need to be sure that you find the right wedding photographer. This may take some trial and error, but it is worth spending some time to be certain that you find a person who fits with your needs and your personality.

For wedding photography in edinburgh take a look at my Edinburgh Wedding Photographers page.

Here are a few tips on choosing the right wedding photographer.

Get Recommendations: Recommendations are a good place to start. Ask friends about who photographed their weddings. Look at other people's wedding pictures and find a style that you like. You can even browse the internet or local wedding forums for photographers and get some ideas that way. No matter how you do it, visiting photographers that have been recommended is much better than simply looking through the phone book for names.

Visit Photographers: Once you have made a short list of photographers it is time to meet them. The first thing that you want to see when you are interviewing photographers is a portfolio. Take a look at some of the weddings they have photographed in the past. Do you like the pictures? Are they well done? If you have a particular style of photography that you like, then look for that in the photographers that you interview. In essence you are looking for a photographer whose work, style, and personality matches what you want your wedding pictures to look like.

Look at Proofs and Albums: As you are interviewing photographers and looking at portfolios, you will also want to be asking about proofs and albums. Some photographers ensure that their customers get proofs of all of the photographs taken. Others only offer a larger formal album. Still other photographers provide customers with digital proofs and the rights to reprint any pictures.

Look at the Options Available: Some photographers offer a combination of these different options to suit you. If having all of your wedding pictures is important to you, then make sure that you find a photographer who will give you all of the proofs. If you would like to print the photos yourself you need to be sure to choose a photographer that provides you with the rights to the digital proofs. Making sure that you get what you want in this area is important for preserving your memories down the road.

Check the Contingency Plan: Lastly, you will want to make sure that your wedding photographer has a contingency plan in case of emergencies. What happens if your photographer is unwell on your big day? What about a family emergency? The majority of photographers have a contingency plan, but it is best to ask anyway, just to be sure.

In general, the photographer usually has another professional who will photograph your wedding, but if your photographer does not have a contingency plan then you may want to reconsider your choice. After all, the last thing that you want to be worrying about on your wedding day is what will happen if the photographer is ill.

I hope these tips on how to choose a wedding photographer will help you to plan your big day! For wedding photography in edinburgh take a look at my Edinburgh Wedding Photographers page.

Save Money in Edinburgh with MyCityDeal

2010-08-06T03:39:00.000-07:00

If you'd like to treat yourself to a nice spa treatment, an overnight stay in a luxury hotel, a good meal in a restaurant or a night out to the cinema, but don't want to splash the cash you should register for My City Deal. This is free to join and each day you'll receive a different offer known as a "Groupon".

Offers in the past have included massively discounted spa treatments, cinema tickets for £1, meals out in restaurants at less than half price and beauty treatments with over 70% off.

Whether you want to schedule in a few treatments prior to your wedding, or take your groom or bride to be away for an over night stay in a nice hotel, it's worth registering to be kept up to date with all the deals.

As well as Edinburgh, The MyCityDeals site covers Dundee, Glasgow and Aberdeen, plus lots of cities throughout England, Wales and Ireland.

Wedding Ceremony Music Ideas

2010-07-14T08:25:00.000-07:00

The music you choose for your wedding ceremony will have a great influence on the atmosphere of your wedding and it will be something that triggers memories for many years to come. Here are some wedding ceremony music ideas to help you choose the right music for your big day.

Guest Arrival - Whatever you decide on for your wedding music you should arrange for it to start at least half an hour or so before the ceremony begins so that your guests don't arrive to, or have to sit in silence. Perfect choices are Bach's Air on a G String, Vivaldi's Violin Concerto No. 8 or Concerto N,o. 1 (from The Four Seasons, Spring).

Entrance of the Bridesmaids -Typically you will choose pre-processional music for the entrance of the bridesmaids. Your selection's tempo should provide a natural rhythm for them to step, and be an appropriate length for all of the bridesmaids to reach their destination. Music ideas include Pachelbel's Canon in D Major, Wagner's Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin, Clarke's Trumpet Voluntary or Handel's Arrival of the Queen of Sheba.

The Bride's Entrance - Once the attendents are all in place there should be a brief pause in the music, bringing the congregation to their feet for the bride's grand entrance. Perfect wedding ceremony music ideas for the bride's entrance include Mendelssohn's Wedding March or Vivaldi's Spring from the Four Seasons.

After the Marriage - As you and your new husband walk back down the aisle, your recessional music reflects the joy of the moment. Adding to that moment might be Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, Beethoven's Ode to Joy or Vivaldi's Sonata Prima.

Music for the postlude is an especially nice touch if the couple will be greeting each pew or having a receiving line at the church. Handel's Postlude Overture (from Music for the Royal Fireworks), Purcell's Trumpet Tune and Air or Handel's Suite in F Major are possible choices.

As well as music for the wedding ceremony, don't forget that the music at your reception is important to set the tone, as well.

The First Dance - The most romantic moment of your reception is sure to be your first dance with your new husband. Why not choose "your" song, the song you fell in love to, or a song that conveys your feelings for each other?

Be sure to ask your DJ or the band in advance for a list of their music collection. Let them know which songs you definitely want (and don't want) played at your reception, and any special choices for father/daughter and mother/son dances.

Hopefully this gave you a few wedding ceremony music ideas!

Best Man Speech Format

2010-06-23T03:08:00.000-07:00

If you have been chosen to be a best man for your friend on his wedding day it is very likley that you are worried about the most nerve wracking part of the day - the best man's speech!

It is natural to worry about this, especially if you don't have much experience of speaking in public. Even if you do have experience, this is a different kind of speech from the ones that you give in the workplace, so you may be wondering how to go about it.

Here are a few tips on the Best Man's Speech Format to help you along the way. If you want to cheat a little you can also get Best Man Speech Samples here.

Opening the Speech: The best man usually starts his speech at the wedding breakfast by introducing himself and telling a tasteful joke about weddings or marriages. He may then talk about how long he has known the groom and give a few facts about the friendship.

Mention the Bride: It is also good to mention the bride and tell her how lovely she looks today.

Talk about the Couple: You probably want to talk about how the couple met each other and if you have any funny stories or anecdotes about this you could talk about this too.

Tell a funny story: The best man will usually tell a few funny and embarrassing stories about the groom. Perhaps something from the past or from his stag night. Remember that there will probably be parents, grand parents and other older relatives in the room so be sure to keep it relatively clean and don't say anything offensive!

Be Unique: Almost every speech given at a wedding by the best man says generally the same thing so you as the best man need to add things that no one could possibly think of to wish your closest and dearest friends the best of everything for their future together. Whether you choose to be lighthearted and funny as best men are at weddings or chillingly serious you need to make sure the speech says exactly what you would give to see your best friend the groom happy in a lasting marriage. If the new bride trusts you as the best man and her husbands' best friend then the two of you will still be able to hang out and have fun after the wedding.

Closing the Speech: When you close the speech remember to wish the bride and groom all the best in their marriage and then make a toast.

What not to do: Steer cleer of dirty jokes or lots of talk about ex girlfriends. Also be sure not to ramble on and bore the guests - they have to listen to two or three more speeches so be as brief as you can.

Hopefully these tips on Best Man Speech Format will help you to create a great speech enjoyed by the bride and groom and the guests.

If you need some ideas get some Best Man Speech Samples here.

7 Wedding Budget Ideas

2010-06-22T05:28:00.000-07:00

Weddings can be hugely expensive, so the majority of couples will want to save money where they can without impacting the overall enjoyment of their big day.

Here are 7 wedding budget ideas to help you to have a great wedding day for less.

Prioritise: The first thing you should do is list everything that needs to be paid for and prioritise it. Put the things that are most important to you first and plan on spending the most money on these. For example I wanted to make sure that my guests received lots of nice sparkling wine and drinks at my wedding, so I increased the drinks budget and made the favours myself to save some money.

Get Married During the Week: The majority of couples get married on a Saturday. If you really want to save some cash, consider having your ceremony on a Thursday or Friday. How about having a Sunday service on a holiday weekend? You will find that there are many more dates available to you if you decide not to marry on a Saturday. You will also find that the majority of reception locations will offer a discount for an off day. If you don't get offered this, it is definitely worth asking!

Get Married in the Quiet Season: Another wedding budget idea is to have your wedding between November and April. This time of year is typically much quieter for most wedding related services and venues. Again, if you are not offered a discount it is worth asking for one.

Limit the Number of Attendants: Bridesmaids, flower girls and ushers all add money to your overall wedding budget. If you are strapped for cash consider just having one bridesmaid. Or perhaps decide not to have flowergirls.

Consider your Guest List very Carefully: Many people get fed up attending weddings of people they barely know. Unless you talk to a person regularly, the chances are pretty good that they won’t give it a second thought when your invitation doesn’t arrive. Remember, you’re trying to save some money on your big day. Extra people means extra expense, so this is one of the best ways to reduce your budget.

Make Your Own Ceremony Flowers: There are plenty ways to create your own flowers. A beautifully simple idea for a gorgeous bridal bouquet is to take several white roses, bunch them together into a bouquet, wrap the bottom with floral tape tightly, and wrap satin ribbon around the stems. Attach long pieces of satin ribbon to flow down as you hold the bouquet and it’ll be stunning!

Save Money on Wedding Favours: You could either decide not to have wedding favours, or you could make your own. Regular candles are nice too for cheap wedding favors. Wrap in tulle and tie with ribbon and then stick a small flower in the ribbon. Alternatively, buy sweets or chocolate, in your wedding colors.

Hopefully these wedding budget ideas will help you get started on planning an amazing wedding without the sky high cost.

A successful wedding does not have to be an expensive wedding. Success should be determined by whether the bride, groom and the guests enjoyed themselves. No matter how much money you spend, if your wedding is cookie cutter and seems rehearsed no one will remember it and most will not enjoy it. Make it your own, make it part of you both, not part of a book you read, or do things you think you "have" to do! Share with your guests part of who you both are!

How to Choose A Wedding Photographer

2010-06-08T14:02:00.000-07:00

When you are planning your wedding it will seem as though every aspect is extremely important. Choosing the right dress and having a quality tuxedo are certainly two of them. The menu and location rank high on the list of important details, but there’s another that is equally important. That’s the wedding photographer and without an experienced one your wedding memories may not be what you had in mind.

You may be wondering how to choose a wedding photographer. Choosing your wedding photographer can be a daunting task and most people begin the process with little idea of what they are looking for. They may scour the local yellow pages for a wedding photographer but this really isn’t the best method of choosing someone who is going to capture images of the most important day of your life.

One of the best ways to choose a wedding photographer is by word of mouth. If you know someone who was married recently ask them about which wedding photographer they used. They’ll be happy to show off the pictures that were taken and to also share how the experience was for them. It’s a bit tacky to ask about the price of the photographer unless you are very close to the person and you’ve discussed financial issues in the past.

If you don’t have the luxury of a personal recommendation for a wedding photographer, consider doing some research on the Internet. Most communities have a chamber of commerce website that showcases all businesses in the area. There will be a section dedicated to photographers and you can browse the listings of photographers and see which ones list wedding photography as a specialty.

Once you have a few to choose from call up each wedding photographer on your list. Ask to meet with them and explain that you’d like to see their portfolio and discuss the possibility of having them work with you on your wedding. An experienced wedding photographer will welcome the chance to meet with you and will suggest a time that is convenient.

It’s very important once you do choose a photographer to discuss with him or her, what you imagine for your special day. If there are particular images that you want explain that in detail. They are great behind the camera but a little guidance on your expectations is always welcomed.

Hopefully these tips will help you understand more about how to choose a wedding photographer.

If you live in Edinburgh or central Scotland, you can also learn more about Edinburgh Wedding Photographers here.

Choosing a Theme for your Wedding

2010-06-01T05:09:00.000-07:00

One of the easiest and most cost effective ways of tying in all the different elements of your wedding and to make it memorable for all is to have a theme. This could be a colour theme, an era, a film or TV programme, sporting activity or event – anything really. Here are my top five tips to choosing a theme which works for you:

1. Choose something personal to you both – it could be that you both really liked the recent Alice in Wonderland film or that you are both keen mountain bikers – anything goes; just try to find a way of incorporating this activity into your wedding day.

2. The simplest things to incorporate into your chosen theme are the table centrepieces, favours, music and food. For example, if your chosen theme was oriental you could have paper lanterns hanging low over the centre of each table instead of a centrepiece, chopsticks or fortune cookies as favours and a traditional Szechuan dish as a main course.

3. Be as individual or as traditional as you like – if you don’t want to be too creative, just theme the wedding around the season. For example, a BBQ and ice creams in the summer and for a fabulous winter wedding fill vases with rock salt and twigs as table centrepieces and hand icicles and snowflakes from the ceiling.

4. Don’t worry if you have completely different ideas about the wedding theme – fusion weddings of two or more themes are becoming increasing popular, particularly with multi-cultural couples. For a Scottish/Malaysian wedding, consider using bright Malaysian flowers such as orchids and birds of paradise as décor and combining with traditional Scottish customs such as having a piper and Ceilidh.

5. Maybe you don’t have any particular hobbies or interests? Try choosing a combination of colours that you both like or a film that you both enjoyed - Moulin Rouge themed weddings are not for the faint-hearted but can look fabulous even on a tight budget.

At Purple Penguin, we pride ourselves on keeping ahead of the game- we are constantly looking for new trends and styles and always ‘thinking outside the box’ with new ideas and inspirations. We never plan two weddings the same and aim to ensure that each wedding is better than the last!

We always stay within our clients’ budgets and spend time getting to know the couples so that we can create a beautiful, personalized wedding every time.

Check out Purple Penguin Weddings or call 0845 519 2447 for more details.

Wedding Planning Timetable

2010-04-26T06:03:00.000-07:00

Your wedding day will be one of the most important days of your life. You need to make sure you plan everything properly. When it comes to planning, time is always the concern. This article will lay out a wedding planning timetable to help you plan your wedding in the right time.

Before you read the timetable it is important to understand that everything in this article is an estimate and the exact timetable for you will depend on the type and size of your wedding.

When you begin setting up your timetable it is important that you give yourself a realistic amount of time. One of the great stresses of weddings is trying to accomplish too much over too short of a period of time. Give yourself the time needed and eliminate stress.

One of the biggest issues can be the availability of venues for your wedding ceremony and reception. This is especially true if you are planning a summer wedding. If the venue you want is not available when you want it is wise to postpone the wedding instead of moving it forward to ensure that it is properly planned.

So, what should your wedding planning timetable look like? The first thing you need to do is plan the venue you wish to use. The venue may require you to book years in advance, so this must be planned before anything else. It is wise to book the venue for your ceremony and reception separately as soon as possible so that you can get the earliest date possible.

All other aspects of the wedding, such as dresses, flowers, and invitations, should be planned over an 18-month period. The main problem with planning the wedding dress so far in advance is the bride may change her shape before the wedding. A good way to get round this is to have a number of fittings for your dress leading up to your big day.

One great way to avoid stress is to plan all the biggest things yourself e.g. the venue, the dress etc and get others to help you with smaller things such as favours or table decorations. This will help save you from many restless nights and allow you to focus on the truly important parts of the wedding.

The most important thing is ensuring that your wedding planning timetable allows you plenty of time to plan everything. You don't want to be planning the biggest day of your life in a rush. The best wedding planning timetable is to book your venue as soon as possible and then do everything else over the next one to one and a half years.

Get fit for your Wedding with Zumba!

2010-04-21T03:56:00.000-07:00

I tried Zumba in Edinburgh for the first time a couple of weeks ago and loved it. I wish this form of exercise had been around just before I got married in 2007 as it would have helped with the pre wedding fitness routine!

Not only does it burn calories fast and shape your waist like nothing on earth, it also doesn't really feel like you are exercising!

If you've not heard of Zumba before, it's a Latin American inspired dance fitness routine and involves a bit of Salsa, Merengue, Calypso, Samba and a few others. The good thing is, you don't need a partner (don't you hate these dance classes where you have to rotate between partners? Usually guys with sweaty palms and not a single bit of rhythm in their body!).

You start off with a gentle warm up, then the beat goes up a notch and in no time you are swaying your hips and shaking your bootie to the latin tunes, which include Ricky Martin's Maria, Shakira's Hips Don't Lie, Que Te Mueve Merengue and lots more.

I went along to a class in Corstorphine in Edinburgh run by the Zumba Boys - Tom and David and had a great time. I felt more like I was going out for a night of dancing with the girls rather than to a fitness class. At the end of the class I'd burned 610 calories, according to my trusty heart rate monitor (that's a bottle of wine) and felt ready for the weekend.

If you live in Edinburgh or the Lothians and are looking for a way to shape up for your wedding (or just in general) I highly recommend going along to one of the Zumba Classes in Edinburgh. It doesn't matter if you can't dance or are feeling a bit unfit - this sort of exercise is great fun and suitable for all levels.

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2010-04-17T10:34:00.001-07:00

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Cheap Wedding Favours - UK

2010-04-07T14:41:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for cheap wedding favours for your UK wedding? A wedding can cost so much these days, and while you want everything to be nice and give your guests a small gift to say that you are glad they came, you will surely want to keep some money for the honeymoon too!

The good news is that you can save a lot on your wedding favours by returning to the traditional wedding favor idea: candy. This way you can have something delicious without having to spend a lot of money.

Of course you would not just buy a chocolate bar and leave it on peoples' plates! You will want to put a little time in to making unique wedding favours that are personalized, so that all of your guests will want to keep them for a souvenir after they have eaten the candy.

The best way to do this is by being creative with the container for your wedding favours. It is cheaper not to buy candy that comes pre-packed in little boxes for weddings, but just order some small boxes that you can find online and then put whatever kind of candy you want inside. You may want to use a cupcake liner too. A lot of people choose chocolates but this is not necessarily a good idea if the weather is hot. Sugared almonds are one traditional favorite. You can get them in several different colors. Or M&Ms, or mints. How about fudge? Or just go for your own personal favorite nuts or candies!

Confetti is a great UK based website that has an online store stocking all sorts of boxes, ribbons, candy and everything you need to make your own cheap wedding favours.

You may want to have the boxes pre-printed with your names and a photo of you as a couple. Alternatively, you can create a wrapper for the box from paper or fabric that is personalized. Depending how much time you have, you could even embroider on it with your names, the date and a small design. This would be a very low cost way to create memorable, but cheap wedding favours. If you are short of time yourself perhaps you have a talented friend or family member who would love to do this for you.

Another possibility is to use glass containers for your wedding favours. You can buy regular small glasses and have them engraved. This may cost a little more for the engraving, but it would create something that the guests would certainly keep forever. You can fill them with candy and cover in tulle tied with a ribbon.

Candles are another popular wedding favour idea and you can even make your own. Buy beeswax and wicks at a craft store, and gather some shells or buy the shells too. Get instructions from the craft store on how to melt the beeswax and add the wick. Tie a ribbon around the finished candles.

This should give you some ideas for cheap wedding favors for your UK wedding that you can use or that will inspire you to come up with your own.