An Introduction to Wedding Planners
Posted on August 11, 2008 - Filed Under wedding
Congratulations on your engagement! Now it is time to figure out your wedding plans. You might need some help. Here is an introduction to wedding planners and what they do.
An Introduction to Wedding Planners
Weddings may seem fairly simple at first, but they are not. Regardless of your religion or even if you don’t have a particular faith, there are lots of traditions and issues to take into account. For many couples, it can get very overwhelming, very fast. Using wedding planners is one way to handle everything with a minimum of fuss while also making sure you meet all the traditional expectations of a wedding.
A wedding planner is simply a person who is intimately familiar with weddings, the issues that need to be addressed in a particular type of wedding and the best way to get everything taken care of. They know which vendors to use and which to avoid. One of the most important services they provide is time. As your wedding approaches, your time can be at a premium. Wedding planners can take the burden of handling caterers, the photographer, musicians and so on off your hands. While that may sound interesting now, you will find it is a critical bit of help as the magic day approaches.
Not all wedding planners are created equal. Unfortunately, certain vendors will have a person called a wedding planner on their staff. This person has a conflict of interest. They will try to help you, but know they better deliver for the vendor or they will be out of a job. Avoid these faux wedding planners at all costs. They typically are associated with some service related to the wedding be it catering, the site of the wedding and so on. You want someone that is independent.
To find a legitimate planner, you should look for certain things. First, the proposed planner should interview about all aspects of your wedding. Second, the planner should be able to propose three to five different vendors for the particular need such as caterers and locations for the wedding. Third, the planner should be willing to give you references to other newlyweds that have used their service. Finally, the planner should clearly indicate the exact role they will perform. If it is anything less than handling all issues and problems that arise, move on to the next prospect.
Weddings are joyful affairs, but they can also be hectic. What you should take from this introduction to wedding planners is a simple rule. The wedding planner should deal with the details and issues that arise while you are free to enjoy your magical day.
Fernando Bellingham is with Wedding Yeti - your free directory of wedding planners.
Tags: CEREMONY, details, marriage, plan, planners, planning, reception, weddingHow To’s for Choosing the Best Man and Matron of Honor
Posted on August 7, 2008 - Filed Under wedding
The trick with having a wedding party is that eventually you’re going to have to choose someone to be the ‘best’ something. Women have it slightly easier because they can opt to have a Matron of Honor as well as a Maid of Honor, but even so, it’s a difficult decision to make.
Any tips?
Ladies first
Many women feel the pressure of having to choose their ‘bestest’ friend for the honor of being Matron or Maid in their wedding. They feel like they are leaving one of their friends out or hurting their feelings. First of all, realize that the duty of being in the wedding party is enormous. The Matron of Honor has a lot to do before and during the wedding itself, so you will want to choose someone that you think can handle it.
If you’re the bride, you may feel that you have to choose a family member as well, but that’s not necessary. You might include them as a part of the party, but if you have a really close friend that you want to bestow the honor upon, then do so.
Find someone who isn’t overly busy or committed. If they live in the town that you’ll be married in, that’s great too. Even if you’re out of town, you’ll get to be able to visit each other and she can make arrangements while you’re at your home. You also want to find someone who isn’t financially burdened. The thing is that gowns, showers, bachelorette parties, and gifts all cost money, so you don’t want to stretch them.
And then the men
Just like choosing the Matron or Maid of Honor, you don’t want to choose someone that ’should’ be the Best Man. This should be someone that you can count on to plan the bachelor party and get the other groomsmen to stay on schedule. Of course, your best friend may fit this bill, so the decision might be easy. Again, don’t pick someone who doesn’t have a lot of time or is financially strapped.
Picking someone to be your right hand person is an important decision and an honor for the person that you ask. Although you may think that they are the right person, they may decline the offer and the extra work. In that case, you will need to find someone else to fill the role.
Amy Spade is an expert on planning weddings, and she has written an amazing totally free minicourse on how to make sure that you have the day of your dreams, and avoid wedding day disaster!
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Tags: bride, groom, marriage, married, weddingsHandfasting As Forever As You Want To Be
Posted on August 3, 2008 - Filed Under wedding
In this age of quickie marriage and instantaneous divorce, the ancient tradition of handfasting makes more sense than ever. Handfasting is a binding commitment between two loving persons that requires no bureaucratic licensing to begin and no lawyers to undo. To those that choose to handfast, the commitment is as deep and binding as anything cooked up by City Hall. Indeed, a handfast can last forever, so long as love remains. Even death cannot end a handfasted union; there is no ’til death do us part’ in the ceremony.
Originally a Celtic tradition, handfasting has been adopted into many New Age philosophies and is practiced quietly worldwide. There are two basic types of handfast: the first to signify a betrothal, traditionally for ‘a year and a day’. If all goes well and after the year-and-a-day the two intended lovers are still up for it, a second handfast binds the two forever –heart, mind, body and spirit– for as long as love remains. The only thing that can undo a handfast is a lack of love.
Most often, the handfast ceremony takes place outdoors, in as natural a setting as can be found. One of the loveliest ceremonies this writer ever attended was on a rooftop in San Francisco, above the city and under the stars. There were pots and barrels overflowing with plants and flowers and thousands of tiny, colorful lights entwined throughout. The loving couple just happened to be two men, radiantly in love and rainbow-hued, flowing silk robes. One wonderful thing about handfasting is that the participants are not bound by restrictive, excluding laws. The only requirement to join another by handfast is true and abiding, requited Love.
Usually, the handfasting ceremony is presided over by an elder of whatever spiritual group the betrothed belong. Sometimes the couple chooses to do their own, private ceremony. So long as their intent is correct and love is true, there really is no ‘wrong’ way to handfast. Some basic elements are typical– words and gestures are offered, acknowledging reverence for nature and the elements. Ancient ancestors are invited and kindly spirits invoked. The betrothed gaze lovingly and deeply into one another’s eyes and whisper promises to each other as the elder gently binds their wrists together with a red cord. This is the actual ‘fasting’ — the red cord signifying love and knots indicating the tender bondage of their mutual commitment. Thus the saying, to ‘tie the knot’.
Indeed a handfast is one of the most delightful Pagan celebrations. It is a time of joyous revelry and magical merriment. It’s a perfectly wonderful reason to dress in fanciful, flamboyant garb and wear flowers in one’s hair. Sometimes, after the ceremony, the newly-wedded couple jump over a broom, leaping together into their new life as one. Traditional ‘cakes and ale’ or other delicious treats are shared afterward and guests are encouraged to dance and cavort well into the night. Love is always worth celebrating; handfasting is a time-honored way of making a truly heartfelt commitment to never-ending love.
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Tags: betrothal, bind, binding, celtic, CEREMONY, fasting, handfast, handfasting, marriage, pagan, wedding keep looking »