What are some registry options?

Of course, there is the traditional gift registry, where you would visit your favorite store (Bed, Bath & Beyond or Macy’s for example) and choose items from the store’s inventory of countless items! Before you venture into the store, sit down with your fiancé and discuss the things you would love to receive. Check out what’s available on their websites as well.

Also, if you want to take your dream honeymoon, but it’s really not in the budget, look into setting up a honeymoon registry. Wedding guests can contribute toward a future vacation for you.

 Are you and your fiancé foodies? If so, how about a foodie registry? Choose the restaurants that you love or that you’ve always wanted to visit, and your guests can gift you a certain amount at various places. Here’s a great example of a foodie registry is http://www.foodieregistry.com/

A charity registry is an excellent way to be a blessing to one of your favorite causes. Instead of buying gifts, your guests make a donation to a specific charity in your name and honor. This is a great option for the couple that has everything.

Online cash registries are also available for the couple who would prefer a monetary gift. However, be careful of this for 2 reasons: (1) Read the fine print of the site carefully. Make sure you understand how you can withdraw your funds, whether there are any fees associated with the registry, and what happens if the site/company goes out of business; and (2) Be delicate about asking for monetary gifts with your guests. To ask for cash can be perceived as being tacky.

Filling your registry

If you want to be able to entertain guests in your new home, a gift registry is a good option since you can request things you will need to host parties, get-togethers, etc. Also, if it’s important to you to be able to pass items down to your future children and grandchildren, include nicer things such as china and silverwear on your registry. In addition, make sure your registry contains items in a variety of prices ranges. You want to be able to accommodate everyone who wishes to purchase something for you.

If you are setting up an honeymoon registry, in addition to helping to pay for your accommodations, you can also include excursions and activities you want to do while on your trip. Guests can contribute to parasailing, scuba diving, spa treatments, or even a romantic dinner on the beach. 

Ok, now it’s your turn.  Choose the registry that suites you best.

Wedding and Event Planner Brenna Fields Taylor publishes the “Simply Elegant” bi-weekly e-zine. Go to http://www.an-elegant-affair.net to learn more about her company An Elegant Affair.

Take some time to think about what you would like your new name to be. Discuss this thoroughly with your future husband…he should be on board with your decision! Remember that you will have this name for the rest of your life, so don’t rush this decision! Finally, be patient with the name change process, and be patient with your family, friends and co-workers. They have to get accustomed to your new name as well!

Her parents spent a good amount of money on what was supposed to be one of the most beautiful and carefree day of their daughter’s life.   What it turned out to be was a complete disaster that could have been so easily averted if they hired a day of wedding coordinator.

A day of coordinator is essential for certain venues that do not have the staffing or offer a onsite coordinator on the bride’s special day.  When considering your venue, this is something you need to know prior to booking the event.  Unfortunately because you do not get married every day, it is hard to know the questions to ask.  If you would like some guidance on venues that I would suggest a wedding coordinator for, please click here.

In the case of this wedding, it is exactly what they needed, a “go to” person to handle all of the small items that multiplied and turned into the large disaster that it was. 

My husband and I arrived at the event  a little early, the staff were still setting up the chairs, this was less than one hour prior to the event!  When they did complete them, there was no middle aisle and chairs were set up less than 3 feet from where the ceremony would take place.  Where was the bridal party going to stand? And worst, how would the bride be able to make her entrance????   The tempeture was over 92 degrees when we arrived and the tent the ceremony was going to be in had to be over 100 degrees, due to no fans or a/c in the tent.  The set up people left the sides down so there was no air what so ever!  You cannot know how hard it was for me to not do something, but I had to remember I was just a guest!   Unfortunately this was the first sight the mother of the bride saw when she arrived.  She was in tears,  a little after the chairs were rearranged  but  the tent sides were not removed as she asked, not a great way to start her day.

The florist arrived and had no direction on how to set the ceremony flowers, the photographer arrived and there was no space for them maneuver to get good pictures without standing in front of the guests and because the chairs were so close to where the bride and groom would be standing, he could only get side shots, the videographer arrived and because there was no middle aisle, the also had to shoot from the side by taking out some chairs and pushing the side of the tent out.  The venue could not find their red aisle carpet so they put down a piece of square carpet under the first few seats.  It was chaotic.

By this time the majority of the guests arrived and we were asked to proceed outside to the tent for the ceremony.  Not being able to keep my coordinator hat off, I started looking around the room for a coordinator to prepare the wedding party for their entrance, no one was to be seen, including the wedding party!!!  We all proceeded into the tent, which was like walking into a sauna.  Before we were in our seats, I see the mother of the groom walk up the aisle, still no groomsman, still no bridesmaids in sight.  About 2 minutes later the mother of the bride comes rushing down the aisle as well as the bridesmaids and all of the sudden, the a couple of the groomsman walk to the front and then here come more from the side with the officiant.  All of this was going on and here comes the bride, no pause, no special entrance, it broke my heart.   The D.J. was trying to keep up with this because there was, I am sure, a song for each entrance but because of the sporadic entrances there was no way and therefore, the bridal march did not start until the bride was half way up the aisle.  Ok, that’s enough, you get the idea.  None of this would have happened if they had someone there to prepare for these issues in advance and then execute them that day.   Is a professional day of ceremony coordinator a good idea?  You bet!

A word of caution.  When choosing your day of coordinator, please ask these questions:

1)     Are you a full-time coordinator?  Many people get a website and call themselves coordinators actually have full-time employment somewhere else and do this for a little extra money on the side.  Do you want focus for coordinator to be part-time or do you want someone who is dedicated and committed only to YOUR wedding creation and be there to focus on YOU.

2)    What is your background that qualifies you to coordinate the most important in my life?   Some brides who have had an extraordinary wedding experience feel that they are now qualified to coordinate weddings, this is usually because they had great vendors and venues to make the wedding a success.  It is imperative that your coordinator has been in the wedding food and beverage or wedding venue industry for at least 10 years.  It takes at least that long to learn all of the “ins and outs” of a perfect wedding.  You can’t learn this in a class or a book, it must be hands on.  It takes years and years of experiences to know how to handle all situations that may arise.

3)     How flexible are you with your package?  Don’t pay for things you don’t need.  Of course no matter your needs the co coordinator will be spending many hours prior to your wedding preparing for the day of.  But make sure you have a good conversation of what is needed.  Each venue is unique; each offers great and not so great services.  This should a make a huge difference on the cost of your coordinator.

4)    How many coordinators will be present on my day?  This is not a one person job!   If you want your day to be all that you envision, it will take more than one person to orchestrate the day.  No one can be in two places at one time, for instance someone may be pulling the final details together at your reception site as the other is preparing the wedding party for their entrance.  Although we like to think we are superwoman, no one person can handle it all and have the day run that way it needs to.  Do not consider having your officiant act as a coordinator as well.  It will not work to your advantage.  A professional  officant will not suggest this.  They will work closely with you up until the day of your ceremony, but that day, it is the responsibility of the officiant to focus on the bride and groom and the preparation of your ceremony, and to assure a very special experience as you say your vows to each other.  They cannot be focused on you and all that is going on around you to make you event special no more than you would expect a D.J. to also be your server.   You deserve both!

This is a very important part of your life; please work with a professional that has your best interest in mind.

If you would like to set a consultation or have further questions please contact us  

 The following is an outline of a program and some tips for content:

THE COVER
The typical cover will include the date of the wedding and the name of the couple.  You may also want to include the location and time of the ceremony, a picture of the couple or a design that is meaningful to you.

Officiant: Deborah Walker

Parents of the bride: Rita and Joe Donavan

Parents of the groom: Roberta and John Engle.
Stepparents of the groom: Edith and Robert Evens
Grandparents: Elsie Tilley, Roger and Jean Wright
Maid of Honor: Sharon Marshel, the bride’s sister
Best Man: Morgan McCarthy, the groom’s friend since they were 5 years old.
Bridesmaids: Brenda Rogan, the bride’s roommate from college Carmen Aybar, the groom’s sister
Groomsmen: Justin Coogan, the Grooms friend since the age of 10.  Josh Jones, the Grooms best friend
Readers: Claire Pufson, Debbie Wilson

 Other items you may wish to add:

An explanation of traditions or rituals used in your ceremony

A request for audience participation in certain parts of the ceremony (e.g. affirmation of the marriage, communion, singing, offering of the peace, standing or kneeling)

Message of special thank you

Memorials (for example: The memorial candle is lit in honor of the bride’s mother,  OR On this day of happiness, we would like to remember those who are with us in spirit, especially Robert Donavan grandfather of the bride, and Roberta Brown, mother of the groom.)

An explanation of the significance of the location, theme, first dance song, etc. (for example: the reception will be held at Aqua Knox, the site of the bride and groom’s first date.)

Quotes or poems about love or marriage

Directions to the reception

Flowers by DD’s Blooms Florist

Photography will be provided by

Beautiful Wedding Photography

For more information :

http://www.afloridaweddingceremony.com/Veteran.html

God Bless Our Troops 

Whether by divorce or death, remarriage affects a great number of us.  According to the US Census Bureau, as many as 54% of all marriages end in divorce. Within ten years of the end of a marriage, more than 75% of all women will remarry. 

Brides that are getting married for again will most likely want to do things differently than they did the first time.

Many things have changed in the life of a person celebrating a second or third marriage.  The dynamics of the couples have changed.  There are now children that may be considered, new and different friends and relationships, perhaps geography of family and friends as well as the addition of extended families.  

This time the couple usually feels that they have more control over their choices, more certain of what they do and do not want.  This means that there are unique wedding needs to be met.

The second marriage is cause for celebration and joy and that is the expectation that you need to have for all of your vendors, it they are not excited for you, move on. 

In most cases you will be making more independent buying decisions consultanting your partner more so than your parents.  It may be an opportunity to be more adventuresome in selecting venues and styles to meet your personal preferences.  This time you may want to treat yourself to a “Day of Coordinator”, you may have learned from the first one that it is well worth the investment,  This time you may be doing things the way you would like and not having to please so many of the loved ones that surround you.

 Just as your venue and choice of vendors may differ from your first, so will your ceremony. 

If you choose A Florida Wedding Ceremony for your officiant and / or day of coordinator, will be important that we have a good knowledge of your history so we can suggest and guide you to the perfect ceremony.  We will have many questions for you; some of these questions will involve how you met your partner, if your ceremony will be an intimate ceremony for the two of you or a larger event.  Other considerations will be what part that your children may play in the ceremony if any, what part will family dynamics play, if parents be present, do we want to honor any of them past or present and who will be invited to the wedding.  Based on the responses to these questions, a ceremony can be developed that will be as unique and as special as your love for each other.

 The most important consideration of all is you!  This is your day…have it your way!

 Any further information regarding your ceremony, contact us: http://www.afloridaweddingceremony.com/Contact_us.html

Thank you to Bob Colmer Photography

 One in a garden and one on the beach.  At this point rain is scheduled for tonight and tomorrow.  

 This has brought me to a new topic.  Outdoor weddings.  Although garden and beach weddings are beautiful and memorable, there is a little more planning and things to consider.

 1) Who will be on your guest list?

Will there be elderly people or others that may be uncomfortable on a 90 degree day on the sand or lawn?   

If so how will you keep them comfortable until you make your walk down the aisle?

 2) BE ON TIME!  Remember that your guests will be dressed and in the direct sun and wind. Please don’t keep them baking in the sun.  It is very easy for them to get sun stroke and a burn, keep them out there for as short a time as you can. Your reception will be much more fun if everyone is not exhausted from sitting out in the sun for a prolonged period.

 3) have some bottles of water available in an iced tub; this is just a caring gesture and much appreciated.

 4) Make sure the guests are aware that the wedding will be on the beach.  Dress theme of the wedding should be appropriate to the beach; a formal wedding may not be the right thing in the middle of summer in Florida.

 5) Supply flip flops for the guests to walk on the beach or a have a large basket for them to put their shoes if they choose not to wear them to their seats.

 6) Your programs on a fan are a great keep sake as well as practical on those warm days.

 7) Wear Sunscreen!  You may not think in the short time you are on the beach for your ceremony you will need it but you will!  Remember, you’ll have pictures after so your “sun time” is prolonged. A nice little gift for your wedding party may be sunscreen as well.

 8) Keep yourself hydrated.  Not only will you feel better in the sun, your skin will look fresher too.  You will also feel less tired on the big day.  Start drinking extra water at least 48 hours from your special day.

9) Limit your ceremony to 10 t0 15 minutes.  With the processional and recessional this will bring the wedding to approximately 20 minutes to 30 minutes.  This is a great time frame for all concerned.  (this tip is thanks to Paul Costello, Weddings by Paul)

10)  Are you in an area that could be prone to insects?  Don’t forget the bug spray!  Your guests with thank you. (this tip is thanks to Cynthia Basco from Sacinos Formal Wear)

 And most  important…

 11) Have a backup plan.  Unfortunately your wedding professionals are great at what they do but NO ONE can control the weather.   It may not be as warm as you expected in March or as dry as you expected in November, there is always a solution for the weather, but make sure you have your plan in advance. 

The day of your wedding may be too late.

Thank you to Beautiful Wedding Photography & Michael DePrisco & Alexis Photography