Often times, “wedding” roses, “wedding” cake, and even “wedding” photography can often run at a heftier price tag than non-wedding counterparts. Why is this? What is so special about a wedding that the same decorations and food cost more? Here are some reasons why there can be a pricing disparity between wedding and non-wedding items and services

general:

• Everything has to be perfect.
• Everyone’s expectations for weddings are higher.
• Vendors work all week getting ready (and attending to the needs of other clients) and then also work the weekend of your wedding.

flowers:

• Many additional stems are ordered to ensure plenty of “perfect” flowers in the right numbers.
• Because arrangements can’t be made up too far in advance, the floral staff will work overtime the day before the wedding to create corsages, boutonnières, bouquets, large arrangements, centerpieces, and décor accents.
• They will also work on Saturday to decorate.

cake:

• Compared to a birthday or other cake, wedding cakes require a lot of extra time and design.
• Extra care/time is used in delivery and setup, often by the baker herself.

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Toasting is not easy. Even if you aren’t the Best Man or Maid of Honor, you could be expected to toast the bride and groom. These days, toasting ceremonies take on a life of their own. You don’t want to be the only guest at the party without something tactful-yet-witty to say. So, plan ahead!

Dos:

• Mention of the love you see that the couple has for one another. For example, “I can tell by the way you look at one another…”
• Mention the beautiful ceremony and/or day. For example, “This beautiful ceremony [day] symbolizes the happiness I wish for you…”
• Keep it short and sweet. For example, you might recite an appropriate cultural wedding toast. Or, you might simply say, “I wish you lifelong happiness and prosperity. Congratulations.”
• Consider having one drink to calm your nerves.

Don’ts:

• Reference low points or rough spots in the couple’s history, “you’ve had your ups and downs”. Instead, say, “You have proved you can handle things, if you have each other.”
• Reference any ex-partners, ever. period. Even if that person is you. Instead, mention the friendship you share with the couple.
• Make claims expecting the marriage to produce children, even if you know the couple has immediate plans for kids. Instead, try, “I wish for you that all your hopes and dreams come true.”
• Rhyme.
• Tell jokes or embarrassing stories. They are rarely effective and might embarrass the bride and groom.
• Mention sex, drugs, illegal activities, or drunken evenings.
• Mimic TV commercials, movies, or sitcoms.
• Have more than a drink–or maybe two–before giving your toast. Even a slight buzz can slur your speech and keep you from sounding articulate.

Remember, the videographer will record every word and the guests’ and couple’s reactions. Make your toast one that they will be proud to show at their 25th and 50th Anniversary parties.

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Find the May issue of the As You Wish newsletter here:

http://www.asyouwishbcs.com/Newsletter/news_20070502.html

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Find the first issue of the As You Wish newsletter here:
http://asyouwishbcs.com/Newsletter/news_20070401.html

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You may have family and friends who try to convince you stay hidden from one another until the moment you walk down the aisle. You may have fantasies about the flutter in his heart when he sees you for the first time, at your dad’s side and walking toward him while the Bridal Chorus plays. These are wonderful in the ideal…..but, you know, reality is different. Following is a list of some of the reasons you might consider seeing each other for the formal portrait session before the wedding.

• You could get something on your dress before the ceremony.
• A member of your wedding party could become lightheaded and may not be able to stand for post-ceremony photography.
• The ceremony schedule could go awry forcing you to leave the church before all post-ceremony photography is complete.

There are dozens of things that could go wrong. Don’t let yourself go without formal photographs because of a superstition. At the same time, don’t sacrifice your fantasy of his reaction upon seeing you for the first time.

Today’s brides are favoring logic. And, you can still have that moment with your groom.

Should you choose to pose together for pre-ceremony portraits,
will coordinate a beautiful reveal: perfectly pose the bride adorned with her accessories and elements of tradition, bring in the groom with his eyes closed, and face the groom from the bride. Then, we will leave the room and allow the groom to turn and see his beautiful bride for the first time. Instead of having to share that special moment with a few hundred guests and squeezed into quiet moments in the early part of your ceremony, you’ll get to keep that first moment with one another to yourselves. You’ll actually have the chance to tell one another how nice you look. He’ll really get to look at your dress–and maybe those beautiful earrings he gave you. After allowing you some time to enjoy one another, we will return a few moments later to begin photographs. These first few images of a couple at this moment in the day will be radiant.

There are many reasons to finish all formal photography before the wedding ceremony.

• You’ll be alone for your most romantic portraits.
• Portrait sessions will move more quickly; there will be no distractions from family or guests.
• Your hair and makeup will be fresh, perfectly styled, and without smudges from tears or kisses and hugs. Even your flowers will be at their freshest.
• Stress levels are higher in brides who try to stay “hidden” from the groom (or guests.)
• You can choose any nearby location to take pictures. (Beautiful locations are not always practical to visit after a ceremony, especially for a single-location event.)
• If there are any last changes to or information about the ceremony, you have a chance to talk about it with your groom.
• Even when the groom sees the bride before the wedding, he still has that flutter feeling in his hear when the ceremony begins and she walks down the aisle toward him.
• Since guests were not present for formal portraits, they may be seeing the bride for the first time, Images of the bride coming down the aisle are flanked by smiling guests who are still oooh-ing and aahhhh-ing over her gown, veil, hair, jewelry, etc.
• Ceremonies are emotional. People are sometimes crying. Guests all want to congratulate the bride and groom right away. This is especially true at a single-location events.
• When the ceremony is complete, no one (couple, family, attendants) will want to pose for all the formal photos necessary for a complete album. Even the couple will be anxious to get to the reception so they can greet their friends and relatives who have come a long distance.
• While the guests are fling from the ceremony to the reception, that leaves a small window of time for the bride and groom to be alone and enjoy their first few moments as a married couple. If this time is being spent on photographs, the bride and groom may never get a single moment alone together all day. This moment with your new spouse can be one of the most precious times of the entire day.
• With the most important portraits complete, you’ll be more relaxed and will enjoy your ceremony even more. You’ll even be able to head to the reception earlier, allowing your guests the chance to spend more time with you as a couple.
• The pace of the entire day is more even. If the reception vendors (caterer, DJ, etc.) know more accurately when the bride and groom will arrive, this makes them more efficient at their jobs. This will not only make for a better reception, it can also reduce your costs in several ways.

Having a formal portrait session before the ceremony does not diminish the magic felt in “that” moment at the beginning of the ceremony.

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• Do you have general questions about wedding photography?
• Do you need help learning what questions to ask your potential photographers?

Learn more so you can be a more educated shopper!

Give this site a browse: wedfog.com

No matter what time of year your wedding is going to take place, it’s always a good idea to be aware of the movements of the sun and the direction of its light. This is especially important when planning a winter wedding, as the days will be at their shortest and the light at its weakest. Consult www.sunrisesunset.com to find the information you need for any location in the world. If you plan on doing some of your wedding photographs outdoors or are even having an outdoor ceremony, allow at least 60 to 90 minutes prior to sunset for photographs, as the light will fade quite rapidly after sunset.”

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There are several, legitimate reasons to host an adults-only wedding & reception (or other party/event):

• squealing babies and toddlers are not good background noise for your wedding video (or banquet/award ceremony)
• capacity (and fire codes) could be a concern at your venue(s), and you might prefer to invite more of your own friends
• your reception may include a cocktail-party atmosphere where children would not be comfortable
• you may prefer that your guests have a nice experience without the distractions of discipline, potty trips, and toddler entertainment
• weddings are not usually fun for kids: uncomfortable clothes, adult food, nothing to “do”
• if rowdy children cause any damage to the facilty or any equipment or rentals, you will incur fees from that vendor

Many people feel that a wedding is an adult event. While most good parents will talk to their children about the kind of behavior expected at such an important occassion, there is almost always someone who is neglectful in this manner.

Should you choose an adult-only wedding, reception or party, you might consider some ideas in this Washington Post article from Miss Manners — where she suggests separate, matching invitations for kids to a corresponding Children’s Party.

can easily help you plan a Children’s Party that will keep them busy and entertained.

A separate Children’s Party

• won’t add too much to your wedding budget
• will make for a nicer event for you, your guests, and the kids

…because everything should be just…

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Unity Candles have become quite popular in the last 2-3 decades and can be a wonderful moment in your ceremony.  While planning your ceremony, there are some things you should consider about using these candles.

1. Not all faiths allow these candles. Since this is not a bona fide Christian element, some faiths will not allow them to be worked into the wedding ceremony.  If so, you could still light a Unitiy Candle at your reception in conjunction with the prayer before the meal, the cake cutting, or the toasts.
2. Not all venues allow candles at all. Especially in older/historic churches, you may find that venues only allow electric candles. Wax damage and the risk of fire is just too great. If so, consider an alternative. Your mothers could start the ceremony by delivering small pitchers of wedding rice to the altar. Then, in your ceremony, you could pour the small pitchers into a larger vase.
3. Assemble the candles on the stand immediatly upon purchase. Make sure that the stand is well balanced and doesn’t rely on the weight of the center candle to support the tapers. You might also consider a candle pedastal and two candlesticks instead of a stand. Make sure the tapers will stand straight, but are also easy to remove and replace.
4. Pre-light the candles. New wicks are not designed to be lighted. They are supposed to be trimmed and lighted before use. This ensures a small gentle flame during lighting and and even burning of the candle for the rest of your ceremony. If the wicks are pre-lighted and properly trimmed, the tapers and unity candle will light easily during these moments during your ceremony.

There are many ways to symbolize the joining of two into one. As You Wish will be happy to meet with you to brainstorm ideas that are special and uniqe to you as a couple, yet still fit the parameters of your ceremony.

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Are you stuck without someone to serve as flowergirl at your wedding? Do you still want to walk down the aisle as if it is your very own personal red carpet?

Consider using a runner as part of the ceremony rather than just as decoration. After each attendant has walked down the aisle, have an usher ceremoniously unroll an aisle runner for the bride’s entrance. This will not only give that special touch to the bride’s entrance, it will also vary the photographs of the wedding procession.

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If you want to give guests the chance to be creative, but aren’t willing to live with all their remarks in a permanent guestbook, consider this flexibile option:

Put blank, unruled index cards (or small cuts of linen paper that matches your invitations and programs) on the tables with decorative bowls and nice pens. Guests can write any marriage advice or thoughts or even draw pictures.

Have a family member or trusted guest collect them before you leave. They make great reading material while you travel to your honeymoon destination!!

A really affordable/convenient version of this includes 3 x 5 cards punched to fit a small notebook. This makes them easy to transport and store. (And, if anyone wrote comments you don’t want Grandma to read, you can just pull those cards before you show her the mini-book.)

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On the morning or early afternoon of your wedding, schedule 5-10 minutes for the bride (and the groom) to be alone. Respective ready rooms make a great location for this. This time is for you to reflect and process what you are about to do. It’s a great time to pray for your wedding, your entire marriage, and your true love. builds this time in for clients and will gather up maids and moms to leave the bride alone for just a quiet moment or two. will also find a groomsman and assign this task to him to make sure the groom gets the same moment or opportunity. Since most couples are hit with a barrage of questions on your wedding day, this gives your ears and your brain a chance to relax before you make one of the most important steps in life.

Similarly, book a quiet moment for you as a couple after the ceremony. Again, will provide this time between the ceremony and the reception so that you can bask in each other for just a moment. This might be the only chance all day that you have to really look at one another or to share personal thoughts. During the hustle and bustle of a wedding day, this time can be about you and your new marriage…without distractions from those who need directions to the reception!

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This bride’s attire included an elegant long cape/wrap made by the mother-in-law-to-be (along with the dress!) and handmade jewelry that was a gift from her sister.

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“Wedding Rice” is a bright-white, environmentally safe product for guests to toss during the getaway. As you can see, it photographs nicely.

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As you worry over details, timelines, and colors, don’t forget to include personal touches that make your day about just you and your partner.

Here are some ideas for things you can do to add a real personal element to your wedding.

• Private Vows. Most couples use standard traditional or modern vows. Some vows are even dictated by scripture of your religion. The night before your wedding, write your own personal vows to each other. Save the vows for your wedding night or honeymoon trip so they can be shared in private.
• Morning Notes. If you have followed the tradition of not seeing each other until the ceremony on the day of the wedding, take a few minutes that morning or early afternoon to write notes to each other. This is a great time to reflect on the steps you are about to take as both individuals and as a couple. And, the writing of these notes can make for a sweet shot for your wedding album. Have attendants deliver these notes so you can each read the sentiments before your ceremony.

Whatever you do, make sure that your personalities are woven into the other elements of the day. While famiy and friends may be invited to bear witness to this wonderful moment between you, and a lot of thought and planning has been given to their needs and their comfort, don’t forget that the day is for and about YOU!

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Party Favors can be one of the most challenging items to selet for a wedding. We usually find it important to thank guests for attending with some treat or trinket. At the same time, we want the items to be memorable and even functional. Favors are sometimes a key element in table decor; they can add to the decor allowing for more modest centerpieces.

Here are some ideas for great favors that your guests will love!

• Photos. A photograph in a standard size is a great favor for your guests. When they take it home, they can place it directly into a frame. They not only have a memory of the day, they also have a recent photo of the bride and/or couple. As You Wish includes these–in the form of a takeaway card–with most photography services. Takeaway cards not only give your guests a photo (or two) that they can keep, they share information with them such as your new address or a special thank you. Finally, Takeaway cards list the website and password for guests to see photos from the event.
• Koozies. These can now be ordered in your wedding colors, with your name and date, and with a cute graphic and/or expression like: “To have and to old and to keep your drink cold.” These are especially effective if you will have canned or bottled drinks at your reception. Let As You Wish design and order these for you!
• Coasters. These come in custom colors and designs from funky to elegant. As You Wish can design these favors to match the color scheme and style of your event.
• Candy. Candy is dandy. Guests–especially kids–love it. Be careful with chocolate or anything that can melt. M&Ms now come in wedding colors or you can order a blend of the colors of your event. You can even have your names printed on them. As You Wish can help you find wonderful containers that are attractive and affordable.
• In lieu of. Due to costs and the hassle, many brides and grooms opt for table tents explaining that in lieu of favors, a donation has been made to charity. This is a sweet gesture. Just be sure that your centerpiece or other table decorations can stand on their own; the absence of favors may make the table seem a little empty.

All in all, favors can cost just about any price. Be prepared to spend at least $2 per guest. (And you’ll find that favors can cost up to $15-20 per guest.)

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