Wedding TBC

Today there are more couples giving charitable donations as wedding favors for any number of reasons.

Some couples give regularly to specific organizations and giving charity wedding favors is a way to show others their association with their favorite organizations, feeling that others who benefit from the works of the organization will benefit more with a larger donation.

The bride and groom may have decided that their cash will be better spent giving charity wedding favors as they can donate a larger sum to the organization while still being economical since the favors can’t be thrown away after the wedding, meaning their money will be put to better use.

How to Choose a Charitable Organization

There may be an event or cause that the couple gives to regularly where they feel that charity donation wedding favors are just something that they’ll just do naturally, for example if a parent or grandparent has passed away due to a particular illness or disease, the charity for that cause will be chosen.

Considerations When Giving Charitable Donations

Some couples may think that guests will miss getting a tangible wedding favor as a keepsake to take home. However, this can be avoided if you give something small yet memorable like decorative scrolls or laminated bookmarks.

Some couples may be concerned about which groups really will make the best use of their donation. So unless you already have an established association with a particular organization, it’s beneficial to do some research before committing to giving youre your money.

While couples may have a concern that their guests might not approve of the charity, you’re the only ones that have to be comfortable with the decision of what organization you send your donation to.

How to Inform the Guests of the Charitable Donation

Many charitable organizations are helping couples who have decided to give wedding favor donations by offering table cards for the couples to place on the guests’ tables. You can also make your own table cards so they’re coordinated with your wedding theme.

Instead of table cards, you can also make up small scrolls tied with ribbon that contain the name of the charitable organization and if any, who the donation is in memory of. For around $1.00 to $1.50 each, you can make laminated bookmarks for the guests with a special saying about the charitable donation.

Personalized bookmarks are a great choice for favors because they help you accomplish two things at once – you save money while still giving your guests a token favor to take home and they receive a special message about the charity you chose to donate to.

Asking for money instead of wedding gifts is a delicate matter. However, the marriage age is much higher nowadays than what it was a few decades ago. Most of the people are well settled with full fledged households when they get married. The original idea of presenting various articles as wedding gifts to help the newly married couple to easily set up their household has become totally redundant now. As such, many wedding couples ask How could we tell our guests that we would prefer money instead of various wedding gifts? It is natural for the newlyweds to have more expenses to meet immediately after the marriage. The honeymoon costs, the down payment for a new house, the purchase of a second automobile, the requirements which need hard cash are more at present than before. Further, nobody would like to have a second or a third bread toaster or four coffeemakers that are hard to use in a single house. Hence, it is not surprising that people feel money would be more useful than the conventional wedding gifts. Still, asking the guests to present money rather than the conventional wedding gifts is not an easy one. Is there a polite way of asking people for money instead of a wedding gift?

One method adopted by some brides and the bridegrooms in asking for money instead of wedding gifts is to mention explicitly in the wedding invitation itself. In the invitation, they clearly state that they prefer cash to gifts. However, this is normally considered rude and abrupt. Convention and etiquettes demand that money or wedding gifts are not mentioned at all in the wedding invitations. A wedding invitation is supposed to convey only your wish that the guests should be present at your wedding and treat it as a special occasion. Anything else in the wedding invitation, particularly the mention about money or wedding gifts is looked at as uncultured behavior.

In spite of the above tricky points, there are a few definite solutions to ask money instead of wedding gifts. At the first stage of the wedding planning, the bride and the bridegroom could prepare a checklist of the probable persons who would be able to contribute to the several portions of the wedding expenses. To do this, the various expenses have to be listed out initially like this.

Bride’s expenses

The wedding gown and accessories
The ring to be presented to the groom
Thank you gifts for the bridesmaids, maid of honor, and other hostesses
Items like ring bearer pillow, flower girl basket, etc.
Hotel accommodations for attendants and guests from brides side
Brides medical visit expenses

Bridegroom’s expenses

Bridegrooms marriage suit and accessories
The ring to be presented to the bride at engagement
The ring to be presented to the bride at the wedding
Thank you gifts for the groomsmen and the best man
The marriage license expenses
Flowers and bouquet to the bride
Items like ring bearer pillow, flower girl basket, etc.
Fees to be paid to the clergyman and officiate
Transportation expenses for the wedding and the reception
Hotel accommodations for attendants and guests from bridegrooms side
Bridegrooms medical visit expenses

Combines expenses for the bride and the bridegroom

Wedding invitations
Wedding pictures
Musician costs
Candle holders
Wedding reception hall fee
Wedding reception decorations
Wedding reception catering expenses, including wedding cake and table decor
Wedding favors and other miscellaneous items like napkins, goblets, etc.
Thank you cards for the wedding guests
Overnight hotel accommodations, if needed
Honeymoon arrangements and related expenses

It would be quite easy if the bride, bridegroom, parents of the bride and the groom and other relatives & friends are asked to bear one expense item of their choice. If fifteen to twenty persons share these expenses, then there would be no need to ask for money instead of wedding gifts. If both families and their friends plan together, the wedding costs could be split without straining the budget of any single person.

Another option is to keep a wedding register at the reception, which is a polite way of asking for money from the guests. Nowadays, several registry services operate that request guests to select and buy specific items for the honeymoon of the couple, as well as the other wedding expenses. As a last resort, the wedding invitation could contain a humble request for money instead of wedding gifts, if the bride and the groom are forced to bear all the expenses, with no assistance from anybody else.

Birdcage veils offer a unique vintage sense of style. Birdcage veils are often worn by brides who simply want a look that isn’t totally ordinary. Cage veils also look great when worn by the bridesmaids, and they come in all different style variations and colors.

Birdcage veils, or cage blusher veils, were a popular style of veil worn by women either as a standalone accessory or as a part of a hat, dating back to the earlier decades in the 1900s. Now, modern women have a new appreciation for vintage style, so birdcage veils are extremely popular for brides and even for every day wear.

Birdcage veils may be worn with any style of wedding gown, but are very popular when accessorizing a vintage inspired gown, such as a bias cut halter gown, or any other simple and elegant style, such as a fitted gown with a mermaid skirt, or an informal wedding gown.

Birdcage veil hairstyles look best when there isn’t a lot of hair in the front, because it can get in the way of the netting. As such, up-dos, low chignons, and vintage hairstyles from the 30s and 40s like pin curls or a Gibson roll hairstyle will work well. Just think sleek, simple, classic hair that doesn’t compete with the veil which will already bring lots of attention to your eyes. If you have bangs, you may want to wear a fuller birdcage veil that frames the face without messing up your hair. You may wear your hair long and loose with a birdcage veil, as well.

Birdcage veils come in several different lengths and styles. To choose the right look, decide where you want the veil edge line to fall across your face.Shorter birdcage veils may cover one or both eyes and be worn either straight or at an angle, and longer cage blusher veils can cover the entire face. Pouf veils are birdcage veils made with more veiling so they frame the head or face, and forehead birdcage veils give a flapper girl style of appearance. Most modern designers of birdcage veils can custom fit any veil to the style you choose.

Whichever style you choose to wear, you will certainly feel like a movie star in your birdcage veil.

These days, not as many wedding dresses have trains, at least in America. Many brides have realized that extra fabric on a wedding dress ends up costing them a little more. That, plus the fact that they cant see that part of their wedding dress all that well, and it drags on the ground, has made the train an extra accessory that some brides decide to eliminate.

However, theres nothing as elegant as the train on a wedding dress. Every royal bride has a long train as an integral part of their wedding gowns; that shows the regality of the bride, who deserves to feel like a queen on her special day. Wedding trains bring glamour, especially if it looks like it was part of the original design, as opposed to an add-on.

In general, there are six types of trains that wedding dresses can have. Lets take a look at each one.

The royal train is the longest of all trains, and of course, by the name, you know this is the type of train that the royals will have as their wedding dresses. Royal trains are extreme; they go back at least 10 feet, and obviously were planned to be there, as the silhouettes theyre attached to are blended so that the gown is seamless. This will definitely make the bride the center of attention.

The next train is pretty long also, and its known as the cathedral train. This train extends between 6 to 9 feet, and, as the term indicates, this was the traditional wedding train for religious ceremonies for centuries, and is still worn by todays brides for mainly Catholic ceremonies.

The next train that comes into religious favor is the chapel train, which only extends from 4 to 5 feet. This train was also a traditional religious train, but not for as extensively religious ceremonies as the cathedral train.

The court train comes in around 3 feet, and traditionally this was for weddings of lesser royals such as duchesses and countesses, though it was regal in its own way.

The sweep train is one that barely touches the ground, kind of sweeping the ground but not by much. This is probably the most popular train with todays brides.

The last train is more of an attachment than originally part of the wedding dress. Known as the watteau, it attaches to the top of the wedding dress at the shoulders, then falls to the length of your dress, or further.

Of course, wedding dresses dont have to have trains, but it just adds so much glamour to the occasion that we hope more brides decide to return to the days of long and elegant trains.

Love songs are a fundamental part of the wedding service. The slower tempo love songs are played for when the first dance is performed by the bride and groom.

If you have a love song that means something to you this should be the song played here. Most couples will have a song that they class as their song and every time they hear it they will be taken back to the first time they heard it and why the song means so much. But what if your song is not really appropriate for whatever reason? This is when you need to do some research and find a love song that has words that you both can relate to.

Below are 5 of the most powerful and classic Love songs which you cant go wrong with. Each song has lovely lyrics that will melt her heart.

1.The Power of Love by Celine Dion
Lyrics include:
I hold on to your body
And feel each move you make
Your voice is warm and tender
A love that I could not forsake

Cause I’m your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I’ll do all that I can
We’re heading for something
Somewhere I’ve never been
Sometimes I am frightened
But I’m ready to learn
Of the power of love

2. The Way You Look Tonight by Tony Bennit
Lyrics include:
Someday when I’m awfully low
When the world is cold
I feel a glow just thinking of you
And the way you look tonight.
Oh, but you’re lovely with your smile so warm
And your cheek so soft
There is nothing for me to love you
And the way you look tonight

3. Can You Feel the Love Tonight by Elton John
Lyrics include:
There’s a calm surrender to the rush of day
When the heat of a rolling wind can be turned away
An enchanted moment, and it sees me through
It’s enough for this restless warrior just to be with you

And can you feel the love tonight
It is where we are
It’s enough for this wide-eyed wanderer
That we got this far
And can you feel the love tonight
How it’s laid to rest
It’s enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best

4. I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You by Elvis
Lyrics include:
Wise men say only fools rush in
But I can’t help falling in love with you
Shall I stay
Would it be a sin
If I can’t help falling in love with you

Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can’t help falling in love with you

Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can’t help falling in love with you
For I can’t help falling in love with you

5.When I Fall in Love by Nat King Cole
When I fall in love it will be forever
Or I’ll never fall in love
In a restless world like this is
Love is ended before it’s begun
And too many moonlight kisses
Seem to cool in the warmth of the sun

When I give my heart it will be completely
Or I’ll never give my heart
And the moment I can feel that you feel that way too
Is when I fall in love with you.

And the moment I can feel that you feel that way too
Is when I fall in love with you.

These are just 5 of the most classic love songs played at weddings. There are literally hundreds to choose from and what you chose should be personal to you. A lot of couples are now turning the first dance into a fully blown dance routine which they have practiced. You can start with a slow love song like one of the above, and then after the first chorus you can get your DJ to change the song to a dance track which you dance together. Other wedding members who are in on the act can be a part of it and join in. Rehearsal is key here and the changing of the song. Many DJs just play a scratchy sound so it sounds like the songs crashed, and then all of a sudden the dance track comes on and the bride and groom and others involved step up to the beat. This is really hilarious especially it a well hidden secret; you only have to look at videos online to see how other couples did this and the reaction it caused. It also takes the pressure away from the first dance.