When you’re picking out your bridesmaids dresses, or tuxes, and all the accessories that go with them keep your wedding parties’ budget in mind. Also remember that they may get married themselves someday (if they haven’t already), and they will probably treat you with more courtesy if you take it easy on them now.

No one will argue that it’s your big day, but don’t forget to be grateful that the people in your wedding party are good enough friends that they would gladly spend the time and the money needed to be a part of your ceremony.

Image sxc.hu

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There are several options available, and several things to think about when you’re deciding on how you will get from your wedding to the reception, or to your final destination when the festivities are finished.

Here are some things you should consider when deciding on your mode of wedding transportation.

• Will you be transporting only the bride and groom, or will you be transporting the entire wedding party. How many people will be riding?
• How much do you need from your wedding transportation? Will you need someone to get you to the wedding? To the reception? To your final destination when the reception is over?
• How far will you be traveling? How far away is the reception?
• What is your wedding transportation budget? Do you need to find cheap or low cost wedding transportation, or do you have a limo rental figured in to your wedding budget?

Some popular wedding transportation methods include limos, stretch hummers, party vans and buses, horse and carriage, or an antique car.

If you’re getting married, or you’re already married, how did you transport the wedding party?

Images (c) L Gerlach

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Today, I’d like to highlight 5 Brilliant Tips to Maximize Catering on your wedding; accommodating both budget and food choices that your guests will appreciate:

Image: Sofitel Miami

1. Ask caterers and hotels for a whole range of menus for different budgets so you can plan your own menu better. You just might find an opportunity to get choice items to replace the more boring ones and still keep it within your budget.
2. Try trimming from the dessert spread if you need more main courses. Guests are least likely to eat from the former after a full meal.
3. Consider “under-catering”. If you’re expecting 150 wedding guests, cater for a 100 or 120 but if you’re still worried about food running out, order a tray of tasty food that has a lot of carbs.
4. Trade your free honeymoon suite for more food at the wedding reception. A room is still a room, better to keep the guests well fed am I right?
5. At your hotel food-tasting, ask to speak to the chef. You may be able to strike a good deal, like a free upgrade on an entree or main course, with the chef during your little chat.

I hope you find these tips useful!

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One example is the Cherry Blossoms theme available at the Diamond Hotel.

Image: weddingfactsheet.com

According to Wedding Fact Sheet, this particular wedding theme “portrays the soft side of Japanese pop art and natural elements. The effect is almost Zen-like with the use of pastels and muted hues and a tranquil feel that soothes the soul. For this package, the hotel’s famed Yurakuen Restaurant prepares a banquet, with platter after platter of tasty Japanese dishes that can only astound guests for their pure taste.”

It reminded me of the Anime and Manga inspired wedding cake topper. I think it will go well with the Cherry Blossoms theme — a solid Japanese theme which gives the impression of youthful fun, spring freshness and a relaxing feel. Yea, the wedding theme would be perfect for Spring weddings and will tickle the fancy of couples who are into the whole Japanese inspiration.

Wouldn’t it be adorable to have your bridesmaids wear a single cherry blossom on their hair? Or perhaps have your photo taken under a shower of cherry blossoms? It’ll certainly be different if you end up using cherry blossoms as your core wedding flower over the usual tulips, roses, poppies, etc. Anyway, I hope this helps inspire you to play with pastels and cherry blossoms to create that soothing atmosphere for your own wedding celebration.

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Image: The Knot Shop

These sell about $13.95 each at The Knot Shop. You can also opt to have the lockets engraved with your bridesmaids’ initials.

Make it more special by including an individual note on each of the bracelet listing down the many special things that this bridesmaid of yours has done during your wedding planning and on the actual wedding day.

You don’t need to give the gift to your bridesmaids at the wedding. You can do it after. Perhaps invite your bridal party for drinks and give them these special bracelets.

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The performance took place at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Funny! Worth watching and tell me if you don’t find this hilarious and very different! LOL

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Image: Flickr

Our best man did a fantastic job at our wedding. He gave a witty, funny yet sentimental speech. I still remember the words he used like it was yesterday.

If you are not so confident about giving a speech, here are some handy tips to get you through the ordeal

Reading vs Memorizing your Speech – People won’t mind if you read it but please, not word for word. Try to familiarize yourself with your speech.

Practice - It is always a good idea to rehearse your speech. Practice in front of the mirror. Practice smiling, pausing between sentences. Practice even the way you lift your glass for the toast. There is a lot to be gained with practising. There is nothing worse than a nervous-looking best man giving the speech that will set the tone of the wedding reception. Yes, no pressure!

Slow Down! – It is always a good idea to slow down. Don’t zap through the whole speech a mile a minute. Yes you’ve rehearsed your speech but rehearse the speed as well and occasional eye contact with the newlyweds will be good too.

Body Language – even if you don’t feel it, act confident, stand up straight. Look up from your cue cards. Make eye contact. All of these will help.

Laughs – If you expect a laugh – wait for it. If it doesn’t come tell people they were supposed to laugh and refuse to go on until they do. That will kick start them. Don’t begin again until the laughter has died down – enjoy it.

Interruptions. – don’t get peeved off when someone interrupts you with a ‘here, here’ or a joke. Savor it. Gives you time to relax when you see that everyone’s enjoying your speech and feel relaxed enough to join in the fun!

Drink – Don’t drink too much. Please. There’s nothing worse than a drunk best man slurring his speech.

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Via Hitched

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Image: JF

The dress will be made of a combination of satin and chiffon. What I love about the dress is the design and the length of the dress. It means that Jacq can wear this to parties and other weddings because it doesn’t look like a bridesmaid’s dress.

Something you need to be aware of is that the skirt alone takes about 5 meters so yes, lots and lots of fabric!

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If you’re the bride, you must love your husband-to-be so much to indulge him in one of his favourite eye-candies! Wow, renting UCLA cheerleaders to stand as bridesmaids at your wedding is pretty out there, I must say!

Can’t say I’ve thought about that if I’d like to think outside the square, I’d probably hire motorbikes as our wedding vehicle as my husband’s mortorbike mad

It takes a special kind of woman to surprise her betrothed on their wedding day by renting six UCLA cheerleaders and Joe Bruin ($100 a pop) for the reception, but that’s what happened out in sunny So Cal. Where there’s cheerleader news, there’s Busted Coverage. Fear not, the post includes the compensatory crowd reaction and cheer stunt videos.

What about you? Would you do something like this?

Photo is HERE.

Source: Sports Illustrated

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I’ve been a bridesmaid more times than I’d care to remember and I enjoy it, truly. I love my friends and for me, being asked to be one of their bridesmaids is an honour. I’ve emcee’d wedding receptions and organised weddings for friends and family as well. I get a thrill from seeing how happy they were on their special days.

The difficult part of being part of the bridal party is the cost.

If you’re financially tight, being a bridesmaid can cause a strain on your budget unless of course you have wealthy girlfriends who’d foot the bill for everything wedding-related.

That is not the case as we know it. Most of my friends paid for their own weddings rather than rely on their parents to pay for the lot. That means that as one of their good friends and part of their bridal party, I had to foot the bill.

So apart from running around after your bride, being a bridesmaid can also be a financial burden.

The next time someone asks you to be their bridesmaid and you’re in a financially tight budget, make sure you ask who’s going to pay for your wedding dress and your make-up because costs can escalate without you realising it!

I must admit when I got married, I asked my friends to pay for their bridesmaid’s dresses. To help them out, I also asked them NOT to bother with wedding pressies plus I offered to pay for the costs of having their make up done by my make up artist.

All in all, it worked out well.

For your wedding, did you pay for your bridesmaids’ costs or did you ask them to share in the bill?

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