Wedding Games

The games played at weddings can be a big part of any great wedding ceremony. Every culture has its own tradition of wedding games, and these games can be a great reflection on the culture, and on the individual couple.

Planning the wedding games is an important, but often overlooked, part of planning the wedding ceremony. It is not hard to see why this would be so.

There Are So Many Things Involved With Planning The Perfect Wedding

There are so many things involved in planning a wedding, from getting the perfect flowers to finding the perfect dress to ordering just the right wedding cake. It can be easy for little things, like planning the wedding games and choosing the best wedding favors, to get lost in the shuffle.

Coming Up With Great Wedding Games 

Many people who have never planned a wedding before are unsure about the proper wedding games to use, or where to find information on wedding games.

One great place to get ideas is, of cause, at other weddings. Think back to the weddings you have attended, and the games you have played at those weddings. Think about the games that were fun, and put your own spin on them for the wedding you are planning.

It is also a good idea to ask friends and family members about games they enjoyed at weddings they intended.

Many of the games used at weddings are similar, but there are always some unique and interesting games as well, particularly in weddings held in other religions or cultures.

 The Internet Is An Incredible Source

And of course the internet is an incredible resource for researching all kinds of wedding planning tools, including some incredible wedding games.

Be sure to peruse the many web sites and newsgroups devoted to wedding planning. These internet resources are some excellent sources of information on all kinds wedding games.

The beauty of the internet is that it allows you to quickly communicate with other people who have planned or are planning their own weddings, and share tips, tricks and secrets for wedding games and other aspects of putting together the perfect wedding.

Wedding Ceremony

Most people planning a wedding ceremony are doing it for the first time with a basic understanding of what needs to be done. Of course, you want the ceremony to be perfect and with all the other things you have to think about it can all be quite stressful. But, if you get organized and keep on track, your wedding ceremony can come off without a hitch.

Here are 10 things to consider about when planning your wedding ceremony:

1. Know your Numbers - Along with your fiancé discuss the size of wedding you'd like then make a list of who you're inviting. If you are over your number, start making adjustments. Remember, everyone that you invite to the wedding ceremony, you will need to invite to the wedding reception.

2. Know your wedding party - Decide who you want in your wedding party and how many are going to be in it. Again, you and your fiancé are going to have to make a list of who is important to you, both male and female, and work out your wedding party. Remember your wedding party will be an important part of your wedding ceremony so it is important to choose those that are important to you and those who will support you.

3. Know your Location - Are you going to have a church or non-church wedding ceremony? If you choose a church ceremony, you're going to have to find a church that works for both you and your fiancé. Choosing a church wedding will mean things are going to be a bit more formal and you may need to start thinking about people to participate in readings etc. Choosing a non- church wedding opens up many places to have your own unique and special ceremony, remember many places book up early for wedding ceremonies so make sure you book early. If you're thinking about getting married in the outdoors, always make sure wedding ceremonies are permitted and you have a back up plan in case it rains.

4. Know your Flowers - You are going to need flowers for the wedding ceremony, choosing local in season flowers are always a good deal. You'll need flowers to decorate pews, and the altar, and don't forget flowers for your wedding party. Bride's maid bouquets, used at the wedding ceremony, often double as the centre pieces for the head table. (It's quick and easy transition and gives the brides maid somewhere to put their bouquet during the reception.) Not just the bride, bride's maids and flower girls, get flowers. The groom his groomsmen, fathers of the groom and bride along with any other special males attending the wedding ceremony, will need a boutonnière. The mother's of both the bride and groom along with any other special females, attending the wedding ceremony will also need corsages.

5. Know your Music - Discuss what type of music you want for your ceremony you'll need music for: when guests are arriving, the procession, and if you choose to, during the ceremony. You may even choose to have music playing as guests leave the wedding ceremony. If you're looking for something classy and low key you can often hire high school or university students to play your choice of musical instruments or sing. Remember this music is separate from your reception and will add a nice personalized touch to your wedding ceremony.

6. Know your post wedding ceremony line up: You will need to arrange a receiving line as people are leaving. Make sure you choose an area with plenty of room which has an easy flow from the ceremony area to the exit. Make sure your wedding party and others involved in the line know their place well ahead of time, and don't be shy about having someone announce how the receiving line will be set up.

7. Know your Photographer / Photographs: You will want to document the whole day as the bride gets ready, the ceremony, the reception and of course the bridal party pictures. You may actually want to consider also getting a videographer to preserve your ceremony forever. Important things to keep in mind about photos during your ceremony; ensure your photographer(s) and videographer will be dressed appropriately for the occasion. Although almost all photographers know this, it never hurts to ask them and make sure they look appropriate. Make sure the photographer is aware of where they can and cannot be during the ceremony. If you prefer a certain angle or want plenty of pictures taken during a specific part of the wedding, make sure your photographer is aware. Remember there are no re-takes so make sure you choose someone you're comfortable with and can communicate with.

8. Know the Logistics - Normally, the groom will get to the church or ceremony site with family or groomsmen and the bride will get there in the limo. You can work out whatever you want. Just be sure that everyone has a way to get there and to the reception. Ensure that any out of town guests have been given maps or instructions on how to reach the wedding ceremony. If it's in your budget you may even want to arrange transportation for these guests. Whatever you choose to do, make sure everyone involved in your wedding ceremony knows the details ahead of time.

9. Know where the Rings are - Rings are often left with the best man, but any trust worthy member of the wedding party can be given this responsibility. It is best to give the rings to the person the night before, or first thing when you see them the day of the wedding. It seems like such an easy thing to remember, but if the duties are left to a nervous groom or bride chances are they'll forget. It's shocking how often wedding ceremonies are stopped because someone is running back to the house or hotel room to get the rings.

10. Know how to let go - Weddings can be an extremely stressful time and although we can spent countless hours, days, weeks and months planning the perfect wedding ceremony. Not everything will go the way you've planned it. Remember that you're probably the only one who knows it hasn't gone according to plan. We can't control everything so take a few deep slow breaths and enjoy your special day.

Pre Wedding

A pre wedding checklist should be made a few months prior to the date of wedding since it involves planning for everything for the wedding. With a lot of time to buffer, you would be able to prepare for the wedding the way you like. For being choosy you should have enough time as well as options. But if that is not the case, before you start with anything, first and foremost divide the total time for preparations into three phases. Now, distribute all the matters on a priority basis. By doing this, you would be able to prioritize the things and proceed step by step with the preparations.

Wedding Souvenirs

Wedding souvenirs' presentation and package should be given attention as it's a direct thank-you gift for the presence of the wedding guests. Souvenirs can be decorative or be complementary to the overall theme of the wedding. Just like the rest of the wedding's decoration and theme, souvenirs should seamlessly reflect the couple's taste.

Wedding Vows

You've planned every part of your wedding down to the finest detail. You've been over the flowers, music and reception food again and again. But have you given much thought to your wedding vows? If you haven't, when your wedding day rolls around, you'll probably find that there's a huge piece of your wedding ceremony that you've left up to someone else. Many brides and grooms never think about this crucial part of the wedding ceremony and they're stuck with boring, uninspired wedding vows that were created by their ceremony officiant.

Wedding vows are the most important part of the wedding ceremony. They are the promises you and your partner make to each other and they are the emotionally binding part of the ceremony. If you don't take the time to create your own wedding vows, you may be making pledges to your partner that don't feel personal and may not even make sense to you. Remember, your wedding vows are your promises, so don't leave them up to someone else to decide.

Many couples also find traditional wedding vows somewhat lacking. Most traditional vows are the same vows that have been used for centuries. In fact, many versions of traditional wedding vows can be traced as far back as the Middle Ages. In modern times, marriage vows mean a variety of different things to different people. If you want to create personalized wedding vows, you don't have to settle for the same vows your grandmother used.

When you take it upon yourself to create your own vows, you will make your wedding vows a sentimental and touching part of your wedding ceremony. Your wedding ceremony will be more meaningful to you and your fiance. And family and friends will appreciate the small glimpse into your relationship that's shown through the words you use to express your feelings. Personal wedding vows can become one of the most memorable parts of your wedding for you and others.

So, now that you've decided to write your own wedding vows, how should you go about doing it? Well, there are two excellent options for couples who want to design personal wedding vows. You can do it from scratch or you can use a wedding vow template to create vows. Both options have their own benefits. You can simply choose the method that works best for you.

If you decide to work from scratch, you'll need a good block of time in order to write your vows. You can start by thinking about your relationship and what it means to you. Then, jot down any significant words or phrases that come to mind. Take a look at some traditional vow formats and then use the chosen words and phrases to form your own wedding vows. Depending on how well you write, this process can take a few hours or more.

You may not have the time to devote to writing your wedding vows from scratch. Fortunately, you can now find resources that offer wedding vow templates These templates are basically fill-in-the-blank wedding vows that make it a breeze to create personal and unique vows. All wedding vow templates are not the same - take the time to choose ones that are well written and appeal to you. If you use this option, you can design your own wedding vows in as little as fifteen minutes.

Whatever option you choose, by creating your own wedding vows, you'll get away from the typical cookie-cutter version of vows. Instead, you'll be much more satisfied with wedding vows that are romantic and personal to your relationship.

Wedding Favors

Modern day wedding favors are seeing a radical shift in the terms of innovation and design, but they are definitely in keeping with the sentiments of both traditional and contemporary style weddings. Wedding favors are also being made as multi-purpose and functional so that your guests can use them around their homes and remember your wedding as a treasured memory. Favors are also growing more personal as handmade and personalized wedding favors are the in thing. Here are some of the hottest trends for wedding favors for 2007.

Themed Wedding Favors

Simply because destination weddings and themed weddings are on the rise, coordinating your wedding favors with the destination or the theme is just being sensible. You can always use your imagination to come up with some unique themed wedding favors that reflect the place and time. For example, if your wedding ceremony and reception is in Hawaii, giving your guests beach themed gifts like palm tree candles with personalized tags that have your names and wedding date on them are really creative and invaluably traditional.

Traditional Wedding Favors

Speaking of tradition, it is very important to honor our own cultural traditions, in fact there may also be certain customs and traditions that are followed in the homes of the bride and groom. Ask if there are any such customs and if you wish to give your guests something cultural, think well of what really reflects your culture and brings back a feeling of sentiment and nostalgia that you wish to share with your wedding guests. For Irish couples, the claddagh holds a lot of importance and giving wedding favors with claddagh motifs is considered a symbol of love and unity. Similarly Celtic love knots and lucky four leaf clovers are part and parcel of Irish traditional wedding ceremonies.

Eco-friendly Favors

More and more couples are doing their bit for their planet by having eco-friendly wedding receptions and giving out eco-friendly wedding favors. Favors made of natural materials like fiber mats, recycled material favors and even organic foodstuffs are on the rise as modern day trends in wedding favors. Personalized flower seed packets are a way to show your appreciation and give back to the Earth.

Wedding Favors for the Season

With many weddings being clubbed with Christmas or other festivals, giving guests something that reflects the spirit of the festive season is just the way to have practical weddings for the modern couple. Wedding favors like Easter-themed goodies for the spring season, Christmas themed goodies for winter, and colorful Fall motifs for Autumn brides is fast gaining ground.

A Lifetime Supply of Favors

You read it right. Today couples are going beyond just wedding favors, but instead treating their guests to an experience of a lifetime that is going to stay with the guests for all their life. There are weddings done in many unusual ways. For example, you can have your wedding several thousand feet above the ground and give your guests a joyride and also hand them their own pair of binoculars and don't forget little balloons that your guests can set sail once they are off the ground.

Techno Wedding Favors

In today's digital age, can we leave out the techno buzz from our wedding favors? I'd say not. So many couples are choosing to give their guests memorabilia like wedding CD's, DVD's, and their own designed graphics as personalized printables like stationery, CD covers, and the like. If you or your groom is a tech junkie this is definitely an option worth considering.

Bali Weddings

Bali, Indonesia is a romantic getaway with its wide expanse of white sandy beaches and crystal clear blue water. This gorgeous place boasts some beautiful landscapes and even more beautiful hotels to retreat to. In Bali you will be enthralled by the warm Indonesian hospitality and grace. This is a great vacation spot and today many people are even choosing it as a wedding venue. Getting married with the blue water as a backdrop makes for some memorable photos and an even more memorable wedding.

Weddings

Even though we have said it can be time consuming and stressful, we by no means imply that it cannot be done. A destination wedding is great idea, as your family and friends get a chance to relax and unwind whilst enjoying and joining in your fun. What better way to say thanks to all those who you love than to take them for a vacation for your wedding? Having said this, there are a few things you should take care of when planning your wedding. The most important being the destination. There are many gorgeous locations, but we are going to discuss Bali, Indonesia in detail.

Why Bali?

Bali is a small island in the middle of Indonesia and it is known for its exotic and beautiful landscapes and locations. You can have your wedding at one of the following locations that offer you the best of Bali.

Dreamland Beach

You could get married on the Dreamland Beach, which has the most beautiful expanse of sand and surf. This makes for a beautiful sunset wedding if you are planning one.

The Mangrove

This area is perfect, as the foliage makes a beautiful background and getting married in the open garden will truly be enjoyable for all. You can have beautiful white canopies with white candles... all the trimmings of a "white wedding".

Garuda Wisnu Kencana

This is a giant statue of the Hindu gods Vishnu and Garuda. You can use this as your focal point and the wedding decorator or you can plan the whole wedding area around this statue.

Taman Ujung Palace

This former residence of the Karangasem Dynasty is a beautiful and well-preserved palace you can have your royal Balinese wedding at. You can have a royal theme and centre all your decorations and invites on it.

Cruise Ship

You can come to Bali and get married not "by" the sea, but "on" the sea. There are many cruises you can book yourself and your family and friends on and you can enjoy a beautiful wedding catered to by the ship's crew.

Rice Fields

This is a very unique and different location to get married in. Following the tradition of throwing rice on the newly wedded couple as a way of blessing, you can now get married in the rice fields. It offers a beautiful and green setting and definitely will be a different and unique wedding.