Water Park Wedding

Want a wet-n-wild wedding?  Check this out!

http://www.destinationidomagblog.com/2011/01/this-resort-offers-wet-n-wild-weddings.html

Incorporating Children at Weddings

There are many ways to incorporate children in weddings, with something to do for every age group! If you have nieces, nephews, children or even grandchildren, to include them in the festivities is very special and meaningful. My step-granddaughter-to-be was in my wedding, and we were both tickled pink! She was precious!


The roles children can play in your ceremony
We’ve all seen pictures of cute little boys and girls all dressed up, walking down the aisle at a wedding! The little girl, as the flower girl, is delicately throwing rose petals to prepare the way for the bride. And the ring bearer, all gussied up in his little tuxedo, is carefully carrying the bride’s ring (or a replica) on his little pillow. This is a great way to include younger nieces, nephews, children, or grandchildren in your wedding. A word of caution: these children should be old enough to be able to walk down the aisle alone and follow instructions. A crying ring bearer may be cute for a few minutes, but after a while, the crying may ruin the atmosphere of your special day.

What about older children?
If there are older children in your family (around ages 9-14), consider asking them to be a junior bridesmaid or junior groomsmen. They fulfill a similar role as your adult bridesmaids and groomsmen and are dressed similarly (the junior bridesmaids dress should be one that suit a girl of her age...avoid the lower necklines and higher hemlines). Teenagers can play a part as well as ushers and hostesses. Your ushers can escort guests to their seats and roll out the aisle runner for the brides, while hostesses can distribute wedding programs and check in guests at your reception.

Meals
Younger children are probably not interested in eating Chicken Marsala or Beef Wellington, so be sure to have a kids menu available. And of course, they will not be served alcohol, so make sure there are beverages for them available.

Mini parties/receptions
Children can get bored with the goings-on of a wedding reception. How about giving them their own party, while the reception is going on? You can hire a sitter, have a special menu for them, and include games, party favors and even their own dessert (cupcakes would be ideal). This also gives parents a break and allows them to enjoy the adult party.

Your Planning Assignment
Carefully consider how you will incorporate your families’ children in this memorable occasion. If a child is too young or doesn’t feel comfortable in a particular role, it’s ok. You can always have special seating for them, or give them a special gift so that they feel a part of the festivities. When hiring a sitter, make sure the person is reputable and trustworthy. Do a search on ‘event sitters’ to find companies that offer this service in your area.

Happy Planning!

Weddings at Funeral Homes?

Check out this article from USA Today about events, including weddings, at funeral homes.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2011-01-19-weddingsandfunerals19_ST_N.htm?csp=usat.me

Would love to get your thoughts!

Flash Mob Wedding

Had to share this wedding video I ran across.  The reaction of some of the mall shoppers is hilarious! Enjoy!

Wedding Podcast Network

If you love technology like I do, this site is just for you.  The Wedding Podcast Network is "the largest, most comprehensive collection of original wedding talk radio programming for couples planning their wedding."  I think I will be a regular listener!

http://weddingpodcastnetwork.com/

Why Have a Cruise Ship Wedding

Cruising is a wonderful way to vacation, and is one of my favorite ways to escape. They offer a variety of entertainment, great ports of call, and endless food! So consider how fantastic it can be to have your wedding celebration on a luxury liner! What can cruise lines offer brides and grooms to make their weddings memorable?

Onboard wedding packages
Packages for a shipboard wedding can include a wedding officiant (on some cruise lines, the captain to perform your ceremony), wedding cake, champagne toast, and wedding flowers (bouquet and boutonniere). Packages can be customized to suit your needs!

Destination wedding packages
If you desire to get married on a beautiful island, cruise lines can help make this happen! You can work with your travel agent or the cruise line’s wedding specialist to determine which ports of call are available for ceremonies. And these packages can also include things like wedding cake and wedding flowers.

Built-in honeymoon
The advantage of getting married while on a cruise is that your honeymoon begins immediately. You move seamlessly from your wedding to your reception to your honeymoon, making great use of your time onboard!

Family members can share your special day and have a vacation
Many couples enjoy sharing this vacation time with their close family and friends. There is so much to do, you will still have private moments together as a couple (your guests will be busy enjoying all of the cruise amenities). And you can all come together at dinner to share your adventures!


I encourage you to work with a reputable travel agency to plan your wedding cruise. Because of special relationships they may have with cruise lines, exclusives offers may be available. Lastly, plan your wedding cruise early. This is a very popular way to get married, and dates fill up quickly.


Happy Cruising!

Planning a Wedding Abroad

Wanted to share these tips for planning a wedding in another country.  Don't be intimidated.....it is doable!

http://stylishweddingideas.com/articles/14_tips_to_plan_a_wedding_from_afar

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!  Wanted to share these words with you today.

"Wishing you 12 months of happiness, 52 weeks of fun, 365 days of laughter, 8760 hours of divine favour, 525,600 minutes of joy, and 31,536,000 seconds of success." -The awesome words of Josh Heikkila


Here's hoping that 2011 is your best year yet!