Choosing the perfect wedding venue

You’ve found the perfect groom. You’ve bought the perfect dress. You’re expecting a perfect wedding. Now all you need is the perfect wedding venue. Having a perfect wedding relies largely on having a perfect venue. That’s why you should treat finding a wedding venue as if you are buying a new house. It is, after all, where you will receive and treat your friends and relatives in probably the most memorable night of your life.

Here are some tips to help you search for that perfect wedding venue.

Trust your instincts. As soon as you arrive in a particular venue you will automatically have a certain feeling towards it. You have to trust your instinct. If you feel a certain positive vibration to the venue then that’s a good start. In the same way, you will know automatically if a certain venue is not right for you and your wedding. This doesn’t mean though that you should not be logical in choosing a wedding venue. It’s the place where you will exchange vows with the man you love so it has to feel right.

Take your time. Don’t ever rush in choosing the perfect wedding venue. A wedding is a very important event so take time to get the venue right. Ideally, you should start looking for a venue at least a year before the wedding date. This would give you enough time to make the right decisions and change the venue in case anything happens.

Consider the size.  The size of the venue is a very important consideration. If the venue is too small, the wedding will loose its intimacy. If it’s too big, it will be cramped and uncomfortable. The size of your wedding will depend of course on the number of your guests. So before looking for a wedding you must at least have a rough idea of how many guests you will be planning to invite. Be as precise as possible. You cannot say that you’re planning to invite from 200 to 500 guests. The 300 person difference would matter a lot in terms of the venue size. You must also leave ample space for the dance area. The more guests you have, the larger space you need to allot for the dance area.

Check the parking space.  One of the complaints of people who have attended weddings is the lack of parking space. Be sure that the wedding venue you will choose has ample space for all of your guests. Parking may be a minor consideration but it can spell the difference between a happy guest and a dissatisfied one.

Know the restrictions of the venue.  Be sure to ask about the restrictions of a wedding venue if there are any. There may be restrictions about noise so you might not be able to employ a band or even a sound system. Some venues have time restrictions while some would allow you to party all night long. There are even venues with decorations restrictions. Check if the wedding venue would allow you to bring your own caterer, florist, decorator, etc because there are venues that have preferred contractors and suppliers.

Draw a layout of your wedding. Have a layout of your wedding. Before choosing a wedding venue, you must already have a layout (either on your mind or drawn into paper) of your wedding. You must know where you want gusts to sit, the reception area, the dining area, etc. Then check if the venue fits your layout.

Choosing A Perfect Wedding Ring

The big day has been set, and now you have tons of wedding preparations to attend to - preparing the guest list, looking for a caterer, shopping for the perfect wedding dress, and a lot more.  All of these are essential in putting together a memorable wedding, so remember to have all these on your wedding checklist.  Also do remember to include on the top of your checklist, "choosing a perfect wedding ring."

Selecting a wedding ring is not as easy as it looks.  It requires much thought, too.  After all, it is the wedding band that binds the couple together and will be worn by the bride and groom for their entire married life, and therefore must be something that they would not get tired of wearing.

Most important when choosing a wedding ring set is to decide on a budget. The couple should consider how much they could afford to spend for the wedding rings.  Based on this budget that the couple have in mind, decide on the material they want their wedding bands to be made of.

The materials from which wedding rings can be made of have evolved through the years.  However, the most popular are still those made from classic 14K or 18K yellow gold.  Gold rings remain to be very popular both for wedding and engagement.

Wedding rings made from white gold are also gaining popularity, it being very stylish-looking and exuding a very modern aura.  Also, white gold goes well with other silver and platinum jewelry, as well as with most clothing fabric.

Platinum being one of the hardest metals is also a very suitable material for a wedding ring.  For one, it is very durable and therefore will endure wear and tear for a very long time.  Platinum wedding rings may also be a symbol for enduring love that is if couple wanted a romantic twist in picking a wedding ring.  Platinum rings looking very similar with rings made of white gold looks very stylish and elegant.  However, platinum wedding rings are the most expensive, but if the couple considers the fact that it is something that will last them a lifetime, then the cost probably would not really matter.

Titanium is a popular material especially for wedding rings for men.  It is light, long lasting, and is not as expensive as platinum.  Titanium wedding rings are similar to white gold rings in appearance.  The only different is that titanium wedding rings are so light you can hardly feel it when worn on your finger.

As for the wedding ring style to choose, there are the traditional plain bands, the more elaborate ones with beaded edges.  There are also the modern designs of two-tone wedding bands.  The Celtic wedding rings engraved with ancient knot work are also hot these days.  Solitaire rings with a precious stone are also classic designs for wedding bands.

Often times, the bride may want to match her wedding ring with the engagement ring.  Of course, this is also something that has to be taken into consideration, especially is she wants to wear both rings on the same hand.

In choosing for a wedding ring, foremost consider your budget and then decide on the material.  Also, having to wear your wedding bands for a really long time, it is also worth considering choosing something that would best work with your clothes and the other jewelry you usually wear. Above all, choose a wedding ring that you will be most comfortable in wearing.

Good luck on your wedding ring shopping!

Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Hair Style

Every bride wants to look her best on her wedding day.  After all, this will be the most important day of her life.  This is where she and her groom will pronounce their vow of love for each before their family, relatives and friends.  This is so important that even a very good-looking girl wants to look better, or something different from how she looks every day.

Choosing how you should look during a wedding can be very risky.  If you were not advised by a professional, this is not the time to try on new make up and hairstyle trends - unless you wanted to end up as one with the worst wedding fashion.

So, to be on the safe side, it is better to enlist the help of a professional stylist to do your makeup and hairstyle.

Here are some tips to help you on what look you will be having on your wedding day.

* Choose natural-looking makeup, as you don't want to look heavily painted especially when people come to wish you well.  However, you should also make sure that even if you are wearing natural-looking makeup, this still looks well when your picture is taken.

* Get a facial to help eliminate the stress in preparing for the wedding and to cleanse your skin, in preparation for the big day.

* Make sure that you have enough time to prepare your hair.  Usually, you may need about six weeks before the wedding to make minor changes to your hair.  If you will be changing your hairstyle, hair color, or length, you may need up to six months.

* Make an appointment with a hairdresser recommended by your family and friends, or with your own hairdresser.  It is better to bring pictures of the dress, headpiece and the hairstyles that you would like to try.  Also, discuss with the hairdresser what will be the appropriate color, texture and the style.

* If you are thinking of having your hair permed or relaxed, ask the hairstylist if he or she thinks this will not damage your hair.  Damaged hair will not look good and will be difficult to style.  If you wanted to try this, make sure that you still have enough time to experiment and to undo it if it doesn't look good.

* If you are thinking of dyeing your hair, consider if the color will compliment your skin color and the color of your eyes.  It is better to ask the help and suggestions of a professional for this.  When dyeing, use a temporary dye first.

* Your hairstyle should go well with the cut of your gown.  If you have a simple gown, choose an uncomplicated hairstyle.  Choose a hairstyle that will be comfortable and will not be difficult to maintain since you will have a lot of things to take care of on the wedding day.

* If you have short hair, you may add highlights to enhance the richness.  You may also have hair treatments or try products that will add shine.  You can also try a multi-textured look.  Flowers also look good on short hair.

* If you have a long hair, it is suggested that you wear your hair up for an elegant look and to minimize the need for maintaining it, since you will be busy the whole day.

Now that you have these tips, you have more information when your hairstylist starts making suggestions on how to make you look great on your wedding day.

Wedding Planning – Choosing the Gown

The dress is always the highlight of all wedding fantasies and make-believes.  Ever since their youth, people will most often dream of a beautiful princess-bride in a snowy white, ethereal wedding dress of stunning beauty.  It comes as no surprise that choosing the perfect wedding dress for your wedding will prove to be one of the most challenging and exciting part of planning your wedding.

Marriage is – ideally – an once-in-a-lifetime event. There isn’t much leeway to practice or make mistakes. So to make the bride’s entrance down the carpet perfect and memorable, one must take great pains to ensure that everything is done correctly – down to every little detail on the wedding dress.

From watching fantasy-like weddings on TV, or reading about them in books and magazines, or hearing about them from other people, many brides-to-be form an image in their minds of the kind of wedding dress they would like to wear on their wedding.  Many people take a watch and learn stance as they formulate, plan and dream up their ideal wedding dress.

If your time has come, and you are shopping for the perfect dress to make your wedding dreams come true, then you have come to the right place.  Here are a few tips to help you get over the wedding dress hump will less sweat.

1. The Dress Comes First
Although it may go both ways, the theme of your dress should follow your desired theme – or vice versa.  Some couples choose a theme before choosing a gown, and in effect, they make the gown fit the theme they have chosen.  But for some people, the choice of gown comes first, and the theme of the wedding follows the gown’s theme.  So if the gown that catches the bride’s fancy is ultra beaded and formal, then the wedding may tend to be more formal. If the bride chooses a less formal dress, then the wedding may follow a less formal route.

2. Don’t Overwhelm Yourself with Choices
Yes, it may be tempting to try every gown that comes your way.  But what if you find yourself buried under a pile of 20 or so gowns you think you really like and can’t make a decision?  That sort of scenario will prove to be a terrible headache – not to mention a great source of stress.

To avoid this, try making decisions in stages.  You could try an ‘American Idol’ style way of choosing a gown.  You could vote off the least liked one and then reevaluate the remaining gowns.

Another method is trying 5 gowns and then choosing two of the best.  These ‘champions’ will be pit against 5 more new gowns. Continue the tournament until you get to the perfect gown.

It may become tempting to say, “Aw, but that other gown might have been better.”  Try to make sure you make your final decision among 5 gowns.  If you end up with too many to choose from you may get overwhelmed and end up choosing an inferior gown, or choosing the perfect gown but forever asking yourself whether you made the right decision or not.

Choose Wisely
And choose a wise companion; take along one or two of your closest friends or confidants who know a thing or two about wedding dresses and style.  Their advice will come in handy when choosing a gown. Also, make sure you check the durability and quality of the gown, the material and the accessories. You don’t want your gown falling apart on you during the ceremonies.

Tips for Choosing Wedding Decorations

The first thing that guests notice when they attend a wedding ceremony or reception are the decorations.  Therefore, every bride and groom wants to have the decorations very attractive, memorable and to have these represent the interests or the couple.


Usually, the task of choosing the wedding decorations is delegated to the bride and the female members of the family and entourage.  However, it is still preferred that the groom should also help in conceptualizing the decorations to be used for the wedding.

Here are some aspects to consider when deciding on what decorations to be used in the wedding:

* Mood

Will the wedding be formal or casual?  Do you want it to be traditional or contemporary?  This will help in deciding what candles, flowers, balloons, and other venue enhancements will you be needing.

* Color Scheme

Consider the main color to be used for the decorations.  This may be the couple's favorite color, a color that can be associated with their hobby or the color that is preferred during the season.  Make sure that the color of the decorations will go well with what the members of the entourage and the guests will be wearing.

* Site

Take pictures of the wedding site as early as possible so that you can check the pictures while considering a decorating idea.

* Time

Usually, decorations can only be set at the church and at the reception within one to two hours before the event.  Therefore, you must consider decorations that don't take much time to mount.  Also, these decorations should also be taken down right after the event.

* Guests

Consider how many will attend the wedding reception and how big is the site.  With the number of guests that you will be having, can you still set-up bigger decorations that will take some floor space?

If you have a large number of guests, you may just want to set-up floor decorations near the stage and dance floor where most of the program will take place.  Also, you might want to opt for smaller but finely detailed table decorations.

Also consider if there will be kids who will be attending the wedding reception.  Kids may get bored during the program and start playing with the decorations that can cause an unsightly mess.  So you may just get decorations that are not so fragile.

Another tip, if you will be having several kids as guests, you may have a kids area, where they can mingle with other kids and where the decorations and food are more suited for their age.

* Budget

Improperly chosen decorating ideas will not look well even if these cost much.  Also, choosing just two or three decorating ideas, as long as these are implemented well can make a ceremony and reception look lavish.

Also, it is not necessary to buy every item that will be used as decorations.  Some professional decorators can give you information on vases, mirrors, table centerpieces, dried flower arrangements, arc ways, pedestals and plants that will only be used for one day.

With these, just adding a few candles, laces and fresh flowers will make your wedding site and reception exquisite.

A final budgeting advice, check with the wedding rite venue director if there are other weddings that will take place during the day.  If so, you may want to coordinate with the couple that will be using the venue before or after you.  The may agree with your decorating ideas or add some of their own, and agree to just split the decorating expenses with you.

Choosing your venue

CHOOSING YOUR VENUE:

Reflects everything you want to say about your wedding.

Do you want Grand? Intimate? Country? Beach? There are barns, boats, restaurants, houses, hotels, mills, clubhouses, and gardens!

Firstly work out how many guests you want for the day and evening and look for venues that will fit your numbers well. Don't go for a large venue if you only have a handful of guests or you will be lost in the space and the wedding may end up feeling lifeless and don't go for a venue too small or you will be cramped and uncomfortable. Ask your venue what numbers fit the space best. If there are split rooms, ask questions like how many fit on the dance floor? How many staff do they have on looking after you?

Be clear about hire costs the day you look around the venue. There is nothing worse than finding a dream venue then finding it's out of budget!

A lot of venues have extra charges; so make sure you know what is included. They can add strange things to your bill such as cake stands and cake knife's!! Other charges maybe for -

Staff, cutlery, plates, glassware, chair covers, kitchen equipment, clean up charges, service charge etc. and they will also charge extra to hold the ceremony at the venue. Another thing sneaky venues will do is make you order your evening buffet/food for every guest attending. You always end up with way too much food but if it’s in the contract you have to honor the venues rules!

Find out if the venue has an entertainment license and what time you can have the music playing until. Also if holding your wedding on a Sunday find out if the bar has to shut early?

I always think that there are two things that are most talked about after the wedding. The bride's dress and the food!

Make sure the catering company gives you a tasting session or you have a meal at the venue you are intending to hold your reception. If the food is not right it will spoil the day, as you will spend a lot of time eating during your special day.

Make sure that your venue doesn’t intend to change catering companies or menus before your big day too...

I know of a beautiful venue that can hold multiple weddings. The trouble is if you are sat in the back two rows of the ceremony room you can hear the other service taking place! This can make your wedding not seem as special, so it’s worth finding out if this could happen at your dream venue.

Other things worth considering is, is there enough accommodation for your guests either in the house or hotel and surrounding areas and parking for all your guests.

BUDGET TIPS:

If you can steer away from the conventional Saturday wedding you can get your dream wedding at a price that suits your pocket.

Holding weddings on a Monday may not be the norm but most people are happy to have a three-day weekend with advanced notice. Sundays and Fridays of course are cheaper too. Out of season dates or if you can handle the pressure of organizing things in a hurry, late availability is a good way of cutting costs.

Some venues have separate hire charges for day and evening hire, so why not marry at 4pm and just occur the evening charge and go straight on to the wedding meal followed by your party.

The National Trust have beautiful stately homes that they hire out cheaply and I always think that venues that work on a minimum spend are best value as you are only paying for food and drink not the space you are enjoying them in.

If looking for some of the west’s best venues, I suggest visiting Marry Me in Somerset as it has an exceptional selection.