BRONZE BUDGET BRIDE

Usually, most wedding planners call a rental company a party rental company and that is usually how it is listed in the telephone book or an online directory. Brides and grooms are looking for companies who rent party rental items such as china, tables, linens, tents, or other wedding accessories. Some rental companies have larger ticket items such as dance floor, portable toilets, lighting, or canopies. Whatever couples are looking for with party rentals be sure to use these few tips when renting items from party rental companies:

• Always ask for references and check with the Better Business Bureau before signing any contract with a party rental company.

• Schedule the Party Rentals should be at least two to three months before the wedding.

• Contact should include delivery date, delivery fee, pick up date, service charge, and detail information about overages. If party rental company delivers to outside the area this requires mileage and possibly lodging fees for the driver.

• Contact Information that means name, telephone numbers, cellular phone numbers is critical information on hand for after-hours in case of delivery issues or damage items.

• Try to deal with larger rental companies because it is easier to keep track of items for pick up and deliveries.

• Communicate with your wedding venue coordinators in advance to see if the offer rentals on property and how they want to deal with the coordination of rental delivery and pick up.

• Check with the party rental company about weekends. For example, see if they have Sunday pick up after a Saturday night event and inquire about surcharges or additional fees from the rental company.

For more wedding planning tips, wedding advice, or wedding planning visit www.wicksncandlesticks.com or www.theweddingdiaryonline.com.

Wedding planning is so stressful and if a bride cannot afford hire a wedding planner, the bride is planning her own wedding.  Usually, the bride is very anxious before the big wedding day and she has hundreds of wedding details that need to be completed before hand, such as taking care of family members  or checking the wedding flowers and the tasks are endless!  However, a bride needs to take time for herself by creating some stress free days, so she does not burn herself out before her own wedding.

The bride needs to devote at least two nights a week for a relaxing and stress free evenings and we have come up with some stress free and relaxing activities that the bride will truly enjoy! 

Schedule a Message and Spa Appointment-Nothing says relaxation like a weekly massage to help relax the bride’s entire body.  If a bride cannot afford a message, Homedics has a five-motor full body mat massager with heat for around $50.00 dollars.  Another option is a spa appointment.  Many spa and salons offer a day of luxury by providing therapeutic full body massage, spa pedicure, spa facial, eyebrow arch, haircut and also includes a light lunch.   If a bride cannot afford a spa appointment, many websites offer inexpensive bath salts, face scrubs, and body lotions to create the spa experience at home.  Wonderful and relaxing scents are lavender, sandalwood, and jasmine!

Relax with Yoga-Bride get in tune with your mind, body, and spirit by relaxing with Yoga.  This is a great stress reliever and provides an inner calm and relaxation before the wedding day.  A Bride can also sign up for classes at yoga studios, wellness centers, or purchase yoga home DVD’s on Amazon.

Breathing Techniques-There are many websites on the internet that offer breathing techniques to help a bride learn how to do deep breathing to relax.  There are many free articles on Web MD or You Tube has a variety of breathing exercises. 

Drink Herbal Tea-Find herbal tea at your local store or Better Health Store.  Wonderful and relaxing teas are chamomile which helps calming and peppermint is good for rejuvenating.

Try Acupressure-Acupressure is applied through clothing and this technique requires no needles.  A practitioner uses the thumbs, hands, and elbows, knees and applies firm pressure on pressure points in the body.  Many massage therapists, wellness centers offer acupressure, and there are many wonderful books on acupressure on Amazon. 

Exercise by Walking-Help relieve tension by working out!  Working out helps a bride stay healthy, but provides stress-relief.  Walking is free and a bride can either go walk outside, walk in the mall, or take a walk in a park.

Get Crafty-Some women truly enjoy relaxing by creating a craft and there are many craft projects that a bride can purchase at Michaels or Joann Fabrics.   Good craft ideas would be knitting, crocheting, jewelry making, scrap-booking, or painting. Whatever a bride chooses make sure it is fun and nothing too complicated.

For more wedding tips, wedding advice, or wedding planning visit www.theweddingdiaryonline.com or for wedding candles visit www.wicksncandlesticks.com.

Bridal showers are held approximately three months before the wedding date and the maid of honor is in charge of the bridal shower festivities. Brides can either choose women only bridal shower or a co-ed bridal shower and a bridal themed shower, but whatever brides chooses she needs to make the bridal shower full of fun for
everyone.

The bridal shower games that are the most popular at bridal showers are toilet paper wedding gown, the newlywed game, bridal bingo, recipes for marriage and things in a bride’s purse.

The toilet paper wedding gown game is a fun and unique game where a few guests are selected to be the models or judges, and then the rest of the guests are broke up into two groups. Each group has to design their best wedding gown created from toilet paper. After each group has designed their toilet paper wedding gown the models create a walkway for the judges to view the designs and determine the winner of the most beautiful toilet paper gown and the winner receives a prize.

The Newlywed Game is a game for a co-ed bridal shower. This game is for couples, so single women or men will have to sit this particular game out. The maid of honor should come up with a list of questions for the couple prior to the bridal shower. Typical questions this game would be “What is your spouses favorite color,” “Who takes the longest to get ready each morning,” or “What’s your spouse’s favorite food?” When playing The Newlywed Game keep the list on the conservative side to be sensitive for all guests attending the bridal shower. At the bridal shower, the maid of honor will ask the questions to each couple and in the end, the couple who provides the most correct answers is the winner and receives a prize.

Bridal Bingo is a fun game that all your guests will enjoy. Before the bridal shower create some bridal bingo cards on an 8 ½ x 11 card stock piece of paper and print them off or use this free template. If the bride has a wedding registry list, items can be used from that list for the bingo cards categories for each cell of the table (usually write in the lower priced items). The game is played when the bride is opening gifts. Guests will mark off the words on the bridal bingo card and whoever marks off their bingo card is the winner and receives a prize.
 

Recipes for a Marriage is a great game for bridal shower guests. Purchase some blank cards and send those cards out with the bridal shower invitations. Ask the guest to write down their recipe, tips, or advice for a great marriage. This could be an actual recipe, a joke, tips, or a piece of advice. Each guest takes turn reading his or her card aloud to the bride. When the game is finished, the Maid of Honor collects the cards for the bride and creates a beautiful scrapbook keepsake for the bride.

Things in a Brides Purse is a fun game for all the women at your bridal shower. Use this free template to tally up the winner for the most usual and unusual items in a purse.

The bridal shower should not just be about the gifts, it is about getting together with family and friends to celebrate your new life with your spouse. Maid of honor, be sure to use this free bridal shower thank you card checklist for the gifts and make sure the sends out thank you cards promptly. We hope you enjoyed our list of bridal shower games and enjoy this list of bridal shower games! For more bridal shower games or free wedding advice, wedding tips, or wedding planning ideas, please visit www.theweddingdiaryonline.com!

The flower girl role is so important in a wedding for a young lady and this role will be one that she will remember for a lifetime because after
all, it is her time to be a little princess and shine in the wedding
ceremony.

The typical age for a flower girl is approximately 3 years and 8 years of age, so be prepared that the flower girl will be nervous in her ceremony role. It is the bride’s job to make the flower girl comfortable in her role, so be sure to connect with the parents and find out what makes the flower girl smile or happy so this can be a stress-free process. If the flower girl feels overwhelmed during the wedding rehearsal, brides do have the option to pair up the flower girl with another flower girl to give her reassurance and confidence! One of the bridesmaids could also help her by walking down the aisle with her to make her feel comfortable, but remember children are not perfect, so flexibility is a key to make the wedding successful.

Brides should also take some time aside to have a spa pampering day with the flower girl and her mother. Schedule an appointment for an updo, make
up, and nails. Afterwards schedule a lunch at her favorite place or a
nice restaurant where she will feel important. She will feel like the
princess she is and this might help the flower girl by connecting with
the brides so they are best buddies. Other ways brides can connect with
their flower girls in the wedding process is to catalog shop, select
flowers or choose the flower girl dress and shoes.

After the spa and during the luncheon, the bride can talk to the flower girl (if
she is old enough) and discuss her responsibilities and checklist.
Brides get creative and find a template or create a document in Word
that is just made for the flower girl duties. Here are the highlights
for the flower girl duties:

• Bridal Shower: Flower girls attend the bridal shower
• Wedding Ceremony: Flower girl attends the wedding ceremony rehearsal
• Wedding Ceremony: Flower girl walks in front of the bride at the wedding ceremony
• Wedding Ceremony: Flower girl duties would consist of scattering rose petals along the bridal
bath, wrapped candies, or confetti (optional items to carry include
pomanders bouquet or kissing ball).
• Wedding Ceremony: Flower girl is photographed with the wedding party.
• Wedding Ceremony: Flower girl dances with ring bearer.

Brides, be sure to thank the flower girl with an appreciation gift to acknowledge her wedding role in the
wedding ceremony. Typical gifts would include any personalized item
such as a jewelry box, bracelet, or scrapbook. This gift should be a
memorable gift and a gift from the heart, so the flower girl will
reflect fondly upon, as she gets older in life.

Image Provide By:
Vico 23, Stylist Penny Irish
Charlotte, Michigan

Many couples are feeling the financial pinch right down to their pocketbooks when planning their wedding, which leaves them with literally with no money for left for booking the honeymoon. This is the time for couples to collaborate regarding what items you already have in each home. Start by using this free wedding template for merging couples items together for their Wedding Gift Registry Checklist.

After couples have gone through their gift registry, discuss what is important to each other when it comes to what couples want as far as gifts. Does the wedding couple want gifts or do they want a lifetime full of awesome memories by using websites to contribute to a couple’s wedding honeymoon fund? Most wedding couples are now saying they want money to contribute to their honeymoon fund.

Here are some great websites for couples to suggest to wedding guest for honeymoon contribution:
• My Registry
• Honeymoon Fund
• Honeymoon Wishes

After registering on one of the aforementioned websites, couples need to discuss the wedding information for wedding guests. Please do not put honeymoon contributions on your wedding invitations because it is just downright tacky. Instead, use wedding verbiage, such as, "Wedding Guests, please visit our wedding website for detailed wedding information”. This is the place where couples should include things such as wedding party information, photo galleries, wedding events, accommodations, attractions, rsvp, wedding music, honeymoon funds, wedding vendors, wedding videos, wedding guestbook, contact information, and wedding registries.

Upon the return from the wonderful honeymoon, then couples can review their free wedding gift registry checklist and review the list. If there is money left over, this is the time where couples can go on that shopping spree for the items on the list to purchase for their home.

Contributing Writers:
WicksnCandlesticks, The Budget-Minded Bride and The Wedding Diary Online

Wedding insurance is fairly new in the insurance market, but couples should definitely consider wedding insurance before their special day. One never knows when extremely bad weather will occur before or even on the wedding day or if one of the wedding vendors decide to go out of business before the wedding, so consider wedding insurance for you, before you say I do!

The pricing of wedding insurance is based off the coverage selection and liability insurance. Wedding Event Coverage/Postponement selection protects the couples financial investments such as the wedding event cancellation, wedding vendor no show, military, sickness, injury, weather, postponement, lost deposits, and more. Wedding Liability Insurance protects couples against financial liability arising from the wedding such as damage, personal injury to guests at the rehearsal dinner, ceremony site or at the wedding venue (Wed Safe, 2010). Another type of insurance to include would be liquor liability coverage, which protects the couple from alcohol related accidents on the wedding day.

If couples have insurance, check with your insurance agency to see what is exactly offered and what is covered under your home owners insurance policy. Most of the time, weddings require separate insurance, so this is the time to ask the insurance agent detailed questions about what is covered, reimbursements, deductibles, and timing (when to purchase the insurance such as before wedding deposits).

Other information couples need to research is travel insurance and wedding vendor insurance. If travel is not included in the wedding insurance, then travel insurance should be considered as well when booking your travel arrangements for the couples honeymoon. Also, be sure to always include asking your wedding vendors for a copy of their insurance policy to see what is covered, so couples can determine what they really need for insurance coverage.

After couples have researched wedding insurance, its now time to purchase wedding insurance plan with their insurance agency or an online insurance agency. The online insurance agencies recommend for wedding insurance are Wed Safe or Protect My Wedding. The online insurance agencies recommend for travel insurance are Travel Guard or Insure My Trip.

Just remember that wedding insurance will save couples from suffering many headaches and money, so invest some of your time, conduct some research, and have the wedding budget in hand when purchasing wedding insurance.

For more wedding tips, wedding advice, or wedding planning visit our website at www.theweddingdiaryonline.com.  For candle gift baskets, candle gifts, wedding invitations, and wedding favors, please visit www.wicksncandlesticks.com

When a bride selects a bridesmaid, it really is a complement to her friend, cousin, or sister.  The position differs from the maid of honor, but it is very similar in many ways and shares some of the same responsibilities.  The bride chooses you to fill the position as a bridesmaid because she wanted to include you in her special day, so it is really a complement to you!

Once you have accepted the position of being a bridesmaid, what does this important position entail? The bridesmaid position includes pre-wedding tasks, day-of-tasks, and post-reception tasks.  All which are very important to make the wedding run smoothly (QC, 2010)!  Pre-wedding tasks are attending dress fittings, assist with wedding shower/bridal shower, help make or create wedding favors, make sure guests know the location of each event before the wedding (bridal showers, bachelorette party), let guests know about the gift registry, be in charge of gift   check list for thank you cards (bridal shower and wedding reception),  be on time to wedding rehearsals, and address wedding invitations.  Day-of-Tasks include attending pre-wedding breakfast, running last minute errands, decorate reception hall, attend hair and make up appointments, or participate in pre-ceremony photographs.  Additional Day-of-Tasks would include being on time to the ceremony, make sure the bride has some quite time if needed before wedding, mingle with guests before wedding, dance with groomsman partner, being supportive and good listener to the bride at all times by continually checking on her, receiving line mingling, assist the bride with mini tasks, trouble-shoot if any problems arise, take pictures of guests, and get guests dancing on the dance floor, and keep mingling through out the night. Post-reception tasks include helping with clean up and taking care of wedding gifts for the couple.

The responsibilities of a bridesmaid does really require a lot of work and if you have been select to fill this position make sure if you cannot handle it to let the bride know right away, so she can select another special person to become a bridesmaid.  If you are up to the task of being the bridesmaid, be the best bridesmaid ever!  Show the bride you really care about her and want to make her day very special.  In time, the favor can be returned, as the bride could become your bridesmaid.

For more wedding tips visit, www.theweddingdiaryonline.com.  To purchase candle gift baskets, candles, wedding invitations and wedding favors, please visit www.wicksncandlesticks.com.