BRONZE BUDGET BRIDE

Good information is good information and when you find it you just have to share it. I found this article on theKnot.com about "How to Stock the Bar at Your Wedding Reception" and I am sharing it for those of you who are supplying the alcohol for your wedding reception.

So, according to the article, for 100 guests, you should buy:

• Beer: 5 to 6 cases
• Whiskey: 1 liter
• Bourbon: 1 liter
• Gin: 2 to 3 liters
• Scotch: 2 liters
• Light rum: 1 liter
• Vodka: 5 liters
• Tequila: 1 liter
• Champagne: 1 to 1 1/2 cases
• Red wine: 2 cases
• White wine: 3 1/2 cases
• Dry vermouth: 1 bottle
• Sweet vermouth: 1 bottle

That's a lot of alcohol! So, if you can't afford it...skip it. For us, when we renew our vows, we'll be stocking our bar with lots of non-alcoholic Caribbean drinks like Vita Malt, Ting, Ginseng...perhaps also special homemade drinks like Ginger Beer, Sorrel Drink, Gooseberry juice etc. These are alcohol free drinks that many people aren't familiar with so they would be drinking with excitement over experiencing this new drink, hopefully, instead of trying to get drunk. Maybe we'll have some Jamaican Rum and spike drinks per requests but at the end of the day it boils down to what you we can afford.

My idea of a simple wedding is a bit non-conforming. It's not because I intend to spend little, but because I do not want to focus on the wedding celebration itself. Here are some of my ideas:

Venue
The key idea in this is having a venue that has something to do with us or something that directly relate to us in many ways. The church may be the small cathedral where we attend service, for example, and the reception can be done in a place where we frequent during the days.

Motif
The motif has to be something stunningly simple. Like in the venue, it has to represent us very well. The food has to be organic and vegetarian since both of us are vegetarians. In addition, since I am an advocate of "green living," the materials used for the designs should be simple and biodegradable. The giveaways must be something that is useful or recycled. Creativity and imagination does the trick for a cool motif rather than obviously cheap decorations.

Guests
Well, I would want to have guests who will stay until the end of the ceremony, or those who have close relationship with me and or my groom. These people would be the ones who are just happy to be there for us and to celebrate the day with us. For this matter, I don't feel like inviting all our college classmates, or thesis partners whom we haven't seen in a while, or relatives whom I have only spent one Christmas with, if you know what I mean. So this is definitely a small, intimate kind of wedding.

With these things, I believe the wedding becomes as memorable as our first date or the day he proposed. I also think that both of us will have fun in preparing for the wedding because it is "about us" and not the "wedding" as many people see it.

Your journey of marriage begins with "I Do."
Cherish this bond, it belongs to only the two of you.
Start each day with gratitude and compassion for each other,
And unconditional love will follow.
Believe in each other; support each other's dreams.
Remember to dream together too.
Always give more than you think the other needs.
Say "I love you" and "thank you" every day!
Trust, respect, and appreciate each other.
Be spontaneous, be fun, be romantic!
Stand together, but let there be space in your togetherness.
Know when to listen, to talk, to let your heart feel.
Apologize. Forgive and forget...doing so will make you feel better!
Work together. Play together. Pray together.
Allow God to be the foundation of your marriage.
You have been chosen for each other...it is His plan.
With each passing year, you will grow closer together,
Drawing strength from one another...and two shall become one.
You will be blessed with the greatest happiness in life, to love and to be loved.

-- Author Unknown

When I saw this on Food Network earlier this week it made me go weak in the knees. I can't even explain why but it's just so darn cute. I wish I could convince hubby to buy this for me as a birthday present but he would think I am crazy since we have so many other things we need to buy as we'll be moving into our new house soon.

It could be the gorgeous, blue color that gets me but it has a five out of five star rating from people who have purchased it here so I know it's a quality product which makes me want it all the more.

It is a 9x9 inch, Stoneware, Covered, Square, 3 Quart, Casserole Dish and it's called Caribbean by Le Creuset! If I was getting married, I would put this on my Wedding Registry if I could or email it to friends who are trying to figure out what to buy.

I am so excited to tell you about "The Brides Project" which gives small budget brides the chance to shop for wedding dresses at an affordable price and also give them the opportunity to give back to the community. "The Brides Project (TBP) is a non-profit organization of volunteers dedicated to raising funds for the programs of the Cancer Support Community (CSC) of Greater Ann Arbor through the resale of donated bridal gowns. Once-worn gowns donated by brides or unsold gowns donated by bridal shops are made available for purchase to brides-to-be at a considerable savings. All profits from the sale of the gowns go to the CSC to support programs and services for people touched by cancer."

Another wonderful thing about "The Brides Project" is that when a bride donates a dress she can write a heartfelt letter to the future wearer which is why they are called "Good Karma" dresses.

So please visit TheBridesProject.org to find out how you can support this organization.

Accommodating your guests that are coming in town for your wedding may seem like it will be a hassle if you are just beginning your wedding planning but one of the most important thing to do is to block some hotel rooms for the out-of-towners. You want to make sure they will have somewhere to stay when they get to town and you can easily arrange this for them with these tips:

1.  Make sure you block hotel rooms at least 6 - 8 weeks in advance.

2.  Book less rooms than you think would be needed because it would be easier for you to add another room if necessary but you may be required to pay for rooms that weren't filled.

3.  Choose a hotel that is near to both your ceremony and reception site to make it easier for guests to get around.

4.  Make sure  the hotel you choose is somewhere you would want to stay, so it should be affordable yet nice and clean.

5.  The hotel should have or be near to a restaurant. Guests have to eat!

6. Put together a little "hospitality" bag or basket for each room to help guests to them feel welcome. Include items such as bottled water, snacks, tourist info, sunscreen,  soft slippers, local treats etc.

The one thing that Richard and I are sure about when it comes to our reception is that we don't want it to be boring. We want people to enjoy themselves…party and have fun celebrating with us. We knew we needed a good DJ to ensure that is exactly what will happen and this is our “DJ” checklist!

Hire A Good DJ

For my husband and I, a good DJ is someone that can read the room, play fast pace music when they see the dance floor getting empty, know when to play slow songs that will allow guests to catch their breaths and can adjust the music as the crowd on the dance floor changes. A good DJ should be easy to understand, eloquent but enthusiastic when he/she speaks since they are in charge of making announcements, setting the mood and keeping people on the dance floor. Their job is to keep things flowing smoothly during the reception, so picking a good or great DJ is a must.

Ask for Recommendations

We didn’t want to pick a DJ from the phone book so when we were ready to pick a DJ we asked everyone we knew, caterers, vendors, club owners and eventually settled on one that my husband remembered from a party he had attended a few years before. We weren’t sure she was still in the business but after a few phone calls, we tracked her down and set up an interview since her rates were good too.

Meet With Your DJ Prior To Your Event

It is so important to have a face-to-face with any DJ you are thinking about hiring for your wedding day. You want to make sure you are hiring someone with a great personality, someone who'll be engaging, someone we would not mind handing out with at a party. We interviewed one DJ who was in his sixties but didn’t sound like it on the phone! Even though he had been in the business for a while and understand what we wanted, we just couldn’t imagine him being more vibrant than he was the day we met. Personally, we didn’t want to hire someone, then find out at the reception that they were boring or weird or awkward or think it’s appropriate to bump and grind on our guests which I’ve seen happen at a wedding. So, to avoid that from happening I recommend having a meeting with your DJ and be clear on what you want from them and what kind of atmosphere you want them to create at your reception.

Feed Your DJ

I don’t want the floor to fizzle because our DJ is hungry and has to step away to get something to eat. So while our guests are having dinner, that’s when our DJ will be eating. If we can get them their food during the cocktail hour, that’s even better because that will keep them at their post for the entire reception, excluding bathroom breaks of course.

Play Music People Want To Dance To

I’ve noticed that people tend to have more fun when they hear music that they listen to on a regular basis. So, we've ask the DJ to play a good mixof music and I know we’ll get more people on the dance floor because they’ll be hearing some of their fave songs played.

Play Soft Music During Dinner

I’ve been to a wedding where no music was played at all until dinner was over and people were ready to dance. However, it would have been nice to have some soft jazz or melodies played while we ate.

Don’t Give Your DJ Too Many Restrictions

A good will DJ know what is appropriate for a wedding but if you must have a "Do Not Play" list, try to keep it short. We didn't want our DJ to feel like her hands were tied by limiting her to playing just the music we listen to since for Richard that‘s “Country.” We trust her and know we can’t blame her if the dance floor is empty because our guests don’t want to listen to one type of music all night.

Let Guests Request Songs

I know some people are against this but I am all for anything that will allow our guests to be more interactive. They are there to have fun so what’s so why not let them ask the DJ to play a song or two.

What do you think of the list? If you have anything to add, please leave comment below!

There is an on going debate about whether or not brides should let their wedding photographer know every single photo they would like to be taken on wedding day with a list like the one I've provided for you below. Some photographers find a list helpful but others find it disrespectful! My advice to you is to talk extensively to your photographer about the shots you would like to be taken on your wedding day and if you feel comfortable handing over a list...I say go for it.

This list was sent to me a few years ago by a bride, whose name I wish I can remember so I can give her the credit she is due and I hope you find it as helpful as I do!

Pre-ceremony

• Bride's gown laying on chair or hanging 
• Bride Styling Hair
•  Make-up beingpplied
• Bridesmaids having hair styled and makeup applied
• Candid shots of the bride and her Bridesmaids getting ready
• Bride’s shoes
• Bride putting on shoes
• Bride putting on Garter
• Garter close-up
• Garter and hands shot showcasing engagement ring
• Bride putting on gown
•  Mother and bridesmaids helping bride put on gown
• Bride wearing gown - mirror shot
• Bride wearing gown holding bouquet
• Bridal Party reacting to the bride in her gown
• Bride and Bridesmaids together in preparation room
• Bride and Mother
• Bride with each individual Bridesmaid
• Bride with Father of the Groom
• Bride with her immediate Family
• Bride and Mother
• Bride and Father
• Bride and Siblings
• Bride with personal attendant
• Bride with Godparents
• Flower Girl
• Bride in Mirror
• Bride Praying
• Bride heading to the ceremony site
• Bride and her Father just before and walking down the aisle
• Groom with his father
• Groom with Mother
• Groom with Father
• Groom with Siblings
• Groom with Godparents
• Candid shots of the groom and groomsmen getting ready
• Groom with Father of the Groom
• Groom with Relatives of the Bride
• Groom with each Groomsmen
• Groom walking down the aisle
• Groom Boutonniere
• Groom with Mom
• Groom with Dad
• Groom looking in a Mirror
• Groom sitting waiting patiently
• Wedding bands close-up
• Wedding bands arrangement
• Bouquet close-up
• Outdoor Weather Shot

Ceremony

•  Programs
• Program with flowers
• Outside of ceremony site
• Bride and father entering ceremony site  
• Parents being seated
• Grandparents being seated  
• Mothers lighting unity candles
• Maid of honor walking down the aisle  
• Bridesmaids walking down the aisle  
• Flower girl and ring bearer walking down aisle 
• Ceremony Musicians
• Exterior and interior of the Ceremony site
•  Guest Arriving
• Guests Signing Guest book
• Groom waiting for Bride
•  Musicians performing
• Family members being seated
• Processional and recessional
• Flower Girl down Aisle
• Ring Bearer down Aisle
• Groom and Groomsmen waiting for bride
• Groom’s expression when first sight of bride
• Bride and her Father (or escort) walking down the aisle
• Groom reacting to Bride walking down the aisle
• Father giving the Bride away
• Wide shot of the Altar
• Guests partaking in the Ceremony
• Bride and groom reciting their vows
• Bride and groom exchanging rings
• Couple's first kiss
• Bride and Groom being introduced to guest as man and wife
• Bride and Groom exiting their ceremony site
• Receiving line
• Bride and Groom in their getaway car
• The unity ceremony 
• Close up of Bride and Groom saying the vows
• Wide shot of Bride and Groom saying the vows
• Exchanging the rings
• Close up of hands 
• The kiss
• Bride & Groom walking up the aisle 
• Bride & Groom outside on steps 
• Guests throwing rice etc.
• Bride & Groom with guests

Reception

• Exterior and interior shots of the reception site before guests arrive
• Table settings
• Cake
• Gift table
• Menu, escort, and table cards
• Guests signing guest book
• Escort Card table
• Food stations and bar setup during cocktail hour
• Bridal-party table
• Bridal party introduction
• Bride and groom first dance
• Groom dipping bride
• Best Man Toast
• Maid of honor Toast
• Prayer and/or blessing
• Bride and groom cutting the cake
• Wedding-party entrances
• Guests seated at their tables
• Father-Daughter ance
• Mother-son dance
• Band / DJ
• Guests dancing
• Guests’ facial expressions (numerous)
• People eating, drinking, dancing (numerous)
• Bouquet and garter toss, anniversary dance
• Candid shots throughout the night
• Bride and Groom send-off

Close-Ups

• Groomsmen holding bride up
• Bride and Groom, each alone
• Bride and Groom posed together smiling
• Bride and Groom posed together praying
• Bride and groom posed together kissing under veil
• Bride and groom posed together scattered
• Bride and groom posed together with groom kissing bride’s neck
• Bride and groom posed together holding hands walking at camera
• Bride and groom posed together holding hands walking away
• Bride and Groom posed together with Bride leaning against wall
• Groom leaning in kissing
• Bride and groom posed together looking in same direction
• Bride and groom with wedding party
• Bride with her family
• Groom with his family
• Bride and Groom with Bride's family
• Bride and Groom with Groom's family
• Both families together
• Bride with her Mother
• Groom with his Father
• Flower girl and Ring Bearers with Bride and Groom
• Bride and groom staggered
• Groom boutonniere with bride in soft focus
• Bride bouquet with broom in soft focus
• Newly weds passionate kiss under veil
• Newly weds head to head praying  Bridal bouquet
• Groom’s boutonniere
• Shoes
• Garter
• Bride's Dress
• Groom's Attire
• Jewelry
• Ring ceremony
•  Ceremony programs
• Centerpieces
• Hors D'oeuvres
• Specialty drinks
• Wedding cake
• Wedding cake cutting utensils
• Favors
• Signage and/or directions
• Bride and groom’s champagne flutes/glasses
• Entertainment
• Appetizers
• Entrees
• Dessert