Activities in Boston for Your Wedding Guests

It is common for guests to travel some distance by land or air to attend a wedding. If your wedding is taking place in the Boston area, there are many attractions that your guests may wish to visit before or after your ceremony. From historical landmarks to popular museums, Boston has something for all ages.

For Children
For your guests with children, there are a variety of museums that will entertain and amuse. The Boston Children’s Museum is perfect for children aged 0-10 and their families. It is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM (9PM on Fridays). The Museum of Science is another great choice, with IMAX, a planetarium, 3-D Digital Cinema, and various exhibits. It is open daily from 9 AM-7 PM, with films and shows at various times. The New England Aquarium is also a tremendous attraction with more than 7,000 fish and aquatic mammals. It is open daily from 9 AM-5 PM (6 PM on weekends).

History

Boston is an epicenter for historical monuments, landmarks, and other attractions. Boston Common is the oldest park in the nation. Famous people throughout history have given speeches and concerts here. It has been declared a U.S. National Historic Landmark and features an ice-skating pond and Brewer Fountain, a 22-foot tall bronze fountain. The oldest building in downtown Boston, the Paul Revere House, served as the home of the legendary silversmith. The historical site is open from April 15 – October 31, 9:30 AM- 5:15 PM. The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship that is still floating in the world. Guided tours of the famous vessel begin every half hour from 10 AM to 5:30 PM daily.

Arts, Parades, Feasts & Festivals

Although all events in this category are not available every day throughout the year, it is quite likely that one or more events are happening on the week of your wedding. The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism, & special Events presents many events, as does the Strand Theatre. For more information and a schedule of events during your wedding, visit the City of Boston website.

Nature

On a particularly temperate wedding weekend, the guest that is also a nature lover will appreciate the Arnold Arboretum on the campus of Harvard University. It is open daily from sunrise to sunset and features family activities, events, plant highlights, and 185 species of birds. An adventurous guest will appreciate the world famous Boston Duck Tours, which takes people on a journey over land and sea on a Duck Tours vehicle.

City
For magnificent views of downtown Boston, your guests can visit the Prudential Tower, which boasts a sky high view on the 50th floor. The tower is part of the Prudential Center which features 28 acres of hotels, restaurants, shops, plazas, and covered walkways. Downtown Crossing is a neighborhood full of restaurants, shopping, night-life, and culture in the heart of downtown Boston. The neighborhood also hosts a variety of special events for residents and visitors alike.

Get Married Hits the Newsstand

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Get Married: Catch the End of Season 3

Get Married Season 3 hits the TV with seven new episodes starting on Saturday, July 3rd at 9:30am EST. You can watch these new episodes by tuning into WE TV. The final of the seven episodes airs on Saturday, August 14th. Get Married features real brides facing fun challenges with the show founder and host Stacie Francombe. Stacie guides the brides on the show through wedding planning experiences as they interact with wedding professionals and experts.

Tune in to discover some of the hottest wedding trends and surprising happenings, including a customized father-daughter dance song by Edwin McCain.

It's only three days away! Check out the promo for Get Married’s newest episodes.

Freelance writer at ZSB (Las Vegas, NV)

Freelance writer at ZSB (Las Vegas, NV)
This company hires writers and then does not pay them for completed work. DO NOT do business with them and expect to get paid! They have owed me $400 for months and keep promising to pay me, but never do.

Luxury Wedding Etiquette

It is important for all weddings to follow certain rules of etiquette and protocol. This is no different for a luxurious, formal event. Most rules of etiquette are similar regardless of the extravagance of the affair. However, the overall luxury of the occasion heightens the formality of etiquette and protocol.

Payment Due
Traditionally the responsibility for paying for a wedding belongs to the bride’s parents. This includes everything from the bridal wear to the wedding cake. The groom and/or his family are responsible for his clothing, the marriage license and clergy fee, as well as the wedding ring and groomsmen’s gifts. He is also financially responsible for the rehearsal dinner. A formal wedding usually follows the traditional protocol for finances, but often the bride and groom work together to present the elaborate event.

Gift Registry
Registries are created for the convenience of the guests; however it is most acceptable to advertise your registry by word of mouth instead of including cards in invitations. Regardless of the extravagance of the actual wedding, gifts from all price points should be included on the registry. If a guest is unable to attend the wedding, a gift should be sent to the couple before the wedding or within three months of the wedding. Likewise, a thank-you note should be sent within three months.

Invitations
Invitations for a luxurious wedding should also be luxurious. The most formal invitations are usually printed on white, ivory, or ecru paper with black script. A gold or silver border or other simple accents denote formality. They include an outer and an inner envelope, often with a sheet of tissue paper to protect the ink. On a formal invitation, names are written out fully, with no nicknames or shortened names. All of the words in the address, date, time, and year are spelled out fully (i.e. “Avenue” instead of “Ave.” and “Two Thousand Eleven” for “2011”).

Attire
For a luxurious wedding, the bride, groom, and wedding party should wear the most formal clothing. Dresses should reach the floor and tuxedos should include bow ties and vests. For guests attending such a wedding, ladies should wear a formal dress (usually floor length) with formal jewelry and a fancy purse. If it is a religious wedding, shoulders should be covered with a wrap. Avoid wearing white and anything that is too revealing. Gentlemen should wear a well-fitted tuxedo with a bow tie to a formal wedding.

Reception
Typically, a luxurious wedding occurs in the evening and denotes a formal sit-down dinner. The reception will usually begin with a cocktail hour that the guests enjoy while the bride and groom are taking photographs. There is usually a receiving line at most formal receptions. The meal should consist of at least three courses, with full silver service and wait staff. At the most formal occasion, full bar service is provided along with dancing and live orchestral music.

Catholic Wedding Sand Ceremony

The Sand Ceremony is often compared to the Unity Candle Ceremony. Both are two physical displays of the unifying power of marriage. The unity candle ceremony is quite new to wedding traditions (it originated in Protestant churches about 40 years ago); later in the century, couples searched for ways to complete a unifying act without the use of candles. A sand ceremony can easily replace a unity candle ceremony in a Catholic wedding.

The Facts
In a Sand Ceremony, the bride and the groom each hold a small glass vase full of sand. At a specified time, each takes a turn pouring some of their sand into a larger glass vase. Then they pour in the remaining sand at the same time. The ceremony symbolizes the Biblical concept of two individuals becoming one. A third small vase is often used by the officiant who pours in sand representing God and His omnipresence in the life of the new couple. A sand ceremony can be used in any kind of ceremony, religious or not, but a Catholic sand ceremony will include text spoken by the priest during the pouring. Usually the two (or three) small vases contain different colors of sand, so the resulting larger vase is a beautiful blend of colors. The large vase is kept as a treasured memento of the union.

History
Although it is somewhat difficult to determine from where the sand ceremony originates, it is often thought to have begun in Hawaii, where the bride and groom scoop sand from the beach at their feet into their vases for the ceremony. Some argue that this type of ceremony originated with Native Americans thousands of years ago. Regardless, the sand ceremony is gaining in popularity and received a well-televised boost when it was featured on a wedding spin-off of The Bachelorette in 2003. The sand ceremony holds little or no history in the Catholic Church.

Types
The most commonly known sand ceremony involves sand in two or three smaller vases being poured simultaneously into one larger vase to signify two becoming one. Another option is when couples only use the two small vases and together pour the sand into the wind. In this case the ceremony must be outdoors and the couple should take care to throw it with the wind and not against it. If children are involved in the ceremony, they can pour in a vase of sand also. All of these variations would be religiously acceptable in a Catholic wedding.

Significance
The overall significance of the sand ceremony is the visual imagery of the union of marriage. Often the groom pours part of his sand first, symbolizing the foundation of the marriage. The bride then adds her sand to symbolize her support. When they both pour the remainder of their sand together, the colors mix in harmony and equality. Some couples choose to leave a small amount of sand in their individual vases to signify their individuality. The Catholic wedding ceremony stresses the unity and commitment of marriage; a sand ceremony certainly supports this belief and further symbolizes that the two that have become one can never again be separated.

Considerations
The Sand Ceremony is not a Catholic tradition and therefore is not present in the Catholic Rite of Marriage. Your officiant may decline to include it for this reason. Regulations on the inclusion of procedures not present in the Rite of Marriage differ from parish to parish. Some say that this celebration of unity is somewhat repetitious as the Catholic ceremony already celebrates unity through liturgy, prayer, and the administration of a sacrament.

Wedding Trends: Alternatives to Wedding Cakes

You may have noticed that wedding cakes tend to take center stage as it is a symbol that is prominently displayed at wedding receptions. What you may not have noticed is that many wedding guests do not like wedding cake and so the slices of sugary decadence often end up in the trash. If you’re looking for a couple of ideas to replace or in addition to the wedding cake, here are few to get you started.

The Cupcake Makes a Comeback (with a Twist)

In Miami, one thing I’ve noticed is that couture cupcake bakeries are popping up in all of the different areas of town. These are not your standard Betty Crocker cupcakes either because they come in flavors and designs that almost look and seem too gorgeous to eat (but are as delicious as they look). Cupcakes can also be displayed to simulate cake layers, placed at each place setting or designed into a cupcake buffet table, where guests can choose the flavor they wish. You can just as easily create your own cupcakes (for you DIYers out there) and put them on display. It may be nostalgia of days gone by or something different, but those cupcakes will disappear faster than any slice of wedding cake ever will.

Dessert Buffets

Another option is a wedding buffet or dessert table. Similar to a buffet restaurant, several different dessert options are put on display. Guests can either serve themselves or you can have the wait staff visit guest tables and ask which dessert they prefer. Pies, tarts, cakes, ice cream, cookies and more are but some of the options you may display.

Cookie or Candy Table

You can also pile a table high with platters of cookies or a myriad of dishes filled with different candies. Guests can fill up on the sweet treats after the meal and you can even provide favor boxes or bags for guests to carry out the treats for later.

The Role of a Bridesmaid

The bridesmaids you choose for your wedding ate typically close family members and friends. The primary role of the bridesmaids is to support the bride in her wedding planning efforts. Tasks may include helping to plan the wedding shower, maintaining a gift list for the bride to write shower thank you notes, assembling wedding invitations, or other tasks the bride requests. In essence, being a bridesmaid is the same as being a good friend!

How to Start a Wedding Hall

A wedding reception hall can be a fun and lucrative business venture when you carry out the proper amount of planning to start and operate it. Putting some thought into how you’ll run the venue and rent out its space can be the primary determinant in whether or not your reception hall is booked regularly or empty weekend after weekend.

Supplies Needed:
Facility with commercial kitchen
Tables and Chairs
Curtains and wall décor
Brochures

Step One:
Create an atmosphere that is conducive to the elegant and celebratory nature of weddings. Because your facility will be focused on wedding receptions, you should decorate the center in neutral colors with graceful artwork and finishing touches. This center should be functional, but it should also attract the eye of the bride looking for a beautiful venue.

Step Two:
Build relationships with vendors. Find vendors you can outsource to for the details you don’t want to handle yourself. Some vendors include linen companies, party rental companies for tables and chairs, caterers, wait staff, flowers, bridal shops, party stores, etc. In order to build these relationships, make personal visits to the companies to leave information about your wedding reception business. Ask for any brochures or other information they can give you and pledge to pass it along to the brides and grooms with which you come in contact.

Step Three:
Create your rental packages. Put together different reception packages your clients can choose from. You may wish to offer a low, mid and high-level price point package as well as a la carte items customers can choose to add to their packages. Creating packages helps you to showcase what you can offer customers, and it can also help you stay focused on your offering. In a wedding reception center business, you may offer a basic package with just the hall, tables, chairs, and the use of the kitchen. A more all-inclusive package option might be one that includes catering services, linen rentals, an event coordinator, and other party details.

Step Four:
Apply for licensing and operating permits. Contact your city hall to inquire of the necessary permits. These will be unique from state to state and will cover requirements for the facility, food, liquor, and operations. This process may require inspections.

Step Five:
Hire staff. Generally, a wedding reception hall requires a manager, an event planner and one or two sales people. Higher volume reception halls may require more staff than ones with smaller volumes. Decide on what staff members you need to help you run the center effectively and hire them.

Step Six:
Have an open house. Since you have the party space and some of the other details for throwing a party, a great way to showcase your reception hall is to throw an open house party. Invite potential customers and potential referral sources to an open house party where they can preview the wedding reception hall and enjoy some refreshments, dancing and more. Advertise your open house through local newspapers, online city events calendars, and through the vendors with whom you have already spoken. Make sure your reception center is well-furnished and looks impeccable for the big day.

Step Seven:
Advertise. Contact bridal magazines and websites to ask about advertising space. Research local bridal shows and plan to host a booths at the events. Print full-color brochures with pictures of your reception hall to give to vendors, prospective clients, churches, bridal shops, and rental centers. Contact your local newspaper and ask for an interview about your newly opening hall.

Tips:
During the wedding off season (January, February, and March are the least popular wedding months), you may consider reaching out to other rental clients in order to fill your calendar. Corporate events, reunions, or other large gatherings will bring in cash while you build excitement for the coming wedding season.

Brazil Marriage License Requirements: Getting Hitched Out of Country

Weddings in Brazil reflect a mix of ancient traditions and current legal requirements. Brazil’s national history is a blend of mingling nations, including the influences of the indigenous peoples, the different African cultures, and the European colonists. As a result, Brazilian weddings are rich in customs and rituals. At the same time, the weddings must follow certain rules in order to be considered legal and official. These rules are not difficult, however, and preparing all of the right documents within the required time frame can ensure a pleasant wedding in Brazil.

Documents

Non-residents of Brazil who plan to get married in Brazil need to be sure to bring with them some important documents: birth certificate (original with the raised seal, or a notarized copy), proof of being single (evidence of legal search among marriage records or proof of divorce finalization), passport and visa and copies of each, records search to find out if bride or groom has been convicted of crimes, and application to marry. All of these documents must be filed before the marriage license approval process can begin.

Time

Acquiring a marriage license in Brazil does require a certain time commitment. Unlike in some countries, where a marriage license only has to be approved a couple of days before the ceremony, marriage licenses in Brazil can take up to thirty days for full approval. Once the license is approved, however, couples in Brazil have as long as three months to be officially married in a wedding ceremony. (If the couple is not married within those three months, they will need to apply for a new license.)

Registration

Registering a marriage in Brazil can also take some time, but once the license has been approved the registration process can be the most enjoyable. In Brazil, couples must be married within the state of their residency (which would be filed on the application documents). An official at the Civil Registry Office performs the ceremony and completes all of the required paperwork. Bear in mind that religious ceremonies in Brazil are optional and have no legal authority. (Couples may have a religious ceremony in addition to the civil ceremony, but they cannot substitute a religious ceremony for a civil ceremony.) Couples getting married in Brazil should be sure to find out if the Civil Registry Office limits marriages to certain days; in Minas Gerias, for instance, civil ceremonies are typically performed on Fridays but not on any other day.

DIY Wedding Invitations with Computer Software

Designing your own wedding invitations can be a great option for personalizing a wedding. There is a range of excellent invitation software currently available that makes creating wedding invitations well within the reach of virtually every budget and design preference. For those who prefer to make invitations with a personal touch–or to save money by avoiding the cost of pre-printed invitations–DIY wedding invitation software is an excellent way to go. With a little time and a few supplies, you will be on your way to creating the perfect invitations for the wedding of your dreams.

Step 1

Select the brand of software that you would like to use for the wedding invitations. Several invitation software companies offer packages that include wedding invitation software. The packages offer templates that are appropriate for wedding (and even wedding shower) invitations. Additionally, there are wedding invitation templates available through free online software, so if you are looking to save money, the free templates can be a great option.

Step 2

Choose a template for the wedding invitation, or design your own from scratch. Any software that you select will provide a range of templates, from romantic and traditional to playful and unconventional. The template for the wedding invitation should suit the couple or the overall theme of the wedding.

Step 3

Purchase the paper that you plan to use for the invitations. Wedding invitation paper can range from basic card paper to the costlier vellum paper. The style of the invitation will help you choose the most appropriate paper. Bear in mind that a more traditional invitation will require a finer paper, such as vellum, while a more contemporary invitation might only need a simple card paper.

Step 4

Purchase any accessories that will go with the invitations. Standard invitation accessories include ribbon, raffia, and transparent overlay paper. Some wedding invitations have no accessories, of course. The accessories will depend largely on the template that is used and on the style of the invitation.

Step 5

Design the invitations, and print them out. A laser printer is usually the best option because there is less danger of the ink smudging, but a standard printer will do as long as you give the invitations time to dry. Print off a few trial-run invitations before printing the full number. The samples will give you the opportunity to make sure the invitations look the way you want and have no errors in them.


Tips

Wedding invitations are typically white or ivory, but you are not limited to these shades. The invitation should reflect the couple and the event, so feel free to create an invitation in any color that is most appropriate. Just bear in mind that darker colors do not lend themselves to clear print, so consider a lighter overlay to ensure that guests can read the invitation details clearly.

Don’t forget the envelopes. Envelopes are usually included with pre-printed invitation packages, but if you are printing your own, be sure to purchase the envelopes and to calculate them into the overall cost.

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Wedding Venues or Honeymoon Accommodations: The Best Hotel Chains

For planning a wedding ceremony or reception or choosing a honeymoon destination, a chain hotel can be an excellent option. Granted, a chain might not offer quite the same local touch of a small boutique hotel, but the chains do represent brand consistency that can be appealing in unfamiliar locations. And hotel chains understand this, so they strive to provide guests exactly what they expect to find in the recognized hotel name. With the gradual expansion of chain hotels around the world, you are sure to find a name that you trust. So, whether you plan to visit Dallas or Dublin, Boston or Budapest, check out the hotel chains that are available for you there.

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

The Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts owns more than fifty hotel properties that span twenty-two different countries, and the chain is constantly expanding in the U.S. and around the world. Additionally, the various Four Seasons hotels have been the recipient of numerous hotel awards, and the Las Vegas location was most recently a recipient of TripAdvisor’s 2010 Travelers’ Choice Awards. Beyond this, the Four Seasons location in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Palm Beach, Kailua-Kona (Big Island, Hawaii), Maui, Chicago, Boston, New York, and Jackson Hole (Wyoming), among others, have all received the prestigious AAA Five-Diamond ranking for 2010. The Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts boasts more consistent AAA Five-Diamond rankings than any other hotel chain worldwide.

Marriott Family of Hotels

Marriott has more or less cornered every part of the hotel and resort market with its extensive family of hotels. The company offers its flagship Marriott (or sometimes J.W. Marriott) hotels for travelers who need luxury, but it also owns such familiar hotel chains as the Fairfield Inn & Suites, the Residence Inn & Suites, the Courtyard Hotel. What is more, the various segments of the Marriott company have received numerous awards for overall quality and customer service. In March of 2010, Marriott was a recipient of TripAdvisor’s 2010 Reader’s Choice Awards, and in January of 2010, Marriott was recognized as one of only thirteen companies to receive an “All Star” rating from Fortune magazine. Marriott has also received honors as one of the “Greenest” companies in the U.S. and has been awarded Elite Marketing Awards from the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International.

Hampton Inn & Suites

Hampton Inn & Suites is officially a division of Hilton Hotels and features almost 1800 locations in all fifty states, as well as Puerto Rico, all of the Canadian provinces, and parts the U.K. The Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards named Hampton Inn & Suites “the best mid-priced hotel” for five years running (and most recently in January of 2010), and the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International awarded Hampton Inn with a Gold, Silver, and Bronze Adrian Awards in February of 2010. Within the Hampton chain, the top 5% of Hampton Inn & Suites locations have received the Lighthouse Award for quality and guest satisfaction, and numerous locations have received the Hilton family of hotels Connie Award, given to locations that represent “the best of the best” for Hilton.

Decorations Ideas for a South Indian Wedding

If a bride or groom has South Indian roots, they may want this reflected in their wedding, whether it takes place in India or elsewhere. Traditional Indian decor is bold in color and design, with richness and elegance. If you’re throwing a South Indian wedding, you may be looking for ideas from which to draw inspiration.

Mandap

Traditionally, Indian ceremonies take place at a mandap, which is an important symbolic element you'll want to incorporate into a traditional South Indian ritual. Find deep gold and red fabric colors for more of a traditional look or coordinate fabric colors to match your overall wedding theme. Real or artificial flowers can adorn the canopy. Marigolds, roses, and jasmine are commonly used for this purpose. The pillars can be wrapped with floral garlands or silk drapes in coordinating colors. Usually there is a brightly colored carpet at the floor of the mandap, and strings of lights, lanterns or candles can be used for illumination. The mandap can also include wall hangings and decorative artifacts. Don't forget the ornate chairs that often resemble thrones for you and your groom to sit on under the mandap.

Kalash and Thali

Kalash and Thali are symbols of shagun, or luck. Kalash is a pot usually made of brass, but may be found in silver as well. The pot contains a coconut surrounded by fresh mango leaves. Painting is done in beautiful ethnic designs on the exterior of the pot; stickers with Indian designs can be used for the same purpose. A Thali is a plate made of silver or brass. Banana leaves cover the plate, with a diya (clay lamp) in the center. The diya is then surrounded with colorful flowers. Both the Kalash and the Thali can make gorgeous ethnic centerpieces.

Car

Like in America, the vehicle that will take the new couple away is often decorated for the Indian wedding. However, the decorations used for this purpose are much different. Typically flowers are using to adorn the car. Fresh, bright flowers are placed on the hood and artificial garlands drape over the car. Other accessories used to decorate the car can include: mirrors, bows, threads, artifacts, tissues and bandhani (dyed cotton or silk fabric).

Chicago Wedding Cruise Ideas

Chicago, Illinois borders the southwestern edge of Lake Michigan and includes the Chicago River and Calumet River. Known for the Great Fire of 1871, the starting point of Historic Route 66 and for its gangster bad guys such as Al Capone, Chicago is a multicultural and diverse city with a rich history. A variety of dinner cruises are available to enjoy the sights of the city while dining on board a yacht or boat and make great options for rehearsal dinner parties, wedding receptions or simply a wedding activity for fun.

Odyssey Chicago

The Odyssey Chicago dinner cruise was rated "the best skyline in America" by Travel and Leisure magazine. Dinner cruise guests are invited on board, loading at the Navy Pier, and are served appetizers, entrees and desserts that are prepared fresh daily by the on-board chef. Diners can view the skyline of Chicago while dining at their tables, dancing to the live music aboard the ship or sitting and relaxing on the outside deck. The boat cruises along the Chicago lakefront and offers guests views of the Museum Campus and Evanston. Individual and group tickets are sold, so you can dine aboard to celebrate a special occasion or just because. The boat holds up to 600 passengers.

Odyssey Chicago
Navy Pier
600 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
866-305-2469
odysseycruises.com

Spirit of Chicago

Spirit of Chicago offers guests a buffet dinner aboard one of their ships. Guests can enjoy the downtown Chicago skyline as the boat skirts the lakefront area. Cabaret-style seating promotes mixing and mingling with the other guests aboard the ship. Individual tickets and group tickets are available. Along with appetizers, a grand buffet dinner, and beverages, guests are entertained with some of the top DJs in the greater Chicago area.

Spirit of Chicago
Navy Pier
Chicago, IL 60611
866-273-2469
spiritofchicago.com

Mystic Blue Full Moon Dinner Cruise

Private tables are assigned as guests board the Mystic Blue Full Moon Dinner Cruise. The cruise offers a full dinner buffet and live music entertainment as it sets sail. The cruise takes the guests along the lakefront for views of the Chicago city skyline and at time sets sail as far north as Evanston. The boat holds up to 500 passengers.

Mystic Blue Full Moon Dinner Cruise
Navy Pier
600 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
312-321-7600
mysticbluecruises.com/Chicago

Etiquette for a Rehearsal Dinner at a Destination Wedding

A rehearsal dinner is an intimate meal for the immediate family members of the bride and groom and for members of the wedding party. A destination wedding, however, can add a layer of etiquette complexity. Usually small and relaxing, you may have to settle for a bigger-than-normal dining experience—to make guests who fly in, possibly from very long distances, feel welcome. Applying etiquette rules to a rehearsal dinner for a destination wedding requires thoughtful consideration of everyone involved.

The Facts

Traditional wedding etiquette makes the groom’s family responsible for the rehearsal dinner. Additionally, traditional wedding etiquette includes only the immediate family and the members of the wedding party. This means that the bride and her family should not add people outside of this group to this special dinner without first consulting the groom’s family. At the same time, the groom’s family should remember that a distant great-aunt of the bride who took the time to come to the wedding probably deserves a seat at the rehearsal dinner.

Geography

Geography plays an important part in rehearsal dinner etiquette for a destination wedding. If the destination for the wedding is outside the United States, or even in Hawaii, the bride and groom should “go the extra mile” for their guests. So, the groom’s family should consider including extra guests at the rehearsal dinner to make them feel welcome.

Size

Destination weddings tend to be smaller, for the simple reason that fewer people can travel to the location. If the wedding does not have more than 40 or 50 people attending, it might be possible to include everyone in the rehearsal dinner. In fact, for destination weddings, the rehearsal dinner can easily be a relaxing experience, a “night before” party, so that everyone is ready for the wedding the next day. No, the rehearsal dinner may not be traditional, but as the wedding itself is not necessarily traditional, there is no reason not to bend the rules a little.


Considerations

Because destination weddings are more challenging for everyone—from the bride and the groom to the guests that attend—the rules for the rehearsal dinner sometimes change. For instance, the bride and the groom might offer to host the dinner instead of the groom’s parents, as a way to thank everyone for coming to the wedding. At the same time, the bride and the groom should not assume this responsibility without first discussing it with the groom’s family to avoid unintentionally insulting anyone.

Expert Insights

Whatever the decision is about the rehearsal dinner, the primary focus should be on relaxation and on making everyone feel welcome. Traveling to a distant location for the wedding is already difficult; add to this challenge that guests might feel awkward not knowing what to do while they wait for the wedding (particularly if the wedding is outside the U.S.), and hospitality is the key. The best decision might be for the groom’s family to arrange a small pre-wedding party or invite every guest to the rehearsal dinner.

How to Start a Wedding Consultant Business

If you love planning magnificent events and enjoy the romance and flair of a wedding, becoming a bridal consultant may be a perfect career choice. A bridal consultant sees to the needs of a bride from the beginning of the planning process until the married couple rides off into the sunset. In order to start your own bridal consultant business, there are many things to learn.

Step One:
Become an expert. Many Bridal Consultants worked within the wedding industry (bridal shop, flowers, and reception venues) before becoming a consultant, so they already have first-hand knowledge. Whether you are seasoned in the wedding world or you are new to it, it is important to know all of the quality vendors in your area. Build relationships with them by visiting their businesses and asking questions. Establish a network of your most trusted suppliers. The more business you send to your favorite vendors, the better service (and prices) they are likely to provide. Develop a database full of all wedding-related providers so that you can offer multiple suggestions to your bridal clients.

Step Two:
Study up on wedding trends, etiquette, and creative ideas. Read magazines and websites and attend bridal shows to remain up-to-date on your advice. Attend other weddings to add to your file of ideas and record any mistakes or problems that you can avoid or overcome in your own business.

Step Three:
Develop your people skills. Bridal Consultants must deal with hundreds of details and thousands of emotions to carry off an impeccable wedding celebration. Therefore, they must be skilled in dealing with people, offering solutions to problems, and navigating potential pitfalls. Overall they must work well under pressure.

Step Four:
Become an adept money manager. With an average wedding costing $20,000 or more, it is highly important for a new businessperson to be skilled at managing, and stretching, the bride’s budget. Using your newfound people skills, you will negotiate for the best prices and make a low-budget wedding look like that of an heiress. As a business owner, the bridal consultant must also be able to manage one’s own business finances.

Step Five:
Set your rates and plan your income. Most wedding coordinators make 10 to 15 percent of the wedding budget, but some operate on an hourly rate. An average wedding would take about 35 hours of coordinating. The wedding business is seasonal, so your main income will be earned from May through October. Many bridal consultants offer other party-planning services during the slow wedding months.

Step Six:
Build your portfolio with clients from successful weddings. Add letters of reference, pictures, and include all of the vendors used and decisions made. This will aid you in developing future events, but it will also prove your abilities to future clients.

Romantic Honeymoons in the Bahamas

Few places can be quite as romantic as the Bahamas, and particularly for newlyweds enjoying their honeymoon. What is more, there is no shortage of hotel and resort options for romantic couples to choose from. The Bahamas teams not only with natural beauty but also with a range of accommodations spread out across its 29 islands and 661 cays. Choosing the right romantic honeymoon getaway is only a matter of deciding where to stay and what type of hotel or resort to enjoy. With a little research, you and your new spouse will be on your way to enjoying a honeymoon in a place that might just have been made for romantic getaways.

Kamalame Cay

An all-inclusive resort on a private island just off the island of Andros, Kamalame Cay is set on 96 acres and offers visitors three miles of Bahamas beaches to enjoy. The resort offers guests a range of room options, from cottage suites to a four-bedroom private villa. Each villa and suite is also privately set on the island and within easy distance of the beach. The resort staff will also book guests on one or more of the many activities, including snorkeling, fishing, and diving. Guests can also request a private tour or an eco tour of the island. Romantic couples may arrange for a dinner for two, located right on the beach and with a private chef.

Kamalame Cay
Staniard Creek, Andros
The Bahamas
876-632-3213
www.kamalame.co.uk

One & Only Ocean Club

Located on 35 acres, the One & Only Club was once the destination of world-famous jet-setters. The resort style has a West Indian influence, and the hotel includes more than 100 guestrooms. Guests may choose from traditional rooms, as well as beachfront suites, and all guestrooms provide a private terrace or balcony. The resort amenities include a restaurant with Bahamanian influences on the menu and a spa where guests may indulge in holistic treatments. There is a beachfront golf course on site for guests who are also golf enthusiasts. The One & Only Ocean Club also provides a free shuttle to Atlantis for those guests who would like to enjoy the marina, spa, or casino there.

One & Only Ocean Club
P.O. Box N 477
Paradise Island
The Bahamas
242-363-2501
www.oneandonlyresorts.com

Green Turtle Club

The Green Turtle Club claims to offer guests unparalleled beach access on an island that is only about 3 miles long. What is more, this particular resort is situated to provide guests with beach access on both sides of the island – the Atlantic, as well as the Caribbean. The resort was constructed in 1964, and it retains a style that features a British Colonial influence. Accommodations include standard rooms, as well as villas. The resort will also arrange weddings for guests who would like to be married on site. The Green Turtle Club is located near a town that dates back to the 18th century, so guests may hop on one of the resort golf carts and drive into town to explore the local shops.

Green Turtle Club
Green Turtle Cay, Abaco
The Bahamas Out Islands
242-365-4271
www.greenturtleclub.com

How to Create an Orchid Wedding Bouquet

The delicate and graceful orchid can be a perfect flower for a wedding bouquet. What is more, because the orchid is such a noticeable and beautiful flower, you do not need a large arrangement of them for the bouquet to stand out. When assembling an orchid wedding bouquet, simplicity is best, and the more you feature the flowers, the lovelier the bouquet will be. Adding one other type of flower can set off the orchids even more beautifully, and a few small accessories can create a memorable bouquet that matches your wedding theme. With a few simple steps, you will be on your way to holding the perfect orchid wedding bouquet.

Supplies Needed

Orchids, in one color or a couple of colors
Other flower of your choice (white or colored roses, crocosmia, etc.)
Floral wire
Floral tape
Jewel accessories (small pearls or colored gems)
Hot glue gun with glue sticks
Ribbon

Instructions

Step 1: Gather together the orchids and any other flowers that you plan to use for the bouquet. Check all of the flowers for wilted petals, and remove any petals and leaves that are spent. Clean off anywhere from eight to ten inches of the stem to remove any small leaves or extra stem pieces. The lower portion of the stem is what you will hold, so try out the space to make sure you have enough stem.

Step 2: Begin arranging the orchids and any other flowers as you want them to appear in the bouquet. Alternate orchids and other flowers, or just place each orchid in the right spot so that the bouquet is rounded in shape and looks exactly like you want.

Step 3: Attach any jewel accessories to the floral wire by hot gluing them down. Be sure the floral wire is about the same length as the flower stems, or even a little shorter, so that it does not stick out below the stems. Depending on the size of the bouquet and the number of flowers that you use, you may have anywhere from three to ten jewel accessories in the bouquet.

Step 4: Insert the wired jewels into the bouquet, placing them so that they are visible in the arrangement but do not overwhelm the flowers. The jewel accessories should highlight the beauty of the orchids and other flowers without taking over the bouquet.

Step 5: Gather the arrangement together, and wrap the stems with floral wire to secure it. The floral wire will function as a type of “collar” to hold the flowers together, but be sure that you do not place the wire too close to the base of the flower itself. Instead, add the wire about an inch below the flower heads to give the flowers a little room to bend just slightly.

Step 6: Wrap the floral wire with floral tape to secure the entire arrangement, and then cover the floral tape with ribbon. Gently hot glue the ribbon down as you secure it around the stems. If you like, hot glue one or more small jewels to the stem for an added touch.

Tips and Warnings

One option for securing any wedding bouquet is also to use a tussy mussy. A tussy mussy can be purchased at most craft supply stores and will provide a ready-made holder for the flowers. Some will even provide an extra stand so that you can display the bouquet during the reception.

Keeping Track of Wedding Vendor Contact Information

Is your list of wedding vendor information getting out of hand? When you’re planning a wedding you always need to keep the contact information readily available. Luckily for the modern bride, the days of keeping track of vendor information in large books are over. The advent of the spreadsheet and even planning and organizational programs has made it possible to input the necessary data and then update it with little trouble. Keeping track of your vendor contact information is now just a matter of finding the right software and making sure all of your vendors make it into the system.

Step 1: Gather the list of vendor information and decide what you need to maintain within the spreadsheet program or vendor organization software. Some businesses will only need to keep track of the basic contact details, such as company name, address, and so forth. Other businesses will need to include extra information that will be useful when it comes time to contact the company. Take the time to think about what you need to include in the program.

Step 2: Select the program that you want to use. Basic spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft Excel allow you to build your contact information from scratch and include as many or as few details as you need. A purchasable vendor organization program will already include a variety of options, from the basics of contact details to a variety of vendor-related specifics that might be necessary to know when working with a vendor. Fortunately, the purchasable software will also allow you to select among the available options so that the categories you do not need can be hidden or deactivated.

Step 3: Begin adding the contact information that you want to include. As you add the information, check to make sure that you understand how to find records in the event that you need to update them or access them.

Tips and Warnings

For those familiar with its features, Microsoft Excel can be an excellent program that enables a business to keep track of exactly what it need in terms of vendor contact information. For those who have never worked with the program before, however, it can be somewhat confusing and not always user-friendly. If you are unfamiliar with Excel, the ready-made software might be a better choice.

New Ways to Repurpose Old Engagement Rings

Because an engagement ring has such significant emotional value, it can be difficult to determine what to do with one that you are no longer using. In some cases, a former fiancé will ask for the ring back, but if the ex-fiancé is willing to leave the ring in your possession, you are left with a piece of jewelry that you will likely not want to wear.

For those who have old engagement rings from marriages that ended in divorce or death, the rings can be difficult to get rid of, because they might have sentimental value for widows or for the children. Fortunately, there are several options for giving old engagement rings a new purpose, and those who do not wish to wear the rings – whatever the reason – can still find something to do with them.

Selling Old Rings

Obviously, the easiest way to remove an unused engagement ring from your possession is to look into selling it. Unfortunately, engagement rings can be a bit like cars when it comes to resale: they begin losing value the moment they leave the jewelry store. In some cases, a jeweler will take a ring back with a receipt, but this is only if it was purchased fairly recently (and if the ring does not have an inscription). If the ring was purchased some time back, your only real choice for selling the ring is to find a jeweler who is willing to make you an offer for it. Call around to local jewelry stores and explain your situation. Inquire about whether or not, they will give you an estimate on buying the ring. Bear in mind that few grooms-to-be will want to purchase a used ring, so the jeweler will likely have to sell the ring for a reduced price or reset and repurpose it.

Resetting Old Rings

Another option for using an old engagement ring is simply recycling it. If the ring has a stone on it that you do not mind keeping, consider taking the ring to a jeweler and find out if the stone (or stones) can be removed and placed in a necklace or bracelet. This is a good option for those who have an engagement ring from a previous marriage but are now wearing a ring from a current marriage. For instance, a widow can honor her late spouse by resetting the diamond from the previous engagement ring while still wearing the current engagement-wedding ring combination on her hand.

Donating Old Rings

Donating an old engagement ring to charity might sound like a waste of perfectly good money, but if the ring no longer has sentimental value to you – and it is just sitting in a drawer or safe somewhere – you can still use the value of the ring as a tax write-off and provide someone else with the chance to put the ring to good use. Before donating an old engagement ring, be sure to contact the charitable organization that you would like to give it to, since many of them have policies on items that they will and will not take. Once you have confirmed that they will accept the ring, drop it off and be sure to get a donation receipt for it.

Managing the Children in the Wedding Party

Nothing may be more precious or more meaningful than having adorable flower girls and ring bearers in your wedding. Children, however, present some challenges of their own that you may want to keep in mind for your wedding day event.

• Try to stick with children between the ages of five and seven because they’re a bit easier to manage, keep quiet and keep still during the ceremony. They’re also less likely to be afraid of the guest crowd and break into tears
• The parents of the children in the wedding typically pay for the child’s attire
• The bride pays for and provides the flower girl basket and flowers and the ring pillow
• After the children walk down the aisle, have their parents take them to their seat (generally best to sit the parents of the kids near the front)

Choosing Members of the Wedding Party

For some weddings, the meaning of choosing attendants is lost. When you choose the groomsmen and the bridesmaids, it should be about choosing special people that you want to stand as witnesses for your very special day. It’s not about making all of the cousins on your mother’s side of the family part of the wedding just because that’s the way it is.

Remember, the more people you have in the wedding party, the more people you have to worry about for gifts and on the day of the wedding. It’s not to say that you should have a small wedding party either. You should choose to have the size wedding party you want to have – be it big or small – because you’ve chosen wisely.

One more thing, the modern bride doesn’t even have to choose the same number of bridesmaids as her groom chooses groomsmen either. It’s perfectly acceptable to have a disproportionate number. The only rule in choosing your wedding party is that there aren’t any rules at all.

How to Get Your Wedding Bands Engraved

Many couples choose to have an inscription engraved on the inside of their wedding bands as a memento of the special occasion. One of the items you can engrave is your names. Most couples also add the date of the wedding, if it fits. If you have decided to engrave names in your wedding bands, here are the steps you need to take to get it done.

Decide how the inscription will read. You may choose to engrave your own name on your own wedding band and your husband’s name on his wedding band. You may choose to engrave his name on your band and vice versa. Your other option is to engrave both of your name. however you decide, figure out precisely how you want to names to read.

Find a jeweler or engraving company. Ask the jeweler where you’re buying your wedding bands if they offer an engraving service or ask if they can refer you to an engraving service. Once you find a company to engrave the rings, schedule an appointment to discuss the details such as cost, possible problems, etc.
Discuss options with the engraver. While most professional engravers can easily engrave your rings, things can go wrong. When you schedule a meeting with the engraver, be sure to ask all of the questions you have such as what happens if the ring is damaged during the engraving process or if the engraver makes a mistake?

Show and ask for samples. Bring engraving samples you like to the meeting with your engraver to show them how you want your engravings to look. Also, ask them for samples of their engraving work so you can judge the quality of their work with your own eyes.
Choose hand or machine engraving. If your rings have very intricate design features, you may have to opt for hand engraving over machine engraving. Otherwise, you should be able to have the names engraved by a machine, which tends to be less time intensive and cost less money.

Inspect the engraving. Ask for the engraver to provide a proof of what the engraving will look like before they start working on your rings. Once you approve the proof and go to pick your rings up from the engraver, make sure you carefully review the engravings to make sure that your names are spelled correctly and that it looks the same or similar to the proof you approved.

New Look for Bridesmaids

Centuries ago, bridesmaids worse dresses that were similar in style, fashion and color as the bride. With a belief that evil spirits (or at least forbidding family members) may kidnap the bride to keep her from marrying the groom, wearing dresses that were basically the same prevented the evil spirits from recognizing the bride.

Somewhere along the way, bridesmaid dresses went to the other side of the spectrum, where brides wore white gowns and bridesmaids wore dresses in a rainbow of colors. At times, bridesmaid dresses were downright hideous with ruffles, hoop skirts and the like. It was almost as if the bride were punishing her friends or trying to make them look really bad in an effort to make the bride look really great.

Modern times have created sophisticated styles and colors for bridesmaid dresses. Brides have even come around to letting their bridesmaids choose their own dress so that each girl chooses a dress they like and one that flatters individual figures, shapes and sizes. Many bridesmaid dresses today are even multi-purpose and stylish enough to wear again to other events.

The Clash of Wedding Invitation Traditions with Technology

Wedding traditions stem back from the beginning of time. Computers and printers in the home are much newer to the wedding scene. From creating their own wedding invitations at home to addressing envelopes with a computer font that looks strikingly similar to calligraphy, does technology help brides or is does it cause a clash between modern times and wedding traditions? Experts and brides alike seem to agree that technology helps them carry out wedding traditions more effectively than ever before – and at time much more cost effectively as well.

Save-the-Date

A save-the-date is a courteous way of announcing to out-of-town guests that they better start making their travel arrangement because your wedding is six months to a year from now. With self-publishing sites such as Picaboo, Snapfish and Kodak, brides can upload their favorite photo of the happy couple, turn it into a postcard, magnet or coffee mug and send it out to invited guests. Even a simple save-the-date card can be created online or with desktop publishing software, stuffed in a computer-addressed envelope and dropped in the mail.

Thank You Cards

While it is acceptable to create thank you cards or to address mailing envelopes on a computer, thank you notes still need to be handwritten. Include a personal note, mentioning the gift received and sign it with both of your names. Running the same printed message through your computer printer, complete with computer printed names is very impersonal, Hand written thank you notes are one tradition you want to stick to using.

Labels

It’s not a recommendation to use mailing labels to address your wedding invitations, thank you cards or any other wedding stationary. If you do, however, decide to use labels use clear mailing labels for printing so they are less noticeable when you slap them on the envelope.

How to Tie a Box Knot on a Bridesmaid Dress

When your bridesmaid dresses have a waist sash or tie of some sort, you can choose to tie the ribbon or material in several different ways. One option is to do a box tie, which is also known as a box knot. It is easier to do a box tie on someone else than to try to do it on your dress, so you may want to assign someone to tie all of the bridesmaid dresses rather than leave it to each individual girl.

Align each piece of ribbon or material. Pull the ribbon or material to be tied so that it lines up to an equal length on each side.

Cross over. Take the right side of the ribbon or material and cross it over the top of the left side of the ribbon or material.

Create loops and weave. Take the end of the piece of ribbon that is now on the bottom and pull it up and over the right of the top piece.

Repeat the opposite to create loop and weave. Take the end of the top piece of ribbon and pull it under and through the loop. Pull it over the top piece and under the left piece of the ribbon.

Secure the knot. Take the right side and pull it down and through the right loop so that it is a bit loose. When passing through the loop, the end should go under and then over. Repeat this step with the left side except the end should go over and then under when going through the loop.

Tips
This type of know should only be used as decoration rather than in effort to secure someone or something.

How to Make Handkerchiefs for the Mother of the Bride

Delicate handkerchiefs are a traditional gift for a bride to present to her mother as well as other members of her bridal party. Although this time-honored custom is not always continued today, monogrammed or delicately embroidered hankies are still a lovely way to honor the bride’s mother and give her something beautiful to dry her happy tears on your wedding day. With a few common sewing tools, you can whip up this easy project in no time.

Things You’ll Need

1. Linen or sheer cotton fabric (preferably white or ivory)
2. Measuring tool Scissors or rotary cutter
3. Iron
4. Pins
5.Sewing machine with matching thread
6. Water soluble fabric marker
7. Embroidery needle and thread

Step 1: Cut out your pre-washed and ironed linen or cotton fabric to measure 12 x 12 inches. Linen is a more traditional handkerchief material, although a delicate and sheer cotton can be used instead if you find linen difficult to work with.

Step 2: Fold down and iron each edge ¼-inch. Repeat this step to create another ¼-inch fold, and secure with pins. This will ensure that there are no raw edges on either side of the handkerchief when you are done.

Step 3: Use your sewing machine to sew a straight or zigzag stitch along the edge of the fold you created. You might prefer instead to use a more decorative stitch depending on what your machine is capable of and the style you want for the hankie. The thread for the edge should typically match the ivory or white material you are working with, but a pastel blue or even one of your wedding colors can be equally appropriate.

Step 4: Using your fabric marker, draw the letter, word, or even phrase that you want to embroider on the hankie. Traditionally, this should appear on one of the corners so it is visible when folded. Your mother’s first initial will make a pretty monogram. The word “mother” or the phrase “mother or the bride” spelled out is even more special but will take a little more time to complete. You might even decide to include the wedding date.

Step 5: Thread the embroidery needle with the embroidery thread, preferably in a color that matches or coordinates with the thread along the edges, and stitch out the monogram, phrase, etc. that you have drawn out.

Step 6: Lightly wet over where you have embroidered to remove the ink markings. Once dry, run a warm iron over the completed handkerchief, and fold to where the embroidery shows in the corner.

Tips

As you sew down the folded edges, make sure that the fabric at the corners does not hang over. This might require you to fold under the corner edges before you sew.

Instead of a monogram, word, phrase, or wedding date, a bridal handkerchief can alternately be embroidered with a pretty flower or other simple design depending on your mother’s style and your embroidering skills.

If the thought of hand embroidery is too intimidating or you simply don’t have time, complete the hankie and take it to an embroidery shop to have it done.

Get Married Magazine Hits Newsstands

ATLANTA, January 19, 2010 - In the midst of prime engagement season, Get Married magazine hits newsstands nationwide, filling the void for brides seeking a fresh voice in bridal trends and shopping. For brides who have yet to experience the new shopping and wedding trend guide, Get Married — a tri-media wedding lifestyle resource — is offering a single free issue of Get Married magazine as a one-time special offer.

The January issue highlights 2010's best bridal trends, while giving brides an interactive guide for wedding shopping. With URLs featured alongside every product and as the first bridal publication to use Microsoft Tag, Get Married magazine enables brides to instantly shop and explore its vast selection of stylish wedding products. In an effort to streamline brides' shopping experience, nearly 80 percent of the magazine products are available in its online wedding shop (shop.getmarried.com), including free samples of wedding invitations.

“Get Married magazine keeps it real for brides. With an all-things-possible attitude and a down-to-earth point of view, the magazine showcases a diverse selection of unique ‘real bride' stories while offering accessibility to its trendy and affordable wedding product assortment,” said Stacie Francombe, CEO and founder of Get Married Media. “We not only offer brides the latest bridal trends, we let them know exactly where to buy the very things that inspire them.”

In addition to gorgeous real brides' weddings, the January issue of Get Married magazine showcases celebrity brides and star wedding experts who offer insight into what's hot in bridal fashion, designs and food:

· Celebrity brides Khloe Kardashian and Melissa Rycroft discuss the latest trends and what's hot in bridal

· Monique Lhullier, wedding dress and décor designer, talks about details behind her design process

· Wolfgang Puck, world-renowned chef, shares the wedding catering trends for 2010

· Sylvia Weinstock, wedding cake guru, offers a twist on the traditional wedding cake

· Celebrity wedding and event designer Marcy Blum offers tips on rehearsal dinner toasts

Continuing in Get Married magazine's tradition of being the only magazine to use real, celebrity wedding designers on the cover, the current issue includes an enchanting tablescape design by Tony Conway, wedding planner and owner of A Legendary Event. Conway, who designed the Precious premiere party for Tyler Perry and Oprah and has worked with Sir Elton John and Jane Fonda, was given a box of products and only four days to put together the ethereal cover design. International photo mastermind Alex Martinez shot the cover.

Where to find Get Married magazine

· On newsstands in select locations: Barnes & Noble, Borders, Waldenbooks, Book World, Hasting, Books-A-Million, additional independent bookstores

· Free first issue: Brides can receive a single issue of Get Married magazine FREE by signing up online for this special one-time offer at www.getmarried.com/register/

· Free online flipper: For this current issue, the free online flipper provides brides an interactive experience by hyperlinking all product features to a site of purchase (www.getmarried.com/magazine)

· Annual subscriptions (4 issues): Available for $14.96 (www.getmarried.com/magazine)

Additional inspirations that brides will see in the new issue of Get Married magazine include: a runway bridal fashion report, budget-savvy favors and gifts, groomsman and bridesmaid gifts, registry ideas, a deconstruction of DIY projects, super-cool save-the-dates and wedding invitations, destination hotspots, enter-to-win giveaways, local resources of wedding vendors, selection of best-loved wedding blogs, and more.

About Get Married Media

Get Married Media is a national, integrated tri-media wedding planning resource that reaches passionate brides on TV (WE tv Saturdays at 9:30am et/pt), online (www.GetMarried.com) and in print (Get Married magazine). Get Married connects brides with local and national wedding vendors and industry experts through entertainment and news.

Get Married magazine (circ. 300,000) - the new shopping and trend guide for the savvy bride - moves beyond the traditional ways of delivering a bridal publication - from the newest interactive technology and latest trends in bridal shopping and style to a colorful, fresh voice in the wedding genre. The first issue is FREE in single copy (www.getmarried.com/magazine) or bulk (magazine@getmarried.com).

Closely integrated with the TV show and Get Married magazine, the online portal at http://wedding.getmarried.com/ offers brides an interactive experience, including a wedding shop that sells wedding accessories and products as seen in the magazine, as well as a wedding blog (bloggerbrides.com), video segments from the show, articles, image galleries and wedding planning tools.

Get Married Seeks Real Brides For National Wedding Program

Casting call for brides-to-be to appear on Get Married’s show on WE tv

Get Married’s national wedding program is looking for passionate brides to appear on its television show. Throughout the half-hour program which airs every Saturday at 9:30am ET/PT on WE tv, host Stacie Francombe—Get Married’s CEO and founder—helps brides identify and match their personality with their unique bridal style. Brides are guided through an array of bridal experiences and participate in inspiring challenges with wedding professionals and experts.



Interested brides-to-be are encouraged to apply by visiting www.getmarried.com/omg where additional details are posted. Brides across the country could be saying “OMG! I’m going to be on TV!”


“Get Married’s show is all about the bride. By incorporating real brides in every episode we make a connection with our audience, showing them that every wedding element is attainable regardless of your style,” said Stacie Francombe, CEO and founder of Get Married Media. “Get Married’s show helps brides create the ultimate wedding that reflects their unique and personal style.”


Get Married’s television show on WE tv, a women-centric network dedicated to the wedding genre, is among an audience of brides seeking bright, innovative ideas and inspirations. Available in nearly 74 million homes, WE tv is the premier source for women looking to satisfy their curiosity with fascinating, original stories and entertaining content. The series will also simulcast to an additional three million on Wedding Central, a 24/7 multiplatform, interactive programming service devoted to weddings, dating and romance.



About Get Married Media
Get Married Media, a national, integrated tri-media wedding planning resource that reaches passionate brides on TV (WE tv Saturdays at 9:30am et/pt), online (www.GetMarried.com) and in print (Get Married magazine). Get Married connects brides with local and national wedding vendors and industry experts through entertainment and news.



Get Married magazine (circ. 300,000) - the new shopping and trend guide for the savvy bride - moves beyond the traditional ways of delivering a bridal publication - from the newest interactive technology and latest trends in bridal shopping and style to a colorful, fresh voice in the wedding genre. The first issue is FREE in single copy (www.getmarried.com/magazine) or bulk (magazine@getmarried.com).



Closely integrated with the TV show and Get Married magazine, the online portal at http://wedding.getmarried.com/ offers brides an interactive experience, including a wedding shop that sells wedding invitations, wedding favors, accessories and products as seen in the magazine, as well as a wedding blog (bloggerbrides.com), video segments from the show, articles, image galleries and wedding planning tools.

Happy New Year

Happy Holidays