(for Men Only)

FORMAL WEAR

It’s not only the brides duty to look fabulous at a wedding its the groom’s too! So you can be sure that whatever the occasion in your wedding,you’ll make a great impression. The formal wear of your wedding ceremony can be planned depending on the time of day and the season of your wedding. Men have a simple plan about their wedding attire. Make sure to match your outfit to the type of dress that your bride is choosing to wear. Coordination of your wear with your bride’s is much important, because standing in front of a crowd of known guests you need to look special and your suit should match from the bride’s dresses.

There are plenty number of selection of styles and colors available to today’s groom , his bride and his party. From pleated pants and continental jackets to a top hat and tails and designer name tuxes as well. It is important that the groom chooses a tux that is matching with the color scheme of rest of the wedding party. It will be better if you try on the tux after alterations have been made within one or two weeks before the wedding. Limit the colors because too many colors detract from the sophistication of the wedding. What is most important is what pleases the Bride and Groom and what they feel comfortable with.

Traditional Wedding Wear

Formal Evening Wedding

Evening weddings are more formal than their daytime counterparts More formal the venue, the dressier the attire. For a Formal Evening Wedding a black tailcoat and matching trousers, white pique waistcoat, dressy wing-collared shirt and a white bow tie is appropriate. Patent leather or polished black shoes and black socks should be worn for accessories. Select your shoes wisely since you’ll be dancing in the evening keep them comfortable.

Formal Daytime Wedding

For a Formal Daytime Wedding look for a chic skirt suit , or a gray or black cutaway jacket with dark striped trousers, matching or contrasting waistcoat, white wing-collared shirt and striped ascot tie.

Semi-Formal Evening Wedding

For a Semi-Formal Evening Wedding a black dinner jacket and trousers are worn in if the wedding is in winter, or white if it is in summer. A black vest or cummerbund goes with a white dress shirt and black bow tie. You may wear black gold or jeweled studs and cuff links.

Semi- Formal Daytime Wedding

For a Semi-Formal Daytime Wedding a stroller jacket and dark trousers are worn with a vest, wing-collared shirt and striped or checked conventional tie which gives slight informal look and gives you a comfortable feeling.

Informal Daytime Or Evening Wedding

For an Informal Daytime or Evening Wedding wear a solid black, gray or navy suit with white dress shirt and bow or conventional tie in winter: white or off white jacket with gray trousers, navy jacket with white flannel trousers, or white suit in summer, which are colors in contrast and will give you an awesome look.

Recent Fashion Trends

Trends have changed a lot, and so has changed the way of the wedding wear too. Every kind of wedding has got his new sort of wedding suit

A contoured long or short jacket is worn with matching trousers, wing-collared shirt, vest or cummerbund and bow tie during a Formal Evening Wedding

In a Formal Daytime Wedding, a groom can wear a contoured long or short jacket , white in summer and a dark colored jacket in winter,with striped trousers, wing-collared shirt and ascot tie, with a vest if needed.

For a Semi-Formal Evening Wedding, one can opt for a tuxedo jacket with his own taste of colors and styles with matching or contrasting trousers, white or colored dress shirt, vest or cummerbund and bow tie.

For a Semi-Formal Daytime Wedding a tuxedo jacket worn with matching or contrasting trousers, wing-collared shirt, vest or cummerbund and bow tie will look great for the groom

TUX TIPS FOR THE GROOM

PLAN AHEAD:

You should start shopping for the tuxedos at least two months before the wedding. Have an idea of what sort a suit and in what color you are going to buy before you start ordering and purchasing the wedding wear. See that the dresses are ordered as much as year in advance Bring your lady’s swatches with you…your tux shop can help you choose the right formal wear to complement the color scheme.

SHOP AT ONE STORE:

The tuxedo prices are almost the same in all the shops. But the service, quality, selection and group discounts do vary from one shop to the other. Rent your formal wear from a shop on which you are confident enough. The better tuxedo shops will organize your party and solve the problem of providing tux to everyone.

OUT OF TOWN GUESTS:

Some tuxedo shops provide mail-in cards members specially designed for the ones who live out of town and find it difficult to go to the tux shop for fittings. Approach these members go to a tailor to be measured and send the measurements to your tux shop. Your tux shop will prepare the right tux and have it ready for delivery by the time your guest arrives in town for the affair. Do not take these measurements without the help of tailor . It is usually not a good idea. Measurements should always be taken by a professional.

Tuxedo Rentals:

The tuxedo rentals include jacket, pants, shirt, tie, cummerbund or vest, studs, and cuff links. Other accessories are usually provided if you need them. Formal shoes may also be rented.

CHECK THE FIT:

Tuxedos should be picked up on the assigned day, and once you get them check if they fit you comfortably. If the fit should be changed, better tuxedo stores make alterations on the premises and they do make adjustments while you wait.

GROOM-THE MAN OF THE HOUR:

Most of them would want the members of the bridal party to wear the same tuxedo style. But the groom should have something to set him apart. Today’s designers recognize this need and therefore introduced their designs as a collection for a groom. A collection consists of a particular jacket style available in different colors or a tail coat model and matching short jacket versions, so that the groom can have a jacket in a particular color and the bridal party the same model in a different color. This idea allows many different possibilities and combinations. Also, the groom could wear a black tail coat while all the ushers could wear the same style and color without tails. Different color ties and cummerbunds could also be used to match the ladies’ dresses

Something for Everyone

Choose the tux that best complements your peculiarity and personality. As with any garment, a tuxedo is a fashion statement. Today’s tuxedo designs offer a greater variety than that were earlier. Box cuts, tapered cuts, tails, waistcoats, and double breasted, just to name a few, are all readily available tuxedo suits. You can consult with the tuxedo consultant before buying it.

BOUTONNIERES AND HANKS:

Boutonnieres can add a nice touch to any tuxedo. It should be worn on the left lapel. If you do not want one, you can just wear a colored hankie as a substitute, but not both at the same time.

A WORD ABOUT RETURNS:

A good tuxedo consultant does everything to his greatest effort to have your tux ready on time. This is not an easy task, since he has to rely on punctual returns. Save yourself expensive late charges by returning your tux on time. If you know that you cannot return it yourself due to busy schedules after your wedding have a reliable family member do it for you.

The Groom’s Checklist

There are loads of things you will/may need to do before the big day. The basic order of events is more important than the exact dead-line of time here and make sure you allow enough time for everything .Here is a checklist below in chronological order of those ‘not to be forgotten’ steps…

1.Buy the engagement ring well ahead of time
2.Put a wedding guest list. Note which guests would like to have seated in the reserved pews of the church or of the
wedding ceremony site.
3.The formal ware, non traditional outfits and other things for you and the men in your wedding party depend on the
kind of wedding affair that you and your bride have chosen.
4.Make an invitation to your best friend to be your best man and select and invite other friends to be ushers.
5.Select a good gift for your best man and the ushers and present it at the wedding rehearsal or the bachelor party,
which you feel as the best place to honor your friends.
6.Select a gift for your lady. It may be of diamond or any other which you feel would surprise her.
7.Choose the wedding rings with your bride. You can engrave your ring with your initials if you would like to.
8.Well plan for the honey moon with your bride so that you can reserve for tickets and residence ahead of time to
avoid rushing at the last minute.
9.Arrange the bride’s bouquets with wonderful and attractive colors, and all the necessary things for the bride’s mother
and female relatives on both the sides.
10.Make sure that the bride has made all the necessary tests for the blood test, birth certificates and baptismal
certificates.
11.Apply for the marriage license and obtain it before the wedding date.
12.Give this license to the best man before the wedding, he will then present after the wedding ceremony.
13.Change the status on all pertinent paperwork regarding your marital status like insurance on life, property,
household, medical and fire.
14.If there is to be a prenuptial agreement, the agreement should be drawn, reviewed and seek a counsel so that the
agreement may be signed.
15.Arrange a bachelor dinner several days before the wedding. Let the best man and ushers host this dinner .
16.Set a date for the wedding rehearsal. Inform the best man about the clergyman’s fee and the logistics of the wedding,
the honeymoon and travel plans.
17.Print out our Best Man’s Checklist and give him a copy and any other resources he’ll need.
18.After the wedding ceremony, the couples should sign the wedding certificate and have your best man ensure it is
safely put away.
19.The day next to your ceremony, send a telegram to the bride’s parents thanking them for the auspicious wedding
and reception.

Your Best Man and Your Wedding

In any wedding ceremony, the role of the Best Man is most critical for the groom. The Best Man is not simply one of the facilitators of the day’s event as it relates to the groom. He deals with all the contingencies of the day. He acts as a formidable character who is reliable and resourceful in providing all essential information and working for the Reception, wedding transportation, forgotten items, unexpected guests and so on.

The Best man guides the groom in each and every step of the engagement and wedding occasion starting from the the bachelor party till the moment the groom and his bride drive off to their honeymoon.

Thus the Best Man has to oversee the following four main things:

–To check that the groom makes it successfully to the alter
–To assist and manage any unforeseen reception problems
–To ensure that the groom maintains things correct enough to not make a fool of himself
–To see to that the groom and bride successfully make it on their way to their honeymoon.

The Best Man Checklist

The Best Man’s duties get into many diversions like things to be carried out before the wedding, during and after the reception, on the wedding ceremony

Before the Wedding

1.Arrange for the bachelors dinner and party
2.A gift for the groom
3.Be helpful in guiding the groom’s family and friends
4.Confirm honeymoon arrangements.
5.Arrange transportation for the groom to get to the ceremony and from the ceremony to the reception.

Before Leaving to the Wedding Ceremony

1.Help the groom in packing his dress.
2.Ensure that the car is packed for the honeymoon.
3.Wedding Ring
4.Travel Tickets, Passport, ID etc.
5.Reception Speech
6.Money/ Travelers Checks and car keys
7.Gifts or acknowledgments

Before Walking Down the Aisle and After the Ceremony the best man has to be with the groom to ensure that the groom has used his restroom. Check if his shoes are tied , pant’s fly is up and all together if he is neat and teak. See if his face and hair are in order and nothing is between his teeth . Calm him and put hi fear and second thoughts put to rest . Wedding ring is with the best man . Then the marriage license is signed. Finally pay the clergy fees.

During & After the Reception:

Most of the grooms would want best man to arrive early and that he may have to stay even after the bride and groom departs. You can very well ask him since he is your best friend. A couple of days before the wedding date, review all the arrangements you have made with the Best Man.

The Best Man can have the checkbook or credit card for any needed payments Musicians or DJ setup. The events like Speech to the groom and bride,Offering the first toast, Dance with the bride and her attendants, Reading telegrams or special mail for the bride and groom should be with the Best Man as an order wise list to remind everything to everyone on time.

Panic Kit for the Groom.

There are possibilities of the groom to go sick or panic suddenly due to restlessness .The Best Man should have all the basic things that may also be forgotten by the groom by mistake. Put them in a zip up bag and have them handy. The items the Best Man should have ready with him always are:

1. Aspirin, Tylenol and Antacid
2. Hair comb or brush
3.Black magic marker Small towel or paper towels
4.Hair gel or hairspray Extra toothbrush & toothpaste
5.Deodorant Mouthwash
6.Reception Speech (your best man should prepare this alone)

To sum up and spell out properly, the Best Man who will help to make your wedding day easy and trouble free. Select a close friend who is resourceful, energetic, and diplomatic and with those skills to find solutions to problems without offending or creating new ones.

A good luck saying dating back to Victorian times is “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and a Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe.

“Something Old” represents the link with the brides family and the past things in their family like a piece of antique family jewelry or a mothers or grandmothers wedding gown.

“Something New” represents good fortune and success in the bride’s new life.

“Something Borrowed” is to remind the bride that all her friends and  families will be there for her when any sort of help is needed. The borrowed object may be something such as a lace handkerchief. 

“Something Blue” is the symbol of faithfulness and loyalty. Often  the blue item is the garter.

“Silver Sixpence in her Shoe” is to wish the bride wealth.

TRADITIONS & THEIR ORIGIN  

Altar Positioning:

This tradition has been in practice right since marriages are done. By having the bride stand to the groom’s left, the groom can have his right hand free for his sword if he needed it for defense any time of crisis.

Arch of Swords following the Ceremony:

Its a custom that the couples are made to walk through the arc of swords following the ceremony. This was done to ensure the couple’s safe passage into their new life together.

Breaking of Glass: 

To recall Jewish tradition that represents the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, the couple save the pieces of glass from the ceremony in a symbolic box.

Best Man:

As marriages were historically accomplished by capture, warrior friend was often employed. This friend, called the Best Man of the groom helps
the groom to fight off other men who wanted the captured woman.

Bridal Party:

The bridal party has many origins. When the groom was about to abduct his bride, he needed the help of many friends, the “brides men” or “bride knights.” The bride also had women to help her. They were known as the “bridesmaids” or “brides women.”

Bride on the left, Groom on the right:

The groom will fight with other warriors for the bride. When he does so, he holds her on the left hand and his sword on the right hand. This is why the bride stands on the left, and the groom on the right.

Dowry/Hope Chest and Trousseau: 

During the marriage ,the couple’s family will exchange their property. The groom’s family would pay a price as a symbol of love to the bride’s family for the bride. The bride’s family in turn would provide the couple with a dowry of various household items for their new family life. All these gifted items will be kept in a special Hope Chest built by the bride’s father for the purpose of holding the dowry. 

Diamond Engagement Rings:

These lavishing gifts were given by medieval Italians with the belief that the diamond was created in the flames of love. 

Garter Toss / Bouquet Toss: 

It was customary for the bride to toss her garter to the men, but sometimes the men got too drunk, and would become impatient and try to take the garter off her ahead of time . All the same, it got to be less trouble for her to toss her bridal bouquet instead. 

Honeymoon

Following the abduction, the groom will hide himself with the bride, which is now called the Honeymoon, so that by the time the bride’s family found them, the bride would already be pregnant.  

Huppah:

In the Jewish religion, the ceremony takes place as the couple stands under an ornamental canopy. This canopy symbolized nomadic tents of Israel and the new home that the couple would soon share. 

Incense

Incense has been used in many cultures as an aromatic practice for purification of the air and carrying prayers and wishes to the heavens or gods at the ceremony site.

Shoes on the Bumper:

Tying shoes to the bumper of the car represents the symbolism and power of shoes in olden. Egyptians used to exchange sandals when they exchanged goods. In Anglo-Saxon times, the groom would tap the heel of the bride’s shoe to show his authority over her. Some years back, people had the practice of throwing shoes at the couple. Now folks just tie shoes to the new couple’s car.  

Something Blue:

In Biblical days , blue represented purity. Thus the bride and groom would wear a blue band around the bottom of their wedding attire. Hence their wedding occasion will include something blue to notify this.  

Stag Parties:  

The groom would feast with his male friends on the night before his wedding. In this event, he would say ” goodbye ” to the carefree days of bachelorhood and swear continued allegiance to his comrades.  

The Taking of each others Right Hand: 

An “open right hand” is a symbol of strength, resource and purpose. The couple holding their right hands together is a symbol that both the bride and the groom can depend on each other. It also represents the merger of their lives together into one. 

Tie the Knot:  

This wonderful Roman custom in which when the bride wore a girdle that was tied in knots which the groom had the fun of untying. This also refers to the tying of the knot in Hand fasting Ceremonies, which were often performed without the benefit of a clergy.  

Ties That Bind

Throughout the world, there are many cultures that recognize the idea of matrimony as the “ties that bind”.In African cultures, long grasses are braided together and used to tie the hands of the groom and bride together to symbolize their union. Delicate twine is used in the Hindu Vedic wedding ceremony to bind one of the bride’s hand to one of the hands of the groom. In your own ceremony, consider symbolizing your commitment to each other by adapting some of these cultural practices that would enrich you life after marriage according to ancient believes. Silk ribbons, garland of flowers or just holding hands can be a romantic way of showing your ties that bind. 

Veil:

Along with these kidnappings and bartering, there were also arranged marriages. In these, the groom’s family informed him that he was to marry…but they very rarely let him see the bride. After all, if the groom didn’t like the bride’s looks, he might not agree to the marriage. With this in mind, the father of the bride gave the bride away to the groom who then lifted the veil to see his wife of all eternity for the first time. 

Wedding:  

In ancient times, quite often the bride was exchanged for land, political alliance, social status and/or currency. Indeed, the Anglo-Saxon word “wed” meant the groom would vow to marry the woman — and that the bartered goods and/or currency would go directly to the bride’s father. In short, a wedding seemed little more than the purchase of a bride for breeding purposes and not for a liberated point of view in particular. 

Wedding Bands:  

It is still an unknown story of why and when the wedding bands were first worn. They were probably made of a strong metal such as iron. As far back as the ancient Romans, there was a belief that the vein in the third finger ran directly to the heart. So, by wearing a ring on that finger it joins the couple’s hearts and destinies together. 

Wedding Cake:

A wedding will not be complete without fertility symbols, like the wedding cake. Ancient Romans break a cake made of wheat or barley over the bride’s head as a symbol of her fertility. And nowadays, it became traditional to stack several cakes , as tall as possible. The bride and groom would then be charged to kiss over this tower without knocking it over. If they were successful, a lifetime of good fortune was certain for the newly married couple.

White Wedding Dress:  

The white wedding dress was made popular by Anne of Brittany in 1499. Indeed, white is not accorded as a symbol of chastity, but of joy.  

LEAP YEAR Proposals 

For more than many hundreds of years to when the leap year day had no recognition in English law, every woman had the right to propose on 29th February each leap year . It was considered, therefore, that as the day had no legal status, it was reasonable to assume that traditions also had no status. It was also strongly believed that since the leap year day corrected the discrepancy between the calendar year of 365 days, it was considered as an opportunity for women to correct a tradition that was one-sided and unjust.

Throwing Confetti 

Throwing confetti over newly weds is a very old custom. It originated from the ancient Pagan rite of  showering the happy couple with grain to wish upon them a ‘fruitful’ union, since they believed that the fertility of the seeds would be transferred to the couple on whom they fell. In recent years, small pieces of colored paper have replaced sweetmeats, grain and nuts. There is no specific reason for such a sudden change, but papers are used as an inexpensive substitute.

Unity Candle

The unity candle is a symbol of family unity. Usually a single candle represents the newly married couple is lit with two individual candles, each representing the bride’s and groom’s families.  

FOLLOWING THE RECEPTION 

Carrying the Bride over the Threshold:

This is a custom that is done to protect the bride from any evil spirits which may be unknowning to others hiding beneath the threshold. The groom would carry his beautiful bride to safety and happiness so they could start their new lives together. 

Honeymoon: 

This was a chance for the new couple to hide themselves from family and friends for a period of time and enjoy their newly married life for pretty few days. 

Shivare: 

This custom dates back from the Middle Ages till the present. A group of friends gather and bang on pots and pans, shoot off guns, to disturb the newly married couples on their wedding night.

INTERNATIONAL TRADITIONS

Following is a list traditions, customs and rituals throughout the world. Some of these are still followed at weddings today.  

1. In England, if an English bride passed a chimney sweep on her way to the church,and the chimney sweep kissed her, it was considered as good luck.
 
2.In Holland and Switzerland, pine tree was once planted outside a new couple’s home, as a symbol of luck and fertility. 

3.In South Africa, the couples’ parents carried a fire from the hearths of their own homes and took this fire to the new couple’s home to begin the fire in their home. 

4. In Armenia, two white doves were set free to symbolize love and happiness. 

5. In Japan, brides change their bridal attire several times throughout the wedding day. 

6.In Italy, the groom’s tie was cut into pieces and was sold to the guests during the reception. The money earned from this was used for the honeymoon.

7. In Japan, ducks or a goose and gander were included in the processional because they mate for life and are a symbol for fidelity. 

8. In Poland, guests paid to dance with the bride and this money is used for the honeymoon.

9.During the reception in Spain, wedding guests danced a special dance and then present gifts to the bride. 

10.In an early American custom ,the bride pinned a small pouch to her wedding petticoat. This pouch contained a small piece of bread, cloth, wood and a single one-dollar bill. This ensured that there would be enough food, clothes, shelter and money for the future couple.

Your wedding cake plays an important part in your reception celebration, since it stands second to the bride! It is the ultimate symbol of love when you feed each other a bit of cake as a sign of love and trust. It stands tall and elegant as an attractive tasty focal point of the reception table. It is prominently displayed and served to your honored guests. Your cake will be photographed and remembered for long even after your wedding. Don’t choose the cake in the last minute! Plan as ahead as you can, so that you have a wonderful cake, color coordinated with your wedding theme. Here is what you need to know to make it all come together.

Why wedding cakes?

The wedding cake is a custom that is used as an eternal symbol of good luck and fertility. The wish represented by the cake is “Let us break bread together and wish for each other love, happiness & prosperity.” The Romans used a loaf of bread broken over the brides head as a wish of fertility. The Chinese had the custom of passing a piece of cake to each guest as a way to distribute the good luck.

Tips to buy a Wedding Cake

Personalize your wedding cake with decorations and festive toppings like figurines, flowers, different flavors, sugar decorations.Cakes are becoming more artistic and more individualized. You can choose to have a heart shaped cake, a square cake, a hexagonal shape, or any combination. Most bakeries will let you sample their choices of frosting and some even prepare a small grooms cake for you. Look through their cake portfolio to see what styles are available. If you cannot find one that you like, go through cake decoration books and magazines for ideas.

The cakes can be stacked one on top of the other, or they can have separators between them. The separators consist of a plastic bottom plate with columns in various styles that snap onto it and a second plastic plate that fits snugly on top. These separator sets can normally be rented from the bakery.

White cake is the evergreen favorite choice for everyone. You can get a white cake for the largest tier, and a chocolate cake for the one above it. Multi-flavor wedding cakes are more popular now than ever.

In order to be white, wedding cake icing must be made with variety of colors to match your wedding format, or choose to have it all white. If you are OK with an ivory colored cake, then butter icing is a good choice. Flavorful and beautiful, pure butter icing is fantastic on a cake. Carrot cakes and spice cakes are becoming more popular. You can also choose to have different layers with different flavors.

When looking for a bakery/cake decorator, ask others if they have any recommendations. Ask questions when you interview various bakers. Usually bakers have photos of prior work or will create a cake of your own design. You can elegantly decorate your wedding cake with a cascade of roses and baby’s breath sweeping down the side. It will be really gorgeous and also you can choose the flowers to match the color theme of your wedding.

There is something called a wedding cake ornament, that you will place at the top of the cake. It can be like a bouquet of flowers or like spun glass and doves.Once ready with your wedding cake, all you need to prepare now is the cake table. It should be large enough to hold the cake, plates, napkins and utensils. Plan for a table cloth to be on the table and spread it ready for the cake arrival. You may add candles in crystal holders to the table as well.

A wedding ceremony is an occasion in which two people are united in marriage. Wedding ceremonies are precious moments that involves the wedding vows by the couples , presentation of a ring or rings, and a public proclamation of the marriage by a religious leader. Special wedding garments are often worn, a wedding reception follows the wedding ceremony. Music, poetry, prayer or readings from Scripture may also be held to the add to the holiness of the ceremony. The words in the wedding ceremony publicly express how the bride or feel about each other and the institution of marriage in such a way that it reflects their own beliefs. Its a wonder that at the end of the ceremony the couples grow more closer to each other as they work together for it right from the beginning.

Certain religions have guidelines of how the entire ceremony should be held. Go through a standard wedding ceremony and decide what you may change. Below are five basic parts in a ceremony that may be customized.

The Greeting

The purpose of the introduction or greeting is to address the assemblage at hand, acknowledge the presence and spirit of God and welcome and thank the guests for their love and support. The first words spoken during the ceremony would be to thank God and to grace the importance of the occasion. The greeting might begin as:”We are asked here today to witness the joining of two such kindred spirits, whose love for one another has inspired them to become greater people than either believed possible. Friends and family, we welcome you with open arms…” The greeting may also include your favorite poem, a wish to your families.

Your Vows

The exchange of wedding vows is an integral part of a wedding ceremony. It is a very romantic moment and often the perfect place to express your feelings towards your fiancé The promises that join you together emotionally and publicly declare your intentions to love, trust and honor. Writing your vows, however, can be harder than it seems. A Traditional Christian wedding vow goes like ” I, _____, take you, ______, to be my wedded husband (wife). With deepest joy I come into my new life with you. As you have pledged to me your life and love, so I too happily give you my life, and in confidence submit myself to your headship as to the Lord. As is the church in her relationship to Christ, so I will be to you. _____, I will live first unto our God and then unto you, loving you, obeying you, caring for you and ever seeking to please you. God has prepared me for you and so I will ever strengthen, help, comfort, and encourage you. Therefore, throughout life, no matter what may be ahead of us, I pledge to you my life as an obedient and faithful wife.”

The Exchange of Rings

Since you’ll wear your wedding band for the rest of your life, symbolizing your marriage, you’ll want the words you say during the ring ceremony to be meaningful and personal. When it is the time for wedding ring exchange, the Bridegroom will place the ring on the Bible or Prayer Book offered from the clergyman. He then recites hearing the clergyman as he says ” “With this ring I thee wed; with my body I thee honor; and all my worldly goods with thee I share, in The Name of the Father, and The Son, and of The Holy Spirit. Amen.”. Once the Bridegroom has put the ring to the Bride, the Bride puts the ring to the Bridegroom in the same way. Then, holding the Bride’s hands, the Bridegroom says “I YYYYY take thee XXXXX to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part; according to God’s Holy Law, and thereto I give thee my truth.”

Blessings and Readings

In any tradition, hand blessing is a belief that is meant to draw you closer to one another. Hands are a connection to the heart, and a hand blessing symbolically brings two hearts together. Physically there is a connection between the veins in the hands and the heart. It can be done at any point in the ceremony. It is best to do this after the exchange of the rings. Readings that would capture your feelings about marriage. can be well encouraged. Blessing and readings can appear almost anywhere in the ceremony, and are an effective way to involve family and friends.

The Pronouncement

The pronouncement officially declares that the Bride and Groom are now husband and wife. The minister may state the authority which allows him to make the pronouncement. This part of the ceremony declares to everyone that the couples are legally married that no one should try to come between or separate the couple. Often the officiate will say, “Now that ____ and ____ have given themselves to each other by the promises they have exchanged, I pronounce them to be husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Discussion with Clergy man

A wedding officiant like clergyman should first know the wedding ceremony content & vows. He is the one who gives bride & groom more assurance & control. He will provide with plenty of ceremony ideas & customs, even wedding ceremony samples! He will help in the process of the constructing of wedding ceremony content or vows. The clergyman will offer you a reasonable choice as to his/her wedding day apparel. Find out early what he expects you to include and if you feel your opinion or ideas would clash later. Non religious couples or those planning an interfaith ceremony should consider an independent wedding chapel

The right words

The vow on your wedding is of your choice! You may read or sing a poem for your bride or groom , else together with him or her. Whatever may be your way of marriage, either traditional or completely original, make your vows personal and unique, with forethought and creativity. Create an everlasting memory that you, your family and friends will cherish.

EXTENDED WEDDINGS

Enjoying your wedding and celebrating the day is a great thing, because being the newly married couples, its your day! You may well plan and have a wedding that will last for a whole weekend. You can spend your unforgettable moments with your family and friends. This would be a good idea for the couples who dwell in different parts of the country or the world. The other side of the ceremony like hosting the activities, accommodation of the guests go on same as a traditional wedding.

Suggestions for extended weddings:

To get together and celebrate your wedding to the maximum extent, plan your wedding on a Vacation or Long Weekend. You may even plan for parties and get togethers on days surrounding the actual wedding ceremony. A great idea is to include your wedding as part of a family reunion.

Honeymoon Wedding

The reception takes place at your honeymoon destination. While planning for honeymoon in a different country,you may include the local food and customs from that country into your ceremony. Check with the marriage licensing bureau if you are marrying out of state. Finally, check with the Government in your home state to make sure that your marriage will be recognized and registered too if you marry out of state or out of the country.

Special Location Wedding

The ceremony and reception takes place at a location which has special meaning to both the bride and groom.You may plan for the reception at the first place that they had met, the location where the groom proposed or any other

OTHER UNIQUE IDEAS

Marriage Tablecloth

As a memory or token of love ask all the guests to sign a table cloth with a cloth pen legibly.(Make sure that the names are legible). Following the reception, have the names embroidered and use it on each anniversary.

Balloon Release

Traditionally during wedding the guests throw rice or flower pedals. For a change, have balloons released. Include a tag with the name of the bride and groom and the marriage date. Before planning this, check local environmental laws, if doing such things are prohibited

Butterfly Release

Releasing a butterfly is an effective touch if you have an outdoor reception. Provide each guest with a box containing a butterfly. At the end of the ceremony , let all the guests open the box and set the butterflies free.

Candle Light Ceremony

This is a the most romantic moment of a wedding ceremony. The wedding party carries candles down the aisle during the processional. Guests light candles at a specific point of time during the wedding ceremony. The guests will “float” their candles in a pond or pool at the ceremony site

Fireworks

If your wedding is in the night or if you really want to entertain the guests with colourful fireworks, you may have fireworks display commemorating the special occasion. But before that, check local laws first! Also , Laser Light Show will be an exciting and interesting addition to any reception.

Mortgage Down Payment

Instead of registering for bridal gifts, organize a program and account with a bank or mortgage brokerage and have guests contribute to this account for your down payment for a new home.

Other Special Ideas

You can fill your occasion with unforgettable meetings like an outdoor reception. Have church bells ring immediately after you recite your vows. Give a flower to each female guest attending the ceremony.

Satellite or Internet Service

If anyone has not attended your wedding do not worry! Broadcast your wedding through satellite or Internet to relatives all over the world so they too can be part of this happy occasion. Contact us for Internet site design and set-up.

When everything is ready for you wedding, the next plan should be on how you are going to reach the wedding site, whether you have friends drive you, ride in a coach, a motorcycle, a trolley, or hire a limo service. This should be preplanned because you should decide how to leave your ceremony in your style.

Limousine services and horse-drawn carriages are the most elegant ways for couples to make their “getaway”. There is always a mode of transportation to suit your needs, as well as your tastes. Clearly figure out wedding transportation — how many cars you need, what kind, and when and so on. Have a rough idea of how many people you want to transport. This may include the bride and groom, their parents, grandparents, and attendants. If the transportation seems highly expensive, you may ask the bridal party to drive themselves. A chauffeured town car is frequently less expensive than a chauffeured limousine, and will seat between three and six people.

Types Of Transportation

Out of Town Guests.

The guests who come from nearby or other towns have to be picked up at the Airport and driven to the Ceremony, Reception, other parties and back to the Airport. For this, you should put someone very responsible to carry out this task.

Wedding Day Transportation.

People who celebrate their wedding in a grand way would hire three Chauffeured Limousines. A limousine will carry everyone in the wedding party from the church to the wedding reception. Also, a luxury limousine for the wedding party makes a nice touch to a lovely wedding’s overall look. You could have 3 limousines, one for the bride and bridesmaids, one for the grooming groomsmen, and one for immediate family members. Calculate how much time you will need after the ceremony for your receiving line, Formal Photographs and any stops you may want to make on the way to the reception. Limousine Companies will be a bit busy on weekends and cant serve for you if they are engaged with some other assignment. Hire the cars long before the wedding date so that you need not rush at the last minute. Provide the limo company with detailed instructions on where they will be going and the names of who will be riding in each car.

Parking & Traffic

When your guests and the number of people in the wedding music band are considerably high, there is always a possibility of creating a traffic problem. To avoid any unexpected parking or traffic problems,contact your local police department to make them aware of your intentions. If your Reception or Ceremony will take place at your home work out parking arrangements for guests earlier itself.

When you visit the various companies, be sure that you are shown the exact car or cars that you would be renting. Check with the cars that they are nice on the inside as well as the outside. Get the contact number company so that you can ring them upon in an emergency. Always have extra cars so that you may use them in case yours break down. Copy down the license plate and/or serial number of the car you like to make sure that you receive that exact one.

Verify the licenses and insurance of the car provided by the company. Three levels of license are required: operator (the person who handles the bookings); driver; and vehicle. Those hiring chauffeured historic vehicles need all three. Companies that have proper and valid licenses hold “livery stickers”, and these stickers must be on both the front and rear license plates.

You may also want to ask for and check references, as well as call the Better Business Bureau, the National Limousine Association, or your state Limousine Association, and see if they have by any way received any complaints about the company in which you are booking the car.

Once you find a company, you and your fiancée should decide how many cars you will need, and for how long. Opt for a big and luxurious car that suits the requirements of your family. If the number of family members is more, choose a spacious car with all the necessary arrangements. Couples may try for smaller car models for a cozy experience. A typical rental lasts five hours, and gives you ample time to get picked up, taken to the church, married, and then driven to the reception site. Make the most of your rental, and have the limo pick up other friends and family after you and the wedding party arrive at the church.

Many a time, the maid-of-honor and the best man ride in the first car with the couple, and the rest of the wedding party follows in a second big car. Whichever arrangement you decide upon, make sure that everyone has enough room to keep themselves comfortable inside the car.

Horse Drawn Carriage

If you want to have your marriage like the true fairy tale princess wedding, a horse drawn carriage is an essential. Whether you travel in a massive cart pulled by a huge shire horse, or a trap with little shetland ponies, nothing beats that fairy-tale feeling! Because.. a horse and carriage will be a wonderful way to enhance your wedding day! After all your efforts of planning your dream day, gliding along in a horse drawn carriage will allow you the perfect opportunity to simply relax….making the moments last!

Many couples find the Victorian charm of a horse-drawn carriage appealing. The wide range of carriage of wonderful colors, large sizes, and sizzling styles that they have to choose from make it possible for the couple to choose the right carriage for them.

Make appointments to view the carriages and horses, in the beginning itself, when meeting with livery services. Be sure that the horse looks majestic enough and the carriage is clean and in good shape. Having a livery owner who is flexible to your ideas, and knows how to make your ride romantic and special will well satisfy your mini heavenly trip totally.

There may be rain or heavy wind unexpectedly, so plan accordingly in such a way that any unpredictable weather does not ruin your day . Many carriages come with convertible tops and pull-up windows to keep you warm and dry on your way to the reception.

The next important thing is to decide if the carriage will carry just you two, or to include the best man and maid-of-honor. Most carriages well fit four grown adults quite comfortably.

While choosing a horse, see the temperament of the horse, because temperament is much more important than breed. The driver will choose a horse which is calm and good-natured, so that you can sit back and enjoy yourself without any disturbances.

Whether you choose a limousine service or a horse-drawn carriage, your selection will reflect your individuality and the romance of the couples. Both options are great and luxurious, so be realistic, do not hesitate for what others would feel on it, and choose the mode of transportation that best suits your needs and happiness.

THE WEDDING RING JEWELRY

There is so much significance behind wedding rings. They symbolize unity, love, faithfulness, devotion, and much more. Aside from being eye catching and beautiful wedding rings convey so many messages. Not only do these messages differ between each couple, but they also vary based on cultural background and ethnic customs.

Being practical may not seem romantic but it is a good ideas to discuss the price range you’ll be looking for and whether you’ll be purchasing the traditional diamond engagement ring that matches the wedding band. It is worn on the ring finger and symbolize that the person wear that ring is married.

How To Buy A Wedding Ring:

It is always important to remember the Four C’s when shopping for a diamond, which are the carat weight, clarity, color and cut of the diamond. A wedding ring is probably the first important piece of jewelry you’ll ever buy for your wife or husband. So to help you navigate the confusing world of colors, styles, shapes and stones, here’s some illustrated guide to buying a wedding ring:

1. Plan your budget first.

2. Some couples really enjoy fancy bands; others desire simple elegance. Decide what you both prefer in a wedding set.

3. Get reasonably priced diamonds if you know diamond quality and shop around with this knowledge.

4. In various places, rubies, sapphires or emeralds are used in wedding rings. If you prefer these stones, perhaps, they will work for you.

5. In addition to these tips, check the Casting Quality, Prong Settings, Channel Settings , Metal Quality and Gemstone Quality.

It is becoming more and more popular for couples to purchase the engagement rings together. The groom generally pays for the bride’s engagement ring and wedding band. Often the bride is involved in picking out her wedding set. The bride generally pays for the groom’s wedding ring, again, with him playing a role in choosing his style. Find someone you feel comfortable with and that you feel is trustworthy.

While buying the diamond ring be cautious about the karat weight, the color, the clarity, and the cut. The karat weight of the diamond will be a major factor in the value of your stone. You can choose one in 14k gold, 18k gold or even 24k gold. Remember that the higher the karat of gold, the more golden in color the band will be. Fancy color diamond wedding rings are the perfect way for a bride to show some unique personality in her diamond ring. The term “fancy color diamond” refers to the diamond within the wedding band, these diamonds are rare gemstones because they contain colors that are unusual in a diamond. Some of the favorite colors that may be found include: pink, red, orange, green, and blue. The cut of the diamond is usually a matter of preference. Popular cuts include the marquise, the round, and the pear. Baguettes are also a popular stone cut. A diamond that is well cut will reflect more light and thus sparkle better than others that are not well cut. If you are not choosing a diamond, or find a stone and need a mounting, check out the various kinds available.

Your most treasures relationship, your marriage, is cast, like our wedding Ring Mountings, in the most precious and durable metals, sculptured for a lifetime of togetherness. These Edwardian Ring Mountings and Art Deco Ring Mountings illustrate the diversity of our Ring Mountings collection in a variety of Antique Ring Mounting Styles. Hand engraved and sculpted for custom wear, we propose you chose something from this breath-taking assortment of wedding Ring Settings to demonstrate your constant and growing love for each other for your lifetime marriage made in heaven. The mounting for your stone or the wedding bands you may choose can be varied. The mounting/band may also be called yellow, white, two-toned, pink, tri-color, or even another combination of those. You can also have the precious metals brushed or textured to add a unique look to your rings.

A wedding announcement or marriage announcement provides the perfect way to proclaim your happy news to those who weren’t invited to your wedding. Engagements and marriages are not complete unless and until it is announced to the whole world. The easiest and most expressive way for declaring a wedding message is to announce it in newspapers of your city!Choose the newspaper which would best exhibit your event and send your announcement or “press release” to that local or city newspapers. It would be more proud for you if you prepare your wedding announcement to appear on a larger city newspaper rather than a local city newspaper.

The announcement process becomes complicated when the bride , bridegroom and their parents reside in different cities. You need to be very sure that your wedding announcement appears in everyone’s native cities.Reasons for sending an Announcement

1. To inform business colleagues of your name change due to your marriage.
2. If you are having a small, private wedding.
3. If parents hosted the wedding but all of their friends and colleagues were not invited.
4. To inform faraway friends and relatives.

How To Approach The Press?

To ensure that a complete announcement of your wedding appears in the edition of the press you chose, initially find
out whether they publish engagement and wedding announcements. Also, you should find out the following information:

1.To whom should you send the engagement and wedding announcement?
2.Does the newspaper accept photos? If so, are there specific size requirements? ( most probably, they ask for
a professional photo of the couple)
3.How many days in advance( from the day you want it to appear) should the announcement information be sent?
4.How long will it take for the announcement to appear on the newspaper?
5.What is the fee for the announcement?
6.Is there a specific format you should use when preparing your announcements? If the paper uses a “wedding form,”
have they sent it to you?

If you are clear with the answers you can immediately send the announcement to the press.Some press will need you
to write a “press announcement” or “press release” instead of a wedding form.Since you would have already read that
newspaper you will surely have an idea on the format of the wedding form, so stick to the same format

Filling the Information

Be as brief as possible. Most probably, they would ask for precise details. They ask your wish for the “release date”,
that is, when the announcement should appear. Forget not to add your contact number, which will be really helpful
for the editor in case of any verification.

If you are including a photograph, make sure it is absolutely official and admirable too. Engagement photos are
generally a head and shoulders shot of the lucky couple. The wedding photo should show the couples as well as
the gist of how the wedding ceremony was held.

Send the engagement announcement as soon as possible, such that it appears pretty before your wedding ceremony.
If you want you wedding announcement to appear the very next day after the weddin ceremony, you have to take a
photo of the bride and bridegroom as they would appear on the wedding ceremony, and send it to the press.  Else, if you do not mind the announcement to appear after a few weeks, you can use a photo from the actual wedding day.

You should always keep confirming that the mails regarding your engagement or wedding announcements are
received by the editor and things are getting ready for the announcement to be printed. Approach the editor in a polite way, if they do not satisfy your expectations, explain them what you really want for and never be rude or do not demand the announcement to appear in the paper.

It is standard practice for the editor to rework press announcements. In some cases, they may cut short your your information for their official convenience or lack of space

Announcement Samples

Some samples are given below. You can use them as a guide in preparing your own engagement or wedding announcements. Simply substitute your information in any of the parenthesis. If both the families of the bride and
bridegroom are in the same state, it is not necessary to put in the state next to the town. If not , you will only need the
state inserted if the bride, groom or parents are from a different state from where the newspaper is distributed.

Sample

Bride (her name before wedding):

Bride’s parents’ names and addresses:

Bride’s high school (city, year graduated):

Bride’s college (city, year graduated):

Bride’s occupation:

Bridegroom:
Bridegrooms parents’ names and addresses:

Bridegroom’s high school: (city, year graduated)

Bridegroom’s college (city, year graduated)

Bridegroom’s occupation:

Date of Wedding:
Time:
Place:
Marriage performed by:
Reception:

Wedding Trip:

Residence after Wedding:
Maid or
Matron of Honor
Name:
Bridesmaids:

Flower Girl:
Best Man:
Groomsmen:

Information submitted by:
Phone number of person submitting:
Photograph submitted: Yes or No

(NOTE: There is a $XXX fee for placing this announcement. Our staff will contact you regarding payment)

How many additional copies of the paper would you like? Five copies will be provided for free
(our staff will contact you regarding payment in the event you want additional copies)

To submit photos, send email to: “————-”(email address of the press)
Identify the subjects in the photograph in the Subject line of the email.

Additional Notes:

When parents are divorced, the wording in the body of the announcement should read as follows:”The (bride/groom)
is the (daughter/son) of Mrs. (first and last name) of (town, state) and Mr. (first and last name) of (town, state).”

If one parent is deceased, refer to him/her as follows:”The (bride/groom) is the (daughter/son) of
Mrs. (first and last name) of (town) and the late Mr. (first and last name).

Sample Wedding Announcement that appeared in the press

Because you’ve shared in their lives
by your friendship and love, we are
very proud to share the happy news.
BRIDE
daughter of PARENTS
and
GROOM
son of PARENTS
were married in a small wedding
on
DATE
LOCATION
CITY, STATE

BRIDE and GROOM
now reside at
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE, ZIP

INVITATIONS & WORDINGS:

Your invitation serves as an important guide for your wedding guests. Not only does it include information
such as the hosts, date, time and location of the ceremony, it also sets the style for your entire wedding. So select a design
and wording for your invitation to reflect your personality!You will be able to choose from a variety of styles and typefaces for each item you require; some stationers
will customize designs. They can offer guidance with the wording of invitations. You can see a proof of your invitation
with the ink color and wording you select. Send all of your invitations on the same day four to six weeks before your
wedding date.

The wedding invitation relays not only the necessary information to your guests about when and where the event
will take place, but also heralds the style and mood of your wedding.

sample

When I look in your eyes
I delight in your being
and when you take my hand
I delight in our being together
Together with our parents, we
BRIDE
and
GROOM
request the honor of your presence
as we begin a lifetime of togetherness
on
DAY
YEAR
at
TIME
LOCATION
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE

The Right Words

The design and wording of your invitation must be mind blowing and the guests should be moved by reading it. They
should start expecting and get excited about the occasion. Your words much in the wording of your invitation as in its
design. As well as thinking about the design, it’s important to dedicate time and space within the invitation to the content.
You need to let your guests know some important details. Here is a rundown of the essentials:

* The name of bride’s parents or the other hosts;

* The full names of the bride and the groom;

* The date, month and year of the ceremony – remember this may be quite some time in advance;

* The location of the ceremony and the location of the wedding reception (note that not all of the guests will be invited to all of the day’s events so you may need to have two versions of the card);

* The address that the guest needs to RSVP and a time by which they need to do so.

Some optional pieces of invitation might be whether or not children are invited and the time that the wedding will
end.

Hosts Of the Occasion

In the traditional view of wedding the host should be always the bride’s family. They also relatives and loving persons
as hosts. But nowadays any one who is very close to both of the family are becoming host. Look at the short list
given below and guess who can be the host for your wedding..

• Parents of the bride are traditionally the automatic choice as the host.
• The bride and groom are also could be the host of the wedding invitation.
• The wedding invitation could be hosted both of the families jointly.
• In case of divorced parents, they could host the wedding invitation jointly or apart.
• In case of one parent’s deceased the other one could be the host; he/she can give the deceased parent’s name in the
invitation as late
• It is often seen that a good friend or relative is hosting the wedding ceremony.
• The divorced and remarried parents are also could be the host.

Sample

Together with their families
Jane Doe (name of bride)
and
John Brown (name of groom)
request the honor of your presence…

Or, for a less formal wedding:

Please join the ________ and ________ families
in celebrating the marriage of
(bride’s name)
and
(groom’s name)

Formality is first set through the invitation. This is how we convey the formality of the event to our guests. For formal
weddings, the word “honor,” as in the phrase “request the honor of your presence,” is always spelled with
the “u.”

The invitation is not the appropriate place to honor people; this can be done in many other ways, such as in the
wedding program or in the reception. So, there is no point in worrying that it would offend anyone if you do not
add their name in it as hosts. The invitation is not a “vehicle” for honoring people, it is simply the means by which the
hosts of the event (see above) invite the guests and relay important practical information (like date, time, place).