Congratulations - you're engaged! This is a special time, leading up to the big day that will change your lives forever. Don't wait for the nuptials to arrive, however, before you bask in the bliss. Savor every minute of your engagement experience.
"Brides may find that making wedding plans can distract them from the simple joy of being engaged," says Raymond Miller, a wedding planning expert with the Web site My Wedding Reception Ideas.com. "But some advanced planning and creative ideas can help them fully enjoy their engagement while still preparing for the wedding day of their dreams."
Miller offers brides-to-be some simple advice for getting the most enjoyment out of being engaged:
Announcing your big news
News of your engagement is one of the most exciting pieces of information you'll ever share with family and friends. Get creative and fun with your engagement announcement, but don't overlook practicality. You want to announce your engagement and wedding date in a way that will be quick and easy for you - and memorable to those receiving the message. Save the date magnets can be a great way to get the word out and put your wedding date front-of-mind for those who are invited.
Traditional engagement announcements in local newspapers limit your creativity and the reach of your news. Save the date wedding magnets can relay information about your wedding plans across the country to distant loved ones. And because we all have a tendency to hold on to magnets (How many pizza delivery magnets do you have on your refrigerator?) in conspicuous places in our homes, your guests-to-be will see a constant reminder of your special day.
My Wedding Reception Ideas.com can help you create customized wedding save the date magnets that reflect your individuality, convey the theme of your wedding and keep your date on the minds of friends and family.
Sharing the celebration
Sure, your maid of honor and other girlfriends will probably throw you a bridal shower. But you don't have to wait to begin celebrating the good news. You and your fiancé can involve loved ones in the celebrating - and do it at a time you choose - by hosting your own engagement party.
Staging your own party allows you to share the excitement sooner. Plus, you can use the occasion as an opportunity to "test drive" wedding day seating arrangements or check out a restaurant you're considering for the rehearsal dinner. You can also experiment with linens and décor; using colors you're considering for your wedding will give you an idea of what these decorator items will look like in an elegant setting. Or, use the engagement party as way to preview your wedding theme - for example, host the party at a seaside location for a beach-themed wedding.
And don't forget to celebrate as a couple, as well. If planning starts to feel too stressful, consider taking a pre-honeymoon trip that will help you decompress and reconnect as a couple. Time away together will help remind you what all your wedding planning is really about - your love for each other. The break could be as simple as a weekly date night or as elaborate as a weekend getaway.
Be resourceful
The Internet has made wedding planning easier than ever. Use online resources, like sites that allow you to experiment with seating charts for receptions, compare color schemes and create sample menus. My Wedding Reception Ideas.com can help you pick and plan personalized wedding favors, accessories and gifts for your wedding party. The site also provides tips on different kinds of napkins and how to choose them, and other useful planning hints. Visit www.myweddingreceptionideas.com to learn more.
"Planning a wedding should be part of the enjoyable experience of being engaged," Miller says. "With creativity and some expert help, it's possible to make the months of your engagement as memorable and special as the wedding day itself."
Courtesy of ARAcontent
(ARA) - Every bride remembers the age-old saying, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue," and considers how to incorporate these elements into her wedding.
This English poem - believed to be from the Victorian era - was created to provide the bride with several good-luck tokens for her new life with her husband. Here are a few ideas to help the modern bride incorporate some classic traditions into her wedding:
Something old: No, you don't have to attempt to fit into or resurrect from the back of the closet your mother's, or even your grandmother's gown. You might discover one of them wore a unique headpiece that you can incorporate into your veil. Or your husband-to-be's aunt has a ring you could wear, or an embroidered satin handkerchief you can blend into your bouquet. Vintage purses, antique lace threaded into your veil or wound around your bouquet, or even a squirt from a bottle of your grandmother's perfume also work well to classically merge the "something old" tradition into your ceremony.
Something new: The pearl necklace is a classic look that complements a wedding dress perfectly. Since ancient times, pearls - with their unblemished perfection - have been tied to weddings as a symbol of innocence.
"Because they are considered a symbol of purity, pearls work perfectly to complete a bride's wedding-day look," says Jeremy Shepherd of PearlParadise.com, the world's largest online pearl company. "Akoya pearls have the perfect round shape with soft, neutral colors, while freshwater pearls shine with more of an intense, natural metallic luster, perfect to complement an embroidered gown."
Visit www.PearlParadise.com to see the differences between Akoya and freshwater pearls and to find the perfect pearl necklace for your wedding day.
Something borrowed: This is an excellent way to get your best friend or a close relative more involved in your special day. But don't think that something borrowed must be clothing or jewelry. You could borrow a back yard for the wedding reception, or a purse your sister used when she got married. Another potential item is to borrow the family Bible for readings during the ceremony. Other ideas include borrowing candles for the ceremony or reception, a cake knife set, music from your friends to play at the reception or even the toasting glasses you and your new husband will click together to celebrate your marriage.
Something blue: One popular idea is for brides to incorporate blue into their garter belts, but the idea can stretch much further. Nail polish, makeup, shoes, embroidered flowers on the gown, small pieces of jewelry, a wrap or even blue flowers woven into the bouquets offer plenty of alternatives. If you want to create something a little more surprising, consider wearing blue lingerie. And if you really are planning a modern wedding, you could always wear a blue dress, since blue is a symbol of love, purity and fidelity.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
