Sending out Wedding Invitations – a checklist

You’ve made things-to-do lists and shopping lists and other lists. But none are more critical than the list of people you intend inviting to your wedding. It’s the most important day of your life, and you need to make sure those close to you are there to celebrate it with you.

So here’s one way to go about making that list. It’s not unique, just a way of getting the job done in an organized manner.

Educational institutions: Start from kindergarten, and go all the way till your last day at school. Look through your yearbooks and make a list of friends and teachers you may want there.

The workplace: Think of all those you have worked with at the companies you have been employed at. If you’ve travelled on work, there may be friendships you’ve made en route. Also remember to add to your list those you’ve befriended at conventions, conferences and other office gatherings.

Clubs, teams, hobby groups: Have you been a part of a local football team? Or a dramatics society? Maybe a philately group? All places where friendships are formed, and you might find a few more additions to your list of invitees here.

The neighborhood: Those who live next door, down the street, a block away, members of the local church congregation, etc. All strong contenders to make it to your list.

The www: When you’re done with the real world, visit its virtual counterpart. Check friends’ lists on social networking sites you are a member of, and your email address books as well. Chances are you’ll find a few good friends you’re in touch with online, who you’d like to invite to your wedding.

Friends of family: Ask Dad and Mom. Ask your siblings. They will have friends they’d like to have at your wedding. Remember it’s a very special day in their lives as well.

Done? Now run through the list once again and make changes if needed. And to be doubly sure, do it again in a week’s time.

Wedding First Dance – 20 Great Suggestions for the music

It’s just 2 weeks to the walk down the aisle, and bingo, it hits you as you pass the CD store on the way to a trial of your gown. Music for the wedding first dance. Sure the DJ will come prepared, but it doesn’t hurt to have your favourite numbers leading the way for the Wedding First Dance. After all, it’s you who’s getting married, and the right tunes can indeed be the sweetest icing on that very special cake.

Partners in rhyme

Time and other more important chores permitting, sit down with your spouse-to-be, and a sheet of paper. Divide the sheet, and the task down the middle. Make a list of 10 songs each. Add, and forward to your DJ’s mailbox.

Now time and other chores not permitting, here’s a list with which you simply cannot go wrong.

1. Baby can I hold you tonight – Ronan Keating
2. Wonderful tonight – Eric Clapton
3. Grow old with you – Adam Sandler
4. From this moment on – Shania Twain
5. You’re my best friend – Don Williams
6. Can you feel the love tonight – Elton John
7. Now and forever – Richard Marx
8. Right here waiting – Richard Marx
9. Paint my love – MLTR
10. Can I have this dance – Ann Murray
11. The way you look tonight – Frank Sinatra
12. I will always love you – Dolly Parton
13. Everything I do, I do for you – Bryan Adams
14. When a man loves a woman – Michael Bolton
15. How deep is your love – Bee Gees
16. Unchained melody – The Righteous Brothers
17. Top of the world – Carpenters
18. Have I told you lately that I love you – Van Morrison
19. Crazy little thing called love – Queen
20. I just called to say I love you – Stevie Wonder

Any other songs you can think of?

Image Credit: ramsey everydaypants

Unique and Custom Wedding Cake Toppers

Long gone are the days when every wedding cake bore the traditional plastic bride and groom standing hand and hand on a frilly white wedding cake. Today’s bride and I suspect even the groom are going out on a limb and trying on unique wedding cake toppers.

The emphasis can be on an overall wedding theme cake topper, the initials of the bride and groom, fresh flower wedding cake toppers, religious symbolic wedding cake toppers, humorous wedding cake toppers, cartoon character wedding cake toppers, and the list just goes on.

It’s important to remember that your cake, albeit in most cases, your dessert for your guests, also serves as a backdrop for some of your pictures. Selecting a cake and a complementary wedding cake topper is an important decision in your wedding planning process. Personally, I love the idea of having a wedding cake topper that can serve as an ornamental piece in your home after the wedding. What a perfect reminder of your special day on display in the home you share together.

As with all of the details in organizing your wedding, maintaining an overall consistency is key to ensuring that all of the pieces fit together in the event as a whole. Throwing things together that aren’t complementary for the sake of having something will definitely not go unnoticed by your guests. So if you’re planning on having a Mad Hatter/Topsy Turvey Cake, don’t succumb to the pressure of using your mom’s wedding cake topper from the 70′s for the sake of tradition.

Wedding cake toppers are a great way to add a piece of yourself to your wedding cake. Be bold, be interesting, top your wedding cake as only you can!

Photo Credit: dammit_jill

Wedding Cake Ideas

Long gone are the days of the hum drum of a traditional 3 tier wedding cake. Today’s brides are breaking all of the rules; from ditching the groom cake, to serving up individual cupcakes, to monogrammed sugar cookies wrapped in cellophane.

Wedding cakes have become a real outlet for creativity and self-expression, much more so than flamboyant flowers and prom-styled bridesmaid dresses. Today’s couples are putting a little fun into the planning by choosing delicious flavours, funky decorative layers, and totally off the cuff servings.

Let your imagination run wild and meet with your local bakery. Be sure to ask to see photos of their most current work, not only for ideas, but to see how talented they are, afterall this is likely to be the most expensive and memorable cake you will ever buy.

The following are just a few ideas to get you started when considering how to wow your guests with your non-traditional wedding cake: (Mad Hatter, Fruit Infused, Cupcakes, Chocolate Cover Strawberry Bride and Groom)

Photo by: freeparking