iMemoryfilms Wedding Planning Guide: Walking in your Wedding gown 101

Wedding Planning: Walking Well in Your Wedding Gown iMemoryfilms presents some useful wedding planning tips from, Sara L. Ambarian. Sara is a author/creative consultant, & custom bridal designer. You can visit her website at: www.frazmtn.com/~ambarian/ Walking attractively and well in a wedding dress depends on a combination of a number of factors: the style of the dress, width of the skirt, number and size of petticoats or other undergarments, the height of heels on your shoes, your comfort level in walking in that height heel, the floor/ground surface you will be walking on, and more. There is no magic equation for this, but here are some considerations which should help you find a fairly comfortable wedding day walk. ~ Choose a reasonably low heel, one that you are comfortable walking in. And "break your shoes in" a bit by walking around the house in them before the wedding-- but not when cooking or cleaning or doing other potentially soiling activities. ~ If you never wear heels of any kind, if you expect to do a lot of dancing or walking distances, or if heels are very uncomfortable for you, consider your options-- bridal sneakers, flat sandals, ballet slippers, Isotoner slippers, etc. For many brides, their shoes are never seen unless they *want* them seen, but all of the options above can be decorated (by the bride, if she wants to try it) to have an appropriate, if funky, bridal flair. ~ Wear your petticoat and/or other unusual undergarment around the house to get used to how they feel and move. ~ Practice nice posture. Snug-fitting bras and shapers and tight-waisted petticoats all encourage you to stand straight, unlike our normal everyday clothing. Allow these garments to remind you to stand, straight and tall, for the increased impression of beauty and confidence this gives any bride. ~ Have your gown hemmed to the proper height. Some boutiques hem gowns so they touch the floor. Unless you will be wearing an actual *rigid hoop* petticoat, this is not a good idea. For confidence walking, reducing soil, etc., a full-skirted gown should be hemmed at least 1/2", but preferably more like 3/4" to 1" above the floor. My clients occasionally quarrel with me on this subject, afraid that it will "look funny", but I've never had a client sorry after their wedding that they had the additional room above "hard floor" level. Remember, you may well have to walk over plush carpet, grass, gravel, or any of a number of other surfaces. ~ Proper hem height off the floor also gives you a little extra room for imperfect postures. When your hem is measured and marked, the seamstress will ask you to stand straight, with equal weight on both legs, and look directly, level-ly, in front of you. Pay attention to these requests and do your best to comply with them. It will give you the most attractive and accurate hem. However, when you are moving in the dress later, remember that the hem was cut for you standing straight and looking ahead. When you look down, your hem will dip down in front, and this is when many brides step on their skirts. Try to lift your skirt gently with your hands when you need to look down to navigate steps or other activities, to counteract this natural dip-- and the tendency to tread on your skirt. ~ Last-- try to relax about wearing your gown, and don't 'fight' it. A full-skirted gown has a certain natural swing and movement. Some brides take to this naturally; some find it a bit disconcerting, and almost "artificially girly". But if your feet don't hurt, your hem isn't too long, you are used to your undergarments, you relax and enjoy yourself, and you feel really beautiful in your gown... chances are, you'll wear your gown quite well!! Very best wishes to you from Sara and iMemoryfilms! Fro more ideas, wedding planning tips, and wedding videography info, visit us at www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com, or you can visit our websaite at, www.imemoryfilms.com www.imemoryfilms.com Info@iMemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490

iMemoryfilms Wedding Planning Post: Florist 101

iMemoryfilms Wedding Planning 101: Great Flowers! by Neal Acito iMemoryfilms wedding planning blog passes on some great ideas from former florist Neal Acito. 1) Wedding Florists: They’re Busy From Thanksgiving to Mother’s Day can be a tough time. Florists jump from holiday to holiday and things are intense during those periods. They don’t see their families. Some of them forget to bathe. Now, you may have to meet with a florist during that period. If you do, be gentle with them. One more suggestion; Don’t call on February 13th to talk about your bouquet. 2) Supply a Picture of the Gown Having pictures of the wedding gown can be extremely helpful. Florists are visual people. They need to SEE what it is that you’re talking about. Think about it, if they were good with words, they’d be teaching Junior High School English. Pictures of the gown, as well as of any flowers you like, will help. 3) Flowers are Seasonal You can’t always get what you want. Hydrangea is plentiful in late summer but, if you want hydrangea in January, it’s going to cost you. 4) Swatches! Plum isn’t lavender. Pink can be hot pink or pastel pink. Even white can be eggshell, Navajo, or slate. Having swatches from the dresses is going to save you a lot of heartache. I don’t mean just the bridesmaids either. People always forget about the moms and grandmothers. 5) A Question of Expertise Tulips are beautiful. But, in July, they are going to blow open from the heat and look terrible. If you touch a gardenia, the oil from your skin is going to turn the flower brown. You need to trust that the florist is going to know these things. They’re not trying to spoil your fun. They simply know what works and what doesn’t. 6) Where to Save Years from now, nobody is going to remember the centerpieces. However, everyone is going to have pictures of you and the bridal bouquet. If you’re on a tight budget, cut down the centerpieces. 7) Have Everything Ready Beforehand Where is the wedding? Where is the reception? Who is attending? What is the date? These are very simple questions and it would amaze you to know how many people don’t know the answers. Florists are always happy to help you with ideas. However, when it comes time to book the florist, you should have all your ducks in a row. 8) Review the Order You should get a copy of the wedding order. Review it. Make sure it’s correct. You may have TALKED about rose petals for the flower girl, but if it’s not on the ORDER, you aren’t getting it. Follow up a few weeks before the wedding as well. 9) iMemoryfilms suggests: Test Drive If you’re not familiar with the area, order something small. Pretend to be an average customer and order an arrangement. It’ll give you a good idea of what it’s like to deal with the florist. You wouldn’t buy a car without a test drive, would you? And finally, 10) Your Attitude Snobby customers get nothing. Nice customers get everything. Money has nothing to do with it. Flashing a lot of cash will not be impressive. Florists love people who appreciate their work. Being nice will go a long way, and acting snobby will not. If you want to bring floral magic into your most important day, be nice. That’s about it. Just remember that you can get most of what you want by being organized, flexible, and nice. For the most part, florists aren’t out to get your money. They can probably make a lot more money doing something else. They do it because they love it. Find a florist who loves their work and you’ve struck gold. by Neal Acito www.imemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490 info@imemoryfilms.com For more great wedding planning ideas, info, and tips, please visit us at, www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com, or our website at, www.imemoryfilms.com

Creative Wedding Planning: The Ceremony

Creative Wedding Ceremonies Wedding planning should involve some fun and creativity,...here is a uber fun article by, Lois Heckman, Celebrant from iMemoryfilms! Planning your wedding day is one of the most personal and cherished days of your life, your ceremony should be just as special. Every aspect of it, from readings to music to symbolism, should be a reflection of you and the bond that you share, making this day truly your own, rejoicing in everything that makes your union unique. You can express yourself among family and friends through a personalized ceremony. Additionally, when the ceremony is great, the tone is set for a wonderful celebration. Here are some ideas to make your ceremony unique: Tell your personal story . Share the story of how you met and why you fell in love. What were the first words you said to each other? Where was your first date? How did the proposal happen? What actions of the other say I love you? What does your partner do that always makes you laugh? Your celebrant can include these words in the introduction or elsewhere in the ceremony. Honor the Presenter. If one or both of you will be presented in marriage, take this time to reflect on what this relationship means to you. Have your Celebrant include words of homage, amusing stories, and thanks. Celebrate Your Heritage. Make a list of your respective ethnic, cultural or religious backgrounds. Research wedding rituals, poets and music from these traditions and create a distinctive blend of words and symbols. Honor both your backgrounds and the ceremony will reflect your unique partnership. Something New. Borrow freely from the rich wedding customs around the world. You don't need to belong to a particular culture or religion for its rituals to have meaning. Such rituals have been performed for hundreds or thousands of years because they resonate with universal truths about marriage. Interfaith Weddings. Over 25% of marriages are between partners of different faiths. A good officiant will help you honor each faith tradition in a way that pleases everyone. Involving Children & Stepchildren. When children are involved, your wedding reflects not only the joining of husband and wife, but the creation of a new family or stepfamily. There are many ways to reflect family unity in your ceremony. You may have found the perfect spot for your wedding ceremony, but are unsure of how to find a minister, rabbi, clergy, or other officiant. You can have a ceremony that reflects your values, and the joy of your wedding day, and a Celebrant may be the answer. Celebrants are people who are trained to officiate at, compose and perform the highest quality personalized ceremonies. I studied at the Celebrant USA Foundation in Montclair, NJ. and I officiate in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It is a joy and pleasure to be able to provide couples with meaningful ceremonies in just some of the ways I have explained. I hope I have inspired you towards a creative approach to your wedding ceremony. - Lois Heckman ( www.LoisHeckman.com ) is a Certified Celebrant ( www.celebrantusa.org ) in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, and beyond. www.imemoryfilms.com info@imemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490 For more ideas, tips, and info on the prefect wedding, visit us at www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com. to book iMemoryfilms for your next event, please see us at www.imemoryfilms.com

iMemoryfilms Wedding Planning: Wedding Theme's 101

iMemoryfilms "choosing a theme for your wedding" By Linda Salamon of www.calligraphicstudio.com Some good info from www.iMemoryfilms .com for those of you who need some help picking out your wedding theme! Choosing a theme for your wedding can be as simple as picking a color scheme, or as elaborate as creating a wedding based upon a particular era in history complete with historically accurate costumes & music. For suggestions for simple themes: use your monograms throughout your wedding, from the design of your invitation to the designs on your wedding cake; or you could choose a location where you met, like the beach or the mountains, as your theme. Some couples base their themes upon a significant holiday, like Valentine’s Day or Mardi Gras, or a particular season when they met. You could base your theme upon a shared interest, such as mountain climbing, playing musical instruments or computer games, or an interest in history. Picking a certain era in art history can be a wonderful theme, such as Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Pre-Raphaelite, Baroque, etc. And some couples choose their theme based upon their careers, hobbies, or ethnic background. Whatever theme you choose, remember to make it personal to you and your spouse-to-be. In this way, your wedding will be distinctly your own, & you and your guests will remember it long after they have forgotten all those other boring, cookie-cutter “white weddings” they will attend throughout their lifetime. As a graphic artist, I have included portraits of pets, coats-of-arms, musical instruments, fairies, favorite flowers, astrological signs, a compass rose (for two cartographers getting married!), Chinese symbols, Celtic knots, & Scottish plaids, among other symbols, into wedding invitations. If you need help, call us at www.imemoryfilms.com, or consult a good wedding planner like Julie Hurt of www.simplyelegant .com, or custom wedding stationary designer should be able to come up with ideas to weave your theme throughout your wedding day. Invitations, flowers, table settings, placecards, centerpieces, menus, programs, & your wedding cake should all reflect your theme in some way. Keeping to a consistent color scheme & style brings it all together. But whatever theme you choose, enjoy planning your wedding! Have a wonderful wedding, and visit us at www.imemoryfilms.com! www.imemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490 info@imemoryfilms.com For more info on wedding planning, plus tips and great ides, visit us at www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com. to book us to film your wedding, please check out our prices and filming options at:

iMemoryfilms Wedding Toasts 101

Wedding Toasts - The 10 Commandments Of Toasting We've heard lots of great,...and several NOT SO GREAT wedding toasts lately, and thought maybe a bit of help and ideas might serve your wedding day to help make it perfect. Here's some good toast stuff from, by Rick Pieczonka, Owner & Founder, InstantWeddingToasts.com The only one required to propose a Wedding Toast is the Best Man, but watch out for some competition...most weddings now include a toast from the Maid of Honor as well! The 10 Commandments Of Toasting 1. Plan to speak from 1 to 4 minutes. No one wants to be bored with an extraordinarily long toast covering the entirety of your friendship. With wedding toasts, even a short toast will do if delivered with feeling and sincerity. 2. Make sure all other glasses are full before beginning. You may want to announce to the guests, or have the MC announce to the guests, to fill their glasses because toasting will commence shortly. Then give guests 3 - 5 minutes to fill their glasses. 3. Stand to give a toast (sit to receive one) and hold your glass with your right hand as you toast. After the toast, it is tradition to then clink the glasses together before sipping. 4. Start with something personal. How the bride and groom met is always a favorite. You can also use humor or quotes to get started. 5. Always use humor in good taste. While poking fun at the bride and groom can add the touch of humor you're looking for, poking too much fun will only gain you a disapproving audience. 6. Speak in your normal voice, and avoid unnatural hand gestures or fake accents. Wedding audiences want to hear what you have to say, not watch a drama unfold. Just remember you were chosen to be you, not someone else. 7. Practice your toast. Unless you are an accomplished public speaker, just 'winging it' for the wedding toast is always a bad idea. 8. Look around the room at the audience and to the bride and groom as you toast. Eye contact is an important characteristic of a good speaker. 9. Speak clearly and don't rush. Take your time and take a deep breath, because if you speak too fast, no one is going to understand you. 10. And finally, finish your toast with a wish, blessing, congratulations, or cheers. The 5 Biggest Mistakes To Avoid 1. Having more than one drink to calm nerves beforehand. It may seem like a good idea, but besides calming your nerves, too much alcohol will also keep you from speaking clearly and hinder your good judgment of appropriate speech material. 2. Swearing and/or lying. 3. Apologizing for being a bad speaker - Never apologize for being a bad speaker, and don't say you really didn't want to speak. It's a rule for all speeches and all occasions, not just weddings. 4. Mentioning previous girlfriends, past marriages, or past relationships. Not only could it be potentially embarrassing, but it's inappropriate at a wedding. Leave this for the stag party. 5. Stories about the Bride and Groom that aren't rated PG. Remember, Grandma, Grandpa and possibly even children will be present at the wedding. Make sure your stories are appropriate for the audience. So here's to your next toast, my friend, may it be a sweet success! www.imemoryfilms.com info@imemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490 For more ideas, tips, and info on your wedding planning, visit us at, www.imemoryfilms.blogspot.com. To book imemoryfilms for your wedding, and to check out out prices and filming options, see us online at www.imemoryfilms.com

iMemoryfilms Wedding Veil 101

Choosing & Caring for Your Veil TRADITIONAL VEIL DEFINITIONS By Peggy Mead of the The Blissful Bride BLUSHER - is traditionally short, shoulder length or shorter and is worn over the bride's face to hide her from the groom until after they are wed when it's pushed back behind the head. It is usually combined with another layer sometimes a different length. Despite tradition, blushers of today can be any length as long as they cover the face. Blushers can be worn in formal or informal weddings. ELBOW LENGTH - is usually worn with a gown without a train and is a little less formal. FINGER-TIP LENGTH - is usually for formal and semi-formal weddings. CHAPEL - is for a more formal wedding. A chapel veil falls to or near the floor. CATHEDRAL - is for formal weddings. A cathedral veil extends on to the floor like a train and is usually worn with a dress with a train. TIPS FOR CHOOSING YOUR VEIL The great thing about being a bride today is that anything goes! Whether you want to do everything traditionally or just choose the style that looks best and suits your personality. The following are a few tips to help you in making your decision. Choose a simple veil and headpiece if your dress is very ornate. Consider the back detail of your dress. If you want to show off the back of the dress, you may want to choose a short veil (blusher or elbow length) a veil with less fullness to it (72" width, pony veil, or the ballerina headband and side veil). If your gown is very simple, you may want a very ornate headpiece and or veil to attract attention to your face. OR if your gown is very simple and your style is very simple and elegant, you may also want to wear a simple headpiece and or veil with minor details. Be confident in your decision! This is your day. If you feel confident, you'll beam with beauty. Congratulations! CARING FOR YOUR VEIL When you first receive your veil in the mail, immediately take it out and hang it up. The only way to ship your veil to you is to box it which will cause it to first appear very wrinkled and unattractive. We recommend that you hang your veil from the center so that it will hang straight down. Most of the wrinkles should come out over time from just hanging however, if you don't have time or it's still too wrinkled for your taste, try the following methods: Steaming the veil with a steaming iron Hot shower method - steaming the veil by hanging it in the bathroom with a hot shower on for several minutes to steam up the room. Dry cleaning - have an experienced bridal dry cleaner press or steam it. www.iMemoryfilms.com info@imemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490 For more tips, ideas, and wedding planning info, visit us at www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com. to visit our website for booking, or pricing info on event and wedding filming, see us online at, www.imemoryfilms.com

iMemoryfilms Wedding Shower 101

Wedding Shower 101 Bridal wedding showers are one of many pre-wedding parties and are great fun. They are known as parties with a purpose. The purpose of a shower is to assist the couple in equipping their new home or for the bride to assemble a trousseau. Not only that, but they are a good excuse for the bride to get together with her friends and family to play hilarious games and to enjoy the food and wine. Here is some cool info from iMemoryfilms! Did you know that a trend has started for 'couples showers'? This is sometimes termed as the 'Jack' and 'Jill' shower where you shower both the bride and groom with gifts and good wishes. Either way, if you are having a traditional shower party for just the bride, or decide to have a couples shower, then the planning and the checklist will invariably be the same. Here is an outline of a wedding shower checklist to get you on your way to organizing a great shower party. Who should host the wedding shower? Traditionally the maid of honour tends to plan the shower party. But today, anything goes and it is perfectly acceptable for both family and friends to work together to organize, host and share the cost of the wedding shower. It doesn't really matter who actually hosts the party as long as it is planned well in advance and normally in consultation with the bride. If the shower is planned to be in someone's home, then it's always a good idea to choose the person with the largest home or garden. When to have your party Because of the busy schedule the bride and her family will have in the lead up to her wedding, it is best to hold the shower about four to six weeks before the wedding. A growing trend is that more wedding showers are no longer a surprise and statistics show that 4 out of 5 brides are employed, therefore it is necessary to include the bride in the planning when it comes to setting a date and time. A traditional 'girl-only' party could be a Sunday brunch, a midweek lunch or an afternoon tea garden party. Couples showers are best held on a weekend day or evening. The majority of people tend to work between 9-5 Monday-Friday, therefore a weekend is a safe bet in that most of the couples' friends and relatives can attend. If you are having a shower party with work colleagues, then the ideal time would be in your lunch hour or straight after work. Who to invite Apart from your family members, the host should invite people you know well whether it be friends, relatives or work colleagues. You don't want to invite too many people, as a large group tends to split off in small separate groups. You want everyone to interact with each other and be a manageable size for everybody to play the hilarious shower games and not feel left out. Taking all this into consideration, a comfortable shower should involve about 10-20 people. You don't necessarily need to buy expensive shower invitations. Another growing trend is that many brides are doing their wedding research on the Internet. The internet has opened up many 'cheaper' avenues and you can now get some great printable-wedding-shower-invitations. These invitations are customized with your own wording and design, and are printed directly from your own printer. What's your wedding shower Theme? As with the actual wedding, it is wise to choose a theme before sending out the invitations. The theme can then be used throughout the shower and incorporated in with the invitations, decorations, favors and refreshments. There are literally dozens of topics for a shower party theme. The most popular is the 'kitchen' theme as there are endless pieces of equipment and accessories you can buy for the kitchen. The host knows the bride well and will surely fit a theme around either what the bride and groom need, or their lifestyle. For example if the happy couple are both into health and fitness, then a fitness theme could be an option. One good idea for a couples shower is a wine tasting theme. This is ideal for a Saturday night party and I am sure the men will enjoy this one and easily get into the swing of things! Food, Favors and Games Food: It depends on the theme and location for which type of food to prepare. For example, if you are holding a 'wine tasting theme', then a finger buffet with crackers, nuts and other nibbles goes down well with wine. If you are holding a garden shower party, consider light finger food - cheeses, crackers, fresh fruit, mini-quiches, blueberry cream puffs, crab dip and a bacon, egg and cheese casserole and salads. Favors: Some people choose not to give shower favors. It really depends on where you live and if it is a tradition in your area or not. If you do, you don't have to go overboard with favors if you want to keep the expense down. Give something small and useful like a scented candle. Most people like scented candles and they are practical. A potpourri satchel is another welcome and practical idea. Games: Everyone should be included in the shower games. Shower party games are a great ice-breaker for people to get to know each other. Games can include bridal shower bingo as this is always a big hit as is 'what's in the bag (memory game). Trivia questions about the bride and groom or making a wedding dress with toilet paper are all fun games to be had. Thank You Cards: Normally a simple 'thank-you' was enough, but today, with showers being larger and guests busier, a personal note is the only way to make sure that sincere appreciation is expressed. iMemoryfilms Summary Bridal showers are meant to be fun. They do need a lot of planning and organization in advance, but they are worth it. The bride and groom receive practical gifts for their home, and shower party's are a great excuse to get together with friends and family to have one whale of a time! www.imemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490 info@imemoryfilms.com For more great wedding tips, info and ideas visit us at: www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com! Article is by Claire Bowes, successful freelance writer and owner of www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com

GREAT Winter Wedding TIPS!

How to Create a Romantic Winter Wedding By Lynette Gamble of Affairs of Grandeur. You can reach them at, 240-281-5608, or visit them at, www.affairsofgrandeur.com A wedding of your dreams does not have to be in the popular wedding months. A winter wedding can be quite spectacular and there are significant financial advantages. While the summer months remain the most popular time of the year to say "I Do", many couples are choosing to have a winter date for the "big event." According to the Society of American Florists, 13 percent of weddings take place in the winter, with 11 percent of those being Christmas weddings. Summer weddings account for 35 percent, spring weddings 29 percent, and autumn weddings 23 percent. Décor that appeals to the senses is important when trying to pulling off a romantic winter wedding. "Choose colors of rich jewel tones such as purple, forest green, and navy. Sapphire blue, ice blue or powder blue, silver and white can be used if you want to steer clear of the traditional Christmas colors", suggests Lynette Gamble, senior coordinator of Affairs of Grandeur. The glow of candlelight will add warmth and ambiance to your ceremony and reception site. Iridescent or frosted glass balls and pine cones can adorn your guests' tables. Snowflake ornaments and glittery ribbons may be placed on the food tables or hung from the ceiling. For a simple touch, only decorate with red and white Poinsettias. Since many locations will already be lavishly decorated, your décor budget will be minimal. To keep floral costs to a minimum, use flowers that are already available during the winter months. Some flower choices are: poinsettias, roses, amaryllis, and lilies. Evergreens are popular choices for decorations while holly branches and other plants with red berries are ideal for use in floral arrangements. A cozy cottage or bed and breakfast is an ideal location for your wintry wedding theme. Your guests may warm themselves in front of the fireplace while sipping hot chocolate or wassail during the cocktail hour. A view overlooking a partially frozen pond will add to the ambiance. Imagine your guests delight as they get a glimpse of a deer drinking from the pond just outside the reception room window or a family of rabbits scurrying over the freshly fallen snow. To add a little creativity to your dinner menu, ask your bridal party to submit traditional family recipes for your caterer to make for the reception. If you don't want to serve the traditional Christmas fare, ask your caterer for alternatives and create a unique meal for your guests. As for favors, Gamble recommends candles of course. "Cinnamon Apple, Pumpkin Pie, and Vanilla are all pleasant scents that remind you of being a kid in your grandmothers' kitchen and they're nice this time of year", says Gamble. "Spiced teas, coffee mugs, snow globes and Christmas ornaments imprinted with the couples name and wedding date will also make great favors." Want a memorable getaway? Give out mini bells and have them rung as the two of you make your way to a horse-drawn sleigh. Decorate the coach and harness with Christmas foliage and chiming bells and ride off into the evening. John Lafever/partner www.imemoryfilms.com info@imemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490 For more tips, ideas and info on wedding planning visit us at www.imemoryfilms.blogspot.com

Garden Weddings101

Garden Weddings 101 by Tara L. Lazar of www.lazarbridalconsulting.com Wedding Coordinator & Designer (910) 798-9339 Planning a garden wedding can be lots of fun. A garden setting offers one of the most romantic and sensual locations for celebrating your special day. Remember to keep it simple and elegant. Below you will find suggestions on how to achieve the ultimate garden wedding of your dreams. Use varying shades of one color accented with white or cream to create a very visual and striking combination. Use lots of delicate fabrics. Solid table linens with vintage overlays purchased at flea markets can make an unforgettable statement. Small painted terracotta pots with seedlings make great favors. Buffet-style catering with large clear glass jugs of lemonade, punch and sweet tea add whimsy. Keep the menu simple. Grilling favorites are an easy and affordable way to go. Decorate tall trees with lights. Hand-write placecards, then tie them with a ribbon and hang from the trees for the guests to pick. A trellis decorated with ivy, Spanish moss and fresh flowers is the perfect focal point for your ceremony. If possible, use the trellis for the reception by placing the cake table underneath it. Use a floral topper for the wedding cake instead of a traditional cake topper. Monogrammed linens add a touch of elegance. Set up a birdbath. Have guests make special wishes for you and your spouse by throwing pennies or flower petals into the birdbath. String white lights around trees and across from one tree to the next. Using a favorite theme, give each table a name. EX: Butterfly, Dragonfly, Lightning Bug, Lady Bug, etc... Use chair covers and tie with a white sash. Before the sash is tied, place a single flower bud in each knot. Roses are a strong flower and work well for this. Hire a band, not a disc jockey. Hire a local dance group to perform the May Day dance during the reception. Serve coffee in vintage teacups and saucers from local flea market finds. If they have chips or imperfections...perfect! Even if the colors do not exactly match your theme, go for it! Keep your invitations simple. Choose hand-made paper with pressed flower petals and a velum overlay tied with a coordinating ribbon. It does a great job setting the tone of the wedding for guests. Use a rectangular table for the head table. Decorate it with tulle and mini white lights. Use flowers on the corners and area where the tulle is bunched up. Large mason jars filled with sand and tea lights make great additions to tables or pathways. They can even be wrapped in heavy wire and hung from trees. Cone shaped bags with potpourri make cute favors. Hang them from the arms of chairs for a festive look. www.imemoryfilms.com info@imemoryfilms.com 818.760.9490 For more tips, ideas and info on weddings and wedding planning, visit us at www.imemoryfilms.com. You can also follow our blog at: imemoryfilms.blogspot.com. www.twitter.com/imemoryfilms

6 GREAT Wedding Day Tips

Six Tips For A Worry-Free Wedding

Some really good tips for your wedding day by: Karen Sullen of My Wedding Favors

From getting everyone to the church on time to making sure the centerpieces look stunning, planning the details of your wedding day can be stressful. Use these tips for a worry-free wedding day.

Details, details, details! From the perfect menu to the beautiful centerpieces, there are so many details to take care of when planning your dream wedding. But what happens when your perfect wedding is not so perfect? Let’s face it. There are plenty of opportunities for things to go awry. Even with the best-laid plans, things are bound to happen. But don’t worry. Here are some tips to help you panic-proof your wedding.

1. Don’t make any verbal agreements. Have everything in writing. Be specific about the items you want AND the things you don’t want. For example, if you don’t want to see a lot of posed pictures in your wedding photo album, it’s best to be specific about that and request more candid photos.

2. On the day of the wedding, bring along a survival kit for those little emergencies. Include a needle and thread, aspirin, safety pins, nail polish, hairpins, extra pantyhose and some hard candy or breath mints.

3. Do a test run. Practice driving the route to the ceremony at the time of day and day of week of your wedding. Check out traffic patterns, construction delays, etc. That way you’ll minimize surprises and will know how much time you’ll need to get to there.

4. Call all your wedding vendors and verify your bookings two or three days before the wedding. Confirm the time, date, location of the wedding and reception, directions to the sites and the services or items they'll be providing. A good way to know you are both on the same page is to have them read back the instructions from their notes.

5. Assign someone to take care of the last minute details, such as helping the bridal party get dressed, running errands to the store, etc. Provide her with the contact numbers for all of the vendors, just in case someone is running late.

6. Don’t wait until the last minute for anything. If possible, take care of as many details well in advance of the wedding. The night before the wedding is not the time to put together 200 wedding favors. Limit yourself to just a few small tasks and leave the rest of the day to relax.


What’s the best wedding day stress reliever? Realizing that, while you will have a wonderful day, a beautiful day or even a memorable day, it will most likely not be a perfect day. Try not to make a big deal about things and take it all in stride. Sometimes, it’s the quirky things that go wrong that help make your day memorable. Stressing over every detail can take the joy out of the wedding and the planning process. The most important thing to remember is that you are marrying the man of your dreams, and at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters.

www.iMemoryfilms.com


818.760.9490


info@imemoryfilms.com

First Dance 101

Some good info on your first dance from:

Judy Lewis, Web Mistress
Hudson Valley Weddings
judy@hudsonvalleyweddings.com

Dancing at your wedding reception is a wonderful way to celebrate your special day with your friends and family. There are some traditions relating to "first dances" that are worth following.

After the bride and groom are formally introduced to their guests as "Mr. and Mrs.," the couple shares their first dance, as their special song is played. The lights may be dimmed to add to the romantic atmosphere, or should the couple choose a "raucous song," the lights may be turned up high and the spotlight turned on them.

The process of choosing a song for your first dance is fairly simple. Begin by selecting the type of dance that you would like to do. The fox trot, swing, and waltz are popular choices, but slow dancing, rumba, or any dance you enjoy is fine. Next, you'll need to find a song that fits that type of dance. Many couples don't know how to dance together and, if that's the case, it needs to be addressed when deciding on the song. If you select a song, but are unsure what dance would be appropriate, you can bring a recording to a local dance teacher, or look it up on one of the many wedding song listings on-line. Check song and web site suggestions following this article.

That brings us to the question of whether couples should take dance lessons together before their wedding day. If you have never done any partner dancing before, pre-wedding is the perfect time for you to start. The "payoff" is that you will have found an activity you can share and enjoy for the rest of your lives together. A word of warning . . . if you have decided to take dance lessons only because you feel that some sort of "performance" is expected of you, that's a bad reason to start dance lessons and certainly not conducive to success. As a couple, you will need to decide whether you have the inclination to learn how to dance and whether you have the time available to do so. Any local ballroom will have several teachers with experience in helping wedding couples (make sure that your teacher does), and if money and busy schedules are problems, there are several good instructional videos available that cater specifically to wedding couples.

After the bride and groom have danced for a while (about 2 minutes is enough time), the father of the bride will cut in on the groom and dance with his daughter. The music may change again to suit the change of partners. The groom "leaves" his bride and asks the bride's mother to dance. After an appropriate amount of time, the groom's father cuts in on the bride's father and then he dances with the bride, his new daughter-in-law. Next, the bride's father cuts in on the groom and dances with his (own) wife. The groom will then ask his mother to dance. Next, the parents change partners with their in-laws. The best man comes out to ask the bride to dance and the groom dances with the maid or matron of honor. To complete the wedding dance tradition, the entire wedding party, ushers and bridesmaids come out onto the dance floor and join in the dancing. Once the entire wedding party is on the dance floor, all the guests are invited to participate.

This process is a relatively simple one, made even easier when the couple discuss the particulars, well in advance, with whomever is supplying the music. The couple should make it clear exactly when they would like the father of the bride to cut in, so that it is not done too late or too early. A good MC, band leader or DJ, playing the right music and coming in on cue, can make this tradition run smoothly and create a lovely beginning to any reception.

Visit the WedAlert Wedding Song Directory for wedding song lists.

Here are some First Dance song suggestions:

WALTZ
The Lovers' Waltz by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason (Angel Records)
Could I Have This Dance by Anne Murray
Fascination by Nat King Cole
FOXTROT
I've Got You Under My Skin by Frank Sinatra
Our Love is Here to Stay by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Cheek to Cheek by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Moondance by Van Morrison
There's a Rainbow Round My Shoulder by the Brian Setzer Orchestra
Time After Time by Jack McDuff with Gene Harris
SWING
Let's Fall in Love- by Louis Armstrong and Oscar Petersen
Baby, You've Got What it Takes by Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums
I Will Be There by Van Morrison

Dianne Minogue from DJ Entertainment adds "Your first dance will, no doubt, be a special memory-maker. There are virtually an unlimited number of songs from which you may make your selection. Here are some favorites which our brides and grooms have chosen in the past."

Have I Told You Lately by Van Morrison or Rod Stewart
From this Moment On by Shania Twain
Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley
Amazed By Lone Star
Never Thought by Dan Hill
At Last by Etta James
Unforgettable by Natalie and/or Nat King Cole
Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
I Swear by John Michael Montgomery
Could I Have this Dance by Anne Murray
Always and Forever by Heatwave
Here and Now by Luther Van Dross
I Love You Just the Way You Are by Billy Joel
Still the One by Shania Twain
Power of Love by Celine Dion
Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion
Always by Atlantic Starr
I Finally Found Someone by Barbra Streisand
How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You by James Taylor
I Knew I Loved You by Savage Garden
Unchained Melody by Righteous Brothers
I Cross My Heart by George Strait

Whatever song you choose as your First Dance, it will always be special to you . . . and if you have taken the time and effort to hone your dancing skills (or build new ones), it will be a worthwhile investment in your special day and for every time in your future together that music for dancing is played!

www.imemoryfilms.com

info@imemoryfilms.com

818.760.9490