The focal point of the wedding ceremony, whether church or civil, is the public exchange of promises between a man and woman in front of their family and friends, to love and care for each other for their lifetimes. The ceremony sits right at the heart of a very special day. Live music, introduced judiciously, is a device that can greatly increase the sense of occasion as the ceremony unfolds.
The musicians can play softly in the background as the guests gather together before the service starts. An appropriate choice of music can of itself announce and accompany the entrance of the bride. A song or short musical performance during the signing of the register provides a contemplative focus for your guests. The sense of celebration can be fully released through the choice of joyful music as the newly-married couple receive congratulations.
The wedding ceremony in a religious setting carries an ancient tradition. In England, the sound of the organ, choirboys and a peal of bells instantly springs to mind. Whatever your persuasion, there will be a long tradition of music appropriate to each moment in the service. Making use of that tradition links your marriage service with the generations of couples who have made the same promises contained in the wedding ceremony down the years before you.
Whether you decide to stay firmly within traditional guidelines or break away, make sure you talk through your choice of music with the minister who will be officiating at the ceremony. The music you choose must be of a sacred nature, and he or she must feel happy that it will fit with the tone of the service to be conducted.
The music you choose needs to be appropriate to the size and style of the religious building in which the service is taking place. Classical chamber music generally fits into this scenario well. You might consider a string quartet … or if the venue is smaller, a duo comprising an accompanying instrument such as the piano or guitar with a top-line instrument such as violin, flute or saxophone.
The secular wedding ceremony is a relatively new phenomenon in the UK. You have the freedom to choose from a much wider selection of music, from traditional to modern, to make your particular ceremony unique. But where do you begin? If you’re stuck for ideas, visit Hop Till You Drop’s Wedding Music Guide. There’s a wealth of info regarding resources available on The Internet to “get you on the right track”, so to speak.
The range of musical styles that will fit the bill in the secular setting is broader. Traditional folk tunes, classic modern love themes, tried and tested jazz standards may all possibly suit your style. Intimate acoustic duos and trios will suit a small gathering. If the venue is large, a fuller band will be needed to make sufficient impact.
Be aware, also, that strictly sacred music cannot as a rule be used outside a religious setting. When you’ve made your musical selection, do run it past the officiating registrar to make sure that it is acceptable.
Jennie Evans runs Hop Till You Drop, a company that provides music of all styles and types for weddings, birthday parties and corporate events in the UK. To find out more about all aspects of wedding music planning and to get up-to-date info on live music for weddings in the UK, why don’t you check out Hop Till You Drop Wedding Music Services. Hop Till You Drop is a company run by musicians, so you can be sure that all the important aspects of your live wedding music will be attended to by knowledgeable, experienced professionals.
Say Your Own Personalized Wedding Vows
27 October 2008
This article was written to answer many of the most frequently asked questions on wedding vows.
Your wedding is your own.
And in todays society, people have been constantly scouring every book for any way to make their wedding as personal and as unique as possible.
One way to do this is to whip up your own wedding vows.
Traditionally, couples to be wed do not have much of a say in what goes into many of the words spoken during the wedding ceremony. Today, it is increasingly getting easier to personalize and influence what is said during the ceremony within reasonable bounds, though.
If you desire to make your wedding vows unique and personal, you are not alone. Many other couples incorporate feelings, and intimate messages into their wedding vows. It has an added effect of making your wedding more touching, dramatic, and memorable.
Talk with the Officiant Ahead of Time
If you would like to personalize your wedding vows, first notify your Officiant to find out the legalities, guidelines and rules in drafting your own wedding vows. He or she will typically give pointers and examples to help you draw up your own vows. Furthermore, the Officiant will inform you of the parts of the vow that are expected to be said.
The Topic
It may include promises, such as “I will swear upon my life to do …” or it may be heartfelt messages for each other, or even hopes for each other plans for the future and such. You may also opt to create a mixture of each to spice up your wedding vows. Although norms vary from culture to culture, as a general rule, the wedding vow should not take too long to recite. Keep it concise yet meaningful. Remember, you will have to recite this, and long recitations tend to make the memory suffer.
Make it Official
After creating a draft of the vows you wish to exchange, it would do well to meet up with the Officiant again and show him a draft of your vows. Although in the end, it is ultimately your decision that is followed, do take heed of the Officiants advice, as it is usually sound and has been honed by experience.
Practice
It is a good idea to practice your vows before the wedding. Although there is no rule against reading vows, a thoroughly practiced, heartfelt rendition of the vow will definitely make a lasting impact on your partner and the people witnessing the ceremony. As mentioned earlier, avoid overly long vows as they tend to be less remembered and are harder to memorize, not to mention quite inconvenient to others. You may do so, however, if you feel the need is justified.
The Performance
When reciting your vows during the wedding, always keep calm. People who are tense tend to speak to fast, and since the wedding vow is a very important part of the wedding, you will want to take your time in the spotlight. Loosen up, so that in case you forget a line or two during the exchange of vows, you will at least be able to bounce back with something from your heart. If you desire so, you may also keep a written version of you vows with you. You might want to read it surreptitiously though.
Good luck on your wedding, and may the sweet words you utter during the exchange of vows never lose their meaning for rest of your days!
The ABC’s of Romance
13 October 2008
A - Always hold hands in public.
B - Be your partner’s cheerleader.
C - Celebrate your relationship by creating love rituals.
D - Date your mate and fall in love all over again.
E - Express your love for your partner every day.
F - Flirt with your partner. Keep the fun in your relationship.
G - Gaze into your partner’s eyes.
H - Hug your partner every day.
I - Invest in your relationship and benefit from the returns on your investment.
J - Just do it! Don’t just think about it. Do it! Hold her, tease him, …
K - Kiss. Kiss. Kiss. Repeat often.
L - Laugh with your partner.
M - Make each moment together matter.
N - Nibble on your partner’s ears.
O - Open up to your partner.
P - Praise your partner … and that means in public too.
Q - Quote an erotic love poem to your partner.
R - Recreate your first date together or one that brings back fond memories.
S - Surprise your partner … just because.
T - Take the time to be alone together. Too busy? Then, schedule it.
U - Unleash your passion for your partner.
V - Volunteer together.
W - Write a love letter. Describe all the reasons why you love your sweetie so much.
X - X-plore your romantic creativity together!
Y - Your relationship with your sweetheart needs to be your #1 priority!
Z - Zero in on what matters most to your partner. Know your partner’s likes and dislikes.
Leona Hamel is a Romance Agent, speaker, coach and author of The ABC’s of Tease and Please - A Romance Handbook, as well as a contributing author to A First Serving of Milk and Cookies for Success. Passionate about human connection, Leona works with men and women who want to explore their romantic creativity and experience more passion, fun and success in their life. Visit http://www.romanceunlimited.com for new articles, tips and trivia each month. Don’t forget to sign up for LouLou’s Love Lesson!
How to Select the Right Wedding Dress for Your Body Shape
8 September 2008
There are millions of wedding dresses from which to choose. How do you choose the dress that will fit your unique body shape best? The first step in finding the right dress for you is to determine what body shape you have. This is your special day, and your dress should fit your body style perfectly. Here are some tips that will help you in your quest to find the perfect dress.
Hourglass Figure
For women that have an hourglass shape, a strapless or off-the-shoulder gown is just right. When shopping for a strapless gown, lean towards the one-piece gowns instead of two-piece gowns. A two-piece gown can result in a “choppy” look, splitting you into to figures.
Bias-cut and straight designs are not best for hourglass figures. They will usually pull the eye to areas of the body that you want to minimize. These types of dresses are better suited for tall women.
The bride with an hourglass shape will want to accentuate her curves. Avoid heavily beaded dresses that can tend to make the bride appear heavier.
Pear-Shaped Figure
A woman with a pear shaped figure has smaller shoulders and upper body than lower body. A pear shaped bride should wear shoulder pads or puffy sleeves. This bride should avoid any type of body hugging gown, full skirts, or cuts that make the upper body appear even smaller or the lower body larger.
Short and Petite Figure
There are many options for the short and petite figure. Shoestring straps and off-the-shoulder gowns will work the best. A Cinderella gown will look beautiful and will add a touch of romance.
Straight gowns tend to not look as nice on a short and petite figure. If you have already fallen in love with a straight wedding gown, offset it with a full veil. Wearing the right designer wedding shoes can also add height if a petite bride would like to appear taller. Keep in mind, however, that you may not want to be in high heels all night. Switching shoes will affect the way your dress hits the floor, keep that in mind when selecting your gown.
Square Figure
The ideal gown for a bride with a square shape will create curves, or, create the illusion of curves.
The neckline of the dress should be beaded. Alternatively, the upper part of the bodice should be beaded. Bigger skirts and sleeves are also ways to add curves. The square figured bride should avoid sheath or clingy dresses that contribute nothing to creating the illusion of curves.
More Dress Hunting Tips
Finding the perfect gown can be frustrating if you do not know what you are looking for or what type of gown will work best for your unique body shape. Never give in and settle for a dress just because you are tired of looking. There are millions of dresses out there and one of them is the perfect one for you. If you have found three or four dresses that you like certain aspects or designs of, consider having your wedding gown made for you. This way, you will be 100% satisfied with the dress and feel great! A custom made wedding dress is truly a family heirloom.
Be sure to do your research at local gown stores and try on as many dresses as you like. Eventually you will begin to see a trend in the type of dresses that you like. Remember that you will be in the gown all day, during the ceremony and through the reception, dancing, greeting guests, etc. Make sure that you are comfortable and feel beautiful in your gown. This is the most important factor of buying the dress.
Do not buy a dress because you think everyone else will like it. This is your day and it is all about you. Remember that when selecting your gown.
Article By Michelle O’Connor, Discount Wedding Dresses
Designer Wedding Shoes
Wedding Packages
May reproduce only if credit links remain intact.
Copyright 2006, Michelle O’Connor, All Rights Reserved
Unique Wedding Invitations
4 September 2008
Today’s tech savvy couples are plugging in and creating unique wedding invitations on CD/DVD. These customized invitations use music and images, photo montage and video, to tell the couple’s story and provide a personal invite to their wedding. Each CD/DVD comes complete with artwork, case and mailer and provides everything found in the standard invitation such as RSVP and map/directions.
Tech-challenged older family members have been known to get frustrated with this unique wedding invitation so think about delivering a basic printed version along with the CD/DVD.
A favorite 5×7 digital photo of the couple framed in a festive border with the event details and your own wording printed inside creates a unique wedding invitation for the budget minded. For a special touch you can glue a ribbon or dried flower along the border that frames the photo.
Photographs also deliver a treasured memory keepsake when creatively designed with rich paper and accents. Wedding guests often frame these unique wedding invitations.
A portrait of the couple, recreated from a photograph, brings even more elegance to the wedding invitation. A professional artist creates an original artwork to be cherished by the bride and groom for a lifetime.
Extraordinary wedding invitations using handmade paper, pressed flowers, and handmade silk ornaments are boxed with rose petals and confetti to present the mood of a wedding destined to delight the senses. Wedding invitations uniquely scrolled with cinnamon sticks attached to both ends and tied with a silk ribbon are delivered in a paper wrapped tube for the curious to discover the wedding information inside.
Unique wedding invitations have the potential of being as unique as the couple designing the concept and invitation.
Wedding Invitations Info provides information on cheap, unique, and do-it-yourself wedding invitations, plus wedding shower invitations, and advice on wedding invitation wording. Wedding Invitations Info is the sister site of Wedding Favors Web.