Bay Area Wedding Reviews, Wedding Interviews, Wedding Tips, Wedding Lists

Wedding Photography Tip

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:23:31 GMT

I just did a Bay Area wedding at the Elliston Winery in Sunol. Never had been there before. Surprising considering how close it is. And it was a pretty amazing place. The wedding was really fun, too. Small, intimate, very beautiful. But that's not why I'm writing this.

The photographer for the wedding and wedding reception was Todd Parsons and, yes, he and his wife were very easy to work with. They had good personalities, very friendly, easy going and, yet, took some amazing shots. They had something at the wedding that I thought was a brilliant idea. Todd had taken engagement photos of the couple and had turned into a guest book of sorts. A regular photo album done with a nice layout with plenty of blank space for guests to write in.

Obviously, the guests and I could all see the great shots they had taken for the engagement shoot, but people were excited about signing in and writing motivational type messages in this book. I know they will cherish it forever.

Anyway, check out this guy's site, very nice shots and very great idea. I'm sure someone got a photo of it and if I get a copy, I'll post it up here later. Brilliant! I look forward to working with these guys again.

Fitting Into Your Wedding Dress - Wedding Tip

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:10:26 GMT

Finding the perfect wedding dress is one thing — fitting into it is another!

On "The Early Show on Saturday Morning," Frances Largeman-Roth, senior food and nutrition editor at Health magazine, shared some tips to help Bay Area brides look their best on the big day. Here is an excerpt interspersed with our comments and additions:

SIX MONTHS FROM THE BIG DAY
If you have 10 pounds or 100 pounds to lose, start now. You can probably lose 2% of your body weight per week.

Incorporate cardio and weight training into your workouts. Doing cardio three to five times a week for at least 30 minutes will help you blast fat. Weight training, especially for your arms and shoulders will help you look lean and sleek. Great for those strapless dresses! Mostly, at least get 10,000 steps in every day.

Foods to eat:
Cut out processed foods and load up on low-cal, high fiber foodslike fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Not only will they help you lose weight, they'll also help your skin look fantastic because they're antioxidant-packed. Also, now is the time to start eating breakfast if you're a breakfast skipper! It will keep you energized for workouts, wedding planning, and will keep your blood sugar level so you don't overindulge and pack on more weight.

We say, If you want to lose weight and have better skin, start on a super high antioxidant diet. You can do it by following the O2 Diet or else get the cheaper and easy to use Chocolate High Antioxidant Protein Meal Replacement Shakes. Less expensive (about the price of a super size meal) and you won't feel hungry. In fact, you'll probably sleep better, look better and be less crabby during these stressful times. You'll want 12 bags - buy them upfront and get the discount.

THREE MONTHS FROM THE BIG DAY
Intensify your workout!

This is when crunch time hits for many brides and they start stress-eating. If you're a sweet snacker, swap your late night ice cream or cookie snack with fresh fruit and Greek yogurt. If you're a salty or crunchy snacker, try jicama sticks with salsa. If you're doing the high antioxidant shakes, you'll notice you have more time, since they are so easy to make and you'll be noticing that you still aren't getting hungry. Be sure you eat at least 1200 calories a day! You'll need that to keep losing weight. One month before start eating healthy chocolate with pro-biotics once a day. Your body will thank you on your wedding day.

Three months before, some brides start dining out because they are too busy to cook. Avoid dining out! You'll save money and it is healthier to cook your own food.

24 HOURS FROM THE BIG DAY — Last Minute "Do's" and "Don'ts"

1. Avoid all carbonated drinks and stick to plain water as your main beverage. Add fresh citrus juice or cucumber slices to liven it up. Chill out on booze until your big event. Alcohol can make you retain water and give you that swollen feeling.

2. Skip beans, legumes (including soy products), and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, especially raw. Also, cereals with mega amounts of fiber-look for ingredients like chicory root fiber or psyllium husks—may have the same effect. While very healthy for you, they often create a lot of gas, which can lead to a puffy stomach and sabotage your silhouette. If you've been eating the probiotics, this should not be an issue for you now.

3. Cut out all fried, processed, and canned foods. The sodium content in these foods can make you retain water and feel bloated. It's smart to limit bread, wraps, and muffins for the same reason. At lunch and dinner, stick to plain grilled chicken or seafood, plus steamed vegetables like zucchini, carrots, and asparagus. Keep eating high antioxidant foods. Your skin will look amazing!

4. Include these bloat-busting foods in your diet: cucumber, watercress, artichoke, asparagus, and celery. Cucumber has caffeicacid, which helps fight swelling; celery helps balance your electrolytes, and watercress, artichoke, and asparagus are all natural diuretics.

5. Avoid drinking through a straw or chewing gum-both of these can cause you to swallow air, which creates gas in your stomach.

6. If you have any last minute bloating, try a cup of peppermint tea. Peppermint helps relax the stomach and alleviate gassiness.

7. You should avoid anything that will stain your teeth like coffee, red wine, black tea, dark berries and cranberry juice. If you are a coffee or tea drinker, have the theobromine healthy energy drink in the morning with your shake, so you don't get those headaches.

Tips For Picking The Perfect Bay Area Wedding Dress

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:00:54 GMT

When little girls spend their math classes daydreaming of weddings, what do they dream of first? The perfect wedding dress, of course: a gown in white satin with a bustle and sweeping train, the perfect embellishments, and the perfect shoes.

There are few occasions in our modern world where a woman finds herself in a position to wear a no-holds-barred ball gown, much less a crystal tiara, and all too many where she's called on to wear a neutral suit or uninspiring "biz-casual" combo. No wonder that with so many brides, their wedding plans start with the dress.

Many of these brides are lucky. They may search high and low, braving chilly department stores and pushy bridal shops, but eventually they come face-to-face with The One. They know this is The One because they start crying, or their mother or friends all start crying at once. Suddenly the rest of the planning ... the theme, the tone, the right kind of venues ... it all springs to life.

Other brides aren't as fortunate. They've searched just as hard, working their way through shops across three or four states, but they haven't found The One. Instead, they've found three or four Contenders, all of which are serviceable and nice, but not earth-shattering enough to tell them that now is definitely time to stop the searching and get on with the planning. These brides have it harder.

Even if you're the first kind of bride, buying the dress is such a momentous decision that you run a risk of falling into that wallet-skinning category known as the Two-Dress Bride. Here are some tips for picking the perfect dress and avoiding that awful fate.

1. Bring the entourage, but don't buy. It's fun and useful to bring your mother, friends or sisters on the dress-shopping expedition. It gives you a buffer against an overbearing sales staff, and it's fun to see if your impressions of perfection are shared by your loved ones, not to mention how they'll love being part of such an important decision. But no matter how enthusiastic everyone gets over a certain dress, don't buy in the heat of the moment. Give yourself time to reconsider and buy with a cool head later, alone. The vast majority of dresses are non-returnable, so when you've bought it, you've bought it.

2. Don't buy too early unless you must. Bridal gowns can take four to ten months to come from the manufacturer, but there's no reason to buy over a year ahead of time, unless your chosen style is going to be discontinued. Give yourself some time to sit on your decision. Once you pick a gown, you'll see a hundred others nearly like it. You'll become a walking encyclopedia on that style of gown. All the better if you still have room to choose.

3. If you've bought "The One," stop shopping. Any more window-shopping at this point will only lead you down the road toward the dreary land of Two-Dress Brides. What you need to do instead is remember that blissful feeling of having tried on The One. Go get The One out of the closet, put it on and stand in front of the mirror. You'll remember exactly why it's The One.

4. If you've bought "The One" and can't stop shopping, get a second opinion. Show your first and second choices to other brides. Be honest -- tell them you've already remortgaged your condo for the first dress, but you think this second dress might be It. They'll be truthful, too -- the first one was better. You'll feel reassured.

5. Don't tell yourself "I'll sell the old dress and choose a new one." This old saw of the Two-Dress Bride just won't work. You'll never get more than a fraction of what you paid for your first dress if you bought it new.

6. Don't be afraid to aim high -- no matter what your budget. Some brides knew from the start they wanted a designer label, but life just didn't cooperate by making them heiresses. Yet all is not lost if you're willing to shop courageously. At any given moment, a better-heeled bride is selling her once-used St. Pucchi or Ulla-Maija on eBay. She paid thousands upon thousands, but you, smart shopper, will pay half that or less. To take this road, you must shop earlier than other brides so you'll have a choice of gowns. Always pay with a credit card so you'll have recourse if the dress doesn't arrive in acceptable condition, and again, shop early so you can buy another if necessary. Shop courageously, but not recklessly.

7. Shop online, but never send a check. Bridal gown businesses sometimes have a way of disappearing overnight. No matter what the proprietor tells you, never make a purchase as large as a wedding gown without the chargeback protection of a credit card. If they say they can't take plastic, move on.

8. Don't hold out forever for The One. Some brides never find The One. What they do find is a few dresses they look beautiful in. If you're this bride, try starting your planning from the theme instead of the dress. You'll probably eventually get sick to death of dress shopping. When that happens, "good enough" really will be good enough. Concentrate on other aspects of the wedding that mean a lot to you, like your Bay Area venue, the food, the music entertainment, or the inevitable adoration of your soon-to-be husband.

At the end of it all, you'll place it in a bag, place the bag in a box and place the box in the attic, so remember, don't mortgage the farm for this. Don't pretend this is for your husband, either. He thinks you're a babe the way you are. The dress is just extra decoration. Nothing more beautiful than a bride, whatever dress she's wearing.

Wedding Cakes

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 17:56:52 GMT

When planning a wedding reception, be sure to give special attention to the wedding cake. There is, of course, a certain chain of events and best practices that are good to follow.

When you are ready to select a wedding cake in the Bay Area, you should arrange to meet with three bakers and taste their products. If you have attended or are planning on attending a bridal show, you can easily and quickly take care of this task at the show.

If you have a certain look you are going for with your wedding cake, be sure to bring a picture of what you would like when meeting with bakers. It is also a good idea to bring along your cake topper if you already have it as well as fabric swatches of the bridesmaid’s dresses. Also, be prepared to give the baker an estimated number of guests that you are expecting.

When you meet with the baker, be sure to ask to see a portfolio of pictures that have been taken of the baker’s previous work. In addition, always check references before making a final decision.

When you are interviewing the bakers, ask each one the same questions so that you do not forget anything and so that you can make an accurate comparison. Some things to inquire about are the set-up and take-down of the table where the cake will be, who will put the cake topper on the cake, who will place napkins, plates, flowers, etc. on the table, and who will direct the cutting of the cake.

Also, find out where the cake will be stored (it must be out of direct sunlight), who will be in charge of boxing up the cake top and giving to a previously designated person, what arrangements will be made for the left-over cake, and who will cut the cake and distribute it. Cutting a wedding cake is much trickier than it looks and must be done by someone who is familiar with the process.
When you are reviewing a baker’s contract, be sure to note several things. For instance, you should immediately see the name, contact person, location, and phone numbers for the bakery. The cake size, shape, and number of tiers must be on the contract. Be sure that the cake flavor(s), fillings, and icing are noted and that returnable items are clearly stated.

Be sure that the number of guests the cake is to serve is on the contract as we;; as when the cake was ordered, when the cake will be delivered and assembled, what the set-up fee is if applicable, and the due dates for deposits and balances.

In closing, choosing a cake can really be a lot of fun. You have the chance to sample some goodies and make some light-hearted decisions about fillings, flavors, and decorations. However, in the process, make sure you are noting all of the details that need to be covered so that you are confident in your baker’s ability to deliver the product that you are expecting.

Options For Bay Area Wedding Cakes

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:47:58 GMT

It is time for your Bay Area wedding; now for any traditional wedding it’s a black tuxedo for him, a white gown for her, a multi-layered cake to accommodate for the guests, and floral bouquets to tie it all together. For some brides, they seek for something more than the textbook wedding.

With small adjustments, their special day could be more original than the usual San Jose wedding - plus be one that their guests would remember. One of the most popular ways to tweak weddings is with the cake. With wedding cakes, there are about as many different possibilities as there are brides. Isn’t that really what makes a wedding special!

If you really want to push the envelope, why not try a cupcake wedding cake? This option provides a cake which is convenient, versatile, can differ in colors and flavors, and these days it’s not as difficult to find as it may sound. Although it is a new idea on the traditional need for cake, most bakers these days do offer wedding cake cupcakes as a creative and unexpected alternative.

If a wedding cake cupcake doesn’t quite strike your fancy, then why not go for a wedding donut cake? This original cake is a group of doughnuts which are individually frosted and offer an assortment of flavors. Each doughnut is arranged in a festive manner- usually meant to resemble a cake. For a couple who wants something a little different from the traditional wedding cake can forgo the doughnut wedding cake. Not only is it good and original but some people also just prefer doughnuts to cake.

One of the things we did when we got married was to have a small wedding cake and surround it with various desserts on tiered platforms. I don't especially care for cake and I knew that some of the people I knew preferred other desserts, so the combination kept a little of the traditional and through in some special flavor.

Another choice to spice up your wedding is to build the traditional cake around a water fountain. This romantic aspect of your special day will give people something to talk about for years to come. The trickling water sounds and the added light will give your wedding a feel and presentation unlike any other.

Something else to remember is that all cakes don't have to be white with buttercream frosting. Nearly any flavor is a possibility from white to yellow to chocolate, cheesecake to pumpkin, carrot to red velvet.

It is also just fine to use different flavors of cake for each layer of cake. Frosting can also be a different flavor besides the usual buttercream. You can have any flavor of frosting and any color too. Some brides like to choose a frosting color to match the bridesmaid’s dresses, to match the season and setting, or to compliment the color of the cake.

Choosing your cake is not always going to be a black or white decision. Although, light colors like ivory and white still hold the standard, with the help of a pastry chef nearly any color that you can imagine can be created. Picture a dark frosting with an abundance of wonderfully colored flowers or leaves scattered all around the cake. Color can add excitement, imagination, texture, and interest to the cake. The best thing is that the possibilities are practically endless.

So now you’ve discovered that for your wedding cake, you have options. You can play with the color, the flavor, what it is created by, and now you can also play with the shape. Typically, wedding cakes are round, stacked layers that get smaller towards the top to create a circular pyramid of cake.

Now just because this has been the standard for so long doesn’t mean that you can’t alter the tradition to fit your personal desires. Cakes can be constructed in any shape and can also be stacked at any angle.

Some cakes have staggered layers, like a brick pattern, some stack identical layers straight up, like a tower, and some cakes are made with layers that have been cut at an angle to give the appearance that the cake is about to topple over! Cakes can be made to resemble a beautifully wrapped present, an animal, a tree, flower, building, people, letters or any other combination of shapes and angles.

When the wedding day comes, the bride and groom should have a cake which is exactly what they want; whether it is a convenient cupcake cake, an unorthodox doughnut cake, or a combination of the right colors and shapes to create a cake which resembles them in every possible way by the help of an experienced pastry chef.

With the perfect cake on their perfect day, the ‘ooh’s and ‘ahh’s will be pouring in by impressed guests and the wedding will be one not soon forgotten.

Adding the Personal Touch to Your Wedding

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 12:53:55 GMT

A perfect wedding isn’t only beautiful, it’s personal. It’s got carefully selected details that are meaningful to you and your fiancé. Here are some very simple wedding tips to add your own subtle, unique touches to your wedding ceremony and wedding reception:

•Write your own wedding vows. It doesn’t have to read like poetry; the important thing is that it comes from your own heart. Print it out on an index card and keep it handy during the ceremony.

•Compile a CD with songs that symbolize your relationship or how it evolved. Play this during your wedding reception or even burn a copy and distribute as souvenirs (this may be illegal depending on what country you are in). Insert a small piece of paper explaining why you chose those songs.

•Instead of tossing your bouquet, present it to your mother (or a dear friend or mentor) during your reception. You can also have an additional bouquet made for your groom to present his mother at the same time.

•Guests often have free time on their hands during their reception. In the center of the table, place several pens and small pieces of paper in a pretty basket. Ask them to write their wishes, prayers, or advice for you and your fiancé. Compile in a scrapbook.

•Most wedding reception programs revolve around the couple: friends give speeches. Do something for the guests. Make a video of you and your fiancé talking about the people who’ve taught you what true love means. Mention friends who’ve demonstrated real loyalty, or family members who made great sacrifices for you. Intersperse your video with their photos. This is your chance to say thank you to all of them.

•If you have a close friend or family member who passed away, make him or her part of the occasion by inserting a small photo in your bouquet, or lighting a tribute candle at the church ceremony.

•If you have ethnic roots, incorporate a marriage ritual from your culture into your ceremony or perform it during your wedding reception. Have your fusion wedding DJ play music during dinner or cocktail hour incorporating those roots.

•Wear an heirloom. For example, you can use your grandmother’s veil, or wear a locket that belongs to your mother. This is an excellent way of creating a sense of continuity between generations, celebrating your own family even as you go on to begin your own.

•Prepare an audio-video presentation that will be played during the last dance of the bride with the father. This can be just a simple montage of childhood photos. A guaranteed tear-jerker!

•If you have kids, help them feel like they’re part of the new family by asking them to stand next to you as you say your vows.

•Add little elements that say something about your relationship as a couple. For example, if you’re giving away picture frames, insert a poem that you wrote or a copy of your wedding vows. If you met at a beach (and would rather not have a beach-themed wedding) incorporate shells into your table centerpiece.

Click for other Bay Area San Jose wedding tips.

Your Wedding Dance

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:33:03 GMT

One of the greatest things about your bay area wedding is that it is your celebration. You are the king or queen of the occasion so you get the crown and you get the first dance. It is your moment in time to get down and boogie.

By tradition, you will be doing a "two-step". On the whole, that means pick and choose a song that you can move back and forth to and take two steps so you can move around the floor. This can be actually sweet, but if truth were told... you can do that at any old time.

If you even have the most miniscule ability to dance and you are eager to have a bit of a enjoyable time, find out how you can learn to dance to one very exclusive number. Take some dance lessons if you think you will need them. Show off your skills and move to the music. Once you have your wedding song chosen you will be in a much better position to figure out what kind of dance you can do to it for your first dance.

With so many people watching Dancing with the Stars, ballroom isquickly becoming more and more a part of Bay Area wedding receptions.

If you have only ever done modern dances, you will find that ballroom dancing is, beyond doubt, a combination of a multitude of skills from the both of you. You will need to work with your partner's strong points and grab hold of the tempo as one. It may, perhaps, take a lot of rehearsals so that you move about well and to appear stunning as you dance together. After all, dancing should be striking to look at as well as fun to perform.

Out of most ballroom dances, the waltz, is preferred most at weddings. The waltz is enjoyable and simple to become skilled at. You will also find it easy to dance the waltz in your wedding dress. Traditional music selections include the Skater's Waltz or the Blue Danube Waltz.

If you wish to use more contemporary music, variations have been made of a fairly large number of songs as well, which may consist of your most wanted love song. For example, "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Moon River" are just two of the songs used today.

The Foxtrot is one more well-appreciated dances for weddings. Couples can sway quickly to the melody of "Cheek to Cheek" or more slowly to "Someone to Watch Over Me". The foxtrot is a much more energetic dance compared to the waltz but it retains that same romantic and dreamy feel.

Of course if you, in reality, dance nicely with each other, don't be timid about it. Why not go for the performance of a tango and warm up the floor. Make the dance floor sizzle! Many other latin dances have become much more popular lately.

Whatever dance you opt for, just have fun and enjoy yourself. Let yourselves be Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire for your song and enjoy your first dance to the hilt. Practice a lot and keep your San Jose wedding dress in mind. Get the wedding celebration started the right way...with you having a great time.

How to choose your bay area wedding DJ

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:13:48 GMT

Depending on what type of bay area wedding reception you will be having, you may be in need of a disc jockey (DJ) so that your guests can dance. Just like you would for a bay area wedding photographer, you are going to want to do some research and find the Silicon Valley wedding DJ that will make your reception fun and easy.

Ask friends and family - Friends and family who have had a Bay Area wedding will give you an honest opinion of the wedding DJ that they have used, so talking to them is the first step that you should take.

If you have been to their San Jose weddings personally, you will have had a first hand experience in viewing how their wedding DJ operated. But there may have been things that you weren't aware of that happened, so it's always a good idea to ask them even if you were there.

Do interviews - Talk to a few bay area wedding disc jockeys and tell them when your wedding is. Let them know what kind of music you want, and what your special dance songs are going to be. This will ensure that they have time to get everything they need before the big day if they don't already have it.

You want to be sure that the person you choose for your wedding DJ is personable and will ensure that everyone at your wedding reception has a good time. They should have a lot of personality and be able to get people dancing. Again, be sure that you let them know exactly what kind of music you want, so that they can be prepared.

Here's a link to a video showing what you should expect from a wedding DJ during your reception.

Ten Must Have Gift Ideas For The Bay Area Wedding Party

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:14:48 GMT

It's traditional for the bride to give the groom a gift on their bay area wedding day. Although the exchanging of wedding rings can be considered a giving of gifts, many brides choose to honor their groom with an additional gift that suits his personality.

The tradition of the bride and groom exchanging gifts is beginning to fade. Many couples who spend a great deal of money on their wedding or honeymoon may decide that there is no need to exchange gifts in addition to their San Jose wedding and their honeymoon. If you do decide, as a bride, to honor your groom with a gift on your wedding day, then, "Yay!". It is more important to choose an gift he will enjoy than it is to spend a great deal of money on a gift he may not.

A photo album complete with a picture of you and the bridesmaid(s) or the entire bay area wedding party can be another unique gift idea for the bridesmaid(s). You can buy photo albums with the date of your wedding engraved on the front cover and start the photo album with a picture of you and the bridesmaid(s). This is a wonderful gift idea because the bridesmaid(s) can place her/their photos from the wedding day in the album and will always have a precious souvenir from your bay area wedding day.

Gift certificates to a spa or a salon also make unique gift ideas for your bridesmaid(s). Your bridesmaid(s) most likely have spent a great deal of time and energy on helping you plan your bay area wedding and wedding reception. The week prior to your San Jose wedding was also especially hectic with a great deal of last minute details to attend to and errands to run. While you will have your honeymoon to relax and renew your energy on your bridesmaid(s) do/does not have this luxury so honor her/them by presenting her/them with a gift certificate to a spa or salon. You are giving them the gift or being pampered and the gift of relaxation.

A few more unique gift ideas for your bridesmaids gifts include handcrafted or homemade gifts. For example, you could put together a CD of some of your bridesmaids' favorite songs. You could make the CD's different for each bridesmaid and include a photo of you and her on the cover and include a heartfelt poem on the inside of the CD cover. You could also create a scrapbook for each of your bridesmaids. You could either make the scrapbook a memory of your entire friendship together and include photos and other items from your various adventures throughout the years or if you plan ahead and take many photos documenting your wedding preparations, you could create scrapbooks as a remembrance of the San Jose wedding planning that you shared.

Any item that relates to a specific hobby that the groom enjoys is a great idea for a bay area wedding gift for the bride to give to the groom. This is a popular choice because giving a gift that relates to one of his hobbies demonstrates that you understand his likes and that you want him to continue to engage in activities that he enjoys.

Another unique gift idea for a bride to give to her bridesmaids is a gift certificate to a local restaurant. Assisting in your wedding preparations was probably extremely stressful and time consuming for the bridesmaids and they certainly deserve a night on the town and the opportunity to not have to cook for a night. This simple gift lets your bridesmaids know that you appreciate their efforts and that you want to thank them for all that they have done to support you.

Unique gift ideas for the bridesmaids can also stem from you bay area wedding theme. For example if you are having a beach themed wedding you might want to give your bridesmaids a gift of a tote bag, a beach towel and a novel to enjoy on the beach. This unique gift idea ensures that your bridesmaids will remember your wedding fondly the next time they are at the beach.

Although the tradition of the bride and groom exchanging gifts on their wedding day is beginning to fade, many couples still wish to honor this tradition. Many couples spend so much money on their wedding and reception that they feel as though they cannot afford the additional expense of buying gifts for each other. While it may be true that the couple cannot afford one more extravagant gift it is also true that a truly thoughtful gift for the groom does not have to be overly expensive. If the couple is partaking in this tradition it is advisable that they exchange gifts that truly reflect the personality of their spouse.

Including Kids in Your Bay Area Wedding

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:26:58 GMT

Not all brides and grooms in San Jose want to exclude children from their wedding. Many are happy to welcome children into their Bay Area wedding both as members of their wedding party and as guests at their wedding reception.

Having children at a Bay Area wedding, however, poses a myriad of problems. Do you leave the children to their own devices and hope they behave and don't get in the way? Do you provide a room with childcare so they are "present" but not too much under foot? Perhaps the best solution is a simple mix of both, with a smattering of fun built in.

First of all, if children are invited to the wedding reception, take into consideration the ages of the children. Babies will have to stay with mom and/or dad, for a variety of reasons. So planning to have all the children in another room might not be feasible. But if the children are toddlers up to about age 12, you can provide a separate room for them with childcare and a make a number of activities available to them.

If the children will be in a separate room at the wedding reception, you can provide a coloring table, perhaps a TV with an appropriate movie ready to roll, and some board games. That could probably be enough for the duration of the wedding reception. Be aware of a few things: there should be a ratio of at least 1 adult for every 5 children if the children are toddlers, or 1 adult to every 10 children if the kids are older. Don't expect the kids to take up the activities on their own, but rather tell the childcare provider to get the kids involved in the activities by doing them him or herself.

What if the children will be part of the reception festivities? What activities can be geared specifically to children at the reception? There are plenty of things you can do, really. You can certainly plan a coloring table at the back of the reception hall or room. There, you can provide loads of paper, coloring books, markers and crayons. Paints are not recommended, for obvious reasons, and moms will thank you if you remember to supply the kids with washable markers and crayons only.

The art table can be more than just coloring, however. Buy a huge bag of pipe cleaners. Kids can amuse themselves for long periods of time, making animals, odd figures and the like. Make sure you have at least 20 or more pipe cleaners for each child, however, as children can go through these quickly. Think about "clean" clay, the new products that don't stick to anything and don't leave a trace on furniture. With a few different colors, kids can create a variety of figures, faces or forms.

Many brides like to plan more formally for their small guests. There are several options if this is the route you want to take. One popular option is to have paid entertainment on hand just for the children. This can take place in a separate room or toward the back of the reception room or hall if it's large and the guest list is big. You can hire a clown or a balloon artist. You can have someone braid the children's hair and provide temporary tattoos. If there is a separate room available, you can even hire a children's musician to come and entertain the kids. The options are endless.

If no plans are made for the children, but they arrive at the wedding expecting entertainment, you'll have to make some plans. One option is a "child only" dance, which allows only the children on the dance floor. This is not only cute to watch, and could be entertaining as well, but it will bring a smile to the face of every grandma and grandpa present.

Bay Area Wedding Dance Floor Activities

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:21:45 GMT

Dancing is an essential component at most Bay Area wedding receptionsWe look forward to the couple's "first dance" and the bride's special dance with her father. It's also a place to get loose and funky, if you're a guest or a member of your wedding party.

But what if your wedding planners decided to add some fun and surprise to the dance floor by adding fun activities there? This doesn't mean a rousing version of the "Bunny Hop", which, while maybe essential, is hardly unique.

There are, however, many fun games and activities you can add to your dance floor activities that are sure to be a hit.

Try a fun game of the "chicken dance". Ok, so that doesn't sound too original. But if most of your guests are just sitting at their tables, watching a few brave couples dancing, or just finishing their meals, you might want to get everyone up and having fun. Try this game.

The DJ announces a number. Everyone looks under his or her chair, where there is a number. Depending on the number of guests at the wedding, there might be only numbers "1" and "2" or more, up to 5.

So, say the Bay Area DJ announces number "4". Each person checks under their chair to see what their number is. These numbers can be written simply on a piece of masking tape and affixed to the underside of the chairs when the reception is being set up. Each "4" in this scenario will head to the dance floor to do the chicken dance with the other "4s". Not only does this get people out of their chairs and on to the dance floor, they get to know other wedding reception guests they might not otherwise know.

One Bay Area dance floor activity that's gaining popularity is to bring in a dance teacher for the wedding reception. As a kind of pre-dance activity, the teacher will quickly walk people through their paces on the dance floor, perhaps teaching a bit of the waltz or, for something completely different, a little bit of the tango, before the music officially begins and dancing commences.

Having a dance teacher do a bit of teaching not only livens up the reception right from the start, but it gets people out on the dance floor who might otherwise be too self-conscious normally to get out there and let it all hang out. And practically speaking, it will likely make the wedding guests feel more confident in their skills before the "official" dancing begins.

Another fun activity to get everyone on the dance floor, including even the most reticent, is something you can refer to as the "snowball" dance. This is a good way to jumpstart the dancing at the beginning of the evening.

Here's how the "snowball" dance works. The wedding party, bride and groom included, will head to the dance floor for a fun dance. The music for this dance should be fast, something with a disco beat or a fast song that most people have at least a passing familiarity with. After a bit of wedding party dancing, the music stops. The female members of the wedding party move into the crowd and bring back one male each. The male members of the wedding party do the same, but they bring in female guests. The dancing then begins again. This is repeated until all the guests are dancing. It's truly a snowball effect!

Bridesmaids Dresses For Your Bay Area Wedding

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:47:25 GMT

One of the biggest conflicts that happen when it comes to a Bay Area wedding is the one between a bride and her bridesmaids over the bridesmaids' dresses. To help brides with this problem, here are some tips on selecting bridesmaids' dresses.

Color: This is one thing that the bride should be able to choose. But when you are choosing your bridesmaids' wedding ceremony color, take into consideration your bridesmaids' coloring. Have a base color, but be willing to compromise on the shade. The other thing that some brides do is to have a rainbow color wedding.

Style: This is something that your bridesmaids should be allowed to help with in deciding. Try not to choose a style that is to garish or frilly. The best type of dress is the one that they can wear again to another formal dinner.

Remember, these dresses are dresses that your bridesmaids will be paying for, and they should be able to enjoy wearing them. So take that into consideration and choose a style and color that will make all your ladies happy.

You want to choose a style that will look good on all of your bridesmaids and that enhances their best features. When your bridesmaids wear the dresses that they like and they know they look good in, things will be a lot less stressful for everyone.

If you aren't sure what type of dress will work for everyone, talk to people at the bridal shops and they will assist you.

The American Wedding

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:51:27 GMT

Living in the United States makes us feel free - free to do anything, to live, to love, from traditions. While this is true, there are still many practices done during wedding that renders this memorable event with a distinct American touch. Here are some:

Starting from the engagement, Americans can think of many unique ways to personalize their wedding. As there really isn't any engagement tradition, the more unique the marriage proposal is done, the better.

For most wedding preparations, the engaged couple visits their parents to inform them of their recent engagement.

At times, the engaged couple hosts an engagement party. The engagement party costs less than a wedding reception since most of the time, the menu will only include cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Therefore, if the couple is on a tight budget, they can just invite more guests to the engagement party if they plan to limit the number of guests during the wedding.

Most wedding preparations have a bridal shower given by the maid of honor and the bridesmaids. The groom may also have a bachelor party the night before the wedding but he has to be careful not to drink too much.

Wedding invitations should include response cards to quickly inform the couple whether the person has accepted or declined the invitation. The wedding invitations should also be sent within four to six weeks before the event.

Usually, there is a rehearsal dinner in which the wedding party and guests came from far places to be present at the wedding attend. It was practiced that the groom's parents pay for this dinner.

A bridal luncheon may be hosted for the bride's attendants during the wedding day. However, time constraints may not permit this to be part of the schedule for the wedding day. Likewise, the groom may also host a groom's dinner for his groomsmen.

Interestingly, even if the couple is not very religious, they still prefer a religious ceremony. However, this may pose a problem since in America people of different faiths and religious backgrounds get married.

Even if there are few people who believe in bad luck, some couples still make sure that the groom does not see his bride until she starts waking on the aisle.

It is still practiced that the groom and his groomsmen enter the church through a side door. The bride will then walk down the aisle with her father. In some cases when both her father and stepfather brought up the bride, she may ask them both to escort her.

During a formal reception, there is usually a bridal table where the couple and the attendants sit. Also, food and drinks should be served as the guests appear at the reception.

Before, gift giving used to depend on what the guest will feel useful for the couple. Now, it is better to register for gifts so the guests will know what to bring that the couple will need.

Upon receiving an engagement or wedding gift, it is better to send a thank you note apart from saying "thank you" to the giver. This should be sent within two weeks upon receipt of the gift. Make a personalized thank you note, instead of using an impersonal generic thank you note.

These are just some American practices during weddings. Whether one chooses to this or prefers to have a very different wedding, what's more important is that American's still believe in the wedding vow, "For better or worse, 'til death do us part."

Choosing a Wedding Gown For Your Bay Area Wedding

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:47:42 GMT

One of the first things that comes to mind when your Bay Area wedding is being planned is the bride’s wedding gown, but there are so many wedding gowns available. How do you choose the one that is right for you?

There are a few things you can think about when you are looking for wedding gowns. These will help you to pick but the wedding gown that is right for you.

Time of year -

The fist thing to take into consideration is what time of year you will be getting married. This will help you to decide on what type of cloth, the length of your sleeves, and the length of your gown.

Your body type -

There are a couple of types of gowns that will work for all body types but you want to be sure that your gown makes you look the best that you can. A person at the bridal shop can help you select the dress that is right for you.

Your own style -

Think about what kinds of dresses you like, and that will also help you to find a good wedding dress. No matter if they are plain or fancy, every gown is beautiful.

It’s always a great idea to take your mother or another female relative or friend to help you choose your gown. It’s a great bonding experience and it’s always a good idea to have a second set of eyes.

Make Your Bay Area Wedding Unique

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 23:35:20 GMT

A perfect wedding isn’t only beautiful, it’s personal. It’s got carefully selected details that are meaningful to you and your fiancé. Here are some very simple ways to add your own subtle, unique touches to your ceremony and reception:

•Write your own Bay Area wedding vows. It doesn’t have to read like poetry; the important thing is that it comes from your own heart. Print it out on an index card and keep it handy during the ceremony.
•Compile a CD with songs that symbolize your relationship or how it evolved. Play this during your reception or even burn a copy and distribute as souvenirs. Insert a small piece of paper explaining why you chose those songs.
•Instead of tossing your bouquet, present it to your mother (or a dear friend or mentor) during your reception. You can also have an additional bouquet made for your groom to present his mother at the same time.
•Guests often have free time on their hands during their wedding reception. In the center of the table, place several pens and small pieces of paper in a pretty basket. Ask them to write their wishes, prayers, or advice for you and your fiancé. Compile in a scrapbook.
•Most Bay Area wedding reception programs revolve around the couple: friends give speeches. Do something for the guests. Make a video of you and your fiancé talking about the people who’ve taught you what true love means. Mention friends who’ve demonstrated real loyalty, or family members who made great sacrifices for you. Intersperse your video with their photos. This is your chance to say thank you to all of them.
•If you have a close friend or family member who passed away, make him or her part of the occasion by inserting a small photo in your bouquet, or lighting a tribute candle at the church ceremony.
•If you have ethnic roots, incorporate a marriage ritual from your culture into your wedding ceremony or perform it during your wedding reception.
•Wear an heirloom. For example, you can use your grandmother’s veil, or wear a locket that belongs to your mother. This is an excellent way of creating a sense of continuity between generations, celebrating your own family even as you go on to begin your own.
•Prepare an audio-video presentation that will be played during the last dance of the bride with the father. This can be just a simple montage of childhood photos. A guaranteed tear-jerker!
•If you have kids, help them feel like they’re part of the new family by asking them to stand next to you as you say your vows.
•Add little elements that say something about your relationship as a couple. For example, if you’re giving away picture frames, insert a poem that you wrote or a copy of your wedding vows. If you met at a beach (and would rather not have a beach-themed wedding) incorporate shells into your table centerpiece.

A Fairlytale Wedding

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:39:04 GMT

        The girl had always wanted her fairytale wedding, as a child in the By Area she and her sisters had talked about it often. The future husband riding up on his white horse, her arriving at the church in a carriage, the honeymoon in a castle in England, these were all details of her dream wedding. The white gown for her walk down the isle in, her little sister as the brides-maid and her older sister as the maid of honor, it all described the wedding of her dreams. The wedding would be held in the biggest church in the Bay Area, with hundreds of guests invited to celebrate with them, they even discussed the invitations they would send out. Every detail was often discussed by the little girls as they grew into young women.

        Working as often as possible when growing up, she saved towards the day when her fairytale wedding could come true. Every spare penny she earned went into saving for this special day. She was determined to make it happen, and worked towards her wedding dream.

        They met while riding the trails outside of town, his horse of course was white. There was an immediate attraction and she knew he was the one she would spend the rest of her life with. They spent the rest of the day together. Riding around and just talking. Later that day he asked if she would like to have dinner with him the next evening, she accepted and their romance began.

        He was as much of a romantic as she, constantly sending her flowers. They spoke everyday and spent as much time together as possible. Their love grew, and the young woman was excited about the prospect of their life together and when he asked her to marry him, she happily said yes.

        The wedding was planned for early June and was to be held in the biggest church in town. Everything she had talked about with her sisters when they were young, became a reality on her wedding day.

As the ceremony ended, the bride and groom made their way out of the church and there was something she had not planned. The groom had purchased thousands of beautiful white butterflies and they were being released as they made their exit from the church. It was like a cloud of soft feathery wings, and the perfect end to her fairytale wedding!

Choosing a DJ for Your Bay Area Wedding

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:23:12 GMT

Depending on what type of Bay Area wedding reception you will be having, you may be in need of a DJ so that your guests can dance to great music. Same as with a wedding photographer, you are going to want to do some research and find the DJ that will make your reception fun and go as smoothly as possible.

Ask friends and family who have had a Bay Area wedding will give you an honest opinion of the DJ that they have used, so talking to them is the first step that you should take.

If you have been to their Bay Area weddings personally, you will have had first hand experience. But there may have been things that you weren’t aware of that happened, so it’s always a good idea to ask them even if you were there.

Do interviews and talk to a few DJ's and tell them when your Bay Area wedding is. Let them know what kind of
music you want, and what your special dance songs are. This will ensure that they have time to get it before the big day if they don’t already have it.

You want to be sure that the person you choose as your DJ is personable and will ensure that everyone has a good time. They should have a lot of personality and be able to get people dancing. Be sure that you let them know exactly what kind of music you want at your Bay Area wedding, so that they are prepared.

Bay Area Beach Weddings

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:19:06 GMT

Beach weddings are very popular today. Couples would rather say their wedding vows beside the rolling ocean rather than at a church alter more and more frequently now days. It isn’t hard to see why.

There isn’t a more romantic place on earth than the seashore at sunset with the big round orange sun just above the horizon making the ocean glow with the its last rays. A gentle ocean breeze slightly lifting the bride's veil and gently tousling the groom's hair as they stand barefooted in the sand repeating their sacred wedding vows is as about as romantic as it can get.

There are a great many advantages to having a beach wedding. The most obvious being that it will cost a lot less. Another plus is there aren’t any rules about beach weddings so whatever you choose to do is ‘proper’. The guests don't have to sit in chairs or pews and can actually participate in the ceremony if you want them to.

Where there are pros there are always cons. It’s a rule, I think. You have to take the good with the bad and that is very true with beach weddings.

Beach weddings are highly dependent upon the mood of our dear 'Mother Nature' and she has been known to throw tantrums at the most inopportune times, such as your wedding day. It’s a good idea to always have an alternative wedding site arranged just in case things don't go as planned.

Candles and candle ceremonies are a bad idea for beach weddings. Those gentle ocean breezes aren’t conducive to keeping candles burning. Not even in coves that are better protected. Candles are very romantic but you will have to choose between having your wedding on the beach or having candle ceremonies included in your wedding.

Also, remember that there are bugs on the beach. Go prepared and don’t forget to provide chairs that won’t sink into the sand for your elderly guests.

Second Wedding Etiquette

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:34:07 GMT

        Wedding tradition and etiquette says that second weddings should be simple and casual versus a formal and extravagant to do. However, the number of second or encore wedding ceremonies is growing more and more each year. The simpler wedding ceremonies are created to celebrate two people who want to be a in a marriage with new partners.

        The biggest concern in planning your second Bay Area wedding is announcing it to your children. They should always be the first to be informed about your decision to remarry, since the marriage will combine already-established families. You can expect your children to be stressed by your decision and they will probably need a certain amount of time to accept the situation. Both of your parents should be the next to be informed and then the respective ex’s. The ex-wife or ex-husband should make an effort to reassure the children about their roles in the new family. Engagement rings from the past should not be worn anymore based on second wedding etiquette. All signs of previous relationships should be taken away once planning for the wedding and announcements are made. A second marriage can be announced informally such as advertising it in the newspaper, making e-mails and phone calls. Under second wedding etiquette, the couple does not have to host an engagement party but a small get together is appropriate to announce the special news.

        Just about anybody can attend your second wedding. However, in observance of second wedding etiquette you probably should not invite exes or their families as to avoid awkwardness, even if you all get along well. If you do invite them, it is only as a courtesy and they should politely decline the invitation. The bride and groom should calculate a realistic budget for the wedding. This is a rare chance to again have the wedding of your dreams, it could be elegant, extravagant and intimate.

        Second weddings are normally made in civil ceremonies but they can also be done as a religious ceremony. There are many ways to make the ceremony feel intimate and special. Writing your own vows is common among second weddings and there are many books on the subject. The children can be assigned to do an important part of the ceremony in order to foster unity and show acceptance. They can escort you while walking the aisle, read passages from the bible or serve as attendants in the event. The closest family members and friends of the new couple can walk down the aisle if that is what you want.

        Bridal showers for encore brides are normally but this need to adhere with second wedding etiquette rules.

- Only guests should be invited
- Club, Office and school showers can also be done and can be attende by other not on the official guest list. However, those that attended the bride’s first wedding should not participate.

        Guest should make they register. Some guests will have the uncontrollable urge to give something even if the couple does not want gifts. It’s also acceptable for encore couples to sign in the gift registry.

Wedding Gift Ideas for Second Marriages
Gift certificates—restaurants, spas, stores
DVD player and DVDs
Charity Donatios
Coffee maker, pasta maker, cook books

        The reception of a second wedding may be extravagant or simple depending on the taste of the couple. The bride and gross will be first at the line and followed by their children. The traditional garter and bridal bouquet toss are optional.

Not Necessary In A Second Marriage

Rehearsal Dinner
Attendants
Accompanying the bride down the aisle
Procession

Advisable
- Make a gift registry even if you don’t want gifts.
- The children should have responsibilities in the ceremony.
- Customize and personalize the wedding and reception.

Please Avoid
- Doing the same things in like your first wedding.
- Wearing a similar wedding dress.
- Marry in the exact spot of your first wedding.
- Use old rings from a past marriage.
- Criticizing former spouses

Optional

- Showers
- Engagement Party
- Announcement in the newspaper
- Rehearsal Dinner
- A laving wedding with attendants
- Parents walking down the aisle
- A different color for the wedding dress instead of white

Your Bay Area Wedding's Most Important Little Girl

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:38:43 GMT

The excitement and enthusiasm that a little flower girl expends can wear an adult out fast, during the extended process of planning a wedding, their excitement can even get to the most patient of people!

You chose the flower girl because she always acted like a little angel, polite, considerate and always clean. With her perky curls, and big, beautiful eyes she even looked the part. All the ladies helping you plan the wedding felt it would be a real plus not to have to worry about her getting dirty just before she walks down the isle.

She practiced her walk, and they told her that on the day of the wedding she would be expected to carry a basket of flower petals, and sprinkle them in front of the bride for her to walk down. The little flower girl was thrilled at the idea asking so many questions, it nearly drove anyone who tried to keep up with her crazy.

She was taken to buy a new dress, shoes, and all the other wonderfully beautiful things a little flower girl gets to wear when she's in a wedding. She felt so much like one of the adults, and wanted to her best job in giving the bride flower petals to walk on.

On the day of your wedding, she dressed in her beautiful clothes, put on her new shoes, and with flowers in her hair your little flower girl patiently waited to do her part. Just before they started the wedding ceremony she was handed a woven basket full of beautiful flower petals to sprinkle down the isle. As she took her first step, she took out a handful of flower petals and threw them down, it was beautiful and she was thrilled, she continued this until she was almost at the alter and ran out of petals. What to do now? She soon decided that she must have put too many down somewhere else along her exciting walk and so going back, she began to gather them up. Shortly she returned back to the alter with a job complete and a proud smile on her face. Behind her there were beautiful petals for the bride to walk on right up to the alter.