Finding perfect music for your wedding is probably taking as much time as deciding on the right flowers. With literally thousands of songs you could choose from, how could you be expected to find “the one” that says it all for each part of the ceremony? There are the traditional processional songs such as “Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride) from Lohengrin” and “Canon in D” by Johann Pachelbel, two of the world’s most played wedding songs.  For the recessional song, which is commonly less traditional and meant to reflect the personality of the bride and groom, you could play anything from “Wedding March from A Midsummer’s Night Dream” by Felix Mendelssohn to the “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor.

After the recessional, the first dance is your moment to declare the bond between you.  Searching through song after song trying to find the perfect lyrics can be maddening. There are sites to help you whittle down your decision such as “Wedding Music 101” which has a diverse listing of choices. But what do you do when you still cannot find the right one? You could consider writing your own song. Your words set to a new theme being played for the first time during your first dance. This may seem an intimidating task for most of us; thankfully there are professionals with the talent to help. One such group is the folks at “Love Song Entertainment”. They can write an original custom love song that will convey your love to one another that is truly your own.

Music has always been at the heart of celebrations, but deciding on the perfect song that says it all can be a daunting task. Tradition may be the best path to follow for the ceremony, but afterwards it is time to celebrate with your words. Start your life together expressing your love with a unique song that is all your own!

Do you have a wedding cost-cutting tip to help other brides? Share the love: Leave us a comment!

1. Think off season. Most weddings are scheduled between May and October, meaning you are competing with more brides for venues and wedding services. Schedule your wedding day during the “off season,” and you’ll probably find better deals (and get the venue, photographer and cake you want).

2. Be strict with your head count. Omit children, co-workers and casual acquaintances, and your guest numbers will shrink. Also, a smaller wedding party equals smaller amount of your budget going to flowers, boutonnieres, gifts and transportation.

3. Have your wedding earlier in the day. Your food and beverage costs will be lower with a morning brunch than an evening dinner.

4. Wear a non-bridal gown.Your wedding gown doesn’t have to come from a bridal salon. Look at bridesmaid dresses, check out the formal wear at department stores. You may even find the wedding dress of your dreams at a vintage clothing store.

5. Ask a friend or family member to officiate. Consider having someone you know officiate your wedding. Laypeople can be ordained online to officiate weddings, and most of the states will recognize them. Check with your county clerk to see if there are restrictions in your area.

6. Skip the wedding program. Sure, wedding programs are nice, but they’re not necessary. Skip the program and you’ll cut down on your printing costs.

7. Buy in-season, local flowers. Work with your florist to select beautiful, cost effective flowers.

8. Go for the big buds.Larger flowers take up more room in bouquets and centerpieces, so you’ll use less.

9. Use the theme to your advantage. Apply the theme to your food and beverages and you can avoid an outrageous tab –– and the guests will never notice. For example, at an Italian-themed wedding, serve only red and white wine and perhaps an Italian beer such as Peroni at the bar.

10. Be a Friday or Sunday Bride. As you research your wedding and reception venues, note price differences between Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Saturday will always be more expensive.

11. Pick bridal shoes you’ll wear again. You can add a dash of color to your wedding wardrobe, and be able to enjoy the shoes again after the wedding instead of putting the shoes away in a box.

12. Use your iPod. More music-savvy couples are providing their own music at wedding receptions through their well-stocked iPods.

13. Borrow jewelry. Your mother’s earrings or your grandmother’s necklace may be the perfect touch to your wedding gown. Grooms can borrow, too.

14. Limit cocktail choices. Carefully choose your cocktail menu — offer select beers, wines and a signature cocktail –– and watch your bar tab shrink.

15. BYOB. If the venue will allow it, bring your own alcohol (you, not your guests).

16. Just desserts. Skip the wedding cake (and the cake-cutting fee) and offer a dessert bar. Have the ceremonial slice-and-feed-each-other moment, then invite your guests to come up and have dessert. This works with cupcakes, too.

17. Eschew the limo. Hire a town car, ask a member of the party to drive you, take a cab, walk. Limo companies often charge newly weds more than other customers.

18. Ask for help. You never what hidden talents your family and friends have that will work to your wedding-day advantage.

19. Look for a pre-owned gown. Shop online for gently used, or never worn, designer dresses.

20. Give something made by you. Make your own party favors.

21. Have a one-stop wedding. Host the wedding and the reception in the same spot. You’ll cut down on transportation costs, vendor travel time and space rental.

22. Use bigger tables. Larger tables at the reception mean fewer centerpieces and linens.

23. Register your honeymoon. Instead of registering for kitchenware and China, ask guest to contribute to your honeymoon. Sites such as honeyfund.com allow you to create an online account and guests to contribute.

24. Skip the champagne toast. Not everyone drinks the bubbly and you’re paying for it. Do, however, consider having it available at the bar in case someone does want a glass.

25. Get the most out of your flowers. Use ceremony flowers on the cake table. Have vases at your table and the wedding-party table so that the bouquets make instant center pieces.

26. It’s all in the family. Consider serving your meal family style.

27. Use double-duty centerpieces. Use bud vases or potted plants as your center pieces, then have the guests take them home as favors.

28. Go green. Use more greenery than blooms in your flowers. And if you’re getting married in a church, just remember the that it doesn’t need to adorned from door to altar with flowers.

29. Loose the invitation liner. Skip the liner on your invitation and, if you can, keep all of the info on one card. This will save on paper and postage costs.

30. Celebrate in ambiance. Look for locations that require minimal decorations.

31. Get the quote in writing –– and signed. If you are planning far in advance, ask for fixed prices, get it in writing and get it signed.

32. Post it. Use postcards as reply cards in your wedding invitations instead of cards that require envelopes. You’ll save on postage.

33. Ask for a discount. When purchasing craft supplies, vases or candle holders in bulk, ask the manager if you can get a discount. It may not always work, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

34. Go custom. Consider having your dress custom made by an experienced, local seamstress.

Image: Sharron Goodyear / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

One of the details the two of you (yes, get your fiance involved) need to figure out is: What song will be “The One” for your first dance? You can choose a time-honored classic from the Big Band Era, your song (if you have one) or a favorite song that you both love. But if you haven’t decided, check out the “Make-out Mix” from NPR’s All Songs Considered.

The eclectic mix includes classical music, jazz, indie rock, alt country, artists you’ve always loved and ones you’ve never heard before but are going to fall in love with. And who knows, you may not only find your first dance, but also the song you walk down the aisel to.

P.S. This wasn’t going to be a Valentine’s Day post, but since Valentine’s Day is coming up this weekend, play the stream and test the make-out-ability for yourself!

source: klicknation.com

Don’t let the holidays get in the way of your wedding planning. Join I Do for Brides on January 10, 2010 at the Bridal Extravaganza of Atlanta at Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia.

Stop by and say hello to the I Do team. We would love to meet you. And while you’re visiting, pick up copies of I Do for Brides magazine and enter to win a customized, Naked Peggies cake topper from artist Suzy Bridgham.

Naked Peggies! These customized wedding-cake toppers are just too stinking cute!

Here’s what else you can expect from the show:

• Couture wedding fashion shows.
• More than 100 wedding professionals.
• Themed wedding galleries.
• Informational seminars.
• A wedding-cake gallery.
• A bouquet gallery.
• A Honeymoon and Destination Wedding Expo.
• The chance to win a $25,000 wedding-shopping spree.
• The chance to win a romantic honeymoon.

Show details:

When: January 10, 2010
Time: Noon – 5 pm
Where: Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia
Tickets: $8 online, $10 day of show.

Sign up today!

See you at the show!

by Neal Freed, owner, Freed Photography
(originally published in the Spring 2008 issue of I Do for Brides)

Look your best on your wedding day with advice from a wedding photographer.

Strike a glamorous pose for your wedding pictures.

Don’t Stand Flat-Footed

It’s only when we get nervous that we tend to “stand at attention.” This causes the stiff look that you probably dislike in pictures. If you gently bend your front knee, your weight will naturally shift towards your back leg. This will lower your back hip and raise your front shoulder, giving you a more natural, curvy look.

Don’t Slouch

Everyone wants to look long and lean, but it’s impossible to do if you’re slouching, which is easy to do on your wedding day when you have the dress, veil, train and bouquet weighing you down. When you slouch, you tend to look shorter and wider. Standing straight makes you look taller and thinner. Try to remind yourself periodically to stand tall.

Keep the Bouquet Small

Your bouquet should be an accent to you and your gown. If the bouquet is too wide, it will make you look heavy. When held, the bouquet should fit inside of your hips. If you look down when holding your bouquet, you should see your hands, not the bouquet. If you can see the bouquet, it means it will be pointing up in the photographs.

Relax Your Shoulders

Often, when we think to stand up straight, we automatically raise our shoulders as well. This shortens the neck and makes you look nervous. When you stand straight, remember to relax your shoulders as well.

Hold your Flowers Correctly

The bouquet should typically be held at belly button height. This will lower your shoulders, reveal your bodice and allow your arms to naturally fall at a visually pleasing, slenderizing, 45-degree angle.

Wear Proper Makeup

The nature of photography tends to accentuate any oil or imperfections on your skin. We recommend that all brides wear makeup on their wedding days, even if they typically don’t wear it. Use a little more than you might normally, with more definition around your eyes. If you can afford it, a professional makeup artist can help you achieve the most flattering look.

Lower Your Chin, Accentuate Your Eyes

The magic of a portrait is in your eyes. For a variety of reasons, many brides are reluctant to lower their chins. If you tilt your chin back, you will accentuate it and narrow your eyes. Slightly lowering your chin will widen and accentuate your eyes.

Hire a Knowledgeable Photographer

If your budget will allow, you may want to consider hiring a photographer who has training in people, facial analysis and composition. Photographers are not magicians, and we can’t make you look half your size. But at the same time, you don’t want someone making you look twice as big. Facial analysis, positioning, lighting patterns, lens selection, camera height and many other factors come into play when making you look your best.

Gown: Pricilla of Boston, Vineyard Collection, provided by Terri Lynn Bridal in Bethesda, Md.

Bridesmaids, if you are looking for a gift for your lady on her special day, something that is thoughtful yet advantageous, elegant yet functional, then a chic bagged toolkit is the perfect solution.

While many companies have comparable toolkits that are efficient and effective, the Mojuba wedding bag has all the essentials to take care of last-minute mishaps and forgotten details. And its elegant and sophisticated carrier makes for easy traveling and reuse for post-wedding travel.

The Mojuba Bride bag unfolds to reveal item after item, some essential others indulgent. Here’s a list of a few of the 36 items collected in the Mojuba Bride bag:

Madame Paulette™ couture stain removal kit
BugCatcherz™ fashion tape to keep clothes in place
L’Occitane® hand cream
Little i® breath-freshening mints or gum
Dancin’ Feet™ to cushion sore fee
Ms. Manicure™ nail files
La Fresh® hand sanitizer wipe
Scope® mouthwas
Advil® and Pepcid Complete
Static Guard® and Krazy Glue®

When looking for gifts and favors for the gals that attending your lingerie and bachelorette parties, you want to be tasteful without getting too serious. The “Sweet Seduction” mirror compacts from Angelo Gifts are fun and fantasy. They make a sweet gift or favor as a token of your appreciation to the friends and family who were able to make your pre-wedding party. Plus, the compacts will be used for years to come, evoking memories from such a special time with you and your friends.

Available bulk or singles, the compacts are 2 1/4″ in diameter and come packaged in a gift box with acetate cover and satin ribbon. Angelo Gifts also carries matching lingerie and cosmetic bags, along with hundreds of other fabulous bridal shower gift and favor ideas.