Bridal Expos

Bridal exhibitions are the most convenient way to gather ideas for your wedding.
Everything you need is under one roof and quite often there is a bridal fashion show, showcasing beautiful wedding gowns. I find these fashion shows very popular with brides to be.
I do recommend to attend with a friend, husband to be or someone who is helping to organise the wedding.
The best thing to do at a bridal expo is to gather as much information as you can by way of brochures, business cards and also talking to the exhibitor.

There is a bridal expo coming up in April. It is the weddinglinks bridal expo at Twin Towns. These expos are always popular.
Click on this link for more information and to also register online for half price entry

Choosing A Marriage Celebrant

When i was getting married, i found it really difficult in what to look for when searching for a celebrant. So i thought i would share with you my own few tips that helped me.

This is only a brief description.

What to look for:

Appearance
Are they presented well, look professional.

Passion
Do they show a genuine interest in making your day special.

Background
What sort of training and qualifications.

Competance
Are they well organised.

Cost
How much and what is included.

I recommend to pick a few celebrants and interview them.
Consider whether you feel comfortable with the celebrant and can you both communicate easily with him/her.

The Wedding Links online wedding directory is really useful.

Visit this directory on celebrants http://www.weddinglinks.com.au/search.asp?action=search

Wedding Etiquette For Brides

I came across this article on Wedding Etiquette for Brides.
Emily Post is the well known Miss Manners on Wedding Etiquette.

Here are a few tips which would help all brides out there to follow as per Wedding Etiquette.

# 1. The wedding gown:-
According to Miss Manners, the modern day Wedding Etiquette is not all that stern. Brides of today do not have to stick to the traditional ultra white, crème and beige wedding gowns. They can rather experiment with their favorite pastels or even with any color which would go along with the theme especially in case of a Destination wedding. An aquamarine or turquoise colored gown to match the fresh sea water is a great option in case of a beach wedding.

It is more important that you select a dress which would compliment your skin tone and the one which would, at the same time, accentuate your curves in the best way possible.


#2. The shoes:-
Ankle strap and open toed wedding shoes are allowed by Wedding Etiquette say, Miss Manners and white is no more the indispensable color for the wedding shoe. Crème, beige, ivory or even a red colored shoe can be worn to go with a wedding gown in ultra white.

In this regard, comfort and style score high. Miss Manners say, less ornamented shoes are most preferred, though rhinestones do not confront Wedding Etiquette in any way.


#3. Announcement of the engagement:-
For the first time brides, the most economic and simple way to announce the engagement to close friends and family is during a dinner. However, in case you are ready to burn a hole in your pocket, an engagement party can be hosted specially for this purpose or an announcement can be made for the same in newspapers, say Miss Manners.

Miss Manners suggest second time brides to speak to their kids before making an announcement in public. Secondly, it is necessary to discuss about the plans to their parents prior to their ex-spouse. Wedding Etiquette is, however, not breached if the bride, who may not have an offspring from her ex-spouse, has neglected to tell him about the engagement. Unless the bride has joint custody of children with her ex-spouse, she is completely free from any kind of obligation towards him.


#4. Who are to be invited?
In the opinion of Miss Manners, it is totally in the hands of the hosts of the wedding to actually decide who are to be invited and who can be avoided or neglected. However, the parents can have a say, in case they host the wedding jointly. In general, it is the bridegroom and the bride who decide who are to be invited, as it is the day of their lives.

The bride’s father cannot invite the ex-guy or ex-spouse of the bride, who may be his best employee, if the bride and/or groom are not fine with it, though he might be the one who has hosted the wedding.

#5. Cash gifts and wedding registry:-
Cash gifts are a complete no-no as stated by Miss Manners. It is one of the greatest errors of Wedding Etiquette. Miss Manners also say that asking for a cash gift would make the groom and the bride look materialistic. Miss Manners is not in favor of persistence of cash gifts even if it is for the purpose of charity.

Wedding registry cards are fine with Miss Manners though they should not be enclosed with the invitation. Online registry is an enhanced option to inform guests who would like to gift according to the couple’s wish lists.

By following this, Wedding Etiquette is conserved and it would also present a pretty picture of the bride and groom, rather than presenting them as pushy people.

For more wedding ideas, take a look at http://www.weddinglinks.com.au/

Tips for Children at Weddings

Inviting children to take part in your celebration can make it even more special. However, the last thing you want to worry about is your flower girl and page boy becoming impatient, restless or fidgety on the day of the wedding. Here are some helpful tips to ensure that the day goes smoothly...see www.weddinglinks.com.au for some more ideas.

1. As a general rule, when choosing children to take part in your wedding as a flower girl or page boy, it is usually best (or at least more predictable) to have children ages four and above. Now, of course, each child is different and you'll want to consider their personality (very shy vs. outgoing) and maturity level as well.

2. In the weeks before the wedding day, talk to your flower girl and page boy about the events that will take place before and throughout the wedding day. Explain what they will wear, where they will go and what they will have to do. The better young attendants can visualize their role in the wedding, the better prepared they will be to cooperate and participate as you would like them to.

3. Choose outfits for the flower girl and page boy that are comfortable. Choose comfortable fabrics - ones that don't scratch or irritate the skin. Be sure the children wear comfortable shoes, and if the shoes are new - that they have a chance to "break them in" prior to the wedding day.

4. Purchase some books - there are some wonderful books that not only inform flower girls and page boy of their role in the wedding, but also welcome and celebrate them as a very special part of the bridal party.

5. Invite all of your young attendants and their parents to the rehearsal. Let the children practice walking down the aisle several times so that they will feel more comfortable of their role on the "big day".

6. Make sure that the children know exactly where their parents will be seated during the ceremony. Depending on the length and style of the ceremony, you may want the children to go and sit with their parents during the ceremony

7. The parents of the flower girl and page boy should be invited to the rehearsal dinner. However, many rehearsal dinners can go as late as 10:00 or even later. Therefore, it is recommended that the children not attend the dinner. Talk with the parents to see if a babysitter could be arranged ahead of time.

8. Ask the parents of your flower girl and page boy to make sure their children are well rested before the wedding. A good night's sleep the night before, or even a nap the day of, can help little ones get through the day.

9. Assign a bridesmaid to each child in the bridal party. Have each of your secret helpers keep a goody bag handy. Fill it with nutritious treats (dry cereal, crackers, carrot sticks), crayons and paper, a bottle of water and small travel games. These kid supplies will come in handy while traveling from the church to the reception, while waiting for photographs to be taken, or during the reception.

10. Take pictures with the flower girl and page boy as early in the day as possible -preferably before the ceremony. Then, there is less chance that their outfits could get dirty, torn, wrinkled... you know how kids are!

11. Be sure to express your heartfelt appreciation to the children in your bridal party. Photographs make a cherished gift for flower girls and ring bearers of all ages. They will enjoy reflecting on pictures of themselves and remembering the special role they played in your wedding.

12. Kids are unpredictable! All the practice and preparation in the world does not mean that they will perform their role "flawlessly". Don't expect perfection. Remember, if it doesn't go just as planned, it will make for entertaining clips in your wedding video.

Bridal Showers

A bridal shower is one of those parties that are fun and practical at the same time. The obvious reason for a shower is to give things to the future married couple that will help them establish a home together. But the underlying reason for a bridal shower is that it's a nice occasion for the close family and friends of the bride to spend relaxed time with her before the big wedding day. It's a time for sharing funny stories, for relatives to give advice to the bride, and for friends to show their support. The bride is the princess of the day, so be sure that in your planning you don't do anything that will make her feel uncomfortable.

The event is usually held within two months of the wedding, up to two weeks before the big day.

For some more ideas and tips go to this link http://www.weddinglinks.com.au/news454/Bridal-Showers/

Bridal Expo

I went to this wedding expo in January and found it really helpful. There were a lot of stalls and i got a lot of information. The fashion show was great. I plan to go to the next one again as i am still deciding on a venue. If you go to this website www.weddinglinks.com.au you can register with them to attend the next expo and get half price off the entry.

Makeup & Beauty for Weddings

It's the day you've been planning for months – if not your whole life – and along with Mr. Right you've found the perfect dress, the flowers and the venue. Now it is time to set your mind how you will look on the day. So what are the tips for creating wedding day make-up?

Where to Begin…
The first thing to get right is your skin and eyebrows… a series of facials in the run up to your wedding (that is if you don't already have regular facials). Start a few months before as it is common for your skin to break out and get worse before it gets better after a facial if you haven't had one for a long time. (Something to do with getting all the impurities out) Treat yourself to one a month for 3 months before the big day…your last one at least a few days before your wedding, to give your skin time to settle down. Eyebrows should be shaped the day before if possible.
Your Trial
Find a makeup artist at least three months before the big day. Your initial consultation and make-up trial will probably take longer than on the day. The make-up artist will make an assessment of your skin tone and select the most flattering colours for you (make sure you speak up if you're not happy with the choices!).
If you don't feel comfortable with the first make-up artist you trial, shop around until you find the right person for you. A good make-up artist should be someone you can trust to create the look you want.
On your wedding morning, be the first in the make-up chair – not the last, after the bridal party had their make-up applied. You don't want to be rush.
If you plan to apply your own bridal make-up, invest in some good quality brushes for a professional finish and practice, practice, practice!
Visit some make-up counters with your girlfriend's months before the wedding, and have a bridal make-up test done. Take some products home and spend the evening trying them on, take some photos and offer each other your honest opinions.
Styles come and go. Avoid make-up trends on your wedding day and aim for a timeless, classic face.
It's crucial that your foundation perfectly matches your skin tone. Australian girls often have white faces and brown bodies! Match your foundation to your décolletage rather than your face.
Waterproof mascara is a must, and false eyelashes, properly applied, look sensational.
Take some spare lipstick with you on the wedding day. And don't forget to freshen up a little before the reception.

I suggest to look at http://weddinglinks.com.au/mem32536/Faces-of-Kerry-Bradbery.html for some great ideas.

Tip: Tuck a tissue down the bustline of your dress or up your sleeve... just in case!