Planning A Renaissance Themed Wedding

One of the most romantic weddings you can plan is a Renaissance themed wedding reception. Many children envision a Fairy Tale Wedding and these themed ceremonies can fulfill those childhood fantasies. There are many places across the nation that host such wedding receptions and it will surely be a reception that your guests will be talking about for years to come.

First of all you must find a venue to host your wedding and the first place to look is going to be places that host Renaissance Fairs. These theme parks often host this type of wedding and offer themed atmospheres complete with wench servants and medieval style catering to add that authentic feel to your reception.

There are several large theme parks across the nation. One of the biggest and best theme parks is going to be the Texas Renaissance Festival located in Plantersville, Texas just North of Houston. They offer all amenities and even provide the wedding cake.

Another venue is The Kansas City Renaissance Festival. At this venue your union is announced while you march in the King's Parade along with King Henry the 8th and Queen Anne. The ceremony takes place in the Chapel of Blessed Mercy which is a replica of a 16th century chapel in Canterbury, England.

Another great venue that hosts these themed weddings is the Connecticut Renaissance Faire. This venue hosts the ceremony in a beautiful scenic area in the faire set aside exclusively for weddings which gives the truly romantic medieval setting for your union. The ceremony can be roped off for only your guests or it can be open to other faire patrons who gladly watch from the sidelines enjoying the festivities.

Next comes the fun part; picking out your wedding dress. Most Renaissance wedding dresses are beautiful flowing gowns with flowery wreaths and sometimes colorful hats with flowing veils reminiscent of a fairy princess. Another flair could be the medieval dress with leather bodice and a cloak with a hood. You can also decide on whether you want to dress like peasants or Royalty, but the look of Royalty is always more flashy and gives more of a sense of awe. A Scottish style dress can be very attractive as well and most feature a flowing white dress underneath with a plaid layered dress over the top.

Dressing the groom can also be a fun part of planning the reception and there are many styles to choose from but the style should of course match the bride, whether the theme is peasant, nobility, Scottish or royalty.

When planning your Renaissance wedding, the surest way to guarantee the atmosphere you're looking for as well as making it easy to plan catering is to use one of the local Renaissance Faire Theme parks that handle all the amenities. Then all that is left is deciding on attire and you are on the road to fulfilling your childhood dreams of the ultimate Fairy Tale Wedding!

Where To Buy Your Wedding Dress

The first things brides-to-be do when they get engaged is think about the wedding dress. We all want to look breathtaking on our wedding day and the dress seems to be the most important factor. There are so many options, styles and different prizes when it comes to Wedding Dresses & Bridal Gowns and it can be very overwhelming in the beginning. It is therefore very important to ask yourself a few questions before running to the nearest boutique.

The theme, style, season and venue will play a big role in the selection of your dress.

Another thing to decide on is whether you're going to buy your dress in a Bridal Boutique or Online. A few years ago, there wasn't even an option, as it was very risky to buy a wedding dress online. But not everyone lives in a big city with a lot of dress options and buying online has never been easier.
Buying a dress in a Boutique:

Advantages:

* Professional help fitting the dress: Bridal Boutiques usually have qualified people that work with brides everyday. They know body types and what would suite your figure the best.
* Fit your favorite dresses: In a boutique, you’ll be able to try on a few dresses, which will give you a good idea of what style of dress fits you best.
* Get good help and advise about your Accessories: When you buy a dress in a boutique, you can be sure to get the best advise about your bridal accessories and lingerie. They will know all the secrets about good undergarments and can give you ideas for your jewelry, veil and tiara. Most of the time you can even buy these accessories at the same boutique.

Disadvantages:

* Pay to try on a few dresses: Most of the time, you will have to pay an amount to fit a few dresses. And there is usually a 3-5 fit limit per appointment.
* Expensive choice: Dresses bought in a Bridal Boutique can be much more expensive than the ones you get online.
* View and fit only with an appointment: You will have to make an appointment to fit wedding dresses. You sometimes need an appointment just to enter the premises. The working brides-to-be will have to make appointments for the weekends which are also their busiest time.
* You might miss out on the dress of your dreams: It can be very overwhelming to see rows and rows of dresses on hangers. It is very difficult to brows through gown pressed together on a rail and then imagining your body in them.

Buying a wedding dress Online:

Advantages:

* Save hundreds of dollars: Online Wedding dresses are usually a lot cheaper to buy. You can sometimes buy two or three dresses online for the prize of one boutique dress.
* Variety: You can see a huge variety with the click of a button.
* Any time or day: You can go online and view or buy a dress any time or day and the delivery time is usually quick.
* Real picture of the dress: You can see the dress on an actual person, even though it’s just a photo.
* Exchange and Alterations: Most of the online stores will give you the opportunity to exchange or make alterations if you are not satisfied.

Disadvantages:

* Quality risk: You can’t always get an accurate idea of the quality of the dress and the fabric it’s made of from just viewing it on your computer.

Wedding Favour Bags – 5 Ideas For Filling Wedding Favour Bags On A Budget

Wedding favour bags are available in an array of colours, styles and materials. They can look really great on a wedding table and can add a touch of colour to compliment your wedding theme and your choice of wedding table decorations. They are also a great option if you are on a tight budget, but still want to provide wedding favours for your guests that will look elegant. So if you have decided to use wedding favour bags, you just need to decide what to fill them with! I have outlined some ideas for you in this article that might just provide a little inspiration.

Idea 1

Confectionery – There are many options to choose from including the traditional sugared almonds, chocolate truffles , candy coated chocolate hearts, retro sweets, jelly beans and more. Organza bags can be easily filled with the confectionary of your choice and you can also easily provide separate favours for adults and children.

Idea 2

Miniature Drinks – You may choose to provide a miniature bottle of Bailey’s, Brandy, Whiskey or indeed another tipple of your choice for your guests and present them in wedding favour bags.

Idea 3

Candles – small votive candles or floating candles can be nicely presented in wedding favour bags. You can always add a little confetti or some crystals to your bag for added impact.

Idea 4

Homemade Cookies – If you are a whizz in the kitchen or better still if you can find a volunteer who is, you could provide a little bag of miniature biscuits or cookies for your guests. You could choose a traditional shortbread and if you really want to make it special, you can use a heart shaped cookie cutter to shape your cookies and you can dip half the cookie in chocolate. Another idea would be to create Bride and Groom Gingerbread figures.

Idea 5

You could create a small scroll with a poem, a quote or perhaps the story of how you met. Whether you choose a style that will bring a tear to your guest’s eyes or a smile to their faces is up to you. You might also like to add one of the above items to the bag also.

There are many, many items you can use to fill wedding favour bags as gifts for your guests. The above is just a small sample of what you can use. The great advantage of using wedding favour bags is that they are budget friendly, easy to assemble, versatile and they will even multitask as both gifts for your guest and wedding table decorations.

Wedding Gifts

The wedding gifts that you give your guests and bridal party
are more important than the gifts that you get at your wedding. People are taking time out of their lives to come celebrate with you or be a part of your big day, and you need to thank them for that. Of course, what types of gifts you choose will depend greatly on who you are giving the gifts to and how much you have to spend on those gifts. You should consider high-end gifts for the bridal party, and nice affordable gifts to use as party favors for your guests. Forget bubbles and mints, because there are tons of other ideas for gifts that will suit your needs much better and appear less over-done.

Gifts for your guests could include anything from customized stemware to personalized towel cakes, which are cakes that are made completely from towels. In favor form, these are usually ‘slices’ of cake or cupcakes, and they can be a cute idea to thank people and help to commemorate your big day. Keep in mind that you should find things that are useful and that people won’t just toss out because they are taking up space, or toss in a drawer somewhere and forget about. There are so many different favors and gifts to choose from, and you can find many ideas online that you might not have thought of on your own.

Choosing wedding gifts and favors might seem like the least of your worries. While it is less significant than other aspects of your wedding planning, it is still something that you need to take seriously because this will make an impact on your guests. If you don’t show them how much you appreciate them by getting nice wedding favors, you will likely make a bad impression. You don’t want to do that. After all, these are the people who took time out of their lives to come together and help celebrate your big day. They deserve a little thanks for that, to say the least.

Choosing the best favors and gifts might seem difficult, because you want to get nice things without spending a fortune. However, you should have very little trouble finding the best wedding favors for your needs, and you might even be surprised at the budget-friendly prices that you’ll often find. Whether you want fun wedding gifts or something more high-class, you can find just about anything if you take the time to look.

Top Tips For Choosing An Emerald Engagement Ring

There are many unique and beautiful rings available when a person is planning a marriage. Choosing the perfect ring can be difficult when you are trying to find the ring that will reflect your personality and style. The emerald engagement ring is a unique and beautiful stone, that will is the perfect tool for giving you a distinct and signature look throughout your married life.

There are many types of engagement rings made. Some of these rings are designed to incorporate different gemstones including diamonds, emeralds, and rubies. An individual who is looking for a unique ring will often find that a unique style and can be difficult. One reason, it is that many rings are designed and manufactured en masse and are not intrinsically unique.

Having a ring created and designed by an artist with a distinct eye for creativity, will give you an opportunity to select the perfect engagement ring to complement your relationship. The size of the ring may vary, and may be dependent on the budget of the person purchasing it. However, when a person decides to select a ring that is unique, beautiful, and unusual, they often find that getting an affordable ring is much easier than they anticipated.

The characteristics of the emerald engagement ring, give a classic elegance to any style. A person who wants a modern design in their weddings set, will find that the emerald is a beautiful stone that complements modern or classic designs.

When choosing the design of your ring, it will be important to take into consideration how you normally wear rings. If you are an individual who works with their hands, or might get their ring caught on equipment, clothing, or other items, a ring that has an inset stone will be a more viable choice.

Some people select rings that have a solitary stone, set high on the band. These rings, while beautiful, often get caught on clothing or other objects if a person works in an industry where they will be using their hands. Having an inlaid emerald placed in a ring protects prongs holding the ring, and gives it an added layer of protection from damage.

In many cases the emerald will be paired with another stone such as a diamond, which can create a fabulous setting when it is attached to a wedding ring. In many cases, people will incorporate the emerald in both the engagement ring and wedding band to create a seamless and continuous look in the entire set.

When you are looking for an emerald engagement ring that is reflects your personality and style, it will be important to talk to a professional jeweler who has the knowledge and expertise needed to provide you with information that will be important in your selection process. You decision will include your requirements for wearing the ring, the style of the ring and the design that you want your ring to embody.

In many cases when a person selects an emerald ring, it is because they have an affinity for the beautiful rich color that is captured in this marvelous stone. Creating a themed wedding around the color of a an engagement ring makes it very easy to utilize this wonderful color with one that complements it. By pairing the emerald green with another color, the result can be a spectacular display at a wedding event.

When making the purchase of the ring, it is always a good idea to simultaneously purchase ear rings, bracelets, and other accessories cut from the same stone or from the same location. This creation of a timeless keepsake makes the entire set a valuable memory that can be passed on through generations.

Emeralds are cut in much the same way as diamonds. This stone is comparatively hard, but must be maintained properly to retain it’s splendor. It is important that the stone be pretreated to avoid scratches and damage. When participating in rigorous sports, it will be important that the ring be protected.

When purchasing the ring in a princess cut, there will be edges around the facets. This is a beautiful cut for an emerald, however it will be important that the edges are protected by the design of the ring. The emerald cut engagement ring gives an individual the opportunity to be creative in their design as well as protective of the stone. When properly maintained the emerald will last throughout a lifetime.

When purchasing the an emerald engagement ring, setting up a maintenance plan to have the ring cleaned, checked and repaired when necessary will be an excellent idea. Once the ring has been purchased, it will be important to maintain it as you would any valuable. Insurance is always a good idea with buying jewelry, and you will want to keep it in a well protected area when it is not being worn.

Wedding Shower Favors

Wedding shower favors don’t have to be cheap little trinkets that are going to get lost or forgotten in just a few weeks. They are a gesture of your appreciation, but today’s brides understand that these favors have more significance than ever before. The wedding day has become the wedding month, and the wedding shower is almost as important as the actual wedding itself. Therefore, the gifts given to guests at this event need to speak of the importance of this day and not minimize its importance.

Candy and flowers are still nice ideas for shower gifts today, but only in addition to something a little more special or noteworthy. This is a major event and the variety of favors that are available allow you to provide high-quality gifts to all of your guests, no matter what you’re interested in giving. You can find great packaging for different favors, along with many favors that are 10 times more luxurious and appreciated than candy or flowers, but without a much bigger expense. The favors should be as sophisticated or whimsical as the event itself, which is why you are fortunate that you have access to so many options.

Wedding shower favors can include anything from flatware, glassware, and other useful items to decorative picture frames and commemorative gifts that people will want to keep. Make sure that your gifts are either practical or high-end accessories and decorative items, because they might get thrown away if they are not useful or seem to just cause clutter and get in the way. Satin purses, wine glasses, bottle openers, vases, keepsake boxes, and other similar items are much better options for today’s showers than they might have been in years past.

Think about your wedding theme, if you have one, when planning your favors for the wedding or bridal shower. It helps if you can tie the entire wedding event list together with similar items so that people can keep track of which wedding they attended based on the items that they received. Brides often include a nice card with a personal message on the gifts, but this is not required. If you choose the best favors that you can find for your specific theme, costs, or style, you will likely find people will hang on to the items for much longer and remember your special day for years to come. Wedding shower favors don’t have to be expensive, but they do have to be memorable so that they don’t wind up in the trash.

Wedding Favours – 5 Steps To Choosing The Perfect Wedding Favours

Choosing the perfect wedding favours for your guests can be a daunting task. There are so many options available these days that if you like shopping and browsing online you could literally spend days looking at all the many choices of wedding favours on the market. I would advise you to take a little time out before you start looking for the perfect gifts for your wedding guests and consider a few things that will help narrow your search, save you time and ensure that you find exactly what you are looking for.

One

Before you begin looking for your wedding favours, it is often useful to decide whether you are looking for something that will compliment your wedding colours and theme or whether you would like your favours to reflect your personality or interests as a couple.

Two

Some brides choose to make their own favours whether from a budget, creative or personal perspective. If you decide in advance whether you wish to make your own favours or prefer to source something that is ready made for your guests, this will narrow your search.

Three

It is important to decide on your budget for favours before you start sourcing them. This will prevent you getting distracted by all the beautiful items you will see but that may not fit your budget. If you decide on your budget and commit to sticking to it, you also won’t have any dilemmas about whether an item you see is too extravagant - if you like it and it is within your budget you can have it, if it is not you just need to move on.

Four

When designing your wedding table decorations, decide how your favours will fit in to the overall look of the table. Some favours can become an integral part of the table decoration while others will compliment your chosen design scheme.

Five

Think about what type of gift you would like to give to your guests. Would you like to provide the traditional and popular confectionary favours or perhaps something more modern and practical. You may also decide to choose a romantic, keepsake of your day.

If you spend just a few minutes deciding on the above items before you begin searching through the many options of wedding favours available to you, you will save yourself a significant amount of time and are more likely to find the perfect wedding favours for your guests.