Budget Weddings: When is the Cheapest Date to Marry?

November 28th, 2011 by sodabay

When planning the time and date of your wedding, it pays to know that you can slash between 30-50% off your projected wedding costs by taking the plunge on certain dates and times that most wedding planners agree are the to marry. On the reverse, you avoid raking up additional costs by not tying the knot during the “costliest” months.  Here are some tips on how you save some money and stay under budget by simply choosing to marry on these “couple-friendly” dates:

1.)   Prices go up when wedding venues, such as hotels and resorts are in the height of their busy season. Aside from weddings, other celebrations can get hotel registers busy, such as birthdays and anniversaries; conventions, and seminars. If you insist on marring during a busy month, don’t be surprised to see some steep wedding costs.

2.)   Good timing is a game of chance. You can do better by calling several hotels and wedding venues in advance and inquire if they are fully booked for the month you intend to tie the knot.  Calling your local events coordinator about a schedule of events in your area is also a good idea.  You can plan wisely and wed within your budget if you get rid of the element of surprise that often comes when you don’t include the “cost” of your wedding date into your wedding plans.

3.)  Juno, in Roman mythology, was the adviser of those who wanted to marry, and the protector of children and women. No wonder most couples want to marry in June, the month named in honor of Juno making it the costliest month when to tie the knot.

4.)  Most venue prices go down in November, January, March and April, and pick up in May, June, July, August, September and February.

5.)  December can also be a good month for weddings. However, a lot of corporate Christmas parties and New Year celebrations keep hotels busy, and their rates high the closer it gets to the holidays.

6.)  If you have already set your wedding month, you can now proceed to choose your wedding day. Here are some valuable tips to further narrow down your selection:

a.)  Hotel rates and airfares are cheaper during weekdays, and on Sundays.

b.) Consequently, weekdays Mondays through Thursdays are cheaper days to marry compared to Fridays. Saturdays are always busy and are the favorite day among couples.

More Tips: Great Tips For Friday Night Weddings

7.)  You can cut a big chunk off your wedding cost if you avoid late afternoon weddings that ultimately follow a dinner reception.  Whether it is a sit-down dinner or buffet-style, dinners are always expensive. Instead consider a late morning wedding with lunch reception.

8.)   Costs of wedding flavors, flowers, candles, and other wedding accessories are also affected by the Law of Supply and Demand.  Even wedding planners charge higher for their services during peak season for weddings, and later make necessary adjustments on their rates when demand tapers off.

Related Post: Wedding Favour Options To Match The Seasons

Who says you can’t have your dream wedding?  With proper planning and a lot of common sense, you can still wed in style without breaking the bank.

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Picking the Perfect Wedding Flowers

November 15th, 2011 by sodabay

I have officially added the title, “Event Planner,” to my resume and the pressure of living up to the title is already building some nerves in the pit of my stomach.  To calm my nerves I remind myself of a wedding I planned and organized last December that turned out very well and I am encouraged to do my best planning weddings- regardless of season or situation.

Read More Tips Here:  Summer Wedding Color Ideas

My client, Josie, was born in December and wanted to wed in the same month.  I personally love summer weddings, and therefore had tons of wedding ideas on how to plan and execute a perfect summer exchange of “I dos” – from wedding favors to candles – but when it came to winter weddings, my think tank was as dry as a bone.

Thankfully flowers always come in handy for any event – big or small, winter or summer. With the right flower choice sophistication is always possible.

You Say it Best When You Say it with Flowers

Ronan Keating’s song, “You Say it Best When You Say Nothing at All,” reminds me of how we use things to express what we cannot do so with words, like giving flowers or gifts to people when we can’t find the right words to say.

We also identify life’s milestones with specific gifts, such as the use of precious stones to remember birth months and wedding anniversaries.  So why not celebrate a winter wedding with flowers of that season?

Read More:  Take Good Care Of Your Wedding Flowers Before You Decide To Arrange Them

Josie’s choices were varied:  tulips, jasmine, forget-me-nots and amaryllis all bloom during winter in certain areas.  As she wished to include an element of Christmas in her wedding preparation I also included Holly in her wedding basket.

 

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Feng Shui Tips for an Auspicious Wedding

November 5th, 2011 by sodabay

The science of Feng Shui has been around for more than three-thousand years, and has influenced many decisions on how houses and buildings are built, and how interior design is carried out to attract good fortune and good health.  Other aspects of living, such as going into business or making investments, are made to conform to the basic principles of Feng Shui to cast away misfortune.

Today, some couples in certain cultures wanting to get married consult a Feng Shui expert first before they proceed with the details of their wedding. It is believed that when all the details of a wedding match with Feng Shui principles, it is likely that the couple will enjoy a long and harmonious union, with good fortune and good health strewn lavishly on their journey.

Basic Feng Shui Principles on Weddings

The principle behind Feng Shui is simple: create harmony and balance.  Here are some Feng Shui tips for an audacious wedding:

  1. Your Wedding’s Color Motif – The color red is predominant in Chinese culture and tradition.  It signifies happiness, fortune and good luck. However, most marrying couples still stick to conventional colors, black and white, for the groom’s tux and the bride’s wedding gown respectively. So where does “something red” fit in?

Try taking on a little color with your other wedding details to create a bit of “character” at your wedding, or simply make it stand- A red guest book and a red ring bearer’s pillow are just some ideas on how you can incorporate the lucky color red into your wedding preparations.

Here is a list of audacious Feng Shui color combinations you can choose from:

  1. Shades of purple/lavender with white, black, gold, silver, or green.
  2. Shades of Yellow (gold, beige) with red, white, gray, or silver.
  3. Black with green, white or purple.
  4. Blue with green, white, gold, silver or gray
  5. Red with green, pink, yellow, gold or beige

Here are color combinations you should avoid:

  1.  Green and yellow, gold, white, silver or gray
  2. Red and blue, black, gold, white, yellow, silver or gray
  3. Yellow and blue
  4. Feng Shui at the Wedding Ceremony and Party -  Feng Shui guidelines for color combinations still apply on wedding basket, ribbons on wedding candles, aisle runner, table cloths, table linens and curtains.  This requirement is easy enough to comply with once you have chosen, “the feng shui way.” Here are additional guidelines:
  1. Avoid any obstructions (table, partition, etc.) at the main entrance of your wedding reception as this can alter the flow of chi or life energy;
  2. Use indoor plants to “soften” corners of the room;
  3. Dark portions of the room do not invite the flow of chi, so light them up!
  4. Round-shaped tables invite good feng shui.

Auspicious Day to Marry.  Marry on a Wednesday, or any day of the week that falls on any of these auspicious dates:  8th, 9th, 17th, 26th or 27th

The Real Purpose of Feng Shui

A line in the play, “Julius Caesar,” aptly describes how you should take responsibility with your decisions in life, including the outcome of your marriage:  “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.”

Feng Shui principles only serve as guides on how you can invite more positive energy, rather than bad to flow in your direction during your wedding.  Success or failure of your married life however, depends entirely on two factors:  the choices you and your spouse make and the strength of your commitment to each other.

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Proper Wedding Etiquette for All

October 18th, 2011 by sodabay

Weddings are one of those special occasions where your subscription to Emily Post’s Etiquette Guide may come handy. As people say, money cannot buy class–you have to learn it.
More than fine jewelry or expensive clothes, superb etiquette “makes” a man/woman, and the lack of it unmasks their social pedigree.

So don’t worry if you were not born with the proverbial silver spoon in your mouth.  Even well-heeled party-goers commit mishaps on etiquette and social graces.  However, this is not an excuse for you to commit them as well. If you want to increase your chances of being recognized for manners, then observe carefully these wedding etiquette guidelines. They are simple to follow, but can impact your reputation in a big way.

For the Wedding Guest:

1.  Avoid “dramatic entrances”.  Unless you are the bride, you should arrive at the wedding on time. It is disrespectful to the bride and groom and their respective families if you come in late and rouse unnecessary attention.

2. Don’t come empty-handed. Show effort by bringing an appropriate wedding gift.  The one-liner, “It’s the thought that counts” may be genuinely nice, but also remember that “actions speak louder than words.” Don’t worry about price tags. Define your own budget and stick to it.

3. Don’t attempt to upstaging the bride or groom.  You are going to a wedding, not to the Emmy’s, so dress appropriately.  Observe the wedding’s theme or motif.  Nothing irks a wedding couple more than seeing someone on their guest list trying his or her best to generate attention.

For the Bride and Groom:

Yep, your wedding does not exempt you from observing etiquette.  For as long as you intend to co-exist in a civilized society, learning and observing the basic rules on etiquette won’t hurt; in fact, it can bolster your chances of inching your way up the social ladder, surely and gracefully.

1. Who Pays for What? To avoid conflict early on in the couple’s union, it is best to discuss the wedding budget with members of both families, unless the bride and the groom prefer that they spend for their own wedding.  It is good etiquette to avoid springing surprises on each other’s families, even more so if said “surprises” would eat up a chunk off their savings!

Related Post:  Wed Within Your Means – Tips for a Cost-Efficient Wedding
2.  Draw a Wedding Guest List.  It is good etiquette to make sure that you send out your wedding invitations early enough to allow time for your guests to postpone an appointment, re-schedule a meeting, or opt-out of your invitation. It is bad manners to presume that your guests would chalk up your big event on their calendars, setting aside their previous commitments. Respect is always a two-way street.

More Tips:  Why We Have To Have A Wedding Planning Checklist
3.   Learn to Say “No” in a creative manner.  Would you like kids to join their parents at the reception, but you don’t have the energy to put up with a wailing child? Instead of refusing a child’s entry to the reception, why not think of a creative solution to accommodate them separately? For example, you can arrange an adjacent venue as a temporary day care for kids.

As you plan your guest list, you should include in the budget those little tykes who carry the wedding basket or the rings’ pillow, shouldn’t you?  They and other kids add charm to the wedding.

Some couples prefer to spell out their terms about kids not going to the reception, but this has to be carried off in good taste, as most parents might not welcome the idea of going to the reception while their kids are sent home.

4.  Say “Thank You’ with a Gift.  Don’t hesitate to express your gratitude with a gift.  You can gift your Best Man with a Best Man Mug, and each of your Groomsmen, this mug.  The Maid of Honor, including your bridesmaids should also be given a gift such as this adorable necklace for your Flower Girl. All parties are sure to remember your wedding day with fondness, every time they see their gifts.

In a nutshell, your wedding need not be grand to leave a lasting good impression.  Just make sure you don’t miss out on good manners and proper etiquette to make the mark.

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Getting Married in the Philippines: Things You Should Know Before Taking the Plunge

October 10th, 2011 by sodabay

So, you found “The One” online, and they’re Filipino?  Congratulations! He or She wants to have the wedding in his or her home nation? Well…that part calls for a little bit of legal and cultural preparation.

Before my brother met his Filipino wife, I thought the cultural differences between people of different nationalities would be too difficult to make a marriage work.  Now, I can safely say, race or culture has no taxonomic relevance if two people truly love, understand and appreciate each other.  My brother and his wife just celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary, and I have my Best Man mug to prove it!

However, before you propose to a Filipina or Filipino, finish reading this article.

Marrying a Filipino has legal requirements a foreigner should strictly comply with, as well as traditional and cultural practices to know, understand and respect.  Before you pull out your credit card to purchase wedding favor boxes, and before you head out to that tropical nation in the Pacific, there a few basics you should know.

5 Things You Should Know About Filipino Weddings

1.  Legal Requirements.  Parties who wish to marry under Philippine laws should comply with all the requirements of a legal marriage.  Basic requirements for a foreign national include a valid passport, birth certificate, judicial decree of absolute divorce (if divorced); if a widower, death certificate of the deceased spouse.  Any party, who is between the ages of 18 and 22, needs to submit a certificate of parental consent.  If between the ages of 22 and 24, a proof of parental advice will suffice.  Parental advice is waived if a parent or a legal guardian attends the wedding. 

For a complete list of legal requirements, please click on this link: http://manila.usembassy.gov/marriage.html.

2.  Barong Tagalog, not Tuxedo.  There is nothing wrong with a tuxedo; in fact, some weddings in the Philippines have grooms wearing tuxedos.  However, if you are a foreigner who prefers to wear a Barong Tagalog, the country’s official men’s garment for formal functions for your wedding day, you will certainly heap additional points not only for looking great but also for exerting effort in trying to “belong.”

3.  Superstitions, Omens and Beliefs.  Filipinos are generally superstitious, so don’t be surprised to hear or experience any of the following:

  • a. Soon-to-be wed couples should not drive or go for a long ride before their wedding as they are prone to accidents.  Let others do things for you.
  • b. The bride should not try on her wedding dress before the wedding. Also, she should not wear pearl jewelry because it is symbolic of tears and therefore a miserable married life. Also a no-no is anything in the wedding gown that is colored lavender or violet as this signifies sorrow.
  • The motif should be “lively”, like this wedding basket and guest book.  This is a happy occasion, so make an effort to assemble items that depict joy and gaiety.
  • c.  Don’t expect to receive any pointed object, or a knife as wedding gift, as this is considered bad luck.
  • d.  Make sure that the ring bearer’s pillow is fastened securely in the hands of the ring bearer.  It’s bad luck to drop the rings during the ceremony.  Same is true with the veil or coins.
  • e.  Rice confetti, after the wedding, is for wishing the couple prosperity.
  • f.  Rain during the wedding is a sign of abundance (I wonder what a flood means then…).
  • g.  Don’t give your bride an angry look if she steps on your foot intentionally while you are going to the altar.  She is just making sure she gets everything she wishes (read: Prada bag) for -from you.  It is a belief that if the bride steps on the groom’s foot, she gets the upper hand in their married life.

4.  Wedding Reception.  Don’t question why there are more people in your reception than in your wedding ceremony.  The quickest way to anyone’s heart is always through the stomach.

5.  The Family.  Yes, the family!  Filipinos belong to closely-knit families.  So don’t be surprised if everyone calls you “Uncle”.  That’s just a word of endearment, and does not mean you will be swooped down like an unsuspecting Santa Claus.  Relax.  They don’t bite.  Once you have endeared yourself to them and won them over to your side you’ll have your back covered for life.

So go ahead and get excited about planning your wedding in the Philippines.  It’s guaranteed to be a good time, and with a little cultural sensitivity and knowledge of proper tradition your wedding can be the beautiful and touching day you’ve been dreaming of.

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Married in the Land of Aphrodite

September 29th, 2011 by sodabay

Destination weddings are not only for Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes anymore, but admittedly, these events demand a lot more preparation and some extra funds to pull it off.

If you want to wed in style, you need to plan and prepare for things that can happen before and after the wedding.  It would be tragic to spend in your life’s savings on a lavish ceremony only to declare bankruptcy a month after honeymoon.  This is to emphasize the obvious:  destination weddings won’t work for every budget, but if you cannot afford one, don’t despair.  You can dress up a local church like it’s a 17th century Irish castle if you only exercise your imagination.

These wedding favors can be done at home with a little help from your local DIY crafts store.  If you want to save a few dollars, you can buy a collection set, instead of buying your wedding basket, ring bearer’s pillow, and wedding guestbook, as separate items.

Besides, a lavish ceremony does not guarantee a perfect married life.  Everyone knows the story of Tiger Woods and his wife of almost six years who held a wed in Barbados at a whooping $2-million cost in 2004.

However, if you have saved your money and earmarked a portion of it to an adventure-wedding that you can afford, Cyprus is one wedding destination you should consider.

Getting married in Cyprus:  Requirements

Foreigners can marry in Cyprus legally, provided they meet all the requirements:

Legal age.  Persons contracting marriage in Cyprus should not be below 18 years of age.

For someone who is below 18, he/she should present a written consent of a parent (preferably the father, or in his absence the mother), or a legal guardian giving consent to the marriage.

Documents.  The couple should be prepared to present the following:

  1. Valid passport;
  2. Original Birth Certificate;
  3. A duly notarized Certification or Affidavit issued by a Notary Public in the country of origin of both the marrying parties that they are both single and have no legal impediments to get married;
  4. For divorced persons, a Decree of Absolute Divorce should be presented;
  5. For widow/widower, a copy of the Death Certificate of their deceased spouse;
  6. Two witnesses who are valid passport-holders, and should be over 18 years of age.

Proxy Not Allowed

No proxies or authorized representatives of the couple shall be entertained by the Marriage Officer of the area or municipality in Cyprus where they intend to marry; application to marry should be made personally by the couple.

Also, please bear in mind that in Cyprus, a Notice of Marriage is only valid for three months.  Failure to wed within three months from the date of approval of the Notice of Marriage invalids the documents and couples will have to re-apply.

Why Get Married in Cyprus

It is no wonder that Cyprus continues to attract an influx of tourists every year.  Considered as the birthplace of Aphrodite, the “Greek goddess of love and beauty,” Cyprus has a charm all its own.

A nice blend of mythical enchantment and European culture, Cyprus is home to beautiful beaches, luscious mountains and vineyards.

Wed in style and quiet elegance.  Think Cyprus!

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Planning to Wed in Italy? Basic Things You Should Know

September 19th, 2011 by sodabay

Getting married in a place where you can set your one foot in the 21st century while the other foot steps on the land with over 2,500 years of historic past is for many an ultimate dream land. Today destinations weddings are growing in popularity, and it is no wonder many couples desire to exchange their “I dos” in Italy.

As you walk on her cobbled steps, you brush elbows with Italy’s majestic past, set in stone, to remind you and all other visitors of the grandeur that is hers.

Wherever you look, you can see silhouettes of a Master of Art or a man of history who once walked on her streets – from Michelangelo’s masterpiece etched in the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel to every Nero, Napoleon or Julius Caesar’s landmark. At the same time you notice Smartphones or iPads in people’s hands as they pass you by, there is no mistaking you are in Italy – where the past blends seamlessly with the present against a beautiful landscape.  Italy is the perfect place to start your own journey, towards the future, as a couple.

If you have nurtured the dream to wed in Italy, there are basic things you should know before you start your preparation for the wedding.  As a predominantly Catholic nation, you should be prepared to comply with stricter rules, before you can roll out an aisle runner and take that unforgettable walk.

Marry Legally in Italy – The Basic Rules

Before your sleepy ring bearer has the chance to walk down the aisle before you, with your wedding rings on his ring pillow, and before your lovely flower girls parade in their gowns and wedding baskets, take a closer look at the following requirements so you don’t miss a thing:

Legal Age to Marry.  You should be at least 18 years of age to marry legally in Italy.  If any of the parties is below the legal age, his or her parents should issue a written statement giving their consent to the underage son or daughter to contract marriage.  In the absence of both parents, a legal guardian may take their place.

In the case of a Previous Marriage.  In case of a prior marriage of any of the parties, a Final Decree of Divorce or an Annulment is an indispensable requirement.  Where one of the parties purports to be a widow or a widower, a Death Certificate of his or her deceased spouse should be presented.

Additional Requirement for Women.  For a woman who is widowed, annulled or divorced, a medical certificate attesting to the fact that she is not pregnant, at least 10 months, before she contracts a new marriage is also requisite.

For Aliens Marrying in Italy.  For foreigners marrying in Italy, additional requirements must be presented, such as original copies of their birth certificates, a certification under oath that they are single, their valid passports, and a declaration, in writing, issued by an authorized agency of their country of origin that at the time the Declaration was released no legal impediments to contract a marriage existed.

For a more complete list of requirements, you may click on this link.

Religious Issues

For non-Catholics, or for marriages that will be contracted before a non-Catholic priest, a civil ceremony should precede a religious wedding ceremony.  This is to ensure the validity of the marriage, under existing laws in Italy.  However, for Catholic weddings, the civil wedding ceremony is unnecessary.

When you wed in Italy, both civil and religious ceremonies are legal and binding there and recognized the same abroad.

Your Most Romantic Wedding

Wed in Verona and experience the magic of a once true love as it has emerged victorious over all odds that not even death could part.

As you light the Unity Candle, imagine how Romeo and Juliet would have lived their lives in Shakespeare’s imagination, had their respective families allowed the warmth of a candle touch their hearts.

All these wedding fantasies can happen only in Italy, where great weddings are fashioned out of dreams.

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Here Comes the Bride: A Brief Visual History of Western Wedding Gowns

September 15th, 2011 by sodabay

As far as western weddings are concerned, not much comes close to the importance and attention a bride’s wedding gown is given. Throughout history one’s culture, religious beliefs, fashion, and class status have defined both the role and style of the infamous gown.  The bride’s gown served and continues to serve as an infallible symbol of the bride.

During the Middle Ages when weddings, especially for the wealthy, became important political affairs it became customary for the bride to wear the most exclusive cloth in the most expensive colors fiscally possible. Dresses were also styled to have the maximum amount of yardage, another marker of her family’s social status and wealth. During this time dresses were commonly made of bold colors and constructed from layers of fur, velvet, and silk.

The tradition of a white wedding gown did not become a popular option until 1840, after the marriage of Queen Victoria to Albert of Saxe-Coburg. Queen Victoria wore a white gown for the event to incorporate some lace she prized. The official wedding portrait photograph was widely published, and many other brides opted for white in accordance with the Queen’s choice.

Since then white has been considered the most “traditional” color choice for bridal gowns.  Interestingly, although many people assume that a white gown is a symbol of a bride’s virginity this isn’t the original association of the color.  In fact blue is the original color of purity stemming from interpretations of the Virgin Mary in Catholic tradition. Even within a predominantly “white dress tradition” styles are constantly changing to be in tune with the latest trends in fashion. Today, brides enjoy a wide freedom in gown choice, including color, cut, length, train, veil, and embroidery.  I have assembled a brief walk down the isle of wedding dress history.  Enjoy these absolutely beautiful pieces and perhaps even pick up some vintage inspirations for your own dress. Note that you can click on any of the images to see the dress full in full view. Let us know which was your favorite.


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How to Light a Unity Candle – Its Tradition and Significance

August 15th, 2011 by sodabay

Some weddings no longer include the lighting of the unity candle during a the ceremony.  It is sad, but true.  The reasoning may not be time constraints-wanting the ceremony to finish early for the reception to begin, or even to cut cost.  Candles are not expensive, or have they been affected by gas pump prices, too?

The reason could be a lack of information.  Couples getting married nowadays are no longer aware of traditions that baby boomers were privileged to know.  Awareness may be the issue, so here are a few ideas to keep you busy, while planning for a meaningful wedding:

Three, not one.  Three candles are needed in the ceremony:  two taper candles, one each for the bride and her groom, and the singular Unity Candle that is lit last.

Taper candles represent the couple’s respective families.  These are smaller in size compared to the Unity Candle and are lit first by the couple, after which they are used  to simultaneously light the Unity Candle.

The unity candle is usually the biggest candle, placed on a decorative candle holder, which signifies the union of the new couple and their families, now made one, by virtue of the wedding ceremony.

Be careful not to light a memorial candle, by mistake.  Lighting of a memorial candle may also be included in the wedding ceremony, but remember that they serve an entirely different purpose.

Trends are good.  By tradition, white wedding candles are used for the ceremony. However, times have given in to latest trends in weddings that allow couples to wrap their candles with ribbons or cloths, of the same texture and color as the gowns of the wedding entourage.  This is to make every detail of the wedding blend nicely with its motif or theme.

To save you the hassle of putting together all your wedding details, you may consider buying wedding collections or set that includes a guest book, Unity candle and two taper candles, plus a wedding basket,  instead of buying them individually.  Some collections even include a ring bearer’s pillow, too.

Parents in Action.  Parents of the bride and her groom can actively participate in the wedding ceremony by lighting the taper candles themselves, instead of their children.  This is a more favorable practice as this strongly indicates that they fully support and recognize the union of their children, and their respective families.

Would you delete such a beautiful and highly meaningful segment from your wedding ceremony?  Most beautiful weddings are made of meaningful and emotionally-charged memories, such as this.

However, if you wish to be more creative, you can introduce fresh ideas to your unity lighting ceremony.  Innovation is always a good thing, provided it does not hamper or disrupt the flow of the ceremony, and does not diminish the significance that the unity candle contributes to the wedding.

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Ring Bearer’s Pillow: Cushions More than Your Wedding Rings

August 15th, 2011 by sodabay

While everyone is all excited to see the bride’s wedding gown, or find out who bakes the wedding cake, there are details in the wedding preparation that appear trivial, but have great significance in the wedding, like the memorial, unity candles and the ring bearer’s pillow.  And if the reason for lack of attention is their size, you are in for a big surprise.  As a unity candle symbolizes the union of two families, and a memorial candle represents special people who passed on, a ring bearer pillow cushions more than the weight of the rings put on them.  It carries the weight of a promise.

Wedding rings symbolize the promise of love and the pledge of loyalty that the bride and her groom will exchange in the presence of their families and friends during the wedding ceremony.  If wedding rings are of such significance, what then of the ring bearer’s pillow that carries them?

Mindless Choice of Pillow

Sadly, in most weddings, the choice of ring bearer pillow is fully entrusted to the care of a wedding event’s organizer, or to the bride’s couturier.  The all-significant ring bearer pillow is reduced to the level of its common counterpart – the sleeping pillow, or because of its size, the “throw pillow” kids toss around when they get bored watching TV.

It is about time that ring bearer’s pillow receives special attention.  Brides and Grooms should take special interest in their ring bearer’s pillow, as much as they fuss over their wedding favors.

Tips that Work for a Ring Bearer’s Pillow

It is not “just any pillow”, it is your ring bearer’s pillow; give it some thought.   Here are tips that you might find useful.

  • Your ring bearer’s pillow should be something unique, but not distinctly different that it sticks out like a sore thumb in your wedding preparation.  It should blend well with the motif or theme of your wedding.  It should complement, rather than contrast, the rest of your wedding details, such as your candles, candle holders, guest book, and wedding favors.
  • Satin seems to be the material of choice for most ring bearer’s pillows.  Accentuate its charm with simple gems or metal adornments.  This is where you let your creative juice flow freely.
  • When it comes to a ring bearer’s pillow, less is more.  Go easy with ribbons and streamers; your wedding rings should capture the attention of your guests, not your decoration.

As it cushions your wedding promises, make your ring bearer’s pillow your work of art.  It does not require many skills, just an effort to create a little something that comes from the heart.

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