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	<title>Weddings MD</title>
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		<title>FIND EASY WAYS OF REDUCING THE COST OF YOUR WEDDING</title>
		<link>http://www.weddingsmd.com/find-easy-ways-of-reducing-the-cost-of-your-wedding-2/40/</link>
		<comments>http://www.weddingsmd.com/find-easy-ways-of-reducing-the-cost-of-your-wedding-2/40/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:09:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.weddingsmd.com/find-easy-ways-of-reducing-the-cost-of-your-wedding-2/40/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most of us look forward to getting married for almost the whole of our lives preceding the event and therefore have almost every specific detail, starting from the dress to the flowers to the cutlery the music and even the &#8230; <a href="http://www.weddingsmd.com/find-easy-ways-of-reducing-the-cost-of-your-wedding-2/40/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Most of us look forward to getting married for almost the whole of our lives preceding the event and therefore have almost every specific detail, starting from the dress to the flowers to the cutlery the music and even the menu etched out in our minds. Unfortunately, when the time comes to finally turn these dreams to reality, practicality checks in, knocks us on our heads and reminds us of exactly how many dollars we have in the bank account! </p>
<p>Unlike what it used to be in the good old days, the modern day parents have learnt to ease their way out of bearing the financial burden of their son?s or daughter?s wedding. The logic used in this case is quite infallible really, most of us wait to tie the knot long enough to bear children, teach them how to walk and start helping them with their math homework. So, since we don?t do our share therefore the potential grandparents don?t do theirs. So finally when it comes to our wedding we are left out in the cold, joining bits and pieces of our earnings to build up the most important day of our lives. </p>
<p><span id="more-40"></span></p>
<p>For all of us who are bogged down by this sudden astounding realization, or the ones who will get similarly bogged down in a not so distant future date, here is a list of the average costs that you will have to incur in order to get married. Once you have the groom (or the Bride, as the case maybe), which tends to be the most expensive of the purchases, you are sure to save up enough to have a glorious wedding ceremony.    </p>
<p>First up, flowers. Believe it or not, at any average wedding ceremony flowers can cost anything around or even above $800! Yes yes I know what you are thinking, you are probably itching to remind me how they finally add to the grandeur and emotion of the whole ceremony, but cap your outburst because ultimately this will probably be the one area you can cut your expenditure down in. If your budget is tight try something creative, scan issues of bridal magazines or the net for ideas.</p>
<p>Photography/Videography also takes up a large amount of your budget. Based on the kind of mementos you would want to keep from your wedding day you can end up spending anywhere between $900- $2500. Even though you probably think it?s a good idea it is best to not try and cut down your costs here, cause these will after all be one of the only things you will have to really re-live your wedding at a later date, and if saving a few dollars means you will end up looking like a fat hag or be ill-lit in your own wedding photographs then there is no point being a complete Scrooge about it.</p>
<p>Now if you are having a wedding ceremony, you will have to send out those few essential invitations, announcements and then the thank you notes, so there is no getting around the few hundred dollars it will set you back by, but you might try. Coax a friend with neat handwriting to take this load of your shoulders, get her to write your invitations for you, and keep it simple, so as to trim down the overall costs.</p>
<p>Finally of course there is the music. No wedding is complete without good music setting the right mood for the celebrations. Set apart about $1500 to fulfill your musical requirements.<br />
Further costs include the price for the site of the ceremony. This you may safely estimate at around $400. of course you will also have to arrange for means to get to the site itself, this should cost around $450, all together. If you want to show your appreciation for the attendants with a little token of love, set apart another 400 bucks. The rehearsal dinner, which you must have, will be around $1000, the reception anywhere between $5000-$8000. </p>
<p>Expect your super special wedding dress to cost at least 1000 bucks and even if the groom settles for a rented tuxedo there is no getting away from the neat $500 you will have to flash out for it. So all in all, everything put together, added and multiplied, you have a whopping $25,000 bill tagged clean with your plan to get married. If marriages are really made in heaven then the God?s sure have expensive taste! However this isn?t by any means the final word in planning your wedding cheap, there are of course thousands of other ways of cutting your expenditure as per your personal means and fancies, this is just one of the very many ways of going about it. Figure out what suits you, and have a great wedding.</p>
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		<title>Weddings: Some Odd Traditions</title>
		<link>http://www.weddingsmd.com/weddings-some-odd-traditions-2/39/</link>
		<comments>http://www.weddingsmd.com/weddings-some-odd-traditions-2/39/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:09:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[And for the rest of their lives, the man and woman shall be together?. Doesn?t it sound romantic? For the man and the woman to leave their families to be as one, to form a new family? It has been &#8230; <a href="http://www.weddingsmd.com/weddings-some-odd-traditions-2/39/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>And for the rest of their lives, the man and woman shall be together?.</p>
<p>Doesn?t it sound romantic? For the man and the woman to leave their families to be as one, to form a new family? It has been like this from time immemorial. And throughout the millennia, the concept of family and marriage have been so closely knotted together that it is sometimes impossible to separate one from the other. </p>
<p>Marriage is present in every culture in some form. Although the laws, norms, and cultures may differ, they all still recognize the union of man and woman under one roof.</p>
<p><span id="more-39"></span></p>
<p>Marriage has evolved in so many ways from the different cultures all throughout the world throughout the ages. For each culture, there are diverse ways of celebrating something like marriage. But in each culture, there has always been one thing that has remained the same ? that in every culture, and every tribe, marriage has always been one to be celebrated with the utmost of festivities, with singing, eating, and celebrating. </p>
<p>Along with these festivities, man has also adopted a growing, and evolving number of traditions each filled with meaning and ? believe it or not ? shocking origins. </p>
<p>The Wedding Cake<br />
Today?s tall, elaborated, and delicately crafted wedding cakes evolved from the simple grooms-cakes made by family members for the bride. Before the wedding day, one of theses cakes was put under the pillow of the bride. The bride would then sleep and ?dream? of the groom, and yes, squish that cake into oblivion. </p>
<p>The real wedding cake would be a pound cake that would be ?pound up? and crumbled and tossed at the couple as a sign of fertility. That is where we get today?s custom of sprinkling the couple with rice after the wedding.</p>
<p>Cakes during weddings are usually stacked up in large layers. The higher the stack, the more ?glamorous? the cake. People usually regard these arrangements are mere style. However, they were done so in the past as a symbol of fertility. Couples would stack these cakes to symbolize how many children the wished to have. So in the past, the higher the stack, the more the children.</p>
<p>Tying the Knot<br />
Now the truth can be told. Tying the knot did not necessarily mean getting knotted together. During ancient tribal times, the bride would usually be wrapped in a sheep with a knot out in front. This was to symbolize virginity.  ?Untying the knot? was the groom?s privilege after the wedding the night.</p>
<p>Best Man ? Secret Agent<br />
And startling enough, the best man used to play a different role in the early days. During tribal times, it was the best man?s duty to abduct potential brides from other tribes. He would usually do so by clubbing the poor damsel over the head and drag her back home ? just like those comic skits about cavemen seem to suggest. It was also the best man?s job to ward off the angry relatives of the bride. So in the early days, it was the best man swinging his axe while the groom got hitched.</p>
<p>Today<br />
Although we are a little less barbaric than earlier times, we still see an evolution of the wedding ceremony and its tradition. These traditions are filled with meaning and can only serve to make your wedding day more memorable.</p>
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		<title>HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR WEDDING STATIONERY</title>
		<link>http://www.weddingsmd.com/how-to-organize-your-wedding-stationery-2/38/</link>
		<comments>http://www.weddingsmd.com/how-to-organize-your-wedding-stationery-2/38/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 23:09:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.weddingsmd.com/how-to-organize-your-wedding-stationery-2/38/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Of all the stuff you require to do, purchase and put in order in groundwork for your wedding, wedding stationery is something that must be designed in advance. After all, you have to let your guests know well in advance &#8230; <a href="http://www.weddingsmd.com/how-to-organize-your-wedding-stationery-2/38/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Of all the stuff you require to do, purchase and put in order in groundwork for your wedding, wedding stationery is something that must be designed in advance. After all, you have to let your guests know well in advance of your approaching big day. Your wedding invites and accompaniments lay down the tone for your special day definitely setting up your trend and feel. It is the first formal note about your wedding ceremony which a guest will be given from you so, make it unique. If wedding protocol is essential to you, then make a start with your wedding stationery.</p>
<p>Customized Stationery</p>
<p><span id="more-38"></span></p>
<p>Every bride wants her wedding to be as exceptional as can be. A good place to make a start is with custom wedding stationery. A big benefit with custom stationery is that you can write your own wordings; select the font, text size and color. It does not matter what subject matter you have set for your wedding, you will for sure be able to make specially your stationery to go along with the tone. Wedding invites and accompaniments can be bought in a choice of styles such as contemporary, classic, floral, layered, embossed and religious.</p>
<p>Choose a Topic</p>
<p>The subject matter of your stationery should match with the by and large subject matter of your wedding. For instance, if you are having a garden wedding then you may prefer to have a flower pattern print on your stationery items. There are many accompaniment bits and pieces on hand to assist you attach your stationery in with the theme of your wedding. For instance, rings, hearts, ribbons, white doves etc. The same stands for the color of your invites. This is on the whole decided upon by the color of your bridesmaids? dresses.</p>
<p>Stationery Bits and Pieces</p>
<p>You would be taken aback at how many wedding stationery things there are. While your wedding invite is mainly the major piece of stationery, you can find complimentary stationery accompaniments to go with your wedding invites: -</p>
<p>? Wedding Invitations<br />
? Wedding Programs<br />
? Announcements<br />
? Engagement Announcements &#038; Invitations<br />
? Save-the-Date Cards<br />
? Rehearsal Dinner Invitations<br />
? Bridal Shower Invitations<br />
? Wedding Accompaniments such as menu cards, thank you notes etc.</p>
<p>Plan in advance</p>
<p>Your wedding invitation is the first formal note about your wedding and your guests have to know about their invite in ample time. Here is a check list to help you out to plan in advance and be prepared: -</p>
<p>? Be in no doubt that the language in your invitation is proper. Ask a friend or family member to as well look through the invite for you.<br />
? Arrange for your invitations the moment your date, time and place have been fixed. Three to six months before the service is what most professional planners advise.<br />
? To work out the number of invites to arrange for keep in mind to count up one invitation per single guest, couple and family.<br />
? After working out the number of invites add around 25 invitations to your order &#8211; 10 to 12 extra for mementos, plus extras for the last minute guests. Also, based on how big your order is, add 25 to 50 extra envelopes in case of errors in addressing.<br />
? A lot of well known wedding planners have the same opinion that you should prepare to post your invitations six weeks ahead of the wedding. This gives the guest a lot of time to act in response.<br />
? Take care that you have one fully assembled invitation weighed up at the post office to find out the exact postage. </p>
<p>Wedding invitations lay down the tone for your wedding and lets your guests know what sort of approach and topic you have selected for your wedding.</p>
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		<title>Add more romance with wedding poetry</title>
		<link>http://www.weddingsmd.com/add-more-romance-with-wedding-poetry-2/37/</link>
		<comments>http://www.weddingsmd.com/add-more-romance-with-wedding-poetry-2/37/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:09:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Wedding poetry has been used to spice up any ceremony. It is amazing how poetry?s play of words effectively translate the heart?s language. This is basically the reason why poetry reading is a standard activity in wedding activities. Poetries are &#8230; <a href="http://www.weddingsmd.com/add-more-romance-with-wedding-poetry-2/37/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Wedding poetry has been used to spice up any ceremony. It is amazing how poetry?s play of words effectively translate the heart?s language.  This is basically the reason why poetry reading is a standard activity in wedding activities. Poetries are usually used a part of wedding vows, activity programs, ceremonial weddings, speeches and toasts. </p>
<p>There are limitless selections of wedding poetries you can choose from for that big day. You can just grab some snippets from a longer poem or get a shorter one and entirely use it with modifications. Popular poetries are those written by George Sand, Thomas Moore, Kahlil Gibran or Shakespeare. There are other contemporary writers having the same passion that are eminent in traditional poetries. Just by surfing on the internet, you can find poetries that can be used for wedding ceremonies that are submitted by ordinary people. These contributors are simply inspired by love and their poems are very well written too. </p>
<p><span id="more-37"></span></p>
<p>If you feel you do not relate with any of published works or submitted poems, you can go ahead and create one or hire a personalized wedding poetry vendor. The interne is a portal to find one. A phone interview or an online conference will be conducted by the vendor. This will be used as a reference for his writing. It is recommended that both the bride and groom will attend the interview. </p>
<p>Looking for poetry provider is not a hard job. You can ask your wedding coordinators, the head of your clergy for recommendations. You might even have a friend or a family member who can write real well. Professional wedding poem providers may charge as high as a hundred dollars. Compare prices and sample works of at least three vendors. This way you can weight your options and select the best vendor with a reasonable price. Pick the one you are comfortable in dealing with. Give the provider ample time to complete the poem, a good one would take time. Be sure to order around six months or so before the wedding. </p>
<p>In personalizing poetry consider the type of ceremony you will be having. A formal event might need elegant and romantic poems while you can add on some humor if it is an informal one. Poems used in wedding toasts must definitely have a lighter note to it.  Take note of the mood that you wanted to project. It is important to know your guests and the person who would read the poem. </p>
<p>Poetries along with a good musical background can truly set that romantic atmosphere in any weddings. Through poetry reading you can express your deepest emotions of love and hopes. You can either read your chosen prime poetry during the ceremony itself or during the reception.</p>
<p>Tell every one of your joy and contentment of finding your true love by scribbling wedding poetries on invitations. Another option will be to print out a line or two of you favorite poem on your wedding souvenir. Poetry verses can come along with your photograph, the celebrant?s name, date of your wedding and your message. </p>
<p>Poetry compliments that romantic atmosphere in any weddings. It can surely add magic on your wedding day. A well rehearsed and a well written poetry can make your partner?s feet weak and make your heart jump a mile. Nothing can truly beat something that comes from the heart.</p>
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		<title>Wedding Etiquette: Cash Bar Wedding Parties</title>
		<link>http://www.weddingsmd.com/wedding-etiquette-cash-bar-wedding-parties-2/36/</link>
		<comments>http://www.weddingsmd.com/wedding-etiquette-cash-bar-wedding-parties-2/36/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 07:09:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Open bar wedding party has been gaining popularity these days because more and more couples have been celebrating an evening wedding. With open bar, guests are free to order any brand of drink to their liking without limit as to &#8230; <a href="http://www.weddingsmd.com/wedding-etiquette-cash-bar-wedding-parties-2/36/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Open bar wedding party has been gaining popularity these days because more and more couples have been celebrating an evening wedding. With open bar, guests are free to order any brand of drink to their liking without limit as to how many shots or glasses they should order.</p>
<p>However, some couples with limited budget see cash bar as the best option for them.  As opposed to open bar, guests must pay for every drink that they order in a cash bar wedding party. The newly weds won&#8217;t be held liable for a guest&#8217;s non-payment of a drink ordered. Guests should leave a bill for a drink the way a customer does when he ordered a drink in a local bar.</p>
<p><span id="more-36"></span></p>
<p>If you, a groom or bride-to-be, are concerned with wedding etiquette, wedding etiquette specialists will tell you not to go for a cash bar. If you would be graded for a wedding etiquette examination, saying yes to a cash bar has a grade of zero.</p>
<p>For specialists on wedding etiquette, cash bar is not an option even for couples who are tight on a budget.  Since cash bar violates wedding etiquette, wedding etiquette specialists say that you should expect snide remarks from your guests if you pursue a cash bar wedding party. You might even hear them saying things like, the newly wed do not know wedding etiquette, or if they couldn&#8217;t afford an open bar, they shouldn&#8217;t have hosted a cocktail party at all and they should have stayed with a sit down dinner.</p>
<p>Guests who would make such a remark obviously are unaware of wedding etiquette too. But just the same, we cannot silence them for making such remarks.</p>
<p>Some wedding etiquette books even say that if you are thinking of a cash bar night party, make a pass for a night party; it&#8217;s better not to have a night party at all if it would be a cash bar.</p>
<p>- Solution to Cash Bar</p>
<p>There is a solution though to cash bar. According to books on wedding etiquette, you can implement the semi-open bar. With this strategy, you won&#8217;t worry about violating wedding etiquette through cash bar and you won&#8217;t need a big budget to throw an open bar wedding party.</p>
<p>Wedding etiquette specialists would recommend you to open bar the first two drinks to your wedding guests and cash bar the ordered drinks thereafter.</p>
<p>Two drinks are considered socially acceptable standards for social drinking. In implementing the semi open, semi cash bar wedding party, you have satisfied the needs of guests expecting you to practice wedding etiquette while at the same time you have satisfied yourself for not spending too much.</p>
<p>Many couples who are not limited on a budget implement the two-drink open bar and cash bar afterwards cocktail or evening wedding party. This is to avoid excessive drinking from wedding guests, and for wedding guests to maintain social composure.</p>
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		<title>Wedding Cost Saving Ideas</title>
		<link>http://www.weddingsmd.com/wedding-cost-saving-ideas-2/35/</link>
		<comments>http://www.weddingsmd.com/wedding-cost-saving-ideas-2/35/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 26 Oct 2011 23:09:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.weddingsmd.com/wedding-cost-saving-ideas-2/35/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Almost every girl has a picture of her ideal wedding in her mind. She may dream up something that she can visualize when reading fairy tales that end with &#8220;&#8230;and they live happily ever after.&#8221; She sees flowers, ribbons and &#8230; <a href="http://www.weddingsmd.com/wedding-cost-saving-ideas-2/35/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Almost every girl has a picture of her ideal wedding in her mind.  She may dream up something that she can visualize when reading fairy tales that end with &#8220;&#8230;and they live happily ever after.&#8221;  She sees flowers, ribbons and laces.</p>
<p>However, when her wedding day comes, she may have other considerations on her mind.  She still dreams of her ideal wedding but she starts incorporating other subjects that represent her and her groom.  Not to mention that the bride also considers the current trends in wedding fashion and decoration.  And the most important subject to talk about when choosing decorations &#8211; the cost.</p>
<p><span id="more-35"></span></p>
<p>Nobody wants to spend the first few months of being married paying of debts made during the wedding preparations.  Therefore, the groom-to-be and bride-to-be should be very careful what to spend on.  Here are a few things to consider.</p>
<p>* Personalize the decorations.  Not only does this add a personal touch to the celebration but this also cuts down on the cost.  For example, if the bride or the groom is a photographer, they may choose having photos from their collection made the main subjects for the reception design.  The photos may also be used for invitations and keepsakes,</p>
<p>* Consider renting.  Most of the items that will be used for decorations will not be used again.  These include the centerpieces, the vases, the arc ways and the artificial flower arrangements.  So ask your wedding decorator for options to rent these pieces.</p>
<p>* Kids can get bored during the wedding reception.  So instead of having kids seated at the same table with the adults, you can have an area where kids can be more casual and can have a small party of their own.</p>
<p>* Marriage is a union of families.  During the wedding rites, if possible, you may alter some of the practices to include the children of the bride or groom from previous marriage or the parents and families of the couple.  Having them perform a special union rite will signify that the wedding is not just a union of two people but also of two families.</p>
<p>* For the food during the reception, you may inquire with cooking or culinary arts schools.  They may agree to cater for the reception for just the price of the food, or perhaps, a little more.  You may also have a pot luck by asking family members and close friends to cook a dish.</p>
<p>* If you wanted to cut down on the cost for the wedding party, you can just invite more people to the engagement party.  Usually, only cocktails and hors d&#8217;oeuvres are served, which cost less than the full set of meals for the wedding reception guests.</p>
<p>* For the music, you can look for a local college band or DJ.  You can also have your favorite songs just downloaded from the Internet and saved to an mp3 player or CD to be played over the speakers during the reception.</p>
<p>* When considering the cost of church decorations, check if there will be another couple that will get married on the same day.  They may want to coordinate what decorations can be used for both wedding ceremonies to lessen the need to change decorations before or after the wedding and to split the cost.</p>
<p>Getting married should not be expensive.  After all, the essence of marriage is in the union and not in the celebration.  You shouldn&#8217;t also try too hard to please the guests.  Your family and friends are there to rejoice this wonderful event with you and not to criticize your wedding.</p>
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		<title>Wedding favors for family and friends</title>
		<link>http://www.weddingsmd.com/wedding-favors-for-family-and-friends-2/33/</link>
		<comments>http://www.weddingsmd.com/wedding-favors-for-family-and-friends-2/33/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 26 Oct 2011 07:09:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Wedding favors are a great way for couples to show their gratitude to family and friends that graciously attended their wedding day. Wedding favors are small tokens of appreciation that couples can give out to the people that came to &#8230; <a href="http://www.weddingsmd.com/wedding-favors-for-family-and-friends-2/33/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Wedding favors are a great way for couples to show their gratitude to family and friends that graciously attended their wedding day. Wedding favors are small tokens of appreciation that couples can give out to the people that came to celebrate their wedding day with them. Wedding favors come in all shapes and sizes. There are an infinite number of items for wedding favors that couples can choose from.</p>
<p>The couple&#8217;s budget is a significant factor to consider when selecting wedding favors. However a resourceful and creative couple can easily find a solution to their problem. Couples can also choose to have their wedding favors centered on their wedding theme. Wedding favors can either be store bought or made by the bride herself with the help of her bridal entourage. </p>
<p><span id="more-33"></span></p>
<p>History of wedding favors</p>
<p>The history of wedding favors dates back several centuries ago in European countries. People then believed that weddings were a fortunate occasion and that the giving of wedding favors by the groom and bride is a way of sharing that luck to family and friends. </p>
<p>Wedding favors began as a tradition of upper class families in Europe centuries ago. French and Italian families would hand out &#8216;bonbonnieres&#8217; to guests as wedding favors. These confectionary delicacies are placed in small fancy boxes made of metal, crystal or porcelain. The boxes are also decorated with precious stones that create a precious keepsake for guests. </p>
<p>Later on, other social classes took on the tradition of giving wedding favors to their guests. Almonds were popular wedding favors given by couples in the earlier days. People believed that the almonds represented longevity, happiness, wealth, health and fertility. Up to now, almonds are still common wedding favors given by couples in the form of candy-coated almonds. </p>
<p>Modern day wedding favors</p>
<p>Wedding favors are now an essential part of the preparations for the wedding day. Couples have limitless choices for wedding favors. Wedding favors can be bought or made to match the style of the couple&#8217;s wedding. Couples can choose to have either practical or decorative wedding favors to give away to family and friends. </p>
<p>Many sensible couples opt to give out practical wedding favors that guests can use afterwards. These can either be small kitchen gadgets like salt and peppershakers, coasters or cookie cutters. While other couples choose to give out soaps and candles as wedding favors. </p>
<p>Ideas for wedding favors</p>
<p>Ideas for wedding favors can be as wild as the imagination can get. Couples can come up with the wildest wedding favors for their giveaway to family and friends. Wedding favors also come in a variety of prices that helps make it easier for couples to find the right gift at the right price. </p>
<p>Couples can choose to have wedding favors that symbolize the theme of the wedding. Wedding favors can also be selected in relation to the season in which the wedding is scheduled. Christmas or winter theme, summer theme or fall theme wedding favors also makes it easier for couples to select the right giveaway for the event. </p>
<p>Creative couples can also use their resourcefulness to craft their own wedding favors. Wedding songs recorded on compact discs are popular wedding favors that let couples share their special day with guests for years to come. At any rate, the choice of wedding favors is limited only by the couple&#8217;s imagination.</p>
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		<title>Wedding Etiquette Advice for Guests</title>
		<link>http://www.weddingsmd.com/wedding-etiquette-advice-for-guests/32/</link>
		<comments>http://www.weddingsmd.com/wedding-etiquette-advice-for-guests/32/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:09:07 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[More often than not, it is the guests that we oftentimes hear complain about the outcome of the wedding, that the bride and groom violated wedding etiquette, and so on and so fort. Guests seem to be forgetting that wedding &#8230; <a href="http://www.weddingsmd.com/wedding-etiquette-advice-for-guests/32/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>More often than not, it is the guests that we oftentimes hear complain about the outcome of the wedding, that the bride and groom violated wedding etiquette, and so on and so fort.</p>
<p>Guests seem to be forgetting that wedding etiquette is not just for the bride and groom. There is wedding etiquette too reserved for the guests.</p>
<p><span id="more-32"></span></p>
<p>We have outlined here some wedding etiquette advice for guests. These wedding etiquette advice are taken from different sources and may help you understand how to act and socialize with grace and manners in any wedding. </p>
<p>Wedding Etiquette Advice 1: Thou shalt respond to an invitation, immediately!</p>
<p>Invited guests who do not respond to an invitation are the major cause of headaches to the bride and groom. There are guest who will say regrets to the bride and groom just a day before the wedding day. While some guests will not reply to the invitation at all and then show up without notice to the wedding ceremony and wedding reception.</p>
<p>Wedding Etiquette Advice #1 says this act is totally rude! Today, the bride and groom pay for their own wedding. They rely on their savings and salary to fund their wedding. They are not asking their fathers anymore to host their big day.</p>
<p>So, with the limited budget that the couples have allotted for their wedding (of course they need to save some as a startup money). The couples need to know the exact head count so they would know if they will go over their budget. And failure of guests to reply to an RSVP will give the bride and groom headaches. They would not know how many guests should they book in the hotel or caterer. And also, if you aware of this fact, if the bride and groom add you to the guest list and they inlist you for a sit-down dinner, they will pay for your head even though you did not attend the wedding.</p>
<p>Please follow this wedding etiquette advice if you don&#8217;t want to be called an unmannered brute. Reply to an invitation immediately if you must, or at least two week before the wedding day.</p>
<p>We, guests, expect the bride and groom to practice wedding attique, and so should we.</p>
<p>Wedding Etiquette Advice 2: Thou shalt be dress appropriately.</p>
<p>This wedding etiquette advice is not meant to promote fashion, although being fashionable is really good. This wedding etiquette advice came next to the wedding etiquette advice on responding immediately to an invitation. Because after you respond to an invitation, the next thing you will do is either buy a gift (if you still have some spare money to buy your bride friend a gift) or attend the wedding (if you do not have the money to buy a gift, you can skip the gift giving).</p>
<p>This wedding etiquette advice is for your own good. You would not want to look like a gate crasher in your friends weddign, or do you? If it is a formal wedding, you would not want to be caught wearing a jeans and t-shirt, right? You would definitely look like a gate crasher if you are not dressed properly. </p>
<p>The wedding etiquette advice if the event is informal: please refrain from wearing jeans and tank top or t-shirt. For women, kindly wear a cocktail dress or a pretty Sunday dress. For men, please, if you may, wear your suit. Just forgo your tie. You can even roll up your sleeves and open the top button of your shirt to make it look less forma. You would definitely look dashing in a suit!</p>
<p>Wedding Etiquette Advice 3: Thou shalt greet the newlyweds.</p>
<p>Brides and grooms want to feel you are happy for them and your greetings will greatly be appreciated. This wedding etiquette advice is not hard, isn&#8217;t it? All you have to do is go to the bride and groom and greet the bride, &#8220;Best Wishes&#8221; while the groom &#8220;Congratulations.&#8221;</p>
<p>Saying your greetings is not only a thumbs-up act, it is also a kind one.</p>
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		<title>Wedding Etiquette: The Basics</title>
		<link>http://www.weddingsmd.com/wedding-etiquette-the-basics/31/</link>
		<comments>http://www.weddingsmd.com/wedding-etiquette-the-basics/31/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:09:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[People these days are thinking, does WEDDING ETIQUETTE still exist in our age wherein every rule that anybody can think of could be bent? In this rule defying age, it seems that WEDDING ETIQUETTE is just a thing of the &#8230; <a href="http://www.weddingsmd.com/wedding-etiquette-the-basics/31/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>People these days are thinking, does WEDDING ETIQUETTE still exist in our age wherein every rule that anybody can think of could be bent? In this rule defying age, it seems that WEDDING ETIQUETTE is just a thing of the past. But is WEDDING ETIQUETTE really now just part of history? I don&#8217;t think so. And maybe even you and the rest of the population don&#8217;t think so, too.</p>
<p>Every culture has WEDDING ETIQUETTE. Even if we think those who live in far flung areas are barbaric and do not know a thing about WEDDING ETIQUETTE, they have their own sets of rules and etiquette to follow. Their WEDDING ETIQUETTE may not be as proper as we think ours is, but for them their WEDDING ETIQUETTE is the proper WEDDING ETIQUETTE.</p>
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<p>The WEDDING ETIQUETTE that we have come to know dates back from the 1800, at the time of the Victorians. Victorians are well educated, intelligent and well mannered. They value social manners and behavior. This is the reason why lots of social and WEDDING ETIQUETTE books had been published during the Victorian era.</p>
<p>The social and WEDDING ETIQUETTE practices of the Victorians has been passed on to us and became the basic WEDDING ETIQUETTE of the westerners. These Victorian WEDDING ETIQUETTE has been modified or bent to suit our current culture and lifestyle.</p>
<p>What are the basics of WEDDING ETIQUETTE? Should we follow every rule in Emily Post&#8217;s famous WEDDING ETIQUETTE book?</p>
<p>WEDDING ETIQUETTE BASICS</p>
<p>In every all aspect of the wedding there is a WEDDING ETIQUETTE that should be followed. There&#8217;s a WEDDING ETIQUETTE to follow when creating an invitation, sending it out, and replying to it; in attending a wedding, guests should abide to the basic WEDDING ETIQUETTE for guests; when sending out gifts there&#8217;s a WEDDING ETIQUETTE too that must be followed. <</p>
<p>Here are some of basic WEDDING ETIQUETTE for the wedding parties and the guests:</p>
<p>For the bride and groom:</p>
<p>- Wedding invitation must be worded either formal or informal. It depends upon the couple. If they want a formal wedding celebration, they must choose formal words. If the wedding will be celebrated with closest family and friends, an informal wording on the invitation would do.</p>
<p>Invitation should be sent out four to six weeks before the wedding. If your wedding is a wedding destination, you may send a Save a Date card to your guests six to eight months before the wedding. Your guest also need to prepare themselves financially and physically for your wedding destination.</p>
<p>- A bride can now choose any dress design and color that she wants. But if she will be wed in a church with strict rules on dress code, she should abide to the rules of her church.</p>
<p>- A groom may wear either a suit or black tie. He could also wear a loose dress in beige pants for a beach wedding.</p>
<p>- The couples should not ask for cash gifts. As for wedding registry card, they should not insert it invitation. Just mention in your invitation that you have an online wedding registry. </p>
<p>- The stepmother may seat at the church&#8217;s first pew only if the bride (if the bride is her stepdaughter) is closer to her than her mother. However, if the bride is close to both her mother and stepmother, she should seat her mother at the first pew.</p>
<p>For the guests:</p>
<p>- Invited guests should reply to a wedding invitation immediately after receipt of the invitation card or not later than two weeks before the wedding. Couples need to be informed of the actual head count for the sit down dinner.</p>
<p>- Guests should be formally dressed if the invitation is worded formally even if there is no indication that the attire should be formal. Women are now allowed to wear evening dress for a formal wedding especially if their escorts are in black tie. </p>
<p>- Guests are not obliged to buy gifts from the registry. Invited guests who can&#8217;t make it to the wedding are also not obliged to send gifts.</p>
<p>Gifts may be sent to the couple before or one year after the wedding. It will help the newlywed alot if the gifts will be delivered at the couples new address.</p>
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		<title>Recommended Wedding Etiquette Books</title>
		<link>http://www.weddingsmd.com/recommended-wedding-etiquette-books/29/</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:09:07 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[In every part of the world, ladies dream of weddings. More often than not, they succeed in getting one. Thus, for every nation or country, in every culture, there are weddings. Weddings have become inevitable events in modern society. But, &#8230; <a href="http://www.weddingsmd.com/recommended-wedding-etiquette-books/29/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In every part of the world, ladies dream of weddings. More often than not, they succeed in getting one. Thus, for every nation or country, in every culture, there are weddings. </p>
<p>Weddings have become inevitable events in modern society. But, it is clear and apparent that weddings have become, in a sense, a way of lifestyle. It can be attributed to the Western influence.</p>
<p><span id="more-29"></span></p>
<p>Wedding traditions, be it for Americans, Asians, Europeans, Africans or any race, have become universalized. When you say universalized, it means the event has adhered to same customs and traditions. </p>
<p>Thus, we have wedding etiquettes. Wedding etiquettes can vary from one country to another. But the variations are only slight and minimal. Moreover, the ethics and etiquettes in weddings are all but the same.</p>
<p>Because being into weddings or attending weddings have become a way of our modern life, people can get anxiety knowing that there are certain gestures that can be considered not likely during weddings. </p>
<p>If you are a bride or a groom, the anxiety can get really concerning. The couple will have to undergo a hard time&#8212;on wedding jitters and on anxiety from wedding customs. </p>
<p>Thus, the best way to help the soon-to-be-wed couple is to educate them about certain wedding etiquettes. </p>
<p>Because learning venues for wedding etiquettes can get so distracting, awkward and embarrassing at the same time, it is advisable that those needing briefings for wedding etiquettes consult the book stands. </p>
<p>The following are several of the highly recommended readings or books for or about wedding etiquettes. To get to know the books better, or to absorb what they have to say, get to the nearest book store or go to your favorite online shopping site to place an order. </p>
<p>Some recommended wedding etiquette books </p>
<p>?The Everything Etiquette Book: A Modern-Day Guide to Good Manners? by Leah Ingram. The author, Leah Ingram is considered as one of society?s etiquette experts. Actually, the book is not exclusive to wedding etiquettes.</p>
<p>The book tackles etiquettes for everyday living. Included in the topics covered are how to deal with annoying neighbors, how to choose and send the perfect gift for every occasion, professionalism at work, camaraderie with colleagues and friends, dealing with unlikely relatives and so on. </p>
<p>Because the book covers everything etiquette, of course, a few pages are allotted to weddings. The wedding etiquettes mentioned in the book are glimpses and shortened or simplified, but they still are effective tips. </p>
<p>?Crane?s Wedding Blue Book? by Steven L. Feinberg. Mr Steven Feinberg?s wedding book is very detailed and covers everything about wedding etiquettes. </p>
<p>The issues tackled start from the preparation&#8212;from short listing the guest list, doing the invitation, hiring wedding planners, and so on. The wedding etiquettes covered by the book extend to until after the honeymoon, when the couple should have finished giving out thank you cards to their wedding guests. </p>
<p>The book also gives tips and guidelines on what kind and color of paper to use when printing out invites and than you notes. It also deals with the proper way of handling unlikely, and yes, even wedding crashers. </p>
<p>?The Everything Wedding Etiquette Book: Insights and Advice on Handling Even the Stickiest Wedding Issues? by Emily Ehrenstein and Laura Morin. The book gives out little and practical do?s and don?ts during weddings. </p>
<p>The book takes the issues from the different perspectives of that of the bride, the groom, the parents, the maid of honor, the bride?s maids, the groom?s men, stepmothers, down to the guests. </p>
<p>The book boasts of practical solution to every concern and awkward situations that occur during weddings. The situations discussed can sometimes get cute, amusing and funny, but you can tell that they are timely and truthful. Several sticky situations, for sure, have happened to you. </p>
<p>Everyone who has attended weddings or who are planning to attend or get into one can relate to the book. </p>
<p>The book even gives out solutions and advice on how to handle difficult situations during weddings that include how to ask parents-in-law for financial assistance to cover the reception, including step parents in the ceremony, allowing single guests to tag along dates down to planning seat arrangements for divorced parents and more.</p>
<p>The above mentioned wedding etiquette books can be found at our favorite book stand or can be ordered online. Just read the books by heart so you can get to absorb wedding etiquettes and save your face when situations get really sticky during weddings.</p>
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