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Welcome to the Bride2Be Ideas and Advice section |
You can find information on customs, general wedding planning information, checklists on topics such as wedding vows, invitation layouts and printing.
We also have information on toasts and speeches, order of service, budget planning, cost saving and more... |
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| Bachelor And Bachelorette Parties |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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Also known as the ‘Kitchen Tea’, because not so long ago a dignified tea-party was considered the only acceptable way to celebrate a woman’s upcoming nuptials. Likewise, about a century ago a groom’s father, or his Best Man, would arrange a black-tie dinner for |
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| Choosing Attendants |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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The number of attendants one has in a wedding will depend somewhat on budget, size of the wedding, size of the church, and also size of both families. Brother’s and sisters will expect to be in the wedding party as brides-maids, flower girls, groomsmen, and ushers. Choose careful |
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| Wine And Champagne |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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Traditionally one celebrates all the toasts at a wedding with champagne or a sparkling wine. Work on three dozen bottles for every 100 guests.
Matching the table wine to the meal should not be a daunting task. As your wine vendor and your caterer for advice. If served correctl |
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| Throwing The Bouquet And Taking Off The Garter |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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This is done towards the end of the reception shortly before the bride and groom leave for their honeymoon. The unmarried women gather to try to catch the bouquet, and the unmarried men try to catch the garter. If a bride wishes to keep her bouquet as a keepsake of the wedding, she can |
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| On The Day |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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The best man should come to collect your going-away outfit and honeymoon luggage and it is his job to see that it reaches its destination. Your going-away outfit should be taken to the reception venue.
Your attendants should be dressed and ready before you which will be an ab |
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| The Engagement |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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This may seem to the bridal pair to be a very personal moment, and something to either savour privately, or shout out to the roof-tops! However there are specific traditions linked to the announcing of the engagement.
This news should be shared first with the bride’s par |
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| The Send-Off |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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The bride and groom usually leave before any of the guests. After the bouquet and garter have been thrown, the guests will form a line to the door, or a circle, and the bride and groom will go around saying their farewells and thanks to each guest. These days however, where bridal coup |
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| Venues |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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A hall where catering and deaccor are already supplied is usually a better option as this will take the stress of worrying about caterers and making a plain hall look good, out of the equation. Although it may seem expensive, when all other costs are added up, it should also be the ch |
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| The Engagement Party |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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Traditionally the bride’s parents host the engagement party, but this is not a hard and fast rule. The purpose of the engagement party is for the two families to meet and get to know each other better. Depending on budget and personal preference, it can be a small private affair |
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| Rice Or Confetti |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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This is an old tradition, which these days has a number of exciting alternatives. Instead of rice of confetti, the bride now can choose to have her guests throw rose-petals, flowers, or tinsel. One can even have the guests blow bubbles, or have several hundred white doves, or butterfli |
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| Choosing A Coordinator |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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It is estimated that it takes over 300 hours to plan a wedding. Apart from the obvious large plans – venue; guest list; honeymoon – there are countless small details and decisions, such as dealing with RSVP’s, seating arrangements, and etiquette, which need to be made |
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| Dancing |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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The MC will announce the beginning of the dancing. The bride and groom will open the floor with either a traditional waltz, or these days they will dance to a favourite slow song. The two sets of parents then join the bride and groom on the dance floor, followed by the rest of the brid |
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| Pre-Marital Counseling And Guidance |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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There are two highly personal directions one could follow here; the religious, or the secular. If you are within a particular church organization or religious body, your denomination or organization will be able to advise you on counseling options. Secularly, there are many psychologis |
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| Thank You Notes |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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After the honeymoon its time to get busy writing your thank-you notes and cards. The design of the card or note should match all the other stationary. These should all be sent out no later than three months after the wedding. Try to be specific and mention the specific gift. Personaliz |
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| Toasts And Speeches |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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The Speeches are traditionally done after the meal, although many bridal couples prefer to get them out of the way before any of the other activities begin. A good Master of Ceremonies is needed. He needs to be familiar with the timing of events, and have a fairly assertive personality |
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| Seating Arrangements |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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Start your seating plan even before acceptances begin to come in.
Traditional seating plans will have both sets of parents at the bridal table which will usually face the other guests.
The groom is center, with the bride on his left.
Bride’s father left of bride, fol |
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| Including Step-Children In The Wedding |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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So many new marriages these days include step-families. It is important to include the step-children in the event. Giving them a specific duty to fulfill on the Big Day will help them assimilate to the new order of things. If the child is old enough, involve them in the planning stage |
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| Cutting The Cake |
| 01 Jun, 2009 |
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This can take place just after the speeches and toasts. The bride and groom hold the knife together and cut the first slice which they eat together, usually feeding each other a mouthful. The rest of the cake is then cut into portions by either someone in the wedding party, or the cate |
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