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Remember that the younger the child, the more likely it will be that something unexpected might happen. Often the charming antics only endear the hearts of the guests to the flower girl and ring bearer, but be ready for a few surprises along the way. If you have very little ones you want to include in your wedding party you might want to consider having an older child pull a decorated wagon with the smaller munchkins seated in the box.

Flower girls and ring bearers not only have to march down the aisle, but pose with the wedding party for pictures. Talk with your photographer about posing children and make sure that he is someone who has positive experiences and a good attitude with kids. Also make sure that you have lots of conversations with the parents of the little ones about schedules for that day. If you plan to have photographs taken before the ceremony, consider nap schedules and maybe try to do group poses last, increasing the likelihood that the dresses and suits will be in better condition and patience will still be possible.

Just as you might give your bridesmaids and groomsmen token gifts of appreciation, you can give your little assistants token gifts that can serve double duty as entertainment. New books and small toys can be both keepsakes and time fillers for busy bodies. You might want to consider having a portable DVD player and some cartoons or movies for quiet activities. Plan for snacks for the kids, too, but avoid messy juices and chocolates or things that can send them on a sugar high!

It’s a good idea to have some type of incentive for flower girls and ring bearers at the end of the aisle (aka bribery!). A special treat waiting in their seats, a parent waiting with their stuffed animals, or a mystery prize can help motivate shy or reluctant children.

Sometimes no matter how much planning and preparing you do, stage fright or lack of sleep can throw out the plans for your flower girl or ring bearer to walk down the aisle. Don’t worry about it – just go ahead with the ceremony as planned. Later in the celebration if your little ones feel up for it you can introduce them at the reception or share a special dance with them.

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To see more of my work - www.innesphotography.com.

I would love to hear from you – please contact me.

To see more of my work - www.innesphotography.com.

It might be the first public announcement you make about your big plans – your wedding invitations. Say good-bye to the days when an ivory tri-fold card edged in your wedding color announced your wedding day and time. Say hello to save-the-date cards, personalized invitations, and unique ways to let the recipients know you want them to be there to celebrate with you.

If you are planning a wedding for a busy season, such as summer or during the holidays, you might want to consider sending a save-the-date card to invitees. This is a simple way to let people know that you hope they will set aside that particular day to celebrate your wedding. It lets you get the word out but still have time to finalize the details that will be included on the invitations. It also lets you remind your family and friends about the celebration twice. These cards can be sent 6-9 months in advance of your wedding date, with a note to look for the invitations that will be coming later. It is not a time you need to worry about RSVP numbers.

Your wedding invitations can be almost any design you choose, from traditional folded cards, to uniquely shaped or delivered invites, to digital invitations. You can select a professional calligrapher ororder your invitations from a specialty shop.  There really is an option for virtually any budget and any theme.

No matter which option you choose, there are some important details to include in your invitation.

• Date, time, and location of both the ceremony and the reception for those guests who might only be able to attend one or the other
• Directions to both the ceremony and reception locations
• RSVP card or clear instructions for online responses (keep in mind that Grandma might not be internet savvy, so make alternate options available)
• Clear instructions on RSVP cards for date needed by (usually at least 3 weeks prior to wedding) and any vegetarian or vegan meals required for reception
• Indications for attire – casual, formal, semi-formal, or maybe flip-flops for a beach ceremony
• Indications for kids – just because you addressed the invite to only the adults in the household they might not be sure who is actually invited. If you prefer an adults only event, clearly state that in the invite (you can do this tactfully by indicating that childcare would be available for guests traveling with children).
• A card indicating where you are registered – limit your registrations to about 3 or 4 locations
• Special details such as transportation provided between ceremony and reception, parking available in ramp next to church, or gifts not necessary

Make sure you have your invitations ready to address about 3 months before the ceremony, and plan to send them out at least 6-8 weeks before the big day. Get ready for the RSVP cards to come in by having a basket or bin just for those, and keep a master list on hand of guests invited. Every day that RSVP cards come rolling in will be one more day closer to celebrating your new life together!

A big thank you to Celebrate Invitations for the awesome samples!

I would love to hear from you – please contact me.

To see more of my work – www.innesphotography.com.

I would love to hear from you – please contact me.

To see more of my work – www.innesphotography.com.

A beautiful dessert creation is the icing on the wedding cake. I’ve seen and photographed countless wedding cakes and they all have been great examples of the mix between artistry and confection. However, you don’t have to hire a master creator from Cake Boss to present and serve a beautiful and scrumptious wedding cake to your guests. With a little research and planning (and what could be a better job than researching dessert?) your wedding cake can be the delicious addition to your special day.

Begin by thinking about your ceremony and any themes or styles you are hoping to convey. If you are striving for a traditional wedding ceremony, you might want a more classic cake design. Themed weddings can make for some pretty unique and creative cakes, such as underwater themes, cowboy hat shapes, or towers of doughnuts. Collect any pictures you find in magazines or online that represent your style preferences.

The next part might be the most enjoyable part – meeting with pastry chefs to see their portfolios and taste test some wedding cake flavor possibilities. Bring along those photos that show the styles you prefer, and ask to see photos of the chef’s previous work. Classic cake flavors such as marble and white often serve most taste preferences of guests, but if you prefer a unique flavor such as red velvet, consider having two choices for guests. Some chefs specialize in other cake flavors such as cheesecake, great for a Philly style wedding, or all organic cake recipes.

When you find a pastry chef you think will be able to provide you with a wedding cake that will melt your mouth, but not your budget, consider the fine details. Some couples choose a smaller designed cake which is cut, but serve their guests from a sheet cake. Your cake design doesn’t have to fall prey to the plastic bridal party figurines of years past. You can add flair to your cake with real flowers, elegant tiers, and pastry paint designs that look like they belong in a museum. Don’t forget about the setting of your wedding reception – you don’t want to order a delicate chilled cake that will end up sitting in the sun on a patio for 3 hours. Make sure you also find out from your chef or bakery the deadlines for placing your initial order and your final orders after the RSVPs have been counted.

The time has come to have your cake and eat it too. Remember to have the official cake cutting announced at the reception so that guests know where and when you will be making the traditional first cut together. You can choose to cut the cake right away, or wait until after your meal, but remember to allow for time for the serving staff to finish cutting and serving the dessert. If you’re a couple who loves tradition, save the top tier of your wedding cake and have it frozen to share on your first wedding anniversary. And watch out for that groom who might “encourage” you to have a big first bite of cake!
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Being a full-time wedding photographer I get to witness many ceremonies and receptions.  Wedding vows and toasts add a personal, intimate touch to a wedding day. While some ceremonies include traditional vows, couples may opt to write from their own hearts and share those words while exchanging rings. Often during the reception family and friends gather to celebrate with a meal, and personal words of affection and toasts can continue to bring memorable moments to the gathering.

Wedding Vows
It is the moment that will change your life forever, when you pledge yourself to your partner. If you are writing your own wedding vows, consider incorporating the following ideas into your promises.

• A reflective moment about what drew you to your partner
• A description of why you are happier or a better person because of your partner
• The characteristics of your partner which you value
• Your hopes and dreams for the future
• Promises such as vowing to support your partner’s dreams, work together to solve problems, or never ignore your partner’s needs

You don’t have to be a poet or a published author in order to write your own vows. Your partner knows your heart and will be forever touched by the effort you put into publically sharing your promises. You might want to consider giving the best man a copy of the vows, just in case the moment overwhelms you!

Wedding Toasts
Traditionally the wedding toast is given by the best man and the maid of honor. These can be toasts presented jointly or separately, and in honor of the happy couple. Funny stories, sweet memories, or personal anecdotes about the bride, groom, or couple are great ways to connect the guests with the wedding party and honor the bride and groom. If you are the best man you might share how your buddy told you he decided to propose, or if you are the maid of honor it might be a childhood memory of your best friend creating a backyard wedding with stuffed animals. These personal touches create a moment that will be memorable for everyone.

Wedding Reception Speeches
The bride and groom might choose to give a wedding speech at the reception as a way to thank all of the guests for sharing in the celebration. You can begin by sharing a special detail with the guests that they might not already know, such as where you were when he proposed, what you did on your first date, or about the first time you told him you loved him. If there are guests who helped in special ways to make this day possible, use the wedding speech as an opportunity to let everyone know how much you appreciate them.

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Ring Style
Your wedding and engagement rings should be examples of not only your love, but your life together. Brides who lead extremely active lives, have jobs that require extensive and sometimes labored use of their hands often decide to select understated rings and bands so that they can wear their rings on a daily basis. Keep in mind your average week and then think about how easy it would be to do those same activities with a raised setting and large stone.

Besides the height and extravagancy of the rings, couples have other styles from which to choose. There are popular, trendy settings, vintage rings, and classic pieces. If you are drawn to vintage rings, you can save yourself money by purchasing a new ring set modeled after vintage pieces, and leave the high price tags of actual antique vintage jewelry to the collectors. Just because they look old doesn’t mean you have to pay for rings that carry the price tags of vintage rings. If you search hard enough, sometimes you can find true vintage rings that have lost the sparkle – literally. You can take the beauty of a vintage band that has lost its stone and replace it with a new one often for a reasonable cost.

The metal of your ring will most likely be one of three popular choices: yellow gold, white gold, or platinum. When choosing between them, consider what other colors of jewelry you wear often. White gold is a more economical choice than platinum, and delivers a similar, beautiful shine.

Ring Stones
Educate yourself on the 4 Cs of diamonds (color, carat, cut, and clarity) if you are considering this popular gem, as they will significantly influence your purchase. These help rank the quality, size, price, and style of stones in wedding and engagement rings.

The carat weight of the diamond is measured in metric carats on a 100-point scale. This measurement can go as low as 1/10 of a carat and move up to much larger sizes. The weight has a significant impact on the price.

While you might think the color of diamonds doesn’t really change, they can all be rated from colorless to near-colorless on a letter scale, with the highest rating of D indicating complete colorlessness. Jewelers discern this through a magnification process.

Another detail of engagement and wedding rings is the clarity, again something seen under magnification. The clarity ranks any blemishes, known as birthmarks, which are naturally formed on the diamond.

The cut of the diamond is one of the things brides often concern themselves with the most. There are cut styles such as the marquise, solitaire, round, oval, and triangle, all of which reflect the buyer’s personal style choices. Sometimes the difference in price is only reflected in the current trend for popular cuts.

If you choose a stone other than diamond, research the durability, especially if you plan to wear your ring every day. As a general rule, the darker the gem, the more durable it will be (i.e. a ruby compared to a pearl).

Ring Prices
The costs of engagement and wedding rings can vary as dramatically as the personal stories of each couple. Sometimes rings are passed on through generations, purchased at the local mall, or selected at the finest jeweler in the country. All of these will determine price. However, you can influence the price range by your decisions on style (simple bands will be less than large stones), and by your preferences for stones. Engraved messages or symbols on bands can increase their sentiment, yet not break the bank. No matter which rings you choose, they will be reflections of your commitment and future.

I would love to hear from you – please contact me.

To see more of my work – www.innesphotography.com.

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I would love to hear from you – please contact me.

To see more of my work – www.innesphotography.com.

I would love to hear from you – please contact me.

To see more of my work – www.innesphotography.com.