7 Tips to Choose Wedding Bows

7 Tips to Choose Wedding Bows
By Todd Wunderlich

Tip number:

1.)When looking for the perfect size wedding bow for your special day, keep in mind that you will need to make sure that the color of your bow does not clash with the colors you have chosen for your wedding.

2.)Make sure where ever you are going to place the bow that there is sufficient space for it and it is not anywhere near open flames.

Example: CRBows bows are the worlds largest wedding bows measuring 8 feet in length and 8 feet in width. The average larger size bow ranges from about 1 foot to 3 feet in length.

3.)Make sure the wedding bow you choose is weather resistant if you choose to have your wedding outdoors. If the weather turns ugly it is nice if the decorations are not ruined if you are unable to get to them right away.

4.)Make sure you have enough bows to cover all the areas you want to place them. Coming up short is never good. Beautiful wedding bows really make a statement.

5.)Make sure you order the bows in advance so you do not have to worry about them when your wedding day approaches. You will have enough on your mind without having to worry about the decorations.

6.)Whenever selecting wedding pew bows and wedding decorations for your loved ones special moment. Your decisions are crucial, so take your time and make your bridal and wedding accessories picks turn out perfect.

7.)Remember to take special care of each oversized bow by sealing it in a large zip locking plastic bag (or large lawn bag) and then placing it in a sturdy box to prevent crushing while in storage will insure many more years of use out of it.

The owner of CRBows bows has put careful consideration into the planning and designing of each area of the bow, how it is made and the material (Silk Flannelette) giving it a look of elegance and class with a velvety feel. This has helped to get the CRBows bow listed among the world's most beautiful bows available.

Don't forget to check out http://www.crbows.com the Worlds largest wedding bows.

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Choosing a Wedding Photographer

Choosing a Wedding Photographer
By Steve Whiting

When choosing a wedding photographer it is important to choose someone who you feel happy and comfortable with. Ask friends or relatives for recommendations from couples who have recently been married or from the venue itself and obtain a number of quotes. Make sure you see some samples of the photographers work and that the style of photography is one you are confident with. This is important as some couples can feel uncomfortable with some poses the photographer may request. Some photographers take candid shots whist others have a more traditional style.

If possible ask the photographer to visit your home or where you will be leaving from, and also the wedding venue prior to the day .This way you can discuss settings and any unusual shots you may wish and it will give the photographer the opportunity to see the lighting conditions and settings for themselves. This may not be necessary if the photographer has already worked at the venue before.

Traditionally if a church wedding, shots will be taken of the bride at her home, in the car, entrance to the church, in the vestry, leaving the church and then various group photos of the bridal party, family and friends. A wedding held at a different venue may well depend on what that venue itself allows. The reception photographs are usually of the bridal party at the top table, cake cutting and the couples first dance, throwing the bouquet and the couples departure. It may be whilst at the reception you would like some no traditional photographs taken, for example of individual couples or families (without the bride and groom ) that they may purchase for themselves. This can be quite a nice idea that people have a memento of the day of themselves in their finery.

Your wedding photographs will be your cherished reminder of your big day so it is important to choose the best photographer that funds allow.

Some couples chose to have a video recording of their special day. Specialized videographers will take into account lighting and positioning so as to be unobtrusive to obtain the best video as opposed to one done may be by a friend or family. The reception venue or church may be able to recommend one to you who will be used to the venue. Ask to see a demonstration tape and make sure you are aware of what pieces of the wedding day they will they will record and let them know if you have any special requests.

Looking for a wedding Photographer then try the Wedding Photographers section of our Wedding directory. We also have a useful information guide for would be brides.

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Winter & Holiday Themed Weddings

Winter & Holiday Themed Weddings
By Beth Clark

Tis the Season! If marrying during the holiday season, be sure to check in advance as to what the decorations will be in the sanctuary or reception area so that your decorations can work with theirs, not fight against them. If you plan and work to incorporate their decorations, you may actually find that you can personalize the space with only a few minor touches, thus saving on your decorating budget.

Some Winter or Holiday theme ideas:

• White Christmas lights entwined through pine garland
• Balloon bouquets of silver, white and gold balloons
• Snowflake confetti
• Cut a circle of white tulle and fill with candies, chocolate kisses, mints or nuts and tie the tulle silver or gold ribbon
• Place a mirror in the center of the table and arrange 3 champagne glasses of different heights or a brandy on the mirror. Fill with water and float a white flower on the top or add floating candles. Sprinkle some silver or gold glitter over the mirror for effect
• Snow! Snow in a can will add a pretty, twinkling effect on many items.
• Mistletoe! Hang a large mistletoe bunch under a archway and be sure to pass under it frequently.
• Faux fur trim (perhaps a hooded cape to cover your dress when you are outdoors or a hand muff)
• Sparkling tiaras for head-dresses
• Fur or swans down trimming for gowns
• Long white gloves, trimmed with sparkling beads
• Bouquets of white flowers
• Trailing silver ribbons trimmed with bells
• White votives (glowing candlelight is a wonderful winter accent!). Try setting several on a mirror in the center of each table.

Winter or Holiday Theme Wedding Flowers

• Holly
• Poinsettia
• Lots of greenery

Visit us at http://www.PrintedExpressions.com for more wedding tips and ideas as well as a large selection of wedding invitations, programs, favors and accessories.

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Plan Your Wedding in 13 Simple Steps

Plan Your Wedding in 13 Simple Steps
By Vanessa Pruitt

Of course, every detail of any brides wedding is important. But, there are some steps that you can go over in advance to make the months ahead as simple as possible. You can use these steps to help outline the planning of your wedding.

1.)Budget One of the biggest mistakes that brides make is not setting a budget. You should set the maximum amount you are able to spend. If you do not have an amount set, you could be very unpleasantly surprised at the end of your planning. You do not want to be spending your honeymoon trying to figure out how you will foot the bill, or worrying about debt.

2.)Date- Think about the date that you would like your wedding to be. At first, you may want to pick a month, and work from there. Be sure to allow yourself enough time to organize the details. You dont want to stress yourself out pulling everything together right before the wedding; and guests from out of town will want to have plenty of time to make plans. Be careful in choosing a date. Be sure that it is not a busy time of year, such as a holiday or during graduation, etc.

3.)Wedding Party You will probably want to choose your wedding party early on. You will need to know who is in your wedding party when planning the wedding ensemble, etc. Peoples lives get very busy and things come up, so keep them updated on the events to come. You will probably want to pick a maid of honor, man of honor, flower girl, ring bearer, bridesmaids, and groomsmen, as well as any other special attendants.

4.)Location It is a good idea to think about where you would like your wedding to take place. Would you like to have your wedding in a church, or would you rather have it in another location, such as outside or in a special location? Keep in mind, that if you are not the member of a church, marriage counseling or other special arrangements may be required to be married there. If you are having a reception, look into where you will want have it. Contact each establishment, and see if the date that you want is available. Ask about prices and booking information. Some reception sites will have discounts if you also have them cater the food at your event.

5.)Officiator The location of your wedding may determine who will be the officiator of your wedding. The preacher or pastor of a certain church will most likely officiate your wedding if it is held there. If you are having your wedding in a different location, you may want to hire an officiator. You can check with your local clerk magistrate to see if he will attend weddings off site. Make sure that you know about all fees required for your officiator. Most will want to be paid before the event.

6.)Theme / Colors You will probably want to pick a theme or set of colors for your wedding. This will set the tone and dcor for the event. For many brides, this is an important decision, as it will set the mood of their wedding. It will also determine many of the little details of the wedding, such as apparel.

7.)Wardrobe Of course, for many brides, its all about the dress. But, you dont want to forget about what your wedding party, as well as your groom will be wearing. You may want to match the wardrobe with the theme and colors of the wedding. Keep in mind the time of year that your wedding will take place. Think about your shoes and jewelry, and factor these into your budget.

8.)Invitations You will want to get your invite list together fairly early in your planning. You will need an estimation of the number of guests who might be attending for seating, food, etc. Keep In mind that your budget will rely deeply on the amount of guests at your wedding. Think about what your invitations will be like. Will they include reception cards, maps, or other elements? Also look into the price of your invitations. Decide whether you will order invitations, have someone you know make them, or make them yourself.

9.)Rings Dont let your wedding rings get lost in the mix. You will want to figure these into your budget as well. It would be wise to do some shopping around. You will want plenty of time to pick them out and get them sized before your wedding.

10.)Food Food will be a major element in your budget. You will want to determine the food arrangements for your rehearsal dinner and reception. You will also want to start determining where you will have your cake made, and what style of cake you would like.

11.)Music Decide if you will want music during your ceremony and reception. There are many different options when it comes to music. You could simply have somebody play recorded music, or you could hire somebody to sing or play music at your event. The latter will, of course, be tighter on your budget. Another option would be to have a DJ or a band at your reception. Make sure you know the details of their fees.

12.)Vows Many of us get lost in the planning of our wedding, and forget what the big day is all about. Sit down with your partner and talk about your vows, and what they mean to the both of you. You may want to write your own vows, keeping in mind that this special event is no joke, and is an important decision for you both in the rest of your lives.

13.)Extras After you have thought about all the major steps in the planning of your wedding, you can tie all the little details together. Here are some things you may want to include in the big event: programs, ring bearers pillow, cake topper, flower girl basket, flowers, etc. You will also need to check into applying for your marriage license.

I wish you all the best in the planning of this very special event in your lives. Dont forget why you are getting married in the first place, and have fun designing your wedding. Dont be afraid to include your partner in the process, and remember that it is their big day, too!

This article has been written by Vanessa Pruitt, a work from home mom working to promote wellness. To learn more about working from home visit http://www.tricitymoms.com She is also the owner of two subscription blogs, http://loveworkingfromhome.blogspot.com & http://netmommy.blogspot.com

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7 Tips On What To Look For In A Wedding Website Service

7 Tips On What To Look For In A Wedding Website Service
By Gill Reese

Wedding websites are gaining popularity among today's newly-weds, and rightfully so. Having a wedding website is a great way to share the wedding excitement with the world. There are so many benefits to having a wedding website - here are a few of them:

1. Before the wedding you can use the website to excite your future guests and entertain them with preliminary photos, count down, before-wedding journal, and the like. This is also a great way to remember the exiting days before the wedding, after you get married.

2. You can also make good use of your wedding website, in more practical ways, such as for wedding gift list management, arrival confirmation, directions and other practical information about the wedding day.

3. After the wedding is over, you can keep the website up as a reminder of the event, and, you can share pictures and videos with the world through the website. Imagine your relatives in another state - they ca see the wedding pictures at their home!

When you go about getting your own wedding website, you really have two main options - to build one yourself, or to get a ready made solution, that you can customize to your own need.Unless you are already an experienced webmaster, I recommend you don't built your own website. This is because building your own site takes a lot of time and effort, as well as some kind of financial investment. And, in most cases, your website will eventually come out less attractive than the ready made solution, unless you are a great graphic designer. Bottom line - just like you take a professional photographer to film your wedding, you should take a professional wedding website company as your wedding website solution provider. This will save you a lot of head aches.

So, what should you look for when you go fishing for a wedding website? I can think of a few key components:

1. A free trial - many wedding website companies will give you a free trial of 7 days, than, you will need to pay a monthly fee. In my opinion, you should pay no more than $19 a month. There are some great companies out there that will give you great websites at this price.

2. Choose design - in most cases you will be able to choose a design for your website, out of 100's of existing designs. So make sure there are some attractive designs you can choose from.

3. Can you have your own domain? Many wedding website companies will give you a sub domain of their own, like johnandmarie.mywedding.com. You should be able to replace that with a full, clean domain you register on your name.

4. Wedding planning tools - your website should include wedding project planning tools that will help you plan and budget your wedding.

5. Your wedding website should able your guests to confirm their arrival at the site (that way they dont need to call you especially)

6. Directions, pools, quizzes - all these all value to your website.

7. Upload pictures and videos - make sure your site supports uploading pictures. The videos part is a bit more of a problem, since they take more space. It's best to find out in advance what are the policies in regards to videos.

Making a wedding website is a great addition to your wedding experience. This is something that should not be missed, as today almost everyone surfs the web, and can enjoy your website.

Gill Reese is the owner of top-wedding-websites.info You may visit the site and learn all about wedding websites, free wedding websites, wedding website service and more.

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Catering to Your Wedding

Catering to Your Wedding
By Jen Carter

Wedding catering has always been one of the most crucial aspects of planning a wedding. Besides choosing the food menu items for the palette, you also need to think of other factors could there be potential allergies to certain types of wedding food, will the food arrive on time, and will it taste great? For all these reasons and more, it is very important that you take the time to review the details of providing great cuisine through a responsible and reliable wedding caterer. Ideally, you will find someone who has experience in catering wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, theme weddings and bridal showers. If the caterer is a custom designer, baker or Chef, they might also help you plan your stunning wedding cake or cake tops. Here are some tips we have found that might help make planning your wedding catering easier than you might think:

1.Meet the Caterer(s) in person with questions.

Many local wedding florists, planners and coordinators know the industry well. Ask them about potential caterers for your event. If you contact a caterer, ask to meet with him or her in person. You will want them to provide references in terms of their abilities and experience. Make you sure you also contact the BBB (Better Business Bureau, bbb.org) to see if they are listed there or are in good standing. Ask your potential caterer about the largest number of guests they can handle and when their last wedding catering took place. Other important details are whether they are insured, have health permits, and whether they are licensed. Without a health permit a caterer cannot provide your wedding food needs.

2.Check to see if a Caterer is included in your wedding package.

Many couples choose to have a destination wedding and find that special place to hold their wedding ceremony and reception. If this is in your plans make sure you check that catering is not included in a wedding package if you chose one. If catering is included, make sure you still ask the appropriate questions.

3.Tasting

Ask about food tasting. Many caterers will allow a tasting in advance of the wedding so that you can choose cuisine that meets your needs. Some charge a fee for this, while others dont allow it at all. Use discretion, and if possible, ask about bringing others to the tasting.

4. Write up a well-detailed contract

A business contract is always necessary in any business transactions and catering is no exception. The contract can be written and signed by you, the contractor and a witness (if possible your fianc or friend) and should include even the smallest of details to ensure there are no misunderstanding as to what is expected by both yourself and the caterer. Assume you will need to put down a deposit.

5. Wedding catering menu ingredients

Ask about the ingredients used in preparing your meal. Are the ingredients high quality, does the caterer bake in-house or order out (especially for bakery and dessert items)? All of this will play a role in pricing out the ultimate professional caterer for your wedding.

6. Inquire about the cancellation policy

Always inquire about the cancellation policy. Read the fine lines in any contract as there may be stiff penalties / taxes involved if you need to change your event date or cancel altogether.

Another suggestion is to put some thought into a backup plan. Although its rare and highly unlikely a wedding caterer or catering company would leave you high and dry, stranger things have happened.

In the end, your choice of wedding cuisine should match you and your fiancs personal preference and style. By planning your wedding catering thoroughly and wisely months in advance, one of the most important aspects of you wedding will be thoroughly enjoyed by all. Bon appetite!

Catering to Your WeddingBy Jen Carter

This article is available for reprint only under the following conditions:The user must place a hyperlink right under the main title with the text By Jen CarterIn addition, the entire article must not be edited in any way, and the Byline below must be included with html intact:

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Copyrights 2004 All Rights Reserved Jen Carter
Jen Carter is team member and writer for My Wedding Blog, a wedding and bridal articles and planning guide. Complete with a wedding directory, and resource links to shopping, gifts, favors and accessories.

Please send an email to us if you choose to use one of our articles:info @ my-wedding - blog.com

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7 Steps for Choosing the Right Wedding Shoes

7 Steps for Choosing the Right Wedding Shoes
By Heather Robinson

7 Steps for Picking the Right Wedding Shoes

What girl doesn't love shopping for shoes? Wedding shoes are no different. There are many styles of wedding shoes out there, so let's make sure you pick the right ones!

If you are like most women, on more than one occasion, you have worn a pair of cute strappy heels and hours later, with your feet aching like they never have before, wonder if those shoes were really worth the pain!

You would think that we would have learned from our first aching feet experience. However, more times than not, we do it again!

This is not the position that you want to find yourself, or your feet in, at your wedding! Your wedding is all about comfort! The best part is that you do not have to forfeit style for comfort. The trick is to find shoes that are stylish and comfortable.

Wedding Shoes Tips

1. Never worn heels before? Your wedding day is NOT the day to start! Your feet will be in a state of shock. Try a shoe with a low heel or wear a satin ballerina slipper instead.

2. Buy your shoes early, preferably at the same time or soon after you purchase your wedding dress. You need to know how well they coordinate with your dress. You will also need to take them with you to your tailor so that your dress can be hemmed accordingly.

3. Take into consideration the embellishments on your wedding dress. A rhinestone shoe may not coordinate well with a pearl embellished dress.

4. If you do buy heels, break them in. Do not wait until your wedding day to wear them for an extended period of time. Breaking them in before hand will ensure comfort on your wedding day.

5. Keep your groom in mind! Try not to buy shoes that will leave you towering over him at the altar. It is not considerate nor will it look good in your pictures.

6. If you are on a budget, buying wedding shoes can be a good place to save a few bucks. The majority of wedding dresses worn are floor length. Therefore, wedding shoes are rarely seen anyway. Borrow a pair of wedding shoes or buy an inexpensive pair.

7. Consider purchasing two pairs of shoes. Many brides opt to wear a more comfortable pair of shoes at their receptions.

DIY Tip: Buy a pair of white flip flops and add Swarvoski crystals to the straps. Change into them on the way to your reception and it is comfort all night long!

To tell you the truth....Many bridesmaids often bring comfortable shoes to change into anyway, so why not go along with it?

Whatever pair of wedding shoes you choose make sure that they are comfortable! You don't want to look back on your wedding day and remember how bad your feet hurt! Make your feet happy and you will be happy!

For more great wedding planning ideas visit http://www.wedding-planning-resource.com The Ultimate Guide to Weddings and Wedding Planning.

Get your Free Wedding Planning Checklists and Cost Saving Tips now!

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Winter Wedding Destinations

Winter Wedding Destinations
By Shari Hearn

Toying with the idea of a winter destination wedding, but not sure you want to hold the most special moment of your life in the coldest months of the year? Maybe its time to change your thinking. Winter weddings can be magical events. With a winter wedding you can choose any type of wedding you want. The bride can arrive at the church in a sleigh. Or, maybe she can ski down a mountain slope at a fancy ski resort. Or, perhaps the bride and groom can enjoy a sand ceremony on the beach.

Wait a minute. A sleigh, ski resort, and a beach? Something doesnt belong here. Were talking winter, right?

Thats the great part. A winter destination wedding or elopement means you can chose the type of winter you want. You can have the traditional winter of snow, or head off to a warmer destination. So, what kind of a winter wedding do you want?

Snowy Winter Weddings

Lets face it. To some people theres nothing more romantic than sitting together in front of a roaring fireplace, sipping hot cider, champagne or red wine. Whether youre thinking of eloping, or planning a destination wedding with a group of close relatives and friends, a ceremony at a historic New England Inn or ski resort in Colorado or Utah could be just for you.

Many inns and resorts of New England have special winter wedding packages, such as the Stonebridge Country Club in Manchester, New Hampshire and the Interlaken Inn of Lakeville, Connecticut.

Perhaps you and your future spouse are ski fanatics. What better way to celebrate your marriage than to have a wedding at your favorite ski resort? It will certainly give your guests something fun to do after the ceremony. Most ski areas and resorts have wedding packages available, so you have your choice of such wonderful ski areas and resorts all over the country, like Lake Tahoe, California, Vail, Colorado and Stowe, Vermont. Theres even one town in the Adirondacks of New York which offer free skiing at the town-owned Ski Center. Chestertown in the Adirondacks would make a great winter wedding location, offering wedding guests free cross-country ski trails, a rope tow for downhill skiing, a tobogganing hill and a covered ice-skating rink. In addition, Chestertown has numerous cabins and bed and breakfast inns for you and your guests.

If some of your guests arent into downhill skiing, many ski areas offer other winter activities, such as cross-country skiing or tubing.

Warmer Winter Weddings

Okay, so youre from Vermont and youre sick of snow. You want to get away from the snow for your wedding or elopement. Follow the sun! Florida, California, Arizona, Hawaii and Mexico.

Phoenix, Arizona may seem like a furnace during the summer, but for winter weddings, it offers nice weather, luxurious spas and resorts, as well as the Desert Botanical Gardens in which to host your wedding.

While California beaches may be colder during the winter months, they still are beautiful places to wed. And, during the winter months, you can practically have some romantic beach spots to yourselves.

Winter weddings can offer so many choices. The hard part will be deciding which wonderful wedding destination to choose.

Shari Hearn is a writer and creator of Destination Weddings and Ski Vacations websites.

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7 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Buy A New Wedding Dress

7 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Buy A New Wedding Dress
By Emma Goddard

Every bride wants to look her best for her big day; it is the day when you want to shine and stand out as you walk down the aisle. One of the most important things a bride considers about her big day is of course the wedding gown. It should be the dress of your dreams and you should feel like a princess. However buying a new wedding dress isnt always the best option. Here are 7 reasons why you shouldnt buy a new wedding dress.

1.Perhaps the biggest reason that goes against purchasing a new wedding dress is the cost. Wedding dresses average from the cheapest at around 350 to well over 6,000, of course while it is your big day, it is a lot of money for a dress. If you are on a budget then buying a second hand dress could save you hundreds which could go towards other costs.

2.You are only going to be wearing the gown for a few hours on your big day and this is more relevant if you are going to change clothes for your evening reception. So you should ask yourself whether the few hours wear is worth the cost of buying a new dress.

3.Wearing a second hand wedding dress that has been passed down through the family holds more sentimental value than going out and buying a brand new one. You should take this into account when considering whether to go with new or old.

4.If you spend hundreds of pounds on a new dress, you could be on tenterhooks all day making sure you dont have an accident which could ruin your dress, especially if you want to recoup your costs by selling it in the future.

5.If you are thinking of buying a new wedding dress solely for the impact it will have on your guests, then remember that it is only the initial first 10 minutes or so that they see you in it that matters. After this, the wow factor wears off and only you know whether your dress was brand new or second hand.

6.Consider whats going to happen to the dress after your big day. If you spend hundreds on a new dress how are you going to preserve it and store it for the future? If you plan on keeping it for your daughter, it could cost a lot to keep it in good condition.

7.It isnt the cost of the dress or the designer name on the dress that matters or the fact that your dress is brand new or second hand. You are all that matters, you make the dress and your day. A good quality second hand wedding dress can be bought for only a fraction of the cost of a new one and you will still stand out.

Emma Goddard is Marketing Director of Share the Dream. Share the Dream is an internet based bridal advertising site which brings together buyers and sellers of new and pre-worn wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses and accessories. Our service is available in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and we have hundreds of gorgeous bridal gowns and wedding attire available for sale at any one time.

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Wedding Basics Getting Your Wedding Organized!

Wedding Basics - Getting Your Wedding Organized!
By Lesley-Ann Graham

Your wedding day should go smoothly and without a hitch, and the key to this is good organization well in advance of your wedding day. Here are a few tips to help you deal with the pressure of planning your wedding.

First things first...

1. Buy a pretty notebook, or even a nice blank book. If you have everything wedding-related written down in the same place, it's hard to lose bits or forget details. Carry the notebook everywhere so you'll have it when you need it - and later it can be a keepsake. Write down:

a. Phone numbers

b. Tips for decoration

c. Vendor information

d. Guests

e. Notes

2. Keep loose data like wedding receipts together with an accordion folder. This is a paper or plastic enclosed file holder with pockets. Plastic's your best bet because it's easier to change labels. Label sections as you accumulate those loose papers: receipts, invoices, RSVPs, ideas and articles, etc.

3. Depend on a computer. There are good wedding software programs for guest tracking, gift tracking, menu selections, table assignments, budgeting, and even a calendar; the best ones will do it all for between $35-60. You can even do it yourself if you're good with Excel, and some starter templates are free to download from the Microsoft Excel website. Be sure to print everything out in case of crashes.

4. Use index cards in a box to keep your wedding guests organized. Buy a little box, 3 x 5 cards, and alphabetical dividers, and assign one card per guest, couple, or family. You can even buy computer paper that tears down into cards, if you really want to be organized. On the card, include information like:

a. Name, address, and phone number

b. RSVP response

c. Gifts given

d. Thank you note

e. Table assignment

f. Menu choice

5. Maintain a to-do list for the major wedding-related jobs. If you use Outlook, this is easy to put together and print out with their Taskpad, along with percentage completion. If you prefer, though, you can just do it by hand. From your large list, you can break out smaller tasks, timelines, and tasks you can give other people. This makes those huge jobs manageable, and you also have the satisfaction of marking each off upon completion.

6. Maintain a wedding calendar with appointments, deadlines, and critical tasks. Again, in Outlook, this is easy to do and to integrate with Taskpad's list. Every task you have listed should have at least one deadline in the calendar. For a great list of tasks and when to do them, consult our Ultimate Wedding Planning Toolkit's workbook.

Lesley-Ann Graham runs WeddingTrix.com - a valuable wedding planning resource with articles, tips and advice to help you plan your perfect wedding. The Bride, Groom, Best Man, Bridesmaids and Groomsmen can find it all at http://www.WeddingTrix.com

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National Park Weddings

National Park Weddings
By Kathleen Terrana

For the bride and groom who want to be married near the grandeur of magnificent trees, waterfalls, rivers, lakes and mountains, a National Park could be the perfect venue. After completing an online application, you will be issued a permit at a cost of $150.00. Weddings may be scheduled up to one year in advance and not less than 3 weeks prior to your wedding.

There may be many restrictions associated with having your wedding at a National Park. The wedding permit does not allow your ceremony to restrict other park visitors from your chosen location. Entrance fees into the park are not waived for guests or wedding participants. In most parks, time allowed for outdoor events is three hours. Wedding permits are not issued for heavy use periods-Memorial Day weekend, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day weekend. An additional charge of $50.00 per hour may be incurred for an Event Monitor for those outdoor activities of 50 people or more. No amplified music or public address systems are allowed in some parks.

Here are some restrictions specifically for Yosemite National Park, but may apply to other parks as well:

Weddings are not allowed around the bases of Sequoia trees.

The release of butterflies is prohibited.

Birdseed or rice may not be thrown within the park as this provides an unnatural food source for park wildlife.

The use of balloons or other types of decorations will not be authorized.

No event or directional signs are allowed.

Picnic areas may not be reserved and are only available on a first-come basis. The permittee is responsible for the cleanup of the site and all trash. Yosemite National Park Rangers strictly enforce all laws relating to excessive drinking.

Chairs, tables or other furniture are not allowed at the site of your wedding unless a picnic area is used.

With careful planning and communication with the National Park of your choice, you can celebrate your wedding day surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. These are some of the best the United States has to offer, but there are many more:

Bryce Canyon (Utah) -Area of brilliantly colored eroded rocks
Carlsbad Caverns (New Mexico) -The world's largest known caves
Grand Teton (Wyoming) -Picturesque range of high mountain peaks
Mesa Verde (Colorado) -Best preserved prehistoric cliff dwellings in the United States
Shenandoah (Virginia) -Scenic Skyline Drive; tree-covered mountains
Yellowstone (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho) -World's greatest geyser area; abundant canyons, falls, and wildlife
Yosemite (California) -Mountains, gorges and waterfalls, giant sequoias
Zion (Utah) -Multicolored gorge in the heart of Utah desert

Kathleen Terrana is the previous owner of Elegant Rentals and the current owner of Beautiful Bridal.

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