One of my good high school friends got married last weekend. It was the first time Tony and I had been to a wedding since our own, and as the day approached, I was interested to see what it would be like from the sidelines.
It felt romantic to watch the bride and groom go through what we had experienced only a few months ago and I felt more touched than before to share in their event. I was quick to stand up as she walked down the aisle and to compliment the couple on how beautiful they looked. I clapped harder when they were introduced as Mr. and Mrs. and tried to be one of the first on the dance floor.
It also was easy to start comparing: Was our ceremony as intimate? Did we get more people on the dance floor? Was the food as delicious? But I realized, it’s just different.
Though millions of couples get married every year, the choices they’ve made along the way make their event one-of-a-kind. I had grown apart from my friend since she moved to Colorado for college, but seeing the colors of her bridesmaid dresses (blue, one of her favorite colors), the dress (mermaid shaped, which only she could pull off) or the cake (with funky stripes) reminded me of her fun and quirky personality.
They also came up with things I never would have thought of, such as using goldfish as table decorations (though I had to wonder what happened to the poor fish after the party) and a photo booth for a guest book. I loved the appetizers before dinner, no assigned seating and, best of all, Fat Tire on tap! And wished other parts had been better, such as the dancing (which waned for a bit when the photo booth arrived late, just as the dance began). Then again, the groom got up on the stage and started doing karaoke, which immediately got people rolling.
It reminded me that no matter how many people have gone through it before, it feels as though you’re the first. And it is special because of who you are and what the two of you have become.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Web site basics
The thought of making a Web site for your wedding may seem like a tedious project, but in today’s technologically savvy era, it’s the best way to communicate with your guests, build excitement for the wedding and even collect RSVPs.
Plus, many programs give you the basic template; all you have to do is fill in the content.
I used http://www.weddingtracker.com/. The design is very basic – you only get to choose from a few template options – but it offers several categories, including a couple of pages you can customize. It’s more in-depth than The Knot (which offers a free one-page-only Web site), and you get a discount for being a Knot member (which costs nothing to join).
The sections on our site were:
Introduction: A photograph of Tony and me with a short biography detailing how we met.
Events: The name of the church and reception site, time of each event and directions.
Accommodations: A couple of hotel options with direct links to their Web sites.
Attendants: A photo and fun description of each person in the wedding party. This section received the biggest reaction.
Photo album: We posted photos of our new house before the wedding, and then wedding and honeymoon photos afterward, which people could order directly from the Web site.
Registry: Links to where we registered (so we didn’t have to put them in the invitation – a faux pas).
Things to do: A special section with a list of activities for our out-of-town guests to explore, with some emergency contact information as well.
Guest book: A place where people could post a message (which I had to approve before it went public to avoid spam).
RSVP: Rather than send reply cards through the mail, our guests could enter a password and reply directly on the Web site. (It saved on postage costs and paper!)
Plus, many programs give you the basic template; all you have to do is fill in the content.
I used http://www.weddingtracker.com/. The design is very basic – you only get to choose from a few template options – but it offers several categories, including a couple of pages you can customize. It’s more in-depth than The Knot (which offers a free one-page-only Web site), and you get a discount for being a Knot member (which costs nothing to join).
The sections on our site were:
Introduction: A photograph of Tony and me with a short biography detailing how we met.
Events: The name of the church and reception site, time of each event and directions.
Accommodations: A couple of hotel options with direct links to their Web sites.
Attendants: A photo and fun description of each person in the wedding party. This section received the biggest reaction.
Photo album: We posted photos of our new house before the wedding, and then wedding and honeymoon photos afterward, which people could order directly from the Web site.
Registry: Links to where we registered (so we didn’t have to put them in the invitation – a faux pas).
Things to do: A special section with a list of activities for our out-of-town guests to explore, with some emergency contact information as well.
Guest book: A place where people could post a message (which I had to approve before it went public to avoid spam).
RSVP: Rather than send reply cards through the mail, our guests could enter a password and reply directly on the Web site. (It saved on postage costs and paper!)
Another popular idea (which we chose not to do) is to give your guest a poll, such as where you should take your honeymoon.
Though it took a while to compile all the information, it was worth it to see the number of page views and guest book comments we received. We also avoided having to call guests individually to tell them where to stay or how to get to the church.
Just make sure to print the Web address on your Save-the-Date cards and invitations.
Best advice: research a program you like and take the time to develop a Web site. It’s a great way to personalize your wedding, share information with guests (who often forget the details and need a reference) and start putting the pieces of your wedding together.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Keeping your focus
As I watch some of my friends start the wedding planning process and others nearing the big day, I am reminded of the chaos I too experienced. The constant to-do lists, badgering of parents and planners to make decisions and the rush-and-wait, rush-and-wait pace of the past year.
The first couple of months were especially tough, as we had to quickly decide where to host the wedding and reception to determine the date. Then came the constant tasks of picking a caterer, flower person, band, etc. And eventually, the final two weeks I went into hyper mode. I was doing something every waking minute, whether it was running errands or finishing work projects before my two-week vacation.
Planning a wedding becomes a part-time job. And being so overwhelmed most of the time, I often broke down or would forgo personal time. Though this is an obvious consequence of taking on any major project, there are ways to keep it all in perspective. Here are a few ideas that will help you take a deep breath and regain focus of your life.
Have a date night. Keep one night open each week to hang out with your fiancé. Turn off your cellphone; don’t run errands. Instead, plan something fun, whether it’s going out to eat or going on a walk. Just enjoy spending time together.
Go girls’ night. Not the bachelorette party kind. Just the one where you sit around with your best friends and watch a movie or grab a few drinks. Wedding talk is off limits. Remember, you picked your pals because you enjoy hanging out with them, not because they’re good planners or errand runners. (Idea compliments of a co-worker.)
Exercise. It sounds simple, because most prospective brides want to look their best on their big day anyway, but it’s easy to let activities go when you’re so busy. Plan your workout schedule at the start of each week and try to stick to it. Invite a friend to go on a weekly walk, so you can catch up at the same time.
Plan a mini vacation. It doesn’t have to be more than a day getaway, but pick a fun destination a few hours away and get out of town.
Make time for you. Set aside a few minutes every day to read, write in a journal or play guitar. Anything that rejuvenates you.
Celebrate your progress. Invite your parents and his out to dinner to talk about your accomplishments so far. Don’t go with an agenda of things that need to get discussed about the wedding. Instead, enjoy the meal and the company.
Relax as you plan. Buy a nice bottle of wine, order takeout, and cuddle up with your fiancé to talk about your wedding. That way you get a date and some important wedding topics discussed. (Idea compliments of a co-worker.)
Coming up next: Designing a Web site
The first couple of months were especially tough, as we had to quickly decide where to host the wedding and reception to determine the date. Then came the constant tasks of picking a caterer, flower person, band, etc. And eventually, the final two weeks I went into hyper mode. I was doing something every waking minute, whether it was running errands or finishing work projects before my two-week vacation.
Planning a wedding becomes a part-time job. And being so overwhelmed most of the time, I often broke down or would forgo personal time. Though this is an obvious consequence of taking on any major project, there are ways to keep it all in perspective. Here are a few ideas that will help you take a deep breath and regain focus of your life.
Have a date night. Keep one night open each week to hang out with your fiancé. Turn off your cellphone; don’t run errands. Instead, plan something fun, whether it’s going out to eat or going on a walk. Just enjoy spending time together.
Go girls’ night. Not the bachelorette party kind. Just the one where you sit around with your best friends and watch a movie or grab a few drinks. Wedding talk is off limits. Remember, you picked your pals because you enjoy hanging out with them, not because they’re good planners or errand runners. (Idea compliments of a co-worker.)
Exercise. It sounds simple, because most prospective brides want to look their best on their big day anyway, but it’s easy to let activities go when you’re so busy. Plan your workout schedule at the start of each week and try to stick to it. Invite a friend to go on a weekly walk, so you can catch up at the same time.
Plan a mini vacation. It doesn’t have to be more than a day getaway, but pick a fun destination a few hours away and get out of town.
Make time for you. Set aside a few minutes every day to read, write in a journal or play guitar. Anything that rejuvenates you.
Celebrate your progress. Invite your parents and his out to dinner to talk about your accomplishments so far. Don’t go with an agenda of things that need to get discussed about the wedding. Instead, enjoy the meal and the company.
Relax as you plan. Buy a nice bottle of wine, order takeout, and cuddle up with your fiancé to talk about your wedding. That way you get a date and some important wedding topics discussed. (Idea compliments of a co-worker.)
Coming up next: Designing a Web site
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
