Wedding Video Highlights

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One of my favorite trends in wedding videos is highlight videos. Basically, Wedding Film Highlights draw out the best moments of the wedding day and put them together in a 10 or 15 minute overview.
Wedding Video highlight films are great gifts for wedding party participants, family members, and guests. Let’s face it, aside from the bride and groom and close friends and family members, very few people want to sit through an entire wedding video. When done well, these shorter wedding films are able to capture the mood of the day and all of the significant nuances in one quick and easy to watch movie.

The most challenge aspect of wedding highlight videos used to be distribution. In addition to writing all of the thank you notes, couples had to also mail out DVDs so they could share the highlight films with friends and family.

Enter Viddia.com! Couples can share their upload their videos and share them with anyone at any time – for free!

I know it seems like I’m “selling” Viddia’s community in today’s blog and to some degree I guess I am. I think Viddia offers an amazing service to couples and I want everyone to know about it! All videos on are of high quality (they aren’t grainy and hard to see) and I like that site focuses on the wedding community.

Take look at a few wedding highlight videos on our site and tell me what you think of the concept:

Highlight One

Highlight Two

Highlight Three

To Toss or Not to Toss?

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So, maybe an alternative bouquet isn’t for you. If you do carry a traditional floral bouquet, then I have to address the dreaded “tossing of the bouquet” tradition.

The original belief behind the bouquet toss dates back to a time when herbs contained in the bridal bouquet were thought to bring good luck; the bride would pass this luck to a friend by presenting her with the wedding bouquet. Today, the belief is that the person who catches the bouquet will be the next to marry.

As a bride, it’s a lot of fun to make all of your single girlfriends, sister, cousins, aunts, and neighbors line up to catch your bouquet. As a single woman, it’s not a fun experience to be placed on display as “single and looking.” There you are, standing among the other single woman who can’t catch a man and are fighting over a flower arrangement so you can be the next lucky gal to validate her existence by being married. Okay, biting sarcasm aside, it really is a humiliating experience.

If you make a mad dive for the bouquet, then you look like an aggressive, desperate competitor; if you stand back and don’t make an effort at all, you like a stick in the mud. Let’s face it - finding a happy medium while still trying to maintain your grace and composure isn’t an easy task to master. I vote for a new tradition of not humiliating single women and instead paying tribute to your guests.

I love what my sister did at her wedding. The DJ asked all married couples to get on the dance floor and join my sister and brother-in-law for a couples dance. A few minutes into the song, he made a comment about how many couples were on the floor and asked the “newlyweds” to leave the floor (this eliminated Marcella and Dennis). Next, the DJ commented that anyone married under five years was still a newlywed, so he asked them to leave the dance floor. Slowly but surely, he narrowed down the couples to all but one – the couple who had been married the longest. Marcella then presented her bridal bouquet to the longest standing bride. (There wasn’t a dry eye in the house!)

I think this is an excellent way to honor your guests and save the single women from the “look at me I’m single” parade. And, if you can’t bear to part with your bouquet, you can always have a smaller “throwing” bouquet to give away.

What do you think?

She Carried What?

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While flowers have different meanings (e.g. tulips are the symbol of the perfect lover; orchids symbolize magnificence; daisies symbolize gentleness or innocence; and red roses symbolize love), many brides select their bridal bouquets purely for esthetic reasons.

If you’re confused about bouquet styles, perfect-wedding-day.com is a great reference. They have descriptions and corresponding pictures to help differentiate between a Nosegay and a Cascading Bouquet.

In lieu of more traditional bouquets, a lot of brides are opting to carry more non-traditional assortments as they walk down the aisle. For those daring enough to break from convention, here a few of the more unique ideas I discovered:

• A bell
• A book
• A fan
• A Muff
• Basket
• Bowl of candy
• Candle
• Confetti
• Family pet
• Handkerchief
• Lantern
• Lego bouquet
• Light saber
• Parasol
• Photo of a family member
• Pinecone bouquet
• Purse
• Sculpture
• Sparkler
• Stuffed Animal
• The Groom’s Ring
• Wand
• Wreath

Wow! Who would have thought there were so many alternatives to flowers? While some of the choices might be a bit out there, I like the idea of the bride and groom making this aspect of the wedding unique.

What other ideas or suggestions do you have?

Who Gives this Woman?

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Marrying for love is a relatively new concept. Historically, marriages were arranged for legal, financial, and social reasons. Two families who were of similar social standings would enter into a marriage contract, betrothing their children in a contractual relationship for the good of both families. If a family was more liberated and allowed their daughter to choose her suitor, there were still pre-marital provisions that would-be grooms needed to meet. Often, the groom (or his family) was required to pay a price for the bride’s dowry (i.e. possessions and money that she took with her into the marriage).

On the day of the wedding, the father of the bride would present his daughter to the groom. This act of “giving away” acknowledged that all contracts had been fulfilled and she was no longer the responsibility of the family. Today, when a father gives his daughter away, it is a symbolic gesture that she enters into the union with his blessing.

Since many couples live together before getting married and actually pay for their own wedding, more brides are opting to walk down the aisle alone. Personally, I think it’s a nice gesture to have your father give you away, but, for a more contemporary approach to the “wedding march,” why not have the bride and groom walk down the aisle together?

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about the trend of brides and grooms seeing each other before the ceremony. If a couple decides to take a few stolen moments together before the ceremony, I think walking down the aisle together would be a wonderful way for them to show their unity and solidarity as a couple.

Share your thoughts on this idea – I’d love to hear what you think!

Mmmm Cake!

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One of the best parts about planning the wedding reception is the cake tasting. Not only can today’s wedding cakes be decorated in non-traditional and fun shapes and sizes, they also come in some amazing flavors. Say good-bye to boring white cake with butter cream frosting and say hello to chocolate papaya, peanut butter cup, pineapple coconut, and bananas foster flavored cakes. Now, a new problem emerges – which one do you select?

I have the perfect solution: select all of them!

I’m not suggesting that you have different flavored layers for your cake (although that is an option) – this also solves the problem of guest table decorations.

Wedding cake centerpieces:

Instead of spending more money on flowers or frilly centerpieces, you can use smaller wedding cakes as your guest table centerpieces. Not only does this solve the centerpiece dilemma, but it can also make the cake cutting ceremony more interactive and save your guests from having to wait in line for a piece of cake.

You can be as creative as you’d like. Here are a few ways you can incorporate this idea into your wedding reception:

· A larger wedding cake (real or Styrofoam) with individual replicas of the cake for each guest presented on a tiered centerpiece on each guest table

· A mid-sized cakes that serve 8-10 people at each table

You don’t have to have the miniature cakes as the centerpiece to the guest tables, you can set up a “cake table” or you can use the miniature cakes as customized place cards.

I guess you could say that with this idea, you can have your cake and eat it, too. (Yeah, I went there.)

Wedding cake centerpiece photos courtsey of Scrumptions

Trash the Dress

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Truth be told, I’m not a traditionalist and rarely am I sentimental. I throw away birthday cards shortly after I read them, I don’t save movie ticket stubs, and I don’t save flowers by pressing them into books. I’ve never been one to save things for the sake of saving them, so you might think that I’d be onboard with one of the hottest trends in wedding dresses these days - “trashing the dress.” I don't agree with this trend and I can't understand why, when there are hundreds of things to do after a wedding, one would chose to be destructive.

What is "Trashing the Dress?"
Basically, after the wedding, the bride has a photo shoot of her ruining her wedding gown. The bride will play in the mud, wade in a lake, swim in the ocean, graffiti art her dress or she'll rip, cut it, shred it, or do something else to destroy her gown.

The belief behind this trend is to make a dramatic statement to your new husband – to show him that you are committed to him by completely destroying your wedding gown. Proponents of trashing the dress claim that it’s a symbolic act of love. Do these people have any idea what symbolism actually is?

The act of destroying a wedding dress doesn't symbolize love - it is an act of destruction that symbolizes lack of respect and reverence for the attire a bride wore when she committed herself to her husband. I’m not being a stodgy traditionalist – I’m simply pointing out what it actually does symbolize.

Let’s call trashing the dress what it really is – self indulgent hype. It’s not edgy or creative; it’s an angry and decadent gesture. If a bride really wanted to make a symbolic act to communicate her love and commitment to her new husband, she would choose to give, not destroy.

Instead of ruining her wedding gown, she could chose to donate it to Brides Against Breast Cancer knowing that her donation would help make a difference in the lives of thousands of men and women who are losing their fight against cancer. That would be truly symbolic gesture of love - giving selflessly for the betterment of others.

Playing Dress Up

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A few years ago, I attended the wedding of a friend’s co-worker. The bride and groom were Thai and they had a traditional Thai wedding. Since my friend and I weren’t party of the family, we weren’t invited to attend the actually wedding ceremony, which took place in the early afternoon.

The reception was held at 6:00pm in a private restaurant. Upon arrival to the reception, I noticed something unique – there was a large framed picture of the bride and groom in their wedding attire. It was obvious the picture had been taken prior to the wedding. (I was later informed that this is customary.)

As we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by the bride, the groom and their parents. We were then ushered over to the gift reception area where we signed the guest book, deposited our gift, and waited in line to have our picture taken with the bride and groom.

Around 7:00 pm, we began to enjoy our seven (yes seven!) course dinner. Shortly after we ate, the Master of Ceremonies began the formal ceremony. What really caught my attention was the bride…right after the cake cutting ceremony, she made a grand reappearance in a stunning red evening gown. Her hair had changed from a partial up-do to a long, sleek cascade that framed her face and her make-up was a little more dramatic. As I understand it, it’s customary for Thai brides to change into a more festive gown for the reception once all of the wedding traditions are complete.

It seems now that this idea is catching on with western brides who are eager to ditch the formal white gown in favor of something a little more dramatic and colorful. While I think many traditionalists will balk at the idea of a bride changing out of her gown mid-ceremony, I think it’s a great way for the bride to infuse her own style into the day/

What do you think about this idea?

Something Borrowed

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I’ve been discussing wedding trends lately and despite all of the new ways to make wedding celebrations more personalized, there’s one tradition I’m sure most brides plan on keeping: having something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue (and maybe a few will put a lucky sixpence in her shoe?).

Understanding the meaning behind traditions helps add relevancy. Take a look at the symbolic meaning behind each item:

· Something old symbolizes the bride’s connection with her family and the past
· Something new symbolizes optimism and hope for the bride’s future with her husband
· Something borrowed symbolizes the sharing of good fortune
· Something blue symbolizes love, modesty, purity, and fidelity
· The sixpence symbolizes for wealth and good fortune

Now that you know the meaning for each of these items, I have a fun way to incorporate the borrowed, old, or blue into your wedding day:

Bag Borrow or Steal

Bag Borrow of Steal is the internet’s premier “luxury on loan” retailer and in a word - they’re fabulous! Bag Borrow or Steal allows women to borrow designer handbags and jewelry online for any occasion for as long as they’d like. Rental agreements can be set up on a weekly or monthly basis and there are never any late fees. What’s great about this concept is that borrows have the option to purchase an item if they find that they really like it.

I think this is a fantastic option for brides who are looking to add some real bling to their wedding accessories. What bride would want to wear rhinestones when she can borrow a stunning three karat Charriol diamond bracelet or a breathtaking Gucci blue topaz and diamond ring?

I'm really in love with the concept of Bag Borrow or Steal. Their service provides brides more options to find the perfect, timeless, and authentic wedding accessory without breaking the bank!

Tell me what you think. . .

Disaster Recovery!

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I had some computer issues over the weekend that got me thinking about disaster recovery plans. Just like the brides who think “nothing bad could ever happen to me,” I, too, had the same thoughts about my computer. I know that I should back up my work; however, I have relatively new system, I use two different kinds of spyware programs, and work behind a firewall, and I run security programs at all times. I never download anything from unknown websites, I have spam protection on my email address that blocks content from unknown senders, and I floss after every meal. :) Until Saturday, I felt pretty secure with my system. And then something unthinkable happened – my system starting shutting down every time I fired it up. I’d see the Windows loading screen for a moment and then my computer would just shut itself down. After trying to restart it several times, cleaning the fans, trying to hit F and denying there was a problem, I finally decided to turn my system over to someone else for diagnosis.

This whole episode got me thinking about disaster recovery plans for weddings. Believe it or not, there is such thing as wedding insurance; this valuable insurance can help protect you again the unexpected…you know, the things you never thought could happen to you.

Essentially, wedding insurance is a specific type of insurance policy that reimburses you for expenses incurred for your wedding should the unthinkable happen. It covers everything from incremental weather, injury, loss of items, and illness.

Here’s an example of things that wedding insurance can cover:

· Corporate relocation (e.g. the groom’s company is bought out and he has to relocate to another state)
· Gifts (theft or loss)
· Honeymoon insurance
· Illness (including bride, groom, or essential wedding party members)
· Incremental weather
· Injury (including bride, groom, or essential wedding party members)
· Military duty
· Personal liability (covers injury or property damage that occurs during wedding events)
· Photography (damage to photos and/or photographer no show)
· Unable to use or access ceremony and Reception Sites
· Vendor cancellation
· Videographer (damage to video and/or videographer no show)
· Wedding attire (loss or damage to the gown or tuxedo)

Wedding insurance can cost anywhere from $100.00 to $1,000.00 depending on the type, and amount, of coverage you want.

I’m not one to encourage people to spend money unless absolutely necessary; however, the old adage “better safe than sorry” feels somewhat relevant this Monday morning. While I wish there wasn’t a need for things like wedding insurance, the regrettable truth is that it’s there for a reason. The peace of mind, along with the real coverage, that Wedding Insurance offers is well worth the investment.

Share your thoughts about wedding insurance by posting a comment!

A Rose By Any Other Name

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When speaking to Juliet about their family’s adversarial relationship, Shakespeare’s Romeo proclaimed,

“What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet”

The Bard’s basic message was that it doesn’t matter what something is called, what matters is what the object means. Is that true for all names? Even last names?

As many of you are aware, most brides take on their new husband’s last name to show family unity and solidarity. I did some research on the origins of this tradition and all I could really find is that it doesn’t have a clearly defined history. As far as I can tell, women have been taking their husband’s names since ~1450 B.C. That’s almost 3,500 years. It’s safe to say this tradition is ingrained in our culture.

Enter the 21st century and progressive men who don’t care what other people think - they want to make a powerful declaration of love to their brides. They aren’t afraid of challenging the patriarchal tradition in place by taking their bride’s name after marriage.

I think it takes a strong man to make this decision. Not because I’m tied to a name but because of the social ramifications that come with it. How will his coworkers respond? Will he be ridiculed? Will his friends make “whip” noises when he tells them? What about his parents? Chances are if they’re traditionalists, they will not approve. In fact, most state governments don’t see this as a viable option for grooms.

Currently, there are only six states in the nation who have the option for grooms to change their name as effortlessly as the brides (GA, HA, IA, MA, ND, and NY). In other states, it’s not as easy. It’s a time consuming and expensive legal process which may include signing a petition and appearing before a judge. Wow, talk about a double standard.

I agree with Ol'Bill - it doesn't matter what name is associated to the things I love...the name is merely a label. Whether I call my mother "Mom", "Mommy" "Ma" or by her first name, my feelings for her remain the same. So should it be for those who wish to change their name after being married. If Bob Jones wants to become Bob Smith because he's marrying Sue Smith, it should be as effortless for him as it is for her to become Sue Jones.

Thoughts?

May the Vows be with You

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Another recent trend with weddings is to create a theme. This goes beyond the picking of a color scheme, having similar necklines for bridesmaid dresses, or coordinating the wedding favors – I’m talking about full themes. I’ve come across a few different ideas:

Beach Party
Disney
Flower Power
Garden Theme
Medieval
Muppets
Nifty 50s
Renaissance
Smurfs
Star Trek
The Roaring 20’s
Victorian
Winter Wonderland
Star Wars

If you can imagine it, it can be done. While the thought of having Darth Vador officiate your ceremony may not be your dream wedding, for the couple who attends Star Wars conventions, a Star Wars Wedding may be a dream come true.

I think that theme weddings are a fun and whimsical way to allow your personality and taste come through while really making the day unique and personal. Just keep in mind that it you can have various degrees of a theme from something as simple as a Mickey and Minnie Mouse cake topper to something as elaborate as a full masquerade ball where all guests come in costume.

What kind of theme wedding would you have?

A New Twist

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For years, brides and grooms have been taking formal dancing lessons to help them be more graceful on the dance floor. As such, it’s common to see a waltz, a tango, and maybe even a swing dance for the bride and groom’s first time dancing together as husband and wife. In the past few years, a new trend is emerging - choreographed dances. I’m not talking about the chicken dance, hokey pokey, or the electric slide…this is an entirely different spin.

Take the Thriller and Baby Got Back videos, for example. It’s clear that this was a choreographed effort by the bride and groom that took a lot of time and effort to execute. I can only imagine everyone rehearsing for this in their living rooms. Here’s a more interesting question: how did the bride and groom approach this with wedding party? “Sue, you mean so much to me as a friend and I really want you to be one of my bridesmaids…and oh yeah, you’re going need to perform a choreographed dance.” And when did they find time to rehearse? I have visions of them in practicing in living rooms, dance halls, and city parks.

Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a great idea. I’ve always been a fan of musicals. I’m all in favor of people bursting out into song for no other reason that they’re in a yellow wheeled surry, and I think that people should break out into dance in rain storms or every time they overhaul a car and install a Palomino dashboard. What I didn’t realize is that other people share my secret fantasy of living in a musical!

While some may say these choreographed dances are a too contrived, I think they add a fun new twist (pun intended) to the wedding reception. The only thing that I would suggest is to include the all of the guests so no one feels left out. You can still have an “opening act” with the wedding party doing the well rehearsed choreographed dance first, but after that, I would play the song again and invite all guests to participate. I guarantee your guests will have fun and it will make your wedding video all the more entertaining to watch in years to come.

What do you think?

Did You See That?

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I started thinking about the recent trend of brides and grooms seeing each other before the wedding ceremony. This got me thinking about how the superstition arose to begin with. After a lot of Googling, I still don’t have a clear answer. The theories are varied…some people think it dates back to pre-arranged marriages when the bride and groom finally met at the altar, some people are superstitious and believe it’s simply bad luck for couples to see each other, others contend that it makes for a dramatic ceremony, while others don’t appear to care one way or the other.

When I began writing this, I couldn’t decide if I was for or against the idea. The traditionalist in me wanted to immediately reject it, but the more research I did, and the more I thought about it, the more I believe it’s more romantic for couples to actually see each other prior to the ceremony.

A wedding ceremony is a sacred event. Two people are coming together and pledging to share their lives with each other – that is a very personal, intimate decision that shouldn’t resemble the paparazzi trying to get photos of Britney.

When couples see each other before the ceremony, it allows the event to be more intimate. Without having all of their guests eyes fixated on them, the couple can share that moment of first sight in private where they can actually have a conversation with each other. And, isn't that what the day is supposed to be all about - the couple?

From a more pragmatic point-of-view, it allows the couple to have their pictures taken in a relaxed setting without having to worry about hurrying to the reception sight – they can help calm each other’s nerves about the events of the day as they begin creating their memories of the day.

I know it’s a non-traditional approach, but I think it’s a trend whose time has come. What do you think?

The Guest Book Attendant – A BS Job?

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I recently watched an episode of Sex in the City where Miranda felt like the invisible woman as she was left “in charge” of the wedding guest-book. In her words, “it’s a BS job.” She states that everybody knows what to do…there’s the book and you sign your name. How hard can that be? This got me to wondering if the duties of the Guest Book Attendant are, in fact, a BS job?

I did a quick Google search the duties of Guest Book Attendants and here’s what I came up with:

· Dress in appropriate wedding attire
· Arrive at ceremony site at scheduled time
· Greet guests at entrance to ceremony and ask them to sign the guest book
· Greet guests at reception site entrance and ask if they have already signed the guest book
· Make sure the parents of the Bride and Groom sign the guest book
· Ensure the Wedding Party signs the guest book
· Keep the Guest Book safe

Yep, it’s kind of a BS job. Years ago, the guest book was use to help couples keep track of who attended the wedding and to help start a formal address book. With advances in technology, most people have email address programs like Outlook that help organize addresses, so the good ‘ol Guest Book usually gets placed in a box in a closest to collect dust.

Instead of going with the traditional guest book and the role that accompanies it, I think couples should personalize the both. Imagine having a collection of spur-of-the-moment pictures and personalized messages to help commemorate the day. How much more fun would that be to reflect upon than a list of names and addresses? If you like the idea, then you should look into having a personalized instant photo guest book.

An instant photo guest book combines a photo album and a guest book into one unique collection of memories. Instead of simply asking wedding guests to enter their information in the guest book registry, your Photo Book Attendant will take spontaneous instant pictures of your guests during the reception, place those pictures on a photo book page, and ask guests to share their thoughts and comments in a personal message to you below their picture.

I found a couple of companies who offer photo guest books:

http://www.beau-coup.com/personalized-instant-photo-guest-books.htm
http://www.adessoalbums.com/

In addition to capturing more memories of your wedding day, an instant photo guest book will finally allow you to ditch the BS Guest Book job and make your Photo Book Attendant a dynamic and import part of your day.

Share your thoughts on this topic...

Table for Two, Please

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A few of years ago I attended a wedding simply as a guest. For the first time in a while, I had no involvement in the wedding whatsoever. I didn’t help plan it, I wasn’t a bridesmaid, heck – I didn’t even have to do the guest book registry. I was looking forward to being a spectator and simply enjoying the festivities for the day.

Upon arriving to the reception site, the first thing that that I noticed was the prominent display of the Head Table. It truly was the focal point of the entire room – it was draped in white linen and flowers on a raised platform with several spot lights to draw more attention to the table. It was grotesque.

I immediately made my way to the bar and ordered a drink. Cocktail in hand, I set out to find my assigned table, still marveling at the Head Table. Upon finding Table #9, I instantly noticed who else was seated at my table - the three ushers. I soon learned the others at my table consisted of two wives of the groomsmen, one of the bridesmaid’s husbands, and a boyfriend of a bridesmaid.

As soon as the wedding party arrived and took their seats at the Head Table, you could see the annoyance on the faces of those at my table. Trying to lighten the mood, I smiled broadly and asked everyone how they were enjoying the wedding. My question was met by sullen grumbles. After making a few runs to the bar to ensure the cocktails were flowing freely at Table 9, everyone started to loosen up a little and speak freely.

The mood at my table was not very festive. It seemed everyone was fixated on the Head Table and those at Table #9 were even more engrossed with the display, seeing as they had loved ones who were sitting up there. Table 9 was actually resentful of the Head Table!

The wives of the groomsmen were irritated that their husbands were sitting next to other women, not them, and enjoying the reception. I tried to remind them that these “other women” were merely bridesmaids and their husbands were just fulfilling their wedding party duties – my comments fell on deaf ears. I recall one of them saying, “Watching them up there makes me feel like I’m a peasant viewing a royal party. They get to eat before everyone else, they only talk with each other, they have their drinks served to them while I have to go the bar, and they dance with each other before everyone else gets to dance. It’s like a caste system.”

I did my best "party-girl act" to keep the conversation flowing and the mood light but I couldn’t help but sympathize. Having been a bridesmaid being separated from my date, and being a separated date of a groomsman, I can attest it’s not a fun way to spend the reception. However, the bride and the groom are entitled to celebrate their day in whatever way they see fit. By the time everyone started dancing, all had been forgotten. Both of the groomsmen brought their chairs over to Table 9 and the bridesmaids and their dates found camp at another table.

I didn’t really give the “Head Table Caste System” much more thought until I attended the wedding reception of my friends, Elizabeth and Tim. Unlike Shelly, Elizabeth and Tim opted to have a table for two as their Head Table. No bridesmaids, no groomsmen - just the bride and the groom.

As I looked over at Elizabeth and Tim during the reception, it was charming to see them dining alone. I almost felt voyeuristic as I watched them exchange smiles and kisses, but watching them alone together gave more meaning the day. It wasn’t a show or parade, I got to witness my two friends, who are deeply in love, celebrate their union. It was tender, romantic, and sincere.

The bride and groom sitting alone at the Head Table is a growing trend. I, for one, am in favor of it. It allows those in the wedding party to spend time with their significant others or friends during the reception, it removes the separation between guest and wedding party member, and it places focus where it belongs – on the bride and groom.

What do you think?

This Wedding is for the Dogs!

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As couples attempt to make their wedding ceremonies more personal, many brides and grooms are opting to include pets on their special day. I suppose this shouldn’t be too surprising. It’s no secret that Americans are obsessed with our pets. We buy expensive gourmet food for them, we put them in day care while we’re at work, we have special hotels for them when we vacation, we buy them hygiene products and clothing, we take them to spas for grooming, we buy them health insurance, we spend millions of dollars on toys to entertain them, and when they die, we lay them to rest in special cemeteries.

For so many people, their pets are more than creatures they own – they are part of the family and it’s only natural to want to include members of your family in monumental life events such as a wedding.

I have two cats that I love and adore. They are a part of our family, but the idea of draping them in lace and trying to incorporate them into a wedding ceremony is ridiculously comical to me – probably because I know how they would react. I have visions of loud howling, furious scampering, and fur flying - not exactly ideal for a wedding ceremony. Dogs, on the other hand, are typically more social creatures that can easily be trained to participate in a wedding ceremony.

While it’s definitely non-traditional, including pets in your wedding ceremony is a great way to personalize your day, make it a little more fun, and remove a lot of the stodgy formality.

Before moving forward with having your dog participate in your wedding there are a few things you will need to consider:

Determine Your Dog’s Involvement
What role will your dog play in the wedding, if any? Dogs are typically incorporated into wedding ceremonies as bridesmaids, groomsmen, ring bearers, flower dogs, or are simply present during the ceremony as their owners exchange vows. Determine what level of involvement you want for your furry companion.

Find a Chaperone
No matter how well behaved your dog is, there’s going to be a lot going on and she may get nervous and excited with all the commotion. You will be too busy to keep her calm or tend to her biological needs. If you plan on bringing her to the reception, make sure you place someone responsible in charge of watching after her. Make sure that your dog chaperone is familiar with your dog. Introduce them well before the wedding and get her used to taking commands from the chaperone.

Doggie Attire
To help your dog look at little more festive for the wedding, you may want to consider having him dress the part. You can do something as simple as a bow tie/festive collar/ribbon around his neck or something as elaborate as a dog tuxedo.

Keep Your Guests in Mind
There are a lot of people who have a fear of dogs. If you plan on including your dog in your wedding, I recommend noting this on the invitation so you can accommodate guests who have a fear of dogs.

Get Permission
Don’t assume that because you love Fido and want him in the ceremony, it will be okay. Ensure that dogs are allowed in your ceremony and reception venue.

Is Spot Up to the Challenge?
You know your dog better than anyone else. Can he handle the stress of being around so much unfamiliar stimuli? Only include your dog if you feel that he will be able to easily adapt and adjust to rapidly changing conditions, without causing any unnecessary stress for him, or you.

If you’re unsure about your dog’s ability to be well-behaved during your wedding, you may opt just to have her included in your wedding photos. She’ll still be part of your day – with a lot less hassle.

It's All About You
Regardless of what you decide to do, remember your wedding should reflect you and your partner. You get to make it as personalized as you want, so if that includes Fido the Flower Dog carrying a basket of rose pedals in his mouth, then go for it!

As always, all comments to this blog are encouraged!

Time to Face the Music…err Crowd

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The last wedding ceremony I attended was beautiful. The church was dimly lit by candles and the aisle pews were covered in flowers. I didn’t have an aisle seat but enjoyed the ambiance nonetheless. As the bride made her way down the aisle with her father, I caught a glimpse of her smile through her lace shroud.

Once she reached the altar, I began staring at buttons on the back of her gown and contemplated counting them during the ceremony. Then, the most unusual thing happened…the bride and the groom moved away from each other at equal speed and distance. They each walked past the minister and then turned around to face their guests. The minister put his back to the pews as he performed the ceremony.

I have to admit I was a little taken back when this happened but it instantly piqued my interest in the ceremony. Not only could I hear everything that was being said, I could actually see the bride and groom as they exchanged their wedding vows and I actually felt more connected to event.

Later, after the wedding, I decided to do some more research on this topic and I discovered this is a growing trend for wedding ceremonies. More and more brides and grooms are opting to face their guests in an effort to make the ceremony more personalized.

I can understand how the thought of doing this might be more nerve racking for some brides or grooms, but the truth is once you’re exchanging vows, you’re not focusing on anything but your partner...everything else just fades out of focus.

Speaking from experience, I enjoyed the wedding ceremony a lot more because I was able to see my friend’s expressions as they made their promises to each other; I hope this is a trend that catches on.

What do you think? We'd love to hear your thoughts on this trend!

Fireworks on a Budget

Last week I wrote about having a fireworks display at your wedding. Fireworks are definitely a spectacular way to celebrate your wedding; unfortunately, not many couples have it in their budget for a large fireworks display. Never fear! The Virtual Bridesmaid is to the rescue! (Ta da!... can I have a cape?)

If you want the experience of having fireworks at your wedding but need a more cost effective solution, here are a few options:

1) Have an Indoor Display
Another option to a larger outdoor fireworks display is an indoor display. Indoor fireworks displays typically involve hiring pyro-technician professionals. They can create displays out of a main centerpiece (like an ice sculpture) or smaller displays on table centerpieces.

2) Have a Set Piece Display
A set piece display is an exhibit that a fireworks company puts together for you. Typically, the “set pieces” are arragned into letters that spell out a message such as “Congratulations”, “Best of Luck”, “Love”, “Bruce & Kathy” or they can be shaped to look like an object such as a heart, doves, or a wedding cake.

3) Use Sparklers
You can use sparklers in a number of ways:

Bridal Party
· Your bridesmaids can carry them down the isle
· Your bridesmaids and groomsmen can hold them as you enter the reception site
· Your bridesmaids and groomsmen can hold them during a group dance

Guests
· Your guests can hold them and form a line as you leave the ceremony site
· Your guests can hold them as you enter the reception site
· Your guests can hold them as they form a circle around you for your first dance
· Your guests can hold them as you depart the reception site

Other Options
· Wedding favors
· Placed in the wedding cake
· Placed in wedding cupcakes
· Centerpiece display
· Large sparklers can be put in the ground to line the driveway/path when you leave the reception site

Sparklers are considered novelties and can be ordered online and shipped anywhere nationwide. If you plan on using sparklers, please make sure that they are legal in your county. I've located a few websites that offer more information on wedding sparklers:

https://www.sparklersonline.com/
http://www.sparklingceremony.com/
http://www.buysparklers.com/

I hope this topic has sparked some creative ideas for you! ;)

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Celebrate Your Wedding with a Bang!

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Since today is July 4th, it feels appropriate to discuss another growing trend in weddings – having a fireworks display. If you have the money in your budget, fireworks displays are a fun and dramatic way to celebrate your wedding day.

Following a few things you should know about this growing trend:

The Timing
You can have a fireworks display shortly after your wedding ceremony, just after you arrive to the reception location, as an intermission to dinner, or to conclude the evening.

The Location
The best place for a fireworks display is an open space such as a field, over a body of water, or over a golf course. No matter where you chose to have the display, the display should not be over a heavily populated area.

The Cost
It’s not cheap. You can expect to spend anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 depending on the type of pyrotechnics used, duration of the display, licensing or facility fees, and clean up costs. Make sure you spend the money to hire professional pyro-technicians for the job - this isn't an area you want to trim costs.

The Laws
Fireworks laws vary from state to state (and even from town to town in some jurisdictions). A great resource is the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) http://www.americanpyro.com -their website has a comprehensive directory of all U.S. states and their laws.

Next, check with the town or city hall where you plan on having the display for detailed information on local laws.

Get Permission
Even after knowing the laws, don’t assume that it’s okay for you to have the display – make sure that you have written permission from local authorities and property owners.

The Clean Up
You will probably be required to clean up the debris after your fireworks display. A simple and easy solution to clean up is to ensure it is included in the cost of the display.

Where to Find Vendors
Naturally, the first place I’d look is http://www.Viddia.com. If you can’t any local fireworks vendors on viddia.com, contact me and I’ll be happy to do some research for you and add them to the Viddia community.

I hope you have a safe and enjoyable Independence Day! I'll be back on Monday with more tips and trends!

Interactive Wedding Decisions

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In the past three years alone, internet usage has increased from 4.4 million in 2005(1) to over 1.4 billion users in 2008(2). With so many people on the internet, personal wedding websites are almost a "must have" for many brides – they’re a great way to set the mood for the wedding, include more people in the planning stages, and to communicate important news and updates to friends and family.

Recently, a new trend is emerging for wedding websites: including guests in wedding decisions.

Whether it’s something as simple asking guests to help find the perfect song for their first dance or as involved as leaving all wedding decision to the guests, more and more brides are opting to making their weddings interactive.

Personally, I can’t really imagine any bride who would let Uncle Vern pick out her wedding colors or bridal gown. If such a laid back bride exists, I say more power to her! It would certainly be a fun experiment to witness. In reality, I think most brides have an overall vision of what they want for their wedding but are bogged down with some of the details and may need a little feedback.

Whether it’s to brainstorm new ideas or help make a final decision, a few of the following would be fun topics to gain feedback on:

· First dance song
· Dance music
· Appetizer choices
· Entrée choices
· Cake flavor
· Bar options
· Wedding transportation
· Wedding favor options

And for the more adventurous (or indecisive), here are some ideas:
· Honeymoon location
· Ceremony music
· Wedding colors
· Flowers
· Gown style
· Ceremony location
· Reception location
· Wedding invitations

Keep in mind, just because you ask for someone’s opinion doesn’t mean you have to follow their advice; but, by making even a few of your wedding decisions interactive, you are allowing your guest to feel more involved in your day and isn't that worth a few crying clown centerpieces?


Okay...maybe not, but you get the idea. Let me know if you decide to make some of your decisions interactive and how it turns out. I suspect your guests will love it and you'll get a few great ideas in the process.



1. Bill St. Arnaud, “Global Internet Population Estimated at 300 Million,” 21 July 2000,
<http://mail.canarie.ca/MLISTS/news2000/0056.html> (03 July 2008).

2. Miniwatts Marketing Group, “World Internet Users March 2008,” 1 July 2008,
http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm> (03 July 2008).

Virtual Bridesmaid Checking In

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Bridesmaids are a vital part of the wedding party – we help the bride plan and prepare; we comfort and console her; we are her ladies in waiting and party pals; and at the wedding we’re hostesses and disco queens.

I did a quick search on bridesmaid’s duties and here’s a partial list of what I found:

· Wedding site scout
· Confidant
· Shop for favors, invitations, flowers, decorations
· If the groom-to-be is unavailable, go with the bride to register for wedding gifts
· Assist in finding the bridesmaid gown and accessories
· Help address and assemble wedding invitations
· Help with seating arrangements
· Cheerleader
· Pay for your own bridesmaid’s dress. (Yes, even if you hate it.)
· Help plan and coordinate bridal showers and bachelorette party
· Plan and coordinate bridesmaid luncheons with the bride
· Plan and attend group dress shopping trips and fittings
· Help wrap and tag guest favors
· Attend the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
· Help decorate ceremony and reception locations, if necessary
· Help communicate information to bridal shower and guests wedding
· Assist the bride in getting into her dress and makeup
· Stand in the receiving (optional)
· Help decorate getaway car, if necessary
· Dance with all groomsmen
· Dance with guests
· Help load gifts into car

Keep in mind, that isn’t an exhaustive list – that’s just a sampling of some of the duties!

The purpose of this blog is to find and research wedding trends and, upon request, do some research for brides in need!

Having been a bridesmaid, a bride, a party planner, and a lover of weddings, I have had my fair share of experience with the role of a bridesmaid and I’m excited to offer my experience and services as your virtual bridesmaid.