Thinking of your “First Dance” can be special, but overwhelming. There are so many songs that you can relate to. Unless you have already established what that special song is from a sentimental occasion, it can be a bit challenging picking through the thousands available to find that right song.
Here are some Classic First Dance song to inspire your thinking:
Top Classics
Modern First Dance Songs:
Songs that Played Out by the First Dance:
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As a bride, do you find yourself scrap booking and cutting out pictures from every magazine just to piece them together in a notebook for inspiration? That can get bulky, and if you forget it somewhere when you may need it, you are just out of luck. As Pinterest has come aboard, it has created … Continue reading
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This was an elegant wedding with a soft touch held at the famous L’Auberge Hotel in Del Mar. Although a wedding is never scheduled to have rain, the bride and groom had a beautiful ceremony on the deck of the L’Auberge. The white chifari chairs with the white petals down the aisle-way illustrated the purity … Continue reading
Come up with a budget and make sure that budget sticks. I have seen in some instances where budgets are approximated at a higher rate of what actually becomes available.
How does this affect your planning?
1. The first thing you may do is higher a wedding planner. If your budget is not truly what you had expected, you may find your self in a bind later down the road when trying to fit the rest of your vendors in.
2. Your photographer and venue are the other two large costs that might take away a large percentage of your budget. The issues will arise beyond this where you have discovered you have 30% less than you had expected to have in your budget
3. Once your catering is approximated, you may find yourself trying to find additional budget, or reducing your guest size in order to meet your budget.
Recommendation: Figure out your budget and then put the detailed budget together before hiring any vendors. As a general rule, if hiring a wedding planner, make sure you are aware of what you can afford. For full-service, you can determine a guestimated cost between 10-20% of your budget depending on the type of full-service chosen. For a Day of Coordinator, you may be looking at approximately $700-1000. Depending on the package, your wedding planner can put together the remainder of the detailed budget for you, so you know what you can afford for a photographer, florist, etc.
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According to the 2012 Almanac, the best days of this year to get married are: Jan – 3, 4, 8, 16, 25-27, 30, 31 Feb – 1, 4-6, 23, 24, 27, 28 Mar – 2-6, 21, 22, 25-27, 30, 31 Apr – 1, 2, 5, 18-19, 22, 23, 26-29 May – 3, 4, 15, 16, … Continue reading
You are engaged and ready to the set the date? Is there a sentimental date you must have? Are you trying to figure out the best time to get married for various reasons? Here are some fun theories about when you should or should not wed… Have fun with it!
Which Month Should I Wed?
January – The month of new beginnings! The month that was meant for an added benefit. This month dates back to the Ancient Greek times where women were thought to have an additional blessing.
February – Prior to the 19th century, this month was prohibited in some countries to wed due to the adjacency with Lent. Even now, some still look upon this month as not a good month to wed.
March – Also not looked at as a favorable month to wed due to Lent. Some say, “Marry in Lent, you will live to repent” (A Book of Wedding Traditions)
April – Lucky month of the year some may associate. The Chinese would agree this being the best month of the year to wed.
May – Some used to believe marrying in May will bring you misfortune within the year.
June – On the other hand, marrying in June will bring one everlasting Honeymoon!
July – In the midst of harvest time, farmers tried to avoid marrying in July, because the celebrations kept labor workers away. Others might say, marrying in this month will bring about bitter sweet memories.
August – Farmers frown upon marrying in this month, but others see it as prime time mature month of the year to wed.
September – Blessing offered to marriages during the month of September and added support of fertility.
October – Marry in October and obtain hardships in the future
November – Although a busy month for the holidays, this month offers great fortune to those who wed in the colder months of the year.
December – Snow on the wedding day brings about a fairy tale. The Irish believed getting married on the last day of the year brings fortune to the new year.
There is no rhyme or reason to which month you choose, but many have their own theories and these are just some that have been shared across the years…
Other Facts and Wedding Traditions:
See how wedding etiquette has changed …
Find out where the Groomsmen and Bridesmaids came into the picture.
Have you really ever thought about your “Ring finger” and why it’s traditionally been worn on the left hand? There are a couple of theories.
Image by Melissa Mullen Photography
1. Dated back to the Egyptians where they actually believed there was a vein that ran from the left finger all the way to the heart which would symbolize the everlasting love.
2. Since most people are right-handed, the left hand was thought to become less damaged because it isn’t used as often, therefore making it a safe place for the symbol of one’s marriage.everlasting love tied on one finger.
3. Yet another theory was that before it was required that a priest marry a couple, the couple would put on their own wedding ceremony. The groom would say his own vows and prayer including the placing of the ring. He would hang the ring over the left thumb saying, “in the name of the Father”, then over the index finger saying “in the name of the son” and then over the middle finger saying “and in the name of the Holy Ghost” and then place the ring on the fourth finger saying “Amen”.
4. Because the right hand was used for fighting and strength, it was believed that the left hand was of lesser value and since women were believed to be property of men, they wore a ring on their left finger, accepting this lower status. (Of course, this is most likely not the case anymore).
A theory is just that! It’s hard to believe it was #2 because back in the early eighteenth century, the Roman Catholics actually wore the wedding ring on the right hand. Some still do!
Understanding and believing which traditions are facts and which remain theories is really up to you. The fun part is you can now do things the way you want to, where your ring where you want to, and live happily ever after! Let us know of any other theories you have discovered on where your wedding ring should be placed and why.
Reference: Stewart, A. H. A Bride’s Book of Wedding Traditions.
A primary thought that runs through many brides minds throughout the planning process of her wedding is what size she will be when the wedding day comes around. It is typical for a bride to want a size smaller in her wedding when trying them on, because their goal is to lose a particular percentage of weight or number of pounds. In order to do this many brides go on a diet. That is okay to go on a healthy diet such as the 4-hour body, or the paleo diet, or just a simply organic diet that cuts saturated fat and processed foods out.
However, the process of the diet tends to slip the minds of many of us and all of a sudden it’s a month until the wedding day. In respone to this, brides tend to make drastic decisions and fast or eat less and work out more so they can lose the weight faster. 
Making these types of decisions can be risky. It can increase risk of fainting, fatigue, and lack of energy. Do you really want to be standing at the altar ready to pass out?
Check out the 4-hour body diet or just cut processed foods out, drink lots of water, and get some exercise in each week. It doesn’t take drastic decisions to make you feel good no your wedding day. Check out these great recipes to get your started:
Paleo Pumpkin Muffins
These muffins taste amazing, have no carbs, and can be a great snack throughout the day. Even my kids liked them. Try these instead of snacking on crackers, chips, or cookies in your free time. You can find other great recipes on the PaleoDiet.com.
This recipe inspired in part or in whole from here.
Bacon Wrapped Eggs
The 4 hour body offers great recipes that doesn’t exactly remove carbs from your diet, but it slows down your carb intake. here is a great recipe to get your day started. Delicious and Easy! Check out the 4-hour Body Book for more great recipes on a slow carb diet.
Pull out and enjoy! Here is a great video from the 4 Hour People. I like to substitute the onion, mushroom and tomatoe for the cheese they use, but it’s all about preference.
There must be quite a few brides getting married next year. It’s not even the New Year and I have received multiple calls about weddings happening in 2012 year. With so much going on during the planning season, it’s important to know a few quick little facts about what’s going on for 2012.
1. Elegant open back wedding dresses — Brides are pushing elegance but sexy in 2012. Traditional cover ups are out the door, and modern is in. Brides are spending more time on making sure they have the perfect dress even with a small wedding guest list of 25-50.
2. Soft palletes are back! Every year, there seems to be a shift in rustic, elegance, and bright ambiance. I think it’s time to take a step back and welcome in that natural setting utilizing those white, naturals, browns, nudes, greenery, and really accenting with texture rather than color.
3. Botanical venues are being swooped up in San Diego. In 2010, I saw quite a few beach weddings. 2012 is going to utilize the San Diego sunshine weather with that botanical garden feel. Either access to greenery and floral, while offering that setting of just enough outside to make it San Diego.
Next post: Read about great recipes to keep in shape for your up coming wedding…
