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There’s a common problem many brides have when the engagement has happened and it’s time to get ready for the big day - dieting. You may be a seasoned pro at dieting, or a novice, but one thing’s for certain - nobody likes wedding diets.

Eating healthy may make you feel better physically, but let’s get real here - who really eats healthy when they’re dieting for a due date? Instead, you probably put it off until the last minute (or never fully commit until you’re panicked) and then you follow some insane crash wedding diets that have you feeling weak, irritable, and unable to concentrate on all that you have to do.

In a perfect world, brides wouldn’t have to worry about fitting into that teeny tiny wedding dress.  But this is your one day to be a princess, and all eyes will be on you, so you want to look gorgeous – even if it means going on dozens of insane wedding diets.

Before you start eating cabbage soup for a month or living on a combination of water with pepper and honey, get real about what you can reasonably achieve before your big day with wedding diets.

You don’t want to cut your calorie intake too drastically or deprive yourself of all things good because the planning process should be fun, not hazardous to your health or detrimental to your mood like many wedding diets can cause.

Some brides have quite a few pounds to lose, so they start wedding diets where they’re eating no more than 800 calories a day, and are running 5 miles and strength training. They get depressed and start snapping at everyone.

Then one day they call their wedding planner in tears because their fiancé has had enough - saying if she doesn’t quit these wedding diets, they’ll be through.  Their dress is already ordered and is still a size smaller than what they are at that moment.

If wedding diets have done this to you, find a good seamstress who works with the material and let it out so that you can fit into it as is.  No, you won’t lose the weight on your wedding diets, but you’ll gain a marriage and many women would envy having a husband who was that supportive in wanting you to take care of yourself and not pressuring you to look like Barbie.

Don’t overdo it on the wedding diets.  If you simply must achieve an unrealistic goal, then push your wedding date back so that you can do it without hurting your mind, body, and spirit. If you insist on ignoring this advice, then make sure you add a ton of pampering for yourself to combat the side effects of wedding diets.

Your wedding day was meant to be the one true day where the world revolves around you - at least that what we grow up thinking, imagining the whole Cinderella ball with our dream dress and Prince Charming.

Unfortunately, what often happens is a bride allows too many cooks in the kitchen and suddenly it’s someone else’s dream coming true and the wedding day dream is dashed.

It’s not your fault. Planning a wedding (even if you have the help of a professional wedding planner) is a daunting task. You have to think of yourself, your guests, your wedding party, the vendors, expenses, and a slew of other things for your wedding day.

You need help - a bride can’t do it all herself and keep her sanity. But sometimes, others will cross the line and almost intimidate you into doing what they want - not what you wanted for your special wedding day.

Maybe it’s a pushy wedding planner talking you out of every decision you had planned for the last 15 years since you were a teenager. Or it might be your own dear mom - shaking her head and frowning when you tell her you want a trendy colorful wedding dress instead of traditional white on your wedding day walk down the aisle.

It can take all of the pleasure out of planning your wedding day when other people disapprove of your plans. But you have to bolster yourself against the frenzy of opinions that will be bombarding you and learn how to do it without getting yourself worked up.

If you wind up with a professional who isn’t allowing you to express your creative dreams, think about finding another one - or have a heart to heart with her and let her know that you appreciate the expertise she brings to the table, but you know what you want on your wedding day and you just need her help carrying it out. She won’t want to lose a client - so when you state it flatly, with a smile on your face - she should step in line.

What often happens, though, is that a family member or friend becomes the overbearing element in your wedding day planning - and you feel awful at the thought of having to put them in their place. You worry that feelings will get hurt or even worse - an argument will ensue - and this is supposed to be the happiest time of your life!

Here’s how to deal with overbearing family members: “Mom, can we talk a minute? You know I respect and value your opinion more than anything in the world. But ever since I was a kid, I’ve had this idea in my head of how exciting it would be to plan my wedding day. I know you’re probably able to spot all of the errors I’m making, so I know it’s frustrating for you when I go my own direction, but I really need your support so we can just have fun doing this without arguing over the details.”

Mom should realize she’s being a damper on your planning process, but if she doesn’t, simply smile at her, kiss her on the cheek, and say, “Well don’t be mad if do this my own way!” and then go on about your business getting everything ready for your wedding day the way you wanted it. If she continues butting in during the planning process, just smile and say, “I appreciate your advice, but I’m going to go with my idea.”

Some people just love to argue. If you encounter someone who won’t let it die and wants to ruin your wedding day plans, then you need to keep away from that person as much as possible while you carry out your dreams. Yes, it’s heart-wrenching, but this is your wedding day - not theirs. Treat yourself right and enjoy picking that red wedding dress or blue bouquet!

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Weddings can cost several thousands of dollars. Not all people have the capacity to have a really expensive wedding. There are many ways of saving your money and yet have a great wedding at the same time.

Tips To Plan Inexpensive Weddings

In order to effectively plan inexpensive weddings, you will need to know which parts of the wedding are expensive and which can be managed on a tight budget. By looking at a wedding objectively, you can plan inexpensive weddings too. After you have decided which parts of the wedding need more money than the others, you can start canvassing for the items on your list.

As long as you have the time, you can organize and plan inexpensive weddings by yourself with the help of your wedding party and other friends. Getting a wedding organizer or a planner may seem the trend today but you can save money on the organizer by getting a friend to keep tabs on the wedding for you or by doing it yourself. A year is a very long time to plan inexpensive weddings so you do not need a planner if you have this much time. Shorter time frames may need the help of a planner but you need to understand that some planners work by commission so they usually recommend those that give them commissions instead of the cheaper ones. By going directly to the source, like for example a florist or caterer, you can save the commission cost they charge you.

Things to keep in mind when you plan inexpensive weddings are getting things locally can be cheaper. Local florists and caterers can be full of great ideas to plan inexpensive weddings. Even the dresses can be had for very cheap prices if you know when and where to look. Keep in mind that many gown companies or stores have sales several times in a year. You can get a $200 gown for as little as $30 if you are patient in looking for sales. If there are no matching gowns for you and your entourage in the sale, you can opt for similarly colored gowns instead.

Creating your very own headpieces from fresh flowers can also come out cheaper compared to buying a jewel tiara or jeweled comb to complement your hairstyle. You can also do the same with the other ladies and girls in the entourage. This can be a fun way of spending your girls’ night before the wedding.

There are many ways to plan inexpensive weddings and these do not mean that you have to look cheap in doing so. Getting simple but classy materials for your gowns, decorations and other materials can be a great plan for saving money for your wedding.

When planning weddings reception decorations can be used to match the theme of the wedding so the bride and groom have an exciting overall experience. While buying all the weddings reception decorations can be an expensive proposition, numerous companies rent virtually every type of decoration a couple could hope to find. If they want a beach theme wedding they can even have sand brought into the reception to emulate being on the beach.

Many couples plan theme weddings and if they plan on an outdoor wedding it is easier to carry the theme through the ceremony and into the reception. There are those that plan their weddings around a Roman theme and the weddings reception decorations may make the hall resemble the Parthenon. Theme weddings are becoming more popular and through them couples can realize the fantasy wedding they have dreamed about. Regardless of the type of wedding ceremony they have they can find the weddings reception decorations to carry it out.

Decorating for wedding receptions used to be a simple matter of hanging some crepe paper and throwing some confetti on the tables. Today, the weddings reception decorations are much more elaborate, with many props and scenery rented for the occasion. Many times the couple will ask the guests for the reception to dress their part for participation in the theme.

Holidays Provide Many Decorating Ideas

A couple being married around Halloween may decide to have a costume party theme for their receptions at which guests are asked to attend in costume. The weddings reception decorations will include pumpkins, skeletons and other props most often associated with the holiday. The basket into which give envelopes are placed can be a large pumkin, the type used by children for trick or treating and the groom may show up wearing a ball and chain.

Many more traditional weddings reception decorations are also available and usually cover the gamut of tablecloths, table skirts and numerous decorations for the cake and the food tables. While silver is a popular color for many weddings reception decorations, pastel colors are growing in popularity, especially for wedding held in the spring.

While weddings reception decorations usually revolve around the theme of the wedding, it is not unusual to find them relating to the weather. Couple who love to ski, for example may have a skiing theme to their winter wedding, using skis and a fake ski lift as part of the decorations.

A description of how wedding service formalities are undertaken.

Formalities:

When you become a bride, you don’t automatically know how to organise a wedding, let alone all the rules and details. Liz Re has the low-down on wedding stationery, speeches and the ceremony order of service.

First impressions count and if you want your guests to get excited about your wedding, it all begins with your invitations. These days, there are plenty of options from funky postcards to detailed cards with illustrations and photos.

Red ink-vites owner Natasha Mathers says the bare essentials for wedding invitations are: the couple’s names, wedding date, time and venue, and an RSVP date and method.

Natasha says some couples stick to the traditional format of listing their parents’ names such as: “Joe and Sue Bloggs and Tom and Sally Smith invite you to celebrate the wedding of Tim Bloggs and Jane Smith.” But, many couples use something simpler such as: “Tim and Jane invite you to celebrate their wedding”, or “You are invited to celebrate the wedding of Tim and Jane”.

She says most people include an address and phone number in the RSVP details, and some include an email address. Or, you can use RSVP cards which are sent with the invitations and can be printed with the couple’s name and address, ready to be posted back. Other helpful information such as maps or directions can be printed on the back of the invitations.

Natasha says you should send your invitations four to six weeks before the day, but as early as possible if you are having interstate and overseas guests.

Order of service:

Other stationery to consider includes thank you cards, menus, place settings, and order of service booklets or sheets. While you don’t have to have any of these, if you are having any sort of formal ceremony, it is nice to give guests an idea of when things will occur with an order of service booklet.

If you’re having a fairly traditional ceremony, you should include your bridal party’s names and the words to any hymns or prayers in your ceremony. You might also like to give your guests a bit of entertainment by including the story of how you met and became engaged

I’d like to thank:

Traditionally, the bride’s father opened the speeches at a wedding reception, followed by the groom and the best man, and each had certain people to thank and toasts to make. Today, the format is a lot more free-flowing and open to different speakers and less conventional topics.

If you want to keep tradition in mind, the bride’s father was responsible for welcoming guests, the groom and his family, give words of wisdom and good wishes to the couples and propose a toast to them.

The groom then thanked the bride’s parents for letting him marry her, thanked his parents, the hosts and any other helpers, spoke fondly about his bride and toasted the bridal party.

Finally, the best man traditionally injected humour into the formalities by telling a funny story or two about the groom before wishing the couple well, reading cards from those unable to attend and proposing a final toast to the bride and groom.

Choose what parts of this format you want to keep when organising your speeches and remember not to bore your guests with speaker after speaker, each thanking the same people.

Melbourne woman Allison Harlie planned to thank everyone involved in her wedding, from an aunt who made the cake to a cousin who provided the cars, until three weeks before the day. She went to another wedding and the bride and groom delivered a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation. “They thanked all and sundry for anything and everything,” Allison says. “And it was excruciatingly boring for the audience.”

After that, Allison decided to thank everyone personally as she mingled among guests on the night.

Another important thing to remember is: don’t get too carried away trying to be funny. Be wary of crossing the line between funny and telling embarrassing tales guests probably don’t want to know, and pass this message on to others who will be speaking if you think they need a reminder.

It is common for brides to speak at their receptions these days, or for couples to do a joint speech. This can be a less threatening way to thank your guests and let everyone know how happy you are together.

Order of Service (the traditional way):

1. Processional: the bride walks down the aisle. Traditionally, the bridesmaids enter the church or ceremony area first, followed by the bride with the person who is giving her away.
2. Welcome: the priest or celebrant welcomes family and friends.
3. Giving away: Traditionally, the father gives his daughter away, but another member of the family or a close friend can do this or the couple can give themselves to each other.
4. Introduction: the priest or celebrant speaks about what marriage means to the couple. This will have been discussed in meetings before the wedding.
5. Hymns: usually only included in a church service. Alternatively, you might like to include a meaningful or uplifting song.
6. Reading: from the Bible, a book of verses or a favourite poem. This is a great way to involve a friend or family member who isn’t in the bridal party.
7. Monitum: the celebrant has to read the words from section 46 of The Marriage Act, to explain the legal nature of marriage. This is a legal requirement.
8. Prayer: optional; common in traditional church ceremonies.
9. Declaration of intention to marry: any objections to the marriage are publicly called for.
10. Exchange of vows: write your own or repeat standard vows.
11. Exchange of rings: otherwise known as the ring ceremony, where you give the rings to each other. You might choose to give gifts instead of or as well as rings.
12. Pronouncement: declaration of marriage - the priest or celebrant pronounces you ‘husband and wife’.
13. Signing of the marriage register: The couple and two witnesses must sign the marriage register, certificate of marriage and marriage certificate.
14. Congratulations or blessing: to be given by the celebrant or priest.
15. Recessional: the couple leave the ceremony, followed by the bridal party. This is usually done to music - often a song that is significant to the couple.

By: Liz Re

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