Photographing The Bride

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Wedding photography is not a very easy subject to deal with because there are many important details which a wedding photographer must keep in mind. One of them is the bride and how to photograph her.

Bridal photography is the first aspect that a wedding photographer must handle if he or she is hired to cover a wedding event. In all wedding albums, the first few prints that you can see are the photos showing how the bride prepares for her wedding day. The usual shots for bridal photography are the wedding gown and stuffs laid artistically on the bed, the bouquets and flowers while still inside the box, the hair and makeup of the bride, the bride and her parents completely dressed and ready to go to the wedding venue.

Of all areas that need to be photographed, it is the bridal photography which can be considered the most intimate and personal. Why? For one, the bride here is still in her bath robe while her hair and makeup is done by a makeup artist. Some brides will probably request to be photographed while she puts on her hosiery. The wedding photographer should then be polite in communicating with the bride, especially so that this time should be very private for her and her family. There will be times when a photographer will witness the chaos and excitement of the bride's family and friends as they prepare and spend the last few moments before the actual wedding. It is important to shoot every interesting and beautiful drama in the house but not to get in the way of everyone else.

The photographer can take photos as things happen, like a news reporter trying to capture the presently happening news. The photos must present beautifully how things happened during the preparation. At this time, the bride has too much thought inside her mind that she will definitely be interested to see in prints what took place during that moment.

When the bride dresses up and starts to put on her gown, the photographer should be smart to leave the room to let the bride change in private. When the bride has finished dressing then the photographer can go back inside and proceed with his business.

Each photographer will have his or her own techniques and methods to capture the private moments of bridal photography. Different materials can be used in order to do this but what's important especially for amateur photographers is they know their equipments very well. Knowing where the buttons are and when they need to be pressed is one thing that a photographer should know and memorize. At times, rapid changes need to be done like shutter speed, flash, aperture and many others. Having spare equipments like batteries, memory cards and cameras will definitely help to get the job correctly done. One can never be too prepared in performing a task. The night before the wedding, all equipments and paraphernalia to be used for the wedding event coverage must be prepared. Remember that the bride prepared for her wedding day in anticipation that everything will be perfect so the hired photographer must be able to document this special occasion through great photos.

S. Eleazar writes for Wedding,com.au, a wide-ranging Australian Wedding Directory. Visit the website today to find wedding photographers, wedding accessories, calligraphy services and all other supplies and services you need for your wedding.

Bride Workout To Tone The Arms

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Every Bride wants to look lean and toned in their wedding gown.

If you are getting married soon and you are wearing a gown that shows your arms, then you better get to work. By work I mean, HIT THE WEIGHTS! Yes Bride, if you want to tone your arms, the only way to do it is through resistance training or weights! So I am going to give you a jump start bride workout.

Not only will weight training get you lean and toned but it also burns TONS OF CALORIES, during and post workout. It actually burns more calories than cardio, with the added benefit of sculpting and toning the body.

This is just a routine to help you get started. If you really want great arms in your wedding gown then you need a full body Bride Workout Program. And you need to do it consistently for about 12 weeks to see great results. Don't worry, you need only do the weight training 3 times per week.

Bride Workout to Tone the Arms

A1. Dumbbell Shoulder Press
A2. Lateral Raises

Core Movement

B1. Tricep Pulldown
B2. Bench Dips

Core Movement

C1. Dumbbell Bicep Curls
C2. Hammer Curls

Core Movement

Instructions for Bride Workout above:

Perform 3 sets of 20 repetitions of each circuit with 60 seconds rest in between each circuit. Follow each circuit with 20 repetitions of an abs or core exercise. For example: A1, A2, Stability Ball Crunches. Rest 60 seconds and repeat one more time. Then move on to circuit B.

Michelle Marie is a fitness professional who has been in the fitness industry for over 10 years. Now Michelle is dedicated to help BRIDES get in shape for their wedding. She does this with easy to follow nutrition plans that speed fat loss, and exercise programs that are simple and effective at getting the body lean and toned. Check out some more wedding workouts, wedding exercise tips at the following link.

[http://michellemariefit.radicalwebs.com/articles/article_detail.php?ArticleID=93] Michelle offers an amazing nutrition plan for BRIDES to lose weight and tone up for their wedding. For more wedding diet tips check out the following link.

[http://michellemariefit.radicalwebs.com/articles/article_detail.php?ArticleID=88]

Bride Speeches Add to the Day

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Bride speeches or bridal speeches are really a fairly recent happening. After all, until fairly recently women were not liberated enough to speak at their own weddings. Today what they have to say is just as important as the father of the groom's speeches or the best man's speeches. If the groom can say how much his bride means to him, surely his bride can return the compliment?

Bride speeches, therefore, love in tone. They usually express the gratitude a bride feels to the parents who have done so much for her. They may include words of appreciation to her new in-laws saying how welcoming they have been to her. It is almost certain that she will want to say thanks to other people too. Her bridesmaids or maids of honour will be thanked for their help in preparing the wedding festivities and perhaps choosing her wedding gown with her. She may want to refer to a favourite Godmother or grandmother or indeed any relative who is special to her. It could be that she would want to thank a friend who sang at her wedding or a neighbour who arranged her bouquet. She may even want to thank a member of the clergy for a lovely and very personal wedding ceremony.

Obviously new husbands are the most special of all to any bride. It is to them that most bride speeches are directed. Brides may refer to where they met their grooms or tell of an incident in their courtships. They may want to say what a difference their new husbands have made in their lives. Of course they may also want to tease those new husbands and tell them that their wandering days are now firmly over or that they have to provide lots of shopping money as part of those marriage contracts.

There are often three or four speeches at a wedding so the secret of a good one is that it should be short and succinct A touch of humour will add greatly to it and of course the bride will know of any funny incidents that happened during the busy preparations for the wedding.

Above all though bride speeches should reflect the love brides feel for their spouses. They should be quite open about how they feel for the men in the lives. After all it isn't every day that you can do that.

Niamh Crowe
Copyright Speechwriters 1995-2010
marketing@speech-writers.com
Tel. +353 1 8333599

Niamh Crowe started her speech writing career with Father of the Bride Speeches. To date she has written thousands of different speeches like Bride Speeches, birthday speeches and farewell speeches etc.

Pregnant Bride Etiquette

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Since you announced your engagement I bet you're getting bombarded with all kinds of well-meaning ... and not-so-well-meaning ... advice about wedding etiquette from friends, family, colleagues and plenty of other people too!

And then there are all those tips about what you can and can't have ... what would and wouldn't be "proper" for your wedding ... just because you're pregnant!

Well - here's the pregnant bride etiquette scoop for the 21st century!

It doesn't make a jot of difference whether...

• you are planning a very traditional wedding or prefer a non-traditional ceremony, or


• you want a big wedding or a small intimate celebration is more your style, or


• you want a religious or civil ceremony, or


• you want a traditional white wedding dress or something completely different

The only thing you need to change for a maternity wedding is the shape your dress ... and that's only to accommodate your fabulous baby bump!

Always remember that your maternity wedding is a double celebration. Surround yourself on your maternity wedding day with guests who want to share your joy and exclude anyone who can't get over their out-of-date prejudices to celebrate wholeheartedly with you.

Want to find out more about Wedding Etiquette?

Simply the best way to find out all about the do's and don'ts of weddings is to refer to a highly recommended book. This will give you and your husband-to-be all the information you need to decide together what's really important ... and what you don't need to worry about!
My favourite is ...

• Wedding Etiquette Hell: The Brides Bible to Avoiding Everlasting Damnation by Jeanne Hamilton ... because it's fun to read, "keeps it real" and talks a lot of straightforward common-sense.

Making sure that you are clear about what you want will allow you to be firm with anyone trotting out unwanted, out-of-date rubbish about what maternity weddings should be!

The Maternity Wedding Guide Including Maternity Wedding Dresses is a complete and unique resource dedicated to pregnant brides looking for help and guidance with all aspects of their maternity wedding planning, and for those seeking to find their dream maternity wedding dress or a dress for their pregnant bridesmaid.

Which Type of Mother-of-the-Bride is Your Mom?

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In most families, when the daughter announces her engagement, her mother is thrilled for her. Once the wedding planning begins, you will quickly realize that as your mother becomes the mother of the bride, her personality may change a bit. The key to keeping relations smooth during the wedding planning process is to identify which type of mother of the bride your mom has become, and to work with her as best you can.

Now some brides are very lucky. Their normally sweet and supportive moms remain exactly that way throughout the whole wedding process. This is the mother who will shed tears of joy when she helps you find the perfect bridal gown. She will agree to wear whatever color you ask her to. She will prop you up on the days when you are feeling low, and help to bring you back to earth when that is what you need. Every bride should have this mother!

If you have a mother who tends to be a tad high maintenance, you should expect this tendency to be amplified during the wedding. She will be the one going for facials and massages in preparation for the big day. The high-maintenance mom will stress over the perfection of every detail - as it pertains to her. Her dress and wedding jewelry may even cost as much as the bride's! If this is your mom, the best thing to do is let her do her thing, and you do yours. There is little point in trying to calm her down.

Some brides have overbearing mothers. These moms usually have their hearts in the right place: they want their daughters to have the most perfect wedding day ever. However, the overbearing mother of the bride may have a tendency to forget whose vision of perfection they are trying to achieve. If the bride doesn't speak up for herself, she can end up walking down the aisle in the dress that her mother picked, carrying her mom's favorite flowers, and listening to her mother's preferred version of "The Wedding March". Let's just hope that the bride at least got a say in who the groom would be!

Then there is the diva mom. This is the mom who competes with the bride, because she can't stand to have the spotlight be one someone else. The diva mom is the one who shows up to the ceremony in a skintight leopard dress dripping with diamond wedding jewelry. She may stand just a little too close to the handsome young ushers, who are trying not to choke on her cloud of perfume. If you identify diva tendencies in your mother, it is important to nip them in the bud. No bride should be overshadowed by her mother on the day of her own wedding.

Some moms are much less involved in the wedding planning process than the ones discussed above. They are perfectly happy to leave everything up to the bride. In fact, they may be too happy to stay out of the bride's way; this is the uninvolved or disinterested mother. The fact is that not every woman is into weddings or other girly things. If this is your mom, it may be hurtful that she doesn't seem to care about your wedding, but take heart in the fact that it is the wedding that doesn't interest her - not you.

Whatever your mother is like on a day to day basis, you can expect that to be amplified by the wedding planning process. Unlike brides, who can actually morph into a completely different person during the process, their mothers usually keep the same personality, it is just taken up a notch. So if your mother is your best friend, she will be an even better one during the wedding planning, and if your mom often drives you crazy, well - at least know that things will settle down after you get through the wedding!

Let us know if you need assistance in any area of planning your wedding.Take advantage of Bridget's experience helping clients select jewelry and accessories. Wedding jewelry is the perfect finishing touch for both the bride and her mother.

Parents of the Bride

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These days, couples often plan, execute and pay for most, if not all, of their wedding. Traditionally there were responsibilities that the parents of the bride covered. They still do some of these things today.

The parents of the bride:

Plan and host the engagement party.

Help with the guest list and order invitations. By planning the list, they will know how many to order with a few extra in case of last minute invitees.

Assist the bride with in planning the wedding details.

Make sure the bride's wishes are carried out her way. Remember, it is her wedding!

Take care of reservations for out of town guests for the bride's family.

See to it that all instructions for the ceremony are carried out, from seating schedule and receiving line as well as any special instructions.

The bride's parents host the reception.

They purchase a gift for the groom.

The mother and father also have a few separate duties. For instance the mother of the bride will:

Make first contact with the groom's mother.

She will choose and purchase her dress then let the groom's mother know so that she can purchase a complimentary dress.

She will assist the bride in choosing her gown.

The bride's mother will be the hostess for the wedding and following reception.

During the ceremony, she may light the family candle along with the groom's mother. She is the last to be seated at the ceremony.

After the ceremony, she will store the top layer of cake for the bride and groom and will see that the wedding gown is dry cleaned and preserved.

The father of the bride has his responsibilities also:

He has to be fitted for formal wear that coordinates with the groom's and his attendants.

He rides to the wedding with the bride.

Of course, he gives the bride away during the ceremony.

He is the last to leave the reception, settling bills with the caterer, entertainment and any other service providers.

There is much planning that goes into a wedding, before, during and after. The parents of the bride can help make things run more smoothly and ease stress on her. The one absolute is that this is the bride's special day. Parents should not dictate her choices on anything. Suggestions are one thing, total control is another. Working together is the key to a smooth operation from start to finish.

Nikola lives and writes in Oklahoma. She enjoys scrapbooking, reading and interior design. She currently shares her home with two spoiled dogs. Nikola is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Love Poetry.

Themed Weddings - A Pirate's Bride

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Ahoy matey! When you were growing up did you enjoy watching old pirate movies like Captain Blood or the Black Swan that showcased a swashbuckling Tyrone Power? I know I did and still do to this day, that's why I decided to come up with some great wedding tips for a pirate themed wedding.

A pirate's wedding can be loads of fun and can incorporate some unique ideas straight out of your imagination. The first thing is to decide where you would like your pirate wedding to be held. A sandy beach, or an elegant home transformed to resemble a pirate's hideout? Perhaps you might be interested in contacting a Hollywood producer about using an old pirate ship from a movie set. You make the decision after all this day is one you have dreamed of all your life. Lights! Camera! Action!

After you have decided on a unique spot for your wedding it's time to bring all the little details that make up a wedding to life. Let's start with some obvious ones like wedding attire.

Since you have decided to become a pirate's bride it's now up to you to dress the part. You might first look at gowns from the pirate's era as a starting point. Well heeled brides wore elaborate gowns that often included a corset or lacing and were patterned from silk or damask with puffy sleeves edged with lace on both cuffs and bodice. You might go back and take a look at the stunning gown Princess Diana wore at her wedding to get a good idea of this particular style. Also the color is entirely up to you. Dress your bridesmaids in a plainer version and add the corset for effect.

Dressing the groom can be alot of fun using the pirate theme. Pirates dressed in bold colors like crimson red or royal purple breeches and muslin shirts enhanced by puffy sleeves and cuffed with dripping lace. Next go for a black belt embellished with a huge gold buckle and knee high black boots for effect. Follow this flamboyant style with a black, tricorn hat adorned with an electrifying red or purple feather and have the groom wear a gold hoop earring and gold necklaces. Last but not least, you might add a black eye patch for a dazzling finish. Have your groomsmen dress as lesser pirates in more somber attire, after all, the groom is the star.

If you really want pirate style, send out invitations made up to look like ransom notes or treasure maps inviting your guests to appear at your wedding. You might also request them to dress in old world attire if they choose.

Now that we've dressed you and your groom and sent out invitations, it's time to dress up your wedding feast. Drape your tables in scarlet cloth and give your guests wine bottle stoppers or letter openers boxed in miniature treasure chests. Finally, let the feast began! Offer your guests pewter plates and cups and let them choose from an assortment of foods that include lobsters, coconut shrimp, fresh salads, tropical fruit, roast chicken and baked bread washed down with an assortment of champagnes, liquers, whiskey and sodas.

After the feast,you might wish to start your honeymoon in the captain's cabin complete with port hole so you can look out at the stars.

I hope I have given you some great ideas to make your pirate themed wedding truly the wedding of your dreams!

Deborah Lewis is the owner of http://loveyourwedding.com/ If you are looking for some truly unique wedding favors and bridesmaids gifts you are going to love our selection, guaranteed.

Mother-Of-The-Bride Speeches Made Simple - Seven Steps to a Winning Wedding Speech

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Your daughter is getting married. Congratulations! What a joyful and challenging time. You're likely experiencing some very mixed emotions. Those emotions can be difficult to handle when it comes time to stand before the guests to toast the couple...especially if you're unprepared.

Here's a structure for mother-of-the-bride speeches that will help you craft an honoring message and make the process more enjoyable for you.

1. First, thank anyone who has made a contribution to the wedding or traveled a long way to attend.


2. Next, tell your daughter how special she is and how happy you are for her.


3. Welcome the groom into your family and let him know how happy you are that he and your daughter will be married. This is a good time to credit the groom's parents for having and raising their son.


4. Tell a couple of humorous anecdotes about your daughter, something that reveals her peccadilloes without being overly embarrassing. You'll get more mileage from stories of specific events that show your daughter's qualities, rather than general compliments or platitudes.


5. This is a good time to share the wisdom of your experience. Most people will take your advice more readily when you keep it positive, and describe what has worked for you rather than telling others what they should do.


6. Tie it back to the bride and groom and what you have seen in them that leads you to believe this will be a great union.


7. Toast the couple. You can distinguish yourself by coming up with a quote with some character.

Brevity and sincerity is generally the winning combination for mother of the bride speeches. You don't have to try to hard for humor. It will come out as guests recognize the couple in the specifics of the stories you tell.

Here's the final pointer, and it's all for you. There's absolutely no reason these days not to deliver a great speech with very little prep time or stress. There's a kit available that helps you create mother of the bride speeches [out] in no time at all. It's really inexpensive (and if you follow the link above, you can get a discount) and covers everything from speeches, to toasts and quotes, to wedding etiquette. If you're giving speech at your daughter's wedding, this is the most important step you can take to honor her, lower your own stress, and let yourself enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime occasion. Do yourself a favor, and check your wedding speech [out] off your list right now.

I hope your wedding is really wonderful! If you want to make it fun, memorable, and low stress.

Here's the final pointer, and it's all for you. There's absolutely no reason these days not to deliver a great speech with very little prep time or stress. There's a kit available that helps you create mother of the bride speeches in no time at all. It's really inexpensive (and if you follow the link above, you can get a discount) and covers everything from speeches, to toasts and quotes, to wedding etiquette. If you're giving speech at your daughter's wedding, this is the most important step you can take to honor her, lower your own stress, and let yourself enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime occasion. Do yourself a favor, and check your wedding speech off your list right now.

visit WeddingSpeechesSource.com/mother-of-the-bride-speech/

Mother of the Bride Outfits - The Shopping Process

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Mother of the bride outfits must satisfy many different aspects of a wedding plan. This fact alone makes it nearly impossible to choose something that will satisfy both the bride and her mother.

Some brides choose to coordinate wedding outfits for mother of the bride in the same color scheme or style as the rest of the women in the wedding party. Other brides leave the choice up to their mothers, but give a few style and color preferences. Those who choose the latter option should be sure that they trust the fashion tastes of their own mothers and that they trust the mother will not choose a dress that might clash with other wedding choices or upstage the bride. It is also very important to take into account what the mother of the groom is going to wear. It is both polite and traditional to let the mother of the bride choose first and then let the mother of the groom know about any decisions made so she can shop for her outfit accordingly.

Mother of the bride wedding outfits should almost never be black. Even if the wedding party uses black as one of its colors, a mother of the bride outfit should steer clear of this choice. As a fabric color choice, it is far more dramatic than the mother of a bride should be. It also tends to suck attention away from the bride - something no caring mother would choose for her child. The same is true for wearing white. The star of the show - the bride - should have that honor exclusively.

It makes a lot of sense to make the dress that the mother of the bride wears a joint decision. This is especially true for plus size mother of the bride outfits. You never want to blindly choose a style that is fashionable, aligned with your choices for bridesmaids, but is a poor style choice for the body of your mother.

It is more than possible to select a color and then find the right style that is suited to the particular body of the mother of the bride. All mother of the bride outfits should take body build into consideration.

If the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom get along, it is often a good idea to have them both consult one another on outfits to be sure there is no clashing or duplicating of styles. Mother of the groom outfits should be just as sophisticated and dazzling, but they should reflect a different personality and fashion choice than mother of the brides outfits. There should be an easy way to distinguish between these two important people in a wedding - even before they are formally introduced.

Designer mother of the bride outfits offer a larger array of choices, depending on the budget and who is responsible for paying. Discount salons, online boutiques and consignment shops offer brides a chance to scoop up a huge savings on designer label dresses and pantsuits.

Do not feel compelled to stick to high-end stores to find name brand clothing, and do not believe that you must stick to ordering only from United States retailers. Mother of the bride outfits UK or mother of the bride outfits from other countries can offer some fresh alternatives. When you and your mother are ready to make your selection, your list of choices is wide open.

When women do the shopping looking for mother of the bride outfits they usually find that it can be very stressful. There are certain rules of etiquette that should be adhered to in order to achieve success. Lynn Moreno will help you with her Mother of the Bride Outfits Guide informational website with lots of different tips and ideas.

Amazing Ensembles for Mothers of the Bride

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On her daughter's big day, a mother of the bride often wants to wear something to celebrate and feel special without upstaging the bride. Choosing a mother of the bride outfit can be a way for the bride to thank her mother for everything by allowing her to stand out in a sophisticated way. It is popular for the mother of the bride to wear a dress or gown to the wedding either matching the bridal party colors but in a different look, or in a coordinating color that allows her to shine by herself. The only general rule is that white, cream, or black colored ensembles are ruled out unless the bridal party is wearing the color as well.

One Shoulder Sueded Charmeuse Side Drape Dress

A one shoulder sueded charmeuse side drape dress is a glamorous look for any mother. The elegant off-one-shoulder neckline will have any mother feeling as special as a celebrity. The neckline cascades across from one shoulder to hang dramatically off the other shoulder. The slight draping on the side of the dress provides a slimming effect, while the fabric itself supports the look of a smooth silhouette. This gold gown is elegant and regal.

One Shoulder Taffeta Ball Gown

There are other one shoulder options with a more traditional fit. The one shoulder taffeta ball gown has a traditionally one strap neckline, with an A-line silhouette that is both classic and flattering to all figures. Side-draping slims the body and hides any flaws in this iridescent plum gown.

Shantung Short Sleeve Portrait Collar Dress

Mothers may desire to opt for a tea length dress, especially if the wedding has an outdoor ceremony or reception. The Shantung short sleeve portrait collar dress is an elegant and sophisticated shorter choice for mothers. The portrait collar frames the shoulders and neck, while the wrap bow flatters the waist. An A-line silhouette ensures that all figures will be complemented. The rich color choices of teal and chocolate brown are perfect for an autumn or nighttime wedding.

Stretch Shimmer Cocktail Dress with Bolero Jacket

Depending on the season, some mothers may wish to have their shoulders covered. Boleros can be bought in many different shades and sleeve lengths to coordinate with any dress. Some dresses also come with a matching bolero for precisely that reason. A royal blue stretch shimmer cocktail dress is instantly made more glamorous with the addition of a matching three quarter sleeve jacket.

Shantung Short Bolero Jacket Dress

The Shantung short bolero jacket dress is another example. This silver or eggplant dress shimmers and shines, thanks to the elegant Shantung fabric. The nearly knee length dress features a classic tank style with ruching around the waist, as well as the trendy addition of pockets on the gown. The matching bolero jacket is functional and decorative, with romantic ruffles around the neckline.

A Three Piece Jersey Suit

Pants or suits are also popular for mothers of the bride, especially for weddings taking place in cooler months and climates. A three piece jersey suit allows for many options of versatility. This black suit comes with a beaded tunic top, a loose jacket, and pants. Jersey material is comfortable and fashionable for a night of dancing.

Mothers could add color to the ensemble with a sash around the waist, or by accessorizing with bold shoes and jewelry. A splash of color would be a good way to incorporate the wedding colors into the outfit, while breaking up the sometimes wedding-taboo black color. The true beauty of this ensemble is that it can be worn time and time again by the mother, all together or even simply making use of the separate pieces.

Whether she wants to coordinate with your wedding colors, or stand out from the crowd, mothers of the bride can be reassured that there is an abundance of flattering ensembles she can wear on the wedding day. Leaving stuffy shoulder pads behind, modern mother of the bride ensembles are elegant and stylish. Mothers can wear these ensembles time and time again, always fondly remembering watching and sharing the moment with her daughter on the happiest day of her life.Elegant styles will have the mother of the bride feeling radiant while she watches her daughter marry. For years to come, these ensembles will be remembered and admired in pictures of the new couple's special night. Every mother of the bride can feel cherished and loved in these outfits - simply don't forget to bring tissues for her, just in case.

Grant Vera is a freelance writer who writes about weddings and specific products such as mother of the bride dresses.

Mother of the Bride Wedding Speech Tips to Remember

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The mother of the bride wedding speech is truly a joy and privilege to listen to. Of all the speeches to listen to on that special day, we can say that the mother of the bride speech is the most emotional and sentimental of all.

If your daughter is soon to be wed, be ready to share a toast during the wedding reception. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to express your love for your daughter and extend a heartiest welcome to the groom and his family. A well written and well delivered mother of the bride speech can definitely make the special occasion even more special and help you create memories you can cherish forever.

Next to the bride, it is often the mother of the bride who is busiest and most anxious about the event. Unless the couple has hired a wedding planner, the mother of the bride may find herself active with the preparations to make sure that everything is going as planned.

Therefore, it's best to prepare your mother of the bride wedding speech as soon as the wedding date has been set. This way, you will not feel rushed and you can really think about how to make your speech special. More importantly, you can have enough time to practice with the delivery.

If you feel a little nervous at the thought of speaking in front of a big audience, it is perfectly understandable. Even the most experienced speakers still get the jitters sometimes. However, as you practice, you can build up your confidence before the day of the wedding.

It is always a good idea to refer to some well written professional mother of the bride speech samples. The speech samples can not only fill you in with some great ideas but can also give you beautiful and appropriate words to express those ideas.

Speech samples can also make you understand the structure and flow of your speech. In fact if the speech samples are very well written you can pick portions of the samples and make them a part of your own speech.

To make your mother of the bride wedding speech memorable and unique, check out more useful tips on http://www.bestmotherofthebridespeeches.com.

The website is designed for bride's mothers and offers 25 Time-Tested, professionally written outstanding mother of the bride speeches, exclusive wedding quotations, funny one-liners, wedding toasts, including tips on delivering speeches and overcoming public speaking fears. I am one hundred percent sure that the website will help you deliver a great speech.

Bride Speeches - Ways To Give A Memorable Bride Speech

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A bride speech is given by the bride on her wedding day. It is essentially a way to thank all the people involved who made the day special for her. A bride speech is often the most anticipated part of the wedding. People look forward to hearing the bride speak because it is her special day and she gets up in front all those present and makes an effort to give that memorable bride speech.

Most brides have a phobia of speaking in front of the audience. An audience which ranges in ages and is in various stages of drunkenness. So how do you manage to make a bride speech which is not just memorable but is also funny and witty at the same time.

Keeping in mind a few essential points will help you five the best bride speech:

BODY LANGUAGE

While delivering any kind of speech, not just the bride speeches, remember that your body language will decide whether your audience will want to remember your speech or not. Acting dumb, slouching etc will make their attention waver. So start by practicing a good posture.

TIME CONSTRAINTS

Every wedding will have many speeches which will need a set amount of time. Find out how much time you can allocate to your speech. A speech which is too long tends to get monotonous and nobody will pay attention.

THANKING PEOPLE

Many people have made efforts to see that the wedding day turns out to be perfect for everyone involved. So thank all the people, like the maid of honor, the best man, the father and mother of the groom and your mother and father. Welcome everyone and thank them for making it to the wedding.

YOUR GROOM

You would, of course, like to thank your groom. Thank him for everything he has done for you. Tell him how much you love and respect him. Compliment him on all his positive aspects and tell him how lucky you feel to have married him.

A bride is remembered for her wedding speech, not just by the groom but by all present so try to make it special for everyone.

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How To Write A Killer Father Of The Bride Speech

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An ideal father of the bride speech is something that conveys the significance of the event with added humor and eloquence that is perfect for the occasion. Here are some guiding patterns on how to write a great father of the bride speech.

1. First part is the welcoming and the wishing part. After greeting every person in attendance start the speech by telling about yourself and introducing yourself to the guests who still don't know you well.

2. Inject some humor by relating events in the planning and eventual wedding itself that you think is funny. This is to make everybody comfortable and having them laughing at the start will get your confidence rising.

3. The next part should be directed to the bride, by complimenting on how beautiful she looks or adding lines such as "I still remember that cute baby that cries at night, I can't believe that baby has grown to be such a beautiful bride today"

4. Relate to the wedding guests about your own daughter, her achievements prior to getting married, emphasize on the kind of special relationship you shared with each other as father and daughter. Add some humor, by telling some funny things she'd done in her life but in the end make sure it all comes out good and praise her by being a father and a gentleman.

5. Silly stories about your daughter or the bride is a welcome addition to the speech. This is needed to lighten up the situation and have everyone laugh a little.

6. Talk about some of the standout moments before her wedding, events that make the bride as an unforgettable individual. What makes you proud of having her as your daughter?

7. Next part would be to include a short part about how you and your wife see your daughter while growing up.

8. Tell the guests about your dreams for your daughter and how she accomplished some of it and enough to make you proud. Mention the ups and downs of her life, but please do not mention stories about her former boyfriends.

9. Lastly conclude the speech by telling everyone how happy you and the rest of your family of seeing your daughter take on a new role as wife and soon as a mother. Tell them how she made you proud of her.

10. Have a toast with the family of the groom and the rest of the guest; wish the newlywed the best things to come.

The following is a simple pattern to follow in writing that perfect father of the bride speech. Anybody is free to add to the speech as long as it will bring more emotions and sincerity to the occasion. One important thing to remember is that the father of the bride speech is an opportunity to honor the bride and uplift her spirit in this momentous and wonderfully special event in her life.

Relax, smile and be confident that way you can honor your daughter with a great father of the bride speech.

Find tips on father of the bride speech, best man toasts.

Free Father of the Bride Speeches

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Consulting some of the free father of the bride speeches offered online can be a great way to find that perfect way to say what's really in your heart. Traditionally the first of the wedding speeches to be given, the father of bride is called upon to quiet the room and gather their attention. A time to thank those who've worked to make your daughter's special day so magical, your speech can be a special moment to share your love and support. Welcoming guests and complimenting the ladies of the wedding party can be a great way to break the ice when picking up the microphone.

Welcome the Guests and Offer Thanks

As the first of the speeches at the wedding, it can be nerve racking to approach the microphone. By preparing ahead and looking at free father of the bride speeches to get an idea of what you would like to say, those jitters will dissipate. Welcoming the guests can be a way to introduce them as well. Saying hello to favorite relatives and close friends in attendance during your speech can not only start conversations at the tables, but it can cover your nerves as well. Thanking the members of the wedding party and family for their help in creating such a magical event should also be part of your speech plan. Ravishing compliments on the beautiful ladies is always well received, and it's not hard to tell your tell your daughter what a beautiful bride she is. Keep in mind that there are several speeches after yours, make your speech concise and meaningful.

Free Father of the Bride Speeches Offer Ideas

Researching what others have said by looking at free father of the bride speeches can help you formulate a clear idea of what you would like to say. By getting it sorted out ahead of time, you can approach the microphone with a clear head and deliver a heartfelt and memorable speech at your daughter's wedding. Being the first speaker gives the father of the bride the opportunity to welcome the guests and set the tone for the event. With a well planned speech, it's simple to thank everyone for their part in this special memory in the making. A perfect time to highlight the loveliness of your daughter's special day, sharing a special memory or gem of marital advice can be a memorable and loving addition to your speech. If humor is your strong suit, making light of a near catastrophe behind the scenes can be a great laugh. Being prepared and knowing what you'd like to say can ease your nerves. There's plenty to worry about on the big day, and by looking over free father of the bride speeches you can have one less concern by planning what you will say.

The first of the wedding speeches delivered, the father of bride generally sets the tone by welcoming guests and thanking those who've made the day possible. By referencing the brilliant free father of the bride speeches of those who've spoken before, one can get a clear idea of how to say what's in your heart. Compliments are always welcomed, and the ladies in the wedding party can be introduced to guests with praises for their contributions to your daughter's life and this very special day.

Thank you for the time you spent with me reading this article about free father of the bride speeches! I'd also love to meet you on my blog to have a chance to tell you more about wedding speeches - actually you could start by browsing the category page for father and mother speeches right away - you will want to share it with others.

Vlad Suski is the author of the ExtraFindouts' Wedding Speeches Guide - the first place to get help with your wedding speech. Here you can find many articles, guides, tips, help, advice and much more for any type of wedding speeches you're having this or the very next weekend!

We also offer 5-days Email Mini-Course with the most useful tips on writing and delivering your wedding speech. You will also get a free 20-pages report with basic wedding speech samples upon subscribing to the Mini-Course.

So, if you are in search for great tips and wedding speech samples - go and get it right here http://weddingspeeches.extrafindouts.com/

Tips For A Memorable Father of the Bride Speech

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The father of the bride is one of the most important people at a wedding. His role according to protocol involves critical duties such as making sure that his daughter arrives at the place of the wedding ceremony on time, walking her down the aisle, giving his daughter away to the groom and the all important father of the bride speech at the reception afterward.

If you are the father of the bride, your mind will be swimming with emotions about the giant step that your daughter is about to take, how your family will change, your new son-in-law, the reception, paying for the reception, and the speech...my gosh, you have to make a speech in just a few hours !

Many dads react with head scratching bewilderment when the topic of speech making on such an important day comes up. Even fathers who have experience making speeches may wonder just what they are supposed to say.

The first thing to keep in mind is that the father of the bride speech should include a toast to the bride and groom. The father of the bride speech is traditionally the first speech that is given at the wedding reception.

What Makes a Good Father of the Bride Speech?

o First, dad will want to acknowledge his daughter. Mention a few things about her childhood, how she fell off a bike and laughed, the first time she helped mom make a cake, her best day at school, her contribution to the family.

o Say a few lines about the groom, what a fine man he is even if he can't fix a car, spell, or cook. Tell the guests and his family how proud you are to have him as a son in law.

o Give a toast to both the bride and the groom, wishing them a life of love, health and happiness..

o A bit of sentiment and humor will provide just the right mood for the celebrants who will long remember your words.

o Brevity is King... Most dad's are happy to hear that short is sweet when it comes to the father of the bride speech. After all, this is a party, not a work seminar...so brief, poignant comments sprinkled with humor and sentiment will add just the right touch to your daughter's wedding day !.

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Nice Things to Do For Brides

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Being a bride-to-be is a magical time in a woman's life. It can be an even more special and meaningful time if the people in her life take a moment to do something nice for her. Whether you are looking for a small idea to brighten her day or a grand gesture to take her breath away, here are some suggestions for nice things to do for brides.

The type of nice thing that you can do for the bride in your life will depend on who she is to you. For instance, if you are a co-worker of the bride, you could offer to cover her desk for an hour one afternoon so she can run out to a meeting with the caterer. Or if you see a funny cartoon in the New Yorker about weddings, clip it out and tape it to her computer to start her day off with a smile. These are small gestures that will go a long way towards bringing a smile to the face of a frazzled bride.

There are plenty of sweet things that the bride's friends can do for her. Time is one thing that almost all women in the midst of planning a wedding find to be in short supply. The bride's friends could help to put some more hours back in her day by taking on the occasional task for her. Perhaps you could run down to the stationery store and pick up the invitations for her. Or maybe you could go online and do some research on the best honeymoon resorts in her favorite destination. These are kind things that you can do for a friend that will not cost you more than a little bit of your time.

Speaking of time, time spent with good friends is something that any bride would appreciate. Maybe you could carve out an afternoon to meet with prospective florists with her (something the groom probably is not volunteering to help with). Or perhaps you could show up on her door with a new dvd, a bag of popcorn, and a bottle of wine. A trip to the local nail salon for pedicures is always a fun thing that girlfriends can do together, or maybe you would like to get together for brunch on a Sunday morning.

The groom can also do quite a few nice things for his future wife, some of which may be expensive, and others which are free. The number one thing that you can do is to lend her your ear. You may find the minutia of wedding planning to be deathly dull, but she doesn't have to know that. Even if you would rather be doing something else, give her your undivided attention for a few minutes a day to go over all that wedding stuff. It will really make her feel like you care about the wedding, and by extension, about your relationship.

Of course, there are many other sweet ways that the groom can brighten his bride's day. Surprise her with a gift, like a set of bridal jewelry, when she is least expecting it. You can cook her a romantic dinner and present the bridal jewelry with dessert. There is nothing better than doing something special for someone for no reason except to say, "I love you".

Planning a wedding can be a taxing job, and a few kind gestures from her family and friends will go a long way towards helping the bride to relax. It is a memorable time, and the little things that you do for the bride in your life will become a cherished part of her wedding memories. And isn't that what being a friend is all about?

Guy has been writing about society and weddings for a long time. If you have a topic you would like to know about. Let us know at SilverlandJewelry.com. Bridal jewelry makes a wonderful gift for the bride.

Father of the Bride Speeches - Top Tips For Writing a Memorable Wedding Speech and Toast

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If you are looking for inspiring ideas on how to write father of the bride speeches, you have found the right place. In this article, let us talk about topics that you can include in your speech to make it meaningful, enlightening, and memorable.

The Welcome Note

You must begin your father of the bride speech with a cheerful welcome note. First, you may briefly introduce yourself as not everyone who attends may know that you are the bride's father.

Next, welcome and thank everyone who attended this joyous family occasion, including your family, relatives, friends and acquaintances. Be sure to extend a special welcome to the groom's parents and family as well.

In your welcome note, you may also highlight one or a few of your favourite moments during the wedding ceremony, such as walking your daughter down the aisle, which you will treasure in your memory forever.

About the Bride

Of course, no father of the bride speech will be complete without the story about the bride. This is the part where you can share funny anecdotes that you remember about your daughter when she was a child, while she was growing up, or while she was in her teens. This is your chance to reminisce your precious bonding moments spent with your daughter.

You can also compliment the bride on how beautiful and blooming she looks on this special day. Everyone knows that the bride is the star of the event so she deserves all the best compliments. Let the audience know how proud you are that you are her father and that you are standing here today to give this speech for your daughter's wedding.

About the son-in-law

This is your opportunity to publicly express warm welcome to your new son-in-law. Tell the audience how happy you are now that he is officially part of your family. What particular traits do you admire about the groom that makes you feel he is the perfect partner for your daughter? Giving sincere complements to the groom will surely make your daughter's heart happy as well.

In crafting wedding speeches for the father of the bride, you want to show your wisdom and insight, dispensing valuable matrimonial advice to the bride and groom. Above all, you want to show your great, unconditional love for your little girl.

As father of the bride, you play a strong, vital role in the wedding of your daughter. That is why it is important to make all wedding speeches for the father of the bride the best that they can be; and luckily, help is available.

For more inspiring ideas, visit father of the bride speeches and toasts website to read exclusive samples of father of the bride speeches that you can use to get your creative juices flowing. The website also offers a great selection of wedding toasts, quotations, a step by step guide to help you write your own speech from scratch, advice on how you can deliver a great speech without worrying about mental block or stage fright and more.

The Bride's Friendship Bag

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An old English tradition known as friendship balls has taken root in new form - the Bride's Friendship Bag. Friendship balls were passed from mother to daughter, friend to friend - on special occasions. These balls were filled with a favor and were only passed to someone very special.

This has been a great tradition passed down through time. A Bride's Friendship Bag is great spin-off on the way a bride can show appreciation to her wedding party members.

Many countries have different ways of giving favors - like Bulgaria, where they give a little basket with wheat and sweets or England where they give sugared almonds wrapped in a little material pouch. A Bride's Friendship Bag can be used in any country, regardless of its origins.

Fast forward to today - many brides still carry on this tradition by giving gifts in a Bride's Friendship Bag to their maid of honor, bridesmaids and close friends. The reason stands the same - showing appreciation and thanks for the person participating in your special day.

All maids of honor and bridesmaids love to receive a Brides Friendship Bag because it's not only a great gift for them, but they also see it as a big thank you for the part they played in your wedding day.

Many of those who receive the gifts tend to keep them as a keepsake to remind them of your special day, something to look back on and think of the wonderful memories your day brought to you and your guests.

You can put anything you want in your Bride's Friendship Bag. It can be as extravagant or as small as you wish. Maybe you want to put cosmetics or something small like chocolates and a card. In the end you know the people who will be receiving the bags so you know what they will like.

Although you don't have to give a Bride's Friendship Bag, it's a unique way to deliver your traditional wedding favors in a keepsake that stands apart from what brides do and most couples seek out ways that they can shine - whether it's through a unique wedding gown or the container in which they deliver their wedding favors.

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Gift For Bride To Be

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The wedding marks a new journey, a new beginning for the bride and the groom.

After getting the marriage invitation, the next step for friends and relatives is to save the date and plan on what to wear for the wedding, how to go, where to stay, get leave sanctioned in advance, so that last minute you are not pleading your boss for leave to attend the marriage. Above that what gift for the bride to be given. Present her with something which will be of great use after marriage.

If you are a close relative or a close friend of the bride, then you can feel free to ask the bride her choice of gifts after telling her, your budget. It is advantageous for both, the bride and you, because you don't have to break your head thinking what to buy, whether she will appreciate it or like it. If it is a slightly bigger thing, you can transfer the money in her account, and whenever the bride is free she can go with her bridesmaid or parents and do the shopping and your gift is ready. The other option is you can get the gift of her choice by yourself and bring it with you and give it on the wedding reception.

If you are not so close to the bride to be, then you can buy good useful gifts depending on your budget. You can go for a jewellery made of gold, either a gold necklace, or a chain, or a bangle or earring. You can also go for a slim digital camera, a good gift certificate, a good book, monogrammed goodies like towel, keep safe jewel box where her new initials can be engraved, a nice honeymoon gift, lingerie, engagement memories like a beautiful musical photo album.

Women are more attached and quite particular about their kitchen. Good kitchen appliances like a microwave oven, a blender or a juicer, or a tea kettle or coffee maker can be useful. Cookery items like dinner set, coffee set, cutlery and crockery can be given as they are some of the best gifts to be given for a bride.

After marriage, the bride likes to set her home sweet home with lots of decorative items, like lampshades, paintings, musical clocks, wall hangers etc. Make-up sets, travel bags for honeymoon are wonderful gifts. Designer hand bags and shoes can be also given. If your budget permits, you can sponsor a trip on a cruise or liner to some exotic location.

Whatever may be the gift whether big or small, it should be given with lots of love, affection and best wishes to carry the bride through a happy married life.

If you are looking for some wedding gifts for your bridesmaids, groomsmen or anyone we got you covered.

We also sell many different types of wedding favors and wedding accessories. We have unity candles, guest books and pens, candle favors, beach favors and many more.

Wedding Gifts For the Parents of the Bride and Groom

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Your parents do so much to make your dream wedding come to life. Show them how much you appreciate their efforts and generosity with a special thank you gift. From the small token to the grand gesture, these are some of the best wedding gifts for the parents of the bride and groom.

The most important way to show your parents your gratitude is with your words. Even if you cannot afford to spend one cent to get them a gift, you can still take the time to write a heartfelt letter to each parent or set of parents. Writing such notes can be hard, but there are a few main points to cover. Be sure to tell them how much their support has meant to you growing up, and how much it means to you that they are a part of your wedding. The note is sure to be a tear-jerker.

For the mothers of the bride and groom, one of the nicest ways for the couple to show their thanks is with a gift of wedding jewelry. Wait until the mothers have decided on their wedding attire, and then pick a special necklace, brooch, or pair of earrings to match. Some of the most popular choices for mother of the bride and groom wedding jewelry include black pearls or Swarovski crystals in rich colors. The gifts can either be a joint present from the couple, or each person can give the jewelry individually to his or her own mom.

Another nice way to thank your parents is with a gift basket in their hotel room when they arrive for the wedding. The gift basket is one of the most popular gift ideas because it is easy to personalize and to adapt to fit with any budget. You can order a fancy gift package from a specialist, or assemble your own with a nice wicker basket, some cellophane or tulle for wrapping, and a big ribbon bow to tie the whole thing up. You can include anything that you think your parents would like, including fresh fruit, relaxing bath salts (for mom), golf balls (for dad), and a bottle of wine or Champagne.

Some couples like to treat their parents to an experience instead of giving them a physical gift. You can give them a pair of tickets to the theater or opera, a generous gift certificate to their favorite restaurant, or a trip to a massage therapist to unwind after the wedding. If you are having a destination wedding, the gift could tie in with your location. Perhaps your parents would like to take a helicopter tour of Hawaii or take a guided sightseeing tour of historical points of interest in your wedding locale. This is a fun way to help your folks see whatever it is that made you fall in love with your chosen wedding destination.

If you are in the mood to splurge a bit, a wonderful way to thank your parents for throwing you your dream wedding is to send them on a post-wedding getaway trip. A weekend at a romantic bed and breakfast or a few days on a scenic beach could be just what they need to recover from planning a wedding. Whatever you decide would be the perfect gift, your parents will surely be glad that you were thinking of them, even as you planned for the biggest day of your own life.

Finding the whole process of weddings and all the planning that goes into one fascinating, Laura writes about many of the considerations that brides have to deal with. Beautiful wedding jewelry is one of the most thoughtful gifts for the mothers of the bride and groom.

Indian Bride - Indian Pride

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When I got married in the year 1978, thirty two years ago, my bride was wearing a traditional Indian dress. She was very proud to have her dress designed and styled in India, she was wearing Ghagra (skirt) choli (blouse) in white, her blouse was made of white silk with lots of embroidery. Her dupatta (head covering) was made of lots of heavy work. It was exactly what she wanted, and she wore her dress with pride. Her matching jewelry complimented her outfit very nicely.

In the year 2007, my daughter got married. She was wearing an Indian made ghagra choli and dupatta. Again she wore this with pride. My only son got married to his bride from India recently. When she came to the wedding venue she was wearing an Indian designed traditional ghagra and choli with dupatta.

I have seen many changes in life. We have seen the whole world change in the last 30 years. However, one thing has not changed and that is our Indian traditional bride. We have adopted and accepted many things in our life, but our brides will not accept or settle for any thing less than the tradition. They have maintained the heritage in line with faith, because one can not change the faith related way of performing our weddings. Our Indian bride will not change the perception of the Indian bride. This is something we Indian parents are proud of. Our children living in any part of the world, growing up in any area, educated in any world class institution, will remember when it when it comes to weddings. We are Indian and we are proud to be Indian.

A wedding day is a dream day, and it's not for the bride or groom only. It is a dream for the parents too. When parents see the dream of their daughter as a bride they see an Indian bride and on the day when they see the bride it is the same as seen in dream. With tears in the eyes, they, the proud parents of the bride, they open a safe deposit box and spend thousands in celebration. Father considers himself as very lucky and honoured to have completed the responsibility. And if you can add the support of the daughter till that day, it actually does not end there. It goes on and on and on, and the blessing of love never ends for the parents.

In the tradition of Mehdi, going back to as long as you can imagine, want, Asian Bridals have always wore Mehdi. It is most difficult and painful to sit for hours on floors, and the Mehdi smells strong, and keeping one arm in the same position for hours is also difficult. Yet they have no problem with wearing the Mehdi. In fact it can provide most enjoyable moments for them. There has been no modification of this and they have kept the tradition going, so no wonder our Indian brides are so full Indian pride. God bless you.

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Wedding Ceremony Escort - Walking Down The Aisle

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There are no set rules on who has the honor of escorting a bride down the aisle. Traditionally the father walks the bride down the aisle, but with modern non-traditional families this is not always an option.

Here are some ideas for non-traditional family situations.

Deceased Father or Absentee Father

You can walk down the aisle by yourself. Or you can ask your mother, stepfather, brother or a close relative/friend to escort you.

Whoever escorts you down the aisle will sit in the front pew after the precession. When the clergymember asks, "Who gives this woman in marriage?", your escort may respond. Even if your mother did not walk you down the aisle; she may still respond "I Do" from her place in the first pew.

Deceased Mother

You can ask a favorite aunt or grandmother to take your mother's place during the wedding. She should sit in the front pew with your father. It is even acceptable to have her join your father in escorting you down the aisle.

Divorced Parents - Mother Remarried

This can cause a sticky situation. Every family dynamic is different so there is no single solution. Here are some general guidelines you may want to consider.

Close to your natural father - If he has been a part of your life you may want to take the traditional route and have him walk you down the aisle.

There is no need to cut your stepfather out of your wedding - He can do a special reading during the ceremony, or dance the first dance with you.

Father and Stepfather on friendly terms - If you are torn between your father and stepfather you may ask them both to escort you (one on each arm). When the clergymember asks, "Who supports this woman in marriage", they both respond "We do".

Another idea is to have your stepfather walk you half way down the aisle and sit in the front pew as you take your father's arm to the altar.

Be sure to speak to your father and stepfather privately to make sure they are okay with your plans. If one or both father's seem kind of apprehensive with your plans, do not push the issue.

Absentee Father vs. Stepfather If your natural father has been distant and your stepfather has been there to support you, ask your stepfather to escort you down the aisle. The father who has supported you the most throughout your lifetime deserves the honor of escorting you.

Your natural dad may try to guilt you into choosing him but do not give in. He let you down many times before and probably will again. On the other hand, consider your stepfather's feelings. He helped raise you and loved you and would feel betrayed if you chose your absentee father over him. So be sure to choose wisely.

Cannot Decide

If you are very fond of both of your fathers and cannot decide who to choose; ask neither. Walk down the aisle by yourself or have your groom escort you.

Jasmine Macdonald is an editor of several wedding theme sites...[http://merrybrides.wordpress.com] [http://funweddings.blog.com] http://funweddings.blogspot.com

Tips For Petite Brides

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There are many wonderful things about being petite. You are dainty, you have adorable little feet, and you can buy your t-shirts at GapKids. However, when you start shopping for your wedding gown and related accessories, you may find that being petite poses a bit of a problem. With persistence, and a really good seamstress, you will be able to find a gown that fits your frame perfectly.

At 5'1", I found shopping for a bridal gown to be downright hilarious at times. It was hard to imagine if a dress would really look good once a foot of fabric was chopped off from the hem. Even standing on the pedestals at the bridal shop only helped so much. I had loved the look of dresses with a band of satin fabric around the hem until the bridal shop associate lifted it up to show me where it would be once the gown was hemmed for my height - there was practically no skirt left between the waistline and the satin trim! Also strictly off limits were any gowns with beading, embroidery, or lace embellishments on the hemline.

It is not only hemlines that pose a challenge for the petite bride. When trying on the sample dresses in bridal shops, you are likely to find that the waistlines hover somewhere in the vicinity of your knees. If you have a short torso like I do, it looks even sillier. In general, most petite brides will look best in gowns with a natural waist (hitting right at the smallest part of your waist), an empire waist (hitting right under the bust), or a princess seam gown (also known as a fit and flare style, there is no break at the waistline).

For a good fit, look for bridal gowns that can be ordered with custom measurements. Most of the fine designers allow the bridal shop to order a gown with an adjustment to the torso length, and with other specifications as well. Buying a wedding gown is not like buying a shirt or a pair of jeans; if it does not fit your body exactly, it will not look good at all, so it is worth it to do whatever it takes to get it adjusted to your frame.

Another option is to have a seamstress custom make a bridal gown especially for you. It is likely to be a more expensive option up front (and if it is not, be wary of the talent level of the seamstress). However, by the time that you have factored in custom measurements and the standard alterations on top of the price of a designer gown, you may be surprised at how close they are in cost. With a custom gown, you will be assured of a perfect fit.

Once you have found the perfect wedding gown, it is time to accessorize it. The accessories are easier because fit is not an issue, but you still want to pay attention to proportion. It should never look like your wedding jewelry, headpiece, and veil are wearing you instead of the other way around. Custom bridal jewelry is a wonderful option, because you can have bracelets made to fit smaller wrists, necklaces shortened as needed, and earrings made to be just the right length. When created from precious materials like Swarovski crystals, sterling silver, and freshwater pearls, custom bridal jewelry is as affordable as it is fabulous.

Headpieces for petite brides will look best when they are not overwhelming. Consider dainty tiaras, small clips, or hairpins. It may come as a surprise, but a long veil (at least floor length) is often a terrific choice for the petite bride, because it creates a long, uninterrupted line. If you prefer a shorter veil, be cautious about heavy borders that can visually cut you in half. Simpler is usually better.

Even though the process may be a bit more involved, every petite bride can find a wedding gown that is perfect for her style and size. It is all a matter of good proportion. And a petite bride does not have to wear high heels if she doesn't like them - you can always stand on a step above your groom for the pictures!

Let us know if you need assistance in any area of planning your wedding.Take advantage of Bridget's experience helping clients select jewelry and accessories. Custom bridal jewelry is perfect for any bride who loves unique and special jewelry.

Mother of Bride Speech - Expression of a Mother's Love For Her Daughter

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You are looking for ways on how to write a memorable mother of bride speech? It only implies that your daughter has at last decided to become more responsible by marrying her partner. Some may say that you have to get started writing your special message right after the wedding date is chosen. It's quite logical to do that. If you are able to complete your speech in advance, you'll have time to practice delivering it.

Now, if you don't have a lot of time for this, you don't have to worry. I'll be offering plenty of help by pointing you towards the right direction.To begin with, here are useful tips you never want to miss in writing your wedding speech:

• First, just admit that you need to prepare. Even the most-remembered speakers spend time reviewing basics. Preparing is a way of expressing your love for your daughter. A very good way of getting ready is reading wedding speech samples with the right mixture of content, hilarity and emotions.



• It helps if you brainstorm ideas. The mother of the bride speech is really your intimate message for your daughter and her partner. Write down all things you can think about your daughter - your fondest memories of her, funny moments - anything. Also don't forget to put some things about your future son-in-law. You may even tell your prediction about their married life. You should put everything on paper to make sure you won't forget important stuff.



• Decide on a theme to use all throughout your speech. Try using a theme that you and your daughter treat as special. This may be a game or any activity, a lifestyle or career choice, or just preferred meals. Your theme should be easy enough for the audience to figure out, and yet invites the use of creativity.



• Organize a detailed outline you can easily follow. After jotting down all your ideas, pick the most essential stuff that you want to include in your speech. After that, list a sequence of these key points. Having an outline will easily enable you to complete your speech. Your outline serves as your roadmap to an excellent message. A theme and outline work harmoniously in developing a great message.



• Embrace your son-in-law as your own. Your speech must propose that you already treat the groom together with his family as part of your own. By doing this, you are also able to show your great love for your daughter, through accepting who she cares for.

If you want to give the best mother of bride speech for your daughter's wedding, you have to visit http://www.bestmotherofthebridespeeches.com. The site offers an exclusive package of 25 professionally written wedding speech samples customized for the mother of the bride. These speech samples are equally entertaining, heartwarming and memorable. Further, these are guaranteed to reduce your work load to almost none, because most require slight or no change at all! Are you looking for inspirational wedding quotations and hilarious one-liners? Do you want a step-by-step guide to composing your wedding speech? Access exclusive mother of bride speech and toast pack today.

Wedding Gifts For The Bride and Groom

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You have been invited to a wedding and now have to decide what gift to give the happy couple. Choosing the best gift is sometimes difficult. You definitely want to avoid the last minute dash to find something to give. Besides thinking of what to give you also want to keep it unique. No couple wants to get 10 gravy boats. How do you buy that unique wedding gift? There are a few ways to make sure your gift is an original. You can make it yourself, get it personalized or be creative. Trying one of these three ideas will ensure that nobody else will be giving a duplicate of your gift.

If you are blessed with a special creative talent you can whip up a gift the couple will surely love. Some great handmade gifts are paintings, soaps, candles or knitted items. You can also put together a recipe book with family favorites in it. Go a step further and put together some jars of dry ingredients with recipes attached where the cook adds some of the ingredients to whip up a soup or casserole. If you want to give a gift from the heart offer to sing the couple a song at the reception or even cook the dinner for them. Use your special talent to create a gift that nobody else can ever give and the couple with be delighted.

Adding personalization to gifts will also help set them apart from the crowd. Give the couple monogrammed bath robes with matching slippers. Play to each of their hobbies or interests with a pen set for him and knitting supplies for her. If you know the couple well you should be able to find something that seems perfect for them. You can always have a personal message added to any gift, like glasses with their last name etched on them. Make the gifts unique to them and they will appreciate the thought you put into it.

For those who just have no clue what to buy - get creative. There are some things the couple will need but nobody will think to buy these things for a wedding gift. Put together kits that provide the couple with essentials in a nice package. Every new home needs cleaning supplies, so put various cleaning items in a mop bucket and you have a useful gift. Buy a large pot and every spice you can think of for a gift that will tempt their taste buds. These creative gifts are very helpful to the new couple, but at the same time quite simple.

Most people try to go way out and buy the best gift they can, but in the end others have the same thought and the couple ends up with duplicate gifts. To make sure your gift won't be returned turn it into a project that you put some work into, so you end up with a unique wedding gift for a deserving couple. They will be sure to enjoy your unique gift for years to come.

Joe Palladino is the owner of Her Wedding Favors and offers fine wedding favors and unique bridal shower favors. All of his products are discounted, high-quality cheap wedding favors.

Bride and Groom Speech Completes the Wedding

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In every wedding reception, the anticipated event is the bride and groom speech. The visitors and guests are happily waiting for this moment to happen. This is also one of the highlights of the wedding itself. Most often, it is the groom who will deliver the speech. He must open the speech with the following line, "my wife and I" as he talks on behalf of his bride. Delivering this speech is usually done after the father of the bride gives his speech.

The groom is responsible to thank the best man, the groomsmen, his wife's parents and relatives. On the other hand, the bride is also required to thank her maid of honor, bridesmaids, the husband of her parents and relatives. But both of them must thank everyone for the gifts and support their guests have given to them. They must show their appreciation for the wonderful and beautiful hearts of the people. Thanking everybody must be the first thing you need to utter in your speech.

This bride and groom speech must be interesting and sincere. It must be also humorous so your families and guests can have a good time together. During the speech, the two of you must reflect your happiness by smiling and even laughing at times. This is your own joyous occasion so they must be able to see that from your faces. Showing to your guests that you are happily married can be reflected from the way you stand and speak before them.

When preparing this kind of speech, you must search some ideas from the internet. It is through these ideas and examples where you can get help on how to create your own wedding speech. The speech you are going to render is actually a thanksgiving. So ensure to make it very interesting and if possible, perfect. Gathering some information through samples can help you have the most wonderful wedding speech.

Following all of the things mentioned above is the key to make the most exceptional bride and groom speech. You have to prepare together in making a speech that will be remembered for years. The audience must be captured through the wonderful words you give in your speech. Keeping these things in mind is important so you can avoid making mistakes regarding the creation of a wedding speech.

So it is time to check out some examples of bride and groom speech to give you ideas. Just visit the bride and groom speech site to have all the information you need.

Bride's Speeches

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Traditionally brides did not speak on their wedding day. Today it is accepted that brides should have their say. After all there are things that most brides would like to say.

A wedding day is a day for happiness and a happy bride should give a happy speech. Most of them want to thank their parents for their love and care. In expressing these thoughts a bride will make the day special for them too. If she has been welcomed by the groom's parents she may like to say how much they have come to mean to her. In doing so she will make their day too.

A bride may also wish to speak about her bridesmaids. They may be sisters or friends or a combination of both. She may refer to incidents she shared with them or things they have done for her. Quite often she will be thanking them for all their help in the busy period before the wedding.

Then too there are often people at the wedding who have helped her in some way and it is nice to mention them. Maybe her aunt made the wedding dress or a cousin did the flower arrangements. Perhaps a neighbour wrote the place card in beautiful calligraphy or a friend played the organ in the church. If someone goes out of their way to help the couple it is gracious to thank them.

Naturally the most important mention of all must go to her groom. She should express what he means to her and if she finds this difficult in public she can simply say how much she loves him and how she is looking forward to spending a lifetime with him.

He will love her for it.

The author has written so many articles on regarding all kinds of wedding speeches.

Shopping For Elegant Mother Of The Bride Dresses

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There are many places to shop for elegant mother of the bride dresses that are also affordable. You don't have to spend a lot of money to ensure elegance. In fact, if you shop with an eye on line, cut and style, rather on designer name and price, you'll be surprised at how elegant you can look without spending an outrageous amount of money. There are elegant mother of the bride dresses to suit every budget size.

When you begin to shop for your dress, you may want to spend a bit of time browsing the ultra expensive collections of top designer created elegant mother of the bride dresses. You're not browsing their dresses to buy, however. The purpose of browsing those expensive and elegant mother of the bride dresses is to see what is current in the fashion world.

You'll have those elegant mother of the bride dresses in your mind's eye when you begin your real shopping at much more reasonably priced retailers. It is common knowledge that high fashion is rarely exclusive. The moment those expensive designer clothes are made available to the consumer, the designers and manufacturers that produce garments for sale at more affordable prices are busy making copies to sell to the average income consumer.

So, while high priced elegant mother of the bride dresses may be out of your reach, the knock-offs will most likely be closer to your desired price range. And, since you did your homework, checking up on what the top designers are putting out for this season, you'll know exactly which of the knock-offs are copies of the crème de la crème of the season.

Another way to ensure elegance at a reasonable price is to choose from elegant mother of the bride dresses that are of classic styles. Because truly classic styles are timeless in their appeal, you can find a quite elegant and attractive dress among those that are discounted for quick sale to make room for the new stock of this year's fashions.

Classically elegant mother of the bride dresses change remarkably little from season to season. If you look at fashion history, there are many classic, elegant mother of the bride dresses that have changed very little over the past few decades. Yet, they still have the power to make a woman look absolutely stunning and fashionable.

Women who are handy with needle and thread can purchase one of the elegant mother of the bride dresses in a classic style left over from a season or so ago and use a little imagination and innovation to alter or add certain details to bring it to up to the minute fashion standards. Checking out the top designers interpretations of classic designs can provide inspiration.

It is possible to find a reasonably priced mother of the bride dress that is elegant and affordable. Investing a little time and effort in creative shopping techniques can present you with a variety of elegant mother of the bride dresses to choose from, ensuring that you will look your very best at your daughter's wedding without spending excessively.

Abe Gardea is a full-time freelance writer and a regular contributor to http://bridesmaid-dresses-n-flower-girl-dresses.com

Money Saving Tip For Every Bride And Groom's Wedding Day

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Weddings can stretch even the biggest wallet and not every couple that is getting married has an unlimited resource of money to spend on their big day. Money saving tips brings you many alternative solutions that will not spoil your big day.

The recent announcement of Prince Williams' engagement to Kate Middleton has the whole world talking about their forthcoming wedding in April. They certainly will not be looking for any advice on how to save money. Kate will be having the kind of wedding every little girl dreams about.

Everybody wants to know where they will be getting married, where the reception will be, who will design Kates' wedding dress, who's invited, who will make the cake, where they are going on honeymoon and who will pay for the big day? Any designer or supplier asked by the happy couple to assist would drop everything to be involved. Not every bride and groom is as fortunate as Prince William and Kate. Most engaged couples planning a big day will be doing it on a budget and they will be looking to save some money. The average wedding costs around £20,000 today so any savings would be welcome.

So here are a few frugal tips worth considering.

Instead of buying a new wedding dress why not have a wedding dress made for you by some you know? This can often work out much cheaper than a designer dress. Have a look on eBay or in a charity shop. Often the larger charity shops have a designer rail and the clothes that are donated are often in pristine condition. Dresses sold on eBay will have only been worn once.

Many couples will have lived with their partners before getting married. Many Couples will already be living together and will have microwaves, toast and a kettle, etc. A wedding list is a great way of asking your guests to contribute towards the wedding day itself. You might like to ask for a bouquet of flowers for the bride, a cake for the reception, the bridesmaid dress, the wedding car, the honeymoon holiday, etc.

Church weddings can be expensive. The vicar will want paying for the church, the choir, the heating and the bell ringers. You may not be religious. Church weddings are seen as 'very yesterday' for some couples and are not modern and trendy. Wedding ceremonies held in a Registry office are an alternative. Even more popular for the new millennium, weddings can now take place in public places (providing they have a licence) for example, hotels, a capsule on the London Eye, you can even arrange the ceremony to take place on Concorde and have the reception in the Concorde hanger.

After the Wedding ceremony you could have a buffet luncheon where you ask your guests to contribute a platter of food for the buffet and whatever they are drinking. You could provide the sparkling wine for the toast and the gifts for the bridesmaid, the best man, the brides' parents and the grooms' parents.

You could hold your evening reception at home, the local pub or at a friend's house. Some couples have even met all their friends and families at their favourite night club and they shared their night with other club revellers.

After having saved money on your wedding day you could splash out on your honeymoon night in an expensive hotel with a four poster bed or you could both fly off for a weeks sunshine honeymoon after the luncheon reception saving you money on not having an evening reception.

Whatever you decide remember it's your big day and you don't need to follow tradition. It is important that you and your partner discuss your plans with both sides of the family. It's your friends and your family that will help to make your wedding day a day to remember.

Mark Aucamp has provided Money Saving Tips Blog with regular Frugal Tips and Advice. He has extensive knowledge and experience in providing Debt Help, Free Mortgage and Financial advice and solutions. http://moneysavingtips.net