The Father of the Bride Toast - Common Mistakes to Avoid

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The father of the bride toast holds great importance on a wedding day. It is usually the first speech to be given during the reception, so it sets the tone for the rest of the evening. It is expected to be a meaningful, heartfelt, and bittersweet moment that will live on in the memories of all the wedding guests.

Not everyone's father of the bride toast turns out like that, however. Here are some common mistakes you should avoid.

• Avoid talking for too long and hogging the spotlight. Keep your speech short and simple!

• Don't rush through your speech, either. It makes you look like you just want to get your toast over with.

• Don't make up your father of the bride toast on the spot. Plan out your words in advance, and write a few drafts. Being well-prepared is worth it.

• Don't use crude or offensive language. Remember, there are most likely children present.

• Don't tell embarrassing stories about the bride, or appear to ridicule her in any way. Playful pokes and prods are okay, but don't go overboard.

• Avoid getting drunk before making your father of the bride toast. This is a recipe for disaster!

• Don't be nervous! Just take a deep breath, relax, and try to have a good time. The audience wants to hear what you have to say.

These are just a few of the common pitfalls people make when writing and giving a father of the bride toast. Please take the time to put proper thought and care into your speech. It will show!

When my own daughter married last year, I was panic-stricken at the thought of preparing a toast and speaking in front of all those people! I thought for sure that I was going to succumb to many of these common mistakes. I had no idea how to write a good father of the bride toast.

Fortunately, though, I found a great resource called Father Bride Speeches that not only helped me conquer my writer's block and write a sincere and crowd-pleasing speech, but it contained lots of helpful tips and advice that allowed me to calm down and approach the mic with courage and confidence.

If you are at all in doubt of your ability to write and deliver a stunning father of the bride toast, I highly recommend visiting Father Bride Speeches!

Mothers of the Bride: How to Find the Perfect Look for the Big Event

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These days, weddings are some of the most fashionable affairs anywhere. The bride is breathtaking, the bridesmaids are stunning, and the groom and his groomsmen are handsome and polished.

But let's not forget about the mother-of-the bride.

The proud matriarch deserves to look her best at this monumental event, as well. So here are some gorgeous choices for the mother-of-the bride.

Two-Piece Stretch Taffeta Outfit

This sapphire-colored taffeta ensemble is both modern and elegant. The ruffled neckline is the most distinguishing characteristic of this short-sleeve top with jeweled buttons. The other piece is a flattering stretch trumpet skirt which is simple and comfortable.

One-Shoulder Sueded Charmeuse Side Drape Dress

For the mother who wants to look almost as stunning as her daughter, the dramatic one-shoulder neckline features a side drape that creates a slimming silhouette. The dress is made of soft-sueded gold charmeuse, which accentuates all the right curves.

3/4 Brocade Jacket & Chiffon Pant Set

This is ideal for the mother of the bride who prefers something other than an opulent dress. The three-quarter length heather-colored brocade jacket with three-button front is accented beautifully with a black ribbon at the waist. The black pants are constructed of comfy and versatile chiffon.

Shantung Short Bolero Jacket Dress

This outfit has more wear-again appeal than most mother-of-the-bride dresses available today. The slimming shantung above-the-knee dress has a tank silhouette and a ruched waist and comes in eggplant or silver. It can be worn with or without the bolero jacket and its uniquely ruffled neckline.

Portrait Collar Knit Dress with Lace Skirt

This outfit reveals the perfect blend of sophistication and edginess. The black knit bodice features an attractive portrait collar which extends off the shoulders. It contrasts nicely with the slim lace skirt, which is artfully beaded.

Two Piece Floral Jacquard Suit with Rosette Detail

This two-piece selection is for the woman who is seeking a more traditional look. The entire outfit is made of stylish silver jacquard fabric with a radiant floral print. The three-quarter length jacket features a rosette detail on the singular button along with a portrait collar, while the knee-length skirt is flattering and slimming.

Side-Draped Tank Jersey Dress with 3/4 Jacket

For the lady who desires comfort without sacrificing appearance, this dress's relaxing jersey fabric in gorgeous eggplant is carefully fashioned with a tank bodice and a goddess-like side drape. Rhinestones trim the three-quarter length jacket to give the outfit a dash of dazzle.

Satin Twill Bolero and Mock Two-Piece Dress with Beaded Detail

This almond-colored ensemble provides a classic and sophisticated look. The three-quarter sleeve bolero is made of satin twill and is adorned with beaded detail. It covers a spaghetti strap chiffon dress with ruched detail on the top, and the modern skirt will flatter any woman's body.

Chiffon Tier One-Shoulder Dress with Scarf

Sometimes, the mother-of-the-bride wants to turn a few heads as well. This purple, ankle-length chiffon tiered dress with a divine one-shoulder design will accomplish that. The scarf can be carried, worn, or converted into a flattering cover up.

Long Chiffon Beaded Waist Dress

Its ivory color and its classic lines evoke images of stately Greek goddesses. The beautifully-beaded bodice accentuates the waistline and nicely complements the flattering A-line dress. It has dainty double spaghetti straps which can be easily adjusted to fit any body size, and the outfit is topped off with a charming scarf.

Three Quarter Sleeve Shantung Short Jacket Dress

This is ideal for the mother-of-the-bride who prides herself on keeping up with the most modern trends. The most distinctive feature is the majestic mandarin collar with beaded accents on the three-quarter sleeve bolero jacket. The knee-length shantung sleeveless tank dress, which is available in blue or light mocha, is gracefully embellished at the waist.

One Piece Metallic Chiffon Halter Dress with Scarf

It's perfect for a wedding that is full of glamour and opulence. This pewter-silver halter dress showcases the shoulders, and the metallic chiffon is lovely and comfortable. A beaded buckle accents the ruched waistband to help slim the figure, and the scarf can be added to create a unique look.

Taffeta Mock Two-Piece with 3/4 Sleeve

The fabric of this pleasing dress is a polyester/nylon/spandex blend and is available in sapphire, pewter, and magenta. The side-ruched top features a joyful portrait collar and three-quarter length sleeves. A long flowing skirt and brooch and jeweled pin detail at the waist complete the look.

Two-Piece Short Shantung Tank Dress with Jacket

This rose-colored outfit cleverly combines a short dress with a long jacket. The long-sleeve jacket drops to the knees and features a flower on the lapel. The sleeveless shantung dress falls to just above the knee.

In the past, many mother-of-the bride dresses have been frumpy, gaudy, or uncomfortable. But today, the devoted mother has plenty of ways to make a fashion statement as well. And that's important - because all eyes will be on her when she is escorted down the aisle ahead of her daughter.

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

The Father of the Bride Toast - Common Mistakes to Avoid

Image : http://www.flickr.com

The father of the bride toast holds great importance on a wedding day. It is usually the first speech to be given during the reception, so it sets the tone for the rest of the evening. It is expected to be a meaningful, heartfelt, and bittersweet moment that will live on in the memories of all the wedding guests.

Not everyone's father of the bride toast turns out like that, however. Here are some common mistakes you should avoid.

• Avoid talking for too long and hogging the spotlight. Keep your speech short and simple!

• Don't rush through your speech, either. It makes you look like you just want to get your toast over with.

• Don't make up your father of the bride toast on the spot. Plan out your words in advance, and write a few drafts. Being well-prepared is worth it.

• Don't use crude or offensive language. Remember, there are most likely children present.

• Don't tell embarrassing stories about the bride, or appear to ridicule her in any way. Playful pokes and prods are okay, but don't go overboard.

• Avoid getting drunk before making your father of the bride toast. This is a recipe for disaster!

• Don't be nervous! Just take a deep breath, relax, and try to have a good time. The audience wants to hear what you have to say.

These are just a few of the common pitfalls people make when writing and giving a father of the bride toast. Please take the time to put proper thought and care into your speech. It will show!

When my own daughter married last year, I was panic-stricken at the thought of preparing a toast and speaking in front of all those people! I thought for sure that I was going to succumb to many of these common mistakes. I had no idea how to write a good father of the bride toast.

Fortunately, though, I found a great resource called Father Bride Speeches that not only helped me conquer my writer's block and write a sincere and crowd-pleasing speech, but it contained lots of helpful tips and advice that allowed me to calm down and approach the mic with courage and confidence.

If you are at all in doubt of your ability to write and deliver a stunning father of the bride toast, I highly recommend visiting Father Bride Speeches!

Common Wedding Day Superstitions

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Your wedding day is special and it`s a one of a kind experience, which is probably why a lot of superstitions have grown up around this momentous event. Most of them have to do with the bride, perhaps because of the huge amount of pressure on the bride to have the perfect wedding day.

Here are a few of the wedding superstitions that have developed over the years:

The Bridal Shower

Everything the bride says while opening presents will come back to her on her wedding night. It could be good to be careful with this one... you never know! Having the same phrases repeated on the wedding night could be a good or bad thing, depending.

For good luck, the first gift opened should be the first gift used. There are a few superstitions surrounding the gifts given at a bridal shower, such as the giver of the third present opened will have a baby.

The Dress

The whole wedding outfit must not be tried on until the actual day of the wedding. This common superstition is due to the fact that it was thought to bring bad luck on the bride. If she put on all her wedding garb before the wedding... she might not be married after all!

Green, yellow, pink and red wedding dresses are considered bad form. According to an old marriage rhyme, these four colors of wedding dresses would bring assorted miseries on the married couple`s life and they wouldn't be happy.

It`s bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her dress on their wedding day. This is a pretty strong superstition that most people follow to this day.

The Church

Seeing a pig run across the road on the way to the church. This is considered to be very bad news for the wedding party and could foretell a canceled wedding or a terrible marriage. Interestingly, meeting a black cat on your wedding day actually signifies good luck.

Meeting a monk or a nun outside the church. According to this superstition, you are doomed to a marriage of barrenness and will be dependent on charity if you run across a nun or a monk on your way to the church.

Wed on a Saturday for no luck at all. While you may not get bad luck by tying the knot on a Saturday, you won`t have good luck either, so you may want to try Monday (health) or Wednesday (best of all), instead.

The Ceremony

Dropping the ring means the marriage won`t last. While this traditionally applies to the groom`s clumsy fingers, it`s been turned into a uni-sex superstition.

A penny in the bride`s shoe will bring wealth to the marriage. This is the often skipped part of the old "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" adage.

Marrying when the hands on the clock are on their way down is bad luck. It`s considered far better to marry between the half hour and the hour, when the hands are moving back up. Otherwise, your marriage will always be going downhill.

The Wedding Night

The first person to fall asleep on the wedding night will also be the first to die. This is a superstition that obviously has no basis in fact, but it is still remarked upon . . . usually by the person who fell asleep last!

It`s not likely that any of these superstitions is based on truth, but they are definitely interesting to learn about. Many of them are still alive and well to this day and are still respected by most brides. While they may not be true, Toronto weddings superstitions certainly show no signs of going away just yet.

When doing research for your Toronto Wedding, consider The Perfect Wedding Guide, your complete resource for planning the perfect wedding.

Common Mistakes That Brides Make

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Getting married should be one of the most important days of a woman's life. More times than not, women dream of their wedding day years before it happens. They will have every little detail planned to perfection in their heads, but implementing their dreams comes with challenges.

Unfortunately, many brides make some common mistakes in the endeavor to realize that dream. As a certified wedding coordinator, I was taught to be aware of these mistakes, and I am passing some of that knowledge on to you. The following list describes the pitfalls you want to avoid while planning your nuptials:

o Bride's who "blow" their budget - Bride's are generally excited about planning their wedding day and tend to "jump the gun" and start booking vendors right and left without thoroughly shopping the competition. Most vendors require down payments to book an event and in the case of cancellation, the down payment will most likely not be refunded. So, brides, shop before you book!

o The couple who doesn't know the rules for obtaining a marriage license - There are very important rules that need to be followed in order to receive a marriage license, and if the rules are not followed, you will not receive it in time for the ceremony. To receive a license in Louisiana, you must bring birth certificates, $26 in cash, and divorce papers if either of you have been married before. Also, the marriage license must be purchased no later than seventy-two hours before the wedding, and the license is good for only thirty days.

o The bride who waits to the last minute to order her wedding gown - The wedding gown is one of the most important features in your wedding! You will want to make sure you get what you want, so go shopping almost immediately after you get engaged. It is extremely rare that a wedding gown will be bought directly off the rack, ready to wear. Most gowns will need to be ordered and then altered; so saving enough time to complete those tasks is crucial. Give yourself at least four months.

o The bride who does not affix the correct postage to her invitations - Most invitations require additional postage beyond the thirty-seven cents that is already required. The printing company you have hired will most likely be able to tell you how much postage you need to make sure your invitations will be delivered properly, but it is always a good idea to take a "ready to mail" invitation to the post office for weighing.

o The bride who tries to plan the entire wedding on her own - Your engagement period should be one of the most enjoyable times in your life, so why ruin it by stressing yourself out trying to plan the perfect wedding! It is unbelievable how much time and effort goes in to planning a wedding, so it is advisable to delegate different tasks to friends or family, or better yet, hire a wedding planner!

Mistakes are easy to make when you are not armed with the knowledge it takes to prevent them. I hope this article helps many a bride to relax and enjoy her engagement and wedding day.

Erin Sharplin Love is a Certified Fashion and Image Consultant and a Certified Wedding Coordinator who is the owner/founder of Panache by Erin. Panache by Erin is a business dedicated to enhancing its clients lives by providing services such as wardrobe consultation, closet rejuvenation, wedding coordinating, personal color analysis, personal shopping, etiquette training, and various home and office organization services. Panache by Erin also offers several different presentations to businesses, organizations, and “Girls Night Out” parties.

Erin received a Bachelor’s Degree in General Business/English from Northeast Louisiana University and began working full time as the Corporate Secretary of Sharpco, Inc. Before long the fashion bug began to resurface in Erin’s life and Panache was born. After several years of being in business, Erin realized that a certification in fashion and image consulting could be an asset to Panache, so she began to research different schools.