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It is the special details which really make a wedding beautiful and memorable. One of the most delightful ways to enhance your wedding ceremony or reception is with water. These are some of the wonderful water features which can be used for weddings.

If you can find one, what would make a more spectacular backdrop for an outdoor ceremony than a waterfall? Picture the misty waterfalls of Hawaiian postcards, perhaps with some tropical birds and maybe even a rainbow thrown in for maximum effect. Of course, waterfalls can be quite loud, so take that into consideration when choosing your ceremony site. It might be best to set up the altar in a place where the waterfall will be visible behind you, but not too close (besides, you would not want to get wet from the spray of the mist). Tropical attire would be ideal for a wedding by a waterfall. Think chiffon dresses for the bride and her bridesmaids, fuchsia hibiscus flowers, and crystal seashell pendants (they make great bridesmaid gifts). The bridesmaid gifts could be in a clear crystal or in watery shades of blue to mimic the waterfall colors.

You need not plan a destination wedding to an island paradise to include a water feature in your wedding. Another lovely idea is to hold your wedding in a courtyard which has an elegant fountain. Look for one which is surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens to create the feeling of paradise found. The fountain makes an excellent main design feature around which to plan your wedding decor. Speak to the site’s planner to see what is permissible. Perhaps you could add colored lighting to illuminate the fountain by night or could float gardenias on its surface for an afternoon wedding. Lots of candles around the perimeter are another great way to draw attention to this special water feature.

Ponds are another type of water feature which can enhance a wedding. This is a neat idea if you are planning a wedding in your own backyard. Did you know that it is relatively simple to create your own man-made pond with a natural look? After digging the hole and lining it, use natural stones to create the edge of the pond. Add brightly colored koi fish for a Japanese garden effect or take your inspiration from Monet and float waterlilies on your wedding pond. You can even get really creative and place a small bridge over your new pond; it makes a great spot to take romantic photographs.

Some wedding locations have very special modern water features. Wall fountains, which are sculptural forms over which water flows, can add a very peaceful feeling to your wedding. They are often made from dark stone, copper, or other natural materials, and are understated yet a major statement. A venue with a wall fountain would be a lovely place to hold a contemporary wedding reception. If your wedding is at your home, you might even think about adding an elegant outdoor wall fountain to your garden. It would be an investment that you could enjoy long after the wedding day.

The peaceful sound of flowing water or the beauty of a pond are the types of details which will really enhance the experience of your wedding. When you choose a location with an unexpected feature for your wedding, it will make it more memorable and beautiful. Any of these special water features would be sure to add that “special something” to your wedding.

Bridget Mora writes for Silverland Jewelry about wedding planning, decor, and style. Treat your attendants to bridesmaid gifts from http://silverlandjewelry.com/ and receive free shipping on any jewelry order over $99.

Planning a wedding can get so expensive! For many couples, spending the “typical” $20,000 – $30,000 for one day is simply impossible (and perhaps just too hard to stomach, even if they can afford it). The great news is that there are many creative ways to spend far less on your wedding, while still having a beautiful event. This is how to find cheap (but nice!) stuff for your wedding.

Free is even better than cheap, and if you are really persistent, you may just find that you can get some really fantastic things for your wedding at no charge. Seriously! Look for a local “freecyle” group and see if anyone has old vases or silk flowers they are no longer using. Keep your eyes peeled for furniture being discarded curbside; you might just find a cute old side table or dresser that you can re-purpose into an escort card or gift table for your wedding. Paint it a pretty color or re-finish it for a one-of-a-kind shabby chic wedding accessory. Using real furniture in unique ways is a hot wedding trend right now, so this would be a terrific addition to your reception.

When you are looking for free things to use at your wedding, consider borrowing from a relative. Maybe your grandmother has a beautiful cake knife and server that you can borrow for your cake cutting service. Perhaps your sister has a shawl you can borrow to keep the chill at bay for an autumn wedding. Be creative! Let’s say you were planning a rustic outdoor wedding in the fall. Instead of renting chairs, use bales of hay for seating and borrow an assortment of blankets to cover the hay from family members. If you would like to welcome your guests with a hot cider station, perhaps you know someone who has a huge coffee carafe that you could borrow instead of buying or renting one. Many people would be more than happy to lend you items for your wedding, as long as they are not extremely fragile or valuable.

Bartering is another excellent way to get rock bottom prices on wedding essentials. Do you have some sort of item or skill that you can offer in trade? Perhaps you know an up-and-coming stationer who specializes in letterpress. Maybe she needs a new website to promote her business. If you are a web designer, offer to trade your services for free custom wedding stationery. A few tips on bartering services: smaller companies will typically be more open to bartering than established ones. Also, be sure that what you are offering in trade is worth as much as what you hope to get in return. Finally, if you are trading professional services, you are supposed to list the value of what you received as business income for tax purposes.

Many brides have found all sorts of incredible deals on the Internet. Looking for pearls for your bridesmaid gifts? Check out online retailers, who may offer the very jewelry you want for bridesmaid gifts at a huge discount over traditional jewelers. Take a look at sites like Craig’s List or the chat boards on wedding websites to look for super deals on decorations and attire for your wedding. A lot of brides will try to sell their wedding decorations like vases, silk flowers, and so forth on a wedding message board after they are done with them. Having only be used for one day, most of the second-hand decorations are likely to be in excellent condition.

When it comes right down to it, there are all sorts of creative ways to get what you need for your wedding on the cheap. All that is required is a willingness to search and an open mind about how intriguing items can be used. The extra effort will surely be worth it when you have a lovely wedding at a fraction of the usual cost!

Bridget Mora writes for Silverland Jewelry about weddings, style, and jewelry. Visit us at http://silverlandjewelry.com/ for beautiful handcrafted bridesmaid gifts at an affordable price. We offer free shipping on all jewelry orders over $99, so visit today!

So your wedding plans are just about finalized when you come to the sinking realization that you definitely do not have enough left in the coffers to book that dream honeymoon to Hawaii. Bummer! But don’t give up hope yet. While two weeks on a tropical island may not be in the realm of possibility, that does not mean that you can’t enjoy a little special time alone after your wedding. These ideas for budget honeymoons will help you to plan a post-wedding vacation that is both romantic and affordable.

Whether you overspent on all of the wedding details from the flowers (darn out-of-season tulips flown in from Holland!) to the bridesmaid gifts (did you really have to buy your bridesmaid gifts at Tiffany, or could you find the same silver bracelets for less somewhere else?) or had a tight budget from the start, it can be really easy to realize that you are short on cash for your honeymoon. Since it is the one part of the wedding which is relevant only to the bride and groom, it is the thing most likely to be sacrificed; after all, your guests have to be fed! But a honeymoon is not an extravagance or something which is expendable; it is the first chance that the bride and groom have to be alone together as husband and wife. You don’t have to do anything fancy, but do plan to spend at least a couple of days alone together before returning to the daily grind.

If you are the outdoorsy types, plan a camping honeymoon. Picture it: just the two of you, alone in the woods. Hiking, bird watching, making s’mores around the campfire, and snuggling up in a two person sleeping bag – pretty romantic, right? Then add in no tv, no cell phones, no computers, just the newlyweds without any electronic interruptions, and you can see why camping could make a wonderful inexpensive honeymoon, as long as you are both into it.

This may sound like an odd idea for a honeymoon, but what about borrowing a friend’s house? If you have ever house-sat for anyone, you know that there is something about staying in a nice home that does not belong to you which really feels like a true vacation. Obviously, your friend would have to be willing to stay somewhere else for a few days to make this idea work. Maybe you have an aunt whose house has a beautiful pool or a friend who lives out in the country; these could be great honeymoon spots. Bring in plenty of good food and wine for romantic candlelit dinners, rent your favorite old movies, and well, do what honeymooners do. It would be a nice break before returning to reality after your wedding.

Couples who have a little bit of money to spend can think a bit further afield. You could have a budget-friendly honeymoon by spending a few nights at a cozy bed and breakfast. Or take a train ride to a nearby big city. You can find affordable rooms in decent hotels online, and even discount tickets to shows and events. Many cities also have lots of free activities to enjoy, like concerts in city parks, art museums (not all museums are free, but at least most galleries are), and even just people watching. With a little creativity, you will find that you can stretch your honeymoon dollars quite far.

Bridget Mora writes for Silverland Jewelry about weddings, travel, and style. Let the friendly staff at http://silverlandjewelry.com/ help you pick out the perfect bridesmaid gifts and receive free shipping on any jewelry order over $99.

Is your idea of the perfect night going from one bar to the next wearing a cheap veil while a gaggle of drunken bridesmaids try to get strange men to do belly shots off your tummy? Not so much? Well, spending time with your bridesmaids does not have to mean a bar crawl or a trip to Chippendale’s. Take a look at these creative bachelorette party ideas, from elegant to outdoorsy to fun.

When the bride chooses her bridesmaid gifts, she tries to carefully think about the tastes and lifestyles of her friends. The same should be true of the bridesmaids when putting together a bachelorette party. Just as not all bridesmaid gifts have to be the same for every wedding, nor does every bachelorette outing have to be centered around alcohol and naked guys (unless, of course, that’s what the bride wants!). Use the bride’s interests as your inspiration when planning a girls’ get-together for her. This list of suggestions can be a great place to start:

Art Museum: Did you meet the bride at an art history class in college? Is checking out gallery openings one of her favorite ways to spend the weekend? Then a trip to an art museum could be a perfect idea for the bachelorette party. Get the group together for a private guided tour of a museum and finish with an elegant lunch at the museum cafe or nearby bistro. If you don’t happen to live near any major museums, consider making this part of a weekend trip for the bridal party to the nearest art-filled big city.

Private Yoga Lesson or Golf Clinic: Does the bride-to-be need a set of sun salutations to get her morning started? Or maybe her dream is to be good enough to hit the links each Saturday with her future husband. Private lessons for the bridesmaid group could be just the thing for a bachelorette party alternative. Setting up a special yoga session can be done through the bride’s favorite yoga studio (bonus points for surprising her by booking her favorite instructor). A weekend golf clinic would make a fantastic weekend trip for the wedding party. There are special golf programs for women at scenic locations around the country, including Sedona, AZ, Palm Springs, CA, and Myrtle Beach, SC.

Slumber Party: If you are looking for a fun way to get all the bridesmaids and bride together without spending a lot of money, have an old-fashioned slumber party. Make it like the ones you had in junior high; rent your favorite movies from that time, load your ipod with the hits from back then, and serve up plenty of pizza and soda (a few bottles of wine will add a grown up touch to the party). If you really want to recreate the junior high slumber party for the bachelorette, play a few rounds of “Truth or Dare”, find out once and for all if “light as a feather, stiff as a board” really does work, and stay up until dawn sharing secrets and laughs. Finish it off with a trip to a diner for brunch the next morning.

Camping: Maybe the bride is a naturalist whose idea of a great time is getting back to nature. If so, a camping trip with the girls might be her perfect bachelorette event. Of course everyone’s idea of “roughing it” is different, so be sure to take her preferred style of camping into account, whether it is a tent on the ground or a deluxe pop-up camper. A couple of nights out in the woods, toasting marshmallows under the stars could be a fantastic way to melt away the wedding planning stress and bond with friends.

Bridget Mora writes for Silverland Jewelry about weddings, fashion, and society. You will love the selection of bridesmaid gifts at http://silverlandjewelry.com/. We offer free shipping on all jewelry orders over $99.

Not every bride needs a wedding coordinator to walk her through every stage of planning her wedding. However, for some couples, having someone to make sure that everything runs smoothly on the big day can be truly invaluable. That is where the day of wedding coordinator comes in. Learn more about what a day of wedding planner does, and find out if hiring one would be right for you.

The number one reason to have a day of wedding coordinator is for peace of mind. If you are the kind of person who enjoys picking out flowers and meeting with caterers, you might not need a professional to help you put your wedding together. However, on the day of the wedding itself, it can be a huge relief for the bride to be able to let go of all responsibility and simply bask in being a bride. Type A brides, in particular, can benefit from knowing that every detail will be attended to so that their wedding goes off without a hitch.

If you are considering hiring a planner for your wedding day, meet with prospective coordinators well before the day itself. There are some planners who specialize in this service and others who do both full wedding planning and day of event assistance. Either is fine, but the good ones book up early, so it is best not to leave meeting planners until the last minute, even if you do not need one until the wedding day.

Once you find a wedding planner with whom you click, sign a contract to reserve her services for your wedding day. Each coordinator has her own way of working, but it would be reasonable to expect to have a couple of meetings with her to go over the details of your wedding before the big day. After all, she has to know what your wedding plans are to be able to execute them perfectly. Many day of wedding planners can also be hired on an hourly basis, in case you might want a little extra help in the last few days before your event.

On the day itself, the planner’s primary job is to coordinate people. She will make sure that all of the vendors show up and that they know where to go and what to do (the more vendors you are using, the greater the need to have someone to direct them). The coordinator will also keep an eye on the clock to ensure that all the decorations are done on time. She can also make sure that the bride and the wedding party are all ready to go on schedule too.

Something else the day of wedding coordinator can do is be the bride’s personal assistant. She can go over the checklist you provided her to make sure that nothing has been overlooked. Did you leave the bridesmaid gifts at home? The coordinator will get someone to retrieve your bridesmaid gifts and bring them to the hotel. Did the bride forget to eat breakfast? The planner will have a light lunch brought in to ward off bridal fainting. These are the little things that will make the entire wedding day more pleasant and easy for a bride.

There are so many ways in which a wedding planner can help make the event run well. While not everyone needs a day of wedding planner, for many couples the amount of stress she can relieve will make her worth every penny.

Bridget Mora writes for Silverland Jewelry about weddings, style, and etiquette. Let us help you find the perfect bridesmaid gifts at http://silverlandjewelry.com/. We offer free crystal samples for color matching and complimentary shipping on all jewelry orders over $99.

Unless you are planning to elope, one of the first things you will need to do for your wedding is make the guest list. It can be a daunting task for many couples, as they try to navigate the right mix of size, family vs. friends, social obligations, and much more. This step by step guide will help you learn how to determine your wedding guest list as easily as possible.

One: Set a budget. Until you know how many mouths you can afford to feed, it is impossible to come up with a finalized guest list. It also helps if you have an idea of the general capacity and prices at the venues you are considering. However, do not book a venue before making the final version of your guest list.

Two: Divide the list. Most couples will split it into thirds, with one share going to the bride’s family, one share to the groom’s, and the last portion to the bride and groom for their friends. This is a good place to begin, however, some flexibility may be necessary and can be an important way to build good will between the two families. If the groom comes from an enormous family and the bride has very few relatives, be sensible and allot more slots to the larger family to avoid excluding anyone important.

Three: Start with immediate family. This would be parents, step-parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Unless there is a serious estrangement, all of these people should be invited to your wedding, even if you do not particularly enjoy their company. As the old saying goes, you can pick your friends, but not your family! Feel free to forewarn your fiance about any chronically embarrassing relatives before the wedding so you will feel less mortified when uncle Al starts flirting with bridesmaids or Grandma does a crazy dance at the reception.

Four: Next it is time to sort out your close friends. Remember that the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and their significant others need to be included in your head count. Use your both your heart and head when selecting your wedding party. Your sister probably needs to be included, even if you are not all that close, but what about old friends who had you in their wedding, gave you great bridesmaid gifts, and all of that. If you no longer have a genuine friendship with someone, it is perfectly fine not to reciprocate the invitation to serve as an attendant (or even to invite her to your wedding if she lives far away), but go ahead and include your oldest girlfriends whom you rarely see but with whom you share a strong bond. Old ties mean more than bridesmaid gifts when assembling your bridal party.

Five: The rest of the friends, both yours and your parents. A lot of this depends on the size of your wedding. If is is large, you will want to invite your parents’ best friends, your circle of pals, and possibly your co-workers (with their spouses). At this point, one also must decide whether or not to invite children to their wedding. Many people feel very strongly about this question, on both sides of the fence. If you decide to have an adults-only wedding, you must draw a clear line and apply it fairly, such as no guests under 18 years old. If you start making an exception for your favorite kids, but not for others, you will end up insulting some of your guests and causing a lot of hard feelings.

Six: Last, but not least, don’t forget to invite your wedding officiant, along with his or her spouse if married. Not everyone knows about this, but it is customary to honor your clergyman or officiant with a wedding invitation.

Bridget Mora writes for Silverland Jewelry about wedding planning, etiquette, and style. The friendly staff at http://www.silverlandjewelry.com/ would be delighted to help you select the perfect bridesmaid gifts for your wedding. All jewelry orders over $99 receive free shipping, so visit us today!

Okay, we all know by now that bridesmaids are more than the bride’s indentured servants. That said, it is reasonable to ask your bridal party to help you out with a few of your wedding projects, especially if you are a big diy person. These are some of the great wedding projects to do with your bridesmaids.

Even brides who are not planning to make much for their weddings will often handcraft the wedding programs. You may make the entire program, including handling the design and printing, or it may be a matter of assembling your programs after they have been printed by the stationer. The frank reason that many brides do opt to take on the task of assembling programs is because it costs a fortune to have it done professionally. But putting a hundred or more wedding programs together can be a very time consuming task. Enter the bridesmaids! Whether your attendants are experienced crafters or complete novices, assembling programs is something that anyone can do, and having a few extra sets of hands will make the job much faster. Just don’t leave them to the last minute, which is a mistake that many brides make. It is fair to ask your bridesmaids to help you put your programs together, but it is not fair to expect them to stay up all night doing it!

Wedding favors are another area in which a team of bridesmaids can be a great help. Depending on the favors you have selected, there are a variety of things they can do. It may be placing custom labels on jars of jam, tying bows on candy boxes, or putting Jordan almonds into little tulle circles. All of these things are customary ways in which attendants can help the bride and would not be unreasonable requests. The only caveat is that when you enlist the help of others, you have to accept the results, within reason. So if you know that you are going to be controlling and insist that every single bow on every single box is identical, plan to wrap your favors yourself.

Paper flowers can be wonderfully charming wedding decorations. You can use them for anything from bouquets to boutonierres to ceremony and reception decorations. Making huge quantities of paper blossoms, while not particularly difficult, can be too time consuming for the bride to manage alone. Why not have a paper flower making party with your bridesmaids one afternoon? The key to getting cheerful assistance is to make the experience fun, so put on some good music and make up a batch of fresh lemonade and cookies to fuel the party.

Keep in mind that your bridesmaids deserve to be appreciated for their services. If they have stayed up late folding programs, order in pizzas and make it your treat. Or take your girls out for a stress-free spa afternoon, with no wedding projects on the schedule. Of course, you will always thank your bridesmaids for being in your wedding with beautiful bridesmaid gifts, but do take the time to do something extra for them if they are doing extra things for you. The treats which the bride bestows on her attendants for helping with wedding crafts would be above and beyond the bridesmaid gifts.

There are many more ways in which your bridesmaids can help with your wedding projects, large and small. One bridesmaid I knew grew flats of wheat grass for the bride to use in her centerpiece designs. Another bridesmaid might offer to stitch up a small bridal purse or create a memory album. As long as the bride is reasonable in her requests and shows genuine appreciation, her bridesmaids are going to be happy to help in whatever ways they can.

Bridget Mora writes about weddings, etiquette, and style for http://silverlandjewelry.com/. Show your appreciation for your wedding party with beautiful bridesmaid gifts. We offer free shipping on all jewelry orders over $99.

Summer is coming up, and if you are planning to get married this summer, it is time to make sure that you have everything in place. In addition to the standard wedding needs, there are some extra things which are specific to summertime nuptials. Make sure that you have not overlooked anything with this handy summer wedding checklist.

Venues and Wedding Coordinator: This is certainly tops on the list. If you desire the services of a professional wedding planner to coordinate your event from beginning to end, hopefully you have already hired her. However, it is not too late to decide that you want to hire a coordinator just to make sure that the wedding day itself runs smoothly. Definitely be sure that all contracts are signed and delivered for both the ceremony and reception venues, if you have not already done so.

Musicians, Photographer, and Florist: By the early spring, your wedding vendors should be in place. However, you do still have some time to work on specific details. Your florist will certainly need to have your final bouquet and centerpiece selections made a few months in advance so that all the necessary blossoms and supplies can be ordered. However, as long as you have all song requests and a list of desired photographs in to the musicians and photographer a month before the wedding, that should be sufficient.

Caterer and Baker: Good caterers go fast, so hopefully you already have yours booked! Most caterers will want your final menu in a month or two before the event, and then the complete head count within one or two weeks before the reception date. Unless you are shooting for Sylvia Weinstock, you can still probably hire a great baker at this point if you have not already done so (but don’t wait any longer!). Plan on getting together on the finished wedding cake concept at least a month before your wedding, and don’t forget to coordinate with your florist if you want fresh flowers for your cake decorations.

Wedding Attire: A bride should absolutely have her summer wedding gown ordered by now, and it is also time to make the choices on the veil, headpiece, bridal jewelry, and shoes. If you have not yet ordered your bridal gown, work with a bridal shop on a rush order ASAP!

Transportation, Bridesmaid Gifts, Beauty Appointments: By early spring make sure to have your limos and beauty appointments scheduled. Bridesmaid gifts do not take as long, but why not get that important detail checked off your list now, rather than leave it until things are ultra-busy at the last minute?

Summer Extras: In the summer, especially for an outdoor wedding, be sure to plan for the things which will make the experience pleasant for everyone. That means things like suncreen wipes and possibly insect repellent (either to wear or environmental, like tiki torches and citronella candles), plenty of bottled water to offer guests as they arrive to the ceremony, pretty paper fans (great combo with the wedding programs), and a tent for shade. Don’t overlook the possible need for renting air conditioning units for a tented summer wedding, and also make sure that you have a rain plan in place in case of inclement weather for an outdoor event.

With everything checked off of your list, it should be smooth sailing ahead to your summer wedding!

Bridget Mora writes for Silverland Jewelry about weddings, style, and etiquette. At http://silverlandjewelry.com/, we have all the greatest bridesmaid gifts. We are pleased to offer free shipping on all jewelry orders over $99.

lmost every bride will have at least a few women in her wedding party, and some will have as many as ten or twelve bridesmaids. Every bride has bridesmaids, but not every bride has the same reputation amongst her bridal party. Some are called bridezilla behind their backs, while other brides are known as being gracious. Take this quiz to find out if you know how you should treat your bridesmaids.

1. The main purpose of bridesmaids is:

a. to lend support to the bride and to help her celebrate a joyous occasion in her life

b. to run errands, throw parties, and generally be at the bride’s beck and call for a year

c. who knows?

2. True or false: bridesmaids are obligated to throw the bride a bridal shower and a bachelorette party.

3.The bride should show her appreciation for her attendants in the following way:

a. by asking as little of them as possible

b. giving them thoughtful bridesmaid gifts, such as jewelry or engraved silver items

c. bridesmaid gifts? The honor of being in my wedding is all the gift any bridesmaid needs!

4. Who should select the bridesmaid dresses?

a. the bride and her mother

b. the bridesmaids

c. the bride, but with input from at least one of her bridesmaids, often the maid of honor

5. Which of the following statements is the most true:

a. bridesmaids should be selected based on their friendship with the bridesmaid

b. it is fine to pick bridesmaids based on their appearance; after all, they are going to be in the wedding pictures

c. bridesmaids should be your best friends, but it is okay to suggest that they lose weight or fix their hair before the wedding

6. If one of my former bridesmaids asked me to be in her wedding, I would be:

a. delighted! I can’t wait to help my friend as much as she helped me with my wedding.

b. irritated; why should I spend all that time and money being in a wedding?

c. terrified! Did she invite me just to get revenge for the way I acted when she was my bridesmaid?

Answers:

1. a. Bridesmaid should be there to help the bride with minor wedding planning as their schedules allow, but their main purpose is just to be there in friendship for the bride on her wedding day. Far too many brides forget that bridesmaids are not their indentured servants!

2. False. Bridesmaids are under no obligation to throw any parties for the bride. It is true that bridesmaids will often get together to plan a shower, but they certainly do not have to, and the bride should never tell them to give her a party.

3. b. Show your bridesmaids how much you appreciate them with thoughtful bridesmaid gifts! Items with lasting value like jewelry or picture frames tend to be among the most popular gift ideas. Although it is kind to ask little of your attendants, it is not enough of a gift. And no, being in your wedding is not such a high honor that a proper present becomes unnecessary.

4. c.Although allowing your bridesmaids total freedom to pick their dresses is nice in theory, the bride will probably want to have some input into the bridesmaid attire as well. Since too many cooks spoil the soup, it is usually most productive to ask one or two bridesmaids to help pick out the dress rather than trying to get the entire bridal party to choose one together.

5. a. Bridesmaids should be picked based purely on your affection for them (well, family ties might play a role, too). The appearance of the woman should never be a factor in whether she is deemed worthy to be in your bridal party. And no, it is not fair for a bride to ask someone to be in her wedding, and then put all sorts of demands on her friend to “improve” herself before the wedding day.

6. a. Of course you should be happy to get to return the favor when a former bridesmaid comes to you! After all, she is probably relying on the experience of a friend who is already married to help her figure out how to plan her wedding. It is not so nice to be irritated by a friend’s attempt to honor your friendship by inviting you to be in her wedding. For those who chose c, if you were such a bridezilla that you fear retribution, well…turnabout is fair play!

Bridget Mora writes for Silverland Jewelry about weddings, etiquette, and gift ideas. At http://silverlandjewelry.com/, we have beautiful bridesmaid gifts to help you show your appreciation for your attendants. We are pleased to offer free shipping on all jewelry orders over $99.

Every woman dreams of having a wedding which is beautiful and memorable, but not all are willing or able to spend as much as a car on one single day. Planning a wedding on a budget is not always easy, but it is certainly possible. Here are some great money saving tips for which will help you plan a fantastic wedding without breaking the bank.

Keep it Small. This is the absolute best way to keep wedding costs to a minimum. Fewer guests mean less of everything. That includes invitations and postage, food, drinks, favors, centerpieces, and even fewer musicians needed in the band. A small guest list will also enable you to choose a less pricey reception venue such as a private dining room in a restaurant, which generally means no rental fees. A smaller wedding party will also help you keep additional expenses like bridesmaid gifts and ladies’ luncheon costs under control.

Shop Online. The chances are that you will be able to find the best deals on many of your wedding elements online. Things like bridal shoes, bridesmaid gifts, wedding favors, and even invitations can all be had at lower prices from Internet retailers than traditional bridal shops. If you are up for creating your own bouquets and centerpieces, you can even order your wedding flowers online. The one thing to avoid ordering online is a designer bridal gown, because no approved vendors will sell a fine bridal gown over the Internet. You can, however, find great wedding gowns online through more general retailers like J Crew.

Timing is Everything. One of the simplest ways to trim your wedding budget is to have a morning ceremony. A brunch reception will cost infinitely less than a reception which features a full cocktail hour followed by a seated dinner. If even brunch is a stretch on your budget, hold your ceremony in the early afternoon followed by a cake, champagne, and punch reception. In parts of the country where it is traditional to invite the entire congregation of the bride’s church to the wedding, a brief cake and punch reception in the church’s fellowship hall is the traditional post-ceremony gathering, and it can be quite lovely.

Plan a Wedding That is Out of Season (but use seasonal elements). You can dramatically lower your reception costs if you opt to have your wedding during the off-season where you live (normally the winter, excluding peak days like New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day). If you want a summer wedding, see if the venues you like offer discounts for Thursday evening weddings. And remember that by choosing flowers, food, and decorations which are in season, you will both save a considerable sum and have an event which celebrates the season.

Skip the Extras. When trying to keep your wedding under budget, it is important to differentiate between the basic necessities and the extras. A bouquet for the bride is a necessity; floral garlands on the church pews are an extra. Many things which are common at weddings are by no means necessary, nor will omitting them detract from the specialness of your day. It is fine to skip the limo, an aisle runner, wedding programs and menus, and a second dress for the reception. The one thing that a couple should never skimp on is hospitality. Specifically, a cash bar is not an acceptable way to cut your budget. Serve what you can afford with grace and you can be sure that everyone will remember your wedding as special and beautiful.

Bridget Mora writes for Silverland Jewelry about weddings, design, and gift ideas. You will love the beautiful and affordable bridesmaid gifts at http://silverlandjewelry.com/. All jewelry orders over $99 receive free shipping, so visit us today!