Want to make your reception venue totally yours?

Try using wedding graffiti, which specializes in producing custom monograms and logos that can be applied to walls, floors, cars, favors, and many other surfaces.

Wonderful Graffiti is very thin pieces of matte vinyl that look “printed” when applied to most smooth surfaces. Your entire wedding graffiti design arrives on one sheet of transfer paper. Just tape the transfer paper into place, burnish it down and peel it away. Only the individual letters and graphic elements remain.

Wonderful Graffiti removes quickly, and won’t harm underlying surfaces.

Prices range from $24 for a simple 12″monogramto $395 for a 50″x 47″focal point for your wall.

http://www.wonderfulgraffitiwedding.com/index.html

Your wedding day is one of the most special days of your life and one you will remember forever. Why not make it something that your guests will remember as well?

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending a wedding where the couple did just that. Both the bride and the groom are avid mountaineers. Their love of the outdoors was reflected in the Native American ceremony, which they chose to use.

Native American weddings are simple yet elaborate ceremonies. Simple because traditionally not a lot of preparation was necessary for the location; nature provides its own flowers and beauty. Elaborate because of the importance placed on sacred vows, tradition and prayer.

The ceremony began with the shaman (officiant) inviting the spirits of the north, east, south and west to the wedding to add their blessing to the marriage. The shaman brings a smudge pot, which holds a smoking mixture of sage or sweet grass to carry the guest’s prayers and well wishes to the Creator.

The whole ceremony was symbolized by a circle of love – the spirits from each quadrant bringing blessings, the family and friends surrounding the couple as they publicly declare their commitment and the exchange of rings.

After traditional wedding vows were exchanged, a non-traditional ring ceremony followed. The bride and groom and their mothers participated in the Blanket Ceremony.

While the couple exchanged their rings, both mothers held a Native American blanket behind them. After they had both recited their vows, the mothers wrapped them in the blanket representing their love and protection for the newlyweds.

Whatever your traditions are and wherever your interests lie, here are some ideas to help make your ceremony one which your guests will remember long after the last candle is blown out and the cake top is put in the freezer.

• Look for ways that your unique interests can fit into a traditional wedding concept
• Build bridges into the ceremony to connect the non-traditional to the traditional
• Have fun, but don’t make your wedding a joke
• Keep an open mind, but maintain the dignity of the moment

Remember you are making a public pledge that you will love and trust each other for the rest of your lives. This is important and it should be treated like an important occasion.

“I used to think a wedding was a simple affair. Boy and girl meet, they fall in love, he buys a ring, she buys a dress, they say I do. I was wrong. That’s getting married. A wedding is an entirely different proposition. I know. I’ve just been through one. Not my own, my daughter’s. Annie Banks Mackenzie. That’s her married name: Mackenzie. You fathers will understand. You have a little girl. An adorable little girl who looks up to you and adores you in a way you could never have imagined. I remember how her little hand used to fit inside mine. Then comes the day when she wants to get her ears pierced, and wants you to drop her off a block before the movie theater. From that moment on you’re in a constant panic. You worry about her meeting the wrong kind of guy, the kind of guy who only wants one thing, and you know exactly what that one thing is, because it’s the same thing you wanted when you were their age. Then, you stop worrying about her meeting the wrong guy, and you worry about her meeting the right guy. That’s the greatest fear of all, because, then you lose her. It was just six months ago that that happened here. Just six months ago, that the storm broke.” The words of George Banks in The Father of the Bride (Touchstone Pictures, 1991).

The whole wedding process can be overwhelming and even a bit traumatic for dad! After all, not only is he being replaced as the most important man in his daughter’s life but he has to foot the bill to make it happen!

Usually mom and daughter are very involved in the planning process sometimes leaving dad out until it comes time to pay the bill. Don’t forget to be thoughtful of dad’s feelings and try to include him in the decision making whenever possible!

The Keepsake has inexpensive gift to give to dad to show him your appreciation. The feature monogrammed handkerchiefs with a sweet poem titled, “My Dad, My Hero” on the card. You could either give it to him on your wedding day or maybe at your rehearsal dinner.

Banquet seating with guests at long tables instead of at round tables is becoming more popular, in part due to the increased influence of Tuscan style in all areas of life. Banquet seating creates a more festive atmosphere, one that promotes more guest interaction throughout the room.

Coupled with the change in seating comes a change in table arrangements – linear pieces or clusters of flowers, fruit and candles dotted down the length of the table replace round arrangements placed in the center of a round table.

Depending on the size of your venue and guest list, tables can either be placed parallel to each other throughout the room, or placed in a U-shape which would provide an even greater sense of community among your guests.

Fragrant, environmentally friendly dried lavender buds are a great alternative for rice. Most wedding venues no longer allow rice because it’s difficult to clean up and attracts rodents. Not only does birdseed also attract unwanted guests, it sprouts unwanted plants. As for bubbles, they create a slippery mess and stain fine fabrics. Lavender used as wedding toss vacuums up easily providing an instant air freshener.

Labyrinth Hill grows and naturally cultivates fragrant lavender in Kitsap County, WA. A half-pound (approximately 8 cups) is enough for 50 guests to toss at a cost of $15.50 plus shipping. (www.labyrinthhill.com)

Check out a new product from Blumebox…what a great way to add color and excitement to your wedding reception place settings at a minimal cost!  Talk about getting more bang for your buck – this cute little item could take the place of 3…it can serve as your table decor, place card and favor all wrapped up in one!

Only $9 for a six-pack (plus, of course, the cost of your flower.)

Go to www.blumebox.com for your nearest retail location.