Get Organized
Before you can actually start putting your celebrity-style wedding reception together, you need to get yourself organized. Think about what you want. At this stage, don’t worry about how much things will cost. When you get to the shopping stage you will be able to determine what is feasible or not. The main items you should include on your list are wedding venue, decorations, food and drink, placecards, centerpieces, and music.

Enlist the Troops
If you want to save money on your wedding reception-skip hiring a professional. These individuals are typically highly skilled in what they do and their fees prove it! Your best bet is to find people who are willing to help you for free. You shouldn’t have look further than your family and friends. Enlist the services of as many people as you can. This includes children. Children can be especially helpful with repetitive crafts, so include them in your wedding reception plans. Don’t wait until the last minute to solicit assistance. Let people know way in advance that you will need them to help you with your wedding reception.

Time to Shop
With your list of wedding reception ideas in hand, it is time to start shopping. The venue for your wedding reception will probably be the most expensive part of the reception. Cheap alternatives that don’t look cheap include restaurants and church halls. If you choose to have your wedding reception at a restaurant, make sure that you can use your own flatware, plates, and glasses. You can purchase elegant versions of these at discount shops for less than $100, depending on the number of guests you invite. Simplify food at your wedding reception by having three choices from which your guests can choose when they RSVP to your invitation. Caters charge less when you order by the plate. As an added touch you can place a delicious assortment of divinity on each table. For your centerpieces and decorations, hobby shops offer the best prices. You can find design ideas that you can create you and your troops can create for very little. Placecards aren’t a necessity, but if you have assigned people at tables, placecards will help people to find their table. You can create your own wedding reception placecards by purchasing an inexpensive greeting card software program and elegant paper. You will need an inkjet printer to print the cards. Unless you know someone who will offer you a cheap price for wedding reception music, skip the DJ and the live band. Creating a few CDs of various popular love songs is a less expensive choice.

Reward the Troops
A wedding dinner with the wedding party (bride, groom, bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents) just before the wedding ceremony is traditional. It is a good idea to either invite your wedding reception helpers to this dinner or to a separate fun event. At this event you should show your appreciation for helping make your wedding reception the best ever!

TBWP Tampa Bay Wedding Portal 2011

Choosing your photographer

Why should you trust your memories to a professional wedding photographer?

It’s essential you hire a good, professional wedding photographer for your big day if you want wonderful wedding photographs. Wedding pictures will last a lot longer than the flowers, food and drink. You’ll be able to relive your wedding day every time you look at your photographs. You need a photographer who understands what you want and can be relied upon to capture every minute of your special day. The right wedding photographer can make you feel like a star!

When you hire a professional photographer, look for the following:

1. Specialized and well kept professional equipment (includes a medium format camera aside from a professional 35mm camera).

2. A valid and legal sales tax license.

3. Ask for latest proof of business insurance.

4. A permanent studio.

5. Membership in a professional photographic association.

6. Examples of recent work

Important points to consider:

Photographer’s level of experience and references – check the photographer’s background and ask for references. Meet with the referees personally in order to look at the photographer’s work as well as ask them if they were happy with the outcome of the work. Personally, I wouldn’t hire a photographer who hesitates to give references.

Photographic style – do the images appeal to you? Do you like the photographer’s style?

Personality – are the photographer’s ideas the same as yours? Can you communicate with him/her easily? Does he/she understand what you want regarding the style of photography?

Packages – ask about each package presented to you and the cost. If you’re not comfortable with the packages, can the photographer make one to satisfy your needs?

Accomplished work – ask how long it will take to finish your album, your bridal portrait and all the photos taken during the wedding.

Price – can you afford this photographer? Take the time to ask all that you need to know and make sure you understand all services and photos included in the cost.

Payments and deposits – if you cancel, can you get a refund? If the photographer, in any circumstance, does not show up, what happens? Can a partner take his place? Make sure you clear all of this with the photographer as well as discussing all your concerns. If the photographer’s answer doesn’t satisfy you, look elsewhere.

Contract – check and read it carefully before signing. If there’s anything that you don’t understand, ask for clarification or ask the photographer to leave you the contract overnight so you can study it. Make sure the contract includes everything you agreed on.

When looking at the photographer’s work, look for the following:

1. Each sample album must consist of only one wedding. Are there a lot of sample albums?

2. Is there a recent actual wedding that you could look at? Look through the photographer’s most recent wedding album.

3. Study each album well and see if the album tells the story of the wedding; not just similar photos filling up the album.

4. Are the portraits clear and did the photographer capture the subject’s mood?

5. Are all the photos done artistically? Is there a play of light and shadow?

6. Are candid shots taken? Are they clear and well composed?

Remember that your wedding photographs will remind you of your special day and can last forever. Once you have chosen the right photographer, enjoy being the center of attention on your big day. That doesn’t mean you have to act like Bridezilla, but you can certainly enjoy feeling like a star on your wedding day.

TBWP – Tampa Bay Wedding Portal

Tampa Bay Beaches Make A Perfect Wedding Venue

Here are some wonderful ideas for that perfect wedding venue.

Trust your intuition. When you arrive at a certain venue you will automatically have a certain reaction towards it. Trusting your instinct is important. If you have a good feeling about the venue then that’s a good start.You will know if a particular venue is right for you or not. You should not however leave out the logical choices in choosing a wedding venue. It will have to feel right because you and the man you love will exchange vows here.

Pace yourself. Don’t go rushing into choosing the perfect wedding venue. Having a wedding is one of the most important events in your life so you will want to make a wise decision. Try to start looking for a venue about a year before the wedding date if possible. You will then have enough time to make good decisions and alter the venue if something happens.

Think about the size. The venue size is vitally important in your decision. Pick a venue that is too tiny and it will be awkward and annoying. The wedding will loose its intimacy if the venue is too large. The number of guests will dictate the the size. You will need a rough idea of how many guests you will plan on inviting before looking for your wedding venue. Try to be as accurate as possible. Don’t just say I want to invite from 200 to 500 guests. Such a large difference in the number of guest would affect venue size.Remember to leave enough space for the dance area. The more guests you have, the bigger space you need to designate for the dance area.

Review the parking area. Many people who have attended weddings complain of limited parking space. Make sure your choice of wedding venue has generous space for all of your guests. Parking may be a minor consideration but it could be the key between a satisfied guest and a frustrated one.

Find out if there are any restrictions for the venue. There might be some type of noise restriction which would hinder your decision to hire a band and have a loud sound system. There are time restrictions on some venues while others let you have a great time all night long. There are even some with restrictions on decorations.
Ascertain whether the venue would allow you to bring your own florist, caterer, decorator, etc because some might have specific professionals and contractors they would like you to use.

Create a diagram of your wedding. Have a setup on paper or your mind before choosing a wedding venue. You have to know where each of the following will be located: reception area, dining area, and seating for guests, etc. Then review whether your venue fits the setup you have in mind.

To Have and To Hold

The most important reason diamond rings are so popular is because they are the most expensive of gems; therefore, considered the most precious. The diamond jewelry retail market is a $30 billion market with over $5 billion of it spent on engagement rings in America.

To the untrained eye, most diamonds look equally beautiful. Most people evaluate diamonds based on its size, shape, and price. A lower price typically means lower gem quality, not necessarily a bargain.

Estimating diamond quality requires skill and experience. It requires grading a ring based on a combination of characteristics such as cut, clarity, color and carat weight. Such characteristics are called the “4 Cs”. A diamond’s weight is measured in carats. One carat is one fifth of a gram. Generally diamonds range from 0.25 up to several carats. The largest cut diamond in the world is 530.20 carats. Sorry, it is not fore sale. It is called the Cullinan and kept in the Tower of London. The Cullinan is set in the sceptre of King Edward VII.

In addition to considering weight when valuing a diamond, color is an important factor. Colorless diamonds are rarest and they are the most expensive. Diamonds with a hint of yellow are considered less pure, and they are less expensive. Diamond colors are coded from D to Z. A through D grade diamonds are the most expensive and Z are the least expensive. Diamonds graded D-F are considered colorless and they are the most expensive. Reputable jewelry stores, usually, do not sell K thru Z grade diamonds.

The most valuable color grades:
A – D: Absolutely colorless. The highest color grade, which is extremely extraordinary.
E: Colorless. An expert, still considered a rare diamond, can detect only minute traces of color.
F: Colorless. Slight color detected by an expert gemologist, but still considered a “colorless” grade and a high-quality diamond.

Another important factor determining the price of a diamond is its cut. As any of the other characteristics cut is equally difficult to judge for the untrained eye. The grading certificate that normally comes with the diamond will provide you a good idea. Independent testing institutions, such as the GIA, provide certificates with a diamond’s grading from excellent to poor. Naturally, a certified diamond means a larger price tag.

In simple terms, the clarity of a diamond refers to its purity. Most diamonds have minuscule imperfections called “inclusions”. A flawless (no inclusions) diamond is extremely rare and valuable. At the same time, diamonds riddled with inclusions are less expensive. Clarity is graded from “flawless” (FL) to “imperfect” (I1 to I2). Most diamonds fall between those with very, very small inclusions (VVS1) to rocks with slightly larger inclusions (S1). If you can compromise on clarity, you are going to be able to save. To verify a diamond’s clarity, examine the laboratory certificate.

If money is tight but you must have a diamond ring, stay away from the big name jewelry stores. Brand name more often than not comes with a larger price tag. Buying wholesale may be a viable option. As a rule, the wholesaler’s core business is selling diamonds to retailers, but they also sell to the public. Because they do not advertise in the same venues as retail jewelry stores, you have to seek them out. It is easier to find wholesalers than you think since many of them are listed as diamond merchants in the phone book.

Here Comes The Bride

Videography is one of those things that you get what you pay for. On the other hand, you don’t have to pay a huge amount to get a great video. I have been a videographer since the old days when Super VHS cameras where the main camera in the industry. At that time the editing decks were also more expensive and more limited in their abilities. Today any good videographer worth his money is using a digital camera and a digital editor. There are a few things to consider when choosing a videographer; Price, Equipment, Choices, and last but certainly not least, personality.

Like I said before price is a big factor in everyone’s life, especially when it comes to a big ticket event like a wedding. You have hundreds of expenses, and countless choices as to what stays in and what goes out. Let me tell you that some times some people spend way too much on a photographer, and nothing at all on a videographer. That is not a very good choice. Photography is a very important things to have, don’t get me wrong, but if you do some shopping around you can afford both. The beauty of video is that you don’t have to rely on your recollection of the event by looking at motionless soundless still shots. You pop in your DVD, and instantly you are back at your wedding day. You can see yourself and your guests laughing and having fun. If any of your relatives are in another country or state and couldn’t make it to your wedding, you can send them the entire wedding on DVD instead of picking just a few pictures. We also specialize in making photo montages on DVD or VHS which are also very popular to send to relatives. On one DVD you can put hundreds of digital pictures. If you shop around a little you can find a professional videographer that will create a fantastic video for you at a reasonable price. We have packages starting at $350 and going up from there depending on how much you want done. I will warn you that some videographers think they are Spielberg and will want to charge you $5000. If your budget can accommodate that then that’s wonderful, but most people cannot. Most professional Videographers using 3 chip digital cameras as we do, and using computer non-linear editing software as we do, will charge you anywhere between $500 to $1000 for a wedding. Anything above or below that I suggest you give it a second look. If its too cheap then its someone just breaking into the business and you wont be happy with the results, and if its too high then you will probably be over paying.

The next thing you should look at is Equipment. Are they using the latest digital equipment or some dusty old cameras from the disco days and over charging for their work. Believe it or not there are still some Videographers out there using the old VHS cameras and selling themselves for top dollar. It’s a case of caveat emptor (let the buyer beware). Find out what type of equipment they are using. The standard in the industry today is to use a 3 chip digital DV camera. DV Format is the best and Digital is obviously better then analog. The 3 chip refers to the inside of the camera having 3 separate computer chips that split up the visual spectrum and create a sharper and more vibrant image. For editing non-linear computer editing is the only way to go. Anything else is old and will not give you the most for your money.

Choices comes down to what will this company do for you. With our company for example we have packages that are suited to just about every budget, but since everyone is different we are able to customize each package to suit the needs of the client. With some companies the packages are written in stone and cannot be modified and there are no substitutions.

Personality is an easy one. Talk to the person who is actually going to shoot your wedding. Meet them, ask them questions Do you like them? Can you get along with them? Remember your wedding day is a very stressful day. You want to be surrounded by people whose personalities you can get along with. I believe you need all the professionals at your wedding to be team players. They all need to work together to make your day wonderful, yet get their individual jobs done. You don’t want to be pulling out your hair because the person you hired to do a job doesn’t know what to do. Hire someone who you feel comfortable with and who has experience. I myself have over 15 years experience as a wedding videographer and I can assure you that I have seen everything there is to see under the sun, and the only way to get through it is to keep a cool head.

In short, I just want to encourage you all to keep the video in your budget. Hire a professional company that is knowledgeable, and is reasonable priced, and that you feel comfortable with, and you will have a great video that you and your future kids and grandkids will enjoy. Best of luck.

Perfect Inviatation For A February 14th Wedding Ceremony

Human life does not imply merely physical survival. It is a vocation towards the refinement of the spirit. Hence, the demands of daily life include and derive meaning from the cultivation of those traits that truly reflect man’s innate dignity. In this context, ethics is considered an art. However, there are art forms that are different from those that are considered as ethical

For this reason, certain actions of man must be in proportionate to the ethical standards as dictated by man’s innate dignity. One of which is how we should use words in different functions.

Take fore example the wordings in a wedding invitation. Careful use of words and establishing them correctly is very crucial in wedding invitations. This is because wedding invitation are the first-hand symbol of the wonderful celebration that is about to take place.

Any misused, abused, or unethical choice of words may result to misunderstandings or misinterpretations between and among the guests.

Generally, wedding invitation wording should be clearly established to avoid confusions and misconception. There are instances were words may have several meanings depending on how it is used in a sentence.

Moreover, the wordings must accurately define the details of the wedding like the date, the exact time, and the place where the wedding ceremony will take place. These things should be clearly stated because there are cases wherein most guests directly assume that once they are invited, it means that they are asked to attend to the wedding ceremony and the reception.

However, there are some weddings that the couple would usually invite people just for the reception. In this case, the couple has decided to make the wedding very private and that they only want their immediate relatives present during the ceremony. The guests are asked to attend on the reception already.

Hence, to avoid confusion and delusion, it is best to carefully state in the invitation the purpose of the invitation.

On the other hand, wedding invitation wordings may also vary depending on certain circumstances that the couple has no control of. An example is the concept of who paid for the wedding.

In this instance, it is best to choose words that would pay respect to the party whom the recognition is due but should also be made in conformity with the ethical standards, in which the feelings of the other party should be considered also.

For example, if in case that the bride’s parents are the ones who had paid for the wedding, then, the wordings on the wedding invitation should state that it is the bride’s parent s who are requesting for the presence of the guests.

Alternatively, the setting of the wedding should also be considered when establishing the wedding invitation wording.

If the wedding is informal and will only take place in a home, then it is best to replace the usual words being used in formal invitations to a more casual tone but still with respect.

Boiled down, any kind of wordings will do when making wedding invitations a long as the words are in conformity to the ethical standards set by the society and as patterned on the innate dignity of man.

Best of all, the details of the wedding should be clearly stated, otherwise, the wedding invitation will definitely lose its main purpose.

TBWP Tampa Bay Wedding Portal

Lovely affordable Bridesmaid dress

Intelligent buying of cheap bridesmaid dresses

1. Research – good research is significant to buying a good dress. Take your time, check through some magazines to get a fair idea of styles, go through the Internet to find out about any sale schemes and discounts. Collect brochures and pamphlets from the shops that sell bridesmaid dresses. Good knowledge can prevent you from making a big big mistake.

2. Make a checklist – this saves your time and energy. Give time to decide on the colour, style, cut, length and most importantly THE BUDGET. Do not let the owner sweet talk you into buying a dress you simply can’t afford. Also when buying a cheap dress, discount’s come in very handy but beware of false promises and bad fabric to compromise with.

3. Go shopping – do not get anxious and remember hurrying will create worry. Plan the buying of the bridesmaid dress, do this in advance. Decide on no more than 2-3 shops at one go. Always wear the dress to have complete idea of the look. Take someone along with you who can be trusted. One who knows your personality and can give you a good opinion. Keep an open mind; try everything but buy a dress in which you feel comfortable and your own self. The dress is a reflection of your personality.

4. Final Order – this is the time when you need to take most caution. Place the order very carefully, put everything in writing. Give measurement to a professional otherwise a wrong measurement can ruin the dress. Also openly talk about alterations required in the dress. Check with the firm or the dress designer. Avoid taking the dress without proper identity even if they are offering cheap prices. They might just sell you polyester claiming it to be silk. Write the complete details of the transaction on the receipt. Fix a day for final trial.

5. Law- Do not is an ignorant consumer. Know your rights. Always pay by credit card, so as to have a record of your transaction. This is the best defense you can have against any fraudulent shop owner. There are laws to save you in such a situation. Do not sign any sort of contract. To avoid such problems, do not go for a completely new shop. Try a tested and tried shop of the town or on the Internet. In case of receiving a damaged dress or some unfulfilled promise, instead of spoiling your day shrieking, take them to law and save your day.

Being a bridesmaid is a matter of honor and a responsible duty. You need to look great, complement the bride and help her on the most anxious moment of the life. So prepare yourself with great care for this day for you need to put your best foot forward.

TBWP Tampa Bay Wedding Portal

Do crashers come for the cake?

Create a Lookout Plan
You may think it a silly idea to assign people to look for a wedding crasher, but you will be too caught up in the moment to worry about these issues, and you shouldn’t. There is no need to go out and hire secret service men. All you need is to commission a couple of people to be able to identify that everyone attending your wedding ceremony was invited. One way to verify that someone is not a wedding crasher is to check that everyone who arrives has an invitation. If you feel uncomfortable with this idea, you can conceal your motives and exchange the wedding invitation for a special gift as your guests arrive. Having guests sign in as they arrive is another way to keep a wedding crasher out of your ceremony. Whichever way you choose to handle it, the idea is try and stop a wedding crasher at the door.

Beyond the Front Door
So, what do you do if a wedding crasher makes it into your wedding celebration? First of all, don’t panic. Many people who attend wedding parties uninvited do so for harmless reasons. Most are just interested in obtaining a free meal. It might be the case that a wedding crasher arrived with someone who was actually invited. If it is the wedding ceremony that the wedding crasher is attempting to attend, give them an obscure seat, such as in the back. If it is the reception that the wedding crasher has snuck into, it is often the case that caters provide additional food for such occasions. Of course, not everyone has good intentions. An ex-lover, for example, may have intentions of creating a scene to disrupt your celebration. In this case you will just have to get rid of the wedding crasher quickly and with the least amount of attention. If your ceremony features a live band, have them crank up the volume to drown out yelling or other disrupting noises that may occur as you send the wedding crasher to the nearest exit.

Security Measures
It is rare that a wedding crasher will pose any danger to you or your guests. However, it is wiser to be prepared for such an occurrence. Having a uniformed security officer in the area is often enough to ward off a wedding crasher with ill intent. Installing a security camera and having someone watch for a wedding crasher is another measure you may want to consider. To keep a wedding crasher from being tempted to steal your gifts, it is a good idea to allow your guests to place the gifts in one specific area.

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Destination Tampa Bay

Another disadvantage to destination weddings is that they are typically not well attended due to the fact that travel is expensive. A destination wedding can be used as the opportunity to enjoy a long weekend with close friends in a convenient location. The following are a few tips for turning your destination wedding into a fun-filed extended weekend for your guests.

The location of your wedding can play a key role in the style of your wedding. Some couples opt for a ceremony at a church followed by a reception at a catering hall while others may wish to hold the ceremony outdoors but have a reception at an indoor location. Still others choose to hold both the ceremony and the reception at a catering hall. Whichever option you choose for your wedding it is important to ensure that the location you choose has all of the elements that you were seeking in a wedding location such as ambiance, seating capacity, a dance floor or anything else that you require.

Las Vegas is another popular destination wedding location. The lure of a Las Vegas wedding is that there is so much to see and do in this city. Guests can choose to spend their free time gambling, taking in shows or visiting the many famous restaurants in the area. Guests can also choose to visit some of the extravagant and world famous hotels in the area.

Maximum occupancy is another important consideration when choosing the perfect wedding location. While you may really like the intimacy that a quaint location that seats only 50 guests affords, this is not a feasible option for a couple who has invited over 300 guests to their wedding. Likewise a large reception space that is capable of seating 500 people is not a good option for a couple who is planning a small wedding with only a handful of close friends and family members. It is important to choose a wedding location that is capable of accommodating the number of guests that you have invited without being large enough to accommodate almost twice as many people that you have invited. Choosing a venue that is either too small or too big is not feasible because a venue that is too small will be cramped and may not fit all of your guests while a venue that is too big will be a waste of money because large spaces often include a minimum number of guest required and you may wind up paying for more guest than you actually have in attendance.

New York City is still another popular destination wedding location. Guests who travel to a destination wedding in New York City have a variety of activities to choose from while they are vacationing. Museums, plays, operas and sporting events are just a few of the available activities that guests may choose to partake in. Besides these activities, New York City also has some of the best people watching available in the world. The city is literally teeming with interesting characters that delight visitors with their idiosyncrasies. Additionally there are many nightclubs and restaurants that are definitely worth trying.

Choosing the perfect location for your wedding may seem like an impossible task especially if you live in an area that has a number of options. Setting strict criteria for evaluating locations can save you a lot of time and effort. Only visiting venues that meet these criteria will greatly reduce the number of locations that you need to visit.

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