How to Create a Wedding Newsletter?Sharing Wedding Ceremony Information with Friends and Family!

Send a fun and informative wedding newsletter to share the event calendar, logistics and trivia for the wedding celebration.

Wedding newsletters are a fun way to share wedding-related information with guests and the wedding party. They don’t need to be long or complicated; a two-page newsletter can convey plenty of information to family and friends and can serve as a save-the-date reminder for the upcoming festivities. Consider the following when creating a newsletter for the special day:

• A newsletter is a fast and easy way to communicate wedding related activities such as dress/tux fittings, bachelor parties/bachelorettes, rehearsal dinner, post-wedding brunch, etc. Including a calendar of wedding related events ensures that everyone has the information they need and an easy reference point for making plans.
• Sometimes there are guests who are out of town and haven’t had a chance to meet the bride or the groom. Even those who have been introduced may not know which colleges they attended, what their birthdays are or whether they have any pets. Include a short bio for the bride and groom as a way to help guests get to know them better.
• Share photos from the engagement, recent vacations and other fun moments.
• Include a trivia game about the couple. Ask questions about how they met, their favorite colors, things they have in common, and so on. There are free puzzle makers online to help you out with this.
• Just for fun, add in a wedding-related game such as a cross word, fill-in, or word search. Use words from the bio and calendar, or just generic wedding terms.
• For a destination wedding, or when there are a lot of out-of-town guests, tourist information will be especially welcome. Start with the basics of getting to and from the airport and throw in some fun sites to see. If there is a group outing, don’t forget to include it in the calendar.
• Wrap the newsletter up with current/future contact information. This is a great time to let guests know if the bride will be keeping her last name, or if the couple has chosen a hyphenated or non-traditional last name.
• Use the newsletter to solicit information from guests. Ask for their song recommendations, request that they bring a favorite photo or take a poll on honeymoon destinations.
• Note that it is generally considered poor etiquette to include registry information on invitations, etc. The newsletter is no different, so proceed with caution on that one. If the newsletter is written specifically for bridal party members and immediate family, it may be appropriate, but otherwise leave it out.
• Most word processors and desktop publishing programs have templates for creating a basic newsletter. It is also quite easy to print out the different elements and arrange them as needed to be photocopied. There are also a number of options online for creating a free newsletter.

Sending a wedding newsletter is a great way to share information and excitement with guests. Be creative and informative with what you share, but remember: the most important thing is to have fun!

Article by : Christy Matte

Unique Wedding Favor Ideas!Cheap and Creative Party Gifts for Your Guests!!

Looking for some useful and fun party favors for your wedding guests that they won't bury in a closet? Here are some creative ideas.

Remember when you went to birthday parties and got little goodie bags filled with party favors? Well, now that you're an adult, the goodie bag tradition lives on in the form of personalized wedding favors. With a minimal amount of research, you can find someone who's willing to personalize just about anything in bulk to hand out as a grown-up party gift.

Just like everything else related to weddings, the bridal industry wants to convince you that you need to spend a fortune on worthless little fake crystal trinkets to please your guests. Don't let them fool you! Wedding favors are cool because they are fun and they give guests a little something to commemorate the day. It's a way of thanking your guests for sharing this moment with you. You don't have to spend a fortune to do these things. Instead, find some creative and inexpensive ways favors that your guests will appreciate. It's often the cheap but meaningful trinkets that wedding guests actually hang onto and don't stick into the back of a dark closet!

Need some unique ideas for wedding party favors? Here's a few ideas to get you thinking.

1) Fun stuff for the reception. If you're not planning an ultra-elegant reception, why not hand out party favors that your guests can used to have fun? Wedding receptions can be dull and uncomfortable for people who don't know each other. Fun wedding favors will break the ice. Personalize your fun favors so that guests can use them as a keepsake after the party is over: Here are some examples:

• Kazoos
• Bubble bottles
• Yoyos
• Party hats
• Paddle balls
• Water guns (for a more informal celebration!)
• Wedding coloring books (create your own and print copies for your guests)
• Small stuffed animals (perhaps animals that say something about the couple, like a gray cat if they have one, or a cow if they live on a dairy farm)

2) Practical things. Why spend money on trinkets nobody uses? Find things yor guests will use in their everyday lives and remember you as they do so. Magnets, key chains, photo frames, and pens are the classic way to do this, and those are perfectly good ideas. If you want to be a little more unique, try something along these lines:

• Wedding T-shirts
• Throw pillows (in your wedding colors)
• Candles (also in your wedding colors)
• Heart shaped cookie cutters, measuring spoons, ice cube trays, or other utensils
• Coasters
• Drinking glasses (champagne flutes are the classic choice)
• Bottle openers
• Water bottles
• Mini calculators
• Bubble bath
• Mouse pads
• Personalized iPods (if you've got the funds!)

3) Romantic favors Don't be afraid to get a little sappy here. It's a wedding. Look for some wedding favors that say something about love in a more unusual way. Here are some ideas:

• A book of poetry (purchase one, or make your own and create spiral bound copies)
• A pretty copy of a classic romantic book
• A picture frame personalized with a romantic love quote
• A pretty container filled with Hershey's Kisses and Hugs
• Love song CDs (if you burn your own, keep in mind this isn't legal!)
• DVDs of your favorite romantic movies (perhaps give your guests a choice)
• Stainless steel roses

Use your imagination! Don't worry about making your favors like everybody else's. Find something that fits the tone of the wedding and reflects you as a couple, and your guests will almost certainly appreciate the thought.

Article by : Naomi Rockler.

Bridesmaid Dress Colors?

One of the biggest questions to ask when choosing a bridesmaid dress is about color. Aside from choosing a shade you like, you'll want to pick one that fits the tone of the ceremony: elegant, refined, causal, religious, etc. You'll also want to choose a color that flatters the bridesmaids.

Here are some thoughts on choosing a color for your bridesmaid dresses.

Black. Black gowns are most appropriate for an elegant evening ceremony. However, black can be made a bit more casual if you go with a shorter dress or by combining it with white or another light color. This color looks good on most women and is slimming, and black bridesmaid gowns usually are easy to recycle for a later formal occasion. In some people's minds, though, black just isn't "wedding" enough because it is associated with mourning and sexuality.

Red. Red is a bold color choice. Like black, it tends to work best for the elegant evening wedding, but can be toned down if the dress is shorter or contains other colors. To avoid the 'fire engine" effect, choose a shade that's a little muted, and to tone down the sexual connotations of this color, choose a modest dress. Red often looks best on women with olive or brown skin, and sometimes makes blondes and redheads look pale.

Pink. Pink signifies innocence and youthful femininity. It's a good choice for a springtime, outdoor wedding, but might not be appropriate for older bridesmaids. A more sophisticated choice is rum pink, which is feminine and pretty without looking too prom-like. You can also tone down the prom look by keeping the dress simple, without frilly bows and poofy stuff.

Navy blue or royal blue. Dark shades of blue can be a good alternative to black. They're sophisticated, slimming, and look good on most women, but don't have that mourning connotation. Dark shades of blue work well with older bridesmaids. If you choose royal blue, don't pick too bright of a shade, because that screams bad '80s prom dress. If you choose navy, try not to go too dark or else the dresses might clash with the tuxes.

Maroon and hunter green. Along with navy blue, maroon and hunter green are clean, vivid, "preppy" colors. They're dark and colorful without being too overpowering. Green is hard for some women to pull off, especially if you choose a brighter kelly green.

Purple. Purple can be a good alternative to red. It's bold and colorful, but doesn't come with red's sexual connotations. Like red, purple can make a woman with pale skin look paler, but it can also complement yellowish skin tones. Choose shades carefully, as some can be pretty tacky. Purple doesn't always look good on heavier bridesmaids.

Pale blue, pale green, pale yellow, or lavender. These pastel shades are nice alternatives to pink that aren't quite so girly. These shades typically work best for daytime weddings during spring or summer, and don't always look so good on older bridesmaids. If you go with pastels, minimize the prom look by avoiding frilly bows and big skirts.

Orange. Orange is in vogue, especially subtle shades of peach and coral. Not everyone can pull off orange, though, especially darker and brighter shades. Bright orange tends to look better on women with dark skin.

Article by : Naomi Rockler

Bridesmaid Dresses?

When a woman is asked to be an attendant at a wedding, the first thing that comes to her mind is the bridesmaid dresses. There are many horror stories about ugly gowns floating around and most of them are true. I have seen many awful gowns, especially the ones that were designed in the 1980’s. There are still a lot of ugly bridesmaid dresses out there, so beware bridal attendants.

I am the maid of honor for a good friend’s wedding and we recently visited a bridal store to try on our gowns. The bride chose a few bridal gowns and she chose a few bridesmaid dresses in advance. One of the wonderful things about looking for formal wear on the Internet is the convenience of choosing the styles that you like ahead of time.

I tried on three bridesmaid dresses and I was very impressed with the bride’s good taste. When she told me that she wanted the bridesmaids to wear pink, strapless gowns, I think that my heart stopped. I imagined a shocking pink, form-fitting dress that would accentuate my every flaw. What I found were three lovely bridesmaid dresses that really compliment any figure.

The difficulty lay in choosing only one gown. The bride and I immediately knew which bridesmaid dress looked the most attractive online, but we were pleasantly surprised to find that her secondary choice was far more flattering. I was comfortable and at ease in the bridesmaid dresses, but this one stood out.

The bridesmaid dresses are pearl pink, and though they are strapless, the bride has opted to add short jackets as an accessory for those of us who don’t like to attend church half-naked. The jacket is clean, just like the quietly pink gown. I think that I will be very happy with the bride’s choice.

This choice was not very difficult for the bride and I was also glad that I only had to try on three bridesmaid dresses. I think that she knew which one I favored and chose that one. I tried to keep my opinion to myself until after she made her choice. It was her decision and I didn’t want her to choose a gown simply to please me. She may have regretted being swayed. Fortunately, she chose a great gown.

I saw many other gowns that were simply awful. There were bridesmaid dresses that ballooned at the bottom. There were bright orange dresses that appear to glow in the dark. I actually saw a gown that was remarkably similar to a ballerina’s tutu and I thanked my lucky stars that the bride in the wedding I’m attending is sensible and kind to her friends. I am going to stay on her good side. We haven’t ordered the bridesmaid dresses yet. I don’t want her to change her mind.

Article Source : http://event11.com/articles/internet/bridesmaid-dresses-16.txt

"Cheap Bridesmaids Dresses"? Well, No One Searches for “Bridesmaids Dresses with a High Value Proposition”

We bid on the search term “cheap bridesmaids dresses” but there’s something inherent in the word “cheap” that just doesn’t feel right. While our dresses are inexpensive compared to other bridesmaid dresses (particularly those that are custom made), we tend to think of cheap as being low quality which definitely is not the case here. We also bid on “inexpensive bridesmaids dresses” which is a little more palatable. Unfortunately, with this type of paid-search marketing you have to go with what the masses are searching and, based on Overture’s estimates for last month (September ’06), there were only 359 searches for “inexpensive bridesmaid dresses” while there were more than 7,700 searches for “cheap bridesmaid dresses”. So despite our qualms, I guess we’ll keep bidding on the cheap.