Wedding Dances

Most weddings have the traditional first dance, the dance of the bride with her father, and the dance of the groom with his mother. Some families have their own traditions about which songs to dance to. And some like to use this dance to celebrate a special bond. At a recent wedding I was at, the bride and her father loved to dance and be silly together; their dance together was the Electric Slide.

At a Jewish wedding, the tradition is to dance the horah, a traditional circle dance where the bride and groom are lifted on chairs as guests dance around them. The tradition began in Europe when men and women weren’t permitted to dance together; lifting the bride and groom on chairs allowed them to see each other at their own wedding reception. And in some areas, no wedding would be complete without the money dance. Guests pay the groom to take a turn around the dance floor with the bride; the couple uses the money to start their new life together.

Flowers, Cake, and Cameras

At most weddings, the bride tosses her bouquet to all the single women present; tradition is that whoever catches the bouquet will be the next to get married. And a newer tradition, but just as popular, is for the groom to toss his new bride’s garter to all the single men. There are lots of traditions, too, with the wedding cake. Most couples save the top layer of their cake to eat on their first anniversary. Of course, too, there’s the traditional cutting of the cake and feeding each other that first bite (and the strange tradition of stuffing cake in your new spouse’s face).

In the South, it’s popular at weddings to have a separate groom’s cake, usually decorated to celebrate a hobby or interest of the groom. Disposable cameras on wedding tables have led to lots of new wedding traditions. I have friends who take pictures of their ties at every wedding they go to. And I heard of a couple who takes fruit from garnishes at every wedding they go to to make a smiley face plate; they take a picture of it for the bride and groom as well as one for their own album.

Of course, there’s my favorite wedding tradition. At my wedding, my husband’s fraternity brothers continued their new tradition of serenading the bride. It’s a moment I’ll never forget!

What is a Destination Wedding?

A destination wedding is when your wedding takes place out of town (often somewhere tropical or romantic), and your guests travel there with you. Popular destination wedding spots include Hawaii, the Caribbean, Disney World and beaches worldwide. Rather than just having a ceremony and reception, a destination wedding usually includes activities for the length of the guests’ stay; dinners, excursions, sightseeing, and other parties. Because destination weddings are often much smaller than a traditional wedding, many couples have a reception when they return from their honeymoon to celebrate with their wider circle of friends and families.

Why Choose a Destination Wedding?

For some, choosing a destination wedding is a simple as wanting to get married in a special place. For example, a couple who dreams of getting married on the beach, one who wants to get married at the camp where they met in high school, or one who wants to say their vows at a special vacation spot. For others, a destination wedding is a way to both reduce the stress and cost of planning a wedding. Planning is made easy - most resorts that have wedding facilities have a wedding coordinator on-site to meet all of the bride and groom’s needs. Because you are planning a wedding out of town, the planner takes care of all the details; you just tell them your preferences. Most brides who have had a destination wedding rave about the planning - they have one meeting with the planner (often over the phone) where they pick out everything. It is so much easier (and so much less stressful) than the countless hours that go into planning the traditional wedding. For many couples, the cost of a destination wedding is also significantly cheaper. Getting married at a resort in Hawaii instead of a hotel in your hometown costs almost the same. But because most couples only invite their closest family and friends (20-40 guests is the norm) destination weddings cut cost by cutting guests. And many all-inclusive resorts have packages that are actually significantly cheaper than those in major US cities.

Mother Nature

Perhaps the most important factor in planning a beach wedding is Mother Nature. There are many more factors that can’t be controlled when having your wedding on the beach instead of indoors, and these need to be taken into consideration. First is the weather. Look at weather trends for the beach, and if there are times of the year that are particularly dry or rainy. Avoiding hurricane season (for an east coast beach) is a must, as is having a backup location (or a tent) in case it does rain.

Second are the tides. Having your beach wedding as the tide is coming in may sound romantic, but can be problematic if the waves begin lapping at your guests’ toes! Talk to your wedding planner about locating your wedding along a portion of the beach that is not affected by the tides, or as the tide is going out so that you won’t accidentally get wet! Bugs can also be an issue; if the beach is prone to mosquitoes, plan appropriately. Finally, consider time of day. Some beaches are beautiful at sunset, but have glares or strange odors at other times.

Guests

While a beach wedding may be beautiful, it can be tricky for guests. Few beaches are wheelchair accessible; if you have guests in wheelchairs, checking accessibility is a must. You will also want to consider amenities at the beach. While few amenities are really needed, be sure that the beach does have bathrooms available, and that those bathrooms will be open during your wedding.

Type of bathroom might be an issue as well, as some beach bathrooms are simply outhouses (and no one wants to use an outhouse in a bridesmaid dress!). Finally, think about whether or not you are ok with uninvited guests. If you are getting married on a public beach, your wedding, then, will be open to the public. Some people don’t mind if sunbathers take in their vows; others may want to look at a private beach where their wedding will be, well, private.

Uniquely Beach

Having a beach wedding means that certain parts of your wedding can be uniquely beach. Many couples choose more casual attire for a beach wedding; a simple white wedding dress for the bride, a light colored suit for the groom. Sundresses and Hawaiian shirts are popular attire for wedding parties in beach weddings. The music for your beach wedding can also be unique; steel drums, local musicians, or a ukulele. Your reception can also feature beach food; seafood and fruit are popular choices.

Where Should I Have My Wedding Abroad?

Weddings abroad give you more options than the standard beach or destination wedding. Many couples choose their location based on a shared interest or love of a culture. For example, a couple who shares a love of animals and adventure may choose to get married on safari in Africa. Other couples use a wedding abroad to fulfill a fantasy; there is nothing more romantic than getting married in a castle in Europe! And for many couples, a wedding abroad is a chance to discover their roots and connect with their family’s heritage. Many choose to go back to the country where their parents or grandparents immigrated from and celebrate their wedding with local food and customs.

How Do I Plan My Wedding Abroad?

Hiring a wedding planner is a must! Few are wealthy enough to afford multiple trips to a foreign country to plan their wedding. This is where wedding planners are invaluable. Choose a wedding planner with extensive experience in planning weddings abroad for Americans. Don’t hesitate to ask for references, and look at pictures and videos of other weddings that she/he has planned.

Will My Wedding Abroad be Legal?

One difficulty in having your wedding abroad is the legality of the wedding. Laws differ from country to country, and can vary quite a bit. Some European countries require residency of one of either the bride or groom; others have no requirement, and foreigners can have a legal civil ceremony without much paperwork. If you are looking to have a religious ceremony, the rules differ according to the religion. For example, if you are getting married in a Catholic church, the Catholic laws that govern marriage here in the United States apply to Catholic churches worldwide. Any marriage that is legally performed and valid abroad is recognized as a legal marriage here in the United States.

Other Things to Remember

Many people who have their wedding abroad have a very small guest list (only close family and friends). But whether your guest list is small or large, you will want to give your guests plenty of notice. Many couples send out a save the date card up to a year in advance of their formal invitations. And don’t forget to make sure your passports are up-to-date, and that you have secured any necessary visas for travel. Finally, use your wedding location to your advantage when planning your honeymoon. For example, if you are getting married in Italy, travel to other European countries for your honeymoon can be quite inexpensive.

These meetings are so important that they often span over the course of a few days. This is the best opportunity to make sure that everything is going well with the company. A lot of different people are invited to these meetings including stock holders and employees. If the meetings are not going well then it is important to understand that unless you want to make sure that you get to the meeting then there is not much you can do. If you want to be a part of it, then you should make sure you reserve the date and time of the meeting so that you could go.

If you need to hold an annual meeting there are some things that you need to do. First of all, if you have never planned one before, it might be a good idea to hire a meeting planner. This is a person who will be responsible for inviting everyone who should be there, setting up the date and time, and determining what needs to be talked about in order to make the meeting a success. Another important factor is to figure things out like where people will park and what types of meals will be served, as well as whether or not to hire guest speakers. Annual meetings are important but they could be a pain to plan out. That is why it is a good idea to either hire a professional or get someone in the administrative department to figure out the details. Annual meetings are definitely a great idea.

Cruise Ship Weddings: Planning Made Simple

Depending on the cruise line you choose, you can be as involved as you want to be with planning. Many cruise lines have full-time wedding planners who make planning your cruise ship wedding a breeze. Once you give them the vision you have of your wedding, they will take care of the rest. No searching for florists, caterers, or bands; they take care of it all. Your cruise ship wedding can take place on the ship itself or in one of the ports of call. And with the exception of your clergy member (a few cruise lines provide clergy, though with the growth in popularity of cruise ship weddings, more and more lines are providing clergy), you have nothing to bring except your dress and yourselves!

Is it Expensive?

Just as with any wedding, the cost of cruise ship weddings can vary greatly. Carnival cruise lines have packages that start at less than $800, significantly cheaper than the cost of a traditional wedding. Of course, there are more expensive options as well, but for many couples, a cruise ship wedding allows them to have a luxury wedding at a budget price.

What About Guests?

With a cruise ship wedding, you have a few choices for your guests. You can get married right before the cruise begins (either on the ship or in the port city) with your family and friends, then enjoy the cruise as your honeymoon. Many couples choose to get married in a port city while on their cruise, and have their guests meet them there. The newlyweds then can get back on the ship to enjoy the next few days on their own together. Still others take advantage of cruise lines that allow guests to board the cruise ship for the wedding and reception only (mid-cruise), then get back off before the ship leaves port. And finally, some couples choose to bring their family with them for the entire cruise. This is my favorite part of a cruise ship wedding, as it allows you to extend the celebration for the entire length of the cruise instead of one night.

After you decide that you need to hold a business meeting the next step is to plan it. Some meetings are more formal than others. The formal ones may take a lot of extra planning. But the informal ones could even be held at the spur of the moment. The fact that the meetings take place is something that is important to a lot of people. Some managers hold meetings to help encourage a sense of group spirit. Some feel as if they overdo it. It is tough to tell.

If you are the one who needs to organize a large meeting or even just a small one there are a few basic steps you need to follow. You need to understand the goal of the meeting in order to make it successful. This will not only help you plan the meeting but will help give everyone a sense of what the meeting is about. If people don’t know what it is about it will be a frustrating experience. The last thing you want to do is frustrate people. No one wants to waste their time. That is why a lot of meetings need to be quick and efficient. As the planner you should take that into account.

Business meetings are an important part of the job. If you need to hold a meeting make sure you understand what you need to do. If you need to listen to a meeting then that is also important. Make sure you pay attention. Business meetings can also be a waste of time though that is why good planning is so important.

Even the best destination weddings can run into problems. Some couples plan their destination weddings for places that have romantic significance to them. They feel that, since they have been there so many times before, that they know the area and planning a destination wedding should be simple. Other folks plan destination weddings for places that they have never been to but have always dreamed of traveling to and even getting married there someday. Both options, believe it or not, can be recipes for disaster.

The Do’s And Don’ts Of The Best Destination Weddings

Even though you may have visited some romantic place for years that is miles and miles from your home the fact is you do not live there. The best destination weddings take everything into account including details such as marriage licenses and wedding cake makers. You may have had your first kiss in Key West but you never had to have someone put flowers in a chapel for your wedding there. Whether you have been to the location or not it is a good idea to hire a local wedding planner for your destination wedding. A professional wedding planner will make sure all of the details are attended to and, whether you have been to your dream location before or not, you will have a much better chance at having the best destination wedding if you put it in the hands of a professional.

One more thing that many people do wrong when planning a destination wedding is assuming that their friends and family will be there when they take their vows. Even the best destination weddings can sometimes cause a family crisis that may have a tough time healing. If future family harmony is high on your list of things you want to have after your wedding then you may want to take the time to make sure that all of the important friends and family are on board with the idea. It may be your wedding but it is your family’s future so you may want to take that into account when planning your destination wedding.

It is important to remember that your wedding reception will have a broad representation of all kinds of people from your family. Young, old, short, and tall will all be there and while it is your day you should also keep in mind that first impressions last forever and you want your first impression as a couple, your wedding’s reception decorations, to give the true flavor of your spirit but also the feeling that all are welcome.

So Who Really Made These Decorations?

I have been to a lot of wedding receptions in my day and I would like to tell you about a very interesting use of wedding reception decorations. I knew a couple that was to be married in October of the year and they were very excited. One of the most exciting things to them was that her grandfather, a proud World War II veteran, was to give her away. She was very close to her grandfather and, since her father had passed away in a car accident some years earlier, her grandfather had been her father figure for most of her life. In September of that year her grandfather passed away. They were both devastated but they decided to keep the wedding on as planned. At the reception the wedding’s reception decorations were all from the World War II era and they were all about her grandfather. The groom had agreed, he actually insisted, that they dedicate the reception to the memory of her grandfather. It was probably the most emotional reception I had ever been to and the groom did the toast, which was unusual enough, but he did the toast to the large portrait of her grandfather that was hanging over the head table. That, to me, was one of the best uses of wedding reception decorations I had ever seen.

Wedding reception decorations should convey the personality, and the feelings, of the couple. It doesn’t always have to be as somber as the situation I told you about, but it should be something from the heart. Keep it tasteful but also make it personal. You only get one wedding reception in your life so you should make sure that everything about it is as much you as it can possibly be.

If you are holding a meeting for a company you can delegate the meeting planning to someone else. However, there may be a situation where the meeting will need to be involved and filled with detail. If this is the case you may want to hire an expert to do it. Experts thrive best when the meeting is complicated and if it is a multiple day event filled with a lot of people, a long list of speakers, or a complicated set of objectives. To make matters even more complicated sometimes a meeting will involve people who live in all different places who may also need lodging. Those are all good reasons to definitely hire someone.

To find a person who specializes in meeting planning, you will need to understand how where to go to find a professional. With the internet it makes the job easier. However, the internet is vast so you will want to be extra careful in looking for someone because you want then to be in the local area. However you can refine the search and find someone good. Your company may also know of someone that they hire when things get complicated. They may have worked with someone in the past and want to continue the relationship with them.

Before you hire someone, though, you will need to have at least a vague idea of what kind of meeting it will be otherwise you will not be able to communicate to them what you need. You don’t need to know a lot, just enough so that they are able to get their work done and plan the meeting successfully.