Tag: wedding
Call it a Deal
Contracts
Apart from wedding insurance, one of the last things a couple in love wants to deal with is paperwork, fine print and signing on the dotted line. But contract details can either salvage or destroy your big day if the unexpected happens.
Gayle Garmaz, a consultant for wedding planners Exquisite Weddings, says that when sourcing suppliers for your wedding, you shouldn’t adopt a casual attitude. You don’t have a good business arrangement if it’s just the shake of a hand or a brochure with the prices. ‘Couples are vulnerable,’ she says. ‘It’s a very emotional time. And if you look at the dollars that are being spent, it’s significant.’
Just imagine showing up for your wedding only to find that your venue has been double booked and another couple is midway through their ceremony, or your limo never shows up!
Both suppliers and clients can be put in an awkward position if things aren’t clearly understood. Although contracts are usually written by the supplier, they can be amended to accommodate any special concerns you might have, including clauses for no-shows and non-replacement.
photo credit: emilianohorcada
The average size wedding in New Zealand today consists of 80-100 guests. When you’re planning for food, alcohol and staffing, be sure of exactly what you’re buying. One of the first things to clarify is whether the prices are inclusive of GST. This is particularly important with regards to the venue, which is where the most money is spent – for example, an added 12.5% on top of $20,000 is $2,500.
If you sign a contract with a venue, they may have a different wine price list or wine supplier and you need to know if they have a clause in their contract stating this. Another detail to pay particular attention to is what time the venue becomes yours and how long you have it for. Exactly when does the clock start ticking in terms of the hours you are paying for? Is it when the guests start to arrive, or when you start setting up?
Many venues have a six-hour free and anything longer than that is charged by the hours plus GST. For example, if your guests party on for 10-12 hours, the price of your venue hire could double.
Another contact that may confuse some couples is the one they sign with their photographer. Unless it is signed over to the couple, which is extremely rare, the photographer retains the copyright to all their photos. Most photographers only sell you prints and will not give you their negatives or a digital copy of their work. Photo contracts generally cover the photographer’s time, production of the images and your album. Any other prints or online photos must be ordered through the photographer.
While each supplier has different details to look out for, there are similarities and it pays to ask questions. For example, when it comes to your flowers, floral contracts should stipulate exactly what you’re purchasing. Even the vases or stands used to display the flowers should be covered in the contract. The contract should also say who is responsible if the vases are damaged or lost.
Pre-nuptial agreements
But there are ways to protect yourself against a change of heart further down the road. Once only used by the rich and famous, today a relationship property agreement or a pre-nuptial agreement is simply another contract for the bride and groom to agree on and sign.
Alison Renfrew, director of Lyford Asset Management Financial Planners, believes that as soon as you think you’re in a relationship that’s going to last, you should see a lawyer and have a relationship property agreement drawn up, even though it may be a bit scary to say, ‘Look, I love you very much, but let’s get this sorted.’
If the situation is treated with mutual respect and equality, both parties should be satisfied. Under the current law, a divorce could see the woman take 70% of the couple’s matrimonial property and if there isn’t an agreement it’s likely that it will go in the favour of the woman.
It was Zsa Zsa Gabor who said: ‘I am a marvellous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man, I keep his house.’
Obviously not all women have the same goal in mind, but with a high proportion of marriages ending in divorce, it’s helpful to have things clearly set out from the beginning. Better to discuss and agree on assets while the atmosphere is amicable, than from across the courtroom.
It’s when you don’t communicate and have differing expectations that you wind up in entrenched legal battles and not speaking to each other. ‘If you’re getting serious, it’s best to get the serious stuff out of the way,’ Alison says. ‘Treat the agreement as just a legal formality that everyone who’s getting married has to go through.’
Family trust
Particularly for older couples and those with children, it’s also a good time to investigate how your assets are set up. You could benefit from the formation of a family trust. ‘It’s important to have layers of protections,’ says Alison. ‘A family trust is a layer. A relationship property agreement is another layer.’ Consider all assets that might be targeted – you income, saving, pensions, superannuation plans.
‘The key for most people is to make sure they’re worth nothing,’ Alison says. ‘Give appropriate ownership to your possessions through a trust.’ This will require a specialist lawyer.
Often the only lawyer young couples know is the one they might have used to buy a house. But in order to document your expectations so that it will stand up in court, you should meet with an experienced lawyer who specialises in relationship property agreements to have a proper agreement drawn up.
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When And Where To Do Wedding Dances
The wedding rites certainly have the majority of the rites and ceremonies associated with the marriage. But there’s more fun and happenings even after the wedding, during the reception. With the stiff atmosphere of the wedding already done, guests can let their hair down and enjoy the food and beautiful music they will be entertained with.
photo credit: Junior Petroneri
Besides, the reception is also the perfect time for the guests to take some pictures with the newlyweds, who may be hopping from table to table, or performing their wedding dance. There is a proper sequence on who gets to dance first in weddings. The sequence may be altered by the bride and groom, though.
Traditionally, the first couple who will take on the dance floor is obviously the bride and groom. A parent will then be partnered with one of the couple – the bride will dance with her dad and the groom will dance with his mom. Bride and groom will then change partners as the bride will have dance with her father-in-law and the groom will dance with his mother-in-law. These changes of partners are symbolic of each other’s families welcoming their new members.
Stepparents of either the groom or bride, if they have one, should also take part in their tradition. After the parents exchange partners, the bride may dance with the groom’s best man while the groom dances with the bridesmaid. The rest of the entourage may now join in. After that, the dance floor is open to the other guests.
Aside from knowing the correct sequence of dances during the reception, another matter for the couple to take on would be where to get the dance floor rental. Dance floors can be rented, and are available in different sizes, textures, shapes and even color. In big cities, there are shops that specifically rent out dance floors.
However, in smaller and more isolated areas, this may not be the case. A couple who decides to have their reception on a far-off location may opt to hire someone to build a makeshift dance floor on the venue or hire a big city company to ship their merchandize wherever their reception will be, incurring additional costs. If you are having a church wedding then church wedding decoration photos are one of the best ways to get your ideas for decorations.
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Contemporary Modern Wedding Invites
Contemporary wedding invites are always a nice surprise for your guests. As opposed to traditional wedding invitations, they usually have a little bit of flair. The typography chosen for the contemporary wedding invitation is most often bold and sans serif but can also be quiet and simple. The most appealing thing about doing a contemporary wedding invitation is that it sends out the message that you are hip and trendy and that you are up with the times as a couple. Most often, contemporary articles have a youthful feel to them.
photo credit: [ jeremy ]
There are many ways that you could do to make your wedding invitation set contemporary. For example, you may choose non-traditional typefaces and really amp up the type size. You may also choose bold or bright colors that may not normally be associated with wedding invitations. Another way that you could create a contemporary invitation is to really brainstorm for awhile and come up with some really creative ideas for how you would like to create envelopes for your wedding invitation set.
When choosing a contemporary wedding invitation, make sure that you make choices that will match this theme in your wedding. As opposed to traditional napkins with the bride and groom’s name on them, think about how you could print on colored napkins and how large type or graphics could replace words. Think about the wedding cake and the décor of the room. Everything should be cohesive and match so if you do a contemporary wedding invitation, make sure your entire wedding is set with the same vibe. Your friends and family will be pleased to discover your modern contemporary wedding invitations in the mail and you will have set the tone with fun and excitement. This is a perfect way to welcome your guests and your celebration will make memories for all.
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Why Choose Silk Wedding Bouquets
There are quite a few reasons why a bride would choose silk wedding bouquets rather than fresh cut flowers. Firstly, if you use silk flowers they are never going to wilt or die off, so the memories of the wedding day can be saved. Not only that but silk wedding bouquets are normally quite a bit less expensive than fresh bouquets.
But perhaps one of the biggest reasons for using artificial flowers at a wedding is that many weddings are held outside in hot weather, in this weather fresh flowers will start to wilt after only an hour or two. On the other hand silk is not going to be effect by the weather, so it doesn’t matter how hot it gets, the flowers will always look their best. When planning a wedding, especially outdoor weddings, the timing has got to be perfect, but even with perfect timing and perfect weather fresh flowers will start to lose their shape and color quite quickly. If your wedding isn’t dictated by time limits then you can plan a more detailed wedding and you wont be working around the flower arrangements.
Silk wedding bouquets can be saved so that your memories of your wedding day can be refreshed or you could even pass the bouquet down through the generations. It was in China the silk was first used for wedding bouquets, then this idea was carried to Italy. However it was the French that took the design of these flowers to a new level, and now with modern materials people will use these flowers for many years.
Finally, if you use artificial flowers you can have them designed to match any wedding theme or wedding colors at all. If you add some lovely colored fabrics and ribbons to the bouquet you can make it look truly wonderful.
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Best Maldives Honeymoon Package at Cost Effective Rates
Spend the best first week of your lives together in an extraordinary honeymoon you’ll never forget. Maldives, comprised by a number of islets of astonishing beauty, is one of the worldwide famous honeymoon destinations. Especially on peak seasons, months before, tourists all over the world make the best bid just to get hotel or resort reservations so as to fully enjoy the best treats possible.
Being frugal is no problem in Maldives. There are many honeymoon packages offered at cost effective rates, availing the best service and treats. There are many hotels and travel agencies that may offer Maldives honeymoon packages around 1,200-1,800 US$. Though, if you might want your own self made itinerary, where you can actually save a lot more for those who’d prefer an even lesser expense, you and your partner may carefully plan and book for hotel reservations in advance to make sure you have a nice secured place to stay in.
Privacy for honeymooners is no problem in the private exclusive beaches in the area. Indulge in utmost tranquil and solitude in these secluded places. Under the starry moonlit night, enjoy the romantic ambiance in the cool sea breeze.
At daytime, tour around as much as you can. Top destinations in Maldives include Ari Atoll, Hithadhoo, Ihuru, Kulhudhuffushi, and Male. These places are the never-missed spots when people speak about good places in Maldives. Go to as many atolls as you and your hubby can. Walk over lagoons, draining yourselves as much as you can. This is your perfect time for leisure, getting wild and just being carefree.
With careful joint planning with your partner, you both will definitely make the best Maldives honeymoon package and a one-of-a-kind itinerary more than anyone else can ever create. Though, taking a prepared package saves time and effort, in the end of the day, it will be both you and your beloved the ones benefiting from the choice. The most important thing is, you did enjoy, and made lovely memories that will surely be cherished for a lifetime.
Harvin Gulfill is writting for the website Best honeymoon ideas. Visit it to read more articles about Maldives honeymoon package.
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Tips To Buying Bridal Dresses Online
Many brides are scared off by the thought of purchasing their wedding dresses from an online store and, granted, the idea of shopping online is not for everybody. If you have made major purchases online before and would like to reap potentially substantial savings you might consider purchasing from an online bridal collection. Here are some tips in buying your wedding dress online.
First off, decide what type of dress that you want. Do some research by exploring magazines or the internet such as bridal websites. Also, try to look for the designs that are popular this season in bridal online stores. This also gives you the ability to compare the prices so you know about what to expect pricewise when you are ready to buy.
Setting the budget for your wedding dress will give you an approximation of how much you will be spending for the gown. Usually the wedding gown accounts for about 10 percent of the entire wedding budget.
If possible, have your measurements taken at a professional bridal shop, so that you can send this together with your order to the online bridal store. Make sure during the measurement, you wear the same bra that you would wear during your wedding day.
Check the bridal online shop’s credential. Check for feedback, and make certain they are positive ones. It is usually the more credible companies that are partners with trustworthy payment scheme companies.
The wedding dress should be sent to you weeks before the wedding. So that you can have ample time to have a dressmaker do some minor changes like the waistline, or other parts of the gown. In most cases, the gown will arrive within two to four months after order is made. Pressing of the gown is done just before the wedding day.
It may be suggested that you check the details of the gown. The picture in the online bridal shop may be not the same as the product that will be sent. These shops usually display the wedding designers’ pictures. Unless indicated in the website, it will just be the replica that will be sent to you.
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Understanding the Unity Sand Ceremony
In a unity sand ceremony, the sands are normally colored differently for each spouse representing their personal qualities. The sand is poured together during the ceremony to reflect the union of two lives. This ceremony can even involve the participation of family members or close friends.
This ceremony is a popular practice especially for weddings which are held in beach resorts. However, if the wedding will not be held in a beach, there are available kits which can be purchased to make such ceremony possible regardless of the location.
If you are going to incorporate the unity sand ceremony for your wedding, make sure to follow the series of actions as this does not proceed by simply just pouring the sand. Take note of the guidelines. Make sure to also pay attention to the type of sand which will be used as well as its color. If you want vibrant colors, the quartz sand can be a perfect choice. To be able to add more significance to this act, choose a more personal color to reflect your personalities. Make sure to also pick the perfect vase as this will store the sand which you can keep for a memory which will last a lifetime.
Before the ceremony, make sure that 3 glass sand ceremony vases are already prepared. Two of these vases will contain the sand of the bride and the groom. The third vase is located at the center and this will hold the conjoined sand. During the ceremony, the groom will fill the central vase with his sand and then the bride proceeds doing the same. The act will be repeated ending with four layers of sand.
To form the fifth and last layer, the couple will pour their sands at the same time and end up with a mixture of the two colors. As the sand is being poured, a wedding vow is recited.
In the unity sand ceremony, the central vase will serve as a memento to remind both of you with the special day. The creation of the different layers of sand with different colors will serve as a reminder to the couple that despite their unity, their individuality is still preserved. This ceremony can be more significant if the family will be involved.
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Wedding Flower Decoration Ideas Using Various Flower Colors
During weddings, many details should be given enough attention. When it comes to wedding flower decoration ideas, flowers are among the most important as they set the tone or the atmosphere of the wedding. Its colors should be carefully chosen and the significance or meanings of such colors should also be noted.
Colors have different meanings. Red connotes passion and romance. This is the reason why red is a common motif for weddings. White, on the other hand, means purity and innocence. It is usually a simple and classic theme, often representing the personality of the bride.
Pink is another common color for wedding flowers. This is a symbol of elegance and sweetness and happiness or gratitude. This is the same meaning which can be given by the color peach. It is common to give pink roses after the wedding to symbolize gratitude for the presence of your guests.
Yellow, although rare for weddings, is used to signify friendship. It also means joy for the occasion. On the other hand, orange means pride, desire, or enthusiasm. It is often used in combination with colored flowers to make the event more lively and vibrant. Orange is often mixed with flowers which are color pink, yellow, and white.
Blue and black are also rare colors for wedding flowers. Blue, this means impossible or unattainable, is used by some couple with the belief that the color is unique. Black, on the other hand, is a very rare color of flowers that is why it is though to be precious. This color usually connotes death or an end. At the other extreme, black can also symbolize a new beginning. The color is seen to be dull that is why it is not commonly used. When black flowers are used, it can be combined with other colors such as red in order to make the arrangement more attractive.
The colors mentioned earlier are just some of the choices which you can consider for your wedding flowers. Through some research, you can have knowledge of other colors that would be most meaningful for your wedding day. Use the colors in single or in combination with other colors to have a more memorable wedding event.
Find church wedding decoration ideas for the use of flowers and other adornments.
