Choosing a Wedding Date –- When You’re Feeling IndecisiveWritten by Blake Kritzberg
He – or she – proposed, and you answered in affirmative! Now's time to bask in romance, and enjoy first phase of your new life together. But soon, you'll need a response for that timeless question: "when's wedding?" For some couples, it's easy – they know just when they want to tie knot. For others, it's less clear. After all, you have a lot of options. Even more than you might think, since it's really not necessary to get married on a Saturday. Friday and Sunday afternoons are good choices too, and less expensive. So if you're looking at calendar ahead and seeing a hundred alternatives, all about equally attractive, here's how to narrow them down. Must-have venues No matter how flexible you are, there's bound to be things you won't compromise on. Maybe it's a particular church, temple and officiant for your ceremony. Maybe it's a special venue for your reception. And there are certain indispensable guests, like your parents. Luckily for you, putting just these three things together is bound to reduce your choices. Once you call on church/temple, ceremony venue or reception hall, you'll probably find many dates already filled, especially if you call less than nine months in advance. Good. That makes things easier! Must-have ambiance But maybe you don't have a must-have venue. Maybe you just have an image in your mind of perfect wedding. Maybe it involves falling snow, ermine mantles, a horse-drawn carriage, and a crackling fireplace. Maybe it involves stacks of shiny apples, heaped pumpkins, a scattering of leaves and scent of cranberry-apple cider. Or delicate pastels, gossamer pashminas for bridesmaids, and a dove release. In this case your time of year is set: all that's needed it to work out logistics of venue, local climate and availability of your most important guests. Must-have flowers Some people know exactly what floral arrangements they want at their wedding. Flowers are such an enormous part of wedding budget, if particular ones are important to you, you might want to arrange your date around them. Unless you're an heiress, for example, you'll want to avoid buying roses for your Valentine's Day wedding. On other hand, December and January are great months to buy calla lilies. To study flower availability charts, Google for "flower availability by month." Must-have honeymoons
| | 8 Questions Brides Ask About Setting up a Wedding RegistryWritten by Blake Kritzberg
In theory, setting up a registry is simple. You decide on one or several stores, create a registry online or in person, select various items, and get word out to your guests. In practice, things are a little more complicated -- but only a little! With that said, here's real deal on setting up your wedding registry and getting word out without offending your guests. Remember that retailers can be an enormous help to both you and your guests. At same time, you can’t take everything they say at face value. Q: Where should I register? A: Chances are, if you're getting married in your own town, you already know where "everyone goes" to set up and shop from a registry. If not, and guests are flying in from far away, pick from some bride-tested standbys likely to be present almost anywhere. Macy’s has a great reputation for registries, as does Williams-Sonoma, Bed Bath & Beyond and other retailers. Before you choose your stores, be sure to stop by a wedding forum and get feedback from brides who have been there, done that. Store policies vary quite dramatically, ranging from easy-does-it (who’ll give you cash back for returns off registry, no questions asked) to extremely restrictive (who’ll only let you exchange for another item *in that department*, requires a receipt for each item, and so on). You'll want to know about these policies and store's overall reputation for bridal friendliness before you go in, or returns and exchanges could become a big hassle. Q: I have a wide range of interests. How many stores should I register at? A: Two to three stores is fairly typical. They don't have to be typical stores, though. If you're a wine drinker, and live in a state where it's legal to ship wine, set up a registry at one of great online wine merchants. Q: When should I register? A: Although close family members may pressure you to start earlier, it's helpful to wait three to six months before wedding. Not only are vast majority of gifts bought within a day or so of shower or ceremony itself, stores turn over merchandise so rapidly that any gifts you select earlier may be discontinued. Q: What if I already have all kitchen appliances and throw pillows I need? A: Consider putting together a honeymoon registry instead, so guests can contribute toward a special meal or snorkeling trip or a night’s lodging during your honeymoon.
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