Below are five things to note when planning the perfect outdoor wedding:

Choose a Back-Up: No matter what season of the year it is, there is always a chance that the forecast won’t hold up. In the event of torrential downpours or a flash flood in the middle of hot July, always have a back-up plan! I’ve seen too many wedding ceremonies get rained on and everything go to waste. Research some places that could be used as a last minute rental, or have an oversized tent on-site that you can scoot your guests and tables under in the event of light rain. Be sure to let everyone who is going to be a part of your special day, including guests, your bridal party, caterers, florist, band, etc, know where your back up location is PRIOR to the day of your wedding. Quick Tip: Include a space on the bottom of your invitation that reads something like: In case of rain, our wedding will be held at xyz.

What’s on the menu? There are certain foods that pair well with each season. For the summer, make sure your caterer serves up the most refreshing and light hors d’oeuvres that compliment your summer ceremony. Some popular summer bites are melon, mozzarella and prosciutto brochettes, zucchini and goat’s cheese tarts or even a bowl of mixed berries and tossed greens. But, there is no better way to wash away the heat and snacks than sipping on a mouthwatering fruity drink. Chill down your guests with sparkling white sangria, limey mojitos, or even a classic Pina Colada. Quick Tip: Be sure that all summer drink choices have a non-alcoholic option! Provide as much filtered water as you can to avoiding dehydrating yourself and your guests… it’s going to be a long night!

Be Heard: If you’re outside in the mountains or down in the valley, there will always be background noise. Whether it’s a light summer breeze, the loud chirp of singing birds or the distant sounds of engines on a nearby highway, your guest should always be able to hear your vows and music clearly. Make sure the DJ, your microphones and the speakers are in appropriate places that will enable everyone to hear perfectly and comfortably. Quick Tip: Do a sound check a day or two before the wedding. This way, any changes and adjustments will be taken care of prior to the day of the wedding.

Avoid the Bites: The last way you want your wedding night to be remembered is the attendance of uninvited guests: BUGS! Many people worry that Citronella candles ruin the ambiance of their reception. Correction — Mosquitoes will ruin the ambiance of your reception! There are citronella candles that come in pillars rather than tin buckets that can easily replace scented candles. Plus, a couple of Tiki Lamps and Citronella candles will enhance the feel of your summer wedding. Quick Tip: Cover the citronella tins and tiki lamps with decorative floral arrangements to brighten your candles.

Design to Shine: Nothing says summer better than this year’s bright pink and orange hues. Rather than incorporating a bunch of colors in one space, choose a bright color and an accent color to coordinate your décor. When planning your centerpieces, stick to the bright color and combine different shades to create an original color combo. Bright colored lilies, roses and tulips make for an elegant but bold centerpiece with the help of natural sunlight. Be sure to coordinate your table linens and dishware with a paler, lighter color to balance a calm contrast.

A traditional Chinese wedding ceremony was very elaborate in the preparations, but utterly simple in the actual wedding ceremony. The day of the wedding, the bride went through several preparation rituals including:

• The Hair Dressing Ritual
• The Capping Ritual
• The Ritual Journey to the Groom’s House
• The Arrival Ritual

Chinese wedding ceremony is like a machine that takes a collection of software. It ‘s customs and traditions are carefully prepared and indicates a different meaning. These symbols and concepts passed down from generation to generation and continues to apply in modern China. Some innovations in the area, but the point remains the same.

Chinese wedding tradition is surrounded by old authorities. The authorities were very traditional and desirable. Respect for parents and ancestors, is the basic principle is the strict observance and rituals to ward off evil omens, exchange gifts and innovation of the merger of the bride to the family of her husband. ”

If you are descendants of Chinese and you marry a Chinese woman, be prepared for extensive and elaborate rituals of the proposal a few days after the wedding. For the Chinese people, marriage is an important responsibility that can not be left for the couple to decide. In fact, not involved in the agreements. An average (similar to a seller) to negotiate a marriage between two families. Neither the bride nor the groom will have their say on the matter. All aspects are taken into account: the past of the family, financial status, obligations and reputation, numerology, astrology, and the ability to provide food on the table.

When everything is agreed, the ritual begins. The day before the wedding, the wedding day itself, and 3 days, consists of many rituals. The bride is the subject of the ritual, the hair and combing ritual. The groom is also the experience of being excluded from friends of the bride “and to answer questions or to pay his friends for his wife. The bride from home trip in place of her husband is also rich in ritual. It includes the use of a red veil and a red umbrella to protect us from evil. path is paved with red beans and rice, symbols of fertility.

Each of these rituals was designed to help the bride to be achieving the look of a married woman. Her transition from single daughter to wife was as important to her choice of hairstyles as it was to her bearing and clothing. A good luck woman spent the time of preparation with her and spoke words of wisdom to help prepare her for the transformation. Each ritual served a purpose in leading up to the Chinese wedding ceremony.

The ceremony itself was exceptionally simple. The bride and groom would be conducted to their family altars where they would pay homage to the family ancestors, the Kitchen God and to Heaven and Earth. They would then offer tea to the groom’s parents. After the tea was served, the bride and groom would then bow to each other and thus the wedding ceremony itself was concluded. Following a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony, the bride and groom would retire immediately to the bridal chamber where they would then spend their time together and get to know each other.

If you ever have an opportunity to go to a Chinese wedding don’t let it pass, it’s an incredible experience totally different from everything you’ve experienced before. Chinese women, for instance, wear three different dresses on their wedding day. The first dress is usually a modern western dress, the second a traditional white bridal gown and the third a long red Chinese cheongsam dress embroidered with dragon and phoenix symbols. The animals symbolize the balance of male and female power plus red is a lucky color in China.

Leading US wedding website The Knot launched Ai Jie (www.ijie.com) in China on November 17,2010. The website offers inspiration and advice about weddings, relationships, household planing and pregnancy for couples in China, where 10 million weddings take place annually capturing a slice of China’s $57 billion wedding market.

The website hosts China’s trends, entertainment customs, wedding traditions together with a variety of browsing preference which are changing incredibly fast.

Writing your own wedding vows may suit your personal wedding style, but it can be a bit of a daunting task to begin with. If you are trying to write your own vows, don’t let the task overwhelm you or intimidate you. Writing your own vows should begin and end with how you feel, not what others are expecting. If you are creating your own wedding ceremony and style and you want to write your own vows, here are a few questions to consider in creating the vows you want to make.

• When and where did you first meet?
• What was the state of your life before the two of you met?
• At what point did you realize you were in love? Describe the feeling.
• What inspires you about your loved one?
• What life goals and dreams do you share?
• What have you learned from each other?
• What qualities make your love unique? What qualities will keep it strong?
• How has your view of the world changed since you fell in love?
• What do you most look forward to about life with this person?
• What are some special moments in your relationship? Use them all, even the sad times as well as the happy, moving, or profound.
• What happened the day you asked her to marry you? How did you feel?

Reading the vows you have written yourself during your wedding ceremony can be one of the most romantic things you’ve ever done. It’s the kind of thing that really helps you create your own personal wedding style. Writing your own vows is a kind of personal touch that cannot be replicated by any other style of vow.

From Real Love, performed by Regina Spektor, written by John Lennon

From this moment on I know
Exactly where my life will go
Seems that all I really was doing
Was waiting for love

Don’t need to be afraid
No need to be afraid

It’s real love

Thought I’d been in love before,
But in my heart I wanted more
Seems like all I really was doing
Was waiting for you (more here)

3. From This is the First Day of My Life, written and performed by Bright Eyes

This is the first day of my life
I swear I was born right in the doorway
I went out in the rain suddenly everything changed
They’re spreading blankets on the beach

Yours is the first face that I saw
I think I was blind before I met you
Now I don’t know where I am
I don’t know where I’ve been
But I know where I want to go… (more here

3. From The Sore Feet Song, written and performed by Ally Kerr

I walked ten thousand miles, ten thousand miles to see you,
And every gasp of breath I grabbed at just to find you,
I climbed up every hills to get, to you,
I wandered ancient lands to hold, just you.

And every single step of the way, of pain,
Every single night and day,
I searched for you.
Through sandstorms and hazy dawns I reached for you.

I stole ten thousand pounds, ten thousand pounds to see you,
I robbed convenient stores ’cause I thought they’d make it easier.
I lived off rats and toads, and I starved for you.
I fought off giants bears and I killed them too.

And every single step of the way, of pain,
Every single night and day,
I searched for you.
Through sandstorms and hazy dawns I reached for you.
I’m tired and I’m weak, but I’m strong for you.
I wanna go home, but my love gets me through.

 

From I Just Do, written and performed by Deer and the Headlights

When I look at you,
I’ve caught myself off-guard a time or two
Those funny times I realize that I’ve been staring
Way too long and you’re done talking
Not to mention I’ve stopped breathing

I’m such a mess
I’m rushing to open your car door
You lean and open mine before
I can turn the key and
Oh I just love you Oh I just love you

Calling to say hi on your break
In less than twenty words you made
My whole damn day and
Oh I just love you Oh I just love you

 

From Such Great Heights, written and performed by The Postal Service

I am thinking it’s a sign that the freckles
In our eyes are mirror images and when
We kiss they’re perfectly aligned
And I have to speculate that God himself
Did make us into corresponding shapes like
Puzzle pieces from the clay
True, it may seem like a stretch, but
Its thoughts like this that catch my troubled
Head when you’re away when I am missing you to death
When you are out there on the road for
Several weeks of shows and when you scan
The radio, I hope this song will guide you home

They may not be as important (or as legally binding) as that small-but-significant phrase “I do,” but the words that are read at your wedding nevertheless have a big impact. They can send spirits soaring, speak volumes about your love, and make a powerful impression on your guests — quickly eliciting a few chuckles or even a few tears. Whether it’s a poem, a short essay, or a passage from a longer work, “a reading is a great opportunity to put your stamp on your ceremony,” notes Liz Seccuro of Dolce Parties in Greenwich, Connecticut. If you find a selection that clicks, “when you look back on your day, it’s something you’ll remember,” she says.

Unfortunately, it’s also something brides and grooms often overlook. Couples tend to be so focused on other aspects of the wedding that they forget to think about this way to add meaning, as well as a moving and personal touch, to their ceremony, the pros say. Many end up choosing readings at the last minute — “often right before we go to press with the programs,” says Seccuro — or delegating the task to their planner or officiant.

That’s a shame, because while poring through stacks of books may seem daunting, the search you undertake with your fiance to find the perfect words to express your love can be as romantic as the words themselves. Don’t think you need to choose something you struggled through in literature class. In fact, if a passage seems stuffy, or if you have a hard time making sense of it, it’s probably not right for you. Instead, you might turn to a beloved childhood story, a few lines from a novel you adore, the lyrics of a favorite song — almost anything goes, as long as you follow a few guidelines.

Biblical

Genesis 2:18-24

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31

Song of Solomon 2:10-13

Colossians 3:12-17

Spiritual

Passages from “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran

“The Apache Wedding Prayer”

Selections from “A Return to Love” by Marianne Williamson

Passages from “The Path to Love” by Deepak Chopra

Classic Works of Poetry

Sonnet 116 by William Shakespeare

“How Do I Love Thee?” by Elizabeth Barrett
Browning

“Carry Your Heart With Me” by e.e. Cummings

“It’s All I Have to Bring
Today” by Emily Dickinson

Sonnet 79 by Pablo Neruda

For More Ideas, Check Out These Wedding
Anthologies

“Into the Garden, A Wedding Anthology: Poetry and
Prose on Love and Marriage,” edited by Robert Hass and Stephen Mitchell

“Wedding Readings: Centuries of Rituals on Love and Marriage,” edited
by Ellen Munro

“African-American Wedding Readings,” edited by Tamara Nikuradse

IT was minutes before the wedding, and the planner left nothing to chance. The reception hall, a plank-floored farmhouse in the Santa Barbara, Calif., wine country, had been decorated in peonies. The dinner menu, rendered in calligraphy, promised wild mushroom tortellini and halibut with verjus. In a field outside, a photographer and videographer stood at the ready, near a ceremonial canopy draped in velvet and the aisle strewn with guinea feathers.

Still, fancy elopements, or “private ceremonies,” as wedding professionals sometimes call them, can cost $10,000 to $100,000. (By contrast, the average wedding costs $26,000, according to a recent study by Brides magazine.)

But for older couples, particularly busy professionals, money is not always the only consideration. For them, priorities have often shifted.

“Clients getting married in their 20s say, ‘I want to be in front of 200, I want to be a princess bride,’ ” said Lisa Vorce, a wedding planner in Los Angeles.

Brides over 30 are often past the stage in life where they demand that their wedding day be the definitive day of their life — part family reunion, part college reunion, with a dash of royal wedding mixed in, she added.

“They just want a special thing with their significant other,” Ms. Vorce said. “It’s kind of like this glorified honeymoon.”

To fill that market, hotels and resorts in wedding-friendly locales like the Napa Valley or the Caribbean offer elopement packages coordinated by a full-time wedding consultant.

And the more spectacular the setting, the better. Whereas eloping couples in the past may have limited themselves to recording the event for a personal scrapbook by taking a few snapshots with a disposable camera, many now hire top photographers, knowing in advance that the photos will at the very least find a public audience on Facebook, if not on wedding blogs.

To be considered for such blogs, however, design matters. That means styling an elopement as ambitiously as any other wedding.

Shalini Saycocie, an art producer for a New York advertising agency, was planning to elope with her fiancé, Chad Carbone, for a more intimate experience. She was inspired to create a mountaintop fairy tale of their own after seeing sumptuous photos of the Provost ceremony on the blog Style Me Pretty. She enlisted a planner in Eagle, Colo., Frosted Pink Weddings, to arrange a ceremony at Devil’s Thumb Ranch in the Rockies last December.

After a private ceremony, which was held next to a fireplace covered in hyacinths, the couple retreated to an outdoor ice rink just as the sun was setting. There, James Christianson, a prominent wedding photographer, snapped away as Ms. Carbone, wearing a 1920s-style ball gown and a vintage beaver wrap, circled the ice with her new husband, against a backdrop of snow-dusted mountain peaks. Afterward, they set off sparklers and posed some more for the camera. The photos ran on Ruffled, another popular wedding blog, a few months later.

“The visual aspects were especially important for me, since our family wasn’t there with us,” Ms. Carbone explained. “I wanted someone else to be the eyes for our friends and family.”

Having no guests also frees up what couples can afford to do for their wedding.

Quinn Ly, 28, a law-firm manager in San Diego, and Andy Van Le, a lawyer, decided to keep things small yet spectacular. Last month, they traveled to Vietnam with their wedding planner, Ms. Vorce; a floral designer, Mindy Rice; and a photographer, Aaron Delesie, to stage an elaborate ceremony amid the temple ruins at My Son. (The planner and florist served as witnesses.)

They hired local children to carry the posts for the ceremonial canopy. Flower girls in cream-colored traditional dresses called ao dai carried crocheted lace lanterns that were made by local artisans. Musicians performed on bamboo stringed instruments. Afterward, a chef prepared a feast for two on a private boat that glided down the Thu Bon river.

The ceremony was so elaborate that Ms. Ly did not even refer to it as an “elopement” but rather “a wedding for two.”

“We had the rehearsal dinner, the hair and makeup, the cake cutting, the vow exchange,” she explained. “We had everything but the guests.”       Still, fancy elopements, or “private ceremonies,” as wedding professionals sometimes call them, can cost $10,000 to $100,000. (By contrast, the average wedding costs $26,000, according to a recent study by Brides magazine.)

But for older couples, particularly busy professionals, money is not always the only consideration. For them, priorities have often shifted.

“Clients getting married in their 20s say, ‘I want to be in front of 200, I want to be a princess bride,’ ” said Lisa Vorce, a wedding planner in Los Angeles.

Brides over 30 are often past the stage in life where they demand that their wedding day be the definitive day of their life — part family reunion, part college reunion, with a dash of royal wedding mixed in, she added.

“They just want a special thing with their significant other,” Ms. Vorce said. “It’s kind of like this glorified honeymoon.”

To fill that market, hotels and resorts in wedding-friendly locales like the Napa Valley or the Caribbean offer elopement packages coordinated by a full-time wedding consultant.

And the more spectacular the setting, the better. Whereas eloping couples in the past may have limited themselves to recording the event for a personal scrapbook by taking a few snapshots with a disposable camera, many now hire top photographers, knowing in advance that the photos will at the very least find a public audience on Facebook, if not on wedding blogs.

To be considered for such blogs, however, design matters. That means styling an elopement as ambitiously as any other wedding.

Shalini Saycocie, an art producer for a New York advertising agency, was planning to elope with her fiancé, Chad Carbone, for a more intimate experience. She was inspired to create a mountaintop fairy tale of their own after seeing sumptuous photos of the Provost ceremony on the blog Style Me Pretty. She enlisted a planner in Eagle, Colo., Frosted Pink Weddings, to arrange a ceremony at Devil’s Thumb Ranch in the Rockies last December.

After a private ceremony, which was held next to a fireplace covered in hyacinths, the couple retreated to an outdoor ice rink just as the sun was setting. There, James Christianson, a prominent wedding photographer, snapped away as Ms. Carbone, wearing a 1920s-style ball gown and a vintage beaver wrap, circled the ice with her new husband, against a backdrop of snow-dusted mountain peaks. Afterward, they set off sparklers and posed some more for the camera. The photos ran on Ruffled, another popular wedding blog, a few months later.

“The visual aspects were especially important for me, since our family wasn’t there with us,” Ms. Carbone explained. “I wanted someone else to be the eyes for our friends and family.”

Having no guests also frees up what couples can afford to do for their wedding.

Quinn Ly, 28, a law-firm manager in San Diego, and Andy Van Le, a lawyer, decided to keep things small yet spectacular. Last month, they traveled to Vietnam with their wedding planner, Ms. Vorce; a floral designer, Mindy Rice; and a photographer, Aaron Delesie, to stage an elaborate ceremony amid the temple ruins at My Son. (The planner and florist served as witnesses.)

They hired local children to carry the posts for the ceremonial canopy. Flower girls in cream-colored traditional dresses called ao dai carried crocheted lace lanterns that were made by local artisans. Musicians performed on bamboo stringed instruments. Afterward, a chef prepared a feast for two on a private boat that glided down the Thu Bon river.

The ceremony was so elaborate that Ms. Ly did not even refer to it as an “elopement” but rather “a wedding for two.”

“We had the rehearsal dinner, the hair and makeup, the cake cutting, the vow exchange,” she explained. “We had everything but the guests.”

From NY Times Style March 25th, 2012

Read more: http://weddingphotography.com.ph/10300/30-wedding-program-design-ideas-guide-party-guest/#ixzz1oRx5jb9a

“Do” a realistic assessment of the number of guests you can entertain comfortably and use your space wisely. Select a focal point for the ceremony, such as a shady majestic tree or a water fountain for a backdrop. For the ceremony, create a meandering garden pathway using potted flowering plants to seat your guests.  These plants can be used later to decorate food stations or line the dance floor.

A useful rule of thumb is that you need 10-12 square feet of open space per guest for a seated reception — this allows for ample space between tables for walkways. Use this handy calculator. Keep in mind that you can change up the size and shape of your tables for a better fit.  Long feasting tables are a good option for a narrow room or yard, and cocktail tables may do the trick in confined spaces.  Wide open areas, whether in the front or the back of your home, are the blank canvas for an interesting design concept, such as tables in the shape of your initials.  I like using the dining room table for dessert buffets and to showcase the wedding cake because it’s protected from the elements and offers better lighting.

“Do” pay special attention to light.  Consider where the sun will be during your ceremony so that you end up with a warm glow instead of blinding light.  (Visit timeanddate.com to find out what time the sun will set on a given date.)  And as the sun sets, décor lighting will be important for the comfort and safety of your guests, as well as the ambiance.  Perimeter up-lighting illuminates plants and trees, creating the feeling of larger spaces, while directional and ambient lighting is used to draw attention to centerpieces, and to illuminate walkways and the dance floor. Existing lighting such as halogen floodlights can be softened with colored filters.

“Do” mix and match your décor items in a cohesive way.   In your home, you have creative license and resources to pull off the greatest “mix and match” design concepts, and it’s guaranteed to look charming!  No need to rent 50 of the same dinner plate — borrow china from your Mom, your aunts and your grandma, too!  Place a different set of china on each table and tie it all together with a consistent color scheme.  Select your favorite flowers to be featured on each table, so that you have the tulip table, the rose table and the hydrangea table and so on.  Clustering of a single type of flower is a manageable DIY wedding project.  The mix and match concept works well for the bridesmaids’ dresses, too — they can be within the same style or color scheme and each lady can hold a bouquet of one type of flower… they don’t have to be identical.

“Do” remember the small stuff.  Check with your local law enforcement agency about the noise ordinance applicable to your area.  By doing this early in your planning process you’ll have plenty of time to adjust the wedding schedule to comply with sound restrictions.  In most communities, the party has to quiet down at 11 pm.  Plan ahead by planting flowering plants, fertilizing the lawn and trimming the hedges.  Stop watering the lawn two days before the wedding day and make sure that all the automatic sprinklers are shut off.  Stock up on battery-pack candles in lieu of open flamed candlelight so that you don’t have to worry about the wind.  For outdoor weddings, be sure to spray outdoor areas and under each table with insect repellant several hours before guest arrival.  For an extra touch, have High Heel Savers from Diva Dilemmas to make the walk on the lawn more comfortable for the ladies in spiked high heels;  they will protect your lawn, too.

“Do” include a surprise after-party snack.  The food truck phenomenon has created incredible and affordable options.  Here is an opportunity to spice up the party with the unexpected taco truck, French fries and grilled cheese sandwiches or fresh donuts, cookies and milk.  Comfort food is everybody’s favorite for a late-night treat.

“Do” be good to your neighbors.  Go beyond the basic courtesy of notifying your neighbors that you will have a wedding at your home;  drop off a bottle of wine or a box of chocolates and watch all the apprehension about the music and partying melt away.  While you are there, ask your neighbors to keep their dogs inside and skip mowing the lawn on the day of your wedding.