Two parts to this equation--one a big deal, the other not so much.

First, the little deal. We'll be doing a ring warming ceremony which will involve our rings being passed through our guests (safe and secure in a little box) while the ceremony is in progress and, in theory, arriving at the front in time for us to exchange them. However, just in case they don't make it in time, we're making plans for an additional small poem or piece of music to avoid any awkward periods of silence.

Our program is going to include our readings in it for anyone who wants to follow along or who might have trouble hearing. I'm also planning to include song titles/composers for the ceremony music.

So the question is, would it look weirder to include a song or reading in the program and then not do it or to just have something happen that's not in the program? I'm thinking just use the pieces if necessary and not worry about listing them? Although part of me cringes about using something and not giving credit. (I've had far too much APA in my life.)

( The bigger deal under the cut )

So WP, how do we take care of planning for the unknown?

hey everyone, i know this probably isnt the place to put this, but i wont be able to comment (or continue my wedding planning >.< ) because my house burned down dec 19th. Everything was destroyed, including my computer, which had everything i had planned on it so far. So as much as i have enjoyed commenting and helping as much a i was able, and asking questions, everything is on hold for now. Hope you all have a great new years.

Peoples of the internet! Bring unto me the After Christmas Sales. I hear Lush has a huge one?

This is kind of a shot in the dark, but I was wondering if anyone here knows of good places to find graphic design vectors?

My mother is a graphic designer, and has graciously offered to design our invitations. I really like clean black and white designs with flourishes (...aka: embellishments, ornaments, scrollwork, damask, insert-word-here, etc). We're looking for vectors (either open source or for purchase, though free is always better) for her to use in the design. An example of open source vectors would be something like this post at Pixels and Ice Cream. Those flourishes are great, but we're looking for something a little bigger, and hopefully something that can be used in two sites (e.g., a big one for the main graphic, a little mini-flourish for a corner).

( Examples )

I know this is more a graphic design question than a wedding question, but since it pertains to wedding invitations, and so many brides on here have done DIY invitations, I thought it couldn't hurt to ask.

I went dress shopping with one of my bridesmaids yesterday, and I was a little overwhelmed by the bridal stores we went to (David's Bridal and Alfred Angelo, both in beautiful Glen Burnie, MD.)  We also went to the mall and messed around trying on formal dresses at department stores, and there were a few that could've been OK if I'd had to buy a dress in that 12 hour period, you know?  But I told myself that buying a dress, even a cheap one, because it might be OK was a pretty bad idea.
Today I went to a different mall by myself to try and get my computer fixed, and on a whim I stopped at Nordstrom Rack and there, pinned under the wheel of a rack of "special occasion dresses", I found a white lace gown that I really loved.  Here's an E-bay auction of the same dress.  Mine is in a larger size than the one in the auction, and I'm going to need someone to help me tie the bow prettily. 

I freaked out for a while on the way home, because I was afraid I'd accidentally bought the exact same dress as a friend got married in last summer, but I just looked up some pictures from her wedding, and hers was the halter neck with the black sash (that I think is from a more recent collection.)

Now I have to figure out what to do with myself in a long dress for an outdoor wedding.  (I know, hemming: it can happen.) 

Shoes, dress, jewelry, and all...

Here is mine!

( My Wedding Outfit )

You?

I just talked to my florist and realized I don't know anything about flowers, nor what colors I want.

My issue is this: my "theme" is peacock, but it's also tropical flowers, as I'm doing this in Panama and want to utilize the resources that we have available. I don't know exactly what this means as it was my florists suggestion, and I don't know what flowers grow here in Panama. My one stipulation was that I do not want to see white in any of my flowers whatsoever.

What we have agreed upon, then, is that we'll use bouquets and center pieces of tropical flowers with peacock feathers interspersed, and that my bouquet will be...I don't know what the word in English is, but in Spanish it's "caida," which basically means it's a "falling" bouquet...like the ones that are triangular and kind of trail down? Is there a technical word that I'm completely missing here?

My questions for you, weddingplans, are: what exactly is meant by tropical flowers? Assuming they're very colorful, will they look ridiculous if we use peacock feathers mixed in? And even more ridiculous if they're on tables covered with lime green (not SUPER lime, but lime-ish) tableclothes? I like it in my head, but I want to make sure I'm not going crazy.

Hey ladies.

I didn't know where to file this post so if someone knows, I'd be glad to do so... just let me know where and how to do it. I'm not sure if I would just tag it or if I'd have to do it differently since I already posted it. Thank you!

Onto the question,

One of my BEST friends from high school and I were still pretty close, up until the last few months, and when she found out I was getting married she basically invited herself to be in my wedding party. I agreed because I didn't know how to say no or how else to respond, because I had treasured our friendship for so long. We've both taken completely different paths over the last few months and although I'd love to include her somehow, I don't want her to be a bridesmaid. I feel as though she treats me like an option these days, rather than the priority I treat her as. I feel like a complete jerk even attempting to think of a way to say that to her... because I did agree, without thinking first. Should I just let her be a bridesmaid even though its against my wishes? How do I say no while saving our friendship?

Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Name and/or LJ userID: S/xshannypoohx
Wedding Date: Undecided, yet
Bride/Groom/Other (please specify): Bride
Age: I'm 27, he (B)'s 30
City/State/Country you live in: Ontario, Canada
City/State/Country you're getting married in (if different): N/A
Your song/First Dance song: Undecided
Wedding Colors: Undecided
Formality: Semi-formal
Theme (if you have one): None, yet
Number of guests: 50-75, hopefully
How'd you meet your fiance?: Online.. on ICQ
How long have you been together?: Today marks 8 years, and 11 months!
Do you have a personal wedding website?: No, but we will once planning gets started, etc.
Have you read the community rules before posting this survey? Yes
Anything else you'd like to tell us?: We were just enfiancéd on Christmas Eve! It's been a long wait, but totally worth it! :] We're also proud parents of a gorgeous, spunky 5-year-old, who is terribly excited to be our flower girl.. I have an extra mini-planner by my side! :] We're taking it day-by-day, right now, though.. we're not rushers (obviously), lol.
( And, now.. pictures! )

Name and/or LJ userID: peculiarlypink
Wedding Date: 7 November 2010
Bride/Groom/Other (please specify): Bride
Age: 31
City/State/Country you live in: Indiana USA
City/State/Country you're getting married in (if different): same
Your song/First Dance song: still working on it...
Wedding Colors: grayish-purple
Formality: semi-formal?
Theme (if you have one): none
Number of guests: 40 for wedding and lunch, additional 100 or so for reception immediately after
How'd you meet your fiance?: went to HS together, ended up at the same job more than a decade later, became good friends...
How long have you been together?: a little over a year
Do you have a personal wedding website?: http://peculiarlypink.blogspot.com/
Have you read the community rules before posting this survey? yep!
Anything else you'd like to tell us?: we had really only wanted a small wedding & reception with max 30 people but the mothers forced a compromise(see guest # above) but the idea is growing on me & fh seems ok with it now, food at our reception will have to be gluten free (made finding a venue difficult), i am making my own corset and dress, and we are making a music playlist instead of having a dj. guess that's all for now... :D

so - we start our counseling today - at 1pm.

its w. this fab older couple, that did my parents counseling, and one of my best friends -

they come highly recommended - but.. they had us read this book,
HIs needs, her needs, building an affair proof marriage - by Willard F Harley-

and uhhmmm. i only agreed with about 15% of the book.
the major point of it is that people have about 10 for serious needs, but they only put an emphasis on 5 of them.
needs such as cuddling, sexual touch, domestic help, talking and listening, financial support, adventure, things like that...

and ok - i stand by that -  evalute your needs, and have your partner do the same, then compare - what needs do you both have ( if you have any in common) and what needs dont you share - then you can both do your best to meet each others needs  ( especially the 5 most important) -so neither one of you outsources to an affair to get a need met.

and my fh and i did this, not so suprisingly - i meet his needs very well, and he doesnt do so well with mine, but ok - we've become aware - and he is working on it.  great.

( my problem with the rest of the book.. )

I have just found out that my fiances best mate has gone and planned his wedding for less than a month before ours (btw he is a neurotic person whom wont let his fiance have anything to do with her own wedding plans). A mate that got engaged just a couple of months ago, whereas we have been engaged a couple of years. Am I stupid for being annoyed by his choice of wedding date? (bearing in mind that he knew our wedding date when he picked his)?

Name and/or LJ userID: Robin  - junebride2be
Wedding Date: June 19th 2010
Bride/Groom/Other (please specify): Bride
Age: 24
City/State/Country you live in: Ontario, Canada
City/State/Country you're getting married in (if different): same as above
Your song/First Dance song: Undecided
Wedding Colors: red, black, and white
Formality: Semi-formal
Theme (if you have one): No theme, just classic elegance
Number of guests: 100ish
How'd you meet your fiance?: Online, through mutual friends who all chatted together and played online games
How long have you been together?: 3 years and 3 months
Do you have a personal wedding website?: Not at the moment
Have you read the community rules before posting this survey? Yes
Anything else you'd like to tell us?: I had been watching this community for a few months on a different username, but I figured it was time to actively partake, so I created this new wedding-theme blog. :)

Name and/or LJ userID: Jessica; wedding blog jessicacross, personal blog arrogance.
Wedding Date: Right now, we're aiming for July 17th, 2010.
Bride/Groom/Other (please specify): Bride.
Age: I'm 27; he'll be 24 by then :)
City/State/Country you live in: Lawrence, Massachusetts
City/State/Country you're getting married in (if different): Likely Berlin, MA.
Your song/First Dance song: Ha, we actually really wanted "The Jessica Numbers," by The New Pornographers, because he played it for me all the time when we first started dating, and we both love the song... but after really listening to it, we have no idea what it's actually about! (Still love it, though).
Wedding Colors: Ruby, silver, and ivory.
Formality: Semi-formal...? Hard to say.
Theme (if you have one): No real theme, but I'm drawing inspiration from ee cummings poetry, particularly "you shall above all things be glad and young," "i carry your heart," and "i am a little church"
Number of guests: Around 60, we're keeping it really small
How'd you meet your fiance?: We met on OKCupid, actually. I crushed on him for ages before we finally got together, too :)
How long have you been together?: 1 year, 7 months.
Do you have a personal wedding website?: No
Have you read the community rules before posting this survey? Yes.
Anything else you'd like to tell us?: I'm excited and terrified at exactly the same time and in approximately equal measure.

Hi,

I thought I might post my inspiration board I made recently in the event it might give other people some ideas.  Sorry I can't credit the photos as they are just ones I have randomly pulled off the net. We are going for an art deco, vintage, garden party sort of feel.

( picture )

So, after recently reviewing our wedding budget, we discovered that we can now afford to have a cocktail hour after the wedding. I've been reading about signature drinks and I think this is such a fab idea. Has anyone else done this? Was it a hit? What type of drink did you serve?

I guess this might not be a "show me your" so much as a "describe to me your" but you get the idea. Haha.

For what it's worth, we were thinking of doing a spiked hot chocolate, as we'll be getting married in December. Hot chocolate and Frangelico maybe?

Hey all - just in need of a bit of advice and a bit of a vent I guess...

( less than two weeks until the wedding and.. )

Name and/or LJ userID: Jess/infavor
Wedding Date: Undecided yet -- we're thinking early Spring (March,perhaps) of 2011
Bride/Groom/Other (please specify):Bride
Age:I'm 23, Fiance is 26
City/State/Country you live in: Richmond VA
City/State/Country you're getting married in (if different): N/A
Your song/First Dance song: Undecided
Wedding Colors: Undecided
Formality: Semi
Theme (if you have one): Not one for "themes" just a pretty spring wedding-- does that count?
Number of guests: 50-75
How'd you meet your fiance?: Through friends
How long have you been together?: 1 year 9 months
Do you have a personal wedding website?: Not yet, figured we needed a date first
Have you read the community rules before posting this survey? Yes!
Anything else you'd like to tell us?: I have been poking around the community for several months but I plan on being more active now that my boyfriend is now my fiance ;). I look forward to getting to know you all!
( very old pic of us! )

I would really like to get a videographer for our wedding next year. We're still planning our budget and I was just curious approximately how much a videographer and/or a photographer runs. (Specifically the videographer.) The sites I've come across want you to call to get a price. Since we're not ready to book anyone, I don't want to talk with them yet. (I know that sounds silly; I just don't want to waste their time or feel pressured.)

For those of you in Los Angeles (or nearby), any price help or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. =) My fiance and I are both working full-time and back in school. We're paying for our schooling AND wedding by ourselves so cost is a huge consideration in our planning.

If it helps, we're getting married late next year in Azusa, California (near Los Angeles).

Thanks in advance! =)

I hope this does not offend but is anyone else (anyone with parents that are paying for their wedding) completely grateful, but being driven MAD by their mothers input? How did others deal with this.

I have been to "the end of my tether" over and over, I love her to pieces and were generally really close but I feel like I am going to mad if I have to hear her opinion (pretty much always negative) again on another of my ideas. But I have to voice all of my ideas to her first as once I have discovered them I need her to purchase them.

(I must say here that my fiance and I were going to have a "court house" wedding, but my mother begged us to have a big wedding and reception at her expense, despite us really not being interested. I am now into the idea of the big wedding and I know my fiance and I could not do it without her financial help but I find myself continually getting so mad with her input that I want to elope - but invitations have been sent and she would NEVER forgive me)