The Purpose of the Wedding Rehearsal is:

• the opportunity to figure out all the tiny logistical details
• make your wedding ceremony run smoothly
• entering, exiting, of bridal party, groom, bride
• which way to face,
• handling the rings,
• handling the bouquet & when to pass it to maid of honor
• Candle lighters, Readers, special rituals in your ceremony
• Seating of parents/grandparents
• Cues and who’s role it is
• Flower girl & ring bearer roles, where to stand or sit
• Ushers & roles
• Maid of Honor & Best Man Roles
• The Bride and her escort need to know where to stop
• What happens at the altar standing, facing
• Table set up for Unity Candle & Sand Ceremony, Roses for mothers and who is responsible for setting up the items
• Crying children & how to handle it professionally
• Prepares you for your special day.

These steps need to be practiced so that each phase of the ceremony flows smoothly, seamlessly, beautifully so that on your wedding day everyone will be confident and poised. All of which you gained from your rehearsal!

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Authored by Alafia Ceremonies

I am a professional wedding officiant! I love weddings! Weddings are a happy and joyous event in our lives.

My belief is every couple is unique and different and each couple’s wedding ceremony should be a reflection of who they are. There are as many types of ceremonies as their are couples.  Your ceremony is a one time event! No second chances the next day, no starting over once it begins. We understand that and our goal is always to create the most beautiful memorable ceremony for you.

Our wedding day is one of the most important days in our life. Often times we only remember a blur due to nerves or responsibilities we take upon ourselves to make that day special. We find ourselves rushed and hurried and in moments that special day becomes a memory. Thank goodness for the pictures, so we can reflect on that special day.

One of the ways you can create a lasting and memorable memory is with a white dove release. Whether you release a single dove from a heart shaped basket, or your guests release a dozen white doves from a larger basket the experience is breathtaking. The release coordinated with the photographer will capture that incredible moment for a lifetime.

For centuries white doves have been released at weddings to symbolize peace, joy and love. The white dove belongs to the rock dove family better known as the homing pigeon. These beautiful birds are trained to come home at distances over 200 miles and some as far as 500 miles. They mate for life, and are excellent parents.

A white dove release is environmentally friendly. There is no mess to clean up after and the guests will want to participate in their release. If you are looking to make that day memorable, maybe you should look into a white dove release.

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Owner of Lasting Memories by Sharon, been involved with these birds since 1995. www.dovesforrelease.com

Honeymoon registries are becoming more popular among couples. Honeymoon registries allow a couple to register for any part of their honeymoon - including airfare, hotel, souvenirs, tours or a day at the spa . By allowing guests to gift towards aparticular parts of a honeymoon, it is a much more personal gift-giving experience than handing a check and not having any idea what it is spent on. Today’s honeymoon registries have the look and feel of traditional wedding registries.

Honeymoon registries are easy to set up - and are easy for guests to use. And the best thing about these registries is that a couple can create their registry from the comfort of their own home computer. A honeymoon registry can be the only registry a couple set up, or it can be in addition to a more traditional registry. Couples are finding that their guests would prefer to make a gift towards a wonderful honeymoon memory over new towels and linens.

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AGreatAffair.com is a cash gift wedding registry that looks and feels just like a traditional registry but allows you to register for ANYTHING you want - no matter how big or small - such as your honeymoon, wedding expenses (like a wedding planner), a big screen tv, a home downpayment, a new puppy, couples golf lessons or traditional gifts, like china or furnishings.

You have booked your venue, bought your dress, picked your favors. Have you registered? Wedding registries today have gone beyond china and bed linens. See what is new in the world of wedding registries.I searched online for unusual wedding registries this is what I found:

Spa certificates

If you’re honeymooning at a spa (or having a destination wedding at or near a spa), consider asking for spa gift certificates.

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Authored By Kathy G

Kattia Gordon is the owner of Aleximani Events an event planning service in the NY/Long Island area. She is passionate about her work and works hard to ensure that you will have the event of you dreams.

For more inspiring wedding tips and ideas check out her blog at www.aleximanievents.blogspot.com

Recently, our wedding invitation designer has been helping plan her niece’s wedding. While using the Martha Stewart website she found an article about using a cookie press. We thought that this is a wonderful idea.

Your invitation design can be made into a cookie press and used when you bake. Using the cookie press is easy to do and an uniquely fun way to continue sharing your design with others. Cookies can be made for a wedding shower, reception or any time after the wedding.

I decided to use one of our monogram invitation designs to test making the cookies. My first attempt I just used the cookie press it push the design into the cookie. I was very excited when I put them into the oven but I don’t have photos to show you because my husband found them while they were cooling! I guess it might be better to cook them when no one is home and hungry.

There are many ways to use the cookie press to decorate cookies. This is a fun way to enjoy some time with the girls before or after the wedding while sharing your personal design with everyone.

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Authored By Colleen of Invitations by Ajalon  View our letterpress wedding invitation gallery.

The “Candy Buffet”  is a HOT item for weddings and events.  Heck, everybody loves candy!  They are replacing the “Wedding Favors” as your guests will want to take candy home.  They are easy to set up too. All you need is containers, candy, scoops and a little creativity. Your guests will LOVE it.

You can spice up the table with tablecloths, table runners, flowers, and pictures. These things can be added to make your candy buffet table look FABULOUS.

Color makes a difference. Co-ordinated colors look more elegant than random selections. Add extras to the table: Fountain, fortune cookies, cookies, brownies, bowls of fruit for the healthy option, napkins, take home bags/containers.

Add something salty or sour: Yummy! Salt or sour goes with sweet. Your candy buffet doesn’t have to be all candy. Add potato chips or pretzels maybe some sour balls. Fresh fruit and cheese work great as well.

How much candy should you purchase? I wish there was a hard fast rule to this question. Some say 1/4 LB per guest, others say 1/2 LB per guest. But it’s all about the way your candy looks. Plan by how you want the display to look, not how many guests are coming. Having enough candy is crucial in making your candy buffet look good.

Take your candy buffet bags/containers that the guests will be taking home with them to your local grocery store and fill them the types of candy you will have for your event. Then weigh them. Multiply by how many guests, then you will get an idea of the pounds.

It takes approximately 95 Hershey’s Kisses to equal one pound of chocolate, and there are There are 25 Jelly Belly beans in an ounce,

“Love is SWEET !”

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Randi has been coordinating weddings since 1999.  She now gives free advise to brides and is co-owner in CandyScoopStore.com.