Golden Anniversaries

A fiftieth wedding anniversary is referred to as a ‘golden anniversary.’ As few couples reach this benchmark, it is one of the most cherished anniversaries and is often celebrated with an anniversary party.

As the name implies, the traditional gift for a golden anniversary is made of gold. This is also the traditional color theme for fiftieth anniversary parties. For fiftieth anniversary party ideas visit http://marriage.about.com/od/50thweddinganniversary

Couples may receive an official greeting from the White House to commemorate their 50th anniversary. To arrange for a congratulations letter, contact the White House Greetings Office at least six weeks prior to the anniversary date. Greetings are typically mailed two weeks before the wedding anniversary.

To receive a congratulations letter, you must be a US citizen.

When contacting the White House Greetings Office be sure to include information on who will receive the greeting (correct spelling of full names), mailing address, how to address the greeting, date of the wedding anniversary, your name and phone number.

Anniversary greeting requests may be mailed to;
The White House
Attn: Greetings Office
Washington, D.C.
20502-0039
For information about how to contact the White House’s Greetings Office visit http://marriage.about.com/od/postcards/qt/annivergreeting.htm

Washington State's Congressmen are also available to assist in requesting anniversary greetings from the White House. For information about how to solicit their assistance, please visit http://www.house.gov/dicks/whgreet.shtml


For more information on White House greetings: http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=367254 http://www.ehow.com/how_4520799_receive-greeting-white-house.html

Princess Diana's Wedding Cake

Capturing the imagination of an era, Princess Diana’s wedding cake was a masterpiece of English tradition.

Standing over five feet tall, the cake was wrapped with royal icing and decorated with the Windsor royal coat of arms made from marzipan.

English wedding cakes are traditionally fruit cakes containing nuts, raisins, dried fruit and brandy. Made by baker David Avery, he recalls “just preparing and soaking the fruit took three days.” To view the recipe for Princess Diana’s Wedding Cake visit http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/29/
PrincessDianasWeddingCake65057.shtml

As two identical wedding cakes were created in case of accidents, it took 14 weeks to complete the process.

Princess Diana was 19-years-old when she met with David Avery from the Royal Navy Cookery School to approve the design. The school had been asked to prepare the cake because of Prince Charles’ navy background. For more information about the baker’s experience visit http://www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/features/Diana-was-just-as-nervous.3156752.jp

The second tier of the cake was later transformed into Prince William's christening cake.


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Why To Videotape Your Wedding

Brides often fail to realize that, as the bride, they won’t be able to see much of the wedding. The bride will be hiding when guests arrive and are seated. She won’t be able to see any of the wedding procession, including the flower girl’s walk down the aisle, unless it’s videotaped.

An essential component of every wedding, videotaping helps couples remember the magic that makes up their special day and enables them to share in wedding activities that they would otherwise have missed out on.

As the bride becomes caught up in the whirl of wedding day activities, time will fly by in a heartbeat. It is easy to forget the warm things guests say or funny comments made by the ringbearer.

When celebrating future wedding anniversaries, watching the wedding video can help a couple rekindle the love and excitement from their wedding day.

When looking over the budget, couples are often quick to cut out videography without realizing that it, along with your rings and wedding pictures, will be a lasting reminder of the wedding day.

For more info:
How to prioritize your wedding budget visit
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-5470-Seattle-Weddings-Examiner~y2009m4d6-Wise-wedding-investments

How to hire a wedding videographer
http://video.about.com/weddings/Hiring-a-Wedding-Videographer.htm

How To Choose The Perfect Menu

Designing a menu that is met with rave reviews depends largely on the personality of your guests. When selecting the reception menu take into consideration guest preferences and backgrounds.

If anticipating several out-of-town guests, presenting them with a regional menu that represents the area they are visiting can have a novel feel.

However, if guests are traveling from other countries, they may feel homesick. So offering menu items reminiscent of their homeland will be a welcome option.

Special dietary requests (such as vegetarian, vegan gluten-free or Kosher meals) are increasing in popularity and always need to be discussed with your Caterer well in advance.

Certain parts of the country have preferences for different preparation styles. Guests from the South will have a different palate than guests from the Pacific Northwest.

The time of year your reception is held will also influence guest preferences. Winter lends itself to heartier meals whereas in summer guests may prefer a lighter meal.

When choosing a menu, try to place yourself into the mind of your guests and imagine the wedding day experience from their perspective. In doing so you’ll be able to capture their spirit in the tone of your wedding.


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http://www.examiner.com/x-5470-Seattle-Weddings-Examiner~y2009m4d22-How-to-provide-alcoholic-beverages-without-breaking-the-bank

What To Expect From a Caterer

An often-overlooked but crucial ally when planning your wedding reception is the Caterer. Misrepresented as being responsible only for food, the Caterer is the backbone of the event.

In addition to overseeing preparation of the food, the Caterer is generally responsible for managing the setup and breakdown of furniture for the reception. She will ensure that the linens and flowers are delivered and is often willing to set out placecards, table numbers and favors on behalf of the busy bride.

The Caterer will hire and manage the staff that will greet and serve guests throughout the event. She will determine the staff dress code and will dictate the formality with which they operate. For information on wedding dress codes, visit http://www.youlookfab.com/2006/05/15/the-wedding-dress-code-primer/. A smooth wedding reception relies on her ability to oversee the staff working the event and efficiently provide service.

Instrumental in ensuring that your wedding Agenda runs on-time, she will also make sure the musicians and staff are fed and given breaks at times that compliment your schedule. After you cut the cake, the Caterer will take over the delicate task of cutting and serving it to guests. Following the reception, the Caterer will ensure that the venue is cleaned and that all rentals have been returned.

When interviewing Caterers, look for a professional who is passionate about their job, has excellent referrals, belongs to professional organizations and always check with the better business bureau for any complaints against the company. To review the Better Business Bureau's directory visit http://alaskaoregonwesternwashington.bbb.org/

If a Wedding Coordinator is the primary contact at your reception site, be sure to introduce yourself to the Caterer (also called a Banquet Manager) on the day of your event.

Working tirelessly for hours, the Caterer is one of the most critical elements impacting the success of your wedding. Treat them with kindness and they will repay you by providing your perfect wedding day.


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Myth of the Day-Of Wedding Coordinator

Increasing in popularity, ‘Day Of’ Event Planners are sold to brides as a cost effective way to engage the services of a Wedding Coordinator and ease stress on their wedding day. While great in theory, the reality is that all the work to set up an event is done prior to the actual wedding day.

The best Wedding Coordinators, having contracted experienced professionals to manage each element of the event, will have nothing to do on the day of the wedding. It is a mark of the novice Event Planner if they are scurrying around on the day of your wedding to put out fires.

The only way to guarantee a stress free wedding day is to work with a Wedding Coordinator throughout the planning process to ensure that all the necessary elements of your wedding are scheduled.

If you prefer to manage the bulk of the planning process on your own, DesignDayz Event Planning offers a Free 24-Hour Bridal Hotline where you can speak to a Wedding Coordinator on the phone for guidance as often as needed. To learn more about the Bridal Hotline visit http://www.designdayz.com/Directory/weddings.html. By guiding you through the planning process the Wedding Coordinator can then step into the planning process at any time, such as at the rehearsal or on your wedding day, to oversee the services already set in place.


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Hotel Secrets - How To Save On Sleeping Rooms

While not generally advertised to the public, hotels have two ways of selling sleeping rooms. The normal way, to which you are most likely accustomed, is to sell them individually through the reservations department. Hotels also sell blocks of sleeping rooms. These are marketed to companies, tradeshows and any event anticipating the use of 5 or more sleeping rooms.

Often sold through a Group Sales Manager, sleeping room blocks have several advantages. They allow all your guests to be housed in the same or neighboring sections of the hotel. Also, the hotel rooms are often available at substantially reduced rates. Finally, they offer an easier reservation method. Guests simply call into the hotel, say that they are with ‘the Jones wedding’ and they will automatically receive the lower rate.

Reserving a sleeping room block may offer additional benefits as well. If your group reserves a certain number of rooms, the hotel may throw in a complimentary room or suite for the bridal couple. When negotiating the terms of the sleeping room block be sure to ask what other amenities may be available. Group Sales Managers are often empowered to bargain. This can translate into any number of benefits, from discounted spa services to a free wedding cake. The larger the number of rooms reserved, the greater your bargaining power.

The Sales Manager will take into consideration the time of year you are reserving the rooms for and the likelihood of being able to sell those rooms to another large event. Therefore, scheduling your wedding for a weekend when little else is going on in town will give the Sales Manager greater flexibility in lowering your room rate.


For more info:
How to wake up feeling refreshed
http://www.articlesbase.com/sleep-articles/sleeping-secrets-how-to-wake-up-feeling-refreshed-275070.html

How To Save Money On Flowers

Of the many people who will add magic to your special day, few are as lovingly remembered as the Florist. Creating centerpieces, boutonnières and bouquets, the floral creations they bring to life will bring color to your photos and add unity throughout the event.

While flowers can be one of the most costly wedding expenses, there are ways to have the look you desire on a budget you can afford.

Floral Designers vs. Florists
Seek out the services of a Floral Designer. While a Florist generally operates within the confines of a shop and creates traditional arrangements, a Floral Designer doesn’t have the same overhead costs and will generally be more inclined to brainstorm solutions that will meet your budget and style goals.

Floral Designers view your vision as a challenge and will work within budgets that would cause many Florists to laugh you out of the room. This actually happened to me. I had a budget of $15/per table and wanted to create full, lavish centerpieces. When I told a florist the budget his only recommendation was to offer one rose in a bud vase. This would have looked sparse and horrible on the huge banquet rounds I was trying to decorate. Alternatively, when I presented the same budget to a Floral Designer she was able to create huge, full bouquets in colors matching the theme of the event by using seasonal flowers (dahlias, as it was a summer event). This is a wonderful example of how it is possible to achieve the look you dream of for your event by thinking outside the box. To find a floral designer in your area visit http://www.aifd.org/frmSearch.asp

Wedding Coordinators
Working with a Wedding Coordinator can prove advantageous in that they’ll be able to put you in touch with professionals who are passionate about what they do and thrive on a challenge. To schedule a free consulation with a Wedding Coordinator visit http://www.designdayz.com/ or call the free 24-hour Bridal Hotline at 425-941-2655 .

Local Flowers
Using flowers that are in-season and local to the area in which you are getting married is the easiest way to keep costs down. To see what flowers will be in season for your wedding, visit http://weddings.about.com/od/weddingflowers/a/Season.htm

Versatile Bouquets
Many Florists and Floral Designers are happy to create arrangements that multi-task; For example, arrangements that line the aisle during a ceremony and can be transferred to the reception and used centerpieces. Bridesmaid bouquets can also be stored in vases during the reception and make delightful table arrangements.

Regardless of the color scheme you select and the flowers chosen to bring it to life, the flowers for your wedding with live on forever in your pictures. It’s important to select a Florist or Floral Designer that shares your vision for the day as they create the art which will bring it to life.


For more info:
Make Inexpensive Wedding Bouquets
http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-make-inexpensive-wedding-bouquets/

How To Provide Alcoholic Beverages Without Breaking The Bank

One of the most costly elements of hosting a reception is the bar tab. As most beverages are billed on consumption (meaning that you’ll pay only for what guests drink) many bridal couples are hit with a hefty bill following their reception that is higher than anticipated.

There are several ways to control liquor costs while giving guests the appearance that beverages are plentiful;

Create a Beverage Agenda
The easiest way to do this is by offering different types of beverage service throughout the evening. For example, offer a full bar for the first hour of the reception only. Close it while dinner is served and have two wine options poured at the dining tables. Limiting the selection of beverages offered will cut back on the quantity of beverages served. After dinner offer tray passed champagne for the toast. You can then either reopen the bar, continue to offer champagne-only, allow guests to select from a limited wine selection or switch to coffee/tea only to ensure guests are sober for the drive home.

Signature Drinks
Another clever option, which limits overall alcohol consumption but adds personality to your event, is a signature drink. Growing in popularity, many brides select a signature drink which corresponds to the colors of their event. The signature drink can be tray passed at the beginning of the reception in lieu of offering a full bar. The signature drink can be offered only at certain times throughout the evening or may be paired with other beverage options, such as a no host bar.

No Host Bars
No host bars are bars which require guests to pay for their own drinks. No host bars may offer wine and beer only or a full selection of mixed drinks. It is important to be tactful when employing this option. Often guests, who have spent hundreds of dollars on travel and gifts, perceive no host bars as cheap. Many brides circumvent this perception by providing a hosted signature drink or hosted wine and beer. Offering no host mixed drinks then gives guests the variety of the full bar while curbing expenses.

Limit Variety
Another classy option is to offer champagne or sparkling wine throughout the evening in addition to coffee and tea. While most guests may have a glass or two of champagne the overall consumption will be lower than when a greater variety of drinks are offered.

Drink Packages
Many caterers offer beverage packages that allow guests all-they-can drink beverages for a certain number of hours. Essentially the caterer is betting that your guests will not be heavy drinkers and will spend less than the budgeted amount; whereas, you are betting that guests will be heavy drinkers who will exceed the average amount consumed thereby saving you money. Statistically, paying for all-you-can drink beverages is more costly than paying on consumption.

By employing these beverage techniques, weddings can have the appearance of abundance while remaining on a budget that allows everyone to live happily ever after. Cheers!


For more info:
Beverage Calulator
http://www.bhg.com/recipes/drinks/wine-cocktails/beverage-calculator/

Bar Essentials http://weddingservicesreceptions.suite101.com/article.cfm/bar_essentials_for_a_wedding_party

Children's Menus

When children attend a wedding they provide charm and comic relief. To ensure that they’re on their best behavior, it helps to keep them happy. In addition to planning activities to keep them occupied, special thought should be given to their menu.

The simplest option is to arrange for the Caterer to provide children with a smaller portion of whatever the adults will be eating. Generally Caterers provide half-size meals at half the cost. Caterers prefer this option as it’s easier for them to dish up another plate than it is to prepare a whole separate meal. This will also be well received by children as they see everyone else in the room being treated as they are.

When there are five or more children in attendance, brides may prefer to offer special children’s meals; such as macaroni & cheese, pizza or hamburgers. For examples of children's buffet menus, visit http://www.bellevueclub.com/catering/cmenus.htm.

Before selecting a menu, ask the Caterer how many different options they’re willing to prepare. Often Caterers will request that one kid’s item be selected and served to all the children in attendance.

Children are picky eaters; especially when they’re excited. Check with parents to find out which offering their kids are most likely to consume. Even then, it’s probable that whatever food is selected won’t be eaten.

The benefit of catering to children is that their parents will appreciate that you took the time to ensure that their family has a wonderful experience at your wedding. That is what they’ll remember for a lifetime.


For more info:
How to Successfully Include Children in a Wedding Party http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1559929/children_weddings.html?cat=23

Children and Weddings http://weddings.about.com/od/yourweddingceremony/a/kidswedceremony.htm

Wise Wedding Investments

The shocking thing about weddings is that they only last for one day. Brides rarely realize that months of planning will culminate in a day that flies by. Keeping this in mind will help in prioritizing purchases when planning on a budget.

In determining how to spend a limited budget, it’s important for bridal couples to consider the items that will have the most sentimental value for them after the wedding. To calculate your budget visit http://weddings.theknot.com/budgeter/Budgeter.aspx

Guests admire centerpieces and ice sculptures for only a few hours before these perishable items are discarded. In contrast, wedding rings, photos and videography are all items that will be lasting reminders of the wedding for years to come. By budgeting the most amount of money to these items couples will get a greater emotional return on their investment.

Next, couples should consider which elements of the reception matter most to them. It’s often helpful to rank the components of a wedding reception (food, alcohol, décor, music, etc) in order of importance to you. In doing so, you have just made a list of where to spend wedding dollars first. For example, maybe a bride won’t mind paring back on the food but would prefer to splurge on elaborate centerpieces. Alternatively, maybe she doesn’t mind wearing cost effective shoes but wants to splurge on her dream cake. To list items in order of importance, think back to other weddings you’ve attended. What elements do you remember? Are you able to remember what music was played or how the table was presented? Remember that your guests will have similar memories of your reception; so plan and spend accordingly.

For more info:
100 Ways to Cut Wedding Costs
http://www.pennywiseguides.com/guide/100-Ways-to-Cut-Wedding-Costs/183

10 Ways to Save on Your Wedding http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/advice/20020326a.asp

All About Hors d'oeuvres

Bite-sized delicacies, hors d'oeuvres are essentially up-scale snacks. A cocktail hour allows for an easy transition between a wedding ceremony and reception when guests are required to travel from one venue to the next and may arrive at different times.

When designing an hors d'oeuvres menu, think in opposites;

• Select one item that is crunchy and another that is soft.


• Choose a vegetarian hors d’oeuvre option and something for meat eaters.


• Consider the demographic of your guests when selecting hors d'oeuvres. Men generally prefer meat and higher calorie options than an event that is made up primarily of women.


• Anticipate the time of year the event will be held. Guests at summer events prefer lighter fare. For winter functions, select heartier hors d'oeuvre options.


• If you come from a seafood-loving family, highlight this in the menu. Remember to think in opposites and select some hors d’oeuvres for the inevitable non-seafood loving guest.


• Guests will enjoy the diversity of a menu that allows them to try foods that are outside their comfort zone when paired with foods that are more traditional and feel safe.

For more creative cocktail hour ideas, visit http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-reception-planning/articles/wedding-reception-ideas-creative-cocktail-hours.aspx?MsdVisit=1

Passed hors d’oeuvres encourage guests to mingle; whereas, buffet hors d’oeuvres allow them the opportunity to admire and choose between a variety of options. For groups of 40 and above, it's generally a good idea to have a combination of butler passed and buffet hors d’oeuvres.

Hors d’oeuvre receptions, in which a buffet made up entirely of hors d’oeuvres takes the place of a traditional dinner, encourage guests to mingle rather than sitting during a dinner hour. The benefit of an hors d'oeuvre reception is in how it shapes the personality of the wedding and whether this super social atmosphere reflects the personality of your event. While the food is bite-size and therefore looks smaller, hors d’oeuvre receptions are generally as costly, if not more expensive, than planning a traditional dinner.

However they're served, hors d'oeuvres always add style to an event.

For more information;
Quick hors d'oeuvre party ideas http://www.marthastewart.com/menu/bacon-dates-feta-cucumber-dip-roasted-almonds-salted-figs-cheese-straws-and-olive-rosemary-martini?autonomy_kw=hors%20d

Martha Stewart's Hors d'oeuvre Handbook http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0609603108/ochefcom-20

Wedding Rescue Secrets

Everyone has heard a harrowing tale about a wedding gone awry or coworker embarrassing himself at the office party. While unlikely, day of accidents can happen.

There are several household items that can be used in a pinch to remedy a situation.

• Safety pins are invaluable. They're capable of 'mending' torn hemlines, modifying clothing that is too revealing, adjusting table linen that's slightly askew, attaching the ring to the ring bearer's pillow and any assortment of odd jobs.


• Tide-To-Go is a wonderful product for stain removal. I have used it on everything from a bride’s shoe to removing ketchup from a silk tie. It's an imperative component of every event emergency kit. For stories of how it's saved the day, visit http://www.tidetogo.ca/en_CA/tidetogo/#/real-stories


• Double-sided tape can also mend hemlines, be used for attaching envelopes to gifts, securing decorations and fixing broken heels.


• A strategically placed corsage can hide and/or distract from a stain


• Toilet paper can come in extremely handy. In addition to its traditional function, it makes excellent blotting paper for shiny faces. It is, after all, designed to be absorbent. It can also be used to pad bodices and comfort toes when placed into the front of uncomfortable shoes.

When backup is needed, call the Free 24-Hour Bridal Hotline at 425-941-2655 to gain advice from a Wedding Coordinator.

By keeping a level-headed viewpoint when presented with obstacles, you will find that almost every challenge you're met with may be solved by employing a practical item at your disposal. Remember the old TV shows featuring MacGuiver. Then look around, think outside the box, employ a sneaky remedy and smile at the thought that no one will ever be the wiser.

For further information about the Free 24-hour Bridal Hotline visit; http://www.designdayz.com/BridalHotline.html

For more reception saving guidelines, visit; http://www.myexpression.com/ArticlesWedding/WeddingReceptionDis.cfm

How To Recover From Wedding Disasters

When disaster strikes on your wedding day, it’s only natural to panic. To recover with style, stay calm and think like a pro.

Wedding Coordinators know that presenting guests with a beautiful event is all about guest perception. Guests will perceive the event to be a success based on the nonverbal cues that they receive from the Wedding Coordinator, Bridal Party and Staff.

Hosting an event is similar to producing a theatrical production. The audience never sees the chaos behind the curtain. When performers go on stage they downplay any errors with such professionalism that often only other members of the cast know that an error was made.

The most professional, experienced Wedding Coordinators will project a calm demeanor throughout an event. When faced with emotional guests, their soothing, ‘everything-is-okay’ attitude will diffuse the situation. While they may have dealt with any number of issues, the guests will never know it as the show must go on.

Guests will never know if the pot boils over in the kitchen or if the staff is running around frantically. If the plate is served to them by a professional Staff member with a calm demeanor, guests will perceive the meal as having been executed perfectly.

In the event that something unexpected does occur it is best to deal with it quickly, quietly and efficiently. Don’t broadcast that anything happened. Think of yourself as an actress, remedy the problem and then go on with the show while downplaying the issue.

Think of the memories you want guests to take with them after the wedding celebration and focus on drawing their attention to those elements. Guests don’t know what has been planned for an event until they experience it. Therefore, they won’t know if a last minute change has been made.

By reflecting a calm, happy demeanor any unexpected obstacle will miraculously disappear.

How To Receive a Wedding Greeting from the President

Commemorate your wedding day with an official letter of congratulations from the President of the United States sent from the White House.

To request a formal wedding greeting, contact the White House Greetings Office at least six weeks prior to your wedding. Greetings are generally mailed after the wedding date.

To receive a congratulations letter, you must be a US citizen.

When contacting the White House Greetings Office be sure to include information on who will receive the greeting (correct spelling of full names), mailing address, how to address the greeting, date of the wedding, your name and phone number.

Congratulations requests may be mailed to;
The White HouseAttn: Greetings OfficeWashington, D.C. 20502-0039
For information about how to contact the White House’s Greetings Office visit http://marriage.about.com/od/postcards/qt/annivergreeting.htm

For more information visit;
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=367254 and
http://www.ehow.com/how_4520799_receive-greeting-white-house.html