Getting Hitched

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Creative Weddings for Budget Limiting Expenditure

2009-11-08T07:17:00.004+08:00

It goes without saying that weddings can be pretty expensive affairs. Perhaps it is because it is a special occasion that most of us hope to go through only once in our lives, that most of us try to make it as memorable as possible. However, memorable doesn't necessarily have to mean expensive...

For instance, if you look online, you can find wedding invitations that are not only affordable but elegant, too. With a little creativity and ingenuity you can still create the bang you want without having to blow your budget.

Another thing I've learned through my own wedding is that DIY may be more time consuming, but it always ends up costing you less than hiring a professional. Wedding planners are for those people who don't have the time to plan their own weddings because they're too busy making money. Regardless of what they say about being able to get flowers, dresses, venues, etc. at discounted prices, I still find that going direct is still the best way to go. Whatever commission your planner gets for using a particular service usually ends up pushing up your price to the equivalent of a walk in customer.

If you can forgo having your wedding gown as a keepsake of your wedding, then hiring is probably more cost-effective than having one specially made. Some photography packages come with a wedding dress included that you can use for the day. If you are willing to pay a little more, you could probably even get them to make you a new dress without the full cost of having to buy one yourself.

The key to keeping a wedding affordable is to be creative. The other benefit of creativity is that you could end up with a unique idea that makes your wedding even more special than if you were to go along with the same-old customary ideas for weddings.

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The Chinese Tradition of Gold

2009-10-15T01:32:00.002+08:00

Traditionally, gold has always had a huge significance in all Chinese traditions. Wedding traditions are no exception. Gold, in particular, yellow gold, signifies wealth, fortune and prosperity. Such symbolism is important in a Chinese wedding as they represent all the good tidings that are to come for the bride and groom.

Following the olden day traditions, where a bride is considered no longer a part of her family and a new addition to the groom's family, gold also represents the good fortune she will bring to her new family. As such, it was important for a bride to wear gold jewellery on the day of her wedding and to arrive at her new home wearing it.

There were other practical benefits of having gold as well. In the event that the family was struggling and required money, the bride could sell her gold for money. Or the more realistic one which relates to the fact that women didn't work in the past and often needed an alternative means of acquiring money in the event that her husband was not able to provide for her or refused to provide for her.

Though the practical reasons for such traditions are no longer valid today, there is still some merit to gold investments. If you buy gold you can be assured of it maintaining its value, unlike paper assets which have the potential to lose considerable value in an economic downturn. These days, instead of jewellery, you can buy gold coins or buy gold bullion. The benefits are that it is more measurable in this form and easier to trade.

It would be an interesting change to the traditional Chinese dowry to buy gold coin or to
buy bullion and offer it as a gift as opposed to the traditional form of jewellery. Personally, I think it would be more practical as well since it is highly unlikely that one would wear such large pieces of gold jewellery about.

Love Fortunes?

2009-06-16T06:16:00.003+08:00

I have to admit that I am a bit of a skeptic when it comes to fortunes and predicting the future. However, coming from an Asian background, it is a little difficult to escape from all the superstitions and beliefs. Even though our superstitions and beliefs don't specifically deal with love psychic reading, I think I have a fair understanding about predicting futures and fortunes in general.

Despite professing to be a skeptic in this area, I have to confess there is a secret interest and fascination with what the future holds. Well, who doesn't? I generally prefer to hear only good fortunes and keep the bad ones away from my ears. Why? Because I believe in the power of belief. If you fear something or believe in something enough - no matter whether there is truth in it or not - it will come true.

From that perspective, I suppose it might be interesting for a person looking for love to attend a love fortune teller. It could open up a whole new dimension that you never thought to explore. This is especially so if you have been single for a long time and find it difficult to get into a new relationship.

If love tarot reading is something you might be willing to consider, then Ann Brook, the Caring Psychic, is someone you could consider paying a visit to.

Start a Wedding Planning Business

2009-05-13T00:12:00.002+08:00

Have you ever thought about a career as a bridal consultant? If you love organising events and parties, I'm sure the thought would have crossed your mind before. Did you know you can actually attend a wedding planning course to become a professional wedding consultant?

Why would you need to learn how to do something that is as common sense and straight forward as organising a wedding? After all, I doubt many wedding planners have such qualifications under their belt and they still manage.

Well, event planning is a tough industry to compete with and if you're brand new and starting out, you don't necessarily have the experience to provide the kind of expert service that draws customers and word-of-mouth recommendations. Rather than start up an event planning business haphazardly, why not get off on the right foot with the best chances of creating a successful business?

If you follow the theories of many successful business people, you will hear them say again and again that learning from the experiences of others is wiser than trying to learn from your own experiences. That's what franchises leverage on - the experience of others. Why start a hamburger business from scratch when you can buy a successful working model like McDonald's?

Likewise, why start an event planning business from scratch when you can learn from the experiences of a successful wedding planning business? That is exactly what you get when you take a Wedding and Event Planning course at Sheffield School. You learn everything you need to know about planning a successful and unique wedding tailored specifically to the tastes of your bride and groom, and you learn how to start up your own business as an event planning company. Learning with Sheffield School helps you start off immediately on the right foot.

Bridal Shower Themes and Ideas

2009-04-23T02:00:00.002+08:00

A wedding may be one of the most important days of a person's life, but the lead up to it is just as important. So when you're planning a bridal shower, there is no reason not to go all out and organise something really special. After all, a bridal shower party marks the end of a single life and is effectively the last chance to really go wild before settling into the responsibilities of being attached to a partner for life.

A great way to make a bridal shower really memorable is to plan a themed party. One of the best ways to make this a really special day for the bride is to go with a theme that she likes - the more unique, the better. These days, with online shopping, it is very easy to get all the props and materials you need to plan the perfect themed party, from the bridal shower invitations to the costumes to match the theme.

Bridal Shower Themes

If the bride has a passion for something, it's best to plan the theme around this. For instance, she could be a Sci-fi buff, in which case you could do something outrageous and plan a Star Trek theme. If the bride enjoys the great outdoors, then a party in a picturesque mountain get-away might be just the thing.

Bridal showers are usually planned by the bridesmaid and either the bride (or the bride's family - if it is a surprise). If the bride is in on the planning, then ask her for ideas of what she would like. Otherwise, here are some suggestions to help you along:

beach theme
spa retreat - what girl doesn't enjoy a chance to be pampered?
sports theme - e.g. rock climbing, kayaking, skiing
pajama party
garden party - this is an oldie but a goodie
tea party - another oldie, but you can also add a twist like something out of Alice in Wonderland

As you can see, the ideas are endless.

Bridal showers were traditionally held to shower the bride and groom with love through the offering of gives and memories on a special day before their wedding day. The important thing is to make the event memorable and special - for each person, this can mean very different things. As the best friend to the bride, you'll know best what that is.

Working Successfully With Your Event Planner

2009-03-25T00:54:00.000+08:00

Having a great event may mean that you have to work with an event planner. They may the key to making sure that you have the most fun that you can have and that everything goes as planned. You want to make sure that you are able to have the best fun that you can have so that you and all of your guests are satisfied with the party.

1. You will first want to be careful with the hiring of your event planner. You will want to make sure that you are getting an event planner that will work with you and be a great profit to you and your event. You will need to make sure that you are able to get along well with them so that the event can go as planned.

2. You will then want to make sure that you are using all the resources that you can to make up a great plan for the event. You will want to have a great method of communication so that you are able to get down to business. You will want to have a great amount of communication so that you both can get the event planned as necessary.

3. Take all of the ideas into consideration. You will want to find the most effect ideas as possible and figure out what will work best for you. This is a great way to make sure that you are getting all the best ideas so that you are able to have the best event planned. You will both have a lot of great ideas for the event and you will then have to choose which ones you want to use.

4. Have fun while you are working together with your event planner. You want to keep the fun and excitement there when you are trying to plan the most effective and creative event that you can. There are many different things that you can do to keep the process of working together as fun as possible and entertaining.

5. Keep your motivation up when you are working with an event planner. You will want to be ready to take on anything and keep working at it. You will need to make sure that you are able to keep the fun and excitement up so that you are able to stay focused and keep the momentum up at the same time. This is a great way to keep the ideas flowing and to make sure everything is running in the right direction.

With some hard work and determination, you can have a great relationship with your event planner and keep things moving along as planned. This is a great way to make sure that you are doing all that you can to keep the event process running as planned. You will find it a great way to stay organized and to get the event ready for the best time ever.

An event planner is someone that is hired by you and you are the one that is going to pay him or her. You will want to make sure that you are able to keep the event on track as you have planned so that you are able to stay in control as well as get the help that you need to make the event great.

What To Look Out For When Choosing Your Event Planner

2009-03-18T00:53:00.000+08:00

You may be trying to plan an event and finding out that it is a little bit harder than what you thought. When you are having a hard time planning an event and doing all the work at the same time, you may find that is a good idea to hire an event planner. They can be a great deal of help to you so that you are not getting frustrated and driving yourself crazy over planning your special event.

You may be wandering, where do I find an event planner? It is really not that hard to do. There are more and more people getting into this profession and finding it very interesting. Many people are helping others out with their party planning and making a great profit from it at the same time. This is a growing profession that a lot of people are doing because they are interested in it and they are there for you to count on.

You may be able to find someone to help you with your event planning that has been used by a person that you know. You may be able to get good advice from your friends on hiring an event planner and what they can do for you. You will want to make sure that you are using someone that will be right for you and also someone that you can trust. You want to put your complete confidence in the person that is helping you build a successful event. If you have no trust, you will find it difficult to let them plan your event.

You should choose some for your event planner that you feel comfortable with. Maybe you want to find someone that has the same type of personality as you. This would be great idea especially when it comes to having the same good ideas about what you want. This is a smart idea for anyone that is looking for the perfect party and getting help from an event planner.

There is so much to do when you are in charge of an event. You need to find someone that is going to pay attention to all the detail. This is one of the most important things. You need to have an event planner that is going to stride for the best. You want them to put all that they can into planning this event. If you are expecting to have the best, you will want to have only the best helping you. You will be glad that you took the time to find an event planner that has a good work ethic and someone that wants to work for you.

Do not be afraid to ask the event planner that you are thinking about hiring for references. You should want to see the different parties that they have created. You want to see their work and make sure that they are someone that is going to be able to fit your needs. You will get to see a sense of the type of party that they can plan for you.

Check out the prices for event planners as well. You do not want to be shocked when it comes time to pay the bill. You want to have an event planner that is going to be a great help to you and give you the satisfaction of the perfect event as well as an affordable asset at the same time. You do not want to blow your entire party budget on an event planner. There are plenty of people out there that have reasonable prices that you will feel good about.

Sexy in the Eye of the Beholder

2009-03-13T06:08:00.002+08:00

Sexy lingerie has never really been something I go for. At least, not by my definition which is lacy bras and underwear. It always seemed too uncomfortable and I've always felt underwear should be comfortable first and foremost. After all, how can you feel confident if you're not comfortable?

It wasn't until I met a guy who thought cotton knickers and sports bras were sexy that I realised sexy lingerie is whatever makes you feel sexy, confident and alluring. For some women, that might be lacy bras and underwear, for others, it might be babydolls, lingerie sets and garter belts, and yet for others, it might even be your average cotton knickers and sports bras.

They've always said that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Well, I think sexy is, too.

Paid Home Entertainment

2009-03-13T05:44:00.003+08:00

These days it is hard to enjoy watching programs on regular TV because of the vast number of ads that get screened. Sometimes it seems like there are commercial breaks after every ten minutes! I've also seen channels that run ads along the borders of the screen which is really ridiculous because it shrinks the visual of the program that you are watching.

I never thought I'd see the day where I would start looking for Direct TV Deals because I never really agreed to the idea of having to pay for TV. Perhaps because I grew up in a generation where TV has generally been free. Then again, it is probably unfair to expect TV to be free without the commercials because the money has to come from somewhere.

Now that there are some really great Direct TV Specials out there, pay TV is starting to become the norm in many households. I guess with competition comes the need to offer more attractive deals where previously the pay TV I had been associated had been a monopoly. With so many great Direct TV Offers available, there's really no reason not to get pay TV. Plus, you can get all the latest movies and programs that aren't available on regular TV which makes it all the more worthwhile.

When You Need To Hire An Event Planner

2009-03-11T00:52:00.000+08:00

Planning a party is not always easy for everyone. It can be something that is a lot of hard work and may even be a little tiring to some. When you are trying to plan the party that has everything that you are looking for and so much more, you may want to have a professional help you with all the things that you have to do.
Having an event planner help you with our special occasion is something that you may not think you need, but you may be wrong. When you have a lot of things to do and not enough time to do them all in, you will want to make sure that you have the help that you need to get it all done in time.

Getting an event planner can also help you find different ideas that you could not get on your own. You will appreciate the ideas that you can get from an event planner that has a lot of different experience with planning a great party. They will be able to bring some fun and flair to your night and make it the best that it can be.

Hiring an event planner is nothing to be worried about. You will find that it can be something that will make your party a great success. Finding an event planner is not something that will be too hard either. There are many people that are looking to help you out with your next event. You will be able to check out the different options that you have and go from there. You will see that there are all different types of planners that come with different prices as well. It will depend on the type of party and amount of work that needs to be done.

You will find that the larger parties are going be difficult to take on by yourself. You will want to have someone that you can rely on and trust to make the difficult decisions about things that have to be done. You will the skill of an event planner to make this great time even better. Memories are the one thing that many people like to have of special occasions and you will want all of your memories to be great.

Weddings are an event that will probably call for an event planner to take charge. There are many preparations that need to be done and you will find it a lot easier to get help for them. When you have someone to take on all the problems that happen and take the stress off you, you will be able to sit back and enjoy more of the process instead of worrying about it all the time.

Surprise parties and larger sized birthday parties may also call for an event planner to help. Getting someone to find the place, food, entertainment, and all the hard to deal with problems that can happen with a party is going to take a lot of pressure off of you. You will want to have a good time at the party too and not be stressing over the things that need to be done. That is what you are going to pay the event planner to do.

After the party is over with and you have had the best time ever, you will then have to decide if you want to fess up and let everyone know your secret about the event planner, or let them think that you did it all on your own. Either way, you will feel good about the choice you made and actually be excited about the next party you have to plan.

When You Need An Event Planner And When You Don't!

2009-03-05T00:50:00.000+08:00

When you are doing any kind of special event, you will see that there are a lot of things that have to be done. There is a lot of work and planning that has to go into a lot of different events. You want to make sure that you are able to handle all of the hard work that is involved in it. If you are not sure that you can take on this type of challenge, you may want to go and hire an event planner to help ease the work.

You can decide if you need an event planner to help you or not just by the size of event. If you are having a larger sized event and there is going to be a lot of different things involved in the work, you may need to go ahead and get the planner to help you. If you are going to have a smaller event, you might just be able to get all the work done by yourself. It is really going to be up to you and what you think you can handle.

If you decide to get an event planner to help you, you may be wandering where do you find one. You will be surprised at the amount of people there are that will help with this type of occasion. There are many different people that do this for a living. They will plan other people's special occasions and make money by doing so. This is something that will take a very organized person to do and you want to make sure that you are getting just that.

You may know someone that has used an event planner before and they may be able to help you find the right person. You can take all the references and help that you get and use this to make a decision on the right person for the job. You will find that sometimes you can go by other people past experiences and use them to make your own decision on the right event planner. Once you check out the references and make sure that they are the better person for the job, you will then want to book them. Make sure they are open for your date and those they can handle the work.

You will want to be in contact with your event planner all the time. You will find that you will spend countless hours with them and many lunches trying to plan the perfect event. You will be involved with some of the process like picking out certain things and making the final decisions about what is going to happen. You will be in control with the only difference being that someone else will be doing all the legwork.

An event planner is working for you so you should not be afraid to let them know what you want. You will want to be very open with them and communicate the things that you need to have accomplished. This is the only way that you will be able to have a greatly planned party that will amaze everyone. You want to be proud of the event that you are planning and feel good about all that you have done.

Remember that you will have to pay the event planner. They are usually not cheap so you will want to find out the price first before you hire them. You want to ask questions and make sure they are the candidates for the job and that you can afford their services. Make sure that you have a written contract with the event planner as well. You want to have protection in case anything goes wrong so that you are not responsible for paying them when they have not completed their job as they have agreed.

If you think that you cannot afford an event planner, you should go ahead and try to do the work yourself. You can ask your friends to help out with the preparations so that you are not bearing all the load on yourself.

When you are confident in your event planner and know what to expect you will have a great party that you and many others will remember for years to come.

What Makes An Event Fabulous?

2009-02-25T08:07:00.000+08:00

There are many things that make a party fabulous. You should first seek the knowledge of a local event planner. This will help you with making all the good decision that you must make in order to have a fabulous party, however, you should know that they are some things that you can do to make any event fabulous. You should first start off with a menu.

The menu or food that you plan on serving will say everything about a party. If you want to just have finger foods or appetizers, you will want to have a dozen or two different foods to nibble on. You should also be more creative with veggies and such rather than meat. In general, America is pulling away from meat, and you may want to serve things that have low calories and look good. You can serve grilled or stuffed veggies, but you may also want to do some sushi. Other than the food, most people come to a party for drinks.

Drinks can be very expensive if you have an open bar, however, if you limit your party to having only a certain drink or a few drink options then you can offer the open bar without the huge expensive. You may want to have some nonalcoholic beverages as well like adding fruit puree to sparkling water. If you want to have drinks in a creative way, you may want to freeze some of the berries and fruits that are in season and then place them in the bottom of a drink. They will add some class to a drink and they keep the drinks colder. This trick looks great in the bottom of a martini glass.

The next trick actually has little to do with the party, but the invitations. To have a fabulous party, you have to have as many people there as possible. To do that, you need to make invitations that look professional. You can get many card programs for your computer at some of the local computer stores and superstores.

Superstores are great! They have a huge selection of supplies and you can also purchase them at bulk. Things like tablecloths and other things are perfect to purchase at superstores because you are able to find huge savings on bulk material. If you ever get the chance go to the local superstore or warehouse and see what they offer.

With all the diets that everyone is on, the food could be low calorie, low carbs. You may also want to purchase meat that has fewer fats. If you are going to serve meat, you should go with chicken and fish.

As for the décor you may want to get a little creative by mixing and matching some of the table linens and other decorations. This way the party looks lively and not dull. Do anything you can to live the place up. You can decorate with lemons, oranges, other fruits, and more. You can use flowers to decorate as well. You may make an arrangement; however, it will be very expensive. This is when you may like to just scatter some petals around the place. It will look elegant and nice. Candles also can do a lot for an event. If you want to have a softer light, you can find plenty of creative ways to use candles and mirrors as center pieces and more. You just don't want to place any candles where they can get knocked over or start a fire.

Music is also a nice touch to a party. Depending on the type of party that you are having, you might want to watch the type of music that you play. The music has to mesh with the theme and vibe of the party. Jazz or instrumental can always work for practically any kind of party.

Truth About Creating Successful Events!

2009-02-18T08:05:00.000+08:00

When you want to create a successful event, you will need to follow through on a few different things. You will want to make sure that you are doing a great job so that you can be proud of your event. There are many things to do and usually little time to get them done in. You will want to make sure that you are patient and using your best judgment so that you can get started with your great planning.

You will want to first make sure that you are setting down and figuring out a plan for the event. There is nothing better than being prepared for something. You want to make sure that you are planning for all the good things as well as all the bad things that can happen. The one thing that you need to do when you are planning a successful event is to make sure that you are realistic. You should be ready for anything and understand that you are going to have problems come up at any time.

You will want to make sure that you are making and following a time line for your special event planning .you want to have everything listed and be ready to take on the challenges of anything that you have to face. If you are thinking that you can take on the difficulty of doing every little task yourself, you should think again. You will want to understand that you are going to have to get some help. You can ask someone else to bear some of the load. There is just no reason why you would have to do everything yourself unless you are truly the only person that is able to help out.

You need to set an agenda and then you should be able to hand out tasks to everyone that is helping out with the special event. You will want to give everyone an assignment so that no one is left out of the preparation. You want to make sure that you are setting guidelines for everyone to follow so that there are no questions asked later and that all of the work is delegated out to everyone.

Getting all of the work done is something that you can defiantly be proud of when it is accomplished. The truth about most successful events is that they almost never get finished completely. There is always something that will come up and make things a little harder to do. However the main thing that you need to do is make sure that you are able to handle anything that is thrown your way so that you can relax and feel confident in your event planning.

Once you have the place, the time, the date and all the major details worked out about the event that you are planning, you can then move on to the smaller things that have to be done. You will want to be sure and make a list of all the last minute items that need to be addressed and then go from there. You will see that there are different things that you will miss and that is ok. Usually no one will even notice and who really cares if they do? As long as the day went well and everyone had fun, this is all that matters.

Take your time and think about your event. After you have done it all, the most important thing is that you have fun yourself. After all, you are the one that has put forth all of the hard work and thought for the successful event. You deserve to have fun and enjoy the party just as much as everyone else. You will feel better once the big day has arrived and things are finally falling into place.

Post Wedding Activities

2009-02-11T22:41:00.000+08:00

For many couples, the wedding is not over once the reception is. Depending on the location of the wedding and the couple's relationship with their families, often there are other activities that follow the main event.

One of the most obvious is a breakfast the day following the wedding. This is a time for everyone to touch base with each other, check in on how everyone did and perhaps share memories of the night before. This breakfast activity can be as simple or elaborate as you like. Some people like to have this breakfast at a relative's house because that is friendly and familiar and more conducive to everyone hanging out and enjoying themselves. It can be potluck style or catered. You can also meet up at a restaurant.

Many families like to have the bride and groom open presents the day after the wedding. There are many who believe the bride and groom are required to open presents in the presence of family for good luck. In that case, building in the opening of presents is essential. This can be a simple gathering of friends and family or you can turn the present opening into an all-out activity, where each item is opened, demonstrated or displayed and discussed in great detail.

Opening gifts doesn't have to a dry activity. You can add some silly fun. How about starting with the smallest and moving to the largest gifts? Or working in the reverse order? You might even create a game. Everyone has to guess what's in each gift prior to its being opened. (Of course, people can't guess on their on gifts.) Someone can be in charge of keeping a tally and whoever gets the most right, wins a small prize.

The women in the bride's family might want to help her pack up her gown (or send it to the dry cleaners) and preserve her wedding bouquet. This can easily be done at home and the women (particularly those who are crafty) might want to get started on preserving the flowers as well.

In the crafty light, some brides might want to plan a scrapbook party for after the wedding. You won't have photos back from the photographer, but you can scrapbook many other wedding events, such as pre-events like manicures, various parties and the candid photos take by wedding guests the night before. More than being focused on the photos, this activity gives the women a chance to reflect on the events of the wedding, laugh at all the fun ties and journal and preserve memories before some are lost. It will also help the bride feel as if she's partly in control of all those photos before she leaves on her honeymoon and takes yet more photos.

If gifts were opened on this "day after the wedding", crafty groups might want to make thank you cards. Choose a design long before the wedding, perhaps even making a prototype as well. Then have all the supplies on hand and give everyone good ideas about how the cards should be made. Even the men can get on this act, helping to fold the cards, perhaps handling any computer work and even getting their fingers on glue and scissors. Send the bride and groom off with these homemade cards so when they get back from their honeymoon, all they have to do is jot off a quick note.

Some brides and grooms plan activities the day fter the wedding that are designed to help everyone calm down, relax and unwind after what has likely been a busy weekend. In this light, you can plan a picnic at the park and bring along games to play. You might pack a football, a volleyball net or items to play baseball. You might bring along water guns or a dartboard. Whatever it is, the idea here is to have some fun and blow off steam. Make your own rules when playing the games. It really doesn't matter. Today is about relaxing, unwinding and spending some quality time with friends and family before the special weekend is over.

Wedding Weekend Activities

2009-02-04T22:40:00.000+08:00

Weekend weddings are becoming more popular, particularly as families are spread further apart. They usually begin on Friday night, continue with the wedding Saturday and conclude with a post-wedding breakfast on Sunday before everyone returns home.

Planning activities for these weekend-long celebrations doesn't have to be difficult; in fact, it can be quite a bit of fun if you keep everyone's needs in mind. First, consider the wedding. Will this be a formal wedding with a sit-down dinner at its center? If so, you might want to ban a formal rehearsal dinner and replace it instead with an informal barbecue dinner or picnic.

But how will you keep people occupied during the long weekend? There are many activities to consider. Will the wedding be near a lake? How about planning a day at the lake on Saturday, filled with pre-wedding activities like swimming races and beach volleyball.

One popular pre-wedding activity is a scavenger hunt. Prior to the wedding weekend, a list of meaningful items should be drawn up, and guests placed in two teams. The list should include things like "get a brochure from the jewelry store where (groom) bought (bride)'s ring" or "take a picture of the group at the location where the couple got engaged". You will have to tailor the scavenger hunt list to the location of the wedding and the energy of the guests who will be participating.

You can even offer lavish prizes for the team that wins the scavenger hunt, such as gift certificates or gourmet food and wine baskets. It might seem an obvious choice to divide the teams into groups who know or are related to the bride and teams who know or are related to the groom, but it might be a little more fun to mix it up a bit. You can create teams of friends versus family, or men versus women (always a popular choice).

Another activity that's popular during wedding weekends is a competitive sport activity, such as baseball or flag football. Again, add a special twist. Offer prizes for performance (first home run gets a kiss from the bride) or make silly rules, like members of the bridal party have to wear tiaras while running bases or members of the groom's family should always have their shirts on backwards.

It's important that during the wedding weekend, planners keep in mind that the weekend itself might be expensive for some guests, particularly those who had to fly in for the occasion and many of the activities should be free, or inexpensive. If they are more expensive, and planned for the entire group, they should be paid for by either the bride and groom or their families.

But there are plenty of activities that don't have to be expensive, but can provide big bang for the little buck, such as the scavenger hunt suggested above. If the wedding weekend guests will mostly be family, you can schedule a home movie-viewing event, including home movies from both the bride and groom's families. For even more fun, consider an activity where the movies are mixed up and the guests have to guess which family's videos they are watching. This might sound easy, but depending on the contents, it could be hard, particularly if the bride and groom are babies in the photos.

Life Changes After You Get Married

2009-02-01T01:30:00.003+08:00

Life changes. It is inevitable. Firstly, because you now have to accommodate two persons in your life - yourself and your spouse. Secondly, you have a whole new extended family in your life now. They say that you marry the person, not the family, but seriously, I think it's a lie. At least, it is if you're marrying into a culture where family is very important. Think Chinese, Greek, Italian...

Thirdly, your priorities change. When you buy a house, get a new car, have a baby... Suddenly, you have a lot of other things to think about now. For instance, I used to fill my weekends with rock climbing, and my hubby used to be really into fast cars. After we got married, my rock climbing activities dropped drastically. Then when I had the baby, it dropped completely. Likewise, after we got married, the hubby traded in his WRX for a toyota. There were no more fast cars and "go faster" bits for him any more (although I must add that I did not twist his arm and demand that he get rid of the WRX - not in the least, even though that's essentially what everyone thought).

Then, of course, once you have the baby, you no longer want to zip around in a car like the Kelissa. As small and zippy though it may be, it hardly affords much protection in a collision. Ironically, we never really consider these things when it is just ourselves, but when you're talking about a precious little bundle of joy, suddenly nothing is too good. You start considering a bigger car, like the Toyota prius, or maybe even a Mummy mobile (as the hubby calls it) - a 4WD.

Slowly but surely, life as you know it begins to bear very little resemblance to what it used to be. One night, as you sit alone and ponder back to the "good ol' days", you'll wonder how it all changed. You might miss those days, but you'll know that life changes and it isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Wedding Toast Activities

2009-01-28T01:52:00.000+08:00

Giving a toast is a responsibility that puts fear in the speaking hearts of most members of a wedding party. While it's not usually something that is particularly long or involved, it's public speaking (which doesn't sit well with many people) and really puts people on the spot.

If you are planning a wedding and know that most members of this wedding party are hams who won't mind the whole "public speaking" thing, then by all means keep the toasts traditional with dad, the best man and others taking their expected turns at the microphone.

But if you're looking for something different, either because you want to save putting people on the spot, or you simply want to do something different and fun, read on.

First, you can certainly take the whole toast thing off the agenda if you wish. There are no rules requiring a toast at any wedding. Weddings should be unique events and reflect the personalities of the bride and groom.

But if you want to do something a little different, there are options. You can go the video route, which asks people to essentially make a toast on camera and then the video is given to the bride and groom later. This isn't a particularly unique idea, but it does solve the issue of not wanting to put people on the spot and still gives everyone a chance to say something special to the bride and groom.

If your guest list includes many outgoing people then consider "pass the microphone". This can work in several ways. You can either be silly with it, or deadly serious. Most people like silly. Say dad takes the microphone first. His last name ends with T (so, let's say dad's last name is Smith). He must find someone whose first name begins with a T (Tom? Tony? Tina? Theresa?) and pass the microphone to that person, who then gives a toast.

This method of giving toasts does put people on the spot (certainly before the fun begins you can warn them so if they are really uncomfortable, they can escape to the restroom or bar) but it can also be a lot of fun. Getting people when they least expect it and then asking them to remember something funny or meaningful about the bride and groom can result in interesting, funny and truthful results.

You might also decide that one person at each table be required to give a toast. Number the tables and at various intervals, have the MC or DJ call a number, which will require guests at that table to decide amongst themselves who will give the toast at that table. Certainly, more than one person can if they like, but there will likely be at least one ham at each table who will enjoy standing up and toasting the newlyweds.

Say you have plenty of public speakers in the group, and finding willing toast participants won't be a problem. But you think the subject matter might be. There's an easy solution to this problem. You can provide open-ended topics for the toast speakers. Say you are providing an "open mike" toast arrangement, where anyone can request the microphone and offer a toast. The DJ, MC or someone else in the wedding party (perhaps the maid of honor or best man) can offer the speaker a surprise topic, which might be pulled from a champagne flute or drawn out of the floral arrangement on the head table. There might be slips of paper to choose, or just one sheet of paper with several ideas.

The speaker might choose to finish this sentence, "I remember when (groom's name here) was a little boy, he always ..." or answer this question, "When was (insert bride's name here) at her silliest? Tell us the story". You might have to give each speaker a minute or two to collect their thoughts, but you're sure to have some interesting stories, some unique anecdotes and some different perspectives on the bride and groom.

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Games

2009-01-21T01:52:00.000+08:00

Wedding rehearsal dinners are a time to relax, calm down and enjoy a quiet evening before the big event the next day. But adding some fun and games into the rehearsal dinner isn't such a bad idea. It's a great way to help everyone let off some steam, calm down and enjoy each other.

If you're planning a sit-down formal dinner, fun games and activities can still be on the menu. In fact, if a formal dinner is part of the plans, having some interesting activities on the agenda is not only a good idea, but also an excellent one. There's been a lot of planning, and a lot of stress and the wedding party and close friends and family will welcome the opportunity to have a little fun.

The success or failure of any games or activities largely depends not just on the planning but your venue. If you're having a sit-down dinner in a restaurant, try to get a private room. Then a myriad of fun activities can be planned, such as "pin the veil on the bride", in which blindfolded guests spin around a few times, then try to pin the veil on a picture of the bride. Silly, yes, but also fun.

One fun activity sure to help everyone blow off some steam is charades. Whoever is up will act out a scene from the bride or groom's life, so it might be when graduating from college, or getting a huge promotion at work. The "it" person might choose to act out when the bride tripped and fell at another person's wedding or when the groom saved a dog from getting hit by a car. This is a little twist on charades that helps people get to know the bride and groom better, and adds intimacy to what is already an intimate event.

If the wedding rehearsal dinner is a bit less formal and held in someone's home, there are many more activities that can take place. For example, how about a night of playing board games? Who needs formal food? You can have that the next day at the formal wedding. At this rehearsal dinner party, the games are center stage.

Bring in some sandwiches and tell everyone to wear their comfortable clothes and settle in for a night of board games. You can set up games on different tables, divide people into groups of 4 or 5 and have everyone rotate tables at designated times. You can even instruct game players that when they move to another table, the game stays out the way it is. So, for example, dad might begin playing Monopoly where the bride was and he's stuck with only a little money in the bank and no houses on Boardwalk.

So, let's say the bride and groom are big into sports. If the wedding is to be held in the summer and the days are long, how about a game of touch football or baseball? You can play bride's family against groom's family, men against women, or for a twist, the bride plays with the groom's family and the groom with the bride's family. Any combination works. The idea here is to have some fun, relax and enjoy each other's company.

Other outdoor activities can include anything that is physical and might help people blow off steam. Has the bride been more a "bridezilla" than anything? How about a game of tag where she's it? Or you can create two bridesmaid's dress-up trunks. Go to a thrift store, fill the trunks with old prom dresses and large-size shoes, and costume jewelry. Divide the guests into two different teams and have someone sit with a timer. The team who dresses one of the men (ideally, the groom and best man or perhaps the two dads) first wins. Be sure to have a camera at the rehearsal dinner/event, because this is one activity you'll want to have pictures of!

Looking for Baby Shower Party Supplies?

2009-01-14T07:22:00.005+08:00

When planning a party, finding the materials to create the perfect theme can sometimes be tricky. Most party shops are limited with the stock they can carry because they have only so much physical space to display stock. This is why it can be useful to search online for a one-stop solution provider that can cater to all your requirements.

For instance, if you are looking for Baby Shower Party Supplies to plan your next baby shower, searching online for a one-stop party shop, like Party Pro, might make the task of planning your shower a lot easier. Instead of having to run from shop to shop looking for matching items to fit your theme, you can get it all from the same place.

Often, not only do these online party shops offer a broader range of stock, but they can be cheaper owing to lower running costs of maintaining an online store. Additionally, if you are planning a big party, you can order in bulk further reducing costs. Often, I find that when I shop at a physical store, it isn't only the range of stock that is limited but the quantities. Although some shops may be able to order in extra stock if you need a large quantity of Baby Shower Party Supplies, they often have to check with suppliers who may or may not have enough of what you require.

Best of all, when you shop online, you can shop at your leisure from the comfort of you home. I can't think of anything better than that.

Wedding Cake Activities

2009-01-14T04:03:00.000+08:00

Upon arrival at the wedding reception, many guests head for the cake table so they can admire the cake. Some time later, the bride and groom come along for a picture opportunity and the grand cutting of the cake. Then everyone enjoys cake and it's gone. Believe it or not, there are many more activities that can make the wedding cake more about fun and less about tradition.

Of course, watching the bride and groom push cake into each other's mouths is a long-enjoyed tradition, but there are many more fun - and less messy - activities to consider as well.

One new option that's gaining popularity is to have cupcakes instead of a cake. This is a method that is usually more affordable than having a cake and it can be a lot of fun. Cupcakes are decorated in alignment with the wedding theme, just as a cake is, but the cupcakes are instead arranged on tiered cake plates and displayed on a cake table until it's time to eat them. The cupcakes can be simply handed out on plates to each wedding guest.

Now, what's fun about using cupcakes instead of a whole wedding cake is you can save money, certainly, as many reception halls and caterers charge a per slice fee to cut and serve the wedding cake, but you can also build activities into the cupcake presentation. For example, the cupcakes that are for the bride and groom can have a different decoration than the ones for the guests.

As an extra touch, you can have the baker include a special prize in one or several cupcakes. A small charm or tiny toy can be baked into the cupcake. Whoever gets the charm wins a special prize. These prizes can range from a gift basket or gift certificate to a restaurant to a dance with the bride or groom.

Some brides like to use a Southern tradition and have charms baked into the wedding cake. Similar to the idea above for cupcakes, this involves baking small charms or tiny toys (but usually charms) into the cake. Those who get one of the charms are said to have good luck. You might even consider having charm bracelet charms baked into the cake, which are then made into a charm bracelet for the bride.

Not everyone enjoys cake. How about an activity for those who won't be eating cake? They can be required to do the "Macarena" or the chicken dance during the time when everyone else is eating cake. If they manage to do the dance continuously while the other guests enjoy cake, they win a prize. Or they simply get to sit down, as now they are tired!

In keeping with the dance during cake theme, how about a requirement that in order to get cake, a guest must perform an impromptu dance first? Or there could be trivia questions about the bride and groom or about popular culture. Guests must correctly answer the questions before getting their cake. There could be competitions among tables or individuals for most questions answered correctly.

Many people believe that once the cake is cut, they are free to leave if they wish. Since cake cutting usually comes after the meal and after dancing and other traditional celebration activities, many people take the opportunity to leave the party after the cake is cut and enjoyed.

If the bride and groom want their guests to stay after the cake is eaten, it is worth some extra effort to build some activities into the cake-cutting event so people will stick around longer. This can be as simple as telling people not to leave, or can be more subtle and fun.

For example, each person could receive a slip of paper with his or her cake. These slips of paper could be prepared ahead and provided to the catering company with instructions that one folded strip of paper be placed on each plate with the cake. The paper might give an agenda for the rest of the evening or might ask its recipient to perform a little dance, to head over to give the groom or bride a kiss, or might ask them to take the flower girl out on the dance floor for a spin. The unknown will keep all the guests guessing and provide some entertainment as the instructions are carried out.

Seated Wedding Reception Games

2009-01-07T17:17:00.000+08:00

Nothing is worse than having a wedding reception filled with seated guests who look tired and maybe a little bit bored. Maybe this wedding doesn't feature a DJ and rockin' music. Or maybe the crowd isn't into that whole dancing thing.

What to do? It's not that hard. There are a myriad of activities you can plan that will not only engage and entertain the guests, but also help them get to know each other and - most importantly - the bride and groom just a little bit better.

Here's one that's fun and might remind you just a little bit of a football game. Make a placard for each guest. On one side, letter "Bride" and on the other, "Groom". Someone, and if you have a DJ it can be him or her, or the best man or maid of honor, asks a series of questions. They might be simple, like "who was born in New York City"? Or they might be more complicated, such as "who, at 6, broke their leg when they were playing with their German shepherd puppy"?

Guests don't yell their answer, but rather show their placard, turning it to the "bride" side of they think the question pertains to the bride or to the "groom" side if it's the opposite. The guests' guesses can be revealing, but even more revealing, are the true answers. It's a great, fun way for everyone to get to know a little more about the bride and groom.

One word of caution about the above activity: Keep ex-boyfriends and ex-girlfriends out of the questions and don't ask anything that might be a little too revealing or too risqué. Remember, grandmothers and grandfathers and young children will likely be present!

If it's too much work to create signs for each person, you can create just two and create two teams - a team of men and a team of women. Grouped together, the teams can work together to decide on the answer and answer as a group. This "men versus women" concept is always popular and sure to be fun for everyone.

One silly game that's always a hit really puts the groom in the spotlight. How well does he know the feel and touch of his new wife? In this game, everyone finds out. You can do this several ways. You can enlist just the wedding party in this game, or as many of the wedding guests that want to participate.

Line each participant up and blindfold the groom. Put the bride somewhere in the mix, and send the groom on a hunt for his bride. The participants can either shake the groom's hand or give him a kiss on the cheek. In some versions, he might feel their hair or their leg. The details are up to you.

Depending on how far you want to take this game, you can add a fun element to it that is sometimes popular. You have the groom feel the leg of each participant. The best man, or other male member of the wedding party, rolls up his pant leg, puts on a garter and has the groom feel that. The groom has to kiss whoever he thinks is his bride, while still blindfolded. Often, he ends up kissing a man.

For an activity that allows the guests to be audience members instead of participants, consider the game of "feed me". In this game, the bride is seated and the groom is (again) blindfolded. He's given a piece of food and then spun around a few times so he's a little bit dizzy. Guided only by the helpful words of his new bride, he has to find her and get the piece of food into her mouth. Be sure to have the wedding party shadowing him so there are no accidents.

Once the groom has fed his new wife, the tables are turned and she is blindfolded and must find him.

A few notes about this activity: when feeding the bride, don't use wedding cake or a piece of bread with dip. In other words, don't use anything too messy. If the groom has a hard time finding her mouth, he might likely smear the food on the bride's face and that is something that won't make a bride - prettily made up just hours before - too happy.

Wedding Guest Book Activities

2008-12-31T17:16:00.000+08:00

Traditional brides don't have to have traditional guest books. Certainly you can purchase a standard guest book and ask your guests to sign it, but there are so many more guest book-like activities that are more unique.

Let's move from the popular to the less well known. One very popular option allows guests to sign a picture of the bride and groom. Simply take a picture of the bride and groom and have it matted in a mat several inches larger than the photo itself. Place a frame around this, but don't include the glass or Plexiglas frame. You'll add this later. Some people prefer to use "bulldog" clips to keep the mat together instead of putting the picture in the frame. The picture can be framed after the wedding.

Most couples choose a nice photo of themselves for this picture/guestbook option, although if there's a formal engagement photo, this is an excellent way to preserve that photo and show it off to friends and family. If photos are taken before the wedding with the bride and groom in their wedding attire, you can certainly use this photo. Many couples opt to either leave the mat empty or they place a temporary picture in the mat and add a wedding picture later.

Be sure to have a nice Sharpie marker handy and place the picture on either a sturdy easel or on a table where guests are sure to see it.

Another option is instead of providing a picture of the bride and groom to sign, the guests are provided with a picture of themselves! Simply provide a Polaroid camera and assign someone the job of taking pictures of the guests as they arrive at the reception. Once the picture is dry, provide a Sharpie and they can sign the picture, make a note to the bride and groom or hand draw a silly picture. It can be whatever the guest wants it to be. This is a unique, and personal, way for guests to "sign in" at the wedding.

Whoever handles the taking of the pictures should also handle putting them in an album of some sort. A scrap booker might provide a special memory book with the Polaroid pictures in it, or the pictures can simply be placed in a nice album and presented later to the bride and groom.

Many guests don't give a great deal of thought to the guest book. They whiz by the guest book table more concerned with getting their cocktail and hitting the dance floor. If this is a concern, provide a "traveling" guest book. Send each guest something either to sign or decorate before the wedding.

In this "traveling" guest book scenario, there are several options. One of the easiest is to send each guest a small piece of paper and ask them to write something meaningful or thoughtful for the bride and groom on it. The pieces of paper are returned prior to the wedding (to ensure a better response, provide a self-addressed stamped envelope with the paper) and can be compiled in some meaningful way for the bride and groom and presented to them on their wedding day.

If the guest list is a creative or particularly close group, there is one other option that is even more meaningful. Again, in a scrapbook fashion, send each guest a piece of paper to sign or decorate. The paper should be the size of a photo album, so it might be a 6 x 6 piece of paper, an 8 x 8 piece of paper, or even 12 x 12, if the guests are up to that larger size.

In a letter that arrives with the paper, the guests are instructed to create a memory page for the bride and groom. They might include photos, quotes, little anecdotal stories, or combine all of these with stickers or embellishments. It's thoughtful, meaningful and personal and it's an excellent way to include guests who might not be able to attend the wedding, but would still like to be a part of it.

Overnight Wedding Reception Ideas

2008-12-24T17:15:00.000+08:00

Some brides these days are turning wedding receptions on their head and creating super long receptions that run through the night and into the morning. If this is you, planning some activities for those long nighttime hours is essential.

Generally, if an all-night reception is planned, it goes something like this: the wedding is held in the early evening and reception follows. By about midnight, many of the guests will have left and the group that is remaining (generally the younger guests, but not always) will continue to dance and party and revel into the early morning hours. At some point, breakfast will be provided and everyone will go home to crash.

Why do you need activities for such a reception? The answer is simple. You want to keep people entertained through the nighttime hours, you want to keep them at the reception and not let them give in to driving home to crash and sleep and you want to provide them with a real party. Let's face it: if they are willing to hang in with you for the duration, they deserve something for their effort.

First, you need to be fairly organized about the activities you plan. Consult with your DJ about these activities and leave it to him or her to keep things on a schedule. Do not plan to cut cake in the middle of the night. That activity should take place during the more traditional evening hours, so those not intending to stay all night can leave. However, if you're determined to keep your guests all night, you could hold one activity back with the hope it will keep guests in the house longer.

Depending on your guest list, you might hold off on the father-daughter dance until after midnight, or you could save a few toasts for the late night hours. In any event, having some other fun events is a great idea.

As guests begin to fade, bring in a piñata, which you can find shaped like a wedding ring, a bridal dress or a champagne flute. Fill it with a variety of goodies. Candy is always popular, but you could also fill it with silly toys found in the carnival section of the party store. Have the DJ play a spirited song and let everyone have a chance at the piñata. Do this on the dance floor and really let people have a swing at it. There should be plenty of room. Once the piñata breaks, everyone can enjoy a taste of sweet candy or can enjoy some silly little carnival game or toy.

People who stay for the duration of the wedding are going to need a rest. Plan a photo presentation or video viewing for this purpose. You could have someone who's familiar with PowerPoint create a photo presentation or have someone put together a video of photos. Do this around 2 or 3 am and have it last a good half hour to 45 minutes. This gives everyone a chance to sit down and relax and also gives the DJ a chance to sit, have a rest and rejuvenate for the next round.

In that same vein of allowing the guests a little relaxation, one activity that some brides employ is a non-activity. If the weddig is outside, you can provide inflatable mattresses and have some torches lit. If guests ant to sit down and relax, they can do so on the mattresses and still be part of the activity while resting. If it's been a long day and someone needs to rest, those reception room chairs don't seem the most comfortable. If the reception is indoors, think about providing large pillows for guests to sit on or create a corner with inflatable mattresses and lots of fabric. This can be a chatting area where people can go to rest but still be part of the fun. They can chat and catch up with other guests and then head back for more partying when they're rejuvenated.

Outdoor Wedding Reception Activities

2008-12-17T17:14:00.000+08:00

If you are having your wedding reception out of doors, that opens the door for many activities that would be hard to pull off indoors. You can plan games and activities based on the outdoor theme and carry that theme indoors if part of the reception is inside as well.

Depending on where the reception will be held, you can plan many activities based on the setting. Whether it is the park or on a farm, there are a myriad of activities you can plan.

Let's start with some basics based on popular wedding locations. One fun game for a winery wedding is a blindfolded wine tasting game. If the bride and groom are wine drinkers, this might not a game the bride and groom should be a part of, but instead guests and wedding party members. Blindfold perhaps a half dozen volunteers and have them do a blind taste test (provide something to clean the palate between sips). The volunteers should guess which wine is the pinot noir, which is the Cabernet, and so on. A bottle of wine is the obvious prize for the winner of this game.

Say you are having a reception at a country club on a golf course. It's possible your theme will include golf elements, so why not include golf in some reception activities or games? You certainly could head to the golf course for a "hole in one" contest, or have a driving contest to see which guest has the best stroke. As a simple, "who gets the centerpiece game", you could have people guess how many golf balls there are in the floral centerpiece (which could decorate a plain large glass vase filled with flowers). Similarly, there could be a large vase or other clear container filled with golf balls at the reception somewhere and guests could guess how many golf balls are in the vase.

A silly game could be made on the dance floor by asking everyone to include their best golf swing into their dancing for one particular song.

Now, if your reception and ceremony are both to be held outdoors and guests will be milling outdoors, think about games or activities that can take place outdoors and still keep to your level of formality or informality. For example, if the reception is being held at a park, perhaps guests might enjoy a "walk down memory lane". Prior to the reception, someone can use potted plants or arbors to create a little private lane, which guests can walk through. Along the path, guests will find pictures of the bride and groom at various stages in their lives. There should be a place for guests to record their thoughts and memories along the way as well.

If your wedding and reception are fairly casual, you can always tell guests ahead of time to prepare for a ball game or some other fun outdoor activity. Women can bring a pair of sneakers. Just imagine the fun photos you'll get out of a rousing game of football or baseball played by women in dresses and sneakers and men in suits and sneakers!

You can provide a challenge activity involving barefoot dancing in the grass or a Frisbee toss in the backyard. Is there a pool in the yard where the reception will be held? Why not have a swimming activity for after the whole of the reception is done?

Kids Wedding Reception Activities

2008-12-10T17:52:00.000+08:00

Not all brides and grooms want to exclude children from their wedding. Many are happy to welcome children into their wedding both as members of the wedding party and as guests.

Having children at a wedding, however, poses a myriad of problems. Do you leave the children to their own devices and hope they behave and don't get in the way? Do you provide a room with childcare so they are "present" but not too much under foot? Perhaps the best solution is a simple mix of both, with a smattering of fun built in.

First of all, if children are invited to the wedding, take into consideration the ages of the children. Babies will have to stay with mom and/or dad, for a variety of reasons. So planning to have all the children in another room might not be feasible. But if the children are toddlers up to about age 12, you can provide a separate room for them with childcare and a make a number of activities available to them.

If the children will be in a separate room at the reception, you can provide a coloring table, perhaps a TV with an appropriate movie ready to roll, and some board games. That could probably be enough for the duration of the wedding reception. Be aware of a few things: there should be a ratio of at least 1 adult for every 5 children if the children are toddlers, or 1 adult to every 10 children if the kids are older. Don't expect the kids to take up the activities on their own, but rather tell the childcare provider to get the kids involved in the activities by doing them him or herself.

What if the children will be part of the reception festivities? What activities can be geared specifically to children at the reception? There are plenty of things you can do, really. You can certainly plan a coloring table at the back of the reception hall or room. There, you can provide loads of paper, coloring books, markers and crayons. Paints are not recommended, for obvious reasons, and moms will thank you if you remember to supply the kids with washable markers and crayons only.

The art table can be more than just coloring, however. Buy a huge bag of pipe cleaners. Kids can amuse themselves for long periods of time, making animals, odd figures and the like. Make sure you have at least 20 or more pipe cleaners for each child, however, as children can go through these quickly. Think about "clean" clay, the new products that don't stick to anything and don't leave a trace on furniture. With a few different colors, kids can create a variety of figures, faces or forms.

Many brides like to plan more formally for their small guests. There are several options if this is the route you want to take. One popular option is to have paid entertainment on hand just for the children. This can take place in a separate room or toward the back of the reception room or hall if it's large and the guest list is big. You can hire a clown or a balloon artist. You can have someone braid the children's hair and provide temporary tattoos. If there is a separate room available, you can even hire a children's musician to come and entertain the kids. The options are endless.

If no plans are made for the children, but they arrive at the wedding expecting entertainment, you'll have to make some plans. One option is a "child only" dance, which allows only the children on the dance floor. This is not only cute to watch, and could be entertaining as well, but it will bring a smile to the face of every grandma and grandpa present.