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1) Pick a suitable piece of music for the bridal entrance which is the right length.

If you pick a 3 minute song for the wedding entrance you may only hear the first minute or so. Therefore, if you do have a piece of music which takes a while to get going or you would really like to hear in its entirety, then it is better to use it for the signing of the register.

2) Choose music which has a special meaning for both of you

In terms of the various styles of music to choose from, there really are many options. You could pick something that is special to you, whether it is a piece of classical music like Pachelbel’s Canon, or a pop song that could signify the first time you and your partner met. However, you could simply pick some music that you feel is suitable for the occasion. If in doubt ask friends or family members for their advice, or even the musicians you are using on the day.

3) Think about what instrument(s) you would like to hear your music performed on.

This is a very important point to consider. Your favourite jazz standard might sound a bit odd on a string quartet, or a heavy rock classic might struggle to work on the piano. This happens more often than you may think and although most people may not notice the unusual choice of instrumentation for a certain song, you should seek the advice of the musician(s) you decide to employ for the ceremony, to make sure everything is as perfect as it should be.

4) Are there any videos of the musician(s) performing on their website?

You should definitely check this before booking the musicians for the event. You cannot totally rely on testimonials and with simple computer software, you can easily edit recordings nowadays. However, if they have a video it provides a great indicator of how they will look and sound at your wedding.

5) Can the musician(s) play during the reception as well as the ceremony?

String quartets are probably one of the more popular choices for wedding entrance music, often playing classical repertoire mixed in with the odd pop song. However, a more flexible option could be to hire a pianist for your wedding music.

A pianist will usually have a wider repertoire than a string quartet and you will find most styles of music can easily work on the piano. Another advantage of a pianist is that they can be used for the reception as well as the ceremony and depending upon their ability, they can play many different styles of music to cater for all tastes. If you have the option of booking one act for different parts of the wedding, it can make the logistics of the day run more smoothly and be less stressful in terms of organisation.

Author

Martyn Croston is a pianist available to perform quality music at any wedding or party in London and the home counties. =>> Click HERE to visit his site for further information

You may view this post at the Just Weddings.org Blog

You may view this post at the Just Weddings.org Blog

In many different cultures the wedding cake is an integral part of the wedding ceremony.

In the West it is the cutting of the cake by the bride and groom that is important, whilst in the East it is the feeding of the cake to the couple’s parents.

The traditional cake type and ingredients vary from country to country. In the UK and America you will be probably be served a fruit or sponge cake covered in white royal icing. In Korea they use a steamed rice cake which is covered in red bean powder. In France there is the famous croquembouche, a tall tower of cream filled pastries and in Greece a sourdough or almond cake.

In some countries it is popular to serve two cakes known as the ‘bride’s cake’ and ‘grooms cake’. The bride’s cake is the main wedding cake and is usually the more traditional of the two.  The groom’s cake is usually more of a novelty, being made in brighter colours and fun shapes. Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge had two cakes at their wedding last year. The bride’s cake was an 8 tiered masterpiece covered in cream and white icing with over 900 delicate flowers and the grooms cake was a chocolate biscuit cake made from Rich Tea biscuits and 17 kilos of chocolate!

Vicky just loves cakes!  She especially loves to write about wedding cakes and traditions and celebrity wedding cakes.

You may view this post at the Just Weddings.org Blog

You may view this post at the Just Weddings.org Blog

Match the Wedding Bands to the Engagement Ring

Traditionally, the bride wears the wedding band closest to her heart, followed by her engagement ring. Often, the woman will choose to make things easier after the wedding by having the two rings banded together. Because the two rings will be in such close proximity, it is absolutely essential that they look good together. This means that it is not advisable to choose any old set of wedding bands.

Many jewelers specifically design engagement diamond rings and wedding rings together, making the entire ring shopping process a whole lot easier on the groom. This format allows the groom to get all of the rings together, allowing for a seamless appearance. When deciding to go this route, it will be important to take the bride’s choices into consideration. Some couples have ditched the whole traditional “surprise” engagement and instead opted to shop for engagement and wedding rings together. This allows the couples to agree on styles and designs before making any large investments.

Wedding Band Engravings

A wedding band is more than just a ring. It’s a symbol of true love. Wedding bands can be made more personal with the help of special engravings. Couples like to choose engravings that capture the meaning of their relationships. These may involve special Bible verses, quotes from books, or even inside jokes. Some couples know what they’ll use to engrave their rings well ahead of time, while others really struggle with this decision. For couples having a difficult time deciding on engravings, many jewelers provide a list of quotes, Bible verses and other touching phrases from which couples can choose.

Choosing Comfortable Rings

A large concern of those choosing wedding rings is the comfort factor. Make sure you don’t select a ring that makes you uncomfortable, because you could be stuck wearing it for the rest of your life. The most comfortable rings tend to have gently rounded edges. These feel much better on the skin than sharp angles. The comfort of a ring also depends on its size. Most men choose rings between 5 and 7 millimeters wide. Rings wider than 7 millimeters can cause a fair amount of discomfort, especially for men with small to average hands.

The process of choosing wedding bands is not something to be taken lightly. You and your significant other will be wearing those rings for a long time, so pick something you’ll be happy to show off.

Alexa Thomason is an excited bride-to-be who lives in Chicago. An art history graduate student, she spends her time traveling, studying, and planning her upcoming nuptials with her fiancé!

You may view this post at the Just Weddings.org Blog

While the metallic element cobalt was discovered in 1739 by chemist George Brandt, commercial cobalt alloys (including cobalt-chromium) were not discovered until the early 20th century by metallurgist and entrepreneur Elwood Haynes. Haynes found that these alloys had at once incredible strength at elevated temperatures, a resistance to corrosion and a naturally bright luster. He accordingly named these alloys the Stellite alloys, after the Latin word for ‘star.’

In some regards, cobalt chrome is nothing short of a wonder alloy, and one that is incredibly well suited for use in jewelry. Here are a just a few reasons why men’s cobalt chrome wedding bands have the potential to become a classic wedding ring option with serious staying power, current demand aside.

They’re durable, crack and scratch-resistant. Unlike softer traditional metals like gold or inexpensive metal options like silver, cobalt rings are generally scratch, crack and tarnish-resistant. In fact, cobalt chrome is five times harder than gold and four times harder than platinum. It also resists tarnishing, not like the oxidization-prone metal sterling silver. This impressive strength lends amazing durability to chrome rings, making them ideal for everyday wear, as well as a great option for men who serve in occupations that require a lot of work with one’s hands. Men’s cobalt rings also have a pleasant middle of the alternative metal market weight, making them heavier than feather-light titanium but less weighty than tungsten, and in general feel more similar to a higher priced metal.

They’re hypoallergenic and biocompatible. Cobalt chrome is naturally inert, and chrome rings are hypoallergenic. This has made them not only ideal for use in the medical field in surgical and other implants, but an apt choice for those with sensitive or allergic skin, as well as men who work in sterile environments (like doctors).

They look like higher end metals. Unlike some other hypoallergenic materials that have a distinctly industrial appearance (titanium, for example), cobalt chrome more closely resembles precious metals like white gold and platinum. Displaying a signature high luster, these cobalt rings have an attractive traditional white metal look, and there is no plating involved to achieve this appearance (as is the case with white gold). This allows those with more traditional tastes to purchase a chrome wedding band at a fraction of the price of platinum or gold. As previously mentioned, these chrome rings also wear better than these precious metals, for an ideal combination of a high end look and modern industrial strength and durability.

They’re re-sizeable. The strength and composition of other popular alternative men’s ring materials like tungsten, titanium and ceramic render them unable to be resized, meaning that their wearers are in danger of having to purchase a new ring if their ring fingers undergo any significant changes in size or shape. Cobalt chrome’s malleability allows cobalt wedding bands to be resized if necessity dictates such, which surely provides some degree of relief to those who don’t want to buy a new ring for financial or sentimental reasons. This malleability also means that there are more styles of men’s cobalt chrome wedding bands available on the market, as the material can accommodate both more detailed designs and popular wedding ring gemstones like diamonds.

Author Bio:

Samantha writes for Mens Wedding Rings, an online shop that offers a wide selection of unique men’s wedding bands, traditional rings and alternative styles like men’s cobalt chrome wedding bands.

You may view this post at the Just Weddings.org Blog

You may view this post at the Just Weddings.org Blog

You may view this post at the Just Weddings.org Blog

And while weddings are supposed to be a beautiful expression of the couple that is getting married, there are certain wedding trends that should have been left in 2011.

So 2011: Photo props

Yes, I know, they are fun and make for hilarious pictures. However, if I have to look at any more wedding photos where the bride is holding a moustache on a stick, I just might lose it. The time for props on sticks is winding down. Long gone are the days where each member of the wedding party has their own moustache.

Instead for 2012 weddings, try and capture the candid moments. Photojournalism wedding photography is getting more and more popular with couples this year. These pictures tell the story of your special day, and highlight all the precious moments you will want to remember in the years to come.

After all, in 10 years do you think you will still find that handlebar moustache on a stick entertaining? Probably not.

So 2011: Choreographed wedding party dances

I’m already wincing at how many people probably disagree with me here, but are we not over the whole choreographed wedding party dance by now? I mean, they burst out onto the scene a few years ago and we all enjoyed them and got a kick out of them. But now, they are tired and overdone.

Besides, during big choreographed numbers, someone is always off beat, it just ends up looking sloppy, and you will probably just fast forward through it on your wedding video after the third time watching it.

Instead for 2012, why not streamline the choreographed dance, if you really must have one, and choose to do it with just your groom, or even during your father/daughter dance? I personally like the father/daughter dance option as no one is really expecting it and you and your dad can have a blast making it up together.

So 2011: Typical bachelorette parties

Strippers, booze, and phallic themed party favors just doesn’t cut it anymore. Sure ‘suck for a buck’ t-shirts, penis shaped straws, or male stripper lap-dances make for funny pictures, but those bachelorette party novelties are only for the lazy maid of honour.

Instead for 2012, creative MOHs are planning a day for their brides-to-be that they will never forget. Instead of drinking yourselves into a drunken stupor, channel your inner secret agent with events like Stiletto Spy School where ladies learn cool fighting moves, stunt driving techniques, and MacGyver-like survival skills. All while rocking a pretty dress.

While it can be hard to not get caught up with the different trends of the season, weddings are a reflection of you and your hubby-to-be, and planning them should be fun. So with that being said, if you really want to bust out your own rendition of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ with your wedding party, do it. Just make sure you don’t overload your day with tired trends that everyone has already seen, or watched on the internet.

AUTHOR BIO:

Jill is the chief bridal bloggin’ babe for A Bride’s Wedding Guide where she blogs and vlogs about all things wedding, including bridesmaid presents ideas and unique destination wedding invitations.

You may view this post at the Just Weddings.org Blog