Bridal Association of America

1. First and foremost as a couple you need to decide what would you like to spend on your Destination Wedding? Make a list of your needs and wants for your wedding. Consider your guests; remember in most situations your guests may have to pay for their own accommodations.

2. All-inclusive vs. Not? Depending on where you are going you will be facing this question. The best thing about an all-inclusive is almost everything is done for you. The best thing about a location that isn’t is price. Most non-inclusive resorts run at a lower price. You do have to consider extra costs like food and off location travel.

3. Location, Location, Location. Now you’ve figured out your budget so, where would you like to get married? Do you want the backdrop of the ocean, a beautiful majestic castle, an intimate hot air balloon ride for two? Choosing a theme or locale for your wedding makes it much easier to decide the best destination to get married in.

4. How many guests do you think will attend? This is essential for booking the trip. Many airlines and resorts offer large group discounts which may be beneficial for you and your guests. You may also get incentives i.e. a free room per every 25 guests. You also want to decide on whether you will have to book a banquet room, or small outdoor area for your reception.

5. So you have your location, you’ve set your budget, and you’ve figured out your guest list... Now you can decide on your favourite date. You definitely want to research weather and seasons for your location. For example hurricane season for the Caribbean is June – November so you may want to avoid those months. Always remember to have a few back-up dates as a precaution.

6. Once you have the date figured out you’ll want to send out your save-the-date cards. You want to send these out in advance so your guests are prepared. Invitations should follow once a destination, location, and date is set and confirmed. If you are offering group travel you want to give your guests enough time to book.

7. Will You be using a Wedding Coordinator? There are some benefits to having a coordinator at home. They help with finding the destination, getting quotes, getting you the best value for your buck, and the necessary requirements for marrying in your destination. If you choose to not have a coordinator do your extensive research and request quote from different providers. Or look into a travel agent. Remember there is almost always a coordinator at hand when you get too your destination

8. You have the perfect location... what requirements and legalities are required to marry in your destination? The last thing you’d want to figure out too late is that you needed to be in your destination for a month before you could marry! Do some extensive research and ask the location you are staying at. Make sure you have all the required forms and documents BEFORE you get to your destination.

9. What type wedding packages do they offer at your location? This will help you figure out the extra costs that might be added depending on your wants and needs. Most places offer a basic wedding package which usually includes the costs for the ceremony, a small cake, and a simple floral package at a great price. If you do your research you may discover that some places offer free weddings as another group rate incentive.

10. Figuring out the packages offered will help greatly what wedding vendors you will need. If the location doesn’t offer the kind of vendors you want you may have to go off location. Make sure you speak with the coordinator to understand their rules about off location vendors. Some location will even offer a list of their trusted vendors.

These 10 tips and trips are essential things to consider when planning your destination wedding. They are things that should be considered before you go! There are some things that will be easily found on location and your onsite coordinator will be able to help with those. Remember your travel requirements too... sometimes you plan so much you forget the simple things like an up-to-date passport. But most of all get ready to enjoy a fabulous wedding away from home in front of your dream backdrop with your wonderful family and friends, or in an intimate sending with just your soon to be husband or wife!

It's safe to say that out of all the events for which you will gather your friends and family to celebrate your marriage, the wedding ceremony itself will be the most meaningful and, hopefully, memorable. In the United States, music plays many vital roles in the wedding ceremony, from providing flow and ambiance to highlighting the deeper emotional meaning. Many former brides and grooms remember the songs played at their weddings for the rest of their lives, and they can relive that romantic day when hearing those songs again.

Since music is so important to your wedding ceremony, I always advise hiring one or more live, experienced, professional musicians to handle it. Qualified, well-researched musicians will be able to tailor the music in real time to fit what is going on in your ceremony, which will help one part flow effortlessly into the next. Also, you'll find it truly ties together all of the visual and verbal elements, from the flowers to the vows, with timeless style and class.

For the music, most American wedding ceremonies have six major parts, each with their own special requirements:

1. The prelude

2. The wedding party's processional

3. The bride's processional

4. The interlude

5. The recessional

6. The postlude

If you do not want to choose individual songs for your ceremony, experienced wedding musicians will be able to play appropriate songs in the right places. But picking out your own music can be more meaningful and satisfying. The first decision you should make that will guide you in your choices is whether you want your music to be traditional and classic or lesser-known but unique. The professional wedding musicians you hire should have a supply of music from both categories in their repertoire.

The Prelude

The purpose of the prelude music is to welcome guests as they are being seated before the ceremony. It also should give a cheerful yet subdued atmosphere, setting the stage for the solemnity of the event. The prelude generally begins 15 to 20 minutes before the ceremony start time, and it often involves quite a few songs. Because of this, it's best to give the musician(s) an idea of the genre of music you want and leave the individual song choices up to their discretion. Since the prelude sets the tone for the rest of the ceremony, it's a good idea to base your genre choice on the type of music you will be using later in the ceremony. Popular genre choices include Classical, Love Songs, Jazz, and Broadway, and these genres can be mixed together within the prelude to suit your taste. Each of these genres has sub-categories (Baroque or Romantic Classical music, old or new love songs, etc.), but it's safe to leave those choices up to the musicians unless you have strong feelings one way or another.

The Wedding Party's Processional

The wedding party's processional marks the official beginning of the ceremony. It should have a slow but flowing feel, ushering the beautiful bridesmaids and other members of the wedding party down the aisle. Perhaps the classic example here is Canon in D by Pachelbel, but you should listen to various musical selections to find a song that strikes a chord with you.

The Bride's Processional

The bride's processional can be an incredible moment, as memorable to everyone involved as the vows or any other part of the ceremony. You should choose a very special song here. If you go with Classical music, the obvious traditional choice is Wagner's Bridal Chorus ("Here Comes the Bride"). But any Classical piece that strikes you as particularly beautiful or meaningful can be used here. If you're going with jazz, pop, or Broadway, use a song with beautiful music as well as lyrics that are meaningful to you. Even if you don't have a singer at your wedding, the lyrics to a popular song will still play in everyone's minds when they hear the melody.

The Interlude

The interlude can actually be many different moments in the ceremony, my very loose definition being any time there are no words being spoken for a minute or more. For most ceremonies, the interlude is the unity candle, memorial candle, or rose presentation. These are moments of quiet reflection, and the music you choose should encourage this mood. A popular and appropriate unity candle choice is The Wedding Song, partly because the lyrics mention the word "union." Sweet Classical favorites include Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach, Ave Maria by Schubert, and Meditation from Thais by Massenet.

The Recessional

At last, time to celebrate! The wedding officiant's pronouncement of husband and wife is followed by enthusiastic applause and joyous recessional music as the happy couple leads the way back up the aisle. The song you choose should be bright and upbeat, inviting everyone to celebrate your union. The top traditional choice for the recessional is Mendelssohn's Wedding March. A close second and third are Beethoven's Ode to Joy and Clarke's Trumpet Voluntary. But any song with a joyous feel that speaks to you will work well in this spot.

The Postlude

The postlude sets a pleasant atmosphere as guests are leaving. It can last between 10 and 30 minutes, so it's best to treat the postlude like the prelude and simply give the musicians an idea of what you want. Experienced wedding musicians will play postlude music that is refined but upbeat, adding the finishing touch to your beautiful ceremony.

The best starting point for specific ceremony music ideas is the repertoire list on the website (or in paper form) of the musicians you are hiring. The songs listed there are usually ones that the musicians are requested to play frequently and that the musicians know very well. Talk with your musicians as far in advance of the ceremony as possible about your musical selections. This way, if you have a special request that is not in the musicians' repertoire, they may be able to accommodate it.

Lastly, have fun with the process of choosing your music! You can make listening to possible ceremony music a wonderful opportunity to slow down in the midst of your hectic planning and reflect on the love that you and your partner feel for each other. Music has the power to express this beautiful sentiment to all of your friends and family during your wedding ceremony, so take advantage of it!

Article written by:
Courtney Lawhn, Chicago Harpist and Wedding Musician

Courtney Lawhn is one of the most requested wedding harpists in Chicago. She has performed with the most prestigious Classical ensembles in Chicago ? the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra ? and she brings her experience to weddings and other events throughout the metro area. Check out wedding music samples and simplified example ceremonies on her website.

http://www.chicago-harpist.com

For a bride, shopping for bridesmaid dresses can be one of the most difficult aspects of wedding planning. How can the bride find a gown for her maids that will display her own taste, look great on every girl and will fit into the financial picture?

There are so many colors and styles of dresses to choose from. The bridesmaids themselves may vary greatly in size and they want a flatteringly gown that makes them feel good. The bride and her bridesmaids may be in their mid-20's or older and want a more sophisticated look in the bridesmaids gown. The bride also has the task of choosing a dress that will look good with each girl's skin tone, hair color and figure.

Choosing the right gown can be a challenge, but it's not impossible. The bride should start the decision process early. It's ideal to actually place the order for the gowns about four months before the wedding. This will allow time for alterations, shopping for shoes and other accessories and leave time to dye the shoes to match the gown. The bride will find it most helpful to shop with the one bridesmaid whose fashion sense she shares. The ultimate decision about the perfect bridesmaid gown will be the bride's.

The first step to choosing a bridesmaid gown is to determine the formality, style and fabric of the wedding gown. The bridesmaid dresses shouldn't overpower or clash with the wedding gown. For today's more simple bridal styles, nice detailing in the maids gowns creates a good look for the group. Back accents like straps, halter tops and simple beading are important for ceremony photography. A quality gown of good fabric and construction is necessary for the active bridesmaids who will be walking, dancing or running errands. Who needs to worry about seams splitting apart or buttons falling off during the wedding?

The next step for most brides is choosing the gown color. This can be done by looking at bridesmaid swatches in the bridal shop. Most manufacturers make bridesmaids dresses in anywhere from a few colors to as many as fifty. Choosing the actual color will narrow the choice of gowns to a more manageable number.

The bride must then consider the size ranges and figure types of her maids. Most bridal parties have an average of two full-figured members. If this is the case, many times it's best to begin choosing a gown style with the larger maids in mind. Some larger girls feel comfortable in spaghetti straps or even strapless gowns, but many would rather have at least a short sleeve or perhaps a shawl. The smaller girls can usually wear any style. A-line styles look good on most everyone. A two-piece style with a longer top covering the hip bone is another good style. Almost 50% of wedding parties will include a pregnant bridesmaid. Extra fabric can be ordered to create a maternity side panel. A few designers are now creating maternity bridesmaids.

A new marketing trend for bridesmaids is the idea of separates. Most manufactures now feature at least some of their styles in separate tops and skirts. Separates offer some flexibility for the maids as they are able to choose different sizes for the top and skirt and can accommodate many different figures types. The bride can also choose the color and manufacturer of the separates while letting the maids have the freedom to create a style they will be comfortable in.

In these sensitive economic times, many gown manufacturers are adjusting their prices to meet everyone's financial needs. Many designers have lowered their prices with no reduction in the quality of the garments. This year's selection of gowns should meet the approval of everyone in the wedding party.

The bride may save time by doing her preliminary shopping online. She can narrow her choices and email styles she likes to her maids. Shopping on the internet may be the most logical choice for some brides when her maids live in different parts of the country. Online ordering entails the maids obtaining their own measurements and alterations which must be done correctly for the best fit. Be sure to order very early to allow extra time for shipping the gowns.

The bridesmaid look is not complete without shoes and accessories. Shoes are available in many styles in fabrics which can be custom dyed to match the gown. Also popular are the clear vinyl shoes in strappy sandals some with changeable colored ribbon straps. One shoe company is now producing 100% silk shoes with leather soles in colorfast fabrics available in 9 styles in 15 colors that can be special ordered for delivery in about one week. Matching wrist or elbow gloves offers a sophisticated look. A simple rhinestone or pearl necklace and earring set will enhance the look of your maids.

With all the choices in bridesmaid gowns available today, every member of the wedding party should be happy with the final results and will spend the wedding day celebrating with the bride and her groom.

About the author: Roanna Rose has owned a full service bridal shop for more than 20 years. In 1997, the business was extended to the internet when the web site http://www.tjformal.com was created showcasing prom dresses, wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, tuxedos, and formal accessories.

Over the last decade weddings have been on the shift. Couples have been finding ways to stray away from the traditional wedding and incorporate more originality in there weddings. New ideas, new location, new fashion trends, new technology. The following will show you weddings are moving into the new frontier.

Weddings Abroad:
The faux pas associated with eloping has changed. More and more couples have taken their weddings away from home. Some couples embark on an island adventure and incorporate there wedding and honeymoon all in one. Others refer back to their culture and take a journey through their history. Financially destination weddings are less expensive than a traditional wedding, it usually incorporates a smaller amount of guests and a smaller wedding party. The beauty of the destination wedding is that itself, beauty. Your backdrop can be anything from the ocean on a beach, a large majestic castle, to a vast view of rolling hills and mountains. You decor is the place you choose, and that significantly cuts back on costs. Destination weddings are a great idea for couples who seek a little adventure, and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Dance Your Way Down The Isle:
Couples have been really shaking it up. First dances aren't the only way bride and groom show there moves. Couples have now been incorporating choreographed dances into there march up the isle. Wedding parties do music video inspired dancing to some of their favourite songs, many of the classics. A great way to add some spunk and charisma to your wedding. It also sets the tone to a fun and festive event.

Trashing The Dress:
A new wave in wedding photography is getting down and dirty in your just wed dresses and suits. Couples have been taking the plunge off the cliff, literally, into the ocean. Trash the dress photography is a very creative way of thinking outside the box. Rolling around in the sand, grass, and mud gives fantastic and unique photos, allowing the couple to get comfortable, romantic, and at one with nature.

Colour Me Wild:
Colourful wedding dresses is the new trend. The stigma of wearing white has been lifting. Pastels, fluorescents, floral patterns are just some of the colours being used in wedding dresses. It allows a bride and groom to incorporate their favourite colour and style into their wedding. It also allows for new inspiration in themed weddings.

Live at Your Wedding:
A great technological advancement in weddings is incorporating live web stream so family and friends across the world can be apart of a couples special day. Large screens are set up and monitored at the reception so guests who could not make it can posts live text or video messages for the bride and groom. They can also watch all that is happening at the reception from the comfort of their homes. Great for the bride and groom who live away from family.

These are some of the great things happening in the wedding industry. Weddings can be as uniquely creative as a couple desires. Being more creative allows guests to get to know the couple more and allows them to feel more involved in a wonderful moment in the couples life.

All Content provided by:

Renee Ferguson

The Beginning of Forever

Blog Writter for the Bridal Association of America

If you’re having a Jewish wedding and your officiating rabbi is affiliated with the Conservative movement, he or she will most likely require that your ketubah have something called the Lieberman Clause. You’ll probably find some ketubah artists and stores offer what they call the “Conservative” text, and some offer “Conservative with Lieberman” (or “Conservative w/Lieb.”) What does it all mean, you wonder?

A Little Historical Background

The ketubah, or Jewish marriage contract, was developed about 2,500 years ago as an attempt to protect women from being left without resources if their husband should die or divorce them. The traditional wording, written in Aramaic (the colloquial and legal form of Hebrew back in those days), is nothing more than a prenuptial agreement, specifying the (mostly financial) obligations of the groom toward his bride.

Largely codified in the Middle Ages, this same Aramaic wording is still in use by the Orthodox Jewish community to this day. If a couple is having a wedding officiated by an Orthodox rabbi, he will absolutely require this traditional Aramaic text in order for the wedding to be valid.

Side Note: The Problem of the Agunah, or Chained Woman

According to Jewish law, in order for a divorce to be effective, a man must grant his wife a get (a Jewish bill of divorce) of his own free will. Without a get (or a heter aguna – permission by a halachic authority based on a decision that her husband is presumed dead), a woman is not permitted to remarry, and any children she might bear with another man would be considered illegitimate. Even if she obtains a civil divorce, without a get she is “chained” to her old marriage, hence the term agunah, or “chained woman.”

This situation has led to serious consequences for women whose husbands refuse to grant their wives a get. While a man may be shunned, imprisoned, or in other ways pressured into giving his wife a get, ultimately if he decides to be stubborn about it, the woman is stuck.

The Conservative Movement’s Solution

In the 1950s the Conservative movement’s Rabbinical Assembly attempted to resolve the problem of the agunah by adding a clause to the traditional ketubah text, stipulating that divorce will be adjudicated by a modern Bet Din (rabbinic court). This clause is called “the Lieberman clause,” named after the Talmudic scholar who developed it.

Orthodox Judaism has rejected the Lieberman clause as a violation of Jewish law, but it is still very much in use by the Conservative movement, and rabbis of other streams sometimes require this clause on the ketubah as well.

The Conservative ketubah text, then, is made up of two texts: the traditional Aramaic (Orthodox) ketubah text, plus the Lieberman clause.

So what do these texts actually say? Since you may be signing a document at your wedding with this wording, you may want to know what you’re agreeing to! Here is a translation of the traditional ketubah text:

“On __________ [day of the week], the __________ day of the month __________ in the year __________ since creation of the world, the era according to which we are accustomed to reckon here in the city of __________ how __________ son of __________ said to this virgin/widow/divorcée/convert __________ daughter of __________ ‘Be thou my wife according to the law of Moses and Israel, and I will work for thee, honor, support, and maintain thee in accordance with the custom of Jewish husbands who work for their wives, honor, support, and maintain them in truth. And I will set aside for thee 200 zuz [traditional money] {for virgins}/100 zuz {for all others}, in lieu of thy virginity, which belong to thee (according to the law of Moses), and thy food, clothing, and necessaries, and live with thee in conjugal relations according to universal custom.’ And __________ this virgin/widow/divorcée/convert consented and became his wife. The dowry that she brought from her father’s house/her own house, in silver, gold, valuables, dresses and bedclothes, amounts to __________ [100 silver pieces {virgin}/50 silver pieces {all others}], and the bridegroom consented to increase this amount from his own property with the sum of __________ [100 silver pieces {virgin}/50 silver pieces {all others}], making in all __________ [200 silver pieces {virgin}/100 silver pieces {all others}]. And thus said __________ the bridegroom, ‘I take upon myself and my heirs after me the responsibility of this marriage contract, of the dowry, and of the additional sum, so that all this shall be paid from the best part of my property, real and personal, that I now possess or may hereafter acquire. All my property, even the mantle on my shoulders, shall be mortgaged for the security of the contract and of the dowry and of the addition made thereto.’ __________ the bridegroom has taken upon himself the responsibility for all the obligations of this ketubah, as is customary with other ketubot made for the daughters of Israel in accordance with the institution of our sages — may their memory be for a blessing! It is not to be regarded as an illusory obligation or as a mere symbolical delivery between __________ son of __________ the bridegroom, and __________ daughter of __________ the virgin/widow/divorcée/convert, and they have employed an instrument legally fit for the purpose to strengthen all that is stated above, and everything is valid and established.”

And here is a translation of the Lieberman clause:

“And in solemn assent to their mutual responsibilities and love, the bridegroom and bride have declared: as evidence to our desire to enable each other to live in accordance with the Jewish law of marriage throughout our lifetime, we, the bride and bridegroom, attach our signatures to this ketubah, and hereby agree to recognize the Bet Din of the Rabbinical Assembly and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, or its duly appointed representatives, as having authority to council us in the light of Jewish tradition which requires husband and wife to give each other complete love and devotion, and to summon either party at the request of the other, in order to enable the party so requesting to live in accordance with the standards of Jewish law of marriage throughout his or her lifetime. We authorize the Bet Din to impose such terms of compensation as it may see fit for failure to respond to its summons or to carry out its decision.”

If you’re shopping for a ketubah, make sure to check with your rabbi or cantor before you make your selection! Although most Conservative rabbis will require the Conservative text (plus Lieberman clause!), every rabbi is different. One thing is for sure, though: if you get to your wedding and your rabbi decides that your ketubah is not acceptable, you won’t be able to use it! So check first, and have fun shopping!

All Images and Content provided by:

Melissa Dinwiddie

Ketubahworks.com

Blog Writter for the Bridal Association of America

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©copyright Melissa Dinwiddie 2010