Choosing wedding favors might be one of the smaller details of your wedding planning but it is certainly requires some thought and effort. You want to choose favors which add a stylish finishing touch to your wedding and which show your guests your appreciation for them being there to celebrate your special day.

For unique wedding favors, gifts and accessories take a look at Bellenza.com

What Bellenza has to offer?

Bellenza offer a vast selection of beautiful favors ranging from favor bags to porcelain keepsakes at prices starting from $0.50. Bellenza also have items which are more expensive, but of course, you don’t mind spending that bit extra for favors which your wedding guests are guaranteed to truly cherish. Remember too that depending on which favors you choose they can save you money as they might be able to double up as table decorations at your wedding reception!

I liked the huge selection of useful wedding favor bags which are available on Bellenza’s website. They come in a broad spectrum of colors and in many different styles, shapes and sizes. Another unique aspect of Bellenza’s website is that they provide you with great ideas of what to put inside your favor bags, including cookies, candies and other small wedding favors for your wedding guests.

There is more to Bellenza than simply wedding favors. They also offer elegant bridal accessories and a wide rage of attendant gifts. Handsewn stunning ring pillows and chic purses to exquisite silk bridal shawl.

Finding your way around

I found the Bellenza website really easy to navigate. They have created an attractive layout for the favors and use extensive product pictures alongside informative details specific to each favor. I thought that it was extremely helpful that Bellenza’s website had categories for customers to select from including Party Themes, Gift Ideas, Styles and Duo+ables.

The “Duo+ables” section is very innovative as it contains clever pairings of favors available for you to choose. This simplifies the process for you of choosing matching combinations of favors. I really like the pairings which they have put together. Bellenza obviously have an eye for design and have chosen colors and styles of favors which complement each other. I particularly like the Marikei Porcelain Hatbox which is wrapped in a matching Zaarni Organza Wrap Circle with Ribbon. I think it would make a beautiful wedding favor and it also makes an eye-catching table decoration too!

Bellenza also have an “Advice” section which contains lots of top tips and suggestions for wedding themes, ranging from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” to “Beach Weddings”. With each theme suggested Bellenza give their ideas on which wedding favors are appropriate. I like the fact that Bellenza put emphasis on the usage and theme which applies to each of their favors and that they are giving you free advice on how to use their products to create a unique style for your wedding. Bellenza’s website gives you fantastic ideas for accessorizing your wedding and complimenting your chosen wedding theme with some stylish matching items.

Design details

“We are meticulous about selecting the right combination of materials and fabrics, while paying close attention to both texture and color in order to give our products an elegant look, as opposed to a mass-produced one.”

It is the quality of their workmanship combined with the distinctive materials and fabrics which they use is their designs which makes Bellenza’s favors stand apart from some of its contemporaries. Through their ongoing commitment to originality and artistry Bellenza are creating unique and timeless handmade wedding favors and couture-inspired bridal accessories. Sometimes when you look at wedding favor websites you see the same style and quality of products but Bellenza’s use of unique textures and materials such as seashell, rhinestone, and silver help to catch your eye!

Amongst Bellenza's line of elegant favor bags, pouches, and wraps is the Sofearélla Rose Pomander Favor Bag. This is a perfect example of Bellenza’s ability to use delicate fabrics in imaginative ways. They have carefully sewn pieces of satin and organza individually into flowers, rendering them to follow the form of a pretty Victorian pomander. To make the bags even more functional a decorative pearl handle was added allowing the bag to be used both as a favor container and a place card holder – Bellenza really do think of everything!

Their design team must have a great eye for aesthetics as they manage to combine a perfect combination of materials in a vast range of colors and embellishments to create masterpieces!

“At Bellenza, our philosophy embraces this ideal with a passion for designing products that are both creatively useful and unique.”

I think that Bellenza definitely simplify the task of choosing elegant yet affordable wedding favors, accessories and gifts. So go on, have a browse – you won’t regret it!

For more ideas about favors take a look at my blog "26 Wedding Favors Your Guests are Guaranteed to Love".

If Money Is An Issue :
Money Saving Secrets All Brides Should Know “Learn how to avoid wedding industry scams, get hugely reduced prices and what's more ... how I saved over $10,000 on my own wedding with key insider information ....

Best of all I reveals the Secrets wedding planners and industry insiders deliberately don't tell you!”

Let us show you...

♥ How to discover an amazing way to save 50%-80% of your entire wedding expense to have the exact same wedding. And it doesn't matter whether your wedding budget is $5,000 or $50,000

♥ That one thing's for sure ... Brides have a sign across their forehead saying "Rip me off!" - Agreed? That's why you need to know how you also can slash off 70% on alcohol cost, 50% on Flowers and 80% on your Limousine!

♥ The 5 rules that will prevent 99% of wedding scams. These are very easy to follow and it will work on ANY wedding vendor. Even if you get ripped off, you WILL get your money back, Guaranteed!!

♥ The easy way to get a 70% off your wedding cake cost!

Learn much more by clicking here.

THE BEST WEDDING TIPS ON THE INTERNET

Each week you can receive a great wedding tip by simply filling in this form:

After you have clicked on the "Send My 1st Tip" button follow these 6 easy steps to ensuring you receive a free unique wedding tip every week.

The most important step is that you you click on the confirmation link in the email sent immediately to your inbox - if you don't you won't get your wedding tips!

A TESTIMONIAL :

"Hi Elle, I just wanted to give my thanks for the generous, often funny and thoughtful planning tips I have received. Our wedding is in just over two weeks time. It's the first time we're getting married (as for many people), and inevitably, there are things we had not considered. I really appreciated many of the planning tips for this reason, also because they were very practical and down-to-earth. Great job, and many thanks again. It must be great to know you are making a positive difference to the marrying couples that receive these. Best Wishes" - Marcela Read more testimonials here

P. S.

You will also send you a Free "Wedding Dress Ideas" Report with your first tip!

I was amused to read a story about a couple who chose to say "I Boo" at their Halloween Wedding in Moundsville, West Virginia at the weekend. According to wtov9.com Alvin and Carol Stillwell exchanged their vows in full Halloween costumes and their friends and family followed the Halloween theme with their wedding attire too - there were plenty of ghosts, witches and goblins cheering the couple on!

A lot of couples, like the Stillwell's, choose to get married on Halloween because it is their favorite holiday. It is certainly one way of ensuring your wedding is remembered for years to come as it is a very unique and wacky theme.

For those of you with a fun-loving nature and a penchant for all things Halloween why not consider it as your wedding theme? Think of the abundance of Halloween decorations there are available for you to use for your wedding if you chose this theme. You could host the wedding reception in a spooky mansion or castle and decorate it with pumpkin carvings, jack-o-lanterns, candelabras, plastic spiders, skulls, bats and eerie lighting. A bubbling cauldron (using a dry ice machine) would be sure to add a spooky atmosphere to the wedding reception and you could tie in the catering to match your Halloween theme (click here to read one bride's catering choices for her wedding including a Jell-O brain mould!). You could carry the Halloween theme all the way through your wedding planning from the wedding invitations down to the cake and favors - what fun! A black wedding dress is a popular choice for Halloween brides and their wedding party and you could choose dramatic blood red roses for your bouquet. By using a Halloween theme for your wedding you would also giving your guests an opportunity to let their hair down and dress up in costumes rather than their Sunday best!

Take a look at Wednet.com for more Halloween decorating ideas.

Do bear in mind that Halloween weddings need not be tacky. If you need reassurance read the Knot's story of a couple who exchanged vows dressed in black at a gothic church in Manhattan and then celebrated their reception in a big, spooky dungeon.

Just think, you will never find a better excuse to host a Halloween party every year than it being your wedding anniversary! Use the comments section below to share your opinion - I would love to hear from you!

i-vox, the leading brand of video diary rooms, were at Earls Court a few weeks ago collecting feedback from visitors to the National Wedding Show. It got a great response and visitors and exhibitors thought it was an innovative and fun way of capturing opinion.

The format of having a room to film yourself in rather than a feedback form is one that appealed to the show organisors so they can analyze what visitors really thought of the show, and not be confined to the boundaries of written questions.

Watch my own comments from one minute 16 seconds into this video, plus a few more samples here. If you like what you see you can pop around to the next two shows in the Spring, they are Birmingham 16-18 Feb 2007 and London 23 - 25 Feb 2007.

How does this relate to weddings?

Well i-vox also offer a service where by they will set up your very own video diary room at your wedding. So instead of the usual guest book, guests can visit the room anytime they want (as it is constantly recording) to say a few words about how much they are enjoying the wedding!

A great alternative to the traditional wedding guest book. Let me know what you think of this unique idea by leaving a comment below.

As ever I encourage to sign up for my free wedding tips! And if you know anyone else who would be interested in reading them please send them to this page or directly to Google Video

Now stop laughing - I have to get your attention some how!!

How would you like to win a free e-engagement announcement simply by sending an email to Jamie at info@ourweddingcast.com? Quite simply the first newly engaged bride to quote "Wedaholic" in their email receives a free e-engagement announcement. No catch - just totally free! So please send an email now to stand a chance of winning.

This is a great opportunity to share your engagement story with friends and family instantly. No longer is there a need to repeat the story a million times! Using this service you can create your own moving photo slide show with pictures and music you have chosen.

Additionally Ourweddingcast.com are kindly offering all wedaholic readers a discount of 10% off ANY of their services. You just have to enter the code "Wedaholic" to take advantage of this great offer.

Other OurWeddingCast products include Photo Montages and Webcast & Podcast Services:

The OurWeddingCast Photo Montage allows you to create a slide show of your lives both separately and together on the big night (or during the rehearsal dinner). There is now no longer the need to set up a projector and click your way through each picture - all you have to do is press play, sit back and let your wedding guests enjoy your very own "love story". This is definitely the stress free approach to making a vibrant photomontage that you can share with friends and family for up to 1 year!

The OurWeddingCast Webcast & Podcast Services mean you no longer have to pack your living room with friends and relatives in order to share your wedding video. Have aunt in New York or a cousin Florida? Now, by simply clicking a link they can see you and relive your wedding from their very own lounge!

Take a look at a recent wedding cast from OurWeddingCast.com . Good luck and please leave comments after you have used the service.

Reportage wedding photography is becoming ever more popular. More couples are looking for an album of photographs that really capture the spirit of their wedding day, rather than the traditional more formal shots we are all used to. Reportage style photography is unobtrusive, and there is definitely less emphasis placed on the normal group shots.

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing some of the most beautiful hand bound wedding books at the National Wedding Show in Earls Court. I was honestly stuck at how unique and refreshing this alternative approach to wedding photography really is. Reportage wedding photography is definitely suitable for couples that would like an uncontrived record of their wedding day.

A typical day starts with informal photographs taken of the bride whilst preparing herself for the big day. Afterwards shots are taken of the groom before the ceremony, then the bride’s arrival, followed by the ceremony itself (subject to any restrictions imposed by clergy/registrar). Following this key family / group portraits, bride and groom photographs, and then candid shots taken of the remainder of the day

It was a real joy to look at these modern wedding books designed to show the story of your wedding day in an informal manner, that can even include wording from your ceremony/service.

Typically photographers provide a couple of options, all slightly vary but the following should give you an idea . The first is a where photographs are taken from the bride getting ready to the start of the wedding breakfast. In this instance approximately 200 7” x 5” proof photographs are presented in a 20 page A4 square hard-backed book. The second option is photographs taken from the wedding breakfast to the first dance. This is a approximately 300 7” x 5” proof photographs are presented in a 25 page A4 square hard-backed book.

If you are looking for a beautifully presented account of your wedding that reflects each element of the day, I urge you to make some enquires with reportage wedding photographers in your area.

Who wants to be saying "cheese" all day long on their wedding day!

Every Friday I have a chuckle! Why you may ask - well I always make the effort to visit the Frock Horror page on Bridalwave.tv.

Each week the editor Camilla Chafer picks out a horrific wedding dress she has found on the internet. It is amazing how many of the top gown designers can get it so wrong with some of their creations. Today she picks up on a dress by Benjamin Roberts, take a look this is definitely a dress of two halves!

I highly recommend you bookmark Bridalwave.tv and look forward to checking out the latest wedding dress disaster every Friday.

Are you looking for a true alternative to the traditional wedding list? I know you already have your fair share of towels and kitchen appliances between you and your partner and you want something different.

If this is the case, I recommend you take a look at the honeymoon wedding registry service MyHoneyMoon.co.uk and see how your wedding list could pay for a wonderful holiday to Hawaii, Mauritius, Barbados, or even Paris!

This is definitely a fun way for your guests to make a donation towards your honeymoon costs. They can use a secure online payment facility to make a payment using their credit card or debit card – or even pay by cheque.

MyHoneyMoon director, Daniel Ox says:

“It's the perfect alternative to a cutlery set or kettle as the guests are really buying wonderful memories for the newlyweds."

A HoneyMoon account costs just £49.99. For this your account is setup and you will receive expert travel advice including suggested itineraries, stylish notification cards for you to distribute to your guests, and your own personal wedding homepage to display photos and memorable stories.

Small Print:

As always you should definitely read the FAQ and in particular the “How much does the service cost?” section:

“ If you decide not to book your honeymoon with us then that is fine but to help cover the ongoing expense of administering your registry and providing full services to you and your guests, a 7% service fee is payable against the final balance of the account.”

Thus with this service you can save yourself the 7% service fee if you actually book your honeymoon through MyHoneyMoon.co.uk.

Compare this to another UK honeymoon registry service called HoneyMoon.co.uk. based in Edinburgh. Here you are charged 9% service fee on gifts purchased from your list. The fee is deducted from your total gift fund when the donated funds are transferred to you.

The services covered by this fee include but are not limited to credit card transaction fees, gift registry updates, gift acknowledgments and thank you card manager updates. You can liken the costs incurred in the service fee to the cost of your guests buying wrapping paper, card, postage and packing, etc.

So it is up to you which registry service you prefer. I must say though I do like the wedding list samples found on HoneyMoney.co.uk.

Special Promotion:

There is currently no set-up fee for a HoneyMoney list. All you need to do is enter the code PRMT21 in the appropriate box on the registration form and the usual £50 fee is waived.

Good luck and please leave comments if you have used either of these services.

An outdoor wedding reception can be magical, whether it's on a breezy stretch of beach or under the stars in your back yard. It's essential though to have wedding tents set up properly for your guests' comfort and to shield against the elements in case of inclement weather.

Please bear these 5 key points in mind if you are considering using a wedding tent.

1. Size Matters

If you want a wedding tent to function properly for your event, make sure you know what size you really need. There are more than a few things to take into consideration when choosing the size of the tent:

♥ How many people will be attending?
♥ Will this be a buffet or a sit-down dinner?
♥ Will you need room for a dance floor and a band or DJ?
♥ How many tables will there be and what is there shape and size?

2. What is taking place in the tent?

Will the entire wedding take place under tents? If so, you will need room for not only the guests, but an alter area, a runner, and plenty of space for the bridal party as well as a separate area later for the dining and/or dancing. Don't make the mistake of thinking things can just be "rearranged" - it's too confusing and is a recipe for disaster.

3. What kind of tent?

Yes, there are different kinds of tents for weddings! The most traditional is the pole tent, which, by definition, is supported by individual poles beneath the fabric to give the tent its shape. Tension on ropes holds the roof in place. More recently, frame tents made of fabric over an aluminium or steel framework have become popular. These are more rigid and allow the tent to stand free without supports.

4. What your tent needs:

Now that you know a little bit about tents, you should delve a little bit deeper into the features. Talk to some tent rental companies in your area and ask about the different quality of tents available. A few things you should ask about include:

♥ The specification of the high-quality canvas material that should have been treated with a waterproofing material to resist rain.
♥ Wind resistance - you will want a tent with high wind resistance in the event of an unexpected squall.
♥ What are the support capabilities for running electrical to and through the tent for the lighting, DJ, bandstand, etc? Will the rental company provide electrical outlets, extension cords and other needs?
♥ Are there tents available with roll-up sides to allow the breeze through for ventilation? What about roll-up windows?
♥ Does the rental company include set-up and take-down in their price?

5. Decorating makes all the difference:

Once you've had a tent or series of tents set up for your wedding, don't leave them as "unfinished canvas." There are so many things you can do to add to the magic when you are working with tents! Simply wrapping the poles loosely in tulle, gauze or mesh netting in either white or a colour to match the wedding party will immediately soften the edges of the tent corners and add a hazy, dreamy effect to the "room."

Under the roof supports, string zigzag swags of fairy lights for a magical effect. For an even dreamier effect, twist the lights with netting or gauze to soften the effect. After dark these will look beautiful as they softly reflect light back down onto the party-goers. Another option is to twine artificial ivy or silk flowers around ropes and poles to create a garden bower feel. Or try suspending dozens of Chinese paper lanterns from the ceilings for a festive effect that will add a warm, colourful glow that you can repeat with Chinese paper fans and fortune cookies at each place setting. With a little imagination, your guests will forget they are in a tent and believe they have stepped into a fairytale!

Further Reading on Wedding Tents:

Nine Things Everybody Asks About Marquee Hire - Frances Leyland at CountyMarquees.com answers the questions she gets asked time and time again!
Interactive Marquee Layout Planner - Use this highly recommended tool to design your own layout. Select your required dimensions and start to add your choice of seating, tables and dance floor for the perfect layout.
SimpleSeating.com - Easily create, preview, and print your seating charts in just a few simple steps.

Here is a new wedding list site with a difference - OurGreenWeddingList.com - one that doesn't cost the earth!

This site encourages couples to have a greener wedding list and an environmentally friendly wedding day. So certainly not the list for those adamant they want a mahogany coffee table or patio heater!

To quote the site:

"Our Green Wedding List offers you environmentally considerate goods at comparable prices as an alternative to mass produced and environmentally damaging products. Some items (subscriptions to organic veggie box schemes) even enable you to start the first months of your married lives with an environmental outlook."

The products are sourced from UK based suppliers so as airmiles are reduced. Although Fair Trade goods are imported from beyond the UK. Products fall into a number of categories, namely Recycled, Craft/Artisan, Organic
Environmental benefit, Energy efficient, Made in the UK in an environmentally responsible way and Fair trade. In essence you will find the same type of products you would find on a traditional wedding list, but greener!

The site was set up this year after the founder Holly Long at Wedding List Giving Ltd had conversations with friends about green products 'not being as nice as conventional factory goods' and wanted to ask only for a few ethical gifts for her own wedding. Holly's dream of making 'green/ethical' goods more accessible is certainly NOW a reality. OurGreenWeddingList.com really does encourage people to think about having a green wedding list.

Holly Long can be contacted on 01273 476015 or here

Using posts made at the Hitched.co.uk Wedding Planning Forum the following list was set up to make it easier for brides to find forthcoming wedding fairs on the weekend of the 21st and 22nd October 2006 and beyond.

I urge you to contact the wedding fayre organiser before making any travel arrangements.

ENGLAND

Berkshire

Sir Christopher Wren Hotel, Windsor - 29th October 11-4
Taplow House, Taplow - 12th November, 11am - 4 pm

Bristol

Countybride-Bristol.co.uk/weddingfayres.php - It is advisable to contact the Wedding Fayre organiser to confirm dates and times.

Cheshire

See Northwestweddingfayres.co.uk for more information.
The Hunter's Lodge Hotel, Sydney Road, Crewe - Sunday 22nd October, 11.30 to 4pm
Stockport County Football Club, Stockport - Sunday 22nd October 2006
Stockport County Football Club, Stockport - Sunday 4th February 2007

East Sussex

Herstmonceux Castle, nr Hailsham, East Sussex - 22nd Oct 06 - opening times tba for more information phone 01424 871477

Hertfordshire

Hatfield House, Hatfield - 22 October 11-4 - Weddings Unlimited 01727 817007 Weddingsunlimited.co.uk
Marriott Hanbury Manor, Ware - 29 October 11-4
Hertford Castle - Sunday 5th November 2006 11 to 4
Tewinbury Farm, Welwyn - Sunday 4th March 2007 11 to 4

Kent

Please check akentishwedding.com/akw/fayres for up to date information.

St. Augustine's Priory, Bilsington, Ashford TN25 7AU - 21st & 22nd October 2006 Open 10am - 4pm. For more information call 01233 720992
Tollgate Hotel, Gravesend - 22nd Oct 2006 Wedding-Experience.co.uk
Nurstead Court, Nurstead Church Lane, Meopham, Nr Gravesend Kent DA13 9AD - 22nd October 06 - open 10.00- 4.00 Admission free visit Wedding-Experience.co.uk or phone 01634 364988
International Study Centre, Canterbury Cathedral - 22nd October 2006
Lympne Castle, Lympne Kent- 22nd October 2006 open 11.00 - 4.00 for more information phone 01303 894608
Howfield Manor, Chartham Hatch, Canterbury - 22nd October 2006 open 11.00 - 4.00 for more information phone Sarah Cheeseman on 01227 738294
Western Churchill Hotel and Health Club, Dover Waterfront, Dover, Kent - 22nd October 2006 open 11.00 - 4.00 for more information phone 01304 203633
The Elwick Club, Ashford, Kent - 4th November 2006 open 10.30 - 5.00pm for more information phone 01233 612392
The Bell Hotel, Sandwich, The Quay, Sandwich CT13 9EF - 5th November 2006 Open from 11.00am to 4.00pm For further information please Telephone 01304 613388
Quex House & Gardens, Birchington, Kent - 5th November 2006
Flamingo Park, A2 Sidcup By-Pass, Chislehurst BR7 6HL - 12th November 06 Open from 11.00am to 4.00pm For further information please Telephone 0208 8576 582
The Hythe Imperial, Hythe CT21 6AE - 12th November 2006 Open 11am - 4pm Prince's Parade, Contact the Banqueting Office on 01303 267441
*** OPEN EVENING *** Brandshatch Place Hotel & Spa, Fawkham, Kent - 16th November 2006 open 6.30 - 8.30 pm for more information phone Tracy, Inez or Sherry on 01474 875000
***OPEN DAY*** - Combe Bank by Candlelight, Combe Bank School, Undridge, near Sevenoaks Kent TN14 6AE 19th November 2006 Open from 2 - 5 pm. For further information please contact Teresa 0845 601 6607
***OPEN DAY*** Stone Castle, Stone Castle Drive via Sanderling Way, Stone DA9 9XL - 26th November 2006 Open from 11.00am to 4.00pm. For further information please Telephone 01322 388200
County Cricket Grounds, Old Dover Road, Canterbury - open 11.00 - 4.00. For more information phone 01233 661030

Lancashire

See Northwestweddingfayres.co.uk for more information.
Cheadle House, Royal Crescent, Cheadle Royal Business Park, Cheadle - 12.00 - 4.00pm. See Lend-a-hand.co.uk for more information.
Wellington Park, Leyland - Sunday 14th January 2007.

Leicestershire

Hinckley Paramount Hotel, A5 Watling street, Just off the M69 - 11.00am - 4.00pm, Sunday 22nd October, wedding dress shows at 12.30 and 2.00pm.
Scalford Hall, Melton Mowbray - 22nd October 2006 11am to 4.30pm. Free admission. Tel: 01664 444654
Leicester University, Leicester - 7 January 2007
Imago at Burleigh Court, Loughborough - 21 January 2007
Beaumanor Hall, Woodhouse Eaves - 25 February 2007

Lincolnshire

Normanby Hall, Normanby, Scunthorpe - Sunday 22nd October 1-4.30
Normanby Hall, Normanby, Scunthorpe - 7th January
Hemswell Cliff, Lincolnshire - 14th January 2007

London

Glaziers Hall, 9 Montague Close, London Bridge SE1 9DD - Everythingbutthegroom.co.uk - phone 020 8623 1912
Novotel, Greenwich - 5th November open 11.00 - 4.00. For more information phone Claudia on 020 8859 8907 or 07951 574 534

Surrey

Burford Bridge Hotel, Dorking - 22nd October 2006
Woodlands Park Hotel ,Cobham - 12th November 2006

Yorkshire

Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate - Sun 22nd Oct 11.00am til 3.00pm

NORTHERN IRELAND

Co. Antrim

Chimney Corner Hotel, Newtownabbey, BT36 4RH , Belfast - 5th November there's a Cancer Awareness Fair which includes a wedding dress sale.

SCOTLAND

Aberdeenshire

Delgatie Castle, Turriff Sunday 22nd October 10 - 4. Contact Mrs. Joan Johnson
Your Wedding Exhibition, AECC, Aberdeen - 13th & 14th January

Edinburgh

The Capital Hotel in Edinburgh Sunday October 22nd 12pm - 4pm. All proceeds are going to Charity so please go along and support Thanks!

Glasgow

Glasgow SECC - 28th & 29th October

WALES

Conwy

St Georges Hotel, Llandudno - 29th October 2006 11am till 4pm (?)

Gwent

Maes Manor Hotel, Maes Rudded Lane, Blackwood
NP12 0AG - 29th October 2006

DISCLAIMER:

1. The information provided on this Wedaholic.com web site has been compiled for your convenience. Wedaholic.com makes no warranties about the accuracy or completeness of any information contained on this web site.
2. Wedaholic.com, including its directors, will not accept any liability for any loss, damage or other injury resulting from its use.
3. Links to other web sites are provided for your convenience and Wedaholic.com is not responsible for the information contained on those web sites. The provision of a link to another web site does not constitute an endorsement or approval of that web site, or any products or services offered on that web site, by Wedaholic.com. Wedaholic.com will not accept any liability for the use of those links to connect to web sites that are not under our control.
4. Wedaholic.com does not accept any liability for any financial decisions made on the basis of this information. Wedaholic.com urges you to contact the wedding fayre organiser before making any travel arrangements.

Thank you for taking the time to subscribe to my weekly wedding tips. Please follow these "must read" instructions

IT IS NOW VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONFIRM YOUR FREE WEDDING TIPS SUBSCRIPTION. LUCKILY IT ONLY TAKES A COUPLE OF SECONDS IF YOU FOLLOW THESE 5 QUICK STEPS:

STEP 1.

Now check your email inbox for an email with a title like the one below:

Instead of "Elle" it will say your first name. If you don't see it within a few minutes (most of the time it takes less than a minute to arrive) please check your spam filters to see if it has been blocked out. If this is the case please ensure that the email address "elllebrown @ gmail.com" is entered as a safe address.

STEP 2.

Next open up this email and look for the verifcation link under where it says "CONFIRM BY VISITING THE LINK BELOW:", I have pointed it out in the image below:

It is very important that you click on this link, if you don't you won't receive your free wedding tips and ebook.

The Wedaholic tips list is called double opt-in, which basically means you have to confirm twice that you would like to receive the tips. This prevents Spam and ensures only the brides that want the tips get them. This is in accordance with the 2004 Federal CAN-SPAM law.

Once you have clicked on the verifcation link you will receive confirmation in the form of a pop up window that displays the message you can see below:

STEP 3.

Now check your email inbox again for an email with a title like the one shown below:

Click open this email to view your first wedding tip.

STEP 4.

Now the easy bit - reading the first tip at your leisure! Here is a sneak preview of the first one you will receive:

At the top of each tip I have posted a link to some of my best wedding planning articles. I encourage you to click on these links each week and read them.

STEP 5.

Finally check the first email tip for an attachment, this is your free wedding dress ideas ebook in pdf format. I have also included a link to it within the email.

Alternatively watch this short 1 minute video clip to guide you through each step:

Tips Testimonials:

Each week you will receive a wedding tip. Many brides have written to tell me how just one gem made all the difference on their big day - I hope this will also be case for you!

"Thank you so much for all your information! You've made planning my wedding so much easier, and everything I need is right here at my fingertips! You provide an amazing array of money and time saving tips that I've never seen anywhere else. You're a real lifeline! Thanks again for your time and dedication to something as wonderful as a wedding." - Kellie, Oregon

"Your tips have been very useful .... our wedding is in a couple of weeks and everything is organised." - Louise, UK

"I greatly appreciate all the time and devotion that you have put into these wedding planning tips. They have been a tremendous amount of help towards the planning and work of my upcoming wedding. ...Once again, thank you so so much for all of your help. And I know that if I need some more help or tips, I will surely be re-visiting your web site. Thanks again so much. Great appreciation" - Stephanie, Toronto

If you have any questions please email me at ellebrown @ gmail.com

Good Luck

Elle

Confetti.co.uk now offer a superb wedding list service where by you can receive the gifts you really want, from honeymoons to house deposits. As a couple you simply ask for money to be placed on a Confetti Wishlist prepaid Maestro® card in place of gifts. Guests do this simply by visiting your very own customised web page and making a contribution online. The web page link can even be changed to include your own names and wedding date. You can then share this link with your guests by sending an email from the wish list service, or by using the template online to create a gift list card that can be slipped into your invitations.

These cards are perfect for all couples whatever their financial situation. For couples getting married later in life who have all the basics, this is a unique opportunity to ask for gifts and experiences which aren’t normally available on the high street. Imagine you can add gifts such as donations to your favourite charity, a piece of art, a trip round around the world or plants for the garden. Equally if a couple are on a tight budget the Wishlist Card would be ideal for helping with wedding expenses, honeymoon costs or car and house deposits. Basically you can use the Confetti Wishlist Card wherever you see the Maestro® acceptance mark, including shops, restaurants, online or on the telephone.

Research has shown that over 50% of couples would prefer to receive money but are too embarrassed to ask for it directly. In fact guests are happier to give money if they know what it will be spent on. They have the ease of buying online 24 hours a day with no need to put cash or cheques in the post or ask for the couple’s bank details. The Wishlist Card ensures your guests no longer have the age old problem of finding a wedding gift in a specific price range, as they can now easily group together with other guests to contribute towards any gift they like.

As always don't forget to read the small print, Confetti provide a comprehensive FAQ and the terms and conditions, including what happens if your card is lost or stolen and how long it remains valid. I urge you to read all these pages in their entirety, like you would with any other financial product.

Sign up for your Confetti Wish List card at ConfettiCard.co.uk today

Further Confetti.co.uk Reading:

Confetti.co.uk Coupon - Free Delivery On Orders Of £75 Or More
Confetti.co.uk Launch Their New Site - New Improved Layout!
Review Of Confetti's Glasgow Store by Elle Brown.
Compare Confetti's Wedding Insurance to other UK products.
Confetti's New Must-Read Magazine - Confetti Receptions
How To Use Confetti.co.uk For A Stylish Christmas - a one stop shop for wedding and party advice.

DISCLAIMER

1. The information provided on this Wedaholic.com web site has been compiled for your convenience. Wedaholic.com makes no warranties about the accuracy or completeness of any information contained on this web site.
2. Wedaholic.com, including its directors, will not accept any liability for any loss, damage or other injury resulting from its use.
3. Links to other web sites are provided for your convenience and Wedaholic.com is not responsible for the information contained on those web sites. The provision of a link to another web site does not constitute an endorsement or approval of that web site, or any products or services offered on that web site, by Wedaholic.com. Wedaholic.com will not accept any liability for the use of those links to connect to web sites that are not under our control.

Financial Disclaimer

Wedaholic.com does not accept any liability for any financial decisions made on the basis of this information. This web site does not constitute financial advice and should not be taken as such. Wedaholic.com urges you to obtain professional advice before proceeding with any financial product.

Trademarks

Maestro® is a registered trademark of MasterCard

Every bride and groom has an engagement story. You only have to look at forums and articles on wedding websites to see how popular real-life engagement stories are. Brides love to share their engagement stories with other people, from the fairy-tale moments to the events which nightmares are made of! I have heard funny, sad, wacky and totally unique engagement stories.

Brides.com is running a great competition between now and the end of January. They are asking brides-to-be, brides or their male counterparts to share the story of how they got engaged. In 500 words or less you have to give your proposal story by completing the online entry form at Brides.com. Bear in mind that Brides.com will be judging the entries on quality, originality and creativity!

The prize is a trip for 2 people to The BodyHoliday spa in St. Lucia which will include:

♥ Five-night stay in a Luxury room for two at the Body Holiday LeSport Hotel

♥ Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner for two

♥ One spa treatment per day per person (with the exception of arrival and departure)

Come on, get writing for your chance to win this great prize!

Please Note: Wedaholic.com makes no financial gain from advertsing this holiday - I just think it's a fun thing to do!

Hi Everyone,

I received this question regarding ways in which a wedding buffet can be made stress-free when it involves a large number of guests and how to ensure that they receive their food within a reasonable amount of time.

"I'm getting mixed answers from people when I ask them this so I thought maybe you could help me out. I'm marrying a Portuguese guy with a huge family. Our wedding will have over 300 people and a buffet dinner. Normally, a buffet serving that many people would have 4 different line ups so that people could get their food quickly. The venue I have chosen can only work with 2 line ups. With that many people, I'm worried that people will start getting agitated while waiting for their table to be called to go get food. I thought that it would be great if we could provide some entertainment. I instantly thought of having a couple of salsa dancers come in and do some dancing for maybe 30 mins until we were ready for the speaches to start. What do you think? Do you think that is tacky or cheesy.. or do you think it would be a cool idea? Or maybe you have some other ideas on how I could take the edge off for the people who have to wait so long?"

This was my reply:

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

I totally understand your concern that your guests will become restless if they have to wait too long for their food during your wedding reception. 300 guests is a lot of mouths which need to be fed and it is unfortunate that your wedding reception venue cannot allow a larger number of line-ups. By my estimations if there are 300 guests and only 2 lines then it will take well over an hour to get food to everyone. If there are families with children then this length of time could be a lot longer.

Entertainment

I definitely think that you should provide some form of entertainment whilst guests wait for their turn at the buffet table. The salsa dancers sound like a fun and unique idea so long as it fits in with the theme of your wedding and the cost of this is within your budget. This is not tacky at all so don't worry about that. I think that your guests will appreciate the effort that you have gone to in arranging entertainment whilst they wait to be fed, rather than them having to make polite chit-chat and ignore their rumbling stomachs! I think that a 30-45 minute salsa display is definitely long enough – any longer and you run the risk of your guests becoming bored rather than entertained.

Here are some entertainment alternatives you might also want to consider:

♥ Have some background music playing throughout the whole meal until the speeches commence ( e.g. a soloist or duet of harpists). You could even ask your venue to play some music through a CD player or iPod with speakers to create a relaxing ambience during the meal.

♥ How about some wandering entertainers who could occupy the tables of guests who have yet to be called up to the buffet table ( e.g. caricaturists, hypnotists, mind readers or magicians).

♥ On each table have a pre-printed quiz about the couple (prizes could be given after the speeches for the best answers) or simply a trivia quiz to keep their minds occupied. Take a look at my article Tips And Advice On How To Get Guests Mingling At Your Wedding for some great ideas on how to keep your guests entertained at their tables whilst they wait to be fed.

Venue

In order to avoid congestion at the buffet tables and ensure its smooth running ask your venue organizers to do the following:

♥ They should provide enough serving staff at the buffet tables so that guests can be served or assisted as quickly as possible.

♥ Ask your caterer to have food items clearly marked. This will help to avoid confusion amongst your guests as to what dishes are and will avoid hold-ups on the buffet table if guests have to keep stopping to ask catering staff questions about the food on offer. Most venues will offer to put out cards with each dishes' name and (if necessary – e.g. spicy, vegetarian, contains nuts) a description of the ingredients. This should help to speed the line up and allow your guests to be served more expeditiously.

♥ Ask them whether the buffet tables can be accessed from both sides as this would definitely cut down the waiting times for your guests to reach the food.

Another way to take the edge off of people's appetites whilst waiting to get called to the buffet table is to provide some nibbles on their table for them to tuck into during the interim period.

Edible Table Centerpieces

Edible centerpieces not only taste great and, in your case, would serve the purpose of allowing your guests to graze whilst they wait for their entrees, but they also serve as a fabulous table decoration. I am unsure of what your wedding decoration theme is but here are some examples of what you could have on your tables:

♥ Decorated baskets of bread, muffins and/or other baked goods.

♥ Decorated baskets or crystal bowls filled with fruit.

♥ Use 3 tier glass stands in the center of each table and fill them with bite-sized appetizers and treats.

♥ A cheese board with different cheeses, crackers and garnish it with fresh fruit, olives or peppers.

♥ For a unique twist you could add Portuguese edibles to introduce your non-Portuguese guests to a sample of your husband's culture!

Edible Favors

If you are considering giving your guests favors then how about an edible favor which could double up as an entrée or snack for them to enjoy during their wait for the buffet table. These favors could also serve as place cards if you personalize each of them with a tag bearing each guest's name and place one at each place setting.

♥ Mini personalized baskets with some pre-wrapped cheeses and assorted crackers, like the cute one pictured here from MarthaStewart.com. You could select 2 or 3 different types of cheese but cheddar always goes down well. These baskets can be assembled and put on the tables an hour or 2 in advance of the wedding reception as the cheese is best served at room temperature.

♥ Mini bagels and personalized tiny tubs of cream cheese.

♥ A decorated muffin, cookie or sweet treat to stave away your guest's hunger pangs!

Speak to your venue if you are interested in these ideas and if they are unable to provide the edible centerpieces ask a family member or friend if they would be willing to either (a) put the baskets/platters together for you/with your help and arrange them on your wedding day or (b) find a local delicatessen who would be able to assist you with this.

I hope that these ideas help. Good luck with your big day!

Elle

P.S. Here are links to other articles I have written on wedding buffets:
Comparing The Foods You Can Have At A Wedding Breakfast Or A Buffet
Timings: Wedding Breakfasts v. Buffets
Budgeting Wedding Breakfasts v. Buffets

You may remember that back in July I wrote a comprehensive listing of all the best wedding insurance companies in the UK. Namely Confetti.co.uk, Debenhams, Ecclesiastical, Equine and Livestock Insurance Company Ltd, Event Insurance, Marks and Spencer, MRL Insurance Direct, and Wedding Plan Insurance. If you missed it, here is a link to it along with a link to the 11 golden reasons all couples should have wedding insurance. I know I'm biased but I do highly recommend it because instead of having to visit each insurer's website you now only have to visit one page. There are in depth descriptions of all the different types of covers offered and links to the policy documents, how to order online, company details, ownership facts, and links to the underwriters with notes on their regulations. I have tried to make it as easy as possible for every bride and groom in the UK to compare each policy against the next.

Within this article I stated:

"Both Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc and The Equine and Livestock Insurance Co Limited are both wholly independent and are underwritten by themselves. Marks and Spencer Insurance are underwritten by Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc. "

I can now report that the wedding planning website Hitched.co.uk has chosen Ecclesiastical Insurance to provide wedding insurance policies through its website or by calling 0800 336622.

Wedding insurance joins the range of wedding planning services and advice already offered by Hitched.co.uk, which include speech-writing, venue-shopping and gift-buying. I love visiting the discussion forums and providing help whenever I can - my profile name online is "elleatwedaholicdotcom".

Ecclesiastical will also offer the opportunity to purchase honeymoon insurance at the same time.

Darren Noel, Business Development Director at Hitched, said:

"The Hitched site offers couples everything they need to organise their perfect day. And with so much time, effort and money spent organising a wedding, it makes sense to protect it with insurance."

Ian Henderson, Customer Services Manager at Ecclesiastical said:

"Wedding insurance gives peace of mind during all the preparations leading up to the day itself. Couples shouldn't assume their home insurance covers them – wedding insurance covers damaged dresses, lost rings and suppliers going bust for example. And with so much riding on the day, it's not worth taking the risk of not insuring."

Ecclesiastical's wedding insurance policy provides cover for cancellation or curtailment, re-arrangement, attire, presents, rings, cakes and flowers, photographs and video, failure of suppliers, transport, wedding documents, public liability and marquees (Marquee cover provided for an additional premium, not available with Tier 1 cover). The policy also includes legal expenses cover and a free counselling helpline provided by DAS Legal Expenses Insurance Company Limited (not available with Tier 1).

For full details of Ecclesiastical's wedding policy cover and exclusions please see the policy document.

Further Wedding Insurance Reading:

UK Wedding Insurance Companies -Time Saving Links To Policy Documents
11 Golden Reasons All Couples Should Have Wedding Insurance - Make sure you take out wedding insurance today.
Will Your Wedding Insurance Cover You If You Cancel Before The Event? - A full list of circumstances you need to check are listed in your policy documents.

Usually brides have the choice between taffeta or tulle, silk or satin or even chiffon or velvet when choosing the material from which their dream wedding dress should be created. Such a decision was taken out of the equation for bride Viktoriya Shtefano when her husband-to-be, pastry chef Valentyn Shtefano, chose to create her wedding dress out of flour, eggs, sugar and caramel!

The edible wedding dress was made of 1,500 cream puffs, weighed in at 20 pounds (9 kilograms) and took Valentyn two months to make for their wedding in August 2006. Click here to see a photo of it.

"At first, he sewed empty cream puffs together, but the dress collapsed. Then, he carefully attached the puffs to a wedding dress frame, and Viktoriya spent a couple hours each night before the wedding modeling the dress as Shtefano added more puffs."

By the end of the wedding reception, bride Viktoriya didn't want to take her unique wedding dress off, much less devour it. Her dress was accessorized with a matching crown, bouquet and necklace made from caramelized sugar!

According to www.examiner.com the 28-year-old Ukranian chef is renowned in his hometown Uzhhorod for his controversial yet delicious pastries and he is fast becoming a rising star.

"For many in Uzhhorod, cake was just something to eat, not something that can also be looked at and admired."

At least wearing an edible dress to your wedding solves the dilemma of how to store the dress after the wedding - simply pull it apart and enjoy!