Now that you are going to tie the nuptial knot, the wedding vows are an integral part of your marriage.

When you are embarking upon a journey together you need to have some commandments to steer your ship called marriage safely to the shores.Spoken promises of love will always be part of a good marriage.Exchange of wedding vows in an important part of any ceremony no matter how diverse the culture and traditions are. Taking vows are romantic moments and perfect place to express your feelings for your partner.

Wedding vows are the heart and soul of your marriage. They add and element of romance, responsibility, duty, commitment and togetherness.Vows are those special words that will pronounce you husband and wife and that you will be each other’s soul mate thereafter.Your vows set the tone of your marriage. Each vow skillfully weaves innovation, tradition, love and partnership.

Wedding vows can be meaningful declarations or they may require nothing simpler than, “I do”.One should be aware that wedding vows are more important than wedding photography, cake and catering combined. Those special words which will marry you give meaning to everything else that happens. Check with your officiant if you can add or modify some part of the vows.If allowed feel free to add your own embellishments, fond words of affection , romance and a dash of humor.

Discuss with your future spouse and your officiant and make sure everyone is ok with personalized wedding vows. A few religious groups want you to stick to traditional wedding vows while others give you some freedom to maneuver with the words as long as you include certain phrases which are inevitableMake sure that your partner also wants to write it. Plan out whether you are going to say the vows together or are going to say individual ones.

Ask yourself some simple questions before jotting down those golden words. For example, what exactly are you looking for in your vows?Jot things down. Pare your documentation. Take help from poetry, famous speeches and sayings of love and togetherness.Spice up your vows by injecting it with some humor. Write hilarious wedding vows which will not only tickle the funny bone of your spouse, but also leave the guests chuckling. These funny vows could be the talk of the town for quite some time.

You can make funny promises to your spouse to make her smile for example, “I will always tidy up things after using the kitchen.”

Memorize your vows if you can. Get photocopies done and distribute it to your guests so that they may also be a part of the ritual. Embellish a copy of your vows in a beautiful frame and keep it among your prized possessions. It will keep reminding you of the promises you made and keep you hooked in your relationship. This masterpiece will act like a souvenir for you and your better half.

All in all your vows must reflect the feelings for each other and love and affection that you will keep bestowing upon each other ever after.

Have a happy married life!

In the humdrum of today’s fast paced world when there is an auspicious occasion like marriage, it calls for a celebration. No marriage is complete without raising a toast to congratulate the newly weds. Raising a toast is an age old custom. The Best man, maid of honor, father of the bride, father of the groom etc raise a toast for the prosperity and well being of the two people who joined in holy matrimony. A wedding reception is the best opportunity to raise a toast.

Wedding toast hold special significance to the person raising the toast and the newly weds. After all it’s the biggest day of their lives. As one is making the toast he understands how special the occasion is.
If you are the Best man at a marriage, it is inevitable for you to raise a wedding toast. You need to prepare a speech well in advance which should reflect your love and concern for the couple. The speech should be nicely worded so as to make an impression on the couple as well as the guests. As the newly weds embark upon a journey together you congratulate and wish them luck for a happy and prosperous married life.

The maid of honor is the closest to the bride. She is the lodestar to the bride. The toast raised by her should have fond words of affection, wisdom and advice for the newly weds.The father of the bride has mixed feelings. When he is giving away his little princess to her dream prince, he is happy as well as sad as he would no longer enjoy the company of his sweet daughter. By raising a toast on her great day he can tell her how much he loves her and how lucky he feels as a father. He can add just the right kind of emotions to make her day more special and cherished for The groom’s father can also raise a toast. Wedding advice is given by the father to his son. He can use his experience when raising a toast to the lovely couple.

Wedding toast for the bride can be made by the groom. Brides always look beautiful. So the groom can raise a toast to the beauty and elegance of his sweetheart.A wedding toast for the groom can also be made. Brides always occupy the centre stage in any marriage. So not to let the groom feel left out, a toast should be raised for him as well. The honors can be done by the best man or any one for that matter.

Now the big question what to speak in raising a toast? You may feel tongue tied when suddenly you are asked to do the ritual .No matter how hard you rack your nerves you will find yourself short of words at the spur of the moment.
It is always advised to prepare a nicely scripted speech for the occasion. You can always add a dash of humor to the speech to broaden the faces of guests with a smile.

Here are some quotes which can be used while raising a toast.
“May we be invited to tour golden wedding celebrations with joy in our hearts!.”
“Here is to the groom with bride so fair and here is to the bride with groom so rare.”
“Coming together is beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is success”.
So prepare a perfect speech for your loved one and tell her how special they are. Go ahead raise a toast for their new life together. Cheers!

The marriage ceremony has just got over. The formalities have been done. The certificates signed. Now its party time guys! It’s the time to celebrate the grand wedding in style and grandeur. After all it is the reception of the newly weds.
A wedding reception is the time when the newly wed first time appears as a couple in front of the guests to seek their blessings and good wishes for an eternal married life. Reception is the time for eating, drinking and swaying your booty on foot tapping numbers.

The location of the reception should be chosen with utmost care, keeping in mind the comfort of your guests. It needs to be centrally located where your kith and kin can easily reach. The venue could be in a garden setting, a hotel, a grand palace or simply an open space. It should have its own ambience. The place must be sprawling with parking facility available. You need to have a back up in case it rains.
Reception costs around 50 % of the total expenses of the marriage and is borne by the bride’s family. The planning is done well in advance. Planning a wedding is a meticulous and time consuming affair.

The various aspects of the celebration are food, drink, the wedding cake, decoration, the dance, photography, thank you gifts, favors and the speeches made by various people at the wedding. The place needs to be decorated tastefully. You can use fountains, potted plants, drapery, ribbons, balloons etc to adorn the place. Heart shaped balloons can add a fanciful element in the party.

Fabric such as tulle, gossamer or silk could be used for drapery.
Flowers make the occasion and venue auspicious. They are inseparable part of any wedding. Soft flowers give an ambience of aromatic thrill to any party.
You can beautify the place with aromatic candles or floating candles in bowls with rose petals which emanate fine aroma in the vicinity. To solemnize the event shower the newly wed with flowers.

In Indian settings torans ,diyas, rangolis add an element of piousness in the feast.
The lighting of the place needs to be taken care of. Lights can transform your venue into something magical and pleasant. The food can be a buffet system or a laid out dinner. Arrange for some light snacks which your guests can relish.Before you eat, the Best man makes a toast to the newly wed couple. Then the speeches by father of the bride follow.
Then is the time to slip into your dancing shoes and enjoy. The first dance is the bridal waltz. Then the guests follow.

The music which is played should be a blend of vintage and trendy.
The wedding cake is another attraction of the reception. It is generally 2 to 3 tiered, white foamed, supplemented by sheet cake. The couple cuts it and it is served with coffee or tea before the main course.There is a tradition of tossing of the bridal bouquet and garter Bride tosses her bouquet over her shoulders to a group of single women. Whoever catches it is supposed to be the next bride. Similarly the groom tosses the bride’s garter over single men and whoever catches it is the next to get married.
Another custom is the clinking of glasses which suggests the couple stands up and kiss. All these moments of fun and frolic must be captured in the shutterbugs which will become fond memories of the couple and his near and dear ones. The sweet table of late night buffet can start right after the tosses. The guest book is signed .You have to give thank you gifts to your guest which can be chocolates, candles, soups, picture frames etc.
After the dinner is over, the celebrations come to a happy ending.

Change into your going away outfit. Say your goodbye and leave in the car decorated by your friends. Enjoy!

A wedding budget is absolutely essential for planning your marriage. It  should be prepared well in advance, rather you need to start planning right away once you  decide to tie the nuptial knot This duration can be anything from 8 to 12 months prior your great day.

Prices can easily spiral out of control so always make a rough estimate and stick to it strongly. Don’t go on a shopping spree just because it’s your wedding. Spend sensibly, limit your expenses. Give preference to the important things first .Make a priority list.
There are some aspects of the wedding where you can spend money lavishly.
First and foremost you need to spend on a wedding dress and your appearance. You want to look your best so don’t shy away in splurging on make up, hair style and some accessories. But you can always visit wedding sales for saving some of your hard earned cash.

The next is your wedding ring which will be your prized possession for the rest of your life, so choose an exquisite one.

Wedding photography is another aspect where you need to shell out the bucks .Make sure photography is the top notch where you can splurge to get that picture perfect, which can be cherished by both partners throughout life.
Food is not the aspect where you should try and cut the bills because it’s the food which will be talked about later .A good food will be praised for days but a not so good food will be remembered for months.

Now you can save or spend less on a number of items .Make a list of things you can easily skip.Your expenses can easily skyrocket so here are some tips to keep your budget under control.

Consider the wedding budgeting tools. The ceremony should cost 3 % of the budget. It includes location fee, marriage license, fee of the officials etc
The reception can cost around 48% of the budget. It includes food, drink catering charges, favors and the wedding cake. The attire of the couple must cost 10% of the total. This should include the bride’s dress headpiece/veil ,shoes accessories,  jewelry hair and make up .So also the groom’s tuxedo or suit , shoes, cuffs, studs etc
The rings both his and her along with the engravings must cost around 3% of the amount.

The flowers can cost nearly 8% of the sum. It covers the decoration, bouquet for the bride, boutonnieres for the groom, flower girls their baskets and other floral arrangements. The music costs need to be about 8%.

Photography charges must be 12% of the total amount. The transportation can cost around 2% .The stationary which includes invitation cards, reception cards, thank you notes, postage, and calligraphy and guest book, must cost nearly 3% of the total expenses. The remaining 3% can be spent on the gifts.

Here are some tips for keeping your budget under control.
Limit the number of guests to friends, family and close acquaintances only. Don’t just invite a person for the sake of inviting or just because he/she is a colleague. Have a small party. Avoid too many bridesmaid and groomsmen as you have to shell out lots of bucks for their accessories, invitation cards, thank you gifts and favors.
Consider an off season wedding where you can get things done at much cheaper rates. Don’t plan a wedding on a Saturday or Sunday as charges are high on the weekends.
Choose a venue close at hand even if it costs a little more. This way you can save a lot of your hard earned cash which would have been spent on transportation
Book the hall 6 to 8 months prior the wedding so that you need not pay more at the   eleventh hour.
Think in an innovative manner. See to it where you can save money. Order for plastic chairs instead of cushioned ones .In this way you can save lots of cash.
Discuss the budget with your would be partner and decide who pays for what. Discuss with your near and dear ones what gifts they are planning to give you so that you don’t end up in 2 washing machines and no microwave.

.Excess tipping needs to be avoided as it can burn a hole in your pocket.
Have a buffet system rather than serving the guests .Serve wine or beer instead of a full bar. If at all you are planning a bar open it only during the cocktail hours or ask the guests to pay for it. If your better half doesn’t drink consider a dry party.
Consider a small wedding cake. Limit the number of bridesmaids and groomsmen to cut your costs.

Don’t shy away from taking help of family and friends. Pool in all the resources to save as much money as you can. They can help you assemble favors make invitations centerpieces, invitation cards etc. Don’t forget to thank them later in the party.
Consider designing your wedding ring, attire, invitation card etc if you are a creative buff.

All in all, try to save wherever you can but don’t be a miser either. After all you need to have a lavish bash on your great day .Put your best foot forward and make your wedding the most memorable day of your life. Best of luck!

“A Marriage is fixed in heaven but is solemnized on earth”, goes the saying. You are about to hear the wedding bells ring .Plan, prepare, shop, arrange, organize, but don’t forget some etiquettes. Wedding etiquettes can be varied different for different aspects of the celebrations. They are different for people playing different roles. So what role are you playing in the party at hand? So here are some etiquettes to be followed to make the ceremony a cherished affair for all and sundry.

Who pays for what in the occasion?

The bride’s side pays for the groom’s ring, invitation cards, thank you cards/gifts, favors, reception costs, bride’s trousseau, church fees, flowers for church, bridesmaid, and reception, church fee, music for the ceremony, the groom’s gift, transportation for bridal party, gifts for bridesmaids, lodging for them etc.

The groom’s side pays for the bride’s ring, clergy fee, marriage license bride’s bouquet, corsage and boutonnieres, rehearsal dinner, a gift for the bride, Transportation and lodging for groomsmen and their gifts. They also pay for the honeymoon.

Invitation card

The invitation card needs to be sent well in advance. Offer a separate response card along with the invitation card, with a self addressed and stamped envelope that allows your invitee to easily respond. Mention all the information clearly , mention the dress code or theme of the wedding if any. Those invited for the bridal shower should also be invited for the ceremony. If you don’t want children around you can convey this by word of mouth or may write in a humble manner in the card for example, “We would like the two of you to grace the ceremony. “.You can also write, “Adult Reception..”

Your officiant and his better half gets an invitation. Avoid inviting on the phone.

Reception seating plan

The seating plan should be done judiciously. You can have friends seated together. Family can also be seated together but never seat incompatible people together as they may feel odd. After all everyone needs to enjoy on the auspicious occasion.

Wedding etiquettes for Maid of honor bridesmaid, Best man, groomsmen, ushers.

The maid of honor and the best man play a major and responsible role in helping the bride and the groom with the planning, preparations and the ceremony. They also help in the pre wedding events and the engagement ceremony.

The maid of honor carries the groom’s ring while walking down the aisle. She helps the bride in getting dressed up. She will help with the train and the veil. She sees to it that the bride is cool and composed on her fateful day. She caters to all the needs of the bride .She carries a kit handy for any emergency. The kit should have needle and thread, rolls of tissue, make up items and the like.

The best man arranges for the accessories of groomsmen and ushers at the wedding. Thus the maid oh honor, best man, bridesmaid, groomsmen and ushers play a vital role before, during and after the wedding.

Etiquettes for the bride and the groom

Its your great day to enjoy and have fun but you have a bigger role to play, as a host .

Your first duty is your guests. Keep their comfort and happiness in mind. You will be too busy on the wedding day so arrange for some help ahead of time.

Wait until all your guests have arrived. Bride or groom should never overtly ask for presents but can suggest needs if asked. Mind you, you are not supposed to open the gifts in front of the guests.

For the dancing appoint someone to call you and your partner on the dance floor. As you have fun try visiting each table at least once for a quick and loving greeting .Be generous and have snaps clicked with them. This will make them happy and you too.

An indispensable etiquette is to send thank you cards/gifts to your guests who spared their precious time to attend your wedding and bestowed you with exquisite gifts. If possible hand written thank you cards have special importance for guests.

Etiquettes for guests

The easiest job is to be the guest but you too have responsible role to play. Reply to the invitation card .Abide by the theme and dress code. Buy the couple a gift which both the partners can use. It is advisable to give cash gifts for out of town guests as gift transportation can be additional burden on the couple. Don’t wear white to the wedding as that’s the bride’s color for the day. Avoid black either as it is not considered auspicious in some ethnic groups.. It is risqué on your part to bare shoulders during the auspicious ceremony.

Be on time. If you are tardy don’t disturb the ceremony ,find a seat for yourself quickly and quietly or witness the function from a distance.

Don’t expect that the couple knows you. Introduce yourself and greet and congratulate the newly weds with a gift. Offer a few quick words, expressing your happiness and good wishes for a happy union.

Keep restraint on the eating and drinking part too. An open bar is no reason to overindulge. Limit the consumption of spirits to the minimum

Be a good guest. Observe all the etiquettes. Thank the host before leaving and compliment them for hosting a wonderful and joyful party. Tell them it was a pleasure attending their moment of joy and the arrangements were fantastic.

All in all , each and every person in the party needs to follow his or her etiquettes to make the occasion a memorable one for the couple as well as the guests.