Receiving wedding gifts is a whole lot more fun when the gifts are of your choice. It is a good idea to create a wedding registry to help your guests choose a wedding gift that you’ll enjoy…and use!

Most people find it difficult to choose a wedding gift for a couple. Worrying about things like whether the couple will like it, is it nice enough, do they need it, can it be exchanged and similar things can make the shopping expedition quite tiresome. You can make things easier for your guests by creating a wedding registry.

Not only do you make things easier for your guests by creating a wedding registry but also for yourself. You will receive only things you really want and you won’t end up with 6 of the same thing. Here are some things to keep in mind when creating your wedding registry.

1. Create your wedding registry with a store that has a wide variety of things. A large and popular store like Macys is a good option to create your wedding registry with.

2. Let your guests know about your wedding registry at least 2 months in advance. If a guest has already bought you a gift, it is highly unlikely that she would buy another one from your wedding registry. Also, if the gift is not listed in your wedding registry it can put the guest in a spot.

3. Ensure that you have gifts in your wedding registry from a wide price range. Choosing only high priced wedding gifts as part of your wedding registry could be considered to be in bad taste.

4. Create a wedding registry with a store that allows you to merge the registry online and offline. This will make it easy for guests from out of town to shop for you.

5. Ensure that your wedding registry includes items that can be easily shipped. While most guests are willing to spend on the wedding gift itself, if they have to pay extra for shipping and handling they may not be so excited about it.

6. When creating your wedding registry make sure you specify your name as well as that of your spouse. Some guests may want personalize your gift and may need to know how to spell your names.

7. Creating a wedding registry online has many benefits. The online wedding registry keeps track of who bought you what. Also, you can email thank you notes directly from the website.

8. You can also create multiple wedding registries with different stores. However, be careful that the items you choose do not overlap since there is no way you can integrate different stores into one wedding registry.

Thus, creating a wedding registry is as easy as 1-2-3. In addition, it saves you and your guests a whole lot of trouble. So if you want to get wedding gifts of your choice (and not another toaster!), create your wedding registry today. You’ll be glad you did, and so will your guests.

Copyright Andrea Britt, 2005. All rights reserved.

There are so many ways to express your wedding day thanks to your cherished friends and family. Don’t just settle for a cookie cutter “Thank You” card. Try customizing your stationary by using a picture of the new Mr. and Mrs. holding a “Thank You” sign. This is a creative way to express your gratitude to your loved ones. Another great idea is to send a photo postcard from your honeymoon and share with everyone the wonderful time you are having. Be creative and make your “Thank You’s” unforgettable!

By now you probably have booked your photographer and checked that “to do” off your list. Now it’s time to plan how you can work together to make everything go smoothly and capture all those wedding day pictures!

1. “Day of” Timeline

Save yourself a lot of stress and plan enough time for taking pictures. Block off at least 30 minutes between ceremony and reception for “couple” shots. Some photographers may require more, even up to an hour. You can reduce the amount of time needed for photos by doing a lot of your photos before the ceremony. If you don’t want to see each other before the wedding, have your photographer take shots of you separately before the ceremony, then family and couple pictures afterwards.

2. Create A Plan For VIP Pics

Trying to round-up your wedding party and certain family members wastes limited time. Make it easy on yourself by handing out “call time” cards alerting everyone of the time and location of their pictures.

3. Communicate Unique Details/Events

Clue your photographer into unique details you want captured on film. For instances, if the veil is a family heirloom; special guests visiting from abroad; special family traditions, etc. Give them a heads up of any unexpected events like, special first dance; surprising the groom with a special cake, etc., so they can be in the right place at the right time. Every wedding is unique with unique details that would be unknown to your photographer unless you tell them. These moments happen so quickly you don’t want them to be missed.

4. Reveal uncomfortable family situations

Reveal any potential uncomfortable family situations. Unless your photographer knows ahead of time, he may put divorced parents together creating an awkward situation for everyone.

5. Know when you can expect your pictures

After the wedding you will be excited to see the finished project. Make sure your expectations are set properly. As for how long it will take to receive your images depends on your photographer. Ask how soon you’ll be getting the photos – three to six weeks is typical.

6. Make sure there is an emergency plan

Discuss your photographer’s contingency plan. Photographers affiliated with an agency have other photographers as a backup plan. Make sure if your photographer works on his own, that there are other colleagues whom they could call on. Also, make sure they have backup equipment should anything break or get lost. Having this plan in place will help avoid last minute delays and prevent missing those special one-of-a-kind moments.

7. Clearify specifics on Image use

Certain photographers will give you a CD containing high-res, logo-free images that you can print, providing you have a copy of the copyright. Other photographers only include low-res images with their watermark on them, which means they can only be used for sharing online, requiring you to order your prints through them. Discuss these details with your photographer so you’ll know exactly what your discs will include.

8. A fed photographer is a happy photographer

Your photographer will be carrying equipment and on their feet for the majority of your wedding. Arriving early and staying for most of, if not all of your reception. You will need to provide a meal for your photographer and any assistants they may have. Ask them for the best time to eat and arrange for them to have a place to sit that is still close to the action so they won’t miss anything.

Your pictures will capture those special moments of your wedding day! A treasure of memories for years to come!

No matter how organized and on top of things you are, with all the details involved in planning a wedding, it’s easy to overlook some important details. Here’s a list of things to think about as you make plans for you big day.

1. No Budget.

It’s easy to get excited and start booking vendors and buying things without first setting down and making out a budget. Without a budget, before you know it you’ve spent more then you have and there isn’t enough money to pay for everything you want or still need. Make a budget and keep track of your spending.

2. Marriage license mistakes

Make sure you are aware of all the rules surrounding your marriage license. For instance, make sure you know how long your license is valid after it is obtained. In some states the license is valid for 60 days, others only 30 days. Make sure you allow enough time before the wedding date to get your license. It may take up to 3 days to actually get the license in your hands. If you’ve been divorced, make sure you bring all of your official divorce papers with you. Also, make sure you know where you need to send your certificate after the wedding and how many copies are required. Be sure to keep a copy for yourselves until you receive the original.

3. Ordering wedding gown too late.

Be sure to allow plenty of time to pick out and order your gown. Be sure to allow at least six months before your date. Don’t forget to include your bridesmaid dresses in this time frame as well. Most dresses will require alterations so be sure to allow time for that as well.

4. Blocking out hotel rooms for guests

Don’t leave this task until the last minute. If you wait to do this until the last minute you may find that there are no rooms available. This needs to be taken care of no later than 8 months before the wedding. Include hotel information in your saved the date cards or invitations. Blocking rooms doesn’t mean you have to pay for the rooms, you’re just setting them aside. Your guests will give them their credit cards when they call to book their rooms.

5. Last-minute beauty treatments

Thinking about tanning the day before your wedding? Think again: you may end up as red as a lobster or have blisters all over! Last minute treatments can lead to disasters; break outs or even worse, serious infections. Plan the heavy-duty stuff for at least two weeks before the wedding day. Same thing goes for any new hair dos. Schedule a trial run with your hair stylist before hand and not the day of the wedding.

6. Incorrect postage on invitations.

Not all invitations can be mailed for regular postage. Most wedding invitations require additional postage. Save yourself time and money by getting one of your invitations weighed at the post office before you put the stamp on them. Note: square invitations require additional postage, not just because of the shape but the weight also.

7. Forgetting to focus on what is important.

Don’t let all the details and planning swallow you up. The reason you’re doing all this is because you’re about to start a new life with this special person you love and loves you. It’s inevitable that things may get tense at times, but don’t let that ruin things. The details will work themselves out, but hurt feelings take longer to repair.

by: Tom Downward

Getting Married? Congratulations! You just set the date for the most important day in your life. Imagine…It is your wedding day. Your very own wedding day!

Here are ten essential steps that will make the preparation fun too.

1. Keep within your financial limits. Budget your wedding. You do not want to start your married life in debt. If you are organized have a plan and are creative, whatever your budget, a “wedding to remember” will be yours.
2. Now Visualize. That’s right, visualize. Close your eyes and look at the tasks at hand. The list may SEEM overwhelming but it isn’t.
3. Don’t try to do everything all at once. Start by gathering information. Use the Net to gather ideas from around the world. Make an extensive list of “things you LIKE”, “things you WANT” and “things you MUST HAVE” (see the difference?)
4. Now you are ready to make a Top Ten (or top eleven or twelve) list.
5. Break your list it into small manageable portions that you can successfully accomplish. Use categories like… Before the wedding - During the wedding - After the wedding.
6. Now use sub-categories. Include ideas for related events such as, showers, receptions, and honeymoon.
7. It is YOUR wedding. It reflects YOU. No one should dictate to you what to do and how to do it. You may seek advice, ideas and wisdom but in the end each final decision is yours.
8. What this means is don’t be shy! Accept assistance when offered and solicit involvement, help and ideas from those you believe will be an asset.
9. Add your personal touches. For example; if you have children you may consider making them an important part of your wedding.
10. Pick a few aspects of your wedding and make them personalized. A personal touch makes a wedding meaningful to the bridal couple, their attendants, family and all invited guests.

In summary, your wedding is a serious moment for declaring your love and commitment to each other. Make your wedding truly a one-of-a-kind event. Fill it with cherished moments and keepsakes.

Whether you choose a favorite theme, a special setting or an intimate gathering of friends and loved ones, enjoy the journey. Perhaps, the memories and keepsakes may stay with you forever. Treasure them! And may you have a Happy, Happy day!

Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses

For several years, brides have been selecting a bridesmaid dress designer and a fabric, and then letting their bridesmaids choose the style that works best for their bodies. But the 2010 wedding trend takes idea further. Choose only a color, then let your bridesmaids find an off-the-rack dress of any designer that they like. Not only does this take some pressure off of you, but it also ensures that women are choosing a dress they like and they’ll be likely to actually wear again. If you follow this trend, be sure to tell your bridesmaids how formal the dress should be – you don’t want one bridesmaid wearing a casual sundress while another has on a beaded evening gown. This really helps the bridesmaid’s feel better about the money they are spending if they can wear the dress again.

Strapless Wedding Dresses

If you’re saying to yourself, “This isn’t a new 2010 wedding trend!” you’re right. Strapless dresses have been extremely popular for several years now. And though more brides are opting for sleeves, straps, and other ways of covering the shoulders, strapless is going to continue to be the dominant style for the near future. Once again this is a less expensive choice compared to other dresses and another way to save money.

Birdcage Veils

These vintage-look veils combine a jeweled clip or feathered headpiece with netting that only covers the face. Drew Barrymore wears a birdcage veil to a recent movie premiere. Wearing one allows you to have some dramatic glamour and feel like a bride, but is a more fun look and less hassling than a long traditional veil. The more simple style can save you some money as well.

Anything can happen on that “Big” day. The key to keeping things as stress-free as possible is being prepared. We have created a list below to help out. About a week before the wedding, start gathering as many of these items you think you’ll need. Put them in a bag and bring them with you.

Dress
Bobby Pins
Make-up
Make Up for Touch-Ups
Clear Nail Polish
Nail Glue, Nail file
Hairspray, Hairpins
Tissue, cotton swabs, cotton balls
Perfume
Jewelry for the Bride and yourself
Wedding Dress shoes and a casual pair for after
Undergarments for the wedding dress
Needle, thread (white and color of bridesmaid dresses), and scissors, hem tape, safety pins
Contact solution/rewetting drops or glasses, eye drops
Breath Mints
Pantyhose/Nylons (at least 2 pair)
Change of clothing for after
Phone numbers of all the important vendors
Watch
Any prescription medication the bride or groom is on
Plane tickets and luggage if the newlyweds are going on their honeymoon straight from the wedding
Flowers (unless brought by the vendor)
Extra money (just in case of emergency)
A friend to stand by for back up in case the car has flat tire or engine problems
Your speech
Card to give the bride (always a cute friend idea)
2 garters (1 to keep and 1 to toss)
Grooms Ring
Camera for Pictures
Tylenol and Tums
Deodorant / Antiperspirant
Phone Numbers of all Important Family Members in the Wedding, Bridesmaids, Grooms
Toothbrush
Antacid
Cash (In small bills for tips)
Tampons/Pads
Sanitizing Wipes
Tide To Go

For the Home

Decorating a first home is always a fun challenge for the new bride and groom. When choosing a personalized wedding gift, be sure to take the happy couple’s taste and preferences into account. Certain gifts, such wall hangings, wall clocks, canvas hangings, and personalized wedding mementoes, can fit into nearly any décor, and can serve as the perfect wedding gift for the new couple.

Surprise the new pair with a beautiful engraved glass wedding frame to display one of their favorite wedding or engagement pictures. Welcome them to their new home with a stunning double-sided table frame that displays their favorite wedding quote on one side and a photo from their special day on the other. If you are familiar with the decorating taste of the bride and groom, you can choose a frame that suits the style of their home so that your gift can become a permanent part of their everyday lives.

Take a wedding picture frame to the next level with a unique collage frame specifically designed to hold honeymoon photos. A Honeymoon Photo Collage Frame can beautifully accent any home while reminding the couple of their first time together as a couple. While any collage frame can display honeymoon photos, choose one that can constantly remind them of their wonderful first vacation together. A frame fitted with a die-cut mat spelling out the letters “HONEYMOON” gives ample space for displaying nine wonderful photos from their trip.

To Hang on the Wall

Other popular wedding gifts are wall plaques, and a personalized wall plaque can enhance the importance of the gift even more. For a friend with simple, homespun tastes and a country rustic decorating scheme, you might choose a country art slate wall plaque, hand-painted with their names and the date of their wedding. A canvas art wall hanging is a lighter alternative to a personalized wedding plaque. Choose one with a joyful saying like “Live, Love, Laugh” as a lasting reminder of the important things in life.

Keepsakes

If you decide to buy the bride and groom a small keepsake, consider a gift that will become a treasured part of their holiday celebration for years to come. One option is a personalized Christmas ornament scripted with their names and wedding date. Opting for more detail, you could also get them a creative ornament personalized with the entire wedding party. Certain ornaments enable you to even choose the appropriate hair color and skin tone of each wedding attendant, and include their name on the ornament.

Non-Traditional Personalized Wedding Gifts

If you want to avoid the “wedding” tag, you can choose a personalized gift for the home without a wedding motif. Gifts such as personalized tile coasters inscribed with an initial or last name can proudly sit on any table in any room. Carry your wedding gift ideas outside and choose a personalized welcome mat or welcome plaque for the door of the couple’s home. Hand painted slate tiles or a molded and hand painted welcome plaque is an especially warm wedding gift for couples moving into a new home together.

For the Bedroom

If you are looking for something very traditional, one of the most conventional wedding gifts for a new couple is a quilt or other bedding option. Whether you choose a quilted throw in the traditional wedding ring pattern, or a more modern woven jacquard cotton afghan throw, you can have the blanket embroidered with the new couple’s name and wedding date to make it a lasting keepsake of their special day.

Novelty Wedding Gifts

Of course, not every wedding gift has to be formal, or even useful. Sometimes fun and hysterically personalized wedding gifts are the best and most memorable. If the bride and groom have decided to change their names, give them each a t-shirt imprinted with Mr. and Mrs. “last names” in calligraphic script so that they don’t forget their new family name. Deck the couple out in matching “I’m the Bride” and “I’m the Groom” t-shirts and baseball caps to wear on their honeymoon.

A personalized wedding gift is a very special way of acknowledging your friends’ or families’ new journey together, a life of love and true happiness. Don’t be stuck giving an impersonal set of pots or glassware, with a little effort choose a unique personalized gift that will be treasured and displayed forever.

Trying to plan a last minute Holiday Party? Well, space is still available and we’ve got rates that will knock your socks off.

With many amenities that are perfect for Office gatherings, especially Holiday parties, we are sure that our event center will exceed all of your expectations - except for the price!

Call us and take 25% off your Holiday Party if you book in December 2009 or January 2010!

You’ve heard that business and family don’t mix, right? Don’t lend money to family members; don’t blend business and pleasure, etcetera. If we believed that, the opportunity to have your wedding and reception at Stonebrook Manor would be non-existent. You would just have to go somewhere else.

Lucky for you, at Stonebrook Manor, we believe that business and family DO mix. We mix it everyday. And by everyday, I don’t mean Monday through Friday, 8a.m. to 5p.m. I mean 24/7/365. Holidays, birthdays, Sundays. Everyday that our family gathers, business is on the brain and in the conversation. And it works for us.

I imagine that some families would never even consider working together, let alone starting a business together. Some families just don’t have what it takes, I suppose, especially when you throw stepfamilies and in-laws in the mix. Yep, we’re a blended family to boot. Would you want to work with your greedy step-sister, or your menacing mother-in-law? Me neither. Fortunately, none of us have to. There are attributes that each family member must possess for this to work: a good work ethic, selflessness, humility, and a SENSE OF HUMOR. If we didn’t have these, it would be a recipe for disaster.

I’m not saying that we don’t have our occasional disputes, disagreements, and even blow ups (don’t tell my mom I just admitted that), but we don’t let our differences at the office upset our family gatherings. We just don’t.

From our very first business meeting 7 years ago to today, we have maintained a common goal. I don’t think we have a concrete mission statement per se, but we all agree on the purpose for Stonebrook Manor as our family legacy: to be a blessing. We want to be a blessing to the community in which we do business, to the brides and grooms who choose to say their vows in our home, and to their witnesses. And if we are successful at this, then our vision is that our children and possibly grandchildren will work here and prosper as well. We believe in the biblical law of sowing and reaping. If we bless others, then we have no choice but to be blessed in return. We hope that if we serve our clients and do the best that we possibly can for them, we will prosper.

Rest assured that if and when you book your reception at our facility, we will treat you with the same respect that we treat each other. We have high standards and our quality of goods and services show that. On behalf of my family and myself, welcome to Stonebrook Manor.