Sep

26

The Pros and Cons of an Outdoor Wedding

Filed Under Wedding Reception | Comments Off

These days, many couples are opting for a non-traditional, outdoor wedding. As you sit down to decide the type of wedding you want to have, it may be difficult to determine whether or not this new trend is for you. Outdoor weddings, although beautiful, may not fit every couple’s style. It is important to weigh the pros and cons before coming to a decision.

The Pros:

Décor
Outdoor weddings provide a backdrop all their own, without the need of fussy decorations. A wedding in the woods or on the beach provides a simple, elegant style without the help of flowers, candles, or any other embellishment. This may save you a bit of money, as you won’t need extravagant flowers to set the tone for your wedding day.

Unique Experience
Having your wedding outdoors will provide you and your guests with a unique experience unlike other weddings. We’ve all been to a church wedding with a hotel ballroom reception, and although there is something to be said for tradition, an outdoor wedding can be a breath of fresh air (literally). Breaking out of the cookie cutter wedding style you’ve seen in the past may be just the thing for a quirky couple looking to break the mold.

Photo Op
A well executed outdoor wedding guarantees great photos. There is nothing comparable to natural light when it comes to beautiful pictures. Not to mention the added romance of the sun setting behind you as you say your vows or a crisp blue sky to contrast with your white dress. Photographers love outdoor weddings, and it isn’t hard to see why.

The Cons

Added Stress
A wedding is full of unknown factors and “what if’s”, add in a chance of rain, and you’ve just increased the stress of wedding planning exponentially. An outdoor wedding means an elaborate backup plan and a bride who can cope with last minute changes. If you are a control freak, an outdoor wedding may be more trouble than it’s worth.

Lack of Resources
Sure, outdoor weddings may be unique, but that means the outdoor location probably doesn’t have a lot of experience catering to weddings. When planning an outdoor wedding, many more factors come in to play, like electricity, seating and temperature to name a few. Even if you are lucky enough to avoid rain, wind or snow, you may find yourself battling heat or a failed power generator. Keep in mind that an outdoor wedding requires much more planning than a traditional church one. You’ll have to think of everything and a backup plan for that as well.

Comfort
Although the wedding itself may be lovely, an outdoor wedding means paying careful attention to guests’ comfort. In a church, where air conditioning and parking lots are taken for granted you can skip over the basic comforts of your guests. Outdoor weddings do not afford you that planning luxury. How far your guests will have to walk and whether or not they will need water at the ceremony are factors you will have to keep in mind if you choose to go with an outdoor wedding.

Sarah Danielson writes for www.LosWillows.com the ideal San Diego wedding venue for the bride and groom that expect the very best.

Sep

6

Romantic Honeymoon Destinations in Greece

Filed Under Articles | Comments Off

For most couples, their honeymoon is all about romance. Spending time together in a relaxing environment and experiencing all that life has to offer as a new couple is the number one priority. If you are looking for more than just a beach vacation, traveling to Greece for your honeymoon may be your best bet.

Athens
A site of cultural and historical importance, Athens has been a destination for many honeymooners. The small, intimate feel of the city provides you and your other half with hours of wandering through narrow streets and experiencing a totally different culture. Greeks tend to take eating very seriously, and you and your honey will be pleasantly surprised by large authentic Greek dinners eaten by candle light. As the capital city, Athens boasts some of Greece’s best and most modern hotels. Or, you can opt for a more traditional room in an authentic Greek villa.

Santorini
A small island off the coast of Greece, Santorini is a romantic honeymooner’s dream. The volcanic island provides an unexpected and breathtaking backdrop for your honeymoon. Outdoor hikes and excursions to see the many archeological sites and volcanic formations provide endless entertainment. If you just want to relax, you can take a trip to the black sand beaches, unlike any other because of their creation from volcanic rock.

Patmos Island
This island offers you a less populated destination, being a beautiful but less popular destination for honeymooners. This island, the site where the Book of Revelations was written by St. John, offers charming seaside towns and small villages. The romantic arrival to the island by boat is also an unbeatable way to start off your honeymoon.

Corfu
This Greek island provides a honeymooner with a taste of the very best Europe has to offer. Though a part of Greece, the island’s culture has been heavily influenced by Naples, Paris and Venice to name a few. The multicultural island offers honeymooners some tasty restaurants and all kinds of shops to enjoy. This island seems to encompass all of Europe’s most romantic places.

Cyprus
Though not a part of Greece, Cyprus is a tiny country to the east that has become one of the most popular tourist destinations. Honeymooners flock to Cyprus for its beautiful beaches, favorable climate and five star resorts. Cyprus villas offer couples their own private space on the beautiful coast line. Just a short trip from Greece, it has much cultural influence and offers a wide variety of Greek inspired cuisine.

Planning your honeymoon can be just as important as planning your wedding. A stress free and relaxing vacation as a new couple is an essential start to being a new couple. Greece offers a combination of history, culture, beauty and divine relaxation to honeymooners. Remember that planning a trip abroad comes with much responsibility. If you don’t already have your passport, get the process started as it could be a lengthy one. Read all of the airline’s instructions about what you can and cannot bring into the country and on to the plane, and be sure to find out about emergency policies in the place you decide to travel to.

Sep

2

How to Select Music for your Wedding Reception

Filed Under Wedding Planning | Comments Off

The soundtrack of your wedding is going to play a large role in setting the mood for your reception. It is important to choose something that your guests will enjoy and that you and your husband-to-be will feel comfortable with. If your wedding has a theme, be sure to choose music that aligns well with it. For example, oldies and indie music would complement a vintage style wedding.

Decide whether you will create your own play list using your iPod, a DJ or a band for your wedding music. Each provides its own positives and negatives, and your budget and personal preference will help you decide what’s right for you. A band provides an experience for your guests, but can set you back quite a bit of money. Good bands are expensive and difficult to find. Begin looking for a band months in advance and do a little research by attending a show and hit the message boards to find out what other brides thought of them. If you choose a DJ, make sure you are clear with them about their responsibilities and the types of music you like and don’t like. Finally, though creating a playlist on your iPod provides a similar experience to that of a DJ, it puts more on your plate. You will need to find someone to man it, and create a backup plan in case there is a malfunction on the big day.

Once you’ve chosen who will provide your music, you will have to decide on a few songs. Remember that your wedding day is generally divided into 3 parts; the ceremony, the dinner and the reception. You will want to try to choose different songs for each.

For your reception, it is wise to talk to the officiant or priest about your selections. If you want to go a nontraditional route and use popular songs during your ceremony, make sure the church is ok with that. Don’t feel confined to one type of music, many brides are mixing and matching contemporary songs with traditional ones. Choose something that you, your husband-to-be and the officiant or priest are all comfortable with.

When choosing the music for dinner, try to make selections light and upbeat. Avoid dance types of songs until the end of the night. It is wise to keep the slow, ballad songs to a minimum as well. A few are ok, as long as some more upbeat songs are included as well. You don’t want your guests falling asleep at dinner.

Finally, the music at your reception should be the kind of music people can dance to. Keep in mind the types of people at your wedding, if it is mostly an older group you may not want to play modern rap songs. Many brides ask their guests to choose the soundtrack by sending in song requests with their RSVP cards.

The type of music you choose for your wedding can have a large impact on your guests’ overall experience at the wedding. Make it a positive one by making careful selections. Often brides tie in their wedding songs to the wedding favors by handing out a mixed cd with the couple’s initials on it. Make your wedding your own, no matter what your budget by choosing a wedding soundtrack you are proud of.