CELTIC WEDDINGS

What could be more romantic than a Celtic wedding! In this, the month of St Patrick, here are some ideas for a unique wedding theme. First, if a destination wedding is in your plans, how about an Irish castle. There are many resources for traditional Celtic gowns, just do a search for Irish wedding traditions. Use wildflowers native to Ireland instead of traditional wedding flowers. And, if you want the most beautiful vows you ever heard, search for ancient Celtic wedding vows! There is nothing more romantic, loving or personal than some of what I have found!! Handfasting and the cirle of love are two other ancient traditions that you can incorporate into your wedding. No one does love like the Celts!

PHOTO OPS!

Chosing a photographer is such an important part of planning your wedding! Those pictures are the memories of that special day. Do you want photojournalistic pictures or more standard wedding pictures? Do you want black and white and color or just color? Are the pictures available on line for friends and family to buy? How many of your proofs are yours to keep? All of these questions are important to ask. Also, if you are planning photos outside in a public park, make sure you don't need a permit! Some public areas require permission to take photos.

Photo courtesy of Karen Wise Photography

EVERYBODY DANCE NOW!

Band or DJ? Depending on the size of the room and the crowd and the budget! Bands are loud! They are a great way to get the guests on the floor and dancing, but if your venue is small a band may not be a good idea. There are so many companies now that have great DJ's, that you don't have to worry about the quality. Two of my favorite ones are Best of Both Worlds and Toner Sound. They do a great job and Best of Both Worlds is just that- they sing too!

UP OR DOWN?

Do you wear your hair up or down? If you have no idea how to wear your hair for your wedding, check out www.brides.com and see the many ways to style your hair to compliment your dress, your theme or your venue. An elegant ballroom, the beach or a garden- there are styles for every type of wedding.

CHA-CHING!!

What will your wedding cost? Contrary to many surveys out there in cyber-space, they don't cost $15-$20,000! Maybe if you live in Wisconsin or Indiana, but if you live in a city on either coast- not a chance!! Realistically, if you are having a wedding on a Saturday night in Philadelphia, expect to spend $50-70,000. You can do things to save money. www.brides.com and other sites help you to DIY some of your wedding. Also, check out www.michaels.com for crafty ways to personalize your special day! One thing is sure: if you want your day to be flawless, get a planner involved! It isn't an added expense. It is the insurance to have a perfect day and save time, money and stress along the way. It is a VERY wise investment!

WEDDING INSURANCE?

Wedding insurance is something that most couples don't think about and that others never heard of. But, if you are getting married- it is something you need to have! I found a great article about it on www.wedsafe.com. Believe me, you are going to want to read it and then ask your insurance agent about it.

THE ENVELOPE, PLEASE!

Invitations are something that every bride frets over. What should they look like, how to word them, kids or no kids...? Go to weddingchannel.com and get some tips on how to put your invitations together and see these and other great ideas for unique designs.