Wedding Wednesday - Picking the Right Venue for You

Location, Location, Location! For weddings, as in real estate, picking the location and venue for your big day is an important decision. Choosing the right venue can be the difference between having a great wedding experience and a not so memorable one. For this installment of  'Wedding Wednesday,' we will bring to your attention some things to consider that will be useful for picking the right venue for you!

Budget

First things first: Set your budget. As everyone knows, the budget is the be-all and end-all (well it should be) when it comes to selecting the venue for your wedding. The importance of setting your budget before looking for a wedding venue is that it makes it easier for you to not spend more than you have or are willing to on a venue. How can you estimate your budget if you have no idea how much it costs to hold your wedding at a venue? One word: Research. Do some research in the market of the area you want to have your wedding to get an idea of the cost and based on that determine the price range for your budget on the wedding location. How much you are willing and able to spend will play a determining role in what venue and area you can have you wedding ceremony. For instance, venues in metropolitan areas have a higher price point than those in small towns. Also, if you have been yearning to have your wedding in a posh hotel, know that it will be much more costly than at a church or social club. Another factor will be the 'when' of your wedding day event. Wedding ceremonies held during the weekday will be more budget friendly than those held during the weekend. The season . One of the most important takeaways is that you be realistic when it comes to establishing a budget. If you are, it will save you lots of stress down the line.

Know The Theme

When searching for a venue, it's great to have a wedding theme in mind. Knowing what type of affair you want to have whether it is vintage or fairy tale will help to narrow down and focus your search. If you are looking to have a movie-themed wedding a performance hall or theatre could be locations to consider that would also add a nice vintage touch. For modern brides that are into minimalism, art museums and galleries are perfect match. If you are going for the nautical feel, weddings held on a yacht especially around sunset is are a beautiful experience. And for those who want something more traditional and religious, a church,cathedral, or other place of worship would be perfect. With all the endless possibilities, having a theme in mind while help you to pick the location that will bring your ideas alive.


Size Does Matter

Knowing how many people you plan on having attend your wedding ceremony (or at least a rough estimate) is very very very important in determining what kind of venues you can choose from. If want to have a small number of guests at your wedding affair than it is best to choose a more intimate setting. On the other hand, if you end up having 300 guest attend, it would be quite inconvenient and a possible fire hazard if you chose a venue beforehand that can only hold 100 people. With that said, it's best to have at least a rough estimate of attendees before choosing a venue. Another detail to keep in mind that often is overlooked is parking. Choosing a venue that can accommodate the parking needs of guests will cut down on the headache and will also lead to happier guests.


When in search for the perfect venue for your big day, it is best to be prepared. We hope these tips will better equip you to tackle on this big task ahead of you.


Happily Planning,

Your Big Day
http://www.yourbigdayllc.com/
info{at}yourbigdayllc{dot}com
908-206-4107

The Man Thursdays - Groom Speech Success

Source: www.groomgroove.com

Hey fellas! It's that time of the week, 'The Man Thursday,' where the focus is all on you - the groom to be. Today we are here to help you out with the always anticipated, sometimes dreaded groom speech at the wedding reception. The groom's speech can be a very entertaining and touching moment or it can be a pure disaster. Don't fret, we will be providing you with some tips that will help to make your upcoming speech an experience to be remembered - in a good way:


1. Keep it Short.
Make sure your speech does not exceed 5 minutes. Public speaking can be daunting for anyone. Your nerves can sometimes get the best of you and cause you to ramble on and on and on. We suggest that you come prepared. Like the saying goes 'practice makes perfect,' so try practicing your speech in front of the mirror or a trusted friend. Jotting down some major points on a notepad will be very helpful, as well. Remember, people have a short attention span, so keep your speech short and sweet.

2. Lighten up!
Your wedding day is supposed to be fun, so make sure to loosen up. If you have great timing and funny stories to share, why not try a humorous approach. Everyone loves to laugh and this will be a great way to share some details about you and your bride. So if you can pull it off, crack a joke or a few. Your guests will definitely enjoy it!

3. Flattery goes a long way
Who doesn't love to hear nice things said about them? Your groom's speech is the best time to say some complimentary things about your wife, in-laws, and other guests of honor. No need to overdo it, but a few simple words and even just a 'thank you' can do wonders. This is the perfect platform to show your gratitude to all whom you care for, so flatter away.


If you prepare yourself and make use of these tips, you will be well on your way to having a successful groom's speech. Most importantly, remember to Enjoy Yourself!


Happily Planning,

Your Big Day
http://www.yourbigdayllc.com/
info{at}yourbigdayllc{dot}com
908-206-4107

Matrimony Mondays - Make It Work

Happy Matrimony Monday! We know that as engaged couples you spend a vast amount of time focused on planning the wedding day event, so we are using Mondays to provide you with relationship-focused tips to help you make it to the wedding day and stay strong in your marriage life. Contrary to the romance novels and fairy tales, once you get married it's not happily every after. For a marriage to last, it takes work. Today, we are arming you with some tools that if you start to implement now, will help to make life more blissful:

Flatter Me Daily

BettyConfidential.com

Compliments, no matter how small go a long way. Make it a mission to applaud your significant other on something specific they did on a daily basis. If you focus your energy on trying to figure out what they did right, you won’t have time to nitpick on all the little issues. Besides, tomorrow, not even the next second is promised. Make an effort to show your appreciation to those you love while they can still appreciate the gesture. Doling out daily and specific compliments may seem like something not easily maintained, but just take it one step at a time and remember:“

       Good habits, once established are just as hard to break as are bad habits." - Robert Puller 

Don’t Go To Bed Angry

Semi-Coherent Thoughts

 

Starting now make it a rule that whenever you have disagreements, you will not go to bed angry at each other - no matter what. Even if you don't argue, if either one of you feel disappointed or let down by your other half, hash it out; don’t let it fester. It’s never good to let things fester, it will only get worse and make things harder to be resolved. This may seem like it's unreasonable since some issues faced are too big to get resolved in just one day, but that's not what we are suggesting. Soon, you will be making the vow to be faithful partners to each other in good times and in bad. Marriage is in no terms an easy path; you will have really good times together and bad, tumultuous ones. When the going gets tough, you will have to constantly remind each other that you decided to go down this path, together, because you love each other. When you have your big arguments and don't see eye to eye, before you go to sleep make it an effort to say to each other, 'I'm not happy with you right now, I might still be unhappy with you when I wake up, but I married you because I love you enough to work through the bad times, together.' 

Have 'Me' Time 

Are we asking you to spend time apart? Yes! It doesn't hurt, once in awhile. Heard of the expression “absence makes the heart grow fonder”?  Well, it has some merit. Planning a wedding is a very stressful experience and allowing each other some time to focus on just yourselves can relieve some stress. You will also notice a decrease in bickering that usually comes from too much time together in stressful situations. Give each other some breathing space and focus on your individual hobbies - you won’t regret it.

Marriage is hard work. While preparing for your wedding day, don't forget to work on preparing for your life as a married couple. Marriage is not just the wedding day, it's the rest of your lives.

Happily Planning,

Your Big Day
http://www.yourbigdayllc.com/
info{at}yourbigdayllc{dot}com
908-206-4107 

Find Them Fridays: KV Carriage

Friday's finally here! TGIF!!! One of the great things about Fridays are that they are a start to the much needed weekend. Now, we have another reason for you to look forward to Fridays: our new weekly segment - 'Find Them Fridays.' Every week on 'Find Them Fridays,' we will be bringing great and interesting wedding professionals right to your screen. We know that you spend a lot of time stressing over what services to get and wedding professionals to choose on your wedding day, so we have scoured the 'net to help ease your stress.

In light of the much talked about nuptials of Prince Williams and Kate Middleton, we decided to present you with a wedding professional that could help you have your own version of a fairytale wedding: KV Carriage. KV Carriage provides a fairytale experience for all special occasions whether it be for a marriage proposal or your wedding day. Having over 40 years of professional experience working with horses, this New Jersey based company offers memorable experiences on their formal horse drawn carriages and horses. They customize their services to your needs to ensure they make your experience special to you. For those planning ethnic weddings, they also specialize in Asian weddings.

If you're interested in having a horse drawn carriage or even just a horse send you off into the sunset, why not check out KV Carriage's website for yourself at www.kvcarriage.com or contact them:

Kathy & Vito Sperduto
KV Carriage, LLC
Hackettstown, NJ
908-852-4812
info@kvcarriage.com

{all photos courtesy of KV Carriage}


Happily Planning,

Your Big Day
http://www.yourbigdayllc.com/
info{at}yourbigdayllc{dot}com
908-206-4107

Terrific Finds: Non-Floral Centerpieces

Hey Brides and Grooms! Welcome to our new weekly segment, 'Terrific Find Tuesdays.' Every Tuesday, we will be bringing you unique and fun ideas that won't bust your wedding budget. Our goal is to provide you with inspirations that you can incorporate on your wedding day.

First, let's start off with a quick game of word association. What comes to mind when you see the words: Wedding Centerpiece? Well, it would be safe to assume that a majority of you answered flowers without even giving it a second thought. It's not surprising, since flowers are one of the most popular and widely used forms of centerpieces at wedding receptions. With all the fantasy wedding reality shows out there displaying fabulously elaborate floral masterpieces, couples everywhere are vying to recreate them in their own weddings. However, beautiful as flowers are, creating a floral display on multiple tables can sometimes become expensive. Now, don't fret if having a grand floral centerpiece will put you over your budget. Just take a look at these fabulous budget friendly alternatives.

Fruit
When it comes to centerpieces, we usually see fruits taking on the supporting role. Don't underestimate the star power of the fruit. With the wide variety of fruit in an assortment of colors, there are many directions you can take with nature's sweets. They can add a nice splash of color that could light up a room just as well as any flower.

{Martha Stewart Weddings}

{Canada Bride}

Wedding Favors
Wedding favors are usually placed on the reception tables; why not having them as the focal point?

{Martha Stewart Weddings}

Lampshade Centerpieces
Lampshades are a fun, unique, and quirky trend that will be sure to add some pizazz at your reception. You can play around with the lighting to give off a nice effect at each table.

{Cocktails Details}

{Cocktails Details}

Candy Galore!
Any centerpiece that satisfies the sweet tooth is sure to be a hit among your guests. A candy-fied diversion is definitely an eye catcher and will bring out the child in all. What's even better than candy centerpieces....saving money! Have your sweet centerpieces also serve as wedding favors to cut down on costs.

{BridalBuds}

It's 'All about You'
Instead of having your guests fawn over a floral display, how about using your centerpiece to reinforce you and your love as the day's focal point...your wedding day IS all about you. Have different portraits set up with some trivia about you. This is a nice personal touch and a great way to share more about your journey as a couple with your guests.

{Pearl Events Austin}

{Offbeat Bride}

So, if having a floral centerpiece will put you over your wedding budget, don't panic - there are great alternatives out there. Instead, we hope that the suggestions we have provided inspire you to think outside the box and find the right fit for your wedding.


Happily Planning,

Your Big Day
http://www.yourbigdayllc.com/
info@yourbigdayllc.com
908-206-4107

Cupcakes, Cookies, and Pie, Oh My!

The wedding cake: seen by most as one of THE focal points of the wedding reception (and a tasty one at that!). As appealing as wedding cakes are, not everyone starts drooling at the sight of a rich vanilla cake or even a three-tiered whimsical masterpiece. Cakes as the wedding dessert of choice have become the traditional pick, and even with the many options they can borderline the mundane. So, for those of you looking to veer off the typical eating path, even just slightly, here are some options to consider for your upcoming nuptials:


Pie in the Sky

 

With dozens of delicious flavors to choose from, there is a pie to satisfy almost everyone of your guests: vegan, meringue, chocolate, fruit filled, cream, etc. You can choose to have assorted pies on tiered cake stands or a buffet-style 'pie' table flanked with flowers, candles, or whatever form of decoration you choose. An added bonus is that pies are less costly than cakes.

Cupcakes Galore


Who doesn’t enjoy a cupcake? This treat is becoming quite the popular confectionery at weddings. Cupcakes can be arranged on a stand, stacked together to create a cupcake cake, and even spell out your wedding date. And if you choose to have a variety of cupcake options, your guests are more likely to find the cupcake that satisfy their sweet tooth. To give each cupcake a personal flair, how about personalizing each individual cupcake with its own special design, cupcake topper, flower….it’s up to you. When it comes to presentation and variety, the possibilities are endless.

Cake Pops


If you love a good wedding cake but want to put a twist on it, why not incorporate the absolutely adorable cake pops in the sweet portion of your reception. These bite size cake balls on sticks make for perfect finger treats. They’re just cute and sweet enough to tempt even those guests vowing to stay away. Simply put, they take the cake! .


Cookie, Cookie, Cookies


When you think of wedding sweets, cookies may not seem the go-to revolutionary and unique treat. But if you love a great cookie, it may be a good idea to share that love affair with your guests. You can arrange a colorful display of assorted cookie options that look as appealing as the cookies are tasty. For something a little different, have a giant gourmet cookie cake. You'd be surprised how a cookie can be transformed to fit your wedding. Never underestimate the power of a cookie.
 

Doughnuts

Mmmmm, donuts….at a wedding? It feels weird putting doughnuts and weddings in the same sentence let alone trying to picture them as a match made in heaven. But you have to admit, it makes your mouth water, doesn’t it? You can choose from a wide variety of doughnuts and mix and match them to create the ultimate doughnut cake.




Whether you’re looking to surprise your guests with something off-the-wall or simply compliment your wedding cake, consider having these treats at your wedding.

(Photo Credits: Brosnan Photographic, Weddingcollections, Bakerella, Eleni NYC, Wedding Bee, Budget Bride, Dog N Bird, East Side Bride, Yum Sugar, The Knot)

New Take on the Unity Candle Tradition

We’ve all seen it done before: the officiant says some words on two lives coming together and then the bride and groom each take a lit candle from their respective family candle and together light a "unity candle." The unity candle ceremony holds great meaning, symbolizing two families coming together and two individuals becoming one ‘unit.’ The problem is, nowadays this particular ceremony has become more of a routine custom and mostly goes unnoticed.

For those of you who want a unity ceremony at your wedding but one that will hold more personal significance, try putting a twist on the unity candle ceremony. Here are two alternative ideas that will get you thinking of how to incorporate the unity ceremony in a way that will make a more memorable impression at your upcoming nuptial.


Ring a Bell

An old wedding superstition regarding bells was that ringing bells at the ceremony would ward off evil spirits intent on wrecking havoc on the newlywed couple’s bliss. The bells were also thought to bring good fortune to the couple. Although this superstition has faded into the past, bells are still rung as a celebration of the couple's love, happiness, and union. 

A great way of incorporating the wedding bell tradition into your unity ceremony is by ringing bells. To start off the ceremony, the officiant can explain to your guests the symbolism of the wedding bell and walk them through the process: the bride and groom will each have a bell in hand and then after tying them with a bow, they will proceed to ring the bell together. If possible, another option is to ring the bell at the venue. This will represent the couple's commitment to work together to maintain their love through the good and the bad. After the wedding day, the bells can be placed in the wedded couple's home and whenever there is an argument, one of them can ring the bells, reminding them both of their wedding day bliss and their vow to work through the bad times, together.


Plant It Together


The planting of a tree sapling or a seedling of choice represents the start of your new life as a wedded couple. The planting ceremony works great for those who choose to have an outdoor wedding. To avoid a mess, have the sapling or seedling potted beforehand and two small hand shovels with a small scoop of soil in each. And during the planting ceremony, simply slide the scoop of soil into the pot. Another option is to just water the seedling during the planting ceremony.

This will be a constant reminder that like a plant in order for the couple’s love to stay alive and grow stronger, they will need to nurture it constantly and consistently. And as the couple works together to cultivate their relationship they will grow stronger in each other. For those who are passionate about the environment and love nature, this ceremony will hold an added meaning.



Whether you choose to include the above options in your wedding or come up with your own tradition, make sure your unity ceremony holds personal significance for you and your groom.


(Photo credits:  Shoponline2011.com, Illustrationsource.com, Micah Dahlberg Photography, 2000 Dollar Wedding)   

Food Trucks: Wedding Craze!?! or Just Crazy?

Food Truck: A new wedding trend that is catching some speed in 2011.

100layercake.com

Whether it is used as a catering alternative during cocktail hour, the wedding after party, or even (gasp!) the main course, food trucks are popping up at weddings and special events. This may come as a surprise since food trucks used to conjure the image of greasy food and workers with questionable hygiene - not anymore. With the increasing popularity of The Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network, gourmet food trucks are becoming more than just an LA thing.  People are starting to take notice and are incorporating them in a big way on their big day.
 

Associated Press

For those looking for something different and unique at their weddings, using food trucks to cater their event is an option to consider (seriously). They offer a wide range of food choices from tacos, escargot, waffles, gourmet ice cream, cupcakes — the hardest part may be narrowing down your options. With food trucks, you can go for casual food options are something more upscale. The concept is quirky and fun. This tasty novelty can be a great talking piece and makes for an interesting photo op.

Jihan Abdalla Photography via Wedding Chicks

The idea of using food trucks at weddings or any special event could seem a little bit too off kilter for most. In fact, as interesting as the concept sounds on paper, it may not be a practical choice for every wedding or event. Even if you don't think food trucks will work for your big day, you have to admit, they sure look like a lot a fun!

New Take on Wedding Guest Books

Capturing moments allow us to treasure memories for a lifetime.....

You spend months planning every last detail of your wedding, making sure that your big day will be a great memory treasured by all who attend. However, when your wedding day finally arrives, everything happens so quickly, almost as if it's a dream.  As much as you want to have every detail of your wedding day branded into your mind, over time even the most precious moments can began just a blur. Besides, on your wedding day, you will be so busy focusing on each other that you may forget certain details like all the well wishes from your guests.

To help avoid that, newlywed couples usually incorporate a wedding guest book. Traditionally, guests leave a nice little note and their signature for the married couple in a nicely designed guest book. Booooring. Tradition is nice and all, but how about trying a more modern and unique approach that will stand out and make for a much more fun experience for you and your guests.

Take a Picture, It'll last longer

They say "a picture is worth a thousand words." Just imagine how much more of an impact your guest book can have, in years to come, if you add pictures. Polaroid guest books are becoming an ever increasing trend at weddings because of their ability to capture more than just faces but the emotions in that moment. And when you go through your guest book thirty years from now, it'll take away the guess work of trying to visualize who wished you "a lifetime of great memories together." Polaroid guest books are a great way of involving guests in capturing spontaneous and candid memories for the bride and groom. And they're quick and easy to use.

Captured E-Motion

Who doesn't love photo booths. Well, there is a new and popular trend at weddings with an interesting take on the photo booth idea: Video Booths. Think video confessionals - reality TV style! Video Booths are a fun way for your guests to leave spontaneous, fun, and personal video messages. This is a creative alternative to the traditional guest book that will be as fun to watch as it was for your guests to make. And for those of you who love to share your every moment with the webiverse, you can easily upload your guest book online via the social media platform of your choosing.

Writing on the Quilt

For those looking to immortalize their big day and also pass down the memory from generation to generation, the quilted version of a guest book is the way to go. All you need are permanent markers and fabric squares to create a uniquely personalize "guest book." Guests will definitely feel like they are sharing a big part of your history, knowing their words will be woven together to create a touching memento: the wedding quilt.




For your upcoming nuptials, take a more personalized and fun approach to capture memories from your big day.

(Credits: Beau Coup, Suite101.com)

Green Your Wedding Day

One of the biggest milestones for a couple: Your wedding day! This is the day to show to everyone your love and ultimate commitment to each other. It is also a great opportunity to show your passion for the environment. So why not incorporate something important to you, like taking care of our environment, into your big day. For those who are passionate about the environment or even just interested in minimizing their carbon footprint, here are a few ways to make your wedding day green and fabulous.

Eco Invites

So you're engaged! Yaaay! The date has been set. Check. Now, it's time to start sending out the invites. For those looking to be environment friendly on your wedding day, your invitations are the perfect place to set the tone for your 'green' nuptials.

Electronic Invitations (Evites)
To cut down on the use of paper and reduce waste and energy, many engaged couples are making their big announcements electronically. This being the digital generation, it is not a surprise that many couples are leaning to this growing trend. With sites like ourwedvite.com and MyInvitationLink.com, you can have personalized electronic wedding invitations that are sure to rival traditional invitations. If the idea of reducing your paper consumption doesn't tempt you, think of how much you will save on printing and postage. You should also look into having a wedding site to keep your guests updated. Click here to create your wedding website.

Eco Paper Invites
For those who prefer sending out invitations the traditional way, yet still want to do their part to help the environment, invitations on recycled paper are the way to go. You will have a variety of options to still get "your green on", from seed-embedded handcrafted sheets, reclaimed cotton, bamboo, 100% recycled premium stock, and others. You can also use vegetable or soy ink for your print, to make your invites recyclable.



Green Favors

Wedding favors can be a great way of showing your personality and giving back to your guests and the environment. More and more couples are giving out favors that are not wasteful or harmful to the environment. Couples can reduce their carbon footprint by doing something as simple as getting favors from local vendors.

An alternative wedding favor that is also eco-friendly is having your escort card also servce as a plantable favor. Have your guests plant these favors in memory of your wedding that will also help the environment. Also, with this is breast cancer awareness month, we found a timely favor: Kate Aspen's In Favor of Cure. You can give your guests pink ribbon plantable favors. Kate Aspen donates 10% of proceeds from this favor to women’s breast cancer and health-focused charities.




(Please visit our website to purchase any of the above favors.)

Green Up Your Dress

Yes, you can go green on your wedding day right down to your special dress. The most obvious choice is to re-use a gown. Your choices range from buying vintage, renting, or wearing your mother's dress. Not only are these eco-friendly options but will not be as straining on your pocket. A great option is Brides Against Breast Cancer where you can purchase sample and donated gowns at a discounted price. Bride Against Breast Cancer donates the proceeds to help women with breast cancer. You can get the dress of your dreams and be environmentally friendly, all while helping to make strides in the fight against breast cancer! After your wedding, you could also donate your dress to this organization.

And if having a new dress is a must for you, consider eco-friendly fabrics such as linen, hemp, organic cotton, and silk.

Going green doesn't mean you have to sacrifice quality on your big day. If you decide to be eco-friendly on your wedding day, it will be more like a celebration of your life, love, and passion for each other and the environment. This will be sure to have your day remembered on a larger scale.

So will you add a little 'green' into your big day?

Wedding Professional Spotlight: Photo Favors

Last month's Village Bridal Showcase was a great experience! This was in part to the fantastic wedding professionals that participated at the showcase. So for those of you who missed out, we will be bringing these great wedding professionals right to your home!!

For our first wedding professional spotlight, we are excited to feature Photo Favors. We had the great pleasure of having Photo Favors as one of our wedding professionals for the Village Bridal Showcase on August 16, 2010. Photo Favors offers an alternative that stands out against the typical wedding favors. So if you aren't familiar with Photo Favors, then this is the perfect time to get acquainted! We could go on to tell you about this wonderful company and what they have to offer, but who better than Victor Orozco, the owner of Photo Favors, to present Photo Favors to you. So we invite you to check out our interview with him below and learn about how you can have your guests raving at your upcoming wedding:




YBD: Tell us about Photo Favors.

Victor Orozco: Photo Favors are a unique and exciting favor where your guests are photographed as they arrive to the reception and their Photos are ready for them to bring home before the party is over.


YBD: What makes your business unique?

Victor Orozco: Most favors are mass-produced and have been done over and over. Each Photo Favor is unique since its a beautiful picture of your friends and family at the wedding. We found that guests love their Photo Favor and keep it displayed in a prominent place at home or work for years.


YBD: What is your approach when working with engaged couples?

Victor Orozco: I believe that its very important to listen to each couple's unique needs and work closely to make sure that the favors are fun and stress-free for them.




YBD: How do you provide added value for the soon-to-be wedded pair?

Victor Orozco: With Photo Favors, the couple doesn't have to do anything on the wedding day. We take care of everything and this gives peace of mind. I also want to mention how guests get super excited and it creates a real nice buzz that ends the night on a high note. You usually don't get that kind of reaction with most favors.


YBD: What tips or advice do you have for engaged couples?

Victor Orozco: Plan ahead, talk to other couples and choose the best vendors early on so the process is fun and not stressful..


YBD: What is one thing you want everyone to know about Photo Favors?

Victor Orozco: There are many favors out there but Photo Favors is an exceptional gift that shows how much you love your friends and family. With Photo Favors, the memory of your wedding day will last forever in their hearts and in their smiles.

Like what you see? Looking for ways to go out of the norm and try something innovative on your big day? Well go ahead and contact Photo Favors. These favors are sure to be a crowd favorite at your wedding:

Contact: Victor Orozco, Owner
Phone: 908-451-1121
Email: Victor@photofavors.com
Website: www.photofavors4u.com

It's His Wedding Day Too!!!

Many articles and blogs on wedding planning are geared to catering to a bride's needs while grooms are overlooked. We have even been guilty of this ourselves. Often times grooms are pushed to the background and their needs and wants for the wedding day are neglected. To all the grooms out there, you have our sympathies and apology. Since it is also your wedding day, we are dedicating this post to ways to have the spotlight on you. For soon-to-be brides reading this, we implore you to take some notes,and hopefully you will be inspired to incorporate your groom on the wedding day and show him how important he is to you. Here are some ideas that will make him feel important and special:


FUN WITH THE FELLAS
The big day has finally come! Soon you will be declaring to world and the woman of your dreams that you are committing to spend the rest of your life with her. Rest Of Your Life... suddenly the thought is hitting you like a ton of bricks. Of course, we know you love her immensely, but marriage is a serious commitment so we don't blame for getting a bit jittery and nervous as the thought hits you that this is really happening. So what better way to loosen those nerves then by playing a quick pick up game with the boys, whether it be basketball or a couple rounds of golf or your choice of sport. This will also give you the opportunity to bond with the guys. Besides, this 'pick me up' is a great way to start off one of the best days of your life.

MOTHER & SON DANCE
No one can deny the special relationship a man has with his mother. Up until now, she was The most important woman in your life, and of course she will always be your mom (a spot no one can take). So we know how important it is that your bond is spotlighted on one of the most important moments in your life. This will be a great bonding experience and should be highlighted just as much as the father-daughter relationship. Brides, this will be a great way to earn points with your future mother-in-law, so we suggest you consider including this into your wedding festivities.

GROOM'S CAKE
Yes, grooms - a cake just for you. We all know that the wedding cake choice is influenced mostly by the bride, but you can also have something that shows your tastes and personality. The groom’s cake usually represents an integral part of your life and lets your personality shine through. Note that its meant to complement the wedding cake, not steal the spotlight - so brides no need to worry. And guys, the best part about the groom's cake - it's all about you! So have fun when picking yours out.

SIGNATURE COCKTAIL
For your wedding reception, showcase some of your personality by creating a signature cocktail drink. Signature drinks are fun! They are great conversation pieces, taste great, and your guests will love it.

Hopefully, if used, these ideas will make you guys feel like this is your wedding day, too instead of just your bride's special day with you as the mere participant.

So what do you think? Will you incorporate any of these ideas for your upcoming nuptials?