What's on the Menu?

At the wedding reception, its nice to provide the wedding guests with a wedding card menu. There is the formal menu, buffet menu, and comfort food menu. The formal menu consist of information for a four course menu featuring the highlights of the meal, such as, beverages, passed appetizers, first course, salad course, entree, and dessert. The buffet menu and comfort menus consist of beverages, passed appetizers, salad course, entree, and dessert. Couples just have to choose which wedding menu suits their wedding style.

There are many ways couples can design their wedding menu. Couples can either purchase wedding menus at the same time they are ordering their wedding invitations or couples can make the wedding menu themselves if they are computer savvy by using Wedding DNA, Word, In Design CS4, or Photoshop. If couples are into rubber stamping or crafting, there are several places like AC Moore or Michaels that have the necessary tools to create the wedding menu.

When creating your menu, be sure you create a few different designs that family and friends can provide feedback on. Once the design has been selected for the wedding card menu, it is important to provide the text information such as the last name, the date, the wedding menu, and it is completed.

Once the design is set, then a couple needs to consider the wedding theme and table décor when placing their wedding menu on the table. If a themed wedding is being use then try to decorate your table with the colors or wedding theme. For example, a beach themed wedding table would be set with calming colors of blue with seashells and coral. The wedding theme could then be incorporated into a wedding menu with beautiful fonts and colorful images of the ocean, seashells, and coral.

After the design and the wedding menu is created additional uses for opposite side of the wedding menu would include the description of this wedding favor (frame with menu), table numbers for wedding guests, or couples story on how they met. Couples could print this creation and insert it in a double-sided frame on a thicker card stock type of paper, so images do not bleed through on each side. The ideas are endless with personalizing the wedding menu and creativity is the key when it comes to matching the wedding menu with the wedding theme.

Listed below are places I found some creative wedding menu templates for free and to purchase:

•Wedding DNA
•Martha Stewart Weddings
•Microsoft Wedding Templates
•Think Wedding

For more wedding templates, wedding planning, wedding tips, or wedding advice, please visit www.theweddingdiaryonline.com.

The Ultimate Wedding Flower Checklist

The wedding flower requirement always needs to be fulfilled and therefore, we have created the ultimate wedding flower checklist. This wedding flower checklist will ensure that couples do not miss those important wedding participants or members of the wedding party.

To download The Ultimate Wedding Flower Checklist-Click Here!

For more bridal templates and no charge bridal shower games, please follow our blog at http://www.thebudget-mindedbrideblog.blogspot.com/. For wedding candles and wedding candle favors, please visit our website at http://www.wicksncandlesticks.com/store/candle-favors-p-100.html.

Cost-Savings Tips for Wedding Photography & Videography

Having a wedding can be very expensive, but couples can have the wedding of their dreams by utilizing these cost-savings tips for photographers and videographers.

• Use freelance photographers or videographers that has a home office instead of a studio.
• Hire a photographer that allows couples to have smaller multiple images on a page with out extra costs to the couple.
• Hire a photographer that allows couples to view their wedding proofs online because this will save couples time and money by making selections from home instead of an a scheduled meeting to go over the proofs.
• Find a photographer who would be willing to part with the negatives and then hire a small discount film processor who will charge you less per print per photo print.
• Only use photographer or videographer for the wedding ceremony. Utilize your family and friends by having them participate in the wedding day by taking photos at your wedding reception.
• Limit the hours of service for your photographer or videographer.

For more helpful tips for wedding tips, wedding advice, and wedding planning, please visit www.theweddingdiaryonline.com!

DIY Rice Krispies Wedding Cake

The great Kellogg's company came up with this great alternative spin to a wedding cake using Rice Krispies Cereal. The Rice Krispie Wedding Cake looks delicious!

Ingredients:
* 28 1/2 tablespoons (3 sticks + 1 1/2 tablespoons) butter or margarine, divided
* 9 1/2 packages (10 oz each, about 380 total) regular marshmallows, divided
* - OR -
* 38 cups miniature marshmallows
* 57 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal
* Canned frosting or decorating gel
* Edible flowers, for decoration (optional)

Directions:
1. In a large pot melt 9 tablespoons butter over low heat. Add 3 packages (30 ounces) marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

2. Add 18 cups KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.

3. Using a buttered spatula or clean buttered hands, evenly press mixture into a 14 x 2-inch round cake pan coated with cooking spray and lined with parchment paper. Unmold and let cool.

4. Meanwhile, in a large pot melt 7 1/2 tablespoons butter over low heat. Add 2 1/2 packages (25 ounces) marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

5. Add 15 cups KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.

6. Using a buttered spatula or clean buttered hands, evenly press mixture into a 12 x 2-inch round cake pan coated with cooking spray and lined with parchment paper. Unmold and let cool.

7. Meanwhile, in a large pot melt 6 tablespoons butter over low heat. Add 2 packages (20 ounces) marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

8. Add 12 cups KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.

9. Using a buttered spatula or clean buttered hands, evenly press mixture into a 10 x 2-inch round cake pan coated with cooking spray and lined with parchment paper. Unmold and let cool.

10. Meanwhile, in a large pot melt 4 1/2 tablespoons butter over low heat. Add 1 1/2 packages (15 ounces) marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

11. Add 9 cups KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.

12. Using a buttered spatula or clean buttered hands, evenly press mixture into a 18 x 2-inch round cake pan coated with cooking spray and lined with parchment paper. Unmold and let cool.

13. Meanwhile, in a large pot melt 1 1/2 tablespoons butter over low heat. Add 1/2 packages (5 ounces) marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

14. Add 3 cups KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.

15.Using a buttered spatula or clean buttered hands, evenly press mixture into a 6 x 2-inch round cake pan coated with cooking spray and lined with parchment paper. Unmold and let cool.

16. Once all layers have cooled, stack them carefully centered on top of each other from largest on the bottom to smallest on top.

17. Using a tube of frosting or decorating gel and a decorative tip, pipe ribbons or garlands and small flower shapes or dots all along the sides of the layers.

18. Add edible flowers around the sides or on top, if desired.

19. To serve, use a serrated knife to cut the top layer only into servings. Continue to cut and serve the cake layer by layer.

Wedding Insurance for You, Before You say I Do!

Wedding insurance is fairly new in the insurance market, but couples should definitely consider wedding insurance before their special day. One never knows when extremely bad weather will occur before or even on the wedding day or if one of the wedding vendors decide to go out of business before the wedding, so consider wedding insurance for you, before you say I do!

The pricing of wedding insurance is based off the coverage selection and liability insurance. Wedding Event Coverage/Postponement selection protects the couples financial investments such as the wedding event cancellation, wedding vendor no show, military, sickness, injury, weather, postponement, lost deposits, and more. Wedding Liability Insurance protects couples against financial liability arising from the wedding such as damage, personal injury to guests at the rehearsal dinner, ceremony site or at the wedding venue (Wed Safe, 2010). Another type of insurance to include would be liquor liability coverage, which protects the couple from alcohol related accidents on the wedding day.

If couples have insurance, check with your insurance agency to see what is exactly offered and what is covered under your home owners insurance policy. Most of the time, weddings require separate insurance, so this is the time to ask the insurance agent detailed questions about what is covered, reimbursements, deductibles, and timing (when to purchase the insurance such as before wedding deposits).

Other information couples need to research is travel insurance and wedding vendor insurance. If travel is not included in the wedding insurance, then travel insurance should be considered as well when booking your travel arrangements for the couples honeymoon. Also, be sure to always include asking your wedding vendors for a copy of their insurance policy to see what is covered, so couples can determine what they really need for insurance coverage.

After couples have researched wedding insurance, its now time to purchase wedding insurance plan with their insurance agency or an online insurance agency. The online insurance agencies recommend for wedding insurance are Wed Safe or Protect My Wedding. The online insurance agencies recommend for travel insurance are Travel Guard or Insure My Trip.

Just remember that wedding insurance will save couples from suffering many headaches and money, so invest some of your time, conduct some research, and have the wedding budget in hand when purchasing wedding insurance.

For more wedding tips, wedding advice, or wedding planning visit our website at www.theweddingdiaryonline.com.

Thoughtfulness, Hand-Write, Appreciative, Newlyweds, Kindness, Yippee, Opportunity, and Undertake

Thoughtfulness, Hand-Write, Appreciative, Newlyweds, Kindness, Yippee, Opportunity, and Undertake. What do these words communicate? To simply way to say Thank You!

Be thoughtful by taking a time out of your schedule to send a thank you note to all your guests if they purchased a gift. Handwrite the thank you notes and be appreciative of the guests spending time in celebrating your special day. Please do not send thank you notes in an email, it does not convey proper gratitude in receiving your wedding gift. The goal of the Newlyweds is to convey a warm and personal message to family and friends for the wonderful gifts you received. Remember, a little kindness goes a long way! Writing the notes can be just a matter of time and the couple can jump for joy and shout “yippee” when completing the long list of thank-you’s. Remember, this is your opportunity to undertake a small commitment of your time. Please be sure to thank the guests for the gifts, describe how you will use it, and state how lovely it was that they participated or attended the wedding.

I’m just a bridesmaid!

When a bride selects a bridesmaid, it really is a complement to her friend, cousin, or sister. The position differs from the maid of honor, but it is very similar in many ways and shares some of the same responsibilities. The bride chooses you to fill the position as a bridesmaid because she wanted to include you in her special day, so it is really a complement to you!

Once you have accepted the position of being a bridesmaid, what does this important position entail? The bridesmaid position includes pre-wedding tasks, day-of-tasks, and post-reception tasks. All which are very important to make the wedding run smoothly (QC, 2010)! Pre-wedding tasks are attending dress fittings, assist with wedding shower/bridal shower, help make or create wedding favors, make sure guests know the location of each event before the wedding (bridal showers, bachelorette party), let guests know about the gift registry, be in charge of gift check list for thank you cards (bridal shower and wedding reception), be on time to wedding rehearsals, and address wedding invitations. Day-of-Tasks include attending pre-wedding breakfast, running last minute errands, decorate reception hall, attend hair and make up appointments, or participate in pre-ceremony photographs. Additional Day-of-Tasks would include being on time to the ceremony, make sure the bride has some quite time if needed before wedding, mingle with guests before wedding, dance with groomsman partner, being supportive and good listener to the bride at all times by continually checking on her, receiving line mingling, assist the bride with mini tasks, trouble-shoot if any problems arise, take pictures of guests, and get guests dancing on the dance floor, and keep mingling through out the night. Post-reception tasks include helping with clean up and taking care of wedding gifts for the couple.

The responsibilities of a bridesmaid does really require a lot of work and if you have been select to fill this position make sure if you cannot handle it to let the bride know right away, so she can select another special person to become a bridesmaid. If you are up to the task of being the bridesmaid, be the best bridesmaid ever! Show the bride you really care about her and want to make her day very special. In time, the favor can be returned, as the bride could become your bridesmaid.