Which Ceremony Should You Choose

Now that you’re planning your wedding it’s time to choose the specifics about your ceremony. Once you’ve selected your Officiant, you will need to decide on the type of ceremony: Religious, Spiritual, Civil or Interfaith.

A religious ceremony will reflect the faith system of the couple. Wording will include the name of your deity, scripture/holy passage, prayer/words of reflection and any rituals that your faith includes for such an occasion.

A spiritual ceremony is a great option for a non-practicing religious couple. The ceremony will include words of reverence and love. The name of a deity however, will not be used unless requested.

A civil ceremony can mean different things. In most states, this refers to the ceremony that eloping couples request. No fanfare, simple and to the point. A civil wedding can also mean secular (non-religious). In some states, a civil union is used for same sex ceremonies. Be sure to ask your Officiant to explain the options available.

An Interfaith wedding, is the blending of two faiths into one ceremony. The faith practices of the couple should be discussed with the Officiant. You have the option of having two ministers/clergy members perform the wedding or have one clergy member perform it alone. Be sure that clergy member is comfortable performing the entire ceremony – he/she may be unfamiliar with the other religious customs.

No matter which you choose, your wedding is sure to be a day to remember.

Wedding Shoe Tips that will Save Your Soul

Finding the right pair of shoes online can work for some brides depending on their beautifully manicured toes and feet. With online shopping there is a wide variety of styles, prices, and sizes. Online shoes stores often provide many benefits like no hassle returns and promotional codes to use on clearance shoes or regularly priced items. Price and fit are important, but there are some tips that all brides must know when shoe shopping for their wedding.

For the wedding day consider purchasing two pair of wedding shoes because lord forbid if you break the heal on one of your wedding shoes for some odd reason, then you have an extra pair for back up. For the second pair of shoes, it is always good to have a second pair for dancing at the wedding reception, but remember a lower heal is recommended for dancing to prevent aching feet.

When selecting the bridal shoes itself, if brides know that their feet tend to swell up due to water weight or medication, it is a good idea to purchase your wedding shoes in a larger size. It can be a full size or a half size depending on your feet.

Saving your souls with shoe padding is necessary! Bellissima Bridal Shoes provides this wonderful Runaway Bride Shoe Kit and it includes one pair of white Tip Toes, one pair silver rose Heavenly Heelz, a package of white Strappy Strips, a pair of white Killer Kushionz, two pair of clear Sole Stopperz and a pair of rose Petal Plusheez - cozy socklets to soothe and comfort before and after the wedding.

Another item we always suggest to use for bridal shoes is The Sole Mates. This product provides brides the solution to wearing high heels in grass, cobblestones, bricks, wooden decks, and over subway grates! A high heel protector that is discreet and easy to use, the SoleMates also attaches easily to most stiletto and high heels (TheSoleMates,2010).

The best piece of advice we could give brides is walk around in your wedding shoes, at least a month prior to the wedding so the shoe feels more comfortable at your wedding. Another idea is to go to a professional shoe store or an online store that carry these stretching devices to help expand the shoe.

The last piece of advice is to always look at your clearance items for shoes and then use a promotional code from either Retail Me Not or Coupon Cabin. Using these tips will not only protect your wedding shoes, but also save money.

We hope that this will give you some insight on wedding shoe shopping. If you are looking for other ways to save money with wedding related items such as wedding invites, candles, candle favors and wedding decals, please be sure to visit our website at www.wicksncandlesticks.com. For more great wedding articles on The Budget Minded Bride, follow us at http://www.thebudget-mindedbrideblog.blogspot.com/.

DIY Wedding Programs

Ceremony programs are essential for any wedding event because they clearly list the sequence of events that will transpire during the ceremony, it also informs the attendants, officiant, and musicians when it is there time for their contribution to your ceremony.

I found some easy to make alternatives to making your own wedding programs on BHG. There are many examples, but the ones I found most attractive were the An Elegant Lace Program, Keep it Simple, and Elegant Leaves.

An Elegant Lace Wedding Program by BHG
Add lace to your program for an elegant look. To make it, spray the lace with adhesive glue and place the lace on the card stock. Once dry, trim the edges of the lace to create a clean line.

Tip: Choose lace with an interesting border like the lace we used.









Keep It Simple by BHG
For this easy program simply use a 1/8-inch hole punch to make a hole for the fabric brad.

Tip: For modern twist on your text layer, print tone on tone like we did with the "&."











Elegant Leaves by BHG
To make this program we kept it simple, showing off the pretty leaf card stock. By keeping the name tag small, we highlight the pattern even more.

Tip: When dealing with thicker card stock, use ribbon to hold together the program.










To find this diy wedding program craft, visit Better Homes and Garden. For free wedding advice, wedding tips, and more visit The Budget Minded Bride Blog. To purchase wedding invitations or wedding programs, please visit WicksnCandlesticks.com.

Interesting Articles on Wedding Programs: Why should brides and grooms use a ceremony program?

What To Expect From Your Officiant

Your wedding minister/officiant is your direct link to planning your wedding ceremony. He/She will have certain duties to perform that are required by law, while other actions are performed to carryout your wishes.

Initial Interview

· Consultation

This is a get to know you session also. He/She will talk to you about what you see as your dream ceremony. Will go over your do and don’t list.

· Wedding Brochure

Explains wedding and rehearsal packages available

· Wedding workbook containing the following:

o Wedding Vows – examples of wedding vows if you choose not to write your own.

o Readings – examples of reading that you can include in your wedding ceremony

o Rituals – explanation of extra elements that can be added to the wedding ceremony. Example: Sand Ceremony, Unity Candle, etc.

· Information on how to get your marriage license

Once Hired

· A copy of wedding agreement for your files

· Availablility - Email and phone contact at any time

· Wedding literature/workbook to assist with wedding ceremony (if offered)

· Assistance with wedding rehearsal – wedding ceremony portion only. Officiant may speak with wedding planner and musicians if at wedding rehearsal.

After Wedding

· Filing of the marriage license according to county/state law

· A complimentary follow-up emails regarding your ceremony or getting a copy of your marriage license

Most officiants will perform the following rituals:

· Sand ceremony

· Unity candle

· Jumping the Broom

· Holy Communion

· Bread & Wine ceremony

· Rose Ceremony

· Family Vows

· Lasso Ceremony

DIY Bridal Jewelry

I was interested in making my own bridal jewelry earrings and I found this DIY tutorial on You Tube on how to make your own bridal earrings. This video is very informative for brides who are just starting to design their own wedding jewelry.



For more helpful wedding tips, diy projects, and wedding advice, please visit http://www.thebudget-mindedbrideblog.blogspot.com/. To purchase wedding jewelry, visit our online catalog at http://www.wicksncandlesticks.com/store/wedding_invitation.php.