" The Wedding Couple "
Marc and Colleen Wheeler

Producers of Wedding Festivals bridal expos and winner of the Bridal Show Producers International Directors Cup Award share wedding tips and info to make your wedding unique.

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Nursery

Provide a nursery for the wedding and reception for all those kids that you are afraid might scream out or cause havoc. This is better than offending your friends and asking them not to bring their kids.

(Photo by Visio Photography)

Wedding Website

Create a wedding website and send out a “save the date”card with the site domain name on it. This is a great way to give directions, organize out-of town guest and tell your story. Google wedding websites, there are many templates available.

(photo by Visio Photography)

Engagement Photos

Include a cool engagement picture in or on your wedding invitation.

(Photo by Visio Photography)

Receving Line

Even if the bride is not included, create a receiving line at the beginning of the wedding as the guest are arriving. Include the bride and groom’s parents and the groom of course. Guest will love to instantly see someone they know when they enter the wedding area. It will make them feel welcome.

Photo Booth

guests love having fun with a photo booth and you get a wonderful remembrance of your guest.

(Photo by Visio Photography)

Sparklers

If you're having an evening wedding, sparklers are like having your own fireworks. What a great send off! Make sure to purchase the extra long ones for the right effect. Also, make sure these are the ones that do not spit or smoke, we don't want anyone getting hurt. The ones that spit and smoke are usually the ones that are covered in colored paper. Go online and look for wedding approved sparklers. Also, upstate wedding boutique,(an exhibitor on the wedding festivals) sells the appropriate kind.

(Photo by Visio Photography)

Helping Mom

Delegate a team to help your mom after the wedding to gather all your belongings such as gifts, left over cake, personal items etc. This way you won’t hear about it for years to come.

Car Decorating Kit

If you don't want your get-away car to be destroyed, buy a car decorating kit for your wedding party. This way they won't get too creative.

(Photo by Visio Photography)

Timeless Colors and Styles

When planning your wedding, remember to choose colors and styles that are timeless. You don’t want to hide that wedding album 10 years from now out of embarrassment.

(Photo by Visio Photography)

To Go Basket

Create a special “To Go Basket”with your favorite wine and other items for the first night. Ask the caterer to fill the basket with food and cake and give it to your wedding coordinator to place in the get-away car.

Sashes

Buy matching sashes from the dresses to tie around the bouquets.

(Photo by Visio Photography)

Flowers

Instead of having a mixture of flowers for your bouquets, try a grouping of one kind like tulips or calla lilies.

(Photo by Visio Photography)

Starch Your Veil

Spray starch your veil so that it stays away from your face.

(Photo by Visio Photography)

Shop During the Week

Shop for your wedding attire and other wedding services during the week instead of on the weekend. This way you will get more one on one attention.

Color Scheme

Choose a color scheme that flatters the bride.

(Photo by Visio Photography)

Cell Phones

Place a sign at the entrance that reminds your guest to turn off their cell phones.

Monograms

Monograms are in from the cake top to the table linens.

(Photo by Visio Photography)

Dance Lessons

Take dance lessons and impress your guests, from swing to the tango. Take two other couples with you and learn two or three songs to make an even bigger dance presentation. You can also get tapes on dance lessons from your local library. But start way in advance of your wedding. Starting a month out doesn't give you enough time to do it right. Remember, the couple that dances together, stays together!

Traditions

Use global inspired favors and traditions that will have a sense of heritage and remembrance. For example, bagpipes, origami trees, jumping the broom, breaking the glass, shag dancing, Greek almonds, etc. If you have a tradition to share, email us at info@weddingfestivals.com .

Friday Night Weddings

Choose an alternate day of the week to have your wedding. Friday night weddings have become more and more common. Guests enjoy getting off of work and having Friday night plans instead of interrupting their Saturday routine. We have found that Friday night weddings are actually better attended than Saturday weddings. Ask for weekday discounts, some wedding businesses offer them and some do not. Your wedding businesses will be less stressed and more focused on you, than the other events that they might have that same day.

Attend Wedding Festivals

Attend the Wedding Festivals Bridal Expos: My Favorite Tip!
Plan your wedding all in one day, by attending the Wedding Festivals. Save thousands in exhibitor show discounts and specials and save gas and time. Bring comfortable shoes and plan to eat a lot!!!

Wedding Dress

Allow yourself at least six months to order that perfect gown.

(Photo by Visio Photography)

Logo for the Occasion

Create a wedding logo. Use this throughout your wedding from your invitations to the spot light on your dance floor. Make your logo match your theme or your personalities.

Dresses for the Bridesmaids

Pick a color and fabric and let the bridesmaids pick their own style of dress.

(Photo by Visio Photography)

Let it Rain!

If you are planning an outdoor wedding, prepare for the worst, but consider it a blessing. Rainy wedding days make for beautiful photographs, and cooler weather.  If your wedding party and your guests are covered by tents, then a few drops will make the atmosphere even more romantic as the wedding party and guests huddle under umbrellas.  Have golf umbrellas available for each couple in the wedding party.  Also, go ahead and rent that beautiful white festive tent that guest will enjoy regardless of the weather.  Fifteen minute forecast on www.weatherchannel.com is pretty acurate. But do your wedding like you planned it. Chances are, everything will go perfect and you will have some amazing photographs of you under a beautiful colored umbrella that matches your wedding colors.  You can also order vinyl Japanese umbrellas that look like paper to shade from the sun or rain.  

Break Tradition

Photography and videography are so important in capturing your special day, but it is also a great way to get those emotional shots that show how much the two of you are in love. Break tradition and meet up with the groom prior to the wedding, then you can spend the next two hours getting all of your pictures done, before the wedding, so that you will not miss a moment of your reception.  I promise, it will not take away from that special moment when you walk down the aisle.