The 10 Habits That Keep Marriages Strong

Years of Happiness

The key to wedded bliss isn't over-the-top romance, but these surprisingly simple practices you can do to stay, or fall back, in love with your partner. Read on for expert tips on how to have a happy marriage.

1) Not trying to change each other

Maybe you wish he folded his socks, or that he would chat it up with your friends without prompting. But, his inability to notice hair in the sink may stem from the laid-back personality that drew you to him in the first place. "One of the things we see with happy couples is that they know their partner's differences, and have pretty much stopped trying to change the other person," says Darren Wilk, a certified Gottman Couples Therapist with a private practice in Vancouver, British Columbia. "Rather than trying to fight their partner's personality style, they instead focus on each other's strengths."

2) Framing your demands as favors

Whether you want him to unload the dishwasher more often or pay closer attention to the kids, your partner will be more likely to change his behavior if he feels like he'll get relationship brownie points. "Throw it out there like a favor. Present it like 'here is the recipe for what will make me happy,' because everyone wants to make their partner feel happy," says Wilk. "When you present your needs, present them as what you do want rather than what you don't want." Instead of saying, "I hate when you have to have everything scheduled," try saying, "I would love to have a day where we can just be spontaneous."

3) Vocalizing your appreciation

Giving your partner positive reinforcement sounds like a no-brainer, but couples often forget to do it.

"Relationship expert Gottman's research found that in everyday life, happy couples have 20 positive moments, such as a shared look, compliment, or affectionate touch, to every negative moment," says Wilk.

Tell him something positive three times a day, and be specific. Instead of saying, "You're a good dad," tell him why. "You're a good dad because you helped our daughter with that puzzle, which I never would have had the patience to do."

4) Focusing on the positive

"Unhappy couples are stuck in a negative state of mind," says Wilk. "You will always find what you look for. If you look for stuff that bugs you and that your partner is doing wrong, you will find it every day. If you look at what your partner is doing it right, you'll find it everyday."

It's a choice to flip your mindset, so when you find yourself getting annoyed, visualize something he does that makes your heart flutter to halt the negative thought circuit.

5) Taking trips down memory lane

"Happy couples tend to rewrite history by glossing over the bad stuff and focusing on the happy times," says Wilk. By reliving memories out loud to your partner, it actually changes your mindset, and how you view him and think about your relationship. Try this exercise whenever your feel your relationship needs a boost: Go over the highlights of when you were first dating, or rehearse the best moments of your relationship (such as the day you had an impromptu picnic in the park during your lunch hour, or that surprise anniversary date he took you on) to uncover buried memories.

6) Never siding with the enemy

"Sometimes what affair-proofs a relationship is simply being there when your partner needs to vent, and having their back without trying to fix the problem," says Wilk. "People want someone to listen to them. The key is to be supportive, and never take the side of the person he's venting about, even if you can see where that person is coming from. For example, if he is upset that his boss took away a contract and gave it to someone else in the office, now is not the time to say, "Well, maybe you didn't put your best effort in." Right now he needs his feelings validated, and to hear you say, "That must have been really hard." Happy couples know when to bite their tongues.

7) Not getting too comfortable

Trust, security, and commitment are key elements in any relationship, but having them doesn't mean you can treat your relationship as rock-solid, and stop trying.

"Relationships are a fragile ecosystem, and that's why there is a 50 percent divorce rate," says Wilk. "Happy couples keep dating, telling each other they look great, and doing things together."

8) Having rituals of connection

"It's not only about having a date night, but happy couples seem to do a lot of mundane things together," says Wilk. "They have little habits that they decide to do together, whether it be sitting down to pay the bills once a month or folding laundry."

We say, anything to make that pile of dirty clothes feel more manageable.

9) Knowing your partner's calls for attention

Happy couples are mindful of those little moves their partners do for attention. When Gottman's team studied 120 newlyweds in his Love Lab, they discovered that couples who stayed married six years later were paying attention to these bids for connection 86 percent of the time, compared to only 33 percent of the time for those who later divorced.

So, look out for the little things, and respond to his need to connect. Like if you're grocery shopping and he casually mentions that he hasn't had Fruit Loops since he was a kid, throw them in the cart for him to show that you care.

10) Doing the little things

"When it comes to relationship satisfaction, you can't just ride on the big things like, 'I don't drink, I pay the bills, I don't beat you, we went to Hawaii last year,'" says Wilk. "This stuff is not really what keeps couples happy in their daily lives."

What really matters is all the small stuff that adds up, such as being there for each other when one needs to vent, or noticing when he needs a hug, or making him his favorite meal just because. "It's also giving up on the idea that you have to feel in love all the time. Marriage is about trust and commitment and knowing each other," says Wilk. "That's what love is."

About the author: Article written by Holly Corbett, submitted by Redbook Magazine.

Origins And Legends

Many of our modern popular wedding traditions have their origin in times past. Here's a sampling.

The Bridal Shower tradition has its roots in the 1800's. The story is told of poor a miller who fell in love with a wealthy maiden. But, the father of the maiden was against the marriage. He refused to provide a dowry for her, and a bride could not marry without a dowry. The story goes that the bride had generous friends who "showered" her with so many gifts, they could forego the missing dowry.

Why "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?" The "old" was usually a personal gift from mother to daughter, a symbolic piece of wisdom for married life. The "new" symbolized the new family being formed by the marriage. "Borrowing" is especially important since it is to come from a happily married woman, thereby lending the bride some of her own marital bliss. "Blue" has two traditions, ancient Roman maidens wore blue on the borders of their robes to denote love, fidelity and modesty, while Christians associate it with the purity of the Virgin Mary.

In very early days, fathers would offer daughters as peace offerings to warring tribes. Because of the hostility, the families were placed on opposite sides of the church so the ceremony could proceed without bloodshed. The ceremony united the two warring factions into one family, and the danger was resolved. Today, family members still sit on opposite sides.

Because the early Anglo Saxon groom often had to defend his bride from would-be kidnappers, she stood to his left, leaving his sword-arm free just in case. The "best" warrior in the tribe stood by the groom and was responsible for helping defend the bride, should the need arise. Thus we have the placement for the best man.

Ever wonder where the phrase "tie the knot" comes from? Supposedly this also goes back to early Roman times. The bride would wear a girdle that was tied in many knots, which the groom had the "duty" to untie. As a side note, this can also refer to the tying of the knot in Handfasting Ceremonies, which were usually done without the benefit of clergy.

In early times the bride had to be carried over the threshold because she was (or was pretending to be) reluctant to enter the bridal chamber. In those days, it was considered ladylike to be hesitant at this point. Another legend has it that the bride was carried over the threshold to protect her from any evil spirits which might be lingering there.

The term "Honeymoon" also originated centuries ago. It was the custom for couples to get married beneath a full moon. Then they would drink honey wine for thirty days in a row, to foster good luck. This created the term honeymoon.

The wedding cake originated from the ancient custom where a loaf of wheat bread was broken over the bride's head to symbolize hope for a fertile and fulfilling life. The guests ate the crumbs which were believed to offer good luck. The custom found it's way to England in the Middle Ages where guests would bring small cakes to a wedding and put them in one large pile. The bride and groom were expected to stand over the cakes and kiss.

Loud noises were said to drive away evil spirits, and during the ceremony the guests would make noises to keep the evil away. Today, it's traditional that the bridal party honk their car horns and drag rattling tin cans while leaving the ceremony.

Kathryn Lemmon, Wedding Zone Staff Writer

DIY Wedding Favors 2012

Many brides and grooms want to thank all their wedding guests for attending their special day. One way that they do this is by sending home their guests with wedding favors. Unfortunately, many wedding favors fly under the radar and sometimes guests forget to take them home with them. If you are planning to have wedding favors at your wedding, be sure to impress your guests with a favor that will not be soon forgotten. Here are a few DIY wedding favor ideas that will be sure to please you and the rest of your wedding guests as well...

Pre-Packaged S'mores

In clear plastic containers, have separate boxes for the graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate pieces. Package each up individually and have one nest on top of one another. Wrap with a decorative ribbon, for a wedding favor that guests will be sure to enjoy!

Flowers, Plants, or Sunflowers

Send guests home with a token that can be enjoyed for years to come. Pre-packaged sunflower seeds or even bulbs placed in special packaging would be an ideal favor, as guests can take these gifts home and have them grow with love. You could have blooms that are already established, planted in decorative containers with a special note from you to your guests decoratively attached to the container.

Customized Stationary

Leave a lovely stack and beautifully wrapped set of monogrammed stationary at each guests' place setting. Personalize each notecard with your new initials and be sure to include envelopes as well. Guests will be sure to use this thoughtful and personalized gift!

Scented Candles

This favor idea is ideal for those having a beach wedding, but would also be perfect for those couples that enjoy candles as well. Place a scented votive candle into a mini pail. Attach a lovely personalized label on the outside of the pail. Have your name and wedding date prominently displayed on the label. You can even customize the color candle to what color dresses the bridesmaids wear. Or you could even choose a scent that you both enjoy to share with your guests.

Jar Gifts

This idea of giving your wedding guests jar gifts has many possibilities! You can simply jar just about anything. Package cookie mix in a clear Mason jar, make a candle within the jar, insert cupcake mix, granola, homemade jam or even hand salve. Personalize the jar with decorative ribbons, color coordinate the jars with your wedding colors, and event attach a personalized recipe if what you packaged needs directions.

As you can see, there are many wedding favors that aren't quite traditional, but do make a big impression with guests and leave a lasting impression with them as well.

About the author: Amanda Cooper is a freelance writer for Wedding Favours Kingdom, which carries an array of wedding accessories, wedding favors and even Christmas Favors. Amanda is a contributing writer for other wedding, travel and home-related websites. When Amanda is not writing, she enjoys reading.

DJ Value Tips

10 Tips to Get the Most Value for Your Wedding DJ Dollar

"Price is what you pay. Value is what you get." - Warren Buffett

In this economy, brides and grooms want to get the most value for their money when selecting their wedding DJ. Since DJ rates are determined by a DJ's experience, level of service and quality of equipment, there is little value in hiring the least expensive DJ you can find. Phoenix AZ DJ Billy James offers 10 tips to help you get the best value when hiring your wedding DJ.

1. Travel Time - Most DJ's would rather travel minutes rather than hours to get to your reception. Select a DJ who is located close to your venue and then ask if the reduced travel time could result in a reduced rate.

2. Prime Time - Saturdays are prime time for weddings. If your wedding will not take place on a Saturday, your DJ may consider a reduced rate if it is requested.

3. Number of Hours - Most wedding receptions do not last more than 4 or 5 hours. If your cocktail hour will take place on a patio or foyer, the venue's house system can often provide the background music. Hiring your DJ for an hour of dinner music and 3 hours for dancing may be sufficient. A DJ's 4 hour rate is usually less expensive than a 5 or 6 hour rate.

4. Number of Guests - From a DJ's perspective, a low-key reception for 50 guests has less stress and requires less equipment than a high-powered reception for 200. If you are having a small, simple reception, ask if your DJ will factor that into his pricing.

5. Venue Access - Experienced DJ's love venues with easy access to load their heavy equipment in and out. If your reception venue does not involve parking garages, stairs or elevators, ask your DJ if that advantage can be reflected in his rate.

6. Agencies - Some excellent wedding disc jockeys are represented by agencies. However, when you hire a wedding DJ through an agency, the rate you are quoted will be used to compensate several people. Dealing with a DJ directly, rather than through an agency, may better your chances of getting more entertainment value for your money.

7. Upselling - Some DJ services charge extra for dance floor lighting, wireless microphones, extra speakers, etc. This is called up-selling. You will get more value if you hire a DJ who includes these extras at no additional charge or is willing to give you a lower rate by eliminating these extras.

8. Credit Card Processing - Most professional DJ services accept major credit cards. However, it costs the DJ money to process a credit card. Ask about a discount if you are willing to pay by check or cash.

9. Feeding Your DJ - Catering Directors will often ask if you'd like to provide a meal for your DJ. If you feel that's appropriate, ask for a vendor discount (or box) rather than including the DJ as part of your guest list. A professional DJ will not have time to sit down to a full course dinner and you'll save $$.

10. Don't Be a Bridezilla! - If you are a fun person and easy to work with, then ask for the "I'm not a Bridezilla" discount. You may get one :)

About the author: Phoenix Wedding DJ Billy James is an experienced musician, professional DJ and Master of Ceremonies

A Wedding Date To Remember 11/11/11

Vegas weddings and weddings around the world skyrocket on 11/11/11

It's a day that comes only once every 100 years - 11/11/11. And in Vegas, that means throngs of lovebirds are flocking to chapels to get hitched Friday. "We're surrounded by hundreds of couples who want to get married on 11/11/11," said the Rev. Charlotte Richards, owner of Little White Wedding Chapel on the Las Vegas Strip. The chapel has 200 brides and grooms who are either getting hitched for the first time or are renewing their vows. In addition to a beautiful ceremony, Richards said she is offering bridal flowers and dog tags that have the 11/11/11 date inscribed on them. Many couples booked their special day two years in advance. At least 75 additional staff members were needed to accommodate the demand at Little White Wedding Chapel. "We have 17 ministers, limousine drivers, greeters, videographers," Richards said. In 30 of the weddings, an Elvis impersonator will serenade the couple. Closer to downtown, the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel is equally abuzz. It has 190 weddings booked, with the first starting at midnight. That means about four weddings every 30 minutes throughout the day, with only a couple of hours of down time for a break. General Manager Brian Mills calls his establishment "The Fun Chapel." Couples can have Blues Brothers or Marilyn Monroe impersonators as officiators. They can also have a Camelot-themed wedding or one with an Elvis impersonator, complete with a 1964 pink Cadillac convertible that drives the couple down the aisle. The couples include 18- and 19-year-olds; military personnel who are about to get deployed and want a quick wedding; and some who are renewing their vows. "Part of the thrill is that it'll be a day the couple won't forget -- as in it will be easy to remember your anniversary," Mills said. He said he's already looking forward to 12/12/12.

These unique wedding dates became popular at the turn of the century with 1/1/2001. The most popular was 7/7/2007. If you would like to have your wedding on a unique date that comes only once every century, next year will be your last chance! Start planning your 12/12/2012 wedding today...

Newsfeed, MSNBC

Appreciation Gifts For Your Bridal Party

When a newly engaged couple begins to plan out their wedding, typically they choose a few close family members or friends to stand by them while exchanging their vows. The bridal party can be as large or small depending on what the couple prefers. No matter the size of the bridal party, their assistance and support with the wedding is priceless. To show how much you appreciate them participating in your wedding day, give them a gift that they will truly never forget. Here are a few fabulous ideas for the entire wedding party.

Gifts for the Entire Wedding Party

Personalized Beverage Coozies - Have your bridal party drink in style with their name and their role in your wedding displayed on the outside part of the coozie. This is a perfect gift and it can be used well after the wedding is over.

Personalized Shot Glasses - Cheers! Personalize beautiful shot glasses with your bridal party's name and your wedding date. Make them feel extra special by getting Bridesmaid, Groomsman, Maid of Honor or Best Man engraved on the shot glass as well.

Bridal Party Baseball Caps - Are you really in to sports and want to try and incorporate that into your wedding festivities? Shower your bridal party and family members with baseball caps! From the Father of the Bride to your Best Man, these bridal party baseball caps will surely get everyone's spirit soaring!

Engraved Key Chains - Have your bridal party remember how appreciate you are of them every time they get into their car with a engraved key chain depicting their name and a personalized message from you.

Monogrammed Stemless Wine Glasses - Surprise your bridal party by giving them a beautiful set of monogrammed stemless wine glasses. Perfect for both the bridesmaids and the groomsmen!

Gifts Just For The Bridesmaids

Monogrammed Compacts - Show those special ladies in your bridal party that they mean so much to you, by gifting them with a beautiful compact! Every time your bridesmaids search through their purse for their compact mirror, they will be sure to think of you!

Wedding Day Accessories - Give your bridesmaids something that they will cherish for years to come, a beautiful jewelry set, which they can wear on your wedding day. Earrings, necklace and a bracelet would be a thoughtful and gorgeous way to say thank you to your bridesmaids.

About the author: Amanda Cooper is a freelance writer for Wedding Favours Kingdom, which carries an array of wedding accessories, Wedding Favours, and candle wedding favours. Amanda is also a writer for other travel and wedding-related websites. When Amanda is not writing, she enjoys cooking for friends and family.

Selecting Your Attendants

How do you pick your bridesmaids and groomsmen?

Why is it that wedding planning always seems to bog down when it comes to planning out the number of bridesmaids and groomsmen to have in the ceremony? Even if a couple can agree on the number to have, how do you decide which people you should ask to be your attendants?

These questions have been asked by nearly every bride for the last 50 years (or at least as long as women have been planning their own weddings). While the question of who to have as your wedding attendants is a little harder to answer than the number you should have, both questions have fairly simple answers.

How Many Attendants Should You Have?

When it comes to the number of attendants that should be in your ceremony, there really is no “right” or “wrong” number. However, it is with a sigh of relief that most brides hear that there is a general rule of thumb regarding the number of attendants, and that it is based off of the size and formality of your wedding.

- Large and/or Formal Weddings (200+ guests). For large and/or formal weddings, it is generally accepted that between 6-10 bridesmaids and an equal number of groomsmen will be in the ceremony.

- Semi-Formal/Medium Sized Weddings (100-200 guests). For Semi-Formal and/or medium sized weddings the standard rule of thumb is between 1-6 bridesmaids and an equal number of groomsmen.

- Casual / Small Sized Weddings (under 100 guests). For Casual or small sized weddings having just a best man and maid of honor is acceptable, though 1-2 additional sets of attendants is not unheard of.

- Second Marriages. Normally for second marriages there are no attendants, though those with children may choose to have them as part of the ceremony.

How Do You Choose Your Attendants?

Deciding who to ask to be your bridesmaids or groomsmen can provide even more headaches, especially if you come from a large family or have a large number of close friends. Again, thankfully, tradition has a few thoughts on the matter.

- Selecting your maid of honor/best man. Selecting a maid of honor or best man is actually fairly simple. A best friend; someone special on whom you can depend is the traditional choice for a maid of honor or a best man. While many times it is a friend, you can also choose a brother, sister or even father or mother to fill these roles.

- Selecting your bridesmaids/groomsmen. Selecting your bridesmaids and/or groomsmen is a more difficult task, especially if you have a large number of friends or family. But traditionally choosing close friends or family members who are close to you is an acceptable way of choosing your bridesmaids or groomsmen.

While choosing the number of attendants and deciding who those attendants should be can be a sticky point in your wedding planning, hopefully knowing what the traditionally accepted numbers and choices are can help you in smoothing out the details of your big day.

About the author: Sarah Rigos is founder of the leading cash registry, Starlight Registry.

Theme Wedding Ideas

Theme Weddings: how to make your special day even more special.

Weddings are events often organized with respect for tradition: religious ceremony, white wedding gown, fine banquet and so on. But behind every ceremony, there are two people, whose desires and personality may lead to the wish to give their wedding a touch of uniqueness and personalization. A good way to do that, without giving up traditions, is to plan a theme wedding.

Theme weddings can be of many different kinds. Here you are some examples, to be inspired from:

Beach Weddings

For people who love the seaside and want a young and fresh wedding, a wedding on the beach can be the perfect option. The idea is a good fit also for low-cost venues, as luxury restaurants and expensive decorations can be replaced by a rich buffet and simple but colourful flowers.

History-inspired weddings

A Medieval, 9th Century or Gone with The Wind style wedding: a multitude of ideas comes from history and there’s almost no limit to what it can suggest to make your wedding very original, especially if you choose the right location to increase the effect. Try to think, for example, to a Roman-style wedding in Rome, with the Coliseum as a perfect background.

Fairy tales inspired weddings

A wedding venue good enough for a princess: which girl has never thought about a wedding in a castle? Hotels and restaurant located in old restored castles are not impossible to find, especially for wedding venues in Italy and in France.

Personalized wedding venues

A theme wedding does not necessary need a huge effort. A wedding venue can be personalized also thanks to a few simple details. A good idea could be to pick up a specific theme according to the bride’s style, like a colour or the favourite flower, and choose the decoration according to this choice. Other original and simple ideas to give the venue a personal touch could be to write your own wedding vows or to organize special activities to entertain the guests.

Planning a theme wedding can be very complicated. For this reason, it could be a good idea to hire a professional wedding planner, especially if you choose to celebrate your wedding abroad. Involving friends and relatives could be also useful, so that they can enter the “themed” atmosphere in the best possible way.

Whatever support you decide to get, the most important thing to remember is that who has to make the final decisions is the couple. This is what really makes a wedding personalized.

Article submitted by Dimple Lalji

Special Ways to Remember Your Loved Ones on Your Wedding Day

A wedding day is a once in a lifetime event and will be cherished for many years to come. We are surrounded by our loving family and friends who wish us the very best of what a marriage has to offer us. It is also a time for reflection and a time to assess our lives and where we would like to head into the future. But often times looking back in order to plan the future, means that we come to the realization that there are loved ones which are no longer here with us. Although this may be sad that they are unable to physically take part and attend your wedding day, there are many special ways to remember those that are no longer with us.

A Verse, Hymn or Song

No matter where you have your wedding ceremony, a specific and special verse, hymn or song can be read or sung as an acknowledgment to those loved ones that have passed. Have this moment incorporated into your actual ceremony and have it stated in the wedding program the reason and importance of that verse, hymn or song.

Candles

Just like the bride and groom light a unity candle together to recognize their lives coming together as one, set aside a unique candle lighting ceremony for your loved ones who are no longer with you. Lighting a pillar candle on both the bride and the groom's side of the altar can signify those lost loved ones. Ask others to help you light various tea light candles at the ceremony site, each candle then representing a loved one that has passed.

Dedicate a Poem or Story or Share a Memory

Although the center of attention is primarily placed on the bride and groom on their wedding, those that wish to share the spotlight with the loved ones who are no longer with us, often dedicate a poem or story or even share a memory of that special someone. This can spoken to those attending the wedding ceremony, or spoken by a guest attending the ceremony or the bride and groom can decide to share the poem, story or memory with everyone by inserting into the wedding ceremony program. This would be a lovely dedication to show how much you miss your loved ones and would be an ideal time for other guests to reflect as well.

About the author: Amanda Cooper is a writer for Wedding Favours Kingdom, which carries a large selection of wedding accessories, Wedding Favours, and candle wedding favours. Amanda is also a writer for other home and wedding-related websites. When Amanda is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Groom’s Survival Guide

Now while you might well be wondering how one apparently small question could have such massive repercussions just bare in mind what this day means to the lovely lady in question. Most guys have never really given much thought to their future wedding but for many women it is a day they have pictured from their earliest memory. When you were scuffing your new school shoes chasing a ball your bride-to-be was already dreaming of her future Prince Charming (although at the time he was probably wearing a cape rather than your favourite trainers and T-shirt). It’s an over used phrase that it’s the most special day in a girl’s life but it is true. And what’s more she expects it to hold the same significance for you. So while she’s buying a newsstand’s entire stock of wedding magazines and showing you the 27 different ways she’s thinking of wearing her hair she’s hoping that thoughtful look on your face relates to your own ideas for the wedding rather than whether you’ll get to sneak out for a quick 18 holes this weekend rather than go to yet another wedding fair. Oh yeah… and she’ll wear a dress that will cost the price of a small family car. And then never ever wear it again.

Communication is key. Despite your beloved now having turned into bridezilla, in the words of Rudyard Kipling you need to “keep your head when all about you are losing theirs”. She IS going to get stressed. She IS going to get upset. You WILL have arguments concerning the wedding day. All this is perfectly natural and doesn’t mean you love each other any less it just means you’re planning a wedding and researchers say this is one of the most stressful events in a person’s life, especially for the bride.

One of the biggest complaints brides have is that their husband-to-be doesn’t seem to get involved enough or show enough interest. Yes there is an impossible list of questions to get through; What kind of flowers? What colour tie? What gifts do you get the bridesmaids? Should you sit Cousin Albert near the door in case he has one of his “moments”? While it’s true that what font you use on the place settings isn’t going to end world hunger or bring about piece in the Middle East these small details can make all the difference on the big day so get involved. Your wedding should be an extension of your personalities with all the quirks and idiosyncrasies that make the two of you so different. That doesn’t mean you have to dress as Smurfs or walk down the aisle to Iron Maiden but it means you should both be have a say in how you want the day to play out.

But you will need help to. Any bride has a whole support network buzzing around her keen to help out at every step and dress fitting. Us guys are never quite as willing to look for help but it’s not a bad idea to have someone on hand you can call when you need to head on a “fact finding mission” of you own to the nearest watering hole. Make sure your best man is the right man for the job who will sit with you and help you let off some steam when you need and also be the kind of friend that can help take some of the load off your shoulders when it comes to researching cars, musicians, DJ’s, etc.

So don’t just sit back ignoring the chaos, it isn’t going to go away and you’ll only add to the bride’s stress levels and if you bury your head for too long you might wake up on the day to find you’re travelling to the church in a pink stretch limo in a lime green suit. Make decisions, enjoy the process because despite some of the potential sticking points it should be enjoyable. After all this is going to be the most significant day of your lives, it’s your big day too.

Article submitted by Kye Harmon, www.simplythebestgroom.com

Honeymoon Registry Trends

Couples are now registering for honeymoons and 'life experiences', rather than the traditional china and crystal.

While on their honeymoon in the Poconos, Josephine and Robert Wilson of Princeton, NJ paused to take a picture -- in front of an inflatable raft on the Lehigh River, smiling big.

(Photo courtesy of Josephine Wilson)

Josephine Wilson, née Hearn, admits it was a corny photo.

But she captured the moment for her thank-you cards. Because without her godparents, the newlyweds wouldn't have been able to afford that river rafting trip. The trip was the wedding gift for which she would be writing to say "thank you."

Before their wedding on June 4, the Wilsons had lived together for more than a year. They already owned most of the traditional items found on a wedding registry. And the ones they didn't have, they didn't really want.

"We're never going to use the salad forks," Josephine Wilson said.

So the Wilsons didn't make a traditional registry. Instead, the couple turned to Honeyfund.com, a website that helps couples register for "experiences" on their honeymoon. Through the site, well-wishers can finance some aspect of a happy couple's honeymoon, big or small: Everything from airfare to peanuts during the flight, massages, candle-lit dinners and snorkeling lessons can be gifted.

The Wilsons are far from unique. Registering for honeymoons, "experience gifts" and other items more practical -- and even more fun -- than, say, a cake platter, is something more and more contemporary brides and grooms are experimenting with.

Eleven percent of marrying couples now register for honeymoons, 16 percent for movies, music and games and 20 percent for sports gear, according to the Knot Market Intelligence 2010 Bridal Registry Study, which was done by the popular wedding-planning website. A small number even registers for pet-pampering.

Why the shift? The average age of a bride is now 29; the average groom, 31. Most of these not-quite-youngsters have been living on their own, and for much longer than the engaged couples of generations past.

So, wine glasses? They've already got those, thanks.

"The trend is more of a lifestyle registry; outdoor gear, sports gear, stuff that pertains to their lifestyle, because chances are they have plates, forks and knives," said Amy Eisinger, associate editor at WeddingChannel.com. "They are not looking to fulfill (the) same needs as people who are moving out from parents' " homes.

It's not a universal movement yet. Couples' top three choices of retailers to register with continue to be Bed Bath & Beyond, Target and Macy's. Even couples who also register for honeymoons or experience gifts normally make a small traditional registry, so as not to offend guests.

And, of course, even those who already have a house or an apartment full of stuff can use wedding gifts to kick their style up a notch. "Many couples who have already lived together are using this as a chance to upgrade to cohesive sets," Eisinger said. "But registries are letting couple's personalities shine through. If a couple registers for camping equipment, and they love to camp -- most likely every time they use it they will think of you.

"If it's honeymoons, you get to help them remember their special time."

On the Honeyfund, the Wilsons registered for things such as gas for the drive, a bottle of champagne, the cost of staying at a romantic cabin, lift tickets, a wine and cheese tasting and bike equipment.

The Wilsons received most of their Honeyfund contributions from their younger friends, while the older guests tended to purchase crystal and china.

"Couples are using online a lot more while planning a wedding," Eisinger said. "Now you can have a universal registry, and I'm even hesitant to say if honeymoon registries existed 10 years ago. Only in the past five years has this stuff really surfaced."


Michael Gleeson and Andreea Vasilescu, who married on July 17, were reluctant at first to try the Honeyfund, but when their friends registered for it, they thought it was a "neat alternative."

Once the duo decided what they wanted to do -- take a honeymoon trip to Greece -- Gleeson wrote up the descriptions of what they hoped for and posted them on Honeyfund.

"Greece isn't necessarily cheap," said Gleeson, 37, who lives in West New York. "We weren't sure if people would go for it."

"But we had to add more things because they all were purchased so quickly by our guests," said Vasilescu, 30.

The couple didn't feel comfortable asking for hotel or airfare from their guests, so they asked for dinners at local restaurants, a Santorini sailing trip and a snorkeling trip in Mykonos, among other things. The newlyweds did not ask for anything they couldn't have purchased on their own, they said, but the gifts helped ease the cost of the trip.

"We are not the most traditional couple -- we have a groomsmaid," said Vasilescu. "For us to have to have something different, like a honeymoon registry, it's not a surprise to either of our parents. We tend to make things up as we go and what works for us."

Article by By Meredith Galante/The Star-Ledger

(Newsfeed, www.nj.com)

Making Out Of Town Guests Feel At Home

Having your family and friends share your wedding day with you is such a special gift. Many guests travel extremely long distances to make sure that they do not miss the nuptials. As the bride and groom, it is up to you to make sure that out of town friends and family feel as if they were at home. There are many special ways to show them how much your appreciate them being there. Here are few ideas on how to make your out of town guests feel special.

Hotel Accommodations

Although most couples can't afford to pay for all their guests' accommodations, you can find out what types of discounts hotels in the area may be offering. If you will be having a large number of out of town guests, some hotels can block off rooms and offer you a discount because they know that the rooms will be filled. Or send your guests information on hotels, bed and breakfasts and other accommodations that are in the vicinity of where the wedding will be taking place. This way guests have a choice of where they would like to stay without having to do all the research.

Welcome Basket

Once guests arrive at their accommodations, have a special welcome basket waiting for them. There are a number of items that you could include in the basket:

- Bottle of wine along with a pair of glasses
- Information about the area
- List of places they can go and visit
- Disposable camera
- Schedule of wedding-related events taking place
- Box of chocolates
- Thank you note appreciating your guests for traveling to your wedding

Take the extra time to make your family and friends feel welcomed.

Rehearsal Dinner and Post Wedding Day Brunch

The rehearsal dinner is primarily for all the people taking part in the wedding. However, more and more couples are including those guests that have traveled some distances to be there for them. By inviting out of town guests to the rehearsal dinner, couples get to spend more time with those that have made an extra effort to be there for them.

Sometimes the day after the wedding, the groom's parents host a brunch for the wedding party. This would be another great opportunity to include those out of town guests and to invite them to come along as well. Not only could you get a couple more great pictures with those family members and friends, but you could talk all about how beautiful the wedding was before jetting off on your honeymoon.

About the author: Amanda Cooper is a contributing writer for Wedding Favours Kingdom, which carries an array of wedding accessories, wedding favours, and candle wedding favours. Amanda is also a writer for other home and travel websites. When Amanda is not writing, she enjoys spending time traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

Hold The Microphone For Wedding Speeches

As a DJ since the mid 1980's, I've been to well over 1,000 weddings. Unfortunately, time and time again, I always run into the inexperienced microphone users.

You can find it all over the internet. Pre-written wedding speeches, what to say, what not to say, when to say it, say it in Chinese, etc. But, even more important, is how to properly hold the microphone while making your speech or toast. More than 80% of the time, the person making the speech has no idea how to handle a microphone. Very understandable since most of you have very limited experience using a mic. In most cases I see, people hold the microphone way too far away from their mouths.

The mic should be held approximately 1 - 4 inches away from the mouth at a 45-degree angle while you are speaking. If the microphone is more than a hand's width away from your mouth, it is way too far. Don't scream into the microphone, but project your voice a bit higher than you would speak to someone during a normal conversation. Hold the mic at a constant distance so the volume of your voice doesn’t keep changing. Don't touch the microphone to your chin or lips. Holding the microphone too closely to your mouth will produce muffling and popping.

Submitted by DJ Joey Tee

Rethink Your Wedding Party Gifts

Your wedding is the most personally intimate yet publicly shared event of your life. You need only to close your eyes to imagine what that day will be. And after it is over you’ll need only to close your eyes to remember what it was.

But as solid as that day may be in your mind and memory, will it be remembered as clearly by your family and friends? By the people who matter to you most? Will they remember how important they are to you, and especially how much they meant to you on that very special day?

Let’s face it… you’re entering into a new life. One that will not include them as closely as it did in the past. Help them remember not only that day but the friendship that you’ve shared with them up to and including your wedding day by giving them a more personalized gift.

Select Something That Will Be Appreciated

Traditionally a bride will give her bridesmaids something to wear during the wedding. If you go this route, make sure that whatever you give will be something THEY will enjoy, not something that is self-serving such as a purple tie or a replica of the Hope Diamond to wear in the wedding. These are things that will just be stuck away in a drawer or in back of the closet, or worse, thrown away. Consider instead giving a classic item such as a gold chain, diamond earrings or any item that can be treasured every time it is worn and not just tucked away somewhere and forgotten.

Pick Something That Has Personal Meaning

The best gifts for your wedding party will be something that reminds them of the times you’ve shared. The gift does not have to be expensive. For example, if you spent time together over coffee, you can give your bridesmaids a gift basket with a personalized mug. Get a custom mug made with a photo of the two of you, so every time she has coffee, she’ll be having it with you! Include a single share of Starbucks from UniqueStockGift.com for a gift that keeps on giving.

Personalize Your Gift with Your Own Message

By selecting an item that can be embroidered, embossed or mounted with a plaque, you are able to add a personal message that will make your gift more memorable and long lasting. If the beach was your thing, get a monogrammed beach tote stuffed with beach towels, flip-flops and more.

Expense CAN be Spared When The Gift Has Meaning

One of the biggest benefits of selecting a more personal gift is, it does not necessarily have to be expensive! Select a piece of memorabilia from your friendship and place it in a shadowbox frame with a personalized plaque. You can purchase a small shadowbox and plaque for as little as $40.00 at a craft store or online at www.UniqueStockGift.com

Personal, Meaningful, Inexpensive, and Appreciated

A unique gift that fulfills all these requirements and is especially appropriate for groomsmen gifts is a single share of stock. First, you can select stock in a company which has meaning. For example, if golfing is a sport which your best man loves, you can give him a single share of Callaway Golf. You can purchase it framed with a personalized plaque or in a certificate cover with your message embossed. Other ideas for your groomsmen gifts are shares of Playboy, Heineken or even Harley-Davidson.

Bridesmaids may enjoy a share of Ann Taylor, Chico's, Coach, Avon, Tiffany & Company or Martha Stewart. With over 150 stocks to choose from, you are sure to find something that has personal meaning.

The perfect thank-you gift your flower-girl is a single share of 1-800-FLOWERS. Whether or not the stock appreciates, the value of your gift is never-ending. Imagine the smile on her face year after year when she receive a dividend check in the mail. She'll be reminded of you and your wedding day.

Your Day Will Be Remembered By All Who Share it With You

This is a chance to give them something that will help them remember…not only the day that they stood up for you and shared in the happiest day of your life, but also the memories you shared during your friendship together.

So make it personal. Give them a gift that will jog their memories and keep you in their hearts and on their minds for years to come.

Submitted by Skye Robinson, www.uniquestockgift.com

Tips For The Best Man's Speech

A best man's speech can make or break a wedding but by using common sense you can make sure your toast is remembered for all the right reasons.

A wedding is certainly a nerve racking day for the couple of the day, but the nerves also extend to the best man who has the difficult job of coming up with a memorable speech at the reception.

The main problem people have with their speech is that they overcomplicate things and make things harder for themselves. A good best man's speech should be short and snappy - more than five minutes and people's thought start to wander, longer than seven and people start to get bored. While brevity is important, it's good to use two minutes as your minimum marker.

Confidence is key to delivering a good speech so try to get it written and ready a good while before the day and practice as much as you can. The better you know the key points of your speech, the more relaxed you will be and, remember, the groom chose you to be best man so be yourself.

A good best man's speech includes jokes (good jokes, not dirty ones), a story or two about the couple (how they met, how happy they are together - stories that are appropriate for all ages), a thank you to all who made the wedding possible (such as whoever paid for the event) and, finally, a toast to a successful future.

You should try to make your stories balanced between the bride and the groom, but as you are the groom's best man you may not know the bride as well. In this case, it's always good to talk about the groom's feeling for the bride. This is generally the time to act as a salesman, talking up your friend to the bride's family who may not know the groom - what you tell them may help to form their first impression.

It is always best to err on the side of caution with your speech - being boring or soppy is a lot better than being offensive. Telling dirty jokes or speaking about the groom's ex-girlfriend may get a few laughs from your friends, but the bride's parents and elderly relatives may not be amused and if it's you that's blamed for ruining the wedding with your inappropriate speech it's more likely to be you than the wedding insurance providers who ends up shelling out compensation.

Submitted by Reagan Blackpool, www.marksandspencer.com

Informal Wedding Ideas

Looking to stray away from the traditional wedding? Here are some fun ideas to make your wedding unique and comfortable.

How to Pull off a Jeans-Friendly Wedding

You and your fiancé have a story completely unique to the two of you – how you met, how you fell in love, and how you got engaged. How you get married should also be unique and not every couple is a 5-foot train down the aisle of a cathedral type of couple. If you’re the kind of couple that would like to see your guests wearing jeans and flip flops rather than chinos and loafers, then follow these tips for making your entire wedding a pro-jeans zone.

Have your bridal party wear jeans

Rather than have your bridesmaids wear a dress that they will simply hide in the back of their closet after the wedding, put them in dark skinny jeans with a brightly colored empire-waist mini dress and a pair of black flats. Not only will it set the tone for the rest of the guests, but you as the bride will stand out even more against their fresh and modern look. And how cute will your ring bearer look wearing a pair of dark jeans and Converse?

Don’t have a reception – have a gigantic party

Have your reception at a venue where beach volleyball, croquet, and bocce ball are strongly encouraged and a part of the fun! On the invitation make sure your guests know that your reception will be a full contact sport and they should dress accordingly. No one will wear a suit and tie when they know that the cuisine includes BBQ ribs and that the bride and groom will be initiating a boys vs. girls softball game.

Put the dress code on the wedding invitation

We’ve all received the wedding invitations that say “black tie encouraged” or “black tie required”. Play off the wording and write “board shorts encouraged” or “black tie forbidden.” A few of your guests might get confused and call you asking if it’s a typo, but this will provide you with a chance to spread the dress code word of mouth.

Provide a dress up box for those that want to feel fancy

Photo booths that utilize dress up boxes are all the rage, but why reserve the feather boas, mustaches, and bow ties for the photo booth? Make sure each table has fake pearls, plastic top hats, and tacky cummerbunds so that when the naysayers (like your cousin Janice) scoff at the lack of class that your jean clad bridesmaids exhibit, you can conga line past them – while wearing a sparkly purple top hat. Now that’s classy.

Personalize your wedding

The most important thing to remember is to plan a wedding that encapsulates your personality as a couple. While having a ceremony that is simultaneously planned down to the detail and casual might seem like a contradiction in terms, you and your fiancé get to write the story of your wedding. So be you! It’s your wedding…wear jeans if you want to.

About the author: Suzanne Townsend is a blogging Seattlile with a healthy obsession with denim. She loves helping her friends with wedding ideas that are unique to their couple personality.

Top 100 Wedding Blogs

Welcome to the Top 100 Wedding Blogs of 2010.

We would like to thank all of our past contributors. If you would like to become a featured blog contributor, or would like to submit an article or video, please visit our FAQ's page.

NOTE: These posts have been uploaded from our older blog.

Ten Wedding Blunders To Avoid

On Bended Knee Wedding Coordination out of Los Angeles wants to help you avoid these common wedding pitfalls.

10. Don’t Rock the Cash Bar

When it comes to alcohol at your reception, what you serve is entirely up to you. Whether you choose to serve a full bar, limited cocktails, Beer and Wine, or no alcohol at all will be based on various factors including budget. The one option that is not recommended is a Cash Bar. Your guests should be gracious enough to accept what is being offered to them. If however a guest feels the need for a drink selection that is not offered, chances are that he or she will be resourceful enough to find it.

Also, request that bartenders not put out tip jars. If you are hosting the bar, tell your catering contact that you are happy to pay gratuity to the bartender(s) but that you do not want your guests to feel obligated to tip.

9. Go flat!

A huge number of brides give feedback that they wish they had worn flats, having kicked off their heels during the reception. As a bride you can expect to be standing for 8-12 hours on your wedding day. Be sure to break in your shoes well in advance. Even when wearing flats, unexpected blisters can form after a few hours on your feet.

8. Have a little faith

D.J.’s are perhaps the wedding vendor most micromanaged by couples. Too many song requests may actually impede the flow of your party. You hire your D.J. to judge when to play what music. You wouldn’t instruct your Caterer step by step on how to prepare food, or your Photographer on what angles and lenses to use. Limit your D.J. request list to a few favorites and a do-not-play list of only the songs you cannot stand. Do not get carried away and have some trust.

7. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize

What really matters most to you, the photographer, the music and dancing, the food and wine, the decorations, or being able to accommodate a large guest list? Put your money towards what you care about. You will have regrets if you skimp on what really counts. When you, the Bride and Groom are not footing the bill yourselves however, you may have to forfeit some financial decision-making. If this is the case you will need to compromise on certain priorities or if you really want that pricey photographer offer to pay for one yourself.

6. Bibbity Bobbity Boo

Wedding Dress shops are notorious for having your dress shipped in at the last minute. Think about it, if you owned a Wedding Dress Boutique you wouldn’t want every brides dress held at your shop for nine+ months before their weddings. Schedule your first fitting well before your wedding. Your final dress fitting should be no less than 1 week prior to your wedding so that alterations can still be made.

Tuxedo rentals for all attendants must be tried on, that includes Dad. Whether the Tailor seemed to take precise measurements or not, too many men still show up at weddings with high waters or baggy tuxes.

5. Don’t hit the road, Jack

Your wedding day is one of the biggest, most important days of your life. You will be exhausted and a bit disorderly the following day. Going away is the last thing you will want to worry about. Wait at least a couple of days before venturing on your honeymoon. Your wits will thank you.

4. Last night of single life

DO NOT hold your Bachelor or Bachelorette party the night before your wedding! This may seem like a no-brainer but many brides and grooms still practice the archaic ritual of drinking all night on that fatal evening. It is simply not worth it, as the Bride/Groom and your attendants will no doubt feel tired, look tired, have a hangover, or worse be sick walking down the aisle. If necessary, request that any out of town attendants arrive a day earlier to help you to prepare and celebrate a different night.

3. No Guidance

With no Director there are too many details left to too many people at your ceremony. Having a Wedding Coordinator allows for one person to coordinate your wedding party processional, music, minister, seating guests and to resolve any unexpected last minute complications. A Coordinator will ease the stress level of everyone, including you, tremendously on your wedding day. So if your location does not include a Wedding Day Coordinator who also directs your rehearsal, hire your own. A Wedding Coordinator may be much more affordable than you think.

2. Stretching yourself too thin

As the bride you will make everyone around you crazy by waiting until the last minute in planning and finalizing details. If you have a hard time planning and prioritizing on your own then get help. You don’t want to be remembered as “one of those brides” that put everything off and then expected her friends and family to pick up the pieces, do you?

Do not commit yourself to social events the day before your wedding. This day is meant for you to wrap up loose ends, beautify yourself, attend your rehearsal and rehearsal dinner in many cases, and most importantly get some amount of rest for the day ahead. You are going to need it!

1. High demands

Try to keep in mind that although your Bridesmaids and Groomsmen may offer you extra help, these friends can become taken advantage of. The only "official obligations" of wedding party members are emotional support, the financial expense of wedding attire and travel, participation in the rehearsal and the obvious role on your wedding day. In the case of the MOH or BM, reception toasts are traditional as well. Other help that these individuals may offer should not be viewed as duties, but rather as acts of kindness including: setting up/tearing down, transporting ceremony goods, throwing a bridal shower or other party, distributing gratuities, and any other help that is offered.

Remember to be thoughtful towards your attendants. Bridesmaids may not be comfortable in 4 inch heels, purchasing new jewelry or paying to have their hair or makeup professionally styled. Do not forget to personally thank any bridal party members for taking part in your wedding, as well as family members who gave you assistance. A small thank you gift is always appreciated.

Submitted by Jackie Baird, On Bended Knee Wedding Coordination, www.bendedkneeweddings.com

Wedding Planning With Less Stress

Beginning to plan a Wedding can be overwhelming! With a little help it can be less stressful than you think and you can actually have fun during the process. At AFavor4U, we help plan weddings everyday and we'd like to share a few key planning elements with you.

It is crucial to keep the right attitude.

Don't let the importance of the day overwhelm you. Yes, it may be the most important day of your life, but something will inevitably go wrong and if you keep your sense of humor everything will be beautiful! It can only be the perfect day if you relax and let it be.

It helps to start your planning as early as possible.

Nothing will stress you out more than having too many last minute details to deal with. Having all of the little details planned well in advance will give you luxury of time to pamper yourself on the day of the wedding.

Set a budget and stick to it.

Wondering how you are going to pay for everything will suck the joy out of your wedding and WORSE your honeymoon!

Decide on a tone and style.

Do you want a traditional or contemporary wedding? Formal? Casual? Deciding on these issues early will help with Gown selection, color selection, reception location, flower choice... well everything! Important Tip: Don't be afraid to include contemporary, traditional, formal or casual elements to suite your personalities and style. It's your wedding, it should be about YOU not a rigid set of rules.

Share some tasks with trusted friends and relatives.

Lighten the load a little, you don't have to do everything.

Find good service providers and suppliers.

Look for quality as well as price. Also, look for good service and the willingness to work with you. Check references, better business listings, get recommendations from friends. Quality dependable providers will reduce your stress tremendously.

Finally, remember to include exercise in your daily routine. After a day filled with tasks and decisions you deserve a little time to yourself. Set aside at least half an hour to do an activity that best suits you. This can involve going to the local gym, swimming, sports, yoga or even walking around your neighborhood. This will help relieve much stress and help you feeling fit, trim, and beautiful.

We hope these suggestions help to reduce the stress and set you on your way to happy planning. Please feel free to visit www.afavor4u.com, call 1-877-346-7439 or email if there is anything else we can help you with.

Submitted by www.afavor4u.com

Saying iDo: Weddings, The iPod, And You

Like you, I knew long ago that iPhones and iPods were becoming popular. But after I recently became engaged and started to plan my wedding, I was shocked to find that the iPod has become one of the hottest wedding accessories today - iPhones and iPods are now being used at every stage from initial planning to your eventual honeymoon on a beach.

Preparing for your wedding can be overwhelming: in the past, a busy bride-to-be had to set aside different times for reading wedding books and magazines, planning, and keeping herself in shape for the big day. Today, she can work herself into shape and listen to a wedding podcast at the same time. Sharon Naylor, a wedding expert and author of 30 wedding books, including 1000 Best Wedding Bargains, told iLounge just how popular the iPod has become as a wedding tool. “It’s given brides and grooms a whole new world of information, accessible at times they didn’t have before,” explained Naylor, “during commutes, while working out, while doing housework. They can tune in at any time, which is a big change from the days when brides and grooms sought information on their work computers, or when they come home exhausted from work.”

What options are available for iPhone and iPod-toting brides? Here are just some of the great things we’ve come across:

Wedding Planning Podcasts

Thanks to the iTunes Store, you can bypass the bookstore entirely with a few quick clicks of your mouse: a quick search for “Wedding” yields a massive variety of books, suggested music and Podcasts, covering wedding planning, reception ideas and honeymoon guides. Podcasts are the best free options, with over 30 downloadable options out there: New York’s Wedding Planning Talk Radio has eight free episodes, Queer Eye has a nine-episode wedding series, and Brides Magazine even has a four-episode podcast. Not surprisingly, many of the other options are little more than promotions - there’s a video podcast from BrideAccess, “brought to you by some of the most respected vendors in the wedding industry,” and lots of podcasts from local wedding photographers.

Wedding-Themed Audiobooks and Videos

If you’re willing to spend some money, the iTunes Store offers lots of other options. Besides individual wedding-themed episodes of your favorite TV shows, you can download an entire season of the reality TV show Whose Wedding is it Anyway?, with season 4 and season 5 now available for $18 each. There are also many fictional wedding-themed audiobooks, ranging from $2 to $26, including everything from a children’s book to a Danielle Steel novel. We wish there were better non-fiction options.

Wedding Music

You can use the iTunes Music Store to find several wedding music compilations or use your iPhone to search for the perfect wedding song.

Gifting

Music’s not just important to the bride and groom; members of the wedding party most likely love it, too. That’s why newlyweds are gifting iPods and iTunes gift certificates to their wedding attendants, which means that volunteering to be a groomsman in your buddy’s wedding could score you a new shuffle or nano. “iPods themselves may be the gifts,” noted Sharon Naylor. “From carrying cases to iTunes cards, sound systems, and other accessories, these are becoming the hot gift for bridal parties.” Just being related to an iPod-loving couple can help, too: “Many couples are giving these to their parents, to keep them up to speed if they don’t already have their own.”

The couple may be hoping for a little Apple love, themselves. Major retailers’ bridal registries today are not only filled with requests for flatware and china, but also shuffles, nanos and full-sized iPods. According to Naylor, “We’re seeing more couples registering for iPods and other technology, since they might already live together, or they each own their own homes and have all the linens and blenders they could ever need. Couples love registering for ‘toys,’ but the truth is that they’ll use their iPods every day. Not the blender or the fondue maker. So it’s a smart add-on to any registry, as are the accessories.”

Wedding Photography

For those without iPods in their wedding registries, there’s another option. Photographers like Jeff LaPlante are offering clients iPod-ready photography packages. LaPlante sells the “I Do iPod” package, which for $1000 includes brand new his-and-her 30GB fifth-generation video iPods, loaded with complete wedding and reception proofs.

LaPlante’s Seattle-based photo business is surprisingly progressive in an industry that thrives on four- to six-week delivery times for wedding photos. He not only creates a slideshow of the couple’s wedding images that can play during the reception, but he also has the images ready for the couple to take home with them at the end of the evening.

Using both his Nikon D2x and D200 cameras, LaPlante shoots both RAW (minimally processed data) and JPG files. “The RAW files are used for final printing of albums and portraits, while the small JPGs are used to create the reception slideshows, website slideshows, iPod proofs and other low resolution uses,” he explained. “I’m able to download all of the small JPGs onto an external FireWire disk very quickly the night of the wedding…A few more actions and a batch process later and I have an entire set of proofs ready to load onto the iPods.” The result is instant gratification for the newly married couple. “I can have the couple’s slideshow ready on their wedding night so they can take them with them on their honeymoon.”

LaPlante believes that iPods will evolve into a larger role in wedding photography. “Another application I’m developing is PodProofer,” he said. “It’s currently in beta and allows customers who already own their iPods to download a small Java application to their iPod. This application will automatically connect to my website and download their proofs to their hard drive. This alleviates me from having to do it the night of the wedding.”

While some photographers are promoting iPods as part of their services, other photographers are using iPods as a tool for promoting their work. “Of course, the iPod becomes the perfect promotional tool,” said Lamar Smith, a wedding photographer in Louisiana. “I carry wedding samples on my iPod, to show prospective clients. The uniqueness of the iPod wedding album presentation (is that it) grabs their attention and gives me an ‘instant in’ to presenting more about my wedding photography services.”

Wedding Videography

Still photographs are the “classic” way weddings are captured, but wedding videos have become increasingly popular over the last 15 years. So it’s no surprise that professional videographers are also using the iPod to sell their services. “Podcasts, or iPod videos, are becoming more & more popular,” noted Darcie King of E Video Productions. “We are also starting to sell an option to wedding clients where they can have their recap online as a downloadable iPod video.”

Wedding Cakes

iPod wedding cakes? Seriously? Yes. Some brides and grooms go beyond just having an iPod involved in every facet of their weddings - they want to eat it, too! A talented baker can create a memorable wedding cake, such as the one shown here, or delicious cookies in the shape of your favorite shuffle, nano or iPod. With an unlimited imagination (and budget) the possibilities are endless. Numerous images of iPod-themed cakes can be found on Flickr, including this one of a mini-wedding cake based on the iPod silhouette theme.

As a bride-to-be, I went into my planning thinking that the worlds of weddings and the iPod would rarely intersect, but the array of options is staggering. With Apple having sold over 90 million iPods worldwide, not counting the now more popular than ever iPhone, perhaps it’s not totally surprising that the Apple is infiltrating the wedding industry, and if the examples above are any indication, it’s only going to become more important over time. Have you seen the iPod or iPhone used at weddings in a new and interesting way? We look forward to reading about your experiences below.

Submitted by Christina Easton, Contributing Editor, iLounge.com