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In our wedding, we didn't get a regular photographer. Instead we hired a professioal photographer who was primarily a photo journalist. There were a few major differences. First, his primary focus was candid shots. We were not very interested in the posed shots (though we did several). Instead, we got some incredible photographs that look like they belong in a magazine!

Also, he didn't put together proofs for us to select several for an album. Instead, he developed all of the film (like 500 pictures), got 4x6 prints of each and gave them all to us. Now, we have all of the negatives and I'll be putting together some special albums for our parents.

When creating the wedding program for your own wedding, you might consider adding a small paragraph about how you and your future spouse met.

When deciding on a themed wedding, consider your favorite hobbies, pastimes, interests, and lifestyle. As an example, if you both love the ocean and spend most weekends sailing, a nautical themed wedding would be perfect.

To save money on wedding invitations, you might consider making them. If you have a good laser printer, you can purchase special computer software that will walk you through the process of choosing your design, lettering, coloring, and so on, to create a beautiful invitation.

Instead of choosing a single flavor for your wedding cake, why not choose a three or four tiered cake with each tier being a unique flavor. For example, you could have one layer be pineapple cream, another layer devilís food, a third tier cherry cheesecake, and the fourth tier caramel apple!

If the budget is tight but you want to host an amazing wedding shower, you might consider organizing a potluck. In this way, each guest would bring some type of food within a specified category. To make the shower even more special, request that each guest bring the recipe for the dish so the couple will have new recipes for their own collection.

Although you could choose any number of favors such as pewter picture frames, small boxes of candy or Jordan almonds, silver plated bottle openers, and so on, if you want to stick with tradition, you might choose a favor that contains five candles, which represents the five most common wedding wishes --- happiness, health, wealth, longevity, and fertility.

Ask family and friends what type of talents they have. For example, you might discover that someone knows how to arrange flowers, perhaps another person sings, and yet someone else might have a cousin that has a band for a huge discount. By asking, you will find a number of ways to save. In addition, never be afraid to barter with vendors. If you find a photographer you really like but the price is simply too steep, ask what he or she can do for you to help you stay within your budget. Remember, organizing an inexpensive wedding is not that difficult, it just takes a change of focus.

When you start interviewing different photographers to take your photos, ask if they have a qualified assistant photographer that will be there at the wedding as well. This way, while the primary photographer is taking the posed shots you would typically see in a photo album, the assistant could be going around, capturing the priceless moments that might otherwise be missed.

When planning your own wedding, you might consider having a flautist and guitarist seated at the front of the church but off to one side, playing soft music together while all the guests are being seated. This instrument combination is beautiful, relaxing, and creates a very soft and romantic atmosphere.

When offering a toast at a wedding, it is imperative that you not mention anything embarrassing about the bride or groom. The purpose of the toast is to celebrate this new union and the future they will share, not to dig up dirt about the past.

The good news is that excellent planning and organization is possible. First, create a database of all the things you need to accomplish, to include the date they must be done by, the day they must be sent or confirmed, the name, address, and phone number of the vendor with which you are working, and any pending items that need to be followed up on. As each thing is completed, you can mark it off as done. Additionally, when someone asks what he or she can do to help, you can print off a copy of the item you need assistance with and have him or her provide some support.

If you want to embrace a bit of the past, you might consider a unique bouquet. One exceptional option is the fan, which was popular in the late 1800s. Choose a lacy fan and have it embellished with miniature roses, gardenias, or sweet peas with babyís breath. The look is very soft and romantic!

If you want to have a small wedding, choose a family or friend that has a nice home, asking if you can have the wedding there. Then, depending on the weather, you could decide to have the wedding indoors or outdoors, decorated with candles and flowers for a lovely ambience.

Surprise your spouse with a secret getaway. For instance, if you were the husband, pack your wifeís bags and rent a luxury hotel suite for the weekend, taking her bag with you. Then, leave a single rose with a note on your bed, asking her to meet you at the hotelís restaurant. There, wine and dine her, surprising her with a lovely gift and the news that you have rented the honeymoon suite so the two of you can spend quality time alone! She will be thrilled that you took great care in planning such a wonderful wedding anniversary surprise.

When planning your unique wedding, do not be afraid to have fun. As an example, if you both love the Halloween holiday, you might rent a barn, and decorate it with faux coffins, cobwebs, spiders, lighted pumpkins, headstones, and so on, creating a spooky atmosphere. Then, the bride could dress up as Draculaís bride and the groom as Dracula. Then to make the wedding complete, insist that all the guests come dressed up in costume.

If you are hosting a wedding shower for your best friend, consider having a shower that focuses on a specific room of the house or a pastime/hobby shared by the couple. In this case, you would ask that all guests bring something for the kitchen, bathroom, dining room, or whatever room you have chosen, or something specific to the pastime or hobby. As an example, if the bride and groom love to travel, the gifts could focus on travel. You will be amazed at the creativity in each gift.

Because you would be getting married at a different time of year, this is a wonderful opportunity to register for seasonal wedding gifts. As an example, you might register for a sled so you and your new spouse can enjoy the snow while having fun, or perhaps lift tickets to your favorite ski resort, or you might just register for a couple of etched brandy glasses and a good bottle of brandy.

After you have chosen all your wedding photographs, pick out about 15 to 20 in a 5 x 7 or 3 x 5 size, requesting two sets. Then, purchase a small scrapbook and all the appropriate stickers, backgrounds, and frames so you can create a miniature wedding scrapbook for each set of parents. They will be thrilled with such a wonderful gift and impressed that you went to so much effort in making them a cherished gift.

If you want to stick with tradition, choose white or cream-colored flowers such as Lilies, Roses, Orchids, or Gardenias. However, if you want a non-conventional wedding, you can choose something very exotic such as Bird of Paradise or something fun like Daisies.

To save money, you might consider having a special luncheon with the bridal party to make centerpieces. One beautiful option is to place a 12 x 12-inch square of beveled mirror in the center of each table. Then, place a glass fishbowl about 8 x 8 inches in the center, filled with water and floating candles. To complete the look, sprinkle silk rose petals and silver and gold chocolate kisses around the base. The reflection of the candles and candy wrappers is beautiful.

To take advantage of the snow and festive spirit of winter, you might consider having the reception near the church so guests can be transported by horse and sleigh all decked out in red and gold.

Dare to be different when making your wedding proposal. For example, if you both love to snow ski, take her on a ski trip. Once you have ridden the gondola to the top of the highest peak, as you look out over the mountainside below, ask her to be your wife. Now of course, a romantic dinner setting for making a wedding proposal is nice but because this occasion is so important, you should take time to plan it out so it will be something she will remember for the rest of her life.

When planning your wedding ceremony, make a list of the things most important to the two of you. If culture and ethnicity are at the top of the list, then create a magical wedding around that. No matter what type of wedding ceremony you choose, the result will be that you marry the love of your life and best friend. Therefore, choose for yourself, making your wedding special.

If you are planning an outdoor wedding in the springtime, you should consider renting tents large enough to accommodate all the wedding guests just in case the weather should turn. This way, even if it rains, the wedding and reception can go on. Tents are also an excellent option if you want to have an outdoor wedding in the wintertime. The larger tents are very comfortable, safe, secure, and come with heaters and a dance floor.

If you want to do something special for the couple, especially if the wedding anniversary were a significant one such as 25 or 50 years, you might consider going in with other family members or friends and buying one large gift. Excellent options would include a romantic trip to a place they have never been before, a cruise, or new furniture.

To create beautiful centerpieces, purchase tall glass globes, dried lima beans, gold spray paint, tall candles, and ribbon in the color to coordinate with the wedding colors. Spray the lima beans with the paint and allow them to dry completely. Then, place one glass globe in the center of each table, filling them each with enough painted beans to fill about three quarters full. Place the tall candle down in the middle of the beans and wrap colored ribbon around the base. The look is stunning, easy to make, and cheap!

You might consider giving a gift basket filled with goodies for a specific room in the home or even a coupleís basket. For example, if you wanted to provide things for the kitchen, you could choose kitchen tools for cooking, potholders, seasoning, kitchen towels, and then tuck a few of your favorite recipes inside. For the coupleís basket, you might include things such as matching coffee cups, samples of gourmet coffee, a romantic CD, and a dinner certificate to a wonderful restaurant.