Many wedding guests look forward to their opportunity to congratulate the bride and groom on their special day. In many cases, these sayings and expressions of good will and good wishes are offered during the wedding reception dinner. Traditionally, such sayings and well wishes are meant to be solemn, heartfelt, and serious.

However, times have changed, and the wedding congratulations sayings in the 21st century can be humorous, whimsical, slightly sarcastic, or downright funny. Through the ages, words of congratulations for wedding couples have been quoted by such literary greats as Robert Frost to those offered by political and religious figures, as well as comedians. Take a look at some of the famous words of congratulations sayings that have been expressed by famous people.

To keep your marriage brimming, with love in the wedding cup, whenever you’re wrong, admit it; whenever you’re right, shut up. -  Ogden Nash

There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage. - Martin Luther

I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. - Rita Rudner

Marriage is not a ritual or an end. It is a long, intricate, intimate dance together and nothing matters more than your own sense of balance and your choice of partner. - Amy Bloom

Of course, as there are books filled with such words of wedding congratulations and sayings and quotes, but this doesn’t mean the guest speakers at wedding parties and receptions need to rely on such. Originality is always appreciated when it comes to offering congratulations and well wishes. In many situations, words of congratulations from friends and family members are often personal, amusing, and at times even embarrassing.

However, whether such wedding congratulations are cheesy, serious, or downright amusing, well wishes for wedded couples are generally offered from the heart and convey a sense of hope, love, strength, and unity for the newly married couple. So, the next time you’re asked to offer your words of congratulations at a wedding, remember that your words and your wishes should come from the heart, and express your joy for the future happiness of the wedded couple.

One of the best ways to save money on a wedding reception is to create homemade wedding centerpieces. Homemade centerpieces can look elegant and expensive, or they can be simple and tasteful depending on the theme or style of the wedding. There are many ways a centerpiece can be handmade, especially with seasonal items or flower choices, as well as the ability to find a friend or family member who is especially gifted in crafts!

Centerpieces add to the décor and style of the wedding reception, so it is important to design something that will go with the overall affect or theme of the reception room. They should also be styled around the wedding theme - for example, an elaborate centerpiece arrangement would not really go with a beach wedding or vice versa. The centerpiece should be a focal point of a table, but not hinder the ability of guests to socialize with each other or one that requires athletic maneuvering around large vases of flowers or other centerpieces.

Seasonal themed weddings always have the option of incorporating holiday colors and décor into the centerpiece. Fall weddings may include gold or red flowers, and even use mini pumpkins and tea lights as a table centerpiece. Winter weddings have the option of using red and silver colors, with pinecones or other outdoor elements.

Candles are always a great choice for homemade wedding centerpiece ideas, since they provide an elegant ambiance for the wedding reception. Candles are found in many different shapes, colors and price ranges. Floating tea lights in vases with water and flower petals or candelabras with pillar candles are easy to make and simple for any style of wedding. Just choose appropriate colors.

A wedding centerpiece does not have to be expensive in order to be beautiful. There are many designs that can be created with a few dried or fresh flowers, candles or even more unique items that can be incorporated into the décor of the wedding. At the end of the reception, create a small contest for each table and then allow one guest per table to take the centerpiece home, so that they may also enjoy the décor for themselves. If homemade wedding centerpieces are left over, don’t throw them away, but take them to a local nursing home or hospital – they’ll be greatly appreciated!

Soon after a wedding, many couples decide to have kids.  The decision sometimes doesn’t come easy as one of the partners may want to have kids later in life.  The subject of having kids - when and how many - should definitely be discussed prior to the wedding.  You need to make sure you both share the same feelings on this important topic.

If one of you do not even want kids, and having kids is important to you, your significant other may not be as “significant” anymore.  But if you both do want kids,  you have to both agree on when.

Naming your child is also something you both have to come to an agreement on.  Many couples argue over what the names of their kids should be.  You may wish to name your child after your uncle Ben who you look up to, but your wife may want to name him after her grandfather who was a role model to her.

Therefore, it’s best to sit down and decide together.  My husband and I decided to write down 10 names that we both liked and compared our list.  If there was a match, that was the name.  If there was more than two matches, we’ll take a vote between all of our family members.  We thought it would be fun to get the entire family involved.

Did you and your significant other talk about kids before you got married?  And if you already have kids, how did you come up with the names(s) of your kid(s)?  Make a comment below or share it with Gagazine. (They are giving away a $50 Gift Card to Amazon.com and this is my shameless attempt at winning it).

With wedding costs soaring and everyone so focused on how they can save money on their weddings, is there really anything you should NOT save money on?

There sure is. In fact, I know of five of them.

1. Your one must-have item. This item varies by couple, but there’s undoubtedly one thing that you really want and if you don’t have that one thing you’re going to regret it for the rest of your life. For some people, this means being able to invite all 200 of their closest friends. For others, it may be a particular wedding dress. Go ahead and spend the money. You can find ways to save from other places.
2. Food and drink. There are many ways that you can save money on catering costs for your wedding guests. But the one thing that remains constant is that if you’re going to have a wedding reception, you must at least serve something. Your guests have taken the time to come and they’ve very likely brought you a present. Feeding them is really the least that you can do.
3. Gifts for your wedding party. The people in your wedding party have worked very hard to make sure that your wedding goes smoothly and is as perfect as you hoped it could be. They deserve to be recognized for this. You don’t have to buy expensive gifts for them, but you do have to get them something.
4. Information for out of town guests. Your out of town guests are spending a lot of money to be with you on your special day. They may have to buy air tickets, hotel rooms, and rental cars…all on top of your wedding gift. You don’t have to be responsible for paying these costs, but make sure that you make things as easy for them as possible. Take the time to put together a local information packet. Let them know the best hotels, how to get around town, and where all the good restaurants are. Your guests will really be flattered that you took the time to do this.
5. Thank you notes. Thank you notes simply need to be written. You cannot just say thank you at the reception. You cannot send an email. You cannot call them on the phone. It’s tacky. Thank you notes need to be hand written and sent in a timely manner. You don’t need to use expensive stationery, but you still need to send them. Your guests were kind enough to give you a present. You should be kind enough to give a proper thank you.

These are all small but important details that you cannot dismiss. You may be able to save money on some of them, but you cannot forgo them completely. They will make your guests happy. Happy guests give better presents.
 

It used to be that anything but a traditional service with the “Do you take this woman?” vow sequence officiated by anything but a minister and happening anyplace but a church was a radical proposition.  The one option open was the stereotypical “civil ceremony” down at city hall.  Romantic, right?  This made it very tough for people who were not religious to be satisfied with their wedding day.  Just because you’re not a church-goer, doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t want a little pomp and circumstance, right?

Well, luckily, those days are well over.  Nowadays, weddings can and do look like whatever the bride and groom envision and create them to be.  The sky is the limit.  However, sometimes it’s hard to step outside of the “traditional” wedding mind frame if that’s what you’ve been raised with.  So, if you are looking for a non-traditional or non-religious ceremony but are stumped for ideas, here are a few to get you started.

Location – The first thing to consider is the location.  If you’re going for a non-religious service, you clearly don’t want a church.  Weddings can be anywhere – parks, your home, the beach, a hotel, a restaurant.  Sometimes cool architectural spaces like museums will rent out the space.  If you have a space in mind and don’t know if they do weddings, ask them!  Even if they normally don’t, they might be thrilled to help you out, if only for the public relations benefits.

Vows – If you are merely trying to steer clear of religious connotations and not traditionalism, it could be enough for you to edit the traditional vows to omit any reference to religion.  However, if you are looking to go in a whole new direction, you might want to write your own vows.  This can be so beautiful and meaningful.

Ceremonies – Rather than something religious like being served communion, you can replace it with ceremonies like the Unity Candle or Sand Ceremony.  Also, instead of a benediction at the end of the ceremony as a whole, you can have the officiant lead a community pledge to support the couple and the marriage.

Officiant – There are many options for officiants aside from calling around to churches and looking for a minister.  One good place to start is to ask your wedding planner, if you have one, for a list of vendors, and if he or she knows of non-religious officiants specifically.  Also, don’t forget to ask your venue and your other vendors – the wedding industry is a “small town” at heart, and these folks all know each other.  Chances are they could steer you in the right direction.  Lastly, basically anyone can become ordained online.  If you have someone in mind that you would like to perform the ceremony but they are not licensed, this is something to look into.

These are a few ideas to create a ceremony that has no religious connotation.  After all, the wedding ceremony should reflect you as a couple, so if you’re not religious, why should the ceremony be?  It should be all about you and your fiance.  Remember, as far as ideas go – the sky’s the limit!

For many couples, wedding centerpieces created by a florist are way out of their price range. Even a simple arrangement could cost you your first-born child if you have many tables that need a centerpiece.

Luckily, a bit of creativity could save you a small fortune. Check out these twenty creative ideas for wedding centerpieces.

1. Fake flowers. Before you start cringing at the idea of fake flowers, go to a store and check out the fake flowers that are available. The quality has greatly improved in recent years. Using fake flowers will significantly reduce the cost.
2. Floating candles. These look elegant when lit up, providing a romantic atmosphere. Floating candles come in many different shapes and you should be able to find something that matches the theme of your wedding.
3. Small fruit or ice sculptures. Check with local culinary schools. There may be a budding young chef who would be happy to create beautiful sculptures for a modest price.
4. Small cakes. Instead of having one large wedding cake, buy several small ones in different flavors. You can even encourage guests to travel to other tables to sample the flavors. By doing this, you’ll save on both centerpiece and wedding cake costs.
5. Children’s crafts. If your family has a lot of children and children will be welcome at your wedding, have them do a craft to use as your centerpiece. They will be delighted to help out.
6. Mailbox with paper and pens. Ask your guests to write a short piece of advice for the newly married couple. They can put their letters in the mailbox.
7. Games. If your family is not the type to dance wildly into the night, a few travel-sized games may be enough to keep people entertained.
8. Photos of the couple. Have a lot of photos from your many adventures? Now’s the time to show them off. Put pictures of the two of you together on each of the tables.
9. Many candles. Using candles of varying heights can create a dramatic effect. Scented candles may be overbearing and interfere with the taste of the meal, so be sure to use unscented ones.
10. Fruit. A bowl of fresh fruit can be inexpensive and give a “homey” feel to your tables. Plus, guests can eat them later!
11. Lucky bamboo plants. These work best with an Asian themed wedding, but they can look elegant in other settings as well.
12. Baskets. Fill your baskets with whatever you like. Fake flowers, ornaments, or candy all make great choices.
13. Glass beads. A bowl filled with colorful glass beads is simple but stylish. These can be purchased in many craft stores and you can choose colors that match the theme of your wedding.
14. Cupcakes. These are another wedding cake alternative. There are many cupcake trees available that can spruce up your table.
15. Something related to your hobbies. If the two of you are avid bookworms, use a stack of your favorite books as a centerpiece. Wine lovers? How about a bottle of wine with a custom label? Choose something that matches your personality.
16. Photos of other weddings. If you have a lot of older married couples that will be attending your wedding, why not celebrate their love and commitment as well by showing pictures of their weddings?
17. Seasonal items. In spring and summer, you may be able to collect wildflowers. In autumn colorful leaves are plentiful. And in winter, you can dress the table with evergreen.
18. Polaroid cameras and scrapbooking supplies. If your guests are crafty, let them create a special message for you by taking their pictures and creating a scrapbook page.
19. Fortune cookies. A bowl of fortune cookies is fun for everyone…in bed. You can even have fortunes custom made for you wedding.
20. Fishbowls with fish. You can go a step further and put the kissing gourami in the fishbowls. These are fish whose lips are extra puckered for kissing. Just make sure the fish all have a home when the wedding’s over.

Your wedding centerpieces should reflect who you are as a couple. It doesn’t have to be an expensive floral arrangement! These ideas should help you get started in finding the right centerpiece for your wedding.

Many people get so caught up by planning the wedding festivities that they almost forget about the rings! When they finally do start to look at wedding ring prices, they’re shocked at how much they can cost.

These 10 tips will help you to save money on your wedding rings.

1. Don’t buy platinum. These days, platinum is the most popular metal for wedding bands. But it’s expensive and you don’t need it. Most people won’t be able to tell the difference, and if they can…they probably don’t care. Opt for a cheaper metal such as gold, white gold, silver, or even titanium.
2. Diamonds aren’t a necessity. The diamond industry has done a good job of making you think that you need to have diamonds in your engagement or wedding rings. Other stones can look just as lovely without costing as much.
3. Check auction sites. You may be able to get a good deal on rings through an auction site. Not all things on auction sites are used. These days, many stores realize the wide audience they can reach by using auction sites and they use them to auction off brand new products.
4. Get a set. You may get a discount if you get your rings as part of a set or trio (two wedding rings and an engagement band). Check around for the best deal.
5. Use a family heirloom. If you’re lucky enough to have had jewelry handed down to you, there’s no reason you can’t use that. Using a family heirloom can be special and give the ring even more meaning.
6. Use a new jewelry designer. Sometimes your local college or art school can have a budding young jewelry designer who’s willing to sell their pieces at a deep discount in order to expand their portfolio.
7. Check for local sales. Many jewelry shops have big sales during Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Visit the stores during these times and you could get a great discount.
8. Choose a thin band. Wedding bands are often priced according to their weight. A thicker band will weigh more and thus be more expensive.
9. Check online sites. Make sure that you check online and see where you can find the best deal. You may also want to be on the lookout for coupon codes that can bring you even bigger savings.
10. Upgrade later. So you can’t afford your dream wedding bands now. No big deal. Get what you can afford now and plan to upgrade them for your 10-year anniversary, once you are more settled and have more money.

The important thing to note is that buying your wedding rings requires just as much planning and effort as planning every other part of your wedding. If you wait until the last minute, you’ll find yourself paying a lot more than you would have liked.

The Daisy. 

Meaning: Innocence, loyal love

So what does the bride do when her pantyhose rips?  Or if the bridemaid’s dress rips?  Or if the day is windy and the bride’s hair flies all over?  The best thing to do is pack an emergency kit with a few contents that can help rescue the long day.  Here a few suggestions:

• Makeup:
  • Tweezers
  • Tissues
  • Cotton Balls
  • Makeup Remover
  • Lipstick
  • Pressed Powder (all the lights from the cameras can make you shiny)
  • Eye Makeup
• Hair:
  • Bobby Pins
  • Hairspray
  • Brush/comb
  • Hair bands
•  Hygiene
  • Perfume
  • Breath Mints
  • Deodorant
  • Dental Floss
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
•  Hands, Nails, and Feet
  • Hand lotion
  • Same color nail polish for touch up
  • Nail file
  • Nail glue
  • Nail polish remover
  • Extra pantyhose and black socks (black socks for both bridal party and groomsmen)
  • Shoe polish
•  Sewing Supplies
  • Small sewing kit (with black and white thread as well as the colors of the bridesmaid’s dresses)
  • Fabric tape
  • Needles
  • Saftey pins
  • Clear nail polish (for pantyhose runs)
•  Snacks
  • Power bars
  • Crackers
  • Water
•  Medicine
  • Asprin
  • Antacid/Pepto-Bismo
  • Band aids
  • Smelling salts
  • Club soda
  • Baby wipes
  • Tampons

Have the maid of honor pack these items a few days before the wedding so you’re not stressed out about it the day of the wedding. 

When deciding on who to pay for what, not only does it get confusing but it can also be a sticky situation.  Talking about money is always a sensitive topic.  These days, the bride and groom usually splits the costs of the wedding.  However, in a traditional American wedding, the bride’s family usually pays for most of the costs.

Traditionally, these are how the costs are split.  If you want to download the form instead, click on this link here:  

Who Pays for What Worksheet

Out of the Bride’s wallet:

• Groom’s wedding ring
• Wedding gift for the groom
• Gifts for the guests (wedding favors)
• Accommodation for out-of-town guests
• Wedding day lingerie
• Bridesmaids luncheon 

Out of the Groom’s wallet:

• Bride’s rings (including the engagement ring)
• Wedding gift for the bride
• Honeymoon vacation
• Marriage license
• Groomsmen gifts
• Bride’s bouquet
• Corsages for mother of bride and mother of groom
• Boutonnieres for men in wedding party
• Ties and accessories for the men in the wedding party
• Clergy, Justice of the Peace, Wedding Officiant or minister’s fee 

On the Bride’s family:

• Wedding planner
• Engagement party and announcement
• Wedding reception
• Bride’s attire
• Wedding invitations, announcements, thank you notes
• Wedding photographer and videographer
• Wedding ceremony costs
• Bridesmaids and flower girl’s flowers and accessories
• Ring bearer’s accessories
• Transportation for bridal party from ceremony to reception
• All gratuities
• Their own attire

On the Groom’s family:

• Their own attire
• The rehearsal dinner 

The Maid of Honor pays for:

• Wedding shower
• Bachelorette party

The Best Man pays for:

• Bachelor party

The Attendants pay for:

• Wedding attire
• Wedding gifts to the newlyweds

Do keep in mind that this is just what is traditionally paid for by each party.  These days, everyone and anyone can pay for anything.