Creativity and DIY Wedding Programs: A Perfect Couple

Explain your ceremony, give thanks, tell stories, tell jokes…there are many things you can do with a homemade wedding program. First off, let us start with some handy wedding program instructions to help you with the specifics of a good wedding program.

The wedding program is where you’ll want to explain anything unusual in your ceremony—especially if you are doing anything non-traditional or are of a different religion than many of your guests. Here is a sample of a Jewish wedding program. You can explain why you choose a certain tradition in your own words and what it means to the both of you. If you are going back to your roots and doing an old-fashioned broom jumping, here is a jumping the broom wedding program sample text you may want to include. If you wrote your own vows, you may want to include them in the program.

Wedding programs used to be where you’d list the names of the wedding party and family, a brief outline of ceremony order…and that was about it. Not anymore! You can personalize your do it yourself wedding programs just like any other aspect of your wedding, and you will probably want to write it in your own words, with your own personality shining through. The hardest part is deciding what to write and then picking out your wedding program paper. The rest of the process is simple!

The obvious things you’ll want to include are the names of the people in wedding, location and date. Don’t stop there though – you can (and should!) really get creative with wedding programs. Lyrics to a song that will be in your ceremony, quotes that you both like, the story of how you met, the proposal story, photographs of the two of you or your families are all unique ways to personalize your program.

Wedding programs are also the place to thank and give credit to important people. For example, you may want to thank your parents, or thank a mutual friend who introduced you. You could thank aunt Mary for doing your flower arrangements, etc. It is also nice to acknowledge all the guests as a whole, thanking them for being there.

Another thing some couples do is a short dedication to those family members who are not there, to those who have passed on. This could be a short paragraph such as “We wish to express our love to those that are no longer with us. Although they are not here physically, their presence is felt in our hearts.” This is an especially nice sentiment for couples who may have deceased parents or grandparents.

Remember: Be yourself, write from the heart and let your creative mind flow. Happy planning!

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For more information on Muse – A Wedding & Event Planning company based out of Portland, Oregon, visit www.eventmuse.biz.   Thanks for stopping by!

Seven Reasons a Wedding Planner Can Be a Life Saver


1. Zero stress: A typical wedding involves the work of around 20 different vendors.  The pleasure of wedding planning can go out the door when the bride and/or groom are trying to handle everything and they become overwhelmed. Professional supervision of all the events related to the wedding will guarantee that the couple will not be anxious about all the details.

2. Better relationships: Wedding planning usually involves many people who have their own vision. This can cause unending arguments and unnecessary tension. A wedding planner is an unbiased third party, who also has extensive experience on planning a wide range of wedding events. This can be helpful in avoiding unproductive arguments and unnecessary stress between people who need to be united, not stressed.

3. Pocket survival: An event planner will save you money. Wedding coordinators do no set strict pricing, and work around your budget. Furthermore, wedding planners are also well versed at helping couples set budgets and sticking to them.

4. Wait, there is more on that: Discounts are more likely to happen because the event planner has extensive connections with wedding vendors. �
5. Breathing is healthy: The average wedding can take over 250 hours to plan. Event planners can assist, recommend, and source products and suppliers in a fraction of the time it would take if you were to do it yourself.

6. Relief from frustrations: No confusing contracts, unexpected expenses, or disappointing services. A wedding planner is skilled at knowing every detail of legal and financial terms of local vendors and venues, assuring that you make informed choices and get what you expect.
7. Organization is everything: Good wedding planners are experts in time management, event design, wedding etiquette, and nearly every topic related to wedding planning. They can assist on where to start, and how to best proceed, ensuring a flawless progression of your wedding plans. No overlooking, or skipping details that may go unnoticed to someone who is not doing this everyday.

Remember, planners should prioritize the client’s own style and preferences when it comes to their wedding plans. They are there for assistance, and to make you feel like a guest at your event: Considering the investment is the least you should get.

Grooms Care, and So Should You

In the event industry, we tend to think of brides as our main clientele, but groom are becoming a consistently more active voice in the planning process. While many may see the typical groom as the guy trying to stay as far away from the planning process or focusing only on ‘taming the bridezilla,’ the current trend paints a very different portrait.  Blame it on the economy or on the evolution of modern American culture, the fact is the boys are here and they have just as much to say as their brides do. And we love it! It is great to have a chance to see what the groom is all about, so the event can be the perfect mix of both clients.

Vendors need to also focus on the grooms, because they are listening and they have a vision just as their brides do. A great way to reach grooms is by looking for websites tailored for them, such as The Man Registry. They offer free vendor listings, and provide extensive resources for grooms and groomsmen – they even have their own registry options.

Furthermore, it is as important as ever to hear and be able to adapt to what the grooms  seek for, and at times – to solve conflicting visions from the groom and the bride. It is a very special day for both of them, and we must ensure they are both very happy with their decisions.

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For more information on Muse – A Wedding & Event Planning company based out of Portland, Oregon, visit www.eventmuse.biz.   Thanks for stopping by!

Eco Chic Wedding Gowns

For many brides, finding that perfect dress is of utmost importance. . . as it should be. It sets the tone for your wedding day, often elements from the dress help create your style, and it places a bride in the mindset of her wedding day.  For many brides, however, the challenge they face is that constant battle of the perfect dress against the perfect pricetag.  Do I really need a designer dress?  Do I really want to pay that much for a dress I will only wear once? 

There are tons of ways to make your dress an financially-friendly and eco-friendly part of your wedding:

Gorgeous Eco Chic Grecian Wrap Dress

The eco chic dress:  You’ve tried on a dozen dresses, and nothing has screamed “that’s me!” yet, or you are simply not interested in walking into the high end shops that sell dozens of designers and try to pick one.  That style you love, take a look at designers online first – find designers who are doing an eco-chic style and start with shops that carry lines that you know are eco-friendly.

The recycled dress:
Getting a recycled dress is a great way to (1) save money and (2) go green. If you think about it, a recycled dress has really only been worn for about 8 hours, and they’re usually still like new! There are some awesome sites to find gently used gowns. Recycled Bride is a great resource for the eco-savvy bride. They’ve got resources for everything: grooms, bridesmaids, mother of the bride and shoes.

What to do with the dress after the wedding:
Although you may have the urge to save your dress for your hypothetical daughter, think about it carefully. More than likely, (a) the styles of today will not be the styles of your children’s generation, and (b) your daughter will probably give you grief about whatever style you wear.  So, what do you do with your dress? Donate it. The Brides Against Breast Cancer is a great organization for donating your dress. When you donate your dress you’re supporting a good cause and recycling!

Another option for recycling your dress is to style it into something new. I love the idea of creating a new classic dress that you can wear out on your anniversaries – adorable concept and wouldn’t you stun your guy into awe.

You can also sell your dress on recycling websites, and let another bride get as much happiness out of it as you did!

Whether you choose to implement one or all of these ideas, the slightest effort makes a big difference. Good luck!

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For more information on Muse – A Wedding & Event Planning company based out of Portland, Oregon, visit www.eventmuse.biz.   Thanks for stopping by!

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