Backyard Weddings

Backyard weddings are simple, solemn and sentimental. This is because a most memorable event takes place in a setting very close to the heart of either the bride or the groom. There are a lot of couples who opt for a backyard wedding and rightly so, as there are several advantages to doing this.

Backyard Weddings Advantages
When you have a backyard wedding, you are more in control the situation. You are having it right where the family is and everything you might need for emergencies. You can be very flexible with the lay-out and decorations to suit your needs. There is more control over the flow of traffic of the guests and even the backdrop for those memorable wedding photos.

Of course, let us not forget the cost. It is significantly cheaper to have a backyard wedding, even if you hire a caterer for the reception. The decorations can be done by family and friends and according to your own specifications. You can even have a big decoration day just before the wedding – a special time to hang out with friends who have meant so much to you and your spouse-to-be.

You will also be doing away with the hassle of reserving, booking, and paying for a venue. And, Lord forbidding that the wedding gets canceled or moved, there is no need to cancel or re-book anything. Sometimes, the ambiance you get in an intimate setting like your own backyard is even a lot better than in a hotel or a restaurant.

Lastly, a backyard wedding involves everybody you love. All the members of the family and close friends can all have a share in your special day – the decorations, ushering, reception arrangements and other details.

Backyard Wedding Disadvantages
The possibility of a disagreeable weather is always there if you opt for a backyard wedding. You should be prepared to move the whole event indoors, or at least, have the capability to set-up canopies.

Another downside to having a backyard wedding is the limitation in size. If your backyard is not big enough to hold the ceremony and the reception, you run the risk of limiting and constricting the movements in your wedding. You should plan the lay-out carefully, making sure that there is room for the wedding march and the dancing that might ensue later on. If this is the case, it is wise to set-up the reception table on the opposite side from the ceremonies to give ample space in the middle for the traffic.

Lastly, the location might pose some problems, too. For example, you can not help it if a neighbor chooses to turn on those speakers to maximum volume when you are about to recite your solemn wedding vows.

At the end of the day, your wedding is all about making beautiful memories and tender moments. If it happens right in a familiar backyard, it makes it doubly special.

Planning A 50th Wedding Anniversary Party

Are you planning a 50th wedding anniversary party for your parents or friends?
Well, one most useful tip you can use is - go for the gold! Fifty years is such a long time to be married these days. In the United States, there are as many divorce cases as there are weddings. Surely, only the most enduring marriages reach their 50th wedding anniversary. There is no better reason to celebrate, and a party should really be in order. So, now the question - Are you planning a 50th wedding anniversary party and you have no idea where to start?

Are You Planning a 50th Wedding Anniversary Party and Have No Clue as to Who to Invite?
Generally, the guests would depend on whether this is a surprise wedding party or otherwise. If it is a surprise party, and you are quite close to them, you should know all the important people in their lives. But if you are not that close to them, it might be better to let them into it so that those people who truly matter to them are present in the party. It is best to let them decide who to invite.

Are You Planning a 50th Wedding Anniversary Party and You Need Ideas for the Theme?
When planning a 50th wedding anniversary party, remember that gold is the traditional symbol. The theme and décor of the party can include accents of gold like golden candles, bows and ribbons or gold-rimmed white china. You might also want to place gold-framed photos of the couple from various stages of their married life in strategic places of the party venue.
A video or photo presentation of their love story, their ups and downs and their present activities can be made one of the highlights of the party. Be sure to start on this early as the production can be demanding. Do it while the party is still in the planning stage.

Are You Planning a 50th Wedding Anniversary Party and Want to Involve the White House?
Believe it or not, you can actually request greetings from the White House for people celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary or their 80th birthday and beyond. Having one signed by the President for this special party will be a treat for the couple. Just make sure to send the request at least six weeks before the event. Expect the greetings to arrive 10 days before the day.

There are other things to consider when planning a 50th wedding anniversary party like the venue, number of guests or whether it will be a formal affair. Always bear in mind the couple’s preferences. Planning a 50th wedding anniversary party can be fun if you keep in mind these tips. Be honored to be part of such a celebration – one that is becoming rarer these days.

Unique Ideas for Wedding Memories

For most couples, wedding photo albums represent a visual reminder of their wedding day. As it holds such important memories, your wedding photo album should reflect your relationship and personalities. Why settle for the same photo album that everyone else has when you can make yours unique and different?

One way of creating a unique album that many couples are choosing today is making a DVD out of your photos, videos and other media. Imagine watching the pictures of your wedding roll by while you hear the first song that you danced to at your reception or the vows that you spoke during the ceremony. Include photos and memories from when you first met through your wedding day. A multi-media wedding album allows you to customize your album however you want and then you can make copies to share with friends and family. Industrious individuals can do it themselves or you can hire someone to do it for you.

Handmade wedding albums offer another alternative that can be individualized almost limitlessly. Scrapbooks have been the rage over the last few years and you can easily find background papers and other items to make your album special. You can choose the colors you want, the photos you want to include, and any embellishments that you want your album to have. Think outside the box when you’re creating your album for non-picture items to include that tell the story of your relationship.

Don’t want the hassle of doing the wedding album yourself? You can hire professionals who will create a personalized album for you. You may even know a scrapbooker or other artist who would be willing to do one for you. Include favorite poems, your vows, or other memories of each other to customize the album.

One of the aspects that can help your album stand apart is to choose an album that isn’t the typically looking wedding album. Think about luxurious textures for the outside (or even on the pages themselves). If you are traveling somewhere on your honeymoon that may have different albums or materials, consider doing some shopping while you’re there. That way, your wedding album will remind you not only of the wedding but your honeymoon destination as well.

You can also forego the traditional album and opt for putting your wedding photos in a non-traditional package or container. You’ll want to be sure that your important photos are protected, but you could frame your photos in unique frames and hang them on a wall in your home or put them into an antique trunk where you could easily pick the frames out to look at.

With all the self-publishing avenues available, you can even turn your wedding photos into a coffee table book for yourself and your loved ones. Many photo shops offer the service and you can add both text and photos in various layouts. If you can, try creating one before buying a whole bunch to make sure that everything looks the way you want it to.

Wedding photo albums have come along way and you can create an album that reflects your personality and wedding style. Don’t settle for a boring album. Whether you want a timeless look or a funky, artistic one, you can find a way to make it happen.