Weddster

Your honeymoon is likely to be one of the best vacations of your life. You get to revel in your newly married status, sip as much champagne as you desire and relax with the love of your life. Don’t risk a honeymoon gone awry by overlooking a small detail in your plans.

Here’s what you need to know before you go on your honeymoon:

• Do you need a passport? It used to be easy to cross the Canadian and Mexican borders with just a valid driver’s license and maybe your birth certificate. In the past few years, things have gotten more complicated and you will need a passport. If you’re stepping foot on any foreign soil (or sailing in any foreign waters, in the case of a cruise), you must get a passport. Apply a few months in advance to make sure it will arrive on time.

• How’s the weather? If you’re planning to head south during the months of June through November, watch out! Hurricanes could form any time during this time, which is known as hurricane season. Here’s what you should know before you go: August is prime hurricane month for the Florida, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean regions, but not every island is prone to storms. Choose from Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, Curaçao and Turks and Caicos, the islands that are farthest south and are least likely to be hit by a hurricane. Alternately, choose a cruise – ship captains are experts in steering away from storms, although it might mean a change in ports of call. Just be flexible and open-minded about where you might end up docking.

• Thinking about travel insurance? Picking up a policy isn’t a bad idea to safeguard this important vacation. But it’s not enough to just get travel insurance – you also have to understand what’s covered and what’s not. These policies typically cost about 5-7 percent of the total cost of the trip. That’s not chump change, so look into policies that will benefit you the most. You’ll want an insurance policy that will cover sudden illness, hotel/airline bankruptcy, lost luggage and emergency medical assistance. When you’re overseas, domestic health insurance probably will be of no use, but travel insurance can really pull through in a tough spot.

• Should you hire a travel agent? In the age of the Internet, some vacationers wonder if a travel agent is really necessary. After all, you have access to discount travel Web sites yourself. A travel agent can be a really asset, though, not only by finding you deals that you might not have access to yourself, but also by working on your behalf if something goes wrong. If you book your honeymoon and then the price lowers, your travel agent can refund you the difference. If you show up and, God forbid, the resort doesn’t have your reservation, your travel agent can help. The best part of all? Travel agents shouldn’t cost you a penny. They’re paid by the resorts, cruiselines, airlines and other travel companies. It’s a win-win deal for you. You might even score an upgrade or two by having a really great travel agent.

Nearly every woman in the world has been to the standard bridal shower — it takes up her Saturday afternoon with silly games and some bland finger sandwiches. Banish that sherbet punch, bridesmaids, and concoct a bridal shower that neither the bride nor her guests will ever forget.

Here’s how to throw an amazing bridal shower:

Step one: Dream up a theme for the bridal shower. The first way to distinguish this shower from every other one is by have an twist. These should be full-blown themes that can be applied from everything from the invitations to the food, not something like “stock the kitchen,” which can only be related to gift-giving.

Options range from a casino night to a coed couples cocktail party to a true-blue slumber party. Whatever you do, go all the way — it’s only fun if you really commit.

Step two: Design killer invitations. Take your theme and run with it. Having a naughty-and-nice bridal shower? An red and white invitation prominently featuring both devil horns and a halo is the way to go. Let your guests know right off the bat that this isn’t your typical shower — this is going to be one of the best bridal showers they’ve ever been to.

Not a designer yourself? Find someone much more creative than you selling amazing bridal shower invitations (or custom-designed!) on www.etsy.com.

Step three: Serve delicious food and drinks. Nearly every type of theme can have a counterpart in the food, if you really think about it. That naughty-and-nice theme we mentioned before has a really fun foodie version, with spicy foods on one side of the table and creamy sweets on the other side. A luau bridal shower would see — what else? — lots of pineapple, coconut, and sweet and sour flavors.

Step four: Skip the cliche games. We’re talking about the clothespin game, toilet paper wedding dress game and pin the tail on the groom. We always don’t want to hear someone ask the bride questions about the groom — that’s only fun for the bride and the person asking her the questions.

Liven things up with fresh, non-game activities like creating a scrapbook page of the guest and the bride (ask the guest to bring a picture or two) or having each guest share the funniest memory she has of the couple (keep it clean if Grandma’s around).

Step five: Make gift-opening fun for the guests, too. Sure, we all like watching with jealous while our gal-pal opens up a batch of lovely gifts. But unless the bride is opening the gift WE gave her, sometimes we tend to tune out. A good way to keep guests occupied is with an activity like shower gift BINGO. Give guests each a blank BINGO card with the bride’s name space along the top. Before the gifts are opened, have each guest fill in what they think the bride will receive as a gift. As the gifts are open, each guests marks off what they got right. When an entire row is full, the guest screams “Bingo!” and they are the winner.

Cake is a staple at weddings, but let’s face it – not everyone likes cake. There’s no explaining it, but for those without a taste for cake, there are plenty of other dessert options from which to choose.

• Cheesecake. It’s almost like cake, but so much richer and creamier! And, really, who doesn’t like cheesecake? It’s easy to do up cheesecake just like a regular wedding cake, with tiers and towers. Plus, cheesecake can be made in a variety of flavors – white chocolate, chocolate, pumpkin, caramel and so on.
• Cookies. They don’t call them Mexican Wedding Cookies for nothing. A delicious display of a variety of cookies – served with glasses of ice cold milk, plus the standard coffee and tea – waxes nostalgic of your childhood. Go for a few of the standards, such as chocolate chip and peanut butter, and then add in a few exotic such as the Mexican wedding cookies and macaroons.
• Pies. For a casual, down-home wedding, an assortment of pies provides a delicious end to a comforting meal. Try some one-crust pies like lemon meringue and pumpkin, and then add in the classics such as apple and blueberry. You can also include cobblers, crisps and fruit tarts for a little bit more variety.
• An Italian spread. No one does dessert like the Italian. Between cannolis and tiramisu, these rich, luscious desserts will have yours guests forgetting there is even such a thing as wedding cake. There’s Italian cream cake, biscotti, pizzelle and gelato – in short, something for everyone!
• Cupcakes. OK, so this is a little bit of a trend. But if you want something cake-ish that’s not quite wedding cake, tiers of cupcakes are the way to go. They’re individual (so you get to skip the cake-cutting fee) and if you provide cute little boxes, guests can wrap them up and take them home. Offer at least two flavors (vanilla and chocolate, naturally), but spring for an exotically flavored third, like mojito or key lime, if you can.
• Chocolate. Who says you need anything more than chocolate? Set up a truffle station and watch your guests go crazy. Pick from delicious treats such as dark chocolate, cherry cordial, white chocolate, caramel-filled and more. For something extra, set up a chocolate fondue as the centerpiece of each table and surround your guests with an assortment of fruits like strawberries, apples and pineapple. Let them dip to their heart’s content.
• Butlered mini desserts. It works so well when you have passed hors d’ouerves, why not do the same for desserts? Choose a few sweets that work well in the small size, such as individual cherry pies, beignets, mini lemon tarts or petit fours and use your waiters to pass them around, letting each guest choose as many as they’d like.  If you have the budget, this is also an excellent addition to wedding cake.
• Candy apples. This is a perfect treat for a fall wedding. Dip the apples in caramel, then serve them plain, or dress them up with chopped nuts, raisins or even M&Ms. Pair these with another small fall dessert, such as carrot cake or poached pears. Don’t forget the apple cider!

The right music can be everything to a wedding reception. From the cocktail hour to the entrance songs to the last dance, the majority of a wedding reception is spun around tunes. But deciding whether those tunes should come from a DJ or a band is a tricky task for a couple. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each:

A band — the pros

There’s no doubt that a band provides an atmosphere that a DJ can’t. After all, it’s a live performance, and there’s something electric about that. It’s likely that the band leader is a born entertainer, which is just what you need for the emcee of the night. He or she can get the crowd out on the dance floor and raring to go.

If you’re looking for a special kind of music, such a big band or swing, then a live band is really way to go. The sound quality will be better than with a DJ.

A band — the cons

For most people, the cost of hiring a band for their wedding reception is prohibitive. With bands ranging from $2,000 to $20,000, that’s a lot of money to put out there for just the music, especially because that music will take breaks during the reception. After all, these are humans — they occasionally have to take a few moments away from their instruments and microphones to eat, drink, and use the restroom. You can flip on a CD for the breaks, but it will change the whole atmosphere and people are likely to flee the dance floor when that happens.

With a live band, you don’t get the variety that you might with a DJ. After all, a band has to learn the tracks, whereas a DJ can just find the record. If you want a particular song played, you have to make sure the band knows about it with plenty of time to learn it.

A band — considerations

You might be thinking, “Hey, I’m just going to book my favorite cover band for the night.” After all, you love grooving to them at the bar, and they know all your favorite songs, right? Unless this cover band has experience playing weddings, you might want to rethink it. After all, music in the bar is very different than music at a wedding, and will this band really be able to take you through the entire affair, from cocktail music and beyond? Will they remain appropriate enough for grandpa’s ears? These are all very serious considerations.

A DJ — the pros

If there’s one thing that’s great about a DJ, it’s the variety they offer. They’ll have the music that will make your college friends happy and the tunes that will make Ma and Pa happy. They can play the country music that he loves, and the Norah Jones jazz that she loves. There is no one-size-fits-all for a DJ that a band can have, and that — along with the cost — is probably the main reason they’re becoming a more popular option.

But that cost thing, that’s a big one. Whereas a good band starts at a couple thousand dollars, a DJ can be had for $1K or less. That’s typically the driving force, isn’t it?

A DJ — the cons

Some DJs like music, but they just aren’t a performer. DJing in a club — where they’re not required to open their mouths — is a far cry from a wedding, where they’re expected to take charge of the event. This is why you should always go check out a gig for the DJs  you’re interested in before booking. There, you can see their personalities and how well they move the event along.

Rubbery chicken, be gone! Too many brides opt for the standard wedding fare of chicken, steam veggies and some potatoes as the main course for their wedding. Sure, it’s an option if you have a really small budget or don’t have the time or energy to put into it, but it’s likely you want something better than that.

Here’s how to choose the right menu for your wedding reception:

• Consider the season. You don’t want to serve hot chowder during a June wedding, nor is a summer fruit medley appropriate for a December reception. A seasonally inspired wedding menu will make your meal so much more special.
• Consider the time of day. You don’t need to serve a full meal if your reception is taking place from 2-5 p.m. Appetizers or even if cake and beverages are sufficient. You are, however, required to serve it if you’re celebrating at your reception during a typical meal time (i.e. if the reception is taking place from noon-4 p.m. or from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. If your budget doesn’t allow a full meal to be served, then pick a time of day when your guests don’t expect to be fed a full spread.
• Decide how much of your budget will be allotted to the meal. For a moderate budget, it’s likely you won’t be serving crab cakes and filet mignon. But it’s possible to serve delicious, unique meals for less money. For example, a creative pasta dish will probably be less expensive than a less exciting cut of fish. For some caterers, a buffet meal is more expensive, but for others, plated meals will be a higher cost. As mentioned before, having a reception during a non-meal time of day is best for small budgets.
• Pick how the wedding menu is going to be served. Let’s go along with the assumption that you’re going to be serving a full meal. How are you going to serve it? The most common choices are plated meals and buffets. In addition to those two choices, you can also serve your meal family-style (which means the dishes are placed in the middle of the table, and the guests serve themselves from the platters) or through stations (such as a carving station or a pasta station). Certain foods lend themselves better to different ways of being served.
• Choose a theme for the wedding menu, if you want. This is an excellent way to serve a unique, delicious meal without resorting to high-priced menu items. Sure, steak and lobster might be exquisite, but a rustic Italian feast or a Hawaiian-inspired meal will probably have guests just as excited.
• Don’t forget about those with dietary needs. You should always offer a vegetarian option, and you should also be aware if a guest needs a gluten-free meal or other special need. A considerate guest will inform you of this need immediately upon receiving the invitation. When interviewing caterers, make sure to ask if they’re willing to accommodate these special diets, if necessary.
• For a memorable meal, make room in your budget for a special touch. This might mean hiring a sushi chef for the cocktail hour. For coffee-lovers, offer to-go cups of specialty java as favors. Think about what type of culinary (or beverage) touches might really showcase your personalities, and try to incorporate it into the wedding reception.

Did you think the first dance was the only special song you had to choose for your wedding reception? Think again! You’ll need a song for the bouquet toss, the garter toss, the father-daughter and mother-son dances, the cake-cutting and bridal party entrances. It can be tough to know where to get started with these, so we have put together a list of songs that might inspired you for every moment of your reception. Just pick the category of wedding reception songs you need, and start dancing.

Wedding songs for father-daughter dances

This is a special moment for both you and your dad. Make sure he’s on board with your song choice. A great way to decide together is for you to create a CD of your favorite tunes, and let him choose a song from there.

1. “Father and Daughter,” Paul Simon
2. “He Didn’t Have to Be,” Brad Paisley (perfect for step-fathers)
3. “My Girl,” The Temptations
4. “Unforgettable,” Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole
5. “When you come back down,” Nickle Creek
6. “Ready, Set, Don’t Go,” Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus
7. “Stealing Cinderella,” Chuck Wicks
8. “My Wish,” Rascal Flatts
9. “Then They Do,” Trace Adkins

Wedding songs for mother-son dances

This moment is just as special for a mother and her son. While there aren’t as many songs specifically written for this moment, there are plenty of meaning tunes that will make the dance special.

1. “Don’t Blink,” Kenny Chesney
2. “What a Wonderful World,” Louis Armstrong
3. “In My Life,” The Beatles
4. “Mama,” Boyz 2 Men
5. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” Toy Story soundtrack
6. “I Hope You Dance, “LeeAnn Womack

Wedding songs for the bouquet toss

Get your girls out on the floor and ready to dive for the bouquet!

1. “Single Ladies,” Beyonce
2. “Girls just want to have fun,” Cyndi Lauper
3. “That’s What Girls Do,” No Secrets
4. “This One’s For the Girls,” Martina McBride
5. “Umbrella,” Rihanna
6. “Maneater,” Nelly Furtado

Garter toss wedding songs

It’s the guys’ turn — they’ll be ready to tussle over the bride’s garter if they have the right mood music.

1. “You Give Love a Bad Name,” Bon Jovi
2. “The Way You Make Me Feel,” Michael Jackson
3. “Bad,” Michael Jackson
4. “Push It,” Salt N Pepa
5. “Girls,” Beastie Boys
6. “I’m too Sexy,” Right Said Fred

Cake-cutting songs

This is bound to be one of the sweetest moments of your life — until he squashes that cake in your face, that is!

1. “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” Def Leppard
2. “How Sweet it is,” Marvin Gaye
3. “Sugar, Sugar” The Archies
4. “Sweet Child of Mine,” Guns N Roses
5. “Candy Man,” Christina Aguilera
6. “The Sweetest Thing,” U2

Bridal party entrance songs

Take your cue from your wedding party’s personalities — or just pick from these friend- and party-centric tunes.

1. “I’ll Be There for you,” The Rembrandts
2. “With a Little Help From my Friends,” The Beatles
3. “Let’s Get in Started,” Black Eyed Peas
4. “Please Don’t Stop The Music,” Rihanna
5. “Don’t Stop Believing,” Journey
6. “This Will Be,” Natalie Cole
7. “Get This Party Started,” Pink

As always, you are welcome to leave a comment with your suggestions for wedding reception songs.

The ring is on your finger, and it’s finally time to tell it to the world – you’re getting married!

But, wait! Out of common courtesy, there are certain people who should know about your engagement before the rest of the world. Without a doubt, if there are children involved, they should be the first to know about the impending marriage. After all, it will affect their lives the most. Following that, both the bride and groom’s parents and the rest of the immediate family should be informed (barring any estrangements, naturally).  It’s likely that the parents already know, but siblings, grandparents and maybe a special aunt or uncle might be hurt if they aren’t immediately in the know.

Once these people know about the engagement, you can tell everyone else. There are a few different ways you can do this:

• Make some calls. On the night you get engaged, you’ll probably be using an awful lot of minutes on your cell phone announcing your engagement.
• Throw an engagement party. You can use the invitations to announce your engagement, or you can wait until the party starts to tell everyone the news. There are a few things to keep in mind: Everyone you invite to the engagement party will rightfully expect an invitation to the wedding. Therefore, you should invite anyone that you’re not absolutely sure will be a potential wedding guest. Additionally, if the guests know beforehand that it’s an engagement party, some might want to buy you a celebratory gift. You can either start your registry a little bit early (you can always add more later) or you can specify on the invitation that you request no gifts (but be prepared for a couple of picture frames or serving platters anyway).
• If you don’t want a party, you can just send out engagement announcements. If you get engagement photos done early, you can include those on the announcements. Again, people who get these announcements will probably expect an invitation to the wedding.
• Submit a newspaper announcement. These announcements are typically paid advertisements that run on a designated page in the newspaper one day a week. The cost is determined by how many words are printed and whether or not a picture is included. Occasionally, newspapers can get backed up with engagement and wedding announcements, depending on how much space is allotted for them and how many people are submitting, so send it in early. It can take up to a month for the announcement to actually appear. Once you’ve decided which paper you would like the announcement to run in (Your hometown paper is the likely choice), contact the lifestyles editor, who will usually be able to answer your questions: How much does it cost, are there any special guidelines, what size the picture can be and when the deadline is. Expect your announcement to be edited for the newspaper’s specific style, as well as for grammar and syntax.
• Set up a wedding Web site. These sites have been growing in popularity as a way to stay connected with wedding guests that live in other locations. Many sites offer free limited Web sites, or you can just go ahead and register a domain such as “www.jackandkateswedding.com, if you have some Web skills. This site can be pretty basic — time, date, place, info on the bridal party, and the registry information (include it here, and not in the invitation!). If you want, you can get much more elaborate, and include more wedding details so your aunt in Albuquerque can stay abreast on all the planning details.

What are your experiences with announcing an engagement? If you have any more tipps for announcing an engagement, please leave a comment.