- $250.00 USD
- $299.99 USD
- $94.00 USD
- $29.99 USD
- $550.00 USD
- $12.00 USD
- $45.00 USD
- $15.50 USD
- $62.85 USD
- $30.00 USD
- $130.00 USD
- $325.00 USD
- $150.00 USD
- $229.50 USD
- $12.00 USD
Showing posts with label wiccan weddings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wiccan weddings. Show all posts
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Winter Weddings Treasury on etsy
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Just a bit of silliness to share
I love Failblog.org's Wedinator. So much silliness goes on at weddings, and somebody finally harnessed that to turn a profit. Occasionally, I'll share things I find there here, so keep your eyes open.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Invitations
Did you know that are actually enough rules about wedding stationary etiquette to fill a large book? Really. I read it. Very dull, frequently outdated and pricey. Here is my short(er) and simple(r) guide for invitations.
Start looking for invitations 3-4 months before you need them. If ordering from a printer or thermographer, expect them to take around two weeks. Engraving takes longer. Printing at home is quicker, but in my experience, it adds unnecessary stress. A professional can make the invitation process much quicker and easier.
Picking an invitation can be daunting. there are literally thousands of options to choose from. The invitation is typically the first glimpse guests have of your event, but you don't have to do anything elaborate or flashy. A simple white or ivory card with black or grey lettering is the classic for a reason.
Start looking for invitations 3-4 months before you need them. If ordering from a printer or thermographer, expect them to take around two weeks. Engraving takes longer. Printing at home is quicker, but in my experience, it adds unnecessary stress. A professional can make the invitation process much quicker and easier.
Picking an invitation can be daunting. there are literally thousands of options to choose from. The invitation is typically the first glimpse guests have of your event, but you don't have to do anything elaborate or flashy. A simple white or ivory card with black or grey lettering is the classic for a reason.
- If your invitation requires assembly (like ribbon tying or difficult folding, make sure you will have time to deal with this.
- Be careful when you pick a font- if it's too difficult to read, some guests may not be able to read it. If you are absolutely in love with ornate curling fonts (I love Spencerian calligraphy), consider using it only for your names, while printing the rest of the invitation in a more readable font.
- You don't have to spend a fortune on your invitations. Most people will throw them away eventually.
- Postage on wedding invitations is nearly always more than a first class stamp will cover. Take a completed invitation to the post office to have postage calculated before you send them out, or you will end up mailing them twice, which gets expensive.
Wording your invitation is a bit tricky. Old ettiquette rules are still followed by most couples. These are the three most common combinations I saw when I was doing wedding stationary orders.
Formal, traditional
Mr. and Mrs. Bride's Parents
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Bride's First and Middle Names
and
Groom's Full Name
on Saturday, the eight of Month
Two thousand and eleven
at time o'clock
Location Name
Location address
City, State/Provence
Please note that honour should be spelled with a "u" on wedding invitations. Honor without is reserved for military and funerary purposes. You can also substitute handfasting, hand fasting, commitment ceremony or wedding in the place of marriage. The groom's parents can be included under the groom's name by adding a "son of" line and the following line of their names. A verse, short poem or quote can be included at the top of the invitation if you like.
Formal- bride and groom inviting
Bride's Name
and
Groom's Name
request the honor of your presence
at their marriage
on Saturday, the day of the Month
Two thousand and eleven
at time o'clock
Location Name
Location Address
City and State/Provence
Informal, traditional
Bride's Parents
request the pleasure of your company
at the wedding of their daughter
Bride's Name
and
Groom's Name
on Saturday, the day of Month,
Two thousand and eleven
Location Name
Location Address
City, State/Provence
Reception cards need not be included if the reception directly follows the ceremony in the same location. If not, include reception cards. Pre-addressed and stamped RSVP cards will make your life a little easier when get a guest count, but keep in mind, that you will probably have to call or email a few people who won't respond. The reception card is a good place to specify attire, no gifts please or no children. Even better, pass the message along through word of mouth.
Invitations are a necessary and time consuming part of wedding planning. The options and etiquette are dizzying, I know. It took years for me to get to the point I could just do this without reference. If you need help, contact me here, or contact a professional stationer in your area.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Avoiding Bridezilla
Weddings are stressful, and anytime we are under unusual stress, the potential for flaring tempers increases exponentially. Bridezilla, a rather recent term for an old phenomenon, is now part of our slang (I used to call it going bridal when I was in the wedding business). It describes a bride who loses sight of what's important in planning a wedding and who becomes unbearable and selfish, alienating everyone around her.
Very few people plan to let wedding stress turn them into monsters, but it happens (three days before my wedding, I rather rudely informed a bride getting married a week after me that I couldn't give a shit about her problem, because the tuxedos for my wedding and three others were MIA- while I was at work at a bridal shop). Here is my advice for keeping things in perspective, both as a bride and as a former wedding professional:
Very few people plan to let wedding stress turn them into monsters, but it happens (three days before my wedding, I rather rudely informed a bride getting married a week after me that I couldn't give a shit about her problem, because the tuxedos for my wedding and three others were MIA- while I was at work at a bridal shop). Here is my advice for keeping things in perspective, both as a bride and as a former wedding professional:
- The goal of planning a wedding is to have a marriage after all is said and done.
- When dealing with wedding professionals, remember, they talk to brides all the time. To them, your wedding is one of many. Expect courtesy and professionalism from them, not special treatment (especially if you are asking for more than your contract spells out).
- You want to still be on good terms with your friends and family after the wedding, so don't let little things like picking out bridesmaids dresses or using a different DJ become fights.
- You can't please everybody, but you can take a moment to listen to what people say, even if you don't do what they want you to do. "I'll keep that in mind" and "Thanks for the advice" are handy phrases. Noncommittal and polite is the way to go.
- Every wedding I have ever been to or worked on had a disaster of some degree. You can't control the weather, other people or traffic. Chances are, your guests will never be aware of the problem unless it's pointed out to them.
- Kids are kids, not miniature adults. Don't expect anything else.
- Some people will not like your choices. Develop a duck's back against criticism.
- Your significant other loves you for who you are, and that is what really matters.
- Don't forget to say "please", "thank you" and "I'm sorry".
Going a little crazy while planning a wedding is normal. Keep the stress reactions to a minimum and everyone will thank you for it. If you feel overwhelmed, stop and take a breather. Ignore your planning for a few days, go for walk or put your foot down to prevent yourself from being walked all over. Smile, be happy, and keep your eyes on the prize. This will all be over before you know it.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Ceremony Choices
Your ceremony is the most important part of your wedding day, as it is the time that will transform you from single persons to a married couple. It is when you will make your promises to each other, in front of gods and witnesses. Obviously, it will take quite a bit of attention to plan.
For Pagans and Wiccans, one of the first steps to planning will be to determine what type of ceremony you prefer. Are you looking for a legally binding ceremony, if so, you will need to verify what the legal requirements are in your area. It varies wildly, so do your homework. Will you need to apply for a marriage license? What are the requirements? Some places require blood tests, others documents as well as identification. Is there a waiting period? Where do you go to apply? How much does it cost? What should you bring? If don't care about legalities, you will still need to make some decisions.
Are you planning a highly ritualized ceremony in a circle? Something more "traditional" or is something in between more your speed? The answers to these questions is obviously dependent upon how "out of the broom closet" you are and the dynamics and acceptance levels of your friends and family. Personally, my wedding was a blend. It was legally binding in California, and symbolic enough to suit my religious views, but not so unusual that people were uncomfortable (my husband's family often pretends not to know about my Pagan beliefs, and he is an atheist himself). We blended the traditional wedding ceremony with pagan symbolism and our own personalities. For details, see my About Me page.
A very religious handfasting ceremony will require it's own questions that are best addressed by your officiating Priest or Priestess. Each specific group will have it's own version of a handfasting ceremony. Will you include non-pagan guests? How will you pass the word about circle etiquette? What will you vow?
Your ceremony should reflect your relationship. Your promises should be reasonable to the two of you who are making them, not other people. Discuss what you both expect from your ceremony and go from there, speaking with your officiant, your families and your friends for support, guidance and suggestions.
For Pagans and Wiccans, one of the first steps to planning will be to determine what type of ceremony you prefer. Are you looking for a legally binding ceremony, if so, you will need to verify what the legal requirements are in your area. It varies wildly, so do your homework. Will you need to apply for a marriage license? What are the requirements? Some places require blood tests, others documents as well as identification. Is there a waiting period? Where do you go to apply? How much does it cost? What should you bring? If don't care about legalities, you will still need to make some decisions.
Are you planning a highly ritualized ceremony in a circle? Something more "traditional" or is something in between more your speed? The answers to these questions is obviously dependent upon how "out of the broom closet" you are and the dynamics and acceptance levels of your friends and family. Personally, my wedding was a blend. It was legally binding in California, and symbolic enough to suit my religious views, but not so unusual that people were uncomfortable (my husband's family often pretends not to know about my Pagan beliefs, and he is an atheist himself). We blended the traditional wedding ceremony with pagan symbolism and our own personalities. For details, see my About Me page.
A very religious handfasting ceremony will require it's own questions that are best addressed by your officiating Priest or Priestess. Each specific group will have it's own version of a handfasting ceremony. Will you include non-pagan guests? How will you pass the word about circle etiquette? What will you vow?
Your ceremony should reflect your relationship. Your promises should be reasonable to the two of you who are making them, not other people. Discuss what you both expect from your ceremony and go from there, speaking with your officiant, your families and your friends for support, guidance and suggestions.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Wedding Checklist: 12 months and earlier
Here is the first part of a wedding checklist, tweaked and edited for handfastings! Most of these things are interchangeable with a more traditional wedding, but some are not. I realize that it is a short list, but there isn't too much to do before then!
12+ Months
12+ Months
- What do you want your handfasting to look like? Now is the time to decide on a tentative theme. Backyard, fancy, elegant, beach, etc. Make sure there is room for a circle to be cast.
- Decide on a budget and decide who will contribute what. This is a good meeting to have with both of your families.
- Decide on a date and time. Keep in mind you may want to look at astrology books, or decide based on the wheel of the year.
- If you are having a traditional white dress, start looking now. If you are going with something more Witchy, you can find several websites that sell dresses. You could also give some thought to hiring a seamstress.
The next portion of the checklist will be posted next week. A big part of planning a wedding or handfasting is not to rush, regardless of how much time you have or don't. Checklists always help!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Coming Soon!
Stacy and I are working hard at getting the tone and schedule of this blog working. In the near future, please look for our narratives about our weddings, a checklist to help you with your planning, some witchy wedding products and advice about crafting your ceremony, writing invitations and wheel of the year crafts to enhance your event!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Timing is everything
When it comes to event planning, timing is everything. Start out by deciding what kind of event you want. Something simple can be put together very quickly, but elaborate weddings take time (or lots of money) to make them work out.
I grew up in the wedding industry; my parents were photographers (and I late sold gowns, bridesmaids dresses, rented tuxedos and did custom stationary orders) and most weddings were booked at least a year in advance. Why? Because things take time. If you order a wedding gown from a bridal shop (not a big bridal retailer) your dress will take weeks to be delivered (unless you pay a rush charge). Invitations need about a week of turn around time and should be mailed out at least six weeks in advance. Bridesmaid's dresses, six weeks. Some officiants require premarital counselling which can take weeks. Many vendors are booked a year or more in advance for peak season (which is traditionally late April through early September).
This shouldn't discourage you if you are absolutely certain your wedding needs to happen quickly (there are tons of reasons that couple need a short engagement), but remember that the stress increases exponentially the less time you have to put things together. Sit down together, with your families and attendants (in necessary) and discuss when would be best. Are you dead set on a particular date or season? Are you working around other commitments? Is there a compromise available? If you choose a date that is more than a year in the future, begin passing the word and/or send out save the date cards. Once you have made this big decision, it's time to talk budget. Take everything one step at a time and you'll be fine.
I grew up in the wedding industry; my parents were photographers (and I late sold gowns, bridesmaids dresses, rented tuxedos and did custom stationary orders) and most weddings were booked at least a year in advance. Why? Because things take time. If you order a wedding gown from a bridal shop (not a big bridal retailer) your dress will take weeks to be delivered (unless you pay a rush charge). Invitations need about a week of turn around time and should be mailed out at least six weeks in advance. Bridesmaid's dresses, six weeks. Some officiants require premarital counselling which can take weeks. Many vendors are booked a year or more in advance for peak season (which is traditionally late April through early September).
This shouldn't discourage you if you are absolutely certain your wedding needs to happen quickly (there are tons of reasons that couple need a short engagement), but remember that the stress increases exponentially the less time you have to put things together. Sit down together, with your families and attendants (in necessary) and discuss when would be best. Are you dead set on a particular date or season? Are you working around other commitments? Is there a compromise available? If you choose a date that is more than a year in the future, begin passing the word and/or send out save the date cards. Once you have made this big decision, it's time to talk budget. Take everything one step at a time and you'll be fine.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Getting started
There are many decisions to make as you plan your wedding, hand fasting or commitment ceremony. One of the best ways to do this is to sit down with your significant other and talk about what you each want. Are you looking for something intimate and simple or something grand? Do you want your union to be legally recognized (you will need to research the legalities involved in getting married in you area- don't worry, we'll come back to this topic in a later post)? What reflects the two of you and your relationship? When do you want to get married?
Once you've had this discussion. Buy a couple of wedding magazines. What jumps out at you? A season, a type of location, a color? Save pictures in a notebook, write notes-especially about the emotions the photos evoke. Have fun, dream a little.
Keep your eyes open for inspiration, it can be anywhere. Save color chips, fabric swatches and photos; it will help you keep organized and inspired. Don't be afraid to have fun and be creative.
Once you've had this discussion. Buy a couple of wedding magazines. What jumps out at you? A season, a type of location, a color? Save pictures in a notebook, write notes-especially about the emotions the photos evoke. Have fun, dream a little.
Keep your eyes open for inspiration, it can be anywhere. Save color chips, fabric swatches and photos; it will help you keep organized and inspired. Don't be afraid to have fun and be creative.
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