Say it with color! Choosing Wedding Colors.

Dealing with color puts non-verbal communication on a whole new level. We need to be aware of the meanings of different colors, as well as, the impression they will convey. Color is a powerful communication tool because it sets the underlying tone. For that reason, special care should be taken when determining a color scheme.

Our personalities are shaped by 'what we say', 'how we project ourselves'
and 'our reaction to information'. The color that we wear or choose for special occasions in our lives can also add to this and often says a lot more than we think.

Here are some information about color, and the meaning thereof, that can help you bring a non-verbal message across.

WHITE is soft and sophisticated but creates a cold and clinical look

PURPLE shows that you are imaginative, avoid this color if you do not want to look eccentric.

RED shows self-confidence and should be avoided if you do not want to come across as too dominant.

PINK is extremely feminine, but leaves one with a weak and a dependent image.

BLUE shows that you are responsible AND deep blue shows authority. People might think that you are predictable.

YELLOW comes across as very optimistic and will draw a lot of attention, Avoid this colour if you do not want to seem impulsive.

GREEN sends the message of independence and should be avoided if you do not want so seem stubborn.

GREY is smart and professional and shows a balanced person, but tends to make you look conservative.

ORANGE belongs to someone that is enthusiastic, but sends a message of one being superficial.

This may not be the beginning, nor the end of non verbal communication, but
it certainly helps if you want to make the right kind of statement with your
chosen color scheme.

Wedding music: then and now...

I remember my grandmother talking about her wedding a long time ago, and the one thing she never mentioned was the wedding music. When I asked her about the music she had at her wedding, she got a confused look on her face and said that she had no idea. The church picked it and to her it was just background music.

Times have changed, and today the music is as much a personal statement for the bride and groom as the invitations or the party favours. Even at traditional weddings, more churches are allowing personalized music selections, to appease the new generation of wedding planners.

Long gone are the days when the church would just play “Here Comes the Bride,” during the walk down the isle and pick the sombre music to be played at your wedding.

Everyone knows that the music at the reception is the ultimate expression of personal taste from the bride and groom. At my wedding reception, my wife and I chose a song by 2 Live Crew for the cake cutting music - and I will leave it to you to figure out which song we chose.

Even though the wedding music is a statement made by the couple, it is usually the bride who chooses which song will play as she marches down the aisle. In some cases, the final choice is the result of collaboration between the bride and groom, but when that happens, it is usually a song they both feel strongly about.

Making the Marriage Proposal

Proposing to your partner is a huge decision. How many hours have you spent with the ring burning a hole in your pocket? Wait, do you even have a ring ? Do you know how to tell her or when would be the right time? The first question to arise in your mind should be: well, how do I do it? Hold on, before your asthma acts up or you run a risk of blowing an artery, let us think about this as a chance to renew your commitment to your significant other, this is an event, signifying a new beginning. Rejoice! You’ve found the one thing that makes the world go round: love.

Now, things you need are: money for the ring and the perfect place. You have to have a ring to propose. But how do you choose the engagement ring? Here’s a familiar tip, if all else fails, get her a diamond. Most girls love diamonds, but people do have different tastes, and not everyone is comfortable selecting jewelry. Look at the jewelry your partner currently owns for ideas. When in doubt, its better to ask her what she admires in an engagement ring. In any case, this shouldn’t be as hard as everyone says.

Questions you might ask: How? Some girls like extravagant declarations of love, while others prefer something simple and cute. Plan your proposal based on what you know about your partner. What have you shared together that you can incorporate into the proposal? Come on now, use your imagination. After romantic dinner , you make desert ... as you bring out the mugs of coffee, milk and sugar, you might ask: "I forget how you take your coffee..." why she would be shocked. How could you forget? But you continue "... cream... sugar... diamond engagement ring? You place the ring, down in front of her. Unforgettable reaction - guaranteed…

In conclusion, there’s a warning: sweaty palms…dead giveaway. No matter where or when you choose; keep in mind; she worth it, the only thing you have to concern yourself with is whether or not she will say "yes".

Groom’s Checklist

Four to six months before the wedding

* Select invitations and think about who you want to send them to. Yes, you have to send them to your future in-laws.
* Select the wedding rings with your bride, and have them engraved with both of your initials and the wedding date.
* Purchase wedding rings and mentally prepare for the receipt figures.
* Pick out entertainment.
* Choose a caterer.
* Reserve rental equipment like chairs and tables.
* Confirm locations for your triple-threat: the wedding, the party and the rehearsal dinner.
* Plan where the honeymoon will be.

Three months before

* Send invitations to those on the final guest list. Friendly reminder: exes do not make the cut.
* Go to your first tuxedo fitting
* Plan and order wedding day transportation.
* Write your vows or go over the traditional ones. Avoid using the nick names you have for each other.

Four to eight weeks before

* Get your marriage license.
* Get your lady a wedding gift to calm her nerves and remind her why you’re so lovable.
* Buy some gifts for your parents and the groomsmen.
* Pick up your wedding rings and put them in a safe place.

Two to three weeks before

* Bachelor party!
* Recover from bachelor party.
* Make a song list for the DJ or band. Be considerate of your multi-generational guests because grandma only has so many hip-hop dance moves.
* Write a speech that includes thanking the special people in your life- your bride, best man, parents, in-laws…

One week before

* Pre-arrange for someone you trust to return any rentals.
* Get a hair trim from your usual barber and let him know it’s for the big day.

Two to three days before

* Go for your second tuxedo fitting and bring your new duds home. To keep them in good condition, refrain from playing James Bond around your apartment.
* Tell your best man to make sure all your guys go for their second fittings too, because we know at least one of your friends would end up going to the ceremony in cargo shorts and flip-flops if his tuxedo didn’t fit right.

The night before

* Give your best man the ring and make the appropriate threats to ensure he won’t lose it.
* Remember to give two very important things to give your officiant – the marriage license and payment.
* Attend the rehearsal dinner with your family and friends. This is a good time to give them the gifts you bought because while it shows you are grateful, it also acts as a bribe for them to behave well the next day.
* Last but not least, go to bed at a decent hour. After all, the rest of your life starts tomorrow.

Bridal Shower Party Themes

You will have a great time at the shower no matter what, but why not make it extra special with a theme? Here are some ideas.

Tea party: Serve tea, along with finger foods such as scones, finger sandwiches, and petite fours.

Room of the house: Each guest is "assigned" a room in the house and brings a gift to be used for or in that room.

Lingerie: Guests bring the bride lingerie; a great way to stock up for the honeymoon.

Around the clock: Each guest is assigned a "time," such as breakfast time or bath time, and have to give gifts that are to be used during this time.

Ethnic theme: Plan a shower according to the bride’s heritage. The decorations, favours and food should also have an ethnic flair. For example, serve fresh fruit and tropical drinks at a Hawaiian theme wedding shower.

Christmas decoration: Guests are instructed to bring an ornament for the couple's first Christmas tree – a great idea for winter showers.

Garden party: Host a shower in a garden setting and decorate the tables with beautiful flowers. Ask guests to bring gifts that the bride can use in her garden.

Month of the year: Each guest is assigned a month of the year; this way, the bride can get seasonal gifts to be used throughout the year.

Favourite memories: Each guest brings a gift that represents their favourite times spent with the bride.

Pyjamas theme: Have guests arrive in the evening, dressed in their PJ's and spend the whole night getting manicures, pedicures, facials and massages.

Stock the pantry: Have each guest write their favourite recipe on a recipe card and bring the card, along with all non-perishable ingredients for the recipe in a box or gift basket.

Stock the bar: Similar to stock the pantry, but guests bring gifts to help the couple stock their bar.

Ceremonies to include in your wedding.

Rose ceremony.

In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love, and in the rose ceremony it symbolizes love as well. The bride and groom give each other a rose at the end of the wedding ceremony just after being pronounced husband and wife. Children can be included as well; if there are children who will be in the new family, each child can then be given a rose and a hug by the bride and groom, showing that the couple's union and their love includes the children as well, and that a new family is being formed.

Canada’s colourful wedding traditions

Tea ceremony

While the tea ceremony is an Asian ritualized form of making tea, the term generally refers to the Japanese tea ceremony. During the tea ceremony, the bride and groom, as a sign of respect, offer and serve tea to their parents. According to ancient Chinese beliefs, the tea ceremony will help the newlyweds produce children early in their marriage and ensure many grandchildren. It also symbolizes good relations between the bride and her new family.



The sand ceremony

The sand ceremony, a celebration that is usually two to three minutes in length, symbolizes the joining of two lives. The couple pours various colours of sand from a container, such as a seashell, into one special container; the flowing sand and blending of the colours symbolize the bringing together of two lives into one. Some couples prefer to leave a small amount of sand in their respective container to show that even though they now function as one, they remain individuals.



The candle lighting ceremony

This ceremony is sometimes performed to symbolize the joining together of the two families into one united family. More often, though, it is used to symbolize the union of two individuals, becoming one in commitment. One interpretation is that the taper candles are lit by representatives from each family to symbolize the love and allegiance that each family has for either the bride or the groom. As the bride and groom use these two flames to light the unity candle, they bring the love of both families together in a united love of the new couple. Generally, the two tapers are left burning and replaced in their holders (because each family's love for their own will continue). However, in some ceremonies they may blow out their individual candles. Similarly, sometimes the tapers may be blown out, to indicate that the two lives have been permanently merged, or they may be left lit, symbolizing that the now-married partners have not lost their individuality.

FAQ's (frequently asked questions) About Alcohol Requirements

1. How many glasses in a bottle of ‘champagne’ or wine?
A bottle of sparkling wine or any other wine holds 6 glasses of 125 ml each.

2. How do you accommodate different tastes in ‘champagne’?
Generally speaking, young adults and women tend to enjoy the semi-sweet variety, so for an average order, the ration of semi-sweet to dry should be around 4 to 1.

3. How do you split the ratio between red and white wines?
Refer to the party planner below - but in general, the ratio (guided by the host) could be roughly as follows: 4 semi-sweet, 2 dry and 1 red.

4. How many glasses in a bottle of ‘spirits’?
Using an optic (tot measure), a bottle should yield 30 tots, but as these are often hand-poured, it is safer to base your estimate on 25.

5. How many glasses in a bottle of liqueur?
You should be able to pour approximately 15 drinks from a 750ml bottle. (The recognized measure for liqueurs is 50 ml.)

6. What is the ratio for Buck’s Fizz (champagne and orange juice)?
Usually 60% orange juice and 40% sparkling wine, depending on taste.
7. How much wine should I allow for a cheese-and-wine function?
Half a bottle of wine per person is usually recommended, depending on the duration of the event.
Read More: Ways to save money on the alcohol bill