Planning Your Wedding

Advertisement: Speed Read With This Online Tool

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:12:38 MDT

Planning Your Wedding

Sun, 11 Jun 2006 23:00:00 MDT

Planning Your Wedding Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge has wedding planners who know how to plan a complete wedding no matter how big or small from beginning to end. Planning your own wedding can be a task for many brides and families, where and when to start can be time consuming and tedious. Several places online offer a schedule that helps most brides to be plan their own wedding. There are also online wedding planners that are free in the area. All you would do is complete the wedding planner and send it to reach the wedding coordinators in the area and they contact you about arranging your wedding plans. One Year Before Set a budget. Think hard about this. You'll have to make tradeoffs later to stay within budget. Select a wedding date, time, and type (nightime? Outdoor? blacktie?) We know you've been thinking about this since you were little, so it shouldn't be hard... Reserve a location--they fill up quickly! Some locations include the ceremony location and caterer. Otherwise, now is a good time to: Find a caterer Find a ceremony location Call a local hotel/motel to reserve rooms (and a discount!) for out-of-town guests Reserve a band or DJ Pick Bridesmaids and Groomsmen Ask the bridemaids and groomsmen if they would serve in your wedding party. While it is certainly an honor to be selected, keep in mind that it often takes a tremendous amount of effort (and additional cost) on their end. Show your appreciation. Research bridal gowns and bridesmaids' dresses. Reserve a photographer/videographer. Find local florists and make arrangements to review their work. No need to book them this early but start the research now. In all cases, sign contracts with all appropriate parties and make your budget clear (this will take some research). Nine Months Before Start the delicate conversation with your families about the size of the guest list (once you've researched the cost per guest, etc.) Set strict guidelines. Start compiling your own guest list. Keep in mind that many single guests would appreciate a "+guest" on their invitation. Purchase the bride's gown and the groom's tuxedo. Purchase bridesmaids' dresses; have for your groomsmen measured and reserve the tuxedos (if your groomsmen do not live close to the formal wear shop you choose, tell them to go to a local shop) Shop for the veil, etc. Pick a honeymoon destination Order the wedding cake. Kindly suggest to the parents of the groom that they should begin to arrange the Rehearsal Dinner. Arrange for transportation for the wedding for the bride, groom, and wedding party. Start a wedding website to help communicate with all your guests, especially out of towners. Five Months Before Send your engagement announcement to the newspaper. Make appointments for a physical exam with your doctor/dentist. Check requirements for blood test and marriage license in your state. Purchase wedding rings. Select and order the invitations and stationery. Complete the guest lists. Finalize honeymoon details and make the necessary reservations. Four Months Before Confirm the menu and catering details with the caterer. Prepare all maps and directions for the ceremony and reception. Schedule the rehearsal with all relevant parties. Determine your resources for designing and printing the program for the ceremony. Finalize and check the florist details, photographer, videographer, musicians, wedding cake, etc. Arrange the necessary accommodations for out-of-town guests. Plan a rehearsal dinner, time and place. Mail a "save the date", if desired. Eight Weeks Before Mail invitations and announcements. Set appointment with photographer for your formal bridal portrait. Select gifts for all your attendants. Set appointments with any hairdressers and/or makeup artists. Six Weeks Before Decide what your menu is going to be for the reception. Have a final fitting for your gown. Pick up the wedding rings. Don't forget the wedding accessories! (ring pillow, goblets, garter belt, candles, etc.) Figure out how wedding gifts will get to the new home. Confirm florist details and delivery times. Plan the seating for the reception as well as other details for the ceremony and reception. Make sure all bridesmaids' attire has been fitted. Choose the music for your ceremony, first dance, parent dances, and party and give information to band, dj, or other musicians. Three Weeks Before Handle business and legal details such as name changes, address changes, etc. Prepare the wedding announcement for the newspaper. Reconfirm your guests' accommodations. Get your marriage license and any blood tests which are needed. Final Week Review any seating details with the ushers. Try on all the clothes. Finalize the seating arrangements for dinner/reception. Pack for the honeymoon and confirm plane and hotel reservations. Call any guests who have not responded yet. Review all the final details with your photographer, videographer, band, dj, etc. Give a final head count to the caterer. Wrap and present the wedding party gifts. Day Before Relax, you've covered everything! Hang out with friends and family. Wedding Day Start early--leave extra time. Snack. You'll look great in your gown--unless you feint from hunger! Enjoy! Suggestions from weddingplanninghints.com

Benefits of a Wedding Planner

Sun, 11 Jun 2006 23:00:00 MDT

BEFORE YOU SAY I DO . . . By Tyhreast Robertson You should know the benefits of hiring a wedding planner. A wedding planner will save you time, money and elevated levels of stress and can also assist you by incorporating your dreams and visions into a wedding that is designed especially for you. The wedding planner will investigate venues and vendors for your ceremony and reception to ensure that they meet your specifications and you remain within your budgetary guidelines; coordinate and serve as a liaison among vendors, family members and friends to ensure that your special day will be successful; troubleshoot to resolve predicaments before they originate and organize all of the details of your wedding from the engagement party until the last dance. If you choose not to hire a wedding planner to plan your special day, you can simply hire one for "day of" management services to ensure that you will have a flawless and memorable wedding. For such services, a wedding planner can provide on-site coordination for the rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception; liaison between and wedding guests and vendors; and provide a blue print for the vendors and MC. The wedding planner will also have on hand an emergency kit which includes, but is not limited to, bobby pins, crazy glue, tape, aspirin and wedding bands, to circumvent the unexpected and also to ensure that you have an event to be remembered. Wedding planners have been trained to fulfill every need of the bride from the planning process to the last dance. They are usually certified by one of the many bridal organizations that offer such certification programs (Weddings Beautiful Worldwide and the Association of Bridal Consultants) and are members of at least one professional bridal association. So before you say "I do," consider hiring a professional wedding planner so that you and your soon-to-be spouse can truly enjoy the first day of the rest of your life.

Men Want Well Groomed

Sun, 11 Jun 2006 23:00:00 MDT

Men want well groomed look for weddings from the news.scotsman.com IMAGE-CONSCIOUS grooms are making more effort to spruce up for their big day, according to a new survey. Fake tans, teeth whitening and dieting are all used by husbands-to-be to ensure they look their best in wedding photos. More than two in five men planned to diet before their wedding while 12 per cent said they were going to get their teeth whitened. And eight per cent wanted a fake tan spray to add some colour to their wedding day. Nearly one in five said they would join a gym to tone up. However, they don't yet rival women. Among the brides-to-be nearly three-quarters planned to diet, three in five wanted a fake tan and a quarter admitted they would get their teeth whitened.

Cabin Wedding Etiquette

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 01:00:00 MDT

Please understand that the whole idea of a wedding in a cabin or chalet is built around the need many people have to shed the many rules, restrictions, and expenses associated with a traditional wedding. Keeping that in mind, know that you as individuals should be in charge of how your wedding should proceed. Your cabin wedding should reflect your personalities and relationship. Our goal in presenting this information is to help whatever you plan go more smoothly and easily for everyone....READ MORE

Cabin Wedding Tips

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 01:00:00 MDT

So many times we go out to do a wedding in a cabin and they have no idea what we want them to do. What we want people to understand through this website (and all our interactions with them) is that it's not so much what we want, as what they want. We are happy to be there and to be part of your special moment, we have no need to be catered in any way. ... READ MORE

Cabin or Chapel How to Decide

Sun, 06 Aug 2006 01:00:00 MDT

After you have made the decision to get married, picked the date, and then picked the area (hopefully the Smoky Mountain area), the next big decision is: Cabin or Chapel. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. With any luck this article will help you narrow your choices down.

Appalachian Wedding Adventures plays outdoors!

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 23:00:00 MDT

f you are looking for an outdoor site for your wedding, look no further! Appalachian Wedding Adventures, on the corner of highway 321 and Middle Creek Road outside of Gatlinburg city limits 19 miles to the north, plays outdoors. ..... READ MORE

Choosing the Best Invitation for Your Wedding

Sat, 12 Aug 2006 23:00:00 MDT

 He popped the question; you said yes.

Now, the two of you have set the wedding date and

things are starting to come together for the day of your

 dreams. With the myriad of details that need attending,

 the first order of business - ordering wedding invitations

- may seem like an overwhelming task for a new

bride-to-be. Whether you plan an intimate gathering of

 close friends and family, or a gala black tie event,

you will want your wedding invitations to be just right.

DOES AN AISLE OF BEAUTIFUL COLORED LEAVES STRIKE YOUR FANCY?

Fri, 08 Sep 2006 23:00:00 MDT

Brides at Whisperwood Farm in Cosby , Tennessee , kick the leaves of autumn on their way to the altar! How about walking down an aisle of many colored leaves on a spacious lawn? Appalachian Wedding Adventures will gather the leaves from the forest and lay them at your feet! Fall specials at Whisperwood Farm, the off-the-beaten- track wedding center in Cosby , TN , are focused on unconventional uses of October leaves. A reception in Creekwalk Inn's the Mount Kammerer Room, with glass floor to ceiling on 3 sides of the room, lets in the color as you listen to the creek. The bride's three tiered wedding cake is photographed with the fall leaves on either side of the cake. Table decorations are gathered leaves, pressed, playing with the many fall colors against white linen. Fall specials include lodging for 15 by the creek for two nights, wedding in our chapel (up to 55 guests), your favorite flowers and favorite music surrounding you, and a honeymoon suite of enchantment awaiting you following the reception dinner. Appalachian Wedding Adventures has a group of wedding professionals that offer unusual packages and personal, pampered service. Call 1-800-962-2246 to check available dates, or go to www.appalachianweddingadventures. com

Smoky Mountain Cabin Weddings Traveling Weddng Planner

Sat, 09 Sep 2006 01:00:00 MDT

There are a couple of things that we have learned make out-of-town weddings more difficult for the bride and groom. A little advance planning can really alleviate a lot of headaches in the long run. What follows is a list of things to remember to pack...this will probably be your most important list. The other thing that often causes a lot of headaches for the wedding couple is lost relatives. Be sure your guests have a realistic expectation of how long it will take to get from where they are staying to where you are getting married (you might have to question your Minister, rental company, and chapel people to get a complete picture), and that you have the phone number where they are staying and their cell phone numbers. Print this page to have your personal wedding planner! Smoky Mtn Cabin Weddings We can help you book a romantic wedding service in a variety of settings. (We can even help reserve a log cabin for your honeymoon.) Whether you want to be married near a rushing stream, in a private log cabin, or in our primitive chapel, Creekside Cove Wedding Chapel, we are your best resource. Just call (865) 453-9117 and we will help make your Smoky Mountain wedding dreams a reality! Gatlinburg wedding services, Pigeon Forge Wedding Services, Great Smoky Mountains wedding services in log cabin or chapel performed by Smoky Mountain Cabin Weddings. Here's a trick, go to the bottom of this check list(last blank line all the way to the right of things to pack) and left click it, drag your mouse all the way to the left of tne check list, then drag your mouse all the way to the top of the list ( to the "T" of things to do), you should have highlited the complete list by now. When you have everything highlited you like right click. A box will apear select print option. When your printers window shows up you will seesomething that refers to page range, click the "print selection" item and then click print. To save ink and make your cartrige last select a faster draft. Very Important Note: When it comes to your wedding attire, it is not enough to make sure you have packed it...make sure you take it with you! We couldn't tell you how many times we have had a Bride and Groom tell us that they packed their wedding clothes (usually in nice special cases to keep them neat) and then left them hanging on the back of their bedroom door! We have had some that were able to have the clothing shipped to them (at a great expense I might add), but most end up getting married in something they find at the outlet mall or rent. It is very common and very frustrating. Lesson learned: Before you leave home take a quick inventory of all your luggage & make sure you have put your wedding attire in the car with you!

Planning a Cabin Wedding

Sat, 09 Sep 2006 01:00:00 MDT

The thought occurs to you...the perfect wedding for the two of you would be a quiet service in the mountains. You can picture it now...a romantic fireside wedding in the privacy of your own rental cabin. It sounds great, but where do you go from there? You are confronted with a dozen questions, from "Who's going to marry us?" to "What should we wear?" The great thing about any destination wedding is the amount of control you almost automatically get. Unless you tell somebody where you will be and how to get there, you can be pretty sure they won't be "popping in" for your private wedding service uninvited. You can decide if you want guests, how many, and who. If you get a lot of complaints from your family about not "being there" promise to have the service video taped so they can enjoy the experience with you after the fact. Many of our couples say they are going home to a nice reception or open house for their family and friends. They display the pictures from the wedding, play the video, wear the same clothes and get to celebrate the union publicly in that manner while still keeping the actual wedding ceremony intimate. The first decision to make is: Are we going to invite anybody to the wedding? This decision will color a couple of other choices along the line. For instance, if you want to bring along children from a previous relationship, parents, siblings, or friends you need to get a cabin large enough to accommodate every one. You want to be sure to choose a destination that will have interesting things to do for the age groups you are inviting along. Let's face it, you might enjoy "vegging out" in a log cabin for a few days--just enjoying the fact that the phone doesn't ring--but to a 12-year-old, that is the definition of torture. Sometimes couples will invite their parents and children for the wedding, but then send the children home with Grandma and Grandpa to be spoiled for the duration of the honeymoon...a clever idea at the very least. The second decision is: "Where do we want to stay?" This can be a daunting question. Just here in the Smokies there are literally thousands of rental cabins spread over a wide range of terrains. When it comes to selecting a rental cabin (and a rental company), my strongest recommendation is to ASK QUESTIONS! Way too often we get up to a cabin to do a wedding service and we hear "We love the cabin, but.." But it's too high up, it's not high enough up, it's not private enough, it's too secluded, it's too far from attractions, there are too many stairs...etc. Any of those conditions would have been prevented by just asking a few questions. Ask how high up the cabin is (relative to the main attractions in the area), how many minutes from the downtown area (don't ask about mileage, it's a lot slower driving in the mountains than it is in flat areas), ask what kind of view to expect, how old the cabin is, what condition the furniture is in. Don't expect to pay bargain rates for a cabin and get top quality furnishings and view, it just won't happen. Ask how close your nearest neighbor is. Ask what kind of grill is on the deck, what size the beds are, and if it gets cable or satellite. I've always found that the more a questions a guest asked the better I was able to "tailor" their cabin choice to their specific needs and the happier they were with their stay. When choosing a rental company ask about their cancellation policy, their deposits, their fees. When comparing prices, don't just go by nightly rates, tell them how many nights and ask them to give you a price for the entire stay, taxes, fees, and all. That way when you go to make a reservation there will be no surprises. Ask them about their snow policy if you are coming in the winter. Ask them what happens in an emergency. One company I worked with required 100% of the money up-front, and had a very simple cancellation policy...no cancellations, no refunds. It's hard to believe that anybody even booked with them, but they did. The third decision is: "Who will marry us?" Again, this can be a difficult decision. Just here in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas we have probably a dozen ministers willing to go to rental cabins to perform ceremonies. Take a look at their websites (starting with Smoky Mtn. Cabin Weddings, of course), and evaluate each on several criteria. Price should be a consideration, services available, etc. The main thing to look at is "Does this man/woman seem to "fit" our idea of a minister to marry us?" Look the site over, you should be able to get an idea of the person's personality and background. If not, move on. If you are having pictures taken, find out what type of equipment is going to be used and who will take the pictures. Again, the main thing here is to ask questions. Find out their reservation policy, cancellation policy, etc. The more questions you ask, the more likely you are to find somebody that is just perfect for the two of you. What decisions remain... There are still a lot of details to decide on. Do you want to carry flowers? Should you order a cake? Many people ask me what they should wear. Most of the people getting married in their cabins wear "church clothes" (well, actually Easter Church clothes would be more the definition). We do have some people dress very casually, we had one couple get married in their bathing suits in the hot tub and another get married in their pajamas. Sometimes we will show up to do a service and the bride and groom are in formal wear, it's just how they envisioned their cabin wedding. When it comes to what you wear, it's nice to feel comfortable and relaxed, wear something you feel confident in so your pictures show your best "you." Remember there are no rules because this is YOUR wedding. The last (and probably most important) bit of information you need to gather in this process is about your marriage license. Be sure to find out what the requirements are, what days you can get your wedding license and where. If you have been married before you might need your divorce decree. Find out if the state you are going to has a blood test requirement or a waiting period. If you are getting married on a holiday weekend, make sure to ask what the holiday hours are for the courthouse, and ask what type of traffic conditions you might be facing. Again, the more questions you ask, the more prepared you will be to deal with what comes up. The last thing you want when planning your cabin wedding is a surprise (unless it's jewelry from your fiance, then a surprise is OK).

"Fall" in Love (and Marriage) in the Smokies

Sat, 09 Sep 2006 01:00:00 MDT

The air grows crisp, cooler, carrying with it the sweet scent of the falling leaves. As you walk, shuffling your feet through the thick layers of colorful crunchy carpet, you can't help but think about the wonders of your childhood falls. I love the autumn season, especially here in the Smokies. I distinctly remember my first October in the Smoky Mountains. It was 1985 and my husband, Bill, and I had just moved here six months prior. I had never been to Gatlinburg before, and here I was, living in this bustling little tourist town. It seems as if one day I woke up and a giant had sprinkled the entire mountain range with fruit loops cereal. It was so breathtaking, so bright, so surreal. Having grown up in northern Illinois I was not unaccustomed to the splendor that could be seen in the fall, I just had never seen it displayed so beautifully, so vertically. If you have never experienced an October afternoon in the Smokies, it is high time you schedule a nice long weekend to enjoy the cooler (not cold) weather and the bright afternoons filled with color and wonder. If you are planning to have a nice little wedding ceremony, what better backdrop to your service than the Great Smoky Mountains draped in their finest? A fall wedding in the Smokies is one of the ideal ways to get married. You are no longer battling the heat that wrecks hair-dos and make-up, the scenery is second to none, and (if you come mid-week) you can even find that the traffic is not too bad. (I won't mention traffic and the weekends; let's just say you might want to ask about alternate routes into the area.) There is a reason for that traffic, though?the spectacular show that keeps visitors coming back year after year. To have that show laid out behind you on your private deck while you get married would be a dream come true for any bride. What if it rains, you ask (perish the thought)? Well, what if it does, then we have to suffer through a nice intimate wedding service in front of the glowing coals of your evening fire. This picture could warm the heart of even the worst non-romantic. That's right, it's that simple, instead of getting married on your deck you get married in front of your fireplace, a setting that evokes the cozy warmth and intimacy of years gone by. There really isn't any bad weather in the fall; it's just a matter of finding the silver lining (or the glowing fireplace in this case). Whether you choose to get married in a chapel, outdoors, or in your private cabin, autumn in the Smokies is an ideal time to enjoy a wedding service in the ?Wedding Capitol of the South.?

Christopher's Place - Your Wedding Resort

Sun, 24 Sep 2006 01:00:00 MDT

Your wedding is like no other. You deserve a place like no other – Christopher Place Resort in Newport , Tennessee . From our location at the end of the road on top of English Mountain , the only sound you will hear as you exchange your vows of a lifetime will be the wind in the trees or the call of the whippoorwill. And, all that you see will be the Blue Ridge Mountains rolling away at your feet, a tapestry of autumn tints, spring greens, summer richness or winter magic.

Your reception will be created by a professional, uniquely yours. Your wedding feast will be prepared by an award-winning chef. And then, you will be enfolded in luxury as you spend your wedding night in a suite of classic elegance. Your wedding is like no other.

Let us help you make it special. For information, please call 1-800-595-9441 or visit at www.christopherplace.com.

Gatlinburg Love Stories

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 23:00:00 MDT

Our story begins in January of 1999. I was working my way through college as a manager at a restaurant. I went into work one evening and the day time manager told me she had "hired me a cutie" for the night shift. I just laughed and wondered to myself what was her idea of a cutie? Well a few days later I found out, and after 7 and 1/2 years together Jodie officiated the wedding for me and that cutie. The funny part about that is on our way out of town heading to TN for the wedding we stopped to get Chris breakfast and for the first time in years we ran into that lady again. After dating/hanging out for about 6 months Chris went with me and my family to the beach for the weekend. The first evening there we shared our first kiss standing on the beach watching the sunset. A few years later we all made the trip again as we still do every year. All day on that Saturday Chris seemed a little nervous and before the evening was over I found out why. After dinner with the family we went for a walk on the beach. He wanted us to walk back to the place where we shared our first kiss. As we were walking and talking all of the sudden he was no longer walking with me. At first glance I thought he had fallen down, but actually he was on one knee and proceeded to ask me to be his wife. For several years we would take a trip to Gatlinburg around Christmas. So when it came time to plan the wedding the general location was pretty obvious to us. We knew we wanted something intimate, low keyed, and special. We spent many evenings searching the web and came up with a list of possibilities. I then began contacting each location and made the final decision after speaking with Jodie and Bill. The ceremony was held in the chapel and we were treated very special. The service was incredible and we felt very welcome and special through out the entire process. I could not have imagined a better way to start our marriage and the pictures to commemorate the event are incredible! December 30, 2006 Jennifer Crumbley and Chris Rowe Our story begins in January of 1999. I was working my way through college as a manager at a restaurant. I went into work one evening and the day time manager told me she had "hired me a cutie" for the night shift. I just laughed and wondered to myself what was her idea of a cutie? Adult Years: Sherry and Randy's old friendship was rekindled at high school reunions from time to time. It had been five years since they had last spoken. Randy called Sherry on the evening of November 16, 2005. He had no idea that she had become widowed and he was going through a divorce and was calling to talk to the friend of his childhood. They talked a lot about their life changes and reminiscing about the fun childhood and teen years they had together. First Date: November 22, 2005, Dinner at the Bright Star Restaurant in Bessemer. At the end of the evening, Randy asked if he could kiss Sherry. She said, �Not ready yet.� He kissed the tip of his index finger and placed his finger on her lips. First Kiss: Randy cooked dinner for Sherry. They enjoyed looking through old school annuals and talking about their childhood years. They were slow dancing without any music playing and finally kissed for the first time. Will you? After three dates and daily hours of talking on the phone, Randy asked Sherry to marry him. They knew they had come full circle at this time in their lives and it was meant for them to be together after all these years. The wedding: Sherry and Randy were married in Gatlinburg, TN at their cabin. It was a beautiful and small ceremony beside the indoor pool with family members present: Randy's Dad, John McIntyre, Best Man and Randy's Mother, Peggy, Matron of Honor. Sherry's children: Son, Paul Oswalt, accompanied Jordan Foster and daughter, Tara Golden, accompanied by Scott Thomasino were in attendance. Reception Dinner: The Reception Dinner was given by Randy's parents, John & Peggy McIntyre at a local Gatlinburg Restaurant. A great time was had by all! Honeymoon: Sherry and Randy honeymooned in Gatlinburg. They thoroughly enjoyed their beautiful cabin with a private indoor pool, sightseeing and dining out. Happily ever after: They're enjoying decorating their new home at Ballantrae in Pelham. Sherry is the Executive Assistant for Adventure Travel in Riverchase and Randy is a Supervisor for Chemical Lime Plant in Calera. They're looking forward to enjoying their retiring years together making new memories.