Receive 15% off and free personalization on all gifts for bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents and children during the month of June at www.bloomeryweddings.com! Browse for Bridesmaids' gifts > Browse for Groomsmen's gifts > Browse for Parents' gifts > Browse for Children's gifts >	Silver Bud Vase Engravable with one initials Sale price $18.61
			©2005 The Bloomery, Butler, Pennsylvania

If a picture paints a thousand words -- and it does -- then you'll want to make sure you have a photography plan to capture this incredible day you've planned.

The average bride and groom spend approximately twelve months planning an event that will last four hours -- or, as so many brides and grooms claim afterwards, one that is over in the blink of an eye. Quite often the bride and groom are so busy that they don't get to savor their hard planned details. Well, in the wedding photos you get to do exactly that. You get to relive the moment as often as you like for the rest of your life.

Creative Wedding Photo Ideas

• On the guest book table, set around the room, or mounted on the wall, display a few photos of the bride and groom from birth to marriage. You might also include the wedding pictures of both yours and your fiance's parents.
• Have Polaroid pictures taken of each guest alone, or with the bride and groom, to give as a favor.
• Place a disposable camera on each table. Ask the guests to take pictures during the reception. It will not only be entertaining, but you'll get a lot of great candid shots. Remember to arrange for someone to collect all the cameras at the end of the reception.
• Keep a camera with you throughout your planning and create a pre-wedding album. Capture the following moments: buying your rings, trying on dresses for yourself and the bridesmaids, addressing and mailing invitations, showers, a picture of getting your marriage license. Remember the fun of planning your wedding.
• Order extra pictures for special friends.
• Don't forget your honeymoon photo album. Be sure to pack your camera.
• Have a friend take Polaroid pictures of your wedding day. You can take the pictures along on the honeymoon.
• Make sure you don't have suntan lines, or that your face doesn't get sunburned. A red face won't look attractive in the pictures.

Reprinted by permission from Beverly Clark, "Planning a Wedding to Remember, 6th Edition", Wilshire Publications. "Planning a Wedding to Remember" is available at BloomeryWeddings.com.

Even though we've been a part of hundreds and hundreds of weddings, our brides still find creative ideas we haven't seen before.  Today was another one of those days.  At the reception hall, a table was set up next to the guest card table.  On this table were three vases, labelled "First Anniversary", "Fifth Anniversary" and "Tenth Anniversary", and several piles of notepapers and pens.  Guests were invited to write messages to the bride and groom, and place them in the vases.  On the appropriate anniversary, the couple would open and read the notes, as a memory of their special day.  What a neat way to remember your wedding!

You've visited your favorite store, and used the scan guns to zap your wish list items, gone online to register at all your favorite stores, and have lengthy lists of gifts you're ready to welcome into your home. Now, how do you let your guests know where to find the perfect wedding gift? Many families are tempted to include registry information with the invitation, but this is absolutely not acceptable. You are inviting these guests to witness and share in your wedding ceremony and celebration -- gifts aren't even to be expected (although always great to receive!). The best way to spread the registry news is through good old word-of-mouth -- friends, family members and other wedding party members usually end up knowing and talking to other guests, and the chain of information spreads quickly. It is also acceptable to send registry information with the bridal shower invitations. After all, the intent and purpose of the event is to "shower" the bride with gifts that will help her in her new home and relationship. So, make sure your bridesmaids know where you are registered, and let them handle some of the responsibility!  

Ask a question, suggest a future topic or send a comment to us at info@bloomeryweddings.com.

Birchcraft Studios' latest invitation book, "Romantic Hearts", has arrived in our store.  We now have 18 current books for you to view--that's hundreds of invitations, always 30% off (except for one book, which is 20% off).  We have books from Birchcraft Studios, Carlson Craft, Regency and Chase.

The following guide is courtesy of Birchcraft Studios.  You can view and order Birchcraft Studios invitations online at http://www.yourinvitationplace.com/bloomeryweddings.  Be sure to use this link to receive your 30% discount!

WHAT YOU NEED	WHEN YOU NEED IT	WHY IT'S PROPER
Engagement Announcements	Because of school, military service or other plans, your wedding date may be far in the future. If you want people to know you are engaged, plan an Announcement using the Wedding Invitation format.	Either formal or informal copy is proper to let people know your exciting news.
Hold the Date Cards	Mail them three to four months in advance of the wedding.	It is a good idea to give family and friends as much notice as possible of the coming event. This is especially true if you have many out of town guests.
Wedding Invitations with Envelopes	Used for anyone you want to attend the ceremony (even if they are ill or too far away to actually come.) Always lists who is getting married, on what day, of what year (spelled out in full), at what time, and the location.	An occasion this important rates more than a casual invitation. Elegance is enhanced by coordinating with lined inner envelopes.
Reception Cards	Traditionally a Reception Card is only used when a select number of the guests invited to the ceremony are invited to the reception. Nowadays, a Reception Card is included with the invitation, even when everyone invited to the ceremony is invited to the reception.	This invitation says, "You are special." Mailed along with the invitation, this card announces the time and location of reception.
Response Cards with Printed Return Envelopes	A must in today's busy times, or you simply won't know who is planning on attending. Plus, you will end up chasing down guests who do not send a handwritten reply.	The Response Card has become an accepted part of wedding etiquette. Including one with invitation is a thoughtful way to ease the guest's responsibility to reply to formal invitations. As a courtesy to guests, enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope with Response Card.
Wedding Announcements	If your circle of friends and relatives is larger than the list you intend to invite to the ceremony, or if you have a private wedding, you will want to send an announcement of your wedding.	Wedding Announcements include the wedding date, but never the time or location of ceremony. Mail the day of the wedding.
At Home Cards	If you are moving to a new home and want to inform family and friends of your new information.	Informs family and friends of your new address and lets them know whether you are keeping your maiden name. Usually mailed with the announcement or mailed separately after the wedding.
Thank-You Notes	A perfectly proper time-saver for those very busy days leading up to the wedding and immediately following the wedding.	It's a thoughtful way to let gift givers know their gift was received. Always write a personal thank-you note later. Send within two months of wedding.
Informals	With or without the name of the groom, this personalized stationery is needed to hand write thank-you notes to those who gave a wedding gift.	People who took the time to pick out a wedding gift deserve a personalized thank-you note. Also excellent for many other occasions where only brief correspondence is needed.
Wedding Programs	A great way for guests to follow the ceremony and learn who is in your wedding party. Enables you to share a special message or poem with your guests.	Provides guests with a nice memento of your special day.
Place Cards and Table Cards	Makes sit-down meals less chaotic if people have assigned seats, or at least assigned tables.	Place Cards list the guest's name and table and are often displayed in envelopes on a table outside the tent or reception room. Table Cards list a table number inside the folder and the guest's name appears on the outside of the folder.
Ceremony Cards	Used when everyone is invited to the wedding reception but only a limited number are invited to the ceremony.	This invitation says, "You are special." Mailed along with the invitation, this card announces the time and location of ceremony.

Over the last couple of years, one of the most popular colors for bridesmaid gowns has been periwinkle blue. For many, the color presents a challenge when determining what colors of flowers to choose. Depending on the season, we recommend several options. A combination of lavenders and blues looks striking for those brides desiring a cool, monochromatic color scheme. All white or ivory bouquets present a clean, crisp palette. Mixed pastels including yellows and pinks provide a pretty spring appearance. And, for this month's featured bouquet, we chose to use shades of peach with accents of blue delphinium. Using roses, spray roses, tulips and delphinium, this bouquet was hand tied for a natural look. The result was striking, with a soft feel but not the traditional pink and yellow pastel combination. View our featured bouquet at http://www.bloomeryweddings.com/portfolio_detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=BW252.

				Receive 20% off ALL Cathy's Concepts and Beverly Clark guest books and pens during the month of May at www.bloomeryweddings.com! Browse Guestbooks > Browse Pens > Order Birchcraft Invitations online and receive 30% off every day! More Information >  All closeout items now 40% off! Hurry, quantities are limited! Browse Closeout Items >	Beverly Clark Love Knot Guestbook and Pen Sale Price $39.19 and $23.39
			©2005 The Bloomery, Butler, Pennsylvania