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The Wedding Program

partysugar — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 11:13:32 -0700

Although a guide to your ceremony is not a must for your wedding, programs have become increasingly popular as of late. Like many other parts of the wedding stationery, you have full creative liability here. Generally the program should be in the same style and form as the invite, save the date card, directions, and any other part of the stationery trousseau. The program should start by listing the bride and groom's names as a title of sorts. Underneath include the wedding information: the location, date and time.

Next list the order of the service (circling, sharing of Kiddush cups, rings and vows, etc), the names of the wedding party (the best man, maid of honor, bridesmaid, etc) and the names of the parents and grandparents.
If you are having musicians at the ceremony it's customary to list them as well. Brief bios of the wedding party, vows, readings, a favorite love poem, songs, explanations of traditions, a monogram, your new address, directions to the reception, and a thank you or remembrance are all additions to the program. I recommend to avoid cheese, leave out any photos.

After you have decided the text of your program decide what form the program will take. A small one page booklet is the most traditional but anything goes. Small booklets tied with pretty ribbons, pull out accordions, flat postcards, long bookmarks, flip books, popsicle stick fans, and fan booklets are all wonderful artistic options. Speak with your stationer well in advance to figure out the design of the program and be sure to proof read the invite several times and check the spelling of names with everyone mentioned. To cut back on costs have the stationer print only the cover to your program and create a document on your computer to fill the rest of the pages. Decide whether each person will be handed a program or simply one for each couple and family.

I personally love the mini booklet idea because it can easily fit into a purse and the bows are so pretty. What about you? How was your wedding program designed?

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Wedding Planner: A Letterpress Program For Your Big Day

CasaSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:15:31 -0700

As you may have noticed, I'm a big fan of letterpress, so it's probably not a surprise that my fiancé and I are considering using letterpress programs for our wedding ceremony. While not often used at more casual weddings, programs are always a lovely keepsake for guests. Traditionally, wedding programs are a small booklet featuring the couple's names front and center, although it's becoming more common to use a single sheet of paper explaining the basics of the ceremony. As I made the local rounds of letterpress printers, one company that definitely caught my eye was Hello!Lucky.

Hello!Lucky is an eclectic, artistic letterpress company owned and operated by sisters Eunice and Sabrina Moyle. They can design your wedding stationery, or work with designs you have in mind, and will produce everything from save-the-date cards to the menus. For a video of the ladies of Hello!Lucky explaining how letterpress printing works, read more.

Hello! Lucky from bliss productions on Vimeo.

To order wedding letterpress program or reception cards from Hello!Lucky, check here. Do you plan on using a program card for your wedding? If you did, what did it look like? Tell me in the comments below!

Jennifer Plays With Demi, Emily, and Naomi in NYC

PopSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0800

Jennifer Aniston was in LA last week for a wedding with her stylist, but she popped up in NYC last night to take part in the annual 24 Hour Plays on Broadway. She joined a handful of actor couples for the evening, including Emily Blunt and John Krasinski as well as Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts. Demi Moore was a lot more covered up than her recent W cover, as she posed with husband Ashton Kutcher. Jennifer joined her fellow thespians onstage to sing "Yellow Submarine" and take part in the hastily-written theater exercise, which was held to benefit arts in education programs in public schools. She took her bow next to a similarly-dressed Brooke Shields before moving on for some after-hours fun with Ashton and Demi.

To see more from the event, just read more.

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Images include: Eva Mendes, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, Rosie Perez, Amber Tamblyn, Rosario Dawson, Anthony Mackie, Brooke Shields, Jennifer Aniston, David Cross, Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Julia Stiles

Gisele Takes Her Bump For a Walk Around Boston

PopSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:29:45 -0700

Gisele Bundchen had her water bottle in hand during another walk in Boston earlier today. The pregnant supermodel is back in Massachusetts after her weekend trip to NYC, where she announced her participation in a new environmental program with the UN. Her baby bump isn't slowing her down, whether she's out moving furniture or taking flying lessons in a helicopter. She and Tom are looking forward to his coming season with the Patriots, but one ugly episode from their past just won't go away - they're being sued by photographers who claim they were shot at during the couple's wedding in Costa Rica earlier this year.

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Casa Interview: Destination Wedding Planner Alison Hotchkiss (Part 2)

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:00:47 -0700

Alison Hotchkiss, the creative director of Alison Events and the author of Destination Wedding Planner, has plenty of smart advice on planning destination weddings. If you, or a couple you know, are planning a destination wedding, I highly recommend Alison's new book to lend a guiding hand in your planning process. You can read the first half of the interview here. Alison has more great advice in the second half of this interview.

CasaSugar: When you plan a destination wedding, do you try to use local artisans, caterers, and other services?

Alison Hotchkiss: I definitely try to use as much local support as possible. It’s cost-effective, puts money back into the community, and is a positive way to support the area. I will sometimes hire a local planner to serve as my eyes and ears locally, and then I have someone to help us when we’re there. Especially in smaller beach communities, a lot of negotiations and contracts are over a handshake, not a formal agreement, so it’s important to respect the way that the local community does business.

To see Alison's advice on everything from wedding favors to organizing activities, read more.

CasaSugar: What’s your take on wedding favors? Have there been any that have stood out? Have there been any alternatives that were creative or impressive?

Alison Hotchkiss: One of my favorite favors was from my Costa Rica wedding. All of the guests were given Holga cameras preloaded with film, so everyone was able to take photos throughout the ceremony. There was a big beautiful glass bin where everyone could drop their film and they could reload throughout the evening. At the end of the evening the bride took all of the film, processed it, and put it on the Pictage website, so everyone could see all of the photos that were taken.

Another trend I’ve been seeing is people paying it forward by offsetting people’s carbon footprint for travel. This is often seen on the bottom of the menu or program. Other couples have donated to schools or children’s community shelters. I’ve seen a lot more of that than people purchasing favors. I think it’s a waste of money to do a favor these days when there are so many other things you can put your money towards.

CasaSugar: How do you deal with gifts at a destination wedding?

Alison Hotchkiss: I rarely see gifts at a destination wedding. Most people know to not bring gifts and to ship them in advance. If somebody were to get gifts they’d have to pack them and bring them back. You’d have to arrange for shipping, and oftentimes if you’re staying at a hotel that’s something they can execute for you.

One other great story is that some of my clients, in lieu of wedding gifts, the client included a notecard in the invitation asking everyone in lieu of gifts to “pay it forward” and do something for someone else, be it a family or an organization in their name, and then to write it on the notecard. Then, when people got to the wedding, the guests had the same card that had their name and their table numbers on it, so they replaced the name cards with the pay it forward card, and we had this really awesome display of what people had done to pay it forward. They ranged from deep, meaningful stories to really silly stories, such as “Oh, I paid for the person’s toll behind you,” and someone else said, “I rescued a bird off the side of the road.” That was a really cute idea and a great way to say, Let’s not focus so much on material gifts, and focus more on giving back to the world.

CasaSugar: Once guests get to the destination, have you found a fun way to organize activities? Do you let guests know a schedule beforehand, or spring it on them as a fun surprise? How would you say is the best way to organize this?

Alison Hotchkiss: I’d say the majority of people these days are creating their own wedding websites, which is the best way to communicate all of the information that can happen. It can have directions, wedding activities, local things to do and see, all of that. Or, rather than asking people to sign up beforehand on the web-site you can have people, during the rehearsal dinner, sign up for the following day’s tours. We have used a chalkboard so it was more fun than writing it on a 8.5x11 piece of paper. Different activities we have done are a snorkeling adventure, massage, or horseback riding. It’s nice to not have to determine things so far in advance.

CasaSugar: Given the economic climate right now, if you were going to recommend one area where guests can squeeze their budget, what can be downsized?

Alison Hotchkiss: I’d say music. We always tell people to go with a DJ vs. band, it’s thousands and thousands of dollars for a band. A band can run from $2,000 to $10,000. That’s one area. Another is limiting favors. You can also choose beer and wine instead of an open bar, or limiting the time of the open bar. Pick your battles and consider what’s most important.

Another area is the flowers. Instead of doing flowers, consider using a combination of herbs, flowers, succulents, and fruits. We did a wedding recently in the tropics and cut bougainvillea petals from the local branches and made a carpeted aisle for the ceremony. It was so vibrant and so colorful, and it was free. Use what you have locally.

CasaSugar: What would you have at your destination wedding?

Alison Hotchkiss: All I know is I want it to be somewhere tropical (with good surf), laid back, and I would be totally happy with fish tacos, a DJ, and local beer, Oh and I think I am going to wear a short dress and lose the shoes!

CasaSugar: That sounds excellent.

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Forget the Honeymoon, Familymoons Bond Blended Families

LilSugar — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:12:42 -0700

Honeymoons might be made for two, but these days weddings aren't just made up of a couple exchanging vows. Blended families are becoming more and more common with divorce rates on the rise. So what's the best way to celebrate the new clan? A familymoon!

Nuptial ceremonies and proposals often include the bride and groom's kiddos so why leave wee ones out of the honeymoon - especially when childcare factors in? While newlyweds normally seek out exotic locales for their time away, parents look at different factors for these jaunts. Check out a few of our favorite family destinations.

Hawaii: Long considered to be the ultimate romantic honeymoon destination, Hawaii also offers parents and kiddos enough activities to keep everyone happy. Families may consider renting a vacation home or condo rather than staying in a hotel to provide everyone with privacy and communal space. It offers beach and pool play, water sports, volcano hiking and picturesque sunsets.
Amelia Island: The Ritz Carlton may conjure up images of posh surroundings and luxury living, but the hotel chain’s Ritz Kids program offers supervised “day camps” for tots that include swimming, sand play, sports and more. At the Amelia Island, Florida, resort, newlyweds can relax on the beach or play a round of golf knowing that their kids are having an equally indulgent time.
Alaskan Cruise: Families with older children may consider an Alaskan cruise. In addition to the kids programs on the ships - including the pools, rock-climbing walls, arcades and playrooms – the excursion offers families the opportunity to bond while exploring a new destination as a unit. Whale-watching, gold panning and glacier-hiking, provide options for getting active.

To see a video from the original familymooners, The Brady Bunch, read more.

Photo courtesy of Source

Before the Big Day: Bridal Boot Camp

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:00:00 -0700

April means flowers and wedding showers, and for many newly engaged brides, it's time to start thinking about how to get in shape for the big day. Many women take a boot camp approach, using a focused fitness plan to stay on course. Thankfully, there are boot camps for every budget; here are three options to help you along.

Bridal retreats. Live in Fitness recently began offering a multiweek Bridal Retreat program, where women stay in a one-bedroom suite in Southern California and train from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. with breaks for healthy meals. Not surprisingly, it'll cost you around $8,000 for two weeks.
Online programs: From Cynthia Conde's Bridal Bootcamp, which helps you create customized fitness and eating plans, to simple, downloadable regimens like Shape's Total Body Wedding Workout, there are oodles of online resources designed just for brides.
Wedding DVDs: If you prefer to work it at home, pick out a bridal-specific video, such as The Wedding Workout from Women's Health or this Wedding Boot Camp DVD.

For more wedding tips, check out all of the Sugar Network’s wedding coverage here.

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Yum's Top 10 Kitchen Registries

YumSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:00:47 -0700

Earlier this week, we offered some wedding advice for finding a gift registry that's right for you, but even with our recommendations, there are so many stores to choose from. So, we've compiled a list of our favorite registries - for the most part, nationwide retail outlets with standalone stores, call centers, and online sites to suit all of your guests' needs. We also took stock of shops with a wide selection of products and convenient perks and benefits. To see the list of our favorites (in no particular order), read more.

Williams-Sonoma: This tried-and-true kitchen store favorite boasts a thank you note manager, a solid return policy, and a 10 percent discount on items both remaining in your registry and outside it.
Target: Despite your income bracket, you can't go wrong at this ubiquitous store, which proffers a huge assortment of practical, everyday items at bargain prices. Guests can shop online with a Target or an Amazon account.
Crate & Barrel: This 160-store chain boasts a 10 percent completion discount on registries - and that includes furniture. Anytime an item is purchased or added, all changes, whether online, in store, or over the phone, will be reflected within a short window of 15 minutes or less.
Macy's: This national network of department stores is everywhere in the United States and offers a number of perks, including a charity donation program, completion rewards of 10 percent off, and a Registry Star Rewards program, which rewards purchases in the form of a Macy's Gift Card.
Bed Bath & Beyond: Aside from being practical and everywhere, this store offers a registry incentive program where you can register for or complete certain sets and get other items free. Need help? That's available anytime through the store's call center.
Bloomingdale's: For a range of timeless kitchen pieces and fun kitchen gadgets, sign up for this high-end retailer, which pairs you with a personal registry consultant and also provides a 10 percent completion program and donations to charity.
Sur La Table: Everything your kitchen ever wanted can be found at this culinary haven, which carries specialty items like DeLonghi grills, John Boos cutting boards, and Le Creuset cookware.
Kohl's: This registry ups the ante with a completion program offering 15 percent off, as well as announcement cards that give guests discounts on in-store purchases.
Neiman Marcus: Head here for the gold standard of gift registries, where you can choose from a massive selection of formal tabletop items. Gift packaging is complimentary on bridal registry purchases.
Cooking.com: If you want to go virtual, you can find everything and anything kitchen at this one-stop online shop, which has an extreme selection of 80,000 products and a 10 percent off completion program.

Brides-to-be, where have you registered? Let us know if you have any other recommendations!

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Dos and Don'ts of Healthy Wedding Planning

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Let's face it: planning a wedding is stressful. Depending on how big your wedding is, it could be one of the most stressful projects you've ever taken on. So amid all the excitement, it's important to keep yourself fit, healthy, centered, and sane. Here's what do to (and what not to do) when planning a wedding the fit and healthy way.

Do make a plan. It sounds basic, but start by planning out your timeline, then go down the list one by one. Otherwise, you'll easily feel overwhelmed.
Don't be shy about accepting help. People have gotten married many times before, so why start from scratch? Registry checklists, like our downloadable registry, will save you serious time. You'll also have people offering to help you left and right, so let them!
Do come up with a fitness plan. If part of your plan includes getting fit for the big day, map out a workout schedule - with the help of online programs or a trainer - to keep yourself on track.

For a few other ideas for how to stay sane while planning your wedding, read more.

Don't overdo it. Getting in shape shouldn't mean setting unrealistic goals that require crash-dieting and unsafe lifestyle changes. Losing a maximum of two pounds a week is considered reasonable.
Do make time for yourself. You'll be bombarded by people and questions right through the wedding day, so set aside some alone time for yoga, massages, walks - whatever.
Don't neglect your workouts. Make sure your exercise routine doesn't get lost in the shuffle. Put workouts on your calendar, alongside all your wedding appointments. If you want, recruit a special wedding workout buddy.
Do control your party-food intake. You're likely to attend some engagement and bachelorette parties before the big day, but if you're trying to stay slim, keep your indulging in check. Have a bite of something you're craving, then move on.

Any of you recent brides out there have anything to add? If so, share them in the comments!
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Does Reality TV Hate Women?

TresSugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:00:00 -0700

Writer Raina Kelley makes the point in Newsweek this week that reality shows must go out of their way to dig up women that fit practically every negative female stereotype. She writes:

Thanks to this ridiculous programming, sexists everywhere can make a cogent case that women are weak, shallow, vain, stupid, gold-digging, desperate delusional bitches. . . . For every 21-year-old knucklehead screaming because she wants faux ostrich feathers for her wedding centerpieces, I can put a million sane brides on the stand who somehow managed to get married without making fools of themselves.

While I'd have to search long and hard for a female reality star I'd want to represent my gender, I must call Raina out on something: male reality stars look pretty bad too! For every woman competing for the bachelor, there's a man trying way too hard for the bachelorette. For every Heidi, there's a Spencer.

In the war between the sexes, I'm not sure who wins the battle for looking worse on reality TV.

Photos courtesy of Bravo