First, to answer this you need to know how you're supposed to wear the engagement ring and the wedding ring together after the ceremony. Tradition dictates that you wear the wedding ring first so that it is closest to the heart, and the engagement ring goes on top.
So, you can see that if you wore your engagement ring during the wedding ceremony, it would block the wedding ring's proper position.
There are a couple of options of what to do.
You may want to forego wearing the engagement ring during the ceremony, and give it to a trusted bridesmaid or family member for safekeeping until the reception when you can return the bling to your finger. With this option, the focus truly centers on the commitment symbolized by the wedding rings. In fact, in Jewish tradition, the bride and groom are not supposed to wear any jewelry during the wedding ceremony to show that their mutual commitment to each other is based on who they are as people, not on their material possessions.
But if you just can't bear to part with your diamond, many brides simply place the engagement ring on their right hand for the ceremony. They put the rings in their proper order on their left hand after the ceremony.
Either way is perfectly acceptable, so do what is comfortable for you.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Make it Personal: Top Ten Ways to Personalize your Wedding
Every bride wants her wedding day to be special. But brides today are finding ways to make the Big Day one-of-a-kind. From theme weddings to signature cocktails, gone are the days of the cookie-cutter wedding. So, here are my top ten ideas on how to personalize your wedding day.
1) Ceremony Vows - When putting your personal touch on the wedding, start with the ceremony. If there's anything your guests have experienced time and time again, it's the traditional wedding vows. So, write your own! Hearing the crack in the groom's voice as he recalls when he first met the bride is the type of moment that makes a ceremony memorable.
2) Incorporate your Culture - African-American couples jump the broom. Jewish grooms stomp on a glass. These types of customs not only showcase the importance of your roots, but they also make the ceremony stand out for guests who may not have experienced these traditions before.
3) Signature Cocktail - According to The Knot's 2010 Real Wedding Survey, 15 percent of surveyed couples have a signature cocktail to personalize their wedding reception. Your signature cocktail can simply be your favorite drink or you can create a new drink especially for the occasion. Design a concoction that will match your wedding color scheme or theme, and name it something catchy that reflects your personality.
4) Fabulous Food - Give your guests a unique culinary experience that showcases local flavors. Getting married in the Northeast? Start with Clam Chowder and end on Whoopie Pies. Are you a Chicago bride? Set up a Chicago-style hot dog stand as a late-night snack. The food you pick reveals more about who you are as a couple.
5) That's Entertainment - Couples are starting to go beyond hiring a DJ or wedding band and showcasing customized entertainment during the reception. According to The Knot, 15 percent of surveyed couples had special entertainment at their wedding receptions. If the groom played trumpet as a kid, you could have a marching band parade through the reception. Maybe the Bride is a huge Gleek (i.e. fan of the TV show Glee). Arrange for the local high school's show choir to perform. Acrobats, jugglers, and dancers are all possible showstopping acts that could give that unexpected wow-factor to your wedding reception.
6) Monograms & Logos - Twenty-seven percent of surveyed couples have used a personal logo or monogram in the wedding. This detail is most effective when utilized throughout several different aspects of the wedding. Start by putting the logo or monogram on the save-the-dates and/or invitations. Feature it again in your ceremony programs and perhaps as your cake topper. You could even have a custom gobo made so that the monogram will shine as a light on your dance floor or behind the head table. Finally, tie it all together with the monogram or logo on your wedding favors and thank-you notes.
7) Themes - Another way to stand out is to design the entire wedding around a theme. (See How to Plan a Theme Wedding, October 2010) Whether its "Hollywood Glamour" or "Around the World in Eighty Days," theme weddings have a unique flair while incorporating a couple's interests.
8) Location, Location, Location - Real Estate and Weddings are all about location. You can easily put your personal stamp on your wedding by choosing an atypical venue. Think beyond hotel ballrooms and banquet halls. Couples today get married in historic mansions, museums, lofts, gardens, and even restored barns. (See Unique Wedding Venues in Chicago, Windy City Wedding Guide, September 2010)
9) Cake - There are many ways to be creative with cakes. Some couples choose cakes that are pure works of art, with ornate sugar decorations. Other couples opt for simple cupcake towers. But most recently, couples are really thinking outside the (cake) box, and going for elaborate dessert displays. If you're really looking to be different, you could incorporate cakes into your centerpieces, with each table getting its own cake. Or, try a spectacular French-style croquembouche.
10) Make it Interactive - Yes, there's the traditional bouquet and garter toss, but you can get all your guests involved by providing some interactive activities. Instead of a guestbook, consider a wishing tree where guests can write down well-wishes for the happy couple and hang them on decorative branches (See Getting Creative with Wedding Guestbooks, August 2010). Create a video advice column by having your videographer film your guests responding to fun questions like, "What are the keys to a happy marriage?" or "What is the best anniversary gift a husband can give to his wife?" Guests always enjoy photobooths. And for the folks that shy away from the dance floor, place trivia and mini-board games at each table.
Let your personality shine through the details. It's those personal touches that make a wedding stand out, so don't be afraid to get creative.
For more wedding advice, news, deals, and events, sign up to get Wedding Wise, your e-letter for all things wedding!
We want to hear from you! What are you doing to personalize your wedding?
1) Ceremony Vows - When putting your personal touch on the wedding, start with the ceremony. If there's anything your guests have experienced time and time again, it's the traditional wedding vows. So, write your own! Hearing the crack in the groom's voice as he recalls when he first met the bride is the type of moment that makes a ceremony memorable.
2) Incorporate your Culture - African-American couples jump the broom. Jewish grooms stomp on a glass. These types of customs not only showcase the importance of your roots, but they also make the ceremony stand out for guests who may not have experienced these traditions before.
3) Signature Cocktail - According to The Knot's 2010 Real Wedding Survey, 15 percent of surveyed couples have a signature cocktail to personalize their wedding reception. Your signature cocktail can simply be your favorite drink or you can create a new drink especially for the occasion. Design a concoction that will match your wedding color scheme or theme, and name it something catchy that reflects your personality.
4) Fabulous Food - Give your guests a unique culinary experience that showcases local flavors. Getting married in the Northeast? Start with Clam Chowder and end on Whoopie Pies. Are you a Chicago bride? Set up a Chicago-style hot dog stand as a late-night snack. The food you pick reveals more about who you are as a couple.
5) That's Entertainment - Couples are starting to go beyond hiring a DJ or wedding band and showcasing customized entertainment during the reception. According to The Knot, 15 percent of surveyed couples had special entertainment at their wedding receptions. If the groom played trumpet as a kid, you could have a marching band parade through the reception. Maybe the Bride is a huge Gleek (i.e. fan of the TV show Glee). Arrange for the local high school's show choir to perform. Acrobats, jugglers, and dancers are all possible showstopping acts that could give that unexpected wow-factor to your wedding reception.
6) Monograms & Logos - Twenty-seven percent of surveyed couples have used a personal logo or monogram in the wedding. This detail is most effective when utilized throughout several different aspects of the wedding. Start by putting the logo or monogram on the save-the-dates and/or invitations. Feature it again in your ceremony programs and perhaps as your cake topper. You could even have a custom gobo made so that the monogram will shine as a light on your dance floor or behind the head table. Finally, tie it all together with the monogram or logo on your wedding favors and thank-you notes.
7) Themes - Another way to stand out is to design the entire wedding around a theme. (See How to Plan a Theme Wedding, October 2010) Whether its "Hollywood Glamour" or "Around the World in Eighty Days," theme weddings have a unique flair while incorporating a couple's interests.
8) Location, Location, Location - Real Estate and Weddings are all about location. You can easily put your personal stamp on your wedding by choosing an atypical venue. Think beyond hotel ballrooms and banquet halls. Couples today get married in historic mansions, museums, lofts, gardens, and even restored barns. (See Unique Wedding Venues in Chicago, Windy City Wedding Guide, September 2010)
9) Cake - There are many ways to be creative with cakes. Some couples choose cakes that are pure works of art, with ornate sugar decorations. Other couples opt for simple cupcake towers. But most recently, couples are really thinking outside the (cake) box, and going for elaborate dessert displays. If you're really looking to be different, you could incorporate cakes into your centerpieces, with each table getting its own cake. Or, try a spectacular French-style croquembouche.
10) Make it Interactive - Yes, there's the traditional bouquet and garter toss, but you can get all your guests involved by providing some interactive activities. Instead of a guestbook, consider a wishing tree where guests can write down well-wishes for the happy couple and hang them on decorative branches (See Getting Creative with Wedding Guestbooks, August 2010). Create a video advice column by having your videographer film your guests responding to fun questions like, "What are the keys to a happy marriage?" or "What is the best anniversary gift a husband can give to his wife?" Guests always enjoy photobooths. And for the folks that shy away from the dance floor, place trivia and mini-board games at each table.
Let your personality shine through the details. It's those personal touches that make a wedding stand out, so don't be afraid to get creative.
For more wedding advice, news, deals, and events, sign up to get Wedding Wise, your e-letter for all things wedding!
We want to hear from you! What are you doing to personalize your wedding?
Friday, May 27, 2011
Quick Tip: Wedding Reception Lighting
Even if you're not hiring a lighting designer for your wedding reception, you'll still want to think about lighting. Many venues have their lights on dimmers, which means you'll have some lighting decisions to make. You may want the lights dimmed throughout the entire reception. Or, you may want to bring the lights up for dinner and bring them down for dancing. Maybe you want to brighten the room for the "mini-events" throughout the night, such as the cake cutting or bouquet toss. If you don't bring up the topic with your vendors, you may be surprised when they bring up the lights during the first dance, when you had assumed it would be romantically dim in the room. No matter what your decisions, don't forget to discuss your lighting preferences with your wedding coordinator or site manager.
Friday, May 13, 2011
DIY Teacup Favors & GIVEAWAY!
For the DIY brides out there, here is a fun and easy DIY project to create cute teacup planters as favors for your wedding guests.
Materials Needed:
An Assortment of Teacups
Spray Paint or Ceramic Paint
Small Potted Plants
Card Stock for personal message
Bamboo Skewers
Dust Mask
Directions:
1. Wash and dry each teacup to ensure they are free of dust.
2. Spray paint each teacup with several coats of paint on all sides. (Wear dust mask while doing this.)
3. When dry, fit a small potted plant inside each teacup.
4. Add your personal message, printed on cardstock and attached to the bamboo skewers.
And you're done!
This DIY idea came from Savers, the international chain of thrift stores. For this and other DIY wedding projects, go to: http://www.savers.com/Summer.aspx.
If you're on a budget but want to try out this fun project, you're in luck! Savers has provided a $25 gift certificate for one of my lucky readers! There are Savers stores all over the United States, including one that just opened in Downers Grove and one that will be opening on May 19th in Naperville. You can scour the store for the teacups for this project or the materials for any DIY projects you plan to tackle.
To enter to win the Savers gift certificate, simply leave a comment to this post by May 31st with an e-mail address to contact if you win. You'll receive an additional entry if you become a follower on twitter and tweet the words "DIY" to us at @CamilleMcLamb. Increase your chances even more with another entry by becoming a fan of Camille Victoria Weddings on Facebook and posting "DIY Bride" on our wall.
We will randomly select a winner on June 1st. If we don't hear back from the winner within one week, we will randomly select a new winner to make sure someone gets the prize! No purchase is necessary to enter.
Disclosure: Savers provided the $25 gift certificate for this giveaway.
Materials Needed:
An Assortment of Teacups
Spray Paint or Ceramic Paint
Small Potted Plants
Card Stock for personal message
Bamboo Skewers
Dust Mask
Directions:
1. Wash and dry each teacup to ensure they are free of dust.
2. Spray paint each teacup with several coats of paint on all sides. (Wear dust mask while doing this.)
3. When dry, fit a small potted plant inside each teacup.
4. Add your personal message, printed on cardstock and attached to the bamboo skewers.
And you're done!
This DIY idea came from Savers, the international chain of thrift stores. For this and other DIY wedding projects, go to: http://www.savers.com/Summer.aspx.
Giveaway!
If you're on a budget but want to try out this fun project, you're in luck! Savers has provided a $25 gift certificate for one of my lucky readers! There are Savers stores all over the United States, including one that just opened in Downers Grove and one that will be opening on May 19th in Naperville. You can scour the store for the teacups for this project or the materials for any DIY projects you plan to tackle.
To enter to win the Savers gift certificate, simply leave a comment to this post by May 31st with an e-mail address to contact if you win. You'll receive an additional entry if you become a follower on twitter and tweet the words "DIY" to us at @CamilleMcLamb. Increase your chances even more with another entry by becoming a fan of Camille Victoria Weddings on Facebook and posting "DIY Bride" on our wall.
We will randomly select a winner on June 1st. If we don't hear back from the winner within one week, we will randomly select a new winner to make sure someone gets the prize! No purchase is necessary to enter.
Disclosure: Savers provided the $25 gift certificate for this giveaway.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Royal Wedding Recap
Being in the wedding industry, I couldn't resist getting up at 4 a.m. to watch the Royal Wedding live. You certainly don't need me to give you low down on the designer of Kate's dress or the tiara that the Queen chose to lend her. Those details are all over the web right now. But here are some of the highlights of the big event for me:
Hats, hats, hats: Nearly all of the ladies in attendance at the ceremony wore spectacular hats.
Interestingly, the prime minister's wife, Samantha Cameron, did not wear a hat. And the prime minister himself who claimed he was going to wear a lounge suit (a regular suit in American terms), in the end, opted for the more traditional morning suit (tails in American terms).
The dress: No, not Kate's dress. Pippa's dress was what struck me. The maid of honor's dress was by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, but the real news is that it was white! Usually, it's a no-no for anyone at the wedding to wear white besides the bride. But, there certainly was no upstaging this bride, and I think white was the right choice for the maid of honor. First, her dress was a completely different silhouette than the bride's gown. And, because Pippa was responsible for carrying the bride's train, if she had worn color, she might have stood out more and broken up the flow of the train. In this case, white worked!
The bouquet: Kate looked gorgeous in her Sarah Burton gown with long lace sleeves and full skirt. But what I found interesting was the size of her bouquet. The bouquet was small and simple created by Shane Connolly. It contained a sprig of myrtle in accordance with royal tradition, along with sweet william, hyacinth, and lily-of-the-valley. At first glance, it seemed plain for such an elaborate affair, but it grew on me. And, ultimately, I liked the simplicity. It allowed the dress and Kate to really shine.
The decor: I loved that actual trees lined Westminster Abbey. It definitely created a wow effect, and they will apparently be planted at the Prince of Wales's Highgrove estate as a reminder of the big day.
The royal wedding can hardly be deemed simple. But if you took away the throngs of people, the royalty, the media, and the spectacular venue, you'd have classic simplicity. The flowers, the decor, the bridesmaid dress, and the gown were all elegant yet simple -- something that has to be admired for a couple that could have it all.
Hats, hats, hats: Nearly all of the ladies in attendance at the ceremony wore spectacular hats.
Interestingly, the prime minister's wife, Samantha Cameron, did not wear a hat. And the prime minister himself who claimed he was going to wear a lounge suit (a regular suit in American terms), in the end, opted for the more traditional morning suit (tails in American terms).
The dress: No, not Kate's dress. Pippa's dress was what struck me. The maid of honor's dress was by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, but the real news is that it was white! Usually, it's a no-no for anyone at the wedding to wear white besides the bride. But, there certainly was no upstaging this bride, and I think white was the right choice for the maid of honor. First, her dress was a completely different silhouette than the bride's gown. And, because Pippa was responsible for carrying the bride's train, if she had worn color, she might have stood out more and broken up the flow of the train. In this case, white worked!
The bouquet: Kate looked gorgeous in her Sarah Burton gown with long lace sleeves and full skirt. But what I found interesting was the size of her bouquet. The bouquet was small and simple created by Shane Connolly. It contained a sprig of myrtle in accordance with royal tradition, along with sweet william, hyacinth, and lily-of-the-valley. At first glance, it seemed plain for such an elaborate affair, but it grew on me. And, ultimately, I liked the simplicity. It allowed the dress and Kate to really shine.
The decor: I loved that actual trees lined Westminster Abbey. It definitely created a wow effect, and they will apparently be planted at the Prince of Wales's Highgrove estate as a reminder of the big day.
The royal wedding can hardly be deemed simple. But if you took away the throngs of people, the royalty, the media, and the spectacular venue, you'd have classic simplicity. The flowers, the decor, the bridesmaid dress, and the gown were all elegant yet simple -- something that has to be admired for a couple that could have it all.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Quick Tip: Wedding Entertainment for Kids
Having children at your wedding? You may be worried that the kids will get bored, restless, or hyper, which may lead to unwanted disruptions on your big day. Well, the best way to keep the kiddies out of trouble is to keep them entertained. If you're expecting a group of children that are close in age, you could have a kids play area at the reception with children's books, Legos, etc. Hire a babysitter to oversee the area and play with the kids. If that's not in your budget or the children will be more comfortable with their parents, simply providing coloring books and crayons at the kids' place settings will keep them happy and occupied.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Unique Chuppahs
Chuppahs are traditionally part of Jewish wedding ceremonies, symbolizing the openness of the couple's home. But "chuppah" literally means canopy and can be a beautiful focal point for any type of wedding ceremony. Creating a chuppah simply requires four poles and a cloth covering on top. But, today, chuppahs are often elaborately decorated to provide the primary decor for the ceremony. I came across these gorgeous, unique chuppahs that are great inspiration for designing a canopy for your own wedding.
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| Photo courtesy of Anne Appleman Flowers & Plants |
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| From Chuppah Direct |
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| Photo by Caroline Eller LLC; Chuppah by Andy Boyles |
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| Chuppah by Butterfly Floral & Event Design |
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