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Types of Wedding Venues

If you’re planning a wedding and have yet to choose a venue, a simple internet search will reveal an overwhelming amount of choices of venues in your area. Before you walk down the aisle, it’s important to consider a few tips about the different types of wedding venues before settling for one. The different types of wedding venues range from a hotel and house of worship to botanical gardens, state park, private residence, beach and winery or vineyard.

Types of Wedding Venues

The most popular types of wedding venues include:

House of Worship

If you’re opting for a religious wedding, hosting the ceremony in a house of worship is a great way to celebrate your union. These sacred places work well for traditional weddings. They’re typically available for ceremonies only, but many offer event space where you can host your reception as well.

HotelTypes of Wedding Venues

Hotels make great wedding venues, especially if you’re hosting out-of-town guests. It’s a convenient way to stay on-site so no one has to worry about transportation costs. The hotel also makes a great venue for taking photos of the bride. 

Make a Guest List

Start by making a guest list. Assign them a ranking based on how important it is for them to attend your wedding. For example, one group can have family and close friends while another group can have old school buddies and co-workers. Add the lists and see how many people you would like to attend the wedding. Determining the approximate number of people will help you to search for a venue that can accommodate your guests.

Not All Budgets Are Apples to Apples

Rental prices will vary from one venue to another. For instance, some venues will include a coordinator. Others will include chairs, tables, and linens so you won’t have to spend extra to hire them. Some locations will allow you to serve your own drinks and refreshments while others will provide all the drinks and refreshments so you won’t have to deal with it. Don’t discount a venue because of the price tag. Many venues have a list of preferred vendors that can give you amazing discounts.

Consider a Rain Plan

Your venue of choice may look great on a sunny day but it always helps to brace yourself for inclement weather. The trick is to have a backup plan. For instance, if you go with a tent during hurricane season, you might have to arrange for an indoor location in the event of a tropical storm. Even though tropical storms are rare, there’s no harm in preparing for the worst just in case.

Handicap/ Ada Access

Some historic buildings are gorgeous but some of them can have special building permits that don’t require them to have access for handicap guests. This may require you to make special arrangements, especially if your guests need to have ramps to access the building.

Bottom Line

If you are recently engaged and looking for a wedding venue other popular types of wedding venues include a country club, mansion, restaurant, loft/modern space, and a park/ garden. Each location has its own pros and cons. The most critical thing, however, is to consider what’s most important for your day.

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Indie Songs to Walk Down the Aisle To

Your wedding day is a unique day to celebrate the union between you and your loved one. And it goes without saying that most weddings have friends, family, colleagues and all other people who are important to the couple at their weddings. But one of the most important things to consider is the music. You need to know in advance what music you’ll walk down the aisle. While some people still prefer traditional songs such as Wagner’s “bridal chorus”, trends have changed. Here are a few adorable indie songs to walk down the aisle to:

Indie Songs to Walk Down the Aisle To

It important to choose the right songs for your wedding. From asking the DJ the right questions, to selecting your genre, wedding music can make or break your wedding. 

Love-Lana Del Rey

This song is about being young and in love.  It’s pretty much what you’d expect from Lana Del Rey and it’s an effortless show of her gift for transmuting nostalgia into presence. In so many ways, this song evokes several emotions of desire and meditation.

You’ve Got the Love – Florence + The Machine

As exhilarating and as bracing as it can be, this song can work pretty well as a processional song. The song is a remix of the song titled You Got the Love by Candi Staton but Florence manages to do it so well.

I Wanna Be Yours – Arctic Monkeys

This song has been very useful in the world of romance. The song is slow and the lyrics are sad but it’s also full of desire. This was the first song the Arctic Monkeys recorded with a drum machine and it’s a perfect tune for walking down the aisle.

Sea of Love – Cat PowerIndie Songs to Walk Down the Aisle To

Cat Power makes music that many people want to listen to. It’s sweet to the ears and she knows so well how to convey emotion in her voice. The song is powerful yet vulnerable at the same time, something you want to listen to when walking down the aisle.

All About Your Heart – Mindy Gledhill

There’s something about this song that makes you want to listen to it over and over again. This song will have you hooked. It’s beautiful and inspiring. Simply put: it’s the perfect processional song. Knowing the story makes it even more powerful.

Lifetimes – Oh Wonder

Lifetimes is a euphoric song with soothing harmonies and pounding drums. It features delicate high tones with a distinctive chorus. The repetitive line ‘doing it right’ just sums up the whole song, which makes it an ideal song for probably the most special day in your life.

Bottom Line

Those are just some of the indie songs to walk down the aisle to.  Others to consider include The Girl by City & Color, Somebody Loved by The Weepies and Yours Forever by Generationals, among others. Today, the idea of a traditional bride and groom wedding is far gone. Gone are the days when you would attend a wedding and hear the same songs that have for decades been at the top of the list for wedding songs. Times are changing and it’s not surprising for people to express their personalities in their choice of songs.

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Unusual Wedding Songs to Walk Down the Aisle

If you’re planning to make your wedding much more fun and memorable, your choice of music is one of the easiest ways to go about it. There are plenty of classic melodies that have stood the test of time, but there are equally unique songs that will keep everyone talking about your wedding for decades to come. Here are a few unusual wedding songs to walk down the aisle.

Unusual Wedding Songs to Walk Down the Aisle

XO – John Mayer

If you love Beyoncé, then this is a great unique Beyoncé cover by John Mayer that you should consider for your wedding. It’s an amazing song through and through, featuring John Mayer’s laid-back breathy vocals. This song is perfect for romantic moments and you should consider playing it when walking down the aisle or when the wedding is winding down and everyone is getting ready to head home.

Halo – Lotte Kestner

This song is a slowed down cover of Beyoncé’s song Halo. This cover by Lotte Kestner is both haunting and enchanting. Her voice is amazing and completely transforms this acoustic wedding song into something that is almost Unusual Wedding Songs to Walk Down the Aisleunrecognizable but beautiful nonetheless.

Give A Little Love – Noah And the Whale

This song is not only romantic but the vocals are amazing. Make your wedding unique by playing this song when walking down the aisle, at the reception during your first dance or later in the evening when most of the day’s events are over and people are relaxed.

She’s the One – Robbie Williams

When hiring a wedding DJ, it’s likely they’ll have a Robbie Williams song somewhere in the playlist. This song, however, is a timeless classic and you can’t get more romantic than this. If you and your partner love slow dance songs, then this is a perfect song to add to your wedding playlist.

Perfect – Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran has plenty of wedding songs but if you want something truly unique, this song fits the bill. Anyone who hears this song will instantly recognize its greatness and your guests will be smiling from ear to ear. It’s an amazing love song that is great for just about any couple’s walk down the aisle.

Lucky – Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat

In addition to being a beautiful song, this ballad has the perfect lyrics. It’s incredibly special and can be fitted into most wedding playlists.

Can’t Help Falling in Love – Haley Reinhart

If you’re looking for something that’s certified gold and unique, then you’ll never go wrong with this song. It has great lyrics that many people with resonate with. Keep your guests entertained and make your wedding memorable by incorporating this song into your playlist.

There are plenty of other unusual wedding songs to walk down the aisle. Ultimately, it’s all about making your big day special. Don’t be afraid to try something that has never been tried before as every wedding is as unique as we all are. Compile your list early enough and make sure your DJ or band has the song.

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Wedding Photography Tips for Brides – Capturing the Important Moments

Your wedding photos will be one of the most endearing memories that you’ll have from your big day. It creates beautiful memories that last forever. The album represents a solid record that can be shared over the next generations. Hence, you should put a lot of effort into planning out your wedding photos since you’ll have them for a lifetime. Below is a guide to how you can make your wedding photos authentically yours and some wedding photography tips for brides.

Wedding Photography Tips

Be Prepared for the Unexpected

Wedding Photography Tips for Brides

Anything is possible on your wedding day. Things may take longer than expected or may not go according to plan. Expect to get dressed late, your cake damaged, flowers arriving late among other possible misfortunes. However, you need to understand that mishaps happen. Since weddings tend to be complex, it’s important to set a realistic schedule with extra time for a wedding photography session. This way, you’ll be able to know that there is a set time for every thing that’ll go on on your big day.

Let Your Guest List Take Account of the Photographers

Including them will be advantageous to both of you. First, it will give the photographers enough time to prepare for the shoot. Secondly, an invitation will guarantee a place for your photographers ensuring every moment has been captured.

Transportation

Arrange for inclusive means of transportation with your photographers. They should move with you wherever at whatever point you go. If possible, let them ride with you in the limo to the wedding or reception.

Artistic Portraits

Time is of the essence when it comes to making creative portraits. Ensure to spare at least an hour doing this. The photographer will guide you in every step. Patience and determination is the key to making these creative portraits.

Spare Enough Time for Hair and Make-Up

It’s important to confirm with your artists on how long it will take to complete your hair and makeup as the delays will definitely drag the big day behind. Always have a plan to complete the process before the program begins. Spare at least an hour to get your hair and makeup done. Doing this will ensure you have enough time for a photo session.

Get Ready

It’s important to decide on how you will ready during the wedding day. Decide if you want a peaceful and lonely morning, a morning with a few friends around you or getting ready in a filled room. Every preparation comes with unique motivation and a different environment.

Family Group Shoot

It’s advisable to take family group shoots immediately once the ceremony is over. In case you have large groups, then consider taking photos at the reception.

Indoor Receptions

Indoor receptions will require more illumination. Ensure you blend the right colors to match your wedding décor. For instance, pink, purple and orange colors will do wonders. Avoid low lighting such as green.

Tent Receptions

Tents are an ideal choice when it comes to wedding photography. The white canvas provides a good background when taking photos. Complement it with lots of candles and gleaming lights.

Outdoor Receptions

This type of receptions requires extra illumination to help warm up your photos. It also adds an element of liveliness to your album. Consider using lots of candles in hurricane vases to make it work.

Church Celebrations

It’s important to check with your church whether they allow photography. A professional photographer is flexible to work anywhere, a concept which may be different from what your church is used to.

The Bottom Line

With these wedding photography tips for brides, you should be well prepared for your big day. Be sure to plan in advance and come up with a realistic schedule to stick to, and you should be able to make the most out of the wedding photos that you’ll keep for a lifetime.