Wedding Trends That Take The Cake

Even the best laid wedding plans can go awry, as seen in these “Wedding Disaster” videos from YouTube.  Enjoy!

Here are a variety of wedding disasters…some are hilarious!

Trying to pick out your wedding gown? You may want to avoid these…

Remember…wedding vows are a serious matter. Apparently these brides forgot…

Feeling a little stressed? Check out these Bridezillas…

Ladies…don’t let your man make a grand entrance. At least not one like this!

Here, on the other hand, are some GREAT entrances…

Finally, here are some potential “Wedding Disasters” that you’ll have no control over, but if this happens at your wedding,  you’ll end up with your own YouTube viral video to share.

You might not be able to avoid every “Wedding Disaster,” but you can get started on the right foot by ordering your Affordable Wedding Invitations from Best Little Wedding Shop.

Lisa Bakewell

You’re engaged (Yay!), and you were looking forward to planning your wedding. What you hadn’t planned on, though, was the arguing that you and your husband-to-be would be been having over EVERYTHING!

Ah, engaged life. This period can be a minefield…where even the minute topics can trigger huge blow-ups!

Use these tips to ease some of the pressure:

The guest list keeps growing. His family’s guest list is growing well beyond what you both agreed on, and it’s putting a bulge in your budget. To resolve this issue, keep it about the money. Tell him that you don’t mind adding more guests to his family’s portion of the guest list (because you certainly don’t want to cut anyone out), but ask him if he’d mind asking his parents to chip in for the added cost. If your guest list continues to grow, too, you should ask your parents the same question.

He doesn’t care about the details. Most men are clueless when it comes to design and décor…and they really DON’T care what the table cloths look like or what flowers you choose. This doesn’t mean that you should give up on including your spouse-to-be, though.

Give him choices. If he’s not interested in the linens, maybe he’s interested in the menu. If he could care less about the invitations, maybe he’d like to offer input on the music or photographer.

Let your man know that it’s his day…as well as yours. Just let him choose where he’d like to be involved.

Now he cares too much! Well, you wanted him to be involved in the details, and now he is. What you didn’t expect, though, is that his involvement would drive you crazy!

In order to stay sane, prioritize the details. If a detail is minute, and he feels strongly about it, let him have the “win.”

Remember, it’s good practice to learn early on how to prioritize, negotiate…AND compromise. These are all life skills that will come in handy after your wedding day.

You can’t agree on where to spend the big bucks. You want to spend it on your dress. He wants to spend it on a fantastic honeymoon. How do you decide?

Sit down with him, like two adults, and work out the finances of your wedding together…before you go dress shopping. After all, your dress is for you, the honeymoon is for both of you.

If he doesn’t care, though, then go for it! But have this discussion before you fall in love with the dress that costs as much as a trip to Europe.

His best man irks you. Sure, the guy’s been his friend since college, but you can’t stand him! Well, this time it’s important to be supportive, but also sensible.

If your groom’s best buddy is only about the party, respect their bond, but make sure you have some reliable and supportive guys around to help keep things under control. Arrange for your brother or another male friend to help your man resist the ploys of his best man. You might also share your anxiety with your guy, so that you can handle the situation together, if trouble does rear its ugly head.

Come back next week for Part 2 of Wedding Planning: Tips to Tone Down Tension.

With so many Affordable Wedding Invitations available at Best Little Wedding Shop, you and your man are bound to agree on one of them.

Lisa Bakewell

In Wedding Traditions from Around the World, Part 1, we discussed how wedding traditions and customs vary from one country and culture to another, and that each one is special and celebrates the marriage bond of the newlyweds. Here are some other traditions from around the world:

ENGLAND

• Tossing the bouquet is a tradition stemming from England. Women used to try to rip pieces of the bride’s dress and flowers to obtain good luck, so to escape from the crowd, the bride would toss her bouquet and run away.

• Anglo-Saxon Englishmen often had to defend their brides, so the bride would stand to the left of her groom allowing his sword arm to be free.

• The bridal party was originally established to fool evil spirits. The bride’s friends dressed similarly in order to confuse them and to ward off bad luck.

FINLAND

• The bride walks from house to house with a pillowcase to collect her wedding presents while a married man walks beside her with an umbrella, which symbolizes protection and shelter.

• The bride wears a golden crown during the reception and is blindfolded. She’s then spun around, while unmarried girls dance around her. The one she crowns is thought to be the next one who will get married.

FRANCE

• The wedding couple drinks from the traditional two-handled wedding cup called the “coup de marriage” denoting togetherness.

• On the wedding night, pots and pans are banged together as a way of disturbing the newlyweds.  The groom invites the jokesters in for refreshments.

GERMANY

• To make the wedding night as difficult as possible, friends of the couple do lots of funny or sometimes cruel things. They might fill up the room with balloons, take the bed apart or hide lots of alarm clocks in,

• Friends sometimes kidnap the bride, and the groom has to find her.

• The Polterabend is an informal party held the evening before the wedding. Plates and dishes are smashed, and the broken pieces are thought to bring good luck to the bride.

GREECE

• The mother of the bride spends years collecting various household items for her daughter’s dowry. Once the dowry has been presented to the couple, friends volunteer to set up and decorate the newlyweds’ home.

• The bride and groom are honored as queen and king for the day. They wear crowns made of either gold or orange blossoms connected with ribbons, which signify the couple’s union.

• Once the wedding is over, the bride and groom walk around the altar three times symbolizing the trinity.

ITALY

• The bride does not wear any gold. It is considered bad luck.

• Sunday weddings are believed to be the luckiest.

• To ward off envious people, the groom carries a piece of iron.

• At the reception, the men are supposed to kiss the bride for good luck…and to make the groom jealous.

• To start the festivities, strong drinks are served to toast the couple with “Per Cent’anni” which means “for 100 years.”

JAPAN

• Brides wear purple dresses. Purple is considered the color of love.

• The bridal couple takes nine sips of sake. They sit across the table from each other, looking directly into the eyes of the other, taking a sip at the same moment and being very careful to set the cup down on the table at the same time.  It is believed that this will keep one from dying before the other.

KOREA

• The groom’s family welcomes the bride in a private ceremony.

• The bride wears a multicolored silk dress with white sleeves and a black silk crown.

• The bride is made up with red points on her cheeks to scare away bad spirits.

• One important part of the wedding ceremony is the sharing of a special white wine (jung jong), which is poured from cups made from two halves of a gourd made by the bride’s mom.

NORWAY

• Friends and neighbors plant small pine trees on either side of the bride and groom, which symbolize fertility.

• The bride wears a silver crown and silver charms. The music created by the charms is supposed to ward off evil spirits.

• The wedding cake (Brudlaupskling) is made of flour and a mixture of cheese, and cream and syrup are added to it.

PHILIPPINES

• The groom throws a spear onto the front step of his bride’s house to let everyone know about the intended marriage.

• The bride’s gown is often custom made, and it is bad luck for her to try it on before the wedding.

• Pearl jewelry is considered a bad omen.

• The groom presents his bride with 13 gold pieces as a pledge of his dedication to his wife and the welfare of his children.

• Knives and other sharp objects are not given as gifts because it is believed that they will lead to a broken marriage.

• Raindrops are considered lucky because they bring prosperity and happiness. Rice, when thrown after the wedding represents rain.

• It is considered bad luck if the groom does not arrive before the bride.

RUSSIA

• Russian law does not recognize church weddings, so couples wishing to marry must have a civil wedding ceremony.

• After the civil ceremony, the couple takes a tour of the city visiting memorials of those who have died.

• The traditional wedding in Russia lasts two days.

• The bride and groom usually tie a doll to the wedding car if they wish their first child to be a girl and a teddy bear if they want a boy.

SCOTLAND

• Grooms carry a large basket filled with stones (on his back) from one end of the village to the other till the bride comes out and kisses him.

• Bagpipes are played during the parade.

• The groom wears his traditional kilt.

• When the wedding vows are completed, the groom pins a strip of his clan’s tartan color to the bride’s dress…signifying that she has become a member of his tribe.

SWEDEN

• The mother of the bride places a gold coin in the bride’s right shoe, and her father places a silver coin in her left shoe. This ensures that their daughter will never be poor.

• The groom presents his bride with three gold rings…an engagement ring, a wedding ring and a motherhood ring.

• Imaginary trolls were once thought to bring misfortune to the wedding couple, so they were kept away by the bride and her bridesmaids by carrying bouquets of pungent herbs and stinking weeds.

Photo Invitations are a great way to show the world how you and your man feel about each other. They make great keepsakes too!

Lisa Bakewell

As you plan your wedding, you’ll also need to decide what types of gifts you’d like to receive. Why not consider gifts for a greener home? Why not choose bamboo gifts?

Bamboo is a fast growing and renewable grass that has inspired a variety of Eco-friendly gifts that would make perfect wedding gifts. Some bamboo gift ideas include:

Bamboo Rugs
Bamboo Place Mats
Bamboo Coasters
Bamboo Wind Chimes
Bamboo Bath Towels
Bamboo Bed Sheets
Bamboo Duvet Covers
Bamboo Cutting Boards
Bamboo Utensils
Bamboo Candle Holders
Bamboo Light Fixtures & Wall Sconces
Bamboo Serving Bowls
Bamboo Fountains
Bamboo Tables
Bamboo Chairs
Bamboo Clothing

You might also consider these household gadgets to green up your wedding gift registry and save the Earth’s resources…not to mention your own resources.

Rechargeable Solar Flashlight
Water Powered Alarm Clock
Solar Batteries and Battery Charger

Green Earth Bamboo has a great assortment of Bamboo Bath Towels, Bamboo Bed Sheets, Bamboo Duvet Covers and Bamboo Clothing to choose from. Here’s a sampling of what they have to offer.

Duvet Covers 

Unlike other duvet covers – this is the softest duvet cover you will ever own! Plus it’s hypoallergenic, wicks away sweat and is made from the world’s most sustainable resource!

Soft and luxurious organic duvet covers made from 100% viscose from bamboo. These bamboo duvets come in a beautiful, earthy color selection to coordinate with your other bamboo bedding selections. Duvet covers are fashioned with button closures and interior ties. This organic duvet is a perfect reflection of your eco-friendly life style. Simply slip your new duvet cover over your bed comforter and save money on having to dryclean your down comforter, when you can easily toss your bamboo duvet in the washing machine! If you’ve never owned a duvet cover, you will be amazed at how convenient it is and what a nice touch it can add to any bedroom. Feel the luxury of soft bamboo first hand and it will surely become your favorite fabric. Softer than cotton, cashmere and silk, our bamboo duvet is hypoallergenic, breathable and resists odor.

Bamboo bed sheets  

100% Viscose from Bamboo Sheets are so luxurious and soft you’ll never want to sleep on another fabric again! Made from an organic and eco-friendly source, these incredible sheets are terrific for people who have skin allergies. All of Green Earth Bamboo’s bedding has natural wicking abilities to absorb much better than other fabrics, therefore making them especially nice for those with night sweats.

Aside from the fact that viscose from bamboo is so comfortable and soft, it’s nearly indescribable until you’ve tried it for yourself. Green Earth Bamboo’s  beautiful bamboo bed sheets come in a variety of earthy colors, and go wonderfully well with Green Earth’s other bamboo bedding, such as a beautiful bamboo bedspread coverlet, duvet cover, pillow shams and pillowcases. Create a bamboo bedroom that’s luxurious and cozy for you.

Bath towels 

Wrap yourself in pure luxury with organic bamboo towels that are ultra soft and super absorbent. Green Earth Bamboo’s bath towels come in three beautiful colors to complete your bamboo bathroom. Their towels are so soft and comfortable you will want extra sets for everyone in the family, and extra sets of hand towels for your powder rooms. If you have the luxury of a jacuzzi, whirlpool or hot tub you will most certainly want a couple of the bamboo bath sheets in the extra large size.

Bamboo clothing  

Green Earth Bamboo has fashionable women’s bamboo clothing that you’ll love! Super comfortable, stylish and made from an environmentally friendly source, bamboo clothing is ultra soft and cozy, super absorbent and breathable, and it naturally resists odor–keeping you feeling fresh all day long.

Viscose from bamboo is also temperature regulating , so you stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. And organic bamboo is a pesticide-free, sustainable and renewable resource.

To learn more about the wonderful qualities of Bamboo, please visit our Bamboo Facts section for a wealth of information on organic fabrics and how bamboo takes the lead as the fabric of our future.

Lisa Bakewell

Recycled Paper Wedding Invitations…

Looking for a wedding invitation that has Mother Nature’s seal of approval? Best Little Wedding Shop has a great collection of Eco-friendly, recycled paper wedding invitations, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice style to “go green”! Order your favorite design today and do your part to help save the environment!

One of the most obvious ways to make your wedding invitations Eco-friendly is to use recycled paper. Recycled paper has greatly improved in durability and quality, and when one ton of 100-percent recycled paper is used, it saves 7,000 gallons of water and enough energy to power an average home for six months. Recycled paper also saves about 17 trees from being cut down to make the paper.

Naturally Ever After Wedding Invitations® come in unique styles and themes that you’ll fall in love with! This unique “designer line” offers Eco-friendly wedding invitations with natural earthy tones which are stunning!

Other Green Trends…

Seeded paper is also a trend in Eco-friendly paper products. They also make a unique wedding invitation that your guests will love, since your guests will be able to plant your wedding invitation! Seeded paper is handmade and contains a mix of wildflower seeds. Pressure is carefully controlled during the production of the invitation to help guarantee seed germination. Once you’re guest is ready to plant the flowers, all they have to do is plant the wedding invitation in a pot or in a sunny spot in their garden.

Another option for an Eco-friendly wedding invitation is one made of tree-free paper–paper made without using wood. Today, tree-free paper accounts for about one third of paper produced in developing countries. Plants like the African kenaf, hemp, flax and cotton are all used to make tree-free paper. Crop leftovers like rice and banana stalk fibers can be used, as well as cotton rags.

Looking for Eco-Friendly Wedding Gifts?

If you are looking for eco-friendly wedding gifts, try Green Earth Bamboo for bamboo sheets, bamboo clothing, bamboo towels and bamboo socks.

Seems that everyone wants a summer wedding, but creating and having a romantic winter wedding can be both glamorous and magical. Create your winter wonderland wedding by using these tips!

Attire

Why not create a romantic, Hollywood feel to your big day? Put your groom in long black tails and pick a golden-era-styled dress for yourself. Paired with a white faux fur wrap or a red silk cape, you will be stunning! For jewelry, consider anything diamond or diamond-like to add sparkle and shine.

For bridesmaid dresses, you may want to pick dresses with rich fabrics, such as satin, heavy silk, brocade or velvet. And don’t forget an attractive wrap for the bridesmaids to wear on the day of your wedding. This would make a great bridesmaid present, as well.

Location

You can get super-creative with location for your winter wedding. Why not choose a bed and breakfast, a lodge or inn with a fireplace or an historic mansion? Be sure to find out what seasonal decorations your wedding venue uses too. You may be able to save a lot of money if your wedding site is already heavily decorated for the season!

Invitations

Wintry motifs make a great theme for your wedding invitations. Also, you could go with metallics or white on white for a dramatic announcement of your big day. Check out these great invitations from Best Little Wedding Shop.

Menu

Go ahead offer the chicken or steak as your entrée, but consider adding wintry touches to your menu, such as pumpkin soup or a squash dish. Also, consider serving hot chocolate, eggnog, spiced wine or mixed coffee drinks.

Cake

Choose a white on white cake and decorate with marzipan snowflakes, Swiss dots, fresh white poinsettias or a snow globe. If you’d rather not have a traditional cake, though, why not choose a rich dark chocolate cake or a cheesecake with a raspberry filling or sauce? Not in the mood for cake at all? Chocolate covered cherries or strawberries might be just what you’re after!

Flowers

Winter flowers offer you an abundance of choices. Want an elegant look? Go for silver and white. Flowers you might use include dusty miller, baby blue eucalyptus, white roses, white mums or beautiful lilies. If you’d like to celebrate the season with more color, consider red and green. Using red roses, ornamental berries and holly and pine greenery will give your bouquets and flower arrangements a festive look.

Décor

Simply decorating your tables with white poinsettias will set a wintry mood to your reception. Also, pillar candles with pine branches or cranberries paired with floating candles will do the trick. Consider using strands of small white lights strung around doorways, over tables and on archways to add a rich and festive mood.

Favors

Favors for winter-themed weddings offer a lot of inexpensive choices. Why not give an ornament or a snow globe featuring a bride and groom? Also, inexpensive cocoa mixes in an attractive tin would work nicely. Sweets, such as cookies or candy would make a nice treat, as well. 

Things to Consider

Winter weather can be a problem depending on your location. Make sure that your guests don’t have to walk too far or spend a lot of time outside.

Make sure your receiving line keeps your guests out of the cold. If your ceremony space has a large entryway or vestibule, you may be able to wait there and have your guests greet you after the ceremony. If you hold the receiving line at the reception, make sure you’re far enough inside the building, so that guests won’t have to wait outside if the line gets backed up.

Remember to consider the holiday travel season when planning your wedding. Lots of commitments and higher travel costs might make it inconvenient for your guests to attend a late December or early January wedding. Book your date and get your save the date cards out early.

Lisa Bakewell

Thanksgiving is one of the biggest “get-together” holidays, and since your family may already be celebrating, why not consider making it your wedding day? It’s the perfect occasion for an elegant, yet relaxed celebration, because autumn offers natural, simple décor and great, inexpensive comfort foods. Consider using these creative tips to plan your Thanksgiving–wedding style!

Flowers and Décor:

Since this time of year is naturally beautiful, lean on Mother Nature for your decorations, and choose warm wedding and reception colors.

• Incorporate reds, rusts, oranges, yellows, browns, gold, cream, wine, and burgundy into the theme of your wedding. They are rich, deep and warm–and very inviting.
• Choose table runners that accentuate the colors of the wedding.
• Dim the lights to foster the “at home” feeling.
• For centerpieces, lay a few leaves around the table.
• Use fall flowers like mums, yarrow, daises, and roses, dahlias, lilies, yarrow, orchids, hydrangeas, sunflowers, baby’s breath, colored leaves, to create decorations and bouquets.pheasant feathers, tallow berries, and dried wheat to your bridal bouquets and decorations to complete the autumn look.
• Group gourds and pumpkins around the room. Remember, pumpkins are not only orange. You can find white and blueish ones, as well.
• Carve out pumpkins and put votive candles inside.
• Use leaf or pumpkin shaped floating candles in a bowl placed on a autumn decorated plate.
• Lay out seasonal fruits sprayed with a golden sparkle on gold plates with votive candles randomly placed on top.
• Fill cornucopias with seasonal produce and plants.
• Create a white candle arrangement mixed with cinnamon sticks tied with fall colored ribbons.
• Create a posh Thanksgiving ambiance by draping lush velvet throughout your party space.

The Meal:

The Thanksgiving wedding meal should be pretty easy. There’s no need to try to be creative since many guests look forward to turkey with all the trimmings.

You might also consider serving:

• Warm apple cider or mulled wine for a seasonal flavor
• Soup in a hallowed out pumpkin is unique and festive
• Desserts such as pumpkin pie or a baked apple desert–or even a tiered pumpkin pie!

Tip: Consider incorporating your family recipes into your wedding menu, and serving the meal family style.

Attire:

Dress for you Thanksgiving wedding can be either casual or formal.

• Choose a wedding dress in off white or cream with gold beading or leafy embroidery.
• Consider wearing a warm shawl to cover your shoulders since the weather will be cool.
• Choose fall colors in a warm material for bridesmaid dresses. You may also want to consider long sleeves.
• Tan, beige, or brown tuxes with ties that match the bridesmaids fall color dresses will work well for the groomsmen.

Favors:

• Make homemade goodies like fudge, candy apples, or jams and present them in festive packaging.
• Fill mini burlap bags with coffee beans, bulbs, or other treats. Use a label with your monogram or wedding date and secure with a ribbon.
• Give miniature bottles of maple syrup as a sweet treat.
• Fill miniature wood crates lined with straw with goodies for a rustic touch.

Invitations and Stationery:

• Send out save the date cards as soon as possible since your wedding will fall on a holiday weekend.
• Dress up ordinary wedding invitations and wedding with inexpensive silk fall leaves included in each mailing.
• Emboss off white or ivory invitations with pressed autumn leaves for a beautiful touch.

For a great selection of Save the Date Cards and Wedding Invitations, visit the Best Little Wedding Shop website.

Lisa Bakewell

Fred Marcus Photography/Getty

Ivanka Trump wed Jared Kushner, publisher of the New York Observer, in a ceremony at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., on Sunday, October 25, 2009. Ivanka walked down the aisle in a Vera Wang gown inspired by Grace Kelly. At the reception, more than 500 guests, including Regis Philbin, helped the bride and groom celebrate.

The My So-Called Life star, Claire Danes, married Hugh Dancy early September in France. Claire, 30, and Hugh, 34, were married in a low-key ceremony with just their families and a few close friends, a source told Life & Style magazine. The Romeo and Juliet star met Hugh while the pair were shooting the film Evening two years ago and only announced their engagement in February.

The showbiz-savvy couple, Jaime Pressly and Simran Singh (she’s an Emmy winner and and he’s an entertainment lawyer) swapped vows in Malibu September 26, 2009. Guests including Pressly’s 2-year-old son Dezi James attended the 6 p.m. ceremony on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The bride wore a dress by British designer Jenny Packham. The ceremony was held at the Dick Clark estate, the site of Adam Sandler’s wedding in 2003. Last November Pressly, 32, split with longtime fiancé Eric Cubiche, the father of her son.

The popular first-season American Idol contestant, Justin Guarini, wed his biggest fan, Reina Capodici, on September 26, 2009 near the couple’s home in Pennsylvania. According to People, Guarini, 30, the runner-up to Kelly Clarkson in the first season of American Idol, and his new bride, 27, attended high school together but only started dating after reconnecting in the past few years. The intimate wedding was presided over by a female minister from the Universalist Church. The couple said vows that they wrote.

Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks married actor Geoffrey Arend at Il Buco restaurant in New York on October 11, 2009. They were engaged earlier this year after being introduced by Mad Men costar Vincent Kartheiser. The bride wore a Carolina Herrera ivory gown.

The Nine Inch Nails star, Trent Reznor, broke Goth hearts everywhere when he married, Mariqueen Maandig, the former West Indian Girl singer on October 17, 2009. The couple, who officially announced their engagement on Nine Inch Nails website back in May, have not made a statement yet. Trent’s bandmate, Danny Lohner, though, made it public by tweeting: “Goths the world over will mourn this day–off to a wedding. ” He later posted a photo of the newlyweds dancing with the caption, “CONGRATS my nagguh!”

Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss married Saturday Night Live funnyman Fred Armisen. Engaged since January, the two were wed on October 25, 2009 in front of friends and family at The Foundry in Long Island City, New York. Whoopi Goldberg first broke news of their nuptials on The View Monday morning.

To find items for your celebrity-style wedding, visit Best Little Wedding Shop!

Lisa Bakewell

As wedding costs skyrocket–about $27,000 today–wedding insurance (though another added expense) is almost a necessity. Not only will wedding insurance allow you recoup out-of-pocket expenses in the event of an unforeseen disaster–causing you to postpone or cancel you wedding–it will also give you peace of mind.

Wedding insurance is an insurance policy that protects you from financial loss due to wedding cancellation, postponement or other circumstances beyond your control–such as vendor loss.

Not all wedding insurance policies provide the same coverage, so check with each of the companies you’re considering for specific details of their policies. Make sure that their coverage fits your needs.

Typical wedding insurance coverage might include:

In case of rain or other bad weather, a wedding insurance policy should cover the cost of rescheduling.

If you, your groom or another essential part of your wedding party becomes ill or injured (and causes the wedding to be postponed), the expenses incurred should be covered. Also, an airline flight of a key person in the wedding is cancelled, insurance may cover the costs of rescheduling the wedding. as well.

If your wedding officiant doesn’t show up, you may be able to recoup some of your costs.

If your photographer, florist, caterer, limo driver or other vendor is a no-show, you’ll recover some of your costs–and possibly the costs of rescheduling your wedding. Also, if one of your vendors goes out of business before your wedding, you may be covered for non-refundable deposits.

If your ceremony and/or reception site doesn’t have their own insurance, your wedding insurance policy can cover damages due to fire, electrical or mechanical problems. Also, if they go out of business, insurance may cover the cost of rescheduling your wedding.

Suplemental Wedding Insurance is just that…supplemental. It can be purchased in addition to your regular wedding insurance policy for more specific coverage.  Supplemental insurance can cover:

If you or your groom are in the military or on active reserves, you may want to be insured in case either of you are called to duty suddenl, and the wedding is postponed.

If you have a problem getting your wedding photos from the photographer, or the pictures are of poor quality, supplemental wedding insurance could cover the cost of recreating key wedding moments, including cutting the cake, recreating your floral arrangements and having key people present for photo re-shoots.

Supplemental insurance can cover loss and damage of gowns and tuxedos. It could also include reimbursing you if the store goes out of business.

If your homeowners or renters insurance doesn’t cover loss or theft of wedding gifts, you may want to protect yourself with supplemental insurance.

Most sites carry liability insurance, but if you’re having your wedding at home or the location isn’t covered, you’ll want to be protected in case a guest gets hurt or hurts someone else.

Protect yourself against honeymoon cancellation due to illness, bad weather or other unfortunate circumstances.

Wedding insurance does not cover loss because of cold feet or for circumstances that were already present before the policy was purchased.

Wedding Insurance policies are relatively inexpensive. A basic policy might cost between $125-$500.

When you’re shopping around for your wedding insurance policy, make sure:

• The insurance company has a license;
• To ask how much they reimburse for different types of loss;
• They offer supplemental coverage; and
• Find out what kinds of supplemental coverage that they offer.

Check each of your contracts. If they don’t include coverage to protect you and your groom against loss and wedding postponement, you should consider purchasing wedding insurance, supplemental wedding insurance and, possibly, liability insurance. The key, though, is to tailor your insurance to your own particular needs.

For other wedding planning ideas, check out these planning resources at Best Little Wedding Shop.

Lisa Bakewell

Traditionally, the most popular day for a wedding is Saturday, which makes for tough competition when it comes to securing venues and services for your big day. To avoid hearing “that date has already been booked,” why not plan an “off-day” wedding instead? Not only will you have a better chance of having your wedding on the date of your choice, it also makes economic sense because:

Keep in mind, too, that restaurants are usually thrilled to have rehearsal dinners booked on Thursdays or other evenings during the week. These are, typically, their slower business days, so you’ll find that the staff will be more attentive to your party’s needs, and the atmosphere will be more relaxed.

Another reason for the growing popularity of off-day weddings is that benefits you, your family, and your friends.

By now, you may be thinking that an off-day wedding sounds like a terrific idea for you and your soon-to-be-spouse. If this is the case, you’ll not only save money, you’ll be able to enjoy more time with your loved ones and you’ll most likely hear “Yes” from vendors and service providers instead of “We’re already booked.” Here are a few things to keep in mind, though:

If all of this advice sounds good to you…go ahead and buck the traditional Saturday wedding!

Lisa Bakewell