So, You're Thinking About a Double Wedding?

With the cost of weddings being what they are, planning and paying for two weddings at the same time is more than most families can manage. Inevitably, someone will suggest, Hey - why not make it a double wedding? Depending on the people involved, this can either be a winning idea or a total disaster in the making. These are the pros and cons of double weddings.
There can be several significant advantages to shared weddings. The first is certainly cost. Rather than pay to entertain the same family members twice, why not save money by doing it all at once? Do not, however, expect that you can throw a wedding for two couples for the same price as a celebration for one couple. You will definitely need a larger venue, and while you will only have food and drink costs for the bride's family one time, there will be a guest list for each groom's family as well. And of course a larger venue means more flowers, more linen rentals, and possibly even a bigger band or more powerful sound system. Naturally, there will be two wedding gowns and bridal jewelry sets as well. While a shared reception will not be half the price of two solo parties, you can still realistically save around 1/4 to 1/3 over two separate events, which will add up to thousands of dollars.
It is not only the parents of the brides-to-be who can find a double wedding to be a better value. For out of town family members who would have been invited to both events, their costs will be cut in half (except for the wedding gifts). Not only will your family save money, but also time. When two sisters are planning weddings which are close together, it is not only the expense of travel that can become difficult, but making the time for two separate trips. Having an all-in-one affair will definitely make it easier for your loved ones to attend. It will also avoid the possibility of hurt feelings when guests accept for one sister's wedding but decline the other because it is not feasible for them to attend both.
Of course, there can be some pretty serious cons to a double wedding. Before committing to the concept of planning a joint wedding, carefully consider how you and your sister see the world. The biggest issue is when the pair of sisters does not share the same vision of the perfect wedding. Do you both tend to like the same styles of clothing, similar colors, the same types of places? Do you work well together, with a good balance of give and take, or is there one sister who always has to get her way? If you are both now pointing at your sister, saying, "Her!", you are likely to find agreeing on wedding plans to be a rocky road! Also, do be honest with yourself; if you really long to be the center of attention on your wedding day, how will you feel about sharing the spotlight?
For those sisters who do ultimately decide to have a double wedding, there are a few things which may help it go more smoothly. Agree on a unified vision for the decorations and meal, but each sister can still show her individuality when it comes to the bridal gowns, jewelry sets, and her bridesmaid attire. Think coordinated, but not matching. To head off any arguments, the older sister's name goes first on the invitation and she exchanges her vows first. Work with your officiant to weave the two sets of vows into one ceremony to spare your guests having to endure two full ceremonies back-to-back. Once you get to the reception, a double wedding can result in one huge and wonderful party, so be sure to enjoy it to the fullest!

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The Wedding Stationery Market

Making cards is one business venture that could have a steady, stable income the whole year round. A card maker can take advantage of the different seasons and holidays that are being observed locally or widely in the whole country.
In engaging in the cards business, it is important to have a list of the most celebrated holidays throughout the year so you would know what to produce and when. You should always be ahead of schedule so you would have enough time to conceptualize the cards and have them available just in time for the celebration.
Some occasions that top the list of bestsellers in terms of the card selling business are Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Easter and Thanksgiving. But the card selling business should not stop only on those days. It is just not wise to engage in making cards that will sell only during certain months.
This is where the everyday card category comes in. Everyday cards refer to the cards that are given on occasions that in reality are happening everyday in different parts of the world. These occasions include birthdays, weddings and anniversaries. Everyone has a birthday and as long as people are building personal relationships, weddings and anniversaries are sure to be around.
The wedding business is one sector of the cards market that is a good source of business and profit for any card maker. Unlike birthdays and anniversaries, weddings include not just a card, but a whole wedding stationery set. The business can take care of the wedding stationery with a lot of items that would probably use the same materials.
Cost-wise it the wedding stationery market is efficient because you only need to buy a specific type of papers, ribbons and colors for the whole set. And also, a soon-to-wed couple will provide more profit than an individual looking for a card to give to friend who is celebrating a birthday.
The wedding stationery includes the following items:
1. Reception Cards/Directions is a piece of paper that is included in the wedding invitation which shows the directions to the church or reception venue.
2. Name or Place Cards that are to be placed on the tables in the reception for your guests to know where they are to be seated.
3. Wedding Program that would tell your guests what would happen during the program at the reception.
4. Thank you Cards for your guests will definitely help you extend the heartfelt gratitude that you felt towards them for attending your important event.
The wedding stationery market is surely something that can be tapped for a profitable business with low cost and good earnings.

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7 Steps to Planning the Perfect Wedding Reception

Are you organising an Adelaide wedding? There are lots of places where you can choose to host your wedding, examples include: The Entertainment Centre; the Stamford Plaza Adelaide; the Majestic Roof Garden Hotel; the Clarion Collection Rendezvous Hotel; the Quality Hotel Adelaide; the Adelaide Convention Centre; and the Adelaide Town Hall just to name a few but with so many venues to choose from it can be quite a daunting task! Here are some tips to help you choose the perfect wedding venue for you...
1. Set your budget
Be sure to set a realistic budget, get at least three quotes so you can get an idea of what is available - one ideal venue, one mid range and one cheap. Also seasonality plays a big factor, a wedding during the peak spring / summer season will always cost more than a wedding during the off peak season. Also, it's not uncommon for people to book a wedding venue 2-3 years in advance.
2. Reception types
There are different types of wedding receptions, you don't always have to have a sit down dinner, other options include a midday reception, dessert reception, potluck reception, brunch reception, cocktail reception and a non-alcoholic reception. Each can have it's advantages and disadvantages and it's good that you do something a little different, it will make your reception that much more memorable.
3. Catering
Catering can be quite expensive so be sure to get at least three quotes for this as well. Some venues will have in house catering and others will require you to organise your own catering company be sure to check all of your options so that you can make the right decision. Also, if you have some talented cooks in your family, you may find that they would be more than happy to provide you with what you need and this will save you a lot of money.
4. Menu
When it comes to the menu, it's always good to stick to the basics and then build on that foundation. Be sure to taste a sample of the food first before you confirm your order. Take your time and plan it out properly. Also, try and offer a bit of variety, these days people love all types of food from all types of cultures so don't be afraid to experiment with something a little exotic.
5. Seating
Be sure to seat the right people at the right tables. You may need to do a bit of research to discover the personal relationships that people have with each other. For instance you don't want to sit two people together after they have been through a divorce or you know that they have had an argument recently which would make it uncomfortable for them.
6. Live band or DJ?
This really depends on what budget you have, usually a band will cost more but it may add an extra element of class to your wedding reception. Otherwise, it's quite popular to have a DJ provide the entertainment at a fraction of the cost, just be sure to do your research and choose what is best for you.
7. Music
Choosing the right music is important for setting the overall mood of the wedding reception. If you know that your guests like swing or salsa dancing then it would be a great idea to let the band or DJ know so they can be prepared for this and also, make sure that you choose a good first dance song because usually the party doesn't start until after the first dance.
These are just some tips, have a talk to some of your friends who have hosted a wedding reception themselves and you will get plenty of ideas for what you can do for your Adelaide wedding.

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Fun Wedding Customs

There are so many great things about being a bride, and one of those is getting to learn about all sorts of wonderful wedding customs. Many of the traditions are familiar to us, as they have been a part of weddings for generations. Yet it is even more fun to use some of these charming old customs when you understand the reason behind them. This is a look at a number of the best wedding customs, as well as their origins.
Bridesmaids: Everyone knows that bridesmaids are a traditional part of a wedding, but not many people know the reason behind the role. It was once believed that evil spirits were drawn to brides. To protect the bride, a group of her friends would gather around her in identical clothing so that the wicked entities would be confused and unable to tell which woman was his intended target. What nice friends! When you go shopping for your bridesmaid gifts, keep in mind that your attendants are really putting themselves out there as decoys for evil spirits; such service should be handsomely rewarded with fabulous bridesmaid gifts!
Ringing Church Bells: This is another one designed to ward off evil spirits (poor brides!). Large noises were thought to scare away the bad guys. That is also why people tied tin cans and old shoes to the back of the newlyweds' car. Even if you are not concerned about evil spirits, the ringing of church bells is a delightful way to signal that you are married - see if your church can arrange it.
Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue: Most brides know this verse, but not the reason behind the superstition. The something old is to show a link with family and the bride's heritage. For that reason, the something old is often a precious item which once belonged to a family member, such as a grandmother's brooch. Something new represents bright hopes for the future. That one is easy, since most of what the bride wears will be new. The wedding bands are often chosen to be the symbolic new item. The something borrowed is less obvious. Traditionally brides would borrow their item from a happily married woman, in the hopes of "borrowing" some of her good fortune for the new marriage. The willingness to lend also demonstrates that the bride's friends and family will be there to support her during her marriage. Something blue references the fact that blue historically symbolizes fidelity and loyalty, as in "true blue".
And a Sixpence in Your Shoe: Fewer people know this custom, which is the traditional ending to "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue". The sixpence is to bring future wealth to the marriage. That might just be worth enduring a lump in your shoe for! A traditional English sixpence can be found at rare coin shops, or take the modern route and substitute a penny.
Kissing the Bride: We see this as a sign of the love which the newlyweds share, but there is actually quite a bit more behind the traditional words at the end of a wedding ceremony: "You may now kiss the bride". In ancient Roman times, a kiss was used to seal a contract, so when the bride and groom kiss at the end of the marriage ceremony, they are not only showing their love, but formalizing their legal union. Now that is one powerful kiss!

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6 Cost Saving Tips on Wedding Decor

These 6 cost saving tips on wedding decor can help you transform a drab wedding venue to a magical one at half the price. Wanting to create the right atmosphere for your wedding is very important. But brides tend to spend a large portion of their budget on wedding decorations to make the venue look magical. Do not let this happen to you. Here are 6 cost saving tips on wedding decor that can help you curb your wedding budget and let you spend more wisely.
1. Have you ever heard the saying the more the better? Do one thing on mass and you will not believe the impact it will have. My favorite thing to do is have tons of candles everywhere, the visual impact is amazing.
2. Rather than using flowers why not have pot plants. I did a wedding where we placed orchid pot plants in mirror boxes and it looked amazing. We used a lot less plants and it was much cheaper than flowers. The added bonus is that you can use them as thank you gifts afterwards. Kill two birds with one stone.
3. If your following trends, then using fruit and veggies as decor is hot right now. Add these in your arrangements or a stand alones and then you will need fewer flowers. It is cheaper to buy a pear than a rose.
4. Candles are a girls new best friend for weddings. If there is one cost saving tips on wedding decor that I would recommend, it is candles. The more the better to create a romantic atmosphere and they are cheap.
5. Check with your venue if you are getting married around a holiday, if the venue has not already been decked out. You might be lucky and just have to add a few more touches.
6. If you are the arty type or have a friend that is good at art then create your own personalized motif or monogram on a computer. For a chic, personal feel add these motifs that you have created on different elements of your wedding such as programs and menus.

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Wedding Sarees Reflect Subtleness

Weddings are the occasion where one has to dress neatly and select best of the attires. And when it is the turn of wedding sarees, they are considered are one of the best attires in the world. Signifying true blend of traditionality and innovation, they are the most sought after piece of art to adorn wedding functions. It is quite understandable that sarees require careful selection.
From printed ones to heavily embroidered, these sarees are available at various rates in the market. Ranging between few hundreds to thousands, the price is quoted as per the work done on it.
There are various functions in a wedding and wedding sarees enable the woman to look highly elite. One of the sarees meant as all purpose and best as wedding sarees is Banarsi silk sarees. Such kind of sarees has earned a wide acclaim throughout the world for their finesse and beautiful brocade work on borders. It is the gloss and shimmer of the Banarsi sarees that tends to attract every eye. Though, they are light in weight; still, it looks royalish in every sense. After all, the entire brilliance of the Banarsi saree lies in the quality of the fabric.
The latest trends say that Banarsi wedding sarees have also been coming in sequenced and thread work with zari borders. Such sarees look so wonderful that no one can stop praising its sheer beauty. All it can be said about these sarees is that they look simple and stylish together. After all, weddings give a gift of ever cherishing memories and that makes the occasion special.

Albert, has an experience of more than 15 years in sales and marketing and has been handling overseas assignments, He also has an MBA degree.