It’s natural to be nervous about what to say during your groom’s speech. After all, men aren’t always known for being the most sentimental creatures—especially when it comes to affairs of the heart. But taking the time to pen an honest and heartfelt “thank you” to your bride, friends and family is a worthwhile effort that those closest to you will treasure for years to come.

As you prepare to write your groom’s speech, make a list of all those you’d like to recognize. Your bride, of course, as well as your parents will certainly make the cut, but what about the other important folks who deserve a nod?Maybe your cousin who introduced you to your wife? Or perhaps the college buddy who went with you to pick out the engagement ring? Consider all those who helped make the day possible—without their advice, love and support you wouldn’t be there celebrating your wedding day—and find an endearing way to include them in your speech.

As a rule of thumb in wedding etiquette, the father of the bride is usually the first to receive acknowledgement. Let him know how much you respect him and thank him for giving his blessing to have his daughter’s hand in marriage. Next, thank the bride’s mother for her support and for her success in raising such a wonderful person—who happens to be the woman you love!

Next in line to thank are your parents. As you turn to your mom and dad, tell them how much you love and appreciate them for giving you guidance throughout your life. Let them know how happy you are that they’re present to share with you in this precious moment, and how you look forward to them being there to witness many milestones as you grow as a couple. After you’ve saluted both sets of parents, your groom’s speech should highlight the wedding party and other special guests. You can use this moment to recount funny stories, special memories and the sort. Remember, your families are present, so it might be a good idea to leave out any distasteful jokes or not reveal any moments that might embarrass you, or worse, your bride.

Next up is the best man. After all, he’s your best man for a reason; take this time to tell him why. Explain how much his friendship means to you and why you chose him to serve in that important role. You can tell a funny story here as well, but remember, be tactful, as to not make anyone feel uncomfortable at the mention of a tasteless remark.

Now, for the moment that everyone is waiting for; it’s time for you turn to your lovely bride and verbally express your love for her. One charming way to relay the sentiment is to weave together a story with a central theme. For example, let her know how you felt when you first met; how excited you were when you two went on your first date;or tell her she’s your first love. Let the theme of “firsts” become the focal point and finish by saying how you can’t wait until you share other “firsts” with her as well. By putting a little emotion into what you say to your bride during the groom’s speech, you can guarantee there won’t be a dry eye in the house!

And as the grand finale of your groom’s speech, raise your glass, pull your bride close to you and toast to your new lives together as husband and wife. 

Article by: Shauna Pointer, Publisher of Perfect Wedding Guide of New Mexico

Courtesy of Insight Foto

When planning your wedding, nothing is more important than your personal touch.  Your guests will appreciate personal touches that exemplify your personalities.  One way of adding this personal touch is through a color scheme which can provide a focal point during the planning process and will show in the details on the day of your wedding (bridesmaids’ dresses, decorations, cake, favors, flowers, accessories, table linens and invitations). The colors you choose for your wedding day will help identify the style and set the tone for your entire event.  

Before selecting your wedding colors, consider the following:

• What mood are you trying to create?  Vibrant colors add drama and flare, while soft colors evoke a more romantic atmosphere.
• Where is your event taking place? Check the decorations, carpeting, and general atmosphere of your venue when choosing colors to complement.
• In what season are you getting married? Choose colors that complement the season of the year, such as richer oranges and reds during the autumn, and lighter, gentler colors for a spring event.

There are several tools to help you with color selection. The first is a color wheel, which is composed of three primary colors: red, blue and yellow, plus a blend of in-between colors. Another helpful tool can be found at http://kuler.adobe.com/. This site contains hundreds of color palettes; you can also create and upload your own color schemes.

Tip: Try to limit your colors to two or three. Use subdued colors for an elegant look.

The bulk of your wedding budget will go toward the wedding reception. Wedding planning 101 tells us that the best way to cut cost is by managing the guest list. If you have a long wedding guest list and limited funds, look for ways to have a beautiful wedding that fits your budget.

Photo By: Orpheus and Aphrodite

Traditionally, the bride’s family sets the wedding guest list number. But with more couples paying for their own weddings and more grooms’ families helping out, your wedding guest list and its size affect everyone involved.

Often there’s an equal division—a third to your family, a third to your fiance’s family, and a third shared by you and your fiance. Traditionally, when the bride and groom come from the same town, both families are allocated an equal number of guests, with mutual friends shared among the three lists. If your groom comes from a distant location, consider allocating fewer guests for his family. Send announcements rather than invitations to those distant friends and acquaintances who are unlikely to attend. Read More…

Bridal shows are a great way for brides to get ideas and view the latest trends in wedding services and bridal fashions, all under one roof. To make the most of your experience, we’ve listed seven things you can expect to see at a bridal show:

1. Crowds

Bridal shows are known for bringing out several hundreds of brides and spectators, so be ready to wait in line to purchase a ticket at the door. At Perfect Wedding Guide.com, our bridal show tickets are available for pre-purchase and even offer discounts for early birds.

2. Vendors

From DJs and jewelers to photographers and florists, there will be tons of vendors on hand to showcase their skills and talents for hire.

3. Samples (food!)

Catering companies make up a large portion of the vendors you’ll see at bridal shows, and they often bring treats for brides to sample.

4. Bridal gowns

Gown salons and dress designers are often on hand selling bridal fashions, so dress comfortably if you plan on trying on a few bridal fashions.

5. Decor, decor and more decor

Take a camera and a notebook to jot down the trends and decor you see on display at vendor tables. This will give you ideas to use with your own theme or color scheme.

6. Giveaways

Door prizes and giveaways are one of the biggest draws to bridal shows. Vendors and show sponsors raffle off everything from wedding gowns and formalwear to romantic honeymoons and all expenses paid fantasy weddings. So be sure to register for EVERYTHING to increase your odds of going home with a fantastic prize!

7. Fashion shows

One of the most popular events during any bridal expo is the fashion show. Here, models stroll down the catwalk in the latest in bridal fashion and formal wear. Be sure to keep your pen and pad handy to write down the designer and descriptions of your favorite gowns. A word to the wise: arrive early for the fashion show—front row seats go fast!

Now that you’re properly prepped, you are ready to take on any bridal show. You may feel a bit overwhelmed when first walking through the event doors, so be sure to make a list of the specific services you need. Also, never feel rushed when visiting different tables. The vendors are there to help and will gladly answer any questions you have about their services. And remember—bridal shows are an entertaining and enjoyable experience, so have fun!

This is all new to us.  How do we go about choosing a wedding officiant?

Step 1.  Check several of the possible officiants’ websites.  Also, be open to recommendations from friends or family members.  Focus on those possibilities that appeal to you and especially look for:

• Ability to perform the type of ceremony that you wish to have, i.e., religious, non-denominational, interfaith, spiritual, theme, ethnic, or civil/non-religious
• Qualifications
• Experience
• Flexibility in terms of location, time of day, ceremony content , and including people in your ceremony such as children, family or friends
• Recommendations or positive comments from couples who have been married by the officiant
• Additional services of interest to you that are offered by the officiant, for example, marriage preparation
• Whether or not the officiant will meet with you at no charge to get acquainted so that you can  make an informed decision and choose the officiant who is right for you

Step 2.  Contact the officiant(s) that interest you.  Inquire about date and time availability of the officiant and fees.  If the officiant is available and the fees fit your budget, set up a time to meet with him or her.  If you live out of town and are making inquiries by phone, the officiant should be willing to “meet” with you over the phone.

Step 3.  In making your choice of an officiant some of the things to ask yourselves are:

• Does the officiant offer the service(s) that we want?
• Is the officiant professional in demeanor and appearance?
• Is the officiant respectful of our wishes?
• Is the officiant interested in us and does he or she listen to us?
• Is the officiant willing to make suggestions for ceremony content or provide options for us to consider?
• Do we both feel comfortable being ourselves with the officiant?
• Are we relaxed and calm around the officiant?
• Do the qualifications and experience of the officiant meet our requirements?

Step 4.  Choose your officiant, relax, and enjoy your wedding.

Are there any extra fees an officiant might charge?

Yes, there may be.  Usually additional fees have to do with travel time, additional services, and rehearsals.  If you are having your ceremony in a park that requires parking fee or a tram fee, for example, except to reimburse the officiant for the fee.

Some officiants include a rehearsal in the total fee and some charge an additional fee.  Some couples opt to have a rehearsal conducted with the help of their wedding planner, for example, and prefer that they not be charged for rehearsal by their officiant.  Ask about any additional fees to avoid surprises.

Courtesy of Reverend Marya O’Malley with Celebrating Life

Photo courtesy of Bryan's Photography

With the arrival of summer, the outdoor wedding season is in full gear. Flowers are in bloom, everything is green, and the outdoors is the place to be, especially for such a special event as a wedding. New Mexico has an abundance of sunshine and beautiful blue skies; however, the unpredictability of the outdoors comes with its share of challenges and can put a damper on the festivities. With proper planning, you can avoid some of the most common headaches of outdoor events in the Southwest. Here are seven tips that will help your day be as special as you imagine . 

1.  Have a Backup Plan. The weather can change quickly, especially during the summer monsoon season. An ideal outdoor event will have a backup room indoors for the guests should the weather turn bad. Many couples choose to have their ceremony outside, and then hold the reception indoors. In this case, if you are forced to hold your ceremony in your reception room, tables can be moved to the back of the room to accommodate the event. Another option is to rent an event tent; however, this will work for only light to moderate storms, and is susceptible to winds. Therefore, if you do rent a tent, be sure that it is well-weighted so it will not flip over, and be sure that it has sides to prevent wind and rain from entering. 

2.  Plan for Wind. High winds are common in New Mexico, and many events suffer from windy conditions. Be sure to tell your hair stylist that you are having an outdoor wedding so they can create a style that will stand up to the wind. Be sure that if you have a sound system outdoors that your microphones have windscreens available, and that you have enough sound so everyone can hear during the ceremony. If your reception is outdoors, try to have lower table centerpieces that will not be easily blown over by the wind.

3.  Sufficient Sound. When planning your dream wedding, you may not be thinking of all the background noises, like the kids in the nearby pool or another party in the same general area as your own. Be sure that you have sufficient sound for the ceremony. Look into renting a sound system with clip-on microphones for the bride, groom, and the officiant. Your DJ or band should be able to arrange this for you. If you are having a quartet or other live instrument, be sure that you are in a small enough area to where they do not need a microphone. Check with them to see if they will need any additional sound equipment.

4.  Find Out if You Require a Noise Permit. Many event locations will require a noise permit, especially if you are holding your reception outdoors. Be sure to check the requirements with the Environmental Noise Department for Albuquerque or the governing body for noise ordinances in the village or city where your event is taking place. In the city of Albuquerque, the address for the Environmental Noise Department is: 1 Civic Plaza, 3^rd floor, room 3023. Their hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 1:00PM-4:00PM. They can be reached by phone at 505-768-2600. There is no charge for a permit, but you must fill out the proper form. 

5.  Make Your Guests Comfortable. Be sure to think about the weather and temperature on the day of your event. Summer days, especially summer afternoons, can be extremely hot. Be sure that if you are holding your event outside that your guests will be comfortable. It is recommended that when guests arrive you have chilled bottles of water available for them. Using favors such as fans or parasols are appreciated by guests. Having sunscreen available is recommended; guests won’t enjoy themselves if they are sunburned. Also, if the reception is outdoors, offer plenty of cool liquids in addition to any alcohol. Since alcohol is dehydrating, it is important to offer chilled water, lemonades, teas, and punches with plenty of ice. In addition, be sure foods are maintained at the proper temperatures.

6.  Check Automatic Sprinkler Systems. Many outdoor venues run automatic sprinkler systems on a timer. Be sure that you check with the person in charge of the grounds to be sure that the sprinklers are not set to go off during your event.

7.  For the Evening. Evenings in the summer bring lovely sunsets, but also their own share of difficulties. Know ahead of time which direction your guests should be oriented so the sun is not in their eyes. Try to make your guests comfortable by setting out citronella candles or a bug zapper so your guests will spend their time dancing and not swatting at bugs. Be sure your event area is well lit so guests can see where they are going – it is recommended you use inexpensive solar lamps to light any paths that are going to be heavily used in the dark. 

Photo courtesy of InSight Foto

By addressing these issues ahead of time, your guests will remember your wedding as the magical day it will be and you will enjoy your special day. Be sure to check back soon for additional information and tips to make your wedding a dream come true. Don’t forget to visit our website at http://www.nmwp.com  to find all the top vendors who can help you create a wedding to remember.

Shauna from the Albuquerque Perfect Wedding Guide just announced the new blog that she just launched. Here, she is going to communicate upcoming events, fun stories about other brides, giveaways, and trends in the wedding industry. If you haven’t heard about the Perfect Wedding Guide you NEED to check it out! It’s a free publication that is filled with a ton of information from the best wedding vendors around town. Another cool feature of the magazine is that in every issue there is a real NM wedding featured! You can check out her website here to find out where you can pick one up. The photos above are from the PWG’s annual client appreciation party held on September 9. The cupcake towers were from Cake Fetish, and the photos are by Loren Higgins Photography. Congratulations Perfect Wedding Guide for taking this huge leap into the world of blogs!