So the groom isn’t into the standard bachelor party of going to a bar with the guys. But, the groom is all about fishing. Make fishing your theme for your bachelor party.

Pick The Right “Fishing” Location

If you’re lucky enough to live in area where fishing is prevalent, rent a cabin and decorate it to the rafters with all types of fishing theme items. If you can’t rent a cabin or a lodge, you can always use your home. Wherever you choose to hold this bachelor party, it can be transformed into a honey-hole.

Lure Them With Party Decorations

Colored bobblers found at any tackle store are the foundation for this bachelor party decor. With a little fishing line you can use the bobblers to make awesome streamers. To create the ultimate fishing atmosphere, beg, borrow and buy any type of fishing theme item you can find and deck the place out completely. Don’t forget to buy a few inexpensive tackle boxes to decorate with or use as serving pieces. You can hang lures and lights from fishing nets to create a fantastic back-drop for the party. As a final decoration pick up some fishing theme napkins, maybe ones that have fishing lingo on them for fun.

Food and Drinks: Serving The Catch Of The Day

“Fingerling” foods will make this a record book party. Catfish fillets, fries, hushpuppies and all the “fixins” make an tasty treat for this bachelor party. If the frying pan isn’t your thing have a local caterer prepare the meal for you.

Want a more casual bachelor food atmosphere?  Clean out those tackle boxes and fill them with chip and dip. Serve your own version of a jig-n-pigs (fishing lures) sandwich – a little fried bologna, ham, or other cold cuts with a variety of cheeses.  Add in a little beer, wine, soda or mixed drinks and you won’t need a lure to get them to the buffet table.  For a fun twist to the evening, everytime someone gets a drink make them sing a song that uses the word “live well” (a fishing term).

A bachelor party should be all about having fun. Theme parties are all about creating fun around a theme. So playing up a theme based on the groom’s fishing passion it will net you a great bachelor party.

This bachelor party planning idea was brought to you by weddingandpartynetwork.com.

For Savages Bakery, seventy years has come with many changes. The thing that has remained a constant with Savages Bakery is their quality. They have remained the very best bakery in Birmingham Alabama. From the bottom of our hearts, Wedding And Party Network would like to wish everyone at Savages Bakery a very happy 70th anniversary.

Located in the Homewood AL suburb of Birmingham since 1978, there are few people who have not celebrated an occasion with freshly baked delicacies from Savages Bakery. Birthday cakes, wedding cakes, breads, rolls, muffins, cookies, pastries, pies and more have been served fresh and made in-house daily for a homemade taste like none other.

Savages Bakery even has a lunch menu! If you’re ever in Homewood Alabama, visit Savages Bakery for lunch and walk away completely full and satisfied. Their menu ranges from sandwiches and sides to salad plates and box dinners. Yum!

What Savages Bakery is best known for is their AMAZING ability to create beautiful wedding cakes, party cakes, birthday cakes and other unique designs. These are not your average cakes, mind you. This Birmingham AL bakery creates works of art. The pastry chefs at this bakery are like Michalangelo with a decorating spatula. They are Renoir with a bag of icing. They are Picasso with the layers of cake.

Savages Bakery is hands-down Birmingham’s most artistic bakery ever. Just take a look at their cakes and see for yourself how creative and brilliant their designs are. The best thing, though, is that these are all made to customer specifications. They take what you want and bring back the impossibly beautiful version; one you wouldn’t have hoped for in your most colorful dreams. Need a Birmingham Alabama bakery? You’d be cheating yourself not to visit Savages Bakery.

Want to learn more about popular wedding and party vendors? Get all of your party and wedding planning advice at www.WeddingAndPartyNetwork.com.

Ask The Celebration Advisor: My best friends sister is getting married next weekend and we have come down to the question of what is the proper etiquette on how are father should give her away! Her mother passed away a year ago so it would not be formal to say her mother and I since she is no longer living. But they would like to somehow mention her mom in giving her away. Any suggestions???? ~ Teresa G

The Celebration Advisor: Giving the bride away is an honor usually reserved for the father, but this too has received many amendments as modern brides shift toward personalized weddings and respecting the roles of blended families. For your friend’s wedding, it is perfectly acceptable for her father to say “her mother and I do” if the bride wishes. As this is merely personalizing the wedding and honoring a loved one, your friend is not breaking any strict etiquette rules by using “her mother and I do”.

There are also other ways that couples are choosing to honor deceased loved ones. Your friend may wish to include something like this as well.

• Set up a memorial table for the deceased loved one that includes a photo and a small card with a sweet poem or a memento
• Have a moment of silence during the ceremony  (usually at the beginning of the ceremony before/directly after the bride is presented)
• Light a candle in the deceased’s honor
• Wear something that once belonged to or honors the deceased (such as a necklace, the mother’s veil, etc.)
• Have the father-of-the bride present a flower to the couple as he places the bride’s hand in the grooms (the flower represents the loved one)

There are also ways to honor a loved one during the wedding reception:

• Ask guests for a charitable contribution in the deceased’s name in lieu of wedding gifts
• Include the deceased in a wedding toast, or let the toastmaster know that this would be nice
• Choose the deceased’s favorite wedding cake flavor, place a small note beside the cake explaining this
• Cutting a piece of cake in honor of the deceased and either eating it later or presenting it to the surviving spouse

These are all very special and significant ways to honor someone who has passed before the time of the wedding ceremony. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a bride or groom wanting to honor their loved one. Including a small token of affection such as the ones above will help make the day feel “complete” for all who wish the deceased could’ve been present on the special day.

For more ideas on how to honor loved ones at your wedding, you may be interested in these brief articles:

Eight Unique Ways To Personalize Your Wedding
Honoring Others On Your Wedding Day

Ask The Celebration Advisor: Well this is a hard one My daughter is getting married in April 2010 and has not spoken to her Dad in 2 yrs because of a argument that involved his new girl friend..She misses him dearly and would love him to give her away at her wedding..But she just won’t give in to talk to him about it..Is it wrong for me to talk to him and to let him know that this is what she wants more than anything is him to be there and to give her away…Its very hard on her and me I not sure I want to help as I think this would make her wedding day be complete Thanks Cheryl

Celebration Advisor

You do have quite the dilemma.  As a parent, you want to give your child everything they want and deserve.  When your child is an adult, it is harder to do this without seeming like you are trying to control the situation.  So, the answer to your question boils down to the relationship you have with your daughter and your part in the argument she had with her father.  If you had nothing to do with the argument, it is perfectly acceptable to act as an mediator between the two.

Before doing so, I would first ask myself a few questions. Do you have a cordial relationship with her father? Do you speak to him on an occasional basis? Does he want a relationship his daughter?  If the answers are basically yes.  You can certainly act as a mediator for the two of them.

I would begin with your daughter.  Have a frank and open conversation with her.  Not every wedding ceremony involves the father giving the bride away.  Discuss the options with her. Giving the bride away can be an honor held by someone other than the biological father.  She can have you, a favorite uncle, a special grandfather or a family friend give her away. It may even help her to understand the wedding tradition behind giving the bride away.  But if down deep in her heart her wedding will only be complete if her father gives her away, let her know that you are will to speak to her father for her.

Communication between you and your daughter is the key in this situation.  As long as she is ok with you discussing the wedding with her father, it will be perfectly acceptable for you to do so.

May her wedding be the happiest day of her life.

“Your dreams become beautiful treasures in my hands.” That pretty much says it all! Susan McKinney of Galeforce Photography in Fort Worth TX knows exactly how important it is to get the most out of your photo shoot.

Susan has a real gift for photography and an artistic vision to match. Her technical expertise and attention to details make Susan a true gem! She is a veteran professional photographer and comfortable in all situations! Even underwater! That’s right! If your destination wedding calls for underwater photography Susan has been there, done that!

Picking a good photographer can be one of the hardest things about planning a wedding. Susan McKinney specializes in wedding photography and knows how to capture those little moments that make your wedding personal. Being a woman herself, she makes sure the bride looks her best in every shot. Does your hair look okay? Is the veil straight? Your confidence on the big day is essential and you will be in such good hands with Susan you won’t give it a second thought.

Just listen to this blissful bride:

All my pictures are priceless! Each time I look at them I relive the most beautiful day of my life! Not only have I gained a photographer that I want to use for the rest of my photogenic days, but I have a new friendship with the most talented photographer. Susan is truly a blessing, and her pictures too! -Andrea B

Just like Andrea said above, Susan does way more than weddings and will be your go-to photographer for any occasion! Once you use Galeforce Photography, you are treated like family. You even receive discounts on future sessions and prints! No matter what the occasion — senior portraits, family photos, even commercial headshots — you can count on Susan!

A rare attribute of Galeforce Photography is pet portraits. If you have a pet, you know they are part of the family too and getting a picture of their “good side” is next to impossible. Susan is gifted with patience and is able to really work with your pet and capture their personality.

No matter what you are looking for Susan McKinney of Galeforce Photography has got you covered! If you don’t live in Texas but would love to have a jack-of-all-trades photographer like this, check out our listings of wonderful local photographers to find one in your area!

For more great wedding planning tips, quizzes, advice and local wedding vendors, visit WeddingAndPartyNetwork.com.

You’ll never forget your maid of honor duties when you have this helpful wedding checklist! It fits easily in a wedding planner, a wallet, or your purse and conveniently keeps all of your maid of honor duties within reach. Your best friend is getting married and needs your help to make the wedding planning run smoothly. For you, it’s as easy as performing these few simple task!

Maid of Honor Pre Wedding Duties

• Help bride shop for gown (if she desires)
• Help bride shop for bridesmaids dresses
• Get the word out about the wedding registry, even if listed elsewhere
• Coordinate bridesmaids’ dress order, fittings, alterations, payment, and dressing
• Arrange the travel and lodging for the bridesmaids
• Organize bridesmaids on wedding day
• Fix the bride’s train before the processional starts
• Attend rehearsal dinner
• Create a wedding day emergency kit (just a reminder!)
• Plan and attend the wedding shower and/or bachelorette party
• Help with wedding planning tasks (a girl needs all the hands she can get!)

Maid of Honor Duties During The Ceremony:

• Walk down the aisle during the processional
• Adjust bride’s train once she reaches the altar
• Hold the bridal bouquet while the bride and groom exchange vows
• Carry the groom’s wedding ring
• Sign marriage license as a witness
• Walk in the recessional with the best man
• Organize programs, tossing petals, etc.

Maid of Honor Duties During The Reception:

• Stand in receiving line (if appropriate)
• Help bride bustle her gown
• Sit at head table next to groom (if wedding party is seated at head table)
• Prepare and present a toast to the couple
• Dance with best man during first dance (if the wedding party is asked to participate)
• Help direct vendors as needed (the bride shouldn’t have to worry with this on her big day)

Maid of Honor Duties After The Wedding:

• Take the bride’s wedding dress to the dry cleaner
• Help organize gifts and gift checks brought to the reception
• Help oversee wrap-up after wedding reception (if needed)

Droves of satisfied customers have called on their favorite Appleton Wisconsin ice sculptor time and again for icy works of art. There is no need to ask whose artistry exceeds the rest. It’s Krystal Kleer Ice Sculptures LLC.

Finding ice sculptures can be a not-so-fun task when you don’t know where to start. If you’re considering having an ice sculpture at your party or wedding, call Krystal Kleer Ice Scultpures. Their ice sculptures are guaranteed good enough to send a chill of excitement down your spine.

Romance is the specialty of Krystal Kleer Ice Sculptures. From start to finish, your event will exude an air of amoré. It takes only one glance at their artistic ice sculptures to see that romance is primo in their book. For example, Krystal Kleer creates mesmerizing ice swans. Kissing or floating in a pool of affection, their ice swans are uncommonly beautiful.

Krystal Kleer also creates unique ice sculptures that blend beauty and practicality in a rarely seen way. Imagine a large, decorative floral arrangement billowing out of a dazzling ice vase. It sparkles just like crystal but has more depth, more charm, and more eye-catching appeal. Krystal Kleer Ice Sculptures has also created ice cake pedestals. Every bit as impressive as a large crystal glass pedestal, this type of ice sculpture is a cut above the rest.

Though they hardly need more to make them stand out, Krystal Kleer also creates ice sculptures with pieces “floating” inside. They have frozen flowers frozen inside a giant heart and fruit inside an ice sculpture for the opening of a bar. They can even etch names to look like they are “floating” on the inside, frozen forever in a beautiful statuesque display.

Whatever your occasion, if it requires a dazzling ice sculpture call Krystal Kleer Ice Sculptures LLC.

Want more advice on where to find party and wedding vendors? Find vendors and other party and wedding planning tips at www.WeddingAndPartyNetwork.com.

Courting Before Marriage

Before you can have a wedding you have to have a courtship right? The Dutch certainly had a unique way to court their intended. It is called bundling or in Dutch queesten (kweesten).

This form of wooing is where a young lady would leave her window or door open, so that her intended lover could sit or lie on the outside covers of her bed.  At the same time,  she would lie in bed clothed in her heavy nightwear and covered heavily in blankets. The idea was for the two to converse all night and gain a bit of intimacy from each other.

This custom may have also been used in Welsh communities. However it went a bit further with the young lady dressed only in her petticoat with a knot tied at the bottom. This almost always lead to wedlock.

This custom continued on in the USA till the 1930’s where it fell out of style among those who had brought it over from the Netherlands. The Pennsylvania Dutch would allow their children (of age) to share a bed before marriage. Following the old custom both would be heavily dressed and also covered in heavy blankets. I suspect this happened more in the fall and winter then the summer. Sometimes a thick board would be placed between the two. Again the idea is for the young couple to share the night together talking and gain intimate knowledge about one another before marriage. It seems to have fall out of grace as it may have lead to actual intimacy.

Even though this custom is no longer practiced in it original form, we still do this courtship ritual our own way. Many of us spend a night or two with our intended talking all night long getting to know each other before our marriages. Sometimes we travel to a vacation spot as part of our courtship ritual.  The important concept of this wedding tradition is getting to know each other.

This wedding tradition was brought to you by weddingandpartynetwork.com, your number 1 source for wedding planning.

Need ideas for a corporate Christmas party? Planning a children’s Christmas party? Here are simple but effective Christmas party ideas for the planner who has to please  a ho-ho-whole lot of people.

Now is the time of year when Halloween planning subsides and Christmas party planning takes over. You may be one of those people who attends a ton of these parties every year but has never thrown one. Maybe you’re the Christmas party queen or king and people look to you for their party ideas. Well, we’ve taken some hassle away, whether you’re the belle of the ball or the newbie host. These ideas will make planning an office Christmas party or kids Christmas party much simpler.

Corporate Christmas Party Ideas:

Themes are where it’s at for any Christmas party, especially an office Christmas party. Adults need a little incentive to participate and fun themes provide that motivation. Festive themes with an adult twist are big hits, like a “Christmas Cocktail Party” or “Saint Nick’s Pub Party” where guests can enjoy a round of “North Pole Karaoke” and belt out favorite Christmas songs.

Office Christmas party food should be centered around the guests as well as the holiday. Eggnog is always a favorite holiday beverage. A bowl of red punch beside a bowl of green punch is a neat and simple holiday decoration as well. Need ideas or someone to provide the festive treats? Many local caterers create holiday menus for special occasions like office Christmas parties. This takes the strain off of the planner (you); which is like a Christmas gift to yourself!

Corporate Christmas party games are as much fun as they sound. Christmas party games are a chance to bond with coworkers you may not see often. Offering door prizes is incentive to play and to attend. Big or small, door prizes are a surprising boon to holiday cheer.

Keep in mind that departments make great teams. Be careful not to treat the games like team-building activities (even though they are). A relaxed environment and semi-competitive spirit are as essential to Christmas party games as mistletoe is to the decorations.

Children’s Christmas Party Ideas:

Want tips for throwing a kids’ Christmas party? Take your cues from the little ones. Here are the top ten kids Christmas party ideas that we have found.

Kids’ Christmas Party Idea #1: Use bright colors in the decorations, foods and giftwrap of any door prizes or presents. Kids love bright and happy colors, such as blue, yellow, orange, purple, green, red and pink.

Kids’ Christmas Party Idea #2: Take a hint from pop culture for the theme. Look at popular television shows, books, movies, sports and music to decide which theme is right for yours kids Christmas party. For example, if your kids are into The Jonas Brothers, have a “Christmas With The Jonas Brothers” theme. Your theme should flow smoothly between your decorations, music, games and gift choices.

Kids’ Christmas Party Idea #3: The more candy, the better. Kids love sweets, but their parents may not be thrilled with the idea of a lot of sugar. Please both by thinking outside the candy box for your treat ideas.  A “Gingerbread House Decorating” Party (see below) is a fun place to start, and it puts a limit on the amount of sugar consumed during the evening. Even sugar-free candies go over well with children, so long as they are packaged or presented in an appealing way.

Kids’ Christmas Party Idea #4: Games rule. If you plan to have games, have lots of them. Children usually have short attention spans, so keep the games short, fun, lively and switch it up often.

Kids’ Christmas Party Idea #5: Encourage parent participation. Enlisting the help of other parents will prove beneficial once the excitement of the little ones takes over.

Kids’ Christmas Party Idea #6: Play fun Christmas music. Find Christmas CDs released by young pop stars and mix these with the traditional songs on the playlist. You can also throw in some seasonal favorites from older pop stars for the parents’ ears. Another alternative is to hire musical entertainment for the night and provide them with a list of classic songs you’d like to hear.

Kids’ Christmas Party Idea #7: Sleepovers make the best Christmas parties. If you’re brave enough to host this kind of children’s Christmas party, your kids will be forever grateful. Get ready for a late night. Don’t forget to invite a couple of parents to help, even if they don’t spend the night.

Kids’ Christmas Party Idea #8: Keep gifts and door prizes simple. A $1-5 budget per gift is perfect for a varied group. Children of all ages and family incomes will feel welcome and comfortable.

Kids’ Christmas Party Idea #9: Have a plan for skittish animals. If you have a pet that is not keen on large groups, have a place for  he/she/they to go during the party. Trust me, this is a rarely-mentioned but gem of a tip.

Kids’ Christmas Party Idea #10: Keep it moving. Switch often between playing a game, grabbing a snack or other activities. This will keep the children’s attention and prevent parents from hearing the “I’m bored” whine.

Whether your audience falls into the “adults only” or the “you must be this tall to ride” category, hosting a Christmas party for them will be the most delightful (and busiest) part of your holiday season. There’s nothing like watching your friends, family or coworkers line up to play a holiday game and seeing their faces light up like Christmas tree lights. With these simple Christmas party ideas, your holiday hosting will be a night or day full of cheer.

For more party planning tips, visit www.WeddingAndPartyNetwork.com.

You may also be interested in these Christmas Party Ideas:

Throwing A Fun Gingerbread House Decorating Party
Holiday Office Party Etiquette: Celebrations For All To Enjoy
Traditional Christmas Meets Contemporary Atmosphere

If you live anywhere near Metairie Louisiana, you’re bound to have heard of CelebrityLimoService.com. This is THE place to go for limousine rentals in Metairie, Louisiana. Get excited if you live in bayou country because you’ve never experienced a limo ride until you’ve been in a limo from CelebrityLimoService.com.

Most people have seen a limousine on television and on the Internet. However, how many small town folks still turn their heads one rolls down the street? All of ‘em.

Though Metairie and Baton Rouge are not “small towns”, you’ll be surprised what reaction you get when you take a limo ride through any of the cities that CelebrityLimoService.com services.

That’s why CelebrityLimoService.com is so special. They have stretch and super stretch white limousines. They offer airport pickup, chaffeur service, city tours, charters and casino charters. What more could you want from a limousine service?

“Family owned and operated” doesn’t mean small time. It means BIG focus on service, quality, and experience. It means BIG time travel through the city for a night of fun and opulence. It means BIG attention to your desires and a BIG desire to make your dreams come true. You never have to question what CelebrityLimoService.com is all about. They’re all about YOU.

In fact, every limousine from CelebrityLimoService.com is the luxury edition, fully stocked for your entertainment. That’s why so many major companies have chosen CelebrityLimoService.com when they need a ride around Louisiana. Services from CelebrityLimoService.com have been used for three (count ‘em, THREE) Super Bowls, The Republican Convention, NCAA Final Four, Sugar Bowls, famous musicians, movie stars, and even the Papal visit.

Want a magical night in Louisiana? Climb in the back of a limousine from CelebrityLimoService.com. Relax with the sounds of n AM/FM stereo with a CD player. Catch your favorite show or play your a video on the TV and VCR. Want to see the stars? Open the moon roof. Want to see the world through rose colored glasses? Open the bar.

Want to park it where greats from these events did? Ride off with CelebrityLimoService.com.

Need help finding more great vendors and party planning tips? Visit www.WeddingAndPartyNetwork.com.