Children, oh how sweet they are… They are energetic and full of fun, outspoken and unpredictable, full of laughter, innocence and great charisma. You just can't beat the spontaneous happiness of youth. Having a child or children in your wedding party sounds like a great idea – they bring charm and a feeling of innocence to the ceremony. Your flower girl and ring bearer mirror the bride and groom and make a delightful addition to the wedding celebration.

Who doesn't love a well-behaved, all dolled up youngster walking down the aisle like a pro?

Who doesn't love the giggles, ooo's and awes coming from the pews as they sprinkle flower petals and carry the wedding rings to the altar? Let's face it, kids are really cute and quite entertaining!

And who can resist the sweet flower girl as she smiles and shrugs her shoulders before she dumps out the flower petals into a big pile and then kicks them as she screams for her mom? Or once she gets up the altar with tears in her eyes, and starts taking off her itchy dress and too tight hair? How about the ring bearer spinning in circles and sticking out his tongue while he tosses the pillow up and down? Can we say potty? A sudden urge to use the bathroom mid-ceremony will definitely bring on the 'potty dance'. But, hey, we wanted entertainment right?

Here are a few things to consider before sending the little ones down the aisle:

When it comes to a day in the life of a child, tears are as frequent as smiles. So taking that into consideration, you have a 50-50 chance of a meltdown. Tantrums, tears and even fights are quite common among 60% of weddings that include children in their wedding parties. So, there are a few things you should do…

• If possible, try to use children who are at least 5 years old – the maturity levels between a 4 and 5-year-olds are quite significant.
• Make sure they get to bed early or take their afternoon nap – they need to be fully rested.
• Avoid uncomfortable flower girl dresses and suits. Dress the children right before the ceremony begins.
• Keep the hair styles simple – children often don't have enough patience to sit for longer than a few minutes to get ready.
• Keep activities or videos on hand for the time they are waiting before the ceremony begins.
• Keep snacks and drinks readily available.
• Have a guardian or parent ready to swoop in and remove the child from the ceremony if things start to go bad.
• Praise the children in the wedding party for their effort and good work.
• Practice, practice, practice! Make sure that the flower girl and the ring bearer practice their duties for a few days, if not weeks before the rehearsal and ceremony. Doing this will help them feel more comfortable for the big day.

Keeping these tips in mind when planning your wedding – will help from turning your dream wedding into a nightmare.

This post is brought to you by Austin Wedding Photographers.
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When planning for your wedding, you want the night to be memorable. You want guests leaving thinking to themselves, that was spectacular! One element to think about is the food. What will you serve your guests? Whatever you are thinking, the food stands out and is an element that makes your wedding memorable. So, Wedding and Party Network is here to give you a few wedding food tips before planning on what to serve.

• Your wedding menu should reflect YOU! Forget about what you know people don't like and do, this day is completely about you and your groom.  Forget about the wedding etiquette and do what makes you happy!
• A lot of weddings give their guests a lot of variety to choose from, which can cause a strain on budget. So, choose a few welcoming drinks and canapes for your guests when they first arrive. This will hold their appetite over while they wait for your arrival. Next, choose one to two starches, red & white meat, a few vegetables and salad. You can finish it off with your wedding cake as dessert.
• Keep it simple. You and your guests don't want to eat heavy foods throughout the night so you'll be weighed down. It's nice to keep your food light and refreshing. Just play up the presentation in a unique way so the food stands out. This also helps with your budget, however, you still focus on taste.
• For informal yet classic, create fun self-serve stations. Create a finger food bar, dessert bar and a drink station for your guests. You can play up the presentation of these bars and they add a special touch to any wedding. You can easily create a beautiful presentation to match the theme of your wedding.

The main thing to keep in mind when planning your menu is to think about what YOU like. It's your day, therefore, you should eat what you enjoy. You can easily find food that you enjoy that conveys the theme of your wedding. Also, don't forget to play up the presentation!

This post is brought to you by Miami Wedding Caterers.
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You're engaged, now start planning your to-do list. So, what's first? One of the first things you may start thinking about is your engagement photos. Start researching online and gather references from friends, coworkers and family members on an engagement photographer you can use for your pictures. Once you found the photographer that you think will capture your personality, and takes the type of styled pictures you like, call and make an appointment. Now, comes the hard part. What do you want to wear for your engagement pictures? These pictures will stay with you, and you don't want any regrets on what you wear. So, Wedding and Party Network is here to give you a few tips on getting dressed for your engagement pictures.

Research – Once you've researched a photographer, start researching engagement pictures. There are blogs and websites out there that feature engagement pictures of couples. Gather ideas on what other couples wore, locations they used and poses. Take notes and discuss these ideas with your photographer.

Don't Be Afraid Of Color – A lot of engagement photos are taken outside, which means the weather may not corporate and you can have neutral backgrounds. So, add a pop of color with your wardrobe.

The pop of color could be a dress, skirt, or top, which can then be toned down with neutral shoes or take a neutral top and pair it with a brightly colored shirt. Also, the groom can add a pop of color with his tie, striped shirt or a polo. The nice pop of color will make a great statement against a neutral background.

New Outfits – Invest in new outfits for an updated look. Go shopping for that pop of color. However, when buying new clothes, focus on the fit. Make sure the guys clothes are more fitted than baggy. Baggy clothes tend to make people look heavier.

Also, focus on your accessories. Belts for women cinch the waist in, cardigans hide bra straps and arms, while a-line skirts or dresses are a flattering fit to almost every body type.

Be Fabulous – These are your engagement photos! You can still show off your personality, however, take it up a notch. Add a colorful, bolder necklace, higher heels or brighter colors than you would normally go with a skirt. For the guys, let them add a fedora, bow tie, suspenders or fun socks are great accessories, depending on their style.

Fun Twist – Get fun with your engagement pictures. This is the time to do so. So, incorporate a time era into your engagement pictures. You can go vintage.

Choose a time era, like the 30's, 40's or 50's. These are truly timeless. Take a picture in an old-fashioned malt shop or set up a picnic. These are just a fun twist to add during your engagement pictures.

Pack Extra – It's always safe to have too much than too little. Your photographer can help narrow down your options and know what will work best for your location.

You will absolutely have fantastic engagement pictures and stand out in them. Remember to research, ask for help and ask for suggestions from your photographer. Your engagement pictures will stand out!

This post is brought to you by New York Photographers.
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Flowers are an essential part of any wedding. The colors, fragrances and beautiful arrangements play a big role in your wedding. So, when you are choosing your wedding flowers, look beyond the colors and styles. All flowers have meanings that can convey a message without saying a word. This is called the language of flowers that speaks to us all, if we know how to listen. Let's take a look at the meanings behind some of the more popular wedding flowers.

What are your wedding flowers saying?

• Baby's Breath: Represents innocence
• Calla Lily: Stands for Magnificent beauty, elegance and charm
• Red Carnations: Represents love. Pink shows gratitude while white conveys talent
• Chrysanthemum: Symbolizes wealth, abundance and truth
• Daffodil: Conveys respect
• Daisy: Represents romance and shared feelings
• Delphinium: Stands for swiftness and lightness
• Freesia: Symbolizes innocence
• Gardenia: Represents purity and joy
• Hydrangea: Conveys understanding
• Iris: Shows a message of faith and wisdom
• Lilac: Stands for royalty, truth and honor
• Lilies: Represent innocence and purity
• Pink Lilies: Show prosperity
• Stargazer Lilies: Convey aspiration
• Lily of the Valley: Symbolizes happiness
• Magnolia: Stands for the love of nature
• Orchids: Show love and beauty
• Peony: Conveys bashfulness
• Roses: The most popular wedding flower, which is the flower of love
• Red Roses: Show Passion and fiery love
• Dark Pink Roses: Represents thankfulness for finding each other
• Ivory Roses: Symbolize fidelity
• Stephanotis: Represents marital happiness
• Stock: Stands for lasting beauty
• Sunflower: Symbolizes adoration and loyalty
• Sweet Pea: Shows pleasure
• Tulips: Represent undying love and passion which is perfect for a wedding

Taking the flower and color meanings into consideration helps personalize every aspect of your wedding. Using special flowers conveying a message in the groom's boutonniere is a sweet gesture from the bride. Bridesmaid's bouquets personalized in the language of flowers can have deep sentiment and meaning towards friendship and family. Centerpieces and reception decor will hold precious memento when you know the deep meaning behind each flower. Using note cards to explain why you chose each flower helps the guests and recipients of the flowers understand the message hidden within. It makes for a fun and sweet way to bring even more sentiment to an already special and unique occasion.

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Finding a color scheme for your wedding day can be tricky. The best way to start is by picking two colors that compliment each other and then adding accent colors as you go. However, have you ever wondered what the meaning behind the colors of your wedding might symbolize? You should! Each color represents a specific character trait. You want your wedding colors to show your personality and to inspire and shine.
So, make sure your wedding colors express you!

Of course, you have to consider the place and timing of your wedding when choosing a color palette. You don't want to have bright springy colors at your fall wedding or warm fall colors at your beach wedding! There are a few limits, but for the most part, your imagination and creativity are the only limit you have. Take a look at the meanings behind your wedding colors.

Wedding colors and the meanings behind them

• Red: Traditionally the color of love and passion.
• Pink: The color of universal love, romance and acceptance. Pink is delicate and caring.
• Orange: The color of healing, vitality and sincerity.
• Brown: Represents simplicity, warmth and comfort.
• Yellow: A cheerful color that expresses joy and happiness.
• Green: The color of fertility, harmony and balance.
• Blue: Represents peace, spirituality and inspiration.
• Purple: The color of royalty, showing elegance, inspiration and sophistication.
• Lavender: Expresses grace and elegance.
• Gold: The symbol of wealth, tradition and optimism.
• White: The color of perfection, purity, wholeness and kindness.
• Black: Represents sophistication, boldness and elegance.
• Silver: Is formal, conservative, glamorous and sophisticated.
• Ivory: Expresses pleasantness, elegance and sincerity.

Whatever colors you choose, they need to be a representation of you and what you love. The colors of your wedding have a large impact on your wedding. Take your time and widen your imagination. In these times, nothing is off-limits. So, have fun and express yourself!

This post is brought to you by Miami Wedding Planners.
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Your wedding day is a day that you have looked forward to for years.  A day to celebrate and begin your new journey with your mate. Weddings are an occasion that come along with great celebration, family and friends and a large price tag!

That being said, it's not wonder that small, intimate weddings are becoming more popular. Often times, however, it's not only the money that inspires couples to have a private wedding… It takes much less planning, less stress and makes for a memorable family event. Something that you will hold close to your heart forever.

Small weddings are not the most favored, but they are the most cost efficient choice. Expect to have mixed emotions from family and friends when you share the news. They're excited about your special day too. Listen to their opinions, but since you chose to have a small wedding, stick to your guns and explain to them that on a later date you will hold an informal reception to include everyone who isn't invited to the ceremony.

Make a budget. No wedding planner needed! Do some research on the web and around your community for local florists, caterers, and bakeries.

Once you have an attainable budget you can start planning and purchasing your wedding necessities.

Chose your location. Smaller weddings give you more options when it comes to finding a wedding location, look for local halls, churches, wineries, beaches, parks or private gardens. Depending on how small your guest list is, you can hold the ceremony at your home or a family member's home.

Destination weddings are a great option when you have a small guest list too. It costs more. However, you can ask your family to pitch in to help cover the traveling costs instead of gifts. After all, they will be coming along on the trip too!

Invitations. Send out your wedding invitations 4-6 weeks in advance. If you feel bad talking about your wedding to friends who are not invited, it might be a better idea NOT talk about it. Keep it a secret until after the ceremony. You can then invite them to the reception to celebrate!

The Menu. Selecting your menu will be easier with a smaller crowd. You wont have to worry about generalizing the menu, like you would for a larger crowd. Hire a caterer to create your family's favorite foods.

The wedding. Yes it close and personal, but you can still have all the traditions included. Ask your guests to offer a few words at the ceremony or to do the readings if it is a religious ceremony.

Reception. This is a great time to show a slide show or play old family movies. A time to tell family stories. Your reception will be small, private and beautiful.

After your wedding you can wait a few weeks before having your big reception. This celebration is less formal than a typical wedding reception. Send out your invitations a few weeks in advance and plan for a low-key party to include all your friends in the celebration!

A few reminders…

• You can still have the dress of your dreams! Just because your wedding is small doesn't mean you can't have a great dress.
• The wedding flowers don't need to be as lavish as they would be for a larger wedding. But, having flowers in your small wedding will bring an intimate and elegant touch to the ceremony and reception.
• A beautiful way to include your family in the wedding is to give each family member a single flower as they take their seats. When you walk down the aisle to the altar, each flower will become part of your bouquet. This can be done with Hawaiian Leis too, each family member can place one around your neck as you make your way to alter. Or a simple hug to each family member as you enter is a beautiful way to include everyone.

This post is brought to you by Miami Wedding Planners.
Not in Miami, FL No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy wedding planning directory to help you find a wedding planner near you!

You're engaged, now you have a big wedding to-do list that keeps piling up. Some brides just want to get everything checked off their wedding list as fast as they can. However, start thinking about your vendor's quality when checking off those items on your wedding checklist. Quality is key to your wedding day. You wouldn't want to have an awful caterer. If you did, that is the main thing your guests will remember from your wedding day. Therefore, Wedding And Party Network is here to offer a few wedding tips on selecting your vendors to make your wedding day special.

Shop Around – It's important to shop around for vendors and not settling for one straight from the beginning. First off, take a moment to set a budget and decide on what you want for your wedding day. Write it all out, create a folder with all the different categories and take it with you for each vendor to see your vision.

Sit down with each vendor and talk to them to see if they can actually create your vision. Next, start comparing prices. See which one fits best into your wedding budget. Next on the list, how well did you connect to that vendor? This is extremely important. You want to get along with your particular vendor, make sure they share the same vision and are easy to talk to.

Social Network – If you have found a wedding vendor, get on their social media page and check them out. They normally can put pictures of their work and you can read their customer's comments. Also, don't forget to check out different wedding websites and blogs for recommendations in your area and reviews.

Check References -You may have researched vendors online, checked out their websites or heard from a friend about a particular vendor. However, if you have researched them online, don't forget they control their website. Therefore, they only put out there the information that they want you to see. Check out their past few clients. Ask them questions and how they worked together.

Ask – If you have chosen a few vendors but are still undecided on others, ask the ones that you have already chosen for their recommendations. They would love to give you suggestions on what they've seen and who they know will do a great job.

The Fine Print – Always remember to read the fine print. That is very important in everything you do. There is normally a contract you must sign with them, so read it. Yes, it may seem time-consuming, but again it's very important. If there's anything you don't understand, ask questions. Make sure you understand it all. Therefore, you aren't thrown any curve balls during your wedding planning or on your wedding day.

Develop A Trusting Relationship - So, you have finally chosen your vendors. Now, sit back and relax and trust them. You've already done all the leg work on them, so just enjoy the ride.

You want your wedding picture perfect and everything you've always wanted. So, start planning. They're right when they say, the sooner, the better. Anything can occur when planning your wedding, especially with your vendors. Therefore, you need to be ready and even your vendors should be ready for all possible situations that could occur.

This post is brought to you by Miami Wedding Planners.
Not in Miami, FL No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy wedding planning directory to help you find a wedding planner near you!

First off, congratulations on your very exciting engagement! Your wedding will be a dream come true and what you've always imagined. Once the excitement calms down and you've told everyone, you need to start planning. The sooner the better! So, Wedding And Party Network is here to give you a few wedding planning tips that will help you get started. With these planning tips, your dream wedding will unfold right before you.

Take Care Of Things In Advance -Once you have told everyone and things have calmed down a bit, immediately start planning. Staying on top of things is a must when planning your wedding. Sit down with your groom and decide on a date. That's the first thing you must do. Then, you can go from there. It's your wedding day, therefore you want it to be perfect. Well, start planning.

Paperwork – Some brides maybe so wrapped up into planning their wedding that they forget about one main important detail. The paperwork. Yes, a lot of us aren't a fan of doing paperwork. However, it must be done, especially if you want to get married. Make sure to research what you need in your state or for your destination wedding. Every state is different and need different documentation and even blood tests. So, be ready.

Finances – You may already know this and it seems like a business detail. However, knowing each others' finances is a very important detail. You will be making important decisions and big purchases together. We hate to be downers, but one of the top reasons for divorce is finances. So, you should be up front. Just take a moment with your future husband-to-be and lay out all your finances, student loans, debts, credit score and whatever else you may have. It'll be that much better for the both of you.

Be Available – Don't forget about all the emergencies that can occur. Even AFTER the wedding, while you're on your honeymoon. Therefore, be available to handle all situations. If you've planned ahead, you most likely are ready for any emergency that may occur.

Make an emergency guide for yourself or even your closet friends or family members. That way, they know how to handle the situation if you're not around. Being prepared never hurt anyone.

Consider Your Guests – We know this is your wedding day, however, consider your guests. You sent out wedding invitations far enough in advance to know exactly who is coming.

Therefore, if you know someone who has an allergy towards peanuts, make sure they get a dish that is peanut free. Maybe you have a guest who is vegetarian, well plan and let your caterer create them a meat free dish. If you are having an out-of-town wedding, make sure you give them some fun activities they can enjoy. Your guests are there for you, so you should be there for them too.

These 5 wedding planning tips will help you plan a smooth and well thought out wedding. You'll be ready for anything that comes your way. We want your wedding day to be everything you've dreamed of and it will be. Just remember, bring your unique style to your wedding day and enjoy!

This post is brought to you by Austin Wedding Planners.
Not in Austin, TX? No worries, use Wedding and Party Network's handy wedding planning directory to help you find a wedding planner near you!

Finding The Perfect Atmosphere

Every bride-to-be dreams of putting her own unique stamp on her wedding day. Blending her chosen wedding colors into many of the occasion's elements is just the first step toward a creative and beautiful event. Brides in gorgeous wedding gowns, bridesmaids and groomsmen decked out in the wedding party's colors and striking flowers are the perfect accompaniment to the colorful landscape of the summer and fall wedding seasons.

The warm weather gives great opportunities to take advantage of outdoor settings. Picture your self reciting your vows on an ocean bay, in a beautiful park or amidst the trees in an enchanted forest surrounding. With so many options in the summer and fall months, your only limit is your own imagination.

Personalize The Details

Selecting the perfect ways to feature wedding colors is a very personal representation of the bride and the groom. If you're a bride-to-be, picture homemade jewelry embellishing your wedding dress, table decorations that match your wedding theme and colors perfectly or all your guests looking over unique programs that you made at your kitchen table.

Flowers are the focal point of any wedding; bringing personalized, unique self-describing fantasies to life. Wedding cakes have evolved from what used to be a small treat to offer guests at a wedding into pieces of art that can include traits of your personality and flare. Your wedding can and should be just as individual as yourself.

Make Your Dream Day A Reality

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and is most likely one you've spent hours, days or even years dreaming about. When the time finally comes to start planning the big day, you don't want to cut corners or settle for a run-of-the-mill, impersonal event. Weddings can vary from traditional old fashion romantic themes all the way to modern non-traditional styles.

When it comes to your wedding, the first thing you should consider is your own personal style, your likes and dislikes. Your wedding is about you and who you are. You can incorporate anything into your wedding to make it stand out and scream your name!

With the help of event coordinators and Wedding And Party Network, you can be sure your wedding day will be one that is remembered by all. You can lay out your canvas and start brushing away. Event coordinators will offer much help when it comes to creating a day that is nothing short of your perfect vision. They will take your ideas and transform them into a reality.

If you're on the fence about a wedding or event coordinator, it never costs anything to talk, to ask questions, and to indulge your curiosity of what it would really be like to transform your special day without making a dent in your way of life!

This post is brought to you by Philadelphia Florists.
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Every Friday, Wedding and Party Network will be choosing a theme or color and give you inspirational photos. We want to help give you inspiration for your next event, wedding or party. So, take a look and we hope to give you a bit of inspiration when planning your wedding or party. Our inspirational board will give everyone inspiration for the colors pink & green. These two colors make an absolutely gorgeous color combination. Pink and green make a great color combination for spring. You'll absolutely be able to do amazing things with this color combination.

When planning your wedding, finding the right color combination can be crucial. So, what is a great spring and summer wedding color combination? Pink and green, of course! You can create a preppy wedding or a rustic themed wedding when using these colors. Use bold pinks and greens or pastels to create these themes. You can incorporate the pink or green into bridesmaid dresses, alternating colors or using different shades of one. Get creative with a bright bridal bouquet to accent a white wedding dress. There are so many things you can do and create with this color scheme. So, get creating something that will truly stand out in your wedding with this color combo.

This post is brought to you by Louisville Florist
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