The wedding industry is a multimillion dollar industry and just when you think that they can’t get any more money out of brides, a new trend pops up that is quickly sweeping receptions all over America. The new trend of custom wedding cake toppers is almost a must for any bride at her reception. Years and years ago, there were not very many selections for what to put on top of your wedding cake at your reception. The choices were two figurines or flowers of your choice. Eventually, designers realized that there was a market for customized cake figurines. You were able to have your figurines have the same hair color as the couple. Now, there is no limit to what you can have on top of your wedding cake. With so many different options, you will be able to find the perfect topper for your wedding cake.

A Google search on the topic of cake toppers can be mind-blowing as there are thousands of difference websites with staggering selections. There is a site for the Harley Davidson minded couple that has two figurines on any number of Harley models. If you and your husband-to-be are sports fans, there are many sites that have sports-themed cake toppers. Through this particular site, you can order your couples in different team jerseys or in any type of sporting gear. Some of the selections you can order are football, soccer, golf, fishing, baseball, and even rugby.

See also: unique wedding cake toppers

Another specialty site that was very popular was the armed services figurines. These are becoming more popular with so many men and women in the armed services now. You can honor your husband’s or your own military service by choosing a cake topper in a formal uniform. There were many comments on this site from customers that purchased their cake toppers for their wedding and had gotten so many great comments on their cake.

Finally, there were also sites that offered more whimsical and humorous cake topper. For the whimsical side, they offered Mickey and Minnie mouse cake toppers and even a bride and groom PEZ dispenser cake topper. The more funny ones were figurines of the bride dragging the groom up to the alter and even the bride pinching the groom’s behind. At last, brides all over the world can really make their cake as special and unique as they are for their special day that they’ve been dreaming about for years.

Wedding invitation planning…you may not realize just how many steps there really are to organizing and preparing your invitations. From creating your guest list to finalizing all your ceremony and reception details, many things affect your wedding invitation preparations.

There really are no absolute deadlines for many of the steps in your wedding invitation process. With so many other things on your mind, there are some general timeframes to keep in mind to avoid last-minute rushing.

Here is a basic timeline to simply use as a guideline for your invitation planning:

9 months – 1 year

• Begin working on your guest list so you will know how many wedding invites (and maybe save the dates) to eventually order (one per single adult, couple or family invited).
• Start your wedding invitation shopping so you can narrow your choices down to only your favorites. Be sure to order samples, which are usually blank, so you can personally see the paper and design.
• If you are planning to mail out save the date cards to guests, begin searching for your preferred design of them as well.

7 to 8 months

• If you will be sending save the dates, place your order based on the number of guests to whom you will be mailing them as they are optional.
• Review sample wedding invitation verses and give some thought as to how your wording will read.

6 months

• If sending save the dates, prepare and mail them.
• Select your wedding invitation design and gather all the details that will be printed on them such as date, times, name and address of location(s), etc.
• Determine if you will also be ordering any invitation enclosures or added options – response cards, reception cards, direction/map cards, pre-printed return address on envelopes, decorative envelope seals, colored lining for inner envelopes, matching thank you or informal cards. Some of these options may not be available depending on your chosen style. You may also be able to order matching menu, table and place cards for your design. You will save on separate shipping costs by purchasing as many items as you can all in the same order.
• If you are including response cards, check with your dinner location to see how far in advance they need your final guest count so you can select the RSPV date that will be printed on them (typically 2-3 weeks before wedding). You also need to decide whose address will be printed on the response envelope or postcard meaning they will receive the replies.

4-5 months

• Finalize your wording and place your wedding invitation order. Remember to order some extras now so you won’t run out if there are last-minute guests to invite and so you also have a few as souvenirs. If the option is available, order some extra envelopes just to be safe.
• Check your guest list making sure you have complete addresses for everyone.
• Consider mailing your wedding invites using custom wedding stamps. Many online retailers give you the option of choosing from pre-designed wedding postage or simply uploading a photo to create your own stamp design. NOTE – Be sure to have one of your ready-to-mail invitations weighed at a Post Office BEFORE you purchase any postage stamps to make sure you are using the correct amount for each invitation.

3-4 months

• Fold and/or assemble your wedding invitations, if necessary.
• Hand address mailing envelopes and write guest names on inside envelopes, if they are included.
• Purchase and apply postage stamps to the response card envelopes or response postcards, if they will be included.
• Assemble all wedding invitation pieces and insert them into already addressed envelopes.
• Take one fully assembled and sealed invitation to the Post Office to have it weighed to determine the correct amount of postage needed.
• Purchase your stamps or order custom wedding stamps with appropriate postage amount required for mailing.

6-8 weeks

• Seal the envelopes, apply postage stamps and mail them all at the same time directly at a Post Office location.

3-4 weeks

• Prepare and mail any other related wedding invitations…rehearsal dinner, post-wedding brunch, etc.
• Keep track of the response cards as they are returned by checking off their names from your guest list.

2-3 weeks

• Contact any guests who didn’t mail back their response cards.
• Provide final guest count to reception/dinner location.

That pretty much takes care of everything related to your invitations prior to your wedding. The only thing left to do is to write and mail out your wedding thank you cards, especially if you ordered them with your wedding invitations. They should be written and mailed out to guests about a month after the wedding and no longer than months later.

Again, this is just a guideline for your wedding invitations process but hopefully it will help you stay organized which is the key for all of your wedding planning. 

India is known for its rich cultural heritage and diversity. Likewise, Indian weddings draw a lot of attention by virtue of being a long lasting lavish affair. Stated below are some fun facts about Indian ‘Hindu’ weddings, the most elaborate of all Indian weddings:

1. Indian Hindu weddings can take place only on the days that are declared auspicious according to the astrologers. The families are required to consult with the priest, in order to determine the best date for the wedding ceremony.

2. In most Hindu families, it is important to determine the horoscope compatibility of the bride and the groom, before they can actually tie the knot. The families want to know whether the two people getting into matrimony will have a harmonious and long lasting marriage. The horoscopes also supposedly forecast if there is any possibility that the groom’s stars jeopardize the life of the bride in the course of marriage, or vice versa.

3. An Indian Hindu wedding is a long affair. The wedding can take place days or months after the actual engagement, or ring ceremony, that takes place in the presence of all important family members.

4. Before the wedding, numerous other ceremonies and events can be observed by the Indian families, according to their social and financial status. In a lavish affair, the ‘mehendi’ or henna evening and bridal shower precede the wedding ceremony.

5. The traditional ‘mehendi’ event is held at the bride’s place, where all the female relatives and friends of the bride team up to paint her hands with mehendi or henna. They make beautiful designs on the bride’s hands and feet, and often include the groom’s name in their art.

6. Since most Indian weddings take place overnight, and the rituals last for hours, the entire day of the wedding is spent in beautifying the bride and the groom. Turmeric paste, which has herbal healing and cleansing properties according to Ayurveda, is rubbed all over the bodies of the couple. Turmeric lightens the skin and brings a golden glow to it. These efforts are essential as the Indian people are always expected to look their very best and most radiant during their wedding.

7. Both the bride and the groom are not allowed to meet each other or even leave the house after the turmeric application ritual.

8. The family of the groom arrives at the bride’s house, amidst a blaze of dancing and singing. The procession, which is called the ‘Baraat’, is welcomed lavishly by the bride’s family with gifts flowers and garlands.

9. The wedding takes place in two parts. The onstage event pertains with the bride and the groom exchanging garlands in front of friends and families. This event is followed by a reception and photo sessions. Later, after dinner, the families go ahead to perform the actual ceremony, where the groom and the bride walk around the fire seven times, and each round corresponds to a marriage vow, which they promise to abide by.

10. Towards the end of the ceremony, the groom sprinkles ‘Sindoor’, which is a red holy powder, in the bride’s hair parting. Being a symbol of marriage, the ‘Sindoor’ is supposed to adorn the bride’s head as long as she remains married.

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