Your wedding announcements have been sent to those you want to share in your special day, the flowers have been ordered, the menu prepared, the table favors are assembled, your wedding dress has come back from the seamstress and is now a perfect fit, and all that's left is the finishing touch, finding the right fragrance.

The right fragrance can make an already wonderful day, a spectacular day. You may be wondering how that is possible when the focus should be on the wedding itself not what the bride smells like. Do certain scents trigger memories from your past, your childhood? The smell of cinnamon might bring back the memory of your mother making hot apple pies on a cold winter day, or even the smell of chocolate can bring back memories of a warm cup of chocolate after playing outside in the snow. The same can be said for the bride's perfume. The scent you choose to wear the day of your wedding will forever be linked to your wedding day, bringing those wonderful memories to the surface every time you sprits on that particular scent.

When it comes to choosing the right fragrance to wear on your wedding day you should choose a fragrance that blends with your personality. If you have a bold, outgoing personality, you don't want to wear something mild because that isn't you. Just as if you are shy and quiet you don't want to wear something that is going to knock your socks off when you sprits it on. You also want to take into consideration the types of flowers you are carrying and have displayed throughout the church. Some flower scents do not complement each other so if you are carrying a bouquet that contains peonies, you may want to stay away from a fragrance that contains marigold notes. While apart these flowers are wonderful, together, not so much.

If your wedding is in the summer months, you may choose something with a fruity or soft floral notes, such as: vanilla, peach, tangerine, rose, lavender, or grapefruit.  What you want to stay away from are the heavy hearty scents such as: sandalwood, musk, and peppery scents. These 3 scents are best suited for fall and winter weddings.

If you want to purchase a new scent specific to wearing for your wedding the best thing for you to do is go and try the scents out at a cosmetic counter. New seasonal fragrances are most often put out by the cosmetic companies in the spring and fall, so for your summer wedding the new fragrances are available in the early spring and for your winter wedding the new fragrances are available in the early fall. Cosmeticians are trained in perfume notes and will be able to help you choose the perfect scent for your perfect wedding day.

Another thing to keep in mind is to choose a scent that your future husband will like and remember. Some men are sensitive to women's perfume and you don't want to choose a fragrance that will give him hives, have him sneezing or give him memories of a foul smell on your wedding day. Great ways to work around this and find the scent that will work for both of you is to sprits on a fragrance and wear it for the day, if your fiancé compliments you, or says how yummy you smell, you know you have found a winner. It may take a few trips back to the cosmetic counter to find that perfect scent but it will be worth it in the end.

Scent and memories go hand-in-hand. And for your wedding day you deserve both of them to be perfect. Once you put the final sprits on before you head down the aisle to the man of your dreams you will know that day couldn't be any more perfect if you tried.

Paige Rylann is a successful writer and entrepreneur for http://www.greatfragrances4u.com/ , with a long term interest in fragrance, style and fashion. Paige provides tips and advice on women's perfume and mens cologne and how to get the most out of the fragrance you wear. 
 

There are actually several ways you can make your mailing envelope as unique as your wedding invitation.

• Shape - With so many wedding invitation designs available today, you could easily select a uniquely shaped style such as square or tea length. The mailing envelope will then reflect that same distinctive size to fit the invitation.
• Style - Another option is to select a Seal and Send wedding invitation style. This all-in-one invitation is designed to be folded into a self-mailing piece eliminating the need for a mailing envelope. The response card is attached to the invitation so it can be easily detached by your wedding guest along the perforation. This also eliminates the response card return mailing envelope and saves on your postage cost as it only requires a postcard stamp.
• Color - How about using color for emphasis? Some wedding invitations now come with colored mailing envelopes. In particular, self-mailer invitations often include a colored envelopment. The envelopment holds your invitation card and has a built-in pocket for keeping any extra enclosures. It is then folded up wrapping around all your invitation pieces to become your mailing envelope.
• Decorative Seals - Adding a seal to your wedding invitation envelope could be that extra touch you’ve been looking for. Even though your envelope is sealed, you can choose to place a special seal on the back so it gives the illusion that the seal is actually holding the flap down. There are many seal design choices, from monograms to first names to specific themes. Their appearance can be clear, white, silver, gold, embossed, etc.
• Custom Wedding Stamps - There are now websites that offer you the option of creating your own personalized postage stamps using an uploaded photo or choosing from ready-to-use wedding designs. This is a great way to dress up your wedding invitation envelopes to reflect your personal style.

Sara Haese is the owner of www.PrintedCreationsWeddingStore.com where you'll find a great online selection of both traditional and contemporary wedding invitations. Visitors can also sign up to receive her FREE Wedding Invitation Guide.

Your guest opens up her mailbox, and sees a lovely envelope addressed to her. Inside is her invitation to your wedding! What a lovely way to tell her how much you want her to share in the joy and celebrate you and your fiancé’s exchange of wedding vows.

But wait! There’s more! What are all the other things that’s in the envelope?

One of the two most common types of enclosures is the Response card, also known as an RSVP card, (French for Respondez, s’il vous plait, or please respond). This card (with its pre-addressed and pre-stamped envelope), allows your guests to easily let you know if they will be coming.

The other most common enclosure is the Reception card. It gives them information on the time and location of the reception. If the ceremony and reception will be held at the same location, the Reception card can be omitted as long as reception information is also included on the invitation itself. Something along the lines of "Reception immediately following ceremony" will usually suffice – and save you money.

Maps and directions are also popular enclosures. The easier you can make it for your guest to attend your wedding the better. Even if your guests live locally, a map with good directions is thoughtful and much appreciated.

One other common enclosure is hotel information If you have several out-of-town guests, an easy and inexpensive (doesn’t cost you a dime!) courtesy is to book a block of rooms at a nearby hotel. Include the name of the event (ex. Smith-Jones Wedding), the hotel’s reservation phone number and room rates (hotels will often give a discount) on coordinating cardstock. Whether your guests choose to stay at this location is up to them, but you’ve conveniently and thoughtfully put the information right at their fingertips.

A less common enclosure is the Within the Ribbon card. This card, which is about the size of a business card, is not sent to every guest, but only to those particularly special friends and family members. This card is brought to the ceremony and shows the ushers that you and your fiancé want to ensure that these special guests are seated up front. These cards are not necessary for grandparents or siblings, as they are traditionally seated up front, or for parents as they traditionally have the honor of sitting in the first row. Within the Ribbon cards are usually used for very large and very formal weddings where many guests are expected and reserving enough room for seating special friends and family members is a must.

The purpose of the invitation and its various enclosures is to provide all necessary information a guest will need to easily and comfortably attend your wedding and share in your celebration.

There comes that magical moment at every wedding reception where all else stops, and all eyes gaze toward the center of the dance floor. It is empty except for the bride and groom as they prepare for their first dance as husband and wife.

The first dance is an age-old tradition – originating with formal balls in Europe where the person with the highest social position, often the Emperor or King, would have the first dance, thereby signaling the official start of the event. For events of lesser nobility, the host and/or hostess would have the first dance.

Formal balls have become a thing of the past. Gone are the once common knowledge and skills of ballroom dancing, but luckily not completely forgotten thanks to dance studios and instructors. Many couples, in the desire to avoid showing their friends and family that they each have two left feet and possess a distinct lack of rhythm, have opted for at least a few dance lessons so they can gracefully twirl around the dance floor with a more polished look on their wedding day. And if they prefer to practice solely in the privacy of their own homes, dance instruction videos and DVD’s are available.

However, a new first dance practice is suddenly emerging. No longer are couples simply doing a foxtrot, waltz, or that old stand-by, the old "high school sway." In its place is a professionally choreographed routine rivaling something you’d see on a theatre stage during a musical. This trend is becoming more common, as couples across the country reenact scenes from "Dirty Dancing," Michael Jackson’s "Thriller," and the opening sequence to "The Spy Who Loved Me," complete with pantomimed gestures along with the carefully practiced dance moves. Some couples have even gone so far as requiring their entire bridal party to take several dance lessons, and wear silly costumes. The trend in elaborately choreographed first dances is getting so popular that some of these routines are frequently viewed on YouTube, and even show up on the national news.

So, why is the simple first dance of old heading in this theatrical, dramatic direction? Why are more and more couples trying to put on a show? A definitive answer is hard to come by, as there are many different hypotheses. Many claim that it is the fault of an "all about me" society. That many couples desire to "one up" other couples, so they choose to be as elaborate and showy as possible, so they become the focus of everyone’s attention. Some think that the media is to blame. With so many talent style programs on these days – ‘America’s Got Talent,’ ‘American Idol’ and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ – perhaps they just want to get into the act. Another thought is that this trend stems from the fact that we currently live in a culture that is just less traditional than ever before, including weddings. Since today’s brides and grooms are making less traditional wedding choices, why should their first dance remain traditional? Isn’t the wedding day all about the couple and what they want anyway?

Sure, a wedding ceremony and reception is about the couple, there’s no denying that. After all, they, and the celebration of their new life together, are the reason for the day’s events and the gathering of friends and family. On this day, all eyes are going to be on the bride and groom anyway, regardless of what they are doing, or how they are doing it. So the bride and groom need to carefully think about what these eyes are going to see. They are the host and hostess, and as such, should put careful thought into what they are providing for their guests.

Like the hundreds of thousands of other wedding guests across the country, their guests will witness many "traditional" formalities, including the cake cutting, tossing the bouquet and garter, and the couples’ first dance. However, these traditions were first implemented centuries ago, and their meanings and symbolisms have changed significantly through the years. Today’s bride and groom have to decide what meanings, if any, these formalities hold for them. What do they hope to achieve as they plan on participating in these formalities? Is it to follow tradition, to become the center of attention, or something else entirely?

Would they be more comfortable with something sweet and traditional, or is something dramatic and entertainment-like more suitable? Again, there is no definitive answer. Like any other planning decision, it really depends on the style and formality of event the couple wishes to have. As the first dance has the power to set the tone for the event, making an appropriate choice is very important. Do they want classic and formal? Then holding to the traditional ways may be best for them. On the other hand, if they want something more modern and contemporary, than why not an energized, choreographed routine?

However, like many things in life, the "what" isn’t as important as the "why." What are they doing? Dancing – following either tradition or the current trend. But why are they doing it? Is it to signal the dancing portion of the event, to set the mood for the rest of the evening, or to get their guests more involved? Or is it an attempt to show off and say, "Hey, look at us, aren’t we great?" Just remember, there won’t be any Tony awards given out at the end of the evening for best performance, and Sunday’s paper won’t be listing any reviews. However, what does come away from the event, and in big part the first dance, are the memories to be enjoyed for years to come. What do you think most guests would want to remember – a couple of show offs or a fun, enjoyable event?

Medusa, the Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot, Jennifer Lopez as The Wedding Planner . . . What do these things have in common? They are MYTHS!

While being a myth does not keep people from seeking some of these out (well, maybe not Medusa . . . ) they often prevent couples from seeking out the assistance of a professional wedding planner.

To help clarify and debunk some of these, here is a list of some of the more common misconceptions (and truths) of professional wedding planners (PWPs), aka wedding consultants, wedding coordinators, and bridal consultants.

Consultants are expensive and only for the rich and famous.

Like most people, much of what you know about a PWP is what you see on TV, the movies, and in magazines. Lavish celebrity weddings raise ratings and sell more copies, but they are not the stuff of everyday real-life weddings. And the people who produce these weddings (Colin Cowie, Preston Bailey . . .) provide a very different service than your local PWP. The local PWP understands who and what in their region, such as current trends, and all the great local vendors and resources.

Also, most PWPs offer different levels of service, from a basic hour-long session to full-service coordination and design, so you should be able to find something in your price range quite easily.

My caterer also does wedding planning. Why not just use them to plan mine?

The main job of your caterer (or florist, or dj, etc.) is to provide the service they are specifically trained and experienced in. While they are busy providing their service on a wedding day, how are they going to take care of any the other behind-the-scenes things? They just cannot be in two places at once.

I have just booked my reception venue and they have a list of "preferred vendors." Why should I pay someone for the same information?

Because a PWP does not give the same information. The "preferred vendor" list provided by venues, caterers, etc. are often vendors who have paid to be on that list, and is not an indication of their style, pricing, availability, nor reputation. The venue provides this very same list to all of their clients.

On the other hand, the list of vendors provided by a PWP is tailored specifically for each bride & groom. You have your own specific style and desires, as well as budget, that you want for your wedding day. A PWP will provide a list of available vendors that you know specializes in your desired style, and fits your budget.

But I do not want someone to plan my wedding they way they think it should be.

A PWP will take the time to find out exactly what you and your fiance want out of your wedding, how you envision your wedding day, how much you have and want to spend, and what your priorities are for your wedding. She will also take the time to get to know YOU. By doing so, then she can make referrals and suggestions based on your unique desires and dreams for your wedding day, and NOT some preconceived notion of what a wedding "should" be.

She will help you plan your wedding the way YOU want it to be, not the way she thinks it should be, or (worse yet!) "the way it has always been done"?

Do consultants take kickbacks from the vendors they refer?

Absolutely not! It is unethical to accept kickbacks, finders fees, or whatever you want to call them. The main focus of a Professional Wedding Planner is you, the bride and groom. The PWPs are looking out for the bride and grooms best interest, not their own, nor any other vendor. The ONLY exception is if the consultant fee will be paid by the vendors and not by the client.

Will a consultant want to run the whole show?

A PWP will work with you, handling as much or as little of your wedding as you want. After all, it is your wedding. The PWP is there to help you and your family make the day perfect. If you want her to, the PWP will run the whole show, but it is your show that she is running.

Our church has a wedding coordinator. Why do I need someone else?

The person at the church is usually only familiar with his/her aspect of the wedding, particularly getting the bride down the aisle on time, not the complete planning process.  The church coordinator is primarily concerned with making sure the rules of their church are followed. Do not assume the church coordinator will help with any set-up, assist you and your bridal party while you are getting dressed, pass out and pin on boutonnieres and corsages, make sure everything and everyone is in place, or be able to fix any behind-the-scenes problems that may arise.

I can find vendors straight out of the yellow pages. Why pay someone to do this for me?

You can pick names from the yellow pages yourself. However, this is no indication of their style, price ranges, availability, or if the vendor is even reputable. Referrals provided by a PWP are not pulled out of the yellow pages, but from a data base of pre-qualified, reputable vendors who match a specific set of criteria that fits your wedding vision and budget.

My friend (or sister) just got married, and her wedding was great. Why not use the same vendors?

Of course you can use the same vendors, but do you really want to have your wedding just like someone elses?

My mom is helping me. Why hire someone when we can do it all?

Using the services of a PWP does not prevent you and/or your mom from "doing it all." Instead, with her training, experience and expertise, the PWP is on hand to assist and guide you through the entire wedding process, offering suitable suggestions and quickly remedying any problems, so no one ends up too stressed and too tired to enjoy the big day when it finally arrives. A PWP will help you to look forward to and enjoy your wedding day than get so stressed out that you cannot wait for it to be over with.