Links and Resources There are a great many things to think of and accomplish before your wedding! Most brides and grooms say, "I can use all the help I can get! But, we still want to make the final decisions." That's why we wanted to provide some links and suggest some resources you might find helpful. These are people, materials, ideas, and publications that deal with exactly the kinds of challenges you may face. Checking them out may save you a lot of time and legwork! [On a tight budget? Look for the publications in your local library. Many libraries also offer free internet access.] Wedding Websites There are hundreds of wedding-related websites out there! Here are a few that we think stand out above the others: The Knot http://www.theknot.com This national site is probably the biggest and best-known, and they do have a lot to offer. Some of their suppliers tend to be a bit pricey, but you'll find lots of good information, chat rooms, local bulletin boards and articles covering just about everything you want to know about weddings. Michigan Wedding Solutions http://www.michiganweddingsolutions.com This is a Michigan-based wedding/bridal site with lots of good information and local resources for almost anything you might need-- Definitely worth checking out! Two more good websites-- The Wedding Channel.com http://www.weddingchannel.com and The US Wedding Directory http://www.theweddingdirectory.us These are both national sites, but they both have some links for local resources in Michigan communities, too. Wedding Books and Magazines Don't overlook the information-value in all those bridal magazines. Yes, they're heavy on advertising, but they do have good information on the top bridal topics! You can find these on most magazine stands: Bride's, Modern Bride, Elegant Bride, Bridal Guide, and America's Bride. Then there are the books-- Among the best are "The Knot Complete Guide to Weddings in the Real World," "Modern Bride Complete Wedding Planner," "The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner," "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Bridal Showers," and many other titles. All these and hundreds more area available at: http://www.amazon.com Ceremony Music Very small ceremonies are sometimes done without music, but with a larger group of people and the bride and bridesmaids coming down an aisle, you really want some sort of musical background-- live or "canned." Many weddings also include a musical contribution mid-ceremony from a singer or other musician, and it really does add elegance to the event. There are two key issues: What music? And, who will provide or perform it? Some people prefer the traditional organ music ("here comes the bride..." etc.) Some like the sophistication of classical. Others like a more contemporary sound. A good officiant can discuss the options and suggest some specific titles. You may simply want to buy a wedding CD and assign someone to act as DJ. If you want live musicians, here are a few good resources to consider: [We can provide many others, to suit your needs.] La Corda Ensemble http://www.lacorda.com/ They can provide a string quartet for elegant chamber music during the ceremony, or offer more contemporary selections during a cocktail hour. And, their website lets you hear free samples! The Nagy Duo http://www.nagyduo.com This is a harp and flute pairing that brings a delicate beauty and serenity to the ceremony. They perform classical as well as popular music. Dearing Concert Duo http://www.dearingconcertduo.com Here we have a guitar and flute duo with the added feature of a flutist who also has a lovely singing voice for a vocal solo. Harold Higgins, Bagpiper http://www.policepiper.com Mr. Higgins provides a unique and surprisingly touching flavor to the ceremony with the old world music of "the pipes." HIs music and appearance is especially inspiring if there is any Irish or Scottish heritage in the families of the bride or groom. Wedding Planners/Coordinators If you're busy people, with careers and other activities, all the additional work that goes into planning your wedding can really take the fun out of life. By the time the big day rolls around, you're stressed out and exhausted! You might want to consider using a wedding planner. Your officiant will plan and conduct the actual ceremony, but a good wedding planner can take care of almost everything else. You still call the shots and make the decisions, but they take care of all the searching, and price-shopping, and gathering supplies, and watching over all your other vendors. Perhaps most important-- they usually know some tricks and resources that the average person never hears about. Yes, they charge a fee, but they often save you enough money (and stress!) that it's well-worth the expense. If you don't really need their full services, many offer "day-of coordination." They'll keep everyone organized, help with the decorations, make sure everything is done as you wished, and deal with any last-minute details or emergencies that might pop up. That leaves you free to really enjoy your wedding day! One of the best I know is Tracie Morris, of You're the Bride http://www.yourethebride.com and we can recommend others, if she's not available. And, that's not all! There are some wonderful photographers, like Sam Sarkis, at http://www.samsarkisphotography. com/main2.html There are great DJs, and Cake Bakers, and Florists. There are even Name Change CDs, that not only instruct you-- they print out all the appropriate letters and forms to notify everyone from the U.S. Post Office, to your bank and credit card companies that the bride now has a new name! The thing is, we can't possibly tell you about all the resources and suppliers you may be looking for, so again, ask your wedding officiant for advice. If they don't have the information immediately, they can probably get it for you! Copyright © 2005 Wedding Ceremonies- Michigan. All rights reserved. |
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