Wedding Invitations and Ideas For a Hot and Cool August Wedding

 August can be a beautiful time of year to get married. The hubbub of the June and July brides has passed and you can enjoy a nice quiet ceremony and reception. August is also getting closer to fall so you can take advantage of the summer weather and some of the influences of fall as well.
Invitations
While summer colors are bold and bright, your August invitations can also hint at some rich fall tones. Pick jewel tones with an earthy brown for an elegant look. You might want to pick designs in florals and leaf patterns for your August wedding. Your wedding invitations will be delivered to your guests in June and July, skip the summer look and opt for something different to make your invitations stand out.
There are no major holidays in the month of August, so you don't have to worry about planning around a holiday. However, many families plan vacations for the month of August, while the kids are still on summer vacation. Get your save the dates and wedding invitations in the mail early before your guests make other plans.
Ceremony and reception
August is still a great time for an outdoor ceremony and reception. Just keep in mind that the mid-day sun can be a little too warm for some guests. Have umbrellas and stands handy for shade. And some indoor space is never wasted as some will want to get out of the elements all together. Make sure you take advantage of the warm weather that lasts well past sundown. Your August reception can last well into the evening as the nights can stay warm well into the later part of the month. Don't forget to note your outdoor plans in your wedding invitation so guests can come prepared.
Your August wedding can include elements from summer and from fall. Add poached pears to the salad for a warm autumn feeling. Choose one chilled entrée and one hot to satisfy both summer and fall palates. Your caterer will know what is fresh and seasonal for your wedding date.
Keep your bar stocked with both red and white wines and plenty of water. For your signature cocktail look to fall fruits for inspiration - a cranberry martini or apple martini can be a perfect compliment to your late summer menu.
Flowers
Since it is still summer, you have many choices when it comes to flowers for your bouquet, centerpieces and ceremony and reception décor. Specific flowers in bloom in August include many colorful choices like Daisy Mums, Gerbera Daisies, Roses and Calla Lilies. Pick your favorite looks and colors to make your flowers like you've dreamed of. There may be some flowers that are more readily available in your area. You can save yourself some money by choosing local blooms. Check with your florist for the best advice.
Make the most of your August wedding with the freshest seasonal foods, blooms and colors. August is the prefect time to combine the best of summer and of autumn and make your ceremony and reception unique.

Consider a Long Island wedding.

How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Venue

Choosing a perfect wedding venue is the main issue that preoccupies the minds of the bride and the bridegroom. A perfect wedding venue will definitely make your wedding a dream wedding and an unforgettable experience for the guests.
Couples usually look for magical and grand venues, something that can sweep them off their feet, just like their love and emotions for one another. But, a wedding venue is actually a lot more than simply breathtaking ambience. It should be a complete package of catering, decoration, services, space, seating arrangement for the guests, parking facilities, separate space for the civil ceremony and reception.
When you are looking for a wedding venue, finalize your wedding guest list because seating arrangement for the guests should be adequate and enough for all the guests. It is customary for people to book wedding venues online, but you must pay a personal visit so that you can have a look at the venue yourself.
Parking facilities or valet parking is also essential for a hassle free wedding-venue. Some of your guests might be using public transport or flying from other cities to attend your wedding. Therefore, the location of the wedding venue is also critical as it should be accessible by everyone.
The decoration of the wedding-venue is of prime importance, even if you are going for a small wedding. The flowers and the table arrangement would be chosen by you. The wedding-venue that you are considering might have an in-house wedding planner. If you can afford him, discuss all the matters with him regarding the flower arrangement and the overall decoration. You can stay in-budget if you are selective in the choice of flowers.
Each wedding-venue has a digital album of different kinds of arrangements and decorations, which they have done in the past. So, ask the person who is dealing with you to show you the album or sample pictures, so that you can have an idea of the standard of the wedding services that they provide.
Catering is the most important aspect of wedding. Whatever menu you have chosen should be delicious and something which is liked by all the guests. A perfect wedding-venue should have an all-inclusive services including catering. But, it is imperative that you taste the food yourself to assess the quality and taste of the food. If you really like it, immediately sign the contract with the wedding-venue.
In some cases, even the perfect wedding-venues lack one thing or the other. You should weigh the pros and cons, and set your own priorities, because if one wedding-venue is deemed perfect by one person, it is not necessarily perfect for you. If your priority is a practical wedding with excellent services and average decoration and ambience, go for it. But, if you are looking for a splendid and grand evening then you shall have to inspect the cutlery, crockery, napkins, flowers, candles, furniture etc. yourself.

Professional Long Island Wedding Photography

"Long Island offers a wide variety of wedding venues, from Oheka Castle, the Hamptons, countless catering halls and more. All have their own unique beauty, which is why they make so many long island weddings memorable for newlyweds year after year. From indoors to out, every moment will be captured by Mark Kauffman a Long Island Wedding Photographer.

One of the most important people at the wedding is the photographer, aside from the bride and groom. The photographer is responsible for capturing and documenting the special moments you'll be having throughout the entire day. Video and pictures you'll look back on for lifelong memories of your long island wedding.

Since 1989 Mark Kauffman has been a long island wedding photographer. Mark believes that truly successful wedding photography combines quick spontaneous posing for formal portraits and continuous candids for a more alive recording. He artfully blends both traditional and journalistic coverage to create an exciting record of the wedding day, individually personalized for your marriages.

A second photographer is always provided for complete candid coverage. Averaging 800-1200 photos per wedding, multiple cameras, lenses, and yes, even films are still used, in addition to digital. Every photography package is customized to suit your needs and all services can be provided a la carte. Prepare for your wedding day with a pre wedding practice session to meet with the photographer. Custom printing of all proofs (5x6!) and many album styles and size choices are available to fit any budget."
By: Leonard Davidson

Planning a Beautiful Connecticut Wedding

 Long Island Wedding Venues

Despite being one of the smallest states, Connecticut is a state filled with variations in its landscape and cultures. Connecticut is a scenic state with mountains, forests, open farming lands, rivers, and a scenic coastline. The towns and cities range from quaint rural towns to large industrial cities along the coast. This variety offers many wedding backdrops and venues but none more steeped in American history and legend that provides unique Connecticut wedding venues than the Town of Mystic.
Mystic is located on the shores of Mystic River on the nationally renowned New England seashore that is located on the Long Island Sound. The town founded in 1654 is steeped in New England charm, with a downtown filled with quaint shops and restaurants.  This small unassuming sea town had been in the national spotlight having been featured in movies and commercials.
For a Connecticut wedding experience for guests, Mystic is the home of two world class museums, the Mystic Seaport and the Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration. For guests that enjoy the arts, guests can enjoy the Mystic Art Center exhibiting arts from the region. Mystic is also close to beautiful award winning vineyards and wineries, cider mills and many more area attractions.
Mystic has many different hotels, inns, and bed and breakfasts. Accommodations include hotels from national chains to quaint historic inns. The inns supply the guests and couple with views from sheltered coves and the fresh salty air of the Atlantic Ocean. Restaurants offer a wide variety of cuisine, which includes fresh seafood brought in daily from the Mystic Harbor for a tasty Connecticut wedding.
Mystic is known for romance ever since Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall honeymooned there in 1945. Venues include the beautiful and elegant Inn at Mystic, which offers spectacular views of the Harbor. The Mystic Aquarium can also host a beautiful Connecticut wedding.  Imagine exchanging vows in the light of the sea-blue underwater tanks. Among other perfect Mystic wedding venues is the Seamen's Inn. This Inn located on the grounds of the Mystic Seaport can host a wedding on the banks of the beautiful Mystic River.
Another advantage of being a seaport Mystic is home to various ship charters. Chartering a ship provides a perfect Connecticut wedding. The Tall Ship Mystic is 170 feet long and can accommodate up to 150 guests. The ship offers on-deck dining and lounge and even has cabins for overnight stays.  For a smaller wedding the Schooner ARGIA offers days sails in the salt air. The 81-foot schooner can host a wedding party of up to 49 guests.
Mystic offers all the services required for a perfect Connecticut wedding. From photographers who are familiar with all the picturesque sites that Mystic has to offer, to the florists who have experience proving the floral accents needed to make a spectacular wedding.  The local catering companies are serviced by great chefs who make the most of the local seafood and cuisine.
Mystic is shrouded in romance and the locals know it. The town has established itself as premier Connecticut wedding destination. Mystic wedding planners that can make any style wedding special by putting together a team that guarantees a memorable event.   Mystic is also home to one the 150 hottest wedding bands according to Modern Bride.

Elegant Catering Halls on Long Island

 Looking for an exquisite Long Island Wedding Venue?

At Lombardi's on the Sound at the Port Jefferson Country Club, is totally renovated and wonderful. Take pleasure in the magnificent panoramic views of the Long Island Sound at your next event. Five-hour open bar, top shelf liquors and wines. White glove service. Can you say swanky?
 
Marconi Manor, 333 Moffitt Blvd., Islip, New York.  We've entertained at Sweet 16 parties at Marconi Manor and we've always had fun. The staff enjoys catering and it shows. A very comfortable room. If you love Italian food, you'll fall in love with this place. Great prices too.
 
Mediterranean Manor Caterers, 303 East Main Street, Patchogue, New York. The Mediterranean Manor features all-inclusive wedding packages. Instead of shopping around for a limo and a DJ, the Mediterranean can offer you their hand-picked professionals that they know can do a great job for you. No nasty surprises here, just lots of fun.
 
The Metropolitan, 3 Glen Cove Road, Glen Cove, NY. We recently provided walk-around magic for a bar mitzvah at The Metropolitan. It's a beautiful catering hall. The architecture is unique. So many catering halls look the same, but The Metropolitan breaks new ground. The food was fantastic and the staff was so helpful. The kids really enjoyed this place. We also did some walk-around magic at an evening wedding last year. Very elegant.
 
The North Ritz Club, 7150 Jericho Turnpike, Syosset, New York.  Lovely grounds and amenities including a natural pond, gazebo and majestic gardens. We've entertained at Sweet 16 parties and Bar / Bat Mitzvahs at The North Ritz Club. All we can say is "wow." You can't go wrong choosing this elegant club for your next event.
 
The de Seversky Center is located on 100 acres of beautiful grounds in Old Westbury. It's part of New York Institute of Technology's properties. It's a wonderful mansion. The food and service are really great. This is an unforgettable party venue, perfect for a big event.
 
Oheka Castle. 135 West Gate Drive, Cold Spring Hills, Huntington NY. The legendary Otto Kahn estate is available for truly special events. We did a Christmas party here and have to say this is one of the most impressive event venues we've ever seen. This place has history and charm that you can't recreate. I'd imagine you'd need a big budget to rent out a North Shore castle. If you can swing it, do it!

Choosing a Wedding Venue Wisely

While you are hunting for perfect wedding ceremony venues you need to decide wisely. It may happen that you finalize a venue and then come across another which is far better than the one you booked. There are various things that you should keep in mind before deciding a wedding venue, some of which include:
The first and foremost thing to look out for is the requirement. A person should always finalize a venue according to the requirement. Keep a record of the number of people you have invited for the ceremony. After you are finished counting the guests, check the amount of money you want to spend on the occasion. After thinking about all these things you can now make a choice if the venue is suitable enough.
The most important step which should be chosen very carefully is the facilities that the venue provides. Mot venues provide an onsite event planner that will assist you in taking care of the wedding arrangements. But you can also make arrangements on your own if you wish to. Assessing each and every amenity available to you is very important and you should check them before finalizing a venue.
Another thing which needs to be considered is whether the venue provides accommodation facility or not. If you are planning to accommodate your family members then you should make sure that the venue has enough space for all and also if you are provided with a facility of furniture or not.
Decoration is an important aspect and it totally depends on the budget. If you are opting for outdoor wedding venues then you will have to spend lot of money on the decorations. Otherwise, the venue would look pretty ordinary. You would come across various venues which would not allow you to put open flames and to avoid this problem you should have a discussion about the topic prior to the ceremony.
The most important thing is catering and there are various factors which are related to it. Most venues have an in-house catering department and they would not allow outside caterers to operate. But there are some people who want to book a certain caterer for their wedding; in such cases one should decide the venue according to the situation.
All the above mentioned points can help you find the best wedding venue in your area. While choosing a venue, have a budget in your hand so that you can define clearly as to what you are looking for. There are various websites that offer all sorts of information about wedding venues and you can easily find them through a search engine.

Best Wedding Dance Songs For 2010

When planning your wedding, you'll invest a lot of time and money to make everything as perfect as possible, including the wedding music. As a helpful resource, we've put together a list of great wedding dance songs for 2010. This selection of wedding dance songs feature both modern wedding dance songs and old favoritesthere's something here for everyone. Because it's 2010, you may choose to mix it up and go with wedding dance songs that are more current, unique, and creative. Your parents may have danced it up to the Bee Gees at their wedding, but you and your fiance can go with the tunes you both love. Of course, keep some classics in the mix for the older crowd, but everything doesn't have to be solely traditional.
Here's a list of wedding dance songs we feel covers a wide variety of music genres and has a little something for everybody, 'the chicken dance' not included. This selection of wedding dance songs feature both modern wedding dance songs and old favorites everything from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga.

Classics:These wedding dance songs never get old.

'Endless Love' (Diana Ross and Lionel Richie)
'Can't Help Falling In Love' (Elvis Presley)
'Love Me Tender' (Elvis Presley)
'It Had To Be You' (Harry Connick, Jr.)
'From This Moment On' (Shania Twain)
'I Just Called to Say I Love You' (Stevie Wonder)
'Power Of Love' (Celine Dion)
'At Last' (Etta James)
'A New Day Has Come' (Celine Dion)
'No Ordinary Love' (Sade)
'The Way You look Tonight'(Frank Sinatra)
'When A Man Loves A Woman' (Percy Sledge or Michael Bolton)
'Nothing Compares To You' (Sinead O'Connor)

Here are some non-traditional wedding songs:

"Alison" (Elvis Costello)(
"All I Want Is You" (U2)(
"Crash" (Dave Matthews Band)(
"Everything I Do" (Brandy)(
'Beautiful' by Akon
"Forever in My Life" (Prince)(
"Heroes" (David Bowie)(
'Viva La Vida' (Coldplay)
'I Don't Want to Miss a Thing' (Aerosmith)
"Ice Cream" (Sarah MacLachlan)(
"Iris" (Goo Goo Dolls)(
'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' (Queen)
"It Must Be Love" (Madness)(
'Single Ladies (Put a Ring 1000 on It)' by Beyonce
"Kiss Me" (Sixpence None The Richer)(
"Love Song" (The Cure)(
'Sweet Child O'Mine' (Guns N' Roses)
"Waste" (Phish)(
"Wild Is The Wind" (David Bowie)(
"You're Just Too Good To Be True" (Lauryn Hill)(
'Just Dance' by Lady GaGa
'Like Someone In Love" (Bjork)(
"Luna" (Smashing Pumpkins)(
"Night & Day" (U2)(
"Stay By Me" (Annie Lennox)(
"Tonight, Tonight" (Smashing Pumpkins)(

Be sure to discuss song preferences with your band leader at least six weeks in advance. Don't worry if you have other songs in mind as most of the higher level dance bands and wedding bands will learn special wedding song requests, including your first dance song and parent dance songs. You do need to allow time for
them to prepare and rehearse, though.
Take time when selecting your wedding dance songs as they set the mood and create unforgettable moments at your wedding. Music makes memories that last a lifetime, so ask your Wedding Dance band to help you put together the best list of wedding dance songs. It takes a lot of hard work to make your day successful, but with some smart preparation, you'll put together a great set list of music and have an unforgettable wedding night.

By: E. Ronchetti