JoStewartWray

Paying for the Wedding

2009-05-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

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check out the latest article

2009-04-27T18:58:00.001-07:00

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help select a title for my wedding planning book

2009-04-26T12:52:00.000-07:00

Read the table of contents and the first chapter and reply to help me select a title.

Recession- Proof Wedding Planner

By

Jo Stewart Wray

Reproduction in whole or part without written authorization is prohibited.

For more information:
Armadillo Press
P. O. Box 404
Kilmichael, MS 39747

Introduction

The first wedding reception I decorated was for my daughter Dawn. She and John eloped, so I had a wedding reception for them in a divine bed and breakfast. Since it was already elaborately decorated for Christmas, all I had to do was to provide the food and the wedding cake. Many friends and relatives helped me, so it was a joyous occasion.
The second wedding that I planned was for my daughter Danielle and her husband Matt. This time I hired a caterer and a florist arranged some of the flowers. I decorated the reception area and designed some other floral arrangements using flowers and natural material from the garden.
This wedding was also a great success, and I was hooked. Since I already owned the antiques store in Kilmichael, Mississippi, I began decorating weddings and receptions for clients. This book Stylish Wedding Planner elaborates on what I’ve come to love and on what I’ve learned.

The Stylish Wedding Planner

Beginning 4

Your Announcement 6

Your Budget 8

Planning Your Reception 13

Your Photographer and Videographer 14

Your Wedding Music 15

Your Wedding Flowers 17

Your Wedding Dress and Other Attire 19

Your Attendant’s Attire 24

Your Beauty Routines 29

Your Invitations 31

Your Wedding Rings 33

Your Wedding Favors 34

Your Wedding Cake 35

Your Showers and Other Parties 36

Your Bridal Registries 42

Your Honeymoon 48

In Celebration
of Our Love

_______________________________
(bride)
_______________________________
(groom)

were joined in marriage

on the ___________day of_________________
______________________________
(year)
at______________________o’clock

_______________________________
(Place)

Chapter One
Beginning

Every little girl dreams of her wedding day. Remember when you were a young child and played dress up using a scarf or something else as a veil. Your Ken doll made a great groom at that time, but now you have your own groom.

Now that the two of you are engaged, you are about to begin the most hectic and happiest time of your life. It begins when he gives you the engagement ring and ends when you leave on your honeymoon. Planning your wedding is tops on your list of priorities, and you wanted to have a fabulous wedding, but you don’t want to spend a fortune.

Choosing a wedding date is the first step. To recession proof your wedding, do not select a Saturday and do not get married in June. It is the very first thing a vendor will ask you. Although the wedding planning process doesn’t have a set schedule, there are suggestions of a timeline that follow the beginning. These are mere suggestions to keep you on track. First comes selecting the date, and to do that, the following questions need to be answered:

· Is the wedding to be simple or elaborate?
· How much planning and preparation time will be needed?
· On what day of the week do you want to be married?
· Which facilities are available on that particular day?
· Do you want to plan around a holiday or a special season such as Christmas?
· How do you handle compromises?
· Will an alternate date work?
· Will guests or attendants be coming from out of town? Consider their schedules?

Remember that having a list such as the one in this book will keep you from forgetting something. There is much to do and driving yourself crazy with the details and problems might make you feel as if you are the only person in this situation, but remember your purpose – to have a beautiful and memorable wedding.

You must plan to get plenty of sleep, to get some alone time, and to try to relax. Follow your plan in this book and it will all come together to be a great event.

The more planning and time you have to prepare for your wedding, the better it will be and the more you can control costs. You’ve got lots to do. Whether you’re planning a big church wedding or a simple family wedding at someone’s home or garden, you want to make sure everything goes well.

First, you need to get a clear idea of the kind of wedding you want and the budget you will have--who will contribute what. With the budget in mind, you will decide on the size and style of your wedding--a formal wedding, an at-home wedding, or a wedding on a trip to an exotic location.

Second, decide on the date and time, and select the locations for your ceremony and reception. Sometimes this is more complicated than it seems, especially if your ceremony and reception will take place at different locations. Wedding ceremonies cost different amounts in different cities.

Then, after you have figured out the main picture, it is time to fill in the blanks with specific details such as selecting your attendants, selecting the music, selecting the photographer, choosing the florist, shopping for your dress, choosing your attendants’ attire, ordering or self-publishing your invitations, and planning the reception menu.

This book will help you get what you want at the lowest cost possible. The valuable advice and worksheets will help you organize your progress in The Recession-Proof Wedding Planner to lead you to the perfect wedding.

Other Traditions, Symbols, and Customs

Something old; something new
Something borrowed; something blue.

1. Something old and borrowed come from past traditions. Something new will bring you luck in the future. Something blue is a symbol of fertility and modesty.

2. Rice – Your guests throw rice at you because rice is a symbol of fertility.

3. Engagement Rings – At first, these were a sign that a woman had been bought by the groom. Later the French used engagement rings as a romantic symbol.

4. Wedding Rings – The wedding band symbolized love and is placed on the third finger of the left hand because the vein in that finger supposedly runs directly to the heart.

5. Threshold – Carrying the bride over the threshold came from the Romans. This act prevented demons from spoiling the bride’s day.

6. Honeymoon – In olden days, brides were captured and held hostage until her family stopped searching. The bestman, a friend of the groom, stood guard. The bride and groom would hide from one moon to the next or thirty days and drink mead (made from fermented honey and water.) This was the beginning of the honey moon.

7. Tossing the garter is an old British ritual. Although the story has changed somewhat now, it was said that guests would go into the couple’s bedroom and take their stocking and throw it at the bride or groom’s nose. If they were hit, that person would be the next to marry.

8. Veils once were made of heavy fabric so that other men couldn’t tell who the bride was.

9. Decorating the automobiles with ten cans represents a way to chase away demons or evil spirits. Tying shoes to the automobile comes from an Irish ritual. The bride would give the groom a slipper to symbolize that he was to take care of her now instead of her father.

10. Wearing the color white symbolized the purity of the bride.

11. Handkerchiefs were used to catch the tears of the bride. Her tears symbolized good luck. An old wives tale was that if you cry on your wedding day, you won’t have a reason to cry during the marriage.

12. Stepping on the glass represents a Jewish ceremony of the destruction of The Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

13. The wedding cake symbolized the ritual of breaking a loaf of bread over the bride’s head. The guests would pick up the crumbs for good luck.

14. Taking home a piece of the wedding cake symbolized taking home good fortune.

15. A red slipper placed on the roof of the house means that a honeymoon is taking place, so beware and leave them

Review of Red Hot Internet Publicity

2009-04-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

Check amazon.com for the book Red Hot Internet Publicity by Penny C. Sansevieri. It will help you do your own virtual internet tour.

Trends/ Challenges for Weddings

2009-04-25T17:09:00.000-07:00

Monograms as wedding cake toppers.
The average cost of a wedding has dropped 24%.
Useable wedding favors such as jewelry pouches, tote bags, or barware for men are popular.
Popular sayings include: "Eat Drink and Be Marry," "Something Blue," "Bridesmaids are like diamonds: precious and rare," and "I Do."
Color trends include: Teal and Brown, brown and champagne, pearl and crystal
Instead of a guestbook, new trends include signature mats that will later frame a photo, or canvases.
New trends lean toward function: wine stoppers, personalized chocolate candy bars or hand-painted wine glasses.

Antiquing Tip

2009-04-25T16:57:00.000-07:00

Don't buy an old bed that is missing the rails. They are hard to find.

Events

2009-04-25T16:52:00.000-07:00

May 2, Saturday, 2:00 PM
Stevens Auction Estate Sale, Aberdeen, MS
662-369-2200

May 2 - Dees Auction, Kosciusko, MS
662-674-5888

Memorial Day May 25
Edens Auction Co. Flowood, MS 10:00

June 4 - 7
Milk Bottle Convention Holiday Inn
Hershey, PA

July 17 - 19 - 10:00 AM
Edens Auction - Flowood, MS

Jo Stewart Wray Offers Writing Contest

2008-12-16T10:03:00.001-08:00

Author of the Mississippi based legal thriller RED RAGE, Jo Stewart Wray, is offering a contest for a 500 – 700 word essay on overcoming grief associated with the death of a loved one. The deadline to email your essay to jostewartwray@jostewartwray.com is June 16, 2009. The winner will receive an antique tiger oak buffet. Winner must make arrangements to pick it up of have it shipped.

RED RAGE is set in Kilmichael, Mississippi. Four people’s lives are ended by a remorseless young man. The small town reacts with horror at this senseless crime. After five trials, a conviction still doesn’t stick, so the victims’ families take justice into their own hands. ISBN 978-1-60145-657-1 152 pages paperback or ebook. For wholesale orders and three free chapters go to http://www.booklocker.com/. To find out about the author, http://www.jostewartwray.com

It Was a Southern Good Thing

2008-11-23T18:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving...Here's a funny story for you...
My given name is Mary Jo Stewart. I live in the heart of Mississippi and the eastern corner of Carroll County. I’m truly Southern and I love it. I love our food and the musical language we speak although I can speak correctly if I concentrate.
Having the maiden name Stewart, one Thanksgiving I tried to become Martha Stewart, but had to resort to a few totally “Southern Good Things.” Now, I can decorate and I’ve done some good cooking and entertaining, but this particular Thanksgiving was a total disaster.
After reviewing one of Martha Stewart’s books and reading her magazine Living, I thought I could copy her techniques for a spectacular Thanksgiving meal. I began with the paper bag luminaries that you fill with sand and insert a candle, but the wind blew them over, and they caught the pine straw mulch on fire. After beating the fire out with a broom, I came up with the bright idea to use plastic milk jugs instead of the paper sacks. It worked and I felt proud. It was a “Southern Good Thing.”

Martha’s directions

I had read Martha’s directions for making a wreath with fall leaves to hang on the front door. That project worked okay, but the house was covered with wet dead leaves and muddy footprints covered the floor. After taking the time to clean up the mess I had made, I didn’t have time to polish the silver and press the tablecloth. So I used a paper tablecloth leftover from one of my children’s birthday parties. I turned it over so that it didn’t say “happy birthday.” I had to use mismatched plastic forks also left over from the same birthday parties. It was that or tarnished silver.
I had written a list of things to do before Thanksgiving and taped it to the dashboard in my car. One of the first things I needed to do was to thaw the turkey, but something went wrong.
As it goes in large families, I got a call to pick up Aunt Eula May, who was invited to eat at our house on Thanksgiving. Aunt Eula May – bless her heart—came two days early, so I had to pick her up for lunch at McDonalds. I forgot about thawing the turkey, but when she got into my car, she saw the list I had taped to the dash.
“Well, I never. Thanks a lot,” Aunt Eula May said. The first thing on my list was “Take out the turkey.”
Since Aunt Eula May was particularly nosey, I had warned my children about what NOT to say.
Upon discovering the night before Thanksgiving Day that the turkey was still frozen, I took it out and placed it in the refrigerator. When I got up at 4:30 AM to check it, that turkey felt as hard as a “brick bat.”

Hissie fit
I had a hissie fit and put it into the clothes dryer. I could have put it on the hood of the car and let the sun thaw it, but it was raining. Aunt Eula May heard the noise and came into the kitchen to find out what the ruckus was. I told her it was a tape of Native American drum music that I was playing for Thanksgiving ambience, a trick I’d learned from Martha Stewart.
“You know that Martha Stewart’s kin to me,” Aunt Eula May said. Being truly Southern, Aunt Eula May could tell you anyone’s family tree all the way back to the Mayflower. I didn’t want to hear about the Pilgrims and the Mayflower at this time.

Fire alarm
Around noon, the fire alarm went off, bringing everyone into the kitchen instead the ringing of the dinner bell as I’d planned. It wasn’t the “Good Thing” on my list. The dinner rolls had burned while I was fighting with the turkey. I won. I had the carving knife; the turkey wasn’t armed.
We had a typical Thanksgiving menu, but the elaborate Southern carmel cake icing’s skillet was setting out on the patio. While trying to “carmelize the sugar,” I burned the whole skillet. So dessert was traditional pumpkin pie using pumpkin from the can and a bought pie crust. It was topped with Cool Whip fresh out of the freezer. You can have your choice: take it or leave it. It’s a “Southern Good Thing.”

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-21T04:37:00.001-08:00

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

For my help

2008-11-20T19:43:00.000-08:00

Read 2 chapters of my legal thriller, RED RAGE, free at www.booklocker.com.
Get me to teach you mystery writing free at www.jostewartwray.com.
Get help decorating your house email me jostewartwray@jostewartwray.com with your questions. No problem is too big or too small.
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Send questions about wedding planning. I'm working on a Stylish Wedding Planner for Brides on a budget.