A wedding is one of life’s most joyous occasions, an event you’ll want to share with friends and relatives. These days, however, your dearest are not always nearest. To be sure out-of-town guests are part of the celebration, consider reserving a block of rooms for the weekend at an inn or a hotel.

A beautiful invitation, a heartfelt thank-you note — both mirror the warmth and happiness you feel at this special time in your life. All your wedding stationery is a reflection of you and your wedding. It should be chosen with as much care as is given in choosing your bridal attire.

As in planning any celebration, you’ll want to create a certain ambiance for your wedding festivities. Many caterers and party planners will take care of every detail, from the menu to the music. But, if you are planning your own wedding or simply want to add some extra touches, look to a party-rental store.

For a dress as important as your wedding gown, you want to do all you can to ensure you find exactly what you want, and visiting a full-service salon is a great way to get off on the right foot. At one of these shops you can expect to find a selection of quality gowns, along with a full line of accessories, including veils, shoes, jewelry and even guest books and other incidentals. And all products are guaranteed in case there is a problem. Seamstresses are available to do alterations on-site, and your dress will be pressed at least once, sometimes twice, before the day of your wedding.

Flowers symbolize the beginning of your new life together, unfolding with the promise of growth in love and devotion. Your careful choice of flowers will add much more than simple decorations at your wedding. Whether you wish to create the romantic feel of a garden or the high style of contemporary design, flowers will enhance the beauty and elegance of the ceremony and make a gorgeous setting for your reception.

The professional caterer is the most important person in putting your wedding reception together. After the ceremony your guests will look forward to your reception as a time to share in your happiness and celebrate with food and drink. Whether you serve champagne and cake, or have a formal sit-down dinner, it is essential that you hire the caterer whose services will meet the needs and style of your reception.

One of the richest, and certainly most delicious, of wedding traditions is the wedding cake. Whether you will celebrate with a few close friends or a party of 300 guests, the wedding cake can be a glorious centerpiece to the festivities.

Music has been called the universal language. It can be the single most important element of your wedding and reception, as it expresses the many different emotions of the day and is, literally, instrumental in controlling the fl ow of events. Because music plays such an important role in your wedding, you will want to start early and decide what type of music you will have and who will provide it. Th e right music for your ceremony and reception will help to make your wedding day more meaningful.

Time has a way of playing with our memories. Even the memories of special days can begin to fade as the years pass by. That’s why it is so important that a record of your wedding day be preserved permanently by a professional photographer who knows how to discover and capture the treasured moments of your day.

“I have just finished watching our wedding video for the first time. I know I will watch it for many years. It really took us back. Just watching the video, my heart pounded just as it did on May 17 at 5:58 p.m.” – a California bride