Sunday, August 14, 2011

Wedding Ceremony at Home – 10 Planning Tips

As a wedding venue, the home continues to be a popular option. Whether the wedding ceremony is held in your own  home or in the home of a friend, guests are automatically at ease at a home wedding.

If you’re planning a home wedding, here are some things you might like to consider.

1.      Decide whether this will be an indoor or outdoor wedding.

2.      For an outdoor wedding check the long term weather report.

3.      Have an alternative plan just in case the sunny weather promised doesn’t materialise.

4.      Find a focal point for your wedding party where all the guests can see and hear you.

5.     If you have a verandah your guests could stand there while the wedding party is     arranged in the garden below. Alternatively, arrange your wedding party on the verandah while the guests look up at you.

6.    If you have one, outline the aisle with chairs, carpet, potted plants, sprinkling of petals, seas shells or glitter.

7.    Place the table and two chairs for the signing of the documents where everyone can see them.

8.     If you have pets place them at a friend’s home as even the most placid of animals can become stressed when faced with a houseful of strangers.

9.     Let your neighbours know that your wedding will be taking place and there might be some noise and an influx of cars in the street.

10. Let someone take a video of your ceremony and watch it with your guests while you have your celebratory drinks.



Thursday, August 4, 2011

Naming Ceremony in 12 Easy Steps

Because a baby naming ceremony is neither religious nor legal, it can be both personal and meaningful. Here are some things to consider when planning a baby naming ceremony.

1. Baby's Name.
Does it mean something special to you or your family? Have you named your baby after someone you think a great deal of? Is the name based on your own cultural roots and you want the baby to carry on your heritage? Would you like to share that with those present?

 2. Significant Relatives.
Is the baby lucky enough to have Grandparents, or even Great Gandparents, Great Grand Uncles? What role have they played in your life, and what role do you want them to play in the life of your baby?

3. Is yours an Adopted Baby?
Would you like to share some of your experiences while waiting for the arrival of your baby? If you already have other children, do they want to make a commitment to the new sibling? Is the child old enough to make a commitment to the new family he or she has become a member of?

4. Parental Promises.
As parents, do you want to make a special promise to your child, or share with everyone your feelings or hopes for your baby?

5. Sibling's Role.
If you already have other children, would they like to participate by presenting the baby with a flower, a special toy, a drawing, a handmade gift, or just say a public 'hello'.

6. Grandparents' Promises.
Similarly with the Grandparent, or significant relatives. Would they like to read a poem, or make special promises to the baby?

7. Godparents and the Baby.
Whether you call them Godparents, Guideparents, Guardians, Sponsors, Lifeguardians or Mentors, you might like to tell everyone why you have chosen these particular people. What have they meant in your life, and what do you expect of them as the special adult in your baby's life.

8. Guests and the Baby.
Involve your guests by asking them as a group, or individually, to affirm their support to you as parents, and their support as responsible for helping to promote the welfare of the next generation.

9. Good Wishes for the Baby.
Encourage each guest to write a note of good wishes for the baby, or a way in which the guest intents to share his or her talent and time with your child as your baby grows.

10. Compiling Memories.
Start a Scrap Book for your baby and ask each guest to write a message in it. This might include a helpful hint, or a hope for the future, or a poem. Something the child will enjoy reading once he or she is able to do so.

11. Baby Naming Certificates.
Give a Certificate to all the people who you feel are connected to the baby - Godparents, Grandparents, Significant Older Relatives, cousins who will make up your baby’s life.

12. Baby Naming Programs.
As part of building of memories, create a program for each guest, personalied with  a photograph of your baby, or some significant graphic.