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Five essential tips for choosing a fabulous mother of the bride outfit

Is your daughter’s big day approaching and you still haven’t found that perfect mother of the bride outfit? It can be a scary task and you’ll want to make sure that it not only complements you, but the style of the wedding too! Below you’ll find some tips to help ease the stress and narrow down your search.

Get the colour scheme right. Using a matching colour scheme can really help you all feel connected on that special day and ensure that there isn’t a clash of colours or styles. However beware of your daughter’s choice of dress. If your daughter has selected pale shades in the colour scheme for the wedding you don’t have to search for a dress in a similar shade. Find a close matching colour that is maybe a little brighter so you standout rather than blending in.
Footwear. Believe me when I say, you’ll find yourself running around and on your feet for the vast majority of your day. You’ll want to find comfortable shoes that match your outfit. You will also want to make sure that you choose shoes that you like! Feeling confident in your image is an important part of having a good time, so bear this in mind. If you’re going for heels, make sure you choose the right height that will allow comfort whilst taking nothing away from style.
Don’t forget a coat! Throughout the day you’ll find yourself in and out. Moving from one venue to another, photo shoots, dancing, standing, the day will have you up and down like a yoyo. You’ll want a light weight coat that will keep in the warmth and can easily be transported. You’ll also want to make sure that it complements your dress, so take time in choosing it and remember it’s going to be on and off all day so make sure it isn’t overly heavy.
Put your thinking hat on. Choosing the right hat all depends on the dress you’ve decided on and the style of the wedding itself. Hats are generally considered to work with a traditional style and can hugely vary in style. A key thing to remember though is that everything is down to you. Don’t just wear a hat because that’s what other people are doing. Make sure you feel happy and comfortable with your decisions.
It pays to shop around. Many of your usual wedding boutiques haven’t largely changed in style. They still offer the stiff traditional options that many people now consider to be dated. Remember to think outside the box and aim for contemporary fashion, such as a Condici mother of the bride dress. If you put time and care into shopping around, you’re bound to find something that’s up to date and affordable.

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Going on a honeymoon Safari in Africa

The countdown has started and friends and family are all very excited and have already RSVP’d for your big day, but it is the special time after the wedding day that should not be neglected by the bride and groom to be. Deep down all they really want for their honeymoon is this special time to just be about them as a new couple, entering the world together. Being on honeymoon is a special time to absorb the excitement of the past few months (or year!) and to cherish the reality of your future commitment to each other.

There are so many possible honeymoon destinations these days that it can be really hard to choose the perfect location. From beach resorts to tropical island getaways, sun, sea and sand do seem to be the popular attraction. The one underlying ‘thread’ for most couples going on honeymoon is to take themselves off to a beautiful place on earth that will inspire a lifetime of love, friendship and amazing memories.

I have just the location for any couple reading this and I pose the following question to you – have you ever considered going on a honeymoon safari? There is no doubt in my mind that this is truly one of the most romantic experiences for any ‘budding’ new couple and I ask you to give me just a few minutes of your time to convince you why a honeymoon safari in Africa will be the most romantic experience yet.

To start off, ‘Love’ in the lingo of a safari honeymoon means “Loving our Outdoor Vibrant Earth’ and this is exactly what you will experience. From your first open air drive through the reserve to the safari lodge there is an immediate sense of adventure and excitement that fills the air. Hand in hand you will be welcomed by friendly staff and lodge hosts and with a sense of warmth and caring you will be given time to settle in and soak up the African atmosphere of your private and romantic suite that will be your little retreat for the next few days.

Enticing enough? Well, there is more. Most safari lodges have a communal deck area that overlooks the spectacular and breath-taking landscapes of the African bush or one that provides a bird’s eye view of a waterhole down below. It is here too, that you will find yourselves sipping an aroma filled cup of coffee in the early morning to watch the sunrise or dwelling in the enjoyment of the last rays of sun kissing the horizon with a cocktail in hand. There is truly no finer and more romantic place on earth to share in the magnificent wonders of Mother Nature on your honeymoon.

Waking up to the sounds of the African bush is an indescribable experience and there is no better way to start your day of African adventures than going one of the popular activities when on safari, an early morning game drive, to search and experience the awaking of the African bushveld and wildlife as the sun slowly rises up into the sky. Keep your eyes peeled for members of the Big Five traversing the landscape or heading down to a nearby waterhole. Cast your eyes to the skies to catch the silhouettes of some of the most spectacular species of African eagles. Your senses are truly going to tingle all over.

After a busy day, filled with exciting safari activities, enjoy a refreshing dip in the lodge’s pool and delight in the magnificent evening that approaches. Indulge in some of the highest quality of fine dining and African cuisine under the stars, while listening to the beat of the African drums that fill the night sky, a more capturing and memorable experience you could not wish for on your honeymoon.

You need only give yourselves a day or two before you are truly relaxed and soaking up the totality of this once in a life time experience. From the exclusive safari lodge accommodation and impeccable hospitality to the breath-taking scenery and experiences of the African bushveld, these few days away on your honeymoon safari will leave you loving life, the outdoors and most importantly each other, guaranteed!

Paula van Breda is editor at Safari Guide Africa who arranges honeymoon safaris for couples from all around the world. For more information about what options are available visit their website on http://www.safariguideafrica.com/honeymoons.php or call them in South Africa at +27 (0) 21 880 0105.

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How To Predict Your Man’s Most Likely Stag Preference

We all know that before every wedding is the inevitable stag party and admit it or not, most women out there can’t help feeling apprehensive over these parties due to their reputation of being too wild. To help allay your fears, maybe these new data released by event agency, Chillisauce.co.uk, can help you predict your man’s most likely behavior.

Included in the findings is the percentage of strip club bookings by email address. It was found out that males who use AOL the most have the highest proportion of strip club bookings with over 25%. Yahoo and Hotmail users follow with 24.62% and 21.8%, respectively.

Email provider choice was also linked with how much a guy is most likely to spend on his stag party. Men who used their work emails expended the largest amount with an average of £104.62 per person. On the contrary, AOL users spent the least amount with an average of £92.52.

Relatedly, email provider use was also linked with how far a guy’s preferred destination would be. It turns out that Gmail users are the most conservative travellers of all with an average of less than 400 miles for their chosen stag party destination. At the opposite end of the spectrum are those who use their work emails who average at least 1,400 miles per person for each of their chosen bachelor party location.

These data definitely sheds light on a thing or two about men’s stag party preferences in general. Anticipating what his most likely decision is doesn’t have to be done through prying questions alone when you have the right data to back up your assumptions. To see the full summation of data, check out leisurestats.com and get to know more about the link between technology use and leisurely choices.

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The 5 Questions Brides Wish They Had Asked their Wedding Videographer

There’s nothing like hindsight to give some clarity as to the questions you would have asked, had you known what would go wrong that is. Luckily for brides today there is the internet; this invaluable tool helps brides to learn from the misfortunes and misgivings of couples far and wide when it comes to making bad decisions about the big day. While it might seem that with today’s technology any old point-and-shoot camera should do the trick when it comes to a wedding videographer, just ask a couple who has a grainy five minute VHS with Michael Bolton playing over all the sound bytes if there’s any difference. That being said, here are the top 5 questions brides wish they had asked their wedding videographers… before putting down the deposit.

5. What will be the picture quality of the final product?
Many videographers throw out terms like “HD” and impress unwitting couples into choosing their “state of the art” video service, but don’t be impressed until you’ve seen a sample. Not every amateur or freelance videographer has the right technology not only to shoot a good video at such high resolution, nor the equipment to edit it properly. See some samples and decide what looks best to you. Also keep in mind that not every shot is flattering in high definition, and take some test shots before the big day.

4. Will you be using microphones?
Almost nobody thinks to ask this question, but almost everyone has to crank up the volume when it comes to any part of the wedding video with speeches, toasts, or vows. Instead of leaving it to chance find out if the videographer plans to bug the altar, use wireless mics on participants, or make friends with the sound guy at the reception to get a direct feed into the audio. If the videographer is simply filming these speeches from afar, it’s not very likely you’ll hear a word that’s said.

3. How many cameras and camera operators will you be using?
This one is important especially if you have a large wedding, a large wedding party or a large wedding venue. One camera operator can only be one place at once. Some set up stationary cameras to supplement their footage, but these are only really useful for far-off shots, the ceremony or speeches. You’ll find you get the best results if there are at least two camera operators who are twice as likely to be in the right place at the right time to catch the very most special of moments.

2. Have you done this before?
Shockingly enough, many people fail to ask this question. This question does not refer to student films, friend’s weddings with home equipment or bar mitzvahs. This question refers specifically and exclusively to hiring a client, filming a wedding, producing an end product that the couple loves, and correctly billing the couple for it. As mentioned before, ask for samples.

1. Are there choices on music and style?
Even the best videographer with the best shots can still product a cringe-worthy end product with sappy love songs, fading transitions and love heart frame effects if not properly guided during the post-production phase of the program. Ask before if there are choices and provide some very specific suggestions if you want an end-product you can actually stand to watch!

Author Bio:
Jessica Josh is a freelancer who makes her living by writing and blogging online. She has worked with a number of different businesses in the wedding bands and wedding videography niche such as http://weddingbandsmelbourne88.com.au/.