Are you planning a wedding?

Smart Bride offers brides-to-be a broad range of wedding planning tips, tools, software and ideas, including articles related to specific areas of how to plan a wedding. At Smart Bride we believe that there is a concise process for planning the ultimate wedding, which is more commonly termed 'The Wedding Cycle'

The 'Wedding Cycle' is a philosophy that incorporates 3 key areas of planning a wedding. To better understand 'The Wedding Cycle', is important to break it down into smaller, more manageable parts. We will have a closer look at these in the following paragraphs.

Before Your Wedding Day

This area of 'The Wedding Cycle' looks at your entire wedding planning process, from the time you are engaged, right through to your wedding day. During this period of 'The Wedding Cycle' you will need to consider everything from your wedding date and wedding dress, your hair and makeup stylists, your ceremony, your wedding reception, your guests and guest list, your bridal party and wedding cars, floral arrangers, decorators, musicians, caterers, photographer and videographer plus much more.

Choosing Your Suppliers and Services

The period leading up to your wedding day can be quite overwhelming for many brides-to-be, and it is important that you adopt an array of reliable wedding sources, to assist you though this planning stage. You will want to allow as much planning time as possible, so try to get an early start. 12-18 months prior to your wedding will give you ample time to seek out your preferred wedding products and suppliers.

Common Wedding Planning Pitfalls

Try to talk to a variety of different wedding suppliers in a particular service-genre, and don't just rely on a fancy 'sales brochure' or a clever 'sales pitch' to sway your decision. Remember, this is your wedding we are talking about, so you ultimately control who you would like to employ and work with on your wedding day.

Consider the personality of the professionals you are considering employing. Your wedding photographer for example, will most likely be physically close to you all day, so it is important you get along well, this will also determine the types of photographs you will ultimately receive.

Your Wedding Day

Now that all your hard work is behind you, your wedding day will be the true test of how effective all your wedding planning has been. If you have employed the services of reputable wedding industry professionals and done your homework and research well, then the chances are your wedding will be a bounding success.

Relaxing Before Your Ceremony

If this has been your approach, then your wedding will be relatively stress-free, although many brides-to-be tend to be a little anxious on their big day. Make sure you begin your wedding day with a massage, spa, or some other form of relaxation therapy, this will prepare you well for your wedding ceremony.

Your Bridal Party is there For You

Make sure you have a suitable breakfast, and that you lean heavily on your bridesmaids and maid or matron of honour. After all, that is why you chose them initially, and traditionally they are there simply to help you get ready and be at your ceremony on time (although in western tradition brides have the honour of running up to 15 minutes late for their ceremony). Any later than this, and you may find your wedding day running uncontrollably off schedule.

Your Ceremony in Brief

You will arrive at your wedding ceremony in some form of wedding transport, either a wedding car or limousine, horse drawn carriage, helicopter, hot air balloon, or on a motor cycles. You will be greeted by some guests waiting outside your ceremony, and immediately be the focal point, all eyes will be fixed on how stunning you look.

The Prelude

Your ceremony consists of a prelude (before you arrive), so since your guests are already now seated at your ceremony, we will move onto arguably the most exciting part of your wedding, the processional.

The Processional

The processional is the moment where you walk down the aisle, usually accompanied by your father (who will 'give you away'), or some other close family member or friend. Your partner, groomsmen, best man, female bridal party members, and marriage celebrant (or minister), will be waiting fro you at the end of the aisle.

Signing the Marriage Registry

The signing of the marriage registry will be coordinated by your selected Celebrant or Minister, and will legally bind your marriage. During this period of signing your guests will be entertained by whatever from of ceremony music you have selected, choir, band, soloist, duo, trio, quartet, pianist, organist or singer.

The Recessional

Once you have signed the marriage registry, you will alight the ceremony with your newly wedded partner, which is more commonly known as the processional. You will shake the hands of guests, and exchange kisses and hugs as you leave your ceremony.

After your ceremony is the time when you will be photographed most by your guests, so get used to smiling.

Choosing a Location to be Photographed

The time between your ceremony and reception will enable both you, your photographer and your bridal party to find a suitable location, to get some memorable, fun and even riske wedding snaps.

You should have already researched suitable locations near your ceremony venue, prior to your wedding day. This will maximise the time you have for photos, and ensure that you are on schedule for your wedding reception.

Your Reception

After an active photographic session and all the anxieties of your ceremony are behind you, you will want to freshen-up before the formal part of your wedding reception commences. If you are running to schedule, and have booked a traditional wedding reception venue, then you will have about 45 minutes of festive time in a 'bridal suite' together with your bridal party and partner.

Pre Dinner Drinks

This is the period where your guests have some time to eat canapes, drink beer wine (and even top shelf), and simply relax and settle into the informal part of your reception. The Pre Dinner drinks period is about half an hour to an hour in duration.

Entrance of the Bridal Party

When pre dinner drinks has ended, either an MC (emcee or master of ceremonies), or reception staff will usher your guests to their seats in readiness for the entrance of the bridal party entourage. Traditionally lead by your parents and distinguished guests or sponsors, then the little people (flower girls and page boys), then the bridesmaids and groomsmen (partner by partner), then the maid (single) or matron (married) of honour and best man, then you and your newly wedded partner.

Entrees and initial Formalities

Once you have entered your reception, you will be seated at a focal point, more commonly known as the 'bridal table', together with your bridal party members. At this point it is still common for a selected guest or family member to say 'grace', after which time Entrees (in a traditional sit down style wedding) will be served.

If you are having a cocktail style wedding reception, you will most likely have a buffet, or simply finger food.

Main Meals and further formalities

Your main meal will be served approximately half and hour to an hour after your entrees, giving you free time to mingle with your wedding guests. There are variations in the traditional timing of western (Australian, American & European) formalities. For example, you may decide to conduct your speeches between your entrees and main meal.

At Smart Bride, we believe your speeches are better suited to the period of time after your main meal. Our research found that guests were still 'chatty' and marginally unsettled in the period between Entrees and 'Mains'.

The Traditional Order of Wedding Speeches

Your guests have finished their main meal, ad a few drinks, shared some anecdotes with their neighbours and associates, and are now ready to hear something about your and your newly wedded partner.

Traditionally, this will commence with the Father of the Bride, who (apart from the groom) is the highest ranked male at the reception. This traditional was borne out of the fact that the Father of the Bride (in days gone by) often paid for the privilege.

The next speech will be conducted by the Father of the Groom, although this is not strictly traditional. If the Father of the Groom does not wish to speak, then the baton passes top the Best Man, who will share close and intimate stories about the you and your partner.

Last to speak is the bride and groom, either one at a time or together. In recent times, it has become more traditional for the bride and groom to speak together.

The Word on Telegrams

An old and less frequently practiced tradition is the 'Reading of the Telegrams', which (if you choose to do) will be read by the groomsmen. Telegrams are largely outmoded these days, since advances in telecommunications have remodeled the way in which we exchange information. Also, Telegrams can quite long and boring and (for your lesser informed wedding guests) can be quite meaningless. Be careful that you don't appear too self-indulgent to your lesser informed guests.

The Cutting of the Cake Ceremony

After your speeches are over, there may be a brief interval where your guests can have a 5 minute break or relaxation period, in preparation for the next array of traditional formalities.

There are numerous mediaeval connotations and traditions associated with the cutting of the cake ceremony, even traditions dating back to ancient Roman, Greek and even Egyptian times. Every one of these old traditions is deeply-rooted in the idea that 'cutting the wedding cake' will bring fertility to the bride and groom, resulting in healthy and prosperous offspring.

These days, the cutting of the cake ceremony simply involves an ornate wedding cake, usually made of either fruit cake, chocolate and caramel mud, jaffa, and just about anything else that a baker can create. The bride and groom must cut the wedding cake together (hold the knife), and it is believed that the person who has their hand on top when performing the 'cut', will actually have the 'upper hand' in marriage.

The Bridal Waltz and Reception Entertainment

After you have cut your wedding cake, it will be whisked away to be cut into slices for your guests to either take home or have for sweets. At this stage of your reception, you will take your partner's hand and make your way onto the dancefloor, and dance your first dance as a wedded couple.

You will most likely choose a song, dance or piece of music that is both meaningful to you and your partner, and will hopefully have had a few dance lessons before your big debut in front of your wedding guests.

Traditionally, you will be joined by your bridal party and close family at some stage during your bridal waltz, which will take the lime-light off you temporarily.

The Celebration and Traditional Farewell

After your bridal waltz, the dancefloor will be officially declared open to anyone at your reception who would like to party. During this twilight time at your reception, you will most likely greet and meander amongst your wedding guests, until sweets is served and beyond.

After all the dancing, celebration, speeches, and food and wine, there will still be several final formalities The first of these is traditionally the tossing of the bridal bouquet, which is a modern custom that has replaced the old English mediaeval tradition of tearing pieces of the bride's dress off.

The bouquet is traditionally tossed with the brides back to her single (non-married and eligible) female guests. According to fable, the female that catches the bridal bouquet is to be next to be married.

The groom will then toss the bride's garter, after removing it from the bride's leg (in front off all the wedding guests) with his teeth. The garter is then tossed to a throng of anxious single eligible males, and once again the male who catches the garter will be next to wed.

To say a parting goodbye, your wedding guests will traditionally form either a 'farewell circle' or a 'guard of honour', the latter being the faster and less intimate style of departure.

If you prefer a more one-on-one goodbye with your guests, then you will choose the 'farewell circle', as your bridal party and close family will join you in the centre, and you will work your way around the perimeter, saying goodbye and thank-you.

When you have finished, you will take your partner's hand and run out of the reception together, to start your honeymoon and your new life together.

After Your Wedding Day

Your wedding is behind you, and you are either off on your honeymoon, staying in a hotel or going home to relax. In years gone by it was traditional for couples to head straight to a honeymoon destination, however in these modern times many couples share the burned of employment, and are opting to defer or delay the honeymoon (finances pending).

If you are lucky enough to be off on a honeymoon, take this time to relax and enjoy the moment between the biggest day of your life (your wedding day), and married life. You will have earned this time, so take full advantage of it, be self indulgent and pamper yourself at every opportunity.

When you arrive home (if you have been away), you will need to consider all the people that need to be notified of your new married name (assuming you changed it). You will also need to consider preserving both your wedding dress and (traditionally) the top tier of your wedding cake.

If finances are tight, you may even consider selling your wedding dress online.

Finally, you will want to send thank-you notes to all your wedding guests, for attending your wedding and giving you gifts. And that is the 'wedding cycle' and wedding planning process in brief.

Now you have a basic understanding of what to expect, let is begin planning your wedding today.