When an Aries girl decides to tie the knot, you can bet on it being an exuberant and colourful affair. No same-old wedding here – you’ll make a statement by donning a sexy gown in your trademark shade. You’ll want your big day to be meaningful and romantic, but, above all, a decadent blast that’ll go down as the party of the century! Patience isn’t something you’re big on, which can make you a little slapdash with the finer details. You’re also impulsive and partial to a good splurge, so you’ll greatly benefit from using a sensible friend as a sounding board.

Taurus

Traditional, sentimental and low-key springs to mind when a Taurus says “I do”. Although your style is simple and elegant, you’ll probably stick to a modest budget – cash-conscious bulls simply can’t justify over-spending on a wedding instead of using it for a deposit or dream, round-the –world honeymoon. However, as the connoisseur of the zodiac, you’ll spare no expense on an ambrosial feast and selection of fine wines, followed by your favourite mouth-watering chocolate cake. Thorough yet slow is your style, so it’s a good idea to enlist the help of a trusted friend who’ll help you pick up the pace.

Gemini

A playful Gemini’s big day will be meaningful yet fun-filled, from the humorous first dance to the post-dinner karaoke. Ensuring guests are constantly entertained and free to mingle is paramount, which is why a sit-down affair is most likely off the agenda. You might instead opt for a buffet, whereby guests can avoid being cornered by tales of Aunt June’s hip replacement. Depending on your finances, you might try to stretch your themed affair to a weekend, a la Liz Hurley’s three-day Bollywood blow out. Just make sure you don’t get too carried away with activities and lose sight of what the celebration is really about.

Cancer

Release the doves! As the sign associated with romance, no Cancer woman’s big day will be complete without a 10-strong bridal party, horse-drawn carriage and princess tiara. The theme will be fairytale, not frothy, with tear-jerking vows to touch even the steeliest cynic. It’ll be a family affair, albeit very extended, and the sort of celebration you’ll want to share with everyone you know. So putting together a guest list of under 200 that won’t blow the budget will be challenging. Try to be realistic and be prepared to make some concessions.

Leo

Dramatic, creative and a self-confessed big spender, kittens will spare no expense on what will be nothing short of an extravagant gala. Face it, you’re a bit of a show-off, and if the ice sculptures and gilded place setting don’t impress, the French champers fountain should do the trick. However, you’ll make sure that the opulence won’t detract from the focal point – you! – looking a gazillion bucks in a crystal-beaded gown form a top-notch designer. Skimping simply isn’t in your vocab, but at least entertain the idea of putting aside enough cash for the honeymoon!

Virgo

Blessed with impeccable taste, Virgo’s big day is the pinnacle of refinement with your frock, food, bouquet and ring smacking of understated elegance. It will be a civilised affair conducted with the precision of a Swiss watch, from the string quartet’s scheduled playlist to heart-warming speeches, and all led by an amusing yet discreet MC. Although you’re likely to enlist the help of professionals, it will be difficult to resist the urge to micro manage. Try not to get you French knickers in a knot and keep bridezilla tendencies under wraps by leaning on a trusted friend who’ll keep you calm and centred.

Libra

Blessed with grace and social skills, nobody throws a party like a Libran! Chic yet cutting edge is the best way to describe your style – think a sexy frock rather than a traditional gown, and platters of French finger food with a Japanese twist served aboard a yacht of in an elegant dining room. Or you may opt for an after-hours cocktail party, allowing you and your guests to socialise. Though you’re indecisive at the best of times and are likely to agonise over choices, don’t work yourself into a lather. Trust your initial instincts.

Scorpio

Less is more in your book – you’d rather save on flowers and photography in order to splash out on the venue and rings. Scorpios are very private so, money aside, you’ll want to keep it intimate so as not to detract from the meaning of the day. It’s sure to be a romantic and low-key affair, with perhaps a select group whisked away to a rural or beachside property for the occasion. Although the end result will be joyful, planning your own wedding can be very stressful. Keep your intensity in check and, above all, maintain your sense of humour!

Sagittarius

It’s every adventurous Saggie’s dream to elope in high style. Not only well you satisfy your wanderlust, but you’ll also skip wedding headaches such as deflecting pushy “suggestions” from hard-to-please parents and narrowing down your choice of bridesmaids. If you can’t leave it all behind, make sure your special day has an exotic element, whether it’s a silk sari-inspired dress, authentic Moroccan cuisine, or kicking up your heels to a salsa band. Although you’ll claim to want an unorthodox affair, don’t deny your inner bride the chance to wear a veil or a white frou-frou number if you so desire.

Capricorn

Capricorn women are stylish and sophisticated yet have a great respect for tradition, so your day is likely to reflect both these elements. Heirloom earrings, time-honoured vows and a customary bridal waltz might be offset with classy cocktail attire, a sultry blues band and dirty martinis at sunset. You love the finer things in life, so everything, from the exotic orchid centrepieces to your delicate La Perla garter, is sure to be top notch. Relinquish control – a big ask, we know – by hiring a wedding planner. That way, you can keep a hands-on approach but let someone else sweat the small stuff.

Aquarius

As the individualist of the zodiac, saying “I do’ will be the only conventional thing on your big day. The sky’s the limit, from a mid-air, hot-air balloon ceremony to a quickie Vegas-style wedding complete with Elvis impersonator and complimentary casino chips. Anything goes as long as it’s a wild shindig where all traces of propriety go out the window! With such out-there ideas, be warned that you may have trouble gaining support from family and friends. Just surround yourself with positive people and remember that this is your day!

Pisces

As one of the most artistic and spiritual signs, a mermaid’s nuptials will have an ethereal, poetic quality, from your goddess-inspired dress to the exotic butterflies released when you’re pronounced husband and wife. Pisces women are the ultimate illusionists and will succeed in creating a luxurious atmosphere on a relatively modest budget. A combination of casual, comfortable and indulgent elements will ensure your guests have fun. Don’t spread yourself too thin and soak up every moment. Also, accept friends’ offers of help.

Having a magician entertain your guests is becoming a very popular choice and is a great icebreaker where your guests will be thoroughly entertained and amazed with mind blowing tricks and mind reading effects. A magician only uses playing cards, money, coins, elastic bands, balls and other items that can be found around the room.

A close up magician can really add a touch of magic to your wedding in the following ways. You could use the magician to perform close up magic to your guests during the photographs. This is seen as a great way to mix and mingle with your guests while people are standing waiting around. The magician can walk around to groups of your guests showing them some cool magic and entertaining them. The time when photographs are being taken is a real dead point for your guests who can be waiting around for over an hour, so some live magical entertainment will be greatly received by all. It just breaks things up a little.

A very popular use for a magician is to perform table magic during the sit down meal. He will perform at everyone’s table in the dinning room, entertaining them between courses of the meal; this can go on until the speeches start. So why not let your guests enjoy being entertained and astonished by a professional magician. Everyone is guaranteed to be laughing and having a really good time with a table magician performing for them.

An alternative way to use a magician is to get him to perform magic at the evening reception. The magician can walk around mixing and mingling with the guests that are either seated or standing up. This really does ensure that everyone is having a great time and both your day and evening guests will be seeing something really unique and entertaining make your special day even special for everyone.

These figures are all crafted to portray a meaningful message. There are many different wedding poses in which to choose from so finding one that fits the bride and groom shouldn’t be too hard. When they open it up, they will think about the place that they want to proudly display this piece of art.

Willow Tree is a very well noted name among many gift shops. That is because they are so popular to give. People who work in these gift shops will find that they are heartfelt gifts which are great for expressing your heart felt congratulations no matter what the occasion is, including the wedding for that special person in your life.

The other nice thing about getting the Willow Tree Collectibles as a wedding gift is because it is a collectible. Which this means that there are others to buy. This is something that they can start as a tradition. You can start this tradition as well that for every special occasion, you can add to that collection and give them something with meaning behind it.

While many will buy gift cards as well as money to the bride and groom, you can buy them something that they can look at and remember. It’s something that they can display in their new home together. It’s a statement that someone loves them and cherishes them and that on that day, they took part in the celebrations. Give a gift that is full of love and states what is really meant to be said with these collectibles.

Aside from worrying about fitting in, several folks think about that brown means boring. This could not be further from your truth. Actually, shades of brown are showing up in much more places than ever before. Just take a look around. You’ll see brown shirts, brown curtains, towels, etc. The truth that it is even an accepted color in formal wear is proof positive that brown isn’t only acceptable, but also desirable.

After picking a brown tux, you must also select a few well coordinated accessories. An effortless way to dress up a tuxedo is with a vest and tie. When choosing colors, take into account similar but diverse. Your vest should be a lighter shade of brown. Be sure not to go to light. Not just will you be required to coordinate your tie with your jacket, but additionally with your shirt and vest. A lot of striped ties come in shades of brown. These ties are both excellent looking and versatile. If you genuinely wish to stand out, you can go with a pink or ivory tie.

An additional critical factor to look at when picking out your tuxedo is the wardrobe of your partner. What will she be wearing? As a rule, a woman’s formal dress code is often a bit less flexible than a man’s. That being said, you will often need to ensure that the coordination you might have in mind is also what she has in mind. Within the case of a chocolate or mahogany brown tux, you must be sure that she will be on board. Due to the fact of the classy, elegant glimpse created by a mahogany colored jacket, several top designers are designing tuxedos in brown. One could even say that “brown is the new black”.

By choosing the elegant versatility and style of the brown tuxedo, a man is sure to set himself out from the crowd. You might have chosen fashionable, but unique, dapper but edgy. For those of us who toe the line, these are critical distinctions to achieve.

I know it’s not the typical and widely used footwear during weddings but there was nothing that I can do. I was running out of time and I don’t know what else to do. That morning, the actual wedding, I rushed to the nearest flip flops store and ordered ten pairs of bridesmaid flip flops so that I will have something for my bridesmaids to wear on my wedding.

Also, taking in the initiative of buying my girls flip flops for my wedding, I too bought a pair for me. It is not initially in the plan that my bridesmaids would wear slippers on my wedding day, so I will also wear flip flops myself so that my guests will not be shocked by the sudden change of plans. In that way, I can enjoy the rest of the day without worrying about getting sore heels during our honey moon. I don’t want blisters to ruin everything.

Moreover, nowadays I have noticed that wearing bridesmaid flip flops is one of the fastest growing trends in the county today. I stumbled onto a website one time and I have to admit, most of the weddings that were featured in the website were all about brides and grooms, and bridesmaids as well, were all wearing slippers during the wedding day.

Thus, when I ran out of ideas as to what to let my bridesmaids wear, I decided to buy them bridesmaid flip flops—fast.

What I like about the bridesmaid flip flops is that it can also come in different shapes and designs. I was thinking back then that when you say flip flops or slippers, it would directly imply to flat slippers. But I was wrong. Most of the bridesmaid flip flops that I saw in the store were heeled ones. The only difference is that, they are more comfortable to wear and your feet can actually breathe since they are not in a closure design.

Thus, I really made a decision that I would buy m bridesmaids these bridesmaid flip flops for them to wear on my wedding. Not only that they will feel more comfortable and fashionable at the same time, they will also look so natural—while walking down the isle with me. There were no regrets every one of my bridesmaids and even I was enjoying the whole flip flop thing as we walk down the aisle.

Nowadays appropriateness isn’t nearly as much of an issue as it was three or four decades ago. While there are guidelines for wedding etiquette, it’s rally up to you to decide on the form and content of you wedding. Being able to do what you like is something most second-timers find very liberating.

Just be sure that you respect the feelings of others, including ex-spouses. Have the courtesy to tell them you’re remarrying (especially if you have children together). If you’re having a church wedding, make sure there are no restrictions on divorcees remarrying. Some faiths have rules about this.

How do we include our kids?

Children are a fundamental concern when you’re marrying again. Once you’re engaged, it’s important that your kids be the first to hear the news. You’ll probably have a fair idea of how they’ll react, but even so, it might be best if each of you delivers the news separately to your respective children to allow them the opportunity to react spontaneously and discuss any fears of concerns they have. While it’s likely they’ll be thrilled for you, don’t underestimate the impact such an announcement might have on some kids. Unbeknown to you, they may have had secret hopes of you reuniting with their other parent, and news of a marriage to someone else could come as a crushing disappointment.

Second weddings are often not just about two people joining in marriage, but also about the creation of a new family. You might want to reflect this in your ceremony by including your children in different ways. They could escort you down the aisle, be included in the exchange of vows or I a special blessing, or be part of a unity candle-lighting ceremony. Family vows, where stepparents pledge their love and support to each other’s children are an emotional and public way of cementing a strong family bond.

Whatever you choose to do, be sure to talk to your kids beforehand and make sure they’re comfortable with the arrangements. As hard as it may be, it’s important to respect their wishes if they just don’t want to be involved.

Should I invite my ex in-laws?

This entirely depends on the nature of your relationship. You may still be on excellent terms with certain members of your ex’s family. Provided it doesn’t make your new partner uncomfortable, invite whomever you wish. Again, it comes down to respect. If there’s any doubt, leave the ex-family in the past.

Those who were widowed may still have a very close relationship with their former parents-in-law. By all means invite them to your wedding, but don’t be offended if they decide not to come.

This could be difficult time for them emotionally.

I had always dreamed my wedding would be in a beautiful marquee at my parent’s farm, so when Greg proposed in June I couldn’t wait to get started on the wedding planning. We decided to marry before the end of the year, and knowing the magnitude of the task ahead, we quickly booked in a planning consultation with a wedding planner to establish which caterer would be most appropriate for the job.

Bringing in the caterers ensured every aspect of our wedding was exactly what we’d dreamed it would be. Being able to decide on every detail, from the menu and the wine right down to the colour of the tablecloths and style of the cutlery, meant our wedding was entirely unique to us. All our family and friends were involved in helping set up and it ended up being a fabulous three-day weekend of constant music, laughter and BBQs.

Katie and Pete

Planning our wedding from London made it a little difficult and, although we liked the idea of a classic hall or marquee, we decided that a reception venue would prove far more practical. By booking the date of our wedding in mid-winter and a year in advance, we were able to get a good price. We also chose a great package that not only included food and beverages, but also the cake, decorations, photographer and a celebrant, leaving us to arrange just our outfits, flowers, accommodation and transport. All our details were discussed and confirmed via email and we arrived in New Zealand a week before the wedding. On the day, we were all able to relax and enjoy every moment.