Save-the-date cards are messages with a brief request asking your out-of-town friends and family to mark your wedding on their calendars.  This way, these special people can plan their vacation time, take advantage of good airfares and whatever else needs to be done to make a major trek cross-country or to your destination wedding.

With such cards, you can be as creative or as simple as you like.  For example, one bride, whose wedding took place in Mexico, sent a card with the pertinent details inside a sealed, see-through plastic bag, along with sand and a seashell.  This clever touch was in keeping with the theme of her wedding.

Another idea would be to have save-the-date magnets made, so that prospective guests will be reminded of the upcoming nuptials on a regular basis.  Include the standard who, what, where and when and the earlier you can send them, the better.

Do you have any creative ideas for Save-the-Date cards or magnets?

Remember the fun of squeezing into a photo booth with your friends and taking all kinds of goofy pictures?  Relive the hilarious fun at your wedding with the ultimate in retro ice breakers.  Part favor, part entertainment, a photo booth lets your guests in on the excitement… You can have a guest book made out of the photo booth photos – sure beats the disposable cameras on the table, and your guests get to take home some shots from a special day.

Are you  in favor of photo booths?

Your reception calls for distinctive details that will be lovingly etched into your memory – fragrant flowers, fabulous food and of course, excellent entertainment. 

Finding that entertainment requires early and careful planning.  Start by determining how much you can spend.  Because entertainment is vital to your event’s success, professionals agree this is one area where you should not scrimp.

While musicians and DJ’s are the longstanding favorites, a growing number of couples are choosing to kick off their party with a “warm-up act”, a 15-20 minute performance headlining a stand-up comic, a specially-created number that has personal significance, or a song with lyrics written especially for the bride and groom.  Anything is possible, as long as it’s well planned and in good taste.  Enjoy!

Are you planning a “warm-up act”?

If a man owns a mutt, he is typically happy-go-lucky and will make a good mate, says Wendy Diamond, author of “How To Understand Men Through Their Dogs.”

 ”They are not concerned about pedigree,” she said. “They are very secure with (themselves) and love children.”

 In her book, “What A Lucky Dog,” Diamond provides personality characteristics about men who have various types of dogs. She also gives insight on not-so-good behavior — and a new trick a woman may want to teach the owner.

 If you are looking for marriage material, consider the Doberman pinscher, collie, Chinese crested, beagle or rottweiler man, she says.

 Aside from dog owners that would make a potential long-term mate, Diamond gives snippets of useful information, such as noting that a guy with a bichon frise is “great with children” and is the type of man who will dress up as a clown on birthdays or as Santa at Christmas.

 Intrigue and mystery will get the attention of a man with a German shepherd, she says.

 The book also says the Akita man is known for being “overprotective of those he loves” and is perfect for the woman who would enjoy being a geisha girl.

 While each breed has distinguishing characteristics related to marriage, family and personality quirks, women looking to get married may want to steer clear of the poodle man, who is cultured and gets married later in life, Diamond said.

 A woman seeking an immensely affectionate man may also want to stay away from the Pomeranian man. 

For turndown service, it’s a nice touch to have the staff place preprinted or prewritten cards on your guests’ pillows with a bit of poetry, an apt saying, or simply a heartfelt thank-you for their attendance.  This is especially appropriate when your guests have traveled long distances, sometimes at great expense, to share your nuptials.

*TIMETABLE:  The standard used to be to mail the invitations six weeks before the wedding.  But that’s not nearly enough advance notice if you’re asking your guests to travel significantly, especially abroad or at peak travel times.  So send a save-the-date card up to six months in advance, and the invitation itself eight to twelve weeks ahead of the event.

*CONFIRMATION PACKAGE:  When you receive a positive RSVP for a destination wedding, send a confirmation package with all the pertinent travel information: logistics, accommodation, attire, activities.

*WELCOME PACKAGE: Available in every hotel room should be a packet of information very similar to the confirmation package – about the locale, the events and other activities, and anything else your guests might find useful.  Don’t expect everyone to have traveled with the confirmation package.

What ideas are you using for destination wedding invitations?

The boutonniere is all about the details – a single gorgeous bloom, the right shade of silk ribbon to bind the flower, a pearl button to secure it.  The key is for it to appear masculine while also complementing the bride.  So look for small flowers with a big presence. 

On a practical note, Wedding Planner, Colin Cowie suggests that every groom’s boutonniere should be made twice – one version to be worn during the ceremony and through the majority of the reception.  Then, after hugging a few hundred people, the blossoms will inevitably be battered and bruised.  So the newly married man should don the second, crisp new stand-in (which should be stored under the cake table, so everyone knows where to find it) right before the couple cuts the cake and makes their toasts.  What could be more 007 than to still be wearing a fresh-looking boutonniere as the dawn breaks?

Make Valentines Day simple this year.  Think about the best times you and your sweetie have had together.  It was probably the in the small, tender moments of every day life: taking long romantic walks, cooking dinner together while sharing a bottle of wine, holding hands at the movies or people watching at the mall.  So change your crowded restaurnt reservations to a night at home and have the ultimate date night.

And for the simple gift, write your honey a Valentine letter from the heart.  Put it on special paper, seal it with a kiss and it will be the best present of all!

Traditionally, brides and grooms opted for matching his-and-hers gold bands with a diamond solitaire engagement ring.

Today, nearly half of all brides opt for no band because it spoils the lines and impact of the engagement ring.

There are also more custom rings being made today.  In addition to the contemporary designs, jewelers are creating copies of family heirlooms.

No matter what your preference is for your ring, the last word is that yellow gold is out; white gold is in.  Diamonds are in – forever!

Are you and your guy having a Super Bowl Party? You can’t watch the Big Game (or the commercials) without snacks, so get an assembly line going of your favorites from mini ham and cheese sandwiches to antipasta toothpick kabobs.

And as long as you have plenty to drink, a big TV and friends around, you will have a great day!

What is your favorite Super Bowl tradition?