Jens Christiansen - Elegant Weddings: The Ceremony, the Reception, the Clothes

ELEGANT

WEDDINGS

THE CEREMONY THE RECEPTION THE CLOTHES

EDITED BY
JENS CHRISTIANSEN

PHOTOGRAPHY:
SANDRA BIRGERSDOTTER
LINDA BROSTRM

TRANSLATED BY
VERONICA CHOICE

Skyhorse Publishing

CONGRATULATIONS!

IF YOURE READING this book, its very likely that you are soon to be married. Congratulations! You have taken the first big step in your lives together. In this book, you will find advice on how to plan your wedding to make it that special day you both are dreaming about. This book is intended as both a guide and a source of inspiration; it offers the wisdom we have acquired over the years through our work at Swedens magazine Allt om Brllop (All About Weddings). The book highlights many of the questions our editors frequently receive regarding how to go about doing things, clarifications of all the details a wedding entails, and various traditions, as well as their origins. Please read the book and make use of our knowledge, but do feel free to pick and choose within our guide to make sure this day is customized to your wants. It is, after all, your own special day.

This book has been compiled by my hands, but it is also a work of love from our complete editorial staff here at the magazine. Contributing authors are Anna Frst, Josefine Franking, Sara Kvarnstrm, Tommy Ditz, and myself, Jens Christiansen. Photographs are courtesy of Linda Brostrm and Sandra Birgersdotter.

1. WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW DO YOU WANT TO GET MARRIED?

The first step is to choose where, when, and how you want to get married so you can decide on a date. If you plan ahead of time, it is less likely that youll run into obstacles such as booked churches or reception venues or that your guests will already have other plans. This is also a good time to start thinking about which friends and family members you would like to include in your wedding party. Read the sections Find the Best Reception Hall ().

2. SETTING YOUR BUDGET

There are two of you getting married and therefore its important for you both to sit down to discuss your expectations and any other concerns you may have. How much money do you want to spend? How much can you afford to spend? Its easy for the costs to add up if they are not taken into account beforehand. Pay close attention to expenses by using our budget list ().

3. NOTIFYING YOUR GUESTS

Of course you want the whole world to know you are getting married! Clear and detailed information about your special day is the key to making your wedding go as smoothly as possible. Complete the guest list (), and how to manage everything in between in style.

4. CREATING YOUR WISH LIST

Many guests will want to celebrate your love and happiness by bringing gifts. It is an important part of the wedding, which can cause unwanted complications both for you as a couple as well as your guests if it is not managed properly. Read our suggestions about what to wish for and information on how to communicate your wishes in the best way ().

5. CHOOSING THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER

The wedding photos will display your memories for life. Think about what kind of photography you want and then search for a photographer who specializes in exactly that. Some photographers get booked well in ).

6. CREATING THE PERFECT WEDDING LOOK

Of course you want to look the most beautiful you can on your wedding day, so you will find a whole chapter on how to create the perfect wedding look for both bride (pages ).

7. FINDING THE RIGHT WEDDING BANDS

The rings symbolize your undying love for one another and hopefully you will continue to wear them every day for the rest of your lives. Perhaps you want custom-made rings to ensure that they are truly unique. Read about how to find the perfect rings () and other glamorous items to accent your wedding day.

8. FLOWERS TO BRIGHTEN UP THE WEDDING DAY

The flowers might not be an essential part of your wedding planning, but they are often more important than you might think for setting the atmo sphere of your wedding. They help bring to life your vision and can turn even the simplest room into a gorgeous reception hall. Find suggestions, inspiration, and information about what kinds of flowers are in season during your wedding ().

9. ORGANIZING THE SEATING CHART

When all of your guests have responded to your invitation, its time to decide where everyone should be seated during the reception dinner. Its impossible to make everyone happy, but there are some tricks for success ().

10. BOOKING THE BEST HONEYMOON TRIP

After the wedding, it is important to spend some precious alone time with each other. Read about how to find the hottest destinations and what to consider when booking a honeymoon trip ().

11. MANAGING YOUR CHECKLIST

The best way to manage the wedding plans is to use the checklist at the back of this book (). Check off completed tasks as you go along and keep track of what needs to be done at various stages of planning.

THE
CEREMONY

Some people prefer to marry in secret, some prefer a civil ceremony during their lunch break, and others dream of a lavish affair with an equally spectacular reception to follow. No matter what kind of wedding you choose, this day is all about love, and during the ceremony you will have a chance to express your feelings for one another.

The most common is a traditional church wedding or a civil ceremony at the courthouse with a reception afterward for friends and family. Lately, however, destination weddings have become more and more popular, though that can bring additional challenges.

There is no right or wrong when choosing how you want to get marriedthe most important thing is to do whats right for you. In this chapter, you will find some of the most commonly used nuptials and what you should keep in mind.