PRESS RELEASE


Sanctuary Beginnings Selected for Bride's Choice Award, Charlotte, NC – February 11, 2011 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Sanctuary Beginnings Wedding and Event Planners has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for excellence in wedding planning services! Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation. Sanctuary Beginnings Wedding and Event Planners stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year. “WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Sanctuary Beginnings Wedding and Event Planners for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.” We are happy to announce that Sanctuary Beginnings Wedding and Event Planners is among the very best wedding and event planners within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

Processional, Recessional , Interlude, Postlude - What Does It All Mean?

Do you ever get confused with the terminoloy of  wedding ceremony music ? Do you know when to use processional or recessional music? Or the interlude and the postlude? If not, I have just what you need; a list of definitions to help create the right sounds for each part of your service:

• PRELUDE:  are the songs played when guests arrive. Choose instrumental type songs with a soft sound.
• PROCESSIONAL: the "grand entrance" piece that accompanies the bridal party's walk down the aisle. The bride usually enters on different music
• INTERLUDE: Solo or instrumental music used during nonverbal rituals (e.g., the lighting of candles, communion), or to bridge segments of the ceremony.
• RECESSIONAL: Played as the couple and the bridaly party exit down the aisle; usually upbeat.
• POSTLUDE: Played as guest leave the service; usually joyful music

I hope this helps with your selections.

Holding Wedding Bouquets

Looking comfortable and relaxed on your wedding day is a must. Most guest can see how intense a bride is by the way they carry their bouquets. Let me help you relax with these great tips:

• Grasp the stems with both hands.
• Position the bouquet at your hip level keeping it close to your belly button. Holding it higher will make you look tense.
• Clasp the bouquet firmly, but not with an iron grip.
• Relax and enjoy your day!

Walking Down the Aisle - A Stride Guide

Before getting to the "I Do," remember you have to get to the groom! Taking that short stroll in a long dress, carrying a bouquet, and wearing heels, while mom loses it, can be overwhelming for most brides. Below are a few helpful guidelines on how to "walk the walk."

• Take a few deep breaths to relax your body during the first few notes of your processional.
• Keep pace with the music. Avoid the step-pause-step rhythm. Just walk slower than normal. No need to rush.
• Look around an smile at your guest. After all, you are the star!
• When you reach the altar, kiss whomever is giving you away.
• Pass your bouquet to the maid of honor, who shoud be on your left.
• Practice all of the above steps at your rehearsal. It will help with the next day jitters.

Invitation Timeline

A wedding guest's first glimpse of your wedding comes in the mail. The envelope is ripped open, and your wedding's style, formal or casual, pops out. Get the message out on time by following these great tips:

12 Months: Mail save-the-date card.
  6 Months: Shop for invites. Order paper samples.
  5 Months: If using a custom invite (monograms, stamp, etc.) start the process now.
  4 Months: Order labor-intensive invites (letterpress or engraved).
  3 Months: Start addressing envelopes. Weigh one complete invitation for correct postage. Mail invitations 6-8 weeks before the wedding.
  1 Month: RSVPs should start arriving 2-4 weeks before the wedding. Start calling anyone who has not responded after RSVP deadline date.

Beach Wedding and Flip Flops

Encourage guests to kick off their shoes by providing them with flip-flops to change into. They'll be more comfortable and have more fun.

Windy Wedding

Here's a great tip from Martha Stewart.com for outdoor weddings. If there is a chance of wind on your wedding day, be prepared to keep bridesmaids' dresses from blowing in the wind. Sew  in metal, button-type weights into the hems of the bridesmaids' dresses and stitch into place. Be sure to do this ahead of time. These handy weights are available at any sewing supply store.