Hudson Valley Wedding Planner

Psalms 67, 127, 128

2008-09-03T11:52:00.000-07:00

Psalm 67

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah

2 that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.

3 May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.

4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah

5 May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.

6 Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us.

7 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.

Psalm 127

1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for he grants sleep to those he loves.

3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.

4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.

5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Psalm 128

1 How happy is every one of the Lord's loyal followers, each one who keeps his commands!

2 You will eat what you worked so hard to grow. You will be happy and secure.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine in the inner rooms of your house;
your children will be like olive branches, as they sit all around your table.

4 Yes indeed, the man who fears the Lord will be blessed in this way.

5 May the Lord bless you from Zion, that you might see Jerusalem prosper all the days of your life,

6 and that you might see your grandchildren. May Israel experience peace!

Isaiah 43:1-7, Isaiah 55:10-13, Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Isaiah 63:7-9

2008-09-03T11:39:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 43

1 But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.

4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.

5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

6 I will say to the north, `Give them up!' and to the south, `Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth--

7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

Isaiah 55

10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.

Isaiah 61

10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

Isaiah 62

1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.

2 The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.

3 You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

Isaiah 63

7 I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us-- yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.

8 He said, "Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me"; and so he became their Savior.

9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Song of Solomon 2 and 8

2008-09-03T11:30:00.000-07:00

Song of Solomon 2

8 Listen! My lover! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills.

9 My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.

10 My lover spoke and said to me, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me.

11 See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.

12 Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.

13 The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me."

14 My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.

16 My lover is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies.

Song of Solomon 8

6 Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.

7 Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.

Genesis 2:4-9, 15-24

2008-09-03T11:18:00.000-07:00

Genesis 2

4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens--

5 and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground,

6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground--

7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.

9 And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground--trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;

17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.

20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.

21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh.

22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

23 The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called `woman, for she was taken out of man."

24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Genesis 1:26-28, 31

2008-09-03T11:15:00.000-07:00

Genesis 1

26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day.

1. 26 Hebrew; Syriac all the wild animals

Honeymoon Checklist

2008-09-02T19:47:00.000-07:00

In the excitement of the wedding day it is easy to overlook important aspects of your honeymoon. This checklist should help make sure your honeymoon is as beautiful and memoriable as the wedding itself.

Papers and Documents

Packed/Have
Need to Get
Bank
Phone
Have

Travelers Checks: ___________________________________

Numbers:_________________________________________

________________________________________________

Credit Cards (information to be used in the event cards are lost or stolen):

Checking Account Numbers (In the event checks are lost or stolen):

Doctors (in case of emergency):

Items needed, depending on travel destination:

Bride
Groom

Bride
Groom

Drivers license
Marriage license
Passports
Visas
Copy of birth certificate

Inoculations needed

Copies of Prescriptions

Airline tickets

Other

Card Name
Company/Bank
Account Number
Phone
Bride's
Groom's

Name on Account
Bank
Account Number
Phone
Last Check #

Doctor's Name
Phone
Allergies, medical condition

Bride's
Groom's

Financial (Budgeting) Checklist

2008-09-02T18:51:00.000-07:00

Tracking the finances of the wedding is very important. We hope this checklist helps you to track expenses, and perhaps jogs your memory so that you do not forget to plan important components of your special day.

Item/Service Budgeted Actual Cost

Ceremony $ ________ $ _________

Ceremony Site $ ________ $ _________

Officiant $ ________ $ _________

Marriage License $ ________ $ _________

Ceremony Music $ ________ $ _________

Bridal Consultant $ ________ $ _________

Stationery
Invitations $ ________ $ _________

Reception cards $ ________ $ _________

Response cards $ ________ $ _________

Announcements $ ________ $ _________

Thank-you notes $ ________ $ _________

Programs/napkins $ ________ $ _________

Wedding Attire

Bridal dress $ ________ $ _________

Headpiece $ ________ $ _________

Groom's Tuxedo $ ________ $ _________

Bride attendants $ ________ $ _________

Groom attendants $ ________ $ _________

Other: $ ________ $ _________

Rings

Engagement ring $ ________ $ _________

Bride's ring $ ________ $ _________

Groom's ring $ ________ $ _________

Gifts

Gift to bride $ ________ $ _________

Gift to groom $ ________ $ _________

Bridal attendants $ ________ $ _________

Groom attendants $ ________ $ _________

Florist Items

Flowers $ ________ $ _________

Ceremony flowers $ ________ $ _________

Reception flowers $ ________ $ _________

Bride's flowers $ ________ $ _________

Maids flowers $ ________ $ _________

Mens boutonnieres $ ________ $ _________

Mothers $ ________ $ _________

Grandmothers $ ________ $ _________

Reception

Reception site $ ________ $ _________

Caterer $ ________ $ _________

Liquor/beverages $ ________ $ _________

Equipment rentals $ ________ $ _________

Wedding cake $ ________ $ _________

Music $ ________ $ _________

Photography

Formal portrait $ ________ $ _________

Wedding album $ ________ $ _________

Parents albums $ ________ $ _________

Extra pictures $ ________ $ _________

Videotape $ ________ $ _________

Transportation

Limousines, etc. $ ________ $ _________

Parking attendant $ ________ $ _________

Parties

Bridal luncheon $ ________ $ _________

Bachelor's party $ ________ $ _________

Rehearsal dinner $ ________ $ _________

Other parties $ ________ $ _________

Honeymoon

Accommodations $ ________ $ _________

Travel/tickets $ ________ $ _________

Car Rental $ ________ $ _________

Bride's Wedding Day Checklist

2008-09-02T18:39:00.000-07:00

The bride has enough to worry about on her wedding day. Below is a convenient Wedding Day Checklist to make sure she has everything she'll need on her very special day. We recommend that the maid of honor take on the responsibility of going over this checklist with the bride.

Feel free to print off this form!

Written vows or poem to be presented

Wedding gown

Veil and headpiece

Additional headpiece for reception

Special bra, panties

Special slip

Extra hosiery

Shoes

Gloves

Jewelry

Make-up, perfume

Nail polish and file

Curling iron, curlers

Comb, brush

Hairspray, extra bobby pins

Hand Mirror

Toothbrush, toothpaste, breath mints

Iron or steamer

Garter

Penny or sixpence

Bible, hanky, etc

Ring pillow

Flower basket (if not being delivered by florist)

Going-away outfit

Going-away undergarments

Going-away shoes and hosiery

Accessories, jewelry, etc.

Wedding night bag (placed in get-away car or limo)

Honeymoon suitcases (placed in get-away car or limo)

The Grooms Duties

2008-09-02T17:51:00.000-07:00

Groom’s Duties:

Get your side of the guest list together.

Pick your groomsmen and best man (and don’t forget to tell him/them what you expect him/them to do).

Help build a budget. This means holding discussion with the brides family to ascertain what they can afford to spend on the Wedding.

Pick your wedding bands together.

Plan what you and your groomsmen will wear...often your bride to be will want a significant say in this decision.

Help select parent gifts.

Buy a gift for your bride.

Prepare a toast for the rehearsal dinner or reception. (See our toasting tips.)

That’s the barebones list. However; to help prevent your bride from having a nervous breakdown (and hating you for not helping more), consider your strengths and where you think you could help the most and volunteer to take charge of one or more of the major planning components:

Other Areas Where You Can Help Out:

Honeymoon Travel
Photography
Music
Budgeting
Transportation
Travel details for out of town guests

Choosing Your Groomsmen

2008-09-02T17:38:00.000-07:00

Ever played pick-up football with your best friends? Remember how hard it was to pick some and not others for your team? Welcome to picking your groomsmen, only here, you’re not judging them on their athletic prowess, and you are limited in how many of your friends can be on the team.

Instead of starting with a concrete number it’s a better idea to make the quick and dirty list first. Chances are real good that should be your final list. Unfortunately, you have to then match up the number of bridesmaids on the other side of the aisle with your groomsmen...it starts getting complicated.

Guidelines for choosing your groomsmen:

Unless you’ve got an obvious issue with them that would turn your party into a war, always include your brothers and hers as well. (Unless there are a large number of brothers.)

Parties lose their significance above eight. Try to stick to this number and urge your bride to do the same.

Apply the all-or-none rule for friends that run in the same circles so you don’t have to play favorites.

If you’re having an especially hard time, consider sticking just to a best man.

There is no rule that says the bride and groom must have an equal number of attendants, but it is preferrable that they do for the pagentry of it all.

Your Bachelor Party (Do's and Do Not's)

2008-09-02T17:17:00.000-07:00

Whether you’re the best man looking for ideas or the groom wondering what to expect, here are some bachelor party tips:

Here’s the one part of the planning process that is actually fun, especially for the best man! Further, the best news for the groom is that you don’t have to plan a thing – your best man does.

After giving the best man the nod, offer up some guidelines for what you want from your bachelor party...a little guidance is always a good thing if you want your party to meet your expectations. Remember “guidelines” do not mean telling him exactly what you want down to the type of beer and the color hair of the strippers. This is supposed to be his tribute to you, so let him plan a few surprises for you. But giving him something to go on is key to making him as your best man feel important, and a part of your big day.

Bachelor Party Bible

Whether you’re a best man or the groom, here are some tips on what and what not
to do:

Don’t plan the party for the night before the wedding.

Don’t antagonize the bride, but don’t bow down to her either...this is
the GROOMS night with his buddies. This goes for both the best man and groom.

If you’re the best man, get help (including financial)from the other
guys to help plan, pay for and pull off the party.

Send out the invites
(email is fine) at least six to eight weeks before the event. Yes, you need to
send out invitations.

Buy bachelor party favors as keepsakes from an
epic night of adventure and fun as you send the groom off to his new life.
Alternative Bachelor Party Ideas
More and more grooms and their best man are opting for something different than the stereotypical bachelor. No surprise since strippers and a splitting headache do little for lasting memories spent with your best buds.
Whitewater rafting
Skydiving
Golf outings
Overnight at a cabin in the woods or other remote location
RV Road Trip – Put the party on wheels.

Tips For Toasting

2008-09-02T16:57:00.000-07:00

Toasting Tips

There’s nothing better than a great toast,and nothing worse than a torturous or inappropriate one. Here are some helpful hints to handle the speeches whether you’re a groom or best man.

The Right Time

The best man’s moment is obvious even predestined, but a groom often wants to give a shout out to those who have made this day possible or to share a sweet (and short) story about the love of his life. (How you met or the moment you first knew you loved her is always a good and safe one.) The best times for such a speech are either when the rehearsal dinner is winding down if you want it to be a little more intimate or emotional moment, or to conclude the reception speeches.

What to Say (and not to say)

Always thank the groom and bride’s parents.

Thank the guests as they make the day what it truly is.

Look for a particular anecdote that quickly emphasizes a point you’re trying to make.

For the best man:

A moment when the groom’s personality truly shined.

Funny is always good, but dirty or too risqué always falls flat.

Inside jokes in front of hundreds of family and friends are pointless too.

Speaking Tips

Think back to other times when you gave a speech. How nervous were you, and what calmed you down? Did you get on a roll using cues or was it better when you were speaking off the cuff? Let these past speaking engagements act as your roadmap, your past being your guide as to how much time, thought, and effort you need to put into preparing for the speech. Beyond that, here are some tips:

Think of what you want to say at least a day or two before the wedding.

Your subject is something (someone) dear to your heart. Let that guide you.

Avoid memorizing or typing out your speech. Instead, use note cards and practice your speech a few times to find your rhythm.

Perhaps the most important thing about a toast is its brevity. Keep it to 2-3 minutes max. Get to the heart of the matter quickly, and get out.