Considerations For Planning A Small, Casual Wedding

Every wedding, no matter how small, has hundreds of planning details that the bride and groom should consider. From invitations and location to bridal party attire and the cake, these details can add up quickly and require a decision to get the ball rolling. Take your wedding planning one step at a time, and you'll soon be well on your way to enjoying an intimate ceremony as you've always pictured it.

Stick to Your Guest List

Many couples set out with the dream of throwing a small wedding, yet their plans spiral out of control when the guest list isn't adhered to. Before making any serious plans, sit down and decide who you really want to be there the most. Do you have a second cousin you've only met once or twice, but feel obligated to invite? Don't. Stick to your guns, and think of whose support will mean the most to you on your big day.

You don't have to invite every acquaintance you know, so choose your guests wisely and you'll end up with the cozy, close-knit group you want to be surrounded by on your wedding day.

Choosing the Right Menu

Are you planning a small country wedding and reception? Then perhaps you should consider a potluck style menu. Close friends and family can prepare casseroles, chicken parmesan, and other dishes that you approve of and bring them to the reception. For the indoor reception, a buffet is a great option. Guests can serve themselves whenever they are ready, and people tend to get their food sooner than they do when served by a staff.

The wedding cake doesn't need to have intricate filigree details for it to be a big hit. You could set cupcakes on a tiered platform to provide quick and easy access at your laid back reception.

Whatever the menu, be sure it matches the tone and atmosphere of your small, easy going event.

Down to Earth Decorations

Set the tone of your wedding with decorations that express the personal taste of you and your groom. Nothing says outdoor wedding like bouquets of wildflowers, tied with strips of rich organic fabric. A church wedding will be complete with ivory candles lighting up the background and gracefully draped tulle adorning the pews. White string lights will bring sparkle and a touch of romance to the reception while a short clear vase full of calla lilies or your favorite flower will make a simple and elegant centerpiece.

For table linens, you can't go wrong with classic white accented by rich red or chocolate brown napkins. Artistically strewn flower petals will bring natural beauty to the bridal party's table or the table displaying the cake. With so many options for do it yourself wedding decorations, it's easy to create the look you want for your intimate wedding.

Dont forget to include your bridal party, including your mother and soon to be mother in law, in these theme-based details. While you may not necessarily be looking for many suggestions and ideas from your closest attendants, asking for their help will make them feel even more special and, more importantly, invested in your special day.

Dressing to the Nines

Outfitting the wedding party can be a relatively simple task for a casual wedding. Instead of scrutinizing dresses, you may want to select a color for your bridesmaid gowns and let each bridesmaid choose her own style accordingly. That way, each bridesmaid can wear the right cut of dress that best flatters her body type while still presenting a cohesive look to the audience.

Decide whether a coat and tie is necessary for each groomsman, or if a collared shirt and khakis is acceptable. When it comes to the wedding dress, there are plenty of relaxed styles that will fit in with a casual event. A knee-length summer dress will be a light and airy option, while a gown with an asymmetrical hemline combines modern appeal with understated elegance.

Pair your dress with attractive and comfortable flats that can go from down the aisle to on the dance floor with ease. Keep your wedding party's attire simple, yet stunning, and you'll have a finely dressed group to escort you down that aisle in style.

Planning a wedding encompasses an incredible amount of details and requires hundreds, if not thousands, of decisions from the happy couple. From the level of formality, to dining options, to DJs and venues, youll discover in short order how helpful your friends and family can be.

Its important to approach the planning of your wedding, even a small, casual one, with a certain amount of organization and preparedness. Remember always to keep your eye on the prizea charming and fun weddingand youre bound to pull together a ceremony no one will ever forget.

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Seven Croton Watches that Transition Seamlessly from Business to Casual

Since 1878, Croton Watches has been crafting watches that exude quality with every exacting detail being perfectly attended to. Using age-old techniques, how these pieces are made sets them apart from the crowd. The man who desires a timepiece that is versatile enough to transition with ease from business attire to casual wear will find great satisfaction from Croton watches.

Circuit Breaker

The Circuit Breaker grabs the attention immediately with a dial design that is unlike any other. The inner ring of the watch face showcases a twenty-four hour scale, while the outer ring of the dial displays the numerals for the seconds and minute hands. Bridging the gap between the two are large Arabic numerals with cut-outs behind them. The numerals almost appear to be floating on the timepiece! An exhibition, or see-through, back complements the unique transparent dial.

A black lizard embossed leather strap pairs with either the white and silver-tone dial or the black and gold-tone accented dial.

Chronomaster

A considerable piece that demands attention, the Chronomaster is a sturdy rectangular watch available with either a gold or silver tone vignette over stainless steel. Gold-tone Chronomasters are available with either a champagne or black dial, while the silver-tone Chronomasters feature either blue or white dials. Named aptly for the chronograph stopwatch functions, three sub dials are central on the textured dial.

Ermex Automatic

Offering classic style and charm, the Ermex Automatic is a professional looking watch that can add personality to a casual outfit as well as a three piece suit.

Styled with rectangular case of either gold-tone, rose-tone or silver-tone, the white textured dial of the watch features two special sub dials. The black seconds sub dial is overlapped by an exhibition sub dial that allows a minute part of the interior movement to be seen. An exhibition back allows even more access, so you can see the movement from both sides of the watch. ?Each case color pairs with a different shade of leather strap: tan for the gold-tone case, dark brown for the rose-tone case and black for the silver-tone case.

Gemstone Dial

Available in sizes for both men and women, the luxurious Gemstone Dial watch provides classic elegance. Available in either gold-tone or a two-tone silver and gold look, this watch has a timeless feel that can pair well with nearly anything. The center of the dial features your choice of gemstone: opal, green malachite or tiger’s eye. Surrounding the gemstone is a luscious mother of pearl: blue surrounding the opal, green surrounding the malachite, and yellow mother of pearl enwrapping the tiger eye.

Classic Automatic Alligator Strap

The Classic Automatic Alligator Strap grabs your attention immediately with a skeletonized inner dial surrounded by mother-of-pearl. Roman numerals adorn each hour marker, while a subtle ring displays minute markers. The watch comes in three case colors: bronze, black and silver-tone. The bronze classic features a brown alligator strap, rose-tone dial features, and gold-tone movements that can be seen via the skeleton dial and exhibition back. The black classic showcases silver-tone movements and dial features as well as a black alligator strap. The final option of the silver-tone classic adds a splash of color with a blue alligator strap, blue dial features and silver-tone movements.

Italian Leather Strap Chronograph

While a decidedly sporty option, the Italian Leather Strap Chronograph timepiece is still work friendly. The dial is instantly striking, and features a textured design that some may find reminiscent of features in sports cars. Chronographic sub dial complications allow for stopwatch capabilities, in addition to the traditional timekeeping usage. Whether you choose the brown dial and Italian leather strap option or the black dial and Italian leather strap option, silver-tone accents adorn the dial.

Dragon Bezel

The Dragon Bezel features truly unique design that is subtle enough to wear for business occasions, yet expressive enough to be a great piece for everyday wear. The main detail on the silver-tone watch is the dragon design traveling along the bezel, though at a quick glance the bezel texture is likely to be noted more than the dragon’s subtle head and tail. The black or gray dial of the timepiece matches accordingly with a sleek dragon scale pattern. This piece has a classic design updated with signature touches that can express your personal style.

Croton watches are truly beautiful collector pieces that will continue to express their versatility in any man’s wardrobe for years and years in the future. Each watch comes with a limited lifetime warranty guaranteeing that this is a watch that can be cherished by a family for generations.

Seth Barnes is a freelance writer who writes about jewelry, watches and specific brands such as Croton watches .

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