Wedding Podcasts by Forevertwogether

Throughout the 30 plus years as a wedding officiant and ceremony planner, I’ve produced all sorts of wonderful ceremonies and assisted brides and grooms celebrate their love. There have been so many opportunities to assist couples planning their dream wedding. Without exception, I have enjoyed every sort of wedding, except for the one’s were families spend a great deal of talent and energy and yet when the wedding is over feel frustrated and unhappy.

My goal now is to assist couples and families address the issues that would otherwise spoil their wedding ahead of time to short circuit issues which seem to ruin everyone’s event. I want all of the weddings I participate in to be free of unnecessary hurdles and disappointments.

I would like to ask you a few questions for you to consider while planning your wedding. I call these questions a Wedding Wish List.

What is the one thing about your wedding that you would like your family and friends to remember most about your wedding?

Have you seen that moment in another wedding, love story, or has it been formulated in your mind with out a concrete concept?

Write a list of bullet point ideas to help you create this emotion or concrete concept on paper with the help of your fiancée.

Answer these question honestly and follow through with this process and you will begin to see what kind of wedding you really want – not the one that someone else wants for you.

If you would like my help I can show you how to plan your perfect wedding in less time, for less money, and with less stress.

Feel free to contact me at www.forevertwogether.com or www.sundayido.com

Have fun planning your wedding!

Gust Bassianotis

You will most likely purchase more flowers for you wedding than for any other occasion of your life.  I said life.  Funerals are more costly but you will not be around to enjoy them so this is your opportunity to smell the flowers.

Besides your bridal bouquet, you’ll need (at a minimum) bouquets for you attendants; boutonnieres for your groom, groomsmen and fathers; corsages for you mothers; flowers to decorate the church; (outdoor weddings can reduce your floral budget considerably) and centerpieces for the reception tables.  Plus, you may want additional flowers for the flower girl, decorating your cake and dressing up buffet tables – the possibilities are endless.

Your can save a bundle by chosing flowers that are in season at the time of your wedding and by keeping labor to a minimum.  For example, hand tied stems are less costly than elaborately contructed bouquets, and loose cut flowers in vases are more affortble than sculpted centerpieces.

Tip: you should always get some professional advice while planning your wedding flower budget.  Below you will find a great contact.

Dee Mitchell
Principle Planner & Floral Designer
Elements of Elegance Event Planning and Floral
http://www.elementofelegance.com
Have Fun Planning Your Wedding!

Gust Bassianotis – The Wedding Guy

Music is one factor that sets the tone for you wedding ceremony and reception.  If you are going to have both in the same place, musicians can do double duty which can same them and you time and money.  Otherwise you might need to hire two sets of musicians to perform.  If you wedding is going to be held in a church or synagogue, make sure you consult with your priest/pastor or officiant ; you may be able to use their in church musicians at a minimal cost.  However, be careful because church musicians can be less talented then professionals. They can also be somewhat limited in their music style and files.

At your reception, go for broke to make sure that you have invited the right music team to provide your celebration music.  I personally tend to advise live musicians over Ipod or DJ recordings.  Live bands not only provide great music but also are very entertaining.  Wedding bands usally have audition mights, when you can hear them in person.  If not, make sure you request a videotape demo – do not seattle for a audio demo.  Group dynamics are very important to check out through video watch.

Your music can make or break your wedding and reception!

Budget Tip:  For a big band sound without the expense, hire a smaller band with a keyboardist who can use a synthesizer to pre-program string, horn, and percussion sections.  With these, your wedding usic will have a big sound without a big price!

Make sure you have fun planning your wedding!

Gust Bassianotis – The Wedding Guy

If you are having a religious ceremony you need to make sure you take time to interview your priest, minister, rabbi, or officiant about any prerequisites you may need to fulfill.  I personally resist jumping through religious hopes to fall in love and get married however, if you choose this route make sure you contact your official ahead of time.  You may be required to attend premarital counseling, provide certain documents or participate in various traditions or rituals before you can be married.

Religion has made marriages a way to enforce their power and keep you attending their church or place of worship and benefit from you financial giving.  This have been going on for thousands of years and continues to be a process where by the people adhere to the churches doctrine.

The RCC has stringent requirements a couple needs before being married.  Premarital counseling (pre-Cana): presentation of baptismal certificates; and presentation of certificate of annulment, if one or both of you have been married before.

The Protestant Chapels rules differ among denominations and their are over 180 different denominations world wide.  Protestants couples have some very heavy requirements.  You may need to separate for six months if you are living together in order to be approved by a specific conservative denomination.  You will need to meet with the priest of minister for sure – he/she will ask you questions about your faith and life style at which time he/she will determine if you can be married in that chapel or church.  I meet a couple recently who visited eight pastors all of which denied them marriage privileges because they were a trans racial couple.  Wow!

The Jewish Community requirements differ among sects, on the sabbath preceding his marriage the Jewish groom has an aufruf which is normally paid by the groom’s parents, of which time he is called to read from the Torah, sweets and candy are thrown on him afterwards to symbolize wishes for a sweet life.  Couples also meet with their Rabbi to discuss their marriage, and the bride may be required to visit the mikvah for a ritual cleansing.

It is a wonderful country we live in where very couple can choose what path they will take to share their vows and celebrate their love and commitment.  If you need assistance or more information regarding non-church – destination weddings in Central Florida and West Michigan please contact me today!

And do me a favor – Have fun planning your wedding!

Gust Bassianotis – The Wedding Guy

Typical brides- to -be are juggling a myriad of details in the months before the wedding.

It is very easy to get so busy and caught up with everyone else’s needs during the wedding planning process that you neglect your own.

You must develop the confidence  that it is important to take care of yourself as well.”

Taking care of you means. . . . “Valuing your own needs as much as you value the needs of your family, work, and friends.

Making time to do something you enjoy doing during the wedding planning months.

Learning to say “no” when other’s request will get in the way of your own interests and plans.

Saying “this is my wedding, not my family’s or friend’s” and doing what you and your fiancée decide without being manipulated.

I want you to treat yourself with care and tenderness during your wedding planning process.

Have you noticed that your busy and overburdened with responsibilities’ of work, school, community, family, and friends?

But when it comes to yourself – you just do not have time to enjoy!

If you feel that your needs are not as important as others, your own wedding planning strategy can quickly be interrupted with failure to reach your own goals because your concentrating on everyone else’s needs.

You must make it a priority to take care of yourself and, if you do, you will feel empowered and all of the details required to plan your special day are suddenly within your reach.

Take care of yourself so when you get to your wedding day your rested and confident.  If you need help give me a call.

And do me a favor – have fun planning your wedding!

Gust Bassianotis – The Wedding Guy

“Right Thinking Leads To Better Wedding Results.”

If you have the habit of thinking wrongly about planning ahead can really hurt you while you are planning for your big day or maybe making the task larger than it really is or just underestimating the task at hand could be the issue.

The way you think about your wedding planning journey can make a huge difference.

It helps when you learn to trade in negative thoughts for positive ones.

That Is What Managing Your Thoughts Means . . .

Identifying those wrong or negative thoughts and replacing them with positive or helpful ideas.

Replacing those negative thoughts with positive thoughts happens when you can recognize thoughts that stand in your way of making progress.

I have learned by assisting hundreds of couples plan their wedding that every couple design their wedding with their thoughts before they actually begin planning.  Does that make sense?

Negative thoughts about the most important day of your life just seem to creep into our minds and, for others, they seem to take over their mind.  That is when it is dangerous!

I believe what we tell ourselves about our wedding celebration is what seems to happen and determines what actions you take in managing your wedding.  Here are a few things to remember and keep in mind:

1. Realize that you cannot have a “perfect wedding”.
2. Expect a “terrific” day and set reasonable expectations.
3. Remember the main goal is to get married.
4. Try to respond to issues and avoid reacting to things.  It will make a big difference as you plan for your big day.
5. Another suggestion is for you to insist that you and your fiancée’ respect each other’s uniqueness and individuality during the planning process – it sets a precedence for what follows in your marriage.

If you would like some help in planning your wedding or would like me as you wedding ceremony coach/officiant – shoot me an email or call.

Have FUN Planning Your Wedding and have a great Thanksgiving Day!

Gust Bassianotis – The Wedding Guy

Asking for help is not a weakness. It is a way to let your circle of friends be a part of your life during this very happy and exciting time of your lives.

You will be shocked how eager and happy they will be to help you accomplish your wedding plans.

If you are planning a non-traditional wedding you might struggle a bit with trying to get family and friends to accept what you are trying to accomplish, but it will pay off big time!

If your family rejects your plan, find other family and friends who will support you.

Sometimes those the closest to us can be  very intrusive and they misunderstand your heart and plans.

Those of us who are not accustomed to asking others to assist us may feel tempted to just go it alone.

“But it is proven that couples who incorporate friends and family in their planning experience deeper and more significant joy on their wedding day.”

You may feel overwhelmed by this process and reach a point where you need some help to stay on track.

Just email me The Wedding Guy – Gust Bassianotis at info@forevertwogether.com

There are times when it is might be easier for an outsider to help you pull this off.

Have Fun Planning Your Wedding!

Gust Bassianotis

You find it hard to ask for help and try to do everything yourself. “I can do this myself” has become one of your favorite modes of operation in life?

Well asking for help does not mean that you have failed. Rather it means . . . .

You and your fiancée have decided what you want to include in your wedding and are ready to give your family and friends the opportunity to get involved.  Think of it as a gift to them – it is an honor to participate in your wedding celebration!

They will be honored to lend a helping hand.

You decide what friends and family can realistically do to help you achieve your wedding objectives and then assertively ask them to assist with that specific goal in mind.

Always remember that you must remain flexible and listen to their ideas but remain confident about your plan. Keep reminding yourselves “this is our wedding not theirs.”

Warning: Do not let them plan your wedding!  You have the plan. Remind them that you are allowing them the privilege to assist you in reaching your wedding goals.

“Do not allow anyone to take control of your wedding plans but yourself.”

Speak up if that is happening and redirect your friends and family. Friends should assist you to reach your goals, not tell you what to do!

Wedding planning is a great time to build a stronger relationship with your fiancée. Stay true to each other and let others encircle you with love and determination.

If you need my assistance please email me at info@forevertwogether.com today.

Have fun planning your wedding!

Gust Bassianotis – The Wedding Guy

I have been studying the art of wedding consulting/coaching from one of the best wedding consultants in America .  Sharon is assisting me to guide brides through the wedding planning process.  Bridal coaches can be an invaluable experience and resource, and their has been an increase in the number of  brides-to-be choosing to retain our services.  Some wedding coaches can help you with every aspect of your wedding,  from helping to pick color patterns or helping you network with the best wedding professionals.   You might hire a coach for only one specific project – that is your choice.

The  most important reason to hire a wedding coach is to help you to save money, time, and assist you to get to the alter with more energy and less stress.  Since they deal with the best professionals in the wedding industry they can point you to the best buys.

Some coaches charge a flat rate for their services – others a specific percentage of your entire budget.  If hiring a coach does not fit into your wedding budget consider hiring him/her for your wedding day to manage all of your wedding ceremony details.  You will have a trained professional administrating all of your wedding details on your wedding day.  That is priceless!

Have Fun Planning Your Wedding.

Gust Bassianotis – The Wedding Guy

The length of your guest list will strongly effect the total price tag of your wedding.  So whether your planning an elegant wedding or an intimate, winsome celebration,  your guest list will need revision, checked and maybe double checked.

Most likely, you will not be the only one producing the list.  Your fiancées family will most likely be involved close family members, and then you have other interested people throwing names into the invitation “pot”.  This planning step can be rather stressful that is why I am addressing this planning step with a few suggestions to reduce your anxiety.

• Have everyone involved in the invitation listing process sit down and make a list of names who they would like to see invited to your wedding.  Make sure they list the names in ranking order.
• Following the invitation listing process compare all lists and erase all duplicate names.
• Add up all of the names on your invitation list that were not duplicates and compare the numbers with your budget percentages.
• If you are over budget do not reason an increase in your budget but rather a way to erase more names.  This step is so critical in order for you to stay committed to working within your financial margins.  If you fiancées parents insist on inviting extra’s have them cough up the extra funds.

Finally, do not allow anyone pressure you into inviting anyone you do not want to invite.  Your wedding is Your wedding!

Have fun planning your wedding.

Gust Bassianotis – The Wedding Guy

P.S. I am a wedding officiant and coach and would be honored to be considered as your wedding official and I would enjoy assisting you plan your wedding.  You can call or email me your requests and questions.

Before you begin spending money, you need to take a careful look at what aspects of your wedding are likely to cost you the most and the least.  Some things, such as the reception and honeymoon will take a significant portion of your alloted budget, while others, such as invitations and table napkins, are minimal expense.  Decide on the areas that mean the most to you like ( limo, flowers, or maybe live band) and allocate your funds carefully.  I have listed percentages that I have derived from adding sample amounts from wedding magazines and work books and I came up with a medium cost amount for you to consider.

Honeymoon – 14.5 percent

Reception – 39 percent

Photography/Videography – 10 percent

Invitations – 2 percent

Music – 5 percent

Engagement/Wedding Rings – 10 percent

Bridal Wear/Groom Wear – 7 percent

Officiant/Documents – 5 percent

Gifts/Limo/Miscellaneous – 5 percent

Let me know what your think of the percentages that I came up with in this blog and be sure to send me any questions or concerns.

Have Fun Planning Your Wedding!

Gust Bassianotis – The Wedding Guy

Denise and Mark had a goal of breaking the worlds record for the number of times one couple renewed their vows and plan their ceremony.  The top number was 83, so they went on a world tour for 12 months to get in Guinness.

The took a ride on the water slide and went sknorkeling after No. 80 at Knuckle Reef, part of the Great Barrier Reef.  On Monday they said; “I do” for the 84th time at an Aboriginal Wedding complete with grass skirts and cockatoo feathers in Tjapulkai Cultural Park in Cairns.

Now they are planning another ceremony in a radio station – they must love wedding planning like I do.  Of course I enjoy coaching other couples getting married and love watching people in love celebrate with family and friends.

Have Fun Planning Your Wedding!

Gust Bassianotis – The Wedding Guy

You and your fiancée have decided what you want to include in your wedding and are ready to give your family and friends the opportunity to get involved.

They will be honored to lend a helping hand.

You decide what friends and family can realistically do to help you achieve your wedding objectives and then assertively ask them to assist with that specific goal in mind.

Always remember that you must remain flexible and listen to their ideas but remain confident about your plan.

Warning: Do not let them plan your wedding!  You have the plan. Remind them that you are allowing them the privilege to assist you in reaching your wedding goals.

“Do not allow anyone to take control of your wedding plans but yourself.”

peak up if that is happening and redirect your friends and family.

Friends assist you to reach your goals, not tell you what to do!

Wedding planning is a great time to build a stronger relationship with your fiancée. Stay true to each other and let others encircle you with love and determination.

Gust Bassianotis – The Wedding Guy

PREPARE YOURSELF – By The Wedding Guy       Gust Bassianotis

From the moment you announce your engagement you will be bombarded with everyone’s ideas and suggestions.

Following your engagement, sit down with you fiancée and record your own dreams and personal ideas and interests.  Then use this first draft of ideas to start your wedding planning journey.

In this American Wedding World people love planning everyone else’s wedding and everyone suddenly becomes an expert.  You know what I mean.  It is as if people are just waiting for the opportunity to tell you what to do and what not to do.  It is just that way!

“Great Wedding Plans Shape Great Weddings!”

To Prepare One ’s Self means. . . .

You and your fiancée must set boundaries and objectives to attain your wedding style – not someone else’s.

Warning: if you are manipulated one time to change your plan you will begin losing control of your dreams.

People will try to use guilt, shame and/or experiential reasoning to influence you into their direction.

Please take a deep breath during those moments and with a loving and caring spirit just say “no”.

You know that your family and friends will respect your certainty and confidence.

Deciding what you want to achieve and set realistic, attainable wedding objectives is all you need to do to get started on the right foot.

Be sure to listen to others’ suggestions, but do not copy their style and values.

“Your wedding must reflect your personalities and beauty.”

Finding out what works for you such as using a Wedding Planner with a specific time line and clear descriptions of the steps you will need to take in order to complete you tasks.

Make sure that you do not skip steps or ignore steps which seem unimportant to you.  Stick with a sequential plan of operation and you will be much happier will your plan for your wedding.

Always expect the unexpected recognizing potential moments that will challenge your actions.  When you feel good and strong, use that time to advance your planning and wedding schedule.

“Great wedding plans shape good decisions.  That is why good planning helps to make wedding dreams come true!”

PREPARING YOURSELF WORKS

Some people make lists and think ahead.  Others tackle tasks as they come along only to getting things done when they have a dead line.

“When you start planning your wedding without a specific plan, you can be influenced by others and your environment, rather than making your own choices.”

You might begin to notice that family and friends are planning your wedding rather than you and your fiancée.

You could feel like you are running around aimlessly and becoming easily frustrated, possibly making wrong choices and decisions.

You might also feel as if you have no sense of accomplishment or way to measure your wedding plan successes.

And finally, when you proceed with a wedding plan without the right preparation, you are at risk of buying something you do not need or cannot afford.

“Spending what you do not have can really be emotionally draining.”

You have great potential and talent to make your wedding one that is planned intentionally and, you can have fun, while avoiding the dangers and pitfalls that can distract your attention.

If you need a coach to assist you in your wedding journey please contact me The Wedding Guy.

You can shoot great video of your wedding these days for under $200.  Small light weight, hands free cameras which you can ask a friend or family member to wear on their heads or behind their ears will capture everything that will be viewing at during your wedding celebration.  The person who is wearing the HD recorder needs to be an active participant in your wedding a promise to practice before hand when to stand still and when to be on the move.

The GoPro HD Hero 960 recorder is a great camera which takes photos at the rate of 30 frames a second.  It weights less than 6 ounces and is only 2 inches square and has a great lens.  Another nice camera is the Loocie priced at around $199 and is built into a Bluetooth headset that streams images wirelessly to phones using a free Looxcie application.  From the camera your wedding clips can go directly into your email and be viewed instanly.

After you wedding celebration you can take the camera with you on your honeymoon and use it for years to come.

Just a smart suggestion from the Wedding Guy – Gust Bassianotis

If you have used one of these products or one like them please leave a suggestion or comment.  I would like to hear from you.

I am taking my lunch break to watch our President respond to the America’s election results.  I thought it might be a good time to share with you how I think that the election results will effect your wedding planning in 2011.  For a while I projected that 2011 and 2012 might be the strongest years for planning a wedding.  My schedule already shows that next year will be a strong year.  I think that no one political party will or can assure the growth of the economy however, I am somewhat sure that we will see a surge in the spreading out of wealth and job increases which in turn will allow those who are planning their wedding with a restricted budget will feel more confident that it is the right time.

Another reason for my prediction for a strong wedding future is because of the way that vendors and venues are willing to negotiate pricing and services.  This is an excellent time to put your budget on paper and begin contacting favored locations and professionals to explore the possibilities of planning your wedding.

Finally, I know that we have a great future and will enjoy serving each and everyone of you as you have fun planning your wedding!

The Wedding Guy – Gust Bassianotis

FIVE TIPS FOR A Beautiful Wedding Ceremony

SET THE TONE FOR YOUR CEREMONY.

Some couples desire a wedding that is happy and joyful.  Others desire one that is more solemn and elegant.  Others look for elements of both for their ceremony. Whatever tone you choose for your ceremony, Gust Bassianotis and his associates will assist you in creating that kind of ceremony.

CREATE A CEREMONY THAT MAKES A STATEMENT ABOUT YOU.

Your marriage ceremony should reflect how you truly feel about each other. It can answer questions such as: What do think about life together?  If you have a spiritual perspective on your marriage, how do you wish to communicate that to each other on the first day of your life together?  Since your marriage is one of the most important moments in your life, your warm, personal and unique ceremony should be a reflection of your personalities, values, beliefs and feelings.

FIND AN OFFICIANT WHO IS SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR BELIEFS.

Most churches and officiants have many rules and restrictions concerning wedding ceremonies.  Many even require pre-marital counseling.  Gust Bassianotis and his associates view this as a personal decision and let you make that choice.  We understand that it is of paramount importance for us to support you and your desires and wishes with respect to your beliefs and values.

BE CERTAIN THAT YOU SELECT AN OFFICIANT WHO IS PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED.

It is very important for you to select an officiant who is officially recognized to perform wedding ceremonies.  Gust Bassianotis and his associates have earned their officiant certification and also have divinity and theological degrees.   When making a decision regarding whom you would like to officiate at your wedding, know that we are well-educated and trained and all have advanced degrees.  We are not “mail order” officiants.

MAKE SURE YOUR OFFICIANT IS AN EXCELLENT PRESENTER.

The words you choose for your ceremony and the way they are spoken creates an atmosphere that you, your family, and your guests will fondly remember forever!  Gust Bassianotis and his associates would be delighted to lead you through the process of  making your ceremony one that is truly reflective of who you are…using your words, your vows and your expressions of your truest feelings for each other.  Your choices for your ceremony will be presented in a clear and relaxing manner by an officiant who is an excellent presenter and has a voice that is calm and easy to listen to.

Please contact us at www.forevertwogther.com or call 1-616-455-3194 for a free consultation on planning the perfect ceremony.

My name is Gust Bassianotis – The Wedding Guy.  This is my new WordPress blog.  If you are like many couples, planning a wedding in these hard economic times can be a stretching task.  By time all the expenses are added up, the budget can easily double.  One solution becoming more of a trend today is planning a Sunday Wedding.  With more and more people on a low or medium budget, this is no surprise.

Sunday weddings provide you with the opportunity to book your wedding at your favorite wedding location.  Popular wedding locations confirm weddings sometimes two or three years in advance.  So if you are determined on a particular site for your wedding and it’s booked Friday or Saturday, there is a chance your can confirm the locations for your Sunday Wedding.

Have Fun Planning Your Wedding – The Wedding Guy

This is my first post on Forevertwogether Podcasting!  I am so excited to be able to connect with you through audio and text blogs in order to assist you to plan your wedding and get to the alter with energy and full of joy.  I am also a wedding officiant and would be honored to help you plan your wedding and be your wedding official.  I conducted over 60 weddings this summer in West Michigan and am willing and ready to assist you!  If you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to respond.  Enjoy planning your wedding!

Forevertwogether is:

Easy – Peaceful – Ready to serve you,

Whether you’re relaxing with a day on the beach, or enjoying one of the many activities at Michillinda , you will feel the comforts of home from the moment you arrive. There are guest rooms available for any size family, with many rooms having a majestic view of Lake Michigan.

The same comfortable style and gracious hospitality that have welcomed families at Michillinda for years are available to you and your wedding guests. Since guests pay for their own rooms, a destination wedding at Michillinda can be surprisingly affordable for parties of any size.

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