Here are 4 Manhattan wedding venues that are a little different than the standard ballroom reception sites and have that unmistakable NYC flair.

620 Loft and Garden: Outdoor wedding space in Midtown Manhattan is rare and sought after.

An outdoor wedding venue in NYC

Indoor Space at 620 Loft and Garden

Indoor space at 620 Loft and Garden

Tribeca Rooftop Offering incredible panoramic views and classic New York style:

A ceremony at Tribeca Rooftop

Top Deck at Seamen’s Church Institute Located on a original cobblestone street in South Street Seaport, this unique wedding venue appears to be a modern day ship moored  at a historic 19th century pier.

Preparation for a wedding ceremony.

Views of the East River and the Brooklyn Bridge

The New York Public Library: This NYC historic landmark offers a dramatic wedding venue:

On the front steps of the NY Public Lirary

A reception at the NY Public Library

Take your time searching for the  perfect wedding venue for your needs.  What is most important to you? The perfect location or the view of the river?  Do you want a space that can accommodate 50 people of 250? Will you hold the ceremony and reception all  in one place? What’s more important to you, drama or comfort? Space for dancing or ideal space for photos? Thinking through these points will help you narrow down your choices and find the wedding venue that is just right!

A dress for the mother of the bride / groom.

The mother of the bride may be as excited (and difficult to please) as the bride herself.  She wants to look stunning on her daughter’s wedding day.

Before the mother of the bride (or groom) heads out to pick her wedding attire, casually discuss what she is going to wear.

Here are a few points to cover when discussing the mother of the bride’s (or mother of the groom) dress code:

1. Remind them that this is the bride and groom’s big day and that if they have chosen a subtle and conservative dress, a beaded mini will not be appropriate for them! Althought she doesn’t have to change her personal style, her dress should match the  “drama” level and venue of the wedding.

2. Remind them that white, cream and off-white are not appropriate for the most part. If the dress is cream with a color brocade or design then it could be okay. the mother of the bride / groom should not look like they are attempting to upstage the bride.

3. Ask them to keep their own drama level a notch down from the drama level of the bride.

4. Request that they stay in the same color family as the rest of the wedding party -or a least not clash terribly -  so you have a cohesive look on  your wedding day and in the photos.

Mother of the bride and mother of the groom dresses can be difficult to choose. If you are the bride, offer to go along and help them shop! Take advantage of this time to enjoy your wedding planning with your mom or future mother in law.

Traditional Wedding Vows

Have you chosen your wedding vows yet? It is a big decision for many couples and often one that gets put off until the last minute.

If you are unsure about what you want to say, or are very uncomfortable with writing your vows yourself, traditional wedding vows  may be the best choice for your wedding.

Traditional wedding vows are classic and elegant.

Here are some samples of traditional wedding vows:

1. I (___) take thee (____) to be my lawfully wedded (husband/wife), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health till death do us part.

2. I (name) take you (name) to be my beloved (wife/husband), to have and to hold you, to honor you to treasure you, to be at your side in sorrow and in joy, in the good times and in the bad, to love and cherish you always. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life.

Remember, these are your wedding vows! If you are going to say these vows and mean them, you should certainly be comfortable with  what you are saying as well as the meaning of each and every word. You can personalize traditional wedding vows to make your ceremony unique. Just make slight changes, yet still maintain the traditional and memorable expressions.

The following videos will give you some fresh ideas for your beach wedding favors and table centerpieces. What will you send your guests away with at the end of the day?

Beach wedding favors from American Bridal.com

Here are some more cute and inexpensive ideas for your beach wedding favors.

Have a few ideas of your own you would like to share with us? Leave your favorite wedding favor idea in the comments section!