Organising Your Wedding Stationery

Organising Your Wedding Stationery
By Claire Bowes

Of all the things you need to do, buy and organize in preparation for your wedding, wedding stationery is something that must be planned ahead. After all, you need to let your guests know well in advance of your forthcoming big day. Your wedding invitation and accessories set the tone for your special day firmly establishing your style and taste. It is the first official message about your wedding that a guest will receive from you, so make it special. If wedding etiquette is important to you, then make a start with your wedding stationery.

The Use of the Internet

The Internet has opened up new avenues for anyone planning a wedding. All your research can literally be done online and this also applies to finding your stationery items. There are hundreds of online stationery and wedding related websites that display all types of wedding invitations and accessories for you to choose from. Today many brides do their wedding research online as you can become quickly informed of the latest trends and new products available. You can either buy your wedding stationery directly over the Internet, or collect ideas and samples and take these to your local stationery store to implement. Most online stores actually send you a sample in the post to let you look and feel the stationery items before you purchase them.

Custom Stationery

Every bride wants her wedding to be as unique as can be. A good place to start is with custom wedding stationery. The great advantage with custom stationery is that you can enter your own wording, select the typeface, text size and color. No matter what theme you have set for your wedding, you will surely be able to customize your stationery to compliment the tone. Wedding invitations and accessories can be bought in various styles such as classic, contemporary, floral, embossed, layered and religious.

On a Budget?

If you're on a budget and looking for cheaper wedding stationery items, then you might like to consider print-at-home wedding invitations. Save money and impress your guests when you personalize and print your wedding invitations at home using free online services that are available from some major online stationery stores. You pay for the paper and envelopes and then use their software to print directly from your own PC. With sophisticated customization tools, you'll be able to enter your text, tweak it, preview it, and print it. No mistakes, no hassles, no wasted cards - and its cheap!

Choose a Theme

The theme of your stationery should coincide with the overall theme of your wedding. For example, if you are having a garden wedding then you may choose to have a floral print on your stationery items. There are many accessory items available to help you tie your stationery in with the theme of your wedding. For example, ribbons, hearts, rings, white doves etc.. The same applies to the color of your invitations. This is normally decided upon by the color of your bridesmaids dresses.

Stationery Items

You would be surprised at how many wedding stationery items there are. While your wedding invitation is the most prominent item of stationery, you can find complimentary stationery accessories to match your wedding invitations:-

• Wedding Invitations
• Wedding Programs
• Announcements
• Engagement Announcements & Invitations
• Save-the-Date Cards
• Rehearsal Dinner Invitations
• Bridal Shower Invitations
• Wedding Accessories (menu cards, thank you notes etc..)

Plan Head

Your wedding invitation is the first official message about your wedding and your guests need to know about their invite in plenty of time. Here is a checklist to help you plan ahead and be organised:-

• Double-check that the wording in your invitation is correct. Ask a friend or family member to also look through the invitation for you;
• Order your invitations as soon as your date, time and place have been confirmed. Three to six months before the ceremony is what most expert planners suggest;
• To calculate the number of invitations to order remember to count one invitation per single guest, couple and family;
• After calculating the number of invitations add approximately 25 invitations to your order: 10-12 more for keepsakes, plus extras for the last-minute guests. Also, depending on how large your order is, add 25 to 50 additional envelopes in case of mistakes in addressing;
• Most established wedding planners agree that you should plan to mail your invitations six weeks before the wedding. This gives the quest plenty of time to respond;
• Make sure you have one completely assembled invitation weighed at the post office to determine the correct postage.

Wedding invitations set the tone for your wedding and tell your guests what type of style and theme you have chosen for your wedding.

Summary

Don't underestimate the important of your wedding stationery. It sets the tone and style of your wedding and portrays the image you want to set. Wedding stationery should tie in with the overall theme of your wedding. Invitations and announcements can be bought on a budget by using specialty software to print from your PC.

Claire Bowes is a freelance write and owner of Online Wedding Planning Guide [http://www.weddings.start-home-based-business-ideas.com/]. Find our further information about Wedding Invitations [http://www.weddings.start-home-based-business-ideas.com/Looking_for_Seashell_Wedding_Invitations.html]

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When To Order and Send Your Wedding Invitations

When To Order and Send Your Wedding Invitations
By Edna Renskers

Wedding Invitations should be ordered when you have all the details of your wedding set... place, time of ceremony and reception as well as your guest list. Plan to place your invitation order at least 3-4 months in advance, some companies may require 4-6 months. Especially, if you are ordering custom made invitations or handmade invitations and coordinating ensembles. Depending on the intricacy of your design and because they are not mass produced, but rather assembled one by one it can take anywhere from 4 to 10 weeks for your order to arrive. Also consider the factor of the design process, possibility of errors, proofs and changes in your design.

Ideally invitations are sent 6-8 weeks prior to your wedding. It is best to send out-of-town guests their invitations 8 weeks in advance, as this will allow for making travel arrangements. Consider sending out-of-town guests save the
date cards earlier, with information on hotels, flights and car rental.

Keep in mind that you will need time to address your invitations, ask family and friends for help. While doing it yourself is the most cost effective way. There are other alternatives you may want to consider: the invitation comapny may provide this service for an additional fee or send the envelopes to a calligrapher. A fun alternative would be to learn calligraphy yourself, there are many books and materials readily available.

Even though selecting your invitations may seem like a daunting task with all the possibilities available, giving yourself enough time will prove beneficial and a money saver.

It is never too early to start shopping around!

Edna Renskers is a professional wedding stationery designer and owner of Edna's Sweet Announcements.

Handmade Wedding Stationery and More! [http://www.EdnasSweetAnnouncements.com]

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The Perfect String Quartet Repertoire for Your Wedding

The Perfect String Quartet Repertoire for Your Wedding
By Warren Zielinski

Here follows suggestions and tips that will help you determine the ideal programme for your Wedding day. A String Quartet can provide music for every stage of your Wedding.

First of all, we have the Brides breakfast. If you are hiring the services of a String quartet for the whole day, you may be able to arrange for one or two of the players to come along for this early stage of the wedding at reasonable extra cost. A single string instrument, such as the cello, can provide gentle background music with Schubert's Ave Maria or the solo suites by Bach. It is considered good form to invite the musicians to have a meal with your guests, especially if there is a long interval between wedding stages.

Next follows the Prelude. This is the stage when your guests arrive at the actual venue where the ceremony will take place. This is often a different venue from where the Brides breakfast and / or Reception takes place. You should allow enough time for the musicians to arrive at the wedding venue before your guests! By this stage, the full quartet (all 4 players) will need to be on site for the main part of the ceremony, so it makes sense to take advantage of their presence and ask them to play for the Prelude as well. The Pachelbel Canon is an ideal piece of music for this purpose. As this stage is probably the longest (with exception of the reception), the quartet will need to have a substantial repertoire of peaceful arrival music in order to avoid repitition. Selections such as the Flower Duet from Delibe's Lakme and The Swan by Camille Saint-Saens are perennial favourites. A good string quartet will be aware of these requirements, and should be able to assure you that their repertoire is varied, extensive and appropriate. Allow up to 30 minutes for this stage.

Now comes the big moment of your Wedding day, the Processional (walking down the aisle!) This is when you'll be very pleased that you hired a String Quartet. The actual music for the infamous 'Here comes the bride' is the Bridal Chorus by Richard Wagner. If your prospective ensemble doesn't know this piece (and it's proper title), walk away! They most likely will of course. If you have your heart set on something else, you must make sure that the quartet either already has it in their repertoire, or has the resources to acquire it. More obscure musical requests may need to be written specially for quartet. Arrangements of most show tunes etc. should be within the grasp of the quartet musicians themselves. You should however, expect to pay an additional fee for this service. A good arrangement takes time.

The Signing of the register is the next stage of the Wedding which requires music. The Andante Cantabile by Tchaikovsky or Alexander Borodin's Quartet no.2 are both very appropriate for this stage of the wedding, as they are relaxing and soothing pieces of music. Bach's Air on the G string is also wonderfully effective. This allows everyone in the room to have a bit of a breather and will help to release any tension in the room! You should ensure that the quartet you have hired has the entire selection prepared, and not just excerpts, again to avoid endless repetition of 'the famous bits'.

That's it, you've done it, you're married! All that's left for you to do is to walk back down the aisle, the Processional. Unless you have very strong feelings about an alternative piece of music, it is advisable to stick with the Wedding March by Felix Mendelssohn. Everybody expects to hear it, it suits the occasion perfectly and is a fantastic piece of music perfectly matched to the sound of the String Quartet.

It's party time! The reception follows the processional, and often takes place at a different location from the wedding ceremony. In order to ensure that the musicians arrive before the guests, it is advisable that you allow them to leave the ceremony immediately following the conclusion of the processional. There is a huge amount of very good Quartet repertoire which is suitable for a Wedding reception. It would be possible to satisfy the needs of your reception with the music of Mozart alone! Of course, an experienced quartet should have a balanced repertoire. Even so, It is worth checking that the musicians have certain pieces in their arsenal. Make sure that they have on hand all the well-known baroque and classical masterpieces by Mozart, Haydn and Handel, some light music classics, jazz standards, show tunes and arrangements of other popular songs. You should expect to hear Ein Kleine Nachtmusic (a little night-music) by Mozart, Boccherini's Minuet and The ragtime music of Scott Joplin to name but a few.

Warren Zielinski is a top Professional violinist and musician. As Chief co-creator of the comprehensive and useful musicians-anytime.co.uk website, Warren has an enviable reputation amongst live classical wedding music specialists in the UK and abroad. Musicians-anytime specialises in providing the best young professional string quartets and ensembles for all types of events, parties and ceremonies.

info@musicians-anitime.co.uk

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http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Perfect-String-Quartet-Repertoire-for-Your-Wedding&id=16870

Family Law

Family Law
By Johnette Duff

A frustrating lack of permanence plagues modern relationships. Approximately one of every two marriages ends in divorce and the average length of a marriage before divorce is only five years. Many couples today chose cohabitation over traditional marriage. What happened to the idealized family depicted in Father Knows Best, Leave it To Beaver, The Donna Reed Show and Ozzie and Harriet?

No simple answer exists to this question: our intimate relationships have been affected by the industrialization of society, urbanization, continued changes in the traditional roles of the sexes and greater economic independence for women, a rise in the percentage of the population pursuing a college education, a lessening of social pressure against couples who cohabit, the recognition of legal rights for llegitimate children, a decreasing birth rate, improved birth control methods and a longer life expectancy. All these factors contribute to our alarming divorce rate.

Is it any wonder the state ( literally, the state you live in and as, generically, any form of government) must pass laws that affect our personal relationships as we struggle for answers?

You can take opposing views of the laws in our country. One argument is that they protect society and its members, but the flip side contends they are a means of oppression. The laws that impact our intimate relationships are not necessarily harmful or intrusive in and of themselves. However, forming a relationship without a working knowledge of these laws and without considering all the ramifications can lead to situations where the end result is both.

The state's role in romantic relationships has often been justified by "public policy" interests. The term "public policy," though vague, is used to justify laws or actions that would injure the public welfare or be contrary to public decency, sound policy and good morals.

Understanding the necessity of laws that impact on our personal relationships starts with the recognition that our society is not the first to regulate love and the law. The efforts of governments throughout history to control the couplings of its citizens illustrates why and how our own laws were created and why and how, inevitably, they will adapt as society changes.

The one form of marriage permitted under our laws is the only option for couples who want a legal relationship. Happily, the single status is only a temporary situation for most Americans. Few will stop looking for love, trust, companionship and sexual and emotional fulfillment with another person. However, couples wanting to remarry, parents with ready-made families, couples over 65 looking for companionship without legal complications, all seek answers from the same legal relationship.

Although divorce laws have undergone radical changes in our lifetimes, the marriage laws have remained relatively static. Unfortunately, because couples considering marriage have many different needs, it is not uncommon for the laws that govern marriage to conflict with these needs. Too often, couples learn too late that financial penalties come attached to the marriage license. Marriage may be the only means of forming a legal and financial relationship under the law but, for many, legal marriage simply implies that they must suffer penalties to legalize their relationship.

As traditional marriage has proven less and less capable of living up to its potential in our society, alternatives such as unmarried cohabitation have arisen. The increase in couples who choose to cohabit can be traced to the fact that the marriage laws are not meeting the needs of these citizens in forming their personal relationships. Although there are a variety of reasons why couples choose to "just live together," financial disadvantages are a major factor.

If you are previously married and considering a remarriage, you know that the older bride or groom has different needs than the young couple entering a first marriage. The responsibilities and obligations from prior marriages, particularly when children are involved, cannot be ignored. Men and women over fifty who have minor children fight the same uphill battle as younger couples do in defining and fulfilling their obligations of visitation, custody, support, and inheritance. These problems create stress for the old family, as well as the new, upon remarriage.

Even without children, it is possible that obligations to former spouses can impact a new marriage. Older couples must consider the potential loss of private pensions, alimony, social security benefits or tax advantages because of a remarriage. Also important is the issue of inheritance of assets that may have taken a lifetime to accumulate. Older couples may want to limit their financial obligations to each other in the areas of support, medical costs, insurance, and pension benefits.

If you are a refugee from the marital wars, you learned the hard way about precautions that could have been taken the first time and should be taken the next. The happily married couple doesn't need to learn from experience; they, too, can benefit from the information in this book. If you are one of the lucky couples who has beat the odds and stayed married, we want to show you how to continue to protect and preserve your relationship...and your money. Check out loveandthelaw.com [http://loveandthelaw.com] to discover what you need to know about your relationship.

Ms. Duff has been featured on Today, Good Morning America, in The Wall Street Journal, Self, New Woman, Smart Money and Modern Maturity and has been a guest on hundreds of radio talk shows.

johnetteduff@aol.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Johnette_Duff
http://EzineArticles.com/?Family-Law&id=16920

How to Plan Your Wedding and Honeymoon

How to Plan Your Wedding and Honeymoon
By Sidney Strachan

1. Weddings typically can cost you anywhere around $15,000 or more. The big question is: who foots the bill?

The 21st century has heralded a shift in the way these costs are handled. We have moved away from the days when the family of the bride would pay all costs associated with the wedding ceremony . Today it may come down to who can afford it or, who can qualify for the personal loan from the lending institution.

Weddings may, in most cases, be a one time special event deserving of all the pomp and pageantry associated with the memorable day. However, there are ways to cut costs and still maximize the moment. Careful planning and budgeting are key to getting the most out of this experience at a reduced cost.

What should go into a wedding plan? When is too much, too much?

There are many things which makes a wedding a wedding. The old adage, "Something New, Something used and something blue, is a reliable guide to save.

Knowing what you need and how much it cost compared to your allotted budget for each item is essential. Your check list should include: Bride Gown and accessories, Groom's wedding attire, wedding rings, flowers, wedding cake, wedding site, reception site, photography/video services, limousine, ceremony fees, decorations, license, honeymoon/travel, music/entertainment services, invitations, wedding consulting fees, beverage/drinks and type of wedding.

Generally, all of these items should be carefully itemized and an actual cost should be obtained from the service providers. Your budget fro each service or product should be include to help guide you and/or your wedding consultants. From this list you can determine things like the size of your guest list, bridal party and reception, cake and amount you can actually allocate to each specific area.

A good example is: if you are purchasing a wedding gown and accessories which can easily run into $1,500 or more and your budget is $600, you can opt to rent a gown and accessory which typically at the high end is around $400.

Knowing where you would like to host your wedding and the type of wedding you want is also very essential. Many people typically choose a traditional wedding (religious). These can go into many different cultures i.e. African, Jewish, Islamic, Irish etc. Different types of weddings typically carry varying price tags depending on the culture and how complex the ceremony or extravagant it is.

Honeymoons can be a another costly expense. Honeymoons can extend from that drive to another state to the extended Bahamas vacation or Caribbean cruise. Many companies are now incorporating wedding and honeymoon packages in their vacation packages. This has its upside and downside. Marriage laws also vary from country to country.

June typically is noted as the wedding month. So, expect costs to be higher. However travel this and hotel charges during this time of the year to many destinations including the Bahamas may be less expensive.

If you know your budget then it may be beneficial to allow a wedding consulting firm to handle the arrangements. Statistics show that couples are so tired and stressed after the wedding 705 do not have sex on the first night of the honeymoon.

Hiring wedding consultant doesn't mean you lose control of your ceremony. It just saves you the hassle and stress of coordinating and implementing each individual activity and duty.

Your honey moon can be like any other vacation as far as proper planning is concerned. In order to save money, you must know what you want to do? Where you want to go? What you want to see? Consult with travel consultants in the country or area you plan to visit. Research well. Your trip does not have to be robotic or mechanical, but it can be cost effective and well organized.

TIPS

Below are a few cost saving tips for your special day:

Trim your guest list

Reduce the number of attendance in your bridal party and reception

Budget your honeymoon well

Choose the kind of wedding you like but can afford

Research: at least 6 months in advance

Book in advance: try the internet

Stay near home: try a friends remote cottage, town house or timeshare

Shorten your vacation stay

Travel and wed in the off season

Go on a Cruise: They are usually all inclusive

Bahamas Aficionados publishes Bahamas vacations tips, a fresh and informative newsletter dedicated to supporting people like YOU! If you're looking for the *best rated* Bahamas Vacation guide, the latest up to date information on the Bahamas and helpful support from an honest friend in the business come and grab a F-R-E-E subscription today at: http://www.rmsbahamas.com

email us at: rmsbahamas@msn.com

To post a comment on our website, click on intranet, log in as guest use the same password and post your comments.

Sidney Strachan is a young entrepreneur. In 1998 he and Rudolph started resource Marketing Services a B2B service oriented company. He has written many articles and is presently about to release a book of poetry entitled On and On. His website is entitled Bahamas Aficionados. It is a site promoting vacations in the Bahamas while providing services for the pleasure or business vacationers. Services include organizing and arranging Bahamian weddings, specialty tours and seminars/conferences, providing business equipment for rental and many other business and vacation oriented services.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Plan-Your-Wedding-and-Honeymoon&id=16891

Bridal Shower Basics

Bridal Shower Basics
By Todd Mumford

A bridal shower is an excellent way for the bride to surround herself with her closest friends and family and relax, loosen up and have some fun. The bride can also use this time to share the experiences of those that have already married, and in a general way, espouse her expectations and dreams for the new adventure she is about to enter. The bridal shower should be memorable for the bride-to-be and her guests and can be based on a particular theme, just like the wedding. Games, themes, decorations, and gifts are all important to include in the bridal shower.

Many couples choose to have "couple showers," where both bride and groom are able to share the time together. Other brides choose to have their bridal showers in a creative 'themed' location - a beautiful ocean-side resort comes to mind, for example. Using your unique ideas will help you create a distinctive setting for your event. While the goal is to have fun and enjoy the event, there are some simple plans you can follow to make your bridal shower a most memorable occasion for everyone involved.

Send out Invitations early and follow up:

Send your bridal shower invitations early and include the latest date in which to respond. Knowing the exact number of patrons is pretty much a "must know" in order to complete all of the plans. Include any special directions or details with the invitation. Prioritize your guest-list so that the most important friends and some family are involved. Plan on following up on invitations at least one week before the ending RSVP date.

Themed Bridal Showers

Many brides choose to have themed showers, which involve the guests bringing special items, gifts or favors. Here you can get creative and come up with original and unique ideas in order to have a unique event - think "outside of the box." Valentine themed bridal showers involve candles, gifts and favors relating to romance and love. Heart shaped cuisine, desserts and gifts, as well as pink, maroon and burgundy dresses and robes help reinforce a valentine theme. Basket or box themes are also very popular. Guests are each asked to bring a 'themed basket' - from Easter candies and gifts to soaps and bath items. "Stock the bar" is also a classic bridal shower theme. Many times the guests will receive the standards - beer, wine, mixers and martini glasses as well as foods made with alcohol (tasty brandy and rum chocolates and confectionary). The bridesmaids or maids of honor usually coordinate showers and ensure that the plans are well though out and well in advance of the occasion. Be sure to include all the details on the invitations.

Decorations

Make sure to coordinate and match the theme with the decorations. If the theme is a Valentines shower, include pink and red hearts and streamers with red ribbon or something similar. If the bridal shower is set in a theme-specific location, decorate the setting accordingly. Ocean themes, western themes and the like, require a significant amount of planning in advance of the shower to make the event a success!

Menu items

Most times, finger foods and light salads are the best way to go with bridal showers. Light foods are easy to serve, and are generally quite easy to prepare. Consider crab stuffed mushroom, escargot, mandarin orange salads with vinaigrette dressing, or any number of assorted hors d'oeuvres. A follow up dessert such as chocolate éclair or shortcake is very appropriate. Again, if it is a themed shower, consider foods and desserts which fit the theme.

Photos

Consider hiring a photographer for the shower. Lasting memories are created from having professional photos taken during a special bridal shower.
Favors, Gifts and closure

It is very appropriate, and indeed, a special touch to give every guest a small favor in order for them to remember the event. Favor ideas should be coordinated with the theme - ocean showers can involve shell shaped bath and soap favors, while a Valentine theme can include a heart shaped box favor or heart candle place card holder. Both of these are elegant ways to show your guests how much you appreciate their presence. The ideas are limited only by your imagination.

Todd Mumford is team member and writer for My Wedding Blog, a website offering articles about bridal showers, bridal shower. Complete with a wedding directory, and resource links to shopping, gifts, favors and accessories.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Mumford
http://EzineArticles.com/?Bridal-Shower-Basics&id=18047

The Wedding Aisle - Who is Walking You Down it?

The Wedding Aisle - Who is Walking You Down it?
By Victoria Williams

Choosing who should walk down the aisle with you is not as easy at it has been in the past. In the past, it has always been assumed that the father of the bride is to be the one. These days, between family tensions, having divorced parents and just wanting to be independent has changed this tradition. Some brides still choose the traditional route with a twist. Here are 8 ideas from brides and brides-to-be who have considered this:

1. Some brides choose to have their father walk them down the aisle only halfway and then walk the other half by themselves. This symbolizes the bride's transfer from dependence to independence and that she has a new life of her own. This is pretty safe since it still involves the father of the bride.

2. Some have their mother and father both walk them down the aisle. For some brides, this is a way to include her mother in the process while still holding on to tradition. While this may be also seen as an attempt to go against a "male dominated society", it still should be accepted by most if you are worried about it.

3. Another thing that is becoming more popular is the groom meeting the bride halfway. It's not only cute, it symbolizes the strong union between them. Again, it may seem improper to some strict traditionalists, but who's paying for the wedding?

4. Some brides choose to have only their mothers walk them down the aisle. Some brides and their mothers are so close that tradition is a non-issue. They just want to honor their mothers for their love and hard work.

5. Walking down the aisle by oneself is relatively new and you have to be careful. It is not so much the break with tradition that may cause trouble as it is the bundle of nerves you may feel when walking down the aisle alone. A test run may help you, but it is not the same as the real thing! Everybody is "ahhing" you, your fiancé is looking at you as if he is seeing an angel from heaven and you are excited on top of all that. If you are not the shy type and still want to take a go at it, plan your wedding early so that you are not stressed out. And try not to think about what could go wrong!

6. Some brides may split it up between two escorts. For example, you could have your uncle walk you down partly and then have your father walk you down the rest of the way. This way everyone gets his turn to shine.

7. Walking together with you fiancé is not something out of the question. It is the ultimate demonstration of partnership, commitment and independence. If you are one of the brides who are aiming to break with tradition this could be a good route.

8. A bride who does not have her father with her anymore may still want someone who is like a father to her to escort her down the aisle. She may choose her uncle, brother, godfather or even a close friend of her father to "represent" him. In this case it is good idea to get your escort's approval way in advance and talk to friends and family about how they feel to gauge how this may look if you are afraid of offending anyone.

Above all, it is your day. I know you might be afraid of offending someone, but it is your day and most of the time your friends and family are not that "strict". Even if someone else is footing the bill, it's you who will have the most vivid memories of your day and it's you who will have to live with it.

Victoria Williams is the editor of [http://www.nuptialparadise.com]. A Wedding Planning magazine with tips and ideas on planning your wedding. You can also get wedding software and self-help books at nuptialparadise.com/weddingplanningtools.php [http://www.nuptialparadise.com/weddingplanningtools.php].

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http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Wedding-Aisle---Who-is-Walking-You-Down-it?&id=18027

There's More to Wedding Invitations Than You Might Think

There's More to Wedding Invitations Than You Might Think
By Sara Haese

Everybody talks about wedding invitations, but what about all the other terms and items that are associated with them. Below are explanations of some of the more common terms and items that you'll probably encounter while shopping for your invitations.

Seal n Send Invitations: This type of wedding invitation is mailed to guests as a single-folded piece (without an envelope) having the respond postcard attached to the invitation by a perforation for easy removal. Since the respond piece is a postcard, you will save on postage for the return mailing. Prices for this product normally include seals along with a printed return address on both the back flap when initially mailing the invitation and on the perforated respond postcard.

Announcements: For those who won't be invited to your wedding but you would still like them to know about your marriage, you can mail them an announcement card. They can be printed on the same paper as your invitation but mailed on your wedding day or immediately after with the wording stating that your wedding has already taken place.

Reception Cards: If there isn't enough room on your wedding invitation for listing the details of your reception or if not all guests will be invited to attend the reception, reception cards can be ordered to match your invitations and then be included as a separate insert. Please keep in mind that this card could possibly add to your mailing cost since postage is based on weight.

Respond Cards: These cards are essential to planning for your dinner/reception since an accurate guest attendance count will be needed for food and seating preparations. The respond card along with its mailing envelope will be inserted with your wedding invitation. Remember to include a postage stamp on this small envelope which will also have a mailing address already printed on it so all your guests have to do is fill out the card and mail it back by the date you have printed on it.

Map Cards: These direction cards would be included as a convenience for any guests who might not be familiar with the location of the church and/or reception.

Printed Invitation Envelope Flaps: This option of having your return address printed on the outside envelope can save you valuable time and ensure that undeliverable wedding invitations are returned to you. There is a small cost involved but it also gives an address to those who might not be able to attend but still want to send you a card or gift.

Lined Inner Envelopes: For a small charge, you can request your inner envelopes have a colored lining to add a special touch to your wedding invitation ensemble. Color choices will vary depending on the invitation style you choose.

Envelope Seals: These self-adhesive labels add just the right finishing touch. They are available in many styles and are used on your outer envelope making it look like they are holding the flap down even though it has already been sealed.

Informal Notes: These are used separately from your wedding invitations but should be included with your original order since they are usually printed on matching paper and this will save you on shipping costs. They are personalized with either your names or monogram on the front with the inside being blank for writing your thank you notes. Any leftovers can be used long after the wedding for other purposes. Blank mailing envelopes are included with them.

Not all of the above items are necessary to make your wedding invitations complete. Remember, this is your special day, so it's your decision as to which ones you would like to include as part of your invitation ensemble.

Sara Haese is the owner of http://www.PrintedCreationsWeddingStore.com where you'll find a fantastic selection of unique wedding invitations as well as save the dates and wedding accessories. Sign up to receive the FREE Wedding Invitation Guide.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sara_Haese
http://EzineArticles.com/?Theres-More-to-Wedding-Invitations-Than-You-Might-Think&id=18326

Capture Your Perfect Moment with a Wedding Website

Capture Your Perfect Moment with a Wedding Website
By Todd Mumford

Not so many years ago, the proposition of a wedding website would be a thing of humor. For decades, wedding invitations created from custom stationary and mailed via snail mail has been the standard way of inviting guests to your ceremony and reception. However, with the advent of Internet, more and more people are moving with the growing trend of creating a personal wedding website. Some might think that a wedding website is an 'extra' feature to add to your planning, but you will soon see why it is almost a requirement with regard to an "all inclusive" wedding plan.

The biggest advantage to setting up a personal website is that one can display information for your guests and others to view well in advance of the actual event. With typical weddings, many guests come out of town and getting informational changes to them in a timely manner is crucial. Any and all changes to the actual format of the wedding can quickly be published on a website for all the expected quests to review. A direction map for guests that are unfamiliar with your area is also an added and appreciated feature. Setting up a website in advance of the wedding allows the guests to feel connected to the bride and groom, and allows them to feel like they are part of the planning. Also, the bride or groom can point out hotel accommodations and unique tourist features for out-of-town visitors to take advantage of when they are visiting. The possibilities of a complete website are virtually endless.

There are a few options if one decides to embark on having a wedding website. You can hire a web designer to create a custom design for you and your fiancé, complete with your choice of colors, styles and content. This person will usually supply a complete package along with the needed hosting for the website. Another option is going with an online website template, usually through a wedding website provider. These templates are pre-made, usually very easy and fast to set up, and only usually require that one fills out some forms online, and make payment. These companies can be found by searching for 'wedding website' in any search engine. Look for a wedding template host that provides some of the newer features, such as an online planner and photo uploads. If you are opting to only provide photos of your wedding online without a full website, choose image hosting. These packages are a great alternative and are a smaller, cheaper way to allow you to post your beautiful pictures on the Internet for all to see for years to come.

Articles by Todd Mumford My Wedding Blog

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Secrets to 'Controlling' Your Man

Secrets to 'Controlling' Your Man
By Terry Hernon MacDonald

Ben* has been happily married for 19 years. He recently told me the prime reason he married his wife is because, "She was the only girl I dated who could control me."

I had no idea what he was talking about. I don't know many people, men or women, who enjoy being controlled.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I dated a lot of girls, some of them pretty seriously. I was actually close to being engaged to one of them, but I didn't go through with it because she couldn't control me.

But my wife Christine* could. If I wanted to go out with my friends, she'd say, 'Have fun,' and that was it.

It was such a change from the other girls I dated, who used to give me a hard time, wanted to know where I was going and why they couldn't come with me. I went out for a while with one girl who actually said, 'Okay, but now you owe me' when I wanted to go to a wrestling match with a buddy. It was a major turn-off.

But Christine couldn't care less. Whenever I told her I wanted to go out without her, she'd just smile at me and say, 'Have fun.'"

"How exactly was that controlling you?" I asked. "You got what you wanted."

"Yeah," he said, "But as soon as I went out, I missed her. I knew she wasn't sitting around waiting for me to call. I didn't know what she was doing. And since she didn't give me grief about going out, I didn't feel like I'd made prison break. I ended up wishing I was with her, instead of with my friends."

Lest you think this is sexist, put yourself in Ben's place: Who would you be more attracted to? A guy who calls you three times a day, makes demands on your time, and harasses you when you want to go out with your friends? Or a guy who calls once a day (or a couple of times a week), asks you what you'd like to do over the weekend, and tells you to have fun when you want to go out with your friends?

Wouldn't you want to see the second guy more often?

The lesson here is, if you want a relationship with somebody, you must give him air. Give him his freedom. (It doesn't matter if you have nothing else to do except pre-treat the meatball stains on your blouse, keep it to yourself.) Smile and tell him to have a ball. Then let him wonder how you'll spend your time off.

Is it scary? Sure, it's scary! What if he meets another woman while he's scarfing down nachos at the local tavern? Well, what if he does? He's obviously not the right guy for you, and it's better to know that sooner than later.

But consider this: What if he goes out and notices the happy couples and wishes he were with you instead of his friends? What if it dawns on him that the unattached girls hanging out at the bar can't compare to the woman he really wants (you!)?

What if he spends the night thinking of you, missing you, wondering what you're doing and who you're with? Thinking about what a breath of fresh air you are, a woman who's secure enough to do her own thing and give him some time on his own?

What if?

*Names have been changed.

Need an objective opinion to a dating dilemma? Terry is glad to help. Leave a comment at http://datingadvicealmostdaily.com.

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How To Keep Love Growing Through All The Ups And Downs

How To Keep Love Growing Through All The Ups And Downs
By Dr. Brenda Shoshanna

We are meant to live a life of love. However, no matter how successful some are in other aspects of their lives, they wonder if it's possible to have the same success in love. Although things may start out wonderfully in the beginning, there is always the fear that it won't last, that difficulties will arise, feelings will start to change. Then when things alter, as they naturally must, many have the mistaken idea that the love is disappearing.. They wonder what went wrong.

Nothing went wrong. Change is natural and inevitable. It does not mean that the love has gone away. That is a mistaken idea of what love is. We simply have to know what love is, and how to keep it growing, through all the ups and downs.

The Perfect Partner

When we initially fall in love, we feel we have found "the perfect person." A tremendous excitement takes over. We project many wonderful qualities upon our partner and block out any faults. Then we feel that we, too, must be so wonderful to have a partner who is so ideal. For many there is the feeling that they have finally discovered someone who will be able to give them all the love, approval and inspiration they have sought all their lives.

This is a huge demand to make upon another person, but it happens anyway. When this demand is not fulfilled, a deep disappointment can arise. It seems as though the partner has failed us, but in truth it is the unrealistic demands we have made that is causing pain.

Guide 1: Take a close look at what you are expecting from your partner.

Is it possible? Are you setting yourself up for a fall?

Realize that no one can make up for years of upset. No one can give you all you need to feel whole. You must learn to love, grow and become whole on your own. You must become your own best friend, and also learn to be a friend to the other

After a period of time, when we feel more secure in the relationship, it is inevitable that reality starts to set in. Different qualities in our partner become obvious. It's hard to keep pretending that the person matches all our dreams. It is at this point that questions and doubts start to surface. Perhaps there is a desire to "change" the other to meet our image, or a feeling that if they loved us enough, they would naturally change.

Both stop a moment and think carefully. Another person does not exist to meet all of your needs and dreams. This is not love. It is using another as an object to meet our needs. This desire itself cause our pain.

Guide 2: No one has to change for you to love them. Nor do you have to change to be worthy of love. You can never change enough to please another person. The work of love is to be able to love the other just as they are, and to also love yourself.

The work of love is the work of learning to accept the other person, and also to accept yourself. Love is not a feeling that stays the same all the time. Love is a verb. It grows as we face change and difficulty. Love grows through actions we take, through understanding and through developing the ability to really know who the other is and to really become their friend.

"A feeling that is here one minute and gone the next cannot be called love."

Kabir.

cc/Dr Brenda Shoshanna/2005

Receive free advice from a leading psychologist and best selling author. Dr. Shoshanna's guidance will alleviate your most troublesome symptoms, and will provide you with noticeable improvement in your life.

Dr. Shoshanna helps individuals gain insight, and find deeper meaning in their lives. Internationally recognized author, her self help and spirituality oriented books have been published in 18 languages.

She appears regularly on national television, radio and print, and has been In private practice for over 30 years, treating over a thousand people.

You can now receive free in-depth step by step methods and extended advice about the topic of this article at Dr. Shoshanna's website:

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Groomsmen's Gifts

Groomsmen's Gifts
By Adriana Copaceanu

Your groomsmen will be donating their time to your big event. They will appear at the tailor or rental store to be fitted for that formal wear. They will hear your arguments with your beloved over the wedding arrangements. They will celebrate your last night of being a single man. They will cheerfully escort your guests to their seat. And some will offer toasts in your honor at your reception. So how do you show your appreciation for all they are doing for you? Take a look at some of our suggestions.

-A key chain with a four leaf clover embedded into a plastic circle.

-A monogrammed leather money clip with their initials on the front.

-Silver cuff links with their last initial engraved on the surface.

-For the man who travels, a monogrammed leather travel valet.

-For the ones who are still single, give a silver paperweight of a frog with a crown on his head.

-A set of silver pen and pencil set with their last initial as an emblem on the clip.

-A Silver-plated yo-yo with the words "thanks" and the date of your wedding engraved on the side.

-For the golfer in your group, a silver plated key chain with a golf divot tool attached.

-Someone in your group loves to BBQ. Give him an branding iron with his initials so that he can brand every steak that comes off his grill.

-For the hiker, give him a set of "off trail" binoculars.

-For the guys in the baseball team, give them a personalized bat. You can add 3 lines to the bat to express your appreciation.

Adriana Copaceanu provides people with creative gift ideas that don't blow the bank. Gift Baskets for Baby, Birthday and Beyond, are just some gift ideas you'll find at her site: [http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com]. Want regular reminders on gift-giving? Sign up for her free monthly newsletter at [http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/gift-news-signup.htm].

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Caricature Entertainment - A Surefire Way to Liven Up Your Wedding Celebration

Caricature Entertainment - A Surefire Way to Liven Up Your Wedding Celebration
By Ellen Zucker

Caricature entertainment will make your wedding celebration stand out and be remembered.

If you have never seen caricatures drawn at an event, you will be amazed when you see how popular they are with guests. Not only do they have a great time, they leave with a memento to cherish.

This article will discuss why it is a great idea to include caricature entertainment at your wedding reception. Then it will furnish tips on finding and booking the perfect artist for your event.

People love to watch an artist draw. The transformation of blank paper into a drawing that captures a guest's personality and character is nothing short of magical. A competent caricature artist performs this seemingly effortless feat in just a few short minutes.

And, so, an audience will quickly form to watch the magic (and have some good natured fun with the 'victim in the hot seat.')

In fact, the better your guests know each other the more likely there will be some ribbing. But that is part of the fun. Especially if you have a family of practical jokers like mine.

Many people think of party caricature as children's entertainment. It is. The 40, 50, and 60 year-old 'kids' have as much - or more - fun as well as the little ones.

Which makes it perfect for wedding receptions where there are few if any chronological children present.

But what makes caricature entertainment really special is that your guests receive a keepsake to take home. Their drawing is a one-of-a-kind memento they will cherish.

Many guests still have caricature drawings from events they attended ten, even twenty years ago. Some frame them and hang them on a wall.

For an added touch, ask the artist to print an inscription such as "Jenny and Joe's Wedding, March 6, 2010" onto the drawing stock ahead of time.

Would you like to have caricature entertainment at your wedding? Your guests will have a great time and you will have a hassle-free experience when you download my free report, "How to Avoid the 7 Most Common Mistakes When Hiring a Caricature Artist for Your Party!" [http://www.caricatureartistphiladelphia.com/]

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Marking Togetherness: Beyond the Unity Candle

Marking Togetherness: Beyond the Unity Candle
By Blake Kritzberg

By now, surely everyone's familiar with the unity candle, but did you know there are other unification ceremonies to choose from when planning your wedding?

Although the unity candle seems to have been with us forever, it's only about ten years old. Since then, many more "two-become-one" rituals have arrived to round out the theme.

Unification ceremonies aren't just a symbol of togetherness, they're also very flexible parts of the ceremony. These rituals are good for "opening up" the wedding to include additional family members, such as the bridal couple's parents. Children from previous marriages can play a part. And in a smaller wedding, the entire congregation can have a role in the ritual. The candle and rose ceremonies are good for adapting this way.

Unification ceremonies can also be "stacked." It's not unusual to find a wedding that includes a hand and water ceremony, for example, or a wine and rose ceremony. Some couples play music during these ceremonies and others don't.

The timing of unification ceremonies varies, but usually they take place right before or after the exchange of vows. These ceremonies may play an especially important role in non-deminational or civil weddings, which may end rather quickly otherwise!

Let's look at some alternatives to the Unity Candle ceremony:

Rose Ceremony
The rose ceremony is a flexible, informal ceremony especially suited to an interfaith or non-religious wedding, not to mention a garden wedding! In the rose ceremony, bride and groom exchange a single rose as their first married gift to each other. They are asked to recall this symbol of their love during the more trying seasons of marriage.

Hand Ceremony
In the hand ceremony, the bride takes the groom's hands in hers, palms up. The officiant invites her to view his hands as a gift, and says: "These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as together you laugh and cry, and together you share your innermost secrets and dreams."

The groom then takes the bride's hands, palm side up. The officiant says, "They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness, as she promises her love and commitment to you all the days of her life."

Knot Ceremony
In the knot ceremony, the mothers of the bridal couple are given a cord, which the officiant later asks them to give to the bridal couple. The couple ties a lover's knot, which they may save to look back on later.

Sand, Water and Wine Ceremonies
These are all mixing ceremonies suited to a Unitarian or interfaith wedding. The sand ceremony is said to arise from Apache customs, and is popular in beach weddings. In each case, the bride and groom pour sand or liquid from two separate vials into one. In the wine ceremony, they drink the mixed wine.

A nice touch is to have the bride pour white wine while the groom pours red. You can then serve rosé at the reception to remind everyone of the ceremony.

The Salt Covenant
The salt covenant is an ancient tradition, well-described in the Bible, and appearing regularly in Indian-national and Jewish weddings. Like the Jewish Huppah, the salt covenant (a mixing ceremony with ancient connotations of loyalty, protection and hospitality) is beginning to show up in non-Jewish weddings as well.

The Foot-Washing Ceremony
The foot washing ceremony (not to be confused with the Scottish bridal foot-washing ceremony, a raucous pre-wedding event) is a fascinating, solemn custom emphasizing the role of dual servitude in a marriage.

This short article hasn't covered all the unification ceremonies: there are bread-sharing ceremonies, circling ceremonies, broom jumping ceremonies, and probably more ceremonies that are being invented right now.

But if you feel a unification ceremony might make your wedding more meaningful and personal, consider these alternatives. Don't forget that you can use more than one!

Blake Kritzberg is editor of FavorIdeas. Stop by for fresh autumn wedding ideas and a completely indulgent collection of wedding favors for fall.

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Choosing a Wedding Date -- When You're Feeling Indecisive

Choosing a Wedding Date -- When You're Feeling Indecisive
By Blake Kritzberg

He (or she!) asked the question you probably longed for, and fortunately for everyone, you answered 'yes'! Now's the time to bask in the romance, and enjoy the first phase of your new life together. But soon, you'll need a response for that timeless question: "when's the wedding?"

For some couples, it's easy - they know just when they want to tie the knot. For others, it's less clear. After all, you have a lot of options. Even more than you might think, since it's really not necessary to get married on a Saturday. Friday and Sunday afternoons are good choices too, and less expensive.

So if you're looking at the calendar ahead and seeing a hundred alternatives, all about equally attractive, here's how to narrow them down.

Must-have venues

No matter how flexible you are, there's bound to be things you won't compromise on. Maybe it's a particular church, temple and officiant for your ceremony. Maybe it's a special venue for your reception. And there are certain indispensable guests, like your parents.

Luckily for you, putting just these three things together is bound to reduce your choices. Once you call on the church/temple, ceremony venue or reception hall, you'll probably find many dates already filled, especially if you call less than nine months in advance. Good. That makes things easier!

Must-have ambiance

But maybe you don't have a must-have venue. Maybe you just have an image in your mind of the perfect wedding. Maybe it involves falling snow, ermine mantles, a horse-drawn carriage, and a crackling fireplace. Maybe it involves stacks of shiny apples, heaped pumpkins, a scattering of leaves and the scent of cranberry-apple cider. Or delicate pastels, gossamer pashminas for the bridesmaids, and a dove release. In this case your time of year is set: all that's needed it to work out the logistics of venue, local climate and the availability of your most important guests.

Must-have flowers

Some people know exactly what floral arrangements they want at their wedding. Flowers are such an enormous part of the wedding budget, if particular ones are important to you, you might want to arrange your date around them. Unless you're an heiress, for example, you'll want to avoid buying roses for your Valentine's Day wedding. On the other hand, December and January are great months to buy calla lilies. To study flower availability charts, Google for "flower availability by month."

Must-have honeymoons

If you have your heart set on a certain destination, you'll probably find the honeymoon helps set the date for you. Chances are, some dates are good for travel but others involve the risk of hurricanes or lengthy rains.

Limited budget

For now, winter is the slow wedding season. So it's often (though not always) true that you can get a break on expenses by having your ceremony during the holidays. Brides often find that by marrying near Christmas, they benefit from already-decorated churches and don't need to add much themselves.

Plus, if they shop the year before, they can stock up on decorations at incredibly discounted post-holiday sales. The trick is to avoid competing with office parties for reception venues and limousines (New Year's Eve is particularly competitive).

Another factor to consider, besides the possibility of dismal weather, is how many guests are due from out-of-town. Flying in for a holiday wedding can strain any family's Christmas budget, plus airlines often charge extra during the season.

If you need to keep expenses in check but want to avoid winter, make sure you steer clear of proms, graduation, "parents' day" at colleges, major sporting events and other local events.

"Life" dates

You might find your own life gives more guidance than you think. Are you a teacher, with set vacation times? Are you graduating from college or ending an internship? Are many of your relations students, available only during the holidays or the summer? If you're working, is your vacation time limited to a certain time of year?

And if many guests are flying in, will Labor Day weekend or Memorial Day weekend give them time to get acclimated and enjoy your big day? If none of these apply, is there a date that has special significance to you as a couple, such as the date you first met or first dated?

"Auspicious" dates

Many people find little extra dash of comfort in picking auspicious days for their wedding. In India and China, this is standard practice. But even in the West, people often find it reassuring to pick numbers or dates with personal meaning. A Chinese custom is to select a date with as many even numbers as possible (such as 2-18-2006). The Irish believed that New Year's Eve is luckiest for weddings. The Romans (and consequently, modern westerners) favored the month of June. For Victorians, it was lucky to marry on the groom's birthday.

Blake Kritzberg is editor of FavorIdeas. Stop by for fresh autumn wedding ideas and a completely indulgent collection of autumn wedding favors.

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Wedding Dresses - Why They Are White and Other Wedding Lore

Wedding Dresses - Why They Are White and Other Wedding Lore
By Martin Smith

Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn't become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.

Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.

When grooms would "capture" their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman's head to keep her from being recognized.

Bridesmaids' dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.

The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to "make the rounds" greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.

In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.

Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father's property until she married, and their she was her husband's property. At the wedding the Dad would literally "give her away," transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask "Who supports this couple in marriage?" The parents answer "We do."

There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.

Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.

During the Middle Ages the length of a bride's train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.

During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.

Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to "sweeten the union." According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.

In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.

Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.

In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression "Tying then knot".

In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.

African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of "jumping the broom". Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple's intention to set up a home together.

Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn't back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.

There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." The actual rhyme also included this line "and a sixpence in your shoe". Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother's antique cameo, or your mom's gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.

The "new" symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.

Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law's ruby brooch, your dad's silk handkerchief, or your parents' wedding song.

The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.

You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you've heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.

About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of Wedding Dresses which includes Informal Wedding Dress, Discount Bridal Gowns, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information

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How to Find The Perfect Wedding Dress

How to Find The Perfect Wedding Dress
By Martin Smith

You want the perfect wedding dress, so you have made it a major focus of your pre wedding planning. There are some things you need to find from the bridal shop, before you even look at your first gown. Do you need to make an appointment to visit the shop? Does the store carry dresses you can afford Can you browse the whole collection, or do you only get to see the dresses the sales person chooses for you? If this shop doesn't carry the dress you love, can it be ordered?

Once these questions have been answered and you find a dress or two that you like, there are still more questions you need to ask. Can a particular dress be ordered with different sleeves, or neckline? What alterations can be done and what will that cost? Can you get a written estimate on the alterations? If we order the bridesmaids dresses here, can we get a discount or free alterations? Do you have headpieces and or veils that will go with my dress? How much is the deposit and when is the balance due? What are the cancellation and refund policies? Can we get a Rush on this dress if necessary? These are the most important questions to ask, but you will probably have some of your own. Beware of any shop that won't give you straight answers or written estimates. When you think you have found just the right dress, ask if they can hold it for a day or two, then go home wait at least 34 hours and go back for another look. If you still love it, then go right ahead and buy it.

On the other hand, if your mother, maid of honor, sales clerk or friend thinks a dress is perfect and you are not sure, use the same strategy. Wait a day; go back for a second look before you reject it. If a dress just doesn't feel right or you just don't like it do not yield to pressure from the store staff, friends or even Mom. It is your dress, your day, you decide.

After you have chosen your wedding dress, the clerk or the shop's seamstress will take measurements of your bust, waist and hips, and determine if the dress needs to be taken up. Just about every wedding dress needs some alterations. You will also need to go in for fittings, usually at least three times. Make sure, if your alterations are not free, that you get a written estimate. Find out if you will be able to "borrow" your dress for a portrait sitting, and return it for pressing afterwards. Pay with a credit card so that if anything goes wrong, you can dispute the payment.

You have another big decision to make. What about your headpiece and veil? The sales staff should be able to assist you in choosing a headpiece that goes with your dress. Veils come in several lengths and styles, and again the staff can help you decide which is best for you.

The veil you choose for your wedding depends on the dress you have chosen. If you are wearing a street length casual style dress you wouldn't choose a cathedral or chapel veil, both of which trail the floor. By the same token you wouldn't wear a flyaway veil, which barely brushes the shoulders, with a formal dress with a train.

Don't forget you need to get the right lingerie, shoes and jewelry, to go with your beautiful wedding dress.

Before we leave the bridal salon, there is one more detail to attend to, your bridesmaids dresses. When choosing these dresses, you need to take into consideration the ages, complexions, and body types of your attendants. Fortunately today's bridesmaid's gowns are no longer the cookie cutter dresses all in the same color, that nobody would ever wear again.

Some options for bridesmaid's dresses are to choose a color and fabric suitable for all of the women and let each of them pick a style that she is comfortable with. Or you can choose a simple a-line or empire waist dress that flatters all figures, and let the girls choose the from a color family, say purple, the options could be lilac, lavender, plum, mauve and orchid. If you do choose to have all attendants wear the same dress, they can personalize the look with small beaded purses, scarves, jewelry or shawls.

Also, be aware that the colors and your bridesmaid's wear have to complement
The color scheme of your reception, you don't want a red plan for your reception in red if your maids are wearing green, unless you are going for a Christmas look.

The wedding is over, now you have to decide what to do with that beautiful, expensive dress. You can put it on a hangar in the back of your closet, where any stains will set and be very difficult to remove at a later time. You need to ask your bridal shop or wedding consultant in advance for the name of a gown preservationist. Many dry cleaners claim to clean wedding gowns, but most are not experts in preservation.

There are two cleaning methods used by preservationists. Some use the wet cleaning method, this entails washing the dress by hand with a mild cleanser, that removes visible and invisible stains (champagne and sugar) Other companies use the dry cleaning method, where stains are pre-treated and then put in a dry cleaning machine. Once the dress is cleaned, it is wrapped in white acid free tissue paper or unbleached muslin. Ordinary tissue paper has acids that can stain and eventually eat holes in your dress. Then the wrapped dress is in is placed in an acid free or paperboard box. Sometimes the box has a viewing window of acetate. Store the box in out of direct light to keep the dress from becoming yellow.

Having your gown cleaned and packaged by a reputable preservationist can cost between $200- $400 depending on where you live. Before sending your dress off to be done, ask if the work is done on site. Also find out if you have to sign a disclaimer and sometimes say that the company is not responsible for damage done during the preservation processes, You should seek out a preservationist who will guarantee her or his work.

To help preserve your dress never wrap it in plastic, don't hang it on an ordinary wood or wire hangar, because the dress could stretch and distort from its own weight. Don't try to clean stains, this could cause them to set.

If you are all tapped out after the wedding you can do things to prolong the life of the dress. Wrap the dress in unbleached muslin, or a white sheet, and store in a sturdy box under your bed. Then as soon as you possibly can take the gown to a professional preservationist. Some day your daughter may want to wear it on her wedding day.

About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of Wedding Dresses which includes Informal Wedding Dress, Discount Bridal Gowns, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Smith
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Conquer the Five Most Common Fears About Your Wedding Ceremony

Conquer the Five Most Common Fears About Your Wedding Ceremony
By Chris Simeral

It's safe to say that of all the important events in your lifetime, your wedding day is certain to be right up there with those that are the most meaningful. And throughout the entire wedding day - the preparations, the ceremony, the reception, and the wedding night - the moment when you recite your wedding vows to each other is the most meaningful. It is a time that you will remember forever, exactly as it felt: a sublime, dreamlike fantastical moment, when everyone significant to you is watching as you join in wedlock with the most important individual in your life.

Conquering Your Fears

Since this is such a unique and central moment to your romantic life, you're probably wondering how it is that you'll make the experience better than that 10th grade public-speaking assignment where you blanked out halfway through and fainted in front of all of your peers. Begin by telling yourself that it is perfectly natural to feel nervous when speaking in public. Moreover, not everyone is born with perfect public-speaking skills that accurately demonstrate what they feel in their hearts. However, fortunately for the majority of us, these things can be learned.

Of course, being well-prepared and armed with wedding vows you know are the absolute best they could possibly be is one of the easiest ways to overcome these fears. How do I know? Because the home-study course I put together, The Ultimate Wedding Vow Toolkit, has helped hundreds of couples take the fear out of their wedding ceremony by giving them the tools they need to write truly amazing wedding vows. You can find out more about the kit at http://www.weddingvowtoolkit.com.

But beyond that, when you think logically about each of these fears, you'll realize there is nothing that cannot be overcome with a bit of care, technique, and practice. Let's take a realistic look at these five incredibly common worries. In a few minutes, you'll see that none of them are likely to spoil your ceremony.

Common Fear #1: Freezing Up

This is a direct result of being excessively nervous. Therefore, it's important to come up with some calming techniques that will help you to keep cool. It's only natural to be a bit nervous. In fact, the added rush from being a little on the anxious side can actually help you to speak better and with added feeling. The best technique that you can give yourself is breathing. Most often, when we are overly frightened, we either breathe much too quickly or we hold our breath. Therefore, as you're keeping yourself calm, concentrate on breathing smoothly, neither too fast or too slow, but regularly, in through your nose and out through your mouth. Practice a few times in advance, especially in other situations that you've found a bit stressful in the past. You'll be surprised at what an enormous difference something as simple as breathing can do for you.

Common Fear #2: Going Blank

This is another trick played by your overly-nervous brain. To stop yourself from becoming so nervous that you go blank, or even to remove any fear that you may go blank, bring a "backup" copy of your wedding vows on cue cards that you can slip into your pocket. Make sure they are very crisp and neat looking so that you won't hesitate to use them if you have to, and write clearly on them so that you won't get stuck due to sloppiness.

Common Fear #3: Blushing, Dry Mouth, and Shaking.

These are extremely common physical responses to being nervous and having to perform in front of others. However, even if they do begin to occur, you can bring yourself to a calmer state where these physical symptoms will begin to fade. Try to ignore blushing and shaking as much as possible and just concentrate on your vows and how much you love the person to whom you are making those vows. With regards to dry mouth, drink lots of water beforehand, and try not to think about it. As long as you concentrate on what you're doing, instead of the fact that you are blushing, shaking, or have a dry mouth, they will actually begin to resolve themselves quite quickly.

Common Fear #4: Having Someone Heckle

This is a common fear, but it simply doesn't happen at weddings. Remind yourself that everyone there with you is hoping the very best for you and your future spouse. They are all nervous right along with you and wouldn't dream of saying anything but best wishes for your future together. The closest they will come to "heckling" is sending a mental prayer to provide you the strength and the courage to continue so that you may enjoy long and happy lives together.

Common Fear #5: Being Judged

The people attending your wedding are all people who know you, like or love you, and who wish you the very best. They know how much adrenaline is running through your system as you say your wedding vows, and wouldn't judge you at a time like that; except to think about how well suited you are to the love of your life.

Chris Simeral�s Ultimate Wedding Vow Toolkit has helped hundreds of people across the U.S., Canada, and Great Britain compose completely personalized and ultra-romantic wedding vows. Find out more at http://www.WeddingVowToolkit.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Simeral
http://EzineArticles.com/?Conquer-the-Five-Most-Common-Fears-About-Your-Wedding-Ceremony&id=8161

Piękna suknia ślubna - ale czegoś jeszcze brakuje? Beautiful wedding dress - but something is still missing?

Piękna suknia ślubna - ale czegoś jeszcze brakuje?

Autorem artykułu jest Krzysztof Bentol




Piękna Panna młoda wygląda już wspaniale w swojej nowej sukni ślubnej, ale czegoś jeszcze jej brakuje aby mogła pójść do ołtarza. Całość wygląda wspaniale ale jednak ten mały dodatek wystający spod sukni ślubnej. Mowa tu o dodatkach które Pany młode powinny dobrać do pięknej sukni ślubnej.
Bolerko, welon, rękawiczki, bukiecik kwiatów, buty ślubne, to wszystko stanowi uzupełnienie do sukni ślubnej i do tego jak będzie wyglądała Panna młoda przed ołtarzem. Każda Panna młoda powinna to wiedzieć że bez dobrze dobranych dodatków całość naszej kreacji ślubnej nie może się obejść. Wszystkie te dodatki powinny być stosownie dobrane do fasonu naszej sukni ślubnej, to one będą decydowały o tym czy nasza tak droga kreacja będzie wyglądała wspaniale. Tak jak poświęcaliśmy wiele czasu na dobranie sukni ślubnej do naszej figury i urody tak samo trzeba poświęcić wiele uwagi na dobór odpowiednich dodatków ślubnych. Źle dobrane mogą przecież zniszczyć nam ten wyjątkowy dzień naszego życia i cały efekt przygotowań.
Pierwszym dodatkiem nad którym powinna zastanowić się Panna młoda są buty ślubne które są najważniejszym elementem całego stroju. Buty powinny być dobrane kolorystycznie i fasonowo do naszej sukni ślubnej. Wygodne zagwarantują nam dobre samopoczucie i zabawę.
Ale jak dobrać odpowiednie buty? Jeśli suknia Panny młodej jest biała to tak samo
buty ślubne powinny być nie tylko z wierzchu białe ale też podeszwa jak i obcas powinny być białe. Najczęściej Pany młode popełniają błąd dobierając do sukni ślubnej buty białe ale z beżową podeszwą. Ponieważ same nie wiedzą jak takie złe dobranie butów niszczy efekt pięknego stroju a przecież w tym dniu nikt im nie powie że buty miały źle dobrane, niechcąc im robić przykrości.
Następną sprawą jest materiał z którego buty są zrobione. A przecież ślub i wesele trwają dość długo i to Panna młoda ma ubrane buty, dlatego tak ważne jest dobranie obuwia z dobrego surowca, który nie dość ze będzie wytrzymały na szaleństwa weselne to także musi być wygodny i elegancki a przy tym nie powoduje pocenia stóp.
Niezwykle pięknie wyglądają buciki z tak zwanego kawioru które pasują gdy suknia posiada jakąkolwiek koronkę na sobie lub koraliki. Musimy pamiętać aby przy wyborze butów ślubnych wybrać takie które mają cały środek z naturalnej skóry, ponieważ takie buty nie będą nas ani obcierać ani powodować że stopa nam się spoci.
W zależności od pory roku na naszą uroczystość możemy założyć różne fasony butów ślubnych od pięknych i subtelnych sandałków w lecie po klasyczne czółenka a kończąc na ślubnych koronkowych kozaczkach w zimie. Duży wybór jest też w wysokościach obcasów, wiele tych samych modeli butów ślubnych można kupić na różnych wysokościach szpilek od 2 cm do 10cm, ważne jest aby dobrać wysokość obcasa do umiejętności chodzenia w butach.
Dobrze aby Panna młoda kupiła wcześniej buty i w miarę możliwości je rozchodziła przed ślubem, bo przecież buty powinny być dopasowane jak rękawiczki .
Mając na uwadze wygląd Pany młodej pamiętać trzeba jak ważne są dodatki ślubne bez których cały efekt pięknej ślubnej atmosfery nie może się obbyć
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Artykuł pochodzi z serwisu www.Artelis.pl


Beautiful wedding dress - but something is still missing?
Chris is the author of this article Bentol

Beautiful bride already looks great in her new wedding dress, but yet it lacks something to be able to go to the altar. The whole looks great but still this little add-protruding from the wedding dress. We're talking about Appendices which Pany young should be chosen according to a beautiful wedding dress. Bolero, veil, gloves, a bouquet of flowers, bridal shoes, everything is in addition to a wedding dress and this will look like the Bride altar. Every bride should know that without a well-chosen additives in all our creative wedding can not do. All of these additives should be chosen according to the cuts in our wedding dress, they will determine whether we hold so dear creation will look great. So how have devoted much time to choosing a wedding dress to your figure and beauty just as much attention must be paid to the selection of appropriate additives wedding. Poorly chosen may yet destroy us this special day of our life and the whole effect of the preparations. The first addition of which should reflect the bride shoes are dresses which are the most important element of the whole outfit. Shoes should be and color-matched fasonowo to our wedding dress. Comfortable We guarantee the well-being and fun. But how to choose the proper shoes? If the bride dress is white so same Wedding shoes should not only be on the outside but white sole and heel should be white. Most young Pany make the mistake of choosing the wedding dress shoes white but with a beige sole. Because they themselves do not know how such a bad selection of shoes destroys the effect of beautiful clothes and yet on this day no im not say that the shoes were badly chosen niechcąc to upset them. Another issue is the material of the shoes are made of. And yet married and wedding lasts a long time and this bride is wearing shoes, so it's important is to choose shoes with good material that is not enough that it will withstand the wedding madness is also to be a comfortable and elegant at the same time not causes of sweating feet. Very beautiful look of the so-called shoes that fit when caviar lace dress has any on yourself or beads. We must remember that the selection of bridal shoes to choose those that have the full measure of natural skin because these shoes will not be us or rub or cause that the rate of We spot. Depending on the season at our ceremony, we can assume different styles wedding shoes from the beautiful and delicate sandals in the summer after the classic pumps and ending with the wedding lace kozaczkach in winter. A large selection is altitudes or in high heels, many of the same models of wedding shoes can be buy the pins at different heights from 2 cm to 10cm, it is important to choose heel height with the ability to walk in my shoes. Well that bride shoes bought in advance and if possible, it was spread before the wedding, because the boots should be matched as gloves. Given the appearance Pany young to remember how important you wedding without which the full effect of a beautiful wedding atmosphere can not do.