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Keeping Your Friends,
Family In The Loop
Keeping
your
friends, family and wedding party in the loop
of your upcoming
wedding can be very time consuming and
burdensome. But
not anymore. Having your own Personal
Wedding Website
will take care of all that, plus much more.
Having a
professional wedding site is a great way to share
all the news and
events on your upcoming wedding. You can
post the date,
location, time and directions to your Stag,
Shower,
Rehearsal and other events. You can post your
Registry and add
items to a personal Wish List, list local
attractions for
friends and family that are visiting and
collect best
wishes with your Guest Book.
Getting the word
out about your site is as easy as including
your web address
on your invitations. We have seen many
invitations with
'For more information, and directions,
please visit www.your-wedding.com.'
This way,
everyone
invited to your
wedding, including those who can't make it,
can go to your
wedding website to get up to date
information. You
can edit any of the information on your
site, even the
style, to keep it
updated and reflect
any
changes you have
made. Another great benefit of a web
address is the
ability to put it on wedding favors, wedding
bulletins or for
posting at the reception. This way people
will come back
to see your wonderful wedding day photos.
Keeping
track of
those coming to your wedding has never been
easier either.
Offering online RSVP is one of the most
popular features
of a wedding website. It saves you time and
money, no extra
envelopes or stamps required, and long
waits for
getting back the RSVP's in the mail. Just put a
simple link to
your site in the invitation and your friends
can RSVP at your
website and you will be sent a message
right away. Your
site will also keep the RSVP's in memory so
you can manage
your list and know who you didn't hear back
from yet.
The
above
features, along with many more, will really make
planning a
wedding, and sharing it with friends and family
around the
world, a pleasurable experience. A Personal
Wedding Website,
let everyone share the joy of your big
day.
Article
Courtesy
of ewedding.com
_________________________________________
Weddings
- Wedding Plan - Wedding Planner Tools - Ten
Essential Tips
by:
Tom Downward
Getting Married? Congratulations! You
just set the date for
the most important
day in your life. Your wedding day.
Imagine...It is
your wedding day. Your very own wedding day!
It will be fun.
Here are ten
essential steps that will make the preparation
fun too.
1. Keep within
your financial limits. Budget your wedding.
You do not want to
start your married life in debt. If you
are organized have
a plan and are creative, whatever your
budget, a "wedding
to remember" will be yours.
2. Now Visualize.
That's right, visualize. Close your
eyes and look at
the tasks at hand. The list may SEEM
overwhelming but
it isn't.
3. Don't try to do
everything all at once. Start by
gathering
information. Use the Net to gather ideas from
around the world.
Make an extensive list of "things you
LIKE", "things you
WANT" and "things you MUST HAVE" (see the
difference?)
4. Now you are
ready to make a Top Ten (or top eleven or
twelve) list.
5. Break your list
it into small manageable portions that
you can
successfully accomplish. Use categories like...
Before the wedding
- During the wedding - After the
wedding.
6. Now use sub
categories. Include ideas for related events
such as, showers,
receptions, and honeymoon.
7. It is YOUR
wedding. It reflects YOU. No one should
dictate to you
what to do and how to do it. You may seek
advice, ideas and
wisdom but in the end each final decision
is yours.
8. What this means
is don't be shy! Accept assistance when
offered and
solicit involvement, help and ideas from those
you believe will
be an asset.
9. Add your
personal touches. For example; if you have
children you may
consider making them an important part of
your wedding.
10. Pick a few
aspects of your wedding and make them
personalized. A
personal touch makes a wedding meaningful to
the bridal couple,
their attendants, family and all invited
guests.
In summary, your
wedding is a serious moment for declaring
your love and
commitment to each other. Make your wedding
truly a
one-of-a-kind event. Fill it with cherished moments
and keepsakes.
Whether you choose
a favorite theme, a special setting or an
intimate gathering
of friends and loved ones, enjoy the
journey. Perhaps,
the memories and keepsakes may stay with
you forever.
Treasure them! And may you have a Happy, Happy
day!
Courtesy Tom
Downward of http://www.weddingsrfun.com.com
About The Author
Copyrights Tom
Downward, owner of
http://www.weddingsrfun.com
Please feel free
to post this Article in your newsletter, on
your website, and
forward it to your friends and / or
business
associates. If you post or otherwise publish this
article, please
ensure that the copyright as well as the
author's entire
bylines box remain intact. We would
appreciate a
courtesy copy of your publication and / or a
website link.
Please E-mail to: tom@weddingsrfun.com.
This article
courtesy of http://www.weddingsrfun.com. You
may freely reprint
this article on your website or in your
newsletter
provided this courtesy notice and the author name
and URL remain
intact.
Top
10 Fashion Mistakes: What NOT to Wear
by: Julie Gabriel
Image includes everything that is in your appearance -
not simply how well you put your makeup on and style your
hair, and not just how expensive is your bag, but also how
well you put all these things together. Sometimes a tiny
flaw can ruin the carefully concocted look. Don't let
that happen to you.
Fashion Mistake #1. Skirt too skimpy.
The skirt should not rise up to mid-thigh when you sit down.
If you have to pull it down constantly then maybe it is too
short or too tight. Make it a rule of thumb to keep the
skirt for daytime attires maximum an inch above the knee.
Fashion Mistake #2. Silly, not cute.
Avoid frilly blouses when you don't party. It'
s a popular belief that a frilly blouse will make you look
feminine and romantic; instead it makes you look
unprofessional and frivolous. Choose a blouse in ivory or
white - it goes well with everything.
Fashion Mistake #3. Bare legs in winter.
Leave it to chic Mahnattanites in Sex And The City to show
off bare legs with manolos when it's about to snow.
Sheer tights will look stylish enough and keep your assets
warm and healthy. Splurge on Wolford tights for a special
occasion.
Fashion Mistake #4. Too many accessories.
Keep accessories to a minimum. Button or hoop earrings are
acceptable for a daytime look. For an evening, make one
piece, e.g. chandelier earrings or embellished purse, a key
element and keep the rest of accessories neutral. Hang on
to simplicity with your watch: no cartoon characters or
day-glo details are appropriate, unless it's a
Swatch.
Fashion Mistake #5. Neon, not neutral makeup.
Be clean and look polished. Make-up is a must in
professional world, even if you never wear it. Blusher,
mascara and clear powder are minimum. Use the foundation to
conceal blemishes. The no-makeup look is fine for college,
not for grown-up life. Avoid bright shimmery glosses or eye
shadows unless you go out.
Fashion Mistake #6. Showing too much skin.
Especially between the low-rise jeans and top. If you
absolutely need to show a bit of your belly make sure
it's tan, slender and depilated. No love handles with
those sevens, please!
Fashion Mistake #7. Showing dark roots.
Be honest to yourself: you are no Carrie Bradshaw to look
chic with black roots and blonde tips; besides, there was a
team of hi-end stylists working on the set of SATC for
hours to make those outgrown roots look appropriate. In real
life, dark roots send a clear signal that you are either
out of money or out of style.
Fashion Mistake #8. Revealing plain white (or black) bra
straps and thongs
Some underwear just looks better inside. No matter how
expensive your plain white sports bra is, keep it concealed.
Unless, of course, it's $150 pink Lejaby bra with
straps of Belgian lace or bejewelled triangle at the
crossing of the thong. Same applies to transparency level of
your clothes: wear white or nude bra with white shirts and
black/colored bras with black ones, and not vice versa.
Fashion Mistake #9. Wearing trousers too short.
It makes sense to have several pairs of jeans and pants of
different length, ones for low heels and ones for higher
heels. Wearing too long jeans with casual flat shoes or uggs
result in stained and worn-out hems, and that's
another huge no-no!
Fashion Mistake #10. Looking too casual.
The inventors of Ugg boots could never imagine that the
comfiness and anti-stylishness of these lovely shearling
creations will inspire millions of girls to wear them with
out-of-shape stained track pants, oversized sweatshirts and
messy ponytails. Uggs and ugg-alikes stand out much better
if worn with pristine designer jeans, and track pants are
just meant to be worn with equally chic running shoes. You
can slouch up to a certain degree, and then you'll
look plain ridiculous.
About The Author
Julie Gabriel is an editor and publisher of Toronto Fashion
Monitor (http://toronto.fashion-monitor.com),
Canada's
largest online publication about fashion, beauty, lifestyle
and shopping. Check Toronto Fashion Monitor for daily
fashion and beauty news, uncensored reader's product
reviews, shopping reviews, Canadian designer directory, and
many more, including FREE weekly newsletter.
Fashion
Tips: Express Yourself With Colors
by: Rick Valens
Feeling
troubled over what color to wear? What color makes
you look good? Well, fashion is all about yourself. What you
choose to wear every morning tells a lot about you and how
you felt that day. Even your little handbag carries a
little story.
Mixing and matching is a personal choice, you create your
very own style!
Well, let's get to understand and have fun with
colors
White
A popular color in Fashion. Light and neutral, it goes well
with any color.
Considered a summer color, a good choice for tops. Always
have some in your wardrobe. It readily matches bottoms of
any color; a pair of blue denim jeans, Khakis pants, a gray
skirt, a bright colorful beach bermudas? You name it!
Associated with cleanliness and purity, innocence and
gentleness…, it gives you a feeling of freedom and
uncluttered openness. Women just always look that lovely in
their snowy white wedding gown, don't they?
Tips: add a little touch of white to brighten or lighten up
your mood Eg. a white tank top with blue denim jean, white
cotton jacket over a hot pink velour smocked baby doll
dress or a simply all white for a simple breezy look
Black
A popular color in Fashion, always stylish and never out of
trend
A good choice for bottoms. Directly opposite of white, it
readily matches tops of any colors. Nonetheless, it is also
a popular choice for tops, making the wearer appearing
slimmer. A great complementary color for accessories like a
pink sparkling evening bag, a diamond necklace…
A mysterious color, it gives you a feeling of perspective
and depth. Symbolizing elegance and refinement, it is always
regarded as a prestigious color.
Tips: pair up black with other dark colors for an attractive
mature look Eg. a brown wool button front cardigan with
black pinstripe bootcut pants, gray tweed cropped blazer
with black stretch pintuck pencil skirt
Red
An expressive color extensively use in Fashion.
Most visible and lively of all colors, it creates attraction
and excitement. The wearer naturally portraits an image of
excitable, energetic, enthusiasm and confidence.
Nonetheless, it also suggests an erotic feeling, a lady in
red?
A physically inspiring color often associated with vitality
and ambition, love & passion.
Tips: pair up red with colors within the red family itself
for various moods Eg. a red retro style tee with maroon
pleated skirt, hot pink cotton v-neck tank with red fleece
collegiate mini skirt
Yellow
A color commonly use in Casual Fashion.
Similar to red, it creates attraction and excitement.
However it suggests a more fun and sunshine mood. The wearer
tends to bring about amusing cheeriness to the group.
Usually liked by those who embrace changes.
The color of sunshine, often associated with joy, liveliness
and optimism.
Tips: pair up yellow with dark or lucid cool colors for a
striking youthful look Eg. a yellow ruched halter top with
black wool full skirt, yellow roll edge t-shirt with
turquoise polka dot tiered mini skirt
Blue
A popular color liked by most
Emotionally opposite of red & yellow, it brings about a very
soothing & relaxing feel, pleasant to the eyes. Naturally
refreshing in mood, it's a good choice for daytime
wear.
The color of summer skies and the sea, often associated with
calmness, affection, idealism and inspiration.
Tips: match blue with white for a refreshing and sporty look
Eg. a bright blue cotton v-neck hoodie with white stretch
cotton studded pants, white terry track jacket with pale
blue faded jean
Pink
A feminine color for girls
Similar to blue, it's soothing and pleasant to the
eyes. Naturally sweet in mood, it has a lasting girly
appeal. Girls in pink tend to portrait a very sweet &
pleasant image, always attractive to the guys.
The color of cotton candy, often associated with warm,
everlasting affection & tender love
Tips: add a little pink to bring out the feminine touch Eg
matching your black satin strapless sash dress with a neon
pink nylon 'Tessuto Sport' baguette, pink collar tee with
black stretched cotton cropped pant
Well, there are simply too many colors if I were to go on. I
believe you should now have a feel of how matching of
colors can be of so much fun? In simple, just play by the
color rules:
1. Stick to one color (all white, blue, red…)
2. Hot goes with cool (match yellow with green or blue not
with red )
3. Use neutral colors to draw the looks together (white,
gray, beige and black are good neutral colors)
4. Play around with color of the same family (pink with
maroon, sky blue with navy blue…)
Remember, you create your very own style. Have fun!
About The Author
Rick Valens is a freelance writer for Fashion-In-Style,
bringing to you new fashion ideas & lifestyle.
Visit now: http://www.fashion-in-style.com/
If
you are looking for wedding information then we may be
able to help you, just visit our Everything
Weddings
we have a great range of downloadable e-books to help
with every area of your wedding planning. We also have
a wonderful gift for you just for visiting.
The
Guide to Changing Your Name after Marriage
by: Rachel Greenberg
Whether or not to change your name
after marriage is a
personal decision
that each person must make on his/her own.
But once you've
decided to take the plunge, you need
to be prepared for
the administrative tasks that await you.
Trying to get all
of your IDs and accounts updated can be
tedious, and even
just knowing where to start is a major
task itself. The
following checklist should make this
process much less
worrisome, and hopefully hassle-free:
1. Certified copy
of marriage license
Before you begin,
make sure you get 2 or 3 certified copies
of your marriage
license from the office where you applied
for the license.
You will need to show this document
several times as
proof of your name change. You really only
need one copy -
since most places only need to see the
copy, not keep it
- but it's best to have a
few extras on hand.
2. Driver's License
The Department of
Motor Vehicles is run differently in each
state, but it is
most likely that you will need to go in
person to the
local office and show a certified copy of your
marriage license.
Some states will also have you update
your name on your
voter registration at the same time that
you change your
name on your license. If they do not, then
make sure you
contact the appropriate state office to get
this done.
3. Social Security
Card
This will also
require a visit in person, so locate the
Social Security
Office in your area. They will need to see a
certified copy of
your marriage license, as well as another
ID with your new
name. If you have already completed step
#2, then you will
have the necessary ID. The Social Security
Administration
will notify the IRS and the Post Office of
your name change,
so you do not need to inform these
organizations
separately.
4. Bank Accounts
& 401k
Most banking
institutions will need to see a copy of the
marriage license
(just a regular copy, not a certified copy)
along with a
written letter stating that you wish to change
your name on your
accounts. You can either check your
accounts online or
call each place to see exactly what is
needed. Once you
have made the change, make sure to order
checks with the
new name.
5. Passport
You will need to
mail in a certified copy of your marriage
license along with
an application to the appropriate
passport center.
You can obtain copies of this application
from your local
post office. If you are not renewing the
passport (name
change only), there should be no charge. You
will get the same
passport back, with a stamp in the back
with your new
name. If you are also renewing the passport,
then there will be
a fee, but you will get a new passport
with your new name
on it.
6. Local
government offices
In addition to
notifying the state and federal governments
(which you have
done in steps #2 and #3), you should call
your local town or
county office to notify them of your name
change. Since
their systems do not always get data from the
regional and
national systems, it is best to make sure you
have everything
covered.
7. Employer
Be sure to tell
your employer of your name change, since it
is important that
your benefits and taxes are reported
properly. Some
employers will change the name with no
documentation, but
others will need to see the certified
copy of the
marriage license.
8. Business
documents
If you own your
own business (like I do), then you need to
make sure that all
business documents and correspondence
gets updated with
your new name. This includes business bank
accounts, credit
cards, letterheads, email addresses, etc.
9. Bills and other
statements
With most
utilities, like cable, electricity, phone, etc.,
you can either
change your name online with no documentation
required, or make
a quick phone call to the customer
service department.
If you feel like
this list is a bit overwhelming, then just
make sure you get
through the first three steps. They
require the most
time investment, so get them out of the way
first. After that,
just pace yourself, and you'll
get the rest done
with ease.
About The Author
Rachel Greenberg
has a background in business and finance,
and she received
her MBA from Duke University in 1999. She
writes fun and
informative pieces for her website
http://www.bargainfamily.com,
which she created with her
husband Lee. The
website provides advice and recommendations
for families on
various products and services for their
homes, lives, and
businesses.
bargainfamily@yahoo.com
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 for more information visit
http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com.
All You
Ever Wanted to Know About Wedding Officiants
by:
Blake
Kritzberg
Tracking down a wedding
officiant can be a little
intimidating.
Perhaps you remember a time when it was hard
to get one
if you weren't among the "regularly churched"!
But times
have changed, and hiring an officiant for your
wedding is
now standard procedure.
Basically,
brides-to-be find themselves in one of two camps:
Either
they have a regular church and a favorite minister,
who might
be a longstanding family friend, or they need to
find one
through word-of-mouth or web sites.
The latter
situation often costs more, but allows for a lot
of
flexibility. Depending on your tastes and faiths, you
can often
find a judge, a Catholic priest to marry you
outdoors,
a Rabbi to officiate at an interfaith wedding, a
non-denominational
officiant who encourages you to write
your own
vows, and so on.
How to
find officiants
A good
national directory for finding Catholic officiants is
www.rentapriest.com.
If you're
stuck for ideas, try asking vendors. Your florist
or caterer
is probably well acquainted with local options.
Another
excellent way to find officiants is to visit a large
wedding
forum, like The Knot, and post on boards for your
local
geographic area. You can often get an idea of the
flavor,
preparedness, flexibility and even appearance of a
popular
local officiant.
When
should you book an officiant?
Some
officiants book early. If you're really particular
about whom
you want to do the service and can't budge on the
date, try
to book more than six months in advance. Some
couples
book a year ahead.
How much
do officiants charge?
A minister
at your own church may not charge anything at
all, but
may accept donations. In that case, a $100-200
donation
is about average. Ask the minister yourself if
there's
any doubt.
An
officiant you engage yourself will set his or her own
rates.
Rates generally range from $250-600, but some
well-known
officiants may charge more.
Do we send
an invitation?
By custom,
you invite your officiant to your rehearsal
dinner as
a guest. You also invite the officiant and his or
her spouse
to your reception with a formal invitation, just
like other
guests. Unless the officiant is an old family
friend, he
or she may decline to stay, but an invitation is
proper.
You aren't expected to invite the officiant's
children.
Can you
use a friend as an officiant?
It's done
all the time, and can make weddings very personal.
A father,
mother, or the friend who introduced you can make
for an
amazing event. Be sure to pick someone comfortable
speaking
in front of large crowds, and brush up on your
state's
laws and licensing requirements. Here's a good site
to begin
your research:
www.northernway.org/marriagelaws.html
Your
chosen friend or family member can become ordained
"instantly
and online" at the Universal Life Church, which
in some
areas will enable them to perform legal weddings.
Again, be
sure of your state's laws. Many times, ministers
ordained
by ULC will also have to register in their state
and obtain
a license before they can practice. Call your
local
county clerk for clarification.
Universal
Life Church: www.ulc.org
Do I meet
with the officiant before or after booking, and
what
should I expect at the meeting?
Ideally,
an officiant will allow a "getting to know you"
meeting
before you book them, though not all will. Most at
least
offer telephone interviews, which helps you see how
they fit
with your personal style.
During
your first meeting, the officiant will typically tell
you about
his or her background, discuss the logistics,
bring up
any premarital counseling requirements, ask some
questions
about your personal history, and show you a sample
ceremony
script. This is a good time to discuss special
unification
ceremonies or personal vows, bring up interfaith
issues,
and learn whether your officiant plans to attend
your
rehearsal.
About The
Author
Blake
Kritzberg is editor at "FavorIdeas.com." Stop by for a
huge
selection of wedding favors, Bridezilla's weekly
adventures,
and free resources for brides: save-the-date
eCards,
screensaver, wallpaper and web site templates.
http://www.favorideas.com
Hair
Care Home Remedies
by: Elizabeth Kiely
Save money and give yourself a break from the chemicals
found in most hair care products by using the following
natural home remedies.
Tame your frizzy hair by rubbing coconut oil into your hands
and applying sparingly onto your hair. You don't want to
overdo it - too much will make your hair look greasy.
Shampooing your hair less frequently also helps with the
frizzies. Excess shampooing strips natural oils from the
hair.
Rinse your hair with one tablespoon baking soda mixed with
one cup of water to get rid of shampoo build-up and styling
residues.
Rinsing your hair with one jucied lemon and one cup of water
is said to bring life and shine back to dull hair.
1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar mixed with two cups of water
will give your hair shine and bounce.
Add essential oil of ylang ylang to your shampoo,
conditioner and styling agents as a hair rejuvenator.
Ylang ylang and rosemary essential oils are also believed to
stimulate hair growth.
Drinking plenty of water and eating plenty of raw fruits and
vegetables and getting plenty of rest is probably the best
way to achieving healthy hair.
What goes into your body is reflective on the outside
including your hair.
About The Author
Elizabeth Kiely is the owner of EK Shower Caps:
http://www.EKLBC.com.
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 for more information visit
http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com.
6 Useful
Tips to Cut Wedding Costs
by: Dulce Azogue
Weddings
are very nice occasions people want to attend to.
But they
can be time consuming and demand enormous attention
on the
part of the couple with lots of things to prepare
for, in
order for their wedding to be memorable. They can be
very
expensive, too. So how can you prepare for your
wedding if
you wan to save and are on a budget? Here are
some tips.
1.
Invitations. If you think that inviting people by giving
them cards
with fancy designs and made of expensive ink is
still
important to you, you may consider discarding that
idea.
You're on a budget, right? Your main goal is to
cut costs
on things not that important to you. Besides, the
people
you're inviting might just throw them away
after
reading it or when the wedding is over, so why bother?
It could
just waste your time and money. If you still
insist on
giving them invitations, then do it on a budget.
You may go
for DIY wedding cards instead. Or buy an
inexpensive
ink and cheap but lovely papers. You may also
just send
them an ecard, especially to people living out of
the
country. Or better yet, if you're not thinking
about
formality, just call them.
2. Guests.
The number of guests shouldn't be too
large if
you want to cut wedding costs. Invite only your
closest
friends and family members. You'll save on
the food,
too.
3.
Photographer. No matter what the cost is, you'll
be able to
find a professional wedding photographer. If you
want your
memories to last forever, then hire a
professional
who has the equipment and knows his craft.
It's a
more preferable choice to a mere hobbyist who
just might
make mistakes. Remember, you're paying
for a
service and you don't want to risk on it.
4. Cake.
If you're no the type who values the look of
your
wedding cake a lot, then don't go for a tall,
grand look
that costs a lot. Have a small cakeshop do the
job
instead.
5.
Musicians. Don't go for a band if you can't
afford it.
Hire a very talented small-time singer instead.
Give her
the piece or the songs she will sing in advance
and make
sure she'll be able to carry them out really
well.
6.
Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize. There are things that
you want
in your wedding that may not be within your
budget.
List those that are important to you in one group,
then list
those that are not in another. Learn to give value
to those
you believe will make your wedding memorable and
discard
the ones that are just frill to you, or go for a
budget-friendly
alternative. The key is to adjust with the
budget you
have.
A wedding
is an important occasion to people who will spend
their
lives together, and it must be something that should
be taken
much time and preparation. Remember to save in
advance if
you want to have that special day a success to
you both,
and to people who will attend it.
About The
Author
Dulce
Azogue is a work-at-home mom with two kids. Learn the
best tips
and tactics like these to cut your wedding costs
and still
have a beautiful wedding. To get your FREE
information,
visit
the-oriental-home.com/weddingtips.index.html
where you an
download
the ebook, "101 Money Saving
Tips" at
no cost.
weddings@the-oriental-home.com
Find
the perfect wedding planning book for you
right here at Everything
Weddings
The
Pros & Cons of Beach Weddings
by: Cindy English
Beach weddings are popular but they do present "special
issues". Failing to consider these ahead of time could leave
you unpleasantly surprised on your wedding day!
There is certainly nothing that should dissuade you from
your vision of a beautiful seaside ceremony. As a matter of
fact, there are many benefits.
Just know the issues and plan for them. Your wedding day
will be a wonderful and joyous event!
The "Pros"
* A beach wedding can be much cheaper than a traditional
wedding. Who in this day and age can't afford to save money?
It is said that the average budget for a wedding these days
is between $20,000 to $30,000! That is an enormous and
unnecessary financial burden to be faced with!
Don't start off married life enslaved by your wedding day
debts. If you have that kind of money to spend, fine, but if
not, don't go there! Be practical and remember, the day is
what you, your loved ones and your friends make of it...not
how much you spent on it!
* A beach wedding can be a casual affair. It allows everyone
to relax. Your guests can dress comfortably and affordably.
Often brides-to-be are unaware of the financial strain they
place on their wedding attendants and guests. Not everyone
can afford to buy that wedding outfit.
* The wedding ceremony and reception can all be held right
there on the beach. No need to travel to different
locations. This is very convenient for everyone. Hey, even
the kids can have fun at a beach wedding!
* A beach wedding allows you to involve everyone in the
activities. Guests are not restricted to sitting quietly in
their seats. They can actually be a part of the
celebration!
* Beach weddings don't always require a permit. If you are
having a small ceremony and do not require a section of the
beach to be blocked off...just do it! Simple yet lovely!
* A beach wedding is a modern and refreshing change from the
"stodgy" traditional wedding. It allows your creativity and
personality to shine through.
* There is no "right" or "wrong way" to plan a beach front
wedding. It can be large, small, romantic, whimsical or even
downright goofy! You can pay big bucks and hire everything
out, or, you can be cheap and make everything yourself. The
choice is completely yours!
The "Cons"
* The most important thing to remember when planning a beach
wedding is that "Mother Nature" rules! Depending on her
mood, she can brighten your day or rain on your parade! When
planning your celebration, be sure to plan an "alternate
location" should the old girl be cranky that day!
* The beach is usually a bit breezy so take that into
consideration when picking your location. Try to choose a
"cove" on the beach that is protected from direct winds.
* Be sure to check with local authorities regarding any
permits needed to use the beach. This should only be
necessary if you are having a large gathering and you want
to block off a portion of the beach exclusively for you and
your guests. Ask to be sure though.
* Check on the "Beach Rules". Ask questions. Can you have
candles on the beach? Can you play music into the night? How
late can you stay? Is there an area nearby for open fires
should you choose to barbeque?
* Speaking of food...don't forget about the seagulls! They
are notorious beggars and thieves. You can expect them to
attend your beach wedding, uninvited! As long as you keep
food covered and don't feed them, they will stay on the
sidelines.
* Remember the tides. You definitely do not want to be
surprised by the quick and unanticipated arrival of high
tide!
* On the beach, there will be bugs and sunshine! Make sure
you consider the comfort of your guests. Bring sunscreen and
insect repellant for those who did not remember to bring
their own.
* Chairs may sink in the sand if you do not rent flooring to
place under them. However, if you are planning a "beach
blanket" reception, you will not need chairs. Remember your
elderly guests though. Plan for their safety and comfort.
You will need to provide them with chairs and beach
umbrellas to protect them from the elements.
Beach weddings are absolutely beautiful but nature does
provide an element of uncertainty. Careful planning on your
part will eliminate most of them. Just remember...
If every hair is not in place due to the ocean breezes or a
seagull drops off his "wedding gift" a little to close to
the punch bowl...
These are not flaws or imperfections in your day. They are
"memories"! Cherish them and have fun!
About The Author
Cindy English is the publisher of Beach-Wedding-Themes.com
where you will find ideas for beach wedding themes full of
fun, fantasy and romance. Discover new places to shop and
things to make at: http://www.beach-wedding-themes.com
Creating
A Wedding Budget You Can Afford
by: Alan
Allport
The most important part of
planning a wedding is setting your
budget. Your budget is important because it is next to impossible to
know what you can afford for each major part of the wedding if you
don’t set an overall cost that is comfortable for you. You
will
probably find that deciding the budget is the hardest job to do
because, of course, you want to have the best and most memorable
wedding you can possibly have.
The days when the wedding was
paid for by the parents of the
bride are almost gone now. Parents will often contribute to the wedding
cost as a gift to the couple, but it is pretty rare for parents to
cover the whole cost of the wedding.
Usually this is because the
parents simply can’t afford it.
But couples today often prefer to pay for their own weddings because it
ensures that they can plan them the way that they want to without
interference.
These days, 4 out of 5 couples
pay for their own wedding and it helps to know how your budget should
be broken down.
When creating your budget, you
will first begin with the overall
amount that you can afford to spend. The average wedding today costs
approximately $19,000. This is not a definite, but this is what the
statistics currently show.
Now you will need to take that
overall budget amount and split
it percentage-wise for each major aspect of your wedding e.g. how much
to spend on the wedding clothing, the rings, catering, decorating the
venue etc. If you are not good at percentages, you can always utilize
the Internet and check with the various websites that offer you free or
cheap wedding budget calculators that will do it for you.
With these calculators, all
that you have to do is input the
total budget amount and then they will calculate for you how much money
in dollars you will be able to spend on each component of your wedding.
Once you have figured out the
dollar amount that you can spend
on each component of the wedding, you can then begin to create a list
itemizing everything.
You will need to put together a
list of all the areas of your
wedding that are important to you and make sure that you allocate a
sensible proportion of the total budget to each.
This is necessary so that you
can see if the wedding of your
dreams is a realistic expectation given what you can afford to spend.
If you come up short, here are some ideas to enable you to trim the
expenses:
- Reduce
the size of the guest list
- Forego
some of the services
- Reduce
the size of the wedding party
- Forget
the extras like limos
It is only by setting down on
paper a budget you can afford and
listing all of the areas that you have to spend money on that you can
begin to refine your ideas on the type and scope of wedding that it is
realistic for you to aim for.
Afterall, you will have plenty
of expenses to cover after the
wedding when starting out on your married life together. It just
doesn’t make sense to create problems by over-stretching
financially on
the wedding.
About The Author
Alan Allport is Webmaster at http://www.wedding-source.best-gen.com
where he has published a FREE Online guide to planning the perfect
wedding on a budget
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