Wedding planning and preparation tips:When planning the guest list, remember that you do not need to invite your co-workers. If there is some one that you work with that you are very close to, that is one thing but inviting 100 people from the office is just a waste of your money on the invitations because only the ones that you are close to will come anyway.
* The first step in
wedding planning is deciding how much money you are going to spend and make a budget. When planning your wedding budget allow 25% more for extras that you haven't planned for.
* Order the invitations four months in advance. Invitations should be mailed four to six weeks in advance. Take the invitations to the post office to be weighted for sufficient postage.
* On your wedding day bring along an emergency kit with a needle and thread, safety pins, hairpins, hairspray, nail polish and extra pantyhose.
* Start shopping for a wedding dress six months in advance. You will need several fittings before it is perfect.
* Do your hair and makeup before putting on your wedding dress.
* Plan your honeymoon six months in advance. Make all arrangements and reservations well in advance.
* If your budget is small, share your joy and happiness with only family and your closest friends.
* When selecting a caterer try to sample their food before hiring them. If it is a restaurant, go there to have dinner before you hire them.
* Invitations should always be addressed by pen, preferably a black fountain pen.
* Remember that it is his wedding, too. Some men do not want much to do with the planning but it is not always too. Take his advice too.
* Plan your budget first. The rest you can fit into that budget.
* If you and your fiancée have a disagreement, work it out without involving either set of parents.
* When shopping for your
wedding dress, state your price range at the beginning.
* Remember to always send a "Thank you" note for all
wedding gifts you receive.
When choosing a wedding date, take your guests into consideration. Avoid family birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Also think about those that will be traveling.
* View his or her photographs to see if you like their style of photography. If you do, book as early as possible.
* Planning a wedding takes a lot of time. If you don't have the time, hire a wedding consultant.
* When you are meeting with a florist for wedding flowers, know what your budget will be and the colors you have chosen.
* Eat something before your wedding. Even though you might not feel hungry, try to swallow just a few bites. You don't want to faint on your big day!
* Make detailed photocopies of your
wedding day schedule beginning that morning and continuing until your departure for your honeymoon. Give copies of the schedule to all parents as well as everyone in the wedding party.
* Don't hesitate to ask family and friends to help with preparations. Choose the appropriate task for the person you are asking.
The
wedding day is the most awaited day by most couples. This is the day that is filled with anticipation and eagerness.
Therefore, I have made a compilation of
romantic as well as funny wedding quotes that can make you see the funny as well as the lighter side of marriage. Friends and family as well as couples can have a great time reading this compilation of
wedding quotes.
Wedding Quotes:Two souls with but a single thought, two hearts that beat as one. -Friedrich Halm
A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. -Germaine Greer
A wedding is a start of togetherness... of walks in the rain, basking in the sunshine, shared meals, caring for one another and sensing the love that a marriage carries.-Unknown
The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret. - Henny Youngman
A happy marriage is a new beginning of life, a new starting point for happiness and usefulness. – Dean
When you meet someone who can cook and do housework--don't hesitate a minute--marry him. – Unknown
To keep your marriage brimming,
With love in the wedding cup,
Whenever you're wrong, admit it;
Whenever you're right, shut up.
- Ogden Nash
We come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly. - Sam Keen
The real act of marriage takes place in the heart, not in the ballroom or church or synagogue. It's a choice you make, not just on your wedding day, but over and over again and that choice is reflected in the way you treat your husband or wife. - Barbara De Angelis
You don't marry someone you can live with; you marry the person who you cannot live without. - Anonymous quotes
Love seems the swiftest, but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century. - Mark Twain
Love: a temporary insanity, curable by marriage. - Ambrose Bierce
Marriage is not just spiritual communion; it is also remembering to take out the trash. - Joyce Brothers
Marriage is the alliance of two people, one of whom never remembers birthdays and the other who never forgets. - Ogden Nash
Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence. - Oscar Wilde
There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage. - Martin Luther
Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.-Antoine de Saint-Exupery
A happy marriage is a new beginning of life, a new starting point for happiness and usefulness. - Dean Stanley
A man in love is incomplete until he is married. Then he's finished. - Zsa Zsa Gabor
The woman cries before the wedding; the man afterward. – Unknown
A good marriage is one, which allows for change and growth in the individuals and in the way they express their love. - Pearl S. Buck quotes
To keep the fire burning brightly there's one easy rule: Keep the two logs together, near enough to keep each other warm and far enough apart-about a finger's breadth-for breathing room. Good fire, good marriage, same rule. - Unknown
Let men tremble to win the hand of woman, unless they win along with it the utmost passion of her heart. - Nathaniel Hawthorne
A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment. – Jane Austen
All weddings are similar, but every marriage is different. - John Berger
Marriage is the only war in which you sleep with the enemy. – Unknown
Looking to save money on your
wedding reception? Instead of relentlessly paring down your guest list or compromising in other areas, why not think about using a low-cost theme for your special day?
A
wedding that fits into a particular theme is often more relaxed than your typical reception. And, since there’s less pressure to spend exorbitant sums on extras you simply don’t need, they can often save you a bundle.
Reception themes allow people to get creative with their celebration and express themselves. People often choose to base their themes on hobbies, personal interests, and dreams. Choosing to go with something like a beach theme, a Mexican fiesta, or a toga party (for a really wild example) is simple -- and the food is cheap and easy. Take a look at some more themes to lessen the cost of your reception.
- Roman theme: The choices with the Roman theme vary. Togas are almost always a part of the festivities. Serving fresh fruits like grapes and apples not only provides a healthy alternative to more traditional fare, it’s also in keeping with the typical Roman diet. Serving fresh rotisseries meats or cold cuts are great with this theme as well. You can generally serve beer and wine for this theme, and you can decorate with wreathes, garland, candles and anything else in the Roman fashion.
- Fairy Wonderland: To go with this theme, you could use fairies wings, have sheer fabrics draped around you, decorate with baby’s breath, moss, and serve fine breads and appetizers. This theme really lets the bride bring her childhood dreams to life. Music like Enya would be nice to listen to for this theme.
- Ethnic traditions: This theme requires that you choose specialty foods and decorations from the ethnicity of your choice. For example, should you choose a Scottish theme, you would listen to bagpipes, dress in the Scottish fashion and do all things Scottish.
- Mexican fiesta: This fun theme can have you hitting a piñata, serving popular Mexican dishes, utilizing things like Santa Fe decorative blankets for the walls, and many other things. You can play mariachi music or Spanish guitars for this theme.
- Arabian Nights: For this theme you can fill your reception hall with beautiful linens and let your bridal party have costumes should they wish to. You can also serve Middle-Eastern foods or appetizers, pita bread, etc. This theme is very versatile and fun.
- Greek Mythology: This theme can be geared toward a particular Greek saga or, more popularly, guests can each come dressed as a particular Greek hero of their choice. Greek foods like fresh fruits, wine, and other edibles of ancient Greece can be offered.
- Hawaiian: You can use your imagination to create any Hawaiian fantasy that you wish. You can give out fresh leis or artificial ones as wedding favors. You can serve fresh tropical island fruits such as pineapples, and serve those cute tropical drinks with decorative umbrellas – basically, wherever your mind takes you.
- Disney: There are so many popular Disney characters that we all remember from our childhood that this theme opens up a world of possibilities. You can choose to focus on a particular character, or simply take the entire world of Disney and use it as your theme.
- The Wild West: This theme can be as fun as you want. You can set up your reception area to look like an old saloon and have dancers give a tame burlesque show. This theme also allows you to serve easy-to-create entrees like meatloaf, all the way up to more expensive fare, such as steaks. As long as you stick with your theme (i.e. leave out the shrimp cocktail) you can have a great time.
- NASCAR: This theme has a world of possibilities. You can decorate with checkered flags and checkered flag streamers, toy cars, or painted numbers of the different cars and drivers. If you would like, you can decorate with a particular driver motif. The best part about this theme is that it is very casual and you can serve regular foods like pizza, large submarine sandwiches, hamburgers and even chips and nachos; pretty much any food that you want. In general this relaxed type of theme applies to all sports-related themes. This theme is great for receptions where lots of sports fans will be attending. You can also opt to watch a race on a large TV during the party.
- Movies: Popular movie themes like the Matrix and Lord of the Rings can be a lot of fun for receptions when the bride and groom are movie buffs. Decorations will be based on what the general movie symbolizes. For example, if you chose the Matrix, you would use computer data charts and sheets, computers, dress in all black, etc. You could serve appetizers rather than entrees for this type of theme as well. Playing the movie during your reception is a cool idea for background scenery.
When it comes to themes, the possibilities are endless. Coming up with them can be much of the fun. After you have chosen your theme, you can brainstorm ideas to expand upon it for the decorations, food, activities and more.
Are you struggling to find a unique gift for your girlfriend? Do you want to get the gift that will leave her in tears because she loves it so much? There are many gift for girlfriend ideas out there, but most are just cheesy and do not make much sense.
However, you can give her a message in a bottle that will show her exactly how much you love her. Here are the benefits.
First, when you are searching for gift for girlfriend ideas you are usually looking for something unique that is not jewelry, is not going to cost you hundreds of dollars, and will show that you put a lot of feeling and thought into the gift. Let's face it, guys are not the best at picking out gifts, but if they are willing to put time, effort, and thought behind the gift, then they will rarely go wrong.
Second, a message in a bottle is the perfect gift for girlfriend idea because it is decorative, comes in a box that gives it the best presentation, and it contains a message that you can either write yourself or have written for you. This gives you the option to say what you want to say or have someone help you say what you are feeling. It is a wonderful presentation and a very unique gift that no other guy will have ever given her.
Last, when you pick out a message in a bottle you get to choose from so many options that you can customize the bottle, the paper, the presentation, and the message specifically to what she will like. This gives you the chance to really WOW her with how well you know her. Plus this will be a keepsake that she can always keep close to her so that she will always be reminded of you and how much you love her.
Are you looking for a bridal gown with that "wow" factor? The dress that will make your fiance's jaw drop when you walk down the aisle? Then look no further than the sexy mermaid style bridal gown.
A mermaid gown is a silhouette that is fitted through the bodice and the hips, and then flares out into a fuller skirt at the knee. Mermaid gowns are usually made of fabrics that can hold their shape, such as satin, lace, or tulle, to really emphasis the signature flared hem. It is a style that is made for a bride who wants to make a dramatic grand entrance.
Wearing a mermaid gown is not going to be for everyone. You have to be comfortable with your figure, and with having a lot of attention drawn to your hips. This can actually be a shape that is flattering on a variety of different figures. Girls who are blessed with great curves will look eye-poppingly gorgeous in a sexy mermaid gown. Brides who have more straight figures will find that a mermaid style can add the look of curves to their frame. The one category of bride who should avoid a mermaid gown at all costs is the pear shape.
Mermaid bridal gowns will always be glamorous and elegant. They are most often found in fabrics, such as the aforementioned satin, that are appropriate for more formal weddings. Sometimes you will also see them done in delicate laces that will tone down the drama of a mermaid to make it more wearable for less fancy events. The tight bodice and hips of the mermaid shape are reminiscent of the glamorous gowns of the 1950s and early 60s, when women loved to show off their curvaceous figures.
There are any number of necklines that you can choose for a mermaid wedding gown, but strapless is definitely the most popular. After all, there is no point in trying to be demure at the top when the entire dress is screaming va va va voom! Even within a strapless neckline, though, there will be some options.
Slender brides who are trying to create the illusion of curves should look for sweetheart strapless necklines. Brides who already have all the curves that they need should consider straight across necklines, or ones that curve up slightly across the front. When your gown is very fitted, you want to make sure that nothing is spilling out from the top!
Because the mermaid gown does have a glamorous feeling, you will want to choose accessories that are equally fabulous. For your wedding jewelry, look for custom bridal Swarovski necklaces. The sparkle of Swarovksi crystals will add the drama that you want in custom bridal necklaces. When the piece is handcrafted just for you, it also allows you to make changes so that the necklace is a perfect match to the style of your gown. Finish the look with dazzling crystal earrings and a matching bracelet.
Due to the very fitted nature of a mermaid gown, you may want to think about changing into a second dress for the reception. If you are content to do a couple of ceremonial dances and then spend the rest of the evening mingling with your guests, your mermaid gown should be just fine. But brides who plan to really dance the night away will find it easier to do so in a more forgiving silhouette.
You can't beat the mermaid style bridal gown for drama, elegance, and sensuality. It is a style that always stays in fashion because of how great it makes a woman look and feel. If you want to be drop dead gorgeous on your wedding day, then definitely give the mermaid shape a try.
