The recent fires in the western United States are a reminder that Nature can sometimes take an ugly turn. But, often times, these "ugly turns" are really part of predictable "seasons" that, if we are aware of them, can help us make informed decisions.
Let's take a look at some of these "seasons" and how they might affect your wedding plans:
Fire Season:
The western United States (California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah) has what is called a "fire season" that usually runs from late April until the end of October. Fed by drought (as in the case of the Arizona), low humidity, lightening strikes and winds, they can burn thousands of acres and threaten communities and resorts. What are some popular wedding destinations which might be affected by fire season? June, 2006 saw the evacuation of parts of the resort town of Sedona, Arizona, including the Oak Creek Canyon area, a location very popular for destination weddings. This fire also stranded visitors to the Grand Canyon, who were cut off from other northern Arizona towns by road closures.
The resort areas of Big Bear and Idyllwild in California are also destinations for those wanting to get married in the mountains of California. In recent years both areas have been hard hit during fire season. Fire season also affects the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and the mountains surrounding Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Hurricane/Cyclone Season:
The Atlantic hurricane season officially lasts from June 1 to November 30 and affects the Southeastern United States of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and parts of Texas (in addition to bringing heavy rains and flooding to neighboring states). The Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean are also affected. The cyclone season in Australia extends from November to April. What popular wedding destinations might be disrupted by hurricanes? Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a popular wedding destination, as are the beaches of Florida, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. If you're planning a quick elopement to these areas, it's good to get up-to-date hurricane news from the National Weather Service National Hurricane Center Tropical Prediction Center, www.nhc.noaa.gov. Globally, September is the most active month and May is the least active month for hurricane/cyclone activity, according to the Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) (http://www.aoml.noaa.gov.)
Tornado Season:
Tornado season is generally March through August, with 74% of all tornadoes occurring between March 1 and July 31. Although tornados can happen in many locations, they occur most often in the central part of the United States known as "Tornado Alley." Tornado Alley affects all of Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas and parts of Texas, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming.
Keep the seasons in mind when planning your destination wedding. Of course, just because there is a season for these natural occurrences, it doesn't mean your particular destination will be affected. Should you decide to have your wedding in one of these areas, however, it's always a good idea to be informed of weather updates, and safety precautions you should take in the event of a fire, flood, hurricane or tornado. Being prepared and informed can help prevent the best day of your life from turning into a disaster.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Looking Great on Your Wedding Day!
So what are the little tips which you should adhere to look your very best?
* Eat healthy
Yes! Eating healthily is important, not only you feel good outside, you feel good inside too. Try not to overeat to prevent weight gain or to eat oily food that might give you acne.
* Exercise
Exercise regular to keep fit and tone your body. Also to help you lose some unwanted weight during the process.
Sufficient Sleep
You might be busy with the wedding preparations and had a lot of late nights. Beware. You might develop dark eye circles or eye bags easily. So do make sure that you have sufficient beauty sleep weeks prior to your bid day.
* Drink lots of water
Hydrating yourself is important as impurities will be flushed out if you drink more water.
* Do your hair about 2 weeks prior to the wedding
If you need a good haircut or color, do get them done at least 2 weeks prior to the big day. This is to prevent any ‘accidents’ in the process.
* Facials and beauty treatments
Ladies and Gentlemen, do your facials or beauty treatments at least 2 weeks prior to the wedding day. Sometimes they might try a new product on you and you might get some side effects. So, do let your skin rest.
* Vitamins supplements
Eat some vitamin supplements such as vitamin C, cod liver oil or evening primrose oil. Helps to keep your skin radiant. They can also help to improve your immune system too!
* Skin care regime
Have a good skin care regime to make sure that your skin looks great. Do scrub twice weekly and pamper your skin with a mask afterwards. Your skin should look great!
By Anne Lim
* Eat healthy
Yes! Eating healthily is important, not only you feel good outside, you feel good inside too. Try not to overeat to prevent weight gain or to eat oily food that might give you acne.
* Exercise
Exercise regular to keep fit and tone your body. Also to help you lose some unwanted weight during the process.
Sufficient Sleep
You might be busy with the wedding preparations and had a lot of late nights. Beware. You might develop dark eye circles or eye bags easily. So do make sure that you have sufficient beauty sleep weeks prior to your bid day.
* Drink lots of water
Hydrating yourself is important as impurities will be flushed out if you drink more water.
* Do your hair about 2 weeks prior to the wedding
If you need a good haircut or color, do get them done at least 2 weeks prior to the big day. This is to prevent any ‘accidents’ in the process.
* Facials and beauty treatments
Ladies and Gentlemen, do your facials or beauty treatments at least 2 weeks prior to the wedding day. Sometimes they might try a new product on you and you might get some side effects. So, do let your skin rest.
* Vitamins supplements
Eat some vitamin supplements such as vitamin C, cod liver oil or evening primrose oil. Helps to keep your skin radiant. They can also help to improve your immune system too!
* Skin care regime
Have a good skin care regime to make sure that your skin looks great. Do scrub twice weekly and pamper your skin with a mask afterwards. Your skin should look great!
By Anne Lim
A Guide To Hiring Wedding Professionals
As you will soon discover, there is really no shortage of wedding vendors in any given category. The goal is finding the professional that is right for you, not only with product, service and price, but with personality as well. The search for wedding day vendors can begin in a number of places. Knowing where to look and what to look for will assist you in your search. The following are suggestions as to where you may begin the search for your vendors.
Bridal Shows
The greatest value in bridal shows is the opportunity to meet with a large number of wedding vendors and view many products at one time, in one location.
There are many categories of vendors represented at the shows, making it an invaluable tool for doing research and for gathering wedding-related information. When you find vendors you particularly interested in, make a note of it and call soon after the show to book a personal one on one appointment.
Ceremony and Reception Location
The locations you select for your wedding day are quite familiar with particular vendors, and usually have a preferred vendor list. The vendors on this list have worked at that site many times before and are familiar with the logistics and rules of the location.
Friends and Family
You will usually get honest no nonsense answers and opinions regarding products and services when you ask married friends and family members (even co-workers) about their own weddings. Ask them about their vendors, the services they used, what they liked and didn't like, would they hire them again, etc.?
The Internet
The Internet is an easy access, easy to use, anytime resource. You can find a wealth of vendors on the web. Checking out a vendor's web site can give you a good idea of pricing, packages, and type of work they do before making a personal appointment.
Local Bridal Magazines
Using local wedding magazines and directories can at first seem overwhelming, as there are a large number of advertisements in these publications. You can, however, find excellent vendors in the magazines, but it will take some calling around to acquaint yourself with these vendors.
Wedding Planners/Consultants
Wedding consultants have several pre-established relationships with local vendors. If you are working with a consultant, she should be able to provide you with preferred vendor list. However, if you are not working with a consultant, you can still benefit from this knowledge, as most consultants will share their preferred vendor list with you for a fee.
Conclusion
Once you have made your final decisions, you must get a written contract. Call the vendor to confirm the details and ask for a contract to be sent to you. A contract is the best way of ensuring you and the vendor understand what is expected, as it should outline specifics such as dates, times, names, and types of services/products provided. It will also spell out payment plans, refund and cancellation policies. It behooves you to read and understand the contract. Do not assume you have secured a vendor for your wedding day until you have a contract that is signed by you and the vendor. And finally remember, part of getting the most from a vendor's service is also being a good client and providing the vendors with the payments and other requested information in a timely manner.
by Michael Brito
Bridal Shows
The greatest value in bridal shows is the opportunity to meet with a large number of wedding vendors and view many products at one time, in one location.
There are many categories of vendors represented at the shows, making it an invaluable tool for doing research and for gathering wedding-related information. When you find vendors you particularly interested in, make a note of it and call soon after the show to book a personal one on one appointment.
Ceremony and Reception Location
The locations you select for your wedding day are quite familiar with particular vendors, and usually have a preferred vendor list. The vendors on this list have worked at that site many times before and are familiar with the logistics and rules of the location.
Friends and Family
You will usually get honest no nonsense answers and opinions regarding products and services when you ask married friends and family members (even co-workers) about their own weddings. Ask them about their vendors, the services they used, what they liked and didn't like, would they hire them again, etc.?
The Internet
The Internet is an easy access, easy to use, anytime resource. You can find a wealth of vendors on the web. Checking out a vendor's web site can give you a good idea of pricing, packages, and type of work they do before making a personal appointment.
Local Bridal Magazines
Using local wedding magazines and directories can at first seem overwhelming, as there are a large number of advertisements in these publications. You can, however, find excellent vendors in the magazines, but it will take some calling around to acquaint yourself with these vendors.
Wedding Planners/Consultants
Wedding consultants have several pre-established relationships with local vendors. If you are working with a consultant, she should be able to provide you with preferred vendor list. However, if you are not working with a consultant, you can still benefit from this knowledge, as most consultants will share their preferred vendor list with you for a fee.
Conclusion
Once you have made your final decisions, you must get a written contract. Call the vendor to confirm the details and ask for a contract to be sent to you. A contract is the best way of ensuring you and the vendor understand what is expected, as it should outline specifics such as dates, times, names, and types of services/products provided. It will also spell out payment plans, refund and cancellation policies. It behooves you to read and understand the contract. Do not assume you have secured a vendor for your wedding day until you have a contract that is signed by you and the vendor. And finally remember, part of getting the most from a vendor's service is also being a good client and providing the vendors with the payments and other requested information in a timely manner.
by Michael Brito
3 Easy Steps to Wedding Guides: The Do It Yourself Wedding Program Guide
This article will help with some the steps for the person that is going to make a "do it yourself wedding program". By following the steps in this article and using it as a guide in creating your own wedding program you will be well on your way to having this task completed and a beautiful wedding program.
Typically there are three main parts to the wedding program and it is helpful to plan these out first.
You can even compile the information for each section a little at a time to make it easier. Do not get overwhelmed with everything there is to do instead just start working on what you already know.
Wedding Program Part 1 Introduction The first section of a traditional wedding program is the introduction. This gives you a chance to give some over view type of information to the guest. Some of the things you will want to include are:
· Names of the couple
· Wedding date
· Time and place of the service.
Wedding Programs Part 2 Event or Ceremony Order In this part you can include lots of useful information about the ceremony itself. IF you have special poems, music or other significant parts of the ceremony that you want your guests to know about then this is the place to include them.
· Greetings
· Poetry
· Reading
· Exchange of vows
· Explanations of special religious rituals (such as the ring ceremony, unity candle ceremony, and pronouncement of marriage)
· Titles of the ceremony music to be played (including the names of the musicians, soloists, or readers)
Typically there are three main parts to the wedding program and it is helpful to plan these out first.
You can even compile the information for each section a little at a time to make it easier. Do not get overwhelmed with everything there is to do instead just start working on what you already know.
Wedding Program Part 1 Introduction The first section of a traditional wedding program is the introduction. This gives you a chance to give some over view type of information to the guest. Some of the things you will want to include are:
· Names of the couple
· Wedding date
· Time and place of the service.
Wedding Programs Part 2 Event or Ceremony Order In this part you can include lots of useful information about the ceremony itself. IF you have special poems, music or other significant parts of the ceremony that you want your guests to know about then this is the place to include them.
· Greetings
· Poetry
· Reading
· Exchange of vows
· Explanations of special religious rituals (such as the ring ceremony, unity candle ceremony, and pronouncement of marriage)
· Titles of the ceremony music to be played (including the names of the musicians, soloists, or readers)
Wedding Programs Part 3 Acknowledgement or Wedding Party This is a great place to put in your closing remarks. You will want to be sure to include a thank you note to several people that were in the ceremony/
· Names of the members of the bridal party
· Name of the priest or officiate who will perform the ceremony
· Memorials, tributes or homage's to someone who has passed away
· Thank-you notes and dedications to the parents and to people who gave support to the couple (and to the wedding)
· The couple's special message to their wedding guests
· Directions to the reception
Typically once the wedding program is done it can then be sent of to the printer or you can choose to do it on your own. With most desktop computers today with great printers a person can easily print very large numbers of documents easily. No matter what you choose the wedding program will come out perfect.
by Sam Smith
· Names of the members of the bridal party
· Name of the priest or officiate who will perform the ceremony
· Memorials, tributes or homage's to someone who has passed away
· Thank-you notes and dedications to the parents and to people who gave support to the couple (and to the wedding)
· The couple's special message to their wedding guests
· Directions to the reception
Typically once the wedding program is done it can then be sent of to the printer or you can choose to do it on your own. With most desktop computers today with great printers a person can easily print very large numbers of documents easily. No matter what you choose the wedding program will come out perfect.
by Sam Smith
3 Easy Steps to Wedding Guides: The Do It Yourself Wedding Program Guide
This article will help with some the steps for the person that is going to make a "do it yourself wedding program". By following the steps in this article and using it as a guide in creating your own wedding program you will be well on your way to having this task completed and a beautiful wedding program.
Typically there are three main parts to the wedding program and it is helpful to plan these out first.
You can even compile the information for each section a little at a time to make it easier. Do not get overwhelmed with everything there is to do instead just start working on what you already know.
Wedding Program Part 1 Introduction The first section of a traditional wedding program is the introduction. This gives you a chance to give some over view type of information to the guest. Some of the things you will want to include are:
· Names of the couple
· Wedding date
· Time and place of the service.
Wedding Programs Part 2 Event or Ceremony Order In this part you can include lots of useful information about the ceremony itself. IF you have special poems, music or other significant parts of the ceremony that you want your guests to know about then this is the place to include them.
· Greetings
· Poetry
· Reading
· Exchange of vows
· Explanations of special religious rituals (such as the ring ceremony, unity candle ceremony, and pronouncement of marriage)
· Titles of the ceremony music to be played (including the names of the musicians, soloists, or readers)
Wedding Programs Part 3 Acknowledgement or Wedding Party This is a great place to put in your closing remarks. You will want to be sure to include a thank you note to several people that were in the ceremony/
· Names of the members of the bridal party
· Name of the priest or officiate who will perform the ceremony
· Memorials, tributes or homage's to someone who has passed away
· Thank-you notes and dedications to the parents and to people who gave support to the couple (and to the wedding)
· The couple's special message to their wedding guests
· Directions to the reception
Typically once the wedding program is done it can then be sent of to the printer or you can choose to do it on your own. With most desktop computers today with great printers a person can easily print very large numbers of documents easily. No matter what you choose the wedding program will come out perfect.
by Sam Smith
Typically there are three main parts to the wedding program and it is helpful to plan these out first.
You can even compile the information for each section a little at a time to make it easier. Do not get overwhelmed with everything there is to do instead just start working on what you already know.
Wedding Program Part 1 Introduction The first section of a traditional wedding program is the introduction. This gives you a chance to give some over view type of information to the guest. Some of the things you will want to include are:
· Names of the couple
· Wedding date
· Time and place of the service.
Wedding Programs Part 2 Event or Ceremony Order In this part you can include lots of useful information about the ceremony itself. IF you have special poems, music or other significant parts of the ceremony that you want your guests to know about then this is the place to include them.
· Greetings
· Poetry
· Reading
· Exchange of vows
· Explanations of special religious rituals (such as the ring ceremony, unity candle ceremony, and pronouncement of marriage)
· Titles of the ceremony music to be played (including the names of the musicians, soloists, or readers)
Wedding Programs Part 3 Acknowledgement or Wedding Party This is a great place to put in your closing remarks. You will want to be sure to include a thank you note to several people that were in the ceremony/
· Names of the members of the bridal party
· Name of the priest or officiate who will perform the ceremony
· Memorials, tributes or homage's to someone who has passed away
· Thank-you notes and dedications to the parents and to people who gave support to the couple (and to the wedding)
· The couple's special message to their wedding guests
· Directions to the reception
Typically once the wedding program is done it can then be sent of to the printer or you can choose to do it on your own. With most desktop computers today with great printers a person can easily print very large numbers of documents easily. No matter what you choose the wedding program will come out perfect.
by Sam Smith
Setting A Good Wedding Budget
Weddings are a big business, and if you go the traditional route by hiring a wedding planner, you can soon see the costs of your wedding spiraling out of control. While I'm not saying that you should not hire a wedding expert, they can be a huge help in planning and organizing your big day, you should do a little research on your own and come to the planning table with a strict budget in mind. And when costs seem too high, do not be afraid to offer some cost-saving ideas of your own. After all, it's your wedding and your wallet.
The wedding reception is where you will spend the bulk of your wedding budget, almost 50% of it in fact.
So, this is an area that you should pay particularly close attention to. Most of the money spent for a reception is spent on alcoholic beverages and the reception meal. You should shop carefully and keep your budget in mind when choosing caterers and meal menus. If you are still having a hard time meeting your budget, you may have to eliminate alcoholic beverages or cut your guest count to put your bottom line back in the black.
The bridal gown is also an area where a lot of money can be spent. Go to the bridal gown store with an idea of what you are willing to spend on the perfect dress. Browse the discount rack first before you start looking through the catalogues, you may be surprised by what you find. Also start shopping well in advance of the big day. A dress that is too expensive today can be marked down in the future, but you can't take advantage of markdowns if you wait till the last minute to find your wedding gown.
When setting up your budget you also need to factor in the cost of photography/videography, music, flowers, invitations and other expenses which can quickly add up. Keep in mind that while a wedding budget has a strict bottom line, there is plenty of room to splurge on the more expensive band if you are going to cut costs somewhere else. So, instead of keeping each aspect of your wedding day perfectly in line, focus more on what the whole day is going to cost you and wiggle and adjust until you are comfortable with what you are spending.
By Rose Lenk
The wedding reception is where you will spend the bulk of your wedding budget, almost 50% of it in fact.
So, this is an area that you should pay particularly close attention to. Most of the money spent for a reception is spent on alcoholic beverages and the reception meal. You should shop carefully and keep your budget in mind when choosing caterers and meal menus. If you are still having a hard time meeting your budget, you may have to eliminate alcoholic beverages or cut your guest count to put your bottom line back in the black.
The bridal gown is also an area where a lot of money can be spent. Go to the bridal gown store with an idea of what you are willing to spend on the perfect dress. Browse the discount rack first before you start looking through the catalogues, you may be surprised by what you find. Also start shopping well in advance of the big day. A dress that is too expensive today can be marked down in the future, but you can't take advantage of markdowns if you wait till the last minute to find your wedding gown.
When setting up your budget you also need to factor in the cost of photography/videography, music, flowers, invitations and other expenses which can quickly add up. Keep in mind that while a wedding budget has a strict bottom line, there is plenty of room to splurge on the more expensive band if you are going to cut costs somewhere else. So, instead of keeping each aspect of your wedding day perfectly in line, focus more on what the whole day is going to cost you and wiggle and adjust until you are comfortable with what you are spending.
By Rose Lenk
10 Do's and Don'ts When Planning Your Wedding
1. Do make your wedding a joint venture between bride and groom. Some grooms just want to know what to wear and where and when to show up. Some brides want to call all the shots and make all the decisions. Make your decisions together - you will be doing this for the rest of your lives and this is a good place to start.
2. Do get everything that can get done in advance done as far in advance as you can. You don't want to discover the day before your wedding that you have forgotten to get your marriage license or that your dress isn't ready.
3. Do let your ceremony reflect who you are as individuals and who you are as a couple. This can be done with the music, readings, vows and other personal stories and selections you make.
4. Do take into consideration "family tensions" or "sore spots" when you plan your seating. If parents have divorced and remarried and have tension in each other's presence, be sensitive about how they are seated at both the ceremony and the reception or dinner. This will prevent unnecessary stress and perhaps tears.
5 Do delegate, delegate, delegate. Let other's help so when the week of the wedding arrives you have time to enjoy your guests and not arrive at your own wedding too tired to enjoy it.
Now how about the don'ts?
1. Don't think you have to spend more money on a wedding than it would cost you for a college education or a new house. Some of the most beautiful and meaningful ceremonies are in someone's back yard. It isn't about how much money you spend but about the love between you. Think about how you can avoid going into your marriage on the edge of bankruptcy.
2. Don't be shy about speaking up for yourselves. This is your wedding. Just because Aunt somebody-or-other had her bridesmaids in dresses that looked like those in My Big Fat Greek Wedding doesn't mean you have to do the same. Or because Uncle I-think-I-can-sing-but-can't wants to sing doesn't mean you have to let him. Tell them how much you love them and thank each of them for their wonderful offer with a gentle statement that you've already chosen the dresses and planned the music (or whatever).
3. Don't Procrastinate. This is another way to say what was said in #2 Do above. If you want a disaster the day before and the day of the wedding, just put things off. The more organized you are and the better you have delegated those "last minute" things, the more you will be able to participate in and enjoy wedding day.
4. Don't have unrealistic expectations about having everything perfect. Beautiful? Yes. Perfect is harder. Remember that this is a joyful celebration of love rather than an exercise in perfection. Most of us are not "practically perfect in every way" like Mary Poppins and we make mistakes. The mistake is generally the thing that gives you the fondest memories. I officiated a near perfect wedding and I was aware that everything had gone right. At about that point, a bridesmaid fainted. She was quickly back on her feet and the ceremony proceeded, again, perfectly. There was no way this could be anticipated and prevented. They will talk about it with fond memories for years to come.
5. Don't drink alcoholic beverages prior to the ceremony. There are enough challenges without having a best man or even the groom (or the maid of honor or even the bride) drunk at the ceremony. Yes, nerves are jangled and tension is high. But you don't want the officiant to say, when it's time for vows, "Please slur after me . . ."
by Irene Conlan
2. Do get everything that can get done in advance done as far in advance as you can. You don't want to discover the day before your wedding that you have forgotten to get your marriage license or that your dress isn't ready.
3. Do let your ceremony reflect who you are as individuals and who you are as a couple. This can be done with the music, readings, vows and other personal stories and selections you make.
4. Do take into consideration "family tensions" or "sore spots" when you plan your seating. If parents have divorced and remarried and have tension in each other's presence, be sensitive about how they are seated at both the ceremony and the reception or dinner. This will prevent unnecessary stress and perhaps tears.
5 Do delegate, delegate, delegate. Let other's help so when the week of the wedding arrives you have time to enjoy your guests and not arrive at your own wedding too tired to enjoy it.
Now how about the don'ts?
1. Don't think you have to spend more money on a wedding than it would cost you for a college education or a new house. Some of the most beautiful and meaningful ceremonies are in someone's back yard. It isn't about how much money you spend but about the love between you. Think about how you can avoid going into your marriage on the edge of bankruptcy.
2. Don't be shy about speaking up for yourselves. This is your wedding. Just because Aunt somebody-or-other had her bridesmaids in dresses that looked like those in My Big Fat Greek Wedding doesn't mean you have to do the same. Or because Uncle I-think-I-can-sing-but-can't wants to sing doesn't mean you have to let him. Tell them how much you love them and thank each of them for their wonderful offer with a gentle statement that you've already chosen the dresses and planned the music (or whatever).
3. Don't Procrastinate. This is another way to say what was said in #2 Do above. If you want a disaster the day before and the day of the wedding, just put things off. The more organized you are and the better you have delegated those "last minute" things, the more you will be able to participate in and enjoy wedding day.
4. Don't have unrealistic expectations about having everything perfect. Beautiful? Yes. Perfect is harder. Remember that this is a joyful celebration of love rather than an exercise in perfection. Most of us are not "practically perfect in every way" like Mary Poppins and we make mistakes. The mistake is generally the thing that gives you the fondest memories. I officiated a near perfect wedding and I was aware that everything had gone right. At about that point, a bridesmaid fainted. She was quickly back on her feet and the ceremony proceeded, again, perfectly. There was no way this could be anticipated and prevented. They will talk about it with fond memories for years to come.
5. Don't drink alcoholic beverages prior to the ceremony. There are enough challenges without having a best man or even the groom (or the maid of honor or even the bride) drunk at the ceremony. Yes, nerves are jangled and tension is high. But you don't want the officiant to say, when it's time for vows, "Please slur after me . . ."
by Irene Conlan
Friday, February 6, 2009
How to Check for Wedding Crashers
In some cases, the wedding crashers are complete strangers. This is just a simple and harmless prank that some people like to do to random weddings. They do not cause any trouble while they are there. They will eat dinner, drink and enjoy the people and music just like everyone else. There are some people that do this on a regular basis a little bit of fun for them.
Another type of wedding crasher is the people that do this to bring turmoil to the happy couple’s special day.
These are people that usually know at least someone in the wedding party. They may want to destroy the wedding and make it impossible to be a success.
This is some thing that every wedding couple needs to be on the lookout for.
There are many people that can help to take watch for these wedding crashers. This is some thing that would make the couple feel better and allow the couple to have a peaceful marriage without interruptions. This is especially a good idea if there is someone that is suspected of doing this to the wedding.
Having a successful and wonderful wedding is something that can be achieved with out having a wedding crasher totally destroys the wedding. You can be a little cautious and be aware of what can happen. Having the right information and the right help is one thing that makes a wedding a fabulous success.
Wedding crashers can happen at any time. They are everywhere and usually have no preference when it comes to the wedding that they crash. Most of the time, they are doing it for the thrill and excitement of seeing if they can actually get away with it. Most of the people that are wedding crashers are doing it because they have nothing better planned for their night. This is a way for them to have some harmless fun and get a good meal at the same time.
Being prepared for a wedding crasher to join your party is always a good idea. If you do notice that one is intruding you on, you may want to just let them alone. If they are not causing any grief, they may be no threat at all. In other cases, you may want to quietly ask them to leave the party with no trouble.
By Morten Flatner
Tips To Make Your Wedding Day Perfect
The truth is that planning a wedding can be exhausting and have a heavy toll on you financially and emotionally. But it doesn't have to be quite so bad. By following a few simple tips, you can avoid most of the hassles and headaches associated with planning a wedding.
Start planning early. In order to ensure that you can hire the best establishments and service providers for your wedding, you need to start booking early.
Many of these places are booked for months in advance, and if you don't act quickly, you may have to go with something other than your first choice.
Investigate your service providers.
By asking for referrals and listening to word of mouth commentary on local service providers, you can save yourself a lot of heartache.
Put everything in writing. Make sure that everything that is agreed upon with service contractors is put in writing and signed by both parties. A written contract is sometimes the only way to prove what services were offered at what price.
Do a determined, small amount of wedding tasks each week. By starting early, you can take advantage of planning your wedding over an extended period of time. Do not leave everything for the last minute. Doing small tasks over an extended period of time will ease your stress and frustration immensely.
Watch your budget. Going into debt to pay for a lavish wedding is never a good idea. Remember to stay within your means and use your money for a better purpose. Sure the $5,000 gown may look great on you, but having a home to live in is probably more important. And you cannot wear an expensive gown while you're lying on the beaches of your honeymoon resort, which you wouldn't be able to afford if you bought the over-priced gown.
While these steps will not make planning your wedding entirely stress free, they will help to make the transition to your new marital status as smooth as it can be.
By Rose Lenk
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
A Groom's Guide to Wedding Planning
Future grooms, follow these steps as you prepare for your wedding to make it a truly special occasion:
1. Select the Groomsmen
Choosing the groomsmen is an important task and should be done at least a year prior to the wedding. (Plan to have one usher for every fifty guests.) Once you’ve settled on who the groomsmen will be, choose their outfits. Later you will also want to buy gifts for the men in your wedding party.
Choosing the groomsmen is an important task and should be done at least a year prior to the wedding. (Plan to have one usher for every fifty guests.) Once you’ve settled on who the groomsmen will be, choose their outfits. Later you will also want to buy gifts for the men in your wedding party.
These could include cuff links, a money clip, a flask, or another gift that will commemorate the occasion with a touch of class.
2. Make your Guest List
You and your bride will put together separate guest lists, separate guest lists, so think about who you want to invite. Be sure to consider family, friends, and co-workers, and consult with close relatives to confirm that you haven’t left anyone out.
3. Reserve the Wedding Location
2. Make your Guest List
You and your bride will put together separate guest lists, separate guest lists, so think about who you want to invite. Be sure to consider family, friends, and co-workers, and consult with close relatives to confirm that you haven’t left anyone out.
3. Reserve the Wedding Location
Don’t hesitate to take the initiative in finding possible sites for the ceremony and/or the reception. Your fiancee will appreciate your efforts since this can be an overwhelming, time-consuming task! Discuss with her what your budget and style are and start searching. The sooner you find the right place and reserve, the more likely you are to get the date you want.
4. Plan the Honeymoon
Make your bride happy by researching honeymoon destinations and presenting her with some detailed itineraries of possible trips. She’ll know she’s picked a winner if you do your honeymoon homework and come prepared with good travel ideas!
5. Order your Wedding
Bands Don’t leave this until the last minute. Go with your bride to pick them out and get fitted so that you have them safe in hand in time for the wedding. Also, leave some time between the time you receive them and the wedding day in case you need a last-minute adjustment. If the jeweler gets the sizing wrong you’ll need time to fix it.
6. Get your Marriage License
4. Plan the Honeymoon
Make your bride happy by researching honeymoon destinations and presenting her with some detailed itineraries of possible trips. She’ll know she’s picked a winner if you do your honeymoon homework and come prepared with good travel ideas!
5. Order your Wedding
Bands Don’t leave this until the last minute. Go with your bride to pick them out and get fitted so that you have them safe in hand in time for the wedding. Also, leave some time between the time you receive them and the wedding day in case you need a last-minute adjustment. If the jeweler gets the sizing wrong you’ll need time to fix it.
6. Get your Marriage License
Depending on where you live this can be a lengthy process that will include blood tests and possibly other medical tests. Begin researching early to determine exactly what is required in your state and how long you should expect the process to take.So remember, your wedding day is’t just for her – it’s YOUR special day too! Make it an occasion you’ll always cherish by planning ahead and following these simple steps.
By Todd Haness
What is a Wedding Crasher?
Sometimes a wedding crasher will just pop into someone’s wedding inexpertiently. They will walk in like they are family and act as if nothing is wrong. There are some occasions where people will questions his or her presence and find out who this dressed up stranger is. Other times, they will go unnoticed.
In some cases, the wedding crasher will give a made up explanation of who they are and how they know the happy couple.
This will, in some cases work and in other times, the crasher will be exposed. If the crasher is accepted into the wedding as part of the family, they will have the opportunity to have the most fun that they have ever had.
The best part; about being accepted into a strange wedding as a wedding crasher is that you can do anything that you want, because you will never see these people again. You can have as much punch as you would like and do as many crazy stunts that you can possibly come up with.Dancing and fun is just part of the fun that can be had by a wedding crasher.
It is also a great opportunity to get to know interesting people and make new friends. They can talk to as many people as they want without blowing their cover. They may even use these conversations as ways to understand the wedding couple and help their wedding crashing a little easier.Being a wedding crasher is a risky business.
If you get caught, you may face a very unhappy crowd of people. They may just ask you to leave or they could get a little physical. They may take it badly and get angry with you. If you are lucky, you will just have the opportunity to leave without having to face the police being called.As a wedding crasher, you will have a lot of fun and get to meet new people.
You will also have a new way to get a night out on the town for free. The one thing that you may want to consider is bringing a gift. Some crashers will wrap up an empty box or give an empty unsigned card. This is just an option so that you do not look like another cheap relative. That is something that you do not want to be faced with.
By Morten Flatner
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Planning a Wedding? Relax!
Whatever the cause, stress and anxiety can be managed by some simple steps.
1. Eat RightThat
is, don’t overload on sweets and other “comfort” foods. Why is this important? A healthy and balanced diet can reduce the effects that our bodies experience when under stress.
is, don’t overload on sweets and other “comfort” foods. Why is this important? A healthy and balanced diet can reduce the effects that our bodies experience when under stress.
2. Exercise
Again, exercise can reduce the effects of stress. When we exercise we use energy, and this energy we expend can actually drain stress right out of our bodies. How much exercise do we need to combat stress? Not really that much. In fact, a simple walk in the morning of at least 15 minutes can help reduce stress levels.
3. BreatheYou
You probably think you don’t need to be reminded to breathe; after all, you need to breathe to live, right? However, when you’re stressed you’re probably hyperventilating or taking quick, shallow breaths, when what you really need to do is slow down and take several slow, deep breaths. And, by deep breaths, I’m talking expanding-your-stomach kind of breaths. Slowly. Letting your breath out – slowly.
You probably think you don’t need to be reminded to breathe; after all, you need to breathe to live, right? However, when you’re stressed you’re probably hyperventilating or taking quick, shallow breaths, when what you really need to do is slow down and take several slow, deep breaths. And, by deep breaths, I’m talking expanding-your-stomach kind of breaths. Slowly. Letting your breath out – slowly.
4. Distract Yourself
Take a moment to read something other than wedding magazines. Read a novel. Put together a jigsaw puzzle, or solve a crossword puzzle or Sudoku. Force yourself to take a break from wedding planning.
5. Use Relaxation Techniques
If you can and there’s one available, take a class in yoga, meditation or self-hypnosis. These are all excellent techniques to slow down and relax. With self-hypnosis, which is more focused and directed than meditation, you can program yourself to be more relaxed during the day. While in hypnosis you can use an “anchoring” device (such as touching your finger to your thumb) combined with a word, such as “relax” that you can program yourself to use in your waking hours whenever you find yourself getting stressed out. If you find yourself getting distracted during self-hypnosis, and there are registered hypnotists or hypnotherapists available in your area, visit one who can make a personalized hypnosis CD for you so you can listen on a daily basis. Or, purchase a mass-produced relaxation CD. There are many fine generic ones on the market today which will help you learn to relax.
Planning a wedding can be a special and fun event in your life. The key is to gain control over the stress, rather than let it control you.
By Shari Hearn
Planning Your Wedding Together
Approaching your wedding as a twosome can give you the best results in less time. It is also a fairly good predictor of how the marriage will be. It answers many questions that will be important to the marriage, questions such as:Who makes the decisions? Are they joint decisions or does one of you always have to have his or her way? Is one of you always right? (This implies that the other is always wrong).
Does one of you usually have to agree just to get beyond the impasse and get on with it? Is one of you "The Boss" and the other the "Bossed?" Does that work for you?
Are your management styles compatible?
Does one of you micro-manage and one of you use a broad brush approach and does that work for you? Sometimes this is highly effective because the broad brusher generates the creative ideas and the micro-manager can work out the details. It takes both. On the other hand a broad brusher can drive the micro-manager crazy and vice versa.
Are you willing to yield to the expertise of the other? Can you divide up the workload evenly and not second guess each other, but trust that it will be done correctly and on time? What do you do when you have a huge disagreement? Do you have a plan to work things out, to negotiate until you find a common ground of agreement? Does one of you hold a grudge if the decision doesn't always go your way?
How do you handle money? Is one of you "tight-fisted" with money and the other an impulse spender? Can you agree on an amount you can spend independently without consulting the other? What happens if one of you doesn't abide by the agreed upon amount? How do you resolve the issue?
Do you have similar likes and dislikes? Do you find that you almost always pick the same thing, even though you aren't together at the time? Do you, for example, generally like the same colors, music, style? If not, do you know and appreciate what the other one likes? Is it o.k. to like different things? If not, does one of you always have to capitulate or do you find ways to work out who gives in now and who gives in later?
If, as you get closer to the wedding date, you find that you are at each others throats and are playing the "blame game" or the "poor me, the martyr" scenario, it's time to stop and take a good hard look at your relationship. Marriage is made up of multitudinous compromises by each of you. It requires give and take, yes and no, me and you in equal proportions. If the problem is a matter of exhaustion or the "jitters" that's one thing. But if you simply cannot work together, take some time to think it over, even if it means postponing the wedding. Some pre-nuptial counseling may be of help before you proceed.
by Irene Conlan
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