Crystal Or Diamond Jewelry Are Perfect For Weddings

Crystal Or Diamond Jewelry Are Perfect For Weddings

Weddings are definitely joyous but exhausting event. One of the major considerations of countless couples who are planning to tie the knot is whether it’s going to be crystal or diamond jewelry for the wedding ring. Aside from the rush of trying to find the right wedding rings for you and your fiancé there are the basics like searching for a venue, the wedding dress, the reception and the like.

Usually, most couples prefer a diamond wedding ring set because it is large enough to be worn by itself. For those who are much into rings, a diamond wedding set is perfect for you because it can serve as an engagement ring and the wedding ring all at the same.

The search is on!

Searching for that perfect diamond wedding ring can be stressful and strenuous because there are so many things to consider such as the beauty, shape, size, and cost. The best thing you can do is to trim down these options based on your personal preference and taste.

If you are one of those couples who are planning to buy a crystal jewelry set for the wedding, it would be best if you find time to research on what is available. If you are looking for the fastest and easiest way to get information on crystal jewelry set, you can browse in the Internet that would lead you to different sites. There are so many information here but you can never be sure if these are reliable or not. If you want to make sure that you are getting reliable information on crystal jewelry, visit jewelry stores yourself or ask from people who are knowledgeable on this. Here are some tips that can help you get by in searching for that dream diamond wedding ring set.

First, you have to choose a diamond wedding ring set that suits your taste and of your fiancé as well. There are actually many settings of diamond wedding ring sets available in most jewelry stores today. If you prefer simple ones, you can opt for a diamond wedding ring set that has contemporary or modern look like those rings with one main diamond surrounded by smaller stones. But if you want a grander one, you might want to look for diamond wedding ring sets that have intricate designs or have traditional and antique look.

Next, know what kind of metal you prefer and also determine its weight based on your budget. The most common setting of any diamond wedding ring set is gold—it can be white gold or yellow gold. Based on standards, fine gold jewelry should be mounted in either a 18-karat (K) which, consists of 18 parts pure gold with 6 parts other metals or a 14-karat (K) that has 14 parts pure gold combined with 10 parts of other metals.

Other common option is platinum because it has remarkable appeal and could last longer. Since it’s more durable compared to gold, a diamond wedding ring set made of platinum can resist breakage, chipping, and cracking over time and most of all, it doesn’t cause any discoloration of the skin.

Lastly, consider the shape of the crystal jewelry. The popular diamond shape for wedding rings is round or brilliant because they tend to sparkle more than other shapes. Other popular cuts for diamond wedding rings include baguette, emerald shape, heart shape, oval shape, pear shape, princess cut, marquise, and trillion wedding rings.

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Bridesmaid Dresses Tips

Bridesmaid Dresses Tips

If you’re planning a wedding, one thing you’ll need to factor in is what the bridesmaids are going to wear. We’ve all heard horror stories about brides who choose hideous gowns that just don’t suit the women wearing them. No one wants to be Bridezilla! Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to pick bridesmaid dresses that look great, don’t cost too much, and don’t compete with the bridal gown. Here are a few tips to help you select the perfect dresses for your bridesmaids.

The number 1 rule is to control as little as you have to. Lots of brides get caught up in the idea that they have to be in control of everything. But the less you actually have to be in charge of, the lower your stress level will be. Ask your wedding party what their favorite styles are, whether they have any concerns about modesty, and what their measurements are. Then, think about what you want out of your wedding.

If you just want the bridal party to look similar, choose a color and a rough style (such as skirt length and shape) and let the bridesmaids pick their own gown. That way, they control fit, dress type, and cost, and can keep all of them within their personal preferences. If you don’t want certain elements in your wedding, be sure to specify. This type of bridesmaid gown selection process is the easiest on everyone. Of course, it won’t work for every wedding – truly formal weddings may require all bridesmaids to match. In this case, try to reach a compromise that will work well on all your bridesmaids, without making anyone feel like “the ugly one” or exceeding the amount they can pay.

Take into consideration the body shapes of your bridesmaids. If they all have similar figures, it’s much easier to find a style that flatters that figure. If you have an assortment of body shapes, which is probably likely, pick the style that looks the best on most of them while not looking a complete disaster on the others.

Remember that formal weddings call for longer gowns, and that you’ll want to stick to a relatively limited color palette. The bridesmaids should look good, but they should also blend in and not take attention away from you. After all, it’s your big day to shine. Get everyone fitted wearing the correct shoes and undergarments, and remind your bridesmaids not to lose a lot of weight right before the wedding. Otherwise, their dresses might not fit. At minimum, the bridesmaids shouldn’t make any major physical changes after the last fitting.

Shop around for the best prices on gowns for your bridesmaids, too. Whether they’re buying them for themselves, or you’re helping with the cost, no one wants to pay more than they have to. Discount shops and online retailers can often offer a good price. Just remember that a gown needs to be available in a wide range of sizes – the last one on the rack isn’t an option when you’re dressing several people. Take the time to think about what works best on your bridesmaids. Remember that you don’t have to be a micromanager, and you’ll have no problem getting a great looking wedding party without much stress.
 

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Active Wedding Reception Games

Active Wedding Reception Games

We’ve all been to receptions that are standard – we welcome and celebrate the new married couple, watch them dance, and enjoy cake with them. But creative couples often enjoy coming up with fun games that include the entire guest list.

Including the guests is an excellent way to get people out of their chairs, meeting people they might not otherwise know and feeling like they are truly a part of the celebration, not just observers.

One fun and active game that can be played by all your guests, including grandma as well as the young children, is “want it now”.

In this game, you designate a master of ceremonies (if you have a DJ for your wedding reception, this person can serve as the DJ). The MC will have a list of “wants” prepared before the reception. Everyone sits at their tables, and waits to hear the command. The MC says he wants a person with painted toenails. All the women with painted toenails run to the front of the room, toward the MC. Each time a table sends someone to the front first, they get a point.

Points should be tallied during the course of this game and prizes awarded at the end of the game. Be sure to have some obvious “wants”, as is the painted toenails, or a man with a mustache or a child with a pink dress. But also include some surprises, like “a man with a brown purse” which will require a man to find a woman at his table with the brown purse and run up to the front of the room with that.

Another fun wedding reception game that includes all your guests is musical chairs using men as the chairs. All the men line up and kneel on one knee. The women begin playing the game of musical chairs, but when the music stops, they must find a knee to sit on. No “chairs” are removed during the version of the game, but instead people are eliminated when either the man falls down when the woman finds his knee or when the woman falls down. Both are out either way, and if both fall down, they are also both out then (as well as perhaps a bit bruised). This is a fun game that often brings on gales of laughter and adds to a relaxed reception atmosphere.

If many guests are traveling a good distance to the wedding or don’t know many other guests, it’s always fun to include a game that will allow them to now only get to know each other but the bride and groom as well. For this game, you’ll need a MC again, which can be a very outgoing member of the wedding party or the DJ. The reception guests are broken into two groups, which can be as simple as having people count off “1, 2, 1, 2″ and so on until the entire guest list is either a “1″ or a “2″. Then the two groups band together for the duration of the game.

The DJ, or MC, offers a series of questions relating to the bride and groom. The teams should work together to answer the questions, then as quickly as possible provide the answer. The bride and groom will confirm if the answer is correct or not. This is an excellent way for otherwise “stranger” guests to get to know one another and have some fun in the process. It’s also an excellent way to get to know the bride and groom!

Organizing games at a wedding reception is a great way to get people involved and make them feel they are truly a part of the celebration. It’s also a way to fill time, if the wedding planners know this isn’t a “dancing” group or if you want to loosen people up for a long night of celebrating. Whether a small or large wedding, reception games work for just about any group.

In addition, don’t assume wedding reception guests will be offended or annoyed by these active games. Most people report to wedding planners they truly enjoy being more active and having fun games to play during a wedding reception.

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Choose A Cheesecake Wedding Cake

Choose A Cheesecake Wedding Cake

If you are considering a cheesecake wedding cake for your special day, you are probably already a cheesecake lover! Many people do not like the traditional white wedding cake and want to break away with something more tasty and versatile. A cheesecake wedding cake is a very popular choice.

If you still want a tiered cake, it is fine to have tiered cheesecakes. Of course, they can be heavy, but so can a traditional fruit cake. Just be sure that you have the tiers and supports set up firmly so that all of the tiers of your cake will stay in place until you are ready to eat!

You can put frosting on a cheesecake wedding cake if you want to. You can also add the traditional bride and groom figures, rose petals, ribbons and anything else you want.

If you are making the cake yourself, you will need to think about storage. Unlike regular cakes, a cheesecake wedding cake will usually need to be kept in the refrigerator. Unless you have a very large refrigerator you may want to store the tiers separately and assemble them at the location of the wedding meal. This also prevents them sliding around while you are transporting them.

Another possibility is to serve individual cupcake sized cheesecakes or small slices, presented on a tiered cake stand. This makes cutting and serving the cake very easy. Be careful not to make individual cheesecakes too big. Remember that guests have usually eaten enough before they reach the cake, and many people will only want a couple of bites.

Even if you have individual cheesecakes, you can still have the bride and groom cut one. They can take one serving, cut it in half in the traditional way with both of their hands on the knife, and then feed each other with the two halves. This can be a lot of fun to watch!

While cheesecake can be a good choice for a small wedding, it is often not so convenient if you have a large number of guests. Cheesecake is flatter so you need more cakes or layers, and that can be difficult to set up in tiers and support. However, you can get around this by having one small cheesecake wedding cake on view, and more in the refrigerator to cut and serve later.

Cheesecake offers a huge variety of possible flavors and colors. This means you have a lot of choice about how your cake will look. You can color it to suit the theme of your wedding, or offer different flavors on different tiers. You can even have a cheesecake wedding cake made in a particular shape, such as a golf course for a golf themed wedding.

You can also choose between different crusts. You may want to use crackers, cookies, chocolate chips, or have a delicious nut crust. For total decadence, try a white chocolate cheesecake wedding cake over macadamia nut crust.

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Black Wedding Dresses

Black Wedding Dresses:
Gothic Shock Or The Ultimate In Sophistication?

Black wedding dresses can give a very formal look without being traditional. Most brides would not choose a black dress for a church wedding, for example. But they can look great in any gothic setting such as a castle or gothic wedding chapel. You can also decorate your wedding venue in gothic style to suit your dress.

While black may be the most prominent color, it does not have to be the only color of your dress. A combination of black and silver can look stunning. Red flounces under the skirt can give a hint of blood at a gothic themed wedding. Black with pink or rose can look extra sophisticated. Or you may just have a few features picked out in black on a mainly white dress, such as beads or embroidery.

Choosing a black dress for a wedding may give you more opportunities to wear the dress again. It is difficult to think of an occasion where you could where a huge white wedding dress except for at your own wedding, but black or almost any other color could be worn again. Many women love classic black evening dresses and to wear one to your wedding seems a natural choice.

It would not be correct to assume that a white wedding is traditional in all cultures. In fact, it is a relatively recent trend, started by Queen Victoria who married in a lacy white ballgown style dress in 1840. Before that, brides would wear any color of dress or costume.

In Spain many brides would traditionally be married in black wedding dresses. Choosing this color is said to mean that the bride will remain faithful to her husband all of her life.

Be aware that some people still find black wedding dresses shocking. You may meet with some resistance from older relatives or those who associate black and gothic themes with witchcraft and consider them anti Christian.

They might also quote you the saying, ‘Married in black, you will wish yourself back,’ implying that you will regret the marriage. You can tell them sure, you will wish yourself back to your wedding day because it will be such a great day and the start of your happy life together!

Some brides like to shock but for the sake of future relationships with your family and older friends you might want to give them a little warning. Explain what you are doing and that there is nothing evil in it. Point out that it will be a wedding to remember. This can go a long way to beating down any resistance in the family to black wedding dresses.

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Affordable Destination Weddings

Affordable Destination Weddings:
Get Married In A National Park

These days, more and more couples want to arrange affordable destination weddings. Getting away from your home setting for your wedding can have a lot of advantages. It makes the whole occasion memorable for everybody, and many destinations are set up for weddings, making the whole thing very easy to arrange.

Remember that it is possible to have affordable destination weddings without leaving your own country. There is no need to travel to Mexico, the Caribbean or any expensive destination. You could just go to the coast or to a lakeside or mountain setting. This makes travel cheaper for you and most of your guests.

Have you thought about getting married in a national park? The natural beauty of the surroundings can make an amazing setting for affordable destination weddings. You can have stunning scenery providing a natural backdrop for all your wedding photos.

Not all national parks allow weddings, but many do. The chapel in Yosemite National Park has been voted one of the best wedding locations. Other well known parks that will accommodate affordable destination weddings include Grand Teton (Wyoming), Glacier (Montana) and Smoky Mountains (Tennessee/North Carolina).

All of these parks offer a chapel and/or reception facilities. Many other parks may have chapels or lodges or allow you to get married in certain areas of the park. Look online to find all the national parks and then search their websites to find out whether they allow weddings. Often, they will have a choice of locations.

You will probably need a special use permit that you can get from the park. You need to fill out and return this form in plenty of time ahead of the wedding, because it can take a while for it to be processed. Don’t forget to take the permit to your wedding. Of course, you will also need a marriage license for the state where the national park is located.

The downside of affordable destination weddings in a national park is that you will have to keep it small. There are likely to be restrictions on the number of cars and the number of guests that you can have.

However, if you do not have much money this can be a good thing. Instead of saying that you cannot afford to invite a lot of people, you can simply explain that the park will only allow 20 guests or whatever. This will go a long way to keeping your costs down without any embarrassment.

Keep in mind that you will not have exclusive use of the park. Tourists and other visitors will probably be around. Of course you can book a chapel, but if you want to have your wedding or the meal afterward in a picnic area, other people could be there too. Also, you and your guests will have to pay the normal entrance fees to the park.

But if you like the great outdoors and appreciate awesome scenery, national parks are a great choice for affordable destination weddings.

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After The Wedding – How To Argue With Your New Spouse

After The Wedding – How To Argue With Your New Spouse

Your wedding ceremony was the celebration of your intention to join your future with that of your fiance, the love of your life. You survived the stress of wedding planning and enjoyed a beautiful and intimate honeymoon.

Now you are home and your life has changed dramatically while both of you adjust to the new meaning of your relationship. Jobs, bills and stresses will take its toll on the dream life you thought being married would provide. You might argue occasionally and by disturbed by that unexpected event in your new life.

One of the great marriage myths you might have believed before you got married was that two people as much in love as you and your spouse are will never argue or be angry with each other. But the healthiest of couples will argue at times and it is not a sign of your relationship breaking down.

If both of you can build a stable sense of trust in knowing that you will disagree with each other and argue at times, then you both will be able to release your feelings without feeling discarded or embarrassed.

You do have to realize, though, that differences of opinion and even loud arguments can be very hurtful if either one of you starts name-calling and painting the other with broad accusations. How you argue is far more important than how many times you argue or even what you argue about.

Following some guidelines will actually preserve your marriage and avoid causing emotional pain to your spouse.

When you argue, stick to the topic and do not escalate the argument by wandering off into other issues and eventually verbally attacking your partner. People commonly say things they regret during a heated argument and, once the damage is done, it is difficult to repair.

Keep your tone and physical stance calm and non-threatening during your argument. Aggressive anger can escalate in a minute and keeping your body loose and calm will reduce that danger. Clenching fists, yelling and stiffly marching around your partner while arguing is definitely threatening. Stay cool.

Some like conflict because it is emotionally stimulating. Do not fall into that trap and start arguments to feel and enjoy the stimulation. If your marriage needs more stimulation, discuss that and together figure out how to spice up your relationship.

During an argument, don’t use the situation as a dump for all the wrongs and misdeeds you can think of. Argue about one thing at a time. Don’t store up hurt feelings and misunderstandings and dump them on your partner when the original argument started about over one thing that could have been easily remedied.

Learn to forgive and forget. Neither one of you is perfect and you both probably have past missteps you might like to forget. Learn to think before you speak and to avoid spewing hurtful accusations at each other. Never, ever start any sentence with, “You always or you never…”

Relationships are fragile during hard times. Arguments can permanently damage any relationship with foolish accusations. Rather than letting an argument escalate beyond all repair, you might agree to disagree. Just because you married each other, it does not mean that you will see eye-to-eye on everything.

Accepting your differences and working out compromises will bring you both closer together.

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30 Days To Go Checklist

30 Days To Go Checklist

After you’ve spent months or a year planning and scheduling every minute detail of your wedding, you will wake up one morning and realize that it’s the last few weeks before the ceremony and there are things you haven’t done. Don’t be surprised if your mind goes blank and you just cannot remember what needs to be done. Stress!

Here is a quick checklist to get you back on track and relieve some of your stress:

• This would be a good time to apply for your marriage license, if you haven’t already done it. Different localities have different requirements so you and your fiancé need to take a little advance care with this process. Normally, this is a task handled by the groom.

The license is usually issued by the County Clerk or the Clerk of the Court. There will be a fee. Check in advance for the fee and method of payment required. Some states require blood tests and others require tests for German Measles, venereal diseases, sickle-cell anemia, tuberculosis, etc.

• Your dress needs a final fitting now to be sure there’s time to make any changes needed. While you are at it, make sure your bridesmaids and groomsmen have their attire ready to go.

• All your vendors need to be contacted to confirm arrival/delivery dates and times. This includes your caterer, florist, musicians, photographer, hotels, reception hall, minister or other officiate, transportation and hotel reservations and the bakery creating your wedding cake.

• Take a little time to check your wedding program for accuracy before you print it. Send a future change of address form to the post office. Make a list of those invited guests who have not responded to your request for an RSVP and ask your mother or sister to contact them. As soon as you know how many out-of-town guests you will have, create your welcome baskets for them.

• As soon as you receive gifts, write thank you notes. People consider it bad manners to have to wait weeks to get thanked for sending a gift.

Two Weeks To Go:

A couple of weeks before your ceremony, flesh out your seating plan and
write your place cards. Confirm any last minute details and tell your caterer how many to expect. Complete your seating chart.

Pick up your dress and hang it where it won’t wrinkle or get caught on something. Occasionally walk around your house wearing your wedding shoes to break them in and make them comfortable for your walk down the aisle.

Arrange for a house sitter while you are on your honeymoon, if necessary. You might need someone to water your plants or take care of your pets while you are gone.

Make sure someone has a list of your honeymoon itinerary and contact information in case of an emergency.

With your fiancé, write toasts for the rehearsal dinner and reception. Attend your bachelor or bachelorette parties.

The Day Before:

Your out-of-town guests will be arriving. Relax with them and make them
comfortable. Personally give them their welcome baskets or have them already in their rooms.

Take a break and have a manicure, pedicure and maybe a massage.

Confirm your transportation schedule.

Attend the rehearsal that afternoon or evening and hold the rehearsal dinner. Give your wedding party their gifts and make sure they know their individual responsibilities, like handing out corsages and boutonnieres, escorting guests down the aisle.

The Big Day:

Give your parents their wedding gifts, if you didn’t do it at the rehearsal dinner.

Follow the schedule you have set up for the morning; hair dresser, make up, etc., and you’ll make it just fine to the wedding with everything running fairly smoothly.

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The Best Man’s Wedding Toast

So, you’re expected to make a toast at your best friend’s wedding, but you don’t know what to say. Honoring the big day and the new couple without either embarrassing yourself and them or coming across dry and wooden can be pretty tricky. You’ll want to put some thought into what you’re going to say and do. Let’s take a look at a few ideas that can help you get started.

First, think about who you are going to be toasting. There are a few conventions in formal or traditional weddings you should be aware of. For instance, as the best man, you’ll be expected to toast the bride. You may be permitted to toast others as well, depending on how formal the wedding is, so pay attention to the circumstances and feel of the wedding.

Start by letting everyone know who you are and how you know the couple. Remember that some guests just won’t know who you are. It’s best to make this clear from the start to prevent confusion. Next, you’ll want to show gratitude to the hosts of the wedding, whether it’s the happy couple, their parents or someone else. Thank them for welcoming you to the occasion.

Most wedding toasts also have a bit of an anecdote, including how you met various parties or how they met, stories you want to tell their children some day, and important elements in your friendship. Don’t go for clichés if you can avoid it, and remember to think about the audience. It’s important to cater to the highest common denominator, if there is such a thing, and avoid offending anyone, especially the parents of the bride and groom.

Learn about the cultures involved in a wedding when more than one culture is involved, and avoid inside jokes or adult humor. Nudity, inappropriate behavior, and sex are all topics left out of most toasts, and you probably shouldn’t talk about politics or religion unless you’re really sure of the audience. If you’re not sure the story is appropriate, avoid it. It’s better to be safe than sorry if you’re the best man giving a toast. Another good rule of thumb is to go easy on the alcoholic beverages before you give the toast.

Remember to offer a compliment about the bride and anyone else you’re giving a toast to. Don’t go on and on about how wonderful they are, however. That could end up boring your audience, and no one wants that. Instead, use just a few adjectives to tell the audience what you think is best about him or her. In addition, remember to end your toast on a positive note. A traditional toast quote, a blessing, or good wishes are common choices. Remember to use your head and think in advance, and you’ll come up with a great wedding toast that everyone will appreciate.

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Getting the Groom Involved in the Planning

Wedding planning isn’t just for the bride; the groom should take some responsibility and have some input in the process too. However, traditionally the arrangements are covered by the bride and her mother. That means that many people don’t know how to get the groom involved. Let’s take a look at a few ways to help him avoid feeling left out of things or run over by your plans.

If you’ve just gotten engaged, you’re going to want to make the announcement. Both of you can create an announcement card to send out by mail or email, or share the responsibility of calling friends and family. Together, make the list of people you’d like to invite to the wedding.

Food is another important portion of your wedding. Your fiancé can help you with the budget, help figure out the catering situation, and maybe come up with a few creative ideas that you haven’t thought of. If one or the other of you is a skilled negotiator, consider delegating that person to work with the vendors to get the best price. Remember, every task is an important one!

You may wish to write your vows together, too. Collaboration can help you come up with the perfect words to say to one another to express your love. Other things you can do together include building decorations for the reception, researching the music and deciding on the DJs, and choosing the videographer or photographer. You’ll want to talk about just what each of you wants out of the wedding.

For many grooms, the wine and other drinks that will be provided at the reception are extremely important. If this is something your guy cares about, or if he loves food, let him handle the food and drink. Resist the urge to micro manage! Each of you has the ability to put together something great without supervision, as long as you’re clear on what needs to be done in advance.

Other things the groom can do to take a little bit of the load off the bride’s shoulders include choosing suits for the wedding, contributing his opinion on colors, theme, and size of the wedding, and choosing the transportation for the big day. He can also handle wedding present registrations and handle mediation with your families if there are problems. He can even talk about the toast with the best man if you’re feeling nervous about it.

It’s a great idea to involve your groom in the wedding planning. Just make sure to include him in the decision making as well as the labor, and relax about his ability to handle things. He can get the job done just as well as you can, and it’ll keep you from feeling quite as stressed and unhappy. If you’ll be married soon, you’re going to be entering a life where you do a lot of things together. Planning your ceremony and reception is a great start.

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