5 Things Couples Often Stop Doing After Marriage (But Shouldn't)

The bridal shower, wedding, and honeymoon are over. The wedding gifts have been unwrapped and thank you notes written. Now, it's time to get into the groove of married life. But you don't want to fall into that rut that so many other couples talk about. You want to stay young and in love. However, life does get in the way. You have to work hard to keep the relationship exciting, fresh, and sustaining.

Here are 5 things couples often stop doing after marriage that they shouldn't!

1. Date nights. An important thing for any couple at any stage of their relationship is date night. Time away from work, friends, family, and kids for just the two of you. Make time for a dinner date or a movie or just taking a walk in the park. The time you dated each other was exciting and new...there's nothing that says you have to lose that.

2. Talking to each other. With the hurriedness of work, kids, household duties, etc., it's so easy to find yourself falling into bed each night with your spouse not having had a conversation at all. It's important for couples to talk to each other. Share your troubles and triumphs. Let them know your thoughts and feelings. Keep each other posted on work issues, what the kids are dealing with at school, what was on TV earlier. Communication is a huge key to a successful, long-standing relationship.

3. Simple flirting. There's nothing that says once the rings are on the fingers that you can't still flirt with each other. Sure, the chase is over, but who says it can't go on. Leave each other love notes in lunches, on the bathroom mirror, with the morning paper. Wink at each other across the room at a neighbor's party. Steal kisses when no one's looking. Hold hands. Keep that zing alive that brought you together in the first place.

4. Close the bathroom door. When couples get too comfortable with each other, some simple things in life can go out the window. Have time for yourself, even if it's closing the bathroom door while you're using it, or doing something you enjoy. You still want to stay the same sexy person your spouse fell in love with. Keep some mystery in things and simply close the door.

5. Have sex. So many couple lose their mojo and stop having sex. It's not that they don't want to. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. They're tired from work. The kids are around. They've got work tomorrow. There are a thousand excuses out there...none of them matter. Love and passion fuel relationships. Of course things will change the longer you're together, but your sex life doesn't need to be put on the back burner or even end. Plan it out. Or don't. Just do it.

It's easy to get into routines and get lazy once the wedding is over. But spending quality time together and continuing to do the things you did before getting married is crucial for the love to last.

Wedding Planning Done Cheap - Simple Guidelines to Wedding Planning No Matter What Your Budget!

Shhh! Nobody wants to you to know this, but there is a conspiracy out there and it's coming from the service industry.

It doesn't matter what your budget is, whether you have $1,000 or $50,000 to spend on your wedding, once you understand the "insider secrets" to the wedding industry, anyone can do their own wedding planning done cheap and still have the wedding that they want.

You see, all of those vendors that you have to hire for your wedding have their trade secrets and once they hear the words "this is for my wedding" a flurry of excitement comes over them and the dollar signs start flying in front of their eyes. Suddenly charges for the most unbelievable things start cropping up everywhere.

So what can you do to protect yourself and get the best services and wedding products for your money? Arm yourself with "insider information." That will definitely level the playing field.

It's a fact, right now the average cost of a wedding is right around $30,000! And one of the biggest reasons that the price is so high is because of the lack of information out there for most brides-to-be. But we're about to change that.

For example, did you know that even the professional wedding planners follow 3 basic steps every time they plan a wedding? That's right, once you master these 3 steps, you will not only be able to plan your own wedding, but you will have saved yourself thousands of dollars and countless hours of time in the process.

Once you become engaged, the First Step that you need to take is to plan the theme of your wedding. This will set the tone for everything that follows. After the two of you decide on a theme, you will be amazed at how many other steps to planning a wedding will just come naturally.

The Second Step for wedding planning done cheap is to set your budget. This is absolutely imperative. Once you have determined your theme, setting a budget should be simple. Make sure that you have the total amount, including who will be responsible for what. This means getting commitments from anyone else other than the two of you who has agreed to give you additional funds.

The Third Step is to get your hands on a good Wedding Planning Timeline. This is where the details come in. A Good Wedding Planning List should start at least twelve to 16 months before your date and go right up to the Wedding Day itself. When you know what time frame you are looking at and what key tasks must be performed in each month, then you will not be overwhelmed. But most importantly, you will not forget even the smallest of details.

Anyone can do wedding planning done cheap. But the difference between your fairy tail wedding and a disaster lies within these 3 steps.

How to Have a Starfish Themed Beach Wedding

We are very much lucky to have lived in this world where everything is provided. The nature has a lot to offer that a thing which may appear trivial is actually of something important use. Indeed nothing is a good substitute for nature. Nature weddings for instance, you can get inspiration from the things around you. One among the famous type is beach wedding where there's no other word to describe it but, simply fascinating. In a beach wedding, there's a technique to make it different from the typical ones. You can make the starfish as an inspiration and the dominant theme of your wedding. How? Continue reading and you might pick some seashells of ideas on the sand.

Do not be too literal in having starfish as your wedding theme. Don't go to the point that everything you see is starfish. Do it in a balanced but fashionable way. Subtlety can be considered wherein you don't obviously mean a starfish themed beach wedding. I said this because your wedding might not appear a wedding anymore, rather, costume party of any sort. You don't want this to happen, don't you?

One way to make it an index in your wedding is to incorporate it to your tokens, wedding invitations and wedding cake. You can make it by adding some specks of white sand and some petite shells embedded in your wedding invitations. Another option is to have a message in a bottle type of invitation. Just get a bottle, fill it with sand and small seashells, scroll in the invitation and seal it with a cork with a small starfish clinging on it. It's totally gorgeous for sure. On tokens, you can have it in a bottle likewise. Smaller ones preferably but this time, you can insert a small picture of the couple instead of paper. On cake, have it designed like the starfish are sticking on the cake but the color should be white, like most of wedding cake does.

One way to make it a real starfish themed wedding, you can have real starfishes scattered on the sand right on your wedding venue. Make sure of course that they won't eat much of the space. Include shells and pebbles as well. A good tip, scatter silver or gold glitters around, it will make the sand glimmer when struck by the sunlight.

Starfish themed weddings are getting popular this time. Make sure to give it a deeper look because it might be the right one for you and your better half.

Make Your Wedding Invitations - Wedding Reception Card Wording

You have everything lined up. Your guest list is almost complete and you are now ready to face the wedding invitation challenge. Why not make your wedding invitations. This will allow you to save money and make unique invites that will be all your own. Below you will find information on the wedding reception card wording.

Your wedding reception cards are a big part of your invites.

Here are some wedding reception card wording ideas:

1. Dinner reception to be held following ceremony: Place: Address


2. Reception Dinner and Dance: immediately following ceremony: Place: Address


3. Reception: at six o'clock in the evening: Place: Address: City, State


4. Cocktails served at five o'clock: Dinner served at six o'clock: Dancing eight until midnight: place: address


5. Luncheon Reception: immediately following ceremony: Place Address


6. To help us celebrate,: please join us for the Reception: immediately following the ceremony: Place


7. Reception: following the ceremony: at the home of: Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Hall: address

As you can see there are various types of receptions. You can use the appropriate wording for the type of reception you will have.

Now, if you are making your wedding invitations, you can add a reception card that would be the same size as the RSVP card. All of your cards should match. If you have a very formal wedding you will probably choose to use a reception card in your invitation set. The rule here is that if your reception is in the same location as the wedding you can put the information on your reception as corner copy.

With the tight budgets that wedding have today, it is common for couples to add the reception information right to the wedding card. This would mean putting this as corner copy. You would simply add a couple extra blank spaces after your wedding information.

In the right corner you would put the information for your reception. This would match the invitation in style and font. This would also hold true if you are using a seal and send wedding invitation.

I hope this helps with what the proper wedding reception card wording should be. The first thing you need to do is determine the type of wedding reception you are choosing to have. A dinner and dance reception can have too much information to put as corner copy.

Having the information separate from the invitation allows the quests to have a card to carry. This will let them know where to go after the wedding ceremony. You will have many guests who will go to the reception but skip the wedding.

If you are making your wedding invitations, again make everything match. You can easily do this and keep in mind that although the reception card does not need an envelope and you can just have a matching flat card cut to put your information on. You do not have to have an expensive folded card for this.

Again, this should give you several options for wedding reception card wording. Enjoy your special day.

The Classic Volkswagen Kombi - Does It Still Make A Practical Daily Driver?

The air-cooled Volkswagen Kombi is a motoring icon. It's a classic van that is chock full of character, and a lot of young guys (and girls) still aspire to own one as their daily driver. But are they getting a bit long in the tooth now to make a practical vehicle for daily use?

I drive my 1976 2 liter bay window every day, and my experience gives a good indication of what you may have to do to make your unrestored Kombi safe and comfortable to drive as your main car.

Volkswagen Kombis are well over 30 years old now and it shows. I've spent a lot of time and money over the last few years getting mine back to a reasonable condition, and if you buy a cheap Kombi you have to be prepared to do the same. Even a more expensive Kombi will most likely need some repairs and TLC.

The 1800cc and 2 liter models are the most practical because they have more get up and go than the models with smaller engines, though it does cost more to rebuild the engines.

First the upside.

Kombis are cool, they're iconic, they have character and they are definitely not boring.

They are fun to drive and when they are in good nick they are comfortable and handle well with good steering. The later model bay windows keep up with the traffic fine and can cruise on 60 mph all day, though they do slow down on bigger hills.

And they are practical. There's lots of room in a Kombi. Maybe it's not as good as a modern van because of the hump for the rear engine, but they still make a great camper or an 8 seater van with room for luggage or groceries. Ground clearance is good and the engine over the rear wheels gives good traction for a two wheel drive if you want to get off the beaten track a bit.

Now, here's what to be aware of if you plan on owning one of these as your daily driver.

Rust of course is the biggest killer of Kombis or any old car. You're much better off spending a bit more money and getting a reasonably rust free Kombi. Given that you do find a rust free Kombi though, there are still a lot of things to eat up your money before it's even practical to use your van on a daily basis.

The engine may be worn out. I rebuilt mine a couple of years ago with new barrels and pistons, all new bearings, reground crankshaft and camshaft, and rebuilt heads. The heads were converted for use with unleaded petrol at the same time. This all costs money.

The steering and suspension are safety related and have to be right.

On the suspension I've replaced the four main ball joints and the shockies. With the steering I've replaced all the tierrod ends and the main center pin. The steering damper is next on the replacement list, and that should see the steering right for my Kombi. It's always possible that yours may need a new steering box as well.

Your Kombi's brakes also need to be right. Brake linings are something that do need regular replacing, but I've also replaced the rear brake drums because they were worn beyond limits, and the front discs will need replacing next time the front brake pads are done.

I've replaced all the flexible brake hoses because they are well over thirty years old now and they do get brittle and I've replaced some of the metal brake lines because they were corroded. The rear brake cylinders were replaced a few years ago and the front brake calipers were rebuilt with new seals.

On the rear drive train there are four cv joints, and the ones on my bay window were very sad. They were replaced along with the rear wheel bearings.

One very important area to look at is the fuel lines for the engine. Kombis do burn, and it's caused by petrol spraying all over the engine. Check the fuel lines carefully and if they look old and cracked replace them with quality fuel line. Make sure that they are not rubbing on the tinware and that the pipes going into the carby and fuel pump are not loose. This is important!

As well as things that you know may need fixing, there is always the unexpected. A spray nozzle came loose from the carby in my bay window and went through the engine. It's only a small thin brass tube but it sounded as though there were marbles rattling around in the engine. Luckily there was no damage, but it did mean pulling out the engine and taking off the cylinder heads to check everything and to remove the remains of the spray nozzle. And just this week I've had to replace the alternator.

As well as mechanical wear and tear there are the cosmetics to think about. Your cheap Kombi may need a paint job, new carpets, new upholstery, and even the front seats may need attention.

On the comfort side new door seals and window seals may be needed to stop rattles and drafts. The heater may need some attention. On my Kombi the heater cables had seized. That didn't worry me until I moved from a hot part of the country to a much colder area where temperatures get below freezing in the winter.

On the plus side parts are readily available. For my Kombi, a 1976 2 liter model, I have been able to buy every part I have needed apart from the carby spray nozzles, and even then I was able to get by with parts of a different model VW.

My opinion is that despite all the repairs and restoration, Volkswagen Kombis can still be a practical daily driver. You do need to accept the fact that your purchase price is only part of the story, and that you will have to spend time and money bringing your classic Kombi back to a safe and comfortable condition.

Photo Wedding Invitations

If you have a wedding coming up you will want to make sure all your family, friends and invited guests receive their invitations in a stylish format. One sure-fire way to make your invites look great is to use photo wedding invitations. There are several different styles of invitations you could use, as invites to your big day.

It is possible to select your favourite photo wedding invitations and make it to your own specifications online. It is now possible to upload your own images to your PC, and then adjust the background to sort out your favourite image backdrop and then even change things like the font, size and borders. You can design the invitations to any style you choose.

For example, why not take an image of you and your fianc矇e and then use a river bank as a backdrop or a smoky hazed border? Black and white invitations are becoming ever more popular these days as colour invitations for the wedding can be translated as a little garish by some. It is also possible to design your own photo wedding invitations from scratch. With a little work, your unique invitations will appear like expensive, well made invites, where you can impress all of your friends and family.

All you require to make your own invitations is card stock, wired ribbon, paper cutter and good super glue. You can even add picture corners too. This is a great way to save some money and still achieve that elegant looking design. You can even buy a special kit, that includes all the materials and decorations you will need. So, what is the best way to address your invitations once you have made them?

Normally, the outer envelope of your wedding invitations should be slightly formal. Use titles like Dr Mr, Prof and Master etc. You can keep the inside envelope slightly more informal and leave off the titles if you want. If you are addressing your invitations to a married couple the outside should appear something like "Mr. Joe and Mrs Sharon Bloggs." On the inside it would look something like, "Mr and Mrs Bloggs."

When the time arrives at addressing wedding invitations, you might want to learn some calligraphy skills by using a pen with a calligrapher's pointy tip. This will give your invitations that elegance and style. And of course, remember to take several photos of you and your fianc矇e for your photo wedding invitations.

How to Pick Your Wedding Invitations

Once you have your wedding and reception venues, if they are different you are ready to start on your invitations, although not to send them out, but to decide how you will execute them with the wording, designs, and what's inside the envelope. Some of it depends on the type or formality of your wedding; whether it is casual or formal. You could go with an email if it is a very casual event. If it is a more traditional or formal wedding then you'll probably want to have engraved invitations or you could do them yourself or have some straight out of a box. You've heard of Bed-in-a-Bag right, well now at Michaels (craft store) they have something that looks like Bride-in-a-Box, although that is not what they call it. It's really called The Bride. I like my title better, but there might already be something else called that.

Whatever direction you choose, make sure you are aware of the price point surrounding your choice. Remember, however many guests you would like at the wedding the cost for postage will minimally be $0.44/invitation (until the price of stamps rises) and really if you are including two sets of envelopes (outer to them and an inner back to you) it might be as much as $0.80 - $1.50/invitation. Unless you are hand delivering each invitation, that is your bottom line.

Suggestion: Pick out the envelope size and shape, then assemble all of the parts of your invitation and take to your local post office to find out the price of each invitation before you make your final decision. You can take several different configurations, so you know exactly what each one's price point is. Tip: A rectangle envelope is considered standard postage, whereas a square envelope is not and requires additional postage.

There are many styles of invitations, including the ones that you design yourself depending on your budget. Here are a few you might see:

The Pocket - Usually a 3-sectioned folded card stock, consisting of two folds. The fold closest to the bottom or to the right if horizontal rather than vertical, holds the invitation announcement. (Also known as the pocket fold enclosure.) Envelope is extra.

The Pochette - Square center with four rounded flaps. (If you think about it too hard and look at it objectively, it is reminiscent of a diaper with four rounded flaps rather than two.) Usually sealed with a cute sticker. Folds into itself so you can mail it out. For return RSVP, enclose a small self-addressed stamped card for guests return response.

Seal & Send - Usually four sections with a perforation for the return card. There are three folds with one as the perforated card that folds into itself and you seal it before sending it out to your guests. This saves you time and extra postage by eliminating the envelope.

Jacket Invitation - Usually invitation is made of card stock wrapped in a cutaway vellum (much like a tuxedo jacket) held in place with by ribbon.

Gate Fold - Similar to the Jacket invitation, except that the folded flaps meet in the middle. Can be held together with a seal, but commonly held together with ribbon. Envelope extra.

Layer Invitation - Usually the top card* has the information or wording on it. The card is another color which frames the invitation itself. Trivia: Often the top layer of the card's color is a representation of the bride and the color of the bottom card layer is representative of the groom. Sometimes the ink is the same color as the bottom card's color which integrates the two people coming together in marriage.

There are of course many other various types of invitations. I am sure I have only scratched the surface and I believe some of these names will change from company to company. For our invitation papers, I went to Paper Presentation on West 18th Street, between 6th & 7th Avenues. I used all of my invitation layers from their paper collection. *(I used special paper rather than card stock, which kept the postage down.) My invitations were a combination of gate and layered, so there is some creativity available, no matter the formality of your wedding.

They also have a wedding engraving section on the second floor and if you know what you want when you go in you can have your invitation back within a day or two of ordering. You may of course want to go with a department store or even online. All-in-all, your choices are varied. All you have to do is decide what you really like, whether it expresses the feel of your nuptials and if it is within your budget.

Some New Ideas to Addressing Wedding Invitation Envelopes

You are all excited and you want to get an idea of how to make your wedding invitations. More importantly addressing wedding invitation envelopes. You would love to have them done by a calligrapher but it is so expensive.

What are your options. If you have beautiful penmanship than hand addressing them would be great. Use a high quality pen and test the ink to make sure that it will look good when it is dry. You don't want a pen that will offset, or have an imprint on something else. Fast drying is a must here!

If hand addressing them scares you, and you are thinking about labels, OOPS! I don't like labels on an invitation. The subconscious mind has already determined that a label with their address delivered to them is junk mail! Some say that a clear label is fine, I prefer not.

So what is the other option. You can't afford a calligrapher, your handwriting is terrible, and you don't want to use labels. What about addressing them on your computer to match the invitations. Use the same font and colors that you have in your invitations. Addressing wedding invitation envelopes can be fun.

If you made your own wedding invites you can easily match your cards to the envelopes. If you had your announcements done from another company than use some scrap and try to match what you chose from them. Fonts are different, but if you come close that will be fine. If you don't have anything close use a font similar to calligraphy. If you can't match the same color use a black ink.

Another point that you can remember is that if you use an epson ink jet printer that uses water proof ink, you won't have to worry about your invite getting wet. This can make them streak and that isn't a good look. If you are using another printer and it doesn't use a water proof ink, spray them with a mist of hair spray this will coat the ink with a protection. Some printers will be fine even if they don't have the waterproof ink. Some streak more than others.

In many cases addressing your envelopes to match the wedding card, will make an expensive looking invitation package the whole way around. If you didn't get your RSVP envelope addressed you can also print that on your computer printer too.

Again I have been doing this for years. It really isn't difficult and I get compliments all the time. When someone new gets into the line of receiving these invitations they tell me how nice they look. I love that! It also makes them feel important to see their name in a beautiful script on your wedding announcement.

So if you are thinking about addressing wedding invitation envelopes, look no farther than your computer. It can do the job much cheaper than the $1.50 an envelope calligrapher. Why not give it a try?

Are You Looking Forward to Your Wedding More Than Your Marriage?

Why are all women trained from birth to have these dreams of a huge wedding and a get marriage when they become adults? Is it not somewhat unobtainable or even fictional to assume that can actually happen and to train your daughter to look forward to a fairytale life when they grow up? It is this type of theory that parents instill in their daughters at very young ages that causes the overbearing desire for women to turn into bridezillas when they finally do become engaged and begin to plan their weddings.

It can drive your fiance absolutely insane when they put that ring on your finger and you transform your life into wedding central. Why do women do this? It is mostly because they are trained from birth that the day they get married is to be the biggest day of their lives, a time for celebration and to be treated like a queen for the day. It is almost comical how much emphasis society has placed on weddings for the women involved, as if the men getting married are just there to park the cars? Why it is not so important for men to be equally as celebrated as the women when they get married? When you have found someone to spend your life with and to have children with it certainly is something that is wonderful and should be praised. It is when the actual thought of the wedding or the planning of it takes over the actual meaning of what the wedding stands for that becomes an issue. Some couples even break up before the big day simply due to the huge amount of planning and pressure they are feeling regarding the wedding. Everyone must consider "Do you truly want to get married" before they commit to it.

It can be a very common situation that many couples get married or become engaged just because they are comfortable with one another or because their family and friends want them to more than they actually do. They begin to plan a wedding that they are not ready for or they begin to focus more on the actual wedding than they do on their future marriage. A wedding is to be a day when you and the one you intend to spend your life with are united and not a performance for your whole social circle to enjoy. Weddings have become shows or plays now instead of valuing what is really happening with the relationship. Some people actually want the wedding more than the relationship which is never a good thing. Speak with your potential future spouse openly first about what type of wedding you would like and what type of lifestyle you desire in the future before getting married for the wrong reasons. Ensure that you both have common values and emphasize on your love for each other versus the celebration of the wedding. If you find that one party in the engagement is focused more on the wedding than on the future, you have to address those feelings prior to making your commitment to ensure you are both making the right decision.

Commercial Catering Supplies

There are many Commercial Catering Suppliers on the web who can supply all different types of catering products and services. Their goal is to provide caterers, corporate event planners, wedding planners, outdoor sporting events and political events at different levels, with everything they need to run a smooth and professional catering operation. Most commercial catering companies source the best quality products from all over the world and offer them at very reasonable prices.

Some commercial catering suppliers carry all the major catering industry name brands, and in addition to catering supplies, they also sell high quality catering equipment including:

繚 Food processors

繚 Refrigerators

繚 Induction ranges

繚 Convection ovens

繚 Slicers

繚 Warming cabinets

繚 Different type of cook tops

繚 Freezers and commercial refrigerators

Many commercial catering suppliers will often supply speciality products such as:

繚 Chafers

繚 Display trays

繚 Coffee urns

繚 Ice moulds

繚 Linens in a wide range of assorted shapes and sizes

Very many other related items are available such as products which are used in food transportation, and some of these items will include:

繚 Insulated pan carriers

繚 Insulated bags

繚 Utility carts

繚 Various types of food containers in a wide range of colours and sizes

Other catering accessories that caterers can stock up affordably include; fry pans, chef knives and sheet pans. Disposable goods for the catering industry include; foam cups, foam hinged containers, disposable foil pans, service Clingfilm and aluminium foil.

There are many commercial catering suppliers on the web who can supply all different types of catering products and services. Their goal is to provide caterers, corporate event planners, wedding planners, outdoor sporting events and political events at different levels, with everything they need to run a smooth and professional catering operation. Most commercial catering companies source the best quality products from all over the world and offer them at very reasonable prices.

Some commercial catering suppliers carry all the major catering industry name brands, and in addition to catering supplies, they also sell high quality catering equipment including:

繚 Food processors

繚 Refrigerators

繚 Induction ranges

繚 Convection ovens

繚 Slicers

繚 Warming cabinets

繚 Different type of cook tops

繚 Freezers and commercial refrigerators

Many commercial catering suppliers will often supply speciality products such as:

繚 Chafers

繚 Display trays

繚 Coffee urns

繚 Ice moulds

繚 Linens in a wide range of assorted shapes and sizes

Very many other related items are available such as products which are used in food transportation, and some of these items will include:

繚 Insulated pan carriers

繚 Insulated bags

繚 Utility carts

繚 Various types of food containers in a wide range of colours and sizes

Other catering accessories that caterers can stock up affordably include; fry pans, chef knives and sheet pans. Disposable goods for the catering industry include; foam cups, foam hinged containers, disposable foil pans, service Clingfilm and aluminium foil.

There are many commercial catering suppliers on the web who can supply all different types of catering products and services. Their goal is to provide caterers, corporate event planners, wedding planners, outdoor sporting events and political events at different levels, with everything they need to run a smooth and professional catering operation. Most commercial catering companies source the best quality products from all over the world and offer them at very reasonable prices.

Some commercial catering suppliers carry all the major catering industry name brands, and in addition to catering supplies, they also sell high quality catering equipment including:

繚 Food processors

繚 Refrigerators

繚 Induction ranges

繚 Convection ovens

繚 Slicers

繚 Warming cabinets

繚 Different type of cook tops

繚 Freezers and commercial refrigerators

Many commercial catering suppliers will often supply speciality products such as:

繚 Chafers

繚 Display trays

繚 Coffee urns

繚 Ice moulds

繚 Linens in a wide range of assorted shapes and sizes

Very many other related items are available such as products which are used in food transportation, and some of these items will include:

繚 Insulated pan carriers

繚 Insulated bags

繚 Utility carts

繚 Various types of food containers in a wide range of colours and sizes

Other catering accessories that caterers can stock up affordably include; fry pans, chef knives and sheet pans. Disposable goods for the catering industry include; foam cups, foam hinged containers, disposable foil pans, service Clingfilm and aluminium foil.

There are many commercial catering suppliers on the web who can supply all different types of catering products and services. Their goal is to provide caterers, corporate event planners, wedding planners, outdoor sporting events and political events at different levels, with everything they need to run a smooth and professional catering operation. Most commercial catering companies source the best quality products from all over the world and offer them at very reasonable prices.

Some commercial catering suppliers carry all the major catering industry name brands, and in addition to catering supplies, they also sell high quality catering equipment including:

繚 Food processors

繚 Refrigerators

繚 Induction ranges

繚 Convection ovens

繚 Slicers

繚 Warming cabinets

繚 Different type of cook tops

繚 Freezers and commercial refrigerators

Many commercial catering suppliers will often supply speciality products such as:

繚 Chafers

繚 Display trays

繚 Coffee urns

繚 Ice moulds

繚 Linens in a wide range of assorted shapes and sizes

Very many other related items are available such as products which are used in food transportation, and some of these items will include:

繚 Insulated pan carriers

繚 Insulated bags

繚 Utility carts

繚 Various types of food containers in a wide range of colours and sizes

Other catering accessories that caterers can stock up affordably include; fry pans, chef knives and sheet pans. Disposable goods for the catering industry include; foam cups, foam hinged containers, disposable foil pans, service Clingfilm and aluminium foil.

There are many commercial catering suppliers on the web who can supply all different types of catering products and services. Their goal is to provide caterers, corporate event planners, wedding planners, outdoor sporting events and political events at different levels, with everything they need to run a smooth and professional catering operation. Most commercial catering companies source the best quality products from all over the world and offer them at very reasonable prices.

Some commercial catering suppliers carry all the major catering industry name brands, and in addition to catering supplies, they also sell high quality catering equipment including:

繚 Food processors

繚 Refrigerators

繚 Induction ranges

繚 Convection ovens

繚 Slicers

繚 Warming cabinets

繚 Different type of cook tops

繚 Freezers and commercial refrigerators

Many commercial catering suppliers will often supply speciality products such as:

繚 Chafers

繚 Display trays

繚 Coffee urns

繚 Ice moulds

繚 Linens in a wide range of assorted shapes and sizes

Very many other related items are available such as products which are used in food transportation, and some of these items will include:

繚 Insulated pan carriers

繚 Insulated bags

繚 Utility carts

繚 Various types of food containers in a wide range of colours and sizes

Other catering accessories that caterers can stock up affordably include; fry pans, chef knives and sheet pans. Disposable goods for the catering industry include; foam cups, foam hinged containers, disposable foil pans, service Clingfilm and aluminium foil.

There are many commercial catering suppliers on the web who can supply all different types of catering products and services. Their goal is to provide caterers, corporate event planners, wedding planners, outdoor sporting events and political events at different levels, with everything they need to run a smooth and professional catering operation. Most commercial catering companies source the best quality products from all over the world and offer them at very reasonable prices.

Some commercial catering suppliers carry all the major catering industry name brands, and in addition to catering supplies, they also sell high quality catering equipment including:

繚 Food processors

繚 Refrigerators

繚 Induction ranges

繚 Convection ovens

繚 Slicers

繚 Warming cabinets

繚 Different type of cook tops

繚 Freezers and commercial refrigerators

Many commercial catering suppliers will often supply speciality products such as:

繚 Chafers

繚 Display trays

繚 Coffee urns

繚 Ice moulds

繚 Linens in a wide range of assorted shapes and sizes

Very many other related items are available such as products which are used in food transportation, and some of these items will include:

繚 Insulated pan carriers

繚 Insulated bags

繚 Utility carts

繚 Various types of food containers in a wide range of colours and sizes

Other catering accessories that caterers can stock up affordably include; fry pans, chef knives and sheet pans. Disposable goods for the catering industry include; foam cups, foam hinged containers, disposable foil pans, service Clingfilm and aluminium foil.

Personalized Wedding Favors - Say Thank You With Personalized Style

There is nothing better than being able to give your guests a wedding favor that has the bride and grooms name and the date of their marriage. This is by far the best way to remind guests of your wedding day for a very long time. You can also do this with monogrammed favors, which will have the script used in your other wedding materials.

Personalized wedding favors can be catered to fit your wedding style, For the beach styled or ocean front wedding, you can use the personalized Adirondack chair with tealite candle or a personalized heart glass bottle with sand and seashells. Personalized plant able favors are a great option for a spring or summer wedding, you have choices like wild flower daisies and wild flower hearts.

Edible wedding favors can also be personalized. There are personalized bags of coffee favors. You can get personalized lifesaver favors or personalized chocolate bars. How about and elegant favor like a personalized wine bottle label which makes a long lasting gift for your guests?

Glass wedding favors can also be personalized. There a coasters that can have a photo added, or maybe a mini version of the wedding invitation, or perhaps a personal note to all your guests. You can get personalized champagne flutes which give an added touch to the wedding toast. There a personalized shot glasses/ votive candle holders or monogrammed votive candle holders.

Most wedding favors can be personalized with a ribbon or thank you tag that has been personalized. Perhaps you would like a more elegant option, so the monogrammed gift box is more to your taste. There are tealight candles available in personalized tins. However tags and or favor labels are an easy way to personalize any favor, after all you really want people to remember where your special day.

Throwing A Baby Shower On A Budget

If you need to throw a baby shower for a friend but don't have a lot of money at your disposal, then the following tips for throwing a baby shower on a budget may be just what you need for a fun and memorable occasion for the new mother to be.

There are a lot of things that you can do to reduce the overall costs of throwing a shower. We'll cover a few of the important ones here.

First, when looking for shower supplies, search local discount party stores and wholesale party supply companies. Also consider looking into wholesale mail order party supplies both online and offline as you may find good prices that aren't available locally. Some basic supplies can be found at "dollar" stores and other local discount stores selling miscellaneous goods. Another place to get great, inexpensive shower supplies would be from a yard or garage sale. Some people may think, "why buy used?" Give it a little thought, people impulse buy and have left over items they never use. You can purchase lots of "new" items from a yard sale for a fraction of the cost! Another suggestion, check your local "Craigslist" or freecycle group. Same concept applies! You can find other people excess of party supplies among other things.

Another tip for throwing a baby shower on a budget is making sure you get the invitations for the best price. Doing the invitations yourself or with the help of a tech-and-design-savvy friend is often a good option, as long as the results don't look amateur. Some of the best baby shower invitations are DIY ones, so don't dismiss this option! You can prepare these invitations in a photo 4x6 format, take it to your local Walgreen's or Wal-Mart and have each one printed for less than 20 cents each and look professional!

The third and final tip for today is to make sure you know how many people are coming. This can be done by simply communicating with the guests and/or trying to get everyone to RSVP as soon as possible so that you know well ahead of time who is and isn't coming (and therefore know what supplies you do and don't need.)

There are more ways to save money on a baby shower than I'm covering here today, but the above tips are a good start and will hopefully help get you thinking on the right track for an inexpensive but wonderful shower for the new mom to be.

8 Fights Every Engaged Couple Should Have Before Their Wedding Day

Being a bride-to-be is certainly fabulous - a sparkling rock on your left hand, a valid excuse to go overboard on shopping (you need those Manolos for your honeymoon, after all), parties thrown in your honor, blowout arguments with your fiance... Uh, I beg your pardon?

Of course I jest - but there's a hint of truth here. Remember, the engagement period is more than the time needed to plan a big party. It's also the trial run for your marriage and future life together. And guess what - any unresolved issues during your engagement are clues to future marriage woes. The bottom line - discuss potential challenges and disagreements now, not after you've cut the wedding cake.

So while up until now you may have been the couple that never fights - here's your chance. Read this list of the top pre-wedding fights - er - discussions to have before you say "I do."

The "Don't Leave the Toilet Seat Up" Tussle

Now's the time to address any petty grievances you both may have ignored until now. You've heard it a thousand times, and it holds true here - communication is key. We know - blah, blah, blah - but it's cliche for a reason. You need to clear the air now, because these little gripes - left unsaid - can build up underlying tension over the years - only to bubble over and explode into a completely unrelated future argument. Remember to keep this discussion productive and lighthearted. Nagging or initiating a screaming duel over his pants left on the floor (again) is not going to solve anything.

The "You Want Me To Do What?" Melee

Unless a personal maid and assistant is on your bridal registry (a novel idea!) - someone's gonna have to scour the shared bathroom in your new dwelling... You'll soon find that they key to marital bliss is agreement on whose task is whose. While an itemized chore list is a tad ambitious, lay out expectations in advance and avoid future blowups. You should know each other well enough by this point to divvy tasks accordingly: common sense dictates that your fiance who bounced 3 checks last month should relinquish bill duty, and if your white sheets are now gray - best hand over laundry duty. And while you're divvying out chores - discuss broader marriage roles. How do you see yourself as a wife? a mother? a professional? How does he see himself?

The "When Should We Procreate?" Debate

Don't even consider walking down that aisle without a game plan for children. Avoid this discussion, and you risk bringing innocent bystanders into a world of dysfunction - namely, yours. Before your wedding day, reach a consensus on: when those little feet will start to pitter patter, how many feet will be doing the pattering, and whether they'll even patter at all.

The "Festivus for the Rest of Us " Controversy

If your Tree is his Festivus Pole - it's time to talk religion. Planning an interfaith marriage can be tricky. Discuss together your values, and identify what religious traditions are most meaningful for each of you to incorporate into your wedding ceremony and marriage. How will you combine holidays? Raise your children? And even if you share the same religious background - what role will religion play in your life together?

The "Not Tonight Dear, I Have a Headache" Tug of War

Sure - things may be spicy now - but your sex life is bound to evolve and change a number of times throughout your marriage. What are your sexual expectations? Are you able to speak openly about sex? Have a frank discussion now - when your relationship is new and confidence is high. Otherwise, you risk establishing a pattern of avoidance and inability to discuss sexual wants and needs - a huge marital red flag.

The "Does This Make Me Look Fat?" Confrontation

'Til death do you part... that allows an awful long time for your body to age. And even if you both succeed in fighting off middle age weight gain, inevitable wrinkles, gray hairs, or hairs in the wrong places will eventually makeover your once- youthful selves. How are you going to deal? What are your expectations for your own and your spouse's physical upkeep?

The "You charged WHAT to the Amex?" Brawl

Without a doubt - financial woes are one of the main stressors in a marriage and a primary cause of divorce. For new couples, the topic of money can be uncomfortable - and certainly unromantic. But how romantic will it be when you're forced to pawn that rock on your left finger to pay off your groom's insurmountable gambling debts? Bottom line - get over yourself - and practice full financial disclosure. What will be your combined income as a newly married couple? Do you have any current debt and how will you manage it together? Is there anything (real estate, travel, college fund) for which you're willing to take on debt? How will you manage savings? Investments? How and when do you plan to retire?

The "Not So All in the Family" Feud

Ah, in laws - the quintessential love/hate relationship. Remember - when you marry the man - you also marry the family. So while it's not essential to tell your hubby-to-be exactly how you feel about his needling mother, it is important to come to terms with family involvement and what level of closeness is acceptable. If your idea of the perfect Thanksgiving involves skiing in Switzerland and his involves a big sit down with his extended family in Toledo - it's best to express these expectations out now, and start crafting a compromise.

Make Beautiful Autumn Leaves

Autumn's cooler weather inspires us to make some autumn crafts. Whether it's wreaths for the door or decor for the home, there are many great craft ideas to deck out your home. The changing leaves in colors of gold and copper are beautiful and are a symbol that autumn has arrived. Unfortunately, some people who live in the southern states don't get to experience the changing of leaves. Their leaves stay a vibrant green all year long. Many people plan vacations to northern states just to see the changing of the leaves. While this may not be feasible for everyone, perhaps bringing a little bit of autumn into your home can help put you in the spirit. One idea is fun, easy and can be done in a minimal amount of time. Here are instructions to make beautiful autumn leaves using actual leaves as your template.

Here's what you'll need:

Real leaves
Window screen from a hardware store
Newspaper
Gold spray paint
White printer paper
Permanent black marker
Scissors
Gold, copper and bronze paint pens

Let's get started:

First, cut a rectangle or square piece of window screen that is slightly larger than the leaf.

Second, place the cut piece of screen on a piece of newspaper and spray with gold spray paint. Allow to dry. Then turn the leaf over, spray the other side and allow to dry.

Third, place the leaf on a piece of white printer paper. Place the gold piece of window screen over the leaf. Using the black permanent marker, trace the outer edge of the leaf. Once you have done that, then add the veins.

Fourth, cut out the leaf from the window screen.

Fifth, use the gold, copper and bronze paint pens to outline the leaf and add the veins.

Lastly, bend the screen slightly to give the appearance of a real leaf.

These leaves can be used to decorate napkin rings or placed in a clear vase and used as a centerpiece. The possibilities are endless. Whichever way you use leaves to decorate your home, you can be sure that your home will have the spirit of autumn. So, pick up your supplies and get started because it's the season to start crafting.

Take Pictures Like A Professional With These Photography Tips

Many people are interested in photography but are unsure if they have the skills to become good at it. It is important to keep in mind that it is especially helpful to learn anything and everything possible about setting up your shot. This article will give you a few tips and hints to improve your photography skills.

Understand that smiling photographs aren't the only kind of pictures. Real stories are told when people are allowed to express themselves as they really are. The most memorable photographs in history are those that tell stories and convey emotions, such as "Migrant Mother" or "Vietnam Napalm." No matter if your pictures change someone's life or are simply an everyday happening, the emotions should be nothing less than real.

Learn to properly hold your camera when shooting in photography. If you do not hold the camera steady, your picture will not come out perfect. Make sure that your arms remain next to your body while the cameras lens is supported by your off hand.

Figure out the best blend of aperture, ISO and shutter speed. That combination will decide your picture's exposure. It is possible to use overexposed photos in some cases, but generally these should be avoided. Try experimenting with these features, and see how they interact together and what combinations you like.

A silhouette can look lovely in any picture. A number of methods exist that can be used in silhouette creation, but a lot of photographers just use sunsets. If the difference in lighting between the subject and background is significant, with the background being brighter, it will create a silhouette. Create a silhouette shot by putting your subject in front of a sunny window or by setting up a flash off-camera, behind the subject. However, keep in mind that occasionally, a face or body outline could highlight a bad feature of your subject.

Choose to set your own white balance manually. Cameras often set the white balance themselves, but if you want the most control, do it yourself. If you change the white balance, you can remove yellow tints that are caused by certain light bulbs or change the mood.

Share your very best and most interesting shots. Just because you took 1000 photos does not mean you need to share each and every one.

When you visit new areas, look around to decide the best shots to take. Have a look at the closest postcard rack for inspiration of where to begin. You will notice recurring subjects or angles that you could try.

A tripod is a must own if you want high quality pictures. Even small movements can affect your images, particularly if the subjects are in motion or the photographs are being taken at a low shutter speed The little bit of money spent on a tripod can remove the blur that can occur in your images. A quality tripod will make your pictures much more professional looking.

Write down interesting spots to photograph. Occasionally you will be without your camera and you will run across a great, photogenic place. Just make a note to return there later when you have your camera. If you carry a small pad in your pocket or purse, you can write down the details of your location so that you will have an easier time remembering it.

Culinary photography is tricky, especially when it comes to framing the perfect shot of food. Foods can do all sorts of unwanted things during a photo session, like wilting, shifting on the plate and melting. You should make sure to arrange all non-food items before you set up your professional food shot. Make sure you have the right lighting, and then put the food down and shoot!

A faster shutter speed is needed when taking photos in low level lighting. This prevents blurs from showing up on your pictures. Experiment with settings in the 1/200 to 1/250th of a second range.

Always hold your camera at your eye level, or adjust your body so that the camera's perspective is level with your own. This gives the picture personality that will draw people into it. If young ones are your focus, then don't hesitate to put yourself in their line of view by getting down on your knees or stooping to their height.

You can apply these tips to help you be successful at your photographic ventures. This article can help only if you apply what you have learned to your photography sessions.

How to Make Cheap Homemade Birthday Party Invitations

You are thinking that you don't have the time are talent for this. However you can do it, and we will take you through all of stepson how to make cheap homemade birthday party invitations, that will be as attractive as any store bought cards.

Search the web for free templates with orb without designs already in place. Be aware that some web sites only allow you to access free templates and or designs if you purchase your blank cards from them.. However there are some sites that have free templates, designs and wording samples that are truly free.

If you are making invitations for a senior citizen's birthday look for clip art from the time when they were small children or teenagers. If you can find a baby picture of Grandpa or a school picture, what a cool invitation that would make.

My cousin's father-in-law was born in 1928, so when she made the invitations for his birthday party she put a picture of Mickey Mouse on the front of the invitation , since Mickey was also born in 1928 also. On the Front of the card She wrote Happy Birthday to Jack Smith and Mickey Mouse. Her father-in-law loved it!

The next thing you have to do is choose the wording. You may of course use the standard type of invitation verse but it would be so much more unique if you created your own wording.

When you buy you're your blank invitation cards, get a few extra , incase of a paper jam, ink smear or other un-forseen problem

Have extra ink cartridges on hand. You don't want to run out in the middle of printing your invitations.

Before you start printing the project run one copy on a piece of paper the size of your invitation cards. This will let you know if there are any typing errors, and you can make sure everything is lined up the way you want it. The project shouldn't take more than an hour so to complete.

Now that you know how to make cheap homemade birthday party invitations, enjoy the process.

If the birthday boy or girl was born on or close to a major holiday, incorporate symbols of that holiday on the invitations. A friends husband was born on the 4th of July, so she made the invitations for his party with an exploding firecracker for her design on the front and this quote from George M. Cohan "I'm a real live nephew of my Uncle Sam, born on the 4thof July". My neighbor is a police officer and her kids made her invitations using a photo of her badge, hat and nightstick

For a member of the Clergy, use a symbol of his or her office ,such as a bible, pulpit, chalice, cross or Star of David.

The design choices for children are just about endless. Cartoon characters, superheroes, animals, Disney characters, toys and the list goes on. Teenagers are a little harder to find clipart of guitars, CD's rock and roll , car and sports images are all good choices for teen birthday party invitations.

Let invitations for adults reflect their careers, hobbies or other interests.

My husband loves to hunt and fish, so of course I made his birthday party invitations to reflect those interests. He really like the one I made when I used a picture of him standing on the bank of casting out into the river.

You can use free templates and print then with your wording choice and then rubber stamp the designs, for another unique approach to invitations. But, that is very time consuming time.

Now share the fun, get a bunch of your friends together, and teach them how to make cheap homemade birthday party invitations.

Find here great free party invitation templates: http://www.4n-invite.com
and wedding invitation templates : http://www.2n-invite.com

Baby Shower Favors - Today's Trends

Baby showers have always been one of the nicest ways to celebrate the arrival of a precious new life. Traditionally, a baby shower was a small gathering of relatives and close friends of the mother-to-be held at a favorite aunt's house. The party was usually a surprise, the guest list was all female, refreshments consisted of punch and cake, gifts of baby clothes were in yellow and light green and guest party favors, if given at all, consisted of a few mints wrapped in tulle.

Baby Shower Favors and Ideas for Creative Showers

Times have changed! Today there are office baby showers, coed baby showers and large luncheons at upscale restaurants. Most expectant mothers take part in the planning of the shower or at least have some input into the guest list, registries are used for gift-giving, the sex of the baby is usually known by the time the shower is planned, and baby shower favors are an important part of the event!

Finding unique baby shower favors is as much a part of baby shower planning today as organizing the guest list, finding the perfect location and choosing the menu. Internet businesses have made the task easier for the hostess with offerings that include candles, chocolates, soaps, ornaments, plantable seed favors, custom-made favors, favors imported from Europe, magnets, baby-themed cookies, frames and tea and coffee favors. Baby shower party favors can be almost anything you imagine!

Themed Baby Shower Centerpieces and Baby Shower Favors

From the invitations to the decorations, the centerpieces and especially the baby shower party favors, most hostesses start with an overall theme. Whether baby shower favor ideas start with the baby's nursery colors or as based on favorite themes - Noah's Ark, nursery rhymes, rubber duckies, teddy bears, rocking horses, elephants, bunnies or baby carriages - everything is coordinated. Whatever the choice of theme or favor, however, emphasis is being put on making the baby shower favors special and customized by personalizing them in some way, usually with personalized ribbon. The result of all this planning is a beautiful event with themed baby shower favors and centerpieces that reflect the joy surrounding the arrival of a new life.

DW0622 Snowboard Aspen Men's Wristwatch

Dolce and Gabbana Watches brand name now has a new model available for sale, and we enjoy the style as much as the price.

From the name alone, you are able to notice that this specific watch was basically prepared specially for the the winter season. The Dolce and Gabbana Snowboard/Aspen Mens Watch is a thing we loved on first sight. It's got a sport look along with a kind of trendy simplicity to it. Even though this is not quite a sports wristwatch (having no stopwatch or timer) it really does seem similar. Apart from that resemblance, this is a classic dress wrist watch, and yet a nice one in truth.

This D&G Men's wristwatch offers all of the standard components associated with nearly all Dolce and Gabbana Wrist watches. It has a slick stainless-steel case ( 45 mm case diameter, 11 mm case thickness ), a black color authentic leather strap with contrast stitching (22 mm strap width) that closes with a classic polished silver-tone stainless steel buckle. You will also find the solid case back, which has a big D & G emblem and water proofing information printed onto it.

What is unique regarding this watch is the fashionable take on the traditional analogue dial. This watch's black color face is highlighted by the silver-toned inner ring which stands between the silver-toned Arabic hour prints from the silver-toned D&G logo advertised at the 6 o'clock position. The finished Arabic hour indicators are featured around the perimeter of the face and look quite prominent.

The silver-toned hands are accented with a minor touch of scarlet coloration and the sweep seconds motion is visually genuinely fantastic with this particular background.

For added style, the six o-clock location is additionally proclaimed by a silver-toned highlight featured on the outside of the dial's mineral crystal window.

What's equally worth a reference is the textured stainless steel crown with a D & G logo design print. The other attributes tend to be generally popular for all the Dolce and Gabbana Watches and include a scratch protected mineral crystal window, water resistance at 50 meters, dependable Japanese quartz movement. Here's also an overall look at the features:

Brand Name: D&G Dolce & Gabbana
Model no.: DW0622
Dial window material type: Mineral
Case material: Stainless-steel
Case diameter: 45 mm
Case Thickness: 11 millimeters
Strap width: 22 millimeters
Face color: Black
Bezel material: Fixed Stainless Steel
Movement: Quartz
Water resistant depth: 100 Feet

You will find this watch anywhere from $125 to $180 at the moment, and in case you love it, this kind of price seems rational for such a dress timepiece. I sincerely hope you loved our another article.

Avoid Wedding Day Disasters - The Rescue Kit

The Wedding Rescue Kit, bag, box, bundle, sack or whatever name you want to give it, is much of the time ignored or thought of as one of those little unnecessary extras found stuck on wedding organizing lists. Not true, I say! A Wedding Rescue Kit can be a lifesaver not just for the bride but also for the entire wedding party including the groom and his attendants. In fact, it does not hurt to have a kit just for the groom and the children in the wedding. The idea is not to fill the kit up with everything but the kitchen sink, the idea is to have rescue items. What is a rescue item? A rescue item is anything that will rescue you from a potential disaster or at the very least an uncomfortable situation on the day of your wedding. On a day when all eyes are on you, when everything is being photographed and recorded for the world to see, why on earth take chances? 

The  Rescue Kit is so easy to put together, just get a small or medium size gym bag, label the outside of the bag in big bold letters "Wedding Rescue Kit  - Bride", "Wedding Rescue Kit - Groom" and " Wedding Rescue Kit - Kids" or the name of the child and start packing your rescue items. Items that can spill put in zip lock bags. Items that can spoil wait until the morning of the wedding before adding them; items that will wrinkle fold with tissue paper and sandwich between two pieces of cardboard and tape. The idea is to make your rescue items helpful not another problem.

If you have children who are going to be in the wedding whether they are your children or the children of a friend, make up a rescue kit for them. Give your friend an empty gym bag already labeled and tell them; please fill this bag with rescue items. Here is a list to help you. Trust me, you will be glad you did and so will they. How enjoyable can it be for you when children are fussy and adults are scolding and irritated? It is your day to relax and enjoy, you have spent a lot of time and effort to make it right so give yourself a little insurance and be prepared for the unexpected.

Cocktail Wedding Receptions - A Cheap and Classy Alternative to Expensive Wedding Receptions

If you are looking to have a classy, yet inexpensive wedding, holding a cocktail reception may be an alternative you may want to consider. When planning a wedding, you will need to allocate at least fifty percent of your budget to your wedding reception. If you are looking for a trendy reception idea while cutting your expenses down, a cocktail reception will cost much less than a traditional wedding reception.

Cocktail receptions are much cheaper than traditional wedding receptions for several reasons: less food, smaller location, few (if any) tables and chairs which will cut down on your rental and floral expenses. There will be no large tables to dress up with centerpieces, no linen charges, no full settings of china to rent. You won't have to worry about assigning seating or purchasing place cards and table decorations. You will not have to hire an expensive break down crew for after the reception clean up.

Cocktail receptions also create a much more social atmosphere versus a traditional wedding reception. With few tables and chairs, the cocktail reception encourages mingling and movement around the location. This party type of format may not be conducive for traditional wedding reception activities, unless the location has enough room to "clear" the center for first dances and bouquet tossing.

If you decide to have a cocktail wedding reception, remember timing and location is everything. A cocktail reception is best held between the hours of 5 pm to 7 pm, or if you are planning on a three hour cocktail party, from 4 pm to 7 pm. Any earlier, your guests may not want to eat, any later, they may expect a full meal. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres tend to take less time than a full reception, so a cocktail reception should be between two and three hours at the most.

A cocktail reception opens the doors to many location possibilities which would otherwise not be available to you if you had a traditional wedding reception. You could have your cocktail reception poolside, on a terrace, on a city rooftop (which would be beautiful at sunset), at an art gallery, or even in a room in a museum. You will open the door to many unique reception locations if you choose this idea, often costing a fraction of the price of a traditional banquet location.

Homemade Wedding Invitation Kits

Homemade wedding invitation kits can be cheap and nice. When you think about your wedding cards there are lots of things to consider.

If you want to make your own wedding invites, consider making homemade wedding invitation kits. Not only will you save money but you will have something unique. If you need some ideas go to your favorite office supply store. You will find lots of papers and textures. Perhaps you have a theme. Start putting together something that will make create that idea.

Colors can be open to almost any thing. If you get one of your colors in paper you can use black ink for the type. Use some cut outs to glue on. A good glue stick will work well. Once you have taken your colored stock imprinted it you will be ready to make it come alive. This can be a great week-end project. It may help you take away some of the stress of the wedding.

Depending on your theme, adding symbols can make it all come together. With all the papers out there you are bound to find something. You may even opt to print on a vellum and use it for an overlay. Vellum is a cloudy paper that is somewhat see through so if you put the type on it you can have something neat behind it for a great effect. I have printed a photo on a plain piece of cardstock. Then printed the invitation on the vellum. Put holes in it and ran a ribbon through it. I got envelopes from the print shop and matched it all together. It was truly done with homemade wedding invitation kits.

You may find some neat #10 envelopes. If they are patterned after your theme, a standard card stock in a 4 x 9 will make a great invitation. If you purchase your cardstock at the store, they will cut it to size for a few dollars. You can have them cut your RSVP and reception cards at the same time. This will give you another chance to use homemade wedding invitation kits. It can be inexpensive and unique too.

What about using your scrapbook toys to cut designs in your cardstock. They make such neat lines, punches and corner cuts that it can be easy to make everything match in any color you want. Before you know it you will have all kinds of ideas of your own.

Making homemade wedding invitation kits saves money and allows you to have something different from all those generic invite kits that are out there. So go have fun!

Difficult Wedding Invitation Wording Situations Part 2

As tradition states that the party who is hosting the wedding should do the inviting on a wedding invitation. Traditionally, this would be the bride's parents. However, what happens if the groom's parents are hosting or if the bride does not have parents. There are two ways to remedy this wording problem. If the groom's parents are hosting the wedding, then you can use wording similar to this:

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth McDonald

request the honor of your presence

at the marriage of

Miss Elise Brennan

to their son

Jason Harold McDonald

Another way is to word the invitation so that the couple is hosting their own wedding. See the example below.

The honour of your presence

is requested

at the marriage of

Ms. Valerie Atwood

and

Mr. John Thomas

Some couples also struggle with invitation wording when they want to let their guests know that children are not allowed. Many times, couples will have printed, "Adults Only," or "Adults Only Reception." According to etiquette, this is not correct. If you do not want children, simply do not invite them. Another option is to have a family member or close friend spread the word.

What if you want to provide registry information to your guests? It is not traditionally acceptable to provide gift registry information on your wedding invitation. However, more and more couples are turning to the internet and establishing their own wedding webpage. The Knot (www.theknot.com) allows you to create your own webpage, at no cost. Your wedding website can include information about how you met your fiancé, the proposal, the wedding party and even your gift registry. Travel and accommodation information can also be included on your wedding webpage, along with local attractions. More and more couples are using their wedding webpage so that their guests can obtain registry information and much more.

Situations may seem difficult when trying to explain them formally, on a wedding invitation. The best advice to remember is to say on your wedding invitations what you are comfortable with, and use etiquette to guide you along. If you say what is best for you and your fiancé on your wedding invitations, you can't go wrong!

Do You Need Beauty Salon Signs?

Neon, premade, customized, window graphics and banners are many different kinds of signs, but when considering beauty salon signs there are also many reasons to display signs. Beauty salon signs help bring information to customers, promote products and enhance the overall salon look. Walking into a beauty salon, you may see many different signs and each has their own purpose.

Start by considering what signs are seen when walking up to a beauty salon. The outside signs include the identifying sign. This is often found by the roadside to lead customers to the salon driveway and parking lot. It is either a sign raised off the ground by using a pole or remains on the ground, such as being decorated with surrounding brick. They are both permanent and often are lit through spotlight or back lighting. These signs present a simple message of the beauty salon name, address and phone number. It could also include operating hours and walk-ins welcome message.

Next, once individuals are in the parking lot they see the salon windows. There are a variety of signs found there including the store name and advertisements. The salon name might be painted or displayed in vinyl lettering on a big picture window or on a smooth building surface. Another option for this identifying sign is raised letters often of metal. There are creative options for these signs in different colors and fonts as well as having the possibility of being lit. The advertisements are often posters provided by companies that have products sold within the beauty salon. There might also be a welcome or come on in sign on the salon door.

Walking into a beauty salon signs continue to be displayed. There are usually more advertisements for hair spray, hair color, shampoo and conditioner, nail products, tanning lotion and other salon products. These signs are promoting a particular product and are displayed to let customers know about these products. The main point is to entice sales. If the sign is eye-catching and well designed it could lead to customers to purchase. They want to increase awareness of products and provide these posters to help accomplish this goal.

Beauty facility signs also include a price list and any special deals underway. Often if a customer sees a deal they what to check into having that service done while they are there. It is also beneficial to the salon to list prices because it might help answer questions. Often hair stylists are also the receptionist and take turns answering phones or answering questions. If there is a visible price list sign then the hair stylist can keep working and won't have to let clients know how much a particular service cost.

Beauty salon signs are not just related to hair products and hair styles. Beauty salons provide other services as well. These include nails, waxing, tanning and massage. Each service has its own station or its own room. Signs are displayed to indicate where a client needs to go to take part in a desired service. Signs might be color coordinated and come in a variety of materials. They could be pre-made plastic or steel signs, but might be homemade as well. Another option is neon signs that could go with some beauty salon styles.

How to Easily Make Bridal Shower Invites From Home

Ordering bridal shower invites can be stressful and expensive, especially when you have many other aspects of your shower to plan. Making your invitations yourself and is a convenient and money-saving alternative to ordering your invitations. With a bit of searching online, you can find some easy-to-use design aids that will help make the process inexpensive and efficient.

Making your own invitations for a bridal shower may seem like a complex task, but with the right materials the process is a breeze. Since a bridal shower is a very personal event, it's important to pick out a top-notch invitation kit that will reflect the theme of your wedding. Printable invitation kits can just consist of invitations, envelopes, and response cards but they may also feature programs, thank you cards, and other items. By buying an invitation kit instead of purchasing these elements separately, you can save money and also make your life easier.

The great thing about making bridal shower invites yourself is that they can truly look however you want them to look. When choosing an invitation design, it may be difficult to capture the right atmosphere that you want your bridal shower to have. Many printable invitations come with detailing, such as embossing or foil bordering, that give them a formal touch. Online, you can find very simple or elaborate designs. It is completely up to you whether you want to design your invitations around a pre-printed invitation design or on blank invitations from scratch. Simply printing your design on a material like vellum is a fast way to make a classy invitation without the bells and whistles. Determine what type of design would be best to meet your needs - all it takes is a bit of creativity!

Using an invitation template or a design program to make your bridal shower invites will save you time and leave you with professional-looking invitations. Many templates are free to download from stationery sources online, and may be editable using a program like Microsoft Word. Simple templates usually have guidelines like text boxes, so all you need to do is type in your text, select your font size and style, and add embellishments like images or clip art if desired. A good template will already have the layout adjusted properly to fit a specific size invitation, such as an 8.5"x5.5" invite, but you may need to make further adjustments in your print settings to ensure that it prints correctly. As always, make sure to download only from a secure and reliable source website (such as an established stationery retailer).

Design software can be a big help when making and printing invites for a bridal shower. There are many programs out there that can get the job done, but what matters is how much time you are willing to spend. If time and budget are concerns, then a basic word processing program should be suitable enough to help you print a text design on a set of printable invitations. The only difficulty is that you may need to know to adjust your layout/printer settings appropriately for the size of your invitations. Purchasing a program specifically designed for creating cards and stationery items may be the best option if you would like a step-by-step design process. Many of these programs are available for a low price, and you will be able to use it to produce the rest of your wedding stationery. The last option is using an online design program. Some stationery retailers offer design software as a tool that their customers can use to personalize their products. Such tools can contain features like templates and clip art for free, all in one place. In most cases, you'll also be able to save your designs online and conveniently access them again in the future.

Designing and printing your own bridal shower invites is time-saving, cost-effective, and will mean a lot to your shower guests. Don't be afraid to try out different methods and see what works best for you; in the end, you will be proud to have made your own invitations!

Importance Of Jewelry Insurance

Expensive and exquisitely beautiful jewelry materials such as diamond and gold rings, watches, certain antique jewelry and precious stones are always subject to theft and other risks that would result in the loss of the item or decrease the value of the same.

Another risk could be the accidental damage and loss in fire or theft of these sentimental and expensive items. This can certainly result in unwanted and extreme psychological and physical torture. The multi-dollar question that you should consider is: How much and why is it very important to have jewelry insurance in the first place?

Firstly, it may helpful to know that comprehensive jewelry cover is primarily provided by the insurance firms at somewhat low premiums with even some providing full accidental compensation for damage and loss depending on the cover chosen. These insurance policies target all forms of jewelry cover groups ranging from low-value to high-value products. Generally, most insurance firms would target large or quantitative assets such as houses and automobiles coupled to life assurance, thereby lacking in expert high-value jewelry insurance systems.

Secondly, do note that deciding on the right insurance firm to handle your protection needs is mostly pegged on policy flexibility coupled to the current rates on offer. Most jewelry insurance firms cover the basic repair expenses on damaged products right up to competitive repayments on placing claims. However, the important criteria protocols attributed to the coverage details, time for claim and the claim process should not be left out too and should be considered carefully with a fine tooth comb.

Consult at least two expert jewelry insurers before insuring your jewelry based on the two main coverage policy types. These would include Blanket coverage as well as scheduled property policy type. The blanket policy does not necessarily require an appraisal of insured pieces under the renter's policies unlike the scheduled property that requires constant appraisal to ensure that it is still in accordance with the basic requirements. Based on all the above fundamental information, an individual will be in a better position to address the question why it is important to have jewelry insurance.

Do-It-Yourself Baby Shower Centerpiece Ideas

Baby Shower Centerpiece Ideas You Can Make Yourself

When decorating for a shower, one thing people ask me about most often is baby shower centerpiece ideas for their food table and the gift table. My guess is that most people use a baby shower cake as the centerpiece for the food table, but there are lots of other cute ideas. Depending upon your baby shower theme, the centerpiece can be a showstopper, or a simple vase of flowers. Here are some of my favorite ideas.

Diaper Cake

My all-time favorite centerpiece is a diaper cake. Not only is it an impressive centerpiece, but it also doubles as the host's gift to the mommy-to-be. Most diaper cakes look like a tiered cake, much like a wedding cake. But instead of cake, it's made of disposable diapers. And in between the layers and the diapers, there are small items tucked in such as baby bottles, teething rings, undershirts, etc. Small baby washcloths can be twisted into roses to decorate the outside of the cake, and more. So the new mommy will have not only diapers to use, but small items that she'll find as she uses the diapers. The diaper cake looks beautiful setting in the new nursery too. You can find step-by-step instructions with pictures online on how to make a diaper cake.

Basket of Goodies

This centerpiece is a great one if you are giving a gift basket shower. It also doubles as the host's gift to the mommy-to-be, like the diaper cake. This is a good choice if this shower is for a second or third baby. If you aren't crafty, this one is simpler to implement than the diaper cake. You take a beautiful basket and line it with a baby blanket or baby bath towel, then stuff it with useful things that the new mother may need for the baby. She'll always need baby lotion, cotton balls, baby wipes, baby bottles, teething rings and such for the baby. You could even throw in a few things for the mommy like hand lotion, gift certificate for a manicure, or a candle. Tie a big, beautiful bow on the basket handle and you're done. Beauty and function; two for the price of one.

Pond of Duckies

I love this idea if you are having a duckie party; one of the most popular themes for baby showers. You take a large punch bowl or other attractive container that will hold water, fill it half-way with water and float yellow rubber ducks in it. If you use a baby bathtub, you could give it, and the ducks, to the mommy-to-be, once again. I love those centerpieces that double as decoration and gift.

How to Make Vow Renewal Ceremonies Events to Remember

For many couples, vow renewal ceremonies are very personal, a way for the couple to express to each other that they are still so in love that they would marry each other all over again or that their love has deepened because of an event that they recently came through and in the process have realized a deeper appreciation for one another.

And what better way to express that love and appreciation than repeat and reaffirm your marriage vows.

Ideas for Vow Renewal Ceremonies that are Intimate and Romantic

Maybe you've never had a real honeymoon or the honeymoon of your dreams and your children have given you the anniversary gift of a lifetime, like a special cruise or a trip to Vegas, or any number of romantic get-aways for two. You can use your special getaway as a second honeymoon to renew your vows and maybe even exchange new rings as anniversary gifts to each other.

Some other romantic ideas for vow renewal ceremonies could include renting a secluded cabin or a room in at a quaint bed and breakfast and asking a local minister, mayor or district justice to officiate your intimate event.

Or you may want to have a small gathering at your home with your children and other family and renew your vows with your children standing with you to bless your continued union.

But what if this just described your wedding day?

What if you had to put off having your fairytale wedding due to any number of reasons - military deployment where you had a quick uneventful gig with the chaplain in a very unromantic office setting; or financial or even health reasons that kept you from having the wedding ceremony you always dreamed about.

Then you can create your vow renewal ceremony to be the wedding you never had!

Recreate Your Dream Wedding for your Vow Renewal Ceremony

There are some differences of opinion about what a "wedding" is. Some people believe that when you said 'I Do,' no matter how or where you did it or who was or wasn't there to share it, that was your wedding day and there are no do-overs, second chances to get it right.

But in reality, the dictionary definition of "wedding" is: (1) a marriage ceremony usually with its accompanying festivities; (2) an act, process, or instance of joining in close association; (3) a wedding anniversary or its celebration.

So in fact, while there are some etiquette considerations, vow renewal ceremonies or renewing your vows in an anniversary ceremony celebration, by definition certainly are weddings, and you certainly can celebrate it as a wedding if that's what you want to do.

Bridal Showers

As a rule and in keeping with proper etiquette, bridal showers and bachelor parties are reserved for the first-time newlyweds much the same as gift registries. Bridal showers or "hen parties," are parties to celebrate the last night of the bride-to-be as a single woman and congratulate her on her upcoming wedding. The gifts at a bridal shower can range from intimate apparel that she'll be wearing for her new husband to funny gifts like household cleaning items, to remind her that she's going to be moving out of her parents' house and will now have her own place to clean.

So no, you should not expect and shouldn't even ask for a bridal shower before your vow renewal wedding ceremony. It's actually rather tacky to even think of it.

The exception to the rule, again, quick, uneventful civil ceremonies prior to a military deployment, where you weren't able to be given a bridal shower and you're planning your real "wedding" for when your spouse comes home.

Invitations for Vow Renewals

Invitations for vow renewal ceremonies will depend on the formality of the celebration. For smaller, more intimate events, you can simply send an email to your friends and relatives or even book the event on Facebook.

For more formal vow renewal ceremonies, simply follow the same rules for any other wedding invitations, but in this case, you or possibly your children are hosting the event, not your parents. And instead of using words like "marriage" or "join together," you can substitute phrases like "renew our vows" or "reaffirm our commitment."

Some sample wordings are...

The honor of your presence
is requested at
the reaffirmation of the wedding vows of...

Please join us
as we renew our wedding vows
and celebrate (5, 10, 25...) years together...

The children of
(your names)
Request the honor of your presence...

Wedding Party Attendants-Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, etc.

One school of thought is that if you had a big wedding when you got married then you should not include your attendants again or have attendants at all. You and your spouse should walk down the aisle together or the "bride" should enter unescorted. Or if you have children, they can escort you down the aisle.

There are some exceptions to this, however, as there are usually exceptions to any "rule." What if you want to recreate your original wedding because you had so much fun and you're still the fun-loving, happy couple that you were when you got married? Well, if your original attendants agree to it, do it again. You may not want to refer to them as the Maid or Matron of Honor and Best Man. You may simply refer to anyone in the wedding party as "attendants."

And instead of the elaborate bridesmaids gowns that they wore the first time, you may want them to wear something a little more informal - and affordable. And instead of tuxedos, your men can wear nice matching suits.

And if you never had the big formal affair for your wedding, for instance if you said your vows in a quick civil ceremony before a military deployment, then make your vow renewal ceremony the big affair that you weren't able to have the first time, complete with all the bells and whistles.

What about gift registries?

Vow renewal ceremonies are, for the most part, anniversary celebrations and since you are already married, you really should not be registering with gift registries. Wedding gift registries are really so your guests know what to give the newlyweds who are starting out on their own. Once you're already married and on your own, you should not be asking for any more gifts from your family and friends.

But what if you had a quick and very uneventful civil ceremony prior to a military deployment? It was just you, your fiance and the chaplain and maybe a clerk or a superior officer as a witness. No festivities. You said 'I Do' and your new spouse went running for the bus or plane and was shipped out of the country.

Maybe you're still living with your parents while your spouse is deployed or you're living on the base alone and you're not actually going to be starting your lives together as husband and wife until he returns.

This is a great example of an exception to every rule of vow renewal ceremonies. In this scenario, you really did not have anything resembling a Wedding. Even your parents weren't there to congratulate you. You really didn't even elope!

In this case, yes, you can register with a gift registry and plan your wedding day for when your spouse returns. Legally you're already married and your anniversary date won't change. But in every other respect, this will be Your Wedding Day.

What kind of wedding dress is appropriate?

That is really a personal choice. If you can still fit into your original wedding gown, feel free to wear it again. If you had a large traditional ceremony when you got married, you can wear a more casual dress for this ceremony. The choice is yours depending on how small and intimate or large and formal the reaffirmation ceremony is that you're planning.

What vows do we say?

For your vows, you can choose to repeat the exact vows you spoke on your wedding day, or write new ones that reflect the time you've been together and how you still feel.

Where should we have our ceremony?

And just like with planning any other wedding, you can choose to have your vow renewal ceremony anywhere you want-outside, at a fire banquet hall, anywhere that will accommodate the amount of people you will be inviting.

Who officiates a reaffirmation ceremony?

Your officiant can be anyone you want. If your first wedding was a civil ceremony and now you'd like something more religious, you can contact a minister to officiate. If you're friends with a local district justice or mayor, you may choose to have him, although it's not necessary because you're already legally married.

You can choose a close friend, relative or even one of your children to be your officiant. It's whatever or whomever you want!

10 Great DIY Wedding Ideas

Let's face it - weddings can cost a lot of money. But there are plenty of ways to cut corners and save money, such as baking your own cake and only paying a professional baker for the decoration. And there are a huge amount of little details that can be made by you, so get your DIY gloves on and get creative...

1. Candleholders: Jam jars tied with pretty ribbon, half filled with water and topped with a floating tealight make for gorgeous and simple candleholders. You can even hang them from trees or the ceiling! Or punch holes in tin cans and add a tealight for a rustic candle holder effect.

2. Table numbers: Print out numbers onto nice paper in cool fonts and create your own wine labels to use as table numbers, or incorporate numbering into your centrepieces or place settings. Some couples like to choose a theme for each table rather than numbers, which can set the tone for the rest of your d矇cor.

3. Flowers: Your reception and ceremony can be decorated yourself using seasonal flowers and plants placed in a variety of shabby chic containers sourced from charity shops and antique shops. Or how about mini birdcages painted white for a vintage feel, filled with beautiful blooms?

4. Place settings: Paint a circle of blackboard paint at intervals on your table cloth and simply write each guest's name in chalk when you come to set the table! Or cut out butterflies in pretty paper, add each guest's name and thread them into each place setting fork.

5: Favours: Buy sweets and chocolates in bulk and prettify your own packaging for vastly cheaper favours. Personalised favours go down a treat, too - perhaps something using a great photo of you as a couple. Some couples give out scratch cards or lottery tickets too (you can hold your own 'lottery' or prize draw by making your own tickets).

6: Invitations: Get familiar with photoshop and a word processor, ink stamps and other crafty techniques, buy some quality card and paper and make your own! Aim for simple and classic and you can't go wrong.

7: Desserts: Cupcakes, brownies, cookies and all those childhood favourites always go down a storm at weddings. And what about an ice-cream bar, with a variety of cones, wafers, flavours, sauces and toppings so everyone can create their own?

8: Decorations: Make garlands and bunting by cutting shapes (butterflies, hearts, stars etc) out of pretty paper and sewing or threading them onto fine string. A simple way to decorate is to scatter petals, confetti or sequins over the tables for a pretty effect.

9: Guestbook: Create your own 'family tree' by drawing out a tree trunk shape onto a canvas or hardboard and providing different coloured ink pads for your guests to leave 'leaf' fingerprints all over the branches. Or cover a wall in envelopes with individual cards for your guests to fill out.

10: Bridesmaid gifts: Find your local bead shop and put together some pretty bracelets or necklaces for your favourite ladies. Or leave them heartfelt personal messages written on the soles of their bridesmaid shoes!

And if DIY and crafts aren't your thing, then there are plenty of other ways to save money on your wedding. Shop around for the best deal, use personal recommendations and ask for discounts wherever you can. And did you know you can more than halve the cost of a designer wedding dress by shopping at a factory outlet or discount bridalwear store?

So start saving those wedding pennies for your honeymoon!

Engagement Ring Dos and Don'ts

Engagement season is upon us, and at this time of the year, many proposals will be made. An engagement ring is part of many proposals, or in some cases may be selected jointly by the couple after the betrothal has become official. There are some things which men and women should know about this most significant piece of bridal jewelry. These are the top engagement ring dos and don'ts:

Do: Try to get a sense of your girlfriend's taste in jewelry if you plan to surprise her with a ring. You might do a little pre-shopping with her, if the proposal will not be a total surprise, as is often the case. Or a man can enlist some advice from his girlfriend's best friend about style. Paying close attention to your girlfriend's everyday style is another way to get a sense of what should will like in bridal jewelry. While the classic diamond solitaire is beautiful, it is far from your only choice, so be sure to consider other options.

Don't: Exchange the ring. Ladies, it is a nervewracking experience for a man to walk into a jewelry store a pick out a ring with which to propose (not to mention how nervous the proposal itself makes most guys!). You had better believe that he put a lot of thought into buying your engagement ring, and to return it for a different style is highly insulting. He may well say that you can exchange it, but to actually do so would be heartless. No matter what the ring looks like, profess your love for it, because it was given with love.

Do: Spend as much as you can to get a very high quality engagement ring. Engagement rings are worn every single day, and experience a lot of wear and tear. Choose a ring made from a durable material such as platinum or die-struck gold, over a lightweight casting. Look for secure prongs and good finish work on the setting. And invest what you can into a high quality diamond from a reputable seller.

Don't: Overspend based on artificial guidelines created by the diamond industry. If you can afford to invest two months' salary into a diamond ring, wonderful. For that matter, you can spend more, if you have the cash. However, do not feel like you have to go into debt to achieve a certain standard, or that your gift will be inadequate if you spend less than the guidelines. Buy what you can afford. Many jewelry stores also offer services like no-interest layaway, if you do not need the engagement ring right away.

Do: Be practical as well as romantic in your choice of ring. Certain gemstones have the durability to last for generations, while others are too fragile for everyday wear. The best choices for gems are diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, which are the hardest stones. Be wary of softer gems such as emeralds or tanzanites, which are likely to chip, abrade, or fracture from daily use. Also keep in mind that low settings are easier to wear than ones which hold the diamond very high and that smooth settings, such as bezels, are ideal for women who wear gloves to work like doctors and nurses.

Don't: Forget about paperwork. Your engagement ring should come with an appraisal, which can then be used to get insurance for the jewelry (add a rider to your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy). Many diamonds will also come with a document called a certification. The "cert" should be done by a respected independent gem laboratory like AGS or GIA, and it gives the details about the color, clarity, cut, and carat weight of the diamond. Always inspect the certification first, if you are considering purchasing a diamond online. Better yet, work with a local jeweler whom you know you can trust and who will be there to help you choose wedding bands, bridal jewelry, and maybe even a ring for your wife when your first baby is born.