Are You Aware of Scroll Wedding Invitations?

Nowadays there are many different and new styles of wedding invitation cards available in the market. The scroll Invitations are chosen to add to the richness and royalty of the marriage. They have been in use for many years as a symbol of elegance. In ancient times this type of invitation was used by the kings. Although it can be used for invitation at any occasion but mostly is used for wedding invitations.

The scroll invitations symbolize a classical style to invite the guests. They can be designed as per all communities and religions like Hindu, Muslim or Sikhs.

After having decided upon the scroll type of invitation, the most important thing is to check the cloth quality that will be taken in use for making wedding cards. The colors of the cards can be chosen according to one's liking. The thread that will be used to tie up the card should be extraordinary and modify the beauty of the card. Decorations can be suggested with bead and laces on the cards.

The varied forms of scroll wedding cards are handmade wedding cards, scroll Indian marriage cards and designer cards. The cards are made from different types of materials like velvet, vellum paper and the handmade paper. The frame on the card should be stylish and attractive. The cards are available in colors of powder blue, orange and purple.

The scroll invitation cards form the foremost impression of marriage. The details of the wedding can be in a poetic form or may be presented in a very effective manner.

The guests are attracted to attend the function and participate in your enjoyment. Such cards can make your marriage memorable and a grand event. So are you going to use scroll wedding cards in the next marriage?

Club Card Flyers Printing - How To Make Your Event Invitations Work

Club card flyers printing provides you with a very cost effective way of marketing your products and events. But if you see your fliers in the trash can hours before your event, it is a sure fire sign that you should evaluate your club card flyer design.

The club cards should embody the look and the feel of your event. Here are some things to consider when you design your club cards:

Creating Club Cards for Formal Events

o When making the design for flyers to be used in formal events like galas, openings, dinners, product launching and induction ceremonies, your flyers should have an air of credibility. The look should be official, sophisticated, and formal.

o Size is also an important factor to consider. On events like baptismal parties, wedding ceremonies, receptions or golden anniversaries, you should consider using a 5x7 inch club card flyer as invitations. Why? Because a 5x7 inch club card flyer gives you just enough space to hold texts or messages. The more 5x7 postcard sufficiently accommodates more text that allows you to personalize your postcard further. You can use short poems or any type of prose, a list of principal sponsors, personal messages even gift registry.

o On the other hand, a 4x6 inch club card is ideal for using as invitation flyers for parties. This size allows the club card to act as a teaser. It is short enough to be intriguing, but long enough to include event details. This size is also very convenient for your target audience since it fits perfectly in most planners, ladies' hand bags, and gentlemen's coat pockets.

Club Cards for Informal Events

Since informal events are packaged to be fun and exciting, your club card flyer should be designed with the idea of youth and liveliness at heart. Think of college parties, soirees, and fund raiser fairs and bazaars.

o You should make use of custom sizes offered by digital printing companies. You can try printing on small sizes like 3 x 5 almost similar to a business card, with your slogan in front and details in small print at the back. You can also choose to print in larger sizes too that can some in at standard sizes up to 11 x 17..

o Use high gloss paper in your club card flyers. Give it an added gloss feel and makes it as rich as you possibly can - bringing out the colors of your designs and giving it a smoother feel.

o And when the budget allows it, you can use die cutting to further improve your design. Give away a car shaped club card flier for the launching of your new car collection, car expos and shows or you can send out a martini glass shaped club card flier as invitation for a cocktail party. Easily shape it to the theme of your event and make it as unique as possible.

You can also go online to see what options printing companies have to customize your designs. Use your imagination and explore the different possibilities you have with club card flyers printing.

Formal Vs Casual Weddings and Which Is Best for You

Many couples have a difficult time deciding between a formal or casual wedding. You may decide upon a formal or casual marriage based on theme and the time of year. Other couples decide based upon look and style and some will decide on a formal vs. casual wedding based on religion and tradition. There is no doubt it's a tough decision, so here is a quick guide to help you decide.

Formal vs. Casual Wedding Themes by Season

Many couples begin to plan their wedding, its theme and whether to choose a formal or casual marriage by first deciding upon the season they like best. For example, you may decide to have your wedding on the most romantic day of the year, Valentine's Day. Should you choose a wedding theme based upon season, you will want to consider appropriate colors and styles when deciding whether a formal or casual wedding works best for you.

Spring weddings often revolve around the theme of renewal. Generally more casual weddings, you'll want to select a color that conveys purity, new life or a life in bloom. Does a casual marriage work best for you? Well, if you see a marriage with soft, pale pinks, purples and blues draped in tulips, lilacs, or daffodils, a casual spring wedding may be the best for you.

Summer weddings often have themes with bright colors and serve as the most popular time to marry-and they're often set outdoors. A summer wedding may work best for those who want a casual marriage. Summer weddings nowadays often seem synonymous with free-spirits and simple elegance.

A fall wedding perfectly captures a classic, formal, or modern style, steeped in darker colors and deep hues, such as burnt orange, red, gold, and chocolate brown. The more formal fall wedding is best for those who lean towards the formal and the romantic.

The most formal weddings are winter weddings, which generally focus on dramatic themes, serving as the most magical time of year for couples to marry. For example, if a black tie marriage works best for you, a winter marriage may be for you. Most winter weddings prove formal due to that sparkling effect winter brings: white, twinkling lights, the warm glow of a fire and ornamental, velvet and silk patterns and textures.

Couples who choose to celebrate the season of their wedding choose colors, flowers and special touches appropriate for a formal or casual look.

Formal vs. Casual Daytime marriage Looks

Many decide upon a formal or casual wedding when envisioning what time of day they take place, for example, whether a day or evening marriage works best for you. Deciding on a daytime or evening wedding may ultimately lead you to choose between a formal or informal wedding.

Many informal daytime weddings occur in the warmer months and, as such, many brides will consider a shorter marriage dress for herself as well as her bridesmaids. Depending on temperature and season, colors and accessories, such as hats and gloves, are optional. Men should wear dress shirts and pants along with a sports jacket. Leaning towards a more formal look for a daytime wedding? Shorter dresses are still an option, along with a cocktail style dress. Men should stick to the classic look with a dark suit and tie.

For an informal evening marriage look, many women opt for cocktail dresses while men should always wear a suit. For those who choose an evening marriage, many choose to stick to a black tie look. In this case, women can consider a long or dressy, short cocktail dress with more dramatic and glamorous accessories. For formal or black tie weddings, men should always wear a tuxedo.

In the case of an ultra-formal wedding, long gowns are appropriate for women, along with very decorative and striking accessories, such as diamonds and furs. Men should always wear tuxedos for any formal and ultra-formal wedding.

Religious Weddings: Formal vs. Casual

For couples who desire a religious wedding, it's best to base your decision for a formal or casual marriage based on tradition. Generally, religious weddings are rather formal and held in a place of worship.

Many couples who choose a religious marriage also have large guest lists and wedding parties. Brides often wear more formal, floor-length gowns adorned with traditional veils only to be removed, in dramatic fashion, as the blushing bride and groom exchange traditional marriage vows. However, not all religious weddings need be formal, and couples should always choose a wedding that fits them best. In fact, religious weddings can be casual in attitude as well.

Whether you and your special someone chooses a casual or formal ceremony, the main deciding factor should be based on what you and your guests will enjoy most. After all, marriages are time to have fun!

How to Make Cheap Homemade Baptism Invitations

Baptism is a religious ritual or sacrament whereby a person becomes a member of a Christian religion. There are differences among denominations about whether a person should be baptized as an infant or an adult. Some baptize by immersion and others by pouring water over the head.

Whatever the age or method, it is an occasion of great joy and is often celebrated with a party afterward and of course where there is a party there will be invitations.

You may be worried that you don't have the talent, never mind the time to do something like this. It is easy, inexpensive and shouldn't take more than an hour or so to complete.

Let me take you briefly through the process and you will see how fulfilling and easy it can be.

- Surf the web for free information templates preferably blank ones. If you can't find one you can create your own in MS word by setting all four margins to get a template the size of the paper or cardstock you plan to use.

- Once you have a template, decide on the graphic design you want to use. For infants or young child baptisms a picture (photo or clip art) of a Christening dress or suit is often used. A sea shell, cross, baptismal font or tank are all symbols of baptism that can be used on invitations. Many people use pictures of their babies on the invitations.

- Next you need to choose the text. It can be as simple as the who, what, when, where and why information. you can also use biblical quotes or even create your own unique wording.

- You will want to choose a font that fit's the design elements and the solemnity of the event. If there is going to be a party after the ceremony, mention that on the invitation.

- When you purchase your blank cards, get a few extra in case of a paper jam, ink smear or other mishap.

- Have extra ink cartridges on hand, you wouldn't want to run out in the middle of printing your invites.

- Before you print your project, run one copy on a plain piece of paper the size of your cards to be sure that there are no typographical errors and that everything is lined up properly.

You can make your invitations a bit whimsical but avoid outright humor sine this is a joyous but solemn occasion, an event that many people believe is vital to their eternal salvation.

I know of one family that priced high end baptism invitations and then made their own and gave the difference in cost to a church run children's home in South America.

If you don't want gifts you can request that in lieu of gifts, donations be made to the church or a children's charity. Such an invitation might read:

Please join us
as witnesses to the baptism
of our son
Bernard Joseph
on
Sunday, date
immediately following
the 11:00am mass
at St. Stephen's Church
address
and a celebration at
our home
address
In lieu o gifts - feel free
to make a donation to
St. Jude's Children's Hospital
or
Catholic Charities

If you are making invitations or an adult baptism, your designs could be a bible, sea shell, candle, cross and/or a dove.

Your friends and family will soon be asking you how to make cheap homemade baptism invitations.

Using Bridal Shower Clip Art - Get Creative

Did you know that there are all kinds of clip art available - for free - online, which you can use to create all kinds of things for your bridal shower? Clip art is easy to work with, and most of it is free!

First, get online, and go to your favorite search engine. Just type in "bridal shower clip art" (you don't even need the quotation marks) and see what comes up. You may have to search first for "bridal clip art". It may depend on the search engine you are using. Take a look at a few of the sites that come up, and see if they have anything that might interest you. For free clip art, you can save it using the following steps:

Right click once on the image

Select "Save Image As...." From the pop up window

Select the folder you want to save the image to, and click "Save".

That's all there is to it! So, what can you do with the image, now that you have it on your own PC? Well, first, I would like to give you some ideas - stuff that you can actually do with the clip art!

There are all kinds of free programs and instructions on the internet. For example, if you have a printer and the right kind of printer paper, you can go to many of the printer manufacturer web sites, such as HP (Hewlett Packard) and get directions for how to make iron on transfers. You can use those directions, and the clip art you chose for your bridal shower, and make something - tee shirts, napkins, aprons, potholder, or just about anything that you can iron on an image to! Say you are having a wedding shower with kitchen items as the theme. You could make special decorations to hang up, with pictures of kitchen items that you got from clip art. Or, you want to make the bridal shower invitations? Find some clip art image that you like, or that relates to your bride-to-be, and you place it on the blank card that you plan to print, to make the card exactly as you want it to look. Using bridal shower clip art, you can personalize the shower for the bride-to-be.

So now you have the clip art image saved on your PC. Now what? Well, open a program called PAINT. It is a graphics program that comes pre-loaded on most PC's. (There are other graphics programs you can use too, if you are familiar with one.) Once PAINT is open, go to the File menu, and select "Open...". Find the clip art image that you saved on your PC, and select that file to open. Now that the image is loaded into PAINT, you can enlarge it, make it smaller, change the font color, add text to it, cut part of the image out, add something to the image, etc. You can play with the image until it is just like you want it, then save the new image.

You can save money by getting creative and using your PC, if you plan your wedding shower in advance. You will need to allow yourself enough time before the wedding shower, to be able to create some special things like this. It's fun, cost effective, and, your bride-to-be will be surprised when you have spent time making the bridal shower personal, by choosing images that relate to her!

Have fun and use your PC. You can do a lot if you simply look up directions or find help online.

Creative Marketing Ideas For Jewelry Stores

Luxury stores are having a difficult time in this economic recession. When wallets tighten, sales of luxury products drop considerably. As a jeweler, you're probably looking for ways to reach customers affordably and effectively. Great ideas can spur sales, so it's always a good idea to try new things. One of these promotional ideas could be just the trick to reenergizing your business.

1. Free cleaning/sizing-It's important to look for ways to keep your customers coming back to your store. By offering additional services like free cleaning and resizing, you're retaining customers and building their loyalty to your store. Not to mention, every time they come in you have another sales opportunity. Add information about the services you offer to your points-of-purchase using vinyl decals, so that customers will be aware that you will take care of them after the purchase.


2. Sign makeover-Capitalize on the opulence and high-class of your industry. Customers want to feel special when they come to your store, so use your signage to convey a sense of exclusivity. Etched glass decals are a great product for this-they can be used on your door or window to list your business name and hours in an elegant font, and they can also be used as decorative touches on your display cases. Not so much to detract from seeing your merchandise, of course, but just enough to give your store a unique and elegant look.


3. Loan program-The best way to sell more product is to show more product. When customers see your jewelry on their friends, family, and other influencers, they are more likely to buy it as well. Thus, loan out some of your best-selling pieces to influential people in your town for important events that will be highly-visible. Local "celebrities" like the city mayor (or mayor's wife), beauty pageant contestants and winners, and even school Homecoming queen or Prom queen candidates can all be wearing your jewelry during their big moments. This shows support for your community and also shows off your great products.


4. Signature events-Hosting events at your store is a great way to reach out to new customers. Partner with local businesses to create an annual occasion that customers will anticipate. This could be a sale preview or even an Engagement Extravaganza that features your engagement rings and gives newly-betrothed couples a chance to mingle with each other and learn tips and advice for their upcoming wedding. Decorate your store for this event with window clings-since these don't have adhesive, you can peel them off and save them for the next event.


5. Home parties-At-home jewelry businesses have become very popular as they allow customers to socialize during the jewelry-buying experience. Why can't your store do the same? Target your best customers and see if they'd be interested in hosting an at-home party with their closest friends. In return, offer your customer a discount off a purchase or even some free merchandise.

Making Your Own Cake Topper

If you have a thing about decorating cakes, whether you are experienced or novice, then you've got what it takes to design your own unique cake topper. If you love the design aspect of cake decorating more than the niceties and details of sugar craft and baking, then you will be passionate about putting together fruits or flowers or figurines and other pieces into stunning cake toppers.

The cake toppers embellish cakes that grace special occasions like birthdays, weddings, graduations, and anniversaries.

In creating cake toppers, it is important to cling to quality, exceptionality, and imaginative designs. The perfect cake topper mirrors the persona and style of the celebrator, and signifies the theme of the occasion.

You can begin your cake decorating venture with adornment background you bought from a novelty shop. For weddings, items like chapel windows can be added with groom and bride figurines, flowers plus other ornaments. To add charm, you can then put in little lights placed at the back of the stained glass window to reflect and highlight onto the statuette.

Gum paste and polymers are nice materials for figurine making of all sorts-grooms and brides, doves, hearts, etc. Figurines and decorations made of polymer clay will endure for so many decades.

For occasions where babies and young kids are the celebrator such as showers, christenings, and birthdays, you can stack petit fours. Bedeck petit fours to appear like cute building blocks. You can make use of tiny, charming things from a craft shop, too. A lovely pair of figurine doves can be placed in a birdbath coated with pearl droplet plus festooned with flowers and leaves.

You can also fashion a moving cheesecake or chocolate merry-go-round out of a gum paste. To make it move, take advantage of a rotary doll stand. Beautiful and various bouquets and flowers like tulips and lilies can also be created with gum paste molds. These molds are available in several sizes, patterns, and shapes.

Always exercise creativity. Say, a heaped, fanciful wedding cake can carry each layer, but for the top, frozen to look a lot like the palace's walls. Flowers and stairways can be toted up. And for the topper, employ royal icing as paste and place the towers you created on the top tier. Put in a pair of birds or hearts or other romantic emblem to the cake topper, and you'll have a cake topper signifying the groom and bride's bright future together.

In placing your cake topper, always remember to put bigger decorations on wide stands so they don't drop. Smaller ornaments can either be clutched in place using flower thorns or attached using royal icing. When stacking multi-layered cakes, it is best to set the topper at the venue already to prevent it from falling off in transit.

Prepare first the tier that will carry the cake topper. Use rods or dowels if the topper is quite heavy. If it is light, a decoration stand or plate will do.

Affordable Black and White Wedding Invitation Ideas

Black and white wedding invitations are the easiest and most affordable to create. No matter what your budget is, black and white invitations will always fit. If you are wanting something kind of over the top looking and very elegant, one of the most simple designs includes a white invitation with black wording and an ornate black string work. This is very fancy looking and is elegant at the same time. It has almost a tribal or Gothic look to the design but it is very beautiful.

If you are wanting to do something that is very minimal and tasteful, you can always have a white invitation with embossed black lettering. This is a very simple, affordable wedding invitation idea but still looks nice because it is not too busy. In some cases, having embossing on your invitations costs a little extra so you might want to check into that before you make a final decision. If you would like to make the design a little more fancy, you can always you a piece of clear vellum paper with a nice design, silver, gold or red look gorgeous- and add a simple design like flower petals, doves or roses. This is a great way to incorporate other ideas you have thought of for your wedding.

Although it may cost a little more, you can always look into using a nice black paper and using white lettering with a nice floral design or again the ornate string work. One of the nicest and most simple designs I have seen is the use of white hearts along the edges of the invitation.

Average Costs of a Wedding - The Cost of Your Wedding May Shock You

The true cost of a wedding continues to increase each year. As we speak, the so-called 'average' cost of a wedding is just under $20,000 depending on where you live, according to the Association of Bridal Consultants Wedding Report. The vast and powerful wedding industrial complex brings in about $120 billion a year. When starting to plan your wedding you must have a budget in mind to work with.

Flowers

Flowers can quickly become one of the most expensive line items in any wedding budget. Give your local florist a brief idea of what you like and dislike, but allow him the option to choose the flowers which are cheap and in-season. While the average cost of Wedding Flowers is between $300 and $500 it is possible to spend much less (or more than. Even if you are working on a tight budget most good florists will be able to create beautiful flowers by using seasonal flowers simply styled.

Photographer

A decent photographer costs at least $4000 and you will get a couple of photographers. An experienced photographer gets you pictures you can frame. Photographers average between $1,000 and $3,000; and upscale photographers between $3,000 and $5,000. A few other things that can help you make a decision is if your photographer carried insurance, had back up equipment, and ask to see some his or her work to get an idea of his Photo journalistic style.

Cake

Amazing wedding cakes can transform an ordinary wedding party into an exquisite extravaganza. Estimates are that it costs $80 per guest (invitations, food, drinks, cake, favors), so keeping the number of guests down helps cut costs. You can either buy your wedding cake from a baker or order it with your caterer. The cost of the cake like every other wedding cost will be determined of the number of guest.

One of the most straightforward ways to cut the cost of a wedding is to cut the guest list. It is important to realize that the cost of a wedding is very dependent on the number of guests; a large guest list will inevitably mean more expensive venues, and food will be priced on a 'per head' basis.

Wedding Insurance to Be Sure of Your Special Day

On your big day, because you never know what might happen, it might be a wise idea to purchase wedding insurance.

This is a type of event insurance. It protects against just about everything that could possibly go wrong, short of the bride or groom getting cold feet.

So rent the tux, have the beautiful gown purchased and altered, get the bridesmaids fitted for their dresses, and keep your fingers crossed that everything will be alright. The brother of the groom is flying in from another country to be the best man. Flowers and photographers have been reserved for the big day. The delicious three-tier cake has been ordered and paid for. The hall has been arranged and the caterers have their special requests for appetizers and the dinner.

Then the weather pattern changes. It was supposed to be sunny and mild. After all, it almost always is. Oh, but this will not be the case for that special day. Hurricanes just do not happen here. But one is predicted for your day. Luckily, or unluckily, it gets there a day ahead of time. The church is destroyed. The flights have been cancelled. The flower shop no longer exists, and neither does the bakery. Reverend Paul cannot make it, either. The roof has been torn off his house.

Well, with this type of insurance, you need not worry. After a small deductible, you will get back all of the money you put out for deposits, the purchase of the rings, the payment of the wedding cake, the down payment for the videos and photographs, and the reservations for the church.

The paid for items will be refunded with this insurance. It protects against most things, so the cake, the tuxedo rental, even your dress and your bridesmaids dresses will be paid for and you will not need to lose any money. The flowers and photographers will also be compensated. Or, if you have already paid for any of these services, that money will be refunded to you without hurting your reputation with them, so that you can use them again in the future. It is better to be safe than sorry, when it comes to the unforeseeable future. So be sure to purchase wedding insurance for that big day.

Leave Boring Behind With Funny Cake Toppers

If you're getting married, there are so many details that you're planning, but one thing to think about is your cake. Have you picked out a cake topper to go on the wedding cake? Maybe you have been looking for something unique and funny to go along with your personal style. If so, funny cake toppers may be just the thing for you.

Most of the time couples have cakes with toppers that are traditional or beautiful, and people enjoy the beauty, but if you like to buck tradition and you want to make your wedding fun, going with a topper that is hilarious is a great idea. Just image how you'll smile when your guests walk in the door, take a look, and burst out laughing. If that's the reaction you want, there are plenty of great funny cake toppers out there for you to choose from that are sure to tickle the funny bone of all your guests.

Of course, the toppers don't have to be knee slappers, they can reflect your special interests and your hobbies as well. Perhaps you happen to love motorcycles, you can find motorcycle inspired toppers, or funny NASCAR toppers if you're a big fan. There are western toppers, Disney toppers, golf themed toppers, Hockey themed options, soccer options, and toppers that can reflect about any interest or hobby that you may have.

Maybe it took you awhile to get to the altar for a wedding. There are some very funny cake toppers out there that turn this into humor. There are options with a reluctant groom, cake toppers with a reluctant bride, and options where the bride is dragging the groom to the altar. These are funny and will definitely make all your guests smile. You can even go with a ball and chain style topper, or a hilarious topper with the bride reeling in the groom with a fishing pole.

You'll find some sexy humorous toppers available as well. There are toppers where the bride and groom are passionately kissing, sexy bride and groom "Bond" style toppers with guns, or even toppers where the bride is humorously grabbing the butt of the groom. Even military themed cake toppers are available if one of you happen to be in the military and want to show that off at the wedding.

Today you don't have to go with old-hat, traditional cake toppers that are boring. You can throw boring out the window with one of the funny cake toppers that are available today. Whether you want your guests to belly laugh when they see the cake, you want something sexy, or you enjoy something different that goes along with your interests and hobbies, you can easily find it. With one of these hilarious toppers, your cake will be unique and you won't be able to help smiling when you're cutting the cake.

A Guide To Designing Wedding Reception Invitations

Congratulations for you engagement now that you have decided to tie the knot is time to think about how to design your wedding card and what to write. Wedding reception invitation cards as of the say are being produced in varied designs, styles and forms. You can explore from more achievable designs and arise up with one solely reflecting your wedding's idea. Here are various tips that can be depended upon with regards to sending out wedding greeting invitations:

1. Production out of your action - you can determine to ship out your invitations finished using the following:

• You can comment your party event in the wedding invitation. In doing this, you have to be direct and abstain to avoid misleading.


• You can also start your wedding invitation with a gripping prologue enhanced with personal touches and still acquire a secern invitation for the wedding greeting.


• Distinguish invitations with different features and content. Do not lose the escort and unsurprising instance for the receipt to commence. You also acquire to sequester several directions on how the guest can get there. Encouraged, you must include a phone so in any circumstance the guests can contact for their inquiries. Additionally, you may also necessary RSVP.


• It is advised to ship or mail all the wedding reception invitations together to avoid extra charge or postage expenses.

2. Earthshaking considerations for a more succeed wedding reception invitation

• Include only important facts without including any other unnecessary phrases. This way you will avoid any misunderstanding.


• Explain the dress code and the outfit only if the wedding reception is held in fancy venue or if you prepare a theme.


• If your greeting is feat to be held in the comparable venue as your wedding ceremony, then it is no obligatory for you to give separate wedding reception invitations. Your guests will be there, unless they will miss the reception.

Keep in mind that your wedding reception invitation is one of the most treasured things that your descent and friends would protect since it bears the happiest and memorable day of your life. Thusly, nothing can be appreciated more than the endeavour of preparing for something that announces a memorable and blissful circumstance.

Now that you have decided the design of your wedding reception announcement card is time to decide the wedding invitation wordings what to write on your invites will it be formal or informal wedding invitation wording? Before you start writing your wedding announcement card is important to explore ideas and look for wedding invitation wording samples.

Behind Ricci Argentieri Flatware

Designed by highly skilled artisans in some of the best workshops across Italy and the Far East, Ricci Argentieri is one of the world's most coveted lines of flatware. The perfect cutlery for a bridal registry, wedding anniversary or momentous occasion, Ricci flatware stands out above other tableware brands because of the beauty, quality and history evident through each gorgeous detail on the flatware pieces.

Hold a piece of Ricci silverware and you'll see flawless designs and unique details hand-crafted onto each piece in the Ricci Argentieri collection individually. The timeless beauty is made possible by the Ricci craftsmen, who are experts in the art and work relentlessly to ensure perfection in each piece. Its awe-inspiring beauty has made it favorite with brides-to-be, but it is the incomparable quality of the Ricci Argentieri line that keeps generations of families staying with the Ricci name. It's also a favorite gift among mothers to their daughters - commemorating their transition into womanhood with a gift that they can cherish for years to come and perhaps even pass down sentimentally to their own daughters someday.

The Ricci artisans employ heavily weighted.925 sterling silver in the Sterling Silver Ricci silverware. Stainless steel Ricci flatware uses the highest quality metal combination to produce stunning and durable pieces that will last beautifully through generations. Every piece of Ricci Argentieri flatware undergoes a detailed inspection, and not a single piece is released without meeting the rigorous standards set forth more than 170 years ago when the Ricci family first developed their tableware line. This is yet another reason why many families commit to using the brand for generations and look forward to setting a table and entertaining with the silverware pieces

Yet another reason Ricci silverware is sought out worldwide is because of their long-standing history of quality and beauty. In 1840 small town northern Italy, the Ricci silversmiths, a collection of highly skilled craftsmen, joined together to establish the Ricci Argentieri Guild House. Since the inception decades ago, today's Ricci Argentieri artisans continue to deliver the same high standard and flawless silverware as the founding silversmiths.

For whatever reason speaks to you - whether it's the remarkable beauty of each flatware piece, the excellence in quality and craftsmanship or the deep-rooted history of the Ricci Guild - confidently choose Ricci flatware for your bridal registry or special occasion and entertain with some of the world's highest quality utensils.

Cheap Wedding Ideas Can Produce Great Weddings

Everyone dreams of a great wedding. Achieving such dreams can be costly especially when the couple is on a tight budget. However, it is possible to have a great wedding within a tight budget if you are willing to hunt for better deals and look for cheap wedding ideas. I would like to share some cheap wedding ideas than can result in great wedding.

Make your own wedding invitation cards

Designing and printing your own wedding invitation cards using the computer software can be a lot of fun. Both of you can work together designing that special wedding card. Or even better if you are creative enough, you can handwritten those cards yourself to add some nice personal touch. You can save a lot here!

Make your own flowers

Another cheap wedding idea is to make your own flower arrangements. Buy the flowers (you can always get cheap ones in Ebay) and arrange them yourself. If you can't, just get a friend to do it for you. You can save a lot on the cost of asking a florist to make the flower arrangements for you.

Do your own catering

Doing your own catering can also help a couple on a tight budget. You may have family members or relatives who are good at cooking. Get them together and cook the best family recipe for the special event of your life.

Ask everyone to be the wedding photographer

Wedding photos taken by specialized wedding photographers are expensive these days. To stay within the budget, why not get everyone to take photos of you and the others on your wedding day. You will get some nice and unexpected shots. Or better still leave a few disposable cameras on the reception tables together with a note informing the guests to take photos and later leave the cameras on the table.

Turn the wedding cakes into desserts

Turning the wedding cakes into desserts is also another option to stay within the budget. Make arrangements for both of you to cut the cake before sitting down to eat so that the cake can be served as desserts. Planning something like is will save you money too.

These are some cheap wedding ideas that can help make your wedding a great wedding. A great wedding does not have to be expensive. You can turn a simple wedding to a great one through proper planning.

Set The Theme And Tone With Wedding Invitations

Who just simply has a white wedding at a local church and a reception at home anymore? Weddings have evolved into affairs with larger budgets, extensive planning, and a theme tying it all together. While white is still appropriate for the wedding dress, of course, not everything else needs to be the same color as snow or calla lilies. Instead, a winter or floral theme, if you have to use one as part of your decor, is appropriate. Weddings, too, veer down a casual or formal path, and a set of invitations set out to guests should also give some hint of this theme.

A set of wedding invitations, of course, should be about you. Don't settle for an ordinary floral theme. Find one, instead, that reflects you and your husband-to-be. Several themes are styles are out there. Among the hundreds of choices, you can find those that reflect your lifestyle, come in colors you both prefer, or even display your picture.

Your wedding invitations, at the same time, should reflect your theme. Certain themes at the moment are more popular than others. Seasonal themes, particularly for spring, summer, or fall, reflect the time in which the wedding is held, and the wedding invitations should give an indication of this, through color choice or images. Other popular themes include beach weddings, Las Vegas (even if you're not quickly getting married in a chapel), and destination weddings.

Weddings have evolved into lavish events held at far away locations, in large banquet halls, and with hundreds of people present. Some, however, prefer more intimate or less formal affairs. Indicate this with your set of wedding invitations. A formal set often has multiple parts and follows conventional wording, while a casual or less-formal set often takes a far more personal approach. Such casual invitations may only be one-sided and use your own wording.

Why Wedding Insurance is a Wise Idea

Getting married is a momentous occasion, but it is not surprising that there are many factors to consider and arrangements to be taken care of. Typical wedding plans to undertake include booking a venue, ordering food, wedding cake, flowers and other decorations. Then there are wedding cars if you need transport, wedding rings and of course, the wedding dress.

All in all there are plenty of things to take care of - all of which take time, effort and money. With the average cost of a wedding in Britain amassing to a significant amount of money, it makes sense to consider insurance for the occasion.

Your wedding day is a special, memorable event but as perfect as you want the day to be, things don't always run smoothly; therefore, it pays to protect yourself against any unseen eventualities.

You may not want to think about the wedding dress getting damaged, the rings being lost or the venue closing down before your big day, but these are all realistic possibilities that could turn your wedding from dream to disaster.

However, just as you purchase insurance for your car or holiday, you can also buy cover for your wedding. This can help to ensure that the event and all the things that come with it will be financially protected against the unknown and unforeseen.

Different insurance policies will offer different levels of cover. But normally cover is available for almost every insurable wedding eventuality - be it cancellation of the ceremony itself, loss of the wedding rings or failure of the flowers to arrive. In fact, most policies will cover all the items that form an integral part of the perfect day.

Wedding insurance shouldn't be regarded as an unnecessary expense and when compared to the cost of the whole event it works out as a small cost. If you do want to keep costs to a minimum then stick with the insurance, but look for other areas to shave costs off too.

Shopping online for decorations, accessories, invites and other essentials can cut costs significantly; and you can place all orders from the comfort of your own home. You could visit designer warehouse sales or second hand shops to look for your wedding dress. In addition, taking care of your own catering can prove rewarding and inexpensive, with many people now opting to bake their own cake for the event.

Wedding insurance allows you to approach your special day with confidence that no matter what happens you will be protected against it. And when you consider how much money you invest in the wedding day itself, then arranging wedding insurance is a small price to pay in order to ensure peace of mind for your dream wedding.

How to Plan a Cheap Wedding

There's no doubt about it, weddings can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding today is $20,000 - $25,000, and weddings are estimated to be a $25.3 billion industry. But don't worry if your budget cannot stretch for the most expensive custom-made gown, elegant invitation cards, or the top photographer, it doesn't mean that your wedding will be any less unique or special than anyone else's.

You just need a bit of guidance and a few tips to help you achieve the dream of your big day. Here are a few suggestions with tips on how to save on some of the more expensive aspects of a wedding.

Wedding Gowns

Do you really need a hand-made wedding dress with beads and diamantes? This is where the big cost is and there are several options in cutting the cost. Why not opt for a second-hand wedding dress? It's probably only been worn once anyway and you can get a once expensive dress for half the price. Consider buying an evening gown/cocktail dress from a department store or look into renting your wedding dress for the day.

The Reception

This is where the cost of a wedding can get out of hand. The wedding reception is normally the biggest expense, but one of the easiest to cut down on costs. Statistics show that an average of 189 guests attend a wedding, this is a lot. Try and keep your guest list to a minimum, do you really need to invite family members who you have never seen for years? Instead of a three-course meal why not opt for a hot and cold buffet (even cater for yourself)? Instead of holding the reception in an expensive hotel suite or wedding reception, why not consider having it at someone's home or a club, or even book a restaurant. Keep an open bar to a minimal and only serve beer, wine and soft drinks.

Photography

The obvious choice is to shop around for the best rates, but consider hiring a photographer for the ceremony only and ask a family member or friend to take snap photos of the reception. Or you could go one step further and ask them to take the photographs for the whole day and not bother with the expense of a photographer at all.

Invitations / Stationery

If you're on a budget and looking for cheaper wedding stationery items, then you might like to consider print-at-home stationery. There are many online stationer's that will offer this service free of charge. You pay for the paper and envelopes, then use their software to print directly from your own PC. With sophisticated customization tools you'll be able to enter your own text and preview it before you print so as not to make any costly mistakes. Alternatively, you can buy software and do-it-yourself from your PC.

Miscellaneous

Flowers can be another great expense, but also an unnecessary one. Why not buy wholesale flowers, or pick flowers from your garden (or a friends or relatives). Buy plain gold or white gold wedding bands as these are the cheapest. Get a friend to make your wedding cake for you and opt for a smaller tier cake and it doesn't have to be a fruit cake - try a sponge, chocolate or carrot cake! Make your favors and center-peices yourself. Accessories for these can be found at little outlet stores or online. Lastly, instead of a limousine why not rent a car or borrow a luxury car from a friend or relative?

Summary

Weddings are expensive if you want them to be. But if you want to keep money aside for a deposit on a house or a honeymoon to remember, then there are many cost cutting ideas. All you need is a little imagination, and some help from friends and family and you too can have a luxury wedding with all the trimmings.

Ice White Wedding Themes

You don't have to be having a winter wedding in order to qualify for an Ice White Wedding Theme. In fact, ice white wedding themes are becoming more and more popular for brides all over the world, regardless of their wedding date.

So, what is an ice white wedding theme?

An ice white wedding theme naturally focuses around the colour white. This colour - along with ice blue and shots of silver - should form the basis of your wedding theme. Your dress will be white with a few pearl, iridescent or silver beads sewn onto its bodice. Anything with white feathers, white fluff and white fur are key to creating this look successfully too so a shoulder wrap or bolero will complete the bridal look perfectly.

Centrepieces would look great if created with ice. There are many ice sculptors out there who can make anything you require. Swans are always a good choice or entwined hearts. Another option is to use flowers as a centrepiece. Your florist will discuss ideas with you but generally speaking white roses, white lilies or any other white blooms will look perfect especially when intermingled with silver sprays and pure white feathers.

If your budget won't permit a stay in the Ice Hotel in Norway, then you need to bring the icy feel to your reception venue. The best way to achieve this is to cover tables with crisp white linen and cover chairs with either white, silver or pale blue chair covers. If your reception venue allows it, you could spray snow onto windows and dangle snowflakes from window frames. Cotton wool on windowsills will also give the venue an authentic feel. Scatter tables with snowflake confetti in white, silver and ice blue.

There is a great deal of choice when it comes to wedding favours. Snowflake bath confetti would be great for the ladies or ice blue organza bags filled with silver confectionery. Any chocolate favours always go down well with male, female and child guests and these could be encased in blue, white or silver favour boxes. Complete the feel of your favour boxes with white feathers or silver snowflake trims.

If finances permit, you could hire in a snow machine to create a really snowy feel outside the venue. This will give you some great photo opportunities from your ice white wedding theme.

When it comes to creating an ice white wedding theme, there are many ways that this can be achieved as outlined above. The main thing is that the stationery, table decorations, flowers and outfits all reflect this icy wintry theme and you can't go wrong.

50th Golden Anniversary Invitations for Golden Wedding Anniversary Party

Golden Wedding Anniversary Invitations for 50th Anniversary Party

Golden Wedding Anniversary invitations are not an insignificant topic. Marriage is a wonderful institution. Couples who can make the commitment to share their lives together and keep that commitment should be applauded. After all, it definitely isn't easy to do under any circumstances. Celebrating those Golden Wedding Anniversary couples is always a great idea. Sending out Wedding Anniversary Invitations is the first step in this type of celebration.

The biggest reason to celebrate commitment is when a couple manages to stay together for 50 years. That's a long time! For these couples, the 50th Wedding Anniversary is no ordinary event. This is something very few people and not even many married people ever get to share, especially since high divorce rates put an end to so many weddings in the first ten years. Being about to celebrate that 50th Anniversary Wedding is something to be proud of and that's why online shoppes do everything they can to help make it a success.

Customizing Cards for Golden Wedding Anniversary Party

Because each couple is unique, their anniversary party needs to be something special as well. When celebrating their Golden Anniversary Wedding party, they also deserve something special for their invites. The mammoth selection of one-of-a-kind cards designed in-house ensures the host will find a special invite for the event. Also, the invitations can be personalized in several ways to make them more unique. The font size, font style, card message, and ink color of the 50th Anniversary Invitations can be customized by the customer. Furthermore, the invites can be made unique simply by adding a photo. A recent photo or even a photo from their wedding day 50 years ago can be uploaded easily and used on the stationery.

Anniversary Invitation Selection Advice

To put together an anniversary party for a couple, their loved ones need to focus on what makes them such a fabulous couple. Think about the hobbies the couple shares. Consider things they've done together that were unique or special to them. Hosts might want to even ponder what motivated the couple to join their lives and hearts in the first place. By thinking about these issues, the host is more likely to identify a great party anniversary theme. If the theme is chosen, picking an Invitation Anniversary is much easier. Another thing that makes the selection easier is the huge selection available online. Sure, having lots of options can make some things harder but it makes it more certain the host will locate a great Anniversary Invite for a great couple's special celebration.

Celebrating that 50th Wedding Anniversary

There is no doubt that sharing 50 years together is something most couples never manage. That's why, although the other anniversaries are wonderful, none of them are quite as spectacular. No marriage is free of problems and obstacles. But these couples didn't let those things stand in their way of a relationship they knew truly mattered. Those are some things to consider when selecting the 50th Anniversary Wedding Invitations for the party. Choosing 50th Anniversary Invitations that reflect the significance of this milestone is crucial for the success of the event.

Invitations Anniversary on a Budget

No matter what type of party is being planned for the happy couple the celebration shouldn't be cheap. This is the time when a host can really use a phenomenal party budget. The good news is that Anniversary Party Invitations don't have to be one of those major expenses. When party planners shop online, they can take advantage of some of the lowest prices on stationery available. Plus, with each purchase of Anniversary Wedding Invitations a few sites give customers 10 FREE cards. Also, for those make a minimum purchase, they can receive FREE shipping for their order of Golden Wedding Anniversary cards.

Celebrating an anniversary is always something special whether it is for the 50th milestone or not. For party hosts, however, the key is always making the event something unique, as well as affordable. Shopping online for Golden Wedding Anniversary invitations is the best way to ensure both goals are fulfilled.

The Unofficial Guide to Facebook Pages for Small Businesses

INTRODUCTION

By now, you have likely heard about trending social networking sites that are taking the business industry by storm. These sites such as, Facebook, Twitter, and Linked-In, are assisting businesses in promoting themselves and connecting with customers. Whether you're looking to increase profits, get feedback, or just get the word out about your company or product, social networking can help you.

In our opinion, Facebook has shown to be by far the most effective of all social networking sites for businesses to utilize. The new updates and features implemented into Facebook Pages enable you to customize your fans experience on your page. In this guide, we will discuss how to create your own Page, keep people interested, and provide tips for growing your fan base on Facebook. Let's Get Started!

CREATING A PAGE

Assuming you already have a personal Facebook account, login to the site using your regular information. You will then need to locate the "Search Bar" at the top of your home page. Once you have found it, go ahead and enter the term Facebook Pages into the search area. When you have located and clicked on Facebook Pages from within the search results, you should be re-directed to Facebook Pages and be viewing their wall.

Locate your attention to the left-hand side of the page and slowly start to scroll down. You will spot a list of links, more specifically a 'Create a Page' link. Click' the link and you will be again re-directed to another page. On this page, you will need to select the type of Page you would like to create from the options shown. Once you have decided on the type of Page you want, click' on it and fill out the required information and submit. You now have a brand new Page for your business waiting to be set-up!

SETTING UP YOUR NEW FACEBOOK PAGE

Profile Picture:

To begin, we recommend starting with the simplest feature by uploading your profile picture. This photo can be a maximum size of 200 X 600 pixels. My Office Sidekick encourages the use of this entire space for maximum visual impact. Utilizing design programs to create your own profile photo can be fun! It's important to be sure it includes your businesses logo and contact information in the design.

In the event you have no design skills, or don't even have a clue as to what a pixel is, it may be wise to consult with a designer, such as My Office Sidekick.

Step 1) Upload your profile photo by selecting the 'Upload a Photo' button on your getting started page. Here you can browse your computers files for the photo's location. After the photo has finished loading, you should now see your new profile picture at the top left-hand side of your Page.

Step 2) Next you will need to adjust your photo thumbnail. The thumbnail is the small-cropped image or "avatar" you see around Facebook with your posts. To edit the thumbnail, simply hover your cursor over your new profile picture. You will then see a link appear that says 'change picture'. Click on the link and you will be re-directed to another page. On this page below your profile picture you can find a link called 'Edit Thumbnail'. Select the link and a small pop-up window will appear. You can now adjust your thumbnail by dragging the photo into the desired position. Select save, and you're finished with setting up your profile picture!

Basic Information:

Gather any notes you have about your business regarding basic information that you have not memorized such as, when your business was founded, your website address, a description of your business etc.

Step 1) You can locate the 'Basic Information' link at the top left-hand side of your current page. Click' the link and you will be re-directed to the area where you can enter basic information about your business. Fill out as many sections as possible using exciting and informative descriptions. When a visitor views this section of your Page, you want to capture their attention. Forgo boring phrases that everyone has already seen and came to expect with your industry. With Facebook you have the opportunity to network and show your fans there is indeed a face behind the "business name". When your finished filling out all the sections provided, we recommend copying and pasting your answers into a program such as Microsoft Word for a spelling and grammar check. Nothing says unprofessional more than a profile full of errors that the creator did not take the time to correct. Potential customers may view these errors as a sign your business does not take the necessary steps to ensure a properly completed project.

Step 2) After your completely finished making any final changes to your information, select save!

Managing Permissions:

Step 1) The 'Managing Permissions' link can again be found at the top left-hand side of the page. Click' the link and you will be re-directed to the appropriate page. On the Managing Permissions page, there will be a list of options presented to you. These options control things such as who can interact with your page, country and age restrictions, the default landing page for visitors etc. Before changing any options in this section, take a moment to think about what your target market entails. (location, age, occupation etc.) You want to tread carefully in this section making sure you don't restrict an area that can bring you fans, yet you also don't want to waste valuable time.

After making all the changes that you desire for permissions, be sure to save the changes.

Managing Administrators:

Administrators can make changes to your Page. An administrator can be anyone you desire such as your, Business Partner, Social Media Management Team, and Virtual Assistant. This person must already have his or her own account on Facebook. Eventually at one time or another you may need to have someone access your Page for specific reasons. Be sure you trust this person and you may even consider having the additional administrator sign a non-competent or do-no-harm agreement before allowing them access.

Step 1) Select the 'Manage Admins' link at the top left-hand side of the page. You will then be re-directed to the Manage Admins page where you can now enter additional administrators following Facebook's prompts. Remember to save your changes when finished.

CREATING CUSTOM TABS FOR YOUR PAGE

Facebook has a great feature available to Page owners called custom tabs. These are useful because you are armed with an additional way to market to your visitors. Some of the most popular tabs Page owners create are welcome, contact us, services/products, and specials.

You have a few different options when it comes to creating these tabs. If you just so happen to be a programming guru familiar with FBML and iFrames, you can create these tabs for yourself. If you're asking yourself "What the heck is FBML and iFrames?" you will need to hire someone to do the design work for you. (Did I mention My Office Sidekick could help you with this? J) If your computer savvy and able to navigate your way well around the Internet and basic design principals, there are programs available to help you create and upload your own tabs. Some of these programs are free and some are paid. A good program for this is Lujure. Regardless of what route you choose to venture down, using this feature is a smart move for your business.

POSTING QUALITY CONTENT

My Office Sidekick recommends setting up your page in its entirety and regularly making posts for one week's time before attempting to gain fans. Reason being, you need to already have interesting and quality content available for prospective fans to see. They need a 'taste' of what they can expect from you. This will help your visitors to decide if they would like to become a fan of your Page.

It's important to provide posts that are in some way applicable to your area of business. Posting the same articles or comments over-and-over again will only get you "un-liked". No one wants to see the same things appearing repeatedly in their news feeds or on your Page. Another quick way to lose fans is by using your Facebook Page for nothing but advertisements. If someone already knows they want to utilize your service or purchase your products, they will. The purpose of your Page should be to gain the trust of your fans so that when they do need a service or product you provide, they will know where to turn to. Stick to the 80/20 rule for posts. This rule means for every 1 post containing advertising information about yourself, you need to make 5 other non-advertisement posts. This gives your Page a good balance between the two post types.

As an example, say you're in the business of selling wedding dresses. To intrigue and gain your target markets trust, you will want to offer more than just dresses to them. By that I mean you should be posting links and articles related to the wedding industry. Maybe you know a great Wedding Planner, Photographer, Custom Invitation Store etc. Use that knowledge to offer your fans additional resources they may need when getting married. These should be things that you do not offer, but that are related in some way to your area of business. "Helping out" these Brides-to-be with some of the other "aspects" to having a wedding, may in-fact increase the chance that they will want to purchase that special dress from your knowledgeable and friendly business!

GAINING LIKES

It takes a lot of patience and dedication to build your Page's fan base. It doesn't occur overnight, unless you have magical powers or an unlimited amount of advertising dollars available to your disposal.

So... your page is ready for fans, and you're asking yourself where or how to find them, right? We have a few suggestions to help!

1) Start out by suggesting your Page to all of your personal Facebook friends. You never know who may be looking for a business just like yours or who may have friends of theirs who need your service or product. When someone 'Likes' your Page, it will show up in their news feed to their friends if their settings allow it. It also shows in the list of Pages they have 'Liked'. To suggest your Page to your friends, there is a 'Suggest to Friends' link located on your Page at the top on the right-hand side.

2) Cross promoting all of your businesses sites and pages keeps people connected with your business on their favorite sites and makes it more convenient for them to find you. To cross promote your sites and pages, you will just need to insert links in all of your locations. It's also wise to include these links in the signature portion of your emails.

3) We have found out that by interacting with other business Pages on Facebook; you can increase your 'Likes'. By simply liking and commenting on a Page, you're getting more exposure. Do it gracefully so you do not see, to be pushy or rude. The following example is a great way to do so. Hi, just stopping by to tell you thanks for the many useful articles you have been posting. I just liked your page and would love to have you as a fan on mine!

4) This is more of a warning, than a tip so to speak. There are many companies out there that promise to deliver you an XX amount of 'Likes' to your Facebook Page, for a specific amount of money. We do not recommend using this type of service to gain fans. While your fan base may increase from a service like this, you must remember that these are paid 'Likes' and not natural. This means that they are usually only temporary 'Likes' and do not last long term because they are not people who are genuinely interested in your business. If they are not really interested in your business or area of business, its likely you are not going to benefit from having them as your fan. The principle here is that you have no idea who you are getting for your money. They are just people being paid a very small affiliate fee to 'Like' your Page. I can think of a million other areas to better spend your advertising dollars in, can you?

DID YOU KNOW?

- Facebook users can 'Like' your Page from their cell phone. Have them send a text message to 32665 (FBOOK) with the words likeyourpagename in the body of the message. (Of course you will need to replace yourpagename with the actual name of your page) This is a great way to gain 'Likes' in a simple manner.

- After your Page has gained 25 'Likes', you can choose your very own custom URL for your Page such as

http://www.facebook.com/yourpagename This makes it much easier for people to reach your site without worrying about all of the extra numbers and humbo-jumbo in the original URL.

- When posting about another business or brand, you can insert the @ sign followed by that persons name and your post will also appear on their page. This is a useful feature similar to what we see on Twitter.

- You can now post on other people's pages as your Page. To activate this feature, find the Account tab at the top right corner of your Page. When the tab expands, select 'Use as Page'. This is the feature you will want to use anytime you want to 'Like' a page or comment on a page as your business.

- According to many professional studies we have seen posted on the Internet, making your posts before noon is more beneficial than other times of the day. These posts get more interaction from fans and visitors. Additionally, Wednesdays have shown to be the busiest day of the week for fan interaction, with weekends the least busiest. So keep these facts in mind when you schedule your postings.

- You can import your RSS Feeds directly into your Facebook Page. There is a free application located on Facebook called Social RSS and is worth searching for. This is a great way to help cross promote your sites.

Building an awesome Facebook Page for your business requires patience and dedication. With time, your Page can grow substantially and prove to be a very valuable asset to your business.

If you have any questions about this guide and the information contained within, please feel free to contact My Office Sidekick for assistance!

Changing Your Name After Marriage - Should You Hyphenate?

Historically, hyphenating your husband's name with your maiden name was done in exactly the same way as if you were just changing to your husband's name, that is, providing your marriage certificate as evidence of your marriage and new name. These days however, some organisations will not recognise a hyphenated name after marriage and the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in each state are now advising that if you want to hyphenate your name, you should go through an "official" name change process. Going through this process is very easy to do, is not expensive and can be done through your Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. You should note that this change of name may be noted on your birth record.

How do you go about doing this? Fill out an application form to register your change of name and receive a Change of Name Certificate, and submit it with the relevant fee. (Names are no longer changed by Deed Poll). Application forms are available from your State's Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, and are also available to download on their websites. If you are changing your name in this way you will obviously need to present your Change of Name Certificate as opposed to your Marriage Certificate when changing your registered name with organisations.

The groom can also hyphenate his name or you can both make up a new surname by applying for a Change of Name Certificate.

Considerations:

• How will you sign this name (is it too long?)


• If it is long, will it fit in pre-formatted forms that you will regularly be filling out in this name (ten to twelve letters is generally the maximum space allowed or boxes provided) Susan Chance-Rainwater writes about life with a hyphenated name at http://www.rainwaterreptileranch.org/scr/ and comments on problems with the length of her newly hyphenated name, stating that "I think it was a prescription label where this problem first surfaced."


• Will this name go with any children's names that you may have in mind?


• Will both partners take on the hyphenated name?


• Will your name be hyphenated or double barreled (no hyphen, just two names e.g. Smith-Jones vs Smith Jones)


• Be aware that you will legally need to go by your new hyphenated name and can't revert back without going through the name change process again.


• It may take others a while to cotton on to your new last name - they may just use one name or the other. People who don't know you may also become confused. "When corrected, they simply don't know what to do. At the dry cleaners, they have taken to calling me Mrs. Chancewater" says Susan Chance-Rainwater.


• It may take extra time to spell out your name and identify yourself when completing phone transactions.


• Other identifiers will also change and most likely become longer, such as your email address.

Planning a Green Eco Friendly Baby Shower

Are you planning a baby shower for your eco-friendly green Mama to be? Here are some tips to guide you in giving her a fun and memorable day that will leave her with happy memories and have minimal impact on mother Earth.

Invite Right - Use electronic invites instead of sending out traditional invitation cards, and encourage people to RSVP via email. This will help minimize paper waste.

Encourage Minimal Packaging - Encourage the guests you invite to use reusable packaging, such as gift bags (remind them not to write on the bag itself but to put their names on the removable card) or cloth wrapping. Give a door prize for most creative eco-friendly packaging. Craftsy moms could even wrap the gift inside itself, for example a baby blanket could be folded attractively to hold an outfit. Look in books on Japanese wrapping for inspiration.

Carpool Prize - Offer the moms who carpool to the baby shower location an extra door prize to encourage them to do so. If you live in an area where bicycling is common, do the same for Moms who bike or walk to the party.

Responsible Registry - Thankfully, there are many online baby boutiques that offer a gift registry. Encourage your guest of honor to choose one or more so that she can pick all the organic baby clothing, toys and cloth diapers she wants. Then let guests know on the invitations that they can save gas and time by ordering just what the new mom's heart desires - over the internet.

Go Organic - Be sure to serve locally grown organic food. Fruit is always a winner for any baby shower because it goes down easy for a pregnant belly.

Swap Meet Themed Shower - With the permission of the Mother-to-be, why not encourage guests to bring kid hand me downs that are still in great shape to the shower? They could give these to the new Mom - new babies typically don't wear out their clothing and equipment, but outgrow it. Or, they could exchange the gear amongst themselves. You can keep baby stuff out of the landfill by hosting a mini swap meet.

Ditch Disposable - Instead of using disposable paper plates and plastic cutlery, purchase inexpensive melamine plates and encourage the guests to take them home as a door prize. That way you won't have to wash any dishes! You can also use attractive heirloom dishes that don't match for a kitschy look. Or, hold the shower in a restaurant (one that uses real plates and cloth napkins) and let them do all the dishwashing.

Creative Gifting - Sometimes, the best gift for a new Mom is the gift of time. How many cute outfits does one newborn need? Not many. But giving Mom a freezer full of healthy meals (in reusable freezer containers, of course) is worth a million dollars. A new Mom needs to eat healthfully, yet she also needs to relax and enjoy her new baby. How about having a Casserole Shower instead of a traditional one? Encourage guests to cook a healthy casserole or other easy meal in a container that they don't mind Mom keeping (or tell them to put their name on the dish to pick up later).

Shower guests can also give the new Mom a gift certificate good for a week's (or a month's!) worth of maid service, or cloth diaper service. Another idea is tickets that are redeemable for child care for the older child, or a load of laundry or other household chore, etc. And what about, in lieu of gifts, guests donate to a savings account that the Mother has set up for her new arrival? This might be especially thoughtful for a Mom who already has children and plenty of baby stuff but less cash.

With a little forethought, you can give Mom a fun day and set a good example of environmental stewardship.

Porcelain Dinner Sets Are the Best Wedding Anniversary Gifts

Are you getting anxious of what to give to your lovely wife on your very first wedding anniversary? Searching for gifts that may impress her can be quite distressing especially for a man. Let me help you with that. With my experience nothing can correlate a porcelain dinner sets for a wedding gift. I will explain to you why.

We all know that wives have similar desires and that is making their family happy, by keeping their home cozy and well-organized, being there when needed, taking care of husband's needs and most of all serving them with delectable meal every single day. And the best way to do that is to have a gratifying meal together with the whole family. Giving her a set of elegant tableware will make dining more extraordinary.

Bear in mind that first wedding anniversaries are usually the most awaited moment your wife is looking forward to. It signifies success on your first year together. It is during the first year when the period of adjustment is crucial. It is the time where both husband and wife are getting to know each other deeper especially the most hidden secret the other person may have. Therefore, choose something sophisticated and luxurious as a present to her.

Why is porcelain dinnerware the perfect gift?

It is indeed an impeccable gift not just to the wife but also to anybody because it exudes excellent quality and timeless beauty. Who could resist a gift like that? This may sound too much but remember that a wife's happiness is priceless. So do not count the cost but the felicity it brings.

Moreover, porcelains are durable that could last from generation to generation. They are considered as the top of the list heirlooms of the family. When cared for properly may exude its original beauty even through the years. The designs are also ageless. It is a classic therefore, no need to worry that your choice will run out of style because it never will. That's the good thing about porcelain.

No need to go out of your way from the office or at home. These types of dinner sets are available online and are very accessible. Just make sure that you order it from competent suppliers who can provide you with quality stocks and favorable price. Ascertain also that the set ordered are genuine. There are different brands to choose from such as, Lenox, Vera Wang, Waterford, and many more.

So, get rid of those doubts. Today, get your wife a wedding present like the porcelain dinner set. Dinner sets may come in 4, 8, and 12 place settings. For a start try the family set of 4 but if you often entertain visitors it is best to get the 12-piece setting. You'll never regret the decision you make today.

Etiquette For Formal Wedding Invitations

There are traditional marriages and there are also casual weddings. Nevertheless in all these occasions, there are certain rules of conduct that should be followed mainly in formal weddings. Modern and casual weddings on the other hand are okay and probably expected to be creative.

A formal wedding, like any formal events, has a standard set of decorum to be observed. In composing a wedding invitation, there are a few things that must be done properly:

• Names have to be written in full, not excluding middle names. However it is better to omit the middle name rather than write only the middle initial. For name extensions, Roman numerals like 'II' are more appropriate than '2nd' or 'the second'.


• British spelling of certain words like 'honour' are more proper and formal, except when you really prefer its American spelling.


• The date, year, time or hour should be spelled out in words correctly, as with words in the addresses like 'Avenue', 'Road' and 'Street'. There are exceptions, however, like St. for Saint or Mt. for Mount.


• Use phrases appropriate for the venue of the wedding ceremonies. If the venue would take place in a church place, the correct phrase should be "request the honour of your presence". For non-religious venue, the phrase "request the pleasure of your company" is fine to use.

Type Style refers to how the words are printed on the invitation, the color and type of the font. Black ink is traditionally used in printing wedding invitations using engraved or script style. Examples of Formal invitation fonts include CommScript, Champignon and Shelley Script.

Each individual belong to a distinct family. There are so many different family types. And depending on what family type the bride and groom are from, the invitation should include the proper wording. But what's essential is that the invitation contains the type of the party, the party's purpose, the date, hour and place where the event will take place and the information for RSVP. The choice of wording and its composition should be based on who is issuing the invitation. It may be from the parents of the bride or the groom, both set of parents and the groom and the bride themselves. There are also standard wedding invitation wordings that are appropriate to the status of the parent/s like widowed or divorced parents.

Proper salutations must also be used in formal wedding invitations. Make sure that the profession of title of the names to be written on the invitation is know. For instance one of the sponsors is a judge, what must be written on the outer envelope is 'The Honorable' and 'Judge' on the outer envelope.

The assembly or order of assembling of the invitation should also be ensured. Place the edge-folded invitation and its tissue inside the envelope with its front facing you as with the response card and other insertions. The invitation must be mailed from four to six weeks before the marriage so that guests will have enough preparation time.

Baptism Favors That You Will Simply Love

Baptism is for many parents the most important time for their children, the time when all friends and relatives gather for the religious ceremony that brings the child into the church. It is a day celebrated as much as a wedding and involves all parties arriving in their best clothes, often bringing gifts for the child or person being baptised.

Although the baptised receives gifts often so do the guests in the form of baptism favours. The baptism favours are given as small reminders of the day to the guests, also a small thank you from the child's god parents for attending the special day. The baptism favours are by tradition given out by the child's godmother or god father these types of gifts are also given at weddings and are like a grown up version of the treat bag often given at the end of a children's birthday party.

Rather then small sweets and games the favours in this case are more linked to the occasion.With the economic turmoil as it is the traditional givers can be different and so can the gifts. The gifts don't have to be expensive, they can be anything basically. If the items can remind the guest specifically of the day it is even better. Also it's wise to try and keep the gifts the same for everyone to avoid any arguments from people who may feel left out.

The god parents may be OK to give bigger gifts to but no one else really unless there is a specific reason such as fulfilling a role on the day or perhaps donating something for the day.

One form of baptism favour is to presented the gift in a small box or packet, this containing the basic gift itself. This can be a few sweets or small ornaments. Maybe also include a card thanking them for attending the celebration. The card means they have a reminder of the day even if the gift isn't meant to last.

Possibly even make the gift a small certificate thanking for their attendance, maybe with a hand print signature from the baby baptised or with a small photograph. The favor chosen basically depends on the money that can be spent on the occasion and how many gifts you intend giving out on the day.

You can give out chocolates or sweets as a basic and cheap gift. You could consider giving pictures of the baby, perhaps wearing their baptism clothing. More high class gifts include silver dummies, silver scrolls or framed notices all including the baptism date.

Don't spend so much you end up in debt or so you have to downsize any other part of the day. Start with a figure you can afford and then work from that figure and above all don't go above it. Nobody should expect expensive gifts and no one should feel obliged to give them out.

The day is to celebrate the baptism after all and anything else is extra. The presents are something to be considered on top and only if really needed to augment the day. They will be well received but won't be expected by anyone.

How to Throw an Affordable Bridal Shower

A Bridal Shower is a chance to shower the bride with gifts from her registry or for her honeymoon. Another bonus: the wedding party gets to know one another a little better before the big day. In today's current climate though, the cost of a shower may be a little overwhelming. If you're looking to throw a festive shower on an affordable budget, why not throw a Fiesta themed bridal shower?

Fiesta themed showers allow you to save money but still throw a party where everyone's up out of their seats, laughing and talking, while celebrating the bride the entire time. It's also a fun alternative to the bride's stressful wedding plans - and let's be honest - what bride's plans aren't stressful to her? It's a great way to get her to relax and be worry free for an afternoon while also not totally leaving you cash strapped by the end of the event.

Select a Date - Bridal Showers are typically held 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding. Speak with the bride to pick a date that is most convenient. Make sure that you are clear with the bride what type of shower you are thinking of throwing for her - that way no one feels let down. Keep in mind that if you are inviting wedding guests from out of town, they may need extra time to make affordable travel plans so consider at least sending out a free "Save the Date" email 12 weeks before the event.

Fiesta Shower Theme - This is a theme that can spice up winter, allows you to make good use of your backyard or patio, or can be held around a pool. While you may lean towards going to a Mexican restaurant, why not throw the Fiesta in your own home? It will cost even less than going out, plus it will give you a chance to show off your entertaining skills!

Food - Using a Fiesta theme allows you to make cost-effective dishes that can serve many, and are always big hits with the guests. It also allows you to make one large pitcher of drinks and save even more money. If you are more practiced with a take-out menu than you are with a cookbook, a Fiesta is an easy way to conquer your fear of a stove. If you can't imagine life without your stove, this theme will give you ample opportunity to show off your cooking prowess.

Decorations - Fiesta decorations are very easy, festive, and inexpensive. Think bright colors, crepe paper, fun sombreros and bright flowers to liven up a room or poolside. Hitting your local dollar store can be a great bet to stock up on decorations, funny game prizes, or even clever favor ideas without spending a lot of money. Since bright colors are in order, this theme allows you to save even more by being able to use monochromatic bunches of carnations or daisies which can always be found on sale or at discount florists.

Favors - Favors are a great way for guests to remember the event. However, they don't need to take up a lot of time to create nor do they need to cost a ton of money. For a fiesta themed shower, we recommend homemade packets of margarita mix with printed labels commemorating the event. Brightly colored votive candleholders are another gift idea that guests will enjoy re-using at home.

As you can see, a Fiesta themed shower can be a fun, casual party that celebrates the bride without breaking the bank.

Gorgeous Bridal Shower Invitations - Tips For Wedding Shower Invites

It doesn't matter if this is your first time planning a wedding shower, or if you are the planning guru, you know that bridal shower invitations are an important way to give guests all the important information they need.

The Theme

Like wedding invitation ideas, there's no shortage of themes for unique bridal shower invites. For a one-of-a-kind look, consider an invite printed on die-cut paper. Guests will be delighted when they open the envelope to find an invitation shaped like a wedding gown, bridesmaid's dress, or, yes, even lingerie.

One of the simplest ideas for bridal shower invitations is to incorporate the party theme. For example, if you're planning an ice cream social, use an image of a cone or sundae. No matter what the theme, you don't need to settle on fuddy-duddy designs that look like overdone wedding invitation ideas. Find ultra-modern and super-cute designs for images that range from disco balls to designer-looking handbags.

Colors are another way to create tone-setting party invites. If the future bride is well-known for her love of purple, invite stationery in lavender or text in a flirty bright purple will let guests know exactly who the shower is for.

Add sparkle to your party invitations by using embellishments. Charms, elastic ties and ribbons are common ways to jazz up an invite. For a celebratory touch, add confetti to the envelope. Imagine a shower guest opening a winter-themed invitation to find snowflake-shaped confetti.

You can also match the bridal shower invitations to the wedding invitation ideas. If the bride's planning a chic beach affair, use shower invites that sport a more casual beach theme, such as flip flops or a sun towel. Is a formal red-themed wedding in the works? A bold red paper or a white invite trimmed in a red shade will tie the two events together.

The Message

If traditional wording is your style, look for suggested text that fits your needs. Online wedding specialists frequently list wording suggestions for a range of events, from showers to wedding invitations.

For unique bridal shower invitations that guests are sure to chat about, make like Seuss (or Shakespeare) and pen a poem. If verse isn't your style, ask a literary-minded friend to help create an ultra-unique poem invite.

Of course, you already know to include the date, location and time on the bridal shower invitations, but there are other tidbits you may want to add. For example, remember to include any guidelines for themed shower. For example, if you're hosting a lingerie event, the bridal shower invitations might include the bride-to-be's size. Kitchen shower invitations might suggest a cooking-themed gift.

Wording for bridal shower invitations should also include whether guests should RSVP or send regrets only. RSVP means they should respond to you to advise whether they're attending or not. Regrets only means the guest should only respond if they cannot attend. The problem with regrets only is that some guests will invariably forget to notify you they can't show up. As a result, you might plan a party for 30 guests but only have 20 of them actually attend.

The bridal shower invitation is the first impression guests will have of the event--with a little planning it's easy to create a wedding shower invite that your guests will remember.

What is Wedding Insurance?

Most couples are not interested in wedding insurance because they are not planning on canceling their weddings, rather it is because they are worried about losing their jobs or other financial hardships.Wedding insurance typically covers deposits if the event has to be canceled due to illness, weather, military action, a vendor not showing up or other uncontrollable occurrences. It typically DOES NOT cover you if you are unable to pay for services because of job loss or if you get cold feet.If you decide to purchase wedding insurance, make sure to read the policy very carefully. You must make sure to understand what you are purchasing before paying for it.

How Much Does Wedding Insurance Cost?

A basic insurance policy that covers loss of photos, videos, attire, presents, rings, and deposits usually costs anywhere between $155 and $550, depending on the amount of coverage you want. General liability insurance, which covers up to $1,000,000 for accidents, costs around $185.

Do You Really Need Wedding Insurance?

Before you buy wedding insurance, check with your each of your vendors to see how well they're covered - your reception site or your caterer may already have their own insurance, so you wouldn't want to pay for overlapping coverage out of your own pocket. Ask your vendors for a copy of their policy, and then figure out where you aren't fully covered.

When Should You Get Wedding Insurance?

The sooner the better. Let's say you put a deposit on your wedding reception hall 12 months prior to your wedding date and then it burns to the ground a few weeks before the big day. With wedding insurance, you'll be sure to get your deposit back. But note: most insurance companies have limitations on how far in advance you can purchase insurance.

What Does Wedding Insurance Cover?

Problems with the site, weather, vendors, key people, sickness, or injury are the top concerns come wedding day. There is usually a specified maximum amount, which can be claimed under each section, and a deductible also applies. Be sure to find out the details of your insurance plan.

Things to Consider

Every insurance policy and every wedding scenario is different. Be sure to talk to your insurance agent - and have him or her explain the nuts and bolts to you. You want to make sure you and your sweetie understand every detail of your policy.

The Difference Between Wedding Invitations and Announcements

When you first sit down to look through the giant books of wedding stationery at your local stationer, you may feel as though your head is spinning. There are so many different options that it an be overwhelming to sort it all out. One of the most important things that a bride needs to understand is the difference between wedding invitations and wedding announcements, and when each one should be used.

There is a lot of very detailed and specific etiquette surrounding wedding invitations and announcements. The invitation is by far the more common of the two, but the announcement also has a place and time. Woe to the bride who mixes up the two, because you can inadvertently cause some very hurt feelings. Depending on your personal situation, you may find that you need just invitations or just announcements, or some of each.

In a nutshell, the invitation is what you send when you are asking someone to attend your wedding. It sounds simple enough, right? And yet, there are plenty of couples who make the mistake of trying to use an invitation to do the job of an announcement. Wedding invitations should be sent out well before the wedding, to allow the guests ample time to respond, make travel arrangement, shop for a new dress and jewelry for the wedding, buy you a gift, and so on. If you wait until the last minute to send an invitation, there is a strong chance that the recipient will deem it an insincere offer or think that they were on your "B" list (if you remember that backwards episode of "Seinfeld" with the wedding in India, you know just what I am talking about). There is nothing ruder than sending out a very late invitation in the hopes that the guest will be unable to make it, but will send a present anyway!

Some couples unwittingly send this message when they try to use a wedding invitation to do the job of an announcement. The entire purpose of a wedding announcement is to let people who would be interested know that a wedding has taken place. Note the past tense. You do not send out announcements before the wedding under any circumstances. To do so risks people misunderstanding the mailing and thinking that they are invited guests. It's an unfortunate scenario that is best avoided. You don't want to be the one getting the phone call and having to tell someone that, no,they in fact are not invited to your upcoming nuptials!

Although many people are unfamiliar with them, there are many times when an announcement is very useful. Let's say that you had a very small wedding in Tahiti, or eloped to Vegas. A wedding announcement, sent after the fact, is the perfect way to share your good news with your extended network of friends and family. An announcement can also be appropriate when you have had a more traditional wedding, but could not invite every last person that you or your family happen to know. This can be particularly handy if your parents have a large social network or group of business contacts with whom the bride or groom have no personal relationship. You are spared the expense of feeding a roomful of virtual strangers, and they are spared the expense of travel, buying a new dress and wedding jewelry, and the cost of a gift. Yes, I did say gift; there should be no expectation of anything more than a congratulatory note from those to whom you send wedding announcements.

The difference between a wedding invitation and a wedding announcement is actually a very large one. To communicate the intended message, it is important to use the right tool. Once you have pondered your own wedding and your guest list, you will be much better prepared to order the stationery that will help make your wedding a success.

Handmade Wedding Invitations - Silk, the Elegant Choice

Next time you are in a store that sells handmade paper, ask to see the silk papers--you are in for a treat. Silk paper has a completely different feel to the touch than "tree" paper, it has an unusual soft texture. For centuries, silken fabric has been associated with luxury, sensuousness, and wealth, the paper carries on that tradition in a slightly different way. Although it carries the mystique of the fabric, silk paper is not that much more expensive than other handmade papers and it is beautiful, unique and elegant. If you are considering making your own silk handmade invitations, here are three tips that might help.

1. Paper Weight: Understanding how the weights are different is key to choosing the best weight of silk for your invitations. Ordinary paper is measured in "pounds" and most invitations are printed on 80lb cover paper. Greater than that is too thick to go through the printer and less than 80lb looks flimsy. Silk paper is measured in "grams per square meter" or "gsm". You want to select one that is at least 180gsm for your invite to hold its shape. A 90gsm is too thin for most invitations. If you can find one that is greater than 180gsm, get it for they are rare.

2. Style: If you are planning to print on the silk itself, consider using a "scroll style" design. Here, you would print the invitation directly on the silk and then roll it up tying it with ribbon or rafetta and placing it in a decorative tube mailer to be sent. Your guests can RSVP to your email or website address. For a more traditional design, consider using a pocket folder. This is a trifold with the invitation printed on regular 80lb cover paper and then glued to the inside of the silk pocket folder. The RSVP card is in the side pocket. The advantage here is that the invitation card helps the invitation hold its shape.

3. Choosing the Right Decorative Paper: For wedding invitations there are two kinds of paper that are popular. For spring and summer, most people choose a paper with embedded flowers. For fall and winter, most people choose one with embedded threads.

When receiving your rare and unusual silk wedding invitation, your guests will be eagerly anticipating what kind of unique celebration will follow.

Handmade Wedding Invitations

Handmade wedding invitations can set the mood for your once in a life-time day. Weddings are the single most important intimate detail between you and your love. Some brides get so carried away in all the other preparations they overlook the much needed detail of the custom wedding invitations. The invitation is very important because it is what is sent to the homes of your guests. These notifications not only reflect upon you, but also your wedding day. When a handmade wedding invitation with ribbon, flowers or other decorative details arrives at the door the recipient draws the work and specialness of the card.

Many brides are moving away from the plain white invitation with traditional colored typeset. There are many variations and ways to enhance the wedding invitation. When you contact a company for a custom wedding invitation you have the ability to decide exactly what you want. There are many types of paper, colors of typeset, designs and even themes that you can specify. If you are having a seaside wedding than designate that your wedding invitation be a custom handmade wedding invitation. Sand could be sprinkled on the invitation or there could be a use of sea shells or pictures of the nautical theme. What ever the theme, it can be achieved through the customization of the wedding invitation.

Other custom wedding invitations include special paper. This paper is certainly not traditional and set the invitation apart from the rest. There are companies that specialize in paper made from special products. Paper made from flowers has become increasingly popular. Not only is the texture an excellent choice for the custom wedding invitation, but it is beautiful as well. This paper is a hand made paper that yells to your guest's class and style. The paper is made through a process of pressed flowers that you choose. It may be the favorite flower of the bride and groom or one that picks up the colors of the wedding. Other versions that are used with handmade wedding invitations are baby's breath and leaves.

The typeset and colors have a great deal to do with the impression and look of the custom made wedding invitation. It is best to experiment to decide which color to choose. Look at the paper and compare different styles of print and colors. This will help you make the decision on your invitation. This is very important so take your time!

With so many weddings taking place it is important to set your wedding apart from the others. One of the best ways to do this is customize everything. Whether it is a custom wedding invitation or a handmade wedding invitation that is unique only to you as a couple. There are many decorations, ribbons, photos and other backgrounds that you can choose from when picking the invitation. Whether they know it or not people judge your wedding by what they see. The first thing they see is the custom wedding invitation. If you have taken the time and effort it will show. So move away from the traditional and into a custom wedding invitation, you will be proud of the uniqueness years down the road.