How to Start a Limo Service: Your Step-By-Step Guide

Research and make certain you have a good marketplace for your limo service.

To do that, just open up your phone book and verify that there are limo businesses in your area, which is certainly always a good indication. Many novice business owners incorrectly believe that if there's no competition in an area then it's obviously a great idea to launch their own business in that area, but this is faulty thinking.

You will immediately realize the reason there aren't any limo companies in your area is because there's not enough business in that area. You'll be considerably better off opening your limo company where there are competitors and an established demand; maybe in areas where there's a lot of entertainment companies.

Determine Your Niche.

Airport transportation is going to make up just about Sixty to Seventy Percent of your business's income. Consider airport transportation the staple service of the limousine rental industry, even though it can generate the smallest profit margins by far.

The funeral sector, however, is additionally a very strong cash flow stream. It is possible to operate a great business enterprise simply by shuttling families to and from churches, funerals to home... although; you may pay a significant personal price by constantly being around sad, mournful people.

Transportation to and from Wedding ceremonies is a great niche and is essentially only workable (as a steady cash flow) on weekends, which makes it a source for additional cash for your new business. You can build a nice limo service working weddings.

The key to capitalizing on theses and other short-term limo rental needs is "bookings". You must make sure your daily and weekly schedule remains full of bookings so that there's never a moment where you're wasting time/money hunting for clients.

Proms & graduations are classified as the largest component of the limousine rental niche for financial gain. Sadly, proms and graduations are only 2 months out of the year, but since they're every year you can certainly plan ahead and build leads for potential customers for your limousine service in the months prior to those events. Get creative; establish deals where students or family groups can pay early into renting one of your limousines so that their financial burden is less when the time comes.

Celebrity & dignitaries is another lucrative niche you could target. Many VIPs love the idea of being "exclusive" and not having to share their unique perks with other people (not even other VIPs), so they're willing to pay HUGE sums of money for exclusivity of service... with that said, it's not easy to land these clients. To be successful in this niche it's really about "who you know", and also your people skills.

There are many more limousine niches to serve, so - again - get creative and think about where you could provide the best limo service in your area.

Analyze your start-up funds.

Truth be told, a person doesn't need very much money to start a limo company. Should you wish to establish your limo company the proper way, you may need as little as $45,000 to as much as $150,000 for start-up, and that would cover: buying a vehicle that can serve as a limousine, setting up insurance coverage, obtaining business cards, hiring a professional website designer. At a bare minimum, you could start off with just business cards, a nice vehicle, and a phone number... yeah, that's all!

As a business owner, you must realize that your focus is to provide a solution to one customer's problem. As a limousine business owner, your success will not be determined by how flashy your limousine is, by how many limousines you have, or by how many options or features you offer to your clients. Your success is determined by the "need" your limo service fills in your target area, one customer at a time.

The limo service is not called a "service" for nothing; you are choosing to become a professional servant. So if you're dedicated to provide a premium limousine service to your client, it doesn't matter how many features or options you lack, your client will be happy to reuse your service (or at minimum, refer you to others).

Allow your business to pay for itself.

Now let's say other clients do send new customers your way but you're booked and don't have the resources. Feel free to sub-contract it to other limousine competitors in your area, taking only a small referral percentage. That additional money can be saved and reinvested into growing your own limousine service. There's lots of money to be made with this particular tactic, and without producing much cost on your end.

Basic Customer Communication.

Get hold of a Toll-Free telephone number and also have your site created. This increases your business's exposure because most people shop over the internet, yet - with services like limousine rental - consumers still like to have a living person to be able to call and talk to for reservations.

Figure out what type of automobiles to get.

It is usually best to buy at least one Town Car. It's the best overall vehicle that perfectly fits multiple niches from shuttling to and from airports, to transporting clients to business meetings, and even helps with general maintenance costs. Then, of course, it's always ideal to have at least one 10-passenger stretch limo. With these two vehicles, you will be well-rounded as a limousine rental company.

Obtain insurance.

This is among the hardest task to accomplish because insurance coverage is a little more challenging to obtain. However, when you look into buying cars, be sure to have your insurance in place. It's identified as for-hire livery coverage. You'll need to do some online detective work before moving forward with purchasing your car since it might take up to 4 to 6 weeks to receive.

Decide Your Fees.

Your cost is essentially determined by what the marketplace will pay for, but first you need to cover your expenses (gas, maintenance, insurance, advertising/marketing) and have a little extra to reinvest in growing your business. Naturally, the greater quality service you supply, the more customers you will book. So after your reach a point where you're barely covering your additional bookings, you can decide to raise your prices to lower your bookings while also compensating for your loss of business.

Employ Superior Chauffeurs.

The number 1 place to discover good drivers is at the airport. Go to the baggage claim area where there's already drivers working and if you see a nicely dressed chauffeur standing there, pass him a business card and let him know that if he's ever trying to find a great chauffeur position, to contact you. Moreover, posting help wanted advertisements online will bring you plenty of leads but locating quality prospects is always hard.

Try posting your advertisement or service need on online websites like Craig's List or Elance.com.

Market & Advertise Your New Limo Service.

Today, web marketing is the best strategy to use. Google AdWords and other PPC Marketing services certainly produces great leads at a cost-effective price.

But in order for you to transform these new online prospects into loyal offline clients, it's very crucial that you put them on a subscriber list and send them: postal mail, your business card, a cheap thank you gift, etc. to ensure that you're the first one on their minds the next time they may be needing a limousine service.

You could also network with club owners, restaurants, wedding planners, as well as other sources, to include packages in order to promote your limo services. Combining deals together with local companies is a highly lucrative marketing tactic. You could also search for an all-in-one marketing company to build a custom marketing strategy uniquely tailored to your industry and niche.

19K Gold Rings

Rings created with 19k gold purity were at one time unheard of in the wedding ring market for people to purchase or sell, but thanks to new innovations such rings are appearing. There are only a few manufacturers in the world that offer 19k gold rings so this makes them very special at this moment in time and a very exclusive item for people getting married. What better way to offer an exclusive gift than a wedding ring that is not widely available?

To ensure that you are getting a 19k gold wedding ring, make sure you get an appraisal certificate from a well-known 3rd party company. Having such a document will give you what you need to prove to other people that what you have is an authentic 19k gold ring. Furthermore, if you would like to have it insured then having a certificate from a reputable 3rd party company will help you to do so. Check with your insurance company which company they may prefer to avoid any problems.

It is important for you to note as you research your ring that K stands for karat and this lets you know the purity of the gold used in the ring and should not be confused with carat which is the weight for diamonds or other precious stones.

In general most wedding rings are designed either in 14k all the way to 18k in order to maintain its durability and shape. Gold at it's purest is 24k but typically anything above 18k tends to become too soft, hence you not being able to set diamonds since a diamond is too hard. Diamonds are one of the materials on earth ranking 10 on Moh's hardness scale - a widely used standard to measure hardness of materials. 19k gold ring manufacturers get around this by including other metals into their gold alloy mixture.

19k gold ring manufacturers will offer various styles, designs, and weights to give customers more options for what they are looking for in a wedding ring. From an aesthetic standpoint 19k rings tend to have a particular sheen to them, which can even fool some to think it is a platinum ring. Expect these types of wedding rings to be at a high price point due to their uniqueness, not to mention the rising value in gold. The value of wedding rings causes some people to describe them as an investment.

How to Lose 10 Pounds Before Your Wedding

The big day is only a couple of weeks away, you have a million and one other things to deal with, and worst of all, you are 10 pounds away from looking great in that dress. So is it a lost cause? No. With a bit of planning and without a ridiculous starvation diet, you can lose those unwanted pounds in record time.

The method we are going to use is called intermittent fasting. First of all this is not a starvation diet. You are going to alternate periods of fasting of between 16 and 24 hours with an eating "window". Allied with a particular exercise program, this will allow for regular and rapid fat-loss.

So how is this going to work? Once you have established the length of the fast, there are a few things to consider. you are probably wondering exactly what you are going to eat. The good news is that you don't need to survive on celery and rice cakes. However, if you are serious about getting rid of those excess 10 pounds, you are going to have to eat clean, healthy meals during your eating window. As long as you are eating meals composed of lean protein (meat and fish), fruit and vegetables. It is a good idea to cut down starchy carbs as much as possible.

Another useful tip is to drink as much water as possible. This has two advantages. One, it will help to flush toxins from your system and promote fat-loss and two, it will help you to feel full despite the reduced calories.

Can You Save Money By Not Having Wedding Insurance?

There's certainly no doubt that we all live in troubled times, economically speaking. Most of us are looking for ways to cut costs, cut corners and cut down. Unfortunately one of those areas hit quite hard is wedding insurance, which is a bit of worry, since that's exactly the sort of cutback people shouldn't be looking for.

There are some forms of economy which may seem like a good idea at the time, but which are actually classic cases of false economy. It's a little like saying that although you have to carry a dozen eggs home, you will cut the cost of packaging, bags and baskets by simply holding them all in your hands. To help minimize the time during which they're exposed to danger, you'll run.

The chances are that this kind of economy will result in only one, all too predictable outcome - egg on your face. Trying to cut back on your wedding by cutting out wedding insurance is very much like exposing your eggs to greater and greater risk, and the greater the risk, the greater the chance of catastrophic failure.

Bear in mind that despite the recession and the long term financial problems being experienced in the UK, last year the average wedding cost over 瞿20,000. That price includes everything, including the honeymoon, but nonetheless, that's a staggering amount of money. Never mind a dozen eggs - let's try running with 20,000 of them in our hands.

Even more staggering is the fact that wedding insurance is available for under 瞿20. Can you name anything else you'll have at your wedding that costs less than 瞿20? Even the Bride's garter costs more than that in many cases, and certainly 瞿20 won't go very far on any aspect of the day. Perhaps a small flower display, a few drinks at the bar, an extra bottle of wine, one more small photograph or a different choice of soup at the reception.

Yet for less than 瞿20 an entire wedding can be covered and protected should things go wrong. But then here comes the next excuse for the false economy. People claim that their wedding is unlikely to go wrong. They claim they've planned it well, used high quality, reliable suppliers and done their homework. They may even suggest that their home insurance, credit card protection, health insurance or travel insurance will protect them.

Statistically, so they claim, they're unlikely to ever need to make a claim on their wedding insurance, and so would rather either save 瞿20, or dump an extra bottle of wine on the table for the reception. But this argument doesn't hold any water. Because whilst people claim that statistically they're unlikely to need to claim, the real statistics tell a very different story.

According to statistics published by wedding insurance companies in the UK, half of all those who take out a policy end up making a claim. In some cases these claims may be for just a few hundred pounds. Perhaps some wine was spilled on the Bride's dress, the Best Man's hired suit got damaged during some high spirited celebrations, or a drink spilled on the venue's carpet, which required professional cleaning. But at the same time many claims were for either many hundreds or even several thousand pounds, and in hundreds of cases every year, the full cost of the wedding was claimed for.

So when you consider that 50% of all weddings end up needing to fall back on wedding insurance, and that wedding insurance is available for under 瞿20, it really makes no sense to cut corners, and risk what should be one of the most important days of your life, and one of the most risky, and expensive occasions you'll ever have to plan.

Wedding Insurance - Can You Afford to Get Married Without It?

Is wedding insurance a worthwhile product or is it just another expense to add to the list? Well, as a newly wed here is my first piece of advice for those who have decided to take that stroll down the aisle. Within reason don't think about the expense, this is a once in a lifetime (hopefully!) occasion, the happiest day of your life and the memories that you make on this magical day are memories that will last you a lifetime.

The second piece of advice is for crying out loud get yourself insured!

The average wedding in the UK is now apparently £17,000 you can pick up a fairly robust premium for a cost starting at around just £30. This ladies and gentlemen really is a complete 'no-brainer'

Set a date, make the necessary bookings, arrange your wedding insurance cover and then start paying your deposits.

Get it done early and it is one less worry. Trust me there will be plenty of other things to worry about during the build up and on the day!

Even if you are thinking of not spending quite so much then a specialist wedding policy is still worth very serious consideration - you may be planning a small, intimate affair, but it is probably fair to assume that you will be buying some of the most expensive dresses, outfits and meals you have ever bought.

However, as with any form of insurance it is important to understand what your existing exposure to risk is before purchasing additional cover. One suggestion is that to make payments on credit card where possible (although always make sure you can clear the balance immediately). Any payment between £100 and £30,000 can be claimed back through section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act if there is a problem with goods or services.

Also many home contents insurance policies increase cover for a month either side of the wedding of someone in the household to cover wedding gifts and sometimes items bought for the wedding. Check your policy documents for details.

What you really need to be looking for in your wedding insurance policy is cover for loss of damage to the wedding attire, such as the wedding dress, as well as presents, the wedding cake, rings, flowers and gifts for the guests.

Most often cover starts a set period before the wedding and finishes a set period after - from seven days before to 24 hours after for wedding gifts, for example - but this will vary depending on the policy. Also you'll be relying on wedding services from a range of providers so make sure your wedding insurance can cover any extra costs you incur up to the policy limit if things don't go exactly to plan.

Wedding insurance also covers you for deposits you can't recover or the cost of arranging alternatives if suppliers go bust (but don't forget that you would already be covered by section 75 if you paid by credit card so do not pay an unnecessary premium if you have an option to opt out.)

The other important area to have covered by your wedding insurance is personal liability for injury to third parties or loss or damage to third party property. Again this is often covered either by your home insurance or the hotel's own cover etc but this can be quite important if you have the wedding in a public place such as a beach or park etc.

There are additional areas of cover, some policies offer legal expenses, personal accident or even stress counseling but these really need to be tailored to your party's individual needs.

Non-Traditional Baby Registry Options

Providing your baby with all they may need while trying to stay within your means can feel like a daunting task, especially if it's your first time. Baby stores and salespeople have a knack for making their customers feel like bad parents if they don't purchase everything on the sales floor. Many new parents break their budget and are later left with an if-I-knew-then-what-I-know-now feeling.

A baby registry is a great way to share with family and friends what you need and let them help out. However it's important to be realistic about what you are asking for since many items that seem cool in the store you may not ever use or your baby will quickly outgrow. You want to think bigger picture and longer term than the first few months. Let's face it, babies are expensive and most of the important baby needs are too.

Register For What You Really Need for Baby:

An alternative baby registry lets you register for what you actually will use long term: money. But it's not just money for money's sake, it's money to be used for exactly what you need, when you need it. You are able to register for things that you never could with traditional store and have the flexibility to buy as needed instead of everything at once, such as:

• Furniture and other big ticket items


• Outings to bond with your baby


• Child care


• Get a head start on saving for college


• Classes to expose your baby to new things like: swimming, music and yoga

What are the Benefits of an Alternative Baby Registry?

Given that a lot of the baby gear decisions are based on lifestyle preferences, it is important to give yourself the time and space to figure out your parenting style and what works for you. Therefore, a traditional registry can often be inefficient. An alternative baby registry is perfect for:

• Group gifts: make it easy for people to go in on big ticket items like strollers and furniture


• Having cash on-hand to stock your nursery using flash sales and discount sites instead of paying full price


• Not feeling the parental pressure of buying EVERYTHING at once for your baby


• Investing in long term items and services for your baby: ones that last and have value like furniture and swim lessons

Registries are a fantastic way to make it easy for friends and family to know what you need, but don't feel pressured to go the traditional route if that doesn't fit your lifestyle. There are non-traditional baby registry options available that can help you manage and customize what you buy for your new baby to give you the most flexibility with this new phase of life.

Wedding Ideas - Tips and Tricks to Help Make Your Wedding Day Perfect

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. You have probably been dreaming and thinking about your very own wedding day from adolescence, and now you have found the partner of your dreams and it is all coming true! You want your wedding day to be the most perfect day ever, so we have compiled a few handy hints to think about to make sure your wedding day is exactly what you are dreaming of.

Firstly,

• Make a Folder

Make a folder for all the multitudes of wedding information you will gather. Pick up a concertina style file from any office stationery shop and label the sections according to the different aspects of your wedding. Eg. Make a section for venues, one for invitation samples, one for flowers, one for cakes, one for dresses, one for cars, photographers, bonbonniere ideas etc. etc. Place any quotes, information or clippings you collect from magazines, advertisements, etc into sections for easy reference later on in the planning process. Planning everything early, leaves you less stressed, stops you from becoming a 'bridezilla', and allows you to enjoy the experience of organizing your own wedding.

• Save the Date cards

Sending Save the Date cards early are an excellent way to ensure all your family and friends will be available to attend your wedding day. Send them to all intended guests as soon as you choose a date, even before your have your Invitations and Stationery printed.

• Keep a Wedding diary

By writing everything down including appointments and deadlines in a wedding planner or diary, you will not forget to do anything and not miss any appointments.

Then,

• Wedding Stationery

Include with your Wedding Invitation all the information your guest will need to attend your wedding. Items such as Wishing Well cards, Gift registry information, handy returnable R.S.V.P. cards, accommodation information and directions to the various venues you have chosen for your special day. Using Invitation accessories saves you money and time without having to make a multitude of phone calls to inform guests of important this information. Theme your wedding stationery to match your venue or favourite colour, or flower. Your theme can be used in many aspects of your wedding. From the invitation, to the wedding attire, cake decorations, reception table d矇cor, and post wedding thank you's.

• Guest accommodation

If the wedding is out of town, or you have people coming from a long way to celebrate with you, many guests may need overnight accommodation so when booking accommodations for your self, many hotels or motels will allow you to make a block booking to be confirmed later.

Guests will appreciate the help with these arrangements and the details can be included on a specially printed card that can be included with the wedding invitation

• Some handy Emergency items for the day.

Make sure some one close to the bride (probably Mum or a bridesmaid) has an emergency kit on them with, band aids, paracetemol or head ache medication, a spare inhaler for asthmatics, or spare insulin or special medications that may be required in an emergency by anyone in the bridal party, a needle and thread, scissors, tape, extra button for wedding dress and extra panty hose for bride and bridesmaids. Clear nail polish is great for stopping runs in panty hose. A bottle of water for bride & groom to drink is also a good idea.

Baby Wipes are great for the bride to use, as they are excellent to remove makeup and other marks from your wedding dress without leaving stains. Include a Crochet Hook for the bridesmaids or Groom to help you with your Wedding dress buttons and hooks. Some wedding dresses can be very tricky to get in and out of, with plenty of tiny buttons and hooks, so send a crochet hook along so someone can help you undo the buttons on the wedding dress if required. Wedding shoes can become very uncomfortable very quickly so wear your wedding shoes a few times before the wedding around home, and try to scruff the soles a little so they are not slippery on smooth surfaces, even wear socks so they will stretch a little. Scotch guard shoes so they do not get marks and can be easily cleaned.

• Disposables cameras

Your guests will love disposable cameras placed on the reception tables. They will pick them up, snap away and capture all those unforgettable candid moments of fun and laughter that you will miss when you are busy talking to other guests. Using good quality disposable cameras will even save money on professional photos.

• Signing of a Photo board.

Instead of having a guest book, have a large photo surround board that will surround a large professional photographer photo of the bride and groom for all the guests to sign. It then can be then hung on your wall with all the well wishes from your closest family and friends, making a unique and priceless memento for years to come.

• Weather Watch

Watch the weather forecasts carefully for your wedding day weather. While is it totally out of your control, it could pay to be prepared with large umbrellas and towels in the boot of some of the wedding cars. Check with your Wedding reception venue as to wet weather options for you and your guests arrival and parking. If you have chosen an 'Al Fresco' style wedding reception, you may need to check your options and availabilities in case of a wet day.

• Your Wedding Photos

Your Wedding Photos are going to be a lifetime memory and this is a one-of special event, so you should be careful on your choice of wedding photographer. Make sure you look through photographers portfolios to see the type of work he can do. Make your wishes and choices clear and precise and make sure you have confirmed your costs before you sign any contracts. If the time of year suits, formal photographs taken in a park or beautiful garden or by the ocean can look spectacular, but make sure you have another location in mind if it rains.

Don't forget to ask any loved ones if they would like to purchase some of the formal professional photos as well, as quantity may lower your prices. A popular style recently is to have some photos produced in Black and White, this gives a timeless and classic stylish addition to your Wedding Photo Collection.

• Your Flowers

Your wedding flowers have probably cost you a lot of money. They will be beautiful and should last quite well if they have been supplied from a reputable florist. It is a shame to leave them behind just for the cleaners to throw out! Organise family members or friends to take them home after the reception, or if you will be staying around have them taken back to your own home. If you would like to keep your bouquet, but still would like to throw one, have a small replica made especially for the bouquet throw at the reception. While they are still fresh, take some blooms from your bouquet and dry them and have them framed or press them, laminate them to make a bookmark etc. for a lovely memento to cherish.

• Your Wedding Gown

Your Wedding Gown is no doubt is the most special memento of your wedding day, so you may want to keep it for any number of reasons, to give to a daughter or grand daughter, or just to see if you can still fit into it on your 10th Wedding anniversary! You should have your dress professionally cleaned first to remove perfumes, perspiration, wine etc that can leave yellow stains with time. You should store it in either a good quality tightly closing cardboard box or in a dress bag for hanging. For the box use only acid-free white tissue to line the box and layer between each fold of your dress, use crumpled tissue in the bodice and sleeves and finish with a layer of tissue and tightly close the lid to keep out dust and insects.

For a garment bag, make a tissue cover, or make one with a white linen sheet to put the dress in first, then put the dress within the garment bag so that there is tissue or sheet between the fabric and the garment bag. You can buy specialty boxes and bags from wedding suppliers and bridal shops for storage of wedding gowns. Store in a dark, dry cool place with a moisture collector satchel nearby.

Of course, I have only touched on some of the aspects of anyone's wedding day, and everyone's day will be different, so you should consider all aspects of your day, think about anything that may go wrong on the day, and try to minimise beforehand any impact a hiccup may cause. Be prepared for anything is a great moto to have.

And finally

• The Honeymoon.

Well, what can be said about this? Just leave a number with a close family member for emergencies only, and make that perfectly clear, and well, HAVE FUN!

Costs in Developing a Restaurant Business

A restaurant is one of top performing and profitable business ventures today because food is the staple need of everybody and we all need to eat to survive. Because of its profitability and feasibility, numerous individuals ventured into this type of business. However, it is not that easy to form or develop your own restaurants due to the numerous elements and requirements you need to comply to become successful.

Some people believed that restaurant business is one easy task to hurdle, but they are wrong. There are lots of factors to consider when opening a new restaurant.

These are the restaurant start-up costs elements:

• Lease - Since not all entrepreneurs can afford to buy a new space and a new building where they can operate their restaurant business, you need to consider lease costs, which include deposits and monthly rental payments.


• Lease improvements - Once you have signed a contract with your tenant or landlord, you need to make the needed improvements to the space to meet your desired ambiance. You have to make the needed changes to the walls, interiors, flooring, rewiring, lighting, plumbing, shelving, furniture fixtures and many more.


• Beginning inventory - Like any other businesses around, you need to buy the needed supplies and equipment for your restaurant such as tables, tablecloths, spoons, forks, knives, cutlery sets, casseroles and other kitchen utensils. Since you need to buy several pieces of these things, you can source out suppliers which offer discounts on bulk purchases. Since you will use these supplies several times, you should buy those which are durable and made from quality materials. You also need to print menus for your customers to use when choosing their dishes.


• Marketing - To let your target customers know your existence, develop an effective marketing strategy to inform them of your menus and services. You can distribute fliers, business cards, send electronic mails and SMS messages to your customers.


• Legal Documents - Before you start operating your restaurant, you need to comply with all the legal papers such as business permit, sanitary permit, building permit, health permit and business license. You also need to pay the corresponding taxes in opening a start-up restaurant. You need to pay the associated fees when complying with all these documents.


• Employees - You have to hire credible, experienced and reputable employees who will help you manage and operate your restaurant. You need to employ cooks, waiters, cashiers, dishwashers, accountant, manager and delivery personnel, in case you cater to food delivery services.


• Insurance - To prepare for untoward accidents and calamities, it is best that you get the needed insurance for your restaurant, machinery and other devices. Insurance really helps especially when your business is impacted by a calamity or disaster.


• Emergency funds - It cannot be avoided that businesses also encounter emergency situations such as sudden breakdown of one equipment or device. To avoid bottlenecks, you need to have emergency funds to address these cases.

The factors mentioned above are the common items that should be considered in your costs in starting up a restaurant.

Funky Wedding Favors Did it For Me!

Last month, we attended the wedding of a good friend. Everything about the day was completely individual from the bride's dress to the personalized candy wrappers.

It was these funky wedding favors that did it for me - what a fantastic idea! It seems that lately, all of the weddings we have been to blend in to each other with no particular distinguishing features separating them from one another.

Of course, every wedding is special but it just goes to prove that the little details make a big difference to a guest's opinion.

The day started with a simple registry office service after which we blew champagne bubbles over the happy couple. The groom [who is a firm believer in all things 'green'] had suggested the bubbles as an alternative to confetti. He explained what a nightmare confetti was to clear up and how much of it these days is not biodegradable. They really are quite an eccentric couple with some interesting ideas, though I agree that the bubbles were far less messy than confetti and - in actual fact - far more romantic!

The bride's dress was absolutely incredible - the detail was really quite extraordinary. As for the bridesmaids, their dresses were 50's prom-style in warm pink with orange sashes. Believe it or not, the colors worked brilliantly, despite how awful they sound.

They were [so I later discovered] to match the personalized candy wedding favors awaiting us at the reception venue.

The reception venue was completely kitted out in orange and pink. It was like Cinderella meets Bollywood! Organza drapes hung from the windows and the tables were scattered with orange and pink rose petals. The floral centrepieces consisted of tiger lilies, gerberas and roses with oodles of draped ivory.

The place settings were finished off with funky wedding favors in the form of personalized candy bars. At each place was a perfectly placed chocolate bar all encased in gold foil and finished with a personalized candy wrapper. Each candy wrapper was [naturally] orange and pink in color and had 'Katie and Simon' printed on the front. They really were the king of funky favors!

Personally, I wasn't sure about the color theme before seeing it. However, once I saw it all together I couldn't believe how great it all looked. They must have worked so hard to match all of the colors up together, I mean, I didn't even know that you could buy personalized candy that actually co-ordinated with the rest of your wedding! It looked awesome!

As the evening progressed, everyone made polite chit chat. However, the one thing that everyone kept talking about was the personalized candy wrappers. What a fantastic idea and [more importantly] what delicious chocolate!

(c) World of Wedding Favors

Wedding Planning - Who Pays for What?

It's happened....Your Engaged! You have probably been dreaming about your wedding since you were a little girl. Well now it's time to make those dreams come true and start planning your wedding.

Your very first step should be to plan your budget. To help you get started here is a list of who traditionally pays for what.

Bride and/or Family Expenses

• Hosts first Engagement Party


• Cost of any wedding consultants you hire


• Bridal Gown, veil and accessories


• Gifts for the bridesmaids


• Wedding Stationary - includes: Invitations, Thank You notes, Wedding programs


• Groom's wedding ring


• Pre-wedding Party and Bridesmaids Luncheon


• Bridesmaids & Flower Girls bouquets and corsages


• Photography and/or videographer -


• Wedding guest book and other small accessories


• Total cost of the ceremony - includes: location, flowers, music, any rental items


• Total cost of the reception - includes: Hall, flowers, music, food, beverages, cake, party favors and decorations


• Cost of transportation for the bridal party to the ceremony and reception


• Expense of any medical test the bride needs for the marriage license

Groom and/or Family Expenses

• Bride's wedding ring


• Groom's family may host an engagement party (should follow any engagement party hosted by the bride's family)


• The groom's formal wear and all accessories


• The bride's bouquet and going away corsage


• Boutonnieres for the men in the wedding party


• Corsages for all mothers and grandmothers (Including the Bride's Family)


• Marriage license and officiant's fee


• Rehearsal Dinner


• All Honeymoon expenses


• Gifts for the groom's attendants


• Cost of any medical tests the groom needs for the marriage license

Bridesmaids / Maid of Honor Expenses

• Purchase of bridesmaids' dresses and all accessories


• Wedding gift for couple


• Hotel accommodations and travel expenses if necessary


• Shower and/or luncheon for the bride

Best Man and Ushers Expenses

• Rental of wedding attire


• Transportation to and from location of the wedding


• Gift for the couple


• Bachelor party/dinner for the groom


• Hotel accommodations when necessary

Ring Bearer and Flower Girl Expense

• Children's' parents are responsible for the cost of all wedding attire


• Parents are responsible for any travel expenses (including hotels if necessary)

4 Occasions For Gifting Personalized Notepads

If you're looking for a one of a kind gift that your recipient is sure to love receiving, as well as use, consider personalized notepads. These gifts are thoughtful and functional and are ideal for a variety of occasions. If you're having problems thinking of when to give out these one of a kind gifts, here are four different occasions.

Show Teachers Your Appreciation

Teachers are constantly writing notes. From quick notes to parents about their students, to sending children to the office with a written request, hall passes, and encouraging words about a student's work, stationery is almost always a hit with teachers. To make your gift even more personal and to leave no doubt whom the note is from, give teachers personal stationery. This stationery can say 'from the desk of' or simply use the teacher's name for a personal touch. Some parents like to give gifts like these to parents during Teacher Appreciation Week or to celebrate the holidays, but that doesn't mean that you need to wait for a special occasion to hand them out. Consider sending them in at the beginning of the year or even to celebrate the end of the school year.

Welcome A New Employee

It's always hard to start a new job. In most offices, new hires need to hang around and wait for a computer to be set up, as well as wait for a phone line, email access and sometimes even a work space. To show your new employee that you're excited that they're in your organization, consider having their work space set up with personal stationery. It can be the ideal way to demonstrate that you're happy and excited to have them with your organization.

Celebrate A Housewarming

It's not uncommon to give housewarming gifts when someone moves into a new home and these gifts can be even more personal if you give personalized notepads. Consider printing the recipients name on them, but also think about sending a second that has their new address on it. This way, your recipients can write a quick note to anyone who needs to have their new address without a lot of fuss.

Give Personalized Notepads As A Wedding Gift

It can be difficult to find useful wedding gifts, especially if you don't want to shop off the registry. Customized gifts can be fun, especially personalized notepads that are sure to get used as a couple sets up their new home together. However, double check to make sure that the bride is planning to change her name before you have something printed. Some modern couples choose to hyphenate their last names so it's a good idea to know just what the couple wants to be called before you have personalized notepads printed.

These are just four occasions in which personalized notepads make an excellent gift. No matter what the occasion, take the time to ensure that you know exactly how the recipient spells his or her name since you don't want to give a gift that's misspelled. Your recipient will truly appreciate this personal, yet functional gift.

Five Invicta Watches With Timeless Style

The Swiss are universally regarded as the world's best watchmakers and have been for centuries. They set the standards for the nascent industry when they established the first watchmaker's guild in Geneva in 1601. Though they were a small country with only a few million inhabitants, the Swiss would come to dominate the world of horology. Because they could not compete on price with the more populous and industrialized European nations, watchmakers in Switzerland focused on quality. Their watches were prized the world over for their accuracy and durability. There was just one problem. Swiss sites like Geneva were quickly becoming overcrowded with ambitious watchmakers.

Space was limited and competition was fierce. Many were forced to relocate to more agreeable environs. Small towns in the Jura Mountains along the French boarder became the destination of choice for thousands of watchmakers. A disproportionate number of them settled in the village of La Chaux-de-Fonds. Hundreds of years later, the former village is now home to dozens of internationally known watchmakers. Though they are far from the most famous, Invicta is one of the oldest and most respected local businesses. In this article we will take a look at five of their most popular models.

Russian Diver

Invicta has always had an affinity for rugged timepieces that can be worn in any environment. Their Russian Diver Watch is a bold black and silver timepiece that features a canteen style watch cover and crown with a screw-cap top and chain. The luminous white hour hands and indexes are easy to read, even in lowlight conditions. The watch band is made of durable black leather with an adjustable clasp buckle for a comfortable and secure fit. Large Arabic numerals are also easy to read, as is the magnified date display just under the twelve o'clock hour marker. The oversized stainless steel case measures 52 millimeters and attractively frames the midnight black watch dial that displays the Russian Diver logo right over the date window. With a water resistance of 330 feet (100 meters) the watch is suitable for recreational scuba diving.

Speedway Chronograph

Designed for business and casual wear, the Invicta Speedway Chronograph features three eye-catching subdials that can measure time in minutes, seconds and tenths of a second. Popular with runners and swimmers alike, they can be used as miniature stopwatches to help athletes improve their time. The round watch case is made of silver-tone stainless steel and measures 43mm and has makers for units per hour on the bezel. The watch hands are silver and the watch dial is midnight black with silver subdials. Protected by a scratch-resistant mineral crystal watch cover, the Speedway Chronograph is safe in up to 660 feet (200 meters) of water. It even has a handsome date window beside the four o'clock hour marker.

Venom Chronograph

The Venom Chronograph is quite simply one of the best diving watches on the market today. It has been tested at depths of up to 3,280 (1000 meters), far deeper than any human being has ever dived. Not to mention the fact that it is an attractive timepiece. The oversized black stainless steel case houses a handsome deep blue watch dial. The hour hands and indexes are luminous, so that they can be read in low light conditions. A durable black rubber watchband closes with a comfortable toogle-clasp. The date window beside the 4 o'clock hour adds a bit of class to this rugged timepiece.

Pro Diver Collection

Compared to the Venom Chronograph, watches in the Pro Diver Collection don't come close to reaching its abyssal depths. Of course, they were not designed for diving alone. Like most of their models, watches in the Pro Diver Collection toe the line between sporty and casual wear. They can be worn to the office, the bar or outdoors. Their bold and distinctive design features luminous Arabic numerals and watch hands that can be read at depths of up to 200 meters (660 feet). They even have date windows next to the three o'clock hour markers.

II Collection

Though most of their watches are inspired by traditional designs, the company has slowly changed with the times. Many of their newer models are sleeker and more sophisticated than their predecessors. They are designed for the boardroom and for the beach. Watches in the II Collection have chronograph features that allow them to measure time in 30-minute and 60-second intervals. These stopwatch functions are ideal for recreational runners, swimmers and bikers. Silver-tone stainless steel watch cases and bracelets make them attractive timepieces for more casual wear. They even have date displays next to the four O'clock hour markers. Watches in the II Collection have a water resistance of 330 feet (100 meters). All of the Invicta models we discussed today are available on the internet and at select stores.

Important Things to Consider When Making Birthday Invitations

If you have a birthday party coming up, you will need to write up some birthday invitations for your guests, to remind them of your special day. Birthday invites can also serve as souvenirs for your family and friends; this is why a carefully crafted birthday invitation is important. You can create your own birthday invitations or use the services of a professional. Below are some ideas you can follow:

Choosing the Perfect Style

Birthday invitations should perfectly illustrate the theme of your party. Choose the right colours to blend the style and layout. Look for sample templates online for ideas on how to design the invite, what colours to use and what information to request. You should also think about the type of paper you will use; there are some materials that are not good for printing graphics or images. If you are hiring a professional to do the invitation, take a look at their samples first and check the quality of their products. They should be able to customize the design according to your requirements.

For a children's party, you can be more creative with colours and shapes. Make your invitations bright and colourful. You can also use the birthday boy or girl's favourite cartoon characters like Dora, Sesame Street, or Sponge Bob.

Keeping It Simple

You should keep an invitation simple and avoid unnecessary details. If you are considering images, place them carefully around the content to maintain the quality and layout. The usual information included in birthday invites is: location, date and time, attire, and other details, such as maps, and gift registry. You may also include an RSVP, with a contact number, the date and your name.

The Wording

Some people tend to overlook the wording. Wording can either be formal or informal, depending on the party's theme. Remember to write the details clearly. If you are having a themed party, include the dress code details and write how you want your guests to dress up. Some celebrants would request their guests to don up like Hollywood stars, fancy costumes or from different era, etc.

You can also include a gift preference in your birthday invitations. If you'd rather have your guests donate to your favourite charity, write that on the invitation.

Making your own birthday invitations is a fun experience. It can also help you save money. If you do not have time to create your own birthday invitations, many companies can do custom printing for you. If you want to be a bit more practical, you can make your invitations online. Some printing companies allow you to completely customise your invites online and will have them printed and delivered to you.

Choose the best one that will suit your needs and style and check out their packages. There are companies that provide discounts when buying in bulk. Compare their products to other companies before you make a decision.

For more tips and suggestions, research online or consult a professional.

Tips for a Nervous Bridegroom

Your big day is looming and still there are so many things that need to be done. As you watch your jittery bride and her anxious parents labor to put together your wedding you just smile as you get to sit back and enjoy the ride. Or do you? Most grooms have a million things to do themselves. Take a deep breath because I'm going to give you, the nervous bridegroom some fabulous tips on making this a wedding you will never forget.

Besides just deciding on what tux to wear, both bride and groom of course decide on wedding theme, colors and food, and wedding favors, gifts for siblings and family members not to mention what guests to invite. But let's look at some little things that are just as important. Gifts for groomsmen is a good place to start.

Of course you want to invite your special buds to celebrate this day with you, heck you probably have known them longer than your blushing bride to be. You went through school with them, football try outs and college. A zillion memories are tied up with those guys. You want to give them something special, something unique. Let's look at some great gift ideas.

First on our list is a brushed, silver pocket watch that can be monogramed. This need not be expensive but it's an elegant gift they can use everyday for many years to come. Moving right along you might be interested in a chic business card case, smartly designed, it can be personalized with initials and in today's busy working society it's a fashionable yet necessary addition for any businessman. Perhaps he is the kind of guy who likes getting up early on Saturday mornings and putting a few balls around on the golf course. For this cool cat you might surprise him with a striking crystal golf club that can be used as an elegant paper weight. Whatever you decide on be sure to take into account wether your friend is in to sports or an up and coming business man. One important tip to remember is what gift would you enjoy receiving?

As far as choosing gifts for your parents and inlaws, this can be done quiet simply, ask your lovely bride to be to help with the selection. Most brides have well honed shopping skills and will feel flattered you asked for their help.

Now for the most special gift of all, a present for your lovely bride. Let's give her credit guys, she stole your heart, kept you sleepless, and even caused you to happily give up watching Monday night football with your buds, at least for awhile. Now, as you tromp around the malls window shopping and even going so far as to timidly ask help from some matronly, sales woman, remember, your bride is number one in your life, the woman you chose for all time and whom you want to grow old with. Only the best for her!

One fabulous gift she might like is a lusterous pearl necklace. Pearls add a lovely glow to the skin and can be worn on many different occasions and functions. If she is a girl who likes bling, and you would know best what her favorite jewel is, choose an exqusite gem stone and have it set as a pendant in a necklace. She will treasure it most of all because it came from YOU! Perhaps she likes crystal or antiques, the tip here guys is make it unique and personal, a gift she will treasure for all your years together.

Now one last tip, relax, be good to yourself, indulge, go some place special with your friends and siblings, have a massage, go fishing. The key here is have fun! Do something for you, to help take the edge off, after all you don't get married everyday.

Your Barbados Vacation - Five Do's and Five Don'ts

An Englishman is in a plane approaching Barbados; he's going for his annual holiday to the island paradise. As the plane approaches the island, the Englishman looks out of the window. And he sees, glistening in the clear aqua Caribbean Sea surrounding Barbados, the wedding ring he'd lost last year.

It's an urban myth, but who knows? The sea around Barbados is amazingly and brilliantly clear. You'll see for yourself when you visit. And when you do, please take heed of these do's and don'ts:

Don't Haggle Dickering over price is not part of Barbadian culture. Pay the price the vendor asks or don't buy. Also, ask the price of a taxi ride before getting into a cab - then accept the price or take the bus.

Don't Drive on the Right Hand Side of the Road We drive like the Bits: on the left. This means the steering wheel is on the right side and, if you have a manual transmission, you'll be operating it with your left hand. It's a bit of a tap-your-head-rub-your-stomach exercise until you get used to it.

Don't Go on the Beaches at Night This applies to any beaches anywhere in the world. Barbados' crime rate is low, but use good sense.

Don't Drink too Much Rum Rum is a religion in Barbados; in fact, it's believed that Barbados is the place rum was first developed. The problem is that rum goes down easily, especially in the ubiquitous island drink, rum punch. So, as you enjoy your libation, remember there's rum in that punch.

Don't Stay Inside Your Hotel If It Rains Even during Barbados' rainy season in the fall, the island very rarely gets torrential rain. And it hasn't seen a hurricane since 1955. So your chances of having glorious weather are overwhelming. Still, if it does rain, plan indoor activities such as visiting the George Washington House (yep, George Washington lived in Barbados a short while) or taking the Mount Gay rum factory tour.

Do Eat Flying Fish Flying fish are to Barbados what salmon is to Alaska. You'll find flying fish fried, grilled, prepared with a Creole sauce, and put into sandwiches (called "cutters"). Be sure to head to Oistins, on the south coast, on Friday nights: just-caught flying fish are cooked out on the beach, music plays, and parents and kids alike have a fine time.

Do Take a Catamaran Cruise This is the very best way to experience the Caribbean Sea, view the famous Platinum Coast of Barbados, and swim with our gentle giant sea turtles.

Do Swim! But know where you can and where you can't. Take a dip in the sea anywhere along the west coast of Barbados where the Caribbean Sea beckons with clear, gentle water. Much of the south coast, too, offers wonderful swimming. Do not swim along the east coast of the island, where the Atlantic Ocean pounds.

Do Patronize the Street Vendors in St. Lawrence Gap The vendors are friendly and relaxed, but they take their work seriously; many have been selling along St. Lawrence Gap for a decade or more.

Do Bring Your Family Barbados is not just for honeymoon couples, although we get a lot of lovers. The island is also a fantastic family vacation spot, with a gentle sea that has no sharks or stinging sea creatures and many land activities. In fact, be sure to take the four-wheel drive Island Safari - kids love it! Kids of all ages, that is ....

Picking the Most Suitable Travel Insurance

As Europe sits in the deepest recession for decades, now more than ever it is important to make every pound count and cut back on unnecessary spending. But some things you just cannot justify going without - and travel insurance is definitely one of them.

If you think it is bad having to pay £30 for something you are unlikely to have to use, try paying foreign hospital bills running into thousands of pounds. If you're uninsured abroad and things go wrong, you really can find yourself in big trouble.

But that doesn't mean you can't minimise the cost of travel cover. We in the UK spend more on travel each year than anyone else in Europe, and as you would expect there are an appropriately large number of insurance options available.

By tailoring a policy to your needs or picking the one most suited to them, money can be saved without having to reduce the protection afforded by travel cover. One of the most basic ways to save is to pick the right type of policy, a few examples of which are shown below:

Single Trip Travel Insurance. Realistically, are you going to go abroad more than once in the coming year? This is a question we all should be considering prior to choosing a policy, because it is the most common way of saving money. as you would expect, single trip cover is cheaper than an annual or multi-trip package but would be more expensive should you purchase more than one individual journey policy in less than a year. But that doesn't mean this type of policy can't go a very long way. Six months is a common allowance, especially if you travel often. There is generally no limit on the number of trips you can go on, however the duration of any one trip may be less than the length under a specific Single Trip policy. You are unlikely to get much more than a months cover on a single trip.

Specialist Travel Insurance. This is a varied and often very specific section in the market. Examples of specific packages would be backpackers insurance, wedding insurance (yes, some people do want to go to the other side of the world for their big day), or sports insurance (such as golf). The particular needs and risks associated with specific activities has been assessed by the insurer in order to construct a comprehensive policy.

The first priority should always be to ensure the cover you buy is suitable and extensive enough for your needs. After that, there are many ways and different options that can save you money, or that represent better value. Shop around, do a bit of research, and you might be surprised at what you find.

Five Tips for Making Professional Looking Wedding Invitations

Okay, your wedding is approaching. You need invitations. You want to make professional looking wedding invitations. Where do you start?

Here are five tips that will help you make professional looking wedding annoncements.

1. Use a quality printer. An Epson printer uses a water proof ink. This can really make a difference in how professional your invitations will look. Ever see an ink jet printed sheet get wet. If it wasn't printed on an Epson printer it will bleed and look bad!


2. Use nice card stock. You don't need fancy paper. Adding your own touches to plain card stock will make nice invitations. There is no limit to what you can do to plain card stock. A 67# white card stock will work for almost all your invitations. You can also use a 90# card stock. Experiment.


3. Use a nice font. Something that is flowing but easy to read. I love fonts. I have used Park Avenue, Hancock, Brush script and numerous others. The important think is to be consistent. Use the same font on all your items. The invitation, the RSVP, the return envelope and the reception cards should all match. I even custom address the envelopes to match. I can tell you everyone loves these. You invitations will look professional with this tip.


4. Add a nice wedding clip art. Use just a simple wedding invitation clip art. This can be a fun, simple or decorative touch. By centering your type and clip art you will get a professional look also.


5. Be neat. Have all items match. Put the RSVP card under the flap of the return envelope.Put everything in neatly and address the envelopes to match.

You can make professional looking wedding announcements. It isn't difficult. Make sure that your invitations will only have one stamp on the outside. Either make sure the weight and size will work for one first class stamp, or get another stamp.

Add the stamp for the RSVP and leave some white space. Neatness will show professionalism.

If you want to make professional looking wedding invitations take your time. Pay attention to detail. You can add nice touches. A nice die cut punch will look good in moderation. Don't go over board. Clean and neat is an elegant look.

By having a nice elegant look you will also put forth a professional image. This means you will put forth a good first impression to your guests. That means they will feel important. This will all mean your wedding will come across as the important event that it is! Now make professional looking wedding invitations.

For Printable Wedding Invitations, Silver Is The Elegant Choice

Silver-tongue, Silver Screen, Silver Wedding, what do they all have in common? They bring to mind elegance, sophistication and quick wit. Silver is the language of style and richness. There are many ways to bring silver into your wedding beginning with your invitations. Following are three ways to use this wonderful color either as the main invite or as an accent.

1. Style of Invitation: For weddings, you need to use a response style invitation. So when using printable invites, there are three styles to choose from. There is the pocket folder invite which is a trifold with a pocket for the RSVP card and envelope. With this invitation you can choose between a range of silver colors from a light silver to a deep silver. You can accent this invitation with different kind of seals or ribbons to fasten it. The second style of invitation is a border style with RSVP card included. So here you have an invitation card which can be any color but is traditionally white or cream. For a silver look, you would choose a white card with a silver or silver deckled border and matching RSVP sets. Finally there is a ribboned style invitation. Here you usually have a backer card that you print on, and a translucent vellum which is fastened to the card by a ribbon on the top or side. The backer card can be white with a silver border and the ribbon can be silver satin or organza.

2. Accenting with Silver Paper: One of the easiest and newest trends this year is to punch up your pocket folder invitations with a colored insert. To do this yourself, once you have purchased your pocket folder invitations in whatever color you want, you purchase silver "text" paper and cut it to fit the inner section where the invitation card will be. Use a glue stick to attach it, then print your invitation card and attach it on top of the silver accent. If you are using a deep silver invite you can also accent with a lighter silver insert. Use a metallic or shimmer paper for a wonderful and sophisticated look.

3. Accenting with Silver Ribbons: There are many creative and beautiful ways to fasten invitations these days. At any craft store you can find stick on fasteners in many colors. styles and shapes. Ribbons have also evolved with the times, The choices of ribbons these days are truly inspiring. You can find ribbon sizes from 1/4" to 4" width and textures from ultra-sheer to double-faced satin. You can even find ribbons with contrasting edges. Be daring with your ribbons, you can choose to use one ribbon or two or more in varying shades and textures or you can choose a silver edged silver ribbon for a gorgeous finish.

For an elegant start to a beautiful silver wedding, set the tone with silver invitations accented with inserts and ribbons.

Wedding Insurance - 3 Things to Consider Before You Choose One

Weddings are supposed to be a grand event, and most people will vouch for it. What exactly makes this grand event a roaring success, you ask. Well the answer lies in good organizing skills. If you can't manage all the affairs that build up a wedding, then it is bound to be a dampener. However, there is no reason to lose sleep over it. What you require is a well chalked out schedule which will enable you to attend to all the details that need attention, such as selecting a proper bridal dress, sending out the wedding invites, arranging caterers, planning the menu as well as selecting a venue.

You should always be prepared to face a setback while planning weddings, the simple reason being that there are too many factors involved. Not all plans will work smoothly, and there are bound to be a few hitches along the way. The solution lies in being equipped to handle these minor problems. The answer lies in getting a wedding insurance. It is the only way that will ensure that you do not end up losing large sums of money while trying to fix the innumerable things that go awry.

Selecting the Policy
Selecting your wedding insurance policy will obviously depend upon the overall scope and scale of the affair. If you are planning a small domestic wedding, your insurance provider will have a plan that'll suit you just fine without your having to shell out a substantial amount of money. However, if it is bound to be a lavish and expensive affair, you would like to particularly ensure that your investment remains protected and secure.

Unforeseen circumstances have a tendency to crop up especially during moments of crisis, and you must be well equipped to battle them with causing a hole in your pocket. Suppose the rain plays spoilsport or for some unavoidable reason you have to postpone the wedding? The Wedding Insurance plan promises you peace of mind and will allow you to enjoy the wedding instead of fretting over it!

Benefits
If the wedding is deferred because of the weather, you will get the full benefits of this insurance. However, if it there is a last minute revision of plans by either the bridegroom or the bride- your policy will obviously not be able to cover it. Therefore do not hurry while choosing the right insurance for yourself. Read the documents carefully, especially the terms and conditions of the insurance you are going to buy.

Most insurance will cover unforeseen events such as cancellation of the wedding due to health problems or other such emergencies. This is indeed one of the most usual reasons for insuring a wedding event. Also, the insurance policy will cover things like, unintentional damage to your wedding dress or attire, the all-important ring, the cake and so on.

Price Range
A basic, functional wedding insurance policy costs something between $155 to $550. Consult your insurance provider for further details. Basically, such insurance is designed to help you to avoid particularly unpleasant situations that have a way of cropping up during weddings. It is not only practical, but also protects your from unnecessary financial worries.

Homemade Wedding Invitations

If you are now starting to plan for your wedding, this event would not be possible without securing your wedding invitations. These will be used in inviting your guests to share some of their time in celebrating this one of a kind event in your life and most couples go for ready-made invites being offered on the market. This is especially true these days because couples think that they cannot make personalized wedding invitations for this event. They are not aware that this event will become more memorable by simply making homemade examples. If you are one of those who are skeptical in making these yourself, there are advantages that you may not have realised.

It Allows You to Make Yours Unique

One of the best things about making homemade wedding invitations is because you can set up everything you want to see in the finished product. This is what most couples want nowadays. They want to ensure that they will be sending unique and personalized invites to make their wedding more memorable than the usual. On the other hand, it is possible for you to use the generic types when you have taken advantage of the offers from other companies and manufacturers.

Allows Customized Names for Recipients

Aside from making unique creations, making such kinds of invitations also allows you to customize the envelopes according to the people who will receive it. Basically, you have the option of putting the name and the exact address of the recipient. This makes the invitations more personal than the usual. Because of this, its recipients will be more pleased and honored to witness this one of a kind moment in your life. This is not like when you use the ready-made and generic examples you can find in stores in your locality.

You Can Save Money

Usually, you need to secure a greater amount of money if you want to purchase the ready-made wedding invitations being offered in some stores. This is because you are paying for the materials used, the effort of the manufacturer and the brand. Unknowingly, you can save great money when you just make homemade wedding invitations. This is because you only need to secure the materials needed. You do not need to pay for the labor and the brand because you are the one who will make your own personalised invites. The money you saved can be used in securing the other needs of your wedding.

You see, there are lots of advantages you can get in making homemade wedding invitations. Now, it is already clear to you why you should make your own wedding invitations instead of purchasing the ready-made ones offered in your local stores. Basically, making your own WI's is very simple. What you just need to know is to read some steps in the internet and for you to use your creativity. A little practice will help you make the best wedding invitations that you can get for your money.

Specialised Services - The Benefits of Using an Entertainment Accountant

If you work within the music industry, hiring the specialised services of a niche entertainment accountant can really help you to keep control of your money and build on your success. While it's certainly true that any generic accountant could help you with your bookkeeping and tax returns, in this day of specialists and niche services, it makes sense to use somebody who really understands what you do and the bearing this can have on your finances.

Your music accountant will never miss a beat

Whatever part of the industry you work in, whether you're famous musician, an emerging artist, or a freelancer who works behind the scenes, a music accountant will have the firsthand knowledge that's required in order to identify the best tax breaks and the best ways to limit your liability to HMRC, subsequently saving you money and helping you to keep a more healthy percentage of your sales and profits.

Another benefit of using a specialist entertainment accountant is the fact that they can help you to keep up with changes that may affect your industry. Consumer habits are forever on the move, especially in the new digital age where profits can be generated via the Internet as opposed to more traditional, physical sales - these things can have a considerable impact on the way you manage your finances and ensure compliance. What's more, your entertainment or music accountant will always have a real time record of exactly where you stand financially, so you'll always know what you've got to play with and what tax you're going to have to pay at the end of the year.

An entertainment accountant can service companies or individuals

An entertainment accountant isn't just there for individuals and freelancers either. Even bigger production companies, music agencies and recording studios need a little help to keep everything on track, and by employing somebody who can take care of your accounts, you'll have more time to promote your services to potential clients to keep the revenue rolling in.

As with any generic accountant, an entertainment or music accountant will usually offer a fixed fee service; this means that you'll always know exactly what you're paying, while having the added advantage of being able to call on them for advice at any time you need without incurring additional costs. Your entertainment accountant is there to help you with anything you need; so whether you're thinking of forming a corporate entity, looking for ways to minimise costs and maximise profits, or you simply need help managing your payroll system or monitoring ticket sales, it makes sense to find a reputable music accountant to help.

Unique Wedding Dresses: Walk Down the Aisle in Something Out of the Ordinary

Every bride wants to look special on her wedding day, some more than others. There are many ways to achieve this, one of the best ways is with unique wedding dresses. By wearing something completely unexpected and out of the ordinary, you truly become the center of attention. What bride doesn't want that on her big day? There are brides that are crazy enough to wear a dress made with balloons or toilet paper. That's a little on the extreme side, but there are plenty of other unique options you can choose from.

One easy way to be different is to select a dress that is not white, ivory or any other traditional color. If you are daring enough to be a colorful bride, there are plenty of unique wedding dresses out there for you. Most bridal boutiques might have a small selection of color wedding gowns, but since you are ditching the traditional gown, you are not limited to shopping at bridal boutiques. There are a number of retail stores that have beautiful dresses that would look amazing as a wedding dress.

There are many other kinds of unique wedding dresses for our modern bride. Any kind of dress that does not look like a wedding dress at first glance can be considered unique. Some good examples would be bohemian style dresses or grecian style dresses. Imagine a long white bohemian or grecian dress, it's exceptionally beautiful and would be perfect for a destination wedding. There are also dresses that have unconventional textures or crazy embellishments. Those are always fun to wear and will definitely wow the crowd.

Having a creative wedding theme is another reason to wear a unique wedding dress instead of a traditional one. Some common themes that come to mind include medieval, peacock or fairytale. The theme is so spectacular that wearing a traditional white wedding gown just won't do. If you are a bride with a strong cultural heritage and wedding traditions that are different from the usual western style, it's the perfect opportunity to incorporate some of that into your wedding dress. It would be even better to wear a traditional dress that represents your culture. It might not be all that unique to you, but your guests sure would love it. Great examples of these include the Indian sari, Japanese kimono or Chinese qipao.

There's a good chance that you have the style of the perfect wedding dress in mind, but the bridal boutiques just don't have what you are looking for. If this is the case, you might have to resort to looking online for unique wedding dresses. An even better alternative is to have it custom made. As long as you are able to find a talented dressmaker with experience making wedding dresses, it should be something to really consider. The only drawback is that it might be a little pricey, but you'll have a dress that is truly one of a kind, unlike anything anyone else has worn before.

Wedding Invitation Wording - Traditional and Non-Traditional

The most important step while ordering your wedding invite is the way the invitation has been worded. It is important for formal wedding invitations to follow appropriate wedding invitation etiquette. Every invite, whether it is traditional or not, should cover the following points:

• Full names of the Bride and Groom. Invitations of a formal nature should also include the middle names of the bride and Groom
• Date, including the day of the event
• The year must be put in the next line, after the date
• The time of the event
• Venue of the event. formal wedding invitations simply state the name of the building or church, but more casual ones also give the street address
• The City as well as State of the venue, without the zip code.

These are the essentials, points you absolutely need to cover in your wedding invitation wording. Apart from these, you may be as creative as you like with the rest of the wording. If your wedding is a non-traditional one, you do not need to stay strictly within proper wedding invitation wording etiquette. You can include a poem that you like, or any verse or scripture you want. You can also add something that reflects your personality, maybe something about how the bride and groom met. You can also add a verse about the season during which the wedding is taking place.

• More aspects to consider while wording your wedding invitations are:
• whom the invitation is from
• If the parents of the Bride or Groom are divorced or deceased, or have remarried.
• If this is not the first marriage
• Whether the church is being held at a church or non-church location.

You can find plenty of suggestion and examples for wedding invitations online. You can get inspired, or you can just get creative and compose your very own invitation with unique wording. The style of wording depends on whether you want it to be casual or traditional. But something you must keep in mind is that people are mostly in a constant hurry so they probably just skim through what they are reading. So for this, your wording should be relatively basic and should be understood easily. You should therefore keep the usage of overly dramatic phrases to a minimum.

Another great tip is to make someone read your wording before, so that the final copy has been proof-read. This way you minimize the risk of any errors. You can also ask them to read the wording out loud so that you can also tell if it all makes sense.

These tips are also applicable to other forms of invitations, including bridal shower invitations. All you need to do is cover the basic details and your invitation should be good to go. Bridal shower invitations should have all the necessary details regarding, time, date and venue etc., and should be worded clearly so that the guests do not get confused about the details.

Wedding Etiquette - A Few Thoughts and Ideas on Those Touchy Issues That Might Come Up

Weddings are one of the most meaningful "life events" that we can experience. Whether it's for someone you love or if it's your own, those events mark very touching moments that live in memories for decades. Making choices about the ceremony, the guests, the location, the attire and gifts often takes a little more consideration. If you're a future bride planning for your own ceremony, sometimes there are issues that present themselves and you're uncertain of the most appropriate way to handle them. From our experience and research into etiquette "do's and don'ts", we have a few suggestions for you to keep in mind if you find yourself wondering.

Invitation Issues

What if you don't want to have kids at your wedding? How do you tactfully say this in your invitations?

- When addressing your invitations, leave the children's names off and don't mention them in the invitation

- Have friends and family pass the word around that the ceremony is expected to be for adults only

- Or, in some cases, you will need to be clear and honest. In your invitation card, write "Adult Reception" or "We hope that the 2 of you will be able to join us" or "2 seats reserved in your names"

- If confirmations are important and you have not heard from someone after 1 week past your "Reply By" date, call them or email them to confirm.

- Sending your parents and wedding party invitations, even though they are already likely expected to attend, can be meaningful to them. They don't need to reply, obviously.

- It's mannerly to put return postage on your RSVP's, especially if you really want responses.

Wedding Gifts

- It's considered rude to put "cash only gifts" on your invitations, or suggesting that. It's also considered rude to put registry information on your wedding invitation. The wedding invitation is for acknowledging your care for the person attending the wedding ceremony, a significant event in your life. If you want to share registry information, have friends and family do it. Or you can include that information on a bridal shower invitation.

- Do not feel like you are required to open your gifts at the reception in front of everyone. You can take these home and go through them later when you are more focused.

Cancellations or Postponements

- Technically, you're expected to return the engagement ring. (Do what feels appropriate... this is tricky due to the emotions you both are likely going through.)

- If people have sent you gifts in advance, you should send them back. You don't need to offer a lengthy explanation, but a brief note that "plans have changed" should accompany them.

- As tempting as it may be, do not speak poorly of your ex in town and to friends. At this point, you are likely very emotional. Things change all the time-and the humiliation you may face should you get back together would be worse. Take care to respect your ex, as you expect the same in return. You only look worse if you indulge in bashing and gossip. Saying something like, "we realized we wanted different things after all" or something vague to people in the meantime is enough.

- Inform your out-of-town guests first so they can cancel their travel and lodging.

- True etiquette recommends sending another invitation with a new date if you are postponing. If not, you need to somehow be in touch with each guest.

Second Marriages

- As a bride, you can wear white or not. It's up to you.

- If you've been married before or have kids, technically you are not supposed to wear a veil or have a long train because of "purity" and "virginity" symbols these represent.

- Your parents and family are not obligated to pay for anything.

- If your ex and his family are friends, you can invite them if it feels appropriate for both you and your fiance. Not sure why you would want to, but every relationship is different.

Seating Issues

- Try to arrange your seating so that people of the same ages are sitting around each other: kids with kids, teens with teens, aunts and uncles. Seat them in groups categorized by their relationship to you (i.e. work friends verses high school friends verses cousins) or by their ages.

- If you know relatives are battling, do not put them next to one another. This is not the time to bridge the gap.

- For the head table, seat as you like. You can select a table for you and your partner and then tables on the sides for the wedding party. You can arrange a long table with men on one side and women on the other. You can include parents and grandparents or not. This is more relaxed, the celebration after... make it what's comfortable for you both.

- Number your tables instead of matching names or places or whatever for seating. This is much easier for people to figure out the arrangement and find their seat quickly.

- Reserve tables rather than seats... more comfortable for everyone (i.e. "Bride's Parents and Grandparents" etc.)

Gloves

- Wearing gloves is a wonderful touch! It's appropriate to remove them and hand to the maid of honor when you put on your ring in the ceremony. Put them back on and leave them on through the receiving line and then, if you can, the first dance. Remove them for eating and partying.

Paying Issues

Who pays for what? This can be tricky.

- Bride: reception costs, church fees, groom's ring, invitations, floral decorations, musicians, bridesmaids' gifts, groom's gift, transportation to the ceremony for bridal party, lodging for your bridesmaids if needed

- Groom: Bride's ring, Bride's bouquet and corsage, rehearsal dinner, gifts for the groomsmen, transportation for groomsmen to ceremony, Bride's gift, lodging for groomsmen if needed

- Bridesmaids: your dress and attire, the shower, gift for the couple and transportation to the town of the wedding

- Groomsmen: your suit and attire, the stag, gift for the couple and transportation to the town of the wedding

If You're A Guest

- Please don't assume a couple knows you are coming to their wedding. Planning and budgeting are often important to them. Send your "Reply By" card back to them.

- You don't have to send a gift if you decline an invitation. It's up to you.

- If you arrive late to the ceremony, wait until the bride has gone down the aisle before finding a seat. Be sure not to peek through doors at a church because you'll be in her photos. Walk down the outside aisle, not the middle.

- If you do not practice the faith of a couple's church, you are not expected to participate. Do so if you want to.

If you mail a gift in advance, you do not need to bring another one to the ceremony.

- Often cash is best for couples out-of-town because it costs a lot for shipping.

- If a couple has been living together and didn't register for gifts, they probably have all they need. Sending cash is often appropriate.

- Guests are expected to pay for their own transportation and lodging.

Memorial Candle Holders

Memorial candle holders are stands in which you place a pillar candle on. These holders are especially helpful for preventing wax dripping and keeping the surface around the candle clean. They can come in a variety of types such as glass, metal or stone holders.

It's really up to you and your preference of which type is best suited for you or the occasion. Some place the memorial candles on top of the funeral casket or at the entry of the funeral ceremony. These holders will often hold a personalized candle with the deceased photo and name along with the date of birth through date of death. It can also have a short saying such as a one liner of "Never forgotten, always in our hearts."

It can say other personalized captions as well. It is whatever the family would like to have on it that matters. You can also display the candles in your home after the funeral service. The beauty of them is that you are able to use them and display them again and again. That makes it a nice annual remembrance item on the anniversary of the death.

Every time the candle is lit can be a form of remembrance. Candles are always a great ambiance booster and can be placed appropriately in any place especially if you have a memorial candle holder in its place. i love placing them in a window or on top of a fireplace mantle. It deserves a very special place or area in your home.

5 Ideas For Wedding Reception Table Decorations

Any wedding reception requires the use of table decorations. Having these table decorations will draw the guests' attention to the whole wedding reception event. The tables become attractive and appealing to your favorite guests by adding up table decorations on them. Read on and get to know the five great ideas to put up pretty table decorations.

Make Use of the Fire and Water Elements

The use of these elements is ideal especially when you plan to make a wow effect to your guests. You can simply float flowers or candles to water to enhance the look of your table. Be unique and creative in decorating every table.

Go With Your Motif

When planning to decorate, always stick with your motif. This will accordingly complement the entire wedding event and you can easily think of great ideas in doing so.

Disposable Cameras Can Be Utilized

A wedding reception table can become more interesting when you use disposable cameras. You can ask your guests to take some photos during the wedding reception to avoid missing out interesting moments. This wonderful table decoration can make your guests participate, interact and play important roles during the event.

Utilized Vases in Various Heights on a Table

Make appealing centerpieces for your table by utilizing vases in various heights. This are better eye-catchers than vases in the same heights.

Make Edible Table Arrangements

A wedding reception will be more unique if you have edible table arrangements. You can go with two types: either candy or fruit arrangements.

Both of them are great add-ons to your table. Just make sure that the fruits can maintain their look for a period of time when you go with edible fruit arrangements. It would be a combination to use candy-fruit arrangements to put a cheer to your table. Large and clear glasses can be used to contain the fruits and candies, showing different colors that can enliven the entire wedding reception.

As for a special event that comes once in a lifetime, you have to ensure that your table decorations are unique. Take your time in planning and deciding so that everything will go well and make the event a wonderful thing to look forward to.

Wedding Insurance - Do I Really Need It?

As you begin planning your wedding day, the 'what if' questions will probably start coming to mind....What if a hurricane comes through my city on my wedding day? What if the bridal salon goes out of business after I've paid for my dress? What if my caterer is a no-show? Every bride hopes to not have to deal with these situations, but the fact of the matter is....things can happen! These 'what ifs' can cause anxiety and stress, but there is a solution to help you prepare for these possibilities! Wedding insurance policies are available to help plan for these and other unforeseen circumstances.

The concept of wedding insurance originated in London in 1988 and has been available in the United States since 1993.

Policies can be purchased to cover such things as: refunding non-recoverable expenses if there is a last minute postponement, replacing damaged wedding gifts, recreating ruined wedding photos, or providing liability insurance if your venue requires it. In 2009, USA Today presented some interesting statistics on the most common causes of wedding insurance claims (statistics courtesy of The Travelers Companies). Forty-three percent of claims were due to problems with caterers, photographers or other vendors. And other claims were for such things as broken items and weather issues.

Wedding insurance, as with any other type of insurance, is an excellent way to protect the financial investment you've made in your wedding. Before making a decision on a policy, be sure to closely read and understand the limits of liability (those items that are not covered by your policy). You should be absolutely clear on what your policy covers. In addition, you should review your current insurance policies (your agent can assist with this) to make sure you are not buying duplicate coverage.

Although you may never need it, wedding insurance is a smart move to prepare you for the unexpected!

Helpful Tips on Announcing Your Engagement and Inviting Guests to Your Wedding

The days when wedding invitations came in one size and color are long gone. Today couples invest a lot of time and effort in designing a wedding invitation that not just accomplishes the task of inviting guests to the wedding but is also a great memento.
Designing the wedding invitation and getting it printed should be one of the first items in your wedding plan. Ideally, wedding invitations should be sent out to guests at least six weeks before the wedding so that they have plenty of time to make travel arrangements. If your wedding is taking place during the holidays, send your wedding invitations out even earlier.

If you want certain relative or very important (VIP) guests to be there at your wedding ceremony and reception, you should consider sending out advance announcements so these special guests can calendar, reserve and save the date reserved for your wedding. Formal written announcements letting family and friends know you popped the question and are engaged are also a nice way to let your guests know in advance when and where you plan to get married.

There are a number of new items on the market designed just for this purpose. When you get married--they'll be sure to reserve the date on their calendars if you send them a magnet that says "This is the Day--we're getting married!" These Save the Date magnets come with mailing envelopes to make it easy for you to give them enough advance notice. There are 'save the date' magnets with
elegant, three tiered wedding cake graphics or bold, black and white magnets with intricate cut out paper doll like shaped like bride and groom that announce the date of your wedding.. A classy way to announce your engagement. There are pretty pink and white magnets pink hearts, iced wedding cakes or ones with pink roses to get their attention and decorate their refrigerator in the kitchen where many family's post and keep the family's calendar of events.

If money is no object, you can also send your friends, family and VIP guests personalize zed 'save the date' mint candies in tins decorated with beautiful, personalized labels. These wedding mints also are available in adorable designs. The mints are delicious and will be appreciated, thoughtful little gifts. Everyone buys mints at the grocery store in decorative, reusable tins. Sending these creative engagement announcements can be done before you send out the wedding invitations.

The typical format of the wedding invitation consists of the names of the bride and the groom, the invitation to the wedding, the day, time and venue of the wedding and the reception and an RSVP card and address. Within this broad format, lots of variations are possible. The names of your guests can either be written on the card itself or on the envelope. As far as possible, include the names of all the people you are inviting and avoid generalized suffixes like "and family."

The first thing that you need to decide is the tone of the wedding invitation - will it be formal or informal? A formal invitation typically starts with "Mr. and Mrs. Smith request the honor of your presence..." A more informal wedding invitation can start with something as simple as "Please join us...". You also need to decide on who is going to announce the wedding and invite the guests. Traditionally, it was the bride's parents since it was they who paid for the wedding. However, this is no longer the case. It is up to the couple to decide whether the wedding invitation should go out from one or both sets of parents or from the bride and the groom themselves.

Remember to clearly spell out the day, date and time of both the wedding and the reception in the wedding invitation. Specify the time zone if there is likely to be any scope for confusion. Also give the full address of the wedding venue and the reception venue. It is a good idea to enclose a map as well especially for out of town guests.

The RSVP card is now an integral part of most wedding invitations. This is usually a card with a simple message where the guests enter in their names and indicate whether they will be attending the wedding or not. It is the done thing to include a self-addressed and stamped envelope as well with an RSVP card. In case you decide not to enclose a separate RSVP card with your wedding invitation, just indicate by when you expect an RSVP and give them your address, email id and phone number so that they can do so in a way that is convenient to them.

Those are the essential elements in a wedding invitation. Apart from this, it is up to you to use your creativity to design a card that is truly unique. Some couples do this by including a personalized message. Others include a poem or a quote from a favorite book. You can also play around with the look and feel of the wedding invitation. There are many different materials and designs available for you to choose from. If you are having a theme wedding, it is a great idea to include some design elements in the wedding invitation that are related to the theme. After you ask a friend to be your Maid of Honor and decide who you want as your bridesmaids, you can ask them for help in addressing and sending out your engagement announcements, save the date magnets or mints and your formal wedding invitations.

Make Your Big Event Perfect With Wedding Insurance

Fewer matters will be more significant than tying the knot. This event symbolizes a new beginning for the new couple and two families.

Nobody can deny wedding really deserves your attention. You are expected to make everything perfect. Most of time, wedding dress is considered as the key point. Its significance originates from the first marriage and has been embraced till now. To keep some precious memories back and take amazing pictures, the bridal wear helps a lot.

Besides wedding gown, invitation, menu, cake, photographer, etc all require attention. However, most brides and grooms, even professional wedding planners, may not take wedding insurance into their considerations. Is this important? Can it be helpful for your big day? Surely, the answer will be affirmative.

As the name implies, this word means getting your wedding insured. Today, this has not been strange. It helps you make a perfect ceremony. Any factitious or spontaneous accident ceases to be effective.

Then, what can be insured? Honestly speaking, the range is large. Anything related with your wedding can be covered. You can insure your wedding dress, car, flower, cake, photographer and so on.

What can wedding insurance do for you? Just as the title suggests, it helps you hold your ceremony perfectly. With this guarantee, you will never worry whether the cake can be delivered to your place on time. With this, you will not get frustrated even though the florist does not prepare ideal flowers for you. With this, you can call all guests together and retake pictures even the photographer fails to keep the appointment.

With wedding insurance, you can hold your ceremony successfully. Even though you need to rearrange it, you will not need to pay for any additional cost. Insurance agency will make compensation to any loss caused to your wedding as soon as possible.