The Ideal Time to Send Out Wedding Invitations

Many of us often wonder what the ideal time to send out wedding invitations is. Planning a wedding involves a lot of work. Right from the wedding invitations to the wedding venue, all need to be properly planned and sorted out. You might want to go in for photo wedding invitations, which are gaining a lot of popularity these days. Make sure you order your invitations at least 4 months prior to the wedding.

Generally the invitations should be mailed at least 6- 8 weeks before the big day. This gives enough time for you to respond to the invites and you can make the final head count for the caterers and the seating arrangements. This is very important if you have relatives residing in far off places. Depending on how you plan to have your wedding the picture wedding invitations can be sent out.

If you plan on a conventional wedding, the photograph wedding invitations need to be sent at least 6 weeks in advance. Make sure you call the guests up to know whether they have received the wedding invites. Those guests who live out of the state should be mailed at least a week in advance. The date for them to RSVP should be at least 3 weeks before the big event.

Some people might prefer a destination wedding since it allows them to have a big fat wedding with many guests. If you too prefer such weddings, then you might want to send out save the date cards at least 3 weeks in advance prior to your photo invitations. This allows the guests enough time to make the necessary arrangements to travel to the destination you have chosen to make your final vows.

In order to save the costs on the wedding invites, you can go in for freelance photographers who have enough experience on making wedding invitations with photo. These people are the best alternative if you are on a tight budget and cannot afford to hire professional photographers for your wedding. You might even want to choose a photographer who matches your specification and requirement.

A good etiquette does not allow one to send photograph wedding invitations by email, fax or invite through phone. You might want to visit personally and give out the wedding invitations to your close family members or friends. They will not only be pleased but this will also show their importance in your lives. This can be done at least a week before your wedding provided they do not live far away.

The next important part is the postal stamps and their prices. The postal rule keeps changing resulting in the increase or decrease in the value of the stamps. If your response cards are to be arriving somewhere around the time when the prices of these stamps increases, you might need to plan ahead. You can either purchase these stamps before hand or discuss the situation with any of the postal employees.

Photo wedding invitations play a very important role for any weddings. You need to plan all such arrangements well in advance so that none of your friends or family are left out. In addition to this, it also helps in avoiding confusions and misunderstandings. Moreover guests can also make the necessary travel arrangements.

Scottish Wedding Invitations

Scottish wedding invitations have long been popular with couples who are of Scottish heritage but their popularity is growing worldwide. There is something mystical about the Scottish highlands and Celtic symbols that attract admirers from all over the globe. Many couples are now deciding to have a Scottish theme to their wedding, even if they are not getting married in Scotland, and Scottish wedding invitations are an essential part of the special occasion. Everyone can now add that touch of Celtic tradition by sending Scottish wedding invitations.

There is no set format for a Scottish wedding invitation but there are some traditional aspects that you can incorporate to add that authentic feel. The most obvious of these is Scottish tartan. Each Scottish clan, or family, has their own unique tartan design associated with them and no Scottish wedding invitation would be complete without a piece of this Scottish heritage. On a modern style of Scottish wedding invitation, you could have a family crest emblazoned on each card, with a bow made from the family tartan. However, if you really want to create a special Scottish wedding invitation then why not have scroll-style invitations, tied with your clan’s tartan? The choice is endless and there are numerous options to include tartan on a Scottish wedding invitation. A border designed using the tartan can add a stylish and personalized feel to your Scottish wedding invitations.

Of course, tartan is not the only traditionally Scottish article that can be added to a Scottish wedding invitation. There are several other items that are associated with Scotland that would be perfect adornments for any Scottish wedding invitation. The thistle, for example, is the national flower of Scotland and is often seen emblazoned on crests and flags. The cross of St Andrew, with the white cross on a blue background, is well-known as the national flag of Scotland and can often provide the inspiration for the colours of your Scottish wedding invitation if you are undecided.

It is worth researching some of the other Scottish wedding traditions before deciding on the final design and content of your Scottish wedding invitations. Any wedding invitation is intended to give the guests a feel for what type of event the big day is going to be. Perhaps you want to include some Gaelic script, or incorporate the Celtic knots into the perfect Scottish wedding invitation. You may also want to continue the style of your Scottish wedding invitation into the Order of Service for the ceremony itself, menus and place cards for the reception or even thank you cards for your guests. The internet is a great place to start if you are looking for inspiration to create your perfect Scottish wedding invitation.

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Tips on How to Locate the Best Wholesale Apparel Suppliers

The key to a successful retail clothing business is providing the latest clothes to customers. Whether your retail business is aimed at catering to the male or female audience, you need to make sure that you provide the latest and the best clothing in men's, women's, kids or teens wear. In a retail clothing business, suppliers play a very key role in providing fashionable clothes in a timely manner. Therefore, you should focus on partnering with reputed apparel exporters who are capable of meeting your requirements on time.

How to Find a Reliable Supplier?
Internet is the best place to locate different types of apparel manufacturers, suppliers and exporters. Before you choose to conduct business with any of the business contacts that you may find online, you should first perform a background check on the wholesale apparel suppliers of your choice. Interact with them personally to understand their knowledge, capabilities, business terms and conditions, etc. Select at least two suppliers and compare their service procedures as well as pricing. Give a small order to know whether they are able to understand your business needs and provide timely delivery of orders.

Important Factors to Consider While Searching For Suppliers
The type of apparel supplier you hire will largely affect your business prospects and hence you have to make a very careful but informed decision when choosing apparel exporters. Determine the audience that your store caters to. Decide on the category of clothing you want to provide such as formals, casuals, party wear, ethnic or a combination of all. Check whether the supplier of your choice will be able to cater to your requirements. Consider the location of the exporter, quality of his products, customer service and support reputation, payment policies, insurance coverage, terms and conditions.

What Types Of Suppliers Can You Find On Online Directories?
Online directories feature a variety of industries which are further categorized according to their products and services, thus simplifying the whole search process. There are different types of wholesale apparel suppliers listed in online directories, each of them specializing in different types of apparels for different age groups. Some of the suppliers listed in these directories specialize in formal dress suits, tuxedo, wedding and evening dresses, leisure wear, sportswear, jackets, skirts, tank tops, winter wear, adult foot wear, lingerie, maternity clothing, nightwear, children's clothing and foot wear, head gear, neck ties, scarves and fashion accessories. Some of these exporters also offer variety of raw materials for shoes and belts, design services, shoe machinery and tools and a whole lot of other services.

Printable Wedding Invitation Kits - Debunking the Myths of Printing From Home

Wedding invitations are a window into the world of your wedding day. They are the first glimpse your guests will have into the type of affair you are planning. Purchasing invitations is another task on the list to get done. But although so much time and effort is put into the other tasks, the invitations are one of the few things which you can control from start to finish for your wedding day. Today, with a wide variety of printable wedding invitation kits available on-line and off-line, you can control the style, theme and look of your wedding invitation from start to finish.

Is printing your own invitations something to be left to the experts? Many brides to be are a little wary at first about printing from home because they may think it is very difficult, if not impossible. But with the wide variety of wonderful printable kits available, it is easier than ever to create your own beautiful and elegant wedding invitation without spending a small fortune.

Let's explore a few of the myths surrounding printing from home:

1. It is simply too difficult. This is absolutely not true. Printing from home can not only be fun and creative, but by following a few simple steps, it is much easier than it appears. The nice thing about printing from home is you have control over the creative process from start to finish. In other words, you may opt for a more elegant style of font and simpler paper stock. Printing your own allows you the freedom to do this and create a wedding theme and style all of your own.

2. You need special printing equipment. Again, the short answer here is no you do not need any special printing software or equipment. If you have a laser or ink jet printer, you are more than good to go. If you have purchased a printable wedding kit, then the paper stock will work very nicely on either type of printer. However, if you purchase stock that is heavier or textured, it will not print well and may require a professional printing machine. Do not discount purchasing this type of paper as it is lovely and can be used for layering to create a more formal or elegant theme.

3. You need a special design software for processing. If you have Microsoft Word or a similar word processing software then you have what you need to print a beautiful wedding invitation. There are free versions too. Open Office is a great free resource site and has a wonderful word processing package with wedding invitation templates.

So there you have it. Doing it yourself with printable wedding invitation kits are rapidly gaining popularity and you do not have to be a professional designer or printer to create your own. They are a great way to reduce costs without sacrificing quality or style and allow you to be as innovative and creative as you desire. Today, many brides are turning to being more in control of their wedding day and designing and printing your own wedding invitations is a first step in achieving that goal.

The Wedding Guest List

In wedding preparations, budget and space allocation is yet another point for consideration. While couples would normally have a hard time determining who to invite, chances are they would have to whittle down the guest list to accommodate the feasible amount needed to grace the special occasion of holy matrimony between the two.

Determining the list of guests to grace the wedding would usually be a matter of priority. Depending on the type of celebration, relatives will always be the first consideration or even the priority of the bride and groom. Friends would follow and then colleagues and acquaintances as long as the allocation for accommodating the said guests allow.

It has been a common issue that people planning their wedding tend to overdo it a little and tend to invite people who are not that important in their lives. It is a natural reaction! Relatives for example may extend beyond close kindred. It may seem harsh, but sometimes decisions have to be made to limit the number of true relatives not only because of the costs involved but also because you would naturally wish only those that would treasure the occasion to be present. It is a fact that while some of the extended relatives may be in the wedding guest list, not all of them may share the same spirit as the bride and groom.

Wedding guests can go as far as over a 100. It depends on how large the celebration is expected to be. For some, budget restrictions force them to trim down the wedding guest list, sometimes even finding the need for a RSVP to do the proper head count of expected wedding guests who will actually come. Wedding invitations to be printed and disseminated also rely heavily on the wedding guest list. An allocated wedding invitation printing is needed to properly stay within budget and avoid spoilage.

Assumptions that special wedding guests such as the principal and secondary sponsors would bring along a partner or their families should be expected. For one, it is quite unethical to state to these people that they are not allowed to bring anyone because of budget constraints. This may offend them and may put them in a difficult position since not all people would understand the situation or the decision - especially if they were chosen and asked to be sponsors for the event.

There are also people who would invite special personalities as well like officials, celebrities and icons to grace the occasion. This has been a practice for couples since such would be an honor to have such well-known and famous personalities on hand during the wedding ceremony and celebration. The reason behind such is usually for bragging rights and of course being identified with them for future use, just in case the need to seek advice and help in the future may be necessary.

Easy as it may seem to strike off certain names from the guest list, it is hard to explain in the end why they were not invited. But given the short time to prepare and work on budgets for wedding celebrations, couples would evidently be left with no alternative in such cases where they are pressed for time to go through with their holy union.

Wedding Tips - 6 Ways to Save Money on Wedding Invitations

Wedding invitations can be functional, creative and stylish while keeping your wallet happy. Planning a wedding can be stressful enough without always having to worry about going over your budget. You can send out upscale invitations without sacrificing quality. Follow these tips to invite guests to your wedding using these resourceful, inexpensive options:

1. Compare products and pricing.

Do some research and check around various stationary specialty shops, office supply stores, discount chains, online retailers, and arts and crafts emporiums. Get an eye for what is available and at what cost. Watch out for sales. Take down notes and gather samples of the ones that stand out to you. There are many options, and some that seem too far out of your budget range may not be by utilizing similar alternatives that are cheaper.

2. Make them yourself.

You can select from different card stocks and choose to print them at home yourself, or take them to a print shop. Several stores offer an assortment of simple do-it-yourself invitation kits to help save you time and money. If you don't feel particularly crafty, enlist the aid of friends and family members with a lot of creative juices pumping through their veins.

3. Explore a variety of printing methods.

Engraved wedding invitations are an elegant thing of formal beauty. Having your invitations engraved is also the most costly printing choice. Thermographic printing will result in a similar looking raised font but will be less expensive than engraving. The least pricey option would be a more informal laser printing technique. Your invitations will still look sharp and stylish enough to wow your would-be guests while saving you quite a bit of money.

4. Consider using online invites.

If you already have a wedding site online, think of adding your invitations and RSVP as part of your website design. Keep track of your guest list online to save money and some trees. There are also sites online dedicated to providing ample design choices for those that don't feel they have enough creative flair to produce their own online invitations.

5. Less saves you more.

Leave out all those extras such as the blotter paper, double envelopes, separate reception cards, and perhaps even the RSVP card. Each one adds to the cost of purchasing, printing and postage. Incorporate your reception information at the end of your invites, and include a note to guests to RSVP through email or your personal wedding website. Be sure to use invitations that fit in standard-sized envelopes too. Odd shapes, sizes, bulkiness and uneven surfaces will all cost you more to mail.

6. Analyze, check and correct.

After spending the time to find and design your perfect wedding invitations, be sure to proofread many times over. Ask others to proofread for you as well. It will save you from unnecessary frustrations and ill-spent money if you don't have to send them back to be reprinted.

Filmmaker Fundamentals - What You Need to Know About Film Production Insurance

As an independent film producer, part of your job is cutting expenses.  Can you get away with two days at that location instead of five?  Can you get by with fewer production assistants? But there are some costs a filmmaker just can't afford to cut, and film production insurance is one of those costs.

Actually, producers don't just need a single type of insurance. They need several kinds of insurance because each policy covers a different aspect of film production.

Every producer needs General Liability Insurance.  You need it to rent locations and to provide a back up to your equipment rental insurance.  When you book locations and rent equipment you will often be asked to provide a general liability insurance certificate that names the owner of the equipment or property as additionally insured.  Failure to have this insurance can represent a significant roadblock for any production of any size.  This insurance costs a few hundred dollars and you buy it by the year. 

Equipment Rental Insurance allows you to rent production equipment and vehicles.  Get this insurance long before you intend to rent because it is not an overnight process. The higher your limits, the more you can rent and the more you will pay.  When you rent equipment the rental house will require you to provide an equipment rental certificate that names them as an additional insured and that can take several days to acquire.  All this means that new film producers should work get this insurance a month or so before they intend to shoot. Policies last a year.

Workers Compensation insurance is some of the most expensive insurance you will buy.  On the other hand, you need it to shoot anything with SAG actors and having an annual policy, as a business owner, is a requirement for purchasing corporate health insurance. In the state of California, setting up an LLC and getting a workers compensation policy, may be a cheaper way for you to get better health insurance than you can afford by just purchasig a policy on your own.  And you have better coverage if you become sick or disabled.  Workers comp is a good investment for both you and your company.

Since most of these policies are purchased on an annual basis, they are good for multiple film projects. You will have to add riders, or get new policies, to cover stunts, pyrotechnics and other exotic operations.

Failure to have this kind of coverage basically puts all the property you own now, or ever earn in the future, on the line.  If someone gets injured on set, if a location gets damaged, if you drop a light or a camera, you are footing the bill personally.  Students often think their lack of assets represents some kind of barrier against being sued. The truth is that their income in future years is what is at risk. So if you ever plan to make it big, you have to deal with the insurance problem.

If you can't afford this insurance, form a production company and then work to find other filmmakers who require your insurance in order to shoot their projects.  You will become a producer on their project which will allow your insurance to cover their requirements.  It will mean that you have to be actively involved in their production, protecting the equipment, location and personnel you are insuring, but you will quickly acquire many professional credits and build some long lasting business relationships.

Where do you get film insurance?  I recommend working with an non-profit organization, like FracturedAtlas, that supports filmmakers and other artists as part of their charter.  They give you the very best rates and are very responsive when you need certificates issued. 

Few Advantages of Using Pocket Wedding Invitation Kits

Pocket wedding invitation kits are one of the best ways to reduce your wedding expenses. However, savings is not the only advantage you get by using pocket wedding invitations. In fact, there are a range of other aspects like the liberty you will have to design them yourselves. There are plenty of designs and colors available in the market, choose the one that suits your liking or one that matches you wedding theme.

As far as the quality of the paper is concerned, let me assure you that these pocket wedding invitations use a fairly good quality paper along with some border designs printed on them, making them look beautiful and exciting to the guests. Where most of the other readymade, preprinted invitations are very costly, the DIY pocket wedding invitations are a lot cheaper.

The pocket invitations can be found in a wide range of varieties. The papers used are printer friendly and are normally preprinted with various backgrounds which include floral patterns, petals, leaves and other designs. If you are fancy enough, you will also find pocket invitations with lovely handmade papers with will certainly rake up the ante.

Although the DIY pocket wedding invitations are available in a very low cost compared with the normal high-end readymade and preprinted wedding cards, you will observe that there is no compromise as far as quality is concerned.

The most important part is, you can use your creativity and tailor-make these pocket wedding invitation kits as per your requirement, style and design. You can give them a personal touch by using different fonts and words. On the other hand, you can also convert them into a creative piece of art by adding some more information about different events of your wedding just to rake up the curiosity among the guests.

It is recommended that you order the pocket invitations for wedding as soon as you finalize on the material and design, this enables you to send them to the guest as early as possible. Since, you would have already checked the printable data yourselves, there won't be any mistakes. This saves a lot of time in case there is some mistake and you may have to reprint them. Also, if there is a shortfall in the number of invitations, you can get them printed almost immediately.

Though there are many advantages in choosing DIY pocket wedding invites, you need to be aware of the types of papers available before ordering them. Do not select any cheap of very thin paper as you may not be able get anything printed on them, If you do not know how to recognize a good quality paper, take help of a friend or any other person who has knowledge about this. Good material along with a beautiful design will add a great value to the invitations.

As the printing technology has reached to consumer level, it is very encouraging to use pocket wedding invitation kits to create beautiful and exciting invitations. You just have to use some innovation to make them look different from others.

Wedding Contingency Plans

They say that the best made plans may go awry, and that is certainly true of weddings. You plan and you plan, but sometimes things pop up at the last minute that have to be dealt with. These are some of the things to think about...

One of the main reasons that couples need contingency plans for their wedding is inclement weather. If you are having an outdoor ceremony, you definitely need to have a rain plan. Either rent a tent (and a floor if it is a really soggy day), or have an alternate indoor location. If your wedding does end up being moved at the last minute, be certain to get word to all of the guests!

Transportation is another thing that can be affected by a surprise rainstorm. After all, a horse-drawn carriage ride is very romantic, but not in the pouring rain. If you were planning to walk to your wedding, or take open transportation, be sure to have a Plan B, just in case.

The wedding bands are a very important part of the ceremony, so be sure that you give them ample thought in advance. If you will have a ring bearer, you might want to reconsider putting the actual wedding jewelry on his little pillow. Many couples tie a pair of symbolic rings to the pillow, and give the real ones to the best man (who is hopefully more responsible than a young child! If not, give the rings to someone else to hold.).

Sometimes things happen with the wedding bands that no one expects, and you just have to roll with the punches. At one wedding I attended, the groom's hand had swollen from a recent windsurfing expedition, and the bride could not get the ring onto his finger. They were pushing and pulling, and the whole group of guests was laughing. The ceremony was in a hotel, and just as a waiter approached with a pat of butter on a silver tray, the groom finally managed to jam the ring on to his finger. What worked? Dipping his ring finger into a glass of Champagne!

Other mishaps can happen with wedding jewelry that are more easily planned for. In your wedding day kit, bring along a stash of extra earring backs (or a pencil eraser can be used in a pinch), safety pins for clasp issues, and even some heavy thread in case one of your bridesmaids snaps her strand of pearls and needs a quick fix.

What are some other wedding contingency plans that couples should have in place? A big one is a plan in case uninvited guests show up at the reception. If you are diligent about following up the R.s.v.p.s, hopefully you will not encounter this problem, but it does happen more often than you may think. If there are a few guests that you have not heard from that you think might make a surprise appearance, have a plan in place with your caterer.

For a buffet style wedding, the only issue is finding a seat, but for plated dinners, every meal must be accounted for. You do have the option of ordering a couple of extra dinners, just in case. If you do not want to go to that expense, let the wedding coordinator at your site know that extra guests are welcome to join the reception for dancing after dinner.

Every wedding has a few surprises, and there is no way to plan for all of them. Once you are confident that you have contingency plans in place for the big issues, allow yourself to relax about the rest of it. As the old saying goes, "Don't sweat the small stuff"!

Wedding Favors Are Not Mandatory!

I know what you must be thinking......no wedding favor? Are you kidding me? Nope, I am serious. I have been a wedding planner for many years and I have seen so many favors go into the trash.

Yes, wedding favors are a nice gesture but you DO NOT have to give your guests wedding favors, it is not mandatory. In my opinion, the wedding invitation, the food, the drinks are all favor enough and says "Thank You" in a big way. If you can think back to the last wedding you attended, you probably can't remember what the wedding favor was and if you do, it's probably useless. Wedding favors have come a long way over the past few years but they cost of them have also increased. Yes, you can still buy $1.00 favors but who wants them? Most of the inexpensive favors are meaningless and will be left behind. Don't waist your money on wedding favors that have no meaning. I know some people might be saying.... "the thought is what counts" but actually if you "think" about it, you will see just how thoughtless a $1.00 gift is. Put the money that you would have spent on favors towards some wonderful gifts for your bridal party, they will be spending a great deal of money to be in your wedding and they deserve a really nice thank you gift. I have seen many brides cut corners when it comes to buying their bridal party gifts but this would not be the gift you would want to take the cheap route on.

If you insist on having wedding favors, make sure you give your guests something they will remember and will enjoy receiving. Whatever you don't give out candles wrap in tulle or a shot glass with your names and wedding date; these are gifts that most of your guests will find to be worthless. I recommend edible favors such as a candy apple, monogram cookies, two krispy kreme donuts package nicely, or chocolate treats. Other meaningful favors would be a CD with your wedding music or a photomontage of the both of you growing up leading to your engagement, or flower/plant seeds; these are they type of favors that will keep your wedding day in your guest's thoughts for many days to come.

Consider Decorating Your Home With Traditional Moroccan Panel Frames

Home owners out there who are interested to decorate their home more elaborately will be very pleased to consider using traditional Moroccan panel frames for their windows. Here are a few reasons to help you consider.

Beautiful Traditional Designs

These Moroccan windows are so unique because they have been made with traditional Moorish designs. Home owners who love antiques or cultural works of art will find these Moroccan panel frames to be amazing traditional art that they can incorporate into their homes. The designs are sculptured using wrought iron giving it an aesthetic feel. Since most Moroccan works of art are intricate and symmetrical, it projects a very unique look when seen from the outside. Appreciating these lovely works of art are one of the main reasons why home owners would love to have them in their homes.

Wooden Frames

These Moroccan windows could come with or without wooden frames. So depending on how you wish to decorate your home, having this option allows home owners the flexibility to suit their taste. For instance, they could purchase only the iron frames to fit into their window frames after determining the size and shape. Some of these wrought iron frames could be opened like a normal window while some are just for decorative purposes. Certain homes may prefer to purchase the complete Moroccan windows with the wooden frames to place inside their houses mounted on different walls. Again this is totally up to the home owners as to how they wish to decorate their homes.

Make Full Use Of Your Wall

For those who prefer to enjoy these decorative Moroccan windows within their home, they could choose a wall that separates two different rooms and cut out a window frame on the wall. That way, they could choose from a range of Moroccan windows to add to that wall making a mini window within their home. Or it could be purely for decorative purposes where you don't even have to cut the wall up but you can choose to hand these wooden framed Moroccan panels on the wall like works of art.

Summary

So if you're game for some beautiful decorative works of art in your home, you could consider looking up some traditional Moroccan panel frames as a start. Cultural art work combined with home improvement planning can still be very practical if applied properly and wisely to make your house look great. Happy shopping!

Cheap Wedding Stationery

Everyone wants a perfect wedding, or at least the kind of perfect that they have always been dreaming it to be. When we were little kids, especially the little girls out there, we used to dream on what our wedding would be like. We used to imagine or plan in our heads the motif or theme that we want and just how magical and dreamy would the place look like for this very special occasion.

However, as we grow old, we are slowly being led to reality. Little by little, we began to compromise. We try to change or alter a little bit of our dream wedding so that it could fit reality. And even so, when we are finally faced with it, when we finally found the one and we are already bound to get married, we will realize that it is not really as magical after all. You would realize that the only thing magical about getting married is on how the two of you fell madly in love with each other just like that.

So, when we are already there, we compromise even more. For some even, the wedding need not to be that grand, it just have to be memorable. It could be simple and heartfelt at the same time. However, deep down in our hearts we still wanted our wedding to be a special affair, something that would be remembered and would be inspired by many. Of course, you don't need to spend that huge amount of money for one day just to get that ambiance. All you need is some tips and tricks of the trade.

One of the best tips or wonder that I have ever heard about wedding preparations are the need for wedding stationery. The wedding stationery need not to be expensive, actually it could be as cheap as any of the specialty paper available in the market or in your neighborhood book store. You just have to make sure to pick the kind of paper with the same design, feel and texture.

Wedding stationery is very useful. More than playing the role of the paper used for almost all of the printed paraphernalia for the wedding (wedding program, table place cards, thank you cards and the likes), did you know that it could also double as your wedding invitation. You see, doing so is really very practical nowadays since it could save you from over producing your wedding invitations. Also, we all know that producing wedding stationery is really a lot cheaper than having wedding invitations printed. So, could you just imagine how much money could you save with that choice?

Wedding Planning - 2 Months 'Til the Big Day

With only 2 moths till the big day right now is the busiest time in the preparation for your wedding.

First, book and confirm your entertainment. You should also finalized the guest list in coordination with the groom. Along with this goes the selection and ordering of the wedding invitations, announcements and thank you cards. After the cards are printed and ready, then you have the task of addressing each one, but don't mail them for about another month.

If you are having a destination wedding, it may be necessary for you to have a complete physical and blood test. This should be done at this point in your checklist.

You should select items to be placed on your bridal registry, finalize your honeymoon plans and buy gifts for your bridal party and attendants.

At this time you and the groom should shop for wedding rings and get the engraving ordered and have the rings resized if needed. Confirm the delivery date of the bridal gown, bridesmaids' and attendants' dresses. You should make arrangements to have bridal portraits taken. You will probably want to have the portraits taken after your ring is finished, so check with the jeweler on the date of completion.

As if this list of chores isn't enough, now is the time to shop for home furnishings as well. Later on, when moving into your new house together, you will be glad that you got this done so early.

Work quickly on this to-do list, as in another month you'll have a new list of chores. The next two months are going to be your busiest, so if you have a friend who would be willing to assist with all of these arrangements, now would be the perfect time to ask for help.

Damask Wedding Collection - Elegant Ways to Use Damask in Your Wedding

There are numerous methods of incorporating damask into a wedding. The print can be used to create elegant tablecloths for the reception or it could be used to create eye catching bridesmaid dresses. However, damask can also be used to create a damask wedding centerpiece. When it comes to weddings, the most common damask color scheme is black and white. This is an ideal method for adding a touch of a vintage style into their reception's centerpiece. These centerpieces can be created by hand. The supplies that an individual will need for this project include a glass vase or candle holder, glass frosting spray, black peel and stick felt, damask print stencil, and a white colored pencil.

First, the individual should lay down a sheet of newspaper over a flat work surface. A damp cloth should be used to wipe down the vase or candle holder to ensure that it is free from dust. Then the vase and candleholder should be placed upon the newspaper. If an individual chooses to use vases, they may be purchased at an inexpensive general store. Then a light coat of glass frosting spray should be applied to the outer surface of the vase or candle holder.

It would behoove an individual to be careful when applying the glass frosting spray. If too much of the spray is applied, it may create a rippling effect on the surface of the glass. If an individual would like the centerpiece to have a more opaque finish, then another coat of the glass frosting spray may be applied once the first coat has thoroughly dried. The next step to creating this damask wedding centerpiece is to lay the damask stencil on the top of the black peel and stick felt. The white pencil should be use to trace the design over the felt.

The damask design may then be cut from the peel and stick felt using a sharp knife. The backing of the damask cutout should then be removed an applied to the vase. The glass frosting spray should be thoroughly dried before the felt is applied. These simple steps lead to the creation of an elegant, damask wedding centerpiece. The centerpiece may be filled with any type or color of flowers that the bride wishes to use. Brightly hued flowers will smartly set off the stark contrast of the black and white vases.

Tacky Wedding Invitations

Can a wedding invitation really manage to be tacky? Sadly, it can! There are many well-meaning couples out there who in trying to be romantic or clever end up designing an invitation that turns the stomach of the guests who receive it. These are the things that make wedding invitations tacky, and how to avoid making the same mistakes.

First of all, it is important to understand that whether or not an invitation is tacky or not has nothing to do with what it cost. An inexpensive invitation can be elegant, and a pricey one can be done in exceedingly poor taste. It is what is written on the invitation and how it is made that counts. Original wording and "clever" images tend to be among the top offenders. Compare these two types of wedding invitation wording: "Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hall request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter Sarah Ann, etc., etc." is as classic and timeless as a pair of pearl earrings; in other words, it is tasteful, and like pearl earrings, fits any style of occasion.

Then there is this: "On this day we will marry the one we laugh with, live for, dream with, love. Come and witness Sarah and John as they start their journey together with one heart, etc." Blech! Too much information, and too personal. It is also redundant; if you are getting married, people assume that you are in love, it is not necessary to spell it out in syrupy prose. You may think it is romantic, but most of the guests will find the wording too saccharine. All that really should be written on a wedding invitation is the basics of who, what, where, and when. The "why" part is self-explanatory.

Being too cutesy is another common thing that makes a wedding invitation tacky. Just because they offer "Precious Moments" wedding stationery does not mean that you should choose it, even if you really love large eyed child figures dressed as a bride and groom. Another common trap is getting carried away with overly cute photos of the bride and groom. While personalizing your wedding stationery with your photo can be a nice detail, they should not be captioned like they were part of a scrapbook. Especially not if the captions are puns playing on the themes of love. Save that for your actual wedding scrapbook, and include a single elegant photo on the invitation.

Tackiness can also come in the form of poor manners. A perfectly lovely engraved wedding invitation can become tacky with the inclusion of bridal registry information on it. Using your wedding invitation to snub a family member for not giving you enough money is also always in poor taste. When in doubt, the best thing that a couple can do is to stick with a classic invitation and simple wording. You can never go wrong with that, and no one will find you tacky!

Ask the Attorney - Prenuptial Agreements

INTRODUCTION: Prenuptial Agreements ("Prenups" or Premarital Agreements) are becoming more and more popular. Initially only popular among people that were previously married, many more getting married for the first time are realizing the benefits of a Prenup.

QUESTION: Dear Mr. Cheng - I am getting a divorce. I do not understand why I am being told by my attorney that the prenuptial agreement I signed with my husband is invalid. He is claiming that if he knew how wealthy I was he would not have signed an agreement in the first place. My attorney says that the judge may throw out the agreement. I am totally confused. I paid an attorney to draft it and my husband signed it willingly. Why should I have to pay for him? He cheated on me with my secretary and now he wants to cheat me out of my money. Can you help me? Cindy - San Marino

ANSWER: Dear Cindy, thank you for your question. A Prenuptial Agreement is essentially a contract between two people. When examined they are viewed like any other contract with some additional requirements based on various family law statutes.

I explain prenuptial agreements like insurance. No one buys auto, life, or property insurance with the hopes of using it. In the same vein, no one should write a prenuptial agreement with the hopes of divorce. However, like any insurance, if you get a divorce without a prenuptial agreement, life can become very expensive. A typical non-contested divorce can be about $3,000-$4,000.00. A contested divorce can be substantially more expensive. I have seen some divorces cost as much as large corporate litigation. Family law attorneys are some of the most profitable attorneys out there because not only is it expensive, but family law divorces are very emotional. Many times, emotions drive lawsuits when they really should be settled.

Prenuptial Agreements Help Settle Future Disputes.

One of the things I tell people is that a prenuptial agreement can settle future disputes without much cost. Like I stated earlier, a Prenup is like a contract. Hence, a Court will adhere as closely to the contract as possibly, disregard any things that are ambiguous against the drafter, and throw out the contract entirely if it unconscionable. Hence, many issues can be settled years in advance. For example, spousal support or alimony can be settled in the prenuptial agreement so that when divorce takes place the Court can rely on the parties' contractual decision and not have to make a decision for them.

Courts Support Premarital Agreements.

When I used to work for judges in the Los Angeles Superior Court, they were always happy when a premarital agreement was presented to them because they were left with very few issues to resolve. Provided the agreement was freely entered into by the parties (no deception, duress or undue influence) and not violative of public policy, premarital agreements are favored in family law dissolutions.

Suggestions to Prevent a Void Premarital Agreement.

Many agreements are written so poorly that many judges have no choice but to void portions of a Premarital Agreement or throw out the entire contract entirely. The following are suggestions to keep that from occurring:

(1) Do not raise issues about children. Premarital agreements cannot make decisions about children. For instance, child support, legal decisions for children, etc. Any statements made about children are easily stricken, and sometimes raise an eyebrow in the judge's mind that this is a voidable contract.

(2) Have an attorney represent the other side. The chance of a person raising an argument that the agreement is unconscionable substantially increases when the person signing it is not represented.

(3) Give the person reviewing it another 30 days after all changes have been done. By law, the person reviewing the agreement needs 7 days to review it. However, I always recommend additional time so that no one can say that they were forced into an agreement.

(4) Have it translated into a language they understand. I do not know why if you are looking to protect your assets, you would risk a person arguing to a judge that he/she did not have the ability to read it. It makes absolutely no sense. Enough said.

(5) Always favor disclosure versus vagueness. If you are going to spend the time and money to write a Prenup why would you want certain clauses or information to remain ambiguous? The purpose of a Prenup is to give people full information so they know what they are giving up. If you are debating between full disclosure and partial or no disclosure at all, give it up.

Most Prenuptials are Voidable for the Same Reasons.

Remember, courts want to enforce agreements. But many times they cannot or will not. There are essentially two bites at the apple when it comes to overturning prenuptial agreements. But no matter when a person seeks to overturn the prenuptial agreement the argument usually is that the agreement itself is unconscionable. A premarital agreement is unconscionable when it is proven:

(1) The party was not provided a "fair, reasonable, and full disclosure" of the other party's property or financial obligations;

(2) He or she did not voluntarily and expressly waive in writing any right to disclosure of the property or financial obligations of the other party beyond the disclosure provided; and

(3) He or she did not have, or reasonably could not have had, adequate knowledge of the property or financial obligations of the other party.

Conclusion.

Premarital Agreements are awesome. They give people the flexibility and cost savings that are needed to ensure that should dissolution occur the monies paid are reasonable and not just outrageous attorney fees. Make sure if you get one that it is done by a reliable and reputable attorney. The way a Premarital Agreement is written can substantially change the outlook of any family law dissolution.

Rude Things That Brides Do By Accident

While the majority of brides do their best to be pleasant and polite, there are times when even a well-meaning bride does something rude. It is often accidental, but that doesn't make it any less offensive to those people affected by the behavior. Learn about these rude things that brides do, so you can make sure to avoid these mistakes at your own wedding.

Money is often tight when planing a wedding, and one typical mistake is to put the comfort of the bride and groom above the comfort of the wedding guests. Common money-saving measures like cash bars are often seen as very rude by the guests who discover they are expected to pay for their own refreshments. This is doubly true when the couple decides to spend less on their guests so they could spend more on something for themselves like a designer wedding gown or a stretch limo. Whether you have a lot of money to spend or just a little, make your guests the top priority in your wedding budget. The same goes for your bridal party, by the way; it's no fair skipping the bridesmaid jewelry gifts to afford a more expensive veil.

Another rude thing that many brides do is to take their bridesmaids for granted. Again, it is not usually intentional, but this is something that frequently happens. While it is nice if your bridesmaids want to throw you a shower or a bachelorette weekend, the polite bride never tells her friends that they have to give her a party. Likewise, do not turn your bridesmaids into indentured servants who are expected to give up all their free time to make DIY projects for your wedding. Accept help when offered, but don't make your friends feel obligated. And always show your appreciation with a gift of bridesmaid jewelry or some other special present.

Timing and logistics can be one of the most challenging aspects of wedding planning. One thing that is sure to drive your guests crazy is a big gap between the wedding ceremony and the reception. There are all sorts of reasons why this can happen. It is often a result of an early afternoon church ceremony followed by an evening reception or the couple wanting extra time for photography. While the bride and groom surely to not intend to be rude, expecting your guests to hang around for a couple of hours with nothing to do really is quite inconsiderate. If you need extra time for photography, take some pictures before the ceremony. And if your church only performs 1pm ceremonies, plan an afternoon reception that can follow, rather than scheduling an evening party that won't start for hours.

Something else that is a common faux pas is putting bridal registry information on the wedding invitations. Brides are often talked into it by the store that set up the registry, touting it as a "convenience" for the wedding guests. Unfortunately, many guests are more likely to see it as an attempt at a gift grab than something done to make their lives easier. Avoid this perception by leaving bridal registry information off of the wedding invitations. People who are interested in shopping from a registry will ask you where you are registered. It is also acceptable to put a link to your registry on your wedding website, as long as it is done in a subtle fashion.

Being a polite bride is not so hard when you know what not to do. Most brides want to do right by their friends and family, and when you know how, it is easy to avoid making impolite mistakes. You can be sure that a bride who is thoughtful and considerate is always noticed and appreciated.

Bridal Shower Etiquette

A bride-to-be has quite a bit on her mind that she needs to accomplish. Worrying about the bridal shower and how it will flow should not be one of the things that concerns her. Here is a list of bridal shower etiquette tips to ensure the bride is happy and that no one's toes are stepped on:

1. Maid/Matron of Honor should host the shower. The bride has chosen one person specifically to stand by her side as her key witness to the ceremony, thus the shower should be planned or at least coordinated by her. If she lives out of town, the mother of the bride should consult with her to see how she can help, but the responsibility for the shower itself falls to the maid/matron of honor.

2. Host the shower 4-6 weeks before the wedding. If you have the shower too early, the bride won't be ready for it, and if you host it too close to the wedding, the bride will be too busy with last minute details. Having the shower 4-6 weeks before the wedding is a great timeframe for the busy bride to fit it into her schedule, while enjoying the preparation time for her wedding.

3. Keep it small and simple. Wedding showers should incorporate only those closest to the bride-her family, the groom's family, her friends and co-workers. Try to limit the shower to no more than 20 people so that it will be intimate and more relational in nature.

4. Who to invite. The list of people to invite can be daunting-so make sure and enlist the bride's help in this. Minimally; however, you need to invite the following to the main bridal shower:

o Mothers of the bride and groom
o Grandmothers/great grandmothers of the bride and groom
o Aunts
o Female Cousins
o Sisters/Sisters-in-law
o Bridesmaids/female attendants
o Close friends of the bride and her family
o Close female business associates of the bride

If someone lives out of town, state, or the country, yet is a close friend of the bride, it is very important to invite them as well.

5. Invitations. The invitations should be sent out 6 weeks in advance of the shower to allow for others' schedules. It is important to include the following in the invitations:

o Brides name
o Date of the bridal shower
o Time of the bridal shower (beginning and ending times)
o Address where the shower will be held
o Name and phone number of the hostess (and email address, if desired)
o Theme of the shower, if there is one
o Registry information (some people consider this in poor taste; if that is the case, the hostess and those closest to the bride should use word of mouth to inform guest of where the couple is registered)
o RSVP deadline (usually two weeks before the bridal shower)
o Map/directions to the bridal shower location, with the phone number there in case people get lost

6. Greeting at the shower. It is important to have a person designated to greet people as they enter the home or the place in which the shower is being held. This can be a bridesmaid, a relative, or a close personal friend of the bride. The greeter should also provide direction for the guests, including:
o Where to put their coats/personal belongings
o Where to put their gift for the bride
o Where to get refreshments
o Where to sit, if applicable

7. Thank You Notes. While it is the responsibility of the bride to complete this job, the maid/matron of honor can make this easier for the bride by having each individual sign an address book for the bride as the guest book. This will help the bride not only know who came to the shower, but will also give her an address book as a gift that she can use to send out thank you notes. The maid/matron of honor should write the gifts given next to the names on the main line of the address book.

Following the above list will help you design an unforgettable bridal shower for the bride and her family!

Wedding Insurance - A Form of Protection

We have heard of many types of insurance policies. But what is a wedding insurance and how can it help to make you feel more secure?

Your big day is a day of happiness and both of you have waited eagerly for this day. You certainly do not want to get any mishaps along the way to dampen the mood. But if there are unforeseen contingencies, how well are you shielded from them?

If you are opting for a destination wedding at a beach, you might be wary of what could be sudden adverse weather changes which might be an impediment to the conduct of your wedding.

Wedding insurance typically covers postponement or rescheduling of the wedding against adverse weather, no show of wedding vendors, no show of key personnel, damage to precious wedding photos and loss of special items such as jewelry or documents.

The premium is a one time fee and varies according to the depth of coverage needed.

Do note the fine prints on the limitations and exclusions of the policy. Make sure that you are well aware of the things that you might not be able to claim.

What are the things that might go wrong and might be covered under the policy?

• Cancellation or postponement of wedding due to bereavement or illness of the immediate family.

• Loss of wedding jewelry.

• No show of wedding vendors.

• Damage to the wedding photographs.

Being well prepared for the event is good and you could find yourself feeling a lot less frustrated when things do go wrong.

Of course there is something that cannot be covered under the wedding insurance policy, which is, the emotional disappointment.

8 Unique Gift Ideas for Grandma

A grandmother is a special person who deserves the perfect present. She has graciously given her love and time to you and your family members since the day you were born. If you're looking for some unique gift ideas for grandma that are meaningful and will bring her joy, then try a few of the below thoughtful gift ideas:

1. Personalized Family Tree. A grandmother gift idea could be to create a personalized family tree throw blanket or decorative plate setting. These would make great show pieces in any sitting room.

2. Window Box Planter. For the grandma that enjoys nature, try getting her something that will help her garden from her window. This could include a window box or planter that hangs off her rail. If she is just starting out with gardening, surprise her by filling her window box with her favorite flowers.

3. Photomontage. Use a lot of family pictures to create photomontage of your grandma. There could not be a better way to show that she is part of the everyday lives of her family.

4. Laser Etched Gift. Capture one of your grandmothers' favorite memories, image or photo in a custom 3D laser crystal. Personalizing her lap top case or iPod with an original design would be a gift idea grandma could show off.

5. Personalized Calendar. Put pictures of groups of your family together for the large photo for the month. You could then personalize the days of the month using pictures that coordinate with those days, such as picture of you on your birthday, or wedding photos for anniversaries. This would make a thoughtful Christmas gift grandma will love.

6. Stained Glass. A great unique birthday gift grandmother may like is stained glass art. A window, door, fireplace screen or lamp shade, would all be great ways to display a custom design of your family coat of arms.

7. Scrapbook Album. A great do it yourself gift that will mean so much. Try using a timeline theme of events that happened in her lifetime. Include photos of her as a child, wedding, birth of her children and other memorable moments.

8. Riverboat Cruise. A nice way for your grandmother to spend the evening might be on a riverboat cruise. Watching a beautiful sunset, enjoying a nice dinner, and dancing the night away while cruising down the river. If there aren't any riverboat cruises in your area, you may find a lake or ocean cruise as a great birthday idea alternative.

A grandmother's love is honest and true. Show her that you are constantly thinking of her by getting a unique gift for grandma.

Creating Your Disney Fairytale Wedding

The Dress: This is one of the best parts about planning your wedding. Finding your dress no matter what you theme, is a grand event. With a Disney theme, it is especially wonderful because you can hone in on what look you are going for right away. The first place to start with is the Disney line by Alfred Angelo. These dresses are literally named after the princess they represent. So, if you are looking for a dressed styled after Belle, consider the "Belle" named dress.

The Cake: The cake is another great way to show off your fairytale theme and really have people enjoy a taste of the fantasy day. If your wedding reception is at a venue that includes your cake, most pastry chefs will be able to construct a cake based on images that you bring into them. If you are going to a bakery, you will probably have just as much luck in getting exactly what you want, but be sure to also have an image of it so that all the details can be included.

The Decor: The decor of the ceremony can be detailed with your Disney theme with items like an aisle runner stating "And They Lived Happily Ever After." An example of this can be found on Disney's own site Disney Weddings. Your reception area needs to tell the fairytale story as well. Lighting is a great way to set the stage for your reception. The colors chosen will depend on which part of Disney you have focused your reception around.

For example, if it is a general Disney Mickey theme, you can go with red and white lighting while an Ariel under the sea theme would be better with green and maybe even soft blue lighting. Tables are another area that can be decorated. Table linens should be based on the character you have chosen or the particular part of Disney. For example, a Cinderella theme would be beautifully illustrated by white, light blue and dark blue table linens. This is where you typically place the party favor which should also fight into your theme. Consider a Disney Ornament keepsake for your guests or chocolates shaped like Mickey Mouse. One of my favorites is the Slipper Bottle Opener.

The Bridesmaids Dresses: What your bridesmaids where is also important in order to carry out the theme. Alfred Angelo also has beautiful dresses that compliment the Disney theme. These may not be exactly what you are looking for or in the price range, but it will give you a good head start into finding something to go along with your theme since these dresses are matched up with the Alfred Angelo wedding dresses.

Wedding Invitations: Last, but certainly not least, are the Wedding Invitations. This is the first impression made and the introduction to your Disney themed wedding. Disney has a beautiful array of Disney Wedding Invitations to choose from and they have one to two for each of the main princess characters. In addition, they also have adorable Mickey and Minnie Wedding Invitations.

Popular Wedding Colors and Themes

These days, weddings have gone a long way from the old traditional way of celebrating it. More personal touches, original and imaginative ideas are being added into how engaged couple would go about their ceremonies. Various themes have been created and invented by lots of wedding planners to match with the taste of the future wife and husband. Although there are indeed a wide variety of themes, there are still few that are considered by many, popular colors and themes.

The first and the most used wedding theme, both in the movies and in real life, is the garden wedding. The couple rents a place where there is an amazing display of colorful flowers and marvelous trees and shrubs everywhere. Besides renting a place, garden weddings can also be done in any of the couple's home garden. The colors used in garden weddings are usually bright colors that are very nice to look at mixed with green. Yellow, coral and fuchsia are frequently used.

Next to garden weddings are beach weddings, another one of the popular colors and themes. Beach themes bring out a peaceful and serene atmosphere for the couple and their guests. The blue color of the waters is refreshing to the eyes and the breeze from the sea gives out relaxing feeling. Beach weddings usually use the motifs deep-blue and emerald green.

Another popular theme for your special day is the shabby chic theme. This theme makes use of antique-looking materials and the details of the wedding include items that give out a distressed and a wear and tear impression. A feminine touch is also added to the wedding details. The shabby chic theme makes use of the pastel colors as motifs such as rosy pink, sky blue, creams, whites and bright vintage style colors.

Last but certainly not the least is of course, the Victorian style theme. The Victorian theme brings out a sophisticated and elegant atmosphere. A Victorian style house or a mansion is the usual setting of the wedding ceremony or reception having this theme. Colors used in this theme are silver, gray, gold and cream.

There are a lot more popular colors for your wedding and themes to choose from. But whatever it is, if a personal touch from creative and imaginative minds will surely make any wedding a truly memorable occasion, not only for the special couple but for the guests as well.

Where Are You Spending Your Honeymoon?

When you begin to think about your honeymoon you soon see that there are many wonderful places in the world to consider for your honeymoon. If you wish to take in the sun then choices include South Africa, Egypt, Morocco and of course the Caribbean. All of these places are simply stunning backdrops for you to spend your honeymoon and are places that you will remember with wonderful memories for some time to come. You may even be thinking of combining your wedding and honeymoon and having the ceremony on the beach next to the crystal clear waters of the ocean. However if you are having your wedding overseas, wedding insurance abroad is certainly something you should be thinking about.

While things can go wrong when you get married in the UK, there are some things that could turn your wedding day into a disaster that would not happen in the UK when you get married abroad. These include extreme weather such as typhoons, cyclones, tsunami, and hurricanes. Any of these could keep you grounded in the UK so your wedding is unable to take place or you cannot fly to your honeymoon destination.

One of the most popular places in the world for taking honeymoons is the Caribbean. With many places in the Caribbean to choose from you are spoilt for choice. What memories you will have of your wedding on the beach as the sun is setting. On the other hand if the weather turns for the worst your wedding day could be ruined if you have to cancel it. The clean up after high winds or a full blown hurricane could mean your wedding has to be postponed to another time. This of course means that you and your guests have paid out money for nothing and have to do it all over again at some point in the future. The same could happen if you have booked a honeymoon and this has to be cancelled. You could end up spending your honeymoon in Blackpool instead of on a white sandy beach surrounded by blue water and sky. While wedding insurance is another outlay that you might well do without, it could save you many thousands of pounds if the worst case scenario should occur.

If you take out wedding insurance for overseas weddings you may be able to recoup some of the costs if not all and re-plan your wedding at no extra cost to you. Without it you could lose a great deal of money by way of deposits and have to stand to this yourself. Insurance does not have to cost you a fortune if you take some time to shop around and compare the cost and benefits. However make sure that you do take out insurance that will cover your wedding or honeymoon abroad.

Need an Invitation For a Wedding Shower Brunch?

If you are planning a wedding shower brunch for a special bride-to-be, there are many little details you need to take care of - we know!

If you're holding a wedding shower brunch, here are some invitation ideas, which can also be incorporated into your wedding shower decorations. We offer these because we have seen it is a very common search term, so you must not be the only one looking for ideas. Enjoy!

• Use the actual wedding theme or color scheme to inspire the brunch invitations. For instance, perhaps the wedding itself will be held on a beach, and you can send out fun invitations wit ha beach on them and use beach umbrellas and flip-flops for your decorations.


• Of course a 'shower' means a rainshower of wonderful things, and many shower planners use the motif of an umbrella to represent the shower day. You can also incorporate showers of things - confetti, rice, bubbles, etc..


• Consider involving the season or other surroundings in your invitation. For a Fall shower, you could send out invitations with beautiful fall leaves and colors, or tiny snowflakes for a winter occasion.

If you're looking for a good source for wedding shower brunch invitations, get creative! There are more sources than just a wedding store or invitation company. Consider the following:

• Stationery store: These stores can be goldmines! You'll find a variety of colors and styles of paper and envelopes, and there will be plenty of possibilities for unique combinations that work perfectly for you. They are also usually more affordable than wedding store stationery.


• Printing company: Try a local printing or copying store. They often carry invitation books that you can look through and custom order the amount and style you need, and you may be able to negotiate a good price as well. You may need them even if you buy your invitations at a stationery store, as they can do your printing for you.


• Online: Isn't the internet wonderful? By performing a simple search, you will find many invitation templates and ideas. You can even try sites such as eBay, Craigslist and other other auction and sale sites, where people will be selling blank invitations or services.

TIP: One last consideration, if we may. Give the happy couple a great start on their financial future by helping them save money on their wedding! Get or let them know about the exclusive deals and money-saving guides found at Wedding-Planning-Makes-Perfect.com. We have helped countless brides save money on all aspects of their wedding planning, and can help your favorite bride-to-be too!

Wedding Invitations Say More Than You're Invited

You're engaged! The proposal has passed, you've announced your engagement, and you have set the date for your wedding day. Next on your list: the wedding invitations and RSVPs. While the wedding stationery style and design are completely up to the happy couple, certain wedding invitation etiquette should be followed (or at least considered) before dropping them in the mail. After all, the invitation is what brings all of your loved ones together, so here are some tips for creating an invitation that fits your personality while giving your guests an idea of what to expect.

The Who, What, and Where

As expected with all special occasion invites, customary elements of wedding invitations include a line for the host, personal request, name of bride and groom, date and time, ceremony and reception location, as well as the RSVP. Traditional wedding invitations will actually follow that order, but today we see brides arranging this information in countless ways to reflect their personal tastes and the style of the occasion.

The Host Line

Tradition tells us that the parents of the bride pay for the wedding, but with the changing times wedding expenses are being shared more often and in more ways than ever. With that, the host line of the invitation has evolved from only including the parents of the bride to a flexibility of whatever fits your situation. We see brides and grooms choosing to have several sets of parents, one set of parents or even the bride and groom themselves listed as the hosts of the occasion. Sometimes financial constraints, divorce and remarriages, courtesy titles or varying last names, and other delicate situations need to be considered, as well. Every family is unique, so aim for a format you are most comfortable with regardless of what 'tradition' says.

The Request Line How the "request" is worded can imply much more than most expect. The religious aspect of the wedding, the formality of the occasion, and even what the guest is invited to are all implications of the verbiage you choose. For example, "Request the honor of your presence" implies that the ceremony will be in a place of worship, whereas "Request the pleasure of your company" is a common choice for non-religious ceremonies.

Many couples prefer the ceremony to be a more intimate, family-only affair, but still want to celebrate with all of their loved ones at the reception. In this case, choosing a request line that specifies the event the guest is invited to should prevent any misunderstandings. Choose something like, "Invites you to join them at the wedding reception of," and be sure to only include the reception time of arrival.

The Bride and Groom Lines

Because the bride and groom are the stars of the show, their names should be set off from the rest of the invitation. Choosing a larger or fancier font and placing the bride and groom names on separate lines will distinguish them as the guests of honor. Traditional American formatting uses the preposition "to" when linking the bride and groom's names, whereas other religious traditions call for the preposition "and" between the bride and groom lines.

The Date and Time

Traditionally, the date and time of your special day is written out in a lengthier version than everyday practice. For example, nine o'clock "in the morning" or "in the evening" would be in place of "a.m." or "p.m." You should always capitalize proper nouns, but whether you choose to spell out numbers or use numerals is at your discretion and gives guests an indication of the formality of the event.

The Location Line

If you take the traditional approach, wedding invitation etiquette says that the street addresses of well-known establishments do not need to be included. Instead, the location line would simply list the name of the ceremony and reception location, along with the city and state written out with proper capitalization. However, (you guessed it!) it is becoming more and more common for wedding invitations to include the street address just under the location name.

If the ceremony and location are at a separate location, it's important that this is made clear in the invitation. Separate card inserts have become a popular option for directions to each location and special details about parking.

Please RSVP

As you start the planning process, you will quickly learn just how important an accurate guest count is. Most, if not all of your vendors will request a final count prior to the wedding day, so encourage guests to respond by making it as simple as possible. If you choose a postcard RSVP or a separate card with an envelope, having the return address and mailing stamp already in place will help ensure a prompt reply. While this is not required according to tradition, it has become something guests expect-and trust us, the small investment in stamps is worth having an accurate guest count that can end up saving you money in the end.

Don't Forget the Details

While the wedding invitation you create can suggest a lot about what to expect on the wedding day, some things need to be specified. Most guests will assume "church" attire for a daytime wedding and a dressed up version of that for evening weddings, so be sure to specify the style of dress if you have something else in mind. "Black Tie" or "Casual Attire" can be placed in the lower right corner of the invitation.

While you do not have to specify what the menu will include, it is important that you inform your guests if a full meal will not be provided. With phrases like "join us afterward for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres," this budget-friendly option is becoming more and more common. However you choose to phrase it, the idea is to be courteous and make sure your guests are prepared.

So, whether your special day will be a black-tie formal event with extravagant wedding decorations or a casual picnic in the park with vintage-inspired wedding accessories, consider these simple wedding invitation etiquette suggestions for a seamless event. Leave the guesswork out and let only the bliss of your wedding day in.

6 Month Wedding Beauty Countdown

It's understandable that you want to look your best of your wedding day so below is an example of a 6 month beauty count down a wedding day.

If you don't already, start improving your diet and this will impact on your skin, hair, nails and eyes.
- eat more fruit and veg
- drink plenty of water
- if so inclined, cut down your alcohol intake and give up smoking.

Start regularly exercising, this will help improve your circulation therefore your skin. If you wanted to look your best in your wedding dress, it is best to start an exercise regime as early as possible. It will also help to take your mind of the nicotine cravings if you have decided to give up smoking.

- Walk for 30 minutes a day, for example at lunch time during your normal working day. Or volunteer to walk the dog more often. Walk to places if possible instead of taking the car. Have romantic or family walks at weekend in a local county park or an area of outstanding beauty.
- Swim. Swimming is a good way to tone up your entire body.

It can some times be a lonely sport so arrange a weekly venue to your local swimming pool with a friend and make it into a social occasion by going for a coffee afterwards. If you have a particular area of your body you want to work on for example you stomach, bum, arms, or thighs, get yourself a gym ball (they are widely available and are around 瞿5). There are a variety of exercises that can be done on these and they are very good at giving result quickly if used regularly. Use it while watching your soaps.

- Dance while you're doing the house work. For most doing the house work is a bore, cheer yourself up and burn some extra calories by putting on your favourite CD and dancing energetically around the house, you might find that cleaning becomes enjoyable.

Start to pay attention to hair and nails

Since you will want to look your best on your wedding day, this is the times to start paying attention to any problem areas. If you have wonderful hair and nails, lucky you, keep doing what you're doing already. However for most of us, we have issues with our hair and nails.

Hair
- Start having regularly hair trims if you don't already
- Use an intensive conditioner treatment specifically formulated for your hair type.
- Use heat protecting products if blow dry or straighten your hair
- Use shampoos that don't strip your hair of it's natural oils
- Massage your scalp when shampooing to ensure healthy hair growth Nails
- Use hand cream regularly
- Try to keep your hand out of water from prolonged periods of time, wear gloves
- Use nail products which specifically target the problem you have with your nails such as splitting, peeling and general breakage
- For an intensive hand and nail treatment before bedtime cover your hands in hand and nail cream and wear cotton gloves while you sleep once a fortnight.

Skin
- use a face scrub once a fortnight to help blemishes by removing dead skin and promoting a health glow.
- use a body scrub when showering (not so much for the ceremony itself but for your wedding night!)

4 months before your wedding day

If you order your wedding dress from a bridal shop if may have been created by now and you should be able to try it on. You want to feel wonderful in your wedding dress on the day so use this as an opportunity to assess any body issues you may have as there is still enough time to work on them. Continue to exercise and amend your regime if you need to. Any hair and nail products that you have been using regularly should be showing signs of working by now. If not try, another product while there is still time. If you have decided that you may benefit from salon facials now is the time to begin. You are likely to have a out break after a facial as all the impurities reach the surface of your skin, when your skin becomes accustomed to them, they you will have clearer glowing skin, plus it's also a chance for you to relax.

1 month before your wedding day

This month you really need to step it up a gear, however you'll probably find that as your wedding draws closer there are more demands on your time.
- Try to get a good nights sleep
- Ensure you drink plenty of fluids
- Test out new make up for the wedding to check for suitability and reactions
- Start paying attention to your back, it will be what your guest will be looking at during the ceremony and you don't want it spotty, use a bath brush to scrub the hard to reach places or alternatively get your husband to be to do it for you.

Wedding Insurance Versus The Vivid Imagination Of Fate

In life it often seems that it's the things you expect to go wrong which don't, and those you didn't even imagine that do. Certainly when it comes to getting wedding insurance this seems to be even more the case, with the nightmares passing through the heads of Brides failing to break through into reality, whilst in reality meanwhile things take place you couldn't make up.

If you're still not completely convinced about whether or not wedding insurance makes sense for you then it may well be the case that your imagination hasn't yet made a break for freedom, and is still safely cocooned in the predictable and orderly world you imagine will take care of your precious wedding day. The harsh reality is that fate doesn't care one way or the other that it's your wedding day, and fortune hasn't even had an invitation. As for good luck, in a great many cases it seems this got lost on the way, making a wrong turn and ending up giving away a few extra lives at the cattery down the road.

For example, you may think that wedding insurance is to protect you against obvious things that could go wrong such as the venue going bankrupt, burning down, being flooded, or the wedding party going down with food poisoning. Fate gets bored of such stale, predictable calamities such as these, and every now and then gets a little more inventive. So inventive that it often comes up with problems you couldn't possibly have predicted, and couldn't make up. Which is why having a wedding insurance policy in place helps to protect you from the over active imagination of fortune.

For example, Laura and Mark's wedding plans seemed to be going very smoothly, and the night before their big day they were both nervous and excited. Unfortunately during the night an old satellite fell from space, making its new home the middle of their reception venue, having neatly carved a new form of ventilation through the roof and first floor all the way to the basement, at the same time installing some extra heating in the form of a small fire which burnt through quite a lot of the timber. It's one thing when the wind blows a tree over into your venue, but quite another thing when things from space start picking on you. With no wedding insurance you'd probably have to fund the move to a new venue yourself, which could well prove too expensive to achieve in the short space of time available, resulting in the whole thing being postponed.

Then there was Abi and John, who were also enjoying the luxury of having an under active imagination regarding exactly how cruel and unpredictable fate could be. They too had seen almost everything go fairly smoothly, and were also settling down for the fitful night of panicky dreams before the big day when fortune decided to stop by. In their case it was a sink hole that just happened to open up in front of their wedding venue. In the early hours of the morning the entire section of road for about 30 feet in every direction started sinking, and then disappeared entirely, leaving a massive, steep sided crater. As the crowds gathered and the hole developed, the front half of the wedding venue disappeared into the impromptu cavern. Not only could the venue not be used, but you could no longer reach it anyway unless airlifted by helicopter.

Rather than relying on a vivid imagination, which no matter how remarkable is still nothing compared to the imagination possessed by fate, a far safer course of action is to rely on the backup of a sound wedding insurance policy. It might not protect you from everything fate can throw at you, from space to the bowels of the earth, but at least you won't end up having to foot the bill for the morning's news story.

Handmade Wedding Invitations - Silk, the Elegant Choice

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

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

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

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

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

5 Unexpected Girl Baby Shower Themes

Pink isn't the only option to celebrate your new baby girl! While flowery and pink cards are cute, some new mothers want something a little different. If that's your goal, consider these unique baby shower themes for your big event.

Color Block Designs

Rather than choosing any one color scheme, these designs focus on combining a variety of colors to achieve one harmonious look. These girl baby shower themes are often quite abstract, focusing on the interplay of color rather than any kind of images or particular words. The end result is something that looks quite modern and has a very distinctive feel.

Girl Baby Shower Themes Using Boys' Colors

Green, blue, and red can be really attractive for girls - you just need to know how to use them! There are a lot of places starting to offer unique baby shower themes that turn conventional color ideas on their head. However, before you choose one of these keep in mind how traditional the people attending might be. Sending out a blue announcement still signifies the birth of a boy to many people. If you're willing to accept the possibility of confusion for a moment, this kind of design might work wonderfully.

Photo Personalized Themes

Designing your event to include photos of the happy parents can be an easy way to produce a unique style. After all, there's nothing quite like the two of you! Many companies are starting to offer easy and affordable photo personalization with a number of different options for background colors and coordinating elements.

Sassy, Stylish, and Unexpected Prints

For a fun, girly flavor, choose animal prints. These fun designs are great for a mother who likes to have fun and be a little bit out of the box. It's an unexpected style, but it's also one that is traditionally reserved for girls. You can often find these in fun colors: pink or lavender leopard print makes a great statement!

Completely Custom Designs

These are without doubt the most unique designs, but they can be difficult to devise without prior party planning and design experience. They typically use very different and distinctive styling, including possibly foregoing any of the traditional styling and even using elements not designed for showers at all. Some moms may decide to spend the money for totally custom elements handcrafted to their color and style specifications. For the more budget conscious, simply browsing party supply stores may yield ideas. Remember, these custom designs are often difficult to coordinate if you're not experienced. In addition, it is unlikely that you'll get the same degree of customization and comfort with baby showers from a non-specialized company.

Any of these options has the potential to stand out and look great. Ultimately, it's all about choosing styles that you like, and ultimately narrowing it down to your one favorite. Having a completely unique design is nice, but uniqueness is secondary to how much you like it.

Most Popular Wedding Season

Opinions have always varied about which season is best for a wedding. Some say spring is the best because flowers are starting to bloom and the weather is getting warmer. Some say the winter is best because the snow provides the perfect backdrop for a wedding. However, over the years, fall has become the most popular season for wedding receptions.

Fall is the perfect season to have a warm and intimate wedding reception. It is the time of year when families start to spend more time together. It is also a very romantic time of year. The hot summer days have become cool brisk evenings that are perfect for wedding receptions. As the leaves start to change colors, they create a breathtaking backdrop for wedding photography. Thus, outdoor weddings have become very popular. Exchanging vows in a garden with the reception under a tent allows everyone to enjoy the fall season and its splendor. Even if the ceremony is held indoors, wedding photos can be taken outside. Booking a talented wedding photographer and researching parks and other places to take outdoor photos ensure beautiful pictures.

The possibilities for autumn weddings range from Inns or Bed and Breakfasts, to vineyards, barns or private estates. It is best to try to plan the wedding for when the foliage will be at its peak and to choose a location that allows you to take advantage the beautiful colors. Since fall dates are in such high demand, couples need to plan well in advance. It is recommended that couples book the reception location at least one year in advance. Soon after, other vendors like the wedding photographer, DJ and florist should also be booked. Waiting too long runs the risk of not getting first choices.

It is no wonder that fall weddings are widely considered the most beautiful. The red, gold and orange hues provide a colorful and natural backdrop for beautiful wedding photos. The rich colors exude a strong sense of romance. Fall receptions tend to leave fond lasting memories for everyone, not just the bride and groom.

Stunning examples of wedding photography www.cometogetherstudios.com

Affordable Wedding Ideas That Could Still Make a Dream-Like Wedding Celebration

Planning a wedding on a small budget nowadays can be a very daunting task to do on the part of the newly engaged couple. Thinking for all the possible ideas on how to have a dream-like wedding celebration without costing you a fortune will soon follow the marriage proposal. The thought of trimming down the wedding costs without sacrificing your own personal desire do not always go hand in hand. The cost of your wedding can easily get out of control when you begin to discuss them all with your partner. However, with some creativity and cost cutting techniques, you can always have your dream-like wedding without a needing too much fortune.

There are great affordable options to help trim down the cost of your wedding. From your wedding invitations and/or programs, florists, musicians to even your wedding dresses, it is no longer a surprise that you can really find bargain choices that fits your tight budget. Merchants will quite often over charge you for the mere mention of the word wedding. These costs can be cut dramatically without giving up taste or style.

You can cut cost of your wedding flowers by ordering seasonal flowers. You may also use roses that are less expensive and are very beautiful during weddings, too. Instead of hiring professional wedding singers and musicians, why not ask a musician club from a University? They too can better create wedding tunes and the good thing about them is, they don't really care if you will pay them according to what you can only afford.

We often heard of renting tuxedos for grooms and his groomsmen, but today brides and bridesmaids may rent a dress too. The wedding dress is a perfect place to slash the cost of your wedding. There are bridal shops where you can rent beautiful gowns at a fraction of cost. Or perhaps, if you do have some skills of remodeling dresses, you can make your own wedding gown. You may ask a bridal shop if they have some unfinished bridal gowns that they want to sell at a lower cost. Really, these ideas have really made sense especially what's on the line is your small budget. Or, you can go to a trusted seamstress and get her to create the perfect wedding dress you've been desiring to wear.

Your wedding reception is perhaps one of the most expensive part of your entire wedding celebration. The location, number of guests and the theme of the wedding will tell how much will your wedding reception cost you. Wedding reception costs take a huge chunk of your budget and this is where creative planning will work in your favor. You don't have to hire a wedding consultant or wedding planner if you have the some basic skills and determination to pull them all together. After all, it is your wedding so who else will have your best interests in planning your wedding?

Lastly, you don't want to spend a thousand just to please all the people who are at your wedding. You You can save money by thanking your female attendants with inexpensive gifts for bridesmaids, as well as discount groomsmen gifts for your male attendants. And instead of giving out extravagant wedding favors, why not settle with cheap wedding favors that are beautiful and are as useful as other expensive favors.

Exciting Invites - Wedding Invitations

What is your theme, what is your personality, what is the mood of the wedding? These are some things that you should have before choosing the right wedding invitation for you. Having an invitation made for your wedding can be a tedious process but there are some things that have to be expressed in a great invitation. A wedding invitation should be memorable and a special keepsake for your wedding guests even if they don't show up at your wedding. Each invitation should have at least three parts included for it to be something useful as well as beautiful.

Useful wedding invitations always have the names of the invitees and the address of the wedding. Each invitation should also have any special arrangements and directions to the venue. These directions should be as simple and clear as possible even as far as to add a small map to show the way. Each invitation shouldn't be extremely complicated, but should be enough to get the message across. Special accommodations like airplane tickets and hotel rooms should also be taken into consideration when sending wedding invitations. Each invitation should also not break the budget that you have set for it. Wedding cards don't have to be costly to be beautiful.

The beauty is in the details for a unique wedding cards. What is the theme of your wedding? This should always be a part of choosing the style of the wedding cards. It should echo the colors and the overall spirit of the special day. A wild wedding with a jungle theme should have the same as a wedding invitation. A wedding invitation doesn't have to be traditional or boring. You can add a zebra border or even cute tiger or cheetah themed envelopes are great additions. An African themed wedding invitation can be something unique to send out to your guests. A Zulu shield can be unfolded to reveal the bride and groom's name, the location of the wedding, directions and date of the wedding as well as any special messages that you wish to be included. A Chinese or Asian themed wedding can be an imaginative kimono or a paper box printed with cherry blossoms and cranes. There is no limit to the ideas.

Your culture should be part of your style but you should not forget the romance. A romantic themed invitation is the traditional type to give out during a wedding. Roses and lace, satin and sweet messages can be part of a super invitation. Lovely details like lace and ribbon as well as scented paper can make this kind of invitation unforgettable for your guests. Every era has its romantic details. Look back to the past for some great wedding invitation ideas. The style and splendor of the roaring 20s or even the rock and roll of the 1950s can add some greased lighting to a really memorable wedding.

At any location or any theme there is a wedding invitation for you. Remember to add a wonderful saying to your special wedding cards as they are sent out. These little pieces of paper should be a reflection of a wedding and its theme. A wedding invitation is as personal and unique as the bride and grooms. Make an effort to do it right the first time.

How to Dry Flowers and Herbs

Flowers are so beautiful and we all wish they could last forever! My Mom knew this and early in my married life, she gave me several great books on flower drying, that have held me in good stead since.

Here are some ways you can keep and preserve your special flowers

Air Dry: This method allows the flowers to dry naturally, but they do lose some color and shape. This method has been around since the Middle Ages! Tie flowers in bunches and hang flowers upside down and let them dry for about a week. If you are drying an entire bunch, make a dust bonnet out of a piece of paper and wrap it like a cone around the stems(with the large end of the cone pointing towards the flowers). Once dry, these flowers should be sprayed with shatter-proof spray which stops the flowers from disintegrating. You can find these sprays at craft stores. Be aware this method does not work for easily shattered flowers, such as pussy-willows, etc.This method is the preferred one for herbs.

Pressing: Flowers can be pressed between sheets of paper and left for about a week. An old-fashioned way is to press them between the pages of the phone book. These will lose color and shape, but are perfect for flat crafts, such as window hangers or stain glass windows or sun-catchers, bookmarks or homemade paper. The most successful method is to use a wood flower press.

Microwave: There are several excellent books and they document the types of flowers and the drying times and preferred methods for each.

Silica Gel: In the early 1600's, fresh flowers were dried between layers of sand. Although the sand method is still used today, a more successful method is to use silica gel.There are several ways to use silica gel, which is a preserving and drying medium. Silica gel is a granular substance that closely resembles sugar. Each grain of silica gel can absorb up to 40% of its own weight in moisture, and is ideal for drying flowers because the small granules can easily penetrate even the most delicate flower heads. It can be found at your craft store,drugstores, floral shops, hardware store, or if you get lucky like me, stalk your local thrift store or recycling center. People get all excited about craft ideas and projects and then dump them when they don't have time and things start to get cluttered.

Silica gel is expensive in the first output, but it is reusable so you will make your money back in the reuse. It usually comes in a cardboard container. If you are planning on doing a lot of flowers, say your entire wedding party's bouquets, you should invest in the larger container. You will also need a large plastic container with a tight fitting lid. The container should be a bit bigger than the flower you plan to dry. This is the preferred method should you wish to keep most of the shape and color of your flowers.

Soon you will be preserving all the beautiful flowers you couldn't bear to throw away!