The Parable of The Marriage Feast Made Simple (Matthew 22:1-14)

The passage goes this way:

And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding."' But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

"But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:1-14)

This is not a very exciting parable for a few people; especially for those who mistreated the servants, who were murdered and killed when the city was burned. It's not a thrilling parable for the man who was found in the wrong wedding garments.

At that time, Jesus was talking to the Jews. He was saying that His Father was going to prepare a supper. Many times in history, God sent out prophets to deliver His message. But the people killed the prophets and the servants. Jesus Himself even came and they killed Him too. The apostles and prophets, who started the New Testament Acts, were killed too. Eventually, God had the city of Jerusalem taken by siege. The armies of the other countries murdered and killed the people.

The feast in this parable was referring to the wedding supper of the Lamb. The Son of the King is Jesus Christ. The king said that the people were not worthy. He sent out messengers to invite the good and the bad. In other words, everybody was invited. As a Christian, you're invited to the great supper of God.

There are certain people who feel that they're justified by the law. Some people feel that they need to be justified by their works of self-righteousness. This is what was illustrated in the wedding garment. Every person in those days who had a wedding would give all of his guests a garment. This way, the rich and the poor who came to the wedding would not be discriminated against. Everyone would be well dressed and felt worthy to be at the wedding.

Unfortunately, some people would reject the garments and would just come in with their own clothes. This speaks of a person who has been offered the righteousness of Jesus Christ but decided to inherit their salvation through their own works of righteousness.

It says in Scripture that our works of righteousness are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). A couple of teachers I listen to often, Joseph Prince and Andrew Wommack, have described that the filthy rags in that verse actually mean, pardon me ladies, the rags that we use to look after menstrual fluid in that time of the month for a woman. It is talking about the sort of rags that are full of dirty blood.

If you come into a wedding supper, and a person wasn't in a clean fresh white robe of Jesus Christ's righteousness, it would be quite easy to see that sort of rag. That sort of garment on a person would stand out. So, too, we stand out when we try to earn our salvation through our own works.

This is a subject I know very well. For many years, I've read the prophets and I've felt that I was called to be one. I spent copious amounts of time in the Old Testament prophets learning much of the law. I felt that we still serve God like that. I felt that I had to achieve my own sense of holiness. Holiness and righteousness wasn't imputed or just naturally given to me through the death of Jesus Christ. I believed that I had to earn my righteousness. I had to do good works. I was busy making videos, writing articles and running a prophetic ministry website. All busy. Basically, the underlying foundation was I was trying to minister in order to have an insurance policy just in case my sin was too much and I was going to have to go to hell. I was trying to insure myself against hell.

Jesus' gospel, the gospel that Paul preached, said that Jesus Christ's righteousness is enough, that His death on the cross was enough for our past, present and future sins. A person who doesn't believe this is a person who trusts that he can inherit salvation through his own righteousness. Essentially, he believes that all his sins up until when he was saved or born again were forgiven. But from that time on, he had to read the Bible, attend church, pay his tithes, be holy and not sin in order to get into heaven. These works of self-righteousness is filthy rags.

The only thing that passes God's standard is His own righteousness, the righteousness of His own Son. I used to feel disgusted when I hear people say that I held the righteousness of Christ. When God looks at me, all He sees is His Son. I used to laugh at that. I used to get angry at that. I knew I was a sinner. I thought that any idea of me inheriting eternal salvation without my works was stupid, was foolishness and folly. I used to think that people who believed in the promises of God in the Old Testament but didn't believe the law were people attending a smorgasbord and just picking the verses that made them feel happy and leaving out the rest. I used to have lots to say to people who would listen to me about how much folly it was, how foolish it was to think that we are saved by Jesus Christ's death on the cross and His blood alone. I was someone who was like this wedding guest. It was like I took Jesus' robe of righteousness and salvation, but I've casted the robe of righteousness off myself and walked into the party thinking that I deserved to go to the party with my own works of righteousness. This is folly. This is something that Jesus, whether you know it or not, was clearly warning us against in this parable, saying you're not going to measure up.

It says in James 2:10, he who is guilty of breaking one of the laws is guilty of breaking them all, for a person who thinks that they can achieve their own righteousness or achieve their own holiness in this life only has to break one law to be guilty of all of them. This is a passage in the Scripture that used to bring me a little bit of conviction. But I couldn't do anything with the conviction because I was so convinced that I had to earn my own salvation through my own works of self-righteousness.

Can you understand that this parable is talking to people who think they are going to measure up? The purpose of the law was to show you and me that we couldn't measure up to the standards of God. The law was something to point us towards a Creator, towards a Savior that would save us from sins and give us the power to resist them and something to stand in our place.

Jesus Christ didn't come to earth merely to die on the cross for you to pray and work out your salvation with your own works of righteousness. Jesus came to be your righteousness, to clothe you in righteousness. As you confess that you're the righteousness of Christ in God, as you believe that you are saved by His grace, as you believe your sins are forgiven in the past, present and future, your body and your lifestyle start to conform in that way.

What I'm saying isn't a license to go out and sin your life away. It has certainly brought me a lot of joy and peace to know that I'm saved by Jesus Christ and His death alone. I don't have to measure up because Jesus Christ already did it for me.

Guys, you have been invited to the party. Are you willing to lay off your own works of self-righteousness? Are you willing to lay down your own cross, a cross that you feel that you have to bear? Are you willing to take Jesus' sacrifice and His cross upon your shoulders and come in to the party that you've been invited to by God Himself? Are you willing to come? Because whether you are good or bad, you are invited to the party.

Come on, you Christians who are bound up with legalism, the law and this idea of having to measure up to certain religious standards. Give it away. Stop trying to wear your own robe into the celebration. Put on the robe of Jesus Christ. Look up Joseph Prince and Andrew Wommack on DVD and on the internet. Start to live in the fullness and abundance that the grace of God provides for us.

Valentines Day Wedding Theme

For the last century, thousands of couples rush off each year to say "I do" on Valentine's Day. There's something so spectacular and romantic about the month of February. Images of cupid and chocolate filled hearts make our own hearts flutter with the hope of everlasting love.

If you've chosen to have your own themed wedding, you can select great wedding decorations, colors, invitations, and wedding favors to accommodate your Valentines Day wedding theme. Set your budget and prepare to make a list of all the items you will need.

Flowers

Think white, pink, and of course-red. White flowers represent purity. Pink flowers represent passion. Red for everlasting love. Put the three colors together and you have a powerful combination that expresses your sweetest sentiments to your spouse and all of your guests. Different flowers to consider are roses and carnations, perhaps even white lilies.

Decorations

You don't want your wedding to look commercialized like the window display at a card store. Avoid large cupid cut-outs and gigantic teddy bears. Of course it's a themed wedding, but you still want to capture intimacy and elegance. For theming your centerpieces, you can consider large frosted bowls filled with water, lit floating votives, and red rose petals. The table can be accented with red silky fabric tablecloths, which can be cut from a fabric store. A small table can hold everyone's place-setting. In the center of all the cards, a large fishbowl can hold two beta fish. The fish are meant to add a relaxing element. Although fish aren't exactly considered romantic-it represents the idea of a "two" in harmony.

Favors

It's quite easy to accommodate a Valentine's Day themed wedding with favors. You can give your guests Hershey kisses in a sachet, personalized sweetheart candies that say "thank you (last name) family," Jordan almonds in the shape of a heart, sugar cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, or a CD of memorable love songs that played during the night.

Cutting Corners

The Head table should be decorated with exceptional taste. Nevertheless, this doesn't mean that you should go out of your budget. If you can not afford fresh-cut flowers for the Head table, make a large arrangement of silk flowers (which can look quite realistic). If you can not arrange your own flowers, have silk arrangements ordered from your local florist.

If you're not satisfied with the presentation of your chairs/table, get creative and make them work with your theme. Arts and craft stores can become your best friend if you let your imagination run wild. Fabrics, Ribbons, and Pillows can add a tough of love and comfort to anything. It also shows that you put a lot of effort into customizing your wedding.

Top 10 Tips For Wedding Photography

1. Enjoy & Have Fun
Please do not go into Wedding Photography if you don't enjoy weddings. You'll need to handle pressure and always remember that you only get one chance at weddings. You cannot afford to mess it up. Working to tight schedule and having good social skills is very important as well.

2. Check Your Gear
Before you leave your home or studio to go to the wedding, check & re-check you camera gear, make sure all the camera batteries are fully charged and the flash gun batteries as well if you are using re-chargeable. I personally prefer re-chargeable batteries for my Nikon SB900 flashguns.

3. Have back-ups
Never go to photograph a wedding with just a single camera body and a lens. You should have at least 2 bodies. Try and shoot with the same bodies. Don't have a pro body worth $3000 and a back-up as a $400 body. You need to have a like-for-like back up body. I photograph with 2 bodies and have a 3rd one as a back-up. Have a variety of lenses from wide angles, zooms and fast prime lenses. The ones I'd recommend for shooting a wedding with are:

- 24-70mm f/2.8
- 14-24mm f/2.8
- 85mm f/1.4
- 70-200mm f/2.8
- 105 VR Macro
- 50mm f/1.4
- 35mm f/2

4. Insure Yourself & Your Business
It is absolutely critical that you insure yourself. Just like you would insure your car & your home. You need to have sufficient insurance should the worst happen whether the kit is stolen, a CF card fails and gets corrupted or a hard drive failure, someone gets hurt or injured due to your negligence while you're at a wedding. To cover yourself, you need to have:

- Public Liability Insurance

- Professional Indemnity Insurance

( if you are outside of the UK, then please check with your insurance company or seek legal advice)

5. Don't Shoot in Continuous Mode
You need to pick the moments and shoot. Shoot like a sniper, wait, aim and fire. Don't machine gun everything & anything that moves in the hope of getting one good image. Remember, you'll need to edit & post process the images after the wedding. What would you rather have, 500 really good images or 3,000 average ones images? A story of a typical wedding can easily be told in 500 images or less.

6. Shoot in RAW
There is no need to shoot JPEGs anymore. Shooting in RAW means you can 'future-proof' your files and when using software like Aperture 3, Lightroom 3 or Capture NX2, you can edit them completely in a non-destructive manner. If your camera has dual-slots for CF cards (Nikon D3 / D3x / D3s), then set both the slots to RAW+RAW. This way you have instant back-up of images in camera. Gives you more peace of mind and I don't have any hesitation in using larger cards like the 8Gb ones. If you have only one CF slot in your camera, I would advise not to use cards larger then 2Gb. So you don't put all your eggs in one basket if things go wrong.

7. Don't Delete Images In-Camera
You may miss great shots if you are constantly 'chimping' and deleting images off your CF Card. You also use up more battery power of your camera and also risk the CF card going corrupt.

8. Use Flash Creatively
When using flash, use it creatively by taking the flash away from the hot shoe of the camera. Lastolite produce a variety of products which are ideal for the small flash guns.

9. Always Be One Step Ahead Of The Game
I always keep the following information with me at all times:

- Schedule of the day: Whats happening when
- Names of the bridal party i.e parents, best man, ushers, bridesmaids, etc
- Emergency Telephone Numbers
- Family group shot list
- The address of the venues i.e where the bride is getting ready, church, reception venue

10. The Couple Should Spend More Time...with their loved ones and not with the photographer. Don't keep them away from everyone for a long time. About 15-20 minutes to do the couple shots is more than enough and perhaps another 15 minutes or so late in the evening.

Wedding Rings For Men - Stainless Steel Bands

There are many factors to consider when selecting wedding rings for men. Many bands these days are designed with men's style in mind, so these rings are not only for weddings but also for fashion accessories any man would be proud to wear. They are usually made of materials such as cobalt, chrome, palladium, titanium and tungsten as well as conventional metals such as gold, platinum and silver. However, there are also rings made of stainless steel.

Stainless Steel Wedding Rings

Wedding bands made of steel are very popular right now. They have many features that make them an attractive choice for many men. They tend to be low in price compared to others. They also tend to be more comfortable to wear than rings made of soft metals such as gold.

Steel bands can also accommodate many different looks. For instance, men who like black rings can choose a ring that combines black PVD and stainless steel or find one made of black-plated steel. Those who prefer a little engraving to further reflect their personalities can choose from a number of designs such as diamond patterns, wave patterns or even spiders. If one likes a more subdued style, he can choose a black band with a small CZ stone.

Pros and Cons Of Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is very durable, which is very important for a ring that is to be worn for years. Whether it is a simple design or a personally engraved, this material is meant to last and withstand the demands of wear. Furthermore, any distinguishing marks of the ring should remain visible and intact.

However, one must be careful where he gets his band. Some designs cannot be resized, so it is important to get the right size, especially if ordering online. It is also important to find a band from a reputable jeweler to find a quality ring because there are some that use cheap material, particularly with black rings. This material can begin to chip and fade after a while, so the buyer should consider the ring's finish before buying.

Of course, steel is only one of many choices when it comes to wedding rings for men. One must consider the benefits and disadvantages of this substance when deciding if it is ideal for that important day. This is a ring that will be worn for years, so it must come as close to perfect as possible.

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.

Indian Christmas Clothing

Christmas in India is celebrated with much pomp and splendor all across the country. However the nature in which it is celebrated is as diverse as the cultures and communities that exist within India. Achieving secular overtones gradually, Indian's have different ways of enjoying this holiday season. For example, preparations which are made in Central India for Christmas are completely different from the preparations done in the South.

Christmas isn't just for the Catholic/Christian community in India. People from different communities get into the spirit of the festival as well. One of the biggest attractions during festivals like Christmas is the beautifully decorated shops with sales and great bargain offers available. Shopping during the season of Christmas is an amazing experience as many people go shopping as a family or as a big group of friends. Clothes are one of the few materialistic things which most women never tire of and Christmas is the best excuse women have to buy clothing and apparel. Women seem to have spread this bug onto the complimentary sex as well. Men are seen scrambling into large department stores as soon as the season is around the corner so as not to be stuck with leftovers.

Clothes reflect a person's inner style. Most people wear a certain outfit to make a statement. However various trends which spring up during festivals like Christmas has everyone obsessing about the same thing. This creates an even bigger demand for fashion fads. Christmas shop-a-holics are a somewhat recent phenomenon. Most people start window shopping as soon as they see the latest designs hitting the shops for the season. Stores start stacking up with fresh new supplies. The runway has models walking the ramps with designer wear geared up for the season.

The month of December officially kicks off the wedding season in India too. Many Hindu wedding ceremonies are often long and monotonous and most people have them in December because the weather is just perfect. Families too have a great time to bond while shopping for different wedding outfits that havte to be bought for everyone. This is true even for Catholic weddings, as Christmas is the season most Christians have to attend at least 4 weddings in one month! What with weddings, parties, Christmas day, New Years day, anniversaries and birthdays to attend, a new outfit is called for to grace every occasion.

Customizable Wedding Invitations - Design Your Own Cards Free

We all know that weddings can be quite expensive. What is better than to design your own cards free? A lot of websites provide free wedding invitation templates, but most of them do not allow you to customize. If you do not have much designing skills or any designing software such as Adobe Photoshop, I suggest you find a site that allows you to customize your own card.

Before you think about ordering expensive wedding invitation cards, you should really take a look at free choices. Most free templates online are very high quality. It does not take much time for you to design your own card, and I am assuming you are not doing this in the last minute.

Customizable wedding invitations can be a bit confusing for people who are not familiar with the computer. Anyone with basic internet knowledge and familiar with how to use the mouse to click should be okay with designing his or her own wedding invitation cards. You can always ask a friend or someone in the family to help you out with it.

Although these might be free, you will still need some quality paper and ink to get the job done. You can easily go to a local office supply store to get what you need for cheap. In the end, you are still saving a lot of money if you decide to make your own instead of ordering expensive cards. Never try to make your own cards in the last minute because you will do a very sloppy job.

Invite Cards for Sikh Weddings

Just like other communities in India, the Sikh community too is characterized by customs and traditions that are unique to the community. The uniqueness and beauty of this community is most evident in their wedding traditions.

The Sikh wedding is called the Anand Karaj and is conducted according to Reht Maryada or the Sikh Code. The wedding is typically preceded by an engagement ceremony. In well to do families, a large number of guests are invited for the engagement ceremony. These days, engagement invitations are sent out for such events.

The wedding ceremony typically takes place in the morning and in the presence of the holy Guru Granth Sahib. The wedding may be officiated by any adult man or woman who has undergone the Amrit initiation. This person explains the duties of the couple to the groom and bride. Following this, the bride and groom vow their fidelity to each other and accept their duties in front of the whole congregation.

Guests are invited to the wedding through wedding cards. Typically, invitations are delivered by hand. Delivery through any other means is an affront. That said, many people have friends and relatives living far away in which cases, invitation cards are sent by post.

Some of the most typical characteristics of Sikh wedding cards are:

• Expensive material:: Handmade paper, creamy tissue material, metallic paper, satin, handmade silk and wooly papers are some examples of materials used to make Sikh wedding cards. Textured or handmade card paper looks beautiful and rich. The textured paper is often combined with decorative art work to make it look stunning. Kundan work is one of the most common designs. Textures play an important role in Sikh wedding cards. For example, metallic cards with embossed artwork and fonts are very popular with the Sikh community.


• Design: Wedding cards may contain stones, bindis and mirror work to make them look rich and glorious. For example, a border of paisleys embedded with stones looks stunning as well as expensive.


• Themes: Cards often contain typical wedding motifs like the cameo of a bride, the picture of a bridal party or of a wedding procession and so on.


• Font: It is customary to see rich calligraphy on Sikh wedding cards. These are reminiscent of the royal wedding cards of the past. Cards may contain holy verses too, written with a flourish.

Sikh wedding cards are enclosed in matching envelopes.

Typically, Sikh weddings are very colorful and joyous. There is a lot of music and fanfare both before and after the wedding ceremony. Since the wedding is a coming together of two families, there is much bonhomie too. Men and women appear in their best attire. The trousseau of the bride and groom is breathtaking. It is a time of unrestricted joy and happiness.

Wedding Invitations - Latest Trends

No matter what the theme of your wedding is, one of the first decisions that you will have to make is deciding upon the perfect set of wedding invitations. After sending out save-the-date cards, this is the next real piece of information that your guests are going to receive, so it's important to take care that they fit the theme and set the mood for this special event in a couple's lifetime. While the classic embossed invitation styles never fade, there are new trends in stationery that have been picked up by wedding designers, and are a way to give your wedding a contemporary, magical feel.

One of the latest trends in wedding invitations is to find stationery that has a bit of texture or sparkle to it. This could include adding Swarovski crystals, small pearls, or other jewels to the invitations. The key to pulling off this kind of look is to not go overboard with it, or it could cross the border into tacky territory. However, a neutral color palette with a bit of sparkle will always capture your guests' attention. Another way to add texture to your cards is to use a paper that is handmade, with its own unique rough-hewn look.

Stripes are another trend that has carried over from the fashion runway and interior decorating magazines into the world of stationery and wedding invitations. A delicate pinstriped look is a way to instantly modernize your design, and will make these invitations stand out. Bold stripes of color on the envelope will also help your invitation stand out from the pack. Many of these latest designs will only use two colors, however, because as with using jeweled or embroidered embellishments, it's always best to keep it simple and elegant. You want the main focus of attention to be on the information that the invitation carries.

Finally, another trend that has been carried over from fashion looks, and has been seen in bridal dresses these days, is a vintage look. If your whole wedding motif is going to be somewhat old-fashioned or classical, this should be mirrored in your wedding invitations. Simple, delicate yet elegantly vintage patterns are all the rage, such as a floral print from the 1940's or a mod paisley motif. These can be a fun way to give that classic flair to your stationery, and will garner both appreciation from older generations and a sense of romanticism for all your guests.

Liability Event Insurance Can Be Used For Both Business and Private Functions

Your event liability insurance covers anything from outdoor functions to indoor concerts, cancellation or abandonment of your event, property damage and legal liability. For instance, if your event is cancelled due to something beyond your control, then this cover will pay you for your loss of net profit or your irrecoverable expenses, up to the limit that you choose. There are a large number of comprehensive insurance programs on offer for the entertainment clients developed from the experience professionals by decades of work in this field. They offer excellent customer service, timely quoting, and placement of coverage for difficult risks, as well as those requiring quick turn-around.

• Your special liability event insurance policy can play a great role during a business event or wedding reception. According to media reports, lots of wedding reception centers now requires the couples to have special insurance protection for their big day. The best thing about this special event policy is that it also includes the option to name your reception venue as additional insured without any extra cost.

• You must always keep your necessary documentation and permits handy to conduct your special event. Additionally, you must affirm that you have no knowledge of possible future claims against you. The specialist insurers can provide cover for single or one-off events or if you are an event organiser, for multiple events on an annual policy. There may also be enforced reduced attendance - which covers loss of profit if a substantial number of visitors can't get to the event due to the same insured cause.

• You need to shop around in the market to get the best possible special event liability insurance policy deal. The coverage level of special event liability insurance includes adverse weather - for any part of your event in the open or in a marquee, loss of or damage to the venue's buildings, fixtures, fittings and machinery and Teleconferencing - available for interruption to picture, audio or data image communication links. It may also be available for your legal liability for injury to your own and casual staff up.

• It is quite essential that you find an insurance company that offers you the best possible coverage at the most affordable rates. Most insurance advisors are friendly, helpful and above all, very experienced in all aspects of insurance for business and property.

• These companies can help provide cover for any loss of or damage to your property (or property you are responsible for) either at or traveling to and from your event, non-appearance of key people such as key speakers, celebrities or entertainers. This type of special insurance cover also includes injuries from food poisoning caused by food or drink served as hospitality by you.

Your insurance companies offer you the flexibility of choosing the special event liability insurance cover you require. The aim of these companies is to give the best value insurance and highest quality service to their rapidly expanding customer base. The applicants with a clean loss record are usually considered for this policy.

5 Smashing Hot Wedding Tips on a Budget

Are you planning for one of the biggest days of your life? Of course you want to spend some money, but what to do when you are on a small budget? You may believe that it is impossible to have your wedding look extravagant without a big bucks budget.

Fortunately there are a lot of great wedding tips on a budget available for you. Here are my 5 most smashing wedding tips for the budget bride and groom.

There are a lot of areas where you can save a great deal of money for your wedding. And do not worry about the appearance of your wedding even if you can not spend that much money. It does not have to look cheap!

My List of 5 Hot Wedding Tips on a Budget

1. The Guest List

Most people want to invite a lot of guests to their big day. All family members, friends an co-workers. What you may not consider is that a big guest list will cost you much more money. Try to filter out the guest list a bit and think of the people that are most important to you, and maybe you can make it a little bit smaller, and cheaper.

2. The Invitation Cards

Pre-made and customized invitation cards can be very costly. A great alternative to buying these, are to do-it-yourself. There are thousands of great templates online which you could use to design your own wedding invitation cards. Many of them are FREE, and others can be purchased for a couple of dollars. When you are done you could print them from your computer or you could just send them electronically by email.

3. The Wedding Dress

The bride's wedding dress could become an expensive story of it's own. There are a lot of possibilities online where you can get really cheap dresses, maybe used only one time or even zero times. eBay is a great place to start looking at, but you could also check out some ads sites.

4. The Decorations

Decorations are very important on a wedding, but it could also be very expensive to buy all the flower arrangements, centerpieces and other stuff from a professional decorator. All of this is totally possible to create yourself, with a little imagination and creativity. Go buy yourself a book about decorations, check out YouTube or just "Google" it.

5. The Alcohol Expenses

If possible, cut down your alcohol expenses to the minimum. This one of the most costly things at the reception party, so cutting these costs could really save your budget. Maybe it's not an option for you to skip alcohol, then you should at least try to serve a limited variety of alcohol.

Different Wedding Themes

The theme of your wedding says a lot about you as a couple. While you can go with a traditional theme, finding more creative themes will be sure to make your wedding a real hit. You can make your choice based on interests the two of you share to create a lasting memory that will forever be special.

For people that love to fish, a going-fishing theme is perfect. Some of the best ideas for this type of theme are:

1. Bridesmaids can get dressed in dress of sparkling blue, to symbolize water. It would be fun for the groom to wear a fishing hat for at least one picture, although the bride and groom can wear whatever they desire. For the invitations, you can by do it yourself wedding invitation kits, or have them printed for you. For decorations, fish netting on the walls is a nice touch, as well as an ice fish sculpture placed as a focal point in the room. Using balloons, add fish stickers to them, and make them into bouquets. Be sure to remember to add fishing poles in various places around the room. Confetti that is shaped like fish is great to add to the guest's tables.

2. Ancient Rome Wedding- These are always fun and charming, and since the Romans liked red, gold, purple, and white, these will be awesome colors to use when decorating for your wedding. Green should also be used, and ivy is something you mustn't forget. The wedding dress should be sleeveless, floor length, and be like a toga. It should either be all white or have purple, red, or gold trim. Use a braided cord that is gold to criss cross the bodice and wrap around the waist. The ends that are tied should dangle down one hip. Ankle strap sandals in gold are a perfect finishing touch. The headpiece should be a gold laurel wreath. The groom should wear a toga, and Roman sandals. They should also wear a gold laurel wreath, and floor length cape to finish off the look. For the wedding invitations, you can use Roman postcards instead of regular invitations. For wedding favors, consider giving bottles of Caesar salad dressing, personalized bottles of red or white wine, or scented bath salts and oils. Some decorating choices could be to use sundials, birdbaths, garden benches, reflecting pools, and couches that recline. You could also serve the guests in pottery bowls and urns. For the tables you can use white linens and use fruit bowls as centerpieces. For entertainment, you can hire people like jugglers, poets, and acrobats, since these were people the Romans used to entertain themselves.

3. To get more ideas, scour the web for the most popular wedding themes, and learn from what others did to make their wedding spectacular.

Finding the theme for your wedding can be a little difficult, since there are so many choices, but when you think about the things you like, making your decision is much less confusing. With the right wedding theme, you will have happy memories to last a lifetime.

Romantic and Magical Winter Vintage Wedding Ideas

Weddings in the winter are romantic and magical all rolled up into one special and memorable occasion. The majority of weddings at this time of year are held indoors because of the cold; however, you can bring the winter indoors with these easy winter vintage wedding ideas.

Vintage Wedding Gown

Vintage weddings are very romantic and the perfect opportunity to wear your grandmother's wedding gown in an event similar in style to the first time it was worn. If you are purchasing a gown, save money on a classic wedding dress by searching in consignment shops or online for a dress that is vintage in design. If you find a pre-owned dress that suits you, keep in mind that it may need to be cleaned or need minor repairs, so purchase in sufficient time to make the tailoring needed.

Winter Colors

The perfect option for a winter wedding is white, however, with small additions of silver or blue you can add a bit of color and sparkle to the overall color scheme. The bridesmaids' dresses would be stunning in a silvery blue, and bouquets made from white roses with silver ribbon look elegant and romantic, providing a wintery effect.

Vintage Invitations

Whether you order the invitations or make them yourself, they should have a classic vintage look. Paper that is cream-colored with ragged edges and antique printing looks gorgeous and will give your guests a hint about the theme of the wedding. Images such as a horse-drawn sleigh in the snow look great on a vintage wedding invitation.

Winter Decorations

Small items such as glitter, snowflakes and silver-painted twigs go a long way when decorating for a winter vintage theme. Decorate the reception tables with white table linens, blue napkins and glittery snowflakes scattered on top of the table covers. Centerpieces made from white candles, silver-painted branches and white flowers provide an elegant, romantic and vintage effect. Provide mood lighting with small white lights throughout the venue, or have several white candles in various sizes on all of the tables, in candelabras or in decorative votive cups. Arrange to have ice sculptures on the food table and/or the cake table to add a romantic ambiance to the decorations.

Arrival and Departure

For a fantastic addition to the theme, arrive at the wedding in a horse-drawn carriage and leave as a couple in the same way. Should you prefer to be transported in a covered vehicle, ask to borrow a vintage car from family or friends. If you do not know anyone with a classic car, search online for local car rental companies that specialize in vintage vehicles. When renting the vehicle, many companies will also provide a driver for the day.

Mood Music

The music will provide a great deal of the effect during the reception, so choose a band that is known for playing music from the era you love most. When hiring a DJ to provide the music at your reception, make it clear to them what the theme of the wedding is and what type of music you want played throughout the day.

Vintage Wedding Favors

The wedding favors are a great way to enhance your theme in the table decorations. There are several winter vintage wedding ideas that can be used as a perfect favor for the guests. For example, small silver picture frames, decorative gift boxes with a cupcake or cookies inside, or miniature silver birdcages that double as place seating cards all look fantastic on a winter wedding table.

You can find more ideas for this season in the Winter Wedding shop at Just Weddings. For favors and decorations reminiscent of times gone by, browse through the Victorian & Vintage Wedding Theme section. All products are hand-picked with love from the best names in weddings.

Essential Security Tips on a Villa Holiday Rental

It is all too easy, when in the holiday mood, to empty your head and get into that welcome relaxed state of mind. But this is the time when you are at your most vulnerable and should be alert to what can happen when your defences are down.

The tricks employed by the opportunistic thief are explained, below, so that you are more informed of their modus operandi, whether it's travelling to your villa holiday destination, or about your person.

Personal security;

Be aware upon your arrival to the airport, since this is where an opportunist thief will seek to identify his or her target, which is when most money will be within the party.

Thieves may identify potential targets for many reasons. Some include seeing expensive luggage or a video cam, or they may see a pre-occupied family in a flustered state. Clearly keep possessions close to you, but do keep an eye out for anyone watching you in particular.

Most importantly, check that you are not being followed in the car: if you think you might be then slow down and let them pass. If you remain suspicious then take a note of their registration number and report it to the police. Thieves tend to work as pairs and of mixed gender. They can also work as two individual teams and communicate with each other.

Be aware and look around at ATMs: be prepared with your card and pin number before you go to the machine and don't count your cash in front of the ATM for onlookers to see. It is advisable that two persons attend the ATM when withdrawing cash, particularly at night. Try to hold less cash by making greater use of your credit cards.

It has been known that certain tricks are played in Barcelona. An old trick is whereby a passerby brushes your shirt and tells you that some bird has made some droppings when it was the same person that actually put it on you in the first instance. By the time you overcome the confusion the passerby runs off with your wallet. In fact, any such trickster could try to distract you in so many different ways, so do be alert, particularly in Barcelona and other major cities.

At the villa;

Do be suspicious of persons that knock on your holiday villa door pretending to wish to speak to the owner or give an obscure name, or appear to sell a product like honey. If suspicious do take their car registration number and report it to the police, as such persons can be just simply assessing the situation.

A common ruse is the gas man arriving to seek an inspection of the gas rubber hoses at the holiday villa. The only gas people in Spain are the heating engineers that are registered, so they would never arrive to a villa without an appointment. These people could show an ID card that could look like the real thing, but such persons are just tricksters and seeking to cheat or steal in some way.

If the entrance door to the holiday villa is some way from the pool, ensure you lock the door.

Lock windows, particularly those without bars and doors. Opportunistic thieves have been known to go into villas to steal when the occupants have been on the patio, or in the pool. Such thieves work very quietly and speedily.

If you have two cars then try to leave one car in the driveway when you go out at night, as well as leave a light on in the villa.

In the car;

A helpful fellow motorist may flag you down indicating that you have a flat tyre on your car, or indicate some other problem with it. When you get out of the car to see what is wrong, or to change the tyre, one of the thieves takes off with a bag and your car keys. The thief having already spiked the tyre at some stage in your journey or at the airport.

Always keep your car locked.

Never display anything in the car, regardless of value. Remove any car rental stickers, which simply serve to draw attention to you as a holidaymaker.

Be careful if the car is loaded with luggage when parked and left unattended. Best go to a secure car park in cities, rather than park in the street.

Beware a family car pulling up alongside of you and an occupant asking if you could kindly change a bank note for them, explaining to you that all the banks are closed and that they need change urgently. The occupants of the car may look innocent enough with a mother and two children alongside. What happens in these situations is that when you then open your purse or wallet by the car window, the money or holder is grabbed by one of the car occupants and the thieves drive off.

What to do;

If you do experience a theft then go directly to the police station and report the incident. Ensure you obtain a crime number, as you would in the UK, in order to be able to make a claim to your insurers.

If you have booked with an agent then get the representative to go with you to the police station and be your interpreter. You may need to pay for the interpreter's time, which you can claim back from your insurance company, so do obtain a receipt.

Do inform your insurers, by phone and letter, about such an incident as soon as practically possible, as each company has its own deadlines for making a claim, which are usually within a week of returning from your holiday. Give the crime report number, or you will have difficulty getting compensation. If you suffer any loss on the last day of your holiday then you can report the crime to the police at the airport police station, thus saving you time.

Statistics:

If you compare the UK with Spain as a destination, for example, in order to put theft into perspective, the statistics demonstrate that Spain has one of the lowest crime rates in the European Union, according to the European research study shown on the Wikipedia link, below.

When it comes to theft of personal property or pick-pocketing, Spain is a third less than the UK, and when it comes to burglary is, in fact, two thirds less than the UK rate, with an average in Spain of 1% and the UK being 3%.

Should you ever have the misfortune to experience an unfortunate event whilst away, then do try not to let it spoil your holiday, as cash and valuables can easily be replaced by your insurers.

Source;

EU Gallop Europe research study and The Wikipedia references at http://bit.ly/IprDsO

The Benefits of Having Two Photographers at Your Wedding

When it comes to deciding upon which photographer to book for your wedding, there are many factors that come into play; pricing, style, album choices, any recommendations, are just a few. However, one factor mostly overlooked is does the photographer offer a 2nd photographer?

Not every photographer offers a second photographer (sometimes called a 2nd shooter) in their package, or some may charge for this extra. But, what's the fuss of having one? This article will help you realise what the benefits are.

But, before we begin, don't get confused between a 2nd photographer and an assistant. The former takes photographs, and the latter assists the main photographer by carrying the equipment or helping holding extra lighting. Although, the former can also be the latter.

Firstly, have you ever taken a look at a wedding album and saw photographs of the happy couple at the altar, and on the next page a long shot looking down the aisle? No matter how great the main photographer is, their main fault is that they are just one person, and as a result, they can only be in one place at a time. So, by having a second photographer, this wouldn't be a problem. The two photographers work as a team and ensure that neither of them are caught in camera as that would break the illusion.

Secondly, having a good second photographer, means you will get more shots for your money. This is because the main photographer will be shooting at one angle, and the 2nd shooter can take shots from a different angle, which creates a different view of the main shot. Also, the second photographer acts as an insurance policy for the main photographer. One of the nightmares that most wedding photographers face is the prospect of missing the important shot. This can be caused by either the Bride or Groom moving slightly to spoil the angle of the shot, or by any other factor. So, by having a 2nd photographer shooting at a different angle can take away that pressure.

The 2nd photographer can also be busy taking candid shots of guests, whilst the principal photographer can concentrate on shooting the main couple during the romantic portraits section of the day.

Another benefit of having a 2nd shooter is that in the unlikely event of the main photographer's camera equipment failing, then they are in a position to continue shooting with the 2nd photographer's equipment. Although, they should have back up equipment (and so should all good wedding photographers), it is more of a case of ensuring that the worse that could happen doesn't happen.

So, when choosing your wedding photographer, find out if they do have a 2nd photographer available. Some photographers will charge extra for this. So, if you want extra value, consider one who includes a 2nd photographer with their packages.

Select the Right Wedding Suits For Groom

There are many considerations that you have to keep in mind while buying a suit for your wedding. Apart from the styles and cut, you must also think about the kind of fabric and the color that you would like to go in for. While taking decision on any of the two, it is suggested to keep in mind the climatic conditions which is going to prevail during your wedding day or month, the time when the wedding is going to take place whether it is day/night and the overall theme which has been planned at your wedding. As much as it is possible, go for wrinkle free fabrics and take care that the colors you are going to choose go together with your complexion.

How to select your Wedding Suit
At the very first stage, you will be required to do some 'window shopping'. Once the wedding gets fixed, start doing a research of the stores and shopping malls in your area. Look out for the styles that you like and make a note of their price. This will assist you to get a better idea regarding the styles and the cost of that particular style is it falling within your budget. Now is the time to slash down on the broad selections that you have managed to go for. Before making any choice it is advisable to check out the material of the suit. Wool is one of the most accepted preferences for wedding suits. You can go for polyester and microfibers, which look stylish and it is very easy to take care for same. The next alternative to choose for is linen, but the cost is quite competitively.

The next stage which has to be taken into the consideration is to observe the style of the weeding suit. You must also make sure that the suit goes well with your body structure and its cut flatters your body structure completely. Majority of the cases, the coat of the suit is matched in advance with a pair of pants. But in certain cases you may be required to blend and match the two in addition.

Apart from matching the color, you must also look out that the fabric of the jacket and pants are similar. At this point of time, you should have decided on the perfect style for your wedding suit. If you think that there are some minor problems regarded to its fitting then get it altered then and there. One more thing that you need to take into the consideration is to get your pants cut, lengthwise. When you are about to select the shirt see to that it goes well with the color and style of the suit. Once you have purchased the wedding suit; now it is the time to improve your overall looks, by means of accessories. See to that everything goes well with your suit during wedding.

Chinese Good Luck Symbols - Part 2 - Attract Love, Romance With Feng Shui

How do Chinese feng shui symbols attract love and romance?

In feng shui compass school method, Southwest is the place for love, romance, marriage and family . and it is believed that an image of a couple in the Southwest side of your home or room can attract love, romance and happy marriage.

I have very good experience using this area for my relationship.

What I did was to display the image, picture of my favorite type of person on the wall in the Southwest area of my room. Also an image of a love couple, of a dream house surrounded by a beautiful flower garden. Also a pair of rose quartz figurines. In the southeast corner of my room, I placed a small plant with red ribbon around the bowl of plants which was given by my friend as a wedding favor.

As a result, when I was single , I had so many opportunities to meet people who look like the image picture of my favorite person.

Here are some Chinese feng shui symbols for love, romance and happy marriage and also mystical symbols to increase your love opportunity:

Pair of love birds ( or mandarin ducks )

Love birds symbolize happy marriage and couple. Placing pair figurines show that you are not alone, you always have a partner in your life.

Dragon & phoenix couple
Dragon & Phoenix couple image represents emperor and empress ( husband & wife ) which symbolizes happy marriage with a lot of wealth, and brings luxury life.

Peach tree
Peach tree symbolizes longevity in Chinese tradition, however in my experience, displaying a peach tree image or peach flowers brought great love opportunities. I was placing fake peaches ( fruit ) in the Southwest corner of my room.

Pink flowers & plants
Placing live pink color flowers in the southeast corner of your house is believed to bring a lot of new relationship opportunities. Also placing a lot of plants in the southeast corner can get the same.

Basically, according to feng shui compass school method, southwest is the place for relationship & family, and southeast is for wealth , but I realized this area ( southeast) also has the power to increase new relationship opportunities when you place colorful flowers or plants with red ribbon.

Flower design blanket and curtain

Colorful flower design symbolizes love and romance. Avoid to use dark color flowers such as blue flowers.

Rose quartz happy buddha

Rose quartz symbolizes love, romance and good relationship. Happy buddha ( laughing buddha) also is called " Hotei " symbolizes joy and happiness. The combination of rose quartz and happy buddha are a powerful good luck symbol for love opportunity & marriage.

Phoenix , horse, bird
If you want to bring popularity into your life, displaying the image of phoenix or horse or bird at the south corner of your home can help .

Chinese double happiness symbol

Double happiness is an excellent feng shui symbol for wedding luck.
The meaning of the word is " Joy, Happiness " in Chinese and it is written twice.
If you wish to find romance and a future partner, great to place the double happiness symbol in the southwest corner of your house or room or carry it in your handbag or purse.

Wedding favors
Wedding favors are a very powerful item when you receive it from your friend or family who are full of happiness at the wedding party. Place the wedding favor in the southwest or southeast corner of your house or room.
Joining happy events is always good luck, unless you don't get negative mind when you are by yourself.

Crystals
Natural crystal quartz is extremely effective to activate earth energy of southwest corner and it will attract romance into your life. Especially when you place crystal ( or hang it ) by the window which catches sunlight , it will expand yang energy around the space.

Travel to good direction for love
To go traveling in the love direction ( you will need to check this, because every year, every month , it's different. ) can bring you love luck , during traveling and in your close future. If you want to change your love luck, this is also very effective.

Your Painting Business - How to Estimate a Painting Job Using an Excel Spreadsheet

The first thing I do when I estimate a painting job is to get a feel for the customer's motivation for their paint job. Are they looking to sell? Are they fixing the home up for a special event, like wedding or birthday? Or is it just overdue and really needs a paint job?

The next thing I do after I have digested their reason for painting their home, is to look at the job and IMAGINE doing the job. Go through the job in your mind. Making notes about the job, things that may affect the time spent working. It could be anything like we can't use a ladder to paint the family room ceiling because the room is too large and we have to cut in the lights, or there is a lot of spackling to do like cracks and nail pops. Try to get a "feel for the job". Will it take longer than usual, or will it go faster than normal? Is the area cluttered? Will you be able to move fast or slow? Is there going to be a lot of traffic? Are there kids or pets? I do all this before I measure.

From here, I start my measuring and counting, better known in construction as doing a "take off". I use a measuring wheel. I never use a tape measure any more. Tapes are too slow and usually only measure up to thirty-five feet. The measuring wheel can measure to one thousand feet and it costs the same as a big tape measure. Measuring wheels are usually made by the same companies that make tape measure, like Lufkin or Stanley, and they don't break as often as tape measures. Once you use a measuring wheel, you probably won't go back to a tape measure. I used to use the infra-red measuring device but I find them way too inaccurate.

Usually, I measure before I start counting things like windows. Once I begin to count windows and molding, I make note of anything that will add or take away time, which means adding to the cost or lessening the cost. When I count windows, I make three columns, one for windows that are located below eight feet, one column for windows below fifteen feet, and one for windows twenty feet and above. This also applies to molding or anything else heights above eight feet, like dormers, ceiling medallions or whatever.

I never guestimate a job. After measuring and counting I take my numbers and go to my office and prepare my estimate. If you do a search in Ezines, you will find other articles by me describing how I use the Excel Spread Sheet to total up and multiply high time factors to those elements of the job that are over eight foot high. Why? It takes you a lot more time to paint a window at twenty feet that it does at eight feet of height. After I total everything using the formulas built into the spreadsheet, I go to my estimating software and prepare the estimate. I itemize everything, I never do an estimate that says $2000 (or whatever amount it is), for painting the interior. I itemize everything, and it's easier because that is how I count things. Also, because if I count 16 shutters and when I am painting them I count 20, I tell the customer that I only charged for 16, and they can see it in black and white, so they have to pay extra for the extra shutters, this way I don't get cheated. Anyway the subject of itemizing your estimate is a whole new article.

How to Work Out If You Need Wedding Insurance Or Not

Do you need wedding insurance? How should you go about deciding whether or not you need to take out a wedding insurance package? Are there any guides, any measures, any way at all of determining whether or not it would be a good safety net for you to take advantage of?

Well, the good news is that yes, there is one very simple way in which you can tell whether you need wedding insurance or not. It will only take you a few minutes, so just grab a calculator and a bit of paper, give yourself five minutes and you can easily tell whether you would benefit from a policy.

The first step is to list everything that's going to cost you money at your wedding. Depending upon how organised and well planned you are already this may take you less time or more time, but where you don't have exact figures, an approximation is good enough.

The average wedding in the UK is currently costing around 瞿20,000, although obviously there are many weddings which cost more than this, and others costing considerably less. If you haven't already added up the total cost of your wedding then this may be something of a shock, so be warned!

It is, however, essential to make sure you have a pretty accurate and comprehensive figure in front of you before understanding whether or not you would benefit from having a wedding insurance policy.

Once you have carried out all of the sums, added up all of your costs and arrived at a figure that's alarmingly high, the next stage is to ask one very simple question. How easily could you double that? In other words, if your wedding costs 瞿20,000, how easy would it be for you to cope if the costs were doubled, and you had to stump up a total of 瞿40,000?

For some people this would be terribly easy. The kind of person who has a gold plated mobile phone, a private jet and a penthouse in at least 3 major cities around the world is likely to shrug off such a trivial inconvenience.

However, if that doesn't sound like you, and the prospect of doubling your budget would simply result in you having to either cancel your wedding or postpone it indefinitely, then wedding insurance is most definitely something you should think about.

But why? Surely doubling the cost of the wedding isn't likely to happen? Whilst it's unlikely that your suppliers and service providers will all double their prices, if anything goes wrong leading up to your wedding day, you could find yourself having to postpone or cancel the wedding, which would result in you losing everything you have invested in it.

If you've paid for services, and cancelled, in many cases you won't get your money back. You will certainly lose your deposits, but you may also find that you're contractually obliged to pay for the agreed service even if you're subsequently unable to take advantage of it.

This could easily cost you many thousands of pounds, and could cost you your wedding. For the price of a couple of bottles of wine you can get a wedding insurance policy that gives you more than a financial safety net - it gives you peace of mind.

Cheap Wedding Invitations

Cheap in price not quality! Your wedding is the most important day of your life. Planning that big day may be a pain but when it all comes together in the end you'll be glad you did it.

Wedding invitations sometimes run anywhere from $500 to $5,000 dollars. The average everyday American wants the same quality but better price. With the help of experts you can pick the layout of the announcements, color and wording. But as you add more to the invitation the price will keep getting higher and higher.

The new fad among brides is a wedding invitation that has 3 or more photos and the text all on the same page. Usually a 5x7 or 4x6. These not only look good but are a lot cheaper than regular old fashioned boring announcements. You also can add a map or reception insert on a 2x3 card stock. This is useful if you want to invite certain people to the wedding ceremony and certain people to the reception party.

Custom built wedding invitations that are created by a graphic art designer are a much better choice than simply using a template off a random website. If you like a certain template the designer usually can custom build it to your taste. So don't be shy when picking it out. Tell them exact details including, font, colors, picture layout and so forth. When the invitation is completed and you are satisfied with the final product you have a choice to print it yourself or have them do it for you.

Wondershare Video Converter: How to Convert Mkv to Mp4?

Are you looking for a high speed video converter that works with efficiency? Have you had problems in converting mkv to mp4? Wondershare Video Converter might be the video converter you need. This software is perfect when you want to convert mkv to mp4 file format. If you ever wondered what mkv means. Mkv is an abbreviation to Matroska otherwise known as Matroska Multimedia Container. It is an open standard free container format that can contain an unlimited number of video, audio, tracks and picture files. It is similar with avi, asf and mp4 files. Moving Picture Expert group 4 is widely known and abbreviated as mp4. Mp4 is a multimedia container format that is developed by ISO.

Not much with those technical terms and history, how will you convert mkv to mp3 using the software, Wondershare Video Converter, if you had installed and readily available in your computer? You might be staring blankly at its program window wondering what to do first, or may be how it works.

How would you convert mkv to mp4 using Wondershare Video Converter software? Wondershare Video Converter is deemed to be the fastest and most reliable mkv to mp4 converter around with its advanced and unique systems conversion would only take a few moments. With these easily comprehensible steps you would definitely be done converting your mkv to mp4 in just a few minutes.

In adding files before you would convert mkv to mp4; the steps will instruct you on how you would upload video and files from your computer into the program.

1. You select a mkv file on your hard disk that you want to convert into mp4 using this mkv to mp4 converter. Load the video files or DVD files into the file list that is seen in the program window. You may also drag the video files into the file list also into the program window.


2. Add video files by clicking on an icon that is located at the upper left corner of your screen. This icon or button is the 'add video' button which then will add all the supported files and videos from your computer into the file list.


3. To load files from your portable device, just click on the 'arrow' button in your program window. This will load files from devices that are connected to your computer; device such as iPods, and other multimedia gadgets. Just make sure that these devices are connected directly into your computers properly.


4. Another way to import video and files is by choosing any option from the file menu on the program. If you want to add a single video file from your computer, just click on the 'add video files option'. If ever you wanted to add a video folder, just click on the 'add video folder'; this will load the video folder into the program. You can also choose the 'add direct show files': this option will import files and videos converting those using codecs available in the operating system.

Now then you are set to convert mkv to mp4 files.

1. Actually you can convert mkv to mp4 and vice versa using this Wondershare Video Converter.


2. First do the format setting on the mkv file that you have selected. Click on the 'Advanced' button to get to the output setting. A box will appear saying 'Advanced', here you can do the output setting. Select mp4 as your output video file (this will then convert the file mkv that you have dragged in the file list into an mp4 file).


3. Though it is optional, you can select the 'Edit Video' option. This will give you the privilege to personalize, crop, or even edit video files.


4. Click on the Start button, and the program will begin to convert mkv to mp4.


5. After conversion has progressed, you can find the converted files from the 'Find Target' option.

If you want to try this software out; you can download the Wondershare Video Converter software from the internet. There are available trail versions and sample products that would definitely be reasonable and practical if you want to try out to convert mkv to mp4 using this software program. With a high satisfactory rate, Wondershare Video Converter will never disappoint you.

Wedding Insurance: It Certainly Takes The Cake!

Have you ever been to a restaurant where the waiters are so professional and expert at their jobs that they can rush around whizzing in and out of those swing doors without even looking what they are doing? It always amazes me that there are not any serious accidents with trays of hot meals going flying into the ether. When we enter restaurants or any other establishment where other people are preparing and serving meals, we simply expect them to know what they are doing and have a high degree of professionalism and expertise. However, even with the best of preparation accidents can and do happen, sometimes that defy belief, but still they do happen and you have to deal with the consequences. That is why when we are talking about weddings and receptions, we need to be talking also about wedding insurance.

When my oldest brother remarried, they decided that they did not want to spend what little budget they had on the service as they had both been married before anyway, so they decided to spend most of their budget on the reception and evening reception. Fortunately, I managed to talk my brother out of naming me as best man. I had already done it twice before and frankly, my nerves would not hold for yet another journey into the hell that is the after dinner speech! Having said that, I was still expected to make a contribution to helping out in the preparations, which were being done by volunteers and friends and family to keep down the costs.

We had already set out in the morning and sorted out all the tables and placing. All that really remained was for the staff at the hotel where the reception was being held to serve the meals and deal with the clean up afterwards. The wedding was not until 2pm that day, so we all decided that we would meet up in the local pub beforehand.

That plan soon came to grief when we heard news that there had been an accident at the hotel where the reception was to be held, that the cake had been accidentally knocked off the table and was in pieces all over the floor. It fell to guess who to try and get it sorted out. I contacted the caterers and told them what had happened. They actually seemed very calm about the whole thing, almost as if they dealt with it everyday.

The catering manager telephoned me to say that my brother had taken out wedding insurance, and that damage or loss to the cake was covered. They would come round later with a replacement. Obviously, not anything like the original, but not many people would know.

I have to admit I was a little taken aback that my brother would have had the presence of mind to take out wedding insurance as it was not something I had even heard about.

How to Plan a Wedding - Step by Step Guide

Planning a wedding can be a daunting and very stressful task. We highly recommend you take six months to a year to plan your wedding and will outline for you an easy-to-follow schedule.

Twelve months before the Wedding

• Get yourself a binder with paper and dividing tabs.


• Discuss with your fiancé and his/her families, plus your own, to determine a budget.


• Decide on your wedding theme e.g. Christmas, Fall, Snowflakes, Black and White, etc.


• Select a wedding date with your fiancé and families.


• Decide on your wedding attendants.


• Book a ceremony and reception location(s).


• Book your professional wedding photographer, florist, caterer, videographer, and DJ or wedding musicians.

Nine months before the Wedding

• Make an appointment with your officiant. For most religious ceremonies, you may be required to attend pre-wedding counseling. For civil ceremonies, your officiant may require a meeting to discuss your wedding ceremony.


• Wedding gown shopping and first fittings should be looked after at this time.


• Shop for your wedding accessories, wedding veil or head piece, and wedding shoes.


• Begin preparation of the guest list. Be sure to include both sides of the family as guest lists are often a contentious issue. It will take time to decide on long lost cousins, work friends, neighbors, etc.


• Decide on gift registry locations and register.


• Begin your search for your honeymoon location. If you are getting married during a peak holiday season such as Christmas, you may need to book your honeymoon up to nine months in advance.

Six months before the Wedding

• You need to meet with the wedding professionals who will assist you on your special day. The menu should be mapped out with your catering company, a review of requested wedding photos with your photographer, a discussion with your videographer on the amount of footage and locations for videos, and your preference for music with your DJ or wedding musicians.


• Limousines and/or other wedding transportation should be booked. Wedding carriages or winter horse drawn sleighs should be booked and pricing confirmed.


• If you are ordering wedding invitations and/or save the date cards and wedding announcements, you need to decide on a provider. If you are making your own wedding invitations and other wedding stationery, you should choose a wedding invitation kit template package. Announcements should be sent out to those friends and family who you have not included in the ceremony.


• Honeymoon trip should be booked and final budget plans for the honeymoon confirmed.


• Bridesmaids and Flower Girl dresses should be decided upon and ordered.


• Start shopping for wedding rings.

Three months before the Wedding

• Guest list needs to be finalized by you and your fiancé and BOTH families. We can't emphasize enough that you need to have the blessing of all concerned when it comes to the guest list.


• Final decisions and ordering of wedding rings.


• Visit hairstylist for a consultation and have your first wedding day hair run through.


• Make wedding day appointment with hairstylist. Don't forget to include your bridesmaids if they are having their hair professionally styled for your wedding.


• Research and review state requirements for blood tests.


• Research, review and book hotel rooms for out of town guests who may require accommodation.


• Follow up on your wedding gown and confirmation of delivery dates for your gown and those of your attendants.


• Attend your first wedding gown fitting including all accessories and shoes.

Six to eight weeks before the Wedding

• Prepare your wedding invitation kit templates for printing, including the Thank You cards.


• If you have ordered your invites from a commercial business, be sure they are ready for you.


• Address and mail the wedding invitations.


• Shop for and purchase any wedding gifts for your fiancé, attendants, parents and grandparents.


• Attend your final dress fitting including wedding accessories.


• Spend time wearing your wedding shoes so that you are not crippled before the wedding dance starts.


• Test a spray on tan if you plan to tan for your wedding.


• Make final decisions on your wedding hair style and any hair color changes should be made.


• Pick up your wedding rings from your jewelry shop.


• Print out your personalized Thank you cards from your wedding invitation kit templates or purchase generic Thank you cards.


• Send any Thank you cards for wedding or shower gifts received over the past weeks.

10 - 14 Days before the Wedding

• Confirm with your caterer with one final review of the menu.


• Confirm with your officiant the venue and time of ceremony.


• Confirm with your photographer, videographer, DJ and/or wedding band.


• Confirm your honeymoon reservation and any special requests for the wedding night.


• Address any wedding announcements, stamp and set in preparation of mailing on your wedding day.


• Final visit to your hairstylist to review any last minute concerns or changes.

One Week before the Wedding

• Attend any last minute parties or bridal showers in your honor.


• Write any Thank you cards for gifts received at these functions.


• Give the caterer your final number of guests expected to attend.


• Bridesmaids and Flower Girl confirmation of the time they are expected to arrive.


• Purchase travel insurance for the honeymoon if you are leaving the country.


• Purchase travelers checks for the honeymoon holiday.


• Double check to be sure that travelers checks are accepted and easily cashed at your final destination.

Wedding Day Peace of Mind - Priceless!

Creative Wedding Ideas

You most likely want your wedding ceremony and reception to be different from that of others. Better yet, you want your wedding to be bigger and better than others you've been to. You can't go bigger and better by simply spending more money. It is more about spending more time tapping into your creativity. Throw all of your traditional ideas of what a wedding should be like out the window and get ready for some creative ideas for wedding centerpieces, wedding favors, and your reception décor.

Sand From the Beach

Your wedding centerpieces don't have to be held inside of anything. If you are a beach or summer lover who is open to creative ideas for wedding centerpieces, grab a ton of sand from your favorite beach and pile some in the middle of each table. You have an instant beach theme for your wedding. To go with the beach theme, place silver scallop wedding favors, that can also double as placecard holders, in the pile of sand. Print the names of your guests on the placeholder cards and maybe a short message thanking them for coming to your beach party themed wedding.

You can also dig a few flip flop wedding favors into the sand to complete the look with a name tag for each guest. The reception décor can all be tied in to one central unique theme.

Television Screen Wedding Centerpieces

Another quick and simple item that can be added to your list of creative ideas for wedding centerpieces is a television, or rather a group of televisions. You can make a tripod of televisions your wedding centerpiece with different live shots of your wedding playing on screen. Most of your guests will be excited to see themselves on TV, especially the kids.

Complement these television wedding centerpieces with camera wedding favors for your guests to take pictures of each other with. Your whole reception décor should be dominated by photographers, televisions, and maybe even fake news reporters who interview guests. Now these are creative wedding ideas that are sure to be memorable. You will make the whole wedding an interactive, media themed event.

Fortune Cookie Container

If you are going for an Asian themed wedding, a large, decorative Asian food container may be your perfect centerpiece. The container should be a color consistent with your theme, and can be either filled with something, possibly fortune cookies with special messages inside, or empty. You can't go wrong with a fortune cookie game where if anyone pulls out a certain message they win a nice prize.

Your wedding favors should go with the centerpiece, namely smaller versions of the decorative wedding centerpieces. You can't go wrong with a reception décor that pulls together all of the colors and themes you used in your wedding centerpieces and wedding favors.

Creative ideas for wedding centerpieces will make your wedding unforgettable. Don't go along with the crowd-do something different on your wedding day. It may be easier to start with the wedding centerpieces and work your way out to the rest of the reception décor.

Choosing a Mother of the Bride Dress For 2009

This year turning Mom into the Mother of the Bride comes with one important prerequisite. Talk to the bride. She'll appreciate you listening to her input for years to come. Don't be afraid of this exercise - there are plenty of color and style options to accommodate not only your look but her preferences as well this year. You might even be pleasantly surprised with what you discover and relieved to have a place to start. But don't start shopping yet. Next consider the key attributes of color, length, style and body, which when combined successfully will ensure you and your dress are a spectacular hit on the bride's big day.

Color

The two aspects of color that you want to reconcile are simply 1) the color theme of the wedding and 2) the colors that looks good on you. En vogue dress colors especially for Mother of the Brides this year (and especially for outdoor weddings) include "apricot, peach, lemon and golden olive hues" reports Hanna of Here Comes the Guide. If the wedding is taking place later in the year, get more vivid with amethyst, mahogany, or rose. If none of these colors will do, then take your queue from the bride, who may elect to step into 2009's trend for lots of bold, saturated colors like green, lavender or blue, but especially blue, with all of its brilliant peacock splendor including deep violet blue, clear bright blue, green blue, cobalt blue, turquoise, and palace blue. If the bride's theme is blue, but blue doesn't work on you, trying choosing from among the many delightful accent colors you will see in a wedding regardless of its color theme, like champagne, cream, bone, taupe, tan, silver, shimmering light gold, or beige

Selecting colors around a wedding's theme is only the first step. Ask also what colors look good on you. If you are unsure, it's best to keep two or three neutral colors in mind while you decide what looks best against your natural coloring. As you shop, hold clothing items of differing colors up to your face and judge for yourself. You can even go so far as to invest in a professional style guide, like the ones available at istylista. When you look back on wedding photos years from now, you will not regret the investment!

In all cases, stay away from white, ivory, and black. And interestingly, even though blue is "in" this year, one of its shades definitely is not - navy. Don't be caught wearing it! Just remember to pick a color that coordinates well with the wedding theme or its bridal attendants - you don't have to match exactly! - and one which looks great on you at the same time.

Length

The Mother of the Bride's dress length should be similar to the bridesmaids' dresses, within Mom's comfort zone. Tea length (a gown hemmed to end at the shin) becomes an acceptable compromise when bridesmaids' dresses measure LA knee length or shorter.

Style

Continuing the trend from last year, stores are stocking Mother of the Bride dresses in youthful styles. No more stodgy lines and drab tones. This is Mom's year for satisfying a little chicly red carpet fantasy of her own! Take your queue from designing leaders like Karen Miller, Scala, Ursula and Cachet. Also look to bride styles for inspiration, who will be more angelic this year in soft fabrics like chiffons and drapings. But don't go overboard. You'll be safe in simple, graceful lines with little frill and appropriate accessories which compliment, rather than compete with, the bride's wedding dress. A perennial favorite for Mom, especially petite moms, is the two piece skirt suit. These separates are popular because each piece can be ordered in different sizes for a more tailored fit.

Your Body

Be comfortable in your own skin, and in your dress. This means understanding your body shape, your natural colors, owning your age, and putting a dash of your personality into your ensemble. iStylista has an excellent blog article on this topic which you don't want to miss.

What is Wedding Insurance?

Wedding insurance helps protect you from misfortunes that could happen on the day of your wedding. The policies are very inexpensive when you consider what it covers and how it can protect you. Purchasing wedding insurance is every couple's personal choice, though you should know what it covers to see if it may be something you need.

First, wedding insurance can cover the misfortune of bad weather. If you plan to have your wedding outdoors and it storms, obviously, your wedding has to be postponed and your policy should include rescheduling costs.

Secondly, if it is the day of your wedding and the minister or celebrant who was supposed to marry you does not show up. The policy helps you recover the expenses of rescheduling and finding a new officiate.

Thirdly, if the groom or bride becomes ill on the day of the wedding, obviously, it will have to be postponed and the policy covers this type of misfortune.

Fourthly, if the vendors you hired fail to show up on the big day, such as florists or the photographer, the wedding policy also includes this.

Of course, you can add many items to your wedding insurance policy and overall, it probably is a good plan to have. Weddings are planned so carefully, but no one can predict if the groom happens to break his ankle on the day of the wedding, or if the storm clouds move in.

Because weddings are so very expensive is the reason the policy exists at all, it helps to recover some of the loss in instances of mishap. Everyone hopes for a smooth wedding, but sometimes things can happen that are less than ideal and out of everyone's control.

One thing to keep in mind when purchasing wedding insurance, it does not cover a case where the groom or bride decides they don't want to get married (cold feet), since that obviously is an avoidable misfortune.

Finally, if you are planning a very large wedding with lots of vendors and many guests, a wedding insurance plan is probably something you should not forget to take out. It is only good until after you say your "I Do's" but well worth it if something prevents you from walking down the isle.

Artificial Flowers - The Newest Designs

Artificial flowers have become rampant now. They are everywhere. You can see them at parties, weddings, birthdays and even as decorative items in hotels, lobbies, offices and homes. This transition to having fake flowers has recently become more popular because of the obvious advantages they have over their natural counterparts.

Artificial flowers are mostly used because they are extremely low maintenance. Not only do they NOT require water and fertilizers and sunlight, they also remain fresh for almost an eternity. With modern technological innovations every day, today's artificial florets are made with such precision and accuracy and perfection that they do not fade and also look as good as real florets. In fact it is difficult to even detect whether the florets are real or not! They do not wither and can be reused over and over again.

Imitation flowers are now becoming a rage in weddings and parties because they do not need top be tended to. Most people in such occasions are busy attending the guests or having a good time. No one really has time to think about florets at all. Tending flowers also means hiring another person to specifically look after them, which is a waste of money if you can already have florets which require no tending!

Artificial flowers have another great advantage. You are free to choose from a variety of designs, types and colors. They are available in different designs and colors and the flowers do not need to be seasonal. So if a bride wants pansies as her wedding bouquet, she needn't wait fro them to grow. She can easily order an artificial bouquet which would serve the purpose and she could keep them forever. Unlike their real counterparts, they wouldn't wither or fade and she can keep the wedding memories forever with her!

Fake flowers can also be used in different designs. Natural florets sometimes need to be kept separately because their withering process is quickened if they are kept with some other type of flower. This is not the case with artificial flowers. You can easily mix and match designs without needing to think once! It is a very good way to display your creativity by designing flowers in a specific way.

For artificial flowers to last fro a long time in perfect condition, you also need to take some care of them.

Here are some things you should keep in mind while caring for artificial flowers:

1. You should dust them regularly with a soft cloth or a linen or satin cloth

2. You can also clean them with water

3. If they become very dirty or dusty, you need to clean them with mild detergent soap. Simply dip them in a solution of detergent and then wash them off under cold running water. They will be as good as new.

4. If you need to keep them in a window with constant sunlight, sometimes change their position. Though the color generally doesn't fade, keeping them in harsh sunlight can diminish the color slightly.

Different Kinds of Wedding Cards

Couples who are planning to get married would like to be blessed by their family and friends as they head on a new life together. A wedding ceremony won't be complete without wedding card to let their friends and family know that there will be a wedding that will happen soon. Invitations needs to be sent to invited guests 4-6 weeks before the wedding date so they can prepare ahead of time. Traditions live on for the quite some time because along with the invitation card, there is also an attachment which is the response card and the map or direction card.

This is given to guests too in order for them not to have a hard time looking for the venue of the event. Aside from these, dates and other important information is also included inside the card such as shuttle facilities if there's any, save the date card and seat marker so they will know where they will be seated. There are different kinds of wedding card; you can refer to this information which may be helpful to you as you plan for your wedding day:

1. Engraved -to formal and traditional wedding cards, engraved cards are the most suitable one for you. It is engraved using a copper plate. The letters will be raised so it will look classy and different. This is preferred by so many people but because of the cost, this is not a practical choice.

2. Printed -These types of invitation cards are the most affordable one because it can be done even in the comfort of your home if you have printer. During the early times, it was not considered by most people because it is not as inviting and classy as the engraved and embossed type of prints. But with the advent of technology, there are lots of options available these days which also compete with the market trend today.

3. Thermo graphed -this type of card contains small particles mixed with ink, this is similar to engraved invitations but they are not as expensive as the engraved ones.

4. Handwritten -this type of invitation cards can be done if you would like to personalize your invitations but since they look informal, few people do this method of sending out cards.

5. Calligraphy style -this is done by someone knowledgeable in the method of writing. More people prefer this method because the outcome looks like a personal handwriting of the person giving away the cards.

6. Contemporary -this type of invitation card is used for formal weddings. It is accented by flowers and other floral design. There are also times when the photos of the couple are also included in the invitation card.

These types of cards go along with your budget, choosing the right one will surely be favourable to you. there are different types of cards that are available these days, upon right selection, you can save much on your budget and still get the quality you are looking for.

Vacationing Without a Car - Catalina Island, CA

You can do everything on Catalina Island; it is like a destination resort only bigger and better. You can visit for a day or stay all summer. Catalina Island is 22 miles off of the coast of Long Beach, California; it is a seaside escape with a year round Mediterranean climate, with no freeways so therefore no cars, except for the taxis you can find in town. The only town on the island is Avalon and most restaurants, shops and attractions are within walking distance.

The City of Avalon is one mile square and most people like to just walk and/or stroll it, as there is so much to see and enjoy, however, if that isn't your style there are taxis and also a tram, the tram is called Island Hopper and it has a regular route through town.

Water sports abound, hiking is a popular sport, getting married on the island is romantic, relaxing is divine, all kinds of sight seeing and shopping. This island has it all, gourmet restaurants and delightful snack and ice cream shops.

Once you get there and/or to the boat dock no gas stations, so this will be a true vacation, as you can't drive on the island. You will be using all different kinds of alternative transportation or the good ole fashion kind, walking. The other thing this means is that the air is clean and clear, can it get better than this.

How do you get to this island paradise? The most popular is to take the Catalina Channel Express and it leaves daily from Long Beach and San Pedro. It takes about an hour and you take all your baggage and personal belongings with you on the boat, there are luggage requirements so be sure and get familiar with those when you make your reservations. All these fine little details can be handled by your personal travel website agent, they are just an email away. There is also transportation from Newport Beach on what is called the Catalina Flyer and it takes about 75 minutes. Then there is also a seaplane service if that sounds like fun for you and you can go by your own boat and they have docking service for that also.

Overnight accommodations abound on the island from camping out to five star resorts and condos, you just decide what kind of lodging you want and they will have it. Of course if you plan on going in the summer, reservations need to be booked well in advance as the island fills up in the summer. All of these arrangements and reservation can be made online in the comfort of your home and even better yet you can just turn it over to your personal travel website agent, all you have to do is come up with the ideas and then enjoy your vacation to Catalina Island.

5 Expensive Mistakes I Made Before Age 25

There is an never-ending supply of articles on smart money management, budgeting and all those other important things you need to know to stay out of debt. But what about an article about expensive mistakes? I know I have made a few in my day - hindsight is always 20/20, right?

In this week's column, I take a look at my costly mistakes and hope that maybe you can learn from them.

As a pretty frugal individual who has always placed an importance on smart spending, I think it's okay to splurge on things such as travel, art, and entertainment. Spending on hobbies and interests usually doesn't come back to bite you in the butt. The things on this list are more careless mistakes based in inexperience.

Being Indecisive About College
Finding the perfect college is not easy, but if you put off the decision process, it can be a major financial setback. While I should've been deciding on schools and applying for scholarships, I was too busy fighting with my parents about whatever it is teenage girls fight with their parents about.

I ended up choosing to go to the University of Missouri at the absolute last minute which made me ineligible for scholarships I would have otherwise been able to get.

Mistake Cost: $10,000

Not Predicting Travel Needs
I have always been a firm believer that buying plane tickets is a strategic game. Last year I was flying home for the first time (I usually drive) and stupidly waited until the very last second to buy plane tickets.

As I slowly watched prices climb, those "last-minute deals" never came to my rescue. I think you can definitely find a break in pricing when booking a flight last minute, but this is not the case when it comes to major holidays such as Christmas. Many flights are booked to the core, and the airlines know they have you in the palm of their hands. My last minute wait ended up costing me about $200 more than I should've paid.

Another thing I didn't take into account was weddings that required my attendance. Although it may seem like a strange thing to predict, every 20-something should budget out travel expenses for when close friends are getting married. I attended three weddings within a few months of each other, and I didn't account for them earlier in the year. Because of this, I ended up traveling for leisure and spending money that I should've saved for wedding-travel expenses.

Mistake Cost: $200-$300

Getting A Tattoo
I am a sucker for tattoo culture. I've always thought they were cool, but there is a definite fine line between trashy and cool - some may argue that they are all one or the other.

Unfortunately, I completed my duties with the college-rebel stereotype and got a very small tattoo of which I am not the biggest fan. While researching removal prices I found that getting rid of my little tiny tattoo would cost anywhere from $400 to $600 a treatment. As if this wasn't expensive already, treatments typically take around 7 visits to complete.

I don't 100% regret my decision to get a tattoo, considering I was a pretty big square my entire life and this is/was a small reminder that I can be rebellious also. I just wish I chose a less permanent way to rebel.

Mistake Cost: $2,800 - $4,200

Not Looking Into Dental Insurance Plans
When you are young and in college, thinking about dental insurance is the last thing on your mind. Unfortunately, I needed to get two root canals within a year of each other. Instead of taking the time to research affordable dental plans or discount dental services, I just went and paid out-of-pocket. I found out later I could've used a service that cost $70 a year and offered deep discounts to subscribers.

Mistake Cost: $1,500 (the amount I could've saved).

Ignoring the Rules of the Road
After having a license for four years without any tickets, I got two speeding tickets within a month of each other. I moved to New York City and sold my car thinking that I wouldn't have to worry about it again. Then, I ended up getting a summons for biking on the sidewalk.

Although no one intentionally gets a ticket, people sometimes fail to learn certain laws. For example, my biking ticket; I had no idea you weren't allowed to bike on the sidewalk - which in hindsight makes sense. If you're moving to a new city, make sure you brush up on the rules so you avoid getting arbitrary tickets.

Mistake Cost: $300