Damask Baby Shower

For a particularly elegant and sophisticated baby shower, consider decorating with damask d矇cor. Follow these simple instructions to create or purchase your damask decorations.

If you have a pattern chosen for your baby's new room, you may want to include this pattern in the decorations. Consider damask table runners and matching napkins if guests will be sitting down for a meal. If a large meal will not be served, you may still use table runners for the dessert tables. For instance, if you intend to decorate your child's room with polka dots, include them in the runners, and use plates as though they were giant polka dots. This can be done in addition to any damask decorations you wish to use.

Other fun decorations to put throughout the room, and possibly even as table centerpieces, are boxes wrapped in damask to look like gifts. You can have stacks of boxes and may even choose to put candy in the boxes you use as the centerpieces. These boxes can be made by you with material you purchase at your local craft store, or you can order them online. Be sure the colors match the place settings and other decorations of your shower. Another option is to wrap the boxes in a wrapping paper color of your choice and tie with damask ribbon. You can find this patterned ribbon at great prices on Ebay and Etsy.

Damask is often used with paper products, and can thus even be included in your shower invitations and your guest book. You may purchase matching items at stores such as Target, or you can create a design and make them yourself.

Party favors with a damask design can be found on many wedding websites, as the pattern is also a popular theme for brides. Damask candles, coasters, candy tins, notepads, mini-frames are widely available. However, you can give guests any favor and wrap it with damask design wrapping paper. Make your own paper accents by searching the term "damask" on Google Images, enlarging the image, and printing it. Then cut out baby shapes, like rattles or teddy bears, and tape or glue them to a solid color wrapping paper.

Finally, if you intend to serve individualized desserts, such as cupcakes, consider wrapping each one in a damask design. Although you may be able to make your own, this project may be very laborious, and you may save time and even money by ordering them online.

Wedding Invitations - Wedding Invitation Clip Art Will Accent Your Invites Inexpensively

Wedding invitation clip art can be added to plain card stock to make it look very nice. The best part is that you can use almost any image. This means you can easily add graphics to incorporate a theme into your cards.

With so many future brides using those wedding invitation kits, they have become generic. If you want to have unique wedding cards, make your own. Add some nice wedding clip art and use a beautiful font.

You have probably gotten a wedding announcement hat was not very professional. You almost wondered if the rest of the wedding would be the same. Yes, the wedding invitation will set the mood for the wedding. Many of your relatives will not know anything about your wedding until they receive that announcement in the mail.

Make sure you give a good first impression. By having a nice card with a nice graphic and a beautiful flowing font you will put a positive image in your guests mind. Use a nice easy to read but decorative type. This will give an elegant, nice flow to your wedding cards. Nothing will say just come and bring a gift more than bad wedding announcement.

Make a good impression with a nice wedding announcement. Get your supplies together and make a complete set. Then once you have decided it is what you want you can print the rest. There is no need to settle for a cheap invitation that doesn't look like your taste. You can test different set ups and see what suites you best.

By adding some nice wedding invitation clip art you will make your cards stand apart from others. In order to keep the impression good, use the same font for all of your pieces. Match you RSVP and reception cards to your invitation. This will give a uniform professional look.

You can also address your quests envelopes in the same font. Imagine your guests seeing their names in a beautiful flowing script on your envelopes. It not only makes them feel good to get the invitation. It puts the first impression as this is an important event. They cared enough to have my name look good on the invitation.

You will be amazed at the compliments you will get from a nice invite with the quests envelope matching the wedding card itself. You may even opt to add a different piece of wedding invitation clip art on the envelope. Keep it in the same style but it can add an extra accent.

Enjoy your special day and make that first impression a good one!

How to Plan a Fabulous Wedding on a Penny Pincher Budget

It was the big moment you'd been waiting for...he popped the question, you said yes! You've announced the big news to family and friends. You're obsessed with the prismatic lights that reflect off your sparkly new ring. You can barely concentrate as you daydream about the next big moment: the slow, elegant walk you'll make in your gorgeous couture wedding gown, the exchange of vows in front of everyone you know, the elaborate celebration to follow. Then you hear the record scratch as your visions of a celebrity-style wedding are slapped by reality...how are you going to afford all this?

It's certainly no secret that weddings aren't cheap. You could buy a car, a house or even a small plane for the amount that some people spend. Of course it's natural to aspire to throw the biggest, best and trendiest wedding you've ever seen, but let's be real - unless you're fortunate enough to belong to the small percentage of the population for which money isn't an option - you're going to have to have a budget.

One of the first things you should do before you start planning anything is to determine the budget. It's something that needs to be agreed upon by both you and your fianc矇. And as tempting as it may be, you really shouldn't over-extend yourselves. Sit down and figure out what's comfortable, and stick to it. The last thing you'll want is to put you and your spouse-to-be into serious financial debt before you even say "I do" and neither do you want the arguments and stress to take away from this very special time. So how do you manage to put together the wedding of your dreams? You seriously don't have to spend a fortune. With some research, creativity and a good deal of effort you can produce an amazing and memorable event without depleting your 401k.

A huge factor in whether or not you can stick to your budget is the size of your guest list. Your mother may insist that you invite every single great aunt, uncle and second cousin, but really, it's all about inviting the people you're closest to. Having a head count of 300 guests is not only going to be extremely expensive, but you'll find you spend the entire night trying to make rounds to every single table and it won't allow time for you to enjoy yourself. Most likely you'd rather be out on the dance floor with your friends versus engaging in polite conversation with your dad's Aunt Gladys whom you haven't seen since you were twelve. You may worry that you're hurting feelings by not inviting everyone you know, but in the long run you'll be happy that you kept your numbers down.

One of the most important decisions you'll make is where you're going to host this shindig. The venue will determine the personality of your wedding. If you're aiming for sophistication, the rod and gun club won't do. The rental may be super cheap, but even if you spend a fortune fluffing it up with d矇cor you're not going to gain the elegance you were trying to achieve. On the other hand, if your style is more laid back and casual there's no need to sink your budget on a Cinderella-like castle. A great way to keep costs down is to find an all-in-one location, where you can have both the ceremony and the reception. There are more options than you may realize, and a diamond in the ruff could be right down the street from you. Consider a winery or vineyard, farm or ranch, university facility, community center, theater or performance hall, a bed and breakfast or lodge, or an historic building. If you're able to find a venue which offers a lot of warmth and charm, you have a great canvas to reflect your wedding's personality. Dress it up for elegance, or keep it casual by allowing the building's character to speak for itself. And by choosing a location not accustomed to hosting weddings you might be able to snag a pretty sweet deal on the rental. There may be more work involved, and the setup and tear down may be your responsibility, but it will be worth it, and more likely than not you'll have plenty of loved ones eager to pitch in.

Speaking of loved ones, don't be afraid to use their talents. Do you have someone in the family or a friend who is a photographer, a baker, a hair or makeup stylist, florist, musician or artist? Enlisting the people you know to help out in their given specialties is a great way to save some cash. Often they'll offer their services at a deep discount, or better yet - free! You'd be surprised how many will tell you to consider their help as your wedding gift and they'll feel quite honored that you asked them to have a part in your special day.

Food and drink can be another big expense. Don't feel you have to serve your guests fillet and seafood. In fact, no one said you're obligated to offer beef, chicken and fish. Neither do you need to give your guests a served meal. Buffet dinners are fine, not only are they usually less expensive than a seated meal they give your guests more to choose from. Shop caterers to find the best deal and don't be afraid to negotiate! And don't rule out grocery stores and restaurants, many of them cater too. If you're planning to have an open bar, it's not necessary to offer a full array of top shelf liquor. You'll eat up a lot of your budget by doing so. Keep it to wine and beer. If you feel the need to have something else, consider a signature drink, such as margaritas, something fun and fruity, or your favorite concoction.

Flowers and centerpieces are other elements which can become costly. Here's where you can evoke your creativity to produce something really cool. Your centerpieces don't have to be towering four foot vases with flowers and ivy spilling out of them. Consider using a few glass cylinder vases and bowls filled with water and floating candles, bamboo, or twigs. Pillar candles of varying heights can be set on mirrors and decorated with ribbon or velum to match your colors (just be sure to find out your venue's policy on candles, they may need to be contained in glass). If you have your heart set on using flowers, talk with your florist to find an inexpensive bloom and be sure to use something that's in season at the time of your wedding (same goes for the bouquets). Another great way to save money is to incorporate the guest favors as the centerpieces. Mini lanterns, small potted plants or votives are a cool way to fill up the table and everyone can take one home at the end of the night. The options are aplenty! Do some research, be prepared to do the work yourself (have a centerpiece making night with your bridesmaids!) and get those creative juices flowing - you can produce something truly unique, fabulous and expensive-looking for a really sweet price if you're willing to put forth the effort.

Many brides and grooms these days are opting to not have a band or DJ and are instead dancing to tunes from their iPods. You can rent the stereo equipment or find someone you know who has it. Ask a friend or family member to announce the wedding party and other parts of the reception such as the cake cutting and bouquet toss. Plus you'll hear the music you really want, no more Electric Slide or Hokey Pokey - unless of course it's your grandmother's signature dance, in that case you may have to concede!

You can save quite a bit of money by making your own invitations. There are a ton of resources on the internet, or you can find some great DIY kits at your local craft store. You can also make your own place cards and table numbers. Anything that would need to be done by a printing company can be done at home with a computer and printer - it just takes some creativity, time and patience. If you know someone who is an artist or graphic designer you can ask them to help you create something really special, and your guests will think you paid to have your invitations custom designed!

Of course one of the most important things (in the bride's opinion) that you'll be spending money on is the wedding gown. You've probably had a vision in mind since you were a little girl. It's your day to look more stunning than ever, all eyes will be upon you and naturally you want to be amazing. Unfortunately, wedding dresses aren't cheap, and even though it's something you're going to wear only once for a few hours it's natural to want to give yourself enough room in the budget to get what you want. Don't expect to get something couture or a Vera Wang if you're limited to a few hundred dollars, but you can certainly still find something that looks great on you. Luckily there are bridal shops such as David's where you can find a decently priced gown, and they have a ton of options. Also, be on the lookout for discontinued styles which you can get at a discount. If you find a dress that you know is "the one" and the sticker price sends you into shock, don't be afraid to search the internet for it. A lot of people sell their gowns on eBay, Craigslist or at consignment shops, and you just might get lucky. Even if it's not the right size you can have it altered, which most likely you'll need to do regardless. (Remember to allow some spending room for the alterations, having your dress fit to flatter your body will make you feel your best.) When it comes to accessories, don't set yourself on needing new jewelry. Chances are your mom, grandmother or future mother-in-law will have something they'd be absolutely honored to have you wear.

If feasible, leave room in your budget to allow for a honeymoon, even if it means you need to cut corners in places you'd rather not. Many couples put off a honeymoon because they'd rather spend their funds on the big day. They tell themselves they'll take a trip later, or on their one year anniversary, but most of them never do. There's a reason for a honeymoon. It gives the newlyweds a chance to unwind from all of the pre-wedding chaos and time to celebrate their new life together. Anyone who's been married will tell you the wedding day itself goes by in the blink of an eye. Once it's all said and done, after the adrenaline rush is over, you'll be so happy to have something else to look forward to. Even if you take just a few days to spend time at a local bed and breakfast, give yourselves a honeymoon, you won't regret it!

Regardless of whether you're spending $5,000 or $50,000 you can put together an amazing event with the proper planning, research, determination and a good attitude. Have fun with the process, don't let the fact that you have budget get you down, consider it a challenge! Use the internet. (It's a wonder how anyone planned a wedding prior to it!) You have so many resources at your fingertips. You'll find page after page of wedding guides, tips and advice. Blogs, Twitter and Facebook are great places to share ideas with other brides and also give you a platform to share stories and vent your planning frustrations with others who are going through the same thing. You can find awesome deals on favors, wedding party gifts, cake toppers, toasting flutes and cake servers by searching the web. The internet is a bride's best friend, so take advantage of it...and remember that while you're typing away it's perfectly normal to be distracted by that new sparkly thing sitting on your ring finger!

SOS - Improve Guest Satisfaction With an Improved Speed of Service

At the very least a restaurant should measure how long it takes the food to be cooked and in turn given to the guest. This measurement is called Speed of Service. It amazes me how many restaurant operators think they understand SOS and its impact on guest satisfaction. So let's examine a visit to a fast food restaurant and how its delivery system is supposed to operate and what information can be gleaned from the measurements.

I will use a drive through for my example. A car pulls in to line to place an order and at some point trips a switch that starts the timer for SOS. This could be at the menu board where the order is taken or a few car lengths away from the speaker. In any case the timer is started. Most major fast food restaurants have cash registers (POS) that communicate information to the kitchen as the cashier is ringing in the food. Now days that communication goes to video screen and at that point the kitchen is involved in the SOS measurement.

Recapping to this point the SOS has two measurements in process. First is the 'line time' when the car joined the line or approached the speaker. Second is the kitchen time. These could be nearly the same or several seconds apart depending on how the customer has ordered. For instance they order all the drinks before ordering any food will make a huge difference in the two timers.

Once the cashier totals the order and asks the guest to pull to a cashier window a third SOS timer begins and it will end once the cashier has completed the money transaction. This time will reveal how fast your cashier may be as well as if a separation of the order taking and cashier is needed. All the major chains use the 2 window system most of the day. Even some local restaurants have taken to using this system. Don't sweat it if you do not have 2 windows. In my opinion (backed by 33 years of fast food experience) it is easier to operate a single window with the proper car spacing than it is to operate 2 windows with cramped car spacing.

At some point the kitchen will have cleared the order off the video system and the kitchen SOS is over. Properly doing this step tells you if you have a slow point in the kitchen, if you need additional staff, if you need more prep or held product or if you need additional training. DO NOT ALLOW your staff to cheat this number by clearing off the screen just to lower the supposed SOS. This number will help you, if it is accurate, to improve your over all SOS. If you allow your staff to cheat the timer you are cheating your customers and giving your competitors a chance to take your guests. I personally know of a chain that encourages the orders to be cleared and then recalled, effectively stopping the clock. Then this chain celebrates "how fast they are" when in reality they are missing the chance to improve in a real way. Looking at the kitchen time a manager would be excited by an 8 second average. But if it takes another 3 minutes before the car receives the food and you have cheated the timer, you don't know who created the problem or how to fix it.

With food ready to be presented to the guest, someone must read a second video screen, gather the order and either pass it off to a presenting staff member or present it themselves to the guest. If you have an up to date timing system this gathering person (expeditor, coordinator or runner) clears off their screen and stops a yet another second timer.

Finally the food is passed to the guest and as the car drives off the last of the timers is stopped. Most major chains have a goal of between 180 seconds to 210 seconds for line time. This the time the car joins the line until the food is presented.

Now think about any trip you have taken to a fast food restaurant and when in the drive through you are asked to "pull up" because something you have ordered is not quite ready. If there is no car behind you, you have been told SOS is more important than real guest service. This restaurant wants the timer to stop rather than really measure how long it takes to serve you. If this happens more than once at the same restaurant you should really reconsider your patronage. Because if a restaurant consistently demonstrates a "cheating" mentality it should make you wonder what other important things they are willing to "cheat". Food safety? Holding times? Hand washing?

In review, using the measurements properly will assist you in making decisions regarding:

• Staffing


• Training


• Prep


• Cooking and holding product


• Organization of your restaurant

The timing information should tell you:

• How long it is taking your cashiers to take an order


• How long it takes to transact the cash


• How long it takes the kitchen to produce the food


• How long it takes the expeditor to gather the food after it is prepared


• How long it takes from gathering the food to presenting it to the guest

Looking it these specific points in the SOS process you can establish service standards and set improvement goals.

6 Top Trends For Wedding Invitations 2010

Are you a style-conscious celebrity watcher, eager to catch the newest trend in wedding gowns? Do you scour bridal mags looking for the best fashion forward ideas? Fashionistas everywhere know that stylish wedding invitation ideas are just as important as the wedding favors or the floral arrangements. Look for these top trends in the best wedding invitations for 2010:

*Mix-n-Match - The go-to fashion for the New Year is fast becoming coordinating bridesmaids dresses. Reflect this in your invites by using mix-n-match stationery. For instance, use a solid-colored invitation with a fun striped or patterned reply card. Another option is to mix and match colors in opposite colors of the spectrum or by using coordinating shades. If you're into DIY, consider seeking out mix and match kits which will allow you to customize your invitation ideas. Mix and match invitations and invitation kits can be found easily through online wedding suppliers.

*Splash 'em with color - Lately stylish brides have been spicing up the traditional white wedding gown with flashes of color. If you're choosing this bridal runway-inspired style, let your stationery follow suit. Try a white or ivory invitation trimmed with a color that matches the colors in your bridal gown.

*Be green - Whether you're an honest-to-goodness tree hugger or a woman who just wants to make a difference in the environment, some of the best wedding invitations for 2010 are eco-friendly. From paper made with up to 100% recycled products to invites embedded with seeds that can be planted in your guests' gardens, it's possible to find invites that are easy on the eyes--and easy on the earth.

*Go neutral - One of the hottest new trends in wedding stationery is using metallics as neutral colors. Earthy bronzes, elegant platinums, and opulent golds are guaranteed to add shimmer and shine to fashion-forward invites. Wow your guests with shimmery, silvery paper or classic golden borders.

*Custom wedding stationery - Some of the best wedding invitations for 2010 are customized invites that let your personality shine through. By working with a wedding stationery specialist, you can customize invites, from selecting your own font and ink colors to one-of-a-kind images.

*Frugal is fashionable - DIY kits are a top wedding invitation idea trend, allowing brides to print invites or other matching cards, such as thank yous, on high-quality paper using a home computer. You'll save a few bucks on printing and, as a bonus, will have complete control over how the invites look.

Remember, it's not worth letting your quest for style get in the way of your wedding day. Ultimately, the best wedding invitations for your ceremony are the ones you like. So find wedding invitations that match your own personal taste and style.

Wedding Cards Design - How To Choose

Things to consider when choosing your wedding cards design is where the event is taking place and the time of the year you are planning it. Budget is another consideration, usually the budget is around 3% of the overall wedding budget, you need to consider all wedding stationery in this, including postage. Another consideration is obviously the amount of people on your list, you should budget for approximately 10-20% extra stationery, for any unforeseen circumstances.

OK, where to begin, many brides to be, consider making the wedding cards themselves, there are many places you can buy the different paper, cards and other adornments needed, but this is time-consuming and if you haven't attempted it before, starting with your wedding is probably not a good idea, you really don't need more stress. There are many stores that can offer you a template, with the design that you want, purchase the paper etc from them and print the stationery at home, you can add the finishing touches yourself. The added advantage of this is you can word the invitation any way you like, choose different fonts and change the color that they are printed in, this is probably one of the cheaper options available, but still requires your time, make sure your printer is up to it and the paper you have chosen is compatible with your printer.

The next most economical way to choose your wedding cards design is by shopping online and view the many designs available, from here you can pick and order all your wedding stationery. Many will offer wedding card samples, you get a great view of the type of the paper you have chosen and you can see straight away how you invitation will look. Not all paper is created equal and the price does vary, depending on the quality, some printing options are better suited to certain papers, so you need to keep that in mind. Printing options include engraving, this is like the name implies leaves an imprint in the paper that you can see and feel, this is a very expensive option and not widely used.

Thermography is the heating of the ink and powder to give the lettering a raised look, this is good for formal invitations. Lithography or off set printing is when design or text is transferred on to metal printing plates, where rollers then apply ink and the text is transferred to paper. This is method is largely being superseded by digital printing because the capabilities are greater. Digital printing requires no printing plates and as such reduces time taken to produce work, it can cope with high volume and designs are easily modified. Ink jet printer used widely in many peoples homes, do as the name suggests sprays small amounts of ink, line by line, many colours can be achieved and you can use them to print of invitations at home.

You must make sure that the paper stock you choose is compatible with your printer. You need to be aware that sometimes the wording and designs can sometimes have "bleeding" and not as defined as you would like. Laser printing, another form of printing from a computer, works well on plain paper. Go through the many designs available online, keep notes of the designs and colors you like best and then make a decision, you will be spoilt for choice, but keep on track and have fun choosing you wedding cards design.

Addressing Wedding Invitations Without Inner Envelopes

So you are ready to order o r make your wedding invitations. You have opted to only have one envelope. How do you address wedding invitations without the inner envelopes?

The inner envelopes started back in old days. The invitations were delivered by a man on horse. He would be in the open riding that horse and the invitations would get dirty. So they would put another envelope over the invitations. They also added the tissue paper to keep the ink from offsetting. Those are two customs that just continued.

Today brides are open for changing those traditions. Many times the future brides will eliminate that second envelope for costs and environmental reasons. This then means that they don't have an inside envelope to write the family names on.

So, how do we now only use one envelope. First, we must realize that most other invitations only have one envelope. You don't have to feel that you are giving second class because you don;t give that extra envelope. After all the days of horsemen delivering mail is gone.

When you address the wedding invitations without the inner envelopes just keep them simple. If you are doing a formal wedding your would put the Mrs. and Mrs. so and so on the first line. If they have children you would list the children on the second line. The children's names will be listed from oldest to youngest. If there are babies and you don't want babies at the wedding omit their names from the invitation envelope. Same for small children.

If you are having a less formal wedding.You can put the first names of the adults on the first line. It is proper to put the woman's name first. This keeps the man's name and his surname together. So it would say Ellen and Tom Smith, then the second line would list the kids names. If there are to many kids to put on one line you may put and family. This needs to be used with caution. Some people believe family to be parents, and some extended family.

If you want to have the name and guest, you would follow the proper wedding etiquette. That means first line is the name of your guest. The second line would say and guest. The word and guest will not be capitalized. This is proper for inner envelopes too.

If there are two people going together you can list both names on the outside envelope. You will not use and if they are not married. So basically the same rules apply you just use the outside envelope instead of inside.

You won't say aunt and uncle like you would on the double envelopes but to most that isn't major. You just want what you do give them to look the best it can.

I hope that gives you some ideas on what is proper to addressing wedding invitations without inner envelopes.

Mentalism Magic Tricks That Amaze

When it comes to being entertained, there are few acts or performers that create wonder, joy, and curiosity as much as magicians. The tricks and illusions that they are able to perform are impressive and usually gain great appreciation from the crowds of individuals that gather around to watch.

Of all of the types of illusionists and magic performers that I have seen perform, those individuals that appear to be reading minds, predicting the future, or revealing the information that has been kept from them, are the most amazing people of all. This type of magic is known as mentalism magic tricks.

Mentalism magic tricks can usually be done at various locations since they rely more on mental deception or manipulation than on staging effects. In fact, that is one of the reasons that mentalism magic tricks are so incredible. They can be done anywhere, which gives the appearance and perception that they are authentic. There are many famous magicians that have become quite famous using this raw and unstaged mentalism in their routines.

Mentalism magicians have been around for a number of centuries. The recorded references to mentalism date back as far as the 16th century. Eventually, there were individuals that stepped forward and became very famous for their amazing presentation and technique. The idea of mentalism magic is usually all in the set up so that the actual deception in the trick is done right at the outset of the performance.

For instance, when a spectator is asked to choose a card out of a deck without the mentalist seeing it, the whole key to the trick probably unfolded at the card selection. If the magician can determine the card that was pulled out, he can then use his presentation and the great trouble he will go to in order to conceal the card as the gimmick that makes the trick so amazing.

The most intriguing part of the mentalist magic illusions is the opportunity your audience has to be right there in front of you. This often makes mentalism more impressive than David Copperfield making the Statue of Liberty disappear. Somehow Copperfield's feat isn't nearly as impressive as the mentalist who just asked you to pick a card out of a deck in front of you, and then when he can't find the card you picked, throws the entire deck at a nearby window right behind him, and then has his chosen card sticking on the window for all to see - on the inside of the window.

David Blaine and Chris Angel have taken the art of mentalism illusion magic to an entirely higher level than it has ever been before. Through their presentations, dramatic mannerisms, and flair for the sensational, David and Chris have both elevated our society's emphasis on street magic.

How to Plan a Country Wedding

Instead of a common city wedding that will be more expensive and more serious go for a country wedding with more style.

Clothing Style

Since countryside promotes ease and relaxation, the best style to dress up is with clothes of comfort. Sundresses, cotton dresses and other casual clothing can be perfect for you and your guests to dress up for a countryside wedding. If you still want to have a formal wedding with more serious and formal outfit it is still all right.

The Venue and the Decoration

Perfect locations for the country wedding can be a farmhouse, a field, a barn, plantation, country church, valley, or a country inn. For an outdoor event, you can make picnic using the tables covered with traditional country checkered tablecloths or quilts. You can also use candles to light up the place if the event will be held at night. Flowers could be daisies, dahlias, and sunflowers. They are the perfect way to place on the table centerpieces.

Music

Country music and bands playing this kind of music will be the perfect providers of music. You could also plan a square country dance. Guests would have a great time dancing especially if they are new to this style.

Foods

Bake small cookies and wrap them in country style gift paper. Get some local fruits or vegetables and put them in baskets and tie the baskets with red and white ribbons. Also, another idea is to can make handmade soaps or candles and put them in special mason jars. It would be perfect if you add a gift tag on each present with personal messages for the guests.

Invitations

A country-style wedding invitation would be a nice preview for your unique wedding event. One good option for the invitation is to use photos of the country scenery and landscape. Your wedding invitation wording should match the country theme. You can be creative on what to write on the invite, if you unsure you can always use love quotes or marriage quotes. When writing wedding invites the format of the invitation is most important, not the design but the layout of the wordings.

A few more Tips

Following are some tips that you can follow if you are not planning a country style wedding.

1. Stick with your budget

2. When transacting with vendors and suppliers plan everything right and have it on time.

3. Do not do everything alone. Ask for help and then say thank you to those people that will help you with the planning of the wedding.

Planning a wedding, could be tiring and time consuming. You might get exhausted. But once you see your beloved one in front of you on your most important day of your life then you will forget everything else.

Wedding Invitation Etiquette - Wedding Reception Invitation Wording

The tradition of having a reception immediately following the wedding is not always followed. It is totally acceptable to have the reception on another date.

If the couple opts to have a destination wedding that will only be a few close family and friends they may have a larger reception later. It is usually best to have the reception within 6 weeks of the wedding. Some couples will get their reception invitations made before the wedding. This allows them to plan the wedding and reception together. Having others handle everything while you are on your honeymoon can be a challenge so get as much done before hand as possible.

Sometimes it is announced that the couple have married and the cards are sent out after the wedding. Either way the proper way to ask your guests does change. The wording for inviting guests to a reception is usually "request the pleasure of your company" and not request the honour of". This is because the wedding has already taken place.

The regular rules of wedding etiquette will take place here. If the brides parents are hosting the reception, they would put their names first just as the wedding but state wedding reception instead. The couples names can then be used as Emily Sue and Keith Paul Smith. Second weddings can name the farther and mother of the bride and omit the brides last name.

If the couple is hosting their own reception, they may just announce the reception as the introduction of the new "Mr. and Mrs. Keith Paul Smith" but make sure and state the brides formal name somewhere. This lets long distance family understand who it is.

If questions come up for how to state the parents names, the proper wedding invitation etiquette is followed. Meaning that parents names will have the same rules that would apply if a wedding was stated. The reception cards do not have to give the date of the wedding but you should announce it at the reception.

If you are just sending out an announcement without requesting an invitation to a reception there are rules for this. The announcement wording is similar to others, here is an example: " Mr. and Mrs. James Smith have the honour of announcing the marriage of their daughter, Emily Sue to Keith Paul Jones."

The date of the wedding is stated but the time is usually omitted. The place should be listed on the announcement also. When announcing the date, you should still write everything out. State the location where couple exchanged vows and the city and state. Putting the street address is not necessary.

Wedding reception invitation wording is a bit different from typical wedding cards. It is easy to follow the proper wedding invitation etiquette even with an announcement.

Wedding Invitations - Thermography Versus Digital Printing

Wedding invitations are printed by a variety of manufacturing processes. With a wide range of invitations to choose from you will be able to find just the right one to fit your theme, formality and budget. It is wise though to know exactly what it is you are purchasing before making your final selection.

At one time all invitations were engraved using a hand tooled engraving plate etched by experienced craftsmen. Often copper plates were used to which ink was added with the paper actually pressed to the plate. This created a raised printing that you could feel. You will see an impression of the entire imprint area on the back side of the paper. By far the most traditional and formal printing method, it is also quite expensive and not used nearly as often today.

Letterpress is popular but is not the same process used in the past that involved lead slugs to make impressions. Today magnesium dies are used to give the impression of letterpress on which you can see the individual letters pressed into the paper from the back side.

The process of lithography or offset printing is the most widely used printing style today. Ink is applied to paper in a printing process that does not provide a raised or pressed appearance. Magazines and marketing materials are printed in this way. Less expensive than engraving, it looks fine but is not as elegant.

Digitally printed invitations are the least expensive to produce. The appearance is similar to that of lithography and much like the laser printing that you do yourself on your home printer. A relatively fast process, digitally printed invitations are fully customizable.

Thermography is a popular step in the printing process that looks very much like engraving but is far less costly. Thermal powders are spread on wet ink and heated so that the powder melts into a solid mass that fuses and sits on top of the paper surface. A fast process, you can feel the raised lettering on the front but not on the back of the paper. Less costly than engraving but almost as nice, thermography wedding invitations are a great choice for invitations you will be proud to send.

Before selecting your wedding invitation supplier, be sure and ask by what method your invitations will be produced. All will include your customized information but you will want that information to look as nice as it can within your established budget. When in doubt, ask that samples be provided for your review. Your wedding invitations set the tone for your special day and you deserve the best.

How Much Should I Pay for a Band at My Event?

When faced with the daunting task of choosing a band for your event, the choices seem to be endless, even more so, complicated. Its almost like nothing makes any sense. Make sure that you choose a band that is in the right category for the type of party you are having. Category you say? What does that mean? Isn't a band just a band? Are there really categories? Yes of course there are categories for bands, just like there are categories for many things... For example, lets say you want to rent a comedy to watch with you wife tonight, you wouldn't look at movie titles from the Horror section! And if you are having a party for your wedding reception you should be looking at bands that perform in the wedding category, makes sense right? But how do you know the difference? Its simple, see what category the band is in, and make sure they are the right fit for you... So let's explore the different types of categories starting from the lower end moving our way up to the higher end.

Category 1: Hobby Bands

These bands play for fun, mostly on weekends for their friends or family. They don't have a dress code, their gear is usually lower end, and the songs they play are typically ones that equal their level of ability. These bands aren't very career minded; don't have websites or promotional material, however they can be entertaining. They typically will jam at a party rather then put on a show for an audience. These bands are happy to show up and play for free, and if you throw in a case of beer they will love you for it!

Category 2: Bar Bands

Under this category there are 3 separate levels of bar bands that you're going to come across.

Level 1 Bar Bands:

This level is at a lower end for the bar band category. These acts are typically a soloist or duo that perform with backing tracks (pre-recorded music) or they can be just an acoustic player. They can also be a piano player or a combination. These types of acts play in smaller bars usually from 25 people up to 100 depending on the venue and the type of act. At this level a soloist may charge anywhere from $50 up to $300 if they are really good and can work with a larger audience. A duo may charge anywhere from $100 up to $400 depending on how well they can work an audience and bring patrons into the venue. These acts usually have a tip jar and take requests. There is not a great deal of pressure at this level and often these acts are easy going and work at their own pace. It can be hit and miss at this level, as some are outstanding, while others are just blend into the background while you enjoy a beer and burger at your local watering hole.

Level 2 Bar Bands:

At this level you will typically find bands in the size of a three piece and up to a five piece. These bands are a little bit more professional, they take a little more pride in how they dress and perform. Not that the "level 1" Bar Bands don't, however there is a variant of professionalism at this level then the lower one. The bands at this level will typically earn anywhere from $300 up to $1200 per night depending on their experience and their ability to work an audience. Also, their price can reflect on how busy the bar gets as well. These bands may have there own PA and Lights, however it will usually be to accommodate the type of venue which may hold 75 up to 150 guests. It should also be noted that a lot of venues at this level do have their own PA and Lights so this is more attractive to some bands, who don't want to make the financial investment to purchase their own equipment. It is at this level that the majority of people have experienced when seeing a band live, and when making a decision on choosing a band for their event. These bands can be easily found playing nightly. It's important to also mention that the vast majority of these bands are weekend part time players. They usually have day jobs or teach to supplement their income. Only a small percent of bands at this level perform full time, and in this case, may be more professional minded. It's important to also note that the majority of bands in this category are more focused on themselves, meaning, the show is all about them, and not the audience. Though, most people associate the theory of " a band is just a band" to this category, because this is the only type of band (level) they have ever really experienced. However like the movie title example earlier, there is much more available beyond your local bar band, which takes us to the next level...

Level 3 Bar Band:

This level of bar band is greatly associated with Tribute or Clone bands. Other bands at this level are specialty bands that perform music of a specific era. These bands are typically very professional and have taken the time to produce quality promotional material including videos. These acts don't play every night, however they can be found on special evenings such as a Birthday party, Halloween, or other special occasions. They will usually charge anywhere from $800 and go as high as $2,500 per night depending on how elaborate there show costumes and performance is. You may see at this level acts such as The Beatles Shows, or Elvis etc...

Category 3 Corporate Event Bands;

Corporate Event Bands? Aren't they the bands you see in the bars? NO! These skilled bands perform at Corporate Parties, Conventions, Fund Raisers, Festivals, etc... These bands usually work with specific agents or management. They are very well organized, usually always have their own PA and Lighting, dress and coordinate at a much higher level then the previous levels. They can handle logistics of equipment, travel and their promotional material is top quality. So how come you don't see corporate bands around? Well, because the events these bands perform are NOT open to the general public, this is why so many people don't even know they exist. However there are a large number of these bands around. They are business minded, and usually full time performers that have their own companies and some even cover them for health insurance. These bands can easily manage the flow of the evening, deal with special requests, and work with high pressure/profile situations. These bands are usually masters at controlling a room full of people. At this level there is no margin for error while performing, and these bands can smoothly make an event spectacular. These bands can charge anywhere from $2500 and up to $10,000 or more per night depending on the size of the group, and type of client looking to hire for the event.

Category 4 Wedding Bands:

Bands at this level have a higher level of investment on their part. They all have websites of great quality, own their own PA and Lighting, dress sharp, and are very well organized. They understand why they are hired for a wedding and create the proper atmosphere for the bride. They completely understand that there is no margin for error, and these bands take a great deal of time in rehearsing and managing the flow of the night making the bride and groom's night magical. There can be a higher level of pressure at this level because it's a once in a lifetime event, and everything must be right the first time! The sound must be great. These bands understand that the party is not about them, but about the families uniting and celebrating the joy between two people deeply in love. Bands at this level can handle complicated requests and will deal with brides and wedding planners in a very professional manner. Wedding bands charge anywhere from $3,200 to $10,000 or more per night, depending on the size of the band, their experience and ability to provide the desired environment. You can find bands in a 4 piece and even as high as a 12 piece or even higher! Remember if your getting a band that is cheaper, its not because they are a wedding band at a lower price, its because they're probably a bar band charging a higher price. It's important to know that the band you choose can provide the right atmosphere for the two uniting families, and not provide a bar band environment for your favorite niece or your silver haired grandma...

Category 5 Original Bands:

These bands, as you have already guessed, write their own music and will go out and play clubs, parties, festivals and anywhere else that people can be exposed to there music. Some also play cover songs, however there primary focus is to get their music heard. They focus on building a following so they can sell their own CD's and merchandise. These types of bands will earn anywhere from zero dollars to thousands depending on how popular they are. These bands are entrepreneurs and innovators of music, it's with much sacrifice that these bands endure and making it to the top, is certainly no easy task.

Category 6 Record Label Bands:

This to some is the holy grail of status in the music industry. These bands can be signed to recording contracts with major record labels giving the artists a significant income and fame. These bands have music videos, CD's, and tour extensively at major venues including arenas and stadiums. These bands can charge anywhere from $8,000 up to tens of thousands a night! Not bad for a nights work, however, it does come at the expense of a lifetime of preparation! It's important to note that not all recording label bands become rich and famous, it's the bands business side that may need professional consulting.

So, if you want the right band for your event, choose from the right category and you will know exactly what you are getting. When talking to a band notice the price range they offer, this will be an indication of the type of category they are in. Do you really want a hobby band performing at your next corporate event? How about a level 2 bar band at your wedding reception? Many clients have been overjoyed from there choice of a band at there party, while others who have focused solely on cost have not chosen wisely only to have there event turn in to a disaster. Seek out the right fit for your event and you'll be just fine!

Good luck!

Peter Khan is a highly acclaimed entertainer who has been performing throughout the world for over two decades. He is the Music Manager for the wedding and corporate event band, ELITE.

info@eliteshowband.com

http://www.eliteshowband.com

Making the Perfect Wedding Invitation Sample!

Given below is a common format for a wedding invitation:

Before you start writing invitation letters, decide on who is announcing the wedding- the couple's parents or the bride and groom themselves.

The next point to consider is whether you want your invitation to be formal or informal. If it is a formal invitation, you can use 'Mr. and Mrs. John request the honor of your presence', and if it is an informal invitation, you can use 'Please join us'.

The tone of the invitation also depends on the venue of the wedding. If it is taking place in a place of worship, it needs to be a formal invitation.

A traditional invitation will consist of the bride's name after her parents' names, eg.: Mr. and Mrs. John request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Elizabeth John.
The groom's name is written after the bride's name. For example, continuing the above example: to Henry Jake Brown, son of Mr. and Mrs. Brown.

Write the date of the wedding: Thursday, Eighth of August,2000.

Below the date, mention the time of the wedding, venue and the full address of the location.

If possible, enclose a map to the venue and a stamped reply card.

Here is a wedding invitation sample:

Mr. and Mrs. Sam John

along with

Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Brown

request the honor of your presence

at the wedding of their children

Elizabeth John

And

Henry Jake Brown

Thursday, 8th August, 2004

At 1:00 pm

Zxy Towers

45th Street

Happyville

The above is a standard form of wedding invitation used by almost all wedding couples. You can make your own wedding based on a theme and write a unique wedding invitation letter.

For example if you have a Fairy tale wedding theme, you can write:

"Wish upon a star, it really does come true!"

Join us in our own happily ever after

By joining hands in wedded bliss,

Elizabeth John and Harry Jake Brown

Thursday, 8th August, 2004

One o'clock in the noon

Zxy Towers

45th Street

Happyville"

The guest list is made depending upon how big a wedding you are planning. If the wedding is a big affair then your friends, family, friends of the family and work colleagues of both the families are invited. In a small wedding you have to choose the guest list carefully.

Make sure that your invitations are ready and sent out two or three months prior to the wedding date. If there are many guests who are not living in the same town as you, send the invitations three months before the wedding as they will require time to plan and arrange their travel in advance.

Match Your Wedding Invitations to Your Wedding Location

It is always said that the wedding invitations help to set the tone for the event. They are a wonderful way to give your guests a hint about what to expect. A fantastic way to do this is to select invitations which are inspired by the site where you will have your wedding. Learn how to match your wedding invitations to your wedding location with beautiful results.

Think about the reasons you chose the venue for your wedding. The chances are that there was something about the appearance or style of the space that really spoke to you. That is the place to begin when shopping for wedding invitations that capture the essence of the wedding site. For instance, imagine that you plan to hold your reception in the grandest hotel ballroom in town. Perhaps your vision includes chandeliers, an orchestra, a bevy of bridesmaids in designer gowns and crystal bridesmaid jewelry, and black tie attire. Convey the elegance of your wedding by selecting engraved invitations with opulent flourishes, such as hand calligraphy on the envelopes. If you wish, you could have your stationery bejeweled with crystals or adorned with a chandelier motif. Your guests will definitely know to expect a swanky wedding when they receive your elegant invitations.

Outdoor locations are extremely popular for weddings, and they tend to be a bit less formal than a ballroom wedding. Give some thought to the most outstanding feature of your outdoor site. Maybe you are getting married in a field of wildflowers; an invitation made from paper with petals in it would be ideal. Or perhaps you will exchange your vows with a stunning mountain view in the background. A natural choice for stationery would be paper with an abstract mountain design. For a vineyard wedding, invitations that feature grapevines done in letterpress would be gorgeous. Another cool idea is to have custom stationery made which resembles a vintage wine label. Either way, your friends and family will have a good idea about what your upcoming wedding will be like.

Beach and destination weddings are always favorites of brides and grooms. You can get your guests in a tropical frame of mind by ordering invitations with a distinctively beachy flavor. Tailor your motif to the particular oceanfront destination you have selected to give it more character than a generic beach invitation. For example, if you plan to jet off to Hawaii, choose paper which is decorated with a watercolor image of a yellow hibiscus, which is the state flower of Hawaii. If you plan to tie the knot at an oceanside yacht club, a classic nautical motif like a sailboat or nautical flags would be more appropriate. Couples getting married on the sand in Florida could choose stationery with a palm tree embossed on it. By being specific, you will really help to set the stage for your celebration.

A modern wedding calls for invitations which are unique and non-traditional. Let's say that you have planned a hip reception in a modern loft and your bridesmaids will wear chic cocktail dresses with unique bridesmaid jewelry. A traditional engraved invitation just would not make sense. Instead, give guests a hint at the style of your wedding by choosing something with an ultra-modern vibe. Look for paper that is square or round, use a bold sans-serif font, and play with unexpected color combinations. When your guests receive your contemporary invitations in the mail, they will know that your wedding is not going to be a generic cookie cutter affair. By selecting wedding invitations that coordinate with your venue, you will be able to showcase the character and style of your wedding.

New Reality Wedding Show - Four Weddings

If the slate of shows on television is any indication, Americans love to watch shows about weddings! The ever-expanding list of "reality" shows about weddings has just added another entry to its roster. Four Weddings on TLC is a wedding reality show with a twist: brides actually judge each other's weddings from start to finish, and the winner gets a fancy honeymoon.

The competition factor is one thing which sets Four Weddings apart from other wedding shows. Most of the wedding programs follow brides through specific parts of their nuptials, such as shopping for a bridal gown (I must confess to loving Say Yes to the Dress!), working with a planner (Whose Wedding is it, Anyway?), fighting over budgets (Rich Bride, Poor Bride), throwing budgets out the window (Platinum Weddings), or just plain throwing things (Bridezillas!). The fun part about the competition is not so much finding out who wins the honeymoon prize as watching the groups of contestants attend each other's weddings and pass judgement.

And judge they do! Each bride gets to give her three competitors a score on her bridal gown, venue, food, and overall experience. To try to keep greedy brides from shortchanging her competitors with lowball scores, the experience is graded from 1-10, but the other three categories are ranked. The brides get points depending on how the other women ranked her gown, venue, or food from first to third, and then those numbers are tallied up with the experience scores to determine the ultimate winner. In the first few episodes which have aired so far, it does appear that spending a lot of money on the wedding does give brides an edge in coming out on top and winning Four Weddings, which is probably no big surprise.

Perhaps the best part about Four Weddings is listening to the comments that each bride makes about the other weddings she attends. It is often obvious that they are trying to find ways to make negative remarks without coming across as catty. Being strangers before the contest begins, the four brides know little about the other women and their customs, making for some interesting exchanges. I was particularly amused by a recent bride who made her lack of religious knowledge evident by complaining several times about a Jewish wedding which was scheduled for a Sunday. Every time she said how inconsiderate it was for a bride to inconvenience her guests with a Sunday wedding, I just cringed at her obvious lack of understanding about the fact that Jewish weddings are often scheduled on Sundays as they cannot take place until after the Sabbath ends on Saturday after sundown.

It is also entertaining to watch the competitors judging the gowns and food chosen by the other brides. Limited food selections, poor presentation, and cold steak are among the horrors that the guest brides must endure. Undoubtedly each of the women believes that her gown and bridal jewelry are beautiful, but to hear the comments, beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder! "I guess if that's how she wants to look..." is bride-speak for, "I can't believe she would be seen wearing that dress in public!". Hilarious!

The total experience score for Four Weddings can apparently be based on whatever vague criteria each bride wishes. Was the ceremony a tear jerker? Did the bridal gown and jewelry meet expectations? Was the reception venue impressive, the centerpieces original, and music well chosen? The interesting part about the show is that the personal tastes of the competitors are so varied (and their expectations for the other women so high) that you never know how they will cast their scores. In the end, each bride walks away thinking that her wedding was the most perfect, whether she wins the grand prize or not.

Top Tips For Choosing Your Wedding Photographer

Getting married is an amazing experience. It is a day filled with emotion, joy, happiness and sometimes a little sadness when a family member or friend who is no longer with us is not there to share our special day.

As professional wedding photographers we know how stressful arranging your wedding day can be. With so many photographers around, where do you start? What do you need to know when looking for a wedding photographer? With prices ranging from a few hundred pounds to many thousands, how do you know if they are right for you?

It is a simple fact of life that with the arrival of digital cameras, many people now call themselves a "photographer". Over recent years there has been an explosion of people offering their services as wedding photographers, many of who have never received any training, have no insurance, do not use professional equipment and do not have sufficient backups in place to cater for any eventuality.

A professional photographer will have all of the above and this post is a quick "Help Guide" to the things to look for and the questions we recommend you ask when choosing a wedding photographer. Grab yourself a cuppa and get comfy. This is not a definitive guide, merely a general overview of what to look for.

Looking for a Photographer:

Personal Recommendations: Have you been to a wedding recently? What did your friends think of their photographer? As a Yorkshire wedding photographer the majority of our clients come from personal recommendations from either Bride and Grooms who have used us, or from Venues that know the quality of the work we produce and the fantastic value for money we offer.

Google And Other Search Engines:

A quick search on any of the major search engines will produce a mind numbing amount of choices. For example, if you type into Google the search terms "Wedding Photographer" it will return millions results. Simply going through each result would take you years, so as a general rule of thumb, stick with those on page 1 or page 2. The reason for this is simple: If they are on page 1 or 2 then they have taken the time to ensure that their website is well designed, optimised and placed, to ensure that their products or services are easy to find for prospective Bride and Grooms.

Choosing A Photographer

As soon as you have decided on a date, have booked your wedding venue and received confirmation then book all other services required for your wedding day as quickly as possible. Leaving it to the last minute to book your wedding photographer is not a good idea.

Many Bride and Grooms start looking for their photographer the day they get engaged.

Websites:

The first thing to do is look at a photographers website but do NOT be fooled into thinking this is the be all and end all. Always concentrate on the images and not the website design. These days for a few hundred pounds you can have a real classy looking website designed. Never forget that a website only shows the content that the photographer WANTS you to see. You will only generally see the best images, the ones they want to use to showcase their abilities so take a good look around the website. Have a look and see how many different weddings you can see. If there is only one or two, have they only photographed a few weddings? Also how much information does the photographer give you? Are they up front about their prices or do you have to go in and see them to find out how much they charge? Do they give you specific detailed information about their services?

Also be VERY wary if they say they are a member of a "Professional Trade Organisation". Some trade organisations only require photographers to pay an annual subscription fee to join then allow the photographer to use the Organisations logos on their website. Indeed some organisations have absolutely no joining requirements, you do not even have to own a camera and your Granny, who has no idea about photography, could join if she wanted. Do your homework and check out Trade Organisations carefully as they are not all the same.

Some are for full time professionals only and Members are required to undergo evaluation, inspection and have insurance documents checked, others simply let you pay a nominal amount and declare you to be a "Professional Photographer". Remember that the photography industry is not regulated and anyone can claim to be a "photographer".

Price:

If it seems too good to be true, chances are it is! Many photographers just starting out tend to charge really low prices and only cover their costs. Many see your wedding as a way of building a portfolio of wedding images. Now this will not apply to all budget priced photographers but as a general rule of thumb, if the price seems really low, then there is a reason for it, so try and find out what it is.

For many Bride and Grooms, price ends up being the determining factor. You spend hundreds, if not thousands on the dress, the venue charges a small fortune, then there are the cars, the Grooms attire, Bridesmaids dresses, the cake, the flowers - cutting costs on your wedding photography can result in poor wedding photographs resulting in huge disappointment and photographs of the day that you simply do not want to look at.

Remember it is a one shot event - to get everyone back to retake the photographs will be time consuming and very expensive.

Make An Appointment:

Until you go meet the photographer, you will not be fully informed if they are the right person for the job. At the meeting ask to see photographs from AT LEAST five recent weddings. Ask if the photographer has worked at your venue before and if so ask if you can see some images from that wedding. Ask to see the demo albums - is there a good range to choose from? Does the photographer have letters of recommendation from previous clients, if so ask to see them. Does the photographer work from home or from a Studio?

During this meeting there are some really important questions to ask, a few are detailed below:

Q. How long have you been trading and how many weddings have you photographed? If the answer is "6 months and 2 weddings, both of them friends of the family who I did not charge because I need the experience and the images for my portfolio" - is this the right photographer for you?

Q. Are you insured?

All professional photographers should carry Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance. If they do not then tread carefully.

Q. What are your prices, and what do I get in my package?

Seems a silly question to ask right? Well no! There is nothing worse than handing over your hard earned cash only to find that after the wedding you are not getting what you thought you were. Is there an album in the package? How many hours coverage do you get? What additional products are included in the price? Does the price include image editing? Do you have an overtime fee if we run over?

Q. Do you contract out your wedding photography service?

Picture this scene..... you spend months researching photographers, finally decide on one, get them booked then on the wedding day, someone you have never met before turns up to photograph your big day. How are you going to feel? Angry?

Make sure that the person you book with is the person who will attend and take your wedding photographs. Sounds simple I know but you will be surprised just how many photographers sub contract out their work to other, often inexperienced and uninsured, photographers.

Q. Is this your full time job?

Many photographers have full time jobs and photograph weddings on a part time basis so may not necessarily be available to answer your questions or emails during normal working hours. If you have a last minute question, it may take some time to get a response or you may not be able to schedule meeting times that are convenient to you.

Q. Do you provide a written contract?

It is absolutely critical that you receive a written contract detailing your exact expenditure and what products/services you are getting.

Q. How many weddings do you cover per day?

If the answer is anything other than ONE - be careful. Many photographers will cover more than one wedding a day and this can lead to problems at YOUR wedding. What if the first wedding runs late? This will mean that the photographer may be late to yours.

Q. Can I see some of your work / view the demo albums?

Make sure you have a good look at the photographers work. Look at image quality, look at album quality. Looking at images of babies, sunsets, buildings or family portraits will not give you any idea of their abilities as a wedding photographer. Also ask the question "Is this from a real wedding?". You will be amazed just how many photographers use images taken on training days in their portfolios. They attend a training session where a Trainer sets up the shot then tells the photographer how to take it. The image may be amazing but can they reproduce it during a real wedding with all the pressure and stresses involved?

Q. What backup equipment do you bring to the wedding?

It never fails to amaze me that photographers still attend a wedding with only ONE camera! If that camera breaks down what are they going to do? Pop out their mobile phone and carry on shooting?

Q. Do you do a pre-wedding site visit?

Have you ever been to a wedding and when it comes to having the photographs taken, it is absolute chaos? Uncle John has gone to check in, Aunty Flo has nipped to the loo, your Best Man has popped to the bar. Surely the Bride and Groom should have been a bit more organised shouldn't they? Well actually no!

This is down to the photographer and not the happy couple. Site visits allows photographers to create a plan for the day and are a critical component to the overall planning of the day.

Q. What "style" do you photograph in?

There are different styles such as Traditional, Reportage, Photojournalistic, Fashion, Glamour - does the photographer photograph in the style YOU are wanting? Do they do it weekend in, weekend out, or are they trying to photograph in a way they may not necessarily do on a regular basis. Get this bit right and you will love your wedding photographs as you will receive what you expected. Get it wrong and you could end up hating them.

Q. Will you put my wedding photographs online for our guests to see?

The majority of photographers now do this as standard though some still do charge extra for it. Check if there any additional costs involved.

Q. Do you do a pre-wedding meeting?

A professional photographer will prefer to sit down with each and every Bride and Groom at some point before the big day to discuss the day itself. Topics covered may include things like what photographs are to be taken and where, any special requests by the Bride and Groom etc. This helps ensure that the day runs as smoothly as possible.

Q. What will you wear when photographing my wedding?

Again seems a silly question right? You will be surprised how many "professional" photographers turn up to photograph a wedding dressed in jeans, t-shirts and trainers. Smart business attire is the norm but do check!

Booking Your Photographer:

As soon as you have decided on the photographer who is going to cover your big day... PHONE THEM! It is not unusual for photographers to work on a "first come, first served" basis and there is nothing worse than doing all the hard work only to find that someone booked your date 2 hours earlier.

Many photographers will require you to pay a retainer to secure the date. This will be either a fixed amount or a percentage of the total package price and will be deducted from your total photography costs.

Remember: Make sure you get a written contract which details the amount you are paying and what you are getting.

One final thing to think about: Personality. Chances are that your wedding photographer will spend more time with you than any of your other suppliers. Can you spend a whole day with them? Can you work with them for an extended period of time? This is a point that is often forgotten about!

Hope this has helped and if you are getting married in the near future, I hope you have a wonderful day!

Mark

The Importance of a Wedding Checklist Timeline

That long-awaited day of your wedding is most likely destined to be the biggest and most significant day of your entire life. So, without a doubt, you'll want everything to be absolutely perfect, in every way, shape or form. However, in order to accomplish this overwhelming task, without compromising on any aspect of your dream-filled ideas, you'll need a legitimate and comprehensive plan, if you intend to maintain your sanity, as you attempt to pull this thing off. A well thought out Wedding Checklist Timeline is an organizational tool that will pay valuable dividends, over and over again, as it will help to provide the confidence that you've need as you avoid even the slightest oversight regarding any detail. In other words, you've left absolutely nothing to chance. And, just as significantly, when you control the details, you're also in a better position to exercise a great deal of control over the ever mounting costs. Undoubtedly, it will require a bit more up front effort, but once the plan is in place and you have plenty of time for flawless fulfillment, it's going to be a lot easier to thoroughly examine each alternative, allowing you to pick and choose between the most affordable alternatives. That way you'll be keeping the overall expenses constrained within your established budget limits.

The vast majority of wedding experts agree that, if done properly, the typical wedding planner checklist should start the process of genuine implementation at least 16 to 18 months in advance of the momentous event. It doesn't get any bigger than this, so you'll have to get the wheels turning if you don't want anything to go wrong. True perfection may be difficult to pull off, but it's not completely impossible when you have an effective and well thought out plan. This is your wedding day. It's an awesome event that will surely provide you with many of your life's most precious memories, so it's time to roll up your sleeves, get this project rolling.

Here's a list of some of the high level tasks that will take much of your time, as you bring this project to fruition.
Brainstorm - get your ideas formulated and organized on paper. Consider things like small wedding ideas, unusual wedding venues, outdoor wedding ideas.

Budget - establish your financial limits and guidelines. Consider a cheap wedding reception as a means to save money.

Guest List - Who do you want to participate in this special event.

Reservations - Book the Venues.

Vendors - Interview and get contracts on flowers, food, photographer, musicians, baker, etc.

Wedding Dress - Provide time for up to four fittings for your bridal gown, just in case.

Bridesmaids - Sizes, colors, styles, fabrics and multiple fittings will all take time.

Invitations - Lots of choices. Consider the wedding reception invitation wording if you're making your own. Or, customized wedding invitation text if you're going to buy them.

Officiant - Choose the individual to perform ceremony and acquire all legal documents.

Rehearsal - Invitations, venue, favors, gifts, speeches, and readings will take some coordination.

Rings - Purchase, re-size and engrave.

Makeover - Hairstyle, cut, color, manicure, and pedicure.

Music - Wedding reception songs, wedding songs first dance, DJ, etc.

And, much, much more.

A project this big is going to have so many things going on that you'll quickly get blown off course if you're not able to stay on top of everything. The earlier phases are certainly not as demanding, but as time progresses, inertia and the clock will begin to work against you if you don't have everything under control. So, now is the time to set up the framework that will help you manage the insanity.
The most important consideration here is to GET organized and to STAY organized and by developing a well thought out wedding checklist timeline, you'll be well on your way to a satisfying and highly successful outcome.

For a free fully detailed checklist, please visit Wedding Checklist Timeline.

Copyright 2010 Harry Monell. All rights reserved. Please feel free to share the entire contents of this article with your friends or post it on your site as long as it is left intact with all links unchanged, including this notice.

Online Party Linen Rentals Make for a Fun, Affordable Event

Unless you run a large-scale event planning company and have access to endless storage space, chances are high that you'll have more luck saving if you get your napkin and tablecloth rentals online. In addition to offering a larger selection than locally owned party linen rental companies, you'll find that online linen rental is cheaper, simpler to order and, like all online shopping, much less time-consuming than looking for local businesses and dealing with people directly. While a number of local establishments that offer table linens for rent will provide you with great service, they can't match the selection of online vendors. Here's why.

For Party Linen, "Rental" Means No Cleaning and No Worries

Unless you have professional experience with large scale cleaning, you probably have no idea what cleaning a room's worth of table linens. For rentals, this isn't an issue. The vast majority of tablecloth rental businesses that operate online (or at least the majority of the ones who are worth the money) offer cleaning services and set-up. Smaller operations are often shorthanded, so even if you find table linens for rent from a smaller company, you may need to pay more and do most of the set up work.

You Can Come Up With Your Color Palette Far in Advance

Because online linen rental companies tend to post their entire inventory online, you'll have a much better chance to examine their offerings and decide on your preferred color palette weeks, or even months, before your event. By deciding on your tablecloth rentals online, you'll be able to make other critical decisions, including your cutlery, flowers, and even what to wear to the event. In many cases, online party linen rental companies even include algorithms that make suggestions as to which table linens you should rent, matching napkins to tablecloths and even to centerpieces. Compared to going to a warehouse and sorting through linen swatches, scrolling through a selection is much more efficient and allows more creativity.

Finding Coupons for Online Tablecloth Rentals is Easy

It doesn't matter what the occasion is-saving money is always welcome. The internet is known for its great deals, and searching for promo codes and other offers is incredibly simple. You can either do a search or simply go to the online linen rental company's website. During certain seasons, you'll be able to save quite a bit of money, leaving you with the means to go all out on catering and other event essentials. Look for bundle deals-discounted napkins for every order of party linen rentals, discounts when you order a certain number of table linens, or coupons for future rent services.

Laws Of Marriage In Nigeria

Nigeria is as pluralistic in her legal systems as she is in ethnic make ups. There are basically three systems of law in Nigeria i.e the English law, Customary law and Islamic law (also known as Sharia law).

Each of these laws has its system of marriage, though they have their differences and similarities. All the three systems of marriage are equal at least in terms of their recognition as marriage that could be legally contracted in Nigeria by anyone who wishes.

It is possible for a person to contract two marriages, one under the Customary law and the other under the Islamic law but this is unacceptable as far as English law is concerned.

It is important at this point to have a look at each of the marriages with some details.

English Law Marriage

Contracting marriages in line with the tenets of the English law is governed by the Marriage Act in Nigeria. As far back as 1860 the court had, in Hyde vs. Hyde, defined marriage as " the voluntary union for life of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others". This has been accepted as the meaning of the English law marriage ever since. This type of marriage clearly abhors polygamy.

For a marriage to be valid and qualified as an English law marriage in Nigeria, the under listed conditions stipulated by the Marriage Act must be complied with.

Conditions for Valid English Law Marriage

• Parties to the marriage must have agreed to be husband and wife


• The man must have filed a notice in the Marriage Registry within the area where the marriage is to be celebrated, stating his intention to get married


• The notice is then entered in the Marriage Notice Book by the registrar


• The notice remains open for a minimum of 21 days before the Registrar can issue Marriage Certificate


• During the 21 days, anybody who so wishes may enter a caveat as an objection to the planned marriage


• At this point, the Registrar will refer the caveat to the High Court which will determine the fate of the caveat one way or the other


• Where the caveat is held valid by the High Court, the Registrar will be stopped from issuing the Marriage Certificate until the objection raised in the caveat ceases to exist


• Where the High Court invalidates the caveat, the Registrar will proceed to issue the Marriage Certificate. The issuance of the Marriage Certificate should not be earlier than 21 days or later than 3 months from the time of filling a notice of intention to get married by the man.

Other Factors That May Prevent Issuance of the Marriage Certificate

Apart from any objection that may be contained in a caveat, the Registrar must not issue the Marriage Certificate in any of the following situations:

• where none of the parties has been resident in the area where the marriage is to be celebrated 15 days preceding the issuance of the marriage certificate


• where the Registrar is satisfied that one of the parties is a minor (i.e below age of 16)


• where consent of one of the parties to the marriage is obtained by fraud, dress, undue influence, mistaken identity or a party incapable of giving consent due to mental ill-health


• where the parties have blood relationship like cousins


• where one of the parties is already married either under the English or Customary law.

Celebration of Marriage

The marriage itself can take place in either of two places i.e the Marriage Registry or a place of worship.

In the case of the Marriage Registry, the following conditions apply:

• it must take place before the registrar


• there must be at least two witnesses, and


• it must take place between 10 am to 4pm.

While in the case of a place of worship, the rules are these:

• it must be conducted by a recognized minister of the religious organization concerned


• the place of worship must be a place licensed under the Marriage Act to conduct marriage


• there must be minimum of two witnesses


• before conducting the marriage, the minister must be certain that the Marriage Certificate has been obtained by the parties


• the marriage must take place between 8am to 6pm


• the minister must send a copy of the Marriage Certificate to the Registrar of Marriage within 7 days of the marriage

English law marriage is the most complicated to conclude as will be seen later in the article, when compared to the other two systems of marriage in Nigeria.

Customary Law Marriage

Customary law marriage is the easiest marriage to contract in Nigeria. It is a marriage celebrated according to the customs and traditions of any local tribe in Nigeria. In terms of marriage, varied tribes in Nigeria have a lot in common.

Essentials of a Customary Law Marriage

• Agreement between a man and a woman to be husband and wife


• Parental consent especially that of the woman's side


• Payment of the dowry by the man to the woman's family


• Handing over of the woman to the man.

Once the above conditions are fulfilled, a Customary law marriage is validly contracted. This marriage accommodates polygamy so the man can marry as many wives as he wishes. In fact, there is no limit to the number of women that a man can marry under various native customs in Nigeria.

Islamic Law Marriage

Islamic law marriage refers to a marriage celebrated by two Muslims (i.e a male & a female) in line with the dictates of the Sharia law. Islamic law allows a Muslim male to marry up to 4 wives provided that he will ensure fairness, equity and justice among them.

To have a marriage validly celebrated in line with the Islamic law, the following must be fulfilled:

• the parties to the marriage must have agreed to marry each other


• the consent of the woman's father or uncle or any male family member is compulsory


• the man must give a gift( it could be money or an article) as dowry. The monetary value of whatever is given must not be less than N5000. There is no maximum


• celebration of marriage itself must be witnessed by the minimum of two witnesses.

Once the above requirements are met, an Islamic law marriage is deemed to have taken place.

What I have planned to do by this article is to present succinct picture of different marriages that Nigerians and Non-Nigerians residing in Nigeria can contract depending on the individual's preference.

The only marriage that is not free for all is the Islamic law marriage which can only take place between a Muslim male and female. However, a Muslim male is allowed to marry a female who belongs to "the People of the Book". This refers to Jewish or Christian females.

Apart from Christians and Jewish faithfuls, a Muslim male cannot marry from any other faith. It might be interesting to hear that the converse is the fate of a Muslim female. She can only marry a fellow Muslim male. This smacks of a subtle strategy to win more converts into the Islamic fold.

Having said that, I believe Nigeria is one of the countries where multiplicity of marital choices is well taken care of. Although marriage between same sex or people who are closely related by blood is not allowed and there is no indication that that will happen in no distant future.

It is quite funny to note that some people term marriage under the English law as "legal marriage" as if other marriages are not. This is wrong. As a matter of fact, all the three marriages are legal.

Cheap Wedding Ideas To Cut Down Your Wedding Costs

Here are three cheap wedding ideas to cut your wedding expenses dramatically:

1. HUNT FOR BRIDAL BARGAINS

Weddings are big business and there are many wedding vendors out there all wanting your business. ?So where do you start? ?

Well there are many ways to find wedding decorations, cakes, flowers and invitations at very competitive prices, if you just know where to look.?If it is difficult for you to find cheap wedding ideas and items locally, then the internet provides a wonderful resource to search for bargains.

Websites such as eBay, Etsy and wedding forums are a great place to look for cheap deals or exchange ideas with fellow brides. Many brides all over the country as well as overseas, now use bridal forums to swap ideas and share wedding costs. In fact, some brides with weddings on the same weekend buddied?up and shared the costs of furniture hire, lighting, decorations, catering equipment and much more. This is a great way to cut your costs by?half?our costs and still have the wedding theme and decorations you dreamed about.

Another alternative is to ask for help from family and friends. ?Maybe you know someone who sings or plays a musical instrument. Perhaps a friend's mother or sister is a florist or cake decorator. In addition, you probably know someone who is a great cook or who owns a catering business. if you think about your network of family, friends and work associates, you'll be amazed how many people you know or can contact directly for a good deal.

2. BUY PRE-LOVED WEDDING GOWNS

Choosing a stylish and beautiful wedding gown is still achievable even if you need to be mindful of your budget. If you have your heart set on a designer wedding gown, then there are still ways you can achieve your vision without using up your entire wedding budget.?

Wedding gowns are an important element to every wedding and their prices can vary from a few hundred dollars right through to designer gowns in the tens of thousands. So it is no surprise when you start shopping for your wedding gown, how easy it is to become overwhelmed with the variety of styles and pricing options on offer.

Chances are you will end up wanting a gown that costs more than you budgeted for. However, if you plan for this problem ahead of time and have some alternatives in mind, it will help you avoid the temptation of buying a dress way beyond your means. ?

Start by searching online bridal websites for pre-loved wedding dresses. They are a great way to find the designer gown of your dreams for only a fraction of the regular price. Only you have to know your secret, because it will be almost impossible to tell the gown?was worn?before.?In addition, most of these bridal sites allow you to post an ad for the ideal type of gown you are looking for. ?Other brides and wedding gown suppliers can then respond to your ad with suitable offers.

3. DITCH THE BIG CEREMONY

Many couples are now ditching the big ceremony and choosing a civil ceremony instead. Venues such as City Hall or alternative locations without the need for religious elements, are increasingly becoming a popular way to tie the knot?easily without the expense.?

Another cheap wedding option is to get hitched Las Vegas style! ?Las Vegas has always been a cheap, fun and unique way to get married. There are plenty of pretty, fascinating and even quirky wedding chapels to choose from - all of them set up to make your wedding ceremony quick and easy, yet still romantic.

You can easily cut down your wedding costs by half when you look for alternative options. A little imagination plus networking with friends will provide you with cheap wedding ideas that still make for a fantastic wedding day.?

Using Titles (Such As Mr Or Doctor) When Addressing Wedding Invitations

In this article, I will discuss how to use titles on wedding invitations, such as Mr., Doctor and so forth. Some of the titles are fairly straightforward, while others can be more complicated. These titles are when using formal address, and if you know that someone would be offended by a particular form of address, don't use it. However, by and large people appreciate formality, so it's nice to use people's names.

First, a quick note about abbreviations. The only titles that should be abbreviated are "Mr.", "Mrs." "Ms." and "Messrs." All other forms of address should be spelled out in full.

Mr.: "Mister" is the title that should be used for any man, age eighteen or over that does not have another title. If you are a man who has another title, and you wish to use Mr., you may do so, but you should address others according to their other title unless they specifically ask you to do so.

Miss: "Miss" is the title that may be used for a woman or girl who has never been married. Some women dislike it, so if you believe that if might offend someone, you may use "Ms." instead. The plural is "Misses."

Master: "Master" is the title for a boy under thirteen. Its plural is "Messrs.", one of the few abbreviations used in formal address. It would be used if you are inviting two or more boys under the age of thirteen.

Mrs.: This is the tricky one. "Mrs." actually means "wife of." Formally, a woman is not referred to as "Mrs. Jane Smith", but "Mrs. John Smith." This includes widows. Historically, "Mrs. Jane Smith" only referred to a divorcee who had kept her husband's name (though "Ms. Jane Smith" is more common for this today). When inviting a couple, the formal address is "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith." If the husband has another title and the wife does not, the formal address is "Doctor and Mrs. John Smith." On the other hand, if only the wife has another title, she should come first, in the form "Doctor Jane Smith and Mr. John Smith."

Ms.: "Ms." is used for divorced women who do not use their former husband's name or for any other woman who is not comfortable with "Miss" or even "Mrs." In general, you'll need to make a judgment call here. Although many women prefer "Ms.", many dislike it as well.

Should You Have Wedding Insurance?

I know you don't want to think about this, but what would happen if something were to go wrong with your wedding plans, which prevented you from enjoying you wedding day? It could be something completely out of your control, like the weather (especially if you are having an outside wedding).

What would happen if one of your suppliers lets you down (like your cake gets dropped on the way to your reception venue, or your dress gets ruined without time to put it right)? Or if the unthinkable happens and the whole day gets cancelled at the very last minute?

This can be absolutely devastating for you and ruin everything. It can also put a tremendous amount of strain on you as a couple. It can leave the bride and groom to be distressed and left with a huge mess to sort out. Where would you even start? Planning a wedding takes months to get everything in order, so the only thing you need to do is make sure you are covered if something terrible happens.

Wedding insurance is the umbrella that covers almost everything wedding related. With the right wedding insurance policy in place, you will be covered for the financial burden of resolving unforeseen problems that may arise, including a damaged wedding dress, suppliers who let you down, and even the weather. With a positive attitude, you may think that nothing can go wrong, but it is such a huge gamble. A wedding can cost in the region of £15,000 to organise, so surely a small premium to cover these expenses is worth it?

Think about this - could you afford to re-arrange your wedding again if something went wrong? For example, one of the most common uses of wedding insurance is for postponements. Many wedding suppliers will ask for a deposit when you place your order, and usually these deposits are non-refundable. Perhaps, due to illness, accident or other reason, you have to change the wedding date. Can you afford to lose all those deposits?

You may still be wondering whether paying for wedding insurance is an expense you can do without, especially on top of everything else you are budgeting for. Only you can know whether it is worth it. For peace of mind and to reduce your stress levels, it has to be worth thinking about.

Some aspects may already be covered by other insurance policies you have. Your home insurance can cover accidents from within the house. But, if it happen away from home, you are probably not covered.

Ask your suppliers what happens if you have to postpone or cancel. They may have their own insurance cover if something gets damaged by them. Again, you may be covered to some extent by your wedding suppliers. Once you are armed with this information, you know what cover you need from your additional wedding insurance.

You have a lot to stress about, why should you worry if things out of your control actually go wrong Wedding insurance is there to protect you and help you get on with the other planning aspects of the wedding. If you find that you have no problem going through the process without any coverage at all, and you have the money to cover unforeseen circumstances, then you might not want to get wedding insurance. If that's not the case, get the cover you need and be prepared.

Homemade Wedding Invitations Are Awesome To Making Your Wedding Unique

Homemade wedding invitations can be the start of a fun, unique way to start your wedding theme.

You are planning your wedding and you want it to be something special. One of the most important things to make your special day more unique are your announcements. If you have a fun idea that you would love to make a big part of your important day, go for it.

What are some ideas to making your own wedding invitations. Here are some theme ideas

1. Country: wagon wheels, horses, cowboys and all that fun.


2. Red Neck Wedding: Invitations done in a hillbilly type and some small rope ribbon. A Jeans wedding gown, Jean suit, bows made with old jean material. Maybe outdoor wedding with chairs set up and a runner made from old tarps.


3. A Hawaiian theme. You would have flower lays on your invitations. Hawaiian foods, decorate in Hawaiian decor.


4. A muscle car theme Use an old Chevy photo in your invitations. Use old auto parts as decorations and add bows in your colors. Decorate a muscle car for your car to drive. Make big cutouts of muscle cars and use them as decorations throughout.


5. A Spring Wedding. Tulips and all colors of blooming flowers all over. Your invites would have colorful tulips on them. You could have the beauty of a new spring day all over.


6. An American Wedding. Everything Red, White and Blue. You can guess the color of your invites.Flowers done in the colors and flags all over. Carnations would work well here.


7. Beach wedding anywhere. Why not just create your own beach them at an in ground pool sight. You could get those blow up trees, add some sand and seashells. Then after the wedding and reception you could go to your destination beach!


8. Sport theme weddings. If you are both into sports then why not incorporate that into your special day. Football field cake. Flowers with team flags. Helmets done with flowers for the centerpiece.

I am sure you can come up with more. When you start out with homemade wedding invitations you can really take a theme and do it your way. No matter what idea you come up with there are always ways to put it into your wedding.

The fun you have can start with your homemade wedding invitations. Regardless of the theme you want you won't be limited by what is available. You see when you make your own wedding invitations, you are not limited. You decide what you want and go with it. You can even create you own wording for your wedding announcement cards.

These can open new doors to a whole chain of theme ideas. Get your imagination in gear this could be a wedding no one will forget!