Legal Requirements For Getting Married in New Zealand

There are certain legal requirements which any couple must follow in order to get married. It doesn't matter whether you plan to elope or have a big elaborate wedding, everyone must follow the rules.

Anyone getting married in New Zealand must:

• Be at least 16 years of age.


• Have the permission of both parents or guardian if aged under 20 years. (If parental consent is denied then an application can be made to the District Court.)


• Have a marriage licence. This is applied for at the Births, Deaths and Marriages (Department of Internal Affairs) in your local area. The department will need three clear working days to process your application. An application for a Saturday wedding must be filed no later than the Tuesday prior. A marriage licence will cost $120, unless you want to be married in the registry office in which case the fee will be $170, which includes the use of the registry for the ceremony. Your licence is valid for three months from the date of issue.


• Show proof that you are now free to marry again, if you have previously married. When you apply for the licence, the department must sight papers of dissolution.


• State where it is you intend to be married on our application for the licence. If you change your mind, this must be altered by the Registrar's Office.


• Have two witnesses to your wedding who are old enough to understand what they are doing.


• Be aware that marriage is forbidden by law between couples if certain blood or marriage relationships exist.

Provided the law is satisfied, you may have your wedding wherever you like, within reason. For more information about fees and the nearest Registrar of Marriages, contact the Births, Deaths and Marriages department.

17 Great Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer

The wedding date is set! Already, the excitement is building for your big day. You want awesome wedding pictures. But the challenge feels daunting. You know your family shutterbug Uncle Ned is not who you had in mind. Chances are you have never hired a photographer before. So where do you start? You know you want to interview the candidates, but what do you ask them? Here are 17 great questions to ask photographers before booking.

1. Are you full-time? When did you start shooting full-time?

The truth is most wedding photography operations are very fly by night. The photographers are doing their photography on a part-time basis with negligible photography experience. Do you believe your once-in-a-lifetime event should be on-the-job training for your photographer? I didn't think so. A full-time photographer has already made the considerable life-long investment of their energy, time and money to create a valued and trusted service. Your wedding memories deserve your photographer's 100 percent commitment not a 20 percent commitment.

2. Why do you like to photograph weddings?

This question helps you to gauge who your photographer is as a person and artist. Take stock of the person's passion and energy. Does he/she seem enthusiastic or kind of flat? People who love what they do have a tendency to be very good at what they do and working with them is always more enjoyable and fun.

Also, knowing a little about what makes the person tick is a good way to feel out what kind of a personality "fit" you may share with the photographer. After all, you will be spending an entire day with your photographer, so do what you can to be sure the person you pick will be genuinely excited to be there and pleasant throughout that day.

3. Will you be the actual photographer to shoot our wedding? If not, who?

It's not uncommon for photographers and larger studios to have a network of shooters. If you learn the person you are talking to will not be the shooter then insist you talk to the person who will and also insist you see their personal portfolio.

4. What kind of input can we have on the shots? i.e. subject matter, shotlists and ideas from other wedding shots we liked?

A formals/posed groupings worksheet is sometimes necessary when planning when and how to get that part of your wedding completed and done in time. Lots of communication is key here. When working with a good wedding photographer, it is important when capturing the unique qualities and moments of your wedding to keep it open-ended for your photographer. A good photographer cannot produce every photo you can think of, but he/she can produce photos you never dreamed of.

5. (For self-described photojournalists) How much of your candid-looking work is posing and setting-up of shots or do you get shots as they happen without posing or reenactment?

"Wedding photojournalist" has become a buzzword which has lost its specific meaning with its surge in popularity among photographers. Often, the term "photojournalist" means candid-looking when used by photographers and studios to describe their own work. Often these photographers will set up and reenact a few things during your wedding day but rely heavily upon traditional portraiture for a lot of your photos... there is nothing wrong with this approach if you are comfortable with that. However a true wedding photojournalist has the talent and ability to anticipate, observe and "see" moments as they happen without the need to interfere with the natural flow of your wedding day.

6. Are the digital files available on CD/DVD? If so, are they high resolution?

This is a popular request by couples. The discs can vary widely in price. Also ask if there are any discounts applied to the CD/DVD after a certain time has passed from the wedding. For example, the photographer may offer the discs at half-price two years after the wedding.

7. What kind of improvements do you make to the files on the CD/DVD?

It is nice to have your pictures in hand to keep safe and make whatever prints you like. Keep in mind all digital images on the disc should be toned, adjusted and worked a little to make an adequate print. You should have some guarantee of the quality of pictures on the disc.

8. Do you have a list of references with contact info?

This is a rarely asked but very effective question. A real live person who has worked with a photographer will give you valuable, objective information.

9. Who do you carry liability insurance with?

Businesses that adhere to professional practices will deliver professional service and results to you. Chances are slim you will ever have to worry about insurance coverage. But accidents can and do happen. Would you let a roofing company put a new roof on your home that did not have liability insurance? How about a mechanic working on your car? I hope not.

10. What is the delivery time for the various products you offer?

It really shouldn't take half a year to receive an album, your proofs or any other products. Try to be timely with any input your photographer requires as far as albums, edits to help this process along.

11. With the albums, how does the design and picture selection process work? Are there any fees for changes we would like prior to the album's production?

You should have some input into important keepsakes of your wedding like an album. Some photographers charge extra for a certain number of changes to the albums they design for you prior to the printing and binding of any album. Make sure such fees are all clearly stated. Beware of time deadlines too, they are necessary to preventing production bottlenecks.

12. When will the proofs be ready? Is there a time limit for the online proofing galleries?

If working with a digital photographer, online proofing (when you first get to see your photos online) should be completed within a couple of weeks of your event. The time period of online availability for those galleries varies among photographers. Some post them for three months, others post for a full year. Check with your photographer.

13. What happens if the photographer is ill? What about back-up equipment?

Any successful, established professional studio should have a network of shooters available for emergency help. You should have a written assurance the substitute photographer will be a competent professional.

14. Should our event last longer than scheduled? Will the photographer stay, are there extra charges?

Most weddings will not exceed a six to eight hour time commitment from your photographer. If you think you will need more time, find out how your photographer handles extra hours.

15. What associations do you belong to?

Another useful way to gauge a photographer's qualifications and professional commitment.

16. Why should we hire you?

Again, this question is similar in spirit to Question 3. Your photographer's answer should communicate some excitement about the privilege to shoot your wedding.

17. May we see your second photographer's entire shoot from a wedding?

Wedding photography studios often promote themselves as two shooter "teams." They are often a husband and wife duo. They are usually not the 2-for-1 benefit they advertise. For the most part they are maybe one decent photographer and a person who is nothing more than a camera holder with with very little qualifications or experience. Have you seen an entire take of both photographers? Insist on seeing the second photographers entire shoot.

Fall, Spring and Summer Wedding Invitation Ideas

Are you in the process of choosing a wedding invitation for your wedding? This can be a tricky process and one that should be thought about carefully. The wedding invitations that you send will be the first impression that people will have of your wedding and you want to have a good first impression.

Time

One of the first and most important considerations for your wedding invitation should be the time that the wedding will take place. If you are having your wedding in the winter or fall your invitations will look very different then spring wedding invitations. Below are some common ideas and tips that will help you make the right decision.

Fall Wedding Invitations

If your wedding will take place in the fall or winter time then you will want to theme your wedding invitations to fit the season. It would not make sense to have an invitation with spring lilies on it for example. For some of the typical fall wedding invitation ideas think about what fall means to you. The weather is getting colder outside and the leaves are all turning beautiful shades of red, browns, and deep yellows and falling from the trees. There might already be snow on the ground and it is the time to start snuggling up next to a warm fire and a very traditional time for lovers and family with the winter holidays on the way. These are the feelings that you will want to portray in your fall or winter wedding invitations.

Colors: browns, greens, gold, or white or even off white

Decoration and motifs: wide burgundy ribbons and bows, fall leaves, pine cones, pine trees, gold leaf, embossing and watermarks

Papers: you will want a paper with some tooth or texture to it. Heavy weight or heavy bond papers work well and give it a wonderful fall feel. Also papers with a deckled or unfinished edge are a nice touch. Burlap can even be used if thought about and used carefully.

There are a lot of different options if you are looking for cheap or discount fall wedding invitations for the fall season. You can easily make the invitations on your computer. Also if you look online you can easily find a ton of suppliers that will make discount wedding invitations. These can be a great way to save money.

Spring Wedding Invitations

Typically spring is a time of new life, bright new colors and blooming flowers! These are all things that you will want to pick up in your spring themed wedding invitations. No matter what you are looking for elegant spring wedding invitations or a more simple or even discount spring wedding invitations you will still want to capitalize on the time of year. Again you will want to think about what spring means to you and your fiancée.

Colors: any shade of pink, light greens, silver, and of course pure white

Decorations and Motifs: flowers like lilies or roses, tulips and daises. Butterflies and birds also work well.

Papers: thick white papers with a heavy bond work well. Also handmade papers with pressed flowers can make a wonderful spring invitation.

Summer Wedding Invitations:

If you are planning on getting married in the summer months then of course you will want a summer wedding invitation. These can be anything in a wide range of possibilities from the fun and whimsical summer invitation to the more formal invitation. IT again really depends on what summer means to you. You might think of fun sunny days spent at the beach or relaxing days spent out in the garden.

Colors: pastel colors in pinks, light blues, pure white and yellows

Decorations: beach items, raffia, tool (fabric), light muslin cloth,

Papers: vellum, light weight or light bond papers, handmade papers with pressed flowers,

A wedding invitation can be a very fun yet important part of the wedding planning. Since it is so important and it will act as the first impression that your guests will have of the wedding and often will become a memory or keepsake item for you it is important to spend some time thinking about the right option for you. You can easily pick up on the theme of your wedding and especially bring in the time of year. A dark velvety red wedding invitation will obviously look out of place for a summer wedding.

It doesn't matter if you are looking for a fall, winter, spring or summer wedding invitation there are a lot of ways that you can find affordable discount wedding invitations and there is always the option to make them yourself. DIY wedding invitations are becoming more popular all the time. So if you are sending out fall wedding invitations, spring invitations or summer invitations you are sure to find a wide variety of colors, decorations, and papers that will work for you. By planning ahead and shopping carefully or even making it yourself you are sure to save big money and have a wonderfully themed wedding invitation.

Wedding Invitation Timeline - When to Order and When to Mail Wedding Invitations

Very few couples have the luxury of inviting absolutely everybody they can think of to their wedding. So it's time to turn to that guest list the two of you drew up; the number of guests will influence not only how many wedding invitations you have to send out but also your choice of stationery and how much it will cost you.

OK, so you've decided on your definitive guest list. Great! Before discussing the kinds of wedding invitations, announcements and stationery used - as well as their pros and cons - you should be aware of the following:

The average stationery costs per wedding are any where between three and six percent of your total wedding budget. (If having a small or very informal wedding and using hand-written invitations; then you might log in under three percent).

An average stationery order takes 8 weeks to complete but if dealing with a very popular stationer, expect your order to take up to 12 weeks.

Invitations should be ordered a minimum of 4 months prior to your wedding date but for larger weddings, at least 5 to 6 months before.

If marrying close to a major holiday, allow for an additional 2 to 3 weeks for your customized order as the stationer, if popular, will have a heavier workload than usual.

Mail out your wedding invitations 8 weeks before the wedding and no later than 4 weeks prior to the wedding date, to allow your guests sufficient time to respond but also yourselves sufficient time to plan, especially for your caterers who require an accurate as possible head count for the food and drinks. This rule also applies to mailing out your invitations a few weeks earlier if you're marrying close to a major holiday as your guests may very likely have holiday plans; if you're marrying near a major holiday, mail out your invitations 3 weeks earlier than usual, in other words, 12 weeks before your wedding date.

By mailing out your invitations at least 8-12 weeks before your wedding, you'll be able to adjust your guest list as the 'regrets' responses arrive, adding on guests who were originally squeezed off your list.

It may seem obvious to many, but don't forget to mail out wedding invitations to all of your bridal party! You may just assume that they know all the details of your wedding, once they've accepted your offer to be a member of your bridal party, but you shouldn't. You must send each and every member an invitation. By doing this, they also get to have a wonderful keepsake of your wedding and their participation in it.

Allow for extra wedding invitations as keepsakes for yourselves, your parents and possibly some of your immediate family members.

Avoid Seating Faux Pas at the Wedding

Unless you're having a really small wedding with just a few dozen people in attendance, you'll probably assigned seating at some part of your wedding planning process. Assigned seating can seem too formal, and might not lead to spontaneous mingling. An open seating arrangement does seem more care free and allows guests to just grab a chair at whichever table they like. Unfortunately, open seating comes with a whole set of problems, and you're better off having an assigned seating arrangement.

This is one part of the wedding on which you will disagree the most with your parents. Parents tend to have their favored and honored guests who they would like to have at their table. This can send all your seating plans out of the window making seating plans a night mare. There's a way to get around this. Have assigned seating for the bridal party, the groom's party and for honored guests like the elderly guests at the reception. This also works out to the advantage of those who might find it hard to scramble for a seat at the reception like older guests. For the rest of the guests, keep seating open.

If the though of an open seating arrangement, and people scrambling for a place makes you uncomfortable, it's probably best to go in for a full on assigned seating plan. This will take some amount of planning. Make sure you have a chair and table arrangement plan and make several copies of it. Now it's easier to chalk in the names of people who will be assigned to specific tables. Write down the name of each guest and leave them on a table at the entrance, so guests can pick one up as they enter the reception.

The couple usually sits at a special table for the bridal party. The bride and groom typically are at the center of a long table, the bride on the right of the groom and the maid of honor to the left. The other members of the bridal party including the ushers and the bridesmaids occupy the rest of the table. It's perfectly acceptable however, to sit with your parents. Some couples actually prefer a separate table for the two of them, and that's fine too.

Can a Justice of the Peace Marry You? Not in Australia!

In Australia a Justice of the Peace is a volunteer, a member of the community who plays a vital role in the administration of justice and who receives no remuneration for that.

A JP can witness signatures on statutory declarations, certify that copies of documents are a true and accurate copy of the original, can issue summonses and police search warrants. A JP is one of the short list of categories of people who can witness a bride and groom's signatures on the Notice of Intended Marriage, the document which, in Australia, a couple is required to lodge with their marriage celebrant (wedding officiant) or clergy person a minimum of a clear month before the wedding can take place. This document serves the same purpose as the marriage license required in many other countries.

All marriage celebrants and clergy authorised to perform marriages (not all clergy are licensed to perform marriages) can also witness your signatures on the Notice. Generally speaking an Australian JP will be asked to witness the signatures where the couple is making arrangements for a destination wedding at a distance and it is therefore not possible or convenient to meet with their chosen celebrant for this purpose.

What a JP can't do, is perform the actual marriage ceremony.

There are a number of reasons for this.

• History and tradition - marriage ceremonies historically have been performed only be people authorised under the Marriage Act, including clergy, marriage officers attached to each Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, and, since 1973, Civil Marriage Celebrants appointed by the Australian Attorney General


• In Australia marriage falls under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth because the Marriage Act is a Federal Act. Justices of the Peace, however, are appointed by each State.

Your civil marriage celebrant can witness statutory declarations relating to your marriage, and, indeed is required to witness the Declarations required to be made on the back of the official marriage certificate in which you declare that you are free to marry.

Car Insurance - Plan for the Most Unpredictable Situations

Law mandates you not to drive a vehicle without insurance, because you can encounter so many unpredictable situations, which even a watchful and attentive driver can hardly foresee. The very purpose of car insurance is to plan for situations that crop up suddenly.

If you carry out due diligence on the Internet, selecting car insurance can become a much less complicated matter than you ever expected, and give you a deep insight as to how you could affect considerable insurance policy premiums at cheaper rates. During your search, you will most certainly come across the ideal insurance company with affordable prices and a wide enough arrays of offers for diverse insurance packages that will spoil you for choice. The unlikely possibility of your car suffering a damage or theft overnight after you take the insurance is a rare occurrence, but you must provide for all such inconveniences by taking a correct policy at the right time.

Even a very good driver having unblemished driving credentials, feels safer and more confident if he or she has a sound car insurance backing them.

Additionally, the Internet today provides any information you want about vehicle insurance with a single click of your mouse, as most of the insurance companies have a strong and visible presence on the net, with details of all their insurance options, their terms and conditions including prices. While an online calculator will help you to calculate the quantum of premium, you can get an exact quote from the insurance company's website if you sign up with them.

Your efforts in making a comparative chart of the insurance companies and their competitive offers is not an exercise in futility, as it will help you to save precious cash outflow. Excellent 24x7 customer support systems back most of the reputed insurance companies, and they will willingly cooperate with your enquiries even after their office hours. Their support matches your convenience, and provides you with exceptional features and irresistible prices.

A smart review of the testimonials of the insurance companies on their sites, will give you a fair picture of their proficiency of service and past customer reaction. It is of primary importance to ensure that these insurers have in place online facilities for payment, renewal and for updating revised information.

A conscientious car driver will spare no efforts to locate innovative tools to identify the ideal car insurance company that is a pleasure to deal with, and continuously offers options to reduce the insurance premiums.

Wedding Invitation Labels and Envelopes

Computer printed labels are a time-saver, but they make the first impression of your formal wedding invitation appear impersonal. If a calligrapher is not in the budget, you can gather handwriting samples from your friends and offer them a fun incentive to assist addressing the envelopes.

Courtesy titles such as Mrs. and Dr. should be the only place you see punctuation on a wedding invitation. The basic rule of etiquette when addressing professional guests places the most impressive title first on the invitation regardless of gender. Simply using Mr. and Mrs. can be confusing enough and is acceptable unless it's a formal wedding. If the doctor is your dear Uncle Hank, don't worry about addressing the professional title.

Capital letters should only be used on a wedding invitation for proper names and at the end of a sentence. Try to fight the urge to use a capital letter at the beginning of each line to emphasis the poetry and love expressed in the wording.

When seconds are rapidly ticking away on the wedding planning clock, a number seems almost insignificant. But writing numbers out is a way to stop for a moment and honor your very special wedding day.

The date should be spelled out and followed by the day - Saturday, the second of August. If you choose to include the year, spell it out as well as the time. 3:00pm is written as 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

Although traditional wedding invitation etiquette suggests everything be written out, the United States Post Office encourages the use of numbers and state abbreviations for proper delivery.

Add The WOW Factor To Your Wedding Wth Personalized Decorations

Everyone wants their wedding to be special, memorable, beautiful, and fun! You want to have something that's going to keep your friends and family talking about your wedding for years to come.

What's one of the best ways to make your special day stand out in everyone's memory? Beautiful personalized decor! From the moment your guests arrive, there's a festive air of romance with a personal touch.

Matching themed aisle runners, table runners, dance floor decals, banners, photo booth backdrops, (and don't forget wedding window clings for the getaway car!) do much more to make your wedding stand out than just the traditional paper products alone.

And it's so convenient to pick a theme, select your color, and have a range of truly unique trends in wedding decor available to choose from. It takes a lot of the legwork out of running around and matching everything to make sure it looks "just right" for your big day.

Popular trends now are hearts, damask, monogram, and seasonal themes. Couples are breaking out of the traditional "June Wedding" mold and expanding throughout the seasons. Wedding decor and accessory manufacturers are now offering a wider range of seasonal colors and designs to accommodate the non-conventional autumn and winter couples.

What's also great about these matching decor lines is that you can have everything from your ceremony, to the reception, right though to the big send off with your theme. It's so easy to set the tone for the whole experience for you and your guests when you begin the event with your own personalized aisle runner being pulled out just for your monumental walk down the aisle! You can have your aisle runner donned with your choice of designs, themes, and colors. Best of all your names and even the date can be printed right on it!

Then at the reception, imagine walking right into a fairy tale when your entire theme is transported right where all the fun happens. From the moment your guests walk in to the reception hall or banquet room, they'll know they'e at the party of the year! Who can resist having their photo taken in front of your gorgeous personalized photo booth backdrop?

And what better way to make your first dance with your new "better half" even more special than when you're twirling over the hottest trend in event decor, the personalized dance floor decal? This is sure to get everyone out of their seat to dance the night away. Who can resist doing the "Chicken Dance" when you're making it so festive and inviting?

Your first toast, cake cutting, speeches, and first meal are all the more momentous when your wedding party table is complete with a personalized table runner facing your guests.

At the very end of the whole gala, have your nearest and dearest send you off as you leave for your honeymoon in a car decked out with personalized wedding window clings on your getaway car!

And what's better than having all of these cool extras? The fact that they're MATCHING! Everyone will be sure to notice your "wedding wonderland" and will be talking about it for years to come!

Beware of Green Products That Aren't Really Green

Like a growing number of the world's population I hold to the belief that protection of the environment is of the utmost importance; and that the new role for our political leaders is to work with each other to solve the pressing problems of climate change, impending food and water shortages, and the on-going pollution of the planet. It is becoming more and more obvious to more and more people that the ideological clash between left and right, conservative and liberal, radical and moderate is only of secondary importance to green issues.

Quite simply put, without a world there is no politics, injustice or capitalism. Think of that recent movie 'The Road.' Once eco-armageddon hits all of society and its mores collapse. Humans degenerate into cannibals.

I expect that I'm largely preaching to the converted but I needed to state my position so I can introduce my topic. I want to discuss how buying 'green' is another consumer trend that big business and internet marketers are exploiting to make money and to do this they are not performing due diligence. Namely, they are not really interested in checking to see if a 'green' product is really environmentally friendly.

My first example is the light bulb. We all realize that the incandescent bulb is not the best. It takes valuable resources to make and has a life expectancy of only a year or so. On top of that they use a lot of electricity compared to LED lights. Indeed LED lights are the way forward. They can be easily connected to solar panels via batteries, they last a long time and they are cheap to produce. The only problem is that LED lights often don't give out enough light. At this point enters the villain, the CFL or Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb. CFLs last 7 times as long as standard incandescent light bulbs, they give off a fuller spectrum of light and they can save you $30 over the life time of a single bulb.

It's energy saving and therefore fewer fossil fuels were burnt to produce the electricity to power the bulb. That is true, but it is NOT an environmentally friendly product because CFLs contain mercury. Perhaps this problem could be offset by strict laws to dispose of the product. This seems unlikely in Cuba and Venezuela who are implementing a complete change to CFLs. Mercury is a poison that nature cannot easily neutralize. It becomes more concentrated as it goes up the food chain, until it reaches critical mass and causes disease and death. Mercury was number three on the 1997 list of hazardous substances as outlined by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. In America one-in-six children born every year have been exposed to mercury levels so high that they are potentially at risk for learning disabilities, motor skills impairment and short-term memory loss. Don't contribute to the mercury that is poisoning our soil and poisoning the sea food that we eat. In short don't use CFLs unless you are 100% sure that it will be safely disposed of once it is broken. Throwing it in a landfill is not good enough.

My second example is bamboo fabric. This is a cunning deception because bamboo is a brilliant resource that if properly harnessed can do a lot of good for the environment. Bamboo reaches maturity in 4 to 5 years compared to hardwoods that take 40 to 50 years to mature. Bamboo is water resistant. It is 16% harder than maple. Bamboo has a 'kun' substance that naturally fights off pests and pathogens so it can be easily grown organically. Bamboo can be used to make furniture and build houses.

Bamboo shots are a good source of nutrition. Bamboo is used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine. An example of bamboo being used to make a great green product is the Totally Bamboo Congo Parquet End Grain Cutting Board. This cutting board is made from bamboo that is not used as a habitat or food of the Giant Panda. No formaldehyde glue is used in making the cutting board and Totally Bamboo has a fair trade program to make sure the farmers are paid a fair price for the bamboo they harvest.

However, all that is made of bamboo is not necessarily good for the environment. You can make fabric from bamboo in an environmentally safe and sustainable way but it is labor intensive. Instead most fashion designers use bamboo fabric that is made through a process called 'hydrolysis alkalization' that 'cooks' the bamboo in strong chemical solvents to produce a fabric. This process uses sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide. Both these chemicals are linked to serious health problems. So be careful when you are buying bamboo clothing - it might turn out to be as bad for the environment as conventional cotton or synthetic materials such as rayon.

I hope I have demonstrated with these two examples how we as consumers should not let down our guards just because we are told something is green or energy saving. Sometimes we are being mislead. Marketers know how to play on our sympathies to get us to buy their products.

Simple Receiving Line Etiquette

Aside from weddings, there are very few occasions when you are likely to encounter a receiving line in modern life. As a result, most people know very little about them, including the purpose of having one. To bring you up to speed, this is everything you need to know about receiving line etiquette.

Why have a receiving line? The purpose of a receiving line is to allow the newlyweds, their parents, and the bridal party to greet each wedding guest and to thank them for coming. It also serves the reverse purpose of making it easy for the guests to be able to extend their best wishes and congratulations to the bride and groom and their gratitude to their hosts. Many people think these reception lines are too stiff or formal, but in fact, they are quite efficient. Rather than spend your entire wedding reception trying to track down each and every guest (while they are all trying to find you), you can get through the whole thing in one go.

Who should be in the receiving line? The newlyweds, their parents, possibly stepparents, and the bridesmaids. The groomsmen are optional, although if they were close relatives (like the groom's brother) who would know most of the guests, they could be in the line. No one wants the line to be too long and slow, so leave out the extended family to keep things moving along at a good clip.

When and where does the receiving line take place? It happens right after the wedding ceremony, either outside of the ceremony venue or at the reception site as guests enter. If your wedding ceremony will take place at a church, the receiving line does not properly take place in the church, as it is God's house, not yours. The steps of the church are fine, or have the receiving line at the reception (just don't stop off for a long photo session on the way there, or the timing will be thrown off).

What do guests say in the receiving line? As a guest makes his or her way down the line, he should say a few brief words to each person. This is not the time for an extended chat or a time to catch up with relatives you have not seen in a long time. There is a fairly standard format. Tell the bridesmaids they look beautiful, the mothers of the bride and groom how beautiful the ceremony was, offer a hearty congratulations to the groom, and tell the bride how gorgeous she looks and how happy you are for her. By the way, proper etiquette dictates that one offers congratulations to a groom, and best wishes to a bride. Don't worry too much about what to say to the fathers of the bride and groom; unless you are one of the first few people in line, they will have slipped off for a cocktail by the time you make your way down.

What do the bride and groom say in the receiving line? The usual social pleasantries will suffice. You thank your guests for coming and tell them how much it means to you to have them there. Admire the pretty outfits and the wedding jewelry on the female guests, and tell the your college buddies how well they clean up. It does not matter if your comments are original; if you tell every female guest in line how much you like her wedding jewelry, it will still be the only time each one hears it from you.

So you see, there is not really so much to the wedding receiving line. It is unfamiliar, but not so intimidating once you know all about it. After all, it is really just an orderly way to say hi to your family and friends, and there is nothing scary about that.

Muslim Wedding Cards

Marriage, regardless of the faith, is a joyous occasion - one which enfolds everyone in a circle of love. Therefore, as the harbinger of this occasion, it is only natural that wedding cards are designed in the most beautiful manner. After all, wedding invites are welcomed by invitees and most people do pay attention to the aesthetic, religious and cultural aspects of the cards, besides the message of course.

Muslim wedding cards are sent out to inform invitees of the 'Nikaah', the wedding ceremony. Invitations are sent out to announce the ceremony to the rest of the world. Although in prosaic terms it may be argued that the wedding invite is simply a means of announcing the names of the bride and groom (along with their lineage), the venue and time of the Nikaah, in real terms, the wedding invite does much more than that.

Muslim wedding cards are quite traditional. One can find typical colors and designs on these wedding cards. In keeping with the religious significance, green is a recurring color. Other popular colors used in Muslim marriage cards include cream, gold and red. Red is an auspicious color as it represents fertility as befitting a marriage. Red on the cards is a reflection of the red of the 'Mehndi' design on the palms of the bride.

The Muslim heritage brings with it the beauty and poetry of the Mughals and the Afghans. This poetry is reflected in the 'Nikaahnama' too. Muslim marriage cards typically carry designs that remind one of the old Mughal art. Grand designs of leaves, intricate patterns, domes, peacock feathers and so on are quite common. These traditional designs are further embellished with decorative objects like stones and bindis. Through the use of metallic paper, handmade paper, satin, silk and velvet, marriage cards are made to look all the more attractive and eye-catching.

Although it is not mandatory, most Muslim marriage cards do carry some verses of the Holy Quran. This is meant to bestow blessings on the bride and groom for the journey ahead of them. In this context, it must be remembered that ancient cultures and religions place much importance on the ceremony of marriage. In such cultures, marriage is a bond for life. Therefore, it is only natural to call for the blessings of a higher authority when embarking on such a partnership.

In addition to verses, some marriage cards may also carry symbols of significance, like the image of the moon. Calligraphy also plays a central role in traditional Muslim marriage cards. This is again a throwback to the ancient Muslim traditions.

It is possible to buy different types of Muslim marriage cards for different occasions. Examples include special cards for the Valima.

Online shopping for marriage cards does have an advantage. These days, many online stores allow customers to print highly customized wedding invites. Thus, it is possible to send out cards that are stunning yet highly unique.

Tips on Designing Catholic Wedding Invitations

Catholic weddings usually follow rules set by the Roman Catholic Church. The belief is that marriage is a sacred bond between two individuals that is created by God. It is important to follow all the rituals when arranging a Catholic wedding. However, it is not necessary that Catholic wedding invitation cards should be restricted to traditional designs. You can allow yourself to be creative when designing such invites. The right blend of traditional and contemporary ideas is what can make a card stand out among the crowd. Read this article to know how you should design Catholic wedding invitations.

How to Design Catholic Wedding Invitations

Some major things to consider when designing a Catholic wedding invitation card include color, style, wording and theme of a card. Here are some tips to help you choose the most appropriate Catholic invitations:

1. Images - Selecting what kind of images should be used in a wedding card is a major thing to consider. You have a lot of alternatives to choose from. For example, some common images used in wedding cards include images like a church silhouette, praying hands, the Cross, Jesus, Mary, a rosary, doves and angels. You can choose among these and several other options. One good idea is to use different images for different cards. For example, you can choose to use different images for the wedding invites, reception card, and Thank-You card.


2. Verse - Another good idea is to use quotes from the Bible in the card. For best results, you should do a little brainstorming so that you can choose a verse that goes well with the wedding theme.


3. Design Template - Choosing an appropriate design template is also an important part of the designing task. For this, you can download several templates using the internet. Be sure to compare among them before deciding on one. You can also customize these designs on your own.


4. Fonts - It is also important to pay attention to small details, such structure of the text, and use of fonts. Formal fonts would be the best choice for you. For best results, you can design a monogram using the names of the bride and groom. Not to mention, this should be in a different font. You could also choose the design and color of fonts aesthetically.

You can also buy Catholic wedding invitation cards from online stores. In that case, make sure that you compare among several cards before selecting one.

Lace Wedding Invitations - Why it is a Popular Idea For Your Wedding!

During your journey to find the perfect wedding invitations, we believe you would have at some point, come across wedding invitations embellished with lace fabric, patterns or perhaps some other lace-inspired prints and designs.

This fabric, as you can see for yourself, is certainly a very popular textile which has commonly been used in many weddings throughout the decades, and no less, is used extensively in many wedding invitation designs.

Lace is popular due to many factors as identified below:

1. It can be ultra feminine and give that beautiful delicate look. Lace has been used extensively in everyday ladies fashion, featuring on womens' tops, blouses, skirts, dresses and lingerie. Lace is also commonly used in the home, in curtain designs and dining table overlays. It is that feminine and delicate look which has resulted in its widespread use. If you are after lace invitations for its delicate and feminine appeal, consider the array of vintage or white/cream/apricot coloured lace designs which deliver what you desire.



2. It can be seductive, alluring and sensual. Lace is one of the most common fabrics used in lingerie and it is with this association, that many attribute lace to be a rather provocative and sensual fabric. If done correctly, the addition of lace on ones wedding invitations can give an image of both sexiness and class! For the alluring lace look, consider black lace designs- perhaps striking black lace on white card!



3. It is beautiful to touch! Draping an invitation with lace fabric is beautiful because guests will not only be able to marvel at the design, but they can also feel the texture of the lace.

We would like to point out, that while some like the idea of lace wedding invitations, there are certainly those out there who may worry that lace on invitations is too "girly"! This is a common concern for many husband-to-be in particular.

The solution?

We believe its all about balance! Adding just the slightest touch of lace in this case (perhaps with just a small print or a small line of lace stuck to the card) can still give that gorgeous lace look, and keep the males happy!

Become a Top Wedding Planner - 11 Steps to Starting Your Wedding Planning Business

If you want to become a wedding planner and have your own business, you need to do more than learn how to plan weddings. You have to follow the steps it takes to start and run a professional business.

Here are the 11 steps:

1) Write a business plan

This isn't difficult. Just start by writing down answers to basic questions such as: Why do you want to start a wedding planning business? What do you want your business to look like? Who do you want your clients to be? When do you plan to be up and running? Where will you work? How will you make money - what services, packages and products do you plan to offer? After you have answered these questions, flush out details so it is clear what you business will look like when you start, then one year from now and five years from now. You can revisit and revise your plan at any time.

2) Talk to an accountant, attorney, and insurance agent about setting up your business

These are the business professionals who can help you decide the best structure for your business (sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation) and they can make sure you are legally covered and protected.

3) Obtain financing

It doesn't cost a lot of money to start your business. You might finance it yourself, get help from your family or you might approach a financial institution or a non-profit, such as the Small Business Administration, for a loan.

4) Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Instead of using your social security number for your business, you will want to obtain an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service so your personal number can be kept private.

5) Determine your niche and services

Do some research and set up your wedding planning business so you target a niche and don't just market to every bride. Find out what your niche wants and create your business selling those services.

6) Select a business name and buy the domain name

Your business name should be one that is easy to spell, understand and say and it should be attractive to your niche. Also the domain name for a website must be available for the business name that you select.

7) Get the proper licenses

Check your local government offices for requirements for running a business in your area. You may need to register your business name, get a license that allows you to do business in your city and you may need to get a sellers permit.

8) Set up bookkeeping and banking

Get bookkeeping software so you can keep track of your income and expenses and easily handle your taxes at the end of the year. Also you must open a business bank account to keep your business finances separate from your personal ones.

9) Set up your office

Make sure you have a space in which you can work quietly, without interruption, that is set up with the furniture and tools you need to run a business. This includes a desk, chair, filing cabinets, computer, printer and phone.

10) Set up your website and blog and order business cards

Hire a designer who can work with you to create a professional logo or image for your website, blog and cards. They may also be able to build your website and blog or you can hire a webmaster to do that for you. Do not invest too much of your budget into these things, new wedding planners often change their images after being in business for about a year.

11) Put together a portfolio

Gather photographs and information from weddings you have planned and assemble them in an album. You can present this to potential clients and vendors so they can see your work.

Fondue Pot Sets - Nostalgic and Delicious

Fondue originated in Switzerland where partakers shared a communal dish that was heated over a small burner. When eating fondue, bits of food are dipped into the fondue pot where a semi-liquid sauce is heated. The most common fondue dip is cheese, but there are other choices such as chocolate. (Chocolate is used for dessert.) You can also heat oil in a fondue pot to cook meat.

Fondue has become so popular in the United States that a chain restaurant called The Melting Pot has opened its doors nationally. However, it has not met with critical acclaim and seems to be geared toward the masses. A recent review in the Boston Phoenix gave the restaurant only one star.

Therefore, if you are looking for a new twist for your evening get-togethers and want to do fondue right, invite your friends over for a fondue party. To do this you will need to shop for fondue pot sets and accessories. (Another common way to acquire the necessary equipment is to put it on a registry; fondue pots are popular pieces to round out the newlyweds' kitchen.)

Fondue equipment has become relatively mainstream in the United States. To wit, popular TV host Rachael Ray has even introduced her own fondue pot for the QVC channel. While fondue equipment cannot be purchased at big-box retail stores like Wal-Mart or Target, it can be found in most kitchens stores and on the Internet.

Prices for sets start at approximately $65. The Sierra fondue set made by Swissmar can be used for meat and cheese preparations, but not for dessert with chocolate. This set is made of cast iron and includes an enamel iron pot. The manufacturer advertises that the cast iron pot retains heat well, offers good heat distribution, and can be used on other heat sources. This set includes a splatter ring for cooking meat, a rechaud with a wooden base, a dual function burner, and six meat fondue forks. It is large enough to serve four.

A more expensive set such as the Lausanne Copper Fondue Set sells for $105 and can be used for cooking meat or heating semi-liquids such as cheese or chocolate. It is also manufactured by Suissmar and features a 1.9 quart stainless steel and copper pot that has a removable copper splatter guard. It comes with a 1.3 quart white ceramic bowl to hold food. In addition it includes six stainless steel fondue forks, a rechaud made of stainless steel, and a burner. The package includes instructions as well as recipe cards. Because of the combination of copper and steel this set has a striking contemporary appearance.

Note that if you want to serve more than one item at a time at a large fondue party you will need more than fondue pot and heater. For example, you will need a pot for chocolate and a pot for cheese.

However, your guests can use the same utensils from your set for each pot. Therefore, when shopping for fondue pot sets you may only want to invest in one complete package and then purchase a separate fondue pot. Other accessories you may want to purchase include fondue plates (approximately $30), fondue cookbooks (price varies depending on whether you purchase new or used), and fondue fuel (approximately $15). Bon appétit!

Types of Orchids - The Most Common and Sought After

There are many types of orchids and they can be found on all continents of the world (except for Antarctica) but one thing they all have in common is that they love tropical environments.

There are two main types of orchids; epiphytic and lithophytic.

Epiphytic means to 'grow on trees'. Most orchids are epiphytic. Some orchids are also lithophytic which means they 'grow on rocks'.

A small percentage of orchids are also saprophytic, which means that they grow on dead or decaying matter.

Some common orchid species are Dendrobiums, Cattleya, Cymbidium and Phalaenopsis orchids.

Dendrobiums

Dendrobiums are one of the most common species. They are commonly sought after for their white, yellow and purple flowers. Not only are their blooms spectacular, they are also long-lasting. This species can bloom for up to three months.

Dendrobiums can be found all over the globe but more particularly in Australia, New Zealand, Borneo and the Philippines.

What's amazing about this type of orchid is that it can grow in all sorts of climates; from the tropical lowlands, all the way up to altitudes of 8,000 feet. For this reason you find some species of Dendrobiums that prefer hot weather and then others that prefer it cool.

Certain Dendrobium species are cultivated and used for medicine purposes, especially in Chinese herbal medicine. It is said to helpful for kidney-related issues and fatigue.

This type of orchid is great for beginners.

Cattleya

The Cattleya orchid is highly sought-after for its amazing large blooms of white, yellow and purple flowers and its wonderful fragrance. Cattleya flowers can span up to eight inches across.

Because of its beauty and that they are easy to breed, there are many hybrids of this orchid. It has been dubbed 'the queen of all orchids'.

Cattleya orchids are naturally occurring in Asia and Central and South America. Their blooming period lasts between 4 to 6 weeks.

Cymbidium

If you've been to a wedding where orchids were used in the decorations, it's very likely they were Cymbidium orchids. These orchids are commonly used for wedding bouquets, centerpieces and other arrangements.

Their color and scent are quite varied, ranging from fruity to woody.

Cymbidium orchids are very versatile and can grow on trees, rocks or the ground. For this reason they were one of the first to be domesticated.

The natural habitat of the Cymbidium orchid is Australia and Asia.

Phalaenopsis

Another popular home orchid species is the Phalaenopsis (also commonly known as the Moth orchid).

To give you idea of the wide variety of orchid types there are, it is estimated that there are twice as many orchid species as there are bird species, and four times as many orchid species as there are mammal species.

This orchid type does not like direct sunlight (you can know if it's getting too much sunlight if its leaves begin to yellow) and thrives at the east window of a home or in a shaded, low-light environment.

Because Phalaenopsis don't store as much water as other types of orchids, it's important to regularly check for signs of dryness and apply water appropriately.

Phalaenopsis are native to Southeast Asia including Taiwan and the Philippines.

Baby Shower Favors - New Baby Gift Ideas for Your Shower Party Guests

Baby shower favors are a great way to say thank you to friends and family who are spoiling your new baby arrival - and you - with great children's gifts. From rattles to cute outfits, count on plenty of great gifts for your baby.

Baby Shower Party Giveaways

Any great party deserves keepsake giveaways and your shower party is no different. Often, the mom-to-be doesn't throw the shower - often taken care of by grandma or best friends. Regardless, finding perfect shower favors for guests is a great way to say thank you.

Baby Favor Ideas

Beyond baby shower games and fun catching up with friends, it's time to think about baby favors that your guests will love. We've compiled a list of some great ideas, which can be found at leading online stores and finer gift shops. Here's my top 5 shower giveaway ideas that are unique yet practical - a sure fire hit with all your guests.

1. Towel Cake Favors - these favors appear to be desserts you can eat, but their wonderful hand towels that your guests can actually use. Find them in all shapes and sizes, from cupcakes to "Sweet Sundae" designs.


2. Kitchen Timers - great themes like "it's about time" kitchen timers or "just hatched" egg timers are great ideas. Again, practical baby shower favors guests will adore.


3. Photo Frame Favors - picture frames are a great favor giveaway for their elegance and practicality. Who doesn't love a great framed picture of loved ones. Include the baby's first picture if they've arrived for that personal touch, or a personal message of thanks is a great idea, too.


4. Religious Favors - most Christians love their celebrations of birth and religious favors are often a great way to celebrate your new baby's arrival. From cross frames to laser etched crystal favors depicting angels, to gorgeous angelic cherubs there are great ideas to choose from.


5. Candle Favors - From "Two Peas in a Pod" inspired candles (perfect favors for twins!) to gorgeous decorative tea light mini-lamps, candles are great baby shower giveaway ideas.

These five baby shower ideas are just the beginning - a world of baby-themed gift ideas are out there waiting to be discovered. Best of all, these baby shower favor ideas are budget-minded, too! Remember, shower parties are about getting the new mom (and dad!) off to a great start and sharing time together above all. Precious memories are about to begin as your new baby enters the world!

Best Places to Buy Wedding Invitations in 2010

The first step to a beautiful, successful wedding? The perfect invitation, of course. You must choose a design that will entice your guests and show them what kind of event they will be attending. Will it be formal and elegant or whimsical and fun? Will it open from the sides or will it be a flat card? Whatever the case, invitations are going to be on the top of your list of things to plan for your perfect day.

Offering fun designs and low costs, MyPaperNation.com is an excellent place to get your wedding invitations. They offer many template invitations with matching envelopes for any look you want. If you do not find the right invitation in the wedding section, you can also order blank invitations for printing at home. These blank invitations have borders in many different styles and you are sure to find one to appeal to you.

If you are considering letterpress invitations for your wedding, DauphinePress.com is a printing service that specializes in creating elegant paper products. Invitations kits from the Dauphine Press are beautifully crafted with special inks and fine papers for excellent quality. If impressing your guests is something that you care about, then Dauphine Press's work might just be what you are looking for. They offer free customization on services like ribbons, pocket folder, and wax seals. If you wish to stray from the standard ink colors, fonts, or motifs there is no charge for changing any of them. Free samples are also available at their website.

Doing wedding invitations yourself can be fun and you get to exercise your creative talent to perfect them exactly as you envision. But in order to design your own invitations and envelopes, you need a great source for supplies. You also need a decent printer that can be adjusted to various sizes of paper. CutCardStock.com is a discount paper supplier that has card stock, envelopes, and invitation sets. These products are offered in various sizes and colors as well as metallic, and CutCardStock.com also has an overstock and clearance section for the budget conscious buyer. Cutting and scoring is available upon request for invitation personalization. Also available on their site are free tutorials for creating your own invitations and crafts.

Simple and elegant, Rexcraft.com has been in the wedding business since 1910. Their products are premium, and are beautifully designed. Rexcraft offers invitations under many categories including classic, black and white, flower, heart, monogram, photo, pocket, ribbon, fall, winter, Asian/Indian, traditional, and Chloe B collection. They also offer the Bill Me Later payment option in which you make no payments for ninety days on orders over $150. There's no doubt Rexcraft will make your wedding invitations look beautiful and satisfy your taste.

Cheap Wedding Tips and Tricks

My, how the cost of weddings has skyrocketed. In the U.S, $20,000 is not much beyond the average cost for a wedding. Granted, this includes your reception location, ceremony, clothes, food, alcohol, music, flowers, cake, decorations, favors, tips, sundries and honeymoon. Saving even a little across the board or a lot in one particular area can add to a significant savings in your wallet (or the wallet of the family members that are paying for the grand event).

Here are some great ideas for saving decent money on your wedding. Note that you will be making some difficult choices. There are very valid reasons to spend for the details and professional services of a once in a lifetime event that is your wedding. However, if your budget is very tight, then you can consider using one or more of the suggestions below and you will still have a memorable wedding. You may not be able to combine all of these suggestions, depending on your must-haves, location, and time frame, but using even one or two will help ease the money crunch.

Save on Your Wedding Gown - The bride can find a lovely wedding gown that is perhaps last years design, is a white or cream "prom" dress, has been handed down through her family or is an heirloom gown that she found on the internet or in a vintage shop. After some alteration and by adding jewelry, veil and headpiece, the gown is hers at a great savings.

Make Your Centerpieces - If you don't want fresh flower centerpieces, you or your wedding attendants can have a fun project day, before the wedding, creating unique centerpieces to fit your theme. Another idea is to use live potted plants that represent your theme or region. Potted small palm trees or Colorado blue spruce can be really fun, meaningful and environmentally conscious at the same time.

Frugal Favors - Some wedding favors can be purchased for about $1 a piece from internet sites. As favors are a token for your guests to take home, they shouldn't be cheesy but they don't need to be ornate or expensive either. Surprisingly, you can also check a "dollar store" or the $1 section of Target or another discount store for items that may fit your theme and style. I've seen that Target's wedding section (near the stationery in my store) has inexpensive sets of wedding bubbles. An alternative to purchased favors, especially for a nature themed wedding, is something as simple as giving small clay pots with seed packets. Or offer little taffeta bags of Jordan Almonds - almonds coated with a pastel colored sugar shell - a tradition in Mediterranean weddings.

Send Evites - You can send electronic invitations to those who are computer savvy and modern-thinking and send paper invitations to your other guests. This saves on postage and helps the environment too!

DIY Calligraphy - If you are artistically inclined, buy nice paper, envelopes and card stock and do your own calligraphy for your invitations and place cards.

These are but a few ways that you can save on your wedding costs and still have a great wedding!

Wedding Insurance: So Do I Really Need It?

The simple answer is, if you are getting married, yes! You insure your car, firstly because you have to by law, but secondly, the consequences of an accident or self inflicted damage could wipe out you investment, and that investment could be 瞿20000. The same goes for your home. You would not get a mortgage unless you insured the house for its value or rebuilding cost. The same goes for its contents in a lesser way. The bottom line is if you are going to be spending the 瞿20000 which the average wedding cost in 2010 you would be mad not to have some form of wedding insurance.

Once the euphoria of proposing and agreeing to getting married has died down, the serious business of actually planning the event will get under way. These days it is usually a joint effort between the families. The old way of the bride's family paying for everything has gone out of the window. So somebody will need to make the decision about wedding insurance and the level of cover that is required. Obviously the amount that you are expecting to spend on your wedding will influence the level of cover you will need, but it is still sensible to have a look at what is at risk and whether you already have some of the things covered already under existing insurance policies.

People are using credit and debit cards more and more for even the most mundane of payments because of the convenience, but moreover because of the protection that is afforded by the card companies to customers making purchases using their cards. This means that if you intend to pay for any services for example using your card, you may already have that service covered for failure by the card company's card protection. This is now enshrined in section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

There is even a facility called `chargeback` that you can use, this means that for any purchases under 瞿100, the Visa or Mastercard company will try to get back the payment from the retailer. This amount restriction does not apply if you paid by debit card.

You should also check with your household contents insurer if you have one whether or not they have the facility to offer increased cover for your wedding. Some companies will increase cover for a month before and a month after the date of the wedding for someone in the household getting married. This will cover the wedding gifts and any presents bought specifically for the wedding.

You will still want cover for the main components of the wedding insurance like cancellation in the event of illness or death of a main participant, unforeseen unavailability of the venue for example, but it can reduce the cost of your premium if you can establish that you already have some of the other aspects covered by other insurance policies.

Make sure that you have all your documents to hand well before the date, because in the event of a claim you do not want to have to start hunting around for contact details and the like.

Jet-Setting in the Third World: Is Travel Insurance a Must?

Travelling in Third World countries is not really as dangerous as it sounded decades ago. So many things have happened in the world today, from the fall of communism to globalization that so many countries that although there are countries that are still considered "Third World", these places are not necessarily destitute or lacking in even the most basic necessities.

There are underdeveloped Third World countries like Haiti and Chad that can be really risky places to travel in because of their poor infrastructure, inadequate medical facilities and unstable political climate. Meanwhile, there are countries like India, Thailand and Costa Rica that are still considered as countries belonging to the Third World, but are in the process of developing. These countries may have areas that can be considered dangerous, but they also have urban centers and facilities that rival even destinations in the First World.

What makes these Third World destinations an adventure to go to are their eclectic mix of places of interest for tourists and visitors. They have well-preserved beaches, ancient ruins and rural communities that have not been spoiled by too much commercialization, and yet they also have night spots, museums, shopping centers and parks that suit cosmopolitan travelers.

But whether a traveler is planning to go to an underdeveloped or developing Third World country, it is still imperative to take advantage of travel insurance to be on the safe side. For travelers going to places with volatile current events and frequent weather disturbances, it is always recommended to have comprehensive travel insurance for them to be protected from something drastic like natural calamities, terrorist acts to even small flight delays. Meanwhile, those who are on a shoestring budget and would like to rough it up and explore areas off the beaten track should be wise enough to get backpackers travel insurance for any untoward incident that may happen.

What exactly are the risks of travelers going to these Third World destinations? Aside from the factors mentioned earlier, such as natural disasters, events brought about by the unstable sociopolitical atmosphere and terrorist activities, there are also risks involving the traveler's health because of poor medical infrastructure, contaminated water and food supplies and disease-carrying organisms like insects.

Disease and illness can be transmitted to the traveler via food. This is possible through incorrect methods of preparing and presenting food, spoiled or contaminated ingredients or presence of bacteria and disease-carrying insects like flies that gather in food handled outdoors or sold on the streets. The traveler should always prefer food prepared very hot and peeled fruits and veggies.

Water should be boiled before being drunk. Better beverage options are those that are sealed and unopened like beer, soft drinks, juice and bottled water. Diseases that may come from food and water include dysentery, diarrhea and amoebas, among others. As for insects and other animals, incidences of rabies, tetanus and malaria are still rampant in the Third World. Thus, visitors going there should have a complete set of vaccinations done before their departure.

Cocktail Wedding Reception

Any wedding is followed by a reception to socially celebrate the event. This is usually attended by family members and friends. Different types of receptions are arranged depending on the wishes of the bridal couple and their social circles of which cocktail wedding reception is one.

A cocktail wedding reception is one such type that can be cost effective when compared to traditional sit-down dinner receptions. Since there are no restrictive seating arrangements, this encourages the guests to mingle freely. The presence of the cocktail is bound to bring down the inhibitions which have to be taken into account. The need for tables, chairs and tableware are alleviated. If need be, they can be relegated to a corner of the reception venue to cater to the more traditional elderly family members. So the reception can be held at a smaller venue. The arrangement of several smaller food stations and bars prevent the formation of long queues and preventable skirmishes.

The arrangement has to start well in advance depending on the type of invitees and their average age, that are likely to grace the reception. Or a formal traditional reception is arranged for the elderly, close family members and professional superiors who are teetotalers. The children need to be entertained. The tone for a cocktail wedding reception is set in the wedding invitation itself. Inform the guests that it will be a cocktail reception, so that they will come prepared as to what to expect and that a main course meal will not be available.

Preparing a cocktail reception needs a very careful planning depending on the whims and fancies of the invitees. All the needed ingredients are to be kept ready or already mixed. Offering the guest a signature drink will herald what is to come. Serve hors d'oeuvres or appetizers. A cocktail wedding reception is less formal and the atmosphere is much more relaxed than a traditional reception with speeches, toasts etc. Never underestimate the demand for liquor and food.

Cocktail wedding reception has other essential ingredients like good music, good food, backed by continuous electric supply, water, lighting and staff in waiting. Bathrooms and toilets and changing areas have to be taken care of. In case, the area has to be demarcated it has to be clear and away from areas where other functions may go on.

Always be ready for any exigencies. Medical emergencies need to be met with caution. And transport has to be available for the invitees to be dropped back.

The Pleasures of Restaurant Dining on an Interstitial Cystitis Diet!

Having a chronic illness like interstitial cystitis can deplete your time and energy, and it can be tempting to order in or eat out. However, eating meals prepared away from home is not always a time saver. Waiting in line for fast food or sitting down to eat at a restaurant often takes just as long as preparing a simple meal at home. It is also much harder to stay on an IC Diet when you eat out because you have less control of the ingredients and seasonings, leaving you at risk for bladder pain and frequency that becomes an IC flare.

That being said, even interstitial cystitis patients have times when they need or want to eat outside of the home. Even if your IC diet is fairly limited, there are steps you can take to make sure the food you eat is as IC/bladder friendly for you as possible. Fast food restaurants offer plain hamburgers and milk or milk shakes in a pinch. Most other restaurants will gladly accommodate special orders from their customers. In most restaurants, you can order baked or broiled chicken with no seasoning, a baked potato or plain rice, and steamed vegetables. When in doubt, ask to talk to the chef personally.

Navigating food choices in other people's homes, on holidays, or at events like weddings can be slightly more difficult for someone with interstitial cystitis. Your best strategy is to find out ahead of time what is being served and work around it. If you know in advance that the food choices will not be IC/bladder friendly, eat a sandwich or small meal before you go. You can also offer to take a dish to pass, (IC diet friendly, of course) if that is appropriate for the situation. The book Confident Choices: A Cookbook for IC and OAB has dozens of recipes that are suitable for these occasions, including a variety of appetizers. Who knows, your recipes might just become crowd favorites!

I have become a great "window shopper" of food! I can admire it and smell it, but I don't have to eat it!

Finally, keep in mind why you are eating out. I used to remind my weight management patients to "socialize with people not food." The same goes for interstitial cystitis patients on an IC Diet. Part of learning to accept a chronic illness is learning when to let go of the mind set of "it''s not fair." Instead of looking at the great buffet set out at your niece's wedding and worrying about what you cannot eat, choose what you can eat, enjoy that, and spend your energy and emotions connecting with friends and relatives you may not have seen for awhile.

Similarly, when you are at a restaurant, stop focusing on the foods that are not IC friendly and order what will keep your bladder happy. (I have become a great "window shopper" of food! I can admire it and smell it, but I don't have to eat it!) Then focus not only on the people you are with, but also on the other great benefits of eating in a restaurant. Somebody else is doing all of the work! You don't have to grocery shop for the food. You don't have to prepare it. You don't have to set the table. And the best reason of all? You don't have to clean up afterward.

What are your favorite restaurant foods? How do you navigate the food served at a family event our party?

Is Wedding Insurance a Necessary Investment?

How do you protect the investment you put on your wedding? Anything could happen and money could end up wasted should you end up postponing your wedding. With wedding liability insurance though, you could receive a reimbursement of your expenses and still proceed with the wedding as planned even if it has to happen on a later date.

What Does Your Wedding Insurance Cover?

The couple cannot control everything no matter how long or how well they plan their wedding day. That is why most couples today purchase buy wedding liability insurance. With such an insurance to protect them, they will receive a reimbursement for the expenses they could otherwise no longer recover.

So even if a storm happens and renders the reception venue inaccessible, the couple could still pick another venue with the reimbursement they would get from the wedding liability insurance. In addition to that it could also reimburse the amount wasted on the invitations, flowers, limo and so on. So again, they would still have the money for getting the wedding they have envisioned to have.

Another example would be if for some accidental reason the wedding gown gets ruined. The wedding liability insurance could reimburse the cost as well. This would provide the budget for another gown which could be as beautiful and as expensive as the first one.

If you are trying to include the reception venue in the coverage, make sure that it is not insured already. Paying for it again would only be wasting money. If it is already insured, you could get a cheap wedding insurance instead.

If the wedding gets postponed because a vendor does a no-show, the wedding insurance could also cover the expenses needed to push through with the wedding at a later date. Again the wedding would still come to fruition without the couple worrying where they would get that much money for the addition expenses.

Even if the reason for the postponement is due to the groom or the bride getting sick, the wedding liability insurance could also reimburse the expenses. Again, it really ensures that the wedding will push through without much financial burden on the couple.

Other wedding insurance could also cover for the restaging of the wedding in instances where the photographer fails to deliver the photos of the wedding. If the copies of the photos get stolen, damaged or lost, the wedding liability insurance can pay for the flowers, cake and other things needed to make the restaging of the wedding realistic in pictures.

How Much Do You Need to Spend on Wedding Liability Insurance?

A cheap wedding insurance could only cost $150. Other wedding liability insurance could run up to $550 as well. Getting a $185 wedding liability insurance could give you up to $1,000,000 of reimbursements though. This could be considered cheap wedding insurance considering the amount of protection you will get. To get a better coverage though, a bigger investment may also be required.

It is important to check what instances are covered by your wedding insurance. Even if your wedding rings are covered, engagement rings are definitely not. The wedding liability insurance won't cover for a cancellation simply because the parties changed their minds either.

The choice is really yours whether to get cheap wedding insurance or to get a comprehensive one. While more coverage entails more costs, it also entails more protection.

Filing a Homeowners Insurance Claim

Preparation is one of the most important factors when filing a successful homeowners insurance claim. You don't want to wait until disaster strikes to wonder how much insurance you have, how much was lost, and which items will be covered under your homeowners insurance policy.

The first step is reading your policy to understand the responsibilities of both you and your homeowners insurance company in the event of a claim. Then you need to make a thorough inventory of your property to ensure you receive the settlement you deserve. The easiest and most effective way to document your home inventory is to use a video camera. You can include your name, address, date, and time of the video as well as provide commentary. Remember that you want to provide as much detail as possible when you file your homeowners insurance claim.

Use your video camera to get both interior and exterior shots of your home. Start outside and record all sides of the house, including anything you've added to the property such as a pool, deck, or gazebo. Then move inside and record the contents of every room, taking time to document anything of value in all drawers, cabinets, and closets. After you've recorded everything, make sure to keep copies of the video safe outside of your house in a safe deposit box or in a relative's home.

In the event of a disaster, burglary, or other calamity, immediately call your homeowners insurance agent to alert him or her of any damages and/or losses. Your agent will tell you what steps you need to take based on your policy. Keep your insurance agent's phone number and your policy number in your wallet for safekeeping in case you cannot get back in your home to retrieve this information.

Now it's time to take out the video camera again-this time to document the damage to the items you were so careful to record before the disaster. Shoot the same areas and comment on the damage so your homeowners insurance company can easily make a "before and after" comparison. You will also want to write down a detailed list of all items you suspect to be lost or damaged.

Since you are responsible for preventing further damage, make as many temporary repairs as you can. This can include everything from throwing a tarp over a leaky roof to patching a broken window with cardboard. Do as much as possible to preserve your possessions, and make sure you keep receipts for the supplies you use so you can be reimbursed for these expenses later. As tempting as it may be, do not start making permanent repairs until the insurance claim adjuster inspects your home.

Once your homeowners insurance company has been notified of your claim, it is required to send you the necessary claim forms within a specified timeframe (which varies from state to state). You obviously want to be prompt in completing and returning the forms as soon as possible.

After the insurance adjuster examines your home and sends his or her report to your homeowners insurance company, the company will contact you to agree on the terms of a settlement. Homeowners insurance claims are typically processed quickly, unless a severe natural disaster has affected a large area. In these instances, the homes with the most damage will likely be handled first. In any case, stay in close contact with your homeowners insurance company and see if your policy has "loss of use" coverage that covers living expenses if you can't inhabit your home following the disaster or during repairs.

When it's finally time to hire a professional to make the repairs, make sure you get multiple bids. Your homeowners insurance company will be a great resource for trusted contractors who will help put your home back together.

Learn more about homeowners insurance by visiting http://www.KellyWilliamsIns.com or calling 562.498.8661.

Happy Honeymoon Tips

After the hustle and bustle of wedding plans and the wedding itself, your honeymoon should be a time to relax and enjoy one another's company. With a little preplanning and research, you can be on your way with little to no stress.

The very first thing to consider is your budget. How much are you willing to spend? Is this amount an absolute or will you have a cushion? Consider frequent flyer miles and hotel miles into the equation. Why not put all of your wedding expenses on a single credit card which offers frequent flyer rewards?

Next, you'll need to decide on a destination. Do you want a warm tropical island or a mountain cabin in a colder region? Do you want in an area where there are a lot of other people or seclusion? Sit down and write separate lists of what you want and where you'd like to go, then compare. If your lists are quite different, work toward a plan that offers you both some of what you'd like. You can always find common ground.

Now you need to decide when you want to go and for how long. Do you plan to leave the morning after the wedding or would you like to take several days or weeks to rest? How many vacation days do you need to take? Taking ample time, in both respects, makes for a more relaxed time.

Consider a travel agent. They can be invaluable. They may have travel packages that will help to take the strain off your budget. They can tell you what the weather in generally like in your chosen destination. They will also have information about the place including any sites of interest, restaurants and tours. A travel agent can save you time and money.

Now that you've made these decisions and it's time to prepare for your departure, there are a few more tips and considerations for you such as traveler's checks. How much cash and how much in traveler's checks do you want to carry? Do you plan to take a major credit card? For protection, make copies with clear numbers of everything. Take one with you and keep one at a safe place at home. You'll have this information in the unlucky event that you are robbed.

Traveler's insurance will protect you from the unexpected. Weather events such as hurricanes, illness or any other reason for missing your expected departure time are covered. Most terms will offer a voucher good for up to a year.

Make a list of what to pack. Be aware of airline restrictions. And don't forget your camera and plenty of film!

Thought and planning when it comes to your honeymoon plans can make your trip go smoother and take the worry out of it.

Tips for Planning a Luxury Wedding

Getting married is one of the most exciting and happy occasions in a young couple's life. However, it can also be one of the most stressful. Once you get engaged, where do you start? There is so much planning to do, it can be a little confusing trying to decide where to begin.

The best way to go about your wedding planning is to take things one step at a time and to not let yourself get overwhelmed. If you are going to have a big wedding, then you will need about ten months to a year before you actually have the ceremony and reception. That may seem like a long time, but is necessary to get everything lined up. Here are the first few steps you should take when planning the perfect wedding.

Spread the News

Of course, the first thing to do when you have gotten engaged is to tell everyone you care about! Call up your close friends and family, and consider putting an engagement announcement in the newspaper. You can send out a mass e-mail, make a Facebook post, or even go the traditional route by mailing your announcements.

Set the Tone

Once you have made your big announcement, you can start thinking about the tone and theme of your wedding. Do you want to invite everyone you know or keep it small? Do you want to have a religious ceremony or would you rather keep it secular? Are you planning a strictly formal affair or does a casual ceremony sound more up your alley?

These are just a few of the questions that you and your fianc矇e should be talking about. Remember to be willing to compromise, but only after making your case. This is also a good time to think about a possible theme for your wedding, as well as wedding colors.

Make your Guest List

It might seem a little early to think about who you are going to invite, but the size of your wedding will determine what size venue you need and how much you are going to end up spending.

Set your Budget

Once you have your guest list, you can start figuring out how much this wedding is going to cost you. Talk to both sets of parents and see if they are willing to pitch in. If they plan on paying for just part of the wedding, find out what the split will be. When you have a number picked out, stick to it. Newlyweds fight about money more than anything else, and you don't want to start off in debt.

Pick a Date

At the beginning, you are going to want to be a little bit flexible with your wedding date. When you start calling venues and booking vendors, you might find that a key element is missing or unavailable. Once you start contacting these people and places, you will be able to solidify your date.

Book your Site

Now is the time to start looking for venues for the ceremony and the reception. Talk to people you know who have gotten married recently and see if they have any advice. Also, if you aren't planning on getting married in a church, you might consider getting married at the same place you plan on having your reception. This saves everybody a whole lot of running around and will give you more time to enjoy your day.Remember to book your location as early as possible. Wait too long and it might be all booked up.

Pick out your Officiant

Whether you plan on having a religious ceremony or not, you are still going to need someone to legally marry you. There are many different options out there for both religious and secular officiants. If you are having trouble finding someone to fit your needs, feel free to ask the people who work at your selected wedding venue. They will have dealt with many different officiants and should be able to help you out.

Pick your Wedding Party

Before things start getting really hectic, it is time to choose the people who will be helping you through the process. Bridesmaids, groomsmen and ushers aren't just a great asset on your wedding day; they will be an integral part of the planning process. Pick people who live close by so they can assist you during this stressful period.

Book your Vendors

Just like with your venue, vendors fill up fast. More than one ceremony on the same day won't mess up a florist's schedule too much, but you want to make sure the caterer and the DJ are all lined up.

Booking your photographer is also important, but that can be done about six months before the wedding. Most photographers don't need to be booked much further in advance than that.

Of course these are just the first steps. There is much more to come, but this is a great way to get started in planning the wedding of your dreams!

The Advantages Of Incorporation In The Isle Of Man

Every country and every jurisdiction has its distinctive forms of business. The Isle of Man is no exception. It is one of the most highly regarded offshore and international finance centres because of the exemplary record of cooperation it holds, because of the superior investor protection schemes it keeps in place and because the calibre of the international and offshore institutions allowed to operate from the Isle of Man is exceptionally high.

The Isle of Man's zero rate of corporate tax came into force on 6 April 2006. The island's progressive and commercially minded government has taken this bold initiative partly to satisfy the OECD's harmful tax competition initiative. Of course, to fall into the zero tax category companies have to be correctly structured. To complement the Isle of Man's zero tax policy and present an unbeatable corporate package to attract international business the new 'Manx corporate vehicle' has been proposed. Following these intentions, on 1 November 2006 the Isle of Man Companies Act 2006 came into force and has promoted significant and far reaching changes to company law. As of this date the island has become the most competitive jurisdiction in Europe for the formation and operation of international business companies.

The Isle of Man Companies Act 2006 is also known in the industry as the New Manx Vehicle or NMV. The new act has been designed to sit alongside the Island's existing company law rather than replace it, but it allows to make it easier to set up and run a businesses in the Isle of Man. In particular, the significant simplifications mean:

o companies can be incorporated far more quickly;

o there is far greater flexibility of use by moving many obligations from statute into the articles of a company;

o corporate directors are allowed;

o both single member and protected cell companies are permitted;

o registered agents can take the place of company secretaries;

o no authorised or issued share capital requirements;

o no par value shares are permitted;

o no public filing of accounts;

o no audit requirements;

o no requirements for annual general meetings;

o reporting requirements and merger of consolidation procedures are simplified;

o reduced compulsory filings with the Companies Registry;

o companies can easily redomicile to or from the Island.

Each 2006 Act company is allocated a number followed by the suffix "V" to distinguish the new-style companies from the more traditional companies which may still be incorporated under the Companies Acts 1931-2004. Most companies already in place in the Isle of Man which were incorporated under the previously operational Isle of Man Company Legislation can now convert to become IBCs governed by the rules of the New Manx Vehicle. As predicted, more and more companies will be seeking to change because the new legislation is just so conducive to the smooth and simplified running of an IBC.

It is no accident that in modern times business organisations established in the Isle of Man have become so widely used internationally. It is arguable that the Isle of Man has the most sophisticated law relating to forms of business organisation of any centre for offshore work, and is among the leading jurisdictions of the world in this respect. The part of the success of the Isle of Man is its professional services industry with all the major international firms. Furthermore, the Isle of Man has adopted all internationally agreed measures and plays an active part in combating money-laundering and other criminal activities. Its financial services industry is long established and well regulated. Finally, the jurisdiction has worked hard to support this industry initiative and to launch the new vehicle. For all that, it makes absolute sense that national structures will do all they can to hone island's internationally positive reputation and to enhance the benefits of doing business, banking and investing in the Isle of Man.

Thank Your Guests With Seed Wedding Favors

There has been a big trend lately towards giving wedding favors with more eco-friendly edge. One of the more popular ones is seed favors which can be presented in packets or tins. Seed favors offer plenty of scope for you to personalize and create gifts which coordinate to your wedding by yourself.

Here are a few ideas for creating seed wedding favors to say thank you to your guests for joining you on such a special day.

Flower Garden: choose flower seeds in your favourite varieties or those which you are using in your wedding flowers. Do make sure they are varieties which can grow in your climate and are easy to grow. Present one seed variety in a stylish tin with a personalized sticker or if you have different seed varieties put them in separate sachets inside a large envelope.

Herbs and Vegetables: encourage your guests to grown their own herbs and vegetables at home by giving them seeds for popular varieties. Herbs are great as wedding favors for all your guests as they can be grown easily in a window box or in a pot on the kitchen window sill. Vegetables require a little more work but your gift could see your guests growing giant pumpkins and marrows in no time!

Indoor Garden: choose indoor varieties so your guests can grow pot plants for their home or conservatory. For a Christmas wedding hyacinth or poinsettia bulbs/seeds are a great choice.

Wild Meadow: give your guests seeds to grow their own wild meadow with flowers like poppies, cowslips and ladies mantle. Meadow flowers are important for wildlife like butterflies and bees and are a nice choice for a spring or summer wedding.

If you choose to give garden seeds as your wedding favors do make sure you include a note telling your guests what the varieties are and how to plant and look after them. Your guests are more likely to plant them if they know what they are than if you leave them guessing!

A final seed style favour which is does not need to be planted are bird seed favors. These are beginning to appear in many favour stores now and are nice for a garden or eco-friendly wedding theme. They come in different shapes and are relatively inexpensive. Or you could make your own at home with a big bag of garden bird seed, a cookie cutter or mould and some melted pork fat to bind the seeds. Present them in clear plastic bags tied with ribbon.

Handmade Talavera Pottery

Talavera pottery is a kind of majolica pottery that is notable for its milky-white glaze, detailed pattern and strong colors. Genuine Talavera pottery only comes from Puebla, Mexico as well as the nearby communities of Cholula, Tecali and Atlixco, due to the quality of the natural clay that can be found there in addition to the tradition of production that goes back to the sixteenth century.

The majority of this pottery was adorned only in blue, although colors like black, orange, mauve, yellow and green have also been utilized. The Spanish brought majolica pottery to Mexico in the colonial period's first century. The production of this earthenware became well developed in Pueblo due to the availability of good clays as well as orders for tiles from monasteries and churches in the area. This industry had grown so much that in the middle of the 17th century, guilds and standards had been founded which further enhanced the quality of the ceramic. To distinguish it from Spain's Talavera pottery, it was called Talavera Poblana which is a mixture of indigenous, Spanish and Italian ceramic techniques.

The design of each piece of pottery is well regulated by tradition. Initially, only cobalt blue was utilized and since it was the most costly pigment, it was highly preferred by most people not only for status but also because it guaranteed the quality of the whole piece. The handcrafting process takes 3 to 4 months and only natural clays are utilized instead of dyed and chemically treated clays. The process of making a piece is risky as it can break any time. This makes Talavera pottery 3 times more expensive than other kinds of pottery.

Talavera pottery is commonly used to create utilitarian items like bowls, plates, jars, religious items, decorative figures, sinks and flowerpots. However, a major use of the earthenware is for tiles that are used to adorn both the outside and inside of buildings in Mexico, particularly in Puebla. Talavera ceramic is not cheap, particularly the larger and fancier pieces.

Many interior designers and collectors appreciate the design of every piece and those who want to own one can find them in various stores that offer these items. Lots of retailers stock window boxes, vases, bowls, animal figurines, planters and garden decoration. Interested individuals can also browse the web to know the online stores that offer Talavera ceramic. Puebla, Mexico is a home to high quality clay and skilled pottery artists, so Talavera pottery boasts of beauty of quality.

Destination Weddings, Or Marrying Overseas and the Legal Issues

There is a certain romance involved in being married in a tropical setting, or scenic European vineyard. A beautiful setting in a far away place, that provides a back drop for photos and memories that will be with you a lifetime. While you are swept away with this fantasy wedding, don't forget to factor in the legal aspects that can arise with being married in another country. It is important to ask any and all questions and do your homework in advance so you do not get caught unexpectedly with elements that can be costly and time consuming.

With a tropical destination wedding you have the advantage of not being the first or only one to get married here. These take place daily, and the planners and coordinators at the resorts as well as the people specifically employed to take care of the wedding details are well versed at how it all works. Make sure you are very specific with your questions and understanding what is included in the package the resort provides. You will need to ask them what exactly is required at your end. What are your accepted forms of identification and perhaps original divorce documents from a previous marriage in some cases. With some countries you are required to spend a certain amount of time in the area prior to being married, and others may want documentation translated into their national language. Churches in other countries will likely require permission from their authorities ahead of time. Ask of the person performing is fluent in English or would you need an interpreter so you can follow, as well as your guests. After the wedding when you return home, you may need your wedding certification translated into English.

With some elements of the unknown involved in traveling outside the country for your wedding it would be wise to look into Wedding Insurance and take advantage of travel insurance as well. In the United States you have the opportunity to contact your destination wedding country's embassy to ask them questions before you make your decisions. You don't need to change any of your plans or put your dreams of an exotic wedding on hold, you just need to ask more questions and get more information prior to the event. Some couples have a ceremony for show and pictures in their dream venue and either before or after have a civil ceremony at home to make sure everything is legal.