Top Tips For Choosing an Emerald Engagement Ring

There are many unique and beautiful rings available when a person is planning a marriage. Choosing the perfect ring can be difficult when you are trying to find the ring that will reflect your personality and style. The emerald engagement ring is a unique and beautiful stone, that will is the perfect tool for giving you a distinct and signature look throughout your married life.

There are many types of engagement rings made. Some of these rings are designed to incorporate different gemstones including diamonds, emeralds, and rubies. An individual who is looking for a unique ring will often find that a unique style and can be difficult. One reason, it is that many rings are designed and manufactured en masse and are not intrinsically unique.

Having a ring created and designed by an artist with a distinct eye for creativity, will give you an opportunity to select the perfect engagement ring to complement your relationship. The size of the ring may vary, and may be dependent on the budget of the person purchasing it. However, when a person decides to select a ring that is unique, beautiful, and unusual, they often find that getting an affordable ring is much easier than they anticipated.

The characteristics of the emerald engagement ring, give a classic elegance to any style. A person who wants a modern design in their weddings set, will find that the emerald is a beautiful stone that complements modern or classic designs.

When choosing the design of your ring, it will be important to take into consideration how you normally wear rings. If you are an individual who works with their hands, or might get their ring caught on equipment, clothing, or other items, a ring that has an inset stone will be a more viable choice.

Some people select rings that have a solitary stone, set high on the band. These rings, while beautiful, often get caught on clothing or other objects if a person works in an industry where they will be using their hands. Having an inlaid emerald placed in a ring protects prongs holding the ring, and gives it an added layer of protection from damage.

In many cases the emerald will be paired with another stone such as a diamond, which can create a fabulous setting when it is attached to a wedding ring. In many cases, people will incorporate the emerald in both the engagement ring and wedding band to create a seamless and continuous look in the entire set.

When you are looking for an emerald engagement ring that is reflects your personality and style, it will be important to talk to a professional jeweler who has the knowledge and expertise needed to provide you with information that will be important in your selection process. You decision will include your requirements for wearing the ring, the style of the ring and the design that you want your ring to embody.

In many cases when a person selects an emerald ring, it is because they have an affinity for the beautiful rich color that is captured in this marvelous stone. Creating a themed wedding around the color of a an engagement ring makes it very easy to utilize this wonderful color with one that complements it. By pairing the emerald green with another color, the result can be a spectacular display at a wedding event.

When making the purchase of the ring, it is always a good idea to simultaneously purchase ear rings, bracelets, and other accessories cut from the same stone or from the same location. This creation of a timeless keepsake makes the entire set a valuable memory that can be passed on through generations.

Emeralds are cut in much the same way as diamonds. This stone is comparatively hard, but must be maintained properly to retain it's splendor. It is important that the stone be pretreated to avoid scratches and damage. When participating in rigorous sports, it will be important that the ring be protected.

When purchasing the ring in a princess cut, there will be edges around the facets. This is a beautiful cut for an emerald, however it will be important that the edges are protected by the design of the ring. The emerald cut engagement ring gives an individual the opportunity to be creative in their design as well as protective of the stone. When properly maintained the emerald will last throughout a lifetime.

When purchasing the an emerald engagement ring, setting up a maintenance plan to have the ring cleaned, checked and repaired when necessary will be an excellent idea. Once the ring has been purchased, it will be important to maintain it as you would any valuable. Insurance is always a good idea with buying jewelry, and you will want to keep it in a well protected area when it is not being worn.

Wording Ideas for Beach Wedding Invitations

When it comes to wording your beach wedding invitations you want to come up with something that sounds great but that also conveys the location. Perhaps wording that says something like:

Start writing your toast

Because Anne and Mike

Will wed at the coast

On July 18, 2007

Fisherman's Pier

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

Of course, that's a very casual wording for wedding invitations and you might be looking for something that is a little more formal or not so much of a rhyme. You can go for a custom wedding invitation that is considerably more formal like traditional wedding invitation cards are. Here is a more formal example:

Mr. and Mrs. John Jones request the honor of

Your presence at the marriage of their daughter

Tiffany Rose

To

Jeremy Scott Smith

The fifth day of January

Two thousand and seven

At Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Perhaps this isn't your style either, and that is ok. Feel free to make up a beach themed invitation that is worded just the way you want. You may also search the Internet for other examples that you might use. Some people are exceptionally worried about etiquette and following it to a tee. If this sounds like you then use the web and wedding books to guide you when it comes to writing your own wedding invitations. If you don't particularly care then write them whatever way makes you happy. Just keep in mind it is your wedding day and following at least a little bit of invitation etiquette is a good idea and something you won't regret a few years down the road.

If you want something one of a kind that nobody else has ever had then consider hiring a poet to write your wedding invitations in a way that follows all the rules of etiquette but that also reflect your love for one another and your personalities. This could be a really fun way to have super special wedding invitations that nobody else has or will ever have. It might take a while to find somebody who could capture just what you want to say in a poetic way, but if this sounds like something you like then it really might be worth the effort. If you are working on a deadline though try and just find some wording you like and have the invitations printed as quickly as possible. You don't want your guests to make other plans because you were worried about the invitation wording and didn't get them out soon enough!

Restaurant Business - How To Open A Pizzeria

Starting a pizzeria will require you to get more equipment than a regular restaurant business. You will need specific kinds of ovens to bake pizza. Some pizzerias even have huge brick ovens. It is fun to own your own pizza place and it can be a very lucrative business as long as you serve excellent tasting pizza. Here are some guidelines to help you get started in the pizza business.

Decide on the type of pizza business you want to start. Will you want to open a simple window for take-out pizza or do you have the funds and energy to start a full service pizza restaurant business? Having a bigger place with seats and table allows you to expand your menu to serve salads, pasta and full meals. A small take-out window or pizza kiosk is ideal for smaller budgets and for those who don't want too much work.

Before opening a restaurant business, you should decide on focusing on cuisine you are familiar with. It is better to know how to cook even if you won't be doing the cooking every day. Knowledge about the food business will give you an edge over the competition. For example, if you don't know how to make pizza dough and your pizza maker skips work, your business may suffer for that day because no one can make the pizza crust. Placing the toppings and cheese is easy and all you have to do is stick it in the oven.

Create a business plan for your pizza parlor. This will help you keep focused and provide guidelines for you to follow. It is easy to get distracted and forget things in the midst of the chaos of starting a restaurant business. Your business plan should cover marketing, profit and loss, budget, and expansion among other things. A business plan can also come in handy if and when you need to borrow money for capital.

Estimate the amount of money you need to start a pizzeria. Add the expenses for rent, construction, the first batch of supplies and ingredients, wage, advertising, your furniture, equipment and pizza ovens. If you find that the total amount is more than you can afford, that's the time to go to a lending firm or bank to borrow money for your capital. By this time, you should have that business plan finished so you can give it to your lenders.

To be able to know how much money you need for equipment purchases, make a list. If you will cater to the high-end market, you might want to install a brick oven. That will add to the costs but will also attract more customers. A pizzeria needs additional equipment and appliances like pizza pans, heavy-duty pizza ovens, dough mixer and a rolling machine.

Location is a big factor for any restaurant business. For a pizzeria, you will also have to consider what type of pizza you will serve before deciding on the location. If you want to serve gourmet pizza, you should be located in an upscale neighborhood or in a business center. If you are just starting with a pizza kiosk or take-out window, a mall would be a good place to start.

Make a lot of noise before you open your pizzeria. Send out press releases to your local newspaper and print some fliers that you can distribute around town. Offer tasting events at various local events and at the mall and universities. Talk to other restaurant business owners about boosting your marketing. Marketing is what's going to make your pizzeria popular and profitable aside from serving excellent tasting pizza.

How to Investigate Insurance Companies

Buying insurance is a costly affair, and with so many insurance companies popping up everywhere and with so many different products being offered, how does one know that you are getting the best deal for your money, or that your insurance company deals ethically? Surely there must be some sort of rating system for insurance companies, and a list of criteria that these companies need to adhere to?

When it comes to buying insurance you need to know who you are investing your money with. If you think about it, you can only really see the efficiency or efficacy of an insurer when it comes time to make a claim. The thing is that when purchasing we all hope that there will not come a time when we need to make a claim against our insurance. But in the unfortunate event that we do need to make a claim, it can be very stressful when after years of diligently paying your insurance premiums, your insurance company takes long pay out or refuses to pay out due to some fine print that says that you are not insured for a particular item. This is why it is important to check the pay back rate of the company to see how good they are at settling claims.

Firstly make sure that the insurer is licensed, certified and is vetted by the insurance regulatory board such as the Financial Services Board. You can also find a list of registered South African insurance companies on the internet.

As mentioned before, make sure to ask the insurer about their pay back rate. How they settle claims is a good indication of the company's policies. Also do not be afraid to do your own investigations. We live in the information age, where getting information is no further away than the click of a button. I always go and do my research by reading customer reviews and forums on the Internet. It is the one way you can get an honest insight into the company and not just propaganda.

Call the company to get information. While it may be true that you can find almost all the information you might need on the site, but by calling the company you can deal first hand with them and see what their customer services are like. And you can ask them as well about what their claim pay back rate is. You can judge a company a lot by how they treat their callers, for example you can see whether they answered your call professionally, whether they were helpful, and friendly and whether they put you in contact with the right people needed to answer your questions.

And lastly word of mouth works perfectly. Ask people you know about their insurance companies and if they had good or bad experiences with this company. This is the best way to get the truth about an insurer.

These are just some of the ways in which you can check up on an insurance company before you decide to insure with them.

Wedding And Portrait Photography - Using Offline Methods To Advertise Your Business

There are so many ways to advertise and market your business and this article discusses all the offline methods that you can use to really get your business out there.

Wedding Fayres
There are plenty of wedding fayres out there - do not necessarily go for the cheapest, go for the ones that attract the market you are aiming for.

When you get enquiries at wedding fayres, try to get any interested persons' email address so that you can send them additional literature or an email follow up at a slightly later date. Any interested party visiting your stand could be enticed to give their Name and Email address in exchange for a free report that you email them afterwards. Bride and groom to be will be milling around numerous stalls and yours will be just another one. If you do not follow up with an email, your details tend to get lost in amongst all the other literature they pick up and you will be forgotten.

Competitions and editorials
There are so many photographic competitions out there today. Try and enter as many competitions as you can. The more you win, the more prestigious you will be viewed as hence helping the selling of your services. Also try and get as much editorial as possible in local publications. This is not always easy, as individuals and companies who are wanting editorial just as you do, are also bombarding editorial staff. If you think up an interesting article with a good twist and provide lots of photos, try contacting all the local magazines and newspapers to see if they will print it. If they have some spare page space and you have done the hard work for them in terms of the write up and preparation of images, they may just publish it for you. It may be a good idea to contact local charities and offer to photograph their events free of charge that could be worthy of a newspaper article. Or for example, offer to photograph for a local radio station for free publicity on air.

Shop windows
An excellent way of advertising is using shop window space. This could be in a hairdresser or beauty salon for example - somewhere where future brides frequent. You may have to pay for it, or some shops offer their window space if you are an existing customer as it changes the face of their window for a few weeks. You could also offer a commission on every wedding booked via them.

Affiliations with other wedding providers
Contact other good wedding service providers (local wedding venues, car suppliers, florists, bridal gown shops) in your chosen area and swap details so that they can recommend you if you recommend them. As an added incentive, you could provide them with free photos of their cars / flowers / dresses that you have photographed on a wedding shoot. Bridal shops always need wedding photographs and if you know a bride has bought her dress from there, submit some stunning photographs of the bride and dress on CD to the bridal shop and then give them permission to use the shots for their marketing purposes (as long as they credit you and pass your details onto potential clients). Then aim to get your framed photos hung up in their shops for all to see. I have known photographers to become established in major stores where they have a Wedding Services Department and they have their marketing literature within their department. These stores sometimes take part in wedding fayres and if you are already affiliated with them, it is good idea to do this with them and get their big name associated with you in this public domain.

Some wedding venues like to give out information packs to potential clients so supply them with an A5 or an A4 leaflet of your photos and services for them to include in this pack. This can be a good way of getting business at those particular venues. However you may find that they are already affiliated with another photographer and like to stay loyal but again perseverance is the key and you may find some that are willing to include you in their packs.

Once you are well established in a venue, it is a good idea to leave a wedding album for display at their premises and this album should show photographs of that particular venue.

Your Own Brand

Make sure that you create your own identity that people crave for. Market that brand with your logo in any publication you may be in (even if your name is just credited against a photo). Also strike up an association with a well known supplier (maybe an elite venue) within your local area. Jointly you can run a competition in a newspaper/magazine and it is amazing what response you will get when you have a well known logo attached and associated with yours.

Grooms Behaving Badly

The time surrounding her wedding should be a blissful time for a woman. There is the initial thrill of the engagement, the fun of the parties, and the excitement of planning the wedding. This pre-wedding period can end up being more stressful than joyous, however, when the groom behaves badly.

Misbehaving grooms are nothing new. Probably for as long as brides have been planning weddings, there have been complaints about the groom. The most common issue that arises is the disinterested groom. He thinks that he has done his part by asking the woman to marry him, and the rest is up to her. The disinterested groom intends to show up on the wedding day, and that is as much as he wants to do with the whole wedding thing.

Although most brides are the chief planners, they do still want to feel like the groom has some interest in the details of the wedding. Even if the bride asks her fiance's opinion only to then ignore it, she would still like to maintain the pretense that this wedding is for both of them. Gentlemen, keep in mind that wedding planning is often a highly emotional process for the bride-to-be, and when you do not show even perfunctory interest in your nuptials, the bride is bound to take it as a personal rejection. Napkins, flowers, and cake may not be your thing, but take a moment each day to ask your fiancee how the wedding plans are coming along, and at least pretend to listen to her answer.

Another thing that drives brides crazy is when they cannot get the groom-to-be to handle the few tasks that have been assigned to him. I have seen grooms who are so disinterested in the wedding that they allow the bride to choose both wedding bands without any input from the man. At the minimum, the groom is responsible for purchasing the bride's wedding band, and choosing a gift of special wedding jewelry is also a good idea. Pay attention to what jewelry your fiance already has, and then surprise her with a piece of unique wedding jewelry that suits her style. (It will help to show her that you have been paying better attention than she thought!)

The most egregious complaints about the groom usually relate to the bachelor party. Although it is a time for the groom and his buddies to let loose, the bachelor party cannot be used as an excuse to throw all decency out the window. The worst situations involve a groom who has "one last fling" before the wedding (and possibly no wedding at all, if the bride finds out about it). All I can say is, Ick! - don't even think about it! Less terrible, but still very annoying to the bride, is the groom who shows up to the wedding still hung over from a bachelor party the night before. This situation is very easily prevented by planning the guys' night out several weeks before the wedding day.

Of course, we don't want to give all grooms a bad rap here. There are plenty of guys who are helpful with the wedding planning, respectful of the bride, and sober on the wedding day. Those grooms serve as great role models to their misbehaving friends, who would do well to live by their positive example. Guys, remember the old adage: "Happy wife - happy life"!

Cocktail Wedding Receptions - A Cheap and Classy Alternative to Expensive Wedding Receptions

If you are looking to have a classy, yet inexpensive wedding, holding a cocktail reception may be an alternative you may want to consider. When planning a wedding, you will need to allocate at least fifty percent of your budget to your wedding reception. If you are looking for a trendy reception idea while cutting your expenses down, a cocktail reception will cost much less than a traditional wedding reception.

Cocktail receptions are much cheaper than traditional wedding receptions for several reasons: less food, smaller location, few (if any) tables and chairs which will cut down on your rental and floral expenses. There will be no large tables to dress up with centerpieces, no linen charges, no full settings of china to rent. You won't have to worry about assigning seating or purchasing place cards and table decorations. You will not have to hire an expensive break down crew for after the reception clean up.

Cocktail receptions also create a much more social atmosphere versus a traditional wedding reception. With few tables and chairs, the cocktail reception encourages mingling and movement around the location. This party type of format may not be conducive for traditional wedding reception activities, unless the location has enough room to "clear" the center for first dances and bouquet tossing.

If you decide to have a cocktail wedding reception, remember timing and location is everything. A cocktail reception is best held between the hours of 5 pm to 7 pm, or if you are planning on a three hour cocktail party, from 4 pm to 7 pm. Any earlier, your guests may not want to eat, any later, they may expect a full meal. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres tend to take less time than a full reception, so a cocktail reception should be between two and three hours at the most.

A cocktail reception opens the doors to many location possibilities which would otherwise not be available to you if you had a traditional wedding reception. You could have your cocktail reception poolside, on a terrace, on a city rooftop (which would be beautiful at sunset), at an art gallery, or even in a room in a museum. You will open the door to many unique reception locations if you choose this idea, often costing a fraction of the price of a traditional banquet location.

Wedding Invitations Primer - Wording Samples, Etiquette, Trends and Costs

Wedding invitations are the focal point of your wedding stationery, providing the first glimpse into the style and formality of the wedding. While save-the-dates can be flirty and fun, your invitations will be a true reflection of your event. Plan your wedding invitations with care with my complete wedding invitation planning guide.

The Anatomy of a Wedding Invitation

Wedding Invitations can include a number of enclosures, depending on the nature of your wedding and your stationery budget. (obviously more enclosures means higher costs)

o Outer envelope: Holds all enclosures, formally addressed to the recipient.

o Inner envelope: Holds all contents of the formal, third-person invitation for protection during shipping.

o Reception card: Specifies where and when the reception will be held - usually included only if the ceremony and reception take place at different locations.

o Response card: On which your guests indicate acceptance or regrets. In self-addressed stamped envelope. Make sure to include an RSVP deadline.

o Map/Directional: Optional insertion to help guests navigate and arrange for accommodations

Cost & Budget Considerations

Before you go shopping, become familiar with the invitation printing process and lingo; this will help you determine your needs in advance and avoid unnecessary costs. Price is determined per invitation, so if your guest list is huge - be prepared to designate a significant portion of your budget to wedding invitations. Costs can range anywhere from $1-$50 each. Bulky papers, colored inks and unique graphics all increase the cost. Custom designs can also be pricey. Printing options also affect the cost.

Invitation Printing Options:

o Engraving - most formal and most expensive - results in raised print that is pressed through the back

o Thermography - less expensive than engraving - results in raised print that does not press through the back

o Lithography - less expensive than either engraving or theromography - results in print that is neither raised nor pressed through

o Laser printing - the least expensive option. - produced on a laser printer and results in print similar to that of lithography.

When factoring total costs, don't forget to consider postage as part of your budget, including stamps for the response card envelopes. Looking for ways to save? Keep your design simple, sticking to one color. Use lighter weight papers and include less inserts. Use response postcards instead of cards with envelopes.

Trends

As with all other aspects of your wedding, your invitations give you an opportunity to reflect a particular color, theme, and/or season of your wedding. During the spring, include pressed flowers or a flower blossom motif featuring the colors of your wedding. Hot right now is Asian-inspired floral motifs or anything 3D that adds texture. For the fall, incorporate warm, colorful leaves. For a summer wedding, feature seashells and starfish with brilliant ocean-blues or sunset-orange/reds. And for the winter, incorporate snowflakes on a simple white invitation.

Other popular suggestions range from unique color combinations and patterns, to ribbons or other clever themed items such as bindings. Many couples are going back to the traditional, formal look and featuring both sets of initials as monograms on the cover, but what's even hotter is a creative logo or historic family seal. Whatever you decide, make your invitations innovative and unique to your personal style and wedding.

Tips, Rules & Etiquette

o When to send them - send wedding invitations 6-8 weeks before the big day. (if you think your guests will need more advanced notice, send save-the-date cards as well) Try to order invitations 3-4 months in advance to ensure they go out on time.

o How many to order - Order about 25% more than the number of guests you're inviting - you're bound to make mistakes or make last minute additions.

o Consider hiring a calligrapher for an added touch of elegance. (this is the first impression of your wedding!) Make sure to factor in the additional timing to ensure your invitations go out on time. Many rules apply to wording and addressing invitations. Here are some of the basics to ensure yours are "faux pas-free":

Invitation Wording Etiquette

o Dates and times should be spelled out (half after four o'clock in the evening, not 4:30pm, and the twenty-second of April, not April 22)

o Mr. and Mrs. are abbreviated and Jr. may be, but the title Doctor should be spelled out

o No punctuation is used, except after abbreviations and between the city and state.

o An invitation to just the wedding ceremony does not include an R.S.V.P

o "Hosting" the wedding can mean anything from a set of parents helping to plan the event, inviting the guests, or covering the costs:

If there is one set of hosts, list their names at the beginning.

If both sets are hosting, list on separate lines with bride's parents first.

If one set is hosting but you want to include the other set as well, note their names under their son/daughter's name.

If you are hosting your own wedding, begin with the request line and state parent's relationship under your name.

If you and both sets of parents are hosting, list your names first followed by "together with their parents" before the request line.

Addressing Etiquette

o No abbreviations, except for Mr., Mrs., Ms., and Jr. States must also be spelled out.

o If one of your single guests is bringing a date that you know personally, send that person a separate invitation instead of including "& Guest" on the inner envelope.

o If you are unable to obtain the name of a single friend's guest - indicate on the inner envelope that they may bring a guest - NOT on the outer envelope. (this looks awkward)

o Unmarried couples who live together should receive one invitation, where their names are listed in alphabetical order and on their own lines.

o Invited guests who are living together as roommates, not couples, should each receive their own invitation.

o List the names of children under the age of 18 who still live at home on the inner envelope instead of "& Family" which can be very ambiguous and easily misinterpreted. Children over the age of 18 should receive their own invitation, regardless of their living situation.

o The traditional, married couple recipient should follow this format:

Mr. & Mrs. Ryan Parker

2211 First Street, Apartment 3

San Diego, California 92109

Wedding Invitation Wording Samples

Gone are the days when wedding etiquette mandated that the bride's parents, and the bride's parent's only, hosted the wedding. Today anyone can foot the bill, and with modern familial arrangements often anything but nuclear, there is no straightforward rule for wording invitations. We've sorted through the confusion to bring you wording samples for the most common arrangements:

Simple, Traditional Format

[proper names of those hosting] (official hosts line) request the honour of your presence (request line) at the marriage of their [relationship of the bride to the host] [bride's first and middle names] to [groom's full name], the [day of the week] of [day and month of wedding] at [hour] o'clock in the [time of day] at [name of wedding venue] in [city, state] Reception to follow

Divorced Parents

[proper name of host] requests the honor of your presence at the marriage of [his/her] [relationship of the bride to the host]

Or, if parent is remarried and hosting with new spouse:

[proper names of those hosting] request the honor of your presence at the marriage of [his/her] [relationship of the bride to the host]

Or, if divorced parents are mutually hosting:

[proper name of mother] and [proper name of father] request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their [relationship of the bride to the host]

When the bride's one living parent is hosting The invitation is issued only in the name of the living parent:

Mr. [Mrs.] Jonathan Stephen Smith and Timothy Wright requests the honor of your presence at the marriage of his [her] daughter Elizabeth Ann

When the Bride and Groom host

The honor of your presence is requested it the marriage of Miss Ashley Johnson to Mr. Paul Wilkins

OR

Miss Ashley Johnson and Mr. Paul Wilkins request the honor of your presence at their marriage

Alternative "Request Line" Options

o "pleasure of your company"

o "honor of your presence" (used instead of the formal "honor" when ceremony does not take place in a house of worship)

o "share and celebrate in their joy" another creative idea that reflects the theme and tone of your wedding.

How to Care for China Dishes

After receiving the china you hand picked for your wedding registry, you may be excited to use it. Or you may have recently inherited heirloom china from your mother or grandmother. Whatever china you own, you need to learn how to properly clean and care for these delicate pieces so they last longer than a lifetime. Unlike regular dishes, the delicate material of special china is easily chipped or damaged if not properly handled. China dishes cannot withstand hot temperature changes, harsh detergents, and scratchy sponges. Here is the proper way to wash china and keep fine china stored safely.

Washing China

Rinse your china immediately following the meal to avoid stains, particularly if the food was acidic. Before you wash china, take off leftover food with a rubber spatula. Don't use heavy sponges and silverware because they may scratch the plates or leave gray marks.

Rather than stacking china in the sink to wash, line the bottom of your sink with a soft dish towel. This will prevent your dishes from hitting the walls and bottom of the sink and adding scratches and dings. Add warm water and detergent to the sink. If you are washing the cups, wash them in a solution of one part hydrogen peroxide, three parts water, with a drop of household ammonia. Avoid using hot water or pouring detergent directly on the china because it can cause your china to crack or break, and even take off the precious metal trim. Carefully wash one china dish at a time using a soft dish cloth or soft sponge. Rinse with warm water. Hand dry your china with a towel to prevent spots from air drying.

Storage

Once your dishes are washed and dried, you can store them. Avoid stacking too many dishes on top of each other; place a round of felt, rubber jar rings, a towel, or anything similar between each stacked plate to prevent scratches. Never stack china cups or hang them from their handles. The best way to store china is lined on a shelf in a moderate temperature room in your home. Leaving dishes in a cold basement or hot attic may cause them to break or crack.

Replacement

If your china does become cracked or broken and cannot be fixed, consider buying a replacement. If the set is relatively new, you can order a dish from the manufacturer or the store you bought it from. If the set has been discontinued, you can still easily find the replacement china dish by looking it up online through china replacement services.

By following these tips for caring for your china, it will last for the years of entertaining ahead and can become an heirloom you pass on through the family.

Fine China 101

I'm sure by now people have begun to inquire about your wedding registry. A registry is a great way to make your gift preferences known to family and friends. In this article, we will talk about one option for inclusion in your registry....fine china!

You may be saying "Why do I need fine china? I barely cook as it is!" When considering your registry choices, think long-term! You may not cook or entertain now, but someday you may! What if you want to host a formal Thanksgiving dinner? You certainly will not serve your guests on Chinet or Dixie, right?

What pieces are included in a typical setting?

A place setting contains the following pieces: dinner plate, salad plate, bread and butter plate, coffee cup and saucer. These are the basics that you would need to serve a meal. Additional pieces that are available include serving platters, serving bowls, soup bowls, sugar dishes, creamers, and tea pots. These pieces can be added to complement your basic setting, and can help give your table a coordinated look.

What about patterns?

China companies such as Lenox and Mikasa offer various patterns or styles from which to choose. Patterns may be colorful, or they may be white...the options are endless! Choose a pattern that suits your taste. Because you may not know what your dining room decor will look like, you may decide on something more neutral, but the choice is yours! Pick a pattern that is timeless, since one day you may be passing it on to your children or grandchildren!

How many place settings should I register for?

Many dining room tables seat 6-8 persons, so I suggest registering for 8 place settings. You should also register for the complementing pieces you would like to receive.

What about price?

Fine china is an investment, so don't be surprised at the prices you see (it will definitely cost more than more casual dinnerware). Don't worry...some of your guests may decide to get together and purchase a place setting or other piece of your set. This is why it's important to balance out your registry with less expensive items, so those who can't afford to give you china can still give you something you like.

Your Planning Assignment

Visit the websites of such companies as Lenox, Mikasa and Noritake to see what patterns are available. Also, check out your local fine department store, such as Macy's or Dillard's. They will also have several companies and patterns on display.

Happy Shopping!

Disney Wedding Invitations: And They Lived Happily Ever After

As a little girl, you may have dreamed about having a perfect wedding after watching Disney movies like Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty. "I'm going to marry my own Prince Charming", sound familiar? And there you went on fantasizing on a flawless ceremony, wearing your long beautiful wedding dress with your handsome prince to your side and every Disney character attending as guests to the marriage... Fascinating! However, as we grow up we tend to become more serious in our life and forget about these beautiful unique moments.

With Disney wedding invitations you can revive joyful memories like that one and place a very blissful, pleasurable mood to your wedding. These invitations are always quite cheerful and lots of people enjoy them very much. Think about it, who hates Mickey Mouse or Cinderella? No one! That is why having your friends from Disney on your invitations is never a bad choice. These cards feature characters such as:

o Mickey Mouse

o Minnie Mouse

o Cinderella

o Prince Charming

A beautiful Cinderella wedding invitation would feature her inside her glass carriage ready to take you to the fantasy marriage you've always dreamt about. A Mickey and Minnie wedding invitations could present both of them gazing at each other with the essence of love in the air surrounded by beautiful red hearts or stars.

With all that said you may feel a bit overwhelmed and lost to decide on which invitation is the right for you. Don't worry much though, because you can pick out the perfect invitation and be sure that it was the right decision without a doubt very easily. As long as your choice speaks for you, you're ok.

Huh? Speak for you?

What do I mean by saying this? Don't pick a wedding invitation because it looks so pretty and shiny. You need your guests to identify you with the invitation you send out. You want them to say: "Oh look! It's Cinderella and Prince Charming, that's so Rebecca..." Once you have them saying that, you know your wedding invitations are going to last in the memory for years to come.

And if they don't say it, it doesn't matter because you know those wedding invitations are special for you, and they will deliver the same emotion and excitement you are feeling to your guests. You will have them excited to go to your ceremony and see you to congratulate you, the beautiful newly wed!

Humanist Wedding Ceremonies

Humanism is an alternative to religions that focus on the existence of a god and has the importance of humans at the center of its philosophy. The fundamentals of humanism includes rationality, ethics, democracy, human rights and social responsibility. Humanists believe in the good within human beings and in their right to freedom of choice.

Humanist wedding ceremonies have become more popular in recent years as an alternative to a traditional church wedding. For couples who do not want a church wedding a registry wedding can seem a bit unrelated to their individual personalities. A humanist wedding allows the ceremony to focus on the individuals getting married. It allows the wedding couple to choose their own vows, readings, music and wedding venue. A real bonus to having a humanist ceremony is that it can be held anywhere. In a Marquee, on a beach or any other Scottish wedding venues you have your heart set on.

If you are getting married in England or Wales humanist ceremonies are not legally binding so you would need to hold a registry ceremony also to make it so. In Scotland it is possible to have a legally binding Humanist ceremony. The wedding must be conducted by a Celebrant of the Humanist Society of Scotland who is authorized by the Register General for Scotland. You must also become a member of the Humanist society and pay the annual fee required. The cost is currently 30 pounds per couple with an added fee for the ceremony.

A Humanist wedding ceremony celebrates the uniqueness of the couple getting married and each wedding celebrant will work with the couple to find the most suitable and personal way of letting them celebrate their love.

Why Buying Online Makes Planning Your Wedding Easier

Your wedding day is the most important day of your life, so of course you want everything to be perfect for the big day. You will probably start planning your wedding up to a year before the set date and organising and buying isn't easy. There are multitudes of things to think about, organise and purchase or book. However, the internet can make the process a whole lot easier during the planning and buying stages. Here are the top reasons why buying online not only saves you time, but can also save you money.

A specialist wedding site will have everything you could wish for associated with weddings and all in one place. You are able to shop for clothing, venues, stationery, the cake, cars and wedding insurance to name just a few. Most sites give helpful advice by way of forums and expert advice, plus hints and tips for the best man and bridegrooms' speeches. These sites make planning and buying for your wedding a little less hassle free and all from the comfort of your own home.

There are many websites dedicated to weddings so making use of their online tools is essential during the planning stage. Planning tools include creating your own personalised webpage to let everyone know your plans; making to-do lists; and, organising your invitations with the guest list. Most sites usually offer table planners which take the hassle out of seating arrangements; wedding gift planners; a budgeting planner to control spending; and, a wardrobe planner for the wedding party's clothing.

By booking and buying online you can save yourself money. Companies who specialise in trading online are able to cut the cost while supplying quality products. It is worthwhile shopping around online for companies such as these who are able to offer online discounts.

Shopping online also has the advantage of you being able to look around and compare many stores for prices, saving you the legwork and time it would take to look through the yellow pages and 'phone stores and companies to enquire if they could meet your needs. When shopping for items such as the photographer, venue and cars you are able to book them online if your chosen date is available, sometimes with discounts.

Booking your honeymoon online can save you a lot of money when compared to high street travel agents, you are able to quickly search for your ideal romantic location and the beauty of shopping online is that many sites have special offers solely for honeymooners. If you are considering getting married abroad then many have packages which include the ceremony, champagne and reception along with rooms. And if you are taking family or friends, then you can usually get bigger discounts.

5 Great Ways To Use Vinyl Banners For Your Wedding

Vinyl banners can be an exceptional way to welcome guests and announce a momentous occasion. Knowing how to effectively use a vinyl banners for your wedding can help to pull together your wedding theme and make guests feel comfortable and welcome. Think about what the information you want to provide to guests and how a well designed vinyl banners can help to send your message without looking cheap.

The vibrant and elegant design of a wedding banner is a great way to use a creative design to continue your wedding theme and send a personalized message to your guests. Find out some the most effective uses for vinyl banners for your wedding.

Pre-Wedding Celebrations

As you prepare for your wedding there are number of pre-wedding celebrations. Design a vinyl banner to accent each occasion and bring together the party. Vinyl banners are great for marking party sections and congratulating the couple at an engagement party, bachelor/bachelorette party, bridal shower and rehearsal dinner. Design a smaller 2'x4' banner for indoor display, or design a larger outdoor banner for larger site rentals.

Wedding Location

As guests arrive from out of town and family and friends are making their way to your wedding, it's a great idea to help them to recognize when they arrive. If your wedding location has designated entrances, use an outdoor banner to mark the entrances and confirm that guests have arrived at the right location. Design your banner to keep with the wedding theme, and make sure to include the couples name as written in the invitations.

Direct Guests

To help prevent wandering guests, use custom banners around the wedding grounds to point guests in the right direction. A vinyl banner can show guests which path to follow for the ceremony and how to continue to the reception location. Since banners are limitless on their uses, you can place them on fences, post them in a yard, or hang them across entrances so they are accessible and noticeable.

Announce the Couple

Help the new couple to announce their union with a personalized congratulations banner. It's an inexpensive way to commemorate the occasion and can be place anywhere. Hang it at the wedding site, at the reception or as decoration for the honeymoon hotel room.

Picture Backdrop

A great new trend for weddings is the addition of a picture backdrop. This is vinyl banners hung across a backdrop stand that creates the perfect background for guest pictures and a red-carpet wedding theme. For a wedding backdrop you'd want to insist on matte vinyl so the material doesn't reflect picture flashes, and it's a much less expensive alternative to canvas or fabric backdrops.

Making Wedding Invitations - Do I Need Wedding Invitation Software?

So you are all excited. Wanting to plan a nice wedding. Do you need wedding invitation software to make your own invites?

No, there is no need for a special program to make beautiful wedding announcement cards. Look and see what programs you have on your computer. I bet you have one that will work just perfect.

Most new computes today come with Microsoft Word. However the trial version is all that you get. That means that if you have had your computer over 90 days you have to buy the full program. You can still view word documents but you can not use the whole program. It is a trial so after a certain time you are very limited to using it.

Another program that most computers come with is Microsoft Works. The good part about this software is that it is a full program that you can still use it no matter how long you have had the computer. I have found that almost everyone I know has this program. It comes will almost all new pc's. Regardless of where my friends got their computers, this software seemed to be on them. They just haven't been using it.

Microsoft Works can be a good wedding invitation software program. One of the best parts is that not only can you use it to make beautiful wedding invites, you can custom address your envelopes also. It has a data base section so that you can build any type of data base and address envelopes.

There are several pieces of clip art that come with this software. Adding photos is easy too. I have even imported photos from my various clip art files. Once you learn to use this program you will be amazed at how much you can do with it.

I have made wedding invitations, anniversary invitations, graduation announcements and so much more with this. For many years. I have even done the custom envelope addressing to match each card. It is easy to use and in most cases you will have it on your computer which means cheap to use.

So if you are on a tight budget this would be a great solution to making your wedding invitations. It is more adaptable than almost all software in the price range. It isn't classified a wedding invitation software, but it will do the job well.

One of the best things about learning to use Microsoft Works, is that you will be making so much more for your wedding. The wedding programs can be made with it. Your labels for favors are easy to make. Making wedding table place cards is another item. What about making pew cards, bookmarks, almost anything your need printed.

Reserve Your Wedding Date With Save the Date Cards & Magnets

Help your friends and family plan ahead by sending out save the date cards as soon as you have determined the date of your wedding. Wedding invitations typically aren't mailed out until six weeks prior to the day of your wedding and that does not always provide guests with enough warning so that they can reserve that date on their calendars. If you would like to ensure that the largest percentage of your invited guests is able to attend, it is extremely beneficial to send out save the date cards or magnets.

These cards or magnets should be mailed out at the beginning stages of your wedding planning. Because they are sent out months, or even a year in advance as opposed to just weeks, they provide your guests with the opportunity to mark the date on their calendar and prevent scheduling conflicts.

There are many different styles of save the date cards and save the date magnets to choose from. The magnetic options serve as a daily reminder of your special event for your invitees and can help all of your guests get excited about attending your wedding and reception. An added benefit to save the date magnets is that they are harder for your guests to misplace than cards.

When choosing a save the date card, you can either opt for a pattern which features the colors that you have chosen for your wedding or you could select for one of our casual and fun styles. Whether you prefer an elegant or whimsical style, you are sure to love our incredible selection. Save the date cards are available in a variety of shapes, including circles, squares, and engagement rings.

Customize your save the date card by choosing one of our styles which features a photograph of the couple. This is a wonderful way to share your favorite engagement photo with your loved ones. Browse our extensive selection of save the date cards today and choose your favorite style. Your guests are sure to appreciate the advanced notice.

How To Decorate A Restaurant?

Apart from the quality of service and food, a restaurant should also look good in order to attract customers. A restaurant that is well decorated creates a positive impact in the mind of the customers. Now, decorating a restaurant is not that easy as you think it would be. It is not a bedroom that you would decorate it with colorful posters of your choice. It is a commercial place, so the taste and choice of the customers should be considered. Given below are some of the tips that would help you in decorating your restaurant properly.

• Firstly, you will have to choose a theme for the restaurant. The theme can be based on a festival, season, special cuisines etc. For instance, if your restaurant is popular for serving delicious Mexican cuisines, then you can add warm saturated colors, mosaic tile designs and rustic wood for decoration. You can also add various Mexican designs on the walls.


• You can opt for special decorations during times of special festivals. For instance, during Christmas you can decorate the place with a Christmas tree, bells, stars etc. The way in which you design the restaurant is also important. You can choose big and artistic tables for families or some intimate tables for couples.


• Secondly, the walls should be painted with contrasting colors. If you choose a single color for the whole restaurant, then it may look a bit dull. However, if two or three different colors are used to paint the walls then it will be better for the restaurant because it will look more spacious. Apart from the color of the walls, the lighting, flooring and window styles are also very important.


• The furniture used in the restaurant should be such that it goes with the overall style of the restaurant. For example, if the restaurant is a casual one then wooden table and vinyl booths would be the best.


• You can add artistic pictures on the walls of your restaurant to create a friendly and comfortable atmosphere. You can also add the art posters according to the theme of the restaurant. For instance, if the restaurant specializes in Italian cuisine then pictures of Roman art or gondolas in Venice would be the perfect choice.


• The choice of music in a restaurant is very important. The music should go with the theme, but most importantly it must also be soothing to the ear of the customers. The music should not be too loud so that customers can easily converse with other people.

Hindu Wedding Cards - What Makes Them Special?

If you've never been to a Hindu wedding before, you're about to witness a magnificent treat of sorts. A Hindu wedding, you see, is not just the coming together of two human beings. It is the amalgamation of two families, along with their friends and well wishers. Since the guests are all determined to become one big family by the end of the ceremonies, the festivities are unrestrained and wholehearted.

The Hindu wedding is a grand affair which typically starts with the printing of Hindu wedding cards. In fact, the wedding card or the 'Patrika' is both a means of informing guests of the good news as well as a way of sending out warm solicitation of the guest's presence at the wedding. It must be remembered that according to the Hindu way of life, guests are given utmost respect and no effort is spared to honor and respect the guest. This sentiment is reflected in every step of the wedding - beginning with the wedding cards.

Given the above bit of background, it is easy to see how Hindu wedding cards are different and why. Some of their unique characteristics are:

- Generally, the invite is a double sided, two-page work of art where the words are couched in beautiful designs and patterns. Indian Marriage cards are colorful but Hindu wedding cards are more so.

- Typically, most Hindu wedding cards make use of religious motifs like lamps, folded hands and so on.

- The colors used in the cards are magnificent and luxurious. These colors are significant as they denote plenty, fertility and happiness. That is why tones of red, gold and green are used in Hindu wedding cards.

- Generally, Hindu marriage cards are embellished with fake stones, pearls, golden threads, tassels and the like.

- Since the wedding is steeped in culture and tradition, sometimes, cards may be designed like a leaf or a scroll and so on. Traditional designs are quite commonly seen.

- Typically Hindus are deeply religious and the wedding is an event with religious overtones. Therefore, the wedding card generally carries the picture of a deity. In many cases, this is the picture of Lord Ganesha, the God of good fortune. Some families have a family deity who graces the card. This is to invoke the blessings of the higher powers.

- Since the Hindus place great emphasis on hospitality, the cards are wonderfully worded. While guests are given the necessary information about the time and venue of the wedding, they are also warmly invited to shower their blessings on the couple.

So, why is such care taken to produce marriage cards that look stunning? After all, they become useless once the wedding is over, right? Wrong. A Hindu wedding card is often cherished by members of the family and may be consigned to a table or trunk for safekeeping. Thus, these cards often become lasting reminders of the celebrations and the festivities shared by the members of the family. Hence great care is taken to design the card and the wordings are often a matter of debate before the family finalizes the same.

What's a Diaper Cake?

Are you looking for a creative and unique gift for a baby shower? There is a perfect solution out there for you...a diaper cake! "What's a diaper cake?", you ask. Well, I'll tell you!

Diaper cakes are relatively new in popularity and a genius way to shower your mommy-to-be (or daddy-to-be) with an adorable present that's both out of the ordinary and practical. Diaper cakes are not edible, but instead made out of...you guessed it, DIAPERS! Generally ranging from around $50 or $60 (and up depending on the size and how extravagant the cake and decorations), a diaper cake will definitely be appreciated by new or expectant parents as a baby shower gift or centerpiece decoration at the shower. In addition, diaper cakes make great surprises for new parents at the hospital, a mom-to-be at your office, for Christenings and Baptisms, or even to take along to a baby's first birthday party.

Diaper cakes can contain any sized diapers from newborns all the way up to toddler sizes and can have multiple tiers to resemble a wedding cake or just one tier instead for a more cost effective option. Each tier is usually decorated with a variety of baby products such as pacifiers, baby soaps and shampoos, washcloths, receiving blankets, toys and teething rings, baby body suits and booties, or just about anything else baby-related that you can imagine.

In addition, diaper cakes can be adorned all around with decorative and festive ribbons, bows, stuffed animals, and many other adorable baby accessories to match any baby shower or nursery theme. Themes can range from Mickey or Minnie Mouse, Winnie-the-Pooh, or Barney to baby jungle and circus animals, rubber duckies, or stars, polka dots, and stripes. If you know the gender of the baby, the outside of the diaper cake can also be designed in pink or blue (or both for twins!) and if not, it can be created using more neutral and unisex colors like greens and yellows. If you're not sure of which theme or color scheme to use, you can always very subtly check with the new parents to see what they like or will be using to decorate.

Speaking of the new parents, along with all the baby accessories attached to the outside of the cake, most diaper cakes will have gifts for the new or expectant parents inside as well. If baby bottles are used as the inner base of the cake, there can be sweet treats and candies included inside the bottles to help soothe the expectant mother's cravings. Gift cards, rolled up new mommy nightgowns to wear at the hospital (in place of those ugly and revealing gowns provided), and sometimes even a bottle of champagne can also be enclosed inside the cake. (Please note: Champagne is a great idea for those new parents who might want to make a toast to celebrate their new arrival with family, but of course, only after it's safe for the mommy if nursing the new baby. You may want to check with the parents before including champagne in the diaper cake as not to upset any new parents.)

So if you didn't already know what a diaper cake was all about, now you do! And if you're looking for a unique baby shower decoration or gift, present for new parents at the hospital or for any other baby event, try a practical and creative diaper cake! It's sure to be a huge hit with any new parent or parent-to-be.

Cheap Wedding Invitations: They're Everywhere!

It's not surprising to hear that a couple has spent more than five hundred dollars on wedding invitations. As a matter of fact, most people spend a lot more than that on their invitations. Everyone wants their invitations to be the best ones people have seen in a long time, and many greedy stationers know that. They will convince you that you require their assistance and charge ridiculous amounts of money for it.

However what most people don't know is that you can slice the cost of the cards be searching for cheap wedding invitations.

Easier said that done. I bet you thought that as soon as you read that last sentence, but you will be surprised at how easy it can really be to find these inexpensive invitations. Bellow there are examples of where you can find cheap wedding invitations for your ceremony.

o Cheap discount wedding invitations have always been available straight from the manufacturer's web page with sales ranging from 20, to 30 and even some times up to 50 percent off the normal price. Extremely convenient considering that you shop from your own house and have free previews of your invitation with your own customized style.

o Do it yourself wedding invitations are another option you can look for. "As easy as 1, 2, 3", some people say. Making your own wedding invitations can be both exciting and cost reducing. Who knows, maybe you can even find your own vocation in designing very cheap wedding invitations.

o Printable wedding invitations, also accessible in the web, are becoming very popular these days. Very similar to the do it yourselves, they consist of downloading a layout or theme for your wedding invitations on to your computer and then editing them. You are free to customize the cards as you wish. Then you will need to print them using your own printer. All you have to do now is choose a paper in which you are going to print and voila! Your very own personalized wedding invitations.

o Wedding invitations outlet may seem to be a dream. If they are, then your dreams have come true! Many web pages offer tremendous bargains for their invitations. Some even say that if you find cheaper wedding invitations, they won't even match it... they will beat it!

Discouraging is not an option if you are experiencing high costs over your wedding budget. Cutting down expenses where possible is the smart thing to do, and you can always start with your wedding invitations, since you don't have to compromise much quality.

This day is your special day and nothing, not even money, can come between you and your marriage day.

5 Unusual Ideas for Wedding Favours

The tradition of giving wedding favours goes back decades. Couples gave favours as a way to thank their guests for sharing their special day. While the tokens we give will vary considerably, the thought behind the gesture is still the same.

Brides everywhere choose typically traditional favours. Bubbles, confectionary, and candles have adorned wedding tables for a long time. But why not break with tradition? Whether you're looking for that 'wow' factor, or just something a little different, you need to think outside the box when it comes to your favours.

In this post we look at five quirky but fabulous ideas for wedding favours. Each is guaranteed to add something a little special to your reception:

1. Customised Wine Bottles

Your reception is the perfect time to party, right? Then why not let your guests celebrate in style with personalised wine bottles? Get labels printed in your colour scheme, and add your photo and wedding date. These can then be stuck on any bottle of your choosing.

You could opt to give miniatures away to every guest, or have one large bottle for the table. The possibilities really are endless with this idea. Your family and friends will just love these little keepsakes.

2. DIY CDs

If you and your other half love music, nothing is better than customised CDs. Fill them with tracks that have a special meaning for the two of you. Include your first dance and the music you walked down the aisle to.

This way, the CD will always represent you and your wedding day. You can design a great cover that is in keeping with your wedding theme. These modern mixtapes are cheap and easy to make. Perfect for couples on a budget.

3. Lottery Tickets

Make your wedding celebration all the more entertaining by giving your guests a lottery ticket or scratch card. These can be brought for as little as 瞿1 and are a great alterative favour. If your reception is the night of the draw, get the best man to read out the winning numbers.

Worried about your guests striking it big? Add in a humours note that says if they win the prize needs to be shared with the bride and groom. You can also buy really pretty lottery ticket holders, or tie the rolled up ticket with ribbon.

4. Fortune Cookies

Share your wedding day fortune with your guests by giving customised fortune cookies. This favour idea us relatively cheap and easy to implement, but will be a huge hit with your guests. You could write a simple 'thank you' note for inside or think outside the box.

You could include funny quotes about weddings, or details about you as a couple. Maybe include notes like 'never does the washing up' and ask guests to decide whether it refers to the bride or the groom.

5. Themed Favours

If you have a particular wedding theme, really make the most of it with your favours. You can either get creative and make them yourself, or hunt around online for the perfect ones. Match them to your colour scheme, or theme.

For a winter wedding, choose snowflake design favours or Christmas themed goodies. These are really easy to get your hands on and will be a great addition to your reception tables. You could even theme each table differently, and include favours to suit the guests sat there.

Choosing your favours can be great fun. Don't stick to tradition; there is too much choice out there to restrict yourself. Shop around and compare prices if you're worried about costs. You could even go down the handmade route if you wanted a real unique touch.

Starting Your Own Wedding Photography Business

So, you've decided that you are interested in becoming a wedding photographer. You have a nice camera and you love taking pictures of family and friends. So, you have everything you need to quit your job and become a wedding photographer. If only it was that easy. I think that is one of the biggest problems with the wedding photography industry today. You have too many photographers who think because they have a camera that they can call themselves a wedding photographer. There is a lot more than just taking great pictures to succeed in running a wedding photography business. If you have the talent, but feel a little uneasy about starting a wedding photography business. I've come up with a few tips that should help you get your wedding photography business off the ground.

The biggest challenge in getting any business off the ground is start-up cost. A camera would be a good start. The problem is that the majority of professional quality cameras start at about $1,800. Why that might not sound like a lot. That's just the camera body and does not include any lenses you will need. The lenses you will need to start can vary in price range, but a good start would be around $500.00. This would be the bare necessities to get started. Flash equipment and off camera lighting are a need, but not from the start. You can work on building up your equipment as you grow.

Setting up a home office is very important. This is where you will keep tracking of your clients as well as other important paperwork. For tax purposes you will need to keep all of your receipts. A home office provides a centralized location to keep it all together. It also provides you a place to edit your photos and meet potential clients. I will get into editing your photos a little bit later.

You will need to apply for a business license. Check the area you are in to see if a business license is even required. It's not really difficult to get one and in most cases can be done online. You just have to make sure that if you shoot a wedding in another city or state to obtain a business license in those locations as well. It gives you credibility as well as protects you from fines if you are caught doing business without a license.

You will need to open up a business checking and savings account at a bank. It's best to keep your personal and business accounts separate. For one it makes it difficult to keep up with personal and business expenditures. It also can cause major headaches if a tax audit is accessed against your business. The fees are usually minimal so that shouldn't discourage you from opening one up. Shop around and see if the banks have free business checking or some other programs for small businesses.

You will need to obtain insurance. This will cover you from any liability and malpractice suits. Malpractice would come from a client suing you for not full filling your obligations. Liability will protect you from any damage that may occur while you are shooting a wedding. You never know when your equipment could start a fire or someone trips over your equipment. These are things you don't think about until it's too late. There are many professional photography organizations out there that offer very inexpensive insurance.

In the past you could get by with a business card and word of mouth. The reality is that today the internet and social media marketing are an important part of any wedding photography business. You will need to have a website setup and make sure you have e-mail as well. You don't want to use a yahoo or g-mail account as your business e-mail. This doesn't look professional for one and also may scare aware potential clients.

Put together a marketing plan that includes sites that you want to advertise with. There are wedding sites that cater to brides looking for wedding photographers. These sites do charge you to advertise, but your return on investment can be rewarding in the long run. If you haven't already joined twitter or Facebook you should. This is a great way to drive potential clients to your website and give you even more exposure for free. You should also familiarize yourself with linking your website to other wedding professionals. This will also get you out in front over potential brides for little to no cost.

Part of your marketing plan and one of the most important parts or having a profitable wedding photography business is referrals. You probably haven't shot any weddings or if you have your portfolio probably doesn't contain much material. So, you are going to have to take advantage of each wedding you do have by making your customers happy. This will allow you to get referrals and even obtain repeat business. You would think making your customers happy would be obvious, but not all wedding photographers care. In most cases quantity over quality is the norm. Your quality will translate into happy customers and repeat business.

One of the last items you will need to start your wedding photography business is part of the quality process I just spoke about. Computer software is a must in today's wedding photography. Software such as Photoshop will allow you to take a raw image and make adjustments to them. You can use these programs to fix a spot on a dress or adjust tones in the photo. You have the ability to crop out unwanted parts of a picture with this software. The software can't be run without a computer. So, you'll need to purchase a computer that has the specs to handle your software. If you already have a computer you want to use. Make sure you check with the software maker to see if your computer specs will allow you to run their software.

The most important aspect you have to keep in mind after starting a wedding photography business. It took you awhile to develop your photographic skill. So, it's also going to take you awhile for your business to get going. If you ask anyone who has started a business the first thing they will tell you is that it takes lots of hard work. You may fail even after all your hard work, but it will definitely fail if you don't put any hard work into at all. If having a wedding photography business is your dream then you have to give it all you have from the start. There are probably a lot of areas that will be new to you. Just take it as part of your learning curve and doing everything you can to make it work. If you give it all you have and work hard. Your reward will be a successful and profitable wedding photography business.

Outstanding Wedding Photo Ops

The photos from your wedding will be some of your most cherished mementos. Think beyond the standard posed shots, and explore some special and unique settings that will really make your photographs stunning. These are some ideas on outstanding wedding photo ops that are not to be missed.

What is special and unique about the place that you have chosen for your wedding? There may be a stand-out detail at the reception venue, an unbelievable view at your ceremony site, or perhaps there is something that is iconic about the city or town. Don't be afraid to venture off-site to have photos taken. They may end being some of the most special ones in your entire wedding album.

When you are looking for the best backdrops for your photos, ask yourself what you love most about your location. For instance, if you are getting married in San Francisco, you really must have some photos taken riding a cable car. By the same token, no wedding in Paris would be complete without a few shots under the Eiffel Tower. They might not be original, but they will be fantastic pictures, all the same.

Often couples will share special memories about one or two places in their hometown. Maybe there is a wonderful classic wooden carousel in a park near your home. Imagine how lovely the newlyweds would look riding the horses in their fine attire and bridal jewelry? Perhaps there is an outdoor ice skating rink where the two of you have shared many a laugh; it could be a perfect site to take memorable wedding photos.

Other outstanding photos can be taken at a place that has sentimental meaning to the bride and groom. If your fiancé proposed to you in Central Park, then you surely will want to have some wedding pictures taken there in your bridal gown, veil, and pearl jewelry. If no place makes you happier than the porch swing at your parents' home, then ask your photographer to take pictures of you snuggled into the swing with your new spouse. The idea of having photos taken in all of your wedding finery at your favorite everyday sorts of locations will result in fresh and interesting images.

Most venues have some terrific features that can be highlighted as well. Let's say that you are having your reception at a graceful antebellum mansion; you can't go wrong with wedding photos taken by the porch columns. Perhaps there is an old stone wall that you can sit on. To make the photos more dynamic, your photographer can try taking them from unusual angles or unique vantage points. Many of these types of images will be especially captivating in black and white.

Don't overlook the natural beauty of your wedding site when you are looking for great pictures. Is there an ancient oak tree in a field or a babbling brook? These would make excellent photo opportunities. Sometimes the photos can be taken through the veil of nature for an interesting effect. The newlyweds can stand behind a field of wildflowers, for instance, or even in the fog or mist, for one-of-a-kind shots. It helps to have a photographer with a creative eye.

Your wedding photos are so special; you deserve to have a collection that is beautiful and that really captures the spirit of your wedding. By thinking beyond the standard shots, you will be able to create a true visual record of your wedding day that reveals the character of the newlyweds. These are the types of images that you will enjoy revisiting for a lifetime.

Planning Your Wedding Day All By Yourself The Three Ring Wedding Binder Way

Imagine! A simple three ring binder that will serve as your wedding planner, hold all your wedding planning instruments and become a cherished family wedding keepsake. Sounds interesting?

Ruth used it and wrote the following:

WOW! My fiance says that I am creative, but the truth is that I am a very disorganzed person. Reading your article about the 3 ring wedding binder system, kept me on track. My fiance and I, without a wedding coordinator, planned our dream wedding. It was indeed a dream wedding and went without a hitch. How can we thank you?

The Secret of the 3 ring wedding binder

It should not be a secret but it seems to be. We have interviewed quite a few brides and grooms, only to find out that most, no matter what their budget, couple wedding with fancy. Since it is so obvious and so simple, the majority never considered using a 3 ring binder when planning their weddings.

Using a 3 ring binder for your wedding planning, affords you an easy way to be organized keeping all your wedding information in one place. It also saves you money, time and aggravation. 3 ring binders can accommodate anyone as they are available with various spine widths from ½ an inch to 3 inches. Choose the one that is right for you.

It will eventually become a wedding keepsake. so,you may wish to purchase a 3 ring binder that has a top window for a pretty cover or your wedding picture.

In the folder, place top insert plastic sheet protectors to serve as pockets for all the wedding-related papers you've accumulated. You may wish to place a few business card holder pages in your binder, for fast access to contact information. Additionally, insert dividers and a 3 hole zippered pocket for pen, pencils, paper clips, etc...

Mark the divider tabs with the wedding related category such as: Bridal Gown, Ceremony Site, Reception Site, Catering, Photography etc...
Place the most active or most current in front, so that each topic will have a specific area in the binder allowing you quick referencing and retrieval.

Print helpful articles and insert them into the appropriate categories. You'll be glad you did!

In addition to sections dedicated to vendors, professionals and service providers, you need to allocate sections to important aspects such as:

A comprehensive wedding checklist

Wedding planning time table,

Favorite wedding web sites,

Do it yourself - make your own....,

Tips and ideas,

Recipes,

Crafts and decorations,

Guest replies,

gift lists for pre wedding gifts and for wedding gifts, so you can send appropriate Thank You notes.

E-mail address and phone numbers of all your bridal attendants,

Seating charts,

A print-out of your registry,

Lists of thank you notes you need to send - sent,

Lists if gifts you want to give family, attendants and other important people,

And even fabric swatches for wedding attire and or decorations.To benefit from your 3 ring binder be sure to:

label each category and each section

Place new papers or new information in the correct pocket of the correct section of your binder as soon as you receive them.

Clean your binder once a month. Toss any information that is no longer relevant. Keeping it will clutter your binder and cause unnecessary confusion.

Keep your main binder at home in a safe place. Do not take it with you to interviews.

Use a separate binder divided into categories, in which you place all the information, including our articles and most importantly the questions to pose to each vendor, professional and service provider. Keep all the information you collected in any category in the section dedicated to it , so you can make educated decisions based on a comparison of the available packages, prices and services.

Get a comprehensive wedding planning check list, Get a comprehensive wedding planning check list place it in your 3 ring binder and follow it. You will have fun and the satisfaction that comes with planning a professional wedding all by yourself.

Enjoy!

Copyrights © 2008 All Rights Reserved Nily Glaser,
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7 Reasons Why Classic Cars Are Better Than New Ones

The start of 2008 brought great pleasure for those closely watch the motoring industry - and especially those settle to nothing but a super car. First, through the internet and email I received a picture of a garden shed on wheels- with a clever fake press release heralding the launch of the new Daewood car. This looked quite funny.

Then, in India, Tata Motors launched the world's cheapest new car...the $2,500 Nano. Keen industry-watchers were amazed at the "breathtaking innovations in manufacturing technology in the global automobile industry based on severe cost-cutting". Others with conservative approach especially in USA described the car as "a golf cart crossed with a jelly bean."

But both events got me thinking - why will somebody buy new 'Eurobox car' when one has the option of fantastic classic vehicle? This comparison baffled my colleagues at Sureterm Direct - the UK's leading specialist classic car insurance company - along with them here I jogged 7 reasons to buy a classic car instead of a faceless, cheap, under-powered, Euro-shed.

1. Better insurance deals. The country's leading specialist classic car insurer says, the costs of insuring a classic MGB can be considerably less than cover for a new hot hatch and the difference can run to hundreds of pounds. Classic car insurance quotes can be very competitive.

2. Zero road tax. In the UK historic cars built before 1973 qualify for zero-rated road tax. You need to display a tax disk which cost nothing.

3. It makes financial sense. The moment you drive your cheap low quality car you lose 30% of its value straight away in depreciation and it no longer remains a new car. But if you invested in a classic car in good condition - and kept it smart - its value remains same and in some cases it might even increase.

4. Cheaper repair bills as it can get repaired anywhere any parts are easily available.

5. The classic cars are more environmentally-friendly. Buying and using a classic car is recycling par-excellence. Spare parts for older cars are readily-accessible, so keeping your classic running is very environmentally sound.

6. In a classic vehicle you are driving around in something that is instantly recognizable and draws attention.

7. Social networking. There are lots of classic car club and you can join the elite group. For example, there are events for VW Beetle owners almost every weekend.

Wedding Anniversary Party Invitations

Anniversary Party Invitations to Celebrate Your Special Party!

If you need to find Anniversary Party Invitations for that special event you're throwing for friends, family members, or someone else close to you, take a few things into consideration when making your choices.

Anniversary Party Cards: Picking a Theme

When throwing an event, you probably have decided on some type of theme for the event. For example, if you are celebrating a 25th silver anniversary or 50th golden anniversary get together you might choose a color theme of silver or gold, respectively. A similar idea is to match the theme with the traditional wedding gift for that event. Regardless of which theme you choose, anniversary party cards should match that theme so guests will get some hint of what to expect from the event.

Anniversary Party Wedding Invitations: Location

Obviously, you can't start sending out wedding anniversary invitations until you've selected a location for your anniversary wedding party. The good news is choosing a location isn't difficult. There are many options available, including party rooms at restaurants, private homes, botanical gardens or public zoos, hotels, and more. Before choosing a location for your event, make sure you know your budget and the size of your guest list.

Party Invitations: Personalized Cards

The wedding anniversary party invitations are important for the event. You want to choose ones that are unique and that will make an impression on the guests. Simply going to a local card store or discount retailer and choosing the first bulk party anniversary invitations you find isn't a good idea, even if you want to save money.

Instead, you should go online and look for the anniversary parties wedding invitations or anniversary announcements you want. For one, you'll find a much wider selection, such as photo anniversary invitations. Brick and mortar stores are limited in the designs they can carry but that's not the case with online vendors. Additionally, the costs are much lower. Because of the lower overhead, you can purchase high-quality cards at an affordable price online. Plus, you can choose your invitations from the convenience of your home.

Regardless of where you purchase the anniversary party cards, make sure you have them early. It's customary to mail anniversary party invitations at least two weeks before the date of the event to give people plenty of time to make arrangements for attending. Also when planning an anniversary party invite only people who are close to the couple and who they would enjoy having at the affair.

Wedding Anniversary Invitations: Refreshments

One of the other big planning areas you'll need to worry about is refreshments. If you're on a budget, consider keeping refreshments at a minimum. Serve some cake and punch but nothing more. For casual parties, you could have a barbecue or a cookout. Lunchmeat and cheese trays are a nice idea for an early afternoon celebration. If you're planning on having a formal wedding anniversary party, hire caterers to set up a buffet or to serve your guests. When the wedding anniversary party is over, you want all of your guests to be able to look at those invitations and remember the great time they had celebrating a special couple.

Wedding Insurance - When Disaster Strikes

The cost of arranging a wedding has increased over the years and a simple wedding can cost on the up of £10,000 and more and more couples are investing in wedding insurance to cover for the unknown disaster that may occur. This is because wedding insurance is very cost effective when compared to other costs of a wedding.

More couples are organising their big day themselves which can cover items such as venue booking, flowers and all other areas of the wedding independently. The down side is there is no one person is liable and many of the costs are not insured too.

If you book a service form a vendor and they go bust before your big day you will join the Que of unsecured creditors and will end up at the back of the line to get your money back. Another worry is if you opt for your wedding to be held in a non typical location like a marquee, where you will require public liability to protect you claims or injury or damage to property.

Wedding Insurance

A number of insurance companies are offering wedding insurance, from specialist companies like Weddingplan and Ecclesiastical to household names such as John Lewis(Greenbee) and Marks and Spencer Wedding Insurance.

Different companies will offer different cover so its important to study what your insurance policy will cover and don't cover. For example Greenbee includes public liability cover which will pay out in the event of any claims arising if an accident occurred whereas other will not.

Most insurance companies will cater for different levels of cover that you can choose from and will specify how much will be paid in different circumstances. Greenbee for example has 12 levels of cover costing from between £46 and £355.

A key detail of a policy to look at will be the amount that the policy will pay in the event the wedding has to be cancelled fr a certain reason. This can range from a few thousand pounds for a entry level of cover, to as much as £50,000 for the high end.

What is covered in your Policy?

A quick total of all the various costs will give you an idea of what you are covered for. The cancellation amount that they will pay if the venue cannot be used for some reason or if a key member of the wedding party - either the bride, groom and parents or guardians - dies or is ill or injured before the ceremony.

Policies can be covered to cater for the wedding dress or other special outfits are lost or severely damaged.

If the parties paying for the wedding are made redundant and the wedding has to be cancelled due to this reason the wedding insurance policy will payout, but the policy needs to be in place eight weeks before the notice has been given.

Wedding Invitations - Printing Options

Did you know when it comes to ordering your wedding invitations, the type of print you choose is a big factor in the cost?

Here is a list of the common types of print you will find when you visit your printer.

Engraving

This is the most traditional for of printing. It is also the most expensive. An engraved invitation has raised lettering on the front which is pressed through so you can feel it on the pack of the paper. Engraving is usually used for very formal invitations.

Thermography

This is a good alternative to the costly engraved printing. You'll get the look of engraving for half of the cost.

A thermographed invitation has raised lettering that is shinier than engraved print and does not press through the back of the paper.

Lithography (Off Set Printing)

This type of invitation is printed with ink but does not have raised lettering. It is less costly than either engraving or thermography.

Laser

If you're on a tight budget this is a great idea. Invitations can be produced on a laser printer, either at a professional print shop or at home. The result should be very similar to that produced by lithography.

If you are a creative person and want to make your own invitations, here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Buy high quality blank invitation forms. (Don't forget to buy some extras for practice!)


2. Choose a typeface that is formal, crisp, and easy to read to make it look like professionally produced print.


3. Be very careful that the invitations are fed through the printer straight and evenly.

Calligraphy - Handwritten

If you are having a small intimate wedding or want to personalize your invitations a handwritten invitation on lovely stationery is a nice idea.

Handwritten invitations can be used for a formal or informal wedding.

You can hire a calligrapher if you do not have beautiful handwriting. If you cannot afford to hire a calligrapher, a visit to you local printer can solve this problem. Most printers are now able to reproduce handwritten calligraphy using special software for half the price of a professional calligrapher.

Express Divorce in Spain

After 25 years the divorce law of 1981 has been changed. From the 8th of July of 2005 the Civil Code has been modified accordingly to new times in a more modern society and so the new law of 15/2005 was born. BOE (Bolet穩n Oficial del Estado) states that this "reform emphasizes on that freedom is above any jurisdiction" and can take 3 months.

A few requisites should be followed in order to successfully achieve the divorce. It must be agreed from both partners because if not the process will be longer and could not be achieved via divorce express. There also must be agreements on custody and visitation rights if there are children involved, agreements on the family home, alimony, and division of marital property and in this case, if all is agreed, then they can continue the process.

One must take the following into account:

-3 months must be have passed by since the marriage occurred whether it is by a civil or religious ceremony. However, a divorce petition can be considered valid if there is a life threatening reason or something that can harm someone physically or their moral integrity or freedom.

-Previous separation is not necessary but if one of the sides asks for separation and the other for divorce, the Judge will grant divorce.

-There is no need to state a reason for divorce.

-There is no need to make a division of marital property. This can be done afterwards and it is taken into account that any acquired goods after the divorce is granted, belongs to whichever one acquired them in a private manner.

-The last family residence must have been under Spanish territory or at-least one of the spouses. In the case that the marriage was celebrated in another country the first part still applies as their nationality will not be taken into account.

-In the case that both spouses are foreigners, they must have a certificate of applicable law issued by the corresponding Embassy.

Once all the requirements have been met the process may be started. An agreement must be made with the attorney present of the following clauses:

-Custody of the children and visitation rights and any agreements that can and should be made in reference to the children as well as alimony.

-Who remains in the family household and who keeps any family properties.

-Dissolution of any goods acquired during the marriage and specifications.

-Once this is all agreed, a certificate of the marriage must be obtained from the Civil Registration where the wedding occurred and also a Birth Certificate of any offspring. These Birth Certificates are free of charge. Also a certificate is needed from the notary assuring the power of the attorney. This is approximately 35-50euros.

-Once all the papers have been gathered, the request can be presented with the lawyer or prosecutor or because it is mutual agreement, it can be the same one. It is advisable to process the papers in the same court of the last family address or at least one of the spouses.

-The judge will ask for an appearance of both spouses, separately, two weeks maximum from when the paperwork was presented. The judge will analyze the agreement and if is just and/or harmful to the children. In this case, 10 days will be given to change the clauses. If nothing new is presented, the Judge will overrule those clauses and cite new clauses always in the interest of the family.

-In the off chance that the children are under-age, the Judge will seek a report from the Fiscal Ministry and will listen to the opinion of the children. If they are above 12 years old, a private audience will be celebrated in where he or she, shall be heard. In any case, this is a mutual agreement divorce so there will not be a need for this procedure as it will be hurtful for the child.

-Finally, after 2 or 3 months, a sentence will be dictated and a notification will arrive at the Civil Registry that will become effective.

Nowadays, e-divorces also exist. These are divorces that are done through the internet which are fast, effective and one saves up in cost. Its cost is usually around 450 euro which includes all service and naturally the price will increase if the couple has underage children.

These online proceedings include all information that has been processed by lawyers and attorneys, as well as the time and date they have been done. Mobile SMS are also part of this new and modern service as they will be sent in order to confirm and inform the spouses of all the movements and information. Some lawyers have social networks also that can help with the process.

It is important that the spouses check that the lawyer is included in the list of official lawyers of the Spanish community that they are in due to avoid any frauds and it will be the lawyer who will contact the attorney.

Wedding Gift Card Bags, Boxes and Baskets

On the day of your wedding, there are going to be guests who want to give you cards or envelopes with money in them (yay!). You will want to have a plan in place for what to do with all of these gifts during the reception. The usual answer is to have a special decorative box, basket, or bag to hold all of the cash gifts and keep them safe.

How many envelopes with cash or checks in them you are likely to receive on your wedding day will depend in large part on the customs of your family and community. If you have ever seen the movie "Goodfellas", you may remember the wedding scene where guest after guest (all of them named Peter or Paulie, apparently) handed cards full of cash to the newlyweds. The bride had a fancy white fabric bag designated to hold all of the cash gifts. If you come from a family where cash gifts are common at weddings, you should plan to have an equally large money bag.

Making a fancy bag to hold your gift cards is an easy and fun diy project. Basically, all you need to do is make a large pouch style bag out of a pretty bridal fabric, like a piece of white silk. Use two circles of cloth for strength, and sew them into a round bag with a silk cord drawstring running through the top edge. You can decorate the bag and the ends of the silk cord with any number of things. Silk flowers are lovely, as are pieces of lace, or clusters of beads. Brides who received pearls as their wedding jewelry gifts can stitch a row of seed pearls along the top edge of the bag to coordinate with their other accessories. If your wedding jewelry is more glitzy, crystals also make a nice accent to the bag for the cash gifts; a cluster of crystals near the ends of the drawstring will help prevent the cord from slipping into the bag.

Some couples prefer to have a special box or basket that they place out in the reception venue to receive the card gifts. One advantage of the box over a basket is that it will have a lid, which gives a bit more of a sense of security. There are boxes for sale for this purpose, but really it is incredibly easy to make your own card box. Simply take a sturdy box with a lid in whatever size you need, cut a slit in the top, and cover it to make it attractive. You can use a pretty silver or white wrapping paper (wrap the lid and base of the box separately and then fit them together), perhaps with a wedding motif. Fabric also works well for the box covering. Spray adhesive and hot glue are the easiest way to secure the material to the cardboard box. You can also add other embellishments like lace appliques or even make a decoupage box.

A fancy basket is one of the easiest places to put the gift cards. Simply take a nice white or natural colored wicker basket, tie a fluffy bow on the handle, and voila! You have a gift card basket. The one issue with the basket is that because it is wide open, you really need to have someone watching over it at all times. Depending on your venue, you may also need to designate someone to keep an eye on a closed box, as well. Unless your reception will be held in a location that is totally closed to the public like your home or a private club that is closed to all others during your party, the security of the cash gift box is an important consideration.

The best part about the bag, box, or basket for the cash gifts, of course, is opening all of those envelopes at the end of the evening! This is something that the newlyweds should do in private, of course. If you are leaving immediately for your honeymoon, it is a good idea to have one of your parents take all of the checks and cash to the bank and deposit it for you as soon as possible. Of course, you might want to hold out a little of that money to have fun with on your honeymoon.