Breaking Your Engagement Requires Bravery!

If you are thinking about breaking your engagement - be prepared for a chorus of confusion and disapproval from the important people in your life. One of my readers asked, "Why is a broken engagement seen as worse than a divorce?" Good question! Unfortunately, friends and family typically respond to the person who's not sure about following through with their marriage -- as "just having cold feet." This perspective minimizes the importance or legitimacy of that person's feelings.

It's not uncommon for friends and relatives to try to shush or suppress the doubting person's fears. Often they fail to explore this person's reservations. They mistakenly assume the person's "second thoughts" or last minute "jitters" are normal and temporary.

I believe there are social taboos against breaking an engagement. We admire engaged couples. They symbolize our romantic hopes, dreams and expectations. There is something in all of us that hopes, "these two will make it." We project our own unmet hopes and expectations on the newly engaged person. If that person begins to experience serious reservations about getting married, their fears stir up our own feelings and hopes about marriage coupled with the disappointing awareness that many marriages don't work

In addition, social status accrues from being engaged. Friends and family admire the prospective bride's ring. They get involved and excited about planning showers. They anticipate looking for dresses, shopping for flowers, etc. It's not uncommon for the wedding to become more important than the marriage!

The engaged person who begins to have reservations about moving ahead with the wedding usually worries that they will disappoint not just their romantic partner but their friends and family. Sadly and often accurately, they anticipate a lack of support or anger from these people regarding the money and time spent preparing for the wedding.

Many brides and grooms know, prior to their wedding that their relationship is in trouble. Some seek premarital therapy hoping to improve their relationship. However, many of these couples enter therapy after they've begun planning their wedding. Not often but occasionally I've recommended that couples in troubled relationships wait to marry until they are on firmer ground. These couples usually ignore my suggestion - mostly because their wedding plans are already in the works. Weddings tend to take on a life of their own. Couples typically feel once the "train has left the station" there's no going back. Unfortunately, I often see these couples for therapy shortly after their wedding or a year later when their relationship is in even deeper trouble.

Every relationship has challenges but two people who are thinking about getting married should be able to make major decisions in a manner which both feel good about. They should both feel comfortable and happy with their physical relationship. Each should be able to count on the other emotionally, especially during illness or crisis. There should be a good capacity for resolving problems and communicating openly. If any of these elements are missing, they need to be worked on prior to getting married.

The most common causes for breaking an engagement are:

1) One or both have been ambivalent about the relationship for a long time but felt pressured into getting engaged by their partner's expectations, coercion or ultimatums, by the norms in their peer group or by their families.
2) One of both realize they got engaged for the wrong reason,.e.g it seemed like the right time in life to get married, the woman got pregnant, one partner was facing visa problems which could be solved by getting married, someone needed health insurance which the other had through work, it was an impulsive decision fueled by alcohol.
3) The relationship has been problematic for some time but one or both realize getting married won't magically make the relationship better.
4) There's a big fight and one breaks off the engagement and walks out.
5) One partner meets someone they love more.
6) Neither feels their needs for closeness, affection, intimacy or understanding are being met.
7) One partner experiences the other as unreliable when it comes to money, emotional availability or support.
8) The engaged person observes behavior in their partner that seriously concerns them. This might include drinking, partying, spending money, or engaging in infidelity.
9) One partner feels the other is too involved with their family of origin.
10) A couple who has gotten engaged during a long distance relationship, move to the same city and begin to experience difficulties.
11) One of the partner's realizes they don't love the other enough to want to marry them.

This list is by no means comprehensive but it's a pretty good starting point. It's my belief that couples should feel married before they get married. Ideally, there should be sufficient closeness and satisfaction with the relationship that getting married feels more like an afterthought - the period at the end of the sentence, the icing on the cake.

Too many couples mistakenly think getting married will take their relationship to a new level of closeness. In a good relationship this is certainly true. But in a troubled relationship, marriage often amplifies the problems that already exist.

Marriage is complex. There are many opportunities for a relationship to veer off course. If either one or both of you have any reservations about getting married, sort them out ahead of time. If you've made efforts to work out the problems in your relationship and this has not been successful - think again. If you're meant to be together - you will be. Take time to develop your relationship to a point where getting married feels natural and right.

If you are seriously considering ending your engagement, get support from friends and family. Tell them why you are feeling the way you are. Don't compromise on what's best for you. Be brave. Your friends and family are not going to live in your marriage - you are. Marriage more than any other relationship has the capacity to impact your day-to-day happiness. Make sure your relationship is one you believe in for the long haul.

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Wedding Invitations - Tips for Picking Your Style

Picking out the wedding invitations will be one of the most exciting things that you do for your
wedding. You will want them to look great as they proclaim your big day to friends and family
all over the world. When you pick your wedding invitations you want them to have a sense of
style that is unique to you and that reflects your personality and the theme of your wedding as
well. The following are some tips to help you pick the style of wedding invitations that best suits
you and your wedding.

One of the first things that you should do when you are considering wedding invitations and
making your final choice is to think about whether you are having a formal wedding or a more
informal wedding. If you are having a formal black tie wedding, it will never do to send out
informal invitations. On the other hand, if you are having an informal wedding, formal
invitations may look overdone for what you are planning. Picking a formal style and formal paper
for your wedding invitations carries over the thought that you are having a formal wedding.
Lighter styles and papers will give your guests the informal feel that you are trying to have at
your wedding.

Considering your personal style and the style of your wedding is also important when you are
choosing wedding invitations. If you have certain colors in mind for your wedding you may want
to use those colors on your wedding invitations. Perhaps you are having a wedding in which
green and purple are your colors. Carrying the green and purple over to your invitations is a great
way to give your guests a tiny peek at what your wedding may be like. While you do not have to
match your invitations to your wedding colors, this does look classy. Otherwise you may just
want to pick wedding invitations in a favorite color or that has the look of your gown or some
other aspect of the wedding.

You should also keep your wedding theme in mind when you are choosing your wedding
invitations. Whether you are having a beach wedding, a country wedding, a garden wedding, or a
big church wedding, you should keep the theme in mind. Try to coordinate the theme and style of
your wedding invitations to the theme that you are having of your wedding. You can choose from
various paper types and designs that are available and no doubt you will be able to find
invitations that go with your chosen theme.

Wedding invitations are important because they are announcing the day of your marriage. You
want the invitations to look great and announce your wedding with style. Keeping in mind the
formality of the wedding, the colors and style, and the theme of your wedding can all help you
pick the perfect wedding invitations. Well designed invitations will impress your guests and be a
great way to invite them to one of the biggest events in your life.

Diamond Hardness - Can a Diamond Be Broken or Scratched?

A diamond is a type of gemstone which is often believed to be everlasting in nature and unable to be damaged in any way. Although this is a nice notion to have, the truth of the matter is that diamonds can be damaged if not treated in a careful manner. It is important to note what can happen to a diamond if not treated properly and ways to safeguard against damage to one's diamond ring, diamond necklace or other type of jewelry item in which this beautiful gem is part thereof.

How Can a Diamond be Damaged?

A diamond has an extremely hard consistency to it which is one of its many wonderful attributes. However, there are ways for this lovely gemstone to be broken, scratched or otherwise damaged. Damage to a diamond can occur by dropping it on a hard surface, scraping it roughly against concrete or other similar matter or simply repeatedly storing it in a place where it is not properly contained. Although damaging a diamond is not an easy thing to do, it is something which can occur from time to time.

Ways to Safeguard Against Diamond Damage

Many pieces of diamond jewelry are worn on a daily basis, such as a diamond engagement ring, which makes the occurrence of damage highly possible due to frequent wear. In order to safeguard against damaging one's ring, bracelet or other diamond jewelry piece, there are a few steps one can take in their daily wear and storage of such an exquisite item. When wearing the diamond, one should always be cautious when doing so and try not to bang into any walls or other fixtures which may put a chip in the diamond or even break it if the contact is hard enough.

Another way to carefully wear one's diamond jewelry piece is to ensure a tight fit on the ring or complete closure of the clasp. If one's diamond jewelry item does not fit right or is not closed properly, they are more likely to drop the jewel and have it be stepped on or crack upon hitting a hard, unforgiving surface. In order to ensure that the diamond jewelry item fits well and closes properly, it is a good idea to have a jeweler look at it from time to time to ensure that it is in tiptop shape.

Damage in the form of scratching can also occur to the diamond if it is not stored properly. The best place to store one's diamond jewelry is in a felt covered jewelry box where each jewelry item has its own separate compartment. This will help to ensure not only that the item is in a spot where it will not bang up against other jewelry items but that it is in a place where one will not lose sight of it. In order for a diamond to be scratched it must come in contact with another diamond which has the same hardness.

Insure Your Jewelry Items

An additional safeguard to have in place involves insurance on the diamond jewelry item. Since diamonds are often pricey in nature, it makes sense that one would want to insure the jewelry item in case it were to be lost, stolen or damaged. Although most insurance companies will not insure loose diamonds, there are many which are more than happy to offer insurance policies which will cover your diamond once the gem is placed in a fixed setting. An insurance policy which covers this precious stone is a great way to cover your losses should it be damaged in any way.

Calla Lily Wedding Planning

Calla Lilies are one of the most elegant flowers; just pure and simple beauty. And if you are having a Calla Lily theme wedding than most likely another theme will be 'simply elegant'. For a Calla Lily wedding the goal is to subtly incorporate calla lilies in all aspects of the wedding, although for the decorations allow simple yet stunning centerpieces speak for themselves.

My favorite source for planning a themed party is to use Google for research. You might be saying 'duh' to yourself but perhaps you aren't using it to its full ability. Read on for some wedding planning tips!

Start with the Invitations: If you want to set the 'scene' for your wedding from the very beginning, choose or design an invitation that incorporates a calla lily (or lilies) on it. A quick search on 'calla lily invitations' will give you many options and ideas.

Calla Lily Bouquet: For the next few categories I'm going to recommend turning to Google.com/Images for inspiration. If you haven't used this section of Google you are really missing out! To find it simply go to the Google homepage (Google.com) and then look in the upper left corner of your browser window. The link for 'Images' is to the right of 'Web'. Now, in the search bar type in "Calla Lily Bouquet" and hit enter (also try "Calla Lilies Bouquet"). You'll be amazed at how many gorgeous, yet different, wedding bouquet pictures are available. When you find one (or several) that you like, print out the picture and take to your florist.

Décor & Centerpieces: Once again, perform a similar search as above using the singular term as well as the plural. Try both term, "décor" and "centerpieces", after the name of the flower. Although you'll see a few of the same images a few will be different. You may have to go many pages deep to find something that 'speaks to you' but it will be worth it!

Calla Lily Wedding Cake: Yes, Google.com/Images has you covered here too. Bakeries that specialize in wedding cakes will do a beautiful job and will greatly appreciate it if you bring in pictures (that you've printed from your Google search) to provide direction to them. For cost savings you may want to bring the images in to your local bakery (including supermarket bakery) - I've seen some of the decorators there do incredible cakes for a fraction of the cost.

Party Favors: If you are planning on giving wedding favors there are so many readily available already 'in theme'. Simply perform a search on the term "Calla Lily Favors". When you click into a site from the search results you will, in most cases, click into a particular favor. Don't stop there! Perform a search on the term 'calla' to see if the site offers other items. Also, the vast majority of sites offer the same products (from the same manufacturers) so do some research to see who is offering the lowest price. Keep your eyes out for unique items, too, that you don't see on all the sites. Another lovely favor (if the climate is appropriate) is to give each of your guests their own small calla lily plant to take home to plant. Talk to a local florist or even your supermarket floral department for quantity pricing.

Diva Entertains, Copyright 2010

Perfect Wedding Gifts For Bride and Groom

A wedding is the most important day of a bride and groom's life, so guests of a wedding always want to make a good impression.  The families and friends of the bride and groom always want to present them with the best gift possible-a gift that will be cherished always.  Despite there being countless types of wedding gifts out there, finding a great one can be hard.  Even if the couple has a registry list, it can still be hard narrowing the gifts down to the perfect one.  

If you're attending a wedding soon, and you're unsure as to what type of gift to give, then this guide can help you.   You can give them each a gift, or you can give them both something that they can enjoy together.  Whatever gift(s) you choose to give them should represent their style.  If you have no idea as to what they might like, then browse through the registry if you want to eliminate some guesswork. Look and see what type of items they have listed.  Remember, many other guests will probably give the bride and groom the typical items: silverware, dish towels, furniture, etc., so you should find them something that is unique.

Not only should you give them both something that reflects their style, but you should give them something that reflects your own as well.  You should give them something that they not only will enjoy, but something that they'll remember you by every time they look at it.  Are you good with arts and crafts, for instance? Why not make the bride a doll or pretty quilt and the groom something that he will enjoy?  Like a wooden plaque with a wildlife picture?  What do you think they would both like?

If you enjoy shopping at the same places ad the bride and groom, why not give them both a gift card to those places?  If the bride enjoys shopping at Isetan or Metro, give her a gift voucher from there as well as some gifts.  If the groom enjoys shopping at Blockbuster, then give him a gift certificate as well as some of his favorite DVD's.

Speaking of DVD's, they can be interesting gifts.  You can give them both box sets of their favorite television classics, for instance. You could also make them a homemade DVD if you have a lot of photos and video footage of them and their families.  If you're good with computers, then that can be a very creative idea.

Another creative idea is to make both of their family trees for them, especially if they're into genealogy.  Make the bride a copy of the groom's family tree history and vice versa.  It may take you a lot of research to get this done, but it's truly a gift that contains a lot of meaning.  It can be a perfect give for them both.

These are just a few ideas to get you started.  If you want to get the bride and groom both the perfect gift, then you'll need to put some planning and time into the process.  Whatever you decide to do, make sure you put some research and planning into it so that they'll cherish the gift forever.

Top 10 Indian Wedding Decor Trends

Diagram the d矇cor much in advance keeping in mind the weather, theme, colours and current trends to ensure that it is perfect. While richness does not always mean opulence, the key to a perfect d矇cor can lie in innovation. Explore all options before making the final choice.

The wedding d矇cor must explore the colourful, vast, vibrant and rich culture of boundaries of Indian weddings. It is the one aspect that can make or break the look and feel of that special evening. It is ideal to know what's exactly trending before deciding. But before setting out on this journey, just clear your mind of all fixed ideas. This doesn't mean that you can't set preferences and expectations, but the way forward is to not be rigid.

1. Flower Power

Flowers continue to be the popular choice this season. They genuinely spread cheery vibes all around. While roses are classics, tulips are refreshing, and lilacs breathe elegance. Flowers must be used in tandem with other aspects like the stage d矇cor, theme of the wedding. Different types of flowers including artificial ones can be combined beautifully using ribbons and then be strategically placed. Ask the florist for a mock setup!

2. Lighten Up

Candles and lanterns add the much-needed softness to an otherwise grand affair. It not only lights up the place, but also looks beautiful. Special arrangements are created to fill up empty places.

3. Fab Fabrics

Multi-coloured and different fabrics draped together create a dramatic effect. Just be sure of not using cheap quality fabric that might rip apart damaging the look.

4. Match-much!

The decor of core areas like entrance, stage, seating, photo-opt, lounge areas and the linens is colour-coordinated. This is upped a notch when the bridegroom's outfit matches the colours of the locale.

5. Tent It

Shabby shamianas are history! Tented weddings do not mean cutting down the cost or capacity anymore but widening the chances of customization. Depending on the weather, choose to have a transparent or covered roof, and then the choice of fabrics, crystals and flowers.

6. Stylish Seating

Make sure there is ample seating for your guests, and it is stylish! Be sure to dress up the banquet chairs with nice linen, which is not torn or damaged. Pretty it up with coloured sash, ribbons, flowers or crystals. It can be made more interesting by adding tassels and brooches is a good idea!

7. Colour It

Pastel and soft colours are really in! Using different shades of one colour look very nice. From invitation cards, floral balls to fabrics being used, ensuring that the colour is the same for all can perfect the Indian wedding decor like nothing else.

8. The Central Point

With proper seating plans, centrepieces catch all the attention. Regular floral or crystal ones are the usual choices; but edible options like a fancy chocolate candles or fresh fruits look great too! Innovation genuinely begins where convention ends!

9. Food Layout

Laying out the food, and displaying it well is an art. Make sure that the display of food, ingredients and chef's techniques is superbly creative so it engages the guest more.

10. Sweet Nothings

Vanity vans for guests to refresh or touch-up before entering the venue is really helpful. A grand welcome with sweets, fresh petal shower and other such gestures add the finishing touch to the otherwise perfect setup.

Commercial Catering Supplies

There are many Commercial Catering Suppliers on the web who can supply all different types of catering products and services. Their goal is to provide caterers, corporate event planners, wedding planners, outdoor sporting events and political events at different levels, with everything they need to run a smooth and professional catering operation. Most commercial catering companies source the best quality products from all over the world and offer them at very reasonable prices.

Some commercial catering suppliers carry all the major catering industry name brands, and in addition to catering supplies, they also sell high quality catering equipment including:

繚 Food processors

繚 Refrigerators

繚 Induction ranges

繚 Convection ovens

繚 Slicers

繚 Warming cabinets

繚 Different type of cook tops

繚 Freezers and commercial refrigerators

Many commercial catering suppliers will often supply speciality products such as:

繚 Chafers

繚 Display trays

繚 Coffee urns

繚 Ice moulds

繚 Linens in a wide range of assorted shapes and sizes

Very many other related items are available such as products which are used in food transportation, and some of these items will include:

繚 Insulated pan carriers

繚 Insulated bags

繚 Utility carts

繚 Various types of food containers in a wide range of colours and sizes

Other catering accessories that caterers can stock up affordably include; fry pans, chef knives and sheet pans. Disposable goods for the catering industry include; foam cups, foam hinged containers, disposable foil pans, service Clingfilm and aluminium foil.

There are many commercial catering suppliers on the web who can supply all different types of catering products and services. Their goal is to provide caterers, corporate event planners, wedding planners, outdoor sporting events and political events at different levels, with everything they need to run a smooth and professional catering operation. Most commercial catering companies source the best quality products from all over the world and offer them at very reasonable prices.

Some commercial catering suppliers carry all the major catering industry name brands, and in addition to catering supplies, they also sell high quality catering equipment including:

繚 Food processors

繚 Refrigerators

繚 Induction ranges

繚 Convection ovens

繚 Slicers

繚 Warming cabinets

繚 Different type of cook tops

繚 Freezers and commercial refrigerators

Many commercial catering suppliers will often supply speciality products such as:

繚 Chafers

繚 Display trays

繚 Coffee urns

繚 Ice moulds

繚 Linens in a wide range of assorted shapes and sizes

Very many other related items are available such as products which are used in food transportation, and some of these items will include:

繚 Insulated pan carriers

繚 Insulated bags

繚 Utility carts

繚 Various types of food containers in a wide range of colours and sizes

Other catering accessories that caterers can stock up affordably include; fry pans, chef knives and sheet pans. Disposable goods for the catering industry include; foam cups, foam hinged containers, disposable foil pans, service Clingfilm and aluminium foil.

There are many commercial catering suppliers on the web who can supply all different types of catering products and services. Their goal is to provide caterers, corporate event planners, wedding planners, outdoor sporting events and political events at different levels, with everything they need to run a smooth and professional catering operation. Most commercial catering companies source the best quality products from all over the world and offer them at very reasonable prices.

Some commercial catering suppliers carry all the major catering industry name brands, and in addition to catering supplies, they also sell high quality catering equipment including:

繚 Food processors

繚 Refrigerators

繚 Induction ranges

繚 Convection ovens

繚 Slicers

繚 Warming cabinets

繚 Different type of cook tops

繚 Freezers and commercial refrigerators

Many commercial catering suppliers will often supply speciality products such as:

繚 Chafers

繚 Display trays

繚 Coffee urns

繚 Ice moulds

繚 Linens in a wide range of assorted shapes and sizes

Very many other related items are available such as products which are used in food transportation, and some of these items will include:

繚 Insulated pan carriers

繚 Insulated bags

繚 Utility carts

繚 Various types of food containers in a wide range of colours and sizes

Other catering accessories that caterers can stock up affordably include; fry pans, chef knives and sheet pans. Disposable goods for the catering industry include; foam cups, foam hinged containers, disposable foil pans, service Clingfilm and aluminium foil.

There are many commercial catering suppliers on the web who can supply all different types of catering products and services. Their goal is to provide caterers, corporate event planners, wedding planners, outdoor sporting events and political events at different levels, with everything they need to run a smooth and professional catering operation. Most commercial catering companies source the best quality products from all over the world and offer them at very reasonable prices.

Some commercial catering suppliers carry all the major catering industry name brands, and in addition to catering supplies, they also sell high quality catering equipment including:

繚 Food processors

繚 Refrigerators

繚 Induction ranges

繚 Convection ovens

繚 Slicers

繚 Warming cabinets

繚 Different type of cook tops

繚 Freezers and commercial refrigerators

Many commercial catering suppliers will often supply speciality products such as:

繚 Chafers

繚 Display trays

繚 Coffee urns

繚 Ice moulds

繚 Linens in a wide range of assorted shapes and sizes

Very many other related items are available such as products which are used in food transportation, and some of these items will include:

繚 Insulated pan carriers

繚 Insulated bags

繚 Utility carts

繚 Various types of food containers in a wide range of colours and sizes

Other catering accessories that caterers can stock up affordably include; fry pans, chef knives and sheet pans. Disposable goods for the catering industry include; foam cups, foam hinged containers, disposable foil pans, service Clingfilm and aluminium foil.

There are many commercial catering suppliers on the web who can supply all different types of catering products and services. Their goal is to provide caterers, corporate event planners, wedding planners, outdoor sporting events and political events at different levels, with everything they need to run a smooth and professional catering operation. Most commercial catering companies source the best quality products from all over the world and offer them at very reasonable prices.

Some commercial catering suppliers carry all the major catering industry name brands, and in addition to catering supplies, they also sell high quality catering equipment including:

繚 Food processors

繚 Refrigerators

繚 Induction ranges

繚 Convection ovens

繚 Slicers

繚 Warming cabinets

繚 Different type of cook tops

繚 Freezers and commercial refrigerators

Many commercial catering suppliers will often supply speciality products such as:

繚 Chafers

繚 Display trays

繚 Coffee urns

繚 Ice moulds

繚 Linens in a wide range of assorted shapes and sizes

Very many other related items are available such as products which are used in food transportation, and some of these items will include:

繚 Insulated pan carriers

繚 Insulated bags

繚 Utility carts

繚 Various types of food containers in a wide range of colours and sizes

Other catering accessories that caterers can stock up affordably include; fry pans, chef knives and sheet pans. Disposable goods for the catering industry include; foam cups, foam hinged containers, disposable foil pans, service Clingfilm and aluminium foil.

There are many commercial catering suppliers on the web who can supply all different types of catering products and services. Their goal is to provide caterers, corporate event planners, wedding planners, outdoor sporting events and political events at different levels, with everything they need to run a smooth and professional catering operation. Most commercial catering companies source the best quality products from all over the world and offer them at very reasonable prices.

Some commercial catering suppliers carry all the major catering industry name brands, and in addition to catering supplies, they also sell high quality catering equipment including:

繚 Food processors

繚 Refrigerators

繚 Induction ranges

繚 Convection ovens

繚 Slicers

繚 Warming cabinets

繚 Different type of cook tops

繚 Freezers and commercial refrigerators

Many commercial catering suppliers will often supply speciality products such as:

繚 Chafers

繚 Display trays

繚 Coffee urns

繚 Ice moulds

繚 Linens in a wide range of assorted shapes and sizes

Very many other related items are available such as products which are used in food transportation, and some of these items will include:

繚 Insulated pan carriers

繚 Insulated bags

繚 Utility carts

繚 Various types of food containers in a wide range of colours and sizes

Other catering accessories that caterers can stock up affordably include; fry pans, chef knives and sheet pans. Disposable goods for the catering industry include; foam cups, foam hinged containers, disposable foil pans, service Clingfilm and aluminium foil.

What to Ask to Your Wedding Registrar

The wedding registrar plays the pivotal role in a marriage. In fact, the wedding registrars, in my opinion, are as important as the bride and groom themselves. After all, there will be no marriage without the wedding registrar, just like there will be no marriage without the bride or the groom! There are some questions you need to ask your wedding registrar to ensure that everything goes smoothly and according to plan, or rather, pretty close to it!

1. "When are you available?" Wedding registrars are so busy getting people married, that you need to first contact them about a year before your marriage! I know what you're thinking; you might not even know a year before you're married! But, that's how long it takes to complete all the legal formalities and the paperwork!

2. "Can you tell me a bit about the legal aspect of things?" Speaking of legalities, you need to get a clearer picture of them. So once you've decided on the venue of the marriage, you need to "give notice" so to speak of the impending nuptials. You also need to be prepared with a birth certificate, proof of address and, if required a clean bill of health. Also, on the final day, you'll need to have a brief interview with the registrar to go over the arrangements once more, as a formality.

3. "Where can we have our wedding?" You can have your wedding at any location which is licensed. Your local registrar will be able to guide you on that one, by providing you with a list of venues where you can have your wedding ceremony.

4. "What is the price like?" This is an all-important question! You need to pay an initial fee to book the registrar for your wedding and a further fee at the office. You need to find out the exact amount!

5. "What are the rules about the day of marriage?" You don't want to choose a day only to find out that you can't get married on that day, now do you? You can get married on all days of the week except on Sunday, in the United Kingdom, with the exception of public holidays! Moreover, you need to arrive in advance of your time slot to carry out the pre-marriage interview with the registrar!

Hopefully, this will provide a proper guideline! Good luck with that marriage!

Ways To Save Money When Planning Your Dream Wedding Day

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. It's about celebrating your love for each other in front of your family and friends. We all want that perfect day with the wedding dress of our dreams, the traditional three-tier wedding cake, amazing transport to the venue, bridesmaids/page boys, band/disco, the wedding reception to die for, well, the list could go on and on.

Planning your wedding is a very exciting time but with the organisation, also comes stress. Lets face it weddings now days are not cheap, on average a wedding costs between 15,000 and 20,000 Pounds! Times are hard for many people at this present time and we are all trying to find ways to cut costs in our everyday lives. Why should your wedding day be any different? Why spend more when there are ways to cut corners? This doesn't mean you have to go without, it just means you have to 'think outside the box'. There are many ways to cut the cost of your 'Big day'. Just looking around and doing a bit of research could save you hundreds if not thousands of pounds. This doesn't mean your wedding day need be any less glamorous or memorable, it simply means the stress of raising the money will be minimal.

Here are a few simple ways you can cut your costs.

Wedding Venue

First you need to decide where you would like to get married. Do you want to get married in a church, a registry office or maybe a civil ceremony is more for you.

Getting married in a church or registry office means you will also need a separate reception venue. To help cut the cost why not try getting married on a weekday or out of season (meaning not between the months of May and October) as many reception venues are more desperate for your business and offer an "off peak"discount or you may simply be able to haggle more and get the price reduced.

Another cheaper and very popular option is to have a civil ceremony. This means you can get married and have your reception all under one roof, cutting out the cost of the church or registry office.

Why not think about hiring your local village hall? They cost a lot less, meaning you could go to town with the decorations. These can be bought leading up to your big day from local shops or from the many available online stores, enabling you to spread the cost.

Of course your choice of wedding venue will also depend on the amount of people you wish to invite. Why not consider having a smaller, more intimate ceremony and then at a later date have a big party for the people you were unable to invite. This means you get to celebrate twice and you could also wear your wedding dress again!

Food/Drink

Many wedding venues offer a variety of menus for different budgets. To really help you save on the cost some venues also offer a buffet style menu. So why not think about having a less formal sit down meal and go down this avenue instead. Another idea is to do the catering yourself and rope in family and friends to help you.

Reception drinks are another thing to think about. Hotels and wedding venues usually offer a good selection of wines and champagnes but can seem a bit pricey. Why not find out if you can supply your own drink instead. They will probably still charge you corkage but it would still bring the price down. Alternatively offer your guests a welcome drink, wine with their meal and the first drink from the bar at the reception. People don't expect a free bar at wedding receptions anymore, as they know how expensive weddings can be and they are only too happy to pay for their own drinks.

Wedding Cake

The wedding cake is quite a focal point of your wedding reception but do you really need to spend hundreds of pounds on it? The answer is no! Have you heard the saying "Less is more"? Well when it comes to wedding cakes this can be true. A simple wedding cake, adorned with fresh, seasonal flowers makes a real statement and won't cost you an arm and a leg. Some well known high street stores sell iced fruit or sponge wedding cakes at great prices. So all you have to do is hire a cake stand or layer them on top of each other and add some fresh flowers or other cake decorations that can be bought from any craft shop or online store.

You may not wish to have a traditional wedding cake. Many brides and grooms don't actually like wedding cake so choose to go for something they do like. Why not try something chocolatey or have lots of little cupcakes displayed on a stand. These ideas are much kinder on your pocket but will still have you and your guests talking about it for years to come.

Dress/Bridesmaid Dresses

For any bride this needs to be perfect! Of course choosing a wedding dress should depend on your budget. There are many wedding gowns out there to suit every budget. Look out for sales of gowns or check out the high street stores that sell some amazing wedding dresses at a fraction of the price of some wedding dress shops. Another option is to think about hiring a gown. Many shops now offer this service, meaning you can have the dress of your dreams at a snip of the price it would cost you to buy.

The same ideas apply for bridesmaid dresses. Think about hiring them or maybe go down the less traditional route and get them dresses that they can wear again.

Flowers

We all know flowers can make a wedding. Having the church and reception venues decked in floral displays is a beautiful idea. Unfortunately these can prove to be very pricey when done professionally. If you do want to have them professionally made think about choosing flowers that are in season or you could choose to have more foliage with the odd flower here and there. This can really give you the wow factor but at a fraction of the price.

When choosing the bridal bouquet, why not think about a hand tied arrangement. Lilies or Roses with foliage made into a simple, elegant spray are simple to make but make a great statement. This you can make yourself. Visit a local flower wholesalers and tell them what your ideas are and they will be only too pleased to offer you their advice. While you are there why not also get some carnations for button holes, then get family members and friends to help you make them the day before the wedding.

Photographs

Photographs are a crucial part to any wedding day, leaving you with memories to cherish. There are a few different ways to save money here.

If you want to use a professional photographer, they will normally have several packages, varying in price, that you can choose from and if you have chosen to have an "off peak" wedding, some photographers will also offer you a cheaper deal.

There is also a more fun way to save on your wedding photo's. Why not buy some throw away cameras and get your guests to take the photos for you.

You could always combine the two and have a professional photographer take photos of the ceremony and then put throw away cameras on the tables at your reception and ask your guests to take the reception and evening photo's.

Or maybe you have a friend who is a keen photographer, who would cherish the thought of being your photographer for the day. Maybe they could do it as a wedding present to you or you could offer to pay them or buy them a memorable present.

No matter which option you choose, you will have memories a plenty of your wonderful day!

Remember this is your wedding day and it's not the amount of money you spend on it that makes it special, it's the friends and loved ones you are surrounded by when you say "I do". This is what will make it the truly magical day you wish for and that you will all remember for ever.

Small Loans for Bad Credit - Get Urgent Need of Money Now!

With a simple search online, it is easy for you to find out the best deals of loan to suit your needs. Presently, many types of loans designed for bad credit people are available along with attractive loan quotes to allure many borrowers. Even if you get a bad credit profile, it is easy for you to avail loans since small loans for bad credit scheme is introduced here with us. Apply now with these loans and obtain quick money today!

Usually, these loans are granted to US residents who attained above 18 years of age. The borrowers should be employed for more than 5 months. And he or she should have an active bank account in US. If you fulfill the above criteria, simply you can access to avail for such loan and get quick sum of money in the least possible of time. Nowadays, the popularity of the loan that is designed for bad creditors, are increased due to heavy demands by many borrowers.

Albeit of bad credit scores, you don't like to avail loans since rejection was high in the past. However, you can now easily access to apply for a loan even if you have bad credit issues. By taking small loans for bad credit scheme, it is possible for you to borrow instant sum of money that varies from $100 to $1500 for easy repayment option of 2 to 4 weeks. Being small and short term cash advance, you will need to hold comparatively high interest rates as compared with other loans.

Again, you can get the availing fund from lenders and meet your financial requirements with ease. The sanctioned fund is so much useful to arrange unexpected financial expenses that include medical bills, home renovation, repairing of broken window's pane, credit card dues, wedding expenses, unpaid grocery bills, tuition fees and exam's fees etc. Thus, you can easily get rid of financial trauma with ease via this loan.

As it is especially designed for bad creditors, even if you have bad credit issues such as CCJs, IVA, default or arrears, you can easily take small loans for bad credit. So, whenever you got struck with any kind of financial hurdles, you should prefer this loan. One more attractive thing of this loan is that you can take this loan without pledging of collateral too. It is collateral-free financial solution designed for many borrowers who are in need of quick funds.

Do-It-Yourself Wedding Invitation Guide

Think creatively and add a personal touch to your special event with do-it-yourself wedding invitations. When your friends inquire about the invitation designer, you can proudly say you did them yourself, just don't tell them it was easy.

With the availability of home computers and the ease of downloading templates, fonts, and special wedding clipart, the budgeting couple has everything needed to complete the do-it-yourself wedding invitations project. What's not accessible online is easily found in stationery and art supply stores.

Selecting the decorative paper to make your own wedding invitations is the first step. This sounds simple, but there are a lot of options from classic ivory and white to floral or tropical, depending on whether the wedding is formal or casual.

Once the paper is chosen you can really get creative with fonts, clip art, borders, photos and even your own artistic hand-painted touches, but invitation designers recommend you keep focused on a tasteful basic as you ponder the possibilities of what to incorporate.

Either do-it-yourself or find a friend who's comfortable using a small paint brush and a glue gun and the options are endless. To create a striking border on your wedding invitations you can use watercolor paints around the edge even blending two colors together.

A simple ribbon, dried flower, or small shell glued on the invitation will give it the feel of being lovingly handmade and using a photograph makes it a memorable keepsake. Too much, however, is not complimentary to the beauty of wedding invitations.

When in doubt or in need of advice on everything from the right RGB (red/green/blue) combination to print silver or gold lettering to using wax seals, consult wedding Message Boards on the internet. Although a few vendors are logging on to encourage you to use their service, there is an abundance of information and answers from those with first-hand experience.

Remember, do-it-yourself wedding invitations can be a lovely addition to your wedding plans, as well as fun and easy on your budget.

3 Top Family Portrait Ideas For Stunning Family Portrait Photography Results

Top Family Portrait Ideas #1 - Even Lighting

Light plays a very important role at making a family portrait photo work. It is best that you as a photographer can get even lighting for your shot. However, there are situations where getting even lighting is pretty impossible.

The best time for a group photo with even lighting is to conduct family portrait photograph early in the morning (around 8am) and during the early evening (5.30pm). Light during these times are soft, warm, and most importantly flattering.

Make sure that everyone's eyes in the photo appear looking sharp. You should also be sure to have their faces lit with even lighting.

Top Family Portrait Ideas #2 - Create a Sense of Depth

If you are conducting your family portrait photography indoors, then you should use a flash. Otherwise, you can opt for natural lighting from windows which tends to give a much softer lighting.

Here are some tips you can use; furniture arrangement should be in a right-angled manner towards the window where the soft light is coming from. Get your subjects to be seated closer towards the window. To add a sense of depth into the family photo using shadows and highlights, try to get the light from the window to be slightly off to one side.

Another method you can implement to add depth into your family photo and to make your subjects stand out, photograph them where at one side, light is coming from a 45簞 angle. At the other side however, use a white cloth or white cardboard so that light is reflected.

If you are conducting the family portrait photography attempt outdoors, one thing you can do is to look for shades that can provide your family photo an even spread of light.

Top Family Portrait Ideas #3 - Get Them Close To One Another!

A beautiful family photo is created when everyone gets close to one another. This is simply because a sense of unity, intimacy and closeness is created. Make sure everyone in the family photo minimizes the gap between one another.

Another important tip you can do is to encourage the subjects of the photograph to touch the person near them. For instance, mother hugs father, second sister's arm leans onto bigger brother's shoulder and aunt carrying the little baby in the family. A little bit of body language helps to convey emotions from the family photo to its viewers.

You can direct your subjects so that they do not stand in a straight line so that the family photo does not look too formal. Get them to stand at an angle where their bodies will have to slant just slightly towards one another. Otherwise, you can try to have them arranged in a triangular, zig zag or diamond formation.

How to Survive Stressful Wedding Preparations and The Pre-wedding Blues

Ask any girl about her fantasy wedding and you'll get fantastic ideas and rose-colored dreams of lacy bridal gowns, fabulous wedding cakes, and of course, the handsome groom. There's little thought for the grunt work that goes to make a lovely wedding, the planning, the shopping, and choices for bridesmaids and groomsmen gifts. Here are some tips to make your wedding preparation hassle-free.

Behind the Fairy Tale Scene

The bride floats down the aisle in gossamer and silk. She is as radiant and as pretty as the freshest bloom. The groom looks crisp and nutty in his tuxedo. Nobody can suspect they went through hell and back with the wedding preparations. Here's just a partial list of the things they had to go over:

* Ceremony sites

* Bridal fashions

* Tuxedo

* Jewelers

* Choice of bridesmaid and groomsmen, flower girls, and ring bearer

* Accommodations for guests

* Catering

* Wedding cake

* Decorations

* Photography

* Videography

* Invitations

* Honeymoon

* Rental Services

* Registry

* Music

* Reception Facilities

* Bridesmaids and Groomsmen Gifts

The list is much longer, and on top of this, engaged couples want their wedding to be different, something they can always lovingly remember through the years. In brief, it must be really special and unique to reflect their taste and personalities.

During the period of frenetic preparations, couples sometimes bicker over some choices. When emotions run high, they need a break and some professional counseling to survive the countdown to the big day. With the help of their families and friends, they can carry on with the ordeal of wedding preparations. If they can afford the services of a wedding planner, they can sit back and relax while the wedding specialist does the dirty job.

Avoiding The Pre-wedding Blues

Weddings can take a year or a month to prepare, depending on your budget and personal preferences. But whatever the length of time involved, engaged couples will be tested for their patience. During this time, expect emotions to flare up or the pre-wedding blues to rob a little excitement off over the prospect of tying the love knot.

The moment an engaged couple announces their wedding plans, the plot thickens and gathers momentum until the wedding day. Couples should take the precautions of planting their feet on the ground and get realistic about their goals. They should discuss things like budget and expectations honestly. The confusion and the squabbling start when couples fail to consult each other.

Before you set out to call a wedding planner or your family brigade, have a clear plan approved by both of you. When everything has been down to pat, outline everything to family members and friends called to pitch in. Match the tasks to the volunteer so everybody can do their jobs perfectly.

Delegating some responsibilities to selected friends and family members can take off a load off your shoulders and you can attend to details that need your personal supervision. Unloading some of the wedding preparations relieves you of the stress and gives you and your partner more time to be with each other and to enjoy each other's company.

In the heady days of wedding preparations, you'll have to attend social functions together. You don't have to go to every party. Take some time off from the party scene and prepare yourselves physically, emotionally and financially for the most important event in your lives - your wedding day.

Stylish Indian Wedding Cards

Wedding cards are a part of every wedding and set the style & tone of the big event. Even in this era of e-cards, the tradition of printing beautiful wedding cards continues to prevail. The bride and the groom and their close relatives and friends treasure the wedding cards and preserve them for the rest of their lives. For this reason many couples prefer inviting their close friends and extended friends through designer invitations that complement with the theme and style of the wedding.

Wedding cards are like letter requesting the recipient to grace the occasion. Although Invitations will cost just a fraction of the total money incurred on wedding, its importance must not be overlooked. Therefore, a decent amount of time must be devoted before zeroing down to the best option. Indian wedding cards play a vital role in setting the mood right for that special day.

From handcrafted invitation cards to those with engraved styled, there are a multitude of beautiful Indian Wedding Cards to match the theme and style of the wedding. From contemporary to traditional, there are almost all kinds of designer Invitations available to satisfy everyone's taste.

While calculating the expenditure of Indian wedding cards keep in mind the Shipping charges too. When deciding on the card, take into consideration factors like, the quality of paper, the kind of colors used, the kind of envelope used. Customers often want to see the physical sample before ordering the Invitations in Bulk, which is a very much advisable step. End of the day, you know exactly what you are ordering for!

Apart from mentioning the actual wedding time and venue on the card. The hosts sometimes also opt for inserts like;

1] Invitation to the engagement which will take place a little before the wedding.
2] Invitation to the various functions like sangeet ceremony, mehndi ceremony etc., held a day before the big day.
3] Insert with Directions to the various venues.
4] RSVP cards

It is quite common to give gifts with Indian wedding cards to your guests for attending the occasion. Gifts could be perfumes, a box of chocolates, a bottle of wine, flowers etc., which depends on one's budget and creativity.

Once you find the ideal Invitation as per your choice and theme, the next thing is to decide on the number and finally mode of dispatch.

Typically, wedding cards in India are hand delivered to the guests in order to give a personal touch to the occasion. This is done a couple of months in advance so that the guests can save the date for the event and make necessary plans to attend the Wedding. If it is difficult to do that, the host ensures that the card reaches the guest in time either by courier or through someone else. However, people prefer to send the Invites via courier in USA and other countries as it is difficult for them to hand deliver each and every Invitation to the guests. One should consider the postage cost as well while buying the Invitations.

BOB (Bank of Baroda) Personal Loan - Basic Information

What is A BOB personal loan?

A BOB or Bank of Baroda personal loan is an unsecured finance. The bank offers loan for your vacation, wedding and other household expenses.

The benefits of a BOB personal loan at a glance -

Loan for your wedding, honeymoon, medical and other miscellaneous expenses.

Special finance scheme for defense pensioners

Loan with the lowest interest rate offer for senior citizens and people with excellent financial background

Easy documentation, no requirement of collateral and credit history

Loan Approval in one day

BOB Personal Loans - Terms And Conditions

Government employees must have a minimum of 1 year employment experience

Self-employed professionals must have a minimum of 1 year business experience

Government employees and self-employed professionals should substantiate their monthly income with documents like bank statement, Income Tax Returns and others.

Insurance agents must have 5 years experience in insurance Industry to qualify for Bank Of Baroda personal loan. The finance is not approved if the employment tenure is not properly substantiated.

Approval or rejection of the finance is subject to discretion of BOB

BOB offers Rs 200000 loan for borrowers with excellent credit history and good financial background. The maximum tenure for which the loan is offered is 36 months. However, it entirely depends on borrower's repayment capacity.

In case the loan is not repaid within the specified tenure, the borrower is penalized with nonpayment charges. A penalty interest rate of 2% is also charged on total outstanding amount.

Eligibility for BOB unsecured loans

To qualify for BOB unsecured loans, a borrower has to substantiate his/her financial condition, credit history and repayment capacity. Borrowers below 18 are not eligible for the finance.

Is BOB personal loan available for bad credit people?

Bank of Baroda offers bad credit personal finance. The interest rate payable on such finance may range from 15% to 30%. Borrowers are supposed to pay charges like processing fees, legal fees and stamp fees to qualify for BOB bad credit personal finance.

Where to apply BOB unsecured loan?

Potential borrowers can download application form from official website of Bank of Baroda. The application form should be filled in properly as per the instruction provided by the bank. Submit the form to the website of the bank. You will be reverted regarding pre-approval of the unsecured loan in one day.

Before submitting, make sure that the application form is cross checked. BOB can reject if the necessary information is not provided in the application form.

Reveal Breathtaking Precision And Beauty With Laser Cut Wedding Stationery And Invitations

One of the most beautiful and diverse new wedding trends is laser cut wedding stationery, invitations, wedding accessories and wedding favors. By thinking beyond standard letterpress printing or engraving, with laser cutting you can show your guests something truly innovative and unexpected. Add a new sense of luxury to your wedding festivities with some of the laser cut ideas below.

Wedding invitations and stationery are no longer limited to just ink on paper. Laser design adds a new sense of three-dimensionality and offers a breathtaking reveal once invitees open the envelope. The laser cut wedding stationery look is created by using a laser to burn intricate shapes into paper products or thin material such as wood veneer. This process is achieved by using an intricate machine called a Paper Blaster that is driven by a personal computer.

Laser expressions stationery and wedding invitations have unique, high impact designs that include many additional personalization options such as initials, monograms, names, etc. With the many intricate and pretty details available with laser cutting, you'll have your guests raving about the unbelievably beautiful invitations they've received.

Laser expressions stationary is a classic example of "less is more." By incorporating exquisite laser cut details into your wedding invitations you can layer both colors and designs, for an incredibly unique, intricate and stunning look. Individual designs can even be created for separate parts of your invitations or stationery, such as a laser cut monogram for the front of the invitation with a laser cut overlay on the inside. Because laser expressions die cut cards are available in so many shapes they can be used to reinforce plenty of wedding style themes.

Not Just Invitations

Laser design can be utilized for nearly any and all aspects of your wedding, including place cards, free-standing signage, wedding decorations, wine charm alternatives, box wraps and more. Decorations dut with lasers create atmosphere, reflecting beautiful and intriguing patterns of shadows onto tabletops, especially in proximity to candle light. We've seen laser cut place cards in the shapes of leaves, butterflies, Adirondack deck chairs and different shaped baroque frames, and in colors like lavender, pastel pink, white, ivory, black and Tiffany blue. You can even find laser carved glass snowflake tea light holders that are ideal for adding instant warmth to winter wedding decor. These frosted glass holders with laser carved snowflakes in a silver interior create a beautiful glow - place them onto tables tops at ceremonies, receptions and bridal parties.

Why not get laser cut personalized monogram baroque box wraps with your new shared initial to add charming extravagance to each of your guests' wedding favor box? They add a personal and elegant touch to favor boxes that say "thank you for sharing this once in a lifetime day with us." Or surround each guests' name in a precisely cut wooden frame to let them know where they will be sitting. For a fun alternative to wine charms, consider perching a laser expressions die cut card, each with a guest's name on it, on all wine glasses. Some of these laser die cut cards come in shapes like roses, begonias, pansies, daisies, peonies, shells, starfish, seahorses, hummingbirds, dragonflies, butterflies and more. They also come in fun colors to match your wedding theme like tiffany blue, black, white, pastel pink, ivory and lavender. Best of all, they double as wine charms and place cards!

Not a big fan of traditional wedding cake toppers? Get a picture, symbol or phrase that's symbolic to both of you laser cut on a thick piece of cardstock or lightweight wood. It's not only a fun twist on tradition, but a sweet memento that you can frame or display later. You can also have special wedding decorations laser cut specifically for your wedding with a monogram or design that can be placed on tables or hung throughout the venue. Lasers can be used for cutting complicated designs into nearly any material, so the only limit to what you use in your wedding is your imagination!

Laser expressions stationary is modern and playful, yet elegant and relatively inexpensive. Laser cut designs generally need a longer lead time than regular ink-printed accessories, so for a one of a kind look for your wedding stationery, invitations and d矇cor that creates wonderful atmosphere, consider the ultramodern and sophisticated look of laser cutting now!

Music For A Civil Wedding Ceremony

As in a traditional church wedding service, music can play a significant role in a civil ceremony, imparting a sense of occasion and an appropriate level of solemnity balanced with an expression of the joy of the event as a celebration.

Secular Music

The main difference between a church service and a civil ceremony is, unsurprisingly, the religious content of the former and the strict avoidance of it in the latter, and this is reflected in the respective musical possibilities. Hymns are not permissible in a civil ceremony, but secular songs or instrumental items can serve as substitutes if desired.

Key Points In The Ceremony

The three most important points during the ceremony at which music can play a part are the same as for a church service, viz. the bridal procession; the signing of the register; and the recessional, when the newlyweds are received by their guests. Music can also be used to create a welcoming atmosphere as guests arrive and settle themselves before the ceremony begins, and again after the recessional, when the entire wedding party usually moves to a different room (or outside in favourable weather) for photographs and a champagne reception.

Appropriate Style Of Music

You may be in the fortunate position of being able to call upon the services of family or friends who can play musical instruments or sing at your wedding ceremony, otherwise you will need to hire them. Think carefully about what style of music you would like - classical (harpist, pianist or string quartet, for example), jazz or folk (guitar/vocal, flute perhaps) or a more modern popular idiom. Especially if you are bringing in professional musicians, ask them to stay on and play for the entertainment of your guests during the drinks reception, or even for the wedding breakfast which traditionally follows.

Acceptable Choices

You may have specific choices of ceremony music for the three principal elements outlined above. If so, discuss them beforehand with the Registrar. Generally, pretty much anything goes so long as there is not a central religious theme, especially if the particular piece is to be sung rather than merely played instrumentally. For instance, "Ave Maria" might be allowed if played by a string quartet, but not if sung by a soprano. Registrars vary in their interpretation of what is and what is not acceptable, so early consultation is a good idea in order to avoid possible later disappointment.

Appropriate Choices Of Music

Ideally, the music for the bridal procession should be fanfare-like, timed to fit as precisely as possible with the bridal party reaching their positions ready for the ceremony to begin. Obviously depending on the length of the room and the size of the bridal party, this usually needs to be quite a short piece, or one that can be satisfactorily "cut" at a suitable juncture. The music for the recessional should be triumphant and can be longer, allowing for the entire wedding congregation to leave the room (often slowly) en route to the reception area. A further piece can be held in reserve to cover this episode, if necessary. Music during the signing of the register should perhaps be of a more reflective and incidental nature, and be of sufficient length to allow for photographs to be taken at this stage: this can take quite a few minutes, so again it might be useful to have a further piece in reserve if occasion demands.

If you are unsure what music to choose, think of the character expressed by pieces such as "Bridal March" from Lohengrin (Wagner), or Pachelbel's "Kanon in D" for the bridal procession, and then "Wedding March" from A Midsummer Night's Dream (Mendelssohn) or Purcell's "Trumpet Tune" for the newlyweds to march down the aisle together as man and wife. These pieces "describe" what is happening, and that is the most important function of music during a wedding ceremony.

Find the Perfect Wedding Cards and Make Your Wedding Cherished

Wedding is that one day people wait for, all their lives.There is love and cheerfulness in the air! If you are invited to be a part of this special affair, you must ensure that you attend it and enjoy it in the best possible way. If you want to bless the bride and groom and show them how much you care, then you should do something incredibly special to be sure. There is a rather simple way to bless the would-be wedded couple.

It is a very old tradition for allowing listeners to mail greeting notes to the groom and bride. There are quite a lot of ways in which you could find these cards.The good thing is that most of them are quite common. Such as, most of us tend to pick wedding invitation whenever they visit the greeting card store or every time they happen to be a drug or grocery store. Now, this is where the problem lies!

Just get out of your comfort zone!

You never know, you may end up giving a replica of the marriage card to the bride and groom for their wedding! Since, most people simply tend to shop for nuptial cards in their neighborhood and end up giving the duplicate of a wedding card to the couple. Don't you want to avoid such a situation? You do not essentially have to shop for wedding cards from that one store in your neighborhood. To tell the truth, it is better if you take a look at some of the traditional wedding invitation samples on the Web. You are certain to find that one card that conveys your feelings the way you want!

Obviously, it's not merely the groom and bride who get wedding cards on these days. Everybody who is a part of the wedding could be given a custom wedding card or a greeting card to appreciate their part in their wedding, without which the ceremony would have been boring. This includes one and all from the mother of the groom to the bridesmaids!

As a matter of fact, very few people are crafty or artistic enough to know how to design one of such custom wedding invitations on their own. We might have the wish to say special things through custom greeting cards but it could get tricky if we do not have the zeal to do so. So, most of us check out on the web for traditional greeting and exclusive wedding cards.

Whatever you choose, pay special notice to what's inside out of the card. Wedding invitations are like a keepsake that many couples tend to behold all through their marriage once in a while. If you gift them something that will bring a smile on their face each time they look at it, it will be great fun!

DIY Wedding Invitations - Essential Guide

Maybe you're a bride on a budget? Perhaps you're so crafty your friends call you "Martha Stewart?" No matter the reason you're considering DIY wedding invitations, here's a general guide to easy handmade invites:

Plan

Before you drop one dime on materials for handmade wedding invitations, get a good idea of what the invite will look like. Not sure what you want in your DIY invitations? Search the web or mailorder catalogs for ideas. Do you want a simple printed invitation? Or are invitations bedecked with ribbons and charms more your style?

When you've decided on your dream invite, make a plan: What materials will you need? What quantities will you need to buy? How long will it take to make your wedding invites?

Shop

DIY wedding invitation kits are becoming the go-to way for busy brides to print their own invites. Kits include blank invitations and outer envelopes as well as enclosures that can be used as response cards, direction cards, or thank you notes. For custom invites that shine with style, mix and match pieces from different kits. DIY kits are available through online invitation specialists.

If you really want to go it alone, craft retailers are another good source for invitation supplies. The popularity of scapbooking makes it easy to find good quality paper in designs to match any wedding theme, from ultra-formal to casual beach weddings. These stores are also a great place to find the little touches, like metallic ribbon or elegant stencils, that will make your handmade wedding invitations stand out.

Print

Printing your DIY invitations from a home printer might be the cheapest option, but it's not always the best choice. From running out of ink to smudging a freshly-printed invite, this method isn't always hassle free. It can also take a lot of time--a commodity many brides just don't have.

Consider printing your DIY wedding invitations at a local copy shop. Not only do they have the heavy-duty equipment to handle high-volume printing, they may also offer cropping services to slice the paper down to size. Copy shops can be a great way to lower your stress level--and what bride doesn't want that?

Assemble

Now that you have nicely-printed invitations, it's time to get busy. Adding embellishments to handmade wedding invitations, such as ribbons or charms, and assembling all those invites can eat up a big chunk of your weekend unless you enlist reinforcements.

Even without fancy embellishments on DIY wedding invitations, it can take time to package invitations, reply cards and maps into inner and outer envelopes. It can be confusing, too. After all, when was the last time you needed an assembly line to send out a piece of mail?

That's why it's important to ask your bridesmaids, family or friends to help put the invitations together. You can even make a party out of it by serving simple foods, like bagels or cheese and crackers.

So, no matter if your DIY project consists of a simple print and mail job or 100 completely handmade wedding invitations, you can plan, shop, print, and assemble your way to a beautiful invite.

Tips to Cut Your Electricity Bill in Half

Would you like to cut your energy bill in half? Lowering your carbon foot print on the planet? There are many ways of achieving that goal especially if you are willing to throw thousands of dollars at the problem.

The power companies have us all on a payment plan. Just like when you go to buy a car the cost thousands the salesman doesn't want to talk price they want to talk monthly payment. This avoids what is known in the industry as sticker shock.

The average home that is 1800 to 2800 square feet uses 44 kilowatt hours per day. I arrived at this figure by researching the subject online. This varies by seasonal needs of the household to protect your family and property from harsh weather conditions.

The average in my home was 30 kilowatt hours per day prior to the use of a magnetic generator. You can cut your kilowatt hours by making simple changes. The things I did to increase energy efficiency around the house.

I don't own any regular light bulbs. I have replaced them all with the fluorescent tube bulbs available on the market today. This equals big savings if you haven't made the transition already. The bulbs are more expensive than regular bulbs but, they last a lot longer, usually at least a year.

Drafts coming in the house through the windows. I have double paned windows. Did you know that as your house settles the windows will develop tiny leaks along the edges? The easiest way to find out if your windows are leaking is to take a piece of paper during the next wind storm and hold it along the inside of the window. If it moves you have a leak. You can remedy any leak with some caulking along the window frame. Costing you a little and saving you a lot.

When one of my appliances breaks down, I always look for the most energy efficient model to replace it. I have the old style hot water heater with a tank. I am hoping that when it goes out the price of a tankless model hot water heater will be a viable cost option. All of these factors contribute to a lower energy bill.

When you are ready to really cut that bill in half I would look into a magnetic generator. You can build one by yourself. The cost is less than one months electric bill. You can also purchase one already made. The one that you can build on your own generates 24 kilowatts per day. I have cut my electric bill down to nothing and you can too.

Pointers For Picking Out The Best Preset Engagement Rings

When shopping for jewelry, particularly preset engagement rings and/or wedding bands, you want certified diamonds that are going to stand the test of time, just like your relationship. How can you make sure that you are getting the best quality at a price you can afford? You need to educate yourself on the finer points of diamond quality, and it is surprisingly easy to do. Here are a few pointers to get you started.

First and foremost, you want to make sure that you purchase a certified diamond. Whether the certification comes from the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) or the EGL (European Gemological Laboratory), it should have a grading certificate to accompany your purchase. This gives you a basis for valuing the diamond for insurance or re-sale purposes (such as selling it to cash for gold or diamond retailers). It is important to note that there can be differences of opinion between the certifying organizations. The GIA is considered to be the most consistent with their certifications and is the lab that all others are compared to.

When looking for preset engagement rings, you are going to find that there are several different cuts, carats, clarity and colors of diamonds. The quality of each of these categories (along with a few others) will determine the price you pay for the diamond. While it is true that all diamonds are not created equal, you have to pick and choose which categories are the most important for the diamond you want. This is what you need to look for in each category:

Cut: The best cut diamonds are the most brilliant (or sparkly, if you prefer). There are 6 grades of cut with Ideal being the best.

Carats: The larger the diamond, the more carats it has.

Clarity: Clarity refers to the visual appearance of the diamond, whether or not there are flaws on the inside (inclusions) or surface (blemishes), and how visible they are.

Color: The color of a diamond is graded D - Z with D being colorless (the most preferred) and Z being light yellow.

You also have the option to choose a flawed diamond for your wedding ring. Though some people may scoff at the idea, the flaws most diamonds possess usually aren't visible to the naked eye or they can be hidden with prongs or proper mounting in preset engagement rings. Of course, a flawed diamond will also get you the best price which is why some people choose them.

Choosing Your Ideal Wedding Flowers

As well as everything else to be planned for your big day, you need to choose your wedding flowers, which for many brides is one of the most enjoyable selections they get to make while arranging their wedding. While some women prefer to have a very personalised bridal bouquet, others see their wedding flowers as a chance to keep their overall wedding theme running through every aspect of the ceremony.

A wedding bouquet is the finishing touch to your bridal dress, and a well designed one will enhance your ensemble, bring out your best features and colouring and complement your bridesmaid dresses as well. Wedding flowers are also one of the most prominent features in photographs, so make sure you are happy with them as they will be in your memory for a long time.

There are whole galleries online of wedding flower ideas to help inspire you, and some places allow you to buy bridal bouquets online directly for delivery on the day, which can be very convenient and cost-effective. There are plenty of forums and florists on the Internet which can give you starting points for flower arrangements and colour ideas, and you can also look at photos of other weddings, bridal magazines and even in the window of your local florist to get your imagination going.

If you have a wedding theme idea, think how to integrate that into your bridal bouquet and other flowers. For example, you could add some shells to a beach wedding theme, or some sprigs of holly for a Christmas wedding theme. For colours, it is a good idea to have a swatch of your bridesmaid dresses to make sure you can get matching or complementing colours for both the blooms themselves and any wraps or ribbons.

You might want to pick one or two types of special flowers which you would like to feature; perhaps they have a special meaning for you or are associated with memories of yourself and your groom, or others in your family. However it is still a good idea to work within the seasons depending on when you are having your wedding party. Although popular choices like roses and lilies are usually available all year, many other flowers are seasonal so prices will fluctuate. If you want an out of season flower in your bridal bouquet you could have it imported but this can be very expensive so it is best to stick to locally sourced blooms if you can.

Make sure you have a clear budget for your flowers! Unless you are buying wedding flowers online, which makes things simpler and easier, it is a good idea to have a budget in mind when you visit your florist so you can discuss the best value for money. Don't forget that some times of year (like Valentine's Day and Easter) have a high demand for flowers and that will mean much higher prices than at other times. Have fun choosing your bridal bouquet and wedding flowers!

Exquisite Online Collections of Hindu Wedding Cards

India is a land of festivals, colors and rituals. All the communities existing under the Indian sky have unique ceremonies and rituals associated with them. Amongst the Hindus, marriage is considered to be a very important part of life. The marriage ceremony involves some unique rituals. These are celebrated with great pomp and show. Hindu wedding invitations form an important part of the marriage ceremony. Recently, Yuvraj Shivraj of Royal family of Rajasthan (an Indian state), got married to Gayatri Kumari. The marriage function was attended by a host of celebrities, politicians and bureaucrats. Even the Chief Minister and the Governor were invited. Exquisite wedding cards were sent to the guests and special passes were also issued for ensuring prevention of gatecrashers.

The Hindus believe that marriage is a very special occasion for uniting two souls. So guests are invited to bless the newly married couple. The main mode of inviting people is through wedding cards. Hence, these cards play a supreme role in bringing all the special people in the marrying couple's life together. Hindu wedding cards are beautifully and creatively designed. The cards are a bit different depending upon the region as well. The North Indians' wedding invitation cards are different from that of a South Indians. However, all types of Hindu wedding cards stand out prominently with their intricate detailing and exquisite designing. The designs offer a wonderful blend of artistry and style. The cards are made on a variety of papers, from handmade to imported ones. These are filled with distinctive textures and pleasing colors.

Speaking of designs, most Hindu wedding cards often come studded with Kundan stones. Some also feature quotes from the religious book, Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. These quotes are usually meant to bless the marrying couples with good wishes. Some cards are extravagantly designed with loving sentiments and affection along with an intricate display of attractive colors and ornate motifs. The cards are available in a wide price range, from the most affordable to the exorbitantly priced ones.

Different Baby Shower Games

Are you planning to hold a baby shower party for your upcoming niece or nephew? Are you having trouble selecting the right games for the event? If yes, read on to gain insights on the games suitable for the occasion.

Baby showers became a tradition not only for wealthy families, but also for ordinary families as well. No matter how much money you spare for the event, you can still have a successful baby shower with proper planning and preparation.

It has been the tradition not only in the United States, but in many countries worldwide. Like the upcoming baby, this event is organized to wish the expectant parents of the coming of an angel to their life. It is usually attended by friends, relatives and colleagues.

History

Historians believed that baby showers evolved during the 18th century, wherein Victorian women held a secret tea party for their expectant friend. In 1900, these parties later became bridal showers and were organized by women a day before the wedding of their friend.

As time evolved, the manner of how the event was celebrated transitioned along with it, but the one thing remained the same, the giving of gifts by guests.

Today, people from different cultures and strata in society organized baby showers to wish the expectant parents and to give them gifts which they believed would helped them in rearing their upcoming child.

Like any other parties we have, food, drinks, sweets and games are always present. To give life to every event, organizers have games not only to entertain guests to also to give fun and excitement to the party. However, choosing games for the party is not that easy. With the myriad games we know nowadays, it is difficult for us to pick out games that suit an event like baby showers. You can ask friends, colleagues and relatives about it or do some leg work on the Internet and look for suitable games for the event.

Some games that you can play during the event:

• Guess Mommy-to-Be's Tummy Size - You need a yarn or string and scissors. Participants will cut the yarn according to the size they believe would best fit around the tummy of the expectant mother. The one near to the actual size is the winner.


• Say "Baby" - You need safety pins or other type of baby objects which you can attach to a string. Female participants will wear a yarn or strings with numerous safety pins on her neck. Whenever someone will say "baby" during the party, any woman can get a pin from the one who stated the word. Those with the most pins will win the game.


• The Price is Right - You need to buy several baby items, like pacifier, baby bottles, baby food and many more. You remove the price tags and place them on the table. Give participants a piece of paper containing the possible prices for each of the item. Those who guess it right wins the game.

Other games include:

• Guess the Gerber's


• Place the Baby on the Mommy-to-Be


• Guess the Number of Safety Pins


• Bottle Races


• Complete the baby rhyme


• Baby Scrambler

Wedding Invitation Cards: A Popular Alternative to One Page Invitations

A large number of wedding ceremonies take place in the United States, each year. A large percentage of these wedding ceremonies include an extensive guest list. To notify friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers of your wedding, it is likely that you will use wedding invitations.

Planning a wedding involves making a large number of decisions. Some of these decisions are larger than others. When it comes to a wedding, all decisions are important. If you are getting married, one important decision that you may have to make is the style of wedding invitations that you want.

Wedding invitations are important for a number of different reasons. They help to notify friends and family that you are getting married. In addition to notifying guests, wedding invitations are also vital to the planning of a wedding. Knowing how many guests will attend your event is the best way to prepare seating, food, and drinks.

As previously mentioned, wedding invitations are important to the success of a wedding. Since they are important to the success of a wedding, there are many couples who spend days selecting the perfect wedding invitations. Wedding invitations are fun to select, but at the same time they are difficult. This is because there are a wide variety of different wedding styles to choose from.

Perhaps, the most used wedding invitation style is a one page invitation. One page wedding invitations are invitations where all the information is placed on one page. They are simple way to notify friends and family of your upcoming nuptials. The only problem with one page wedding invitations is their size. Because they are only one page, only the basic information can be displayed. To allow more information, such as a favorite song or poem, many couples make the decision to purchase wedding invitation card sets.

Wedding invitation card sets are similar to traditional, one paged wedding invitations. Wedding invitation card sets often include invitations and matching envelopes. The only difference between the two is the invitation style. Instead of being only one page, a wedding anniversary card has a traditional card style. This means that the initiation will fold.

Wedding anniversary card sets may not be the most popular type of invitation, but they are used quite a bit. They are popular because they allow a wedding invitation to have a personal touch. In addition to a favorite song or poem, many wedding invitation card sets also include a picture. This picture can be a generic one or it can be a picture of your and your spouse.

Each year weddings are hosted, but each wedding is likely to be different. That is often what makes a wedding unique and memorable. If a wedding can be different than so can the invitations. If you are interested in sending out custom made invitations to all your guests, you should at least consider ordering a wedding invitation card set. Why order wedding invitations that are just like the rest, especially when you can order your own unique invitations?

Monogram Aisle Runners: Printed With Your Monogram or Logo

If there is any event that should reflect the style and personality of the individuals, it is a wedding. Both the bride and groom's personality should be expressed in every element of the wedding. Experienced wedding planners will be able to point the new couple towards a variety of different special touches that they can use to make the event special and unique. From personalized napkins to the reception music, a bride and groom have a number of different items to choose from. One thing that should not be overlooked is the use of monogram aisle runners.

Traditionally, aisle runners have been used to represent the fact that the bride and groom are on a new path together. Aisle runners can now match the bride's dress with white or ivory. Add side ribbons and the bridal party colors can be included as well. Until recently, personalized aisle runners were hand painted. The lead time could be months and the cost was very high. Now, with new technology aisle runners can be printed in a matter of days for a fraction of the cost. Another great feature of this technology is that your art can be used on everything for your wedding day ranging from table runners, wall signs, dancefloor enhancement, wine bottle labels and water bottle labels, just to name a few.

You can choose from a variety of name and new surname styles to fit your taste. Heart, flower or western themes can be added with your names and dates if you would like to add graphics. Add your personal graphic request with customized design services. If you have your own artwork ready, your art can be placed on all the items that you want to include in your special day.

After the wedding day you can enjoy the aisle runner in your new home together. What a great way to remember your special day by having your personalized aisle runner made into a banner. By simply hemming the area around your monogram and adding rod pockets you can have a piece of art to place on your wall. Why not consider modifying it and using it as a window treatment?

The more you consider the possible uses of monogram aisle runners that are printed with a custom logo, the more versatile they will see that they truly are. A personalized aisle runner used in conjunction with features in your reception can truly unite your entire wedding day. The best thing about utilizing this technology is that by picking key features you can make your wedding look like a million bucks; only you know how reasonable it did cost.

Organza Ribbon As a Decorating Staple for Weddings Favors

A wedding is a special occasion for a couple. It means so much for the couple to have a wedding that is both memorable and happy. A lot of attention is invested into the wedding preparations including the venue and the reception. At the end of the day, after the wedding is done, the couple wants to show their friends, family, and visitors their appreciation for their attendance and support. The couple shows their gratitude with the wedding favors.

Wedding favors often come in boxes that contain some simple memento of the wedding like a piece of the wedding cake or such things as sugary almonds. The boxes can be tied with the organza ribbon which is of the same material and color as what was used in the wedding decors and invitations. The idea of wedding favors is often a cause of worry for most couples. They want the visitors to appreciate the token.

Packaging plays a very important role in wedding favors. There are many choices for boxes whether heart-shaped, round, square or rectangular. With this variety of choices, you can always find one that will suit your personality and taste as a couple. The female friends will certainly appreciate the heart-shaped boxes with the organza ribbon tied into a bow which can easily be personalized with the couples' names and wedding date.

The shape of boxes is not the only important thing as you have to consider the color and design of the organza ribbon as well. You can either go with the color that matches the bridesmaid's dresses or the tuxedo of the groom. However, many brides have veered away from the traditional white and pastel. More vibrant colors are now used for weddings and with the different colors of Organza Ribbons; there will always be something available to suit your preferences.

Another popular use for organza is as gift wrapper. The translucent finish of organza makes it a good idea for wrapping the wedding favors. It would not be difficult to wrap a gift with the organza ribbon as it is available in different widths that will be enough to cover the size of a box. Using this type of ribbon will make the wedding favor very elegant and luxurious. The organza ribbons can be used in combination with other materials like silk and chiffon to create a dramatic effect. The reversible nature of organza makes it an ideal material for bows.

Creating designs with different materials like organza, silk and chiffon needs a lot of imagination, artistry and creativity but once the design is completed it exudes an aura of luxury. These are the materials favored by many events' organizers as they are easy to use, versatile and flexible. organza ribbon is often used as trimmings for the wedding gown, invitations and other accessories. It can also be useful as curtain material and decorations for parties and similar occasions. For the event's organizers, wholesale purchase of the organza ribbon is more effective than buying it from retail outlets.

Bridal Shower Gift Baskets - Put Different Bridal Gifts In Them!

Bridal shower gift baskets are used by many when the aim is somehow to conceal inside the things that they have for the bride. They are the perfect storage box instead of the more traditional and common gift-wrapping techniques. Carrying your gifts inside the bridal shower gift basket will make the fun in there. With all the girls doing the same, the party mood would be even more thrilling and exciting.

There are many gift ideas that you can put inside the basket. They could be something like the couple can use on their honeymoon. Why not try putting the basket with a common favorite romantic CD of both the would-be groom and bride where they can play it when they are sharing their first night as a married couple? Or you can also put in the basket some sexy night lingerie for her and cute, little boxer shorts for him. This could elicit some hearty guffaws as they receive these items.

The bridal shower gift basket could also have something like a bottle of wine or champagne with two wine glasses; or aroma candles and incense so they could use to set their first night together romantically. Or perhaps, you can be naughtier by adding the shower bridal gift basket with some adult stuff you can buy in an adult specialty shops.

Different, unique things that you will include inside the gift basket could either generate big laughs from them, or you could put some little naughty smile at their lips. Whatever it is that you are planning to give to the bride, make sure it is something that will make them smile and want to use in their moments together as the wedding ceremonies are over.

Now, you may ask where you can get these crafty, neat bridal shower gift baskets. You can have these gift baskets acquired from local wedding specialty shops. They are available in different designs, trimmings, styles, and finishes. When choosing, make sure you know the theme of the shower party because you should have the baskets coordinated with it. Make sure you got the shower invitation card first before deciding what shower gift baskets and items you should be bringing for the party.

If you don't want the hassles of scrounging the town to look for these shops, you can transact online. Try browsing them through the search engines and you can come across wide selections of online wedding specialty stores.

12 Month Wedding Planner - How To Plan Your Wedding In One Year

Wedding Planning Stage 1: 12 Months Before Wedding

1. Work out your maximum budget


2. Write out the elements of the wedding needing organised, e.g. wedding dress, catering & entertainment, honeymoon etc.


3. Rank each area based on it's importance to you. This way, you'll be able to spend more money on what's important to you, e.g. you may want to spend more on great entetainment as opposed to the catering.

This stage is crucial and will inform the whole of the wedding planning process. It lets you know exactly how much you can afford to spend on each element, thus making the vendor selection process less arduous.

Wedding Planning Stage 2: 11-12 Months Before Wedding

1. Calculate guest numbers


2. Search for suitable venues that can cater for your guest numbers on your chosen date


3. Visit venues if possible to get a feel for them and short-list top 3


4. Select preferred choice and sign contracts and pay deposit to secure venue booking

Wedding Planning Stage 3: 8-11 Months Before Wedding (Vendor research phase)

1. Investigate theme options, e.g. colours and styles - refer to wedding magazines, websites for inspiration


2. Research wedding dress vendors and dressmakers who can create your dream outfit in the fabric and colour you desire


3. Do the same for groomswear and bridesmaids


4. Seek out appropriate caterers only if necessary (your venue may provide catering)


5. Investigate the following vendors:

• Entertainment, e.g. bands, DJ's etc


• Photographers


• Videographers


• Wedding Transport


• D矇cor companies for linens etc


• Florists

Always be prepared to continually refine your budget based on the costings you receive. You may need to re-allocate funds to certain areas you'd not previously regarded as being that important.

Wedding Planning Stage 4: 6-8 Months Before Wedding

1. Arrange transport, e.g. wedding cars


2. Choose groomswear and bridesmaids outfits


3. Arrange fitting times for above nearer wedding date


4. Get fitted for wedding dress


5. Book honeymoon!


6. Confirm floral and/or d矇cor vendors who best match your brief and budget


7. Post 'Save The Date' cards

Wedding Planning Stage 5: 4-6 Months Before Wedding

1. Investigate and embark on appropriate fitness and/or beauty programme


2. Seek out professionals who can help you achieve your vision and desired look, e.g. fitness instructors, dieticians, beauty therapists


3. Research whether special license is required for your marriage and if so arrange


4. Research any legalities that will require attention both pre and post wedding for example:

• Banks


• Credit Card Companies


• Employers


• Landlords


• DVLA

Wedding Planning Stage 6: 2-3 Months Before Wedding

1. Confirm ceremony details with religious person/registrar


2. Arrange the wedding rehearsal and inform relevant people who must attend


3. Select wedding stationery for invites, order of service, menus and thank you cards


4. Finalize guest list and mail invitations


5. Go for final dress fitting

At this stage, it would be wise to review everything you've arranged to date to see if you've missed anything important. Consider meeting with a recently married friend who'll be able to review your progess and advise of anything you may have forgotten

Wedding Planning Stage 7: 1-6 Weeks Before Wedding

1. Confirm final guest numbers and chase non-RSVP's


2. Read and go over vendor contracts and advise of guest numbers and requirements, e.g. special dietary issues etc.


3. Pay final balances to vendors


4. Take out wedding insurance cover based on appropriate amount you require

Wedding Planning Stage 8: Final Week
If you've stuck to the plan as laid out above, you should be super organized and have minimized your stress levels. If you can, try and arrange some time off to yourself to simply relax and enjoy your last few days of single life before the big day!