Whether you’re the main attraction (groom) or a trusty sidekick (groomsmen), wedding days call for men to look their best. And even if your wedding is a thing of the past, you’ve always got anniversaries to deal with. Here are some men’s grooming tips to handle both the wedding and everything that comes after (or any formal event you are invited to).
Grooming Tips for Men
* Looking good takes some work and time, so begin a basic skin care routine of cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing early to get the greatest results. Once a day (or twice if you have oily skin), wash with a liquid cleanser to remove debris and clear pores. Follow with a high-performance moisturizing product to keep skin smooth, hydrated and looking great. Two to three times a week, exfoliate with a face scrub to remove dead skin cells and improve skin’s surface.
* If you’ve never spent time on a skin care routine before, consider purchasing a kit that contains all of the products you will need to get started. It takes the guesswork out of figuring out what products to use for what (and can make excellent groomsmen gifts, too!).
* Treat individual problems, such as under-eye circles, fine lines and acne, with products specifically formulated for them.
* For superior shaving without irritations like ingrown hairs, use products that are gentle and don’t contain irritants such as fragrance, menthol or alcohol. Avoid foamy products, as these do not lubricate skin adequately. Change your blade after 4-5 uses to keep from going over the same place more than once due to a dull blade. If possible, shave in the shower as the steamy air will open pores and allow hairs to be shaved closely.
* For super-smooth shaving the day of the big event, skip shaving the day before and then shave in two steps: First, shave with the grain with very light pressure. Second, reapply a thin coat of shaving cream and shave against the grain for smooth results.
* Regularly wash your hair with a gentle shampoo that will remove dirt without stripping away natural moisturizers. Make sure to get a haircut or trim a few days before the wedding or anniversary, but don’t opt for a new style the day before since this could turn out to be a disaster.
* Nails & Hands: With all the hand-shaking and hand-holding going on, it’s a good idea to make sure nails are clean and trim, and hands are moisturized and free of grime. Why not splurge for a manicure? More and more men, from businessmen to movies stars, are getting them these days, and trust us: Sparkly polish will not be involved.
* Wedding and event planning begins months, and sometimes years, ahead of time, so take advantage of the wait by getting fit with a nutritious diet and a regular exercise routine.
* Don’t stink up the place: Make sure to wear deodorant. Keep breath mints handy for those slow dances.
* Some wedding experts recommend men skip cologne at weddings, citing the fact that there will already be a lot of perfume in the air, as well as scent from the flowers. If you choose to wear cologne, keep the scent light and the application to a minimum.
* For anniversaries, gifts don’t have to be elaborate or expensive. Plan a getaway weekend somewhere, even if it’s only two towns away. Book a spa appointment for the two of you and spend a day relaxing. Or instead of an expensive dinner, try revisiting a place you ate at when you first started going out, or a place you two have always wanted to try. The point is to celebrate your marriage any way you see fit.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Wedding & Anniversary Grooming Tips for Men
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Choosing Your Wedding Gown
The perfect wedding gown can transform a girl-next-door into a bridal goddess.
But the price tag for goddess-like wedding attire can run a penny-pinching bride into debt.
Designer gowns (ie. Vera Wang, Klein, Romona Keveza, Oleg Cassini, Rivini) can easily retail anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 just for the gown itself. Then tack on gloves, veil (easily $100 to $300) and any other kinds of accessories including jewelry, and the bride’s bill alone can topple $6,000.
But savy brides know they can find beautiful wedding gowns and dresses for less on various Internet sites or with a little shopping around.
Jennifer Bloom shopped from bridal boutique to exclusive department store until she found the perfect wedding gown with a luxury price of $3525.00
“Then I went home, powered up the computer, and found the exact same dress by the exact designer on a website for $2,000 less,” she said.
Using her credit card, Jennifer paid for the gown and shipping costs. Two weeks later, the gown arrived in a heavy box with plenty of plastic-wrapping for protection.
“I worried about it being shipped. Would it be damaged? What if it was the wrong one? Fortunately, the wedding was six months away, and I felt I had plenty of time even if I received the wrong order,” she says.
The website had cautioned that the gown might take up to six weeks to receive, depending on the number of orders for that particular gown.
The fitting was another story. A tailor fashioned the dress into the dimensions Jennifer needed at a cost of another $100.
Then she and her bridesmaids shopped for a veil. They found the perfect one. The they headed to a fabric store for material, lace and a headpiece to make a copy.
“When people asked where I got my gown, they were astonished to learn that I got both my gown and my veil at such a discount,” says Jennifer.
“What I saved on my gown enabled me to spend more money on gifts for my bridesmaids and add more expensive flowers to the floral arrangement.”
Jennifer figures she probably spent an extra hour or two on the Internet searching for her dress, time she would have spent being pinned and measured at a bridal boutique.
“It was more than worth the effort,” says Jennifer.
The other way to fight designer fees is to find a gown, ask for front, side and rear views of the dress, and ask your favorite tailor to fashion one similar for you.
But be aware that tailors’ prices vary from one to the other.
And you’ll be responsible for finding and purchasing the fabric for your dress.
“The fabrics can vary so dramatically. They make look the same but they may actually be of a lesser quality than the retail, designer version,” says Leslie Connor, a tailor who specializes in wedding gowns and bridal party wear.
And good fabric isn’t cheap. Italian imports may cost as much as $150 a yard, and construction of a gown may take up to 10 yards. Factor in a tailor’s hourly costs and additional fittings, and the gown may cost as much as originally priced.
“But the beauty of a perfectly-tailored wedding gown is just that…it’s perfectly tailored,” says Leslie.
Again the results are near designer-perfect.
“You won’t be fitting into someone else’s design,” says Leslie. “You’ll be wearing a design made especially for you.”
Another option for discount-savvy brides is to search the Internet for used gowns. E-bay frequently carries gowns, and other auction sites may also provide access to a used gown.
“I looked at those websites,” says Jennifer. “I considered it because I’m sure the gowns have only worn once, but I decided not to take my chances.”
The wedding gowns offered are usually of a high-quality, and most have already been dry-cleaned and potentially arranged for storage. But the gowns are non-returnable, and sometimes sizes may vary.
The advantage to an auction site is that some gowns are actually being sold by retailers who are looking for ways to rid themselves of last year’s stock or close out a business.
“Some of the buys on the internet are amazing,” says Bonnie Timberlake, who frequently purchases jeans and tops on the Internet. “But you have to bid. And you have to be ready not to win.”
Bonnie has surfed the auction sites several times looking for a gown by designer Jessica McClintock. “Twice, I’ve lost out to the other bidders because I didn’t have access to a computer when the bids were closing.”
Bonnie is in no rush, but as her date nears she may cave in and hit the retail circuit.
“A wedding gown will cost me next to nothing if I nab the one I want,” says Bonnie, whose bids have gone in at about $200. The winning bids were only for a couple hundred dollars more.
“But I want to look my best no matter what,” says Bonnie.
The final look is what matters most whether purchased for designer retail prices, via the Internet or at a discount location.
“Every bride wants to feel special on her wedding day, and the dress is what matters most,” says Bonnie.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Adult Cocktail Parties
Few social gatherings blend grown-up sophistication and fun as perfectly as the cocktail party. Born in the days of Prohibition, the cocktail party has evolved. Today, smart hosts use plenty of planning and pre-packaged cocktail mixes to create memorable gatherings.
Here are some tips for planning your next cocktail party:
* Choose your guest list. Invite people with different interests who might not otherwise meet. Throughout the party, be sure to introduce your guests to each other and give them topics to discuss.
* Send invitations via snail mail. Make your guests feel special when they receive something other than virtual mail. Choose invitations that Make a Statement! or a style based on your theme. Don’t forget to specify attire in the invitations. You don’t want to make your guests feel uncomfortable by having one person show up in a party dress and another show up in jeans.
* Select your party area. Whether the party will be held in your house or at a rented space, be sure you have areas designated for specific purposes. Set up a place for the bar, seating, mingling and a dance floor, if desired.
* Prepare the appetizer menu. Ideally, you should have equal amounts of cold appetizers and warm appetizers. Throw in a few desserts for good measure. Dips and sauces work well.
* Set up drink accessories. These are the memorable touches that will leave your guests “ooohing” and “aaahing.” Have plenty of kitschy items like assorted fruit straws and Cocktail Umbrellason hand. Cut up different types of fruits and vegetables and place colorful toothpicks in them. Of course, have a wide array of funky glasses or coconut cups available. Bar towels, light cubes for ice, ice bucket and tongs, and cocktail shakers are other good ideas.
* Select party music for the party. Choose tunes that will keep your guests grooving all night long. Again, keep your music in line with the theme. Think of the tone you want to set for your party and make sure the music will reflect it. Does your ideal party involve dancing? Do you want soft, mellow music so your guests can focus more on conversation? Try out some Dance Videos
Adult cocktail party suppliesPlan the drink menu. This is the most important step for a successful cocktail party. Select drinks that maintain your theme. If you’re having a retro ’60s party, serve Cosmopolitans. If your theme is tropical, serve Tequila Sunrises. Consider using pre-prepared drink mixes to simplify your job without compromising on excitement.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Fun Bridal Favors
Beach Wedding Favors
Seashells, sailboats and fun in the sun! Whether you’re planning seaside nuptials or a beach-themed bachelorette, our ocean-inspired collection of beach wedding favors boasts impressive decorative ideas that will enthrall your guests. Choose from our delectable, personalized Hershey’s chocolate favors, beautiful silver sea shells, sail boat votive holders, and more! Show your personal style with whimsical photo frame favors decked out in shells and romantic “beach in a bottle” keepsakes. We’re always adding to our beach wedding favors, staying on the cutting edge to give you the newest trends for your wedding by the shore!
Bell Wedding Favor
Wedding bells are ringing...if you love the sound of bells, why not choose a wedding bell favor that can also be use as "kissing bells". Put an end to the utensils hitting the glasswear, kiss in style.
Wedding Bubbles Favors
Make your grand exit in a sea of bubbles! Our wedding bubbles favors provide a sweet, soft alternative to the traditional send off of rice or birdseed, creating wonderful memories for you and your guests. These adorable keepsake bubble bottles are specifically designed for weddings…we especially love our champagne shaped Celebration Bubbles! Please note: To protect our customers, purchases of wedding bubble products are not permitted for returns. All sales for wedding bubbles are final
Golf Wedding Favors
Celebrate your love for each other…and your love for the game…with these clever and practical golf-themed favors! Your guests will delight in our personalized golf ball favors, and you’ll love the price! Adding a personal touch to a golfing wedding event is easy and affordable with our collection of golf wedding favors. We especially love our scrumptious personalized chocolates all decked out in golf course attire…from bite-size Hershey’s Kisses to our delectable full-size gourmet chocolate bars, these memorable treats are perfect for your wedding reception or golf-themed engagement party! Check out our silver golf club drink stirrers, too, for a refined, country club appeal that’s very affordable!
Pink Wedding Favors & Gifts
Think pink! From the palest whisper of innocence to the sassiest, hottest pink, our collection of pink wedding favors celebrates a bridal shower or a wedding reception with girly flair! From our charming Annabel Crystal Earrings to our decadent Chocolate Bath Salts to our sultry Black Lace Corset Potpourri Shower Favors, our pink gifts and favors are sure to delight both guests and the blushing bride. Our pink wedding and bridal shower favors range from the elegantly economical to the lavish and luxurious. You’re sure to find the perfect favor…in the perfect shade of pink…in this section!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
American Idol Party 4yr Award
It was my sons 4th birthday and he had an obsession with the TV show American Idol. The invitations were a CD that I burned from the computer of all of his favorite songs. The album cover was a picture of my son in overalls with his baseball glove (the 1st song on the album was take me out to the ballgame)on the inside cover I put the invitations and the back of the album had a list of all the songs on his album. Everyone really enjoyed the cd's. At the party we had a microphone and instruments set up to use. I passed out numbers for all of the contestants and all of the children recieved a golden ticket to Hollywood" like on tv which I printed on color paper. All of the children were able to sing dance and perform for the audience. They loved that some more than others. My sister and brother were dressed like Simon and Paula and my step-father dressed like Randy. They all carried their drinks in coke glasses and gave the kids words of encouragment after they performed. I made cupcakes in ice cream cones to resemble microphones and a large cake that resembled a record. They enjoyed the cupcakes. I purchase all of the american idol plates napkins cups etc at Party City. I purchased an American Idol microphone pinata through birthday express. The party favors were microphones that I got at the dollar store for one dollar each they all got guitar bubbles american idol stickers and several other music related party favors sunglasses etc. They kids enjoyed every minute of the party. My son wants to have the same party on his next birthday.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Wedding Themes - 3 Reasons Why Your Wedding Needs One
Wedding themes can turn an average wedding into a spectacular event. From simple to
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
5 Ways To Capture Your Wedding Moments Forever
Instant Photo Guest Books are a unique "marriage" of a photo album and a guest book. To create a photo guest book at a wedding, simply take Polaroid pictures, slip them into your guest book and have the guests write their personalized messages to you the bride and your groom on the guest book pages. This will capture your wedding event instantly in pictures and words—and you won’t even have to wait weeks to get your photographs returned from your wedding photographer. You’ll be able to enjoy it as soon as it’s over. However, the beauty of these keepsake albums is that it can be used for all parts of your wedding event: engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, wedding, reception and even the honeymoon. Here are 5 other great ideas to capture your wedding moments: 1. Wish Bowl Here’s an idea, that won’t even cost you a dime. The purpose of a wedding Wish Bowl is to provide an opportunity for guests to wish good fortunes to follow the Bride and Groom wherever they go. The idea is to have your guests write their wishes for love and life on little slips of paper and place them into a crystal or decorative glass bowl or vase. You don’t even have to buy one if you have a nice vase or bowl at home already. For a more formal presentation, the slips of paper can be placed into little matching wedding stationary envelopes. The stationary paper and envelopes should match the Bride’s color theme and/or wedding stationary. After the wedding events are over, the notes can be read and placed into a wedding album or scrapbook while the bowl or vase can be used for the home or decoration. 2. Wish Tree The Wish Tree theme, similar to the Wish Bowl, is for guests at the wedding to write down their wishes for love and life to the Bride and Groom - except instead of the bowl, a tree is used to collect the wishes. There are many types of Wish Trees - your can purchase metal ones, or fashion your own using blooming branches from a garden or florist, or even use a live potted plant such as a fichus tree. Gift boxes can be hung from the tree of your choice and your guests can take a box off the tree in exchange for their wishes. After the wedding events are over, the wishes can be taken off the tree and placed in a keepsake box, scrapbook or album. 3. Signature Platter Wedding Signature Platters or plates make a unique alternative to traditional wedding guest books. The platter can be plain, decorative or even custom designed and ordered online or from a wedding stationary store. Guests simply sign the platter during the wedding event with a special ceramic marker and after the wedding events are over, the platter is fired in your home oven. The special signature platter can be used for serving favorite dishes at future dinner parties as husband and wife or just as a decorative memento of the special gathering. 4. Framed Signature Mat Similar to the Signature Platter, the Signature Mat is another alternative to the traditional wedding guest book. A photo of the Bride and Groom - often a “before” wedding photo (like an engagement photo) - is placed in an acid free matte and mounted either on an easel or table in the entry area of the wedding reception. Guests sign their name and well wishes to the Bride and Groom on the mat surrounding the picture. The Signature Mat is then framed for the newlywed’s new home. The “before wedding” photo can be replaced with a wedding photo of the couple before framing. 5. Typewriter Guest Book The Typewriter Guest Book is Martha Stewart’s latest discovery for a guest book alternative. Look for an old-fashioned, inexpensive typewriter either online, from a flea market or thrift shop – but make SURE it works - and set it out on a table in the entry area of the wedding reception. Load the typewriter with long sheets of paper for guests to type in good wishes to the Bride and Groom along with their name and any sentiment that comes to mind. After the wedding, the page can be tied into a scroll with ribbon or framed along with pictures taken at the wedding. The above 5 unique ways to capture your wedding moments will help you and your loved ones relive your wedding memories over and over again. 
As far back as a girl can remember, she dreams of her wedding day. She imagines - to every last detail - things like: what type of wedding dress she will wear, what color the bridesmaids’ dresses will be and even more importantly, who that perfect man will be who becomes her husband. When that day finally arrives, it is the most important day of the bride’s life - a day she wants to look back on with fond memories for years to come. For more and more brides, one of the most perfect ways to capture their wedding is to create an Instant Photo Guest Book similar to the one created by Adesso Albums. Having such a keepsake, scrapbook or photo album to open up and share with your spouse, family and friends is the best way to capture the wedding day’s memory forever.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Planning a Luau Party? Be Sure To Stock Up On Your Luau Party Supply Items
Luau party supplies will determine just how fun your Luau party will be. For the invitations to your Luau party, send large Hawaiian themed cards, and tell them to dress in the tropical style. For the music, find a CD or tape that plays Luau music. For the outside entrance to your house, consider placing bamboo torches outside your door so your guests will get right in the tropical mood. As soon as your guests get in the door, have a large basket of tropical flowers. If the weather permits, consider placing Luau party supplies on the backyard. Paper lanterns would be a nice touch outside. Also, wind chimes will add to the mood. If you really want to go crazy, place metallic palm trees and wooden totem poles around the yard/patio. Candle votives are a must, but don't forget the citronella candles. Finding cheap Luau Party Supplies Often times, it is possible to find the material for a Luau party at a discount store. For example, some plastic bowls are made in the shape of large shells. Also, most supplies like the paper flowers and Luau music CD can be had for only a few dollars. More fun and cheaper than a pirate party supply or a birthday party supply, Luau party supplies will make your party one to remember. by: Mike Yeager
Read More ....Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Categorizing Birthday Party Supplies
Birthday party theme packages are an extremely convenient tool for throwing a fantastic child’s birthday party. Theme packages bundle all of the supplies and decorations together in one well coordinated group. These include table cloths, plates, hats, cups, streamers, invitations and thank you notes. The variety of theme packages is always expanding as manufacturers roll out new sets to stay current with the latest tastes. A good way to learn about birthday party theme packages is to think of them in terms of category according to target group. There are numerous birthday party theme packages designed for boys. Whether you need something with a rugged style or a birthday party theme package that is more academic, the boy’s category has just what you need. Some examples are: Batman Begins, All Star Baseball, Bow Wow, Disney Cars, Fantastic Four Theme Package, Harry Potter Goblet, Ocean Adventure Theme Package, Pokemon Party Theme Package, Top Secret Spy, Wiggles Theme Package, Tonka Theme Package. There are literally thousands of birthday party theme packages in the boy’s category. There is certainly one to suit just the need you have. Birthday party supplies for girls are just wide of a selection… MANY thousands. Girl’s favorite characters are well represented. There are also thousands of packages which are more elegant and academic in terms of theme. A small subset of the birthday party supplies packages designed for girls include: Fun At One Girls Theme, Barbie Mermaidia, Cabbage Patch Theme Package, Cat's Meow Theme Package, Cinderalla Star Dust Theme Package, Daisies Theme Package, Disney Belle Theme Package, Disney Princesses, Hello Kitty, Princess Celebration, Snow White Theme Package. With the huge variety of designs for girls, you are sure to find the right one. If the children for whom you are throwing the birthday party are of pre-school age, you are certainly in luck. There is a very vast selection made just for youngsters. These include: Baby Einstein, Curious George Theme, Chicken Little, Chicken Little, Wiggles, World Safari, Land Before Time, Police Rescue Pals, Rubbadubbers, Land Before Time. These are designed with best early childhood development principles in mind. No matter what the age group or interest of the child for whom you are throwing a birthday party, there is a bountiful selection of birthday party theme packages in which to find the right one. Each package bundles together all of the supplies and decorations you need in an easy to deploy package. Viewing the packages and then ordering is as easy as clicking your mouse. by: Jeff Bauman
Read More ....Friday, May 30, 2008
Bra and panties shopping
There are colors like white, black, red and even fun and bold patterns to choose from. There are wild animal prints and even soft pastel designs to feel attractive in. No matter what mood a woman is in, they will be able to match it with their bra and panties that they are wearing underneath.
Giving a great, set of bra and panties for wedding shower gift is a great idea. You will get a lot of fun by giving one of these hot and exciting sets to a future bride. She will get a lot of great use out of it and it will get the party off to a great start.
Although there are many lingerie stores to shop at, many people prefer to shop online for these bra and panties. Some women feel more comfortable shopping from their own home for these intimate items. When it comes time for a man to buy there special someone a sexy outfit like this, they will also feel more at ease shopping online. It is quick, easy, and very confidential.
When shopping online for these things, there is often a great selection to choose from and a range of all sizes. There will be something for everyone and it does not have to be embarrassing. The items are usually shipped within a few days. Most of the shops online come with a great return policy as well. If something does not fit or look right, a woman can return them full a refund or exchange. It is easy and a lot of fun at the same time.
Getting fun and sassy bra and panty sets are always a great way to boost a woman's self esteem. It is always a good way to put a little excitement into a relationship. It will be some thing that both partners can benefit from. It will add some flair and fun to the relationship and put the heat back it where it belongs.
by Ove Marcelind
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
An Invitation Has Arrived
Open me next. Please open me. I can't breath. I need oxygen. Help! I'm feeling limp. Oh, finally. Thank goodness. I'm feeling much better now. Let my message in fine calligraphy be read. Take your time. Enjoy my look. As far as party invitations go, I'm first class.
I'm handed off to a teenage girl who thumbtacks me to a bulletin board in the kitchen. She looks me over again and says something to her mom. I notice I'm placed between two other invitations. This is a busy family. I came from a fine stationery store where other birthday invitations and anniversary invitations were my nearest companions. They couldn't wait for a trip through the mail. I wonder if they've ended up in as good a spot as me.
Another teenager enters the room and stands before me. She reads me carefully. To my astonishment she takes me down and replaces me with another invitation. How dare she! I was there first but now I'm thoughtlessly tossed onto the kitchen table with a stack of papers that are sure to diminish me.
Here comes someone to my rescue. Hey, wait. Don't just lump me with the rest of them. Single me out. Where's my owner? She was here a minute ago. Wedding invitations are never treated this way. Even graduation party invitations get more respect. I'm the introduction to a special occasion that shouldn't be missed. I know not all invitations are created equal, but I'm important too.
I'm flung onto an office desk and left to wallow. Goodbye sunny kitchen, hello dark room. Who will notice me here? Certainly there's been a mistake. I need to be seen so I make it into the calendar. Nothing else should interfere with the my special day on my note.
What's this? I'm being picked up and rescued from the darkness. That didn't take long. I knew she'd find me. I'm headed back to the kitchen. This time I'm going on the refrigerator. Can you believe it? That's the best place to be! I'll be looked at all the time.
While I was being printed, I got cozy with some shower invitations. They told me that baby shower invitations are the cutest and bridal shower invitations are the most delicate. There was some sheer paper called vellum being used to add formality to many of them. Some party invitations need it, others don't. But the ones that do surely end up on someone's refrigerator. Well here I am, proof that even the little guy can make it to the top.
I imagine I'll be here for a couple of weeks. Birthday party invitations are sent two to four weeks early so I might as well get comfortable. I don't anticipate moving from this spot until the big day. I'm confident my position is safe.
The kitchen's been quiet the past two weeks. Two graduation invitations arrived on the same day, but luckily I've stayed put. Today's Saturday, my RSVP date has passed and it's just a week until the birthday party. A large stack of mail is being carried into my view. Mom is sorting through it, making different piles. When done she begins opening letters from one of the stacks. One particular card brings a huge smile to her face.
"Carla," she yells, "it's here. Come see the wedding shower invitation for Heather." Carla walks in and takes a look at what her mom is holding. I'm able to get a good look as well. "It's a gorgeous invitation," Carla says. I must agree. It is something to admire. It is rectangular in shape. A thick ivory cardstock with black old-fashioned cupids spread around the paper is beneath a piece of clear vellum that has the printed invitation on it. A black satin ribbon surrounds the top of the invitation with a bow at top center. Carla holds it up to her nose. "Oh my gosh, smell it, mom." Mom takes a whiff. "It smells like vanilla. I didn't know they could do that."
Carla turns and faces me. She reads over my calligraphy then reaches up to retrieve me. My biggest fear is coming true. Wait. Please. It's too early to take me down. I've got a week to go. Don't shorten my stay for an invitation with vellum. Death by vellum. I don't deserve it. Too late. I'm placed on the countertop and the new invitation takes my place. It takes two magnets to hold it up. Make me feel worse, why don't you. Then they leave. I'm not mentioned. I'm not relocated. I'm simply set aside.
Minutes go by. Then hours. I'm still in the same place. Dad comes in the kitchen, takes a glance at me, looks more closely at the other papers, then leaves. We are all untouched. Come morning, I've had some time to think. I've got to be the most attractive item lying around here so perhaps my fate is not quite sealed. Party invitations are often saved as mementos aren't they? Maybe I'm just in for new surroundings. I could get used to that. I promise I won't fade or fray. I decide change is good. Invite me to stay, please.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
All Brides Are Beautiful
Many brides I have met have been very concerned about the way they will look going down the aisle and standing in front of everyone as the center of attention for those twenty to twenty five minutes of the ceremony. Some obsess about their looks. Many go on diets. In fact there are diet programs posted on wedding sites on the internet and in chapters in wedding books for women who want to lose mega pounds before their wedding. It’s like they believe they will be judged by everyone in attendance and pronounced “ugly.” Or if they don’t look like the model on the cover of a bride’s magazine, their groom and his entire family will get up and leave the wedding.
Whoa! Let’s take an honest look at this and try to put it into perspective.
Your groom fell in love with you just the way you are. In his eyes you are already beautiful and he most likely doesn’t want you to change. In fact he’s probably wondering what all the big fuss is about. So what, if someone in the group of family or guests has a thought about an imperfection or two? Who really cares? It’s their problem if they’re judging you, not your problem. There is a wonderful saying that should be taken to heart, “What other people think of me is none of my business.” Sitting in judgment of you or anyone else is their business and not yours. Your mother may have been telling you to fix your hair a different way, to stand up straight, to lose a few pounds -- that’s what mothers do. But she will be the one who thinks you are the most beautiful and will tell everyone she meets, and show pictures to prove it, how beautiful you were for your wedding.
Your wedding is a joyful celebration of the love between you and your groom. It is not a beauty contest.
The truth is that each bride has this wonderful glow that love gives her -- a radiance and a dazzling beauty that make-up, hair dos, and dieting cannot provide. Absolutely, do what you want to do to be beautiful on your special day – go to the spa and the hairdresser. Get a manicure and a pedicure. Do all those things that women do to look their best. But know, with great confidence, that you will be beautiful and your man will never forget how you looked as you walked toward him to become his wife.
By Irene Conlan
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Birthday party
A birthday party is a celebration that occurs to celebrate the birth of the person being honoured. The birthday party is the most celebrated type of party in the world. As of July 2006 there were approximately 6.525 billion people on Earth. If birthdays were perfectly random in their distribution across the year, and if every person were to celebrate theirs at their exact birth time then there would be a birthday celebration every 0.005 seconds. While a child's party is usually at home and consists of soft drinks and sweet food as well as savory, adults' often take place in clubs with a buffet of savory food and alcohol.In Western culture, birthday parties are often accompanied by colorful decorations. A traditional birthday cake is often served with candles that are to be blown out after a "birthday wish" has been made. This wish is usually kept secret, and represents some desire for the time between the current birthday and the next. While the birthday cake is brought to the table, the song Happy Birthday to You is generally sung. A birthday party may even be an event planned carefully through a special agency or through a party service.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Planning Weddings is a Team Effort
Behind every amazing wedding, there's probably an amazing wedding planner. I found this the case when my wife-to-be and I were putting together our journey to the altar. Now I have to admit that prior to getting hitched, I had never really been the type of person who hired event coordinators or planners even for corporate events. I just didn't believe I needed a specialist to make my life work. Oh yeah, sure, there was a housecleaner every now and then, but I was the type that cut my own grass, changed my own oil, and worked out without the benefit of a personal trainer yelling in my face. However, when I got a sense of the unchartered wedding waters we were getting into, it didn't take much nudging from my fiancé to hire a wedding coordinator--and this, by far, turned out to be the smartest decision of my life... well, besides marrying my wife.
The wedding planner, Helena, walked in our door and immediately impressed us with her knowledge of how to coordinate a wedding celebration that would be special and unique to our wants and needs. She explained that a true event planner is like a management consultant. It is her job to deliver a complete wedding concept based on an analysis of the bride and groom--who they are, their ideals, their self-images--so that the nuptial experience reflects the soon-to-be married couple and is a once in a lifetime special occasion.
After our preliminary discussions, Helena set up dates and times to meet the potential wedding vendors--the photographer, the cake maker, the deejay, and the caterer. I look back at the experience and realize how much time and effort was saved on our part by not having to search and book the vendors. This is a BIG advantage during a time when things like seating charts, who gets invited, and wedding vows dominate your every minute of the day.
The first photographer our wedding planner brought by was late and had forgotten some of his sample portfolios. Easy decision: We pass. The second photographer was on time, had everything in order, and had a collection of black and white altar photos that just oozed wedding day emotion. And just that quick we had found our photographer. The deejay picking was not as easy. The best way to get a feel for these vendors is to actually experience their work. After a couple of weeks of dropping in on other people's special events and weddings, we were a bit ragged. But we persevered and on the third weekend we found a deejay who had a personality beyond the glitz. He was fun to talk to and we immediately felt at ease with his music and his style. (Thanks for hanging in there with us, Helena.)
The next notch on the wedding coordinator's vendors-to-pick list was the cake maker. In an afternoon we dropped by Helena's top three picks--a fun, five hours of cakes, icing, and the smell of yummy baked goods. Although every cake creation we looked at was amazing unto itself, the man behind the batter who impressed us was Jean-Paul, an innately endearing full-time chef who walked us through his loft/bakery as if we had just put a down payment on the place. Jean-Paul cleared off a table beside a stack of sugar flower cake toppers that went from floor to ceiling and we began our "perfect wedding cake" search.
I was blown away by the creativity that went into wedding cakes these days. Forget the white, round, tiered edifices that you've seen on every TV sitcom. Jean-Paul made unique wedding cakes that looked like busts of the bride and groom, cakes that resembled English castles, and even a cake that looked like a set of designer luggage. This was our man. Beyond the creativity, we felt we had met a kindred spirit. He was a person who cared more about the personal connection than the business deal.
In the end, we realized that not only was a wedding planner worth her weight in gold, but her patient guidance helped us find wedding vendors who represented what we wanted in ourselves. We wanted to be clever and sharp and resilient like Helena. We wanted to be organized with a hip edge like our photographer. We wanted to be different and push-the-envelope of weddings a bit like our cake maker, Jean Paul.
All in all, our wedding was a wonderful and amazing day. We exchanged vows and committed, with love, to living and sharing our lives with each other. We danced and partied with our friends. We laughed and hugged with our family. And, most of all, there was not one moment that we wished we had done differently. Thanks, Helena. And a tip of the hat to all those wedding planners and event coordinators out there who will help the brides and grooms of tomorrow.
Wedding Budget Tips
Bride and groom and other family members may fret and hem and haw over funds spent on a wedding. But there may be a few shortcuts to a more efficient budget.
Tradition has previously suggested that all wedding expense be paid by the bride's family, but most couples today either pay for wedding expenses themselves or share the expense with various family members.
"It was just too much for my father to carry alone," says Nina Grier, who married a year ago in Southern California. "And since I'm an accomplished person myself, I felt guilty letting him spend his savings on my wedding."
Instead, the bride and groom shared wedding and reception expenses but Nina's dad picked up the tab for a small rehearsal dinner at a local restaurant.
Wedding costs may vary from $50,000 for a blow-out all-traditional 300-head-plus event to a few hundred dollars for a small, family-only backyard gathering.
There is really no limit to the amount of money spent on a wedding depending on the location, entertainment and number of events and number of guests invited.
A four-day event that lasts from Thursday through Sunday morning may include a get-to-know-you Thursday evening dinner for guests from out-of-town; a day of golf for guests; rehearsal dinner for the bridal party; spa day for the bride and her bridesmaids; the wedding itself plus the reception and entertainment and Sunday morning brunch for gift-opening and departing guests.
The total can easily add up to several tens of thousands of dollars.
But there are lots of simple ways to tighten that budget with a few tricks of your own, and a little help from talented friends.
*Invitations may be hand-made with some nifty paper from a local gift store printed by your printer and hand-delivered to friends and family members the guest list is small.
*Flowers may be picked from a local garden and tied together with some luxurious velvet or satin ribbon for a fresh stem bouquet.
*The wedding itself may be held in a friend's backyard or an open field lush with flowering plants or sunflowers.
*A beach wedding may need standing-room only (hence no rental chairs or overhead on tents.)
*Additional lights or a photographer's additional equipment can be left at home when the event is backlit by a cascading sunset.
*Instead of traditional wedding attire, the bride and groom may opt for more casual clothing such as shorts or a simple suit and delicate dress.
*Rehearsal dinner may be a potluck where each member of the wedding party provides a favorite dish.
*Invitations may reach across the ethers via the internet with a simple rsvp for an outdoor wedding at a local inn or at a state park which requires minimal fees.
*A wedding gown (an easy $2500 for designer gown) may be borrowed from a friend's closet or passed from a close relative. A few stitches from a local seamstress or tailor will freshen the gown to your own specifications.
*Grooms may ditch a rental tuxedo and opt for a white shirt-only and casual pants if the wedding takes place outdoors or at the beach.
*Additional decorations for either a formal reception or a more casual at-home wedding may be made by a talented guest with silk flowers or plucked from a friends' garden.
*A trove of candles in various shapes and sizes but in one color (such as cream or peach) can decorate an entire backyard with a romantic and inexpensive theme.
*Talented friends with musical instruments may gather as a impromptu band for a close-knit reception.
*If your heart is still set on tradition, opt for a day in the middle of the week when restaurants and locales for special events may be more likely to come down on prices.
*Choose to have a one-day event with both wedding and dinner wrapped into one, skipping the traditional rehearsal dinner and cocktail hour.
*Schedule the actual wedding close to the evening so you can easily slide past a traditional cocktail hour and move guests directly into dinner.
*Find a friend with calligraphy talent and ask him or her to create a dinner scroll, which lists each guests' table number and name instead of printing pricey plate names.
*Buy champagne and wine in bulk and have it shipped directly to the location of your wedding whether it is at a restaurant or a friend's home. Bulk prices are about 13 percent lower than individual buys.
*Encourage an aspiring filmmaker to tape the wedding (with strict instructions) for a personal memory.
*Inquire at a local college or journalism school that offers photography courses for an outstanding student who may be hired at a fifth of the cost of traditional fee for a professional photographer. Provide the student with a nominal fee and all film costs.
*If you choose to have wedding programs, invent your own format and print at your own expense. Colorful papers and cardstock can be purchased in bulk at a paper or craft store.
*Create one small festive-looking wedding cake for cake-cutting purposes, but invest in several sheet cakes for serving your guests. An elaborate cake to serve all your guests can be expensive, while sheet cakes can cut the cost of cake-serving in half.
*Instead of hiring limousines for the wedding party, ask favors of your friends with roomy SUV's who can accommodate a group.
And above all, be ready to adjust your budget from beginning to final dance. Your wants and desires may change, and cost-cutting measures may add up to fewer expenses.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Choose Bridal Lingerie that complements Your Wedding Dress
Good taste and common sense is needed when it comes to choosing your Bridal lingerie to complement your wedding dress. As an example, if you are going to wear an informal wedding dress, do not choose a very stuffed corset, and opt for a simpler bustier one instead.
Although, there is a wide array of Bridal lingerie, including body-hugging Basques and strapless corsets with stretch spandex panels, your lingerie should be chosen along with your informal bridal gown, and to your wedding dress.
Due to the fact that everyone has an opinion, the selection of your Bridal lingerie is a decision as personal
as your dreams waiting for the big day to arrive. However, a bridal bustier or satin corset with sheer stay-up stockings, satin spandex gloves or crochet short gloves are nice lingerie settings, independent of your wedding dress.
An informal bridal gown, and particularly those tight fitting types, will usually fit best with casual lingerie, including those nipple covers that adhere to your breasts providing minimal cover for your breast for maximum exposure when you want to show your most appealing and sexiest look.
There are also micro spandex tights, invisible bras, self-adhesive disposable bras and push up bras with adhesive enhancers that mold to the breasts, pushing up, and providing strapless resembling nudity, another good lingerie option for an informal wedding dress.
Brides who prefer a wedding dress, sticking to traditional styles may prefer lingerie such as baby dolls, but making sure they are made of silk or chiffon for a sensuous hugging note, in addition to a satin lace garter with bows. Some bridal shops offer complementary lingerie, including whole sets of bustiers, stockings, garter and gloves.
Not only should the wedding dress influence the choice of lingerie, there is something else to keep in mind: your honeymoon destinations. If you are wearing an informal wedding dress during your wedding ceremony and reception in Florida, but you and your groom will take to the North Pole for your honeymoon, you simply will feel uncomfortable and out of context wearing just nipple covers.
Besides, an informal wedding dress may be designed as luxurious as a classic attire, so your lingerie in this case should be chosen accordingly.
By Natalie Arandat
Monday, March 17, 2008
3 Easy Steps to Wedding Guides: The Do It Yourself Wedding Program Guide
This article will help with some the steps for the person that is going to make a "do it yourself wedding program". By following the steps in this article and using it as a guide in creating your own wedding program you will be well on your way to having this task completed and a beautiful wedding program...
Typically there are three main parts to the wedding program and it is helpful to plan these out first. You can even compile the information for each section a little at a time to make it easier. Do not get overwhelmed with everything there is to do instead just start working on what you already know.
Wedding Program Part 1 Introduction The first section of a traditional wedding program is the introduction. This gives you a chance to give some over view type of information to the guest. Some of the things you will want to include are:
• Names of the couple
• Wedding date
• Time and place of the service.
Wedding Programs Part 2 Event or Ceremony Order In this part you can include lots of useful information about the ceremony itself. IF you have special poems, music or other significant parts of the ceremony that you want your guests to know about then this is the place to include them.
• Greetings
• Poetry
• Reading
• Exchange of vows
• Explanations of special religious rituals (such as the ring ceremony, unity candle ceremony, and pronouncement of marriage)
• Titles of the ceremony music to be played (including the names of the musicians, soloists, or readers)
Wedding Programs Part 3 Acknowledgement or Wedding Party This is a great place to put in your closing remarks. You will want to be sure to include a thank you note to several people that were in the ceremony/
• Names of the members of the bridal party
• Name of the priest or officiate who will perform the ceremony
• Memorials, tributes or homage's to someone who has passed away
• Thank-you notes and dedications to the parents and to people who gave support to the couple (and to the wedding)
• The couple's special message to their wedding guests
• Directions to the reception
Typically once the wedding program is done it can then be sent of to the printer or you can choose to do it on your own. With most desktop computers today with great printers a person can easily print very large numbers of documents easily. No matter what you choose the wedding program will come out perfect.
by Sam Smith
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Smart Wedding Planning - A Quick Guide to Saving Money on Your Wedding Day
It's a fact. The wedding industry is huge, and anything with the word "wedding" attached to it is likely to mean "expensive".
So is it feasible to hire a photographer who doesn't necessarily focus on weddings, or a band that wouldn't be found in your local bridal magazine? Absolutely!
To get started on this road less traveled, begin by asking recently-wed family, friends or colleagues for any good wedding leads. Perhaps they'll know of a fabulous bakery that was less expensive than all the larger ones in the area. Or an art student who just graduated from college and is looking for work as a calligrapher.
Maybe there's a friend of a friend who's an aspiring photographer and would be able to capture fantastic wedding photos for you on your big day.
Next, move your research online and check out the local wedding chat boards in your area at TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com. Look for posts like "Rave Reviews" and "Highly Recommended" - and be sure to also take note of any vendors that received negative reviews from other brides and grooms. Another excellent free resource is Craigslist.com. Musicians, photographers and other artists post their services regularly here in areas across the country. If you see a post that catches your eye, just send a quick email to the poster to get more information, or submit your own ad describing exactly what you're looking for.
Finally, head to Amazon.com or your local book store and buy at least one good wedding planning book. This will be your trusty reference book and will help you know just which questions to ask, so that you can make an informed decision about a particular wedding vendor. For example, knowing the various costs that are typically associated with catering will allow you to ask for only the items you NEED, and avoid paying for anything you don't. In fact, knowing a bit about each type of wedding service vendor - caterers, musicians, DJs, etc. - will actually help save you money no matter which vendors you talk to, "professional" or not.
With a little outside the box thinking and basic knowledge about the "biz", you're on your way to pulling together a fantastic wedding day that may just cost you less than you think!
By Allison Campbell
