Bride Diet - Fact Or Fiction?

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When I was a bride, I tried every bride diet I could find in the months preceding my wedding day. I didn't really know how to lose weight for wedding day bliss. I wanted to be a skinny bride, but every bride diet I tried was silly and left me feeling hungry and tired, and if I cheated even a little bit I would put every pound right back on! It was incredibly frustrating. And more than a little embarrassing.

I really struggled to be a skinny bride, and I didn't really reach my goal. I just didn't realize that every bridal diet I was trying was a gimmick. I even tried pills and patches and fasting; it was awful. I was tired all the time, I barely lost a few pounds of water weight, and I was hungry! That is no way to stick to a successful bride diet! I ended up cheating all the time, just to feel good!

After I had my daughter, I learned that there is no real all-powerful bride diet. The weight loss from my bridal diet had all come back plus I had baby weight to deal on top of that! It seemed hopeless and I almost resigned myself to always being heavy. But there is hope! I found a way to truly lose weight and stay thin; I wish I had known this secret back when I wanted to become a skinny bride!

Really it wasn't even a secret, so much as a fact-forward, straight shooting, no-nonsense approach to healthy living. Every bride diet I tried may have failed, but with what I know now I will never be overweight again! I eat delicious food and enjoy minimum exercise and someday, if I remarry, I will not need a bride diet!

The whole concept is so simple, so easy, and completely scientific. The process is spelled out for you, and there is no need for a temporary fix with a bride diet when you have a new way of living your life that will naturally make you a skinny bride.

It may not be easy. Nothing new ever is. But it is simple and effective. Basically you must learn a new way of thinking about food. You must understand food fully; what it is, where it comes from, and what it does once you put it in your body. You must also train yourself to make simply healthy-lifestyle choices about exercise. And then you need to be sure the time you are spending exercising is maximized to work.

There are good and bad ways to exercise while you are on your bride diet. Don't waste time and sweat in a program that won't give you the results you are looking for!

What are you waiting for? Learn more about a bride diet that works by clicking here.

Appreciate the Guys With Groomsmen's Gifts!

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You are getting married, this is it! The big wedding celebration is next after the engagement party. Planning your wedding is very important, for weddings should only happen at least once in your life.

The groomsmen are essential part of your wedding and they sure did a lot of help in planning for your wedding. Think of the people who were at your side when you are still single, these groomsmen will surely be there and help you all the way after the wedding.

You only get the guys who have been with you through thick and thin and such is the reason why you need to give your groomsmen gifts not only because they were a part of your wedding. This wedding is not only for you and your bride but for your friends, so why don't you enjoy it with them?

Before you buy the groomsmen gifts, you ought to answer a few questions yourselves to find the best gifts for them. Is there a limited budget for the presents? Do you know the groomsmen by heart? What types of presents are you going to give? Will there be stores or shops where you can get the gifts you have in mind? Before shopping, answer the said questions to have better gift ideas.

The gift should speak of your friend's character. The right gifts will come in mind if you know your groomsmen too well. Their personal interests are your keys to looking for the perfect gifts for them.

There are many moments when you can give the gifts to your groomsmen, like during the wedding party, the rehearsal or during the bachelor's party. A good gift maybe something they can open after the party or anything that can be used anytime. Things you can give your groomsmen which may come in handy during the party are cigar lighters, tie clips, money clips, or cufflinks. You may op to give them gifts that they can carry on even after your wedding like grooming kits, pouches, duffel bags or coolers for their beers.

These gifts are either engraved or embroidered with their names or initials. These kind of service are also available online. You can get other personalized items online for the rest of your entourage as well.

Harrison Fray is a a guru at a variety of big event and romance relationship matters. He may help you to find the top in groomsmen gift ideas with exceptional style. Harrison can definitely help you with choosing appropriate bridesmaid gifts also. Stop by Engraved Gift Creations to determine what Harrison recommends.

Great Ring Shots

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The center of any wedding is the bride and groom, but one of the most important elements of your album are the shots of the ever-important symbols of your commitment: the wedding rings. Often, your wedding photographer will get artistic with the rings, getting gorgeous shots with the props that are around, while other times you may want to bring specific items that make great ring photo accessories. Here's a list of ideas for some great ring shots.

In a flower: Show of two of your wedding elements at once. Nestle your rings in a flower, dangle them from a branch in the arrangement, or place them on a sturdy leaf. Flowers are great because they bring in the colors of your wedding and provide a natural pillow on which the rings can sit. They're also gorgeous, and the right photographer can capture floral details that rival the beauty of your rings.

Showing off the view: Does your venue have the best view of the city? Use the skyline as a natural backdrop to your sparkling new hardware.

On fabric: Whether it's the luxurious satin handkerchief that you're using as your "something blue" or the organic fabric being used as place mats in your eco-friendly outdoor wedding, the right fabric can say a lot about your wedding, and provide texture for the backdrop of your ring shot.

Atop desserts: With so many brides doing cupcakes instead of cakes these days, the sugary treats provide the perfect resting place for your ring. You may have to rinse the frosting off afterward, but it doesn't get much cuter than two cupcakes with rings embedded.

In the pages of a book: If you're using a prayer book or Bible at your ceremony, the open spine can be the perfect place to rest the ring upright. It's an artistic way to bring the readings of your ceremony, quite literally, into some of the more visual aspects of your wedding that will be caught on camera.

On the heel of a shoe: Many brides spend a lot of time picking out colorful, fun shoes to go under their wedding dress-but they hardly get seen at all! Showcase them by sliding the rings onto one of the heels for a glamour shot of the two most important accessories of the day.

Glen Cooper and his wife are a wedding photography team. He is the award winning wedding photojournalists and she makes sure each client's vision is materialized in the photos, album and overall art. To view their work, visit http://www.dmpj.com

Bride Weight Loss - Short Term Weight Loss Methods Can Give Cause For Concern

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Staggering to think that practically every future bride thinks she needs to lose weight for her wedding day, staggering perhaps, but understandable. In a lot of cases this is of course simply not true and is based on misguidance from peer pressure or fussing where there is not really an issue.

In either case bride weight loss can be an issue for concern, especially if she has a burning desire to lose weight over a short period of time...

Losing Weight, Should it be a Journey or a Quick Dash?

Generally speaking trying to shed a few pounds for any of life's events such as Getting Married, After Giving Birth, and of course the Menopause requires a healthy diet plan and not just some food deprivation burst, which can lead to underlining health issues or worse.

Bride weight loss can take on new meaning when viewed from different angles. For instance what if the bride has a lot of weight that she wishes to lose in a fairly short time, the answer should be that the desired weight cannot be achieved and should not be attempted, instead a more realistic target should be set in its place. This is just one of many angles.

Let Us Look Further Down This Road

Once the desired target weight is set she can continue with the diet up to and beyond the wedding and achieve the initial goal further down the road. Not only that, but by doing it in this fashion she will not be unnecessarily putting her health at risk and subject her body to possible duress.

On top of that, once she has achieved the desired bride weight loss amount by doing it in this way she will find it much easier to keep the weight off rather than if she had simply dumped a lot of weight off in a couple of weeks, besides this is not classed as dieting it is classed as radical crash diet, which usually means simply losing a lot of the bodies fluids in order to appear lighter... not a good idea.

Genuine dieting can only be achieved through a genuine weight loss plan and in the case of a bride weight loss program this should be no different.

For a bride as well as anybody else that is focused on losing a few extra pounds or even some serious weight it is advisable to only use tried and tested methods that will always have your best interests at heart.

Weight loss in Any event takes as much forethought and planning as it actually does in doing. Anything worthwhile is worth planning.

http://www.MyWeightStripper.com

There are a lot of Internet sites out there on weight loss solutions, but few of them are as comprehensive as this package.

Clive Anderson

Gift Ideas to Honor the Parents of the Bride and Groom

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Preparing wedding gifts is a traditional way for blissful couples to thank and appreciate people who have done a great job in supporting them and helping during their big day. One of the most special and meaningful gifts they'll be looking for are gifts for their parents. The truth is, their parents contribute both financial and emotional support to the wedded couple, plus the fact that their presence is extremely important during the wedding ceremony itself. Therefore they truly deserve a special gift. As with the blissful couple, they want to give meaningful gifts to show not only their love but also their deep gratitude for everything that their parents have done for them throughout their lives.

One popular option to give are personalized gifts. These are gifts formed from simple items that have been made personalized by means of scripting initials or personal messages. Literally, there are tons of personalized gift ideas to choose from, and whether they are expensive or not, and no matter what the occasion may be, an item that has been made personalized turns an ordinary gift into a very special present. Personalized items provide a special memento of love and history for the family.

Such personalized items you may consider are picture frames, photo albums, jewelry and the like. Engraved frames and photo albums with a heartfelt message and unforgettable photos will likely be treasured for years to come. Jewelry like lockets with engraved wedding dates are great options too. Also, plaque, trophy and other miniature desk accessories are wonderful inspirational mementos to honor the parents' presence and support. Other selection includes jewelry boxes, cufflinks, flask, pocket watches, wine gifts, mugs and crystal glasses and other personalized gift boxes that are truly memorable and unique.

Also, classic gift ideas are perfect and suited for mom's and dad's personality. You may find items made from precious materials that can give an elegant and very classy look. Happy couples may consider to give a memorable and timeless gift of crystal, like a crystal clock perhaps, or vase and other antique items.

These are great gift options to give for mom and dad that they will not only enjoy, but also something that could give them a sense of relaxation and pampering after a series of stressful wedding preparation. Many couples would like to treat their parents to a day in the spa and massage parlor, bed and breakfast weekend getaway or other recreational activities where they could enjoy, have some fun and unwind.

And lastly, happy couples may wish to prepare special presents by creating their handmade wedding gifts for their mom and dad. Creative and imaginative artwork will do, it could be a scrapbook with pictures reminiscing history of the family, or perhaps a multi media presentation with memorable family events compilation. Also, consider buying unique and creative items like personalized cooler chairs or engraved cufflinks for the couple's dads, pink flask and engraved compact mirror for the couple's moms. Other unique gift ideas for parents are found at nearest specialty stores. Always remember, the key to have special and memorable gifts for parents are deep within you, you already know how to make mom and dad happy, all you have to do is to add a little spice for extra accent. After all, the smile of your happy parents are part of making your momentous day a success!

Janet is an author for a variety of lifestyle issues and topics including weddings. If you're looking for gifts for parents, visit the website Americanbridal.com and browse their collection. Find unique father of the bride cufflinks to make your dad feel special!

Thank You Cards For Bridal Showers, Wedding & Bride Party Celebrations

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There is a lot of stationery involved when planning a wedding. This is due to the numerous events that surround the wedding itself and each event has it's own set of stationery. One of the most important pieces is the thank you cards, and there are lots of them. These are for bridal shower, wedding showers, marriage announcements, bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, elopement announcements, engagement announcement and engagement party and last but not least, wedding thank you cards.

Depending on the event, the bridal shower and wedding cards will each state something different. There are some notes that are only used to thank the guest for coming to the event, as gifts are not generally given at the event. Other events will bring many gifts and in these cases, the guest needs to be thanked both for their attendance and for the gift that was received.

The tone of the cards sent will depend on the theme of the event. Generally weddings will be the most formal, as they are often the most formal. Bridal cards can be a bit more casual but these too, usually lean towards a more formal tone with formal verses, sayings or wordings. Some are a bit more casual but will always keep with the tone of the event.

The sayings, verses and wordings should reflect the mood of the event. For a bridal party that's held during the day at someone's house could have quite casual wordings. Something such as "Thanks for attending my shower and helping me celebrate the big day!" would be appropriate. For a lingerie party, the thank you notes should say something fun. "I can't wait to knock Robert's socks off with your lovely present that I am so grateful for!" could be something written.

The wedding thank you cards should also reflect the tone of the event. For formal ones, you may want to include "You're generous gift will be of great help to us as we start our lives together." But for more informal, you may want to make it very personal such as, "We loved the dinnerware that you gave us! We can't wait to use it!"

Whatever event you're sending thank you cards for, it should always keep with the tone of the event's invitation or theme of the party.

About the Authors: Sarah Porter and Patti Paz are authors of several articles including Bridal Shower Thank You Cards, Thank You Shower Cards, Thank You Bridal Shower Cards and more.

Tips For A Memorable Father of the Bride Speech

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The father of the bride is one of the most important people at a wedding. His role according to protocol involves critical duties such as making sure that his daughter arrives at the place of the wedding ceremony on time, walking her down the aisle, giving his daughter away to the groom and the all important father of the bride speech at the reception afterward.

If you are the father of the bride, your mind will be swimming with emotions about the giant step that your daughter is about to take, how your family will change, your new son-in-law, the reception, paying for the reception, and the speech...my gosh, you have to make a speech in just a few hours !

Many dads react with head scratching bewilderment when the topic of speech making on such an important day comes up. Even fathers who have experience making speeches may wonder just what they are supposed to say.

The first thing to keep in mind is that the father of the bride speech should include a toast to the bride and groom. The father of the bride speech is traditionally the first speech that is given at the wedding reception.

What Makes a Good Father of the Bride Speech?

o First, dad will want to acknowledge his daughter. Mention a few things about her childhood, how she fell off a bike and laughed, the first time she helped mom make a cake, her best day at school, her contribution to the family.

o Say a few lines about the groom, what a fine man he is even if he can't fix a car, spell, or cook. Tell the guests and his family how proud you are to have him as a son in law.

o Give a toast to both the bride and the groom, wishing them a life of love, health and happiness..

o A bit of sentiment and humor will provide just the right mood for the celebrants who will long remember your words.

o Brevity is King... Most dad's are happy to hear that short is sweet when it comes to the father of the bride speech. After all, this is a party, not a work seminar...so brief, poignant comments sprinkled with humor and sentiment will add just the right touch to your daughter's wedding day !.

Imagine erasing wedding speech jitters by having a professionally written and inspirational father of the bride speech that will guarantee the wedding day is full of joy, love and laughter. You can by visiting: [http://www.weddingspeeches.all-weddingplanning.com]

Samoan Wedding Dresses, Gowns, Online Bridal Store

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Samoan brides, in the Polynesian regions, who are about to get married take their time when selecting a wedding dress in order to select one that fits them well and complements their figures. A bride needs to select a wedding dress three to five months in advance to avoid getting disappointed. A person should consider a number of factors when purchasing Samoan wedding dresses such as the prices, a person's body type and type of wedding.

How Samoans prepare fabrics for wedding gowns:

Brides from Samoa make their traditional wedding gowns using tapa cloth, which they obtain from the barks of mulberries. Some Samoan brides may make their wedding gowns out of 'siapo', which is a cloth they make out of hardwood barks; this fabric is important especially during wedding ceremonies where the culture demands that the bride should put on a wedding dress made of this fabric.

When presenting gifts to a married couple, village maidens and high chiefs also wear the 'siapo' cloth. Samoans also dress on cloths made out of siapos and tapas during other festivals such as teuila. Siapo makers cut and soak the bark of hardwood trees in water until they become pulpy; afterwards they lay it on the ground and scrape out the water by use of different shells.

Afterwards they leave the material to dry in the sun for a couple of hours before applying red clay on it and rubbing it by use of wet pads. This makes the fabric soft enough for them to stitch thus enabling them to design a wedding dress out of it. There are also modern wedding gowns made out of silk fabrics but have Samoan designs and patterns.

How to obtain a Samoan wedding dress online:

A person can rent or purchase a modern Samoan wedding gown via the internet by Blogging onto websites that sell them to get recommendations on where to obtain fair-prices Samoan wedding dresses.

After getting lists of websites, a person should visit each one of them in order to identify the online stores that have the best offers. Online stores in teuila that sell or rent out Samoan wedding gowns normally have visual images of the dresses that are available. It is necessary that a person should have a valid credit card in order to allow the transactions to take place effectively.

Many online stores offer extra services such as transporting the wedding dresses to their customers while some offer discounts to customers who purchase a certain number of items from their stores.

Selecting a Samoan wedding gown color and pattern:

Samoan wedding dresses normally have patterns on them, which make the dresses more beautiful. A person has the option of selecting black, brown, cream or white background colors for their wedding dresses. Traditional Samoan wedding gowns are colorful because they use barks to make them; a person can select a white wedding dress that has light brown patterns on them thus making the attire unique and attractive. Professional siapo makers in Polynesia decorate the wedding gowns a day or two before the wedding ceremony.

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Wedding Dresses
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Wedding Gift Ideas For the Bride and Groom

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Shopping for the bride and groom for the perfect wedding gift is easier than ever with so many unique gift choice available .. it can be exciting and fun with a personalized gift.

There are thousands of gift ideas that you can purchase online or at retail stores. Personalized gifts have been a common trend in wedding presents and will be cherished forever.

Customized wedding gifts bring out your creativity because you can create a "One of a kind" gift that will be unique and truly your very own idea!. You can even add an engraved brass plaque to many gifts with a personalized message ... this really looks great.

Items range from photo frames, mugs, small appliances, clocks, silverware, crystal glasses, dinnerware, linens and the ever popular electric toaster too! So whats new ... how about something unique, customizable and musical too!

Lets see ... the bride and groom .... Father and Mother of the Bride .... Father and Mother of the groom ... bridesmaids ... flower girl ... best man ... the list goes on! What to buy for the the wedding group thats affordable, unique and a quality gift. Well .. here 's a few ideas that will be treasured always in memory of that special day.

Musical Water globes with revolving bride and groom can be customized with your choice of music to create a perfect "One of a Kind" wedding gift. You wind up the movement with a key and as the music plays the couple revolve around in a glitter globe. Lots of newly weds like this kind of gift because they can display it anywhere and it holds fond memories for them. Everyone loves a music box .. young or older!

Every couple would like to have a gift that reflects their wedding day. Something special that captures the memory of a very special day. A gift with a Bride and groom attached or that special wedding song will create a memory that will last a lifetime.

Music boxes have been magical to young and old for the past 200 years and with such a great selection of items that can play a special tune ..... a music box ... is no longer ... just a box. It can be crystal, hand blown glass, snow globes, porcelain etc to the very elite exquisite hand crafted inlaid music boxes .... that we would all like to own made in Italy.

Bride and groom wedding carriage is made from six real goose eggs, hand carved to create a spectacular musical wedding carriage with opening doors on either side displaying the revolving wedding couple dancing as the music plays. Musical wedding eggs of all sizes are available and make that perfect ... unique gift.

Wedding gift shopping can be fun and exciting finding that special gift .... Musical gifts create a memory that last a lifetime. Remember .... we all have a musical memory!

by Paul Master

Allow me to show you our huge selection of music boxes I will guide you and help you find the perfect wedding or anniversary gift for Wedding Goose Eggs or offer other suggestions and solutions for creating a unique Wedding Gift Idea

Tips For the Brother of the Bride

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If you are the brother of the bride, you may not think that you have much of a role to play in the upcoming wedding, but that is not true. There are plenty of ways in which you can participate and share in the excitement. Here are some tips on how to be a great brother of the bride.

A lot of guys are not really that "into" weddings, and unless it is your wedding, that is just fine. You may think that your sister and mom are going absolutely crazy over this whole wedding thing (especially if you are the younger, unmarried brother of the bride), and it may even be true. However, you will do yourself no favors by sharing that opinion with your sister, for whom the wedding is probably one of the biggest days of her entire life. A better tactic when your sister starts going on about the wedding is just to smile and nod while she talks; she may not even notice that your eyes have glazed over!

Most brothers of the bride will be asked to participate in the ceremony in some way. You will probably be asked to serve as a groomsman, and your duties will be much the same as those of the rest of the groomsmen. You get to help with the bachelor party, be fitted for a tuxedo, receive one of the groomsmen gifts, attend the rehearsal and dinner afterwards, and stand up with the groom during the marriage service. Single brothers will be pleased to hear that they are also responsible for escorting a pretty young bridesmaid up the aisle during the recessional.

As a member of the family, it would be nice for the bride's brother to go above and beyond what the other groomsmen may offer to do. It is a nice gesture towards the groom, and a way to help welcome him into your family. For instance, you might assist the groom in finding the perfect groomsmen gifts, as well as a wedding day gift for his sister (usually jewelry). You can also help with planning the bachelor party or guys' weekend away. And finally, the bride's brother can give the groom the inside scoop on the rest of the members of his family.

Speaking of the bachelor party, even though you are the bride's brother, you are there as a friend to the groom, so it is your duty to keep your lips sealed about what went on, unless something terribly inappropriate took place. You wouldn't be the first brother of the bride to be besieged by questions from a curious sister, but really all you should tell her is that everyone had a great time and that it was good clean fun. This will help to put her mind at ease, while also showing the groom that his future brother-in-law is a real buddy, not a spy for his sister.

At times the brother of the bride might end up taking on a more important role in the wedding. If their father has passed away, it would be very appropriate and touching for the bride's brother to be the one to walk her down the aisle and give her away. It is also very nice if you give a brief toast at the reception. Keep it brief and congratulatory; you surely know all sorts of embarrassing stories about your sister, but the wedding toast is not the time to bring them up!

With a little more involvement, the bride's brother might actually find that her wedding can be a good time. You also have the pleasure of gaining a new brother, and if you are single, meeting some attractive women (weddings often breed more weddings, you know). In the end, you might just come to discover that being the brother of the bride is not so bad after all.

Guy has been writing about society and weddings for a long time. If you have a topic you would like to know about. Let us know at SilverlandJewelry.com. Thank your attendants for being in your wedding with handsome groomsmen gifts.

The Very Best Religious Wedding Gifts

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So you're looking for a gift for a newly wed couple, the bride, the groom, the parents, or a best man and you have no idea what you should be getting them. Have you considered a religious gift yet? This can be a great option to look at because religious gifts can be both beautiful and hold a special meaning at the same time. What kind of religious wedding gift should you get though? Well that is where some advice would come in handy, which is the purpose of this article so you're in luck! The list below is chocked full of great wedding gift ideas for all different types of people.

1.) Tree of Life Crucifix - This sterling silver medal would make a beautiful gift for a groom, father, or best man. It consists of a large tree with branches shaped like the cross. Jesus is on the tree like he was put on the cross, and the detail of Jesus and the branches on the tree are very intricate. This piece is a nice alternative to just a regular crucifix, which would be a typical gift to give, and it is very nice to look at so whoever you give it to will be glad to have received it.

2.) Rose Quartz Rosary Wrap Bracelet - This bracelet would make a wonderful gift for the bride, her mother, or any woman for that matter. The rose colored quartz beads on this bracelet are very elegant and the golden cross around the center is also very nice. This piece also comes with a gift box for storage purposes.

3.) Wooden Wedding Box - This would make a great gift for the newly wed couple of the day. This hand crafted wooden box is beautifully put together and can hold a 4x6 photograph on the front. This is ideal for a wedding picture or favorite photograph. The box also has two silver wedding rings on the top of it to symbolize the special day. The box is meant to hold pictures, jewelery, and anything that the couple wants to put in there.

4.) Bridesmaid Heart Necklace - This sterling silver medal is meant for the bridesmaids at the wedding. It is a simple piece but it can still be very nice. It is a silver heart medal that would look very nice with whatever color they are going to be wearing on the wedding day. This necklace is also perfect for engraving so you can make everybody you give one to feel special by giving them their own personalized gift.

5.) Sterling Silver Claddagh - This medal would be a great gift for the bride of the wedding because of what is symbolized on the medal. The claddagh consists of a heart, a set of hands, and a crown. This stands for love, friendship, and loyalty. This, of course, are three values being expressed through the marriage of two people making it a no-brainer for a wedding gift.

Erin Donnelly is a featured author at the best online store for all your Catholic needs, The Catholic Gift Shop. At the store you will find patron saint medals, Catholic rosaries, Confirmation, Christening, Baptism, and Wedding gifts for anybody you know. However, The Catholic Gift Shop is not only limited to these items they have much, much more to offer as well. The Catholic Gift Shop is the site to visit for all of your religious needs!

The Very Best Religious Wedding Gifts

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So you're looking for a gift for a newly wed couple, the bride, the groom, the parents, or a best man and you have no idea what you should be getting them. Have you considered a religious gift yet? This can be a great option to look at because religious gifts can be both beautiful and hold a special meaning at the same time. What kind of religious wedding gift should you get though? Well that is where some advice would come in handy, which is the purpose of this article so you're in luck! The list below is chocked full of great wedding gift ideas for all different types of people.

1.) Tree of Life Crucifix - This sterling silver medal would make a beautiful gift for a groom, father, or best man. It consists of a large tree with branches shaped like the cross. Jesus is on the tree like he was put on the cross, and the detail of Jesus and the branches on the tree are very intricate. This piece is a nice alternative to just a regular crucifix, which would be a typical gift to give, and it is very nice to look at so whoever you give it to will be glad to have received it.

2.) Rose Quartz Rosary Wrap Bracelet - This bracelet would make a wonderful gift for the bride, her mother, or any woman for that matter. The rose colored quartz beads on this bracelet are very elegant and the golden cross around the center is also very nice. This piece also comes with a gift box for storage purposes.

3.) Wooden Wedding Box - This would make a great gift for the newly wed couple of the day. This hand crafted wooden box is beautifully put together and can hold a 4x6 photograph on the front. This is ideal for a wedding picture or favorite photograph. The box also has two silver wedding rings on the top of it to symbolize the special day. The box is meant to hold pictures, jewelery, and anything that the couple wants to put in there.

4.) Bridesmaid Heart Necklace - This sterling silver medal is meant for the bridesmaids at the wedding. It is a simple piece but it can still be very nice. It is a silver heart medal that would look very nice with whatever color they are going to be wearing on the wedding day. This necklace is also perfect for engraving so you can make everybody you give one to feel special by giving them their own personalized gift.

5.) Sterling Silver Claddagh - This medal would be a great gift for the bride of the wedding because of what is symbolized on the medal. The claddagh consists of a heart, a set of hands, and a crown. This stands for love, friendship, and loyalty. This, of course, are three values being expressed through the marriage of two people making it a no-brainer for a wedding gift.

Erin Donnelly is a featured author at the best online store for all your Catholic needs, The Catholic Gift Shop. At the store you will find patron saint medals, Catholic rosaries, Confirmation, Christening, Baptism, and Wedding gifts for anybody you know. However, The Catholic Gift Shop is not only limited to these items they have much, much more to offer as well. The Catholic Gift Shop is the site to visit for all of your religious needs!

Wedding Photography - Traditional Or Trendy?

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Wedding photography offers styles to choose from. Professional wedding photographers provide help for the bride and groom which wedding photography style they think would be appropriate for their taste. It is always time consuming and confusing for every bride and groom to decide on and pick a photographer with the precision in visual style, expertise, ethics and professionalism.

Professional wedding photographers employs the latest techniques in photography to keep up with the trend but one style doesn't fit all. The best thing to do is to focus on how you would want the images captured to create a prized possession. Have a detailed discussion and bare what's in your wish list to your photographer and come up with the best photography design appropriate and acceptable to you. These days' photographers boast of and rely on their sophisticated digital cameras to get the best shots. Providing quick and easy reviewing of the photos and probably retakes if need be.

There are two types of wedding photography styles to choose from: traditional and photo journalistic. Most couples need to understand the difference and it will help in decision making as to what style they would want for their wedding mementos.

Traditional Wedding Photography

Traditional wedding photography captures pictures of course, the traditional way with traditional poses. This is when all family members from different generation are present and has to be in the pictures. From the side of the groom's to the bride's family plus the combination of family, friends and the entourage take turns posing with the bride and groom for posterity. Not as pretty as the photo journalistic style but for those who value family from one generation to the next typically go for this style. It is the style that dictates the setting.

Photo Journalistic Wedding Photography

This is a very trendy approach and is ideally chosen by young and hip couples. It is more like taking pictures for a magazine and is like telling a story as it unfolds, a story of how it all began laid out in order. Wedding photojournalism "is characterized by its candid, creative and natural results spanning serious to humorous scenes as your wedding photojournalist documents the moment as it naturally happens." Photographer tries to take candid snapshots and capture best moments as well. This style usually devotes a day before the actual wedding to take photos of activities the bride and groom are into and captures images.

The most important decision in choosing a wedding photographer is to understand and identify what and how you want the images to come out. It would be helpful to allot more time when choosing and not regret on the decisions made. Remember, there is no way to fix the style of your photos once they are taken. It isn't something that you can return and exchange. You and your groom need to make sure their style is in sync with yours. The outcome will be a lifetime keepsake so make sure to go for the best flowers to the food and the gardens. Your wedding pictures will be a lifelong keepsake, so the wedding photography must be top-notch.

If you are planning to capture great moments on your wedding, try to hire a Sydney photographer. Richard Jules is a sydney wedding photographer who specializes on commercial and corporate photography.

Preparing For Impromptu Speaking - Is That Possible?

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For most people, presenting themselves carries much preparation with it. They are requested to speak at a function, and get as much information as possible about the group of people to whom they will speak. If they are not a subject matter expert, they may have to do some research on the topic of discussion. Before the actual day of the presentation, all effective speakers know that they must practice, practice, and practice some more. This practice is best done with the use of a video camera and if possible, friends and others who can be a "mock" audience. And although not always feasible, a visit to the facility at which they will present can help speakers tremendously prior to the delivery of their address. Even something as arriving early to the event can help you scope out the room and test any audio-visual equipment you may need to use in your presentation.

Generally, event planners who invite others to speak attempt to give those speakers plenty of time to get things together before the big day. Having time to prepare and practice can go a long way to assist a presenter in working "with" nervous energy and feeling more comfortable no matter what size audience there will be.

But what happens when you as the presenter are asked to be interviewed on a radio or TV show? These types of media presentations are typically in a question and answer format, so how do you prepare?

One thing you can do ahead of time is ask your host for a list of questions that will be asked of you. Inquire as to whether there will be any impromptu questions posed to you. Although you can't always prepare for every single question or prompt that may be offered to you, there are some things you can do to be as prepared as possible:

1. Review any questions you have been asked before, whether in formal interviews or just from friends and colleagues about your subject.
2. Get a friend to engage in a "mock" interview with you and allow that person to ask you any question about your topic that comes to mind.
3. Make a list of ten things you think your host may ask you and practice answering those points.
4. Whenever you practice impromptu speaking, have a timer handy and try to provide your answer in a maximum of 2 minutes.

Being interviewed can be one of the most rewarding public speaking experiences you'll ever have, and being prepared for it will make you feel better and more than likely get you more interviews!

http://www.prescoach.com
As a 30+ year professional development trainer and Distinguished Toastmaster, I have helped thousands of people hone their presentations skills. Need to make a presentation because the boss asked you to? Want to make a presentation to one of your associations or clubs? Even when you don't make presentations often, learning how to do it right can help you with the fear and the preparation.
Contact me if I can help walk you through those critical first steps to successfully communicating. Lets chat @ http://turelmyblog.wordpress.com

Nagarathar Marriages

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Marriages all over India are celebrated with great celebration and people possess immense pride in their respective rituals or cultures. People across the globe, also agree on the fact that Indian marriages are a true portrayal of the cultural believes of the citizens of the country. The rituals and ceremonies of Indian marriages vary according to their religions and the regions to which the people belong. Diversity in cultural believes and religious ceremonies is a common practise, which can be observed in every nook and corner of the country. There are many religions in India, which many people even don't know about; they usually originate, due to impact of one or the other cultural believes and the differences in the type and the methods of practising the same culture and customs.

One of the communities, which is rarely known and is practised in very small places, is Nagarathar. The people of this community belong to the Kaveripoompattinam, also known to be originating from the India's chola kingdom. This is primarily famous as a prominent caste in the southern region of India, i.e. from Tamil Nadu. Each person of the Nagarathar community comes under the influence of any of the nine temples, and even the marriages in the Nagarathar culture takes place in between the people of different temples. The followers of the same temple are considered as siblings, so marriages among the Nagarathar followers of the same temple are not permitted.

Nagarathar Marriages in the earlier days were an occasion of a single day, but with the change in times, the practices and the cultures related to marriage have been changing. The Nagarathar marriages usually take place in a single day, by going to the Nagara Village. Though these people stay away from their villages, but they prefer going to their ancestor's village for conducting the marriage ceremonies. Following is an explanation of the ceremonies practised in the Nagarathar marriages:

Before marriage:

Pen paarthal: This is the ceremony, when the bride and groom meet each other for the first time, with their families. This is the time, when the decision is made, whether the families likes each other's son or daughter and accept them as their son- in- law or daughter- in- law or not. If both the families accept the alliance, then they exchange silver bucket full of coconuts, beetle leaves and nuts and bananas.

Pesi mudithu kolludhal: After the alliance for the marriage gets fixed, the family of the bride and groom calls an astrologer and fixes the date of marriage with his consent.

Muhurtha kaal unrudhal: The relatives start arriving four- five days before the marriage day, at the respective houses of the bride and the groom. The very first ceremony observed before the marriage is the fitting of a bamboo cane with mango leaves on the top, after which puja is done in both the houses of the bride and the groom. The bamboo is then fitted up straight signifying that marriage is being conducted in the house.

Veetu padaippu/podhu padaippu: This is the ancestral puja done jointly by the family members at the house of their ancestors to seek blessings from them for the marriage of their son or daughter.

Marriage day:

Mappillai azhaipu: The groom's family and relatives arrive at the village of the bride, hours before the mahurat, and stay at a community hall or in some ancestral temple, where the bride's father goes with a band to welcome the groom's side. The groom's side is not allowed to enter the bride's house before the mahoorat.

Pen edukki kattuthal: After the groom reaches the bride's house, she is brought outside to meet the groom.

Thirupotuthal: The bride is brought by her maternal uncle sitting on the manai, where both the maternal uncle of the bride and the groom wears a towel which is florescent pink color.

Vaevu irakkuthal: This ceremony takes place at the groom's house, where the maternal uncle of the bride gives her a basket, which is full of brinjal and rice, denoting the giving of wealth in the form of food grains to the bride.

Mamiyar sadangu: The mother- in -law carries cotton, betel leaves, manjal and vibhuti, all of them which she appilies on herself first, then on her daughter- in- lwa, one by one.

Poo manam choridhal: In this ceremony, blessing from the elder male members of the family are taken by the bride and the groom, wherein the elders, bless the bride and groom with flower petals, by placing on their folded legs, shoulders and heads.

Manjal neeru aduthal: In this ceremony, the feet of the couple is washed by the turmeric paste, by their cousins.

Saman parapudhal: During this ceremony of the Nagarathar Marriages, the gifts to be given at the time of marriage from the both the sides of the groom as well as the bride are displayed in front of the relatives, to show their power in terms of wealth.

Kumbuttu kattikolluthal: This is the ceremony, where the bride seeks blessing from all the elders of the bride and the groom's family, by touching their feet. The blessings are to have a fertile future generation.

Mana pen solli kolluthal: This is the moment, when eyes of each and every member of the family is full with tears, where in the bride leaves her maternal house and heads towards a new life towards the house of her in- laws.

Pen azhaippu: This occasion signifies the formal welcome of the bride in her new house, by the groom's family. The couple, before being taken to the groom's house, is taken to a temple nearby, to seek blessing from the god, to start a happy and a blessed married life.

Gurleen Kaur writes on behalf of Jeevansathi.com, which is India's fastest growing matrimonial website, provides online Indian matrimonial classified services. Jeevansathi.com enables users to create an Tamil matrimony profile on the website and allow prospective grooms and brides to contact each other. Users can search for profiles through advanced search options on the website. Users can avail free registration and make initial contact with each other through services available on Jeevansathi.com via Chat, SMS, and e-mail.

Choosing A Mother Of The Bride Dress - Pleasure Or Predicament?

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If you're the mother of the bride at an upcoming wedding, congratulations! You have a major part to play in supporting your daughter as she prepares for her big day. Being the mother of the bride (or the M.O.B., as she is sometimes known these days) is a role which calls for understanding, tact and diplomacy in many delicate areas, not least being the question of wedding attire. As well as helping your daughter to select her bridal gown, you have another tricky choice to make: finding your own mother of the bride dress.

As with most aspects of wedding planning, there are conventions that some couples wish to follow and others they will prefer to ignore. But if you know what the 'rules' are, you'll be better able to decide when you want to break them! And in most cases, the principles governing mother of the bride gowns are designed to allow her due precedence -- without overshadowing the bride herself!

• 
  Appropriate color. Many people feel that mother of the bride dresses should not be white or black. In the first case, of course, it's because white is traditionally the color reserved for the bride. The second rule harks back to a time when the bride's mother could signal her unhappiness at her daughter's marriage by wearing the color of mourning.
  
  While such a gesture might be thought extreme in today's world, it is still frowned upon in some quarters for the M.O.B. to wear black -- perhaps simply because it might be considered bad luck. These days, however, what's appropriate is often dictated by the style of the wedding and the bride's preference -- and in an era when evening weddings are not unusual, black might be an acceptable choice.



• 
  Coordinate with the mother of the groom. While it's customary for the M.O.B. to choose her dress first, it's considerate as well as prudent to liaise with the groom's mother in matters of style and color. This will at least minimize the risk of both mothers turning up to the wedding in the same outfit!



• 
  Complement the dresses of the bride and bridesmaids. As a member of the wedding party, the eyes of the guests will be drawn to your outfit too. Plan well ahead with the bride to decide on an age-appropriate design and color to coordinate with their styles.

As part of the build-up such a joyous event as a wedding, choosing a mother of bride dress ought to be fun. And while finding exactly the right outfit may require a considerable expense of time, energy and shoe leather, it's a task that you can enjoy in the company of your daughter or a close friend or two, if you like. After all, the wedding will be partly your day too!

Nigel Patterson is a business writer and publisher of http://Inexpensive-Weddings.com

Visit his website for tips and ideas for creating your dream wedding on a tight budget: wedding dresses, invitations, rings, cakes, wedding favors, flowers and more ...

Seven Steps Towards a Beautiful Bride on the Wedding Day

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Wedding day is one of the most important days in one's life. How a bride can keep the most beautiful and charming look on the wedding day after struggling in all the preparation works and fitting the small details of the wedding day?

If you can follow the below seven steps, you would find it very easy to become the most beautiful bride:-

1 When to start preparing for the wedding day?

The earlier is always better! But how early is counted as early? Actually, skin care is daily duty of every lady, but we advise you to start special skin care and treatment six to twelve months before your wedding day. Usually, couple would go to studio to have wedding photo shot, that's why you need to start your skin care and treatment early to make you look good in the picture.

2 Beware of what you eat

It is very important of what you eat because it would greatly affect how your skin looks. Do not eat too much of deep fried food, but more vegetables and steamed food. You would find your skin looks refreshing on your wedding day.

You must have breakfast everyday and eat less during dinner time. And avoid eating four hours before bed.

The most important is to drink more water and avoid alcoholic drinks.

3 Exercise regularly

Exercise does not only make your body shape better for the gown and fitting, it is also good for your blood circulation and speeds up the metabolism. You would look more energetic and charming.

There are many exercises you can do, the most effective one is to go to a physician to have professional train up. You can also exercise together with you fiance so that both of you have the motivation.

If you are very busy at work, you can easily do some exercises by walking up stairs instead of taking the elevator of lift.

4 Have facial treatment regularly

Go to a beauty centre which you trust and start your facial treatment regularly. Let the professional take care your skin and help to resolve your skin problem as soon as possible. It would be better than getting nervous of the sore on your face a few days before your wedding. The earlier you start the facial treatment, the more time for your skin to recover from any scars on your face.

5 Beware of your make up removal steps
Entirely remove your daily make-up is very important. And residues would do harm to your skin. If you can, try not to have make-up before your wedding day in order to give your skin enough time to rest and refresh.

6 Make up and hair styling

Contact your make up artist and hair stylist as soon as possible. Let them know your skin problem and all your needs. If you can find a make up artist who is at the same time a hair stylist, it would be even better because it would reduce the risk of misunderstanding. Try different make up and hair styles before your wedding day in order to find the best one and give the most impressing look on your wedding.

7 Be Relaxed

There are lots of pressures when preparing for your wedding day. There may even be arguments and disagreements among your family and even between you and your finance, it is very important you know the way to release all the pressures and let someone to share with you.

When you have your facial treatment, the massage would help you to release the pressure. Or you would try spa also.

It is also very important to take enough rest. Taking rest is the most effective lotion to make your skin look young and good.

Try to find some friends to help you in all the preparation work. Do not let every small detail to drive you nut. The most important task for you is to become the most beautiful bride on your wedding day!

Jerry Leung is a wedding invitation designer with great interest in Chinese Style Wedding cards. He designs unique Wedding Invitations in different styles. Besides, he runs A Wedding Blog to share wedding tips. You can also find lists of wedding vendors from his Wedding Directory Websites.

Help the Bride Plan Her Wedding

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My daughter and fiancé have finally set the "big day" but now comes the fun part of helping her plan her wedding.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm really looking forward to helping my daughter but stress can do crazy things to a woman. This could be a really fun experience if you look at the right way. I'll just sit back and do what I'm told when I'm told.

In fact stress turns her into somewhat of a control freak. And controllers can't give up control of any aspect of their lives. They must always be in control, so the title "control freak" is rightfully earned.

Now helping a control freak plan a wedding, can you imagine, after all everything is going to have to be perfectly controlled. Anything gone wrong is liable to land in quite a burst of verbal displeasure.

Now as the helper you have some choices. You can either step back and find the situation quite amusing and thus keep your sanity. Or you can get drug into the chaos and panic and loose your sanity. I'm opting for the amusing approach.

Watching a control freak plan their wedding is rather like watching a juggler with about 12 extra balls. Your just waiting for one to drop! And eventually one will and all you can do is be their to pick up the pieces.

It all began with choosing the "perfect date." Now a sane person would wonder what does a perfect date look like, but a control freak spends hours going through each month and each date listing the pros and cons until they are satisfied they have found the perfect date.

God help us all if the weather decides to not co-operate. But that's okay after a few stressful day my control freak daughter has decided that August 16th 2006 will be a perfect day.

To the sane person it will be a perfect day no matter what goes wrong, but to my control freak daughter all I can hope is that the day is truly perfect in every way!

Well our next mission was the gown and if you have never shopped with a control freak you will not understand how amusing this can be. At least from the view point I've chosen to take.

Grant it some moments are enough to make your hair stand up and shout "Stop you're driving me crazy." A couple of deep breaths and the amusement returns.

A normal soul will know that there is no such thing as the perfect wedding dress or the perfectly fitted wedding dress right off the rack. Yes a wedding dress can become perfect but it may take some alterations.

Shopping for that wedding gown with a control freak leads to comments such as the sleeves are too puffy, the train slides just a little to the right, the v neck is 1/2" from perfect, the .....Well you get the picture. They are looking for perfect by definition in their brain.

Many of the gowns my daughter tried on were perfect as far as I could tell. She looked beautiful, breathtaking, and sexy all the things a bride should be. But to her it was not "perfect."

As luck would have it one bridal show as she shifted through the gowns this beautiful dress jumped out at her. When she tried it on it fit her perfectly and not only by my definition but by her own.

Not an alteration needed, not a tuck, not a hem. It was in fact perfect. So you see even the control freak can find a perfect gown.

Our last adventure was in locating the perfect place for a reception. My control freak daughter has yet to find the place that makes her feel safe and in control.

Thankfully she still has time and as luck goes I'm certain we will find that perfect place. I'm sure they'll be plenty more highlights before she has her wedding planned.

The message here is not to make fun or chastise the control freak, after all we all have our faults, but rather to point out that no matter how stressed you become while planning your wedding it will all come together. Besides I believe every future bride turns into a bit of a control freak when planning her wedding.

So control freak are not you don't have to settle for anything less than your definition of perfect and with some shopping you'll be able to find it for a price within your budget.

Just remember that your wedding will be "perfect" just because it is your special day!

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A Few Makeup and Healthy Skin Tips For a Pakistani Bride

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Asian females are known to have natural beauty and skin. A little bit of extra care of the skin may present you as a diva on your wedding day. Here are a few tips for the bride-to-be that she can follow:

1. Daily life exposure to the sun, pollution and hot dry air extracts all the skin moisture, leaving behind dull and dry skin. Dab on some sunscreen lotion before you leave house. Make a healthy habit of cleansing your skin daily at night and after you return home. Wash your face frequently with fresh clean water and apply moisturizers that suit your skin type.

2. Make up artists suggest a heavy makeup with different shades of color for the barat dress and photo shoot album. In some cases, the heavy makeup goes with the heavy attire and complements the bridal looks. She does not look all washed out. Although, it may look strange to her when she is in mirror but in real, photo shoots really compensate the heavy load of makeup.

3. Make a couple of practice makeovers that may help you to decide suitable look for your barat dress. Person behind the makeup counter at a big departmental store can prove to be a very helpful person by suggesting the perfect shades of foundations and powders for you. You can take prior appointments by a beautician to discuss your looks before you decide the final make over.

4. Read online articles or buy some fashion magazines to see the latest trends and styles of hair & makeup. Ask your friends or any beautician to guide you for this. Go for a regular facial and cleansing in routine at least six months before your wedding day. Either select a bridal package or develop a self-routine of cleansing at home, as it will give you such a stunning look on your special day.

For more information visit, http://www.merishopping.com.

View our collection for Salwar Kameez at http://www.merishopping.com.

Catch that Bouquet!

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Throwing the bride's bouquet, as well as catching the bride's bouquet, has its moments.

Erratic brides have been known to underestimate their throwing capabilities and throwing the bouquet so far that no self-respecting person would bother to run for it. Or, as in playing squash, in the nervousness of the moment, bouquets have been known to be thrown at walls, windows, ceilings, and most disastrously, into overhead ceiling fans.

On the side of the catchers, there have been moments where catching the bouquet became so violent, that a referee had to be called in to separate the combatants. As embarrassing as that might have been, there have also been those weddings where self-assertive women refused to play this silly old-fashioned game where women were thought to be dying to catch the bouquet so that they would be the next in line to get married.

Ha! They weren't that desperate!

So, perhaps, before the bride decides to enliven the wedding by tossing the bouquet among the unwed females, she should count up just how many unwed single females she's inviting, and just how many are actively looking for life-long partners. And, of course, and most importantly, she should get in some throwing practice to ensure the accuracy of the landing.

Having said that, why do brides bother with this bit of tom foolery? And is there any truth that whoever catches the bouquet will be the next to wed?

As far as throwing the bouquet is concerned it's all about the lucky wedding couple sharing their good fortune, the flowers being yet one more symbol of it. In this spirit, some brides compose a bouquet which consists of dozens of minuscule bouquets. When she is about to throw it, the bride unties the ribbon which holds it in place, and literally showers guests with minute bouquets and good fortune.

As for weddings, have you noticed how when one of your friends gets married, not long after another follows suit?

Could it be that by catching a bouquet you will become the next bride? Actually, that's a bit psychology in the making. In this part of the wedding, the female who is actively searching for a partner, has the opportunity to make herself visible to a prospective husband. If she is truly serious, she should make that opportunity count. Like the thrower, she should practice graceful and nimble leaps to make herself memorable to all those young bucks watching. If she can continue to hold their interest after the catch, so much the better.

Never forget, would be brides, weddings are catching!

Vlady Peters is an Australian Civil Marriage Celebrant authorised to perform marriages in Australia. She also perform general ceremonies such as Baby Naming, Renewal of Vows and Commitment Ceremonies. To learn more about her as a celebrant and an author visit vlady at http://www.weddings-celebrant.com

How to Choose the Sapphire Wedding Ring?

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It is important to choose the sapphire wedding rings carefully. This is because they stay on the fingers for the rest of their life. The sapphire rings symbolize a fashion statement, a life long commitment and the personality of the person wearing it. Some simple tips can help you choose the right ones for yourself. Here is a look at them:

• The best way to go about buying the sapphire wedding rings is to go with your future husband or wife. A simple discussion with one's spouse can help to find the right sapphire rings.

• It is important to choose the right bands for the sapphire wedding rings. The bands have to match the personality of the person wearing them. These bands have to be matched with the engagement rings. This is because these two are usually worn together by both the groom as well as the bride.

• The sapphire wedding rings should be chosen according to one's lifestyle. The wedding rings should not interfere in any way with one's lifestyle. One should be able to work properly while buying these rings. For an instance people involved in hard labor should not choose the delicate bands. For such people the best rings would be the ones that have a lower setting. On the other hand for people who have a luxury lifestyle flaunting the rings is not a problem, so they can easily buy the ones with a large size sapphire.

• The band metal you choose should be good enough to fulfill all your requirements. The three most popular options for people usually are platinum and white/yellow gold. White gold is very popular because of its easy compatibility with a variety of gemstones. The yellow gold is used traditionally because it offers a classic look to the person who wears it. You have to understand that there is no point buying the bands with a lower carat value as it does not hold well when used regularly and the higher carat value is very expensive to buy. So you have to settle for a band that lies in between the lower and the higher carat value.

• It helps to check out the various cataloger as they will offer you a lot of options. Checking out the various cataloger can help to make an informed decision.

Following these you can easily buy the right type of sapphire wedding rings.

The author is an expert on the sapphire rings. Here he offers options on choosing the sapphire wedding rings. For more information visit the website http://www.gemsny.com

Looking For a Romantic Place to Elope? Try a Bed & Breakfast!

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Bed and breakfast establishments provide a romantic backdrop to an elopement wedding. They are quaint, cozy and best of all - stress free! A Bed & Breakfast is an ideal location for couples who are on their second marriage, or even first timers who simply want to avoid all the chaos associated with a traditional wedding. From upstate New York, to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and wine country Napa Valley California, there are hundreds of B&B's that offer wonderful elopement wedding packages throughout the United States.

Southern States:

The south has a particular appeal that attracts couples who want to experience an intimate ceremony with a bit of southern charm and hospitality. Some of the most popular southern state B&B elopement destinations are in New Orleans, Savannah,and Virginia. Magnolia Mansion, selected as one of the top 10 romantic inns within the United States is located in Beautiful New Orleans. This popular location also specializes in both small and large weddings and provide the perfect plantation style ceremony. The Azalea Inn and Gardens in Savannah Georgia is breathtakingly beautiful. For under $1000 you will receive a two night stay in the room of your choice, a minister to perform the ceremony, floral arrangements, small cake, and several other wedding day perks.

North East States:

For simplicity's sake, we will consider the states from Maine and down through Delaware as the North East states. The North East offers a wide range of appeal from the cottage feel found in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to the quaint, charming ambiance of the New England states. The Westbrook Inn of Connecticut, The Edward Harris House of Rochester New York, Angels Watch Inn located in Connecticut and White Rocks Inn located in Vermont all offer great elopement package deals.

West Coast:

You would be hard pressed to not be able to find a super romantic Bed and Breakfast elopement packages on the west coast. The area between northern Washington state and down into southern California is simply ripe with established B&B's. For less than $600, you can elope at the Swantown Inn located in Olympia, Washington. The package includes your officiant, witnesses if you do not have any and an overnight stay for the newlyweds. You can also opt to rent the entire house to accommodate up to six guests for a fairly low price as well. California's Napa Valley is known for it's Tuscan Style charm and has become a very popular elopement destination. The Bed & Breakfast establishments are perfect for thirty something couples, those on their second marriages or older couples.

This is just a brief overview of what a Bed & Breakfast elopement can offer, if you're stuck on ideas - put this one at the top of your list!

Whether you have 200 guests or an intimate ceremony with just you and your spouse, your wedding day should be a special moment - one that will be full of joy and wonderful memories. If you are seriously considering forgoing a traditional ceremony, visit us today and we will show you a variety of ==> Places to Elope

http://www.PlacesToElope.org

Thank you for visiting us!

Mother of the Bride Speeches - Tips & Advice

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Probably the busiest person around when their daughter decides to get married has to be the mother of the bride. This selfless woman spends untold hours planning the wedding, dealing with various schedules and appointments, arranging for fittings, tasting foods for the reception, visiting flower shop to select the needed flowers, planning the actual ceremony and getting all the invitations sent out.

As if this were not enough to keep her busy all day it is also her responsibility to provide the mother of the bride speech.

The mother's speech is typically given as the reception festivities start to close down. It is left to the mother to provide that unique opportunity to establish a lasting impression upon the reception guests as well as the bride and groom. It is the mother's speech which sends the couple off on their memorable honeymoon.

Here are a few important tips to make that speech special in every way. The speech provided by the mother is generally presented right after the groom's father has toasted the bride.

The speech should start out by telling a few humorous short tales about the daughter perhaps relating how she first introduced the mother to the groom. You should then officially welcome the groom to the family and don't forget to relate how you are very happy that he is marrying your daughter. Mention publicly to your daughter how special she is to you and that you wish her all the happiness that you possibly can.

You may perhaps care to thank the groom's family for having a thoughtful son. At this time you could thank anyone who may have helped in the creation of the wedding. Make your toast and stop there. You don't want to make your speech too long.

If you want to know how to craft the perfect wedding speech, you should take a look at my blog - I'll show you exactly what you should say in your speech. This will take all the stress and anxiety away, and it'll make it one of the most memorable & heart warming parts of the wedding, guaranteed. Click here to go there now.

Mail Order Bride Success Rates

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In recent years, thousands of young women have come to the USA by way of marriage to western men. There are a number of online dating services featuring young, beautiful women in search of Western counterparts.

On the basis of the information provided by mail order bride agencies, it is estimated that between 100,000 and 150,000 women from different countries annually register themselves. Out of these 4 percent of the women seeking U.S. husbands have found them.

The Philippines provides a large number of the Asian listings, in spite the fact that the mail-order bride system there has been illegal since 1986. In recent years, there has been an increase in listings due to the entry of agencies focusing on women of Russia and the former Soviet Union. In addition to Russian women, a lot of Ukrainian women are also featured. Some agencies report serving over 1,000 men every month that pay as much as $200 each.

A survey of a few agencies showed that they had 607 American men seeking mail-order brides and had received 206 responses. It is found that a large number of these men are generally white, highly educated, politically and conservative, and economically and professionally successful.

In one of the surveys, emails were sent to 102 mail order bride services to find out what percentage of their female clients married men from the U.S. Among these estimates, those listing predominately women from Russia and the former Soviet Union countries gave the highest figures of10 percent to 40 percent. Most of these estimates were for marriages to men from any country and not specifically the United States. There are a few mail order bride agencies that feature over 450 Russian women in their current listings. Each of them claims to have arranged, on average, 100 marriages (to date) between Russian women and American men.

According to a report, mail-order brides constitute 10 percent of the marriages between Filipinos and foreigners. Out of the women, around 10 percent have been successful in finding and marrying a man through the service. There are approximately 10,000 marriages every year between women listed by these agencies and men who use the services.

Mail Order Brides provides detailed information on Mail Order Brides, Russian Mail Order Brides, Latin Mail Order Brides, Asian Mail Order Brides and more. Mail Order Brides is affiliated with Online Russian Brides [http://www.i-RussianBrides.com].

Thor's Hammer - Myth and Meanings

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In Norse mythology Thor was the God of Thunder and the God of War and he carried a short handled hammer or Mjolnir, crafted by Dwarves, which he used to smash the heads of his enemies, especially Giants. The hammer was so heavy that in order to wield it, he had to wear a special belt, Meginjord, to boost his strength and iron gloves to enable him to lift it. When thrown, the hammer magically returned to the person who threw it. Mjolnir literally translated means crusher and in some literature is referred to as a club or axe.

Thor travelled in a chariot pulled by goats, which he would eat when hungry and then bring back to life with his hammer, very handy! The most notable story in Norse Mythology relating to Thor is when the King Of The Giants steals his hammer and refuses to return it until the Goddess Freyja agrees to marry him. (Something she does not want to do!). Thor is persuaded to disguise himself as Freyja in a bridal gown and veil and attend the wedding feast. The King Of The Giants becomes a little suspicious when he notices how voracious his bride to be's appetite is. But he is reassured that it is simply bridal nerves that has stopped her eating for 8 days! He also notices that she has red, fiery eyes, but again this is excused as lack of sleep due to excitement. Thor gets his chance and slays the Giant King and his followers when the King demands that Thor's Hammer be brought to his bride to bless her.

In the Viking age the symbol of Thor's Hammer was popular as an amulet and worn for luck and protection. The Vikings were especially influenced by Thor's reputation as ferocious in battle and his hammer symbolised this warlike quality. They were also found in graves and were used as a symbol of defiance against the newly emerging conversion to Christianity in many areas of Norway, Denmark and Sweden. It is still worn today as a Germanic Neo-Pagan symbol and to a lesser extent by heavy rock fanatics, goths, bikers and Pagans.

Karma Gifts online New Age and Spiritual gift shop. We sell a range of pendants and amulets, including Thor's Hammer. We sell an eclectic range of New Age and mind, body and spirit gifts to bring peace, harmony, relaxation, healing and enlightenment to your life.

http://www.karmagifts.co.uk

Memorable and Unique Wedding Gift Ideas

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Wedding is a special occasion for a couple. It is starting like a new journey to new life. Couple is blessed with best wishes and lots of gifts. Gifts are quite language of the heart, feelings and the emotions. But choosing a perfect wedding gift for couple is always a confusing situation for every person. Everyone wants to gift something unique and memorable to a newly-wed couple to make them feel special.

We can help you tackle out from this situation by giving some wedding gift ideas. First of all you have to keep in mind your pocket allowance and then about wedding gift. A gift should be in your budget and must be unique and pleasant. Here are some wedding gift ideas that will make couple amazed and gift will be in your budget too. So, get ready to read out:

Unique and Personalized Gifts:
Create something truly unique with one of hand painted ceramic gifts, perfect for unique bride. Hand painted platters, handmade tablecloth; handmade paintings etc. can be gifted. Just gift them anything made of your hand.

Something White:
White is the color of purity and prosperity. You can gift them white flower bouquet, white pearls necklace, a white color handbag, signatures white photo frames and platters etc. Most people assume that traditional white wedding dress is a symbol of bride's virginity and purity. You can gift them a dress too.

Couple's IR Registry:
Couple's IR Registry is often an expensive affair and this can be dream wedding gift that couples do not even think they will actually going to get. If you are wealthy enough to give such a wedding gift, then its good or other thing you can do is to ask guests to contribute. You will be making wedding couple's dreams come true. This will allow them to spend enough money on their healthy wedding life.

Photo Quilts and Photo Pillows:
Something different... You can gift them a range of photo quilts and pillows. Many stores provide these things on order and make ready in just 3 weeks. If you do not have their photos then don't worry, a gift certificate will make a sentimental touch.

A Gift Card:
Yes, while it may seem impersonal or uncreative. But a gift card is one of the recommended wedding gifts. By giving a gift card or gift certificate, you are giving them a wider opportunity to shop anything they like for themselves. Attach that gift card with a beautiful flower bouquet and enjoy the big smile on their faces.

Long Vacation Trip:
Last but not least in our countdown is gifting a Honeymoon package or a long vacation trip to couple's dream destination. Many online stores like Travelocity and Sandals provide honeymoon packages and vacation packages for newly-wed couples.

With so many unique wedding gift ideas, now you can easily choose one that will definitely make them feel really special!

Tim is an associated author with DealRocker.com, which is an attempt to make online shopping an easy and not-so-time-consuming experience. Tim assists his team in writing money saving posts on Blog. Dealrocker, which helps consumers to stay in-the-know about hottest online deals, online coupons and free shipping offers available across various online stores.

Mother of the Bride Suits For a Change

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You clearly want to look your very best on what is likely to be the most important day of your daughter's adult life. After all, you will be up there in your place of pride on the top table and even though you have no intention of stealing any of the limelight from the blushing bride, you are still keen to look as stylish and elegant as you possibly can. Why not have a look at some mother of the bride suits for a change?

So, bearing this in mind, how much serious thought have you given to what you will be wearing on the day? Well if the answer to this question is that you have not yet started to plan your outfit as it all seems so far away, then you had better get started, because with all the other arrangements being made, the happy occasion will be upon you before you know where you are.

As the mother of the bride, how you dress will be pretty much governed by your age, your size and your outlook and attitude towards fashion in general. Whilst many mothers of the bride tend to go for chiffony type dresses in pastel shades with matching accessories fitting in nicely with the color scheme of the wedding, there is another option open to you and that is wearing a suit.

Suits come in various forms, for example you may choose a dress and jacket suit or a skirt and jacket suit or for those who feel more confident with their legs under wraps, a pant suit may be just the job.

Of course, selecting a classy suit will not only mean that you look great on the day but you can also use the separates again at some time in the future, making a pleasant and practical change instead of putting the usual fluffy chiffon number at the back of your wardrobe for ever.

The first things you should think about when deciding what kind of suit to wear should be color, style and cost. If you have a no holes barred budget then the other choices will be easier to make but should still be given great thought, as what you choose has to flatter you in shade and design, no matter how much money you have to spend.

Ask your friends for their honest opinions about whether a dress or pant suit would be your best option and then start your search with a friend in tow. There are several places where you can buy mother of the bride suits. Check out your favorite designer and see what they have on offer. Many of the High Street shops sell absolutely fabulous separates which can be put together to make up the whole outfit and can be accessorized by way of converting your day wear into your evening attire for the occasion of the wedding.

If, however, you would rather find your wedding day suit from the comfort of your own home, you can look on the Internet and even with the most straightforward of searches, numerous websites will appear in front of your eyes for you to browse through at your convenience.

As an alternative, you could ask a dressmaker to call on you to discuss having your suit tailor made, ensuring a totally unique outfit for your mother of the bride role.

You can read more about mother of the bride suits on TheBridesHeart.com

A Bridal Survival Kit

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Your big day has arrived. You are getting ready and suddenly trouble happens. You develop a run in your pantyhose. What do you do? Do you send a bridesmaid to a nearby store? Your mother? How can you resolve this problem without delaying the wedding?

If you have a bridal survival kit all you have to do is get your spare pair of pantyhose and your back on track to get married.

Things happen even on the most perfect of days. All the planning in the world can't keep the little things from spoiling your special time. But there are things you can do to make your day go easier.

Purchase a small cloth bag, the kind you'd get for traveling to hold small items in your suitcase. Inside it put the following items:

1. 1 or 2 pair of pantyhose. Runs happen, especially when you're nervous already and trying to wiggle your way into them. Having a spare pair or two will help keep snags from ruining your day.

2. Clear nail polish. If you get a run in your pantyhose high enough you might be able to stop it from going further by placing a line of clear polish below it. Clear polish is also nice for touching up your manicure if you need to.

3. A needle and thread sewing kit. You can find pre-threaded multi-colored sewing kits at fabric and craft stores. Perfect for last minute rips and tears.

4. A travel size can of hairspray. Muggy weather, wind and even a little rain can mess up a beautiful hair style. You can fix almost any style with a little hairspray and a bit of patience.

5. Tissues and wet wipes. Tissues are needed for the tears that are sure to come. Wet wipes are crucial for spills or cleaning hands.

6. Touch up makeup. The lipstick, eye shadow, and blush you plan on wearing are nice to keep with you. Smudges happen and it's nice to be able to fix your makeup before you walk down the isle. You might want to have a bottle of foundation too, or powder, just in case too.

7. Headache medicine. The stress of getting ready and nerves have the making of a headache. Stopping a headache before it becomes full-blown will make your day nicer.

8. Gum, mints, or toothbrush and paste. No bride wants to enjoy her first kiss as wife with bad breath. And chewing gum can calm a nervous bride down before the ceremony.

9. A small pair of scissors to clip stray strings or trim a hangnail.

10. Safety pins in different sizes. Rips and tears can happen, and when time is of the essence, using a safety pin to close the tear might be easier than sewing it.

11. A few bobby pins in case of hair disasters. Bobby pins are great for keeping the veil in place too.

12. Small first aid kit. Cuts and scrapes can happen and taking care of it before the ceremony will keep you from having an infection later on. Or getting blood on your beautiful wedding dress.

13. Tampons or napkins. Stress can bring on a menstrual period even if it's not your time. Being prepared is better than being surprised.

You want your wedding day to run smooth. But there is no guarantee it will. By being prepared with a few emergency supplies, your day will be a wonderful day.

Dawn Arkin is a writer who loves to plan and attend weddings. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.Prye.Com/ which is a site for Wedding Invitations.

Great Wedding Speeches - Father of the Bride Speech Tips

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Your daughter's wedding day is such a special day - not just for her and her new husband, but for their families and friends as well. It can be difficult to find the right words to express how proud of her you are and how much you are hoping for her future happiness. Of all the wedding speeches, the Father of the Bride speech is one of the most meaningful and when done correctly can be a wonderful blend of both sentimental and funny.

Here are some tips for writing and giving a speech that will not only make your daughter proud, but that will create another lasting memory of her wedding day that she can cherish for years to come.

1. Speak from your heart and don't worry so much about the other stuff. One of the best ways to guarantee a great speech is if you write it from your heart. Not only will your speech have greater impact, but it will mean a lot more to your daughter too. Remember that saying "the right thing" is less important than saying something meaningful.

2. Be sure to thank everyone for coming. Your speech is a great opportunity to thank all of the guests for coming. If you have guests who have travelled a long way to be at the wedding you can even mention them specifically to let them know how much you appreciate the effort they made to get there.

3. Welcome your new son-in-law and his family to you family. Be sure to let your new son-in-law know that you are happy to have him as a member of your family.

4. Tell a story or two about your daughter. Talk about memories that the two of your have together or memories you have from when she was little. Or, you may want to talk about how she and her new husband met. Funny stories and sentimental stories are both great for this, but try to mix it up a little so your speech is not too funny or too sentimental.

Also, keep in mind that looking over examples of other wedding speeches can really help you to organize your thoughts and feel more confident about your own speech. It can also be very helpful to have a guide to writing a Father of the Bride speech [http://www.fatherofthebridespeeches.info] to take you through the process and help you get your thoughts together so you know exactly the right thing to say.

For examples of speeches and a complete guide on how you can write your inspirational speech for your daughter's wedding, please visit [http://www.fatherofthebridespeeches.info]

Good luck and have fun!

Things to Think About When Creating a Father of the Bride Speech

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Wow, I have two daughters and even though I do not feel as though I have a huge problem with speaking in public, I definitely dread this speech. Not because I think I will feel as though I am losing one of my daughters or anything, I just think it will be an emotional time for me.

With that being said, I think others do as well. I could sit here and tell you what you should write, but then it would not be heart felt. So instead I will just give my thoughts to you on how I think I will be approaching this situation.

First off, everyone is going expect me to be emotional. I probably will be and for that reason, I think it is probably best to try and keep it short. Also, I tend to think that it is the responsibilities of the Best Man and Maid of Honor to deliver the childhood stories. Not it is simply inappropriate, but I am just making the point that it probably is not necessary.

With that said, I personally do feel that I will be approaching this with a sincere heart from the beginning. I don't believe that after other speeches have been given that will likely have humorous content that I would need to bring additional jokes to lighten up the mood.

Another thing to think about is that you should always put something nice about the groom in there as well. Everyone already knows that you hope that your daughter is treated well by him, so there is no need to be Mr. Tough Dad and try to put threats in your speech. I think saying a few nice kind words about him is always appropriate.

Just remember, there is nothing wrong with keep this speech short. In fact, it is probably expected by most of the people listening in on what you are saying.

Get your Father of the Bride Speech ready in no time! For more great tips on writing a wedding speech visit http://www.iDoWeddingToasts.com.