Fun and Unique Wedding Cake Toppers

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Wedding couple bobbleheads? Cake toppers have come a long way since the traditional bride and groom, cherubs, doves and wedding bells. Now they are full of charm and romance and are a delightful new collectible whose popularity is on the rise. They can be made out of plastic, paper, hand-blown glass, metal or polymer clay, and are usually between 6" to 7.5" to fit on the wedding cake.

Most online websites offer Caucasian, Hispanic and African-American brides and grooms, as well as inter racial couples. They also offer various Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, and Marine groom cake tops. Baseball, basketball, football, fishermen, golfers and hockey players (as well as pro and college teams) are well represented. And for professionals, there are cake tops for firemen, airline pilots, doctors, mail carriers, cooks, plumbers and many more.

These are some of the more comical cake tops we found while searching the Internet:

o Frankenstein Bride and Groom
o Naked Couple
o Bald Groom
o Ball and Chain
o Groom on a Short Leash
o Cow, Frog, and Dolphin Bride and Groom
o Pet Attendants

A new type of cake topper collectible is hand sculpted from polymer clay to resemble the bride and groom. You will need to send pictures (full front, full profile and full body) so they can make the personalized clay figures in your likeness. The price for this service is approximately $169 but is sure to be an attention getter as well as a cherished keepsake.

Another custom made wedding cake topper that is carefully created from your photos is the Wedding Couple Bobbleheads. Each one is specially made including 3D modeling of the face and head, including hair, eye and skin color. Currently one company offers the traditional bride and groom, a dancing couple, fireman couple, and military couple. They are 7-8 inches tall and cost $189.

Kathleen Mary is the owner of Beautiful Bridal specializing in discount tiaras, veils, bridal and bridesmaid jewelry. Visit our blog for wedding planning tips and money saving ideas.

Making My Bride Happy

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If you are about to get married and you are getting a lot of pressure from your wife to be, its probably because she is so stressed out about her wedding day. She is feeling all the pressure of making everything perfect. Well this shouldn't be a stressful day either of you, this should be a time for both you to relax and focus on where you are going to go for your honeymoon.

Reality check, this doesn't usually happen, what happens is she winds up trying to all of this here self. So here is how you solve this problem. You take some of the load of her and you place it somewhere else. How, you ask, well you should first start by appointing jobs to your wedding crew. Who are they, this is no other then your groomsmen and her bridesmaids. This could be people coming to the wedding your parents for instance, this should be a stress free time and they will understand and probably love the ideal that you want to make them part of the creation of your wedding day.

So where to begin, well you should start with your parents find something that they can do that wont take away from her parents, but should be almost as important. This is a critical decision because you are getting them in involved with this and you don't want any hard feelings about not getting to do certain things.

Know you should start with her bridesmaids next, they will be the easiest to convince to help out. Girls love this kind of stuff and will have open arms to the ideal of helping their friend prepare for her wedding day.

Now here is the tricky part how to get your friends to help. Well you should first start with your best man he will probably be the easiest to convince, but then there is your groomsmen. They may be a little harder to get to join the project some just figure they are their for support and may not have time to help or not feel they should help. I think you could convince them other wise.

This is just some ideas of what you could do to relieve stress for you and your bride.

You can find more ideals that will help you with relieving stress from your wedding day Go to Groomsmen Gifts [http://www.mybridalfavor.com] or she could go to Bridesmaid Gifts [http://www.mybridalfavor.com] To get some great ideals for your wedding like a Flask for the Groom or a Money clip with his name engraved on the front. If you need ideals for your Wedding Favors [http://www.mybridalfavor.com] go to My Bridal Favor.

Bride and Bridesmaid Flip Flops

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There was a time when flip-flops would be viewed with derision, because they were considered as informal, pieces of footwear that should only be worn to suitably informal locations like the beach or a garden party, at best. Some of us will still recall the commotion that was caused if some members of the North-western Women's Lacrosse team arrived at an official White House reception in casual sandals which critics derisively called them 'flip-flops'. Well, that was just as 2005, but the humble flip-flop has come a long way since then. This article and others that follow are to show how these casual sandals are not just respectable, but favored attire for all sorts formal occasions, such as weddings.

Humble origins

In truth flip-flops have originally not enjoyed an elevated position. This maybe because flip-flops are a type of thong sandal (though not the only kind) usually made of rubber, and is not a very fashionable substance, don't you think? However, there are also many very classy thong sandals, which aren't labeled flip-flops. By definition, therefore, flip-flops are a casual, slightly derided sandals that are easy to get in and out of, and easy to transport.

On bridal demand

Despite all of that, though, flip-flops are some of the most popular footwear items these days, and not just among the trendy people who want to dress unusually. In fact, proof of the increasing respectability of these sandals is their popularity as bridal foot attire. Many women who have suffered through a conventional wedding will testify to the hours of agonizing pain that a bride must go through in her stylish, traditional, shiny bridal pumps or agonizing stilettos. Not only must she walk and dance with these on, but she must also smile through it all. It is not a wonder, then, that brides have welcomed the idea of wearing casual sandals to their weddings with a vengeance, especially if the wedding in regard is not exactly the walking down the aisle variety.

Universal access

That is not to say that casual sandals should be undesirable in a church wedding, however it is correct that bridal flip-flops are more desirable at a beach wedding, perhaps, or a garden wedding. But to whatever type of wedding {ceremony} venue they are worn, flip-flops dp create a spontaneous atmosphere that encourages guests to relax and appreciate the wedding ceremony. In keeping with their popularity at weddings, bridal flip-flops are now available in more fashionable avatars, which means they can easily be used to church weddings, no worries at all. So if you are in the market bridal footwear, do not be at all amazed if the shop employee recommends casual sandals set with semi-precious stones, or decorated with sequins or beads.

Price rules

Maybe the number one thing about flip-flops, wedding or otherwise, is their very low price range. So much so, you can get rubber flip-flops for as low as a dollar, although you might want to spend a bit more than that on your wedding pair. If that is the case, you might have to spend all of five dollars at most. For sure, as soon as designers spot a good thing, its cost increases, so you can really splurge on a pair of designer flip-flops, though that is strictly a case of personal choice.

http://brideflipflops.net/ is a place to find out about having - and buying fashionable flip flops for a wedding.

Wedding Etiquette for the Father of the Bride

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So your little girl is getting married - congratulations! Being the father of the bride is a joyful occasion, although it can also be a little hard to get used to the idea of your daughter growing up and becoming a wife. Learn everything you need to know about your role with this primer on wedding etiquette for the father of the bride.

The first thing that the father of the bride should do when his daughter becomes engaged is to extend an invitation to the parents of the groom. If the bride's parents are still married, they would do this together, but if they are not, the father of the bride should make the effort to reach out to the groom's family on his own. A dinner or brunch is the usual way to spend a little time getting to know the other family. Be sure to tell the groom's parents how happy you are that your daughter will be marrying their son. By the way, this initial meeting is definitely not the time to bring up potentially controversial topics, such as how much everyone intends to chip in for the wedding or differences of religion.

Another very important piece of etiquette advice for the father of the bride is that he should publicly support his daughter's choice of spouse, no matter what his private reservations about the match may be. Of course, any dad would talk to his daughter directly if he fears that her fiance is violent or unstable, but other than that, it is not his choice to make. In many cases, the bride's father simply needs to take the time to get to better know his future son-in-law, and will come to appreciate his fine qualities just as the bride does. When that day comes, you don't want to have previous negative comments floating out there, waiting for the day when someone indiscreet repeats them to your daughter or her husband.

Traditional wedding etiquette states that the father of the bride pays for all of the ceremony and reception expenses, with the exception of the wedding rings and the bride's bouquet. These days, however, it is more common for the wedding costs to be spread around between both of the bride's parents, the groom's parents, and the couple themselves. The bride's father should be clear with his daughter from the start of the wedding planning process what he can afford to contribute, whether it is paying for the entire wedding, paying for certain expenses, or giving the couple a set sum of money towards the wedding which they can add into their total wedding budget.

Another piece of etiquette the bride's father should know is that it is customary for him to give a wedding gift to the bride and groom. Again, if the bride's parents are still together, it would be a joint gift, but if they are divorced, the bride's dad would give a gift on his own (or with his new spouse if he has remarried). The wedding gift can be anything from the deed to a house to a cash for the honeymoon to a silver picture frame engraved with the wedding date. The size of the wedding present depends on the father's budget and it need not be extravagant; what really matters is that it is from the heart. Many fathers also choose to give their daughters a special piece of wedding jewelry such as a pearl necklace. A classic present like a pearl necklace is ideal, because it will be cherished as a sentimental gift from father to daughter for a lifetime.

What other etiquette does the father of the bride need to know? He should plan to walk his daughter down the aisle, do a spotlight dance with her at the reception, and give a toast to the couple at the rehearsal dinner and the wedding reception. Beyond that, the bride's dad pretty much just needs to dress as his daughter requests and show up to the wedding on time with a smile on his face.

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 http://silverlandjewelry.com/. A pearl necklace, bracelet, or pair of earrings makes the perfect gift for a bride. Order today and receive complimentary shipping on any jewelry order over $99.

The Corpse Bride Halloween Ideas

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Are you tired of wearing a Princess dresses and looking like everybody else? Princess characters are really hip every Halloween and other costume parties. Thus, making people want to wear them. I hope no one would argue when I say that they are already cliché. It is fun to have one princess in a party, but with everybody wearing it, there's no fun in that. Here are some unique Corpse Bride ideas that would surely catch people's attention this November.

1. The Wedding Gown.

The wedding gown is the most important props with the costume. There are a lot of different kinds of wedding gowns. They have different cuts and each cut presents a different character. If you wear a fluffy gown, you would look like princess - than a corpse in a bridal gown. What makes a wedding gown that of a Corpse is the simplicity, yet curvy cut of the wedding gown. If you have seen the Corpse Bride, she is actually just wearing a tube wedding dress with a slit. It is not those fluffy chiffon wedding dress.

2. The Hair

If you have a long dark colored hair, let it dangle. However, if you have the light colored hair, tie it up. It is good to have a lot of blue streaks in your dangling hair. You could use hair extensions that you could just pin in your hair and let it dangle. Avoid using temporary hair colors because it might stain your white gown.

3. The Props

The bride will never be complete without the bouquet. Black roses are rare, but they really make best props for the corpse bride. There are actually flower shops which sell black roses. You could even try the online costume stores which sell the complete ensemble of The Corpse Bride Costume.

Another Prop is the skeleton Dog. There are actually costumes which sells skeleton dresses for your puppies. If you happen to own a dog, it is better to complete your effect by getting those skeleton dresses for dogs in puppies which you could get from online costume stores or department stores.

Check these cute Adult Corpse Bride Halloween Costumes and be unique this coming Halloween. Perfect your Halloween Corpse Bride Costume with these Corpse Bride Dog Costumes for your little puppy.

Mother of the Bride Gifts - Mother of the Groom Gifts

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Your wedding is one of the most memorable and meaningful days in your life. You have been dreaming of it for a lifetime. But, remember, so has your mom. As a mom, we look forward to the day our children get married. We want their wedding day to be a wonderful event. Remember to not forget to take time to not only thank your parents for the monetary contributions to your wedding but, more importantly, take time to thank them for helping you become the person you are today.

Your wedding day is certainly about you and your groom. But, it is also the appropriate time to thank those who have walked beside you your entire life. Whether it be your parents, your siblings, your grandparents or close friends, honor them at this time, with a special and meaningful, keepsake gift. Giving a gift to the mother of the bride or mother of the groom does not have to break the bank. It should be a gift from the heart. Below are just a few ideas of inexpensive ways to say thank you.

Keepsake Wedding Hankies

There are a number of different styles available. Some can be embroidered with a name or date. Others come with a special poem card. They are available for mother of the bride, mother of the groom, grandmother, and grandfather.

Keepsake Frames

Keepsake frames are great gifts to give to parents of the bride and groom. Find a frame that can be engraved or personalized with your names and wedding date. Insert a special photo of you and your mom or let her know she can insert a wedding photo in the frame. Some frames are available with engraved poems and they allow you to include a short message as well.

Mother Daughter Jewelry

Special keepsake jewelry is available that includes a heart-felt message. Some styles come in a set so that both you and your mom have a bracelet while others are just for mom. Mother Daughter jewelry items are available in many different price points so you are sure to find one that fits your budget.

Thank you Note

Write a thank you note to your mom or dad. Sometimes it is easier to write things down than to say them aloud. Why not give them a true gift from the heart and tell them in words just what their love really means to you. It is truly a gift that will be kept in a very special place, and treasured for years to come. Seeing a child get married is a very important day in the life of a parent. Be sure to honor your parents with a gift from the heart.

Visit http://www.abernook.com for unique gift ideas including keepsake wedding gifts.

"Something Old" For the Bride

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Every bride who wants to ensure the best possible start to her marriage is familiar with the old saying, "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue". The new part is easy, but what about the old? Take a look at this list of suggestions that you can use.

The reason behind wearing something old for your wedding is to have a link to your heritage. It is even better if the old item has particular sentimental value to you or to the person from whom you get it. Brides will often start with their families when they are seeking out old items, but if nothing inherited presents itself, it is perfectly fine to seek out a vintage item to add to your wedding ensemble.

The most traditional something old is your mother's wedding gown. Sentimental value aside, many brides initially shudder at the thought of wearing their mom's old wedding dress (especially if she was married in the 1970s!), but do not be so quick to dismiss it out of hand. If your mother is willing, it is often possible to dramatically overhaul a vintage wedding gown to give it a more contemporary flair. Not only will you be fulfilling the "something old" requirement, but you will end up with a one-of-a-kind gown in the process.

If this simply is not your style, another nice idea is to steal a little piece of lace or fabric from your mother's wedding gown to incorporate into your bridal ensemble. A bit of lace could be stitched to the inside of your train, or you could use a larger piece of fabric from your mom's wedding dress to make a little drawstring purse to carry your essentials. Some brides might prefer not to wear their mom's gown, but might be able to work with her veil. Don't forget to ask your grandmother, as well. She may just have a gorgeous handmade Belgian lace veil tucked away in her attic just waiting for you to wear it.

Another popular and sentimental choice for the bride's something old is family jewelry. Many a bride has worn her mother's strand of pearls on her wedding day. When you are planning to wear an antique or vintage piece of jewelry, be sure to have a reputable jeweler inspect it before the big day. It is very common for older pieces to need a little maintenance, like re-stringing a pearl strand. Often brides will choose one heirloom piece of wedding jewelry to wear in combination with a new piece of handcrafted bridal jewelry. You can have a pair of earrings or a necklace handcrafted especially to coordinate with the vintage bridal jewelry to add your own style to your accessories.

Vintage jewelry doesn't always have to be worn on your body to qualify as your "something old". An antique brooch looks wonderful pinned to the ribbon wrapped around the stems of the flowers in your bouquet. If there is not a spectacular heirloom brooch in your family, it is easy enough to track one down in an antique store, flea market, or online. You might even find this detail to be so pretty that you want to find vintage brooches to adorn the bridesmaids' bouquets as well.

Almost anything can count as your "something old", though ideally it would have sentimental meaning or at least be very beautiful. It is wonderful to have this connection to your heritage or to brides from the past. Paying homage to the past is a great way to launch your new future.

Laura helps brides with their wedding plans by offering advice on selecting bridesmaids gifts,reception ideas and other aspects of planning a wedding. Handcrafted bridal jewelry can be custom made to coordinate with your wedding gown, as well as your other bridal accessories.

Rude Bride - Polite Bride

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There are lots of questions that arise while planning a wedding, and many of them center around etiquette. Most of the other questions seem to be about how to fit everything into a budget that the bride and groom can afford. Between those two categories, there are plenty of issues that may crop up. Here are some of the most common wedding dilemmas, and how they would be handled by a rude bride or a polite bride.

Dilemma No. 1: The wedding budget is tight, and something will have to be cut to make it all work out. The rude bride will cut things that do not benefit her personally, like bridesmaid jewelry gifts and wedding favors. The polite bride will keep the things which are gifts to others like the bridesmaid jewelry, and will instead trim her budget in ways that affect only her, such as forgoing the limo or doing her own manicure at home.

Dilemma No. 2: The quotes for the catering and bar bills are sky high. The rude bride will try to push the costs of refreshments onto her guests by having a cash bar or "inviting" her guests to a restaurant following the ceremony but expecting everyone to pay their own way. Another rude tactic is to skip adequate food and drinks, such as serving a small selection of appetizers at a time of day when guests can reasonably expect a full meal. The polite bride knows that hospitality means graciously hosting her guests in whatever manner she can afford. That might mean having a smaller guest list to be able to afford a proper dinner, or it could mean having a simple cake and punch reception in the church hall for a very large group. The polite bride makes the comfort of her guests a top priority.

Dilemma No. 3: A bridesmaid gets pregnant and will be in her third trimester by the time the wedding rolls around. The rude bride will unceremoniously kick the pregnant bridesmaid out of her wedding party. What if she draws attention away from the bride on the wedding day? And who wants a bridesmaid that cannot fit into a size 2 dress anyway? The polite bride, on the other hand, will put the comfort of her bridesmaid above having a perfectly matched set of attendants. She will encourage her friend to remain in the bridal party if she feels up to it, or will graciously allow the pregnant bridesmaid to bow out if that is her preference. The polite bride will offer her friend an alternate role of honor if she cannot serve as a bridesmaid, such as a ceremony reader.

Dilemma No. 4: The bride and groom cannot scrape up enough money for a really great honeymoon. The rude bride will try to get her guests to pay for her wedding trip by demanding cash instead of wedding gifts. Some brides will even try to shake down the guests at the reception by having a money tree or dollar dance with the bride (yes, I know it is customary in certain cultures, but if yours is not one of them, it is just plain rude!). The polite bride will not expect her guests to finance her honeymoon. She will plan the trip that she and her fiance can afford at that time, even if it is just one night in a nice hotel, and will save up for a more lavish honeymoon on their six month or one year anniversary.

So you see, there are always at least two ways to approach any wedding planning dilemma that comes your way. Just ask yourself what the polite bride would do, and you will know that you are on the right track!

Ask Bridget for advice in areas of jewelry or weddings. She writes numerous articles providing information for the customers of http://silverlandjewelry.com/. Treat your wedding party to beautiful gifts of bridesmaid jewelry to show your appreciation. All jewelry orders over $99 receive free shipping as our gift to you.

Book Review For "Runaway Bride"

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Book Review for "Runaway Bride"
Written by: Rita Hestand
Desert Breeze Publishing
ISBN: 1-936000-33-4
Ebook Format
$5.99
4 Stars

Hestand crafts a sweet, poignant romance about the power of love in her latest release, "Runaway Bride." Savannah Kingsley comes from a rich family, but she has a lot to learn about herself and love before she's ready to get married.

Hestand drops the reader in the middle of Savannah's problems. Her BMW breaks down in the middle of rural Texas and she's forced to hop on a bus to get to the next town after skipping out on her own wedding. Enter Ben Hogg. As he watches Savannah get on the bus his attraction is immediate. Despite Savannah's disheveled appearance Ben offers to help her.

Savannah stays with Ben until she's able to put together a short-term plan with what she wants to do with her life. Despite their strong attraction, Savannah and Ben both have trust issues. Can Ben tame Savannah's restless heart, or will he break it into a thousand pieces?

The plot moves at a nice clip, slowing down in just the right places to let the reader breathe. Savannah is a likable heroine and I like the thought put into her name - evoking a southern royalty feel. It gives insight into her character. Savannah's parents have done almost everything for her from paying for college, getting her a job, and even picking out the man she was going to marry. Savannah's shock at finding her fiancé with someone else on her wedding day is just the stimulus she needs to take charge of her life and her discoveries are discoveries readers can identify and sympathize with.

Ben is also a likable hero. As the sheriff of Junction, he's honest, genuine, and cares about the people he serves. Hestand brings out complexities in subtle ways. He likes flowers which shows a softer side to him, yet his ex-wife hurt him badly. Ben embodies the quintessential southern lawman right down to his name. Hestand has painted rich characters in "Runaway Bride" and it shows.

Hestand's writing style is easy to read and leaves the reader flipping the pages wanting to find out what happens next. The heat factor is "sweet" to "sensual," ranging from steamy kisses to seductive touches which are tastefully done.

Hestand does a good job with her dialogue. It moves the story forward and feels genuine. "Runaway Bride" doesn't run from anything. It's a journey about discovery and the things Savannah learns about herself are heartwarming, heart breaking, and real. Overall, "Runaway Bride" is a solid character driven romance.

StephB is an author who likes to read many books and a variety of different genres. StephB is an author at http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Creative Writing.

Plus Size Mother of the Bride Dresses

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Your daughter's wedding is one of the happiest days of your life and it is only normal that you would want to look your best for them on that day. For many full figured women this can be a time of unneeded stress based on the difficulty of finding plus size mother of the bride dresses. Naturally, you need to make sure that not only do you like your dress, but that it also fits in with the other outfits that are being worn at the wedding. You do not want to be wearing a dress that will not look good with the bride's dress. Although you want to look as good as possible it is not a good idea to wear something that is too over the top because you do not want to take the limelight away from the bride.

Stylish rather than flamboyant is usually the best way for plus size mother of the bride dresses so that you look really good but you do not take away from the big day. The best way is to choose your dress with your daughter so that there will not be a disagreement after you have bought it. And if she doesn't like the dress that you want there are a lot more dresses out there that will keep her happy as this it her day. There is bound to be a dress that you both like and that fits in with the other dresses for the bride and the bridesmaids. Even if it takes a bit longer to find it is worth it so that things go smoothly.

But even if you are trying as hard as you can to fit in, if you are looking for plus size mother of the bride dresses then there might not be as many different dresses as you or your daughter would like. There are a lot more specialist stores around these days and a lot of the major stores have started to stock more plus sizes, so there should be something that you like that goes well with the theme of the wedding and fits a full figure.

If the bridesmaid's dresses are being made to order, then it could be an idea to get them to make something for you as well, so that it fits in with the theme of the wedding but is different from the other dresses. The easiest way to do this is to see if the shop also makes plus size mother of the bride dresses. This would also let your daughter help with the choice allowing you the comfort of knowing that she will be happy with it. In the end everybody will be happy and you would have a great dress that was made for you and fits in with the theme of the wedding. But whatever you choose, make sure that you get a good dress that makes you look great and don't forget to allow plenty of time before the wedding so that you know that you have your dress all finished and there are no last minute hitches, that way you can relax and enjoy the wedding.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of FabulousPlusSizeClothing.com He provides more information on plus size lingerie, dresses and plus size mother of the bride dresses that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

Mother of the Bride Dresses

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Your daughter is getting married. She has the perfect wedding gown. The flowers in the church are beautiful. The gowns of the bridesmaids are stunning. But you may be forgetting something-your own dress for the wedding. Being the mother of the bride, you can expect that all eyes will also be on you and what you are wearing. It is therefore important that you pick the perfect dress for your daughter's special day.

Choosing a beautiful mother of the bride dress depends on the vision of your daughter with regard to her wedding. You must pick a dress that is both stunning and comfortable as you will need to go around the reception area to welcome the guests that your daughter may be too busy to entertain.

Coordination

One of the most important things that you should consider in picking out your dress is that you need to coordinate your choice with the other dresses that will be worn in the wedding. It is very important that your dress will not clash with or outshine your daughter's wedding gown. To do this, it would be a good idea to apply the saying, "less is more."

Choose simple designs for your dress. Simplicity implies elegance and class, and the good thing about it is that you will not direct all the attention to you. Another detail that you may want to look into is the dress that the groom's mother will be wearing. Doing so will prevent an awkward situation where both the mothers of the couple are wearing the same dress.

Bridal Dresses provides detailed information on Bridal Dresses, Bridal Shops, Bridal Bouquets, Bridal Registry and more. Bridal Dresses is affiliated with Discount Bridal Gowns.

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].

Wedding Speeches Father Of The Bride

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"When my daughter announced she planned to marry the groom I thought I had better carry out some background checks. So I went to his local police station and asked if he was well behaved. The sergeant behind the desk was very reassuring. Apparently they never had any bother with him whenever he spent the night there."

Somehow you can get away with very corny jokes at a wedding; jokes that would fall very flat at any other venue. Perhaps it is that often half the crowd doesn't know the other half. Or perhaps it is that everybody is trying very hard to be polite, and make it a happy day for the bride and groom. But really, I think it's often more likely that most guests have already had "one too many" and will laugh at anything that's said, even a very modest attempt at humor.

The father of the bride traditionally has a special place at weddings. Most likely this is because he was usually expected to be the host and foot the bill for the reception in times past. Shades of another tradition in some cultures and older times of paying a dowry, and the daughter leaving home to live with the groom's family, I suppose. The bill is often spread around a little more widely between the families these days. But it is still a wrench for a father to see his beautiful daughter leave home to live with her new partner. It's the public "giving your daughter away" tradition that makes it even worse. Many a father of the bride has secretly quickly wiped away a tear or two at his daughter's wedding.

This special place for the bride's father sometimes means he gets the role of master of ceremonies for his daughter's wedding, and must step in from time to time and say a few words to keep the occasion moving along. Sometimes this role goes to the best man, to another guest who is an able speaker, or even to a professional entertainer, if the budget stretches that far.

Whether or not he is the master of ceremonies, the father of the bride is usually expected to give a short speech at the reception. The pattern is fairly well established by tradition:

1. A few opening lines, perhaps with some humor to get everyone's attention.

2. Thanks to the guests for coming and to the supportive people behind the organization of the event.

3. Some comments about the day so far, such as flattering comments directed to the ladies.

4. A few personal comments about how it feels to be father of the bride.

5. A few affectionate words on the bride.

6. Perhaps some comment on how the romance started and blossomed into the marriage.

7. A welcome to the family for the groom.

8. Some comments on the couple's plans, a few words of wisdom and advice, and best wishes for their future together.

9. A toast (or two), to the couple and their future, and perhaps to mention absent relatives and friends.

10. A few closing lines, often as the host wishing everyone a pleasant time for the remainder of the festivities.

Putting together a successful speech comes easy to some, but it can be a big help to get a professionally prepared draft and checklist to work off. After all, giving a father of the bride wedding speech may only happen once or twice in the lives of most fathers. And there are few things worse than being told afterwards by the bride's mother that you completely forgot to mention Aunty Mildred's hard work icing the wedding cake!

Save yourself the stress of writing a wedding speech from scratch. Discover more about how to prepare a father of the bride speech Find how you can get low cost pre-prepared wedding speeches for the father of the bride and other key members of the wedding party, as well as tips how to overcome public speaking fear.

Ideas For the Bride's "Something Borrowed"

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We all know the old saying "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue". The "new" part is a snap, because the bride will have plenty of newly purchased things to wear, but what about the "borrowed"? These are some ideas on what you can choose for your "something borrowed" to ensure the best possible luck on your wedding day and for your marriage.

Ideally, the "something borrowed" should come from a happily married woman. The idea behind the old superstition is that you are not only borrowing her belonging, but her good fortune as well. The articles are intended to be worn on the bride's person, so it would not do to borrow a set of toasting glasses or a cake server.

One of the nicest ideas for the "something borrowed" is jewelry. Many people will combine two of the things from the old rhyme, so if you want to borrow something that is also blue, for instance, that would work out beautifully. Bridal jewelry sets are frequently loaned by the sister of the bride. If your sister's wedding jewelry suite happens to be created from a combination of white pearls with blue Swarovski crystal accents, so much the better. Sometimes brides prefer not to wear the exact same sets of bridal jewelry as a close friend or relative, so you could always think about borrowing just a necklace and putting your own personal stamp on it with a unique pair of earrings.

Veils are one of the most popular items for a bride to borrow. Chances are that you have plenty of people who could loan you a veil, from recently married friends to your mother or grandmother. Antique veils are a gorgeous accent for modern wedding gowns, even if they do not match perfectly. It is often entirely possible to make changes to a borrowed veil to help it coordinate better with your gown (assuming that the original bride does not mind, of course). Long veils can be shortened (by having a seamstress cut off the top, then re-gather the tulle and attach to a new comb), single layer veils can have a blusher or a tier added, and embellishments can be added. A plain tulle veil can be completely transformed with the addition of a scattering of twinkling crystals or by stitching on a ribbon or lace trim border.

Working with the idea that the bride should wear the borrowed item, it is often considered to be good enough for her to carry it down the aisle, even if it is not an article of clothing. To this end, you can ask around for sentimental things that can be incorporated into your bouquet. Your grandmother's beautiful lace hankie could be wrapped around the handle of your bouquet. Another idea is to add a fun detail tucked within the flowers, such as a butterfly or bird brooch borrowed from your mother. The florist can wire it to peek out from the blossoms, which would be a lovely whimsical touch.

Something else that you could borrow to carry would be a small family Bible or prayer book. Although most brides these days carry floral bouquets, tradition has always held that a white Bible is a suitable alternative to carry down the aisle. Decorate the Bible with a small spray of white flowers, and you will have both your "something old" and your "something borrowed" taken care of at the same time.

Finding ways to get "your something old, something blue, something borrowed, and something blue" is a fun part of planning a wedding. It is a neat old custom that almost every bride still decides to follow. After all, who couldn't use a little extra happiness and good luck?

Let us know if you need assistance in any area of planning your wedding. Take advantage of Bridget's experience helping clients select jewelry and accessories. Beautiful sets of bridal jewelry will become treasured family heirlooms.

The Bride's Mother

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The mother of the bride holds a very special place with the bride on her wedding day. Her mere presence lends the bride an air of confidence that mom is nearby just as she has always been. The sense of security coming from the certainty of a love from her mom will stay forever with a young woman raised with guidance, love and even friendship.

The seeds planted by moms reach down several generations. Girls learn how to be first women, then moms from their own mothers giving mothers the enormous obligation of doing the right thing by their daughters. Giving of their time and energy to teach their daughters and show them by example the way to becoming good and secure women is the most most important job a mom can have. Stories of strong, loving, capable women guide daughters, granddaughters and even great granddaughters through the years.

Never, ever underestimate the power a mother in a the life of a woman. Mom does not have to be model beautiful, famous or enormously wealthy. The simple acts of listening to a venting daughter, providing emotional shelter in difficult times or sitting quietly nearby may leave in her daughter an unshakable sense of security.

The mother/daughter relationship is as complex as it is beautiful. Daughters take it as criticism, mothers see it as I've been there, I know. They're both right. Looking back years later, daughter will see their mom as only wanting to make life easier for her and mom will realize the need to let her daughter experience life by making her own mistakes. Getting to that point, however, may have been a most interesting journey.

Every day is the time for expressions of gratitude from bride to mom and mom to bride, but never more so than on wedding days. Pride in the beauty of her daughter and the choices she has made to bring her to this day come full circle. The bride may have chosen a different road to this day, but it was her road to choose. The mother of the bride who is secure in her own skin will respect the choices her daughter has made. A confident daughter will see her mom for exactly who she is, a woman who loves her children and can be counted in any situation. Mother and daughter sharing this day with each other in their own way can be all the thanks each one of them needs.

Mother of the Bride

Anne Dunne is an online author and marketer.
Visit her site at http://www.Mothers-Everything.com for sites on topics of interest to mothers, young and old, and women, single or attached.

Perfume For The Bride

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As well as looking beautiful, every bride needs to smell beautiful with an aroma that reflects the charm of her special day. After all, fragrance is romantic and sends a message of love's alchemy to those around her.

Aromatherapy, as a title, may have been invented in our time, but the idea of it is as old as the humankind. The Song of Solomon 4:11 says: Your lips drip honey, my bride. Honey and milk are under your tongue. The fragrance of your clothing is like the fragrance of Lebanon.

In the Old Testament, nard is named as the symbol of a bride's love. Horace offered to send Virgil a whole barrel of his best wine in exchange for a phial of nard oil for its legendary aroma. Nard is a plant from the Himalayan foothills, and from its roots, fragrant oils are extracted. It is named Jatamansi in Sanskrit.

The ancient Egyptians, also, were extremely fond of perfumes, and they produced expensive perfumes meant for the elite class, believing that Gods loved their smell. Egyptians went to great lengths to make their perfumes last for decades and even centuries. Accordingly, perfumes came into use in all ceremonies, including the wedding ceremony for bringing the favor of the gods on the couple.

The scent of almond oil and the fragrant almond blossoms made the Roman bride beam. After the wedding, the Romans showered the couple with almonds to promote fertility.

Rose Water, first distilled in the ninth century in Arabia, had been the perfume of choice for the bride in the Ottoman Empire and the Middle East. It is still used in isolated small towns in that area.

The fair maidens of the Elizabethan period romanticized the herbs like lavender, thyme, sage, and rosemary, as the bride's headdress. The brides also carried the herbs like the bridal bouquet in their hands. Afterwards, in the Victorian era, flowers replaced the herbs, and the brides took a liking to the scents of flowers.

In India and its surrounding countries, brides may still use incense on their clothes, and during the wedding ceremony, incense is offered abundantly to the bride and the wedding guests. Basic ingredients of incense are rose water, aloe, henna, sandalwood and ambergris.

A wedding is an emotional experience especially for the bride. Since fragrances seem to affect people's moods, the perfume of the bride has to enhance her delight and enjoyment of the wedding day. Even if her perfume does not secure perfection for her life, it can treat her stress and smooth her way through the wedding ceremony. This must be one of the reasons the prince of Monaco had a special perfume made for his bride, Grace Kelly, to wear on their wedding day.

Some perfume companies, too, create signature scents for each bride now, while others use totally organic means to make their perfumes. The bride's perfume, however, need not be expensive, but it has to fit her personality and the theme of the ceremony.

A few weeks before the wedding date, provided that the bride and the people in the wedding party are not allergic to perfume, the bride should select a fragrance suitable to her liking and to the occasion. The bride's perfume should agree with the smell of the flowers and the scented candles if they are being used as decorations. If the bride is carrying a bouquet of roses, her perfume may have a hint of the scent of roses. If her bouquet is of mixed flowers, this can be accentuated with a light flowery scent.

The idea of a special fragrance for the wedding day is an adventure, since the scent of the bride will express many aspects of her personality. The perfume for the bride, therefore, is another momentous issue for the wedding day.

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.Prye.Com/ which is a site for Wedding Invitations.

Joy Cagil is an author on http://www.Writing.Com

Mother of the Bride Gowns

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There appears to be a wide range of Mother of the Bride Gowns these days for the luxury or expensive end of the market, aimed at, dare I say, those posh stylish weddings that cost half the national debt. However, not everyone has the budget to splash out on designer fashions which are more often than not the most expensive gowns available.

So what to choose if you are helping your daughter to plan for a budget wedding without compromising on style and elegance?

1. You don't want to outshine your daughter, after all it is her fairytale wedding and you'll want to enjoy her being in the limelight and the centre of attention, so discuss the colour scheme with her before you start hunting for the ideal outfit.

2. Together decide on a colour or hue within the chosen theme, one which you know will complement your skin colouring, your daughter will want to see you looking your best on her big day and you don't want to feel or look washed out.

3. Decide upon a style to have in mind before you start gown hunting. Having a style in mind will keep your eye from wandering towards styles that won't suit you and avoid the temptation to buy something you really won't like when you get it home,

4. If you are a firm figured, younger mother of the bride all gowns will no doubt look fabulous on you, so go for the style that you know suits you best but ensure you don't look as young as the bride.

5. For the more mature mother of the bride choose gowns that are sophisticated in cut and shape, not too figure hugging and perhaps pay attention to your neck, upper arms, tummy and thigh areas and look for a style that either covers those troublesome spots or can be worn with a jacket or wrap.

6. Instead of buying your gown why not hire one for the day or why not visit a charity shop in your nearest affluent area, where bargains on designer wear can be easily found for the budget conscious.

7. Need a hat? Borrow one from a friend if possible, or again, rent one out for the day. Don't forget to match the hat colour to your gown, in fact take your gown with you to make sure that you are matched to perfection.

8. Finish off with jewellery, a handbag and shoes, again colour match to your gown and hat if you have one, to avoid a clashing catastrophe.

9. Do check in with your daughter if she hasn't been shopping with you, just to make sure she is really pleased with your choices, which will make you feel great too.

10. If you think smart you will be able to find Mother of the Bride Gowns in a variety of places or you could buy affordable separates from a good high street store, add some clever accessorizing and you can jazz up the plainest of gowns.

These are my 10 top tips for choosing "Mother of the Bride Gowns" on a budget.

Enjoy your shopping experience and your daughter's big day with style and elegance.

Melinda Barton is an Internationally recognized wedding planner and author of the book Wedding Planning Secrets. She has given several TV and radio appearances and is passionate about helping everyone succeed in their desire to have the best wedding through simple and easy to use wedding planning secrets.

Great Bridal Shower Gift Basket Ideas!

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Looking for a bridal shower gift idea? Have you considered a fun, unique gift basket filled with personalized merchandise? Theme gift baskets can be an exciting and budget conscious way to show the bride how much you care about her. Look no further than the following list, which outlines our top picks for unique bridal shower gift baskets.

1. Wedding day survival "kit": there is no better way to ease away the bride's wedding day jitters than by giving her this fun "kit" which contains a wedding planner, hair accessories, a miniature wedding dress sewing kit, and a bottle of lavender bubble bath to soothe away those wedding day worries. A survival kit is the perfect way to let the bride know that you'll be there for her to help her get through the big day.

2. Personalized candy gift basket: if the bride has a sweet tooth, give her these tasty bridal shower gift baskets filled with fun personalized candy kisses, chocolates, and miniatures. Don't forget to select a personalized saying that reflects the love between bride and groom. Add a pair of chocolate covered strawberries decorated to resemble the bride and groom for an even more delicious gift!

3. Home spa basket: sensual bath and "spa" treatments are just what the bride needs to get ready for her big day. This gift basket is stuffed with scented bubble baths, soaps, foot scrub, and luxurious massage lotions, as well as a miniature back massager, foot scrubber, pedicure kit, and lavender scented bath pillow.

4. Baking basket: if the bride loves to bake or wants to learn how, a baking basket is the perfect choice. Include a recipe book, an assortment of baking pans and cookie cutters. You can also throw in some pre-packaged muffin mixes for those times when baking from scratch is not an option!

5. Honeymoon survival basket: find out where the happy couple are going for their honeymoon, then pack up some travel necessities. Some possible items to include are: tote bag, sunscreen, tourbooks, travelling snacks, and travel games.

Remember to keep your gift basket contents family friendly, especially if the shower is going to include the family members of the bride or groom. You might think it's funny, but the bride might not think the same way when she opens a package of flimsy lingerie in front of her mother or future mother-in-law. Trust me, I've been there!

To make your gift basket even more special, you can decorate it with ribbons and tissue that match the wedding colors chosen by the bride and groom.

Bridal showers are notable moments for every bride-to-be. See us today for more creative tips on wedding shower games and free printable bridal shower invitations

"Bride Wars" - The Friendship!

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The movie Bride Wars is a predictable but fun movie about two lifelong friends who get engaged at the same time. As their wedding plans progress, their friendship starts to fall apart. It is a great movie to remind brides about what is really important in life.

In the Bride Wars, we meet two women living in New York who have been friends since they were girls growing up together in New Jersey. Liv, played by Kate Hudson, is a Type A go-getter, with a successful law career. Her best friend Emma (Anne Hathaway) is a mild mannered beauty who teaches middle school. The girls are such close friends that their relationship means at least as much, if not more, than the ones they have with their boyfriends.

The defining moment of Liv and Emma's friendship is when their mothers took them to tea at the Plaza Hotel when they were young girls. They witnessed a wedding taking place, and right then and there they both decided that the only wedding worth having is a June wedding at the Plaza. The radiant bride dropped a piece of her hair bridal jewelry - a blue flower hairpin- and it became a treasured momento for both Emma and Liv.

Fast forward two decades, and both women are living in New York with their serious boyfriends. Their friendship is as strong as ever, and when Liv discovers that she is about to become engaged (she find the little blue box!), Emma could not be more thrilled to be her maid of honor for what they both expect will be the most perfect wedding ever. However, before Liv's boyfriend can actually pop the question, Emma's boyfriend proposes to her. This sets off instant jealousy in Liv, and you can see the beginning of the competitive spark that will nearly destroy their friendship.

Once Liv gets her ring, both ladies trot off to the most fabulous wedding planner in New York, who tells them that there are two dates available for June weddings at the Plaza - perfect! However, trouble ensues when the planner's assistant accidentally books both weddings on the same date. Suddenly the two best friends in the world become bitter rivals, as neither one is willing to change her wedding to another date or venue and abandon the dream of the June wedding at the Plaza.

Much ugliness ensues as the two enraged brides attempt to sabotage each other's big day. The tricks run from a spray tan disaster to blue highlights the week before the wedding. There is also a wild bachelorette party showdown, not to mention a dirty trick to make sure that Liv will gain too much weight to fit into her Vera Wang gown. The two girls are forced to find other people to be their maids of honor, and also manage to frighten their fiances with their catty behavior.

Along the way, each bride learns something important about herself. Liv discovers that she does not have to try to be perfect at all times, and that it is okay to be human. Emma realizes that being a people-pleaser means that she pleases everyone but herself. As she develops a backbone, Emma also comes to realize (spoiler alert!) that her fiance is not the right man for her.

In the end, what both characters come to realize is that they are incomplete without the other. At the end of the movie, Emma presents Liv with the little blue piece of bridal hair jewelry that had started their wedding obsession, and she walks her best friend down the aisle. It is a very sweet moment, and both girls see that life's most special moments are meaningless if they are not shared with the ones that you love.

Laura is interested in wedding planning and wedding trends including jewelry,receptions and gifts. Bridal jewelry is a great way to express your individuality.

Should a Bride Hide Her Tattoos?

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Every generation of brides faces unique questions as they prepare for their weddings. When our mothers got married, it was probably something like, "Can I get away with a bridal gown with bare shoulders for a church wedding?". For a lot of today's brides, the overwhelming dilemma is what to do about her tattoos; should she show them, hide them, or what? These are some of the considerations to help you decide.

There are several different approaches that women take to their tattoos. There are those who love them, have many, and consider their ink to be a major part of who they are. This article isn't really for those brides; they already know that they will be showing their tattoos. This article is for the other type of tattooed bride, the one who is more casual about tattoos, has only one or two, and perhaps even has never shown her tattoos to her family. This is the bride who feels conflicted about the tattoo dilemma.

One of the biggest issues in the tattoo dilemma often involves the mother of the bride. Most moms are not interested in seeing body art on their daughters during the wedding ceremony. Sometimes this can present an opportunity for compromise. The bride agrees to cover her ink for the ceremony, but does not hide it for the reception. This can be a good solution, particularly if the wedding ceremony is going to be traditional.

If you decide to hide a tattoo for the ceremony, there are a few ways in which it can be done, depending on where it is. One possibility is to get special tattoo covering makeup. The effectiveness of this tactic will depend on the size and color of the tattoo. This can be an option for tattoos that are in hard to cover places such as hands or arms. Do be aware that makeup can tend to smear, especially after a night on the dance floor.

Tattoos on the back of the shoulder are very popular, and they can be concealed for the ceremony with a shrug worn over the bridal gown. Even a full veil will help to soften the look of a tattoo on the upper back. On the other hand, if you prefer not to cover a back tattoo, it is important to choose a gown that works well with the design. To be avoided is any kind of strap that will cut the image in half. Open backs look much better than divided or half hidden tattoos.

A cool way to hide a tattoo on the wrist or neck is with custom bridal jewelry. An extra wide bracelet created from rows of crystals and pearls will add style to your bridal ensemble as well as hiding a wrist tattoo. If the body art you wish to cover is on the neck, then custom bridal jewelry in the form of a beautiful choker will do the trick. The great part is that you will get some fabulous jewelry as well as getting the look that you want for your wedding.

The decision of whether or not to hide a tattoo for your wedding is an entirely personal one, although family and social pressure will often come into play, as well. Ultimately, each bride has to make the choice that will make her happy, while showing respect for her family and their customs. And remember, if you decide to conceal a tattoo, be sure to do it completely, but if you prefer to let it be seen, go ahead and really showcase it.

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. Special body adornments have always been important in every society, from the classic pearl bridal jewelry of a traditional bride to the unique tattoos of cutting edge brides.

Bride's Special Gift For Her Maid of Honor and Bridesmaids

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The wedding will not be complete without the presence and assistance of the bridesmaids and especially the maid of honor. The maid of honor and the bridesmaids have contributed a lot in the wedding preparation as well. Much to the bride's delight, you can't deny the big help the maid of honor and the bridesmaids have been a big help in preparing a one of the kind wedding of the bride. The usherettes one see during the wedding were not only there to help entertain the guests, believe or not they have been with the bride most of the time with the bride during the wedding preparation. It is pertinent to give the maid of honor and the bridesmaids the wedding tokens as a way of showing how grateful the bride is for their big help. The entourage has played a major role in your wedding preparation so read along to see what will help before you buy your tokens for them:

Choose Useful Gifts

The gift you choose does not have to be truly expensive. Find time to get a very desirable gift but not being so obsessive compulsive about it. Never take pride of your gift when you think it is not going to be functional, remember that simple gifts are often appreciated because of their use and the way it was given to them. The gifts should come from your heart so it does not matter where the gifts came from or how you got them. The value of the gift is not the way to measure your loyalty and gratefulness for your maid of honor and bridesmaids. The value of the gift is on how it was given to them by the bride. This is true, isn't it?

Spend Money Wisely For the Tokens

Giving simple gifts mean it doesn't have to be pricey. They understand that you are on a budget so do not try so hard to please them with an expensive gift. And they would not let you spend for them, wouldn't they? Remember that your budget is limited and this means being in control when you are shopping for the tokens. The stores have a lot of things to entice you so be in control.

Cheap Gifts Does Not Mean Unattractive

Some of your bridesmaids have been with other weddings already so make sure that you give them something pretty too. The tokens you give must have an individuality so they have a reason to be thankful too when they get their presents. Make your gift inexpensive but truly enjoyable by getting them a free massage or coffee or hair pampering voucher.

Harrison Fray is has a life time eagerness by way of wedding ceremonies and also romantic relationship matters. He could help you to make your mind up on the best bridal party gifts for very reasonable prices and along with simple yet perfect fashion. Harrison also can assist on selecting the suitable groomsmen gifts. Go take a look at Go Wedding Gifts to see just what exactly Harrison advises.

Wedding Tips For the Bride

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Wedding is the most important event in one's life but the fact remains that this wedding will be the one which will give you a maximum of stress and a whole lot of sleepless nights.

The reason being that generally wedding is such a grand affair and there are so many aspects to a wedding that it will be impossible to find one such thing which you can leave to others. Yes without doubt you will need the help of others but then since it is your wedding you will have to make the maximum effort and try not to get stressed out.

Here are some of my wedding tips so that you can enjoy the wedding planning process as opposed to having to gloomily do everything.

Timing is of essence so make sure that you start planning the wedding very early and that will mean that start planning the wedding probably a year in advance. This assumes all the more importance if you are having a destination wedding.

Wedding dresses is another thing which will take time especially the wedding dress for the bride. So start searching for a wedding dress as soon as your engagement is done and it will give you sufficient time for searching a good dress and getting the alterations done.

Next make sure that you have sent the save the date cards to all the guests and also you have finalized the guest list.

If you are planning on taking the help of a wedding planner then make sure that the wedding planner is available to you in time. Almost all the good wedding planers have booking well in advance of two years so make sure that you finalize the dates of the wedding based on the availability of the wedding planner.

Then if you are planning on having a wedding at a distant place then try to fly there at least once and see for yourself what kind of hotels are available and even if that place has wedding packages available. That is a must as the destination weddings will generally cost you a lot more. Also an important point to note is that ask for wedding coordinator at the wedding day and talk to him or her on a regular basis regarding all the arrangement to be done.

Arrive at the venue a few days earlier and that way you will be able to take care of any last minute wedding arrangements.

The author designs for weddings and suggests wedding decorations that are unique and help people who are searching for wedding decorations ideas.

Mother of the Bride Gifts

The mother of the bride is a very special part of a wedding. After all, she is the woman who raised a little girl and helped her to become a grown woman on the brink of starting a new life with her husband. The bride's mother is usually the one person who will be there throughout the whole wedding planning process, helping with decisions, suggestions, and chances are, with money. Thank your mom for all that she has done with a very special mother of the bride gift.

It is a very thoughtful gesture for the bride and groom to arrange for a bottle of fine Champagne to be chilling in the hotel rooms of their parents when they check in. That is a festive way to kick off the wedding weekend, and no doubt will be appreciated by both sets of parents. As wonderful as Champagne is though, you will probably still want to pick another, more personal gift for the mother of the bride.

One of the most personal gifts is jewelry. It would be very sweet of the bride to give her mother beautiful wedding jewelry as a thank you. The bride's mother will be delighted to receive a lovely new necklace or pair of earrings to wear as wedding jewelry. Pearls are always a timeless choice. For a fantastic twist on an old favorite, give your mom a stunning strand of black or multi colored pearls. If you think that your mother's outfit could use a little more pizazz, then give her the gift of handcrafted Swarovksi crystal jewelry.

Monogrammed items also make a great gift for moms. A handsome piece of luggage with her initials could be a good choice. Also consider sterling silver items, such as picture frames, that can be personalized. A frame is a great idea if you fill it with a great picture of the two of you together.

Mothers often cherish time spent with their daughters more than anything else in the world. Take a break from your hectic wedding planning to devote an afternoon or an evening to your mother. The bride could take her mom to a spa for some pre-wedding pampering, like a pedicure or a hot stone massage. Another nice idea would be to go to tea together in a fancy restaurant, or to take your mother someplace elegant for dinner, just the two of you.

A mother-daughter activity is the perfect time to give your mother of the bride gift. Be sure to include a sappy note about how much her love and support has meant to you over the years. If appropriate, the bride could also mention what wonderful role models her parents have been for how to have a good marriage. A sentimental note will mean a lot to your mother.

Being the mother of the bride is a special time. It is not always easy, as emotions can run high and money can run tight, but it is a time in the mother-daughter relationship unlike any other. Planning a wedding together can bring the pair closer together (assuming they are still speaking by the end!). Plan on showing your mother how much you appreciate her with a very special mother of the bride gift.

Finding the whole process of weddings and all the planning that goes into planning one, Laura writes about many of the considerations that brides have to deal with. Mother of the Bride gifts should be beautiful and personal.

Mother of the Bride Speeches - Etiquette

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What is the order of the speeches and where does the bride's mother's speech fit into the proceedings?

The speeches at any wedding have a traditional and well accepted order.

First to speak is always the father of the bride, followed by the groom. The speeches culminate with what should be the highlight of this part of the ceremony, the best man's speech.

Like all traditions, as time goes by, they must change and flex to meet the demands of more modern times. One of these changes can clearly be seen at many weddings in the way that speeches are delivered.

From our old, and thankfully pretty much extinct, Victorian values where men and women were not considered equals it would be the men who gave the speeches and toasts. Thankfully we now live in more enlightened times and brides, mothers and even the matron of honour and bridesmaids can be seen giving speeches at weddings.

So the new order, so to speak, is father of the bride, mother of the bride, groom, bride, matron of honour, any other speeches and finally the best man. In our modern world of single parent families, divorce and even the sadness of death or illness it may be that the mother of the bride is in fact playing the role of father of the bride. In this case the mother of the bride would present the first speech as in the traditional order.

Whatever the order and the number of speakers it is imperative that the master of ceremonies or best man is clear on the subject as it will be their job to introduce the speakers and maintain the correct order and flow.

As the mother of the bride you will already have many weeks or months of wedding planning. You will be assisting your daughter to help make her wedding day the one she has always dreamed about and you will probably have little time to spare. You may well like some assistance with your mother of the bride wedding speech and many other duties that the role brings. Please take a look at the help available to you by clicking on the link above and, whatever your final arrangements I sincerely hope that this wedding is the wedding of your dreams.

Mother of the Bride Speeches - Easily Compose Your Special Message Right Away!

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Composing a spectacular mother of the bride speech is tough for many people. With my exposure about this area, I have heard different forms of justification why producing fantastic speeches is hard. When I tried to give this a closer look, I found two things which serve as hindrances to many mothers of brides in giving a winning wedding speech. I show these observations before you today, so you'll recognize what to avoid and help you write a speech easily:

People Are Not Putting Enough Efforts Regarding The Preparations




• Preparing means reviewing great mother of the bride speech and toast samples.





• Preparation comprises of writing several drafts of mother of the bride speeches for later finalization.





• Preparing includes looking for tips about voice modulation, posture and facial expression, as well.





• Preparing also includes looking for tips on overcoming fear in public speaking.





• Carefully select stories which focus on the relationship of your daughter and the bridegroom, as well.





• Preparation includes choosing a hilarious story which is non-biased or will not offend a particular person, entity and religion.





• Remember to include a wedding quotation expressing your best wishes as a parent for the newly-weds' future.





• This preparing also often means making the necessary arrangements to ensure that, as a wedding speaker, you will be able to arrive early in the place of the wedding program.

People Are Not Applying What They Learned




• Have you in actuality read your mother of the bride wedding speech out aloud to hear how it sounds and the possible effect it will make?





• Have you tried actually practicing to deliver your mother of bride special message while suppressing your unwanted mannerisms?





• Have you actually practiced delivering your speech using the right facial expression or tone of voice you plan on doing during the wedding itself?





• Have you really practiced speaking, and taken consideration of which aspects to modify or delete altogether, so it will become better?





• Have you made necessary arrangements to guarantee that you will be early on the venue to be able to double check that everything related to your speech delivery is ready?

What if there is an online resource which can address all your mother of the bride speech and toast writing needs? I am talking about http://www.bestmotherofthebridespeeches.com/! More than the home of exclusive and professionally written samples of wedding speeches and toasts, this site also contains hilarious one-liners, touching wedding quotations and detailed guide in improving confidence in public speaking. Get your exclusive package of mother of the bride speech and toast samples today!

The Father of the Bride Toast - Common Mistakes to Avoid

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The father of the bride toast holds great importance on a wedding day. It is usually the first speech to be given during the reception, so it sets the tone for the rest of the evening. It is expected to be a meaningful, heartfelt, and bittersweet moment that will live on in the memories of all the wedding guests.

Not everyone's father of the bride toast turns out like that, however. Here are some common mistakes you should avoid.

• Avoid talking for too long and hogging the spotlight. Keep your speech short and simple!

• Don't rush through your speech, either. It makes you look like you just want to get your toast over with.

• Don't make up your father of the bride toast on the spot. Plan out your words in advance, and write a few drafts. Being well-prepared is worth it.

• Don't use crude or offensive language. Remember, there are most likely children present.

• Don't tell embarrassing stories about the bride, or appear to ridicule her in any way. Playful pokes and prods are okay, but don't go overboard.

• Avoid getting drunk before making your father of the bride toast. This is a recipe for disaster!

• Don't be nervous! Just take a deep breath, relax, and try to have a good time. The audience wants to hear what you have to say.

These are just a few of the common pitfalls people make when writing and giving a father of the bride toast. Please take the time to put proper thought and care into your speech. It will show!

When my own daughter married last year, I was panic-stricken at the thought of preparing a toast and speaking in front of all those people! I thought for sure that I was going to succumb to many of these common mistakes. I had no idea how to write a good father of the bride toast.

Fortunately, though, I found a great resource called Father Bride Speeches that not only helped me conquer my writer's block and write a sincere and crowd-pleasing speech, but it contained lots of helpful tips and advice that allowed me to calm down and approach the mic with courage and confidence.

If you are at all in doubt of your ability to write and deliver a stunning father of the bride toast, I highly recommend visiting Father Bride Speeches!

Mother of the Bride Wedding Speech

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Giving wedding ceremony speeches is a high-pressure situation for many people. It is usually a tense situation since a person has to stand in front of a large gathering of people as they keenly wait to hear good things about the bride and the groom. It can be a challenging experience, but it is also possible to give a stunning speech that will leave a mark on every body present for the occasion. During a wedding reception, usually the bride's mother is offered a chance deliver a short wedding speech for her daughter. Being prepared to give the mother of the bride wedding speech will make it easier to for the bride's mother to deliver a well-prepared short wedding speech.

How to Offer Mother of the Bride Wedding Speech
The first thing to remember when giving a mother of the bride wedding speech is to thank the guests present. After all, the success of the event depends on the guests' arrival for the occasion. It is usually appropriate to mention some names of primary sponsors that one believes have helped make the occasion a success.

The mother of the bride wedding speech should also contain advice for the newly married couple. The mother has experience in life as a married person and she is aware of the difficulties that come with marriage. The mother should feel free to share some advice that she has gathered throughout her years as a married person. During the mother of the bride wedding speech, it is an excellent opportunity to formally, welcome the bridegroom in the family. This will also make the bridegroom feel comfortable. During the wedding ceremony speech, giving a simple invitation of "welcome to the family" can go a long way to show that he is part of the family and is fully accepted.

The mother of the bride wedding speech can be a sad time for the mother in expressing her "goodbyes" to her daughter. She should therefore avoid as much as possible thinking sad thoughts that may come out during the wedding ceremony speech. It will also help her to devote more time to talking rather than crying. Thinking overly sad thoughts may make delivering even a short wedding speech impossible ruining that part of the occasion. If the mother thinks, she will not be able to contain her tears, having a handkerchief handy can help.

The mother of the bride wedding speech should not be more than 5 minutes. Short wedding speeches will not bore the guest and such a speech will retain their attention. Finally, a toast to the newly weds will give the speech a nice finish.

There are many wedding speech examples online. A sample of the mother of the bride wedding speech should look like this:

"....As David and Charlotte begin their lives together; James and I both feel that we are not losing Charlotte, but entrusting her to David's good care! We feel we have gained a new son. When Charlotte first came to me to tell me she was getting married, I knew then that my little girl had grown up. She has been a blessing to my life and am sure she'll be the same to David. Congratulations to you both."

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Tacori Bridal Evening Hair Pin Featured in Bride Wars

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Tacori has now released to the public the Tacori Bridal evening hair pin which was specially designed for the movie "Bride Wars". Anne Hathaway as her character Emma, wore the hair pin in her wedding scenes set in the Plaza Hotel, and it is perfect as the "something blue" for any bride.

This particular Tacori bridal hair pin is a handmade delicate blue flower with a white center. The stone flower is created using faceted jade and looks a little like a "forget-me-not" flower. The five petals are blue jade surrounding a central circle of white jade. The delicately sparkling stamen rising out of the center are cleverly crafted from sterling silver. The flower is set upon a handcrafted and worked solid sterling silver hair pin.

The Tacori wedding hair accessory would look just as fantastic on a bride with an up-do, or with her hair out.

"Something borrowed, something blue, something old, something new." A great advantage of this type of bridal accessory is the fact that it can instantly become a family heirloom. The gem stones and sterling silver are going to look just as great on your daughter in years to come as the old and borrowed, as they will on you now, new and blue.

Tacori bridal evening hair accessories are also available in other floral designs and colors. There are several 4 petal styles to select from. There is a range of bridal appropriate colors including a very elegant white, crafted from white topaz, mother of pearl and Swarovski crystal. For the bride looking for a little subtle splash of color there is an absolutely exquisite 4 petal flower in a very soft peach created from freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystal.

There is also a white 5 petal flower hair pin extremely similar in design to the featured blue from "Bride Wars". This flower features white petals made from mother of pearls with a white topaz center and Swarovski crystals for a little subtle sparkle.

As with any Tacori jewelry or Tacori wedding accessory, these hair pins are entirely crafted by hand by qualified artisans in the United States.

Tacori bridal evening accessories are also available as tiaras, brooches, necklaces, and earrings.

Your Tacori retailer can arrange a special order for the Tacori blue floral bridal hair pin. At the time of publication the price was approximately $93.

Mae Smith is the webmaster of http://www.rokstok.com where you can design your own engagement rings or custom handcrafted jewelry and shop for Tacori settings prices when viewing our Tacori rings, jewelry, and wedding rings or make your own custom jewelry.

The 10 Most Unique Wedding Entrance Songs of All Time

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For weddings, you just believe that the bride will be entering to the same, old, traditional, "Bridal March" or "Here Comes the Bride" song. For most couples that are planning their wedding, this is not a song they truly like, however wedding entrance songs are nearly never discussed. Many couples through the ages have done precisely the same thing. In today's weddings, the couples believe they are a unique couple and many of the younger generation want unique wedding entrance songs.

The 10 most unique wedding entrance songs are a matter of flavor, but most of them are still a bit on the conservative side, just more contemporary in fashion. For instance, "Love Train" by The O'Jays or "Celebration" by Kool and The Gang were well-known songs a couple decades ago and every generation knows them, so they would be among unique wedding songs.

They have lyrics and music that can get a crowd dancing, but it might shock grandma to see the bride coming down the aisle to this. Don't be surprised to see her clapping by the time you get to the altar, though. They can make a wedding fun, take the stress off and for the right couples, with outgoing personalities, they can make their wedding an pleasant and memorable event. Certainly, it will be unique, too.

"Heaven Must Have Sent You" by Bonnie Pointer or "I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You" by Savage Garden are a couple of amorous songs that make appropriate, yet special wedding songs, for instance. You have to think of personal taste and the guests, so most brides and grooms have older relatives to consider.

That's not to say that some don't pick something on the other extreme for unique entrance songs. Romantic songs that say how you feel about each other can make superb wedding entrance songs and some couples always refer to it as "our song". After all, it's a day of expressing your love to each other, even if the complete wedding guests doesn't necessarily see it the same way.

"St. Elmo's Fire" by John Parr or "2001 Space Odyssey Theme" by Richard Strauss are unique wedding entrance songs that are mainly effective for night-time, outdoor theme weddings, official contemporary weddings and you can use special effects, such as tiki torches or a disco ball to complete the theme. Picking great wedding songs are simpler, if you have a special theme to your wedding.

"It Had to Be You" by Harry Connick, Jr. or "The Best Is Yet to Come" by Frank Sinatra will be crowd pleasing, unique wedding entrance songs for all ages. The elderly relatives will in particular love them and for reflective weddings, they express romance, love and individuality.

Of course, for the most unique wedding entrance songs, "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osborne or "Tribal Dance" by 2 Unlimited fit the bill for some couples. These are not for everybody, but some of the younger hip-hop crowd, or the heavy metal rockers might enjoy wedding entrance songs like these, so don't be shocked if you know somebody that mentions them.

When it comes to wedding entrance songs, these ten most unique wedding songs are a example. It is pretty much dictated by the tune that most signifies the way you want your day to be remembered.

Daniel De Henney has been a wedding planner for the last twenty years. During these years, he has accumulated a great wealth of experience and helpful tips, which he shares on his well-known blog Wedding Songs First Dance. Check it out to find more practical advice on how to find the best wedding entrance songs and related wedding topics, including one of the best resources for free wedding songs samples.

Father Of The Bride (Movie Review)

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A remake of a classic 1950 Spencer Tracy movie, Father Of The Bride is Steve Martin at his best. A fun comedy the entire family can enjoy, Father Of The Bride is great entertainment. When the daughter of George and Nina Banks announces her engagement, Nina is thrilled - but George has a difficult time handling the life changes that accompany his only daughter growing up for good. One of Steven Martin's funniest films, this is one movie you won't want to miss...

George Banks (Steve Martin) lives the perfect life. He has a great job, a nice house, a beautiful loving wife Nina (Diane Keaton), and two great kids. But George's world is shattered when his 21-year-old daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams) returns home from college to announce she's engaged. Her fiancée, Bryan MacKenzie (George Newbern), is a great guy, but when he puts his hand on Annie's leg, all sorts of feelings and emotions erupt inside George. It isn't her choice of a marriage partner, but rather her decision to get married at all that bothers George. He wants his little girl to remain a little girl forever, and he must now face the fact that he can't control the changes in his ideal world...

Father Of The Bride offers a number of hilarious scenes as plans for the wedding go forward. Annie and Nina hire an extremely feminine male wedding planner, Franck Eggelhoffer (Martin Short), whose annoying accent and take-charge attitude continuously rub George the wrong way. Deciding to have the wedding at the family home, the Banks's daily lives are turned upside down by all the last minute changes and typical pitfalls of an impending wedding. These comic sequences leading up to the big event are responsible for most of the humor and hilarity in the film (especially Martin Short's character). But will the wedding go off as planned? Will George come to accept his daughter's growing up? Or will she break off her engagement to Bryan? Father Of The Bride is a touching, romantic comedy you'll never forget.

Steve Martin stars as his usual likeable self, utilizing great body language and years of experience in the comic realm in order to provide the perfect likeness of a father in just such a situation. Not too over the top, and quite believable in every way, Father Of The Bride stands in stark contrast to the comedies of today which tend to go way overboard in their attempts to be funny. Outlandish comedies have their place, but sometimes its nice to able to laugh without having to suspend your sense of reality first. Father Of The Bride does well in this respect - similar to Christmas Vacation.

Overall, Father Of The Bride is a light-hearted family comedy with quite a bit of charm. Steve Martin and Diane Keaton form a likeable married couple, and the middle-class family life projected by the Banks family is something with which most viewers can identify. Because of its feel-good, light-hearted humor, Father Of The Bride is a definite must-see movie... Don't miss it!

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a movie review site [http://thedvdreport.blogspot.com] where you can find more reviews like this one of the Father Of The Bride (DVD) Review [http://thedvdreport.blogspot.com/2006/02/father-of-bride-dvd.html].