The History of Mail Order Brides

Image : http://www.flickr.com

The mail order bride system commonly in place today is by no means a new one. It is said that the early settlers of the American continent, the major portion of whom were men, were not able to not find brides in their own country. Therefore, they had to turn to Europe with the expectation of securing a bride. Many years later, during the World War 2, American GIs started writing love letters to women they had never met with the same expectation in mind. Arranged marriages in this fashion have been carried out for thousands of years and they continue to be a common way for people to be married.

In the early 1980s, it was seen that there was an increased tendency for Western men to look beyond their own country to find their soul mate. This was done, as the western men believed that extending their search would speed up the whole process of meeting that special someone, ensuring a perfect match.

Early on, Asian women were predominantly the ones advertising themselves as mail order brides, with Thailand and the Philippines being the main countries involved. The false notion of the typical mail order bride transaction being a Westerner buying an Asian woman stems from these origins.

The fall of the Iron Curtain saw the creation of a completely new resource of mail order brides, looking for the possibilities of meeting a Westerner with a view to settle down. The number of Russian brides that participate in the mail order system has greatly increased in last few years.

Initially, the mail order bride system was paper catalogue-based, which were often printed only once. This was a more limited way for people to interact.

The introduction of the Internet in the 1990s revolutionized the mail order bride system, making introductions faster, easier and reliable. This system was more time-efficient and enjoyable than the earlier one, as well as attracted a substantial number of affluent men.

The future of the mail order bride system seems geared to move online entirely. This system is becoming an increasingly popular mode of meeting people, ideally suited to the time, lifestyles and resultant expectations of both parties.

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].

Nice Things to Do For Brides

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Being a bride-to-be is a magical time in a woman's life. It can be an even more special and meaningful time if the people in her life take a moment to do something nice for her. Whether you are looking for a small idea to brighten her day or a grand gesture to take her breath away, here are some suggestions for nice things to do for brides.

The type of nice thing that you can do for the bride in your life will depend on who she is to you. For instance, if you are a co-worker of the bride, you could offer to cover her desk for an hour one afternoon so she can run out to a meeting with the caterer. Or if you see a funny cartoon in the New Yorker about weddings, clip it out and tape it to her computer to start her day off with a smile. These are small gestures that will go a long way towards bringing a smile to the face of a frazzled bride.

There are plenty of sweet things that the bride's friends can do for her. Time is one thing that almost all women in the midst of planning a wedding find to be in short supply. The bride's friends could help to put some more hours back in her day by taking on the occasional task for her. Perhaps you could run down to the stationery store and pick up the invitations for her. Or maybe you could go online and do some research on the best honeymoon resorts in her favorite destination. These are kind things that you can do for a friend that will not cost you more than a little bit of your time.

Speaking of time, time spent with good friends is something that any bride would appreciate. Maybe you could carve out an afternoon to meet with prospective florists with her (something the groom probably is not volunteering to help with). Or perhaps you could show up on her door with a new dvd, a bag of popcorn, and a bottle of wine. A trip to the local nail salon for pedicures is always a fun thing that girlfriends can do together, or maybe you would like to get together for brunch on a Sunday morning.

The groom can also do quite a few nice things for his future wife, some of which may be expensive, and others which are free. The number one thing that you can do is to lend her your ear. You may find the minutia of wedding planning to be deathly dull, but she doesn't have to know that. Even if you would rather be doing something else, give her your undivided attention for a few minutes a day to go over all that wedding stuff. It will really make her feel like you care about the wedding, and by extension, about your relationship.

Of course, there are many other sweet ways that the groom can brighten his bride's day. Surprise her with a gift, like a set of bridal jewelry, when she is least expecting it. You can cook her a romantic dinner and present the bridal jewelry with dessert. There is nothing better than doing something special for someone for no reason except to say, "I love you".

Planning a wedding can be a taxing job, and a few kind gestures from her family and friends will go a long way towards helping the bride to relax. It is a memorable time, and the little things that you do for the bride in your life will become a cherished part of her wedding memories. And isn't that what being a friend is all about?

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. Bridal jewelry makes a wonderful gift for the bride.

The Bride's Friendship Bag

Image : http://www.flickr.com

An old English tradition known as friendship balls has taken root in new form - the Bride's Friendship Bag. Friendship balls were passed from mother to daughter, friend to friend - on special occasions. These balls were filled with a favor and were only passed to someone very special.

This has been a great tradition passed down through time. A Bride's Friendship Bag is great spin-off on the way a bride can show appreciation to her wedding party members.

Many countries have different ways of giving favors - like Bulgaria, where they give a little basket with wheat and sweets or England where they give sugared almonds wrapped in a little material pouch. A Bride's Friendship Bag can be used in any country, regardless of its origins.

Fast forward to today - many brides still carry on this tradition by giving gifts in a Bride's Friendship Bag to their maid of honor, bridesmaids and close friends. The reason stands the same - showing appreciation and thanks for the person participating in your special day.

All maids of honor and bridesmaids love to receive a Brides Friendship Bag because it's not only a great gift for them, but they also see it as a big thank you for the part they played in your wedding day.

Many of those who receive the gifts tend to keep them as a keepsake to remind them of your special day, something to look back on and think of the wonderful memories your day brought to you and your guests.

You can put anything you want in your Bride's Friendship Bag. It can be as extravagant or as small as you wish. Maybe you want to put cosmetics or something small like chocolates and a card. In the end you know the people who will be receiving the bags so you know what they will like.

Although you don't have to give a Bride's Friendship Bag, it's a unique way to deliver your traditional wedding favors in a keepsake that stands apart from what brides do and most couples seek out ways that they can shine - whether it's through a unique wedding gown or the container in which they deliver their wedding favors.

If your interested in learning more about planning your wedding go to: Learn More [http://shaunkidd.com/recommends/yourwedding]

Tips For Petite Brides

Image : http://www.flickr.com

There are many wonderful things about being petite. You are dainty, you have adorable little feet, and you can buy your t-shirts at GapKids. However, when you start shopping for your wedding gown and related accessories, you may find that being petite poses a bit of a problem. With persistence, and a really good seamstress, you will be able to find a gown that fits your frame perfectly.

At 5'1", I found shopping for a bridal gown to be downright hilarious at times. It was hard to imagine if a dress would really look good once a foot of fabric was chopped off from the hem. Even standing on the pedestals at the bridal shop only helped so much. I had loved the look of dresses with a band of satin fabric around the hem until the bridal shop associate lifted it up to show me where it would be once the gown was hemmed for my height - there was practically no skirt left between the waistline and the satin trim! Also strictly off limits were any gowns with beading, embroidery, or lace embellishments on the hemline.

It is not only hemlines that pose a challenge for the petite bride. When trying on the sample dresses in bridal shops, you are likely to find that the waistlines hover somewhere in the vicinity of your knees. If you have a short torso like I do, it looks even sillier. In general, most petite brides will look best in gowns with a natural waist (hitting right at the smallest part of your waist), an empire waist (hitting right under the bust), or a princess seam gown (also known as a fit and flare style, there is no break at the waistline).

For a good fit, look for bridal gowns that can be ordered with custom measurements. Most of the fine designers allow the bridal shop to order a gown with an adjustment to the torso length, and with other specifications as well. Buying a wedding gown is not like buying a shirt or a pair of jeans; if it does not fit your body exactly, it will not look good at all, so it is worth it to do whatever it takes to get it adjusted to your frame.

Another option is to have a seamstress custom make a bridal gown especially for you. It is likely to be a more expensive option up front (and if it is not, be wary of the talent level of the seamstress). However, by the time that you have factored in custom measurements and the standard alterations on top of the price of a designer gown, you may be surprised at how close they are in cost. With a custom gown, you will be assured of a perfect fit.

Once you have found the perfect wedding gown, it is time to accessorize it. The accessories are easier because fit is not an issue, but you still want to pay attention to proportion. It should never look like your wedding jewelry, headpiece, and veil are wearing you instead of the other way around. Custom bridal jewelry is a wonderful option, because you can have bracelets made to fit smaller wrists, necklaces shortened as needed, and earrings made to be just the right length. When created from precious materials like Swarovski crystals, sterling silver, and freshwater pearls, custom bridal jewelry is as affordable as it is fabulous.

Headpieces for petite brides will look best when they are not overwhelming. Consider dainty tiaras, small clips, or hairpins. It may come as a surprise, but a long veil (at least floor length) is often a terrific choice for the petite bride, because it creates a long, uninterrupted line. If you prefer a shorter veil, be cautious about heavy borders that can visually cut you in half. Simpler is usually better.

Even though the process may be a bit more involved, every petite bride can find a wedding gown that is perfect for her style and size. It is all a matter of good proportion. And a petite bride does not have to wear high heels if she doesn't like them - you can always stand on a step above your groom for the pictures!

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. Custom bridal jewelry is perfect for any bride who loves unique and special jewelry.

Bride's Speeches

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Traditionally brides did not speak on their wedding day. Today it is accepted that brides should have their say. After all there are things that most brides would like to say.

A wedding day is a day for happiness and a happy bride should give a happy speech. Most of them want to thank their parents for their love and care. In expressing these thoughts a bride will make the day special for them too. If she has been welcomed by the groom's parents she may like to say how much they have come to mean to her. In doing so she will make their day too.

A bride may also wish to speak about her bridesmaids. They may be sisters or friends or a combination of both. She may refer to incidents she shared with them or things they have done for her. Quite often she will be thanking them for all their help in the busy period before the wedding.

Then too there are often people at the wedding who have helped her in some way and it is nice to mention them. Maybe her aunt made the wedding dress or a cousin did the flower arrangements. Perhaps a neighbour wrote the place card in beautiful calligraphy or a friend played the organ in the church. If someone goes out of their way to help the couple it is gracious to thank them.

Naturally the most important mention of all must go to her groom. She should express what he means to her and if she finds this difficult in public she can simply say how much she loves him and how she is looking forward to spending a lifetime with him.

He will love her for it.

The author has written so many articles on regarding all kinds of wedding speeches.

Bride's Wedding Speech Tips

Image : http://www.flickr.com

With all of the planning that goes into a wedding, it is easy to forget to prepare your bride's wedding day speech. This is a fairly new tradition so it is not easy to know exactly how to deliver this speech. This article is going to give you some ideas for writing the perfect bride's speech.

1. The first thing you should do is to thank your guests for joining you and your groom on this special day.

2. Next you should include a very special thank you to your parents. Try to add a few special memories from childhood such as your favorite vacation or most memorable birthday party.

3. You could include some humor by telling a funny story about your childhood in relation to your parents. This is a good ice breaker.

4. Thanks your new husband's parents for everything they have done for you by bringing their son into the word and welcoming you.

5. You can also share a story about how you met your husband and how much he means to you.

6. The last thing you may want to do is thank anyone who made an extra special contribution to your wedding. This could include the person who performed the ceremony, the person who helped you with all of the pre wedding planning and your family members who contributed special talents.

This article was an attempt to give you some tips for writing the perfect bride's speech. The most important thing to do is speak from your heart and enjoy yourself. This is your special day after all.

Angela Wade is a professional writer who researches and writes on a variety of topics.

There's no reason you should be worried about writing the perfect wedding speech. Click Here [http://www.product-advantage.com/weddingspeeches] to get the information you need to deliver the perfect wedding speech. Read our reviews of the best methods of writing your speech on our website [http://www.product-advantage.com/weddingspeeches]!

Making the Bride's Wedding Speech Fun and Memorable

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Brides are often too busy with all the preparations and planning for her big day. It would be hard for her to manage if she'll just rely on herself and her friends. Hiring a wedding planner would make things easier. This way, she won't be too stressed and this will also give her time to prepare for the little but important tasks. Guests look forwards to bride's wedding speech and ample preparation will make sure the listeners are not disappointed.

Start by gathering ideas, if you have too many ideas running through your head you can write them all down and just sort through them later. Write things that will mostly encourage the guests to listen and make sure you put in some ideas that will make them smile or even laugh. Think of something that will come out naturally and include ideas that makes sense. Don't feel pressured, keep your speech simple and memorable. Remember that bride's wedding speech are meant to express your feelings towards the wedding.

Before the big day, it is advisable to practice your speech. Bride's wedding speech are significant, the delivery should be nothing less than perfect. Rehearsing before the event will help to avoid committing mistakes during the actual moment.

At the day itself, start your speech by thanking your family and those who helped and participated to make that day possible. They deserve to be acknowledged and appreciated. Welcome the grooms family, this is a good start for you to get close to them. You can now share stories on how you've met, how the groom proposed, your future plans together, guests would love to hear your love story.

It would also be nice to recognize the presence of the wedding planner, thank her for helping you achieve the wedding of your dreams. Followed by your message for your husband, let him know how lucky and grateful you are to have him in your life. Finally, end it with a toast to your husband and to your new life as husband and wife. Again, thank everyone for, attending and making time to join you.

Any problems you have working on your speech can be helped with a wedding speech book The bride's wedding speech is often formal, but it's your wedding and it's up to you if you want it to lighten up the tone of your speech to make the ceremony lively. Check out http://www.weddingreception-speeches.com

Ideas For the Bride's "Something Borrowed"

Image : http://www.flickr.com

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

Image : http://www.flickr.com

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.

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

Image : http://www.flickr.com

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.

Mail Order Bride - Filipino Brides

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Have you ever attempted to get a mail order bride? Filipino brides are being sought for by many foreign men. But, it is not as easy as you think it is, especially when the Philippines came out with a law against unlawful practice of coupling Filipinas with men from abroad who have different backgrounds and cultures. This law was approved sometime in June 30 of 1990. It is the hope of this law to protect women from the Philippines who are being paired up with foreigners.

The government simply wants to prevent exploitation and sexual harassment, which might lead to a very ugly outcome. Precaution is also essential to both parties. But then, there are also success stories. There are so many couples who met in this set-up, that are now still happily married. If this is your aim too, then the tips below might help you get the right one.

First and foremost, you need to look for a reputable agency. Remember there are many scams nowadays. So it pays to be careful with your selection. Try to check the testimonies of the site that you discovered. Look into the reviews of foreign men who tried it.

Some sites have free membership, and others ask you to pay a minimal fee. There are sites that have the trial options for a given period, so if you are satisfied then you can just upgrade for a paid membership.

Second, once you sign up for the site, you can scan their online catalogue. You go through many profiles of women. From the catalogue, you can see their statistical data. Some have video clips wherein you get a personal perspective of the Filipino ladies that you may be considering.

Third, take time to know the Filipino woman first. Do not jump into a plane right away. Most of the time, rushing things can get you into trouble. Chatting, exchanging emails, occasional phone calls can help a lot in getting to know your potential bride. Doing this can benefit the two of you anyway.

By the time you see each other in person, at least you have known some things about the woman whom you want to give your family name to. It would not be difficult to adjust during the first few days of seeing one another, because both of you have shared little secrets about each other. In fact, you may even feel that finally, you have found your bride.

Following these three simple steps in finding a Filipino mail order bride can save you a lot from blowing off a marriage that you wish to have.

View profiles of beautiful single Filipina women here: http://www.FilipinaKisses.com

Wedding Speeches - The Bride's Wedding Speech

Image : http://www.flickr.com

"Your Special day has finally arrived, you're about to get married to the man of your dreams. You have decided you want say a few words at your wedding, you want to let everyone know how happy you are to be marrying your man and to thank everyone for helping make your day perfect."

The days of the bride's wedding speech being simply a list of names to read out as thank-you's are gone, brides now want to have something to say on their special day. Whilst the bride's wedding speech does still need to include a "thank you" list of people who helped contribute to your life and your day, it can include that much more.

You want to convey to everyone your heartfelt thanks for helping you on this day, you want to let your new husband and everyone else present know just how delighted you are to be his wife. You need to thank mum and dad, for all their efforts in raising you, you want to keep it light, sprinkle a few laughs in amongst the emotion.

Writing the bride's wedding speech can be an anxiety filled, nerve wracking experience, You want to make sure you say just the right thing without over doing it, you want to convey the right amount of emotion as well as humor.

Not all of us are bestowed with the ability to get across exactly what we mean when making a speech. In the link below you will find professionally written speech writing guides that will take the time and pain out of writing your bride's wedding speech. You can literally have it up and written in 30 minutes, allowing you to get on with planning and enjoying the million other things you need to have in place for the day. Best of all the guides are available for direct download so even if it's the night before the big day you will be able to successfully get your speech written.

To construct the perfect speech for your big day take a look at the following link The Bride's Wedding Speech

Wishing you luck on your Big day!

Gloria Bond is a wedding planner and holds writing seminars to help people create the perfect speech for all occasions and overcome the fear of public speaking. Gloria is the editor of ceremonyspeech.com where can read more about giving the perfect wedding speeches.

Fun Things For Brides

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Being a bride is one of the most fun times in a young woman's life. Besides the best part (marrying the man your love!), there are so many other things that make this time a blast. Go ahead and indulge yourself with some of these fun things for brides.

When you start looking at bridal magazines and websites, you will probably notice things that you had no idea even existed. There are many products, often personalized, to help you get into the spirit of being a bride. It would be fun to treat yourself to a few of these little novelties that you can only have while you are a bride.

One popular idea is to get a t-shirt that has the word "Bride" emblazoned on it in crystals. Now this may sound a little silly to some, but you have to admit that it is kind of cute for a bachelorette night on the town. By the way, there are usually matching undies available - get them in blue to wear under your wedding gown for "something blue".

What many brides will do is to get the coordinating shirts for their attendants that say "Bridesmaid" or "Maid of Honor". It makes for fun gifts to give each bridesmaid. Something that has such limited use should not be your main bridesmaid gifts, but it could be part of a bigger gift, perhaps tucked into a monogrammed tote bag that they can use again.

Along this same theme are customized things that you can order with your future name on it. Imagine a bikini for your honeymoon with "Mrs. Smith" on the tush in crystals. Also popular are hoodies that say "The future Mrs. Smith" on the back. To get the groom into the act, you can also get shirts or hats that say "Just married" on them.

Don't forget about the children in your wedding. What little girl wouldn't love a pink t-shirt proclaiming her status as a "Flower girl"? For the little boys in your bridal party, you can find shirts declaring them to be "Official Keeper of the Ring".

A more subtle thing that a bride can get is personalized footwear. There are some shoe designers who will put your initials and wedding date in crystals on the sole of your high heeled bridal shoes. Other couples will get the flip flops that say "Just married" on the soles to leave an impression in the sand - perfect for that beach honeymoon.

Speaking of things that you can have customized, did you know that you can actually get postage with a picture on it? How great would it be to put your engagement photo on your invitations or save-the-date cards? You could even get one of your wedding pictures made into postage to use on your thank you notes. Now that would be sure to impress!

Being a bride is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There are so many fun little trinkets that you can pick up to make the whole thing even more fun. Don't worry about being silly - this is your chance to indulge in a few things that make you smile. Besides, you know that you secretly want those "Bride" undies!

Ask Bridget for advice in areas of jewelry or weddings. She writes numerous articles providing information for the customers of Silverland Jewelry.com. Bridesmaid gifts should be something that you know your attendants will enjoy for many years, such as jewelry.

Maid of Honor Speech - A Bride's Best Friend's Speech

Image : http://www.flickr.com

The history of Maid of Honor Speech

In every marriage we all would have seen a girl accompanying the bride and this girl is called the maid of honor. The girl is usually the bride's best friend. This concept of maid of honor has a history attached to it. They were first seen in England and were basically junior attendants to Queens. The maid of honor is usually a girl of 16 years or above. This tradition has spread to USA from England. The maid of honor usually gives a speech at the time of wedding and it generally contains wishing good luck to the couples who are to be married.

Duties That a Maid of Honor Must Perform.

The first thing to do would be to select the dresses for the bride (especially wedding gown) and for the maid of honor herself. The next thing would be to help address invitations, decorate ceremony and reception locations. The next thing could be to help the bride to get dressed in a neat and a beautiful way. Then the maid of honor could hold the bride's bouquet at the ceremony. The next thing that a maid of honor should do is to keep the bride's ring till the ring exchange is over. The most important thing that a maid of honor does is signing the marriage certificate as a witness. Then she could help the best man to bring the gifts to the bride. Then she could dance with the best man. The last thing that she could do is to help cleaning the reception area.

Guidelines for a Maid of Honor Speech:

A Maid of Honor Speech could contain the following things.

First maid of honor should address the gathering. Then she could introduce herself to the people present in wedding ceremony and then congratulate the couple. Then she could thank the couple for asking her to be a part of the marriage ceremony. She could speak about the time period for which she has known the couple. She could speak about the bride alone or she could talk about both the bride as well as the bridegroom. Then she could speak about the love between the couples, how it started, how it blossomed and things of that kind.

She could reveal the place where the couple met for the first time. She could speak how she felt when they both had expressed their love for each other. Then she could speak about her various experiences with the couple. She could talk about the various good qualities of both the bride and the bridegroom. She could describe the love that the bride has for the bridegroom. If the couple had any understanding then she could mention it in a line and then describe how they overcame their misunderstandings. Then she could give some kind of an advice for the couple to have a happy married life. Then she could finish her speech in a poetic way.

There are some dos and don'ts while giving the maid of honor speech and they are as follows. People who are nervous of speaking before a crowd could use some kind of notes as babbling would spoil the occasion. The speech shouldn't have any negative aspect to it.

For more tips, techniques and general advice on how to do a great Maid of Honor Speech, go to the Maid of Honor Speech site.

Bride's Father Speech - Important Tips on Giving the Bride's Father Speech

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Apart from the groom's speech and the best man's speech, the most important speech of the evening is the bride's father speech. Aside from wishing everyone "health and happiness, especially the bride and groom," this is the moment for the father to shine, to wax humorous, reminiscent and in particular, sentimental. It's okay, father of the bride, to shed a tear or too as you gain a son.

The humor should be kept clean, out of respect for younger and older guests. Remember, dad, that you are not at the dinner table tonight, and your bride's father speech might end up on video. But, a little lighthearted humor will be welcomed by most. If you find you can't do the opening remarks to your bride's father speech and do it justice (in other words, if you just aren't funny, no matter how hard you try), then go ahead and turn the crowd warming up to either the best man, or a professional. The pressure relief you feel from hiring a professional should to much to counteract the lightening of your wallet to have him there for you.

Then, when you feel comfortable at taking over the reigns and carrying on with the bride's father speech yourself, then before you get to the blessing of the lovely couple, you want to hand out a few welcoming comments to the parents of the groom, all the relatives, and the guests along the fringe of familial ties. Then, don't forget the highlight of your bride's father speech: talking about your daughter herself. Reminisce with her, bringing everyone up to speed from her birth to her wedding in as brief a time as possible. Let everyone know the ties that bind the two of you together are eternal. Finally, bless her and show her new husband your appreciation as you turn her care over to him.

So, dad, how do you get through that event without any longlasting trauma? You'll want to be well prepared, obviously. Do that by writing your notes for your bride's father speech down at least a week to ten days before the wedding day. Rehearse the speech up to seven days before, so you won't have to use the notes fully as a crutch. During your bride's father speech, it is utterly important not to forget to acknowledge the groom's parents for their contributions, be it time, gifts, arrangements, whatever.

Of course, you'll want to be relaxed about the whole affair, no matter how it seems impossible. During the speech, you want to leave the audience with just a taste, so that they will want more. This will make your speech a memorable success. Don't give it all away. Keep some memories of the bride sacred, but give a hint as to her greatness, and her specialness to you. This is, after all, the highlight of any bride's father speech.

Keep the speech short, subtle, honest and fair. You want to include everyone in the room, individually or in groups, when you hand out the compliments. Make everyone there feel special to you, because they are. Your reward is when you count all the smiles in return.

How long should your bride's father speech take to give? You could go by one of two rules. Stop when either the audience is drooling and snoring in their sleep, or at around five minutes, whichever comes first. At the most minor hint of a yawn from anyone, start wrapping things up.

Everything else about the wedding is paid for ... the flowers, the service, the limousines, the dinner, the wedding dress and so on. Why leave one of the most important parts of the entire wedding celebrations in the hands of an inexperienced speech writer.

Giving a speech is hard enough, but having to write it as well is sometimes just too much of to ask from a bride's father. That is why we recommend that you purchase a professionally written bride's father speech and then make some minor changes to personalize it.

If you do feel like you need some professional assistance then you should definitely check out the professionally written bride's father speeches available at http://www.Need-A-Speech.com.

A Brides Wedding Reception Attire

Image : http://www.flickr.com

When it comes to choosing wedding attire most brides place most of their focus on the gown, wedding jewelry, veil, and shoes for the ceremony. While the ceremony is the most important part of having a wedding, brides should be careful to choose attire that will be comfortable for the reception as well. As a matter of fact, some brides have gone as far as changing into a completely different outfit for the reception. While keeping with the theme of the wedding, it is possible for a bride to maintain comfort and style during her wedding reception. Let's explore some alternatives that a bride might consider as it relates to comfortable attire for the reception.

Dressed for the Occasion

It is possible for a bride to maintain her look throughout the ceremony and reception, while slightly modifying her attire for comfort. In this case, she should bustle her train (if this is an option), detach the front portion of her veil, and change into a pair of shoes with a lower heel. Her bridal jewelry should remain the same.

Comfortable, yet formal

In order for the bride to keep a formal appearance without compromising her comfort another alternative is to remove the train from her dress (if this is an option). She should remove her veil completely. If the veil is attached to a decorative headpiece, she should consider keeping the headpiece on. The bride should continue wearing her formal bridal jewelry.

Casual and Carefree

The sassy bride that is determined to dance the night away might consider changing into a completely different wedding ensemble. This outfit might consist of a mini skirt dress, a knee-length dress, or if she's daring enough--a pants suit! She should completely remove her headpiece and/or veil, convert to flat shoes, and replace her formal bridal jewelry set with something more casual.

A couple's wedding reception is their moment to celebrate their future together among family and friends. When a bride selects her bridal attire for the ceremony, she should also consider the reception as well. Formal attire can get uncomfortable as time progresses. A bride can increase her chances of having a great time at her reception if she makes plans ahead of time to adjust the comfort level of her wedding dress, bridal jewelry, shoes, and headpiece/veil. As a suggestion, a bride should consider buying a bridal gown with a removable train or bustle, a removable veil, and a casual set of bridal jewelry for the reception.

Nicole Lindsey writes about fashion, jewelry and weddings for Silverland Jewelry and gifts. http://www.silverlandjewelry.com

Silverland Jewelry & Gifts is the place to find the perfect bridesmaids jewelry gift or a stunning Bridal Jewelry Set

Why Does the Bride's Family Traditionally Pay For the Wedding?

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Weddings have not always been the romantic fairy tales we imagine today, but instead, were the outcome of a series of intense negotiations and financial discussions. The modern marriage, in contrast, is arranged solely at the discretion of the bride and groom and is always about love-never money. But despite all of the changes the concept of marriage and weddings have undergone, the traditional rules surrounding who pays for the wedding still has its roots in the weddings of the past.

Starting in ancient times and ending sometime in the late nineteenth century, female children were considered a burden to the household. Enterprising parents married off their daughters as soon as possible so they would have one less person to feed, clothe and shelter in the household. Marriage matches were generally made as business transactions. A prospective groom was offered cash, land, livestock and other necessities to make the acceptance of the bride worthwhile. These dowries (as they were called) ranged in value depending upon the wealth of the family and the worth of the groom. Social conventions placed all of the expense on the bride's family since the bride would now become a drain on the groom's finances.

As social mores shifted and weddings came to be based on matches of love rather than money, the dowry faded in importance. Brides were still expected to provide a trousseau, which generally consisted of enough clothing to last her for one year, as well as all of the bedding, towels, sheets and other soft goods needed to keep house for a lifetime. Compared to the dowry, the trousseau was a much smaller burden for the bride's family to bear, but it still was a considerable expense.
 
Eventually, the trousseau fell out of fashion when industrialization made the purchase of most of the trousseau items affordable and easy. Industrialization also played a part in moving the wedding out the bride's home and into larger venues. Commercial goods and services sprung up rapidly, and wedding items frequently made or prepared by the bride's family such as cakes, dresses, and floral arrangements were affordable and readily available to purchase. With nothing left to make the bride's families began to pay vendors for wedding services.
 
Today, the bride's family pays for most of the traditional wedding. The cost of the ceremony, reception, photographer, florist, baker, stationer and the bride's attire, are all absorbed by the bride's family. The groom's family pays for the officiant, the bride's bouquet, flowers for the groom's family, and the rehearsal dinner.

Looking for wedding favors to add that special touch to your big day? Visit Package Perfect on for our entire selection of favors for all occasions, wedding gifts, and wedding cake toppers for every theme and budget. You invite the guests and we'll ship the rest.

Wedding Day Advice From Veteran Brides

Image : http://www.flickr.com

As your wedding day draws near, it is only natural to feel some jitters. Did I plan for everything? What did I forget? What if something goes wrong? These are the types of questions that every bride-to-be asks herself at some point. To calm your nerves, check out this helpful wedding day advice from the veteran brides who have been there before you.

Most brides plan their wedding either with the help of a professional coordinator or a wedding organizer book. If you have kept up with your checklists, you can be pretty sure that you will have all of the major parts of your wedding covered. Often though, it is the little things that a first time bride will not be aware of until it is too late. Luckily, you have the assembled wisdom of many previous brides to make sure that your wedding day goes off without a hitch. Here is what they say.

Break in your shoes! Most dressy shoes are made with thin leather soles that can be very slippery. The last thing that you want is to slip on your way down the aisle while wearing a brand-new pair of shoes. Start by scuffing up the soles with sandpaper. (If you forget, drag your feet around the church parking lot before heading down the aisle.) To help the shoes form to your feet and avoid blisters, wear them around the house with a thin pair of socks a few times. Just keep them indoors so that they stay fresh and clean.

Remember to eat! In their nervous excitement, it is all too common for brides to forget to eat on the morning of their weddings. A little food is important, though, to keep your blood sugar steady and to keep you from getting lightheaded. Even if you do not feel hungry, force yourself to eat a cup of yogurt or a few crackers before slipping into your wedding gown and bridal jewelry. Have little sips of water to stay hydrated, but don't overdo it drinking coffee, as it will make you more jittery, and will make you need to pee a lot.

Speaking of that, use the bathroom before getting into your gown. Most wedding gowns have layers of fabric and crinoline that make using the restroom a logistical nightmare. Even brides with slender skirts will find relieving themselves to be a challenge, as your dress can get all wrinkled when it is bunched up around your waist. Drink just enough on your wedding day to stay hydrated, and designate a bridesmaid or two to assist you with your gown, in case you do need to go to the restroom.

When you are standing at the altar, do not lock your knees. It stops the blood from circulating in your legs, and you can end up feeling dizzy or faint. This is a common problem when brides are standing around for their bridal gown fittings as well as during the ceremony itself. During your fittings, you can practice standing still with soft knees.

The final piece of advice that experienced brides say they would like to share with women who are on the verge of getting married is to relax and soak it all in. It is easy to get so caught up in the whirlwind of your wedding day that you forget to take a moment to appreciate what is going on. When you are in your bridal gown, with your beautiful veil, and special jewelry waiting for the limo to the wedding ceremony, sneak off to a quiet room and steal a few minutes by yourself to reflect on the wonderful day. Do this a few times during your reception with your groom as well just to be able to take a breath and enjoy your wedding to the fullest.

Finding the whole process of weddings and all the planning that goes into one fascinating, Laura writes about many of the considerations that brides have to deal with. For beautiful bridal jewelry, take a look at the custom pearl sets at Silverland Jewelry.com.

Mail Order Bride Thailand - The New Trend in Finding Thai Brides on Dating Sites

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Are you in search of a Thai bride? This article will tell you exactly how to find a Thai bride and avoid the numerous scam sites.

When you type mail order bride Thailand into your favorite search engine it will reveal hundreds of sites where you can supposedly contact Thai women wishing to be brides.

The truth is most of these sites are a scam. There is a much better way to find a bride and it need not cost you any money.

The traditional mail order bride sites you find on your search advertise numerous women. Most of the time these women are fake. The site owner will buy photo content of Thai women and make fake profiles. Sometimes, when they are real people, the adverts are out of day; the women have found a husband but the site owner has kept the advert up because it lures people into joining his site. So after you pay what is usually a huge membership fee you will be, on the whole, contacting fake or out-of-date adverts of women. You have just wasted a lot of money.

Did you know there is a growing trend of Thai women using popular dating sites to find a husband? They do so because they can use the sites for free and more people use them so they have more chance of becoming a bride. Now that you know about this trend you can use the information to easily find yourself a Thai bride.

Instead of typing mail order bride Thailand into a search engine just get a free account at a popular dating site. On your profile state that you are looking for a Thai bride. Go to the search page and search for women in Thailand looking for husbands (you can put these exact keywords into the search) and you will find thousands of results. Now all you have to do is visit their profiles, look at their photos, decide which you like best and email them and send a friend request. Within a few short hours you will have dozens or hundreds of Thai women sending you messages and it has not cost you a cent.

Get a FREE account on one of the largest dating sites with over 8 million members. Visit my dating site and meet women in your town: http://www.ampersonals.com/

Asian Mail Order Brides

Image : http://www.flickr.com

A mail order bride is a woman who signs herself up with a marriage agency who offers her as a spouse to a male foreigner looking for a bride. Many foreigners tend to prefer Asians as wives, and because of the economic status of many Asian countries, there seems to be a constant number of Asian females willing to offer themselves up as mail order brides.

Attractions

Foreigners tend to prefer Asian women because of the generally attractive physique that they possess. Asian mail order brides tend to be very feminine, petite and slender and always display grace. Asians seem to have a natural knack for charm as well as an innate ability to be attentive to their partners. With these characteristics, the physical and emotional needs of the foreign groom are met.

Asian women are generally brought up to be gentle and polite, knowing how to conduct themselves properly with proper manners. They know how to respond to others politely and with great respect. They have the ability to easily adapt to new cultures and, since they are naturally friendly and hospitable, they are able to quickly gain new friends and adjust to their new environment.

Asian countries regard marriage highly and value the institution of family with utmost commitment. If the groom is seriously considering settling down with a mail order bride, then an Asian bride would fit the profile well.

Mutual Attraction

For the marriage to work there needs to be a mutual attraction. Asian women openly agree to such arrangements because of their preconceived understanding of Western men. Many Asian women are treated as secondary citizens. But Western men tend to have a chivalric upbringing, treating females with great respect and as equals.

Since many Asian countries have a lower-performing economy compared to their Western counterparts, many Asian women seek the stability that comes with the marriage.

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].