10 Tips For a Father of the Bride Speech

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The Father of the Bride speech is often one of the most emotional of all wedding speeches, and as it is usually the opening speech, it can be a difficult speech to master. This speech needs to evoke a snapshot of your daughters life, pay tribute to her new husband and his family,while engaging and keeping those listening entertained. This may sound a tall order because as first speaker you should ideally be giving a short speech (3-5 minutes), but with the help of the following Father of the Bride speech tips your speech will savored by all in attendance particularly the Bride and Groom along with their respective family members.

10. Welcome everybody to the celebration, express your delight at seeing old friends along with your pride and joy for the newlyweds.

9. Provide a special welcome for the Groom's family particularly his father and mother.

8. Describe your daughter as a child, mention some quirky traits that she may have had growing-up.

7. Tell a funny story from your daughter's childhood that ends with a loving tribute.

6. Mention how you and your wife watched her blossom into the beautiful young woman she is today.

5. Make reference to your daughters qualities and attributes.

4. Talk about your first impressions of the Groom.

3. Describe how happy your daughter has been since she met the Groom.

2. Thank your wife/partner and describe what a wonderful mother she has been to the Bride.

1. Offer a heart-warming Toast to the happy couple.

The Father of the Bride speech should make you proud on this proudest of days so stand tall, be confident and give a speech that will live with you forever.

Click here for inspiring, memorable Father of the Bride speeches that will be enjoyed by all and have your daughter beaming with pride.

This article was written by Dave Duncan director of Speech Success, for inspiring, proud father of the bride speeches visit; http://www.speechsuccess.com/father-of-the-bride-speeches.html

How to Spot Mail Order Bride Scams

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If you're looking for a mail order bride, there are generally two different scams you should be aware of. One is usually conducted by the dating or agency site and the other one involves scams originating from the women themselves.

Dating Site Scams

When a scam is being pulled by the website, generally the women who have signed up on the website are clueless that anything shady is going on.

But some sites post pictures without the woman's approval, or use women who only pretend to be foreign or have no intention of marrying. Some really unscrupulous sites make up women who don't even exist.

The best way to keep from being a victim of one of these sites is do adequate research on a site before ever signing up, and certainly before pulling out your credit card.

Search for reviews and look for others who may have already had problems with the site, including previous members.

Other things you can do as precautions:

• Make sure the site requires submission of a photograph. Don't settle for a list of names. 


• Be cautious of pictures of women in provocative poses or those wearing revealing clothes. They're much more likely to be after your attention for reasons other than a romantic encounter.  


• Choose medium size sites with a membership between 2,000 and 4,000 women. That's plenty of women to find a good match for you. It's a good idea to avoid sites that have less than 500 hopeful brides or those with tens of thousands. 


• Know before you sign up exactly what your charges will be, including the fees charged for extra services. Even better is a site that charges a flat monthly fee for all services rendered.  


• Be very leery of a site that shows pictures of women who all look like professional models. Browse the profiles to determine if real women are included, in casual pictures, rather than looking like they were lifted from a model's portfolio.

Mail Order Bride Scams

Another scam type you could possibly encounter is one from the woman herself. Sadly, you're more likely to become a victim of one of these scams than you are from a disreputable website scam.

It's more likely to happen on super large international dating sites because the scammer is able to cloak herself among the thousands of other women on the site. They also prefer the larger sites because it gives them a larger number of men they can try to scam.

It's important to realize that most of the women you'll find on mail order bride sites are honest, sincere women who are truly hoping to find love and ultimately, marriage. But to keep yourself from becoming a victim, you need to be able to recognize the warning signs that indicate a woman is trying to scam you.

When you know the signs, it's easier to tell when a woman is really interested in you, or when she's more interested in your credit card limit. Oftentimes, these women will play their hand quite early in the correspondence, but some of these scammers have the patience of Job, and will wait many months before tipping her hand. They live with the misguided belief that American men are all rich, and they're just after the ones who are naïve enough to send them money.

Sending $100 to a woman who's captured your heart may not seem like much to you, but to a Russian mail order bride, for instance, whose average income is $640 a month, she only needs to scam 7 men to generate a full time income.

The best way to protect yourself from becoming a victim of one of these scams is to never send her money.

They can be quite creative in the ways they come up with to make you feel sorry for them, and their ultimate goal is to get you to turn that sympathy into cash.

Here are some of the reasons you might hear:

1.She wants to see you, but doesn't have the funds for traveling, including tickets, money for a visa and other travel related expenses. This one is a classic and has fooled unknown numbers of well-meaning men.

2.You may get an email explaining that she needs translation services to read your letters and doesn't have the money to pay for it.

3.Once she's convinced you to buy an airline ticket for her, you may discover the travel agent she recommended is a fake.

4.She may lie about having had an accident, and ask you for help paying her hospital bill, or getting her car fixed, or even providing living expenses because she can't go back to work right away.

5.She may seek your sympathy by telling you a sad story about losing a job, having to quit school for financial reasons, a mother who's sick and can't afford her medicine...anything to get you to take out your credit card. The stories can be quite creative and extremely persuasive.

The takeaway from this is, in order to keep from becoming a victim, and being relieved of several hundred, or even several thousand dollars, thoroughly check out the dating site you're considering and once you've found one, don't be conned into sending any money to a potential bride.

For a site you can trust, visit Rosebrides.com. With a generous selection of Polish brides, Latvian brides, Russian brides and many other beautiful marriage minded women from countries all over the world, you're sure to find the one who's right for you.

Classical Wedding Ceremony Music For You To Walk Down The Aisle

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The music played before and during your wedding ceremony tends to be much softer than the music that will be played at your reception. After all, no-one will be dancing during your ceremony. Classical wedding songs and ballads are typically played while the guests are waiting.

When the Music Plays

Proper wedding etiquette states you should choose at least five songs to be played when the guests are being seated as a prelude. There should be a special song for when the bride and groom's mothers are seated. During the processional, there is a song played when the bridesmaids begin their walk down the aisle and the more dramatic song is used when the bride makes her appearance to begin her journey down the aisle to meet her dashing groom who awaits her.

You can also choose special songs that can be played at different points during the ceremony. You may have a favorite hymn, or want to remember a loved one with a heartfelt song. You can also have music specially chosen by the bride and groom to be played when the rings and the vows are exchanged, a unity candle is lit or during any other religious rituals.

The most joyous music is saved for when the ceremony is completed and the bride and groom are ready to make their way back up the aisle as they are warmly congratulated by their guests. The church or venue where you have chosen to have the ceremony may have standard music they play, but you can ask that other selections be played instead.

Traditional Wedding Ceremony Music

Some of the songs played during the prelude can be A Wedding Thank You. This is a lovely and gentle tune that will be appreciated by your guests as they wait for the big moment to arrive. Another beautiful song that is typically played while the guest awaits the appearance of the bride is To Our Family and Friends. It expresses the bride and groom's appreciation to the guests for coming to witness such a joyous event in their lives.

Processional in D is the perfect song to play when your bridesmaids begin their walk down the aisle, or it can be played during the prelude. The Gift Without A Bow is a beautiful and romantic song that will fit right in for the prelude. Heaven Knows is a lovely song from a groom to his lovely bride and will be an ideal addition to your classical wedding ceremony music.

Do you need some bridal shower favors for you wedding shower?

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So if you need wedding favors for your wedding or event we got you covered.

Wedding Day Blues - The Bride Diet

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With love passion and harmony floating all around, wedding day plans and arrangements are a symphony of joy and bliss for all involved, or are they? The wedding car and cake are chosen, the minister booked and brought up to speed, invitation cards sent out, catering catered for, what could possibly be overlooked... Did we mention the Wedding Day Blues the Bride Diet.

The Bride Diet can be a very real issue or possibly one that is simply brought on by an inner desire to wear a gorgeous wedding dress that was obviously designed for a top model, added to the fact of wanting to look absolutely stunning on the big day. Either way the Brides Diet can be a very blue moment for any well planned wedding.

If the dress is a real must then providing the bride to be is not the size of a small house then the bride diet can be made possible. As with any diet there are many different possibilities for achieving a more streamlined and stealthier figure. Trouble is some may take far too long to create the desired effect, while a lot of others simply fall short of enabling even the smallest amount of weight loss right from the word go.

For the Bride Diet to be effective and produce that rapid weight loss that is so often required there are such few genuine methods and systems available, one such system is the "Strip That Fat Diet System." Claiming to shift 10lb in as little as 14 days make it a five star target, not only as the number one system for the brides diet, but for totally getting rid of those Wedding Day Blues.

It is never easy finding the right diet, let alone finding one that is specifically designed to meet the requirements of a specific day or event in someone's life. Some might say, "So There Is A God After All", while those that already have a belief might add, "Thank God For Small Miracles."

Don't walk down that aisle carrying unnecessary pounds! Use a specifically designed Bride Diet and learn how to lose some quick weight before your big wedding day.

Wedding Gifts - Not Just for the Bride and Groom!

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With most contemporary weddings there is a huge entourage of individuals who are extremely important to the success of the big day. Bearing this in mind, it seems only fitting that these people should be recognized for their time and effort with specifically chosen wedding gifts all of their own.

Who Should Receive Wedding Gifts?

The obvious answer is anyone who helps out to the extent that the bride and groom feel that they deserve special wedding gifts. Typical individuals who should be considered for such wedding gifts include bridesmaids, best men, ushers and the parents of the bride and groom.

Wedding gifts are also often given to the professionals that help make the day happen, such as your hairdresser or the wedding planner, although these gifts are more token gifts and can be as simple as a nice card or a small bouquet of flowers.

With larger weddings, it is also common practice to offer a small gift to every guest in the form of a favor, placed at each place setting. Due to the large quantity of these wedding gifts that you are required to purchase, they tend to be much smaller and cheaper such as sugared almonds or small chocolates.

Choosing Wedding Gifts

Of course, your choice of wedding gifts depends largely on the known likes and dislikes of the people whom you have invited to attend your wedding party. If you have a small number of people involved you may be able to purchase individually chosen, more expensive wedding gifts such as a special ornament or piece of jewelry. But remember that it is the thought which counts, and token wedding gifts such as cufflinks, teddy bears and mugs can be just as effective.

As part of the wedding speeches, bouquets of flowers are often given to the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom; this is particularly the case with more traditional wedding ceremonies.

A great cheap way to please the wedding party guests is to offer them pictures of the day as well as any attire that you have purchased especially for them. It is very difficult to think of anything else to do with the bridesmaid dresses and jewelry, so why not use them as unique wedding gifts?

By giving the critical members of the wedding party wedding gifts you will ensure that your important helpers feel that their efforts have been noticed and they will feel that they have truly been a vital part of your big day.

Giving wedding gifts to guests may seem a little odd, but why not share the good fortune of your day and spread a little happiness?

Elsie Gilbert offers great insights to all different types of wedding ceremonies, wedding styles, wedding accessories. From traditional to the exotic she makes it easy for the bride and groom to review and choose. For more details on all types of wedding ideas visit this site now http://www.weddingfinery.com

Role of a Junior Bridesmaid

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The junior bridesmaid is a young girl generally from the age of about 7 to 14, too old to be a flower girl, but too young to be a full-fledged bridesmaid. Girls of this age shouldn't be left out of the festivities as they will usually treat their role with great seriousness and honor.

While the junior bridesmaid isn't responsible for giving the bridal shower, they can still play an active role in the planning process, and shouldn't be excluded from meetings and get-togethers regarding the wedding. For the shower they can assist with decorating, clean up, make favors, help with the games, and also help with guests who may have special needs, among many other things.

Since junior bridesmaids aren't invited to racy bachelorette parties, they can still attend the milder pre-party that mom, grandma, and the other conservative guests are invited to. However, if the party is appropriate for all ages such as a daytrip to the spa, the junior bridesmaid should definitely be invited to partake in the fun.

Ask the junior bridesmaid her opinion about her dress and she'll feel honored that her input is so important to the bride, regardless of her young age. Junior bridesmaid dresses should be a similar color and either the same or a similar style as the bridesmaids. Strapless gowns or dresses that are cut too high may not be appropriate for younger girls, so straps could be added to existing gowns, or simply choose a similar style gown but with sleeves.

Junior bridesmaids shouldn't wear high-heels, but instead can wear flats or ballet slippers that match the dresses. The girls should also have either small bouquets to carry, or matching corsages or hairpieces.

If the junior bridesmaid is a child of either the bride or groom, she can play an extra special role in the wedding by either escorting the bride down the aisle, reading a poem, or even singing or playing a special song or instrument during the ceremony. Another lovely idea is to have everyone participate in an exchange of family vows. After the bride and groom say their vows, the junior bridesmaid and any other children of the newlyweds can gather around as their parents promise to love and cherish each of them equally.

Some duties of the junior bridesmaid include:

- Helping to assemble favors for the shower and wedding reception.

- Helping decorate for the shower or rehearsal dinners.

- Going dress shopping.

- Giving wedding programs to the guests as they arrive.

- Handing out rice, confetti, rose petals, or bubbles to guests for after the ceremony.

- Helping ushers seat guests before the ceremony.

- Walking down the aisle as part of the procession and standing in attendance during the ceremony.

- Standing in the receiving line, which is really only necessary at the request of the bride and groom.

- After the wedding, the junior bridesmaid should also write a note to the bride thanking her for including her as such a special part of her big day.

Yolandas Wedding Favors carries many different wedding reception favors, wedding gifts, and many more wedding favors for any event. So if you need wedding gifts, wedding accessories or favors and you would like free shipping or 10% off then visit us we beat prices!

Does a Bride Always Have to Wear White?

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When you think of weddings, the first picture that comes to mind is of the bride in a long white gown. But does a bride have to wear white? The answer is definitely not!

First of all remember that your wedding is supposed to be a special day for the bride and groom. This means that you shouldn't do anything that you do not want to. Although a white wedding gown is traditional in our society, you certainly do not have to wear one if it doesn't feel right to you. There are many other colors that a bride could choose to wear.

If you decide to wear a non-conventional bridal gown, expect to hear a lot of comments, not all of them positive. Mothers and grandmothers in particular may not approve of the bride's decision to stray from the norm. If this happens to you, it is important that you feel confident in defending your choice. (If you have ever seen the old movie Jezebel, you can channel your inner Bette Davis: "I will wear my red dress!")

You might gently point out that white has not always been the color of choice for brides. It is a custom that began with Queen Victoria. Until her wedding, brides just wore their best dress, in whatever color it happened to be. In other countries, such as China, red is considered to be a lucky color for a wedding dress, not white.

By choosing a wedding gown in a color other than white, you will automatically be making a statement, whether that is your intention or not. That is why it is important to think carefully about which color to wear. There are a few colors that are so neutral that most people will not bat an eyelash at them, such as ivory, beige, champagne, gold, and platinum. These are safe choices if you just do not like the way white looks with your complexion, or if you prefer a richer tone.

Other brides may prefer to choose a real color. Pale pink satin is a wonderful color for a soft, feminine look. Icy blue is another great color for a bridal gown, as is a pale sage green. One of the nice things about a blue wedding gown is that the color blue is associated with fidelity. Who could argue with that reason?

Then you move on to the bolder colors. If you decide to wear a red wedding dress, people will definitely assume that you are making a point. Red is a strong color, and it also draws a lot of attention. Going back to the movie Jezebel, when the character insisted on wearing a red dress instead of white (she was actually a debutante, not a bride), she was labeled a hussy and a harlot. Isn't it amazing what an impact a color can have? Sad to say, there are still some people who will feel this way about a woman who goes her own way, so be prepared for some backlash if you wear a red gown for your wedding.

Another color that will draw a lot of attention is black. Since black is associated with funerals in our society, it has long been considered to be taboo for weddings. There are those brides, though, who do want to wear a black wedding gown. Not all of them are goths, either; some just find it to be sophisticated. Second time brides have been known to choose a black gown because they feel like it is something that they might be able to wear again at other functions.

If you like the idea of a little color for your wedding, but do not feel bold enough to take the plunge with a colored wedding gown, then have fun with pops of color in your accessories instead. You can have bridal jewelry custom made for you with Swarovski crystals in your favorite color. Custom bridal jewelry is a great way to add spice to your wedding look if you prefer to stick with a white gown. In the end, it should be about the bride wearing whatever will make her look and feel her best.

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 a great way to express your personal style.

Tips For the Brother of the Bride

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Guide to Unity Symbols

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A marriage is ultimately symbolizes a strong bond being formed between two people. On top of this it also marks the coming together of two families. To celebrate this, some people choose to incorporate special rituals into their wedding ceremony that represent the union. Here is a look at a few commonly used symbols of unity.

Perhaps the most widely used item is a unity candle, the lighting of which is use to signify the matrimonial bond. The bride and the groom will both usually light an individual candle of their own, then holding theirs in one of their hands, use them to simultaneously light a third. Often the mothers from each family will initiate the process by light the candles the bride and groom hold. Sometimes the candles are blown out, but more often than not they will remain lit for the ceremony in its entirety.

Another option may be to use a unity cup. In this case, each family fills it own cup with something, usually red wine, and then the bride and the groom pour half from each cup into a third cup and then each proceed to drink from it. The half empty family cups stand for the uniqueness of each family while the full third cup signifies the marital connection. Again the parents could be involved by filling the family cups to begin with.

A newer tradition is for the groom to deliver a rose to the bride who will bring a vase for it to the ceremony. When the two are combined together it serves as a representation of their unison in marriage.

While these symbols are not a requirement for weddings but they can serve to make your ceremony a more spiritual experience. They can also be an excellent way to involve your family. You might even want to make your own, by drawing from something personal to you such as your culture or heritage.

Find more advice on wedding planning and mother of the groom dresses

Become a Top Wedding Planner - Don't Become a Victim of These 5 Deceitful Business Practices

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Wedding planners and other wedding vendors are often targets for unscrupulous business practices.

Here are 5 situations you need to be aware of and avoid:

1) A bride and groom from another country emails you asking you to be their wedding planner

The email tells you they found you on the Internet, were very impressed and want to hire to you to plan their wedding when they move into your area to start a job or go to school. They offer to send you a cashier's check for more than the amount of your fee and ask you to pay another vendor with the extra money. Most people assume that all cashier's checks are good but that is not true. Also, these checks actually could take weeks to clear, beyond the time in which you would need to pay their "vendor." Do not accept cashier's checks and never accept checks with large amounts of extra money that you need to pay to someone else.

2) You get an email or phone call saying you have been voted "The Best Wedding Planner in Your City"

I once received an email telling me I won an award and offering to sell me a $200 plaque to for my office. The company was selling plaques! Another time someone offered to sell me an advertising opportunity in a magazine so I could tell people about the award they gave to me. Do not be tricked by these fake awards.

3) An official-sounding business bureau calls to say people are asking about your business

A representative from a company who says they investigate consumer complaints says someone has inquired about your business, wanting to know if there had been any complaints against you. They, of course, are not able to share the details. But if you want their support against complaints in the future, you can purchase an annual membership for a few hundred dollars.

4) Wedding and event planning schools tell you that you are the perfect candidate

You fill out an online questionnaire to see if you would make a good wedding planner and the school that posts the form tells you that you would be perfect, just sign up for their certification course. You do not need a certification to become a wedding planner. If you decide you want to take an online course, make sure you know what you are getting for your money. Many schools are very expensive and don't offer personal contact, have few training materials, don't have trained instructors and are not available for questions. Ask for references and check the Internet for comments about any schools you are considering before you enroll.

5) An online event referral directory emails you and says people are looking for more information about your business

They say you could be getting referrals but they don't have full information about your business so they are turning people away. In order to get a referrals and a full listing, you need to become a paying member of their site.

If you get requests from potential clients that sound unusual or are offered business opportunities that ask you for money, do some research before you proceed. Check the Internet to see if others have encountered similar situations. Also, always trust your gut. If you feel the offer could be dishonest, it probably is.

And now I would like to invite you to learn more about becoming a top wedding planner by claiming your Free Instant Access to my Special Report "7 Steps to Becoming a Top Wedding Planner" when you visit http://www.HowToBecomeaTopWeddingPlanner.com.