The Sad But Momentous Day for the Father of the Bride!

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For the father of the bride, the wedding day is typically a day of mixed emotions. On one hand, there is pride and joy at the fact that his beloved daughter is getting married to someone she loves. At the same time, it is mixed with the sadness that comes with the realization that his daughter has grown up and is no longer daddy's little girl.

One of the most important things that the father of the bride does on the wedding day is to give away the bride. As per custom, once the congregation has been seated, the bride is escorted down the aisle by her father while the groom waits for them at the altar. This tradition is rich with emotional undertones. The father who has looked after his daughter is now symbolically handing over the care of his daughter to the new man in her life.

Of course, there are many who feel that this custom is no longer relevant today when most women have a career and are no longer under the care of their parents and are unlikely to be under the care of their husbands. On the flip side, the sight of the father of the bride escorting his daughter down the aisle to the uplifting notes of "Here comes the Bride" still resonates with many of us and captures the transition into marriage beautifully. Ultimately, whether this custom is included in the ceremony or not must be decided by the father of the bride and the bride herself.

Once the wedding ceremony is over, the father and mother of the bride leave for the reception venue. Since they are the hosts of the reception, it is important that they arrive there ahead of the guests so that they can welcome the guests as they come in. During the reception the father of the bride will be called on by the Best Man to make a speech and propose a toast. Once the reception is over, the father of the bride is expected to stay until the end of the party to help with any final bills or to make last-minute arrangements.

The level of involvement of the father of the bride in the wedding planning and preparation depends on the decision of the bride and groom and their parents. Sometimes the wedding is held in the house of the bride's parents - at such times, it is natural that the father of the bride ends up deeply involved in almost every step of the wedding preparation.

At other times, and especially if the wedding is being held far away from the bride's parental home, the involvement of the father of the bride in the wedding preparations may be minimal. However, keep in mind that most fathers would love to be involved in their daughter's weddings in some way or the other so do ask them for their help whenever it is needed.

Traditionally, the father of the bride also shoulders the cost of the reception. However, this trend is changing, partly due to the fact that both the bride and the groom are earning members and partly because of the rising costs of a reception party. The accepted practice nowadays is for the cost of the wedding and the reception to be jointly borne by the parents of the bride, the parents of the groom and the couple themselves. However, if the father of the bride offers to foot the bill, the gracious thing to do would be to accept the offer.

Whatever you as the couple choose regarding the costs of the whole event, remember the day is for celebration and significant day for the father of the bride. It is a day where he relinquishes his daughter to a another man and where the groom resumes the responsibility of caring for her. The father of the bride will be sad on one side but will know that his daughter will always be daddy's little girl no matter what.

Shirley Tan is currently the owner of My Groomsmen Gifts, known for having unique and specialty groomsmen gifts at inexpensive prices. At http://www.MyGroomsmenGifts.com, you will find many stylish and distinctive gifts for the groomsmen in your wedding.

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The Bride Isn't Shy Anymore!

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Remember the phrase "blushing bride"? It was thought for centuries that brides were supposed to be demure, shy, quiet and reserved. This attitude was reflected in so many choices for her wedding ideas - including the colors she chose for the bridesmaids' dresses, table linens, and everything else. Pastels were the norm, including soft pinks, pale blues, and mint greens. Everything, especially wedding colors, was subtle and seen as feminine.

Today's modern bride has redefined that word. She is probably someone that has worked, and worked hard. She juggles her own career ambitions while not giving up her desire for a home and family. A blushing bride she is not!

And this is being reflected in her choices for wedding colors, in wedding favors and other items. Over the past few years, colors have become stronger and deeper. Mint green has been traded for hunter or forest shades. Pale blue has given way to navy or royal. Everything has become bolder, deeper, stronger - just like the bride herself. It's not unusual to see the once taboo wedding colors choice of black or fire engine red to be worked into a wedding décor, and sometimes even those two colors together.

The choices for colors at a wedding are no greater indication of a bride's personality, and this trend of the strong and independent woman isn't going to go away anytime soon, and neither is the choice for stronger and bolder wedding colors.

However, this isn't to say that today's bride is so strong that she's become unapproachable, or that she is choosing strong colors just for the sake of how strong they are. One of the hottest trends in wedding colors today is shades of warm brown and tan. Even for wedding dresses, the bride herself may choose a sash or bow of russet or auburn shades.

The brown family of colors is closely associated with warm, nurturing foods- think of coffee, cocoa, and chocolate. Brown is often seen in nature, another element of nurturing and caring. Even in the application of feng shui, it's encouraged to use shades of brown in rooms where you want to feel relaxed and comforted, such as the living room or bedroom. By selecting wedding colors of these darker shades, the bride may be expressing her nurturing, caring, warm side.

The same could be said of the many shades of green that are fast becoming available. No longer does the bride only have the choice of mint or pale green, but now bridesmaids' dresses and table linens are being offered in stronger shades of celery, jade, and emerald. Hunter and forest greens are also popular, and also may be seen as strong but nurturing. These are two shades also abundantly available in nature, and the term "mother earth" was coined for a reason. When we think of nature or use shades found in nature, these are seen as warm and caring.

Jewel tones of any color are also very popular wedding colors, especially when planning a winter or holiday wedding. When choosing colors that are of a jewel tone, a bride can even mix up the shades for her table linens - emerald green and ruby red for a December wedding, for instance. Adding some sapphire blue and shades of gold can break up the colors and still keep the venue looking festive.

Of course, those brides who still prefer the softer wedding colors of the pastel family have a wealth of options for them. Softer colors never go out of style, and are still seen as being romantic and even passionate. Additionally, by choosing softer colors, the bride knows that they will not overwhelm the setting or theme of the wedding. If you have a large number of bridesmaids and a huge banquet hall, choosing colors such as red and black as your accent can be too powerful, and can even cause the bride herself to get lost in the pictures! The larger the venue and number of attendants, the softer the color shades should be. Of course, these wedding colors can be mixed and matched as well. A bride may opt for her attendants to be in soft pink while the maid of honor is in a darker shade of rose red or light purple. If opting for soft wedding colors, you don't want to make the mistake of having your venue or dresses look washed out or faded. A bride needs to make sure that there are some stronger accent colors to tie everything together.

In the end of course wedding colors are going to be a bride's choice and will no doubt reflect not just her personality but the prevailing trend at the time. Whatever her preferences for the wedding colors - shy and sweet pastels, bold and strong reds and blues, nurturing browns and greens - she has a wealth of options available to her today, and no longer needs to be shy about expressing her true personality in her wedding party!

Linda Ellison is a freelance writer who specializes in trends and lifestyles. Her previously published fiction works, including the Dana Ford Mystery Series, have been on bookshelves nationwide. Visit [http://www.favorsandwraps.com] to read more about the latest trends in wedding favors.

Bridal Jewelry in India

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The occasion of marriage is a special one for any person. In India, it is considered a highly sacred bond. An Indian woman regards the day of her marriage as the most important day in her life. To make this special day perfect, preparations go on for months on end in Indian households. Jewelry plays a very important role in Indian weddings. An Indian bride is usually decked up from head to toe in beautiful jewelry that complements her attire and her personality.

Typically, an Indian bride uses the following ornaments:

Maangtika or tiara: The tiara, called the Maangtika in Hindi, is used to adorn the centre forehead parting of the bride. Maangtikas are now available in different styles and colors. Usually, for bridal wear, a Maangtika with a decorative centre piece is preferred, with a long string. In the modern times, tiaras in the form of crowns are also being used.

Hair accessories: The trend of using hair accessories is getting highly popular in today's times. It is fast becoming a fashion statement. The hair accessories should co-ordinate with the attire of the bride. If the bride's dress is studded with diamonds, hair accessories encrusted with diamonds can be used. Pearl headgear and silver hairpins are also in vogue in the fashion world. In certain communities in India, elaborate headgear made of flowers is used as part of bridal wear.

Earrings: Earrings are available in every imaginable style and color. They range from small, delicate ones to dangling, heavy ones. Earrings are available in different metals and using different gemstones or pearls. Nowadays, the trend is to wear earrings covering the whole ear. Brides typically wear earrings that are attached to a chain, which is hooked in the hair.

Nose ring: The nose ring traditionally worn by Indian brides is in the form of a ring, which is attached to a chain that is hooked in the hair. It is called 'Nath' in Hindi. In certain castes, the nose ring is worn without the chain. With the changing fashions, the nose ring is also undergoing a change. It is now available in different styles and is fast becoming a fashion statement.

Necklace: The necklace is the most versatile piece of bridal jewelry in today's times. It is available in a variety of styles and colors. The type of necklace is chosen depending upon the neckline of the bride's dress as well as the color and pattern. According to fashion experts, a long necklace would look good with a deep neck, while a choker would suit a smaller neckline.

Armbands: An armband is called 'Bajubandh' in Hindi. It is also a widely used piece of bridal jewelry, which is worn on the upper part of the arms.

Bangles: The bangles are one of the most important part of a bride's attire. A variety of bangles made of different metals and studded with different gemstones and pearls is available in the market today. Nowadays, bracelets are becoming popular as bridal wear.

Finger rings: Finger rings are also one of the most important pieces of bridal jewelry. There are a number of styles available in the market in case of rings. Like other jewels, rings are also available in different metals, colors and gemstones. Generally, finger rings are worn on the ring fingers. However, finger rings can be worn on several fingers, as per the preference of the bride.

Ring bracelet: A ring bracelet is a bracelet that is attached to finger rings by way of chains. It is a custom in certain castes in India to wear ring bracelets.

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Wedding Gifts For Bride's and Groom's Father

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After you're done preparing gifts for your participants, of course you don't want to forget giving a special gift for your parents. After all, these people helped you a lot, from pre-wedding preparation to the wedding ceremony itself. The support of parents is immeasurable, therefore you want to thank them for all the great things they've done for you. The bride and groom's fathers for instance, are very important participants, not only because they unselfishly give financial assistance to the couple, but also they are there to show love and emotional support. However, to find an ideal gift for dad is quite tricky. So, here are top favorite wedding gifts that any father would appreciate:

Cufflinks

Cufflinks are ideal gifts especially for men, and so as with the bride's and groom's father. There are different kinds of designs and styles cufflinks have. For a special person like your father, you may want to consider personalized or themed cufflinks. Personalized cufflinks are perfect gifts to surprise dad with sentiment of thanks. They are made personalized by engraving initials on it. You may opt for a personal touch of Father Of The Bride Cufflinks to proclaim he's a true father of the bride! He can wear this endearing cufflinks to accentuate his wedding day outfit with style! Or perhaps a classic style of Jared Textured Cufflinks to complete a perfect and distinctive appeal of dad during the ceremony.

Desk Accessories

Business-minded dads would love desk accessories that can add accent to his office. Like other gift ideas, desk accessories come in a wide selection also. You can find such accessories from simple to elegant. For specialized options, look for personalized desk accessories where you'll be able to monogram your dad's initials on the item. Included in your option list are personalized desk clocks, business card holders, bookends, paper weights, legal letter opener, desk organizer and the like.

Sporty Accessories

Sporty gifts are perfect to boost the adrenalin of sporty and energetic fathers. There are different sporty gifts you can choose from. Sporty gifts don't have to be real sports accessory. Consider sports-themed items like miniature basketball, engraved baseball, NFL Emblem Money Clip, sports-themed pub signs and more. If he is into golf, hand him Golf Set Gifts, Monogrammed Golf Shoe Bag or a Personalized Hole In One Golf Plaque.

Refer ideal gift ideas to his other pastime and hobbies. There are great choices of cooking wares for daddies who love to experiment different dishes. Consider giving Rockin' Dad grill Tools, a cool way of saying thank you to your ever dearest father. Or perhaps an Elegant Japanese Rice Bowl & Chopsticks Set if he is a Japanese cuisine enthusiast. There are still other unique gifts to suit your dad's hobbies. Such items are cigar accessories, barware, cooler bags and the like. You can find these gift ideas at your nearest local gift shops and online stores. Make your daddy proud and let him enjoy your wedding day with cool mementos that he will cherish for the rest of his life.

Jnet is an author for a variety of lifestyle issues and topics. For more information on father of the groom gifts, visit the website Mygroomsmengifts.com and choose from their products. Get a wedding gift idea online!

Planning an Outdoor Wedding? Make Sure to Have Bride & Groom Sunglasses

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An outdoor wedding may not be so uncommon these days, but it is still one that takes a lot of planning and preparation. Weather conditions are sometimes unpredictable, and there's no telling if on a pleasantly cloudy day, the sun would suddenly burst out of the clouds and bombard the contingency! To be safe, have protective gear ready, especially for the newlyweds. Keep bride & groom sunglasses handy, for example.

Sunglasses are staple protective wear for people who plan to spend a long time outdoors. And wedding ceremonies may take long even if they're held in open locations, such as natural forests and private beaches. Wide open locations may be especially troublesome to the eyes, producing glare that would cause significant discomfort, not to mention potential health problems you would NOT want to deal with during a happy event. Bride & groom sunglasses would be your first line of defence in keeping the most important people in the ceremony happy and safe!

If you have the budget and the time, invest on sunglasses for all the guests. Cheap sunglasses may be good enough, if your primary objective is to shield their eyes from the sun's harmful rays, so you would not have to spend too much on this particular accessory. You won't have to worry since many sunglasses fit different face types, as long as all the faces you have to take into consideration are adult ones. But since it's a wedding, you could expect children to make an appearance, so have a stock of protective eyewear for children handy.

What are other accessories and equipment that you should have handy for outdoor weddings? Well, keeping a canopy tent would be a good idea. If the wedding will be held in a location where the weather is particularly unpredictable, you may find that your entire guest list needs a roof over its head all of a sudden - perhaps due to the bright sunlight, or of the rainfall. Arches and gazebos may be more common than tents in weddings, but having a tent handy would not be too bad. You can avoid purchasing or renting eyesore tents by getting something like a canopy tent, which has removable canvas walls.

The bride and groom may express some fear that having their guests sunglasses will ruin family photos, candid shots and the like. If this is the case, they may opt to buy more stylish sunglasses, so that photos aren't ruined by clunky eyewear obscuring half of their guests' faces! And of course, if we're going to talk style, the bride & groom sunglasses have to be the most elegant and attention-catching ones in the room. Even if they won't get to wear them, you must make sure that the ones that are handy are not at all cheap and awkward-looking! Designer sunglasses would make for an excellent gift. A matching set of limited edition sunglasses could be a wedding memorabilia that a loving couple could treasure for a lifetime.

Sunglassology.com gives you the latest in sun glasses, like bride & groom sunglasses and much more. Come take a look at http://www.sunglassology.com