Wedding Ideas

10.7.09

Choosing a Ring That's Right for You

by ewhitaker

Have you ever been to a jewelry store and have no idea where to start? This is very common. There are so many different types of rings including color, the type of gem, the cut, etc. I have put together a guide here to help you choose the ring that is right for you.

~Go with your gut~

Nothing can sway a woman once she decides what she wants. A lot of couples decide on a ring within the first 10-20 minutes, most jewelers believe couples should go with their gut, because it is the one that will make them most happy.

There's really no need explaining, if you like the ring, you like the ring. 85% of the time a woman goes back to the first ring she picked out.

~If you really don't know~

If you are set on keeping the proposal a secret, and you don't know what type of setting to get it's a good idea to get a solitaire diamond on a simple band, and have your bride to be come back to decide the setting of her choice.
If you're totally stumped, a solitaire diamond on a white gold band is a good choice.

~Have something made unique for you~

Jewelers can use optical illusion to make all sorts of shapes and styles work for a woman's hand. If the ring is tapered in the back and more narrow in the front, shorter fingers can take a wider band. For longer fingers, a stone set with two smaller ones on either side is suggested.

~Take your skin tone into account~

Typically, there are two different colors yellow, or yellow gold, or white which includes white gold or platinum. Platinum is more expensive, but more durable and white gold is essentially the same color.
Many jewelers argue that lighter skin tones look better with yellow gold. You should choose your ring on style and preference as well, however most brides these days are choosing white gold over yellow gold, say most interviewed jewelers.

National ads and marketing campaigns seem to have given rose gold a boost in popularity as a color for bands now. Rose gold was big once long ago, and now is coming back because everything seems to cycle.

You can purchase a removable band for about $400 that can instantly change the color of your ring, so don't feel like you have to stay with just one color. Or if you don't want to do that, a two tone ring is a great way to make a style more flexible as time changes.

~Diamonds are forever~

Diamonds always have and most likely always will be the number one choice for engagement and wedding rings. This is said to be because they are white and colorless so they can go with anything... still, there are trends these days going more towards pink, blue, or yellow diamonds.
Don't go overboard, a one carat diamond ring is the most common choice for engagement rings because they hold shine and luster the best, while still being a simple shape.

~You may outlive the style of your ring~

Just because you used the ring on your wedding day doesn't mean you're stuck with it for the rest of all days, many times couples can afford bigger diamonds later in life. We get used to the ring we have, but as we get older we tend to want something more substantial, lots of times couples add stones for each child, for instance.

About the Author

Evelyn Whitaker writes articles for German Toasting Glasses http://www.german-toasting-glasses.com which specializes in custom engraved wedding gifts from Germany.

Article Source: Content for Reprint

Labels: choice, choosing, diamond, diamonds, gem, jewelry, ring, Wedding Rings

5 Tips to Finding the Perfect Wedding Photographer

by Phil Thornton

Selecting a wedding photographer is possibly one of the most impactful decisions you can make during your wedding planning. Your wedding photos should last a lifetime and be a direct reflection of your special day. A good wedding photographer will capture the essence of your wedding and convey that emotion through the images. Here are five simple tips to follow when searching for your perfect wedding photographer.

* The Internet is Your Buddy
Most brides (and the occasional groom) know that the internet is a very valuable tool when researching vendors and looking for wedding inspiration. Directory and search engine sites like Google are great for searching through a ton of resources all in the same place. This saves you time and puts great vendors right in front of you. Once you have developed a short list of photographers whose work you love based on your initial impression then you can really dig into each site individually. Many successful photographers operate blogs. Checking out a photographers blog is a great way to learn a little more about them, find some more recent work, and even peak into their personality. These days if a photographer doesn't have a website my suggestion would be to skip them. If they aren't using the web they are most likely extremely outdated or not serious about their profession.

* Your Cousin/Sister/Aunt/Friend
You might be tempted to skip the expensive professional wedding photographer and use your best friend who has a great camera. Please don't make this mistake. Wedding photography requires experience to do it right. There are a hundred things that go on during a wedding that you must capture, correctly, the first time. A professional knows where to be, what to look for, and how to capture an image unobtrusively. Professional photography gear is also critical for shooting wedding. Many times off camera lighting or specialty lenses are needed that most amateurs just don't have.

* Chemistry
It really is all about chemistry. Make sure you take the time to interview the photographer you are considering. This is a very common and acceptable practice and if the photographer is not happy to meet with you before hand, move on. Your wedding day should be fun and relaxing. If your photographer doesn't "click" with you it will only create stress. After booking your photographer you should feel confident that they are reliable, trustworthy, and can deliver the photos you expect.

* Product Overload
Your first encounter with a photographer might seem a little overwhelming. There are literally hundreds of available products and services for you to choose from. My advice is to select a photographer based primarily on their skills and images. Products can usually be added at any time after the wedding. Don't choose a less talented photography simply because they offer a free print or promotional product.

* Background Check
A few questions you might want to ask your prospective photographer are:

1. Are you a full time photographer or part-time?
2. May we see a completed wedding (all images.)
3. May we have a few references to contact?
4. Are you insured and is your business registered?

These questions will give you a better idea about your photographers background and whether or not they are legitimate. If the photographer acts offended or defensive it may be a sign that they are hiding something.

Just remember, go with your instinct and the selection process should be a fun and enjoyable experience. Happy hunting!

About the Author

Phil Thornton is a Nashville Wedding Photographer and co-owner of Phindy Studios. Visit http://www.phindystudios.com for more photography information and inspiration.

Article Source: Content for Reprint

Labels: nashville, photo, photography, wedding, wedding photographer, Wedding Photos

Entertaining Wedding Shower Activities

by beyondsunny

There are so many forms of entertainment that you can come up with when organizing a nuptial shower. While some of such games may sound childish, others will look mature. But you should not be worried about this because your final aim should be providing the guests with some entertainment.

You can organize a game which will include either the spouses-to-be to have some additional understanding of each other. Before the shower, you can meet the groom and come up with as many questions as possible which will have to do with some personal aspects in his life. At the shower, you can bring to the bride to the lime light be letting her give answers to these questions. Just observe the responses and see the number of correct response. You should be sure that most of the responses are going to be accurate. At the end of the exercise, make sure a prize is allocated to her.

A very fashionable game is to devise a game which will involve making dresses using toilet papers. You are going to create teams of between two to five members. Each team is going to make use of these materials to design a wedding outfit. Some costume and jewelries will be used to adorn the dresses. Also remember that there should be a time limit for making these dresses. In most cases, five minutes should be enough. As soon as the teams are through with what they have designed, the bride will have to determine which of the dresses is best. A prize should also be given to the team that came up with the best designing.

One additional amusing activity is something that will involve the bride to dress up under the cover of darkness or with her vision totally impaired. You can let her have the impression that she is on one of her most respected occasions with the groom and there is no light. Compel her to dress up from an assortment of outfits that will also be selected in the dark. Give her a time limit to put up her dress. To make the game more interesting, add some funny items to the set of outfits. At the end of this game, you can take some pictures of her as she comes out of the dark. Keep in mind that this is more than instant fun to actually having some memorable pictures.

You can further decide to bring up something extra which will concentrate more on the guests than the bride. There is a game in which almost all the purses of the guests will be positioned at the center of the room. An inventory of things which can commonly be found in the purses should be catalogued. This should be done the same with items which cannot easily be found in the purses. For items which seem rare, they should be ranked higher than what can be usually found in the purses. Start scanning through all the purses and see which of the purse registers the highest number of points. The person with this purse should also be given a trophy.

There are so many other activities that can be done at the bridal shower. You can go in for a bingo game or another form of game. A very popular activity that originated from bachelorette parties is one in which a stripper is used. Before the part and just about half an hour, pieces of papers should be given to the interested guests who will put down anything they notice about the bride's dressing. In fact, include a listing of everything concerning her appearance. This should be done when she is out of the room. She will then be brought into the room and the guest who has the most perfect observations is given a prize.

About the Author

Learn some of the interesting activities ahead of the marriage celebration as well as activities for marriage wishes when you visit http://www.bridalweddinggames.com, the premier portal for bridal wedding games for reception.

Article Source: Content for Reprint

Labels: free wedding shower games, games to play at a wedding, wedding reception games

The Role of the Flower Girl in a Wedding

by Stephanie_Larkin

The flower girl plays a very important role in your wedding. As she precedes you down the aisle, she scatters beautiful flowers (that you have carefully chosen) towards the alter where you will meet the man of your dreams. Not everyone has a flower girl in their bridal party, but if you choose to use one it is a wonderful way to get the younger members of your family involved in one of the most memorable days of your life.

The Flower Girl’s Role

Historically speaking, little boys and little girls would slowly walk ahead of the bride as they sprinkled a mixture of grains, fragrant herbs, and flowers in her path. The herb and grain mixture represented the hopes for the bride’s fertility, and the future prosperity of the bride and groom. The flowers, which have evolved as more of a modern tradition, symbolize good luck wished upon the bride and groom.

As time progressed, the role of the flower girl has changed a bit. These days, the flower girl position is saved for mostly little girls while young boys now assume the role of the ring bearer or page boy. Flower girls are typically aged between five and ten years old. While many choose to have one flower girl, some larger weddings can opt for using several flower girls.

As stated before, in a modern wedding, the flower girl usually walks up the aisle ahead of the bride. She may carry a basket of rose petals which she scatters in the bride’s path, or alternatively may simply carry a bouquet or basket of flowers.

The Flower Girl’s Dress and Accessories

Choosing your flower girl’s dress and accessories can be a fun experience for both you and your flower girl. You may wish to have your flower girl “help” you choose the dress, to make the process a little more exciting for her. If your flower girl feels as though she has helped to choose what she will wear on the big day, she will be much more likely to feel comfortable and happy in the garment.

When shopping for the flower girl gown, try to choose fabrics that are not itchy and irritating for their skin and try to choose accessories that will not cause a distraction for your young flower girl. The fabric and fit of the dress should be comfortable and easy to wear. For a very young flower girl, it is probably a good idea to choose a slightly shorter dress to make sure she will not trip on the hemline during the ceremony.

It is very important to consider specific shoe and hair options for your flower girl. Just as with the dress, comfort and ease of wearing should be very important during consideration. Her shoes should be extremely comfortable and ones that she will enjoy wearing. Ideally, you should allow your flower girl to wear the shoes a few times before the wedding, so she can get used to the way they feel.

Tips to Help your Flower Girl enjoy Her Part in the Wedding

Your flower girl is usually aged ten or below, and for a young child, attending a wedding and playing a part in the wedding ceremony, is both exciting and overwhelming. Here are some tips on making the flower girl’s role more enjoyable for her.

Choose two or three flower girls. Being able to walk together down the aisle will boost the confidence of all the girls, and having several flower girls definitely increases the cuteness factor as well!
It is best if your flower girl is at least four or five years old. Any younger than this and she may be too confused or intimidated to enjoy the day.
Consider buying her a picture book about being a flower girl. Read her the book and then ask her if she would like to be your flower girl! This can be a lovely bonding experience and a great way of helping your flower girl understand her role. “The Little Flower Girl” by Linda Trace Brandon is an excellent choice for this, as well as “Emily is a Flower Girl” by Claire Masurel.
Ask one of your bridesmaids to be the flower girl’s “buddy.” The buddy can make sure your flower girl uses the restroom before the ceremony begins, and can provide help if there are any last minute dress adjustments, or if your flower girl suddenly has an attack of the jitters.
Give your flower girl plenty of opportunities to practice her role, so that she can be as relaxed and calm as possible on the wedding day.
Try not to put too much pressure on your flower girl to get everything perfect. After all, if your flower girl runs up the aisle instead of walking, or throws out all her petals at the beginning of the aisle, your guests will only think it’s cute!

About the Author

Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about event planning, at times talking about specific aspects of events such as flower girl dresses.