About Relationships

A wedding is that time and opportunity where the bride and groom and even the relatives get to be and look their best. As this is a special occasion, looking your best then becomes an important aspect of your attendance.

Even hundreds of years ago, jewelry was worn to signify beauty, power, and social status. Today, jewelry is still worn for the same reasons but pretty much for the obvious reason that it makes you look beautiful and classy.

Jewelry used in weddings is not limited to the wedding ring. The necklace, earrings, and other accessories of the bride are sometimes new as well. For the parents of the bride and groom, they also get to wear jewelry to accompany their outfit. In buying jewelry, here are some crucial things you have to take note of:

- Gold jewelry – Pure gold is at 24 karat or 24K. The characteristic of pure gold is soft, that’s why it is often combined with other metals to increase its durability. For example, 16k gold means that 16 parts of it is made of gold, while the 8 parts pertains to another metal (or combination of other metals). The closer the karat is to 24, the higher its pure gold content.

- Diamond jewelry – The 4Cs – carat, clarity, color, and cut – determine the value of the diamond. The higher the carat, the more the diamond weighs. For the clarity, a flawless diamond can be determined by a diamond grader, however, other flaws may still be concealed and can be identified through different procedures.

- Pearls – The three types of pearls sold currently in the market range from natural pearls to imitation pearls. For natural pearls, they are the rare ones found under the sea, produced by mollusks. Imitation pearls are made of plastic or other man-made material, while the third type, cultured pearls, can be considered natural as well since they are produced by mollusks, but with the intervention of humans or producers.

The jewelry industry is disclosing this vital information to protect the buyers, and as well as protect the reputation and value of these stones and gems. These jewelry forms have been revered for decades and it is important that the legacy of these jewels and stones be respected and protected even by future generations.

Buying jewelry for that special day need not be too difficult – it is important that you buy from reputable jewelry stores so you can be assured of their quality. Some would say that it is still best to go for dealers whose store you can visit instead of going online, so you can see the actual gem before purchasing it.

Even if you are not a certified jewelry grader, you can use this basic information to gauge the quality of the jewelry. Get that glittering and classy look on that special day – indeed, looking your best is also feeling your best. With good quality jewelry, you can make this your family heirloom you can pass on to future generations.

Criss White writes about wedding and shopping topics. For more ideas for unique wedding favors or to check out some personalized wedding favors, go to Bridal and Wedding Favors.

There are many traditions that are accepted when it comes to weddings, especially when it comes to the groom not seeing what dress the bride is wearing. This makes it very difficult to have any sort of say when it comes to this aspect of the wedding plans. Of course the groom will already have a good understanding of the them of the wedding and whether it is going to be modern or more traditional. It used to be the case that the groom wouldn’t get the chance to see his beautiful bride in her dress however it would be understandable that he wouldn’t want to offer his opinion on the wedding day.

It is fair to say that today’s modern bride is much more concerned about the opinion of her groom and will will try to balance her opinions against him in order to make sure that she will find a wedding dress that they both like. In some cases they will take their groom to be out shopping so that when they are looking through potential dresses they can listen to his opinion. He is sure to have a variety of opinions as som grooms will prefer their bride to go for a more conservative look where as others may prefer something more elegant or flamboyant. Everyone can agree that the wedding dress is one of the most important parts of the overall wedding so it stands to reason that the groom should be able to have his say.

Before you both go out shopping for that ideal wedding gown it would be sensible to site down and discuss the budget for your wedding as well as how much you would like to set aside for the dress itself. Once you have established a suitable budget this will make the rest of the planning process much easier. If you are sticking to the old tradition of the bride’s parents putting up the money for the wedding then that is one less thing for you to worry about, however if you are funding it with your own hard earned cash then clearly the wedding budget is going to be something which will require a great deal more consideration. Picking a sensible budget for a wedding dress can be very difficult as prices can vary from relatively cheap to prices which may seem astronomical. The important thing is that you keep a perspective on what is important for your wedding. The last thing you would want to happen is for the amount of money you spend to compromise the budget for the rest of the wedding!

In this day and age where the groom is more inclined to have a say in the wedding dress, make an effort to browse as many places and shops as possible. There will be plenty of specialist wedding websites that will offer photos of dresses from popular dress designers. You may even find that buying a dress online is a little cheaper than in the usual high street shops. As we have established, it is important that you both agree on a style AND price before you go out to make a purchase.

Trevor Richards is writing on behalf of Queens & Bowl, a UK retailer of vintage wedding jewellery.

If you are not one hundred per cent certain about a pair of shoes then there is every chance you just won’t buy them. The same applies to wedding shoes, which need to be perfect for that perfect day to be a reality.

The main thing you should be considering when choosing wedding shoes is comfort. If they are not comfortable then you are going to spend the day wincing and cursing as you are whisked from one venue to the next, standing up and then sitting down, and at some point being asked to dance, both romantically and energetically.

In addition, you’ll be walking down the aisle, which is something that you will have to practise to get right. Feeling pain as you do simply isn’t going to help. Add to this the posing for photographers, which could take hours, and you really will have to be wearing shoes that are comfortable and easy to wear. The day is long and this means that you could be spending hours and hours on feet that are going through lots of pain. So choose wisely.

You also need to make sure that you are comfortable with high heels. The wedding dress will be designed so that it fits well with the height of the shoes. This often means high heels. If you don’t normally wear heels then there could be a problem. You may need to practise this, including the dancing part.

You of course do not have to wear high heels; it is just a common practise. You can try other shoe variants. You could consider the option of platform heels for example, or trying out lower kitten heels. There are a number of options available, and it is worth asking footwear retailers what they think would be a good alternative to high heels with your wedding dress.

The shoes themselves are often constructed form either silk or satin. This again is just a matter of tradition, and you do not have to follow this if you do not want to. You will just find that most retailers offer these two materials when you visit to choose wedding shoes. If you are wearing a dress that has something of the unconventional about it as regards material, then by all means make your shoes reflect this mood by using the same material for them too. There is absolutely no reason why you should go for silk and satin just because everyone else does.

One final tip for buying wedding shoes concerns the size of your feet. What many people do not realise is that our feet are bigger at the end of the day than they are at the start. This is because our feet swell as we go through the day. As disgusting as this sounds, it is perfectly normal, and just requires that you visit a shop to buy shoes towards the end of the day, because this is when our feet are the biggest.

Trevor Richards is writing on behalf of Queens and Bowl, UK retailers of vintage wedding jewellery.

If you are searching for summer wedding flowers, rest easy and know that you have a world of options open to you. From traditional favorites to exotic tropicals, the summer season offers a huge selection of colors and flower varieties.

In addition to a tremendous assortment, you will also find relief at the cash register. Flower prices have a tendency to fluctuate significantly from the fall through the spring, especially around holidays. Once Mother’s Day passes, flower farms drop their prices, which is a great time to find excellent deals on wedding flowers.

Vibrant and fun colors are frequently chosen for summer wedding flowers along with some of these popular types of flowers:

-Alstroemeria (Tiger Lily) in all their vivid colors

-Chrysanthemums and Poms in white, yellow and lavender

-Gerbera Daisies in strong and brilliant colors including red, yellow, hot pink and orange

-Hydrangea in white, blue and pink

-Iris in white and purple

-Asiatic Lilies in orange, yellow and white

-Oriental Lilies in white and various shades of pink

-Large and Petite Sunflowers

-Snapdragons in vibrant colors

-Roses in cream, red, white, hot pink and other vibrant colors

-Orchids in white and shades of lavender and fuscia

-Tropical Flowers in their amazing palette of strong and striking colors

For fillers take advantage of the season to break away from the ordinary Baby’s Breath and Leather Leaf. Explore these fillers and greens options for your summer wedding flowers:

-Queen Anne’s Lace or Green Mist

-Solidago

-Bells of Ireland

-Aster Montecasino in white or purple

You may also want to consider the following as you ponder the types of summer wedding flowers that are right for you:

Beach weddings typically encompass softer colors including whites, blues and yellows. Blue Hydrangea, white roses and yellow Gerbera Daisies are excellent options to consider.

Early summer weddings are a great time to incorporate various shades of pinks, lavender and purple into your decorations. Roses are some of the most traditional wedding flowers because their striking color and effect are hard to match.

Late summer weddings can take advantage of the transition to autumn by incorporating warm colors, such as strong yellows, oranges and reds, into your bouquets and wedding flower arrangements. Think along the lines of red and orange Gerbera Daisies, Roses, Sunflowers and Snapdragons.

Tropical themed weddings are also quite popular during the summer months. Tropical flowers tend to have bold shapes and dazzling colors that stand as striking contrasts on a lush green background.

Finally, you will also want to contemplate the number of flower varieties you wish to use. Some popular choices:

-Roses

-Calla Lilies (alone, paired with roses, Asiatic lilies, or orchids)

-Gerbera Daisies (alone or paired with roses)

-Dendrobium Orchids (alone or paired with roses)

-Hydrangea (alone, paired with roses, or accenting other flowers)

-Asiatic Lilies (alone or accenting other flowers)

-Petite Sunflowers

If you are doing your own arrangements, many online wholesale flower suppliers offer wedding packages with a variety of popular combinations, in addition to letting you create your own. For example, one popular package of mixed summer wedding flowers brings together:

-Oriental Lilies (your choice of color)

-Asiatic Lilies (your choice of color)

-Tulips (your choice of color)

-Gerbera Daisies (your choice of color)

-Telstar Iris

-Sunflowers

-Snapdragons

-Solidago

-Bupleurum

Summer is excellent for weddings offering a huge selection of flower varieties and colors at the best prices of the year. In fact, there may be just a few too many choices, but with a little diligence you should be able to find the ideal summer wedding flowers for your big day.

Ray Roark is currently enjoying life in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains and is a big fan of flowers. To browse summer wedding flowers at wholesale prices and shipped directly from the grower to your door, visit The Grower’s Box at http://www.GrowersBox.com.

Stag Weekends are a chance for a group of men to get together and have a laugh before one of them commits to the woman of his dreams, but they can end in disaster! Avoid Stag Do blunders by following these great tips on how NOT to organise a Stag Weekend!

Don’t invite the Bride! Yes we know this seems obvious but you’d be surprised! Have a chat with the Bride-To-Be beforehand, or the Head Bridesmaid, and find out what their plans are – you want to make sure both parties do not end up in the same club!

Don’t forget the Groom! Again perhaps an obvious one but try not to leave the Groom anywhere (whether that be a club or another country!). If you are planning on purposely leaving the Groom somewhere then organise the Stag Weekend well in advance of the wedding – the last thing you want is a Groom no show on the big day!

Don’t hire a stripper who turns out to be a friend of the Bride! This one is always worth checking! You never know who the Bride-To-Be may know and learning that her mate from the pub gave her Husband-To-Be a lap dance is not going to go down too well!

Don’t leave everything to the last minute! Sending everyone a Facebook message a day before the proposed Stag Weekend date will not win you any brownie points! A top class Stag Weekend should be well planned and organised down to the last detail; if you need help then take advantage of Stag Weekend organisers who can cater a weekend just for you.

Don’t let practical jokes get out of hand! Things seem funnier when you are drunk for some reason but don’t let drunken ‘good ideas’ have a damaging effect! Dying the Groom’s hair permanent blue for example will probably not go down too well with the Bride – although it would make for interesting photos!

Don’t forget the Bride! A woman scorned is a bad thing indeed and you don’t want your mate’s married life to start on a negative! Plan the Stag Weekend with the Bride’s feelings in mind – if hiring a stripper will upset her (aka make your mate’s life hell!) then avoid it.

Don’t over complicate the weekend! At the end of the day a Stag Weekend is a group of lads getting together for a knees up – it is most definitely not a regimented army routine! Plan certain activities but do not have a minute by minute diary for the weekend.

Don’t invite the Bride’s exes! Unless you all get on it is probably wise to avoid exes, especially when there is drink involved! A Stag Weekend album filled with punch up pictures isn’t going to entertain many at future family get togethers!

So there you have it; 8 ways not to mess up a Stag Do! Remember these handy tips when you organise a Stag Do; the Groom will thank you in the long run if he has a stress free time!

Dom Evans is a well travelled writer who is now concentrating on utilizing his experiences in advising on the best stag do destinations. He currently works at Playaway Weekends, researching and sampling world wide stag do destinations.

So let’s say that you have decided to go with a small wedding with just a few members on your guest list. Just because you have decided to keep your wedding small doesn’t mean that you can’t have a very memorable event. While the Royal Riviera may be out of the question, you can still have your wedding at a very memorable location. Here are five options that you should consider.

1. Your Home Church – Yes, this has been done before. However, there is a reason that this is the most popular option. You are going to return to this place on a weekly basis. Every Sunday, well almost every Sunday, you are going to be at the site of your wedding. Memories of your special day will always be right in front of you. You are already familiar with the decor and that should be helpful in planning your wedding. Most of your guests are probably nearby and it will be more convenient to them as well.

2. Bed and Breakfast – This is a very romantic option and works very well for small weddings. This option also gives you the choice of having your wedding somewhere closer or further away. Many of them are surrounded with very beautiful scenery and make very good honeymoon locations. You can find them almost anywhere. They are near beaches, in the mountains, or even in the desert if you want. Also, you can make it a tradition of going back there on your wedding anniversaries since they are affordable.

3. At a Park – Parks and gardens can provide a very wonderful backdrop for your wedding. Parks are also a very affordable option compared to most facilities. Your guests will also have a great time. If many of your guests have children, they will have more space and won’t be as likely to get antsy and disturb the ceremony. Parks are also great for planning activities for your guests. Or perhaps you or someone you know has a lovely garden on their property.

4. Patios and Gardens – If you know someone who has a lovely patio or garden, then ask them what they would charge you. Otherwise, there are many facilities that have patios or gardens for the purpose of wedding ceremonies. Many times cottages will have patios or gardens. Many of them will also cater the wedding reception at an affordable price. One of the best reasons to go with a garden wedding is that they provide excellent photo opportunities for your wedding photographer.

5. Home wedding – Home weddings seem to an overlooked option. Most people don’t have a home big enough to accommodate all of their guests even for the smallest of weddings. However, most of us do know someone with a home nice enough to accommodate a small wedding. If you have a larger home or have a good enough of a relationship with someone who does then this is an option that you should consider. Many times people with nice homes love the opportunity to show them off. They are also easier to decorate than most facilities.

Kimberly Andrews is a writer for Wholesale Event Solutions, a company offering discount event planning supplies including wedding cake stands , bulk wedding tulle, 20 inch sparklers and much more.

Are you attending a winter wedding shower? You’ll want to get the bride something special. That truly makes her feel like a bride and especially something ideal for winter. Fortunately, there are many terrific winter wedding shower gift ideas you’ll love. Try some of our favorites!

The key to giving a winter wedding gift is to think of something ideal for the season. Some gifts simply lend themselves more easily to the season than others do. Giving the bride and groom a gift that is suited for the winter is something that is more thoughtful than you might at first think. If the bride and groom get married during the winter, your giving them a winter themed gift means that they will think of winter and their wedding every time they use it. Some gifts they may use year-round – but for special winter themed gifts they will use them even more during winter months and this will bring a special smile to their faces as they remember their wedding day and the moments they shared with you.

Hot chocolate machine. This is a sweet treat ideal for the bride starting a new life. A winter wedding means moving into a new house when it is cold and often snowy. A hot chocolate machine makes yummy hot chocolate at the push of a button. This tempting treat is sweet and also romantic. Chocolate is actually an aphrodisiac, ideal for newlyweds. Include all of the hot chocolate fixins’ with this gift like whipped cream and sprinkles.

Bread maker. A bread maker machine is a great gift for a new bride. What could be more delicious in the wintertime than hot, freshly made bread? Bread makers today are quite easy to use. A bread maker used to be a bit tricky to operate but today they are rather simple to use and create delicious fresh bread at the push of a few buttons. You can make many varieties of bread in a bread maker.

Ice skating lessons. Many say that the first year of marriage is the hardest. Often couples simply have to adjust to being with each other, and not “dating.” Giving newlyweds ice skating lessons is some romantic fun for them to look forward to. They can have fun on the ice and enjoy ice skating during this winter – and then for every winter following. Your thoughtful gift of ice skating lessons this year could mean they ice skate for the rest of their lives – thinking of you as they start of on the ice! Those couples certainly look happy as they skate side by side holding hands on the ice. We’re sure you’d agree.

Tanning sessions. This might look funny on a winter wedding shower gift list, but the fact is that many winter wedding couples go to tropical destinations for their honeymoon. It is so important to get that base tan for protection before you go into the sun. A nice tan also looks wonderful in your wedding photographs. If the bride and groom enjoy tanning, tanning sessions could be a thoughtful gift they would enjoy. A little imported summer sun for the wintery weather.

Lawrence Reaves writes for a leading authority on loose diamonds, diamond engagement rings and fine jewelry. Danforth Diamond provides wisdom and advice to help you choose the right ring at the right price. Visit DanforthDiamond.com or call 877.404.RING

Do you want a wedding planner? Many brides dream of having a wedding planner who can give them the wedding of their dreams. But with some planning, preparation and a little creative thinking – you can be your own wedding planner. You’ll save on costs and best of all you will have exactly what you wanted for your own wedding.

Stay organized for the fairytale wedding. When you are trying to coordinate an event that can have up to 300 guests and a wedding party with 20 or so people in it, staying organized is critical. But don’t make staying organized more difficult than it needs to be. One of the best tips is to simply keep everything related to your wedding in a single place. Create or purchase a wedding organization binder to keep your planning, receipts and other materials in. When you can easily put your hands on “the wedding stuff” you’ll find your stress level goes way down – and your fairytale wedding is that much easier to plan.

Put time on your side when planning your wedding. The “typical” wedding can take 1 to 2 years to plan. That is “if” you can get the site you desire and everything in place. Brides and grooms who have their eye on a special venue or site may have to wait a little longer – or if you want to get married in a specific season you will simply have to wait for the calendar pages to turn. Use this time to your advantage when planning your wedding to organize everything and do things in advance. Many bridal magazines give a timeline – consider your own personal desires. Some brides may need additional time if they have more responsibilities to juggle. Other brides may have help putting together their wedding and can do things quicker.

Use your strengths and know your weaknesses as a planner. We all have our talents and we all have our weak points. What are yours? Maybe you are a foodie or a fashion plate. Maybe you are a black belt bargain shopper. Make a list of your wedding planning skills. Then sit down and make a list of the skills you may be lacking in. Are you not good at details? Do number or budgets drive you up a wall? With these skills you will need reinforcement. Ask family, bridesmaids and your groom for help in planning the wedding of your dreams. You may have a bridesmaid who is a foodie when you don’t understand menus as well. Or your mother-in-law may love fashion when you don’t enjoy shopping for clothes at all. When you know your skills and weaknesses, you get things done quicker and with more confidence. Best of all, you have more fun planning your wedding!

Take inspiration from life, bridal sites and other brides for the wedding of your dreams. Your fairytale wedding is a combination of what you always dreamed of as a little girl and what makes everyone happiest today. Many brides have specific things they “must” have at their weddings and that’s okay. You can get great ideas by connecting with other brides to learn today’s bridal trends and hot ideas for your wedding. Or take your own passions, inspirations and include them in your wedding. A wedding should be about the joining of two lives and including things about your two lives gives your wedding truly a polished and complete look. Ask your Groom for ideas about adding to the wedding too!

Lawrence Reaves writes for a leading authority on loose diamonds, diamond engagement rings and fine jewelry. Danforth Diamond provides wisdom and advice to help you choose the right ring at the right price. Visit DanforthDiamond.com or call 877.404.RING

My Darling, Dearest Love Puppet,

As you know, I am not one for words so I thought I had better put my thoughts and feelings into words in a letter to you, my chosen one.

First of all, I apologize for making you cry the other day when we were at the church and you got upset over the flowers. Well, you didn’t get upset over the flowers, it was because you thought I didn’t care what color the flowers were when you asked me. I guess I’m just an insensitive redneck when it comes to this girlie stuff. It never occurred to me that there was a difference between lilac -pink and pink-lilac. I knew I’d done something really bad when I saw Sebastienne and Enrique, the wedding planners your cousin with the nipple ring recommended, crying and all upset too. I only thought girls had mascara runs when they cried, but I guess I’m learning something new every day. I guess I should have said something along the lines of, “I care about making you happy my little, hunny, bunny wunny, and if it costs $300 more, well heck, I’ll just take a third job!”

I had a good talk with my dad last night and he told me I had to make a stand on these issues with you and show you who is going to wear the trousers in our marriage. Dad says it’s important I put my foot down right from the start, or else I’m going to catch hell later in married life. Then mom told him to go make himself useful and trim his nose hairs before she got the garden shears out to do it for him. Dad told her to go put her head in the oven. He sure handled that one well.

What it all boils down to is, I may be insensitive but then I am a guy, and I’ve never felt this way before about anyone until I met you. All the other girls used to think I was just a lovable hunk, but within minutes of meeting you I knew, I mean I just knew you were different from Tracey, Kate, Shannon, Joanna, Alison, Rebecca, Mrs Robinson, Jordan, Jordan’s twin sister and that girl I met at the Super Bowl 2008 party just after I met you. I just want you to understand how much I love and care for you darling, and despite all my faults, you are the one for me.

Don’t worry, sweetness, I will try to be different but I want you to know from the bottom of my heart that all I care about is making you happy. Whatever you want is fine by me, but please, just remember who I am – I’m just a guy who drinks beer and enjoys watching the big game with the guys.

Remember you’re the one for me and I’ll do my best to be caring and sensitive, so I’m the kind of husband you want me to be. My mom has already ordered a year’s subscription to several magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Vogue, which apparently have lots of good information on make-up and clothing. Mom says it will help me get in touch with my feminine side, which will be good for you, because then you won’t have to go through everything she’s had to cope with over the years with my dad.

Please just bear with me and be patient too darling, I’m just a big lug and sometimes my mouth works before my brain. I have to close this now sweetness because mom is sharpening the gardening shears and asking where dad is.

All My Love,

Hugsy Bugsy

Lawrence Reaves writes for a leading authority on loose diamonds, diamond engagement rings and fine jewelry. Danforth Diamond provides wisdom and advice to help you choose the right ring at the right price. Visit DanforthDiamond.com or call 877.404.RING

I love going to weddings because I enjoy the event; it’s a good chance to get all my bff’s in one place so we can catch up with what’s going on in our lives. I also love it because I’m almost the last of my crowd who is single, and being 6 feet tall and having played volleyball for state, I’m the favorite when it comes to catching the bouquet!

Catching the bouquet has become something of a pastime for me; not because I want to get married – I don’t!

Of the last seven weddings I’ve been to, I caught the flowers five times. I only lost out on one occasion because my heel snapped as I made my move, and the other time was because my date really does want to get married and I couldn’t risk the complications.

The reason I love this pastime is because there is definite electricity in the air, ambient nervous tension and anticipation amongst the singles. The girls are all wishing they are going to be the one to grab the blooms so their long term boyfriend gets the message that it’s time to take things to the “next level”. Meantime, the guys are all tense and nervous, cracking jokes and swaggering around, usually near the bar, hoping someone else’s girl proves she’s a good at catch.

Once the ritual is over, things relax somewhat. You see a sense of disappointment in the women, while the victor emerges with excited glee but if you focus on the men, you start to see them all smiling and a look of relief comes over them. The rest of the single guys can now relax, and enjoy the spectacle and discomfort associated with the guy whose girl is supposed to be getting hitched next – if the tradition is to be followed.

You also can see some of the married guys shaking their heads and thinking, “Poor sap!” and I agree with them to some extent. I’ve seen how some of my girlfriends have changed since they got wed; some for better and some for worse. For the most part though, people just seem to go along and I’m all right with that too.

I play this game because I just love introducing some tension into the lives of my dates. I’m single and have no intention of getting married – as my grandmother keeps telling me, “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride!”, but then I’m fine with that.

Being one of the last single women in my group makes me a target for more than just a little encouragement and helpful hints. I’m happy as I am; I have a career where I make more than many men, I have a cat who is faithful and I don’t have to worry about a big hunk, snoring and farting on whatever side of the bed he thinks is his.

For these and many other reasons, I’m fine with always being a bridesmaid and never the bride!

Lawrence Reaves writes for a leading authority on loose diamonds, diamond engagement rings and fine jewelry. Danforth Diamond provides wisdom and advice to help you choose the right ring at the right price. Visit DanforthDiamond.com or call 877.404.RING