About Relationships

The best part about the wedding day is selecting the rings. Women love this part as jewelry is a girls best friend. Yet, you want to make sure that you get the right thing for the right price and that you get the right service. So, for those of you wondering how do I select my wedding jeweller, we have the answers for you of things to keep in mind and check out before hand.

One of the first things you do is look for the jewelers that are closest to you. You want to make sure you aren’t driving all over Canada for this. There should be some pretty decent ones in your area. Just open your phone book and jot a few down to look up and do more research on.

The next thing is to see if there are any reviews of them. If you don’t have any reviews about the jewelleries that you have picked out, then ask around. Sometimes wedding blogs will have where people can post things. Other times, you can ask people who have been married about if they have heard anything. This will give you an idea about how reputable they are.

Another thing you want to check is the merchandise that they have available. When you do this, you should also be checking to see how they work with you. They should be asking you what you are looking for and you should be able to find something that pleases you. It should be top quality jewelry too.

Next, as we said above, you want someone who is willing to help you. You should get great customer service. Customer service is something that you must get. This is how you get what you are looking for. They should be willing to show you a few pieces and answer any question that you have.

When you ask questions, some of them questions should be about payment. If you are going to a high end jeweler, you might find that you might have to pay a pretty penny. However, you should be able to put the ring in layaway or find a payment plan that you might qualify for. This shows that they value your service. You might also want to find out about other things you might need like resizing and things of that nature.

The last thing that you really need to look into is to see how long it will take you to get your item. Make sure you order well enough in advance. You want to make sure that you have plenty of time because that can be a little awkward. There are policies and such for getting your items and you need to know that you will get your item and if you don’t or you have a problem with it, then they will take care of it.

Now that you have an understanding of how to go about looking for a jeweller then you are well on your way. You will have the best rings ever. They mean forever and therefore, you want to get something of quality. When you do your research, then you are well on your way to receiving the rings that you were destined to have.

Proposing to your loved one is an exciting and momentous occasion, so carefully shop for impressive engagement rings Toronto at the most trusted and dedicated jewellery retailer in Canada. Embark on the journey of love by purchasing engagement rings Calgary today!

You’re in the military and want to get married – what do you need to do?

Well, if you’re stationed back home, there are no special requirements and you only need to comply with the laws of the State within which you are getting married. Typically, get a marriage license, maybe satisfy a residency test and find an authorized officiant to perform the service.

Getting married while stationed in the US is obviously a straight-forward affair – there is no need to gain special permission or clear any hurdles other than those facing civilians.

The issue becomes less straight forward when you are based overseas. Even more so if your bride or groom-to-be are foreign nationals.

If you are based overseas but marrying a US citizen, the situation is not much more different than getting married in the States. If you get married on a US base, you are subject to US law in any event and the marriage is viewed as having taken place on US soil in any event. Getting married on base is fairly common where there is a permanent station, typically in the European or Pacific theaters (not so common in the Middle East for obvious reasons). Base chaplains are able to officiate in a wide variety of denominational and non-denominational ceremonies, so you can get married however you wish.

There are also no immigration issues where both parties are U.S. citizens, but here comes the real trouble – your intended spouse is a foreign national.

If you are marrying a foreign national, you will be required to complete a large number of forms and embark on quite a lengthy process.

Your intended spouse will be required to undergo a background security check and a medical examination, all in addition to completing marriage counselling course and obtaining the permission of your commanding officer. Be prepared to spend months on this process, not least because you will have to have the marriage recognized by the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Department of State who will also be responsible for the granting of the necessary visa permissions for your spouse to enter the U.S.

Your spouse is also likely to be a civilian, but irrespective of where you get married or who performs the ceremony, they are now entitled to military rights and privileges which they derive from you. Use a certified copy of the marriage certificate and register the marriage and your spouse with the Base Personnel HQ. You will also be able to get a separate military ID for your civilian spouse and have them enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS), which will qualify them for medical coverage, commissary privileges and other military benefits.

One thing to watch for – if you are subject to a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) order – if you get married before the change of station, you can have your spouse added to your orders and the military will cover the cost of relocating them (including their possessions). You can leave your old base, take time off to get married and have a honeymoon and then report to the new base – the trigger is whether you have reported to the new station. If you wait until after you report to the new duty station, you end up paying for the cost of moving your spouse.

If you have any issues or questions on getting married while serving in the military, check out the information available from your Base Personnel HQ and the various booklets from the U.S. Department of Defense and your service branch.

Lawrence Reaves has seen many of his friends navigate the tricky waters of military marriage, and always recommends that they buy their diamond engagement rings and wedding rings from Danforth Diamond.

One of the greatest pieces of news that you can receive as a sister or a best friend is that you are going to be the maid of honor at a wedding. You should feel honored and appreciated to know that you are going to be alongside one of your closest companions on the most special day of her life.

Being a maid of honor entails responsibilities and obligations. You are the chief assistant to the bride from the day she first prepares her wedding details to the moment she says “I do”. You have to be with the bride every step of the way, so that the whole wedding flows smoothly and in the way that the bride dreams it to be.

Another one of your responsibilities is writing and delivering the maid of honor toast. This is a speech that you compose and recite during the wedding reception. If it is going to be your first time taking on such an honorable position, you may find it hard to create a maid of honor toast on your own.

What you can do is get lets of information and ideas regarding it from the Internet. You can also get help from your family and friends to have a better idea of how these speeches are done.

Before you get started on composing your maid of honor toast, here are some things you have to remember:

- The speech is meant to honor someone that you care very much for, which is why it is important to write and rehearse your speech before the wedding arrives.

- There is no universally ‘perfect’ maid of honor toast, as what works for one wedding would be inappropriate at another..

- Remember to introduce yourself; half of the people in the reception may not know you at all. You may want to talk about your relationship with the bride and groom. Tell the guests why you were chosen as the maid of honor.

- Memorable events are worth including in your speech. How did the bride meet the groom? What were her first impressions of him? How did the two fall in love? Include how you personally witnessed the romance of the newly-wedded couple.

- Incorporate the good values of the bride in your maid of honor toast; how well a wife she is going to be and how you foresee her happy married life.

- Express your gratitude to everyone who came to witness an eventful day and invite all the guests to make a toast for the groom and bride.

- Put an end to your speech by giving out your wedding wish. Say your prayers for the couple; wish them a bountiful life ahead and your hopes for them to have a big blissful family.

These tips are just a few things that you should remember when writing and giving a good maid of honor toast. As a final point, try and keep yourself relaxed. Have a drink (just one though!) beforehand to calm your nerves if you need to.

Learn more about writing a maid of honor toast by visiting http://maidofhonortoastblog.org

Getting engaged is a wonderful and exciting time in a couple’s life. However, it can also be a very expensive time. You want the very best, but if you are on a tight budget, it can be really stressful planning a dream wedding that you can afford. Fortunately, there are many simple things you can do that will allow you to have a perfect and memorable wedding, even if you are on a tight budget.

Listed below are a number of tips to help you plan a wedding on a budget:

Create a Budget: Before you make any wedding plans, calculate how much you can afford to spend on the big day. Without a detailed budget, you could end up spending too much and end up taking years to pay off the debt. Once you have determined how much you can afford to spend, you should make a list of all your wedding expenses. This can include expenses for such items as invitations, hall rentals, decorations, food, wedding cake, music, etc. Once you have a list of your wedding expenses and an approximation of the costs of each expense, you can then look for ways to cut down on each cost so you can stay within your budgeted amount.

Establish a Wedding Account: If you plan your wedding many months in advance, then you will have the opportunity to save a substantial amount of money. For instance, you can set aside a certain percentage of each paycheck and deposit it in a special account specifically for your wedding. To ensure that you can still afford your regular bills, you can cut costs in other areas of your life such as dining-in instead of eating at restaurants, renting a movie instead of going to the movie theater, carpooling to work with friends, bringing your own lunch to work, etc. You can also consider getting a part time job and set the money aside for the wedding.

Cut Wedding Costs: If your budget is small, you will need to come up with ways to lower your costs. For instance, have your close friends and family help you with tasks such as making homemade decorations and wedding favors instead of buying expensive items. You can even use your own computer and software to make homemade invitations. You could also use a DJ instead of hiring an expensive band. A buffet style wedding dinner and asking family members and friends to each make a special food dish also lowers the cost.

For the Bar, consider more affordable beer and liquor and even having a cash bar. Smaller size weddings are much more affordable than a large wedding. Go through your guest list to see if you can cut down on the number of people who will be attending the wedding. When considering a wedding gown, look for special sales and check out second hand clothing stores. Remember, holidays and spring time tends to be an expensive time to have a wedding because there are more couples getting married making it difficult to get deals and discounts.

Because an average size wedding can cost about $20,000, it can take a significant bite out of your bank account, and even leave you with a huge debt. When you have a detailed budget and budget plan, as well as planning well in advance of the romantic day, you will end up with the wedding of your dreams.

Adriana Noton is a freelance writer who specializes in providing great financial information for Canadians. When searching online for debt counseling or credit counseling, one of the many resources available is Consolidated Credit; offering a variety of debt counseling services and financial planning tools to help Canadians get their debts under control.

For the perfect wedding day, you need the perfect wedding venue. You want a place with character, charm and style; somewhere that lives up to the venue that you have dreamed about since you were a child. It is not the thing to do on the ‘cheap’, as it has such a prominent effect on the wedding as a whole.

You only get married once (hopefully), so you want to do it right, and to do something right, you need to do it in the right place. Where the right place for you is will be dependent on your personal preferences, but you will have no shortage of venues to choose from. In deed, there will be so many to choose from, that you may even be a little overwhelmed. So, what do you need to consider when choosing the venue for your wedding?

The first consideration is how many people are going. Usually, two thirds of invitees will attend, but you should always have extra sits, just in case, which is why it pays to chose a large place. Alternatively, you can request that people give you a definite answer as to whether they will be attending well in advance of the day, so then you will know the exact number that will attend.

It may be an option to have two venues; one for the wedding and one for the celebrations afterwards. In general, more people attend the reception than the wedding, so a smaller venue for the wedding and a larger one for the reception is the typical set-up. It is important that the two be close to each other, so that you do not waste too much of your special day traveling around.

Having made a list of potential venues based on a little research, gather a camera and a notebook and visit them. Take notes about what you like and do not like, take pictures, and write down some ideas and suggestions regarding decorations that you think would go nicely with the overall look of the place.

The general opinion is that historical buildings or botanical gardens are perfect for a wedding. You want somewhere with an atmosphere of both warmth and grandeur, a place that reminds you of family and happiness as well as prosperity. But a wedding venue is more than the place itself. What sort of catering do they offer? For example, do they offer an inventive cuisine with a focus on styling and taste? The perfect venue will work with you to design the perfect menu for your wedding.

Some wedding venues provide in-house stylists, photographers, flower suppliers, etc. You may want to chose one that does, but even better is a venue that allows you to chose from a pool of recommended services – this way you can really customize your wedding day and transform it from a dream into your dream.

To summarize, think carefully before choosing your wedding venue. Whilst it will not make or break the success of the day, it will play a part in how fondly you look back on your special day.

This article was written by a wedding planner who has over 10 years experience of planning weddings. To find out more information, click here: Wedding Venue Cheshire

After all the intense preparation and emotions which go with arranging a wedding and finally getting through the event, you are now able to take a break and be together without being the center of a whirlwind and attention. The honeymoon is the reward for enduring the trauma of a wedding; once you have married and gone through the ceremony you will understand that though it is “Your Day”, in practice it is anything but!

The word “honeymoon” comes from the Vikings and their practice of the newlyweds disappearing off to a cave or hut and staying there, undisturbed, for one lunar cycle of the moon (this is about one calendar month). The premise was that after the extended “vacation” the newlyweds would be expecting a child and given the energy levels required, honey formed a staple part of their diet – hence, “honeymoon”.

Now honeymoons are not without incident, some humorous and some not so funny, but nevertheless it is the matrimonial start of your life together and you’ll have to deal with it, as with everything else in your lives from now on – together!

One couple honeymooned in Las Vegas after a huge wedding which kept them on their feet for the whole day. The wedding went without a hitch, but because they were both so very busy they didn’t get a chance to eat anything at the reception and so it came to pass, that the very first meal they had as a married couple was in a KFC just off the strip.

Another couple finally made it from the wedding reception and were on the way to the airport. Nothing to worry about, they were there in good time and all ready for a spot of relaxation after the intense activity of the day until it came time to go through security. It was only then that the groom realized that he didn’t have his passport – from now on his wife knows better than to trust him with this kind of stuff!

One 82 year old lady recalled her wedding night 61 years previously. It was a different time and there was no “hanky panky” before marriage, so it was with some apprehension that alone with her husband at last they went to bed. When he emerged from the bathroom wearing his pajamas, she burst into uncontrollable laughter – his mother had packed his clothes for the honeymoon and the pajamas were complete with Pooh Bear and friends.

Something he had to grow out of very rapidly thereafter!

Finally, on a more sober note, a bride recalls how during the wedding reception a messenger arrived. Her husband was in the military and the country was at war; the messenger was not bearing good news – the groom was given 24 hours to report to base on the other side of the country.

In World War 2, this was common enough for thousands of newlyweds but in 2003 these newlyweds found that it still happens. She remembers how they spent the night on the road back to Fort Benning, Georgia and the first year of their marriage was spent apart. Today, they have three children and she recalls it was the most intimate night she had ever had with her husband because all they did was hold hands and talk through the miles.

By Jill Renee – president of DanforthDiamond.com, a leading authority on diamonds, diamond rings and solitaire engagement rings. 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

Hopefully, this is a question which you never have to answer but, on occasion engagements do end before making it to the altar. The vexed question is what should the lady do with the ring? Should it be given back or can she keep it, indeed should she keep it?

The most cited legal authority is a Michigan law case, Meyer-v-Mitnick which ruled that the giving of an engagement ring is a “conditional gift”, that is the engagement ring is given subject to the condition of the lady receiving it following through on her agreement to the proposal of marriage. If she doesn’t follow through with the marriage, then the engagement ring remains the legal property of the man and should be returned. This is subject to numerous caveats though, so we need to clarify.

Where the engagement ring is made on traditional gift giving holidays, typically Christmas but also note Valentine’s Day, then the engagement ring immediately becomes the legal property of the woman receiving it irrespective of whether the marriage takes place.

There is also a “no fault” doctrine which has taken root in many states, and where the engagement is broken off by the man, then it is he who has created a situation where the woman cannot possibly fulfil the condition of marriage and so she shall be entitled to retain the ring.

In reality, the chances of ending up in court arguing over who owns the ring are relatively slim; no-one wants to engage in an acrimonious legal dispute as part of the autopsy of a failed relationship, especially one which is so emotionally charged – after all, you both wanted to be married at one point!

The best way to deal with the matter is to talk about it and do what you both feel is best. Traditionally, when an engagement is broken off the engagement ring is offered to be returned by the lady. Sometimes it is simply better for her own feelings and dignity to return the ring no matter what has happened. In some cases, the return of the engagement ring itself is used to tell the man that the engagement has been ended by the woman and this avoids any unpleasantness in disputing who owns what.

For the man involved, an engagement ring can be a very costly item to buy – typically, three months’ salary is at stake – so relinquishing any claim to the engagement ring is something to take a very hard swallow over.

Again, it is probably better to apply some sense of proportion to the issue because the cost of an engagement ring is dwarfed in comparison to the cost of a failed marriage. If the engagement has ended, sacrificing the investment in an engagement ring is nothing compared to the division of assets during a divorce. In this respect, the cost of an engagement ring is a cheap price to pay for the emotional and financial distress created by taking the wrong course of action over a marriage.

Overall, the best way to proceed is to discuss this with no set objectives and an open mind. This may not be possible, but the sooner the emotional aspects are dealt with the sooner everyone can get on with their lives and hopefully, find happiness elsewhere.

 

By Jill Renee – president of DanforthDiamond.com, a leading authority on diamonds, engagement rings and wedding rings. 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

For those getting whose 2010 New Year resolution is to get married, thoughts will be turning to what to wear, where to get married and the legion of details and arrangements which go along with the happy day. Here we are going to take a brief look at some of the fashions and trends which are emerging for weddings this year.

The Wedding Dress

Last year saw long-flowing dresses in the romantic style emerge as the most popular choice and this is set to continue. Soft fabrics with subtle floral designs are favoured and complemented with sashes, waist bands and ruffles. Bodices adorned with zircon or pearls are also extremely popular.

Dress styles are refined with strapless gowns continuing as the most popular variant. Fashion houses continue to push the modified A-line skirt, which is flared at the bottom and tapers to a slim line waist. Common alternatives are ball gowns and tea-length dresses but, the most notable development is the introduction of color, even black though color is usually more muted in tone using colors such as soft brown or platinum.

Accessories

Long wedding trains are out but veils are in as are faux fur shawls and wraps ( not real fur). Velvet, satin and pashmina are also popular but for warm weather lighter fabrics such as lace, organza, chiffon and tulle provide the best dress accessory and especially for bare arms and shoulders.

On the jewelery front, pearl necklaces and earrings are extremely popular followed by rhinestones and crystal. Crystal broaches set in the hair are also used to accent the entire effect and may also be worn on the dress.

Hair Style

There is no clear fashion when it comes to hair styles; the popular choices remain loosely pulled back for long hair. Hair adornments are popular, especially broaches and hair pins or less often, silk or lace flowers. Tiaras, combs and headbands remain popular but the trend is to become smaller and let the dress be the focus of attention with the bride’s outfit.

Wedding Bouquet

The great majority of bouquets are made by gathering flowers and tying them with a wide satin ribbon. Occasionally, the bouquets is “glammed up” by using beads, brooches, pins, pearls and other stones but a more notable development is the increasing adoption of a “rustic” look. Starfish, shells, feathers, pinecones and other natural objects are increasingly being used to complement the ensemble.

When it comes to the flowers themselves, roses dominate and there is no change for 2010. It is not uncommon to see lilies, hydrangea and orchids and less commonly, tulips though the overall style is a loose, casual style attempting to give a “just picked” appearance which differs from previous seasons. Vivid flower colors are very popular and are contrasted with the dress.

Reception Decorations

A more casual look is being sought after by using centrepieces of matching colors and tones, but variety is introduced by using different sizes and arrangements. There is greater use of natural materials such as lime and lemons, shells and pine cones and less commonly, sea glass or acrylic ice as vase fillers. Tables are further adorned using Chinese lanterns and flowering vines while the humble balloon remains as popular as ever. Disposable cameras are increasingly popular and provide a spontaneous and interesting record of the event.

By Jill Renee – president of DanforthDiamond.com, a leading authority on diamonds, engagement rings and wedding ring sets. 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

Sure, weddings are happy occasions and fun fill events. Usually. Ask anyone who ever planned a wedding ‘ hers or a client’s ‘ and she’ll probably be able to share some absolute horror stories of things that went wrong. Planning the wedding needn’t be rife with problems, though.

One of the most important aspects to consider when planning is to try to match the type of wedding to the length of time you have to make the plans.

If you are hoping to get married in Paris, invite over 200 guests, and have your gown designed by Vera Wang ‘ you’re looking at more than year, working every day on the details. If you are just hoping to have a few people meet you in Vegas so you can get married by Elvis, even a nice wedding can be arranged in a week.

Finding the perfect dress can take a month if not more. Many women are finding that this time honored tradition simply isn’t worth the money, time and effort involved. School, careers, and even single moms with families are opting for less all consuming alternatives that include renting a wedding dress or even wearing something that is closer to a cocktail dress. For bridal attendants, the same options are available. Make it easy ‘ let them figure it out!

You don’t need to do it all yourself. Learn to delegate. You’ll be surprised how things can get done if you choose some reliable friends, give them an assignment, and leave them alone. Almost everyone has a smart phone that can be used like a laptop ‘ if they have questions or want your opinion on something they can send you pictures, text you a question, or even take a video walking around a reception hall to see if you like it.

Even if you don’t have an artistic bone in your body, you can still print your own invitations. Specialty kits that include everything from paper stock to envelopes to ribbons and more can be ordered online or found in office supply stores. To save even more time, add an email address instead of having people mail those pesky little RSVP cards back. What was gauche even 10 years ago is now considered de rigueur.

Tired of the boring and ill prepared sit down dinners at wedding receptions? So is everyone else. Not to mention you are paying a fortune for all that dried out chicken that hardly anyone will touch. Try one of the more unique options many brides are turning to; these include afternoon wine and cheese receptions with perhaps some other light finger foods. Another common choice especially in the over 30 crowd is a coffee bar set up with finger pastries and some liqueurs for the coffees. Elegant and fairly inexpensive.

Make sure your transportation is in place a few days ahead of time. Review addresses, destinations, times, and even fees if applicable. If relying on friends, make sure they clean out their cars! Wedding dresses and Oreo cookie crumbs don’t mix!

Finally, ask everyone to send gifts rather than bringing them to the reception. This way you won’t need to rely on people to gather them and cart them to your home later on.

Professional wedding planners strive to make all weddings momentous and unforgettable. Their extensive services include hiring a Toronto wedding photographer, booking the banquet hall Toronto, and ordering the Toronto wedding cakes.

Educating yourself about engagement rings and wedding rings can be an eye-opening and cash-saving experience. Engagement and wedding rings aren’t tied to any season, but they seem to roll out the doors a bit more around Christmas or Valentine’s Day. But a good tip for anyone who is planning on purchasing one, is to go to the jewelry armed with at least a basic amount of knowledge in this area.

Once you begin your education, you’ll begin to see that there is some new terminology to learn, and some old terminology that you just thought you understood. Some of the terms used, if not understood, can cause you to pass over them, while others may seem to be misleading. But once you have a working knowledge of these things, it’s a much easier experience all the way around.

One of the terms you hear often in regards to diamonds, is the ‘cut’. Another is ’shape’. And many take for granted that these two mean the same thing, because you have to cut a diamond to get its shape. But in fact, while the shape is mainly the ‘contour’ line of the stone, the ‘cut’ is much more involved in the overall description. It takes is the depth and the width, and other facets that will affect the brilliance and durability of the stone.

Once you get your working knowledge of the stones, then you need to get familiar with settings. There are a lot of different types of settings, the most common being the ‘prong’ setting. And this setting itself comes in many variations. So again, it’s a good idea to do a little reading about the different types of prong settings, and find out which ones are best for which stones. This is very useful knowledge for shopping engagement rings and wedding rings.

Once you know the prong settings, then you can move on to the other settings that are available. There are the bezel, the channel, and invisible types of settings that it can be a good idea to know something about. Learning how to pair which setting with which stone can be a key part of getting the best value for the money you put out. Some settings can make a diamond appear to be larger than it actually is, and this is good to know.

One of the most common terms you’ll hear when shopping stones is ‘clarity’. What this means is the presence or absence of flaws in the stone. Some of the flaws are on the surface, and some are within the diamond itself. Trying to find one that is perfect in clarity, is nearly impossible, and expensive. For the most part, these flaws can only be seen with a magnifying loupe and not with the naked eye.

Color plays a big part in choosing a diamond. Many who don’t understand about diamonds, believe they’re all clear and white. But this isn’t the case. It is a fact that the white diamond sets the standard by which the others are judged. So color is another area of study for the one who wants to understand diamonds.

Educating yourself about engagement and wedding rings can not only save money, but it can be a rewarding and interesting undertaking. It’s a subject that’s vast in the amount of knowledge you can gain if you dig deep enough. Many people have made it their hobby. And today is the age of easy information, so research is done much simpler than in times past. So do a little research, and get the ring you want, for the one you love.

Proposing to your loved one is an exciting and momentous occasion, so carefully shop for impressive Toronto engagement rings. Embark on the journey of love by purchasing Vancouver engagement rings today!