Pearls: The Ideal Wedding Gemstone

Many brides put on their mother’s or grandmother’s pearl necklace for their wedding, thinking this is a sweet sentiment. But the meaning behind pearl necklaces is just as thoughtful and special to a bride-to-be. We’d like to share it with you now – so you understand exactly why women for centuries have chosen pearls as their wedding jewelry of choice giving them as much importance as their engagement rings.

Most of you surely have noticed the pearl, lustrous, white and smooth. They have been considered precious by men and women for centuries – some might even say as valuable as diamonds. Pearls represent innocence and purity, ideal for a bride to wear for her wedding day. The most popular color for pearls is white. Pearls have a beautiful, shining luster to compliment a bride’s love light in her eyes and her traditional white wedding dress. The radiant glow of the pearl easily reflects back the bride’s natural beauty. These natural gems are an ideal choice for brides of all ages and personal tastes and styles. What if the bride isn’t wearing white? Not to worry….pearls are available in a variety of colors now from deep purple, soft pink, gold and even black. The very fussiest of brides can be soothed and pleased with a feminine, pretty pearl necklace to suit her wedding day dress.

Pearls are also available in many different styles of jewelry, from necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings. Go for a truly luxuriant look with a three-strand choker on your wedding day. Or tiny seed pearls in seven or eight strands for a feminine look. Or a classic single strand pearl necklace in white or ivory. These pearl jewelry styles easily compliment many wedding dress looks.

To obtain pearls, one needs to find them from oyster shells. Some have said that pearls were created from raindrops falling from the heavens. Very romantic thoughts indeed! But we have to admit there is certainly something romantic about the very act of finding pearls. You have to search to find just the “right” oyster and not every oyster will have that pearl. Just like finding your lovely bride – pearls are selective and special. The perfect way to show the woman you love that you’ve found someone you truly want to keep forever.

The pearl is a romantic gem and often is given as a token of love. For many years the pearl was considered to be the most valuable of gemstones. To give or receive pearls showed the value of a relationship. One’s bride is valuable and precious indeed.

So as you put on your pearl necklace like your grandmother and her grandmother before her, remember the romantic pearl’s history. This sweet sentimental gem is honored to be with you on your wedding day!

Source: http://crystal-cure.com/pearl.html

Upgrade your honeymoon: Get free perks on your honeymoon

After the hectic pace of wedding planning and the actual event itself, it’s no wonder that newly married couples are eager to take time for just the two of them on their honeymoons. Many newlyweds look forward to splurging on a bit of luxury, relaxation and T.L.C., but the budget isn’t always there to pay for V.I.P. treatment. Getting free upgrades and perks on your honeymoon is not guaranteed, but hopefully with these tips, brides and grooms can score a few getaway extras.

Find honeymoon-friendly service providers
When honeymoon planning, research to find out what accommodations in your preferred area (and airlines that service those cities) have either a history of treating honeymooners or a dedication to providing high-quality customer service. Use travel review websites, speak to your friends and family or chat with a travel agent.

Show your loyalty
Airlines, hotels and restaurants like to get repeat customers by developing loyalty through frequent flyer programs and membership systems. If you don’t already belong to them, you should sign up (they’re usually free). The hospitality industry is geared toward pleasing individuals that show an interest in becoming long-term customers, and members of their programs tend to get front-of-the-line service. Always remember to reference your relevant membership numbers when completing your honeymoon bookings.

Bring it up at booking
Mention your trip is a honeymoon as you make your reservations. Many online booking forms have a field that asks if you have any special requests. This would be the place to make one. If there is anything specific you would like for your romantic getaway (i.e.: a certain view from your hotel room, a spa treatment at the resort), say so. It’s your best bet to make these requests early.

Use your charm
When a couple is genuinely happy and enjoying each other’s company, people will ask if they’re celebrating a special occasion. It is natural for you to mentioning that you are on your honeymoon. It’s a great opportunity for brides and grooms who aren’t very comfortable asking for free upgrades to bring up the subject.

Try to be positive and not pushy when you do ask about potential upgrades. Show that you do understand the limitations and that you can handle the rejection without giving any attitude. Often if you’ve been courteous, non-demanding and friendly with hospitality staff, they’ll try to give you the next best thing to an upgrade during your vacation or trip. While it might not be a first-class ticket, some free bubbly, a welcome package or some other perk are certainly better than nothing at all.

Make sure you bring proof… Better yet, wear it..!
It is common practise, especially for hotels to make sure that people asking for honeymoon upgrades, are actually honeymooners by asking for proof. Remember to bring a copy of your wedding license with you just in case it’s requested.

Some couples have had luck in getting honeymoon perks without having to outright ask by wearing “Bride”, “Groom” or “Newlywed” hats or T-shirts. Observant airline attendants have been known to bring complimentary champagne or wine to honeymooners when they notice they’re onboard. This is perfect for people that aren’t confident in making special requests – you can let your gear do all your talking for you.

Asking the right people
Besides letting people know about your newlywed status at the time of booking your trip, the following individuals can also provide some sway on your stay when you mention you’re honeymooning:

• Airport ticket agent:  If a class upgrade isn’t possible, see if you can get better seats (window or roomier emergency aisle) within the same section. However, don’t press the issue – the ticket agent likely has a long line to deal with and not much room to wiggle in.

• Gate agent: The gate agent at the airport has the most influence when it comes to moving passengers from economy to business or first class. When you arrive at your gate, ask the agent if there’s any room on your flight for some seat shuffling. Be kind, understanding, patient and flexible. If you’re lucky, they’ll call you over just before boarding to give you some good news.

• Airline attendant: After everyone’s boarded, ask if it would be possible for you and your new husband to enjoy any unoccupied first-class seats. Due to regulations, this isn’t always possible, but if you’ve asked nicely (and handled the rejection well!), you’ll often find that airline attendants can give you a little something extra (like a congratulatory drink!).

• Hotel front desk: When you booked your trip, the hotel or resort should have noted your honeymoon status and hopefully already put an upgrade request in place. In any case, when you arrive, do mention it to front desk. The check-in attendants can see if there are last-minute upgrades that can be arranged. Mention the things that interest you such as a beach view, a larger suite, late checkout, free excursions or a complimentary breakfast and so on. If they know what would make you happy, if it is available, and if you’ve been pleasant, they’re usually all too glad to make it so.

• Waiter/ Waitress: if you mention that you are on your honeymoon, a free dessert, a bottle of wine or champagne could be on the house. When you leave, don’t forget to thank your waiter or waitress and leave a nice tip if you are honeymooning in North America!).

Be thankful
If you receive special service on your honeymoon, be sure to thank those who give it to you – during and after your trip. Positive, grateful remarks stand out among hospitality staff and you may be surprised how many of those get logged officially. You could get the royal treatment on your return visit if you are lucky!

Make sure you do enjoy your honeymoon regardless of the perks and upgrades you may or may not get. It’s your first vacation as husband and wife and should be treasured.

Click here more more artilces on Honeymoon Destinations in NZ

All You Need to Know about Picking Top Wedding Dance Songs

There are a lot of aspects to plan when it comes to your wedding, but the reception is one of the most important. Dancing is perhaps going to be a big part of your reception. After all, the cake has been cut, the ceremony is over, and it’s time that everyone gets the possibility to party. Of course, you’ll want to pick some awesome wedding dance songs to dance to during this part of the reception.

When it comes to wedding dance songs, you’ll want to choose a tune for the first dance with the groom. You also require a song for the father and daughter dance as well as a appropriate song for the dance between mom and son. These are all vital dances, but when they are finished, you may be wondering what you should play for your guests to dance to.

If you are going to select wedding dance songs, there are a number of different aspects that you need to hold in mind when picking the most appropriate songs to keep the party going. First of all, you should make sure that you pick out a lot of different music so the older guests as well as the younger guests will find something that they prefer. When you choose out a variety of different songs, everyone will probably find something to their taste.

You surely want to avoid songs about ex-partners, having your heart broken, or going with a breakup. Make sure that you do not pick out wedding dance songs that anyone will find offensive as well. You do not want to upset them, but you do want to select out some fun songs so everyone will get out there and have fun dancing.

Some brides are a little afraid of selecting cheesy wedding dance songs. Well, that’s all right. It’s your wedding, and it is totally all right to go with songs that may be a bit on the sappy side. Nobody will have a problem with these songs. Just don’t make them all cheesy.

It’s a great idea to pick some wedding dance songs that really make you get up and dance. You see, the tunes that no one can hear and sit still. There are a variety of great songs out there that are sure to get everyone dancing. Some examples are “Straight Up,” by Paula Abdul, “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins, “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce, “Get the Party Started” by Pink, and “Walk Like an Egyptian” by the Bangles.

For the older guests, you’ll want a few older wedding dance songs. Songs such as “Be My Baby” by the Ronettes, “Come Fly with Me” by Frank Sinatra, and “Twist” by Chubby Checker. Some cheesy and fun songs are perfect too, such as “Shake Your Booty,” “Who Let the Dogs Out,” “It’s Raining Men,” and “Whip It.”

As you can see, there are a lot of fantastic wedding dance songs out there that you can use at your wedding reception. Just ensure you pick music you like and pick music that will make your guests have a wonderful time out there on the dance floor.

Centerpieces for Weddings Ideas

In any wedding reception party, wedding centerpieces play a very important role in determining the mood of the party and it is also a reflection of the taste of the couple. Before moving on to a final plan for centerpieces for weddings, you must consider the theme of the wedding and also your budget. You can also consult a florist or a wedding planner to get some innovative ideas. But your idea must go with the theme of the wedding. But you should not worry if you have a limited budget. There are really many cheap ideas available which can really make excellent centerpieces for your weddings. In addition, you must also consider what type of surroundings you are looking for and also what size of tables you are going to use in the reception.

Depending on your budget and theme you can have a lot of ideas for centerpieces in wedding reception. You can decorate it with flowers. Though many flowers are available in the market, before choosing a flower you must see that it is available in that season and it suits your budget. Many inexpensive flowers are available in the market that may suit your budget and also the theme of the wedding.

You can also make the centerpieces with fruits. You can decorate them with colorful fruits that may look great. If you can add fruits like citrus, it has got a beautiful smell and your guests will really feel charmed. The fruits can be kept as a whole or they can be cut and decorated in pieces. The chosen proper color combination of the fruits may present a very elegant atmosphere to the wedding.

You can also decorate the tables with vegetables in the same manner. You are able to make different designs using the vegetables and create many wonderful centerpieces for your wedding. This is really an inexpensive idea, but at the same time, will add beauty to your guest tables. For this purpose, you can choose asparagus, artichoke or even green beans.

Using candles is another wonderful idea of decorating the centerpieces of weddings. Candle is such a beautiful option that it goes along with any budget or any taste. It helps to create a very romantic atmosphere, if the wedding takes place in the evening. If the wedding hall is dimly lit and if you can add some flowers to the decoration, then using candles as centerpieces for weddings will have a long lasting impact on your guests.

But you can make great centerpieces if you are planning to get married in fall. The weather is cool and you can get a lot of beautiful flowers at that time. If you are planning a beach side reception party, the centerpiece colors have to be bright and vibrant. It is really wise to use sunflowers as the focus flower and can have some carnations and golden rod to add more colors. If you decide for a Mexican theme reception food, you can add some peppers that may go well with the centerpiece design.

Unique Ideas for a Bridal Shower

Every bride dreams of having a wonderful bridal shower and spending time with her female friends and family members. Not only is this a time to “shower” the bride with gifts, but a special time to shower her with love and to toast her new special life as a married woman. Why not give the bride a shower that is as unique as she is?

When planning a bridal shower – you can’t go wrong when you start thinking of the bride herself. Every bride has characteristics that make her unique. Perhaps she’s always loved animals or made a great margarita. Or she has a great sense of humor. Or she’s a nature lover and very into living “green.” Each of these can give you great ideas for bridal showers – from hosting a margarita party to going to a comedy club or donating to an animal shelter as a gift to the bride.

Sometimes one special aspect is what makes a bridal shower unique. You don’t have to add tons of ideas to your bridal shower – remember that the guests are going to want to spend lots of time visiting with the bride and also with each other. Try having one or two special touches that make people go “ooh” and “ahh” and make your shower unique. Too many special touches can throw people off and confuse them.

Even if a bridal shower is “unique” it should still be welcoming. If the bride is a vegetarian – would throwing a vegetarian bridal shower be a great unique idea? It might be…depending on the guests coming. When 80% or more of your guests are also vegetarian, having a vegetarian bridal shower is a thoughtful thing to do. If the majority of your guests are not vegetarian then adding some vegetarian dishes and meat dishes to the menu may be the ideal choice – in order to best welcome guests. Remember that a bridal shower is not completely about the bride – but welcoming her to a new family and making everyone feel comfortable and enjoying time spent together.

Try these ideas for something unique and different!

• A spa bridal shower – have facials, massages or manicures and pedicures
• Get psychic – see a psychic or a tarot card reader as part of your bridal shower
• Get physical – invite a bellydance teacher or pilates instructor to teach everyone some great new moves
• Be thoughtful – give gifts to a charity instead of lots of loot to the bride. Perfect for the bride who has everything and has a big heart.

Article by Danforth Diamond, providing expert advice for choosing your engagement ring.

Give a Unique Personalized Wedding Gift – Wine Label

I was just at a large wedding this past weekend (my roommate from college, in case you were wondering). The bride and groom gave a very thoughtful and unique gift – a bottle of wine. But that’s not the unique or thoughtful part in my opinion. The label was “From…” and it had their new married name and the date and location of their wedding. It also had a quote from the first song they danced to as man and wife. Perfect!

I saw that many people opened up their bottles of wine right at that event and I was reminded of how difficult it can be to find that perfect large-event gift. You want to get something thoughtful and personal yet please the whole crowd. I think a lot of the success of their gift was the beautiful custom wine label on the delicious wine. It gave the perfect message with the bottle of wine to celebrate their wedding and marriage. The fact that the wine was delicious certainly didn’t hurt!

Custom wine labels would be ideal for many occasions. A family reunion where you give a bottle of wine to every adult present. Or that milestone birthday – like the big 4-0 or 6-5 birthday party where you want to give the guests something special. It would also be great for the holidays, where you are looking for a gift you can give everyone on your list that will be sure to be a winner. Create a thoughtful and celebratory note on your customized wine label and give out wine for the holidays!

Wine can be a great gift for everyone’s hard work for that community fundraiser or event. Many times a charity or board wants to give a thank you gift they know will be appreciated. With a clever wine label design you have the opportunity to leave a special note on each bottle.

So enjoy a glass of wine – with our thanks!

P.S. Join the wine label design contest and win $100.

Maid of Honor Speech

Wow.  What a time in life.  If you’ve been selected to give the Maid of Honor Speech at your friend’s wedding, you’re likely trying to get some ideas.  Allow me to attempt to provide you with the best of what I know from my years of experience as a professional speaking consultant.

Planning is important, and you’ve done a great thing by looking for information ahead of time.  You’d be surprised how many people ignore the fear they have about public speaking and tell themselves “I’ll figure it out the couple of days before,” “the night before,” or God forbid “in the car on the way there.  ” By the way, if you’re not feeling nervous, I’m worried.  What I’m trying to convey here is that it’s completely normal to feel anything from a tad jittery to utterly panicked at the idea of giving your maid of honor speech.  It’s totally normal.  I still get nervous every single time I prepare to speak, whether at a professional engagement, or even a casual dinner.  Okay, now that you are assured your nerves are normal, let’s take a look at the maid of honor speech itself.

The technical aspects of the Maid of Honor Speech:

First, you might consider starting by telling the audience who you are, and thanking them for coming.  Then, think about a story or two.  Everyone on the planet loves to hear a story.  The first might be something about what you thought of the groom when you first met him.  This always seems to be a good topic, because it’s perfectly acceptable for you to just slightly poke fun at him, as if to say “I wasn’t really sure about Jim when he first started dating Laura.  He drove this old beat up car and had a slightly strange craving for French fries after midnight.”

Hello!  Just in case I haven’t had the chance to meet you in person yet, I’m _________.  I’m the maid of honor today, and I’m so proud of _______ (the bride).  First, I want to say congrats ________(bride & groom).  Also, thanks to _______(the bride’s parents, who likely put on the wedding) and everyone who came from near and far to be here with ________(bride and groom) on their very special day.

Keep any jabs you might consider aiming at the groom in your maid of honor speech to a low level.  As you will probably be sensing just thinking about your past experience, at a wedding, people place the parts of themselves that might be frustrated about the “darker side” of humanity on hold .  They are there to experience feelings of love, joy and happiness.  They don’t want to be reminded about the nasty things that can come out in people, like lust, greed, pain, etc .  So keep from telling jokes that might hint at these things.  A tiny, ever-so-slightly negative comment about the groom is okay, but only once, and if you do, try to make it very light.

When I first ran across ____ (groom), I recall wondering whether everything would work out. I recall him coming to the door (or hearing about him knocking on her door if you weren’t living with the bride) one night at midnight calling for _____(bride).  He was wearing this old flannel shirt, and I think asked ____(bride) if she wanted to get some french fries.I had my second thoughts , but as I got to know him better, I began to see he was an easy person to talk to, he has a good sense of humor, and eventually I came to the conclusion he was a perfect match for ______(bride).  I want to be the second to welcome _______(groom) to the family. We hope we can show you the same outgoing and open spirit as you have shown us.

To continue with this exact speech example, see this site: with an example Maid of Honor Speech.

Stay Organized with a Wedding Invitation Timeline

Wedding invitation planning…you may not realize just how many steps there really are to organizing and preparing your invitations. From creating your guest list to finalizing all your ceremony and reception details, many things affect your wedding invitation preparations.

There really are no absolute deadlines for many of the steps in your wedding invitation process. Although there are some general timeframes that you may find helpful to avoid last-minute rushing since you have so many other things on your mind as well.

Here is a basic timeline to simply use as a guideline for your invitation planning:

9 months – 1 year

• Begin working on your guest list so you will know how many wedding invites (and maybe save the dates) to eventually order (one per single adult, couple or family invited).
• Start your wedding invitation shopping so you can narrow your choices down to only your favorites. Ordering samples, which are usually blank, will give you a chance to see the paper and design up close.
• If you are planning to mail out save the date cards to guests, begin searching for your preferred design of them as well.

7 to 8 months

• If you will be sending save the dates, place your order based on the number of guests to whom you will be mailing them as they are optional.
• Give some thought to how your wording will read by browsing through sample wedding invitation verses.

6 months

• If sending save the dates, prepare and mail them.
• Select your wedding invitation design and gather all the details that will be printed on them such as date, times, name and address of location(s), etc.
• Determine if you will also be ordering any invitation enclosures or added options – response cards, reception cards, direction/map cards, pre-printed return address on envelopes, decorative envelope seals, colored lining for inner envelopes, matching thank you or informal cards. Some of these options may not be available depending on your chosen style. You may also be able to order matching menu, table and place cards for your design. You will save on separate shipping costs by purchasing as many items as you can all in the same order.
• If you are including response cards, check with your dinner location to see how far in advance they need your final guest count so you can select the RSPV date that will be printed on them (typically 2-3 weeks before wedding). You also need to decide whose address will be printed on the response envelope or postcard meaning they will receive the replies.

4-5 months

• Finalize your wording and place your wedding invitation order. Remember to order some extras now so you won’t run out if there are last-minute guests to invite and so you also have a few as souvenirs. If the option is available, order some extra envelopes just to be safe.
• Check your guest list making sure you have complete addresses for everyone.
• Consider mailing your wedding invites using custom wedding stamps. Many online retailers provide you with the alternative of choosing from pre-designed wedding postage or simply uploading a photo to create your own stamp design. NOTE – Have one of your ready-to-mail invitations weighed at the Post Office BEFORE purchasing your postage stamps so you know you are using the correct amount for each one.

3-4 months

• Fold and/or assemble your wedding invitations, if necessary.
• Hand address mailing envelopes and write guest names on inside envelopes, if they are included.
• Purchase and apply postage stamps to the response card envelopes or response postcards, if they will be included.
• Assemble all wedding invitation pieces and insert them into already addressed envelopes.
• Take one fully assembled and sealed invitation to the Post Office to have it weighed to determine the correct amount of postage needed.
• Purchase your stamps or order custom wedding stamps with appropriate postage amount required for mailing.

6-8 weeks

• Seal the envelopes, apply postage stamps and mail them all at the same time directly at a Post Office location.

3-4 weeks

• Prepare and mail any other related wedding invitations…rehearsal dinner, post-wedding brunch, etc.
• Keep track of the response cards as they are returned by checking off their names from your guest list.

2-3 weeks

• Contact any guests who didn’t mail back their response cards.
• Provide final guest count to reception/dinner location.

That pretty much takes care of everything related to your invitations prior to your wedding. The only thing left to do is to write and mail out your wedding thank you cards, especially if you ordered them with your wedding invitations. They should be sent out about a month after the wedding and no more than three months after.

Again, this is just a guideline for your wedding invitations process but hopefully it will help you stay organized which is the key for all of your wedding planning.

What Exactly Are Modern Wedding Invitations?

You often hear the phrase ‘modern wedding invitations’ but what really classifies them as modern.

We all know modern is the opposite of traditional.  When it comes to wedding invitations, traditional brings to mind a simple white or ecru invitation card, classic black ink, a standard font style and two envelopes for mailing.  Modern wedding invitations, on the other hand, let you be more creative and unique which seems to be quite appealing to today’s couples who tend to look for ways to truly personalize their weddings including their invites.

Here are some trends that you may feature on your modern wedding invitations depending on the design you choose and the options available:

·  Multiple Lettering Styles – A larger and sometimes fancier font style is used to emphasize the couple’s names on the invitation compared to the rest of the wording.

·  Contrasting Ink Colors – A second distinct ink color can be used to highlight certain details on your wedding invitation like your names.

·  Pockets – Becoming increasingly fashionable, this style has a pocket for holding the wedding invitation and possibly a separate pocket for any enclosure cards, depending on the specific design.

·  Self-mailing – So named since they turn into their own self-mailing piece eliminating separate mailing envelopes.  Some designs have an envelopment, which may be colored, that wraps around all the invitation pieces for easy mailing.  Another self-mailer design option are seal and send wedding invitations that actually fold and seal up into their own mailing piece.

·  Bright and Bold Colors – Today it is easier than ever to make a personal statement with your invitation colors either through your paper, design or ink choices.  You can also create a unique look by combining colors that you may not normally consider as complementary but really look stunning when paired together.

·  Distinctive Sizes & Shapes – You can easily select a wedding invitation design that has a unique shape such as being square or is an unusual size such as tea length.

·  Patterns – As part of the invitation design, patterns are becoming stylish including paisley and retro motifs.

·  Colored Papers or Envelopes - Make your wedding invitations eye-catching by choosing a design that has colored paper stock or colored envelopes.  Just be sure to choose an ink color that will look good on the colored paper.

·  Recycled Paper – For those striving to be more eco friendly, there are now many beautiful wedding invitation designs that are printed on recycled papers.

·  Embellishments – Ribbon has become quite popular as an added special touch to wedding invitations.

Everyone’s idea of what modern wedding invitations are may vary but the above trends are definitely options that will make invites look more contemporary.  Your invitations will surely reflect your own unique personal style using any of these options.

Funny First Wedding Dances

For many people, walking down the isle is the biggest day of their life. They spend months looking for the perfect dress or tuxedo for the traditional wedding ceremony. The whole occasion is usually very formal and organized. Even the couple’s first dance can be static and frankly, quite uninspired. Some waltz and act like they are at a regal ball while others like to have more fun using the time to be silly while shaking a leg. This post is about those who like to actually have fun when they dance. You’ll see songs and dances you know, but also ones that will surprise you. Either way, you’ll certainly get a kick out of these funny first wedding dances.

Evolution of Wedding Dance

Crazy in Love

Dirty Dancing

Come Fly With Me – Skills!

Original Wedding Surprise – Viral YouTube Goodness

Chariots of Fire

Thriller Original

Beat Ballet

Charleston – AMAZING!

Or, the Groomsmen can just dance by themselves

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