Wedding Layers

Your wedding rings are symbols of your commitment and love. You’re also going to be looking at them a lot and wearing them for years. Here are some tips for your search for wedding rings:

Tip #1: Don’t Delay. Start window shopping and browsing right away. You might think you know what you want. But when you see all the beautiful styles out there, you might change your mind. You need some time to see what’s out there and decide on what you really want. Once you have zeroed in on “the one” be sure to visit it a couple times to make sure it feels right before you go for the final purchase. Don’t buy the first ring you see. You want to feel like you’ve looked around and you’re confident in your final choice. No regrets.

Tip #2: How Much Can You Afford? The old rule of thumb for how much a man would spend on an engagement ring used to be one month of his salary. Many times the engagement ring was part of a set that later joined together and became the bride’s wedding band. Gold bands are very popular and inexpensive. Average price is around $300. If you’re eyeing platinum, you’re looking at more like $1000. Precious gemstones or diamonds will add quite a bit. The main point is to discuss your budget with your future spouse so that you both have the same expectations. The bride may have high hopes for an expensive ring set that the groom cannot afford. Remember, there’s always the 5 or 10 year anniversary to get lots of diamonds if that’s what you require.

Tip #3: Think About Shape and Style. If you’re very active with your hands, you might not want pointy edges or a center stone that sticks out too far. It might get caught on clothing. You might go for a simple band or a center stone that is recessed in. Stones and intricate designs will trap dirt and you’ll be cleaning your ring every few days if you want to maximize its sparkle. If you are allergic to some gold alloy rings, you can consider platinum as it is hypoallergenic. Simple, classic looks will stand the test of time. Unusual gemstones or designs may go out of style quickly.

Tip #4: Look on the Inside. If you’re purchasing an 18K gold ring, you’ll want to see 18K stamped somewhere on the inside of your ring. Platinum rings are stamped PLAT. Designer rings also usually have a manufacturer’s mark. This is a good sign that you have a reputable jewelry manufacturer. If you’re considering having the inside of your rings engraved, take a look at how much room inside you have and how long of a message you can have engraved. At the bare minimum go for the wedding date so you don’t forget your anniversary!

Tip #5: Proper Sizing. Try to do your final ring fitting in the afternoon. You want your body temperature to be normal. You don’t want to be feeling cold or feel hot or sweaty. If you have a ring with a simple band or an area where part of the band is smooth, you can get it re-sized at a later date if you lose or gain weight. The final weeks of any pregnancies will cause you to retain water and you may even have to just take your wedding ring off for a few weeks for comfort. Some specialty rings may have diamonds or a design all the way around. The fitting for this kind of ring is extremely critical. Usually, you would see a sample ring, get fitted to a certain size, and then your special ring gets made to this size. There is no wiggle room for resizing.

Don’t be overwhelmed with the ring shopping. You’ll have many fun afternoons with your beloved shopping, walking and talking. This should be a fun, exciting time. Don’t get stressed. The right ring will almost speak to you when you see it and you’ll know it’s the one.

Lisa Gunther is personalized gifts specialist in the wedding industry. Gunther Gifts is the perfect place to select groomsmen gifts, wedding favors, flasks, or personalized gifts for any special occasion.

Author: Lisa Gunther
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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So you’ve narrowed down your selection of potential wedding photographers. You’ve now got to decide between two or three. You like their work and they have similar rates and packages. But you still aren’t sure who to hire. What else can you do to help make your decision? Contact the photographers who made it to your ‘short list’ and ask them some key questions…

The rates are important, yes and of course you’ll want to inquire about them. But once you’ve got a fairly clear idea of the amount you can expect to pay, there are several other things you should make sure of as well…

The first and maybe most important question you’ll want to ask: Does the photographer provide you with a detailed shot-list to fill out prior to your wedding?

This list is invaluable for you and for your photographer. On this list, you’ll fill out the names of the wedding party and family members so your photographer knows who is who, without you having to take time from your wedding day to make extra introductions.

Then you fill out information about the various shots you want. Do you want photos of the wedding party getting ready? Bridal party and groom’s party? Do you want family photos before and after the ceremony? Do you want photos of the cake cutting and the signing of the legal documents? How much time are you allotting for each activity?

All of these details (and more) can be arranged with your photographer weeks or months in advance by filling out this shot list. This ensures you and your photographer both know what to expect and how much time you have for each location and activity. Things go so much more smoothly when those things are worked out ahead of time!

Another important question to ask your potential photographer: If you hire them, will they give you a free consultation before your wedding date?

The answer to this should always be yes. Whether it’s in person or by telephone, at least a few days prior to your wedding, you and your photographer should have a one-on-one discussion about the kinds of photos you envision for your wedding day. Especially if you plan on having formal/posed shots of the bride and groom alone. Where would you like to do those? Would you like them to be posed, or would you like something more casual? Do you have any special ideas in mind? These are things that are best discussed in person with the photographer so you can both be clear about your vision and your needs for your wedding photography.

A question that should definitely be a deciding factor in who you hire, is: How soon after your wedding can you expect to receive your photos? Anything under 30 days is reasonable. More than 30 days is not.

A few other things you may want to ask about as well:

Does the photographer have portable lighting in case of bad weather or in case of a dim, indoor location? You want to be sure to hire someone who is prepared for any eventuality.

Do they work in digital or film or both? These days, most photographers work strictly in digital, so you’d think you wouldn’t even need to ask. But occasionally a photographer will use both and you may want to specify this just in case there’s an extra charge for whatever they shoot in film.

A VERY important thing to make sure of before hiring any kind of service supplier for your wedding – including your photographer – is if they provide a contract and invoices and/or receipts. Don’t hire anyone who doesn’t provide you with some form of documentation for your transactions. Contracts and invoices/receipts are for your benefit and protection just as much as they are for the tradespeople and service suppliers you hire.

Always, ALWAYS make sure you get a signed contract upon paying any deposit fee.

Which reminds me… You should also ask your potential photographer if they require a booking fee/deposit. A professional photographer will require this, so expect them to say yes. The average professional photographer doesn’t tend to charge more than $500 for a deposit, often a bit less. This deposit guarantees the photographer’s availability for your date and time.

Make sure that the booking fee is refunded from the total sum agreed upon for your wedding photography contract.

And you should ask when you’re expected to pay the entire sum for your wedding photography. Some photographers invoice you after your wedding, some require full payment by the day of. Either is acceptable, but more often than not, you’ll be expected to make the full payment on or before your wedding day. This applies to paying videographers as well.

One last thing you might want to ask is if Photoshop image re-touching is included in the photographer’s rates or if they charge extra for that? It’s something that should be included; charging an additional fee for re-touching is a bit unscrupulous.

In this age of digital photography, Photoshop (or an equivalent program) is exactly like a darkroom. Contrast and colour are corrected and adjusted. Blemishes are removed, focus is sharpened, effects can be added, images can be produced in black and white as well as colour.

Making these adjustments to photos is all part of a professional photographer’s job and you should not be expected to pay extra money for this service. If someone doesn’t include this service in their photography rates, I would recommend that you hire someone else who does.

Now that you’ve asked these questions, you can base your decision on the answers you get from the photographers you’re considering hiring. And you should expect a conscientious photographer to ask you some questions too.

Tamea Burd is a professional photographer based in Vancouver BC. She specializes in wedding photography and portrait photography. Visit her website Tamea Burd Photography

Author: Tamea Burd
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Many brides become exhausted and nervous before the wedding, because they fear that things are not going to go as planned. They worry about tripping over their gown, falling on their shoes, messing up their make-up, but most of all, they worry that they have forgotten something in the planning stages. In order to alleviate those fears, the bride and anyone who is helping with the planning can follow some tips to prevent anything from going wrong.

o Invest in a wedding planner book – available in all bookstores.

o Make a list of everything you need to do and at what stage of the planning process. This will depend upon the amount of time between the commencement of your engagement and the wedding. The more time you have, the less stressful the planning will be.

o Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can do everything. Enlist the help of any friends and family who offer. Encourage your fiancé to join you in the planning process, especially with the guest list. It is his wedding, too, so he should not be exempt from helping with the decision-making.

o As you complete each task, cross it off your list and go on to the next thing. Remember to have a list of things that need to be completed before the wedding, as well as a list for those things you wish to confirm a few days before the wedding.

o If you’re planning to have a band instead of just a disc jockey, allow enough time for auditions, unless you have heard the band. You don’t want to hire someone who advertises a good price and then find out they do not play the music you want or are amateurish and not quite ready for professional gigs. You want to pay for talent, not someone who is just learning to perform.

It is difficult work to plan a wedding, but the more time you have to plan it, the less stressful it will be. Even if you have been dating for a long time and are in a hurry to make everything legal, don’t rush into marriage. Enjoy your engagement and allow yourselves an opportunity to carefully plan your wedding. By taking your time instead of rushing, you stand less chance of forgetting something, and you can take your time obtaining quotes and locating all of the things you need for your wedding.

For wedding planning ideas, the Internet is a great source of information. In lieu of a wedding planner, many sites offer complete wedding planning without the expense of someone planning the event for you. You can buy everything from invitations to decorations and even wedding attire. In addition, you can plan your wedding trip and not even have to leave your home. That makes the process more relaxing, less tiresome, and allows you to plan everything when you are free to do so without worrying about store hours. Planning your wedding online leaves you with little to do in person except for choosing your wedding dress and confirming deliveries such as flowers, food, and even the photographer.

The Perfect Wedding Guide is your complete source for Toronto Wedding information. We provide you with a list of every product and service necessary to plan your perfect wedding. We offer tips from finding the perfect wedding gown to choosing your perfect Toronto wedding cake and more. http://www.theperfectweddingguide.com/

Author: Jennifer E. Blackie
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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What if someone told you that save-the-date cards & magnets were the hottest trend for weddings? Would you scratch your head and wonder what they were? The name is pretty self-explanatory, and the concept is catching on like wildfire. The internet has opened up the possibility to create custom save-the-date cards & magnets with a few mouse clicks and lines of text. These have never been able in stores to the same degree of seamless function as they are online. Basically, save-the-date cards & magnets allow you to input the text you want into a simple set of form fields on a web page. Each form field parallels one line of text on the card or magnet you’re ordering. You’re able to put in the names of the bride, the groom, the date of the wedding, and the time. Then, just press order and a magnet arrives at your door in a few days. You can immediately attach the magnet to a refrigerator or freezer, and it becomes a fun, colorful way to remember the date of the wedding. They’re so varied in design that they’re almost collectible.

Save the date cards & magnets come with several background design choices like palm trees, pears, fruit bowls, flowers, hearts, a calendar month with a heart-shaped outline around the day of the wedding, a church, a chapel, two people standing on a heart, two people kissing, a wedding cake, and the list goes on and on and on. Sometimes, you can upload your own background images that fit the size of the magnet. Save-the-date cards are different from magnets because they’re one-sided cards that serve the same purpose as a magnet, but they can’t be attached to the refrigerator. Many detractors say that an invitation is sufficient in this case.

Save the date cards & magnets are fun additions to any wedding. They’re like wedding invitations that you don’t throw away. Your friends will get a kick out of it and anxiously count down the days until your wedding arrives. They really stoke the fires of anticipation for the event. Plus, their refrigerators will look a little better!

Jeff Fain is an author for Dependable Printing. Please visit Dependable Printing for a great selection of wedding invitations, save the date cards & magnets, shower invitations, party invitations, and much more.

Author: Jeff Fain
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable Pressure Cooker

Sending wedding thank you cards is a sensitive matter that needs planning with well thought out procedures to avoid mistakes that may reflect badly on you. Proper manners must be followed to make the guests or participants feel appreciated for their giving and for their efforts. The first rule in wedding thank you card etiquette is to strive to send them as soon as the wedding is over, or gifts have arrived, or any other action that needs appreciation.

For your wedding gifts and your participation in responding, the last date to send thank you cards is at the end of your honeymoon – for wedding showers and parties, would be a week after, and for advanced gifts, it should be immediately or a few days later. Sending the cards late, shows either non appreciation or lack of reciprocating the efforts of your friends and family. The recipients should receive the cards when the memories are still fresh so that your gratitude has more meaning.

The basic aim of the wedding thank you card is to praise the guests, and not break the wedding thank you cards etiquette by beginning your message with words that mention you first, i.e., ‘we, I or me’. Always start the messages with ‘you’, referring to the guest. Also, it is disheartening to characterize or generalized some people as a group. Even if a certain group came from the same company or family try to write each of them individual cards.

The people who came to your wedding honored your special day with their presence, so saying thank you in a unique and honorable way should be your first priority. Poor quality material and other aspects of the card will have a negative effect on the recipient. Therefore, it is very important that the material, design, layout and decoration of the wedding thank you cards be well thought through. Pay heed to wedding thank you cards etiquette, for it represents a token of your deep felt appreciation and because of it, you will surely be remembered for many years.

Need more help with your Wedding Thank You Cards Etiquette? Get examples and samples at Thank You Note Wording.info for your notes, cards and letters on weddings, baby showers, graduations, bridal showers and most any other occasion you can think of – Absolutely Free!

Author: Sabrina Lawton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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My fiance and I are planning to have a courthouse wedding ceremony this May with close family and friends. Then a few days later we are planning to have a huge wedding reception for everyone to come and celebrate our union.

The problem is, I don’t know that "correct" words or phrase to use on the wedding reception invitations without sounding offensive to those who may have not been invited to the ceremony.

So, what is a good way to word my wedding reception invitations?