Engagement & Wedding Blog

If you love to take photographs, and you have gotten a lot of compliments on pictures you have taken in the past, this may be something that you can do to make some extra money. What you are going to have to do is to get the right type of camera and equipment, and then learn when and where you can make some money. Weddings are great opportunities to make some money doing something that you love. If you want to get into this type of work, you should get some wedding photography tips before you go out and look for work. You want to know what you are doing first, or you could really ruin someone’s wedding day.

The first and probably most important of wedding photography tips would be that you have to have the right camera. You may be good with your camera, but you should go out and get the best. How do you know which camera is the one you should buy? That may be something you have to find out before or as you shop. You can look online for recommendations and great prices on these cameras, and you can also shop at your local store and ask for someone in sales that really knows what they are talking about so you are getting what you need. Read the rest of this entry »

We can all agree that weddings are stressful. For some people, wedding planning is the most stressful event in their lives. The venue, the dress, the guest list, the menu, the music, flowers, cake. There’s a lot to keep in mind. Nowadays, on top of all that, you’re supposed to come up with original and charming wedding favor ideas. But wedding favor ideas can be difficult – how many personalized shot glasses, candles or coasters have you seen? Not to worry. There are some wedding favor ideas that will work perfectly for your wedding, and can hopefully make all of the wedding planning less stressful.

Of course, the key to good wedding favor ideas is to personalize. This should come as no surprise. There are a number of web sites that offer plenty of personalized wedding favor ideas. The problem of course with many personalized wedding favor ideas is how expensive the personalization is. You end up paying a lot for just a couple of words and a date. There’s gotta be a better way! Well, personalized wedding favor ideas could be done yourself instead of forcing some “professional” to do it. You can save a lot of money, as personalizing technologies are becoming increasingly available to consumers and affordable as well. Read the rest of this entry »

Getting married?  Then I’m sure you’ve carefully considered what sort of invitations you’re going send.  Choosing the right wedding stationary is one of the most and fun, although difficult aspects of planning a wedding.  You want to select the invitations which are just right for you.  They should reflect your personal style, and they should match the overall tone and color scheme of your special day.

Everyone knows how important it is to find just the right wedding invitation.  But so many brides forget that there is so much more to wedding stationary than the invitations themselves.  If you really want your wedding to have elegance and sophistication, you want all your various items of wedding stationary to match.

The first piece you will send out will undoubtedly be your save-the-date card.  So often, couples choose a save-the-date card which they like, without having considered the details of the wedding itself, including level of formality, location, and color scheme.  When the save-the-date is sent out, frequently all the bride and groom know is the time of year when the wedding will occur.  So they choose a card which appeals to them, then later sort out the rest of the wedding particulars.  Then the design of the save-the-date card bears no relation to the rest of the wedding stationary!  Don’t let this happen to you.  Make sure that your save-the-date is of a piece with the rest of your wedding stationary.   Read the rest of this entry »

Anybody who’s ever tried planning a wedding shower knows how expensive an affair a shower can be. From wedding shower invitations to catering to décor, a maid of honor can wind up spending far more than she can afford in order to make the shower a truly special day. Formal invitations alone can cost literally thousand of dollars. And nobody wants to use store-bought invitations – those are too casual and have the feel of children’s birthday party invitations. Yet there is an affordable and very elegant solution. Consider making your own handmade wedding shower invitations.

Don’t pay an artist to make expensive handmade wedding shower invitations. This is something you can do yourself, at home. Crafting the cards yourself will give them a personal flair you can’t match with professional invites. Also, you will be creating mementos of the special day which your guests can keep and enjoy for years to come.

If you are a really crafty type, make the wedding shower invitations from scratch. Making paper at home is really quite easy and fun. You can get the whole family involved. Also, it’s a wonderful way to recycle used paper. All you will need is scrap paper, water, a blender and some kind of screen – like a window screen. Instructions are easy to find online. The result looks unique and inventive. Each guest’s invitation will be slightly different from all the others. You can’t get much more personalized than that. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’ve attended a wedding in last several years – and you probably have – then you’ve had to make some decisions about wedding presents.  These days, brides and grooms make choosing a gift easy… too easy, some might say.  Gigantic chain stores such as Macy’s, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Target (and so many more) offer computerized wedding registry services.  With the ease of web-browsing and online shopping, purchasing wedding presents off a couple’s registry is now as easy as pointing and clicking.

But this convenience raises another question.  Has shopping for wedding presents become too impersonal, too mechanical?  When you buy wedding presents off a registry, it drains the gift of that personal touch which makes gift-giving special in the first place.  After all, you didn’t really pick out the present; the bride and groom chose it.  You just found something that matched your price point and bought it.  When the happy couple uses the nonstick muffin pan or the high tech coffee maker you bought them, will they think of you with gratitude?  Or will they soon forget who gave what, and think of you as one of many semi-anonymous contributors to their domestic comfort?

On the other hand, there is much to be said for registries beyond simple convenience.  Long gone are the days of newlyweds receiving fifteen toasters and twelve serving platters.  Clashing china sets are no longer an issue.  With wedding registries, couples can be sure they’ll get the wedding presents that they actually want and need.  They won’t have to make returns, or live with gifts which don’t suit their tastes or match their décor.  In the end, gift-giving is about providing the recipients with something they will enjoy, not feeding the ego of the gift-giver.  If it makes the bride and groom happy, then the wedding gift has certainly done its job.  And if you buy wedding presents off the registry, you know for certain your gifts will be well received. Read the rest of this entry »

Planning a wedding has its fun and it has its headaches.  Any bride-to-be or married woman can vouch for that.  There are so many factors to consider, so many particulars to take care of.  It can be overwhelming!  In her zeal to produce the perfect event, a bride may lose sight of the little touches that really make a wedding special.  Favors are one of those little touches.  Presenting your guests with just the right favor can send a message of love to each and every attendee, so they will never forget how they shared your magical day with you.  The problem is, it can be hard to come up with good wedding favor ideas.

When selecting a souvenir to present to your guests on your special day, consider the various categories of wedding favor ideas.

First, you have the edible wedding favor ideas.  There are many advantages to edible wedding favors.  If chosen wisely, they can be elegant and unique.  Almost everybody enjoys them and will really use them.  And there are many options to choose from.  I’ve attended weddings where I received graceful little boxes of fine chocolates.  That’s nice, although not particularly original.  A little tin of mints or candies might be more distinct.  It’s easy to have stylish little candy tins personalized with your wedding colors as well.  If your wedding has a theme, you can always use that as a guide.  At one Las Vegas wedding I attended, guests received little foil-covered chocolate poker chips. Read the rest of this entry »

Getting married is something that means a lot of work for just one day of your life. However, it might be one of the most important you experience, so it stands to reason you want it to be an event to remember. As long as you are focusing on that day, but also the life together afterwards, you should make it all that you can. You have a lot to think about, and just one important thing you will have to know about is the best ways to go about mailing wedding invitations. Do it right so everyone shows up and there are no lost messages.

You may have a list of things you should do for your wedding, and when you should do them. These lists are often helpful, but you should look it over to see if you agree with each timeline. One thing that must be at the top of the list in your priorities is finding the right timing for mailing wedding invitations. This should be about six weeks before the date so that you can be sure all are received, and those that do not make it are returned. This should be enough time for everyone to respond and for you to do follow ups.

If you are going to be mailing your wedding invitations about six weeks before the date, you have to be sure you get them printed up in time. This means you should choose what you want early, work on getting the wording right, and getting your order in long before you think it needs to be submitted. You want time to catch mistakes, or you will be mailing wedding invitations that may have errors in the date, time, or even location. Those things are all essential information, and if they are wrong, you are going to find you have a disaster on your hands. Read the rest of this entry »

Since ancient times, women have looked for the latest beauty products. Three thousand years ago, Egyptian women used kohl to create an alluring appearance to their eyes, designed, of course, to appeal to men. Remember Cleopatra? Throughout the ages, women have been desirous of any beauty product that men find pleasing. Today, this is still the case. However, today the beauty market is a billion-plus dollar market. The cosmetics industry still flourishes. Recent consumer reports on the spending habits of women indicate that, while we may not be buying clothing like we used to, beauty products are a number one seller.

If you’ve visited any of the online beauty products websites, you have certainly gotten an eyeful of the range of beauty products, beauty product reviews and beauty advice. From beauty tips and secrets, to beauty blogs and right on through to beauty tips for teens, it’s all there for the reading.

Given that cosmetic products all come with substantial promises on the labels, you probably take it all with a grain of salt. How do you know that this $18 jar of wrinkle reducing cream will live up to its promises? There are so many to choose from and you don’t want to waste your money. Here’s where the beauty product reviews come in to play.

Before you spend your hard earned cash on any beauty product, get online and check out the beauty advice and beauty blog websites. These website owners are staking their reputation on good advice. Many are run by professionals, who certainly want to give unbiased beauty product reviews that you can rely on. The beauty blogs also invite reader comments, from buyers who have actually used the product in question. This format provides a diversity of comments, along with the professional assessment.

One of the latest and hottest beauty products is the mineral makeup line. While television ads boast of such and such manufacturer’s virtues, there’s now a bit of competition in this beauty product. Each of them claim to add luminosity to your skin, in a translucent and non-clogging product that will make you the beauty queen of the century. Which of these is the best? Check the online beauty product reviews to reach your own conclusion. Skin types, skin tone and age all play into the relative success of any given product. Getting feedback from other women and professionals in the beauty product reviews will help you make the best choice and avoid wasting money. Read the rest of this entry »

When it comes to relationships, many individuals and couples overlook the devotion that goes along with tying the knot. Getting married it certainly not like having a casual significant other in your life. Marriage equals honesty, openness, devotion, respect, and tolerance. Making the decision to spend the rest of your days with someone is massive. Naturally you want to choose the right individual. Although you’re the only one who can know who’s ideal for you, there are services that can assist you with your relationship when tough times arise. I’m referring to quality marriage counseling. In this day and age you don’t have to necessarily venture off to a shrink’s office in order to receive proper and effective guidance. Now we have the Internet.

Believe it or not, but you and your spouse can attain real marriage counseling via the web. Websites like marriagemax.com, marriagerescue.com, and marriageadvice.com all have something wonderful to offer couples who’re struggling with marital issues. Now, most likely you’re wondering how in the world an online marriage counseling service would work or even benefit your relationship in any way. Well, it basically goes like this; you can acquire professional marriage counseling through doctors found online. Many offer excellent marital advice free of charge. However, a major method taken advantage of by couples all over the world is a simple discussion group. This is what websites such as marriageadvice.com offer. Numerous married couples dive into this nifty forum environment and vent their issues. In return married couples can offer other couples sound advice. Strategies and solutions that seriously helped their relationship. This is how so many couples and individuals enjoy obtaining assistance now days. It’s often easier, more convenient, and less expensive than seeing a licensed psychiatrist. Plus, you don’t have to put your face out there for the world to see. Online you have the ability to remain unknown. Read the rest of this entry »

Diamond tennis bracelets and emerald earrings with a matching pendant are probably not on many birthday or Valentine’s shopping lists this year. If you’re looking for some new jewelry, here’s a new, more affordable way to add to your jewelry collection. If you’re not familiar with the eclectic and ethnic artisan jewelry, you should go take a look. You’ll find the most interesting and lovely pieces at a fraction of the price of that diamond tennis bracelet. Artisan jewelry is handmade by individual artists who create unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry at relatively inexpensive prices.

So where do you find this handcrafted jewelry? Easy enough. Go to any of the crafts fairs to find at least a half dozen booths featuring artisan jewelry. You can meet the person who made the jewelry too. They’re always happy to answer any questions you may have with respect to techniques, construction and stones used in any particular piece that catches your eye. Artisan jewelers live and breathe their craft, and are proud of their workmanship. Another good source of this type of jewelry is the small shops which stock unusual, upscale, ethnic jewelry and clothing.

Many other exciting possibilities await you online. Do an image search on Google – a search on ‘artisan jewelry’ turns up about 175,000 images, while ‘ethnic jewelry’ brings almost 240,000 images for you to browse. Some of these pieces are truly knockouts. Scroll through the images until you find a look or style you love – it won’t take long! Then, just click through to the site and scout out what other items they have to offer. You’ll probably find more items than you can afford at one time, so bookmark your favorite sites for an easy return. Artisan jewelry is also a big category on eBay.

Period pieces, such as Renaissance and Egyptian replications are a favorite with  many artisan jewelry collectors. Lost wax casting is another technique favored by some artisan jewelers, producing magnificent effects and fairly ornate designs.

One particularly distinguishing characteristic of artisan jewelry is the unique combinations of materials. While beads are not expensive, an imaginative designer can create a stunning piece of jewelry at little cost. While a diamond pendant may not elicit a remark from anyone, your fabulously artistic beaded necklace is sure to draw notice and compliments, marking you as a trendy and fashionable dresser. Read the rest of this entry »