So he has popped the question, and you both have a date confirmed to tie the knot, hence, the both of you would have to start making plans and pick out the best wedding favors too that will suit best.

If you have a high preference for favor boxes, first things first, you have to know the number of confirmed guests to avoid spending more than what you really need.

Planned how many boxes you are going to need and have the area of the base of each boxes worked out and this should be done by multiplying the width and the height, and the answer would be an indicator of how much tissue paper to get.

Now, you must decide if you are going to buy sugared almonds or chocolate cubes, and it is advisable to buy them in 1kg packs to get a better value for money. The number of chocolates that you would need to put in each box depends on the size of the box that you have already figured out earlier.

After all that, comes the ribbon business. To have a simple bow design to be attached on a 5cm square box, it is recommended that you will use a 40cm of ribbon. Hence, if the box is square, multiply the bases of each boxes by 8 to get the total length required.

Now, go back to the 100 boxes, this would be 5 multiply by 8 which would equal to 40cm per box multiply by 100 for all the boxes and that would be 4000cm of ribbon. It is also advisable to add 10% more to the length if you are not a craft type by nature.

Catharine Wittich owns a site where she sell wedding favors during the summer month.

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Having made up your mind to get married you are confronted by a host of hard decisions which accompany saying “I do”. There is, the photographer, the invitations, the church and naturally your wedding jewelry. The selection of wedding rings is one of the most important decisions of all as they are symbolic of your love for one another. The pattern of ring that you pick will be to a large extent a matter of personal taste. Many couples like a time honored plain gold band, while other couples prefer a somewhat more complicated design for their rings. Many couples nowadays are even going to specialist jewelry designers to have detailed rings custom made to their own specifications. But why go to the expense of hiring a designer when you could design your rings yourselves?

One of the main advantages of choosing to design your wedding rings yourselves is that you are able include elements in the design of your rings that add a very personal and special touch. Despite the fact that you will have to employ the services of a designer to manufacture your rings, you will of course retain control of all of the crucial decisions to be made in the design process. You will have to ensure that you are comfortable with the designer you pick so that you can voice your opinions about the design of your rings because, when all is said and done, it is really only your views that matter. One thing you will need to consider is the type of metal you will use in making your rings. Would you prefer the classic look of gold or would you prefer silver, platinum, titanium, or white gold? You will also have to consider what type and cut of stone you may like to use if you are designing your own wedding bands.

Though diamonds are an ever fashionable choice, many couples choose to include opals, pearls, rubies, or emeralds, while some couples of course prefer not to include a stone at all. When you choose to design your own rings, you can also decide upon any extras you want your rings to have such as accent stones, engravings, or a brushed finish. Wedding rings that you have custom designed yourselves are not only truly exclusive but also a superb way to show your love for one another.

Another benefit to designing your own wedding rings is that it is budget friendly. Designer names on a lot of wedding rings that you can purchase from a jewelry shop means that they are both trendy and valuable and this also means very expensive. For people who opt to design their own rings, the cost can be much less because there is no designer name attached to it. If you design your own wedding rings you are creating a matchless expression of your love for your partner. Designing your own wedding rings is not only practical, but they will become precious pieces of jewelry that will gain considerable sentimental value in the years ahead.

This article was brought to you by Diane Winter. For further information try visiting save on affordable wedding ring sets and savings on unusual wedding rings. As well as a lot of tips for designer diamond wedding rings.

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Christmas is a festive season. It is a time during which everybody is happy and enjoy themselves. Holding a wedding during this time affords couples the opportunity to blend their joy with that of the general community and ensure a successful wedding ceremony. A Christmas wedding theme enables a couple to leverage on many things. We discuss how to get your dream Christmas wedding without spending a fortune.

You would spend less on decoration with your Christmas wedding theme. If you are marrying in the church, the floral, mistletoe and arches would have been already done in anticipation of the festivities. You should schedule your wedding close to 25th of December when the decoration would be still fresh and intact.

Buy cheap Christmas lighting from you local shop to supplement that of your church. You can buy the twinkle type or the flashing set whichever will suit the existing decor. You can hang the lights on the windows, at the entrance or around the doors.

It is a good idea to hold your ceremony or reception in a place with fireplace so you do not spend extra money on heating. You would not want to make your visitors shiver in cold during the ceremony. You can alternatively choose a hall with heating already provided.

It would be fun, especially for the children, to bring Santa to the wedding. He can stand at the entrance or some special pace and hand out gifts to children. The Santa can be at your reception too - cheering up your guests as they go about their meals.

Lastly, you can sing carols together with the guests. You should choose very popular ones. The couple can begin and later ask the guests to join them. The singing can be accompanied by a piano or not. If you have a choir, they can do the singing together with the guests. The carols can be sung at the reception or at the ceremony itself.

These special tips would help you hold a Christmas wedding theme at a cheap price.

Information on wedding planning and wedding vows is readily available. You can also easily get advice about wedding favors.

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If you are planning a Hawaiian themed wedding then you may also want to have a Hawaiian bridal shower. A Hawaiian themed bridal shower doesn’t have to be a full luau. Instead you can use Ocean or beach inspired colors and decorations and have a tropical drink party.

If you want to have a Hawaiian themed wedding then a luau may be a great design base to work around. For Hawaiian wedding decoration you will need to look for Lauhala mats, centerpieces made from leaves, ferns, and tropical flowers, pineapples, palm fronds, sand, tropical bird figurines, coconuts, torches, and fabrics for draping in tropical colors of red, green, blue, purple, orange, and yellow. For traditional luau food you will want to include poi, poke, Lumilomi salmon, laufau, Kalua pig, opihi, chicken long rice, Haupia, and Kulolo in your wedding menu. To complete the Hawaiian feel of your wedding make sure that you add Hawaiian music and dancers to your celebration.

In addition to having a luau, your Hawaiian wedding will also need to include Hawaiian wedding apparel. For the groom white linen pants and a white Hawaiian Aloha Shirt will work great. For the bride you can select from a white sun dress or a white sarong. The wedding party can dress in white as well or they can go with tropical colors to compliment the wedding theme.

To complete your Hawaiian themed wedding you may also want to buy tropical wedding favors to give to your guests and wedding party. These favors may include engraved or personalized items, or simple tropical themed novelty items. A few favors that you can buy include: grass skirts, coconut bras, seashells, hula dancer glass ornaments, sea glass, Kamarri wood toasting cups, tropical themed bookmarks with your favorite poem or Hawaiian saying, and personalized tropical themed place settings.

Planning a wedding, bridal shower or reception? Visit the bridal resource center for tips of wedding decorations, bridal gowns and accessories, shower favors, bridal lingerie and honeymoon planning.

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Did you know the time you are getting married should dictate how your makeup is applied? The different types of lighting throughout the day should determine your makeup style. Of course if the ceremony and reception are at two different times, you can alter your makeup in between.

Morning Wedding

The light is at it’s softest level in the morning so you want to go with a natural makeup. Choose a lightweight foundation or a tinted moisturizer. Anything heavy or extremely matte will look very artificial in the morning light, so a light hand is essential for the morning bridal look. Choose soft blushes, natural eye makeup shades and a muted lipstick. If you want to play up the drama of your eyes, individual false lashes are a great way to go.

Afternoon Wedding

Afternoon light is much hasher than morning light, so you can be a bit more strong in your color choices. You can use a semi-matte foundation and your skin will still look natural. Eye makeup can be a little more dramatic in the morning, but still be in the natural tones. Brown eyeliner, taupe shadows and a black-brown mascara will create a beautiful look for an afternoon bride. A half-set of lashes can really enhance your eyes.

Evening Wedding

Evening weddings can be all about the drama, or you can add more makeup if your reception is in the evening. Smoky eyes can look very dramatic, but make sure you choose flattering colors (not just gray and black). You can wear a very matte foundation and powder and it will still look like skin and that might be a good idea if you are planning on doing a lot of dancing! Bright lips can also be very pretty, but you will be kissing a lot of guests, the groom plus hopefully enjoying the food, so it might be a waste. You can add a full set of dramatic lashes to give your eyes the extra oomph you are looking for.

No matter what time of day you are getting married, make sure you choose colors to suit your coloring, highlight your eyes and that you feel comfortable in. Every bride is a beautiful bride.

Christie Ingram is a makeup artist and Chief Makeup Analyst at Pretty by Critty, a new FREE social networking site for people wanting to watch makeup tutorials, read and write product reviews, ask and answer questions and more! Come join in the fun!

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Our Favorite Favors: Terrific Tabletop Freebies for Your Guests

Sugared almonds are no longer such a sweet treat and personalized matchbooks long ago lost their flare. Today’s couples are opting for more inventive, one-of-a-kind items to place near guests’ place cards. If you’re looking for fun and alternative favor options, look no further- we’ve compiled a list of the top twenty!

1. Edible menus: with a dark chocolate background and white chocolate lettering, this delicious bill of fare is sure to delight.

2. A “candy bar”: another tasty option is to set up a candy bar at the reception. Fill glasses with jelly beans, chocolates, caramels, and lollipops and let guests load their goodie bags.

3. Potted plants: who needs a floral centerpiece when the favors serve as setting enough? Herbs like basil and thyme are terrific, as are flowers like African violets or miniature roses.

4. Christmas ornaments: if you plan to wed this winter, add to your guests’ tree adornment with this adorable token.

5. Bottles of bubbly: many websites, like favorlabel.com and myownlabels.com, now give couples the opportunity to personalize bottles of beer, wine, and champagne. Sparkling cider and root beer make great gift alternatives for guests under 21.

6. Homemade treats: cookies, cupcakes, jams, and jellies are all excellent endowments. Attach your family’s recipe for added enjoyment.

7. Photo coasters: guests can preserve their wedding memories, or other fun photos, in clear glass coasters.

8. Water bottles: wet your guests’ whistles with personalized or monogrammed water bottles.

9. Honey pots: straight from the hive, partygoers will delight in these bee-utiful bottles of sugary goodness.

10. Olive oil: add a little spice by pairing a small bottle of oil with a tasty jarred herb.

11. Music from the heart: compile a CD of romantic songs (particularly ones that you’ve requested be played at the reception) for your guests’ listening pleasure.

12. Miniature frames: small picture frames can double as escort card holders, and they can hold partygoers’ memories long after the party is over.

13. Fortune cookies: these neat treats can be dipped in chocolate or fruity flavors and hold any clever message you’d like.

14. Scented candles: light the night with fragrance and romance.

15. Playing cards: odds are, guests will have tons of fun with these personalized party favors.

16. Program fans: keep your guests cool during the ceremony and afterward by attaching your wedding program to a pretty fabric or wicker fan.

17. Tea time: treat guests to your favorite type of tea by presenting them with small bags to enjoy.

18. Cookie cutters: carved into cute shapes like hearts or lips, these favors will be a real party pleaser.

19. Special scrapbooks: bestow these blank books to guests, but add a personalized thank-you note on the last page.

20. A delightful donation: if you’re opting to donate to a charity in lieu of wedding favors, why not give your guests a small token to remind them of how they can contribute as well? If your donation has gone to the ASPCA, PETA, or another animal organization, attach a dog biscuit (real or in cookie shape). Or if breast cancer awareness is your cause, tie a pink ribbon to a card with your charity’s website information.

Author Hugh Parker:
Senta Parker photography is the buzz in wedding photography and her resource center is jam packed with helpful articles that address all the needs of those planing a wedding. Her site is unique so join the buzz and visit us by clicking Wedding Rings Thank you Hugh Parker.

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It’s gorgeous. You have your dream wedding dress and at last the search is over.

But what about the jewelery and the tiara to match it? Maybe you’ve never worn a tiara before and do you need a necklace, bracelet, earrings to go with it as well?

Usually the most important planning is for the dress and then the jewelery is chosen to go with it. Only occasionally as a jeweler have I met brides who have chosen their jewelery and then embarked on a search for a dress. I once spoke to a young woman who was looking for a wedding ring and I asked when her wedding was. She replied that she hadn’t met a man yet - she just fancied having the ring first - but that’s another story.

So here is a general guide to buying your wedding jewelery. Of course all these guides and rules can be broken - if it feels right for you, then that’s all right.

The necklace is usually the easiest to decide on because you will already know what sort of thing you like. If the design of the dress is very elaborate, then choose a simple necklace and let the shape of the necklace follow the neckline. For instance, a “v” shaped dress looks good with a necklace. A gentle scooped neckline looks good with a round shaped necklace. An off-the-shoulder dress can look stunning with a choker or collar necklace. If the dress is more plain in style then the more elaborate the necklace can be. In this case, a matching bracelet or drop earrings can also complement the outfit. Brides with long necks can wear an elaborate necklace and long drop earrings very well. With a shorter neck, it’s best to wear necklaces a bit lower.

The tiara is the hardest to decide on. It’s not something you can wear every day as you can with the necklace, earrings and bracelet. It’s a good idea to try on as many tiaras as you can and see what suits the shape of your face. When you begin trying them on you may be surprised to discover that what you had been certain about, isn’t right for you. Generally, tall curvy girls can look really good in a bold, large tiara and can take a tiara of 3 inches or 7 cms high. Smaller girls look best in a more dainty tiara with a height of up to 1.5 inches or 3 cms.

A lot of my customers worry about how to wear a tiara, thinking there are definite rules - but there aren’t : it just depends how it looks. Most tiaras are malleable to some extent so don’t be afraid to adjust the base so that it fits more comfortably. Do you wear the tiara at the front or the back of your head? Again that’s up to you - and possibly your hairdresser to decide - but they can be held in place with a small hole in the back or even with a pair of plastic combs attached at the back.

If your tiara is very bold or elaborate choose a simple necklace or even omit the necklace and keep the earrings to a simple stud. This will ensure that the focal points of your dress look just right. If the necklace is highly elaborate, then perhaps a flower or comb at the back or the side of the head rather than a tiara keeps the balance just right.

Finally, remember this is just a general guide and once again, rules can be broken - because once you look in the mirror and smile, you know it’s right!

To see our range of tiaras, necklaces, bracelets and earrings, visit our web site: http://www.zinniajewellery.co.uk

For examples of gold and silver jewellery visit the Zinnia Jewellery website http://www.zinniajewellery.co.uk

John Cartman is the co-owner of Zinnia Jewellery and sells gold and silver jewellery at fairs and exhibitions in the UK.

Copyright J.Cartman 2008

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What better time or place to write a poem than for a wedding. The right wedding poem can serve any number of wonderful purposes. It can highlight the reception as a toast to the bride, groom, or their families. It can serve as an added personal touch between the bride and groom when exchanging vows. It can even be a great addition to invitations or announcements for the wedding. Whatever purpose a wedding poem serves, it is sure to be well received. The only hard part is writing one.

Famous Examples of Wedding Poems

There are not nearly as many poems written directly about weddings as some other important events. However, there are plenty of examples available of love poems and friendship poems that capture the essence of a wedding and of the feelings a bride and groom have for each other.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s incredibly famous (and slightly overused) “How Do I Love Thee?” has been used in wedding ceremonies for decades, while the simpler and more elegant verses of Emily Dickinson are a popular addition to wedding vows, especially in “It’s all I have to bring today.”

Starting on Your Own Wedding Poem

The first step to writing any poem is to know your audience. Who is the poem being written for? If it is a future spouse, it should be imbued with as much emotion and personal touch as possible. If it is for the bride and groom from a best man or maid of honor, it should be reverential and keyed to the friendships that exist. If it is for the families or friends attending, it can be nearly anything so long as it mentions friendship and cracks a few jokes in between.

Writing the Poem

The next step though is the most important. Crafting a poem is hard. It takes a lot of time, much more than the few short lines would make it seem. The best way to start is to write down everything you want to say in prose. No matter how much you have to say, write it down in as simple a form as you can. Don’t worry about the flowery verse yet. That comes later.

Next, start selecting the bits and pieces that have the most important position in your wedding poem. Any words you find particularly compelling should be written down as well. Poetry is art with words, don’t underestimate the power of a well placed word.

The poem does not need to rhyme. Nor does it need to be metered or in any kind of form. It just needs to be well thought out. Read it over and over and ensure that every line is important, every word has a place within the meaning of the poem. If the context is wrong or too many syllables jumble up a line, move them around. It will likely take half a dozen times reading and changing your poem before you begin to come close to being happy with it. And you may never be happy with the final wedding poem, but then no poets are.

Gray Ward loves to use poems to express his feelings for the right occasion, why not enjoy more articles and poems by visiting his website at http://www.poemanswers.com where you too will find the right poem for you.

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Designing your wedding program can be tough if you have never seen one before and if you are planning the wedding yourself, you can find some wedding program templates on the internet to give you the most appropriate wording and sizing. These templates can be found freely available, but some will want you to become a member to have access to all the options.

1. The top idea for getting your template is to look at the free ones. There are many great ideas and layouts that you will probably love and you can also look at some wedding planner brochures if you want to.

2. If you don’t like any of the templates you find, you should subscribe to some of the paying member sites. Here you will get a large variety of templates for the program that offers more detail and some unique concepts.

3. The templates that are also used for the programs do not have to be found on wedding planning websites. Any program template can be used and you can simply adjust the wording. For a more modern wedding you might prefer to use a non wedding template.

4. Have a look in some bridal magazines for template ideas. Sometimes these have been written by people on the magazine staff and could also be more modern and trendy for what you want to say.

5. Get wedding program templates from a retail outlet. You might be able to find ready made programs that you can just fill in. While this does not really look elegant, you can simply use the style and layout for your own design. You will just have to remember what it looks like or if it is cheap, but it to have at home when making your programs.

Jhong Ren owns an authority wedding blog and he aims to provide 1 million wedding couples wedding planning help and relationship commitment problem. His Wedding Blog is at Romance-Fire.com

Jhong Ren is the best selling author of the Plan Your Fabulous Wedding Series. Need help planning my wedding? You can find it at PlanFabulousWedding.com

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When you go to your first bridal show, there may be a booth there that you hadn’t anticipated: the wedding insurance company. Many brides wonder whether the protection is worth the cost.

Wedding policies aren’t expensive - generally under $500 for even a large wedding and sometimes significantly less expensive. The wedding insurance policy protects you against both misfortune and mishap.

Wedding insurance policies typically cover weather, illness or injury, or a missing officiant, vender, or venues.

If your wedding is impacted by weather (ie. an outdoor ceremony cancelled because of rain), the insurance will cover rescheduling the entire affair. This would also kick in if there was a major snowstorm and there is no reasonable expectation that guests could get to the venue.

If any of the essential people in the wedding party are sick or get injured, the wedding can be rescheduled as well. Check the policy for who is defined as an “essential person.

You can’t have a ceremony without an officiant. So if your pastor doesn’t show, and the whole thing has to be rescheduled, you are covered. This also holds true for key vender. If your florist goes out of business just days before the wedding, you may have to cancel and start from scratch. With insurance, you are not left holding the bag for the whole wedding

Similarly, if your church burns down the evening before the wedding, you can reschedule.

There are also additional riders you can buy on top of the base policy described above.

If you or your groom are in the military or reserves, you may want to consider a Military Service Rider which covers the expenses of the wedding if you have to cancel as a result of one of you being called up to active duty.

You may want a Gown and Tuxedo rider if you think these stores may go out of business.

If your homeowners insurance does not cover theft of gifts from the wedding venue, consider a Gift rider.

Check with the church and reception hall about their liability insurance. If you’re not certain that it fully protects you, purchase a wedding liability insurance rider. You don’t want your third cousin’s date to get drunk, fall down the stairs, and sue you for your entire net worth.

Finally, you might want to consider honeymoon insurance. This is a form of traveler’s insurance that protects you if you must cancel the honeymoon.

You should know that the insurance only protects you for something you didn’t already know and which is not in your control. Specifically, getting cold feet is NOT covered by the insurance policy.

Taking out the proper insurance for a wedding is a cheap investment on what is usually a big ticket item. Before you reject the idea of insurance, consider whether the person paying for the wedding would be willing to fork out a second set of money if the wedding had to be scheduled a second time.

Visit http://www.totally-weddings.com/ for tips, resources, gift ideas, shopping and more to help you plan your wedding day. Also find out how to Cheat Proof Your Marriage with our top selling Ebook.
http://www.totally-weddings.com/Cheat-Proof-Your-Marriage/

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