Wedding Ideas

By: Donna Monday

Ahh . . . sweet romance.

The flowers. The chocolate. The late night whispers of I love you.

For most people in love, the culmination of months of togetherness and special friendship comes down to one single moment: The marriage proposal - - featuring a simple, but elegant, diamond engagement ring.

Of course, if youre a celebrity, a simple ring may not have enough wattage to suit your tastes. Thus, we see many celebrities sporting five-carat to seven-carat diamond studded engagement and wedding rings.

Well, if you can afford it, why not flaunt it, right?

Take for instance the recent marriages of Britney Spears and Star Jones. When Britney Spears got engaged to her former back up dancer, Kevin Federline, she promptly bought herself an awesome-looking five-carat diamond engagement ring. (Does anyone really believe that Kevin bought this for her on his dancers salary?)

Britney bought herself the ring she felt she deserved nothing wrong with that. Then, she and Kevin quickly made the leap to matrimony in a matter of months with a surprisingly nice (no lip kissing of Madonna) wedding ceremony.

As for Star Jones, its not known whether her stunning seven-carat princess cut diamond ring was bought or donated, but she too happily skipped off to a wedding ceremony with all the trimmings.

So, does all this extra diamond wattage mean that celebrities have a better wedding ceremony than everyone else?

Absolutely, not.

Theres absolutely no proof that their multi-carat diamond rings and fancy wedding accommodations gave them any more satisfaction at the alter than Joe and Jane Does down right sparse nuptials in a run-down back yard.

Buying the biggest and fanciest diamond engagement ring on the planet doesnt guarantee anything but a nice piece of ice jewelry to show off to your family and friends. Other than that, celebrities have the same odds for a successful, happy union as the rest of us.

And thats the way it should be.

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Copyright 2004
Donna Monday
One special moment. One special ring.
http://www.1-love-rings.com

Article Source: Article Hub

By: Samantha Taylor

Traditionally, a wedding band was worn on the ring finger of the left hand because it was believed that the vein in that finger went straight to the heart. A wedding ring is a piece of jewelry which will be worn everyday of your life to signify your love and fidelity to your significant other. That being said, you want to ensure you choose the perfect ring, which can be difficult for someone who is inexperienced in this area. Luckily we can help you through the steps of finding the perfect wedding ring for the special person in your life.

The first thing to consider is the kind of metal you want for your wedding rings. Most wedding rings are found in yellow gold, white gold or platinum. These forms of metal vary in price and most likely this decision will be quite easy since most women already know what kind of ring they want.

The next step is choosing the stone for the ring. You will need to decide which kind of stone you want as well as the shape of the stone. Diamonds are still the most popular choice when it comes to stones for wedding rings however colored stones such as emeralds, rubies and sapphires are becoming more and more popular.

The last step is to find a reputable jeweler who you will be comfortable purchasing such an expensive piece of jewelry from. Perhaps it is best to use a jeweler who one of your friends or family members have already used and would recommend for you because of such great results.

If you are like most couples who are marrying, you will likely choose a diamond wedding ring. If you are doing so, you may want to keep the four C’s in mind while doing so. The four C’s are the diamond’s color, cut, clarity and carat weight.

Color Diamonds are available in number of colors and shades including white, yellow, green, blue and pink. The color range starts at D and moves through the alphabet towards Z. The scale moves from white to yellow as it makes its way through the alphabet.

Cut The cut of the diamond is what gives the diamond personality. Diamonds which are cut well will be bright and sparkly, however diamonds that are cut poorly may end up looking dull and boring. Choosing and making sure the cut is perfect is a crucial step in the overall outcome of your wedding ring.

Clarity An inclusion in a diamond is an imperfection inside the stone which will greatly affect the overall worth of the ring. The size, color and position of the inclusions in your ring affect the clarity of the diamond. You want to ensure the diamond has good clarity.

Carat Weight A carat is divided into 100 equal parts (also known as points). Therefore a one carat diamond equals 100 points; half carat equals 50 and so on. When the diamonds are loose (before they are mounted on the ring), the weight is easy to determine, however, after the diamond has been mounted only a gemologist can determine the weight of the diamond(s).

Take your time when choosing a wedding ring for yourself or for your significant other. A wedding ring is a sign of your everlasting love to one another and is something that will be cherished for the rest of your lives.

Samantha Taylor spent several years working in the weddings industry as a wedding planner. When she isn’t being a mom of two wonderful children, she works as a freelance writer for http://www.yourwedding101.com - a site that offers information about everything wedding related - from wedding rings to wedding cake toppers and more.

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Your wedding is quite possibly the most important day of your life and you’ve probably been dreaming about it since you were about 12 years old. The dress you choose is ultimately going to be what people look at and remember about your wedding. That being said, you want to find the perfect dress that will make your guest’s and husband’s jaws hit the floor when you walk down the aisle. Are you thinking that may be unrealistic with your wedding budget? Think again! We have some of the best shopping tips in order to help you save money on your wedding dress. This way you can enjoy your wedding while maintaining a reasonable wedding budget.

Shop Around Don’t assume the first dress you try on is going to be the best deal or look the best on you. There are many dresses to try.

Discount Bridal Salons Discount bridal salons often have sales of up to 75% off (especially on last year’s merchandise) which can save you a lot of money in the long run. If you hear of a discount sale, make sure you know what you are looking for since many women go crazy at these events and dresses are often gone in a matter of minutes.

Have Someone Make Your Dress If you have a talented friend or family member who you trust to make your wedding dress for you, you can save an enormous amount of money and still have a great dress for your big day.

Look on the Internet the Internet is a great place to search and explore the many options of styles for your dress and you are guaranteed to find dresses which do not cost a fortune.

Bridal Salons normal bridal salons (as opposed to discount) sometimes have sales which offer around 30% off last years merchandise. The salons near where you live are definitely worth looking into.

Borrow or Rent Some women cringe at the thought of borrowing or renting a wedding gown, but others may not take it as seriously. Wedding dresses are really only worn for one day and renting or borrowing can really save you a lot of money.

Seamstresses Contact a seamstress and ask for a quote. It’s unlikely that a seamstress is going to charge you as much as a bridal salon. If you do this, make sure to ask about their experience in this area or past brides who you can contact. This will ensure they are reputable and there won’t be any “mishaps” with your dress.

By: Samantha Taylor

Finding the perfect wedding dress is important, but paying a ridiculous amount for one dress can be a waste of your money. Finding the perfect wedding dress for the perfect price, now that’s a wedding dream come true!

Samantha Taylor spent several years working in the weddings industry as a wedding planner. When she isn’t being a mom of two wonderful children, she works as a freelance writer for http://www.yourwedding101.com - a site that offers information about everything wedding related - from wedding dress and attire to wedding cakes and more.

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By: Samantha Taylor

Depending on your personal preferences and the preferences of your husband or wife-to-be, a wedding can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 2 years to plan. If one step in the planning process is missed, the whole wedding could be ruined. To prevent this from happening, we have created a wedding checklist in order to ensure everything goes according to plan on your big day.

7-12 Months Prior

Announce Engagement and have your engagement party
Decide on the wedding style and create a guest list
Choose who you both want in the wedding party
Set the date and time of the wedding
Book your wedding officiant
Choose your wedding song
Decide on “extras” (cake, flowers, dj, photographers etc)
Purchase your wedding dress and bridal accessories
Purchase bridesmaids dresses and accessories (maid of honor as well)
Start planning your honeymoon
Buy (or make) your wedding favors
Purchase your wedding invitations
Plan your rehearsal ceremony and dinner

2-6 Months Prior

Arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests
Finalize the dinner menu
Book your limo (or other form of transportation)
Book the rehearsal dinner site
Book your honeymoon
Purchase your wedding rings
Purchase your gifts for the wedding party
Rent the tuxedos for groom and groomsmen (including bestman)
Schedule a dress fitting (bride)
Book hair and makeup appointment (bride)
Have your bridal shower
Send out the invitations to your guests
Plan the wedding program

1 Month Prior

Get your marriage license (and blood tests if needed)
Final dress fitting (bride)
Arrange seating for your guests
Have your stag and doe party

1-2 Weeks Prior

Pick up the wedding dress
Have your bachelor and bachelorette parties

The Day Before

Give the wedding party their gifts
Pick up the tuxedo(s)
Decorate the wedding site
Have your rehearsal dinner and greet out-of-town guests

Follow these steps in the first step towards a lifetime of marital bliss!

Samantha Taylor spent several years working in the weddings industry as a wedding planner. When she isn’t being a mom of two wonderful children, she works as a freelance writer for http://www.yourwedding101.com - a site that offers information about everything wedding related - from wedding planning to wedding invitations and more.

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By: Donna Monday

How much should you spend on a diamond engagement ring?

$100?

$1000?

How about a whopping $1 million?

Thats what Donald Trump just spent on an engagement ring for his lovely new wife, Melania Knauss. Can you imagine what it must be like to wear any ring worth that much on a daily basis?

The Donald must hire beefy security guards with names like Wolfgang and Spike just to watch over Melania every time her and her delicate ring finger step out the door.

Buying expensive diamond jewelry for their significant others seem to be a Trump family trait. Well, youve gotta do something with all that money besides invest in real estate deals.

Trumps son, Donald Jr. has just proposed to his fiance, Vanessa Haydon, with a very impressive four-carat emerald cut diamond ring with a diamond-encrusted platinum band. However, Vanessas ring can be considered a real bargain at a cost of only $100,000.

While most regular folks will not be able to come close to spending that kind of money on an engagement ring for their sweethearts, there are still many very wonderful options if youre looking to buy a diamond engagement ring, wedding ring, or wedding band online.

You should be able to find the perfect ring online to fit into your budget. You can even buy a custom engagement ring or wedding ring for a very reasonable price.

So take comfort in the fact that you dont have to be rich like the Trumps to present your loved one with a truly beautiful engagement ring that will make everyone feel very rich indeed.

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Copyright 2005
Donna Monday
One special moment. One special ring.
http://www.1-love-rings.com

Article Source: Article Hub

By: Donna Monday

In our hungry-for-anything new pop culture world, celebrities are often the ones that can start a hot fashion trend seemingly overnight. With their heavy media exposure, they are often photographed wearing the latest styles in fashion and jewelry.

Platinum engagement and wedding rings are the latest celebrity trend that has taken the jewelry industry by storm. Several high-profile newlyweds have taken a shine to the cool elegance of platinum.

Platinum is like our relationship in that it is strong, precious and timeless, says Nick Lachey about the custom made platinum wedding rings he and his wife Jessica Simpson tied the knot with.

It seems that view of the lustrous metal is shared by other celebrity couples as well such as: Russell Crowe and Danielle Spencer, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, Adam Sandler and Jackie Titone, as well as, popular actresses Reese Witherspoon and Kate Hudson.

Celebrities are especially fond of pairing fancy colored diamonds with their platinum rings. Also, the three diamond platinum engagement ring has quickly become all the rage among new brides.

So, if youre looking to buy diamond jewelry online, whether its for a special occasion like a wedding, or a gift for a special person, consider platinum jewelry as one of your best and brightest options.

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Copyright 2004
Donna Monday
One special moment. One special ring.
http://www.1-love-rings.com

Article Source: Article Hub

By: Samantha Taylor

So, you decided to opt for an outdoor wedding under the sun amidst the lake, ocean or beach. Are you sure you have considered all the aspects of an outdoor wedding? Did you consider the fact that you and your guests are going to be outside for many hours throughout the day in the beating hot sun? Some people worry so much that it’s going to rain or be cold that they completely forget to prepare themselves for the sun and the heat. The last thing you want is for you or your guests to be burnt for pictures and leave the wedding early because they are sun-fried. So here are some sun protection tips to keep in mind whether you’re the bride, groom or guest at an outdoor wedding:

Do not tan in a salon or outdoor prior to the wedding. Tanning of any sort is bad for your skin and can cause peeling right before the wedding.

If you want to get the outdoor tanned look, opt for self-tanning products that will give you the same effect without harming your skin. There are many lotions and foams that work wonders on the skin.

Make sure you apply sunscreen numerous times throughout the day. Encourage your guests to do so as well. Indicate on the invitation that the wedding is outdoors and remind them to bring sunscreen. Here’s an idea - hand out small decorative bottles of sunscreen as an early wedding favor for your guests.

Try and avoid the sun as much as possible between the hours of 10am and 4pm. The sun’s rays are strongest at these times. Perhaps it’s a good idea to get pictures closer to the morning or early afternoon, before anyone is too tired (or burnt) from the sun.

Pack (and tell your guests to pack) cover-ups, shawls, wraps and hats for protection against the heat of the sun. Shawls are perfect for covering up your shoulders since they are a prime area for burns.

The coordinator of the wedding should ensure there are tents and umbrellas for shade. This is very important because spending the entire day in the sun with no shade can cause heat exhaustion and be harmful to your health.

Finally, make sure there is plenty of water for you and your guests. There’s nothing worse than being hot and thirsty. Lack of water can cause dehydration which can be very dangerous for you and your guests. Have water coolers setup in different areas so they are easily accessible for everyone.

Keep in mind the precautions listed above. It will ensure that your wedding goes smoothly for you and your guests. After all, it is the most important day of your life and you don’t want to take any chances of something ruining your special day!

Samantha Taylor spent several years working in the weddings industry as a wedding planner. When she isn’t being a mom of two wonderful children, she works as a freelance writer for http://www.yourwedding101.com - a site that offers information about everything related to planning a wedding - from wedding dresses to finding the perfect wedding cake and more.

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By: Donna Monday

Imagine its Halloween evening and youve just gone to the door to greet another eager child with your big bag of trick-or-treat candy. You look down at the grinning costumed child with a smile and share some kind words as you throw a generous handful of tasty treats into his bag.

After the happy child leaves, you plop back down on the comfy sofa and continue watching your favorite TV show until you decide to go into the kitchen for a snack.

Just as youre reaching for the milk, you realize with horror that your wedding ring is gone! In a panicked state you search the whole house for the ring, but find no trace of it anywhere. After retracing your steps, you realize that the last time you saw your ring was right before you handed out the candy to that little boy with the adorable costume on.

My gosh! Youve just given your precious wedding ring to a 7-year old boy without a clue as to who he is or where he lives.

Maybe this sounds far-fetched but a similar incident recently happened to a Massachusetts woman during Halloween. That little boys candy bag contained something way more valuable than Hershey bars.

Fortunately, her hometown police were able to track the child down and return her wedding ring without too much trouble.

But what if youre not so lucky?

Sometime wedding rings slip off and become lost down drainpipes, sewers, on public transportation, while walking in the park, while on vacation, etc.

For someone whos lost their wedding ring, its often a heart-wrenching experience. Because a wedding ring represents a lifetime commitment between you and your mate, it may feel like youve lost something irreplaceable. After all, thats the ring that was slipped on your finger when you said I do.

While its true that the emotional attachment that you feel for your original ring will always be with you in your heart, at some point, youll probably feel the need to purchase another wedding ring to continue honoring your marriage and partnership.

Buying a new wedding ring may even be cathartic. You and your partner could have a little celebration after you buy your new wedding ring just to reaffirm that the sweet romance you still feel for each other can never be lost.

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Copyright 2004
Donna Monday
One special moment. One special ring.
http://www.1-love-rings.com

Article Source: Article Hub

By: Donna Monday

The elegant and sophisticated look of glittering, gleaming gold. Theres nothing quite like it.

Some people never grow tired of the look of pure gold jewelry. Gold, being our most precious metal, is often a first choice among couples looking for that perfect gold wedding ring.

While yellow gold remains very popular with the wedding crowd. Many people prefer the brilliant hue of a white gold wedding ring.

White gold will look beautiful on you whether youre a man or a woman. You can find online a great selection of white gold diamond wedding rings and white gold wedding ring sets. Also, if youre looking for something a little fancier that can also become a piece of wonderful keepsake jewelry, white gold makes a very elegant engraved wedding ring that can be passed on to future generations.

The one thing you need to be aware of when buying a white gold wedding ring is that it will need periodic maintenance in order to keep its luster.

To obtain its much desired glittering white color, white gold is coated with another alloy called Rhodium (the natural color of white gold is really light gray). Rhodium will wear down after a while, so to maintain your rings luster, youll need to visit your local jeweler about every 12-18 months and have it re-plated with a new coating of Rhodium. The cost for this should be very reasonable.

Whether youre looking for a plain gold wedding band, or a wedding ring with sparkling diamonds, white gold is an excellent choice for those looking for something a little extra special.

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Copyright 2004
Donna Monday
One special moment. One special ring.
http://www.1-love-rings.com

Article Source: Article Hub

By: Donna Monday

It used to be that if you wanted to buy a nice custom-made wedding ring, youd have to visit some fancy high-end jewelry store and be willing to part with a large portion of your wedding budget.

Well thats still the case for some people, but thanks to our modern times its now possible for you and anyone else who wants a custom wedding ring to create a unique diamond wedding ring from the comfort of your own home.

Oleg Cassini will have nothing on you as you sit in your chair sipping a soda looking at the various wedding ring photos that your favorite online jewelry store makes easily available.

You will quickly see that its easy to design your own wedding ring online. The first thing you want to look at when you set out to build your own wedding ring is the setting. Youll have your choice of wedding ring settings in various metals like: gold, white gold, sterling silver, and platinum. While studying the stylish settings, be sure to check your ring size for accuracy in purchasing a comfortable fitting wedding ring.

Next, youll want to select the right diamond to fit your setting. The common diamond cut shapes are: round, pear, emerald, princess, marquise, oval, radiant, heart, and Asscher. You will probably take a while just studying all the attributes of the various diamond shapes and sizes. Of course, you can always choose to purchase the setting online and then take it to your local jeweler to have it fit with a diamond.

You are the designer extraordinaire! You are not bound by what someone else thinks you will like. So, go ahead and feel free to create your own wedding ring. Theres nobody else to please but you.

And you will just love the results.

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Copyright 2004
Donna Monday
One special moment. One special ring.
http://www.1-love-rings.com

Article Source: Article Hub