Marriage & Wedding Blog

Bachelorette Party Ideas - While bachelor parties are a tradition dating back to the 1800s, bachelorette parties have become popular only recently. Bachelorette parties seem to be more about the bride-to-be bonding with women friends than the male tradition of enjoying a final night of freedom before marriage. A New Tradition Some brides choose a night of frivolity, such as male exotic dancers and lots of alcohol, much like the groom's bachelor party. But the majority of women opt for other activities. The theme of most bachelorette parties is to tease the bride in a fun way, while sharing a memorable evening with her best friends. The Nightclub Scene This is 1 of the most popular bachelorette activities. Parties often start with dinner at an elegant restaurant, followed by drinks and dancing at popular nightclubs. Hiring a limousine to drive everyone together from destination to destination is a great idea. First, it allows all the women to travel together and party in transit. S...

Bachelor Party Ideas - The following paragraphs summarize the work of wedding experts who are completely familiar with all the aspects of weddings. Heed their advice to avoid any wedding surprises.  The tradition of the bachelor party may date as far back as the 1800s. The stereotype of a bachelor party is a last night of debauchery for the groom and his friends before the wedding but in more recent times soon to be grooms are looking to less traditional activities to mark their final days as bachelors. While there are still would be grooms, who opt to spend the last hours before their wedding partying with alcohol and female exotic dancers, many men are choosing a less traditional route such as camping trips, sporting events, daredevil activities and even co-ed bachelor parties that include the soon to be bride and her friends. These types of activities are much less likely to get the groom in trouble with his bride not to mention that they won t leave the groom feeling too sick ...

Baby Boomer Retirement Options - As the first wave of Baby boomers nears retirement age, they’re beginning to realize that unlike their predecessors, they have many options. Here’s a look at some of the Baby boomer retirement options this group of mature adults are choosing. They’re working long past retirement age The generations that came before the Baby Boomers retired from the work force at either age 62 or 65 or sometimes 67. They got their pensions and their social security checks and before long they sold their homes and moved in with their adult children where they stayed until their passing. But not today’s Baby boomers!  It’s almost like collectively they’re saying, “What me, retire?” Instead of closing up shop, they’re choosing to remain in the work force, working part time and sometimes full time, sometimes out of necessity, but more often, they’re continuing with work that they enjoy. For this group, the Baby boomer retirement option they’re choosing is to postpone re...

Baby Boomer Issues: Health, Money And Retirement - As the Baby Boomer generation continues to grow older, their primary concerns have shifted to their health, money and retirement. The days of idly wondering where their next vacation should be and whether their bonus check will be as much as they deserve are quietly passing. Today, Baby Boomer issues are mostly about concerns with maintaining their dwindling health and having enough money to live comfortably through their twilight years. Health Concerns For Baby Boomers As people grow older, they often experience problems with their health. Their bodies grow more fragile and susceptible to diseases and bacteria. In addition, many people 50 years of age and older are reporting health problems that were not experienced by people in their same age group long ago. This problem is exacerbated by rising health care costs. As the Boomer generation begins to require more medical care, the cost of that medical care continues to increase. Healt...

Baby Boomer Health - Baby boomer health is a big issue for today’s seniors. Fortunately the focus isn’t so much on which of the many ailments people will be stricken with and how soon. With all of the advances that have been made in the field of medical science, people are living longer and they’re spending their later years healthier, too. That’s why much of the talk about Baby boomer health revolves around keeping mentally and physically fit.   Perhaps that’s because the one thing that has set the Baby boomer generation apart since its beginning has been the focus on the self. As this generation grows older past behaviors that may have been considered selfish or self-indulgent are being replaced with behavior that’s focused on self-preservation. And that’s a truly beneficial change, especially when you consider the impact that this generation has had on trends.  Which senior health issues matter most? With a lifetime of focusing on the self, today’s Baby boomers place ...

Avoid Wedding Rip-Offs - Planning a wedding can be a stressful event. The last thing you need is to be ripped-off by an unscrupulous wedding vendor or planner. Here are a few tips to help avoid this problem. Make Your Wedding Arrangements and Bookings As Far In Advance As Possible Most facilities, vendors, and planners can be booked more than a year in advance. If possible, take advantage of this window of opportunity. Should something go wrong, it will provide you with more time to make alternate arrangements. Also, be aware that some vendors will actually charge you more if you order or book things at the last minute. Shop Around and Deal With Trustworthy People Before booking anything you should shop around and get an idea of current prices for each category of your wedding. Don't just hire the first caterer you meet with. Ask around with family, friends, co-workers, etc. and get their recommendations about services they may have used. If you want to be extra safe in this regar...

Avoid Wedding Nerves Weight Gain - If a bride tells you that she’s not worried about fitting into her wedding dress, then she is probably lying. While the stress of planning a wedding can cause a lot of women to forget about eating, others find comfort in nibbling a little more or can’t find time to exercise. The result is a wedding dress that needs to be taken out, rather than in at the final fitting. And every bride fears this. Keeping your dress When it comes to staying in shape, you need to think of a few things before weighing yourself constantly. First of all, your health is number one at this time. You are under a lot of pressure, so you need to make sure that your body is able to handle it well. To do this, you will want to find some way to incorporate exercise into your life. Of course, you might laugh and wonder where you’ll ever find the time, but know that you should. Even if it’s just fifteen minutes a day, you need to walk, run, bike, whatever. Exercise creates stress re...

Avoid Wedding Drama: Special Situations And Invitation Wording - There are some families that may have different members in them, some that wedding books and etiquette guides are struggling to keep up with. How can you include everyone in such a way that all are equally important? Well, to a certain extent, you can not. There’s only so much room on an invitation to include everyone in your life, but for those that you must, there are ways to handle the step and passed on parents in an invitation. A step up When it comes to step parents, most couples feel as though they are no different from their biological parents. So, they want to incorporate them into the invitation as well. And while traditionally, the parents are included, how do you put in everyone’s name? Many invitations start off with “Mr. and Mrs. So and So would like to announce the marriage of their daughter Blah Blah to John Doe, son of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” In order to include both sets of parents, you can just add them i...

Automotive Salvage And Environmental Safety - Environment awareness has increased around the world together with the necessity for better regulations that will allow automotive salvage become a safe environmental occupation. Under law enforcement, automakers should take care of their products from cradle to grave. Carmakers are subjects to great international pressure and urging that all dismantled car pieces, wrecks and carcasses should no longer pile up in waste metal yards, but be reused or recycled. Is it just metal piling up in salvage yards, which has brought automotive salvage into the spot light? Only partially; as there remains the risk of chemical pollution and infestation due to all the vehicle fluids that pollute the soil, should there be any leakage. Those company owners that deal in car dismantling should follow some general basic environmental security rules when fragmenting cars to pieces. The best way to minimize spill-over during automotive salvage operations is by e...

Australia Travel Cautionary Measures - Mildred Didrikson was voted number 10 among North American athletes of the 20th century according to ESPN in 2000. Also, in 2000, Didrikson, from Beaumont, Texas was named by CNN/Sports Illustrated as the second greatest female athlete of all time (second to the incredible Jackie Joyner Kersee). Babe Didrikson as well as other sources claimed that she won 17 consecutive golf tournaments in 1946 and 1947. However, she didn’t actually, after winning 13 straight; she lost in the very first round in Spokane, Washington at the National Open in 1946. She conveniently erased this particular tournament when she spoke of her 17-win streak.. After her loss in Spokane, Babe won four more golf tournaments. Nevertheless, at 13 tournaments in a row for victory, Babe Didrikson Zaharias’ legend can not be denied. Travel warnings are issued by governments and are decided based on the information they gather. They serve to inform citizens of the situation in that ...

At-A-Glance Wedding Planner Checklist - So you two are getting married? Why not do everything you can to make it a wedding to remember? Here are the items you will want to consider carefully while formulating your wedding plans: Secular or Non-secular? Decide whether you want a simple civil ceremony or a church-affiliated wedding.  This should be a straightforward decision, but if you run into a snag on this point, don't worry; you can work it out. It'll just be the first of many compromises! If you want a church wedding, make an appointment to talk to the church representative that handles such things and go from there. Money Weddings cost money. It's one of a handful of life-changing events, and an investment to make it everything you ever wanted it to be is appropriate.  Talk it over. Come up with a dollar figure and start gathering estimates. Once you two have decided how much you want to spend, however, don't go over that amount. This is the first big investment y...

Asylum Seeker And Refugee Children - You cant escape the media hype surrounding asylum seekers and refugees in the UK and Europe at the moment. They are called scroungers and are accused of swamping the UK. This is not the reality, this is just papers doing what they do best, telling stories. Unfortunately, this negativity affects both children and adults. This anti-asylum agenda by some papers and political parties does not take into account that children are physically and psychologically less able than adults to provide for their own needs or to protect themselves from harm. They must rely on the care and protection of adults, sometimes in a different country. This is important as half of the worlds refugees are children and they need special protection and care. Definitions of Asylum Seekers and Refugees An asylum seeker is a person who has applied for asylum in the UK and is awaiting a final decision on their claim from the Immigration & Nationality Department of the Home Off...

Astronomy - The stars have always been a fascinating subject. Perhaps that's one reason why astronomy is so popular these days. In essence, Astronomy isn't just about studying stars, as most people think. It's actually a study of celestial objects, which includes not only stars but also planets, comets and entire galaxies. In fact, Astronomy also studies different phenomena that come from outside of the earth's atmosphere, such as auroras and cosmic background radiation. In addition, Astronomy, is concerned with a host of other sciences, including physics, evolution, chemistry, how celestial objects move and how the universe was formed and developed. Scientists routinely use Astronomy to test some of the most fundamental theories in physics, such as general relativity. In attempting to explain astronomical phenomena, astronomy joins hands with astrophysics. Overall, Astronomy is among the oldest sciences known to mankind. Records show that there were astronomers dating...

Ask The Right Questions Before You Book Your Wedding Reception - Think saying "I do" is going to be the most emotional moment in your wedding? Probably so, but putting down a deposit on your wedding venue could be a close runner-up.  Reception costs consume almost half the budget for the wedding, which these days means you can expect to lay out almost $13,000, including food. And the venue you select can not only limit your choice of caterers or bakers, it's sure to affect how much you spend to "cover up" its weak spots or accent its highlights. Most stressful of all, the popular venues book far in advance, forcing brides to make the big decision almost as soon as they set the date. For that reason, the savvy venue-hunter wants to know what questions to ask before she walks in the door, much less signs the contract. Here are a few ideas: Do you have a pre-set list of caterers I can use, or can I choose my own?  Some venues -- high-end ones with their own cateri...

Asian Wedding Traditions - Incorporating ethnic traditions into your wedding can create a more intimate environment for you and your family. While we most associate the color white with wedding in this country, the color red is the color of weddings in China. Red is the color of luck and joy, and it makes perfect sense that it is such an important color for weddings. You can incorporate the red color in a variety of ways such as the tablecloth, candles, napkins, and other decorations. You may change into a red dress during the wedding reception. You may choose red wedding flowers, or your bridesmaids may wear a red dress. You can create a Chinese feel without red by dressing in a tradition Chinese dress. White is not a color used in Chinese traditional weddings. White is used at funerals, so avoid white on your invitations, decorations or bridal clothing. Do not use red ink on white paper, because white implies death and is used at funerals. Gold on reddish paper or cream color paper ...

Aries - Aries the Ram (March 21 to April 20) is called the first sign of the Zodiac. We think of the beginning of the year as January, because that’s the start of the new calendar year. But this is the Zodiac year, remember, and is governed by matters more celestial than mundane! March 21 is the Spring equinox, which signifies the beginning of the Zodiac year. And when you think about it, this makes sense. Spring is the time of renewal and rebirth. If you are born under this sign, you can tend to have the same traits as a young ram. Enthusiastic, adventurous, forthright and energetic. You’re courageous and confident. You could be a little impulsive though, right. Maybe something of a daredevil. Where the world be though, without daredevils, willing to strike out and do something completely different. Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most famous Aries ever born. Think of some other famous Arians, such as Thomas Jefferson, Booker T. Washington, Francis Ford Coppola, Jane Goodall and Marlo...

Are You Wondering About Bridesmaid Gifts ? - Any wedding day will be full of memories, especially for the bride and groom. They, of course, are the key players, whether it is a formal or informal wedding. With a formal wedding, the months of planning may build up a high level of anticipation in not just the bride and groom, but also others who will also play key roles on the big day. To bridesmaids in particular, the lead up to the wedding day may be an exciting time. The bride and groom will undoubtedly want to commemorate the day for them with bridesmaid's gifts.  For sure, bridesmaids will appreciate at least a token gift to help them remember the day. As with any gift, what you choose as a bridesmaid gift will depend on budget and age. If anything, "older" bridesmaids are easier to choose for, as personalized silver or crystal, for example, and other more adult products, are more likely to be appreciated.  Younger bridesmaids, though, may turn out to be easier than yo...

Are You Still A Swiss Army Knife ? - Do you still remember your scouting days? Do you remember how it made you morally upright and strong in body and spirit? Do you still bring with you the same principles that managed to invigorate your youth? Or are you yet another aging specimen with dying values and dignity? Are you another idle entity of society that is more like a parasitic insect than a brilliant higher being? Or are you the type who manages to make vital contributions to society despite of advancing age? Lessons Learned Do you still remember the many lessons you learned from scouting? You learned what it takes to live by ethical standards. You learned how it is to work as part of a greater whole, to be part of a community. You learned to become a leader. You learned to serve society and the, many entities it comprises (with your family and yourself included). Interestingly, you never had to leave your youth behind, for you were taught to have fun and to search for adventures wh...

Are you searching for a Bridesmaid Cheap Dress ? - Planning a wedding can be one of the most exciting, happy, and stressful times of the bride’s life.  It is a time filled with high emotions, loss of sanity, and gleeful delight as she plans the most important party of her life.  Part of the planning involves choosing bridesmaids, and then of course, the bridesmaid dresses.  Just like wedding gowns, the bridesmaid dresses can range in price from a few hundred dollars to the thousands.  If you are a bride on a budget, your bridesmaids may be as well, which is why it is important to find cheap bridesmaid dresses. Once you have decided on your color palette for the wedding, you should have a good idea of what color your bridesmaids will be wearing.  At that point, it is time to choose the bridesmaid dresses.  Some women, when they think of a bridesmaid dress simply cringe, however with today’s new styles with charming ruffle trims, floral embellishments, flatte...

Are You Looking To Buy Medical Organizers For Your Changing Career ? When it comes to medical or healthcare industry, organization is an important aspect of the professionals’ life. Staying organized is not only professional; staying organized helps maintain your security and the security of your patients. The great news is that when you want to buy medical organizers there are a multitude of options available to you that will suit your lifestyle and your preferences. One of the leading manufacturers of high-quality organizers is none other than Prestige medical equipment. Prestige has a reputation for offering only the best in medical equipment to the medical or healthcare professional. Not only does Prestige medical equipment offer professionalism and reliability, Prestige medical equipment also offers an affordability not to be matched. Of course, you may also choose to use Prestige organizers as any time organizers. These organizers are so exceptionally well made that you can turn ...

Are We A Generation Of Do It Yourselfers (DIY) - Tired or fed up of paying contractors for doing jobs you can do yourself? At some time most of us will feel like that. Guess what, you really don't have to anymore. We seem to have a never ending access to all the information we need to do these jobs ourselves.  Many hardware stores are now giving free instructional classes on the weekends, there are also all those instructional television shows plus countless CD sets that make doing it yourself seem really easy.  Not only do we get to save money, in most cases a lot of money but we also get to take great pride in what we have done.  Here are some suggestions and statistics about doing it yourself. There has been a do-it-yourself boom in recent years.  Statistics show that the age group that relies most on do-it-yourself activities are people between the ages of 30 and mid 40's, (they make up 41 percent of home improvement spending).  DIY is now starting to attra...

Are Titanium and Tungsten wedding rings for life? When faced with the once-a-life-time decision of choosing a wedding band ring, everyone should do their own research in order to make sure they get the piece that can symbolize the eternality of marriage.  For those who are seriously considering of buying the modern metals (titanium or tungsten) as wedding rings, here are some thoughts that are worth considering. <b>Will they be scratched?</b> Although titanium wedding bands are very strong and durable, the surface of the rings can actually be scratched.  It takes another extremely hard object such as diamond to cut into the metal; however, it does not get damaged during normal daily use.  For titanium rings with gold, silver or platinum inlay, the inlay part of the ring is as vulnerable as a ring that is made of the precious metal itself.  In the case of minor a blemish, a titanium ring can be re-polished or refinished to restore the original appearance....

Aquarius - Were you born under the sign of Aquarius. What a compassionate and generous person you are. And did you know that there really is an Age of Aquarius. It wasn’t just a songwriter’s concept in the musical, Hair. Just as there are individual zodiac signs, so are the eras of human history divided into 2000-year segments of what’s called the Great Year. We just left the age of Pisces, which began at the beginning of the Christian era until the year 2000. It was a time marked by fluid changes in politics and governments. Pisces, of course, is the sign of the Fish, the symbol of Christianity. We are now in the age of Aquarius, but only just in the dawn of it, like the song said. All the wonderful, generous characteristics of the Water Bearer are not yet symbolic of humanity as a whole yet, as evidenced by the current turmoil in the Middle East. But there are signs. Remember the Random Acts of Kindness. Perhaps those were a harbinger of the Age of Aquarius. If YOU are an Aquarian, t...

Anniversary Invitations: Celebrating a Milestone - For every anniversary there is a different theme. If you are choosing to throw a party to celebrate your anniversary, choosing the right invitation can be a very important step in party planning.  If it is your first year anniversary, the theme is paper, 25th is silver and 50th is gold. For a full list of anniversary gifts by year pick up any wedding etiquette book. It is full of useful information for after the big day. There are many beautiful gold and silver invitations that will help you to commemorate this special time.  If someone besides the couple is hosting an anniversary party it is easy to select a lovely anniversary invitation. Keep in mind the anniversary year and the style of the couple who is celebrating. With this information, the host can select the invitation that best matches the couples anniversary and interests.  There are so many varying styles of anniversary invitations. There are cards, tri-fold i...

Anniversary Favors – Coffee Or Tea - You decided to throw an anniversary party for the lucky couple – a 25th or a 50th. You will offer both coffee and tea at the party, so why not take your cue for anniversary favors from the beverages. "Would you like coffee or tea?" Anniversary favors of coffee or tea are easy to find, and make a cute commentary on the couple's long marriage.  Theme Your Party Theme your party around "Tea for Two" or "The Perfect Blend" and either tea or coffee favors will work well. Here are some ideas for both. 1. "The Perfect Blend" coffee cups holding a tea light candle. These charming white coffee cups hold coffee colored tea light candles, scented to resemble java. When lit, the candles glow with a soft early-morning light. A hang tag on the anniversary favor gift box proclaims "A Perfect Blend" and could be personalized with the anniversary couple's names and wedding date. 2. "Tea for Two" te...

Anniversary Favor Ideas - Anniversary favor ideas are many. Whether it is the 25th anniversary and you need silver anniversary favors, or the 50th anniversary and you need gold anniversary favors, you have a wealth of possibilities. Silver Anniversary Favor Ideas Silver anniversary favors are the more popular of the two, especially since divorce so frequently enters in before the 50th anniversary is reached. Even a 25th anniversary is less common than it once was. Still, silver anniversaries are celebrated often, and anniversary favor ideas are needed for each one. When you begin looking for silver anniversary favor ideas, you will find many, such as the following. 1. Elegant Silver Wedding Frame Anniversary Favors: Wedding frame favors have a long tradition behind them. They also come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and prices. If your reception will host 100 or more guests, silver wedding frame favors at less than $1 each would be an affordable anniversary favor idea. 2. Silver Coast...

An Open Letter To All Historic Buildings Nearing Retirement Age - If you're a historic building looking for a nice place to spend your golden years, Miami might not be it. Quite apart from the subtropical sun beating down your finish to a dull suggestion of what you once looked like, you'll be subjected to a vicious cycle of heat, humidity, rain and (sometimes very big) wind that will leave you old before your time. And, if you survive all that, good luck surviving developer's fever. No, it's not a disease you can catch, but it can kill you just the same. As soon as the dirt under your footers becomes valuable enough, they'll start fitting you for the wrecking ball, and you won't be getting a corsage. Sure, you'll still get some visitors who think you deserve to be left alone, but very few of them will have enough influence (or money) to save you. Those that do will probably form their own buyer's group to sell the city fathers (and mothers) a slightly ...

An Introduction To Wedding Cakes - A wedding is one of the sweetest moments in one’s life, and to compliment the great occasion, it is only natural to serve sweets. Cakes, like sweets, are an integral part of a Western wedding.  Once the wedding ceremony is over, the traditional wedding cake is served to the guests. For this, even the knife, the container, and the table are decorated beautifully. The wedding cake should go well with the wedding. The taste and style of the couple is clearly reflected in the design, shape, and decoration of the wedding cake. There are some prerequisites to choosing the most suitable wedding cake. The proposed budget is the prime factor. After deciding the budget, a good baker, caterer, or expert chef should be selected. The correct selection of the wedding cake remains a stiff challenge due to the wide range of options available regarding flavors, colors and decorations for the cake.  Usually, the wedding cake is massive in size, and multi-laye...