Bridal Living

The sweet sixteen party craze has now exploded into mini weddings. Who could be responsible for this? Could it be the producers of MTV's My Super Sweet Sixteen or could these soon to be sixteen year old's be keeping up with the Jonses' on who will throw the tightest party? Or, could it be parents who can't say 'no' or 'this is enough' to their kids? One thing's certain, these teenie boppers have got parents shoving out dollars that are comparable and even super exceed many weddings, thus, grooming a generation of spoiled bratty kids.

Many kids from households of modest means no nothing about a sweet sixteen bash. I mean, I never even got a birthday party until I was 21 and I threw that one for myself! Come on, is it necessary to spend lavishly on invitations, food, entertainment and even hundreds of sweet sixteen party favors to appease the masses of high strung teens? I think not! What ever happended to the handmade cake and a day at the mall. These kids are getting custom Range Rovers and $10,000 a night bands to perform. Have we gone mad as parents?

It appears that the excessive lavishness of modern day living knows no bounds. Of course, this doesn't appeal to all. The thing is, if you have the money to spend lavishly...great! At the same time, teach your children to be appreciative and have some boundaries. Maybe the Ford Fusion instead of the Range Rover. Or, hire a good dj in place of a band. Set limits and boundaries and it won't cost so much. This way, your teen can still be happy with a great gifts, a wonderful party and still can be the light of the year. Sometimes too much is just, well, too much.

Okay, he proposed...great! But, how well do you know him? Have you done your homework? You may be one who has found a match and you're getting married six months later or you may have dated for six years and think you know him all too well. Do you really? I suggest you run a background check on your soon to be spouse as soon as possible, no matter how much you think you know him or how long you've dated.

A young lady in Michigan was dating the perfect guy. He showered her with expensive jewelry (you know we all love this as women) on a whim. You know, just because. They went to exclusive restaurants and took many lavish trips. One day, at one of these exclusive restaurants, the 'man of her dreams' paid the bill with a credit card. They both noticed the waitress absense with the card was extensive. When the waitress returned with the card, she wasn't alone. In her absense, she called the local authorities to report the credit card as stolen because it appeared in the system as such. Consequently, the man of her dreams was part of an identity theft ring and this wasn't his first offense. Had she done a background check...she would have been spared a bit of embarrassment. Tnank goodness she didn't marry him!

There are things you need to know, especially if you're engaged with children. These are questions you need to find answers to:

Is he a registered sex offender? - Time and time again women have fallen into this trap. Unfortunately, many of these women find out the man's past and do nothing about it. If he is registered, find out what the charge is and how serious it is. In some cases, young men who are 18 date their high school sweet heart who is 16. These men unfortunately land a sex offender case for being with a minor and it ruins their record. So, dig deep and find out what really went on.

Is she a felon? - This is something you really need to know. This could affect finances, as many felons have job restrictions.

Is he really 40? - Many people lie about their age for fear of rejection. Find out if he is really the age he says he is. This could open a can of worms to all the other things he could be untruthful about. Remember, if he lies about this...what else is he lying about?

Is her divorce final? - Have you ever known a couple that claims divorce, but, they're only separated. Before you take a step further, request to see her divorce decree. If she refuses or 'conveniently forgets', go to the state to look up the filing. This is public record.

You can get some of this information for free at abika.com. For a more intense screening, try Best Background Checks. Charges may apply for more detail screenings.

'Thank You' is the shortest phrase that means so much. There are times where we forget to say these simple words without realizing how well this makes people feel. When it comes to planning your wedding, it is essential that you don't forget to say 'Thanks'.

Personalize Your Thanks

One great way to make your guests and all in attendance to your events feel really special is to personalize the thank you. Sending generic cards are a good gesture, but a better one is to thank guests for their specific gift. Don't think that this is an impossible task. The best way to do this is to delegate someone to jot down the gift and who gave the gift on a notepad as you open your gifts. Whether you are opening gifts before a crowd of guests, or taking this task home to enjoy with your new spouse, call one of your bridesmaids, a close friend or relative to be present in helping with this task. A good sample of a personalized thank you would be:

Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Richardson:

Bride and Groom.

This is short, sweet and simple, but huge to the Richardson's. It shows that you have taken the time to appreciate the gift and note who gave it. It also shows that you have already made plans to put this gift to great use.

Handwritten or Typed?

It is suggested that thank you cards be handwritten for a personal touch. In this age of technological buffs, it's a bit time consuming to do this. However, it sure puts the icing on the cake. So, grab you new spouse and/or a friend (who says you have to do all the writing?) and each of you grab a stack and start writing.

Darling Duo Thank You Cards	Whimsical Cake Thank You Cards

So, he finally proposed. Now it’s time to get the wedding planning underway, and there are many details to think about and take care of before you get to be his wife. However, one of the most important things you need to start thinking about immediately is the wedding invitations. You’ll need to pick out the type of invitation you want, make sure it reads right, decide if you want to include a theme, and make sure that everything gets done on time so that you can send them out. So, let’s take a closer look at the important aspects of wedding invitations.

Choosing the Perfect Invitation Type

First of all, you are going to have to choose the perfect invitation type for your wedding. The following are four different types of invitations to consider.

- Traditional – First of all are traditional or formal wedding invitations. Usually these types of invitations are done in ivory, white, or even soft cream and they have black lettering as well. If you are going to have a very formal wedding, these invitations may be what you are looking for.
- Contemporary – For the more contemporary and chic bride, contemporary wedding invitations are another great choice. These types of invitations are usually very unique and individual and they make a statement about the wedding couple.
- Informal – If you are more of an informal gal and you plan on having an informal wedding, then you may want to go with wedding invitations that are informal as well. Usually these invitations are on the front only of a car, and you can have the printed, or even handwritten.
- Handmade – For those brides who really want to step out of the box, handmade invitations are a eclectic option to choose.

How the Invitation Should Read

Of course you want to make sure that your invitations are worded properly before you send them out, so there are a few things to consider when it comes to the way your invitations should read. First of all, the first name on the invitations should always be the names of the people paying for the wedding. Usually the ends up being the parents of the bride; however, in some cases it can be the bride and groom as well. Then you have the request, which will either request the “honor of your presence” if the wedding is in a church, or request the “pleasure of your company,” if the wedding is somewhere else. Also, when naming the couple, the brides name is always first. The date and time often are spelled out, but in more informal invitations they don’t have to be.

Invitation Themes

In some cases brides want to have their invitations go right along with their themes, which is an excellent idea. Today more and more brides are deciding to brand their wedding, using the same décor throughout the entire wedding, which can be a lot of fun. If you are having a themed wedding and you like the idea of branding, then you may want to carry over that theme to your invitations as well.

Getting it All Done on Time

So, to insure that you get all the invitations done and sent out on time, you should probably begin looking for them as soon as you decide on a wedding date. Once you get to about four months before the big day, then you’ll want to make your order. Addressing invitations can take quite a bit of time, so you may want to start working on the invitations about three months before the wedding. Usually somewhere between 6-8 weeks before your wedding, you’re going to want to get them all sent out. However, make sure that the response date is at least 2-3 weeks before your wedding, since most caterers need an advance notice of how many people will be there.

Is your wedding planning turning you into an unbearable Bridezilla? Many brides think the task of planning a wedding is easy and take on the full challenge without realizing the detail that is required and the mental and physical consumption that planning can conjure. From finding the right dress to choosing the right wedding favors, this is conglomeration of many venues that require scheduling, viewing, test tasting, partying, fitting and the list goes on...all in sacrifice of one official day. That is a lot of work! So, why re-invent the wheel by building a personal wedding directory when there is already one waiting for you?

To make this task easier, many brides seek a bridal directory in order to find all venues in one place. 1 Wedding Source is a bridal directory that categorizes all wedding venues in your area to help ease the fury of planning. This directory is very useful as it provides great tips through various articles, a bit of celebrity gossip to keep you up to the minute on celeb weddings and a directory that's free for you to shop for accessories, get honeymoon ideas and even register to win a free honeymoon. So, drop that yellow pages and make it easier on yourself (and everyone around you) and search locally for everything you need to help plan your weddings.

For the couple who would like to vow their love to one another in a gorgeous, romantic place that is far from home, there are a ton of options. Here, I will outline one of the most gorgeous places that is perfectly fit for fairytale weddings or casual nuptials that are classy and fun.

Destination Wedding in Jamaica –

What a gorgeous place! With amazing beaches that are truly kissed by the sun to gorgeous castle grounds that boast of unimaginable beauty, Jamaica is a hot spot for weddings. In fact, there is typically a marriage officer affiliated with every hotel and resort simply because so many people get married there! They boast some of the most gorgeous hotels and inns that are very accustomed to accommodating wedding parties and brides and grooms!

Most of the hotels and inns feature amazing wedding packages with specials that include great things. One example is the Sandals resort in St. Lucia. The bride and groom are treated like absolute royalty with their very own wedding consultant and a beautiful wedding location. The preparation of the documents is included and so is a certified copy of the marriage license. The couple will receive a 5X7 wedding photo and 'Just Married' t-shirts. Along with this, you get a Caribbean wedding cake, a wine and hors d'oeuvres reception, a honeymoon dinner for the bride and groom and a continental breakfast in bed! How great does all that sound?

The typical temperature in Jamaica is mild and lovely, with cooling sea temperatures that range from 77 degrees in the winter to 85 degrees in the summer. It's absolutely perfect for any sort of wedding attire that the bride and groom choose to wear! It is also sure to make for gorgeous wedding pictures and fun.

Should you decide to be married in St. Lucia Jamaica, you can't miss the Diamond Botanical Gardens. They are about a two hour drive from Rodney Bay and are absolutely sure to leave you breathless. You will see an amazing mineral bath, tropical flowers, amazing birds, and you will have the chance to see some breathtaking sites along the Nature Trail to the old mill.

Jamaica is such a perfect place to begin a new chapter in your life with the one that you love and you are almost guaranteed to have an amazing time! Congratulations on your impending marriage and the best of luck to you!

Many couples forget that as they take the steps to approach becoming one, it is vital that all issues are discussed and health insurance is priority. Health insurance is one of the key decisions that newlyweds must make once tying the knot. Studies show that most people are covered by employer-sponsored plans. A way to cut costs is to combine policies. This turns out to be much more cost effective than making huge financial sacrifices to maintain health insurance with separate policies or to take risks in opting out of a health care plan.

If you are soon to wed and are in need of health coverage, many health portals exist online that will return quotes to give you an idea of what is expected for a married couple. Depending on your state of health, many health care providers return estimates quickly.

Be sure to understand any quotes that you’ve received. Key questions to ask are:

1.) What is my deductible?
2.) What’s expected of me to pay entirely?
3.) Is dental and vision coverage included? (it usually isn’t)
4.) Are pre-existing conditions covered?

Knowing what is expected of both parties to pay is key in determining what financial state you will create and it helps each of you set budget goals.

It is suggested that you discuss your health concerns, state of health and plans to address health care before walking down the isle. Taking this step before the final ‘I do’ may prove to be the first step toward great communication.

If you are like me, you’ll buy some cool make up, store it in your purse and pull it out only for fancy occasions (and I do mean weddings too). This is probably a picture perfect no-no for any bride. Usually, brides go all out to purchase new colors and shades and most brides opt to bring in a makeup artist for this special day.

Odor
Let’s face it, the smell of makeup isn’t all too pleasing, but generally a bad stench verifies that the makeup is a bit too old and you may want to replace it.

Loss of Color
When makeup changes color in its container, this is sure sign that it’s time for something new.

Skin Irritation
Old make can contain heavy bacteria, thus causing skin irritation. So, if you’ve dabble up and made up to model status and it feels like your face has fleas than it’s time for a makeup update. Go out and get some more!

So, I guess that leaves a huge question…how old is too old? A good rule of thumb to consider in general is dry items last longer than wet items. Wet items are cesspools for bacteria and the longer the makeup stays cooped up in a container, the more likely it is for bacteria to increase.

Lipstick – good for two years. Liquid Foundation – 6 months maximum. Foundation is wet and holds bacteria. Mascara – 3-6 months. Mascara is more likely to hold bacteria than any other makeup because is dark and wet. Lip Pencil – good until it’s gone as long as it’s regularly sharpened. Blush – good for about a year or until it looses color.

Now it’s time for you to filter through that makeup box and start tossing what you think has reached its shelf life. If you can’t remember what year you brought it…it’s too old!

For many brides and party planners alike, catering is the most crucial part of putting together a spectacular occasion. Great catering services can potentially turn a mediocre party into the talk of the town and many events definitely call for the extra help needed to pull the event together. In many cases, choosing a venue, making runs for taste tests and choosing a caterer blindly can become quite stressful. Follow these tips and you will find a caterer that’s right for you in no time.

Just Ask:
Word of mouth is the most powerful advertisement….period! Asking your peers, employees, baker, friends and associates can cut down on a lot of stress. By asking, you get conjure a list of great caterers to try and a list of the caterers to avoid. Asking around gets you the honest and straight answers and can turn a timely task into a quick and easy decision.

Do Online Research:
We all know that the internet is a great tool for many things and finding the right caterer is definitely one of them. There are dozens of catering directories online and websites like Partypop.com is a great tool to narrow down the caterer to your local area.

Ask for References:
If you go the online route, ask for a list of references that the chosen caterers have serviced. Of course, the catering company will give you a list of happy clients. So what you do when contacting the references is ask the people on the list if they know anyone else who has used the service and call them for a reference. The key question to ask is “Would you hire this caterer again”.

If you're in the San Diego area and you are in need of San Diego catering service, Toast Personal Chef & Catering Service is a great company to cater your wedding, party and corporate events.

Toast has made its mark in the San Diego area as a premier chef service. Unlike most catering services, Toast offers personal chef services as well and caters to small and large parties.