Archives for: July 2007

Selecting a ring to symbolize the love you and your fiancé share is no small undertaking. Although there are many practical concerns to consider such as price, quality, and personal preference, it’s important to remember that you’re choosing a ring that will be worn for a long time, so it should suit you and reflect your taste and personality, as well as aptly represent the special bond you and your spouse will share as a married couple.

Before you set out to make this once-in-a-lifetime purchase, arm yourself with some knowledge about diamonds, rings, and the options available. The more you know, the better you’ll be able to make a wise choice, and the easier your shopping will be.

The Four C's

No discussion of diamond engagement rings would be complete without first defining the four Cs of diamonds: cut, color, clarity, and carat.

Cut

Often considered the most important attribute of a diamond, the cut directly affects the diamond’s brilliance and sparkle. A well-cut diamond will possess a lot of shine (also known as fire.)

Color

In nature, it’s common for diamonds to have a yellowish color. The most desirable diamonds have little or none.

Clarity

Clarity refers to the natural flaws and imperfections of a diamond. Clarity is graded based on an established grading system, which ranks diamonds from flawless (extremely rare) to badly included (many imperfections.) A typical diamond would rank somewhere in the middle.

Carat

Carat refers to the actual weight of the diamond, not the diamond’s size, which many people confuse.

Metals

Besides the stone, you’ll also have to decide on the type of metal you’d like your ring to be made of. The most popular choices are gold, white gold, or platinum. Gold is traditional and the least expensive. White gold is desirable because it resembles platinum without the cost and can be worn with silver. Platinum, the most expensive, is also the sturdiest of the three.

Diamond Alternatives

As you shop for a ring, don’t feel that you’re locked in to buying a diamond. Many couples are opting for other gemstones. Sapphires are a popular choice (the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Anne, and Princess Diana each received one.) It’s also traditional to use a birthstone - his or hers - in a ring, sometimes combined with diamonds.

Other colored gemstones symbolize the precious love that a diamond represents. For instance, red embodies heart, passion, and a zest for life. Rubies, or less expensively, red garnet, could beautifully replace a diamond. Green gemstones, such as emeralds or green garnet, denote faithfulness and continuity, much desired traits in a marriage.

Whatever you ultimately select, make sure that it’s a one-of-a-kind, just like your bride-to-be!

Tags: engagement ring, diamond ring, birthstone ring, gold ring

The Do-it-Yourself Bride

If you truly want to personalize your wedding, there are many aspects of it that you can tackle yourself, rather than hiring an outside party to do it for you. Doing things yourself, like designing and printing your invitations and envelopes, creating your wedding program and favors, and even arranging your flowers, lets you express the unique style you’ve imagined, and you can save a bundle, too!

Invitations a la You

Creating your own invitations can be a fun, inspiring, and artistic undertaking. Who would’ve known you could be so creative? With some research, planning, and experimentation, you can produce a high-quality, attractive invitation.

LCI Paper has an abundance of card stock, specialty papers (like vellum or Chiyogami), and embellishments for the do-it-yourselfer. Choose one of their invitation kits or design your own. From their vast paper selections, you’re sure to find the perfect invitation ensemble. Your finished invitation will be one that is distinctively you.

Custom-lined Envelopes

Along with your invitations, you can customize your envelopes too. Line the envelopes to match or complement the invitations. Their design will help you to decide on the envelope lining. You might choose a bright Chiyogami paper, a subtle Tairei, or a pearlized paper in an attractive shade.

DIY Flowers

You’re choice of flowers provide impact for the tone and theme of your wedding and they add additional beauty to your big day.

If you’re tight on funds, you might be wondering how you’ll pull off that gorgeous floral design you’ve envisioned. Well, you don’t have to sacrifice your grand plan because of a tiny budget. If you have the knack for arranging flowers, or the desire to learn how, creating your own floral arrangements might be for you.

For more ideas on DIY flowers, check out this website, Flowerbud.com. It’s a great place to learn more.

Favors

Wedding favors can be almost anything imaginable, as long as they’re meaningful to the bride and groom and provide guests with a keepsake of the wedding, particularly ones which they can take home with them to treasure. Many couples choose favors that celebrate their cultural heritage, accent the wedding theme, or reflect the season or holiday surrounding the wedding.

Your wedding favors can be as simple as a single flower tied with a personalized ribbon that’s embossed with your names or wedding date. Or the traditional five pieces of almond candy, representing fertility, health, wealth, happiness, and longevity.

Wedding Programs

The wedding program provides your guests with helpful information about the wedding ceremony and the reception afterwards. It lets you introduce your bridal party, the officiant, and gives order to your ceremony. You can also use the program to thank anyone who helped or provided a special service for you at your wedding. Lastly, it serves as a wonderful keepsake of your special day.

Most likely, you’ll want to keep your program consistent with the design of your invitations or with your wedding’s theme. Your program can be as elaborate or simple as you like, depending upon the amount of information you choose to include in it.

Tags: diy wedding, diy flowers, diy programs, handmade invitations, creative invitations, wedding favors, wedding ideas, custom envelopes, lined envelopes

Wording for Housewarming Invitations

If you’ve recently moved to a new home, whether newly built or just new to you, most likely you’ll want to invite family and friends over to show off your new place. Throwing a housewarming party is a great way to do this.

After you’ve settled in, draw up your guest list and write out those invitations. If you’re stumped on what to write, then take a look at the following sample verses. One may strike your fancy or inspire you to create your own original text. For more wording samples, see LCI's Housewarming Party Invitation Wording.

General Housewarming Wording Sample:

"Home is where the heart is."
A saying trite but true
Of memories to share
For all those who walk through
"Home" is where there's blessings
And joy and peace within
A place where there is safety
For guests and friends and kin

(Be sure to include date, time, who’s hosting, contact info for RSVPs, and directions.)

Celebrating a New House:

It's a house warming party
You're invited to share an
evening with us in our new home
(Date)
(Address)
Dinner will begin at (Time)
Cocktails and conversation all night long!
New friends are always welcome.
R.s.v.p (Host name and telephone #)

Boxes unpacked in our new home with good cheer,
all moved in, so happy to be here!
Please join us to celebrate
our new place
(Address)
(Date)
(Time)
(Host name)
(Telephone #)

Moved from one home into another:

With the kids gone, the house seemed so big,
So we moved out of that one and into new digs!
Check out our new home and have brunch

(Date)
(Time)
(Address)

Directions on back

Moved from an apartment to a house:

Apartment living had become an old fad,
So we moved out and into our own new pad!
Come to our housewarming party

(Date)
(Time)
(Address)

Refreshments will be provided
Directions on back

(Host name and telephone #)

Tags: invitation wording, housewarming, housewarming party

The rehearsal dinner, as the name implies, is the dinner held after the wedding rehearsal. The rehearsal dinner lets everyone involved in the wedding relax and socialize before the big day.

The rehearsal dinner doesn’t need to be an extravagant affair, especially since it typically takes place on the eve of the wedding. And because you’ll be inviting all the important players in your wedding to the dinner, drinking and merriment should be kept to a minimum. You’ll want everyone bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for the main event.

Who’s Invited

Usually, everyone in the bridal party, parents of the bride and groom, and the officiant (and spouse) of your ceremony receives an invitation to the dinner. Oh, and don’t forget the bride and groom. Optional invitees include family members who may have traveled to attend the wedding, children in the wedding party (and their parents), and siblings and grandparents of the bride and groom.

Who Hosts the Dinner

Traditionally, the groom’s parents host the rehearsal dinner, but this isn’t a hard and fast rule. Sometimes, the bride and groom agree to absorb all expenses, including the rehearsal dinner, and sometimes both sets of parents agree to host.

Purpose of the Rehearsal Dinner

The rehearsal dinner serves a few different purposes. First of all, it allows members of the wedding party to become better acquainted with each other, without the pressure of wedding day responsibilities. Secondly, it gives the bride and groom the chance to thank their bridal party for all the love and support they’ve provided throughout the wedding planning process. At this time, the happy couple usually hands out gifts that they’ve selected for their attendants. Lastly, it gives the parents of the groom the opportunity to toast their son and future daughter-in-law in an intimate setting. Others can toast the bride and groom as well.

Venue for the Dinner

The rehearsal dinner can be held most anywhere. If money is an issue, share a potluck meal or plan an outdoor barbeque. The dinner hosts could rent a room at a restaurant or offer a catered meal at their home. Whatever works best is the way to go.

Tags: rehearsal dinner etiquette, rehearsal dinner

Once upon a time, wedding centerpieces were typically floral arrangements. Beautiful for sure, but not always imaginative or innovative. Not so the case now. Table centerpieces can serve as a unique way to express or enhance your wedding theme. They can add elegance, whimsy, charm, or plain old fun to your celebration. So when planning your reception, don’t feel limited to a traditional centerpiece - consider experimentation. Don’t be afraid to try out that idea that you’ve been kicking around.

For starters, consider the container you might like to use for your centerpieces. If your wedding is informal or has a garden or summer theme, try a rustic, tin container filled with fresh daisies, carnations, or mums. For formal affairs, variations of vases, votives, glass dishes, or bowls can provide an air of elegance or extravagance. A popular trend is to float candles in shallow, water-filled bowls. Add river rocks or marbles to complete the presentation. Whether lusciously scented or colored or both, soft candlelight always provides an appealing ambience. Alternatively, place candles on mirrored trays or to give visual interest, use low, medium, and high elements in the centerpieces.

Balloons can make a delightful centerpiece, especially if you focus on one color. If your bridesmaids’ gowns are an exquisite shade, play it up by accenting it in your centerpiece. Or, select one bold color that commands your guests to celebrate.

Use flowers in creative ways. Instead of the traditional vase with a single rose or a flower arrangement, use decorative flower pots filled with roses to adorn your tables. The pots can serve as mementos for your guests, a treasure to take home.

If your wedding falls during a particular season, use that as your spotlight. Incorporate snow globes into your winter wedding centerpieces. Use traditional glass ornaments with your Christmas affair. Early spring wedding? Take advantage of abundant tulips.

These suggestions just scratch the surface. For more ideas on incredibly beautiful centerpieces, check out this website, SuperWeddings.com. You’ll be sure to impress your guests with a dazzling table display.

Tags: centerpiece, wedding decorations, wedding centerpiece, wedding theme ideas