Planning Your Honeymoon

Almost as fun as planning your wedding is planning your honeymoon. You want your first trip together as husband and wife to be memorable and it's tempting to take an 'anything goes' approach. After all, you're likely to get lots of wedding gifts in the form of cold, hard cash so why not? Well for one, you want to be able to eat and see the sights when you arrive, so you've got to use some discretion when making your arrangements. Many couples find that it is possible to have a great honeymoon, even if they're sticking to a budget and all it takes is some planning. When is the best time to plan the honeymoon?

Obviously sooner is better, especially if you intend to travel to a popular destination during peak season. But at a minimum, while you are putting together your wedding budget, it's a good idea to allocate funds for this adventure together and work from there. To help determine an appropriate budget, you've got to think about your possibilities, and of course, you've got to be realistic. A good way to start planning your honeymoon is to think about the things you both like to do in your free time, think about places you've only dreamed of visiting, and think about what you realistically intend to do while away.

You can also use the Internet or a travel agent to help you come up with honeymoon ideas. Once you've selected a destination, it's time to get busy making your travel arrangements. Special deals are out there, but you've got to be aggressive in your search for them. Don't despair; it'll likely be worth the effort. And the great deals might not always involve getting the lowest price. It's the extras that'll turn this ordinary trip into something extraordinary. Perhaps the deal includes getting a suite with a breathtaking view, or being greeted with a bottle of champagne. When you're down to only 3 months left until the wedding date, you should have your travel arrangements firmly in place. Know where you're going, how you're getting to the airport (after the reception) and once you arrive at your destination, how you'll be getting to your accommodations. Once you're in place, the rest of the vacation can run its course.

If you wish, you can plan some day trips in advance. This far out, also make sure vaccinations and passports are current, if applicable. A few weeks before your departure, start gathering the things you'll bring with you on your honeymoon: camera and film/memory cards, swimsuits, day and evening wear, traveler's checks, tickets, documents, confirmation numbers for ALL reservations (including person's name if possible), and a bit of local currency for tipping. Set aside somewhere safe. Then as the approaching days become more stressful than you can handle, close your eyes and picture yourselves lazily lying around your honeymoon suite, with not a care in the world except how soon you'll be able to return!

Welcome To Married Life – Time To Party

If you’ve gotten through the wedding planning and the wedding day without a hitch (no pun intended), then you’re already on your way to a successful marriage. Marriage takes commitment, compromise, and patience—all of the things that you have needed to plan a beautiful wedding. Here are a few final words: Have fun When it all comes down to it, your wedding is supposed to be a celebration of you as a couple. Forget about what the cake looks like; if it’s off balance, take pictures from a different angle. If the deejay is playing horrible music or the band is off key, who cares?

Dance like a fool with your nieces and nephews. Dance with your mom or your dad. Let loose a little and stop worrying about what your hair looks like. Have some fun. Just be with and enjoy your new spouse, family, and friends—this is a party for your new life together, not a test of your wedding planning skills. Something always goes wrong at a wedding, so just ride with it and deal with it the best that you can. If it can’t be fixed—most times no one will notice. Eat a little One of the things that couples forget on their wedding day is to have something to eat.

Of course, this means that they will have to take some time for them selves to sit down and relax—and why not? Take just fifteen minutes to have a little something to nibble on. You’ll have even more energy to dance until dawn and more cushioning in your stomach for any fun beverages that you may consume. Talk to your family This may be one of the few times that your entire family is together for a happy occasion. Take the time to walk around and talk to everyone. Thank them for coming and ask them about themselves. They probably have wedding stories that they can share with you as well. Treasure this time you have together. Smile After all of the stress and the commotion, you are finally at the point where you can relax a little. Smile for the camera, smile for your friends, smile because you’re happy. Just smile. There’s no need to hold back anything for the sake of being proper or solemn. Solemn is for funerals. This is your time to rejoice in being married. Congratulations!

What You Need To Know About Taxes If You’re Getting Married

It may not be high on the list of wedding planning activities, but there are a few simple steps that can help keep tax issues from interrupting your newly wedded bliss. If you recently married, check out your new tax situation. You might save money or even prevent the problem of a missing refund check. The first things to handle are changes of name and address. Later, as tax season approaches, consider whether or not you'll itemize deductions, which tax return form is right for you and what filing status you'll use. No one should delay the cake cutting or honeymoon because of taxes. But here are some helpful hints for later: Use Your Correct Name You must provide correct names and identification numbers to claim personal exemptions on your tax return.
If you changed your name upon marrying, let the Social Security Administration know and update your Social Security card so the number matches your new name. Use Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card. Change of Address If you or your spouse has a new address, notify the U.S. Postal Service so that it will be able to forward any tax refunds or IRS correspondence. The Postal Service will also pass your new address on to IRS for updating. You may also notify to notify the IRS directly by filing Form 8822. Refund Checks Each year, the Postal Service returns thousands of tax refund checks as undeliverable, usually because the addressee has moved. Notifying both the Postal Service and the IRS of an address change in a timely manner can help ensure the proper delivery of any refund checks.
To check the status of a tax refund, go to the IRS web site and use the "Where’s My Refund?" service. Changing Filing Status Your marital status on December 31 determines whether you are considered married for that year. Married persons may file their federal income tax return either jointly or separately in any given year. Choosing the right filing status may save you money. A joint return (Married Filing Jointly) allows spouses to combine their income and to deduct combined deductions and expenses on a single tax return. Both spouses must sign the return and both are held responsible for the contents. With separate returns (Married Filing Separately), each spouse signs, files and is responsible for his or her own tax return. Each is taxed on his or her own income, and can take only his or her individual deductions and credits. If one spouse itemizes deductions, the other must also. Which filing status should you select? It depends entirely on your specific situation. You should consider sitting down with a tax professional to make a determination.

Three Totally Not-Boring Themes For Your Next Bridal Shower

So you're planning a bridal shower -- and everyone says you need a theme. "Around the Clock." "Home and Garden." Yawn! There aren't many times we get to be silly and girly in this world, so a bridal shower shouldn't be wasted. Make sure it's genuinely fun. It's simple --- just think about what makes your bride special, and let yourself loose with the theme. Here are a few ideas to charge up the noggin and organize something unique. "Like High School — But Better." Revive some great times by tipping your hat to the bride's high school days. Look up all those slightly embarrassing hits from the year she graduated -- let's say the 80s. (Create a gift CD of same for all your guests -- they'll secretly savor them when no one else is around.) Yes, they still make banana clips! Pass them out, along with big, dangly inexpensive hoop earrings and loads of jelly bracelets (remember? You wear about a hundred on each arm, a la vintage Madonna).
Slather on the pink, blue and green eye shadow, metallic nail polish and bright blue mascara. Play the soundtracks from Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles. Now for the games: segment a flashback classic, such as Madonna's "Holiday," into three or four CDs. Divide your guests into the same number of groups, and challenge them to come up with a dance routine to fit their part of the tune. Bring them back together in 10 or 15 minutes to perform their mini-masterpiece before a video camera you've set up for the occasion. Tape everyone's routine in order.

Give a prize to the best choreographers (actually, give a prize to everyone for being a good sport). Together, you've created a music video that no one could forget. With any luck, it'll mysteriously show up at the reception. Wine and Chocolate Sometimes, when you tour a bunch of vineyards in wine country and you're really lucky, you hit upon "wine and chocolate" day. But you don't have to wait to hit the jackpot -- you can organize your own. Plan an easy afternoon of popular, easy-drinking wines like Merlot and champagne, and ask each guest to bring a creative form of chocolate. Some of our favorites: chocolate croissants, chocolate papaya crepes, chocolate-covered ginger, and yes, jalapeno brownies.

But don't stop with the food -- make an outright bordello of it. Pile lots of velveteen pillows around the room, drape the walls with heavy fabric, burn a bit of incense. Put on some soothing Moroccan music, and arrange a few flowers in plum colored pails or vases you've dressed up with groovy gold fringe. Now pass out those beverages in pretty glass flutes, dropping a rose petal in each one. Then dig in! (Have doggie bags at the ready for blissed-out guests who want to enjoy the spoils later at home). Occupational Hazard Few things are more flattering than having your friends develop a party around your job. After all, you spend day in and day out there, and what you do is probably pretty important to you. Is the bride a teacher? Hand out apple-shaped candles as favors ... and place them in brown paper lunchbags. Give her a chalkboard eraser "to erase any grudges" after she's married: spray paint the top gold or silver, and have everyone sign it with a Sharpie. Sew or glue together a quick clip-on or bandana for her dog's collar that reads, "Teacher's Pet." Is your bride an attorney? Hire a Judge Judy impersonator (yes, they exist!) to make a showing. Ask each guest to "submit a brief" -- a gift of lacey underwear for the honeymoon, accompanied by a personal note to wish the bride well. More Ideas for Exciting Showers Christmas in July: Place the bride's gifts under a big, frou frou artificial tree you've hung the guest favors on.

Serve iced eggnog and mocha-cinnamon smoothies. Everyone loves Christmas ... especially when you've had a break from it, and don't have to agonize over what to buy the boss. Dancing Queens: Dress up in big, pouffy prom dresses from the past (you'll find them at every thrift store), super-glam makeup, even tiaras. Lay on loads of body glitter. Head out en masse to your neighborhood restaurant or karaoke bar and toast the bride as she opens her gifts. Cheesecake Party: Ask your guests who their favorite hunk is. Serve mini-cheesecakes in lots of different flavors (Baileys and orange, amaretto, chocolate fudge), and place a framed photo of their favorite "cheesecakes" next to each serving platter, with a special label: "Brad Pitt Blueberry," "Creme de Menthe Mel." Get inventive with the descriptions. Borrow or rent the biggest espresso machine you can find, and serve up steaming coffee drinks. Whatever you end up going with, don't be afraid to be creative. The less you go by the book and the more you think about what makes the bride special, the more fun your shower will be for everyone.

Be Prepared For Wedding Emergencies

Having a little bag that you can carry (or have someone in the bridal party carry) with you throughout the wedding day can keep you from worrying about things that may happen, and dealing with them when they do.

Medicine

Although everyone is feeling wonderful on the wedding day, it’s amazing what a few nerves can do to the body. Headaches, upset stomachs, and dizziness can all rear their ugly heads right when you are feeling the most pressure.

And that’s not just the couple.

You may want to keep on hand a few things to keep everyone feeling good, or at least keep them upright throughout the ceremony. A chewable or liquid antacid is a great way to calm any nervous stomachs. Crackers and ginger ale are good though too. For headaches, you can keep some acetaminophen on hand. This is usually gentler on the stomach than ibuprofen, and can be taken without food.

If the bride or bridesmaids should feel dizzy, then have them immediately sit down. Dizziness can be caused by a lot of things—low blood sugar, nerves, and more serious conditions. If the bride or groom should faint, smelling salts can help to revive them.

Bandaids are good too for sore feet in too tight of shoes.
Beauty fixes

For the women, you may want to have a few beauty tools to keep everyone looking their best. Spare lip gloss and balm are good to keep the lips looking good. A translucent face powder will keep the nose and forehead from shining. Always keep a small bottle of clear nail polish as well. This is good for fixing rhinestones that have fallen off dresses to sealing tears in stockings.

A small brush and mirror can also help, while hair spray and extra deodorant are also nice to have on hand. Bobby pins can help most hair crises, but a curling iron can be an asset too.

Miscellaneous

It’s amazing what you may need and never think of. For example, did you think to bring extra straight pins for the corsages or in case the bouquets fell apart? A small sewing kit is good to in order to fix up any small emergencies.

Stain remover and chalk are also good to have on hand. If there should be any stains that need removing, the stain remover is there. If there’s something on the bride’s dress, then you can lightly cover it with the chalk—it works great and won’t hurt the dress.

A Wedding Checklist For A Happier Day

Using a wedding checklist will help make your big day a happy day.

There are so many details concerning a wedding that you need to use a wedding checklist to be sure you don't forget anything important that may ruin the day.

If you plan carefully using a wedding checklist chances are the special day will be a joyous experience. Your list can be tailored for your specific needs and desires which will help relieve the inevitable stress as the day gets closer.

If at all possible six to twelve months before the wedding day your checklist should include the actual wedding date and time, lining up a florist and a caterer and also a photographer and a DJ. You will need to reserve the church and a location for the reception.

Your wedding checklist needs to include other important details such as, choosing who will be in the wedding party and ordering the invitations. You need to pick out a wedding gown, the wedding attendant's dresses and the attire for the groom and groomsmen. And of course the all important wedding rings.

All of the above are the most major things that you should arrange for as early as possible.

On you wedding checklist be sure to put reminders for details that will be happening closer to the date. Like ordering your wedding cake, flowers, sending out the invitations and final fittings for everyone's wedding attire. You also need a reminder to place a wedding announcemnet in your local paper.

There are other many other things that need to be on your wedding list such as, deciding on music for the wedding, a guest book, printed knapkins, thank you cards, wedding favors, decorations and a limo service.

About a month to six weeks before your big day you should go over your wedding checklist to make absolutely sure you haven't forgotten anything.

There are, of course, many more things than those listed above that you will need to put on your specific wedding planning checklist that are personal to your wedding, but the above will give you an idea of the things you need to include.

If you can afford it the top thing on your wedding checklist should be hiring a Wedding Planner to help you plan your special day. This can take a lot of stress off of you and your family and allow you to relax and enjoy the process and the actual wedding day.

The Organization Of Your Wedding Ceremony

Typically, wedding ceremonies are structured events and are commonly broken down into several components. Remember, that this is your wedding and you have options on what happens during your wedding. Don’t be intimidated by your friends, family, or even your wedding officiant. Unless you are asking for something outrageous, you should be able to have the ceremony conducted to your desires. Music is almost always part of the beginning of all wedding ceremonies, but music can be a part of any element. Some of the most common elements of the wedding ceremony are: Introduction – In this segment your wedding ceremony officiant declares the purpose of the gathering. He introduces the bride and groom, and welcomes the wedding guests. If it is a religious ceremony, he solicits everyone to participate in a prayer. Lead up – This segment is probably the most forgettable part of the event, and it is often omitted.
You may ask your officiant to follow the introduction with your vows to save time or if you are not interested in a drawn out sermon. If you elected to have a clergyman as your officiant, this part of your ceremony may be difficult to omit. Vows – This is the “I do” part. Simply put, this is the one part of a wedding ceremony that you cannot compromise. It is always going to be part of the wedding, and it should be the most intimate part of your entire ceremony. At this time your officiant explains the significance of the couples vows followed by the bride and groom affirming their commitment to each other. Did you know that you could write your own vows? Writing your own vows gives you a chance to really personalize your ceremony.
Be sure that both you and your groom are involved in the process. It should be a democratic process, to enhance the experience for both of you. Feel free to use your own words, so you feel comfortable with the language of your vows. Exchange of the Rings – Once you declared your commitment to each other with your vows you are invited to place a wedding ring on each other’s ring fingers. For many this is one of the most moving event of the ceremony. Announcement – The closing segment of most wedding ceremonies is the announcement and the “kissing of the bride.” Keep in mind, this is your special day and you decide on how you want the wedding ceremony to progress. Remember, it is OK to be different. Your guest will appreciate an interesting wedding ceremony that is unpredictably exciting. To a large degree, ceremonies are for the entertainment of you and your guest, so have fun with it.

10 Must Have Gift Ideas For The Wedding Party

It is traditional for the bride to give the groom a gift on the wedding day.  Although the wedding rings that the couple exchanges can be considered gifts, many brides choose to honor their groom with an additional gift that suits his personality.

The gift of the bride and groom exchanging gifts is beginning to fade as many couples who spend a great deal of money on their wedding or honeymoon may decide that there is no need to exchange gifts in addition to the wedding and honeymoon.  If you do decide to honor your groom with a gift on your wedding day, it is more important to choose an item that he is sure to enjoy than it is to spend a great deal of money on the gift.

A photo album complete with a picture of you and the bridesmaid or the entire wedding party can be another unique gift idea for the bridesmaids.  You could purchase photo albums with the date of your wedding engraved on the front cover and start the photo album with a picture of you and the bridesmaid.  This is a wonderful gift idea because the bridesmaid can place her photos from the wedding day in the album and will always have a precious souvenir from your wedding day.

Gift certificates to a spa or a salon also make unique gift ideas for your bridesmaids.  Your bridesmaids most likely spent a great deal of time and energy in helping you to plan your wedding.  The week prior to your wedding was also probably especially hectic with a great deal of last minute details to attend to and errands to run.  While you will have your honeymoon to relax and renew your energy your bridesmaids do not have this luxury so by honoring them by presenting them with a gift certificate to a spa or salon you are giving them the gift or being pampered and the gift of relaxation.

A few more unique gift ideas for your bridesmaids’ gifts include handcrafted or homemade gifts.  For example you could put together a CD of some of your bridesmaids’ favorite songs.  You could make the CDs different for each bridesmaid and include a photo of the two of you on the cover and include a heartfelt poem on the inside of the CD cover.  You could also create a scrapbook for each of your bridesmaids.  You could either make the scrapbook a memory of your entire friendship together and include photos and other items from your various adventures throughout the years or if you plan ahead and take many photos documenting your wedding preparations, you could create scrapbooks as a remembrance of the wedding planning that you shared.
Any item that relates to a specific hobby that the groom enjoys is a great idea for a wedding gift for the bride to give to the groom.  This is a popular choice because giving a gift that relates to one of his hobbies demonstrates that you understand his likes and that you want him to continue to engage in activities that he enjoys.

Another unique gift idea for a bride to give to her bridesmaids is a gift certificate to a local restaurant.  Assisting in your wedding preparations was probably extremely stressful and time consuming for the bridesmaids and they certainly deserve a night on the town and the opportunity to not have to cook for a night.  This simple gift lets your bridesmaids know that you appreciate their efforts and that you want to thank them for all that they have done to support you.

Unique gift ideas for the bridesmaids can also stem from the wedding theme.  For example if you are having a beach themed wedding you might want to give your bridesmaids a gift of a tote bag, a beach towel and a novel to enjoy on the beach.  This unique gift idea ensures that your bridesmaids will remember your wedding fondly the next time they are at the beach.

Although the tradition of the bride and groom exchanging gifts on their wedding day is beginning to fade, many couples still wish to honor this tradition.  Many couples spend so much money on their wedding and reception that they feel as though they cannot afford the additional expense of buying gifts for each other.  While it may be true that the couple cannot afford one more extravagant gift it is also true that a truly thoughtful gift for the groom does not have to be overly expensive.  If the couple is partaking in this tradition it is advisable that they exchange gifts that truly reflect the personality of their spouse.

101 Wedding Vows Receives Highest Rating

101 Wedding Vows just received a full, five star rating from the Review Place (http://www.reviewplace.com/) for being the number one e-book for wedding vows for any type of wedding ceremony.

101 Wedding Vows is proud to have received a 5 star rating from Review Place. “101 Wedding Vows is absolutely perfect for anyone who is about to be married no matter what kind of ceremony you are planning, no matter how you want to express your feeling for the one you love, this book cannot be beaten for the ultimate expression of heartfelt sentiments," said Steve Crawley, a spokesman for 101 Wedding Vows.

101 Wedding Vows is written by Les White. Recently married himself, he knows how very important that special day is and how everything needs to be just right. It can be very nerve wracking sitting down trying to pour your heart onto paper. Or even if you just want to write a humorous, fun or light hearted vow, while still trying to portray the right message to your husband/wife to be. Because Les knows that the process can be very time consuming, not to mention rather stressful during the whole wedding planning process he decided to write this book, for everyone who knows how they feel about the person they are going to marry, but at the same time is having trouble expressing it in words. This book is for all those people.

 “Our reviewers have thoroughly examined and checked the services offered by 101 Wedding Vows and are fully satisfied with their complete range of services. This amazingly valuable work has been divided into 8 comprehensive sections that cover every type of marriage vow that you could ever need to use. From Gods words, to humor, to truly international vows there is something for everyone in 101 Wedding Vows,” said Andy West, of Review Place.
Review Place is a leading provider of editorial and consumer based reviews on thousands of products and services.  Review Place rates and reviews everything from weight loss programs to employment services to online dating sites. Review Place's goal is simple: they want to save you time and money by providing quality information on the issues that impact your life. For more information, visit http://www.reviewplace.com/.

To find out more about 101 Wedding Vows and other related services, including descriptions, testimonials, and product reviews, please visit Review Place's  Wedding Vows & Poetry (www.reviewplace.com/cat-304-Weddings--Vows-Poetry.html) category on the web.