How to Trim Your Wedding Invitation List

Balancing your budget against your buddies is painful, but it is essential to trim the fat so that you do not go mad on account of happiest day of your life.

The main rule about cutting the list is not necessarily cut by name, but by having objective standard for inclusion or exclusion. For example you could decide: “No children or dates invited.”

Here are suggestions on how to cut the list;
• First make you’re A- list which consists of all essentials, i.e. the people who must be there
• Next, make the B-list which contains of not very essential, but sort of essential people like coworkers.
• Decide whether or not you will invite children.
• Ask single people not to bring dates.
• Do not invite people simply to reciprocate for invitations or gifts that they’ve given to you.
• Cut out anyone you haven’t spoken to in a number of years
• Cut all co-workers you do not socialize with outside of work
• Cut the heavy drinkers or those prone to mannerlessness and any anti-social behaviour

Thing to note down
In the face of excitement, many a bride /groom casually invites the world to their wedding; be careful you might be careful you might be brewing an emotional storm, an economic meltdown or both.

Be flexible in the early wedding planning stages. You might find that your essential guest list is smaller or bigger than you’d expected. This will affect other wedding planning decisions.

Don’t think that small weddings are boring. One of the most memorable weddings I’ve ever been to had only 60 guests but the joy that filled that tiny house was all we needed to forever cherish their day.

Plantable Flip Flop Bright Favor

Plantable Flip Flop Bright Favor

Designed especially for destination weddings, the Flip Flop plantable wedding favors provide your honored guests with a blooming memento of the special event. The plantable favor is embedded with a blend of annual wildflower seeds and will grow when planted. 5 color selection is available.

Beach Wedding Just Married Flip Flop Favors

These fun sandals are not only for the Bride and Groom. Consider providing a pair for each of your attendants to wear while they enjoy a day at the spa, the beach or even at the reception. These also would make fabulous guest favors for weddings with a beach or tropical theme. To determine the appropriate sandal size, measure your foot from toe to heel. Select the sandal that is the same or slightly larger. These are flip flops and do not require an exact fit.

"Pop the Top" Flip-Flop Bottle Opener

Popping the question might just lead to popping the top--on your favorite drink, that is! Opening yourself to some cool refreshment, this beach-themed party favor is perfect for all sorts of settings...on the beach, at a picnic, tailgaiting or wherever you need to quench your thirst. Guests will keep it handy and think of you every time they use this clever flip-flop favor. Features and facts:

• Mini flip-flop bottle opener is made of brushed metal with a rubber thong in turquoise
• Clear beach-themed display box with a backdrop of the sandy shore is accented with a starfish, the words "Flip-Flop" Bottle Opener and wrapped in natural raffia
• Measures 1 1/4" x 3 1/2"
• Visit us at http://www.supergiftplace.com for more plantable wedding favor ideas. Use coupon code Super10 for an extra 10% discount.

5 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Decorate Your Wedding Reception

Photo Credit: superweddings.com

Beautiful reception decor doesn't have to be complicated. Here are a few simple ideas that will bring an instant 'Wow' factor to your wedding:

1. Begin with a beautiful location. Yes, it might sound like a no-brainer, but don't choose a big empty lot space if you're trying to decorate easily. Gardens that have floral decor included or ballrooms with chandeliers and arched ceilings will give you something to start with.
2. Drape fabric. If you want to fill a large space and want low centerpieces on your table, drape fabric for a really dramatic effect. (Additionally, this is a great way to reduce the sound if you in a big, echoey venue).
3. Choose non-floral centerpieces. Use a combination of floral and non-floral centerpieces that match your color scheme for a look that's easy to put together and unique.
4. Make the dessert part of the decor. Not only is setting up a candy buffet a great way to provide lots of sweets, it can also brighten up a corner of your venue. And if you hang a bright banner and match the sweets to your color scheme, you'll have a dessert table "that does more than just satisfy your sweet tooth."
5. Throw in fruits and seasonal vegetables. Get even more creative with centerpieces by bringing in colorful fruits and vegetables to go with your flowers.

For 25 more ideas, visit our source, 30 Surprisingly Easy Ways to Decorate.

Angel Design Memo Pad Favors

Angel Design Memo Pad Favors

From the Love Notes Collection of occasion favors, these angel design memo pads are truly something to write home about.
Have you ever needed to write something down but couldn’t find a piece of paper anywhere? Well, with these angelic favors in their homes, your guests will never face that dilemma again. It’s like having their own little note angel! From Fashioncraft’s Love Notes Collection,  each measures 3" x 4 ½" and features a silver/pewter finish poly resin angel shaped charm with rhinestone accents. Concealed behind the angel is a metal clip that holds the note pad and a magnet for easy attachment to the fridge. Each comes with a dove design on the top sheet of paper showing through a clear topped box with a black base, finished with a white organza bow.

Visit us at http://www.supergiftplace.com for more Baptism & Communion favor ideas. Use Super10 to get an extra 10% off.

Tips on getting media attention for your next nonprofit event

Getting media coverage for your event is definitely something you want. But, how do you get it? Here are some tips to help:

Photo Credit: mylot.com 

1. Determine what media outlets are in your area: newspapers, radio and television stations, blogs and/or websites. Also, note two things: 1) Who has covered your issue and how and how related community events have been covered; 2) How most of the people in your community get their information.

2. Start a press list. Obtain phone numbers and email addresses (if possible) for relevant reporters, and place them in a well-organized spreadsheet. Do you have organizations sponsoring the event? If so, they may have press lists you can build on. Additionally, don't be scared to call the news desk and find out who covers events in your city; make sure to include the calendar editors as well. Finally, revise your list often.

3. Know what messages you're trying to spread. In other words, why should a reporter write about your event? Learn important lines for sound bites, and develop a case (in your mind) for your event's newsworthiness. Picture yourself trying to persuade a reporter to cover your event.

Get the rest of the tips at (our source) How to Get Media Attention for Your Event.

Premarital Counseling

I’ve noticed lately that more couples are asking about pre-marital counseling. It’s always a good idea to get everything out in the open and sometimes we need a little help looking inside to see what is there.

The first question I ask couples when they come to me for counseling is, “Why do you want to get married?” And believe me, “Because we’re in love” is not a good enough answer. There are many couples who love each other dearly and at the same time simply can not manage to live together.

Most parents love their children deeply but really would prefer not to live with them their whole entire lives. You may be sad when a child leaves home but it’s often best for all concerned when they do.

So, why do you want to get married? To allow you to live together legally or to have legal control over another person is an answer but do you want that kind of life? Really?

Look inside yourself and ask, “What is my motive? What is the foundation of this relationship?” If you don’t know or aren’t sure, keep looking. It’s okay to ask for help in this area and most essential to be honest with yourself.

Let me give you an analogy. If you were going to build a house to live in, you first have to lay the foundation. In order to lay the foundation, you have to know what the foundation will have to support. You don’t need steel I-beams and thick cement to build an 8x10 wood shed. You do need more than a few 2x4s laid on the ground to support a 10 story building.

What is your purpose for getting married? What is your most inner motive?

Marriage is not about sacrifice or compromise or doing without or what you can put up with. If you’re focusing on what you’re going to lose you aren’t considering what you are going to gain or become in creating a new family.

We often refer to a husband or a wife as a mate. In Australia, a mate is a best friend. When you have a best friend, you take care of them, you love them as they are (without trying to change them or make them better). You accept their faults as well as their good points. You can also give them a good talking to when they need it without fear of them running away or you getting poked.

My best advise it to treat your mate as your best and closest friend. Be honest. Take care of them. Don’t put up with anything hurtful. Treat them like you want to be treated. Have no expectations. Love them exactly as they are right now. And treat yourself the same way. Being your own best friend teaches you how to be a best friend to someone else, to your mate.

How to do your make up on Your Wedding Day

On your wedding day, it is of utmost importance that you look prim and proper. Now you and i both know that applying make up isn't just a piece of cake. A couple of basics must be known, lest you look like an Indian doll( no offense) on your wedding day. We thought of a few tips that we hope will come in handy...
Finding Foundation
In general, foundation that has yellow undertones is the most flattering, but if you have very dark skin, a foundation with a slight blue cast works best. If you have medium-toned skin, choose a foundation with a red-yellow hue. And if you have light skin, look for a soft golden shade.

Pick Three
There may be variances in undertone on different parts of your face so it's a good idea to have three foundation shades -- light, medium, and dark -- on hand to allow for the different gradations of color. Many African-American women are darker across the brow and chin, and slightly lighter on the cheeks. Use the light foundation as your under-eye concealer and to lighten a dark forehead or chin area. Use the medium foundation as your all-over color to correct spots of varied pigmentation. Use the dark foundation to even out the lightest areas of your face. You can also experiment with a bronzing stick to bring down the lighter tones of your face.

Getting Cheeky
The key with blush is to avoid anything that looks ashy or pale on your skin. Lighter skin tones look pretty and most natural in dark bronzers, though apricot, rose, and soft pink also work well. Medium to dark skin tones look best with deep blush hues like dark rose, currant, and plum.

The lips
In general, the darker your skin tone, the darker you can go with your lip color. Burgundy and blackberry are beautiful on dark skin. Women with medium skin tones look pretty in currant or red, and those with light skin look best in low-voltage neutrals and glosses. If your bottom lip is paler than your top lip, you can even them out by applying a sheer, dark lipstick to your lower lip as a base, then sweeping the same lipstick over both lips.
If you want to have very full lips lips that don't require too much enhancement, avoid bright, attention-getting colors and stick to quiet, flattering shades instead, like caramel and soft brown. Perfect for kissing the groom!

By Wedding Bells