The engagement party is a time when the families of the couple will get to know one another. In some cases, this might be the first meeting between the two families or groups of friends and any icebreaker activity will be a welcome event.

In that light, whoever plans the engagement party (likely the bride’s family, but it can be the engaged couple or anyone else who wants to plan the party) should plan a few games and activities designed to help everyone get to know everyone else.

First up is a trivia game. Create a “Trivial Pursuit” type game with questions about the bride and groom’s lives. You might contain the questions to just facts and events relating to both the bride and groom (such as how long did it take her to say “yes” when he asked, where did he propose, where did they meet, etc), or you can include questions pertaining to their lives outside of each other and before they met each other.

Not only can this be fun, but also it’s an entertaining way for people to get to know each other and the engaged couple better.

One popular icebreaker that’s used at corporate functions and company parties can also work really well at engagement parties. Tape a card to each person’s back and encourage him or her to work the room, mingle with everyone and particularly try to get to know someone they have never met before.

Before moving on to someone else, be sure to make a comment about the person on the card on his or her back. Partiers write an impression of that person, such as “she seems sweet” or “he knows a lot about the weather”.

This icebreaker ends when the mingling session is over. The cards are then read one by one and people not only get to know each other better, but enjoy hearing all the comments people made about them. Try to ensure that comments are complimentary or somehow presented in a positive light. Hurtful comments, obviously, are not appropriate.

If this is truly the first time many of the guests have met, then another fun game involving the wearing of cards might be in order. In this game, each guest wears a card on their front that has their name on the front and a number on the back. They don’t share with anyone what their number is. Guests mingle and chat and get to know each other over the course of the evening.

Toward the end of the evening, the cards are flipped over and the number side is shown. Everyone gets a piece of paper and writes the numbers on the paper, then tries to correspond the name of someone with their number. This fun game can be hard for people who are bad with names, but it’s fun nonetheless.

For an activity that doesn’t put people on the spot quite so much, consider letting the already marrieds help out the to-be marrieds. Place two pieces of posterboard on the wall and mark them “advice from women” and “advice from men”. Now is the time to offer advice about wedding planning, not about being married. That advice can come later. Encourage guests to offer their own wedding planning advice. The advice from older people at the party could be decidedly different from the younger couples in the group, making for an enlightening group of comments.

One of the questions a couple will probably ask when they are
planning for the wedding is that whether they should hire a
wedding planner. In fact, there are so many details you need to
take care of when you are planning your wedding and a wedding planner can really help to release your stress in wedding
planning. Your wedding planner can also help you to save money
in some cases.

It is true that the planner can help you a lot when you are
planning for your big day. However, you should also bear in mind
that you need to pay extra attentions when you are choosing a
wedding planner. If you are unable to choose a good wedding
planner, he / she may just ruin your wedding!

There are a lot of vendors who may also provide so called one
stop solution for wedding planning. However, you have to be very
clear that they are not professional wedding planners in most
cases. If it is possible, you should choose an independent
planner instead. This is because an independent planner will be
unlikely to force you to make any decision on choosing a certain
vendor. He / she will only give you advices and let you make the
final decision.

To this end you should try to make sure that the planner will
not get any commissions from the wedding vendors. If the vendors
will also pay the planner, the planner may also try to force you
to hire a particular vendor. This will not be a good idea
because the planner is not helping you to choose the most
suitable one. Instead he / she is only trying to force you to
choose someone that may not meet your needs.

A wedding planner will also give you invaluable advices on your
wedding. For example, he / she will discuss with you whether a
particular kind of wedding favor will match your wedding theme.
When you have come up with an idea on the kind of wedding favor
you want to choose, the planner will be able to introduce some
vendors which can fulfill your requirements. Of course he / she
will also help you to look after the quotations and prices so
that you can be sure that they will be within your budget.

You wedding planner should also be able to set some milestones
with you. He / she will know when you should order your wedding
invitation and when you should start sending them out. Some
wedding planner may also help you to take care of all the RSVP
cards so that you will not need to spend the time to settle the
issue.

Your wedding planner will also help you to make sure that
everything will just go smoothly on your big date. You may be
quite nervous on your big day and it will certainly be good if
your planner can help you to take care of all the minor details.
He / she will help to make sure that there will be no mistake!

About the Author: TM Lung is a wedding invitation designer. His
works can be found from http://www.983wedding.com. He runs a
blog http://www.weddingabc.net on weddings and you can find some
other wedding tips from http://www.imarry.org

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=255808&ca=Marriage http://www.weddingabc.net/blog/ http://www.983wedding.com/ http://www.imarry.org/

About TM Lung.TM Lung designs Unique Wedding Invitations in Chinese Style. He has sites on Wedding Vendor Directories and Wedding Planning & Marriage Traditions.

Believe it or not, planning a wedding can be a positive experience. Wedding planning may seem like a very overwhelming task when you first start to think about it.

But, all you need to do is break it down into smaller more manageable tasks.Because in the end, it’s all about the details.

Wedding planning may be stressful and it is often easier said than done. This is one of the main reasons why wedding planner has become a very popular work from home business opportunity. As a result, there are literally tons of people out there vying for your business.

Let’s face it, the last thing you need are family members and friends telling you what to do, and what not to do. This is a wonderful and precious occasion in your lifetime and many couples today are opting to use a wedding planning service in order to avoid such conflicts.

A wedding planner is an expert at weddings and since most regular folks only get married once or twice in a lifetime, they are not experts at planning their own weddings. A planner can serve in numerous capacities from concierge to coordinator, and everything in between. Since they frequently deal with wedding suppliers, they can advise you and recommend the best and most cost effective services for your needs and desires. They can almost certainly point you in the right direction for all your wedding needs.

Planning your own wedding used to mean endless hours of research, loads of running around and becoming stressed out on top of the wedding jitters all newly weds experience. A wedding can be one of the most exciting, but stressful times in a young woman’s life. Although a wedding planner’s work is never easy, many have indicated that they get their reward by helping couples prepare for the most eventful day of their lives.

A planner is a facilitator, mediator, money manager, and constructor of dreams. They juggle an assortment of details, often involving multiple parties and vendors.

A wedding planner will take the reigns from the bride and the groom so that they can enjoy their big day the way a bride and groom are supposed to. Your planner will be actively involved in site location, vendor choice and will help the bride, groom and their families make a variety of decisions. When all is said and done, a planner definitely does more than just negotiate prices.

Doing It Yourself

Remember, wedding planning is an “optional” service, not a necessity — no matter what the bridal magazines are currently saying. While a wedding planner is usually recommended for large affairs, those planning a smaller wedding may opt to do it themselves. With the information and resources available on the Internet today, more and more couples are choosing this option.

A “do-it-yourself” wedding can be just as glamorous and fulfilling as one arranged by a professional planner as long as preparations are started far enough in advance to allow for the learning curve all self planners are bound to encounter.

Source: http://www.isnare.com                                                                                               Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=259927&ca=Marriage

Often, young couples will quickly find out that popping the question may indeed be the easiest part of getting married. And while we all can’t have a wedding planner like the one played by Martin Short in the “Father of the Bride” films, some help will probably be necessary in order to have a successful and somewhat-less-stressful ceremony and an eminently enjoyable after-party.

A local wedding guide or directory can go a long way towards simplifying the enormous task facing an amateur wedding planner.

Most people will only have to plan two weddings in their lifetime at the most: their own and, God willing, that of their children. Even for a simple event, a whole slew of details must be sorted out to ensure the day goes smoothly and everyone has fun.

Wedding guides will help the wedding planner consolidate the tasks of coordinating the clothing of all the different parties involved, from the flower girls and ushers, to the groomsmen and bridesmaids, to the bride’s mother, to the bride herself.

Moreover, very specific arrangements must be made to enable everyone to get fitted for and pick up their garments before the big day arrives. A local wedding guide will provide a directory of all the businesses in a region that service wedding parties so you can compare price and styles.

Not only will a wedding guide help in finding the services you need to make your dream wedding a reality, most will provide a wedding planner where you can enter all the important names and numbers, keep track of who is wearing what, monitor the total cost the whole event, and outline a detailed schedule for the wedding day itself.

Most people use a daily planner to manage their daily task and to ensure they stick to a schedule. It seems only natural that a detailed wedding planner should be kept to manage the tasks and schedule for what will be for many, the most important day of their lives.

Not only will a wedding planner help to keep track of all the tasks to be done, appointments to go to and rentals to make before the big day, it will also help to maintain a budget.

Those few with the luxury of a big budget will think this is less important, but then again, those with a large budget will probably just hire a professional wedding planner to take care of the details.

For the rest of us, we want to know just how much the special day will cost us. It is best to decide what is really important to you and not get lost in the details.

A wedding guide can assist you to find out what exactly your various options are and making sure you get the things that are important and forego the extras that will really make no difference either way. In addition, most wedding guides suggest some form of wedding insurance, as the cost for rescheduling canoften postpone a wedding several months or even a year.

With so much riding on good preparations, it is folly for an amateur wedding planner to proceed in a helter-skelter fashion.

A local wedding guide has all the latest industry advice as well as common conventions you may not have been aware of. Remember, this is, hopefully, a once in a lifetime event for the two people involved. Good planning can be the difference between disaster and the realization of a dream.

Consolidating your wedding planning will reduce your stress level and increase your ability to enjoy yourself.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

http://www.isnare.com/?aid=266419&ca=Relationships

About Amy Nutt.Finding a local wedding guide can greatly assist in your wedding planning efforts.Toronto Weddings is your online source for Toronto wedding photographers, Toronto wedding bands and everything else you will need to make your wedding in Toronto a great success!

You’ve made the plunge, you’ve decided to get married. Congratulations!

Don’t think about it now, but there are many things you need to think about before the big day comes, and one of them is how are you going to find the right engagement ring?

Before the stress settles in, here are 3 easy steps to finding and buying the right engagement ring.

1. Go home before you buy.
If you think you have found the right ring, go home. While you are at home, think about the ring you are about to buy. Does the ring have the look you want? Will it fit your lifestyle?

Most people wear their engagement rings for life, so finding the right engagement ring shouldn’t be a shopping trip taken lightly.

When you are at home thinking about your engagement ring, think about whether or not it fits your lifestyle. Are you always on the go or into sports? If so, you may not want a large solitaire with a high setting.

2. Ask around for references.
This goes for online and offline shopping. Do you know anyone who has bought from this jeweler or jewelry store? If not, find someone who has, and see what they thought about their transaction.

Honesty is usually the best policy, but on occasion, you will find dishonest people. That goes for all walks of life, and shopping for an engagement ring is no different. If the diamond or stone you are buying has a pretty price tag, you may want to get the values of the ring verified by a third party. You can have someone check the color, clarity, etc of the ring before you have made your purchase.

3. Make the deal.
Would you pay full sticker price for a car? Most people wouldn’t. The same goes for engagement ring shopping. Most prices are negotiable, and you can usually haggle your way to a discount or upgrade.

Don’t be afraid to ask if that is the best price, and how much of a discount they can give you.

Knowing these 3 easy steps before buying your engagement ring will help you find the right ring, get a good deal and be happy with your engagement ring for life!

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brandon Hopkins is the owner of Online Engagement Rings and has been writing about and buying rings for many years. http://www.online-engagement-rings.com.

More and more couples are deciding to shop for engagement rings together.

Here’s what you should consider before visiting the jewelry stores and getting out your checkbook.

Although traditionally a man would surprise his girlfriend with an engagement ring, shopping for engagement rings together has become commonplace and offers many benefits over the “old-fashioned” way of doing things.

For many centuries, men have offered their prospective bride an engagement ring when proposing marriage. The tradition goes back so many centuries that historians cannot even be sure where or when it began.

One thing is for certain though; the engagement ring tradition is just as important a part of marriage today as it was hundreds of years ago.

But more and more these days, women are comfortable being part of the process. Gone all are the days of chivalry when the man would seek to “bribe” a woman into being his wife with an expensive ring.

These days, women have their own money, their own taste, and expect to be involved throughout the courtship and engagement process.

As a result of this, more couples are now shopping for engagement rings together, instead of the husband-to-be going out on his own, like the lone ranger. And in general, this is a very good thing. After all, why shouldn’t the woman be as much a part of this process as the man — or even more.

If a woman is going to wear a ring on her finger for any length of time, then surely it should be one that she is comfortable with and fits her style.

This last point is important because different women have very different tastes. Some would prefer white gold, and others would prefer yellow gold.

Some expect to see a diamond on the engagement ring, and others are more comfortable with a simple gold or silver band.

And if you consider the alternative, shopping for engagement rings together makes a lot of sense.

Often, when a man goes to buy a ring on his own, he will end up very confused about what to buy, and which type of ring his girlfriend would prefer. In these cases, men often resort to having a friend or family member go with them to be a “sounding board” when they shop for rings.

But if you’re going to take a friend or family member along when shopping for engagement rings, doesn’t it make much more sense to simply take the woman you plan to spend the rest of your life with?

After all, she is the one who must be happy wearing the ring; not your friends or family members.

Once you’ve made the decision to shop for engagement rings as a couple, it is a good idea to discuss the price range you are comfortable with before you visit the jewelry stores.

It doesn’t have to be a specific dollar amount limit, but both partners should at least be “on the same page” before the shopping begins.

The worst-case scenario is that the woman may be completely blown away by a beautiful ring that is, unfortunately, way outside your price range.

That is why it is critical that you sit down and discuss a general price range in advance — and agree to stick to it.

Shopping for engagement rings doesn’t have to be stressful, as long as you discuss things thoroughly in advance and make your decision as a couple.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on platinum engagement rings and diamond engagement rings at http://www.bestplatinumengagementrings.com.

Fill your life with romance

It becomes the fashion now a days to look different. So people make efforts in buying different types of engagement rings online.

The shine of pearl engagement rings has captivated man since ancient period. Among all engagement rings, pearl engagement rings have an aura of love that can be seen in the eyes of couple who are going to get married.

 Engagement rings are true love expressed on metal. As the saying goes, “It’s not the cost of the ring, but the love behind it.” Pearl Engagement Rings create long lasting memories which you can tell your grand children at the twilight of life.

Pearl Engagement rings have very important significance in the lives of engaged couple. As the engagement ring is slipped on, the couple promises eternal togetherness with each other.

All countries have different traditions of engagement ceremony.

In the European-American tradition, an engagement ring is worn by a woman on her left-hand ring finger indicating her engagement to be married. It is a formal agreement to future marriage. The ring depicts a social bonding.

The most common engagement rings are in gold and diamond. But if you cannot afford them, then you should opt for pearl engagement ring. With time, pearl engagement rings have become a rage among the new couples.

 It’s a symbol of eternal love and togetherness, a pearl engagement ring is a souvenir of love and trust that acts as an emotional bonding. Engagement rings come in many price ranges as well as in many metals.

Those who cannot afford costly gold and diamond rings can opt for affordable metals like pearl after all engagement is nothing but portraying your love for your sweet heart. Another very popular idea is that the couple can buy the wedding and engagement rings together.

It is more affordable. In this modern period, the selling concept has changed for better and now you can see jewelry at any online jewelry store with detailed information.

These jewelry stores provide all the facility and necessary information online so the visitors can view details about their favorite engagement jewelry without leaving the house.

Now online jewelry stores are becoming more popular than city shopping malls due to their online booking and shipping facility. Even it has huge benefits over city shopping stores. The major benefit of online is that you can view a variety of engagement jewelry in few clicks.

So, make your life more blissful by purchasing a beautiful pearl engagement ring from an online jewelry store.

Remember, love is meant to be shared and the medium can be your engagement ring. For more information on engagement rings, visit: http://www.preciousglow.com

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com                                         
AUTHOR gelfey is a wedding rings and wedding bands expert.http://www.preciousglow.com/

If I had three lives, I’d marry you in two:

There are two kinds of marriage proposals, the impetuous kind, born in the passion of the moment and the planned variety where the moment has to be perfectly arranged and orchestrated.

No one can help out the impetuous, but if you’ve the foresight to want to have a kosher story to tell the kids then these are some of the most perfectly romantic canvases on which to start:

“I just saw a shooting star and I wished you’d say yes to my next question…”  Take your intended on an evening balloon flight over the desert, and as the sand dunes roll sensuously like a lover’s body under a sheet, and you sip champagne taking in the quiet, unforgettable sight of a clear night sky, make your move.

“I’d move heaven and earth for you…” If you’re a playful dog who likes to tease, whisk your lover away on an unexpected break to Harlingen in the Netherlands, and book the Harlingen Harbour Crane. From the outside it looks like the kind of crane ship yards use to move crates around, so pointing out that that’s where you’re staying will make you unpopular for the five minutes it takes to get inside.

From there on in you’re on easy street, inside it’s all made up to fit two, in close, romantic quarters and though you can’t actually do any shifting of earth you can spin it around to capture all of the view, which is kind of like moving heaven…

“I want us to be intertwined for all eternity…” One of the most iconic and romantic pieces of art is Klimt’s The Kiss. The bright gold covers the couple showing only their faces and hands, their forms locked together for always. It’s just asking to be proposed in front of.

One school of thought suggests it depicts the bright change of scenery caused by love’s first kiss – a theory which offers a wealth of potential proposal dialogue to mine! Hanging in the Austrian Gallery in Vienna there are a couple of beautiful hotels nearby. Hint hint.

“You smell just right to me…” We all know how powerful a force pheromones can be when it comes to affairs of the heart. That compulsion we feel towards some people is just our bodies picking up their enticing scent.

With this in mind the annual August Jasmine Harvest in Provence will only enhance the feelings your intended has for you, they’ll be intoxicated by the sun and the heat and the scent and the flower fights and will fall for you like soft petals when you pop the question.

“Our love is comparable to the most passionate, dramatic narratives…” For some people nothing says I love you like a very public display of affection and a public proposal gets the crowd on the side of the proposer.

There’s no more public show of ardour than to declare your intentions from a box in one of the world’s great opera houses before one of the grand romantic operas.

Get the house on side and have them shine the follow spot at your box as the rock on the ring dazzles. To really make her feel like a princess the Vienna Opera Ball Season is the perfect excuse and she’ll be the belle of the ball all night after you’ve shined the light on her that she deserves.

“You make me feel like I’m on top of the world…” Less crowded with proposers than the Eiffel Tower or the Empire State Building, on the peak of Mount Kailash you can really lay the world at your loved one’s feet.

A place of pilgrimage, Hindus believe Shiva, the divine master of Tantra, lives on top of Mount Kailash where he practices yoga, makes love and smokes ganja. It’s a four day trek to the top and on the way the only people you’ll meet are pilgrims. This is a really unique journey to share with someone, and though arduous it’s just more proof that you’ll go to the ends of the earth for each other.

“You’ll always be my queen…” One the world’s greatest monuments to love, the Taj Mahal was built as a memorial for a well loved companion, and the Emperor who built it put all his emotion and funds into creating a shrine to his lover and his love. That story, told on bended knee by the pond in front of the Taj would melt a heart of marble.

“You’re all I’ll ever need…” Anyone who has seen the films ‘Blue Lagoon’ of ‘From Here to Eternity’ knows how romantic a secluded beach can be, and the only way to ensure you’re the really the only ones on the beach is to arrive on your own boat. A sailing trip is a popular honeymoon choice but why wait? Just the two of you on your own boat… Wade ashore early and lay a breakfast picnic out on the beach compete with ring filled champagne glass. It’ll be like you’re the only two people in the whole world.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR World Rewiewer is the place to find great travel advice from people who’ve been there and done that. Browse by the kind of experience you’re looking for and get more inspiring travel recommendations. http://www.worldreviewer.com/travel-guides/

First of all, before entering marriage, you need to be sure of this decision to avoid pitfalls later on.

You are already sure about your part, what about your better-half-to-be?

You want your Marriage proposal to be perfect and unique

• Something that she will never forget.
• Something you can tell your Grandchildren.

Below are some suggestions for making this occasion special, As most of them are based in our Capital Cities it means that if you live further afield you would have to arrange for a few days away .

If this is not practical or affordable we ill discuss other options in our next article

QUEENSLAND:–

• Sunset Cruise Proposal, Gold Coast
• Unique Forest Set Dinner Proposal
• Secluded Beach Proposal, Gold Coast
• Romantic Getaway Proposal, Brisbane
• Hot Air Balloon Proposal, Gold Coast
• The Bungy Jump Proposal, Cairns
• Private Island Getaway Proposal
• Winery Helicopter Flight Proposal, Gold Coast

NEW SOUTH WALES:–

• Romantic Snowy Mountains Retreat Proposal
• Horse Drawn Restaurant Proposal, Sydney
• Secluded Beach Proposal, Sydney
• Hot Air Balloon Proposal, Hunter Valley
• Hot Air Balloon Proposal – Byron Bay,
• Hot Air Balloon Flight and B&B Stay – Hunter Valley
• Victorian Horse Drawn Carriage Ride, Hunter Valley
• A Themed Room Romance, Hunter Valley
• Japanese Inspired Wedding Night, Blue Mountains

VICTORIA:–

• Fine Dining & Skydiving Proposal, Yarra Valley
• Seduction and Massage Course, Melbourne
• Romantic Picnic
• Romantic Gondola Proposal, Melbourne
• Secluded Beach Proposal, Melbourne
• Bedroom Makeover
• Romantic Helicopter Flight Proposal Melbourne,
• Romantic Dinner Setting for Two
• Romantic Sunset Sailing Cruise Proposal, Melbourne
• Sail Away, Romantic Overnight Proposal, Melbourne
• Luxury Romantic Cruise Proposal, Melbourne

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:–

• Romantic Gondola Proposal, Adelaide
• Hot Air Balloon Proposal, Adelaid

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:–

• Romantic Picnic
• Bedroom Makeover
• Hot Air balloon Proposal, Perth
• Romantic Dinner Setting for Two

ALL STATES:–

• Banner Tow
• Gourmet Picnic for Two
• Lovers Gift Box
• Skywriting

Visit Freeman’s Wedding Pages for dozens of ideas for your Bucks Night, Hens Night or Wedding Night.



FreemanX Weddings is Australia’s 1st Adventure Wedding Company and we specialise in making you look good. Whether you want to propose in style, organise an amazing bucks or hens day, or add some flavour to a wedding ceremony, we’ve crafted cupid’s arrow so all you have to do, is aim, and fire…