Wedding ceremony vocal music suggestions

It's interesting:
"I wish anyone who thinks that ‘bigger is always better’ could be with us right now, because they would surely be amazed at the tremendous amount of happiness and joy that can flow from the right group of well wishers. We are all truly privileged to have been asked to be a part of such a warm and intimate ceremony as Paul and Linda’s wedding, I offer my love and appreciation to the bride and groom for inviting me to play a role in such a very personal gathering. I’m sure we all want to congratulate Paul and Linda on their very first day as husband and wife and thank them for giving us a day we will never forget."

The music at your ceremony is a very important part of your wedding, but one of the most difficult tasks to complete. Often, the bride and groom will ask someone to sing a song at their wedding with special words or meaning. Therefore, it is very important to find the perfect songs that reflect each of you, and your relationship together.

1. Popular

   • There are a variety of traditional songs that are often sung at wedding ceremonies. Such song choices include "At Last" by Etta James. With romantic lyrics such as "...then the spell was cast. And here we are in heaven, for you are mine at last." It can be the perfect wedding song. Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World" is another popular song that will give your wedding a cheerful, optimistic feel. The Elvis Presley song, "Fools Rush In," is also a popular wedding song that all age groups will enjoy. Another classic song that is a favorite for everyone is "Unforgettable," by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole. It is a duet that will give everyone in the room goosebumps---and will surely set a romantic theme for the day.

   Religious

   • Couples often choose religious music to incorporate their faith into their wedding ceremony, symbolizing the part their faith will play in their marriage. One very popular wedding song is "Ave Maria," originally written by Franz Schubert in the 19th century. Some couples also choose songs by Christian artists, such as Michael W. Smith or Stephen Curtis Chapman, while others choose actual religious hymns to be sung during events of the ceremony. One popular contemporary Christian song is "Cross My Heart" by Michael W. Smith, a ballad about a person's commitment to his love. Another popular song is "The Prayer," performed by Celine Dion and Josh Groban during a TV special in 2008. A common religious hymn sung during weddings is "On Eagles Wings," and is often sung during the communion or the lighting of the unity candle in a traditional religious wedding.

   Contemporary

   • Some couples choose more contemporary, secular music for their wedding songs. Though the songs are not always songs that were released in the last few years, they are referred to as contemporary because they are more modern than traditional wedding songs. Bryan Adams has a variety of slow, romantic songs that are popular for weddings, such as "Heaven" and "Everything I Do." The song, "When You Say Nothing At All," by Allison Kraus is a sweet, romantic song that is sung during the ceremony, as well as "It's Your Love," by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: song that, songs that, sung during, their wedding, wedding song, because they, bride groom

Customs & ceremonies of the sioux indians

It's interesting:
"Sorry if the speeches drag on. Wedding receptions can be a bit like an X Factor results show. You just want to skip through the talky bits to find out ..."

The word "Sioux" refers to seven Indian tribes divided into three structures known as Teton, Yankton and Santee. This Sioux social organization dates to about 1700 after the Sioux settled in Mississippi and Minnesota. The Sioux marked stages of life and events with customs and rituals using potions, paint, and symbols.

1. Marriage

   • A Sioux man sometimes obtained a love potion from a medicine man to make the object of his affection fall in love. He often serenaded the girl he wanted with songs on his flute. If a girl was interested in a special man she might stand outside her tepee wrapped in a blanket, wait for him and open her blanket for him to come in for marriage. On the morning of a Sioux Indian marriage the village prepared a big feast at which Sioux woman performed a dance. They celebrated until the bride and groom entered with four warriors, who held the corners of a blanket in the air. The couple stood beneath it, and a procession ensued. A master of ceremonies, adorned in a display of colorful paint and feathers, used a baton to unite the couple in marriage.

   Death and Mourning.

   • The Sioux Indian regarded his own death as a continuation of the nature of life and approached it peacefully. Relatives and tribe members placed the dying person's bed outside in the final hours, so the deceased spirit would ascend to the sky. Despite the belief in the afterlife, survivors mourned their dead. They wailed until they could no longer speak. It was a custom of the Sioux women to loosen and cut their hair and strip adornments from their garments. Men applied black makeup to their faces. The dead person's closest relatives cut themselves, painting their bodies with blood. They often give away personal possessions as a sign of sacrifice for the dead.

   The Sun Dance Ceremony

   • The Sun Dance ceremony was an ancient custom held by most Plains Indians, including Sioux. It took place in the summer for four to eight days, symbolizing a way to achieve spiritual power and purification. This ceremony was banned in the U.S. government in 1904, because of the tradition of piercing young men in the chest, but is now legal because of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978. This act granted Indians the right to practice traditional religious ceremonies such as the Sun Dance. In a Sioux Sun Dance ceremony women are not pierced, because the Sioux believe women endure enough pain in childbirth. Other components of the Sun Dance include sweat lodges, fasting, dance, drumming and the worship of the cottonwood tree.

   Childbirth Customs

   • Ceremonies that bring a baby Sioux into the world begin before labor. The medicine man sings. The singing can last for an entire night with no sleep. Midwives offer cleaning herbs to the mother after she gives birth. They rub her breasts and abdomen with them and cleanse her with water. The same ceremony of a mother's cleansing is performed for the child at birth.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: ceremonies sioux, ceremonies sioux indians, Customs ceremonies, Customs ceremonies sioux, Dance ceremony, Sioux Indian

Discount rate hotels in chicago

It's interesting:
"But fortunately Giles recovered from his stag do and made it to the wedding today … + Add to clipboard. 11-Feb-201It's been a great week for the groom."

If you are visiting Chicago on a budget, it should not be difficult to find a hotel with discounted rates, since Chicago's Business District alone has more than 30,000 hotel rooms, according to the Choose Chicago website. The discounted hotel ranges from award-winning to complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access and free local calls.

1. Howard Johnson Inn Downtown Chicago

   • The award-winning Howard Johnson Inn Downtown Chicago is conveniently located a few blocks from the Magnificent Mile Shopping area, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and Navy Pier. As of August 2010, room rates at the Howard Johnson Downtown start at $87 per room, per night. The 71 guestrooms at this two-story hotel come equipped with a clock radio, coffee maker, hair dryer, color television, iron and ironing board and free Wi-Fi Intenet access. Many famous restaurants like the Rainforest Cafe and Spago's are a short walk from the hotel and the red and brown line train station is also nearby. The hotel is great for those who don't want to pay high prices when visiting Chicago for business or pleasure.

     Howard Johnson Inn Downtown Chicago

     720 N. La Salle St.

     Chicago, IL 60654

     312-664-8100

     hojo.com

   Fairfield Inn and Suites Chicago Downtown

   • The 159 rooms of the AAA two-diamond rated Fairfield Inn and Suites Chicago, comes with a flat-screen TV and cable television, hair dryer, coffee maker, desk, Wi-Fi Internet access and an iron and ironing board. The 26 available suites also have a refrigerator and microwave. Guest can enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast- for lunch or dinner there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance of the hotel. As of August 2010, room rates at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Downtown Chicago start $89 per room, per night. Attractions nearby this non-smoking hotel include Marovitze Golf Course, Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum and Water Tower Mall.

     Fairfield Inn and Suites Chicago Downtown

     216 E. Ontario St.

     Chicago, IL 60611

     312-787-3777

     marriott.com

   Best Western River North Hotel

   • The Best Western River North Hotel is situated on the Lake Michigan Shores and is only steps away from the city's popular shopping facilities, restaurants, clubs and museums. As of August 2010, the room rates at this hotel start at $96 per room, per night. The 150 guestrooms are set in modern decor with free Wi-Fi Internet access, cable television, an iron and ironing board, hair dryer, coffee maker and a king, queen or double deluxe bed. Hotel guests can use the hotel's swimming pool, pizzeria restaurant, fitness and business center. Free parking is available outside the hotel. Tourist and sightseeing attractions include the Sears Tower and Shedd Aquarium.

     Best Western River North Hotel

     125 W. Ohio St.

     Chicago, IL 60654

     312-467-0800

     rivernorthhotel.com

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: Downtown Chicago, Fairfield Suites, Howard Johnson, Howard Johnson Downtown, Johnson Downtown, 2010 room, 2010 room rates

List of father-daughter dance songs for a wedding

It's interesting:
"And for those of you who don't know, this special day in the lives of Dave and Sarah also happens to be Chinese New Year! Or, as they call it in China."

The father-daughter dance during a wedding reception is a special moment reserved specifically for the bride and her father. During this dance, a special song represents the father and daughter's relationship and love for each other. Whether the father chooses a song to serenade her daughter or the bride chooses the song to show appreciation for her father, a variety of beautiful and appropriate songs are available to play during this dance.

1. Traditional Songs

   • Over the years, certain songs have become quite popular to play during the father-daughter dance at a wedding reception. These traditional songs convey a message of love and have an easy rhythm to dance to, which is what makes them so popular. Consider playing "I Wish You Love" by Dean Martin. The song symbolizes the father wishing his daughter all kinds of wonderful things, such as bluebirds in the spring, health, wealth, shelter from a storm and a cozy fire to keep warm. Yet, most importantly, he wishes her love. "Isn't She Lovely?" by Stevie Wonder is also an appropriate song to play for the father-daughter dance, as the song is about a father expressing his love and joy over his daughter. As Stevie Wonder keeps asking in the song, "But isn't she lovely made from love?" fathers will be able to express their love for their daughters through this song.

   Hero Songs

   • During the father-daughter dance, many brides want to use the moment to express their love and gratitude for their father. In many cases, a daughter will think of her father as a sort of hero in her life. Fortunately, there is a variety of songs that express this sentiment quite well. One of the most popular songs of this them is "Hero" by Mariah Carey. Throughout the song, the lyrics continue to refer to a hero that helps you find strength, hope and love. The chorus of the song says it quite perfectly: "And then a hero comes along / With the strength to carry on / And you cast your fears aside / And you know you can survive." Although Christina Aguilera is mostly know for pop-style music, her song "I Turn To You" is quite appropriate for the father-daughter dance. The song also refers to a type of hero that can be turned to whenever life is hard. The lyrics portray a beautiful message of gratitude and appreciation: "For a shield from the storm / For a friend- for a love / To keep me safe and warm / I turn to you. / For the strength to be strong / For the will to carry on / For everything you do / For everything that's true / I turn to you."

   Father-Daughter Songs

   • Another option for the father-daughter dance is a song that specifically conveys a father's love for his daughter. Many music artists have written songs that portray this theme, and any one of these songs would be appropriate for the dance. Consider playing "I Loved Her First" by Heartland, which conveys a story of a father talking to his daughter's groom. In the song, the father reminds the groom that "I loved her first / I held her first / And a place in my heart will always be hers." Another option is "Daddy's Little Girl" by The Mills Brothers, which is essentially a love story to a daughter. The lyrics simply portray a father's love for his little girl: "You're the treasure I cherish so sparkling and bright / You were touched by the holy and beautiful light / Like angels that sing a heavenly thing / And you're daddy's little girl." The song "Father and Daughter" by Paul Simon is also an appropriate song to play, as its lyrics essentially tell the daughter that she never needs to worry because her father will always be there. The last few lines of the chorus are especially sentimental and appropriate for this specific dance: "As long as one and one is two / There could never be a father who loved / His daughter more than I love you."

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: father-daughter dance, dance song, father-daughter dance song, also appropriate, also appropriate song

Places to go camping in illinois

It's interesting:
"The best man at my own wedding told me that one and it worked - for 15 years anyway, before she left me for someone short, fat and balding, who happened to ..."

Whether you're looking for a place to stop the RV for the night, want a fun campground to pitch a tent, or just need a scenic place to picnic for the day, there are many campgrounds throughout the flat lands of Illinois. State parks can be found all across the state.

1. Starved Rock

   • Residents of the Chicagoland area often make the hour and a half trek from the city to hike and camp at the surprisingly picturesque Starved Rock State Park. Large, sandstone rock formations offer breathtaking sights of waterfalls and cliff points. A lodge with 72 rooms makes the Starved Rock experience easy and comfortable, but there are also areas for tent camping just outside of the park. Other fun options at Starved Rock include fishing, boating, horseback riding and cross country skiing (during the winter months).

     Starved Rock State Park
     

     Oglesby, IL 61348
     

     815-667-4726

   Mississippi Palisades

   • Located in northwestern Illinois just east of the Mississippi River, the Mississippi Palisades Park is 2,500 acres of trails that were first walked by Native Americans. Limestone caves and steep cliffs can be found throughout the park, making great group photo opportunities. Hikers enjoy the trails, but there is also fishing, hunting, boating and picnic areas for outdoor enthusiasts of all types and ages. Keep an eye out for wildlife like white-tailed deer, red foxes and various species of birds.

     Mississippi Palisades State Park
     

     Savanna, IL 61074
     

     815-273-2731

   Cache River

   • The landscape of southern Illinois is dramatically stunning compared to the farmlands of the rest of the state. One of the prime examples of this environment is the Cache River State Natural Area in Johnson County. With nearly 15,000 acres, the area has more than a weekend's worth of activities for nature lovers. In addition to hiking trails, there are biking and canoe trails. Fishing is popular at the Cache River, as well as regulated hunting. Birds are prevalent in the swampy area, and bobcats or river otters may also be spotted.

     Cache River State Natural Area
     

     Johnson County
     

     Cypress, IL 62923

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: Starved Rock, Cache River, Mississippi Palisades, State Park, Area Johnson

Bidding prayer wedding suggestions

It's interesting:
"I know they have both put a tremendous amount of effort in to the planning of this wedding, and can only hope that, apart from this speech, everything has ..."

Bidding prayers are for a Catholic wedding. The prayers are also known as prayers of the faithful, and are done after the blessing and exchange of rings. There are generally four to six bidding prayers given. These prayers are designed to benefit the community and church as a whole. However, there can be some directed toward your personal situation --- for example, a prayer for lost or sick family members.

1. Prayers For Wedded Couples

   • Having one or two of your prayers focus on married couples and their vocation is one idea for bidding prayers. You can make them your own and write your own, but some examples can include:

     "Let us pray for married couples, that their marriages will be a continuing source of grace and joy, that they will always be faithful, and that they will be able to reach out in love to others."

     "Lord, in your mercy,

     Let us pray for all families. May children everywhere experience the love of God in their family life, and may their parents give them the security and happiness which they need.

     Lord, in your mercy."

   Family and Deceased Relative Prayers

   • Another version of the bidding prayer could be for the family that came to support you on your wedding day. Also, you can pray for the deceased relatives that are missing the wedding day. If you have specific names of relatives then you can use those in the prayers as well. Examples include:

     "We pray for our friends and family present with us to witness this special day.

     Lord graciously hear us."

     "We pray for passed friends and family who would have been so proud to have been here today. May they rest in peace and may perpetual light shine upon them.

     Lord graciously hear us."

   For the Church and the Community

   • One type of bidding prayer that is expected from the church is a prayer for the community and the church.

     "That the Catholic Church throughout the world might become the voice of the poorest, speaking to governments about justice for all.

     Lord Hear Our Prayer."

     "For the poor and needy within our own communities: that our leaders may not ignore the needs of those who are on the margins of our society.

     Lord Hear Our Prayer."

     For the young people of our world: that, as they decide for their future, they may always look towards Christ's values to bring them joy and hope.

     Lord Hear Our Prayer

   For The Sick

   • Bidding prayers for the sick is another type of prayer for the wedding. If you have family and friends that are sick and struggling, you can add their names in the prayers. These types of bidding prayers are also heard during Sunday Mass. Traditional bidding prayers for the sick include:

     "We pray for those in need, for sick people, for those in hospital, and for those

     with any other problems.

     Lord Hear Our Prayer."

     "God our friend, we pray for our families and friends. May we be able to help

     each other just as you love and help us. (Especially we pray for...)

     Lord Hear Our Prayer."

     "Compassionate God, give your strength and healing to all those who are sad,

     lonely, or sick. And bless all those who try and help them. (Especially we pray

     for...)

     Lord Hear Our Prayer."

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: Hear Prayer, Lord Hear, Lord Hear Prayer, bidding prayers, include pray

The meaning of lily flowers

It's interesting:
"Wasn’t the wedding ceremony beautiful? The highlight, of course, was Linda floating magically down the aisle. I’m sure we were all thinking exactly the same thing: “How did HE get HER?”"

Lilies have been known and grown since antiquity. White lilies were cultivated in ancient Crete and Greece. According to the florists at Teleflora.com., the lily was revered by the Greeks as sprouting from the milk of Hera, queen of the gods. In Christian traditions, the white Easter lily symbolized the purity of the Virgin Mary. As more colorful lily varieties were developed, they brought with them additional symbolic meanings. Today, lilies are the May birth flower and the flower for a 30th wedding anniversary.

Does this Spark an idea?

1. Lily Type Meanings

   • The type of lily you give has meaning, said Teleflora.com. Alastroemeria lilies from Peru represent friendship and devotion. Pink stargazer lilies represent wishes for prosperity while white stargazer lilies express sympathy. Day lilies stand for devotion and freedom from worries. Tiger lilies stand for pride.

   Wedding Lilies

   • Calla lilies symbolize magnificence, beauty and chastity, making them popular in wedding bouquets, said Teleflora.com. Lily of the Valley symbolizes sweetness and gentleness, making this the traditional flower for second wedding anniversaries.

   Lily Color Meanings

   • Lily colors also carry special meanings, according to florists at FlowerExpert.com. White lilies symbolize innocence, modesty and purity. Orange lilies symbolize excitement and passion. Yellow lilies mean gaiety. Pink lilies symbolize youth and joy.

   Lilies for Funerals

   • Lilies commonly are associated with funerals, said Teleflora.com, as a symbolic wish that the soul of the deceased was restored to innocence and received divine grace after death. Any variety of white lily also symbolizes majesty and purity.

   Preserving Your Lilies

   • To preserve your lily bouquet for as long as possible, the National Gardening Association advises that you recut the stems at an angle with a sharp knife while holding them underwater. Then transfer them to a clean vase filled with water to which you've added a commercial cut flower preservative. Or you can use a homemade preservative solution made from 1 cup of regular (not diet) lemon-lime soda such as 7-Up plus 1 cup of water plus a half-teaspoon of household bleach. Change the water every other day.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: lilies symbolize, said Teleflora, lilies stand, lily flowers, meaning lily

How to find a reading for a wedding ceremony

find a reading for a wedding ceremony

It's interesting:
"'I used your site to create my wedding speech. ... 'Chaps, just got to say a huge thanks for the help your site gave me preparing for my brother's wedding. As best ..."

A ceremony reading is a piece of prose or poetry that is read aloud during the wedding ceremony. It can be religious or secular in nature and is usually read by a close friend or family member who is not in the wedding party as a way to honor said family member or friend.

Instructions

1. • 1

     Look for readings that have a special meaning to you as a couple. You are the focus of the day and therefore the readings should completely reflect who you are and what you believe in.

   • 2

     Be appropriate and true to the formality of your ceremony. Comedy is great but may not be a good idea for a formal wedding, at least during the ceremony readings.

   • 3

     Know the rules of the church you are holding your ceremony in. Some churches are very strict with what you can read, so be respectful and ask before you spring a reading on your church. If you are having a ceremony in a place other than a church, it is open ended on what you decide.

   • 4

     Use love as your major focus and look to the great love stories you have read and pick passages from them.

   • 5

     Pick your favorite poem or sonnet.

   • 6

     Ask your friends, family and officiate for advice on suggested readings. They might have an idea that you would not have thought of.

   • 7

     Be creative, write your own reading.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: wedding ceremony, family member, find reading, find reading wedding, reading wedding

How to decorate a wedding table

decorate a wedding table

It's interesting:
"Your opportunity to wow the audience and create a moment at the wedding people will be ... The Internet's largest collection of original wedding speech material, ..."

Weddings are beautiful events both for their meaning ang significance as well as their typical decor. One of the most important areas to decorate are the tables at the reception. This is where your guests will be seated and they should feel special and important in a lovely setting. Decorating the tables can add a lot to the overall look and feel of a wedding.

Things You'll Need

• Table linens
• Silverware
• Centerpieces
• Favors
• Chair covers
• Wedding color decor

Instructions

1. • 1

     Come up with a color scheme. Start with the wedding colors. Add in white. All weddings involve white. Decide which color will be the base color and which colors will be the highlight colors. Lay down a table cloth in the base color. Set down charger plates in one of the highlight colors. Place the actual plates on top of the charger plates. The actual plates should be the same color as the base color.

   • 2

     Set up glass stemware at each place setting. Get napkins in one of the highlight colors and fold them then stuff them in one of the glasses at each place setting. Set up the silverware on both sides of the plate. You now have the basics of the table set up. Now it's time to really start decorating.

   • 3

     Purchase chair covers in either the highlight colors or the base color. Cover each chair with the cover. Place each favor on top of the plate. If there are place cards then put the favor to the side of the plate and put the place card on top of the plate. Sprinkle flower petals over the table in the highlight colors.

   • 4

     Place the centerpieces on each table directly in the center. Put little tea lights around the centerpiece but at a distance so they aren't a fire hazard to the centerpiece itself. Light the tea lights. The tea light dishes should be in the highlight color and the candle in the base color or vice versa. Make sure there is a distinction in coloring.

   • 5

     Tie a bow around each chair in the opposing color of the chair covers. Make sure the bow is on the back of the chair. Make them big and strong, use wiring if you need to.

Tips &- Warnings

• Choose simple items you can buy in bulk, like candles, to cut down the expense.

• Assign one or two people to do the table decorating and have a practice time set up ahead of time so you can show them.

• Don't overclutter the table, be sure to leave enough room for the guests to be comfortable.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: base color, highlight colors, actual plates, chair covers, charger plates, colors Place

How to sell your wedding gown

sell your wedding gown

It's interesting:
"It seems that just a couple of days before the wedding, he chose a tall, striking blonde behind his fiances back. He voted for Boris Johnson on Thursday…"

Maybe you went way over budget buying the most divine wedding gown in creation and need some cash, or you don't have space to store it for the future. Sell the dress to recoup some of its cost.

Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. • 1

     Send your gown to a dry cleaner that specializes in bridal wear. Do this immediately after the wedding--perspiration or a teeny splash of champagne can yellow and set quickly. Point out and identify visible stains for treating.

   • 2

     Invest in a dust-proof heirloom box if you must store your dress even briefly. Some dry cleaners can hermetically seal it. Avoid plastic bags and hangers--they seal in humidity and can damage or stretch delicate fabrics.

   • 3

     Go to a consignment store that sells once-worn and never-worn bridal wear. Expect it to turn away any dress that isn't cleaned, pressed, with buttons intact and in near-mint condition.

   • 4

     Agree on a selling price. The store will take into account its styling (a fading fad or timeless statement), condition and age.

   • 5

     Sign a contract, usually for three months. Often you will receive 50 percent of the sale price. If it remains unsold at the end of the agreed-upon time frame, you or the store can extend the arrangement or end it.

   • 6

     Advertise your dress online. You'll need a full-length color photograph that really shows it off and a full description right down to the beading, condition, price paid and size.

   • 7

     Give your gown to a charity thrift shop if you don't need the cash. You will be doing a really nice deed for a bride on a budget (some say it's good luck to pass along your happiness), and you'll get a tax write-off. See Sell Used Clothing.

Tips &- Warnings

• See Choose the Perfect Wedding Dress.

• While your dress waits to find its new owner, keep it in top-notch condition. Stuff the bodice and sleeves with white, acid-free tissue paper. If you must use a hanger, sew some straps inside the dress's waistline to hook around the hanger for extra support and avoid any stretching. Cover your dress in a white sheet and keep it in a dry, cool spot.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: your dress, wedding gown, your wedding gown, bridal wear, sell your, sell your wedding, your gown

How to dress for a vow renewal ceremony

dress for a vow renewal ceremony

It's interesting:
"Wasn’t the wedding ceremony beautiful? The highlight, of course, was Linda floating magically down the aisle. I’m sure we were all thinking exactly the same thing: “How did HE get HER?”"

A vow renewal ceremony is a touching and special ceremony. Traditionally held for the 25th anniversary, you'll want to look your very best for your husband. You're all grown-up now, so show it in your style of dress.

Instructions

1. • 1

     Go for elegance. You may have been a Barbie doll bride in a princess dress years ago, but this is a vow renewal ceremony, not a wedding. Don't embarrass your children by decking yourself out in your original wedding gown, complete with train and veil.

   • 2

     Choose your outfit to match the time of the ceremony. A simple sundress would look lovely for a late morning or early afternoon event on your back deck. For an evening party at the country club, wear a stunning silk cocktail dress.

   • 3

     Wear something appropriate for the location. If you're holding the vow renewal ceremony at your church, you'll want to be a little conservative. Skip the skin baring, tight sheath that shows off your cleavage, and save the sexy look for the second honeymoon night.

   • 4

     Show off in your best colors. Even though white makes you look as though you're recovering from the flu, you probably thought you had to don it for the wedding. There's no restriction now. If you glow in red, don't hesitate to be the center of the attention.

   • 5

     Give some attention to your accessories. Pearls are always appropriate, but you might also choose silver hoops and a matching bracelet. Wear shoes that are pretty, but comfortable, so you can dance the night away.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: renewal ceremony, dress renewal, dress renewal ceremony

Alternatives to wedding dollar dances

It's interesting:
"Now everyone, I'm aware that it's a particularly cold winter's day for a wedding, but don't worry... if anyone is feeling a chill running down their spine it's ..."

Dollar dances are a common wedding activity that allow the bride and groom to get extra cash to help pay for their honeymoon or other expenses. Guests essentially pay the bride and groom for a dance, which isn't ideal for all couples or guests. There are other ways the couple can receive cash from guests without doing the dollar dance, though some guests might find any events that include collecting cash from guests to be tacky or poor etiquette. Alternatively, the couple can dance with their guests without the monetary exchange.

1. Money Tree

   • Assemble a money tree, wishing well or card box for guests to offer cash without the dance, if it's traditional in your region or family for guests to give cash or if you want to give guests the opportunity to give cash without the dance. A money tree can be a wire tree or branches assembled in a decorative way. Add clips, rubberbands or pins for guests to attach bills to the tree. Put a couple dollars on the tree before the reception so guests will know what it's for. Alternatively, set up a card box or wishing well where guests can drop off cards or randomly leave cash for the couple without feeling obligated or making guests who don't wish to contribute feel awkward. Supply pens, note paper and envelopes with a poem or sign that instructs guests to leave their wishes or thoughts for the couple.

   Dollar Dash

   • Have the DJ play an upbeat song and emcee a dollar dash where the bride and groom must dash around the room as quickly as they can to see who can raise the most money. Add to the competition by giving out hugs for a dollar and kisses for five, if you want to give the guests more incentive. The game can result in the bride and groom counting their money to see who raised more, or the DJ can lighten the mood by telling the groom he might as well just hand it over because she gets all the money now anyway.

   Hype It Up

   • Have the maid of honor and best man hype up the crowd and collect cash rather than having the bride and groom running all over to collect money. The couple should be on the floor dancing together while the DJ, maid of honor and best man work together to keep the guests involved. See who can collect more---the maid of honor for the bride or the best man for the groom. This is similar to the wedding dash, but gets others involved and keeps all eyes on the happy couple.

   Ransom Games

   • Make a game out of it, matching the specifics to your wedding theme, if possible. For example, a wild west theme could include the groomsmen coming in looking like bandits with bandannas covering their faces and "kidnapping" the bride. The DJ can don a hat and sheriff's badge to deliver the ransom note to the groom. To get his bride back, he might have to sing a song, do the chicken dance or perform other silly tasks to get the guests laughing. In addition, the final demand will be for a certain amount of cash. Make the dollar amount low so guests don't feel awkward, though most will likely contribute so the groom can get his bride back.

   Auction

   • Auction off one dance with the bride and groom to the highest bidder to raise money for the couple without the dollar dance dragging on forever. The DJ or best man can play auctioneer. The bride and groom should still dance with other guests and perhaps award the runners up with half a dance.

   Team Work

   • Have guests surround the couple on the dance floor and toss money in the center. Someone, such as the DJ, parents or someone from the wedding party, should hand the bride and groom a broom and dust pan to collect the money and read a passage about marriage taking team work, respect and love. Write your own passage to make it personal.

   Dancing Without the Dollars

   • Place a small wishing card or dance tickets at each place setting to keep the one-on-one time dancing with guests without the monetary attachment. Alternatively, guests can drop their place cards in a basket so the bride and groom can remember who they danced with and mention it when sending out thank you cards.

     Get everyone dancing by having the bride and groom start the dance. After a few moments, the DJ can announce that guests are welcome---and encouraged---to cut-in. The partner who is relieved should seek out another guest to dance with until most of the guests are on the dance floor.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: bride groom, dance with, guests without, maid honor, Alternatives wedding, Alternatives wedding dollar

How to doctor up box cake mixes

doctor up box cake mixes

It's interesting:
"Normally, an outdoor spring wedding is a risk. Will there be snow? Will it be cold? Will it be hot? Will it rain? Thankfully, today the risk paid off with no precipitation, perfect weather, and a beautiful backdrop to see the union of Paul and Linda."

Cakes from scratch can take hours to make and the taste or texture isn't always an improvement on a store-bought mix. A few minor additions to your go-to box cake mix can go a long way. Your creation will taste richer and moister than the typical cake from a box, which normally calls for just oil, water and eggs. It's easy to achieve reliably delicious results, as well as save time and money, by starting with a cake mix.

Add To Recipe Box

From the eHow Community

See more like this

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• width="142" height="113" title="English Bread Pudding - (or, as Nigel calls it, breakfast!)" />

• width="142" height="113" title="7-Minute Frosting" />

• width="142" height="113" title="Simple Buttercream Frosting" />

Things You'll Need

• Boxed cake mix ingredients, plus 1 extra egg
• 3/4 cups sour cream
• 1 box instant pudding or gelatin
• 2 cups frozen berries, chopped nuts or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. • 1

     Add one extra egg to the amount called for on the cake box directions (typically, mixes call for two to three eggs).

   • 2

     Beat the eggs for two minutes in a separate bowl first, instead of tossing everything together and mixing at one time. Thoroughly beating the eggs first helps create a smoother batter with fewer air bubbles -- this gives your cake a more even, pleasing texture. After the eggs are a creamy, even pale yellow, blend them with the rest of the cake mix ingredients according to the instructions.

   • 3

     Mix 3/4 cup of sour cream into the cake mix. Stir thoroughly. The richness of the sour cream gives your cake a denser flavor and consistency, and keeps your cake moister for a longer period of time.

   • 4

     Add 1 small box of instant pudding or gelatin to the mixture. Choose any flavor you wish to complement your cake mix -- don't be afraid to experiment. If you are using a devil's food cake mix, for example, add a box of chocolate pudding. Vanilla pudding mix enhances the flavor of most boxed cake varieties. If you are using a white cake mix as your base, a fruity gelatin mix such as strawberry is a good choice.

   • 5

     Toss in 1 cup of either semi-sweet chocolate chips, chopped nuts or frozen pureed berries to your mix. Experiment with different combinations. Add pineapples or chopped almonds to a yellow cake mix, for example, or strawberries to a white cake mix.

   • 6

     Top your frosted cake with the rest of the chocolate chips, berries or nuts. Toss sliced almonds in a neat mound atop a doctored-up carrot or yellow cake. Arrange strawberries around the perimeter of a white cake. Decorate a devil's food or chocolate cake with chocolate chips.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: chocolate chips, height title, width height, width height title, your cake, sour cream, white cake

Places to get married in haywood county, north carolina

It's interesting:
"At a time of the year when so much of the life around us is being born and renewed, how appropriate it is that we have gathered on this day to witness Paul and Linda begin their new journey as husband and wife. Spring truly is the season of hope and love, and a great symbol of new beginnings...and I could not imagine a better time to plan such a very special event. For the rest of our lives, I don't believe anyone here could ever think of Spring time without having great memories of today and thinking wonderful and loving thoughts about the two of you."

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Haywood County, North Carolina, provides a beautiful backdrop for your wedding celebration. Haywood County has a variety of wedding venues ranging from the very casual to the extremely elegant. Whatever style of wedding you are planning, Haywood County, North Carolina, has what you are looking for.

1. Miss Caroline's Country Wedding Chapel

   • Miss Caroline's Country Wedding Chapel is a quaint venue that was built in 1992. They have two chapels available for wedding ceremonies and can accommodate up to 45 guests in the larger of the two chapels. Miss Caroline's also offers lodging in cozy, romantic cabins.

     Miss Caroline's County Wedding Chapel

     3248 Soco Road

     Maggie Valley, NC 28751

     828-926-5227

     misscarolines.com

   Maggie Valley Weddings

   • Timberwolf Creek Bed and Breakfast offers three wedding packages. Couples can choose to elope, have a traditional garden ceremony, or a destination wedding celebration. The popular destination wedding package includes a weeklong rental of the Creek House, which can accommodate up to 8 guests. Drift off to sleep every evening to the sound the babbling creek right outside your window.

     Timberwolf Creek Bed and Breakfast

     391 Johnson Branch Road

     Maggie Valley, NC 28751

     828-926-2608

     timberwolfcreek.com&lrm-

   Brooksong Bed and Breakfast

   • Avoid the twists and turns of remote mountain roads at the Brooksong Bed & Breakfast and its convenient in-town location. Brooksong Bed & Breakfast can accommodate weddings with up to 65 guests.

     Brooksong Bed and Breakfast

     252 Living Waters Lane

     Maggie Valley, N. C. 28751

     828-926-5409

     brooksong.com

   The Waynesville Inn Golf Resort & Spa.

   • The Waynesville Inn Gold Resort & Spa is a casually elegant resort, perfect for your wedding celebration. The Resort offers both indoor and outdoor locations for your ceremony and reception. Your guests will be dazzled by the world-class accommodations

     The Waynesville Inn Golf Resort & Spa

     176 country club drive

     Waynesville, NC 28786

     828-456-3551

     thewaynesvilleinn.com&lrm-.

   Maggie Valley Club and Resort

   • Maggie Valley Club and Resort can accommodate up to 200 guests but also can provide an intimate setting for smaller gatherings, allowing you to tailor your perfect wedding celebration. An onsite golf course, day spa, and elegant restaurant ensure that all your guests' needs are meet.

     Maggie Valley Club and Resort

     1819 Country Club Dr

     Maggie Valley, NC 28751-7837

     828-926-1616

     maggievalleyclub.com&lrm-

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: Maggie Valley, Brooksong Breakfast, Miss Caroline, wedding celebration, accommodate guests, Club Resort, Maggie Valley 28751

Places to visit around smoky mountains tennessee

It's interesting:
"Now, I appreciate that you're all missing the Wimbledon final to be here today, but let this wedding be a reminder that there's more to life than single events ..."

One of the most beautiful mountain ranges in North America, the Great Smoky Mountains rise along the North Carolina-Tennessee border. Immortalized in song, this mountain range, dotted with forests and rich in wildlife, is a must-see for U.S. residents and international travelers alike.

1. Cades Cove

   • One of the most popular destinations around the Smoky Mountains, Cades Cove, formerly known as Kate's Cove, is a historically rich area that is frequented by all types of wildlife, including deer, bears, wild turkeys and foxes. During the days before European settlement, the Cherokee tribe visited the cove frequently to hunt for food. Once Europeans arrived, frontiersmen would use Cades Cove for food and shelter, setting up permanent homes in the area. Many of these homesteads still exist in the cove and have been carefully preserved. Visitors can see these original pioneer homes, businesses, barns and farmland. Fields that were formerly used by early settlers for raising livestock and growing crops such as corn are now covered in beautiful arrays of wildflowers. Even the Cherokees' mark on the land has been preserved in the form of trails and roads.

   Look Rock

   • If you are eager to see a bird's-eye view of the beautiful Smoky Mountains, check out Look Rock. Located along the Foothills Parkway, Look Rock is an all-natural observation ledge that overlooks the entire national park, providing the perfect place for picture-taking or quiet appreciation. If you are up for a walk, an extra half-mile journey will bring you to the observation tower. The view from the tower is spectacular, providing a 360-degree panorama of the mountains. A picnic area and campground are also on the premises.

   Fontana Dam

   • Located across the North Carolina/Tennessee border near Fontana Village, North Carolina, Fontana Dam is a sight to behold. Built in the early 1940s by the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Fontana Dam is the tallest dam in the eastern United States. Blocking off the Little Tennessee River, it helps form Fontana Lake, which is almost wholly owned by the National Park Service, making it a beautiful and undeveloped site. The lake is open for a number of activities, including boating, fishing, swimming and swimming. Historical tours of the Fontana Dam and Fontana Lake area are available.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: Cades Cove, Look Rock, around smoky, around smoky mountains, Fontana Lake

Hispanic family traditions & customs

It's interesting:
"Congratulatory remarks about the wedding ... Wasn't the wedding ceremony beautiful? That row of handsome men and a parade of gorgeous attendants. And ..."

Hispanic customs and traditions frequently center on family. Bonds between parents and children, or husbands and wives, are strengthened in various rites of passage. Many of these classic events entered Latin America by way of Spanish settlers. Some have managed to remain contemporary in the culture despite being ancient in origin.

1. Quinceañ-era

   • Quinceañ-eras orignated in the Aztec culture around 500 B.C. The term refers to the 15th birthday of a young woman. "Quince" means fifteen, and "añ-era" connotes the idea of a year. The event marks the passage into womanhood. Hispanic girls dream of their own quinceañ-era with great anticipation. The celebrated girl first enjoys a formal feast attended by many of her friends and family, including her parents and godparents. Then the newly christened woman will participate in a father-daughter waltz.

   Los Tres Reyes

   • Los Tres Reyes, or The Three Wise Men, are a focal point of Christmastime in Hispanic culture. In the Christian religion, the trio present the baby Jesus with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Children, especially in Spain and Latin America, compose letters of requests to Los Tres Reyes similar to what kids in the American tradition would write to Santa Claus. However, their presents -- if they're well behaved -- arrive not on Christmas day, but on Jan. 6.

   Weddings

   • Several distinctive features help to distinguish a Hispanic wedding. Madrinas and padrinos, or godparent-like figures, are designated as sponsors for the new couple- they help pay for the ceremony and participate in religious elements of the nuptials. For instance, the padrino may place a long strand of rosary beads in a figure-eight shape around the necks of the couple, known as a lazo. The groom is to give the bride 13 gold coins, called "las arras," to signify his steadfastness.

   Shaving and Scary Stories

   • "Pelar," "rasurar," or "afeitar al bebé-" are ways of describing the Hispanic custom of shaving infants' head hair. The tradition is believed to help babies' hair to grow thick and lush. Shaving is particularly common in countries such as Venezuela, Spain, and Mexico. Hispanic parents also instill the myth of El Cuco into their children. Young ones are told that, if they don't fall asleep quickly, this scary pumpkin-head figure will steal them from home.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: Tres Reyes, family traditions, family traditions customs, Hispanic family, Hispanic family traditions, Latin America, traditions customs

What to write on a monetary gift thank you card

It's interesting:
"Your opportunity to wow the audience and create a moment at the wedding people will be ... The Internet's largest collection of original wedding speech material, ..."

You should always write a thank-you card after you receive a gift. It is as a way to show the gift giver that you appreciate the thought of the gift. Receiving monetary gifts is far from unusual, but many people still have a difficult time thinking of write a thank you card for a check or cash gift.

1. Wording

   • When people sit down to write a thank-you card for a check or cash gift, oftentimes they want to say more than "-Hey, thanks for the money."- Plus, writing something that seems a bit curt may offend the gift giver, this is why it's important to find the right wording. To help find your words, first think of a thank-you card, even for a monetary gift, as just that, a simple thank you. It need not be a long and drawn out, but you also want it lengthy enough to know you appreciate the monetary gift no matter how big or small. Remember to keep in mind what seems like a little bit of money to one person may be a lot of money to someone else.

   Simple Wording Examples

   • The best kind of thank-you card is one that is personal. Instead of just signing your name on the card, think of something specific for which you plan to use the money. Here are some examples from some occasions in which people regularly receive gifts in the form of cash and checks:

     --Thank you so much for your (dollar amount) gift, it will go a long way towards buying diapers! (baby shower)
     

     --The both of us would like to thank you for your generous (dollar amount) gift. It will be going straight to our "-first home"- fund. (wedding)
     

     --Thanks for the (dollar amount) gift. This will come in handy while I'm away at school. (high school graduation open house)

     If on any occasion, you don't know the gift giver that well, a simple "-Thank you for the (dollar amount) gift. I (or we) really appreciate it"- is just fine. If you are writing a gift card for someone with whom you are close, show your gratitude by making the gift giver feel special and jot down a personalized sentence or two.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: amount gift, dollar amount, dollar amount gift, gift giver, monetary gift

Bridal headband hairstyles

It's interesting:
"Now everyone, I'm aware that it's a particularly cold winter's day for a wedding, but don't worry... if anyone is feeling a chill running down their spine it's ..."

Headpieces worn by the bride can be subject to as many gazes and critiques as the wedding dress itself. A headband can be a functional accessory for keeping hair out of the bride's face and can be fashionable as well, adding a trendy, classic or formal touch. Choose a headband that complements the overall style and tone of the dress and wedding overall.

Does this Spark an idea?

1. Veil

   • Choose a headband with a veil attached to it. This could be either a long veil that cascades down your back or a blusher, with a net-style veil that covers your face. This will work whether your hair is down or in an updo. For a romantic look, leave the hair down and in loose curls or pulled half-up at the temples with the rest curled. Insert the headband and let the veil cover the loose locks, which will still be visible through the material. For the blusher style headband, pull the hair back in a throwback to the 1950s in a low, elegant bun. For a unique touch, pull the bun to either side instead of dead center. Insert the headband with the blusher to round out the look.

   Flower

   • A headband adorned with a flower offers a whimsical, exotic and classic touch to an ensemble. Part the hair to either side and use hot curlers or a thick curling iron to add loose and full waves to the hair. Insert the headband to keep the hair pulled back from the face. The headband will make the flower appear as though inserted in your hair, without the worry of having it fall out. The headband also doubles as a way of controlling the hair, especially for an outdoor wedding, keeping it out of your face.

   Tiara

   • For an elegant touch, a sparking, gem studded tiara-style headband will create a luxurious effect. Style the hair in an updo by tying it into a high ponytail. Curl the hair once secured and tuck the curls into the hair using bobby pins to create an elegant and intricate bun. Slide the headband over the head so it rests in front of the updo bun. The glittering headband will draw attention to the elegant hairstyle as well as add a touch of glitz.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: headband will, Insert headband, Bridal headband, Bridal headband hairstyles, Choose headband, either side, hair down

Zebra cake ideas

It's interesting:
"What about the bride then, ladies and gentlemen? How wonderful she looks today. And Paul has scrubbed up quite nicely too – it’s amazing what a flannel and a bar of soap can do. But it’s a bit rude of him to have copied my outfit eh!"

Satisfy the sweet tooth of chocolate lovers and vanilla lovers alike with a striped zebra cake. Whether mixing the two flavors with two separate cake batters combined in stripes in a single pan or decorating a yellow cake with vanilla and chocolate flavored frosting, zebra cakes make an attractive centerpiece for a party or event.

Add this to my Recipe Box.

1. Layers

   • Alternate spoonfuls of batter to create the zebra layers.

     Create the wavy black and white layers of a zebra cake by alternately spooning vanilla and chocolate cake batter into a greased cake pan. Place the first spoonful of batter into the center of the pan and allow it to spread. Add a spoonful of the second batter on top of the other flavor. Continue to alternate batters.

   Icing

   • Ice a yellow cake with alternating stripes of chocolate and vanilla frosting. Create a pattern with the stripes or allow the stripes to vary in width and waviness.

   Pink Stripes

   • Welcome a baby girl and honor the mom with a pink zebra cake.

     Give an iced zebra cake a feminine streak by using pink icing instead of white. Cover the cake in zebra patterns by alternating wide, wavy stripes of pink icing with black. Bake a pink and black zebra cake for a baby shower for a girl or a bridesmaid's luncheon.

   Safari

   • Extend the safari theme of a zebra cake by incorporating small plastic animals into the dessert presentation. Ice the cake with black and white stripes and add green blossoms of icing to represent bushes and trees. Plant the plastic zebras and other safari animals on the top of the cake.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: zebra cake, cake with, batter into, black white, cake ideas, pink icing, vanilla chocolate

Parks for wedding ceremonies near hinckley, minnesota

It's interesting:
"Sorry if the speeches drag on. Wedding receptions can be a bit like an X Factor results show. You just want to skip through the talky bits to find out ..."

The small town of Hinckley, located near the western Minnesota border, is home to 1,300 people. Numerous state parks also call the Hinckley area home, each gifted with its own natural beauty. Natural formations, rivers and lakes all dot the land and offer the perfect place for weddings and couples looking for a bit of fresh air for their special day.

1. Banning State Park

   • Saying "I do" at Banning State Park, located 12 miles north of Hinckley, is ideal for nature enthusiasts. Exchange vows before the ancient sandstone rock formations to create a lasting memory or choose the churning Kettle River rapids as the ambient background sounds for your ceremony. Photograph against the backdrop of the Wolf Creek Falls for that perfect wedding day image. Open year-round, group camping is available between May 1 and October 31. As of October 2010, camping is $50 a night.

     Banning State Park

     61101 Banning Park Road

     Sandstone, MN 55072

     320-245-2668

     dnr.state.mn.us

   St. Croix State Park

   • Wed in modern indoor comfort while still surrounded by Minnesota's natural wilderness. Travel 15 miles east of downtown Hinckley and the St. Croix State Park offers use of its Modern Group Center. Sitting close to the St. Croix River and the shores of Lake Clayton, ensure that your special day is not interrupted by inclement weather. Should Mother Nature cooperate, wedding activities can include use of the parks biking and snowmobile trails, or mounting a saddle to a horse to gallop into the setting sun.

     St. Croix State Park

     30065 St. Croix Park Road

     Hinckley, MN 55037

     320-384-6591

     dnr.state.mn

   Moose Lake State Park

   • The Moose Lake State Park, 30 miles north of Hinckley, may hug the shores of its namesake, but the surrounding area offers so much more to water lovers. Choose from five lakes--Moose Lake included--on which to set your waterfront ceremony. Sand, Island and Sturgeon Lakes all lie mere minutes due south of the park, while little Hanging Horn Lake sits just northeast. Stay the night with your party as year-round camping is available.

     Moose Lake State Park

     4252 County Road 137

     Moose Lake, MN 55767

     218-485-5420

     dnr.state.mn

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: State Park, Moose Lake, Banning State, Banning State Park, Croix State

Redneck wedding shower ideas

It's interesting:
"Today we have all gathered together to celebrate Paul’s success. We lads are greatly fond of Paul, and now that he is departing from our bachelor midst we must try to comfort ourselves with the thought that we are not losing a friend, but gaining a Linda. Looking at it like that, what a bargain we’ve got."

Redneck wedding showers are easy to pull off because nobody's worried about impressing anyone. Roll out the beer keg, put the hound dogs outside and get set to party. Don't forget to play some music suitable for the occasion, and don't be surprised if one of your guests decides to get hitched, too, because it looks like so much danged fun.

1. Location

   • If possible, hold your redneck shower at an outdoor location, where the restrooms are portable and the cooking is done on a fireplace or grill. Ideal indoor locations include a cramped room at the local fire hall, somebody's basement or a mobile home in a trailer park. Whether you're celebrating outdoors or not, cool your beverages in a big washtub filled with ice, cover the tables with newspaper and include a flyswatter with each place setting.

   Food and Tableware

   • Good home cooking will make your redneck shower a success. Plan your menu around the four basic food groups: beer, hot dogs, deer jerky and more beer. Slice the hot dogs into one-inch pieces to make fancy appetizers, cook whole hot dogs as the main course and serve the deer jerky as a garnish. Arrange snack cakes on a three-tiered cake server, grouping them by flavor and color or mixing them all together. Set your tables with paper plates and napkins and plastic utensils. Don't waste money on drinking glasses- serve beer and soda in cans and bottles.

   Decorations

   • Nothing says redneck like camouflage, so include as much of it as you can in your decorating scheme. Create a special table for the bride-to-be and cover it with a camo tablecloth. Wrap your gifts in camouflage-print tissue paper or tuck it into gift bags. Make your own gift bags by decorating paper grocery bags. Write the couple's names on the bags with school glue, then sprinkle glitter over the glue. Wrap presents in toilet paper and newspaper. Hang shotguns on the walls and, if you can find one, add a deer head. Create wall decorations by gluing beer cans to styrofoam wreath bases. Make a bridal arch by punching holes in the bottoms of beer cans and stringing them on a rope, then nailing the rope to a door frame.

   Redneck Shower Games

   • Pass a roll of toilet paper among your shower guests and ask each one to tear off as much as she thinks she'll need. Then tell them that this really isn't a game and there's no toilet paper in the porta-potties or restrooms. Give each guest a piece of tablet paper and a pencil stub or crayon for the real games. Show them a glass jar filled with shotgun shells and ask them to guess the number of shells in the jar. Play "When Is The Bride's Baby Due?" Choose any date you like if the bride isn't pregnant. Make bingo cards that spell out "redneck" instead of "bingo." Play "Pin the Tail on the Huntin' Dog."

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: Redneck wedding, toilet paper, beer cans, deer jerky, filled with, gift bags, Redneck wedding shower

At what kind of wedding do they throw plates?

It's interesting:
"August is the month when many folk festivals take place, where the audience stares at a bloke with a microphone and one finger stuck in his ear. In contrast ..."

Plates are thrown onto the ground and smashed at traditional Greek weddings. According to World Wedding Traditions, this is done to give the newly married couple good luck in life and marriage. The act is thought to have evolved from an ancient custom when newlyweds smashed plates in the doorway of their new home, supposedly to ward off bad luck and evil. In addition to this custom, there are many other Greek traditions Greek follow at weddings including dancing, gift giving and throwing money at musicians.

1. Superstitious Symbols

   • At Greek weddings, the bride keeps several traditional items with her, which are meant to bring love and happiness to the marriage into which she is about to enter. A Greek bride will carry a piece of sugar with her that according to Formal Bride will ensure she has a sweet life. Another tradition is for the bride to carry ivy as a symbol of endless love between her and her future husband.

   Dancing into the Night

   • Dancing is a huge part of a Greek wedding, starting right after the meal and running late into the night. The first dance is a traditional handkerchief dance, called the kalamatiano. According to Greek Weddings, the bridal party traditionally starts the kalamatiano, with the bride leading a raucous dance. Everybody joins hands and then skips in a circle. The dance is then taken over by the newly married couple, who hold a scarf or handkerchief at each end. Eventually, the couple invites the other guests back up to the dance floor and everyone dances together.

   Throwing Money

   • The bride, groom and guests all traditionally throw money either on the floor of the reception or at musicians who are playing at Greek weddings. Today, this practice is mainly a way of giving musicians tips for their hard work. However, traditionally, this was the money used to pay musicians for attending. Throwing coins, like plate smashing plates, was also seen as a sign of good luck for the bride and groom.

   Bittersweet Souvenirs

   • A popular Greek wedding tradition is to serve your guests candy-coated almonds, or koufeta, as a souvenir of the wedding. Jordan almonds are a candy-coated, bittersweet flavored gift, usually given out to guests as they leave the wedding venue. According to Greek Weddings, the bittersweet flavor of the candy is supposed to symbolize a life of hope for the couple -- hope that difficult moments in the couple's lives will be balanced out by happiness. The almonds are given out in odd numbers, which supposedly symbolizes the couple's unity, as odd numbers can't be divided evenly.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: According Greek, According Greek Weddings, bride groom, good luck, Greek wedding, Greek Weddings, Greek weddings

The meaning of traditional wedding cakes

It's interesting:
"They say that a wedding is a sapling that grows into a mighty tree called marriage . Well ... In a way, the jubilation of today's wedding reminds me of the recent ...""

Wedding cakes are a time-honored tradition dating back to the Roman empire. The meaning of the traditional wedding cake has evolved over the course of history, as has the contents and style of the cake. While the overall appearance and customs of the cake have changed, one thing has always remained true: each culture celebrated with some form of cake to honor the bride and groom.

Does this Spark an idea?

1. History

   • The history of the wedding cake goes back to ancient Rome. During the time of this empire a loaf of specially made wedding bread was broken over the head of the bride during the ceremony. This breaking ceremony was replaced by a kissing ceremony in medieval England. During their ceremony, the guests would stack small cakes into a pile and the bride and groom would kiss each other over the pile. During the 17th century bride's pie was served to guests. The modern wedding cake was introduced in the 19th century.

   Significance

   • The significance of the wedding cake has always existed, even though its meaning has changed. In Rome, the broken cake represented the breaking of the bride's virginity and the headship of her new husband. For those couples who successfully completed the kissing ceremony, it meant that they would have many children. The bride's pie contained a glass ring. The person who found it was said to be the next who would be married.

   Types

   • Wedding cakes have not always been confectionery delicacies. The Romans used a loaf of barley bread for their ceremony. Medieval English couples received flour based, unsweetened cakes from their guests. The bride's pie was typically either filled with sweet breads, mince or mutton. The original wedding cakes were single-tiered plum cakes.

   Function

   • Wedding cakes have primarily served the function of providing a symbol of goodwill for the future couple. Historically the cakes represented fertility, purity and loyalty. The crumbs of traditional wedding cakes represented good luck for the guests when eaten. Today, the wedding cake serves as the centerpiece for the cake-cutting ceremony with its various symbols.

   Modern Meanings

   • The modern cake-cutting ceremony holds many meanings dating back to these earlier cakes. The bride and groom begin the ceremony by cutting the cake together. This represents the couple's first joint act as husband and wife. The couple's action of feeding each other the first piece represents their desire to care for one another. The act of serving the guests each a piece of the cake goes back to the belief that eating some of the cake would bring good luck.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: wedding cake, traditional wedding, bride groom, meaning traditional, meaning traditional wedding

Bridal shower cards sayings

It's interesting:
"That said, nobody wants the wedding party to go straight from the reception to the divorce courts, so your humour will need to be pitched just right. You want ..."

Whether you're close with a bride or just acquaintances, sometimes figuring out what to write in a card for her bridal shower is difficult. Often all you need is a good prompt to help you figure out what you want to say and how you want to say it. Once you find inspiration for determining the sentiment you would like to convey, it will be easier to take the plunge and fill out that card.

1. Determine Sentiment

   • It is important, as a first step, to determine a sentiment for your card. Depending on your relationship with the bride, you might want to be funny, matter-of-fact, heartfelt or a combination of the three. Figuring out the tone you want to take will help you narrow down potential wording to include in your card.

   Study Common Sayings

   • General sayings include the following: "Congratulations on your upcoming marriage"- "Best wishes on your bridal shower"- "Much happiness to the bride and groom"- "Best wishes to a beautiful bride"- "May laughter and love fill your lives together"- or "Happiest wishes for a very special shower." By doing a quick Internet search for "bridal shower card wording," you will be able to uncover a wealth of other possibilities. But don't feel tied to what you see others have written. Use these ideas as a springboard and, if you can, think of a more personal message.

   String Sayings Together

   • Reading through a series of common sayings for bridal shower cards will help you articulate your own sentiments and what you would like to include in your own card. Note that sayings run the gamut from funny and lighthearted to heartfelt and serious. It is important you weed out those that do not fit the tone you hope to convey in your note. Once you have a good idea of what you want to say, choose the lines you would like to use. Practice your note first on a computer screen or sheet of paper before committing it--in pen--to your card.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: your card, bridal shower, shower cards, would like, Best wishes, Bridal shower, cards sayings

Pool decorating ideas

It's interesting:
"Since meeting Linda, I've seen terrific changes in Paul. He seems much more confident these days. He's surer of what he wants. He's happier, and he's much more willing to bend these days, too. Although he’s still adamant that Arsenal will win the next seasons Champions League."

Decorating a swimming pool is a great way to improve your home's appeal. Your pool decking and surrounding architectural elements are not easy things to change, but there are ways to enhance what you have. Add furnishings, creative landscaping, small architectural additions, waterfalls or an adjoining spa to make your backyard more inviting.

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1. Landscaping

   • A tall hedge adds privacy to your pool area.

     Plant palm trees if you are in a warmer climate to add tropical shade to your pool deck. If you have a pergola or arbor, plant Carolina jessamine, trumpet vine or grapes to create shade for a dining table or conversation grouping. Cultivate a tall privet hedge or a vine-covered trellis to enhance the privacy of your pool. Great vines to use are orange trumpet vine, purple passionflower vine or Boston ivy. Another way to add privacy and create a focal point is to plant a series of large planters filled with hibiscus or other tropical plants. Add to the natural feel of your pool by adding stone or faux stone edging.

   Furnishings

   • Provide adjustable umbrellas to help your guests escape the heat.

     Think about how you will use the area around your pool and add furnishing to create groupings to accommodate your ideas. Set up separate conversational groupings in sun and shade so your guests will have a choice of places to sit and visit. Add a dining set made from anti-UV powder-coated frames with tear-proof polyester fabric. Add cushions for more comfort. Purchase teak furniture for lounging and conversational groupings as it is lightweight and easy to move around. Set up an umbrella or two that can be adjusted to provide shade for sun-sensitive visitors.

   Architectural Additions

   • A pergola provides shade for your guests.

     Architectural elements add a lot to your pool&rsquo-s design. Install a pergola with drawable fabric shades to allow adjustments for sun or shade. Built in benches and ledges invite your guests to sit,especially when they are placed under the water&rsquo-s surface. Have a contractor install a spa that adjoins your existing pool. This allows you to tap into the pump and plumbing that your pool uses to save money on new mechanical installation. An outdoor shower installed against the wall of your house allows you to use existing plumbing and gives your guests a place to rinse off before entering the pool or spa.

   Water Features

   • Add a wall-mounted cascade of water for drama.

     Install a wall-mounted cascading waterfall that spills into your pool for drama and provides white noise to mask the unwanted sound of nearby traffic. Add a spill or splash fountain to your pool&rsquo-s deck to lend a cool feeling to a nearby sitting area. Add a small pump with telescoping spray head to the shallow end of your pool for the splash of water when your pool is not in use.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: your pool, your guests, shade your, conversational groupings, decorating ideas, much more

Ideas for a camo wedding reception

It's interesting:
"You know, I’ve been to lots of great weddings, but today may have been the best. The small, ornate chapel – the beautiful music – the sincere words that Paul and Linda wrote themselves. Ladies and gentlemen, we all witnessed something very special."

Camouflage weddings are a great way to share your passion of hunting and lodge life with your guests, or simply to create a different color pallet than the traditional all-white affair. However, due to its traditional omission from weddings, you may find it hard to find the supplies and style you desire from a local wedding boutique. Fortunately, by thinking outside of the box and using resources available to you, you can create a wedding reception that reflects the camo life you love.

1. Reception Venue

   • Choose a venue that lends itself to camo decor, such as an outdoor pavilion or a barn that you can decorate. Also check with local lodges, such as an Elks Lodge, which feature a rustic style.

   Attire

   • To fully capture the essence of a camouflage theme, you must consider attire. The bride can wear a camouflage dress and the groom can wear camouflage overalls. If the bride wants to maintain a more traditional wedding look, wear a camouflage sash or veil with your traditional white dress. Mention the theme to your guests and request that they come dressed in camouflage clothing.

   Linens

   • Rather than requesting camouflage-patterned linens from your caterer or rental company, opt instead for more common solid brown and green linens, and lay the linens over one another. Use camo fabric from your local craft store and cut it to the length of the table and half of the table's width to create decorative runners.

   Tables and Chairs

   • Use dark tables with long benches, or even picnic tables, for your wedding tables. Skip the formality in lieu of a more casual affair where dozens of guests can be seated at the same large table and enjoy closeness and banter. Use brown folding chairs or foldout camping chairs for extra seating.

   Wall Decorations

   • Decorate the walls with hunting-themed accessories. Mount antlers or animal heads to the walls. Add framed pictures of ducks, fish and deer. Use dark brown frames and accessories to enhance the look. Mount a gun rack with hunting rifles. Attach ferns and greenery around the room to make it feel like the guests are in a natural setting.

   Entertainment

   • Be sure that you play plenty of music that reflects the hunting lifestyle, including blue grass songs and country music. Consider hiring a local band for a livelier and more interactive environment.

   Menu

   • Be sure your camo wedding theme stretches to your menu. Have a casual barbecue with menu items such as hot dogs, chicken legs, barbecue sandwiches and a roasted hog. Ask guests to bring their recent kills and make deer meat and duck. Provide plenty of drinks for your guests. Ask your caterer to create a camo cake or use a hunting theme with trees and fencing for your wedding cake.

   Centerpieces

   • Wrap a tin pail in a camo handkerchief or bandanna. Place flowers in the pail by poking them through a Styrofoam base in the bottom of the pail, or use logs for alternative centerpieces. Carve out part of the top of the log, place a candle inside, and wrap foliage around the logs. Place hunting lanterns with decorative candles inside alongside the flowers or logs, or throughout the reception area.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: camo wedding, wear camouflage, wedding reception, your guests, camo wedding reception, from your, Ideas camo

Redneck anniversary gifts

It's interesting:
"During my research - and yes, believe it or not, this was researched - I looked into the three key elements of a wedding day: first, the aisle, the longest walk ..."

Celebrating an anniversary with your partner is an opportunity to commemorate what makes the relationship meaningful and fun for both of you. One way to have fun with your anniversary is to give it a theme. Depending on your taste, you might choose to have a redneck-themed anniversary, complete with fried bologna sandwiches and curling up together for a "Smokey and the Bandit" movie marathon. Further enhance your redneck anniversary with a well-chosen gift for your partner. .

1. Redneck MP3 Mix

   • Program a romantic playlist of famous redneck love songs to help celebrate your anniversary. For example, you could include Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty's "You're the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly" and "I Like My Women on the Trashy Side" by Sawyer Brown to help set the appropriate mood. Include songs and artists you discovered together as a couple- if both of you became George Jones fans while dating, then you should put a song like "High Tech Redneck" on the mix. Add a few of her personal favorite redneck songs, as well, to demonstrate how well you know her taste in music.

   Redneck Romance Goody Bag

   • Spice up your anniversary with a romantic goody bag filled with redneck novelty items like beer tab bikinis and fake roses. For an added redneck touch, make your goody bag out of pages from old monster truck magazines, and then tie it shut with fishing wire.

   Personalized Sears & Roebuck Catalog

   • For rednecks, the Sears & Roebuck catalog has often come in handy as emergency outhouse toilet paper. Show your special guy how much you care by giving him a personalized anniversary gift that he can use again and again. Personalize the catalog by drawing romantic pictures and writing love notes on it. For the finishing touch, wrap it in camouflage wrapping paper to complete a memorable redneck anniversary gift.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: anniversary with, your anniversary, anniversary gift, anniversary gifts, Redneck anniversary gifts

Bridal shower color themes

It's interesting:
"Wasn't the wedding ceremony beautiful? The highlight, of course, was Linda floating magically down the aisle. I'm sure we were all thinking exactly the same ..."

For the bride-to-be, one of the most exciting prewedding activities is the bridal shower. One of the most important decisions in planning a bridal shower is deciding on a color scheme for the party. Choosing the perfect color scheme will set the mood for the party, whether you are planning a wild blowout or a traditional tea party.

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1. Bridal Party Colors

   • One color theme idea for bridal showers is to use the colors the bride has chosen for the wedding party. For example, if your bride-to-be has chosen brown and baby pink as her bridal party colors, use chocolate brown tablecloths with cream-colored linens and soft pink tea roses for centerpieces. You could also use the same colors as the bridal party colors, but in different hues. If your bride has chosen royal blue and butter yellow as her colors, use baby blue tablecloths, crisp white napkins and bright yellow sunflowers or daisies for centerpieces.

   Birthstone Colors

   • Jewel-tone wedding colors have become increasingly popular in the past few years, so consider using the bride and groom's birthstone colors for the bridal shower. Use one birthstone color for linens and the other for centerpieces. If the bride and groom happen to share a birthstone, or the stones are similar, such as garnet and ruby, try a monochromatic color scheme using different shades of the same color, or use the birthstone color as a background color with a complementary color for accents.

   Black and White

   • For a modern and sophisticated color theme, choose a black and white color palette. An entire room decorated in black and white can be monotonous, so try using the black and white as accents. Use tablecloths or runners in bright colors such as lime green, fire-engine red or teal, and add black and white accents with napkins, centerpiece vases and dinnerware.

   Traditional Palettes

   • For a traditional bride, try a soft, romantic color theme using various pastels on a white or cream background. Use white or cream tablecloths and napkins and choose dinnerware and centerpieces in a single pastel color. You could also try combining several pastels, such as baby blue, powder pink, and sea-foam green. Use a mixture of dinnerware in these colors, and create centerpieces of tiny flowers in these colors.

     Another traditional idea is to use floral decorations. This is particularly appropriate for the traditional bride who has a tea party--themed bridal shower. Use white tablecloths and floral-print napkins with bold floral centerpieces.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: color scheme, color theme, baby blue, birthstone color, black white, black white, black white accents

How to pick items for a wedding registry

pick items for a wedding registry

It's interesting:
"There's something special about a church wedding, but most of us here have to admit that we rarely set foot inside a church these days. In fact ..."

Years ago, it was common to open wedding gifts and discover that every well-meaning aunt and uncle had purchased a blender for the happy couple. If you didn't end up with 10 blenders, you had an array of gifts that you would probably never choose for yourself. Registering for wedding gifts has taken a lot of the guesswork out of gift buying. Follow the steps below to pick items for a wedding registry.

Things You'll Need

• Department store
• Paper for registry info

Instructions

1. • 1

     Choose the store or stores that have the items you would like to register for your wedding gifts. If you register at more than one store, choose different items in each store so there is less chance of duplicate gifts.

   • 2

     Decide whether you will be picking items for your wedding registry in person or online. The advantage to online registry is being able to track purchases as they are made.

   • 3

     Determine which stores are accessible to most of your guests. If a large number of guests are from out of town, you will want to choose a nationwide store as opposed to a small locally-owned store. This choice will make it easier on out-of-town guests as they purchase items from your wedding registry.

   • 4

     Pick items for a wedding registry that are in a variety of price categories. There will be relatives who spend more on wedding gifts than acquaintances do. Having a range of price points will cover all bases.

   • 5

     Include your registry store information in some way in your wedding invitation. Print the information in a pretty font on an eighth-sheet of paper and enclose it in your wedding invitation envelope. This is a common practice and does not cross the boundaries of good taste. It is actually helpful to your guests.

Tips &- Warnings

• If you are using an online service to pick items for a wedding registry, you will probably want to visit the physical store where you are registering. You can get a better idea of size and color of registered items on a quick tour of the store. You can then register online at your leisure.

• If you want to be surprised by what you are receiving, you need to avoid checking the online status of your registry. If the element of surprise is of no concern to you, check it every day.

• Many regular brick-and-mortar retail stores offer online gift registries. You can also find registries exclusively online like the Dealtaker website that allows you to pick items from a variety of stores, but have the registry go through one website. Bargain sites like this also often have coupons and discounts available to shoppers.

• Do not pick items for a wedding registry too far in advance. There is the possibility that some items that you pick will be seasonal and may not be available at the time of your wedding.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: wedding registry, items wedding, items wedding registry, pick items, your wedding, wedding gifts, pick items wedding

How to install a duke power heat pump

install a duke power heat pump

It's interesting:
"You'd think I'd know better than to be out drinking in the early hours of the morning the night before a big wedding - but Paul's a mate and he needed some ..."

Duke Power is a municipal power company in the Carolinas which sells a variety of energy saving and cost-reducing heat pumps to its consumers. In addition to offering repair programs for equipment it sells, Duke Power also offers comprehensive rebate plans and loans for heat pumps to qualifying homeowners, if the home meets insulation requirements. The pumps typically are installed by authorized Duke Power technicians and the homeowner agrees to make other energy-saving improvements. To successfully install a Duke Power water heater, an individual should have a working understanding of home plumbing systems and basic plumbing tools.

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Things You'll Need

• Level
• Jigsaw
• Measuring tape
• 2-by-4
• Wire brush
• Two adjustable wrenches
• Propane torch
• Flux
• Pipe compound
• Water heater heat trap fittings
• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. • 1

     Set the water heater into place, and confirm that it's level. If not, slide wooden or plastic shims underneath the water heater until it is level.

   • 2

     Hold the shutoff valve against the end of the cold water supply pipe, and measure the distance between it and the top of the water heater. Cut a section of 2-by-4 with the saw, to support the valve against the end of the pipe.

   • 3

     Apply flux to the end of the cold water supply pipe and the shutoff valve, and solder them together with the propane torch.

   • 4

     Cover the threads of the blue-coded heat trap fitting with pipe compound. Attach it to the cold water inlet. Arrows on the fitting indicate the direction of proper installation.

   • 5

     Cover the threads of the red-coded heat trap fitting with pipe compound. Attach it to the hot water outlet. Arrows on the fitting indicate the direction of proper installation.

   • 6

     Tighten both fittings with an adjustable wrench.

   • 7

     Close the drain valve completely.

   • 8

     Connect the cold water plumbing supply line to the water heater with flexible copper pipe -- which is often required by code -- according to the heater manufacturer's instructions.

   • 9

     Open all the valves and turn on the water supply.

   • 10

     Turn on one of the home's faucets until it flows steadily. This indicates the water heater is full.

   • 11

     Turn the faucet off.

   • 12

     Turn off the power to the water heater via the home's main circuit braker. Remove fuses, if possible.

   • 13

     Open the electrical access plate on the top of the water heater.

   • 14

     Connect the electrical supply from the water heater to the ground screw, using wire nuts to the ground screw. Close the access plate.

   • 15

     Remove the thermostat access plate on the side of the water heater. Expose the thermostat.

   • 16

     Change the thermostat with a screwdriver, until it reads between 120 to 125 degrees F. Replace the thermostat access plate.

   • 17

     Restore the fuses and enable power to the water heater.

   • 18

     Press the reset button -- which is typically large and red -- on the panel near the thermostat plate.

Tips &- Warnings

• Never attempt to power a water heater without first filling it with water- this can cause the inner heating elements to snap.

• Never use iron piping or iron solder materials on the pipes connecting to a water heater, or any material treated with chemicals. This can introduce harmful metals or chemicals into your water.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: water heater, access plate, cold water, Duke Power, heat trap, water supply