Placecard holders come in so many charming designs that
you re sure to find something to amuse and charm children
of all ages. From princess tiaras to
miniature antique cars, they re tiny
enough to fit into smaller hands but durable enough to resist
hours of active amusement. They ll also look cute in any
child s bedroom. Our Most Popular
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Flowered Leis At the Wedding Reception
by Michael Kabel You ve seen them every time a
television show goes to Hawaii, or whenever a movie wants to
explain the gentle character of South Seas people. The
flowered lei, known throughout the world as a
symbol of Hawaiian tourism, remains a perfect symbol of
congratulations and celebration. The Lei of the
Land The flowered lei is traditionally a garland made
of a particular type of flower, usually
plumerias, lehua blossoms and orchids. In Hawaii and in other
exotic ports of call along the Pacific Rim, the flowered lei is
used in celebrations and diverse as weddings, birthday parties
and college graduations. The lei can also be given as a symbol
of affection, gratitude, and welcome - three attitudes your
wedding reception will certainly want to show in abundance. credit first service union
Flowered leis are becoming available outside the island
paradises of the Pacific for the first time in many years, with
many florists shipping them both throughout the United States
and to international customers. They re excellent
accessories to give guests as they enter the reception
hall, and make a great conversation piece to get the party
started. card credit mobile service
Including Leis Into Your Wedding Event
Leis can be ordered in groups or lots, and are shipped to
your reception much like any other flower arrangement. Fresh
lei arrangements have approximately the same lifespan as other
flowers without water or soil to draw from, so they should be
treated accordingly. It should be mentioned too that not all
flowers are available for leis year round. Many, such as the
orchid, are seasonal and very delicate even under the most
favorable conditions. Florists offer leis in dozens of style,
though, including a variety of color schemes and designs and
sizes, so there s something to coordinate with
every decoration plan. card credit discover service
Obviously leis work figure most naturally into design plans
and wedding themes that include some type of tropical, ocean,
or nautical motif. Beach-themed weddings, for
example, naturally lend themselves to Hawaiian luau
decorations. However, with a little imagination you can extend
the beach side idea to include any sort of escape. credit public service union
Lei Customs and Traditions
While the occasion to wear leis remains more or less
constant throughout Hawaii, Polynesia, Guam, and other Pacific
islands, there are certain traditions and etiquette involved in
their wearing and use that vary from place to place. As a
whole, though, the following customs remain true for most uses
of the lei garlands: - Modern lei etiquette includes giving a
kiss when presenting a lei. Traditionally, however, the lei is
held over the heart while the presenter bows. card credit processing service
- Only open lei garlands are given to a woman who is
pregnant. - If a person cannot wear a lei for whatever reason,
it is considered polite for them to keep the lei in a place of
prominence at the celebration - for example, in front of their
place setting. - Leis should not be thrown away but rather
returned to where they came from, or recycled by planting,
hanging on a tree, or burning. Our Most Popular
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by Michael Kabel For the perfect winter wedding reception
centerpiece, you ve got to put your thoughts on ice.
You ve probably seen ice sculptures before, at least in the
movies - they re always in the scenes where the very rich
and glamorous have fantastic parties and
socials. Tall and elegant, and fabulously expensive looking,
the ice sculpture seems to appear on camera if only to give a
simple message: See how rich these people are
Wow! card credit service wireless
Except they re not that expensive anymore. The modern
ice sculpture has become, while not exactly so affordable
you d put one in every room of your house, much more
obtainable than just a few years ago. A new generation of
sculptors and innovations in shipping and packaging allow the
statuary to come directly to the reception hall. The art and
craftsmanship remain at the same high levels - it s just
the price that s come down. credit security service union
Getting The Right Shape
Modern ice sculptors offer a variety of shape and sizes to
their statuary, but new brides can take heart that some of the
most famous ice sculpture designs are included in the
menagerie: the heart, the swan, and other
icons are all available from most ice sculpture supply houses.
The sculptures are made from chunks of solid ice, so
they re usually durable enough to weather transport from
the sculptor s business to the wedding reception. It also
means they re safe to touch and be touched, without fear of
breaking or injury. credit report service
Using the Sculpture As A Centerpiece
Wedding reception planners can use the ice sculpture as a
basis for their other decorations, especially if the wedding
celebrations carry a winter theme. Everything
from a choice of linen to the dessert can match the ice
sculpture s shape and style, creating a finished aesthetic
of crisp sophistication. One of the more elegant accessory
choices to match the ice sculpture is the wedding favor. By
giving frosted tea light candles or
picture frames, the guests are reminded of the
sculpture s beauty long after the reception concludes. blogspot com christian
Ordering Delivering the Sculpture
Obviously, the sculpture should be ordered well ahead of
time, to allow for transportation schedules and also for the
sculpture to be crafted according to specifications. Many ice
sculptures weigh as much as one hundred and forty pounds, so
two or three people will be required to carry and install it in
the reception hall once it arrives. Some larger installations
can weigh much more, too, and will need professional movers and
refrigerated trucks to keep them safe and fresh christian counseling credit
The melt time for most ice sculptures ranges from three to
six hours, and most include drip trays as part of their cost.
Some ice carving companies offer delivery in special
shock-insulated trailers, and will deliver straight to the
reception facility. Many also offer multi-colored lights and
strobe effects to enhance a sculpture s presentation. These
lights were engineered by special effects artists to add even
more ambience and spectacle to the presentation. credit federal service union
by Michael Kabel Planning your wedding
reception has meant months of arduous work and effort,
from running the time-consuming errands of getting the venue
booked and the catering settled to all the meticulous details
of the invitations. For everything you ve done, you deserve
a little R R - rest and recovery. Now, you re probably
thinking you don t have the time, and that if you take a
day off you ll miss out on a crisis or emergency that just
has to have your complete attention. That may be so, but you
shouldn t exhaust yourself before what s supposed to be
the happiest day of your life, either. Your wedding is meant to
be a tremendous experience, and it s a shame to sleepwalk
through it. credit monitoring service
Try to schedule your R R about a week to ten days before
the wedding, so you ll have time to come back and attend to
all the inevitable last minute details. You don t have to
spend a fortune on the trip, but you don t necessarily have
to pinch pennies, either. credit division service
Revisit Your Favorite Favorite
Everyone has favorites, though when we get busy we
don t often take the time to appreciate or even remember
them. As a break from the wedding hustle, take yourself to your
favorite getaway. Maybe it s the snug little coffee
shop on the edge of campus. Maybe it s the art
gallery downtown, or maybe it s the bistro you haven t
visited in years. Seeing some old sentimental favorites will
let you take stock in yourself and appreciate how far
you ve come in the wedding preparations. card credit online service
Spend Some Quality Isolation Time
This can be as simple as bolting yourself into your living
room for an evening and chilling out with your favorite DVD. It
might also mean staying up all night with the book you ve
been meaning to get around to reading. The activity itself
doesn t matter, only that - like the favorites
revisited idea above - you spend time recharging your own
energies by putting yourself first. consumer counseling credit inc
Hit The Spa
Possibly nothing cures the nerves and reboots the brain
like a day at your favorite spa. You might
want to schedule the trip three or four days in advance, so
you re still recharged for the wedding day itself. You can
also bring along your bridesmaids, too, making a day of it and
bonding one last time before the celebrations commence.
Take Your Fianc On A Date card credit fleet service
You ve both been so busy with preparations that
you ve probably sort of neglected one another. Why not
revisit the sites of your first date, so you
can relive some of your earliest memories together Or, the two
of you can treat yourselves to someplace you ve always
wanted to go - a swank restaurant or cozy bistro - as a last
date before married life. card consolidation credit
Road Trip!
You don t have to go far and you don t have to
spend a lot of money, but getting out of town for a day can
give you some perspective. You might go to the
beach, to the mall in the next town over, or to tour
the historic district somewhere close by. As long as you re
having a little adventure, why not You ll be ready for the
last push to the altar when you get back. credit free online report
Changing Your Name
by Michael Kabel Taking your husband s name is an old
tradition that s become completely optional in our modern
age. In fact, there s no law saying you can t keep your
name, hyphenate the two names together, or even let your
husband take your name as his own (now
there s a twist!) But when you think about the amount of
paperwork needed to change your identity, the idea tends to get
a little daunting. There s a lot of red tape to cut
through, especially if you re already worn out from the
excitement of the wedding and honeymoon. credit federal first service
The best advice: start with the big things, and work your
way down to the little ones. Before you begin, you ll need
copies of the marriage certificate, to provide to the companies
and organizations that require them as proof. consumer credit service
Changing Your Name With the Government
The Social Security Administration is the best place to
start the name-change process. Matching your new name to your
SSN requires a completed SS-5 form and specifying the change of
information. The Administration website, www.ssa.gov, includes
in-depth instructions at this page:
http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php
p_faqid=315. Changing your SSN is crucial, so that the IRS will
accept your tax return the following year. An indictment for
felony tax fraud can really dampen the excitement of a new
marriage. center credit family service
With that out of the way, you should make arrangements to
change your driver s license and car registration with your
state s department of motor vehicles. They may also be able
to update your voter registration. credit reporting service
At the post office, you ll need to update your address
information. If you re going abroad for a
postponed honeymoon or for other travel, you should also plan
on getting your passport revised. cca credit division service
Changing Your Name At Work
Unless you re marrying a millionaire (and even then,
still...) you ll probably continue working. Let your
company s human resources department know about your
upcoming wedding, and be sure to provide them
copies of your new Social Security number (they ll need it
for your W-2 form) and driver s license. They ll also
need to update all your benefit information and retirement plan
details credit free report service
As an extra thought, this is a good time to order new
business cards and inform all your clients or business
relations of the change in name. Email and any other online
forms and registrations including your maiden name should also
be updated, possibly with assistance from your company s
technical support or operations department. card credit customer discover
Changing Your Name With Creditors and Businesses
Unfortunately, you re not off the hook with your credit
card companies and other money institutions just because you
get married. They re going to be very interested in your
change of identity. Some may also wish to issue new credit
cards with your married name. Don t forget
about banks, mortgage companies, your landlord, insurance
companies, and your doctor and dentist. credit repair report service
Credit experts advise all new brides to pay special
attention to creditors. Changing your name without leaving a
trail for credit card companies to follow can result in your
good credit rating getting deleted - hardly the way to begin a
future with your husband. As a hedge against this, you may want
to notify the credit bureaus in charge of your credit rating,
so they ll know your payments and purchases are happening
under your new name. credit legal repair service
Other Changes
There s probably also lots of other details you ll
want to change, including your frequent flyer mile accounts,
memberships in clubs and societies, schools, and enrollment in
charities and nonprofit organizations. You should also update
your subscription information to any professional magazines and
journals. Getting The Paperwork Done A form letter will work in
most non-official cases, though some creditors and banks will
probably have a form to fill out that authorizes the name
change and makes it official for their record keeping. For some
organizations, a phone call is sufficient. Some will want
copies of the aforementioned marriage certificate as well, or
other documentation from the government. cic credit monitoring service
Needless to say, the sooner you begin all these changes, the
less stressed you ll feel in the long run. Companies,
businesses, and especially the government operate at their own
speed (usually about half that of a briskly moving iceberg) so
you ll need to cushion your time to work on their schedule.
It s sometimes tough to keep patience, but after all... how
often do you get to change your name ccs credit division service
Getting Your Passport
by: Michael Kabel Despite the international turmoil of
recent years, thousands of married couples continue to
honeymoon abroad. Seeking the romance of Europe or the
adventure of South America, American couples have become
inspired by popular celebrity weddings to take
long trips to foreign locales. Practically all foreign nations
require passports to enter their borders. A traveler s
passport - just like in the movies - is usually checked either
at guardhouses along the border or in a specially-designated
area of the airport. And yes, many nations still stamp the
passport, making the document itself a charming
commemorative souvenir. credit service union worker
Passports are granted by the U.S. State Department following
a very specific set of regulations. While not overly tricky to
obtain, it s best to have the right documentation and
payment methods ready when you apply. 1st credit service union
Where to Apply
Depending on where you live, passports are available
through your local Post Office or possibly another government
building such as a clerk of court, main library, or city hall.
The State Department furnishes a location search tool on its
website: http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/. There are also
thirteen Regional Passport Offices that provide expedited
passport processing for an additional fee. These offices are
located in major cities throughout the country and receive
applications via appointment only. There is no additional
charge for the appointment. card chase credit customer
Passports normally take ten to twelve weeks to process and
arrive; expedited processing typically takes two to three
weeks, not including overnight delivery. What to Bring
With You United States passports are
granted to American citizens in all but the most unusual
circumstances. U.S. residents applying for the first time
should bring a copy of their certified birth certificate, a
picture ID, and two passport-scale (2 by 2 )
photographs in addition to their passport application form.
Certified birth certificates contain the raised seal of their
issuing city, state, or local government and must have been
filed within one year of your birth date. Picture ID s must
be either a driver s license or state-issued ID card, a
government identification card, or a military ID. card chase credit service
Social Security cards, because they do not include a
photograph, are not considered valid identification.
Passport photos are routinely available from
copying and office supply stores, and even some drugstores. citi credit monitoring service
Passport application forms can be downloaded from the State
Department s travel website:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/forms_847.html. Going in
person to the application office is also necessary to replace a
stolen or lost passport; to replace a passport issued more than
15 years ago; if the previous passport was issued before the
age of sixteen; or if an expired passport is no longer in your
possession. Minors under the age of fourteen should also apply
in person. credit plus service union
Passport Renewal
Renewing a valid U.S. passport can be handled through the
mail if the passport is in good condition and is less than 15
years old; was issued when you were 16 years old or older; and
your name has not changed or you can legally verify the name
change (so brides may wish to apply with their
maiden names to avoid confusion.) The State Department renewal
procedure and application form can be found at
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/renew/renew_833.html. credit farm service
Renewal fees are typically $67 plus any expedited processing
charges applicants might request. Getting Help
The National Passport Information Center was established to
handle passport questions and concerns. Their phone number
is1-877-487-2778; the website is
http://travel.state.gov/passport/about/npic/npic_898.html. 1st credit federal service
Our Most Popular Favors Great Favor Ideas
| Unique Favor Ideas | Bridesmaid
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by Michael Kabel It s a day you ve probably dreamed
of a little and dreaded a little, all at the same time. Your
child is getting married, and the wedding details and the
challenge of planning the perfect wedding are
just beginning. Depending on whether you re the mother of
the bride or the groom, you ve got specific roles to play
in the build-up to the wedding. Some of them are optional, but
some are very specific about the need for good wedding
etiquette. Especially where the fianc s family is
concerned, you ll want to keep things cordial and warm.
After all, they ll be part of your child s life for a
long time. credit service tax
For the Mother of the Groom
The chief responsibility of the groom s parents is
financing and staging the rehearsal dinner. As the groom s
mother, you re in a unique position to help your son plan
the event and make all the necessary arrangements. With his
permission, you might even take over managing all the
arrangements, if you re both fine with doing so. As a
guideline, the rehearsal dinner takes place the night before
the wedding ceremony. You should start
planning it up to six months in advance. aeon credit service
You ll also be the family town crier about
the upcoming marriage. This includes spreading the word around
to both sides of your family about the upcoming ceremony, and
letting them know that invitations are forthcoming and where
the couple is registered. You can also host a cocktail party or
dinner celebration to introduce the bride to everyone.
They ll get to meet the new family member, and she ll
get a sneak peek at half of her wedding guests. credit one service union
Once the engagement is officially announced, it s a nice
gesture to invite the bride s family over for
drinks or to take them out to dinner, as a sort of
getting to know you occasion. Finally, do bring a
special gift to the bridal shower. bad cell credit phone service
For the Mother of the Bride
Once upon a time, the bride s mother was the chief
wedding planner and decision maker for the ceremony and
reception. Times have definitely changed, but the mother of the
bride remains a trusted confidant and adviser in all the
preparations. Since the bride s family still pays for much
of the wedding events and apparel, you ll
probably find yourself in a kind of bursar s role,
reviewing the wedding budget with your daughter and negotiating
costs and fees for many of the decorations and details. You
don t have to take an iron hand approach, but
you should also be aware of your responsibility as
emergency brake, too. counseling credit debt service
Like the mother of the groom, you ll act as herald for
the wedding, announcing the engagement to family members and
spreading word about the registry. You might also choose, with
your daughter s permission, to plan and host the bridal
shower. You may also be travel coordinator for
your out-of-town guests, and arrange hotel rooms and
transportation for them. card credit payment service
Here s one advantage you have over the mother of the
groom - you get dibs on picking your ceremonial gown. It s
the mother of the bride s prerogative to select her gown
and inform the mother of the groom regarding her choice. You
should send a picture of the dress or a fabric swatch, however,
so she can choose a dress that compliments yours. Etiquette
says you have three to four months to inform her of your
choice. card credit merchant
Reception Music
by Michael Kabel Music and dancing is traditionally a huge
part of the wedding reception s
festivities. Wedding guests will pretty much expect
music of some kind or another, and if nothing else music does
create the tempo and momentum that leads to a good party. If
you think back on the wedding receptions you ve attended in
the past, probably all of them had music at one time or
another. counseling credit family
The choice lies in deciding if a live band or a disc jockey
makes the best fit with your reception plans and decorations.
Booking a live band A live band s biggest
advantage is also its curse: the human element. A good live
band can make the party come alive, and will tailor its music
to fit the mood of the wedding reception
crowd. Take a reasonable amount of time before deciding on the
band that s right for your reception. Ideally, you want an
act that can play several different types of music, to give
your varied guests a variety of styles. Most professional show
bands will have performances videotaped as a kind of
audition reel, and will offer playlists to their
potential customers that outline their typical set, or
collection of songs played in a group. annual credit report request
The downside to a live band is that they need more breaks
than a disc jockey, are more likely to make mistakes with the
performance of the music, and generally are more high
maintenance. They ll have more equipment to set up and
break down, and more people to feed at the
reception (it s generally considered good form to
include the band in the food and drink.) area bay credit service
Booking a DJ
Disc jockeys have a vast collection of music at their
disposal, so a variety of musical styles is always an option.
The modern disc jockey doesn t just play songs, either. As
an artist in his or her own right, the disc jockey will have
any number of remixes, alternate tracks, and smashups to play
for hip, modern audiences. They ll create sound scapes that
echo your feelings and exactly communicate moods to the
audience. atlanta consumer counseling
You ll also want to interview disc jockeys before making
your choice. Some old school types are available that simply
play music that crowds know and love. This is fine if
you re looking for something cozy and traditional for your
guests. On the other hand, if you want something more
modern and stylish, you ll want a disc
jockey with a little more pizzazz. account card credit merchant
A disc jockey s down side comes from detachment with the
audience. It s harder for a jockey to feed off a
crowd s energy, and that can lead to some disconnect
between guests and the music. Again, make sure you ve
interviewed and sampled your final choice before offering a
disc jockey the gig. aspire card credit customer
Clear The Entertainment With Your Reception
Hall
Some venues have legally-enforced noise ordinances that
must be observed. Obviously, this can put a crimp in your
entertainment. Before you book the act, make sure your
reception hall doesn t have any such restrictions. Some
venues are set up for live entertainment, and some aren t.
The best venues have public address systems and mixing boards
the entertainment can simply plug their equipment into; others
may be less sophisticated. card counseling credit service
Made to Last: Wedding Ring Materials
by Michael Kabel The gold band as a symbol of marriage dates
back hundreds of years, and in recent eras has become even more
significant and revered. Today many rings are made from white
gold, an exciting and relatively new alloy of gold and other
precious metals. Depending on your own personal tastes, your
wedding ring might be fashioned from either of these materials.
They re both available from most jewelry
merchants, and can be designed and arranged in any number of
styles. card credit online processing
Remember too that finding the right ring for your own sense
of style is a search that you and your fianc should undertake
together, so that the final choice reflects both your
aesthetics. The Traditional Gold Wedding Band
The wedding ring rose to prominence almost
nine hundred years ago, when Pope Innocent the Third declared
that a band around the finger should symbolize all marriages.
In the 15th Century, King Edward VI of England decreed the left
hand s third finger should be the official finger of choice
for the wedding band. It was believed that the finger included
a vein that ran directly to the heart, so placing the
wedding symbol around it would ensure
fidelity. consolidated counseling credit
At that time, most marriages were arrangements of economics
more than affection. Giving a gold wedding band showed wealth
and material security, and that the husband placed a true value
(equitable to the value of gold) on the worth of his marriage
arrangement. Should the marriage fail, the ring became
something of value for the bride and her family to take
away. check credit service
Beginning in the 19th Century, diamonds became a popular
ornament for wedding bands, as further demonstration of wealth.
Modern White Gold Some say it s human
nature to improve on everything, even precious metals. White
gold, a somewhat new innovation created in the 1920s as a
substitute for platinum, is traditional gold
blended with any number of white metals such as
silver or palladium. Platinum white gold is usually only made
to order exclusively by custom goldsmiths. card credit online payment
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