Wedding Rings: I found the receipt!

My sister called me recently to explain, "Umm... ok, now I know I'm getting married, because I found the receipt for my ring!!!"

She claims it was an accident. She just bumped into the payment plan papers for the Jewelry Shop. Right. Accident. Totally.

What can a guy say at this point? Will you marry me?

Yeah, he's kind of stuck. I mean, he was pretty committed to have already paid so much money to the jeweler, but this was probably not his idea of the perfect proposal.

It's like dropping down on one knee after your girlfriend says, "Uhh... yeah, I was washing your laundry, and I found a brochure for a reception hall in your pocket."

Totally anti-climatic. And frustrating. And--how do you explain yourself?!

Of course, for the almost-bride who has been anticipating a proposal, discovering the cat in the bag can be a welcome relief. No more guessing. No more worrying. No more wistful stares at bouquets or gowns.

Whether you decide to keep your find quiet or not, it's important that you let your man REALLY make certain he is positively sure he wants to get married. And that the timing is right.

Let's face it, ladies, we have several generations of guys who can't make up their minds, and as soon as they do, they regret it. That comes from a lack of practice in the area of decision-making. And why do they have a lack of practice? Because we make all the choices without them, in spite of them, and in direct opposition to them.

Almost sounds sexist. For who? Men. They've been trampled on and told over and over again that women are stronger, better. And perhaps we are--but as a wise comic book character once said, "With great power, comes great responsibility."

In the future, when you're rummaging about the house, make sure that the great find you see is in the mirror. If you are confident in who you are as a person, an impending wedding, proposal or marriage will not turn you crazy. You will simply continue down life's path with all of your options open, no expectations on your loved ones, and no hankering to decipher that little slip of paper in the nightstand.

The Summer's Hottest Unconventional Wedding Reception

You want a romantic, memorable wedding reception, but every place in town is booked! Are you sure?

Some say you need over a year to plan a good wedding and reception. I say you can do it in less than three months. It takes a year only if your reception is going to be like everyone else's--in the biggest, fanciest venue, with choice of salmon or steak, tables littered with pointless favors.... which wedding was that?

When planning your reception, first figure out your goals. Seriously! Is this to get lots of gifts? Spend time with relatives you'll never see? Show off your dancing skills? Or (ugh) to demonstrate to your in-laws just how much booze you can put down? Write it down; make sure the groom contributes to this list!

Once the list is complete, you may realize that a reception is unnecessary. Or, you'll see that the standard just won't do!

This summer's hottest unconventional wedding reception is a Memory-Filled Picnic Lunch.

Objective:
Allow guests to relax, eat, greet the bride and groom, and get to know the "other" side.

Challenges:
All the reception halls are booked that day.
Budget is between $500-$1000 for 100 people.
The bride's sisters have all done this before--she wants her wedding to be memorable.
The mother-in-law really wants to help.

Solution:
Serve lunch, family-style in picnic baskets at the park.

Find a local park (or even the yard of the church). It should be close to the ceremony and provide ample parking. Check with the city or county to get any permits to use the park for a large party. There may be a fee, but it will be a small fraction of the cost of a reception hall. Parks with shade, pavilions, tables and restrooms are a must!

If tables are not available at the park, see if you can rent them from a local church. Depending on the "age-ility" of your guests, you may not need tables for everyone!

Check your big box stores in the Summer Section (items should be marked down by mid-June). Look for the makings of a picnic. You do not need 100 of the same thing. Just find matching items for each table or picnic basket.

Supplies:
For 6-10 people:
-1 picnic basket
-1 water pitcher
-6 to 10 plates
-6 to 10 drinking glasses
-Paper napkins, forks
-Tablecloth or blanket (blankets for younger guests who may want to sit on the grass)

If reusable plates and glasses are too expensive use paper! Another way to cut costs is to just buy reusable items for the bridal party and parents' tables/baskets. Remember, though--if the wind picks up, your disposable items will go flying! Tablecloths can vary greatly on price. You may run into a sale and be able to cover each table for $5. Or, you can borrow tablecloths from local relatives. Another option is to look for inexpensive fabric--$1.00/yard. Measure the tables before you search! A last resort is to use butcher paper in either brown or white. Use stamps and paint to decorate!

Talk to your favorite grocery store deli or restaurant about your food needs. This is a great job for your mother-in-law! An experienced grocery shopper may have more success getting a good deal on food!

Menu:
For each basket:
-Croissant Sandwiches
-Potato salad
-Fruit salad or watermelon slices

These are ideas, but work with food you like (you'll be eating the leftovers!) and any specials the deli can offer. To make an easier reception, use food that stores at the same temperature. Depending on the facilities at the park and how many volunteers you have, you could also serve chicken and corn on the cob.

To make the plain plastic containers from the deli more exciting--use your computer to make your own label. Bride & Groom's Passion Potato Salad, enjoy on July 31, 2008. Get creative!

Be sure to include serving spoons in the baskets! You can probably scrounge up enough serving spoons from the kitchens of the moms.

Guest's Perspective:
Guests will arrive at the park and be directed to a table. Assigned seating is recommended! Picnic baskets and water pitchers will be delivered to each table. Guests will take it from there! You can assign one person at each table to be the "server." He/She will open the basket, hand out the plates, forks, napkins, cups and... food!

The bride and groom can put written instructions inside the basket, announce over the music/sound system, or send pre-designated volunteers to the tables to give any further direction that may be needed.

Guests will be put at ease right away since they get to participate in serving the meal, and they don't have to WAIT in line to eat!

You can include a bottle of wine and an assortment of sodas in the baskets if water is not quenching enough. Iced tea or lemonade, in place of water, is another option. Be sure to have ice water on hand, though, for guests on special diets.

Put a large ziploc bag full of ice at the top of each basket to keep food cool while guests are seated. Ice can be put into the guests' cups to avoid giant bags of water at the end of the day.

Dessert
This is the fun part! Pie or ice cream? (Let's face it--your guests are probably sick of wedding cake, and it really doesn't fit on a sunny day.)

Put a whole pie in each basket, along with a knife and plastic serving spatula. These can be homemade pies or purchased from the store. Differing flavors may promote movement amongst the guests. :)

Set up an ice cream bar, manned by the bride and groom. This way everyone will get a chance to say hi to the new couple. Offer different ice cream choices that the bride and groom scoop out into cones when the guests are ready for dessert.

Visiting Guests
If ice cream scooping is too much work, the bride and groom can float around to each table while the guests eat.

Guests Mingling
By the time the meal is over each table will be feeling like family. Get help from your moms to figure out where to seat everyone. You can place matching relatives together. Bride's Aunt and Uncle and kids with Groom's Aunt and Uncle and kids. Or you can put complementing personalities together. Remember to put at least one friendly, outgoing person at each table!


Estimated Cost and Shopping List
If you are unable to stay within this budget for any item, look around! Borrow from moms and sisters. To make mismatched items more cohesive, tie a ribbon that matches the color of your wedding around it!

Supplies>> $340
$100 for 10 Picnic Baskets
$ 15 for 10 Water Pitchers
$ 75 for 100 Plates (buy on clearance!)
$ 75 for 100 Cups/Glasses
$ 25 for 200 Napkins (High-end white paper) and 200 Plastic Forks
$ 50 for 10 Table Coverings (butcher paper or tablecloths on clearance)

Food>> $460
$ 65 for 150 Croissants (try Costco or Sam's Club)
$ 75 for 12.5 pounds of Sliced Meat (assortment of Ham, Roast Beef, Turkey)
$ 75 for 12.5 pounds of Sliced Cheese (assortment of Cheddar, Pepperjack, Provolone)
$ 10 for 6 heads of lettuce
$ 50 for your choice of tomatoes, mayo, mustard, and other favorite sandwich toppings!
$ 70 for 7 Gallons of Potato Salad (homemade or deli)
$ 35 for 10 Small Watermelons
$ 80 for 7 Gallons of Fruit Salad (deli)

Dessert>> $60-95
$ 60 for 10 Pies
or
$ 65 for 13 Gallons of Ice Cream
$ 30 for 9 boxes of Ice Cream Cones (12/box)

Beverages>> $75-150
$ 50-100 for 10-20 Bottles of Wine
$ 25-50 for 100-200 Cans of Soda (watch for sales!)


This is a general framework to move you in the right direction for a memorable wedding reception. Put your personality into every piece of the event. This will give your guests something to talk about, and help distant relatives get to know you better! Some guests may even hide your wedding gift in the car, and replace it with a check--once they see what kinds of interests you and your sweetheart really have!

Marriage and the Economy

I turn on the news and they tell me the sky is falling into a recession. I look at my boyfriend, and he's still so cute and lovable. Is it a bad idea to get married right now?

No easy answers on that one!

Let's look at some of the benefits to partnering together to face the stormy economy:

-It's easier to cut costs when you're sharing living expenses. You can pay rent or a mortgage for ONE house. Make a payment on ONE car (which means you'll have to carpool, and lose some of your freedom!). Baby-sit each other's kids. Spend Friday night playing board games, instead of at the movies.

-Depending on your money situation, it may reduce your tax load to be married.

-Now you can show up at the parties with ONE gift. Hehehe. Ok, that's a joke. So many singletons get annoyed with the one gift wonder couples. It's not fair! Whine!

The downside of getting together to get it together:

-Many couples get a false sense of security with the sudden second income. Instead of thinking through the early weekend stop for wings and beers, they just DO IT.

-The spender, enjoying the extra income and having an excuse to celebrate, will have an easy time of pressuring the saver--early on in the relationship. [By the time the saver gets the courage to say NO, it might be too late!]

-Being married, you might feel a little restricted. You have to turn the lights out NOW, be home early, stop making that sound, hug me, kiss me, AGH! It never ends. The restrictions that are placed on lovers make it tempting to be impulsive. In an effort to find control, one or both partners may LOSE control on a late night eBay spree.

If you want to plan for economic downfalls AND get married, you can. The key word there is plan. In order to be successful in your marriage it is extremely important to have a plan. The little things need to be covered: who will take out the trash. And the big things, too: where do we want to be in 10 years?

Before you get married, sit down with your cutie-pie and review spending and saving habits. Talk about how your parents dealt with the money subject. How did that affect you? What kind of work ethic do you have? Will you pay your bills no matter what, or are you open to going bankrupt? Get on the same page!

It is very helpful to get a 3rd party involved, to mediate tough topics, and keep you moving toward your goals. Build a relationship with a marriage counselor before you run into major problems. Speak with a financial planner now. No matter what your mother-in-law thinks, a financial planner is much more crucial to your marital happiness than a wedding planner.

This article is sponsored by Nevada Business Corporations, Legacy Wealth Planning and Antique Angel Wedding Chapel.

Leap Year Weddings

The Antique Angel Wedding Chapel is promoting Leap Year Weddings! Leap Year only comes once every four years, which makes it really easy on your soon-to-be husband. How can you forget a Leap Year anniversary?!

If you get married on Leap Year the Antique Angel of Reno, NV recommends that you celebrate each year on the 28th of February and the 1st of March. And, of course, a special celebration is due every four years!

Legend says that the 29th is the day that women are allowed to propose to a man. Nowadays, as long as you put some thought and love into your proposal, no one minds if the guy asks or the girl. But, if you've been shy about asking that special man to get hitched (or he's just not taking the hint!), the 29th of February is the day to seal your fate!

The Antique Angel Wedding Chapel specializes in full wedding ceremonies, complete with flowers, dresses, catering and dancing. They can also assist you with a proposal, vow renewal, and commitment ceremony.

If you're interested in learning more about weddings, or getting regular information to make your wedding a success, subscribe to the Antique Angel's Wedding newsletter at the Antique Angel website.

Buying or Renting a Wedding Gown?

The Antique Angel Wedding Chapel of Reno, NV is offering some secret tips for planning a beautiful wedding on a budget.




The price of renting a wedding gown is substantially less than the purchase.

Rentals at the Antique Angel run $50, while the Purchase of the same gown starts at $399.00 and goes Up (way up!) from there.

The cost of cleaning your Purchased gown is usually ½ the price of the gown.

The cost of alterations can be mind boggling! Not to mention the time (that you don't have!) spent with the tailor.

Pictures will last longer than the gown.

Chances of your daughter wanting to wear your wedding gown are slim!!

Storing the gown is a pain.

Have the wedding of your dreams without the hassle! The Antique Angel Wedding Chapel carries over 100 gowns of all different sizes and styles. Most of these gowns have only been worn a few times. Some are brand new!

See more wedding gowns!

Wedding Rings and Bridal Jewelry, in general

I recently met jewelry-designer, Edith Schwirian. Her work is amazing! If you want wedding rings that will be a constant reminder of the love you have each other, visit the
Edith Schwirian Custom Jewelry website and get in contact with her!

Other jewelry to keep in mind for your wedding
What will you (the bride) be wearing around your neck? Does your dress demand a string of pearls or a pendant necklace?

What will your bridesmaids be wearing? When my sister got engaged she was given a necklace from our Great Aunt. My sister took the necklace to a jeweler. The jeweler took off a pearl for each bridesmaid, and strung it on its own necklace. The bride's necklace was just a few pearls shorter.

This was a very special gift for the bridesmaids to receive the night before the wedding. And, the bride didn't have to worry about her bridesmaids wearing something that clashed!

Another way to add meaning to the jewelry worn at your wedding is to have a piece crafted in honor of a special woman in the family who has passed on. Wear this as a bracelet, and be sure to have the minister mention this in the ceremony.

Your wedding is a special, symbolic time--jewelry will capture the meaning of your wedding, and remind you of your special love every day.

A Green Earth-Friendly Wedding

The buzz nowadays is all about being GREEN. Not with envy, but with earth-friendly, good-natured, tree-hugging happiness.

I recently read an article by Reno News and Review about having a Green Wedding. I thought it was kind of funny, considering that most wedding chapels are VERY green, compared to your average wedding location.

I'm going to use the Antique Angel Wedding Chapel in Reno, Nevada as an example:

Decorations

Ok, if you had an outdoor wedding in your parent's backyard, or a wedding in a church, you're going to have to come up with some decorations. These may include any number of non-renewable resources; balloons, crepe paper, banners, paper or vinyl tablecloths, and much much more.

At a wedding chapel, the rooms are already perfectly decorated with silk floral arrangements, framed art, romantic lighting, and more. The reception area is decorated with painted murals, floral arrangements, linen tablecloths, and tasteful decor.

The Dress you only wear Once

Why buy a dress you're only going to wear once? What a waste!! By renting a gown you get to dress your best for a fraction of the cost of buying a brand-new dress. Further, you don't have to hassle with caring for the dress before and after the event. The Antique Angel also offers an assortment of dresses for mothers of the bride, and bridesmaids. And, of course, make your man look his best in a tux!

Wedding Bouquets

Anything that ends up in the trash is not green. Items that take few and renewable resources to create are green. So, let's look at the typical wedding flower situation. You drive to a nearby florist to figure out what flowers you want for your wedding. Then you drive home. The florist, meanwhile, waits for the flowers to arrive by truck. When the flowers are done they are either delivered to you, your wedding site, or they're picked up by the wedding party. The flowers are oooh and ahhhed over during the ceremony, a bouquet is tossed at the reception, and then they're thrown in the trash after a week of attempted drying and preserving of the petals.

Here's another way to do it: Call the Antique Angel Wedding Chapel and consult with the on-site florist. Choose either silk or fresh. Historically, fresh flowers have been pretty popular, but it's becoming more and more realistic to opt for silk. If you do choose fresh, know that you're eliminating a lot of driving time by making a phone call, and by working with on-site florists. If you choose silk bouquets, either pick out a bouquet that is on display, or have one custom made. Either way, choose a wedding bouquet that will match the decor in your home. And then plan on keeping the bouquet 'til death do you part!