Sell Wedding Dress

Sell Your Wedding Dress By Rama Krishna

According to the ancient and mysterious art of Feng-shui, leaving old and unwanted clutter in your house can cause negative energy to build up. This negative energy can quickly intervene with your ability to carry out your daily chores with ease. If left untreated, it can hamper your progress in your career, disrupt your finances and even cause depression. Take a look around your house and you will surely find many such items which are useless and just lying around occupying space. What about your wedding dress? Now, the wedding dress is one item that you might surely find in every home in the country. Irrespective of the number of years that have passed on since the wedding, people hang it in one corner of the closet as if it were some prized heirloom. Old is gold? Not really The saying 'Old is Gold' isn't applicable in case of dresses, for dresses will only deteriorate as time passes. Chances are that it would take a lot of doing for you to fit into your wedding dress now. Anyways, you will be happy to know that you do not need to dump your wedding dress into your garbage bin. You can make some money out of it. There are a lot of people who will be more than happy to buy your used wedding dress. Yes, there is a huge market for used wedding dresses and designer dresses that have been worn one time. How to do it? It is very simple. Firstly, you have to prepare the wedding dress for sale so take it to the cleaners. Check the buttons, beads, trimmings etc. A clean and well presented dress is the key to a quick and profitable sale. You don't have to place an ad in the newspaper or put up a sign in your yard. You can sell it in an extremely discreet manner using the internet. There are scores of websites that cater to the used wedding dress market. So are you all set to make the deal?

Strapless Wedding Dresses

Tips to Look Good in Strapless Wedding Dresses By Christina Bell

As you already live long and smart enough to know that there are neither shortcuts nor magic wand provided for you to look nice or brilliant on your off shoulder or strapless wedding dresses.

What I can provide here are just some tricks and tips for you to improve on your physical condition and may be applying some illusion diversion to draw attention from particular parts of your body. Few important point that I want to highlight here are:

1) Choose appropriate underwear for your strapless wedding dresses. 2) Exercise regularly especially on your arms. 3) Get a sun tanned color of skin. 4) Gets an eye catching jewelry. 5) Know your off shoulder limit range of motion

Eventually, you will not be wearing conventional bra or the nu-bra for your off shoulder wedding dresses. But it will mostly depend on the type of strapless wedding dresses you having in mind. For instance, if the dress has a high back then a simple strapless bra will do the trick. If the dress has a low cut back, then you will have to go for strapless, backless bustier for support. Or you can have your bra build into the wedding dresses in the form of soft cups.

Or you can wear nothing at all, which is not a good option for sure!

For the next few months before your wedding take place, remember to exercise regularly and consistently. Three or five pound of dumb bell would do the job, thirty minutes a session and three or four session per week will be perfect and save the trouble to attend a gym class.

This as well applies to sun tanning your skin. Start as soon as possible whenever. Sun tanning purpose is to remove those unsightly tan lines across your shoulder to apply a more evenly color tone on your skin that will give a nice glow to set off your white wedding strapless dresses. Do not apply the toner straight away. Always shower first, exfoliate then apply body lotion to protect the foundation of your skin. Give enough time for the body lotion to completely absorb into the skin then only you start applying the toner. There are different toners for facial as the facial skin structure is different from body skin.

Jewelry is considering an add-on as I am concerned. It can act as a touch up to an already beautiful bride to look more charming and bright or it can be use to diverse the attention of others towards your necklace or jewelry mostly to disguise your pear-shaped bride. Wearing with confidence is what matter the most for me whether with or without the thousand dollar jewelry.

One must keep in mind that a truly fitted off shoulder dress is that one is cannot raise her arm fully. So with that fundamental in mind, there always limitation towards movement with strapless wedding dresses especially doing dancing. Keep in mind and you will have avoided those embarrassment moment.

Wedding Anniversary Cards

Wedding Anniversary Invitations By Sarah Porter

Anniversary Invitations for Your Special Party

Marriages are made in heaven and celebrated on earth. Marriage is the day where you stopped going through life's journey alone! This was where two souls came together to make one being. In order to celebrate this special day of your life with your friends and family you'll want to choose Anniversary Invitations that matches your spirit. Online anniversary stationery shoppes assure you that your selection of an anniversary invitation will give your special wedding anniversary occasion a personal touch.

World Class Selection for Your Anniversary Party

On such a special occasion that will have a special place in your heart for a lifetime, the best way to invite the special people would be to choose a personal anniversary invite. You can do this by getting a card from your neighborhood store, but you don't want to be like most people. The best way of inviting them is to choose a personalized invitation yourself. No wedding anniversary invitations would be better than your unique and personalized invite to express your memorable occasion, whether it's your 50th, 25th, 10th or your first anniversary. To add a personal touch to your anniversary party, you can also add a lovely photo of the day you got married.

Use Unique Features for Your Special Anniversary Invitations Cards

If you're impressed with the selection, you'll definitely be impressed with their patented instant preview feature. This special technology was developed so you can instantly preview how your invitations are going to look before you buy them. It just takes a couple of easy steps.

First, choose the design for your anniversary wedding invitations. Now make the changes you want to the fonts, the type style, and the ink color. Then click Preview, and you will immediately see the personalized invitation just as it will look when it is printed and shipped to you. If you don't like what you see, start over again. You can repeat the process as many times as it takes.

Wedding Bows

Tips to Choose Wedding Bows By Todd Wunderlich

Tip number:

1.) When looking for the perfect size wedding bow for your special day, keep in mind that you will need to make sure that the color of your bow does not clash with the colors you have chosen for your wedding.

2.) Make sure where ever you are going to place the bow that there is sufficient space for it and it is not anywhere near open flames.

Example: CRBows bows are the worlds largest wedding bows measuring 8 ½ feet in length and 8 feet in width. The average larger size bow ranges from about 1 foot to 3 feet in length.

3.) Make sure the wedding bow you choose is weather resistant if you choose to have your wedding outdoors. If the weather turns ugly it is nice if the decorations are not ruined if you are unable to get to them right away.

4.) Make sure you have enough bows to cover all the areas you want to place them. Coming up short is never good. Beautiful wedding bows really make a statement.

5.) Make sure you order the bows in advance so you do not have to worry about them when your wedding day approaches. You will have enough on your mind without having to worry about the decorations.

6.) Whenever selecting wedding pew bows and wedding decorations for your loved ones special moment. Your decisions are crucial, so take your time and make your bridal and wedding accessories picks turn out perfect.

7.) Remember to take special care of each oversized bow by sealing it in a large zip locking plastic bag (or large lawn bag) and then placing it in a sturdy box to prevent crushing while in storage will insure many more years of use out of it.

Wedding Dresses Pictures

Some Wedding Tips on Wedding Dresses and More For the Blushing Bride By Sarrah Beaumont

Weddings are a big occasion. So a lot of preparation is needed. Of course, considering that it is the most important day of your life, it's but proper that you attend to every aspect of it - from wedding dresses to bridesmaid dresses - Toronto or elsewhere - and even to decorations.

But in your effort to take care of every aspect of the wedding ceremony, you might miss out some details. These details are so small that rarely anyone thinks about them.

So to ensure that you will remain to be the blushing bride in your very own magical and memorable wedding, remember the following:

1. The Shoes Issue

Break in those shoes, for heaven's sake! Surely, you will have a new pair of shoes to go with the most stunning of wedding dresses. New shoes will almost always be painful at first. So rather than losing your grace and poise on the most important day of your life, why don't you use that pair of shoes for practice?

While it is great to have a new pair of shoes for wedding dresses, it's more important to be comfortable and to be able to walk properly on those fabulous heels.

2. The Symbolic Ivy

Coordinate with your florist and tell them to include at least a little bit of ivy on your bouquet. This green vine is more than just about aesthetics purposes - it is also symbolic for eternal fidelity. Surely, florists know this but just to be sure, give them a gentle reminder.

3. The Photographer Dilemma

Even if we are already in the digital age, you still need to get your official photographers. These dudes and dudettes ensure that your look on the fabulous of wedding dresses is frozen in time - that it is immortalized. Photographers also ensure that pictures of the special people who are with you in such a momentous affair are taken. You'll never know, they might have spent a considerable amount of time and money shopping for those evening dresses - Toronto or elsewhere.

So unless you've hired the services of a professional, you wouldn't be too sure about the quality of your wedding photos. Therefore, take the time to find the best ones in your area. Get referrals, if you must. If you need to pay more, then so be it. Being in one of those wedding dresses is a once in a lifetime experience - no amount of money can bring it back in case you were not able to have great photos of your wedding.

Wedding Guestbook

Fun Wedding Guest Book Ideas By Guy Antonelli

A guest book is a nice idea at a wedding because it will give you a lasting record of the special people who were there for your celebration. While the typical guest book can be lovely, it is also a bit boring. These are some great ideas for fun and unique guest book alternatives.

If you like the book format, it is nice to personalize it a bit. Rather than a generic guest book, create your own. You can make it special by including photographs of the bride and groom, or decorating it to go with the theme of your wedding. Brides who are skilled at scrapbooking can have a ball making their own custom books for guests to sign. If you are not the crafty type, use one of the sites which will allow you to upload your photos online and create a custom printed book. Or better yet, have your guests personalize the book for you; set out a pretty scrapbook with a Polaroid camera and some markers. Your guests will have a great time snapping a fun picture and putting it in the memory book with a congratulatory message.

Another idea is to have your guests sign an object other than a closed book. The nice thing about this is that you will have a special piece to display in your new home and enjoy all the time. You will get much more enjoyment out of it than you would a closed book gathering dust on a shelf. One popular idea is to have your guests sign a picture frame that will be used to mat one of your wedding photos. If you plan to have an engagement portrait done, it would be nice to display it in the mat while it is out for guests to sign. With the popularity of pre-wedding photo sessions these days, you could even include an image of the bride somewhere beautiful like a beach, all decked out in her wedding gown and jewelry.

Other things to have your guests autograph include platters, large bowls, and tall vases. One really incredible idea would be to have the guests sign in a special pen that would create a resist on a clear glass bowl or platter. After the wedding, take a glass etching solution to etch the uncovered part of the glass. When the resist ink is washed away, you will be left with a frosted glass bowls showing all of the names still written in clear glass. This would be an incredibly elegant and understated wedding momento that you will treasure for years.

For an outdoor wedding, a really sweet idea is to set out little pieces of paper in a special shape for guests to write a brief message upon. When they are done, they can hang them on a tree with a little ribbon. If your wedding is indoors, you can create the same set up with a small table sized tree. Choose a shape of paper that means something to your wedding or ties in with your motif. It could be doves, flowers, cowboy boots, seashells, you name it. The signatures and cheerful wishes will be delightful fluttering from a tree branch.

As couples look for more ways to personalize their weddings, they are getting even more creative in their approach to the guest book. The thing that your guests sign does not even need to be paper. For instance, if you were having a destination wedding, complete with a tropical bridal gown, beach wedding jewelry, and the works, you could use this theme as inspiration for your guest "book". Set out sand dollars and Sharpies for your guests to inscribe their best wishes. The collection of messages can be kept in a pretty clear glass hurricane lantern in your new home. Or if you are having a Zen style wedding, set out smooth river rocks for your guests to sign.

As long as you design a guest signing station that fits in with the style of your wedding, you can feel free to be as inventive as you like in creating a cool alternative to the traditional guest book.

Wedding Invitation Ideas

Wedding Invitation Ideas With Ribbons and Flowers By Kate L L Anderson

When deciding on invitations styles there are heaps to choose from. So much so that many couples may feel overwhelmed by the amount of invites that are available from stockists.

Some brides may prefer flowers on the front of their invite card. The design could be a wedding bouquet. A single red rose style which is meant to symbolise love and passion. An orchid for beauty. I love peony roses which is said to produce a happy marriage. I had chosen orchids for our wedding in a lovely white and lemon color which fitted in nicely with my wedding colors. Depending on the time of year you are both marrying. Your wedding invite may reflect the season or color of your flower.

Ribbons are a brilliant way to add a bit of opulence to any card but especially a wedding invitation. You can add a ribbon with a bow to the top of the card. Another idea would be to glue the ribbon on one side of the card generally on the left hand side leaving the wording to be inserted on the right hand side. Brides can use ribbons to break up the wording and insert a colored ribbon around the middle of the card. Brides may choose to select a card which opens in the middle and is secured by a ribbon. When guests untie the knot they then can see the wedding words inside the card. No matter what type or style of ribbon, you will have a fabulous time deciding.

Hopefully this will give you some ideas and help you both on your invite decision.

Wedding Shower Games

Bridal Shower Games: Make The Next One You Host A Big Hit By Gail Leino

When you host a bridal shower, you really want to focus on making the event special for the future bride. However, you also want to make it fun and exciting for those attending. Here are some quick and easy bridal shower games you can use that won’t cost you a fortune:

1. The Bridal Trivia Game: This will take some preparation, but is an inexpensive and fun game to show how much those invited truly know about the future bride. You can make it part observational, like what color shoes the future bride is wearing today, to “about the bride” questions, like where was the future bride born. You can even hold two separate trivia games and your bridal shower games will be completely covered. The person answering the most questions correctly will be the winner.

2. The “ABC” Game: All you need for this bridal shower game is a sheet of paper with the alphabet listed down the left hand side. Next to each item, party goers need to write something that starts with that letter that deals with a wedding. “A” could stand for a wedding “A”lbum. “B” could be a “B”ridal shower. “C” could represent the wedding “C”ake. Set the time limit for the game at only a minute. The person getting the most items listed in that time will be the winner.

3. A Bridal Scramble or Word Find: Using your computer, you can make up a bridal scramble or word find for a bridal shower game. For the scramble, you would take words associated with a wedding, like wedding gown, tuxedo, rings, church, reception hall, flower girls, ring bearer, and mix all the letters up. Those playing would have to unscramble the words into their appropriate form. For the word find, you could take similar words and hide them within a huge square of letters. The first person to unscramble all the words or find all the words will be the winner.

Little prizes are great for bridal shower games. Items like picture frames or candle holders can be decorated with little bows and ribbons for a special little gift.

Wedding Cake Decorations

Wedding Cake Decorations and More By Mike Bunata

There are many avenues you can take when creating a work of art through a wedding decorations for cakes. Although the cake does have to taste good, the success of a wedding cake is all about how it looks.

All of us have heard the saying "it is all about the presentation", well that is very true in this case. wedding decorations for cakes are more creative today than they were ten, fifteen, and even twenty years ago. The bride use to be the only topic after the wedding but that is not the case any longer.

The talk now is about the wedding decorations for cakes, how the cake was decorated, and how creative it was. We have turned away from the more traditional look of the wedding cake to a look that reflects our personalities, ideas, and creativity. Wedding cake decorations come in different styles, sizes, and materials. You can make decorations for your wedding cake out of just about anything you can think of.

Your decorations can be made out of edible products such as fondants, gumpaste, glazes and candy pearl beads and even edible luster dust to give that shimmering look. With fondants and gumpaste, you can create any shape, size, and design you want. You can also color the icing to incorporate your wedding colors in to the cake.

Cake decorations have come a long way from the typically traditional version we have always seen. Don't worry if you are more of a traditional person then you can certainly still have that and even improve on the more traditional look with various types of wedding cake toppers and even a prop such as an attached bridge for the more glamorous look for even the most traditional cakes. Now days you can even have moving parts on your wedding cake. Your cake can rotate and possibly have some moving parts on it.

You can find a good decorator to fulfill your dream wedding cake. If you desire a wilder version of themes, you are more than likely to find someone to accommodate your needs. More vivid colors are available for the icing with many different techniques of applications for decorating a cake. The options are endless with wedding cake decorations, for instance you can have your cake airbrushed with all kinds of colors with any design or scene you like.

You can have the tiniest of details for your design. If you love nature, you can even use live flowers on the cake for your decorations. They can be positioned just right with as many or few as you want. Flowers do not always have to be made of sugar even though you can eat them and they taste better.

But the look of using live flowers can also take your breath away with the vibrant colors of each petal. There are many patterns and trimming effects to bring out any design on your cake. Even wedding cakes fall within the different seasons and themes of weddings.

They can be decorated to suite all themes for any holiday, seasons and memorable times in your life. The cake decoration can reflect the place you were engaged or met your future spouse. It can be made to look like a particular place or interest you both might have. You imagination is the only thing that sets your wedding cake apart from any other.

Wedding Centerpiece Ideas

Wedding Centerpiece Ideas on a Budget By Gail Vince

Wedding centerpieces may not be considered important at some festivities however a wedding is a different story. You set the mood of the occasion by complimenting you and your partner's personalities with carefully chosen embellishments.

Choosing the incorrect wedding centerpieces can make or break the decorations so careful consideration when selecting the embellishments is vital.

Consider the wedding theme, the size your tables, color of your tablecloths, color of wedding attire and the venue's décor.

Flowers are commonly chosen as wedding centerpieces for their variety, color, fragrance and ease of availability. Choosing flowers which are out of season can become costly and difficult to find. An alternative to using fresh flowers of your choice, you could use silk flowers on their own or mixed with fresh flowers.

The choice to use or not to use flowers is a personal one. The idea of using something other than flowers excites me because the imagination can really come into things. You can spend a lot of money on any kind of embellishments' or by doing it yourself you can have the satisfaction of knowing that you have created this outstanding design and saved yourself a lot of money.

You don't have to be a crafty person. Look through magazines, photos' you have taken or family and friends have taken, website images or ask wedding venues if you can see a set up of a wedding that will be taking place if you are thinking of holding your reception at their venue. The latter could also be of benefit as you may be able to combine your ideas with that of a previous wedding party to reduce costs and time in setting up if you are holding your reception on the same day.

If you must have flowers a cheaper alternative but one which still adds elegance to your wedding reception, try the flamingo lily or birds of paradise. Place in a tall vase/glass and fill with white river rocks. Accentuate with white unscented pillar candles. The reason for using unscented candles at the table is that although scented candles emit a beautiful aroma, you may find this a bit overpowering and not want this whilst you and your guests are eating.

The use of fruits as wedding centerpieces can create a very attractive and affordable alternative. With a bit of creativity and imagination, you are able to make something wonderful out of fruit.

Place whole lemons' in a vase combined with sunflowers. Use cut limes, sliced apples, whole grapes, berries or colored seeds...the list is endless. Tropical fruits, including pomegranates cut in half. Buy glass vases or containers for your centerpiece from markets, bargain shops or $2 stores. Use your imagination for a summer wedding!

By filling glasses with colored stones, water, rose buds or orchids and floating candles you are able to create a wonderful centerpiece. Alternatively, sand, shells and greenery create an effective display. Lavender, fruit, gum leaves - get those creative juices going - go green.

Collect (free) branches, leaves, pine cones, driftwood and spray with gold or silver metallic spray paint. Arrange in the center of the table with a few long lasting tea lights. Other alternatives are ivy, holly and rosemary. Dark table cloths really set this off. An eye catching arrangement!

Remember your guests. Try not make your centerpieces too bulky so guest have trouble talking to and seeing each other or that they take up large amounts of room on the table and then only allows very minimal room for placement of crockery and glassware.

Another extra to place on tables for guests is a disposable camera. This allows guests' to take snapshots of other guests, or you and the bridal party. Photo's that you would not normally have taken. One camera on each table is sufficient.

Wedding Ceremony Song

Songs For Your Wedding Ceremony By Ashley Rader

Many brides are going for the less traditional approach when it comes to the songs for their wedding ceremony. Most brides are choosing to walk down the aisle to something other than the "Wedding March" and most of the time it is a song that is significant to them and has meaning to the couple's relationship. But, if you want your wedding ceremony to be unique, but you don't know where to begin here are some tips and some great songs to help you get started.

1.) Have fun when choosing your ceremony songs. This can be a great opportunity for you and your fiancé to slow down and cuddle up in the midst of all your hectic wedding plans. Be sure to listen to each other and choose music you both like, after all, your wedding is about you as a couple and not just you as individuals.

2.) When choosing ceremony songs, choose something classically romantic. Most people don't want to see you walk down the aisle to "Super Freak", or something similar, no matter how funny or original you may think it is. The processional especially, should include songs that have a romantic and timeless feel, even if they are new releases.

3.) It's perfectly okay to choose something more upbeat for your recessional. After all it is a happy moment and its okay to want to celebrate a little. Just be careful to choose something that isn't crude and is guaranteed to put a smile on everyone's face.

4.) The processional and recessional songs should take time into consideration. If you want a different song for each part of the ceremony, you need to pick a time length and where you want each song to stop and end. You also need to get with the person who will be assisting you with sound at your wedding and ask make sure they understand the cues for each song.

Here are some fabulous songs to help you get started, as you are choosing songs for each part of your ceremony.

The Prelude

The prelude begins no later than at least twenty to thirty minutes before the ceremony begins and this is usually the time when guests are coming in and being seated. Since the prelude sets the tone for the rest of the ceremony, you should choose music that flows well with the other songs you will be choosing. Here are some great ideas:

Classical Choices:

1.) "Solomon HWV 67: The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba"

2.) "Purcell: Trumpet Tune"

3.) "Romeo and Juliet: Love Theme"

4.) "Sonata for Trumpet and Strings No.1 in D"

5.) "Trumpet Voluntary"

More Modern Choices:

1.) "Tailor Made" - Colbie Caillat

2.) "A Song For You" - Michael Buble

3.) "One Sweet Love" - Sara Bareilles

4.) "If Tonight Is My Last" - Laura Izibor

5.) "Lucky"- Jason Mraz

6.) "On A Night Like This" - Dave Barnes

The Wedding Party Processional

The entrance of the wedding party officially marks the beginning of the ceremony. It should have a slow, romantic feel. But, it could also reflect the excitement that your guests may be feeling about the upcoming entrance of the bride.

Classical Choices:

1. "Canon in D Major"
2. "The Four Seasons: Violin Concerto in E Major"
3. "Pictures at an Exhibition: I. Promenade"
4. "Salut D'amour, Op. 12"

More Modern Choices:

1.) "Bubbly" Colbie Caillat

2.) "But I Do Love You" - LeAnne Rimes

3.) "Fall Into Me" - Sugarland

4.) Intro of "Boston"- Augustana

5.) "If I Ain't Got You" - Alicia Keys

6.) "I'll Be" - Edwin McCain

7.) "Love and Some Verses" Iron & Wine The Bridal Processional

This is the most incredible moment of the entire ceremony and it deserves an incredible song to go with it. You should choose a very special song, whether classical or modern to make the moment a truly memorable one.

Classical Choices:

1.) "Wagner's Bridal Chorus"

2.) "Concerto for Clarinet in A Major"

3.) Meditation From Thais"

4.) "Suite Bergamasque: III. Clair de Lune"

5.) Quintet in A Minor, Op. 25: Minuetto"

More Modern Choices:

1.) "I Do (Cherish You)"- 98°

2.) "Close Your Eyes" - Dave Barnes

3.) "More Than Love"- Los Lonely Boys

4.) "For My Love"- Bethany Dillon

5.) "Make You Feel My Love" - Adele

6.) "When God Made You" - NewSong

7.) "I Swear" - All-4-One

8.) "From This Moment On" - Shania Twain

The Recessional

This is a time for celebration! The officiate has finally pronounced you husband and wife. What better reason to celebrate! So whether you choose a classical piece or a more modern song, be sure that it reflects your joy, because this will be a truly memorable moment for both of you.

Classical Choices:

1.) "A Midsummer's Night's Dream, Op. 61 Incidental Music: No. 9 Wedding March"

2.) "Music for the Royal Fireworks"

3.) "Grand March from Aida"

4.) "Crown Imperial"

5.) "The Marriage of Figaro: Overture"

More Modern Choices:

1.) "Celebration"- Kool & The Gang

2.) "Come Fly With Me" - Frank Sinatra

3.) "What I Like About You" - The Romantics

4.) "Walking on Sunshine" - Katrina and the Waves

5.) "I'm A Believer"- The Monkees

6.) "I Believe In A Thing Called Love"- The Darkness

As you can see this is quite an extensive list, and while you may choose all of them or none of them, the goal was to give you some songs that may point you in the direction you need to go when choosing the music for your ceremony.

wedding cross stitch

Start Cross Stitching With a Kit By Joanne Jones

Has this ever happened to you? You have a friend who is into a craft, like cross stitching, and then they show you how to do it. The craft appeals to you, so you decide to start a cross stitch project to see how well you like doing it yourself. But when you go to your local craft store and find out that to buy all the different supplies, it is quite expensive. Instead of spending a lot of money, or giving up on the craft all together, you have the option of buying a kit.

Kits are great because they include everything you need. Some kits only include the pattern, needle, floss, fabric and easy to understand instructions. But there are kits out there that also include a frame. There are a variety of kits available in many different sizes and cost. Some kits have a small design to cross stitch; these are great because they can be done in a weekend.

Also, if you are just getting into cross stitching, there are many benefits of starting with a kit.

1. First, they come with all the supplies you need. This will save you time, since you won't have to gather and buy all the supplies before you start. Just pick a kit and start cross stitching.

2. As well, if you have never cross stitched before, you might not be sure how much you are going to like it. So, buy a kit with a small design as your first project. This way, if you don't like it, then at least you haven't spent a lot of money on supplies you will never use again.

3. Another benefit of kits is that they are easy to store because they don't take up a lot of room. Most kits are the size of a legal envelope and are no thicker than half an inch. Kits that include baby blankets or quilts tend to be a bit thicker, but are still easy to store away. Once you move away from kits and you start buying the different supplies, especially the floss and fabric, you will need to come up with an organization system that not only makes it easy to find all your supplies, but also protects them from environmental factors like humidity and sunlight.

4. Finally, kits make wonderful gifts - whether you complete the kit yourself and give the finished project away or whether you give the kit as the gift. The most common gift to complete is for a baby or wedding announcement because you get to personalize it.

Wedding Decoration Ideas

Unique Wedding Decoration Ideas - Use Wedding Lights as Part of Your Decor By Brenda Prevost

Planning a wedding means making some big decorating decisions. Using wedding lights will add ambiance, brilliance and romance to your wedding decor. Here are some of the choices available to make your special day shine.

WEDDING LIGHT DISPLAYS

Add a dramatic and elegant touch to your wedding décor using wedding light displays.

Wedding light displays come in a variety of styles and colors. Some favorites include bells, doves and hearts. There are also roses and even cupid styles. Just plug them in and you’ve got a spectacular lighted wedding decoration.

Most wedding light displays are for indoor or outdoor use making them an easy way to decorate. Place one above the wedding party’s table, over the entry way to the reception area or near the dance floor. Accent them with some string lights on white wire and you’ve got a truly beautiful wedding decoration.

As an added benefit, wedding light displays can also be used at Christmas or Valentine’s Day. Once you see how beautiful these displays are, they will be the first decoration up next holiday season!

BATTERY OPERATED MINI WEDDING LIGHTS

There are two varieties of these wedding lights; incandescent or LED.

If you are using floral table centerpieces, then battery operated mini lights make the perfect accent. Nest them in your floral arrangement and turn them on. They turn an ordinary bouquet into an exquisite centerpiece.

Battery operated mini wedding lights are a great accent anywhere you want to add sparkle. Intertwine them with some white garland around windows or table tops a shimmering effect. Here’s an easy wedding decoration idea. Buy an 18 inch grapevine wreath, some small dried flowers (like baby’s breath) and wide white ribbon. Secure the battery pack to the back and weave the lights around the wreath. Next attach bunches of the dried flowers over the lights and wreath. Wrap the ribbon around the top to hang and you have an elegant lighted wedding decoration.

One safety consideration using battery operated incandescent mini wedding lights; they run hot so use caution when placing them near flammable materials for extended periods of time.

WEDDING STRING LIGHTS

Clean and classic, these wedding lights add luminescence and elegance to your wedding décor. Their decorating uses are limited only by your imagination.

White wedding lights are available in incandescent or LED and come in mini, globe, C6, C7 and C9 styles. The difference between incandescent and LED is economy and safety. LED wedding lights are more expensive but run cooler than incandescent. LED lights also use about 80% less electricity than incandescent, so they pay for themselves over time. Also, LED wedding lights have a much longer bulb life than incandescent, reducing the expense of replacing worn out string lights. With the right accessories, LED wedding lights make a brilliant ceiling-to-floor display or a wonderful accent to the rope light sculptures.

Mini wedding string lights are best used as accents around windows and doors. If you are planning an outdoor wedding these lights make great arbor accents. Nesting them in the arbor’s foliage creates a starry canopy for the bride and groom.

Here’s a quick and easy wedding decoration idea. Loosely wrap (like a cigar) a string of LED mini wedding lights in tulle and place along the edge of a table top. You’ve created a gorgeous wedding decoration in just a few minutes.

Globe, C6, C7 and C9 wedding lights are best for exterior or perimeter applications. Globe wedding lights come in two sizes (G12 and G25). Globe wedding lights can be used as room accents like around the tops of walls or windows.

No matter what type of wedding lights you use, it is a good idea to buy an extra strand or two just in case of emergencies (the nervous bride will be forever grateful). Also, plug all the lights in to ensure they are working properly. A little preventative measure goes a long way.

Keep your wedding decorating tasks minimal and still make your guests think you’ve spent countless hours creating the perfect atmosphere. Wedding lights make it possible. With a little imagination and lots of fun, you’ll have the perfect look for your special day!

Wedding Dress Patterns

Wedding Dress Patterns - Make Your Own Dream Dress! By Beverley Post

One way to get the designer dress you have always dreamed of is to make it yourself or have someone you know make it for you. Even if you hire out the sewing job, it will be cheaper than actually buying that designer gown that you saw some movie star wear on a magazine cover.

You would choose a wedding dress pattern in the same way you would choose a wedding dress from a boutique. Choose a style that you love and that is good for your body type. One way you can do this if you are not sure if it will suit your body type is to go to a boutique, find a similar style, and try it on.

The best way to find the best patterns is to visit several pattern maker's Internet websites or call and ask for a catalog of wedding dress patterns. When you get the catalogs you can start looking for the dream gown that you want. You can also look at the bridal salons to get an idea of what you want and then look for the pattern. You will be using a bridal salon to order the bridesmaids dresses anyway so it causes no harm.

Since you have decided to sew your own dress or have one made for you, you may be wondering how much it will cost to have it made. There are a few considerations that will help to determine that such as the type of fabric you will be using to make your dress. Fabrics can be pricey, and wedding gowns have many different types of fabrics in them as a rule. For example most dresses are made of satin and lace with tulle underneath.

Do your research and watch for fabric sales at fabric stores and online. Fabric can run from about $4.00 per yard and up. You can even find wedding gowns that are being sold very inexpensively that you might be able to use several things off of on your own gown.

The second consideration is whether you will be making the gown or hiring the sewing job out to someone else. If you will be doing the sewing yourself, the cost will be just materials. If you hire a seamstress, you will have to look around for one that has rates that you can afford. It will run you two to five hundred dollars depending on the complexity of the design, and the detail that will need to go into it.

There will be many fittings, and design aspects of the dress that you will have to decide on. Do you want a long train and if so you will need a bustle. You also need to make a veil which is not hard to do, and you can match it perfectly to your gown by using some accents on it that are used on your gown. You can also purchase a veil.

Be sure to go over every small detail of your dress to make sure that is exactly the way you want it. It will look like that designer gown you saw on the cover of that magazine and no doubt you will look just as beautiful in it.

Wedding Favour Boxes

Wedding Favour Boxes - A Quick Guide By Waiman Yau

Wedding favour boxes are a traditional thing and a great way to present your favours to guests. They can be very versatile and offer protection for your gifts and they can be personalised with text on them. With such a wide range of boxes available, you are bound to find one that will fit perfectly into the theme and style of your wedding. A little imagination can go a long way in being creative and producing something personal and effective. These days, couple are becoming ever more creative in how they present their favours to guests.

Favour boxes are available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, colours and materials. You can get anything heart-shaped boxes to small mini-pails. Favour boxes can be simple cardboard to metal! You simply need to decide upon a theme and them select the box that best fits. The costs can also vary widely depending on various factors. For example, if you bought a ready-made box, it will be much more expensive than a DIY favour box that you will have to assemble yourself. Most favour boxes from the Internet these days are flat-packed that you will have to assemble yourselves and this has the advantage of providing cost savings.

In the days of olde a favour box used to be very ornate, encrusted with jewels and lined with precious metals. Inside them, the bride and groom put very expensive sweets or confectioneries, usually chocolate. While today most couples cannot afford such lavish boxes, the tradition carries on with the boxes being used to contain the sweets. Even if the favours are not sweets, many people still turn to favour boxes to add an extra element of appreciation for the guests who are sharing such a wonderful moment with them.