Magical Event… (PIC)

Princess Kate Flower Gallery

Whenever Kate Middleton makes a public appearance, she receives armloads of flowers from her admiring crowds. These typically include roses, carnations, daisies, and mixed flower bouquets. However, what is Kate’s favorite flower? ABC news reported that she especially enjoys white lilies. If she’s looking for fragrance in a white lily, she should seek the summer blooming ‘Casa Blanca’ Oriental lily. Under ideal growing conditions, the stems may reach six feet tall, bearing huge trumpet-shaped blooms that hawkmoths adore.

By Jamie McIntosh

http://flowers.about.com/od/Special-Occasion-Flowers/ss/Princess-Kate-Flower-Gallery_9.htm

10 Quick and Easy Tips for Everyday Etiquette

There are times throughout every day of your life when you have to make a choice of whether to use good etiquette or be a clod. Please, for the sake of humanity and civility, take the high road and be a lady or gentleman. Even under the most trying of situations, it isn’t that much more difficult, and you’ll feel better later if you do the right thing.

Be Friendly and Polite

If you step outside your house during the day, you’re likely to encounter people, so try to be friendly. Even on miserable days when everything seems to be going wrong, forcing a smile has the potential to lift the mood of not only the person you’re looking at but yours as well. Offer a greeting, and you might even see an extra ray of sunshine.

Certain words carry a tremendous amount of power when you care enough to be polite and civil to others. Add “please,” “thank you,” “you’re welcome,” and “excuse me” to your vocabulary, and you may find others responding with reciprocated kindness.

Be On Time

Avoid being late for an appointment with anyone, whether it's your doctor or your child. Being on time shows your respect for the other person.

Be a Helper

You don’t have to be a Boy Scout to help out your fellow citizen. If you see someone whose arms are overloaded with packages, open the door. Also, if you have just entered a building and someone is right behind you, hold the door to keep it from slamming in his or her face.

Respect Others

When you interact with other people, you need to respect them. Allow others to voice their opinions without argument. Respect their personal space as you would want others to respect yours. When you are in the company of someone of greater authority, show him or her proper respect.

The old saying “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything” is wise and should be followed in most social situations. You’ll avoid having to backtrack or explain if you keep your snarky thoughts to yourself.

Let Others Go First

If you can let others go first without awkwardness, then do it. This includes walking, standing in line, and driving. A woman with small children will appreciate getting through the checkout lane quickly, particularly if her children are hungry or bored. If a driver needs to move into your lane, and you can let him in without the person behind you rear-ending you, then gesture for him to go ahead.

Hold Down the Noise

This world has become too noisy, so try not to add to it. Keep your cell phone ringer volume as low as possible. If you work in an office cubicle, be considerate of your fellow office mates by keeping your voice low while chatting on the phone. Don’t honk at other drivers unless it’s to avoid an accident.

Eat Politely

Whether you brought your lunch or you’re eating out with friends, everyone appreciates good table manners that your parents should have taught you. Keep your elbows off the table, don’t talk with your mouth full, and avoid reaching across people to grab the saltshaker. Formal dinners have more etiquette rules, so if you’ll be going to one of those, take a little time to brush up on what’s expected.

Remove Your Hat

The old remove-the-hat-indoors etiquette rule seems to have gone out the window, but there are still some guidelines that you’d be wise to follow. If your hat is large and obstructs someone’s view (such as at church or in a theater), remove it. If you are on a business call or job interview, don’t risk being seen as impolite by leaving your hat on. When the national anthem is played, it’s a sign of respect to stand and remove your hat.

Send a Thank You Note

Being thankful will never go out of style. When someone does something for you, or sends you a gift, thank the person with a handwritten note. It’s the least you can do for a person who has taken the time to think of you.

Introduce People

When you are in a situation where you’re the only person who knows the other parties, take the time to introduce them. Look at the person whose name you are saying, speak clearly, and if you’re in a social setting, find something the people have in common. For example, you might say, “Jim, I’d like you to meet my friend Sally. She just got back from Italy, and since you used to live there, I thought you might enjoy talking about your experiences.”

By Debby Mayne

http://etiquette.about.com/od/Manners/a/10-Quick-And-Easy-Tips-For-Everyday-Etiquette.htm

Etiquette Mistakes at the Company Holiday Party

At the very least, excess celebration and etiquette mistakes at the company holiday party can become fodder for next day stories and eventually office legend for future parties.

And, according to industry surveys, about 15% of those companies that have hosted holiday parties say that inappropriate employee behavior at holiday parties in the past has impacted an individual's career growth in the company.

Avoid these excessive behaviors and you're likely to be asked to return to next year's party:

1. Excessive Drinking.

This is probably the most common mistake that some employees and managers make during the year end holiday celebration. While many organizations are still offering a full bar, others have begun limiting how much alcohol will be served at the event. Regardless of the company’s decision, it highlights that nobody should over-consume.

Holiday Party Drinking Tips:

Limit drinks with alcohol to a maximum of two.

Avoid mixing drinks.

Drink coffee, tea, soft drinks and water.

2. Excessive Eating.

Party Scenario: Excess grease leftover from a recent spicy chicken wing partially on the napkin stuffed in your pocket - next to the rolled up cocktail meatball napkin - and partially on your free hand (the other hand is wet from a drink). One of the bosses walks up to you, ready to be greeted.

People who attend events understand that food and beverage will be part of the experience. But it's important to be considerate of how others will approach you, and that includes etiquette basics, such as maintaining clean hands and avoiding a mouth full of passed canopies.

Holiday Party Eating Tips:

Do not walk around with multiple hors d'oeuvres.

Do not double dip or return buffet food.

Properly discard napkins, toothpicks, etc.

3. Excessive Talking.

Party Scenario: You meet the Sr. VP of your division for the first time at the party, and share a 15 minute, detailed story about the office move from six months ago.

Most people gravitate and spend time with their colleagues and direct managers. However, try to make an effort to speak informally with as many people at the event as possible. That means limiting the time anyone spends with any single individual or group of guests.

Executives enjoy speaking with employees, and for many, this may be the only interaction. Also, avoid appearing bored by others in attendance.

Holiday Party Conversation Tips:

Limit conversations to 5 minutes.

Avoid in-depth discussions about business.

Thank party hosts and organizers.

4. Excessive Complaining.

Party Scenario: You're still talking with that Sr. VP about the move, but now you're explaining how it causes an extra 8 minutes to your commute.

In addition to keeping conversations brief, event guests should also remember that this is meant to be a time when everyone can celebrate the successes of the year. That means a cheerful mood.

Remember, stories are often heard by others who are nearby, and those people will add their own spin to the story. A stray comment can quickly be taken out of context and become this year's rumor mill, and your name is on it.

5. Excessive Attire.

Party Scenario: In preparation for the company event, a few ladies may choose that form fitting, low cut, sequin dress and highly fragrant new perfume. For a few men, they may think it's the ideal time to show off that shiny suit (which should never have been worn) ... and, oh yea, that strong, new cologne.

Pay attention to the attire description listed on the event invitation. This may be a holiday party, but it's being attended by your coworkers, not personal friends and family.

Women, please try to avoid these 5 holiday fashion mistakes. And, men, consider these wardrobe essentials for formal or semi-formal occasions in advance of the party.

From Rob Hard

http://eventplanning.about.com/od/eventplanningbasics/tp/holiday_party_etiquette.htm

Corporate Holiday Parties Are Great Morale Builders

If there’s one thing that’s consistent over time among employers during the year end holiday season it’s this: the vast majority of organizations hold an annual holiday party for their employees.

More than 85% of businesses will host such a party in 2007, according to results of the 2007 Battalia Winston (BW) Annual Survey of Corporate Holiday Celebrations . BW is an international search firm headquartered in New York City, and the firm has been surveying employers about their annual parties since 1988.

But many organizations are looking carefully at how they are approaching the annual holiday party. In fact, 19% of respondents to the BW 2007 survey indicated that the current market conditions such as subprime crisis and the weak housing have impacted planning decisions.

To be sure, for those companies hosting a year end holiday party, event planners are in an excellent position to advise their employers and clients about strategies to reduce holiday party expenses that still result in great celebrations.

Fewer Holiday Parties in 2007

Even though 85% of employers may seem like a high number, this is actually a drop of about 9% vs. 2006 when 94% held events. A historical look at trend results finds that only two years when fewer employers hosted holiday parties:

83% in 2001 (post 9/11)

82% in 1991 (recessionary year)

These results reinforce what many event planners already recognize: most employers remain interested in hosting an annual holiday party. That’s a given. These events are generally cost effective and are great morale builders. But other noticeable trends may be found from an analysis of the BW study over time.

More Companies Shifting to Lunch Holiday Events

According to 2007 survey results, 54% of companies expect to hold an evening event while 46% will be held during lunch. This trend toward daytime events has been growing over time:

40% held lunch parties in 2005

27% held lunch parties in 2002

34% held lunch parties in 2000

29% held lunch parties in 1998

Such a shift to an afternoon event is one of several strategies that event planners are using help reduce holiday party expenses.

Holiday Party Alcohol Consumption Declines

The BW survey found that 70% of companies will serve alcohol in 2007. This is a significant reduction since the year 2000 when 90% of companies served alcohol at holiday events.

Of those companies today that are including alcohol, more than half are taking steps to help restrict alcohol consumption. Event planners are incorporating the following ideas:

9% are limiting complimentary drink tickets

13% are serving beer and wine only

16% are closing the bar early

20% are focusing the event on the meal

Additional Holiday Party Trends That Impact Planning

Some other findings from the 2007 survey that event planners should note include the following:

76% are held off-site; 24% are held on-site

10% provide general gift bags at holiday parties

4% provide a cash bar

From Rob Hard

http://eventplanning.about.com/od/eventplanningbasics/qt/holiday_parties.htm

BLACK FRIDAY SALE

(PIC) Do you need to a venue for a business meeting, seminar and training? We are the perfect place

Top 5 Popular Corporate Events

According to Meeting Professionals International, more than $122 billion is spent annually in the U.S. meetings industry (2006). This money is most commonly spent at resort hotels, city hotels, suburban hotels, conference centers, restaurants, country clubs, convention centers, and at nearly every unique venue imaginable.

Whether at a corporate environment, association, non-profit or government agency, the most popular corporate events typically fall into one of the following programs:

1. Seminars and Conferences

Purpose: Organizations plan and hold these meetings with targeted audiences, and provide them with relevant information.

Description: Seminars are usually shorter events, lasting a couple hours, ½ day or a whole day. They have single or multiple speakers, and keep all participants together in the same space. Conferences, on the other hand, typically have multiple sessions that occur concurrently. They are typically held at hotels, begin with a keynote session and then hold breakout sessions by topic. A conference is usually planned for 2/3 of a day, one day, two days or sometimes longer.

2. Trade Shows

Purpose: Organizations attend trade shows as a lead generation activity, or host one to reinforce their image as an industry leader among those who attend, such as members, customers, prospects and suppliers.

Description: Event planning for trade shows involves negotiating sponsorship rates for trade show booth space, advertising and promotion at the event, and sometimes speaking opportunities at the event for the leadership at your company to speak. Many logistical details exist to assure that the trade show booth, promotional materials, giveaways, and staff arrive on time for your company.

3. Executive Retreats and Incentive Programs

Purpose: This is where the big bucks are spent on a per person basis. Often held at luxury resorts in exclusive destinations, and they receive the most visibility in an organization. Business development and organizational planning are the topics of the agenda.

Description: Executive retreats and incentive trips typically last between three and five days, and require attention to site selection, lodging, transportation, catering, business meetings, and golf and other activities. Negotiation skills must be sharp because these programs involve all aspects of event planning.

4. Golf Events

Purpose: One favorite event at every organization is to hold its annual golf outing. Relationship management is the primary objective; however, business content must always drive event planning, not the other way around.

Description: Most golf courses prefer their clients to reserve tee times either first thing in the morning or at 1 p.m., if you are not renting out the course and clubhouse for the whole day. That can cause scheduling issues as it relates to the business meeting content. During the planning phase, it is important to keep internal clients on track, and not allow them to minimize the business time.

5. Appreciation Events

Purpose: These programs allow an event host to spend informal time with its guests in a non-traditional environment, giving both parties an opportunity to build a rapport and learn more about mutual business priorities.

Description: There are limitless possibilities and types of appreciation events that organizations hold throughout the year. Common programs include:

Dinner and theater

Day at the race track

Suites at sporting arenas

Day and evening cruises

Private parties at music festivals

Holiday parties

Tickets to the most popular events in town

by Rob Hard. 

http://eventplanning.about.com/od/eventplanningbasics/tp/common_events.htm

Etiquette Mistakes at Business Events

Everyone knows someone who could use a few lessons in business etiquette. And while their occasional missteps may sometimes make a few of us laugh, we’re all hopeful that those stories aren’t related to any of us.

Business etiquette doesn’t have to be complicated. But there are certainly some bad manners that can be easily avoided at business meetings and events, including seminars, conferences, business meals or cocktail receptions.

Avoid these meeting etiquette errors and you should be fine.

1. Failing to respond to the RSVP.

Etiquette Scenario: You are a manager in the company and receive an invitation from the director of another department in the company, inviting you to attend an important product launch. The RSVP requests that you call a specific individual to confirm your attendance.

You put the invitation to the side of your desk, and it quickly gets covered by a stack of work. Two weeks later the inviting host calls you up and extends a personal invitation, also asking that you interact socially with key customers at the launch. At that time, you give an enthusiastic, “yes.”

Etiquette tip: Respond within five days of receiving any invitation.

2. Failing to follow the dress code.

Etiquette Scenario: The printed invitation you left 10 weeks ago on your desk served as a scrap piece of paper for some random conversation since then. The product launch is a breakfast seminar at a local hotel.

Because you work at a software company where the dress code is always business casual, you’re wearing khakis and a long sleeve shirt. You’re greeted at the registration table by a colleague in the company, and then step into the meeting room and find everyone else is wearing business attire.

Etiquette tip: Read the invitation prior to the event and recognize the dress code information. When in doubt, always overdress for circumstances.

3. Failing to arrive on time.

Etiquette Scenario: The invite agenda of the product launch you’re attending indicates arrivals at 8:30 a.m. and opening remarks at 9:00 a.m.; there’s a breakfast buffet for guests during this time. You look at your watch and it’s 8:50 a.m., feeling confident that you arrived on time.

In a hurry, you failed to notice the two internal emails that were sent, summarizing the agenda and asking that you arrive between 8:00 and 8:15 a.m. so that corporate managers are present when important clients arrive (and some always arrive early).

Etiquette tip: Corporate managers and staff are always expected to be the first to arrive at an event.

4. Failing to extend the correct handshake.

Etiquette Scenario: With 10 minutes on your side before the presentation begins, you scan the room to quickly acknowledge colleagues and check if you recognize any specific customers (you failed to review the guest list that was sent to you in advance).

You walk past two or three clients wearing name badges and say hello to another corporate manager, shaking her hand. Then, you grab a plate of food and bottle of water. With both hands full, you’re finally ready to say hello to a client.

Etiquette tip: Nobody is interested in shaking your wet, clammy hand. Shake hands after you’ve properly eaten and washed. At this point, greet verbally and your client will understand.

5. Failing to introduce new people to those around you.

Etiquette Scenario: You find a table for your muffin and water, and sit down – three minutes before the meeting begins.

Lucky for you, everyone at the table knows you, but only three of eight people know each other. Thinking you don't have enough time, you turn to speak with the three familiar people, and overlook the others.

Etiquette tip: Remember to introduce everyone in the group, and make every effort to introduce lower ranking individuals to the higher rank in the group (in that order). Also, remember to include titles and formal names. (“Mr. John Smith, let me introduce you to Dr. Jane Jones, our vice president of product development. Dr. Jones, Mr. Smith is director of client relations at Acme Corporation.”)

6. Failing to speak to appropriate topics.

Etiquette Scenario: The first hour of the meeting has past, and it’s time for a break. You finally remember to introduce some of the people at your table.

Then, you remember that a child of one of the people at the table was battling a serious illness a couple months ago, and decide to ask about the status of his or her health.

Etiquette tip: Several topics should be avoided in group event situations, and personal health topics is among them. Other topics that should be avoided include matters of personal finance, divisive topics and anything in the realm of gossip.

7. Failing to yield respectful courtesies to others at the event.

Etiquette Scenario: Everyone at the table is getting along during the break, and the discussion goes into more depth on some of the talking points from the previous presentation. A client at the table is extremely interested in what your company has done to develop this new product.

You have attended a product development training about this, and decide to share some perspectives with the table. You don’t notice this right away, but Dr. Jones was just about to respond to the question. You hear that she started to utter something, but continue on.

Etiquette tip: Show deference to others in a variety of social and business settings. Dr. Jones is the senior executive at the table, and this is her question to address.

8. Failing to follow other business etiquette rules.

Okay, the product launch event has long past. It’s the end of the year, and your colleagues decide to offer you a departmental roast. Your four favorite colleagues in management do their best to entertain the rest of your department about your business etiquette violations of the year. A few of the additional topics include:

Excessive drinking at company events.

Inappropriate table manners.

Lack of chivalry.

Lack of thank you messages/acknowledgements.

http://eventplanning.about.com/od/eventplanningbasics/tp/business-etiquette-mistakes.htm

From Rob Hard

Make your Corporate Event with us (pic)

Ways to Save Money on Flowers at Your Wedding

While the average price of weddings in the United States has risen to more than $20,000 (and $40,000 in large cities such as New York), brides are finding creative ways to spend that money more wisely, and discovering cheap wedding ideas that help them save money. Here are some cheap wedding ideas for the flowers -- ways to have a beautiful visual impact without spending a fortune. 

Use only in season and readily available flowers. Be honest with your florist about your budget, and have them recommend the most inexpensive flowers.

Give your florist a general style and color scheme, and any “banned” flowers that you hate, but generally allow them flexibility so they can use what is in season and cheapest. There are some times when peonies cost a fortune, and other times when they are so cheap you can fill your hall with them. Make sure this flexibility will be reflected in your final price tag.

Hold your wedding during the Christmas season or immediately after Easter when a church will already be decorated. 

Avoid holding your wedding in February when flower prices are at an annual high due to Valentine's Day.

Large arrangements on an altar will only be seen from far away. Use inexpensive flowers such as carnations, or large filling flowers such as snowball mums.

Some people think they can save money by moving the ceremony flowers to the reception. However, keep in mind that many churches and houses of worship require you to leave any flowers. Florists also hate to do this because large arrangements are hard to transport, and can become easily bruised or damaged in transit. (It's probably also least partially because it does cut down their bill.) You also will need to coordinate it so that the reception will not be held up by waiting for the ceremony flowers to arrive. 

Find a venue such as a park or garden that is already lush and beautiful.

Talk to your venues and see if any other brides have booked for the same day. If the two of you can coordinate flowers and split the cost, you’ll save a lot of money. 

Carnations are one of the cheapest flowers out there. A lot of people, myself included, really dislike them. But when they are used in abundance so that the blooms are packed together, they can be quite striking. Consider a low square table centerpiece of 20 carnation blooms with all of their stems and greenery removed.

Talk to party rental suppliers about renting large potted plants such as tropical palms or ficus. They visually fill a lot of space, and will help frame your ceremony site or warm up your reception. Best of all, renting a potted plant is far cheaper than buying large flower arrangements. Also, you may consider purchasing these large plants and using them in your home afterwards to get more use out of them.

More and more brides these days are arranging their own flowers such as bouquets of simple roses tied with a ribbon. Four or five pillar candles on top of rose petals makes an easy and cheap centerpiece. You can also easily create a centerpiece using wide shallow bowls filled with water and several floating gerber daisy blooms. If making boutonnieres and corsages intimidates you, these are generally inexpensive to order from a florist.

Consider ordering flowers from an online wholesaler such as Freshroses, WholeBlossoms, or Online Wholesale Flowers where you can get some of the best prices. Unlike at a florist, you will be responsible for all of the prep work of cleaning and trimming them, and keeping them alive until the wedding.

By Nina Callaway, 

http://weddings.about.com/od/weddingflowers/a/Cheapideas.htm

you're engaged! here's what to do next...

Congratulations, you're engaged! Now, here's what to do next....

Just got engaged? Congratulations! We show you what you should do next....

1. Save the date

When do you dream of holding your wedding? Will any guests need to travel from overseas to be there? Consider the season and public holidays. Once you have found an approximate date that sounds good, begin looking at ceremony and reception venues. It's much easier to find a florist to fit in with your wedding date than it is to find another reception centre like the one you've set your heart on. Once you have locked it in, send a save-the-date, the earlier the better – especially if your wedding involves overseas travel for anyone. 

2.Take a headcount

You'll need to have a rough idea of how many guests are to be invited before you set your budget and subsequently book your reception venue, order stationery, arrange catering and more. To be fair, an equal number of guests should be invited from both families. But if one family is bigger than the other, if one has more interstate members or one side is shouldering most or all of the costs, there will have to be some give and take. Generally, if one family would like to invite more people than the other family, they should be prepared to pay for the extra guests. Make sure you sit down with both sets of parents to ensure that no important family friends are forgotten in all the excitement! 

3. Choose a theme

It's easier to plan your wedding if you have a particular style in mind. The best way to create a theme is to match your cake, flowers, decorations and stationery. 

Consider the following: 

• Colour For example, use a green and ice pink theme for your bridesmaids' dresses, bouquets, floral decorations, wedding cake, bomboniere and more. 

• Traditional Think classic white wedding – princess dress and veil, roses, horse and carriage, church ceremony and a sit-down reception. 

• Nostalgic 1950s' rockabilly, Roaring 1940s' á la The Great Gatsby, Art Deco with feathers and crystal chandelier-drop lamps, vintage vibe, etc. 

• Personal This may invoke where the couple first met, celebrate their favourite hobbies or be appropriate to their lifestyles – from military to a casual beach wedding. 

• Cocktail Hire a funky bistro or cocktail lounge for a sophisticated champagne and canapé reception. 

• Cultural Suitable for multicultural couples or anyone with a different faith or background (think Greek plate smashing, Scottish kilts and bagpipes, or a lavish Bollywood-style Indian banquet). 

• Destination Get married at an exotic location with a few friends and family present, then begin your honeymoon straightaway! 

4. Keep your cool

Don't be surprised to find yourself juggling tricky inter-family tensions right from the start. It's no picnic posing for happy family photographs when both sets of parents are divorced and remarried, and everybody is on bad terms. Strategise early and agree on the position you and your partner will take, together, when conflicts arise – don't try and deal with tensions the week before the wedding. Talk to key people within your family, particularly someone respected, who can help resolve issues. Finally, sit down one-on-one with the people you are most concerned about, and let them know what you need from them. Be prepared to compromise and ask them questions such as, ‘Where would you feel most comfortable sitting at the wedding?' Try not to let difficult family members get you down. It's a rare family that doesn't have some dramas. In fact, it's almost expected! Accept that it's part of the landscape of organising a family celebration. 

5. Start gown hunting

While you shouldn't be too eager to make final decisions about what you're going to wear, it may take you a long time to find the dress of your dreams, so now is the time to do a little research. Look through magazines, particularly bridal magazines with stylish fashion shoots (like Bride to Be, of course!) and mark any dresses or design details that catch your eye. Remember to keep an open mind early on as you just never know what will suit you. You'll begin to see a pattern emerge in the style of dress you prefer and it's a great idea to make that your starting point. Once preliminary research is conducted, start making appointments at bridal boutiques and let the gown-hunting games begin!

Credit: Corrie Bond.

http://www.bridetobe.com.au/Article/Planning/Your-Wedding-Day/Wedding-etiquette/Youre-engaged-Heres-what-to-do-next

Look the Color of Love

For some folks the color of love is

Red ... fiery and hot,
For others the color is
Blue ... placid and calm,
For some it's
Yellow... caring but cautious,
For others it's
Orange ... rich and fruitful,
For some the color is
Lavender... gentle and kind,
For others it's
Purple... sacrificing and giving,
For some it's
Green ... with its go, go, go,
For others the color is
White ... pure and undefiled.

 

But for me the color is
Rainbow ... Red and Blue,
Yellow and Orange,
Lavender and Purple,
Green and White.

The Rainbow painted by God
is a symbol of forever-love,
And as long as there is
sunshine and rain
there will always be Rainbows,
And as long as there are Rainbows
there will always be
forever-love.

Dick Inneshttp://www.actsweb.org/wordsoflove/color_love.php

We will host the best CORPORATE EVENTS! (Pic)

Corporate Christmas Party

Your event is in great hands. (PIC)

What to Pack for Your Wedding Night

With so many small details to plan, it's easy to leave one of the essential parts of your wedding night to the last minute: your suitcase! Save yourself a headache by packing ahead of time so you don't forget all these important items.

One of the most important things to pack for your wedding night is lingerie or a negligee. Remember to pick something fun and comfortable! If you have bought something new for this night, be sure to try it on a week or so beforehand to make sure it still fits comfortably. You might want to pack a pair of slip-ons as well.

Bring Wedding Night Toiletries

Don't forget your basic toiletries, including your razor and shaving gel. If you wear contact lenses or glasses, pack an extra pair. 

You might already have all your makeup in a separate bag, but I'd separately pack any additional items that you might need.

Take a Change of Clothes

Be sure to bring a comfortable change of clothes for the next day. If your hotel provides a fitness center, bring along a pair of work out clothes and sneakers. 

If you're going to a warm tropical place, you might want to include swimming items, such as a bathing suit and sunblock. Even if you're not going away, your hotel might have a pool or hot tub so bring your swim gear anyway.

Don't Forget Medication

Remember to securely pack any prescription medications and other preventative medicine.

Wedding Night Gadgets

Pack your electronics, such as a small stereo and mp3 player - also your batteries, and chargers. Everything is a little sweeter with your favorite music.

Snacks for Your Wedding Night

Hopefully you'll dance your heart out at your reception - but you may not focus as much on the food! Just in case, bring some snack items to your hotel room. 

Also keep an extra list of contact numbers inside your luggage at all times. Now you can relax in knowing you have all the things you need to make your wedding night as perfect as your wedding day! 

http://video.about.com/weddings/Pack-for-Your-Wedding-Night.htm

Rachel Edelman

10 Sex Tips for a Magical Wedding Night

There's a general national myth about wedding nights; supposedly, every bride and groom have the most intimate and wonderful sex of their lives on their wedding nights. In reality, while yours may be a little different, it is an intimate moment, and an opportunity. Here are ten tips that can help make this one of the best evenings of your life. 

Take things slowly

Savor this moment. While you may be a little too tired to have the most technically excellent sex of your lives, your wedding night is likely to be among your most romantic and intimate sexual experiences. 

Lower your expectations

Between the pressure, the exhaustion, and the alcohol you might have drunk at your wedding, this may not be the most amazing sex you've ever had. That's okay. Try to just enjoy whatever happens. 

Read some sex books

Who couldn't use a little advice from the experts? Some to try: The Good Vibrations Guide to Sex, Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man and Lesbian Sex Secrets for Men. 

Talk to each other

Spend some time relaxing, talking about the wedding, and about your love for each other. Let things get romantic and sappy. Or, if it turns you on, get a little dirty. The sex that follows will be intimate and amazing. 

Expand your idea of the "wedding night"

If you're too tired for foreplay, that sex isn't going to be so great. Couldn't it be better to wait until the morning? You'll still be in your wedding night bed, with the excitement and adrenaline of the day before, but you'll be more rested. 

Flirt with each other during the wedding 

It can be easy to spend the whole wedding greeting Aunt Sally and Cousin Bob, cutting the cake, and attending to a thousand other details. Don't forget to stop, stare into each other's eyes, share a few extra kisses, and flirt with each other. It will also help build the excitement for your alone time later. 

Don't have sex with each other for a couple of weeks before the wedding

Many couples try this to make the wedding night sex fresh and new again. Others go even further by giving up sex months before the wedding so that they may be virgin-like on the wedding night. 

Try something new 

Perhaps there's been something you've been wanting to try? Your wedding night can be a fun night to experiment, and to be a little more adventurous. It's the start of a new chapter in your lives, so why shouldn't it also be the start of a new chapter in your sex life? 

Wear something special 

Wedding night lingerie can really help the mood. Pick something a little different than what you usually wear to excite your partner. Make sure you feel confident in it, as a confident lover is almost always a better lover. Don't forget that sexy underwear isn't just for ladies! Guys can also splurge for something that makes them feel powerful and alluring. 

Set the stage 

Help yourselves get into the mood by setting the stage. Light some candles, bring some CDs and a radio, scatter rosepetals, or do whatever helps you get in the mood. And don't be afraid to kick out your friends and family right away! This is your wedding night. While they may tease you a little, they'll certainly understand!

It's also a good idea to accept the fact that you may be too exhausted or tipsy to have sex. If one of you falls asleep, or isn't in the mood, remember, it's not a prediction of a doomed marriage. Spend the time relaxing and remembering how wonderful your wedding day was. 

By Nina Callaway, 

http://weddings.about.com/od/bridesandgrooms/a/weddingnighttip.htm

What jewellery will go with my wedding dress?

Not sure necklace or earrings will match your wedding dress? Read on for advice.

A sweetheart neckline will give you several options when it comes to your wedding day jewellery. A statement necklace or earrings can bring a new level of glamour and sophistication to any gown as long as it’s done the right way. Typically a sweetheart neckline will accommodate a necklace with a drop or pendant. These styles work because they mirror the silhouette of the neckline and enhance the gown. 

Beware of necklaces that have too long of a drop as they can get lost in the neckline and disappear! If you decide to go with a statement necklace, keep the earrings on the smaller side and pair it with a great cuff or bracelet to balance the sparkle elsewhere. 

If you have a sweetheart neckline, and opt to leave the neck bare, then statement earrings and a great cuff or bangles will also give you a polished look. The most important thing to remember when choosing jewellery for your gown is that it should complement not compete with the gown. 

Choosing a statement piece is a great way to add style to your look but it shouldn’t fight with any embroidery or embellishments that are featured. Your jewellery is the second most important thing you’ll put on your body on your wedding day (after your gown), so make sure to pay attention to all the details and give yourself enough time to try out a few different styles of wedding jewellery with your gown. 

http://www.bridetobe.com.au/Article/Planning/Your-Wedding-Day/Wedding-etiquette/What-jewellery-will-go-with-my-wedding-dress

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5 Tips for an Amazing Wedding Night!!

Engaged couples spend lots of time planning for the big day, but not everybody plans well for the big wedding night. This time alone together after the festivities can be incredibly meaningful and romantic.

Take Your Time

Many people think a wedding night means jumping into bed right away. But it's worth it to take a few minutes to talk about the magic of your day, the parts you loved the most, and how you feel about each other. Since the wedding goes by so quickly, it's worth it to take a few moments to remember. You should also to take a few minutes to set the scene. Bring along your stereo and favorite music, some flowers, and even massage oil or other treats to make things especially romantic. 

Enjoy Each Other 

Speaking of jumping into bed, you might be worried about sex. If you're a virgin, you're probably full of questions and apprehensions. If you're not a virgin, you might be feeling pressure to have extra special wedding night sex. Regardless of how much experience you have, you need to take the pressure off! Instead, focus on enjoying each other. If you end up consummating the marriage on your wedding night, great! If not, there's a lifetime ahead of you. For more tips on enjoying sex on your wedding night, check out Wedding Night Sex Tips and Wedding Night Sex Tips for Virgins

Pack a Bag 

I've heard of more than a few brides waking up the morning after, only to realize that they have no change of clothes – only their wedding dress! They've got a long - and slightly embarrasing - walk through the hotel lobby ahead of them and an uncomfortable drive home. So be smart and pack a bag of casual clothes, toiletries, and a pair of comfortable shoes. Since most wedding dresses require special constrictive foundation garments like long-line bras and girdles, make sure to pack a regular bra as well. You might also want to bring a swimsuit if your hotel has a pool or hot tub. 

Be Safe Don't drink and drive, especially on your wedding night. If you don't have a limo or a friend to drive you, make sure you don't drink too much (if at all) at the wedding reception. I know this sounds like common sense, but you'd be surprised how many couples don't plan ahead for this. And a dangerous wedding night is not a happy wedding night. But also, alcohol can keep you from having really good wedding night sex!

Have a Snack It's true that most couples hardly eat at their wedding reception. They're too busy talking, laughing and dancing to do anything as mundane as sitting down to eat. So by the time it's all over, they realize that they're starving. On my wedding night, a few friends had thoughtfully packed a bottle of champagne, and a basket with snacks and fruit for the hotel. And our amazing wedding venue, Bubby's Pie Co. put together to-go boxes of our wedding meal. So we had a feast! But it would also be fun to go through a drive through window in your wedding gown, or even to go to a 24-hour diner still dressed in your wedding finery.

Most importantly, make your wedding night yours. Don't feel pressure to have it be storybook perfect or just like anyone elses. If you take the time to make memories, it will be memorable.

More Tips

By Nina Callaway.

http://weddings.about.com/od/bridesandgrooms/a/wednighttips.htm