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There are six popular ways to announce your engagement. The three traditional ways include newspaper announcements, formal engagement announcements and announcing at an engagement party. The three modern ways include emailing your family and friends, creating a wedding website to announce your engagement and announcing your engagement through a social networking website. We will discuss each way in the following article.

The Newspaper Announcement

Submitting a newspaper announcement about your engagement is one of the most traditional ways to announce to a large audience. Even if this does not personally appeal to you or your fiancee, you may consider using this method for grandparents or any other older family and friends who would appreciate seeing this in the paper, and instantly creating a keepsake for them to enjoy. The first step would be to contact the paper you want to submit to (or papers if there is more than one) and ask for submission guidelines including timelines, photo requirements and cost. If the newspaper does not have formal requirements you should include information such as the bride and grooms names, parent’s names and hometown. Since engagement announcements occur almost immediately after acceptance of the proposal a specific wedding need in unnecessary.

The Engagement Party

If you do decide to have an engagement party you will be able to announce and celebrate your engagement with many people at once. Make sure that there is no one invited who will not be invited to the actual wedding. If done correctly, an engagement party can be a memorable experience for all invited. A typical engagement party is formal with either a sit-down dinner or a buffet, the official announcement is made and the future bride and groom are toasted by the father of the bride or some other person close to the happy couple.

Traditional Engagement Announcements

One of the more traditional ways to announce an engagement is through engagement announcements sent through the mail. Sending announcements is a nice touch and for some people they want to do everything they can do when planning a wedding. Engagement announcements are nice, especially if you can afford the added expense. Like wedding invitations, they are a piece of your wedding that you will have forever. If you do choose to send formal engagement announcements you will need to have a final wedding guest list at a very early stage. Everyone who is sent an engagement announcement must be invited to the wedding and if you decide at a later date to add more people to the invitation list the people who are added at the last minute may feel like you did not originally intend to invite them or that you do not value your relationship with them.

Announcing With a Simple Email

If you are part of the modern fast paced world you may not have time to stop and contact your paper, attend a party or choose engagement announcements and instead you may use the internet to let your family and friends know that you are getting married. If your email address book is used frequently and everyone in your life is used to getting important updates in your life through this method you may want to construct a detailed email to let everyone know of the happy news. It is one of the simplest ways to announce your engagement to everyone at once.

Wedding Websites

There are plenty of websites out there that you can join and setup a cheap account to keep your family and friends updated throughout the wedding process. You could sign up for a service and email the address to your family and friends. This is a great way to keep everyone involved. You can post your progress in the planning stages, post where you are registered, create a wedding planning blog or post pictures.

Social Networking Sites

Many people these days belong to one or more social networking sites and this is how a lot of people keep in touch with their family and friends. If you belong to one, like MySpace or Facebook, you may choose to announce your engagement there.

By: Pamela Kazmierczak

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Like many women, after you’ve accepted your finance’s marriage proposal and your thoughts turn to the practical aspects of the wedding that is to follow, what is the first thing you think of? The wedding dress. The Wedding Dress is a symbol, offering an unforgettable lesson in hope, written with the natural simplicity and beauty of a born storyteller. Saying, “I believe in my future, I believe in the man whom I am giving myself to, I believe I have not kept myself in vain, but in the hope of life and success with my husband and the children we will bring forth.”

A Bride’s Honor

It doesn’t have to be only Cinderella that’s adorned in a beautiful gown! If you are soon to be a bride, then the dream of your heart, that you will stand forth in beauty with every eye beholding you doesn’t need only to be a dream, but of all rights should be brought forth into a reality that in your memory you can treasure for your life time. The honor bestowed on a bride is not a new thing. To honor a bride is a quality that has been developed among God fearing people for thousands of years who have realized the limitless value that the bride holds for the groom, and the promise of life and family. These facts, although significant as they are do not speaking of a still greater reality, that being, that the bride is meant by God to be an illustration of the Bride of Christ.

Tid-bits from societies around the world

Color, style and ceremonial importance of the gown can depend on the religion and culture of the wedding participants. The styles and colors of wedding dresses have varied according to the fashions of the time, and the circumstances of the wedding. The wedding dress in several Middle Eastern and Eastern European cultures was highly elaborate, and regarded as a means of displaying the bride’s dowry. The color blue has been connected to purity. Many wedding dresses in China are colored red, the traditional color of good luck. In northern parts of India the traditional color of women’s wedding garments is red, a color symbolizing auspiciousness. South Indian weddings traditionally use white or cream colored saris. Green is an unfortunate color because of its associations with fairies, and its wearing is also said to fore-tell a change into clothes of mourning. Purple is out because it is seen as a mourning color, one favored by widows from their second year of bereavement onward. In modern western societies almost anything passes for a wedding dress however, in times of old, traditional wedding dresses were flowing gowns usually white in color.

Semi-ancient Biblical Influence

I suggest to you that there is a far deeper and more meaningful understanding of the color of a bride’s gown than luck, or to speak of one’s cultural, or financial standing. The major influence of wedding gowns being primarily white has sprung forth from two sources. The one as old as godliness itself, the other as old as the New Testament writings-One: that white represents the purity and innocence of a virgin woman. In fact, in Godey’s Lady’s Book, 1849, this statement was printed: “Custom has decided, from the earliest ages, that white is the most fitting hue, whatever may be the material. It is an emblem of the purity and innocence of girlhood, and the unsullied heart she now yields to her chosen one.” Beyond these considerations the writings of the New Testament Bible have influenced societies, suggesting that the Bride of Christ, (a metaphorical term used to identify that chosen group of believers who will be deemed a fitting eternal partner to the Lord Jesus) is to be dressed in white. The color white testifying of the righteousness of the saints. Therefore, among God fearing people though the generations it has been their aim to copy this pattern when they have given their daughters in marriage. The question may be asked by a bride to be, “If I have not kept myself pure in the past, but have now confessed my sin, and have turned to God, can I still be married in white?” The answer is most certainly yes. For the blood of Jesus covers all sin. Therefore, all that are found in Him are white and pure in His eyes irrespective of what their past’s have been.

Semi-Modern Western Influences

The Victorian era wisely placed a heavy emphasis on feminine purity and chastity, and since white represented these attributes, it was considered a most suitable color for a bride. The reality that the practices and affairs of leading people in society can have tremendous influence on cultures is seen in the marriage of Queen Victoria to her cousin Albert of Saxe-Coburg in 1840. It likely having more influence on the color of choice for wedding gowns than any other modern event. Queen Victoria put the wheels in motion by marrying in white. Though brides continued to wed in gowns of different colors, this single event has been seen to set the modern western standard of white being seen as the color of choice for weddings.

The Industrial Revolution also brought about change. By the 1890′s, and the arrival of the department store, almost every woman could realize her dream of being married in a “new” wedding dress. When the Depression hit, brides made do with their “best” dress for the wedding. Because of economic restraints many brides were known to have dyed their white wedding dress a different color after the wedding. Thus making it suitable for everyday use. During WWII, women considered it their duty to give up the elaborations of the traditional wedding, many times opting for quick and easy impromptu services before their husband was taken off by the military. After the World War economic times changed offering to women the cash needed to again experience more elaborate ceremonies.

By: Greg DeHart

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Brides are not the only ones who have the right to look great on their wedding day. Men should have the same right, too. Regardless of your height and body shape, you should see to it that you would look great in your choice of suit or tux. Most men are not really into fashion, so it can be a bit difficult to find the right wedding ensemble. So, here is a guide that should help you find the right wedding tuxedos and formal wear.

Tall and Skinny

You have the body structure of a model, which can make it very easy for you to find the right tux or suit. You body shape is usually like that of store mannequins. With that as an added bonus, you can find the perfect ensemble in no time. If you want to look a bit bulkier, you could choose heavier fabrics. You do not want to choose light fabrics, as they will only make you look frail. When it comes to colors, go for lighter tones. Avoid wearing pinstriped pants and jackets that will only make you look slimmer than you already are. Because you are tall, you can choose a higher button stance. For your pants, go for regular rise pants. This type of pants would make your legs and body look well proportioned. This will bring more balance and symmetry to your long legs and torso.

Bulky

If you are on the bulky side, you might want to go for lighter fabrics and darker colors. Choose darker colors to make you look slimmer and taller. This choice of color is also very timeless and elegant. Go for a two-button jacket, as this is the perfect choice for any body shape. Also, opt for a single-vent jacket, which is more flattering on bulky guys.

Short

If you are a short guy, go for fabrics and colors that make you look taller. It is essential that you avoid wedding tuxedos and formal wear that have loud patterns. Stay away from houndstooth, herringbone and other patterns that will only emphasize your height. Instead, choose solid colors and simple or not patterns. Choose a jacket with only one or two buttons. A lower button stance will make your body look well proportioned and fit. You also need to embrace vertical stripes. Pinstriped suits will give the illusion of being tall and slim. Look for low-rise pants and double vents as well.

By: Jessica Marie V. Sullivan

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Proposing to that special someone is always a harrowing task. One that sends shivers down the spine of each and every man, despite all the external bravado. The pressure to get it just right, the nervous anticipation and the dread of rejection make it an undertaking fraught with difficulties. But, Valentine’s Day is the day for celebrating love and romance, and you are willing to take your chances!

The challenge is a tall one — the best things in life are never easy anyway — but there is one powerful weapon in your armoury that will help you easily win life’s biggest battle so far. Romance – in huge dollops. Floor her with your romantic streak and half the battle is won. Do it in style and chances are she is already planning her wedding trousseau.

Here are 10 romantic ways to propose to your girlfriend on Valentine’s Day — and get her to say ‘Yes’!

1. Get an attractive heart-shaped candy box. Fill it with delectable designer chocolates. Remove the centre piece and place your diamond engagement ring there. Have a personal message engraved on the ring. Alternately, fill the box with chocolate letters, spelling out ‘Marry me’ with your engagement ring nestled inside.

2. Take her to a fairly secluded spot in a lovely park. When you are about to reach there, blindfold her and lead her to the place. Pull off the blindfold and let her eyes fall on a placard (which you have placed there in advance), decorated with hearts saying, ‘Will you marry me?”

3. If you are celebrating Valentine’s Day at your place, rent her most favourite romantic movie. Halfway through the movie that you are watching on your home theatre, let the screen go blank. Pretend to see what’s wrong and project your proposal on the wall.

4. This needs an advance purchase of a large amount of red roses. Write ‘Will you marry me?’ with rose petals on her lawn. Or, if she is coming over to your pad, greet her with your rose-petalled proposal on the living room floor. Keep an open velvet box in the centre in which your sparkling diamond engagement ring awaits her finger.

5. Take her for dinner to a fancy restaurant — if possible get a cozy corner seat. Arrange beforehand with the manager for what is going to happen next. Ask the waiter to bring the menu card. Hers will be slightly different. As she opens it, she reads your romantic proposal on it. Or arrange for your proposal to fall out of a fortune cookie which will be served with dessert.

6. Present her with a dozen long-stemmed red roses along with a handmade card instead of going for the usual store-bought one. Affix a battery-operated device to the card so that when she opens it, it ‘talks’ to her: ‘Will you marry me?” Tie your engagement ring to the stems of the bouquet.

7. Proposals can be nerve-wrecking affairs. To lighten the atmosphere, tickle her funny bone. Get a soft cuddly toy (teddy bears top the list). Add a diamond engagement ring around its neck and fit an audio device within the teddy. As she squeezes the teddy, he pops the question to her.

8. Restaurants are going to be overcrowded, not to mention overpriced. Certainly not the best of places for having a heart-to-heart with your loved one. Don an apron and cook dinner for her at your place instead. Have chilled champagne ready and tie a satin ribbon to the champagne flute. This is no ordinary ribbon but has your engagement ring attached to it. Whichever dessert you offer her, have ‘Will you marry me’ piped in chocolate around the edges of the dessert platter.

9. Depending on her personality, prepare your strategy. For the ultra romantic and feminine girl (who has secretly been dreaming of this moment ever since she was a little girl), play the knight in the shining armour. This one calls for the complete candlelight dinner-flowers routine, including dropping down on one knee and proposing to her with a sparkling engagement ring.

If she is the outdoor, sporty type who feels mighty uncomfortable with heavy-duty emotions, take refuge in humour and the offbeat. Go paragliding or bungee jumping and have your proposal written on the back of your chute! Of course, be sure to jump before she does!

10. Arrange for a romantic private dinner, either on the beach or at your place, and have a myriad lit candles spell out your proposal for you.

Remember, even though it is tempting to propose to your lady love via email or a recorded voice message, don’t give in to it. Every woman desires that the most significant moment in her life be conducted live! So, go right ahead and propose to your sweetheart. Cupid is secretly rooting for you!

By: Daya Sugden

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