Wait! Haven’t you read enough etiquette books to know that there’s a right way and a wrong way to spread your fantastic news? And the way you’re going to do it will bring you nothing but regrets.

Without any warning you’re going to break into the living room and expect your parents to act as if they’ve just won the Lotto? Dream on!

It’s a cold Sunday evening, and your mum and dad are settled for the night. Snuggled into a flannelette dressing gown inherited from her grandmother, her feet lost in your father’s outsize slippers and heavy woolen socks that a lamb would be proud of, your mother’s head is a pin cushion of pink and blue plastic curlers.

Beside her, your father is spread across the chair fast asleep. Head back, mouth wide open, his snores are successfully competing with the sound of the television which has been turned up to point 25.

Awakened by a kick on the shin, he exudes all the charm and dignity most people exhibit in that situation.

With your ‘Mum, dad, we’re engaged,’ ringing in their ears, at that moment, believe it or not, they hate you and your partner with a passion. Why couldn’t you have given them some warning?

They’ve seen enough TV to know exactly how they’re expected to react when their favourite daughter comes home with a ring on her finger. But they’ve been caught napping in every sense of the word.

If this scene were being enacted on the screen there would be a bottle of champagne cooling in the refrigerator. Elegant gold-edged flutes would be sparkling in the cocktail cabinet, while mum and dad would be stunning in the fashionable gear provided for them by the wardrobe lady. There would be much laughter and exclamation, with all sorts of delightful sentiments pouring out of dad’s well-written script, with mum smiling a warm welcome to your fiancé.

But as it is, even if they manage to recover from the disadvantageous position in which you’ve placed them, the best your parents can do is offer the two of you a cup of tea and a biscuit or two, and wish you both hundred thousand kilometers away.

Spare them the embarrassment and yourself the disappointment. On Sunday night come home alone. Give your parents a broad hint about what to expect tomorrow, and stock the fridge with all the necessary accessories in the meantime.

News like your engagement, deserves the spontaneity of thorough planning.

Vlady Peters is an Australian Civil Marriage Celebrant.

She is the author of ‘Complete Book of Australian Weddings’ and ‘The Small Organisation Handbook’.

Vlady is a member of Queensland Civil Marriage Celebrants Assiociation, Australian Authors’Asssociation and Romance Writers of Australia Association.

Visit Vlady at her website http://www.vlady-celebrant.com

When your parents tell you that marriage is a difficult thing, you should listen. When you move out and get married, you should be in the career that you desire. It makes it much easier if you already have a job and are finished with your schooling before you get married. When you have two students who are married it can be difficult to make ends meet.

If you are not emotionally and socially settled before getting married, you could find yourself restless in your relationship. You may seek out other friends and want to party all night, without your spouse. You need to have all of this type of behavior out of your system and be settled before getting married.

Shaadi Bliss – Informational tips, advice, and articles pertaining to the Internet’s largest Matrimonials website for men and women.

There are several important moments during your wedding celebration to announce and participate in a wedding toast. Generally, this is the usual order in which toasts are made:

The Best Man
The Groom To His Wife
Father of the Bride
Father of the Groom

Traditions vary throughout different cultures. Some wedding toasts are prepared as lengthy monologues, some are followed by the breaking of glassware. If you’re expect to toast at a wedding which is sultural in nature, discuss details with the bride or groom in advance.

The bride and groom will be expected to do a lot of drinking upon each wedding toast announcement. It’s important to make sure that their glasses are always filled. If you’re the best man of the wedding party, you may wish to pick up a book on wedding toast etiquette. It’s always nice to state how long you have known and loved the couple. Your toast does not have to be very long , but it should express warmth from your heart

Your toast is meant to convey a message of hope. It’s a kind of send-off. You’re encouraging the bride and group to start their lives together as one. You can use your toast to tell a story, or bring the guests on a trip down memory lane. Most importantly, though, this is your opportunity to welcome the bride. A new beginning which will offer plenty of sweet memories and stories down the road.

When will you make your toast? Traditionally, the toasts occurs after the main dinner course is served and eaten. Drinks are usually served and toasting will be announced. Before you begin t speak, make sure you have a glass to toast with.

It’s important that you practice your speech several times at home before you make your toast. There’s nothing worse than getting up in front of all those people with nothing to say! Write it out and say it aloud. At the end of your toast you should always life your glass and close with a congratulations, for instance:

“To my valued friend ________and his beautiful wife_______ , we all wish you the most wonderful lives together!”

NEVER mention any of these things in a Wedding toast:

Do not use foul language, as it may offend some of the guests (especially those with children)
Do not get intoxicated and slur through your speech
Do not bring up ex-spouses/former lovers
Do not discuss any unethical things you may have done in the past
Do not say “I can’t believe you guys made it.”
Do not intentionally embarrass the bride or groom. It’s their special day.

Jen Carter is owner of My Wedding Blog, a free wedding planning guide about weddings. This article can be found in our Wedding Tips category. You may publish our articles on your website only if you do not edit the article in any way, and include all html as direct links to our site.

___ You often feel that your spouse criticizes you unfairly.

___ You feel that your spouse consistently looks for nit-picking things to criticize.

____You feel that your spouse routinely criticizes you for things that have been blown out of proportion or are beyond your control.

If you answer “yes” to at least one of these statements, you may be living with a spouse who finds it easier to find fault than to praise. If you’re already doing your best to please your mate, this may feel like a “no-win” situation.

So what can you do? How can you live in harmony with an overly-critical spouse who doesn’t think that he (or she) is being unfair?

The following ten tips can help you devise a strategy to cope with the excess negative energy directed at you by your spouse:

1. Try to listen without getting defensive. Hear your spouse out and let him (or her) say what’s on his mind. It will only make things worse to become defensive and cut your spouse off prematurely. You want your spouse to feel “heard.”

2. Even though you may be thinking “Here we go againsame old gripes,” keep an open mind to the possibility that there may be a different twist this time. Fox example, perhaps a certain gesture, tone of voice, or oversight you weren’t aware of at the time has intensified your spouse’s critical reaction.

3. Recognize that your spouse’s perceptions are different from yours. And you can’t argue with a spouse’s perceptions or tell her that she’s “wrong” to feel that way. Launching a direct attack to convince her that she’s off-base will almost always fail.

4. Resist the urge to counter criticism with criticism in return. That will only add fuel to the fire and ensure that negative feelings will escalate.

5. Consider whether your spouse is making any valid points that you need to look at. It’s all-too-easy to get upset and decide that the criticism is off-base and miss the part of the criticism that may be valid.

6. Work on not taking the criticism so personally. This can be difficult because it feels so personalafter all, it’s directed at you.

But it’s not always just about you. Your spouse may really be irritated at herself but instead take her feelings out on you by throwing barbs of criticism in your direction.

7. Realize that just because your spouse criticizes you doesn’t mean you have to let that determine your mood or spoil your day. Don’t give your personal power away so easily.

You get to decide what to focus on, and you are responsible for how you feel. Your spouse can’t “make you feel bad” without your consent.

8. Schedule a time to talk with your spouse about your reactions to the constant criticisms. Tell him (or her) that frequent criticism doesn’t make you want to try harder.

Instead, it produces feelings of discouragement and negativity. State that over time, it could also negatively affect your passion and sexual relationship.

9. Write your spouse a letter outlining your concerns about the damage that constant criticism could do to your feelings of love and emotional intimacy. Use the “sandwich technique.” Start off the letter by expressing what you like and appreciate about your spouse.

Then state your concerns about the long-term effects that frequent criticism could have on your feelings toward your spouse and the marriage. Last, end by making more positive remarks and sharing how much you love your spouse and value your relationship.

10. Ask your spouse to go to marriage counseling with you. Say that you need to take care of some emotional debris that is accumulating for you in the marriage.

State that you want to schedule the counseling sessions so that your marriage can be the best possible for each of you. Taking this course of action is following the sage advice by Henry Ford: “Don’t find fault, find a remedy.” That’s a sure way to create a win-win situation for both you and your mate.

Nancy J. Wasson, Ph.D., is co-author of Keep Your Marriage: What to Do When Your Spouse Says “I don’t love you anymore!” This is available at http://www.KeepYourMarriage.com, where you can also sign up for the free weekly Keep Your Marriage Internet Magazine to get ideas and support for improving your marriage.

So if the water element is to play a role in your elopement ceremony, which will it be; riverside, in a boat on the lake, on the patio ocean side, a fountain overlooking the vineyards, on the bay perched above the water with a breath
taking vista, at the village fountain in the center of town, or will you swim in your tears of joy. Elopement ceremonies that feature a water element speak to the heart and move us emotionally.

What better chapel for your elopement ceremony, then the one that includes the sounds of the birds over head, the soft breeze across your face, the cool cleansing feeling of the water, the blues the greens and being surrounded in the potential of nature.

This is of course when nature speaks softly and sweetly and offers the perfect environment for an intimate elopement ceremony. There are of course, the moments that are not so friendly and we need to retreat into four walls. For
this reason, it is best advised that whenever you are planning a wedding in nature it is the best practice to have a back up plan. Plan B.

Where will your elopement ceremony take place if the whether is too harsh for your wedding? Usually the best back up for a couple is a suite that offers intimate views of the water with a glowing fireplace. Then if fire represents passion, you’ll be all set for a new life together filled with passion and a most memorable elopement ceremony.

Elopements By Ema, San Francisco California Intimate Wedding Specialist. For further assistance with your elopement contact http://www.ceremonyway.com

A coffee wedding favor is not something that will just sit on a shelf and collect dust or get relegated to the back closet. With a coffee wedding favor you can ensure that you are giving your guests something they will use. Not only will they enjoy using the gift, they will have a lovely time thinking about the wonderful memories and the fun they had at the wedding as they sip their wonderful full bodied flavorful coffee. Coffee can be packaged in specialty packs that print the names of the couple and their wedding date. The presentation could be lively and colorful. One can choose a specific flavor or order a variety of flavors that the guests can then choose from. The perfect accompaniment to your coffee wedding favor would be adding the wee bit more by including coffee mugs.

You can easily purchase customized mugs to any color you would like. You can also add a picture easily to custom mugs and have the bride and groom smiling at everyone as they drink their coffee wedding favor. Mugs are a fun and versatile favor idea because it opens a host of choices for you. There are so many styles available, from traditional and formal to modern and playful. They can reflect your wedding color scheme, or they can be supplied in a large array of colors so that each guest is sure to find one they really love.

As you can see coffee wedding favors are a great idea and can be made extra special with a few simple touches of class to them. The choice is extensive, whether you provide ground coffee, coffee beans, flavor enhanced stirrers, mugs, or coffee accessories. You can be sure that your guests will appreciate your thoughtfulness as they sip their gratifying coffee enhanced with sweet memories and good wishes for the future.

Anish Acharya runs a site on wedding resource. Visit it for more wedding articles.

If there a bride-to-be on your shopping list you may find yourself baffled. How can you possibly compete with the plethora of gifts she has already or is going to receive from the engagement party to her bridal showers? Trying to choose something tasteful, memorable and unique can be difficult. Never fear, it’s easy to get inspired with a no-fail list of bride-to-be must haves for every shopper.

1. A Personal Wedding Website
Give brides and grooms a gift to help them share and manage all their wedding communications online with a WedStudio personal wedding website. Post details, share photos, capture RSVPs and much more. The affordably priced packages start at $44.99 and the “give as a gift” tool allows you to purchase right online! www.WedStudio.com

2. Honeymoon Planner Book
It’s the trip of a lifetime and selecting the ideal location can be an overwhelming task. With the help of The New Honeymoon Planner, by best selling author Sharon Naylor, you’ll get a step-by-step guide through every aspect of the honeymoon process from planning and budgeting to research and resources. Retail Price: $16.95. www.sharonnaylor.net/honeymoon.htm

3. Spa Package
Planning a wedding can be a stressful time in a bride’s life. All of the excitement of the upcoming wedding and associated to do lists can be overwhelming. One spa treatment would be enough to take her mind off all the details, but give your special bride a half-day getaway and she’ll be rejuvenated until the wedding day! www.spafinder.com

4. Gift Certificates
A gift certificate to Starbucks is perfect for funding all those planning meetings over coffee with mothers and bridesmaids. Along the same lines, give her a gift certificate to her favorite restaurant so that she and her groom can spend some romantic time together, outside of all the wedding-planning craziness. www.giftcertificates.com

5. Lingerie
To keep the love life spicy, give the gift of lingerie. With the busy planning months ahead, the bride and groom need to keep their partnership alive.

6. Christmas Ornament Sets
This special bride’s collection is handcrafted in age-old traditions. According to an old German tradition, the tree of a newlywed couple should include twelve key ornaments to insure happiness for their life together. And, it’s a perfect gift for their first holiday tree! Retail Price: $99.95. www.christmastreehill.com/glascolorthe.html

7. Monogrammed Gifts
Giving the gift of her new initials is sure to show some tears. Thank you notes from www.thestationarystudio.com or something luxurious like a cashmere or five-star terry robe from www.redenvelope.com would be perfect to emboss or monogram with initials.

8. Birthday Book
A date booked filled with birthdates and anniversaries from both sides of her new family is a gift that would give all year!

9. Recipe Book
Gather all of her favorites from both sides of her new family and make a homemade recipe book. This gift is certain to be a sentiment filled with lifelong kitchen traditions.

10. Framed Photo
The perfect gift just may be a simple one. Frame a photo of her fiancé as a child. It will undoubtedly be a mantel piece for years to come!

Krista Meikle is co-founder and vice president of marketing and public relations for WedStudio. For more information please call 1-866-WedStudio (933-7883), extension 3 or email info@wedstudio.com.

1. Write a welcome note for your out-of-town guests on postcards from the city your wedding takes place. It’s a nice personal touch that shows tremendous thought as well as a keepsake that can be saved with photos of the wedding.

2. Include an “About the Wedding Party” section in your programs or on the reception tables for your guests to learn more about the members of your bridal party. Not everyone will know that you and your Maid of Honor have been best friends since preschool.

3. Hang your dress on a pretty silk coat hanger the day of your wedding. People will be taking photographs of the dress before you put it on and you’d like to avoid having it on an old wire coat hanger.

4. Send your invitations to Loveville, Maryland first — they’ve developed special wedding postmarks that add a nice “love” touch to your envelope. Call 301-475-5243 for details.

5. Invite the President, Pope, and the Queen of England for a special wedding surprise. Be sure to send their invites out early.

6. If you’re planning on taking pictures prior to the ceremony, clear everyone out of the ceremony site and have your groom at the end of the aisle. Walk down the aisle, so it’s only the two of you. It’s a very sweet and special moment that you can share… and the pictures of the tears in his eyes will be priceless.

7. Place tissues or personalized embroidered handkerchiefs in the rows where family will be seated for their “tears of joy”.

8. Write a letter to your mom and dad and have it waiting for them at their seat during the ceremony. It could be about anything: a thank you, how you hope your marriage turns out like theirs, your gratitude everything they have done for you, etc. They will be so touched and honored that you took the time to arrange for this and you’ll have them in tears before you begin to walk down the aisle!

9. Have each bridesmaid carry a bouquet made entirely of their favorite flower. Your bouquet will be a combination of all of their flowers.

10. Dress your flowergirl in a bright color rather than a replica of your dress so that the dress can be worn again.

11. Read your vows to candlelight. All your guests will receive a candle on their way into the ceremony. When it comes time for the vows, have your ushers or groomsmen go around and light the candle at the end of the row and let them “pass the flame.” It’s a nice romantic touch to a very sentimental and powerful moment.

12. For family members who have passed away or cannot physically be there with you, wear something of theirs so that they are with you. It could be a lapel pin tied to the ribbon of your bouquet, your great aunt’s pearls, or your grandmother’s handkerchief.

13. Pick a special ceremony start time, like 5:17 — the exact time he proposed to you.

14. Serve your cocktails from a “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” menu. Take recommendations from special people involved in the wedding for their favorite old/classic drink, a new/modern drink, a favorite borrowed unique drink recipe, and a blue cocktail. It’s a festive way to get the party started!

15. If an ice sculpture is a must have, go for a martini luge. It’s a great accent to every bar and it will certainly give your guests something to talk about!

16. Write special love quotes on the inside of everyone’s place cards.

17. Forget the clinking glasses and ringing bells. Have your guests sing loves songs to get you and your groom to smooch during the reception.

18. Have guests sign a tablecloth or guest book platter to be used at special dinners in the future in lieu of a guestbook.

19. Set small photo albums, notecards and a disposable camera at each table. Create a sign asking each guest to write some words of wisdom on the notecards and put the card into the photo album. Make sure they take a photo of everyone at the table. After the wedding you can combine the notecard on the same page as the photograph and you’ll have a special keepsake of every guest at your wedding.

20. Be sure to have your parents and married siblings first dances played at the reception- and make sure the DJ or band recognizes them when its played!

21. Rather than doing the money dance, do a “wish dance”. The bride and groom start off dancing together, then guests cut in for 10-20 seconds of dancing and their chance to give you any last minute marriage advice and parting words.

22. Assign table numbers by age and accent the decor with pictures of you and fiancé from that time. For example…at table sixteen you could show pictures of your fiancé with his new car and you at your sweet 16 birthday party.

23. Be sure to have a kid oriented table. Lay down block paper for them to draw on, have them make you cards, serve hot dogs, chicken fingers, ice cream sundaes. Perhaps even have a side room for them with Disney movies playing or a magician for entertainment. Your guests will love you for getting the kids out of their hair for the night!

24. Wrap a “keep out” or “no trespassing” sign around your leg outside of the garter. Your groom will find a shocking surprise when he dives in and your guests will find it to be quite humorous!

25. Race through a tunnel of swords, ski poles, sparklers or boat oars for a different grand exit.

Remember that this wedding is about celebrating your love and inviting your family and friends to see a glimpse of who you are. Don’t be afraid to do things a little differently… your guests will appreciate and remember your day all the more for it!

Reprint Rights: Feel free to use this article on your website or online publication. Please remember that you must include the resource box and live URL links, exactly as shown below, to the author’s website at the end of the article.

Ashley Rader is the owner and editor for Moments of Elegance Bridal, an online boutique specializing in discounted wedding favors, personalized gifts and wedding accents that will truely make your event unforgettable.

Even if you would rather receive cash gifts, consider at least registering for a few traditional wedding gifts. Remember, some guests feel more comfortable giving a tangible gift. And don’t worry if you are not the traditional china and crystal type – you can still create a bridal registry. Home Depot has become a popular option for couples, as well as registering for a honeymoon or other big ticket item.

Use this bridal registry guide for everything you’ll need to know when making your wedding gifts wish list.

When to Register -

Aim to register at least 6 months before the big day. Remember, there may be engagement parties, showers and other pre-wedding festivities where gift-giving is appropriate. Help out your guests by providing them with some options.

How To Choose Your Stores -

Think about what stores you like and patronize frequently. If you will be creating a more traditional bridal registry, a good bet is choosing an all-inclusive department store for items like china, glassware and flatware and also choosing a home goods specialty store (Pier 1, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel etc.) There is no hard fast rule about the number of stores you can choose for your gift registry, but 2-4 is a good number. Before making your final selections, consider the store’s wedding registry policies:

• Selection –

Does the store carry an array of items and price ranges? More importantly, do you actually like their selection?

• Service –

Does the store have a registry department or handle a lot of wedding registries? If so, you can expect the store to be knowledgeable and able to offer guidance and assistance along the way.

• Convenience –

What is the purchase process like for your guests? Does the store have locations that are convenient for the majority of gift-givers? Will your bridal registry be available online? Can your list be faxed? How long will the gift registry be kept active after the wedding? (technically, it should be at least one year)

• Updates –

How long does it take for a purchased item to be reflected on your bridal registry? How easy is it for you to make modifications to your list?

• Bonuses –

Many stores offer a completion program, allowing the bride and groom to purchase anything left on their gift registry at a discount.

What to Register For -

Again, there is no rule that says you have to fill your bridal registry with china and flatware. However, please remember that these wedding gifts will be with you for the rest of your life. Even if you are not the entertaining types and “dinnertime” takes place on the couch with paper plates, fast forward to holiday meals and social events of the future. It’s a good idea to have at least a set of 12 matching place settings – whether formal or casual – so that you won’t find yourself limited when it’s your turn to host Thanksgiving.

Typical wedding registries are divided into: china (formal and everyday), stemware (formal and everyday), barware (formal and everyday), flatware (formal and everyday), linens, kitchen appliances and gift items.

Who Spreads the Word -

It is never appropriate for the bride and groom to include gift registry information with invitations. Registry information can, however, be included in other pre-wedding party invitationssince the bride and groom typically do not host those events. Tell your closest friends and family and anyone who asks where you are registered, and they will spread the word. If you have a wedding website, you can also post your bridal registry information there.

Cori Locklin is editor-in-chief for http://www.elegala.com/ and Elegala Magazine. Elegala is a new wedding planning resource offering the most comprehensive portfolio of superior wedding reception sites and wedding services, along with planning tips, photo galleries and checklists to keep brides in-the-know on today’s wedding trends and styles. For a complete guide to creating an elegant and memorable wedding celebration, visit http://www.elegala.com/, your ultimate wedding planning resource.

But there is a silver lining in the cloud; you can actually strengthen your marital bond and enjoy an intense and more passionate relationship after your children have left you. Now that your kids have left, you can actually start all anew, reviving the old chemistry within you two.

Soon after your kids have left, you will immediately notice some changes. Your home will feels quiet and bigger suddenly, your grocery bills are lower, your pets are abandoned and needs feeding, you are worrying about your child, but foolishly find that there is no reason to worry at all, truly, worrying about them has become your habit. You will realize how delighted you are to receive the emails and phone calls from your children, there’s always food available in the refrigerator, the house stays tidy without much hassle, you are washing clothes only once a week, your water bill takes a dive and you can get hot water whenever you want, the phone rings less, you can use the computer whenever you wish, the attic is stuffed with your kids mementoes and belongings, you need to rearrange their things, suddenly you two discovered that you can make love on the living room sofa in the middle of the day!

There will be a lot of changes in both of you and your surroundings, you may go through mood changes and get onto each other’s nerve while coping with the empty nest situation in life. This is not the time you should give in, because you can attain your peace and happiness back by little but conscious effort. You need to remember that at this age both you and your counter part go though hormonal changes, which are named Menopause and Andropause, that is responsible for sudden behavioral, mental and physical changes. There are issues that require discussion, identify them and talk to your partner so that you can understand each others priorities and expectations from life. There may be financial concerns and ageing parents, concerns regarding your future, where you want to spend the rest of your life etc. An open discussion will help to settle down on mutually taken decisions.

Empty nest hits man equally as hard as it hits a woman. Try helping each other to cope up with the grief, seek counseling if your empty nest marriage is showing signs of withdrawal and negativity. Have fun and enjoy the togetherness to the fullest, concentrate on each other and limit how often you call your children and avoid placing guilt trips on them, use your holidays for exploring something new, you need to develop a flexible mindset and be open to change. At this point of time, adult children need friendship and guidance from their mom and dad, nothing more will help them better. So be a friend to them, not only a care giver. Now let them leave their life and you concentrate exploring your own life and its requirements. You can reschedule your days and make short-term and long-term plans on how to spend money and time, do things together which you always wanted but never had time. It is the best time for those small moments of togetherness and happiness; you will see how much joy can be carried to you.

Empty nest years are the second half of your marriage; this is the best time to rediscover yourself in your partner’s arms and reignite the passion. The process is not tough, but sincere effort is required, just continue to remain sensitive and aware of each other and turn this journey to a more rewarding and fulfilling experience.

The author, Monalisa Hyden, addresses psychological issues. If you wish to help yourself and your loved ones to fight emotional problems, you can log on to http://www.buy-xanax-online-now.com for more information and advice.