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HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR BRIDES AND GROOMS

IDEAS for HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR BRIDES AND GROOMS

Copyrights (c) 2005 All Rights Reserved Nily Glaser

This is an article in 4 parts.

1. HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR BRIDES AND GROOMS

2. PLANNING A WEDDING - What brides and grooms need.

3. GIFTS OF DOING - How to contribute to the wedding.

4. BRIDAL ACCESSORIES and WEDDING ITEMS brides and grooms need.

Many visitors sent A-wedding Day inquiries about holiday and birthday gifts that brides and grooms will appreciate. The typical inquiry is as follows. "I - we have a bride, a groom or an engaged couple on my - our holiday gift list. Do you have any recommendations?" or "What will make a nice Christmas - Chanukah gift for a bride, a groom or an engaged couple?"

The general tendency is to gift the bride, groom or engaged couple with items for their home. These gifts are nice but gifts that will help them realize their Dream Wedding will be much more appreciated. Planning a wedding, even a modest wedding on a tight budget, costs thousands of dollars. According to a study conducted back in 2002 by The International Institute of Weddings, the average cost of a wedding in the US was $21,300. It is much higher today. So any contribution, not necessarily in funds, will help the bride and groom have their Dream Wedding. Gifts for the wedding do not have to be expensive. Yet, each item and wedding accessory will become a cherished keepsake. Your gifts will be remembered. Today, theme weddings are very popular and wedding colors are important. So, before you proceed, you may wish to find out if the bride and groom plan a theme wedding. If so, what their theme is. Also, find out about their choice of wedding colors. Having and adhering to this information, will assure that your gift will coordinate well with the wedding. Let's see what a wedding entails, what brides and grooms need or want and how you can contribute.

PLANNING A WEDDING

When planning their Dream Wedding, a bride and groom put into motion the services of wedding professionals and many wedding supplies and accessories that will put the final touches to the celebration. The fees for services and the costs of the bridal supplies and accessories accumulate rapidly. Though not all couples will utilize all, here is a list of services in alphabetical order:

Locations and Services * Accommodations - Bride and Groom, Family, Wedding Guests * addressing and calligraphy * banquet facility * beauty - spa, make-up, nails and hair * catering- * Florists, Floral Designers, Decorators * honeymoon * musicians - live or DJ * officiant - clergy * jewelers * printers - invitations and other wedding stationery if they do not print their own. * transportation - * Wedding Attire - Gowns, Tuxedos Wedding Cakes * wedding gift for - best man, maid of honor, bridesmaids, * ushers, kids, others * wedding gifts for - family, wedding party, other * Wedding Photographers - videographers * Wedding Planners * wedding ceremony site and wedding reception site * They may even have other important considerations. Now that you have some idea of what creating a Dream Wedding Entails. Let us examine how you can give the bride and groom a gift that will be most welcome and very highly appreciated.

Choose the gift(s) that are within your budget and if you Can, add participation as follows.

GIFTS OF DOING

If you have a special talent offer it to the couple. Create 2 emergency kits for the wedding. Create 2 pretty baskets, bowls or other containers and place the following items in each: Deodorant, Non-allergic makeup remover, Makeup, chapped lip protectors, Hair products: gel, hair spray, combs, Bobby pins, Hand lotion, Nail polish, Nail file, Breath mints, Sewing kit, Safety pins, head ache relief tablets, indigestion relief tablets, Ammonia inhalant (in case of fainting), Band Aids, Bandages, Antacid tablets, Facial tissues, Moist towelettes and Pantyhose. On the wedding day, the bride or a bridesmaid will place one kit in the Ladies' rest room and the groom or an usher will place the other in the Men's.

If you sew, you may help with the wedding attire. You may not be able to sew a wedding gown. But if you can alter it, the bride can buy a wedding gown off the rack and save a LOT of money. Add a note to a jewelry item(s) or a tiara and you have given a wonderful gift.

If you bake and decorate, you may offer to bake the wedding cake, the groom cake or both. If you cannot decorate a cake, consult with the caterer to see if you may offer baked desserts for the wedding reception. This will reduce some of the catering costs. Add a note to a nice tray or cake stand and you'll make one couple very happy. For recipes go to: http://www.a-weddingday.com/recipes/recipes.html

If the wedding will be self-catered, you may offer to contribute some of your specialty dishes. Add your offer to some serving pieces and you give the bride and groom real help. For recipes go to: Crafts

The above are some ideas. If you come up with others, please share them with us. We'll appreciate it and so will our visitors.

BRIDAL ACCESSORIES and WEDDING ITEMS When purchasing a wedding gift choose a gift that will become a treasured keepsake. Personalized gifts, wedding ceremony and reception accessories, and unique items make the best gifts. If you are not a close friend or a family member, you should consult with the parents (moms) of the bride and groom so as to avoid duplication of gifts. If you are a co-worker or a member of the same organization as the bride and - or groom, you may wish to get together with the other co-workers or members and with the combined funds, purchase a more expensive group gift such as a complete collection of matching accessories, silver serving pieces, Personalized unity candles and holders etc...

Following is a list of Bridal Accessories and Gifts for the Wedding

Before you look for gifts for brides and grooms, find out if they have a wedding theme and possibly their wedding colors. This way you'll be sure your gift will please the couple. Most items are available at A-wedding Day where you can see actual pictures of the items you may consider.

Note that this is a very comprehensive list. Some items are needed For the ceremony and reception, while the rest are optional.

* Accessory Collections * Air freshener, Mints or potpourri, for the bathrooms * Albums * Arras (for Mexican weddings) * Bible * Bridal Garters * Bubbles or a bubble making machine * Butterflies to release * Cake (Wedding cake, groom cake and if you have children, a kids cake.) * Cake decorations * Cake Toppers - (cake tops) * Candelabra * Candles - personalized, unity, memorial, centerpiece, Favors etc.. * Candle Holders * Car Decorations * A card box or wishing well for cards and envelopes * Centerpieces * Children's Gifts * Chupah cover (Jewish wedding) * Custom Ribbons * Wedding site Decorations * Emergency Kits * Engraved Gifts * Favors * Flower Girl Baskets * Flower girl gifts * Flutes & Goblets * Gloves * Gown Preservation and Carrying Bag * Guest Books, Memory Books, albums and Pen Sets * Hair Accessories * Handbags * Handkerchiefs (Hankies) * Honeymoon basket * Ice Sculpture Molds * Invitations and wedding stationery for print it yourself * Jewelry * Jewelry for Blending Families - When Couple Has Children * Keepsakes and Novelties * Lassos (Mexican wedding) * Memories engraveable platter * Pen Sets * Personalized bridal accessories * Personalized disposable cameras * Personalized candles - Personalized unity candles * Personalized Gifts * Personalized Ribbons - Coming Soon * Place Card Holders * plates, utensils, napkins, and cups if self catered. * Purses and-or Money Bags * Ribbons and tulle - Coming Soon * Ring Pillows * Rose petals * Rosaries (Catholic weddings) - Coming Soon * Seat covers * Shoes * Authentic Sixpence - Sixpence in a crystal shoe * stationery * Tiaras & Headpieces * Veils / Headpieces * Wedding Time Capsules

Copyrights (c) 2005 All Rights Reserved Author: Nily Glaser

http://www.visiondecor.com - Furniture Now


Quick Affordable Decorating Tips

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Warm and Unique Accents and Touches

  • Paint your white walls with a warm color such as yellow, orange, or red to give your rooms a more inviting and less generic feel.
  • Spread candles throughout your home to give it a cozy feel. Scented candles also make for a relaxing and pleasant atmosphere.
  • Old postcards found at local antique stores can make impressive, beautiful, and inexpensive artwork when framed. Similarly, pictures from standard wall calendars can have the same effect.
  • Tack ribbon in a lattice pattern over one side of an upholstered screen and you can slide in mementos such as pictures, cards, etc. This will be an effective way to divide your space, while giving you a memento board in the process.
  • Something as simple as a bowl (or interesting container) of oranges can create an interesting touch to any room.
  • Hang any framed work about 5 ½ to 6 feet from the ground. That way they are just slightly above eye level, but at a perfect height for admiring.
  • A coat of fresh paint is a cheap and effective way to rejuvenate tired furniture to look fantastic in your new home.
  • New wall hangings, cushions, and throw rugs can be an extremely cost effective way to adapt your color scheme to complement your new home.
  • Keep a couple of interesting books or magazines on the coffee table.

The Kitchen

  • Everyday kitchen items can be used in a unique way to accent the décor of any room in your home. For instance, bold patterned dinner plates hung on the wall can give a plain wall a whole new dimension. Likewise, a series of white plate with interesting monotone patterns can create a whole different feel on a brightly painted wall.
  • Clear up chaotic kitchens by hanging pots on the wall. This will free up cabinets and also give the room a new decorative touch.
  • Before you begin to unpack, don't forget to wipe out all cupboards and shelves. You can also use shelving paper to line cupboards and drawers.
  • Boiling cinnamon sticks will give your kitchen a clean, fresh scent.

The Small Room

  • Large mirrors will give any small room a spacious and bright feel. Additionally, placing greenery in a position where it can be reflected by your mirror will give the room an even more uplifting feel.
  • By placing delicate chairs around a heavy table, a room is given a more spacious illusion.
  • A small room can be made to feel larger by painting large stripes or daring colors on the walls.

The Exterior

  • Planting a few self-seeding perennials can be a cheap and effective way to add color to your new garden.
  • Paint used flower boxes and hang them below your windows after filling them with your favorite flowers.
  • Paint an old ladder and place it along a wall of your home. Set different potted flowers on each step. This simple process will give your exterior a new and inventive look.

Protecting your Home

  • Improving the security in your new home will not only give you peace of mind, but will also lower your insurance premiums.

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Shopping for Discount Home Decor

 

  • Consignment shops - stores where private owners sell their used furniture - are becoming more and more popular. Check if there are any in your area. The inventory is one-of-a-kind, so if something catches your eye be prepared to buy. If you get to know the manager they can let you know when the sort of home furnishings you're looking for come in.

  • If your new home is in a pre-planned community, check out the developer's model home for pieces you like. They may be a bit worn, but often the developer will sell off the home's furniture after a period of time. It's a great way get room sets that are already coordinated.

  • Many big furniture stores have scratch and dent rooms: sections where they keep slightly damaged (but very inexpensive) models. Also keep in mind that most furniture stores periodically sell off used furniture (again, comparatively cheap) when they get rid of "showroom samples" or "floor models." Ask about both possibilities when you shop retail.

  • If you have any wholesale furniture warehouses in your area, consider stopping by. Buying wholesale furniture is almost always cheaper than buying retail.

  • When looking at used furniture - or any used furnishings - don't think of what they look like now, but what they could look like with a little refurbishing. Maybe that coffee table wouldn't fit your living room now, but sand it down and add a coat of stain and it might not be so bad.

  • Flea markets can be a great source of inexpensive, one-of-a-kind interior decorating materials. But finding a bargain at one can involve a lot of time and a lot of effort. Preparation always smoothes the way. The next few tips show you how.

  • Nowhere is the expression "the early bird gets the worm" more apt than at a flea market. Vendors' best used furniture and bargain furnishings often go quickly, leaving late arrivals with the leftovers.

  • Some flea markets can be huge and it's easy to lose focus. Take along a list of the furnishings you want before you set out. It also helps to take along sketches of the rooms you need to decorate, complete with dimensions and a tape measure to see whether the furniture in front of you will fit with your plans.

  • If you fall in love with a piece of discount furniture at a flea market, bear in mind that moving it can be an issue. Some vendors will deliver, but only at the end of the day and only for an additional fee. Thus, you'll want to bring the biggest vehicle you have available (i.e. a pickup truck or a van) or consider renting one.

  • When you're moving a piece of furniture home from a flea market, you'll want to take all the packing precautions you normally would when moving furniture. Before you head out to the flea market, make sure to bring a few old boxes, blankets, tarps, tape, twine, bubble wrap and a box cutter with you for the ride home.

  • People selling antiques out of the back of van usually don't take MasterCard or Visa. When you're going to a flea market, bring cash.

  • Don't be afraid to bargain. Flea market vendors expect it, and with a little negotiation inexpensive items can become even cheaper.

  • When perusing home furnishings, try to think outside the box. You might not want to eat off that set of ceramic dishes, but they might make colorful, unique wall hangings.

 

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