An Englishman is in a plane approaching Barbados; he's going for his annual holiday to the island paradise. As the plane approaches the island, the Englishman looks out of the window. And he sees, glistening in the clear aqua Caribbean Sea surrounding Barbados, the wedding ring he'd lost last year.

It's an urban myth, but who knows? The sea around Barbados is amazingly and brilliantly clear. You'll see for yourself when you visit. And when you do, please take heed of these do's and don'ts:

Don't Haggle Dickering over price is not part of Barbadian culture. Pay the price the vendor asks or don't buy. Also, ask the price of a taxi ride before getting into a cab - then accept the price or take the bus.

Don't Drive on the Right Hand Side of the Road We drive like the Bits: on the left. This means the steering wheel is on the right side and, if you have a manual transmission, you'll be operating it with your left hand. It's a bit of a tap-your-head-rub-your-stomach exercise until you get used to it.

Don't Go on the Beaches at Night This applies to any beaches anywhere in the world. Barbados' crime rate is low, but use good sense.

Don't Drink too Much Rum Rum is a religion in Barbados; in fact, it's believed that Barbados is the place rum was first developed. The problem is that rum goes down easily, especially in the ubiquitous island drink, rum punch. So, as you enjoy your libation, remember there's rum in that punch.

Don't Stay Inside Your Hotel If It Rains Even during Barbados' rainy season in the fall, the island very rarely gets torrential rain. And it hasn't seen a hurricane since 1955. So your chances of having glorious weather are overwhelming. Still, if it does rain, plan indoor activities such as visiting the George Washington House (yep, George Washington lived in Barbados a short while) or taking the Mount Gay rum factory tour.

Do Eat Flying Fish Flying fish are to Barbados what salmon is to Alaska. You'll find flying fish fried, grilled, prepared with a Creole sauce, and put into sandwiches (called "cutters"). Be sure to head to Oistins, on the south coast, on Friday nights: just-caught flying fish are cooked out on the beach, music plays, and parents and kids alike have a fine time.

Do Take a Catamaran Cruise This is the very best way to experience the Caribbean Sea, view the famous Platinum Coast of Barbados, and swim with our gentle giant sea turtles.

Do Swim! But know where you can and where you can't. Take a dip in the sea anywhere along the west coast of Barbados where the Caribbean Sea beckons with clear, gentle water. Much of the south coast, too, offers wonderful swimming. Do not swim along the east coast of the island, where the Atlantic Ocean pounds.

Do Patronize the Street Vendors in St. Lawrence Gap The vendors are friendly and relaxed, but they take their work seriously; many have been selling along St. Lawrence Gap for a decade or more.

Do Bring Your Family Barbados is not just for honeymoon couples, although we get a lot of lovers. The island is also a fantastic family vacation spot, with a gentle sea that has no sharks or stinging sea creatures and many land activities. In fact, be sure to take the four-wheel drive Island Safari - kids love it! Kids of all ages, that is ....

Wedding 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


As Europe sits in the deepest recession for decades, now more than ever it is important to make every pound count and cut back on unnecessary spending. But some things you just cannot justify going without - and travel insurance is definitely one of them.

If you think it is bad having to pay £30 for something you are unlikely to have to use, try paying foreign hospital bills running into thousands of pounds. If you're uninsured abroad and things go wrong, you really can find yourself in big trouble.

But that doesn't mean you can't minimise the cost of travel cover. We in the UK spend more on travel each year than anyone else in Europe, and as you would expect there are an appropriately large number of insurance options available.

By tailoring a policy to your needs or picking the one most suited to them, money can be saved without having to reduce the protection afforded by travel cover. One of the most basic ways to save is to pick the right type of policy, a few examples of which are shown below:

Single Trip Travel Insurance. Realistically, are you going to go abroad more than once in the coming year? This is a question we all should be considering prior to choosing a policy, because it is the most common way of saving money. as you would expect, single trip cover is cheaper than an annual or multi-trip package but would be more expensive should you purchase more than one individual journey policy in less than a year. But that doesn't mean this type of policy can't go a very long way. Six months is a common allowance, especially if you travel often. There is generally no limit on the number of trips you can go on, however the duration of any one trip may be less than the length under a specific Single Trip policy. You are unlikely to get much more than a months cover on a single trip.

Specialist Travel Insurance. This is a varied and often very specific section in the market. Examples of specific packages would be backpackers insurance, wedding insurance (yes, some people do want to go to the other side of the world for their big day), or sports insurance (such as golf). The particular needs and risks associated with specific activities has been assessed by the insurer in order to construct a comprehensive policy.

The first priority should always be to ensure the cover you buy is suitable and extensive enough for your needs. After that, there are many ways and different options that can save you money, or that represent better value. Shop around, do a bit of research, and you might be surprised at what you find.

Wedding 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Okay, your wedding is approaching. You need invitations. You want to make professional looking wedding invitations. Where do you start?

Here are five tips that will help you make professional looking wedding annoncements.

  1. Use a quality printer. An Epson printer uses a water proof ink. This can really make a difference in how professional your invitations will look. Ever see an ink jet printed sheet get wet. If it wasn't printed on an Epson printer it will bleed and look bad!

  2. Use nice card stock. You don't need fancy paper. Adding your own touches to plain card stock will make nice invitations. There is no limit to what you can do to plain card stock. A 67# white card stock will work for almost all your invitations. You can also use a 90# card stock. Experiment.

  3. Use a nice font. Something that is flowing but easy to read. I love fonts. I have used Park Avenue, Hancock, Brush script and numerous others. The important think is to be consistent. Use the same font on all your items. The invitation, the RSVP, the return envelope and the reception cards should all match. I even custom address the envelopes to match. I can tell you everyone loves these. You invitations will look professional with this tip.

  4. Add a nice wedding clip art. Use just a simple wedding invitation clip art. This can be a fun, simple or decorative touch. By centering your type and clip art you will get a professional look also.

  5. Be neat. Have all items match. Put the RSVP card under the flap of the return envelope.Put everything in neatly and address the envelopes to match.

You can make professional looking wedding announcements. It isn't difficult. Make sure that your invitations will only have one stamp on the outside. Either make sure the weight and size will work for one first class stamp, or get another stamp.

Add the stamp for the RSVP and leave some white space. Neatness will show professionalism.

If you want to make professional looking wedding invitations take your time. Pay attention to detail. You can add nice touches. A nice die cut punch will look good in moderation. Don't go over board. Clean and neat is an elegant look.

By having a nice elegant look you will also put forth a professional image. This means you will put forth a good first impression to your guests. That means they will feel important. This will all mean your wedding will come across as the important event that it is! Now make professional looking wedding invitations.

Wedding 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Silver-tongue, Silver Screen, Silver Wedding, what do they all have in common? They bring to mind elegance, sophistication and quick wit. Silver is the language of style and richness. There are many ways to bring silver into your wedding beginning with your invitations. Following are three ways to use this wonderful color either as the main invite or as an accent.

1. Style of Invitation: For weddings, you need to use a response style invitation. So when using printable invites, there are three styles to choose from. There is the pocket folder invite which is a trifold with a pocket for the RSVP card and envelope. With this invitation you can choose between a range of silver colors from a light silver to a deep silver. You can accent this invitation with different kind of seals or ribbons to fasten it. The second style of invitation is a border style with RSVP card included. So here you have an invitation card which can be any color but is traditionally white or cream. For a silver look, you would choose a white card with a silver or silver deckled border and matching RSVP sets. Finally there is a ribboned style invitation. Here you usually have a backer card that you print on, and a translucent vellum which is fastened to the card by a ribbon on the top or side. The backer card can be white with a silver border and the ribbon can be silver satin or organza.

2. Accenting with Silver Paper: One of the easiest and newest trends this year is to punch up your pocket folder invitations with a colored insert. To do this yourself, once you have purchased your pocket folder invitations in whatever color you want, you purchase silver "text" paper and cut it to fit the inner section where the invitation card will be. Use a glue stick to attach it, then print your invitation card and attach it on top of the silver accent. If you are using a deep silver invite you can also accent with a lighter silver insert. Use a metallic or shimmer paper for a wonderful and sophisticated look.

3. Accenting with Silver Ribbons: There are many creative and beautiful ways to fasten invitations these days. At any craft store you can find stick on fasteners in many colors. styles and shapes. Ribbons have also evolved with the times, The choices of ribbons these days are truly inspiring. You can find ribbon sizes from 1/4" to 4" width and textures from ultra-sheer to double-faced satin. You can even find ribbons with contrasting edges. Be daring with your ribbons, you can choose to use one ribbon or two or more in varying shades and textures or you can choose a silver edged silver ribbon for a gorgeous finish.

For an elegant start to a beautiful silver wedding, set the tone with silver invitations accented with inserts and ribbons.

Wedding 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Weddings are supposed to be a grand event, and most people will vouch for it. What exactly makes this grand event a roaring success, you ask. Well the answer lies in good organizing skills. If you can't manage all the affairs that build up a wedding, then it is bound to be a dampener. However, there is no reason to lose sleep over it. What you require is a well chalked out schedule which will enable you to attend to all the details that need attention, such as selecting a proper bridal dress, sending out the wedding invites, arranging caterers, planning the menu as well as selecting a venue.

You should always be prepared to face a setback while planning weddings, the simple reason being that there are too many factors involved. Not all plans will work smoothly, and there are bound to be a few hitches along the way. The solution lies in being equipped to handle these minor problems. The answer lies in getting a wedding insurance. It is the only way that will ensure that you do not end up losing large sums of money while trying to fix the innumerable things that go awry.

Selecting the Policy
Selecting your wedding insurance policy will obviously depend upon the overall scope and scale of the affair. If you are planning a small domestic wedding, your insurance provider will have a plan that'll suit you just fine without your having to shell out a substantial amount of money. However, if it is bound to be a lavish and expensive affair, you would like to particularly ensure that your investment remains protected and secure.

Unforeseen circumstances have a tendency to crop up especially during moments of crisis, and you must be well equipped to battle them with causing a hole in your pocket. Suppose the rain plays spoilsport or for some unavoidable reason you have to postpone the wedding? The Wedding Insurance plan promises you peace of mind and will allow you to enjoy the wedding instead of fretting over it!

Benefits
If the wedding is deferred because of the weather, you will get the full benefits of this insurance. However, if it there is a last minute revision of plans by either the bridegroom or the bride- your policy will obviously not be able to cover it. Therefore do not hurry while choosing the right insurance for yourself. Read the documents carefully, especially the terms and conditions of the insurance you are going to buy.

Most insurance will cover unforeseen events such as cancellation of the wedding due to health problems or other such emergencies. This is indeed one of the most usual reasons for insuring a wedding event. Also, the insurance policy will cover things like, unintentional damage to your wedding dress or attire, the all-important ring, the cake and so on.

Price Range
A basic, functional wedding insurance policy costs something between $155 to $550. Consult your insurance provider for further details. Basically, such insurance is designed to help you to avoid particularly unpleasant situations that have a way of cropping up during weddings. It is not only practical, but also protects your from unnecessary financial worries.

Wedding 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


If you are now starting to plan for your wedding, this event would not be possible without securing your wedding invitations. These will be used in inviting your guests to share some of their time in celebrating this one of a kind event in your life and most couples go for ready-made invites being offered on the market. This is especially true these days because couples think that they cannot make personalized wedding invitations for this event. They are not aware that this event will become more memorable by simply making homemade examples. If you are one of those who are skeptical in making these yourself, there are advantages that you may not have realised.

It Allows You to Make Yours Unique

One of the best things about making homemade wedding invitations is because you can set up everything you want to see in the finished product. This is what most couples want nowadays. They want to ensure that they will be sending unique and personalized invites to make their wedding more memorable than the usual. On the other hand, it is possible for you to use the generic types when you have taken advantage of the offers from other companies and manufacturers.

Allows Customized Names for Recipients

Aside from making unique creations, making such kinds of invitations also allows you to customize the envelopes according to the people who will receive it. Basically, you have the option of putting the name and the exact address of the recipient. This makes the invitations more personal than the usual. Because of this, its recipients will be more pleased and honored to witness this one of a kind moment in your life. This is not like when you use the ready-made and generic examples you can find in stores in your locality.

You Can Save Money

Usually, you need to secure a greater amount of money if you want to purchase the ready-made wedding invitations being offered in some stores. This is because you are paying for the materials used, the effort of the manufacturer and the brand. Unknowingly, you can save great money when you just make homemade wedding invitations. This is because you only need to secure the materials needed. You do not need to pay for the labor and the brand because you are the one who will make your own personalised invites. The money you saved can be used in securing the other needs of your wedding.

You see, there are lots of advantages you can get in making homemade wedding invitations. Now, it is already clear to you why you should make your own wedding invitations instead of purchasing the ready-made ones offered in your local stores. Basically, making your own WI's is very simple. What you just need to know is to read some steps in the internet and for you to use your creativity. A little practice will help you make the best wedding invitations that you can get for your money.

Wedding 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


If you work within the music industry, hiring the specialised services of a niche entertainment accountant can really help you to keep control of your money and build on your success. While it's certainly true that any generic accountant could help you with your bookkeeping and tax returns, in this day of specialists and niche services, it makes sense to use somebody who really understands what you do and the bearing this can have on your finances.

Your music accountant will never miss a beat

Whatever part of the industry you work in, whether you're famous musician, an emerging artist, or a freelancer who works behind the scenes, a music accountant will have the firsthand knowledge that's required in order to identify the best tax breaks and the best ways to limit your liability to HMRC, subsequently saving you money and helping you to keep a more healthy percentage of your sales and profits.

Another benefit of using a specialist entertainment accountant is the fact that they can help you to keep up with changes that may affect your industry. Consumer habits are forever on the move, especially in the new digital age where profits can be generated via the Internet as opposed to more traditional, physical sales - these things can have a considerable impact on the way you manage your finances and ensure compliance. What's more, your entertainment or music accountant will always have a real time record of exactly where you stand financially, so you'll always know what you've got to play with and what tax you're going to have to pay at the end of the year.

An entertainment accountant can service companies or individuals

An entertainment accountant isn't just there for individuals and freelancers either. Even bigger production companies, music agencies and recording studios need a little help to keep everything on track, and by employing somebody who can take care of your accounts, you'll have more time to promote your services to potential clients to keep the revenue rolling in.

As with any generic accountant, an entertainment or music accountant will usually offer a fixed fee service; this means that you'll always know exactly what you're paying, while having the added advantage of being able to call on them for advice at any time you need without incurring additional costs. Your entertainment accountant is there to help you with anything you need; so whether you're thinking of forming a corporate entity, looking for ways to minimise costs and maximise profits, or you simply need help managing your payroll system or monitoring ticket sales, it makes sense to find a reputable music accountant to help.

Wedding 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Every bride wants to look special on her wedding day, some more than others. There are many ways to achieve this, one of the best ways is with unique wedding dresses. By wearing something completely unexpected and out of the ordinary, you truly become the center of attention. What bride doesn't want that on her big day? There are brides that are crazy enough to wear a dress made with balloons or toilet paper. That's a little on the extreme side, but there are plenty of other unique options you can choose from.

One easy way to be different is to select a dress that is not white, ivory or any other traditional color. If you are daring enough to be a colorful bride, there are plenty of unique wedding dresses out there for you. Most bridal boutiques might have a small selection of color wedding gowns, but since you are ditching the traditional gown, you are not limited to shopping at bridal boutiques. There are a number of retail stores that have beautiful dresses that would look amazing as a wedding dress.

There are many other kinds of unique wedding dresses for our modern bride. Any kind of dress that does not look like a wedding dress at first glance can be considered unique. Some good examples would be bohemian style dresses or grecian style dresses. Imagine a long white bohemian or grecian dress, it's exceptionally beautiful and would be perfect for a destination wedding. There are also dresses that have unconventional textures or crazy embellishments. Those are always fun to wear and will definitely wow the crowd.

Having a creative wedding theme is another reason to wear a unique wedding dress instead of a traditional one. Some common themes that come to mind include medieval, peacock or fairytale. The theme is so spectacular that wearing a traditional white wedding gown just won't do. If you are a bride with a strong cultural heritage and wedding traditions that are different from the usual western style, it's the perfect opportunity to incorporate some of that into your wedding dress. It would be even better to wear a traditional dress that represents your culture. It might not be all that unique to you, but your guests sure would love it. Great examples of these include the Indian sari, Japanese kimono or Chinese qipao.

There's a good chance that you have the style of the perfect wedding dress in mind, but the bridal boutiques just don't have what you are looking for. If this is the case, you might have to resort to looking online for unique wedding dresses. An even better alternative is to have it custom made. As long as you are able to find a talented dressmaker with experience making wedding dresses, it should be something to really consider. The only drawback is that it might be a little pricey, but you'll have a dress that is truly one of a kind, unlike anything anyone else has worn before.

Wedding 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


The most important step while ordering your wedding invite is the way the invitation has been worded. It is important for formal wedding invitations to follow appropriate wedding invitation etiquette. Every invite, whether it is traditional or not, should cover the following points:

• Full names of the Bride and Groom. Invitations of a formal nature should also include the middle names of the bride and Groom
• Date, including the day of the event
• The year must be put in the next line, after the date
• The time of the event
• Venue of the event. formal wedding invitations simply state the name of the building or church, but more casual ones also give the street address
• The City as well as State of the venue, without the zip code.

These are the essentials, points you absolutely need to cover in your wedding invitation wording. Apart from these, you may be as creative as you like with the rest of the wording. If your wedding is a non-traditional one, you do not need to stay strictly within proper wedding invitation wording etiquette. You can include a poem that you like, or any verse or scripture you want. You can also add something that reflects your personality, maybe something about how the bride and groom met. You can also add a verse about the season during which the wedding is taking place.

• More aspects to consider while wording your wedding invitations are:
• whom the invitation is from
• If the parents of the Bride or Groom are divorced or deceased, or have remarried.
• If this is not the first marriage
• Whether the church is being held at a church or non-church location.

You can find plenty of suggestion and examples for wedding invitations online. You can get inspired, or you can just get creative and compose your very own invitation with unique wording. The style of wording depends on whether you want it to be casual or traditional. But something you must keep in mind is that people are mostly in a constant hurry so they probably just skim through what they are reading. So for this, your wording should be relatively basic and should be understood easily. You should therefore keep the usage of overly dramatic phrases to a minimum.

Another great tip is to make someone read your wording before, so that the final copy has been proof-read. This way you minimize the risk of any errors. You can also ask them to read the wording out loud so that you can also tell if it all makes sense.

These tips are also applicable to other forms of invitations, including bridal shower invitations. All you need to do is cover the basic details and your invitation should be good to go. Bridal shower invitations should have all the necessary details regarding, time, date and venue etc., and should be worded clearly so that the guests do not get confused about the details.

Wedding 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()


Weddings are one of the most meaningful "life events" that we can experience. Whether it's for someone you love or if it's your own, those events mark very touching moments that live in memories for decades. Making choices about the ceremony, the guests, the location, the attire and gifts often takes a little more consideration. If you're a future bride planning for your own ceremony, sometimes there are issues that present themselves and you're uncertain of the most appropriate way to handle them. From our experience and research into etiquette "do's and don'ts", we have a few suggestions for you to keep in mind if you find yourself wondering.

Invitation Issues

What if you don't want to have kids at your wedding? How do you tactfully say this in your invitations?

- When addressing your invitations, leave the children's names off and don't mention them in the invitation

- Have friends and family pass the word around that the ceremony is expected to be for adults only

- Or, in some cases, you will need to be clear and honest. In your invitation card, write "Adult Reception" or "We hope that the 2 of you will be able to join us" or "2 seats reserved in your names"

- If confirmations are important and you have not heard from someone after 1 week past your "Reply By" date, call them or email them to confirm.

- Sending your parents and wedding party invitations, even though they are already likely expected to attend, can be meaningful to them. They don't need to reply, obviously.

- It's mannerly to put return postage on your RSVP's, especially if you really want responses.

Wedding Gifts

- It's considered rude to put "cash only gifts" on your invitations, or suggesting that. It's also considered rude to put registry information on your wedding invitation. The wedding invitation is for acknowledging your care for the person attending the wedding ceremony, a significant event in your life. If you want to share registry information, have friends and family do it. Or you can include that information on a bridal shower invitation.

- Do not feel like you are required to open your gifts at the reception in front of everyone. You can take these home and go through them later when you are more focused.

Cancellations or Postponements

- Technically, you're expected to return the engagement ring. (Do what feels appropriate... this is tricky due to the emotions you both are likely going through.)

- If people have sent you gifts in advance, you should send them back. You don't need to offer a lengthy explanation, but a brief note that "plans have changed" should accompany them.

- As tempting as it may be, do not speak poorly of your ex in town and to friends. At this point, you are likely very emotional. Things change all the time-and the humiliation you may face should you get back together would be worse. Take care to respect your ex, as you expect the same in return. You only look worse if you indulge in bashing and gossip. Saying something like, "we realized we wanted different things after all" or something vague to people in the meantime is enough.

- Inform your out-of-town guests first so they can cancel their travel and lodging.

- True etiquette recommends sending another invitation with a new date if you are postponing. If not, you need to somehow be in touch with each guest.

Second Marriages

- As a bride, you can wear white or not. It's up to you.

- If you've been married before or have kids, technically you are not supposed to wear a veil or have a long train because of "purity" and "virginity" symbols these represent.

- Your parents and family are not obligated to pay for anything.

- If your ex and his family are friends, you can invite them if it feels appropriate for both you and your fiance. Not sure why you would want to, but every relationship is different.

Seating Issues

- Try to arrange your seating so that people of the same ages are sitting around each other: kids with kids, teens with teens, aunts and uncles. Seat them in groups categorized by their relationship to you (i.e. work friends verses high school friends verses cousins) or by their ages.

- If you know relatives are battling, do not put them next to one another. This is not the time to bridge the gap.

- For the head table, seat as you like. You can select a table for you and your partner and then tables on the sides for the wedding party. You can arrange a long table with men on one side and women on the other. You can include parents and grandparents or not. This is more relaxed, the celebration after... make it what's comfortable for you both.

- Number your tables instead of matching names or places or whatever for seating. This is much easier for people to figure out the arrangement and find their seat quickly.

- Reserve tables rather than seats... more comfortable for everyone (i.e. "Bride's Parents and Grandparents" etc.)

Gloves

- Wearing gloves is a wonderful touch! It's appropriate to remove them and hand to the maid of honor when you put on your ring in the ceremony. Put them back on and leave them on through the receiving line and then, if you can, the first dance. Remove them for eating and partying.

Paying Issues

Who pays for what? This can be tricky.

- Bride: reception costs, church fees, groom's ring, invitations, floral decorations, musicians, bridesmaids' gifts, groom's gift, transportation to the ceremony for bridal party, lodging for your bridesmaids if needed

- Groom: Bride's ring, Bride's bouquet and corsage, rehearsal dinner, gifts for the groomsmen, transportation for groomsmen to ceremony, Bride's gift, lodging for groomsmen if needed

- Bridesmaids: your dress and attire, the shower, gift for the couple and transportation to the town of the wedding

- Groomsmen: your suit and attire, the stag, gift for the couple and transportation to the town of the wedding

If You're A Guest

- Please don't assume a couple knows you are coming to their wedding. Planning and budgeting are often important to them. Send your "Reply By" card back to them.

- You don't have to send a gift if you decline an invitation. It's up to you.

- If you arrive late to the ceremony, wait until the bride has gone down the aisle before finding a seat. Be sure not to peek through doors at a church because you'll be in her photos. Walk down the outside aisle, not the middle.

- If you do not practice the faith of a couple's church, you are not expected to participate. Do so if you want to.

If you mail a gift in advance, you do not need to bring another one to the ceremony.

- Often cash is best for couples out-of-town because it costs a lot for shipping.

- If a couple has been living together and didn't register for gifts, they probably have all they need. Sending cash is often appropriate.

- Guests are expected to pay for their own transportation and lodging.

Wedding 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣()