Wedding Invitations|Cheap Wedding Invitations|Wedding Invitation

We have all been to weddings where you wonder why the bride is wearing white at her second wedding. Is this something that should be avoided? Custom states that at least an off-white would be more fitting. But it is the bride's choice. Even Valerie Bertinelli went with a blue gown for her second wedding.

Simple is usually expected for a second or third wedding. But that doesn't mean you can't plan a nice theme wedding that will be remembered. After all you want this memory to be far different from the first. You can plan things that will separate this from your first wedding. Make the day a little different. Save money and use some creativity. Having a do it yourself wedding might be helpful in doing both of these.

Planning a simple second wedding reception can help you introduce you new spouse. You may opt to get married first and have a wedding reception later. Either way you can still make this memorable.

Perhaps you and your partner both love old cars. Maybe add that to the wedding and reception. Large photos of old cars. A stages small scale scene that can show your tastes. A car cake. Maybe some headlights to give light. Centerpieces that look like the year of your favorite car. 50's sundae glasses with flowers or candy arrangements.

By making this a total experience it becomes memorable and gives your guests something to relate you to. That means that the guys will know your guy can fix a car. It might break the ice.

Maybe you are both sports fans. You have a favorite football team and his is different. Maybe you can build on that. Imagine others already knowing that you have found a common territory. You can still plan something simple but make it memorable. There are so many ideas that can be used for weddings. It is almost open territory. And if this is a second wedding it can help to make it more than just a wedding but a family event. Planning a simple second wedding reception can be more fun.

You can explore the hobbies and common grounds that you both share. Perhaps even a family idea if you have children. Get them involved. You can make your wedding invitations and use wording for uniting a family instead of just a couple. This can allow your children to feel a big part of the event.

So decide what you want to do get some help from family and friends and start your dream wedding. Planning a simple second wedding reception can be fun, but make it memorable too!

You've made the decision to buy that expensive item of jewelry and left a good chunk of change with the jeweler. Now it's up to you to protect your investment. With a cost for insurance that averages 1-3% of the jewelry items' value, it just makes sense to purchase jewelry insurance. Jewelry gets lost, stolen, broken, left behind, misplaced, run over, slammed in doors, and washed down drains. Insurers hear it all. Don't assume homeowners or renters policies automatically cover you. Many homeowners' policies cover a total of just $1,000 for jewelry theft, and include a high deductible as well.

A $1,000 limit for jewelry coverage on a homeowners policy not only doesn't cover much, but it often requires you to find the sales slip, appraisal, and/or get quotes for replacements when making a claim. A separate jewelry insurance policy from a specialty insurer costs a similar amount and often carries a lower deductible besides. Making a claim can avoid extra work and frustration involved when working with homeowners coverage, plus you're not making a claim on your homeowners policy.

To get a good jewelry insurance policy, get an insurance appraisal at the time of purchase. Then find the right policy for you. Consider these points:

- Coverage. What exactly does the policy cover? Theft, mysterious disappearance, damage? What is excluded? Not all policies cover mysterious loss or damaged stones. Unfortunately, mysterious loss is one of the leading insurance claims according to Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, a specialty insurer that covers mysterious loss (and damaged stones).

- Deductibles. What are the options for deductibles? You pay this part first, before insurance coverage kicks in. Choosing a deductible can lower your premiums (payments for insurance). Again, homeowners coverage often involves a high deductible. When choosing a separate jewelry insurance policy, you can frequently obtain better coverage with no deductible or low deductible for a comparable cost. Worth thinking about.

- Claims. How well does the company pay claims? Check independent rating agencies, such as A.M. Best. Can you report a claim at any hour or online? What are the requirements to make a claim? And how long does the claim process take?

- Do you need to get multiple quotes? Can you choose your own jeweler or does the insurer tell you who to work with? Is it a replacement company or the lowest bidder?

- Travel coverage. Is the ring covered when you travel - even out of the country?

- Appraisals. Most insurance companies require an appraisal to document and value your jewelry item. Do you need one? If one is not needed, how is your jewelry valued and what do you need to substantiate value at the time of a claim?

- Inspections. Does the insurer require periodic inspections that, if missed, void the policy?

- Insurer expertise. Who do you want to work with if you have a claim? Does expertise matter? Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company employs specialists that only deal with jewelry insurance.

- Security. Does the policy contain security requirements? Are there discounts if you take certain precautions?

- See the policy. Can you view exactly what the policy says? Can you download a sample?

Losses happen. Jewelry insurance just makes sense.

A diamond ring is a large investment that will be best protected by wedding ring insurance. There are many different reasons why this type of insurance is an important way to protect your investment.

Reason One

Protection in case of theft. Large engagement and wedding rings are an easy target for petty theft. Thieves can quickly and easily steal your high value jewelry - as it is so small. Engagement rings are easy to sell on the black market and are rarely, if ever, recovered. A large and expensive ring can be very expensive to replace. In addition to the cost of replacement there is the priceless sentimental value that your ring holds. While ring insurance can not cover the sentimental value of your ring, it is a great way to cover the physical cost of replacing a stolen ring.

Reason Two

Protection from damage. Engagement rings are meant to be worn and enjoyed. You will likely wear your engagement everyday while performing a large assortment of daily tasks. These daily tasks and household chores can quickly damage your ring. Purchasing this type of insurance will protect your jewelry when this damage occurs. It will cover the cost of replacing or repairing your ring.

Reason Three

Protection of diamonds. Wedding ring insurance is a good idea to protect your diamonds. Diamonds are by far the most expensive element in an engagement ring. Ring insurance will typically cover lost diamonds. In addition, it will generally cover maintenance on your ring. This will help you to keep stone settings tight and in good repair to prevent potential diamond losses before they occur.

Reason Four

Protection from loss. Unfortunately rings get lost. This especially traumatic when the lost ring possess sentimental value that can not be replaced. Many ring insurance policies cover the cost of replacing a lost ring. Some policies however do not offer this coverage. When selecting insurance make sure that you understand the various terms associated with your policy. If you are worried about protection from loss be sure that your policy will cover this.

Reason Five

Protection from the unexpected. You never know what will happen to your ring. Ring insurance will protect your ring from known threats that can be predicted as well as the unexpected. Your policy will eliminate the need to worry about your ring. It will cover your engagement ring no matter what situation arises. It is a good protection to invest in to protect this valuable asset.

An engagement is an investment and should be protected like an investment. The cost of this type of insurance policy is generally calculated based on the value of the jewelry in question. This makes wedding ring insurance an affordable option no matter the size of the ring.

A lot of sites have opened to give customized service in making wedding invitations. They offer other stationery related to the wedding like wedding gifts and framed photographs.

Wedding invitations are indeed a mirror to the couple's personality. Some couples accompany a small box with chocolates, framed photos and favorite cartoon characters.

Looking for the traditional type?

They are mostly engraved or embossed and set in a white or ivory background. They include an outer mailing envelope, invitation card, reception card, a RSVP card for the invitation and reception, a RSVP reply card. Today preferences of gifts are included to avoid irrelevant gifts.

Fond of the Engraved ones?

Weddings are still considered to be traditional and so engraved wedding invitations are very popular and top selling. The engraving is done in an embossed copper plate with dye. This creates a bumpy feel on the surface. The invites are designed to match the traditional etiquette. A minimum of six weeks is required after the proofing of the content. The traditional style is set to the tone of the ceremony. The embossed wordings add to the clarity. It can be done with gold or silver foil to enhance the beauty.

There are renowned companies who believe firmly in the traditional engraved wedding cards. Strict guidelines are followed before they produce them. In the sophisticated quality and look of the card sets the mood and theme of the ceremony.

Wedding Invitation Gifts

Some couples accompany the invitations in a small box with unique gifts. Today it has become common for the couples to add a second card with the preferences of the gifts. It can be cash, vouchers or contributions for their honey moon. Fishing for gifts with the invitation is a sticky business. Yet to maintain their finances and avoid irrelevant articles, couples have started adding to the list.

Fleet Street used to be synonymous with newspapers. The Telegraph and Express buildings can still be seen, but the newspapers long ago moved - first to nearby streets such as Fetter Lane and most recently to outlying areas: the Guardian to Farringdon and then King's Cross, the Times to Wapping, the Telegraph to Canary Wharf and then Victoria.

The street's history as a publishing centre though goes back way before the invention of newspapers - Caxton's apprentice Wynkyn de Worde set a press up here in 1500 and there were always booksellers and printers on the street from then on. Booksellers also once used the old St Paul's cathedral churchyard as a market for their wares.

The art deco Daily Telegraph building still dominates one side of the street, though it's now the headquarters of investment bank Goldman Sachs. Giant columns tower the fa癟ade, giving it a feeling that is part skyscraper, part Greek temple - complete modernity in the language of classical architecture. More uncompromising is the Daily Express building, known in its day as the "black Lubyanka" because of its black and chrome and streamlined curves.

Contrast that with the Reuters building on the other side of the road, a classical work by Lutyens that breathes the solidity of the British Empire, very much "my word is my bond" against the brashness of the Express' new age.

Where there are journalists, of course, there are pubs and Fleet Street has a number of fine pub buildings. Most antique of the lot is the Cheshire Cheese, in two tiny seventeenth-century houses; gloomy rooms full of wood panelling, with an open fire warming the bar in winter. Dickens would have felt at home here, with a pint of Sam Smith's and a creaky chair to settle into.

The Old Bell is said to have been built for Wren's workmen on St Bride's in 1670; it's been the Twelve Bells, the Old Swan, the Golden Bell, and it's everyone's idea of a traditional English pub from the stained glass window proclaiming its name to the wood panelling and bare floorboards.

Behind the Bell is the church of St Bride's, with its wedding-cake spire, set in its own little courtyard - one of the City's most intimate outdoor spaces. Fleet Street's other church, further west, is St Dunstan-in-the-West, a Victorian gothic church with a truncated spire. Though rebuilt, it retains several curiosities from the earlier church on the site - a clock with the figure of the giants Gog and Magog which strike the bells, and a statue of Queen Elizabeth I which used to stand on the Old Ludgate. Next to her is a bust of Lord Northcliffe, founder of the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror - you're never far from a newspaperman on this street!

Although Fleet Street has lost its newspapers and is now home to investment banks and solicitors' firms, it's still a fine street with its narrow artery throbbing with traffic, lined with interesting buildings and intriguing bits of history. But you'll never smell printing ink here again and I hear the famously reactionary El Vino even serves women at the bar these days.

Here's the dilemma with cheap wedding invitations ... a wedding invitation not only offers your guests a first impression of what to expect from your wedding, it provides your guests with a fond keepsake. So how can you avoid paying a fortune for your wedding invitations and still portray the elegance and personal touch you want for your wedding?

That's what we're going to address in this article.

Only a couple of years ago, the average wedding invitation order was for 150 invitations. The resulting bill, not including tax and shipping, was approximately $450 or around $3.00 per invitation. Now, if you're set on cheap wedding invitations, the total cost can obviously be controlled by reducing the number of invitations you send. However, this only extends so far before the printing expense per invitation begins to rise (the fewer you print, the more it costs per invitation).

So, begin by thinking in terms of how many people you want to attend your wedding. Not only will you save on invitations, but you'll save on catering, alcohol, hall rental, and more with a smaller group.

I know, I know ... I can hear the objections from here.

I'm not saying you have to trim the size of your guest list. I'm simply saying that it's something you might want to consider.

So let's get back to your wedding invitations (regardless of the size of your guest list) ...

As with all the various elements of your wedding, the invitations should reflect the theme. If you're planning an informal wedding ceremony and reception, your invitations should be informal. If you're planning an elegant wedding, your invitations should be elegant. Colors are also a consideration. Ecru is the most traditional wedding color, if you have other colors in mind for your theme, you might look for an invitation with colored accents or ink.

In any case, even under the constraints of a budget, cheap wedding invitations can still be an option. The more elegant and stylish, however, the more your ingenuity and creativity will need to come into play.

Generally, the cheapest wedding invitations you can order through a printer will be non-fold, single cards with text and no graphics or decorations (monograms, gold leafing, etc.). However, you'll also need to decide if you're going to include an RSVP card, a reception card, directions, etc. You'll need to determine the wording to be included in the invitation, plus the typestyle, paper stock, and envelopes.

These are just some of the decisions that can impact your budget.

Here are some tips that can help you keep the cost of ordering wedding invitations down:

- Engraving is an expensive option. You can achieve that same "raised print" effect by using thermography instead. Plus, it's much cheaper.

- Use a single envelope. There was a time when a wedding invitation arrived inside an envelope, which was inside a second, protective envelope. Two envelopes really aren't necessary. Save yourself the added expense.

- Eliminate the blotter tissue. These were originally for the purpose of preventing ink smears. However, wet ink is no longer an issue, and therefore the tissues are no longer necessary.

- Avoid using colored ink.

- Use return address labels on the back of the mailing envelope. This will save you the expense of having your return address printed directly on the envelope.

- Use a simple postcard in place of the traditional RSVP card. It will not only reduce your printing expenses, it will reduce your postage expenses as well.

- Finally, take the time and effort to track down an online wholesaler or a discounter for your wedding invitations. This can potentially save you as much as 35%.

A beautiful, elegant wedding invitation doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. In fact, cheap wedding invitations can often capture the same magic and artistry as the more expensive invitations. You simply have to know what you want and be willing to take the time to make wise, cost-cutting decisions whenever possible.

Weddings are a perfect occasion where you can come up with a wonderful and innovative ideas when it comes to designing your very own DIY pocket wedding invitations. You may come across many online websites that offer a lot of information on how to create such invitations effectively and efficiently.

Do it yourself pocket wedding invites can consist of numerous slots or pockets to keep different type of invitations such as direction cards, reply cards, main invitations and many more. This also makes it convenient for guests to address such invitations instead of replying to a single invitation.

If you want to make your own pocket wedding invitations stand out from others, then there are a number of options you can choose from. You can go in for different designs, layouts, borders or themes that can be found on many of the online stores. You can even opt for DIY kits that comes with different invitations cards, accessories and even colorful envelopes.

The DIY pocket fold wedding invitations are a perfect choice if you are tight on budgets. Weddings are such occasions that involve huge amounts to be spend for foods, venue bookings, d矇cor and many more. A lot of ideas can be got from online invitation samples, printing shops or you can even take the help of your friends or relatives to make the most unique and beautiful invites.

In case of theme weddings, you first need to decide on the layout and the overall design that will match the occasion. If you plan on having a traditional wedding, then you can choose for simple colors such as white, floral, lavender or pale yellow. Beach weddings can have invitations can have bright colors such as orange, blue, bright yellow and other such bright shades. When compared to readymade wedding invitations, DIY pocket wedding invitations are comparatively cheaper.

Gone are the days where plain and simple invitations for weddings wooed the hearts of the guests. These days modern and unique designs are gaining a lot of popularity for any occasion. Accessories just as lace, ribbons, dry flowers or even a layer of fancy Japanese paper can be added to bring out the uniqueness in you do it yourself pocket wedding invites.

When you make your own pocket invitations, you can either choose for simple wordings specifying the time,date and venue of the wedding or you can even choose favorite quotes or poems for your special day. With the help of a printer at home, you can even have the wordings printed in stylish fonts or texts. The inserts for the invitations can either be put directly onto the pocket fold and have the wordings written on them.

Ensure that you mention the correct address and names of the guests. Bear in mind to mail your DIY pocket wedding invitations well in advance so that the guests will be able to revert back on time. If you prefer, you can even add a personal touch to the invitations by adding photo of you and your spouse on the envelopes.

Some internet websites offer rings, but they never mention the ring size! They do not offer to size the ring for you, or even give any suggestion as to how that should be done, because this requires a higher level of customer service than a "cell-phone-seller" wants to hassle with. If you order a diamond ring, for instance, and there is no size choice available, you really do not know whether the ring you get will fit your finger or not! If it is a new woman's ring, it will probably be somewhere between a size 6 and 7, but it could vary by as much as a full size either way. If it is a ring that was returned to the seller by a former customer, it could be any size, because the customer probably had it sized to fit their finger. New men's style rings are usually manufactured as a size 10 or 11, but, again, this is not an exact measure. To determine your ring size, you can download a helpful document from the Viridian Gold website, or drop in to a local jewelry store and have them check it for you.

Now, if you do buy an unsized ring from one of those non-service sellers, you will have to take it to a jewelry store or repair shop and get it sized. Depending on the ring, that can cost anywhere from $25 up to $100--that is what someone at Fast Fix, a mall-kiosk jewelry repair shop told me. The $25 figure would be for a ring that only needed "stretching", such as a simple yellow-gold wedding band. But, most rings will need a more complicated sizing procedure described below.

The jeweler (I am speaking of a real craftsman here, not just the owner of the jewelry store) will perform the ring sizing on his jeweler's bench. First, the ring shank will be cut through at its lower portion (the bottom of the ring). By the way, gold dust is toxic when breathed, so the jeweler must take great care to protect his lungs from inhaling the dust. If the ring is to be reduced in size, the jeweler cuts the shank again to remove the excess material in the shank. He/she then places the ring on a mandrel (a cone-shaped hard-metal "finger" graduated in size from a point up to the largest ring size) and forms the ring into a circle, closing the gap and thus reducing the ring size. If the ring is to be enlarged, the jeweler also will use the mandrel to open the ring to the proper size, and then insert a "plug" of the same metal type as the ring.

Next, the ring shank ends, along with the plug if one was used, must be soldered together. The solder used will be a compound that matches the ring's metal, but has a lower melting point than the ring metal itself. For instance, 14K gold solder is still 14K gold, but it uses a different mix of alloys which causes it to melt at a lower temperature than the 14K gold ring itself. The ring shank is heated, and the solder is allowed to melt and flow into the gap, thereby joining the two ends together after it solidifies. If required, the ring size is then "fine-tuned" by fitting it on the mandrel and using a hammer to gently form the gold to the correct ring size.

Now, the excess solder and thickness of the plug are removed with a file to match the contour of the ring. And, finally, the ring is buffed to a bright shine. If the ring is white gold, then it is usually re-plated with rhodium to restore that brand-new appearance (some newer white-gold alloys do not require rhodium plating). The newly created ring joint will be completely invisible to the naked eye, unless the jeweler has been careless or is inexperienced!

Another method of sizing, which can only be used on simple, unadorned bands, is ring stretching (to increase size) or swaging (to reduce size). No cutting or soldering is done with this technique, but it can only be used for changes of one or two sizes. In this method, the ring is first annealed, meaning that it is heated to a high temperature and then cooled down in a controlled manner. This relaxes the metallic structure of the ring (which tends to "harden" over time) to make it more malleable (softer). For a size increase, the ring is stretched on a tool that gently applies pressure to the ring, causing the metal to stretch. For a size decrease, another tool is used which incrementally forces the metal to conform to progressively smaller sections of the mandrel--the ring is then reshaped to remove the cupping distortion produced by this method. And, finally, the re-sized ring is buffed to a bright shine. If it is white gold, it will be re-plated with rhodium.

So, you can see that this process involves great skill and practice, which explains the need to charge a little more to have the ring sized to your finger size! At Viridian Gold, you will always see the added amount, if any, for sizing next to the ring size you select in our ring-size selection menu. This amount will be added when the ring is placed in the shopping cart. And if you need a 1/2, 1/4 or 1/8 size increment in your ring, just call us and we will accommodate your needs!

Wedding champagne flutes and champagne glasses made of Venetian glass can be a trendy affair.

Your Special Day is approaching and you are getting ready to make it the most memorable day in your life. The excitement is great, you have taken care of everything. The date and the venue are set, your guest list is completed. You have taken care of the photographer, band, florist and caterer as well. You got your dress, shoes, hair dresser booked. You have agreed on rings, cake and honeymoon... You are ready to dream... but...

You have not yet chosen your Wedding Champagne Glasses!

Champagne glasses are a must at every wedding.

Don't worry you can really stand out of the crowd now by giving free room to simple elegance and restrained luxury. You can get truly one-of-a-kind toasting flutes masterpieces, all handmade of Venetian glass by masters in Murano, Italy.

Make your traditional toast the most outstanding moment at your wedding by choosing the everlasting wedding champagne flutes in harmony with your style. Give the extra touch so that it is not only memorable for you, but for all your guests, friends, relatives and whoever comes to your wedding.

Champagne glasses made of Venitian glass are everlasting because they are not only venerable timeless beauties, but also ideal to use later for all special family occasions, including your 50th Wedding Anniversary and will surely become treasured keepsakes for your offsprings.

You can personalize them by engraving your names and date to remember forever your special day in an elegant way, putting it on the bottom like it is done with every Venetian glass signature piece, an old tradition which has been handed down from the Venetian glass masters over the centuries.

And more, if you have not yet made up your mind on your groomsmen gifts you can easily find among the wedding champagne glasses you are going to select for yourself also the right champagne glasses for them. You can get the same style but a different color or the same color but a different style. Or if you prefer something slightly different you can find wine or liquor glasses belonging to the same collections.

If you want to overdo it to really impress your guests you can get entire coordinated collections handmade of Venetian glass not only champagne glasses, but also murano wine glasses, water glasses, small and big bowls, pitchers and wine decanters. And because all of them are individually handcrafted using centuries-old glass blowing techniques, no two items are exact matches for size and color. This ensures that not only your wedding champagne flutes, but any other item you might add are truly one-of-a-kind masterpieces

It is important to prepare for your special day taking care of the details. The little things - a smile, a gesture, a simple thought put into action - speak volumes in all the specials occasions of your life. Don't get cheap or plastic wedding champagne flutes.

When choosing your wedding champagne glasses look for the right style, select a color that expresses your deepest feelings, personalize them by engraving names and date and don't forget to serve the best prosecco the day of your wedding.

Do you want to send an invitation that gets your guests talking? Does an 'off-the-shelf' invitation make you wrinkle your nose? Unique wedding invitations are not as complicated as you might think. Here are not-so-common wedding invitation ideas you'll love to send:

Go non-traditional

The possibilities for unique invitations are endless. For example, while linen paper or engraved text are timeless invitation styles, they don't exactly make for one-of-a-kind wedding invitation ideas. Instead, try eco-friendly or textured paper. Also consider abandoning traditional colors in favor of bright, bold shades to announce your wedding.

It's all about the messenger

Create a buzz among your guests by sending your wedding invite in a non-conventional way. For example, if you're getting married with your toes in the sand, consider sending an invitation tucked inside a bottle. Or, if you have a wedding worthy of a storybook princess, send an invitation rolled up into a scroll. Christmas wedding invites might be sent in a gift-wrapped box.

One disadvantage with this idea is that it can be expensive. However, if you have a generous budget, this is one of the most unique wedding invitation ideas and is sure to create buzz about your nuptials.

Have a way with words

Playing with wedding invite words is one of the no-cost invitation ideas. For example, you might toss out the traditional Mr.-and-Mrs.-Smith-cordially-invite-you wording in favor of clean and modern wording. Think along the lines of "With joyous hearts, we invite you..." or "Join us for a celebration of love and family..."

Does your significant other call you "Sweets?" For fun and unique invitations use nicknames in the text--just make sure they're not the kind of nicknames that will make Grammy blush!

Get in touch with your inner artist

One sure-fire way to create unique invitations is to personalize the invite with a special photo or image. For instance, consider using baby photos of you and your future spouse. If you have an artistic hand, perhaps you can draw your profiles. Got a place or landmark that's important to you? Take a photo of you and your love at the spot for instantly unique wedding invites.

A professional printer can often incorporate your photo wedding invite ideas, but be aware that there's often a fee for using your own artwork. If you're a budget-conscious bride, consider designing the invitation on your home computer. Then, you can print them yourself at home, or, to save wear-and-tear on your home printer, have a local copy shop do it for you.

Go Green

If you carry a trunk full of reusable grocery bags or chide friends for drinking from one-time use water bottles, consider eco-friendly invites. These unique wedding invitations are printed on bio-degradable paper that contains no harsh chemicals. Sometimes the paper can be made with 100% recycled products.

For the ultimate in wedding invitation ideas, consider using invites printed on paper embedded with wildflower seeds. Your guests simply "plant" their invitation in the garden, creating a lasting memory of your special day.

As a bonus, some eco-friendly companies use carbon-free shipping to deliver the unique wedding invitations, lowering your carbon footprint. Memorable invitations you can feel good about--what's not to love about that?

When it comes to your special day, don't use the same wedding invitation ideas used by every other bride. With a little planning, you can create unique wedding invitations that announce the most important day of your life to your family, friends, and loved ones.