Wedding Anniversary Gifts Straight From The Head

It's nice to have a set of guidelines detailing the substance
you're expected to base your anniversary present on as each year
of wedded bliss passes. But let's be honest; it doesn't exactly
show off your wisdom, imagination or wit, does it? And who
really wants tin or fruit off everyone, or indeed ivory off
anyone? Let's get personal about proceedings!

There's someone in every family who has learnt the anniversary
gift protocol down to the letter. No sooner have you mentioned
that it's Ken and Mary's 27th than they have retorted with the
word "ketchup" without skipping a beat. You stare at the ground,
wondering what on earth you could buy that both celebrates their
partnership and satisfies these rigid rules – and who on earth
compiled this list of seemingly random materials in the first
place …

Yes, some of the items have a certain pragmatic grace or
glamour to them. Paper, for all its low-budget connotations, can
actually be the backbone of all manner of exciting gifts, from
books, albums and cards to travel and entertainment tickets,
pictures and humorous calendars. And as time goes by, the
silver, gold, pearl, ruby and diamond gifts will certainly be
appreciated. But the in-between years always seem a little
arbitrary, like the guesses in some game of Animal, Vegetable,
Mineral.

Except perhaps in the round-number years, this anniversary gift
etiquette is not followed all that rigidly beyond a hardcore
group of dedicated sticklers. Most of us are happy to give some
flowers, a bottle of wine or something sweet. The trouble is,
none of these gifts has "anniversary" written all over it. They
don't exactly celebrate the milestone of staving off divorce for
yet another year, do they? But with a little research, you'll
find a special gift that the couple will just love.

The trick is to get inside the minds of the couple and to find
out what they have in common. They have presumably got something
in common or they wouldn't have tied the knot in the first place
(unless they have taken the theory that opposites attract to its
ultimate conclusion, in which case you can buy them almost
anything and at least one of them will find it attractive).

To get inside their minds, get inside their household. Any
excuse will do: borrowing a drill; catching up on old times;
cadging a cup of sugar (not recommended if you live more than 50
miles away). Once you're over the threshold, start to snoop.
Take in the sights, sounds and smells that greet you and in the
first few seconds you'll be able to tell if they are art or
music lovers, boozers, travellers, house-proud types, collectors
or simply people who don't take themselves too seriously. Soon
your head will be full of present ideas, and then it's just a
simple case of getting on the internet and matching your
new-found knowledge with the bountiful selection of anniversary
gifts on offer.

You can still opt to obey the traditional wedding anniversary
gift protocols – but by focusing on the couple rather than the
material, you'll automatically put your imagination into gear
and choose something really special.

For further information, please visit out website at
http://www.gettingpersonal.co.uk

About The Author: Unique high quality gifts & personalized
gifts at affordable prices, delivered quickly and guaranteed
with a smile from http://www.gettingpersonal.co.uk

How To Plan A Destination Wedding

It's true, destination weddings are all the rage today.

What exactly is a destination wedding? In simple terms, it's a
wedding away from your hometown, either just the two of you, or
with family and friends. It can be as simple or elaborate,
inexpensive or lavish as you desire.

Okay, so it's the wedding trend of the day, but, is it any
simpler to plan? Or, is planning a wedding far from home even
harder than planning one in your own hometown? The answer to
that, of course, is up to you, and how lavish or unique you want
your wedding to be. Here are the steps in planning that
destination "I Do."

Step One: Who's Going to Attend?

Before you can plan your wedding destination, you really have
to decide who you're going to invite, as your guest list can
sometimes narrow your choices of destinations.

Is your destination wedding going to be for just the two of
you? Then the whole world is your oyster.

Are you going to invite a few close friends or family members?
If so, are you going to pick up the tab for their travel, or are
travel expenses to be paid by each individual? If you can't
afford to pick up the tab for travel to your wedding, and the
friends and family members would have a hard time coming up the
money, then you might want to pick some special place closer to
home. For example, if you live in Phoenix and want a destination
wedding where family and friends could easily travel to, you
might want to pick Sedona rather than Hawaii.

There might also be time restrictions for your guests as well.
Some people just can't take time off of work to attend your
wedding on some tropical island, whereas they might be able to
attend a wedding which is a few-hours drive away.

Step Two: When is the Wedding?

If the two of you are planning your wedding around vacation
time at work, then that too may dictate where you will have your
destination wedding. If your vacation time is during hurricane
season, you may want to skip Cancun and opt for the beaches of
Southern California instead.

Step Three: Draw up a Wedding Budget

Face it; some locations are just more traditionally affordable
than others. Your heart may be screaming the beaches of Costa
Rica, but your budget is screaming Las Vegas. Yes, we all want
to answer our heart's call, but your budget should have the last
word.

But, don't let that keep you from choosing a great, unique
wedding destination. You'd be surprised how many wonderful,
unique wedding destinations there are which may fit your budget.
B&Bs all over the United States, in such romantic destinations
as California, New England, Florida and Virginia, offer
inexpensive wedding packages for either just the two of your, or
several guests.

When considering your budget, you have to consider travel
expenses (flying or driving) as well as the wedding related
expenses. In addition, you should also plan on the costs for
accommodations, meals during your stay and even the things that
you would like to do there.

Step Four: Consider the Marriage Laws

Some locations in the United States as well as some countries
make having a wedding very difficult. You may have to deal with
specific requirements before you can actually wed. Before you
select a location at which to be married, make sure you know
what the laws in that location actually are.

Step Five: Hire a Wedding Planner or DIY

Once you've narrowed in on your wedding location, you need to
decide if you will be planning your wedding yourself or if you
will need to hire a wedding planner. If you are having a larger
destination wedding with numerous family and friends attending,
you may want to hire a wedding planner to help coordinate
everything.

If it's just the two of you, you can probably handle the
planning yourself. Often you can hire a wedding officiant who
has packages available which include picking a location,
performing the ceremony, as well as transportation, cake and
champagne. Resorts and even B&Bs also offer packages which make
the planning extra simple.

Step Six: Enjoy Your Honeymoon

Here's the best part of having a destination wedding. The
honeymoon starts right after the "I Do."

With destination weddings continuing to grow in popularity, and
more B&Bs, resorts and wedding planners offering wedding
packages, planning a destination wedding can be as simple as
planning a vacation. No more renting a hall, hiring a band,
sending invitations to an ever-growing list of guests. It's time
to take the stress out of your wedding planning and make it fun.
A destination wedding allows you to do just that.

About The Author: Shari Hearn is the creator of a wedding
website, http://www.locationweddings.net as well as
http://californiaweddings.blogspot.com and
http://squidoo.com/eloping

Planning Your Dream Wedding In Mauritius

Organising luxury weddings in Mauritius is second nature to
many of the tour operators that offer this service. Dedicated
staff are on hand to assist in all the arrangements, help you
choose your venue, book flights, organize the flowers, photos,
wedding cake, food and drink and put together all the finishing
touches for your special day.

Wedding organizers will research hotels and check for special
group discounts if you are sharing your special day with family
and friends. Weddings are tailor made to your requirements
whilst staff at many of the islands luxury hotels will endeavour
to make your day as special as you deserve.

Before you get swept away by the romance of having a wedding
abroad, you will also need to consider the practicalities of
getting married in Mauritius. UK residents planning to marry in
Mauritius have the choice of a Civil Ceremony or a Religious
Ceremony. The following checklist is designed to act as a guide
to planning your luxury wedding in Mauritius and is by no means
comprehensive.

• Before you fly out you will need to apply for a Certificate
of Non-residence by sending a request to the Registrar of Civil
Status at least one month before your intended wedding date. It
should be sent with copies of both of your full birth
certificates and a copy of the first three pages of your
passports, as well as any relevant divorce/death documentation.
The certificate is then issued by the Prime Minister's Office in
Port Louis, so you need to allow at least 10 days for processing
before your wedding date. It is worth enquiring as to any other
relevant documentation that you may need on application of your
Certificate of Non-residence.

• For a civil ceremony you must be present on the island up to
24hrs before the wedding. However it is advisable you arrive at
least 3 days before to complete formalities. For religious
ceremonies arrive at least 15 days prior to the ceremony and
note that if you decide to have your wedding at one of the
hotels you will normally be required to book a minimum stay of 7
nights.

• When you arrive in Mauritius you will have to visit the Civil
Status Office ensure you have all your original documents with
you otherwise you will not be able to collect your non-residence
certificate. You must swear an affidavit before a judge in
chambers in Port Louis. The Civil wedding may then be celebrated
one day after the publication of your marriage banns, providing
you have confirmed time and location with the Registrar.
Weddings can be held Monday to Friday, excluding Public
Holidays.

• Civil Ceremonies are conducted by a Civil Status Officer
commonly at the local register office or at a location of your
choice from a hotel to a secluded beach. If you opt for a
wedding ceremony at a hotel check whether they guarantee only
one wedding per day at the resort as do Beachcomber Hotels, so
you don't have to share your special day with anyone else.

• Two witnesses are required to be present throughout the
proceedings.

• Expect the ceremony to last between 20-30 minutes after which
you will receive your Wedding Certificate. Clarify with the
Civil Status Office to ensure that your Wedding will be
registered in Mauritius and in doing so will be legal back home
in the UK.

• If you would like a religious ceremony it is possible to have
an Anglican or Catholic wedding in Mauritius. However although
possible Catholic weddings are very difficult to arrange for
non-Mauritians. You must first have a Civil wedding in either
the UK or Mauritius, preferably in the UK. If you or your
partner have been divorced it will not be possible to have a
religious ceremony.

• If your marriage certificate is written in a foreign language
you will need to ensure it is translated on your return to the
UK.

For planning of luxury weddings in Mauritius you should contact
the countries embassy in the UK for further information.

About The Author: For further information on weddings in
Mauritius please visit Beachcomber Tours at
http://www.beachcombertours.co.uk or call 01483 445610.

Internet Trends for the New Year: Stock Wedding Photos Online

Every year, about 2.4 million couples get married in the
U.S. and the average wedding costs $20,000. Weddings are a
$70 billion a year business, according to an online wedding
resource company called The Knot.

New developments in technology over the last decade have
enabled processes that now produce fast and inexpensive
on-demand production and distribution for a variety of
products and services. It was during the Digital Revolution
in the 1990s when there was a rapid drop in costs and
expanded power of digital devices such as digital cameras,
computers and mobile telephones.

Today, photographers have mastered the art form of digital
photography, which allows clients much greater flexibility
and artistic style for their cherished images which can be
placed in digital photo frames, on websites and shared via
iPods, handhelds, and on the Internet.

Media outlets have also had to change the way they do
business in view of the Internet and online publishing,
including the use of stock images as opposed to high-budget
editorial productions. With the evolution of computers,
chips and networks, futurists predict that four billion
people will be doing Internet commerce by 2025.(Source: The
Extreme Future, by James Canton.)

More and more photographers are adding stock photo websites
and the latest trends includes cutting edge wedding images
with wedding reception photos, beach wedding photos,
celebrity stock photos, the green wedding, photos of
wedding reception decorations, wedding fashions, scenes of
brides, getting ready, bridesmaids, grooms, groomsmen, the
bridal party, flowers, receptions, ceremonies, the toast,
cake cutting, dancing and departures.

The Internet has created conditions where photographers can
share a voice through images that provide a unique take on
cultural trends and how they will shape weddings in the
future. Many have launched wedding stock photos websites
because of the tremendous growth in online advertising that
is communicating, connecting and influencing contemporary
and captive audiences online. Stock photography saves money
on skyrocketing and extravagant production costs.

"Wedding images is a marketplace in itself, and it's
important to offer those seeking wedding stock images a
wide variety. Today's wedding ceremonies are often in
unusual venues such as museums, gardens, spas, even zoos.
And today's green weddings provide images of
environmentally friendly flowers, beach wedding photos,
table décor and hybrid cars and limos," said award-winning
photo journalist, John Unrue.

Wedding images include fabulous food photos, jewelry,
fashions, flowers, gifts churches, hotels, and even travel
and destination, which can all be used on other websites
and in magazines for hundreds of other products and
services. There are also countless opportunities to shoot
close-up images of family, friends and loved ones sharing
moments that reflect timeless expressions that can be
adapted to satisfy many other categories for websites or
editorial image requirements.

About the Author:

Kristin Gabriel handles marketing communications for John
J. Unrue Photography and http://www.unrueweddingstock.com .
Unrue is the preferred house for wedding photos, celebrity
photos, professional athletes, high-society and corporate
executives requiring both photography excellence and
discreet professionalism. Unrue's work has graced the pages
of high-end publications such as Martha Stewart Weddings,
Elegant Bride and Modern Bride magazines.

Consider An Authentic Costa Rica Wedding

If you are planning a wedding in Costa Rica you may want to opt
for an authentic ceremony using Costa Rica wedding customs.

The main goal of having a foreign destination wedding after
all, is to do away with the ordinary and traditional and to
settle with only the unique and the exceptional. Having a
genuine Costa Rican wedding is not that difficult to achieve.
You will find that there are just a few Costa Rica wedding
customs to include in your plans.

Many weddings in Costa Rica involve a beautiful beach ceremony.
This country is renowned for its sublime beaches the world over,
and most couples would like to indulge in this luxury while
exchanging vows. In the olden past, Costa Rican brides would
wear a black silk dress and a lace veil and for the grooms, a
shirt that is hand embroidered by his beloved bride. These days
however, a white sundress is a more typical and fitting bridal
wear, and a formal wedding shirt and pants for the groom's
outfit.

Of course, you may choose a more modern wedding ceremony which
can be modified to meet your plans. Some brides prefer to wear
long gowns and elaborate veils even during a seaside wedding. In
addition some couples would prefer a more formal arrangement
even while doing an outdoor wedding. But for most couples, a
Costa Rican wedding involves the sun, the sand, and the warmth
of family and friends. The bride frequently wears a simple yet
elegant sundress, and holds a bouquet of exotic blooms all
throughout the ceremony, as the beautiful sunset lends a
romantic glow to the event.

Costa Rica is basically a country that is torn between the old,
time-honored traditions and the advent of the new and modern
ways. Much of the people however, remains conservative at heart
and still upholds traditionalist values. Costa Ricans are a
family oriented people who love gatherings and festivities. The
family members of a Costa Rican are almost always present in the
most significant occasions of his life, and wedding celebrations
are no exception.

Present family members and relatives of both the bride and
groom during the wedding is a typical set-up in Costa Rican
marriages. The more guests, the better blessed the couple will
be. Your guests will find that an inexpensive Costa Rica
vacation is a great way to attend your wedding. Also, one of the
most significant Costa Rica wedding customs would be the late
night partying complete with Spanish-Latin music accompaniment
and plentiful servings of food for the guests. Live music may
also include some forties style beats and reggae tunes.

Costa Ricans prefer to have an abundance of food selections
served to the guests like meat, salads, and other authentic
dishes like the gallo pinto. Because of the large number of
guests, it is a part of the genuine Costa Rica wedding customs
for food and refreshments to be readily available. Barbeques on
open hot coals are also ideal for a beach wedding reception,
where the guests' tables are set up on the sand, and the natural
sea breeze providing natural ventilation. And because Costa
Ricans love to party well into the night, both alcoholic and
non-alcoholic drinks should be on hand too. All these make a
Costa Rican wedding truly extraordinary.

So when planning your Costa Rican wedding you may want to add
local customs to make your wedding ceremony unique. Memories of
your wedding will be enhanced by the beautiful location and
special customs found only in Costa Rica.

About The Author: James Kesel, MS, is the publisher of the
Costa Rica Vacation website at http://www.costa-rica-source.com.
Providing great information on vacations and travel in Costa
Rica. You may want to consider an authentic Costa Rica Wedding
using Costa Rica wedding customs.

Top Five Ideas For A Wedding Centrepiece

Most centrepieces are mostly, if not entirely, comprised of
traditional flowers. Many people however, make the mistake of
regarding flower centrepieces as the only option. Instead why
not go for something a little more inventive and unique.

There are thousands of potentially amazing centrepieces out
there, and here are my top 5 show stopping centrepieces.

5. Water:
Water adds an elemental, fluid, feeling to the table. It has
connotations with new life and the cleansing of the body from
sin. Marriage is the beginning of a new life so they merge
perfectly. Water works well when combined with flowers
(particularly submerged gerbera I find), with floating candles
or with a waterfall type effect.

4. Candles:
Candles are deeply symbolic, connected with the idea of the
light and warmth of love. They add a certain intimacy and
conjure the idea of romance. Fire also has connotations with
purification and new life, perfect for a wedding as you begin
your new lives together.

It is practical for the candle to be covered (particularly if
there are children at the wedding), perhaps in a stylish votive
holder or be original with an old fashioned style lantern.

3. Crystals:
Crystals have links with good luck and healing so are a good
omen at a wedding. More than that they provide an interesting
and different centrepiece which encourages people to touch and
interact with it. Weddings with a lot of children are a great
chance to use crystals, children love them and can often be
encouraged to sit playing quietly (well....quieter) during
speeches and toasts.

2. Themed Centrepieces:
Themes don't have to be all encompassing - little hints of a
theme can work well without overloading the senses. Use an
objective friend or a wedding planner to make sure you don't get
lost in the theme or it can end up looking massively overdone.

Examples of themes are:

Seasons – For Autumn using leaves and pine cones look great,
especially with leaf shaped confetti scattered around the table.
This looks great and is environmentally friendly. You can also
`spice it up' a little with glitter.

For winter, its pure whites teamed with clear crystals and icy
tones. Lights and glitter really set off this look.

Cultural - Take inspiration from your own background. With an
Irish background you may consider using elements such as greens
shamrocks (a bit predictable but always festive), the heraldic
harp, Celtic cross, Celtic love knot, and the Claddaugh.

Oriental style themes could use red and black colours (for
luck), Shoji lanterns, black or white pebbles and, of course,
chop sticks.

Beach theme- While it does sound rather tacky, this can be done
in a variety of ways. The restrained way generally involves
quite muted colours such as blues etc, pebbles or shells, sand
and maybe even faux beach debris.

It all sounds a bit much but, when done well, can look amazing.
Now, if you're planning on a more outgoing take on the beach
theme why not go all out with brightly coloured shells and maybe
even a tiny fake palm tree or two.... tacky yes, but definitely
different and memorable.

1.Photos:

Photos can be a great way to make everyone feel involved,
particularly in smaller weddings. A place setting with a photo
on (or a baby photo if you're feeling cruel!) makes the extra
effort.

A great idea is to leave disposable cameras on the tables and
develop the pictures later. A variant on this is to get Polaroid
cameras with somewhere to stick the resulting photos in the
centre of the table. It's great to get people chatting,
particularly if respective families haven't met before. It also
leaves you with a great keepsake.

What's important to remember is that these can all be combined
in any number of variations. Photos obviously go great with
anything (except water!) while candles add to any number of
themes (especially Oriental). But the important thing is, when
everyone is giving you ideas, take other peoples thoughts on
board but ultimately be led by your own vision....and don't be
afraid to experiment!

About The Author: Sarah McCormack works for Simply Wedding
Planners, a site helping UK couples to find reputable local
wedding planners. Visit http://www.simplyweddingplanners.co.uk
for details.