Classy or Trashy?

You don’t want to reach this critical moment with a tin can or window marker in sight.

You’ve got to be on the ball and bring some decorative items with you to the wedding.

But you don’t really want to go all out…

You know, with décor that could get the happy couple in trouble with the law (or get the groom in trouble with the bride).

So here are a few points of card decorating etiquette you’ll surely want to observe.

Consider Written Messages

The first thing to consider is written messages. There’s nothing wrong with arranging for a beautifully written placard that simply states “Just Married”, but you might find that a little outdated.

The truth is you can write all manner of romantic messages on the getaway car these days, even opting to make it personal by throwing in pet names or inside jokes that the couple shares (as long as they are common knowledge rather than drunken and inappropriate revelations from the bachelor party).

The idea here is not to upset anyone, especially the bride – you don’t want to turn a night of wedded bliss into the Battle of Bunker Hill (with the bride becoming the nearly impregnable – so to speak – hill).  So keep it clean.

Wedding Car Exterior

Next you should think about the materials you’ll use, both inside and out.  For the exterior, many groomsmen now forego the shaving cream and shoe polish that used to be popular in favor of easy-to-use (and remove) window markers.  They wipe away with a wet rag and they are totally safe for the paint job (unlike sugary whipped cream or, god forbid, spray paint).

You can also consider utilizing specialty magnet kits.  Many craft stores sell wedding-themed magnets with graphics like hearts, doves, and rings, as well as words or letters that can be arranged in a variety of ways.  The best part about this type of decoration is that the couple can transfer it to their fridge later on (and again, it won’t damage the car).

Inside the Wedding Car

As for the interior, the trick is to avoid anything that could cause a potential mess.  This is especially important if the couple is using a rented car or limo, since damages could result in a hefty fine for the bride and groom.

So keep it simple with streamers, balloons, flower petals, and the like.  And if there is a hired driver (or someone at the wedding is willing to act as a DD), leave a bottle of champagne chilling on ice and provide a couple of flutes so the newlyweds can sip the bubbly on the way to starting their honeymoon.

Don’t Get Caught

Finally, you need to decide when to do the deed.  Obviously, you’ll want to have the decorations done before the happy couple departs the reception, but you don’t want any of the wedding party to miss something important (like the best man’s toast).

So when you’re going over plans with the groom, simply throw in a few innocuous questions about the reception so that you can get a basic idea of the timeline and find the perfect moment to slip away to do the decorations.

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Engagement Ring Shopping is Fun

Before you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, you should have a complete understanding of what you’re buying.

This article simplifies the four Cs of diamonds – cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.

Take time to educate yourself so you can select your perfect diamond based on the same criteria jewelers use to grade them.

The Four C’s of Diamonds

Diamond Cut

The cut of a diamond has a tremendous effect on its sparkle, or brilliance. Even if the diamond has perfect color and clarity, a poor cut can make a diamond look dull.

The proportions of a diamond’s cut are calculated and applied in a cut grading scale that makes it easy to understand how well a diamond will reflect light; Ideal Cut, Very Good Cut, Good Cut, Fair Cut, Poor Cut.

For the best value in a brilliant diamond, choose a diamond with a cut grade of good or very good, and polish and symmetry grades of very good or good.

In an ideal, or very-good cut diamond with very good or good polish and symmetry, consider less expensive grades of color and clarity — look for a diamond with G or H color and SI1 or SI2 clarity.

Diamond Color

Acting as a prism, a diamond can divide light into a spectrum of colors and reflect this light as colorful flashes called fire. Just as when looking through colored glass, color in a diamond will act as a filter, and will diminish the spectrum of color emitted. The less color in a diamond, the more colorful the fire, and the better the color grade.

For the purist, look for a colorless diamond with a grade of D-F and a fluorescence rating of faint, inert, none, or negligible. For an excellent value in a diamond with no noticeable color to the unaided eye, look for a near-colorless grade of G-I, and a fluorescence grade of medium or strong blue.

Or, if you’d rather not compromise on color but would like to stay on budget, choose a diamond with a good cut, SI1–SI2 clarity, and consider going with a strong fluorescence. It will still be beautiful to the unaided eye and you may prefer the unique effect of a strong fluorescence.

Diamond Clarity

Diamonds completely free from internal flaws, or inclusions, are very rare and highly valued. Clarity is graded based on the number, location, size, and type of the inclusions found in a diamond.

We recommend that you select an “eye-clean” diamond — one that has no inclusions visible to the unaided eye. An excellent value, diamonds of this clarity are much less expensive than IF (internally flawless) or FL (flawless) grade diamonds and typically do not contain visible inclusions that detract from the beauty of the diamond.

If you’re considering an SI (slightly included) grade diamond, make sure to double-check that the inclusions are not visible with the unaided eye. But, if you’d rather not compromise on clarity yet are budget conscious, choose a diamond with a good cut and G or H color.

Diamond Carat

Once you’ve determined what cut, color, and clarity grade you’re looking for in a diamond, it’s easy to determine the carat weight of diamond that will fit within your budget. To choose the best carat weight of the diamond, consider her style, the size of her finger, the size of your setting, and your budget.

If you have a set budget, explore all your options and you’ll find that there is a wide range of diamond carat weights and qualities available in your price range.

If your recipient is very active or not used to wearing jewelry, she may find herself bumping or nicking her new ring. Consider a smaller size diamond or a setting that protects a larger diamond from getting knocked against doors and counters.

Also keep in mind that the smaller the finger, the larger the diamond will appear. A 1½-carat diamond solitaire looks much larger on a size 4 finger than a size 8.

Finally, if a large carat weight is important to you, yet you’re working within a budget, consider a diamond with a good cut, SI1–SI2 clarity, and an I or J color grade.

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Get Him Looking his Best!

We grow our hair out or we cut it short. We wax our legs and bleach our teeth.

We get weekly manicures and pedicures for months before the wedding just to insure that everything will be perfect.

No stone is left unturned. Or is it… What about him? You know, that guy sitting next to you.

He’s getting married too. And whether he says anything or not, he probably wants to look his best for his wedding. So, here are some things you can both do to make HIM feel great for the big day:

Get him a manicure

The fact is, real men do get manicures. Okay, not all men and not all the time, but if you look around you’ll see more men then you think getting their nails buffed to perfection. You can assure him that they don’t put polish on men’s fingers (unless of course you request it!) but they do get all the dry skin and ragged cuticles taken care of.

This is especially important if your man works with his hands on a daily basis as his hands are probably callused and rough. He’ll be shaking hands all day, never mind the fact that you’ll be slipping his ring on his finger for the first and only time. What better reason is there to get the car grease out from under his nails?

Have him get a massage

You can give him one yourself or the two of you can go somewhere together to have them done. Again, this isn’t something that most men think to do on their own, but I can guarantee he’ll appreciate it. Men have their own stresses when it comes to planning a wedding. Often they’re carrying some of the financial burden (along with you) and they have their own emotions to work through as the big day approaches. While people flock around us, the brides, most grooms don’t really get pampered at all during the wedding process.

Involve him in some of your healthy activities and eating habits

Even if your groom-to-be is in great shape already, going for walks together and eating healthy meals before the wedding will have real benefits. If you’re trying to lose some weight or get in shape having his support will be invaluable. Plus, the time spent going for walks and getting outdoors will give the two of you a chance to connect with one another during this crazy time. And the benefits of eating healthfully are pretty clear. You’ll both have more energy, you’ll sleep better and that will make the planning process seem much more manageable. Also, he’ll stand taller and feel better knowing how great he looks in his tux on his wedding day.

Send him to a barbershop for a professional shave

It’s as close as most men will get (or will want to get) to a spa treatment. A good barber will use hot towels and lotions to make his face smooth and soft. And since it’s a barbershop, well let’s just say it won’t bring up the kind of issues that could be raised if you dragged him to a spa.

The most important thing you can do for him during this time?

Ask him his opinion and talk to him about things. Even if you think he doesn’t care about any of the wedding planning chances are there are certain things he has strong feelings on. Don’t shoot down every idea he has just because it doesn’t fit into your idea of the Dream Day.

This is his wedding too, and if he wants football helmet favors then – well – at least be open to discussing it. Last but not least, don’t forget to give him a big kiss and thank him for being there. After all, what’s a wedding without the groom?

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She said yes.

But there are a lot of guys out there looking for a little guidance.

And that’s what this article is all about.

First and foremost fellas, you need to know that the best way to propose is to make it personal.

By all means, take these ideas and make them your own.

Add your own special twist. Be who you are because no one can be better at being you, than you!

And please, don’t be that guy that just copies these proposals word for word.

Marriage Proposal Ideas

The Classic Marriage Proposal

1. Pick her up in a limo wearing a tux and carrying a dozen long stem roses.
2. Take her to a private dining room in a very exclusive restaurant.
3. After dinner, have a string quartet play soft music and dance nice and close.
4. After dancing , take her to your favorite romantic place, perhaps walk the cobblestone in old town St. Charles, visit a local winery, or hop on a riverboat cruise.
5. Then take her hand, kneel down and propose by saying:

You mean the world to me
No one else has ever meant as much to me as you
Good times and bad times
For as long as we both live
Without you, my life is incomplete
I am missing something when you are not with me I think of you night and day
I miss you when we are apart
Come grow old with me I love you! Will you marry me?!?

The Poetical Wedding Proposal

1. Buy a paperback book of poetry.
2. Glue all the pages together.
3. Towards the bottom of the book, in the exact center, carve out the interior pages in the shape of the engagement ring. (Use an exacto knife to get a clean cut) – Place the engagement ring in the carved out area to make sure that it fits.
4. Buy a piece of off-white cardstock (heavy paper).
5. On it, write the following poem:

There comes a time in every man’s life
When he must take a chance and choose a wife;
That time has finally come to be -
So will you take a chance and marry me?

6. Glue the heavy paper (cardstock) onto the first interior page – Glue the top portion only, so that the card can be flipped up to reveal the engagement ring.
7. Place the book on the back seat of your car/pickup.
8. Go on a road trip and when you’re on your way, stop at a rest stop to buy a soft drink.
9. Tell your sweetheart that you want to drink the soda before continuing on.
10. Tell her that you found a great poetry book and that you tried your hand at writing a poem. Reach over and give the book to her and ask for her opinion.
11. She will read it. There may be a look of bewilderment as your love realizes that this is a proposal. Just at that moment of hesitation, say “flip the top page up.”
12. If there was a moment of doubt as to what was happening, it will be erased when the engagement ring comes into full view.

The Treasure Hunt Marriage Proposal

1. Tape a note to your intended’s bathroom mirror which reads: “Today will be the biggest adventure of your life!” It should hold the first clue to a treasure hunt.
2. Place other clues in various locations throughout the city such as in her apartment, a storage locker at the local bus station (or mailbox at Mailboxes, etc.), at the local food market, at the video store, at her parent’s house, and at her workplace. Each clue should be a rhyme which has some personal significance.
3. At the end, tell her to meet you at a favorite overlook, or romantic spot.
4. When she reaches the spot, make sure she finds the final clue which asks her “Will you marry me?”

This proposal is an instant hit with adventurous women, but if you want to kick it up a notch, then take the hunt on the road. At one of the secret locations, have her a plane ticket (perhaps to Chicago) and suitcase waiting (make sure you have packed her suitcase ahead of time.). Make sure you are there when she gets off the plane. You could be holding a sign or something. Be creative with this one!

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Choosing the right shirt for you.

You’ve found this great shirt with the exact color you wanted and you’re going to buy it.

Is that all you need to look for in a shirt after its size? Of course there is more to a shirt than its color.

But it’s just a white shirt I hear you say. Then don’t make a white shirt boring.

There are many features to choose from in a shirt, such as the type of collar, the material, cuff types and for those who are more fussy, button color and material, yoke and cut.

In this article, let’s have a look at the collar types as these can define what type of shirt you are wearing.

Regular collars

As the name suggests, this is the most common type and the collar ends point down.

Grab a mirror and take a long, hard and honest look at yourself in the mirror. I’m not going to ask what you see there because it’s obvious. Rather, I will ask you to determine the shape of your face. Is your face round with a chin lost in it? Or do you have a square jaw, ended by a jutting chin and capped with a high forehead? You really need to be honest.

If you have a round or chubby face, you might want to give the impression that it’s a bit longer. A shirt with a regular collar at the neck will help you do just that as the rather elongated collar ends help draw out your face.

Cutaway collars

What if your face is actually long? You don’t want to make it any longer than necessary by wearing regular collars. Instead, opt for the cutaway collar.

The cutaway collar, or spread collar as it is also known, has a wider gap between the collar ends which point more sideways than down, thus the spread in the middle or having been ‘cut away’. This type of design was popularised by the Duke of Windsor inEnglandover a century ago and has remained popular ever since. Because of the wide gap between the collar ends, a Windsor knot when wearing a tie is advised to better fill in the ‘spread’. Don’t wear a skinny tie with that collar.

By design, the cutaway collar spreads out rather than down. So if your face is rather long, it will be nicely balanced out by this type of collar.

Wing-tip collar

In order to make this article more complete, there are other types of collars among which the wing-tip collar is worth mentioning.

The wing-tip collar is a stiff collar than juts up under the neck with two small tips sticking out. It is very formal and is usually what you get with a dress shirt. It is most appropriate for formal events such as weddings where a dress shirt is often worn. Wing-tip collars are not worn with ties but with bow ties. So if you are attending a black tie event, get yourself a dress shirt with a wing-tip collar and get familiar with tying a bow tie.

Now that we have covered 3 different and popular kinds of collars, you should be better able to navigate your way around the best type of shirt for you to buy and look your best in.

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There's nothing like a good massage.

Planning takes time, ordering the cake is tedious, and you barely have had a moment to breath.

With your wedding day approaching, you want to look drop dead gorgeous, but you still have so much to accomplish!

Does this sound familiar to you, if you are a bride to be?

When a bride is frantically trying to pull together last minute details for her impending wedding date, all she needs is a break.

If friends and family can take over some tasks by adding a few additional hours to their wedding projects already assigned by helping their lovely bride in need, she may get a few hours to have some well deserved time to herself.

There are many ways a bride can be pampered, which will refresh her and renew her until her wedding day arrives. Here are four ideas that you could suggest to her if you sense she needs to get away or just be pampered

Ways to Pamper the Bride

A Massage will take away tension

A massage releases tension and allows a bride’s muscles to relax. If she has never had a massage it may seem intimidating, but after the massage she may well be addicted for life! Massages are meant to relax the body and allow a body to release toxins. The massage therapist will also get down into the deep muscle tissue, depending on the massage type. A bride to be will feel refreshed and full of energy after she receives a massage.

A pedicure and manicure will brighten her day

Getting a pedicure and manicure will not only boost a bride’s spirits when she needs to be reminded that her day will be here before she knows it, in addition it will increase her creativity juices! All of the colors, flowers on her big toe, and the foot massage are a wonderful way to invigorate and refresh a bride before she is married to her best friend.

Having a night out with her girlfriends will allow her to savor friendships

Friends are there to help a bride not only with her wedding plans, but to be her support system and to have some fun with her! Why not plan an evening to go to dinner with her best girlfriends or have an evening in doors watching all of your favorite episodes of Sex and the City? Having a girl’s night will help remind what matters most.

Arrange or suggest a day just for at a hotel where she can relax and read

Help her enjoy her last single days while she can. Why not suggest to her to book a hotel just for her? Who will be her date be, she might wonder? Well, her book, her sun screen, and bubble bath soap! Relaxation is important when over stressed, and if a bride needs some time away from it all, she should take it. Treating herself well so that she doesn’t get burned out is important and afterwards she will feel glad that she took the time to take care of herself before the biggest and happiest day in her life appears.

A bride will be thrilled if you think of her or suggest any of these ideas when she is getting frazzled right before her wedding. Instead of her insisting that she can’t take a break, you can insist that a break is exactly what she needs. She’ll thank you later. A bride wishes to be pampered, and being pampered is just what her friends and family ordered.

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Team Groom

The traditional ‘one last night of freedom’ still has its place although many bachelors now opt for a long weekend away packed with a series of adrenaline-fueled activities.

With so many great bachelor party ideas about, you have the freedom to tailor a day or weekend that perfectly suits your friends.

Whatever you organize, follow these basic rules to ensure that events run smoothly.

Invites and communication

If it’s a group of best mates from college, this part’s easy – Things get complicated when the invites start spanning from childhood pals to work colleagues. You also need to find out if the groom’s planning on inviting his father, and any other relatives.

Just remember: the bigger the parties, the harder to organize, so try to keep it manageable. Once you’ve got names it’s time to swap cell phone numbers, write down email addresses, set up a Facebook group… whatever works for you, but make sure that you can stay in touch with everyone easily.

Appeal to the group

As chief organizer, it’s tempting to start planning your dream night out, but remember that the groom is the main man, and to take into account the varying tastes within the group. Does everyone share the same idea of what it means to have a good time? What can everyone afford? To avoid rows, run all ideas past the group first, and stick to an agreed budget.

Location, location, location

A weekend abroad, bonding with your buddies, is a great way to spend the bachelor party, but can everyone get there easily? If time and money are an issue, pick somewhere closer to home. Then you’ll need to look at transport. If planes and trains aren’t on your side, you could always hire a bus or organize taxis. Even if it’s just a night at a local bar, you still need to discuss how you’re all going to get there…and back.

Organize activities

Don’t just expect everyone to turn up and have a good time. Plan some activities for the bachelor party, whether it’s homemade quizzes or full-day events. Popular bachelor party ideas include adrenaline adventures, such as skydiving, paintballing and quad biking; or less energetic excursions, like brewery tours and whisky trails.  If it’s a bar crawl and a night of clubbing, still make a plan of action and decide where you’re going and buy tickets in advance – it’s a good idea to plan for the morning after, too!

Be a believer, not a leader

Ok, someone had to do the work to get the party started, but the last thing anybody wants is to be told what to do. So, let them know you put the hours in to make it a great day and let them pay you back in beers. Don’t take over and demand it all goes your way, it won’t! Bachelor parties are planned so you get a great day, but as long as you brought together the right people, you should be able to step back and enjoy the fun, not lead from the front – remember: it’s all about the bachelor, and all about the fun.

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It is football season and fall wedding season, and that can only mean one thing: football theme bachelor parties!

A football bachelor party is great because it brings the groom and all his buddies together around a common interest. Of course the bride will approve, because the shared interest does not involve scantily clad women (well, except for maybe the cheerleaders).

Check out these fun ways to plan a bachelor party around a football theme.

College Football Trip

If the groom and his groomsmen met in college, then the answer is obvious: a trip back to their old stomping grounds on a football weekend. We’re talking tailgating, facepainting, cheering for the home team, all that great stuff. The trip back to the old college is also fun because the guys can visit their old haunts from their school days. A little trip down memory lane is great before taking the next big step forward in life.

NFL Football Game Party

When NFL football is the groom’s favorite sport, a great idea for a bachelor party would be for his groomsmen to chip in and take him to a game. If you are lucky enough to live by a stadium with great tailgating, that would be the place to start the party. In some places, tailgating is no longer possible, so the bachelor party could start with lunch at a nearby sports bar to take in the pregame show on television. Then it’s over to the stadium to take in the game. Show your team pride with car flags, NFL logo coolers, beer koozies, and more! The groom can thank his pals for a great bachelor party by giving them personalized NFL mugs for their groomsmen gifts.

Football on the Big Screen

Of course, a bachelor party does not have to mean a trip out of town or buying expensive tickets to a game. You can also have a great football theme bachelor party at a local sports bar or even at someone’s house (or dare I say Hooters, for a blend of sports and more traditional bachelor party ogling).

The whole point of a bachelor party is to get the groom together with his best friends for one last fun night with just the guys, so as long as the party is fun, it doesn’t much matter where it takes place. When the party is held at a bar or pub, the guys should plan to bring along enough cash to cover the groom’s food and drinks for the night, as well as their own (it is up to the best man to organize the night out, but not to pay for it all himself).

Football House Party

For a football theme bachelor party at a house, round up the guys for a pigskin feast for a Sunday or Monday night NFL game (or a Saturday game if college football is the groom’s favorite). Break out the nachos, wings, pizzas, chips and dips, and plenty of ice cold drinks. Tell the groom to schedule the next day off from work, because you plan to make sure he has too much fun to make it to the office the morning after the bachelor party.

A great thing about a bachelor party in a house is that anyone who is unfit to drive home can crash there for the night. Then everyone can kick back and watch a great game together while offering cheers to the groom for his new life that is about to begin.

This article was written exclusively for STL Weddings by Laura Firenze. Laura writes about society, fashion, jewelry and weddings for Silverland Jewelry. Silverland Jewelry provides bridesmaid gifts and elegant wedding jewelry for the bride and every member of the wedding party.

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