2 Desember 2009

Hit the Road With Your Wedding Gown

Planning a wedding far from your home? Then you will need to know how to select a wedding gown that travels well and what to do to make sure that it arrives at the wedding destination looking great. These are the top tips on how to hit the road with your wedding gown.

Certain types of wedding gowns tend to travel well, while others are likely to arrive in a horrible mess. Whatever bridal gown you end up choosing, it is a very good idea to have an appointment lined up to have your gown professionally pressed or steamed when you arrive at your wedding site. If you unpack your dress and it looks pristine, simply cancel the appointment. But if you arrive and find a major crease down the front of your gown, at least you will have someone to help you fix it before the wedding day.

Lightweight gowns will be the easiest to carry around, and they also are among the nicest options for destination weddings at the beach. Lighter-than-air fabrics like chiffon and tulle will be much easier to gently fold in a carry on bag if you are flying than a heavy or stiff fabric like satin. Never ever check your wedding gown! It must always be carried aboard the plane, even if you have to stuff it into a tiny duffel bag. That is one reason why a filmy chiffon is preferable to a bulky satin wedding gown with a big crinoline and a long train. If you wish to make a lightweight gown more formal, simply layer on special custom bridal jewelry and an embellished veil (put your custom bridal jewelry and veil in your carry on bag, too!).

Another fabric which might not initially come to mind as one that travels well is lace. An all over lace gown will show very few creases and holds its shape very well. Lace wedding dresses can run the range from traditional Alencon to filmy Chantilly, so there is really a style for almost any bride. If you like sparkle,choose a beaded lace. Just be careful when the gown is packed that the beads won't snag the lace if the dress shifts in the bag en route to your destination.

Travelling by car is significantly easier than by air when your wedding site is within driving distance. The most important thing to remember is to pack your gown into the car last. You don't want a big suitcase on top of it crushing the bodice! Lay the garment bag with your wedding gown across the back seat of the car with the hook of the hanger through the dry cleaning handle above the side window. Do not fold the bag in half, as this is bound to leave a big crease across the front of the skirt. And if you are bringing any pets with you to the wedding, have them ride in someone else's car! With a little advance planning, you will be able to get your bridal gown to your wedding site in tip top shape.

Finding the whole process of weddings and all the planning that goes into one fascinating, Laura writes about many of the considerations that brides have to deal with. Custom bridal jewelry can be as affordable as it is beautiful when it is handcrafted with luminous freshwater pearls and dazzling Swarovski crystals.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Firenze

Laura Firenze - EzineArticles Expert Author
Find More : Gown Wedding , Gown Evening , Dress Bridesmaid ,

How to Choose Your Wedding Catering Service Properly

A wedding is the biggest day of many people's lives, and the amount of time and energy that goes into planning a wedding is so great that there is even an entire career centered around it - wedding planner. With all of the suspense and the music, and cake, and fancy dresses, it is no surprise that setting up the catering service for a wedding could also be somewhat of a tedious task, if not downright difficult. You have to decide whether you would like it to be buffet style, finger buffet style, or just an all out sit down meal. You also have to make sure your catering makes sense for the time of day it is taking places. Obviously you would not want a lunch buffet if it is dinner time, so it would be wise to plan around the number of guests you are having and what time of day they would be showing up.

Also take into consideration that you do not need to cater to every single one of your guests during a wedding. Most professional catering services agree that seventy-five percent is a good percentage of guests to cater to. You also want to make the decision whether your meal style will be an informal buffet or a formal silver service type meal. It would also be wise to plan around how long your guests will be waiting to eat. If the weeding is going to take place at 3PM, and lunch is served at 2PM, then you are obviously not giving your guests enough time to eat lunch before the wedding ceremonies actually start.

It is also good to be sensitive to specific guest needs and preferences. If for example you know you will be entertaining a vegetarian guest, then it would be kind to serve vegetarian selections. It would also be kind to observe your guests allergies if you know of any, and to avoid having one of your guests stricken with an allergic reaction during the wedding ceremonies, after all that doesn't sound very fun does it? If you are having a good amount of children at the wedding then it would be good to have some sort of snacks for the children like crackers, raisins, appetizers, candy etc etc. Try to customize the catering service to the liking of the bride and groom. This means selecting the right colors for the banquet and the entire setup of the wedding.

Once you have made up your mind about these key issues then it is time to find a good, reliable and affordable catering service to meet your needs. It is a good idea to set a budget and to stick to that budget. Ask around the community or your circle of friends to see if they have anyone they can recommend as a caterer for the wedding. Be sure to make comparisons of multiple catering services in the area. Remember to shop around and to always think ahead, as planning is one of the most important parts in any wedding.

West Palm Beach Catering provided by Alexander Event Catering with over 25 years of experience in the hospitality field. We cater to weddings, as well as corporate functions in West Palm Beach, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and South Florida.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Praveen_Sivaraman

Praveen Sivaraman - EzineArticles Expert Author

Find More : catering service , food catering services , wedding catering , catering buffet

Creative Gift Hampers

We all, at one time or another, have difficulty in deciding on gift purchases. This is usually the time when most people turn to "the safe gifts list ". Items such as chocolates, candles or bubble bath may not have failed in the past, yet they also seem quite impersonal and rather mundane.

Why a gift hamper?
The popularity of gift hampers has increased drastically in recent years simply due to the convenience. It takes the guesswork out of finding that one perfect gift. Gift hampers aren't boring and you can choose appropriately how personal the selection of gifts in the hamper should be. The uniqueness of creative gift hampers lies in that they are much appreciated by recipients and even when prearranged; a hamper remains a thoughtful and personal gift.

Hampers give the recipient a variety of gifts. Even if there is an item the recipient does not want or need, there will surely be a few others they will find to be perfect. This comes in handy if the recipient is notorious for being finicky, a gift hamper will even delight those with the most discerning tastes.

Gift hampers prove to be appropriate for all occasions, including the celebration of a new baby, Mother's Day, Father's Day, anniversaries or even as a thank-you gift. The same could be said for different types of people. No matter who they are, their interests, hobbies or age, a gift hamper makes an ideal present.

Corporate Gift Hampers
There are many outlets where wide selections of gift hampers are readily available. In instances where you are giving a corporate gift hamper, it would be wise to know a few things about the client or company.

With regards to a corporate gift hamper for a company, know their culture. Is it an artistic and trendy environment or a more conservative, elegant company? Know the etiquette of the company to ensure that your gift hamper reflects this and you avoid upsetting anybody.

In the case of a client, it would be easier to choose an appropriate hamper if you know a few individual details without being too personal. If you know their hobbies, likes and dislikes or interests, you would be able to personalise the gift hamper a bit more.

General tips for gift hampers
Unless intended as a religious gift hamper, try and avoid religious messages or themes. Christmas, for example, is not celebrated by everyone, but the message of "Happy Holiday" would not be unwelcome and would therefore also work for everyone.

Be original! There is nothing worse than receiving the same gift each year. It becomes mundane and is taken for granted. If you are making use of the professional services of a specialist, they should be able to suggest creative, fun and different ideas to make you stand out from the crowd.

The assortment of items in a gift hamper makes it perfect for families or groups. Instead of buying individual gifts for everyone, each person can instead choose his or her favourite item from the hamper. This way everybody is happy with what they receive without the added effort for you.

A gift hamper doesn't have to be sent only on special occasions. In itself it can create a celebration if sent on an ordinary day, making someone's day special. With luxury and elegance, you can unexpectedly treat someone and if you should choose, keep them entertained with your choice of gifts in the hamper. This will truly make it an unforgettable moment, not to mention the appreciation you'll receive for your thoughtful gesture.

Giving someone a gift hamper will never go unnoticed. Even unopened hampers are eye-catching. It can be stylised with beautiful colourful ribbons, arranged in an artistic fashion and especially created for any occasion or person. It's a combination of both beauty and utility, thoughtful and fun to open. A gift hamper truly is the perfect gift for all!

Author Bio
Interflora is a professional flower and gift delivery service available in South Africa.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lulie_Swanepoel

Lulie Swanepoel - EzineArticles Expert Author

Find More : gift baskets , gift ideas , christmas gift , corporate gifts , chocolate gift , gift delivery