Choosing a Conflict-Free Wedding Diamond

Shopping for your wedding ring is something many women dream of. Today most brides are choosing a conflict free diamond ring. Choosing this type of ring is easier to do the more you know about it.

Being able to identify your stone is the first step in choosing a conflict free diamond. These diamonds always come with a Kimberly Process certificate. The store you buy the diamond from should have a certificate to give you if the diamond truly is conflict free. Any legitimate jeweler will have the System of Warranties statement, which you can also ask to see when making your purchase.

One of the easiest ways to choose a conflict free diamond for your wedding ring is to give your business to a retailer that specializes in them. The most famous example of a jewelry retailer that sells conflict free diamonds is Tiffany & Co.

The countries that produce conflict free diamonds include Canada, Australia and Russia, among others. These countries are participants in the Kimberly Process mentioned above and have seen their revenue greatly increase as a result. The increased revenue benefits those living in each of these countries.

The initiative for the Kimberly Process was completed by both the gemstone industry and the United Nations. Its purpose is to ensure that conflict diamonds are no longer sold because in the past the sale of diamonds was a way to pay for brutal wars. Since the Kimberly Process was started 98% of diamond distributors worldwide adhere to its guidelines. It is now law in 74 different countries that any diamonds sold must be conflict free. In 2003 the Clean Diamond Trade Act was passed in order to provide legislature for the Kimberly Process. Those who are members of the process trade conflict free diamonds with each other and hold each other accountable for having their facilities pass inspection to prove their diamonds are conflict free.

During the period of time between 2010 and 2014 millions of carets worth of diamonds were mined under conditions that many people objected to on a moral level. The resulting idea was that going forward the definition of a conflict diamond became a rough diamond that was one that was mined specifically to pay for military actions rebelling against government.

Be aware of the fact that purchasing a conflict free diamond should be no more expensive than purchasing one that is not conflict free. Do your homework when shopping and you will be sure that you aren’t paying more for your diamond than you need to.

To go in a completely different direction consider purchasing a vintage stone wedding ring. If it is a vintage stone, you can be sure that it is considered conflict free. You will be purchasing a beautiful ring that is eco-friendly as well as produced ethically.

Choosing a conflict free wedding diamond is an important decision that every bride must make, either on her own or with the help of her fiancé.

Putting Together a Timeline for Your Wedding Day

You want your wedding day to go as smoothly as possible and one way to make that happen is to have a timeline put together in advance. This will help everyone involved in the wedding stay on track and collaborate on the sequence of events for the day.

When putting together a wedding day timeline it is important to build in enough time for tasks such as hair and makeup. The larger your bridal party is the more you need two or more makeup artists/hair stylists to make the process go as quickly as possible. Many wedding ceremonies have started late because the bridal party wasn't ready on time. Building in enough time for everyone's hair and makeup to be done is a crucial step in helping your wedding day flow smoothly.

Your wedding day timeline should take into account the time of day you want the ceremony to begin. Whatever time you put on your invitations expect that your guests will arrive approximately 30 minutes before then. It is important that any photos scheduled to be taken before the ceremony should be finished by the time guests begin arriving. You will also want to ensure that music will be playing when guests get to your venue and that they will be able to get into it. Also consider the fact that while the majority of your guests are likely to arrive before the scheduled start time, inevitably there will be at least one or more guests who arrive at the venue late. This should be kept in mind when putting together your wedding day timeline. Most weddings start anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes after the scheduled start time.

Scheduling your cocktail hour and sit down dinner is also important. The cocktail hour is especially important if guests won't have to travel between venues to attend your ceremony and reception. Even if they do have to travel, you will need to know the approximate time it takes to get from the ceremony site to the reception site. You can then choose when to have your cocktail hour begin.

Sit down dinners are typically served to guests within 15 to 30 minutes after the cocktail hour officially ends. Plan on 45 minutes to an hour for your guests to eat and enjoy their meals. Any toasts that are to be made during the reception should be made while guests have their dinner plates in front of them.

After the dinner has ended and dancing has begun it is typical to give your guests one hour until the wedding cake is cut, which usually signifies that the reception is coming to an end. Within that hour you should schedule your garter and bouquet toss if they are to be included in your reception.

Once guests have left your reception venue you will need to plan on approximately one hour for the breaking down of your venue. Keep this in mind when tasking wedding party members with cleanup.

Hiring a Fireworks Company for Your Wedding

If you really want to end your wedding with a bang, consider hiring a fireworks company to ensure the festivities are performed carefully by trained professionals. This ensures everyone's safety and will help you impress all of your guests.

There are many professional fireworks companies that you can find by performing a quick online search. Once you have accumulated a list of companies in your area you will want to call them and speak to them about their services before deciding which company to hire. You also want to make sure that they have all the right certifications, becoming a pyrotechnician authorized for weddings and other events is a labor-intensive process and many “professionals” either forge their paperwork or ignore the fact that licensing and permitting are required at all.

Before you call any fireworks company it helps to have a general idea of the amount of money you are able and willing to spend on their services. You may be able to negotiate with companies to get the lowest price possible.

When calling any fireworks company to inquire about their services you will want to discuss with them the logistics of how the fireworks will be set off. You should always double check with your reception venue to ensure that fireworks are allowed before you pay any company for their services. How small or elaborate you want your fireworks display to be will depend on what the company offers you and what your venue allows.

It is recommended that the fireworks company you hire is able to come to your reception venue to see where they would be setting up their display. This well help you confirm with the company what you are hiring them to do. You will also want to arrange for someone to clean up after the fireworks display has concluded.

Other considerations when hiring a fireworks company for your wedding should include making sure that they have the proper insurances and licenses to do so. Reputable fireworks companies will have the insurance and licenses; generally companies that don't are run by amateurs and you should avoid hiring them.

For the most part, the crew you hire to perform your fireworks display will stay out of sight during the wedding as much as possible. It is often preferable to have crew members wearing an official company uniform so that they can be identified as fireworks experts. You will also want to ensure they are dressed for their own safety and comfort.

The fireworks companies you hire should tell you in advance how the needed equipment will be arriving at your venue on the big day. The bigger the show will be the more equipment they will need and this often involves bringing them in on large trucks, trailers or vans. Check with your venue to ensure that the fireworks company you hire will have a place where they can park their vehicles and unload the equipment.

In the event of inclement weather you will want to know what the fireworks company can do for you. In some circumstances, you’ll want to just buy some wedding sparklers to have on hand in case you can’t have a fireworks show at all. Though most people don’t consider sparklers to be fireworks, it can be a viable alternative if you are in a pinch. Some companies will offer you at least a partial refund if weather conditions prevent them from being able to perform the show that you paid for. This should inspire confidence in hiring them.

Planning the Ultimate Fairy Tale Wedding

Most little girls enjoy being read fairy tales and when they grow up they want nothing more than a fairy tale wedding. This is a wedding like no other and one many little girls look forward to their whole lives. If you are planning one you will need to tackle the most important aspect of the planning process.

You can’t have the ultimate fairy tale wedding without a castle to get married in. While this is an ambitious undertaking it is not impossible to achieve. Though it is likely you don’t have the means to rent an actual castle, you can search for a wedding venue that has just as much magic to you. This could be anything from a beautiful park to a sprawling country club to a five star luxury hotel. Only you can decide what your ultimate vision for your wedding is, but having a castle of some sort is a very important aspect of any fairy tale wedding; even if it’s just made out of cardboard.

When you have acquired the venue of your dreams you will want to search for the dress of your dreams. For a fairy tale wedding you may not even want to limit yourself to the traditional white dress. A soft pink or rose wedding dress would likely make you look and feel like you just stepped out of a fairytale.

Planning for a fairy tale themed wedding gives you many options in décor, food, drinks and entertainment. You may choose to make your wedding simply feel like a fairy tale or may take inspiration from actual fairy tales from your childhood, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves or Cinderella.

For a proper fairy tale wedding, consult with a local bartender and request that they create a signature cocktail for your wedding. They may be able to create a cocktail that will compliment your theme. This can also be a way to save money; many couples have a signature cocktail created for their wedding to avoid offering a full bar while still providing guests with adult drinks.

The way you arrive for your wedding is something that you and your guests will always remember. Though getting married at a castle is too ambitious for most people, you may be able to arrange to arrive at your wedding venue via a horse drawn carriage. You may also wish to leave your wedding the same way you arrived. This will only add to the fairy tale feel of your wedding.

Another way to bring the theme into your wedding is to rent a photo booth for the reception. You can find one that allows you to change the background whenever you want. Acquiring just the right backgrounds can turn pictures from your wedding into more meaningful reminders of the day and of what it means. It also allows your guests to enjoy themselves and get lost in the theme.

Creating a fairy tale wedding is something any couple can do if they put their minds to it. The magic of your favorite fairy tale will only enhance your wedding day.

Wedding Theme Ideas That All Couples Should Know

There are literally hundreds of thousands of wedding reception themes and ideas that you can find online. Some of those ideas focus on the uniqueness factor of the wedding while some talks about saving money and affordability of the reception.

If your wedding (or someone you know) is just around the corner and you still haven’t decided about the theme, here are few tips and ideas that can certainly help. They answer some of the most frequently asked questions related to themed wedding reception.

Country Wedding

If you love cowboy hats or cowboys in general, this kind of wedding theme is the perfect choice. A country themed wedding reception is quite easy to pull. Sometimes, all you need is a cowboy hat, bandanas and cowboy boots. As for the wedding décor, you can go with horse shoes, hay bales and cowboy hats hanging on the walls. You can also decorate your wedding reception venue like a bar that you typically see in old western movies too.

Beach Wedding

Beach wedding is arguably one of the most popular themes for couples. This kind of theme involves simple and less expensive decors. There are some that uses real seashells and even fishnets as part of their theme decorations. If you want an idea for a creative centerpiece, you can also place a fishbowl with a couple of goldfish in it at the center of each table as part of your decoration. There’s an endless of ideas when it comes to beach wedding theme so better put your imagination to work.

Masquerade Wedding

This is a very nice and fun filled wedding theme that your guests and visitors will surely enjoy. You can ask your guests to bring their own hand held masks or provide one as they enter the reception grounds. You can decorate your venue with the same décor that you usually see in a masquerade ball. Throw in some crystals or shining objects around for the full effect of this unique wedding theme that anyone can do and follow.

Each and every theme above can make your wedding unique, memorable and one of a kind. Just get creative with your decorating and try to stick to a theme to make your wedding as magical as possible.

The History of the Bridal Veil

The use of bridal veils as part of traditional attire for women dates all the way back to medieval times and has remained a tradition ever since. The history of the bridal veil does not have its roots in a place you would likely suspect; it started as a normal piece of attire that married women wore on a daily basis. Like all other traditions, the use of veils for daily use transitioned into only being worn on special occasions such as weddings. It’s not widely regarded as one of the latest wedding trends to wear a veil at your wedding, but there are many variations that are quite new to the scene. The full history and meaning being the bridal veil is important to understand and can make for a few fun trivia questions at your bridal shower.

Back in mediaeval times, a time when tradition was one of the most important parts of daily life, Anglo women wore veils as part of their daily attire. This separated the married women from the single women because an unmarried woman would typically not wear a veil; which would tip off would-be suitors that a woman was available for courtship. However, the veil also had a very practical purpose; covering a married woman’s hair, neck, and chin from the purview of other men. Additionally, the knitted mesh veils protected woman’s skin from wind and sun damage in a time that had few havens from the forces of nature. By the 15th century, the veil was replaced by hoods and the world was prepared to make bridal veils a new wedding tradition.

Wedding traditions in the mediaeval times were much different than they are today, and many of them were rooted in superstition or religious beliefs. Unlike the modern day, there weren’t a lot of options for a mediaeval wedding celebration. Things like veils were all that brides of that area had, so they really put as much care into their choices as possible.

In the 1900’s the bridal veil took a drastic change for the better when the wide loom and silk tulle allowed manufacturers to create much more lightweight and sheer designs. It also brought the cost of a veil down substantially, which meant they were much easier to afford and became even more widespread. The sheer look of the modern bridal veil enhanced a young woman’s attractiveness, and signified modesty, privacy, youth, and virginity. This significance is still prevalent in many wedding traditions today because only first-time brides typically wear a veil at their wedding.

As a final touch to your wedding dress that complements a woman’s individual beauty, the history of the bridal veil is just beginning to be written. Though it has become one of those items that simply appears at most weddings, there is no telling what new and exciting traditions will develop in the future. In fact, with a little creativity when you’re doing your shopping, you could be the next person to add a fun new twist to the timeless tradition of wearing a wedding veil.

5 Great Wedding Blogs to Follow

As you plan your wedding, you may find yourself in need of a little inspiration. When you’re searching for the perfect centerpieces for your tables, or a truly knockout bridal dress, or a whimsical wedding theme, wedding blogs can be a great source of ideas. Many of them can serve as the hub for planning your entire wedding, in fact. Here are a few of our favorites:

The Knot

This is the grand dame of wedding blogs, a massive site with years of blog content, calculators, planners, listings of local vendors, you name it. They even have budgeting tools and checklists to keep you organized. In terms of sheer size and utility, The Knot is definitely a must-bookmark site for wedding planning. The only downside is the site is seriously huge, so there’s a lot of material to look through. Oh, and they’ll keep bugging you to log in until you break down and give them your email address.

A Practical Wedding

These guys have a similar mission statement to the Knot--provide a one-stop destination for wedding budgeting, planning, and ideas--but they’re a little more down-to-earth. Our favorite is the section devoted to DIY wedding projects. For your basic middle-class wedding without every conceivable bell and whistle, these guys have great ideas for making a beautiful wedding happen on a budget.

Offbeat Bride

If the previous two are a little too staid for your sensibilities, the name says it all with Offbeat Bride. They have a lot of solid info, but it’s served up with a side of humor and irreverence that’s refreshing. There’s a section called “Wedding Porn,” if that’s any indication. Want to have a rockabilly wedding and wondering what to serve at the reception? Are you wondering how to dye your bridesmaid’s Mohawks to match their dresses? Want the latest in Steampunk wedding accessories? Look no further. What’s more, Offbeat Bride works with mywedding.com to produce wedding website templates for offbeat couples.

The Broke-ass Bride

We’ll give you one guess what the main focus of this blog is--and no, it’s not about donkeys in need of repair. This site focuses on planning a frugal wedding, with articles about finding great deals on bridal and bridesmaids dresses, tips for cutting down the budget, and interviews with real broke-ass brides to see how they pulled it off. This blog is definitely a “must-read” for couples looking to cut the budget without the wedding feeling cheap.

The Anti-Bride

The Anti-Bride’s credo is “tying the knot outside of the box.” While that’s a little geometrically confusing, it’s not a bad way to approach planning the big day. From punk rock wedding dresses to budget tips to the latest in reception desserts, the Anti-Bride’s seriously cool. Plus, they have a great iPhone app.

When the wedding planning process hits a wall, you can use these great wedding blogs to give you inspiration. As you compile your own thoughts and ideas, consider starting your own wedding blog that chronicles your journey and documents the entire planning process. Whether you’re planning a huge fairy-tale wedding or an intimate bohemian get-together, sharing your own experiences on a wedding blog can help make someone else’s wedding a whole lot better. And who knows; maybe your wedding blog will be on a list just like this one someday.