From My Wedding to Yours

Have you been ring shopping lately? If so, then your head is probably spinning! Personally, once I get past the traditional gold settings, I'm lost. Platinum, white gold, silver, titanium, and tungsten - they all look the same to me. So what's the difference? And why should I fork out extra moolah just because the guy behind the counter says it's better? Well, I did lots of research and here's the low-down on all these different metals. First, have you ever heard a jeweler refer to a ring as having "noble metal"? As if that makes it more desirable? The term noble metals comes from back in the old days (and I'm talking really old days - as in ancient times) when only nobles could afford fine jewelry. Today, these fine metals are more affordable to the general public. So don't get fooled into forking over extra money just for a title. Noble metals include gold, silver, and platinum. Gold Traditional gold is the most popular choice for engagement and wedd...

So you've been dating this incredible person and things are starting to get pretty serious. At some point, you start to wonder, "Is he (or she) the one?" How do you know? How can you be sure? Glitzy magazine articles will give you lots of advice. Some of it's horrible, and some isn't so bad. Such as this article from BestEzines " 12 Signs on How to Know if He is The One " Before you start reading, let me point out that while this article's target is for women, these suggestions go both ways. It shouldn't just be the guy who's interested, listening, compromising, caring, etc. If you want someone to think you're The One, then you need to have these qualities as well - no matter if you're the girl or the guy. 1. He understands. He always tries to see your side of things. This means that even if he's seen you get upset or cry about something a hundred times before, he still tries to calm you down and makes you feel better. 2. He tel...

Amy from Utah emailed to ask: "On the wedding to-do lists, it mentions ordering Tuxedos. Is that something the Bride needs to be concerned with or is it more of a task for the groom? Especially if the bride doesn't really care whether the groom wears a tux or a suit, as long as it looks good." That's a great question, Amy. Like you said, it depends on the bride . . . and also the groom. I went with my hubby to check out tuxes, but all of his family lived out of state so it was just us making the decisions. For the most part, he chose the tux he liked with just a little feedback from me. Usually the groom chooses the design of tuxedo he prefers before-hand, then makes a group appointment for fittings. Who needs tuxedos? The groom, guys from both immediate families, and any groomsmen. . Sometimes the groom doesn't care what he wears, but the bride has specific ideas of what type/color of tux she prefers. In this case, the bride and groom may go in ahead of time, c...

Today, I received this email from Kimber, who asked: "I'm helping throw a shower for my soon-to-be new sister-in-law. It's mostly going to be a family shower, and none of us know her very well yet. (I've never even met her). Any ideas for fun getting-to-know-the-bride/ welcome-to-the-family shower games or activities?" Get your printer ready, Kimber, because I have several fun ideas for you. Introductions Game Typically at a bridal shower, everyone goes around the room and introduces themselves, usually saying her name and if she's related or a friend. At my friend Camille's baby shower (yes, I said baby not bridal - but hey, we use many of the same games at either one. So it works, right?), we were asked to introduce ourselves, but to also tell either a story about the first time we met Camille or our favorite story of our adventures together. This is a fun way for others to see a little bit of the different connections and relationships the bride has wit...

I love bridal magazines. I ooh and aah over the gorgeous dresses, drool over the cakes, and try to keep my eyes from popping out when I see the huge rocks on the engagement rings. But there's one section I always skip right over – the wedding to-do list. Engaged couples who are not LDS, tend to have very long engagements. My sister's wedding is the perfect example. She got engaged over Christmas and was married in June. Not the June that was six months later, but the one that was eighteen months later. This is typical for weddings outside of the LDS Church. According to the National Association of Wedding Ministers , the average American engagement is sixteen months long and that most brides plan their wedding for seven to twelve months. This is why most wedding to-do lists found in magazines or online range from twelve to eighteen months before the wedding. In the LDS Church, we tend to do weddings on a shorter time-frame. The average LDS engagement is about three months long....

Planning a bridal shower in the winter for your soon-to-be bride is simple and quite affordable. Here's one fun idea. The theme for this party is Blue & Silver Ball Ornaments. Decorations: You can raid your stash of ornaments, borrow from friends, or purchase some at your local dollar store. To decorate, simply arrange the ornaments in bowls or hat boxes lined with white tissue paper. Be creative! For an elegant look, arrange your ornaments in a large pedestal-type bowl, then place white pillar candles on each side. Finish the look by draping silver garland around the bottom of the candles and bowl. Appetizers: For some yummy theme related snacks, try making some beautiful wedding cookies. These cookies are from Crazy Amy's Cakes . To make your own delicious (and gorgeous) cookies, try this recipe. It's our family's favorite! Butter Cookie Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter 3/4 cup sugar 1 egg 3/4 tsp vanilla 2 cups flour 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt Preheat oven to ...

Hello, my name is Danyelle and I'm a wedding addict. What? This isn't Wedding-Addicts-Anonymous? Oops! Seriously, I truly love weddings. My husband and I worked at our friends' wedding planner business when we were newly-weds. We did everything from bridal fittings and cake tasting to reception plans and honeymoon getaways. I've also attended seminars on color-draping, make-up, hair designs, and clothing types. But the real reason I love weddings is because I'm a true-through-and-through romantic. When I was little, I fell in love with Cinderella and Prince Charming . . . and to this day, I continue to dream about happily ever after. Every time I get a thick, padded envelope in the mail, I cross my fingers and wish for a wedding announcement. I love marking bridal showers, weddings, and receptions in my planner. I just can't help but feel giddy and excited. Aside from a wedding junkie, I'm also a wife, mother, and writer. I spend most of my days alternating ...