Wedding Ideas

Beauty Tips for home treatment

2009-06-11T04:53:00.001-07:00

1. Apply sandalwood paste on pimples and leave it overnight.

2. For acne / pimples, simmer neem leaves in water. Cool and strain the water and use it to wash the face.

3. For acne, make a paste of tulsi leaves and apply daily, washing it off after 20 minutes.

4. To cleanse pimple-prone skin mix two teaspoons each of cucumber juice, lemon juice and milk. Dip cotton wool pads in it and wipe the skin.

5. For blackheads, mix rice powder with curd and apply daily on the affected area. Rub gently on the skin with circular movements. Wash it off with water.

6. To reduce oiliness, mix multani mitti (fuller’s earth) with rose water and apply. Wash off when it dries.

7. To cleanse oily and combination skin mix two teaspoons each of cucumber juice, lemon juice and milk. Dip cotton wool pads in it and wipe the skin.

8. To cleanse dry skin, add 10 drops sunflower or til oil to three tablespoons milk. Mix well. Dip cotton wool pads in it and wipe the skin with it.

9. To remove suntan, mix egg white, honey and lemon juice. Apply on the face and wash off after 20 minutes.

10. To remove tan and reduce oiliness mix tomato juice with curd and apply daily on the face, washing it off after 15 minutes.

11. To remove tan and lighten skin colour, apply buttermilk daily on face and body, wash it off after 20 minutes.

13. For pigmented (dark) patches, mix one part honey with two parts lemon juice and apply, wash it off after 20 minutes.

14. For pigmented (dark) patches, mix ground almonds with curd and apply. Rub gently on the skin. Leave on for 5 minutes and wash it off with water.

15. For dark circles, apply pure almond oil sparingly under eyes and massage gently for one minute using only the ring finger.

16. For dark circles, mix cucumber juice with potato juice in equal quantities and apply daily, wash it off after 20 minutes.

17. Mask for normal to oily skin - mix one teaspoon each of oatmeal, ground almonds, honey and yogurt. Apply on the face and wash it off after 10 minutes.

18. Mask for normal to oily skin - mix egg white with a little honey and apply on the face for normal to oily skins.

19. Mask for normal to dry skin - mix wheat bran (choker) with one teaspoon each of orange juice, curd, honey and olive oil. Apply on the face and wash off after 10 minutes.

20. Mask for normal to dry skin - mix egg yolk with a little honey and apply on the face for normal to dry skins.

21. For dry skin, add one-teaspoon olive oil to mashed ripe banana, mix well and apply on the face like a mask. Wash it off after 30 minutes.

22. For open pores, mix oatmeal with eggwhite and apply. Wash it off when it dries.

23. To tone all skin types, wipe the skin with rose water, using cotton wool.

24. To prevent pimples, mix cucumber juice with lemon juice in equal quantities and apply daily, washing off after 15 minutes.

25. For glowing skin, mix a paste of mint leaves and almonds with a little lukewarm water. Apply on the face and wash off after 15 minutes.

Bridal Sliming and Fitness

2009-06-11T04:52:00.001-07:00

While Obesity and excessive weight is arguably the crux for all health issues, it is most certainly ‘the silent killer’. As an obese person, it is completely impossible to be oblivious to the enormity of the problems that it brings along. Obesity and stress mingle so completely and frequently that it is nearly impossible to create a demarcation between the respective health issues that it generates.

The Slimcal range comprising of Massage oil, Skin Firming mask and capsules, controls hunger pangs and addresses your body’s needs restoring health and vitality. Deriving the combination from ancient knowledge of ayurveda and naturopathy, this unique combination of rare extracts helps reduce weight, promoting elasticity and giving the skin a smooth appearance by reducing fat cells.

Enriched with natural extracts and rare herbs, Slimcal Capsule control hunger pangs and acts as a Cellulite and Calorie burner that gradually results in reducing weight and fatty elements. Taking in 1 capsule twice a day or as directed by your physician leads to a healthy figure and removal of fat from the body.

Toning and firming of the skin is equally important as weight loss. Hence, Slimcal Firming mask makes the skin taut and smooth. Massage into the skin with firm circular strokes on the desired area of the body to reduce fat cells and reveal a tight porcelain look.

Slim Cal Massage oil helps to revitalise and brighten the skin, improving skin tones. The gentle action sloughs away the dead surface skin cells, making it appear healthy and smooth. It can also perform the dual role of preventing the skin from excessive dryness and effects of sun exposure. Most effective for seaside revellers, who can prevent the skin from dehydration and harmful effects of the sun’s rays with this unique oil. The secret lies in reducing cellulite build-up by softening body tissue. After applying on the body in firm circular movements, you can wash off to reveal youthfully tight skin.

20 Ways to Spice Up Your Next Date Night

2009-04-05T23:41:00.000-07:00

Alone time with your guy can be hard to come by, so why not make those precious hours you two share extra exciting? Use these fiery reader tips to spice up your next date night. From a cocktail party for two to the electric kiss, tantalizing tips for making the most of your together time. And when you're ready to take it to the next level, peruse

Let Him Indulge You
"It's not what we do when we go out, it's the ritual we perform when we get home. I peel off my clothes while my man runs a bath. Then he sits on the side of the tub and washes me from head to toe."

Dance Your Hearts Out
"To get our adrenaline going just before we go out, I roll up the carpet in the living room, dim the lights, crank the CD player to a mix of our favorite dance tunes and start dancing solo. My husband usually comes rushing in to watch me, and after a song or two he can't help but join in."

Sweeten Your Love
"My guy and I both love chocolate. We swear it heightens our senses. To make our date nights special, one of us usually surprises the other by picking up a few expensive treats at the chocolatier (like hazelnut truffles or cinnamon-flavored ganache). Then we feed them to each other. Starting the night with this over-the-top indulgence always helps set the scene for lots more hedonistic fun."

Transform Your Living Room
"We turn our living room floor into a romantic space by moving the coffee table off to the side so we have room to lay down layers of soft blankets. We cover the lamps with scarves, light scented candles and incense, and put fresh flowers in the room. We also keep chocolate-covered strawberries, a bottle of our favorite wine and a basket of massage oils nearby. For a few hours our ordinary room is turned into our own sensual play space."

Turn Up the Heat in the Theater
"My husband and I felt obliged to check out a neighbor's performance in a production of Les Misérables at our local playhouse. To add some pleasure to the painful performance, we started passing sassy notes back and forth. They were about the wild things we wished we could be doing with each other instead of watching the play. I don't know who was more shocked — and turned on — by the secret sex suggestions, my husband or me."

Flirt With Your Feet
"To add a seductive touch to our dinners out, I sometimes slip my shoe off under the dinner table while we are eating. I point my toes and slip them up my sweetie's pant leg, rubbing his calf and continuing with the conversation as if nothing is going on. After that he usually comes up with an excuse to get the check and whisks us home for some privacy."

Make Waves
"We always book an all-night sitter whenever there's a full moon. Why? So we can spend the night out in our boat on the river. The water is beautifully lit by the moon, giving us the perfect atmosphere for skinny-dipping."

Try a New Kiss
"On our last run-of-the-mill date night (dinner at a local pizza joint), my husband got a little creative by bringing along a book called The Art of Kissing: Book of Questions and Answers. We had a laugh reading about unusual kissing styles (like the 'electric kiss,' which is done by rubbing your feet back and forth on a carpet before you touch lips) over dinner, and then had a sexy night trying them out once we got back home."

Turn Your Home Into a Spa
"We have a standing appointment with a masseuse from our gym every Friday night at eight in our home. She meets us for personal massages in our living room, where we take turns choosing soothing music to play in the background and talking about the upcoming weekend. The relaxing pressure of the massage helps put us back in touch with our bodies: the ultimate preparation for the late-night private time in the bedroom that is always sure to follow."

Sketch Each Other
"My husband keeps a sketchbook (left over from an art class he took in college) in our night table. Neither one of us is a great artist, but that never stops us from taking turns practicing our drawing while the other acts as a private model — in the nude."

Add a European Flair
"The date we think is the most romantic: dinner at a French bistro, where we order fondue. Between the waitstaff's European accents and all the finger licking and hand-feeding (which seems par for the course during this unique meal), we always end up having a sultry good time."

Relive Your First Date
"A local hangout occasionally books a cover band my husband and I loved when we were first dating. Whenever one of us spots the listing in the paper, we make sure to plan a date and get there early enough to request a live version of 'our' song. Dancing to it together always brings us right back to when we first met."

Share an Aphrodisiac
"Our hottest date: dinner at a raw bar downtown. We order oysters on the half shell as an aphrodisiac and a bottle of champagne for elegance."

Read Over His Shoulder
"We center a few stay-at-home dates around checking out the latest sex-advice book. Two faves: The Multi-Orgasmic Couple and The Good Vibrations Guide to Sex. Keeping this part of our life in tip-top shape takes just as much tending as raising our kids does — plus we have a huge amount of fun doing it. Who doesn't want an excuse to spend a few hours in bed with their husband, studying up on 'passionate' topics?"

Slip Into Something Seductive
"The main stars of our sexiest nights out: my red backless cocktail dress and a pair of strappy stilettos that he simply can't resist."

Send an Electronic Spark
"I get my husband all pumped up for our date early in the week by sending him an electronic invite via sendomatic.com. Aside from giving him the time and location, I am sure to drop plenty of hints about the after-party in the bedroom: The anticipation really makes an ordinary night out much more alluring."

Throw in the Towel
"We hold 'his' or 'hers' nights (which are set in motion when one of us lays out one of the cheesy monogrammed towels we were given as a wedding gift). If my husband lays out the 'hers' towel, for instance, he's in charge of planning a night that revolves entirely around me: from my favorite restaurant and entertainment (a game of pool) to what I love in bed! It's how we indulge our love for each other."

Act Like a Teenager
"We create our own version of a drive-in by hitting our favorite local fast-food joint, where we order burgers, fries, and milk shakes. Then the two of us take a ride to the most scenic site in our area, park the car, and chow down on our dinner in the front seat. For dessert: some good old-fashioned necking in the back seat till we can't stand it anymore."

Shaken or Stirred?
"We hold a private cocktail party! I usually choose a recipe from my favorite bartending book, Paradise on Ice. I pick up whatever ingredients I need on the way home (say, some exotic fruits, like lychee, for a Bali Highball or fresh spearmint leaves for a classic mojito). Then I leave the cocktail shaker and strainer on the kitchen counter — along with an invitation for my husband to find when he comes home from work telling him to meet me in the backyard for drinks."

A Private Spa Party
"I ordered a Lover's Spa Kit and surprised my guy by suggesting we spend our Saturday date night in the bathroom. Coconut-passion-fruit massage oil, a bubble bath, candles and a special loofah sponge were enough to keep us enchanted with each other for hours."

8 Things No One Tells You About Marriage

2009-04-05T23:33:00.000-07:00

The surprising, enlightening, and sometimes hard truths we all face after we walk down the aisle — and how they teach us about what love really means.

By Ylonda Gault Caviness

"...And they lived happily ever after."

You're smart. You know life is no storybook. But admit it: Somewhere deep in your subconscious lurk romantic visions of Cinderella, or maybe Julia Roberts. The images may be sketchy and a little outdated, but you can still make out the silhouette of the bride and Prince Charming riding off into the sunset.

In real life, sometimes your Disney fairy tale ends up feeling more like a Wes Craven horror flick — and you're the chick who keeps falling down and screaming for her life. I've been there. Let's face it, marriage is not for the faint of heart. You want to believe your pure love for each other will pull you through. And it does. But it ain't always pretty.

That may sound grim. But here's a secret: Sometimes it's the least romantic parts of marriage that have the most to teach you about yourself, your partner, and the nature of love. Read on for some simple truths that will unlock the surprising treasures and pleasures in your imperfect, unstorybook, real-life love.

1. You will look at the person lying next to you and wonder, Is this it? Forever?

When you get married, you think that as long as you pick the right guy — your soul mate — you'll be happy together until death do you part. Then you wake up one day and realize that no matter how great he is, he doesn't make you happy every moment of every day. In fact, some days you might wonder why you were in such a hurry to get married in the first place. You think to yourself, This is so not what I signed up for.

Actually, it is. You just didn't realize it the day you and your guy were cramming wedding cake into each other's faces, clinking champagne glasses, and dancing the Electric Slide. Back then you had no idea that "for better and for worse" doesn't kick in only when life hands you a tragedy. Your relationship mettle is, in fact, most tested on a daily basis, when the utter sameness of day-in/day-out togetherness can sometimes make you want to run for the hills. That's when the disappointment sneaks in, and maybe even a palpable sense of loneliness and grief. It's not him. It's just you, letting go of that sugarcoated fantasy of marriage that danced in your eyes the day you and your beloved posed in all those soft-focus wedding photos. You're learning that marriage isn't a destination; it's a journey filled with equal parts excitement and tedium.

Waking up from a good dream to face the harsh morning daylight may not seem like a reason to celebrate. But trust me, it is. Because once you let go of all the hokey stories of eternal bliss, you find that the reality of marriage is far richer and more rewarding than you ever could have guessed. Hard, yes. Frustrating, yes. But full of its own powerful, quiet enchantments just the same, and that's better than any fairy tale.

2. You'll work harder than you ever imagined.

Early on, when people say, "Marriage takes work," you assume "work" means being patient when he forgets to put down the toilet seat. In your naiveté, you think that you will struggle to accommodate some annoying habit, like persistent knuckle cracking or flatulence.

If only it were that easy. Human beings, you may have noticed, are not simple creatures. Your man has mysterious, unplumbed depths — and from where he sits, you're pretty complicated, too. You have to learn each other the same way that you once learned earth science or world geography. And getting married doesn't mean you're done — it just means you've advanced to graduate-level studies. That's because every time you think you've mastered the material, he'll change a bit. And so will you. As two people grow and evolve, the real work of marriage is finding a way to relate to and nurture each other in the process.

"It's like losing weight," says Andrea Harden, 45, of Buffalo, NY. "You want it to be a one-time deal. You lost it, now just live. But then you learn it's a lifestyle. That's marriage. The effort is a forever thing." So don't be too hard on yourself — or him — on those days when you feel like you're struggling through remedial math

3. You will sometimes go to bed mad (and maybe even wake up madder).

Whoever decided to tell newlyweds "Never go to bed angry" doesn't know what it's like inside a bedroom where tears and accusations fly as one spouse talks the other into a woozy stupor until night meets the dawn. If this scenario sounds familiar, I've got three words for you: Sleep on it.

You need to calm down. You need to gain perspective. You need to just give it a rest. I've found that an argument of any quality, like a fine wine, needs to breathe. A break in the action will help you figure out whether you're angry, hurt, or both, and then pinpoint the exact source. Maybe the fight that seemed to erupt over the overflowing garbage can is really about feeling underappreciated. Could be you're both stressed out at work and just needed to unload on someone. Taking a break will help you see that, and let go. Or maybe you really do have a legitimate disagreement to work out. Without a time-out, sometimes a perfectly good argument can turn into an endless round of silly back-and-forth, rehashing old and irrelevant transgressions as you get more and more wound up.

Even when you do manage to stay focused and on topic, there are some fights that stubbornly refuse to die by bedtime. And if you stifle your real feelings just to meet some arbitrary deadline, your marriage will surely be the worse for it. "This was a huge lesson for me," says Andrea. "As women we've been trained to make nice. But the whole kiss-and-make-up thing just to keep the peace was eating me up inside. I'd let things build up inside me until I just exploded. Now I wait a while to get hold of myself — let the emotions settle a bit — and state my position. Even if that means reopening the fight the next day."

4. You will go without sex — sometimes for a long time — and that's okay.

There are few men in the Western world sexier than my husband. And I don't say this because I know he may read this article. I've seen women checking him out when they think I'm not looking. (Honestly, ladies, you don't have to sneak a peek. I don't mind if you stare.) That said, there are times that I just don't feel like having sex — often for reasons that have nothing to do with Genoveso. (See? Even his name is sexy.) I can't lie and say this is always okay with him. But the fact is, there are also plenty of nights when he's not in the mood. So maybe a few days go by when we don't do it. And then a few more. And....

Sexless periods are a natural part of married life. A dry spell isn't a sign that you've lost your mojo or that you'll never have sex again. It just means that maybe this week, sleep is more important than sex. (I don't know about you, but between work, 3 a.m. feedings, the PTA, soccer, T-ball, and everything else, I sometimes crave sleep the way a pimply, hormonal adolescent longs to cop a feel.)

And don't kid yourself; no one in America is doing it as often as popular culture would have you believe. Instead of worrying about how much you think you "should" be having sex, keep the focus on figuring out your own rhythm. "I used to think, What's happened to us? We always used to be in the mood," says 35-year-old Kim Henderson of Oakland, CA, who's been married for five years. "Now I know better. Life happens. My husband just started a new job. He has a long commute, and we have two small children. I think we're good."

The key is to make sure that even if you're not doing "it," you're still doing something — touching, kissing, hugging. Personally, my heart gets warm and mushy when my husband rubs my feet after a long, tiring day. He may not be anywhere near my G-spot, but that little bit of touch and attention keeps us connected even when we're not having spine-tingling sex.

5. Getting your way is usually not as important as finding a way to work together.

I can be a bit of a know-it-all. There, I said it. It's really not my intention to be hurtful or brash with people I love. It's just that a lifetime of experience has taught me that in most areas, at most times, I am right about most things. What shocked me several years into my marriage, though, was the realization that the more "right" I was, the more discontented my husband and I were as a couple. See, oddly enough, throughout his life Genoveso has been under the misguided impression that he's right most of the time (go figure!). So we'd lock horns — often. That is, until I learned a few things.

Namely, that when it comes to certain disagreements, there is no right or wrong — there is simply your way of looking at things and your husband's. "I used to be very black-and-white earlier in our marriage," says Lindy Vincent, 38, who lives in Minneapolis. "Now I see that I'm not all right and my husband is not all wrong. There's more gray in life than I thought, and that's taught me patience and the value of compromise."

The more I get to know and appreciate my husband for who he is, the more I respect his positions. That doesn't mean I always agree with him. But I can see the value in striking a balance that satisfies us both. And instead of harping on how wrong he is, I can usually swallow the verbal vitriol and simply say something like, "I see your point" or "I hadn't considered that." After I sincerely acknowledge his view, it seems to become easier for him to hear mine. And because I know I'm being heard, most of the time now, I don't even want to prove how right I am anymore. Funny how that works, isn't it?

6. A great marriage doesn't mean no conflict; it simply means a couple keeps trying to get it right.

Maybe you think that because of my newfound wisdom, Genoveso and I never fight anymore. Ha! As important as it is to strike a balance, it's also important to have a big, fat fight every now and then. Because when you fight, you don't just raise your voices; you raise real — sometimes buried — issues that challenge you to come to a clearer understanding of you, your man, and your relationship. I wouldn't give up our fights for anything in the world, because I know in the end they won't break us; they'll only make us stronger.

7. You'll realize that you can only change yourself.

Ever seen the '80s sci-fi cult classic Making Mr. Right? When the stylish heroine, played by Ann Magnuson, is hired to teach a robot how to act like a human, she seizes the chance to create a perfect guy. A hotshot commercial whiz, she uses her marketing prowess to shape John Malkovich's android character into her personal version of the ideal man — sensitive, eager to please, and willing to listen.

There is a bit of that makeover fantasy in all of us — something that makes us believe we can change the person we love, make him just a little bit closer to perfect. We may use support and empathy or shouts and ultimatums, but with dogged conviction we take on this huge responsibility, convinced we're doing the right thing.

Whatever our motives, the effort is exhausting. Transforming a full-grown man — stripping him of decades-old habits, beliefs, and idiosyncrasies — is truly an impossible task. And you will come to realize, sooner than later if you're lucky, that it is far easier to change the way you respond to him.

Here's a perfect case in point: "I used to go off on my husband because he didn't empty the sink trap when he cleaned the kitchen," says Kimberly Seals Allers, 36, of Bay Shore, NY. "It got me nowhere; my rants only made him resentful. Now I come home and when the kitchen looks clean, I'm like, 'Cool, now all I have to do is empty the sink trap."

8. As you face your fears and insecurities, you will find out what you're really made of.

I've got issues. Trust issues. Control issues. And others, I'm sure, that I've yet to fully discover. I guess I've always known I wasn't perfect. But in more than a decade of marriage, I've been smacked upside the head with the cold, hard evidence.

There were clues when Genoveso and I were dating, especially with the trust thing. Early on, I was supersuspicious of him. He used to say things like, "I'll call you at 8." Then, just to try to trip me up, he'd call at 8. I knew he was up to something, I just couldn't figure out what. The same kinds of experiences followed after the wedding. Except occasionally he would actually mess up. And I had no sense of scale when it came to rating his offenses; everything was a major violation. Whether he teased me about a new haircut or came home late, I seethed for days and even let thoughts of divorce creep into my head. I figured, if he loved me — really and truly — this stuff wouldn't happen.

I'd like to be able to say that this irrational behavior lasted only a few months and I eventually worked it out. Kind of, sort of, is closer to the truth. After years of looking deeply into my soul and talking to good friends and the best sister a girl could ever have, I've come to recognize certain things about myself. Not to get all Dr. Phil about it, but I've had to examine my history with an emotionally distant dad and a strong-willed mom and face up to all the ways, both good and bad, that those relationships have affected how I approach my marriage.

I still struggle as a work in progress. But I am completely clear in the knowledge that many of the deepest frustrations in your relationship are an opportunity for you to confront yourself. That can be difficult to accept — after all, it's so much more comforting to keep a running tab of your hubby's deficits and tell yourself that his failings are the only thing standing between you and a better marriage. But if you let it, this bumpy journey toward self-awareness can be one of the more fulfilling rewards of a committed, long-term relationship — you'll learn to love your quirks and be compassionate toward yourself, just as you're learning to do with him.

That's the strange beauty of marriage: It's full of hard times and hard lessons that no one can ever prepare you for. But in the end, those are the things that give richness to your life together — and make your love even deeper and stronger than when it began.

The Best Relationship Advice I Ever Got

2009-04-05T23:28:00.000-07:00

No doubt, there are days when you feel as though you deserve the "Best Partner in the World" award:

You make sure dates with your mate stay fun, you settle arguments with amazing grace and you don't always go into whining mode when you find his dirty socks next to, rather than in, the hamper. How did you get so smart? You were given some stellar advice from friends and family. Here, the nuggets of relationship wisdom you've stayed faithful to over the years.

Wedding songs

2009-01-30T06:22:00.000-08:00

Olo mi - Tosin Martins
Oruka - Sunny Nneji
If I aint got you - Alicia Keys
Because you loved me – Celine Dion
Power of love – Celine Dion
When I fall in love – Celine Dion
Cant help falling in love with you – Elvis Presley
Everything I do – Bryan Adams
I finally found someone – Barbara Streisand/ Bryan Adams
Suddenly – Billy Ocean
Here and Now – Luther Vandross
Could I have this dance – Anne Murray
Always - Luther Vandross
Endless love – Luther Vandross
Unforgettable – Nat Cole/ Natalie Cole
I swear – All-4-One
Always – Atlantic Starr
All my life – K-CI & Jo Jo

Drinks

2009-01-30T06:21:00.000-08:00

Drinks plus
Bonix drinks
Blue world drinks
Pharma Deko Party Services
Coca Cola Party Services
Nigerian Breweries Party Services
Kikcot Cocktails

Small chops

2009-01-30T06:20:00.001-08:00

Saheeto
Laredo
12 Baskets
Sakiny
Flying dove
Adedaas
Ibro chops
Zees

Catering

2009-01-30T06:19:00.001-08:00

Astoria catering
Bissy caterers
Kemabom
Wine & Gold
Mistee
Kafi catering

Cake Designers

2009-01-30T06:17:00.000-08:00

Cakes And Cream
Absolute Elegance
Cakes By Tosan
Bakers World
Upper Crust
Dr. Roberts Cakes
Mix & Bake
Cakeflair
Simply Sweet

Photographers

2009-01-30T06:15:00.000-08:00

Modamo
TSP Photoworld
Eikonworld
The Wedding Photographer
Quart Fotography
Ken Rock Photographer

Decorators

2009-01-30T06:14:00.000-08:00

Centerpieces
Decidio Decorators
Flowerstalk
Maggie Rose Banqueting
Exotique Balloons & Bits
Flora Enterprises
Flower Plus
Events HQ
Freshfield Gardeners
Kaleidoscope
Hush Puppies

Event managers

2009-01-30T06:13:00.001-08:00

Zapphaire Events
Eventful Limited
Elizabeth R
Frannicoles
Wedding Wishes
Wedding Mate
Just Weddings
Unforgettable
Royal Treasures
Weddings Impekable

Lace & Aso oke/ Damask

2009-01-30T06:11:00.001-08:00

Busadek Fabrics
Perazim Fabrics
Oyeog Fabrics
Bisbod Aso Oke
Tis bee Aso Oke
Natives Aso Oke
Foundation Of Love Fabrics
Rikaz Fabrics
Amazing Grace

MC's

2009-01-30T05:39:00.001-08:00

Alibaba
Bisi Olatilo
Gbenga Adeyinka 1st
Tee A
Basket Mouth
Teju Baby Face
Koffi
Holy Mallam

Make –up Artists

2009-01-30T05:36:00.000-08:00

House Of Tara
Faces Makeovers
Unveil
Devine Looks
Ijade Egbin
AJ’s Eyeful
Crissy Terence Signature
Modella
Cosmetics Fair
Beyond Faces

Bridal Houses

2009-01-30T05:34:00.000-08:00

Wedding Centre
Bridal House
Havilah Brides
MAC’s Bridal
Bee Gee Bridals
Colectibles Bridal
Bridals & More
Kufkan Bridals
Fiama Bridals
Three A’s Bridal
Angelic Bridals
Bamsol Bridals

Reception Venues/ Halls

2009-01-30T05:27:00.000-08:00

Skyview Pavilion, Adebola House, Opebi, Lagos.
Yetunde’s Apartment – Parkview Estate, Ikoyi.
All Seasons Plaza – Ikeja, Lagos.
Jhalobia Gardens, International Airport Road, Lagos
Event Centre – Ikeja, Lagos.
Regency Hall, Ikeja, Lagos.
The Balmoral – Oregun, Lagos.
Et Al Hall – Oregun, Lagos.
Magnolia Hall – Onikan, Lagos.
Ostra Halls & Hotel – Ikeja, lagos
Presidential Hotel – Port Harcourt
Que Garden – Port Harcourt
L’Meridian Hotel, Abuja.
Grand Hotel, Asaba.
The Pelican Events Garden, Lekki, Ajah.
KFA Event place

Marriage Proposal Ideas

2008-12-22T03:05:00.001-08:00

This might be the single most important moment of your life. It's all up to you to completely blow your partner's mind. Where to propose? How should I ask the question? What do I say? Well here's some tips for those that need some guidance and proposal ideas.

You have quite a few options that you may choose but I would recommend the following:

Proposal Suggestion #1

Step 1: Take you partner to a remote location where you can spend quality time with them. Planning at this stage is very important as explained in my other articles. Make sure to pack cutlery, a formal type dress for her and a tux for you.

Step 2: Start by giving her the best day of her life. Treat her to a foot massage, a back massage or even bring along a gift. Make sure that she feels really comfortable and do your best not to have a single fight.

Step 3: Tell him/her that you're tired and go to sleep.

Step 4: Now it's time to take action, set up a table with candles and wine with the finest cutlery that you possess. Prepare a meal that you feel would fit the occasion.

Step 5: Dress for the occasion!

Step 6: Go back to your partner and tell her that you have a surprise for her however it is required that she has to put on her finest dress.

Step 7: Blindfold her and lead her to the dinner table. When you reveal it to her it would be a good idea to have some soft music coming from a car or any other music source.

Step 8: After the dinner and some casual chat it's time to "pop the question". Make sure you prepare sufficiently before proposing. Tell her exactly what you feel and how much she means to you. Make sure you describe every detail as vivid as possible.

Step 9: Start making wedding arrangements

Is Marriage The "Greener" On The Other Side Of The Fence?

2008-12-02T08:51:00.000-08:00

Being divorced leaves a bad taste in the mouth for the thought of marriage and that all allusive idea of romance and love. What about love? Do we ever really have it? Is there something that others are doing to find it? These questions haunt the mind of singles everywhere. Never fear singles - you might be doing better than you think!

We have all had friends, other couples, who despite their struggles with money, kids and time always seemed to be happy with each other. When we see this marriage bliss all around us everyday it forces us to take a good hard look at what we are doing-right and wrong. Why do all these people, who used to be singles just like us, seem so happy and content with each other and their marriages? Well don't look too deep beyond the superficial bliss that those couples are portraying.

The truth more often than not is that they struggle with the same distractions that singles deal with. From the singles perspective the grass looks greener in a lot of cases. On the other hand there is a lot of jealously on the part of the married. They see the carefree attitude of their single friends and secretly desire that same ability to be more spontaneous.

When you are faced with the desire to "settle down" take a moment to reflect on where you are. Really examine your ability as a member of the singles crowd to be spontaneous. After all the introspection you will probably come to realize that being single isn't the end of the world. You should take sometime to get to know the other person before you are rushed or pressured into a committed relationship that you may both grow to resent. In all cases giving up the single lifestyle requires change. For some the changes required are greater which is proportional to the number of past relationships and the time between. Finding a partner that doesn't require change is a fairy tale so don't fall victim to that old adage that "I can change him".

Love and marriage is for better or worse, through health and sickness so we are motivated to get it right the first time. The reality is that fifty-percent of the time it doesn't quite work that way. Keep that in mind the next time you have lunch with one of your blissfully married friends because - as Erma Bombeck says - "the grass does grow greener over the septic tank".

What Love Does and Does Not Do

2008-05-08T05:30:00.001-07:00

Love is patient and kind;
love does not envy or boast;
It is not arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way;
It is not irritable or resentful;
It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love is

Enduring (not fragile)

is patient (longsuffering)
bears all things
believes all things
hopes all things
endures all things

Humble (not proud)

not envious (or jealous)
not boastful (or proud)
not arrogant (or puffed up)
not rude (offending manners)
not insist on its own way (seeks not its own)
not irritable (not easily peeved)
not resentful (not keep an account of wrongs)
not rejoice at wrongdoing (not boast of licentious freedom)

Pro-kindness and truth

kind
rejoices with the truth (glad for the truth to advance)

Top Ten Wedding Oldies

2008-05-06T02:00:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't It Be Nice," The Beach Boys”

Hey! Paula," Paul and Paula”

When We Get Married," The Dreamlovers”

With This Ring," The Platters”

I'm Gonna Get Married," Lloyd Price”

Wedding Song (There Is Love)," Captain and Tennille”

What A Wonderful World," Louis Armstrong”

Let's Get Married," Al Green”

Can't Help Falling In Love," Elvis Presley”

Unforgettable," Nat King Cole / Natalie Cole”

Reception Programme

2008-05-02T02:42:00.001-07:00

Last Dance Songs
First Dance Songs
Cake Cutting Songs
Wedding Introduction Songs
Bouquet Toss Songs

2008-05-02T02:39:00.000-07:00

Last Dance Songs

I Could Not Ask For More (Edwin McCain)
Don't Change (Musiq Soulchild)
Save the Best for Last (Vanessa Williams)
The Dance (Garth Brooks)
Forever and For Always (Shania Twain)
Time of Your Life (Greenday)
all for love (Bryan Adams)
I Want To Grow Old With You (Adam Sandler ("Wedding Singer" Soundtrack))
I Swear (John Michael Montgomery)
Come Away With Me (Norah Jones)
Could I Have This Dance (Anne murray)
Can You Feel the Love tonight (Elton John?)
I’ve Had The Time of My Life (Bill Medly w/ Jennifer Warnes)
You're My Best Friend (Queen)
I'll Never Let you Go (Steelheart)
From This Moment On (Shania Twain)
you're my angel (aerosmith)
Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton)
Last Dance (Donna Summer)

2008-05-02T02:38:00.001-07:00

First Dance Songs

At Last (Etta James)
True Companion (Marc Cohn)
All My Life (K-Ci and Jojo)
The Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra)
Someone Like You (Van morrison)
Cross My Heart (George Strait)
Angel Eyes (Jeff Healy Band)
You Had Me From Hello (Kenny Chesney)
From this Moment (Shania Twain)
Groovy Kind of Love (Phil Collins)
Come Away With Me (Norah Jones)
Could not Ask for More (Edwin McCain)
Every time i close my eyes (Babyface)
In My Life (The Beatles)
Can't Take My Eyes Off of You (Frankie Valli)
Love (Nat King Cole)
I Finally Found Someone (Barbara Streisand)
My Valentine (Martina McBride)
Destiny (Jim Brickman)
When You Kiss Me (Shania Twain)

2008-05-02T02:35:00.001-07:00

Cake Cutting Songs

Sugar, Sugar (The Archies)
The Sweetest Thing (U2)
Thank you (Led Zeppelin)
Everlasting Love (Natalie Cole)
I Got You Babe (Sonny & Cher)
Recipe for Making Love (Harry Connick, Jr.)
Cut the cake (Average White Band)
I will never find another more sweeter than you (K-Ci and Jojo)
Love You Madly (Cake)
Chapel of Love (Dixie Cups)
Ain't That a Kick in the Head (Dean Martin)
It's your Love (Tim McGraw & Faith Hill)
How Sweet it is (James Taylor)
That's Amore (Dean Martin)
Love and Marriage (Frank Sinatra)
Hit Me With Your Best Shot (Pat Benatar)
Eat it (Weird Al Yankovic)
When I'm 64 (The Beatles)

2008-05-02T02:33:00.000-07:00

Wedding Introduction Songs

L-O-V-E (Nat King Cole)
Always and Forever (Heatwave)
I want to grow old with you (Adam Sandler)
Ain't that a kick in the head (Dean Martin)
Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve)
Another One Bites the Dust (Queen)
Celebration (Kool N the Gang)
At Last (Etta James)
All You Need Is Love (Beatles)
At The Beginning (Richard Marx w/ Donna Lewis)
You Shook Me (ACDC)
Two Step (Dave Matthews Band)
I'm too sexy (right said fred)

2008-05-02T02:31:00.000-07:00

Bouquet Toss Songs

Girls Just Want To Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper)
This one is for the girls (Martina McBride)
Its Raining Men (The Weather Girls)
I feel like a woman (Shania Twain)
Just a girl (No Doubt)
Diamonds are a girls best friend (Marilyn Monroe)
Single White Female (Chely Wright)
Another One Bites the Dust (Queen)

Wedding Proposals: Popping the Question

2008-05-02T02:24:00.001-07:00

When it comes to proposing marriage are you confident and self-assured or shy and reserved? Are you enthusiastic and eager to pop the question or cool calm and collected? Want to make it creative? Adventurous? Thrill seeking? Humorous? Cute and quirky? Classically traditional?

There are so many ways you can propose to the love of your life, all can be equally romantic. What would take your partner’s breath away?

Classic and traditional
Whether it’s proposing with flowers, on bended knee, with permission from the bride’s father, or proposing at a family gathering – these are some of the more classic or traditional ways of asking for your partner’s hand in marriage. Consider what your bride-to-be considers special and what is important to her. She may well want to share that special moment in your lives with all your loved ones.

Bon Voyage!
Consider proposing during a romantic getaway. There are many beautiful and picturesque locations at your doorstep – and a whole world of locations internationally! If cost is no issue, proposing during a gondola cruise in Venice, or at the top of the Eiffel Tower would be sure to set of the romance!

Do something different - Get creative!
Hot air ballooning; romantic scenic flights for two; twilight sailing; a river cruise... Propose during a romantic dinner on a secluded beach, a picnic in the country or on a horse drawn carriage.

Attention thrill seekers! – Be adventurous
Tandem bungy, parasailing or sky diving, the sky’s the limit. If you’re both the adventure or thrill seeking types of course! Get the adrenalin flowing and pop the question while both on a natural high!

Put her in the spotlight!
If your partner doesn’t mind being in the spotlight, you can propose – and make it public! With a message on the radio; a skywritten message of love; on the half time scoreboard at her favourite sports match or with an ad on the big screen at the movies or drive-in.

Cute and quirky
Write a song for her or have one composed and play it to her or have it performed while you are on a night out! Emotions would soar!

If your partner loves pets imagine her reaction to a new puppy or kitten with the engagement ring tied on a ribbon around its collar.

Recreate your first date or take her to the place you first met. While she is living in the moment, take her by surprise and pop the question!

Write her a romantic letter; create a personalised book or album ending with your proposal, or her discovering the ring.

Christmas Sparkle
Capture the moment while in the holiday spirit. Consider decorating your Christmas tree with only one ornament – the ring! Ask her over for a Christmas celebration for just the two or you and imagine the surprise and excitement when she sees it – no words would be required!

Happy New Year!
Start the New Year – with an engagement! Catch her by surprise by the ending the countdown to the New Year at midnight with a “Will you marry me?” With or without the ring, this proposal is sure to make an impression.

Valentine’s Day Declaration of Love
Valentine’s Day is the most romantic day of the year, when emotions of love, adoration and devotion are at their peak. Capture this moment of love with your proposal!

Remember, marriage proposals don't have to be elaborate, or cost a fortune. As long as you find a way that expresses your love and your intention to share your life with her, that is meaningful to her – something unique and memorable – that will remain a beautiful memory you will both reflect on for the years to come.

Top 20 Classic Love Songs to Play on your Wedding Day

2008-04-30T11:07:00.000-07:00

	Song Title	Song Artist
1	The Power of Love	Celine Dion
2	The Way You Look Tonight	Tony Bennett
3	When I Fall in Love	Nat King Cole
4	Can You Feel the Love Tonight?	Elton John
5	Eternal Flame	The Bangles
6	At Last	Etta James
7	I Can't Help Falling In Love With You	Elvis Presley
8	I Do	Westlife
9	This I Promise You	'NSYNC
10	I Do (Cherish You)	98 Degrees
11	You Are So Beautiful	Joe Cocker
12	Power of Love	Luther Vandross
13	I Want to Know What Love Is	Foreigner
14	All My Life	K-Ci & Jojo
15	More Than Words	Extreme
16	One In A Million	Bosson
17	Only You	Ashanti
18	Have I Told You Lately?	Rod Stewart
19	When a Man Loves a Woman	Percy Sledge
20	Kiss From a Rose	Seal

What makes a successful Marriage?

2008-04-29T08:22:00.001-07:00

Here are some tips that make marriage a successful one.

Love
Support
Tolerance
Communications
Realistic Expectation
Caring
Nurturing
Sense of humor
Commitment
Respect
Know how to handle conflict
Solve problem together
Interdependence
Enjoy one another
Have fun together

2008-04-29T08:19:00.000-07:00

Love
Feel tender affection for somebody. Having very strong affection for someone.

Support
Bearing weight together, either hard or simple one.

Tolerance
Acceptance of different views of other people, ability to endure each other.

Communications
Rapport: sense of mutual understanding and sympathy. Friendly relationship and emotional bond between people based on mutual liking, trust and a sense that they understand and share each other’s concern.

Realistic Expectation
Seeking what is achievable or possible together.

Caring
Communication or showing concern for others.

Nurturing
To keep a feeling in the mind for a long time, allowing it to grow or deepen.

Sense of humor
Humor: is the ability or quality of people, it also situations to evoke feelings of amusement in other people. Ability to see something funny.

Commitment
Responsibility, dedication.

Respect
Thoughtfulness

Know how to handle conflict
Learn to solve issue amicably without third party.

Interdependence
Relying on mutual assistance support, cooperation or interaction between the two parties.

Enjoy one another

Have fun together
Fun: Mockery: playful joking, amusement feeling of enjoyment.

Wedding Invitation Wording - What’s The Proper Etiquette?

2008-03-11T04:27:00.000-07:00

Weddings are all about proper etiquette. I mean, you’d hate to insult your Great Aunt Gertrude on your father’s side by seating her at the wrong table, what a nightmare. But for some people, first impressions really are everything, and your wedding invitation is the first notice most people will receive of your upcoming event. So, if you don’t want all the old women at church talking about your manners, it’s best to follow a few simple rules of proper etiquette in order to make this impression a good one.

When it comes to wording your wedding invitations, it seems there are a different set of rules for every imaginable set of circumstances. It really depends on who is hosting the event and their marital status, which I didn’t know when I created my invitations. Below are some examples for each scenario:

If hosted by bride and groom
Laynee Jo Johnson
and Jack Lucas Warren
request the honor of your presence

If hosted by bride’s family
Mr. and Mrs. Hagen Johnson
request the honor of your presence
as their daughter, Laynee Jo
is united in marriage to
Jack Lucas Warren
son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren

If hosted by bride, groom, and both families
Laynee Jo Johnson
and Jack Lucas Warren
together with their parents
request the honor of your presence

If hosted by groom’s family
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of
Laynee Jo Johnson
to their son, Jack Lucas Warren

If hosted by divorced parents:
Mrs. Martha Lovely
And Mr. Hagen Johnson
request the honour of your presence
as their daughter, Laynee Jo
is united in marriage to
Mr. Jack Lucas Warren
son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Warren

When one parent is deceased
Laynee Jo
Daughter of Martha Johnson and the late Hagen Johnson
and Jack Lucas Warren
request the honour of your presence

Whew, I bet you didn’t think there were so many ways to write your wedding invitations huh? There’s a few more general rules that apply to any situation, including:

For ceremonies being held in a place of worship, it’s proper to use the phrase “request the honor of your presence”. For ceremonies held anywhere else, you should use “request the pleasure of your company.”
Always spell out all words. Including the hour, date, year, and all the words in the address.
The British spelling of the words “honour” and “favour” may be used to inspire a feeling of elegance.
Use Roman numerals in names, such as Jack Lucas Warren the third (Jack Lucas Warren III)
Always use full names. It is better to leave out a middle name than to put it as an initial.

Remember that the less formal your event is, the more flexible these rules become. In reality, you can write your invitations any way you like, but if your goal is to set a stage of elegance, class and sophistication, these rules should be followed.

Engagement Rings

2008-03-11T04:13:00.000-07:00

Perfect Engagement Ring

2008-03-11T03:29:00.000-07:00

When it comes to buying the perfect engagement ring, we know that it's as important as the marriage proposal, and it's also as important as the wedding reception itself. Since this engagement ring is going to be something that reminds you of something sweet, a cherished moment in your life, the engagement ring should be absolutely nothing short of perfect.

It's not hard to find an engagement ring of your choice. You can find fabulous engagement rings on the Internet or by visiting a local jewelry store near you, but this is a fact - when it comes to buying engagement rings, it's not WHAT you know about engagement rings, diamonds and the quality of gold that matters, it's WHO the engagement seller is and his reputation in the engagement ring sector.

Regardless of how successful the engagement ring seller is, a dishonest engagement ring seller will always try his or her best to fool you about the quality and price of the engagement rings he or she sells. This is to ensure highest possible profit. Even the most experienced and established engagement dishonest ring retailer will try to do this.

However, there's a handful of honest engagement ring sellers who will give you a fabulous deal even if you know NOTHING about engagement rings. Their focus is not to fool you once-off. But the most important trait that an honest engagement ring seller has is that he or she is trying to give you value for money and build trust and a long-term relationship with you. They want you to take the engagement ring home, show it off to your friends and relatives, and then give good reviews about where you got the engagement ring and what a great deal you got for the engagement ring. It's in their interest that you buy one engagement ring, and come back for the wedding ring. It's to their benefit that you trust and have confidence in them that you recommend the engagement ring store to your sister, cousin, aunts and uncles so that they will buy their engagement rings, wedding rings, and jewelry from them.

All jewelers and engagement ring retailers have access to the same pool of diamond and gold resources in the country. The difference is in the seller and how much profit they want to make from you for the sale of the engagement ring.

Finally, be sure to shop around a little bit more before you buy the engagement ring. Most jewelry shops carry the same or similar (if not better) design of engagement rings and you can find different pricing for them somewhere else. And have fun shopping around too!

wedding Cakes

2008-03-04T01:35:00.001-08:00

Bride's Shoe

2008-03-04T01:24:00.001-08:00

Bridesmaid

2008-03-04T00:58:00.000-08:00

Reception Venues in Lagos

2008-02-28T02:43:00.000-08:00

Aquatic Hotels & Halls Address: 34, Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos. Phone: +234 1 255 7642 Email: info@aquatichotels-waterparks.com Website: http://www.aquatichotels-waterparks.com
Etal Hotel & Halls Address: Plot 30B, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Lagos. Phone: +234 1 793 9227, 792 7089
Events Centre Address: Plot 1, Block B NERDC Road Ikeja Central Business District Alausa Lagos. Phone: +234 1 470 3083, 0802 321 8218
Flamingo Restaurant & Banquet Halls Address: 10 Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria, Island (Opp. NNPC/DPR), Lagos. Phone: +234 1 262 2225, 790 8860, 0803 303 4304
Function Place Address 349, Herbert Mercaulay Street, Yaba, Lagos. Phone: +234 1 4749561, 4354353
Magnolia Hall Banguet Hall Address S8/9 Lagos City Mall, Opp Muson Center, Onikan, Lagos. Phone: +234 1 271 4343, 0803 304 2760.
Okiki Hotel, Grandeur Hall Address: 5th Avenue, Gowon Estate Egbeda, Lagos. Phone: +234 1 8124106, 0802 351 7781, 0803 332 7044
Ostra Halls & Hotel Address: Behind MKO Abiola Gardens, Opposite NNPC Gas Plant, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. Phone: +234 1 811 4859, 345 3362
Pelican Events Garden Halls and Venues, Outdoor Events/Reception Facility in Lekki Penninsula Address: 15, Joseph Avenue,Sangotedo(2 Minutes after LBS), Sangotedo, Ajah-Lekki, Eti-Osa, Lagos Phone:+234 1 4360046, 7928339, 017601569-70, 08023698782,08033122120 Website: http://www.pelicaneventsgarden.com
Regency Exclusive Hall Address: Otunba Jobi-Fele Avenue, Alausa, Ikeja Lagos. Phone: +234 1 496 0210, 814 8491, 7736525.
Riviera Garden Venue for parties, wedding reception, religious function, banquet etc. Address: 1451 Raji Rasaki Rd, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos. Mobile: +234 (0) 802-3780415 Website: http://www.freewebs.com/rivieragarden
Sparkle Multi-purpose Halls Address: Plot 118B Joel Ogunaike Street GRA Ikeja Lagos. Phone: +234 1 814 6744, 0803 300 3536 Email: sparkle@yahoo.com
The Hall at Yetundes Apartments Multipurpose fully air conditioned facility Address: Plot B, Mitchelle Okocha Crescent, Park View Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos. Phone: +234 1 4620014, 8977433, 08027614932; Fax: +234 1 4620014 Email: neta@yetundesapartment.com Website: http://www.yetundesapartment.com
Town House Address: 19 Joel Ogunaike Street, Ikeja, Lagos. Mobile: +234 (0) 803 326 9916.

How to Choose the Perfect Songs for your Wedding Reception

2008-02-27T08:43:00.000-08:00

Sometimes finding the right songs for the biggest moments of your wedding can be a daunting task. After all, there’s much you need to consider (like you don’t have enough stuff to stress out about already!).

Have no fear; it doesn’t have to be a stressful situation. Here are some things to consider when choosing those special songs for your big day.

Bridal Dance – This is THE most important song of the night. Next to seeing you kiss at the altar at the end of the ceremony, this is the one of your most romantic events; your big moment alone on the dance floor. So the song has to be special.

There are three very important things to remember when choosing songs. These may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised. Plus these “rules” apply to any song chosen for any of the ceremonial dances.

1. Make sure the song you choose is one that the two of you can actually dance to! You may be able to tear up a dance floor, but your groom may have two left feet. Picking a song with an odd tempo may make him feel awkward, especially out on a dance floor in front of his friends and family. Try to keep it simple.

2. Make sure both of you actually LIKE the song. For example, you may really like Lonestar’s “Amazed”, but if country music makes your groom’s teeth itch, you need to choose another song. Or, he may really like that “one” Metallica ballad, but you hate it. Next, please.

3. Is the song appropriate for a bridal dance? Let’s face it…you may both really like the song, but “Love Bites” by Def Leppard does NOT make a good bridal song. Don’t laugh…it’s happened! (And there were many rather confused wedding guests that night).

Still, sometimes you may think that you don’t have a song that is “yours”. What was the first song the two of you danced to? Is there a ballad by an artist that the two of you are big fans of? Was there a song playing in the background the night he proposed to you? These are things to think about.

If that doesn’t seem to work, start listening to songs on the radio a bit closer. Listen to the lyrics. Eventually you will find a song that will express what you want to say to each other on your wedding day…and that’s your song!

Another thing you may want to consider is the length of the song. “In Your Eyes” may be the perfect song for you, but the track is nearly 6 minutes long. That’s a long time to be out there - the two of you…alone with everyone’s eyes upon you…feeling paranoid yet? Don’t be afraid to ask your DJ to fade the song out early.

The main thing to remember - this is your big moment. Make it special not only for you, but for your guests as well.

Bridal Party Dance – The first question we often get regarding this song is “Does the bride & groom stay on the dance floor during this dance?” The answer is “Yes”. It looks a little strange when the bride and groom leave the dance floor with their closest friends on it.

Some couples are choosing to combine the bridal dance and the bridal party dance -- one song for everything. This is a good idea if you have a small bridal party or if you are uncomfortable being the center of attention. Whatever you decide to do comes down to planning; making sure you let your DJ and your bridal party know what you want to do, i.e. when you want the bridal party to join you on the dance floor.

Some couples have chosen to allow their party members to dance with their significant others instead of whom they walked down the aisle with. This is fine, and may save a few awkward (and jealous) moments, but make sure that this is planned out with your DJ and your bridal party in advance. Doing this will double the number of people on your dance floor and a larger group of people will be a bit harder to keep in one place for very long. Make sure everyone knows what the plan is and what is expected of them. Plus, it is imperative that you have everyone’s names at the time of your consultation. Adding names at the last minute does increase the possibility of your DJ making an error, and we HATE making errors. But we are only human. The more you plan it, the easier it will go for everyone involved.

Some brides have been willing to drop the bridal party dance all together in favor of making life easier for everyone, avoiding awkward moments or because they just want to get to the party. This is fine, but keep in mind that the bridal party dance is a great opportunity for your photographer to get some good shots of your bridal party. If you still feel that you want to drop the bridal dance, make arrangements with your photographer to get pictures of your party during the day.

Having said all of this, actually choosing a bridal party song tends to be a bit easier. If you have been trying to choose between two songs for your bridal dance, you can use both; one song for the two of you and one for your bridal party.

You can also choose to be a bit light-hearted with this. “Friends In Low Places” can work, as does “With a Little Help From My Friends”.

Again, think about songs that may have special meaning to those you have chosen to stand up with you. For example, I attended a bonfire once with a number of good friends and there was a moment when someone pulled out a guitar and played “You’ve Got a Friend”…and there we all were; swaying back and forth. singing loudly, A couple of years later, one of the attendees at that bonfire remembered this and chose that song to be their bridal party dance. And sure enough, that moment happened again on the dance floor. Consult with the members of your bridal party; they can be a good source of ideas.

As before, another thing to keep in mind is the length of the song. For example, if you want your DJ to introduce your best man and maid of honor, the other 16 members of your bridal party, both sets of parents, and acknowledge your flower girls and ring bearers, choosing a short 2 minute long song like “What a Wonderful World” is NOT a good idea. The song will end before your parents are brought out onto the dance floor! Conversely, choosing a 5 ½ minute long song like Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me” when there are only 3 couples to introduce is a bit much. Again, feel free to have your DJ fade the song out early.

The main thing to remember is that this is your moment to share with the people closest to you. Make it meaningful, make it fun, and make it special.

Daddy/Daughter Dance – This is, of course, a tradition, but this doesn’t mean you have to be traditional about it. Sure, “Daddy’s Little Girl” is still used. Of course “Butterfly Kisses” was created for this moment. And it seems nowadays that there’s a new song coming out of Nashville about once a month that’s tailor made for the daddy/daughter dance.

The main thing to remember is that this symbolizes your “last” dance that your father will have with his now-no-longer little girl, so this is a song that should be special to both of you. This doesn’t mean it has to be a sappy moment. You can have fun with this if you like. It all depends on the personalities of yourself and your father. Naturally, your best bet is to consult with your father, and your mother as well (mothers tend to remember things better than fathers sometimes!).

One great example…one of our DJs was asked to play “Puff the Magic Dragon” as the daddy/daughter dance recently. This may seem like it’s an odd choice at first, but this was a song that the bride’s father would sing to his young children when they would go to bed at night. So when the song was played at her wedding, both the bride and her father were in tears, as were the bride’s siblings gathered at the edge of the dance floor. In fact, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house as 180 guests began singing along with the song! In another very similar situation, “On Top of Spaghetti” was once used, apparently having something to do with the bride’s love of spaghetti when she was a child. If there’s a song like this in your family history, use it!

In yet another example, a bride’s father was once considered a great disco dancer, so the bride chose “Last Dance” by Donna Summer…and then had the DJ open the dance floor to all of the guests when the song’s disco beat kicked in. So it need not be what “everyone else” does. Make the moment unique and special.

Mother/Son Dance – There are tons of ideas for daddy/daughter dances, but seemingly few choices for the mother/son dance. This isn’t necessarily true; they’re just not so obvious sometimes. The same rules apply as with the daddy/daughter dance; if there’s a song in your groom’s family history that means a lot to them, use it!

The daddy/daughter dance may get most of the attention, but the mother/son dance is JUST as important to your groom and his mother. Usually your groom’s mother will have ideas, but don’t keep your groom out of the loop!

But wait…there’s more…!

There are a few other points during the course of your reception that will require some music to help make the moments special. It may not seem like a big deal, but having music for these moments add to the overall presentation at your reception. They help set the mood and tone of the entire evening. Let’s take a look…

Introduction Music – This is the big moment; your Grand Entrance when you and your groom are first brought into the hall to the cheers of all your friends and loved ones who have gathered to celebrate your wedding. So naturally, you will want to choose music to highlight the moment.

There are a few things to consider. Will the bridal party also be introduced at this point? Will your parents also be introduced? Do you want one song for everyone, or do you want a separate song for your bridal party and one for you and your groom? Do you want something a bit mellow for your parents to walk in to, and then get a bit louder as your progress through the rest of the introductions?

Again, this is a BIG moment, and one you want to capitalize on. Use this moment to really pump up your guests.

Having said that, this moment can be as full of pomp and circumstance as you want, or can be as fun and rowdy as you’d like. There are some “standards” such as “Celebration”, “Let’s Get It Started” or “Get the Party Started”. But our DJs have used everything from “Here Comes the Bride” to the Austin Powers theme song, from “In the Mood” to the Blues Brothers, from the Chicago Bulls theme song to the Imperial March from “Star Wars”, from the U of M fight song to one of the songs used for the “C.S.I.” TV shows. As you can see, the possibilities here are quite endless.

There are no real rules for this one, so you can be as creative and individual as you like. Consult with your bridal party for this one, and check out or list of ideas here on our website.

Cake Cutting – Often couples will choose a song to highlight the cake cutting ceremony. This one isn’t really a necessity per se, but it does help to draw attention to the cake cutting.

We recommend something upbeat or mid-tempo for this and keep it light-hearted. And again, this can be almost anything. Some couples choose to let their Grand Entrance song play out if they go directly to the cake cutting after their introduction.

“Love & Marriage” by Frank Sinatra is popular here, but sometimes brides balk at using the theme to “Married With Children” (remember the Bundys?). If nothing else it does usually get a chuckle or two. Choosing a song with a food or sweets theme, like “Ice Cream”, “Sugar Sugar”, “Sweetest Thing” or “How Sweet It Is” always works. You can even go as far as Weird Al’s “Eat It”. Again, this is a light moment so have fun with it.

Bouquet Toss/Garter Removal/Garter Toss – This is something we will be discussing more in a later column. If you decide to do this, there will be several songs you will need; one song for the ladies for the bouquet toss, one for the gents for the garter toss, and a song for the garter removal. There may be others needed as well, depending on what you want to do. This is certainly the most lighthearted moment of the evening so you can have fun with this as well. Just remember…your grandmother is sitting right there…

How to find the songs – Didn’t think that there were this many songs to choose, did you? Have no fear…we’re here to help.

Most of the time there are obvious choices for your ceremonial dances. There’s that one song that the two of you have always considered “yours”. But maybe the choices aren’t so obvious. So how to find them…?

First of all, start early. Don’t wait until the last minute to choose the songs. These will be some of the most important moments of your wedding. Take as much care in choosing songs for these moments as you did in choosing the hall, your flowers or your DJ!

Listen to the radio. Go to your music collection. Browse through music stores. Poke around through iTunes or the like. Ask your friends, especially those who have already gotten married. Ask your family.

And of course, check out the song lists that we have included on www.mikestaff.com. Many talented and experienced DJs were consulted when compiling these lists, so there are a lot of ideas there for the taking. Ask your DJ for ideas when you consult with him. Use his experience and knowledge. That’s what we’re here for!

Now, all of this may seem like a lot to consider when choosing songs, but it’s really much easier than it appears. Don’t stress out about it! The main thing to remember is to LISTEN. Don’t just go to iTunes and play snippets of songs. Take a few minutes to really listen to some songs. Besides, with all of the chaos normally associated with planning a wedding, taking a few moments to sit back, relax, breathe and listen will certainly help take some of the tension off. Enjoy the process! Once you relax a bit, the right song will come to you.

Wedding Accessories

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Wedding Hairstyles

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Wedding Gown

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Tips and Tricks on Finding the Perfect Wedding Dress for You

2008-02-26T00:40:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest decisions you will face as the big day approaches is choosing the perfect wedding dress. The process of shopping for a wedding dress can be a fabulous adventure, but it can also be stressful and overwhelming--particularly because a bride-to-be often starts shopping for her gown before many other details are determined. You might have had a clear mental picture of the perfect wedding dress ever since you were five years old. On the other hand, you may have no idea what you are going to wear or feel strange about the idea of wearing white. The important thing is to relax, and remember that there are as many different kinds of dresses out there as there are different kinds of brides.

Plan Ahead

Take a few minutes to think about what you want. It will be helpful when you enter the maze of wedding dresses out there to know what your budget is, any details that are essential (i.e. I must have a full skirt, or my arms must be covered), and an idea of how traditional you want your dress to be. After all, if really a teal pantsuit would work best for you, it’s probably not worth your time to sort through racks of flouncy white gowns.

When to Start Shopping

Give yourself ample time to plan- generally the rule of thumb is that you need to order your gown at least six months before your wedding. So you should ideally start shopping for your gown nine months or more before your wedding. (If you don't have this much time, its okay, just budget for some rush charges).

Be Comfortable!

On your wedding day, you'll want to look great, but you'll also want to be comfortable- it will be hard to pose for all those pictures, dance, laugh and more if you're tugging your dress up or have boning jutting into your ribs. First- consider which wedding dress is most appropriate to your day – for example- consider a shorter tea-length or cocktail length dress for a beach wedding. If you're the kinda gal who likes to dance with her hands in the air, and anticipates doing the limbo, perhaps a strapless dress is not the one for you. Look for wedding dresses with removable sleeves or straps to give you the widest range of options.

A Dress that Fits Your Body Well

Think about your body type and what kinds of dresses generally look good on you. Take a look at what you regularly wear that makes you feel confident and beautiful, and then look for a wedding dress with similar lines. If a friend is making your wedding dress, ensure that you have agreed on a fitting schedule and chances to make adjustments. If you're looking for a bargain at a sample sale, or discount outlet, you should budget money for taking the dress to a good tailor. Many designers will ask for three fittings, and will closely tailor your wedding dress to fit you.

Saving Money on Your Wedding Dress

If money is an issue, remember that the most expensive kind of dress is not necessarily the best kind. Many brides find a bridesmaids dress in white or off-white that works perfectly, and is hundreds of dollars cheaper. There are thousands of dresses to be had at sample sales, thrift stores, and ebay. Consider taking pictures from magazines to a friend who sews or seamstress and getting a price quote. If you choose to make your own dress, don't delay. The sooner you finish it, the sooner you'll be able to attend to the many other details of your wedding.

Most of all, remember- this is your wedding day. Wear whatever makes you comfortable and feels like you. And have fun shopping for your dress. It should be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Wedding Finance

2008-02-26T00:33:00.000-08:00

Tips on managing the wedding, and the marriage and wedding finances. Marriage can be an expensive event - the ceremony and reception require the most attention.

Weddings are an extremely special occasion for the bride and groom-to-be. There are so many finite details which go into planning a wedding that make this event a big deal. When planning a wedding, the couple needs to consider financial aspects with regard to their big day. There are a few financial tips for the happy couple so as to ensure that the financial planning which goes along with an event of this type will go as smoothly as possible.

Prepare a Budget

The first thing which a couple should do prior to purchasing any items for their wedding or reserving any establishments for the special event is to sit down and make a budget. This is beneficial for a few different reasons. First, the couple will be able to mark down how much they are able to spend on the wedding ceremony, wedding reception and any and all other expenses which go along with planning an event of this type. Secondly, by preparing a physical budget, the couple can adequately prepare a list of what types of items they will need to purchase and approximate how much each one will cost.

Save Money by Planning an Off-Season Wedding

For those individuals who do not really mind what time of year they exchange vows, there is a way to save money on the wedding by planning the big day at a time of the year where not every other couple is getting married. Although individuals can and do get married twelve months out of the year, there are certain seasons such as spring and summer where more couples engage in their nuptials. Certain establishments may offer discounts to couples who get married in the “off-season”. Not only will the couple save some money but they may be more likely to have their choice when it comes to booking establishments for the big day and be less likely to have the place filled up on that particular date.

Buy in Bulk

Another financial tip for couples to take advantage of when planning their wedding is to buy items in bulk. This is a distinct possibility with regard to weddings as there are usually quite a few guests who will be attending and one can often receive a discount on wedding related items that are bought in bulk, such as wedding favors in groups of 100 or 200, for example.

A wedding is such a special event that the couple is sure to want the day to go as smoothly as possible. In addition, they are most likely hoping to get as much for their money as possible and make the day as spectacular as it possibly can be. By creating an initial budget, considering getting married during the wedding off-season and attempting to buy wedding related items in bulk, the couple can get the most for the money without having to spend a fortune on the wedding ceremony and reception.