More brides choosing heirloom china
More Brides Choose China
More brides choosing heirloom china
(ARA) – Ever since she was a little girl, Amanda Davis dreamed of one day having her grandmother’s cherished wedding china as her very own.
“As a child, I always loved listening to stories about past family gatherings as Mamo took each piece of her china out of the hutch so carefully,” says Davis. “I can remember thinking about how this same china had been used for numerous family gatherings and feeling a sense of connection to my grandfather, who died before I was born, through the china that I knew he had used with my grandmother on similar family occasions.”
Davis had no idea her grandmother, Bettie Guillion, shared a similar dream. Guillion knew her granddaughter loved her china, and planned to pass along her precious heirlooms when Davis grew up and set her own big date. But there was one problem — missing pieces. Guillion received the set for her own wedding in the early 1940s and while she had managed to keep most of her beloved collection through the decades, somewhere along the way, the cups and saucers disappeared. Guillion’s daughter, Linda Bohannon, thought it would be impossible to replace them.
“My mother picked her china out of the Sears and Roebuck catalog more than 60 years ago, so we knew there was just no way we’d ever find it,” says Bohannon. “The only thing she could remember about her china was that it was made by Homer Laughlin. That didn’t seem like much to go on, so at that point I just hoped we could find some nice cream colored pieces Amanda could use with the set.”
Bohannon heard about Replacements, Ltd., known as the world’s largest supplier of old and new china, crystal, silver and collectibles. When she visited the company’s Web site, Bohannon found a list of china made by Homer Laughlin and noticed photographs of most patterns. She started clicking away and was almost speechless when she came across an image that looked very familiar.
“I called my mother up and asked her, does your china have little pink and yellow roses on it, and could the pattern name be ‘Countess’?” Bohannon remembers. “That was it; that was her china! I was completely flabbergasted. It never entered my mind that we would be able to find the exact pattern. My mother was absolutely thrilled!”
Davis isn’t alone in creating wedding registries for family treasures. Many brides are choosing to complete china, crystal and flatware sets lovingly handed down from mother to daughter to granddaughter. Unfortunately, if the patterns are especially old there is a good chance that the manufacturer no longer produces the pieces, making it nearly impossible to track down at most department stores.
“We’re one of the few places brides inheriting heirloom patterns can turn to for help because of our huge, diverse inventory of discontinued patterns, some more than 100 years old,” says Traci Hart, Replacements’ director of customer service. “Nearly 80 percent of our bridal registry sales are generated from discontinued and heirloom patterns. What’s more, we’ve put together a group of associates to specifically handle all registry requests. Because these folks are really familiar with our bridal customers, we can offer more personalized attention. It’s almost like having your own personal shopper.”
Brides like Davis, who don’t know their pattern name, are in luck. The company also offers a free pattern identification service. Replacements’ research team receives nearly 3,000 requests weekly from people who don’t know the name or manufacturer of their patterns.
“I cannot tell you how much it meant to me to receive this piece of family history,” Davis says. “I can already picture myself as a mother and grandmother pulling this same china out of my own hutch as I tell stories of my grandmother. I hope that in the future they will feel the same sense of family history and pride and that I will one day be able to pass it on to my own granddaughter. To know that it will be used in future generations of my family in the same way it was used in past generations is an amazing gift.” You can learn more about Replacements’ bridal registry and free pattern identification service at Replacements.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Need a bridal shower gift? Make it personal
Spice Up Your Shower Gift
Need a bridal shower gift? Make it personal
(ARA) – Looking for an affordable bridal shower gift with a personal touch? A spice gift basket can fit any budget and makes an ideal personal gift for every cook. With just a little thought and a few supplies, you can assemble a personalized basket. With Internet and mail-order shopping, it’s possible to buy everything you need without leaving the house.
Begin with a basket or any other useful kitchen container, such as a mixing bowl, cake pan, serving dish or colander. Vintage items you pick up at a second-hand store or garage sale can be charming. Line the container with a pretty cloth napkin, a colorful dishtowel or even a piece of fabric cut with pinking shears, or use tissue paper if you prefer. Add bottles or packets of spices, herbs, seasonings and other ingredients. For a special touch, include a favorite recipe, a cookbook, a wooden spoon, a potholder, or any related accessory.
With a little imagination, you can personalize a basket for any bride. Kendall McFarland, research and development manager at Frontier Natural Products Co-op, has a few ideas to get you started.
* Mexican fiesta – Tuck a brightly colored potholder in with chili powder, cumin, dried peppers, taco seasoning or other Mexican spices. Add a jar of salsa, some tortilla chips and margarita mix if you like. For your “basket,” use an inexpensive sombrero, available at card and party stores.
* Mama mia – Line a colander or pasta serving dish with a red checkered tablecloth or cloth or paper napkins. Add seasonings such as garlic, basil, oregano and Italian blend and include a package of pasta. Supply a packet of spaghetti sauce or fettuccine alfredo seasoning mix or a favorite pasta recipe. A candle and bottle of Chianti add a special romantic touch.
* Beginner’s basket – Create a very basic basket for a new cook or a bride just starting out on her own with a handful of popular and common spices – such as salt, pepper, cinnamon, basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary and turmeric. Include a cookbook, a recipe box or a file with copies of some favorite family recipes.
* Spice of life – Even the most experienced cooks need some variety. Try assembling some unusual or new flavor combinations or savory spice blends. Frontier Natural Products has just introduced a line of Pepper Fusion spice grinders that combine organic peppercorns with garlic, chipotle, cayenne and lemon. Add an unusual or interesting kitchen gadget to intrigue the seasoned cook, such as a set of garnishing spoons.
* Grill master – Place a variety of grilling spices and marinade mixes with a mitt and tongs or other grilling tools in a grilling basket. Add an apron, a roll of heavy-duty aluminum foil or a grill cleaning brush for an extra touch.
Small containers of spices are especially handy for gift baskets, because you can provide a variety of spices at a lower cost. Simply Organic brand offers attractively packaged organic mini-spices and other seasonings and mixes for those who want to add a natural touch to their baskets.
With the wide variety of seasonings and accessories available, the possibilities are endless. Just use your imagination and you can spice up your gift-giving with personal and original gifts for the bride. For more tips and suggestions for specific gift baskets made with spices, seasonings, mixes and cooking accessories go to www.frontiercoop.com/giftbaskets.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Help your flower girl be her best on your big day
February 3, 2010 by admin
Filed under Bridesmaids, Planning
Flower Girl Ideas
Help your flower girl be her best on your big day
(ARA) – Children can add so much to a wedding day – from the ring bearer toddling down the aisle carrying a pillow with precious cargo, to the flower girl who sweetly perfumes your path to the altar by dropping tender petals in her wake. As special as you feel on your wedding day, you’ll want even your littlest helpers to share in the feeling and know that you appreciate them.
To ensure that your young attendants are happy campers on the big day, you’ll want to help them look their best and make them feel that they have an important role. Here are some helpful hints that you can put in practice, whether the child is your own or the child of a loved one. Follow these tips, and you’ll help ensure the youngest members of your wedding party have a positive experience that they – and you – will remember for a lifetime.
Make her feel special
Chances are you’re not the only female in your wedding party who’s doing something special, exciting – and intimidating – for the first time. Your flower girl or young bridesmaid is also experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime, princess-like moment, and may feel understandably nervous at the prospect of having all eyes on her as she precedes you down the aisle. Making her feel special, as if she is a little princess, will help boost her self-confidence.
Brides spend lots of time and energy picking out dresses for their flower girls and junior bridesmaids, taking into account not only how the dress will fit in with the look of the wedding, but how it will complement the wearer. Accessories are just as important, and the youngest members of the wedding party should have some small items to highlight their attire, just as every bride should.
Not only will jewelry enhance the look, it will be a keepsake of the day – look for pieces that are high quality (so that they will last a lifetime), but reflective of the wearer’s age. Disney Precious Collections offers fine children’s jewelry for girls that will be perfect for any wedding. The pieces are understated and elegant, but also feature the youthful spirit of beloved Disney characters – they make ideal flower girl gifts.
Keep her involved
Children love being involved in life’s big moments and decisions as much as possible. Keep your flower girl or young bridesmaid part of the decision-making process as much as possible leading up to your wedding day.
In addition to involving them in fun things like wedding showers, putting stamps on invitations and hair and make-up trials, give your young attendants some options that they can choose from. Will she wear her hair up or down? With flowers, ribbons or feathers?
You can also give her options about what kind of flower girl jewelry she might wear. For a special surprise, you could show her examples of earrings, necklaces and bracelets from Disney Precious Collections well ahead of time, and then surprise her on the day of the wedding with the one she liked best. To look through the jewelry options that can become treasured wedding memories for your junior bridesmaids and flower girls, visit www.PreciousJewelryCollections.com.
Make your day child-friendly
Though you’ll feel like your wedding day is flying by, it can be a long day for the littlest members of your wedding party. Even the best-mannered kids get tired and out of sorts after hours of activity, so it’s good to take that into consideration. You’ll be in a whirlwind of excitement, so make sure that you have a trusted attendant who can help accommodate children’s needs.
Think about scheduling your photos so that pictures with children will be taken first and quickly. They’ll be energetic and happy, and if you can have the photos taken soon after hair and make-up are done, everyone will look picture-perfect.
Plan to have something special for youngsters – both wedding party members and young guests – at the reception. Consider offering kid-friendly menu items, or have separate entertainment like balloon animals, a toy box or a coloring station with crayons and a paper easel to keep kids happy and occupied while adults enjoy the grown-up activities at the reception.
Keeping the youngest members of your wedding party happy on your wedding day will help ensure the day is special, memorable and enjoyable for everyone.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Design and style tips offer a creative spin on an old wedding tradition
Creative Ideas for Old Traditions
Design and style tips offer a creative spin on an old wedding tradition
(ARA) – Something old, something new;
Something borrowed, something blue;
And a silver sixpence in her shoe.
An enduring Victorian tradition steeped in superstitious symbolism, the verse containing a series of old, new, borrowed and blue good luck tokens for the bride dates back centuries in England.
John C. Franke, style expert and faculty member at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, offers a creative spin on the age-old tradition for the bride-to-be in 2010.
Something old: Continuity with the bride’s family and the past
According to Franke, trends suggest a rising popularity in vintage gowns. “A 1960s-era gown will not only allow a bride to check something “old” off her list, but may also offer affordability and superior workmanship,” says Franke who recommends vintage shops as well as eBay to begin the search. “To make her purchase even more meaningful, a bride might consider purchasing a dress from one of many organizations who recycle wedding gowns for charitable fundraising.”
For another possibility to represent something “old,” Franke suggests implementing a table of wedding photographs collected from family and friends attending the reception. The photos will honor the marriages of couples close to the bride and groom as well as provide a wonderful center for conversation.
Something new: Optimism and hope for the bride’s life ahead
“Renewable is the new ‘new,’” says Franke. For a fresh approach to something new, Franke suggests environmentally responsible decisions such as selecting potted perennials for centerpieces. “Potted wildflowers will create a vibrant setting for the reception and can later be planted in the garden at the newlywed’s home.”
Franke also suggests seed satchels as favors to serve as a long-living connection to the wedding.
Even guests can get into the game. “If you’re invited to a wedding this year, consider presenting the couple with a gift that offers a new spin on traditional gift options.” Franke suggests antiques carefully selected for the couple or aluminum serving pieces.
Something borrowed: A reminder that the bride can still depend on friends and family
Traditionally, a bride can borrow anything from her best friend’s punch bowl to her grandmother’s pearls, but Franke suggests fulfilling the adage by creating a buzz. “Why not borrow an antique car and create a dramatic exit from your wedding?” Franke asks.
Another emerging trend is the borrowing of the cake knife from one bride to another within a family. Starting a tradition now of passing along your cake knife or other wedding essentials is not only cost-saving, but also creates a legacy that future generations will treasure.
Something blue: A color suggesting purity and fidelity as evidenced in the 19th century phrase “Marry in blue, lover be true.”
Building blues into the wedding color scheme is an option for completing your old, new, borrowed and blue checklist, and at the same time, developing a color scheme for your reception.
“Think like a graphic designer,” says Franke. “Consider your wedding colors as a controlled palette.” Franke encourages the bride to visit a paint store or check a Pantone system and define a series of colors, never more than three.
Once selected, the bride can keep the color chips with her throughout the planning period so that the exact colors are always available when decisions are made about bridesmaids’ gowns, table linens, floral arrangements and other decorative elements.
According to Franke, blues are an elegant choice for any season. He suggests pairing royal blues with yellow for a classic summer wedding; blue and pink for spring; and icy blues with whites or silver for a winter wedding.
To learn more about The Art Institutes schools, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Why do I need Wedding Insurance?
By Padma Pickering
You’ve planned for the big day since you were a little girl. You have put so much time and money into making sure everything is just right. You have planned a beautiful garden ceremony in September. But now, a hurricane threathens to ruin your special day. What are you going to do?
Don’t leave your wedding day up to chance. Wedding Insurance is meant to take the worry out of all your planning. But what exactly is wedding insurance and what does it cover?
What is Wedding Insurance?
Wedding Insurance is an insurance policy designed to protect the wedding couple from financial loss due to cancellation or postponement of the wedding due to circumstances beyond their control or loss/damage of key elements of their wedding.
Wedding insurance will cover the costs if you need to postpone the wedding due to unforeseen weather events, if the bride/groom or a family member becomes ill and cannot attend the wedding, or even if the flight of a key person of the wedding party was cancelled.
Wedding insurance also covers loss from your vendors. If your limousine driver does not show up and you need to book another limousine at the last minute thus paying 3 times the expense, wedding insurance will cover the added cost. If one of your vendors goes out of business before your wedding, you are covered for the non-refundable deposit.
Most wedding insurance policies cover cancellation/postponement expenses, wedding attire, rings, photographs, gifts, video, cakes, documents, cars, flowers, vendors, general liability, personal accident, expenses and overseas travels
Do I need Wedding Insurance and how much it it?
Check with your ceremony and reception venue to see if they carry insurance and what it covers. Ask your vendors if they carry insurance as well, get a copy of their policy to see where you aren’t fully covered. Do no wait until the last minute to purchase wedding insurance. If you reserve a reception hall and you find out it was double booked a month before the ceremony, your insurance will cover the added expense of finding a new venue. Find the best insurance policy that fits your needs. Wedding coverage can range from $130 to $800 for cancellation/postponement depending on the coverage on WedSafe.com. Liability insurance can also be purchased for $175 for $1,000,000 coverage. Check with your homeowner’s policy for your coverage before you purchase liability insurance. Wedding Insurance can be tailored to your needs, whatever they are.
When you’re shopping around for your wedding insurance policy, make sure the wedding insurance company has a license, ask about how much reimbursement you receive if a loss takes place, and what supplemental coverage they offer.
Supplemental Coverage
In some cases, couples have had a hard time receiving the wedding pictures from the photographers or the pictures are of poor quality. Wedding Insurance can cover the cost of re-creating key wedding moments from the cake, flowers, and having key people present to have photographs re-taken.
Wedding Insurance also offers honeymoon supplement insurance. Check with your credit card or homeowners policy to see if you are covered, otherwise you can purchase honeymoon travel insurance with your wedding insurance
Wedding Insurance covers many different things but does not cover a change of heart. Be sure to purchase a wedding insurance policy that fits your needs so you can make this day a memorable one
Purchase Wedding Insurance at
http://www.protectmywedding.com
What to expect when you marry off your first child
A Parent's Prospective
By Aaron Grossman, Babyboomers.tv Staff Writer
It can happen in many ways; your daughter’s boyfriend pulls you aside and asks for your daughter’s hand in marriage; your son asks you to help him find a source for selecting an engagement ring; your kid calls you from a Hawaiian vacation with her boyfriend and excitedly shouts “We’re engaged”; or, your son gets down on one knee in front of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center and proposes to his girlfriend while you’re watching it on “The Today Show.”
There are thousands of ways in which parents learn that the moment has come. For those of us with adult children, ecstatic to realize our pride and joy is going to walk down the aisle, the journey has just begun.
In 1890, the U.S. Census started keeping records of the age of brides and grooms at their first marriage. It’s been rising for decades to a median age now of almost 26 for women and almost 28 for men.
Median age at first marriage: U.S. Census Bureau
So, chances are that if you’re still in the afterglow of celebrating the engagement news, let’s remember that we’re talking about an adult child in his or her 20s or even 30s. Your kids have likely been on their own for some time, usually working and living on their own or completing an education.
The wedding planning journey will be handled as a team effort with adult participants. The paradigm of Mommy and Daddy planning their 18-year-old darling’s wedding with the groom’s family on a “need-to-know” basis has been smashed. We ought to know that baby boomers tore those walls down years ago.
First steps: Set a budget and a guest list count
You’ll need to establish who’s contributing to the funding of the wedding. It may be both the bride and groom’s side. It may just the bride’s parents, or it may be the bride and groom themselves. At the end of the day, it’s better to start out with a firm grasp on what’s feasible financially.
The wedding planning experience is going to be an emotional roller coaster ride. Prepare to budget it as you can afford it. And build in an extra cushion of 10 to 15 percent… that way the inevitable surprise costs won’t bite you in the behind.
Part and parcel of the budget planning is setting up a rough count of how many guests will attend. I warn you — this can be emotional. You may just have to pass over a distant relative for the bottom-line number.
Obviously, there are three lists: bride and groom’s list, bride’s parents and groom’s parents. However, in today’s “new family” realities, there can be several sets of parents on both sides due to divorce, remarriage, same-sex parents, and so on. This can explode the guest list count and, at the same time, offer additional sources of revenue for the budget.
For both budgeting and guest list planning, the Internet will provide tremendous benefits to novice planners. Most wedding sites offer advice and cost parameters. They even localize the cost estimates for different cities and regions.
Next step: What kind of wedding?
I think it’s fair to say that if you haven’t been to all types of weddings (yet), you’ve heard, read or clicked on news of how vastly different today’s options are. From a traditional wedding in a house of worship or catering hall to a destination wedding to a wedding on a beach in white linen clothing, there are many choices. Boomers, let the bride and groom decide!
They may already be living in a locale far away from you and decide they want to have the wedding in their adopted new home. Or, they may decide they want a non-traditional wedding in a museum or some other grand venue. Work with them to make it happen.
Two examples:
- A cousin’s child is a respected physician working in the San Francisco Bay area and got engaged to a fellow in the wine business out there. Both are originally from New York, but they decided they wanted to get married on a Napa Valley ranch.Her father groused for a bit about how the entire family would have to fly across country and why couldn’t they come back east and have the wedding here. Who won the battle? No contest! The guests flew out to Napa and it was one of the Top 10 weddings on my list!
- A close friend has a son who, along with his fiancée, really did not want to have their wedding in a typical venue like a catering hall or restaurant or country club.They discovered that the Brooklyn Museum can be booked for weddings and other affairs, and they fell in love with the place.Planning such a party is not for the faint of heart — you have to hire a caterer and make sure they coordinate every detail with the venue. Same with the band, florist, photographer, decorator and other key services. Ostensibly, you become the general contractor of an extremely detailed proceeding.The time and effort can certainly pay off. The couple was married in a cupola surrounding by Rodin sculptures, and the reception was in the museum’s grand rotunda with Picasso, Monet and de Kooning peeking over the guests’ shoulders.
Final major step: Who’s in charge?
Trust me when I tell you this one is a biggie and may determine the tone of the new family’s relations for years to come.
This kind of enterprise needs a leader, co-leaders, or a very well-coordinated team of peers. And keep in mind that we’re all adults, right? Your very accomplished son or daughter is entitled to use the black lab and the golden retriever as ring bearers. After all, the bride and groom met in a dog park.
Meddlesome future in-laws are also entitled to their opinions, as long as they know that there’s a designated driver at the wheel. Anybody see “Meet the Parents” or “Meet the Fokkers”?
Make the call early and reinforce the chain of command often. In our case, it was our daughter getting married, and both my wife and daughter assumed leadership roles. That’s not to say that the rest of us were relegated to the bleachers; but mother and daughter basically did most of the legwork. The groom, his parents and I were brought in for reactions and confirmation.
And, I’m happy to report that we are a very congenial set of in-laws 1½ years into the marriage.
OK, so four major decisions have been made: budget, guest list, type of wedding and identification of the Chief Planning Officer(s). Prepare yourself for a whirlwind. But do yourself a favor first: Surf the web for favorite wedding planning web sites. There is a wealth of information and tips that will be both time-saving and cost-saving as well.
Your checklist
- Choose a date. Don’t be afraid of off-season times of the year — caterers offer discounted prices and out-of-town travelers will appreciate it, too. Send out “save the date” announcements, if desired.
(See why the guest list must be done up front?) - Choose a wedding planner, if desired.
- Choose a venue.
- Notify and/or hire the clergy or judge presiding over the wedding.
- Choose a DJ or band. In our case, it was easy: The band who could sound great in Brooklyn Museum’s 150-year-old rotunda was going to sound even better in our venue.
- Choose a florist.
- Don’t be afraid to mix it up. My daughter married in early January and the florist created magic with both flowers and lots of candles.
- Choose a photographer and videographer, if desired. These days, most all photography is digital; however, you will find wedding photographers offering different choices as to how you access and keep your proofs, post-wedding. Some still maintain strict control over the proofs with no access to a digital file, but most allow you and your guests to view all proofs on their web site, and the guests can purchase “proof-quality” photos a la carte directly from the photographer. Alternatively, enlist a friend or family member to photograph the affair. The photos they shoot can be assembled in sensational, professional-quality albums from photo web sites these days, including Kodak Gallery, Snapfish, iPhoto, and others.
- Organize the bridal registry. The Internet is a “must” for this activity, preempting all previous methods of setting up a registry. Most brides and grooms choose several retail sites for both casual and formal gift choices.
- Choose bridal gowns and haberdashery.
- Prepare invitations and note cards.
- Select gifts for the wedding party, including maid of honor, bridesmaids, ushers, flower children, ring bearer, etc.
- Religious artifacts, if necessary. Consult your clergy, catering facility or your favorite wedding planning web site.
- Bridal shower
- Bachelor and bachelorette party
- Book hotel and see to transportation arrangements for out-of-town guests. I, father of the bride, assumed this role with relish — it was something I was actually good at!
- Submit announcement of the blessed event to your local newspaper of choice.
- Rehearsal dinner. Again, someone’s home or a venue? Traditionally, this is hosted by the groom’s family and is usually just for the wedding party and out-of-town guests; however, anything goes today. Often, the rehearsal dinner can be a key highlight of the wedding weekend. It’s the first time everyone is together. It’s much more casual than the wedding, and the groom’s family tends to be in charge of the toasts. In some Southern cities, like New Orleans, the rehearsal dinner is of equal importance to the wedding.
The big day
Ladies usually start early for their beautification process.
Dads usually go to the bank for the night’s payouts; many tips are dispensed so bring lots of cash.
A good catering hall or a very well-organized Chief Planning Officer will have brought last-minute items to the venue: grooming aids, change-of-clothing, and a pouch to collect wedding gifts of currency.
Take a deep breath, walk down the aisle and marvel at the out-of-body experience that it is.
The reception
Dads: Don’t “wing it” for your toast to the happy couple. Words matter, and you don’t get a chance very often to stand up in front of everyone who means something to you to proclaim your blessing over a union of such importance.
Moms: You are the most important women after the bride. Own your beaming countenance — you are as beautiful as you feel at this singular moment.
All: Party, party, party!
Getting people home
Be responsible about potential DUI incidents: Prepare ahead of time with phone numbers of cab companies, limousines and/or public transportation. Anyone can come back the next day for a car left behind.
The morning after
Some families have a brunch the day after the wedding, typically hosted by the bride’s family at their home or at a venue. Again, anything goes these days as to ownership of the affair.
It is a chance to bask in the love of the room one last time and say good bye to your out-of-town guests.
Final thoughts
Your son’s or daughter’s wedding really is a day you’ll remember forever. The video and the photo proofs will arrive soon and you’ll re-live it all over again. Enjoy the ride. It’s a rare moment when everything and everyone is in perfect order.
Notably, for our generation, we’ve hosted and have been attending weddings of the children of lifelong friends whose weddings we all went to back in the day. Life comes full cycle. It’s a very satisfying feeling.
Very last thought: It’s ALL about the bride!
Insuring a New Marriage
Neal A Deutsch. CFP
Financial Reporter for Babyboomers.TV
Since the last newsletter, I have had the joy of walking my daughter down the aisle in the course of her marriage to my new son-in-law. They spent a considerable amount of time in the planning for that memorable occasion. However, re-evaluating their insurance coverage wasn’t one of the items uppermost on their minds and neither is it in the minds of most newlyweds. But the right insurance programs can go a long way toward shielding you against the kinds of financial calamities that can strain and sometimes break a marriage. In that regard, we thought we would indicate several key insurance areas that we recommend newlyweds (and all married folks, for that matter) review.
It’s a given that couples should have life insurance if they have or expect to have children, or if one spouse earns most or all of the couple’s income. But, it is often suggested that life insurance is not needed where couples have no dependents and where both spouses work in comparable-paying jobs. This may be suitable in some cases, but you may still want to consider additional life insurance beyond what is offered at work.
The fourth advantage of getting life insurance early for many newlyweds is that they can lock in low premiums while they are young and healthy. Lastly, while group term insurance is probably available at work, it can’t go with you if you leave your job, and it often is inadequate. Also, you don’t want to need additional life insurance at a time when you’re uninsurable for an individual policy.
If either one or both spouses bring existing life insurance to the marriage, they’ll probably want to name their new spouse as beneficiary. Otherwise, death proceeds could end up going to an ex-spouse or parents.
Competing with life insurance premium dollars are other insurance needs for newlyweds, and high on that list should be disability insurance. This insurance is designed to partially make up for lost wages should you not be able to work because of an injury or long-term illness. Statistically, young people are more likely to suffer a lengthy disability than to die prematurely. Group disability coverage at work typically is not sufficient, so you may want to augment it with a private policy. While any worker, single or married, should consider this, it becomes even more important when you have a spouse, particularly one who may be dependent on your income. Newlyweds commonly live in apartments or rented houses before buying their first home or condo, yet they often mistakenly believe that the landlord’s insurance will cover damage to their personal property. Renter’s insurance is inexpensive and easy to get.
So, for newlyweds, it is clearly the time now to assess your insurance coverage and ensure its adequacy. The wedding planning came to its conclusion and the serious side of the new marriage in terms of financial planning must come into focus. If we can be of any assistance in answering your questions, please do not hesitate to give us a call.
Neal A. Deutsch is a Certified Financial Planner™ & Registered Securities Principal, offering securities through First Allied Securities, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Neal is President of Chestnut Investment Group in Suffern, NY, helping people with financial planning since 1984. Please feel free to call Neal at 845.369.0016 or email him with your questions at neald@chestnutinvestment.com. Visit his website at www.chestnutinvestment.com
Classic Style Trumps Trends for a Wedding You’ll Still Love in 20 Years
A Wedding To Remember
(ARA) – Wedding album, videos and a carefully preserved gown — your wedding mementoes are meant to be precious reminders of your special day. But you may find yourself cringing with shame when you look at your album years down the road if you choose trendy over traditional style for the look of your wedding.
It’s easy to tell the difference between a look that’s trendy and a more classic style. Think of the bell bottoms and love beads from the ’70s and big hair and “Dynasty”-style gowns of the ’80s — looks that were “hot” at one time, but that years later elicit an eye-roll and a “what was I thinking” attitude from women who wore them.
Now consider the elegance, grace and demure femininity of icons like Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman and Audrey Hepburn. Their style was classic and timeless — and one that today’s smart bride mimics to ensure she’ll love the look of her wedding as much in 20 years as she does the day she walks down the aisle.
Today’s bride knows that choosing fabrics, silhouettes and accessories borrowed from the classic era — the 1940s through the 1960s — will give her wedding and gown timeless appeal. No dated looks from easy-to-identify fashion fads for her. The classic look also plays well with the growing trend to achieve less with more by accenting the basics with luxurious finishing touches.
Here’s how to achieve that classic look for your spring wedding:
The Dress
Avoid large, modern swags of fabrics in favor of silhouettes that emphasize an hourglass figure. Nipped-in waists, or waistlines defined with belts and sashes, often in a color that slightly contrasts with the dress, create an elegant, eternal style. You can draw your classic style from the ’40s, ’50s and even ’60s.
Designers offer charming gowns that evoke the look of 1950s prom dresses with fitted bodices and full skirts in tulle, lace and appliqué. For a 1960s look, a shorter, sophisticated frock with a gathered waist and narrow skirt will be reminiscent of the classic ’60s cocktail dress.
The Accessories
A veil is essential for classic bridal style, and birdcage veils with large netting that falls at cheekbone length epitomize the look. These simple veils frame the bride’s glowing face and highlight special jewelry. Ladylike wrist-length gloves are the perfect complement to vintage bridal looks.
The classic bridal look is a perfect match with a simple and elegant pair of pearl stud earrings and a lustrous 16-inch strand of cultured pearls around the bride’s neck. Pearls have long been associated with the essence of sophisticated womanhood in American pop culture.
“The Hindu Lord Krishna is said to have offered pearls to his daughter as a wedding gift, which is where pearls and weddings were first married,” says Jeremy Shepherd of PearlParadise.com, the world’s largest online pearl company. “Pearls are considered a symbol of purity, making them the perfect fit with a bride’s white dress.”
Shepherd recommends white akoya pearls, a saltwater pearl that grows primarily in the coastal areas of Japan and China. Considered to be the classic pearls for jewelry, akoya pearls are prized for their perfect round shape, mirror-like luster and soft, neutral colors.
Visit www.PearlParadise.com for more ideas and classic bridal pearls.
The Look
Tie a classic dress and accessories together with a polished hairstyle such as a bun or chignon and keep makeup understated. Dark brown or black eyeliner extended slightly past the end of the eyelid, a touch of black mascara and a shade of red lipstick perfectly matched to the bride’s complexion are all that’s necessary to complete the perfect, classic Hollywood face.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Your summer beauty routine, inspired by nature
Summer Beauty Secrets
(ARA) – Warm weather is here and it’s time to update your beauty routine for summer. Why not take some inspiration from warm weather’s renewal theme and refresh your beauty regimen?
The welcome change in seasons brings longer days, trees and flowers in bloom and more time spent outside. Nature has so much to offer, including inspiration for products that can help you look and feel beautiful from head to toe.
“It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by choices with so many new products on the market,” says Jeni Thomas, a beauty scientist with Procter & Gamble. “It can be difficult to know which products really work and which natural ingredients can be effective elements of your beauty routine. The key to finding nature-inspired products that do work is to look for ones that blend and balance nature with science.”
Seeking out products that combine the best of ingredients with the best of science gives you nature-inspired options that really perform and keep you looking your best. While many new beauty manufacturers may be unfamiliar to you, some of the most highly recognized and respected cosmetics brands are now offering nature-inspired products. Consumers often gravitate toward these brands because they are recognized, trusted, and easily available.
Here is a sampling of nature-inspired products from brand names you recognize and that you’ll easily find on your local supermarket or drug store shelves:
* CoverGirl now offers TruBlend MicroMinerals foundation, designed to fine-tune mineral coverage from sheer to full. The product incorporates iron oxides, minerals that give nice even coverage to skin, as well as pearl and mica to give skin a luminous, healthy glow.
* Hair color goes nature-inspired with Clairol’s Natural Instincts line. Like other Clairol products, the hair color blends away gray in just 10 minutes, but relies on an antioxidant-rich, ammonia-free formula with vitamins C and E to accomplish healthy-looking color and shine.
* Consumers know and trust the name Olay. Now the company has introduced a Botanical Fusion Body Wash formulated with scents and ingredients inspired by nature, such as patchouli, rosemary and ginger. The wash incorporates these invigorating scents with hydrating and skin-nurturing ingredients.
* The Cassia plant, a botanical science discovery that helps give hair radiance, softness and strength, is the key ingredient in Pantene Pro-V’s new Nature Fusion shampoo.
“Consumers looking for nature-inspired products no longer have to search specialty shops or the Internet to find the effective products they crave,” Thomas says. “Some of the most recognized names in health and beauty are responding to consumer demand with effective, cost-conscious, nature-inspired products.”
To learn more about nature-inspired beauty products, visit www.pgbeautyscience.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
How to Plan the Perfect Honeymoon
June 3, 2009 by admin
Filed under Features, Honeymoons
Travel Tips
(ARA) – The date is set, the dress is bought and the tuxes are rented — now you get to plan your first vacation together as husband and wife. Whether your ideal honeymoon is traveling to the Swiss Alps for some mountain fun or relaxing on an exotic beach in the Caribbean, it’s a special time you’ll never forget. So what do you need to know to plan the perfect honeymoon that goes off without a hitch?
“Everyone wants the greatest honeymoon possible, but be sure to review the little details so they don’t turn into big problems,” says Michael Kelly, president of On Call International, a medical and travel assistance company. “The best thing you can do is research, plan and prepare together as a team.”
Here are some things to consider when planning the perfect honeymoon:
1. Choose a destination together.
Pick a destination that you both really want to visit. Each person should choose the top three places they would like to honeymoon and then compare lists. If you both want something relaxing, a traditional spa vacation in the tropics is a good choice. If you are adventure junkies, be sure to visit a location that offers lots of fun activities.
2. Prep ahead of time.
Make a checklist of things you need to do before your trip. Research the laws of the country to where you will be traveling and see what rules are different. It’s a good idea to check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to find out what types of immunizations are recommended for Americans at that specific destination. And remember, if you don’t have a passport or need to renew, allow ample time for processing. If you’re changing your name after your wedding, make sure that the name on your travel documents matches what is on your passport so that you don’t experience any delays through security and customs.
3. Get medical and travel assistance services.
No one plans on getting sick or having other problems on their honeymoon, but wouldn’t it be nice to have the peace of mind to know that if something happens, you’re covered? That’s why it’s important to get medical and travel assistance.
Your health insurance might not cover you while you travel, so a company like On Call International is there to help. On Call members get access to a 24-hour emergency response center to find doctors in their travel area, a 24-hour English-speaking nurse line to help identify symptoms, and coverage should a traveler need to return home for medical reasons.
In addition, On Call can help you with other travel woes such as a lost passport, misplaced credit card, lost baggage or the need to reschedule a delayed or cancelled flight.
4. Pack the right stuff.
Sure you want to look great for your spouse, but sometimes looking chic and dressing appropriately for the location you’re visiting might not be the same thing. Research what tourists usually wear at your chosen location. If you’re traveling internationally, different cultures might have different expectations. Also remember that extreme weather, hot and cold, requires different types of clothing, so pack accordingly and you won’t have to buy something at an exorbitant price when you get there.
5. Eat, drink and be merry.
No one wants to be stuck in their hotel bathroom with a stomachache on their honeymoon. Food and water in different countries can be contaminated so do your research before celebrating at the local restaurant. When in doubt, ask your hotel concierge for advice. If you are buying your own food, sealed products are usually safer options because they come directly from the distribution center.
“These planning tips should help you have the honeymoon of your dreams. If something does go wrong, remember to work through it and enjoy the time you have together. After all, it’s one of the most important and special vacations you’ll ever take,” says Kelly.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
