awans's Blog

Couples focus on varying things in their weddings. Some will spend an exorbitant amount of money on flowers while others want to spend it on their invitations. Still more like to focus on crafting a certain theme or ambiance. The type and amount of flowers you use depends on what is most important to you.

There are other things you'll want to think about to help you choose how much or how little you should invest. Do a site inspection with your florist for your ceremony and reception site. Keep in mind that you spend the most time at your reception site (unless they're one and the same) so you should not invest an extravagant amount of money on the flowers for the ceremony. Unless, of course, you bring those arrangements and decorate the reception site as well. If the setting for your ceremony is a lush area with naturally beautiful flowers and foliage, you might just want to line the aisle with rose petals and decorate a few chairs. If your ceremony is indoors and very classy, flowers can dress it up and add some color.

The types of decorations, favors and centerpieces you choose can vary from simple to elaborate or sometimes none at all. Like many aspects in a wedding, there is no right or wrong way to decorate. Frequently, the more creative you are, the more enthusiastic you become about this part of your wedding planning. If you run out of ideas, wedding expos, magazines and online wedding sites are terrific for recommendations. When all else fails, keep it simple! You can either create your own favors and centerpieces, pay someone to do it for you or buy them pre-made.

Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Get a written estimate from your florist of the overall expense, along with payment dates and amounts.

2. If you're looking for ways to reduce costs, concentrate your wedding funds where they will get the most attention (head table, etc.).

3. Lining the aisle with loose flowers is an economic method to add color and charm to the ceremony site. Plumeria, orchids and rose petals are all affordable options.

4. Have your florist use ribbons and other classy materials to add style and help lower the cost of flowers.

5. Be aware of busy flower seasons like proms and heavy wedding seasons. Make sure that your preferred flowers are in season.

6. Make sure your flowers arrive before any pictures are taken.

7. If you're trying to reduce costs, think simple. The fancier the flowers and designs, the more you're going to pay.

8. Ensure that the florist packed straight pins for the men's boutonnières.

9. Think about silk flowers as a cost-effective alternative to regular flowers.

10. Use the arrangements and other pieces from the ceremony site for decor at the reception site.

11. Check out your your florist well. Do they have photos of previous weddings they've decorated? Do they have wedding bouquets or arrangements in the store that you could examine? Is the florist able to make pieces that will fit in the style and budget of your wedding? Is there an extra cost for on-site setup?

First, you need to know the places that interest you as a couple. If you are the conventional type of couple and you also expect very traditional guests on the occasion, then you might as well stick with the traditional church marriage but then do some twist on the other concepts or parts of the ceremony such as a garden reception perhaps with some modern concepts incorporated in the program like a live band to entertain the guests. If you are the modern type of couples but you want to experience a traditional touch in your bridal concept, perhaps you might want to go to a hotel venue through a horse carriage rather than a bridal car and serve in the reception native dishes and entertain the crowd with folk and classical entertainment. Or if you are both sports lovers and your guests are also sports enthusiasts, perhaps you might want to rent a stadium and conduct the ceremony and the reception there.

Second, while it is also nice to consider those places that you find interesting, you should also take into consideration the convenience and safety of your guests. If you want to bring in more people to this occasion, it would be an obstacle if you hold it at a place that is far from most of your relatives or friends and that would certainly cost them much. Perhaps you can remedy this by hiring a coaster to bring your guests to the venue but then you have to keep in mind that if it is dangerous to travel at night, you or they might spend more for the accommodation.

Third, try to consider your available venues that you, your partner, or your relatives can provide. If you or your family owns a resort or a vacation beach house, perhaps you might utilize your resort to house your guests and just spend for the decorations in the venue rather than pay for another venue and pay for the other expenses. All you have to do here is to make it look different for the special occasion depending on your motif.

Lastly, whatever your bridal concept for the venue is, it is important to make sure that everyone is comfortable in the place.

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For all those who are fascinated by the beauty of the unseen, adventurous enough to explore the mysterious lands and ambitious by nature, study abroad programs become the first choice when it comes to pursuing education. The advancement of technology and increasing liberalization have also elevated education abroad as a viable option for many. However, what has made these programs popular among the students of developing countries and other hitherto marginalized sections of the population is the availability of numerous study abroad scholarships and International fellowships.

Over the years, USA seems to have captured the imagination of the youth who wish to pursue higher education abroad. Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, New Zealand and Singapore are some other places that have witnessed tremendous flow of International students. India and China are two other countries that are attracting a growing number of foreign students at present.

However, taking the decision to go abroad for studies is not an easy one as it involves considerable expenses. But with numerous education loans and scholarships around, it has become much easier today. Most of the countries that seek to attract students from other countries offer scholarships on a wide variety of study abroad programs that may include courses in medicine, engineering, arts and humanities, science, management, law, fashion design & technologies, and various other courses. For example, if you are willing to study in USA, you can think of applying for Fulbright Scholarships, Marshall Scholarships, Miss America Scholarships and so on. In order to qualify for certain scholarships you may have to fulfill certain criteria like merit, need, ethnicity etc.

For specific information on a country's study abroad programs, it is always helpful to visit the local office of the country embassy or the office of the High Commission. Moreover, certain countries has also opened office specifically to cater to the needs of the International students. Certain good educational websites also provide information about the study abroad programs that are available in a country and other related information.

Last year, the lucky wedding date was 7/7/07 but did you know that this year, 8/8/08 is considered equally as lucky especially in Chinese culture and Chinese weddings? Even if you are not of Chinese heritage, If you a bit superstitious or if you just want an extra bit of good fortune, a wedding held on 8/8/08 may be your lucky day.

Why 8? In Chinese culture, 8 is considered the luckiest of all numbers, as it portends prosperity and wealth. The number 8 is so lucky in fact for the Chinese, that in China, they often auction off license plates for thousands of dollars just because they contain the lucky number. The number is also coveted for addresses, phone numbers and bank accounts. A single 8 on a piece of property lends a sense of high status among the Chinese, as they know top dollars were paid just to obtain that number. Lucky 8 is so lucky, that the Beijing Olympics are due to open on 8/8/08 at exactly 8:08:08 PM.

Along with good luck, the number 8 and the month of August are great to get married in because it is summer and many out-of-towners may be able to travel to your wedding. You are also more likely to have an outdoor event. Additionally, if you lay 8 on its side, it represents the symbol for infinity.

Lucky 8/8/08 Weddings The Chinese believe that the more 8’s involved in a couple’s life together, the better the chance for luck and wealth. Weddings held on this lucky day will be lavish and lush. Brides may want to pull out all the stops for this day. Remember the more lavish the display, the “richer” the hosts.

You may wonder how you can incorporate the number 8 into your wedding. Here are some ideas:

• Start your wedding at 8 AM or PM, or for more luck, at exactly 8:08, or 8:08:08. Remember the more 8’s the better.

• Ask 8 friends to be in your wedding party

• Incorporate 8 different kinds of flowers into your bouquet and flowers.

• Have 8 diamonds in your wedding bands

• Incorporate 8 parts into your ceremony

• During the cocktail hour serve 8 different hors d’oeuvres

• Seat people at your reception in groups of 8. For a smaller wedding, have 8 tables.

• Have 8 different courses at your reception

• Have an 8 tiered wedding cake

• For wedding favors, give out 8 candy or edible items, 8 fortunes cookies, 8 different wedding favors, or have 8 different designs.

And to seal your perfect day, make sure you say “I Love You” often. The phrase “I Love You” is also exactly 8 letters.