Tips for a Valentine's Day Proposal

Valentine's Day is one of the most popular days of the year to propose. It's a day that's already romantic, and that you know you'll be spending together. If you're planning a Valentine's Day proposal, check out these ideas for making the moment special and memorable.

Proposing in Front of a Crowd:
Many couples go to the theater on Valentine's Day. If you're reasonably sure your sweetie is going to say yes, call the theater in advance to see if you can propose on stage. Look for a play or musical that has a weddings or love theme. The stage manager should be able to assist you in planning something theatrical and memorable. Don't forget to buy tickets early as Valentine's Day is a popular evening. A variant on this is to buy an ad at your movie theater that will show before the previews begin. Prices change according to area. You'll need to ensure that you get there plenty early!

Say it with Candy
Buy your sweetheart a heartshape box of chocolates and replace one with the engagement ring. She (or he!) may be surprised that you've gotten her such an inexpensive gift, but if you can get her to open it, the surprise will be on her! Another idea is to buy a bag of conversation hearts and find one that says "Marry Me". Casually share the bag of candy with her, having the special one hidden in your pocket. When she's not paying attention, slip it out and say "here, this one is perfect for you", then quickly follow it with the ring on one knee.

Recreating a First Date or Special Moment:
Tell your valentine not to make any plans for February 14th, then make all the arrangements to recreate your first date (or another very special date – perhaps the one when you told each other "I love you" for the first time.) Make reservations for the same restaurant, get a tape for the car of the song that was playing on the radio, or make a picnic of the foods and wines you had that day. Don't forget to wear a similar outfit! In your own words, say that you've recreated the moment because it was the moment you met the person you're going to marry (or knew that you wanted to spend the rest of your lives together), then get down on one knee and pop the question!

On a Walk/Drive/Sail:Take some time to find the most romantic spot near you, then lead your Valentine there in a leisurely way, talking about why you are in love and why your relationship is so special. When you've arrived at the right spot, take a moment to drink in the scenery, then say something like "I wanted to bring you to a spot almost as beautiful as you are to ask you to spend the rest of your life with me. Will you marry me?"

At a Restaurant:
According to a wine merchants survey, restaurants are the second most popular place for proposals (at home is the first!). It makes sense that restaurants are so popular, as you'll have a host of people to help you make things perfect. If a restaurant is in your plans, start off by selecting someplace truly special – perhaps a usual favorite of yours, or one with magical ambiance. Secure those reservations early and while you're doing so, ask to speak to someone about proposing that evening. They'll be experts on the nicest and easiest way to do it at their particular location – whether it's writing Marry Me on the dessert plate rim, or going for a walk nearby to propose before returning for champagne and dessert. Just don't hide the ring in food - you wouldn't want it to be swallowed!

Planning a Wedding? MEET THE EXPERTS

2012 US POSTAGE STAMP INCREASE – How It Affects You & Suggestions to Ensure the Safe Delivery of Your Wedding or Event Invitations.

Congratulations! Your invitations have been ordered! The time and effort you spent in looking over the different types of cards, designs, envelops, fonts, linings, has finally paid off and now you are ready to address them and send them out.

TIP: As part of your budget planning you should take a sample invitation, fully packed, to the post office to get it weighed and figure out what the cost will be for mailing the invitations. Also include the cost for providing the return postage.
Here is where you need to think twice!!

Postage rates are set to increase and take effect on January 22, 2012!

If you have already ordered customized stamps, we have not found any notice on the popular custom stamp websites alerting their visitors & customers that postage rates are increasing in January 2012!! In other words, any custom stamps ordered before the rate increase and mailed after it may not longer be of sufficient value for the envelope’s weight. During the last increase a few years ago, one of my friend’s daughter had all her individually hand printed envelopes containing the invitation packets, returned for insufficient postage. Her custom stamps reflected the old rates and each envelope needed additional postage.
What you can do to save money and make sure that the invitations get sent out properly..

SUGGESTIONS & TIPS
***Send out your invitations BEFORE the increase to avoid additional costs and not have to add regular US stamps alongside your custom stamps.
***If you have not ordered your custom stamps yet – wait or find out if the company can make the stamps valid for the upcoming rate increase.
***In the interim stock up on FOREVER stamps, which you can use for the return envelop postage. A forever stamp is a postage stamp in the United States that is valid for First-Class postage no matter when it is used. By concept, once purchased, a forever stamp is a perpetual stamp that never expires or declines in value. Its value is the First-Class Mail stamp postage rate for a one ounce letter at the time of use. On line you’ll find some great FOREVER stamps to choose from. There are a couple of versions of the ‘Celebrate’ stamp (great for parties and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs). For weddings and anniversary celebrations, we recommend Wedding Bands, Wedding Roses or Garden of Love stamps.

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As of January 22, 2012, the new rates are as follow
Postcard			$0.32
1st class up to 1 oz			$0.45
1st class up to 2 oz			$0.65
1st class up to 3 oz			$0.85
1st class up to 3.5 oz			$1.05
Non machineable surcharge (Square / unusual shapes)			$0.20
Priority Mail – flat rate			$4.95

Newly Engaged? This one's for you!

The Holidays have been great, he popped the question, the ring was amazing.... Now it hits you, It's time to start planning our wedding.

Wedding planning may seem like a very overwhelming task to embark upon when you first start to think about it. So what you need to do is to break it down into smaller more manageable parts. Give yourself a realistic timeline to plan your wedding. Unless you have a particular date in mind that you absolutely want to meet, then feel free to enjoy your engagement for a while and discuss with your partner what would work best as far as setting a date.

Once you've set your date you can work your way back in the calendar to see what you need to do and when you need to do it. However, if you haven't yet set a date a lot of couples give themselves a year to plan a wedding, but really you will find all kinds of time frames for different couples, it depends on what you feel comfortable with. Some couples plan and organize their wedding in a matter of weeks or a couple of months while some others can take more than 18 months. The length of the wedding planning depends on your time availability and also what kind of wedding you want. You can make it as complicated and intricate as you want to, so the same thing goes for simplicity.

 

Talk amongst yourself (the bride and the groom to be) about what kind of wedding you want; a traditional wedding, formal, informal, focus on fun and colors, winter wedding or a beach wedding, big vs. a small wedding - there are a lot of different factors to take into consideration and don't take for granted that you both want the same type of wedding. So discuss this for a while until you've reached an agreement as to what your 'vision' of the wedding is.
To have a vision of your wedding does not mean that you now should have an understanding of all the details and exactly how things should look and work out. All it means is that you have a framework that you both agree on and that you can go back to when you need to make decisions further down the line.

When you are ready to start attacking and looking at the details of the parts of wedding planning you'll most likely need to start by doing some research. The main reason to do this is so that you can include what you want to include and to exclude what you don't want for your wedding. But you want to find out about these things sooner rather than later so that you don't catch yourself with having forgotten a very important detail for the day of the wedding such as confirming your caterers etc.
Depending on what way of research you prefer you can either talk to people that have gotten married themselves, but remember that these people would have also designed their wedding according to what they wanted, not what you may necessarily want.

Hiring a professional wedding coordinator, only if its part time or one to consult with when you are stuck or need advice.

Not long ago, a wedding coordinator was thought of as a luxury, only used by the wealthy. Now a coordinator is essential to the well planned affair. It is no longer "trendy" to engage a coordinator. Being experienced in negotiating contracts with caterers, florists, photographers, and other suppliers, the coordinator saves valuable time and money. The coordinator can take advantage of discounts not available to private parties and avoid costly mistakes, while turning your dreams into reality.

The average wedding can take more than two hundred fifty hours just to plan. With today's hectic lifestyles, you may not have time to compare all the options, making sure you get the best deal, and make sure all the details are in place.

Wedding coordinators are not here to make decisions for you, but to guide and assist you in making informed decisions. Their training, knowledge, and experience will turn your dreams and expectations into reality. They want you to host a beautiful and distinctive  event which you can enjoy.

A wedding coordinator will save you time and enable you to get the most for your money! A wedding coordinator can serve in many other capacities. They can act as the family counselor for apprehensive brides and the mothers, a wedding coordinator can become as close as your best friend.

Modern Bouquet

As I watched the newest wedding show on WeTV last Sunday, Diann Valentine of "I Do Over" gave the bride a bouquet made of brooches, some old and some new.  I LOVED it!!!

So, I went to the many antique shops in the area and rounded up what I thought would make a beautiful bouquet...

What do you think?  

Let's Remember...

BEAUTIFUL BUDGET BOUQUET FOR A BEACH WEDDING!





My Intern, the brilliant Ashley Chambers, made the most gorgeous bridal bouquet for a beach bride! She collected sea shells, bought colored tulle and pearls, some craft wire and a glue gun with a needle and thread.  After a few hours this wonderful creation! what do you think? Please give us your feed back, we are curious to know what you think.

 

Local Wedding Planner receives Certification as a Sandals Specialist

Sandy Thompson, owner of "Special Events" by Sandy, recently passed qualification as a Certified Sandals Specialist and is presenting some exclusive beach vacation packages targeting couples in love. The all-inclusive packages are designed to provide maximum holiday pleasure at most affordable rates. With their association with top beach resorts (like Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts, Couples Resorts etc.) and long term experience, Sandy has done a tremendous job in planning romantic vacations in and around Caribbean.
Beaches are the most romantic place for a lovely vacation with partner. Picturesque beaches of Caribbean and Mexico have attracted attention of lovebirds from all over the world. Couples Resorts in Caribbean are among the most favored places for honeymoon or other romantic vacations.

In association with Sandals Couples Resorts, Sandy Thompson is offering some of the exciting romantic beach vacation packages at any of the four adult’s only resorts of Couples Resorts in Jamaica. No matter at what time of year someone is getting married or celebrating his/her anniversary. “Special Events” by Sandy Travel can offer great deals for a wonderful beach vacation at romantic Caribbean beaches. Additionally, all military will receive 10% off on top of any specials being offered at the time, all year long.
So, this season if someone is planning for a romantic beach vacation with peace, privacy and complete setting for love and eternal affection in the lap of natural beauty, then nothing will be better than an all-inclusive beach vacation package at any of the lovely Couples Resorts.
Call Sandy Thompson today and get the most affordable vacations quotes. Interested people can log on to the website http://www.sandytevents.com to get more details about Sandy and her services.

OPEN HOUSE THURSDAY, 3-17

Carteret County Sr Citizen Center

3820 Galantis Drive, Morehead City, NC 28557-4310 (252) 247-2626 ‎

Is hosting an Open House 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Thursday March 17, 2011

Come out and visit our table to register for a free tuxedo rental give away!

Sandy’s Saint Pat Soiree 

Join Sandy at her boutique for her monthly gathering!

THE IMPORTANCE OF A RECEIVING LINE

A crucial part of seating arrangements that is sometimes overlooked is the receiving line.  Every guest wants to  personally give the bride and groom best wishes and you may not encounter each and every one throughout the course of the reception.  Find a place and time where you can allow whoever so wishes to line up for hugs and handshakes.  You may want to include the whole wedding party in the receiving line, or just your families or parents or simply you and your spouse.  The room may be cramped with tables and chairs, so find a place where the traffic will flow.  The beginning of the reception is a good time for the receiving line or maybe in between dinner and cake.  The whole day can seem a blur and remembering that you took the time to speak to your friends and family will leave happy memories for you and them.

Conserving Your Cash While Your Guests Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

A PENNY SAVED IS A DOLLAR EARNED | Is what my parents used to say...

Doesn't matter if you have champagne taste and caviar dreams, on a fast food dollar menu budget, you can still have a beautiful wedding if you put to use some of the tips I've provided for you over this month. A tip a day was a great way to suggest ways to cut costs and save money.  If you missed a day, it's ok! Just check out my blog archive, each day in February there is a new tip.

A wedding is an occasion for celebration and remembrance. You can still have a grand wedding if you can apply the tips I've mentioned during this month. The basic idea is to make this special day look more special, not expensive. If you can strike a balance between your budget and wedding then it will be the best day that you will always cherish in your life.  Best of luck in your wedding planning and please stay tuned because we have so much more to offer! More tips, tricks and trends to come...

Your Wedding For Less | Tip #27

                   KEEP EVER-AFTER
                             IN MIND

Remember that the wedding is one day at the start of a life-long commitment. Look beyond the wedding day to the goals you will have as newlyweds. If you want to purchase a house in the next few years, keeping that as a priority throughout the wedding planning process will help you to be prudent about how much you spend on that one day.

Consider whether you really need choral singers and a string quartet at the ceremony and a wedding singer and a DJ at the reception. Releasing doves or butterflies or having a candle-lighting ceremony are all wonderful, but may end-up costing a lot of money. Simplicity saves money and if done well, your wedding may seem more serene and awe-inspiring!

Your Wedding For Less | Tip #26

USE SOCIAL MEDIA

That’s right, social media has taken over nearly everything in our lives, and now they have managed to break into the wedding business as well. But this is a good thing for you, the couple currently struggling to create the perfect setting for their nuptials. Here are a few ways that you can take advantage of social networking sites and prepare.

 

Connect the Wedding Party

How many times have you had to tell the bridesmaids the color scheme, or the groomsmen the kind of tux that has to be rented for the big day? Wouldn’t it be so much easier to just have them all in the same place, reading the same message? Facebook, Twitter and other sites are great for this. You can even now sync up your various profiles to send out the same status or note.

 

Find Registries and Gift Suggestions

Admit it, a big part of the wedding is getting the gifts as much as the well wishes. Which you can send out a note on your registries in the invitation, you can also put a link to it on your profile to allow people to see your online wishlist. Anyone who has gotten a swan-shaped punch bowl from a distant relative knows how important it is to be specific about your wants or needs.

 

Get Helpful Tips and Advice

Probably the most important thing you can do, getting help from those who have been there should be high on your list of reasons for using social media for your wedding. But don’t forget to keep up on wedding blogs around the net. Not only will you get some great ideas for the wedding itself, but you might be able to win some free stuff, enter contests and find discounts.

 

Get In Touch With Vendors

Those who are smart enough to find wedding vendors on sites like Twitter will know that you can get some incredible deals this way. Many places dedicated to celebratory events will give major cost reductions for anyone willing to promote them through their wedding announcements. Some also just post about sales or give online coupons or discount codes.

 

Share the Experience

You might just want to show the world what is going on, and give those far from you a glimpse into the  magical day ahead. Share the experience and your happiness, after all it is all about the love you have for one another, and celebrating it with those closest.

Your Wedding For Less | Tip #25

 WEDDING INSURANCE



WHAT IS WEDDING INSURANCE?

Wedding Insurance generally covers a variety of wedding related situations.  Depending upon the coverage limits and options you select, your wedding insurance can cover everything from lost or damaged wedding attire or wedding rings to damaged wedding photos or wedding gifts - and just about everything else in-between. Since different insurance companies offer different specific coverage and limits be sure to review and compare wedding insurance policies before you buy.

Wedding Cancellation Insurance protects you from financial losses if something beyond your control (like injury, illness, weather conditions, call to military service, etc.) occurs that requires you to postpone or cancel your wedding ceremony and/or wedding reception. This portion of the insurance may also protect you from a variety of financial losses like if wedding supplier doesn't show up or if your wedding gown gets damaged.

Wedding or Special Event Liability Insurance coverage will protect the bride and groom when it comes to damage or injury to property or people during the ceremony and reception.  NOTE:  Your homeowner's insurance policy may also offer this type of liability coverage.  However, a rider to your homeowner's policy may be needed to extend coverage to the location where the wedding and reception are held.

NOTE: You should also make sure that all major suppliers to your wedding (caterer, limousine service, etc.) maintain liability coverage. Services providing alcoholic beverages should also carry liquor liability insurance coverage. When you sign the contract and pay your deposit obtain a copy of their "Certificate of Insurance".  Also, keep in mind that insurance typically does not cover illegal acts.  For example, money is collected from the guests in exchange for alcoholic beverages without having a liquor license and someone gets in an accident because they consumed too much alcohol you may be held liable.

HOW MUCH DOES WEDDING INSURANCE COST?
Considering the costs involved in planning the average wedding, the one time premium is relatively reasonable.  Although the total cost will vary depending upon specific coverage, we found that basic wedding cancellation insurance coverage starts at about $100.00 and increases in cost depending mainly upon the total cost of the wedding expenses to be covered.  Additional wedding liability coverage costs (as of 2008) were as low as $100.00 for $1,000,000.00 in coverage.

WHERE CAN YOU OBTAIN WEDDING INSURANCE? You can obtain wedding insurance coverage online via several websites.  Since wedding insurance coverage options and limitations vary between insurance companies, please be sure to compare all policy options, coverage limits and costs before making a purchase.

Your Wedding For Less | Tip #24

VIRTUAL PLANNING

Wedding Planning can be extremely time consuming and difficult. "Special Events" by Sandy is your online wedding site for planning your special day. Whether you are planning an extravagent wedding or a wedding on a budget, you will find wedding planning tips that will save you time and money.

You just need a bit of guidance and a few tips to help you plan the perfect wedding day. Visit our website or contact Sandy to get suggestions and tips on how you can save on some of the most expensive wedding cost.

http://www.sandytevents.com/

Your Wedding For Less | Tip #23

CROWDSOURCE YOUR WEDDING

There's nothing that says that you or your family have to pick up the entire tab for your wedding. There are certainly no rules about how many sets of dishes, vases, and blenders you need to receive, especially in this economy. Get your guests to help contribute to your wedding fund by creating a cash registry. Engagement parties and showers are a perfect time to get cash to pay for your wedding. Your friends and guests love you. And in this economy, they will love to help where it counts most. Here's a great website I found to create and build your own registry-FREE! http://www.eregistry.com/home

Your Wedding For Less | Tip #22

SHOP SAMPLES SALES

Shopping sample sales and the Internet for inexpensive wedding dresses that considered past season can mean more dollars redirected in the wedding budget. If you wear a 6, 8, or 10, check out sample sales, which generally happen once a year. It's a great opportunity to get a designer dress at rock-bottom prices. You can also look on eBay, Craigslist and other websites for deals on used wedding dresses. Remember that cleaning the delicate fabric of a wedding dress may cost up to $250, so avoid the cheap dress with the filthy hem. And many towns have a shop where you can rent a wedding dress, saving you hundreds and hundreds of dollars.

Your Wedding For Less | Tip #21

CREATE YOUR THEME

You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. Make your wedding your own. You’ll have a low cost wedding that will be a cheap, chic joyous occasion.

First and foremost, you should decide which type of wedding theme suit your personalities and lifestyle.
Play it smart and pick your theme first. It's easier to coordinate your decorations, favors, flowers, dresses, menu and all the other items required when it revolves around a theme.
Choosing to work with a theme will guide you in your decisions and selections regarding the best invitations, favors, food and menu choices, beautiful decorations, as well as finding the perfect location for your ceremony and reception, along with so many other critical details.
Once you have a vision of what you want your wedding to "look like", you can then begin focusing on exactly what you'll need to buy and/or make, plus have a better understanding of what vendor arrangements will need to be made. This will save you both time and money in the long run.
So take your time browsing through this site. There are many wedding theme ideas that are sure to spark your imagination with possibilities.

Your Wedding For Less | Tip #20

SILK = SAVINGS

Many brides dream of having a church or reception hall filled with fresh wedding flowers. But that can be an expensive dream, especially when you’re working with a tight wedding budget. Luckily, there is an alternative. Using silk wedding flowers can help you create that setting you’ve been dreaming of for your wedding, while helping to keep your wedding flower budget from getting out of control.
If you’re unsure about using “fake wedding flowers,” consider this; Some silk flowers look just as authentic and fresh as the real thing. But, unlike the real things, silk flowers won’t start to wilt and droop if they are set out too early. Meaning a lot of the wedding decorations that use flowers can be done well in advance, before things get too hectic. And you won’t have to worry as much about your silk wedding flowers getting damaged during transport. Plus, real flowers that are out of season cost more. By using silk versions of those flowers, you can still have the varieties of wedding flowers you desire, whether they are in season or not, without spending more than you want.

Flowers are beautiful whether they are fresh or silk, so there's very little you can do wrong with them. Don't be afraid to use silk blooms to decorate your wedding.